Diva Half Marathon & Mini Vaca Recap

It's back to reality today, and I must say I wish I was laying on the beach!  My sister and I had a great weekend filled with shopping, eating, and spending some much needed quality time together.  Here's a little recap of our mini vaca to Myrtle Beach.

Friday:     My sister arrived at my house on Thursday night, so I was able to get up and fix us pancakes Friday morning before our drive to Myrtle Beach.  It was such a yucky day in Charleston, and unfortunately was the same when we arrived in Myrtle.  We spent the afternoon shopping at the outlets and had a nice seafood dinner at the Chesapeake House.

{our hotel- Breakers- ocean front}

Saturday:     Much to our dismay, Saturday was cloudy, gloomy, and chilly- definitely not a good beach day.  So how did we entertain ourselves you might ask?  We stayed in the bed all day watching movies and eating snacks.  As sad as we were that we couldn't soak up some rays, it was pretty nice to relax.  That afternoon we showered and got dressed and headed to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center where the SalonCentric Hair Show was being held.  This was my sister's second year attending the one in Myrtle Beach- vaca and work even all in one!  We walked the floor and scored some awesome deals on hair and beauty products.  Then, we treated ourselves to dinner and some shopping at Broadway at the Beach before turning in early.  I knew 5 AM would come way too quick!

{loving my J. Crew Bubble Necklace found on eBay!}

{my sassy, beautiful sister}

{nothing like Ben & Jerry's for dessert!}

Sunday:     RACE DAY!  I was up and out of the hotel by 5:30 AM.  My sister had classes and seminars all day, so I took the car to North Myrtle for the Diva Half Marathon.  It was nice because there were only about 3,500 runners.  It wasn't too crowded, and I was surrounded by some pretty awesome, strong-willed women!

{before the race at the start line}

{afterwards with my Diva loot}

Before we crossed the finish line, there was a station to get a pink boa and crown.  I thought this was so unique and pretty cool for finish line pictures.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get my crown to stick while I was running so I completed the race with the boa and crown in my hand.  Once we crossed the finish line, firemen were lined up to award us with the awesome "bling" medals.  Seriously, it weighs a ton!

When I returned back to the hotel, the weather was too nice not to enjoy the sun.  I put on my bathing suit and headed out to the pool to catch a few rays before picking up my sister from the hair show.  That evening, we enjoyed another delicious seafood meal and then met up with my friends Jon and Nicole at The Boathouse for a free concert!  It was a great way to end the weekend and celebrate the completion of my 2nd half marathon.

{Ash, Myself, and Nicole enjoying the music}

Monday:     It was sad to have to leave the beach on such a gorgeous day knowing that it was back to work this morning, but I am thankful for the time away and the chance to spend some quality time with my sister.  Counting down the days until the next mini vaca (which is this weekend I might add- YAH for Memorial Day next Monday!).

I'm a Diva

I'm happy to report that I am a Diva Half Marathoner!

Here's my breakdown of my stats:

Diva Half Marathon Official Results

Distance: 13.1 miles

Chip Time: 2:19:43

Overall Place: 1182/3063

Gender Place: 1163/3043

Division Place: 80/183

6 mile: 1:01:32

Pace: 10:41

Nike + GPS App Stats

Distance: 13.2 miles

Time: 2:14:58

Pace: 10:11

Calories Burned: 1078

Average Pace Breakdown

Mile 1: 9:41

Mile 2: 10:03

Mile 3: 9:58

Mile 4: 9:21

Mile 5: 9:47

Mile 6: 9:45

Mile 7: 10:05

Mile 8: 9:29

Mile 9: 10:07

Mile 10: 9:48

Mile 11: 9:41

Mile 12: 13:05

Mile 13: 16:21

I started off the race feeling great.  It was a mild 70 degrees with a nice breeze and a little sunshine!  The first mile flew by.  I didn't even realize we had gone that far until I heard it on my Nike + GPS app.  Mile 2 was when I started to feel my knee again, and I couldn't believe it started so soon. In an attempt to get rid of the discomfort, I decided to stop and stretch my IT band.  Thankfully, it worked!  The only downfall was I had to stop at every mile and do the same stretch for a few seconds.  If you notice above, there is a five minute difference in my chip and GPS time. This is because, when I stopped to stretch at every mile I stopped the GPS.  I wanted to get an accurate read of the actual time I spent running.  According to my GPS read time, I successful shaved off 6 minutes from my first half marathon 6 months ago!

