Race Schedule and Results

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

What's this? A race report???

Shocking, I know. Pick your jaws off the ground because Irondiva is doing a few small races here and there this year.  I haven't totally thrown in the towel to my competitive bone!!!  :)

But I wasn't so much competitive this race as I was happy with how it went!

Here's the story...

So  few weeks ago, Tom and I decided that we were going to look for a fall half marathon.  I love fall half marathons.  There's just something about them that make me smile.  We run a mid-distance run of 10-14 every weekend so it's not really a huge change from a normal weekend, but I love the crisp weather, everyone nervously chatting at the start, the bling at the end, etc.  We found the Allstate 13.1 Atlanta and decided to sign up.  Karen later told me that she had run it last year and really liked it.  That's the funny thing about Atlanta races... I know nothing about any of them, but can always find someone who has done it to get the inside scoop.  I figured it would be a fairly good size race based on the fact that they have them all over the US.  Perfect...


A week before the race, Karen was doing a giveaway on her blog for a free entry so I told Matt to enter, knowing that he's training for a marathon.  It fit in his schedule perfectly and as luck would have it, he won the entry!!!  So yay... I would have Karen and Matt there as well.  See... I already love racing in Atlanta!

Matt and I decided to run the race together since I've been slow and he's tapering for his big race, giving each other an out at any point if the other was going too fast (ha... that wouldn't have been me) or too slow.  I knew Tom would be a speed demon and I couldn't keep up with him.  I was just hoping to see Karen at the start and now am kicking myself for not setting up a meeting point with her because I never saw her. 

Sunday morning was beautiful - the perfect crisp day I had hoped for.  Tom and I were cozy in bed and I'm not going to lie... it was a little hard getting up at 5:30 to go run (especially since Tom stayed up to watch the Buckeyes put it to Nebraska the night before).  But I love this saying and it's what gets us going...

Matt and I lined up around the 2:00 mark.  I've been running fairly slow these days with the hills and whatnot.  I told Matt that I would like to be around 2:05.  He asked if I was good at pacing (ha... no) and asked if I was using a Garmin (again... nope... not my style).  He was so he could keep us on track.  We started out right on a 9:30 pace.  The first 3 or so miles were up and down, a little crowded, a little dark.  I couldn't really get into my groove.  But by mile 6, I was feeling great and we were consistently running right on pace.  All of a sudden I looked an we were at mile 9.  WHAT? :)  That's the awesome part about running with someone.  We talked about some great stuff - family, our values, reality tv (are you guys addicted to Breaking Amish like we both are???), racing, training, the future.  It was so great and made the miles just fly.  Before long, we were at mile 12, Tom had looped back to run to the finish with us.  Matt was feeling awesome and although I know he could have gone ahead, I think he played it smart with a marathon in two weeks (which he's going to rock... go wish him well here!)

Remember how I had hoped to run a 2:05, although I suck at pacing and wasn't wearing a Garmin?  We ended up crossing at like 2:05:34! :)  I would say that was perfect pacing!  Not close to a PR for me, and I loved it.  It was a fun race, I got to spend time getting to know Matt more, and I felt good the whole time.  And it was a GPR... a Georgia PR. :)

The race itself was great - amazing support, great course, music throughout the course, organized aid stations, a great finish line and pretty awesome bling!
If there's an Allstate 13.1 near you (LA, Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and New York), I'd sign up.  You won't be disappointed!  But run it with a friend.  That'll make it even better!

This coming weekend, I'm racing again (gasp) at REV3 Anderson.  I can't wait to see my teammates and race another amazing Rev race!!!

20 comments:

Matthew Smith said...

Woohoo!! That was by far one of my favorite races, and I know it's because I got to do it with you and Tom. Can a half mary get any better? Maybe a little faster, but not any more fun! :) You're going to have a whole lot of fun in SC this weekend. Enjoy!

Carolina John said...

Wow that's a cool medal! pacers rock. I love talking to people in races. It's good that you already knew the guy, but I always end up meeting some of the nicest people in marathons and halfs. Rock on.

Kristin Deaton said...

No body ever wants to talk with me. :-(. I guess that means I need to come and race with you Colleen. Very cool medal. I hope the weather was "fall-like". That's really what running a fall half is all about. Not sweating your tush off.

Rebecca said...

Love that 4% photo, I will be stealing that !

I am with you, fall racing is great especially when the summer heat of the day is no longer and the coolness seems to make the air seem cleaner! Congrats on your race, sounds like it was a nice one!

Caroline said...

Congrats on the race!
I did the LA one this year. I love their medals!

It was a good one except for having the course go by the water treatment plant twice...the smell was horrible..!!

thank you for your kind comments on my blog, I really appreciate them. you are so so nice!

Karen said...

Freakishly addicted to Breaking Amish! They fascinate me... Can't believe they pulled that girl's teeth like that - ACK! Good luck this weekend!!!!

TriMOEngr said...

Way to go! Cool race medal. Nothing near me in that series, but I'm hoping to do my first half in 2013. I chickened out of doing it this fall.

Aunt Nan said...

You'll do great this weekend, I'm sure. Have a ton of fun, be careful, do well, and most of all enjoy the day. Love you, Momxoxox

Meaghan said...

Congrats on your race! It's always awesome to have someone to race with; makes the miles fly by!!! Have FUN this weekend at REV3!

Unknown said...

That's a really cool medal!

I'm glad you found a cool fun race to do. I love fall half marathons too.

Kim said...

So so so proud of you sister! Have so much fun this weekend! I must disagree with the 13.1...i did the *boston* one last year, it wasnt even in boston, terribly organized, ran out of water, and i was very disappointed. They switched locations this year (still not in boston) but havent heard any reviews about it yet.

Maggie said...

Nice job!! Love it when pacing goes perfectly to plan!

Anne-Marie said...

Yay for fun races and perfect pacing! Fall half marathons are the best.

Good luck at Rev3!!

track coach and adorable wife said...

You are so cute! Thanks for the compliments on my stuff, I do have an etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/iwantthatcrafts in case you want to browse! Good luck next weekend! I keep trying to convince Jesse that Rev3, versus an Ironman, is the way to go next year!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

Congrats on the race

Good Luck in South Carolina

Unknown said...

congrats!!!

Racing is so overrated (-:

My next post is going to be about eating cookies, lots of delicious cookies!

Ironman By Thirty said...

Congrats!!!

What Jeff said, "Racing is so overrated." Having fun makes for a better experience!

Caratunk Girl said...

Congrats! Don't fall off your chair I'm reading blogs tonight! :)

How was Rev3?

I forgot what else I was goin to say? We need to chat cause I miss you!

Molly said...

Wow! Nice job!! I love it when the miles go by without noticing because you're too busy gabbing with a friend, especially in a race!! : )

Heidi Austin, PT, DPT said...

awesome! love the medal and bummed i didn't go to SC to see you all :(