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Yuengling Shamrock Hm – Virginia Beach

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Author	Topic: Yuengling Shamrock Hm – Virginia Beach
choover Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 04:52 PM Yuengling Shamrock Half Marathon – Virginia Beach March 18, 2007 Before I start on the actual race report, I want to mention that MrChoover and I had a lovely dinner with RoseColoredGlasses and the Rocket Scientist on Friday night. The food was delicious and we shared many laughs. What a great couple they are; we felt as if we’d known them for years! Thanks to Rose for making all the arrangements. We hope to return the favor if they ever make it to Montana <hint hint: The Montana Marathon is Sept 16. www.montanamarathon.org> Okay, back to the race report… Fashion Report (see pictures below) Virginia Beach is known to be a bit breezy but I had been far more worried about it being hot after all the cold, windy weather I have trained in this winter. However, after very chilly and windy conditions on Saturday’s 8k, I started to grow nervous about the potential for cold wind on Sunday. However, the conditions turned out to be absolutely ideal for the HM. Pre-race temps were in the low 30s and the announcer said it was 38 at the start. The breeze was light and barely noticeable even on my bare legs. This was the weather I had hoped for and I dressed exactly right. After I finished, the wind really picked up and I'm sure it was brutal for the HM and Marathoners on the course. DH walked me to the starting line which was about a mile from our hotel. By the way, the Hilton was the best place to stay as the finish line was RIGHT by us. We enjoyed hearing the sounds of freedom as two fighter jets performed an impressive fly over to start the race. The race began and 5 minutes later I crossed the starting line as the leaders were probably finishing their first mile. This was definitely not a Montana race! My gun time at the Mile 1 clock was 16:xx – yikes! I fell into a nice groove early and both my hamstring and calf muscle felt fine with no signs of cramping. I trotted merrily along enjoying all the funny costumes and feeling the love in the crowd. Being a back-of-the packer is like sitting in the cheap Rockpile seats in Denver’s Coors Stadium; it’s where the good times roll. Leprechaun after leprechaun slipped into the woods to avoid portajohn lines but a few performed boldly near the side of the road. Too much beer at the water stations perhaps… I found a Man in Black who seemed to be running a nice, steady pace and followed him. A couple of times he got out of sight but I managed to always catch up with him. I caught the 2:30 pace group and passed them in hopes of finding the 2:15 group. I never did. So I kept following the Man in Black. Around Mile 5 I ate about 2/3rds of a Hammergel. I always end up a sticky mess with these gels and will eventually change to the Cliff Shot Bloks; however, I didn’t have enough experience with them to take during a race. My original plan was to take 2 gels but I never got around to the 2nd one. The HM course runs through what seems like a never-ending forest that looks swampy in places and then enters a military base. The half-way turnaround point occurs inside the base and then the course begins to loop its way back to the beach area. Somewhere around Mile 8 or 9 the route passes a couple of lighthouses. I tried using my camera phone on the run to take a couple of blurry pictures of the lighthouses for my running friend, Jen, but I screwed up and didn’t get them saved properly. What can I say? It’s a new phone. At Mile 10 I was still behind the Man in Black, feeling relaxed and solid. Running at sea level is fun! As prearranged, I called DH to tell him where I was so he could start finding a position to watch me finish. I glanced at my time, did some quick math, and realized I would need to run a 5k PR to beat my previous HM time of 2:20. Oops! Too much smelling the roses and not enough clock watching -- not exactly the position I wanted to be in at Mile 10. So I bid the Man in Black a silent farewell and started picking up the pace. I’m still marveling at how good I feel and thinking this has really been a fun event. My stomach feels great, legs fairly fresh, breathing is easy, and only a minor hot spot is forming on my left foot. More and more runners begin taking walk breaks and some are stepping off the course to stretch out cramps. I passed a pair of military men who were part of a larger group I saw at the beginning of the race. One of the military guys was really struggling but his friend stayed with him and kept offering words of encouragement. I really started worrying about my time and tried to push harder. There was a water station about Mile 11 but I was afraid to slow down to grab any even though I was pretty thirsty. Mile 12 onward I got completely out of my comfort zone and ran it about as hard as I could. I kept hearing Jen reminding me to do the “Jen Kick” for my finish (she has a great kick). I was quite nauseated the last few blocks and my legs had become leaden but I finally hit the finish line. The track practice sessions I faithfully attended all winter definitely paid off during the last mile. I really like the HM distance and it really helps me respect those of you who run marathons. I don’t know how you manage another 13.1! My quads were surprisingly sore the following day and are