Courage to start...and stop

I certainly had the courage to start on Sunday although my nerves were saying otherwise.  Race day.  Columbus Marathon.  I couldn't sleep the past few nights and on Saturday my stomach was churning.  I was nervous because of so many things, not the least of which was my nagging injury. Ever since my 20 mile training run I had been experiencing pain in my left leg from the knee all the way down into the calf.  It would start up after a few miles and then the pain would become unbearable.  After the 20 mile run, I was supposed to run 22 two weeks later.  I could only do 18. After that, I cut way back on my mileage, hoping that some rest, stretching and ice would help heal my leg. I even went and saw the doctor for some ART (active release technique) for my calf.  That really worked out the knots in my calf and when I tried to run right before the marathon, 2 miles, I felt good.

The morning of the marathon, I woke up at 4:00 am, had some breakfast, got dressed, ran to the bathroom a few times, and headed downtown. There was no one on the roads and it was really easy to get downtown to where I planned to park (another thing I had obsessed about for three weeks - how to get downtown and park).  Our running group had a room at a downtown hotel. I parked in the hotel garage.   When I arrived, around 5:45 am, there weren't very many people there, and no one from my pace group.  That gave me time to go to the bathroom a few more times and put vaseline on my toes so I wouldn't get blisters. I pinned my bib onto my shirt and shorts so it was visible and I didn't have the chip that was on the back of the bib covered up.  I found out that this was a mistake the next time I went to use the bathroom.  If you don't know this about races, you tend to go to the bathroom obsessively prior to the race so you are not out on the course and have to go.  It takes too much time, especially if people are waiting in line at the porta potties, and if you go late in the race, you are likely to stiffen up and it will be difficult to get moving again.    I managed to figure out a way to use the bathroom without undoing my bib, and felt great that I had conquered my first challenge of the morning.

The Flying Turtles!

Finally people from my group started to arrive, and we were all so excited!  And terrified.  There were hugs, more bathroom trips, and delight as we shared our race day gear, especially the much needed arm socks.  The arm socks were an invention of Jeanine's. As the mornings got colder, she would show up at our long runs in these color coordinated arm coverings, and we admired them so much she explained they were simply socks with the feet cut out of them.  Brilliant!  Jeanine had run the Indianapolis Marathon the day before, so we all adopted the arm socks so we would carry Jeanine in our hearts and minds during the race, and because it was so damn practical.  $2.50 a piece at Target, you could wear them during the race and then easily pull them off and throw them away to the side of the road.  I especially liked our pace coach's Hello Kitty socks.  Very cute! 

It was time to head out.  I gave a little squeal of excitement and we headed out into the cold dark October morning.  If it weren't for the adrenaline we would have really felt the cold; as it was, the wind blowing through the downtown streets was enough to remind us it was October, and we were glad to have the arm socks.

It took about 20 minutes of standing in our corral before the national anthem began.  I had goosebumps.  Then there was a countdown, and off in the distance we could see fireworks.  Since we were in a slower pace group, our position from the start line was about a little more than a half a block away so we couldn't see much.  Once we started moving, it took 10 minutes to get to the start.  We walked for a little while, and then stopped, then walked again. I was so excited! Music was blaring, and there was a big screen above the start line so you could see people crossing.

We finally went across the start line, and all the Garmin buttons beeped.  It was on!  I always get caught up in the momentum of the start that I actually forget I'm there to run, and since I usually am in the back, I'm running far slower than my pace. Fortunately, Lisa, our pace coach during training and the person I was sticking with during the race, hadn't lost her head, which is what I was counting on.  She immediately picked up the pace and I realized that yes, this was a race, and we were off!

We had to dodge a lot of walkers, but started out at a decent pace.  The crowds were incredible, and there was music practically on every corner.  For the first three miles, I felt great.  We headed toward Bexley, and ran past the Governor's mansion.  I think I high-fived the First Lady and her daughters. 

The signs were great, and the people were so supportive during the first half of the race.  At mile 6 we saw an ambulance loading a runner who was on a stretcher. That was a little unnerving.  We continued to lose most of our group to bathroom breaks and water stops, until there were just two of us, myself and Megan. Megan had everything you could ever need on a race course; she took the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" very seriously.  The sound of bouncing pretzels in her extra water bottle were cracking me up. Megan was awesome; I told her to go ahead if she felt like running faster and she said she wasn't leaving me. She said she didn't want to be alone, but I wasn't so sure.  She's the one who convinced me to keep going when I thought I might turn off at the half marathon finish.

After mile 3, my left knee started hurting.  I ignored it for several miles.  The pain radiated down my leg after a while, and then it went numb for a while. At mile 12, when I realized that many of the people around us were going to be done, I realized I could be done, too.  The pain was starting to get to me. I knew that there were a few people who would be waiting for me after mile 13, but I wasn't sure I could do 13 more miles in this pain. Megan told me I was not turning off, and I agreed. I took the two tylenol I had stashed in my belt and hoped it would start working soon.  The crowd and runners thinned out after we passed the turn off to the half marathon finish.  I felt a small bit of exhilaration - I was really doing this - going further than I had ever gone before in a race.

