Mountain Madness! - Part I

Last month I had the wonderful opportunity to meet fellow runner, blogger, musician, and Gator alumnus friend, Danielle, in person.  I stumbled upon her blog, Long May You Run, last year and was immediately hooked.  Though we live in different states, I have really come to know and admire her through her blog posts.  She inspired me to 1) start a blog of my own, 2) sign-up for my first marathon, and 3) believe in myself as a runner!

Recently, I was lucky enough to find a half marathon near her, so I jumped upon the chance to invite myself on to North Carolina for a visit!  I even managed to convince her to run the race with me.  :-)  We had a wonderful visit and a really great race experience at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  You can read more about that race here.  As we parted ways, I eagerly extended the offer for her to find a race near me and to allow me to return the favor.  Little did I know what she would come up with!

Not long after I returned, Danielle send me an innocent little e-mail, asking if I had heard of the Twisted Ankle Marathon in Summerville, GA?  Not only had I not heard of it, I could tell it was not even that close to Atlanta.  Whew!  I felt I had dodged a bullet because the name of it did not inspire confidence in the least.  My one and only marathon experience so far has been on a course as smooth as silk and as flat as a fritter!

I was slightly relieved to learn she was not planning on deciding anything until after her next ultra.  ULTRA!  See, she is WAY more experienced with hills and rocks and roots and distances over 26.2 miles than I.  However, she had planted a tiny seed in my mind, and I decided it would not be a bad idea to start implementing a bit of hill training into my workouts.

The day of decision came, and she confirmed that she would still loved to run this race if I were game.  Gulp.  I re-examined the elevation chart for the course.  From the look of it, we were going to need pick-axes and pulleys to get up Becky's Bluff, and we were literally going to be jumping off a cliff to get down from it!  Double gulp.  I also stumbled upon a photo of last year's race shirt, confirming my expectations.  It featured a bunch of stick figure runners bounding along a trail and then falling, willy-nilly, off the edge of the mountain.  Triple gulp!

The one secret to knowing me, though, is in understanding my strong need to face challenges and to conquer them.  Don't ever tell me something is too hard or that I'm not tough/smart/strong/etc. enough to do something.  My husband sort of fell into this trap when I broached the idea of this race to him.

Here is his response to my e-mail:

"Couple of things to consider:  1. The name – Twisted Ankle – not good.  That’s like going scuba diving at shark bait reef.  2. The name – it is another marathon.  3. Trail run?  You tripped on a speed bump that was probably clearly marked. You're more of a flat surface girl.  4. Hills?  Again, your more of a flat surface girl.  Just kidding – We can discuss tonight.  Rob"

First-and-foremost, I promptly corrected his grammar in using the word "your" instead of "you're!"  Yep, I am queen of grammar here at home (ha ha!). Then, never minding the fact that all his observations were quite true and reasonable, I nevertheless continued to ask if he minded if I spent the day before Mother's Day (emphasis on Mother's Day) up in the mountains.  Sweet man that he is, he immediately knew it was useless to try to negotiate!

So, with fear and trepidation, I confirmed to Danielle that I was a "yes" for this twisted torture thing and suggested that we both might need to find a Runners Anonymous group really soon.

Next, I found the race page on Facebook and saw that they were having a training run on April 20th.  It sounded like a good idea for me to see what I was in for, so I cleared my calendar and planned to attend this little soiree.

I will post all the juicy details in a separate post in just a bit...

Race Report: Run the River 10K

Some of you are probably old enough to remember at least a few lazy Summer days as a kid, sitting in front of the TV, watching The Price Is Right.  One of the most memorable moments of that show for me was watching the pure glee expressed by some as they were called upon to take their enviable place on Contestant Row.  The ladies would cup their hands in front of their face in sheer joy and surprise, and then leap out of their seats and scamper up the aisles.  When they arrived, they would scream, cry, giggle, and seize Bob Barker in a severe hug as they expressed their amazement in making it to the next level of the game.  Well, folks, I came to understand that feeling very well yesterday as I blasted through my race goal and set a new 10K PR that I NEVER EVER in a million years thought possible!

Last April, my 10K main goal had been to run the 2011 Peachtree Road Race in less than an hour.  I had trained hard, but still came in at a disappointing 1:02.  What's worse is I felt utterly exhausted, nauseous, and woozy after the race.  I kept training, though, and last November, surprised myself by running a 10K in 50:23.  Boosted by success I continued to train hard.  By January, I had shaved that down to 49:05 on a hilly course.  All those training miles had really made a difference!

