I am so excited that race week is here. I feel really ready and excited to get down to the beach and ready to run. I have been thinking a lot about my goals for this race. I don’t think it’s news that I want to run a sub two hour half marathon at Shamrock but I have some other goals as well. Read on for my Shamrock Half Marathon Race Goals and please let me know if you will be down there!
- A Goal: This is the perfect day. The stars have aligned and I run the race of my life. 1:58 – this equates to just about a 9 minute mile pace even. Given my training (and especially how my tempo runs have gone), I believe this is possible. It won’t be easy, but I truly believe I can do this.
- B Goal: This is an average day. Nothing is perfect but nothing is awful. 1:59:59 – SUB 2. I have been working for this all winter long and I am really excited to hit this goal.
- C Goal: This is a bad day. Things have gone wrong and it just is not my day. PR. That would be faster than 2:04:52 – and honestly, I’m in much better shape than I was when I set that PR last November.
Okay, so I’m going to be honest with y’all. If I cross the finish line and the clock has a “2” in front of it, I will be very disappointed. Obviously, I will be happy if I leave it all on the course, but real talk – I will be disappointed if I don’t hit sub-2. I’m very optimistic and excited for Shamrock and have worked so hard. I can’t wait to share how it goes with you all!
Now, on to some fun stuff. I was recently contacted by JHill Design to see if I wanted to do a giveaway of their amazing marathon maps. I’d been eyeing their maps for awhile so was pretty excited to have the opportunity to not only snag one for myself but to be able to run a giveaway so one of you all can win one!
Isn’t that cool? I’m kind of obsession. If you are a marathoner, you should check out the giveaway and enter to win your own personalized 8×10 marathon map! Good luck and I can’t wait to see the winner’s map. The contest will run through next Wednesday (I’ll announce the winner in next week’s Friday Five post that will go live Thursday the 24th at 10pm). You can also use this code JHILLxEPRDC to save 15% off the entire JHill Website through March 30th!! Enjoy, friends!
Any Shamrock specific tips?? Who will I see out there?
Love you goals…
Good luck and run strong…
briansrunningadventures.com
Brian
thank you! can’t wait to report back next week!
You can do it! I will be rooting for you. I love the JHill Design maps. She had a table at the Chicago Marathon expo and I snagged one (although not customized).
They are SO cool! I want one for every marathon now 🙂
You’ve so got this! Have fun out there!
Thanks Colleen – I really appreciate the support!
Have a wonderful race!!
I’m not sure what race map I’d get… I doubt any race I’ve run has a map since Charleston Marathon and Cooper River Bridge Run have been my largest races. Maybe I’d get one for Boston to give to a friend who is running it this year?
Good luck with Shamrock- it seems like you’ve had an excellent training cycle. Anything can happen on race day but you’ve definitely improved as a runner in the training cycle and hopefully your time will reflect that.
That’d be really nice to give it to your friend running Boston. How cool. And thanks for the support – anything can happen but I’m definitely better trained than I’ve ever been before.
Good luck this weekend! I can’t wait to hear about it!!!
And I LOVE that sign! I sort of want one for each marathon I’ve done! I’d probably start with Wineglass or Buffalo though (my fav and my first)!
Wineglass is so great, right?? Loved that race. If I wasn’t doing Chicago this fall, I’d be going back to NY for Wineglass!
I think you’ll surprise yourself come race day! I wouldn’t be surprised to see sub 1:55, definitely let yourself go those last 3 miles. You can do this!
Thank you – I so appreciate the vote of confidence!
I love your goals, and I totally feel you on all of them. I’ve been fine-tuning my goals (I actually found out my BFF and her husband may not even be in Dallas this weekend due to an unexpected circumstance so I’m bummed) and I know at the end of the day I should be happy beating my previous time of 2:08. However, I didn’t work my butt off this training cycle and do all those 400m repeats and tempo runs for nothing. We can totally do this! I’ll be thinking about you on race day and sending you positive vibes 🙂
Jen@bubblyrunner.com recently posted…Preparing For A Destination Race
Yes we can! We’ve got this girl!!!!! Go us!
