Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Race Recap: Wenatchee Marathon

I can’t believe I kept this race for a secret for as long as I did! I registered for it in March thinking that it would be a good training run since I already had 24 miles on my schedule for the day. Matt agreed that it was a good idea so I went for it. About two weeks ago when I was going through my whole mental breakdown I emailed the race director asking if I could downgrade to the half marathon. Then I met with Matt the Wednesday before the race and he told me it would be better for me to run the full AND not run the half. I told him I had already bugged the race director into letting me run the half and I felt bad for switching my race again. Matt said I should just try and ask him if I could run the full. What was the worse he could say? No? Wednesday night I emailed the poor race director again and thankfully he let me back into the marathon.

Ian: If you are reading this…THANK YOU!

The entire weekend was a complete whirlwind. I left Spokane at 4:15 pm and drove to Wenatchee. I arrived a little before 7 pm and easily located the conference center where the bib pick up was at. Ate a random, but yummy, dinner of sweet potato fries and coconut shrimp while waiting for Becky to arrive. I was really excited to get an opportunity to hang out with Becky since I had missed out #NuunKOTB in July.




After dinner we chatted as we got ready (made my Nuun Kona Cola and put on my Nuun tattoos) and then hit the lights good night. As I fell asleep I couldn’t believe that I would be running marathon #5 in the morning. YIKES!

Woke up around 6:45 on race morning and ate my stale Starbucks coffee cake while I got ready. We left the hotel about 7:30 and found front row parking by the starting line (love small races!). I think that Becky was concerned for my well being before the start because I didn’t seem excited to be running. I really was excited, I freaking love running, but I tend to shut down on race day and just be in the zone. Sorry to freak you out Becky! Even though it was just a training run, it was still a freaking marathon. 26.2 miles is a long time to be on your feet!

I LOVE Running!!!!!

I ran with my heart in Boston. Normally I would have worn my Brooks arm warmers, but I couldn't not wear my arm warmers I purchased in Boston. 

Love my Brooks Pure Flows

Becky and I before she started the half marathon

I was a little worried about how they were starting the race, but once it started it actually made sense. The half marathoners started at 8:00 am and the marathoners and 10K’ers started at 8:15. It REALLY messes with your head when you start a marathon with 10K’ers! I had my eyes glued to my garmin to make sure I wasn’t running too fast. I kept having to tell myself to slooooooow down. I could have raced, but that wasn't the point. This was only a training run and mostly I needed to know that mentally I could run 26.2.

The plan was to run the first half with an average pace of 8:30 and then slowly pick up the pace for miles 13-22. At mile 22 I could decide if I wanted to run/walk/jog/or crawl the next 4.2 miles.

The course started out with an out back that was 6.2 miles. Once we crossed the finish line we had two full loops of the marathon course to run. I have never run a marathon course that didn’t consist of a point to point race, but I actually liked the loops. I knew what I was getting myself into the second time around.

The course was BEAUTIFUL, I really enjoyed running it. My watch went on the fritz, but I at least know what my average pace was. I hit mile 22 and decided to walk & run the remaining 4.2 miles. There was no way I was going to walk the whole thing! I started to actually pass people so that got me excited! Becky was so sweet and ran the last mile with me. She was really encouraging- I hope that she didn’t think I was whining too much. My feet were hurting pretty bad. I ended up with multiple blisters.

As soon as I crossed the finish line I had to get ready to drive to Portland and make it in time to surprise my BFF at her “dirty 30” surprise birthday party. Portland is about a 5 hour drive from Wenatchee so I knew that I would be cutting it close. I quickly grabbed a rice krispie treat, threw on some warm clothes and then dropped Becky back off at the hotel and hit the road!



Becky and I after the race

Ended up 2nd in my AG, and 10th place female OA...not too shabby for a training run! 
Official time was 3:52:XX

Marathon #5 is a wrap AND I made it to my BFF's surprise party just in time to really surprise her!

I did a lot of driving over the weekend...close to 900 miles! Every mile was worth it.

What I loved about Wenatchee:
Beautiful course
Friendly volunteers
Course was well marked
Plenty of food at the finish line
Great atmosphere
You could do race day bib pick up if you were coming from out of town
Easy and accessible race day parking
Race photo downloads were included in your entry fee (Um, hello other race directors...did you read that?!)

My dislikes about Wenatchee:
They need to do a better job updating their website
I wished that they would mail the AG awards to the winners. Even if we paid for the shipping that would have been nice. I couldn't stay for the awards (didn't even know I had placed until that afternoon) because I had to be in Portland by 5pm.

As you can see my dislikes were minor. I absolutely loved this race and would run it again, but probably just the half marathon. The marathon course is certified so you if you train for the race it would be an excellent BQ course. The same organization puts on the the Leavenworth marathon and half marathon in October. Makes me very tempted to run that race too!


PS- THANK YOU BECKY for letting me stay with you!!!!!!!

--Tasha




36 comments:

  1. Not a bad training run at all! Congrats and sounds like sticking with the marathon distance was the right choice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great training run! I wish more race directors were as cool and responsive!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Liana. I felt like you using the marathon as a training run. :-)

      I thought that the race director was fabulous. I really appreciated him letting me switch not once, but twice. I felt so guilty emailing him back.

