So Courtney roped me into running on her Relay team for the Oklahoma Memorial Marathon. I joined Courtney who was running the first leg since she was also competing in the Half marathon. The other team members were Diane, Rhea and Tenika, the relay leg breakdowns are: 10K, 5K, 12K, 5K and a 10K. Courtney did the first 10K, then Diane with a 5K, then me with the 12K, then Rhea for a 5K and Tenika finishing with a 10K.
Saturday night we meet for dinner at a restaurant downtown. We had a good food, conversation and some laughs. We did not get our bib's or race t-shirts because Courtney forgot to bring them to dinner. So we made plans to meet at 0550 at the Memorial to get our bibs and the t-shirts we would get post race.
I woke up at 0400 to get ready for the meet up and race day. So the usual happened mostly: bathroom, coffee, bathroom, get dressed then downstairs for breakfast in the hotel dining room. Only difference was sharing space with 2 roommates both getting ready for their races. Heather is running her first Half and Mona is running her first Full. So exciting.
So I have not ever ran a relay. I thought I would get bused out to my relay exchange, run my 12K, hand off the whatever, bus back to the start line to cheer on my friends that were running. So naive and optimistic.
Mona, Heather and I walked down to the Oklahoma City Memorial for the pre-race service and 168 seconds of silence to honor those days that died in the bombing on that April Day. We gathered together under the survivor tree, remembering, honoring and praying.
Mona and Heather left to find their corrals at the start line. I waited for my team so we could get our bibs and make our way to the buses. At 0600 still no teammates. So I text them they text back they are on their way. I see some Lifetime Rum members, so I chat with them and take some pics. At 0615 still no teammates. At 0630 finally Rhea and Diane show up, I get my bib and we start walking to the buses. Whew, made me nervous! Courtney is at the race starting line and Tenika is supposed to meet Rhea at the buses. Talk about cutting it close.
Board my bus at about 0645, sit next to a lady who has done this relay for the last several years. We chat about our run experiences and where we are from. We arrive at the relay exchange station, which is in the middle of nowhere. Just open fields on the side of the road, with a aide station, port-a-john's, and a bus.
It is 0700, cloudy, cool at 45 degrees with wind blowing constantly at 25 mph. No place to get away from the wind. I am freezing. I pace the side of the road. I see John from Lifetime Run. We chat for a while to pass the time. We listen to the Brit, informing everyone of the relay etiquette. His sarcasm is on point. I am laughing my freezing tail off at his quips with the British soaked accent.
At 0835 my runner Diane comes in. I get the ankle timing chip off of her and put it on me and take off. My Heart rate monitor shows I am beating around 185 bpm which is utter nonsense. I am not moving that fast. I slow down anyway because I am still probably going to fast to start off. I find a pace that is manageably hard.
I run through neighborhoods, commercial and business areas lined with people and kids. The crowd support is good. The sun is coming out but the wind is still roaring across me. This does not feel like a race. It feels like a long slow run day with a lot of other runners. Nobody is running hard. Some are walking intervals.
I try to focus on Rhea waiting on me and wanting a good time for my section of the relay. I don't think I am doing very well at it though. It still just feels like a training run. The route takes us across the overpass and I am fairly certain the wind is going to blow me down. Good grief!
After the overpass it is down to the Lake Hefner running trails. We first go north on the trail which puts the wind at our back, Yay! Then we turn and go back south which is 20 mph wind in my face. Boo! I really do not like wind. I really do not like wind that is trying to push me backwards. It is requiring a lot of effort just to maintain a sub 12 pace.
I am over the wind. I am getting hungry. I am thirsty. I am tired. I am ready to be done with this race that does not feel like a race. I keep moving and pushing forward. Then here comes John from the relay station. He says something and passes me. Now I thought John was way ahead of me. I do not know why he was behind me but I know he just passed me.
Now it is a foot race because, Oh hell No, you are not passing me this close to the exchange station! So now, it is no problem to maintain those sub 12's. The wind? What wind? I keep John in sight. I just keep a pace that keeps John about 50 feet ahead of me.
I run up on a group of 5 all dressed in camouflage pants and desert brown t-shirts. The group consists of 3 guys and 2 girls. One of the guys is my age, good-looking and is obviously the leader. I run past the 2 younger guys and the leader guy turns around to run backwards while encouraging the 2 I just passed. He is telling them to "Come on! Run to Daddy!" Oh My Goodness the thoughts that passed through my mind but thankfully did not come past my lips! Mercy!
I see John walking through an aide station that is half a mile from the relay exchange area. So I pick up the pace and run by John and tell him to "Come on John-Boy it is time to finish this!" He catches me and we run past the photographers posing ridiculously and into the exchange area together. He hands off to Rana and I hand off to Rhea.
Grab some water and a banana and make my way to the bus line. I got to get to the finish to find out how my friends fared.
Get back downtown and find my crew to wait for our last runner to come in. Michelle completed her half in 3:04. Checked in with Heather to find out how she did and how she is feeling. Heather finished her first half marathon in 3:41. Woot Woot! Mona finished her first marathon in 6:29 after her hip popping out of place. Ouch! Great job on finishing!
Tenika comes in and we all join her to run across the finish line together. The official time of our relay was 5:59. My time was 1:21 about a 11:18 average pace.
I think I should have pushed harder. I think my inability to get into race mode definitely affected my performance. Yeah the wind sucked but it didn't hinder me when I wanted to keep John in sight. Competition makes me better. It makes the suffering worth it.
Take a way's: Run the first or last leg of a relay, work on maintaining race focus when not racing, find someone to complete with in a race that I don't know to help keep my focus and enjoy the suffer fest. Most importantly remember how blessed I am to be able to run, race, compete and suffer even.
Live Epic!
Michelle
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Sunday, May 15, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
Lake McMurtry 12K Trail Race
So I signed up for my second trail race about 3-4 weeks before the event. I had decided to do the Lake McMurtry trail race in Stillwater, OK. The trails are supposed to be single track, red dirt with a few roots to make it interesting and dirt piles for rolling hills. Easy!
On a Sunday I drove to Stillwater to check out the trails with my friend Michelle. Now Michelle tried to tell me it was raining there. My response was "so; we run in the rain all the time". Then she said "it was thundering at her house". I look outside my house, it is misting, cloudy and cool not anything storm looking. I tell her "Oh it will be ok." I drive towards Stillwater which is about 1-1.25 hours away. When I get about 20 minutes away it starts pouring rain. Great! Then it just as quickly stops. Sweet! Meet Michelle at the Lake, we greet/hug each other, take a pre-run selfie and take off on a trail. At about 20 minutes into the run it becomes a torrential downpour with thunder and lightening. Shit! Of course there is nothing to do but keep running to the turnaround. The rain goes back and forth between a sprinkle and a heavy rain. The lightening lets up and the thunder backs off. The sun shines but it still rains. We are a soaking wet muddy mess. I tell Michelle, "next time maybe I should look at the weather." her response is "or you know, you could just listen to me." Well there is that, my bad.
I have been running Turkey Mountain trails about 2-3 times a week and they are way more technical than the Lake McMurtry trails. I am lifting heavy with Nate and doing some correctives, activation and form work. Staying on my Whole 30 nutrition plan. Being gentle with my foot as it is still tender at times and still recovering. I might have skipped a couple of short road runs if it seemed more tender and normal.
Everything is going great until Easter weekend. I decided to go home and see the family and of course it is Alumni weekend. So I go to the local watering hole to reminisce with high school friends which turned into a late night. The next day I go for my planned trail run of 140 minutes, at Robber's Cave State Park with a friend, Marcus who is about to run Boston. The run turned into 170 minutes because it took longer to get to the cars than we anticipated. Oh well. Sunday night I stay at Mom's. Monday I play with the grandson and stay at my son's house. Tuesday morning I wake up to a sore throat and a long drive back to Tulsa to meet Nate at 9 am for training.
The sore throat recedes to a deluge of sinus drainage and coughing. It is ok, it is just allergies, welcome to spring time in Oklahoma. Or so I tell myself. By the following Tuesday, I am no better and I think I am actually worse. Time to see the physician. Rats! So she tells me: your throat is red, your left ear has fluid on it, your right ear has fluid on it that is infected and your lungs sound junky. So I take antibiotics and I can race on Saturday. Right? "Maybe, rest, fluids, rest, meds oh and rest. Then you can decide how you feel Saturday morning."
I get through the workday on Wednesday and get to bed early to start my rest fest. I am off work now until Monday. Woohoo! I work with Nate on Thursday, get a massage and rest. Friday I sleep in, take meds, take a nap, do a shakeout run. Now that shakeout run, took more effort than it should have. It was a slow run. I coughed during and after. Really think I am going to have to revise my race goals. Notice it does not cross my mind to not race.
Saturday morning race day comes early at 0515. it is the usual pre-race morning of: coffee, dog out, bathroom, dog in, dress, bathroom, more coffee, breakfast in a to go plastic and off to the car. The drive to Stillwater is uneventful just a perfect amount of time to eat, drive and think about the race.
I park the car, find my friend Michelle, locate the bathrooms, find the start line and run into another friend Tenika. We all chat for a bit and then the race director start telling us to gather at the start line. Which literally is a crack in the asphalt. Ken, the race director goes over the course directions. The 12K is an out and back with a lollipop loop at the end before you head back to the finish. To get to the finish you will cross this start line to those cones turn left go back on the trail by the lake edge and come up behind the pavilion up some natural steps just to make it interesting. Insert token eye roll here, because I think all finish lines should be on a straightaway or downhill so you can fly across the line with dramatic flair. Ha!
The gun fires and we are off. There are only about 45-50 people at this 12K race distance. The 50K and 25K started earlier. I take off and pass a few people at the beginning before we get to the single track trail. After we get on the trail I pass one girl ahead of me and keep her behind me. Most of the time it seems like a solo run. You can occasionally see people through the trees or hear people ahead or behind you but for the majority of it I was alone.
The trail is red dirt,, that edges around the lake and is lined with pines, cedars, oaks, elms, it undulates up easy gains/drops of 50 feet or less but it is repeatedly. Occasional roots reach up and trip the unsuspecting. It really is a great trail to run.
I am running about a 13-13:30 pace. I have my watch on but all it show is elapsed time and heart rate, so my pace is just an estimate. There are no mile markers just occasional signs that say race and point in a direction. About 2 miles in is the only water aide station. It offers: water, gatorade, breakfast burritos, chips, candy, liquor, beer and I don't know what all else. I swallowed some water and keep running. These runners are more serious. They are not stopping and having a feast mid-run. I have not seen anyone walking, of course I have not seen many people at all except the 25's & 50"s coming back towards me on the trail. I look at the runner's as they come towards me and their focus is more intense than the trail runner's I have encountered thus far. These guys and gals are running and running hard! The lead 50K guy strides like a gazelle or cheetah. It really is art in motion.
Now I figure I am getting close to the half point. I come upon a trail split, on the left is the sign that says race and points ahead but on the right is the sign that say race and points back the way we came. Oh good, this must be the lollipop loop. Left it is. I run down the trail for a bit and meet some of the runner's I know are ahead of me especially a woman who tells me the turnaround is right up there. Good deal. I get to the turnaround, just a sign, no cone, no timing mat, just 2 trees with ribbons. I turnaround and start making my way back to the finish.
I am coughing occasionally but not bad, I can feel my glutes firing, and I can feel the effects of the effort. I trade places a couple times with a 50K participant who will be out there all day. We trade greeting and I keep moving. Occasionally I can hear faster runner's that are in the longer races approaching behind me, so I move over and give them room to pass and a good job to go with it. The last time I move over thinking a faster runner was approaching but it was the lady I passed in the beginning of the race. So I got back on the trail and took off because I am faster and stronger runner of the two of us, but I had lost focus momentarily or something because I was not getting passed.
This time through the aide station I just keep moving, I don't even slow down. I am ready to be done. I have decided this course is probably a little long but, oh well. I come out of the trees, across the road, down the power line clearing, back on the road, turn left into the trees back along the waters edge to the natural/man made steps to cross the Finish!
The medal guys asks me how many miles I got. I look 8.23. What? He says, "yeah there was supposed to be a guy to turn you guys around but he didn't make it, Sorry."
So then I look up and there is my friend Michelle. Know I now she was behind me. So how is she already finished? So I ask her; how are you done already? So she tells me; "you must of done that extra part that was not for the 12K just the 25K & 50K. There was supposed to be a guy but he wasn't there" So I ask, How did you know to turn around? "Oh , some guy doing the 50K told us."
To make the matters worse or better depending on your viewpoint, Michelle gets 3rd in our age group and I get 4th. So had I not done the "extra" .8 miles I would have gotten my first age group award. Even doing the extra .8 miles I finished 2 minutes behind Michelle. Rats!!!!
