A few thoughts - Running from the back of the pack.

This post goes out to all of you that run. 

Fast or Slow. Long or short distance. This is especially for all of you race directors or those who help plan or sponsor or volunteer or support a runner - celebrate slow!

I want to talk for a moment about running in the back of the pack. Being slow isn't a curse. It isn't something to be ashamed of and it isn't something that should be punished or disregarded.

We work just as hard and sometimes harder than those that running is more natural. We push, push, push, push, do hill workouts, and do short speed interval and long speed intervals. We do tempo runs and we sweat just like everyone else oh and we cry. Some of you have been witness to my mental and physical break downs. We don't all look like runners. Some of us are older, or short, or fat, or skinny, or injured, or sick in some way that doesn't show...we are diabetic, or battling mental demons, we are strong, and we broken, but we keep going day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year.

I am not taking anything away from the quicker runners and am only speaking from my humble perspective. I admire you. I love watching you run. You make it beautiful. I am jealous. I want to be a gazelle not a rhino.

Here is where I get ticked off...

I have had more than one person say you did a marathon? You mean a 10k? Or you mean a half marathon? NO I DON'T MEAN EITHER OF THOSE. I RAN A MARATHON. A WHOLE MARATHON. 26.2 LONG, HOT, PAINFUL MILES. ALL OF THEM NOT HALF NOT OR SOME SMALLER PORTION. AND YES I AM YELLING.

I have also had well meaning people tell me they are amazed at how much exercise I do and that I am not much smaller than I am. I am not tiny, but I am fit. I see my doctor regularly and I have stellar bloodwork. On paper I am the model of health, but no I am not tiny. 

Okay and my last rant.

My race rant.

I trained for my race for about 28 weeks. I did not just decide to DO a Marathon a few weeks prior. I did months of base runs and speedwork and long long long runs. I did my research and chose a race that was not only slow runner friendly, but also walker friendly. There was only one cut off point and I would need to maintain a 16 minute mile pace up until about mile 22. 

I maintained somewhere between a 13-15 minute mile pace for the majority of the race. I made it to the cut off point with a little time to spare. As I have mentioned in my other posts my feet blistered. So my last 3.5 miles or so were much slower and the pace was about 19 minute miles, but since we had passed the sweep point it didn't much matter because I was going to finish.

Here are the parts of the race that really hurt as a back of the pack runner...and I wasn't last and I had actually passed people.

When the race brags about having each mile marked with different groups to cheer on the runners and when I get to several of the mile markers the tents are deserted or the groups are breaking them down it hurts. I was doubting myself. Why was it that the back of the pack runners are not receiving the same fanfare? I know that many of these  stations are manned by volunteers, but have them come in shifts...have them manned until the cut off point is reached. Celebrate Slow! Now the tents that were still manned were awesome and I appreciate each and every one of those volunteers that waited and cheered and shook those cowbells.

The back of the pack is thin. Sometimes there are very big gaps between runners. I am sure this isn't the most thrilling part of the race, but it is the most thrilling for us.

When I crossed the finish line, a good portion of the volunteers there, were there because they had come with me. My entourage (I have always wanted to say that) consisted of 15 people from 6 states and more than half of them had volunteered. I didn't expect masses of people, but it was even thinner than I had anticipated. The race store was closed. The race barriers were being broken down. By the time I waddled over to where the post race party was being held it was a ghost town. The only food available for the runners was BBQ - I don't eat meat. I asked if there was anything for a vegetarian...and was told there was pasta salad but it would cost me $3. Three dollars. Really? I just ran 26.2 flippin miles. I didn't bring my wallet. Oh and then they were out so it didn't really matter anyway. The beer truck was still there, but it was packed up and pulled out not more than ten minutes after I got there. All I wanted was something to eat, a beer and a place to sit, but the chairs had all been put up. We had to get our own chairs and put them back after we watched the food area close and the beer truck drive away. 

I felt that I was an afterthought. My accomplishment was not as important as those that finished in four or five hours. This was my first marathon. This may be my only marathon. I wanted to feel this was as big a deal as I thought it was. If you are going to advertise being walker friendly...those that cross the line last should feel as special as those that finish first. We were out there for seven plus hours. Moving. Running. Walking. Crying. In pain. For seven plus hours. We deserve all the same rewards. 

This was the seventh year of this particular race, not the first. The finish times from last year are similar to this year. This shouldn't have been a surprise.

I filled out the post race survey with my concerns and I also emailed the organizers. My response was basically we will take it into consideration for next year. I feel like my concerns have been swept unter the rug and I am still a wee bit angry. 

I think that is all. 

Please don't pity the people at the back...cheer for us, motivate us and celebrate our accomplishments - BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNERS TOO!

So now what? The post race doldrums.

So now that I am done with THE race, what do I do now? I am not registered for anything in 2013 yet and I am contemplating how to find new challenges for 2013.

Here are my thoughts:
I would like to do a couple of half marathons in 2013. I am thinking a spring and a fall race and am shooting for the Athens half in April and probably the Empire again in October...although there is an inaugural race here in Syracuse in March so who knows.

Next I believe I will do an Olympic distance triathlon and maybe one sprint.

Maybe just maybe...if a proper do it to finish not do it to win it team can be assembled I would like to do the relay for the Syracuse Half Ironman.

And lastly I am going to shoot for a Century Ride (translation a 100 mile bike ride).

I would love thoughts on these goals or race/ride suggestions.

I have gotten back in the pool...once...and didn't drown so that is a good sign and I have been doing some spin classes with the ultimate goal of becoming certified to teach. I know what you are all thinking...man she would be a kick ass spin instructor. Yep. I know it. And I have many ideas if I can get there.

I don't have any fun pics for this blog so I will leave you with this....

Crabs LOVE Guinness too...from the floor of the Guinness Factory in Dublin, Ireland.

13.2 to 27 - yep 27

On the road again...I just can't wait to get on the road again...Off trails and out on to the road no shade, not a cloud in the sky, 65ish degrees beautiful day, but not so beautiful for the second half of a marathon for me worlds slowest runner with hydration issues and another half marathon to run.

