It is official---I am a marathoner! Read on for the details...
The first lesson I learned during my marathon was that, regardless of what I thought, I had no clue what to expect! I went in with the ultimate goal of finishing and having fun and the "wouldn't it be nice" goal of finishing in under 5 hours.
All the Team in Training folks met up in the lobby of our hotel at 5:45 am and walked to the start together. I hadn't slept well the night before (due to a combination of nerves/excitement and noise from the elevator near our room) but I was running on a buzz of adrenaline. There were SO MANY PEOPLE in this race and there was very little elbow room as we positioned ourselves into our starting waves. We started at 7:10, but looking back it doesn't feel like we waited long at the start at all, it must have been all the excitement!
Although I didn't realize it at the time, I started my marathon much too fast. I did take my walk breaks, but I was heavily influenced by the energy surrounding me and let myself get carried away by runners at a faster pace than my own. I stopped for a quick potty break around mile 5 and then did something silly...ran really fast and skipped two scheduled walk breaks to try to make up the time I lost waiting in line for the bathroom! It was around this time that the pacing chart I'd brought along with me fell out of my shorts and got trampled...(I wonder what that could mean...?)
The weather was just perfect for running (cool and cloudy) and the route was fairly scenic. Lots of running along the ocean, past the Queen Mary, through downtown Long Beach and CSULB. Around the halfway point I started feeling the effects of my over enthusiastic start...I was really tired already! I knew that I should eat, but I had difficulty getting shot blocks down and was starting to battle nausea. Around mile 15 I passed the point of no return...I was sick to my stomach and grumpy because I hadn't eaten enough but I felt so poorly that I had difficulty forcing myself to eat on the run. Those were some tough miles and I had a lot of difficulty sticking to my scheduled intervals of running for 8 minutes and walking for 1. Now I know that I will have to be more organized when it comes to fueling on the run for my next marathon. By the time I started to realize I needed fuel I was already feeling pretty beat up.
I was looking forward to seeing two of my friends at mile twenty, when they planned to jump in with me, and my family and friends who I knew were waiting for me toward the finish. But all of that felt a long way off. Then, around mile 17 I had a series of great pick-me-ups. This was the portion of the course that runs through Cal State Long Beach and lots of sororities and fraternities come out to cheer on the runners. Some of them blasted music, held signs, and did silly things to try to lift our spirits. I saw one guy riding on a tiny toy car...he was sitting on top of it and riding it down a hill, toward me. I'm sure it doesn't sound all that funny, but at mile 18 it was hilarious and it kept me moving forward.
My teammate Eric began to pass me around mile 19 and I was not feeling so great. He stuck with me and really pushed me to keep going when all I wanted to do was walk. He could have easily passed me and kept on going, but he decided to stay with me and help me make it through some of those tough miles. Bless him! He was like my guardian angel delivering me to Shira and Nicole at mile 21. Thank you Eric!
Shira and Nicole arrived at mile 21 like balls of energy! Nicole hung with Eric, who went ahead (I'll say it again--bless him for sticking with me!) and Shira stuck with me, helping me set small goals to make it to the end of the race. Streetlight by streetlight, she helped me stay focused on making steady progress. We made lots of deals together..."run to the next streetlight, then you can walk until the_______"
At mile 24 I spotted my husband, best friend, sister and brother in law and I just about lost it. They each had signs for me and were cheering me on--it was such an awesome feeling! I stopped to hug them, then made my way along and my brother in law even ran alongside me for a little bit! That gave me a nice boost. Just a little farther along I saw my Aunt and Uncle cheering for me and before I knew it all I had left was a mile, then half a mile and then I saw the mile marker for 26 and knew I was almost there. I found an energy I didn't know I had and did my best to finish strong. While running through the finishing chute I saw my Aunt and cousin cheering me on, then my mother in law, sister in law and grandmother in law. Each face I saw smiling and cheering for me fueled my finish. Before I knew it I had a medal and a mylar blanket and I received my Team in Training 26.2 pin. I did it! I accomplished a long standing goal that I once thought would be nothing more than a dream. And along the way I raised $2400 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and made a bunch of GREAT new friends. That is pretty awesome if you ask me!
I finished my first marathon in 5 hours and 22 minutes.
