Mountain Goat Run Recap

This past Sunday, I ran one of Syracuse's most premier races, The Mountain Goat Run. This is a challenging 10 mile course through the streets of Syracuse.

The weather: 40 degrees with overcast, spotty rain showers likely. I was debating on what to wear all the way up to the start. The wind was a factor in making the 40 degree weather seem a little bit chillier. I decided to wear Under armour leggings, Light Long sleeve shirt and a Jacket over it just in case the rain started. I don't do well in the cold. Yet again, I don't do well in the heat either! Decided against wearing my hat and just hang onto the gloves. I had a feeling I would be hot with the hills but I was too cold waiting around to think about taking anything off at that time

2 Hours Before the race I did my usual pre race meal. I mixed it all in a protein shake and downed it. I was a little worried as to how my stomach was going to hold up as I had some issues with it on Saturday night. Being Gluten intolerant and eating a little wrap on accident called for a afternoon of nausea, dizziness and all the other Gastrointestinal upsets. After drinking the protein shake, I decided to chill and just hydrate with Fluid Replacement drink until I got to the race.

I decided I would be under 90 min so I didn't need too much to start with. I used a Hand held fluid bottle with FLUID hydration and had a gel just in case.

I headed down to the venue around 9:00 and found a great parking spot in one of the lots a block away. I stood there, envisioning a good race.  Leading up to this race, I have had some good times in the last few races and I was feeling confident in my training and I was ready to go Under 90 minutes.

I met up with friends, got into a few pictures, found my training partners and decided to pace with them and see how we would do.

The race was a late start 10:20. I decided to go for a quick warm up to warm up!! After about 10 min I knew I would be a little warm with what I had on but decided to keep it on anyways.

We decided to seat ourselves closer to the front. After announcements, Playing of the national anthem, we were off and running.

The increase in adrenaline was astounding for me! I decided to hold back and just make the first few miles comfortably. We were ticking off 8:20 pace and feeling great!

Mile 2 takes you up Stolp and around the water tower. It is here that I lost my training partners. I looked back and could not find them in the crowd. I decided to keep running in hopes that they would catch up. I was feeling good and took advantage of increasing my pace just a bit. .

Mile 4 Takes you up and around Onondaga park, I loved reading all the words of encouragement etched in chalk on the pavement. Some were pretty funny.

At mile 5 I was feeling pretty warm. The Gloves were off and I was ready to take the Jacket off. I couldn't get it past my Garmin and really didn't want to stop to adjust as I was doing so well with pacing. I decided to zip it down a bit and keep running with it on.

Mile 6 was Colvin st hill. I was feeling a little dead until I heard the awesome band playing the theme song from Rocky Halfway up the hill! Then a Y runner friend was at the top telling me I was looking great and to keep going! I was on cloud 9! I made it up with a sub 9 min mile!! woot!

Mile 7 is just long and it drags on. takes you up past Syracuse University campus. I liked the old course where it turned a bit but now its a false flat with a little incline to just get you out of breath a little more

Mile 8 Was back into Thorden Park with people cheering on a steep quick hill. Again, the writing plastered in chalk on the pavement was so encouraging and helped pushed me up the hill.

Mile 9 was all downhill. I tried to pick off as many runners as I could. Sub 8 min pacing!

Mile 10 I saw another running coach before the last turn onto Salina street. She said the best thing she could to me. "Run until you have nothing left!" And this is what I did!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my time!!

I knew I was pacing well but tried to focus on form and hydration most of the time.

My ending time was 1:23:48. Another PR in the books!!!!

Post race It started to sprinkle and I started to get cold fast with the wind. I quickly went through the refreshment line, Congratulated my running partners on their Phenominal Finish of 1:26, Chatted with a lot of running and tri friends. I ended up making a bee line to my car after about 30 min of shivering.

I am still on cloud 9 from the race. Hoping my next one is just as good!

Next up, Green Lakes Triathlon!! EEEEKKKK!!!

Seneca 77.7 Relay Recap

I have to review this race before I move onto today's Race!

Last week I joined 6 other amazing females for the Seneca 77.7 Relay Race. I think the name says it all.
It is a 77.7 mile race along Seneca Lake, Starting in Geneva, NY and ending there as well. This race was in its 3rd year running and sold out fairly quickly!

Its a relay, hence the name. 21 legs, each of us doing 3 each of various distances around the lake.
There was staggering start times starting at 7 and working until 9:30 am. This was great to have the faster runners go last and slower go first, making everyone come in around the same time to the finish.

