Upper Arlington Memorial Day 5 Miler

Another day, another great race!

Dad and I met at the race site about 45 minutes before the start time. We picked up our ankle chips and milled around with the other runners. I was a little annoyed by the chip because it velcro'ed around our ankle instead of being laced through our shoe laces. At first it felt a little clunky and unbalanced but by the time we got up to the starting line, I forgot it was even there. We started at the back of the pack again but I think I managed to keep up with a good portion of the pack for most of the race, which I was very happy about!

The course wound through the streets of this local neighborhood and many people stood on their lawns to cheer the runners on. Some even had their sprinklers on and facing the street which was MUCH appreciated seeing as how it was about 79 degrees and 90% humidity. I was dripping with sweat before we even started so by mile 4 I was a big sloppy mess. There were two water stops on the course which surprised me (the fact that there were 4, yes f.o.u.r., for the Race for the Cure surprised me as well!) since there was no mention of that in the race information. I don't know if the water stops are just common knowledge for these things or what. I guess I still have a lot to learn!

Did I mention it was all uphill? Yeah. The first mile was pretty painless as most first miles are but by mile 4 I was getting a little pissed off. Why couldn't they run this thing backwards? I guess downhills are just as painful as the uphills but for crap's sake I was just not ready for that. Luckily, the last mile was flat and fast so I finished strong. I don't know my (or my dad's) official time yet but by my watch it was pretty close to 50:20 or so. I'm pretty happy with that!

Back to training....

Minor blip

It's been a bad week over here in my little corner of the world which means a bad week for running. More often than not, whatever is going on in my personal life reflects in the quality and frequency of my runs. I feel sluggish and cut corners, which only hurts my training in the long run. Since I'm not yet starting to train for the marathon (trying to maintain a good base) I've found myself pushing running to the back burner on more than one occasion in order to take care of life-situation issues.

This happens. Life happens. We can't always predict what life will throw at us and have to take it as it comes, adjusting our expectations as we go.

Fortunately, whatever problems I had this week (one major one involving the possibility of not even training for the marathon at all) have resolved themselves and I feel confident that moving forward with my plans is the right thing to do. I don't mean to be so vague; I'm just not sure who reads this and I'm not crazy about airing all my dirty laundry out on this here internet thingy.

So. Seeing as how my train has not been derailed, I have an 8 mile run planned for bright and early tomorrow morning. Sunday, rest. Then my dad and I are running a 5 mile race on Memorial Day. I love that he's found an interest in racing with me. He's always been a runner (remember, he took me out for my first run when I was a freshman in high school) but we've never done races together before. The Race for the Cure was great and I'm looking forward to Monday and many more races after that!

Race for a Cure

My dad and I ran the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure bright and early yesterday on a beautiful Saturday morning. 37,000 other walkers and runners joined us on the road, moving our feet for a cause that is close to the hearts of countless women. Survivors dotted the crowds, easily identified by their special pink t-shirts. Many cried tears of accomplishment and triumph as they crossed the finish line through their own special "pink" finish chute.

This race was unlike any other race I've ever participated in. There were bands on every corner, biker gangs, highschool cheerleaders, and runners/walkers of every shape, size and nationality out there showing their support for people afflicted with this disease. I didn't even care what my time was (I think it was around 30:45, but I can't say for sure) and didn't even notice the hills (for the most part). I felt extremely grateful to be running that morning in a white t-shirt and inspired by those there in pink.

Yikes!

I'm getting ready to register for my first marathon and after I do, I think I might puke.

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!!