My pain continued, however, and the thrill didn't last long.  We walked through some water stops, but I couldn't keep walking because my leg would stiffen up too much.  At some point we met up with Lisa, who was still going strong.  Another mile in, and we stopped to use the bathroom.  That was a huge mistake.  I couldn't stand up right afterwards. My legs got too stiff.  I hobbled around waiting for Megan, and tried to loosen up my leg.  We started running again.  At mile 15 or so, I told Megan to go on without me, and I walked for a while.  A woman came up next to me and asked me what to do for muscle cramps in the back of her thigh. Boy I wished I had muscle cramps!  I told her to stretch, and then walk it out.  She asked if she needed to go to the first aid tent, and I suggested no, if she could walk it out she'd be ok.  I hope she finished.

During mile 16, I saw my husband and kids cheering me on.  I ran up and gave them high-fives and then kept going.  My husband came up next to me and asked how I was doing.  I said not too well, but I was going to keep going.  He said he'd meet me in a few more minutes somewhere else (to be honest I really had no idea where I was or what mile I was on).  During that time, I had time to think about how in the hell I could keep running 10 more miles with this pain.  My other leg started to hurt, in the knee, exactly where the pain in the left leg started.

So when I rounded the corner and saw my husband again, this is how I looked.

This is me telling my husband not to take the picture because I was going to stop, but too late.  I went up to him and started sobbing.  I felt so bad. I didn't want to quit. I wanted to finish.  But I could barely bend my left leg and I was afraid my right leg would be doing the same thing before 10 miles.  I couldn't drag my legs any farther.  I saw my kids and they were cheering me on.  I explained that I needed to stop, and they didn't understand at first.  Then my younger son gave me a hug.  

We walked back to the car.  It was a LONG walk.  A person saw me and said, "Congratulations."  I felt awful.    

My husband dropped me off down by the finish line so I could get my bag, which I checked with our running group.  I felt horrible.  All of these people with looks of joy, wearing their medals and getting their food and drinks.  I quickly found my bag and put on some clothes and headed to my car. 

That's it. I updated my status on Facebook so people would know not to look for me anymore.  I wouldn't see my running buddies, or my other friends waiting for me on the course.  Every time someone commented that 16 miles was still a huge accomplishment and that I did the right thing, I would feel tears well up in my eyes.  They were right, but I still felt terrible. 

One thing my husband said to me the night before the race stuck with me and kept me going.  Getting to this point WAS the point. The race was the bonus.  He was right. I had such a good time - even with the training, and getting ready for the race and crossing that starting line.  Hell, even passing the half marathon finish was a thrill - I had never done that before. I was so glad I hadn't turned off at that point.  And as the day went on, and each time I moved my knee I winced because of the pain, I was convinced that I had done the right thing. I could never have made it 10 more miles.  

So I didn't get the medal.  I don't feel comfortable wearing the race shirt yet. And seeing all the finishers' pictures still gets me a bit depressed.  But I gained so much from the whole experience.  I pushed myself harder than I ever have before.  I found things inside myself that I didn't know I had.  I gained a new understanding of what it takes to train and why my husband won't stop.  And, I made some new friends.  In fact, the best part of this journey was meeting new friends.  I could never have gotten this far without my running buddies.  I am one of the most introverted people and don't make friends easily, but I couldn't help it with this group.  It was a great feeling.  During one of the last runs I did with them, someone dubbed us the Flying Turtles.  We are slow but you still have to watch out for us! I was so happy to see each of their finishing times posted on Facebook.  We worked so hard together; we got to know each other, maybe more than most people.  You share a lot when you are running for two or three or four hours together.  They worked so hard and deserved to get that medal. I am so happy for them and I can't wait to see everyone at our meet up next weekend.  I bet they have some fantastic stories to tell.  I will wear my race shirt.

And maybe one or two of them might want to try it again....I could use a running buddy. 

Work Sweat and Pain Among Friends

The only thing peas are good for.

It's been a few weeks since I've had time or energy to write anything.  Since my last post I've run another 14 mile long run, and today, a 16 miler!  As you can see, it's time for the frozen peas. 

I started this run with a pretty negative attitude. I was sure I wasn't going to finish.  Last week I had to run 14 by myself (on my birthday, no less!), and I stupidly failed to keep pace.  While it was cool that I could run 14 miles a little faster, it was uncool that my legs hurt the rest of the week.  I could feel the shin splints starting, and it was making me anxious about my prospects for the marathon.  The last time I had serious shin splints, I was pretty much out for the season. I have worked too hard for that to happen. 

Ahhh - relaxed

After the 14 miles last Friday, I had an absolutely wonderful weekend with my wonderfully awesome husband at the Inn at Cedar Falls in the Hocking Hills.  No cell service, no TVs, no DVDs, sporadic wireless. We napped, ate, drank some wine, had a couples massage, and did things that married people who are celebrating their 17 year wedding anniversary tend to do when they are in a cottage in the woods. With a hot tub. Did I mention the wine?

We had the best time ever.  When we got back, we both went out for runs. Are we nuts or what?

I had big plans for my runs this week.  Three six mile runs in the mornings before work.  That would get me to 34 miles for the week, which I think is the most I've ever run in a week.  But after two of the runs, my shins were really hurting. I reluctantly decided to skip the last six mile run and take it easy until Saturday, when I had 16 miles to run. That morning, my husband confirmed that it was the right decision, but I was terribly upset that 1) I couldn't get the run in and 2) that there might be more problems ahead.

