| Author |
Topic: Where did my focus go? HM RR |
seemomgo
Cool Runner |
 posted Apr-03-2007 11:16 AM
   
Unfortunately this half marathon has no cool history or anything really interesting about it (other than last year when they found the dead body on the race course), and there were no Boomer sightings as I am alone in my little section of Colorado. The day was a beautiful clear day with starting temps around 50 degrees. Blue skies and no breeze contributed to fast warming temperatures during the run. The course follows the Platte River from Littleton to Denver and is pretty boring - lots of viaducts up and down and up and down. One large hill at mile 4 (approx 125 - 150 ft elevation gain) and another longer wicked hill at mile 12-13. I was really happy with my running for the most part. My start was way to fast - Mile 1 8:02, mile 2 8:35, then settled in for an average pace of 9+ per mile. Ran great for the first 9 - 10miles - then lost focus somewhere around mile 11. Slowed way down and tried to slow my heart rate down in preparation for the next big hill. My secret goal was 2 hours, but I missed it by 5 minutes. Maybe next time. The good news is that the hills were not a struggle and it's my new best time, the bad news: loosing focus!!! Gotta work on that! Fashion report: Black shorts, pink long sleeved shirt, FUG, and white hat - no sparkling lip gloss - just chap stick. I am so boring.
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rosecoloredglasses
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 11:21 AM
See Mom!
I wore what you wore only I wore Vaseline Lip junk instead of chapstick...Focus? Lost? What's your mileage been lately?
How have your long runs been? Dint you all have too much schnoe this year? Did it inhibit your training? Aren't hills time bandits? I am glad that you were really happy with your running for the most part... no worries if your mind wanders while you run, the course sounds like a pretty one.... one worth enjoying. Set another goal! When is that Bolder Boulder thing?
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Sans Souci
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 11:30 AM
C-Mom!! "The hills were not a struggle" and "a new best time" shows that you are very fit and that you have a speedy sub-2 racing season ahead.Flying Finn finds men's shapely calves help to keep her racing focus; handsome Boomer men certainly have helped push me in recent races. Maybe something along these lines will help you? 
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SkipAZ
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 11:48 AM
C-Mom - a PR and narrow miss on your sekret goal for the racing season opener sounds terrific to me. A big congrats to ya! More PRs are coming your way. Focus! Focus!Skip
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choover
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 11:57 AM
Hiya Seemom,Hey, it's always a good race when they don't find your dead body on the race course! Tough final couple of miles but overall a great race.Congrats on getting your new best time and for feeling good about the hills. ------------------
choover
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Ileneforward
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 12:18 PM
Congratulations on your new PR and an exciting report. I am reading James Michener's Centennial and its all about the history of the Platte River. It is fascinating and I would have loved to see that area.Keep up the good work and you will easily run a sub 2 hour half marathon.
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mcsolar99
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 12:41 PM
hey cmom, feeling good on the hills and getting a new pr is a good race! congrats. it does look like you went out too fast, and i'd bet that starting slower without that early extra lactic acid will do wonders for your focus later in the race.
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Econo
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 01:00 PM
seemom, I concur with the others -- you did fine! Now, for your next race, run with me in the first couple of miles -- pokey slow, steady pace. I'll be your virtual slowpoke partner. Then you can settle into your race pace for the next 9 miles, then you'll have plenty left in the tank to run the last 3.1 like a 5K race.
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jdmom3
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 01:15 PM
Seemom, this was a great race! Congratulations on a new PR. I think if you can control your pace better in the first few miles, you will rediscover that focus later in the race. I'm sure that sub-2 hours is an acheivable goal! Meg [This message has been edited by jdmom3 (edited Apr-03-2007).]
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Canfit
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 01:22 PM
Congrats on a PR! Sub-2 hours seems very, very achievable. You already know how you're going to do it. I would agree that going out easy that first mile or so is key until you get into a rhythm. The other option would be to warm up before the start of the race so you're ready to go.PJ
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willdebeest
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 01:28 PM
Great race seemom! I wish I could 'lose focus' and run a PR !
