It's not often in life you get a chance to do a "DO OVER"....what a difference a week makes!!

Let's start with the BAA Half Marathon on Oct. 7, 2007. I had been signed up for months for this race and had trained and planned on running it. Well, race day came...I got up and went through my usual routine, but had some stomach issues right before the race. I chalked it up to race day jitters...I started the race, felt great but around mile 3.5 began to get side stitches, forcing me to walk...I listen to my body and never go beyond my limits...that perfect running day in early Oct was no different. I felt dehydrated, sluggish and downright tired at times. I'm guessing I walked 10x that day...and still finished in a respectable 1:54:59 (8:47pace- Just one minute MORE than my PR of 1:53:24- 8:40pace) I crossed the finish line to a very supportive husband (who did not run, but came out to watch me.) And knowing my goal for that day asked "what's wrong?" I exclaimed "It just wasn't my day, I don't know...I didn't feel right." I don't even think I wore my metal home (in true race tradition...you earned it, wear it home from the race!) but not me, not that day.

So fast forward to the week to follow...I was sick, tired, felt like I had the flu and a stomach bug...I still don't know what was wrong with me, but I took a nap 3x after work that week...had zero energy to say the least.

By Thursday I was back to my old self....seemingly "kicked" whatever bug my body was trying to fight off.

I knew the Bay State Marathon (and Half Marathon) in Lowell, MA was that next Sunday (Oct. 14) and part of me wanted to go run it. I had something to prove (only to myself, really) that I had a better race in me, I JUST KNEW I did....

So after a 2.5hr bike ride with Greg on Saturday and going out to a softball get together...on the drive home Saturday night Greg asked "what are you pondering?" He knew I had "the itch" to "DO OVER" what I couldn't do properly the week before. Sure enough he caught me pondering if I should run the Half Marathon in the morning.

I stayed up late Saturday night watching the Ford Ironman Championships on the computer (waited to see my coach, Patrick, cross the finish line in Hawaii!) and watch the Red Sox go into extra innings...

Sunday October 14, 2007 I woke up at 6am and said "I'm going to do it, I'm going to run the Half Marathon" So just like the very day one week prior, Greg and I packed up and headed up to Lowell...

Unlike last week, I was relaxed and calm....no stomach issues to speak of. The weather was PERFECT...it was chilly and sunny...a little windy :)

Off with the gun and I felt great...I started out a little faster than I wanted to (my goal was the same as the week prior, to break 1:50, I hoped for better results this time!)
I felt AWESOME, strong, steady and confident...the miles just ticked away! It's a two loop course that ends in the Lowell Spinners Baseball stadium, so I got to see Greg cheering for me around mile 5, the halfway point and again in the stands of the stadium at the end!! I was so happy to see him and even happier to report that I was feeling SO MUCH better than the week before!

The second loop seemed so much windier than the first, maybe because there were less people around me? I felt great, never stopping (not once!) along the way...I took gels at miles 6 (:48) and 10 (1:20) I had NO finishing kick today :P (maybe it was the bike ride on Saturday before I decided to run the race that took out my "kick" legs?) It didn't matter, though...I crossed the line at 1:46:01 (8:06 pace), bettering last weeks race by NINE minutes, and an EIGHT minute PR!! I crossed the line, found Greg in the stands and exclaimed "now THAT is what a race should feel like!!" He was excited that I reached my goal (sub 1:50) and I was SO glad I didn't drag him out for a second week in a row to watch me crumble...I knew I had a better race in me.

What a difference a week makes!

Here are my splits-
Mile 1: 8:11
Mile 2: 7:54
Mile 3: 8:00
Mile 4: 7:55
Mile 5: 7:57
Mile 6: 7:54
Mile 7: 7:54
Mile 8: 8:03
Mile 9: 8:03
Mile 10: 8:12
Mile 11: 8:08
Mile 12: 8:05
Mile 13.1: 8:17

Today I swam with the big kids....

...well, really I just moved up a lane in the pool, I had been delaying the inevitable. I knew I really should move up a lane and push myself to swim harder and get better/faster....but I was too afraid to leave the comfort of the "slow lane" because thats where I'd always swam and where I was comfortable with my friends. But the last few swim sessions, Greg had moved up into the next lane and I thought "well, if he can do it, so can I"...so I did. And you know what?? It wasn't "that" hard!!

Here was our workout:
200 w/u
4x25
3x50
2x75
1x100
1x200 pull
2x100 kick
4x50 (1:05)
1x200 pull
2x100 kick
4x50 (1:00)
1x200 pull
2x100 kick
4x50 (:55)
1x200 pull
2x100 kick
4x50 (:50)

Total: 3100yds (just under 2 miles)