So when I woke up this morning, at 5:30 am, I was really cranky.  I had absolutely NO desire to get out of bed, let alone run, let alone run 16 freakin' miles.   I went through the motions of drinking my coffee and choking down a banana and some toast, and getting all my gear together for the run.  I got to the school where we all meet to run, and I was really grumpy. I didn't want to talk to ANYONE. I stood in line for the bathroom, even though I didn't have to go, because by the time the line moved enough, I was sure I would have to go one last time before the run.

The gang was all there and they were the positive ones this week.  Daryl, the oldest of the group, is also an inspiration for getting out there and sticking with it every week.  He's also great company.  Jeanine, who always has a good story to tell and recovery drinks to share, is the nicest person.  Megan just cracks me up.  The two women who are running the Akron Marathon who did 20 miles today (way to kick ass, girls!) are also an inspiration because every long run we do they've already done and survived.  Richard, who pace hops  so he can be social with everyone (that's what I think, Richard!) is running for a cause. And the rest of the crew whose names I don't know (sorry guys!) are awesome as well and provide encouragement every step of the way.  Our fearless leader Lisa keeps us at a really good pace and even made sure today we didn't have to run up that last hill back to the school.  With this awesome team, I couldn't help but gain strength and positive vibes that enabled me to not only finish the 16 miles today, but also regain hope that I really can finish the marathon in October.

So I had my first ice bath today, and my legs have finally stopped throbbing, but I feel really good about today's run, and the possibilities in the weeks ahead.  Run smarter, not harder!

I'll close with Lisa's words of wisdom today - "It's supposed to hurt."  I think I have that covered.

Thanks everyone and see you next week!

I. Was. Wrong.

Letter to my husband:

I will never say this again. I. Was. Wrong.  Yep. I admit it. After your runs you would say you were tired, and I had no sympathy for you. I was supportive of the time spent running, but didn't think you should get to sit around all day and take naps afterwards, because you CHOSE to run. The exhaustion was self-inflicted.  Maybe a little sympathy after the marathon itself, but training runs? Forget it. Suck it up and walk miles around at COSI, or the zoo. Or whatever.

Well, now I've self-inflicted myself. Dammit, I'm tired. I ran 14 miles today and I'm even too tired to write a full account of the run. (Maybe later, cause 14 is a big deal for me)  I did practically NOTHING today. I couldn't nap, unfortunately, but I didn't do much of anything else.  

I was able to get my tired butt to Graeters for some mocha chip ice cream, but that was medicinal. It had to be done. And the boys made me. Twisted my arm, even. Dragged me up High Street.

Anyhow, I totally get it now, dear. Thank you for not saying "suck it up" to me while I was loafing around the house today. I would have totally deserved it.

Epic Fail

My nine year old keeps saying "Epic Fail!"  And I sort of feel like that today.  The heat dome over us is just oppressive and making training very difficult. I tried to do core exercises on Monday, then I ran on the treadmill on Tuesday because of the heat.

On Wednesday I had a muscle pain in my lower left side of my back.  Sitting was ok, getting up was painful, and walking got better as I went along. Then I'd have to sit and I'd get stiff all over again.

I tried to do yoga yesterday morning, but skipped all the back exercises because of the pain.  Last night, I took lots of ibuprofen and pulled out the heating pad.

This morning I felt better so I ran on the treadmill again.  When I got out of the car at work, my back hurt again. Not as bad as yesterday, but still a little stiff.

I feel old. I've never had this happen before.  At first I thought it was the plank exercises I was doing, but now I wonder if it was the treadmill. I haven't run on a treadmill for a few months, so maybe I adjusted my gait so much I messed up my back. Or maybe it was both.

Saturday I have 12 long miles, in 75 degree heat. I am not looking forward to this run. I am hoping for rain.

This week has felt like an epic fail, just when I thought I had things together.

Staying strong

Hello again. Sorry I've been gone for a while, just doing the things you do in the summer. Hanging out at the pool, baseball games, and just general fun with the family. And running.

Boy am I running.  The mileage is ramping up. I did over 25 miles this week.   I reviewed my schedule through to the marathon and can't believe the miles I'm going to be running.  Usually, at the mileage I'm at now, I'm ready to run a half marathon.  So I'm halfway there. And going where I haven't gone before! I can't even begin to imagine how it's going to feel when I've done a 20 miler in preparation for the race.  Plus at least 20 more miles during the week.

To stay strong, I am doing yoga and core fitness workouts.   I do the yoga in the mornings I'm not running. It's Wii Fit yoga, which if you have never done yoga, I would recommend. It's easy to learn and the balance board helps to keep you on track. I can't believe how much more flexible I am.  It feels really good after a few days of running and my legs getting stiff.

The core workouts are basically push ups, situps, planks (the real ones, not that stupid laying down thing on the internets people do to just get attention), arm curls, a little weight training for the quads and calves, and some physical therapy exercises I learned when I got terrible shin splints.  It only takes a half hour and it's pretty simple.  I can either do it at the gym at lunch during the week, or even most of it in my office if I don't have time to go to the gym.  I've been slacking off, though, because it's easy to skip when I am hungry or want to go out for lunch, or if I have a meeting.  But I can tell when I slack off; my running suffers.  Now I've taken to wearing my Road ID (pink, of course!) all the time to remind me to do the workouts, no matter how I feel. I'm usually glad I did them, once I get started.

