Saturday, July 23, 2011

Racine 70.3 Recap

Going into Racine 70.3, I knew exactly what to expect.  Having only signed up 4 days before, I knew this was at best, a B race.  That thought kept me calm, but inside I knew that no matter what, I am going to be a little bit disappointed with my time because I should be training smarter.

However, I got to the race and started getting the “in the zone” feel, and it felt good.  Felt great until I started leaving the early transition to walk a mile to the start of the swim.  That is when I realized that I didn’t have my goggles and ear plugs.  Sweet.  After having laid everything out the night before, without rushing, I triple checked for the goggles and swore that they were in there.  Well, they weren’t.  This is where my faith is renewed.. one single announcement on the PA that I needed some, and within minutes, I had 3.  Awesome.  Still no earplugs, but I can at least head over to the swim.

For some crazy reason, I wasn’t nervous.  I got in the water to dip my head in and to get a few strokes in to get the initial shock out of the way.  Again, not having been able to get any solid open water swims in, I knew this was going to be a wee bit challenging.  Strategy: “Swim” and not “race”. Get out of the water in one piece and jump on the bike and go.  Then, the run, this is where I have some fun!  With that thought, I was ready to go.

Getting in the water at the start, nerves were trying to creep up and I wouldn’t let them.  Gun goes off and we go.  I am surprisingly calm and I just swim.  My little secret is to swim on the insides of the bouys, just at the line.  Most people try to go in the pack and get punched, pulled, kicked, etc, and I like it safe with only a little rough play.  I have to say about ½ way through I began kicking myself for not swimming more!  Here’s where the mental part kicks in. I have swam a mile at least over a hundred times, so I knew I could do it, but boy this seemed a lot longer.  Needless to say, I swam it and got out and felt fantastic.  No crazy headaches, no water in the ear (PJ ended up finding me a pair right before the race started-awesome!!), and not out of breathe.  There is PJ right there as I get out and cheering me on.  Asks how I am doing and I can honestly say –great!

Transition was ok, but could’ve been better (of course!).  Jump on the bike and off I went.. The course is through mainly residential roads and is very flat, which is great.  However, there is a lot of road work being done and there were pesky little divots all over the place, just enough to never let you fully settle.  I stayed strong.  Didn’t feel like I was going too slow, but not very fast either.  I ended up with a 18.9 pace, which I was happy with.  Again, having only rode outside 2x since last September, I had to be happy!  My nutrition felt good. I ate about 100 calories every 45 minutes or so, and mostly drank my 75% Gatorade mixed with water.  I wanted to try and keep those electrolytes inside of my body versus sweating everything out.

Sweating!  Have I failed to mention that the heat was rising and the index was over 100 degrees!  Forgot that part!  Didn’t really feel it too bad on the bike because you are moving, but as soon as we started running, that was a different story.

I finished the bike and was psyched for the next event-running!.  Having come from my strong running background, I understandably love this leg.  I get off the bike and eat ½ of a banana and begin my run.  I make sure to have enough nutrition to finish me off properly.  I have 6 shot blocks and one GU.  This will be enough and will make sure to mix water and Gatorade, every other stop.  So, within me taking 10 strides, I quickly realized the temperature.  Did I mention this?  Well it was, and it definitely got to people.  I was just going to run this 13.1 miles at a steady pace and try to keep an average of 7:30s. I have done it in the past, however, I was reminded that I hadn’t done one brick all season.  Smart! So, there I was, running at a comfortable pace for me, which I was able to hold until about half way through.  The heat was just pounding down, not a cloud in the sky and barely any shade.  I wore a visor that day (for the first time-what do I always say about trying something out for the first time on race day-bad idea!) and it was super tight on my head, causing it to heat up.  I tried to take it off and the sun was so hot I had to put it back on.  Needless to say, I was having fun.  Fun, yes, actually having fun. I love to run. Although nearly everyone was having a hard time in the heat, I was able to stay rather strong and I worked my way up in my age group. I finished the run with a 7:42 min pace overall and I was happy with it.  I was glad to be done and thankful to feel okay at the end.  I saw a lot of people being rushed to the med tent, so with all things considered I was happy with my race.

