Race Recap- Detroit Free Press US Half Marathon 2013

Sunday, I ran the Detroit Free Press US Half Marathon the racing event I've been training for for the better part of a year! It was amazing, and lots of fun. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a well-organized Half in a big city that's lots of fun. I though I'd share some pics before I do the full recap, since I'm short on time tonight.

Here's me inside Cobo before the start of the race, getting all my gear on.
The US Half started at 10am, but it was still pretty cold outside as I was getting ready!

Hubs told me to do some poses- he specifically requested Reverse Warrior.
This is a conservative, non-race bib-ripping version of it.

There's me cruising through the start- right under the banner.
Can you spot me?

Action shot, right around Mile 10. Lookin' good!

I don't have pics of me at the actual finish until the official photos are shared.
Here's me at home right after the race with my bling!

Me and my love :) Freep 2013!!

I finished in 2:09:23- nearly 10 minutes better than my Heroes on Hines time of 2:18:10. I'm still on a runner's high from this race! More details and pictures to come in the next few days. Thanks SO much to my hubs, my mom and dad, and Mike's Uncle and Aunt who came out to cheer me on- you guys helped keep me moving :)

Week 8- Half Marathon Training update

Being someone who is very motivated by accomplishments (although I'm trying to be more intentional about living in the present!), the 13 in 2013 Running Challenge I've been participating in this year has been a HUGE motivator for me. Not only is it a push forward when I register for my next race; it's also a commitment to follow through on, a challenge to build more speed and add more miles.

Case in point is the Detroit Free Press National Half Marathon in October. I signed up in January, knowing that I would have a long time to train and that a "stretch goal" could be a great motivator. When I started my most recent foray into fitness back in September, I'd run two 5ks in my life previous; not necessarily defining myself as any kind of runner! When I first hopped on that treadmill in September, I started out at a "Couch to 5K" level, essentially: Run 3 mins, Walk 1, repeat. It was hard for me to even finish 3.1 miles this way; it took me about 45 minutes.

Fast forward 6 months to now- Last weekend, I ran 3.1 miles without stopping, in 25 minutes and 48 seconds- What?! Today, I ran 9 miles, my new longest distance. I've averaging between 10-15 miles per week.

Here's what my running log looked like this week:

Overall, Half Marathon training is going well. I've been running 3x a week- this usually takes the form of 1 easy run, 1 hill rep, and 1 long run. Easy runs are averaging between 2.5-4 miles, hill reps are usually 3.1 miles, and I'm trying to build my mileage base on my long run days with a .5 mile increase each week. I'm thinking about stepping up to 4 days of running a week- ideally I'd like to add a race-pace run for whatever upcoming run I have.

On "off days" or "non-run days" to be more accurate, I am doing 45-60 minutes of strength training, along with some core work and at least one yoga class per week. Although I am definitely loving running and looking to improve, building strength through weight lifting is a big fitness priority for me as well- I don't want to have to choose one vs. the other!

This week's workout schedule:

Mon: Easy run (2.5 miles) & abs
Tues: #stronglifts 
Wed: 5 mile run @ race pace
Thurs: #stronglifts & yoga 
Fri: Hill reps run  (3.1 miles)
Sat: #stronglifts 
Sun: 9.5 mi run

Total Mileage: 20.1

What are you workout plans for the week? 

Planning to get a run in? How about some weight training? Please share!

Race Schedule- My Plan for 13 in 2013

As I've mentioned, I'm planning to run 13 races this year, or 1 per month, with one extra! Why did I decide to do this crazy thing? Two simple reasons: Motivation. Accountability.

Here's my race list for the year. I've registered for some of these, and others are just races I'm interested in.


It's been fun and exciting to searching for races in the area, decide what distances I want to run, and even set some "stretch goals" for myself. The big GLARING stretch goal on that list is a HALF MARATHON- WtF?!?! The fact that I registered for the Freep Half Marathon is probably a good indicator of two things: 1) I'm crazy! and 2) I have really changed my habits in the past 5 months! As my hubs pointed out, "Last year, you would have been like, 'Run one mile? Nooo!!!'"

I'm scaling up in mileage accordingly, both trying to grow my weekly base of miles run total, as well as building up to be able to run 13.1 miles in. a. row. This week, I ran 12 miles total, and my longest run was a 6 miler, aka 10 km, which is my longest distance run to date; I still have some work to do! Luckily, I have 8.5 months to train. Oh goodie!

Here are links to some of the races I'm thinking about. If you're a fellow Southeastern Michigan runner, or a #runchat buddy from afar who'll be in town, I'd love to run with you- let me know!

Join Me!
Commitment Day 5k
SuperBowl 5k
Shamrocks and Shenanigans
Falcon 5 Miler
Run 4 a Reason
Girls on the Run 5k
Dexter-Ann Arbor Run
MOTTEP Life Walk/Run
Island Lake Sprint Triathlon
Birch Run Charity 10k
Detroit Free Press Half Marathon

I'm still deciding on a training plan for the Freep. 
Any Half Marathon training suggestions, or tips for a newbie?