I agree with the back off the first couple miles and the sub 2 1/2 is yours. Thanks for the report.
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hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 01:32 PM
You are not boring! Congratulations on your new PR! If that’s what you do when you lose focus, I can’t wait to see what happens when you have it back! Great race and report!
------------------
Holly
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rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 01:38 PM
Hey, seemom, I think that you're right on track for this time of the year. Just slow down a bit in the early going, then try for those negative splits and you'll be sub-2 for sure! ------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
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huskydon
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 01:55 PM
seemom,You did really well! Next time you will break two hours for sure. In the HM's that I have run, I like to eat something at around 10 miles and it seems to help me stay the course. Huskydon
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bobscamman
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 02:03 PM
Hey there seemom I also concur that you ran a great race. you only missed your goal by 5 minutes and lost focus too! Not bad at all, I would think that a loss of energy may have contributed to the loss in focus...fuel is the answer...just what type is best for you has to be answered by you. So stay with it and practice some different fueling options on some of your long runs next go around and you'll figure it out.Meanwhile great job, and no you are not boring...how can a runner be boring...no way! ------------------
My User Profile "Keep on Running"
Bob
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Dark Horse
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 03:06 PM
Nice job, seemom. I agree with others that your new PR is soft. A soft PR is like a stick of rotten wood: you know you can punch through it any time.Dark Horse ------------------
I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course
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tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 06:43 PM
I think you did fine, seemom. Congrats on a good race and your PR. TomS ------------------
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cajohnson5
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 08:00 PM
Ceemom -- You ran great! Definitely NOT boring!
I'm supposed to be in Colorado for part of June/July, maybe even 2 - 3 weeks, in Colorado Springs. Do you live anywhere near there? Any ideas where I could run, other than around my hotel? ceejay
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JJJessee
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 08:32 PM
Maybe take some time off, plot some new routes, try some new workouts, look for a new race of different distance.
Time to stir the soup.Looked like a lot of pluses in your race to me.
Now, Chin up, lift those heels, you did great. JJJ
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wildchild
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 10:29 PM
What was the race called? I'm in Colorado too, and Denver's not that far away. I'm thinking about doing the slacker half marathon in June from Loveland Ski Area to Georgetown - have you looked at that one? It's called "slacker" because it's all downhill, but it starts at over 10,000 ft. The scenery should be better than the Platte River viaducts, too!
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dg12
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 10:35 PM
Great PR seemomgo, you sound exciting to me. Pretty outfit, you're classy like the rest of the other beautiful ladies here.
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Dark Horse
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 11:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by dg12:
you're classy like the rest of the other beautiful ladies here.
That's the problem with this place: the women are all classy. We need some trampy women in here. Dark Horse ------------------
I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course
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Karl Rysted
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-04-2007 10:04 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Sans Souci:
C-Mom!! "The hills were not a struggle" and "a new best time" shows that you are very fit and that you have a speedy sub-2 racing season ahead.Flying Finn finds men's shapely calves help to keep her racing focus; handsome Boomer men certainly have helped push me in recent races. Maybe something along these lines will help you?
I'll volunteer. I would have to give it the old college try to keep up with you, though! Good racing. What is it about those hour benchmarks that get us? ------------------
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Elaine3112
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-04-2007 02:31 PM
seemongo
You sound a weeny bit disappointed with this race but there are a lot of positives from it. A PR and pretty close to going sub 2.00 as others have said and you took the hills in your stride.. You know the areas to work on. We learn from our races and hopefully apply the measures to improve in the next one. I'm sure there'll be many more HM's for you and you'll be kissing 2.00 goodbye in no time!
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Lil Engine
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-05-2007 11:22 AM
Focus schmokus! I remember when you ran this one last year, and your improvement is vast and marked. You rock my friend! I'm almost afraid to see how you do next year.You doing the Bolder Boulder? ------------------
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"I think I can, I think I can"
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