I'll be back tomorrow for a full weekend recap from our girls weekend in Myrtle Beach.

Happy Monday!

T-Minus 10 Days

In just ten days, I will be running my 2nd half marathon and hoping to set a new PR for myself!  My first half marathon in Savannah I completed in 2:20:04, with an injury.  This time I am hoping to complete in 2:00 flat.  I have been working more with faster paces, and spreading out my long runs so I do not severely stress my shins again.

Are any of you bloggers signed up for the Myrtle Beach Diva Half Marathon on May 20th?  If so, I would love to meet up and run together!

Also, I am wanting to apply sunscreen before my run just in case the sun decides to blast down between 7 and 9 AM.  I have never used sunscreen while running and would like some recommendations.  I will be wearing a hat to protect my head, face, and eyes, but feel like my shoulders will need some protection.  Any suggestions?!

Really Photogenic Guy

For a week now, there has been some hype about a picture taken of a runner during the 2012 Cooper River Bridge run.  I mean, who can blame them?!  He is really cute, and while he is working up a sweat!

Picture Courtesy of The Post & Courier

I saw this same picture on the local news the other morning, acknowledged that he was cute, but didn't think too much about it.  While getting ready in the locker room at work that same morning, a co-worker asked if I had seen the picture.  She ran the bridge run this year as well, and had done some research to see what the hype was all about.  He lives in New York currently, but is from Charleston and she actually went to elementary school with him.  She also heard that he was going to be on Good Morning America for an interview.  Talk about quick fame...and for just running a bridge along with 40,000 other people!

Fast forward to this morning, my husband texts me to ask if I had heard about the really photogenic guy.  I tell him yes and ask why.  He then tells me his name, Watkins Little, and asks if it rang any bells.  His name is not very common, so it sounded familiar as soon as I read the text.  It must be a small world, because he went to Lander University the same time I did!  

In case you are interested, click here for the article in our local paper 

or here for his interview on Good Morning America!

Training Tuesday: Weekend 10K

This past weekend I "got over it"!  The most beautiful bridge in Charleston that is.  The Cooper River Bridge Run is an annual race that begins in Mt. Pleasant, crosses over the beautiful Cooper River, and ends downtown Charleston near Marion Square.  This was my third year running the 10K, but I must say it wasn't my best.  About 36,000 others who crossed the finish line probably would agree.  This year's start of the race was delayed over an hour due to transportation issues from downtown to the start line in Mt. Pleasant.  I was mentally and physically prepared to begin at 8 AM or a little after, but it wasn't until 9:15 AM that I actually crossed the start line.  I think I even heard my stomach growl a little before I picked up the pace.  My goal was to set a new PR for 55 minutes.  Here is as break down of the 6.33 miles that my GPS clocked:

Mile 1- 9:41 pace- this was an OK mile.  I wasn't too thrilled about starting an hour late,  and I was trying to mentally prepare myself for the remaining 5 miles to come.

Mile 2- 10:54 pace- this mile included a sharp incline up the bridge.  It is equivalent to about a 5 or 6 incline on the treadmill and sneaks up on you!  I slowed my pace to keep my heart rate down and not kill my calves.

Mile 3- 9:50 pace- I remember thinking to myself at this point that I was good to go and that I needed to pick up the pace a good bit in order to meet my goal.  It was a great relief to finally get to the top of the bridge and start a decline on the other side.

Mile 4- 9:11 pace- Great pace for coming off the bridge.  Heart rate was steady and my legs felt great.  Sun began to beam down a little at this point, but I wore my hat because the weather man was calling for showers.

Mile 5- 12:02 pace- worst.mile.EVER.  I lost all energy, strength, and mental preparation.  I was hot, my legs felt like jello and I wanted to call it quits.  I slowed down to a very light jog and tried my best to talk myself into picking back up the pace and finishing strong.

Mile 6- 9:43 pace- I overcame the weakness.  I saw a girl wearing a t-shirt in front of me that read, "pain is weakness leaving the body".  That is when I picked up the pace and kicked myself into gear to complete the race.  I knew it was almost over and it wouldn't be too long before I saw the finish line.

And I did!  I finally crossed the finish line with an official time of 1:05:01, which was very close to my Nike + GPS that read 1:05:02.  Although I didn't meet my goal of setting a new PR, I was still proud of myself.  I overcame the setbacks of the race and lack of mental strength.  It may have not been my best yet, but I did finish strong and in a decent time.

