M3S Cap City Archives - Words To Run By

Cap City Half Marathon: A Spectator’s Report

May 10, 2012 by Sara- Words to Run By Blog

When it came down to it, weather predictions weren’t at all favorable for the Capital City Half Marathon on Saturday. In fact, there was a heat warning issued on Thursday by the race’s medical director. I had decided not to run the race due to my knee injury and missing too many long runs (insert: everything seems to happen for a reason here) and was pretty bummed about it. I watched as the time goals of the runners I knew shifted from going all out for a PR to running based on feel, heat, humidity and hydration. I can’t say I was relieved I wasn’t running, but I did feel like if I had to sit out a race, this particular day was definitely a good one.

Still, there was no way I was going to miss the race. The Lucky 13’s had trained for this day for the last five months, and I was going to be there every step of the way, even if it meant cheering from the sidelines. Which is exactly what I did.

MIT Volunteer Crew, Cap City 2012 S
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The temperature was 64 and humidity was 93% at the start. The only thing that made the weather slightly bearable was the fact that it was overcast. I watched as the clouds hung over the city. A part of me wished they would just release rain (or something) to give relief to the runners below. There was not even a breeze. I was pretty miserable just standing outside. It was a tough race, a tough day and tough conditions. Anyone who ran it should be proud. It was a special race to be a part of with a record crowd of more than 13,000 people.

Seriously, doesn’t it just look miserable?!

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We camped out literally right before the finish line – between mile 12 and mile 12.5. We were on an overpass where spectator support was lacking, but a steady incline definitely was not. The Cap City course changed this year to include a new finish line, and I would say it was definitely difficult. We were armed with cow bells, signs and lots of screaming to give runners that last push to finish the race. I was screaming out names on bibs as people flew by – “You can do it, Rachel,” “You’re really almost there, Tom,” “You’re looking great, Angie!” And on it went, for nearly four hours. Several of them looked startled when I called them by name, and some even looked appreciative.

Me & Jessica with our cow bells.

Cheering!
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More MIT cheering!
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Who wouldn’t pick up the pace to run away from the two of us?!

“Come run with us, we promise you’ll have a blast!”
(Thanks to the source)

I was hoarse, tired and my knee was throbbing by the time it was all over. Still, it was nothing compared to what I saw on the course, people were passing out, stumbling around and throwing up behind bushes. Medical attention was readily available (especially so close to the finish line), though, so I know the people who were suffering got attention as soon as humanly possible. I think I counted four or five people go down just within my sight. There were some moments that were a little scary, but I’ll give it to the Cap City medical team and emergency personnel for working really hard to ensure no one was seriously injured or ill that I saw.

I am incredibly proud of the 13’s and my other running friends who ran it, especially the first-timers! NOT AN EASY RACE AT ALL!

Me, Amy & Duane. Amy earned a PR!

Me, Nita & Duane.

Sandy and Stacy during their FIRST Half Marathon!
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Wade and Shirley after their FIRST Half Marathon!
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Another huge Congratulations to these Lucky ladies. Julie and Sue ran their first full marathon on Sunday at the Flying Pig in Cincinnati. Love these girls – I am so proud of you both!

Julie & Sue – MARATHONERS!

Vist Elle on Facebook

AND….A huge shout-out to my sailing friend Elle over at Eat Run Sail. She is running her FIRST EVER Half Marathon THIS Sunday!!!! I am so excited for you, Elle, I can’t wait to see pictures of you as you cross that finish line! I have watched you grow as a runner, and I have every confidence in you that you will do this. I just know it! Best of luck to you and The Captain – have a blast!!! I’ll be cheering for you from Ohio.

What about you? Did you race this weekend? If so, I would love to hear about i! Looking for a race? Check out this week’s Ohio Pace Per Mile Report for some awesome upcoming events.

Until the next mile marker,

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Ohio’s Pace Per Mile Report for Week of May 07, 2012

May 10, 2012 by Sara- Words to Run By Blog

You can also listen to my report on Pace Per Mile, the 1st Place for Endurance Radio HERE.

Hello Ohio! This is Sara from wordstorunby.com reporting on the Ohio race scene for Pace Per Mile Radio. We have plenty of new and exciting events coming up and guess what, Ohio? We need you to participate! After all, this is your state, let’s get out there and race!