My goal on this race was not just to set a new PR, though, but to run it in 47:59 or less.  This was the magic number needed to win me a spot in Corral A for my 21st Peachtree Road Race.  It would require that I surpass my previous PR of 49:05 by more than a minute.  My hopes were high as my training runs had shown that I could get very close to this number on my usual flat course.

I lucked out, and the conditions this particular morning were nearly perfect, much unlike my recent stormy marathon run.  The course was almost flat; the sky was cloudy; the temps. were in the high 50s; I had rested a full two days.  Sure, it was humid out, but I was determined to make the most of this opportunity.

I woke up early and picked up a neighbor, Jennifer, who was running the race too.  I had not met her before, but when I saw her shirt, I noticed she had also done the Color Run 5K recently.  We immediately hit it off as we made our way to the race.

After pinning on our bibs, we met up with another neighbor, Melinda, and a fellow choir member, Chris, who is also Director of Children's Music Ministry at our church.

I had promised myself that I would do a warm-up run, so I reluctantly left the group and headed out for that.  Although I felt really light on my feet, I was also becoming more and more nervous.  To make matters worse, when I turned on my watch to find satellites, it got stuck on one screen and would not move.  It's not like a watch will help me run any faster, but I desperately count on it for feedback and motivation.  Anxiously, I pressed all the buttons in different combinations, hoping to get it to work.  Everyone was starting to line up, so I knew there was not much time left.  Finally, I heaved a sigh of relief as, at the last minute, the watch became unstuck.

My next issue was that I really needed a few sips of water, and there was none to be had.  As much as I hated to waste a moment, I knew I was going to have to stop one time at a water station.  I chatted with a few folks as we waited in nervous impatience for the race to begin.  As we all headed out, I started very quickly, but tried to hold back some, because I always go out too fast.  It's very hard to get passed just after the start line when you already feel like you are speeding, but very soon we started to space out a bit.  Sure enough, as we hit the first mile marker, a guy called out 7:22 as the first split (though Garmin told me 7:28).  Drat, that definitely meant I was going to be very tired very soon.  Half a mile later, we reached the first water station.  I reached for a cup and tried my best to get a sip.  Invariably, this does not work.  It mostly went up my nose and down my shirt, but I managed to get that one vital sip in my mouth, and off I went again.

On mile 2, we headed off the asphalt and onto a dirt path that had round holes in it.  I stayed distracted trying to dodge the holes, and was still hanging in there.  It sort of felt like we were at the beach.  I looked around at the other runners and wondered what they were thinking.  I checked out shoes and thought about saying hi, but I had no breath to spare.  That mile was a bit slower at 7:51.

Just before mile 3, we headed up the one hill of the race.  It was of the fairly short, yet steep, variety.  About halfway up it, I was hit by that typical feeling of doubt and desperation that plagues me on almost every hill.  I really, really wanted to walk and catch my breath.  I could see the top, though, and I knew there was downhill after that.  Therefore, I kept plowing along, step by agonizing step.  I had somehow managed to keep a pace of 7:46, even with the hill.

As I headed back downhill into mile 4, I was torn between making up some time and conserving my energy.  Before I knew it, the downhill was gone and I was back to flat.  Mile 4 was somehow the slowest at 7:51.  I still had two miles to go, and I was feeling mighty pooped.  I watched the runners ahead of me and just tried to maintain pace.  It just kept seeming harder and harder to keep going.  I remember that I had promised to take a mental body inventory and figure out exactly what was hurting most.  My lungs are usually the culprit, but this time my legs were tired too.  This is the part where the race becomes mind over matter, and my mind is not my friend!  Why can't I just toss those doubts and negative thoughts out??  I was also angry at being tired rather than being charged up, like I am at this point in some of my training runs.  Mile 5 was a screamin' 7:34.

I finally couldn't stand the pain and dropped to a walk for a few seconds.  Seconds later, though, my guilt began crushing me!  How could I *walk* on a "measly" 10K?  I saw people passing me, and it made me even more doubtful and frustrated.  With a deep breath, I summoned up courage and began to run again.  There was less than a mile to go.  I had stopped consulting my watch, but I still had a faint glimmer of hope that my goal was still in reach. Then I saw my friend, Sang, on the sideline.  He had run the 5K earlier, but had stayed around a whole extra hour just to cheer me on!  I can't remember what he said, but he had his eye on his own watch and was telling me to GO!  To my amazement, mile 6 came in at 7:45 in spite of the walk!

