Flying Pig Half Marathon 2011

I'm taking a break from the 24 Hours of LeMons reports to write a quick report about the Pig. This past weekend was awesome. I hung out with friends all weekend. Sunday a bunch of us ran the Flying Pig Half Marathon...on a soggy morning after many many soggy weeks. It just hasn't stopped raining here.

This was by far not a very good run for me. I started out feeling great: strong, breathing easily, and no leg pain (which I was worried about happening given the past few runs). I soon realized I was repeating the Pig Half I had in 2009. Once I hit Gilbert and the hills following, I was done. If I wasn't going downhill, it was a struggle to run. I wouldn't even call what I did after mile 6 "running." More of a ...slog...

But it didn't matter. I was out there, moving, enjoying all the others around me, and especially enjoying that so many of my friends were running the race too - that was the best. I was happy to be there. I know I was very under-trained. At about mile 10, I was thinking up summaries up in my head that best captured this race experience. The winner was: Races are a lot more fun when you train for them properly! :)

I'll have to post pictures of the awesome shirts Jess and Daryl made for all of us. They were so great!

And now it's time to pick out some fun races and events for the summer!

Akron Half Marathon Race Report

Saturday Sept. 27th I ran the Akron Half Marathon. I was sick, but it was OK. It was the tail end of the cold and I had been sleeping well thanks to cold medicine. I knew I was going to be slow anyway, so now I had an excuse ;)

Friday around lunch time we dropped the puppies off at the vet and drove up to Akron. It was a long boring drive. I have lost my tolerance of car rides over 2 hours. Maybe I need to reinstate Mad Libs and coloring books for travels above the 120 minute mark.

We stayed with Daryl and Paula in Massilon, which is only about a half hour from the marathon site. Daryl was also doing the half and Paula, sick with bronchitis was doing the full marathon! Paula and I drove down to the Expo while Greg helped Daryl with a photography gig. Then Daryl made us some yummy chicken alfredo and after some digestion and talking we went to bed.

I woke up at 2:30, not being able to sleep. Kind of laid there until 4:15 when the offical alarm went off. Greg was going to go to the race later with David, whose wife was running the marathon as a 3:50 pacer. I was glad he was able to have a spectating buddy and didn't have to get up quite as early.

Paula, Daryl and I headed out the door around 5:00 I think. We got there in plenty of time to find parking, pee, poo, be nervous, and wish each other good luck...all in the dark. Poo-ing in a port-o-john in the dark is not fun. Especially when 5 minutes later you realize the stadium you finish in was open the entire time. Oh well, I suppose the experience counts.

The race started at 7:00. Daryl and I lined up mid-back. Paula was trying for the 4:15/4:30 pace so she went off to find a pacer. The gun went off and we shuffled to the start line. I was actually running by the time we reached the start line, which surprised me for such a large race.

I lost Daryl pretty quickly but was happy to just settle in to my own pace. My first couple of miles were a bit too fast. I took a Hammer Gel at mile 2 and downed some water. I was drinking a lot of water since I was sick. I saw Greg, David and Paula's sister at mile 3. Yay! I was so happy to see them. Then after I passed them I was really disappointed because it would be so long before I saw them again!


















Yay they saw me! Awww... it's gonna be a few more hours...

Mile 4...no water. They had ran out. Hmmm... Mile 6 no water... Panic! Mile 8...barely any water. The race volunteers were running into a building filling jugs and then coming out and pouring while runners who waited with cups passed them under the flowing water. I had another Hammer Gel to take, so I grabbed 2 cups. I downed the one and part of the other. Then I rolled the cup top down a little, folding it, so I could carry it and run without spilling it. I was very nervous they wouldn't have any water for the rest of the race! There was no way I could finish without water.


















Where's the water?!

We were running through a nice neighborhood at this point and some of the residents were standing at the ends of their driveways with hoses. I thanked each one and took some water from one since my belly was revolting from the Hammer Gel. At mile 9, there was water again, and Powerade. I decided I would just take Powerade the rest of the race (if they had it) instead of my last gel because my belly wasn't happy and I didn't know what the aide station liquid status would be anyway.



















