Running

Montour Trail 1/2 Marathon

Yesterday I ran my fourth half marathon! 

Race info:

Course Description: 13.1 miles out and back on the (mostly flat) Montour Trail. The course also went through a tunnel, which was pretty fun.

Race cap: 1,500 runners. That many runners on a 5-foot wide trail was cramped!

Weather: 67* with 90% humidity and a light drizzle until after I finished the race. About 15 minutes after I finished it was a torrential downpour with crazy wind.

Photos:

Hannah and I at the start. I’m wearing a pink shirt and she’s wearing blue. Hannah ran the 5k.

A lot of people and stormy weather!

Race Results:

Time: 1:39:22
Pace: 7:35
Place: 3rd place in 20-24 age group
What my watch said: 13.48 miles in 1:39:21 = 7:22 pace

I got my best time 🙂

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The last time I ran this race, in 2010, I got a 1:42:58 (7:52 pace).Post-race in 2010… much better weather! Funny story: my family dropped me off at the start and then went out to eat while I ran the half marathon. Cool life, family.

My second half marathon was frigid (17*) and I got a 1:46:16 (8:07 pace).

I was unable to run the Montour Trail half marathon last year because I was injured. I did run the same freezing cold half marathon that I ran in March 2011. I got a 1:41:32 (7:44 pace). 

So, that has been my half-marathon progression. My time has improved with each race (except in 2011… lolz) and I just enjoy running 13.1 miles. It’s a splendid time! One day I will convince Hannah to run with me so I’m not bored running by myself the whole time ;).

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Today is probably going to be a homework day for me. If you don’t have homework, go do something fun for me. Thanks 😉

Bible verse of the day: Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! Psalm 32:11

Aquathlon

I had been training specifically for this race for about five weeks but I was still nervous and kind of dreaded it when race day rolled around.I trained for the aquathlon by practicing running, swimming, and then running all in one workout once a week for the weeks leading up to the race. I even managed to practice at a local lake/park: I swam about 1,000 yards and then ran 6 miles around the park.

All of my stuff laid out to practice swimming + running. I also managed to lay in the sun and have lunch at the lake too 🙂

I think I dreaded the race because I had never done an aquathlon before and 48 hours before the race I was under anesthesia, with a tube in my throat and stomach (but that’s for a different post altogether).  Once I got there and warmed up a little with my sister, who ran the 5k, I felt a lot better.

Photos from the race:My 5k time: 21:56 (7:03 pace)Hannah’s 5k time: 26:37 (8:35 pace)I felt pretty great throughout the whole race and managed to pass the most people during the swim. I just kept looking at the sky and all the greenery around me while I was running and just thinking how beautiful God made the earth (<— I’m so dorky sometimes!).

I ended up placing second in the whole race and first for women.

The full results can be viewed here

The race benefited Habitat for Humanity and the awards were so cute!

My first aquathlon ended up being really fun and I’m so glad I did it!

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I feel like I haven’t posted in forever and I have a lot to say! Some upcoming posts include: recent eats, how my endoscopy went, what else I was up to this past weekend, and some other fun things!

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Bible verse of the day:  “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8