Next up: Diseyworld!

My next marathon in January 11, 2015 and it is the Disneyworld Marathon in Orlando, FL. I am SO excited! I visited Disneyworld years ago, before I got into running, but ironically at the same time the marathon was happening. I wanted to so badly run this race after being there and I am excited to finally be doing just that. 33 days until Disney!!

The time between the Maui Marathon and knocking off another state has been a lot of training - And lots of key races to improve my speed. And improving my speed it what I am doing! I am still working with the coach that I met in Louisiana back in January and I am beyond grateful for him and the team we make - It is making me so much better of a runner.

So what is the is between look like for this training period - Lots of fun things!

Trail running NZ

Well to start with shortly after doing the Maui marathon Tom and I went on a vacation to New Zealand for 10 days... Both the North and South Island. We did so many fun things - Mountain biking, bungee jumping, ice climbed on a glacier, rode in a helicopter, visited Hobbiton and so much more. We also squeezed in some trail running....


Trail running NZ

Trail running NZ

Trail running NZ

Trail running NZ

After coming back from New Zealand I did the Race for the Cure 5k with my husband and some friends - Where I set a new PR - This training period has been all about breaking PRs!

Race For the Cure - Time 27:51

 

A couple weeks after that I did the Kailua Surfriders 5k and broke the previous PR I had set a couple weeks ago. Not only that... but for the first time ever I placed in my age group - First place!! So exciting!

 

Kailua Surfriders 5k - Time 27:33

Rewarding myself with comfy pants and Starbucks after a long, chilly run in the pouring rain!

On Thanksgiving we did the 10 mile Turkey Trot, a 10 mile no watch race - I used a watch though because I was using this as a training run! Fastest 10 mile run I've done to date!! 9:36 pace!


After the Turkey Trot - Feeling good - Ready for pie!



 And most recently, the last 5k I completed! Sams 5k - On Dec 7th - Crushed my goal time set by my coach and beyond excited about this race. Another PR from this race in both the 5k and fastest mile! Overall pace of 8:35!! So exciting!! Hard work is paying off!


Sams 5k - Time 26:58

 

 



And on top of running - Lots of biking in this trainings series... Who can resist a ride on a good bike, which has finally been named - Shadowfax, nerdy and perfect. 

Quick snack break in the middle of my 40 mile ride.

The In between

What does the in between marathons look like for me? Running, running and more running with some cross training mixed in!

I started working with a running coach who I met at the Louisiana Marathon - Coach GP. He knows of my quest to run a marathon in every state. He also knows that I want to qualify and run The Boston Marathon. This is our focus as a team right now - How I can improve speed and stay healthy to be able to someday qualify for Boston. I have to say working with GP so far has been one of the best decisions I have made! Just about 2 months later and my time is already improving drastically in lower mileage events!

My next state/marathon is 4 weeks from today! I am very excited to be going to run in Green Bay and be able to run through Lambeau Field - It doesn't get much better for a Packer Fan!! I am hoping to come in under 5 hours for Green Bay which would beat my last marathon time by 26 minutes!

Beside training I've had some race to keep me busy also!

Great Aloha Run - 8 miles of running with friends :)

Haleiwa 5k - Set my new current personal best for a 5k here!! Finished in 28:04! Beat my last 5k time  by over almost a minute per mile!

Hapalua Half Marathon - A friend from work completed her first half!

Hapalua Half Marathon - Set another personal best for a half marathon here too! Finished in 2:10:51 -- beat my previous half marathon time by OVER a minute per mile!! Was SO excited!!

My first trail run! Did the Kaena Point 10k trail run - It was tough but fun!

Marathon Readiness Series: Part 2

HMSA 30k

 

 

 The 30k @ Kapiolani Park.... When I tackled the 30k it was going to be the longest distance I had run yet. 18.6 miles, let me tell you, is a long distance. I kept thinking to myself "just get to mile 14 and you are all set" ... For some reason I feel like if I get to the point in ANY race where I only have 4 miles left I am golden. I don't know what it is about the 4 mile away mark. This race though was tough. It was HOT and MUGGY and I have never sweat so much. I was completely drenched by the end. I also got off to a rough start. I forgot my bib at home (I know, stupid). What makes it worse is I pre-packed everything the night before, apparently, not the bib though. So we had to go home and get it. Luckily we were only about half way there when I noticed. But still we live a minimum of 40 minutes from the race site so I knew we would be rushing. I got there after the race started, raced off to get my chip and then just started. I didn't stretch, didn't do anything that follows my normal long run race routine. I started about 10 minutes after everyone else. BUT I finished it - despite never quite getting into my groove. Finished it in 3:52:58.

 

Val Nolasco Half Marathon - November 17, 2013
 

Half marathon @ Kapiolani Park... This was my first official race that was a half marathon distance. I know I've run longer distances and I've hovered around this distance but this was my first official half! This was also the first race of the marathon readiness series that hubby was able to join in on. He was fighting with an IT band injury and a couple weeks ago has begun to be able to run long distances without pain (YAY!!!). So this was his longest distance he had run so far. He did awesome! I finished in my fastest run over 10 miles (Another yay!!). Time: 2:26:02

Next race? Honolulu Marathon!

Jogging for Justin

 

Hubby is working back from a knee injury (He is hoping to be able to  run the Operation Jack Marathon on Dec 26, 2013) and he ran just over 8 pain free miles today! YAY!

Today we ran for Justin, we did a virtual run for a friend from high school who was diagnosed with cancer. All the proceeds from the race goes to help his medical bills. They had a 5k in Fort Collins (The facebook page said over 200 people came!) and they also invited people to run virtually. Tom and I drove over to Ko Olina and our miles went to Jogging for Justin!

This training run was awesome - fastest long distance I've run yet, and it ended with a light rain and a rainbow in the back ground.

Marathon Readiness Series: Part 1

While searching for races to run in order to help me better prepare for the Honolulu Marathon, I stumbled upon what is called the marathon readiness series. Here on Oahu they do this awesome series of races meant to prepare you for the marathon. Starting in August and ending in November the series covers distances from a 15k to a 30k.

The first race....

Norman Tamanaha 15k in Honolulu, HI - August 11, 2013     Time - 1:40:19

 



Runner's Hi 20K in Kapolei, HI - September 1, 2013     Time - 2:11:49

 

Unfortunately, due to a small injury in my left knee I took a couple weeks rest to heal it back up and missed the 25k. But the goal is the marathon!