Fall Into Winter 5k

Last Saturday was the Fall Into Winter 5k in Cocoa Beach. It's race 1 of 3 in the holiday beach series. This will be the 2nd time I've run this race.

Going into this race I wasn't expecting much. I wasn't feeling the best when I woke up. Plus this wasn't a Running Zone event and the timing company that they use is the one I don't like.

When I arrived at the race, I was dressed up as Snow White. This is a Halloween race and there is a costume contest. I was shocked by the looks I was getting from other runners. Apparently they weren't as cool as me.

Sunrise!

I walked down to the water to see how bad the run was going to be. Of course it wasn't low tide during the race. Luckily the tide was going out.

The start line was interesting. There of course weren't starting mats and of course no one lined up according to pace. At one point the water came in which sent everyone up the beach. Again I really wasn't expecting much since I knew it was going to be gun time not chip time. The start gun went off and so were we. At the beginning I was just trying to get out of the crowd and just run. I looked at my Garmin a few times, but with no goal, I just ran.

First mile was good. No issues no pain! Around 1.6 miles in I got winded and could hardly breathe. I felt like I gasping for air. I ended up taking one walk break during the entire race. I never did catch my breath. Usually at the end of a race I sprint. Not this one. Our beach has a small hill and the finish line was up on the "hill" in the loose sand. I can't run in loose sand. I did my best and finished with a time of 31:29. Not my best, not my worst.

I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to see our times after the race. The first year I ran this, they didn't print the times. We had to wait until the awards ceremony to find out if you placed or not. I'm not even sure if they posted time online anywhere. Luckily this year they posted times. Turns out I placed first in my age group. Crazy because I never thought I had a chance. All the fast runners showed up.

During the awards ceremony I found out I placed 2nd in the costume contest! Bonus!!

I'll admit this wasn't as bad as I thought it could have been. If the holiday series medal changes next year I may do it again. Next up in this series is the Turkey Trot. Time to break out the turkey hat!!

Yes this is the 3rd time I've worn this costume. 

Training not going well....

Here it is week 18 of marathon training and it's not going very well. Back in August I pulled a muscle. Then several weeks ago I had knee pain that hurt so bad I could hardly run for two weeks. Then I got a stomach flu. Then I just had weird body pains. And on and on and on and on. It's not that I'm whining, ok maybe a little, but if it's not one thing it's another.

I have missed my 14 mile and 17 mile long runs. In less than two weeks I'm scheduled for a 20 miler. Well that's not gonna happen.

Honestly, with everything going wrong it's been hard to be motivated. I ran last week with a group and had shin splits the whole 4 miles. I ended up walking most of it. Luckily, my friend Eric walked with me. Thank you! After I got home from that run my entire body went down hill. It was the strangest thing. I couldn't move, I was in so much pain. I couldn't sleep because of the pain and when I dreamt it was about how much pain I was in. The next day I had planned a 14 mile run and scheduled a massage with my mom. The massage happened, the run however not so much. I was shocked during the massage how sore my muscles were.

I ended up running a 5k on Saturday and did ok. I really didn't feel well when I woke up that morning and my only goal was to cross the finish line. Turns out I placed 1st in my age group.

Which brings us to yesterday. I wanted to run 10 miles. With how I was feeling I figured I better stick to the treadmill. Mile and a half in I couldn't breathe. Two miles in I was tired. Four miles in my husband went outside to work on the lawn. 4.427 miles in I thought I better go help him. I'll run later. I ended up napping.

Again see I have no motivation. The old Megan would have pushed through, this new one sucks and gives up.

I received a text from a friend saying he ran 7.5 miles. He doesn't really run. Just started really running again. Ok he ran in high school, but not really much as an adult. This made me think that if he can go run 7.5 miles, when he's use to running 4 miles at time, I can get my ass outside and run.

This morning my alarm was set for 6:40am. I woke up at 6am and got out of bed shortly after that. I ate my breakfast, did a load of laundry and went for a run outside. I did my normal warmup walk to the beach. Got a picture of the ocean and my feet and I was off.

It's really hard to tell BUT there's a cruise ship coming into port.

Took my comic book skirt for it's first run!!

Goal 1 was to run. 2nd goal go farther than 4 miles. 3rd goal go at least 6 miles. 4th goal go 7.5 miles. 5th goal go 10 miles.

All of this is going through my head at the beginning of the run. Started out great, no issues, nothing was going to stop to me. Mile 5, I thought I got this, get those 10 miles in. Mile 7, what the hell was I thinking I'm tired. I was too far to just run home and at this point I thought suck it up and f*@$ing run. Not my best times the last four miles. I'm really out of practice on my running routes. When I hit the 10 mile mark I was at the Cocoa Beach Pier, which is a half a mile from my beach access. I live .33 miles from there. So I'm quickly doing the math and thought oh hell I have to go .83 miles, I'm running 11 miles today.

10.5 miles in, I was at my beach access and was like WHAT THE FUCK was I thinking. I'm dying here.  Then negative thoughts hit me. And just like that I saw a Porsche 911 and thought oh no my husband is out looking for me. I didn't tell him how long I'd be going. So now I'm chasing a 911. Well I lost sight of it and couldn't find it and thought oh well he'll call if he needs me. GO HOME NOW! I get to my house and it's 10.93. Yes I'm the runner who runs up and down her street to make it even. And just like that my 11 miles was done. THANK GOD! I wouldn't have lasted any farther.

