Race Report: Riley's Rumble Half Marathon

Registration and Cost:  You can't beat the cost of this one! 

MCRRC members: Register for free on race day. If you already have a club-issued bib and timing chip, wear them. Otherwise, you can pick them up at the registration tables. (If you have not picked up your chip yet, bring a $5 deposit.)
Non-members:  Register online for $21.40 ($20 race fee + $1.40 online processing fee) through August 1. (You can register in person on race-day morning but, because there is no runner limit, you could be waiting in a lengthy line. Pre-registering also means we can't misread your handwritten entry or mistype it to the computer. We want your name spelled correctly in the results!) At the race site, you will be given a bib and timing chip. The chip must be returned immediately after the race.

Expo and Packet Pick Up:  No expo.  Pick up packet on race morning. 

Start Line:  Low key and not too crowded at the start.  The lines for the porta potties went fairly quickly.  No pace corrals and the start is not chip timed. 

Course:  MCRRC says, "Riley's Rumble is the evil half that your mother warned you about. Don't be seduced by the lush bucolic countryside of rural Montgomery County. This race will challenge the best runners. If you want the 3 H's (hills, heat, and humidity), this is the race for you. It is a good workout if you're preparing for a fall marathon but Riley's is not a good idea for your first half marathon. As an alternative, consider volunteering for Riley's and then running Parks Half Marathon (our 'better half') which takes place in early autumn when the weather is usually significantly cooler."

They aren't joking when they say it is hilly.  The entire 13 miles I felt like I was either going up or going down.  The uphill on mile 11 was a killer.  I walked up a portion of it because I felt perhaps that would be faster, ha! 

There are no bathrooms along course.  I held it and made it.  There are plenty of water stops serving water and Gatorade.  I stopped at every water stop and walked through making sure I got plenty of hydration.  I have learned the hard way this summer!

The course is tough, but the volunteers are amazing and full of humor!  Not a lot of crowd support, but some of the signs will make you laugh out loud.  One sign said, "Bathroom stop ahead!" and I thought awesome...I didn't think there would be any!  Then as I got closer, it had an arrow and said "find tree".  Gave me a good chuckle! 

There was also a popsicle station.  I grabbed one and the cold felt so good in my hands, but I realized I just couldn't run, breathe and eat it all at the same time so I tossed it with half left. 

For the amount of hills and the humidity, I surprisingly felt pretty strong.  I was able to talk with the runners around me. 


Finish Line:

Coming into the finish line, nine minutes off a PR.  I consider this a win with the course and the humidity!  (Not to mention all the water stops!)

The finish line had plenty of water and snacks available to runners. 

Grade: A.  I will definitely do it again next year.  You can't beat the price...for me, it was FREE!  If you live in the area...you should seriously consider becoming a member of MCRRC! 

Women's Health Magazine Run 10 Feed 10 Race!

 

 

 

I am proud that I have been chosen as a Women's Health Magazine Action Hero!  I will be participating in a great 10k race for a great cause called the Run 10 Feed 10. 

 

 

 

About RUN 10 FEED 10

Right now, 49 million Americans are going hungry—they don't know when they will get their next meal. The reality is there IS enough food in the world today for everyone to get the nourishment they need for a healthy and productive life.

HUNGER IS THE WORLD’S MOST SOLVABLE PROBLEM.

It's something we can do something about. Together, we can make a huge impact in a very simple way. All you have to do is RUN!

This fall, Women’s Health will once again host our run with a mission. Run a 10K with us, and you will instantly provide 10 meals for those going hungry in your local and surrounding neighborhoods. You can join us by racing in New York City, Chicago or San Francisco, or you can join us at Fun Runs nationwide. If you don't live in one of our host cities - you can still participate! Sign up to run your own 10K or start a team and host your own RUN 10 FEED 10 run. The money from your registration and fundraising efforts will go to those metropolitan areas nearest to you.

 

 

 

Please consider joining me!  You can save $5 OFF any city's (or individual) registration by using code: WHDAHLEM.   Do something good for yourself and for your community.  As a teacher, I know that hunger affects more than just bellies, in affects a child's ability to learn.  Let's #dogood together!  All of the money raised goes to the Feed Foundation. 

