Race Report: Publix Georgia Half Marathon

so I know this blog has been completely dead for awhile but I am going to try to resurrect it starting now. I've got big running plans for 2015 and especially early 2016. I'll make another post about that later on down the line but for now I would like to focus on my just completed second major race of 2015 ... The Publix Georgia Half Marathon.

so I was a good portion of the way through writing this and somehow magically deleted it so I'm going to streamline and just focus on the race itself as I really don't want to type all that over again 8(
so here goes nothing...

I had a goal in mind for this race of beating my first half marathon time which was 2:16.35 and even though it was a rainy morning and my training hadn't gone exactly how I wanted it to (my last two long runs were especially dreadful) I still felt pretty good most of my training runs had been at a faster pace than what I had been running previously so as long as I could stay consistent I should be ok. I realized at the start line that I was perfectly placed just in front of the 2:15 pace group so as long as I didn't see that sign run past me I knew I was on pace to PR. This race started and finished at Centennial Olympic Park right in the heart of downtown Atlanta so the early portion of the race was right in the city but luckily the roads were wide and I never felt overly crowded on the course. I was feeling pretty good as I set out and fairly early on (within the first mile or two if I remember right) I had virtually caught up to the 2:10 pace group I decided to just shadow them for as long as I could and then drop back if I needed to later on. The highlights of the early part of the course came around mile 2 where we first passed over I75 with a nice view of the Atlanta skyline (maybe people stopped to take selfies here but I wasn't one of them) then we passed a Publix (who just so happens to be the title sponsor) they had a band out there and there were quite a few people brave enough to stand in the rain and cheer for random strangers I also spied the store manager out there clapping with no umbrella. The water/PowerAde stations along the entire course were well stocked and well staffed they were spaced around every mile and a half or so but I had also worn my hydration belt as I like to try and take on water at least every mile. Mile 2.5 to 4 was a decent hill but I was still feeling really good at this point and was holding my spot shortly behind the 2:10 pacers we also passed by the MLK Jr historical sight just before mile 4. As we headed toward mile 5 we entered the Little Five Points area of Atlanta which is a funky little area of town that I had never been in before with some quirky little shops and clubs. I must say that there really was spectator support through out most of the course and even though none of those people were there specifically for me seeing them there gave me a boost I also took my first Gu Gel at mile 5 (I had brought 2 with me so I figured I would take 1 at mile 5 and the other at mile 10) I think it was between mile 5 and 6 that the Chic Fil A cows were out which gave me laugh for no apparent reason. Just before Mile 7 was a bonus water stop that also had jelly beans that I took advantage of as we hit mile 7 the half marathon course split from the full marathoners maybe next year ill be heading left instead of right but this year right it was. Miles 7 and 8 were in the Virginia Highlands area which I believe is one of the older Atlanta neighborhoods there were a few people out on their porches cheering and it was also in this stretch that I had my second laugh out loud moment as there was a person handing out cans of beer if anyone so desired (I didn't but thought it was funny none the less). It was also at mile 8 that I spied a bank of port a potties with no line I decided to go ahead and make a pit stop even though I didn't NEED to I figured I would before the end of the race so this seemed as good as time as any. after my stop I quickly caught back up to the 2:10 pacers and was surprised at how well I was feeling despite the fact that I was maybe pushing harder than I should. At mile 9 I saw my favorite sign of the race, there was a group of maybe late 20something ladies who seemed to be having to much fun and they had a sign that said "You've ran 9 miles, We've drank 9 Mimosa's" thanks for the laugh and the boost ladies. after that we entered into Piedmont Park, this portion also featured a pretty brutal hill, miles 7-9 were a gradual downhill but 9-10.5 went right back up and it did effect me a bit but I took my second Gu Gel and some PowerAde and powered through it. I had been alternating between taking PowerAde and Water at the aid stations and I think I took both at the stop after that hill. It was also during that hill that I left the 2:10 pacers not by slowing down like I thought would happen but by passing them...what was I doing? at Mile 11 we were in the Georgia Tech campus along fraternity/sorority row there was one blasting the rocky theme which I thought was a nice touch. Mile 11 also featured the second bonus aid station with oranges but I passed on these, something about trying to suck on an orange whilst running didn't appeal to me. we made a couple left turns and hit mile 12 and onto Marietta street (the street which we had begun the race on) this felt like the longest mile of the course probably because I think I was finally feeling the effects of pushing myself at pretty much max level for the entire course but I wasn't going to let that stop me and I powered on home and one last left turn into the finish line I looked up at the clock as I crossed and I think it read something like 2:10ish, I was shocked I knew my race hadn't started when the clock had which guaranteed that my chip time would be better than 2:10 I was totally stoked I really didn't think I would run that well. I walked through the finish area got a bottle of water and my oh so awesome medal. They were also handing out those hand space blankets which I tried to wrap around my shoulders to at least keep anymore rain off me this effort failed and I dropped it several times so then it was just as wet as I was so I gave up on it and tossed it. I got my food bag from the tent and also got some chocolate milk that really hit the spot for me I didn't really look in my food bag as I wasn't really hungry and the milk was doing the job for me. I next hit up the results tent and got my official chip time .......drumroll........2:07 flat!!!! I really couldn't have been any happier my goal for this year is to hopefully get under 2 hours and this result really gave me confidence that I might actually make that happen. I then made my way over to the finish area to wait on my friend to finish and shortly after I got there the leader of the Marathon was on his way in he finished around 2:35 which is just crazy to me but so awesome. after watching my friend finish we met up towards the finishers area and got her goodie bag and tried to make our way back to our car which took some figuring out but we eventually made it and race day was officially over. I really enjoyed this course as I saw parts of the city that I don't normally get to see and despite the hills I ran really well. I would def. like to do this race again next year although depending on how my first marathon goes I may aim to go for the full next time!!

