Sunday, March 27, 2011

11 Mile Boulder Back Roads Half Marathon Race Report

No I’m not drunk or high. I know a half marathon is 13.1 miles. Read on.

Today’s plan was to run/pace the last 11 miles of the Boulder Back Roads Half Marathon with my running client, Deb, and her husband, Steve. I probably could have done the full distance, but am still feeling very cautious and don’t want to push it. If you’re a regular reader, you know I’m coming back from a hip stress fracture. If you’re not a regular reader you should be.

Deb is 50 years old and training for her first marathon on May 1. Our goal today was for Deb to run a 2:17 keeping about a 10:30 min/mile pace. She has never run a half before and is a newer runner, so it was tough to know how it would all shake out. I’ll spoil the ending and tell you she NAILED it.

One bagel thin and one cup of coffee down, I dropped some kids at the pool x 2. Ken dropped me at the two mile point to wait for Deb. It was about 30 degrees so if I look cold, I am. If I had balls, well, they’d be shriveled.

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I brought my own water, which I never do in races, but I was afraid that running as a bandit, the aid station people would kick me in my non-nuts if I tried to sneak some hydration.

The only reason I was nervous about this “race” was that it was my longest run post-injury and I wouldn’t be incorporating any walk breaks. Don’t tell my doctor. I figured with the slower pace I would be okay and I was.

While waiting I saw the leader blaze by. He thinks he so cool. “Look a me. I can run a 4 minute mile.” Okay, I guess he is a little bit cool. But he doesn’t’ have an SUAR sticker on his back and he hasn’t crapped himself. At least not that I can see.

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Deb and Steve showed up and we began our journey.

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Go Deb Go!

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Deb also suffers from asthma and can sometimes cough a lot and have trouble getting enough air in. Steve and I kept checking her to make sure she was doing okay. We kept getting the thumbs up.

At the halfway point I took my GU Roctane Island Nectar. Basically a pina colada in gu form with no rum. Pretty yummy. No hip pain and going strong for all of us.

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The great thing about this course is it is 80% dirt roads. Nice and soft on the joints.

As we neared the ten mile point I knew we were ahead of schedule. The second half of the course gives a bit of a downhill advantage. And the scenery isn’t too bad either.

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There’s my favorite potty. I tried to resist the urge to stop and blow it up.

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I love this picture of Steve and Deb. Steve took such great care of her along the way, continually checking in and calling her “dear.”

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We approached the finish. Love how they give you a nice hill at the end. I felt awesome. No pain. I had that utterly fabulous running feeling where you think you could go on forever.

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I dropped out right before the finish chute and watched Deb and Steve cross together holding hands. Time: 2:15!! She KILLED it.

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I’m such a third wheel. Their illegitimate child. Except that would make me six years old.

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We grabbed some bagels with almond butter, coffee and beer. The also had grilled cheese which I think is probably the best post race food idea I’ve heard of.

Great job, Deb & Steve. You are going to OWN the Colorado Marathon on May 1st!

This was an amazing run for me. I felt incredible cardio-wise and had no pain anywhere. It gave me a better idea of how to plan to pace for Boston. I also got some confidence back. One of the hardest things about injuries is believing in yourself and your body again.

I know for the full marathon I will have to take walk breaks to give my hip a rest. I plan on walking through every aid station and keeping my overall pace pretty slow (as in, if I normally run a 8:30 average in a marathon, I will drop to a 9:30/10:00 pace for Boston. If I’m lucky).

Thinking that GU needs to make an exit out the back door. Poor Sam just cleaned the toilet.

SUAR

48 comments:

  1. which hydration belt are you wearing? i'd love to hear your perspective on these belts...if i've missed a review post please direct me!

    great job pacing!

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  2. Your posts make me laugh out loud every time, without a doubt. Congrats to Deb & Steve on their awesome time and kudos to you for your superb coaching and no pain on your maiden voyage. Boston won't know what hit them!

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  3. Congrats to Deb!! and HOORAY to your pain free run!! THAT has GOT to make you feel good!

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  4. way to go deb!! @rachel, I have the same hydration belt. love it!

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  5. I have to say your post title really threw me...I was thinking WTF was she drinking when she wrote this??

    After reading your post, it restored my confidence in you that you really are a runner! HA HA!

    Great job Deb and Steve!

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  6. Rachel - it's a Nathan with 2-10 oz bottles. Love it. I don't have a review, but can work on posting one soon.

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  7. Good stuff Bandit...nice to hear you did it with zero pain....huge bonus to the mental side of the run....must have been your holiday to PR that made the difference.

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  8. This is fantastic. For you and for your client! Congrats to Deb and YAY for no pain for you!

    I've got a half in two weeks, and my goal is 10:30, too, if you'd like to try your hand at pacing again. ;) TN isn't that far from CO.

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  9. Pam, I would SO be there for real if it wasn't so stinking far.

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  10. win/win. No pain and a great first half for Deb! I love pacing. There is nothing more rewarding!

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  11. love that she made her goal. and love that you r runnign 11 miles !!!