It ended up being a great day overall.  I loved having PJ out there watching me, encouraging me.  I loved seeing some of my athletes out there.  I love testing myself and this was a big test.  I hope it woke me up enough to get my butt together to start training better, smarter and get my Triathlete self back.

-Coach Melissa

Posted by CoachMelissa on 07/23/11 at 06:08 PM
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Magellan Half Marathon

On May 15th, I did my first race since Chicago marathon last year.  My fiancee was at the finish line waiting for me.  This time, without a bouquet of flowers and a ring=), he was there for support with a look on his face that most spectators had that day.  Let’s get out of here!

To sum it up quickly. The hardest race I have ever run.  I, like most, would have much rather stayed in bed that morning. When I looked outside and saw rain blowing in the fierce wind, I knew it was going to be a tough day.  I then quickly tried to think-only the tough were going to make it out there.  With that, I jumped up, got in a cab and made our way into the city where we immediately saw runners with the look of terror on their faces.  With just enough time to get a quick warm up run in, we were off already soaked with rain and cold with the wind. 

Having been my first race, I wanted to take it “slow”.  I ran a 7:30 first mile, felt great and started to go for it.  After a few miles, I realized that the wind was actually at our backs and was going to be helping us on our way.  What you didn’t want to think about was if it was helping you run along, what was it going to do on the way back??.  Pushed it out of my mind and tried to enjoy my 7 min pace-it had been a while.

Coming up to the turn around point, I could see the guys that were making their way back.  They didn’t look like they were having fun, to say the least.  Then I started seeing the females, and quickly learned that I was somewhere within top 10.  That was great-until I made the turn myself-and BAM!  Literally, stopped in your tracks.  OMG, how the heck am I going to do this?  I quickly realized I was going to have to literally run sideways due to the 30mph freezing cold wind in your face coming from the lake.  The thought of how I looked had me laughing and smiling most of the way back. I had to put my head down, do my best to stop the wind from soaking my face, and went for it.  What else were you going to do? 

All I remember thinking on my way back was, these poor people.  I was at least heading back, these people had no idea.  That is pretty much what got me through, was the fact that I was at least heading back.  If any of you have heard of this race, ran this race, or experienced anything like this, you understand.

On a day like today, you wonder, what to wear. Shorts, and you would have been freezing.  Pants, would’ve got soaked.  Tight wick tank, would have been freezing, jacket would’ve gotten soaked.  I ended up with capri and thin jacket and a hat, which became a key player.  As I passed the girls in their racing outfit, I felt bad.  They looked so cold!  As I passed the guys with heavy pants and jackets on, they looked so wet and heavy! 

I finally finished, came in 9th female overall with a time of 1:35.  Not a face race, but considering that 1), I got out of bed and went outside, 2)I actually ran a race-first one in 7 months, 3) made it back in one piece 4) didn’t freeze to death 5)didn’t stop and kept going. I was very happy with the day.

Here are a few quotes from the Magellan facebook page:

• ran 13 miles out of town and walked the entire way back. Too bad they couldn’t change the course. Imagine what our times would have been then

• I was running a personal best until we hit the turn around. That wind was brutal

• ...i had my 2nd to worse finish time ever, but i was just happy to have finished, i mean survived....:>) no fault of the organizers just typical Chicago spring weather :>)

• I was PR’d till the turn around also!

• Thanks to all the volunteers. What troopers! Running in that weather was challenging, but standing would have been worse. The volunteers deserve medals, trophies, cash, anything!

-Coach Melissa

Posted by CoachMelissa on 05/18/11 at 07:42 AM
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Friday, May 06, 2011

Top 5 things about Chicago..so far

-Tthe Lake!  I can’t believe this running, biking, mecca is right outside my door!  Not only am I thrilled I can run and bike on it, I can also swim!  I plan to get out there and swim this week and I can not wait.  I can go train by myself or take my clients, and I also realize I have to be out there by 5am!

-the People!  I have met the most amazing, nice, friendly, accommodating, and fast people here.  From my new runner friends, my new massage therapist, new PT, new employers, new athletes, new co workers-everyone has been awesome!  Even the runners smile at you!

-Competition-The girls here are really fast!  As a coach, I want to always strive to be better!  The running scene here is phenomenal and I have met some very fast, friendly ladies, that are going to kick my butt this summer and make me a better coach, runner and triathlete.