The last half mile of the race was a slight but long incline and I felt every inch of it.  This is always the point in a race where I really start to get lightheaded.  My breathing was coming out in anguished sobs and pants.  I knew I looked and sounded ridiculous and I did not care!  At the top of the rise, I rounded the corner and was ever so grateful to see a steep downhill slant for the last tenth of a mile.  I went all out, trying to take a couple seconds off, and was THRILLED beyond imagination to see the clock read something like 47:27!!!  I did it!  I did it!  My immense happiness made up for all the pain!

Two baby steps later, I abruptly stopped to let the guy pull off the bottom part of my tag.  Unfortunately, I had accidentally put my safety pin through one of the bottom holes.  I told him he was going to have to unpin me, and then I draped my arms around him!  I just love those guys who greet you at the finish line!  Finally, he extracted himself from my sweaty embrace (just like Bob Barker had to do with all those ladies) and released me so I could hobble over and get a water.  There again, I even had to ask the volunteer for help in unscrewing the cap for me.  Simple things like moving your eyeballs are difficult at this point!

Once I caught my breath, though, the good news really sunk in.  I had flashbacks to the previous years' Peachtree when I had felt even worse, and had 1:02 on the clock to show for it.  All that training, all those long runs, all the aching muscles and early mornings had paid off.  Secretly, I thought, "I'm never going to run another race again.  This is probably as good as it's going to get - ever!"

I spied Sang near the shirt table, and we congratulated each other.  We both had achieved PRs on our races, and we got a nice shot showing our mutual happiness!

I also found my first friend from the Running Divas group I joined on Facebook.  Though I had never met Lisa, she recognized me because I had posted what I would be wearing.  We posed for a quick shot, and then I made my way back to the sidelines so I could cheer for the others.

I was clapping a cheering when a gnat flew into my eye.  By the time I got it out, I looked up just in time to see Chris coming up the final rise.  A few minutes later, my neighbors, Jennifer and Melinda, passed by.  I ran with them to the end of the race so I could congratulate them.  I also ran into Running Divas friend, Michelle, who had on the cutest outfit!

I had cooled down by this time and decided to stick around for the awards, just in case.  Two other times I had left early, and had missed picking up my award!  To my utter delight, this time I schnagged a 3rd place win for my age group!

My official finish time was 47:29.  I was the 12th female out of 292 to cross the finish line and the 55th out of 564 overall.  It sure had been a morning to remember!

Race Report: The Color Run 5K - Atlanta

Again, I am late with this report, but I'll make up for it with the colorful photos!  As I was browsing the Georgia race calendar for fun races, I discovered a video for The Color Run 5K.  I have often toyed with the idea of doing one of those crazy muddy/challenge races, but was always worried about not being strong enough for some of the obstacles.  This race appealed to my need to get down-n-dirty without actually having to deal with...dirt!  Also, I figured a 5K with a fun atmosphere might actually give me a chance to win an AG award.  When I saw the fun and frolicking video footage from previous races, I was sold.


I didn't quite realize how big this race was going to be.  They actually decided to schedule an encore race because the first one sold out of its 5,000 slots!  The day before the race, I carefully read all the fine print about the "semi-permanency" of the color we would be anointed with.  Then I saw that the race was not even going to be timed!  Truly it was a fluff race, but I was going to go out there and have fun, by golly.

I left for Piedmont Park early the morning of the race so I could get one of the limited parking spots near the start.  After the race, I needed to scoot out early to pick up the kids from the place where they were impatiently watching Rob play his tennis match.

Because of this early start, I was able to scout out the site and go for a warm-up run.  The first thing I noticed was that I seemed to be the oldest person in the entire park - by FAR!  Truly, I was a relic.  This was definitely the 20-somethings' scene.  I was determined not to let that get me down, though.  Instead, I snapped a couple shots of the colorful signs and got one of me in my pre-race "white-shirtedness."

Then I made my way to the starting line to wait for the remaining 45 minutes.  Lucky for me, I met the one other guy who also looked to be in his mid-40s, and we struck up a conversation.  He was standing in for his step-daughter who had pneumonia.  We chatted a bit, but it was very hard to hear because of the obnoxious music blaring right in our ears.  Man, I am getting old!  Beach balls were being tossed around, and we even got a few waves going.  The announcer tossed out prizes into the crowds as well.  I didn't wear my Garmin because a) I didn't want to subject it to the indignity of being sprayed with color, and b) because time was obviously not the object in this race.  :-)

Finally the gun went off and we started running.  The 40-something guy and I headed out as swiftly as we could, although people resorted to walking pretty quickly.  The pace was definitely leisurely, and we passed folks left and right.  My intention was to run, but to just sort of enjoy myself.  However, because this guy as going pretty fast, I decided to try to match pace.

