Houston Half Marathon 2010

My first race in the US - wow what an experience!
Houston Half Marathon is, according to their website: the first race in the 2010 Warm-Up Series. This race marks the halfway point in your training for 2011 winter races, including the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and the Chevron Houston Marathon.

What a great idea! I wish they had something like this in the UK - perhaps I haven't been looking hard enough?

The community spirit was great - we went to the pre-race social at Luke's Locker (our running supplies mecca in houston) during the week where there were training tips from various coaches : running tangents, thank the volunteers, enjoy - were some tips that we took away. We took away something else: there was a door prize lucky draw and now I have the chance to try a new nathan hydration belt! :)

At the start (yes 7am and it was still pitch dark) there were already gazebos set up by various local running groups and sponsors. Car parking lots in downtown were full - all taken up by the runners and others associated with the run. Having had a week of good food and interstate travelling, I arrived at my final morning in this ex-hometown of my hubby's with a terrible stomach ache and have been sleeping intermittently since 3am to try to shake it off. 'real' Breakfast nutrition was out of consideration as I couldn't even fit a banana in. All I prayed for was not a gingerbread man on the run, or a stitch so bad that I had to stop.



Starting at Sam Houston Park in the dark- before 7am!





some motivation, but serious runners (moi! ) now know not to go for that stuff pre/during race :)



The start was under the flyovers with roaring traffic and in summer heat and humidity...with a moment of silence for the fallen, and then a soprano leading the Star-Spangled Banner - a first for any race that I had been to! If I was American I would have had my hand on my heart - but the effects of the National Anthem was strong, regardless of nationality.  There wasnt a proper profile map of the half marathon course, but we were briefed by coach felix at the social, the first mile would be flat, around downtown. I enjoyed the buildings as the sun was coming out, and thought of how quickly the week went...whilst catching up with my hubby after my brief breaks of fiddling with my new shoelace attachment, etc... sneaking up to him, saying hi, and happily reporting ... 2 miles @ 10 minute mile, glancing at my 2hr 20 bracelet..the feeling was very, very different from 10.10.10 at 10am at Big Ben, missing by 2 minutes.
Slower pace, easy does it better.

I saw the first drink station and avoided the 'finger dipper' volunteer for my first cup of gatorade, and then I lost him...I was then running my own race, as it would be damaging for me to chase him any further even if for fun, given my current injuries.

Mile 1 - Houston downtown..with my hubby still in sight..

As I left downtown, there were more room to run, the roads were not too new to me as we had been running and driving along in the past few days (out of necessity rather than race preparation). The absence of groups of cheering supporters gave me a bit of breathing space, and the downhills and uphills of the roads with bridges overheads strangely reminded me of prague. Perhaps all major city marathons are getting to be the same? modern roads without much character? 

My favourite part of the run was near memorial drive, where we passed the 3 mile exer-trail that we have trained so many times in my last 3 visits to houston, and most recently, in the hours just before sunset, the trail will be swarmed with people like lhamas on the mountain in the middle of the night.  This sunday morning I was able to find the trails quite clear of the crowds (perhaps they were all in this race?) Again and again in the last weeks I question (and will continue to do so) the future of long-distance running for recreation. More and more people are taking it up, and the community spirit of events like this are few and far between. Even Houston Marathon has gone into a ballot system, like majors like London and New York. Other than that you have to be very good to qualify (like Boston).If you dont get in, you buy your way in by doing the 'charity thing' ? Sponsors...training 'secrets'...'magic' gear/nutrition...pushing and shoving...is this the way?

In and out of Memorial drive, I sought retreat in seeing the trees and this city turn into its autumn days, with slightly cooler weather, in the absence of too many tall buildings and shouting crowds, only the enthusiastic volunteer jumping around...and the mile marker...less distraction is more the attraction.

at halfway my watch read 1 hour - and a few minutes ahead of my pace band. I felt good, relaxed, and tried not to think about the niggles in my left heel and right foot and my stomach issues, and soldiered on. I love the ups and downs, ups and downs, not like the killer undulation like Perth City to surf, but enough to be more interesting than flat ground in the increasing humidity and the consistency with the passing of every mile marker.
my 'royal parks 2010' playlist kept me going (although headphones were discouraged at this race, I still need it to keep me awake), drinks every 2 miles, i feel I have learnt from the lessons from my last half marathon 2 weeks ago... as the mile 13 marker turned up, I lifted my thighs and ....went for it! so I can! Its good to be able to hold that thought to finish the 'racing' year.

what a lovely feeling it is to walk through those yellow arches. I had beaten my yellow pace bracelet with more than 5 minutes to spare - as good as a personal record (well certainly, a PB on this continent!)

a month (at least) of rest and a few months before I see another half-marathon race. my 4th timed half marathon this year (reading (PB), race your pace, royal parks, houston) ... and a marathon (prague) around my neck. 2010. what a year!

looking back at the finish... piles of 'solid' gold medals meaning... :) 

I know when I do my first one in 2011, the training will have stepped up again, so it wouldnt be this 'walk in the park'... I hope by then it will feel like it, and I would be relaxed.