A big CONGRATULATIONS to all of you who ran Cap City last weekend. With 93 percent humidity and 64 degrees at the start line this race took place in less than ideal conditions. You should be proud of your accomplishment. Stay tuned to wordstorunby.com for a full recap of my spectating adventure.

On Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 a.m. the 20th Annual Komen Race for the Cure is taking place in Columbus. Visit http://columbus.info-komen.org and register to walk, run or even sleep in for the cure. Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S. Breast cancer knows no boundaries – be it age, gender, socio-economic status or geographic location, but there is hope. Thanks to heightened awareness, early detection, improved treatment methods and increased access to breast health services, people have a greater chance of survival than ever before. Participate in the 20th Annual Komen Columbus Race for the Cure and show everyone whose life you are running for. Are you running for your mother, your sister, a co-worker, a friend? Are you running for your own life? Or are you running for the future? No matter whose life you are running for, now is the time to get involved and run for their life! I am running as part of a team for my mother-in-law who is a breast cancer survivor. She and my sister-in-law are participating in the race with me. The first 50,000 who register for the Race for the Cure will receive an event t-shirt, bib number, Race Day materials and special offers from the sponsors. The first 2,500 survivors will also receive a special pink survivor shirt in addition to the general Race t-shirt. The start line is at the intersection of Front and Broad Streets by City Hall. The Race will finish just north of Town Street by the Columbus Commons.

May 26-27, Always Brothers is bringing you a very special event: 100 Miles for Lima Company. Always Brothers is a fraternal organization of United States Marines and they have come together to raise awareness and funds for fellow veterans that have suffered tragedy or loss. The mission of their organization is to serve veterans and their families with honor and integrity. Lima Company was an infantry company, part of the 3rd. Battalion of the 25th Marine Regiment. Lima Company served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Once referred to as “Lucky Lima” at the onset of their deployment in Iraq, Lima’s fate was soon to change. Lima 3/25 was arguably among the hardest hit ground units to have served in Iraq. Out of a combat strength of 184, they were awarded 59 Purple Hearts, 23 of which were posthumous awards.

On the morning of May 26th a group of Marines will step off on a 100

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mile journey from Patriot Park, Mariemont, OH to Battelle Darby Metropark, Columbus, OH. They are running to honor the fallen heroes of Lima Company and secure the education of the children left behind. Always Brothers is looking for 23, 10-12 person teams to run along side the 100 mile runners to raise money for the children of fallen marines. Please be aware they do ask that you are able to keep a 12-minute per mile pace. Please contact limarelayers@yahoo.com if you would like to participate, and they will be able to specifically answer your questions too. Many participants are still needed! If you can’t run, please help spread the word. Together we can make a difference and take care of our Veterans families that have sacrificed so much. You can make a donation at www.alwaysbrothers.org or at your local Huntington Banks to the “Lima Kids” account.

Until next time, you can find me at wordstorunby.com. Drop in to say hello, share your racing stories or offer feedback. If you’re running Race for the Cure or participating in the Lima 100 journey, I’d love to hear from you! Thanks for listening to Pace Per Mile Radio and see you at the next mile marker.

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VIPing It with Cap City

May 5, 2012 by Sara- Words to Run By Blog

It’s the eve of the big day in Columbus, Ohio. The Capital City Half Marathon, The Patrón Quarter Marathon and the Commit to Be Fit 5k are Officially SOLD OUT at a Cap of 13,000 athletes. There is the familiar buzz of anticipation, excitement and anxiety in the air around town and in the voices of the runners I have known for months now. It’s been building all week

Race Day is finally here! In less than 24 hours, the Lucky 13’s will have crossed the finish line of another half marathon as another session of MIT comes to a close. For many, it is their first half marathon and I couldn’t be more excited about being on the course to cheer for them. They’ve worked hard for this day since December. They’ve trained for months in wind, rain, cold, a little snow and even some warmer temperatures. I couldn’t be more proud of you and the accomplishments they have made. I have watched them conquer what once may have seemed like an impossible task – they’ve run the miles, shown up before the sunrise on Saturdays and kept up training during the week, even when they were feeling discouraged, down, ill or injured.

