Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all have a great day and eat as much food as you want! Calories don't count on holidays so chow down!

Turkey Trot review and energy bits giveaway coming this weekend! 

Falmouth in the Fall Road Race Recap!

I ran the Falmouth in the Fall Road Race a few weekends ago in Falmouth, MA. This race is the same route as the Falmouth Road Race that takes place every summer with thousand and thousands of runners. I also run that race every year but sometimes I like to run the Falmouth in the Fall as well because there are only about 500 runners and it is easier to take in the scenery! It is a beautiful race route!

This race normally takes place the first Sunday of November and its normally a very cold day. For those who are not familiar with this race or the Falmouth Road Race, it starts in Woods Hole and ends 7.2 miles out in Falmouth Heights. The course is very hilly! The first three miles are rolling hills then it flattens out. At around mile six you start uphill again until the last few hundred feet of the race then a large down hill. The course is beautiful and is all along the ocean. The downside of this race is that you start in one place and end in one place therefore you have to be bused to the start line normally an hour or so before the start so there is lots of standing around.

I decided to do Falmouth in the Fall this year to get a better qualifying corral time for the Princess Half Marathon in Disney World. This summer I ran the regular Falmouth Road Race in 1:09 and knew I could beat that time in the fall so signed up. The race is only $20 and you don't get anything except a cup of chowder at the end but it is still a good time. When you sign up you have to include a self addressed envelope so they can send you your race number. Another thing I like since I sometimes don't like picking up my number unless there is a big race expo. 

 

 The week leading up to the race I was really unsure if I was going to run. I had been battling a groin injury from a previous half marathon as well as being a bit burnt out. I said all week I am not going to do it I am just going to give my number away, but deep down I knew that I would run. However I really did entertain the idea of not running for about a day. I took it easy all week training and I only ran maybe once or twice with low mileage. I felt good Saturday but when I woke up on Sunday I just felt sick to my stomach. The race wasn't until one so I ate and relaxed for a bit and then decided I was going to do it. My plan was for my mom to pick me up and she was going to drive me to the start line so I could wait in the car until the start, it was cold and rainy that morning.

I got to woods hole around noon so had about an hour or so to wait. My friend Liz who was also running decided to do the same thing and have her husband drive her to the start as well. Great idea on our part because it was COLD! We ended up getting out of our cars about ten minutes before the start, and then all of a sudden everyone was running. It was the most bizarre start there was no gun, no one telling you to go we all just started running. With this race however there is no timing chip in your bib so your time starts when the clock starts. I hadn't noticed this until right before the start so I told Liz we needed to get right in the front. We were not wasting any time.

The race started and every one charged out as well as myself so I needed to pull back a bit as to not fall apart. I was able to control my breathing and keep a steady pace. The beginning is always tough but then it completely flattens out so you can get some of your energy back. However you have to remember the last two hills at the end. One is gradual and then one smacks you in the face and you feel terrible no matter what. I always try to save energy for that last hill and tell myself once you are up it all you have to do is come down. However that is not the case. You go up this massive hill and then it flattens out for what seems like three miles and then you FLY downhill to the finish. But god I hate the hill!

I finished in 1:03 for 7.2 miles I was incredibly pleased with myself. The first time I ran this race I ran 1:28 in change. and even last year I did about that, so as you can image I was ecstatic when I saw that clock said 1:03! Good training really pays off! My ultimate goal is to run in under an hour which last year seemed unattainable but now is so close to being in reach! 

Overall I do love this race and the regular Falmouth Road Race. It is one of the more difficult race routes I have encountered but I just love it, and will continue to do it! 

The only complaints were the start and that there is no chip for timing. There are not a ton of people so it is easy to get our right when it starts but it still would be nice, it might shave off a few seconds right! Also there where not a ton of water stops maybe three if that. I didn't mind I only drank water once however it might bother some people. The organization of the race is good as well. If you do get bused to the start line there is a truck where you can check a bag. I have never done that so I a not too sure how it works. Other then that I highly highly suggest doing this race. If you don't get into the lottery for the regular Falmouth Road Race then do this race it is exactly the same with way less people. 

 

2013 race bibs place proudly on the fridge! I have one last race for 2013 the Turkey Trot in Chatham on Thanksgiving and then I think that will be it, unless I find a really awesome Christmas race! 

