MY QUEST TO 50-CONNECTICUT

MY QUEST TO 50

6 Down 44 to Go

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT

Half Marathon 13.1 Miles

October 13, 2012

On Saturday October 13, 2012 I ran the Hartford, Connecticut ING Half Marathon. This was my 11^th Half Marathon and 6^th State on my Quest to 50.

Day before the Race

I traveled to Hartford by bus with my friend Lara; we arrived the day before the race. We checked in our hotel and had lunch and then we were off to the expo to pick up our race packets.

Race Day

The morning of the race we woke up to get ready for an 8am start; the temps were chilly 32 degrees. We were not prepared to run in this cold especially since a week before it was 80 degrees, big weather transition. We got to start of race everyone is cold and shivering and jumping around to stay warm. The gun goes off and I feel the chill in the air and fingertips were cold already but I tried to keep a steady pace. After a few miles I found my rhythm and kept my body moving. At mile 10 I hit my wall, I think with all the marathon training I am mentally burnt out and just can’t wait till it’s over. I am excited to run the NYC Marathon yet I can’t wait till it’s over.

 

 

Until next time, Happy Running!!



My Quest to 50- Connecticut

MY QUEST TO 50

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT

Half Marathon 13.1 Miles

Been a while since I last posted but I am still training for the Marathon and continuing my quest to 50.  Today makes 10 days from my next Half Marathon which will be in Hartford, Connecticut and it will be my 5^th Half Marathon this year and will be my 6^th State. This half marathon will also be my last race and part of my training before the big day on November 4^th, the NYC Marathon.

I am on my 12^th week of my 16 week Marathon training and boy am I tired of running haha but I know putting in all this hard work will be worth it come race day. This coming week I will be completing 20 miles which is what they call the wall in a Marathon 26.2 miles. A lot of people have different views on what the wall is for them, they have reached their plateau and it becomes all mental the next 6.2 miles. I ran my first marathon last year in Philadelphia and I can say I struggled a bit after mile 18 and 20 and what I can say to push you through those last 6 miles it was all Heart for me. How bad did I want to run through that finish line and not walk and do it with Pride? Like they say Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever! I was so happy finishing that race that I wanted to dance when I heard the salsa band playing but could only move my shoulders because my legs were done haha.

I’m hoping to be more successful this year because I am running in New York my hometown and feeding off the crowd and finishing off in the place where I train which is Central Park.

I will post on how my 20 miles went, haven’t run that much in a while, although a couple of weeks ago I completed a race called the 18 Mile Tune up, so I was pretty close.

Until next time, Happy Running!

Connecticut

MY QUEST TO 50

5 Down 45 to Go

My next race will be in Hartford, Connecticut on October 13, 2012; this race will be a half marathon (13.1miles) and will be my 6^th State on my Quest to 50. As you see in my United States map I’ve been filling in each state as I run them, there is a whole lot of white in there but I’m not planning on rushing to complete my goal. New York isn’t filled out although I’ve ran plenty of races in NYC but I am counting this year’s marathon as my #7.

Today makes 60days away from the NYC Marathon (26.2 miles) which will be on November 4, 2012.  I’m looking forward to a mini break afterwards, well for a couple of weeks then back to training again. In 3 weeks I have a race called the Tune Up which is a 18 mile run in Central Park to prep you for the Marathon, it will be 3 loops around the park which I’ve never done before but I’m up for the challenge.

Until next time, Happy Running!!!

5 DOWN 45 TO GO- RHODE ISLAND

MY QUEST TO 50

5 Down 45 to Go

PROVIDENCE ROCK AND ROLL HALF MARATHON 13.1

                                                     PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

AUGUST 19, 2012

On Sunday August 19, 2012 I completed my 10^th Half Marathon since 2009 and completed my 5^th state on my Quest to 50.

DAY BEFORE RACE

My race buddy for this trip was my friend Farah, we arrived in Providence, Rhode Island Saturday morning and went straight to the Rhode Island Convention Center to pick up race packets. After the expo we checked in to our hotel which was walking distance from the convention, we stood at the Hilton Providence Hotel, which was perfect location for race and expo and bus station.

Later that evening we went to Providence’s Little Italy on Federal Hill, again walking distance from hotel. We decided to have our carb loading meal at a place called Medaterrano which was very good; I had chicken Piccata and Penne. After dinner we took a walk to Waterplace Basin where they had a Water Fire show at sunset and before that a Brazilian Ceremony which was really nice.

