Pumpkinman Half Ironman Race Report 2012 - Pre-race!

To say I was nervous for this race was an understatement.

A not so stellar training cycle, no weight loss as planned, and just imagining those 70.3 miles ahead of me, had me crying and ready to throw up all week.

I started packing on friday morning. I carefully laid out my race gear, and my other necessities for a mini race-cation! I LOVE making mini vacations out of races. Kevin and I were looking forward to enjoying a little time in Maine/New Hampshire after I tackled the longest race of my life.

Saturday afternoon, we headed to the car and started the almost 3 hours north. After checking in at the hotel, we headed to packet pick up. I was panicking about the race course, so I convinced Kevin to drive 1 loop of the bike course and 1 loop of the run course. Driving the course helped me calm down as I realized there weren't too many climbs! I started to calm down, I can do this!

We had a huge snafu with dinner, that I had a panic attack over. We had made a reservation at the Spaghetti Stain in Dover, NH, which was a recommended restaurant by the Pumpkinman Triathlon. We made a reservation, and after waiting a half hour and sitting down, we were informed that they were out of the only thing I wanted, Chicken Parm. Seriously? An italian place, pre-race? 

Thank god for Trip Advisor, which pointed us in the direction of heaven...

Antonios (I think?) had the most amazing Chicken Parm ever. Most Perfect Pre- Race Dinner. EVER.

Back to the hotel for pre-race gathering of gear, and a good nights sleep.

Tough Chik, ready to go!

Race day coming up soon!

70.3 Love

I now not only owe you 1 race report (RnR Providence), but now 2!

Sunday, I surpassed all my expectations finishing 30 minutes faster than planned, and feeling incredible for the entire race.

I am in love even more with triathlon

and now,

with 70.3!

I can't wait to give you the full report!

After 70.3 comes....

After 70.3, I'm looking forward to a little break from endurance training. (Although I will still be doing the Hartford Half October 13th)! I need a shake up! I need something different to help me shape up! I have big plans in the next year, and I want to be the best shape of my life! 

Instead of continuing with my Bootcamp classes (I miss TRX!), I want to do a daily strength program & just can't afford the daily price at Bia fitness. That means I'm looking to the world of workout videos, and I need some input to help me with my decision!

First up is P90X.

My brother did the program to lose over 100 pounds and tone up.

Workouts are typically 60 minutes long.

Cost: $120 for the program, $240 if I want the pull up bar & resistance bands

Next up is Jillian's new Body Revolution Program.

My friend A does this program, and loves that most of the videos are around 30 minutes each. She adds in more cardio to round things out.

Her base program is $120 and comes with a resistance band.

Plus I love love love everything Jillian.

Check out one of my Jillian centered posts: 

Need Some Inspiration?

Master This

Have you tried either of these?

Which would you pick?

Or would you pick another one?

Oh.

And seriously if Beach Body or Team Jillian wants to send me the programs, I wouldn't complain!

Debating racing

What race have I been debating??

Oh boy.

Remember that race report, or more correctly, reports?

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

I won't spoil too much, but let's recall I finished last year in 6:17:06, a little over an hour past my original time goal. YIKES! Originally I swore I'd never do another Marathon unless it followed 2.4 miles of swimming and 112 miles of biking (yes, that means I haven't counted out possibility of an Ironman one day), but after that hellish day at the most wonderful place on earth, I needed redemption. The question was when/where. 

I didn't think it would be Disney, then I saw the medal....

Question was, did I want to head into Marathon training immediately following 70.3?

S worked on me, she really wanted to do it. She's been in a running funk lately & has been trying to work her way out. She decided to drop the Hartford Marathon and look to Disney to regain focus. So I did the smart thing, made a pros & cons list:

Pros:

The medal

Marathon redemption

Motivation to workout/run

Having scheduled/planned workouts

More time with S (sunday long runs again!)

Trip to Disney!

Having my knee feeling better for a big race

Going out for a big breakfast for our post long run tradition

Cons:

Lengthy, time consuming long runs

Cold long runs

Cost: race, flight, hotel, etc

Risk or re-injury with increased mileage

Focus on training, not weight loss

no break between 70.3 & marathon training

The truth was, I wanted to want to do Disney.

But I just didn't.

I need a break after 70.3 to focus strictly on weight loss, and toning up.

Know what, S decided the same thing.

Plus...

I may have a different marathon on the brain

Which marathon do you think it is?

Do you think I made the right decision?

Enter to win free race entry to Boston 13.1 HERE!

Boston 13.1

Have you heard of the 13.1 race series, sponsored by All-State?

They go to LA, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, New York and.....

BOSTON!

·      Allstate® Life Insurance and non-profit organization Give Your Sole have partnered to collect moderately used athletic shoes to donate to charity at the Allstate Life Insurance Boston 13.1 Marathon® on Sunday, September 16 (Suffolk Downs, 111 Waldemar Ave, East Boston, MA

·         Race series sponsor Allstate® Life Insurance and Give Your Sole created the shoe donation platform as a means to give back to local communities around 13.1 Marathon® races across the country. In 2012, Allstate and Give Your Sole will collect shoes at five races through the program.  

                  

·         All shoes collected in Boston will benefit the Boston Rescue Mission, an organization aiding the homeless and poor men and women of Greater Boston for more than 100 years.

·         Donations from race participants and Boston residents will also be collected during 13.1 Marathon® packet pick-up at the Karhu and Craft North American headquarters on Friday, September 14 and Fast: Splits Multisport on Saturday, September 15.

·         Runners who donate their shoes on race day will receive a free pair of flip-flops to wear home. 

If you live in the area, head over to donate your shoes to a great cause!

I wish I could run the race, but 1 week after 70.3 seems a little soon to be hitting up another 13.1. So  instead of 1 free race entry to give away to Boston 13.1, I have 2!

If you want to win a free entry for September 16 to race 13.1 Boston, then....

Head over to my facebook page HERE

You *MUST* like Running to Health on facebook

&

You *MUST* post on the wall that you want to win a free entry!

Entry is open until September 7 midnight EST

Good luck & spread the word!

Top 10 September Tunes!

Here's this month's top 10 from Chris @ RunHundred.com!

 Gym favorites Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown have provided the club music. Train and Carrie Underwood brought the rock and country, respectively. Karmin and Ellie Goulding took the remix route. Finally, the month's two highest-ranking tracks came courtesy of a pair of newcomers--Outasight and Havana Brown.

Here's the full list, according to votes placed at Run Hundred--the web's most popular workout music blog.

Nicki Minaj - Pound the Alarm - 125 BPM

Chris Brown - Don't Wake Me Up - 128 BPM

Carrie Underwood - Blown Away - 138 BPM

Outasight - Now or Never - 126 BPM

Rihanna - Where Have You Been (Vice Club Mix) - 127 BPM

Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye - 139 BPM

Karmin - Brokenhearted (Razor N Guido Remix) - 128 BPM

Havana Brown & Pitbull - We Run the Night - 136 BPM

David Guetta & Usher - Without You (R3HAB's XS Remix) - 128 BPM

Ellie Goulding - Lights (MK Charlee Dub) - 125 BPM

To find more workout songs, folks can check out the free database at RunHundred.com. Visitors can browse the song selections there by genre, tempo, and era—to find the music that best fits with their particular workout routine. 

enjoy the new tunes!