Blog Archives

Mystic Half Marathon

5/15/2016

After my half marathon there, the drive from Maine was pretty uneventful and we got to our hotel in Connecticut in the late afternoon. Yes, you read that right...I planned on running two half marathons in one weekend. It's not as uncommon as you might think. We relaxed for a bit, and walked to Applebee's for dinner - grilled chicken, potatoes and mac n cheese for me. And lots of water. A stop at Walgreens and then back to the hotel, so I could prep my stuff for the race, we could plan a little for the next day, and go to bed early. The Mystic Half started at 7 am. Getting up at 5:35 am sounds early, but after you've done a Disney race, not really! :)

Again, we timed it perfectly and arrived to get a perfect parking spot with limited traffic. I had my race packet mailed to my parents' house, so we didn't have to rush from Maine to try to get to the expo the day before by 5pm. Just the usual pre-race granola bars, porta potty trips and making sure I had everything. I hugged my parents and got into the crowd for the start. My goal (after getting a PR the day before) was to just finish, but I still wanted to finish strong, so I found the 2:30 pacer, Beth, and struck up a conversation with her.

The race started on time - the weather was perfect, nice and cool! Soon, we were off, running into the Mystic Seaport and past some waterfront, then it was over a drawbridge and Mystic Pizza (I heard) was approaching. It was sooo far off the course (I realized too late), but I wanted a picture of it anyway, and got one, but then had to double time it to reach my pacer. I did find her and stuck with her for pretty much the whole race. We had a few people with us for parts of the race - here and there. Certainly, no one stayed with her longer than me. I was strong through the first 9 miles and I started to walk more at the water stops and up the hills. Eventually, Beth continued on without me (after I thanked her profusely) so she could keep pace, and I did my best to stay strong. I put my earphones in - to this point, I was just talking everyone's ears off, which certainly passed the time for me! - and ran on. I don't think I walked more than half a mile for sure...not that it really matters, but I was surprised while running that I felt so good, since I felt so bad after the race the day before. I really think it was because of the weather, and because the course was so beautiful and enjoyable.

Due to the out-and-back nature of the course after mile 7, I knew that mile 12 was just ahead. I walked up the last enormous hill, and started running again. With my music on, I crushed the last mile, caught up and passed my Beth, and ran into the finish area essentially alone. My parents were there cheering and I had the same amazing feeling when I crossed the finish. And still felt great!!!

I couldn't even eat anything after the Maine half, and at this post-race party, I did not hold back. I had some coffee biscotti ice cream from The Farmer's Cow and I had a fresh ciabatta roll with PB&J. The finish line was right by the Mystic Aquarium, and the post-race party was all set in the Olde Mistick Village, right where the start was.

All in all, this was one of my favorite half marathons, out of the 14 I've run so far. The weather certainly helped, but the route was very scenic, there were quite a few spectators, the post-race party was impressive for such a small town feel, and the tech shirt and medal were really nice.

0 Comments

Shipyard Maine Coast Half Marathon

5/14/2016

0 Comments

As part of my life's goal of a half marathon in every state, I have taken to Google quite frequently to find my next race. It was with Google that I found the cool medals from Shipyard featured in all their races in Maine, and discovered that the Maine Coast Half was the same weekend this year as the Connecticut race I wanted to run - the Mystic Half. So, I put on my crazy pants and decided to run back-to-back halfs because "Why not?" After I felt like I killed the Star Wars races in April, I was excited to try to get a PR (personal record).

My parents picked me up at the Manchester Airport (NH) and we drove to Biddeford, ME to the race expo at UNE, with a short pit-stop at UnderArmour at the Kittery Outlets to pick up a pair of BoxerJocks. I left one of mine hanging on the drying rack at home. The expo wasn't very crowded (see above) and the weather was kind of dismal and cool, which boded well for race day. We had an early dinner and I prepped everything I needed for the next day.

Race morning, we were all up and in the car early and parked at pretty much the perfect time - the road into UNE was crazy. I was slightly irked that the race started so late - 8am - because the sun was already well above the horizon, and come to find out, there wasn't much shade on the course. So, despite it being around 60, it felt a lot hotter. The course was pretty flat and I definitely enjoyed running so close to the ocean. That was the most scenic part of the course. I was very focused on getting a good time, staying hydrated and running.

The last three miles was the hardest I've had to fight mentally to keep running in a race. Disney races I stop for characters, and other races, I hadn't been as well trained. I knew if I started walking, a PR would be out of reach. That's all I kept telling myself. I changed my iPod playlist from my normal running mix to the one I made for my 5K - all fast songs and for the last 3 miles, that's what I listened to. I have it arranged, so that my favorite song of the moment, and my "power" song played into the finish. "Confident" by Demi Lovato...just something about the brass line and the drums, makes me feel like a fighter. When I knew the finish was close, it was the best feeling.

People often ask why I do this - run half marathons. And it's for the feeling I get before and while and right after I finish. I guess some call it a "Runner's High." It's more of a "Finisher's High." It's not the running that makes me feel like that, it's finishing after I've run all that.

When I finished - with an eventual PR (yay!) - I was super light-headed and HOT! Even though it was still well under 70 degrees. My parents were at the finish, I saw them right away, and I cruised in under the announcement of my name and Tampa, Florida. Woo hoo!

It took my a while to recover after the race. I drank about two bottles of water and I grabbed a bag of ice to put on my head and neck. I sat down, I walked around, stood in the shade. I did not feel the best. I did not get the free slice of pizza (my friends will really understand how bad I felt!) and I let my parents have my two free beers (I'm a liquor guy).

I hobbled with my parents to the car, soaked in some cool water in the bathtub and by the time I took a shower, I felt a lot better. Breakfast at a local joint was a lovely exclamation point to the day, and good preparation for our drive to Connecticut.

0 Comments

200 Miles

5/11/2016

0 Comments

So, at the beginning of 2016, a wonderful lady that I've met through work and running simultaneously - I believe because of the Busch Gardens Run for Wildlife 5K - asked me about joining this Run The Year 2016 challenge, where one runs 2,016 miles in 2016. Now, that was a bit of a stretch for one person, but our team of four is going strong and just surpassed 1,000 miles.

My part of that is 200. Which I passed a few days ago. :)

I'm excited to add to it this weekend, when I run back-to-back half marathons on successive days. I am feeling good and am pretty confident I can get a PR if all goes smoothly. I won't blow it out of the water, but I've been pretty close before, and I've been lucky lately. Fingers crossed.

0 Comments

Mystic Half Marathon

Shipyard Maine Coast Half Marathon

200 Miles

Archives

Categories