Race Report – Women’s Running Magazine, Nashville Women’s Half Marathon

Women's Running Magazine Women’s Half Marathon

Nashville, Tennessee September 25, 2010

********** FEMALE TOP 3 OVERALL RESULTS ***********

Place No. Name Ag S City St Chiptim

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1 1006 JILLIAN MASTROIANNI 28 F NASHVILLE TN 1:24:46

2 1008 ASHLEY HANSEN 26 F SONOMA CA 1:29:36

3 1929 MOLLY BROWN-BOULAY 39 F FRANKLIN TN 1:29:50

After reading the WSJ article I posted on here last week, I was unsure of what to expect going into the race weekend. The entire weekend was amazing, beginning when I checked into my hotel in Nashville. I was completely surprised at how organized, friendly and fun the weekend was given my hesitation and the all women’s field of runners. I stayed at the host hotel in downtown Nashville where the Expo was held and only a few blocks from the starting line. All of the hotel staff had pink Women’s Running pins on their jackets and were incredibly helpful. Whenever I check into a hotel one of the first questions I ask is where I can go running in the morning. I prefer to run early in the morning, before most people would consider getting out of bed while on their vacation, and as such I like to ask the locals their advice on safe running routes. The guy at the front desk first recommended a path along the river that most people run but then admitted that it’s “only” 3 miles and he could see I would probably be looking for something a little longer than that. He was incredibly helpful with healthier dining recommendations and was able to tell me everything I needed to know about how to get to the starting line on race morning and was even willing to leave a room key for me for after the race so I wouldn’t have to worry about running with one during the race.

Coming off the inaugural Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon on Labor Day Weekend, I was also weary of this being an inaugural race. I saw the pitfalls and issues of a first time event firsthand in Oregon and those thoughts were in the back of my mind all weekend. The expo was great and there were some fun vendors and fun WRM gear for sale. I admit, I didn’t do much research about the race before getting on the plane but there were some questions I had that did not have answers on the race website so I asked the two girls working the information desk. I wanted to know about gear check bags (if they would be provided at the start and what size since we didn’t get any with our bib and packet pick-up). I was surprised that neither of the girls even know what gear check bags were and looked at me as though I was crazy?! I explained that the website said they would be provided but didn’t say if we could pick them up at the expo or offer any other details. They weren’t able to answer that question or find someone who could so it’s a good thing my friend at the front desk was going to have an extra key for me! Although these two girls didn’t know much about running or running events they were incredibly nice and friendly, as was the rest of the race staff.

On any race weekend, the hotels are packed with nervous, anxious and excited runners and this weekend was no exception. It was crazy to see so many women in one place, it was a little over whelming but I now understand an all women’s event!

Race morning was a little warmer than us runners would have liked but luckily there was no rain which had been in the forecast the day before. I usually arrive to the starting are moments before the gun goes off and I made sure to arrive a little earlier for this race (about 20 min. before start time). I hurried into my seeded corral in the front to find there weren’t too many ladies lined up at the starting line. I usually start near the front but never at the very front. There were only about 5 of us toeing up to the line with the other ladies a few feet behind us. This was like no race start I have ever seen and I was a little confused. I started chatting with an older woman next to me who said she had to be at the front because she needed to hurry to her daughter’s soccer game after the race. Unlike other starting lines where men and women are elbowing and nudging for room, I could do jumping jacks without even hitting another person. I was embarrassed to be toeing up on the line but had such an adrenaline rushing seeing the open course ahead and since no one else was lining up to the start I thought I should take advantage as I will never be in this situation again. It was awesome! When the gun when off myself and two other girls took off and never looked back. We were spaced a good distance apart to where we weren’t within talking distance. Along the course there was a short turn-around where we were running directly opposite other runners. The cheers and support from the other runners was unbelievable! They were cheering the three of us on as if they were spectators on the sidelines. It was unreal! Running is an individual sport but it’s also a competition and a race. Never before had I heard such loud cheering and support from the competition – it was an amazing experience.

