ZOOMA Cape Cod Half Marathon Race Report

This was my 4th year being a ZOOMA Cape Cod ambassador.  The first year though I was delegated to water stop girl since I was 9 months pregnant!!  The past three years I have had the pleasure of being out on the course running the half marathon!  Each year brings a new experience and this year taught me a lot about the potential that I have inside me!  Above my own running of this race, I always treasure the time that I am able to spend connecting with fellow ambassadors....who are now not just ambassadors after many years together, but also my friends!

Dani and I upheld our yearly tradition of her sleeping at our house and going to the event together.  She got to our house Friday afternoon and after Aubs combed through all of her Run Disney photos with just about every Disney character (Aubs is a big Dani fan since she is clearly the coolest having run races with her favorite princesses), we headed to the expo.  The expo is held at the Seacrest Beach Resort and is very easy to get in and out of quickly.  It's well organized and even had some fabulous vendors there like Another Mother Runner and Run Far Girl!!  Let's not forget Luna who kept me well fed and laughing!!  LOVE their coconut bars and their new cupcake one!!  Yum!!

We headed out to the back for the mocktail party hosted by Hint water.  Every year never disappoints...seriously one of my favorite places on Cape to catch the sunset!!

After a quick bite to eat we headed back to my house and bed since we had an early morning wake-up!  Race morning is always a new experience as a mom since our Aubs is not so certain she wants to sleep anymore.  With a cold hitting her she was up with me while I sipped my coffee and we watched Dora!  Before I knew it it was time to get ready and head out!

The starting line, much like the expo, is well organized and marked.  You can snap some pics with the starting line and easily make your way to where you want to begin.  The 10k runners start a little way up the street which makes even more room for the half marathoners.  I milled around and found many of my friends who were running!  Of course they all said they weren't racing....but with the pace they kept I beg to differ ladies!!  Needless to say they are ready for NYC!!

Before we knew it it was time to start and I decided last minute to follow the 1:50 pacer.  I have never run with an official pacer before so this was a new experience.  She was easy to find since she had a big balloon flying off her shorts!  I didn't know if I would be able to hang but for about 6 miles this was my view...

I was feeling like it was an easy pace to keep...I was feeling great and sometimes too great since I went in front of her too.  Then it was like those V8 commercials....she passed me and as I literally got hit upside the head with her bobbing balloon, reality struck.  I hadn't trained for this pace for a while and a gift from Mother Nature (sorry guys!) made things get a little painful....ok a lot painful with a side stitch that radiated across my stomach making it very hard to breathe.  My pace slowed and I watched my balloon bob out of sight!

That mile was tough to say the least!  I struggled not only to breathe but to also get the cramp to stop! As we continued along the bike path, I began to feel better and gained some speed back.  From that mile on it was all about keeping my pace below a 9 min mile so that I could keep my sub 2-hour time. The course for this race, for the most part, is very beautiful taking us through cranberry bogs and along the ocean.  It highlights a lot of those Cape Cod scenes...meaning: distractions from the hills in the last 3 miles!!

I felt much better this year in the later miles (Thanks so a lot of hill work lately....need to add more of this for Runner's World) and was excited....but not really...to turn and see the last hill at mile 12.  That thing is a beast but I made it up....barely!!  There was far less swearing this year mostly due to the fact that I was alone!!  I let my legs fly down the last downhill and into the finish!!

1:56:41

I am psyched with this time and how I felt at the end!  I ended up coming in 14th in my age group and realized that I have far more in me if I just push.  I am working on not giving myself such a break all the time.  I want to do big things with my pace but I get in my own head and discourage myself.  This race showed me that it is there....I just need to push!

We headed down to the beach to enjoy some snacks, wine, and sun!  This Cape Cod girl always loves to be able to end a race with friends and the BEACH!

pic thanks to Dani!

Well half mary #34 certainly had it's share of ups and downs but overall I am walking away from it encouraged that I can do hard things if I just push myself!!!  I have it in me....now to chisel away even more to get it out!!

