Destination Long Runs

The last few months have been a flurry of activity.  Any time I look at my calendar and discover a small block of spare time, poof!  It soon disappears and is filled with another commitment.  Anyone who knows me understands that I enjoy being busy, but this full calendar has (once again) made it difficult to keep up with a stringent marathon training plan. 

I traveled twice to California in the last month: once to Los Angeles/Long Beach to visit Issac’s family and once to Sacramento to visit my sister.  I was very proud of the fact that I was able to squeeze in all long runs scheduled for these timeframes without interfering with the tours, events, gatherings, and explorations planned for these travels.  My legs got quite fatigued after such long/eventful days, and my shins are still on strike, but I was so pleased that I didn’t let these trips ruin my strict running schedule.

While in Long Beach, Issac and I completed a 17-mile run that took us along the waterfront.   We passed a crew regatta (which caused me to reminisce about my college rowing days!) and lots of beach panoramas.  There were several downpours during our stay, but, remarkably, it didn’t rain at all during our run!  The stormy clouds were slightly ominous as we looked out over the water, but we had a lovely run.  Here are photos that I took on our way:

My first run in Sacramento was perhaps one of the most amusing ones that I’ve ever had.  As luck would have it, I had mapped out a route that precisely mirrored the course for the Shamrock'n Half Marathon on the American River Trail.  I found myself out on the course ahead of the runners of this race (as I had started prior to their 8:00AM start time), and many of the police officers, course volunteers, and bands thought I was in the lead of the run!!  They cheered me on, and two of the bands started playing when they saw me coming up around the bend.  I was actually quite embarrassed but had no alternative route planned, so I kept running along and announcing whenever I got the opportunity, “I’m sorry, I’m not in the race!”  Some of the kids volunteering at one of the water stations responded, “You still are doing a great job!” and continued to cheer me on anyway.  It was very cute.

Eventually, I reached a point where the course turned onto crowded Sacramento streets with many spectators lined up on both sides of the road.  I clearly did not have a bib number, and I felt uncomfortable completing a training run through such large crowds.  I had only finished about 7 miles, but I called Erica and asked her to pick me up and take me home.  I enjoyed this taste of what it would be like to be out front in a race, but I was ready for the adventure to end!

I also realized that I would have to run the opposite direction of the Shamrockn Half’s 5K event for my last 9 miles.  I certainly didn’t feel up for having a “fish swimming upstream” experience, so that was another reason to end my run early.

My second attempt to complete an 18-mile run in Sacramento went much more smoothly. 

I passed the sunrise over this bridge on the American River Trail.

I encountered several vocal wild turkeys as I ran.

I had finished the entire run by 10:00AM, which gave us plenty of time for our programmed culinary walking tour of downtown Sacramento. 

I don’t have any more trips planned within the 6 weeks between now and my second full marathon, but I’m looking forward to many other scenic and memorable runs!

Lake Sammamish Half Marathon

Ladies and gentleman, I have proof that I am getting faster!  I completed the Lake Sammamish Half Marathon in 1:44:46 on Saturday.  For frame of reference, my time for the same race in 2013 was 1:58:22.  That’s an improvement of 13 minutes, 36 seconds.  Not only is it a personal record, it’s also validation that my hard work is paying off!

The weather cooperated perfectly for the race.  It was a beautiful sunrise as we drove over to Redmond at 6:00AM (lovely shades of purple, pink, yellow, and orange over the water and mountains), and it didn’t start raining until we were driving home afterward.  The course was flat (hooray!), and it took us from Marymoor Park to Lake Sammamish State Park with pretty scenery surrounding us for most of the way.   About 30% of the run was on gravel surface, and 70% was on pavement. 

The Lake Sammamish Half Marathon came right in the midst of marathon training for me—with my most recent long run spanning 17 miles.  I’ve been having shin pain recently, but my shins gave me surprisingly little trouble during the run.  My legs (especially my quads) started to feel tired near the end of the race, but I felt really good overall.  Issac and I ran the first 9 miles (or so) together, which is another sign that I’m getting faster because he used to leave me in his dust!  My fastest miles were 6 and 7 (7:52 and 7:54, respectively), and my slowest mile was 12 (8:34). 

Here are my stats for the race: official finish time= 1:44:46, pace per mile= 8:00 (8-minute-miles right on the nose!); place in my division= 48 out of 426; place out of female finishers= 110 out of 1,150; and place overall= 327 out of 1,785 finishers.  Rumor has it that the course was 0.2 miles too short, which would mean my actual pace would be 8:07 per mile.  This would still be a 13.1-mile PR for me by several minutes, so I’ll take it!


Here I am at the crowded start line, excited to get moving!

