Alright, so my first big race of the year is just a few days away. I can’t believe the Cherry Blossom Run is here!
It has been a very long road training for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run in Washington, DC. Every time race weekend arrives, I’m somehow surprised that I’m supposed to be able to pull this off! I’m really excited to be completing this race for the second time. Will I do a better job than last year??
I’m linking up with Annmarie at The Fit Foodie Mama, Angelena Marie at Angelena Marie: Happy, Healthy & Balanced, Michelle at Fruition Fitness, and Nicole at Fitful Focus for Wild Workout Wednesday! Check any of their sites to pick up some fun workouts to try!
[bctt tweet=”The big race is almost here! Sharing my goals for the @CUCB Cherry Blossom 10 Miler!”]
Goals for Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run:
While I’ve already run a virtual 10K and a half marathon, the Cherry Blossom Run is the first big run of the year that I have been training for months.
When I’m training for a race, I normally work with Coach Kristy, but this time, I trained using the Virtual Intermediate Training Plan provided by Cherry Blossom. With that plan, I had 2 easy runs, a run with intervals, and a long run each week. Most of my training weeks went well, even though I missed a few runs in March. Still, I’m not really sure what my race pace is supposed to be…
Racing Strategy:
At last year’s Cherry Blossom, I ended up running 9.5 miles in about 1:38 (the race was cut short last year). My goal then was to start at a 10:30 pace and speed up the last 2-3 miles. Here’s my “strategy” for this year:
- Have my music ready to go on Spotify – no fiddling with the controls.
- Start out wisely, the first few miles around 10:30 pace.
- Gradually pick up the pace after mile 5 and see if I can sustain it.
- Power up that hill and finish strong!
Interestingly enough, when I ran RNR DC, I made it to the 10 mile mark in about 1:47. My best time for a 10-mile race was 1:37:42 way back in 2012. So I guess finishing somewhere between 1:38 and 1:45 would be ideal. We’ll see what happens!
Fueling and Hydration:
I have nothing groundbreaking going on with my fueling and hydration. As always, I’ll be sticking to my Clif Shotbloks every 3 miles.
The race starts at 7:30, and while it will be a little breezy in the mid-40’s, it looks to be overall perfect running weather. I still don’t know what I’m going to wear, but a long-sleeved shirt and capris should do the trick!
While I have been practicing long runs using my Orange Mud Hydraquiver, there’s no way I’m going to risk losing my water bottle mid-run, so I will be using my Nathan hydration belt. It worked perfectly for RNR DC, so I shouldn’t have any issues. When I ran this race last year, it was tough getting water at the stations, so maybe my belt will save me some time!
Social Runner Fun:
I am so fortunate to be one of the Social Runners for the Cherry Blossom Run along with Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC! Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter as I keep you posted on all the fun happenings of Cherry Blossom weekend!
Bret and I will be in DC all weekend and we’re really looking forward to having this mini-vacation. I’m also hoping to see some family and friends and who knows, I may have ONE drink before the big day, now that my Lenten sacrifice is complete!
By the way, I have been fundraising for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since becoming a Social Runner. Our team has raised over $2,000! I am grateful to have raised nearly $400 of my $500 goal, but I appreciate any additional support in these last few days! Every cent goes to sick children in need. Thanks for your support!
Workouts for the Week:
Wednesday 3/23: 4-mile run with Bret. The weather was up to 70 degrees so the running trail was packed! I also had to avoid the bugs flying in my mouth and the allergy-inducing cherry blossoms. Still, we had a pretty good run!
Thursday 3/24: Rest day!
Friday 3/25: Another 4-mile run with Bret on Good Friday. It was actually a pretty speedy run, so I was able to practice that race pace. Will I be able to hold it for 10 miles? I’m not so sure about that!
Saturday 3/26: It was an absolutely gorgeous day for a run…I wish I took pictures as it was so picturesque on MLK and Kelly Drive! Bret and I ran the loop for our last long run for Cherry Blossom: 9 miles! I have to be honest; it was a little rough at times, but I was able to finish stronger than when we started!
Sunday 3/27: Rest day!
Monday 3/28: Fitness classes at work are back in session! I had lunchtime yoga for the first time in 3 weeks and wow, I could really tell! We did a lot of work on our shoulders and I learned the Elephant’s Trunk pose which is super hard! I could hold it for a few seconds. Then I had boot camp in the evening. Vince worked us really hard, especially in the shoulders and back. Oh, and I realized my core needs LOTS of work. Use it or lose it!
Tuesday 3/29: Easy 4 miles to taper before the race. I kept the pace super slow, which was actually really refreshing. Figures that I would push too hard in boot camp…every inch of me is sore!
Week 9 Report Card:
I’m extremely happy with this last week of running. Who doesn’t love a good taper? I only have one run left and then I’ll be resting up until race day on Sunday!
I’m going to give Week 9, my final week of training, an A. Wow, what a journey! I’m extremely excited that the Cherry Blossom Run is right around the corner. I hope I can calm my nerves and have a strong race!