Now the runners are on the same course as the earlier half marathoners. Awesome more than halfway done. So here is where it all starts to go downhill. The marathoners pass the 14 mile marker and one tenth of a mile later you pass the one mile marker for the half. Are you kidding me? Really? Seriously?Ugh. That hurts and is kind of funny, but it hurts more.

I run past the Outer Banks Y and wave...hello Y people! Oh and speaking of the Y. I am wearing my Y Running shirt...and as I pass some smarty pants spectators they keep asking me why and I keeping saying it really seemed like a good idea 28 weeks ago.

And then you pass Jockey's Ridge which are the largest sand dunes on the East Coast. I wish I could say I paid more attention, but I was just trying to keep moving forward and remember this is your first marathon enjoy - um enjoy and marathon should not be in the same sentence, paragraph, work of fiction. Don't die - this is what I was thinking. Oh and speaking of that in some twisted route planning, you run right by the Outer Banks Hospital. Very convenient me thinks. I did think about stopping in for some Valium and some heavy duty pain killers oh and muscle relaxers sound good too. Oops too late as I was lost in thought and ran right by and I was not going to back track.

Here is how the next few miles are described in the race info:
Miles 14-22 are flat and fast. Every mile along the marathon course will be marked Outer Bank’s style, with Mile Marker Sponsors providing entertainment every mile. From bands to clowns, to cheering squads – you can look forward to a surprise every mile of the way!
Ummm yeah. At this point nothing I am doing is fast. They are so funny.

So I was totally negligent in picture taking for several miles. I don't think I have any from about 13-22. Oops.

Whoa...is that mile 17? Now I only have a Boilermaker left to go. Which seems awesome until I remember running the Boilermaker and that it pretty much sucked - both times. And that the 15k I have left is 9.3 freaking miles. What was I thinking.

Somewhere around mile 17 maybe 18 I got a running partner. I could not have asked for a better gift. One of my oldest (and by oldest, I don't meant age wise, I mean by how long I have known her) and bestest ever friends and her family came to support me and my insanity. Her husband is a runner. A FAST runner. Like two weeks prior to this race ran a 3:17:10 (I hope that is right) marathon. I can maintain a pace like that for ohhhh about 30 seconds. So bless his heart he joined me. He even registered to run what they call the Southern Six which is a race created for people to run the last six miles of the marathon course.

Off WE go.

By this time my feet have begun to hurt and I have even popped a few tylenol from one of the medic tents. I feel pretty good other than that surprisingly. I have been really good about hydrating and have gnawed on my waffles and I feel okay. Our only job right now is to make it to the bridge before the cutoff time so we won't get swept off the course. Once we get to the bridge we can stroll the rest of the way.

Have I mentioned we have actually passed people? Me. I have passed people. During a race. Me! We were like svelte cheetahs in the wild stalking our prey...the weak, the old, the broken, the damn near dead.

I can't help but notice that the race keeps winding through neighborhoods and developments and off of the bypass. Don't they know it would be way quicker if I stayed on the bypass? I keep asking the race people and they chuckle like haha look at the crazy lady...don't they know by this point I am super serious?

We run past the outlet mall and I seriously consider stopping for a pretzel and possibly something from the gap outlet. Wait...what are you saying? I need to focus and keep going? Damnit all. Around the bend and closing in on that pesky bridge. I felt like a French Revolutionary...only we weren't storming a prison, but a bridge...TO THE WASHINGTON-BAUM BRIDGE!!!!! I know it don't have the same ring, but anything to keep moving forward.

Wait what is that I see? Is that another mile marker? We have made it into the 20+ mile range. This is boldly going where No Mo had gone before.

Now my feet really hurt but as the little running devil beside me keeps saying hey we only have 10k more. Which seems awesome until you remember that a 10k is 6.2 miles. UGH.

ONWARD!

Just keep talking to me and distract me from the fact that my feet are on fire. Okay another mile marker...am I delusional? What does it say?

Last mile marker before the bridge. DOOM CERTAIN DOOM AWAITS!

Right before we start our ascent we are greeted by more awesome GO MO GO cheerer on-ers with a sign that says: NOT QUITE DEAD YET (a reference I hope some of you get). I am not sure they are correct, but I assume they know what they are talking about and we keep moving.

So now we get to the bridge. The heartbreak hill of this race. Here is how the website describes the bridge:
Crossing the Washington-Baum Bridge at mile 23 will be your next challenge. The bridge is tall (stats: 1.05 mi long, 82' high, with a 650' climb to the top at a 4% grade) - be sure to look down. You’ll see charter boats heading out to catch your dinner! An unbelievable view over the Roanoke Sound, and then downhill onto Roanoke Island where the first English colonists settled in America in 1587.

Going UP the bridge. You can't quite get the scale of it. Let's just say it is BIG!

The bridge was not nearly as bad as I had expected, at least the going up and down part. The course had been so flat for the past few miles it was nice to use new muscles. What I didn't like was the bridge is made out of concrete which is really really hard and it was grooved which made my foot movement within my shoes even worse and about mile 23 I was convinced my baby toe had fallen off.

The best part about the bridge? I was going to finish. I had made it past the point where I could get swept off the course. Was this for real? Was I about to become a marathoner?

At the top of the bridge we took the opportunity to do a little site seeing and take a few pics...you know for posterity.  Plus you do have a great view from the top of the bridge on a bright sunny day.

If you look REAL close beyond those houses WAY over to the right is where this long ass race ends...

So what else do you do at the top of this crazy bridge? You also take a silly picture...one that shows just how desperate you have become after losing your baby toe a few miles back!

NO MO - DON'T JUMP I SWEAR WE ARE ALMOST DONE!

Sure we are almost done. Only a 5k to go. Great until you realize that is 3.1 more miles. How am I going to finish this? How can I NOT finish this. Every step is now pretty much excruciating. My feet feel like some evil soul had red hot nails and they are driving them into my heels. The ball of my left foot feels like there is a sandpaper balloon on it and my baby toe is mutantly huge.

Down the bridge.

Now THE END really is almost NEAR.

