2014 Shamrock Half Marathon Race Recap

Over the past couple of years, I’ve read quite a few running blogs & have thoroughly enjoyed reading their race recaps. Now that I am a certified RRCA Running Coach with clients to train, have a website & blog to run, & am upping my overall running game, I figured it’s time I join the fad. Some people may call it cheesy, but if I can help ONE person to reach their goal of completing the distance I raced, then I call it a WIN. Enjoy!

 

The 2014 VA Beach Shamrock ½ Marathon was my third time running this particular race. My first race “hat trick”, if you will. I knew the course. I knew the terrain. I knew the flatness it offered. I knew the windy areas. I knew when the end was approaching, which would be the time I needed to “kick it” {as my husband would say}. Past performances have yielded a 2:15:49 (10:34/mile) in 2011 & a 1:56:27 (8:53/mile) in 2013 (my half PR leading up to the race). I had essentially since PR’d the half marathon distance in my recent training runs, so I knew I would beat my one year old record. I was more focused on a bigger goal…. getting out of the 1:50s for my half marathon distance personal best time!

As race day approached, I tried to focus on my water intake & carbohydrate loading. Although I pretty much solely drink water anyway, I focused on making sure I got in 34oz. (the volume in a tall Smart Water bottle) prior to lunchtime. If I could achieve this, I would guarantee 64+ oz. for each day (I tend to drink more in the afternoon/evening & struggle in the morning). For my pre-race dinner, I made a homemade classic, Chicken Piccata. I use a recipe from MyRecipes.com, which I have modified over the years. To complement the protein dish, I cooked organic spaghetti (Trader Joe’s brand) & baked artisan whole grain rolls with flaxseed (Alexia brand). After giving my dinner plenty of time to digest, I went to bed around 10pm.

I had already laid out all of my clothes on the day prior, to avoid any last minute decisions on race morning. My attire included (listed in head-to-toe fashion): Green sweaty band with a grey reflective stripe, Black Juno Moving Comfort sports bra, Green/Pink “Superman” runner shirt, Black “Fast Track Shorts” by Lululemon, Pink Zensah compression leg sleeves, Green Injinji toe socks, & Saucony Guide 7s. I also wore my Garmin Forerunner 305 & my armband iPhone holder. Race morning would be around 46°F, so I also had a “throw-away” sweatshirt to stay warm until the gun went off.

Race morning started with a 5:25am alarm. We had prearranged the driving logistics so that I would ride to the race with my high school friend Mary & then ride home with my hubby Scott. Mary & her husband arrived at 5:45am & we headed to the beach. En route, we picked up one of Mary’s friends’ who lived close to the oceanfront. Driving from her friends’ house to the start proved to be a slow go. Eventually, we made it to the drop-off point, close to the start, with about 20 minutes to spare. After discovering that our planned pee spot (The Cavalier Hotel) was not open to runners, we headed to the port-a-potty line. After a 5 minute wait, bladder relief came. Next was The National Anthem, then bolting to the corrals. I was placed in Corral 2, which wasn’t very far away; thank goodness(!). I had about 2 minutes to strip my sweatshirt off, put my armband on, find the playlist on my phone, & get my Garmin satellite going. Such a difference from last year where the race start was delayed by about 10 minutes! I was very glad I had ZERO time to think or get race jitters, but annoyed I had no time for a warm-up. And then, WE WERE OFF!!

The hectic time of getting to the start line had split me up from Mary & I hadn’t connected, except via phone, with my running partner Julie; so, I was on my own. The crowded start slowed me down a bit, but overall my first mile was faster than most of my warm-up miles.

Mile 1 – 8:34

As I passed the initial mile marker, I picked up the pace. The adrenaline of the start was still pumping through my veins & it barely felt like I was running.

Mile 2 – 8:19

Approaching the third mile, I knew the turn onto Shore Drive would be approaching. I kept the same steady pace & tried to remain calm. I believe this is where I took my first Gatorade from the water stop. I would ultimately hydrate at every water stop (Gatorade though), except the first & last two.

