Securian Winter Carnival Half Maraton

I’ve always enjoyed the winter carnival half marathon. It is normally very cold but this year it was very balmy!!  Saturday morning I woke up to 32F!  Wow!  I decided I’d wear light leggings with a skirt, one long sleeved top and a pair of light gloves and light buff. No screws in my shoes! No ice! Yay!

Last year, due to foot surgery, I wasn’t able to run the race. I was very excited to sign up this year.

I arrived to the race an hour before start time. I always like to leave plenty of time to find parking and find the race start.  For road races the biggest stressor for me is to find a bathroom as soon as I park. I always have an hour drive or more. Luckily for me, there was a bathroom in the parking ramp. Yes!

With only a short walk to the pre race festivities, I had plenty of time to pick up my number, shirt and mug. I couldn’t believe all of the people that I knew at the race. With a race of over 1000 people it always shocks me that I can pick out friends whom I have no idea are in attendance.  As I was walking through the skywalk I ran into John,  then Amy and Shawn, then Jeff. Pretty soon it was Dan and Karen. Amazing!  Kate and Brian. Quick fun chats with everyone. 

With just a few minutes to go before the start, I mosied outside to find a spot among the runners. I decided I’d run between the 200 and 210 pace groups. I was in no rush, this was just a training run to get in some miles on my feet. I wanted to see how my feet would stand up to the asphalt. I’ve entered Grandmas Marathon in June and haven’t really run any asphalt yet since my surgery.  I figured a 915-930 pace would be just great.

The first few miles were new to the course. We  circled around downtown before we headed out onto Shepard Road to run along the river. There has been a lot of reconstruction of the road and the area surrounding it since I’ve last run this race. The road is heavily slanted and I kept moving around the road, trying to find the place where my feet were on stable ground.  At times this was in the middle of the road and at times it was on the shoulder. Very strange.  I could feel the slant of the road in my ankles and in my knees.

The sky was blue with bright sun and just a hint of breeze. It really was a beautiful morning. I could hear the jingle of dog tags following me so I turned to look, sure enough, a large poodle was prancing along with a woman. The dog was as happy as could be as I watched the women feed her a cliff bar. They stopped often as the women let her dog drink from her water bottle. So awesome to see.

I had 4 gels and filled my water bottle once during the race. 

I was running 915s most of the race, this was  a comfortable pace for me. I was surprised that my heart rate was quite high-my average HR during the run was 162. Too high, really. My highest HR was 182, as I climbed the final hill to the finish line.

The route is an out and back so I was able to high five and holler out to each of my friends, whom I mentioned earlier. I also saw Kate while we were running.  I did not see her at the start.

What a blast of a day!  I felt great, I finished in 201 and nothing hurt. Woot!!!  The pavement was OK on my foot so I am feeling good about Grandmas.

After I arrived home Troy and I went suit shopping for the first time. He has a Career Fair at the U of M, where he attends the College of Science and Engineering. I asked John at the race for a recommendation as to where we should shop. He suggested Men’s Wearhouse so that is where Troy and I went. We were blown away by the high level of customer service and the ease of  purchasing his  suit. We will certainly go back.

Next up is Psycho Wyco 50K on February 20. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to this one. Looking forward to it!!

Winter Carnival NOT Frozen Half

Securian Frozen Half Marathon..Double and a Half

The Securian Frozen Half Marathon that I ran today was anything but frozen! I have run the race half a dozen or more times and never have I experienced the kind of weather we had today.

RAIN!

This morning it was 34F when I left the house but it wasn't raining. There was a thin layer of ice over the driveway and Tyler and Steve's vehicles but the roads were just wet. It had rained most of the night.

The roads to St Paul were just wet-not icy, thank goodness. As I approached St Paul the temperature went up to 36F. At least the route wouldn't be slippery.

I found a parking ramp nice and close, covered, so I wouldn't have to chisel my car out of ice when I was ready to go home.

As I waited in line to use the bathroom I watched the flagging twist itself around the posts, it was incredibly windy outside. Wind at 25 mph with gusts to 35. With the warm temps it would only bring the wind chill down to the 20s. Not bad!

Last year the Frozen Half was shortened because is was -20 with a -35 wind chill. Not today!

I walked out to the start line and saw Karen Gall and Wayne Nelson. We chatted at bit, I wanted to ask Karen about the Land Between The Lakes 50 Mile Race she did last year in Kentucky. I think I may go out and run it in March. It would be nice to have a 50 mile race training run in prep for Zumbro 100 in April.

We started to run down the steep hill to Shephard, not icy at all, just steep. It began to rain, just like an April downpour. Incredible.

