Flying Pirate Inagural Half Marathon 4/18/10

Traveled down to the Outer Banks for a nice long weekend and to run the Inagural Flying Pirate Half. It is the first half of the OBX Marathon which has gotten great reviews and I did read about the course and viewed it online but the hills didn't look so bad but I should have known when it said "as you crest the dune to be one of the first to finish"-what running up a dune? And at the end... So here is my race report-took the shuttle to the start not knowing it was about .25 mile up the road and we could have walked-oh well next time. Got a lot of great pictures at the start. There were 3 corrals and a cannon was suppose to start each one a couple of minutes apart. After the first corral started everyone started running we stopped before crossing because we were suppose to wait but the director waved for us to keep going. So we are running down the road and I am basically last-there was one woman walking. It was peaceful until I heard my corral actually start with the cannon and was engulfed by a hoard of people. It was nice and scenic running along the sound/bay and on paths with the sun coming up. The weather was great the whole weekend by the way. I was thinking how much more scenic this was compared to the fall half and maybe I would add the full marathon to my list of to dos. Coming up to mile 8.5 around the Wright's Brother Memorial I was wondering if Tom had actually made it to that point to meet me. As I was coming around the corner I could see him and luckily he was getting my water ready because I was all out and it was getting warm out. My pace was about what I expected and wanted to get to 10 miles by 2 hrs. I filled my water bottles and ran on. I got to 10 miles about 2:02 and I was trying to beat 2:40 of course from the Shamrock. The last 3 miles were through the Outer Banks Nature Reserve-it was packed sand and rocks to begin with and going uphill. It was nice with the shade and trees but after awhile I was wondering when we would be done with tbe woods. At mile 12 I turned on Rocky and thought I was going to just run it out and was hit with another hill and than another hill... I couldn't believe it to be honest. About 12.6 I could hear the finish line and annoucer but we were running on mulch and facing a huge hill-at the end... Got to the top and it was straight down to the finish-I almost thought I was going to take a tumble it was not the easiest to run on but I finished not in the expected time but 2:45:22 so I am pretty consistent. It was the hardest last couple miles of any race than I have done-I have run harder but usually it is throughout. The end took me by surprise but I will run this one again! Love the theme and love the OBX.

Flying Pirate 1/2 Marathon

In the Outer Banks getting ready for the inaugural Flying Pirate Half-can't wait since I have heard a lot about the 1st half of the OBX marathon course. It will be new so it will be exciting. Having a great time so far and the weather was great especially Friday when we got here-80's. We were on the beach all day today after hiking up Jockey's Ridge in the am. I am missing Lexy though and hope she is doing ok and knows that we are coming back for her...

Cherry Blossom 10 Miler

Had a nice time yesterday going to the expo. Got my picture taken and bib signed by Joan Samuelson! Had a great time talking to runners on the metro and expo. It is so early to get up-I hate 4:30am!! We seemed to get to the metro and downtown much earlier than last year. Also, we walked from the metro center which saved a lot of time wasted getting on another train to get closer. It wasn't a far walk either. My legs have been really tight even though I got a massage yesterday. The weather was great and the sun out-sunscreen didn't really do much though. I finished the first 5 im 59 min so was doing really well and wanted to finish 1:59 and that was possible. I slowed in the second half didn't totally cramp up like last year though. It was hot and stopped at all the water stations to fill up. The second half was about 1:01 so I finished in 2:01:32 just missing my goal but better than last year at 2:07 and I felt somewhat better. My knees are killing me but I hope I can make it through these spring races and hope it is not too hot out there! Marine Corps half is at the end but is very hilly from what I hear.

Happy Easter!

Great weather for an Easter Egg hunt! Can't wait wish we had got more goodies to go in the eggs though-of course it was last minute purchase. Had a great time at Brayden's BD party yesterday also. I ran yesterday about 3 miles and than walked Lexy for a little over 2 miles. Need to get a move on and walk her right now.