Mile 3 – 8:21

Somewhere around mile 4 I noticed a group of 3 people who appeared to be running at my pace. I was intrigued & impressed with the woman’s gait & overall stride. She was a tall, athletic lady who was running next to a slightly taller man. Staying to their left was a shorter gentleman, who I decided was their pacer or coach. I ended up staying just behind this crew for the next 4 miles.

Mile 4 – 8:20

Mile 5 – 8:26

I arrived at mile 6 just after the turn into Fort Story. This mile, along with the previous one, would be my slowest paced miles. I blame the slowing down in mile 6 on the wind.

Mile 6 – 8:27

Just before I reached the 7^th mile, I ate half of my Sport Beans pack. I was still feeling great & staying right on track with my goal pace of 8:20.

Mile 7 – 8:21

At this point, I was mentally begging for the wind from the open beach to die down. The woman with the great gait must have been wishing for the same thing. About this time, she put her long-sleeved shirt back over her tank top. Shortly thereafter, the group of 3 slowed & I passed them. Mentally I was thinking, “Well crap, now I must pace myself”. In retrospect, I’m glad I left the crew when I did; however, I do regret not having left sooner as I think they held me back a bit.

Mile 8 – 8:22

Mile 9 – 8:20

Holy Moly, HELLO burst of energy! Maybe it was seeing the lighthouse. Maybe it was the awesome playlist I was jamming too. Regardless, I was happy to have it; but worried it had come too soon. I needed to remain patient & not push it too much.

Mile 10 – 8:04

Whoops! That last mile was too fast. Oh well, we were out of Fort Story & headed back towards the Boardwalk. At about mile 10.5 it finally felt like I was running. I had my first, & really only, twinge of “Hey, I am running a distance race”!! I decided to eat the rest of my Sport Beans pack at about that point.

Mile 11 – 8:11

There is just something mentally that clicks for me when I know the mileage I have remaining is “one point something miles”. For me, when I saw 1.6 miles left, I realized I had left too much gas in my tank.

Mile 12 – 8:12

After mile 12 & knowing the oceanfront so well, I knew that being in the 40s Streets meant that the finish line was VERY close (the race ends just after 31^st Street). I pushed it. I thought maybe I could make up for what I now decided was a slow start. When I turned onto 37^th Street & headed to the Boardwalk, I was “kicking in”. I could now see the finish line. When I saw that I had 0.35 miles, then 0.25 miles to go, I pushed harder than I ever have for a finish. I knew I could do quarter mile sprints in well under 2 minutes. That’s all I had left. Woohoo!

Mile 13 – 7:54

After running my fastest complete mile, I was finally running now! I heard my watch ding for the 13^th mile. I saw the sea of people to my right & my beloved beach to my left. I heard friends nearby cheer my name, but truly, I was in a zone & had tunnel vision. I passed a bunch of people on the Boardwalk & couldn’t help but hear Julie in my head from our speed workouts. She would reiterate that our intervals were “for the final 5k” of a race. I sassily thought, as I passed a handful of guys, I bet they didn’t do their speed work! I knew that my time would be out of the 1:50s, but in true competitor fashion I thought…. “Hmm, how much more can I PR by?!” And then, just like that, I stomped across the final mat & registered my happily earned PR.

Final 0.16 miles to the finish – 7:17

OFFICIAL TIME – 1:49:02 (8:19/mile overall average pace)

Of course I am ecstatic with this time & performance! I wish I would have pushed a little faster in the beginning half of the race, but on the same token, I am cautious thanks to races that I have started out too fast then lost steam. One of my favorite moments of the day was at the finish. I was approached by an older gentlemen that thanked me for pacing him since mile 3. Say what?! He chose little ole’ me to pace him when his Garmin died at mile 2. I was shocked & it was such an “ahh-ha” moment of just how far I’ve come. I continue to be in amazement at what the human body is capable of!

Up next for The Running Blonde: The Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in DC!

 

I would like to add a bit of sad news though. As I type this on the day following race day, I am saddened to hear about a 16-year old girl who passed away after collapsing 50 yards after the Shamrock Half Marathon finish line. My thoughts are with her family. She was taken from this Earth doing something she enjoyed, had a smile on her face, & after completing her goal. There are many life lessons that can be learned from this heartbreaking situation. My next run will be in her honor & I will continue to live life to the fullest, as you never know when it’ll be your last day or race.