RACE REPORT: Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon

So I finally have a minute to sit down and write the full race report. What a great weekend! It was absoultely BEAUTIFUL here in central MA. Maybe a little too warm for the race....but beautiful none the less! I wish all weekends were 3 days, sunny and 75 - 80 degrees...ahhhh.


Anyways, on to the race report! This was the first time that I was able to run Boston's Run to Remember. It is in memory of all Massachusetts Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty. It always falls on Memorial Day weekend and in the past we have always been out of town. I made sure this year we were going to be around though!


We headed in early, Stephen and Gram E were reading the newspaper on the way...





Parked, peed, and found our way to the 10:00 pace group with about 4 minutes to spare. As you can see in the picture below, the "mostly cloudy" sky that had been forcasted the night before was bright sunshine.....


Me (blue) and my sis (green).


We knew it was going to be a hot one and were going to try to stay together as much as possible. It was pretty much a flat course with the only "hills" being the bridges, so we were hoping to finish around 2:18.


Here we are about half a mile in - notice we are looking at Stephen in the stroller and not the camera! (Sis - green, me - blue)



So the first mile went by pretty fast, but I really started feeling the heat around 2.5 and the negative thoughts began. It wasn't fun at all, and I couldn't stop thinking about how hot I was and how I just needed some water to dump on my head. I ended up stopping and walking 3 to 4 times before mile 4. I was miserable and upset with myself. I rarely am a negative person, especially with sports, but being this hot already, I was so nervous that I wasn't going to finish.


A little after the water stop around mile 4, I was able to turn my thoughts around. I dumped water all over me to cool off, found a little slower pace and was good. By this time we had crossed over the Longfellow Bridge into Cambridge and were running along the Charles River (....love that dirty water.....ohhhh Boston you're my home.....). And then finally Mr. Sun decided to cooperate and tucked behind a cloud! yay!!


For the next 6 miles or so, I was doing great. I had my pace, I had my positive thoughts back, I was finding this running thing exciting again! It was tough around mile 10, since the sun came back out, but we were back on the Boston side of the Charles and we could run in the shadows of the buildings.


Around mile 10.5 I heard one of the funniest things ever and have to share - ya know how in a long race, there are certain people you keep seeing over and over? Well, I had 3 people that I noticed a lot: Orange Shirt Girl, Tie-dye Shirt Girl, and Tall Guy. So Tall Guy was running to my right and just slightly behind me. I was concentrating on staying in the shadows to keep cool, but I hear a female voice behind me ask Tall Guy who he was running with. He responded, "You". Now, I thought this was weird - after 10.5 miles, she doesn't know he is running w/her??? She then responded, "Well, it doesn't look like it! It looks like you're running with HER!", talking about me. Good thing that I had NO extra energy to turn around or say anything back to her!!! hahaha

After I got my water at the aid station at mile 11, I mentally knew that I was good to go for the last 2 miles. I lifted my chin up and enjoyed it, as the crowds were getting a little bigger.



Here is Sister approaching the last .4 (Mom didn't get the camera out in time for me, but that's ok! I was sure to ham it up for all of the on-race photogs!)

After a rough start, both physically and mentally, I am very proud of myself for pulling it together and making it a great race! I ended up finishing in 2:32:54 (an 11:40 pace) and Sis right behind me at 2:35:21 - not the 2:18 we were hoping for, but at least it was not our slowest! (2:37 last August in NYC - talk about heat AND humidity - at least we were spared the humidity yesterday). This was an awesome course and I hope to do it again next year!

Our "finish" photo - Sis chugged too much water right after she finished and she honked in the car on the way home ("What if he honks in the car?" "I give you a no-honk guarantee!" Anyone who knows what movie that's from gets bragging rights!)

So we took our race photo back at home.

Hope everyone else had a GREAT Memorial Day weekend!

Laura

Quick race recap - Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon

Just a quick note, I'll post a full report tomorrow. A hot day, a good crowd, an awesome course, and we finished! My sister and I were hoping to finish around 2:18, but by around mile 4, we knew it wasn't going to happen because of the heat. Official times aren't up yet, but we ended up around 2:34.
Off to bed...will post more, along w/pics, tomorrow! Congrats to everyone else who ran this weekend :)

Good think its taper week!

There is officially less than 48 hours until my half marathon, Boston's Run to Remember!!! I am very excited! The weather looks to be great (maybe a little hot, but no rain!) and I am going to be running w/my sister. Very cool!

The only thing that I am a little nervous about is that I have only been able to run once this week. And it was only 2 miles. My left knee has been sore since my 10 miler-last Sunday - worst going up and down stairs and deep squatting. Just some patello-femoral pain, probably triggered by my oh-so-lovely tight ITB. I was able to get through the 2 miles on Wednesday morning, but it was still sore. I know that I could probably get out and push through the 3 that I was planning on doing today, but I know that will just inflame it more. I am so glad that it's taper week, otherwise I would be more nervous about not keeping up with my miles!

I am more than certain that I will be able to finish the race, possible with pain, but hopefully the adrenaline will be in full force and get me through!

Anyone else racing this weekend?

Have a great Memorial Day!!!!
Laura

Versatile Blogger Award

Sandy at Sassy Runner Girl tagged me for the Versatile Blogger award. The way it works is that I have to list 7 random facts about myself, and then pass the award on to 15 others. Kind of like a bloggie chain letter. So here are my random facts!

