Two posts in one day - I MUST be sick

Somewhere around 7.30 this evening, I started feeling back to normal. Not sure if the antibiotics are kicking in or if the cure can be found in some of mom's good old fashioned homemade potatoes, but either way, I'm beginning to think I just might not die after all.

I've spent most of the day alternating between watching really bad movies on tv (this is what I get for not having cable) and being really upset that I missed my scheduled long run for this morning. I realize there's nothing I can do about strep throat and maybe this is God's way of forcing me to take it easy for a few days, but OH how I miss my long run. It's become such a routine in my life over the past year and I miss it like I miss church on Sunday mornings - just don't feel centered the rest of the week without it.

Call me crazy (and you would most definitely not be the first) but during my time of bed rest, I've laid out my marathon training plan to see where I need to tweak due to family obligations and where I'll need to sacrifice other areas of my life in order to train. I'll be working my way up to a peak of 20 miles over the course of the summer and that's bound to put a damper on my social life (and I thought THIS would be the year I found a boyfriend, HA!). The Columbus Marathon is 25 weeks away and I would like to lose about 30 pounds before the gun goes off. I think this is possible, although I know the importance of properly fueling my body once I start hitting the really high mileage weeks so I'd like to get my weight down before I get to that point.

So that's goal #2 for my first marathon (goal #1 of course being to merely finish which is a fete in an of itself). And goal #3, although I'm hesitant to type this, is a time goal. I know, I know. I shouldn't' set myself up that way. Every book I've read tells the first time marathoner to only set a goal of finishing the race and to enjoy that sweet victory for what it is - but I just can't get this number out of my head....4:30. My half marathon time predicts I will finish the marathon closer to 5 hours and, I'm sorry, that just makes me cringe. 30 minutes isn't much, right? And remember, my half marathon training was solid for only about 4 weeks. I'm hoping that with weight loss and a training schedule that is not interrupted by sickness and injury (or my stupidity) this is a goal I can achieve.

So Mr. Strep Throat, enjoy it while you can because I'm on a mission and I don't have time to be sick any more.

Post 1/2 Marathon, Day 14

I have strep throat. So my recent sluggishness out there on the trails may be due in part to the disgusting things growing inside my throat as well as the race I ran.

I'm pissed.

I started running again about 2 years ago and seriously training for races last September. Since September, I have had the following complications:

1. 3 colds lasting 3 weeks on average
2. Bronchitis
3. Slipped vertebrae in my back (although, to be fair, this started in 2004 but I've only recently gotten treatment for it)
4. pulled muscle in my lower back
5. 4 root canals
6. nerve damage in my left foot due to improperly fitted shoes (I went to a specialty running store and everything!)
7. eye twitch
8. kidney stones
9. strep throat
10. carpel tunnel

Obviously, not all of this is related to running but I can't help but wonder why all these things keep happening. I've taken better care of my body in the last 2 years than I ever have so why does that list sound like that of an 80 year-old woman? I watch what I eat, I take vitamins, I get enough sleep, I avoid stress and exercise regularly, I don't smoke, I rarely drink - WHAT GIVES???

Recovery

I've read in numerous places that it takes one day of recovery for each mile you ran in a race. So for say a half marathon, 13 days of recovery should be about right.

But what is "recovery" exactly? Does that mean 13 straight days of no running at all?? I couldn't possibly (and obviously haven't) take 13 days off in a row. I did take Sunday and Monday completely off after the race, Tuesday I went for a short 2.44 mile walk with my mom to get the old legs moving again. Wednesday, I started running again and basically haven't had a good solid run since. I know I'm technically still in recovery, but my legs get tired so much sooner and I think to myself I just ran a half marathon and now I can't even handle a lousy 3 miles? What gives?

I know I need to cut myself some slack but I can't help feeling a little discouraged. Today's lousy 3 miles was full of wind and heat and, therefore, walk breaks. I HATE taking walk breaks. They break up my rhythm and I never get quite back on track after I stop. I know my body is adjusting to the drastic change in temperature - I haven't run without tights and gloves in about 6 months - and I'm still recovering but DANG IT! I want to run long!! I want to get through 5 miles without feeling like I'm going to keel over. I want to wear my race t-shirt proud out there on the trails, not make a mockery of it (or it of me).

Grr!!

I did it!

I didn't think I was going to be able to run The LaSalle Bank Columbus Half Marathon, but I pushed it a little for the last two months and decided to go for it. A wiser more experienced runner would have done the smart thing and skipped this one. I never said I was smart! Here's my race report for a fantastic day:

5am - I'm wide awake, ready to go. My alarm is set for 6:00, but I know I won't get back to sleep. I hop out of bed and start pacing around my apartment. Check my bag, eat a bagel, check my bag again, pin my bib to my shirt, check my bag, smother my problem spots with Body Glide, check my bag, eat another bagel.

6am- Stand on my balcony in my carefully chosen attire, decide I'm dressed to warm. Check my bag again.

7am- Danielle arrives. I pace. I pee.

7.10am- Mom and dad arrive and we're off.

7.30am - We're some of the first people at the race site. We stand around and shiver, use the bathroom. I obsess on whether or not to wear gloves.

9am- I line up at the back of the pack, figuring this is where I'll most likely be for most of the race. The gun goes off and the crowd of thousands of runners starts to move towards the starting line. My legs are jumpy, ready to go. It takes about 4 minutes to reach the starting line so for most of the race, my watch time is 4 minutes faster than the clock. We start running, slow at first, waving to the crowd on the side lines. It takes about a mile or two to warm up and find a good pace. My 2nd mile split is 22:00 on the nose, slow but comfortable. I want to go faster but know I should save my energy for that hill at mile 11. I wave to my friends who came out to cheer me on. At mile 4-5, we circle around the Ohio Stadium and the band is set up playing fight songs. The runners shout "O-H-I-O". We run up Lane Ave and turn south on High Street, headed through the Short North and downtown. At mile 7, I'm still feeling pretty good and am staying dead on pace. The wind picks up and I swear a little but decide that no amount of wind is going to keep me from my goal. We run towards Columbus State and I wave to my family. At mile 9, I start to feel a little tired and I wish I had taken my Cliff Shot sooner. Mile 10 past Schiller Park and I realize this is the farthest I've ever run in my life. Mile 11 crosses over 670 and HURTS. I allow myself to walk up this hill but pick it back up again as soon as I get to the top. People in the crowd are cheering "Only 2 more to go" and I can't believe it. It's almost over already! Most of mile 12 is down hill, thankfully. At mile 12.75 or so, I can start to hear the crowd at the finish line. I smile for my race photo and round the corner. Hundreds of people line the chute towards the finish. I can see the time clock just under the FINISH banner and I can hardly believe it. I cross the finish line at 2:29:03, a minute faster than my goal. A huge smile is plastered on my face and I fall into the arms of my friends and family, laughing and crying.

13.1 miles went by so incredibly fast and I can't believe it's over already. Crossing that finish line was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I'll never run another FIRST 1/2 marathon again so I will treasure that day for a long, long time. Some people run these big races and afterwards say "Never again!". Me? I say "When can I do that again?"