Hello Hello! If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram (need to add the feed to my website – I use to have one on my Tumblr) you all know I was in Bird-in Hand, PA for the half marathon this past Saturday (recap coming next week). Here is one of my favorite shots from the weekend:
Run/workout wise….the same ole story. Thank goodness I walk to/from work everyday; while it may not be running I am glad for the time on my feet. Luckily this week has been off to a great start – so something different to report next week 🙂
Monday 9/7– 2 mile walk
Tuesday 9/8– 2 mile walk
Wednesday 9/9 – 2 mile walk
Thursday 9/10 – 2 mile walk
Friday 9/11 – 2 mile walk
Saturday 9/12– 1 mile + Bird in Hand Half Marathon + .9 mile <drive back to DC> + 2 miles
Sunday 9/13 – Damascus Freedom 5K
Total: 30.1 miles (10 walk | 20.1 run)
Run
Run #1: 1 mile warm up + 13.1 miles @12:33 min/mile (11:56, 12:20, 12:27, 12:35, 12:20, 12:30, 12:31, 12:31, 12:47, 12:46, 13:00, 13:07, 12:42) + .9 mile cool down
This week’s long run called for 17-18 miles (next week I’ll run 20 before taper…eeks). My mom and I signed up for the Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon before the Chicago lottery, so I ended up using this half as part of my training run. My initial plan…oh they always go awry….was to run 4 miles before the race. A couple of snoozes + realization I did not bring my head lamp = did not happen. We stayed close to the start so I was able to fit in a mile warm up before the half. So the theme of this week again…HILLS! The Charles Street 12 Miler was my hill training, right? Haha…I kid I kid. They definitely kicked my butt and the rolling hills were more plentiful and steeper in BIH. There was a nice overcast, but I still sweated bullets!
After I crossed the finish line I thought….I can run another 3 miles to cool down, yeah not so much. I ran .9 miles and called it quits….it was hard holding this (awesome) medal while running (and I was carrying my waterbottle).
Run #2: 2 miles naked…oh my!
Following lunch and a quick shower my mom and I hopped back into the car to go home – perks of a Saturday half. I got back to DC close to 4PM and went out for 2 more miles for a total of 17 miles for the day.
Run #3: 3.1 miles @11:26 min/mile (10:49, 11:24, 12:18)
Last year I ran the Damascus Freedom 5K and loved it. This is a race I would like to run each year – it is a small race, a nice change in scenery, and proceeds benefit some wonderful organizations. Plus it costs $23 to register! When I woke up Sunday morning, I was happy that I had little to no soreness in my legs – what a change from last week!
My plan was to use this as a recovery run following Saturday’s 17 miles. Here I am at the starting line (literally).
The first half of the 5K is almost all down hill (which explains my first and second split) and the second half was…..back up hill! Definitely mastered the positive split! I should have exercised more restraint, but my legs felt pretty good afterwards (except the burn of the final hill).
Fun
On the way to Bird-in Hand, my mom and I made a detour to visit a sunflower patch in Jarrettsville, Maryland. I’ve been dying to see them the past four years, but could never go. My mom entered the address in the GPS and we arrived at the final destination with no sunflowers in sight. Booo… I was bummed.
Apparently Clear Meadow Farm rotates the location of the sunflower patches and we happened upon them when we were leaving town to get to Pennsylvania. It was beautiful! There were quite a few bumblebees, but they did not bother us at all. I’ll post more pictures of the yellow goodness in my race recap.
As for the remainder of the weekend: Cliff and I watched more episodes of Narcos, I visited my cousins Stephanie and Chris + their kiddos, and made a small cheese pizza (with pita bread as crust).
Have you/will you be using a race as a training run this season?
Do you have a favorite medal from this year (so far)?
lacey@fairytalesandfitness.com
September 15, 2015Congratulations on your race. That is one big medal. I wouldn’t be running with that either. I wouldn’t run before or after a race anyways. Isn’t the race enough:)
lacey@fairytalesandfitness.com recently posted…Things you should be tracking about your runs
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015Thank you, Lacey! Haha true…I suppose it would have been some added weight training 🙂
Kelli
September 16, 2015Those medals from the bird-in-hand race are really cool! I love sunflowers, too. I want to plant a bunch in our backyard next year.
