Why are 800 meter repeats so much harder than 400 meter repeats?

I did speed work yesterday and I am pretty wiped out.  I'm not too impressed with the times I ran yesterday, but it was a good consistent workout.

Workouts since my last post

Thursday 3/20-  I ran 4 shake out miles.  No watch No Garmin

Friday  3/21  This was a workout mash up- I did my long run and I ran the second half at Tempo pace.  I did the same route that I did a few weeks ago with 5 miles up the hill  and then 5 miles back down the hill. I ran 10.22 miles (7:49 pace)

Mile 1-8:19

Mile 2-8:47

Mile 3-8:05

Mile 4-8:10

Mile 5-8:22

Mile 6-7:32

Mile 7-7:23

Mile 8-7:17

Mile 9-7:19

Mile 10-7:04

.22- 1:38 (7:19 pace)

Saturday 3/22- Rest

Sunday 3/23- 8 miles 1 mile warm up- 5 miles at HM pace and then 2 miles "cool down".  8 miles (7:37 average pace).

Mile 1-8:04

Mile 2-7:42

Mile 3-7:28

Mile 4-7:23

Mile 5-7:24

Mile 6-7:29

Mile 7-7:54 

Mile 8-7:37

During mile 7 I decided that I was going to run a mile and a half for a cool down.  I think I just needed to regroup because I felt good again during the last mile and I sped up again.  I think I had a few good songs come on my radio towards the end and it gave me some extra pep in my step.

Monday 3/24  Strength training and  I ran 4 miles.  No radio or Garmin.

Tuesday3/25- Speed work, I had such a good time meeting up with my friend Nancy for track work earlier this month.  Since then our schedules have been conflicting and we haven't had a chance to meet up for track work.   I really like having someone to do speed work with.  It helps me work harder and I'm less likely to ease up on my pace when it gets uncomfortable.  My workout was 6 x 800 meters at 10k pace.   I wasn't really sure how fast I should run these.  Earlier this month I hit 3:06-: 3:11 for 800 meters.  I ran these on an actual track.    On Tuesday I drove back over to Sunset Park.  I really like it there.  The jogging tracks are packed dirt and pretty gentle on the joints.  This did not make for fast repeats. I jogged a mile for a warm up and then I did the workout.   Afterwards I did a very short cool down run.  Here's the data.

3:23, 3:22, 3:22, 3:22, 3:21, 3:23

I was a little disappointed after I finished my first repeat.   Then I realized that I was running 6:46 pace per mile, which is pretty close to my PR pace for a 10k (it' actually a little faster).  As the workout continued I became pretty shocked at how even my splits were.  I felt like I was crashing and burning at the end.

Between each repeat I gave myself 90 seconds to recover.  I used my Garmin to track the 800 meter repeats.  As soon as I finished a repeat I would start my stopwatch to time the 90 second rest.  That rest felt like it kept getting shorter and shorter with each repeat.  

Here's a picture of my arm party

There is just something about 800 meters that makes it such a hard interval to run.  A 400 meter repeat hurts but, it goes by quick.   A mile repeat is pretty long but, it doesn't feel like you are redlining it the whole way.
An 800 meter repeat is the best of both worlds.  It's a long repeat that hurts really bad.

Wednesday 3/26-  Rest day. I was wiped out from track work but, it's also really windy today.  I expected my legs to be trashed but, they are not as sore as I thought they would be.  I do notice that my abdomen is pretty sore.  I feel  a slight twinge where my c-section scar is.  It's not super painful but, I'm going to take it easy with lifting heavy things (my kids).

I have about two more weeks of solid training followed by a one week taper. Hal Higdon doesn't give a long taper for a half marathon.   I'm getting so excited for next month's race.

Being Flexible with my Schedule and Training Updates

Workouts since my last post

Thursday 3/6- Rest Day

Friday     3/7   Tempo Run- I ran 6 miles total 2 miles warm up 3 tempo miles and a cool down mile. Here are my split times  (8:09, 8:06, 7:27, 7:21, 7:19, 8:09)  There is a new park that just opened up by my work. It's called Cornerstone Park and there are several running paths that link up to existing jogging paths. I love finding new places to run. I have a feeling I"m going to get to know this park a lot better.

