Shamrock Half: The Day I Channeled Forrest Gump and Set a PR

All dressed up and ready to run

At 6:15 in the morning on March 16, Virginia Beach was freezing. I was standing at the starting line of the Shamrock Half thinking to myself, "Why did I sign up for this? I don't want to be here. I hate the cold. This is never going to end," and so forth and so on.

At 7, the corrals started running. I was in 8, so I was standing there literally shivering for a good 15 minutes before we made it to the start gate. I was still having a pity party and freezing when they started the countdown.

"5...4...3...2...1!" I started running. And I didn't stop for the next 13.1 miles.

I always have to take walk breaks. Of course, that's in Lynchburg where you can't go more than half a mile without encountering some form of incline. I ran the first mile in a little over 10 minutes. I looked at my watch and thought, "There's no way I can keep this up for 12 more. I'm going to have to walk sometime."

Half and Dolphin Challenge medals

Mile 2 brought gloves for my freezing hands. Whoever tossed away a thick blue pair of mittens, thank you. I threw them back later so they'll make it to charity.

Mile 3 made me start to think, "Okay legs, you holding out down there? Cause the lungs are fine, this flat ground is nice and easy.

At mile 4 there was water and a party of cheering spectators. I couldn't stop with all of them watching.

Then I hit mile 5, still running, still at about an 11 minute pace. "I could do this. I don't know how, but I can do this."

(I will say I did walk the length of every water stop. Otherwise I would have gotten all the water down my shirt and none in my mouth.)

At mile 6, we went into some woods, but still on the road. There were signs with corny jokes on them that I thought were hilarious. What's purple and green and next to Ireland? Grape Britain! (Okay, that's not so funny now. It was much funnier after an hour of running.)

One excited face

At the GU stop, I grabbed one from the kid passing them out. I ate it. I kept running.

Mile 7 had a Saint Bernard with a sign that said "I like Runnners. You taste salty." He was my favorite spectator. I still kept running.

I lost feeling in my right hand at mile 8. It wouldn't move. I don't know if it was my arm band, or the cold, or both. I switched the arm band to my left arm and passed the next mile trying to get my fingers to move normally.

Mile 9 had Oreos, and I will forever swear that the Oreo the man gave me was magical. I love Oreos, but that one was the best Oreo I have ever had in my life.

Feeling like Michael Phelps

Mile 10 I was feeling beat. I remembered the magic Oreo, touched a sign that promised to give me super powers, and vowed to run the last 3.

Mile 11 was where it really got hard. I passed the 11 mile marker right as my watch hit 2 hours and knew I was going to PR if I kept it up. I stopped for a quick stretch to loosen up my quads. And I kept running.

Close up of the medals

Mile 12 was emotional. During training, I wanted a PR so badly, but I had very little luck training. In my mind, I wasn't getting faster, I was getting worse. Some runs had ended in tears. The tears that threatened to come this time were tears of pride. I could never have imagined running 12 straight miles a year ago. I didn't even dare to dream of getting a PR until last night after running the 8K. The emotions powered me through the last mile.

Mile 13 was a mile of cheers. People were lined up elbow to elbow cheering both for people they know and the ones they didn't. They were reading our bibs and every time someone chanted, "Come on Leah, you're almost there!" I got more and more excited. I saw the finish line and the statue of King Neptune. And I ran.

The last .1 brought celebration. My watch time was 2:23 (the official time was slightly longer. I'm believing my watch since I started it at the exact second I crossed the start). My first half was run in 2:43. I had PR'ed by 20 minutes.

I was handed my finisher medals and savored the moment. I don't know when I turned in to Forrest Gump, or how such a miserable morning turned in to such a great race, but it did.

Shamrock, I may never do you again, but thank you for the amazing experience.

Race Recap: Shamrock 8K

I look a little too excited.

Today was day 1 of the Dolphin Challenge, and I couldn't have asked for a better race!

I woke up at the crack of dawn to try to beat traffic. I didn't really work, because there seems to be traffic 24/7 here, but it helped a little bit.

I got to the starting line pretty early, and made it back to my starting corral, 10 (which was 2 blocks back). But first, I had to snap a selfie with the start gate.

The race didn't start for about 30 minutes  but it gave me plenty of time to people watch. People came in all kinds of green clothes: tutus, kilts, leggings, hats, and I even saw a few green beards!

The race was sold out at over 10,000 participants, and the corrals filled up quickly.  The race started at 7:45, but those of us in Corral 10 didn't even see the Start gate until closer to 8. When they let us go, we took off and the magic started.

It is completely flat around here. Completely flat. I ran the entire 5 miles and it was easy. I'm the kind of person who has to walk up hills and after a few miles. Not today! I have never felt so comfortable in a run, it was almost like I wasn't even trying. I worked up a sweat because it was warm (so warm I even took my jacket off) but it wasn't taxing. According to my results, I finished with a chip time of 55:35 with an 11:11 pace. I am so proud of myself! (My gun time was 1:13:26 but that doesn't even count because I didn't start until almost 20 minutes after the gun)

If I can keep that pace tomorrow, there's no doubt that I will beat my goal time!

Also, I placed pretty well. I came in around the middle of the whole race, and pretty far up among the women runners.