still a tad tender. I didn’t realize how far down it was to sit on the toilet until now. In retrospect, I missed a golden opportunity to get a big PR. Based on how good I felt at Mile 10, I certainly could’ve pushed harder between Miles 2 through 9 to even things out and avoid that 3.1 mile race to the finish. On one hand, it was the perfect day. On the other hand, I am disappointed I didn’t run this race more intelligently. Any constructive criticism would be appreciated. Final Stats at the time I wrote this – the totals keep changing: Chip time: 2:17:03 (PR by 3:30 – whew!) Gun Time: 2:22:06 Pace: 10:28 110/244 Division 1354/2470 Gender 2878/4463 Total I also want to add that MrChoover ran his first ever 8K race on Saturday and was very happy with his results. Chip time was 49:17 (9:56 pace) and gun time was 50:25. By 9:30 a.m. we were eating Irish Stew and drinking beer in the giant event tent to celebrate his first 8k. Now he’s talking about trying a 10k and I foresee a HM in his future. He’s officially hooked – especially after seeing my nice finisher’s medal. Thanks for reading! Parting Shots: Dinner with RCG & the RS Celebrating MrChoover’s 8K Pre-Race – a little chilly but not bad. Sharing a little body heat with my new friends The race ends on this boardwalk near the Neptune statue. Livin’ la vida loca HM sunrise ------------------ choover IP: Logged
Canfit Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 05:16 PM Congrats on a great race and PR! I think you did absolutely great. I enjoyed reading your RR. You certainly seemed to enjoy the experience ...and made some new friends at the same time. What more could you ask for? Congrats to DH as well! PJ IP: Logged
Tramps Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 05:22 PM Great job and wonderful pictures! I'm so glad you got good weather for this. Your enjoyment comes through loud and clear in the report. IP: Logged
wa5yom Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 05:30 PM Great RR...you did a wonderful job... I know what you mean.....after most races I think I could have run harder/faster.... You felt good at the end because you ran a particular pace that ALLOWED you do finish strong.....so it is possible that you ran a well planned race..... Next time, bump the pace up a little bit and see how you respond...I bet your conditioning is such that you are graduating to a new pace range.. Congrats to MrChoover for a great 8K... Tim, Ardmore, OK. ------------------ My Journal Boomer Photos Running Quotes Dale's (dtoce) running tips IP: Logged
tselbs Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 05:39 PM It sounds like a great time, choover. Dinner with RCG and the RS, nice 8K including mrchoover's first one, nice weather, enjoyable run, and a PR. Congratulations. Thanks for posting the pictures. TomS ------------------ My Profile IP: Logged
vista129 Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 05:39 PM Congratulations on a good race. Hmmmm....I had considered this HM, but ended up heading for Knoxville instead. Thanks for the good report. You did a good job to try and make the PR when you realized you had the chance. Your training paid off.....Good for you. Congratulations to Mrchoover for the 8k race as well Vista IP: Logged
Sans Souci Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 05:45 PM Did you do some pace work during your training, choov? It's obvious your fitness is there; you just need to get comfortable with what your pace is and another PR is easily achievable (oh, and maybe stop making phone calls during the race! ) You did give it a good effort, especially the last bit, and I think that tough winter training can show through with a great result. Congratulations! Also, WTG, Mr. Choover, in the 8K! Love the pics ... an especially good one of the boomer dinner gathering. What a great looking bunch. IP: Logged
TammyM Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 06:05 PM What a great report Cheryl!!! You did a fabulous job and it's obvious you really had a good time. Mr.Hoover also deserves kudos for a well run race! And very very cool that you got to meet up with fellow boomers. Looks like you had such a wonderful time/vacation! ------------------ [URL=http://interwovendesign.com/kick/userdisplay.php3?username=TammyM][/URL] IP: Logged
nighthawk42 Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 06:11 PM Congrats on a PR!!!! That was an excellent report topped off with greta photos!!!! Mike IP: Logged
piejones Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 06:31 PM Nice race hoovie. Glad you had a such a good time. The pictures, with all the smiles, say it all. I have a feeling you'll be seeing a consistent lowering of that PR if you just keep up the good training. Nice shade of green for a Shamrock race also. IP: Logged
mrsribs Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 06:34 PM Choover, thanks for taking us along on your PR. Congratulations to both you and Mr. Choover on jobs well done. Mrs. Ribs IP: Logged
Ileneforward Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 06:51 PM I don't understand you saying you passed up an opportunity to get a big PR. You went from a previous best of 2:20 to 2:17, that is a huge new PR! You did great, and your pictures are fabulous! Congratulations! IP: Logged
hally Moderator of Boomers and Beyond	posted Mar-20-2007 07:14 PM Welcome back Choovie, the RR was well worth waiting for. Great pictures, greta smiles, and a PR! ^5 for getting DH hooked as well. Barb IP: Logged