We turn off of the bypass and onto the road leading to my feet's salvation.
This is where I am fairly certain I have lost it. There was a gorgeous grasshopper in the road...so what's a girl to do? OOOHHHH BUG!!! Get out of the road pretty bug...go on move it. What do I hear? My little running angel saying come on Maureen...this way...leave the bug alone...we are so close...the finish is this way. Alright already. But I do love bugs.

About another quarter of a mile I spied a McDonald's french fry in the road. Damn did it look good...I wanted it. I was sure it hadn't been there more than 5 seconds never mind the fact there was no one else in sight. It looked okay...again that voice...no Maureen do NOT pick up the french fry. We are almost there. Damn it. Must move forward.

Turn right at the light...everyone keeps saying the finish is right there. WHERE??? Curve to the left - more Awesome Go Mo Go people cowbells in hand! Sweet I must be getting close...my mom is there. Another right...I see my dad. I mutter several curse words and keep going. Another left and what is that? Is that the finish line? Holy shit did I just go 26.2 miles? Almost seven hours later I cross the finish line and into the arms of my biggest fan. We did it! Thank you.

So now a medal, a beanie, a banana and a beer. Aaahhhhhhhhhhhh

I AM A MARATHONER.

Yep. I did it.

And if you want to know why my feet hurt so bad? My best theory is I got some sand in my shoes on the unpaved road. You don't notice a few grains of sand really...16 miles later my feet, like oysters, were trying to make pearls. I had seven blisters all over my right foot and six (but one was ginormous and my baby toe the blister wrapped around the toe...it was so big you could shine a flashlight on it and it would shine through my toe) on my left foot. This picture does not do my blisters justice.

Blisters heal but I will always from this day forward be able to call myself a marathoner.

So what's next? In 2012 I did my first triathlon, first half marathon and first full marathon. I have a few ideas for 2013, but I will save that for another day.

Lastly, a huge, enormous, gracious thank you to all of you that have been a part of this journey...your words of encouragement, training runs, speed work, tissues, hugs, and faith in me when I wasn't sure how the hell I was going to do this will never be forgotten. You all crossed that finish line with me. You all share the title of marathoner with me. Much love to each and every one of you.


Me and those that followed. We braved the roads for seven hours. See, I wasn't last, but I cheer for and congratulate all those that both finished before me and especially those that finished after me:


1176 1006 MAUREEN JONES 6:59:05.9  6:58:41.9 15:59 37 F Marathon CLAY NY 96 F-35 to 39
1177 952 CRAIG HAUGAARD 6:59:50.6  6:59:12.4 16:00 55 M Marathon ABERDEEN SD 45 M-55 to 59
1178 933 LORA HAAUGAARD 6:59:50.5  6:59:13.0 16:00 51 F Marathon ABERDEEN SD 40 F-50 to 54
1179 1143 DEBORAH NEWMAN 6:59:56.4  6:59:49.2 16:01 46 F Marathon MYRTLE BEACH SC 55 F-45 to 49
1180 719 CORRIE AMEIGH 7:00:42.6  7:00:01.1 16:02 35 F Marathon CAMERON NC 97 F-35 to 39
1181 718 BRANDT AMEIGH 7:00:42.4  7:00:01.2 16:02 36 M Marathon CAMERON NC 90 M-35 to 39
1182 1321 ROBIN WATERFIELD 7:04:14.8  7:03:24.5 16:10 54 F Marathon NORTH GARDEN VA 41 F-50 to 54
1183 1276 MIKE STOCK 7:04:14.6  7:03:24.8 16:10 56 M Marathon CHARLOTTESVILLE VA 46 M-55 to 59
1184 1288 SONYA TAYLOR 7:04:51.6  7:04:07.6 16:11 39 F Marathon GRAHAM NC 98 F-35 to 39
1185 1071 PATRICIA MARSHALL 7:05:30.0  7:05:00.7 16:13 47 F Marathon RALEIGH NC 56 F-45 to 49
1186 82 PEGGY MCKEAN 7:05:59.0  7:05:22.5 16:14 42 F Marathon NJ 79 F-40 to 44
1187 1497 LEAH NICHOLAS 7:05:59.1  7:05:22.9 16:14 38 F Marathon SAYREVILLE 99 F-35 to 39
1188 766 GILA BROCK 7:08:48.5  7:08:39.5 16:22 42 F Marathon CHESAPEAKE VA 80 F-40 to 44
1189 1056 EDMUND LOY 7:20:13.9  7:19:59.7 16:48 33 M Marathon HONOLULU HI 100 M-30 to 34
1190 2051 MERI KOTLAS 7:23:14.8  7:22:46.5 16:54 53 F Marathon RALEIGH NC 42 F-50 to 54

Marathon - part deux. 0-13.1

You technically start this race in Southern Shores (Southern freakin' Shores - if you have been to the Outer Banks Southern Shores is really really really really far from Manteo). The first few miles were fine. Not much to say. Just like the start of any long run for me. I did feel like I was working fairly hard and was trying to keep a steady pace... after all I have never done anything more than about 16 miles at this point and you know I don't want to go TOO FAST (see photo below).

This is one of those Oops photos, the ones you don't actually mean to take, but I love it! It makes it look like I am going super fast. Look at that blur from all the speed!!! WHEEEEEEEEE!

Out of Southern Shores - proceed to Kitty Hawk.

The route was beautiful and I am such a gawker when I am out...oh tree, look at the butterfly, I love that landscaping. I also took pictures as you can see (I learned this from a fellow awesome running friend) and talked to the spectators and fellow runners.  About mile three my favorite athletic supporter was on the side of the road to cheer me on holding a sign saying - THE END IS NEAR! Needless to say he was completely lying to me.

Onward...

I wish I had taken more pictures. Not really sure what I was thinking about, but I know I was not thinking about how much further I had to go. The route took you along a trail along the Albemarle Sound and some amazing houses. A perfect day.

A pier in the Albemarle Sound. The sky fades into the water...about mile 4.

Another picture of the sound...so pretty. Still about mile 4.

Onward...

Out of Kitty Hawk - proceed into Kill Devil Hills

Right after entering KDH there was a couple cowbells in hand welcoming all of the runners to Kill Devil Hills. I swear they were real estate agents.