Cornerstone Park

Saturday-3/8  Rest Day- I was planning on running long on Sunday.  On Friday evening I noticed my daughter wasn't feeling very well.  We ended up taking her to Urgent Care on Sunday morning.  She had a very bad upper respiratory infection. It seemed like she was just getting over an ear infection / tummy bug.

Sunday- 3/9 7 miles on the treadmill. I got my daughter down for a nap, she wasn't feeling well at all and I didn't want to attempt to run long, in case my girl woke up and needed me.  I got a good workout in. I ran at an incline the whole way from (1.0%- 2.5%) I ran for close to an hour before she woke up.

Monday 3/10- I stayed home from work with the kids.   I went for a short 4 mile recovery run and I got beat up by the wind  (4.29 miles  at 8:53 average pace).

Tuesday 3/11- Rest day.  I had to take my daughter to her pediatrician. She seemed like she was having trouble breathing, and it was pretty scary.  They ended up giving her a steroid shot to open up her lungs. They also prescribed breathing treatments for several days.  I also lost my wallet at the grocery store that day.  

Wednesday 3/12 -I worked out on my lunch break.  I did some core work: push-ups, lat pull downs, Roman chair leg lifts, kettle bell swings, back extensions, cable flys, and sit ups. Then I ran 4 miles at a recovery pace: (4.03 miles at 8:38 average pace).

Thursday 3/13- 6 miles Tempo.  

I missed out on track work earlier in the week so I wanted to make the most of my tempo run. I ran 1 mile as a warm up and then eased into a progression run. Then I ran a half mile to cool down. Here are the split times:

Mile 1- 8:23 (warm up mile )

Mile 2- 7:44

Mile 3- 7:25

Mile 4  7:12

Mile 5- 7:05

Mile 6- 7:08

Friday  3/14  I decided to do my long run after work.  On my training program I had a 1 hour and 45 minute run scheduled.  I like that there wasn't an actual distance that I needed to hit.  I told myself to take it easy and try to speed it up a little in the later miles.  I ran for 1:45:02 and I covered 12.32 miles (8:32 average pace)

Saturday 3/15 Rest Day

Sunday 3/16 7 miles Tempo.  I had to hurry up and leave and hurry up to back home.  7 miles (7:42 average pace)

Monday 3/17-  Another Rest Day.... I had some minor car trouble that I needed to get sorted out.  I had planned to work out at lunch time, I had to cancel my plans. 

Tuesday 3/18-Speed Work!!! I missed out on track work the day before but, I decided to attempt to do it solo. The workout on my training schedule was 3 X 1600 meters at race pace.   I drove over to Sunset Park (this is where the Tie Dye 5k was) to do the workout I knew that they had a jogging track that was close to a mile long and I wouldn't have to worry about traffic. I ran a one mile warm up and in between each repeat I jogged for two minutes recovery. I also used my Garmin to keep track of my splits.  Here's the data: 6:53, 7:00, 6:50.   This workout was a big confidence booster.  I was hoping to keep the mile repeats below 7:15.

Wednesday- 3/19 Core work and 4 mile run.  I went to the gym and did some strength training and then I ran 4 recovery miles (no radio, no Garmin).

This week and last week I have had to modify my training and I have had to throw in a few more extra rest days than I had planned.  Life can be hectic sometimes.  I'm grateful that my daughter is feeling much better this week and I have weaned her off of her breathing treatments.

I'm crossing my fingers that things stay nice and mellow for the next few weeks.

Mustang Half Marathon Training, My Latest Workouts, and a Tie Dye 5k

The Mustang Half Marathon is less than two months away and I am in the thick of my training.  The last two half marathons I raced I kind of just winged it with my training. I really want to run a faster time than I ran last October for the Saints and Sinners half (1:36:01).  I decided to google "half marathon training plans".    I looked over several and I ended up choosing Hal Higdon's Advanced Half marathon Training Program.

I'm doing  a few modifications. I'm mostly just switching my workout days.  I'm not able to do track work on Tuesday's.  I also moved my Friday rest day to Thursday, but you get the idea.  

Workouts since my last update

Friday 2/21- Rest

Saturday 2/22- Rest

Sunday-2/23 10 miles around my neighborhood  8:09  average pace

Monday 2/24 Track Work!!!!