Mentally, I'm also trying to stay strong. I've getting a lot of support from family and friends, and even from people I don't know at all.  I have met a lot of people through the Marathoners In Training program, and our 12:00 pace group is just terrific.  We really support each other and keep each other going.  We even have a Facebook page.

I'm using social media as much as possible, too.  Dailymile is like a Facebook for runners.  No stupid games, and everyone enjoys everyone else's posts about running. You friend people and track their progress, and they can track yours.  You can also keep track of your training.  The interface is really easy to use and fun. And you can have your posts cross post on Facebook and Twitter.

I even discovered people on Dailymile that were in MIT too. That has been pretty cool.    I get excited to get "likes" or comments on Facebook, Twitter, and Dailymile, and for this blog.  It's really motivational for me. Thank you all for reading this and for supporting me!  

And of course, I can't say enough about my wonderful husband who is putting up with me and supporting me throughout my training.  When I decided to run the marathon I declared I had first dibs on running days, since he's training for the marathon as well. He's done this several times before; this is my first, and with work, I should be able to run in the mornings.  We trade off days and try to get the runs in when we can.  And he's still supportive when I'm tired and cranky (more than usual), which is pretty much how I am all the time now.

Some people are using the marathon to raise money for charity, while also motivating. I may consider that, but for now, I'm just doing this for myself.  It's a challenge, it's great exercise, and it's good for my mental health.

I know how to accessorize

It was 72 degrees when I set out to run this morning. I was planning on a 9 miler. So I made sure I had everything I needed:

• fuel belt with bottles of water and gatorade
• sports jelly beans
• music player
• road id (I never leave home without it when I run)
• phone
• garmin
• compression sleeves
• hat
• sunscreen

I felt like a pack mule.  I noticed that most people didn't have half the stuff I was carting around. But halfway into the run, I was glad I had these things, especially the gatorade. In fact, I was thinking that the other people on the trail had to be jealous.  

I took it nice and slow, and the run was still difficult.  I didn't resort to my running playlist until the last two miles, and I really needed it.  The last hill was a killer.  Most people wouldn't call it a hill, but when you are running, and you are tired, sweaty, and just want to get home, it's a hill, dammit. And it can kick your ass.  I just listened to my tunes, swigged gatorade, and slogged through. I did the whole 9 miles. 

Great tip for running in hot weather:  if you use a fuel belt, put your bottles in the fridge with the liquid of your choice in them overnight.  I had leftover gatorade from yesterday's run, so I had put it in the refrigerator yesterday.  It was a nice cool icepack on my back when I put the bottles in my fuel belt this morning.  

That's it.  Happy 4th everyone!  

So much for training

I was supposed to run 9 miles today with the MIT marathon training group, but the weather did not cooperate. We got in 2.76 in the middle of some threatening storms and called it a day. It was the first day out for my new fuel belt:

Today was a hot day, except for the rain.  I've had this fuel belt for two years and never tried it because I never went very far and I felt silly carrying all that water and Gatorade with me.  It was a gift from my family for the last time I trained for the marathon (and then became sidelined).  Unfortunately I didn't get to really test drive it since our run was cut short. 

It was also the day before our pace coach's birthday and so I picked up some yummy butter cream frosted mini cupcakes from Blue Frost Cupcakes (show them some love sometime when you are in Worthington) to share after our run:

I had to pack a cooler full of ice to keep the butter cream icing from melting.  That too was sort of disappointing since they would have tasted so much sweeter after 9 miles.  Two of the cupcakes had little pieces of bacon on them.  YES BACON!  OMG.  The frosting was a maple flavor and the cupcake had a cinnamony flavor to it.  Awesome.

***WARNING*** 

SUGARY GOODNESS AHEAD

So now I'm feeling really guilty about the short run, especially after eating cupcakes this morning. And after eating one of these yesterday:

And eating this chocolate baklava from the Mad Greek this week:

And a generous slice of this DQ ice cream cake for a colleague's birthday: 

So much for losing weight.  I feel compelled to try and run 9 tomorrow, even after the 2 miles today.  Rain or shine.  Say hi if you see me on the trail.  I'll be the one with the shiny new fuel belt fighting a sugar coma. 

TMI on the trail

One of the things I've noticed with our running group is that we usually at some point during or after our runs talk about bodily functions. It starts with running ailments like shin splints or ankle pain, then somehow we get to stomach issues like nausea and finding the portapotty before it's too late, and other fun things.  

It's not unique to our group, either.  I just googled "bodily functions marathons" and there's all sorts of fun stuff like this gem.  Or embarrassing moments while running.  That's a good one.  I've also heard about the "#2 tempo run" and bloody nipples (for guys) and black toenails but luckily those things never happened to me.  I did have a toenail fall off once but I couldn't claim that trophy from running.  My kitchen table just jumped out at me and its leg crashed down on my toe. For no reason. I still have a "baby toenail" growing back and I threaten to show it to my boys when they are acting up.  "Look at the baby toenail!"  "Ew gross Mom!"