Our team name was "Heart and Sole". Our team was put together at work. All Physicians, Midlevels and nurses! What a way to get some comeraderie! We all knew each other pretty well and all knew each others paces, which was great when it came to the navigation and logistics of the race itself.

Our goal time was 9 min/mile and our start time was 8am

The weather was overcast in the 40's to low 50's with some wind. When you weren't running, you definitely needed to stay warm with some sweats! So glad I packed them and extra shirts to change into between.

Our team:

Legs 1, 8, 15- was run by one of our speediest runners, Karen. Karen was the life of the team! Ringing cowbells, congratulating everyone and just keeping an upbeat attitude

Leg 2, 9, 16- Ran by Tracy- A little on the quiet side. cute as a button!

Legs 3, 10, 17- Ran by ME!! - A crazy runner, Triathlete, Cycler, trying to get her next PR!!

Legs 4, 11, 18- Crazy Kristen!- Her speed is unbelievable she can talk in full sentences at a 7 min mile while I'm dying to breathe!

Legs 5, 12, 19- Ran by Liz- A spry, witty little thing! With her and Karen together it was like Frick and Frack!! Loved it!! They are the cutest!

Legs 6, 13, 20- Ran by Cheryl- My colleague and friend! She is an amazing, funny person! Glad she joined our team at the last minute!

Legs 7, 14, 21- Ran by Miranda- Has the greatest running form!! I have a few pictures of her and they are amazing!

It was a long day of heckling, cheering and laughs. I didn't know how I would stay awake and survive a whole day of running and cheering. But, then, I thought of my days of Ironman, Getting up at 4 am, not getting home until late in the day.

My first leg came on very fast. Leg 3. 4.95 miles. Moderate climb. I was in the Porta loos, I needed to hurry. Karen started taking my clothes off telling me Tracy was coming. I started off pretty fast but was able to maintain a good pace. I tried to keep a rhythm. It was nice to know my teammates would be driving by soon with their cowbells in hand. There is something about people waiting for you to continue the race that makes you move a little bit faster. The leg had approx 200 feet of climbing all going up from the start. 7:43, 8:13, 8:28, 8:41, 8.20. I was a little disappointed I couldn't keep them all under 8:30 But with the wind. I was OK with the total time. We were exchanging well and knew all our partners speeds which were nice!
For this leg I wore gloves, a hat, 2 shirts and pants. Felt a little warm and had to take the hat and gloves off.

The next couple hours flew by and I was ready to tackle the second Leg. It does get a little cold sitting in the car trying to warm up. I kept putting my sweats on in between legs, taking layers off so they could dry in the car.

Leg #10- 4.7 miles. A BIG descent. 450 feet down in 36 min was taxing on the legs. I tried to keep the feet light and quick. The miles ticked off. I was picking people out of the crowd to pass. This Leg, I chose to have a long sleeve and light jacket on. Pants, gloves and hat. Again, I took the hat off. Could've done without the jacket, But in between I was so cold I didn't know how I would get by on the run. I would rather be able to take layers off than to be cold the whole time! 7:45, 7:54, 7:33, 7:52, 7:46. I was hauling and felt pretty comfortable at this pace

Leg #17- 2.74 miles. Varied Terrain. Pretty made in the park that the volunteer directing us had no clue where we were supposed to go. another team that we knew running told us it wasn't the right mileage, it was only 2 miles. As I waited for Tracy to come through, I took off some layers and decided to run as fast as I could. After all, it was only 2 miles or so!! I ran with a short sleeve and tights only. The wind was picking up and I was afraid the rain was going to start any minute. If I didn't have to stop and talk with the guy who had no clue where to turn people, I would've had some even pacing. 7:32, 7:44, 8:11.

We were an hour ahead of our schedule. Waiting for Miranda to bring us home, we met her at the reunion line and ran the last quarter mile in together!

11:08- 8th fastest female team!!!

We had so much fun, we already said we would all do this again next year!!

Some not so fun times- Some of the stops were horrible in regards to stops and availability of the bathrooms. At one stop we all waited 30 min to use the bathroom!! We weren't there to cheer on our team mate and I think that there should've been more than just one or 2 bathrooms. The staggered start times were a great Idea, but the parking was terrible! Especially at the end when we were all catching up to each other. One stop, the volunteer was directing me to turn. Good thing I looked in my mirror because there were two runners coming in to the exchange point!!! That could've been ugly. I had terrible nerves in the state park with our team trying to park. We were so close to other cars and people. WAY out of my comfort zone.

Otherwise, Great swag, Great Post race party, Great Scenery, Awesome time with 6 of your friends!!!

Cant wait to sign up again!!!