I haven't done track work in a few years.  I have been wanting to but, I don't want to do track work by myself and I can't meet up with any running groups after work.  I choose not to because after work for me is dinner time / family time. It is non negotiable.   Two weeks ago I discovered that one of my FB friends (who I used to train with many years ago) who is a personal trainer was doing lunchtime track workouts not too far from my work.    I decided why not.  

We did 4 X 400 and 3 X 800.  I got worked and I loved it.  Here's the data: 

4 X 400 (1:33, 1:34, 1:30, 1:30) I did a one lap recovery jog in between 400's.

3 X 800 ( 3:11, 3:05, 3:06)  I also had a one lap recovery jog in between 800's

Tuesday-2/25-  I did some core work- sit ups, push ups, roman chair leg lifts, stability ball crunches.  Then I ran 3 recovery miles (no radio or Garmin).

Wednesday 2/26- I was really sore and I decided to take a rest day

Thursday- 2/27  I decided to do my long run on this day because I had a feeling that I wouldn't be running long over the weekend.  It was really windy but, I kind of enjoy running in shitty weather conditions. I think it prepares me for race days when the weather isn't perfect.  Anyhow I ran a hilly  10 miles.  I did the first 5 easyish and then kicked it up a notch on the way back.  Here are the split times:

Mile 1-8:28

Mile 2-9:08

Mile 3-8:37

Mile 4 8:38

Mile 5-9:03

Mile 6-7:26

Mile 7- 7:13

Mile 8- 7:13

Mile 9-6:59

Mile 10-7:02

Here's a picture of the elevation profile, this will explain the uneven splits.  This route climbs over 500 feet in the first 5 miles, with most of the climbs happening in miles 2 and 5.

 Then I get to rocket back down 500 feet during the next 5 miles.  I did this run on my lunch break.    Later on that same day I had to leave work early because my daughter was sick

Friday 2/28- Rest day- I stayed home from work too.  My baby girl had a tummy bug, she is doing better and I'm grateful no one else caught it!

Saturday 3/1  Tie Dye Run 5k------- I never thought I would sign up for a color run. I'm not a big fan of these events at all.  My friend had been really wanting me to run with her. She wanted me to do a Muddy Buddy race and a Soggy Jog run last year.  I decline these types of races because they cost a lot of money and I'm so worried about injuring myself doing something lame like running through a mud puddle.  I decided that this race had a low injury risk and I figured, "why not?"

I signed up for the race using living social and it only cost $20.00   I figured there would be at least one or two people that wanted a good workout that morning.  I told myself to be really mindful to all the runners around me and to be considerate to others that were doing this run for the tie dye experience.

I met up with my friend and we jogged for two miles, stretched, and caught up with each other.

Those aren't compression socks. They are
good ol' men's tube socks.

I lined up near the front, the horn went off, and  the course started off on a sidewalk.... I ran about 100 meters before we had our first turn off.  Myself and few other runners went in the wrong direction for a few steps and then we had to back track.  It wasn't long before I caught up to the front again.    About 800 meters later there was only another guy with me and we turned it into a foot race.

Mile 1-6:52


Mile 2-6:48-  During this mile the guy in front of me kept on looking over his shoulder and he was surprised I was still holding on.

Mile 3- 6:40


During this mile there was a turn around point and we were back on the same path as the runners coming in the opposite direction.  I  did not want to be a jerk so I gave a very wide berth to everyone running in the opposite direction. I would have felt like a total butt hole if I would have crashed into someone.  The only bad part about being careful was that the guy in front of me was able to extend his lead on me.

.1- 0:38 (6:20 pace)

Final Time 20:58

When I was  heading closer towards the finish line one of the volunteers directed me in the wrong direction again... It was somewhat frustrating to have to back track, but again I want to stress that I chose to run this 5k for fun. This wasn't a super serious PR attempt.  I'm happy that I got a good workout in. I haven't gone under 21 minutes for a 5k in close to 4 years.  I know that I could shave off some more time.  It will happen eventually.  I ran another mile to cool down and called it a day.

Sunday 3/2 Rest

Monday- 3/3 Track Work-  I met up with my friend again for track work.  Our workout was 10 X 500 meters at 5k pace with 300 meter recovery.  I only ended up having time to do 9 of the 10 repeats.  I did the first two on my own and then my friend and I took turns leading each repeat.  Here's the data:

2:00, 2:00, 1:53, 1:55, 1:52, 1:52, 1:59 (I ran this one solo), 1:51, 1:51.  