obligatory medal selfie

So there you go hope you enjoyed this rambling synopsis and hopefully this is the start of more regular posts from me.  I have races lined up throughout the rest of this year and I will try to also post training blogs from time to time as well. hope you enjoy and happy running!!!!!

Running With Friends (Not Scissors)

So this is one of those posts that I had started awhile back but decided i didn't like how that one was shaping up so I scraped it and finally decided to give it another crack so here goes...

So running for me is almost always a solo activity, my schedule makes it tough to join any kind of regular running group or even schedule regular runs. However I have had the opportunity to run a couple races and even get in some training runs with various friends and I must say there is nothing better than sharing the joy of running with others. Whether its getting someone started by helping them on their first couch to 5k run, or pushing someone to PR the 5k you are doing together, watching and pushing others to succeed is an amazing feeling. Even virtual support can make a huge difference while you may not be able to go on every run with someone even just commenting on someones facebook post about their last run can make a difference. So my advice to all my fellow runners out there is don't forget to share the joy and pass it on. You never know when you might be someones inspiration to help get them out the door and on the the run!

along that same line is the fact that I enjoy sharing my workouts via social media and I encourage all my running buddies to do the same. I have had a number of people tell me that seeing what I have been able to accomplish has encouraged them to get into a healthier routine, I cant stress what an amazing feeling that is. I stated way back in my first post that if I could get off my butt and do this than just about anybody could and its amazing to see the trickle down effect of that attitude. It doesn't have to be just running either, any kind of workout is a good one so if you happen to be reading this and not be in any kind of exercise routine go out there and find something you love doing and make it a habit, You will be amazed at what it can do for your well being and overall attitude towards life. I leave you with my ultimate running advice:

My Favorite Running Apps...

Holy Crap its been way to long, and for the 2 of you reading this I apologize but as I head into my Half-Marathon training I will attempt to be more regular with the updates, I am going to shoot for at least one a week. I've had a few other posts that I started but never got around to publishing I may bring them back at some point as I like the topics but just never got the gusto to finish them off.

I thought it would be nice to share a few of the apps that I use while running or have used and enjoyed so here goes nothing:

Couch-to-5K by active.com 
This is what I used to get started in running and I recommend it to anyone who is looking to follow in my footsteps. Ive talked about it before but I really cant praise it enough it does such a great job of easing you into things and the ability to change coaches and keep track of everything makes it a valuable tool.

Nike+ Running 
This is my primary running app and I love it. It truly has everything you could ever want in a running app. Training plans, both GPS and Treadmill support, run tracking, friends lists, social media support, are just a few of the many things you can do with it. I really could survive with this app alone and be satisfied that's how good it is.

Charity Miles
This is a bit of a different one, its purpose isn't to benefit you but to make your workouts have an impact on others. Basically you start up the app pick a charity (from about 20 or so different ones so there is something for everybody) and then hit the road like normal. The app will track how far you go and for every mile you run/walk you earn $0.25 for your charity. So simple and yet such an awesome idea.

