Posts Tagged: Runner’s World Half Marathon
Join the Runner’s World Half Marathon and Festival
A collection of bibs and medals from last year’s event
In just a few short weeks, I’ll be heading to the Runner’s World Festival once again. With so many things going on in my life, and my desire to focus on the Richmond Half, I’ve opted to skip out on the half marathon this year and instead do another crazy aspect of the weekend — the Five and Dime.
The Five and Dime is the 5K and 10K, back-to-back, on the Saturday before the half marathon. I don’t know how to really prepare, or how I’ll approach either race, or if I’ll just do it for pure fun, but I’m certainly looking forward to this opportunity for a unique race experience.
I’d love to have you join in. My #RunChat partner Scott will also be there that weekend.
You can register now with a 10% discount code for either the half marathon or the Hat Trick, which consists of the 5K, 10K and the half.
Enter the follow codes when registering:
10% off Half: runningbecauseRWHalf
10% off Hat Trick: runningbecauseRWHat
Race dates are Oct. 19 and 20.
For more information about the Runner’s World Half Marathon and Festival, visit their website.
Running because SHE can
I won’t give you a long drawn out intro to this post — I asked my wife Christina to write about her Runner’s World Festival experience where she ran her first 5k. Without delay, here you go:
Christina and Bart Yasso before the 5k
For eight years I have stood on the sidelines, cheering on my husband David in more races than I can count. I have gotten up before the sun and dressed in layers.
I have held signs, swung clappers and rung cow bells. I have seen the sheer exhaustion, and triumph, in every runner’s face.
I have watched anxiously for David’s face to appear among the crowd, and at one marathon even backtracked from the finish to see how I could help him after I got a text that he was going to start walking.
This year, after eight years of being a spectator, I decided to take on the challenge of a 5k.
I’ve always hated running. Gym was always my least favorite class in school. Exercise was never discussed in our household growing up.
It’s not that as kids my brothers and I weren’t active, we just didn’t make it a point to “exercise.” I’ve never had a problem with my weight, either, so physical activity never appealed to me.
David brought some exercise into my life. I joined him when he lifted weights (thinking I could tone my arms in time to wear a strapless gown at our wedding), and we did a lot of walking in our neighborhood and hiking in the mountains.
I actually ran a race in 2007, the July 4th Academy Mile in Lynchburg, Va., but since I felt like I was going to die at the end I don’t really think it counts.
Our son waiting for mommy!
I still really didn’t start running until David signed me up (with my permission) for the Runner’s World 5k on Oct. 20.
I recorded my first run on July 24 and at the time was only using a stop watch.
Once I switched to using MapMyRun on my iPhone in mid-August and could see how far I was running, I was much more motivated and enjoyed trying to beat my previous runs.
Yes, I said “enjoyed.” It didn’t take long to actually look forward to going out at 7 a.m. for a run, whether it was to prepare for the 5k or just to have time to myself to get the day started.
The week before my race was the first time I did 3 miles. I ran/walked 3.02 miles in 36:11, and I was very pleased.
Nearing the 5k finish
I figured that with the momentum of the crowd at the race, I would have no problem with a 12-minute-mile pace.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I didn’t wear a watch or take my iPhone, so I had no idea how I was doing.
Plus, I found out after the race that the clock at mile 2 was off by quite a bit, so I was under the illusion that I was running a decent pace.
I finished in 40:01. Although I was disappointed, I keep reminding myself that I DID finish, and actually came in ahead of about 100 people.
I know I could have pushed myself more, but, as my chiropractor pointed out, I now have a PR – one that I have already decided I am going to beat.
After the race, our son said, "You still got a medal." And what could be better than that?
3 things Thursday
1. I can’t stop thinking about this past weekend’s Runner’s World Half. In addition to my race recap and day before recap, I wrote about it on the #RunChat blog.
There’s more to come, but not from me. My wife will be guest posting soon.
2. With a little more than 2 weeks to go until the Richmond Marathon, I don’t have any of those nagging mental questions.
No fretting or worrying about my training. There’s no need to second-guess anything I’ve done.
Come race day, I know that I’ve done all I can do and I feel like that will carry me to a time of 3:45 or better. I think the biggest variable is the weather, and there’s nothing I can do about that.
3. I see a lot of people talking about 2013 and signing up for races left and right. In a big change for me, I’m not thinking too far ahead.
At noon on Nov. 10 I want a Coke and cookies to celebrate. Then I’m going to drink some Magic Hat. And then I’m taking some time off from running.
Dress rehearsal success
A collection of medals and bib from the whole family.
There are so many things about the Runner’s World Festival weekend that were just simply amazing. It was truly a weekend to celebrate running and runners of all levels.
With so many other things going on this weekend with my wife and son running, as well as the first-ever #RunChat meet-up, running a half marathon today became a small part of why I made this trip to Bethlehem, Pa.
Scott and I discussed how we’d approach this and probably never really came up with a plan other than go out somewhat easy and see how we feel. For me, my ultimate goal was to finish at a marathon goal pace.
For the Richmond Marathon I want to do between 3:40 and 3:45, so that meant I was aiming for 1:50-1:52:30 today.
The results …
In a word, I nailed it. I couldn’t be more pleased with how it all transpired.
Scott and I had a nice conversation going on for about 6 miles in a 8:30-8:40 pace through what was essentially mostly uphill. Around mid-way the conversation drifted off and we just got into our own separate zones.
Around mile 10 I picked it up and rolled off a strong final 5k with my miles right around 8 minutes each.
I screwed up early by accidentally stopping my Garmin, so I’m not sure how much of a negative split I rolled off, but it felt great to push it toward the end. So many of my races this year have been missing that.
I struggled in the 2nd half of the Blue Ridge Half, Cleveland and even the Virginia 10 Miler to some degree. My 5k in July had a weak finish as well.
Today, though, I set out with everything I intended to do and I can’t wait to see what that means for Richmond in 3 weeks.
Scott and I after the race - the medal-biting is for everyone!
Path to my backyard marathon takes me to Pennsylvania
This Sunday will mark my 16th half marathon and the 5th this year. Of those half marathons, only a few have actually been “A” races, meaning I’ve set a lofty goal and left it all on the course. All others have generally been training races.
The Runner’s World Half Marathon will once again act as a training race. With less than 4 weeks to go to the Richmond Marathon, the timing for a true dress rehearsal has never been more perfect.
Had I not chosen this race, I’d probably be doing a second 20 miler. Instead, I’m focused on my marathon pace with my main goal for the Runner’s World Half to be around 1:50. If I’m a minute or two slower or faster, that’s fine with me too.
More importantly than my goals for this weekend, I’m really looking forward to meeting my #RunChat partner Scott and many others who join #RunChat twice a month. These few days are full of opportunities to learn from others, get inspired to do greater things with running and just have fun.
To essentially close off marathon training with a weekend like this is a rare treat. It’s kind of a tone-setter for getting through my taper healthy, well rested and focused on my sub 3:45 goal.
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