Races and PR’s

As I started writing these races down, I wanted to share a little about them.  Each marathon is it’s own organism, so many weeks and days of training all put together into one race day.  Each day can be filled with heat, rain, wind, snow, and of course, sickness, which effects race performance. A little marathon synopsis will eventually be listed below the marathons.

I’ve never worked so hard for a medal. Any other race, I would have easily thrown in the towel for a DNF. Not the Boston Marathon.

MARATHONS

The Boston Marathon – April 17, 2017 – 3:44:32 – My redemption race. This was one of my favorite days, ever.

THE BOSTON MARATHON – April 21, 2014 – 4:54 – The best race in history. It was absolutely amazing. Epic. I had a hard time with electrolyte depletion (salt since it was warm but not humid so by the time I figured it out, I was dizzy and ready to throw up and had to walk the last 6 miles). It was the best experience ever though. If I know one thing’s for sure, Boston hasn’t seen the last of this girl!

Wrightsville Beach Marathon – March 22, 2015 – 3:52:26

I sort of fell apart at mile 18 in this race, once I realized I went from being one minute ahead of goal time to one minute behind in five miles when I thought I was right on pace. The temps were in the upper 50’s at the start and humidity was 95%, which I’m finding is just too warm for me to race marathons. It was a good race, I was well prepared, and I finished in good time with a smile.

Houston Marathon – Jan. 13th 2013 – PR  3:43:18  And I’m off to Boston!!!!! 

It was windy and pouring rain when this race started, so I would have never guessed it would be my fastest marathon. I didn’t realized until 30 minutes after that I had made Boston. Was an amazing day!

Lincoln Marathon – May 1, 2011 – 3:56:31

This one was the second redemption for the one I blew and then the Stillwater Sauna marathon (see below) the year before, but the day before the race, I got a stomach virus.  Yup, was barfin’ in the bathroom at 10 pm just hours before we were to start.  Was so disappointed at my 3nd attempt at a BQ, but happy I finished sub-4:00 after being so sick.  I couldn’t even eat for a few days after the race so I lost about ten pounds that week. I would’ve traded that for a BQ any day.

Stillwater Marathon – May 30, 2010 – 4:47:57

Oh my goodness, this was supposed to be the redemption marathon for the Lincoln Marathon I didn’t finish a month earlier (see Lincoln 1/2 Marathon below), but who knew there would be a heat wave in Minnesota in May? It got up to 80-something degrees and even the pacer people had to slow down.  I heard they closed the course for heat, but never knew for sure.  I was in shape to run a BQ but this turned out to be a disaster.  At least I was on pace for an entire 10k…. Whoppee.

Sioux City Marathon – October 17, 2009 – 4:12

This is the race that started my quest for Boston.  I had done my running, but hadn’t followed a training plan and had no tempo or speed work incorporated into my workouts. I clearly remember sitting in my mom and dad’s back yard with a Miller Lite, when suddenly, I looked up the time I would have to get to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  At the time, it was 3:45 plus one extra minute (which I didn’t understand why they did that but it didn’t matter because it was changed and that extra minute disappeared, plus they lowered the qualifying times for women by five minutes.)  I figured that if I wasn’t following a plan, I could really work hard to bring that time down to 3:45 and make it to Boston.  Who knew it would take me three years to get that qualifying run and I would be running in Boston five years later!?

Disney Marathon – January 7, 2001 – 4:47:18

I ran this one with a friend where we used the “run 9 minutes, walk 1 minute” method.  I had suffered from IT band syndrome for a few weeks before the race, so I was happy to run this one relatively pain free. I had a great time running this with Catherine – we just had so much fun and it’s quite a bummer that we didn’t have cell phones, especially cell phones with cameras, or I’d have taken tons of pictures along the way.  This was truly a race for fun!

Myrtle Beach Marathon – January  1999 – 4:37:46

This was my first marathon.  I’ve never NOT prepared for a race more than this one, but I was so thrilled to be a part of it and finish.  I never knew that I would end up doing so many more and loving the sport of marathon running!

TRIATHLONS

Ironman Florida – November 7, 2015 – 13:09:30

One of my favorite days of all time, ever.

Beach 2 Battleship Half Iron 70.3 – October 25, 2014 – 6:03:10

1/2 MARATHONS

Myrtle Beach 1/2 – February 15, 2014 – PR – 1:40:15 (even though the results said it was 1:40:12 the first time I checked)

6th in AG of 284, 41st female of 1623, 180th of 2893 overall; very windy, rainy at start but no rain once race got going

Battleship 1/2 – November 2, 2013 – 2:43ish

Beach 2 Battleship as part of relay team – October 26, 2013 –  1:44:11

Galveston 1/2 – February 2013 – 1:50-1:55ish – I cannot, for the life of me, find the results.

New Orleans RNR 1/2 – February 24, 2013 – 1:55:13

Galveston 1/2 – February 2012 – 1:50-1:55 ish – I can’t find the results of this race either.

The Gambler 1/2 Council Bluffs – May 22, 2011 – 1:53:46

134th of 553 overall; 40th of 306 females; 8th of 58 in age group

Des Moines 1/2 – October 17, 2010 – 1:44:45

Lincoln 1/2 – May 2010

Virginia Beach RNR 1/2 – September 2, 2001 – 2:10:40

Mighty Mo 1/2 – no idea when this was or the time I had.

5K’s

Race for the Tata’s – October 4, 2014 – 3rd overall masters – 22:30

Houston Run for Wellness – January 26, 2014 – PR & Overall Female Winner – 21:13

Jingle Bell Jaunt – December 12, 2013 – Masters Female Winner – 22:11

Gallop for the Gravy – November 2013 – Masters Female Winner – 22:20

Houston Run for Wellness – November 2013 – Overall Female Winner 21:52

OTHER:

Beethoven 15k – 1.25.15 – 1:10:45 PR and 1st in AG

Oktoberfest 15k – 9.25.13 – 1:15:40

20/10 10 Miler (20 bands in 10 miles) – March ’13
Spring Thaw 10 miler – 4.4.09 – 1:21:46

Tulip Festival 10k – 5/16/09 – 48:17

Turkey Dash 10k – November 2012 – PR 47:00