Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon San Antonio

[katluvr]

Ok, so I have been training and reading the running threads for months. This will not be my first 1/2 marathon (I think it is #6) but it is the one I am most prepared for. I hired a "coach". It has been great. I don't plan my running week, she does. And since I have to pay for it and log my runs...it makes me very accountable.

I have done speed work for the first time in my running life. (Only about 5 years of running).

So I fly out tomorrow. Have a couple of fun days in San Antonio. I am FINALLY doing a Rock & Roll marathon/ half marathon. Very excited. Even signed up for the dinner the night before. Never done that either. Oh, and excitement about the expo shopping! Love those expos!

So my 1/2 marathon PR is 2:20:XX (I think about 39 secs...not sure). So my goal is UNDER 2:20. Yes, I am a slow runner. But I am faster. I have 2 runs of 13.1 and one 14 miler under my belt. My time for all those gave me about 2:22 - 2:19. So those were just training runs. SO I feel pretty good about getting a new PR.

I'll give a race report on Tuesday once I get back to a computer!

Wishing everyone happy running days!

[Urlea]

Good luck tomorrow!!! I'm sure you will do great.

Kudos for all the training you've done, that's wonderful.

And you aren't slow. That's about the pace I ran for my latest 1/2 and it felt like I was flying. Tomorrow you will be!

Enjoy it! I'm looking forward to hearing how it went.

[OakLeaf]

Good luck kat! Have fun!

[katluvr]

Well I DID IT.
Not only did I do the race --but new PR: 2:10:35.
2:10 was always my goal, but not sure if I could hit it.
It was COLD...upper 30's but warming to 60, so clothing had to be light. So was a bit cold the 2 hours prior...you know w/ 30,000 people you have to get there early. Some of the buses were still arriving at 7:30 when first wave was starting.
I was in the 2:10 coral, but I really wanted to start off slowly. But it was cold and running "fast" felt good. So I was off on a 10 min mile or faster pace from the start. I tried to "slow up" so I could have a fast finish (coach wanted a negative split)--but just couldn't, kept speeding up. So I thought...go for it, if I hit the wall later--I'll deal w/ it, but what if I CAN run at this pace the whole race? So I just kept running.
By the way...feet did not thaw out til mile 2, then my toes hurt as the feeling returned. But 1st 2 miles I just felt "slap, slap" as my feet hit the pavement and felt like boards.
Yes, it was tough keeping that pace. Yep, I did slow down and struggle in the later parts. Yes, today I am still sore, tight. But isn't that what a race if about. I had fun in a different way. I didn't notice all the sights--I was VERY concentrated on my running.
So I eeked in the 2:10 range. 10 minutes better than my last PR in Oct. 07. So maybe I'll make/break 2 hours one day.
Maybe I'll even do a full marathon (but not for time...definitely not trying to run "fast").
Next real race not til Feb. Next event planned is the Great Santa Run 5K in Vegas...that one will be ALL about fun and NOT speed. Besides...how fast can one run in a Santa Suit?
Thanks for the well wishes.
As for recommending this race...well, I did it because it was the "inaugural" Rock & Roll in San Antonio. Well, they have had this marathon before, but other sponsor...so course was not new. It was all downtown. Scenic??? Not really. Lots of people cheering so crowd was good. Bands were a bit sparse, I do not think they had bands all the places they said. Next time I will bring my iPOD.
So I am glad I did it. Probably needs a bit of work to be "spectacular". Not on my "I must do that one again list". But no regrets and not major or real complaints.

[Urlea]

Way to go KAT!!! You did an awesome job!!! Well done!! Dropping time off of your 1/2 in double digits is HUGE. You must have been very determined.

I know what you mean about missing out on the sights and sounds when you are running that hard. It takes a lot of concentration.

Anywho, rest up those muscles. Swimming is a nice way to recover and loosen up the quads without wearing yourself out.

[Aggie_Ama]

Great job Kat! How did you like San Antonio for a visit? It is one of my favorite places but only for a very short time. We spent 2 days of our Honeymoon there, I love the Riverwalk because I love people watching.

[katluvr]

Amanda...It was my second time to San Antonio. Yep, like River Walk but once you have done it, you have done it.
Plus I was trying to save my legs.
On Saturday we actaully left the city to just outside to Natural Bridge Caverns and went down into the caverns. THEY WERE AWESOME! That may have been the best part of the trip--besides the new PR.

BTW...was in the coral next to a women from Houston who had the done the Houston-Austin MS150 before...she missed out on getting in this year. But was cool to run into someone that had done the ride. But I guess w/ a ride that big, you are bound to find someone in Texas that has done that ride!

[Aggie_Ama]

Yeah, I only do the Riverwalk and the Mercado once every few years. So it is new and fresh. I was born and raised in Austin area and have never been to Natural Bridge. DH has and said it was worth the trip, maybe I should suggest it for a day trip this winter.

And yes, if you meet anyone who cycles avidly in Texas they have quite possibly done the MS150. You are going to have a lot of fun when that comes around!

[OakLeaf]

Woo-hoo!

[jesvetmed]

Congratulations on such a successful race!

The Rock & Roll group has taken over a Seattle Race for this next summer, and I was wondering how it would go. Overall was it well-organized at least? Well-supported?

Congrats again. That is a LOT of time to take off a race in such a short time! Hope you have been letting your body rest!
Jes

[katluvr]

Jes,
Thanks!
It was well organized...for a crowd of about 30,000.
Some of the buses getting to the start were arriving still at 7:30, but that can be 2 fold....2 many folks waiting til too late to arrive at the bus shuttle sites, or not enough buses.
Finish...tooo crowded, they should of/could of spread things out more. But maybe it was just all the people not spreading out as they should.
I think they just need to make a few tweaks...to accomodate for the large crowd. Otherwise I think it was smooth. I also wonder if some bands cancelled w/ the cool/cold weather, probably hard to play intruments in that condition.
Would I do another R&R one? Yes!