Richmond- I just love that marathon.
Excited to run with your this weekend!
Me too, friend! Can’t wait 🙂
I’ve run the Marine Corps Marathon twice. It was my first marathon, and remains one of my favorites, so I would love a map of the course.
Good luck! I’ve been following your training as I originally set out to break 2 hours at Shamrock, but instead I decided to make it my first full marathon! Weather looks great, it’s an awesome race you’re going to rock it!!!
Woohoo!!! Have a great time – good luck 🙂
Great goals! One thought..have you considered running with a pace team? I ran with the 1:52 pacers in 2014 and it was SO helpful to have them guide the pace for the first few miles. Just a thought. I hope to be down there.
And if I won, I would get this for my dear friend who just finished her first marathon in Tokyo!
It’s tricky because 1:52 is too fast for me to start and 2:00 is too slow. I’ll be starting in between those groups though.
Blast, I figured there was a 1:58 group since they do mileage paces rather than race times! Ah well, your plan makes sense
Best of luck to you! You have put in the training, I’m sure you will do fantastic! Cant’ wait to see the recap and hear of the accomplishments!
OMG I would so love to win and finally commemorate my first marathon!!!
I’ll be there cheering you on!!
Can.not.wait.
Kick Butt!!!! It’s such a beautiful course. Man I wish I wasn’t pregnant while running it last year because the post race party is awesome.
i’ve seen those maps before — very cool! i’d put the 2015 marine corps on there. good luck this weekend!
Courtney, I try not to make any definitive claims (ie: you are DEFINITELY going to hit your goal!) because, as you’ve already mentioned, it just depends on the day; bodies are so weird, and so is the weather, and I would never want to acknowledge a specific time without acknowledging your effort. Having said that…you have WORKED YOUR ASS OFF and I know you are ready to do this; I’ll be sending ALLLLLL of the best wishes I can send your way on Sunday morning. I know you CAN do it, so just get out there and run one mile at a time. No matter what, I will not be disappointed; your training has been solid so enjoy the challenge, my friend!
thanks Tara – I so appreciate the support. One mile at a time – that’s definitely my plan!!
I would definitely do the Nike Women’s Half!
Best of luck to you! Just recently started following you on IG. Such an inspiration! I am racing on Saturday in a half as well, with an aggressive goal as well. Hoping to hit 2:02…i think I’m crazy to try and go for under 2. More power to you for your goals. Don’t be so disappointed though if you don’t hit goal A….do your best, but like you said above, 1 mile at a time. Good luck! Can’t wait to see how you do. I have a blog too, and you’ve inspired me to go jot down my goals, as I’ve been thinking very long and hard about those goals this week.
Best of luck! You can do it – leave it all out there on the course. 🙂
You’ve got this girl! You have been working SO hard for this and you deserve your moment. I can’t wait to hear all about it! Race Day Forecast: High Chance of PR!!!!
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My fingers are crossed for you! Here’s to perfect conditions and a wonderful race 🙂
I think I’d probably put on my Ironman Wisconsin race (if she allows it) for this. It’s the race I’m most proud of at the moment!
Good luck Courtney!! You’ve done great with your training. I think you’ve got this sub-2:00 in the bag!!
I’d put my only marathon on a map, the Cincinnati Flying Pig 2015. Loved the experience of my first full marathon and I can’t wait to do it again!
You’ve worked so hard during this training cycle, Courtney. I have no doubt that you’ll have a great race this weekend! I can’t wait to virtually cheer you on!
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Hope you have a fabulous time this weekend! Go get em!
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Great goals! Good luck this weekend!
Welcome to the sub 2 party! Our goals are so similar for shamrock. I’ve been pacing the 9mm group for the j&a racing training team all winter. There is going to be a party of people going for sub 2. Join in on th fun! Please! Strength in numbers!!!!!