Zombies, RUN!
This one is a little bit different, Its a fun way to spice up your runs every once in awhile. Basically it plays an audio story through  your headphones simulating you being in a world over run with zombies. It has a chase mode that you can turn on or off but when its on you will have zombies chase you and if you don't speed up your run you will get caught and lose your mission progress. Its an interesting idea and a fun way to change up your runs when you get bored.


So there you have it my favorite running apps hope you enjoyed it and I truly will try to make this blog a bit more regular for those of you interested in reading it.

am I really doing a 10k?

holy crap only 2.5 weeks this time...if I keep this up this might become a blog worth reading...

So after my sort of failure at my December 5k, I wanted to step it up a notch to prove to myself that I was capable of even more than I thought. So I decided it was time for a 10k It would be in February so I had 2 months to get of my arse and be ready. It was still hard to get out there most days because of the cold but I was able to get a pretty good amount of runs in and even resorted to the treadmill a few times just so I could do something. My longest distance during training was 5 miles but I knew as long as I stayed steady doing 6.2 wouldn't kill me. That might be the biggest tip I can give to my fellow runners, on race day you still have to run your pace, its hard not to get caught up in the moment and run to hard because you see other people doing it and that can lead to disaster on race day. I'm not an elite runner, I'm probably never going to compete for first place so I might as well focus on myself and just run my race. The race was the Chattahoochee Challenge and it benefited the Chattahoochee Nature Center. So anyway race day came and as it turned out Grandma kidnapped Jack Jack for the weekend so it was just Sam and I, she did the short 1 mile race before my 10k, and then it was my turn. .

Pre-Race Cold but Ready

as the gun went off I felt really good and the course was really nice, mostly flat and right along the river for most of it, I stayed focused on just enjoying the view and trying to keep my pace steady. I was running about a 10 minute mile and was feeling really good energy wise. I kind of zoned out and just got lost in my music and enjoyed myself. The course went past the finish area and then looped back around and that kind of psyched me out a little not to mention there was a pretty good sized hill right towards the end that took me out of my happy place pretty quickly, it took all of me to keep going and I slowed to a near walk near the crest of it, but I kept going and then I kicked it into the finish and managed a pretty decent time for my first effort.... 1:04

Approaching the Finish

and crossing the line

I was really happy with my time but also pretty much spent energy wise, But it was a good kind of spent, I had pushed myself and happily succeeded and even thought I was gassed I was already thinking of how I could step it up again. Sometime along this journey, and I cant say exactly where it was, but I decided I was really enjoying this running thing and wanted to keep doing it and keep stepping it up. Sam was totally supportive to and that made it even better, I started making plans and dreams. Two things I was sure of...I wanted to try and do a Half Marathon and I wanted to run a Disney World race. Disney does a Tower of Terror 10 mile race in October and that is my goal Though I wouldn't get to do it this year (we are already going there in the spring and making two trips down in one year is a little much) 2015 it will happen. So then it was time to find that local half marathon and make it happen (more on that in a later post) so now this blog is going to shift gears a little and Ill be posting more about my training and other running related things hope it is still interesting for my loyal readers (all 5 of you...just guessing there it may be less lol )

The aftermath...yes I'm spent but happy

my time

Hitting The Wall...

Hey this time it only took me a month to write another post that's an improvement right...


So after my great run in October I was feeling pretty good and this running thing was become more routine for me but as the days grew shorter and colder I found it harder to get my runs in. I signed up for my next race though...It was The Reindeer Run to help benefit needy children in Cherokee County. December 7th would be the day and it would be here before I knew it but I still found it hard to get out on regular runs and my training suffered. Even though I have a treadmill at home I am not a big fan of running on it for me it just doesn't have the same effect as getting outside and hitting the pavement it works in a pinch but if I have my choice I will always run outside. So race day quickly approached and overall I wasn't feeling great with how I had led up to it and when it arrived of course it was a very cold morning and that made it even worse. I was determined to try my hardest anyway and as I started off I made the worst mistake a runner can make I went way to hard, and sure enough about halfway through I hit the dreaded wall. I had to stop and walk for a little while and it killed me after a little bit of walking I got going again and finished with an ok time (I don't remember my exact time but it was somewhere between my previous two races). I considered this my first true let down since I had started but rather then let it break me I let it inspire me to try that much harder. So instead of making my next race a 5k I stepped it up and went for a 10k.