When you are running for more than an hour, there's not a lot to talk about that is very stimulating.  And the only way you find out about this stuff and how to deal with it is to talk about it.   

So, what's your most embarrassing moment on a run or race?  The worst I can claim is trying to throw a cup of Gatorade into the trash after the water stop and instead having the entire cup spill on me. Sticky gross mess for 5 miles. 

Or what's the weirdest thing you've talked about on your run? 

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Slow and steady wins the race. That's a message from the Tortoise and the Hare, one of Aesop's fables. The hare is obviously the quicker of the two, and so during the race he slacks off and takes a nap, while the tortoise plods along slowly and and steadily to beat the hare to the finish line. You can also take away the message that you shouldn't be overconfident, but I like the persistence and determination of the tortoise.  It's where I'm at with my training.

Tortoise and Hare, Copley Square, Boston

When I talk about training for the marathon with other people, they always assume I'm a fast runner.  Isn't 26.2 miles enough? I have to be fast, too?

I've blogged about how it feels to be a very slow runner.  My first post ever, "I am a penguin," was about me just starting out with a training group (before any races!) and how slow I was. I hated being slow, but then a stress fracture in my leg taught me that speed isn't really important.

But it's hard to face the comments -  "You aren't a runner, you are a jogger," or "how can you run that slow? you might as well walk" - and the fact that when we started, the training group didn't even have a coach for the marathoners for our pace group or any slower pace (yet they had one for the walkers and the run/walkers).

Then my husband tells me, "Get over it."   Really, I think I have. I'm in a great pace group with other people at the same level, and they are a lot of fun and very supportive.  It's really all about finishing the race for us.  Slow and steady gets us to the finish line. That's how we win.

So my message is for the rest of you who don't think you can run or that you are too slow to be a runner - Get over it! You are runners, and you can do it, and you will be glad you did!

I'll leave you with some words of wisdom from others:

• from Runner's World Magazine Quote of the Day: "I often hear people say 'I’m not a real runner.' We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I've never met a fake runner." —RW's Chief Running Officer, Bart Yasso
• I am not a jogger. " I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far. I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not."
• "You might be a penguin if......you have to politely (for the third time) tell the men in the police car moving behind you that no you do not wish for a ride...[or] ...during a race, you keep turning around to see if there is still anybody behind you."
• Find your inner penguin.
• On my husband's running closet door (yes he has a running closet -where do you think all his shoes go?):  "Every run is a gift. Run long, run strong." - Ryan Hall. 

Now off to bed so I am ready for my 8 miles in the morning.  Happy running!

Shoes! And Jelly Beans!

Got some new shoes today! And some jelly beans!  I have been using Gu in the past for half marathons, but considering that I will be likely be out on the course for five hours or more for the marathon, I wanted to try the "sports beans" because they might be a little easier on the stomach.

What do you use for nutrition during a race? 

Don't Panic

I woke up this morning with a terrible headache. It started around 2:00 am and then I'd wake up every hour until 5:30 am.  I was supposed to run this morning, and it was extremely important because I didn't run yesterday due to being just plain exhausted.  Beyond caffeine exhausted. Like new baby exhausted. 

There was no way I was going to be able to get out there this morning. My head hurt so much I felt like I was going to throw up.  A few ibuprofen (the duct tape of medicine!) and my head was bearably numb, but I was still nauseous. I'm either getting sick or there's some big storm coming (yep my head can predict storms, what of it?). 

Now I'm panicked. I can't miss two days of running in a row. I'll fall behind. I'll get fat. I'll lose my motivation! 

The rule of thumb is to make your long runs no longer than half of the mileage for the week. So I just need to figure out how to fit in 8 miles this week so I can feel comfortable running 8 miles on Saturday. But if I don't, then I don't.  It's important to stay healthy when you are training. When you train for a race there's always a risk of pushing yourself too hard and then your immune system can be compromised.  I always get a sinus infection a few weeks before the half marathon I'm training for.  So I'm really wigged out that I'll get sick in the middle of my training. It doesn't help I have people coughing germs all over me lately.  And little petri dishes running around my house spreading the germs incubating in their little bodies. 

The lesson I've learned in training is that you need to be flexible. There will be weeks where you can't train, either because you are sick or because of vacation or something else that gets in the way. The best you can do is pick up where you left off and keep going. 

Don't panic. If you get back on track you'll be fine. 

I hope. Right now I feel like a zombie that ate some bad brains. Ugh. Blech. Where's the Advil?

Horrible. Rotten. Tired and cranky.

Last week was a rest week. This week was back to work.

This meant getting up at 5:30 am to run four days this week.  You have to figure out when the best time is for you to run considering your schedule and just when it feels right.  I like running in the morning, with the sun just rising and the birds chirping, and no one on the road but me.  But I also had a crazy work week, with nonstop meetings and deadlines and emails all week. I would get up at 5:30 am and run, then go to work, and then after dinner, it was play time with the kids (or a two hour baseball game with nine year olds just learning how to pitch and hit) and then bedtime for the kids. Then I had to wind down. I didn't get to sleep until after 11:00 pm. And today it didn't help that I ran 7 miles in the morning then cleaned the basement all afternoon.

