10 in 12 Alicia'a Marathon 2013 year Review

2013! Grand year for the races. Started in January at The Mississippi Blues in Jackson MS. I was on the pace team for the 320 pacer. Cold race but overall organization was top. Brought in 3 runners for 320.

February was The Austin Marathon. Great town and I would love to explore it more. The day was 50 degrees and sunny. Hilly course . I was 6th in AG with a 320 time.

March brought Piney Point MD Marathon. Beautiful by the Lighthouses ! Lovey race!! Chilly start, I was third overall!

April I ran the RI marathon , flat fast race where you had to have a qualifying time to enter. So cold and windy. I was fourth overall women. Highly recommend race. 

The end of April I also was a pacer for The Caramel IN Marathon for the 330 spot. Cold cold day , 30 I believe. I was so happy with my group!! I brought in 5 runners to a BQ time! Awesome place and weekend!!

June I flew to WY to run the Casper WY marathon . A little warm and hilly, but quiet scenic run. I was the women winner and got a very cool plate and duffle bag

I then moved to Worcester MA from AR in the month of July. 

August I ran the first running of the Sweltering Summer Marathon in Pittsfield MA. We ran on a track outside on a .314 loop. Hot. Great fun. You could also do the 50k at the race. I won the women's marathon and received a very cool homemade clock.

In October I ran CT Hartford Marathon . Legs were tired from a 30k USATF-NE race 2 weeks prior and I payed the price. Slowed way down to a 320 finish and 4th AG

November I ran the Manchester NH marathon for my USATF-NE CMS Team. Hilly hills, wind and cold ! Our team pulled together and we ended up with a third place for this race, my finish here helped our team to a year end fourth place in the standings overall out of many many talented teams! 

Last minute choice to run at the end of November the NCR Trail Marathon in Hunt Valley MD. Seven hours if driving and a hurt hamstring did not help my race. Cold cold start of 18 degrees. I won my AG and pulled a top 10 finish

Great year , lessons learned, too many races! 2 marathon wins , 6 new states for my Sub Four Fifty State club, and new found group of very talented runners in my team here in MA. New wonderful friends. Challenges overcome and more to run daily.

Special thanks to Karhu Running for the support on the Karhu Team for the year 

www.karhurunning.com

My coaches Jake and Justin Gillette 

www.gilletterunnibg.com

2014 will be epic with a Sub 300 marathon,  USATF-NE speed races with my Team and more volume with my workouts. Going for the marathon trial time for 2016. Got to try. 

Number 90

It was fun and it was cold. Number 90 marathon in MD, Hunt Valley was last Saturday. Met with my maniac marathon friends Kino, New runner hard-core ultra runner Maggie, JC and others. Dawned cold and too early after a seven hour car ride alone from Worcester MA to Hunt Valley MD.

Made it to the school then jogged up to the start line in order to keep my hands from freezing .

The race was dirt packed rail trail and an out n back. Very scenic. Recommend this marathon for those whom wish for a low key race. On point to mile 14- hamstring stated again. Same pain. It got worse . Kept on going . Able to ekkk out a 320 , top 8 and an AG award. NOW to rest up. Recovery and friend time. My hands froze around the Gels!! Thanks to Karhu for the support and the top shoes 

www.karhurunning.com 

Wore my Wheaties visor for Team Wheaties Warriors 26.2! it looked great although I did not eat Wheaties before the race- needed to) 

www.gilletterunning.com

Shout out to Craft clothing 

www.craft.se

Keeping my running and racing spot on and warm 

First Turkey Race

MA is cold! The chilliest race I have ever raced. 20 degrees and wind. The race was great though, felt very strong, time definitely was impacted by the wind - 35:00 finish with out pushing good enough for top 10 OA women and 2AG, ready for last marathon of 2013 this Saturday in MD. My next blog post will be a year recap of races and goals for next year. I have so much to be thankful for!

Finland 2014 in the works

www.karhurunning.com

Manchester NH Race Recap. USATF-NE Championship Marathon and #89th 26.2

Last Sunday was the Manchester NH marathon - Sub State # 43 for my goal trying and I was running for the CMS Women's team. Had to do well. The day dawned cold, 30 degrees, windy and overcast- fun :) 

So I bundled up and ran to the start. On point until mile 12, had my splits on time for a 310-306 finish ... Then the glute started soreness again- I had this pain from CT Marathon 3weeks prior. I tend to do too many miles and was not rested.

I took 3 Advil - I know- not good, but I had to finish for the team. Hurt bad, this was very hilly too, 900 total feet of climb, finished in  323, good enough for 19th women and 9th in age group. 