As we passed the first "color station," I braced myself for the initial blast of yellow I was to receive.  It truly was so potent that it was hard to breathe for a moment!  By the second station, I had figured out that covering my face was an excellent idea.  The other guy kept up the rapid pace and I started getting a bit tired.  I had no idea how much of the run we had left.  I just knew that we had two more stations to hit (or, rather, to be hit with) before the end.

Looks like fun, doesn't it?!

Luckily, the race took a downward slope and I felt a little better.  I knew our pace had to be less than 8-min. miles, but there was no way of telling.  Close to the end (although I didn't know it), I told the guy to "go for it," and I slowed my pace.  Then I turned a corner and saw we were at the end!  I was bummed that I gave up when I was so close.  I estimate that we came in somewhere about 20th place.  Since there was no timing though, it didn't really matter.  In fact, after the race as I made my way back through the park, I could see a long line of people who had not even left the gate yet!

At the goodies table, someone remarked about my colorful teeth.  There was nothing I could do!  My hands were completely covered, and everywhere I had sweat, the color had seemingly cooked onto my skin.  Swishing water and munching on a granola bar did not help in the least, so I just gave in and allowed myself a big, toothy, goofy grin!

With no time to chat, I bounded back to my car.  Although I had laid out a tarp, my car still got quite a bit of color as I scooted in.  What's really funny is that I had to cross the line of runners to get out of the parking lot.  Resigning myself to a long wait, I put the car in park.  Then, in amazement, I noticed that a traffic director actually made the "racers" stop so I could pass!  Funny thing is - I don't think they minded in the least!

As I drove around the corner, I saw the crowd passing through one of the color stations at a slow walk.  Note to self: If you do this kind of crazy race again, be sure to stay up front.  Walking through would not have been my idea of fun.

To reach the tennis courts after the run, I had to walk through the YMCA.  Needless to say, I got quite a few quizzical stares!  A couple people recognized that I had just done the Color Run, but most folks, just looked at me as if I were coated, head-to-toe, with color.  Oh...wait.....

The kids and hubby (and all the tennis players) got a good look at me and enjoyed laughing at my foolishness.  I was very glad to get out of there and home to shower.  Although much of the color came out with a good scrubbing, I did have to go to church the next morning with quite a bit left on me.  Even the next day after my regular run, I noticed that the remaining paint on me had blended with my sweat and had stained the neckline of my shirt.  Oops!  In the future, I think I will stick to the "clean," timed races, especially when a fairly good chunk of money has to be shelled out for the "race."

This coming weekend, I have a 10K in which I'm really hoping to break 48 minutes.  I promise a more timely race report for this one, no matter what the result may be!

Race Report: NC Half Marathon

Belated NC Half Marathon Race Report

Because things have been really busy around here lately, I never found the time to make a separate race report for the NC Half Marathon, while everything was still fresh in my mind.  I'll do my best to provide some of the highlights in the paragraphs below.

On the spur of the moment (another of my impulse running decisions!), I contacted my fellow running, blogging, Gator alum, and Daily Mile friend, Danielle, to see if she was interested in running the NC Half Marathon with me in Concord, NC since she lives in that area.  It sounded relatively flat as it was to be held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway - right up my alley, so to speak!  Danielle graciously offered me a place to stay, and said she'd run the race too.  I was so thrilled to get a chance to meet her since it was her blog, Long May You Run, that inspired me to start one of my own.  It was also partly through reading about her training for her first marathon that I gathered the courage to attempt one myself.  Reading her blog really made me feel that I already knew her, even before we met.  Therefore, it was doubly exciting to get to meet her in person and run a race with her all in one weekend!

It's not all that often I can just pick up and leave for a weekend getaway, so I was very thankful when my good friend, Maria, offered to keep my daughter overnight while hubby and son went on a Boy Scout camping/biking trip.

I headed out at 2:00 Saturday afternoon, planning to make it to Charlotte in time to pick up Danielle and her husband, and go to the expo. for our race numbers before they closed at 7:30.  Unfortunately, about an hour outside Charlotte, I came upon one of those accidents where you can't tell what has happened or how long it might take to clear.  Minutes passed.  Then, more than an hour passed.  I grew more and more anxious that I would not make it there in time.  There was no way to turn around on the interstate and the cars around me had long ago turned off their motors.  After an hour and 20 minutes (what seemed like an eternity) I finally got going again.  I picked up Danielle and her husband, and we made it to the expo. at the very last minute.

