So Unlike Me (and a giveaway winner)

I haven't run a single mile for about a week and two days.  This is so weird for me.  I forced myself to take a week off after the half-after-the-failed-STL-full.  But the week before the half, I only ran one four-miler.  When you add up those miles, plus the infamous marathon and the taper miles preceding, I have only run 36 miles in the past three weeks.  Pretty low for me.

I planned to get out there this week, but was hit with a whammy of a spring-cold.  Once again, working out has been put on hold.  Tomorrow, I think I will head out to Fusion Fitness for a change of pace before I jump into my next round of marathon training.  We will see how I feel.  Right now, I just feel like I am getting flabby...

In other news--"K" won the Build-A-Sign giveaway!  Her mom is her biggest supporter--Congrats, K!

My Next Marathon

After lots of consideration and playing out different ideas in my head again and again, I made the decision about which fall marathon to run this year.  This fall I will run...(drum roll, please)...

I chose Twin Cities for many reasons:

1.  Good Reviews:  I have heard nothing but good about this race.  Good scenery.  Good spectators.  Good organization.  

2.  I get to see an old friend:  I have a friend who lives up that way whom I have been wanting to visit for quite some time.  We survived our first year as teachers in neighboring trailer-classrooms--that is the kind of bond that lasts!  Sara is a great, giving person--she even met up with me when I was in Chicago for last fall's marathon--and, from what I hear, she is a great host!  She had a baby recently, and it will great to see Sara and little Lakin again!

Sara, her little one, and I in Chicago

 3.  I can still do two races:  My original thought about going to KC and Dallas was a little flawed.  I thought it would be cheaper, but I was wrong.  I have free places to stay in the Twin Cities area, and maybe even the chance to carpool.  Dallas would be expensive with a stay in hotel and possible flight.  If it is warm in the Twin Cities, I can always fall back on The Gobbler Grind, a small marathon in late November in KC.  The Gobbler Grind may not be exciting, but it is in KC and it counts as a qualifying race.

4.  Elevation!  After researching all my race choices, my main worry with Kansas City was the elevation profile of the course.  There are some major downhills, but they are often preceded by some crazy uphills!  I love hills, but I am going to have to be super quick this fall to qualify.  I don't know if 3:35 will cut it.  I am going to bust my hump to run a 3:30, and I think I will need some downhills for that!  Twin cities is relatively flat with what looks like a small uphill from mile 21-24.  The elevation change in only 100 ft--nothing compared to the 250ft raise on KC's course.  I run Kansas City all the time--those hills can be killers!

5.  I know some people running Twin Cities:  Some girls I know around here are doing the race--hopefully we can do some of our long runs together!

I am excited to head to Minneapolis/St. Paul in just under six months.  Here's to hoping for good weather, excellent scenery, and awesome race day energy!  

Anyone else going to run Twin Cities on October 2nd? 

Boston by 30

My goal has always been Boston by 30. I set this goal after, without even knowing the qualifying times, I coasted to a 3:41:57 at my first marathon--that includes turning around a couple of times to run with a friend.  It wasn't until I was done and sharing my time with friends and other runners that I realized just how close I was to running Boston.

Life picked up after that first Chicago Marathon--I got married, student-taught, graduated college, whirled through my first year of teaching, suffered through a bad stint of anemia (read:  no long runs), got my graduate degree, moved to Kansas City, and got a new teaching job.  Needless to say, my goal was put on a short hold.  I ran halves, but couldn't commit to training for a whole until recently.

I thought getting out there and qualifying would be easy based on my original marathon time and the my half-marathon PR, but we all know what happened when my feet hit the pavement for my two marathons since getting back in the game--RECORD HEAT!!!  And a big lesson:  I can't control everything.

Now, without a race scheduled before Boston Registration opens in September, I need to focus on which races will get me to Boston in 2013.  I will turn 30 in the fall of 2013--so this is it.  It is go time.

Right now I am looking at the Twin Cities, Kansas City, and Dallas in 2011; and Grandma's in 2012.