Meeting my hubby at the finish was priceless. Its a great opportunity to be able to do another race together (he missed the Royal Parks Half 2 weeks ago) and starting together (without the timed starting zones being in the way). We picked up our medals and yellow finisher singlets, and headed towards a rewarding Vietnamese lunch - a celebration of our first race together in the USA. 

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Houston Half Warm-up!

Hi from Houston Texas, I'm visiting my hubby for a week, which will end with the Half marathon next sunday. Lovely weather, sunny skies and with a breeze - it's a lot nicer than my visit in June!
The first weekend started with an hour's run near the Buffalo Bayou quite close to the city, a new track as well as new bridge construction in progress.

Is that what gets an engineer's wife, (and daughter) excited?

Rewarded ourselves with breakfast at Harry's, usually its a Migas for me, but this morning I chose fried catfish, scrambled eggs, grits and biscuit. apparently grits have very low nutritional value but its as good as oats/polenta in filling one's stomach!

Sunday evening, we gave Hermann Park a second go (there was a fun run/walk there on saturday so wasnt easy to get close!) There was a concert happening and we ran around th golf course - around 2miles in the sunset?

Seng's using his VibramFiveFingers, which I have been banned from trying (from my podiatrist)- it makes a louder noise on impact than he normally does..hehe

Sunset at Hermann Park, a lovely finish to the week!

In for the long run?

Did my third run in the Royal Parks at lunchtime today.

It feels like I'm doing so much more training all of a sudden. Maybe the new haircut has helped? Definitely, doing the Royal Parks Half Marathon on sunday makes me miss this training ground which is right on my doorstep (as opposed to the gym which is a 10 minute walk from the office).

 Hyde Park is more pleasant in sunset than in the middle of the day. The traffic at Hyde Park corner were a little discouraging, but once you are in, its a quiet world. No keen bird feeders or roaring crowds...it is a place to chill out. The labyrinth of paths is easy to confuse, and with the shortening day, one cannot loiter, but to head back to base.... Green Park, the closer alternative and a runner's lunchtime favourite (as opposed to picturesque St James's), is a source of 'hill training' in the flat london. and now, with part of the park blocked off for new escalators for the tube station, one can almost imagine standing near the boards, overlooking the near-empty deck chairs...in a dreary lunchtime.

A new era, new gear? A visit to the podiatrist this morning is bringing this back to earth...it is the person (me - sometimes called 'athlete' in such visits, although I never seen myself to be one) that needs to heal, and all the treatment, gear, only makes minimal difference.

Am I in this for the long run? or am I going to hang up my trainers after VLM 2011? Initial visits were more about financial considerations...but now it is a bit more than that. Do I like the endurance for the love of running?  Injury happens when one exceeds the body's threshold...have I not pushed myself to the limit? Do I know where the limit is when I have never been a 'sporty person'?

When does one walk away? or not join in the fun? Is it always about chasing a PB? or enjoying the ride?

Ok. One more race this year, and then I will allow my injuries to heal.....

Royal Parks Half Marathon 2010

My 2nd Royal Parks Half Marathon can be summed up in a few words - fighting for lost time!

Knowing the drill, we signed up early on the day...and when it came I had my big bag ready for all the freebies from the sponsors, to load up my potentially year's supply of sports drinks and health bars etc :)

Good breakfast of my normal smoothie mixed with coffee, at the crack of dawn, I took the first train out to London. Difference this year is I'm going on my own and the District line was down , which means I had to go into Zone 1 for my Tube connection.

'Yes, you can take 3 each!' and knowing the geography of the Lucozade tent, I made a beeline for the drinks, and timing tapes...and ambitious me picked a 1:55 (despite never having seen this)...and then joined the queues for:

1. the baggage drop
2. the toilets (unfortunately you cant really au-naturel in Hyde Park!)

with the gun fired, and loudspeakers going ' the race has started'..what do i do? I remembered Prague and didnt want to lose time at mile 1 searching for facilities...so had to get it out somehow. I tried the other side of the toilet blocks closer to the blue start, queues were shorter, and there was a queue to get into the blue start too!

so with a lil bit of luck, I started my race with line of sight of 2:00 pacers, and approximately 10 mins into the gun going off.


it is a run that is all too familiar with me, parts of which I actually do on my training during lunch and after work..the difference, of course, is no traffic, but heaps of people (and smokin supporters!) i told myself to start slow...to avoid any blistering effects..


at 10am on 10.10.10 I heard the all familiar chime, yes, I was next to the Big Ben! However, my watch and yellow pace tape says I am behind schedule at Mile 1, so I had to pick up speed....westminster bridge, victoria embankment...I'd seen it heaps of times before! speed speed speed...but too many people to dodge!
casulties near the drinks station...stitches....go go go....oh...

before I turned back into admiralty arch, I knew it was gone. few minutes off the yellow tape goal. I redirected my efforts on enjoying the Mall, and thinking about VLM 2011, cos in April, that will be the finishing line!

on entering hyde park (again, another familiar sight), I can almost replay RPFHM 2009 in my head, or rather the BHF 10k...except with the cheering crowds with no familiar faces in sight!I'd 'revised' the route this time so was less disoriented, stuck to my nutrition strategy, and threw water onto my head.