MIT 13-Min. Pace Group Winter/Spring Session 2012

During a race week, no matter where you are, it is very common to feel anxious and wound up in anticipation of race day. It is important to relax, though. Worry and tension create fatigue and sometimes illness. So, I have been reminding the runners in our group to take some time this week to do whatever most relaxes them. I remember being completely terrified for my first half marathon, nearly unable to function (I’m really not kidding), but looking back there was no need to stress myself out so much. I followed the same training plan as them, and I made it through – it was the single greatest accomplishment of my life thus far. I have no doubts that the 13’s will also look back on their race with fond and proud memories. Believe in yourselves, ladies and gentleman – because I surely believe in you!

Remember these three things, if nothing else:

HAVE FUN – I’ve had a blast with you on Saturdays so don’t stop enjoying yourselves now!
RUN YOUR OWN RACE – We’re not in it to win it. Our victories come from achieving what others may have said we couldn’t, conquering our inner fears or accomplishing something amazing.
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR TRAINING AND IN YOURSELF – You can do this. Myself and the other coaches have every confidence in you. You are prepared. You are ready. You will succeed!

All this being said – let the party begin! 😉

My co-coach and friend Judi and I hit the expo last night:

After all, who can refuse a great opportunity to SHOP for running gear?

Cool shirt commemorating the Bicentennial!

LOVE THIS! Front.

Back.

And hang out with the best running friends ever?

Nita, Judi & Me

And I must day, Cap City does it right. The Diamond Cellar, yellow tail bubbles Sparkling Wine and New Balance provided a unique opportunity to upgrade your Capital City Half Marathon registration and get the total VIP experience! We were both grateful and ecstatic for the opportunity. I for one was not disappointed. It was so much fun.

The Total VIP Experience:

The New Balance VIP Official Cap City Jacket. Very nice – black with a sleek logo on the back.

Doesn’t Michael take lovely pictures of my back side?

Love the race shirt! It’s the city’s bicentennial.

At the Cap City Celebration Lounge you receive the official Yellow Tail Sparkling Wine Flute with race logo that you may fill up as many times as you like during the Cap City Health & Fitness Expo.

“Yes, Sara, Champagne does count as carb-loading!” – Judi

An invitation to the Champion Panel and VIP Reception from 6–8pm on Thursday, May 3 for the Official toast to kick off the 2012 Capital City Half Marathon.

Free race day parking.

Access to the VIP Tent with catered breakfast and lunch and private bathrooms.

Now that the day is almost here, I am sad I’m sad I have decided not to run tomorrow. With my knee injury, being sick for two weeks and just resuming physical therapy and training this week, I decided it would not be smart for me to run. I haven’t had a solid long run this season, no more than eight miles, and I just feel like I am extremely under-prepared for this race. NO MATTER HOW MUCH I WANT TO RUN, I SHOULD NOT. Please tell me I am doing the right thing. I’m pretty bummed, not running is always hard to handle. Especially for me.

I will be on the course – start, middle and finish – tomorrow to cheer everyone on! I can’t wait. It’s the next best thing to running. 😉 Still, I will miss being out there with all of you who are running.

Best of luck tomorrow, friends. Have fun, believe in yourself (I do!) and run your own race! I can’t wait to hear all about it. Run well, run strong, run safe and stay hydrated. Rest up. Tomorrow is going to be a great day! 🙂

Until the next mile marker,

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Ohio’s Pace Per Mile Report for Week of April 23, 2012

April 25, 2012 by Sara- Words to Run By Blog

You can also listen to my report on Pace Per Mile, the 1st Place for Endurance Radio HERE.

Hello Ohio! This is Sara from wordstorunby.com reporting on the Ohio race scene for Pace Per Mile Radio. We have plenty of exciting events coming up as the spring racing season kicks into high-gear.

First off is the Cougar Challenge 5K Run and Walk at the Bridgeview Golf Course in Columbus on Saturday, April 28 at 8:00 a.m. This run/walk will have special appeal to Central Ohio runners because it will take place on a unique venue: the picturesque Bridgeview Golf Course located on Agler Road next to Alum Creek. The rolling 3.1 mile course will take runners over and between course fairways on a path that will provide a few climbs, fast grassy downhills and a flat finish around the driving range. The looping course is also spectator friendly. This event, sponsored by the Staff Advisory Council of Columbus State, supports book scholarships for Columbus State Community College students. The cost of books is a significant and an often overlooked cost of attending college. Your participation will help to provide book scholarships so all students can “cross the finish line” of their education. The cost is $20 from now through Friday and $25 on race day. Find out details and register on the Columbus State webpage.