The finish line was a different experience from ones I have seen at past races. They gave you everything in the finish chute- medal, water bottle, snacks, and even had photographers taking pictures in front of backdrops. The area went on for what felt like forever before I could get out, but it was nice to have everything in one place.

Some final thoughts on the race-

Course: Overall, the course was pretty boring. We ran down one street full of buildings, then down the Boardwalk with a view of the ocean (which was less boring), then back down some more streets with buildings, finishing with a view of the beach. I did like how flat the course was!

Medals: These medals are absolutely gorgeous! They are big (about the size of my palm, which is larger than I was expecting for the 8K), shiny, and heavy. The top has a bottle opener, and the ribbon is printed with the date. Completely worth it!

Atmosphere: What the race lacks in exiting course, it makes up for in atmosphere. Everyone was so excited, from announcers to spectators to participants. The fact that it is St. Patrick's themed makes it even more fun because there are some crazy costumes!

Spectators: There were so many people lined up wearing green to cheer us on! Our bibs had our names printed on them and some of them even took the time to cheer on as many people by name as they could.

Overall, this race was great. Maybe I'm just feeling really good after my post-race nap, but I feel confident that tomorrow will be even better!

Official Finisher's Certificate

Shamrock Weekend: Expo Day

We are here! After a long day of driving and traffic we have made it to the hotel in Virginia Beach. I have picked up my shirts and bibs and am relaxing watching Gossip Girl.

Aren't they pretty?

I was really impressed with how the Packet Pickup went. The numbers were divided up so that each stand only covered only a few numbers so there were only 3 people in front of me in the 8K and half lines. The shirts were at separate tables, and there was no rate for those. The shirts are really awesome. The 8K is a cotton long sleeve, and the Half is a tech shirt. I had forgotten that they came in XS when I registered, so I was so happy to have a shirt that doesn't swallow me!

I wandered around the Expo for about an hour. I didn't think to take any pictures (shame on me). I saw the medals at a framing table. The Half medal is HUGE, along with the Dolphin Challenge. I can't wait to get them!

I bought 2 Bondi Bands (because they are my absolute favorite and the best place to get them is at a race expo). I also got to sample some fun things like Waffle Crisp at the Post Cereal truck, and Nuun Hydration. The Nuun was delicious, and I almost bought some, but I really don't want to get into the whole flavored water thing. I'm happy with my plain, boring water.

I also entered to win a free race entry for several races I have been looking at, and I made my final decision to do Flying Pirate next Spring. There was a ton of great merchandise I wanted to buy, but I kept my wallet shut. Planning a wedding trumps over any running gear I think I need right now.

For the city of Virginia Beach itself, I have to say I'm not the biggest fan. Everything is kind of right on top of each other, and its a little grungy. However, I may be a little biased since my heart belongs in the Outer Banks.

Even if the city has failed to impress me, I'm still SUPER excited for the 8K tomorrow! The forecast is nice (better than it has looked all week, actually) and the race seems super organized and energetic. Stay tuned, because I'll be sure to report back with my experience tomorrow!

Spring Break Road to Shamrock

The big week is here! This weekend is the Dolphin Challenge and I'm both excited and nervous!

The last couple of weeks I have been feeling off. I would come back from a run more frustrated than when I left, and one run even ended in a hormonal rage of tears (that was not my most proud moment). However, that has changed this week.

Since it is Spring Break and I don't have class, I have been able to get up and go run in the morning. Of course Daylight Savings and warmer weather have helped with that, too.

Yesterday, I had the best run in probably the last month. I only went 3 miles, since I'm trying not to overdo it this week, but I set a new PR for my fastest mile. I seriously had a runner's high all day after that! It was just the confidence boost I needed to know I'll be okay this weekend.

Yesterday left my calves really sore, but I'm okay with that. I did another 4 today with a little more walking than I would have liked due to the sore calves. 

I also started packing for Shamrock. I basically pulled everything green out of my running wardrobe (and my Monsters Inc tank) and threw it in a bag to take.

I do have 2 days of green to prepare for! 

I'm excited for Shamrock for a lot of reasons. One of them is the elevation profile. Here in Lynchburg most of our races have an elevation profile like this:

Virginia Ten Miler Elevation Profile

However, Virginia Beach has races like this:

Shamrock 8K Elevation Profile

I'm not even sure I'm going to know how to handle that! One thing is for sure, I should be able to run more than I would if it was here!

I'm getting really excited and can't wait to blog about my experience this weekend!

Shamrock Hype

Shamrock Half weekend is approaching quickly, where I'm taking part in the Dolphin Challenge: 8K on Saturday and Half Marathon on Sunday.

It may sound a little crazy, but who wouldn't do it for these beauties?

And of course there are shirts...

Shirts for the Half and Full. No word on what the 8K shirts look like.

And where most races give you a hat at the finishing line with your medals, Shamrock gives you A BEACH TOWEL!

I have my green outfit all picked out, and in 2 weeks I'll be at packet pickup! I have one more long run planned for today or tomorrow (depending on how I feel after class. We had a rough trail run yesterday. And the weather, tomorrow is supposed to be much nicer).  Things are getting real!