A big shout out to some fabulous ladies who just rocked this race....Dani scored herself another 1:40+ half marathon time (like anyone is surprised...this girl has wheels!)  Another fellow ambassador Jessica flew to a super fast 10k and 7th place overall finish!  Run Far Girl Sarah WON the 10k....seriously this mama can fly!  Two fellow coworkers of mine rocked the 10k...so proud of you ladies!  Melissa rocked her first half marathon as well!!!  Way to believe in yourself and do great things!!!

Monday Motivation

The past few months have and continue to impress upon our family that you never know what tomorrow will bring.  It has me certainly thinking about plans...plans that are put off for a different time in life...plans for when the girls are older....plans for when my career gets slower...plans for when life is a little less hectic.  Yesterday driving home from visiting my family, as the girls snoozed peacefully in the back, I thought...why?  Why am I putting these things off?  What am I waiting for?  What if I get to that time and there is something else in the way?  What if that time never comes?  Why not go for it now?  Don't put it off for the perfect time to come!  Don't be in a holding pattern until your life is different....do it now!!

What are you waiting for?

Newport 10 Miler Race Report

This is the third year that I have run Newport 10 Miler and I have to say it is one of my favorite races every year!! 

Not only is the scenery gorgeous during the race but it is my hometown which means...family and friends...running my old routes...being back in my hometown for a weekend!  I'm sure the girls didn't mind jumping on the trampoline for hour with their cousins either!

My big sister was kind enough to not only grab my bib but also have the ladies sleep over her house so that I could get up and going early on Sunday!  We put the girls to bed...watched a little Chris Powell and I had my outfit laid out and was tucked in snug early!

I slept awesome and almost didn't wake up!!  A quick breakfast and coffee and I was headed to Fort Adams to meet up with fellow blogger Samantha and her super sweet friend!

It was great to see someone there and catch up a bit before we were headed to the start line.

I had a big goal for this race...even though I never made it public!  I really wanted to get in under 1:25.  With the way I was training prior to Ragnar I could have nailed it no problem, but Ragnar had left me tired and honestly I was having a hard time picking up the intensity.  Needless to say I was nervous stepping up to the start line on Sunday!  The course takes you up and out of the Fort, by Hammersmith Farm (the former summer home of Jackie Onassis and JFK), and along the Ocean Drive before it takes you down Bellavue Ave which boast all the mansions.  From there we make our way back to Fort Adams. 

Since I have run the race twice before I knew what to expect...some rolling hills in the beginning and some big dogs at the end...just my luck they save the hills to the end!  Knowing this I had a plan...go out at a faster pace than what I needed to do and bank some time for when the hills hit.  At first it worked out great (plus I am HORRIBLE at starting out conservatively...right Jill?!).  My first two miles clicked in at 8:00 and 8:02.  I continued to run sub 8:15 min miles right up until about mile 6...my stomach was being very cranky on me (I got some great advice that I can't wait to try out...hoping it will be the end of the cranky stomach).  I saw my sister and my favorite cheering section around mile 7 (Aubs hugged my leg and said "Congratulations Mommy!  You did it!)...

and that was what I needed to focus on the first big hill ahead!  I had my BRF Jill in my head...just keep your eyes forward and pick up your knees!  I went cone by cone until I felt the strain lift from my quads and back down the hill we went!  We hit mile 8 and I looked at my watch....if I kept the pace I was at then I would have no problem getting my goal!  What remained was a mental battle between my head and my heart!  My head was saying, "Ummm hello lady we're tired here!" but my heart was saying, "You have worked too hard to give up now!".  I think I promised myself everything short of a pony if I just kept going!!...you won't have to run for a week...you can have a big ice cream...a pedicure can be in your future...whatever it took to not stop!!  Back up the hill I saw the 9 mile marker and I knew I had it in my sights!!!

Through the tunnel (ummm Mr. Gray one complaint...can you please stop moving the finish line?  Every year it is somewhere different and it messes with me every time!) and push to the finish!!  It wasn't pretty but I DID IT!!!  I looked down at my Garmin to see

1:22:44

slightly faster than the official time but still UNDER 1:25!!!  I was so excited!!!!!  Looking back over the results I found out I was 35th in my age group of over 300 women (of course it got me that there were 4 girls in my age group that finish literally a second before me...ugh!)!  I ran into fellow ZOOMA girl Jess at the finish line...said my goodbyes...and headed back to my parents for some rest!