I was excited that the tech shirts were red!

We woke early the next morning and had a light breakfast before heading to the racetrack.  It seemed kind of humorous running on a track meant for much faster speeds than even the best runners could even dream about.  The weather was ideal - somewhere in the low 50s and cloudy.  I was thankful for indoor plumbing at the race track, and the lines were very reasonable.  Danielle's husband, who ran the 5K race, took a couple of photos of us before we headed to the starting area.  Don't you love how they color the seats so it looks like the place is packed?!  There were no crowds, though, except on the track itself.

As the race started, we made a full loop around the track, clinging to the inside lane.  I felt pretty strong for the first three miles, and kept a sub-8 pace.  Mile 4 was the first sort of mild hill, and my pace slowed to 8:19.  I picked it back up again, though, for three more sub-8 miles.  We ran down a long, flat, straight track and back.  While on that track, I slurped down an Accel gel and plugged along through mile 9.  Somewhere about mile 10, my little engine started to run out of steam.  There was only a slight incline to tackle, but it seemed to go on for a while.  I finally stopped and actually walked a little.  Then, I heard someone behind me shout, "Go green shirt!"  I realized, "That was ME!"  Somehow, that boosted me enough to pick myself back up to a trot.  (Thank you, whoever you were!)  The damage was done, though, and I realized I was not going to get a PR that day.  My final time was 1:47:37, and my average pace was 8:13.  At my PR race, I had started more conservatively, and had run my fastest two miles at the end.  Note to self: pace yourself to feel good!  I am still very happy with this time, and I even came in 5th in my AG out of 177. Experience is a great teacher, and I am getting to know myself better with each half marathon I do.  It's truly my favorite race distance, too long to sprint, but long enough to require endurance.


At the finish line, we were greeted with a person handing out the most awesome, huge, gaudy, blinking race medal I have ever seen!  The little race cars actually move back and forth, and a set of multi-colored blinking lights is embedded to add to the glitz!  My daughter has had her eye on it ever since I returned.  Guess I'll know where to look if it disappears one day.  :-)

After I caught my breath, I quickly made my way back up to just before the finish line.  I was so excited to get to cheer Danielle as she made her final sprint.  It's much more fun when you know someone at the race.  We got a photo together with our hardware, and then headed to the line to get yummy post-run treats.

After a nice shower and change of clothes, I hopped in the car and headed back to Atlanta.  I forgot how sleepy running a race can make me, so I stopped for a soft drink to help keep me awake.  I think at one point I also rolled down the window and sang out loud.  I hope I didn't scare any fellow drivers!

It was a really fun weekend, and a great race.  I still think the highlight, though, was getting to know Danielle.  She and her husband and her two precious dogs were all just wonderful.  I am already at work trying to get her to come down here to run a race with me soon!

Impulse Running Decisions

Race Recovery
I remember thinking during the marathon that I did not see myself doing any more of them.  Truly I had some very negative thoughts floating around in there during pretty much ALL of the second half.  That's two hours worth of negativity!  I couldn't seem to conjure up any of the mental magic my friends had suggested.

Interestingly, though, as with childbirth, the pain is forgotten very quickly.  Within four days, like a fool, I had signed up for my next marathon!  One of my friends in the Running Divas group on Facebook had posted that sign-ups for the 37th Annual Marine Corps Marathon, held on October 28 in Washington, D.C., were opening the next day.  Like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to the idea of an out-of-town marathon in a cooler place and season.  I clicked my way onto the web site and checked out the reviews and the all-important elevation map. Surprisingly, it didn't look too bad.  The reviews were also incredibly positive!  My mind began scheming as to how I might make this work.  "The kids are old enough to enjoy doing a D.C. tour," I reasoned, "and they would definitely benefit academically too."  Right, as if I'm going to feel like walking even one extra step after I finish the race - NOT!  Guess we'd better front-load the sight-seeing.

My next obstacles to overcome were checking with the hubby on the potential for time off work, and trying to see if I could quickly talk anyone else into this insanity.  No one took the bait, but one of the Running Divas was signed up, so I decided I would get to know her some time before the race, and thought maybe we could do a long training run or two together.  Hubby's work thing was iffy, but I still got the green light.