Tuesday 3/4 I did some core work- sit ups, push ups, roman chair leg lifts, kettle bell swings,  and lat pull downs.  Then I ran 4 recovery miles (no radio or Garmin)

Wednesday-3/5  Almost 6 miles (5.95)  8:16 average pace.  I felt pretty sore from the speed work on Monday and the kettle bell swings I did yesterday.

Tomorrow is a planned rest day for me.

Progress report and a hole in my heart.

Time flies when you are having fun.... It also flies when you work full time and have two small children. Two weeks ago my daughter turned a year old.  It seems like it was yesterday  when we brought her home from the hospital. She is starting to take some steps and she is "talking" up a storm.


My running has been going well.  In the past month I have increased my weekly mileage and I'm discovering new running routes on my lunch break.  This has been great...

However I'm still trying to get used to not seeing my daughter on my lunch break.  I didn't realize  how sad this would make me.  At first I was thinking, "Sweet now I have more time to train", but when I'm out running I think about how much I miss my kids during the workweek.  I get to see them in the morning for an hour or two and then after work I get to see them for another two hours before it's bedtime.   I miss having that lunchtime hour with my little girl.  To compensate I'm taking a few extra days off here and there to make my work weeks shorter and my weekends longer.  

My latest workouts- I'll just give you this past week's

Sunday 2/16- 8 miles around the neighborhood, I kind of turned this into a progression run during the second half.
Mile 1-8:15
Mile 2-7:52
Mile 3-7:56
Mile 4-8:04
Mile 5-8:02
Mile 6-7:56
Mile 7-7:34
Mile 8-7:21

Monday 2/17  4 mile shake out run- 31:15  (7:48 avg pace)

Tuesday 2/18-  Push ups. Sit ups, and planks, followed by a hilly 6 mile run.  50:10 (8:11 average pace)

Wednesday 2/19 A little short of 5 miles 38:17 (4.75 miles at 8:05 pace)

Thursday 2/20  8 miles hilly/progression run..  I have found a new route to run that is 4 miles of hilly climbs with 4 miles of hilly decent.  I tried to take it easy on the way out and I tried to turn it up a notch on the way back.  There was a total of 550 feet of elevation gain. Here are the split times

Mile 1-8:38
Mile 2-8:57
Mile 3-8:07
Mile 4-8:59
Mile 5-7:34
Mile 6-7:24
Mile 7-7:20
Mile 8-6:47

Tomorrow is going to be a rest day for sure.

LVTC Low Key Poker 5k & Switching up my Routine

Over the weekend I ran a low key 5k.  The premise of the run was to collect 3 poker cards during the run, and after the race their would be a Texas Hold'em game with a flop, turn, and river card. The runners with the best poker had would have their pick of the prizes. The race was intended to raise money for scholarships for local high school runners.

When I arrived at the race location I noticed that their weren't a lot of participants ready to race.  January is a popular month for road races in the Las Vegas Valley, and there were several different events that same morning. Because of this the track club workout had a small turnout.  I wasn't feeling very motivated to do a proper warm up.  In fact I didn't even really warm up. I figured I would try to negative split the 5k.  I also had lofty goals of running a sub 21:00 5k.

I lined up front and when the horn went off, we took off and I found my groove. Two high school boys went flying by me.  I knew I wouldn't be able to hang with them.  I was running with two other male runners and after about 800 meters I looked down at my watch and noticed 7:05 pace. (My goal was 6:45's per mile). I knew that I needed to pick up the pace, I dropped it into another gear and I went around the two guys I was running with.  I also picked up my first poker card.

Mile 1 7:03 (Meh)


One of the guys that I passed just hung on to me.  I was running hard, but I couldn't shake him.  We hit the turn around point and I knew he was still on my heels.

Mile 2 7:06 (D'oh)

Once we passed the 2nd mile marker I decided to put some distance between me and the guy on my heels.  I really tried to open up.  I grabbed the 2nd poker card halfway through this mile

Mile 3 6:36 (Right on!)
During the final 400 meters I got my ass out kicked.

I'm the pink dot in the rear.