-Feels like home.  How quickly we get into a routine.  I already know my favorite study location, my favorite run, where to get my bike gear, where to swim, fun restaurants, where to read a book, favorite sushi place, favorite Starbucks!  I am open to suggestions though and look forward to learning more!

-I know why they call it the Windy City- I really hope I didn’t bring the rain in May.  It was the 5th rainiest May in history, and I just happened to move here as it happened.  It was tough, but I got on my trainer, popped in some movies and was off!  I also happened to run my first race (The Magellan ½ Marathon-see below) in this weather.  Not only is it the Windy City, but I realize the weather gods do not like Chicago.  By far the hardest race conditions I have ever encountered.

That’s it for now!  If anyone has training routes, restaurant suggestions, or comments and feedback, I’d love to hear from you!

-Coach Melissa

coachmelissa@energyfitnesscoaching.com

 

Posted by CoachMelissa on 05/06/11 at 07:44 AM
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Saturday, April 16, 2011

I picked up my packet

This past weekend was the 115th Boston Marathon and what a race it was.  On Friday, I made my way over to the Marathon Expo, only a block away from my apartment, and I picked up my runner’s packet and number.  I was there alongside the many other runners trying to get in there early before the crowds on Saturday, just as I have for the last 4 years.  Only thing different was that I was not going to be running this year. I was injured. 

Living in Boston at mile 26 of the 26.2 mile course has been amazing.  This year I have another reason to think so.  Although very sad that I was not going to be running this year, I had no other choice but to fully embrace the runners that crowded the streets in my neighborhood.  I was living vicariously through them all weekend and it was absolutely amazing.  I could feel their excitement, nervousness, confidence, calmness and it thrilled me.  In addition to being able to watch the race, I also was able to see Boston in a completely different light as this weekend also marked the second to last weekend I had in Boston before I moved to Chicago.  All in all, a very bitter sweet weekend.

Let’s back up a little bit to see why this affected me the way it did.  I started my running career here in Boston.  I signed up for my first marathon in 2005 never having run more than a local 10k.  Waking up early on Saturday mornings when all of my friends were sleeping originally had seemed absurd.  However, running 8, 10, 14 miles, while scary and new, was the most amazing experience of my life.  After completing my first marathon in 2006 in just under 4 hours, I was 100 % hooked.  I have since found many running mentors and proceeded to increase my training and knowledge which has been incredible in more ways that one can imagine.  This year, my sights were fully set on a sub 3 hour marathon.  After coming off of an upsetting race in Chicago, (however a PR and my subsequent finish line proposal!), I still knew that my time of just over 3 hours, did not reflect what I had to offer.  Call it cockiness or confidence (or stupidity!), I went out full steam ahead in my Boston training this winter, almost tasting the sub 3 in early January. As one can imagine, I ended up overtraining and getting injured with an injury just wouldn’t go away. Fast forward to April 18th, and now it’s me spectating on the sidelines of the Boston Marathon kicking myself that I wasn’t more careful. I feel like a fraud for picking up my number, but knowing fully why I did. 

I learned a lot this weekend.  Not that I ever questioned it, but I re-learned that I loved absolutely love running!  I love the camaraderie and I love, love, love the marathon.  I was fortunate enough to watch from mile 26.1 and watch the elite winners as well as all of my teammates, give it their last kick and finish strong.  How exhilarating!

I will leave you with this for now:  I am sad to leave Boston, but I will be back.  I am sad that I didn’t run it this year, but I will be back.  I am very excited to move to Chicago next weekend, overcome my injury and properly train for a sub 3 at Chicago this year with the help of Coach Kel.  I not only will be a better runner for not having run, I will be a much smarter runner and coach and I look forward to seeing everyone out on the roads.

I will be writing more about my injury and subsequent healing process, but I wanted to introduce myself to everyone as a new EFC coach, a fellow runner, triathlete and student of the sports.  My basis for my training and coaching with EFC will be to help people becoming better runners and triathletes! I will help others prevent injuries while guiding and encouraging them to allow their mind and bodies to train effectively and kick butt in their races! (No more being on the sidelines watching everyone else do it, jump in with me!)

-Coach Melissa

 

Posted by CoachMelissa on 04/16/11 at 09:25 AM
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