Race photos are never flattering (how do they always manage to capture images at the perfect angle to make everyone look wiiiiiiiiide?!), but I like this picture of me and Issac because we are completely in unison with our stride.   Look at our feet-- we are in sync!



I was very content with the race.  In fact, I was so happy at the finish line that I snapped a picture of the computer screen displaying my official finish time.

Perhaps I’ll make Lake Sammamish an annual tradition.  Who knows—maybe next year I’ll have increased even more in speed?!

In the Limelight

I was recently asked to be the featured runner in the Weekly News Report of the Seattle Green Lake Running Group.  This may not seem like a big deal, but it was quite a surprise to me because the SGLRG has 3,273 members… And I have to admit I’m far from being the most involved, dedicated, or interesting of them all!  In fact, I felt a tinge of guilt because I only sporadically go to the many runs offered by the group each week and know of many other runners who might have been more appropriate choices.  With that said, I took the time to answer the questions and have pasted the article below.  Enjoy!

Membership Spotlight- For this week’s membership spotlight, we will have the opportunity to get to know Hilary Case a little bit better.

When did you start running and do you remember what got you started in the first place?  I got motivated to become a runner in the fall of 2012.  In addition to improving my fitness level, I really wanted to challenge myself and strive for new goals.  I’d been involved in other sports and recreational activities throughout my life, and I think I was seeking that same type of commitment to self-improvement.

How long have you been running with the SGLRG and how did you find us? I joined the SGLRG in the spring of 2013 after Rachel F. persuaded me that I didn’t have to be a world-class athlete to become involved.  I had been very intimidated by the group, but she was very encouraging.

Do you remember what you first event with the group was and how it went? I attended my first few events with the SGLRG as a guest because I was reluctant to start my own Meetup profile page.  I was concerned that I wasn't a "good enough" runner, so I was hesitant to officially become a member of the group.  I remember coming to a Casual Thursday run and pushing myself to run a lap around Green Lake much faster than normal because I was afraid of being the slowest person there.  I finished completely out of breath and realized that everyone else was so much more relaxed and social than me.  When I discovered that it wasn’t a race, I felt a lot less pressure!

What is your favorite thing about running? I love the sense of accomplishment that I get from running-- whether it’s getting a PR in a race or simply going for a run when it’s dark and rainy outside.  I just feel like I’ve achieved something!

Do you have a go to meal before a race? I eat a bagel for breakfast and homemade nachos the night before.  It has basically gotten to the point of superstition; I think I can’t be successful if I don’t eat these specific foods.

What does your race calendar look like for 2014? So far, I plan on running the Lake Sammamish ½ Marathon on March 8th, the Rainman Indoor Triathlon on March 23rd, the Vancouver Full Marathon on May 4th, the Shorerun 10K on June 8th, and the Ragnar Relay on July 18th-19th.  That should be enough to keep me busy.

Do you have a favorite shoe/model that you run in? I really like the Brooks’ Ghost 6 shoes.  I’m picky with my shoes because (in addition to running) I use them for teaching jump rope.  I need to find a lightweight trainer that provides a nice cushion to the balls of my feet and doesn’t have deep ridges on the bottom that could catch a rope.  I suppose we all have our shoe quirks…

If we wanted to track you down, which events do you currently attend? I most regularly attend the Saturday Morning Rise & Shine, although I’m hoping to come more often to the other weekly runs as well.  I feel a bit guilty that I’ve been so inconsistent lately.

Where is your favorite place to go for a run? I think that running is one of the best ways to explore new places while traveling… as long as I don’t get lost!  Locally, I enjoy running on the Burke-Gilman Trail.  It offers pretty scenery and covers a lot of ground.

If you could pick any one person to go for a run with, who would it be? This is a long story, but here is my short answer: I would run with Judy Fisher-- a local senior running legend.  Judy is 70-years-old and can still crank out sub-4:00 marathons.   I’ve never met her, but I’ve come across her in several races.  She wins first place in her age category without fail.  I find her to be very inspiring and would love to hear more about her running journey.  Maybe there’s someone out there who can make this happen!  :)

West Seattle Fat Ass 25K

My Super Bowl Sunday started at 5:15AM as I prepared for the West Seattle Fat Ass 25K/50K, a self-described "no fee, no shirt, no aid, no whining fun run" that started and ended in Lincoln Park (with donations covering the costs of the event +  the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society).   Many members of the Seattle Green Lake Running Group were there for support, camaraderie, and carpools, and it turned out to be a lovely morning along the Seattle waterfront.  

I really appreciated the relaxed, low-key atmosphere of the run; it didn't have the normal nervous tension that often accompanies races.  People were treating it as more of a training run, and I chatted with other runners the whole way.  I have to admit that my legs got tired the last couple miles, but it was still a lot of fun.