Final Time 21:32 (6:53 average)

I'm not disappointed with my time.  I know that I could have ran this a bit faster, if I had done a proper warm-up.   It was a small race and I felt like I was in "no man's land"  for most of the race. I do better at bigger events because there is motivation to catch runners ahead of you.

After all the runners finished the poker hand was dealt.  I didn't have a very good hand, so I went home empty handed.   Overall I'm happy that I got a good workout in.

**Thank you to the Las Vegas Track Club for hosting the event and for the photos!!**

For the past few months I have been working out in the mornings before work and on my lunch breaks I would drive over to my daughter's daycare to nurse and or play with her.  At this stage of her development she is moving from two naps a day down to one long mid day nap.   This is great because her development is progressing right along where it should be, however I am a bit sad because I look forward to seeing my little one and getting some extra cuddle time in with her.

At first I was actually considering trying to work out twice a day because I love to run in the morning.. But, that just sounded like a dumb idea. My workouts before work always felt rushed and hurried.  I would usually try to bang out a 3-5 mile tempo run or do some frenzied circuit training.   Instead I'm going to focus on lunch time workouts.  

I plan on running three days a week, doing circuit training one day, and one day of complete rest.   My weekends will still consist of one long run and one rest day.   I will definitely be upping my mileage and slowing down my pace on some of my runs.   I will be probably switching it up again when the Las Vegas summer heat arrives.

My Latest Workouts and My plans for 2014

I'm glad that things are getting back to normal after a long holiday season. My training has been going okay.. I say this because I'm not training for anything specific right now, but my running has been feeling great. After the half marathon I didn't really take a break from running. My mom and dad came to visit and I took advantage of having a babysitter.  I did take a break from wearing my Garmin.  I ran several times during the week of Christmas and also the week of New Year's eve. Most of my runs were between 3-6 miles  No stats are available.

I treated myself to some new running shoes. I'm a Brooks Adrenelene runner. I love my Brooks but, sometimes I wish they came in bright colors.   I had been coveting these ASICS GT-1000's for awhile.  I had some Kohls Cash left over from Christmas and I got these shoes at a really good price.  They are stability shoes.  I have ran in these a few times and they feel a little different than my Adrenelienes but, thats not a bad thing.  I will be rotating my shoes so both pairs will last longer.

Workouts since January 1st.

Wednesday 1/1   7 Mile run around my neighborhood  57:25  (8:12 average pace)

Thursday 1/2    Circuit Training before work.  Full body workout.

Friday    1/3   5 Mile run on my lunch break. I ran 2.5 miles over to my daughter's daycare visited with her and then ran back to work.  I averaged 7:32 pace on the way out, on the way back in I averaged 8:11 pace.

Saturday 1/4 Rest day

Sunday  1/5   7.5 Mile run around my neighborhood  59:50 (8:00 average pace)

Monday 1/6  Circuit Training before work. Full body workout

Tuesday 1/7  4  Miles Tempo before work.  Here are the split times,
Mile 1- 7:29
Mile 2- 7:40
Mile 3- 7:33
Mile 4- 6:51
Later on that same day I had minor gum surgery to remove excess tissue.  A bonus from pregnancy!

Wednesday 1/8 -3 Mile shake out run before work. No garmin, or radio. Just for fun.

Thursday 1/9   3 Mile progression run before work. Here are the split times,
Mile 1- 7:43
Mile 2- 7:45
Mile 3- 7:14

Friday 1/10 Rest Day-  My baby girl wasn't feeling well. We both stayed home.

Saturday 1/11 Rest Day

Sunday  1/12- 6 mile progression run. 47:54  (7:59 average pace)  I started with a 8:26 mile and finished with a 7:24 mile

Monday 1/13  3 Miles before work. No Garmin or radio. Just for fun.

Tuesday 1/14  5 Mile Progression Run/Tempo Run, I feel really good about this run because there was also 241 feet of elevation gain in the first 2 1/2 miles. Here are my split times
Mile 1-8:10
Mile 2-7:43
Mile 3-7:37
Mile 4-7:01
Mile 5-6:48

Wednesday 1/15  4 miles, tempo.  I would like to call it a progression run but I'm not sure what happened that last mile.
Mile 1-7:50
Mile 2-7:22
Mile 3 7:11
Mile 4 7:42

Thursday 1/16 Rest Day

Friday 1/17 Almost 7 miles (6.86) after work.  My average pace was 8:01 per mile.  The weather was a perfect 68 degrees.  The temps have been warmer than average out here in the Las Vegas Valley.  The downside to this is that the pollen that we normally get in March is already starting to appear.  I started the run feeling good, but by the end I was blowing major snot rockets and just not feeling very well. I felt sluggish.  In other news, my little boy turned 3 years old.  We celebrated at home that night with cake and balloons.