I would highly recommend Newport 10 Miler to anyone looking for a race in RI to do!  It was very well organized...BEAUTIFUL to run...and not expensive!  They have great finish line snacks and even a beer garden sponsored by Harpoon!  Plus they moved it to June which makes it a great time to make a weekend of it!  I honestly look forward to this race each year!!!

Get Fancy and Run With Me

As you can see by my training posts, I am running the ZOOMA Women's Half Marathon in September in fabulous Falmouth, MA!  I think even if I wasn't an ambassador for this race I would still love all things ZOOMA! 

I mean these ladies know how to talk my love language...
SWEET swag...

LOVE my Feetures! socks!!!

Mocktail Party at the Seacrest Resort...

A GORGEOUS seaside course...

 A huge blinged-out medal...

An After-Party on the BEACH...

 Fabulous Ambassadors....oh wait that's me!

A vibe that just takes you in and supports you along the way...

NEW TrainingPeaks access for registered runners...

I mean really the list could just go on!  Now it's your turn to join in the fun!!!

Which one of you will I meet at the start this year???

Use the code NANCY15 to score 10% off!!!

TTT

I haven't done a random dishing of TTT in a while and considering my mental capacity this week (hubby is going in for surgery to repair his ACL today), I think randomness perfectly fits how my brain is functioning!

ZOOOOOMA!...I am honored to have been chosen for another year to be a ZOOMA Cape Cod ambassador!

 I have had a great 3 years representing ZOOMA and bonding with fellow ambassadors!  As cheesy as it sounds, it feel like one big family!  I look forward to seeing my fellow ambassadors at events!!  The added bonus is the race itself...amazing views, even better post-party on the beach, and an awesome time celebrating the strength of women!!  I'll be hitting the roads of Falmouth for the 3rd time (the first year I was 9 months pregnant so I was a cheerleader!) gunning for a little redemption this September.  I know September is a ways away...but that only means time is not an excuse!!  Let 2015 be the year you take the challenge!!!  Bonus time for you...enter the code NANCY15 and get 10% off your registration!!!! 

Holiday Sweat Time...An annual tradition in Fancy Nancy land has been for the last 5 years that the holiday season means HBBC time with Amanda at Run to the Finish!  The challenge has kept me moving and eating right through the holiday season...I mean dangle a prize and competition in front of me and I'm like a dog with a bone!!  This year Amanda is teaming up with SweatGuru/SweatPink to form the Holiday Sweat Challenge making the challenge even bigger and the prizes even more awesome...if that was possible! 

The challenge starts November 24th and is just $16....Let's hit 2015 running by challenging ourselves this holiday season!!!  Who's coming with me???  Mention that LilFancyNancy sent you!!

Let me take a selfie....A hilarious thing has been happening each time I open my photos in my camera lately.  I scroll through to find something I'm looking for and I find pictures like this....

Yup!  That's Miss Em taking a selfie with our iPad!  She even got her Bumpa in on the action in the corner!  When we are on longer car rides she plays games or watches a movie on the iPad...but it is becoming clear that she has grown a small obsession with taking selfies.  I have no idea where she gets it from! LOL!  We just have to work on her angles since most of them are up her nose!!

#ZOOMA Cape Cod Half Marathon Recap

I fear that to try to put this past weekend into words would run the risk of sounding either too cheesy or would cheapen what this weekend meant to me.  I'll try my best!! :-) 

Friday afternoon started with bus duty at school putting me leaving late from there and thus picking up Aubs late...and like any good snowball would roll...we were just late all around!  Before I knew it I heard Dani's voice at the front door as I chased Em to put her shin guards on!  Good thing it was a judgement free zone since Aubs went to soccer practice sporting a pink tutu and rain boots....hey at least they were dressed!!  Thankfully the hubby was there and was awesome to take charge as we jetted off to the Sea Crest Beach Hotel.

This sunset is amazing every year!!

What I haven't mentioned earlier was that I was part of a interview/video shoot with Feetures! which began at the expo!  After looking around quickly and of course a quick fun shot with Amy and Dani, I met up with Mary and Matt from Feetures! to start the filming. 