So the course was not marked for us to turn around and nobody was there to direct us to turn around. I looked at the course map the night before and there were no designations for the 12K, 25K or 50K. It was just one marked trail on the map. Even with all of that I will take part blame in the outcome. I should have listened to the directions at the onset of the race more carefully. I also could have ran a bit faster or at least 2 minutes or so faster an earned my age group award.
I am happy for Michelle. Truth be told if I had got the age group award because some sap took a wrong turn and ran longer than needed. I would have thought "sorry for your bad luck" and grinned all the way home. So Congratulations to Michelle & Tenika for your awards! Well Done! As for me I will mark this up as a valuable lesson.
Live Epic!
Michelle
On a Sunday I drove to Stillwater to check out the trails with my friend Michelle. Now Michelle tried to tell me it was raining there. My response was "so; we run in the rain all the time". Then she said "it was thundering at her house". I look outside my house, it is misting, cloudy and cool not anything storm looking. I tell her "Oh it will be ok." I drive towards Stillwater which is about 1-1.25 hours away. When I get about 20 minutes away it starts pouring rain. Great! Then it just as quickly stops. Sweet! Meet Michelle at the Lake, we greet/hug each other, take a pre-run selfie and take off on a trail. At about 20 minutes into the run it becomes a torrential downpour with thunder and lightening. Shit! Of course there is nothing to do but keep running to the turnaround. The rain goes back and forth between a sprinkle and a heavy rain. The lightening lets up and the thunder backs off. The sun shines but it still rains. We are a soaking wet muddy mess. I tell Michelle, "next time maybe I should look at the weather." her response is "or you know, you could just listen to me." Well there is that, my bad.
I have been running Turkey Mountain trails about 2-3 times a week and they are way more technical than the Lake McMurtry trails. I am lifting heavy with Nate and doing some correctives, activation and form work. Staying on my Whole 30 nutrition plan. Being gentle with my foot as it is still tender at times and still recovering. I might have skipped a couple of short road runs if it seemed more tender and normal.
Everything is going great until Easter weekend. I decided to go home and see the family and of course it is Alumni weekend. So I go to the local watering hole to reminisce with high school friends which turned into a late night. The next day I go for my planned trail run of 140 minutes, at Robber's Cave State Park with a friend, Marcus who is about to run Boston. The run turned into 170 minutes because it took longer to get to the cars than we anticipated. Oh well. Sunday night I stay at Mom's. Monday I play with the grandson and stay at my son's house. Tuesday morning I wake up to a sore throat and a long drive back to Tulsa to meet Nate at 9 am for training.
The sore throat recedes to a deluge of sinus drainage and coughing. It is ok, it is just allergies, welcome to spring time in Oklahoma. Or so I tell myself. By the following Tuesday, I am no better and I think I am actually worse. Time to see the physician. Rats! So she tells me: your throat is red, your left ear has fluid on it, your right ear has fluid on it that is infected and your lungs sound junky. So I take antibiotics and I can race on Saturday. Right? "Maybe, rest, fluids, rest, meds oh and rest. Then you can decide how you feel Saturday morning."
I get through the workday on Wednesday and get to bed early to start my rest fest. I am off work now until Monday. Woohoo! I work with Nate on Thursday, get a massage and rest. Friday I sleep in, take meds, take a nap, do a shakeout run. Now that shakeout run, took more effort than it should have. It was a slow run. I coughed during and after. Really think I am going to have to revise my race goals. Notice it does not cross my mind to not race.
Saturday morning race day comes early at 0515. it is the usual pre-race morning of: coffee, dog out, bathroom, dog in, dress, bathroom, more coffee, breakfast in a to go plastic and off to the car. The drive to Stillwater is uneventful just a perfect amount of time to eat, drive and think about the race.
I park the car, find my friend Michelle, locate the bathrooms, find the start line and run into another friend Tenika. We all chat for a bit and then the race director start telling us to gather at the start line. Which literally is a crack in the asphalt. Ken, the race director goes over the course directions. The 12K is an out and back with a lollipop loop at the end before you head back to the finish. To get to the finish you will cross this start line to those cones turn left go back on the trail by the lake edge and come up behind the pavilion up some natural steps just to make it interesting. Insert token eye roll here, because I think all finish lines should be on a straightaway or downhill so you can fly across the line with dramatic flair. Ha!
The gun fires and we are off. There are only about 45-50 people at this 12K race distance. The 50K and 25K started earlier. I take off and pass a few people at the beginning before we get to the single track trail. After we get on the trail I pass one girl ahead of me and keep her behind me. Most of the time it seems like a solo run. You can occasionally see people through the trees or hear people ahead or behind you but for the majority of it I was alone.
The trail is red dirt,, that edges around the lake and is lined with pines, cedars, oaks, elms, it undulates up easy gains/drops of 50 feet or less but it is repeatedly. Occasional roots reach up and trip the unsuspecting. It really is a great trail to run.
I am running about a 13-13:30 pace. I have my watch on but all it show is elapsed time and heart rate, so my pace is just an estimate. There are no mile markers just occasional signs that say race and point in a direction. About 2 miles in is the only water aide station. It offers: water, gatorade, breakfast burritos, chips, candy, liquor, beer and I don't know what all else. I swallowed some water and keep running. These runners are more serious. They are not stopping and having a feast mid-run. I have not seen anyone walking, of course I have not seen many people at all except the 25's & 50"s coming back towards me on the trail. I look at the runner's as they come towards me and their focus is more intense than the trail runner's I have encountered thus far. These guys and gals are running and running hard! The lead 50K guy strides like a gazelle or cheetah. It really is art in motion.
Now I figure I am getting close to the half point. I come upon a trail split, on the left is the sign that says race and points ahead but on the right is the sign that say race and points back the way we came. Oh good, this must be the lollipop loop. Left it is. I run down the trail for a bit and meet some of the runner's I know are ahead of me especially a woman who tells me the turnaround is right up there. Good deal. I get to the turnaround, just a sign, no cone, no timing mat, just 2 trees with ribbons. I turnaround and start making my way back to the finish.
I am coughing occasionally but not bad, I can feel my glutes firing, and I can feel the effects of the effort. I trade places a couple times with a 50K participant who will be out there all day. We trade greeting and I keep moving. Occasionally I can hear faster runner's that are in the longer races approaching behind me, so I move over and give them room to pass and a good job to go with it. The last time I move over thinking a faster runner was approaching but it was the lady I passed in the beginning of the race. So I got back on the trail and took off because I am faster and stronger runner of the two of us, but I had lost focus momentarily or something because I was not getting passed.
This time through the aide station I just keep moving, I don't even slow down. I am ready to be done. I have decided this course is probably a little long but, oh well. I come out of the trees, across the road, down the power line clearing, back on the road, turn left into the trees back along the waters edge to the natural/man made steps to cross the Finish!
The medal guys asks me how many miles I got. I look 8.23. What? He says, "yeah there was supposed to be a guy to turn you guys around but he didn't make it, Sorry."
So then I look up and there is my friend Michelle. Know I now she was behind me. So how is she already finished? So I ask her; how are you done already? So she tells me; "you must of done that extra part that was not for the 12K just the 25K & 50K. There was supposed to be a guy but he wasn't there" So I ask, How did you know to turn around? "Oh , some guy doing the 50K told us."
To make the matters worse or better depending on your viewpoint, Michelle gets 3rd in our age group and I get 4th. So had I not done the "extra" .8 miles I would have gotten my first age group award. Even doing the extra .8 miles I finished 2 minutes behind Michelle. Rats!!!!
So the course was not marked for us to turn around and nobody was there to direct us to turn around. I looked at the course map the night before and there were no designations for the 12K, 25K or 50K. It was just one marked trail on the map. Even with all of that I will take part blame in the outcome. I should have listened to the directions at the onset of the race more carefully. I also could have ran a bit faster or at least 2 minutes or so faster an earned my age group award.
I am happy for Michelle. Truth be told if I had got the age group award because some sap took a wrong turn and ran longer than needed. I would have thought "sorry for your bad luck" and grinned all the way home. So Congratulations to Michelle & Tenika for your awards! Well Done! As for me I will mark this up as a valuable lesson.
Live Epic!
Michelle
Friday, March 18, 2016
Post Oak Quarter Marathon Trail Race
So I have been thinking about trying a trail race for a while now. When I was training for Medtronic Marathon, I put it off because I didn't want to risk injury. After Austin 70.3 and the Route 66 Half, I was too fatigued. I had no desire to run. When the fatigue finally started to lift and the desire to run returned I began running the trails at Turkey Mountain a couple times a week. Ironically, on a Sunday long run on a neighborhood sidewalk I strain my ankle and bruise the 5th metatarsal of my right foot, which resulted in a hiatus from running for 6 weeks.
Funny when you can run, you moan and groan about the monotony of training. We whine about the grind of long slow runs, the burn of speed work, the pain of hill repeats, the heat, the cold, the rain, the wind, and the lack of wind but just let an injury or illness keep you from running then suddenly that is all you want to do is run. You don't care if it is slow, or hard, hot or cold. Your mood is terrible. You actually want to trip people who get to run. You want to tell your runner friends to shut up about their runs. You realize how blessed we are to be able to run. It is a privilege.
So I got cleared to do run training on the 9th of February. By February 11th I had a new training plan and a trail race on the schedule for February 28th. I decided on a trail race because I had been intrigued by the idea of it for a while but mainly I thought the uneven terrain would make me stronger. I wanted to strengthen those stabilizer muscles, hips, knees, gluteus, core, ankles and all those tiny muscles on your feet that let you roll with the changes.
New training plan in hand or on google sheets and run happy I went, or so I thought. That first run SUCKED!!!!! It was SLOW. It felt HARD! My entire CNS (central nervous system) was
screaming WTF! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I texted my coach about how terrible it was and how much ground (fitness) I had lost. He assured me that was not the case and by the time I had a 2-3 runs done it would be easier. The fitness I had built was not gone, I had not lost as much as I thought and it would return faster than I believed. After all my body knows how to train now and it knows how to react/respond to training stimulus.
That first run sucked, the second run blowed, then a rest day, and then it was a 120 minute trail run. The first 40 minutes sucked, then it got better and I even thought hell yeah! That continued until the last 20 minutes, then everything got tired and hurt at once. All I could think is there is no way I am going to be ready to run a trail race in 2 weeks.
So what do you do, but the obvious follow the training plan, trust the process and control the variables that I can. So I ran my training runs, stayed true to my Whole 30 nutrition plan, hydrated, strength trained, crosstrained with swimming and biking and spent quality time with the foam roller.
So on Saturday the 27th I had to work all day but my coworker Kathy agreed to relieve me so I could get off early enough to rest up for the race on Sunday. Saturday evening I get off about 7-8 pm, grab some dinner and layout my flat runner. My friend Nicole is suppose to do the race with me and we plan on carpooling to the event but she renegs on me because she did a 10 mile hike on Saturday and has blisters. Who does that? I don't understand it but oh well she had a good time with her spouse, so good for her.
0630 on race day dawns with my regular pre-race routine. Bathroom, coffee, let the dog out, breakfast, more coffee, let dog in, bathroom, dress and double check everything 3 times, more coffee for the road, set the gps in the car and away I go.
I arrive and get parked I am early for the 9 am start since it is only 8 am. So I go exchange my race tech shirt for a smaller size. Yay! Chat with the lady from Tulsa Runner till she gets called away to assist another runner. Then I see Pam from my hometown so I talk with her and meet her family. Decide to take my shirt to the car and unload everything except what I need for the race. Check my phone a few times to get race updates on Nate and Cecilia who are running Cowtown that day. Nate is doing his first 50K and Cecilia is going for a PR on the Half.
Get to the start line about 10 minutes to the race start and about 10 people are milling around. Some are warming up, some are doing drills and some are just standing around. I see some Tulsa Runner people and we talk about Nate and his crazy fast pace for Cowtown. Now it is about 5 minutes to the race start and about 10 more people have come out to the start line. No one looks nervous, excited or anxious. 2 minutes to race start the remaining 100 or so people make it to the race start. Still no one is excited or nervous everyone is nonchalant. Well except maybe Phillip from Tulsa Runner and he just looks ready to run fast. I can't say I am nervous but I am excited, it is race day! Race day is always exciting!
3. 2. 1. Bang! and No one moves. Uh did the race start? People start walking to the line and then they start to jog for about 100 feet then they walk again. I am running. I mean it is a race, we are still on pavement. People are walking and talking. It is more like a socializer. I'm passing people and keep thinking do these people know something I don't know. No one is even acting like there in a race.
The trails are single track trails that meander snake-like down the side of the moutains side then it crosses a field, by a pond through the pasture and then it starts climbing. Which brings us to the first aid station that offers: water, gatorade, coke, beer, pretzels, pringles, m&m's, gummy bears, tator tots, chicken chunks and cookies. Are you kidding me? People are fixing plates of food like it is a Sunday potluck dinner. I chug a half a cup of water and keep going.
