Half Marathon Run

Two days ago I ran the half mmarathon in the National Maraton to Finish Breast Cancer, Jacksonville, FL. I finished 8th out of 61 women in my age group (65- 69). I feel surprisingly good today and pleased that I finished my 5th half marathon (and 1 full marathon) in this fun event which donates all its proceeds to breast cancer treatment and research at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. 

The fair skies and 50 degree weather provided near perfect running conditions allowing a course record in the marathon of 2:13:19 by Elisha Barno of Kenya. It puts my 2:40:17 for the half in perspective. He and the top elite runners passed me on the course in a flash of long strides and effortless gliding. I stood in awe. Gorgeous. the top woman runner, Serkalem Abrha of Ethiopia, finished in 2:39:14.

The run is through neighborhoods and residents come out with banners, posters, costumes, bands and silly shenanigans of all sorts to support the runners. It makes the run fun and gives boosts of energy along the way when energy wanes from the effort. I was off my goal  with a muscle pain behind my right thigh which slowed me down in miles 12 and 13. But my time beats winners of the next age group (70-74) which I'll age into next year. There are at least three of us who'll age up to this group next year, two with better times than mine, so my goal is to be in the top three next year. The top three of each age group win a prize (this year from Tiffany). Now that sounds like a worthy goal! 

I love to run! 

A Runner's 55

Finished the Florida half marathon in February
7th out of 47 women in my age group (65-69).
Felt good but I set a new goal: keep running
until 70 when I'm the youngest in the age group
and come in first. This woman of a certain age
likes to have something to aim for.


For G-Man's Friday 55. True story.

On the Jacksonville beach:

At the finish line:

Born to Run

I started running at 60, persevered through the "what am I doing and why am I doing it?" stage and arrived  at the "oh, I like this!" stage. It helped that I prepared for the national breast cancer marathon and wanted to run in it since my sister-in-law and dear friend, Peg, died from breast cancer. Of course, why I chose to start my running career with a full marathon of 26.2 miles that took ten months of preparation is another matter. Chalk it up to I didn't know any better. I finished, felt the rush and cheered myself for running it. Then I switched to half marathons. 

Now, for the method I use that allows me to run three times a week and enjoy it at 68. Developed by Jeff Galloway, my age and a former olympic marathoner, it combines running with walk breaks. With a chance to recover during walk breaks of one minute, he says it allows running to age 100 injury free. Supported by the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer in Jacksonville, FL and other marathons, it provided me a way to train and finish the marathon and fall in love with running in the process. Great outcome. One of my goals for our move to Florida is to join a Galloway running group that has other elders. Sounds like fun to run with others after five years of running alone. 

Yeasterday, I ran 14 1/2 miles, my last long run in preparation (laid out by Galloway) for the next half marathon in Florida on Feb. 23. I did that so I know I can finish 13.1 miles. I'm ready. I'm excited. Join me.

Half Marathon Update

From the 26.2 With Donna, Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer, website: of the 7753 finishers in the marathon and half marathon there were 57 finishers in the 65 - 69 age group for women. Of those 57, I came in 8th. My time last year was 2:47:02 and this year was 2:42:52. Even better results than I thought. The training was worth it. I'm surprised and pleased.

13.1 Because I'm Only Half Crazy

I ran in the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer today. I ran the half marathon with a goal to better my time of last year, and I did this by 2 1/2 minutes. That's despite the fact that it was 32 degrees when we started and only warmed to 36 by the time I finished, in Florida! We've had weather in the 60's since I came a few days ago and it will go back to the 60's tomorrow. But this morning in the 30's? Seems cruel. Ironically, I stayed in Trinidad an extra three weeks to train so I'd be training in warm weather to be ready for Florida! Instead, my muscles took a long time to warm up and the wind on the bridges and beach was brutal! My run wasn't elegant as my tutor, Marcello, would say, but I finished. My niece walked the half marathon and bettered her time from last year as well. Good for us!

This is us after the race. Notice the red noses, gloves, jackets, and warming blanket, but also, finishing medals. Whereas I usually love to run as I get into it, today I was just glad to finish.

This was the fifth annual marathon so the shirts' stripe and medal ribbons coordinated. I liked it. A long soak in a hot Jacuzzi was terrific way to warm up and soothe tired muscles.

Also, the presence of fives continues for me this year (remember, for two months my Dad was 95, I was 65, my daughter was 35 and my granddaughter was 5?) with a five on the medal and a bib number of 5535. I don't know what it means but it must be auspicious!

I'll stay in Florida a week extra, especially to visit with my sister-in-law since Italy remains in the grip of a deep freeze and serial snow storms that is unprecedented and unwelcome after so long.

Celebrating Life Events

I already posted about running the National Breast Cancer Half Marathon with my daughter but the photos and plaque came yesterday and I am excited to share them. The plaque is my way of celebrating this significant life event. It makes me happy to see it and remember the wonderful feelings of running,  running with my daughter, and cheering for two of my nieces who walked it. What a great day and a worthy cause.



Photo at the beginning of the  Marathon and Half Marathon. There are about 10,000 participants!:

Half way through the Half Marathon there was a photographer so my daughter and I grabbed hands:

At the end of the half marathon there was a photographer so we again held hands. We were high at this point, feeling good about ourselves and glad to be running for my husband's sister, Peg. We were cheered on by so many family members who were there at the finish line:

Here's the plaque commemorating this wonderful life event. It hangs in my office with the family photos:

Loved running with you, Kelly. Loved sharing the day with you, Danielle and Marian. Thanks for all the support, dear family. Good for us!