As I was running along I realized my feet felt awfully heavy. Not tired, fatigued heavy but just heavy. I looked down and it dawned on me that I was wearing my heavy duty Inov 8 Gortex Trail shoes. Why? I could only chuckle at myself. I have been wearing then in the snow and ice each day and didn't even think about wearing my road shoes. How weird. I remembered that my road shoes were in my car, in my gym bag. After the race I was running longer so I would stash my finish things in the car and grab my road shoes for the rest of my run. I also had on my heavy wool smartwool snowshoe sock. So not necessary!

At mile 3 or 4 I saw Steve Quick cheering on the runners. A while later I think I recognized Helen's voice. I know I saw Les out there in his snazzy tights but I lost him somewhere before I could say hello!

It was a real fun race. I decided that I should stay between the 200-210 finishers so that I would not blow up during my half marathon to 50K portion of this run. I didn't want to run too fast and not want to run a long training run. The training run was the goal. The race was to get out of the deep snow and support the area run. Road running feels good by the time the end of January comes along. Snowshoeing is getting old for me about this time of year!

At the turn around I glanced at the clock and read 2:03. Just right. The wind now hit me full in the face. The cool off was welcome, but the added resistance, not so much! There were times when I might as well had been walking against the wind, it was so strong. Runners who had light wind jackets were completely billowed out. It was a funny sight.

Water was available at 4 and 8 miles. I took a bottle at 8 miles, went to the side of the road and refilled my Heed. I was glad that I decided to carry a bottle during the race.

I think going out a person runs up more hills that coming back. I seemed to be able to cruise along more efficiently on the way back once the wind was no longer a factor.

Pretty soon I had only a mile left of the race, running away from the river and up a final real steep hill, I could see the finish line. Wayne was cheering on the side of the road, having finished.

As I finished I heard my name on the loud speaker. I glanced at the clock and read 205. Just right. A volunteer removed my chip and off I went to grab a Caribou drop my trail shoes at the car. There was no ice on my car, just rain. It began to pour as I changed out my shoes while guzzeling down my coffee.

I decided to use my pack for the remainder of my run, 19 miles. My arms were so tired! Thursday I lifted bicep/tricep for 65 minutes and was feeling it. I didn't want to carry two handhelds. Some gels, some heed and I was on my way.

Heading back out along the race course most of the runners had come in. I followed along the river and noticed a few other runners out there that I had seen earlier at the race.

I turned on my iPod and imagined it was the end of winter, a cool spring rainy day.

I hoped I would finish before the parade.I wasn't sure where it began but I thought it was going to start around 3. Before I knew it I was running toward the stop lights where I would turn to lead me back up the very steep hill again..I knew I was almost done. I looked at my Garmin 50 and sure enough..31.5 miles..almost done.

A perfect way to spend a spring like day in January!

Now I really need to put together a race schedule for 2010. Is it really already 2010?

Winter Wonderland

The past few days we've received over 12" of snow. It's been a long time since we've seen that much snow in one snowfall. I don't think the boys have even seen such a large snowfall in one period. When I was their age, growing up in Northern Minnesota, we had snowfalls like this all of the time.

Between Steve plowing the driveway, sidewalk, shoveling the roof and ice fishing; the boys sliding, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling; and me snowshoe running, skiing and shoveling it seems that we have a constant pile of wet winter clothing and boots out in the mud room. My dryer is constantly running while drying mittens, gloves and hats. I have to say though: we love it!

This morning Topaz and I headed out for a shorter 8 mile snowshoe run. The snow is so deep that I am doing more breaking trail via hiking than running I am afraid. My heart rate was through the roof and my legs were becoming tired from high stepping the snow. It felt like going through the root section (Sonju) during the Superior Sawtooth 100 mile run! Ah, not quite!

After breaking trail to the lake we turned around and headed the 4 miles back to the car. Again, covered with snow. After a quick removal of snow and ice we headed home. I stripped off my wet clothing and put on dry shorts, bra, socks and shoes so I could hop on my treadmill and actually run for 5 miles! Topaz laid at the treadmill and watched.

The Northwoods Snowshoe Marathon is in a few weeks. I haven't decided if I'm going to run it yet again. I think I've run it the past 8 years. Hard to believe that 2 of those years we ran it in trail shoes..there was no snow in Duluth! This weekend, Duluth received 26" of snow. Wow. I am going to run the Winter Carnival 1/2 Marathon and I'd imagine I'll be at Northwoods too. It's the final year for the race and I'll probably find myself there.

Securian Frozen Half Marathon

Wine is fine but Whiskey's Quicker...is ringing through my ears. I listened to a lot of Ozzy today. About the only thing that has NOT changed about me since I was the party girl is my music..oh, and my husband.

The race today was NOT frozen! Man o live, it was a balmy 21F when I woke up this morning and about the same at the start, with nary a wind. It felt downright Jamaican.

I re cleaned and bandaged my foot, feeling apprehensive about this race. I dashed by pie in the sky PR 1/2 marathon goal, which would have been sub 1:55 which I ran at Nerstrand 1/2 a few months ago. Oh yeah, when I said yesterday that I have run two marathons, apparently I was lying. As I was running today I recalled Nerstrand, and that it was my PR. Bad memory.

