Four weeks out from race day and I am not where I want to be in training because of this pesky sprained ankle that won't go away .... BUT it's a lovely season for races, and I found a great trail half-marathon last weekend! Trails seem to make the ankle happier. And I need mileage. And I run faster when there are other people around. So I trekked to Maine for a foliage-friendly race that was great because it was also quite small (about 170 people total) and marked quite a few landmarks!
1) Longest distance run since the knee fiasco last December
2) Longest distance wearing the shoes that will be completing the Ice Marathon (which I don't wear regularly because I prefer minimalist ... but in Antarctica, I also prefer to not get frostbite)
3) First time winning my age group! Huzzah trophy pint glass!
4) New half marathon PR!
It took about three miles for my ankle to loosen up so I could settle into a stride, and then I think I went through a bit of a runner's high adrenaline rush for a few miles. I just went with it because it felt good. And I did crash a bit later in the race, but by then I could count the remainder in familiar distances such as 5k, which mentally makes it easy to push the sore, tired muscles to keep going. Even better, my ankle felt okay the next day! Although my left hip was not happy at all, most likely because I was running slightly weird and compensating, but that was recovered after two days and I've run twice this week and no further issues. So at least I know I'll be able to make it through half of the marathon? Not reassuring, but better than where I was before the race. :) And at least I am confident that I'll be able to get in at least one 18 or 20 mile run before I go. Less than a month, yikes yikes yikes!
Ice Marathon Factoids
This will be the ninth running of the Antarctic Ice Marathon. Two women competed in the inaugural race. One U.S. woman competed in the second. No women in the third. Three women (one from the U.S.) in the fourth. Three women in the fifth. Four women (two U.S. citizens) ran in the sixth. Nine women in the seventh race, including one U.S. and one Canadian. The eighth and most recent race had the largest field with 12 female competitors (4 U.S.). Go girls of the ninth!!
1) Longest distance run since the knee fiasco last December
2) Longest distance wearing the shoes that will be completing the Ice Marathon (which I don't wear regularly because I prefer minimalist ... but in Antarctica, I also prefer to not get frostbite)
3) First time winning my age group! Huzzah trophy pint glass!
4) New half marathon PR!
It took about three miles for my ankle to loosen up so I could settle into a stride, and then I think I went through a bit of a runner's high adrenaline rush for a few miles. I just went with it because it felt good. And I did crash a bit later in the race, but by then I could count the remainder in familiar distances such as 5k, which mentally makes it easy to push the sore, tired muscles to keep going. Even better, my ankle felt okay the next day! Although my left hip was not happy at all, most likely because I was running slightly weird and compensating, but that was recovered after two days and I've run twice this week and no further issues. So at least I know I'll be able to make it through half of the marathon? Not reassuring, but better than where I was before the race. :) And at least I am confident that I'll be able to get in at least one 18 or 20 mile run before I go. Less than a month, yikes yikes yikes!
Ice Marathon Factoids
This will be the ninth running of the Antarctic Ice Marathon. Two women competed in the inaugural race. One U.S. woman competed in the second. No women in the third. Three women (one from the U.S.) in the fourth. Three women in the fifth. Four women (two U.S. citizens) ran in the sixth. Nine women in the seventh race, including one U.S. and one Canadian. The eighth and most recent race had the largest field with 12 female competitors (4 U.S.). Go girls of the ninth!!
