70 Miler

Usually by now I'm suffering from post race let down. You know, that feeling that I just spent the last 5 months training my rear end off for something, that is now over. The realization that things could have gone different, the now what am I supposed to do...the refocusing on the next big event.

Not this year.

Two days post seventy, instead, I'm still feeling like death.

It could have been a lot of things, it could have been the fact that it was hot - probably high 70s low 80s all day, it could have been the fact that the wind was blowing AT US for most of the day, it could have been the fact that it was by far the shallowest 70miler that I've ever attended, it could have been that I've never done the 70 from the bow, which requires a bit more energy. Whatever the reason for me feeling like I've been run over by a train...I have one thing to say-

It was well worth it.

Gloria and I had two non-overlapping goals. To 1. beat all the mixed teams (unprecedented by a womens team) 2. Be in the top 20 (the highest women's finish to date was 25th). To make a long story short. We dominated the mixed field, beating the top mixed team by 9 minutes and finishing 17th place in the men!!! Also, if you account for the 10% time difference that is often associated with top women and top men, we were 10% behind the 1st place team that absolutely dominated the mens field - so it looks like we were definitely at the top of our game and i'm truly proud of the results.

Now if I could just get my head to stop spinning!

Lilac 10k

Well yesterday was the 10k.

And I tell you what, not too shabby.

That's my report. To tell you the truth I was fairly impressed! The last time I did the 10k, my time was approcimately 45 minutes (probably more like 44:30) This time, my adjusted time (when I ACTUALLY made it through the start line) was 42:11) almost two and a half minutes faster this time. It's really a very hard course (very hilly, and the hills are mostly in the last 5k) I ran 6:48 miles, and for the first mile I was fighting my way through the crowd!!! I came in 17th woman, and 107th overall. I think that had I gotten a better starting position I definitely could have broken the top 100 and the top 15 women. Their was a girl that beat me by just a second (she outsprinted me at the end - and I haven't done ANY speed work) is a runner in a Division I school! But at any rate - I am very pumped about that finish - and with a little speedwork who knows what I can do!

I'll see if I can post pictures later=)

Two weeks from now starts real marathon training

This past weekend was Wessels I raced with Gloria, and we did fantastic!!! We finished 1st in womens, beat ALL the mixed teams, and were tenth in the mens by a matter of seconds (we were in a group with two other men who finished 9th and 8th - so we were in a stones throw of 7th. which is fantastic). We are both very excited about our chances of having the best womens finish in the history of the 70! She truly is a pistol - and a joy to be in a boat with!

So the 70 is about a week and a half away. I'm very much looking forward to it, and when thats over I plan to really start training for the marathon. The only canoeing thing that I have left after that that I need to really train for is Nationals - but thats not as intense as training for the 70. No where near as many hours needed. So I'll be able to put in a few long runs to get myself ready!

This weekend is the Lilac 10k, I'm trying to get my sister to run the 5k and maybe my mom!!! I'll let you know how it turns out =)

T minus 5 months

5 months from now I will officially be done with my first marathon, time sure is flying! Actually right now I am procrastinating going for a run by writing a post!

This weekend went swimmingly...minus the swimming! I was the fastest amateur C1 on Saturday (beating all the amateur boys) which I have never done before - I actually won by one and a half minutes! Pretty exciting! it was a lot of fun. Then on Sunday I raced C2 with Jason, and we managed to come in 5th among the men!!! (first mixed) and we did it by beating some very good teams. And just as importantly, Daniel raced the C1 race, which is by far the most technical C1 race there is, and managed to keep him boat upright, and did very well! Caren and Brian also raced C2 on Sunday - and judging by their smiles - I think that they had a great time!

I sent in my registration for the Lilac 10k today, that race is next Sunday (the 18th), I'm very much looking forward to it, I hope to do a lot better than i did a couple years ago when I tried it. This weekend is the lower 35 (the second half of the 70) and I'm racing with Gloria - I'll let you know how I do!!! :)

Happy May Day!!!

Happy May Day!!! You know what that means -19 days til Grandpa's and Seans Birthday - and 28 more days til mine!!!