And, since we are the Buckeye State, Join the Ohio State student-athletes in the third annual Running with the Buckeyes 5K on Sunday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. presented by the Athletic Training Club at OSU. Proceeds will go to the Advocates for Injured Athletes and to the AT Club at OSU. Walkers and runners of all ages and experience level are welcome. Registration includes a free t-shirt, goody bag, and raffle entry. Registration is $15 through this Friday at 11:59 p.m. and $20 on race day. The 3.1 mile course begins and ends in the Fred Beekman Park located on the outskirts of The Ohio State University. The top 3 male and top 3 female finishers will receive a choice from an assortment of prizes. All participants can enter in the raffle of memorabilia autographed by OSU players and the Columbus Crew, gift cards to area businesses, and more!Find out the details and register at Active.com.

Greenswell is hosting the Spring for SIDS Duathlonon Sunday, April 29 at 9:00 a.m. The event takes place at Battelle-Darby Metro Park in Galloway, just outside of Columbus. I frequent this park often and it is my favorite in Central Ohio. On a side note, the trails are not without their fair share of hills, dips and ravines so watch your footing! The event benefits the Sudden Infant Death Network of Ohio in the memory of Corbin Hastings. Fifty percent of event proceeds will go to the SIDS Network of Ohio. Two duathlon distances will be offered. The Short consists of a 2 mile run, 11.2 mile bike and 3.1 mile run. The Long distance consists of a 2 mile run, 22.4 mile bike and 6.2 mile run. Participate as an individual or with friends as a relay. You can find more details and register at www.greenswell.com.

Finally, the Cap City Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon and Commit to Be Fit 5K are coming up sooner than we think – May 05! Corral times have now been posted under Event Detailson the Cap City web site. There are six corrals: A, B, C, D, E and 5K. Half and Quarter participants will be assigned to A-E. All 5K participants are the in Corral 5K. Half Marathon and Quarter Marathon participants should load into the corrals by 7:40 a.m. 5K participants should load into the corral by 8:00 a.m. 5K participants should enter the corral from Rich or Main Streets. See the website for specific corral assignments.

That’s a wrap for today. Until next time, you can find me at wordstorunby.com. Drop in to say hello, share your racing stories or offer feedback. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks for listening to Pace Per Mile Radio and see you at the next mile marker.

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Currently our host, Chris Nicholas, is running across the United States (Washington D.C. to Los Angeles) to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Chris is running by himself (unsupported) with a jogging stroller along route 50. He averages about 30-40 miles a day and is over 1/4 of the way through his journey to date. He is currently in Missouri! Follow Chris at Pace Per Mile and visit Run and Finish to make a donation to help support this wonderful cause today.

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Celebrate Week #15: Cap City Half Marathon Training Report and a WINNER!

March 26, 2012 by Sara- Words to Run By Blog

This week, Celebrate A Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my Running the Edge Giveaway! I wish I could make you all winners!! 🙂

Congratulations to…Jen Correa!

Congrats, Jen! Please email me at sara@wordstorunby.com by the end of the day on Friday, March 30, 2012 with your mailing address or I will pick another winner.

This week was a horrible training week for me. My knees are painful everytime I even try to walk. I am calling the Doc this week to get an appointment to find out what is going on. Needless to say, I am not. at. all. happy. I missed out on a 9 mile training run with the 13’s this weekend, which always makes me sad. I couldn’t even sleep in because I am so used to getting up early on Saturday mornings.

About all I did this week was drink water and even so, I need to work on that over the weekends:

How was your week? Tell me about it, since I didn’t have a training week myself! I am hoping for some good news (or any news) from the doctor. How do you deal with a nagging injury?

Until the next mile marker,

In Case You Missed It:

From Chris at the Lincoln Memorial in D.C.

My friend and Pace Per Mile Bossman, Chris Nicholas, is running across the United States. His journey began yesterday and so far he is on Mile 8, Day 2. He is raising funds for the Children’s Miracle Network of Hospitals and is doing a hell of a lot of work to help out kids and families he doesn’t even know! Check out his story and please donate $1, $5, $10 or more if you can! Keep up with Chris on the Pace Per Mile Facebook Page.