I can't wait for the next one!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Goal Setting Part 2: New Goals and Revised Goals
Running has really helped me to discover one of life's secrets to happiness: being flexible=a happier state of mind. I've spent most of my life being stubborn, so to learn this at 25 is a blessing both to me and all those who love me. Goal setting is absolutely necessary to keep moving forward in life. And I mean not just dreaming about and setting goals, but taking steps to make them realities...it helps me to have a much needed sense of productivity, to grow personally and professionally, plus it's fun! But I've really learned this season about the importance of being flexible with my goals and adapting to surprises rather than losing my mind because something happened that--deep breath--I DIDN'T PLAN! My injuries are perfect examples of this: they sidelined me for a while, but I adapted. When I could walk but not run, I walked. When I could run, but only slowly, I ran slowly. I finally realized that some things are out of my control....and it felt kind of good. Like I could let go of that control and the world would keep going...imagine that! Here are some upcoming running related goals. Some have adapted over the season and others are new.
1. In the spirit of being flexible, my goal for Long Beach has also adapted. Because this is my first marathon I have decided not to worry about my finishing time. My overall goal for this race is simply to finish. As long as I finish, I'll be happy because finishing is an enormous accomplishment and something I've wanted for a long time.
2. I'd like for Long Beach to be the first of many marathons and half marathons. I begin training for LA in November!
3. I'd love to try trail running. It would be great if I could find someone to tag along with for my first try...does anyone know somebody who wouldn't mind company?
Non Running Related Goals (those on my mind at the moment):
-find a K-5 teaching position. One where I can really grow, make a difference and be happy.
-learn Spanish (this is a big goal...and one I'm not doing anything about at the moment. A girl can dream, though)
I have many more, but my brain is shutting down at the moment. Did I mention I ran 20 miles this morning? More about that later, time for a nap.
1. In the spirit of being flexible, my goal for Long Beach has also adapted. Because this is my first marathon I have decided not to worry about my finishing time. My overall goal for this race is simply to finish. As long as I finish, I'll be happy because finishing is an enormous accomplishment and something I've wanted for a long time.
2. I'd like for Long Beach to be the first of many marathons and half marathons. I begin training for LA in November!
3. I'd love to try trail running. It would be great if I could find someone to tag along with for my first try...does anyone know somebody who wouldn't mind company?
Non Running Related Goals (those on my mind at the moment):
-find a K-5 teaching position. One where I can really grow, make a difference and be happy.
-learn Spanish (this is a big goal...and one I'm not doing anything about at the moment. A girl can dream, though)
I have many more, but my brain is shutting down at the moment. Did I mention I ran 20 miles this morning? More about that later, time for a nap.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Goal Setting Part 1: Old Goals
Lately I find myself thinking an awful lot about my running goals--the old goals I've met, the goals I've had to change due to injury or circumstance, my goals for the near future and those giant goals that are really more like dreams. As my first season of TNT comes to an end and my first marathon approaches, this feels like a time for reflection.
Old Goals:
Growing up I loved to visit my Auntie Kim--in my early memories of her I remember thinking she couldn't be an aunt because she must be a teenager! She was always so much more fun than I believed possible for a grown up. One of the things I love about her is her energy and zest. Here's a perfect example: my first memory of her is of watching her workout on a treadmill or some other type of exercise machine while wearing a pair of bright sweat pants and a pink sweat band while singing along to "Love Shack". Over time she became an avid runner and I wanted to be one too.
The summer I was nine she took me on a few runs with her while we visited my grandparents in Hawaii. I remember thinking that running for such a long time was a lot harder than it looked. In fact, I probably didn't even make it 1/2 a mile before I stopped to walk, but I remember her giving me some great advice. She said when it gets difficult and you want to walk, slow down instead.
Growing up I spent a lot of time trying to become a runner. I didn't have a runner's body, but I secretly hoped I might get one if I kept running long enough (I'm still waiting for that one to happen!). Looking back, I did run often and had fun doing it but I never felt like a runner. Not while running to Briggs school and back for fun (wearing Converse, of all things!), not while on my high school cross country team (placing dead last in nearly every race), not even while running in the lonely rain in Tacoma.
While thinking back on this season and how far I've come I realized that I finally feel like a runner, a goal I've been working on for 16 years. I am going to run 20 miles this Sunday. I have one black toenail and another ready to fall off. I have run two half marathons. I wake up early every Sunday and run. For a few hours. No big deal.