Again I had wished I had got the opportunity to know Hyde Park better before this race...but too late now. I focused on the mile markers, the drone of the cheering crowds, and when there are less people around, the falling leaves, the lovely trees, buildings...and the beats of the BPM mix (Kelly Chen) that I had thrown in as a bit of experiment in the last week of 'training'...it worked! However I had my potential risks to take care of. I spotted one in a st john's uniform and did a 'high five' to get a smear of vaseline for my right arch...and avoided the Percy Pigs and Gummi coca cola bottles 'nutrition station'....the spare ones stuck to the ground, what a hazard!

counting down...10-11-12 mile markers went past...the tip of the Albert memorial almost in sight, I knew that wasnt it yet...and then my motivational tune came on:

'hold on...there will be tomorrow, in time, you'll find the way...'

I threw away my lucozade body fuel, narrowly missing a fellow runner's head (oops), and did all i can to go uphill .....i saw british military fitness 2:10 pacer going past me...and thought, that's it. In a 'strange' turn of events, he stopped 1/2 mile before the finish and started walking...the curious me was going to enquire, but I thought....nope...and made it across at 2:09:31

Not my best performance this year I know. and I hadnt pushed for it. However, it was better than last year, on the same course. Some consolation there!

I finished my banana at record time, got together with my friends doing the run, for a rewarding dim sum lunch in Chinatown.

Many things are going through my head, as I am sitting on my bed, recovering (still, more than a day after the race!) why is the return to a autumn half after a spring marathon always so hard!  and how will I need to train for VLM 2011 which has as many crowds as this...and twice the distance..

The thought of this calls for an escape...to another country, where another race awaits ;) Will i get a holiday before I 'start' training for VLM 2011?

Counting down to Royal Parks Half Marathon 2010!

Less than 24 hours to go before the Royal Parks Half Marathon!
Can't believe its almost here, and I must admit I'm getting the jitters. An upset stomach, visits to the accupuncturist and massage in the last 2 days and cancelled final week training to 'save my legs'.

Strong winds howling outside, when it was supposed to be warm, certainly presents doubts.

But I must think positive.

Since the plantar fasciitis came on after Prague Marathon in May, and the allergies from the taping on my right foot, I have had the chance to force rest for a whole month. Then came 'Team Bonnie' - visits to the physio, sports specialist, podiatrist, chiropodist, accupuncturist...and listening to Marathon talk podcasts, reading 'Born to Run', attending running lectures in St Mary's, running trial at the Running school -- I have learnt (and invested) so much in the sport that it doesn't make sense to give it all up now.

In fact I was waiting for the 'rejected' magazine to come through for the VLM, after I tossed hubby's copy into the recycle bin on the grounds of 'too negative reading', I am still waiting. Last wednesday however, I got an email notification that I got through, I paid, and am in the system.

So Team Bonnie, or Bonnie is back again!

I'm still taking my learnings from last year's Royal Parks Half with me - it was a warm day, and the 2nd half all exclusively in Hyde Park, was confusing as it went round and round, and I got disoriented. My previous plan of training on the route itself (being at a very beneficial position of an office location along the half marathon route!) did not happen. Too hot in summer, too much travelling , raining, too many social activities..you name it.

I will try for a PB but at this stage I will do whats safe, as I have bigger plans ahead of me...distances across the pond (!) and of course, in London in April 2011.

Will I? Wont I? 2 images to keep in my head is Mr Richmond Parkrun Pacer last week shouting: follow me, you can do it! and The Email of the week from VLM. Things happen for a Reason. :)

Ok, off to relax, pack my bag, rest, and be in shape to take the first train out to London on sunday, bright and early, for potentially the last medal in London for me this year :)

St James's Park during one my lunchtime stroll this week.

The Mall (which cuts through St James's and Green Park, is along the Royal Parks Half Marathon route)



View my post of the event last year!

The Road to Virgin London Marathon 2011

Never imagined I will be one of the lucky ones to get a ballot place for the Virgin London Marathon - my first attempt at the ballot!

This will be my 3rd Marathon in 3 years..Paris, Prague and now, my hometown.
At Prague, I became a sub-5, what will be my new goal for London?

Hope to get more people out there supporting and run through the streets that I know only too well, on my fifth anniversary of living in this great city!

Just started on my journal to keep track properly of my training so please keep checking here or here