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  12. YAY FOR DEB and I am SO SO HAPPY that you had NO HIP PAIN!!! It really is hard to trust your body again after an injury. You are such a huge example to me of making an amazing comeback after the worst injury ever!!! I LOVE the shirt you are wearing and grilled cheese does make the best post race fuel ever!!!

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  13. Nice work Beth! 11 miles pain free is a real milestone. Can't wait to hear about boston. I love my nathan hydration pack as well. It's the only one that doesn't feel too heavy and doesn't chafe(spelling?) me.

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  14. How encouraging for you! It's good to hear that you're mending well.

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  15. Congrats to you both (you for pain free feeling good and her for nailing her time). It was fun seeing you at mile 2.

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  16. You had a great run Beth! You are ready for 'the Boston'. And THANKS for the support for my first half! It won't be my last!

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  17. Well done! Glad to hear you ran pain-free and smiling!

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  18. I eat grilled cheese after almost every long run. And three nights a week.
    Sometimes I get wild and add canned tuna. Wise post-run refueling or kitchen laziness? I admit, it's the latter.

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  19. Terzah!! I thought that was you! Sorry we didn't get a chance to talk, but great seeing you.

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  20. Well job on being kind to your body and running safe!

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  21. Congrats on the half Deb and Steve!!!

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  22. Congrats to Deb and to you f running pain free! I just discovered your blog and I am loving it!!

    Toni @ runninglovingliving

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  23. Love the Athleta shirt! You always look so good; even at the end!

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  24. Congrat's to Deb on her first Half and congrat's to you Beth on your 11 miles and YEA for no pain. So glad to hear that.

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  25. Wow, great job to all of you!!
    Your blog is highlarious btw- love it!

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  26. I saw you twice during the race and wanted to give you a SUAR shoutout but I was trying not to fall flat on my face from the dirt roads. I'm glad to see you running again and pain is great!!

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  27. *Pain free, sorry still a little tired!!

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  28. Nice job coach! Glad your client did so well, and glad that you're continuing to make progress towards a triumphant return in Boston. Your post title made me hope they had changed the race distances. If I could run a 20-mile marathon maybe I could stop paying to put my Orthopedist's kids through college.

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  29. Good thing you brought your own water bottle.. good weather as well.

    Nice race recap.

    Mike
    www.WhyMarathon.com
    www.facebook.com/WhyMarathon

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  30. Cograts to Deb! this is my goal for my second half!!! I am so happy for YOU that you are able to run longer distances! yeah for pain free!!!

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  31. post-race grilled cheese? sign me up! and great job on the "half". yay for running longer runs and double yay for them being pain free

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  32. Congrats to Deb on her half. Sounds like it was a great experience!

    Yay for 11 pain free miles! That is awesome.

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  33. No hip pain... the best part of the whole story :) And Deb is awesome! I have such a deep appreciation and respect for first-timers and newbies... I don't mean that in an at all condescending way. It is sincere.

    It looks cold. You all look cold. Except for Mr. LookAtMe4MinuteMiler. He looks like he is just smokin' on that course. How DO people run that fast?

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  34. oh my goodness...your posts always make me laugh! I waver between TMI and Tell Me More! I bet though, that you are an awesome cheerleader and that Deb and Steve were so proud to show off to you! And congrats on the pain-free running--that is the best feeling!

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  35. S-T-U-D-L-Y

    Beth - Is it ok if I wipe a tear or two away for you and the fact that you are moving closer and closer to Boston.

    I knew you could do it and you are proving that you can. I am so excited for you I can't stand it.

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  36. Great blog, you crack me up! And woo-hoo for no pain! :)

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  37. grilled cheese might be the best idea ever!!

    my achilles is acting up again after shamrock so i might be doing the same thing as you in boston. at least we'll have lots of time to soak it all in!

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  38. so happy to hear that you are running pain free! congrats on another milestone!

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  39. I am beaming with excitement for you! You are progressing so wonderfully!!!! BTW I HATE GU!!

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  40. Congrats Coach! And a big congrats to Deb - wish you could pace me through my first half! Great that you had no pain - your progress has been awesome!

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  41. I ran 16 miles this weekend all below 31 degrees. Let me tell you about shriveled balls.

    That being said... great job!!!

    Things are looking UP!

    We did the run/walk on our 16 miler yesterday. AWESOME, you will have so much energy :) PROMISE!

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  42. You did a GREAT job on your "Fun run" and also, you must be a super coach for Deb. She made it and it was painless! Yay!

    If you run Boston at your slower pace, maybe I'll be able to meet up with you. Otherwise, I'll be eating your dust. :) You're going to do a great job on the BIG DAY!

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  43. Awesome! I ran 11 as my longest-run-since-injury this weekend too! So glad you're feeling good - keep it up! :)

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  44. They are so sweet! Congrats to Deb!

    AWESOME that you felt so good too!

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  45. Way to go Deb! That looks like a lovely race I ought to do.

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  46. Great job to Deb and Steve!!! Woohoo! And nice work to you, too, on the 11 miles nonstop. Boom. Bring on Boston.

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