Friday, March 04, 2011

Flashback Friday: Chilly Half Marathon


The Chilly Half Marathon is coming up this Sunday - it's my first race of the year and I can't wait!

I first ran the Chilly back in 2008. It was my second half marathon and I finished in 2:01 (12-min PR).



I signed up again in 2009, but missed too much training due to a shoulder separation. My sister and I volunteered in chip removal at the finish line instead!


Last year I was able to lace up again and finished in 1:47:41 (5-min PR).


I love this race for its flat and fast course with very few turns (primarily one long out-and-back along the lake) and the timing is great to gauge fitness early in the season.


Unfortunately Sunday is expected to be windy. 35 kph (22 mph) winds. Ugh. It's also supposed to be mild and wet on Saturday with a flash freeze over night. Double ugh. Hopefully the conditions will improve or it could be an ugly morning out there.

That being said, I'm ready for this race. Bring it on! I'm anxious to make some of my recent training success official with a recorded time.


Goal (if conditions are reasonable): PR - sub 1:44:48

I have my sights set on something around 1:42. Stay tuned.

46 comments:

lish said...

You are going to rock it...I just know it....So it might be a little icy and windy...think of ALL the character building 30km you have had this cycle!! You can do it!!!

5 Miles Past Empty said...

You can do it!!!!!!! I hope the winds wait until later to flare up!! during my first marathon in OKC, along the lake they were saying winds up to 47 mph!! Shoot me!! But it wasn't that bad thankfully!!! So fingers are crossed for you!!!

Running Ricig said...

good luck!! Hopefully you don't have crazy winds!

Gotta Run..... said...

I will be the first to say it…. do you see the weight difference between the 2008 photo and current photos of you now? Amazing! You just look great!! Now go out and rock a new PR! ;)

Anonymous said...

u wore short sleeves last march? niiice!
hopefully the conditions improve and its not too windy.
u will do great! good luck!

macnic said...

Good luck! I hope the wind doesn't blow and you have a wonderful first race or the season - you know that Yumke is pacing the 1:45 group? I'm sure you'll see him!

TNTcoach Ken said...

Wow, my little niece is getting sooooooo fast! I remember when you were little and ............. LOL

Anne said...

You are in such great shape and your training has been going so well...you are going to rock this half. If anything prevents you from getting a PR, it'll be something out of your control...like crazy winds and ice. GOOD LUCK!! I hope the weather gods are with you :)

bobbi said...

you are going to ROCK it, crappy weather or no crappy weather.

can't wait to hear all about it!!

J said...

Good luck this weekend! Hope the weather cooperates so you can run fast and have a great race!!

TMB @ RACING WITH BABES said...

Go get that PR! I know you have it in you! Best of luck!

Unknown said...

Rockin Marlene. Good luck and may the winds always be at your back.

Marky Mark said...

Good luck and I'll be thinking of you-the good news is that you've already done longer runs in worse conditions in the last little while. I thought about registering for it as a last minute thing but I haven't gone beyond 13K lately plus your description of the weather means that without having done the training you've done, it's probably a bad idea. Enjoy and rock it!

Emily said...

GOOD LUCK!!! You can TOTALLY PR! You've been nailing your runs lately!

Unknown said...

have a great race!

Runners Fuel said...

Good luck on the race! You can make your PR!!

Jill said...

You can DO IT!! Go get that PR girl...and have a blast along the way!

Jason said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE that you laid your time on the line like that.

Go Get It Marlene....you can do it and you got a slew of people behind you.

fancy nancy said...

You are so going to rock this race!!! Oh and give yourself a pat on the back...look at the way you have transformed your body too!! You rock!

Janice {Run Far} said...

I hate the wind. Hope you get your 1:42... your times just keep getting faster each year, so this should be easy peasy.

Jen Feeny said...

Wind or not I think you've totally got this!

Aron said...

have a GREAT race Marlene!!!! I hope stays away for one hour and forty two minutes on Sunday morning :)

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Windy? Well and out and back means at least half of the time the wind could be at your back!

I'll be watching for your 1:4X finish. Go ahead and crush it. I'm ready to be jealous. ;-)

Hannah said...

Very nice! Here's to cooperative weather, and a new PR!

Thomas said...

Good Luck!

Char said...

Good luck! Good Luck! GOOD LUCK!!!

amy said...

I remember last year's Chilly Half being quite windy on the way back--hopefully the wind will bring you luck this year like it did last year :)

Nicole said...

GO get it girl!!! cant wait to hear how it goes!

H Love said...

You are so strong! You can do it! Have fun...can't wait for the recap!

Marci said...

Have a great race Marlene, I'll be there too, hope to see you around (and lets hope the wind subsides), I know wind or not, you will rock it!!

Laura said...

Have an awesome race and let's hope the wind is always at our backs!

yumke said...

If we're lucky, the wind will push us back home.. how does the course go again? I should probably read up on tactics.

ajh said...

I have faith in you. You can hit that PR. I'll hope for good weather for you. It sounds like it is going to be horrendous here this weekend. Can't wait to hear about it.

Jen B. said...

Rock it out girl!!!

Anonymous said...

Kick butt!

Heather said...

Go get it! Hope the weather cooperates and you have a great race!

Cory Reese said...

You're totally all over it. Good luck!!!!

Richelle said...

You're definitely going to kick butt! Good luck!

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

1:42...come pace me.. I am in MAJOR NEED of a Half PR!!

GOOD LUCK!!

Johann said...

All the best and enjoy! 1:42 = awesome goal!

EndorphinBuzz said...

Good luck on the race, I hope the weather is not too bad. I'm pegging you at a 1:40 PR :)

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

Hopefully the weather report is wrong and let's face it- with weather that is a definite possibility!

Good luck!

Unknown said...

You will do it, you will!!!
Can't wait to hear all about it!

Q said...

Awesome, good luck!

Lindsay said...

well now that you only weigh like 80 lbs it will be hard to run into the wind. i hope you don't get blown away! good luck all the same!

Denise said...

too late to wish you luck and to tell you that i know you got it in you!! congrats again!