Saturday 1/18  Rest Day- To celebrate my son's birthday, my husband and I took our children to a nature preserve called the Springs Preserve.  We walked around for a few hours and wore out the kids. That afternoon I started to feel really bad.  I caught a cold of some sorts and I went to bed really early.

Sunday 1/19 Rest Day.  I felt like garbage. No running.

Monday 1/20 Rest Day. My cold is feeling somewhat better. I'm grateful for the 3 day weekend  and not needing to take a sick day at work.

Tuesday 1/21  After 3 days off, I am feeling really fidgety.  It's a hard feeling to describe. I feel jittery, impatient, and really strong at the same time.  I drop the kids off at daycare and I head to work.  I only had time for a short workout.  I did circuit training at the gym, it was a full body workout with exercises such as:  2 minute sprint on the treadmill, and then  push ups, back rows, shoulder raises, bicep curls, shoulder presses, Romanian dead lifts, kettle bell swings,  sit ups, lat pull downs, and roman chair leg lifts.  I do this entire circuit 3 times. It takes about 25 minutes and it is a killer workout.

I also ran 4 miles at lunchtime.  My daughter's daycare called to let me know she was going to be taking a nap during lunch time. It worked out perfectly.  I ran 4 miles without a Garmin or radio. Just for fun.

Wednesday 1/22-  4 miles - 2 miles up a hill and then 2 miles back down the hill.  Here are my split times,
Mile 1-8:35
Mile 2-8:30
Mile 3-7:15
Mile 4-6:57

I'm feeling better since the weekend. I'm still somewhat congested but, it's manageable.

My plans for 2014

 January 25th (This Weekend) - Low Key 5k.  I want to go under 21:00 minutes. Or at least come close.

 March-  1 mile race  A local running club is hosting a 1 mile race.   I haven't raced this distance in a really long time. It's pretty hard to race a mile to your fullest potential if you are also focusing on long distance racing...

April- The Mustang Half Marathon-  I'm eyeballing this race because it is very close to my home, and it appears to be a flat course.  I would really like to make a go of it and run a sub 1:35 half marathon.  The premise of this race is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang. I'm not a big car buff. But, there is a raffle for all of the runners that are racing the half marathon.  The winner of the raffle will win a Shelby Mustang.


Fall Marathon -I'm torn on this decision.  I really want to enter the lottery for the St. George Marathon in October.  The only way you can get in is through the lottery system of if you fund raise.  I'm itching to run a marathon. It has been almost 4 years since I have raced this distance.   However, this marathon falls during the first week of October, so I will need to train throughout the brutal summer.  Also the time commitment needed to really prepare for a marathon is not something I'm looking forward to.

I feel like I'm in a nice "sweet spot" right now. I get to run one day on the weekends and before work. My running isn't cutting into my family time. A marathon is a big commitment time wise. I don't want to half ass train and run a half ass race. When I step to the line for 26.2 miles I want to be as prepared as possible. I want my next marathon to be the one where I finally go under 3:30.  I will elaborate on my marathon plans in a future post.

Holiday Half Marathon Race Recap- A lesson in uneven pacing

1134 elevation loss, and 1134 elevation gain

I ran the Holiday Half Marathon last week. I had a really fun time and I got my tail kicked by the hilly course.  I ended up being the overall women's winner (it was a small race).

The course was along the river mountain trail loop. It's a pretty scenic course that is closed to traffic. There was a regular half marathon and there was also a relay option for runners not wanting to race the half.


I was feeling a little nervous the morning of the race. For my breakfast I had scrambled eggs, a banana, and a slice of buttered toast.  On my way to the race site I ate a caffeinated orange Gu.  I got to the race site 15 minutes before the gun time. I had just enough time for a short warm up jog and quick trip to the bathrooms.


