Got My Jersey!!

I got it!! I'm officially a Half Fanatic!! 

Well, I was on the 11th, but now I have proof, LOL!!

Langley Half Marathon 7/11/10

So, I decided that I wanted to be an official crazy person and join the Half Fanatics (www.HalfFanatics.com). To qualify, I could either run 3 half marathons in 3 months or 2 in 16 days. Well, 3 in 3 sounded easier, but I couldn’t find any that fit my schedule with school weekends, so I signed up for the Langley Half Marathon (South Whidbey Island) on 7/11/10, two weeks after the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle. I was on my own for this one too, everyone else thought I was crazy doing one so soon after Rock 'n' Roll.  Oh well!! It was MY personal challenge :)

The race was advertised as “Gently Rolling Hills”…no problem I thought, I trained on hills at Vassault & 5 Mile drive with Team in Training, no biggie!! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!! “Gently Rolling Hills” is their inside joke for 57 hills in 13.1miles with a BIG @$$ hill at the turn around at half way!! Ok, maybe not quite 57 hills, but it was a lot!! Up & down, up & down…never ending.One tough course!! Even the guy who won it said it was hard!! Langley Half Article

On my way!! (In green shirt)

But, I did it!! Forgot my iPod & slow poke me was near the back of the pack so was alone pretty much after the turn around. But I pushed on & DID IT!! And only 3 minutes slower than my Rock ‘n’ Roll time. Still under 3 hours, if barely…2:57:54. I battled blisters with Rock ‘n’ Roll, hills in Langley. I’d rather take hills overall, much quicker recovery :)

Only 5K to go!! :)

Bad thing about this one is that being a smaller race the support at the end wasn’t very good, since most people were already done. I didn’t even get a bottle of water, had to buy some from the vendors of the street fair!! Not cool! But the support on course was great, even if stupid people in cars did not obey the road closed signs and still zoomed down the road. But the Sheriffs usually caught up with them. Chatted with a few people on the course & even met a gal from Yakima area that had done TNT winter season to do the RNR Arizona in January. Found out later that she is friends with my cousins who live over there, pretty cool!! Small world!

At the finish line I had Tony & Connor waiting, Connor was my official race photographer, LOL!! It was great to have them there. And a fantastic surprise was my awesome friends Cat & Brianna plus their hubbies Mike & John, cheering me on right before the finish line! So cool!! They planned it a couple weeks ahead & were able to keep it secret, even from Tony, they told me they were going for a Harley ride that day.  And they did! To Langley!!

I DID IT!! #2 in the bag - I'm a Fanatic now!! :)

My awesome friends & hubby!!

So, now I am a Half Fanatic, number 491!! Should be getting my jersey any day!! Now to add some “moons” to my number…having different “streaks” of half marathons.  The next streak I could do is 6 in 6 months, I have 4 on the books (Sept & Nov coming up), but can’t find ones that fit my schedule in Aug & Oct...but there will be plenty of time to add…I’m going to keep on running.  A marathon’s out for this year…but next year…??? There is the Marathon Maniacs…

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!