It's a very good thing I made it a point to sign up as soon as registration opened because the race sold out in 2 hours and 41 minutes!  Once I got past all the logistics, I let the reality (of what I had just committed to) sink in: many long, hot Summer training runs, more pressure on myself, more worry about injuries.  Yowsa!  So how many weeks exactly is it until the end of October??

Post-marathon Recovery
I knew that I needed to take it easy so that I could make a full recovery from the marathon.  It was really hard to pass up the chance to run one of the flattest 10Ks around, in which the course is almost exactly where I run every day, and which could have given me that final chance to earn a spot in Corral A for the Peachtree this year.  I knew it would not be wise to run it because my knees were still feeling pretty sore.  Thankfully, reason won out this time, and I passed on it.  I did at least live vicariously through my good friend, Elise, who PR'd on it with a time of 46:48 and got 1st in her AG!  To give you an idea of how fast the runners were, the 3rd place winner in my AG (40-44) came in at 41:49!!!!  Unbelievable!

Today, 2 1/2 weeks after the marathon, I seem to be almost fully recovered.  My war wounds included two massive toe blisters, three purple and black toenails, a pop in my left knee, and some kind of weird knot/bump on the bottom of my left foot at my mid-foot strike.  Luckily, most of these have not slowed me up much.

Upcoming Race
Again, sort of on impulse, I decided to register for the NC Half Marathon coming up this Sunday, March 25, in Charlotte, NC.  I am thrilled with several aspects of this race.  First, I will finally get to meet my super-cool running/blogging/fellow Gator alum/Daily Mile friend, Danielle!  She graciously offered to put me up for the night and to sign up for the race too.  I just can't wait for Saturday to get here!  The other cool aspects of this race are that the course is fairly flat, and that they have the most fabulous moving, blinking finisher medals out there.  Check out the video half way down this page: http://www.nchalfmarathon.com/.

Training Plans
My mileage has been so much lower than my pre-marathon weeks.  Even with the marathon and the upcoming half, my March miles will be less than my January or February ones.  That's okay, though.  I should have time to build them back up slowly and to do some speed work.  How do those really fast runners do it??  Will I ever get there?  I'm not sure it's that important to me, but I know I'll still try!

My first ever marathon - DONE!

After checking the forecast for the 15 millionth time (and confirming my worst suspicions for marathon weather conditions), I reluctantly turned off my computer and loaded my bags in the car.  I was meeting two good friends, Elise and Isabel, at noon so we could ride down together to the "metropolis" of Albany (pronounced Aw-BENNY by the locals), Georgia.  I had heard that Albany was one of the flattest marathons around, and so it offered a great course for a newbie like me.

Elise and I, as we collect our bibs and shirts

The ride went quickly as we chatted about all things running.  When we arrived in town, we headed straight to the Hilton Garden Inn to pick up race numbers and browse through the expo.  While I was there, I introduced myself to the pacer for the 8:35 group.  His name was Ryan, and he was from Chattanooga.  His job, as with all pacers, is to keep an even pace throughout the course so that a runner (assuming he or she keeps up) can guarantee a certain finish time.  I was optimistically aiming for a finish of 3:45, and I told him that he was my new best friend!

The rest of the expo was not much to see at all.  We collected some complimentary marathon goodies, checked out our tech tees, and browsed the racks of running apparel.  Ever the optimist, I also went ahead and purchased a "26.2" sticker for my car bumper as a post-race reward.   

Isabel, Elise, and Gail - all smiling and happy to finally be here

 I had to strike a pose in front of this trailer because the hot pink shoes matched my hot pink Brooks PureFlows.  Too bad I wasn't wearing them at the time!  After the expo, we headed to the other side of town and checked into the Best Western.  It was fairly decent, and we immediately started laying out race gear for the morning.  Next we stopped by a Starbucks to have a little brew.  

Before too long, though, we decided it was time to head to Carino's restaurant where we were meeting up with my friend Chris, and his wife, Diana.  Even though we got there early, runners descended upon the place like locusts.  After an hour's wait and several false promises of tables waiting for us, we finally got seated.  Some form of pasta was part of each runner's meal.  Gotta get that final carb. load!

When we returned from our hotel, the weather forecast was still bleak, and a siren even went off that evening while we were watching the weather.  There was nothing left to do but try to get a decent night's sleep.  Although I tossed and turned a bit, I actually did sleep for most of the night.