Somewhere about mile 5.5 I had a group of spectators who were drinking beer and other good stuff (this is about 8:30 in the morning) offer me a mimosa. Normally this would be awesome, but I had a million more miles to go and no way to bring enough with me to keep me tipsy until the end. I declined saying I would prefer a bloody mary...which they said they could make me. I love spectators with mad bar tending skills.

Still smiling at this point...the delirium has not yet set in.

Mile 8 (I so should have taken pics...my bad) I was passing the Wright Brothers Memorial. Thankfully you don't have to run UP to the monument just around the base. Passing the memorial more awesome GO MO GO supporters with signs WORST PARADE EVER and HURRY UP THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF BEER! After the memorial the terrain changes from road running to off road running.

Off the road - onto the trails!

Miles 10 to almost mile13 are run through the Nags Head Woods Nature Preserve a beautiful non-paved roads...here they are not dirt, but sand. Soft on the knees, bad as we will see, on the feet.

Mile 11.

The mile marker tent sponsors out here where I am sure only a handful of OBX visitors have ever gone are fantastic.  I stopped at the medical tent out here in no where land to empty my shoes of road debris...so far so good. Right before turning up a steep trail was a group handing out oranges and banana bread and enthusiastic cheers...not that it made the hill and entrance into the true trail portion easier, but it was great to have people out here cheering us slow back-of-the-packers on.

The trail was a narrow path through a beautiful maritime forest. I am thankful for my trail running time I have had with so many wonderful people in New York at Green Lakes and Beaver Lake.

Gorgeous Maritime Forest Trail

The trail was gorgeous. Run Run Run.

Out of the woods...back onto the roads. 

Wow. This is really long. So I am going to make this a three parter. The second half deserves just as much thought as the first and I have more pictures and musings to share if you will have me.

The 26 freakin' 2 follow up. Part 1.

I DID IT!!! I FINISHED!!! 

I AM A MARATHONER!!!

So I will start with picture from after the race...the proof...me with all my I ran a marathon gear on and devil eyes.

Me, my medal, my beanie, my shirt and most importantly my beer.

Holy crap. That was long. That was hard. It hurt.

There is so much to say and I have been thinking about this for a while. I am not sure I will get it all out in one go or I may post things as they come to mind and if they seem worthy of posting.

We got to the beach Friday evening and got settled. All told there were 16 people in a house that sleeps ten representing 6 different states. It was chaotic and crowded and noisy and wonderful!
If any of you have ever done a long race that involved a taper before you may know what I mean when I say I was a ball of energy. Not just nerves but all of this pent up stuff. I had been on my taper for almost two weeks now - meaning my amount of running had been greatly reduced in order to allow my body to recover and build up glycogen stores for race day. Taper was strange. I was twitchy and edgy and restless and I felt good. I wanted to get a good nights rest so I actually went to bed fairly early.

Saturday was expo day. The expo was crowded and crazy, but very nice and I got my bib and goodies and even got a twentysix.two shirt and yes I bought one of those stickers for my car. OBX 26.2. So now it is getting real. The gauntlet has been thrown and I have to earn the right to wear my shirts and put that sticker on my car. After the expo we headed over to one of my favorite breakfast joints ever...Stack Em' High. Carb loading with a waffle was devine! The rest of the day was strategizing and planning. We found the start line...which I thought was MUCH too far from the finish line - like 26 miles too far.

The start line the day before race day. Also made note of porta potty locations!

After a lovely spaghetti dinner and getting my gear together, it was off to bed early. Like 9 something early. That is seriously early for me. 

The prepped race shirt.

I slept okay and was up and getting ready by 5 something. It was a beautiful sunrise and the crescent moon and venus hung lazily over the ocean.

The moon and venus with the sun rising over the ocean.

Off to the races! The race starts at 7:20 and of course we need to find parking and use the facilities and all that fun stuff.

And I am off for what will turn into my longest and farthest run ever. It was cool and clear and beautiful.  Me and over a thousand of my closest running friends start this journey to join those few who can say they have completed a marathon. Have I mentioned in my previous posts that I am slow?

And we are off!

Since I have more pictures than I thought I am going to do this in two parts and since I am tired I will post part deux shortly.

Respect the half.

So I was thinking today that I have not given the half marathon the respect it deserves, nor have I given myself the credit I deserve for completing this race. I have been so focused on training for the full marathon that this half seems like a side note...like a well I am doing a full so I might as well do a half.

According to runningusa.org in 2011 1.61 million people finished a half marathon (assuming these are US statistics and the US population is 314 million give or take) that means that .5% of the US population have completed at least one half marathon. I would think that number will increase again in 2012, but still a small number of the population.

And I can count myself as one of them. One of the few people that have run 13.1 miles. No it wasn't easy and yes I would do it again.

I should be more proud. I should give myself more credit for this amazing accomplishment.

Just last year I never would have thought I could have crossed that finish line after 13.1 miles...I can remember when 30 seconds seemed impossible now three and a half hours is just another long run. I am slow. But slow is still faster than the other 312,390,000 that have never done a half marathon.

The first official 13.1 - completed and official!

Well it finally happened. I have officially and forever become a half marathoner. I am now entitled to wear the shirts and sort the official car magnets and can join the smallish segment of the population that have completed a 13.1 mile road race. 

Hot damn.

Wait let me say that again HOT DAMN!

I am still at the very end stages of my marathon training. In fact this was my last official long run. It was a beautiful morning and I had the privilege of running with some of the most talented and gracious people I know. I chose to run this race because my marathon is out of state and I won't have any runners with me that I have trained with or that will want to 'run' at my snails pace with me. (No worries. I plan on downloading an audio book and zoning for the hours and hours and hours it will take me to finish)

Back to the race. The marathoners left a half hour prior to the start of the half marathon and at 8am we were off! I ran the first half with one of my partners in crime running buddies who helped push me in a quickish pace. The second half I was cheered on by so many awesome volunteers and fellow Y runners that were not competing in this particular race. It was awesome. And sunny and cool and mildly windy (I have the windburned face to prove it). I did slow the second half, but still maintained about a two minute faster than training pace run. 

