Sumner Rotary Freedom Fest 5K - July 3rd 2010

This was a nice hometown race. Not a huge crowd, but enough to make it seem like a “real” race. Had chip timing, race bibs & published results, so it counts! Just Jenn & I for this one, everyone else was busy or still recovering from RNR. Nice FLAT course through the streets of Sumner. Race results posted almost immediately, which was so cool!! Jenn & I both ran our fastest 5K times ever!! Pretty surprising considering we just did a half marathon the week before. I know I still felt like a slug & my left foot still hurts from the blister healing!!

Jenn finished in 33:54 & I was 35:43. I think my previous best was 38:25, so shaved almost 3 minutes!! I’d been aiming for under 36, so now I have my sights on under 30!! Since the field was so small, about 128 finishers, I thought maybe Jenn would qualify for an age group award. But WOW, our age group top 3 were faster than the 35-39 AND the 40-44 groups!! Guess we need to kick it up a lot more, LOL!! But really, I am happy to just finish…but still, I AM pretty competitive at heart… ;-)

Fun race, will do again…and maybe Tony will actually make it to see me at the finish line next time. A hometown race & he STILL missed…he won’t go to Seattle races. Hates crowds & hates Sea-town. he thought this one would start late & take me an hour!! Sheesh!! At least Pat (Jenn’s hubby) brought us coffee, yay!! Thanks Pat!! But T did buy me another one later to make up for it :)

Me & Jenn & our coffees!! And water too :)

Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Race Recap...AWESOME TIME!!!

I did it!! I FINISHED my FIRST HALF MARATHON!! Woo Hoo!! The Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle (06.26.10) was the BEST race to do for my first one AND I am so glad that I did it with Team in Training!! What an awesome experience!! We had our three coaches that helped us through the season in prepping for the race. But during the race we had EVERY coach from ALL the teams across the U.S. cheering us on! So cool!! We had our names on the front of our jerseys & Jenn said it was like running with a celebrity, LOL!! “Go Stacy!!” “Looking good Stacy!!” SO helpful to keep pushing on. I want to wear my jersey every race, LOL!!

I found Jenn & Jammie in the starting corrals so we started off the race together. Also saw friends Kim Gleason & Diane Fairfield in the crowd before. That was so lucky, considering there were only 27 THOUSAND+++ people entered!! Crazy!! Brianna started back a bit farther with Jennie since they were both walking.  The starter’s gun went off right at 7 AM, but it took us 55 MINUTES for our group to get to the start line!! Due to the number of people they start in corrals based on estimated finish time, slower to the back, and release a corral every 1-2 minutes. But still, fun times!!

Brianna & I waiting to go to start corrals (this is around 5:30 AM!!)

Jenn ran with me most of the time, doing my 7:1 run/walk intervals; run 7 mins, walk 1 min. She’d never really done that before & thought it worked out pretty well. Our coaches say it’s been shown to help even an experienced runner finish faster overall. Taking the small break rather than running until exhaustion helps keep something in the tank at the end.

Kim & I before race

About mile 5.5 I felt blisters develop on the ball of both feet, ugh!! Only had one tiny blister the whole training season & I ran more than 6 miles many times! But I kept going. Saw Diane out on the course too & several of my Tacoma TNT Teammates as well. By mile 10 I told Jenn to go on ahead, she was feeling a bit speedier & I was hobbling my way the last 3 miles, seriously.  I was SO glad to see Coach Courtney downtown with just over one mile left! It really gave me a boost. She’s been a huge motivator all season! The last ¾ mile in the Alaskan Way Viaduct another TNT coach ran with me a bit. I think she saw I was slowing & she said she would “take me in.” That was so cool that someone I didn’t even know would run to the finish with me!

Jenn & I at Mile 7...over Half way there!!

But I had just spotted Jenn about 100 feet ahead & told the coach I’d catch up with my friend. Turns out, Jenn was helping another gal out in a similar way. They had been chatting and the gal was having stomach issues, but Jenn encouraged her through, told her she could do it!! When I caught up they were just getting ready for the final push, so I let them go on. They sprinted to the end, so cool!! Right then my friend Cat texted that she & Mike were at the bottom of the Viaduct ramp, so I ran down, got hugs from them & finished the last ½ mile…and they had cut through the buildings so they were on the side of the finish chute as I came through! It was awesome to see them there too!!

I DID IT!! I DID IT!! :))))

Got my awesome Rock ‘n’ Roll medal & snacks, then headed to the TNT tent to check in. Got a special TNT 13.1 pin to go on the medal of my ribbon or wear on a jacket (had to buy a Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon official jacket ). And they had PB&J sandwiches & bananas too. PB&J never tasted so good!! Feet hurt, but my blisters didn’t look bad enough for medical attention, until I got home of course. But made it through the afternoon & our TNT Victory Party at Gameworks that evening. Though I did skip the club hopping a few other teammates did!!  Briannna & I had a great time with TNT overall!!


So, while I’m never going to qualify for the Boston Marathon, I did beat my goal of under 3 hours; I finished in 2:54:59! Can only get faster from here, I hope…we’ll find out this weekend! I’m doing the Langley Half on 7/11. Will be a beautiful run on South Whidbey Island, will be spending the weekend in Anacortes, love the islands. I want to do all the Island runs next year, will just depend on school, and of course the budget…need more free races, but I do like the hardware, LOL!!!


