Denouement

Unicef 1/2 Marathon 2012

Recent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesMichelleL's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageWeek ViewMonth ViewYear View
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2007200820092010201120122013
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Kowloon Tong,Hong Kong

Member Since:

Jul 02, 2007

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Olympic Trials Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

Unaided:

5K - 17:11 (track Pre-kids and at BYU) (1998)

10K - 35:48 (track Pre-kids and at BYU) (1998)

10K - 35:34 (road - Shek Mun 10k 12/12)

1/2 Marathon 1:19:44 (UNICEF HM 11/12)

Marathon 2:47:08 (ING Hartford Connecticut 10/10)

Aided:

St. George Marathon 2:50:40 (10/08)

1/2 marathon - Hobble Creek 1:17:14 (8/08)

10K - Deseret News 10K - 35:02 (7/08)

Short-Term Running Goals:

PR 1/2 marathon AGAIN


Long-Term Running Goals:

Break 2:46 in Boston!

Personal:

I used to run for BYU, but only after trying out three times and finally walking on, so I was never a star. However, it was wonderful to run with great people and under Coach Shane. When you run with fast people, you can't help to improve! I graduated BYU in 1998, and didn't run a race until 2002, after having my second child. My hiatus and other crazy life commitments have made my competitive running suffer, but the last couple of years I have tried to get back into it the best I can. I have been married since 1996, to Paul Lowry, who is a runner himself. I have three boys (my three rascals), ages 12, 10, and 8.

After a great 2008 season, I was injured and eventually diagnosed and cross-diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a type of arthritis disease, which precludes running for all but the most stubborn.  So I am on medications, trying to stay healthy, and seeing my PT often.  And running!  Now beating the streets in Hong Kong.

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
NB RC900 Black/yellow Lifetime Miles: 183.31
NB RC1300 Red/Black Lifetime Miles: 195.31
2012 MTR Lifetime Miles: 4035.70
890 Blue Lifetime Miles: 310.55
NB RC 1600 Lifetime Miles: 96.76
RC 1400 Lifetime Miles: 90.60
NB 890 Baby Blue Lifetime Miles: 233.26
NB 890 Electric Blue Lifetime Miles: 319.67
NB 890 Tokyo Turquoise Lifetime Miles: 163.54
Race: Unicef 1/2 Marathon 2012 (13.11 Miles) 01:19:44, Place overall: 1
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
5.000.0013.100.000.000.000.0018.10

Unicef half marathon today.  I wanted to beat Yiu Kit Ching's best half of the year, to get ranked #1 in hong kong (was #2 going into this race).  Her time was 1:21:30ish.  I felt pretty confident I could beat that time (as demonstrated by not knowing the exact time, and my flat pr is 1:20:53, so I thought I would go for that time, which is 3:50ish pace.  

My coach initially advised me to go out at 19:30/5k pace, which is slower than 3:50 pace (3:50 pace is 19:10 pace).  He wanted to see me negative split.  But I said no way to that plan, unless I felt that 19:30 was the right pace by feel in the race.  

It was 20-21C and sprinkly, and windy to start.  So the first k is flatish, then it goes rolly in 2, I think, then uphill for the third k, then downhill for the fourth k, then flatish for the 5th k.  I went out in about 3:46, tried to dial back while staying true to hm feel.  Talked with Chris who passed me in the 2nd k.  He was going to try to break 1:20, and I was going for 1:21, so I let him go ahead and he was 20 sec or so ahead by the time I crested the hill.  I tried to block wind when I could but was all alone at 3-5k.  18:56 at 5k, so 13 and change too fast. Then some guy came up on me and we worked together until 10k when he pulled away.  He was going a bit faster than I wanted, but I felt ok and I told myself working with him a bit fast was easier than being on my own slower.  Around 8k there is an up and downhill.  19:01 for the second 5k, so 37:52 for the first 10k, so 18 seconds ahead of schedule.  From 11-12k it is rolling/uphill, and I was in no mans land, but there were men ahead of me, and I tried to close the gap because it started to rain hard, right into our faces, so headwind and rain, not the pleasant light rain that we had the first 11k.  Thankfully that rain lightened up again after a few k.  I reeled in a couple of men, but never got too much of a shield, perhaps a few seconds here, a half minute when I caught Chris, then we ran side by side up the last big hill, and it was 15k after the crest and I pulled away. 19:02 for the 3rd 5k.  Downhill for a nice k and I made up some time but then there was still 5k to go.  Thankfully the 10k runners had joined us but were still behind us, so in the last 4k I got passed by just the top runners, and I had the number of k's to go.  So I switched my watch from average pace to total time, to see if I could break 1:20.  With 4k to go I had 15:15 til 1:20, so 3:45 pace with 15 sec to spare, with 3k to go miscalculated and thought I had somehow run at 4:00, but I must not have because with 2k to go I had 7:45ish, which still gave me 3:45 with 15 sec to spare, my 4th 5k was 18:43--awesome. With 1k to go I am on the disneyland promenade, and I feel like I am ready to poke someone's eye out, while they are playing this upbeat Disney music, then my kids are cheering me on with about 900m to go--perfect timing.  With 200m to go, you turn a corner and the MTR station is right there so you hear "The floors are wet and may be slippery.  Please be careful", and I say in my head, yeah, no kidding, the floors have been wet this whole time.  My kick is weak, I show 3:37 pace for the last 1.11k, but I break the tape. 1:19:44.  This is a big race and certified, watch said 13.22, so that's about right.  Need to work on those tangents! Big time PR.  I felt so good at the finish, like I could have kept going (though the race definitely got harder over time).  Ali got second place and a great time 1:22:5something, I think a PR, so we were both so happy at the finish.  