 

You not only will be raising money to feed the hungry in your local community, but you will cross the finish line with a sense of pride, accomplishment and some great SWAG.  Check out the Feed 10 bag.  I love mine and use it all the time! 

 

 

If you don't want to run yourself, but you want to donate to the cause, please consider making a donation of any amount to https://www.crowdrise.com/colleendahlem1/fundraiser/colleendahlem  You can also purchase products like the bag above through Feed as well to help the cause. 

Also please vote daily through Aug 18th to get me a spot on the cover of Runners Workd Magazine!  It would be a dream come true!  

http://covercontest.runnersworld.com/entry/331/

Product Review: Apera Bags

 

I've been meaning to share my new gym bag for some time.  I've been using this great Apera bag (the yoga tote) since winter and I love it!  I made the switch over from an Athleta gym bag.

First, I love the clean white look of this one.  They have other colors too of course.

Secondly, so many pockets!  There is a place for EVERYTHING.  I don't even use all the pockets.  I love the separate compartment for my spin shoes...keep those stinky things away from everything else! 

I even have some pockets that are still empty!  I would use these if I was bringing extra stuff to the gym to shower and get ready there.  And those pockets will come in handy as I start bringing my suit and swim cap for my triathlon training! 

 

I use one of the side pockets to store all my playlists for the spin classes that I teach.  So handy!

 

 

If you want to check them out, you can find them at www.aparabags.com.  They are having a summer sale with 20% off using code SUMMER2014 and 40% off all bags in the color blue! 

 

And they are for a good cause:

Apera will donate one bag to a Special Olympics athlete for every three bags we sell.

 

Let me know what you think of your Apera Bag! 

 

Disclaimer: I was provided a bag to review, but the thoughts on the product are my own.  I love it. 

I did a Video Gait Analysis at Potomac River Running and I am giving away a FREE onsite training program ($159 value)!

Potomac River Running, a local family owned chain of running stores, invited me out to their Rockville store to try out their new video gait analysis and shoe fitting process.  I was a little skeptical because as a seasoned runner, I felt I knew myself as a runner pretty well.  I was wrong.

Joe started out by taking a measurement.  A size 6, so I sized up to 6.5 running shoe.  Just as I had been doing.  

 

I first tried the Brooks Pure.  There was something about the fit that just didn't feel right to me.   I tested them out on the treadmill and confirmed they weren't for me.

 

 

In my past success with Nike, Joe recommend I try on some Nike Zoom Vomeros for a pure neutral shoe and I decided to give this new style a shot.  I do still love my lunar glides!

While you run on the treadmill, you can see a close up of your feet on the TV screen.  My gait looked fine on screen and to the human eye.   It was determined I was a neutral runner, which I knew...then the surprise came!  

With an iPad, my gait was video taped.  When slowed down, the video footage revealed that was I was a heel striker with my left foot and a mid-foot striker with my right foot.  Crazy!  Once I saw it on video, I really became hyper aware of it.  It may be hard to change now since its so ingrained, but at least now I'm aware.

The other thing that we looked at on the video was my cadence.  The video revealed I need to work on my turn over. I'd been hearing a lot about running to cadence, but really haven't worked it into my training yet.  Time to bust out a metronome app!  Here's an article from Women's Running magazine all about it here. 

 

I had a great experience and such a fun afternoon with Potomac River Running at their Rockville Town Center location.  Go check out any of the 9 PRR locations throughout the DC metro area for a FREE analysis to learn something new about yourself as a runner!  

Thanks to Joe, Jorge and the entire team at Potomac River Running!  

 

AND they are incredibly kind and generous that they are giving me a FREE training program at any of their DC locations to raffle off to a lucky reader!  They offer programs for new runners and old!  Running 101 up to the Distance Program, in which I am hoping will lead me to the BQ I am chasing!  Come join me!  

 

Even if you don't win, just for entering they will send you a PRR gift certificate! You can't beat that.  These guys are amazing.  Support your local running stores and programs!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How To Run Your Best Race

We all want to run our best race each time we toe the line.  Here are some great tips to make that PR happen! 

1.  Know the course.  Look at the course map ahead of time. This way you will:
 -Know where the water stops are.  Some will only serve water and some will serve both water and a hydration drink.
-Know where the porta-pottys will be along route.  This way you won't get caught guessing how much further when that urge hits.