MarkGuy Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 08:53 PM Congratulations on your second half marathon. I guess you got that 5K PR since you beat your previous HM PR. If you want to get faster, you're asking the right group the right questions. Your training is smart so I know you can do it. Looks like you need to find a 5k and run it all out. I give your DH a lot of credit for getting out there -- not all would do it. It sounds like you had a nice trip and two fine races. Nice report with great pictures. Mark IP: Logged
mcsolar99 Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 09:40 PM great job choover! you know your conditioning is right on when you can push hard at the finish... and isn't it great to feel that track work pay off when you can stay out of your comfort zone and still feel confident? just one question though: what planet is this race on? looks like three suns in that sunset picture... ps - stop smiling so much! IP: Logged
cajohnson5 Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 10:26 PM Choovie, I have no criticism of any kind. I think it is awesome you got a PR. You had a very memorable time with your DH and our boomer buds. The race was a great learning experience. A perfect day. You'll be doing the 26.2 before you know it. I said the same thing at my last HM in September. Thanks for sharing. cj IP: Logged
millbot Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 10:29 PM Hey choover, congratulations on the PR! You averaged 10:00/mi after the first mile. With a better start (less traffic?), I think you could have run 2:12 or better. You're probably aware of this, but I believe your current fitness is better than your 2:17 time. IP: Logged
Tetsujin30 Cool Runner	posted Mar-20-2007 11:20 PM it must have been nice to rose, . . . I mean run, on something other than ice and rosnow but I'm kind of with rose, . . . I mean ilene on this one, . . . were you aiming for the 2:10 range that would make even a 3:30 betterment not seem anything but fantastic? When's my, . . . I mean your next chance to meet rose again, . . . I mean run another half marathon? IP: Logged
smpankowski Cool Runner	posted Mar-21-2007 06:21 AM Thanks for the RR!!!!! It's been a while since going to VB and you're making me miss it. I've lost time for stopping to listen to the birds. ------------------ Today is the day, SteveP My User Profile IP: Logged
ajhjc Cool Runner	posted Mar-21-2007 07:45 AM Choovie, what a fun (and hilarious) RR! Stopping to smell the roses isn't necessarily a bad thing and it sounds like you had a great time in a beautiful city. The next time you can focus on getting that PR (and it will happen, start closer to the front). Glad to hear that Mr. Choovie is bitten by the bug, big time! ;p P.S. Thanks for the pics. You all look happy and it's always good to see the RCGs again. IP: Logged
hollys4874 Cool Runner	posted Mar-21-2007 09:01 AM Waht a wonderful race report! I love the pictures, and it really sounded like you had a great time, not just during the race but for the whole getaway. Wonderful picture especially of the Boomer gathering. I think a 3:30 PR is awesome! Well done! Kudos to Mr. Hoover also for his great race! ------------------ Holly IP: Logged
pfriese Cool Runner	posted Mar-21-2007 09:15 AM What a great RR. There is nothing wrong with smelling the roses or looking at the beautiful scenery along the way. Your time with fellow boomers sounded wonderful and your pictures were great (I esp. liked the sunrise photo). Thanks for sharing, Paul IP: Logged
perchcreek Cool Runner	posted Mar-21-2007 09:52 AM Been waiting for this Choovie and it was worth it! Congratulations on a nice race and PR! You had a great combination of easy enough to enjoy the sights and hard enough for a great PR! Three great things that weekend: you met RCG and RS, MrChoover got hooked and you PR'd. Can't beat that... sweet! perch IP: Logged
rasmussenmp Cool Runner	posted Mar-21-2007 10:24 AM Great weekend with a race thrown in for fun. I bet meeting and having dinner with RCG and RS was a blast. They are fantastic people. Wish I had known you were doing the half, would have love to meet and say hi. I did the full and had alot of fun. I was at your start and cheered you on. Congrats on your PR and MR getting hooked. ------------------ Good running!!! Mike's Profile IP: Logged
jdmom3 Cool Runner	posted Mar-21-2007 10:39 AM Great race report and pictures Cheryl! I wish that I had been more diligent in noticing that you were running this race and figured out a way to meet up with you. I think you may have posted that you were running and could we meet at the expo and I just totally zoned out about it. My apologies. Hopefully, I will get to Montana for that marathon some time. Rose and RS are awesome folks and you guys all look so great! On the race, you did a greta job. I know you think you could have had a much bigger PR if you'd run a bit faster through those earlier miles and you may be right, but it is hard to know that when you are in the midst of it - though trying to take pictures and making phone calls does sort of indicate you could have run harder! I'm glad to hear the weather was good. I knew that the wind had picked up as the day went on and figured it was pretty nice at the start of the HM. Thankfully, it was not in the 80s! Congrats to both you and Mr. Choover! Meg IP: Logged

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