Dani, Amy, and I

It was certainly awkward at first but honestly they were so easy to work with and so incredibly friendly that eventually it felt like I was hanging out with friends!  I think it goes without saying that it is not an every day thing for me to be followed around with a camera, filmed running, or interviewed, but they both made it an awesome experience!!

Matt and Mary from Feetures!

After that I headed over to the Honest Tea Mocktail Party to meet up with the other ambassadors and give big hugs!  I can honestly say that this is an incredible group of ladies who I am proud to be a part of!  We spent the weekend laughing, encouraging, and celebrating each other....the best example of what runners are all about!!

Ambassadors: Angela, Danielle, Amy, me, Jess, Dani, Nicole, Jessica (and baby Will), and missing Kelly

The next day came early after a late dinner with Amy, Jess, Jessica, Dani, and Amy's husband (aka best sport ever!!).  We got to the Sea Crest (also the starting/finish line) and met up at Amy's room to stay warm and avoid the porta potties! 

Amy's porch....ambassador headquarters

Soon enough it was go time!  We took a few more pictures at the start (Jill ran the 10k last minute...wish I could have seen her more!) and then the 10k runners were off. 

Within 5 minutes it was our time to go!!  A quick wave to our camera man Matt and we were off!  I decided to run with Dani and Jessica for the half but we also started with Jess and Danielle as part of our pack!  The first 3 miles rolled through scenic Falmouth passing harbors filled with moored boats and classic Cape scenery capped off with a jog with Matt from Feetures!  His skills were impressive as he filmed and ran and didn't trip on anything! 8:33, 8:13, 8:09

We turned onto the bike path and welcomed some nice shade as the conversation flowed easily.  We talked about races, family, you name it while meeting new people (the sweetest girl who's running Cape Cod Marathon for her 26th birthday) and dealing with grouchy ladies in Beach to Beacon shirts who were pissed about being passed by some chickies in sparkle skirts!!  Seriously lady you didn't need to push by us...there was a huge open road...oh yeah and then we left you in our dust!!!  We passed a friend of mine who needs to be mentioned!  Jaime lost at least 80lbs and this was her first 10k...she however tore her meniscus the week before...but being determined she walked the whole 10k and cheered on every single person who passed her...WAY TO GO Jaime!!!!  8:27, 8:30, 8:32

Dani takes the best running selfies!!!

The miles were clicking by pretty quickly and even though I am HORRIBLE at figuring out my paces, I knew a PR was in my sights!  I was getting a bit tired and my stomach was cramping a bit partly from a veteran mistake of trying new fuel race day (duh!) and partly because the roads were beginning to roll.  A surprise showing by Matt our Feetures! camera man pushed us through mile 8 but I was starting to feel it!  He asked me how it was going to which I answered, "Feeling strong and hitting our paces...it's going great!".  After Jessica asked what paces we were shooting for...my answer, "I don't know...it just sounded like a good thing to say!!"  8:33, 8:31, 8:36, 8:38

Then the hills came and my fancy wheels fell off!  This is where I was the most thankful for my encouraging and amazing running buddies there by my side!!  Each hill brought stomach cramps and a stop to walk...as I watched that PR slip right on by.  Ugh!!  The back half of this race is not for the faint of heart...it was friggin HARD!!  I was not letting the wheels completely fall off and Dani and Jessica began breaking down the distance for me until we crested the last KILLER hill and let our legs fly down to the finish!! 9:05, 9:11, 9:19

We crossed the finish with arms raised having spent our journey together!!  I can't say enough about how awesome it was to run with these ladies!!

My partners in crime, Dani and Jessica!!

 I'm going with the finish time of 1:53:24...since that's what my watch said for 13.1.  The course was actually long and our official results are 1:54:18...if you want to get technical!  For me I'm sticking to the first time!!

Beachin it!!

After party did not disappoint...food, wine and relaxing on the beach was just the way for me to celebrate half #31 and spending the weekend with some really fabulous ladies!!  A big shout out to another friend of mine, Joan, who rocked her first 10k as well!!!  I am kicking myself for those walks since they kept me from getting that PR but I can't help but be proud of the race I ran!  This course has not heard the last of me though....next year I'll be ready to eat those dang hills for breakfast!!!  I have loved being a ZOOMA ambassador and being able to run with these ladies is icing on the cake!!