Here’s my “photo journal” of the weekend that I posted on Facebook, it should be viewable without an account: PHOTOS

Rock 'n' Roll Countdown!!

Last Saturday the 6th was our longer TNT training run of the season.  And I did it!! I ran for 2 1/1 hours, my longest ever.  Got 11 miles in!! It was a beautiful day to run through 5 Mile Drive & beyond.  I think I will be able to finish the half in less than my estimated 3 hours.  Yes, I am slow, but I WILL finish!!  

My feet were burning the last mile, so I may check out some different socks in the next week.  Or bring an extra pair to change on race day.  I wore my old shoes on my short recovery run Sunday and I really do  like them better than my current shoes.  But I think they are a little too worn out to go the distance.  And it's too close to race day to get a new pair, even if it fit the budget.  They'll work, but something to keep in mind.  The insoles I bought at Route 16 seemed to aggravate my hip issue & knees too, so took them out.  They should be fine in my hikers.  The Target ones seem to work best, LOL!!

Signed up for a third half also! The You Go Girl Half in Tacoma on Sept 26th.  A group of us from TNT & other friends formed a team for a discount.  We may get some shirts to wear as the "Racing Divas".  Not too hot on the name, but running with friends is the best part.  So I'm signed up for 3 halfs, contemplating a full & I haven't even run ONE half yet!! But love the feeling of accomplishment of what I've already done! Thanks to a lot of support & encouragement from my family, friends & TNT Teammates!

ONE MONTH Until Rock 'n" Roll Time

It is exactly ONE month until the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle!! My first half marathon! I am feeling very good about the running part, it will be my longest run & I am slow...but I will finish!! :)  I have already signed up for a second half marathon two weeks later!  Still have about $200 left to meet my Team in Training fundraising minimum...I am hopeful I will get there too!

Great Kilted Run @ Magnuson Park

It was a cold, cold windy day, but at least the rain stopped for us!! Lots of great kilts & nice scenery, even Lake Washington with it's whitecaps! Unfortunately it was too cold to stay & enjoy the beer garden, so we went to breakfast instead :) Toni wasn't able to join us since she had to work, so Jenn suggested we go eat at Pat's Bar & Grill where she works, so we got to see her anyway. Great idea! Enjoyed a nice HOT shower when got home!

Signed Up for my Second Half!!

I signed up for the Langley Half Marathon yesterday!! Did it before the price went up by $10.  It's July 11th, 2 weeks after the Rock 'n' Roll, so completing it will qualify me for the Half Fanatics!!  I am thinking positive!! Not sure if anyone else is going to run it with me yet, but oh well!! It will be a nice weekend on Whidbey Island & the course is fully along the water.  Fort Casey is just over 30 minutes away, so we will probably take a couple days off & take our trailer & stay there, we try to go every year anyway.  Then Tony can drop me off on race morning! Will have a couple extra sleeping spaces if someone else does come up.

Still debating on whether to do the half or full for the Seattle Marathon.  Will wait to see how I do with these two and how my hip holds up.  Went to TNT practice Saturday and went almost the full 2 hours scheduled.  Walked much of it, but it actually felt better to run.  My doctor said I could "maybe" run a mile on Sat & I went 6 total...OOPS!  Well, I didn't feel bad after, but I did take the next 2 days easy to be safe.  Went for my first weekday run today.  Was scheduled for 50 mins, but stopped at 45.  Was a tough run & was starting to feel lopsided in the hips & didn't want to overstress.  Will see how tomorrow goes.  Want to be able to do my long run Saturday when I'm in Anacortes, can't wait to run the park loop along the water! 

Time Out from Training - Darn Hip!

So, I aggravated my hip pain with my run on Sunday.  It was worse Monday morning so I decided to go to the doctor.  My medical coverage is not that great and if I want to go to physical therapy I have to get a written prescription from my doctor.  But I have a super high deductible to satisfy before they pay.  BOO!!

Anyway, I do really like my doctor.  He is a runner, so understands my wanting to get back ASAP.  I didn't strain the muscle, but rather have an inflamed bursa of the hip joint.  Not fun.  My options were rest for several weeks and not run at all & de-condition...um, no...NOT an option.  The Rock & Roll Seattle is in less than 8 weeks!  

Or I could get a cortizone injection. It will take about 3 weeks for full effect, but can start running again in a few days.  Ok, will give that a try.  YEOUCH!! Not a fun injection, but it has given some relief already after one day.  He said I could walk a BLOCK on Thurs & a half mile on Friday.  Then maybe jog a mile on Sat.  Well, better than nothing.  Though as I got back to work after the appointment and walk from the parking area to my office, I realized I had measured it as a QUARTER MILE before.  More than just a block!! So I got permission to park closer for the rest of the week.  But I had to go to Target tonight, a bit of walking there!

It will be hard to not push too hard the next week or so, but I will have to hold back so that I will be healthy & ready for the big race June 26th...and more after that!! I still have thoughts of doing the FULL Seattle Marathon in November...we'll see!!