NWM 2012

Posted on by Andrea

Yes, it’s been 2 and a half months since I’ve made a post, but at least a hell of a lot of running has happened since then, though probably not nearly enough…

The Nike Women’s Marathon was last weekend and though I took tapering a little too seriously (one 4-mile run in the 2 weeks before the race) I didn’t fare TOO poorly. Finished with a 1:54:45, which put me in the top 5% of my age category for the half! Though I suspect the popularity of the Tiffany’s finisher’s necklace attracting non-runners may have skewed the stats in my favour… Stats aside, I still felt like a champ crossing that finish line to receive this beauty:

(I really am a master Instagram photographer, thank you very much.)

Ha, though I wasn’t exactly a beauty myself running out there…

(Like my new sports bra?) Someone really needs to tell us novice runners to smile during a race so we don’t end up looking like we’re in labour.

The course was pretty fun if you as me, though I don’t have many halfs to compare it to. The hills weren’t nearly what you’d expect of San Francisco and what scenery I could see through the fog was pretty spectacular. With so many runners the course is rather crowded for the first couple of miles though, so you either need to push your way to the front of the start line or admit PB defeat.

The best part about this race is the before/after fun in the city, though that’s probably the best part about ALL races… who actually LIKES running anyways…?

The entire city is buzzing as early as Friday for Sunday’s 25,000 runner event. Union Square is home to the Nike expo as well as the 3-storey Niketown, which is pulsating from some dj’s obnoxiously loud music. I’m sure they do it to prevent you from thinking too much about your purchases – it’s literally a “get in and get out” shopping experience to save your ears. Luckily the buyer’s remorse is offset by the copious number of freebies you get over the weekend – I almost had to buy another suitcase for all that Neutrogena beautifying goop they give you.

Overall, the NWM is a fantastically fun time for a group of girls and totally makes the old ones feel young again, or maybe that’s just because they were hanging out with me… say hi to me and my mom’s friends:

Mimosas!

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52 thoughts on “NWM 2012”

            1. I haven’t looked into it yet, but I’ll most definitely aim for under 4 hrs. Alot depends on just how many miles I’ll be able to get in during the work week.

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                    1. What time of year is that? I’d love to do a full in the Spring, but it gets extremely cold here in the winter, so training outdoors is only for crazy people.

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                    2. It’s the 3rd of March, which is possibly a little early considering I’d like to train before. I’m hoping I can keep fit over winter in the gym and spinning and have a final push in February. Where in the world are you (I really should know)?

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                    3. I basically live on the ice cap also known as Edmonton, Alberta. You can run outdoors April thru October, with the exception of a few scorching days in July/August. But 6 months of the year are reserved for those with a lack of nerve endings or a lack of reason. It’s going to be a real push for me to get out there this winter!

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  2. Hi! Congrats on your race! It sure seems like a lot of people had a wonderful time running the NWM.. 🙂 Maybe I’ll make it too one day?!

    Happy you found my blog so that I could find yours! Always fun with other runnerds out there! Keep up the good work!

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  3. Congrats on your race, top 5% is awesome!!!!!! I wouldn’t worry about taking your taper too seriously, I always find that when a race is involved, having fresh legs is the most important part. Thank you so much for having read my blog too. I’m just starting out so it means a lot to me.

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    1. It’s an absolute blast! You really should try to do it next year! Even if you don’t run it – half of our ladies group walked the half – it’s just a super fun weekend.

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  11. lol on the “looking like we’re in labour”…you’ll NEVER see me post one of my race pics…even at the 1st mile I look like death warmed over….great stats for you AND your mom…wow, 40 marathons….

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  12. So envious of your running this. I am planning or at least hoping I can get in for next year. It’s on my “Big Kid running wish list”. Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the like!

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    1. Get a bunch of girls together and register as a group – your chances are WAY higher of getting in. My mom and her running friends have done it 4 years in a row! Good luck!

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      1. That is the plan for next year. I have about half a dozen running buddies who are in on this with me. We are making it a “girls weekend”.

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  13. Kudos on your run! And I think you’re on to something- I don’t really like running either. But the fun before and after is pretty sweet. 🙂 (thanks for liking my blog entry too btw!)

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  15. I’m glad you liked my ‘River Deep’ post: thank you.
    I know what you mean about smiling for race photographers! It’s taken me a few years to get the hang of it
    I didn’t manage a smile in the pictures of me running the race in my latest blog, just when I got a prize afterwards!

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  16. As winter sets in in Boston I will definitely be motivated by hearing about your training in Canada! no excuses for not wanting to run when it’s 30-something degrees out 🙂

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    1. I lived in Boston for a year and I gotta say the winters sure feel colder there, even if the temperatures don’t drop as low. It’s the wind and the humidity that really get to you!

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  17. Congrats on your great race time! Thanks for visiting my blog. That is a very pretty necklace – and I hear they were awarded by men in tuxedos? What fun!

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  19. Novice or not, I don’t think we runners are suppose to smile during races, lest non-runners find out about our “runner’s high” and crowd the field :). BTW, Jello Legs doesn’t sound like an apt name for someone who runs a half in under 2 hrs. Congratulations.

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  22. Congratulations! And go mom – that is an impressive time! The Nike Woman’s Marathon was my first one back in 2008 and I have to agree that the best part of the race is the before/after experience in the city. And the chocolate at Mile 22 wasn’t too shabby either ; )

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  23. I’m envious that you got to run NWM 2012. I want to run the half in DC or come out to San Fran to run there. I want to say that I earned a blue box.

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  24. I’m debating on signing up for the DC race. It sounds like a great race, but the registration is so much more than any half I’ve ever seen! And there are all these contingencies that could make you lose your registration and your fee! Did you run into any problems with the organization of the race? I really want to do it, but don’t want to find myself in a situation where I can’t run on a technicality.

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    1. I didn’t have a problem last year and my mom has gotten in 4 years in a row. All these contingencies are set up so people don’t try to cheat the draw system. They just don’t want anyone submitting duplicate entries to keep it fair for everyone. $160 is steep, but totally work it! It is such a cool event and if you can get in, I TOTALLY recommend it!

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