We always think that experience with something makes it easier. Knowing what's coming takes some of the fear away. Having the experience means you can do things differently the second time around, not make the same mistakes. Sometimes you even find that you don't write your blog as much because you don't need the accountability of others to do your marathon. You know what to expect, and you have no doubt that you'll finish this race; this time it's a matter of how much faster you'll be.
And then, sometimes, your plans get derailed in an instant. There may not be a second time around, at least not this March.
It happened innocently enough about a week and a half ago. I was doing a 14 mile training run on the Burke Gilman, starting at Marymoor Park and heading west. When I trained for my first marathon last year, this was my old reliable trail - nice and flat, good scenery, and the miles are marked along the way. I was making pretty good time too, under a 13 minute mile and approaching my turnaround at the 7 mile mark.
Cramp! Back of the calf, right around the area of the Achilles tendon. It wasn't a pain, more like a bad charley horse, but because of the location near the Achilles, I figured it best to stop immediately and walk. I never want to push it too much during training. Save that for race day.
As I turned around and started back toward Marymoor, I felt a little twinge with each step, and about a half mile down the path, I figured it might be best to find a place to call a cab and save myself another 6-1/2 miles of walking. Luckily for me, I had the good fortune of breaking down right near the beautiful Willows Lodge and hobbled over. They were great. Called me a cab and brought me a hot chocolate while I waited. Awesome people. Beautiful place.
When I got home, I spent the day with the leg elevated, icing the area and figuring that this was my reminder that a) I needed to buy salt pills to keep from cramping on the long runs, and b) USE YOUR FOAM ROLLER, LINDA! Got it. I decided to give the leg a rest from running all week, getting all my necessities and getting back out on Friday.
Friday was a gorgeous, but cold day. I had the day off because I was headed up to Suncadia for the weekend for what turned out to be a fabulously fun bachelorette party. Having the morning free, I decided to get back out for another long run. I turned on my Pandora to the 80's station and fired up my RunKeeper App. Ready to go, I took my first step and BAM! Cramp was back immediately. This time with a twinge of pain. I had done all the right things - stretched, rolled, hydrated - so now I was worried that this might be something else.
Yesterday I decided to go to the doctor, the same one who helped me with my stress fracture earlier in my training. I figured she'd tell me that I just needed to stretch more, wear better shoes, etc. But the instant I pointed out where the cramp/pain happened, she frowned and said, "Achilles." Uh oh.
Not to leave you all hanging, but I don't have the final diagnosis yet. It's either tendinitis of the Achilles tendon or it's a partial tear. I won't know until I have an ultrasound, and due to Snowmaggedon 2012 in Seattle, I wasn't able to get in to see the technician for the ultrasound until Friday of this week (and that's only if the roads clear up enough for me to drive there). After that, it's an appointment with a sports medicine doc. If it's tendinitis, there's a chance that resting it could get me back to training in time to get my long runs in for the marathon. If it's a partial tear, well...
When I realized yesterday that not being able to do this marathon is a very real possibility, it got me to thinking about how different this experience is turning out to be. The first time, the challenge was mostly mental and encompassed my fears of the unknown. Can I really do this? Will I finish last? Will my body give out in the middle of the run? Physically, I held up pretty well and once the race was done, all the fears washed away.
This time, it's not a fear of the unknown, but the fear of failing. What if I physically can't do this?
When I thought about this question, right away, a saying popped into my head. "You either roll with the punches or you get pummeled by them." I don't know if I heard that somewhere or if I just made it up. What that question showed me was that everything I've done this past year - the previous marathon, dealing with difficult personal challenges and most importantly, wellness coaching - has changed me for the better. Rather than believing I'll be a failure if I can't do this, my first reaction to the news was to look for the positives: I still get to spend 5 days in Napa with my friends; maybe I can volunteer at the race and help out; this means I can drink more wine! My first reaction was to roll with the punches, and that's a huge success and makes this marathon a success, even if I have to spend it on the sidelines.
I don't have the final verdict yet. That comes Friday. But whatever it is, I can roll with it.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
3 Months From this Sunday
I have to say, this marathon is sneaking up on me much quicker than the last one. Maybe it's because of the stress fracture that got me off my training schedule for a couple of weeks. Maybe it's because I'm training in the winter this time. I'm not really sure, but there are only 3 months to go before I lace them up and try again, and that just seems like it's happening awfully soon.
What is different this time? Well, I'm definitely eating better, but because I've been sidelined, I'm not sure how it's working from a fueling standpoint. I hope to learn more about the effects of a better diet as I once again ramp up the mileage.
Another difference is that I know what to expect, and the fear of the race isn't really there anymore. Of course, with the injury I suffered, I'm a little scared that it not healing might keep me from completing the marathon. But I don't have the fear of the unknown this time, and in fact, I'm the one alleviating the fears of my new marathon teammates. Letting them know how it feels when you hit the wall, when you get that second surge, the mental games you play at mile 19 and when the tears hit.