Kelli recently posted…Woman Crush Wednesday – Heather Grier
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015They are! One of my favorites from this year for sure. I wonder how many seeds the farm planted.
Amy Lauren
September 16, 2015Congratulations on your half and your 5K!
Those sunflowers are really beautiful and so is your medal from Bird In Hand. I know a lady who ran that and she said it was a very well done race. I’m glad you enjoyed it and also enjoyed the 5K! I love using races as training runs or tempo runs, it’s a good way to stay motivated and push yourself.
Amy Lauren recently posted…Weekly Rundown: September 7-13 Training Log
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015Thank you, Amy! I fully agree!
Mar @ Mar on the Run
September 16, 2015I saw quite a few friends at the Bird in Hand half! I had never heard of it!! it looked beautiful though. oh man and that pizza… yum!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…DC Fitness: Urban Boxing DC
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015It was nice! I was about to say you should do this for your PA state, but then remembered you ran PGH (duh). This is why I take so long accumulating states…so many repeats…but they are worth it 🙂
brittney @ corral b
September 16, 2015you kept things really consistent in the half! awesome. those sunflowers look gorgeous. one of my absolute favorite flowers 🙂
brittney @ corral b recently posted…chicago half training: weeks eight, nine, and ten
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015Aww thanks! I wish they were a little faster, but I have to remember it is still warm temps. So glad I finally got to see those flowers.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running
September 16, 2015You’re a rockstar to get those miles in after running the race. Glad to hear that this week is already off to a great start!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Bulu Box Review and Discount Code
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015Thanks, Kathryn!
EB @ Running on E
September 16, 2015That sunflower patch is awesome. Love it.
I’ve always wanted to run Bird In Hand, so I am really excited for your recap and to hear your experience. Great job with all the miles! 🙂
EB @ Running on E recently posted…Snakebite 50k Race Recap
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015Thanks! Congrats on the 50K! I’ve been catching up on recaps, so I promise the BIH will not take a month to write hah 🙂
Jennifer @ The Final Forty
September 16, 2015I’ve always wanted to do this one! I’m thinking of running a half marathon as part of my 18-miler for NYCM in two weeks, and I’m SCARED. 🙁 It’s something I’ve never done before! You’re a badass for getting those miles in after the race!
Jennifer @ The Final Forty recently posted…NYCM Training: Weeks 7 and 8
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015You can do it! I just to remind myself (not that it is hard) to not go out too fast for the half. If you can get 5 miles before that would be good, sometimes tough to run afterwards. Or maybe 4 + 13 + 1 cooldown 🙂
courtney @ eat pray run dc
September 16, 2015those sunflowers are gorgeous! have you ever thought about running to/from work instead of walking? is that an option for you? it’d be an easy (okay, easy-ish) way to get in more running miles! looking forward to seeing you next week!
courtney @ eat pray run dc recently posted…MCM Training Recap, Week 14
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015That is a great idea! I’ve never considered it b/c my work laptop is sooooo heavy (old four year old Dell). We are suppose to be getting new ones in the next month or so that are lighter. Something to consider.
Stacey
September 16, 2015Way to go–you had a great week of training. Very nice pictures-especially the sunflower patch 🙂 And that medal is so cool!
Stacey recently posted…Weekly Workout Recap {9/7-9/13}
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015Thanks, Stacey!
Victoria at Ice Packs + Races
September 17, 2015That is a seriously cool medal! But I don’t think I’d enjoy running with that in hand either.
Victoria at Ice Packs + Races recently posted…Thinking Out Loud: Last Thoughts Before My First Half Marathon
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015Thanks! It was really cool and very heavy. I went the Amish Market after the half and picked up a gold horseshoe to use as a decorative paperweight.
Sharon
September 17, 2015Great job on your runs!! Love the medal! Glad you got to eventually see sunflowers!! Looking forward to your race recap!
Sharon recently posted…Brooklyn RnR Half Marathon Training Week 9 & Weekly Wrap 9/7-9/13
Run Jenny Run
September 21, 2015Thanks, Sharon! This past weekend I’ve been working on some recaps, hope to have that one up early next week 🙂