Rock n Roll USA Half GOALS
Happy Thursday, everyone! I worked my three nights this week and now I’m off for five…after being crazy busy at work and fighting some sort of cold (go away, ASAP, please), I’m excited for these nights off. Especially since I slept until 4pm yesterday (high five for my night nurses who realize that waking up at 4pm is considered early in our world…) and then was able to go back to sleep for another seven hours last night. Night shift, you win.
However, that meant that I was up at 8am on a normal schedule, although a nap may be in my future. I am definitely pleased to be on a normal schedule, as Saturday is RACE DAY. Time is certainly flying and I can’t believe that tomorrow I’ll be heading to DC to see Jess and run the Rock n Roll USA Half Marathon on Saturday.
I’m a wee bit nervous…it’s my first race race post-injury, and I haven’t been feeling all that fantastic these past few weeks. My long runs have been great, but my workouts have been quite meh. I took a few days off while I fought these cold and night shift (since I don’t sleep all that while during the day anyway, I can take all the sleep I can get…) and decided to try some speed yesterday. I ran two mile at attempted half marathon pace then stopped…see also: Don’t start half marathon pace on Harlem Hill. Way to set yourself up for failure, Susan. I hit pace but felt terrible, and I realized that snot rockets with actual snot are much grosser than just “it’s cold and my nose is running” snot. Sorry for that.
So anyway, I can’t say I’m feeling all that optimistic about this half. I’m chugging water and nuun to stay hydrated before this and hoping that my cold magically goes away. I feel better today than I did yesterday, but not 100%. Definitely nervous.
My original plan was to try for sub-1:30, and I’m still going to try. My current PR is 1:33:54 at the 2011 Manhattan Half, which I ran without too much thought going into my pace. In fact, I’ve never really ran a half with a goal time in mind. Sub-1:30 would require a 6:50 pace, and to say hearing 6:XX as a pace for 13.1 miles scares me would be an understatement. I’ve had some good workouts this training cycle, so we’ll see what happens.
Of course I’ve been eying the elevation chart…
…and thinking, “Well,miles 4-7 won’t be so fun…” I guess the key will be to take it a little easy on these miles and take it all back on that downhill from miles 7-11. Then hang on for dear life at the end.
So basically…
Goals
A Goal: Sub-1:30. This would be fast.
B Goal: PR = sub 1:33.
C Goal: Remember how to race. It’s been awhile.
That’s pretty simple. I suppose. My bib number is 2826, and I’d tell you how to track me…but you have to pay for it and I think that’s silly. But if you’re really inclined to spend $2 to track me you can go here. Search for my name and away you go.
And if spring could return at least for Saturday morning, that would be nice. Not sure what I’m racing in yet, although I can never bring myself to race in anything but shorts…that might be a poor choice since it might only be 30 degrees at the start. Capris, maybe?
Anyone else going to be at the half? Any tips for racing a half? I have no idea what I’m doing…
That’s less than 150 feet over 3 miles. That won’t be bad at all. You’re going to kill it !
So I live/run in DC, and the worst part of miles 4-7 is going to happen right after the start of mile 6 when you have a long, steep uphill coming out of Rock Creek Park. (Not sure how well the elevation chart conveys this!) It’s mostly not-terrible gentle uphills to then, then big sucky uphill, then you’re out of the woods. Good luck! You’ll really be able to pick it up in the second half.
I am not sure what your training like but I have been doing higher mileage and I feel like my long runs are fantastic and easy and my workouts have been kinda meh. This week after cutting back on mileage it was interesting to see how much easier it was to run at faster paces. I am signed up for the half but may not be racing for several reasons (nothing bad). Good luck! I am sure you will do great and a half is always better than a 10k!!
You got this girl! You’re right, your long run have been awesome. Now you just have to race a shorter distance at a slightly faster pace. I ran the RnR USA half last year and the climb at mile 6 is by far the worst you will have to deal with the entire distance. The other ‘hills’ just feel like they’re rolling a bit. Good luck!
Good Luck! If I were racing a half, I’d try to tuck right in behind you and hold on. Sub 1:30 is yours!! Go get it girl!
I’m really excited for you and this, and can’t wait to hear about it. You’re going to do GREAT. With speed….
I think sub-1:30 is yours! I would track everyone I know that’s running, but in an effort to rest up for the NYC Half, I’ll just wake up when it’s over and look up all the results.
It’s also supposed to be cold here, and I too don’t want to race in anything but shorts. I’ll probably go with long sleeves, though, so I’ll just tell myself that there will probably be shirtless crazies out there so my shorts won’t be the poorest choice.
Good luck tomorrow!
Good luck tomorrow! I’ll be running the full marathon. I understand being nervous about that part of the course that goes up hill but it really won’t be too bad.