The trail climbs up the side of a mountain that Oklahoma does not have and then climbs some more. It is still single track but now it is more pasture/field like terrain. Then we start descending again in a meandering sort of way but there are some steep downhills. Now I pick my way down the downhills because my A goal for this race is to not get injured and my B goal is to do as well as I can and not get injured. There are people flying down these steep as hell downhills like the finish line is at the bottom and when they get to to the flatter parts of the trail, they walk. Huh?
At this point I have come upon a lady that flies down the downhills and walks or power hikes everything else. I ask how long she has been trail running to which she say she has done Post Oak the last 5 years. She ask about my running history and I tell her this is my first trail race. She asks if this is my first race and I say no I have done some marathons and half marathons. Oh she says "this will kick your ass, it is way harder than road running." I don't reply but my internal dialogue thinks, "uh no it won't. No it is not harder. It is just different." I may have had an eyerolling seizure at that point.
After we get back to the base of the hill we just climbed we go on a gravel road for a bit and then we come to aide station number 2. That offers: water, gatorade, pringles, pretzels, chicken, tator tots, grill ham and cheese sandwhiches made fresh while you wait and a mini bar with tequila, bourbon, gin, rum and mimosa's. Are you freaking kidding me? Hell no, I don't want a sandwhich with a mimosa. I chug some water and keep running.
The trail crosses the paved road and we start our ascent up the Hill from Hell. It would be a hill from hell if the trail went up in a straight line to the top but it goes up, then goes across, then up, and back across and then up all the way to the top. So yes it is steep but you get some relief on the cross sections before you crawl/climb again.
Shortly after starting this climb me and the trail wonder woman pass another woman on the trial. The two ladies talk and greet each other like friends do and the one we are passing says something about being slow. The other one says something to the effect "it doesn't matter how fast or how slow as long as you are having fun." Now I am 100% certain my mouth dropped open and I think I may have halted in my tracks upon hearing this. I mean I know we race because we enjoy it. I know that a lot of people say "I just want to finish." I know we say we are competing with ourselves and just trying to improve. I call bullshit! Yes I want to have fun, yes I am competing against my last time, yes I am trying to improve my race performance but I am telling you right now, I want to pass as many of the other runners out their I can! I want to leave it all out there on the road, trail or whatever. I will probably never win a race but it won't be because I was not trying. If I just wanted to run for fun I can leave my house everyday and run for fun and not pay race fees, have surplus tshirts and useless medals hanging on the closet door. Ok rant over, lets just say I don't understand some people's race philosophy.
Then the trail emerges from the trees and comes out on a "wagon trail" (their words not mine) and goes straight up to the top which they refer to as the Stairway to Heaven. Now this is steep but thankfully relatively short. The trail makes a big loop on the top and then descends down to the finish line after crossing a field.
On this downhill I might have started, if not flying down it, then I was definitely accelerating down it. Once I reach the open field it is full throttle, stretch out and race hard to the finish. All the way across the field, to the pavement and down the final stretch to sprint across the finish line. Final time 1:28:43
So did I enjoy it? Yes. Will I do another trail race? Yes. Do I understand this nonchalant breed of trail runner? No. Does that matter? No because I am doing my thing and they can do their thing and hopefully I am passing them while they eat!
Live Epic!
Michelle
Funny when you can run, you moan and groan about the monotony of training. We whine about the grind of long slow runs, the burn of speed work, the pain of hill repeats, the heat, the cold, the rain, the wind, and the lack of wind but just let an injury or illness keep you from running then suddenly that is all you want to do is run. You don't care if it is slow, or hard, hot or cold. Your mood is terrible. You actually want to trip people who get to run. You want to tell your runner friends to shut up about their runs. You realize how blessed we are to be able to run. It is a privilege.
So I got cleared to do run training on the 9th of February. By February 11th I had a new training plan and a trail race on the schedule for February 28th. I decided on a trail race because I had been intrigued by the idea of it for a while but mainly I thought the uneven terrain would make me stronger. I wanted to strengthen those stabilizer muscles, hips, knees, gluteus, core, ankles and all those tiny muscles on your feet that let you roll with the changes.
New training plan in hand or on google sheets and run happy I went, or so I thought. That first run SUCKED!!!!! It was SLOW. It felt HARD! My entire CNS (central nervous system) was
screaming WTF! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I texted my coach about how terrible it was and how much ground (fitness) I had lost. He assured me that was not the case and by the time I had a 2-3 runs done it would be easier. The fitness I had built was not gone, I had not lost as much as I thought and it would return faster than I believed. After all my body knows how to train now and it knows how to react/respond to training stimulus.
That first run sucked, the second run blowed, then a rest day, and then it was a 120 minute trail run. The first 40 minutes sucked, then it got better and I even thought hell yeah! That continued until the last 20 minutes, then everything got tired and hurt at once. All I could think is there is no way I am going to be ready to run a trail race in 2 weeks.
So what do you do, but the obvious follow the training plan, trust the process and control the variables that I can. So I ran my training runs, stayed true to my Whole 30 nutrition plan, hydrated, strength trained, crosstrained with swimming and biking and spent quality time with the foam roller.
So on Saturday the 27th I had to work all day but my coworker Kathy agreed to relieve me so I could get off early enough to rest up for the race on Sunday. Saturday evening I get off about 7-8 pm, grab some dinner and layout my flat runner. My friend Nicole is suppose to do the race with me and we plan on carpooling to the event but she renegs on me because she did a 10 mile hike on Saturday and has blisters. Who does that? I don't understand it but oh well she had a good time with her spouse, so good for her.
0630 on race day dawns with my regular pre-race routine. Bathroom, coffee, let the dog out, breakfast, more coffee, let dog in, bathroom, dress and double check everything 3 times, more coffee for the road, set the gps in the car and away I go.
I arrive and get parked I am early for the 9 am start since it is only 8 am. So I go exchange my race tech shirt for a smaller size. Yay! Chat with the lady from Tulsa Runner till she gets called away to assist another runner. Then I see Pam from my hometown so I talk with her and meet her family. Decide to take my shirt to the car and unload everything except what I need for the race. Check my phone a few times to get race updates on Nate and Cecilia who are running Cowtown that day. Nate is doing his first 50K and Cecilia is going for a PR on the Half.
Get to the start line about 10 minutes to the race start and about 10 people are milling around. Some are warming up, some are doing drills and some are just standing around. I see some Tulsa Runner people and we talk about Nate and his crazy fast pace for Cowtown. Now it is about 5 minutes to the race start and about 10 more people have come out to the start line. No one looks nervous, excited or anxious. 2 minutes to race start the remaining 100 or so people make it to the race start. Still no one is excited or nervous everyone is nonchalant. Well except maybe Phillip from Tulsa Runner and he just looks ready to run fast. I can't say I am nervous but I am excited, it is race day! Race day is always exciting!
3. 2. 1. Bang! and No one moves. Uh did the race start? People start walking to the line and then they start to jog for about 100 feet then they walk again. I am running. I mean it is a race, we are still on pavement. People are walking and talking. It is more like a socializer. I'm passing people and keep thinking do these people know something I don't know. No one is even acting like there in a race.
The trails are single track trails that meander snake-like down the side of the moutains side then it crosses a field, by a pond through the pasture and then it starts climbing. Which brings us to the first aid station that offers: water, gatorade, coke, beer, pretzels, pringles, m&m's, gummy bears, tator tots, chicken chunks and cookies. Are you kidding me? People are fixing plates of food like it is a Sunday potluck dinner. I chug a half a cup of water and keep going.
The trail climbs up the side of a mountain that Oklahoma does not have and then climbs some more. It is still single track but now it is more pasture/field like terrain. Then we start descending again in a meandering sort of way but there are some steep downhills. Now I pick my way down the downhills because my A goal for this race is to not get injured and my B goal is to do as well as I can and not get injured. There are people flying down these steep as hell downhills like the finish line is at the bottom and when they get to to the flatter parts of the trail, they walk. Huh?
At this point I have come upon a lady that flies down the downhills and walks or power hikes everything else. I ask how long she has been trail running to which she say she has done Post Oak the last 5 years. She ask about my running history and I tell her this is my first trail race. She asks if this is my first race and I say no I have done some marathons and half marathons. Oh she says "this will kick your ass, it is way harder than road running." I don't reply but my internal dialogue thinks, "uh no it won't. No it is not harder. It is just different." I may have had an eyerolling seizure at that point.
After we get back to the base of the hill we just climbed we go on a gravel road for a bit and then we come to aide station number 2. That offers: water, gatorade, pringles, pretzels, chicken, tator tots, grill ham and cheese sandwhiches made fresh while you wait and a mini bar with tequila, bourbon, gin, rum and mimosa's. Are you freaking kidding me? Hell no, I don't want a sandwhich with a mimosa. I chug some water and keep running.
The trail crosses the paved road and we start our ascent up the Hill from Hell. It would be a hill from hell if the trail went up in a straight line to the top but it goes up, then goes across, then up, and back across and then up all the way to the top. So yes it is steep but you get some relief on the cross sections before you crawl/climb again.
Shortly after starting this climb me and the trail wonder woman pass another woman on the trial. The two ladies talk and greet each other like friends do and the one we are passing says something about being slow. The other one says something to the effect "it doesn't matter how fast or how slow as long as you are having fun." Now I am 100% certain my mouth dropped open and I think I may have halted in my tracks upon hearing this. I mean I know we race because we enjoy it. I know that a lot of people say "I just want to finish." I know we say we are competing with ourselves and just trying to improve. I call bullshit! Yes I want to have fun, yes I am competing against my last time, yes I am trying to improve my race performance but I am telling you right now, I want to pass as many of the other runners out their I can! I want to leave it all out there on the road, trail or whatever. I will probably never win a race but it won't be because I was not trying. If I just wanted to run for fun I can leave my house everyday and run for fun and not pay race fees, have surplus tshirts and useless medals hanging on the closet door. Ok rant over, lets just say I don't understand some people's race philosophy.
Then the trail emerges from the trees and comes out on a "wagon trail" (their words not mine) and goes straight up to the top which they refer to as the Stairway to Heaven. Now this is steep but thankfully relatively short. The trail makes a big loop on the top and then descends down to the finish line after crossing a field.
On this downhill I might have started, if not flying down it, then I was definitely accelerating down it. Once I reach the open field it is full throttle, stretch out and race hard to the finish. All the way across the field, to the pavement and down the final stretch to sprint across the finish line. Final time 1:28:43
So did I enjoy it? Yes. Will I do another trail race? Yes. Do I understand this nonchalant breed of trail runner? No. Does that matter? No because I am doing my thing and they can do their thing and hopefully I am passing them while they eat!
Live Epic!
Michelle
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Standards & Epiphanies
So just before the 2015 year ended, I weakly decided to do a Whole 30 challenge and start it on January 2. Since I was recovering from an injury, my training volume was low but I was still eating as if I was training for a 70.3 Ironman. I had put on 11 pounds since the Route 66 half marathon in late November. Which is just ridiculous, my sweet tooth was out of control and mindless snacking was in overdrive due to boredom. I felt miserable and my mood was terrible.
For those who are not familiar with The Whole 30 it is a 30 day challenge to clean up your diet of common inflammatories, allergens and processed food. To reset your metabolism and nutrition to ground zero, so you can make educated decisions on what foods you do not tolerate, just tolerate, or thrive on. The rules: no dairy, no alcohol, no legumes (this includes peanuts, peanut butter and soy/soybeans) no grains, no seeds, no sugar, no sugar substitute of any kind, no processed food, no artificial colors/flavors, no carrageenan & no weighing yourself. So you may ask "what can you eat?" Organic grass feed meat, poultry, seafood, wild game, all veggies, potatoes, squash and fruit. With the fruit be sure to eat it when you are hungry and not as a substitute for that late afternoon sugar craving.
I choose January 2nd because I didn't want it to be another New Year Resolution. I started off strong because I started on my days off from work. At home there are not any temptations. If I had wanted to cheat, I would have had to shower, dress and go to a store. That's is just way to much effort for a cookie. On Monday back at work I was still on track. I was drinking coffee black, unsweetened tea, fresh veggies, raw nuts, and just good food. By day 5-6 I would have dressing on that salad because really what is the harm in that. What does it hurt to have a sprinkle of cheese on the salad? I'm eating 95% clean.
This continued until day 10 which was on January 11th on that day I broke and had a handful of chocolates. I would like to tell you they were worth the cheat but that is not the case. Truthfully though I had not fully committed to the program. I had not really been doing the program 100 % since day 5 or 6. I shared this with my trainer the next day. He shared a quote with me that helped me to change my perspective. The quote is: "We don't rise to the level of our motivation but fall to the level of our standards." So I needed to make this my standard, I don't eat ____. So then it is not oh woe is me I can't have ___ but I choose not to eat ____ because I don't eat that. That is my new standard.