Around mile 9.5 - 10 we ran though the University of Akron's campus which was kinda neat. I was starting to fall apart here though. After the freakout of possibly no water and mile 8's extra long water stop, I lost the people I was running with. There were some run-walkers who would pass me, then stop to walk and I'd pass them, then they'd pass me, stop to walk, etc etc. I was enjoying this!! After I lost my "group", I kinda tried to make up time (MISTAKE) and ran fast for a while. Never quite got my heart rate back to normal and started suffering.




















On campus (I think).

Around mile 10, my left knee started throwing a fit. A big twinge and it slightly gave out, so I had to baby it for a while. I was really starting to hurt at this point. I saw Greg and the crew again around mile 10. That really helped! I tried to make a funny face, but it really turned out bad in the photos. I said something like "I"m in pain" and kept trudging on. Next time I'd see them would be in the stadium.




















Hi guys! Ow!!

At mile 11, the half and full marathons split. The full marathon went on to tour Akron, while the half marathon went on a closed down highway. A mile and half of concrete, no spectators (just construction barrels) and a crystal clear view of where you had to run to before you turned around to go back into downtown for the finish. Oh, and did I mention it was all uphill? AWFUL. The only really bad part of the entire race (aside from the water shortage).

There were some volunteers around 12.5 - one lady told me I was looking good.
I told her she was a liar and she laughed but insisted I was doing well. It was funny and I appreciated a little interaction to take my mind off the pain.

Running into the stadium was a lot better than I thought. This was just Akron's AA baseball team's stadium, so it was tiny and not nearly as intimidating as the old Riverfront statdium. I found a wee bit of energy and tried to run a little faster and like I wasn't in pain. It was a very nice finish. And soooo easy to find everyone again!


































Daryl and his cool headband. And he felt good enough to be drinking the free beer they give you.

I grabbed some food and Greg found me at the end of the ramp into the stands. My feet were very swollen so I loosened my shoes and we sat and watched some more of the race. I had Greg bring a soda, as this is my new race recovery drink. I think it helps my sugar/energy levels get back to normal. I've been drinking sunkist or dr. pepper after long runs and feel GREAT right after it!















Mmmmm RC Cola...

Daryl finished his first half in 2:17 which was great. Paula finished around 4:37! Amazing. She had only ran 13.5 miles in training. Crazy girl! My time was somewhere around 2:43, a 12:30 pace which considering all the circumstances, I'm fine with.

Amazingly, all my runs since the race have been sub-11 pace with minimal effort. Finally. I am doing the Mason Mini Marathon in November, which is only 9.3 miles (so funny to say that). I'm hoping to run it around 11:15 pace.

Steph Likes to Spectate

As most of you know, neither Erin nor I did the half Pig this year. Erin is injured and I am slow. In training for the duathlon season this spring and summer, I decided to opt for trying to increase my speed over increasing distance (my body can't do both right now).

I did go to the Pig to root on my friend Paula. She did the half in 2:00!! A 9:16 pace... after having only ran 8 miles as her longest run!

A co-worker of my husband's, Jeff W., did the entire marathon in 3:32...qualifying for Boston! Oh and did I mention he's 54!?!!

A current client, Jeff P., finished his first marathon with Team in Training in 6:13!! And he raised TONS of money for the cause.

I had a really great time spectating. Paula and I got up at 4:45 to leave by 5:00 a.m. We didn't leave until 5:15, but still made it down to the hubby's parking lot, using his pass. We zipped past all the cars waiting in line trying to park in designated lots and had plenty of time to walk to the start. We went in Paul Brown stadium for a potty break and stretching. Paula was nervous and I have to admit I was a little nervous for her. I don't think I'd be able to run 8 miles and then go run a hilly 13.1!

I left Paula in the crowds, setting up her illegal iPod, staged somewhere in the 4:30 - 5:45 pace block. I took some pictures and began to plan my spectating route. The route first goes into Kentucky and then back to downtown Cincy, so I had plenty of time to head up to mile 5's water stop on 7th street. I even made it up in time to see the leaders come through, men and women. Amazing to watch.














