My Big Race-The York 10 Miler

Well I did it! I completed my first big race...The York 10 Miler. Boy was it an experience. I was very nervous the morning of the race. I made sure to lay out all of my clothes the night before since my alarm was set for 5:15AM.

My friend Amy and I arrived at the bus pickup bright and early. My cheering squad (More Grandma, Fran and Hailey) would arrive later but just in time to see me run across the finish line. The time went very fast as we waited to hear "on your mark, get set, GO." A few bathroom runs were needed as the anticipation of running 10 miles built up. I definitely wanted to make sure I wouldn't need to stop along the way.

I was very itimidated by the big hill that I was expected to run up right at the very start.


I know it doesn't look that big from the picture but it was a decent hill. It was also very humid out that morning so I was sweating right from the very beginning. The rail trail was surprisingly all gravel which was unexpected. I began the race feeling pretty darn good and running with several groups of people around me. By mile 5 I was starting to slow down. I knew by mile 6 I wasn't going to make my goal time and once I told myself that, I gave myself permission to just slow down and just enjoy the experience. Amy and I were always in close proximity to each other. It was so nice to have someone close by to check on you and just keep you going.

By mile 8, I felt some blisters forming on my feet probably from running on the uneven and gravel terrain. They weren't too bad but definitely uncomfortable since I never had trouble with blisters before. People all along the rail trail gave you words of encouragement and helped me keep going. A few times, I wanted to sit and take a rest. But I kept on going. Knowing that a hurricane was approaching our area and that I had a 5 hour drive home, helped me move along mile after mile.

As I got closer to the finish line several people were telling me I was almost there. Thank goodness. As I came across the finish line, I saw my cheering squad and was happy to know that I had done it. Although I didn't get the goal time I was hoping for (I was 14 minute behind my goal time), I still cried a few tears of joy. I completed the race in 2:24:03.

There is my name (Kelly Pluchino) on the official scoreboard. There's my proof. So now I am taking a few days off to prepare myself for my next race....maybe a 1/2 marathon on October 2...alot earlier than I expected to run one but maybe, just maybe, I will do it.

And the Grand Finale...Chris and Hailey got me a cake that had my bib number on it (110) and my race time (2:24:03)

Almost There....

The last week I have spent really psyching myself up for the big 10 mile race I am doing this Saturday. Running is not only a physical sport but also a mental one. You tend to play a lot of mind games with yourself and sometimes the mind does win. I realized during my last one that many times my legs can keep moving but sometimes my mind says to stop. I am hoping that during Saturday's race I am focused and not distracted. I have been preparing a long time for this day.

I hate the anticipation about the race. I know I will feel intimidated by many but have to remember that I have come very far in the last 5 months. I never thought I would be a 37 year old mom of two running a 10 mile race.

I have cut back on my mileage this past week. I have been running every other day but no more than 3.5 miles. Tomorrow will be my last run day before the big day. The race is early in the morning which I am happy about since I am a morning person.

I am a little nervous about getting dehydrated so I am going to water down some Gatorade Performance drink in my water bottle and drink that throughout the race. I also packed 10 skittles and will eat one after every completed mile. I have Luna protein bars packed to eat after the race. It will be a long day no doubt. Running 10 miles then driving 5 hours home to be get home before Hurricane Irene brings some nasty weather our way. I am looking forward to finishing the race, getting home safely and laying on the couch knowing I just achieved another goal.

Wish me luck....my next post will be after the race.

Wow....long run and only 12 more days!

Today I did my long run but let me back up first since it has been a few days since my last post. I have really been trying not to overdo it or overtrain the last few days before my big race. It is so hard to do because my mind keeps telling me that the more I run or more training I do, the better I will be for race day. I know just the opposite is true. Too much, too fast, too soon leads to injury. I do feel a lot of nerves building up though at the thought that in just 12 days I am going to be running a 10 mile race.

I tried a Turbo Fire 30 minute high intensity interval training dvd on Friday to count as my cross training workout. It was a fun, energizing workout but you have to do a few times before you really get the choreography down pat. My knees were hurting with the squats so I didn't push it too much. My knees have been giving me a problem ever since I started running my fast runs and I think when I slowed down, I overextended my left knee. Anyway, it was a great workout. On Saturday, I didn't get a chance to run until 7 at night. As I have said before, I am definitely not a night workout person. Early in the morning is best for me. But it was the only chance I was going to get so I took it. It is funny how just a few months earlier, I was training for a 5K which is 3.1 miles. Now my easy run days are no less than a 5K. I never do a run that is less than 3.1 miles. At one time, a 5K seemed big to me now it is just a typical run. I am glad to see the improvement.

Today was my long run day. My goal was to run 95 minutes---1 hour and 35 minutes. I was hoping to do at least 7 miles. The longest distance I have ever run before was 6 miles so today was another mile. It was definitely a challenge and a few times I wanted to give up especially when I looked at the time and I had at least 70 minutes left! My plan was to start out easy, pick up the pace then pick up the pace even more. So that is what I did. I ended up running 7.5 miles in 95 minutes. Not too bad since I hit the 6 mile mark at 76 minutes which was 4 minutes better than my last long run. I would still like to run faster minute miles but I have to remind myself that I am still doing well and achieving a goal. 10 miles is no easy task to complete. I will do it just not in the time I will hope for.