Are you doing the Cherry Blossom Run this weekend? Let me know, I’d love to meet up!
Yay! I can’t believe it’s almost race day! It looks like it will be chilly but I always regret overdressing for a race so I am still deciding between short sleeves and long sleeves. I will be using my Nathan Hydraquiver – I absolutely love it and never had any issues. On the other hand my fuel belt tends to spin around and drive me crazy.
I’m so excited…and now I’m still freaking out about the weather and what to pack! I have a jacket and also packed a short and a long sleeved shirt. Maybe we won’t have crazy wind gusts on Sunday??
You are ready for this race and a fun weekend in DC. That’s great that you will get to see Courtney over the weekend and at the race events. We have missed meeting her except for a shout out when she was cheering at MCM and would love to. meet her (you too!) Your pacing strategy sounds smart, the weather looks perfect and I hope you have a fun time.
Thanks Pam! I’ve got my fingers crossed!
Good luck this weekend! I have no doubt that you’ll run a strong race this weekend, especially after having a great race here just a couple of weeks ago for RnRDC.
Thanks so much, Kathryn!
I have no doubt that you will crush this year’s race! The 10 mile distance is my all time favorite. It’s far enough to be challenging, yet you can push your pace a little bit!
Have a great race and have fun!
Thanks, Wendy! Hopefully all goes well and I can see how far I can push myself!
So excited for you! You’ve worked so hard for this race!! don’t forget to have fun :-)))))
Thanks, Julie! 😀
Solid strategy, you’re going to rock it! I am jealous of your forecast….the forecast for where I live for my half marathon on Sunday is 30 degrees with 30 MPH winds…WAAAAAH!
Oh my gosh, I think you win…but I know you’ll do great! Good luck this weekend!
We have to meet up! I am kind of nervous as this is my first long race in a while. My goal right now is to finish pain free. When are you going to be at the Expo? We are running about the same pace.
I am so rooting for you in this race and I’m happy that we’ll finally get a chance to meet. If we’re at the same pace we may even be in the same corral! See you soon! 🙂
I’m running too-great goals! I hope to see you at the dinner or before or after the race and finally get to say hello in person! I’m hoping all the blossoms aren’t blown off the trees.
I’m really looking forward to meeting you – we’ll be at dinner! The wind is worrying me a bit…but I’m sure it’ll still be a beautiful race!
You had a really good training week! I’m looking forward to reading your race report. If you did 9 miles feeling great, as my BFF says, what’s 1 more mile?!?! You can do it!
Thanks so much, Tia!
That weather does look perfect. Good luck with this race, and hopefully it won’t have to be shortened this year.
Thanks a lot, Lesley!
Good luck this weekend! Looks like you have a solid plan in place but also aren’t placing too much pressure on yourself. Enjoy the race.
Thanks, Jen!
You’re going to be awesome!! That running weather actually sounds perfect. The weather for the Syracuse half is 20s, snowing and super super windy! EEK!
Gotta love upstate New York, huh? Geez! I’m starting to worry about the wind here, and I think the race will start in the 30’s!
Great plan for Cherry Blossom! I think having your music ready and being able to just start running at an easy pace will be really helpful. When I’m distracted early in a race trying to get my music on etc, I actually end up running way faster than I meant to because I’m overcompensating. I’m looking forward to race day and your report!
Thanks, Ali! Fingers crossed that I don’t have technical difficulties this year! 🙂
Have fun and good luck this weekend!! It sounds like it will be an epic weekend, with so many fun friends to meet up with. The beautiful cherry blossoms everywhere as a scenic backdrop will be so pretty.
I will have to put this on my list to do one year!!
Congrats on a great week of workouts – you will have great race!!! 🙂
Natalie, it’s such a fun race! I really enjoyed myself last year, even though the course was super crowded!
Girl, you are ready!!! I am so excited for you! I would love to do this race one day.
While you are rocking it with the cherry blossoms, I’ll be taking my time through the azaleas in Savannah. My training really didn’t go the way I planned, considering my injury, but I’m going to enjoy it anyway.
Trust your training, stick to your plan, and go get it!
Thanks a lot, Jenn! I would love to visit Savannah, I hear it’s so beautiful. I hope you have a great race too!
Good luck this weekend! You are going to do awesome!
Thanks a lot, Kristen!
see you this weekend! woot woot!!
😀
You got this!!
Great plan/strategy. I finished right behind you last year at 1:41 …too funny!
You will be in DC and I will be in Philly. …sigh…we will meet soon.
Enjoy yourself and good luck!
Thanks a lot, Tamieka! I know, crazy how our timing works out. We will meet someday soon!
I usually do the same with the shotbloks! I just hate holding them though
It’s still kind of awkward for me to take them, but they work really well for me!
You are going to have such a great race! How fun that you get to be sharing on social for the race too! Just curious, how do you carry your shot bloks?