So on Tuesday January 12th, I started anew with new standards and a strong commitment. By day 2-3, I was pretty sure people were put on this planet just to annoy me. Day 4-6, I was tired, I mean it was just to tiring to breathe. I just wanted a nap fortunately it was my days off so I could indulge my need to nap.
Day 8-19, I had some epiphanies: one, is that waking up with brain fog for the, past I don't know how many years is not normal; two, black coffee is excellent especially when you indulge in some quality beans and brewing devices; three, I don't have to put up with afternoon energy slumps; four, unsalted nuts are sweet, I mean really sweet; five, I don't have to wake up every morning at 3:30 to go pee; six, I can go right to sleep at night without all the tossing and turning; seven, I can wake up in the morning awake, alert and rested; eight, sweet potatoes may be the best food on the planet; nine, I can have consistent energy all day; ten, I do not have to have food cravings all day regardless of hunger status.
Day 20 it got a little hard again but briefly and it was manageable. The craving came for chocolate on a stressful work day but with a good quality meal and a deep breath the craving was gone. Hell Yeah!
Day 21 through 30 have been just awesome. I have energy. I can run, bike, swim & lift and not need mid-activity supplements. Everything is just easier. I'm lighter and no bloat. I lost 12lbs which is the 11 I gained with a bonus and that is with very little volume of training. My mood is better. Some days I feel just plain giddy for no apparent reason which is mildly disturbing. People may think I'm nice! (the horror)
Now after day 30 you can start incorporating foods back in to your diet one type at a time. So the other day I had feta cheese on a salad without any noticeable problems, a few days later I had a meal that had rice in it and had a headache afterward so rice/grain might be on the intolerable list for me.
Truthfully, now on day 44, I have not been that concerned with adding foods back in. I feel too good and I want to continue to feel this way. I don't really miss beans, grains, dairy or even sugar. I do miss chocolate but I think I would be satisfied with 85-90% dark chocolate. I will test this theory out but not yet, later when I have been off the sugar longer and the habit or standard is stronger. Does this mean I will never eat sugar, probably not. It does mean that when I do indulge, it will be an informed decision, a conscious choice and not a whim. There is freedom in that.
So for now I'm going to keep on this Whole 30 journey, add some training volume, add some intensity, keep losing the excess baggage and live my life. Live it feeling better, moving better, and without being a slave to sugar cravings. Life is good!
Live Epic!
For those who are not familiar with The Whole 30 it is a 30 day challenge to clean up your diet of common inflammatories, allergens and processed food. To reset your metabolism and nutrition to ground zero, so you can make educated decisions on what foods you do not tolerate, just tolerate, or thrive on. The rules: no dairy, no alcohol, no legumes (this includes peanuts, peanut butter and soy/soybeans) no grains, no seeds, no sugar, no sugar substitute of any kind, no processed food, no artificial colors/flavors, no carrageenan & no weighing yourself. So you may ask "what can you eat?" Organic grass feed meat, poultry, seafood, wild game, all veggies, potatoes, squash and fruit. With the fruit be sure to eat it when you are hungry and not as a substitute for that late afternoon sugar craving.
I choose January 2nd because I didn't want it to be another New Year Resolution. I started off strong because I started on my days off from work. At home there are not any temptations. If I had wanted to cheat, I would have had to shower, dress and go to a store. That's is just way to much effort for a cookie. On Monday back at work I was still on track. I was drinking coffee black, unsweetened tea, fresh veggies, raw nuts, and just good food. By day 5-6 I would have dressing on that salad because really what is the harm in that. What does it hurt to have a sprinkle of cheese on the salad? I'm eating 95% clean.
This continued until day 10 which was on January 11th on that day I broke and had a handful of chocolates. I would like to tell you they were worth the cheat but that is not the case. Truthfully though I had not fully committed to the program. I had not really been doing the program 100 % since day 5 or 6. I shared this with my trainer the next day. He shared a quote with me that helped me to change my perspective. The quote is: "We don't rise to the level of our motivation but fall to the level of our standards." So I needed to make this my standard, I don't eat ____. So then it is not oh woe is me I can't have ___ but I choose not to eat ____ because I don't eat that. That is my new standard.
So on Tuesday January 12th, I started anew with new standards and a strong commitment. By day 2-3, I was pretty sure people were put on this planet just to annoy me. Day 4-6, I was tired, I mean it was just to tiring to breathe. I just wanted a nap fortunately it was my days off so I could indulge my need to nap.
Day 8-19, I had some epiphanies: one, is that waking up with brain fog for the, past I don't know how many years is not normal; two, black coffee is excellent especially when you indulge in some quality beans and brewing devices; three, I don't have to put up with afternoon energy slumps; four, unsalted nuts are sweet, I mean really sweet; five, I don't have to wake up every morning at 3:30 to go pee; six, I can go right to sleep at night without all the tossing and turning; seven, I can wake up in the morning awake, alert and rested; eight, sweet potatoes may be the best food on the planet; nine, I can have consistent energy all day; ten, I do not have to have food cravings all day regardless of hunger status.
Day 20 it got a little hard again but briefly and it was manageable. The craving came for chocolate on a stressful work day but with a good quality meal and a deep breath the craving was gone. Hell Yeah!
Day 21 through 30 have been just awesome. I have energy. I can run, bike, swim & lift and not need mid-activity supplements. Everything is just easier. I'm lighter and no bloat. I lost 12lbs which is the 11 I gained with a bonus and that is with very little volume of training. My mood is better. Some days I feel just plain giddy for no apparent reason which is mildly disturbing. People may think I'm nice! (the horror)
Now after day 30 you can start incorporating foods back in to your diet one type at a time. So the other day I had feta cheese on a salad without any noticeable problems, a few days later I had a meal that had rice in it and had a headache afterward so rice/grain might be on the intolerable list for me.
Truthfully, now on day 44, I have not been that concerned with adding foods back in. I feel too good and I want to continue to feel this way. I don't really miss beans, grains, dairy or even sugar. I do miss chocolate but I think I would be satisfied with 85-90% dark chocolate. I will test this theory out but not yet, later when I have been off the sugar longer and the habit or standard is stronger. Does this mean I will never eat sugar, probably not. It does mean that when I do indulge, it will be an informed decision, a conscious choice and not a whim. There is freedom in that.
So for now I'm going to keep on this Whole 30 journey, add some training volume, add some intensity, keep losing the excess baggage and live my life. Live it feeling better, moving better, and without being a slave to sugar cravings. Life is good!
Live Epic!
Michelle
Monday, November 30, 2015
Route 66 Autopilot
So the 70.3 Ironman in Austin was on November 8th and it was hard, it was long, but crossing that finish line under the cutoff was AWESOME! So after Austin I had some muscle soreness for maybe a day but I was really fatigued.
I would do most of my training runs, I think I skipped 2 runs in 2 weeks, and strength train but that was it. No biking and no swimming. No matter how much sleep I got, I was still tired, I had no energy and my temper was volatile.
Now the Route 66 Half was 2 weeks after Austin. My trainer would ask what my goal was for the 66 and all I can say was; I don't know, but in my head was I thinking to just get it over with because I'm ready to be done. I am tired, really tired to my cells tired. I finally decide I am just going to run by feel and not look at the watch for heart rate, distance, pace or elapsed time. My goal is to finish the race and hopefully find my mojo or love of running/racing back.
The only saving grace for the Route to keep me from dreading it was the chance to meet Abbie and Gina from the Inner Circle group, to reconnect with my friends Michelle & Heather that I met at my first Half in OKC and a chance to cheer on some first time marathoners & experienced runners from Life Time Run.
On the Saturday the 21st, I get up and do a shakeout run of 25 minutes easy with 3 pickups. It feels harder than I think it should and my right foot hurts afterward, Great! So I clean up, have some breakfast and go to the race expo to meet Abbie & Gina.
Abbie is already in the packet pickup line, so I find the back of the line and patiently wait. The line moves quickly which is good but the line is getting longer. Abbie gets her packet and goes to the jacket pickup. As I am getting my bib, Gina is getting in line to get her packet. Finally we all get our packets, jackets and can talk together.
We talk for a while as we wander the expo booths and look at running gear. We talk races, training runs, goals for the race and the upcoming holiday. Of course we take the obligatory picture at the Expo and then say goodbye to Abbie. Abbie has family pics to have made and a family dinner.
Gina and I go to a restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner. We chat some more over dinner, wine & coffee. Gina and Abbie are great and I am so happy I got to meet with them!
At the expo I had picked up my friend Heather's race packet, so now I am going to meet the Heather's. I met both of them at OKC last year, this year Heather L is doing the half but Heather D is doing her first Full! I visit with them for a bit and we make plans to meet in the morning.
At the house, I lay out my flat runner, have some dinner, hot bath and bed at 8 pm. I did not sleep well because my foot is still hurting, so finally I take some Motrin and get some rest.
I get up at 5:30 am, let the dog out; brew the coffee, bathroom, dog in, breakfast, more coffee, and get dressed. As I am getting ready, I contemplate not racing. My foot still hurts, I am still tired and I just feel blah, but I go because well I said I would and I'm not getting a DNS. The starting line is just over a mile from the house, which is just a short warm up.
I find the Heather's for a pre-race pic that we dedicate to Mona, our other OKC friend who is unable to run today. Check my drop bag and find my way to corral B. Unfortunately I was not able to find Gina and Abbie before the race.
In my corral, I see some of my Life Time Run peeps; Rana and Gary. We talk and move about to keep warm, it is a balmy 27 degrees, as we wait for the race start. Usually I am nervous/excited before a race start but not today. I am not envisioning a perfectly run race or PR's or anything for that matter. Just waiting to start moving forward so my corral can start.
Finally the confetti cannon goes off... and we walk forward, and we walk forward some more and finally we cross the start line in a slow trot because of the sea of runners congesting the roadways.
The first mile is a downhill, then a left turn, then a bigger downhill but of course what goes down must go up. I pass by a male peeing behind a column for the overpass. Really!
I find my pace that seems comfortable for the beginning of the race. I watch other runners as the go by because they are going out to fast. They are not saving anything for the hills that are up ahead. I think about the course, trying to see if I remember the turns from last year. We pass through the first water station and I run on by. 2 miles done only 11 more to go.
We enter the neighborhoods that I do my training runs in all the time. I nod to the spectators and thank the policemen that are guarding us from the traffic. I am running easy, I don't think I am running any harder than I do on a training run but I am not looking at my watch.
As I come out of the hills and onto Peoria I think about Gina and Abbie, what do they think of T-town and the Route 66. It is a flat section of the course with lots of spectators and loud music. It gives me a lift and my pace probably picked up at that point because crowds and music always helps. From there it is over to Riverside for a bit, not as long as last year because of the construction. Then back into the hills of the neighborhoods.
At mile 9 at the water station I walk through and drink some water. I pick up the run as soon as I finish the water and I start thinking maybe I should pick up the pace and then my foot tells me it hurts still, so I just maintain.
Back on to Riverside for an out and back, then up the a highway ramp as we start making our way back across downtown Tulsa. Pass the Cox business center then over to Boulder Avenue to 6th street which is where the marathoner's split off from the Half's. I am so happy at this point that I did not sign up for the Full. All I can think is poor runner's!
Down under the overpass then back up, right turn, then left turn, then right turn and I can see the Finish line, it is way up there but I can see it. Of course I start picking up the pace and picking off runner's one at a time. I hear my name and there is Nate and Cecilia cheering for me. I pick it up again, and again and again and get out of my way Half fanatic people right before the finish line walking hand in hand. I will spare you the curse words I was thinking as I try to get around them to cross the Finish Line!
Woohoo 2:29:13. Not a PR but for running the entire race easy and on autopilot it will work. For completing a race successfully with no GI issues, Hallelujah!
After I get through the finisher's shoot with some snacks, I make my way over to where I seen Nate and Cecilia. I put on some warm clothes over my run clothes and precede to cheer in the runner's all of them.
I cheer in the female winner of the marathon, along with the second and third. I cheer on my friend Michelle. She joins me and we cheer on the 4 hour Half marathon runner's along with the marathoner's. I see Nicole, Gary, Patrick, Gina, Abbie, Nikki, and the other Heather. I run with Heather around the corner and a bit up the straight until she sees the finish line. I miss a few come through as we go to find Heather at the finish shoot. The Heather's have to check out of their hotel.
We take some pics and say our goodbyes and I start my walk back to the house. I ponder the race day and my performance and I am okay with it. It was my 2nd best half, by finish time but my most consistent pace. I do believe that cheering everyone in was probably the best part of the day!
Live Epic!
Michelle
I would do most of my training runs, I think I skipped 2 runs in 2 weeks, and strength train but that was it. No biking and no swimming. No matter how much sleep I got, I was still tired, I had no energy and my temper was volatile.