At 4:30, the alarm rang and we started consuming our last meal before the race, along with coffee (tea for me).  By 5:45, we were dressed, with lotion and Glide stick liberally applied to all possible chafing spots, and were heading for the race start.  Elise, Isabel, and Diana were running the half marathon, and just Chris and I were running the full.  We wished each other well as we headed toward our respective start places.

Fifteen minutes before the start, amid light drizzle, we spotted several streaks of lightning and heard the accompanying thunder.  At that moment, I felt sure the race was going to be called off.  To my surprise, though, everyone continued lining up.  I saw Chris up ahead in the line-up and wished him well.  Then I found Ryan, my pacer, and met the others in my 3:45 pace group.  They mostly consisted of super-tall, super-young FSU students who were all hyped up and cracking jokes.  One of them was 6'7" if he was an inch!  When the start gun went off, it caught me by surprise, and I lunged forward to begin the race.

For the first two miles, I felt really good except for the puddles I had to keep dodging.  Before long, there were too many to dodge and I resigned myself to the fact that I had four hours before me to run in wet shoes.  I carried a disposable water bottle with me to ensure I was at least properly hydrated for the first ten miles or so.  We were a little packed in, so it was hard for me to stay right with Ryan.  The college kids were hurdling over traffic cones just for fun.  It made me tired just watching them.

At about the fifth mile, the tornado sirens started going off.  None of us were too pleased about that.  We took a brief, nervous glance around the sky and determined there was not a twister in the immediate vicinity.  Therefore, we saw there was nothing to do but head forward.


I felt pretty good through mile eight, but after I sucked down my first Accel gel and swished it down with water, I was disappointed to note that I felt a little more tired than I thought I should be.  It was a bit disconcerting to consider how many more miles I had left to go.  I also noted that my feet were already well shriveled and my toes were hurting a little.  As we passed mile ten, I became even more tired and out of breath.

Finally, a little before mile 13, I knew I had to make an adjustment in order to finish the race.  Reluctantly, I watched Ryan get slowly farther and farther ahead of me.  I told myself that I needed to just keep a comfortable pace, and that I would still be able to stay ahead of the 3:55 pace group.

Unfortunately, even my newly-adjusted pace became too fast for me after mile 16.  I couldn't believe that I was feeling this tired this early in the race.  I had done two 20 mile training runs, and had never felt anywhere near this tired at mile 16, or even after finishing the full 20.

I sucked down one more gel and did a whole lot of walking over the next 4 miles.  I swigged down Gatorade at every station.  My spirits were pretty low, and I sure wasn't loving the thought of how much longer I would be pushing forward before I reached the end.

By mile 20, I sort of rallied a bit, and started to negotiate with myself.  I figured that if I could sort of keep somewhere near a 9 1/2 minute/mile pace, I could still have a respectable time.  Doing any complex math was way beyond me by then.

I would run for 3/4 of a mile and then let myself have a short walk break.  Every time I passed people cheering, though, I felt a little guilty for walking, so I tried to make an extra effort to run a bit.  The crowd really did help.  I passed lots of families sitting in their front yards, clapping, waving, and holding up signs, even though it was raining.  Many times I would pass another runner, and then he or she would pass me back as I stopped to walk.  I wanted to talk with them and make a friend, but honestly, I was too tired even to make an effort.  At about mile 22, even the 3:55 pace group passed me.  It was hard to watch them float by, and know that I could not even catch them.  My quads ached terribly, and my feet were miserable.

By mile 24, I let myself believe I was going to somehow make it to the end, and I thought I might even break the 4 hour mark.  I told myself I could run all of 2.2 measly miles.  However, I even had to take one last short walk break with only 3/4 of a mile to go.  I just plain didn't care.  The wind had picked up and the rain was again coming down in buckets for those last 2 or 3 miles.

I managed to sort of fake a smile for the camera as I strolled into the train station.  There might have been a few tears mixed in with that rain, but I was immensely relieved to know the end was so close.  I can see in this photo that my form had deteriorated badly.  At least I still look like I am doing something sort of resembling a run!

The weather truly mirrored my mood at that point.  Here's how it looked and felt that whole morning:

I came around the last corner and eyed the finish line just ahead.  My heart sank, but only a tiny bit, when I saw that the clock read 4-something instead of 3-something.  However, I was happy when I spotted Chris smiling at me beside the finish line, and felt a great relief that I was done with the race.

