Sunday, May 03, 2009

Eugene Half Marathon Race Report

I feel like my race reports are getting boring! I have been running a lot of races this spring, I haven't had any spectacular results or triumphs... so I am going to try this a little different.

In fact, I tried doing a lot of stuff differently recently. I kind of adopted Petra/George Costanza "Opposite" thing. You know, do the opposite of what you normally do. Go against your instincts. So in really minor ways I switched it up. I'm usually pretty anxious and obsessive and lately I'm loosey goosey! The training was nonspecific- no schedule, whatevs on the pace.. and that was working well. Then for the race- I didn't pack until the morning we left, I had pizza and a beer the night before the race, I tried on the race t-shirt before the race (it was too big), stuff like that. The good news is, it didn't make my race any worse! The bad news is, it didn't make it any better.

I finished in an unoriginal 1:45:51 (8:05 ave). I guess it's cool that I'm consistent and that is a good time for sure, but it kind of turns out less isn't more. I have got to get serious with my training. More importantly, I think I really need to clean up my eating and drinking and get in better shape. Ugh!

Anyway, the half marathon course was more difficult than I had imagined, but it was a fabulous race. Gorgeous little green Oregon college town and Everyone is all about running. Good beer, good people, amazing runners, Hayward Field, you just can't beat it. The course was good but there was a long-ish climb in the early miles and a big f#&*er of a hill in mile 9. It was lightly raining for my whole race but let up right after and the sun came out to cook the full marathon runners a little. I think you should expect rain at this event. It rains a lot here.

I really felt strong the whole time and the miles kind of flew by. I got pretty tired by like mile 9 and just gutted it out. Here are my splits, I actually had some good speed going I just didn't hold it up in the end.

1 8:09
2 7:40
3 7:49
4 8:00
5 8:14
6 7:52
7 7:51
8 8:04
9 8:21 (hill)
10 8:12
11 8:23
12 8:08
13 8:15
0.1 :50

1:45:51
(8:05 ave)

Zach had an INCREDIBLE race. He is such a smart and fast runner. Hopefully he'll post his splits too, but I can tell you he PR'd big time with 1:34:14. :O Merlin's beard! (that's my new saying)





































So I have a tri training schedule ready to begin in one week. I'm going to use this coming week to let my legs recover from the race, get my schedules finalized and printed out and stuff, outline my diet a little and figure out how I'm going to survive without Cupcake Jones, etc etc. Get my shit in gear. It's transition time! (get it, that's a triathlon joke)

Thanks for reading!! Congratulations to Aron on an amazing marathon finish today too. It was great to see her and her family. Wish we could have hung out longer! Alisa and Amy also drove down to cheer everyone on which was awesome. Alisa's sign said "Toenails are for sissies" Love it. Thanks guys! :)

39 comments:

Lotusphx said...

Chicken salad on rye, untoasted, and a cup of tea? Congrats on your race!! Not many people can casually run as many races as you have already this year which means you kick some serious butt! Good work!

J said...

Great race! That is a fabulous time and those splits are amazing!!! The pictures are amazing too!

Unknown said...

Great job! Those are great miles!

kristen said...

I love how your 'measly' 1:45 is me just dreaming big. Good job, even if it was mediocre it was still an effort!

Transition time - hell yeah. Can't wait.

Arcane said...

Your race reports are never boring, especially with all the pictures. Try eating more pizza and beer next time!

Billy said...

Yawwwn...you're right, getting boring.

Why don't you get lost in the woods somewhere, run several miles more than you're supposed to, steal water because you're on the verge of dehydration, hitchhike back to the start, get a DNF, miss your flight...

OR

You can keep putting together a string of fantastic races.

The latter sounds better.

Great job out there Miss Consistency. Major props to your guy too!

Jon in Tokyo said...

Well done. Great effort. Keep it up.

GB said...

Jen, take it back, neither you nor your races will ever be boring! Another strong race for you.

And on another note... look at Pre's picture. Now look at your picture (the one of you drinking the beer). I swear you two could have been related!

Amy - the gazelle said...

great race! It was so fun to spectate the race - I just wish I'd gotten a better race photo of you.

The Hippie Chick Half is Saturday morning. The race starts at 9 AM at Champoeg (until about 2 minutes ago, I thought the race was Sunday, I'm such a planner).

Emily said...

You did awesome! I wish I could have been there to see it. Love the pix.

Susan said...

I love race reports with pictures! I'm going to have to try the pizza + beer combo sometime...sounds like a winner. Great race!

SavvyFitChica said...

Even if it wasn't a PR or "special" as you would say, congrats on a strong race- you're still hella fast in my book lady.

I love the pictures- man, some of those buildings are gorgeous. It stinks that it was rainy, but it still looks really pretty.

I'm excited for your upcoming tri training schedule and diet plan.

Petraruns said...

Oh man the opposite of me only works for me because I'm such a slob naturally - you anals shouldn't change! However, I agree with everyone else that your splits are really impressive and it sounds like you've kind of realised what you need to be doing to improve. Still. A 1:45 half mary - I would take it. Keep us posted on what you decide...

Ewen said...

Go George! In minor ways of course. Pizza and beer is OK (now and then). Solid half time.

I know you'll get your sh, um, I mean act, together.

Hayward Field is a neat place. I remember being amazed the stands were made out of timber. There's a lot of timber in the north-west!

Anonymous said...

You did have lots speed going yesterday. Well done and congratulations to Zach too.

Enjoy the week before tri training starts. Can't wait to follow this journey.

Kelly said...

Great race, even if it was just average. I don't know about running this week, my knee and leg really gave me heck during my 1/2. Maybe we could just walk or meet for a drink with the hubbys?

Amy said...

Funny joke. :) I think you look adorable in your pictures so don't sweat it. Congrats on another great race!!!!!!

Amy said...

PS- that cute cupcake bakery looks delish! I think it's totally acceptable to reward yourself after long workouts. And short ones too.

Alisa said...

Toenails are for sissies...I should know!

Great job on your race. Still way faster than I'll ever be =).

I'm curious to hear about your Tri plan. I need to adopt one soon.

ShirleyPerly said...

Well, I think a 1:45 is great on nonspecific loosey goosey training!

And I agree that your race reports are not boring. Love all the pics and huge congrats to Zach on that nice PR!!

Kim said...

you and zach did awesome!!!!! it's amazing how speedy of a couple you guys are! (and good looking too!) congratulations!

Donald said...

Seeing that Pre stuff would be awesome motivation for a race! And consistency isn't a bad thing if you're consistently good. Congrats to both you and Zach.

Anonymous said...

I love Eugene for running-- the whole town just gets so into it and the weather is usually perfect! Great job though-- and congrats to Zach!

Unknown said...

Of course, if the marathon gets boring, you can always enter an ultra. ;-) Trust me, just finishing those never gets boring.

I loved the pictures!

Cindy said...

no way, your race reports are not boring.you are just awesomely fast all the time! you ran a great race! and zach too!

KK said...

Congrats! And I think I was in that brewery. Is it near some worldy market? It was yummy nonetheless.

LOL at your joke. I thought it was funny. But that's because I'm a nerd.

P.S. getting your eating and fitness under control is highly overrated.

Sarah said...

Your reports aren't boring! I love them. And the photos. Keep it up! And you're a speedy little thing, so I'm sure you'll jump into training no problem!

Chloe said...

Nice photos! Pizza and beer? YES PLEASE! I love Eugene. Ahh...sometimes I think about trading the beach for your neck of the woods!

Congrats on the great race!!

Amy said...

Congrats on an evenly paced race! Hey, that's hard to do! I think you did a fabulous job, even if you think your time is "unoriginal." Girl, if I ran a half I would be walking by the end and wouldn't have those amazing splits like you did! I'm proud of you!!

Mir said...

Boring race reports? No way! Keep 'em coming. You did a great job. That pizza and beer is making me hungry despite the fact that it is 10 a.m. here. :D

jb said...

Cute/inspiration pictures! And good work- 1:45 is a good solid time.
Maybe you have hit a plateau? Sounds like you know what you need to do to work through it- get serious about your training.
I don't take all this stuff as seriously as most, but I truly think that running etc. needs to fit into our lives comfortably. If not, we will resent it for taking us away from all of our other responsibilities and joys. So drink your beer and eat your pizza and remember that we do this for FUN :)

Nitmos said...

I'm kinda looking for something to get me out of a rut also. Something to shake up the training regimen.

Well, congratulations. Consistency is good! Your race splits are always so even.

PunkRockRunner said...

Great race report. Isn't Eugene an amazing place? We had a blast all weekend and will be back next year when they'll finish on the Hayward Field track!

Congrats!

Mia said...

Congrats!!!

Aron said...

YAY Congrats!!! another awesome race girl... you are SO consistent, that is definitely something to be proud of :)

thank you again for waiting for me to cross, so great to see you and to get to chat for a bit after!!!

Beth said...

Cograts on the race! Eugene looks like a cute town.

Kelly said...

Hey, did you get my email earlier today? Are we meeting up tonight? Should have exchanged phone numbers sooner, sorry. Call me though. I'll be at rock bottom tonight with my hubby. If you can come, great. If not, call me we'll reschedule before I leave town.

Meredith Brooks said...

Great race! And great split times. Your half-marathon pace is pretty much my 5k pace - I can't imagine running that fast for 13.1!

I like your "opposite" idea and I applaud you for being able to do it. It would much be harder for me to go into a race relaxed and relatively care free rather than to just succumb to my OCD tendencies and list-making mania.

Marathon Maritza said...

Great job! You did really well on the race even with just taking things loosey-goosey, which I think is a testament to your fitness level. Sure you know it would have been different with different prep, but it wasn't awful and you did very well!

What awesome pictures! Looks beautiful!