Saturday, August 7, 2010

Thanks Muscles For The Memories

I started my NY marathon plan 3 weeks ago after 3 months being layoff due to knee injury (sounds like a broken record). Not I only started slow, but with lower mileage. First week I logged 14.8 miles being a 10K the longest run. The second week I logged 18.2 with a 9-miler long run; and this week, the third, I went for a half-distance, for a total of 24.1.

The race: Tacoma Narrows.
Only purpose: To cover the distance.
Expectations: Die in the process.
The day: A typical Seattle gorgeous summer day for running: overcast, drizzling and 58F (while the rest of the country is frying at 105F).

I could not be more surprised and, of course, happy with the results. 2:31:10 for an 11:33 min/mile (0:37 min/mile slower than my 13.1 PR). The same pace I was able to keep two weeks ago for the 10K. My PR marathon pace.

The question has been posted many times, and I don't know how much scientific evidence is there to support the subject, but my experience today tells me that I didn't lose as much as I thought.   

NY, I am definitely in. Thanks Muscles For The Memories

BTW, this was my race # 50 !!!
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Woke up @3:45 am, drove 60 miles south to Tacoma. Race was one way, so needed to take a shuttle to Gig Harbor. Start was set at Tacoma Narrowws Airport in a foggy, rainy and chilly morning, however perfect for a long run.

The profile of the course was pretty good and easy (*), with the exception of  260 ft we climbed between mile 3.8 & 4.2 which left me  in very bad shape till mile 5. I thought I was done. Then, I got a second wind.  (*) A lady from Key West,  FL told me in the finish line: "What a hilly course"...Wow, definitely everything is relative. They don't have hills over there.




With John Riak, one of the most finest Washington State runners. He PRd with 1:11:26 and got 2nd overall

Glass over bling... Oh well!!!


The week before I raced an 8-K which happened to be better than the race the prior week.  Again, muscles do not forget that easy...


Seafair Torchlight Run. A summer race part of the Seafair Festivities that last a month. Race is @ 6:30 pm
Running on the Alaskan Viaduct (WA-99) with gorgeous views of the sound.
Though the temp was 71, the Seattle Met Medical Strike Team was there to help us cool down...


Post race party @ The Beer Garden




5 comments:

MarathonChris said...

That is great! Gives me some encouragement that I will come back quick! :-) I was telling my husband about that recently - that training for later races was way easier than training for that first marathon. Summer tends to be slow for me anyway, the fall is always my best running time! Looking forward to hearing about your NY training

Petraruns said...

LizzieLee you SO deserved this! I am thrilled that your legs still know what to do and that your mind is raring to go - it's very inspiring and I hope that as I keep my mileage down in the next month or so I too will get your kind of mojo! Can't wait to hear about NY training. What program are you following? Given my new found love for biking / swimming I'm thinking of using a FIRST type program - you've used that haven't yoU?

CewTwo said...

It looks like the cool down was with the brewski later! AND that is OK!

What a great come back! I shared the story with your new friend, Tom! He is quite happy that you are back. Like me, though, he wants to run a race with you now!

CewTwo said...

It looks like the cool down was with the brewski later! AND that is OK!

What a great come back! I shared the story with your new friend, Tom! He is quite happy that you are back. Like me, though, he wants to run a race with you now!

Susan said...

Amazing job! And I am supremely impressed with the temps! If it was 71 degrees here, the med tent would be handing out jackets! LOL