I remember struggling to complete a 10 mile training run at the start of the season...last Sunday I ran 16 miles, the Sunday before that a half marathon, and the one before that 18. Wow. I've made so much progress in just a short amount of time that it kinda snuck up on me. Time to set some new goals...
Up next: Goal Setting Part 2: New Goals, Revised Goals
Old Goals:
Growing up I loved to visit my Auntie Kim--in my early memories of her I remember thinking she couldn't be an aunt because she must be a teenager! She was always so much more fun than I believed possible for a grown up. One of the things I love about her is her energy and zest. Here's a perfect example: my first memory of her is of watching her workout on a treadmill or some other type of exercise machine while wearing a pair of bright sweat pants and a pink sweat band while singing along to "Love Shack". Over time she became an avid runner and I wanted to be one too.
The summer I was nine she took me on a few runs with her while we visited my grandparents in Hawaii. I remember thinking that running for such a long time was a lot harder than it looked. In fact, I probably didn't even make it 1/2 a mile before I stopped to walk, but I remember her giving me some great advice. She said when it gets difficult and you want to walk, slow down instead.
Growing up I spent a lot of time trying to become a runner. I didn't have a runner's body, but I secretly hoped I might get one if I kept running long enough (I'm still waiting for that one to happen!). Looking back, I did run often and had fun doing it but I never felt like a runner. Not while running to Briggs school and back for fun (wearing Converse, of all things!), not while on my high school cross country team (placing dead last in nearly every race), not even while running in the lonely rain in Tacoma.
While thinking back on this season and how far I've come I realized that I finally feel like a runner, a goal I've been working on for 16 years. I am going to run 20 miles this Sunday. I have one black toenail and another ready to fall off. I have run two half marathons. I wake up early every Sunday and run. For a few hours. No big deal.
I remember struggling to complete a 10 mile training run at the start of the season...last Sunday I ran 16 miles, the Sunday before that a half marathon, and the one before that 18. Wow. I've made so much progress in just a short amount of time that it kinda snuck up on me. Time to set some new goals...
Up next: Goal Setting Part 2: New Goals, Revised Goals
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Inspirational!
Just saw a link about Sister Madonna Buder.
Wow. Just wow.
check out this to read more and see her talk about her running!
Wow. Just wow.
check out this to read more and see her talk about her running!
Disney Race Report
Last week I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon, a race I was beginning to believe is cursed for me. I registered for the race a few years ago, paying the hefty registration fee for the privilege of running through Disneyland while all my favorite characters cheered me on. About a week before that first race I came down with a bad case of bronchitis and was unable to run...Unfortunately, Disney does not give out refunds, even if you're sick :-(
I was so excited to register again this year--this would be MY year at Disney. I'm in the midst of marathon training, after all...what could go wrong? As we all know, my training has not exactly gone smoothly. I've encountered a few bumps along the way and am still hesitant about how my body will react to the stresses of long runs.
Long story short, out of nowhere I ended up with a major pain in my left foot. It started out as an annoyance 0n Friday afternoon, but by evening I couldn't walk comfortably on it. Saturday was worse and I spent the day resting it, icing it, and slowly testing my weight on it only to be disappointed. Sunday morning, race day, was no better. I woke up and dressed for the race with no illusions--there was a strong chance I wouldn't be able to run it. I didn't want to risk injuring myself further and compromising the marathon in October, but I had really been looking forward to Disney as something fun and as an estimate of my time for the full marathon.
I decided to try running it, but at nearly every step I knew that I could stop at any moment. The pain made it difficult to extend my toes or to push off with my foot as I ran. One mile turned into two and although I was uncomfortable, the miles just kept adding up. By the time I reached the 10 K mark (6.2 miles), I was really hurting. I stopped frequently to walk or just stand to the side. Did I want to have someone come and pick me up? Was it really that bad? No, I decided that I could at least walk the rest.
I made a stop at the medical tent at mile 9 to ice my foot and take some Tylenol. When I left that tent, I knew that I would finish the race. Not because I felt better, but because I had already made it so far. What was 4 more miles when I had already made it 9?
I crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 52 minutes and wore my medal proudly.