2.  Know what will be served along course.  This way you can train using that fuel and hydration drink to make sure your body can handle it.  The other option of course is to carry your own fuel.  Many races hand out Gu and Gatorade along the course and I know it doesn't work for me. 

3.  Plan what will wear on race day at least a week ahead.  Go for a run in that outfit to make sure it works....that nothing will chafe or irritate you while running.

4.  Have a throw away warm up layer.  This will keep you warm while you get to the start in the cooler morning hours.  I also warm up after the first mile but then hate carrying a long sleeve or sweatshirt the rest of the race.  So I buy kids large sweatshirts at the Goodwill for $1 and then toss them alongside the course when I am ready.  I know that Sue from This Momma Runs for Cupcakes had the great idea of buying a Goodwill bathrobe and wearing that to the start.  That's a great idea to stay warm!  A runner I met at Marine Corps Marathon always wears a shrug sweater and my cousin has a pearl izumi one that she doesn't toss.  So much easier than arm sleeves.  All so smart! 

5.  Check the weather forecast and lay your outfit out the night before.  Many races are EARLY.  You don't want the stress of scrambling to find that your favorite pair of shorts are in the dirty laundry pile!  (I speak from experience!)

6.  Get to the start line early.  This gives you enough time to make one last bathroom stop and find and place yourself in the appropriate corral as well as find the pacer if you plan on following one. 

Any tips you would add?

Zooma Annapolis!

I am still aiming for sub 1:45 in the half marathon, and I am hoping Zooma Annapolis will be it!  It's hillier than DC and will be warmer, but I am going to try and run smarter and make it happen!

 



Winter training got you down?  Think warm bay breezes in Annapolis in May! 



 

Zooma's website says this about the race:

Let patriotic pride fuel you on this tour of one of America’s great seaside towns.  Starting at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, it’s hard to not feel your heart swell listening to the National Anthem in the excitement-filled moments before the race starts.  Out on the course, runners loop around the lovely, brick Maryland State House before running past the Naval Academy.  Once across the challenging, but beautiful, Naval Academy Bridge, racers enjoy an out-and-back section that allows plenty of racer-to-racer cheers and support, as well as views of Round Bay, an inlet off of the Chesapeake Bay.

After the race, its time to celebrate in the end zone of Navy Stadium at the After-Party Expo with wine, live music, shopping, recovery yoga, and lots of fit girls’ weekend celebration.

Race Cap: 4,000

Average Race Day Temperatures:
High 81°F
Low 59°F

ZOOMA ANNAPOLIS PERKS:

• Entry into a scenic, professionally-managed, and timed half marathon or 10K race
• Access to full fit girls weekend schedule – a Fitness Expo, an Honest Tea Mocktail Party, and an After-Party Expo featuring wine from Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, post-race massages, shopping, and music
• ZOOMA Signature Swag Bag (over $50 value)
• Water and Sports drink stationed along the course and at the finish line
• Wine and Bubbly and food at the finish line
• Half Marathon Finisher’s medal (pictured below) + 10K finisher’s medal
• Access to special room rates at the official race hotel, the Loews Annapolis Hotel

Last year they had some great post-and pre-race deals around town, so make sure you bring your bib with you to get some good deals around town!  Pusser's is my personal favorite and make sure you sit outside :-). 

The above information can be found at http://zoomarun.com/annapolis/

 

For after race brunch I am headed to the BoatYard.  http://www.boatyardbarandgrill.com/  It was actually difficult to find a post race brunch because most places are Sunday brunch only and this is a Saturday race. 

 

Use code COLLEEN15 for 10% off and come join me!  :-)

Zooma Runs Mother's Day Contest. Please Vote Daily!

My husband nominated me for a Mothers Day contest put on by Zooma Race Series.  I'd love to win. If I win 1st I get a post race spa day for me and a friend.  I'd take my mom!

I am running the Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon through beautiful Annapolis and a spa day after that, would be icing on the cake.  After grabbing my post race sparkling wine of course!  If you want to join me at the race use code ANNAMB12 for 10% off the half or the 10k option.
 

If I win 2nd or 3rd, I will win Zooma race entries to any of their fabulous locations to give away here on the blog to you!   So please vote daily through 5/23!

Vote here:

http://woobox.com/muvits/vote?web=1

Thank you so much for your support!