Helped the team to third place which was wonderful. NOT the time I had to do not what I felt I had been able to do in training . Lessons learned. Fun time with the Team- wonderful support. 

I had my Karhu Flow Lights on and my Craft shorts- both were perfect for the marathon. 

Thanks always to Karhu and my coaches  Jake Gillette and Justin Gillette for the coaching. www.gilletterunning.com

www.karhurunning.com 

Manchester Marathon moving forward: number 89 Sunday

Great days over the past 2. Salem MA I was able to help at the Karhu Booth and discuss shoes . Then my friend Seongtaek Kwon , of Karhu  shoes, took a very cool video of me in Marblehead MA. 

The link is at www.karhurunning.com

Last week I was able to beat the cold and  volunteered at our 5k race!)) fun fun times and then ran 15 miles in the woods- rail trail with the CMS group

Taper now for the last marathon of 2013 the USATF-NE championship in NH Sunday. I will be a part of the Women's Team and I am excited.

Lastly a shout out to Tristian from Australia . www.runlikecrazy.com

He had this marathon contest and I was second ) he is cool and awesome ! 

Marathon Wisdom

   Good Friends mean the World to me

Marathon #88 and SubFour State # 42 this past Sat in Hartford CT. Running in very tired legs from Nahant 30k, not fun. Mentally tough and really my whole body started to ache at Mile 14! Not a good sign! I used my words of " stride"  and " you got this" - helped, but unable to push to  a PR. 318, 4th in Age Group of 178 and 38th Women of 1154. Cool. One more Manchester NH to go. 

Best Part: I finally got to meet Elite Karhu Runner Meagan Nedlo whom ran to a 4th place in the half. Meeting also first time with Seongtaek Kwon. Global Manager Web Karhu International and Craft Sportswear. He has supported me and my racing efforts with Team Karhu this year. Tremendously. Inspiration and love to Karhu and for the stamina power it helps to impart onto others) 

My great friend Cheryl Cleary was in the elite tent and told me about the candy and granola bars there - so cool- she is amazing and came in 12 th OA in the Half Marathon

Grant Stieglitz whom just won another marathon Sunday in Iowa, gave me words of wisdom, " no one is running but yourself", easy right? How I tend to forget this . Thank you. This weekend was made tremendous by friends and experiences made with them- love.

Now to rest for Manchester, NM Marathon the USATF-NE marathon championship race November 3rd.

USATF-NE Race 2

Last weekend was the Nahant 30k race, 18.6 miles in the hilly island town of Nahant MA north of Boston.

Great time. I stuck to my coaches plan and was able to finish with a negative Split time and had a straight up flat 18:00 for the last 5k of the race.

Our team finished forth in the open and second masters! Cheryl My Team mate won the women's title and our Men's team had the overall win. Amazing Team.

I got to hand out with Level Renner peeps and saw Jordan Of Karhu on the side cheering others on

My shoes were the new Karhu Fluid 3

Steady, stable and race worthy

Taper time for Hartford CT marathon next weekend. Going for it and aiming high for a sub 3:08. With my coaches help, Justin  and Jake Gillette, I am excited and ready

 

Lone Gull 10k

Great race with the CMS team! Last weekend was the USATF-NE 10 k in Gloucester MA

On the ocean we ran a little hills in a beautiful neighborhood , could not of asked for a better day, 65 and sunny

Our team did amazing and placed second as did the men's CMS Team!

I got to know the ladies on the team much more during the early road trip)

I did well in the race, but not up to par in my book, faded at mile 3 and then also went out way you to fast, lesson again learned

Ready for the challenge of Nahant 30k in a USATF-NE race number 2 for with the CMS Team, bring on the distance!!

After that CT Hartford Marathon Oct 12th, state number 42 and marathon 90

Weekend recap and upcoming 10k

Lessons learned over the weekend of needing to cut back from 80 mile weeks from time yo time and to REST. My left leg has been sore and as such, totally jogged the Canal Diggers 5k race Saturday and Sunday off. Feeling better!

Up next excited and proud to be representing first time for the CMS Women's Team at the Lone Gull 10k Sunday in Gloucester , MA. Part of the USATF- NE Grand Prix Series. I believe right now our team for the year is in fourth and our men's team is also second or third. Got to rest and be race ready!

www.lonegull10k.com

The Canal 5k was great, music food, beer everywhere! My friend Cheryl won overall women and got her PR, so proud of her!!

www.canaldiggers.org