Louisiana Half Marathon 1-20-19 (half marathon #35)

Check out that start line.  Do you notice DES?? She ran the half marathon.  I wished I had got to see her but they said she was at the Expo on Friday and we didn't make it there till Saturday and I didn't hang around after I finished the race on Sunday to try to see if she was at the after party waiting on awards.  It was too COLD! I hear they have an awesome party afterwards with a band and all.  I just couldn't stand out there freezing.  I went to the room and took a very hot shower and waited on my friends to finish the full. 

My husband was supposed to go with me to this race.  The course ran through LSU's campus.  He's a big fan and originally said he wanted to go see the campus, but a few days before the race he told me it was supposed to rain and be cold so he didn't want to go.  I think he just wanted to be home to watch the football playoff games on Sunday if you ask me. LOL   Anyway, I was very fortunate to have a couple of running friends that were also doing the race and they had already told me if I wanted to share a room with them I could.  I had a great girls weekend rooming with Penny & Michelle.  Candy was supposed to be with us also, but her granddaughter got sick and was admitted to the hospital so she stayed with family to help out.  We missed her!  

  We meet up with Ronnie & Be on Saturday around lunch time.  We drove through horrible rain to get to Louisiana.  I was so glad it cleared up as we got into town, but then the cold wind kicked in.  :(

Here we are at the expo.

Ronnie, Be, Michelle, Me & Penny (yes, I have on flip flops...it was humid and hot when I left my house that morning.)

As we were leaving the expo, Kathy was arriving so we stopped to get one more picture. :>) 

Ronnie, Be, Kathy, Me, Penny & Michelle 

Forecast for Sunday was calling for temps in the 30s with 10-12 mph winds and no sun until after lunch or close to lunch time.  GEEZ  So I dressed warm to run.  First time I've ran in a long sleeve the whole race and kept on my gloves the whole race!  I took my gloves off one time and my fingers got so cold they were hurting so I was glad I had not thrown them away and put them in my pockets.  I put them back on and they never came off again!  

Kathy and I started together up by the 4 hour and 2 hour pacer.  She wanted to do a sub 4 hour marathon and I wanted to come close to a 2 hour half.  I haven't done that in awhile and just really wanted to see if I could do it again.  The first half was good.  I felt strong.  It was cold and there was wind, but it wasn't a headwind.  However, as soon as we turned to come back in we hit a headwind so strong around the lake it almost blew me over one time!  Kathy never wavered and kept her pace.  She amazes me.  The distance begin to grew between us.  I kept praying for her to continue and be strong because it was all I could do to keep going against the wind. She finished in 4:03!  What an incredible time.  I'm so proud of her.  She's worked hard and it's paying off.  I know she'll get that BQ soon.  

 

I finished with a time of 2:08.  Not a PR for me, but I was very  happy with it.  It's been awhile since I ran a half under around 2:20.  You can tell on my time that the first half I stayed right at the 9:17 pace, however the last half I went to a 10:17 so I ended up averaging 9:49 over all.  I'm pleased with a pace under 10 minutes.  AND the best part was I had no stomach issues this race!! not one bathroom stop!  YIPPIE. 

 

The roads weren't that great.  Kind of reminded me of New Orleans.  You really had to watch where your feet were going to not hit a bump and trip.  I kept telling myself to make sure I was picking up my feet. 

I was so cold when I finished and my fingers hurt so bad.  I couldn't even open my bottle of water I was handed.  I had to ask the guy to open it for me.  GEEZ ... Not sure I want to do this race again. We heard from several people that it is always a very  COLD race.  I don't mind the cold so much ... it was really the WIND that I hated.  :>) If there had been no wind, it would have been good running weather.  

 So glad to be done!  and I wished I had kept my jacket on most of the race.  

Our Medals... they had a back to back challenge so the medal has a point to attach to another medal... but we also learned that it would open a beer bottle. :>) 

I love the shirt.  It's that real soft blend material.  

Well, that's a wrap on the Louisiana half marathon.  I am very glad I had changed to the half instead of the full after St. Jude Marathon.  I would have been miserable in that cold wind doing 26.2 miles. :>)  

So what's on your agenda?  Mine?  More Run, Swim & Bike. :>)  

Found this cool medal hanger at the expo.  Had to have it since it's the female version.  