The last two miles were evil, awful, painful and my intestines were very unhappy with me. I thought I was going to puke. Or worse. I was even looking for places to make a dash if it came right down to it. Thank goodness I had tissue just in case such need arose. I just kept pushing and got to the last couple of tenths of a mile to the finish and crossed sub three hours. Oh yeah I said sub three hours. I know not Olympic pace but I thought I was going to go 3:15 or more. 

Okay wow I crossed the finish line. Now where are those porta potties? A few hellos a brief thought of puking - oh did I mention I passed a few old people on my way across the finish line. Oh yeah I said I passed people. I did get beat by several marathoners - full marathoners and a power walker (this is the second time I have been beaten by a freakin power walker), but I PASSED PEOPLE!!!!

I now have a medal, a number and an official time. And I am excited. I am still terrified for the full marathon, but am looking forward to this taper thing and praying it works wonders. 

Here are a few things I learned today:

Not only did I finish about 15-30 minutes faster than I anticipated with a surprising sub 3 hour 1/2 marathon finish while still in training for my next race...when I went back and looked at some of my split times and I found something else surprising. 
- My fastest 10k (granted I have only done 1) was 1:20:43 today my 6 mile split was 1:13:50.
- My fastest 15k was 2:09:41 in 2011 and 2:16:42 in 2012...today my 9 mile split was 1:55:38.
I was excited when I realized that I was in fact pushing it a bit today and while still in my last week of training. Thank you everyone for your encouragement of this slowish runner...I may have to keep going with this and do these races again next year and see how much farther I can go :)

What terrifies me about this marathon. Okay what doesn't?

As this thing called a marathon get closer and closer and oh my God closer to actually happening I am reminded almost daily how incredibly terrified I am.

Running is hard. Running is really hard for me.
Running is physically hard. Running is emotionally hard. Running is mentally hard. My head is playing tricks on me. It is telling me this is an impossible endeavor. It tells me I am too slow. My head tells me I am too fat. My head tells me running is not my thing...this is not your mountain to climb...this is for other people...this is for the gazelles, not the rhinos. Some days I believe my head. Some days my head wins. Many days my head wins. I think maybe I should just do the half? I can do the half and I won't have to go do an 18 mile training run.
I dread the long training runs. Seriously dread the long runs. I hate the long runs. I start getting nervous about Wednesday about the long run I will have to do that weekend. It is awful. It is Wednesday and it is starting. I am thinking about this weekends long run. I need to do 16+. I have to do 16+. If I can do this. I am fairly certain I can do the marathon.

Okay this is a shorty, but I wanted to put it down while I was thinking about it. I am sure there is more. I may post more. Okay now I need sleep.

The best laid plans...

Of Mice and Men often go awry and so do my long run plans some days.

Let me start with last night.
Last night I got to wish a good friend well wishes on her upcoming move. She is such a beautiful person inside and out and I am going to miss hearing her stories and sharing running and tri stories both triumphs and tragedies with her. The one thing I won't miss sharing with her...duck itch. I am soooo over it.

This morning was supposed to be my long run and that is all I will say about that.

On a positive note I was very productive and me and St. Anthony found a few lost items and I tried my hand at canning tomatoes. I have canned before, but never tomatoes. The garden was bursting at the seems with amazing and beautiful and ripe tomatoes. Way more than a family of 15 could eat in a week. So what do you do with them? Lets can those bad boys so in the dreary throws of winter we can have a little taste of summer.

First of all it really isn't a difficult process to can anything. I enjoy it. I am still enjoying pickles my girl friend and I made last summer and I have been known on occasion to make mint jelly when I have more than my mojito consumption can use. But please for the love of all that is holy if I ever tell you I am going to can tomatoes again please make sure I am not canning 5 billion grape tomatoes which is what I had to work with today. So this simple process took about 3 times as long as it should have had I used regular sized tomatoes.

Aren't they pretty? This is way in the beginning and there is a huge dish of them in the sink waiting to be peeled.

All of those bagillion tomatoes and I get four stinkin' jars? Really?

The finished product.

Wait...how did that glass of wine get in there? I swear it's not mine. 

Okay, it is mine.

So post canning I did get in a base run around my neighborhood which is so not the long run I was thinking I was going to do, but I am proud of myself for getting out the door and getting some pavement into my life today.

The post race follow up - ARC 1/2 Marathon

Saturday was my first half marathon - almost.

First of all I was feeling crappy. Running while hosting a mucus sinus party in my head is not fun...racing while these shenanigans are happening is torturous.

The race started at 9am which is later than I usually start a long run and it was sticky. I am talking Florida humid sticky yucky. One mile in and I was sweaty. Only 12.1 more to go. Out past the dog park and onto the road. I have never run this part of the race before and I was surprised at the hills. No, they are not like the hills in the Boilermaker, but there were a few hills none-the-less. By mile three I am pretty much at the back of the pack, which is where I usually hang out, you know strategizing and plotting my takeover of the other stragglers and old people. I was hurting by mile 5.

I think I forgot to mention the weather people said we were going to get some storms and they had the potential to be nasty. So I am chugging along second to last and the cops are driving around...maybe they are the EMS I don't know they had lights and were in a suburban the possibilities are endless. There cold have been a rash of vandalism at the water stations, again I am not sure. The point is they slowed down and told me the race directors are getting very nervous about these storms and really want people back in the park and off the roads...wait for it...they ask me if I want a ride back to the dog park (it was probably about 3/4 of a mile to a mile from where I was). I said nope, no way, no thank you, not gonna happen. These  short legs are going to take me until I either fall over or you force me to leave the course.

Back in the park I keep chugging away and going forward...slowly...but I am still not last, unless that pesky person in the back hitched a ride with the people with the flashing lights in the suburban. Curses, I might have been last, but hey it wasn't to bad back here. I mean I have the water stops to myself.

Over to Willow Bay. Now many people have already finished the race. My coach is done and enjoying some calorically ladened junk food. Down to the turn around...wait are those people in front of me that I might pass? Yes I think they are. Turn around and back. One more leg to go. Eight plus miles in and I am not quite dead yet. I hurt. I am exhausted. My head wants to explode. I keep going. It starts to rain.

