Brooke Myers: Another Race Year in a Rap.

Well I have to say, 2014 was quite a year for me. I proved to myself I am a runner and also, I am not done chasing faster.

I started my year off with my very first 50k and finished my year with a 26.2 PR.

Just finished Hilo to
Volcano 50k

The miles that go into training, the nutrition, and countless hours trying to keep your body healthy race after race is not always easy. Life happens and sometimes a good old fattening meal is exactly what the body orders. It's not always asking for a new pair of run shoes, or your gut begging you to give up the gels already.
Sometimes it's the body asking for broccoli & noodles the night before a race, even though it's not recommended.

Panda Express
(Pre Race meal every time the race is away from home)

I finished my year completely prepared and ready to chase what was going to be a very challenging goal for me, chasing a 3:15 marathon.
I knew that this was still something I was going to have to work really hard for during my race. I know the Honolulu Marathon course and knew what I needed to do to get there. There could be no mistakes in order to reach my goal.

The morning started off just perfectly so to speak. I woke up at 3am, took at drink of water and began eating my Bonk Breaker oats & blueberry bar. I shake out my body to get things a moving. Slowly the rest comes together and before I know it I'm standing at the front of the starting line.
I was able to run the first 2 miles (sort of)

Pre-Race photo with Tonya
Honolulu Marathon 2014

with my training partner and then we parted ways and ran our own race. I had a slight stich in my lower abdomen, but nothing I was worried about (sometimes that's just what I have to deal with). My first two miles were a bit slower than they should have been, but sometimes trying to find your way through the crowd you decide your have to just run.
Every mile began falling into place and I was breaking them down one at a time. Nutrition was on (taking in one gel every 5 miles). I was still slightly behind my target pace. I needed to maintain a 7:30 pace if I was going to accomplish my goal. It wasn't until around mile 9 that my pace went from 7:40-7:45 to my below 7:30 pace. Finally I was in it. I held strong all the way, no bonk, no stress. I even managed to hang with this Marine who was flying in front of me for a bit, then he backed down off and I went on. Now there was only a 5k to go and I started feeling stronger and emotional all at the same time. I looked at my watch, I knew I wasn't going to make the 3:15 goal. That's not what got me emotional though. The happy I felt from my running and the same feeling I felt in 2012 running Honolulu resurfaced. I ran my best for the day and still came out with a PR. So all-in-all I am nothing short of being happy with my race. I know I have the potential to be faster and I'll continue chasing my faster.