New Half PR! Tobacco Road Half Marathon

I had heard great things about the Tobacco Road Marathon. I signed up for the half marathon before it sold out. I wanted to prove to myself that I could run another sub 2 hour half marathon. This sounded like the perfect course to do it on. They promote it as  "Flat, Fast, and Fun". I would not call it flat, but it was a pretty fast course with some great downhill sections.

I was excited to be running it with one of best racing buddies, Brittany. I was a little nervous as we had not run together as much lately, so I was not sure how fast her race pace would be. So I was a little worried I would not be able to keep up. I knew it did not really matter because we both are each others cheerleaders, and we highly encourage the other to do their best. -- Running friends are the best!

My day started at an ungodly hour of 3 am.  I got up and got ready to leave at 3:40 am so I could get to the hotel Brittany and her boyfriend, Jason were staying at in Cary for 5 am. I had purchased parking for the race but they said you needed to be there by 5:30 am to guarantee a parking spot. We just chilled in the car for an hour keeping warm before the race. The race started at 7 am. Having to get their so early was my only real big complaint, but it is a very popular race so I guess I just have to suck it up. I know people who had to get up at 2 am for Disney races.

Going into the race I was not sure what my plan was. I really wanted to race it. I am currently training for a 25k (RunnerDude's 25k) for April 4th. I kept thinking that I would race this half and then see how I felt for the 25k as far as actually racing it.

My training runs have been going really well. I have seen a good increase in my speed. So I felt pretty good going into the race. I wasn't really nervous. My plan was just to go by effort and go from there.

The start was very congested. Brittany and I had already talked about starting out slower and not trying to weave in and out of the crowd. Typically you end up just wearing yourself out before you even truly get started. Our first mile was 9:27. We had planned to run near the 2 hour pacer but the crowd was pretty big around them and after the first mile they took off like bats out of hell. I think they were making up for the first mile but it was a little crazy how fast they were going. A group of us were complaining / talking about it.

Eventually we caught back up with the 2 hour pacer and passed them. They finally seemed to be back on track. At that point we were clocking all our miles in under 9 minutes. My secret goal was to try to keep every mile under 9. We only had 3 over 9 minutes and the slowest mile was the first mile.

Most of the course runs on the American Tobacco Trail in Cary, NC. It is a really nice shaded wooded trail, that is mostly compact dirt. It had rained the day before, so I though it felt nice and spongy. Only a few parts were muddy. Also, I like out and back courses. I like knowing what to expect on the way back. Plus I love watching people run by, it makes the time fly by. I'm a people watcher.

Typically when I run with Brittany, we talk the whole time. During this race we barley spoke. We were working hard ;)

When we hit the turnaround point,we had seen the 1:50 pacer pass not too far ahead of us. Then saw the 2 hour pacer behind us. At that point I knew we were near a 1:55 finish. I tried not to get too excited since I knew we had a pretty long gradual hill coming that had the potential to slow us up.

I had a Blueberry Huma Chia Energy Gel around mile 8. Brittany and I had ran 14 miles the weekend before with a 30 minute fast finish. I had not taken in any nutrition during the run, and remembered that I wish I had during those last 30 minutes struggling with my energy level. -- I was having a hard time trying to eat it on the go, going up the gradual incline, and my nose was stuffy so I was having a hard time breathing. I kept laughing to myself, thinking how ridiculous I must look to the people coming the opposite direction. I also wondered if any photographers caught me with gel dribbling out the corner of my mouth, hehe. But I got it done, and it really helped me with the last half.

Toward the end of the race the loudest breather I have ever heard was just behind me to my left. He was driving me crazy. Sometimes just hearing other people struggle can make you tired. Finally he passed us and I was so thankful. He had headphones on, probably so he didn't have to hear himself.

Crossing the finish line together

As we got to the last 5k mark, we started picking local landmarks to compare how far we had left. Brittany would say "we have from the studio to Battleground parking lot". Then "CVS to the studio". It really helped get through those last miles. The best is when we could start to hear the crowd, then you turn the corner and there is the ginormous American flag hanging above the finish. Brittany and I crossed the finish line at 1:55:04. I even got to ring the PR bell. It was all very exciting.

