Well, I bought a bike. The reason? IronMan.
I've been thinking about getting into triathlons for quite some time now and I finally took the plunge. I bought a bike and I intend on doing a sprint tri and an olympic tri this year. Next year I am going to do a half IronMan and attempt to qualify for the IronMan World Championship in Kona Hawaii. In order for me to qualify I need to place first in my age group in any IronMan event of either 70.3 distance or full distance. Since not too many people my age are attempting these distances, I have a pretty decent chance.
Why would I want to do this? The answer is simple: Because marathons aren't crazy enough.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Book
As crazy as it may sound, I've decided that I want to write a book about running. The direction I'm thinking is a training guide for college students. There are several running books out there geared towards the elite, Boston qualifiers and middle aged runners, but not so many aimed at the younger population. Since I ran my first half marathon at 18 and full at 19, I think I would be able to help train and motivate other college students to tackle 26.2.
Possible title...
Midterms and Marathons: The long distance training guide for college students.
Wish me luck.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Do's and Do Not's of Racing
Over the past two years I have run quite a few races and at each of these races I see a lot of first timers making MANY mistakes. So I have compiled a list of racing do's and do not's.
1.) If you run at an 11-minute pace, don't start up with the 7-minute milers. Everyone will hate you for being in the way and you will just feel bad about yourself for not being able to keep up.
2.) If you run at a 7-minute pace don't start with the 12's and then wonder why everyone is "in your way"
3.) At the start line, if you are in the right pace group BE PATIENT. Don't try to push your way up. Everyone will cross the start line eventually.
4.) BRING TOILET PAPER. I cannot express the importance of this one enough. At a race with 40,000 runners toilet paper can be a scarce resource in port-o-potties, bring your own and avoid some very unpleasant experiences later.
5.) Along with the port-o-potty theme. Hand sanitizer. Enough said.
6.) Hydrate. Just because you feel great now doesn't mean you will feel great later. If you wait until you are thirsty to drink some water, it's too late.
7.) If you are running with friends, please try to be aware of other runners. If you have 4 people in your group all running next to each other, it is extremely difficult for other runners to conveniently get around you.
8.) Just because you are cold while waiting for the race to start does not mean that you will be cold while running.
9.) Please do not just stop in the middle of the road to stretch, tie your shoe, blow your nose, whatever...someone will run into you, and it will hurt.
10.) Last but not least, have fun! It's your first race, you shouldn't be obsessed with finishing time or beating your friends. You should just focus on finishing and enjoying yourself.
1.) If you run at an 11-minute pace, don't start up with the 7-minute milers. Everyone will hate you for being in the way and you will just feel bad about yourself for not being able to keep up.
2.) If you run at a 7-minute pace don't start with the 12's and then wonder why everyone is "in your way"
3.) At the start line, if you are in the right pace group BE PATIENT. Don't try to push your way up. Everyone will cross the start line eventually.
4.) BRING TOILET PAPER. I cannot express the importance of this one enough. At a race with 40,000 runners toilet paper can be a scarce resource in port-o-potties, bring your own and avoid some very unpleasant experiences later.
5.) Along with the port-o-potty theme. Hand sanitizer. Enough said.
6.) Hydrate. Just because you feel great now doesn't mean you will feel great later. If you wait until you are thirsty to drink some water, it's too late.
7.) If you are running with friends, please try to be aware of other runners. If you have 4 people in your group all running next to each other, it is extremely difficult for other runners to conveniently get around you.
8.) Just because you are cold while waiting for the race to start does not mean that you will be cold while running.
9.) Please do not just stop in the middle of the road to stretch, tie your shoe, blow your nose, whatever...someone will run into you, and it will hurt.
10.) Last but not least, have fun! It's your first race, you shouldn't be obsessed with finishing time or beating your friends. You should just focus on finishing and enjoying yourself.
Hot Chocolate 15K
This past Saturday was the Hot Chocolate 5/15K in Grant Park. I ran the 15K in 1:31:30 which I am very happy about.
I must say, this race is the ideal post-marathon race for many reasons.
1.) It's a race.
2.) The race is long enough so that you don't let yourself completely stop running after the marathon.
