Half Marathon Recap
So, the above and below pictures are of me coming in at the Zooma race!!! Not the most flattering photos, but then again, I don't ever have fabulous picture of me running!!!! LOL!!!! Annddddd, let me point out that the last 0.25miles was in the sand!!!!! Yes, SOFT SAND!!!! Not the packed down sand that is close to the ocean, but the SOFT sand near the dunes!!! UGH!!!!! The entire half marathon was amazing until the soft sand!!!! I worked the hardest running through that sand than I did the entire race...... and, although I worked hard, I was hardly moving!!!!! HA! HA! I can tell you that we runners did not even come close to looking like a Bay Watch girls running..... LOL!!!!!! (hope everyone remembers that show, and I am not showing my age).
And, it is a PR!!!!!!!!
YES!!!!!! I ended up with a PR......the official times have been posted and my final time is recorded as 1:54:24!!!!! I couldn't believe that I pulled that off!!!! I was beyond excited and pleased!!!!!
Below is my garmin breakdown............
I was trying for a consistent paced run....... At the beginning of the run, I did not have a pace in mind...... At the start, I had a fellow runner say to me that she was planning on a 9 min pace, and that she would run with me.......at first, I was't even sure that I would be able to pull off a 9 min pace. Usually, I will not know how the run is going to go until after mile 1 and sometimes not until mile 2......... Well, we started and I felt great!!!! The weather was PERFECT!!!!!!!! Once a mile into the run, I knew that all the stars had aligned for a GREAT race and possibly a PR. The first mile was an 8:29 pace..... I was feeling good. And, my friend was right there beside me!!!! She hung right there with me and kept me motivated!!!!!! I seriously would not have pushed my self if she was not there!!!!! I would have most likely backed to a comfortable cruising pace.......but, no.... she motivated me to keep a comfortable push pace!!!!! She hung with me until mile 9, and then we got a bit separated, but came in within 1-2 minutes of each other. By mile 9, I knew I would PR.... I was still feeling good..... welllllllllll, except for a DANG rock that got into my shoe at mile 9........seriously, how does a rock get into a shoe while running on the road. The rock lodged under my right great toe.....I kept trying to scoot the rock to the back of my shoe, but it kept getting back up under my right great toe!!!! So annoying!!!!!!!!!! And, if I had't been making great time, I might have stopped to get the rock out.... but, no way was I going to stop!!!!!! NOPE!!! And, consequently, I got a blister to my Big toe!!!! OUCH!!! My first blister EVER!!!!!!!!! I always vaseline my feet and have NEVER had a blister...... but, then again, I have never had a rock in my shoe that I didn't get out right of way.... no, one does not usually run an additional 4-5 miles with a rock in his/her shoe!!!!!! Well, unless you are PRing!!!! Am I right, or am I right?!!!
And..... goals became clear
Ok, so yes, I had signed up for a full marathon in March.... yes, I was going to run the Albany Snickers Marathon to see if I could improve my time from last year......but, then there was Zooma & a PR!!!! I felt so good running.... even at a comfortable push pace...... this changed my focus on running!!!! I decided that I would like to focus on my half marathon time and then maybe in a year and a half consider running the Albany marathon. I emailed the coach that designs my training plans and he 100% agreed! He, in fact, stated that getting my 13.1 time down is so very important in order to have a better full marathon..... so, there you have it, my focus will be on getting a little bit more speedy!!! We will see what happens....... I feel positive, and honestly, I have a great deal of stress at the moment, and I don't need the stress of training for a full marathon ........ also, I don't need the physical exhaustion that training for a full requires. I feel good about my decision and it just simply sits right with my soul!!!!
The after party was great!!!!! Tents where free massages were given......
There were tables to sit at and a band was playing music ......
A variety of running gear and t-shirts.....
And, a few more pics of the beach......... oh how I need to go to the beach again soon........ the beach is everyone's happy place!!
BACK TO REALITY
Sometimes, we may temporarily escape reality by escaping to places like the beach, however, life is always waiting for us!!!!!
Thursday, tomorrow, I have an appointment with the Dermatologist for a Mohs procedure for skin cancer. I have a skin cancer to the right temporal area of the my head....... Mohs allows the dermatologist to cut away skin tissue and send it to a lab immediately, then the lab notifies the Dermatologist whether he/she will need to make additional excisions. I have had to have this procedure before to the right forehead area right at the hairline. It was a much smaller lesion which makes me more nervous about the current one I have. My previous skin cancer measured only 4mm, but my current is 9mm!!! YIKES!!!!
My previous skin procedure caused fluid to pull to the middle of my forehead for 2 days....and, it hurt! Talk about a headache! see pic below:
I will keep you posted on my procedure and how it goes...... at the moment, I have so many thoughts running through my head..... how long will the incision be, how much hair will Derm have to shave, will I have swelling like before, will I have pain the next day...... ugh..... I try not to worry, but the unknown is scary! I am trying to stay positive. I have 2 additional skin cancers to be removed after this one.....but those are not on my head..... instead, one is on my back to the upper posterior shoulder area and the other to the area between my clavicles. None-the-less, it has to be done...... I have worn sunscreen since age 25, however, I grew up in the 70s and the Derm says that this is damage that most likely occurred prior to me being 20 years old.... doesn't help that I have every risk factor too..... history of severe sunburn prior to age 20, pale skin, blue eyes, family history with my father having skin cancer.......*****SIGH*******
Thank you all who take the time to read this crazy little blog that I write......... liking my Facebook page, following on instagram, subscribing to email, etc is much appreciated! I am no expert when it comes to running, but I hope to motivate those who may think that they are not capable to get out there and RUN!!!! WALK!!!! Just get moving and get healthier!!!!! I started this journey at age 40....... and running truly is an individual path, and your only competition is yourself!!!!! If I can do it....... you can too!!!!!!!! For those who fall into the elite category, I appreciate all your support and advice!!!! I thank you!
UNTIL LATER!!!
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Any PRs or "game changer" races? I feel very comfortable about my decision not to run the full, but focus on my half marathon time
Where is your happy place? Mine is definitely the beach..... and, if I can't have the beach, I run!!!!! Running allows me for one hour to escape and not have to think about anything but my breathing and my running..... it truly is therapeutic!!
When did you start running? What or who motivates you?