I felt so tired it was like a flashback to when the boys were babies and I had to survive on 4-5 hours of sleep for 4 months. That's how I really got addicted to coffee.  Anyway, that's how I felt this week. Horrible. Rotten. Tired and cranky.

My husband (the man with the shoes) kept telling me I would adjust. I'm still not sure how I am supposed to adjust; by "adjust"  does he mean a) I'll start going to sleep earlier, or b) I'll survive on less sleep? I would assume the former, as you are supposed to get plenty of rest while training.  If it's the latter, then I'm not going to make it.  I NEED my sleep.  Anyone who has to be around me for any length of time can attest to that.

Training for any race is a time commitment, but training for a marathon is a really huge time commitment, especially when you are slow. I see some weekend naps in my future.

UPDATE:  So my husband tells me (after reading this post,and on Facebook, no less): You will "adjust" in that your fitness will improve and you'll be able to complete your workouts without feeling fatigued for days on end.  When will THAT happen? I'd like to know.  Cause I'm tired and cranky now.

Just some stuff

I haven't posted in a while and I don't have a theme for this post. Just some miscellaneous stuff:

1.  Shoes.  My shoes are at 200+ miles.  At 300 miles it's time for new shoes. I have a feeling I'm going to go through shoes a lot faster. And since I overpronate and wear orthotics, I get the extra cushiony stability shoes which cost ALOT. Of course.  That's why I try to get as many miles as possible.

My shoe closet doesn't compare with my husband's:

I'm in so much trouble for posting this picture. But you have to see it to believe it.

2.  Heat.  It's been exceptionally hot.  Too hot. Running in the heat has been unbearable and that's when I'm running in 70 degree weather at 6:00 am.  Looks like next week will be better.

3.  Tired.  I've noticed that as I do morning runs, and more miles, I'm getting really tired by the end of the week. Heck, by Wednesday I'm exhausted at 7:00 p.m.  I can't get to bed any earlier, either. The kids go to bed by 9:00, and I need time to unwind.  It's just not enough sleep to keep me going. I have to figure out how to get more sleep.  This is also why I haven't been updating the blog. Cause I'm tired, people.

4.  De-stress.  I've noticed that when I come home from a particularly stressful day from work the thing I want most to do is run.  I think running outside makes a big difference. Just go out the door and start running down the street. Let my mind wander, or just look around.  Or put on some kick-ass tunes.

Now enjoy some kick-ass running tunes:

Embrace the challenge

I was thinking today about how we are trying teach my 9 year old son to embrace challenges, rather than avoid them.  He is starting baseball season, and this year it's kid pitch, with three strikes, three outs, sliding and stealing.  It's much different from what he's used to. He's being pushed out of his comfort zone into unknown territory, and it's HARD.

We are trying to explain to him how challenges are good for him, and that the way to learn is to practice the fundamentals so that when game time comes, he will have enough confidence to play.   To do the hard things.

That is why I'm doing the marathon.  To move to the next challenge.  I'm also out of my comfort zone by training with a group.  I'm typically a solitary runner; give me some tunes, or the birds chirping at the sunrise, and the road ahead, and I'm in heaven.  Running with a group has its own challenges, especially for an introvert like me.

I think that's why, today, when we did six miles, I was tired.  Really tired. I'm not usually so tired after only six miles.  But not only was I concentrating on my pace, I was trying to make conversation.  For me, that's the exhausting part! Nevertheless, I feel that it is important to bond with the group so that when the marathon comes, we will all be able to support each other all the way across the finish line.

I encourage everyone to try to push themselves out of their comfort zone. Even if it is a small step, you will feel stronger for having attempted it.  And if you need others around you to help you get there, don't hesitate to ask!  Likely they want to do it, too.

Gadgets

Best of Tokyo Marathon 2011 Live Ustream from Joseph Tame on Vimeo.


I'm slow, and I haven't ever run a marathon (yet) but I still seem to collect gadgets and gear for running (at least I'm not like this guy).  This morning was a good example. I had on my left wrist the giant Garmin Forerunner that my husband and I share (you can share if you don't use all the features). On my right shoulder I had my new iPhone in an armband with headphones.  I was trying out the Runkeeper app for the iPhone to see if it could replace the Garmin, but I wasn't sure how it would work.

Perhaps I haven't figured it all out yet, but with my armband, I couldn't see my pace or mileage on the iPhone very easily.  I also couldn't do anything with the phone while I was running.  I usually run about halfway and then decide I need music for the way back. With the iPhone in my armband, I would have had to come to a complete stop, take off the armband, pause Runkeeper, and then try to load my music. If I needed to adjust the volume I would have had to take the phone out of the armband. I bought a cheap armband at Target, so I assume that there are better ones out there, but even so, I can't imagine being able to do anything with the phone while I'm running, even changing songs on the iPod.

Cool things about Runkeeper include audio cues that tell you when you get to a mile, and can tell you your average pace and your split pace at each mile.  Runkeeper does your splits, but doesn't appear to keep the total time after each split like the Garmin does (so in case you run a little over 4 miles, but you want your average pace for just the 4 miles, you can see the total time for 4 miles on the Garmin and figure it out from that).  You can access your music within the Runkeeper app, which is cool if you are prepared to listen to it the entire time. You can see a map of your run, too.  The information automatically is downloaded onto the Runkeeper website, and you can get more information about the run, including the elevation.  I assume the Garmin website will do all of this too, but we never hooked it up, and you would have to sync it with the computer to transfer all the data.