Now the Route 66 Half was 2 weeks after Austin. My trainer would ask what my goal was for the 66 and all I can say was; I don't know, but in my head was I thinking to just get it over with because I'm ready to be done. I am tired, really tired to my cells tired. I finally decide I am just going to run by feel and not look at the watch for heart rate, distance, pace or elapsed time. My goal is to finish the race and hopefully find my mojo or love of running/racing back.
The only saving grace for the Route to keep me from dreading it was the chance to meet Abbie and Gina from the Inner Circle group, to reconnect with my friends Michelle & Heather that I met at my first Half in OKC and a chance to cheer on some first time marathoners & experienced runners from Life Time Run.
On the Saturday the 21st, I get up and do a shakeout run of 25 minutes easy with 3 pickups. It feels harder than I think it should and my right foot hurts afterward, Great! So I clean up, have some breakfast and go to the race expo to meet Abbie & Gina.
Abbie is already in the packet pickup line, so I find the back of the line and patiently wait. The line moves quickly which is good but the line is getting longer. Abbie gets her packet and goes to the jacket pickup. As I am getting my bib, Gina is getting in line to get her packet. Finally we all get our packets, jackets and can talk together.
We talk for a while as we wander the expo booths and look at running gear. We talk races, training runs, goals for the race and the upcoming holiday. Of course we take the obligatory picture at the Expo and then say goodbye to Abbie. Abbie has family pics to have made and a family dinner.
Gina and I go to a restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner. We chat some more over dinner, wine & coffee. Gina and Abbie are great and I am so happy I got to meet with them!
At the expo I had picked up my friend Heather's race packet, so now I am going to meet the Heather's. I met both of them at OKC last year, this year Heather L is doing the half but Heather D is doing her first Full! I visit with them for a bit and we make plans to meet in the morning.
At the house, I lay out my flat runner, have some dinner, hot bath and bed at 8 pm. I did not sleep well because my foot is still hurting, so finally I take some Motrin and get some rest.
I get up at 5:30 am, let the dog out; brew the coffee, bathroom, dog in, breakfast, more coffee, and get dressed. As I am getting ready, I contemplate not racing. My foot still hurts, I am still tired and I just feel blah, but I go because well I said I would and I'm not getting a DNS. The starting line is just over a mile from the house, which is just a short warm up.
I find the Heather's for a pre-race pic that we dedicate to Mona, our other OKC friend who is unable to run today. Check my drop bag and find my way to corral B. Unfortunately I was not able to find Gina and Abbie before the race.
In my corral, I see some of my Life Time Run peeps; Rana and Gary. We talk and move about to keep warm, it is a balmy 27 degrees, as we wait for the race start. Usually I am nervous/excited before a race start but not today. I am not envisioning a perfectly run race or PR's or anything for that matter. Just waiting to start moving forward so my corral can start.
Finally the confetti cannon goes off... and we walk forward, and we walk forward some more and finally we cross the start line in a slow trot because of the sea of runners congesting the roadways.
The first mile is a downhill, then a left turn, then a bigger downhill but of course what goes down must go up. I pass by a male peeing behind a column for the overpass. Really!
I find my pace that seems comfortable for the beginning of the race. I watch other runners as the go by because they are going out to fast. They are not saving anything for the hills that are up ahead. I think about the course, trying to see if I remember the turns from last year. We pass through the first water station and I run on by. 2 miles done only 11 more to go.
We enter the neighborhoods that I do my training runs in all the time. I nod to the spectators and thank the policemen that are guarding us from the traffic. I am running easy, I don't think I am running any harder than I do on a training run but I am not looking at my watch.
As I come out of the hills and onto Peoria I think about Gina and Abbie, what do they think of T-town and the Route 66. It is a flat section of the course with lots of spectators and loud music. It gives me a lift and my pace probably picked up at that point because crowds and music always helps. From there it is over to Riverside for a bit, not as long as last year because of the construction. Then back into the hills of the neighborhoods.
At mile 9 at the water station I walk through and drink some water. I pick up the run as soon as I finish the water and I start thinking maybe I should pick up the pace and then my foot tells me it hurts still, so I just maintain.
Back on to Riverside for an out and back, then up the a highway ramp as we start making our way back across downtown Tulsa. Pass the Cox business center then over to Boulder Avenue to 6th street which is where the marathoner's split off from the Half's. I am so happy at this point that I did not sign up for the Full. All I can think is poor runner's!
Down under the overpass then back up, right turn, then left turn, then right turn and I can see the Finish line, it is way up there but I can see it. Of course I start picking up the pace and picking off runner's one at a time. I hear my name and there is Nate and Cecilia cheering for me. I pick it up again, and again and again and get out of my way Half fanatic people right before the finish line walking hand in hand. I will spare you the curse words I was thinking as I try to get around them to cross the Finish Line!
Woohoo 2:29:13. Not a PR but for running the entire race easy and on autopilot it will work. For completing a race successfully with no GI issues, Hallelujah!
After I get through the finisher's shoot with some snacks, I make my way over to where I seen Nate and Cecilia. I put on some warm clothes over my run clothes and precede to cheer in the runner's all of them.
I cheer in the female winner of the marathon, along with the second and third. I cheer on my friend Michelle. She joins me and we cheer on the 4 hour Half marathon runner's along with the marathoner's. I see Nicole, Gary, Patrick, Gina, Abbie, Nikki, and the other Heather. I run with Heather around the corner and a bit up the straight until she sees the finish line. I miss a few come through as we go to find Heather at the finish shoot. The Heather's have to check out of their hotel.
We take some pics and say our goodbyes and I start my walk back to the house. I ponder the race day and my performance and I am okay with it. It was my 2nd best half, by finish time but my most consistent pace. I do believe that cheering everyone in was probably the best part of the day!
Live Epic!
Michelle
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Austin Ironman 70.3
In January I contemplated signing up for the Boulder 70.3 with Brook and Brenda, but thankfully it sold out while I was thinking on it. I did sign up for the Boulder Sprint Ironman but I couldn't stop that voice in my head saying "but what if we did the Half Ironman". Damn voices!
So in April I registered for the Austin Ironman 70.3. Of course, then the voice changes to "what the hell were you thinking"and "you can't do that"! The voice in your head is a fickle wench. So when I registered for Austin, I did not read all the fine print. I read Lake Decker 1.2 mile swim and 56 mile Bike ride through the rolling hills of Texas and the only run course than finishes in an indoor arena. Cool!
What you need to know is that when I signed up, I could not swim the 25 meter pool without being out of breath clinging to the edge of the pool with my heart racing and gasping for air. I had not rode my bike over 25 miles. I was also newly recovered from a running injury to my right hip. So of course by November 8th, I will be ready to do 70.3. Lost my dang mind.
So I go to Boulder for the Ironman Sprint, and this is what I learned: my wetsuit does not fit, I am not ready to do an open water swim of 10 feet let alone 1.2 miles with 2000 of my new best friends, I and my undercarriage do not like the bike, I got passed on the flats of the bike course by an overweight, short, bald, old guy, and there are hard cut-off times for each section of the 70.3. Crap!
You have 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete the swim. If you go over that time, they take your timing chip and you get a DNF. You have 5 hours and 30 minutes to finish the bike course, if not, you guessed it, a DNF. You have a total of 8 hours and 30 minutes to finish the entire event or DNF. That is what I learned in Boulder in June, less than 5 months from my event. I can't swim, I suck at the bike and I have no legs to run on after I'm done with the bike. I am screwed.
As soon as I get back to Oklahoma, I find a swim coach! Coach Janet has been doing triathlons since the 90's and was a competitive swimmer in school. Thank you Jesus! Day 1 she watches me swim and says no more swimming, just drills for body positioning. 3 weeks later I got to graduate to a very slow freestyle. 3 weeks after that I got to move to a little speed work on my freestyle. Then it was working on form, speed, and endurance. We did do 3 OWS in the wetsuit and worked on sighting. What a blessing to have found her.
Now I would like to tell you I did a lot of biking when I got back to Oklahoma but that would be a lie. I was deep into marathon training because after all that was my "A" goal. I ran 4 days a week, swam 2-3 days a week and biked 2 times a week for a total of 2.5 hours a week on the bike. I will focus on the bike after Medtronic. Great plan. Ha!
O
After Medtronic marathon I did start riding on Sunday's with TAT, which is Tulsa Area Triathlete and those guys, especially Scott, were so helpful and encouraging. I rode once a week with Janet and once a week by myself. What you should know is Medtronic and Ironman were only 4 weeks apart. Plenty of time, Right? Now of course I continued running because well, I like running.
2 weeks before Austin I did a ride with TAT for 38 miles with 1800 feet of elevation gain and followed that with a 1.5 hour run. Which helped my confidence. 12 days before Austin I banged out 2100 in the pool, so at least I know I can do the distance. 10 days before Austin I did a 45 mile ride, my longest one. Took the bike for a tune up and new tire. I got one more ride in after the tune up and before Austin. Hopefully I am ready.
On Friday the 6th I drove to my sisters house in Decatur, TX and stayed the night. On Saturday, I got up and went for a shakeout run, which helped the nerves some. Packed up and got on the road to Austin. About a 3.5 hour drive in a misty rain which gave me plenty of time to let the nerves go into overdrive. On the drive down I-35 every few miles on digital signs over the highway displays the following message and I quote "Turn around don't drown". It's a sign but is it a sign, an omen or prophecy, I don't know so I just keep going.
I get to the expo, get my packet but miss the athlete briefing. So I ask a bajillion questions of the super nice guy at the information table. I browse the Ironman store offerings but buy nothing because what if I DNF. The tech shirt we get for participating is bright orange for girls and grey for guys, no matter how much I beg or plead they will not let me have the grey shirt. I hate orange. I'm a Sooner fan don't they get that, I guess not, the ********!
Now there are 2 separate transition areas. How do I set up my towel for that? It is supposed to be cool tomorrow which equals to cold and wet for the first part of the bike. Do I take a long sleeve shirt for the bike, try to dry off, or just tough it out. I know Kia, 55 is bikini weather but to us warm climate girls it is cold! These are the questions that consume me as I pack my 3 bags for tomorrow's race day.
After dinner, I do some shopping for breakfast food, bike snacks and last minute forgotten items then it is back to the hotel. I lay out everything for tomorrow and anything I don't need gets packed back to the car because I am checking out in the morning. Time for bed at 8 pm. I toss. I turn. I go to the bathroom. Back to bed, I toss, I turn and I finally find sleep about 3 hours before the alarm goes off.
0400 am wake up, get up, make coffee, bathroom, dresss, drink coffee and eat breakfast snack. Drink more coffee and double check the 3 gear bags for drop off. White is the morning bag for essentials before and after the event. Blue is the bike bag for T1 with helmet, gloves, socks, cycle shoes, long sleeve shirt, towel, sunscreen and shades. Red is the run bag for T2 with running shoes, visor and sport beans. Here I thought a drop bag for a marathon was too much.
After I get to the Expo, I drop the run bag off at T2 then board the shuttle to T1 to drop off bike bag and set up T1. When it is time to shed the jacket and shoes and put on the wetsuit I will give morning/white bag to the truck people. Suppposedly when I finish the day all of my bags, bike and gear will be at the Expo Arena after I run across the finish line.
My nerves are in overdrive now to the point I am nausous. The announcer keeps giving us a count down to when transition will be closed. 30 minutes, 20 miniutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, and 5 minutes. I put on the wetsuit, tie up morning/white bag and give it to the truck people and make my way to the water.
The water is choppy with waves from the 10-20 mph winds. I start walking into the water and it is warmer than the air temperature. I do some warm up laps and realize the water is really rough. Breath Michelle. Me and only 3 other people are warming up in the water which I thought was strange. Finally they call for the first wave to get in that water and chase everyone else out because there is not a separate area to warm up in. Oh Boy, it is cold on the shore.
I find my wave of light blue caps and wait in line. I talk to a few ladies who have done a lot of half and full Ironman's. They are doctors and 1 is in Tulsa, such a small world. Soon enough our group is in the water waiting for the start horn. I say a prayer and as I finish the horn blows and here we go. I start out wide and left because the buoys are on our right. I'm trying to keep out of the trample zone. Soon I find myself right beside the buoy line with not to much traffic. I guess everybody decided to go wide left.
The buoys are spaced a 100 meters apart. On the way out we are swimming against the waves on a diagonal. I am sighting just to the next buoy. Pull, turn pull turn breathe, pull, turn pull turn breathe, sight and repeat. Now one guy is swimming fast fast fast till the buoy then he hangs on it for a few gasping for air then swims fast fast fast to the next buoy. I really don't care how Oh boy wants to swim his race but I do care that everytime he swims fast fast fast he runs into my side. About the third time and the third apology I have lost my patience. I may have or may not have called him an asshole and put some distance between us, thankfully I did not feel him beating my side again. Now the Kayak people have whistled at a bunch of people and yelled at a bunch more "swimmer swimmer hey swimmer you are going the wrong way", everytime I look up and it is not me. Woot Woot sighting drills paid off!