I never saw lightening nor heard thunder and it was a chilly rain, but now I am truly badass...running my first half marathon in the rain. Oh yeah. In the park we have bike EMTs. I see a few of them riding around and I am sure they want to make sure I am not going to drop on the side of the road and need an IV or resuscitating or anything like that. They have been circling me like sharks circling a wounded whale since about mile six. Wait are they speaking to me? When did sharks learn to talk...wait am I hallucinating? They are talking to me. They are telling me the race directors are calling the race and I am to head to the finish line and not do the West Trail. WAIT WAIT WAIT...WHAT? Must pass the people in front of me. Must pass the people in front of me. Must pass the people in front of me...even if the race is shortened. I pass them.

I am only at mile eight something. I head back to the finish line. I cross the finish line so I guess technically I am a finisher even with only going nine something miles. There seemed to be quite a bit of confusion about the race being called, but it is what it is. Funny thing is people were surprised to see me. Well of course they were. It is just over two hours and I am across the finish line.

In a way I was relieved it was shortened for me. I wasn't feeling it. It was a really hard run for me. I am exhausted mentally, physically and even emotionally. Training for a marathon is difficult - no it is really really really hard, especially for me being such a slow runner and it sucks most days. I am losing my motivation and just want this to be done. I am not even sure I can do 26.2. Self doubt is everywhere. I hate it.

On a positive note speedwork today felt pretty good and any good run at this point I will take.

Oh remember the people I worked so hard to pass at the end of the race? When they crossed the finish line (they weren't too far behind me either) everyone started singing Happy Birthday. Yep one of the runners it took me 8+ miles to pass was celebrating his 80th birthday. Yep, I am just THAT badass.

The first 13.1 - Going Half Crazy - Pre-race

Tomorrow is my first half-marathon.

Did I just utter those words? Out loud? Put them in print? For all the world to see? Holy crap. What am I thinking? I must have lost my mind. I am terrified.

I have been part of a running training group since the beginning of the year and part of a marathon training group since May. I run with great people...amazing people...people that inspire and drive me every time I step out the door. I have an amazing coach who has brought this goal closer to me. Who has shown me I CAN do this. I can cross the start line and the finish line in the same day :) Thank you.

Of course all this awesomeness can't go unnoticed by the irony gods. Wednesday I got a massive sinus infection. Oh yeah. Yep, the kind with uncontrolled snot dripping out of my nose, sneezing, unbelievable pressure inside my head and the overwhelming desire to sleep. I can be ditzy anyway, but add a nasty sinus issue on and wham I am a total flake. I am simply pleased I remembered I have a race tomorrow let alone that I had to go pick up my number and such today. I feel slightly better right now and I figure if I can make it through the first couple of miles I will be golden.

Speaking of picking up my number and race shirt...I think they are being a bit presumptuous in the shirt design? Finisher??? I haven't even started yet!

So tonight is prep night. I have never prepped for a 1/2 marathon before, although I have run 13 miles once I have never done it for time (not that any of my times are stellar - but I always find a way to cross the finish line). How do I prep for a 1/2 marathon? Do I do anything different than I would if tomorrow were just a long run...you know a normal 3 hour long run?

I have gathered all of my race goodies together so I hopefully don't forget anything.

Dinner tonight was carb lovely...

And now back to the terrified part. I am going to wear my Y Runner shirt. I just want to do right by those I run with...give me strength.

So now I wait. Wait for tomorrow, wait to see what the weather brings, wait to see how my head feels, wait to get to the start line...and wait to finish.

The meltdown

Okay so today is long run day...

The further I get into this marathon training the less I am liking running. Well not all running - long runs. Today I had a meltdown mid run. There were tears and pouting and whining and more tears and lots of fears and sadness and a whole lot of what the hell am I thinking??? This meltdown came halfway through the run and damnit I couldn't quit because I was like 5+ miles from my car and had no money for a taxi (note to self...carry cash on run for said emergency need). I was going to ask the homeless guy on the corner for some cash for a cab, but my running buddies told me no.

So what was this meltdown all about? I run. I run 6 days a week. I do speedwork. I do base runs. I do long runs. I have been running this way since Januaryish.  I feel stuck. I am still ridiculously slow. I haven't lost any weight. It hurts. It just isn't natural for me. I want to quit. I don't know if I can do this marathon thing. How can I can from the measly 12ish miles I am going now to 26.2 miles by November 11? What was I thinking? I am terrified.

It is so difficult to look back and see how far I have come. I do remember when running 30 seconds was unthinkable...and 5 minutes seemed unattainable...a 5k? Not this girl. Now I am running 10 miles...12 miles...and next weekend I will take on my very first ever 1/2 Marathon. It isn't going to be pretty nor will it be speedy in any way, shape, or form, but I have no doubt I will finish.

Bless those souls that ran with me today and kept me going. Your words of encouragement and 'we've all been there' did not go unnoticed. Thank you.

I hope my next entry shall be a little more light...
Runger. It does exist.

A new kind of tired.

So my training for the Outer Banks Marathon continues. Now that I am finished with the triathlon I have shifted my focus to running and lifting. I run six days a week: 4 base runs, 1 speed work, and 1 long run per week. My long runs are up to 2 hours 45 minutes - three hours. That is a lot of running. And I am lifting three times a week.

Whew I am tired. This is a new kind of tired for me. My body is drained and still I push on. I cannot even express to you in words how much I am looking forward to November 12 (the day after the race).

I refer to this as a race. This is not a race I am running against the clock nor is it a race I am running to beat anyone. This is a race against me and against all of those little demons that keep creeping in...those little monsters that whisper in my ear 'how in the world are you going to finish this run? You won't even have run more than 20 miles before this race...' I hate this little voices. They make me mad.

My first marathon for me is not a about how fast I can finish or if I finish last, it is about conquering this fear. I will not qualify for Boston - hell I wouldn't even qualify for the Senior Games...but I WILL finish.

More to come soon...I hope. I need to share my food. RUNger is real.

Long time no blog...

Okay so it has been forever since I last posted here. I feel like the worlds worst blogger, not that I have many followers or anything, but still I am hoping this may provide a useful tool for me in my life, my training, or just fun to go back and read about my follies back in the day.