Ok no, I think it really has something to do with flowers on doorknobs - and kisses or something.

ANYHOW... much to report

Last weekend, I went to Boston and raced with Gloria we were faster than ...insert something witty here. No really, we were super fast - only one mixed team beat us (they started womens and mixed together), and we had a super good race!

On saturday we went and scouted out the course - and Marc said if we had enought time he'd take me to heartbreak hill , but we didn't know exactly how to get there - so we called chacha ; 1-800-2242242 (1-800-2chacha). Its kind of cool - its absolutely free (besides if you have to pay to recieve a text message) and you just call and ask it ANY question, and within a few minutes it will text you the answer!!! So we called chacha, and they gave us the answer -but...alas, we didn't have enough time - so i didn't get to see it! (thats probably for the best).

I passed my qual on monday - although thats another story for another day - I'm not very happy about it at all, BUT...its over with, now I have to decide where to go from here!

Canton is this weekend, I race C1 on Saturday and C2 on Sunday with Jason - I'll be sure to report when I get back!

Boston

Much to update on: Canoe Season has started! Jason and I raced the Upper Susquehanna Peddlers and Paddlers race. We raced against the men, and ended up 6th place, we should have been 5th, but all in all it was a great race!

I thought this picture was SUPER funny, thats me and Jason going for a run before the race!!!

This is us gettin' her done just after the race start!

THis is me getting out of the boat - Duh!

This weekend is Boston's Run of the Charles, its a 26 Mile race with 6 running portages! I'm racing with my partner for the 70 Gloria. I'll have to let you know how I do!

Speaking of Boston...The Boston Marathon was monday. It was actually kind of funny. I was all full of lactic acid on Monday from the canoe race on saturday, so when I ran, I really didn't feel all that well, sometimes the lactic acid gives you a stomach ache. But despite that, and really dogging it the first half of my run, I ran 8 miles in an hour. I was pretty proud of myself. Only to come back to my computer with an email from marc, only quasi joking - hey if we can get you down to a 2hr 25 minute marathon (tranlates to roughlt 5:33 miles - as opposed to the 7:30 miles that I was just going to brag about) you could win $150,000. Talk about short lived excitement. I don't know about that - but I was thinking, maybe, just MAYBE if I qualified for Boston - I'd do it in the next couple of years... (I need a 3hr 40 minute to qualify), but lets just see if I even like running a marathon first ok!!!

Next monday is my qualifying exam, in which I will officially have my Masters degree (or if I fail, I might officially start training for a 2:25...) I'll let you know how Boston, AND the qual turn out!

Love you all! Hol

Less than 6 months to go!

I mean to write on Saturday - the 6 months to go mark. But I've been a busy little beaver, and didn't have time. Speaking of beavers...I've been paddlin' a lot and there have been a LOT of beavers, did you know that they get to be 75 pounds!!! thats like bailey, without legs!

Anyway 6 months to go!!! I bought a new pair of running sneakers my red ball jets - (actually mine are purple)- I try to have 2 that I can switch back and forth with (they suggest that to prevent injuries) - I'm not really sure why - but I know I don't want any injuries.

Marc has been on me to run "his" 7 mile route for about 5 months now - So today was the day, I was scared - 7 miles is 7 miles though right? WRONG. it kicked my butt. Here is the route, but that doesn't mean crap unless you hit the button that says - show elevation. I'm glad the wineglass is relatively flat. I thought the first hill was the worst hill ever, it took forever, and it had a pretty decent incline. But that feeling didn't last long, cuz then I got the the next hill, and that one officially became the worst hill EVER. But I made it - and only a little the worse for wear. I'm really really looking forward to the marathon - heck I might even like it! I have run 35 miles so far this week, I'll probably do 5 tomorrow, making it my first EVER 40 mile week.

In other news, i had to pee in the woods once this week, I saw TWO bald eagles, Bailey got his electric fence installed, I finished my proposal, and my cousins Dan and Katie are coming to paddle this weekend! How exciting. More later :)