We make the first turn and the waves are coming across our sides but it is much easier than swimming into the waves. Unfortunately this is the shortest leg of the swim course. Another turn takes us back towards the shore. The waves are kind of behind but on a slant so the waves are actually pushing us off course. It is a constant struggle to stay near the buoy line. The waves seem bigger and the water is rougher. My shoulders are feeling the effects of the beating from the water. I never swim hard enough to get out of breath but the arms and shoulders are tired and I am ready to get out of the water. I can see the beach and people getting out of the water but the beach does not seem to be getting any closer. Finally my feet reach the ground and I try to run, hobble, waddle out of the water but I am having a lot of difficulty. Thankfully some nice lady volunteers grab my hand and help me to shore because the sandy/muddy lake bottom is sucking my feet down and hindering my ability to walk. Swim Time 56:37.
Out of the water, run up the hill while trying to unzip and pull down the neck of the wetsuit to my waist then I reach the strippers. Got to love strippers. Drop to by my butt on the muddy tarp they pull the suit off and give me a hand up and it is off to T1 dripping wet, freezing and mud on my trisuit so it looks like I crapped my pants. Lovely!
In T1, find my bike, dry off as much as possible, pull on a long sleeve shirt, helmet, glasses, gloves and grab my cleats and bike. I have to carry the bike and cleats to the asphalt because T1 is a muddy mess. If I put on the cleats in Transition they will clog up with mud and I will not be able to clip in. I carry my bike becasue there are stickers and people were getting flat tires. So out on the asphalt a nice male spectator holds my bike while I struggle into socks and shoes with wet feet. T1 is a very fast transition time of 9:15!!!
Out on the bike, I am cold, it is Windy, my legs are not complying with my commands. I am really doubting my want to for this 56 mile bike ride. Right out of T1 is the first climb, it is not a big climb just a gradual incline staight into the wind. Oh Yay! The first 20 miles is an ongoing debate with myself in general about: why am I doing this, why did I think this was a good idea, who does the dumb shit, & why didn't someone tell me back in April about those TX hills. Until mile 20 I was fairly certain I was just going to pull over and wait for the sag wagon. The constant hills and wind either in your face or coming from the side were just too much, I don't know why it could not be a tailwind. Then after some nuts, water, a Cliff bar and as Aspire drink, I realize I only have 36 miles left and I could do that. Funny how a runner's mind works even in a tri!
As the miles spin by the route takes us by farmhouses, rural schools, farmlands, horses, cows, longhorns, over rolling hills, lush valleys, and through small towns. We pass spectators cheering in the small towns with the local volunteer fire department controlling traffic. Families in front of their farmhouses watching us pass by and giving us encouragement. The volunteers at the aid stations hand us water, Gatorade, cliff bars, gels and encouraging smiles. The policemen at intersections with stoic demeanors' keep us safe and tell us good job. Thank the volunteers and tell them they are awesome because they help us do what we do. If you get an opportunity volunteer at a race any race and give back.
Triathlon's are different than marathons because everyone is unplugged. Electronics outside of your sports watch, cadence, power meter or bike computer are not allowed. No cell phones, mp3 players, iPod or ear buds allowed as a result, people talk to one another. I know right, a foreign concept. We comment on the ride, the route, the hills, the wind, a cool trisuit, a sweet bike or even my pink tires. Yes we are competing in a race against each other but right now we are on a lone section of road on a long ride and placing will be figured out at the finish line. It is going to be a long day and really, isn't that the goal, to strive for a better version of ourselves.
Before long the watch says 5 miles to go before T2. I am ready to get off the bike. Surely the last 5 miles of this route will be easier that the last 51. Ha Ha! It is 5 miles of long gradual inclines back to the expo. Long gradual incline, turn right, more long gradual climb, turn left to a steep hill and turn right, hill, turn right, hill into T2 and don't forget all that wind. Well played Texas well played. Bike Time 4:06:44.
Off at the mount line to run/hobble while pushing the bike to my transition area. I find my bag, park the bike, trade out cleats for shoes, helmet for visor, leave the gloves and put on the race bib belt. Swallow some water and have some sport beans. Use the Porta-facility and run out of T2 in a blazing time of 6:57.
Now the Swim was a 1.2 mile 1 loop course, the bike was a 56 mile loop but the run is a 4 mile loop repeated 3 times. Really? My favorite part of this event, the run, is a loop on repeat have I mentioned I don't care for loops or out and backs. That just sucks! So out of transition it starts with a real subtle incline, turn right for a subtle downhill, turn left onto the county road for a steep downhill, then the lull of a short valley, to a steep uphill that flattens and then gradually climbs across sand, dirt, mud, grass, to broken asphalt by the lake to the turn back the way we came. So we can repeat it again and again. Each time you get back to the T1 area you have to pass by the right turn to the finish shoot and keep left to go for loop 2 and loop 3.
It is hot and now there is no breeze or wind to be found. My right side hurts and my right piriformis is getting tight. I run until my side starts to hurt really bad and then I walk until it eases up. My right leg doesn't care for this method it seems to prefer just running but my right foot just wants to sit the hell down and take a load off. My side hurts and I don't know if it is just a side stitch or if I need to use the facilities. Everyone is using a run/walk method. So much for rocking this portion!
Evidently triathletes are different in their course aid offerings. The choices are: water, Gatorade endurance formula, Red Bull, Coke, pretzels, chips, granola, and gels. I tried a coke, it was hot and terrible. After that I stuck to water and an occasional watered down Gatorade with a couple of pretzels.
On loop one, I pass by a guy walking on a blade prosthesis, his entire right leg up to the femoral head is amputated. Now I feel like an ass for indulging in my pity party of one. Remember Michelle, we are blessed to be able! So I try to suck it up and finish the best I can for that day. On loop 2, I pass a guy bent over on the side of the trail. I ask if he is ok and he says he is and he looks ok, just tired, so I continue on. Later on the beginning of loop 3, a man passes me and he is running badly, his breathing is worse and he looks terrible. If he was in my hospital I would call a code. Unfortunately I did not see him again, hopefully, that was his last loop and he finished. I have my doubts.
Back in T2 while parking the bike, a woman was asking me if we met the cutoff time and I told her yes, because if we had not, they would have taken our timing chip. Now out on the run course, we have been taking turns passing each other in our run/walk madness. As we make our way back to the arena on our last loop, she asks me if we will make the cutoff. I tell her yes, it will be close but yes, I will make that cutoff. She tells me that is all she wants is to make the cutoff and receive a time. You have to admire that. She didn't say a finisher's medal or a t-shirt or a hat but she wanted a finish time. I thought that we were in the same age group but as I passed her the last time I realized she was in a different age group that had started in the water before me, which means she is even closer to the 8.5 hour cutoff time. She crossed the line behind me hopefully she received her finish time unfortunately, I do not know for certain.
Finally, I am back at the arena, and I get to take the right turn in to the finisher shoot. It circles the long side of the arena and then turns into a straight away inside and across the arena to cross the finish line. I pick up the pace as I make that right turn, I pick it up again as I get to the straight and pass 2 walkers, as I glance ahead and see the finish line I kick it across with my arms up and wide!!! I stumble to a stop and tell the medics that I am ok. I walk forward some more and they put a medal around my neck. I walk forward some more and they give me a 70.3 hat and remove my timing chip. I made it! I Finished under the cutoff time! I got my Official time of 8:21:33
Live Epic!
Michelle
So in April I registered for the Austin Ironman 70.3. Of course, then the voice changes to "what the hell were you thinking"and "you can't do that"! The voice in your head is a fickle wench. So when I registered for Austin, I did not read all the fine print. I read Lake Decker 1.2 mile swim and 56 mile Bike ride through the rolling hills of Texas and the only run course than finishes in an indoor arena. Cool!
What you need to know is that when I signed up, I could not swim the 25 meter pool without being out of breath clinging to the edge of the pool with my heart racing and gasping for air. I had not rode my bike over 25 miles. I was also newly recovered from a running injury to my right hip. So of course by November 8th, I will be ready to do 70.3. Lost my dang mind.
So I go to Boulder for the Ironman Sprint, and this is what I learned: my wetsuit does not fit, I am not ready to do an open water swim of 10 feet let alone 1.2 miles with 2000 of my new best friends, I and my undercarriage do not like the bike, I got passed on the flats of the bike course by an overweight, short, bald, old guy, and there are hard cut-off times for each section of the 70.3. Crap!
You have 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete the swim. If you go over that time, they take your timing chip and you get a DNF. You have 5 hours and 30 minutes to finish the bike course, if not, you guessed it, a DNF. You have a total of 8 hours and 30 minutes to finish the entire event or DNF. That is what I learned in Boulder in June, less than 5 months from my event. I can't swim, I suck at the bike and I have no legs to run on after I'm done with the bike. I am screwed.
As soon as I get back to Oklahoma, I find a swim coach! Coach Janet has been doing triathlons since the 90's and was a competitive swimmer in school. Thank you Jesus! Day 1 she watches me swim and says no more swimming, just drills for body positioning. 3 weeks later I got to graduate to a very slow freestyle. 3 weeks after that I got to move to a little speed work on my freestyle. Then it was working on form, speed, and endurance. We did do 3 OWS in the wetsuit and worked on sighting. What a blessing to have found her.
Now I would like to tell you I did a lot of biking when I got back to Oklahoma but that would be a lie. I was deep into marathon training because after all that was my "A" goal. I ran 4 days a week, swam 2-3 days a week and biked 2 times a week for a total of 2.5 hours a week on the bike. I will focus on the bike after Medtronic. Great plan. Ha!
O
After Medtronic marathon I did start riding on Sunday's with TAT, which is Tulsa Area Triathlete and those guys, especially Scott, were so helpful and encouraging. I rode once a week with Janet and once a week by myself. What you should know is Medtronic and Ironman were only 4 weeks apart. Plenty of time, Right? Now of course I continued running because well, I like running.
2 weeks before Austin I did a ride with TAT for 38 miles with 1800 feet of elevation gain and followed that with a 1.5 hour run. Which helped my confidence. 12 days before Austin I banged out 2100 in the pool, so at least I know I can do the distance. 10 days before Austin I did a 45 mile ride, my longest one. Took the bike for a tune up and new tire. I got one more ride in after the tune up and before Austin. Hopefully I am ready.
On Friday the 6th I drove to my sisters house in Decatur, TX and stayed the night. On Saturday, I got up and went for a shakeout run, which helped the nerves some. Packed up and got on the road to Austin. About a 3.5 hour drive in a misty rain which gave me plenty of time to let the nerves go into overdrive. On the drive down I-35 every few miles on digital signs over the highway displays the following message and I quote "Turn around don't drown". It's a sign but is it a sign, an omen or prophecy, I don't know so I just keep going.
I get to the expo, get my packet but miss the athlete briefing. So I ask a bajillion questions of the super nice guy at the information table. I browse the Ironman store offerings but buy nothing because what if I DNF. The tech shirt we get for participating is bright orange for girls and grey for guys, no matter how much I beg or plead they will not let me have the grey shirt. I hate orange. I'm a Sooner fan don't they get that, I guess not, the ********!
Now there are 2 separate transition areas. How do I set up my towel for that? It is supposed to be cool tomorrow which equals to cold and wet for the first part of the bike. Do I take a long sleeve shirt for the bike, try to dry off, or just tough it out. I know Kia, 55 is bikini weather but to us warm climate girls it is cold! These are the questions that consume me as I pack my 3 bags for tomorrow's race day.
After dinner, I do some shopping for breakfast food, bike snacks and last minute forgotten items then it is back to the hotel. I lay out everything for tomorrow and anything I don't need gets packed back to the car because I am checking out in the morning. Time for bed at 8 pm. I toss. I turn. I go to the bathroom. Back to bed, I toss, I turn and I finally find sleep about 3 hours before the alarm goes off.
0400 am wake up, get up, make coffee, bathroom, dresss, drink coffee and eat breakfast snack. Drink more coffee and double check the 3 gear bags for drop off. White is the morning bag for essentials before and after the event. Blue is the bike bag for T1 with helmet, gloves, socks, cycle shoes, long sleeve shirt, towel, sunscreen and shades. Red is the run bag for T2 with running shoes, visor and sport beans. Here I thought a drop bag for a marathon was too much.
After I get to the Expo, I drop the run bag off at T2 then board the shuttle to T1 to drop off bike bag and set up T1. When it is time to shed the jacket and shoes and put on the wetsuit I will give morning/white bag to the truck people. Suppposedly when I finish the day all of my bags, bike and gear will be at the Expo Arena after I run across the finish line.
My nerves are in overdrive now to the point I am nausous. The announcer keeps giving us a count down to when transition will be closed. 30 minutes, 20 miniutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, and 5 minutes. I put on the wetsuit, tie up morning/white bag and give it to the truck people and make my way to the water.