      Delete
  3. Wonderful training run & congrats on the AG placing! Those photos of you running are fabulous & worth framing :) I think it's a great idea to use a marathon as a training run- ill probably be doing something similar this fall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks chica!! Most of my race photos look awful, so I was surprised to have a few decent ones. I honestly felt like using Wenatchee as a training run was a really good decision. I don't think that it is the right decision for everyone though. You will have to let me know if you decide to use a marathon for a training run this fall.

      Delete
  4. I've always wondered about using marathons are training runs...what did you think?? I feel like mentally it would be a HUGE help. I'm also impressed that you were able to fuel with shrimp and sweet potato fries :) You're going to KILL IT at your "real" marathon! Also YES TO LEAVENWORTH! Nicole and I were talking about doing the half...you should too and we'll make it a weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For me it was good, but I don't think I would recommend it for everyone. The main reason why I did it was because I have been struggling with a lot of mental road block issues. I needed to know mentally that I could power through the distance. It was hard to not race it though!

      I wold be totally down for a girls weekend in Leavenworth! I have never been there before and I really want to check out the Icicle Brewing Co. :-)

      Delete
  5. So awesome that you snuck off and did this! Congrats on a marathon, even if it was a taking it easy marathon. Sounds like a great race, too.

    You are SO ready!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Amanda! It was hard to keep it a secret. I wasn't sure until that week after meeting with Matt that I would actually run it. That was part of the reason why I kept hush about it.

      Delete
  6. Nice training run Tasha! I'm getting excited for you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can't believe you ran a marathon as a training run, you are amazing!! Glad it went so well for you... and congrats on second place!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great job with your secret marathon! awesome job being smart taking walk breaks (even if limited) and kicking butt!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kat!!!!! It was really hard for me to not race. Especially at the end where I started to pass people with my walk/jog/wog.

      Delete
  9. You placed so awesome! Congrats on another marathon under the belt! Love all of the pictures :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nikki! I was shocked that I didn't look like death in ALL of my race photos for once.

      Delete
  10. Wow Tasha! To run/walk the last 4+ miles and still come in with that time is AWESOME. Congrats on a great "training run" that gave you great pics, too! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Beka! I was shocked that I placed, but it was a small race. Much smaller than my race will be in a couple of weeks. I have always been worried about running a marathon in a small (ish) race, but it was fun. The aid stations were even easier to access and I just carried Nuun with me. I was surprised I had some good race photos because I usually look like death.

      Delete
  11. I was so happy that you were running as well! You did freak me out, but when it really mattered (on the course), you stayed content and kept your head in the game!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was so glad to get to know you more, even though the weekend was short since I had to jet out. I am seriously, seriously, seriously considering the Leavenworth half now. Such a cute area for a weekend getaway. We will need to plan another race meet up again soon chica!

      Delete
  12. Pretty awesome for a training run really! Great medals and awesome job getting to your friends bday party after. Your photos turned out great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Christy! I flew out of Wenatchee in time to make it to the party. There may have been speeding involved. :-)

      Delete
  13. WooHoo! You nailed that training run. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  14. That sounds like a great training marathon! And holy cow- that's a lot of driving! I am glad the race director let you switch back to the full :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a ton of driving. I was exhausted when I got home. It was worth every mile though. My BFF was stunned to see me at the party.
      The race director was super nice. :-)

      Delete
  15. What an amazing "training run"! aha I finally found someone crazier than me :) Oh I run with the same Brooks Pure Flow but only the half marathon distance. For the full marathons I switch to the Brooks Adrenaline. I would love to be able to run the full with the Pure Flow but my legs usually hurt after mile 15. Hmmmmmm.

    If you are running RnR Portland or Seattle let me know!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, I am pretty crazy. Not going to lie about that! I used to wear the Adrenaline, but now I switch between the Flows, Connects or Ghosts.

      I won't be in PDX or SEA this year. PDX is the same day as my marathon. Bummer!

      Delete
  16. Only you could do a marathon as a training run ;) I am so proud of you - what a great experience and confidence boost ahead of the 'real' marathon, and what a great time to clock in when you were trying to keep the pace training rather than racing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kari. It was crazy, I still can't believe I did it. It was a good confidence booster for me which I desperately needed. Tomorrow is the BIG day!

      Delete
  17. Ah man, that is super fantastic. I am so beaming for you right now...happy smiles from Denver! When you do a marathon for reals real, you are going to SMASH it. Congratulations, sweet girl!!
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jill! I am so excited for my marathon tomorrow now. It is the REAL race. Freaking out a little, but I am ready for it!

      Delete
  18. wow!! so impressive for a training run. your bffs party was the best way to spend it post race :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks E! Spending the day celebrating my BFF was so much fun. She was so surprised to see me. I wasn't expecting her to start crying! It was a lot of driving though. I hadn't thought about that when I decided to do it. The Thursday before I was freaking out because I didn't realize the distance between Wenatchee and Portland. It all worked out in the end.

      Delete

I love your comments & inspiration