I'm about 6 minutes off my goal pace for the Space Coast Half. I have just over a month to go. I have no idea at this point if I have enough time to speed to up and get there or not. I do know that this run today made me realize I can push through tough runs still and, if my body allows it I just have to keep moving. 

My friend has no idea how much I needed to see that text. He motivated me enough to get my butt out of bed and run. Just need to keep doing it day after day after day. 

18 days to Wine & Dine.
39 days to Space Coast Half
46 days to Divas Half
81 days to Walt Disney World Marathon

Rocketman Triathlon Recap

This year I was asked by a friend if I would participate in the Rocketman Triathlon relay. I would take the run portion of the relay. That works for me, because I'm not a swimmer or a biker. Funny little side note. Several years ago this race was a 5k that took place at the Kennedy Space Center. I missed it the year it took place, but I patiently waited for the next race date. It never happened, they changed it to the triathlon. I was very excited when I was asked to run this! The only one problem I had, is that I've run with this race management company three previous times and they really aren't the best. I think Running Zone needs to teach them how to operate or Running Zone needs to take over their races.

Photo Source: Smooth Running 

The triathlon took place on Kennedy Space Center property. The swim portion was in the Indian River, the bike portion took participants past two launch pads. If you did the Ironman distance, it took you past the shuttle runway. (See photo below)

Photo Source: Smooth Running

The run portion took place mostly on roads. We did run through the Warbird Museum. We actually ran on the ramp where they have several planes parked. That was awesome! I have no photos because I left my phone with my husband.

The morning of the race I didn't have to show up until well after the race started. It was very strange not to be at an event at the start. My husband and I left our house around 9:00 am, the first swimmers hit the water around 7:20 am. When we showed up we had some problems finding parking. One would think with 1,000 participants they would have the parking for everyone. It didn't help that many of the people took two spots per car. Who does that? Anyway, we walked the quarter mile to the finish line then had to find the transition area. After asking a few volunteers we finally found it. Thankfully there were porta potties and a water station just outside the transition area. We found a shady area and waited for my partner.

My partner entered the transition area. It was around 84 degrees. Good thing I went running outside earlier in the week, since during the summer months I run indoors.

We did the ankle timer hand off and I was off running. The running course at the beginning was kinda crowded because, the finished participants were exiting with their bikes and really didn't care if they were in my way. Once I hit the pavement I was off. I tried to keep a 6.1 pace. That was my goal. When I started running I thought I was going to go 3.5 miles. If you look on the website it says the run course was a "5k (3.5 miles)." Again the race management company needs a little bit of help on distances. 

Just before the one mile mark we ran up an overpass. Oops didn't know there was hill. I ended up slowing down and decided to no longer worry too much about my pace. It was just about finishing. 

The first water station was just before the 2 mile mark. The classic distance passed it twice in just a short distance. I'm really glad I carry my own water because, it was way too hot for only one water station, AND strangely as I ran by they offered me a Coke. What runner drinks coke in the middle of a race? 

Just after the water station, we ran through the Warbird museum. I definitely want to go back to that museum soon. There was a photographer on the ramp and I yelled up ahead and said "I'm going to pose next to the plane!" I stopped for what was plenty of time for her to take my picture and of course she didn't get. I guess MarathonFoto should have been there. 

When I hit the three mile mark I knew I was more than a half mile from the finish line. Having no idea how far I was going to run really started to frustrate me. When I finally saw the finish line area they had another water station. REALLY? I'm so close to finish and you expect me to stop for water? That was the dumbest place for a water station. When I crossed the finish line I took my medal and then had to turn in my ankle timer. I looked at my Garmin and the run total was 3.89 miles. 

Team: It's Up To You!

We placed 2nd in the woman relay division!

Overall I'm glad I did it. It was a race I wanted to do. However I will not ever run with this company again.

The day after the tri, my husband and I went up to the Space Center Visitor Center. I took my medal and took photos.

The KSC photographer took this and I bought the print!

Did you do the Rocketman Tri?

Week 17 Marathon Training

Photo source: runDisney

The last two weeks haven't gone well and I'm behind on my long runs, I've had to rearrange my training plan.

Monday - Walked 1 mile and ran 4 miles! It was the first time I wore compression socks and my knee felt so good!

Tuesday - I walked 2 miles, then did upper body workout. My knee felt really good so I walked another 2 miles!

Wednesday - I walked 1 mile on the treadmill and then ran 2 miles in 19:03.

Thursday - I met a friend and we ran 4.4 miles. We ran outside during the day in heat. It was nice to be outside running again. Feels like it's been so long.

Friday and Saturday - Rest

Sunday - I ran the run portion of the Rocketman triathlon. I'll post a recap later this week. I ran 3.9 miles in HOT HOT weather.

How was your week?

Week 15 & 16 Marathon Training

Photo source: runDisney

I combined week 15 & 16 because they didn't go well. My knee was bothering me. I was afraid that I may have really injured knee. I didn't hardly run for two weeks. It turns out my calf is just really tight and wearing compression socks helps. I've already started back to regular training this week, so next week I'll have a week 17 recap!

Hope your training went better than mine!