The water is choppy with waves from the 10-20 mph winds. I start walking into the water and it is warmer than the air temperature. I do some warm up laps and realize the water is really rough. Breath Michelle. Me and only 3 other people are warming up in the water which I thought was strange. Finally they call for the first wave to get in that water and chase everyone else out because there is not a separate area to warm up in. Oh Boy, it is cold on the shore.
I find my wave of light blue caps and wait in line. I talk to a few ladies who have done a lot of half and full Ironman's. They are doctors and 1 is in Tulsa, such a small world. Soon enough our group is in the water waiting for the start horn. I say a prayer and as I finish the horn blows and here we go. I start out wide and left because the buoys are on our right. I'm trying to keep out of the trample zone. Soon I find myself right beside the buoy line with not to much traffic. I guess everybody decided to go wide left.
The buoys are spaced a 100 meters apart. On the way out we are swimming against the waves on a diagonal. I am sighting just to the next buoy. Pull, turn pull turn breathe, pull, turn pull turn breathe, sight and repeat. Now one guy is swimming fast fast fast till the buoy then he hangs on it for a few gasping for air then swims fast fast fast to the next buoy. I really don't care how Oh boy wants to swim his race but I do care that everytime he swims fast fast fast he runs into my side. About the third time and the third apology I have lost my patience. I may have or may not have called him an asshole and put some distance between us, thankfully I did not feel him beating my side again. Now the Kayak people have whistled at a bunch of people and yelled at a bunch more "swimmer swimmer hey swimmer you are going the wrong way", everytime I look up and it is not me. Woot Woot sighting drills paid off!
We make the first turn and the waves are coming across our sides but it is much easier than swimming into the waves. Unfortunately this is the shortest leg of the swim course. Another turn takes us back towards the shore. The waves are kind of behind but on a slant so the waves are actually pushing us off course. It is a constant struggle to stay near the buoy line. The waves seem bigger and the water is rougher. My shoulders are feeling the effects of the beating from the water. I never swim hard enough to get out of breath but the arms and shoulders are tired and I am ready to get out of the water. I can see the beach and people getting out of the water but the beach does not seem to be getting any closer. Finally my feet reach the ground and I try to run, hobble, waddle out of the water but I am having a lot of difficulty. Thankfully some nice lady volunteers grab my hand and help me to shore because the sandy/muddy lake bottom is sucking my feet down and hindering my ability to walk. Swim Time 56:37.
Out of the water, run up the hill while trying to unzip and pull down the neck of the wetsuit to my waist then I reach the strippers. Got to love strippers. Drop to by my butt on the muddy tarp they pull the suit off and give me a hand up and it is off to T1 dripping wet, freezing and mud on my trisuit so it looks like I crapped my pants. Lovely!
In T1, find my bike, dry off as much as possible, pull on a long sleeve shirt, helmet, glasses, gloves and grab my cleats and bike. I have to carry the bike and cleats to the asphalt because T1 is a muddy mess. If I put on the cleats in Transition they will clog up with mud and I will not be able to clip in. I carry my bike becasue there are stickers and people were getting flat tires. So out on the asphalt a nice male spectator holds my bike while I struggle into socks and shoes with wet feet. T1 is a very fast transition time of 9:15!!!
Out on the bike, I am cold, it is Windy, my legs are not complying with my commands. I am really doubting my want to for this 56 mile bike ride. Right out of T1 is the first climb, it is not a big climb just a gradual incline staight into the wind. Oh Yay! The first 20 miles is an ongoing debate with myself in general about: why am I doing this, why did I think this was a good idea, who does the dumb shit, & why didn't someone tell me back in April about those TX hills. Until mile 20 I was fairly certain I was just going to pull over and wait for the sag wagon. The constant hills and wind either in your face or coming from the side were just too much, I don't know why it could not be a tailwind. Then after some nuts, water, a Cliff bar and as Aspire drink, I realize I only have 36 miles left and I could do that. Funny how a runner's mind works even in a tri!
As the miles spin by the route takes us by farmhouses, rural schools, farmlands, horses, cows, longhorns, over rolling hills, lush valleys, and through small towns. We pass spectators cheering in the small towns with the local volunteer fire department controlling traffic. Families in front of their farmhouses watching us pass by and giving us encouragement. The volunteers at the aid stations hand us water, Gatorade, cliff bars, gels and encouraging smiles. The policemen at intersections with stoic demeanors' keep us safe and tell us good job. Thank the volunteers and tell them they are awesome because they help us do what we do. If you get an opportunity volunteer at a race any race and give back.
Triathlon's are different than marathons because everyone is unplugged. Electronics outside of your sports watch, cadence, power meter or bike computer are not allowed. No cell phones, mp3 players, iPod or ear buds allowed as a result, people talk to one another. I know right, a foreign concept. We comment on the ride, the route, the hills, the wind, a cool trisuit, a sweet bike or even my pink tires. Yes we are competing in a race against each other but right now we are on a lone section of road on a long ride and placing will be figured out at the finish line. It is going to be a long day and really, isn't that the goal, to strive for a better version of ourselves.
Before long the watch says 5 miles to go before T2. I am ready to get off the bike. Surely the last 5 miles of this route will be easier that the last 51. Ha Ha! It is 5 miles of long gradual inclines back to the expo. Long gradual incline, turn right, more long gradual climb, turn left to a steep hill and turn right, hill, turn right, hill into T2 and don't forget all that wind. Well played Texas well played. Bike Time 4:06:44.
Off at the mount line to run/hobble while pushing the bike to my transition area. I find my bag, park the bike, trade out cleats for shoes, helmet for visor, leave the gloves and put on the race bib belt. Swallow some water and have some sport beans. Use the Porta-facility and run out of T2 in a blazing time of 6:57.
Now the Swim was a 1.2 mile 1 loop course, the bike was a 56 mile loop but the run is a 4 mile loop repeated 3 times. Really? My favorite part of this event, the run, is a loop on repeat have I mentioned I don't care for loops or out and backs. That just sucks! So out of transition it starts with a real subtle incline, turn right for a subtle downhill, turn left onto the county road for a steep downhill, then the lull of a short valley, to a steep uphill that flattens and then gradually climbs across sand, dirt, mud, grass, to broken asphalt by the lake to the turn back the way we came. So we can repeat it again and again. Each time you get back to the T1 area you have to pass by the right turn to the finish shoot and keep left to go for loop 2 and loop 3.
It is hot and now there is no breeze or wind to be found. My right side hurts and my right piriformis is getting tight. I run until my side starts to hurt really bad and then I walk until it eases up. My right leg doesn't care for this method it seems to prefer just running but my right foot just wants to sit the hell down and take a load off. My side hurts and I don't know if it is just a side stitch or if I need to use the facilities. Everyone is using a run/walk method. So much for rocking this portion!
Evidently triathletes are different in their course aid offerings. The choices are: water, Gatorade endurance formula, Red Bull, Coke, pretzels, chips, granola, and gels. I tried a coke, it was hot and terrible. After that I stuck to water and an occasional watered down Gatorade with a couple of pretzels.
On loop one, I pass by a guy walking on a blade prosthesis, his entire right leg up to the femoral head is amputated. Now I feel like an ass for indulging in my pity party of one. Remember Michelle, we are blessed to be able! So I try to suck it up and finish the best I can for that day. On loop 2, I pass a guy bent over on the side of the trail. I ask if he is ok and he says he is and he looks ok, just tired, so I continue on. Later on the beginning of loop 3, a man passes me and he is running badly, his breathing is worse and he looks terrible. If he was in my hospital I would call a code. Unfortunately I did not see him again, hopefully, that was his last loop and he finished. I have my doubts.
Back in T2 while parking the bike, a woman was asking me if we met the cutoff time and I told her yes, because if we had not, they would have taken our timing chip. Now out on the run course, we have been taking turns passing each other in our run/walk madness. As we make our way back to the arena on our last loop, she asks me if we will make the cutoff. I tell her yes, it will be close but yes, I will make that cutoff. She tells me that is all she wants is to make the cutoff and receive a time. You have to admire that. She didn't say a finisher's medal or a t-shirt or a hat but she wanted a finish time. I thought that we were in the same age group but as I passed her the last time I realized she was in a different age group that had started in the water before me, which means she is even closer to the 8.5 hour cutoff time. She crossed the line behind me hopefully she received her finish time unfortunately, I do not know for certain.
Finally, I am back at the arena, and I get to take the right turn in to the finisher shoot. It circles the long side of the arena and then turns into a straight away inside and across the arena to cross the finish line. I pick up the pace as I make that right turn, I pick it up again as I get to the straight and pass 2 walkers, as I glance ahead and see the finish line I kick it across with my arms up and wide!!! I stumble to a stop and tell the medics that I am ok. I walk forward some more and they put a medal around my neck. I walk forward some more and they give me a 70.3 hat and remove my timing chip. I made it! I Finished under the cutoff time! I got my Official time of 8:21:33
Live Epic!
Michelle
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Twin Cities Medtronic Marathon Madness
In December of 2014, I met with Nate to plan goals for 2015, we decided on: an "A" goal for spring was a sub 2:20 half, an "A" goal for Fall was a sub 5:00 marathon and a "B" goal was to complete a 70.3 Ironman. Ah the dreams and plans we make must amuse our maker.
In February, I injured my hip the first week of Half training. So I did not get to train at all. I ran the Half at the Kentucky Derby with some Sole sisters; Trena, Haewon, Magda, Jackie, Araminta, Beth & her family. I was able to complete the Half it wasn't a PR by no means. Without training, still recovering from injury and some GI upset I took my 2:41 time and was disappointed but happy I was able to run.
I signed up for Twin Cities in March while I was in Denver for work after having a Sole sister dinner with Brook, Malene & Mandi. Funny how races get signed up for after talks/meetings with Brook. I looked over the course profile, I read the reviews and I checked into the weather averages for October. I mean I am from a warm climate I did not want to run a marathon in a blizzard. I registered that night and texted the run coach Nate, "Here we go!"
I ran by time and heart rate. I did not run a 16 miler, or a 18 miler & not a 20 miler. I ran 40 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes and a max of 190 minutes all the while keeping my heart rate under 135. Which is hard when it is 100 degrees or more during summer training in Oklahoma. I ran 400's, 200's, hill repeats, threshold & tempo runs. I lifted, swam and biked. I dropped some weight and worked on my nutrition. As the training days were checked off the calendar my anticipation, nerves, anxiety and excitement grew.
October 2nd arrived and I flew to Minnesota for the big Sole sister meet up. On Friday night when I got to the house, Brook, LeAnn, Trena and Joyce were already there. As the night progressed and into the next day more sisters and some husbands arrived.
On Saturday we all went to cheer for some sisters running the 10K, then to packet pickup, and later to the running store to get Melani (no pants) Pratt some running pants and Trena some pot pants. Before dinner we had Brook' s Sole Sister special session, sorry no details can be given because it is classified! Dinner was grilled burgers and chicken with the fixings and good company. Soon everyone was saying goodnight. Race day would come early, so off to bed to either toss and turn or dream of PR's.
The alarm went off at 0445. Bathroom, dress, coffee, breakfast of banana, protein/UCAN shake and boiled eggs. Bathroom again and last minute check of race necessities. Load up in the car to go to downtown Minneapolis to catch the school buses to the start line. We give our drop bags to the helpful UPS people and walk our way to the corrals. It is a brisk cool morning at 40 degrees with a slight breeze. We find port-a-potty city and make use of them. Mosey back to the corral for the hour wait till the start of the race. I had good company with Kesha, Tammy, Erin, and Magda. We took pics, talked and just passed the time trying to stay warm.
The National Anthem plays and corral A takes off. Then corral B goes. Then finally corral C. Go time! I have lined up around the 5 pace group. I know to make my goal I need to average a 11:27 pace. The plan is to go easy the first 20-22 miles and if I feel "Good" then to go for it the last 4-6 miles. Stay around the pace group but if it feels too difficult then back off to what feels more comfortable for 5 hours.
The 5 pace group is doing some weird run for 14 minutes then walk for 1 minute. I keep them in sight but don't run with them. I slow myself down at least 3 times because I don't want to burn out before the end. I hate finishing weak.
The first 2 miles are all about finding a good pace. The next 3 miles are about settling into the run. The sides of the streets are lined shoulder to shoulder with spectators. Some guy near me, is named Fred, evidently it is real fun to cheer for Fred. I'm tired of hearing Go Fred! The course starts out by the Vikings new stadium that is being built and winds through downtown Minneapolis, into the residential areas along trails by 6 lakes over 1 river then past St Pauls's Catheldral and ends in front of the State Capital building of St Paul . The course is beautiful and I can not remember 1 section of it that didn't have spectators, kids, bands or someone cheering you on! 20,000 runners and 300,000 spectators it was just one huge block party 2 cities wide.
