Location: Charleston,sc, Member Since: Feb 04, 2010 Gender: Female Goal Type: Boston Qualifier Running Accomplishments: Got into running in high school -I ran 400m Hurdles, Open 400m; 4x400m relay; and 800m. 800m was my favorite. I ran cross country at Northeastern University, winter of my junior year I had severe tendonitis and ended up with a stress fracture - Doctor told me I should never run over 5 miles. I took a few months off, healed, and started running more than ever. Oops. I think 5k's are evil, but i run them all the time. 10k's are fantastic, my personal favorites are the Straub Women's 10k in Honolulu, HI - do it. Also, the Wahiawa Pineapple Run, all runners get a pineapple at the end. I finished 1st in F 20-29 at the 2009 Kona marathon. I was terrified of the Kona marathon, and trained like a crazy person. It was hot, sunny, and humid - but probably the most organized and friendly race ive ever run. 2 gel stations, water and Ultima at EVERY mile. I loved that it was an out-and-back course, once I turned around at 13.1 I was motivated by all the people i was passing. I went into Kona knowing I could finish, hoping for under 5, goal of 430. Once i got out on the course I paced with a weathered-looking man that had two IRONMAN tattoos on his calves. He was intense, and the fact that I was running with him made me feel intense. I stuck with him until about mile 20, then i'm not sure where he went. Things got a little blurry. He was probably sick of hearing my ipod - i had it very loud, and i was almost def for about a week after that race. I didn't care. I feel like I ran it conservatively, i was afraid of 'hitting the wall' around 18-20, but it never happened. I felt great going into the last 10k, and the last 4 miles went through the town of Kona. I will say though, after mile 18, i got pretty dependent on the aid stations...they definitely helped get me through the last few miles. I came around the last stretch and as soon as i could see the giant clock, i realized i was under 4 hours, and I was determined to keep it that way. I busted out a crazy sprint and clocked in at 3:59:58. I won my division and got a SWEET coffee mug. I took two days off then ran a 14 mile hill run up& around tantalus drive. I got the marathon bug. Other accomplishments - my best friend and I tried to run around the island of Oahu. The ONLY reason we did not finish was because we both moved. We were inspired by a relay race they used to run (but stopped because it was dangerous) and decided to go out and do it together. I don't remember the exact mileage we did - its 134 in total....i would say maybe 45? but we're not done. We're going back out next week and hopefully we can continue the journey.
Short-Term Running Goals: In the next two years my goal is to qualify for, and complete the Boston marathon. As a student at Northeastern University, "Marathon Monday" was one of my favorite holidays. My classmates and I lined the streets of the back bay and cheered on the runners. I vowed to myself, then, at 19, that I would run the Boston Marathon by the time I was 25 (which seemed so far away!). Now that I am 24, with one (fabulous) marathon under my belt, I find myself scrambling to qualify for the 2010 Boston Marathon. Upcoming races - my law school's 5k - the Race Judicata on 3/20 in Charleston, SC. I'm hoping to get my speed up enough to place. The following weekend is the Cooper River Bridge Run 10k, also in Charleston, SC. I'm excited for this one - it has been a long time since I have done a 10k, which was (before Kona) my favorite race. I have been looking for a June marathon that's fairly flat, as training in the lowcountry does not provide for very good hill training...I'm seriously considering the Utah Valley Marathon on June 12, 2010. Whether or not I qualify for Boston there will decide what I do next!
Personal: I'm in law school at the Charleston School of Law. |