Later we found out Brittany won first place for females in the military for the half. She won $350!

Overall it was an awesome race. I got to PR and do it with one of my best running friends. We are now talking about doing the full next year.

I highly recommend this race. It is a beautiful course.


Here are the stats:

Next up: RunnerDude's 25K!!!

Massacre Marathon Relay Recap

This past weekend I ran in my first relay race. The Massacre Marathon Relay was held at Country Park in Greensboro, NC. The marathon consisted of doing 16 laps around the park.  I was on a team of 4, so we each did 4 laps. I ran last.

My running group, the RUNegades, had 4 total teams competing. We all set up our chairs together and cheered each other on. It was a really fun experience.

The teams were:

• Team Trust (my team)
• Team Believe
• Team Conquer
• Team Preserver

On my team we had Thad (our running coach), Margret, Karen, and Colin. Technically we had a team of five. Thad was having an open house at the studio and had forgotten it was the same day as the relay. So he ran the first 2 laps and Colin was nice enough to run the last 2 laps for his turn. It worked out really well.

Thad ran the first lap, which was the longest lap at 2.2 miles. Every lap after that was 1.6 miles. I was really nervous the first time I went because I was not sure about how to do the baton transition from one runner to the next. It ended up not being a big deal at all.

The baton was a hollow pipe. So the funny thing was that sometimes when I was running, I would naturally bring it up near my mouth. Every time this happen it would make funny sound when I would breathe into it. Kinda like blowing on a paper towel roll tube. It made me chuckle every time.

Country Park is pretty hilly. According to my Garmin I gained 935 ft of elevation during my 4 laps that totaled 6.2 miles. Going into the race I had no expectations of how I would do. I felt ok. Early on in the week I had been dealing with some pretty annoying calf pain. So I was a little worried about how my calves would like this course.

On my first lap I was nervous. It had been a while since I had raced and at a shorter distance. The whole strategy changes. You definitely put the pedal to the floor when you run one of these because you know you can rest in between your turn. I decided not to worry about my time and to only focus on how I felt. I would push it just past my comfort zone. The hills sucked, but I enjoyed the fact that through my training with RUNegades, I am becoming a pretty strong hill runner. Often times I would pass a good number of people on the hills. I would only look at my Garmin when it would signal I had completed another mile.


I could not be more ecstatic about my splits:

My Laps:
Lap 4: 12:22
Lap 8: 12:26
Lap 12: 12:30
Lap 16: 12:38

I cannot believe I went below 8 minute miles, let alone on this course.  I feel so excited, and so sore today, haha. I'm excited to see how much I've progressed in my running since joining the RUNegades.

I'm so proud of every team. We all did it in under 4 hours, which is so cool.

For overall teams this was our places out of 161 finishers: 

Believe - 23rd place in 3:12:56
Conquer - 68th place in 3:44:24
Trust - 76th place in 3:48:55
Persevere - 95th place in 3:59:29

This will definitely not be my last relay race!

Did I mention we got a medal and a hoodie too?!!!

Today I purchased my new best friend for when I have sore muscles, which I definitely have today. It is called the Gaiam Restore Pressure Point Massager. I bought it at Target for about $16, which included NC state tax. It targets pressure points to help increase circulation and alleviate sore muscles. It feels amazing! Why did I not buy one sooner? The foam roller is ok, but this really gets into the spots I need it to, like my calves.

Next up is the Tobacco Road Half-Marathon on March 15th. I plan to do another sub 2 hour half. My first sub 2 hour half  just  does not feel all the way right. My Garmin read only 12.83 at the end of the race instead of 13.1. So I want to do it and feel really good about it. The course was certified but I still feel like a cheater. That is just too big a difference.

Wish me luck!

Fitletic Hydration Belt Review

I run all my long runs with my Fitletic Hydration Belt. I absolutely love it. My first hydration belt had one big water bottle that you wore to the back. The waste strap had no give to it and was made of nylon. I hated it for my long runs because if it happened to touch my bare skin, it would rub me raw. Also, as I would lose some water weight as I would run, the whole belt would loosen and really start bouncing. Trying to adjust it on the fly was horrible. It drove me crazy. I hated spending so much effort on something I felt I shouldn't have to worry about.