Have a great day! 

D

It's only the 7th of the new year and I've done 2 races..... Steam Whistle 12K & QB Resulotion 5K Run with Polar Plunge

"Every run presents a new adventure, full of great gifts.  We don't have to 'win' to receive them - but we do have to get out the door."  - Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon Champion and Runners World writer 

They say start the new year off by running.... well that's exactly what I did.  I started with a 12K on January 1st.  I love the Steam Whistle race.  It's local and so many friends normally do the race.  Plus it doesn't start till 9am! stay up a little late on New Years eve, you can still make the race. :>)  

You have the option... you can either run the 12K (7.4 miles), or you can walk the 6K (3.7 miles).  And they have blackeyed peas, cornbread and greens after the race.  However, I was going back home to cook for my family so I didn't stay and eat.  I wish I had taken a few pictures with my friends before I rushed so to make it back home to cook.  This is the only picture I took... a selfie afterwards... ha  

I had a pretty good race.  I felt great except the dang bathroom hit me half way into the run!  I've got to figure out what is causing this.  It happens every time I try to run hard on races over 3 miles.  I can go run slow and easy and it won't happen.  I have not changed anything in my diet or any fuel I'm taking during my runs.  Someone told me that some runners have big issues with their stomach when they run hard due to all the bouncing of the intestines.  Maybe that's it... who knows but it's so aggravating.  My pace per mile was going really good then I had to stop and walk off and on to avoid a major accident due to my stomach.  Here is my pace per mile.  

Overall I was pleased with my run and guess what.... no foot issues!! I'm praising God for that big time!!! 

NEXT... Resolution Run 5K & Polar Plunge - Quad Burner Series first race of the series...

I skipped the series last year because some of the dates interfered with other things I was doing, but hoped to get back to it this year.  I'm glad so far I think I'll be able to do all 5 races this year.  The races are different.  Sometimes it's a TRI, some times a duathlon, and sometimes just a road race like this one.  That's what I like.... they mix it up. :>)  And the medals usually are so neat and if you get all of them they typically form something bigger.  

I wasn't sure if I would actually do the polar plunge or not.  I signed up, but was going to wait too see how many actually did it.  Well..... I think EVERYONE did it. LOL  So I joined as well.  Can't miss all the fun.... hee hee  

I felt really good running which kind of surprised me because the day before I did a 10 mile long run.  I thought my legs may feel tired, but they didn't.  It was no PR on the 5K, but I had a really good time.  I was thrilled.... and no foot issues... PRAISE GOD>  

I got 2nd place in my age group.  Yippie...   As Jennifer and us talked about ... we use to think when we got older we would smoke people....but the dang 40, 50+ women are FAST. :>)  HOWEVER, Jennifer is still smoking it! She had a pace of 7:35 per mile!  She always amazes me and I'm so glad she's signed up to do the full ironman also! 

I did get more pictures at this race.  YIPPIE

Us girls after the 5K ... 

Me and Robin... Go team TOA! She's the sweetest.  She is from the coast area.  

Our medal for the 5K and my mimosa :>) 

Then we did the polar plunge!  

We are in the background of these pictures.. 

The two girls in the front of the picture I meet at the race.  Robin introduced them to me... Nicole and Sno... They were so much FUN. 

Gotta love the Swamp Donkey's .. blue plungers... They crack me up!  They are always dressed so cute for the races.  

So I survived.  It actually wasn't bad at all.  And as Dr. Kat said... it really wasn't a real polar plunge since it turned out to be 61 degrees and sunny. LOL  

My loot from the race.... and my tile I got for my 2nd place finish in the 5K in the 51-55 age group.

So that's a wrap for now.  I have the Louisiana half marathon coming up later this month.  I originally signed up for the full, but backed down to the half after the St. Jude Marathon to give my foot more time to heal.  I don't want to stress it with too many long miles right now and with it not hurting on these shorter runs, I'm very happy. :>)  

Today's devotion was good...... You know Jesus made the planets and shaped the stars, yet he prayed.  He is the Lord of the angels, yet he prayed.  He set a compelling prayer example for us.  We should take everything to him in prayer. 

"If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

I'm praying for a full recovery from my bike wreck and for no issues with  my foot this year.  The ironman training is underway! 

MUAH, 

D