Runkeeper does not sync with Dailymile either. I really like Dailymile, and so I don't think I'll stop using it.  But this means I will have four different places where I can track my runs - Runkeeper, Dailymile, the MIT website and my own fitness spreadsheet.  Kind of overkill, I think.

I might take the iPhone on my longer runs just so I have a phone with me in case I need it. And while I'm with the pace group I won't need to constantly check my pace.  But I can't imagine using this set up for all of my runs.

I still love my new iPhone.  But maybe it can't do EVERYTHING.

Causing trouble already

I pulled into the Thomas Worthington High School parking lot.  I checked in on Foursquare (there was a choice for the training group! Still not the mayor of anything yet.).  The parking lot was filling up fast. I was a little early.  We had been told to be there at 7:40 am to drop off our keys, use the bathroom and just get settled. Running wasn't supposed to start until 8:10.

I was a little nervous. I don't run with anyone and I'm not much of a conversationalist. But I vowed that I would talk to people, and try to make friends, especially among my pace group, so that I would have support as the training progressed.  Talking makes the miles shorter. Really.  I resolved to ask everyone their names and remember them. Lesson learned from one of my last sessions.

Once I got out of my car and walked toward the track, I realized why we needed the time to get situated. First, there were tons of people there.  Second, I had to stand in a long line to get a card for my keychain so I could "check in" my keys. I stood in another line to "check in" my keys.  (I'm not sure what the purpose was of this since no one was there to "check out" my keys when I picked them up.)

We headed to the bleachers for some announcements. I wasn't sure why everyone was standing until I looked down at the seats. They were soaked. I took my place among the eager runners, standing in the bleachers waiting for the important announcements.  The important announcements consisted of asking us to raise our hands if we were brand new, telling us again how to determine our pace, and introducing the pace coaches.  The first clue I had that things would not be smooth was that the 12:30 pace coach was not there today.  12:00 minutes per mile it was, then.

We filed out of the bleachers after a few more announcements, and found our pace coaches, who were lined up around the track.  There were about 20 people circled around the 12:00 m/m pace coach.  She asked us all to give our names and then announced she would be taking us north on the bike trail for two miles.

Wait - what?  Two miles?   I spoke up, "What about the marathon runners? We are supposed to do five miles today."  

Our coach said, "I don't know about the marathon training. I'm committed to the half marathon. I don't know if there is a coach for the marathon."    She asked how many people were training for the marathon.  About 10-12 of us raised our hands.  

Two women piped up indicating they planned on running five today and that we could follow them. But they didn't sound like they wanted to take on the responsibility of pace coach on the first day. I was fuming. I paid a lot of money to have a pace coach so that I would stay on pace. The coach had also indicated that there wasn't a marathon pace coach for the 12:30 minute/mile group either.  This reminded me of when I started with this training group several years ago and they didn't have any pace coaches beyond 11:00 minutes/mile, which is absurd when you have beginning runners. I had been by myself most of the time back then. When I read on the website that they now had pace coaches up to 13:00 minutes/mile, I thought that was for the marathon, too.  Stupid me.

We all set out running north on the trail, following the half marathon pace coach.  Not more than five minutes out, a woman slipped on a wooden bridge and fell flat on her face. She was bleeding and had chipped a tooth.  We all stood around while the pace coach helped her up.  Someone offered to go get the person in charge, who we had left back at the track. The rest of us just stood there, staring, and most of us probably thinking, "glad that wasn't me."  I hope this wasn't her first day running.

Finally someone decided we should keep moving, which I thought was a good idea since we were just all staring at the woman holding her tooth in a napkin like somehow it was going to be reattached if only she kept it with her. A bunch of us set out, with me and another woman leading the pack.

Yikes. I hadn't anticipated being out in front. Fortunately next to me was one of the women who volunteered to lead the marathoners today.  She had a Garmin Forerunner like mine, and kept us on pace. When I finally remembered to look at my Garmin, two miles out, it was still set for my husband's last run, since I never reset it or turned it on.

This woman did a great job leading us.  Some people turned around after a mile, since they were only training for the half. The rest of us kept moving.  We chatted, getting to know one another, which was nice.  The pace was steady, averaging 12:00 minutes/mile and no one complained that we were going too fast.

One of the women behind me said that this was her first time with the group; she wasn't a runner.  A bunch of us said, "You are now!"  I just love that support.

When the faster pace groups passed us coming back on the trail they called out to us, "Great job! You can do it!"  I don't know if it was because we were pretty annoyed about the pace coach situation, but we all agreed that those words of encouragement actually sounded a bit condescending, like we needed the encouragement or something. We were doing fine, thank you very much.  Six of us were in a group for almost the whole time, keeping a steady pace, and we all agreed that our new leader did a great job keeping us going.