I joined the kids and cheered people on until we found Paul.  Adjusted for no elevation drop, this is his second best half ever, so he is excited and excited to do more to improve.  Then I changed into dry clothes and run a kids 3k fun run, and I feel like passing out during the "fun run" though I am going just 6:20ish pace.  

I won 75,000 Asia miles (enough for a plane ticket to Korea - June 2013, and 1.5 other similar flights), a gift basket from LeSportsac, a bracelet, and a watch from Seiko.  Cool.

NB RC900 Black/yellow Miles: 13.502012 MTR Miles: 35.80
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From josse on Sat, Nov 24, 2012 at 23:45:25 from 174.255.130.167

Awesome! Way to go, you inspire me:) I love that you are racing so great.

From MichelleL on Sat, Nov 24, 2012 at 23:50:24 from 1.36.88.243

What is so cool Josse is you saw me in all my blahness this summer. It is great to see that a patch of blase running doesn't mean you have to be derailed for long. It is fun to get the fire back. I guess it helps that I won't have time to race much next year so I have to seize the day.

From ArmyRunner on Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 07:55:31 from 99.72.211.28

Great race Michelle! It is great to see you running so well right now. Many more PRs to come for sure.

From Adam RW on Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 09:01:53 from 67.171.121.150

Great report and awesome PR/win!!!

From MCKENZIE on Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 12:39:56 from 67.2.58.73

YAHOOO!

From Jake K on Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 15:46:14 from 67.177.11.154

Well done Michelle! Way to drop your PR to 1:19 and get the win... you're on a roll!

From Kassi on Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 17:14:07 from 98.202.223.143

Awesome job Michelle!! You are doing so well! Love to hear about your training and racing!

From I Just Run on Mon, Nov 26, 2012 at 08:38:56 from 67.79.11.242

Great race and congradulations on the new PR...!!! All the K's confused me a little but I could tell from the inflection in your voice that the race was going well :-)

From AmberG on Mon, Nov 26, 2012 at 21:35:33 from 209.33.238.101

CONGRATULATIONS Michelle on such a great race, win, and PR! I always love reading your race reports, mile by mile (well k by k) ... YOu race and write well!!! I love your courage in racing, not afraid to lay it out there!

Just curious, what you are doing next year? you mentioned not having time to race?

From Burt on Mon, Nov 26, 2012 at 21:49:14 from 72.223.86.148

Hi Michelle. Sorry it took me all day to read this. It was pretty long. And thanks for not ruining the end for me. I'm glad you got a PR. Now enjoy some leftover turkey sandwiches. Or dog. What kind of meat do they have over there?

From runningafterbabies on Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 07:39:05 from 71.195.219.247

What a race! You are having a great year. Nice job keeping it together and throwing down an awesome 5k at the end.

From Paul on Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 07:58:09 from 65.114.209.66

Congrats on the win, the PR, and sub-1:20!

From jtshad on Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 08:43:07 from 141.221.191.225

Congrats on a stellar new PR and win!

From flatlander on Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 11:13:39 from 76.31.26.153

So impressive, especially at 21C (not that you ever get much lower than that). Glad your training is working so well, you have put in a lot of serious miles this year.

From julieesplin on Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 15:14:21 from 75.169.177.89

Great race Michelle. Your hard work is inspiring. Can't wait to see what you'll do next.

From MichelleL on Tue, Dec 04, 2012 at 16:10:44 from 168.70.21.27

Thanks everyone! It was one of those magical ones.

Amber-I am going to Phd school, assuming I get into one of the schools I have applied to here. By doing so I either need to cut out the competitive running or ignore my family so I will be doing the former. Perhaps I can keep in it a bit, but we'll see.

Burt-fried tofu sandwiches!

Add Your Comment.
  • Keep it family-safe. No vulgar or profane language. To discourage anonymous comments of cowardly nature, your IP address will be logged and posted next to your comment.
  • Do not respond to another person's comment out of context. If he made the original comment on another page/blog entry, go to that entry and respond there.
  • If all you want to do is contact the blogger and your comment is not connected with this entry and has no relevance to others, send a private message instead.
Only registered users with public blogs are allowed to post comments. Log in with your username and password or create an account and set up a blog.
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Recent Comments: