half marathon training: week 2

Highlights from my trip to California:

Mini bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes in Sunnyvale. So cute! (Thank you Christine!)

Backyard tomato harvesting (I am so good at it!)

Remember Philz? I blogged about it here back in February. There are two locations in Palo Alto. Still the best coffee I've ever had.

A long run through downtown Saratoga

Speaking of runs, I completed Week 1 of training! You can check my progress by clicking on the "half marathon training plan" tab at the top of the page or here. 

Week 1 went great. I completed all 5 scheduled runs and felt a lot stronger by the end of the week. Honestly, I think sucking so much at Falmouth was a real wake up call for me. I have to train for long races and stick with my training plan. I can't just show up the day of the race and expect things to go well.

This past Friday, I went on a 5.2 mile long run, which turned out to be really interesting. The first mile is normally fairly easy for me. Its between miles 1 and 3 where I really struggle - I get tired, I get out of breath, I get thirsty, and all I want to to do is walk. Friday was no different. However, after 3 miles, running suddenly became easy again. So strange. I was originally only going to do 4 miles, but I was having so much fun that I tacked on an extra one! Hurray! I hope it's like this every time.

Now moving on to Week 2...

Half Marathon Training Plan: Week 2 (Aug 27 - Sept 2)

Monday (8/27): rest day!

Tuesday: 30 min easy run

Wednesday: rest day!

Thursday: On a hilly course, run at low intensity for 30 mins

Friday: rest day!

Saturday: 1 hr 15 min run. End with 4x100m strides (long run)

Sunday: 20 min easy run or cross train

falmouth road race recap

I ended the Falmouth Road Race with a time of 1 hour 29 minutes and 12 seconds. It wasn't always pretty, but I finished.

It started off at 6am with the breakfast of champions...a sausage egg mcmuffin from McDonalds.

Let's be really honest here, McDonalds breakfast is the BEST way to start a road race. (Maybe not everyone would agree with me on his one. Ashley was shocked when I spotted the McDonalds, pointed in excitement, and swerved into the parking lot).

The race started in Woods Hole, MA.

It was pouring like crazy in the morning. Luckily, the rain let up just as the race was about to start. I thought the rainy, windy weather would be a good thing in that it wouldn't be too hot. I was dead wrong. Here is Ashley and me at the start line.

As you all know, I pretty much failed to run all summer. It was clearly not a priority. I paid for it during the race. The first 3 miles were hilly and just 1.5 miles in, my legs were already so sore that I thought I was not going to make it. Also, even though there had been a crazy rainstorm an hour earlier, by the time the race started, there was crazy humidity...over 90%! At one point, I touched my face and it was burning up (even though at that point we were in the shady section) and I knew I had to slow down. Luckily, there was a water stop every half mile (so good!). If it wasn't an official water stop  by the race, it was some local residents putting out water cups for everyone. At every stop, I would grab a cup of water and throw it on myself. Residents would also spray us down with hoses and sprinklers as we ran. I'm convinced I didn't even smell at the end of the race because I basically took a 7 mile long shower!

I ended up walking a lot more than I planned to. The hills really kicked my ass. I also spent about 5 minutes waiting in a porta potty line during the race, which makes my average pace about a 12 minute mile. Not my finest performance for sure.

7 miles later we arrived in Falmouth. We did it. We survived the Falmouth Road Race.

Race Highlights:
End of Mile 1 - we were greeted with a run around the Nobska Lighthouse! At this point, I was still feeling pretty good. Team morale was still up.

(please note: this photo was not taken during the race. it was stolen from the internet)

Mile 4 - the end of the hills! We were rewarded with a nice flat run right next to the ocean. By then I was overheated and my legs felt like they were going to fall off. All I wanted to do was run into the ocean and lay there. (good thing I didn't because I probably would have gotten eaten by a shark).

Fantastic crowds - thank you residents of Falmouth for manning extra water stations, spraying hoses and sprinklers, and cheering us on for all 7 miles! Best spectators EVER!

Falmouth Road Race, I'll be back next year and I'll be ready to dominate you. 

half marathon training: week 1

Greetings from California!

Philly half marathon training starts TODAY! The race is on Sunday, November 18, which gives me exactly 13 weeks to get in shape. Based on my less than desirable performance at the Falmouth Road Race, I've decided that running a race without training is probably not the best idea. It's quite possible that you may feel like you want to die during the race. (race recap coming soon!). So here it is, my philly training plan. I plan to post each week's plan on Sundays...and hopefully I'll follow it!

Half Marathon Training Plan: Week 1 (Aug 19 - Aug 26)
Sunday (8/19): 20 minute easy run or cross train
Monday: 30 minute easy run
Tuesday: rest day!
Wednesday: 25 minute easy run
Thursday: rest day!
Friday: 45 minute easy run (long run)
Saturday: 20 minute easy run or cross train
Sunday: rest day!

falmouth tomorrow

Falmouth Road Race tomorrow! See you at the finish line bitches.

In the meantime, I leave you with this ominous photo taken today at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth, MA. I heart the cape.

P.S. I just realized I have to finish. My car will be parked at the finish line. (Falmouth isn't a loop, it's a straight line from Woods Hole to Falmouth. So we park at the finish and then busses take us to the start). This means I will definitely be seeing you at the finish line...bitches.

edamame and corn pasta salad

You may remember my recipe for a roasted corn and edamame salad. I adapted it and made it into a pasta salad!

Also please note, the new iPhone is apparantly coming out in September! Which means...better photos soon!! And hopefully a camera that has flash!!

Edamame and Corn Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
16 ounce bag of frozen corn kernels (feel free to use fresh corn and roast it or grill it!)
1 cup of shelled edamame
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup small-diced red bell pepper
4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
4 tablespoons mayo
4 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped or grated ginger
1/2 box of pasta (about 8 ounces? - I used tri-colored rotini)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: (super easy)
Defrost frozen corn and cook edamame (if necessary).

Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta. Drain and set aside to cool.

In the meantime, chop up everything else. A tip for the ginger...instead of chopping it, I normally use the cheese grater and just grate it (outside skin and all). It's way easier and takes about 2 seconds.

Combine all ingredients in a big bowl. Toss and you're done!

In other news, I am running the Falmouth Road Race this Sunday. I may not make it out alive. Rumor has it (and by rumor, the website says) "the first three miles are narrow, hilly, winding tree-shaded roads, while the last four miles are open on the flat right next to Martha's Vineyard Sound. A small steep hill lets you know that you are beginning the last half-mile of the race. Once you crest the hill it is "all downhill" to the finish."

(photo taken from race website)

Initially I was super excited about this race. There are supposed to be about 11,000 runners and crazy spectators to cheer us on. Plus beach time afterwards! Now all I feel is FEAR. This summer has been so crazy and busy with trips out of town every other weekend that I have not gotten a chance to run...or exercise...or do much of anything. I haven't trained at all and 5 days before the race, I am starting to get extremely worried.

Now apparantly if I win Falmouth, they'll send me a sweet check of $75,100. Maybe that should be my race goal: WIN FALMOUTH!!

In reality, here are my race goals:
1. Do not die
2. Finish
3. Finish before they close the course
4. Try to run the entire hilly section...even if I am running super slow. I know if I walk during the first 3 miles of the race, I'll never make it to the end.
5. I have no time goals because, honestly, I don't know how this is going to work out for me

As of today, the weather in Falmouth is not supposed to be bad at all. Partly sunny with a high of 80 and a low of 65. So at least I'll be getting a tan.