25K converts to 15.53 miles (my GPS calculated the course at 15.54 miles, so it was very close!).  My official time was 2:18:19, but it included a couple stops to chat with people and one for the bathroom.  That is about 8:54 per mile, but this run was definitely not about times.

The view of downtown Seattle was exquisite at the start.
Look for the 12th Man tribute!

Members of the Seattle Green Lake Running Group gathered
for a 7:00AM start-line photo as a ferry passed 
by in the background.

The Space Needle was picturesque with clouds on the
 water beneath it.  Jamie stopped to take a picture of Morgan
and me as we ran by it, but I almost crashed into that pole
 attempting to run backwards!

I ran with Jamie for almost the entire course.  Like lots of others, she
was clad in her best Seahawks gear.  People shouted "Go hawks!"
as we passed.

Here I am with fellow members of the SGRLG after we'd reached
the treats and drinks at the finish line.

After the run was over, we were able to watch history in the making as the Seahawks became Super Bowl champions.  What a glorious day!

Nookachamps Half Marathon: The Ultimate Battle

Here we are with our fellow running group members
in the comfort of the gymnasium-- before heading
out into the elements.

I had really looked forward to the Nookachamps Half Marathon.  I’d been feeling faster and stronger; I’d noticed my mile times getting lower and lower.  For the first time in my life, my Runkeeper app was showing me mile split times on long runs of 7:42, 7:46, 7:48, and 7:54.  This was my chance to show the world that I’m getting speedier!  I was incredibly eager to get a time in the 1:40’s.


Here I am near the finish line.  I'm
trying hard to conceal my misery!

However, it just wasn’t meant to be.  I came to this realization as I heard the rain pouring and wind howling the night before the run.  As I got out of bed on race day, I felt very congested (yuck!) and became apprehensive about the adverse weather conditions.  I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty.

As we traveled to Mount Vernon, we got a false sense of hope when we saw a patch of blue sky … But it soon disappeared!  The race was undoubtedly the most unpleasant run of my life.  We ran into a headwind for probably about 95% of the course, and the winds were so strong that I noticed that the people ahead of me had an awkward sideways lean to their gait. Gusts of wind felt like they were body-slamming me as they reached 50mph, and I was soaked to the bone.  It seemed to take twice as much effort than normal to go anywhere.   I tried to engage in positive self-talk to convince myself that I was having fun, but I couldn't deny the fact that I was absolutely miserable.

With that said, it was still the best half marathon time that I have on record!  My official finish time was 1:51:31, which is 8:30 per mile  (my last half marathon time was 1:52:13).  I finished in 97th place out of 300 male/female runners.  In spite of being so cold that my teeth were chattering and so wet that my shoes had about a half inch of water at the bottom, I really did have a strong sense of accomplishment.

I am optimistic that all future runs will have more enjoyable conditions, and my fingers are crossed that I'll continue to make great strides with my running!

Onward and Upward!

Now that the big, bad Portland Marathon is out of the way, the question is: What’s next?  The answer is: More running (and a few other athletic pursuits)!

I had been so tunnel-vision focused on my first full marathon that it seemed like the end-all be-all for me.  But that isn’t true!  I now have a calendar full of events to keep me focused and diligent in my training efforts.  Here is what 2014 has in store for me thus far:

• January 11: Nookachamps Half Marathon in Mount Vernon, WA
• February 2: Half Ass 25K (15 miles) in West Seattle, WA
• February 8: Snow Shoe 5K race in Cle Elum, WA (tentative)
• February 11 and 17: Jump rope fitness events at local elementary schools
• March 8: Lake Sammamish Half Marathon in Redmond, WA
• March 23: RainMan Indoor Triathlon in Seattle, WA
• April 6: Bridges to Brews 10K in Portland, OR
• May 4: Vancouver Full Marathon in Vancouver, Canada (another full marathon!!) 

Here’s hoping that I remain injury-free as I work on improving my speed and maintaining my endurance in the months to come!  Be on the lookout for race updates.

Girls on the Run

I was instructed not to post any pictures of participants
 online, but here I am at the start of the much-anticipated
 final 5K(in 23-degree weather, mind you!)!  You will
note that everyone who takes part in the run is #1.  Love it! 

I found a great way to combine my newfound love of running with a meaningful volunteer opportunity: Girls on the Run.  This afterschool program for girls in 3rd through 5th grade strives to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.” 

My role as a running buddy was to serve as a cheerleader/encourager/coach for one girl during two 5K’s (a practice race and a big event with all of the girls/buddies from around the county).  It was fun to interact with elementary school girls and watch how they were able to motivate themselves to finish a full 5K.  It seemed so daunting at first!  It’s a great program with lots of important lessons for young ladies, and I enjoyed my small part in it.  The experience reminded me of the goal-setting, challenges, lessons, and rewards of my own running journey!