What I'll take away from this race is the importance of being flexible with my goals. While I had a goal to run the half in under 2:30 that goal quickly changed to simply finishing the race. I spent so much time visualizing the race and anticipating my strategy that to overhaul that pattern of thinking completely was difficult--I'm not always as flexible as I should be. While I fought back angry tears around mile 8 I came to realize I had two choices: I could be angry and upset at the unexpected and let that ruin my experience or I could rethink my goals, adapt my expectations and have fun with what I could do.
Guess what I chose?
I was so excited to register again this year--this would be MY year at Disney. I'm in the midst of marathon training, after all...what could go wrong? As we all know, my training has not exactly gone smoothly. I've encountered a few bumps along the way and am still hesitant about how my body will react to the stresses of long runs.
Long story short, out of nowhere I ended up with a major pain in my left foot. It started out as an annoyance 0n Friday afternoon, but by evening I couldn't walk comfortably on it. Saturday was worse and I spent the day resting it, icing it, and slowly testing my weight on it only to be disappointed. Sunday morning, race day, was no better. I woke up and dressed for the race with no illusions--there was a strong chance I wouldn't be able to run it. I didn't want to risk injuring myself further and compromising the marathon in October, but I had really been looking forward to Disney as something fun and as an estimate of my time for the full marathon.
I decided to try running it, but at nearly every step I knew that I could stop at any moment. The pain made it difficult to extend my toes or to push off with my foot as I ran. One mile turned into two and although I was uncomfortable, the miles just kept adding up. By the time I reached the 10 K mark (6.2 miles), I was really hurting. I stopped frequently to walk or just stand to the side. Did I want to have someone come and pick me up? Was it really that bad? No, I decided that I could at least walk the rest.
I made a stop at the medical tent at mile 9 to ice my foot and take some Tylenol. When I left that tent, I knew that I would finish the race. Not because I felt better, but because I had already made it so far. What was 4 more miles when I had already made it 9?
I crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 52 minutes and wore my medal proudly.
What I'll take away from this race is the importance of being flexible with my goals. While I had a goal to run the half in under 2:30 that goal quickly changed to simply finishing the race. I spent so much time visualizing the race and anticipating my strategy that to overhaul that pattern of thinking completely was difficult--I'm not always as flexible as I should be. While I fought back angry tears around mile 8 I came to realize I had two choices: I could be angry and upset at the unexpected and let that ruin my experience or I could rethink my goals, adapt my expectations and have fun with what I could do.
Guess what I chose?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Back in the saddle again!
After 11 days of rest, several miniature mental breakdowns, and countless giant ibuprofen I am running again. Oh, how I've waited for this day...*sigh*...I didn't realize how much my running had become such a constant in my life until I had to take an unwanted break. To name just a few of the things I missed...
I am now icing my knee, just to be safe. I plan to run with the 7/1 interval group on Sunday and to take it slow. I'll run on grass when it's available, I'll take my time stretching before and after, and I'll stand in the cool ocean in Santa Monica when that 18 miler is all done, feeling immensely grateful to be healthy and able to do something that I love so much.
- Having a schedule: because I have the summer off from work, running has satisfied my crazy need to always have something to work toward. I have filled my weeks with running commitments and very much enjoyed meeting them--it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
- Having an outlet: running is great for your mental health, especially if you're crazy like me and have a brain that likes to run at a million miles an hour just to drive you crazy and make you worry about things that don't matter :p Running sends my brain to a happy place and helps it stay there more often. When I'm not running regularly my brain likes to find things to worry/obsess about just for fun.
- Making progress: it was tough to watch my teammates rack up the mileage while I was sidelined. I love the steady improvement and the fact that many weeks I am running more than I ever have before.
I am now icing my knee, just to be safe. I plan to run with the 7/1 interval group on Sunday and to take it slow. I'll run on grass when it's available, I'll take my time stretching before and after, and I'll stand in the cool ocean in Santa Monica when that 18 miler is all done, feeling immensely grateful to be healthy and able to do something that I love so much.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
TURNING LEMONS INTO LEMONADE....OR...WALKING IS HARD
I have been handed some lemons....let me tell you the sad history of my knee. If you have been following my posts then you know that my right knee has not been good to me lately. What started out as a squeaky hinge is now a rusty, falling apart, piece of junk. It used to be that my knee would bother me on a run, but just a bit. Just enough for me to think "...gee, that's not the most comfortable feeling, in fact in kinda hurts". But after the workout the feeling would be gone and I wouldn't worry too much about it. It has only gotten gradually and progressively worse over the past 2 weeks despite my efforts to make it better.
