A Look Back...

While tweeting with one of my favorite running mentors (Lisa), it dawned on me how far I've come in the past year. This weekend is a year to the date that I ran my first half marathon: Zooma Annapolis. I had the pleasure of being one of five Muscle Milk Light Challenge Athletes, and underwent a training program sponsored by Charm City Run. To be part of the program, I first had to apply and underwent a telephone interview before being selected.

I remember the day I received the call that I had been selected for the training program like it was yesterday. Naturally I had a mix of emotions. In the days before my first group run, I emailed the program director expressing my uneasiness with completing 13.1 miles. She gave me some great advice, and told me to take the weekend to think these over. Of course I was nervous about the both the training and the race, but I was more so concerned with the date of the race being on my brother's high school graduation. I talked things over with my husband, and then reached out to my brother. Both gave me their full support, and I knew it was no turning back. I was 100% committed, and would not  quit.

 This pic is my first solo 9.5 mile run

A week later was my first training run at the Charm City Annapolis store. We ran an out-and-back 5 mile course, and returned to the store for some post-run fellowship. Some of the Zooma Ambassadors were there, as well as the other challenge athletes. We were greeted with bagels, fruit, mimosas, muscle milk light samples, and our official Zooma training shirts. I remember each of us sharing stories, and making plans to communicate regularly throughout the program. I was partnered with Lisa as my mentor/coach and was emailed a training program for the next 10 weeks. Surprisingly training wasn't that bad. I completed my short runs alone, and my long runs I either linked up with my local BGR! group or on some occasions I trained with the other challenge athletes.

 Zooma did an excellent job communicating via their website & other social media sites! I really loved their time-ticker. 

About two weeks out from race day, we did  a 10 mile course preview. Once again the group shared many laughs, hugs, and even tears. It was hard to imagine that less than three months ago, we were all strangers and how close we had grown in such short amount of time. It was also pretty cool to see the growth in all of us. We met up once more the night before the race at the packet-pick-up/ mocktail party sponsored by Honest Tea. I didn't stay long because I was eager to get home, and get ready for race day. Here's a pic of my flat runner:

Race day was a hot, humid June 1, 2013. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning to make the 45-50 minute drive to Annapolis. Definitely a bittersweet moment. Pre-race was great meeting and greeting fellow BGR! members, and the last words of encouragement from my run mentors.

 

 

I really don't remember too many details from the course. I know it was scenic, great crowd support, and I started out way to fast the first 10k. I also remember running into an old co-worker, and a few of the other challengers. My goal was to finish the race smiling within the 3.5 course limit, and I did just that. As a matter of fact, I remember turning the bend into the Navy Yard stadium and some of the coaches yelling, keep running don't stop now. I remember looking at my watch and saying I'm not last, I can walk now!

Overall a great first half marathon experience. From the training until I crossed that finish line and received my medals it was awesome! Whenever I encounter someone asking about Zooma Women's Race Series, I always have positive vibes about the race. I look forward to returning to Annapolis or another location in 2015. Oh and dare me not to mention, that Zooma has that best swag. I still use my handy tote bag, water bottle, and wear the necklace.

Since that date, I have completed three more half marathons, making me half fanatic #7854. I'm down two sizes (still not at my pre-pregnancy size). Also was an 2014 Ambassador for the St. Michael's Running Festival, started this blog, and am now a sweat pink ambassador.

The best is yet to come! Shout-out everyone participating in this year's Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon & 10K!

Titanium Girl Recap

On my quest to become a Half Fanatic, I became a Titanium Girl! Yours truly completed the Iron Girl Columbia and Frederick Running Festival half marathons exactly one week apart from one another. Below is a my brief recap of both races:

Iron Girl Columbia:

Sunday, April 27th was another “wake up & lace up” day, as I set forth to tackle the hills in Columbia, and be crowned an Iron Girl. I experienced many mixed emotions about this race, because about 5 -6 weeks before it was announced that the organization was having financial limbo. To train or not to train? Register for another race or wait it out? These were just a few questions that ran through my head, before it was announced that another organization stepped up to the plate, and the race would go on. Needless to say, I kept the course and continued my training. Thanks to  BGR! Baltimore and W.E. Run! for the hill training and completing half #2 (Philadelphia Love Run) a month before, I was overly confident about the race. Despite the delayed start (apparent accident on course), I truly enjoyed this race, and it’s a for sure do over! My favorite moments were: BGR! cheer groups, seeing my name in chalked into the ground around mile 10.5 (love ya Chris), and a new PR. Yep I shaved over 15 minutes for Philly!

Frederick Running Festival:

Fast forward a week later and it was time to do it all over again. I arrived to Frederick and met up with my W.E. Run! crew, and they knew I wasn’t feeling it. My mood was blah, and all I could think of was why in the hell did I sign-up to run another 13 point 1 freaking miles. I made my way to my corral, and chilled until it was “go time.” About 1.5-2 miles in I heard chants & screams of my name, and was surprised to see some of my run-boos from BGR! DC.  Thankfully, that gave me the extra push I needed, bc it usually takes me 3-4 miles just to get in my groove. About mile 4, I met up with some more Black Girls RUN! ladies who were doing 1:1 intervals, they invited me to join.  We laughed, talked and shared stories and the miles we’re just flying by. The scenic views in downtown Frederick and the neighborhoods were just beautiful. I zoned out and loved how involved the community was. As expected I hit my “wall” around mile 11, but thankfully looked down at my watch and saw I was on pace for another PR. For those last 2+ miles, I was in my zone. Dropped the intervals and just wanted it to be over already! Before I could blink, I beasted (yeah i made that word up) up that final hill, and took my victory lap around the track. Just as I was closing in on the finish line, I was greeted by more cheers from my run-boos and ended the race with another PR.