The next 5 miles is spent admiring the scenery, reading the spectator signs and high 5'ing little kids. 1 sign said "go harder" the next sign said "that's what she said!" Ha! Good one! I have an older man running near me from Canada who is more than a little annoying with his constant corny quips to spectators. I'm averaging 11:24's and I feel good. I'm breathing good, my heart rate is good, I'm working but not too hard.
At mile 11-12 I feel like I need to go to the port-a-potty. Just before mile 13, I get in line for the potty, use the facilities check my watch which says my average pace is now 11:40's. I'm not worried I can make that up easily. It is all good.
At mile 15 I'm fairly sure I'm not going to make it to the potty in time. My stomach hurts. I do make it. I say a prayer that my GI issue is over. I check the watch I'm still at average of 11:50 pace and I still think I can get back down to 11:27's.
Mile 18 I have to go again. I have not taken any nutrition in since before mile 15 because it makes the GI issue worse. I am praying for the distress to resolve and to be able to finish the race at least better than my first marathon. I know sub 5 is not possible now without a hair on fire pace to the finish and I don't have that in me. The distress is taking its toll, my energy level is low and I don't feel right.
Mile 21 is another potty stop. I am really feeling bad. I not only have the GI issue but now at mile 22 I am having some strange issue with my female parts while trying to run. I had started my period the day before but I have never had this problem before. Within a few seconds of running a tingling/prickly sensation radiates up my core and make me feel woosy or almost like vertigo. I am seriously thinking about going to a med tent and calling it. I feel terrible.
Miles 22-24 are a run/walk method just trying to get to the finish. Mile 25 I manage to pick it up some to at least a sub 13 pace. Mile 26 is back to 13 plus pace. My right piriformis is on fire tight. Up ahead I see St. Paul Cathedral and know it is downhill to the finish after the Cathedral. As soon as I pass the Cathedral, I start running. I start descending down the hill to the finish. I hear my name being called and I glance to the sidelines and see all my Sole Sisters cheering their heads off for me. All I can do is shake my head and pickup the pace. I am running full out just trying to get to the finish line before I fall down.
At the finish, as I slow to a stop to get the medal my legs kind of give out. I don't fall because medical girl grabs my arm and asks if I need help. I refuse and say I'm ok. She lets me go. I see Erin and congratulate her, its her first marathon, so proud of her. I get my shirt, water and salty chips.
I leave the Finish shoot and see Araminta, Trena and Brook. Here comes the tears. They congratulate me until they see how upset I am. Then it turns to comforting words. I tell them about the GI problems and Brook says "thank goodness because if it was because you were not trained enough I was going to kick your trainers a**". I tell the truth that I felt great and was on target until mile 13. I have to go again before we can make it to the vehicles for the 30 minute drive to the house.
At the house it is more bathroom time, a shower, more bathroom and then I finally make it downstairs for water. Everyone is encouraging me to eat but my whole system rebels at the thought of food. I grab a blanket and curl up on a couch and listen to everyones race day stories.
After a few hours I manage to nibble on some meat, cheese and crackers. Trena works on my piriformis and tries to loosen it up. After more stories of todays race or other races, people start mumbling about getting to bed. I am thankful to call it a night.
The next day is packing and getting to the airport. My GI system is still not happy but it is better. The right piriformis is terrible and now the quads are screaming their displeasure. It is going to be a long day of traveling.
I was down to my soul hurt over this race. I had such big goals for this race. I had a "B" and a "C" goal set for this race but I was focused on sub 5. I cried for 2 weeks, I wouldn't talk about it and I would not even think about writing this recap. Now I know I should be happy that even with all the potty stops I was just seconds slower than my first marathon time. That should tell me that the training was effective and if not for the GI issue I would have had a PR if not a sub 5, I would have at least had a PR. My mind knows this but my overachiever, pride filled ego is having a hard time accepting it.
I would never say the things I think about myself in failing to meet my goal to another runner who had this race experience. If I was talking to someone else who had this experience, I would say shake it off, you ran the best race you could under the circumstances given to you. So why do we beat ourselves up? I don't know for everyone else, but for me, I always expect more and better of myself. I don't give myself grace or a pardon.
The first day back home, I was already googling marathons because I wanted revenge or redemption. I was texting the trainers wanting to know how soon I could race again because I want my sub 5. I looked at one 3 weeks away but even I knew in my craziness that was too soon. I talked with Nate and Matt and decided on a January marathon.
Now with a months perspective, I am taking the good out of that race and finding what I can learn to better my experiences in the future. I will run another marathon in the New Year and I will go for a PR. Sub 5 would be awesome but I will take sub 5:30 because it is forward progress. I will try to be happy with my results and know I am blessed because I am able.
Live Epic!
Michelle
In February, I injured my hip the first week of Half training. So I did not get to train at all. I ran the Half at the Kentucky Derby with some Sole sisters; Trena, Haewon, Magda, Jackie, Araminta, Beth & her family. I was able to complete the Half it wasn't a PR by no means. Without training, still recovering from injury and some GI upset I took my 2:41 time and was disappointed but happy I was able to run.
I signed up for Twin Cities in March while I was in Denver for work after having a Sole sister dinner with Brook, Malene & Mandi. Funny how races get signed up for after talks/meetings with Brook. I looked over the course profile, I read the reviews and I checked into the weather averages for October. I mean I am from a warm climate I did not want to run a marathon in a blizzard. I registered that night and texted the run coach Nate, "Here we go!"
I ran by time and heart rate. I did not run a 16 miler, or a 18 miler & not a 20 miler. I ran 40 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes and a max of 190 minutes all the while keeping my heart rate under 135. Which is hard when it is 100 degrees or more during summer training in Oklahoma. I ran 400's, 200's, hill repeats, threshold & tempo runs. I lifted, swam and biked. I dropped some weight and worked on my nutrition. As the training days were checked off the calendar my anticipation, nerves, anxiety and excitement grew.
October 2nd arrived and I flew to Minnesota for the big Sole sister meet up. On Friday night when I got to the house, Brook, LeAnn, Trena and Joyce were already there. As the night progressed and into the next day more sisters and some husbands arrived.
On Saturday we all went to cheer for some sisters running the 10K, then to packet pickup, and later to the running store to get Melani (no pants) Pratt some running pants and Trena some pot pants. Before dinner we had Brook' s Sole Sister special session, sorry no details can be given because it is classified! Dinner was grilled burgers and chicken with the fixings and good company. Soon everyone was saying goodnight. Race day would come early, so off to bed to either toss and turn or dream of PR's.
The alarm went off at 0445. Bathroom, dress, coffee, breakfast of banana, protein/UCAN shake and boiled eggs. Bathroom again and last minute check of race necessities. Load up in the car to go to downtown Minneapolis to catch the school buses to the start line. We give our drop bags to the helpful UPS people and walk our way to the corrals. It is a brisk cool morning at 40 degrees with a slight breeze. We find port-a-potty city and make use of them. Mosey back to the corral for the hour wait till the start of the race. I had good company with Kesha, Tammy, Erin, and Magda. We took pics, talked and just passed the time trying to stay warm.
The National Anthem plays and corral A takes off. Then corral B goes. Then finally corral C. Go time! I have lined up around the 5 pace group. I know to make my goal I need to average a 11:27 pace. The plan is to go easy the first 20-22 miles and if I feel "Good" then to go for it the last 4-6 miles. Stay around the pace group but if it feels too difficult then back off to what feels more comfortable for 5 hours.
The 5 pace group is doing some weird run for 14 minutes then walk for 1 minute. I keep them in sight but don't run with them. I slow myself down at least 3 times because I don't want to burn out before the end. I hate finishing weak.
The first 2 miles are all about finding a good pace. The next 3 miles are about settling into the run. The sides of the streets are lined shoulder to shoulder with spectators. Some guy near me, is named Fred, evidently it is real fun to cheer for Fred. I'm tired of hearing Go Fred! The course starts out by the Vikings new stadium that is being built and winds through downtown Minneapolis, into the residential areas along trails by 6 lakes over 1 river then past St Pauls's Catheldral and ends in front of the State Capital building of St Paul . The course is beautiful and I can not remember 1 section of it that didn't have spectators, kids, bands or someone cheering you on! 20,000 runners and 300,000 spectators it was just one huge block party 2 cities wide.
The next 5 miles is spent admiring the scenery, reading the spectator signs and high 5'ing little kids. 1 sign said "go harder" the next sign said "that's what she said!" Ha! Good one! I have an older man running near me from Canada who is more than a little annoying with his constant corny quips to spectators. I'm averaging 11:24's and I feel good. I'm breathing good, my heart rate is good, I'm working but not too hard.
At mile 11-12 I feel like I need to go to the port-a-potty. Just before mile 13, I get in line for the potty, use the facilities check my watch which says my average pace is now 11:40's. I'm not worried I can make that up easily. It is all good.
At mile 15 I'm fairly sure I'm not going to make it to the potty in time. My stomach hurts. I do make it. I say a prayer that my GI issue is over. I check the watch I'm still at average of 11:50 pace and I still think I can get back down to 11:27's.
Mile 18 I have to go again. I have not taken any nutrition in since before mile 15 because it makes the GI issue worse. I am praying for the distress to resolve and to be able to finish the race at least better than my first marathon. I know sub 5 is not possible now without a hair on fire pace to the finish and I don't have that in me. The distress is taking its toll, my energy level is low and I don't feel right.
Mile 21 is another potty stop. I am really feeling bad. I not only have the GI issue but now at mile 22 I am having some strange issue with my female parts while trying to run. I had started my period the day before but I have never had this problem before. Within a few seconds of running a tingling/prickly sensation radiates up my core and make me feel woosy or almost like vertigo. I am seriously thinking about going to a med tent and calling it. I feel terrible.
Miles 22-24 are a run/walk method just trying to get to the finish. Mile 25 I manage to pick it up some to at least a sub 13 pace. Mile 26 is back to 13 plus pace. My right piriformis is on fire tight. Up ahead I see St. Paul Cathedral and know it is downhill to the finish after the Cathedral. As soon as I pass the Cathedral, I start running. I start descending down the hill to the finish. I hear my name being called and I glance to the sidelines and see all my Sole Sisters cheering their heads off for me. All I can do is shake my head and pickup the pace. I am running full out just trying to get to the finish line before I fall down.
At the finish, as I slow to a stop to get the medal my legs kind of give out. I don't fall because medical girl grabs my arm and asks if I need help. I refuse and say I'm ok. She lets me go. I see Erin and congratulate her, its her first marathon, so proud of her. I get my shirt, water and salty chips.
I leave the Finish shoot and see Araminta, Trena and Brook. Here comes the tears. They congratulate me until they see how upset I am. Then it turns to comforting words. I tell them about the GI problems and Brook says "thank goodness because if it was because you were not trained enough I was going to kick your trainers a**". I tell the truth that I felt great and was on target until mile 13. I have to go again before we can make it to the vehicles for the 30 minute drive to the house.
At the house it is more bathroom time, a shower, more bathroom and then I finally make it downstairs for water. Everyone is encouraging me to eat but my whole system rebels at the thought of food. I grab a blanket and curl up on a couch and listen to everyones race day stories.
After a few hours I manage to nibble on some meat, cheese and crackers. Trena works on my piriformis and tries to loosen it up. After more stories of todays race or other races, people start mumbling about getting to bed. I am thankful to call it a night.
The next day is packing and getting to the airport. My GI system is still not happy but it is better. The right piriformis is terrible and now the quads are screaming their displeasure. It is going to be a long day of traveling.
I was down to my soul hurt over this race. I had such big goals for this race. I had a "B" and a "C" goal set for this race but I was focused on sub 5. I cried for 2 weeks, I wouldn't talk about it and I would not even think about writing this recap. Now I know I should be happy that even with all the potty stops I was just seconds slower than my first marathon time. That should tell me that the training was effective and if not for the GI issue I would have had a PR if not a sub 5, I would have at least had a PR. My mind knows this but my overachiever, pride filled ego is having a hard time accepting it.
I would never say the things I think about myself in failing to meet my goal to another runner who had this race experience. If I was talking to someone else who had this experience, I would say shake it off, you ran the best race you could under the circumstances given to you. So why do we beat ourselves up? I don't know for everyone else, but for me, I always expect more and better of myself. I don't give myself grace or a pardon.
The first day back home, I was already googling marathons because I wanted revenge or redemption. I was texting the trainers wanting to know how soon I could race again because I want my sub 5. I looked at one 3 weeks away but even I knew in my craziness that was too soon. I talked with Nate and Matt and decided on a January marathon.
Now with a months perspective, I am taking the good out of that race and finding what I can learn to better my experiences in the future. I will run another marathon in the New Year and I will go for a PR. Sub 5 would be awesome but I will take sub 5:30 because it is forward progress. I will try to be happy with my results and know I am blessed because I am able.
Live Epic!
Michelle
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