1) I have a fear of snakes. Even if I am out running and see a squished one on the side of the road, I get goosebumps

2) My hubby and I were best friends in college for 3 years before we started dating. We each even dated the other's roommate at one point! When we finally got together, all of our friends were like, "finally!"

3) I have a sweet tooth, but not so much for chocolate or cake or cookies. But give me skittles, frosting, Mike and Ikes, gummy bears, or any sour candy and I will love you

4) I love to travel. Before the little guy was born, hubby and I took a 2-week trip to Europe. My favorite places were the Cinque Terre, Italy, and the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. I would LOVE to go back again, and hopefully one day we will have the chance!

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

5) I was addicted to Jon and Kate Plus 8 when I was home on maternity leave. I cried when the whole fiasco happened...I can remember being home and having a rough day w/my newborn, and then watching Kate handle 8 kids. "If she can do it, I can do it!", I used to think. So when she fell apart, I was devastated! I'm over it now :)

6) Even though I grew up in upstate NY, I am now a Boston Red Sox Fan. My hubby (then boyfriend) made me pledge allegiance to the Sox before he would give me a ring. No joke.

7) Maybe not so random, but I truly feel blessed to be married to my best friend. He is the most supportive and caring person I know and I wake up each morning feeling lucky. I also am blessed to have a beautiful and healthy son (minus the pink eye he brought home from daycare this week!).

OK, now it's YOUR turn! I know this has been going around for a week or so, so some of you have already posted your 7 random facts. If you haven't been tagged already and are a follower of my blog, consider yourself TAGGED! This means YOU! :)

RACE BIB SCRAPBOOK

Check out the newest listing on my ETSY site - a CUSTOM RACE BIB SCRAPBOOK, but this time a BASIC version. Just embellished with scrapbook paper backgrounds for your race bibs, this is a less expensive, no-frills version of the previous scrapbooks I have done. It will hold 10 - 12 bibs, depending on if you use the front and back covers or not. You can see the full listing HERE and place your CUSTOM order if you'd like!

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of the week!
Laura Elaine

Disney Marathon Scrapbook for Amanda!

When Jamie at Running Diva Mom contacted me a month or so ago to have my scrapbooks featured in one of her giveaways, I was very excited and very grateful! I have since made a scrapbook for Jamie's upcoming Madison Marathon (you can see her review for it HERE) and now have finished up a Disney Marathon Weekend Scrapbook for Amanda from Alone in Walt Disney World, the winner of Jamie's giveaway! This Disney scrapbook is so cute, it almost motivates me to want to do that crazy Goofy Challenge!

The book itself is an 8" x 8" bound chipboard album. It is embellished with scrapbook paper, cardstock, Mickey and Friends chipboard tags, and stickers - all with a Disney and running theme. Amanda will be participating in the 2011 Disney Family Fun Run 5k, the Disney Half Marathon, and the Disney Marathon - combining for the Goofy Challenge! There is room in the book for all 3 of her race bibs, room for journaling her finish times, and 11 mats for photos from her amazing weekend.

I am so happy with how this book came out. It is such a nice way to display race bibs and memories from your races that you train so hard for. Another option for a race scrapbook like this is just to have race bibs in it - one on each page. Feel free to contact me via this blog, or through my Etsy site HERE if you are interested in one of these scrapbooks!

First page spread: Family Fun Run 5K - room for pic on the left page; bib on right page:

Second page: Half Marathon! Room on left page for pic and journaling; right page for bib:

Third page: MARATHON! Again, pic and journaling on left; bib on right, with running quote (see following picture):

Close up of "marathon" definition:

Fourth page spread: Goofy! Room for 3 additional photos:

Fifth page spread: 4 mats for additional photos/memories:

Back cover: one more mat for photo:

Thanks for looking!

Laura Elaine

RACE REPORT: Running Diva Mom's Virtual 1 Mile Race for Girls on the Run

Stephen and I got ready this morning in our matching tie - die shirts and black pants, and Stephen also had his "Mommy's running partner" shirt on. He is at the stage now when I ask him to "Show me your smile" I get this silly grin with the scrunched-up eyes! Too funny.

The "before" pics.....

In his stroller and ready to go! SMILE Stephen!

We headed out around 8:30 am for our one mile, my first virtual race! My goal was to finish in the 8:00 range. My pace for my past half marathon training has been about 10 minute miles, but lately I have been doing some shorter runs at a 9 to 9:30 pace (3 to 4 miles). I was thinking that somewhere in the 8's would be reasonable, but wasn't really sure what to expect.

I took full advantage of our neighborhood - lots of downhills going away from the house....which I usually dread on my way back UP. But today was different - my plan was to use my little 2 mile out-and-back course, running as fast as I could down the hills for the one mile race, then walk the mile back to the house. I was using today as one of my cross training days for my half.

I felt great the whole way, and of course Stephen did great, since it was just a short ride. When I looked down to stop the timer on the ipod, I was very excited to see 8:06! Very cool.

Our "after" pic back at the house

The "proof!"

Good luck to everyone else who is participating, and THANK YOU to Jamie aka Running Diva Mom for putting the race together! You can check out the other results on her blog here.