Wearing my Fitletic 16oz Hydration Belt
during my first marathon.

The Fitletic belt is so comfortable. The waste band is elastic and never bounces. The material of the pouch and water holders are like a wetsuit. It is pretty waterproof, and it is a comfortable material. I have never had chafing problems with this belt.

The center pouch can fit a good amount of things in it. I keep 2 GUs, chap-stick, headphones, and my car keys in it. For my marathon I used the two exterior GU loops, which also worked great.

I prefer to wear mine towards the back

It has two 8oz bottle holsters. In the summer I like to fill one bottle with a sports drink and the other with water. It did take me a while to like having two water bottles. I was used to having just one big one. I had to get used to drinking from two and having them balance. I hate when one is full and the other is empty. Not a big deal, it can just feel off balanced. So I just rotate drinking from each bottle back and forth to keep them balanced.

I thought I would like the race bib toggles, but the way I wear
the belt low makes it so the bib would hang down way too low. Plus I like to wear everything to the back. It just feels more comfortable.

I like to have my Galaxy S 3 with me for emergencies so I also bought the Running Belt Phone Holder Accessory. My ginormous phone fits in it perfectly. I also put a credit card and some cash in the interior pocket encase I need it. I have worn it during a lot of rain, and so far it has fully protected my phone. It gives me fast easy access to my phone, which is really convenient.

Overall I absolutely love this hydration belt. It is comfortable and durable. I like that it is mostly black and blends into my running clothes. It's a must need accessory for me, but not one that I want to be flashy about. I have ran 6 half marathons with it and one full marathon. Not to mention the hundreds of training miles. It is so comfortable that I even forget I am wearing it after the first couple of miles.

I highly recommend it!

What's New 2015?

Well I obviously have not been blogging since the marathon. The holidays were a complete blur. I cannot believe we are already into February of 2015. Time sure waits for no one.

Last year was a really great running year for me. I ended up finishing the year with 1,150 running miles. My original goal had been 1,000, but then when I hit my goal two months before the end of the year, I decided to go for 1,200. I missed it by 50 miles due to my recovery week after the marathon and then my complete laziness during Christmas week. However, I don't regret it at all. In 2013, I ran 410 miles, so I more than doubled that in 2014. It was the first year I consistently ran all year. It truly is a part of my life now.


2014 Running Year Highlight Recap:

• I ran 6 half marathons -- RNR Raleigh, Race 13.1 Greensboro, Race 13.1 Midtown Raleigh Fall, Race 13.1 Fayetteville, Greensboro Half and the YMCA Mistletoe half.
• 5K PR of 25:23 and won third in my age group
• Finally ran a sub 2 hour half marathon
• Ran my first official 10 mile race, and killed it with awesome friends. Not to mention got third in my age group.
• Trained and ran my first marathon - OBX Marathon
• Ran 1,150 miles
• Ran a 90 day consecutive run streak of at least 1 mile
• My favorite -- I made amazing friendships along the way!!!

This year I am attempting to do the Run 2,015 miles in 2015. I'm running as a 3 person team, Collective sMiles. I was almost going to attempt it myself, but that averages to about 5.5 miles a day. I want to run happy and injury free. I'm still going to see how many miles I can get in this year. I just want to be smart about it. A challenge like this is not worth the risk of overdoing it. Plus doing it as a team is fun. In January I ran 120 miles, which is my second highest mileage month to date.

I am currently training for my running coaches first official race, the RunnerDude’s Trust. Believe. Conquer 25K. It has been a great way to keep my long run miles up. Plus I love supporting his business, and I'm excited to run with all my Greensboro running friends. It should be a really fun race.


I am doing my first relay race next weekend. It's the Massacre Marathon Relay. I'm running with a team of four.  It should be a good time. My running group, the RUNegades, has four teams running. The four teams are Trust, Believe, Conquer, and Perseverance. We are team Trust.


Well hopefully my next post will be about my awesome marathon relay experience :)