Another goal I have is Debt-Free by 30, so money is an issue.  Most likely, my finances will only allow travel to one race in 2011 and one in 2012.  Twin Cities is known to be fast, but that would be only my chance in the fall.  If I did KC and it was a hot day, I could always fall back on Dallas in December.  Grandma's is just on the list for good measure--and the fact that I've always wanted to do it and have a friend in the area to stay with.

So what will it be?

This one :

 

 And

Or this one:

Help me decide...

Run Redemption

I went to a race by myself on Saturday--the hubs didn't even come along.  I went on my own to the Oz Half Marathon to find myself a little personal piece of run redemption.  After two record-setting temperature marathons and--too be honest--a severe blow to my ego, I needed to remember what I love about running.  I found it in--of all places--Olathe, KS.

To my delight, it wasn't hot out. Believe it or not, the weather wasn't just cold, it was ultra-frigid.  The wind was howling--and in Kansas, there is NOTHING to block that wind!  Not a complaint was heard, instead all of us runners stood in huddles and gave props to the guys who came out in just a singlet and shorts. 

I didn't run the Oz Half Marathon for a PR or a medal or a qualifying time; I went for all the things that made me love and stick with running all these years.  The runners did all things that I love about the community:  stood in awe of the marathon maniac who ran 34 marathons since last June, supported and laughed with our pacers, and encouraged each other along the course, giving special thanks to those push and challenge fellow athletes along the way.  A friend of mine even lead a legally blind man through the entire race--talk about inspiration.

At the finish, I felt like I left all I had to give on the course and that made me smile.  It was enough.

Despite all my training this winter, I don't have my third marathon under my belt.  I won't be at the Boston Marathon in 2012, but that is okay--I will be running with just as great a crowd at another race somewhere in America.  Now, I just have to decide where that race will be...

My Official Results: 
Time: 1:39:33
Division: 3rd Place
Gender:  5th Place Overall

BTW--Pics to come...I didn't have my camera, so I will have to wait for the profesh shots

Double BTW--Time to pick my next marathon....oh where, oh where will this little runner go?

Worst Race EVER!!!

SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!  I ran another marathon on a day with record-setting high temps?!?!?!  How is this possible?  Within a year, I ran two races in way above average temperatures.  Stuff like this makes me want to leave all this behind.  What is the point of all those miles?  Running in a blizzard?  Running in ten inches of snow?  20-miler Sundays?  Why?  If it all it takes is one day with wretched weather to erase all that training, why even go for another one?

That is how I felt Sunday after getting my first DNF at the St. Louis marathon.

The day set up almost exactly like Chicago, but I was determined not to let it get to me.  I had a pacing plan and felt strong and steady for the first miles.  And then--just like Chicago--the heat hit me like a ton of bricks!  

At the aid station at mile eight, I tried to take a GU.  Weird thing was that I couldn't swallow it.  I spit it out, forced down a cup of water, and kept going.  A little further into mile eight, I--without warning--threw up while running.  Sorry to be gross, but it just came out.  I got a little worried, but hoped whatever was going on was over and kept going.  

It wasn't over.  Soon after the surprise vomit, I stopped and threw up a watery GU mess.  I kept going and contemplated turning with the half-marathon runners.  Silly me, I thought that would be quitting, and kept going.

At mile eleven, a runner asked if I was alright.  I said yes, but obviously was not.  He ran to a park ranger car and I saw him point at me.  The ranger then turn on her lights and motioned me over.  At this point I was dizzy, nauseas, headachy, and had stopped sweating.  Needless-to-say, I went to the car.  

The ranger pumped up the air, forced me to drink water, and asked me a lot of questions while I cried, waiting for the medic to arrive.  After being in the car for a bit, I started sweating again and felt a bit better--Physically.

Mentally, I felt like a failure.  How could I drop out?  That is just not something I do.  Sure Chicago sucked, but at least I hung in there and finished.  At this point, I swore off marathoning.  Screw it!  What a waste!!!

I didn't want to blog or talk about it...

A few days have passed since the "race,"  and I have decided not to swear of running.  I am going to try to take the lessons here and move on--just not to Boston.  I don't know the lessons yet, but I know I am not supposed to quit. 