When I signed up for this race I figured that I would be able to run a sub 1:40. I was actually kind of cocky about it.  I told several people that I would run this time or faster.  I like telling people my race goals before hand. I do this for accountability. When I run a race, I try to give it my all.  I don't want to fake the funk and pretend that I just run races for fun.




Right before the start

The gun went off and I felt good. I knew that to run a sub 1:40 half marathon I would need to average 7:38 per mile. I figured that with the climbs and the descents my pace would be all over the place.   I did some rough estimates and I wanted to aim for 8:10 miles for the uphills and 7:10 miles for the downhill stretches. I figured I would be able to adjust my pace if I needed to. 

My original estimates were way off.

Mile 1- 7:52

The course started on an uphill grade.  I may have gone out a little too fast.  The relay runners and half marathoners all started at the same time, and I have a habit of going out with the crowd.

Mile 2- 7:44
 I felt like I was pushing the pace going up this uphill stretch.  My stomach was a little crampy because of the caffeinated Gu.  I just tried to focus on my breathing  and I told myself to relax and wait for the downhill

Mile 3- 7:05
Oh glorious sweet downhill running.  I looked down at my Garmin and I saw 6:50 pace. It was a steep downhill and I slowed it down

I don't take pictures while I race, these photos are courtesy
of the Las Vegas Track Club

Mile 4-7:11
More wonderful downhill running.   The view of the Las Vegas Valley was gorgeous.

Mile 5-7:44
The downhill stretch came to an end and we were treated to a series of rolling downhill climbs. It was kind of scary.  I couldn't really go any faster without risking a face plant into the asphalt. After the three climbs the course went rocketing back down. 

Mile 6-7:33
I knew the turn around point was coming pretty soon since we were heading down to the bottom of the trail head.  When I reached the turn around point I knew for sure that I was the lead female.  I had probably a 400 meter lead on the 2nd place female.  I started to get a little weak in the knees emotionally. I was getting scared of the ride back to the start line.  I was also worried about being picked off by the 2nd place female.  I told the negative voice in my head to STFU and to just keep running.  "Don't think about, it just run".  I started to climb back up the trail head.

Mile 7- 7:31
I went through the same three hilly climbs but, in reverse.  The climbs were much steeper going in the other direction.  I was also playing hop scotch with a couple of male runners. The climbs were brutal.

Mile 8-9:13

A fellow runner who had out kicked me a few weeks ago during the turkey trot 5k went cruising by me.  He started out slower and smarter than I did. I pulled out another Gu to eat. It was a lemon lime Gu without caffeine.  I nursed it over the next couple of miles. I didn't want to eat the whole thing and have my stomach cramp up again.

Mile 9-8:28
The rolling hills were done and now it is just a straight uphill climb for the next three miles.  I did something that I never do during a race.  I looked over my shoulder to see who was behind me.   The reason I never do this, is because it lets the runners behind you know that you are afraid and that you are falling apart. I kept expecting the 2nd place runner to  blow right by me.

Mile 10-8:56
I told myself to just survive and get through the next two miles.  Focus on the runners in front of you.

Mile 11-9:15

This mile sucked!! But, I was in good company. I passed about three runners on this stretch and only one guy caught me.  The camaraderie was really great. We were all suffering together.  I just kept telling myself to keep it together. There is more downhill on the way.

Mile 12-7:29


Once the downhill began I was aware that we only had about two miles left to the finish. I decided to just run as hard as I could without blowing up.

Mile 13 7:19
I'm starting to close in on the guy that passed me a few minutes ago, but I'm running out of real estate.  During the home stretch in my head I am chanting, "everything, everything, everything...."

Mile 13.1-:054- 7:05 pace

Finish Time 1:44:17



I look like a dork with my arms outstretched over my head.
I was really excited to win that day.

After the race I walked around for a few minutes to cool off. I wasn't able to stick around for the awards.  The race director was really nice and he let me take my trophy home early.

This race was a lot of fun. I'm a little disappointed with how I ran.  I should have taken the first two miles easier.  I also shouldn't have underestimated how hard this half marathon would be.  I'm not running high enough mileage to be able to just crank out a sub  140 half marathon on a whim.

I don't plan on racing another half marathon until the spring time.  I hope that I can increase my mileage base before I attempt to race another half.

***Thank you LVTC for hosting a really kick ass half marathon, and thank you for the photos!!***