I didn’t feel too strong the entire race but fought to hold onto second place. I think I could have pushed it a little more and I probably would have if there was someone in front of me giving me that extra push. The first place finisher, a Nashville native, smoked the rest of us and I was pretty much running by myself without the pull of another runner out in front. It was a great race and I’m happy with another sub-1:30 finish. Not all races can be PR’s and I’m excited with 2^nd place!

A true testament to how organized this race was is how calm, relaxed and happy the entire staff appeared. Everywhere I looked, no matter who it was, what they were doing or what kind of chaos was going on, they remained calm with a huge smile on their face. Even event director, Dawna Stone was walking around congratulating runners and chatting with everyone. I was completely impressed at the personalized feeling and friendly atmosphere of the race organizers. I will definitely do another Women’s Running Magazine events for the great organization and fun atmosphere.

Race Report - 13.1

This year I have not been able to focus on my running as much as I would like to and as a result, have not had high expectations for myself or performances in races. I have also been running in more half marathons as I don’t have the time to commit to the full marathon. I am enjoying the shorter distance and also the increased speed. I set a half-marathon PR at the NYRR Half Marathon (1:31:??) and was so bummed I did not come under 1:30!

I went into this race with low expectations but wanting a 1:30. After my terrible half marathon at the AT&T Giant Race I was looking for redemption. I didn’t place too much pressure on myself as I have not been running or working out much due to the long hours at work and late nights working on my research papers. I felt prepared when I showed up at the starting line and was super excited! I met this amazing runner while waiting in the starting corral. She is an experienced and elite runner from the Washington D.C. area who offered me some great racing advice on pacing and shoes. (She was wearing the Brooks T6 which I have been wanting to try but do not think I’m fast enough yet to wear something that light). She was looking towards a 1:25:?? finishing time but was going to take the first half at a 1:29:00 pace so she encouraged me to stay with her and she’d help me hit a 1:30. I was so appreciative and amazed that she was being so helpful. Even though running is an individual sport, people usually are not always eager to help the competition! We started out fast but I felt great. I kept telling myself to hold on until I felt I needed to slow down and back off. It was super super hot and humid so I also made a point of drinking early and at every water stop. Around the 4 mile mark, the girl I was running with started to slow down and back off. I kept looking at my Garmin and was not sure if I should slow down too or keep the pace. I felt great so I decided to keep the pace and run my own race. As we drifted apart I told her she’d pass me later in the race as I totally expected to blow up around mile 10 (which I kind of did!). I ran by myself for the majority of the race, passing a few guys along the way and keeping pace with one for about 2 miles. Most of my runs leading up to this race had been around 10 miles. I think it was psychological that around 10.5 miles my body began to slow down and my legs started to feel super heavy. I didn’t know if I could hold the pace but people along the course kept telling me I was the #3 female so I kept pushing. There was a short turnaround at the 11-12 mile mark where I saw that I was in fact that 3^rd girl and 4^th wasn’t too far behind. My friend from the starting line really looked like she was having a bad race and I was totally bummed for her (but happy with my decision to keep pace on my own). I was mentally losing it around 12 miles and started calculating what my finishing time would be if I walked or slowed down. I do this every race when I’m near the end and while I never do either, I can’t stop my mind from going there! What was deceiving about this finish is that we were running around a lake for the last 1-2 miles so I could see the finish area and crowds of people but not exactly where the finish line was so I couldn’t tell when to kick it into gear although I didn’t have much left. I kept pushing, thinking that the next girl was right behind me. I couldn’t believe the clock at the finish line. Not only did I break 1:30, I crushed my previous PR set in March by over 2 minutes! My clock time was 1:28:36! I was super super excited to podium but more excited to break that 1:30 barrier! Now I know I have the speed and can dig deep. I’m ordering some T6’s!

Race Report - Napa-to-Sonoma Half Marathon

This is definitely not my typical race report as I did not run in the race but had an amazing opportunity to volunteer at the finishing line! I have volunteered at races before but at water stops or with on course support, never at the finishing line.

