Training Tuesday: Lake Powell Half Marathon Recap & 3 Easy Tips For Getting Faster On Your Runs!

Happy Tuesday! My Monday went by so quickly and I have a feeling that it’s going to continue to go faster until Vegas in 20 DAYS?!? How is it even possible that we’re less than 3 weeks until the race and only 2.1 weeks from when I leave?! I LOVE running the Rock ‘n Roll Vegas race - the energy is contagious, the weather has always been spectacular, and there’s just nothing else like it. After my race on Saturday, I’m feeling even more confident going into this race to achieve my goals. I’ve got my second-to-last speedwork session this morning and am so thankful that it’s finally warmer here (compared to last week’s single-digit weather)- 30* feels like a heat wave!

You can check out my race recap for the Lake Powell Half Marathon HERE.

I also wanted to share with you 3 tips that have helped me get faster over the past year or so. These are simple things that I had never really thought about before when I was running (more just for fun/ less than achieving any sort of time goal). I’d also love to hear if YOU have some easy tips that have helped you get faster. Make sure to share them in the comments below!

1. VARY your training paces. I.E. don’t just run the same paces everyday. Have a day where you run EASY (either keeping heartrate low/ being able to recite the Brady Bunch etc.) and then have one or two days a week where you vary/ play with your speed (whether that’s in tempo runs / speedwork/ surges at the end of an easy run, just try to get faster for a bit and then slow it back down!)

2. Join a running group/ class/ find a running buddy/ get a coach! I started doing the Running classes at Steamboat Pilates and immediately learned that there was something called speedwork?!? Ha. I had literally NEVER heard of this for us amateur runners out there and got so much faster by incorporating this once a week (it helped me break that sub 2 hour half marathon barrier)!

3. Try out different training plans to find the one that works for YOU. I tried out Hal Higdon’s for Revel Rockies Marathon one year, Jeff Galloway’s for Disney, and Hanson’s Marathon Method for Vegas last year - it took me awhile to find what worked best FOR ME. Everyone’s different and remembering that maybe getting a coach might be the best option for you instead of following a typical ‘run of the mill’ training plan

Tips for getting faster?!?

Favorite training plan you’ve ever followed?

Rock 'n Roll Las Vegas Day 1/Expo Recap!

I landed in Las Vegas late on Thursday night (11:30pm!), so we slept in a bit on Friday then headed off to the expo. I wanted to get it done with as soon as possible because there is A LOT of walking involved whenever you go to a big race expo. 

I didn't do too much shopping there (got an amazing new backpack that will be used as my gym bag, sticker, and magnet), but it's always so fun to see everything they have! 

After the expo, we headed back to the hotel and relaxed a bit before getting ready to head over to dinner and Cher concert at the Monte Carlo!

We had a really late lunch (the best pizza ever at Paris), so weren't too hungry. We ended up grabbing hot dogs and a small deli in New York New York and they were really good (and BIG!). Excuse the rather unflattering photo of our dinner.

Cher was absolutely amazing and total highlight of the entire trip! I highly recommend going to see her if you can (I think her concert is only going for a month or so in Vegas). She does both old & new songs and does 11 costume changes!

Race expos- love 'em or hate 'em?

Cher- ever seen her perform live? If not, would you? Who was the best concert you've ever seen?

Revel Rockies Race Expo & Pre-Race day Necessities!

Race day is done and gone, I can't believe it! I'll have a race recap up soon, but today I am recapping the day before my race and the expo.

I started my day with a nice shake-out run with Stella out on the trails around the lake. We did an easy 2 miles with some pick-ups towards the end. After packing everything up in the car, we were off to Denver!

Sorry for the blurry photo. I think I was rushing and trying to be "stealth like"

The Expo was held at the Colorado School of mines and they have you park about .25 miles away from the expo! It was mid-90s by the time we arrived (early afternoon) and HOT! The expo doesn't have anything too crazy there, but I really enjoy that. I grabbed my bib, a REVEL hat that I had been eyeing, walked by some of the vendors (maybe a total of 7 there), and I was out of there! I love the big race expos (like Disney or Rock 'n Roll), but also really love a small one that is simple and doesn't have any of the extra stuff.

My REVEL hat!

We then drove the race course and stopped by a local park to let Stella cool-off in Bear Creek for a bit! It was off to the hotel to relax and unwind for the evening. We stayed at the Sheraton-West (one of the official race hotels) and it was in a really good location. We had food from the downstairs restaurant for dinner (just pasta and butter for me), so it was super easy and convient! It was only about 15 minutes until the start line, but they actually provided transportation directly from the hotel TO the start line! This was perfect because Alex was not looking forward to getting up at 3 AM to drive me to where the buses would pick me up and bring me to the start line. 

Flat Stacy ready to run her 4th 26.2 !

Stella was even happy, but that's until she learned she couldn't run 26.2 miles with me in the morning and got a little upset! Luckily, a bone distracted her :)

Any necessary things you do the day before a race?

Race expo- do you like the big or smaller ones?

Any favorite pre-race day dinners that you HAVE to have or do you just go with the flow?