So since my last post I have run my second Boilermaker 15k road race in Utica, NY. This year I finished about 5 minutes slower than last year, but there were a few reasons why I was a wee bit slower.

• It was about a billion percent humidity
• When you are slow it gets hot and the last 3 miles are open and sunny and toasty
• I ran with a friend and we learned about nerves and racing and port-a-potties

On the awesome side:

• With a race bib you get 50% off a 12 pack of Saranac beer
• I finished
• I ran with a friend
• We ran up the entire hill
• We made up a ton of time between the port-a-potty and the finish
• We saw an ass - an actual ass (donkey) at the zoo and were not delusional
• Physically I feel much stronger and better than I did at this time last year my legs feel good and this I am happy about
• I finished!

Also when you are at the back of the pack and pass the 500 photographers on the course they have nothing else to do but take a ton of pictures of you. So I have lots of photographic proof that I did indeed run this race - none of which will ever see the light of day. Oh and a new feature they added...a finisher video. I found this completely depressing. I my mind I was sprinting like I had never sprinted before...running like the wind...running like something awful was chasing me...on the video I look like I might collapse at any moment...like I am about 112 years old and am crossing the finish line with my walker...I look like forward progress is almost unnoticeable.  Ugh. Again this video will never be viewed by anyone and must be destroyed immediately.

The following weekend was winefest so not much training to be had unless you count sweating in huge tents while waiting for more wine...

And now I am only a week away from my first Iron Girl. My first triathlon. Wow. I am excited and terrified.
Just this past week I did a training with the CNY Tri club. This was really my first open water swim with people. I have been swimming since October so I am okay in the pool and I know I can swim the distance, but open water is different. And open water with 100 of my closest friends kicking and swinging their arms is even more different. I decided to do the swim sans wetsuit. I wanted to make sure it felt good without it just in case the water is too warm to wear the wetsuit I didn't want to be dependent on it. The lake is very low due to lack of rain and even snow this past winter - and it is very weedy. You could probably walk the majority of the swim and I am sure many will, but not me. I have trained to swim not walk so I am going to swim that bad boy. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the swim felt. While I am not a fast swimmer I was comfortable in the water and I passed people. Oh yeah you heard that right I PASSED PEOPLE! I am now feeling much better about the swim. Whew.

I did a loop of the bike course which was just under 9 miles. It felt good. And guess what? I passed people!!! And they weren't all on tricycles with baskets filled with flowers and puppies they were actual athletic people on bikes! Me and Lola were feeling good. This was my first swim then ride. Whew.

Next was the run. I wasn't sure how far I was going to run. I was after all skipping my maraton speedwork training to do this tri training, but I had also just done a swim and a ride how would I feel running? And could I go the full 5k? Did I want to? Off come the cycle shoes and on go my running shoes. And out I go. Yep I am still slow. And nope I don't want to quit. I do the whole 5k. I am not last and I PASSED PEOPLE! What what what?

Boy was I glad that was over, but damn, I might just do okay on this Iron Girl. I feel ready. I may not be fast, but I am excited to do this race.

Post Iron Girl my focus changes...biking and swimming for fun or cross training...and focus on running, running, running. Next stop 1/2 mary land.

What if I come in last?

So I am now officially registered for the Outer Banks Marathon in November. Twenty five weeks. It seems like an eternity and it feels like tomorrow.

I am terrified. I am elated. I am proud that I had the courage to make the commitment. I am.

Now what? This is a small race of just over 1200. The Boilermaker has 14,000. I was close to the back of the pack running the Boilermaker and it wasmore than 10x bigger.

What if I am last? Seriously. What if I am last? It is entirely possible. And it scares me. Really scares me. What if I am last by a lot? Like 30 minutes or more...I envision myself slogging along being followed by the police car or biker or whoever is tasked with bringing up the rear.

At work today I talked with Deb Green. She is an instructor at the Y and a marathoner herself. Her first marathon she was last. Deb told me it was the best experience of her life. She wouldn't want it to have happened any other way. She teared up telling me the story and I am blessed to have had her share it with me.

People cheer the loudest for the winner and the one who dares to finish last.

What do I say to finishing at the back of the pack now?

So what if I come in last...

2012 a year of firsts...

The year is 2012 and this will be the year I compete in my first triathlon. I know I have talked about it before on my blog, but I wanted to touch on it again. The tri is called Iron Girl and it is a race for women only and I am mildly terrified. Not so much of the running or the biking or even the act of swimming, but I am petrified of the wetsuit. It hangs in my closet like an intruder waiting with an ax. I sleep with a light on so it doesn't sneak up on me in the middle of the night.

Okay the second first (is that proper English) is going to be a half marathon. Yep 13.1 miles. Thirteen point one miles. What am I thinking? Who does that and why? The way I am justifying it is...if I am doing the Boilermaker (which is a second) anyway which is 9.3 miles what is another 3.8 miles? That is only another 5k plus .7. No big deal. Right? That is what I keep telling myself. Oh yeah and the Boilermaker is less than 6 weeks away. WHAT??? Okay now I haven't actually signed up for one yet, but I am. Just got find one that guarantees 50 degrees, light rain, it must be all slightly downhill, and it must end with adult beverages. Shouldn't be too tough to find.

Then the coup de grace...the piece de resistance...the WTF are you thinking...the third first...I am going to run a marathon. Yes a full mary. The run that only between .1% and 2% of people will ever do in their life. Why? Because I can. It is on my bucket list. I am going to run the Gateway Bank Outer Banks Marathon on Sunday, November 11, 2012. There I said it out loud and I said it online (where everything is true).

The lesson I learned is IT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO TALK TO YOUR MOM ABOUT RUNNING AFTER DRINKING MULTIPLE GLASSES OF WINE OR YOU WILL END UP COMMITTING TO RUNNING A MARATHON.

Corgis say what are you thinking?

A little bit of running...

Oddly the past two weeks have felt like really good running weeks for me. I don't say this often, in fact I am not sure I have ever spoken those words out loud.