As the motorcycle escorts made their way down the final stretch I was super excited to watch the lead runners come flying down the final straight away and cross the finish line! It was awesome to be able to watch the winners and elite runners finish. Adding to the excitement, the course record was broken by over a minute!

Watching all the runners come in and seeing the sense of accomplishment and excitement on their faces was inspiring. It was great to hear people screaming and so happy to have finished, especially those who were completing their first half-marathon. I especially enjoyed watching and congratulating those runners whom I remembered and chatted with at the expo the day before.

This was a completely different race experience and I am surprised at how much fun I had helping rather than running. I was jealous of all of the runners out there on the course running while I couldn't. I was especially jealous as the clock ticked along at my average half-marathon time, wishing I was crossing the line! It was great to be able to experience the event and post-race activities and break-down from a different perspective. I loved being able to see what's involved, the large number of volunteers required and congratulating the runners. I helped break down the event and finish with all of the clean-up. Usually I leave the race right after finishing which I probably won't do anymore. It was awesome to talk to runners hours after they had finished, see them with their friends and families and being a part of all the post-race festivities take place.

There is so much that goes into a running race, it takes a strong group of people and volunteers. I have a greater appreciation for race directors and organizers after helping out this weekend. I will definitely be less critical of races that I don't feel are well organized and I will make an extra effort to thank as many volunteers as possible!

http://www.sonomanews.com/news/article_98b83666-939d-11df-a305-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

Race Report - AT&T Giant Race

This was, without a doubt, the absolute WORSE race I have ever ran. Everything went wrong! Up until this race I had never had a race where something went totally, completely wrong, so the positive I will take out of this race is that I need to prepare and I need to get serious.

Unfortunately, EVERYTHING went completely wrong for me in this race! I often hear of stories where someone's experienced some great devastation that completely ruins their race strategy and/or end result. Usually only one thing goes wrong. Up until the AT&T Giant race, I don't think I had ever experienced that. I know I have low expectations and since I don't follow a "training plan" there isn't too much I can complain about - any poor performance is a direct result of my own failure to prepare properly (something I'm working on). Literally everything went wrong! I ran to the start line and got there much earlier than I usually get to the start line and for some reason I decided that I didn't need my water bottle so I showed up at the start line with nothing but myself! (Failure #1: dehydration). It was unusually warm and I hadn't properly hydrated the day before the race (late night at the ballgame enjoying beers and salty ball park food). By mile 1 I felt totally dehydrated and knew I was in trouble. Along miles 5-7 I experienced the worst stomach aches that continued until they forced me to drop to a run/walk around miles 10-12 due to the horrible side stitches. (Failure #2: poor nutrition). Usually I love love love hills on a course because I love doing hill repeats so I usually crush everyone as I tear up the hills. When we came to the second major hill on the course my toes started to go numb in my left foot. This sensation became progressively worse as the race went on and didn't let up until the next day. (Failure #3: wrong shoe choice). I registered for the race months in advance and was super excited about the race. The race was on the weekend following finals and when I registered I though it'd be the perfect way to celebrate the end of finals and the end of the quarter. I didn't think about how the two weeks up to the race are my crunch time and that I would be spending all my time studying, limiting my running time. I ended up ditching out on the last long run before the race and cutting my previous long run short because I simply didn't have time. Also, I was only able to get 6 runs in during the entire two weeks immediately preceding the race. Not only was I physically unprepared, mentally I hadn't done enough long runs and I wanted to die on the course, I had no confidence, doubted myself and questioned why I was even running when I knew I wasn't ready. (Failure #4 & 5: mentally & physically unprepared).

This race was a total bummer! I am so disappointed that I couldn't get it together or decide that maybe it wasn't the right time to run. The worse part about the race was definitely my left foot. I'm hoping I just chose shoes that weren't supportive enough for a half marathon (considering how unprepared I was) and that something isn't seriously wrong with my foot.

The race itself was amazing and I can't wait to go back next year for some payback! This was the inaugural half marathon and the organization and course route were great! I loved running into the park along the center and left field warning track, it was awesome! Next year I will be better prepared. Until then, I'd like to completely forget all about this awful race!