Running Mama Cooks

Happy 4th of July!!!

We started our celebration today at the Firecracker 4 miler in Cranford, NJ. Since this was my first 4 mile race it was an automatic PR, a definite plus! And to top it off I was able to run with Kathy. We are such a perfect running match, so I was really looking forward to this one! Zach and Finn also raced :)

It was a great race, despite the hot and humid weather. It was a big crowd and the course was really nice, going in and out and Nomahegan park. I did a lot of my marathon training at this park, and it holds a special place in my heart.

Kathy and I ran very steady pace and finished in 42:49. I was aiming for under 43 minutes, so I was very pleased.

Splits:

Mile 1 - 10:24
Mile 2 - 10:21
Mile 3 - 11:00
Mile 4 - 10:35


With my macho man

Yesterday morning I ran the Pan Classic 10k in Madison, NJ. It was a brutally hot morning and the start time was 11:00. Needless to say this race was not pretty, not at all. Actually, I think it was probably the worse race I have ever run. That being said, I am trying to focus on the fact that I finished and not that I added 5 minutes onto my last 10k time.

The race itself was pretty disorganized and I knew when we were waiting for the start that it wasn't going to be a good one. The late start time and hot temps are not a good combination for me. Plus, between my teaching schedule and the kids I have not had many opportunities to run outside in the heat.

I made a crucial mistake in the beginning and went out way too fast. I felt pretty good at first and ran a 10 minute mile. At the end of mile 1 there was a killer hill. I powered up it. I probably would have been better off taking it easy because I hit the wall soon after that. There was barely any shade and it was at least 85 at this point. At a mile and a half, the runners doing the 5k turned off, and many of the 10k runners decided to turn off as well. I let my ego get in the way and kept going on the 10k route.

At this point I knew there would be walking involved so I started running 4 minutes, walking 1 minute, so on and so forth. That lasted for about a mile until I was walking longer than 1 minute at a time. For the last 2 miles I was just surviving since every time I ran I felt like I was going to throw it. It was frustrating since my legs wanted to go but my stomach wasn't cooperating.

I finished around 1:16. I was disappointed because I thought I might have a shot at a PR since I have been running pretty fast (for me) lately. I am trying to focus on the fact that I didn't give up and finished the race, and not let this experience shake my confidence.

Trudging towards the finish

Finally there!!

This morning I ran the Hillsborough Hop 5k which is held at the Hillsborough YMCA. I was really excited for this race because I am both a member and employee of the Y. It was great being able to run with my fellow instructors, trainers and the members that I know and love. Such an awesome and inspiring group!!!

The weather this morning was perfect, a little chilly and overcast, just how I like it. I was feeling good and felt I had a good chance at running a pretty "fast" race. My last couple of training runs were very quick for me, so I felt confident. I tried to keep in mind that it is never a good idea to go out too fast and hoped I could pace myself well.

My pace was very consistent the whole way, but I knew towards the end that sub 30 wasn't in the cards for today. That being said, I was sure I would have a "post Finn PR" so I ran comfortably hard and finished strong. I crossed the finish line at 31:05. I shaved 2 minutes off my last 5k time (not counting the last race where the course was short) and 7 minutes off my first "post Finn" 5k. Not bad!!!

I feel like sub 30 is definitely do-able for me this summer and I will continue to work hard to get there. I am finding that running less and cross training more is helping me improve my pace quicker than running alone, so I will continue to spin and swim for cardio in addition to my runs. I am sure tons of hot yoga and boot camp isn't hurting either!

I am also starting to get the itch to try a triathlon. Anyone want to buy me (or lend me) a bike? :)

Splits:

Mile 1 - 9:47
Mile 2 - 9:57
Mile 3 - 10:01
.1 - 8:47

Boot campers!

This morning, Zach and I ran the Quest for the Cure 5k at Echo Lake Park in Cranford. It was perfect weather for a race, a little overcast and not too warm, just like I like it. Cecily was seeing a play with my in laws, so we only had the Finny boy in tow. Zach took one for the team and ran with the stroller so I could see if I could beat my time from the 5k I ran 2 weeks ago.

I was feeling over confident and took off a bit too fast, especially since there were a few decent hills right off the bat. After about a half mile I started feeling a little crappy so I decided to back off a bit and just get throught it. I wasn't expecting a good time at all and stopped paying close attention to my garmin.

When I got to the 3 mile marker, I was surprised that my garmin didn't match up. I didn't push too hard at the end because I thought I had much further to go, but the finish was right ahead! My garmin read 2.88 and my time was 30:38. Not really sure what went wrong, but I can only assume that the course was short. So I am not going to claim that as an official time!

But regardless of the outcome, I am happy that I am still getting closer to breaking 30 minutes. I had a really nice morning racing and helping raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I ran the New Jersey Marathon 2 years ago with Team in Training, and this charity has a special place in my heart.

Splits:

Mile 1 - 10:49
Mile 2 -10:27
.88 - 10:55

Ready to race

This morning I ran the Run for Rotary 5k in Montgomery, NJ. What a beautiful day for a race!! This is the first 5k I ran 3 years ago when I started this journey and it felt awesome to be back.

I haven't raced a 5k since Thanksgiving and even though I know I have been getting faster, I wasn't sure what to expect. My first goal was to beat my Turkey Trot time, second goal was to beat 35 minutes and third goal was to beat 32:58, the time that I ran this race in 3 years ago. 2 out of 3 ain't bad, right? I finished in 33:05, just shy of goal number 3. But I couldn't be happier that I was able to shave 5 minutes off my time!!!