I am already feeling the burn and may need some ice later one. 12 more days then ready, set, GO!

Only 16 more days!!!

Only 16 more days until my big race. I had to take the last 3 days off because I hurt my knee last week and I wanted to give it time to hopefully heal before it got any worse. I read a great book called "Marathoning For Mortals" and it really taught me a lot. It was a huge eye opener. I actually felt like the book was written for me. It talks about how you think that more running will make you faster and better. Not true. Proper training and not overtraining is the key. That is why I rested. The books says that at the sign of any possible injury, rest for 3 full days and you will come back stronger than before. So today I did an easy run and felt pretty good. I had some pain when I slowed down my running but it wasn't terrible.

I am getting nervous about my upcoming race. I realized that I really need to start planning out what I will need such as some sort of electrolyte replenishment for my water bottle to keep my sodium levels in a good range. Because it will be hot, it is important to drink more than water. If you deplete your sodium level during a big race, the after affects could be dangerous. I also tried some GU gels which are kind of like a gooey substance that comes in little packets that you can suck out while you run to also replenish your body with vital nutrients. It was ok but I would buy them in bulk.

I have also been eating very small meals ever 2-3 hours. I usually have egg whites, a protein bar, Greek yogurt and then a small dinner with a salad during a typical day. Although I try to eat healthy, going for long periods of time without food is actually just as bad as overeating. Because my days are so busy sometimes I don't get to eat until the afternoon or sometimes I will just grab something quick. I have been working very hard at changing that and making sure I eat small meals throughtout the day to keep my metabolism and energy going.

I am glad that I have been given another day to be up and running. One day closer to the big race....

Extra Run

Yesterday I wasn't so sure I would get a run in but I had about an hour between picking Hailey up from her art camp and Chris leaving for work. I set my HIIT timer (interval training) to do 2 min run/1 min walk. During my first walk interval, my knee kind of gave out and then I realized that I better slow down so I do not injure myself before my big race later this month. It kind of is like a catch 22. You have to run and train but with doing that comes the risk of injuring yourself. I never run less than 3 miles and have gone as far a 6. I would like to do 7 next week, then 8, then 9 then my big race of 10 miles. I just know that I am getting closer and closer and I cannot lose a day of training to injury or simply just wanting to take an extra day of rest.

I would like to do some cross training today by doing a Turbo Fire dvd. That is my goal for today at some point. In any case, just being active every day is what is important.

Easy Run Day

I usually try to run every other day to prevent overtraining and injury since I am only 25 days away from a very big race. However, I have run for the past three days for a total of 12 miles. The week ahead looks a bit hectic and crazy for me so I wanted to get my runs in when I knew I could. The next few days I am hoping to start a new workout dvd set called Turbo Fire. It is high intensity interval training workouts as well as fat burning workouts. It is similar to Insanity which I was doing a few months ago.

Today I did my easy run. It wasn't as easy as I thought simply because I had to do my run at 7:15 tonight. I am not a night excerciser. I prefer to definitely get my runs in in the morning. I was distracted thinking that there was laundry to get done, my cell was ringing, the kids needed a bath, etc, etc, etc. I hate distractions and not being focused. I tried to remind myself that everything will get done but it is important to stay focused. I kept trying to visualize race day and running along the route and finally the finish line. It worked for a little while.

I am not sure what is on the plan for tomorrow. I would like to get a run in but if not, I am open to trying out my new dvd set. I have to keep reminding myself that overtraining will only open me up to an injury. Definitely don't want that to happen.

The Countdown Is On

As you can see from my ticker above, only 26 more days until the big 10 mile race. I can't believer it is going to happen this month. It may sound like a lot of time but really it isn't. I am not a big fan of running in the heat so I have been running more on my treadmill. Yesterday I did a fast run and it was too fast for me. My plan was do run at a 6.5 speed (which is less than 11 min miles) for 1 minute and fast walk at a speed of 4.0. OMG! One minute at 6.5 was very challenging. My legs were moving so fast that I soon became afraid that I was going to trip myself. All I thought about was doing just that and hurting myself before the big race. I decided it was better to slow down than hurt myself. I ended up running a 5.5 speed and 4.0 fast walk. However, I slowed down at some point and my average minute per mile pace 15! Bummer. Not good for me.

So today I was out very early in the morning to do a long run before it became too unbearable outside. I did a 6 mile workout and I maintained 13:30 minute miles which was definitely better than yesterday. It took me 80 minutes to complete the 6 miles. I was very happy when I finished and am already planning out tomorrow's workout. I may try to do 4 miles tomorrow. I don't have a day to lose now with the race coming up soon. Depending how my legs feel tomorrow, I may do some cross training instead. I would eventually like to get down to 12:30 minute miles and maintain that pace. I honestly don't know how people run 7 minute miles. Geez. In any case, I am glad just to be up and running.