3.) The race is short enough so you don't feel pressured to "train" for it. Just a few runs to keep yourself moving is all that is needed.
4.) A chance for redemption. If you happen to not have a super fantastic marathon. This race will help you sort of redeem yourself.
Overall, this was a really great race and I highly recommend it =)
www.hotchocolate15k.com
I must say, this race is the ideal post-marathon race for many reasons.
1.) It's a race.
2.) The race is long enough so that you don't let yourself completely stop running after the marathon.
3.) The race is short enough so you don't feel pressured to "train" for it. Just a few runs to keep yourself moving is all that is needed.
4.) A chance for redemption. If you happen to not have a super fantastic marathon. This race will help you sort of redeem yourself.
Overall, this was a really great race and I highly recommend it =)
www.hotchocolate15k.com
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Chicago Marathon 10-10-10
This past weekend I finished marathon #2 =) Last year I ran with my dad, but this year I ran it with my mom.My goal for this year was to sneak under 4:30, but about 2 miles into it I knew that because of the heat tha
t just wasn't going to happen. So I decided to back off the pace and just enjoy the race with my mom.
It was yet another amazing race and I can't wait to run another. I signed up for the Hot Chocolate 15K on November 6th and my dad and I are going to try and do another marathon sometime in December or January. I just need to decide if I still want to hammer out the fulls or if I want to work on my speed with the half. I guess we will just have to
see =)
Monday, August 2, 2010
Rock 'n Roll Chicago
This past Sunday I ran the Rock 'n Roll Chicago Half Marathon and had a blast! I ran most of it with Kelly (one of my running buddies). We were on track to break 2:10 up until about mile 9 when I had to slow down a smidge. I ended up finishing in 2:12:27 which is yet another PR for me =)
Before the race I was worried about if I would be able to set a new PR or not when Kelly's husband Steve said "Elisa, nowadays you set a PR going from your bed to the kitchen." Which is true! I feel like every training run and every race I am getting faster and faster. It's an amazing feeling, definitely makes my goal of Boston-by-25 look more and more realistic!
Also, at the expo, I got to meet Kara Goucher! I got a picture with her and she signed my bib =)
Before the race I was worried about if I would be able to set a new PR or not when Kelly's husband Steve said "Elisa, nowadays you set a PR going from your bed to the kitchen." Which is true! I feel like every training run and every race I am getting faster and faster. It's an amazing feeling, definitely makes my goal of Boston-by-25 look more and more realistic!
Also, at the expo, I got to meet Kara Goucher! I got a picture with her and she signed my bib =)
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Chi-2010 Training
Well, I have officially started my training for the Chicago Marathon. This year I am shooting for 4:30:00 (maybe faster...we'll see) which would knock about a half hour off of last years time.
What I decided to do is combine a few of Hal Higdon's training programs into one that I think will work pretty well for me. I'm taking the long runs from the intermediate program, the speed workouts from the advanced and the number of times running per week from the novice. I am also going to do core workout/upper body strength 2-3 times a week. So hopefully this custom program will help me reach my goal =)
It's amazing how addicted I have become to running. I used to hate it with a passion and now I just wish I was fast enough to hang with the elite crowd =P It's funny how that happens...you start running just to prove that you can do it. You don't care how slow or how fast you cross that finish line, just that you do. Then you start to think "Well I can go faster than that." and then it becomes a competition with yourself. You train harder, faster and you run more miles per week just to feed your addiction. It's pretty incredible.
What I decided to do is combine a few of Hal Higdon's training programs into one that I think will work pretty well for me. I'm taking the long runs from the intermediate program, the speed workouts from the advanced and the number of times running per week from the novice. I am also going to do core workout/upper body strength 2-3 times a week. So hopefully this custom program will help me reach my goal =)
It's amazing how addicted I have become to running. I used to hate it with a passion and now I just wish I was fast enough to hang with the elite crowd =P It's funny how that happens...you start running just to prove that you can do it. You don't care how slow or how fast you cross that finish line, just that you do. Then you start to think "Well I can go faster than that." and then it becomes a competition with yourself. You train harder, faster and you run more miles per week just to feed your addiction. It's pretty incredible.
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