Let's Talk Training

This week I'm going to lay out how I have been trying to merge my half marathon training for ZOOMA Cape Cod and the 12 Weeks to a Fit Physique program.  It certainly isn't ideal since...well I'm not a professional athlete and my job isn't working out (although if anyone out there is looking for a mom of 2 to sponser I'm all yours!) so there are days when the last thing I want to do is run! 

I start my week on Monday since Sunday is my rest day...like lay down and do not a thing day...because that could happen!!
Monday: Back and Cardio...Today worked out great since the cardio was to run 3 miles.  Headed to the gym early with the sun and cranked out the back workout and then hopped on the treadmill for 3 miles.
Tuesday:  3 miles (from schedule) and legs and abs workout-Another morning at the gym.  I did the weights first and then another 3 miles on the mill!
Wednesday: 6 mile tempo and chest & shoulders workout-I didn't want to spend another day running the treadmill (there will be plenty of that come winter) so I did my tempo first thing in the morning.  Later in the day when the ladies took a nap I headed to the basement and did weights.
Thursday: Cardio...StairMaster.  I was nervous to do this since I have always seen the StairMaster as the stairs of doom but I owned it!!  Later in the day I cranked out 3 more miles while the girls slept!
Friday:  I knew I had a busy Saturday morning so hubby graciously let me do my long run today as long as I was home before he went to work (hind sight...Aubs woke up with an infected spider bite and we ended up in Urgent Care so I guess it was good to start the day with something more positive!).  The air has been so crisp lately especially in the mornings so it was awesome!  13.1 miles down for Jost Running!
Saturday: Because I skipped the weight workout for Friday, I did it today while Aubs slept.  Biceps, triceps, and legs done and done!!  I tweaked a few exercises since I was at home and not at the gym.
Sunday:  REST!!!!!  Sat my sore hiney on the beach!!!
How do you make weights and cardio fit in for you?
When pressed for time, which would you choose?

Let's Talk Training

I haven't done one of these posts since I ran Ragnar!  Yes I've been training but haven't been posting.  I guess at times it seems pretty boring to me since it all sort of looks the same but this training cycle for ZOOMA Cape Cod has been different because I have been working to incorporate my miles in with the 12 Weeks to a Fit Physique that I am doing with Jolynn Toma.  I can honestly say it is kicking my hiney but it's awesome and I can feel myself getting stronger and stronger!  This past week however I was away from a gym and thus I stuck to just the running plan....I will post next week how I'm working in the strength training from Jolynn and my half marathon training plan.  I loved my week filled with running but was sad that no miles were clocked with my BRF Jill who is battling foot injuries!  She's a trooper but injuries stink!  Dare I say I missed the weights....who am I becoming???

Monday: 4 miles after class...Realized with a quickness that I am SOO spoiled by living on Cape Cod with our sea breezes.  I felt like my face was literally melting off!!

Tuesday: 5 miles...Woke up with the sun for a loop around the island of Nahant.  I was missing my BRF but loving the sunrise views!

Wednesday: 6 mile track workout...3X1600 @ 8:07 pace with 800 jogs and 1 mile WU and CD...Yeah the heat I was mentioning....SUCKS!  I quickly chugged down a bottle of water and a Quest bar before meeting a good friend, Lisa, for a boot camp class.  It was a hard class but you know me...I loved it!  Certainly earned my margarita after!

Thursday: 3.5 miles...Jill yes is battling her foot injury but convinced me she could do a quick run...Marathon Sports in Melrose was hosting a pub run.  It was fun and had a great time meeting many new runners!

Friday: 10.1 miles...I knew I wanted to get my long run in before I got home so that I could relax and spend time with my family who I had missed terribly!  I woke up bright and early and literally ran 10 circles around campus!  It was such a peaceful time on campus and I was able to spend the time laughing at memories and praying over the campus.  I'm not going to lie...it was a challenge in the later miles each time I passed my car!!!

Saturday & Sunday: 2 miles....Brought the girls out for a bike ride on a path near our house...while they rode I ran!  I was more than happy to rest up on Sunday!!!

How was your week?? 
Have you ever done a pub run?