Yes! I would love that so much. I’m in corral 4 – would love to join with your group!
I would save this for the NYC Marathon in November. Since this will be my first marathon, it would be extra special mohave this design to celebrate that achievement!
I love that you are putting it all out there and I hope you rock it this weekend! You have put in the work!
It’s supposed to rain so I would take that into thought too. The course is flat but the wind can be deceiving and tough. Don’t let it discourage you. I’ve run years it’s nonexistant and years the last few miles feel like you are going backwards.
There is one gradual uphill in the beginning, which doesn’t have a lot of crowd support but after that you are fine. Personally I like that part because it’s where I focus on my goals.
(Also Kristy a couple commentors above, is one of my good friends and I believe still an ambassador for the race. You would enjoy running with the group up there!)
I hope we can meet up!
Hollie recently posted…Four Years of Shamrockin’
Thanks Hollie – I’ll be hanging around post race – so I’m sure we’ll be able to meet up 🙂 And yes, I’m ready for rain if it comes! And I had a lot of windy tempo runs because I ran them by the water, so hopefully that will help if we have strong headwinds. 🙂
Best of luck this weekend! I have been so impressed and amazed by your training; I know that goal is within your reach!
Thank you so much 🙂
Good luck, Courtney! I’ve been watching your training journey for a while. You seem extremely prepared. I’m “stuck” on a 2:10 half time; a long way to go to sub 2 but runners like you inspire me to go for it. We can do hard things!
Thank you – and 2:10 is not that far off — you can do it! And yes, we CAN do hard things!
Oh wow – those are so cool! I’d probably pick a custom one, and see if they could make one for my first marathon, the Walt Disney World Marathon. I threw my name into the lottery for Chicago this year, so that would be PERFECT if I get in!
It’s been so much fun to follow along your training cycle. And, to be completely honest, there are times I didn’t feel like running until I saw your post. GOOD LUCK – I know you’ll Sham-ROCK it!
Have you ever thought about becoming a running coach? You would be amazing!
Hope you reach that goal Courtney. I would love to win the JHill design card. I have one from Boston and NYC and plan to order one for all the marathon majors as I complete them. They are a cool momento
Good luck on your sub 2! I like the saying, “a good goal should scare you a little and excite you a lot!”
Now I have to answer the giveaway question. lol I would probably pick Revel Canyon City, or perhaps Revel Vegas if I set a PR here in May. I want a sub 4:00 so badly. Or maybe the Great Wall marathon, even though I ran that with the family so my time was very less than stellar. 😛
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If you believe you can do it, you will! I believe you’re going to have a great race. Have fun and good luck!
Hard training pays off and you fully committed to yours. I wish for the stars to align for you so you can run your best race as you deserve it. Look forward to reading the race recap.
Elaine @myrunexperiment recently posted…San Diego Half Marathon RACE RECAP and a 4-min PR!
Good luck on your race! You’ll hit that A goal, you’ve been working hard and running in snow!!! You got it! Can’t wait to read your race recap!
Good luck on your race! You will do it! If I won the cool map design I would probably put the Portland Marathon.
I’ll be running my first marathon at the Boston Marathon in just FOUR WEEKS! I would DEFINITELY have to put that race on my map!
I’m so proud of you Courtney!!
If I won your giveaway I would get the philly map for my first half!
Loved the PR bell pic!!!!
Congratulations on your PR! I have been filling you for some time on Instagram and you are such an inspiration! If I won I would frame my first full marathon I ran this month at RnRDC
Good luck. It’s always nice to have a few goals for each race. I think you will get that sub 2-you’ve been training really hard!
Awesome giveaway, I’ve had my eye on one of these maps since I ran Boston in 2014-so that is what I would use for mine!
Pittsburgh for sure. It’s where it all started!! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
I would put Houston on the map… my first!
I would do a map of the NYC marathon, my first!
Congrats on your PR! I would do a map of NYC, my first.