This weekend is the Oz Marathon in Olathe, KS--one of the two options I chose from for my spring race (looks I messed up that one).  The temps are expected to be in the low 50's...damn.

Wise or not, I have decided to run the half in Olathe this weekend.  I just want to finish.  I don't care about a PR--I just need to go enjoy a race.

Have you ever had a horrible race experience a couple times in a row?  How did you bounce back?

Transitions

In class, my students are working on writing meaningful transitions. I don't want them to merely use words like next, third, then, etc. I want them to create transitions that help the reader move forward, telling him or her where the writer was and how the writer will build on that information to continue the essay.

This got me thinking about my upcoming race.

You may recall my troubles at the 2010 Chicago Marathon. They were many and somewhat devastating. As I approach Sunday, I want to create a meaningful transition into the GO! St. Louis Marathon. I want to look back and where I was and use that to move forward.

Here are some lessons I learned in Chi-Town:

1. HYDRATE. Often and Early--I plan to stop at every early aid station. In Chicago, I carried a water bottle for the first few miles in an effort to save time at over-crowded aid stations, but I drank too little too often. I KNOW this mistake came back to bite me big time.

2. Use a Warm-Up Pace--After milling through the crowd for the first mile, I busted out at speeds that were way to quick. I thought this would help me get ahead--all it did was introduce to me THE WALL early. This time, I ordered special pace bands from www.races2remember.com. Instead of listing repeat pace miles 26 times, these genius pace bands start with two warm-up miles and adjust the pace thereafter. At Races2Remember, you can also order pace bands for a specific course--and they adjust pace according to elevation changes. Totally awesome! I ordered three bands, each at three different paces. I am going to do my best to follow the guidelines!

3. No Psych Outs—Last time, I totally psyched myself up by pumping up the race online and having my whole family come to watch and running the race on my birthday and traveling to a big exciting city and chatting about my marathon with any willing ear. This time around, I have tried to stay relatively quiet. I kept my mouth mostly mute on this blog and didn’t invite the whole crew (although, they decided to come along anyway:):):). I am trying to look at this race reasonably and with confidence—not hype.

4. Racing whether or not the Weather Cooperates—I will admit to the fact that I have been relentlessly checking the Sunday forecast—multiple times a day actually, but I am going to give it my all no matter the conditions. I think this is the hardest for me because it is totally out of my control. I will admit that I enjoy controlling my situation—thrive on it really. Maybe I am being taught a valuable lesson: I can prepare all I want, but there will always be things that I can’t fix, change, or manipulate. Sometimes I just have to play the hand I am dealt to the best of my ability—even if means I have to bluff to myself.

On Sunday, I will be doing my best to transition wisely into the race. St. Louis won’t just be my next marathon or my third marathon. I don’t want to say, “I ran Chicago, then St. Louis,”—I want this one to the one wear I look back, smile, and move forward to Boston.

Thanks for all your support! Wish me luck!!!

…and don’t forget to enter my giveaway!

Who Cheers for You? A Giveaway

I can't believe race week is here!!!  It came up so fast.  I have checked the weather about a billion times. I am worried about getting sick and crazy phantom pains.  I am watching what I eat while still worrying weather or not my carb intake is high enough.  Yep, it's race week.

One of the greatest things about racing is support from friends and family.  This weekend, my husband, mom, sisters, and a running buddy will be out on the course cheering me on.  Many others will be cheering me on using athlete tracking phone text messages.  I am a lucky girl to have such great support.  Now, thanks to my friend Megan over at www.buildasign.com, my support team has some totally professional signs to hold on race day.

Here are some pics of fans that can't be there on race day holding these wonderful signs.

Nora is so supportive

I designed the yellow sign, and Megan helped make the color choices on the other two.

Fiona wanted to cheer too, but her stubby legs needed a little help :)

The people at www.BuildASign.com are so awesome, they are giving you the chance to design your own support team signs.  All you have to do to enter is follow this blog and leave a comment letting me know you are a follower.  You can receive a second entry by leaving a comment about your biggest supporter.  


Winners will be chosen randomly two weeks from today!  Good luck!!!