QOTD:What do you do with your old race bibs? 

Exciting News!!!

So I have a couple of things to tell you guys about!!! First off I was chosen to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador! I am so excited about this! 

 

Go check out the website www.fitapproach.com.

Their mission is...

"We believe that kicking ass is best done in pretty shoes. We’ve learned that real women sweat, and sweat hard. We know that assertiveness, strength, and ambition are the ultimate feminine qualities. We concede that sometimes it takes hours to get ready, but we’re also no strangers to just rolling out of bed and going. We’re convinced that we run faster in pink shoelaces. We believe in pushing ourselves, and we believe in giving ourselves a break, too. We’re all about the rush of endorphins and the thrill of the challenge. We’re all for looking great and feeling even better. We’re committed to finding our best fit, and making it stick."

Who wouldn't want to be part of such a great community of women! 

Next I have created a facebook page for my blog and I would REALLY REALLY appreciate if you LIKED it! Just click the like button in the right hand corner! 

Lastly I am happy to announce Bella is getting a baby brother!!!!

 

I still need to think of a name so if you can think of any good ones comment below! He will be here just before Christmas I can't wait! My mom is getting a little girl as well, his sister! We are so excited!

Cape Cod Marathon Relay Recap!

I have been so bad about writing my recaps I feel so behind! A few weekends ago I ran the Cape Cod Marathon Relay. This is a five person team relay that takes places during the Cape Cod Marathon in Falmouth, Ma. This was not a race I had planned on doing but a friend of mine needed a runner for one of her teams, someone backed out so I decided to do it!

A little information on this race, it takes place during the Cape Cod Marathon Weekend, the weekend consists of a half marathon on Saturday a full on Sunday with the relay during the full. You also can do the half and the full back to back which is called the "Chowdah Challenge". It takes place through out Falmouth and finishes right on Main Street. A very pretty course but a bit hilly. 

We did the relay and had two teams. Each team had five girls on it and we had two cars to drive around Falmouth to each exchange. We met in Falmouth around 7:30 and headed over to the Larwrence School down the street to get our numbers, t-shirts and packets about the day.  We were asked if we had a two cars for each team because exchange 4 had a shuttle and we probably wouldn't make it to the exchange in time for our runner. We were a bit confused about this but figured we would figure it out as we went along. We then headed over to get our t-shirts which was a kind of cool because they were screen printing them when you told them which size shirt and color you wanted. This took up a bit of time but was different so I liked it. I also like the shirt and that it is long sleeved.

 

This helicopter was flying super low at the second exchange. It was neat but made me a little nervous!

The first runner started at the Lawrence School and had to run 3.05 miles and then finished at the Famouth Road Race finish. Then the next runner was off for 6.15 miles. I was the third runner so we headed over to my exchange I got my baton and was off. I only had to run 5.7 miles my course was pretty easy a few hills but nothing too bad. I felt pretty good during the whole run. When  I passed off it had been one of the shuttle exchanges this leg was 6 miles. We had to take a bus back to the parking lot and then go to the next parking lot to get another shuttle and go to the 5th exchange which was 5.3 miles. This shuttle thing got a little confusing and luckily the two girls who were running the 5th leg took off before I came in, in order to make their leg, because timing was tight. We headed over to the last hand off and one of the runners on our other team had already left. We waited for our runner to come in and get the 4th girl, they handed off the baton and we were off to the finish line to cheer everyone on! 

Overall it was a really great experience, and I am glad I did it. I had never done a relay before. It was a long day but very fun! The one thing that was a bit confusing during the race was you were not sure what side of the road you were suppose to be running on. I kept switching back and fourth because it wasn't clearly marked and all the roads were still open. I had just wished there was a bit more direction. Also the shuttle thing did get a bit confusing and if we hadn't had two teams we would have needed an extra car to get to the exchanges in time. Other then that I really liked the race, and I got to cheer people on and be a spectator which doesn't often happen!

 

 This was my team! 

 

This guy's team name was the best "Team Unicorn Sparkle Luke Skywalker"

My recap on Falmouth in the Fall will be up in a few days, I need to get caught up on all these recaps!