RACE DAY

Wake up time was at 5:00 am, I started to eat my breakfast and hydrate and tried to keep my eyes open, so not a morning person. No matter how many races I have done, early mornings are no fun for me. We arrived to start of around 6:15 or so we checked out bags, waited on long porta potty lines then we went to race start.

BAG CHECK

So I was warned about the hills in Providence when I first signed up for it, which I had to get in my state and suck it up. As I looked at the elevation chart pre race, it didn’t look too bad. As I started my run I was at a good pace perhaps I thought I started too fast but think my pace has just gotten faster since I have incorporated speed runs into my training. As I reached mile 2 there was a bit of an incline, and in my head I said “sheesh I’m not even warmed up yet” but I got that one over with. A couple of miles later, I reach mile 4 that was one that I said Oh Damm you gotta be kidding me. I train in Central Park so I’m used to the hills but this one was very steep but good training for my friend Farah who is doing a race in San Francisco, hill city.

I think this course was one of the toughest courses I have done but overall I surprisingly did very well by shaving 3secs off my personal record, I know it’s only 3 seconds but I actually thought I wasn’t going to break the 2hr mark. As I reached mile 13 there was another hill, not as steep yet when you get to 13 all you’re thinking is booking it to the finish line but then I had to worry about a hill as well.

  

 

Once I crossed the finish line I went was happy for it to be over, I fueled up with chocolate milk and water and a granola bar. I relaxed on the lawn at the finish and iced my legs and stretched. When Farah and I were ready we walked over to the post race concert and had our free beer that is provided post race, I am so not a beer person but I took a few sips lol

I had a great weekend, race was tough but did well and I will just continue training for the NYC Marathon coming in November.

Next stop will be Hartford, CT in October as I continue my Quest to Run 50 states. Stay Tuned!!

 

MY QUEST TO 50

4 Down 46 To Go

18 DAYS TO PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

NYC Marathon training has officially begun and I am 18days away from my next Half Marathon in Providence, Rhode Island. This past weekend I had my first Long Training Run in Central Park with the NY Road Runners Club, we had an option of 4 different distances (6miles, 11miles, 16miles and 20miles). Since I just started training 2weeks ago I went for the 11mile distance, it was tough with the hills in Central Park and the humidity didn’t help too much along with a 7am start, sooo not a morning person. My knee started to bother a bit toward the second lap in the park but I conquered the hills and finished strong. My friend and I even took a picture while tackling mile 9-10 looking strong.

After any exercise don’t forget to stretch and when I get home I use a foam roller where you can also find at your gym to massage your muscles. 

Until Next Time, Happy Running!!

MY QUEST TO 50

MY QUEST TO 50

4 Down 46 to Go

My next state to run will be in Providence, Rhode Island which is about a month away and is a Half Marathon (13.1m), looking forward to visiting and checking out the sites while I’m there.

Marathon Training has officially begun this week, the first of my long run will be 8-9miles this week and I have a Boomer Cystic Fibrosis 10k (6.1m) race this coming Saturday in Central Park. I was sidelined for about a week on running because I started to get a weird feeling in my knee, not so much pain but felt some type of movement going on. I went to the doctor and I have runners knee which can be taken care of with the proper stretches and exercises. I am gradually building back up to running, my last long run was 2weeks ago which was 7 miles. Hopefully I will be at 10-12 miles by the time I have my long training race through New York Road Runners on July 28 which will be in Central Park as well.

Also with these hot days ahead please be sure to stay hydrated and be careful running outside.

Until next time, Happy Running everyone!!

MY QUEST TO 50

MY QUEST TO 50

4 Down 46 To Go

So it’s been a while since I’ve written a blog maybe because I haven’t had many races to talk about or training runs. My next Half Marathon and state is exactly 2 months away from today. I will be running in Providence, Rhode Island which I am looking forward to visiting.

My last race was 2 weeks ago on my birthday a Woman’s 10k (6.2miles) which I had a great time running and PR’d (personal record) that race despite being diagnosed with bronchitis 2 weeks prior. I definitely took it easy during the race but it was awesome running on my birthday and getting birthday wishes along the race. Here are some pictures I took from on my birthday; some of us wore skirts to make the race even more girly.



My training will start in a couple of weeks once I feel 100% better and legs will be ready to hit the pavement. Besides the next half marathon coming up, I will be starting Marathon training in Mid-July, I will be running for the first time this year the NYC Marathon which I’m very excited about.

Until next time, Happy Running!!!