Post race goofiness 
Reid and I post race at Ocean Beach on the Great Highway!
It’s been a while since I have run a half marathon race, actually a year ago to date. Wow, what a difference a year can make in learning SO MUCH about yourself, coaches, and what works and whatt doesn’t! Today I challenged myself to a beautiful half marathon in San Francisco. Reid, my brother and I all wanted to have fun and see where we are at at this point in the early winter season. We had high hopes that we would have a great time no matter what. And that is exactly what we did
I have been training alot smarter these past 2 months. I started training right after Thanksgiving, after a good long 4 weeks of almost nothing. I started back up slowly and especially made sure to build my running base very carefully. I am happy to say that going into today’s race, I had not run more than 90 mins, 10 hilly miles. But I changed things up in my training to include speed begining the 2nd week in December, thanks to my awesome friends who talked me into running track with them on Tuesday’s and Friday’s. They talked Reid and I into starting with them as they were on their 6th week of track. We were happy to jump right into what they were doing, but at our own pace at first. Now after 7 weeks of this speed stuff, I am beginning to believe it will work!!
Back to the race – I have to say that honestly I felt decent and strong up until mile 9.5-10. Huh, that was my longest run leading up to this, I get it NOW Seriously speaking, I was super pleased with my mile splits until mile 12, when the last 1.1 miles felt like ETERNITY! I had held 6.42 pace avg until this point and then I fell apart. I PUSHED, SWUNG my arms like a maniac, moved my feet as fast as I could, but the brutal UPHILL finish was SUPER DUPER TOUGH!! The last 3/4 of a mile was all uphill and geez, it was a killer! I am so HAPPY though, I gave it my all and Come on, it’s only February 1st, SO early in the season ) My finish time was 1.29.59, but not sure what chip time was. Four minutes faster than this time last year when I was in serious structured training with a coach. YAY for SMARTER and way less training this year Make it count!
Seriously speaking, I was super pleased with my mile splits until mile 12, when the last 1.1 miles felt like ETERNITY! I had held 6.42 pace avg until this point and then I fell apart. I PUSHED, SWUNG my arms like a maniac, moved my feet as fast as I could, but the brutal UPHILL finish was SUPER DUPER TOUGH!! The last 3/4 of a mile was all uphill and geez, it was a killer! I am so HAPPY though, I gave it my all and Come on, it’s only February 1st, SO early in the season ) My finish time was 1.29.59, but not sure what chip time was. Four minutes faster than this time last year when I was in serious structured training with a coach. YAY for SMARTER and way less training this year Make it count!
R, Me, and My Bro
Being goofy!!
Playin’ around after the RACE HA! FUN TIMES!!
HAPPY SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!
34 Comment(s)
D said:
Trademark pose!
Way to go today lady!!! Sounds like this is going to be a great year for ya.
Jennifer Harrison said:
GREAT race…..but, I have to give you SH*T for wearing Capris! OH MY GOSH!!!! remember that 5 miler I did in December? It was 20something and I wore shorts? ! Ha….anyway, GOOD JOB! Glad things are working out for you.
Anonymous said:
YOU ARE FREAKIN’ AMAZING!! SO INSPIRING and HOT!
Damie said:
yea!!!!! awesome awesome half mary to start the year. I still can’t believe the gymnastic stuff you can still do.
Anonymous said:
Great Job, You were flying out there. You are so much faster than last year. I am very proud of all the work you are doing, your season is going to be great in 09. Reid
E.L.F. said:
Eileen, that’s awesome. Good for you! Breaking 1:30 is something to be very proud of.
Melissa said:
What a great race! Nice job Eileen…and it’s just the beginning of the year!
Marni said:
congrats!! way to go!
Training smart always pays off
-marn
Marit Chrislock-Lauterbach said:
EILEEN!!!!! FANTASTIC! So so so proud of you – you did amazing! I am super impressed – look at what you have accomplished! That deserves a piece of sheet cake!
If I was there, I would so give you a HUGE hug! Congrats!!
Shan said:
Awesome, E!! Man, looked like a picture perfect day up in SF…congrats on a stellar race – all that hard work is paying off!!
rr said:
awesome race Eileen!! Congratulations! LOVe that sub 1:30 pace
You look so cute in the photos.. and they make me miss the bay. Hey, I’ll be around May 30th.. gotta go to a wedding! We need to go running when I’m in town!
Beth said:
Congrats Eileen – not only on a fantastic race today, but also on finding the right way to train for you!! I can smell LOTS of success in 2009 for one E. Swanson!
Molly said:
Great job Eileen!!!! I’m so glad you had a good race and thrilled to hear the new improved training plan is working
Kelly said:
it does work! it does!
beth said:
wow! way to go….under 1:30…pretty awesome. and on your own terms, i love it!
GoBigGreen said:
Look at that blue sky !! Congrats, looks like you had a fun morning..but..where’s Belle??!
Good for you to be finding a plan that works for you!
BreeWee said:
Buena carerra chica!! Estoy feliz para ti
Bruce Stewart said:
I did a few arm exercises last night and I swam stronger this morning as a result. I feel I am beginning to learn something. Thanks for the inspiration.
Mira Lelovic said:
Congrats, E! That is an AWESOME finish time! I’m all for less training and faster finishes!
ADC said:
Well done, that is a great result. 4 mins is a lot so kepp up the good work.
Kim said:
Way to go! That is exciting and good for you! I agree with Jen Harrison on the capris! You are so lucky to have that beautiful weather to train in! I’m really excited to see you have a great year! I feel good things are in store!
Lisa G said:
WOW, you are awesome!! That is such a good time! I wish I could run that fast!!
Eileen Swanson said:
Thanks so much everyone! Kim and Jen you two are right, I got hot wearing the capris but at the start it was 49 and I always like to have my knees warm since all those gymnastics years did something to them
But next time, shorts for sure 
Benson said:
Nice race.
Very good job there and a looks like it was a beautiful day. Lucky you.
Keep up the smart training.
triclancy said:
Excellent!! Way to rock the 1/2! Love the pose too!!
Charisa said:
Love all your gymnastics photos
I did gymnastics for years too . . . You rocked the race – it’s so early in the season and you are training SMART – yah!!! 
Cy said:
Nice work E! Sub 1:30 is a great milestone…esp. for this time of year.
Laura said:
Awesome job Eileen! Can’t wait to see how your season shapes up!
Jennifer Cunnane said:
Great job racing! I would love to run that fast…. even more impressive, how the heck can you hold a hand stand like that??? I know its all the gymnastics training! I would have broken my neck!!!
Anonymous said:
So can relate to gymnastic joints – knees, shoulders, back, ankles — they need some TLC to get moving in the morning! Great job on 1:29! I would probably hug every person in sight if I ever saw those numbers. Nothing like a husband and a brother to motivate – the smack talk / bragging rights potential brings a nice level of friendly competition!
Erica
Katy said:
Woohoo, awesome!! Always a great inspiration to all of us. Love your candor. You are amazing
Ordinarylife said:
Awesome – congrats!
Haley Cooper said:
Niiiiice job E! Can you teach me to do handstands now?
ShirleyPerly said:
CONGRATS on your race!!!
Wonderful to hear how well you are running so early in the season. Very inspiring!