Here are my splits:

Mile 1 - 10:25
Mile 2 - 10:32
Mile 3 - 10:40
.1 - 9:09 pace

Looks like a sub 30 5k might be in the cards for me this summer!!

Sunday morning I ran the Run from Winter 10k at Duke Island Park. It was a beautiful morning, cool and crisp 50 degrees. Perfect running weather!

That morning I was feeling very tired since it was Cecily's 5th birthday on Saturday. We spent the day in NYC at the American Girl store and had an amazing time! We were all beat from such a fun filled day and I was regretting signing up for a race the next morning.

I am so glad that I didn't bail on the race because I had such a great run! I felt good the entire time and ran faster than I had expected. My pace lately has been very slow (and I am normally pretty slow) so running with 11:30 splits the whole race was really good for me. Up until yesterday, I also hadn't run more than 5 miles since having Finn.

The course was nice and flat on paved trails. It was very scenic as well. I finished in 1:11:50, not too far off from my 10k PR. I was thrilled!

Here are my splits:

Mile 1 - 11:27
Mile 2 - 11:45
Mile 3 - 11:38
Mile 4 - 11:28
Mile 5 - 11:49
Mile 6 - 11:14
.2 - 9:53

This race has made me excited for all the spring 5ks coming up! I know I can crush my last time!

Cecily and Kit
Finny Boy

What a great start to Thanksgiving morning!! For the 2nd year in a row I ran the Turkey Trot in Morristown and this year I was joined by my sister Jillian for her first 5k!

It was a fun race with over 1,000 runners. It was a brisk morning, perfect for running. I was still slow, but felt much stronger than I did a few weeks ago in hoboken. I'm getting there! Jill and I finished in 38:10, crossing the finish line together.

Cecily wasnt too thrilled that we woke her up at 6:30 for this

Waving at the start

Finally, a running related post!!! Today I ran the Hoboken 5k, my first since I was 9 weeks pregnant with Finn. Even though my time was almost 8 minutes slower than when I ran this race last year, it still felt GREAT to be back.

It was a beautiful morning, nice a cool and sunny. The course was nice, starting and finishing along the waterfront. I ran very steady pace, and finished in 38:17. My only goal was to run the whole thing, which I accomplished. Not too shabby for 2 1/2 months post pardom. I am really optimistic that I will be back to my old shape fairly soon.

Cecily helping me on the final stretch
Cecily kicking butt in the kid's run

For now at least!! Since I haven't raced in quite some time, I thought I'd update you on my running during pregnancy so far. Although I haven't been running as much as I'd like, I am still getting out there, at least once a week.

On New Years Day, Zach, Kathy and I ran the Resolution Run 5k in Hillsborough, NJ.

The race started at 11:00 and it was a chilly morning. Not too cold, actually really nice running weather. Since Hillsborough is our hometown we saw a lot of people we know and got a nice hooded sweatshirt in our goody bag.

I ran a steady race, finishing in 33:28, not bad for 9.5 weeks preggo. I'll take it!

Zach racing:
Kathy and I at the finish:

We started a new Thanksgiving tradition this year by running the Turkey Trot 5k in Morristown. Zach and I woke up early, dropped Cecily off at my mom's house and headed to Guinty Field (a 5k course we've run 2 other times) to run. We met up with Kathy and her two daughters and joined almost 1500 others in this fun Thanksgiving race. My time was 33:15, definitely not my fastest 5k, but since it was 4 days after a half marathon, I'll take it!

Our Thanksgiving consists of two stops, my Aunt's house for my family and my in law's house. Fortunately they are only 10 minutes apart, but we do a lot of eating on this day!! Good thing we ran in the morning!

My contribution to Thanksgiving was a Pumpkin Cheesecake. I decided to try Paula Deen's Recipe after watching her make it on her Fall Harvest show.

We did it!!!! Zach and I ran the Philadelphia Half Marathon yesterday morning. It was an awesome race! Zach's first half (SO proud!!) and my 3rd.

We headed down to Philly late morning on Saturday and went to the expo to pick up our race packet. We did a little shopping too. Zach picked up a great Philadelphia Half Marathon hat. I *gasp* managed not to buy anything.


The sun didn't want to cooperate but here are Zach and I at the expo

Yesterday morning, my friend Kathy and I ran the Beauty and the Beach 5 miler in Long Branch, NJ. This all women's race was held in Pier Village, the start and finish of the NJ Marathon that we ran last May. This was my first 5 mile race, so what ever time I finished was a personal best, but I was hoping for under 55 minutes.

It was a crisp morning, perfect running weather for me. Kathy and I started out at a 10:30 pace that felt very comfortable. I was unsure whether we would be able to hold that pace the whole 5 miles, but as the time went on it seemed to get easier and easier. Here are our splits:

Mile 1 - 10:42
Mile 2 - 10:18
Mile 3 - 10:23
Mile 4 - 10:33
Mile 5 - 9:51

I am getting faster!! Not bad for expecting to run 11-11:30 min miles! Kathy and I crossed the finish line in 51:40. We were thrilled!

Even though it was a little disorganized at the start, it turned out to be a really nice event. It was neat running with 400 or so women, all different ages, shapes, sizes, etc. Plus we got great long sleeve tech shirts and necklaces instead of medals!

Kathy and I after finishing