A very sweet elderly gentleman wrapped his arms around me right after I crossed over the line and gave me the best hug ever!  He then escorted me to the medical tent where I allowed myself to get a couple of minutes of TLC before coming out of the dream state.  Then I went to see if I could still sign up for a massage.  As I sat there waiting, I could feel my legs and lower back truly ache like they never have before. Then it dawned on me that I needed to find my friends.  I couldn't remember where we were supposed to meet.  Finally I remembered that I was going to meet them at the awards ceremony for the half marathon.  However, I had no idea where that was, nor did I have the energy to walk around looking.

Eventually, because I started to get very chilly, I forced myself to stand, and then I staggered forward in search of them.  After limping around aimlessly for several minutes, I began to cry.  I didn't know what to do or where to go, and I began getting colder and colder.  At some point, I found my way to the meeting place, but found that the awards were already done.  At that point, I really started sobbing.  Luckily, my friends were nearby and heard me.  My sobs then turned into cries of relief!

I was so happy when we finally reached the car, and I could take off my sopping wet shoes and socks, change clothes, swallow down some Advil, and scarf down a Marathon bar.  I inspected my toes and confirmed my suspicions.  I had a huge blister on my right big toe, and I had four toenails that were purple.  It was not a pretty sight.  I think I might suffer my first toenail casualty some time in the next couple weeks.

We headed for Waffle House on our way out of town.  I had two eggs and a whole plate-sized waffle which I smothered in butter and syrup.  After burning over 2700 calories that morning, my appetite was really strong!

Today, I am still stiff and sore, but it's not too bad, and I think I will recover nicely.  Although I can't say that I'm dying to do another marathon right now, I wouldn't count out another marathon some time in the future.  It was a huge accomplishment, and it's something I will never forget.  The training was really fun, challenging, and good for me.  I have met so many wonderful fellow runners who have become good friends.  Running gives me peace of mind and keeps me grounded when life gets nutty.  I wouldn't trade this experience for the world!

Monthly Recap & Goals - February

Another month of running, another chance to review and project.

February Highlights:

• Total miles run: 146 miles
• Total number of workouts: 18
• Longest training run: 20.2 miles in 3:15:03 (9:40 pace) on Feb. 12
• Fastest training run: 6.1 miles in 47:36 (7:49 pace) on Feb. 14 - a personal best
• Ran Berry Half Marathon in 1:45:54 (8:05 pace) on Feb. 18 - a new PR

February was a bit different from January in a few ways.  I ran a few less miles and took a few more rest days, partly in preparation for, and subsequent to, the Berry Half Marathon.  The two days before the race really helped re-charge my engine and set me up for success during the race.  I highly recommend it!  Because I ran a bit harder than I expected to, I felt I needed a bit more rest time afterward too.  Then, at the end of the month, I caught a cold and took a fall, which hampered another couple of the planned runs.  That, plus needing to rest before the upcoming marathon, has kept me benched more than I thought I would be.

Marathon training has gone very well, with just a couple of exceptions.  First, having the half marathon only two weeks before the marathon was not ideal.  The half took a slight toll on my knees.  I really regret having not done more of my PT lately, and I'm vowing to get back to it after the race like I have done this past week.  Second, the cold and the fall not only took training time away, but also left me with a bit less confidence.  I know I will just go out there on marathon day and do my best, but in the last few days, I've become increasingly nervous about my knees, about my will power, about the stormy weather and wind expected, about the extra-warm temperatures, and about the possibility that I might fall again.  I'm worse than an expectant mother!

Goals review:

1. Run the Berry Half Marathon on Feb. 18 in under 2 hours.  If I am lucky, I hope to break 1:52.  Well, I guess I knocked this one out of the water - yay!
2. Plan to run a race every month in 2012.  So far, I'm 2 for 2, with March's race coming up.
3. Complete my first marathon.  In 2 short days I should be able to cross this one off!
4. Get a 10K time of 47:59 some time in 2012 so I can be up with the big boys in Corral A for the 2013 Peachtree.  I'll need to wait until later in the year for this one, although my half marathon was only 7 measly seconds off the needed time.  Oh well...
5. Stay healthy and injury-free.  I'm in a little bit of danger with this one.  I have a feeling my knees are going to need a lot of TLC after the marathon.  I intend to give them all I can.

I know that during the marathon I will think of every single person who means a lot to me and who has inspired me in my running pursuits.  It is a blessing to be encouraged by many friends and fellow runners.  It's good to be understood and accepted no matter how things go.  It is powerful to rest in the knowledge that I will have undertaken the hardest thing I think I have ever attempted in my life.  All of these emotions will be swirling around in my head.

Now I continue to rest and wait.  As soon as I am able, I will post marathon photos and stories!