I iced, I stretched, I even rested--I took a break from running, especially this week. I rested Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and my knee felt just fine. Thursday morning I worked out at Curves and my knee felt fine. Thursday evening I did my usual 4 miles and it hurt--a lot--the entire run. Afterward, I got in the car and it was painful to move my foot to hit the gas or the break. Surprisingly painful. I got home, stretched and iced. Rested Friday and Saturday. Felt better.
Today I should have run 15 miles with my team, setting a new personal distance record. I dropped down a few pace groups to take it easy a bit, but I felt some major pain right away. I stopped after the first mile and noticed that my knee didn't hurt while walking, so I walked. In fact, I POWERWALKED! I was mad, and I was going to get my workout DONE. I went at a good pace and worked up quite a sweat. In fact, I even passed some runners. I didn't walk the whole 15 miles, because I didn't want to injure myself further, but I walked as long as my knee felt good, which was about 10 miles.
Walking long distances is much more difficult, mentally, than running. And it is lonelier. In fact, the idea of WALKING 26.2 miles rather than running it is pretty scary. I didn't sign up to walk a marathon. If running it might take me 5 hours, just imagine how long it would take me to walk!
But I AM going to finish this thing, because it is just too important for me to give up, even if that means I have to walk. I can say that and still hope I don't have to walk it, right?
Sooooooo, after all of this I looked down at my knee while stretching, realized it was pretty swollen, still hurt and wouldn't allow me to walk up or down a set of stairs. I went to urgent care. Long story short, I have some water accumulated in my knee but it's not clear why. I have a referral to an orthopedist and took some x-rays that he will look at. The Dr. I saw said to rest it: don't go for a walk, a run, an elliptical, bike, or anything else that will use the knee. She did approve swimming, though :-) She was very optimistic that I would be able to run again soon, and even run my marathon on Oct. 11.
What will I be doing in the meantime? Swimming to stay fit and not go crazy, stretching and icing and resting my knee and being thankful that I am healthy enough to complete something as challenging as a marathon...even if I complete it while walking.
I iced, I stretched, I even rested--I took a break from running, especially this week. I rested Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and my knee felt just fine. Thursday morning I worked out at Curves and my knee felt fine. Thursday evening I did my usual 4 miles and it hurt--a lot--the entire run. Afterward, I got in the car and it was painful to move my foot to hit the gas or the break. Surprisingly painful. I got home, stretched and iced. Rested Friday and Saturday. Felt better.
Today I should have run 15 miles with my team, setting a new personal distance record. I dropped down a few pace groups to take it easy a bit, but I felt some major pain right away. I stopped after the first mile and noticed that my knee didn't hurt while walking, so I walked. In fact, I POWERWALKED! I was mad, and I was going to get my workout DONE. I went at a good pace and worked up quite a sweat. In fact, I even passed some runners. I didn't walk the whole 15 miles, because I didn't want to injure myself further, but I walked as long as my knee felt good, which was about 10 miles.
Walking long distances is much more difficult, mentally, than running. And it is lonelier. In fact, the idea of WALKING 26.2 miles rather than running it is pretty scary. I didn't sign up to walk a marathon. If running it might take me 5 hours, just imagine how long it would take me to walk!
But I AM going to finish this thing, because it is just too important for me to give up, even if that means I have to walk. I can say that and still hope I don't have to walk it, right?
Sooooooo, after all of this I looked down at my knee while stretching, realized it was pretty swollen, still hurt and wouldn't allow me to walk up or down a set of stairs. I went to urgent care. Long story short, I have some water accumulated in my knee but it's not clear why. I have a referral to an orthopedist and took some x-rays that he will look at. The Dr. I saw said to rest it: don't go for a walk, a run, an elliptical, bike, or anything else that will use the knee. She did approve swimming, though :-) She was very optimistic that I would be able to run again soon, and even run my marathon on Oct. 11.
What will I be doing in the meantime? Swimming to stay fit and not go crazy, stretching and icing and resting my knee and being thankful that I am healthy enough to complete something as challenging as a marathon...even if I complete it while walking.
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