The great thing about half marathons is that they don't require much training (if your goal is completion) - I repeat: MUCH training. Then again, some idiots just wing them, asking for pain and injury. Exhibit A: me. My training has been pathetic at barely 20 miles per week, yet I 'winged' my fourth half marathon of 2013 on March 24, 2013. And it did hurt a little, but last year, I ran it on a recently dislocated patella, so there was plenty of room for improvement. So here's the Alamo 13.1 Half Marathon...
On Sunday morning, I parked my car and jumped on a BCycle to ride down to the start/finish at the Alamo. After I checked the BCycle in and got ready for the start, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped ten degrees. So, the first half of the half was run into a 35 mph headwind (I hate running in wind).
The wind ruffles the feathers of the crazy running chicken.
and, somehow, after climbing the hills of Trinity University and turning around, the anticipated tail wind turned into a crosswind - but I had some fun on the Riverwalk
zombie-style. And I finished - probably my best HM of this (non-training) year - but puro crazy running chicken, about to launch.
Then I jumped back on a BCycle to cycle back to the car - and got knocked over by a wind gust. Yeah, I was pretty sore the next day - maybe I train for the next half, no?
Thanks to Victor and PhotoWolfe.com for the pics (PhotoWolfe actually posted all of the pics for free downloading, which was very, very cool)
Cue Aerosmith. Let me try this - listen here while you read?
So, to finish out almost 65 miles of racing in January, I ran the Endurathon (hilly) half marathon on Saturday and the Herothon half marathon on Sunday. Because, I don't wanna miss a thing (and I'm dumb). I laid back in training - just 12 or so miles per week - but laid on the racing mileage this month. I do NOT recommend this approach.
So, Saturday I headed out in the drizzle to run the Endurathon HM through the hills of Bulverde. It was not pretty.
Ironically, though I did not get eaten earlier this month during ~20 miles in Florida by an alligator or 25k in Big Bend by a mountain lion/bear, I almost got crushed by a deer in this race. But I saw a llama, a pig, goats, horses, cows, and many doggies. But it still hurt - especially during the uphill finish - this certainly ain't pretty
And then I took some food, a shower, and a nap - and continued on the weekend-long marathon. (Note: it's almost easier to just run 26.2 in one shot, rather than taking an 18-hour break in between half marathons). So, I went to pick up my race packet at the expo as "Laura Guerrero" (not my usual alias - but it is now my superhero name).
and I tried to look tough - but I really just went to go eat and sleep some more. 'Cause that's what superheroes do.
And then I hit the road again for another 13.1 miles. I won't lie - my mind was beat and my body was beat (and really not decently trained), but I did it (albeit in tights - I hate tights, but I needed some reinforcement to keep my legs and knee from spontaneously exploding).
But, I am not a one-show/pose pony - I still can put on a great running zombie closer to the finish
Wait, no, upon closer examination (I dare you to zoom that pic) - that is clearly surprised crazy running chicken form.
And then, there is that wonderful moment. That moment when you realize that you have 0.1 miles to finish 65 miles of race route over the mere 31 days of the month. Because you clearly couldn't miss out on a thing, because you are dumb, because it is almost done...
And then it is - in perhaps the worst finish time ever
But I finished and got a sparkly medal
So, I made it through a 5k, 197 mile relay in Florida, 25k trail in Big Bend, and 2 HMs in a month. I didn't die, but I may need to edit my races and only do what is sensible, and not what is available. Riiiiiiiiight - I don't wanna miss a thing. So, next up, Superbowl 7k on Sunday. Yeah, I don't learn lessons very well.
Thanks to Belinda, Tom Lake/SARR, and Endurophoto for the pics
So, it's 2010, and it's time to plan on some long races for the year. I was debating running the Endurathon later this month, but probably will run it. The race is 25k (15.5 miles) of tough hills, but I ran about 9 hilly miles on Sunday and felt okay, so I'm sure it won't kill me. And it will certainly net some ugly race pics. And, as I typed this, I realized it is fewer than two weeks away, so I had better just 'man' up and register tomorrow.
Then, there is the Spring half marathon decision. My running buddies are vacilating - New Orleans on February 28 or Dallas on March 14? I would prefer running in NoLo, but I have mandatory, you-must-come-unless-you-are-dead training at work beginning on March 1. However, given the history of the organization for which I work, I suspect that will be cancelled/postponed around February 27 - and I can always fly home just after the race if, perchance, training proceeds as planned (so not likely). There are also a couple of Fall half marathons/over 13 mile races I always run in the Fall as training runs, including the San Antonio Rock N Roll HM, but I will register for those in time (when I get better discount codes from the race organizer).
Then, and then, there is the marathon that I MUST run each year. Some of my running buddies are running NY again - but that involves a lottery to procure the opportunity to pay for registration (grr) and the expenses of NYC. I was looking at Las Vegas in December - mostly because I have never traveled to Vegas (I know, I know, Texans - "WHAT, you've never been to Vegas?!" Um, I've been a lot of other more interesting places instead, and really have never been that interested.). I am also looking at the smaller (I have never run a marathon with under 6-30k runners) Lakefront Marathon in Milwaukee in October. If I could get my seeeeeeesters and dad to run that with/in front of me, that could be fun. But, fiscally-conservatively-thinking, I have many trips planned this year, so it may be wiser to piggy back a marathon on the trip to Nantucket in July - like this nighttime, run around the lake repeatedly, marathon in Massachusetts in July.
It's not that I'm not a spontaneous person, but with all the chaos in life - such as off leash pitbulls running free, making me chase them, and police choppers hovering over my neighborhood at times - I like me some plans sometimes. Especially if those plans involve training/scheduling for a marathon. Suggestions?
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