The Journey Part II

Ok so its been way to long since my first post but dang it I started this thing for a reason and I might as well keep at it, So after I finished my first 5K I can say that I was hooked running made me feel good (most of the time) and it had to be helping my health even if I wasn't seeing the immediate results. One thing that I decided as I looked for my second race is that I wanted to always try to run races that benefit causes that mean something to me. Some people pick them based on theme or  just look for something close and go...I didn't want to be that guy I wanted my runs to mean something and also I figured if the causes had meaning it would also boost the motivation factor. So off I went in search of 5K number two and I stumbled upon a great little one in the SEGA Athletes Helping Athletes 5K (https://www.facebook.com/AthletesHelpingAthletes5k), not only was it close but it was a great cause. While not a greyhound owner personally Im 100% a dog lover and 100% believe in adoption over buying. The fun twist of this run was the Running Mates, Basically you were assigned a greyhound to run for, while I was unable to meet up with mine before the race we met up after and as it turned out she ran the race with her owner and finished just a bit behind me. I had managed to keep up my training pretty consistently leading up to this one and was hoping for a good time at the very least wanted to run under my first time. The only drawback to this race was that it had said that headphones and ipods, iphones, ect were not supposed to be used on the course (though as it turned out this wasn't strictly enforced). So this would be a first for me...no music, no pace info just me and the road. This was a different feeling as I ran, while I like running with music sometimes its good to go with out and just take in the sights and sounds of you and your fellow runners. This was a much smaller race than my first one and I definitely enjoyed that part of it more it was also a nice easy course and even though I felt slow the whole time as I came down to the finish line I was shocked to see the time on the clock not only was I going to be faster than my first I crushed my PR... official time 29:20.  So now I could officially see the results and I wanted more but with all the ups there are bound to be some downs and that's where we head next....

The Journey Thus Far...Part 1

Roughly 6 months ago my journey began. It started just after my 33rd Birthday and I cant point to something specific that made me want to start it, there were a few reasons, I NEEDED to be more healthy, I saw other people around me making significant changes in their lives and I thought hey why cant I do the same? So then came the what, how was I going to make this happen, I settled on running mostly because I saw two of my closest friends do it and hey if those guys can do it surely I can too. (I mean that in the nicest possiable way James and Ryan 8) ) So then I needed A method I had heard of a few different options out there but I settled on the Couch to 5K app from Active.com.

And thus it began, Now you are probably saying to yourself why didn't you start this blog then and ill be totaly honest, I wasnt sure I could stick with it even during my training mostly early on in the program where I wasnt sure I could make it, but if I have learned one thing about running its that its almost ALL mental, Your head will want to quit long before your body ever does. But I kept at it...

I will try to sum up my time with the Couch to 5K program as best as I can, I found the app to be the perfect intro into running there was never a time where I felt it pushed me more than I could give it. It lets you dictate how fast you want to go and just gives you intervals for when to walk and when to run. Early on you do much more walking than you do running, but slowly but surely the running over takes the walking and then the walking disappears. There was only ever 1 or 2 times where I couldnt finish a work out and that was do more to outside influences than anything else.

Before my first 5k

So after 9 weeks it was time to test myself and run my first 5k Race. Early on I had already signed up for the race so I had a target and a reason not to chicken out as well. I chose the Run For Wounded Heroes 5k in Kennesaw, GA because I loved the cause that it benefited (The Wounded Warrior Project). So the day came and I can say I was a little nervous but not alot, I knew I could run the distance, I never reached the full 5k in training but I knew I had enough stamina that I could do it as long as I kept my pace normal and not let the race crowd affect me, and that brings me to my first advice for anyone that decides to take this journey themselves, For your first race try to find a smaller local 5k, The one I chose had a very large crowd and I sort of felt lost in the crowd and had no idea where I should line up to start and actually got caught behind a lot of slower traffic at the begining but that was only a small issue. So I lined up the gun sounded and off I went and even though I was running by myself (no friends or anything with me) it still felt amazing and if I hadnt been hooked already this did it. As the the race ticked by I found myself both getting passed by others and passing people myself but I found none of that mattered I was out here for one reason really To prove to ME that I could do it. Ive heard it said before and I truely believe that the biggest competition for any runner is themselves. So as the race progressed I just zoned in and enjoyed the feeling of it all, having strangers cheer for you as you run by, knowing that you set a goal and you are about to complete it. And as I came into that last stretch I think I ran faster than I ever had before and then boom I crossed my first offcial finish line and did it in 31:28, well under my 35 minute goal. So now I was hooked I no longer had to convince myself to run (well sometimes I still did but for different reasons) now it was time to find my next race and set my next goal....

Crossing my first finish line

Post Race and offcially Hooked on Running

So as to not make this first post annoyingly long I will stop here for now, but stay tuned as the fun has only just begun...