I have added a longer set of intervals to the mix to help up my mileage in preparation for the Boilermaker and I think it is helping and dare I say I almost like it?  My long runs are up to the 75-90 minute range and I have been enjoying those too. Of course, I have been running them at Green Lakes State Park and the scenery definitely helps. I am still looking for a running buddy of the two legged variety. I am slow and while I feel I am getting faster I think much of that is mental and not actual reality, but I am fine with that because any improvement is fantastic real or perceived.

I am looking for a 1/2 sometime after the Boilermaker - if I can run 9.3 miles why not 13.1? Again, did those words actually just get typed for everyone to see? I thought about Turning Stone,  but I am mad at them so I am not going to do that one, so the hunt continues.

I have taken Lola out for a few rides OH OH OH I did my first actual for real honest to goodness brick the other day (a brick is a training for a tri where you do two of the disciplines one immediately following the other most frequently a ride and a run). Lola and I went for about 8 miles, I came home changed my shoes and went right back out and ran. It was only a base run, but wow. It is strange transitioning your muscle groups like that. From hamstrings to quads...but I made it and strangely even though I felt like I was going my usual super slow pace, I finished my base run loop about 30 seconds faster than usual and for me that is significant. The run was only 1.3 miles, but I did it and I was proud.

Lessons learned this week:
-chaffing sucks
-it is confirmed I do love running in the rain
-chaffing sucks
-I am digging cycling
-ice baths work wonders on my lower legs

Trying to Tri oh yeah and run the Boilermaker

So I should have started this ages ago, but you know what they say about mice and men and me and being ahead of the game...

So as some of you (all two of my followers) know I am signed up for a few races this summer. The first is a repeat performance of last year in the Boilermaker. What is the Boilermaker other than a whiskey with a beer chaser? Well, let me tell you...it is a 15k run in the lovely town of Utica, New York. What's lovely about Utica? Well...they do have an awesome Cambodian restaurant and the race does end at the Matt Brewery, which is home to Saranac Beer and yes there is free beer for all the racers...and pretty much all the fans and the rest of Utica, but hey if you come out to cheer on the racers and are kind enough to pass out ice, or freezee pop things, or ring a cow bell or hand out shots of vodka to make that hill on the golf course more manageable, by all mean you deserve a beer too. Last year was my inaugural race and I made a stunning PR (personal record) of a mere two hours nine minutes and 41 seconds. Blazing fast for me and oh a 15k is 9.3 miles for you metrically challenged out there. You know what? I wasn't last and I totally passed people. Oh yeah!

So this year I signed myself up to do it again. I guess I will do just about anything for free beer.

I am about 7 weeks out from the race and am on track with my training. My long runs are up to one hour 30 minutes so in 6 weeks I should be ready for the race. I feel stronger in my training and I wish I were a little further along in my distance (longest run has been about 6 miles) I know I will be ready. Will I be faster? Probably not, but hey not too many people can say they have run a 15k.

Of course if you come to cheer me on, please pace yourself you will be waiting on me for a while and please make sure there is beer left for me when I get there! Oh and did I mention instead of giving out the usual race t-shirt you can a pint glass for running the Boilermaker...if I keep this up maybe I will collect myself a six pack of glasses. :)

My other race I am registered for is the Iron Girl. It is a sprint distance triathlon which is held about 10 miles from the house. The distances are as follows: 600 yard swim, 30k bike (18ish miles), and a 5k run (3.1 miles).

I started swimming in October when I was in the 'thinking about signing up' stage...the just in case I do place. I am glad I did. Growing up we had a pond. Now you might think that having a pond and having several friends with ponds I would have taken swimming lessons...you know because we had a pond, but nope. I learned by the just get out there and do it method which works more or less and since I am still here I must have done something right. Fast forward to October 2011 when I enroll in a Level 1 tri swim clinic, an adult intermediate swim lesson and a level 2 tri swim clinic just for shits and giggles. Before going into these classes I am not sure I had ever swam the 25 yard length of the pool without some form of flotation device...why??? Because I had never had a reason to - now I did. Guess what? I am a pretty good swimmer. I believe I owe it all Dara Torres and Michael Phelps and what I learned from watching them swim. Of course my butterfly leaves a lot to be desired, but I will give it a go ever once in a while and swimming 1000-1500 in one of my lessons is now easily doable. Who woulda thunk it? I have a wetsuit (thanks Kecia!!!) in case I need it, of course it terrifies me and hangs in the closet like a noose waiting to strangle the life out of me - that is if I can actually get it on (note to self, buy stock in body glide).

Next is the biking. Enter Lola. She is my showgirl...
Lola is a Specialized Dolce Sport in white and berry and she is smokin' hot and super fast. I am learning that going from my hybrid to Lola is like going from a A1 Abrams Tank to a Ferrari. She is a beast. I love her. I still can't figure out how to get to my water bottle without falling over, but I will get there. I have had a few firsts with her...and learned a few very valuable lessons.

Lesson 1 - do not DO NOT try to clip in (when you have only clipped in once before) on a hill and this is a big friggin' hill called SBJ (Sweet Baby Jesus). Gravity is not IS NOT a theory and wen forward momentum stops you will inevitably fall to the side where your foot is still attached to the pedal.

Lesson2 - chain catchers do not always catch chains and getting one back that is under the chain catcher requires at least 4 other cyclists to stop and help with your 'mechanical' - 3 will actually dismount and one french guy will supervise while the woman with the fresh mani curses and gets all greasy.

Lesson 3 - bike pants/shorts are black for this reason...chain grease.

There will be more lesson I am sure, but this is a good starting point.

Some firsts:
- crossing tracks (while staying upright no less)
- using the drop handle bars
- using all my gears successfully
- spelling derailleur correctly and knowing what it is and does

Then there is the running which I think I have successfully covered above.

Oh and today I did my first real brick. It was a short brick, but it was a brick. I took Lola out for about 9 miles and then did a base run immediately following the ride. One interesting thing was my run was faster and significantly so without meaning to be...did my normal loop which usually takes about 16 to 16 minutes 30 seconds in 15 exactly and it would have been faster if Sydney the wonder Corgi hadn't needed a potty break that required cleaning up.

So today was a good training day for me.

Happy Tuesday all.