Official Race Results
Chip Time: 1:05:01

Overall Place: 13,678 out of 36,710

Gender Place: 5733 out of 21,787

Division Place: 879 out of 2,363

Age Grade: 46.7%

Pace: 10:29

My father-in-law and I started the race together, and he didn't finish too far behind me.  I also had several friends from out of town and co-workers running as well.  My running buddy, Kat, her husband, and cute little boy made it over the bridge and we were able to meet at the finish line.

Logan gets cuter every time I see him!

It wasn't my best 10K, but it was 6.1 more miles in training for my next half marathon in May in Myrtle Beach.

Training Tuesday: Upcoming Races!

I've been bitten by the running bug again!  I tell you, it's quite addictive.  After my first half marathon in November of last year, I did not run for almost two months.  Severe shin splints and muscle overuse got the best of me.  Now, I find myself back to my old habits...arranging my daily plans around runs and eating a hearty dinner when I know I have a long run the next day.  And stretching more.  Since my injury, I am sure to take precaution.  I have found that stretching is a vital part of training for a race.

Now that I am running more, I was eager to find an upcoming race to train for.  Over a locker room conversation a few weeks ago, a co-worker was telling me about a half marathon in North Myrtle Beach, SC.  The Divas Half Marathon is an all female race!  How cool is that?  After researching the dates, I knew it was meant for me to participate in this race.  My sister has a hair show in Myrtle Beach the exact same weekend and had already invited my mom and I for a girls weekend.  Perfect? I think so!  I can't wait to find a fun and sassy pink top for this race.

And of course I am participating in the Cooper River Bridge Run this year.  This will be my third time running, and I am hoping to set a new PR.  This run always tests me with the steep incline and thousands of people you have to maneuver through to get a good pace going.  It's always a sense of accomplishment when you are finished though, and fun to meet up with other friends at the finish line.  There are definitely lots of local supporters and participants for this annual run.

To prepare for these races, I have been trying to run three times a week: two 30 minute runs and a long run.  This morning, I completed a 2.75 mile run on the treadmill and it went something like this:

0:00-9:59:      6.0 pace, no incline
10:00-11:59:  6.0 pace, 0.5 incline
12:00-13:59:  6.0 pace, 1.0 incline  
14:00-15:59:  6.0 pace, 1.5 incline
16:00-17:59:  6.0 pace, 2.0 incline
18:00-19:59:  6.0 pace, 2.5 incline
20:00-21:59:  6.0 pace, 3.0 incline
22:00-27:20:  6.0 pace, no incline
27:21-30:00:  Cool down

The Cooper River Bridge Run is the first race, so it is important for me to focus on an inclines.  The actual bridge is equal to about a 4.0 incline on the treadmill.  The only difference is the bridge incline sneaks up on you quick!  

I've Got Georgia on My Mind...

{I am thankful for my job.  It may not be my dream job, or the one I am destined to have, but I am thankful that I enjoy coming into the office.  My co-workers are amazing, and my bosses aren't too shabby either :).  My job pays the bills, puts food on the table, and allows me to enjoy my extracurricular activities.}

...Savannah that is.  I really did have a blast this past weekend enjoying the company of my family and celebrating new traditions!  Now that I have officially joined the half-marathon club, my stepsister, her husband, and I have decided to start doing a few a year together.  Since they live in Tennessee and we only see them a few times a year, this tradition will allow us to spend more time together.  Two birds with one stone? I think so!

Now for my weekend re-cap in pictures:

{Our biggest fans for the race: Abbie, Carson, & Katie}

{Before the race: Me, Tiffany, & Joe}

{My number 1 supporter, my mom}

{Tiff & Joe at the start line}

{Savannah Rock n' Roll Marathon Inaugural Series}

{Waiting to cheer us on!}

{Who couldn't love these faces?!}

{A pretty amazing family}

{Pro half-marathoners!}

{We did it!}

{Love my sis!}

{My hubby and I}

{Too cute}

{Love my mama}

{My two nieces, nephew, and I}

{Forsyth Park listening to Carolina Liar after the race}

{Just a little southern music!}

{Paula Deen's Lady and Sons Restaurant...AMAZING!}

{Too much fun to handle!}

{Me and my love!}

I really enjoyed our visit to Lady and Sons, and I am glad that I was able to experience Paula's finest southern cooking.  My arteries thank you Paula for all the extra sodium and butter!  Between the fried chicken, bacon soaked butter beans, VERY cheesy macaroni and cheese, and cornbread pancakes I think I added back on the extra calories I burned from the race.  This buffet style 3 story restaurant is a "must-do" on your next visit to Savannah.  There is even a gift shop with some of her secret recipes if you desire.