I only wanted to be able to run without re gouging my foot and having pain on the top. I wanted to see if I was recovered from the tough Northwoods Snowshoe Marathon a week ago. I hadn't really killed myself on the trail this past week. I've been running in Sorel boots for heavens sakes! Not very conducive to speed. A good tough stair master workout and two heavy weight sessions; one leg and one shoulder/back. I knew I was well rested, but that would mean nothing if my foot hurt. I promised myself I would stop running if I felt the gouging.

As I was cleaning the wound out this morning Steve came to look at it for the first time. He didn't like what he saw. Oh well...he's thought I was crazed before.

I arrived a full hour early for the race. I needed to register and I don't know St Paul at all. I was surprised to find an empty ramp, only charging $3 for the day, a block from the race start.

I sky walked my way over to Securian and signed up for the race. $30 for a 1/2 Marathon! Is that steep or what? I could have paid extra for a nice drifit shirt, but man, no thanks, this was an expensive enough run!

As I went out to use the portapotties, I enjoyed listening to the conversations going on. Most were talking about how nice it was outside and what a difference a week makes in temperatures. I had to agree.

I went to the start line and a man came up to me, in a red jacket. Mark had left a post here that if it was warm enough he may run today and may approach me, wearing are red jacket. He did! It was nice to meet him and talk a bit. This was Marks 3rd 1/2, he is training for his first marathon at Fargo in May. He was wanting to qualify for the first wave at TCM and I believe he said a 145 would get him there.

The siren sounded and off I went. I had sucked back a Hammerheed Gel 10 minutes prior to the race and had a Skim Latte at Caribou before the start. I no longer like the full feeling that eating a full carb breakfast gives me before a race. Before Northwoods I did the same and felt good. I may begin fueling along the race way instead of the 300-400 calories I've been consuming prior. It just feels better.

We began going down the steep hill, it didn't feel icy at all but I didn't let myself go all out downhill. I was afraid of my heel. We turned the corner to Shepherd Road and followed it all the way-an out and back. The course runs along the river, in back of the Science Museum, past many new apartments and condos that have gone up along the river. It was a nice run.

I wore my heart rate monitor. I don't really know why. I only measure my heart rate at the gym because the stair master has a handle heart rate monitor and I think it's interesting to watch as I am bored out of my mind stepping. When I first began stepping I was totally exhausted at 160, now, I can step an hour at 175-180. I've increased my level from 4 to 15. Figuring that I can go hard for an hour, I figured I could try going hard running for at least that long. I dug my dusty heart rate monitor out of my drawer and used it for the 3rd time. Ever. I've had it for 4 years.

I turned on my iPod, I didn't really want to listen to my gasping and breathing, it makes me think I should slow down, so I rocked out.

After a mile I was at 175 and held that most of the way. Up hill I'd drift to 177, downhill 173 and at the finish-going straight up-I hit 181. I was moving, moving for me, anyway.

At 5 miles I saw the winners coming toward us. This is why I love out and backs. 20 men passed for the first woman and I think it was Kelly Keeler-Ramacier. It looked like her! I hope it was and I hope she won. I had met her at the Lake Harriet Fat Ass and was impressed with her.

I saw Karen Gall cheering along the route, and then said hello to Lynn Saari , who I just met an Northwoods, she was running ahead of me. As I came around the 1/2 way mark and was running back I saw Dave Just pass me and then saw Les Markisko and Kate Havelin going out. Maynard was cheering and ran a while with me. I sat with Maynard at the Northwoods Party, he called me Studette, and it stuck.

The finish was approaching. I was hitting 830's most of the way. I had never run this fast before. It is nice to think that I am 10 years older, more experienced in running of course, and not slowing down. Of course, I began very slow, so I had much room for improvement. I have wondered if ultras were slowing me down, I guess not. I'm so pleased with my performance. When you aren't expecting anything, a PR is even a greater ending to a race.

One mile left. I was going to PR. Holy balls. NO HEEL PAIN. None. Crazy. Up the last steep hill, HR hit 181, and there I am. Finished. 1:51. That rocks. I am so excited. I didn't think I could ever hit a 1:51, especially today, after a tough as nails Northwoods Snowshoe last week and a bad foot. I guess it isn't bad anymore!

As I came across the finish, I saw Mark. He hit his goal! Congratulations Mark! We went inside to collect our coffee mugs. They had the food area set up very nicely. A woman handed us a plastic bag, we went to the gal with the bananas, she dropped one in, forward to the salted nut roll gal, the bun gal, the cereal gal and the coffee mug gal. Just like Trick or Treating!

Mark and I parted and I headed on home.

I checked my Heart Rate Monitor. Low:173 Average:175 High:181. Just as I thought.

Life is Good. Next up: Psycho Wyco 50K.