Paula is in the middle...above guy in black hat looking down
















Umm...spectating dog in pink collar and ribbons.


I had a ridiculously loud clapper thingy that I got at the Expo on Saturday, so I slap-clapped my arm off. After the leaders went by, the amount of runners in the road slowly increased until it was a full-on stampede, and water/Gatorade cups covered the ground. I wasn't sure if I'd see Paula, but suddenly she was right in front of my face, chomping on her Clif Blocks. We said hi and she looked like she was having an OK time. I spectated a little longer at this spot, then headed back down to the finish line.

I climbed the stairs to the baseball stadium a couple times, trying to figure out where the runners ended so I could find Paula after she was done. Since the streets were corralled, I couldn't easily switch sides and had to go up and around. So I got a stair workout in :) I never did figure it out and decided to try to follow the crowds later when people were finishing. After plastic slap-clapping on one side of the street, I decided to switch sides so I had a better view of the runners. I picked a spot all by myself, around the last mile marker, almost to the crest of a small hill, and started slap-clapping and cheering. It was so fun. I know how important it is for people to cheer you on when you're running...especially in this last stretch of the race! I love to hear the words "almost there" in a race, especially when I know that is in fact true. I saw a lot of heads facing the ground suddenly perk up when I yelled at them, some of them smiling. Usually the people were spread out enough that it was like I was cheering just for them.

Suddenly I saw Paula's yellow shirt! She was early!! I cheered and took a blind picture into the sun, which turned out OK :)














I ran along the route for a bit more so I wouldn't miss her after the food line. Up the dang stadium steps again, and back down to Sawyer Point. Amazingly, I spotted her coming out of the caged off area. If we hadn't found each other there, I'm not sure how much longer we would have spent wandering Sawyer Point!

Though I was so disappointed that I wasn't running too, I thoroughly enjoyed my first spectator-ing at a race. I saw some very interesting gaits (even among the fast people), the guys that run in hospital gowns with prosthetic butts, people dressed up because it was their birthday, a war protester, pig noses, and plenty of pink skirts and tutus.











All done!


And now on to the Tri for Joe, May 18th. Paula is going to come down again for that race and Greg and I are also signed up. None of us are completely prepared on varying levels, but I'm sure we'll have fun!

Happy 30th Birthday Jamie!!!!!

****************************************
Happy Birthday! From your nice new rail, and especially from the gang that's on the rail.
Not sure when you're going to France, but have a WONDERFUL TIME!
Bon Anniversaire! (I think)

Hmmmm....

Hmmm...we just got this picture from Laura and Dan...
I wonder what it means...

But wait! There's More!

sooo....apparently I thanked everyone too soon!
Greg through me a surprise party Saturday night. For those who don't know the story-
Casey and Jannelle came over to our house a little early and we were going to go to Benihanna for dinner. But Jannelle wanted to go to Target first to look for some boots and somehow managed to drag me along. Greg and Casey were going to "work on the water softener".

Lies lies - all lies!

I came back and "Surprise!"
It was a rock star theme- there were temporary tattoos, mohawks, eyeliner on men, rockstar shirts and ridiculous sunglasses worn. I was definitely surprised.

So now, thank you once again to everyone!! I had a wonderful 30th birthday!

Thanks, everyone...

for making my 30th birthday very nice! I appreciate all the "happy birthdays", singing from a few of you, and good times.

I don't feel older, but it does feel weird to say I'm 30. It just sounds so grown up.

And now it's snowing outside like crazy. Tonight we are supposed to celebrate my birthday with Casey and Jannelle so I hope the roads don't get too bad. Don't want to be shut in!

Happy Birthday Pat!

Wooooooo!!!!!














Happy Birthday Pat!

4th of July

Today was the 4th. We had the whole gang over as a sort of farewell to Pat. I actually got a little choked up when we were saying bye to him. It's just a long time and we'll miss him.
Greg and Casey redid Greg's suspension for the BMW. Aparently it's all good and Greg likes.
This new computer kicks ass.
Back to work tomorrow :(