Between the race, Paula Deen's yummy food, and spending time with my family, this was one tired girl on Sunday!  I'm deeming this week, a few days of recovery and relaxation!

Welcome to the Club, Amanda

{I am thankful for my loving husband.  He is supportive, kind, generous, and thoughtful to say the least.  I have no doubts that God placed him in my life for a reason and that we are meant to be.  Complete opposites, we are able to balance each other to make one great couple.  Although I am biased, I have to say that we are going to make some pretty amazing babies one day :).  I wouldn't want to spend my life with anyone else in the world!}

I am happy to announce that I have completed my very first half marathon run.  After months and months of training, I finally crossed that one of my life long bucket list!  The good, the bad, and the ugly all reared their heads, but I overcame and finished strong.

Here is a break down of my stats:

Savannah Rock n' Roll Inaugural Marathon Series Official Results
Distance: 13.1 miles
Chip time: 2:20:04
Pace: 10:42 per mile
Overall: 6806 out of 14,035 (Half Marathoners Only)
Division: 305 out of 608 (Half Marathoners Only)
Gender: 4034 out of 9791 (Half Marathoners Only)

Nike + GPS App Stats
Distance: 13.4 miles
Time: 2:20:13
Pace: 10:28 per mile
Calories Burned: 1079

Average Pace Breakdown
Mile 1: 9:47
Mile 2: 10:03
Mile 3: 9:33
Mile 4: 10:07
Mile 5: 11:05
Mile 6: 9:41
Mile 7: 10:14
Mile 8: 10:07
Mile 9: 10:07
Mile 10: 9:56
Mile 11: 9:52
Mile 12: 16:59
Mile 13: 10:36

The Good
I felt amazing Saturday morning.  I was on this great runner's high with no doubts, my head held high, and my stepsister and her husband at my side!  The weather was a little chilly in Savannah, but pretty similar to my training mornings.  My mom was a trooper and headed to the start line with the three runners to cheer us on, take a few pictures, and hold all of our unwanted belongings.  It could have been the adrenaline, ibuprofen, or Icy Hot, but I did not feel any of the discomfort I had previously felt in my knee or shins.  I was ready to go!  The first 6 or 7 miles were a breeze.  Most of the course was flat with a beautiful view, workout playlist was playing all of my favorite songs, and I had my family running along with me.  The bands at every mile were also a big hit.  Every time we ran by my adrenaline would start pumping and get me going even more.

The Bad
Around mile 8 I started feeling a slight discomfort in my left shin and lower knee.  "Mind over matter" is what I kept telling myself.  I tried to slow down my pace just a tad thinking that it would help ease the discomfort, and it worked for a little while.  It also helped that I had my family running with me and I could talk with them to keep my mind off my knee and shin.

The Ugly
Mile marker 11 was my only downfall.  The discomfort was turning more into pain and I felt like my knee was going to buckle and give out on me at any moment.  I made a quick decision to stop and stretch.  My stepbrother-in-law was kind and stopped with me.  My stepsister wanted to, but was afraid if she did, she wouldn't be able to start back running to finish.  The stretching relieved some pain, but I knew I needed to walk a little to give my shin a break.  We started walking for a couple yards, and then decided to do a run/walk method.  We ran for 4 minutes, and then walked for a minute.  At about 11.5 miles, we came across a medic station and stopped to see if they had any Icy Hot.  Unfortunately, they didn't but they were able to give me an ibuprofen.  We continued the run/walk method until mile 12, and then I decided that I had trained too hard and too long to walk across the finish line.  I gave it all I had, and busted out the last mile in a run.  Boy, was I so glad to see that finish line!

Needless to say, I felt a good bit of discomfort and pain on Saturday evening and all day Sunday.  R.I.C.E. is my solution- rest, ibuprofen, compression, and elevation- and yes, I'm doing them today at work as well :).  Best news is, I finished wanting more.  I was so scared that once I crossed the finish line I wouldn't want to ever run again.  Not I.  I finished mad at myself for walking and having an injury, which entices me to run another just to beat my time!  I can't wait for this injury to heal, so I can jump back on my training and sign up for the next half marathon!

Stay tuned for a full Savannah weekend recap tomorrow with tons of pictures :).