The whole time we ran I was thinking about how to approach the organizers about the fact that we didn't have a pace coach.  I suggested our new leader, Lisa, should volunteer if they had no one in mind, and she wasn't opposed to it. So when we got back, and I immediately informed the head organizer that we were lacking a coach, and he said yeah, I guess we need to find someone, Lisa stepped up next to me and I said, "She just did a great job leading us and I think she'd make a great pace coach."  The guy asked if she was interested, and after a short pause, she said "Sure."  However, I was still annoyed that I even had to do this, and I asked him, "So what does she get?"  He responded that her training fee would be waived.  It better be!

Things were looking up.  Lisa, and her friend, who was also running with us and was the other volunteer for pacing today, were both drafted as coaches, and they were pretty excited. They want to have a close knit team if possible, making a point to get to know everyone.  It will be nice to have a group to return to every week.

All in all the running itself was ok. I had a slight stitch in my side the whole time and my shins were sore but nothing out of the ordinary.  It was really hot, but the five miles didn't feel too bad, especially at the 12:00 minute/mile pace.  I was incredibly tired afterwards, which is unusual since I'd been running longer distances for a few weeks and haven't felt so tired.  I am chalking it up to all the excitement and adrenaline that built up even before we started running; usually I just step out the door and start running, without a lot of fanfare.

In the end, I know that the running was pretty easy today, but as the miles add up, 12:00 minutes per mile for five miles will be a distant memory.

The Great Wall Marathon

Talking about crazy (or amazing), my brother is running the Great Wall Marathon in China! I can't wait to see how he does.  Find out why he's doing this - Climb for Kids.

I'm taking a little break. Big day is Saturday. And I don't mean the Rapture.

Please read this and take it to heart!

I forgot how much I like blogging. I was thinking all day today what I might post. I'm sure that if you are reading this blog now, that eventually you'll get tired of reading it, because it will be all about me and my training. I'll try to make it entertaining, but really, who am I kidding?

Don't feel compelled to stay. Feel free to stop by occasionally to see how I'm doing. I don't expect anyone except maybe family to read this on a regular basis (my family is awesome).  It's really just a way for me to motivate myself.

I never understood why people are obsessed with having people read their blogs. It's a bit narcissistic, isn't it? Unless you are a writer, or promoting something, I don't know how anyone can find a blog about you and your life to be interesting. But then again, people watch "Reality TV."  Which isn't really real reality anyway.  But I digress....back to ME.

What I really wanted to write about was how excited I am to start my training.  I got my first email from MIT today.  The advice was about what your pace should be while training.  Apparently this is VERY important, because it was prefaced with this statement:  "If you read nothing else throughout the course of the season, please read this and take it to heart!"   I've already paid enough for this training to ensure that I will read each and every email they send me.  Still, it seemed important, so I read it closely.

We are advised not to train at "race pace," but to train at a pace a whole minute slower than your expected race pace.  Since your training will not take you to a full 26.2 miles, you need to be able to be on your feet running the length of time it will take you to complete the marathon while running likely no more than 22 miles at the longest. Running slower ensures you can endure the hours it will take.  And it will definitely take me hours!

I had an average race pace of 11:30 minutes per mile for my last race, which was a half marathon. 13.1 miles. In two and a half hours.  So I'd like to run a five hour marathon.  Yes, that's correct. Five hours. First, I can't imagine being out there for five hours. I'm going to get hungry.  I'll have to pee. I'll be bored. My music player batteries will die.

Second, if I take the advice to go slower in training, one minute slower is 12:30 minutes per mile! I don't know if I can go that slow.  It's hard enough running as slow as I do (I imagine people put quotes around the word "running" when I tell them how slow I "run"), but I know people who walk races faster than that!  Even worse, if I figure out a pace for 22 miles (which will likely be the longest I will run in training) for 5 hours,  that's 13:38 minutes per mile.  At that point, why bother "running" at all?

Oops I think I just talked myself out of this crazy thing. Maybe blogging about it is not the best way to stay motivated. I have two more days before training starts.  I might not make it.

Pictures

It's all about ME ME ME!  I promise to find some better pictures to liven up the blog, but for now, you get me. Hey, it is all about ME anyway.  So there.

Try Try Again (even if it takes 2 years)

Wow, it's been a long time. I'm not sure why I feel compelled to blog again, except that I'm excited about running again. And nervous. I'm going to train for my first marathon.

Yeah yeah if you have read this blog before (like two years ago) you know that I tried this once before. All I had to show from it was a stress fracture.  And then a sprained ankle.  Several months of physical therapy and a gradual training plan brought me back to my feet and running again.  I've completed 5 half marathons, with the last one in October 2010 and a PR.  I'm not much faster than when I started (well, a little faster) and I don't expect to get any faster.  For some reason, I thought I should try the marathon again.  My husband didn't laugh when I mentioned it, and other friends thought I could do it (one even offered to babysit - no excuses! she said).

So this morning, I signed up for the Marathoners in Training (MIT) group again. I don't think I'd be able to follow a training plan without some support, and MIT was a great way to stay motivated and meet people when I started running.  More people than ever before are running, and I have a lot of friends who are running, so that helps to keep me motivated as well.

But I'm getting bored with my same old races and mileage.  I just need to try something different.  I'm not getting any younger, and while I enjoy riding my bike, it's just not the same (I'm not constantly worried about a flat tire or someone running me off the road).

I'll be using this blog to keep me motivated as I hope to progress through my training.  Anyone who wants to join me on this journey is welcome, and I can use all the support I can get!