The one thing that hasn't changed this time, though, is the camaraderie I'm experiencing with my fellow marathoners. This, by far, is the best part of committing to this endeavor once again just as it was the best part of preparing for the first one. There is nothing like the bond that forms when you are running on a trail out near North Bend in the pouring rain on an early Sunday morning when everyone else you know is inside and warm. And you know there is nowhere else you'd rather be. Nothing better than checking in on how many miles everyone did this week, how the bodies are holding up, what is the best plan to be following, and when we can all get together for another long run.
So even though time is growing short, I will enjoy every minute of every training run, every marathon dinner, every mega e-mail exchanged where we plan the rest of our Napa adventure. And I will be forever grateful for the teammates, both the new ones this time around and those that I shared that first experience with. You have made these experiences so rewarding, and it's because of you (and the future teammates that I convince next time around) that keep me agreeing to do these crazy things at my age.
What is different this time? Well, I'm definitely eating better, but because I've been sidelined, I'm not sure how it's working from a fueling standpoint. I hope to learn more about the effects of a better diet as I once again ramp up the mileage.
Another difference is that I know what to expect, and the fear of the race isn't really there anymore. Of course, with the injury I suffered, I'm a little scared that it not healing might keep me from completing the marathon. But I don't have the fear of the unknown this time, and in fact, I'm the one alleviating the fears of my new marathon teammates. Letting them know how it feels when you hit the wall, when you get that second surge, the mental games you play at mile 19 and when the tears hit.
The one thing that hasn't changed this time, though, is the camaraderie I'm experiencing with my fellow marathoners. This, by far, is the best part of committing to this endeavor once again just as it was the best part of preparing for the first one. There is nothing like the bond that forms when you are running on a trail out near North Bend in the pouring rain on an early Sunday morning when everyone else you know is inside and warm. And you know there is nowhere else you'd rather be. Nothing better than checking in on how many miles everyone did this week, how the bodies are holding up, what is the best plan to be following, and when we can all get together for another long run.
So even though time is growing short, I will enjoy every minute of every training run, every marathon dinner, every mega e-mail exchanged where we plan the rest of our Napa adventure. And I will be forever grateful for the teammates, both the new ones this time around and those that I shared that first experience with. You have made these experiences so rewarding, and it's because of you (and the future teammates that I convince next time around) that keep me agreeing to do these crazy things at my age.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Injury Part Deux
It happened when I started running on the treadmill. People are always surprised when I tell them that because the treadmill is supposed to be easier on the body. At least that's what they say. But for me, the treadmill apparently changed my stride and foot placement just a little, just enough to put extra strain on my shin. Combine a few times on the treadmill with a pounding downhill run at the end of the Magnolia 12K, and voila! 3 weeks in a boot.
So what does this mean for my training? That's easy. Week one - total rest. Week two - I can start activity, but nothing weight bearing. End of week three - boot hopefully comes off.
Beginning week two, my friend was nice enough to loan me a bike trainer and set up my bike in my living room so that I can ride while watching everything that's been sitting on my DVR. I've also incorporated kinesis back into the routine, but since it's typically a whole body workout, the trainers at Vera Fitness have been great at modifying the monthly routine for me so I can do at least the upper body stuff sitting on the exercise ball.
I'm currently at the end of week two and counting the days until my doctor appointment next Friday and hopefully resuming my training.
What's been most eye-opening for me is that this experience has shown me how much my mind and spirit have changed, and I am truly a couch potato no more. First thing was, unlike my hip injury last year, which really discouraged me, I approached this with a pretty positive outlook from the day I left the doctor. No activity just meant more of an opportunity to eat well and cook good meals and, it got me refocused on the importance of incorporating healthy eating into my training regimen. I've actually lost 5 lbs since the injury.
Second, though, was the coolest thing to discover about myself, and it's that I'm truly an athlete. Back in the 1990's and early 2000's when I was a true couch potato, I could go weeks without working out. I was that person who joined a gym in January and went pretty regularly for 4-6 weeks until I got bored with it or made excuses to do other things, and before I knew it, I'm paying for a gym membership I don't use. An injury back then would have just given me an extra excuse to sit on the couch.
Now, I don't want to make excuses to not be active. Week one of the boot where I was allowed no activity killed me. I couldn't wait until that bike trainer was set up so I could jump on and get a little cardio in. It was like my body craved it. And with the kinesis, I also did two things I never do, which is work around an obstacle to get in activity and ask for help. This is a true breakthrough for me.
With any luck, I've got one more week in the boot. Three weeks in the big scheme of things is a blip in the training and I will hopefully be on the road again logging miles soon. But this injury has been a great opportunity to test drive many of the things I've been working on in my wellness coaching - viewing obstacles as opportunities, not being a victim, appreciating the present moment, and treating myself well.
Maybe the boot's not so bad after all.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Working Out Becomes a Lifestyle Choice for This Former Couch Potato
I haven't posted in here in a while, and as I sat down to write this post, I wondered why. It's not like I haven't been busy with races and events. Since the big marathon in June, I've done: 1 5K, 1 10K, 1 12K, 1 half-marathon and two triathlons, one with an ocean swim (I'll talk more about that in a sec.).
So it's not like I did the marathon, collapsed back on the couch with a pint of Chubby Hubby and never looked back. And it's not like there haven't been challenges to share here. A visit to the medic tent after the half-marathon and a new injury that might be shin splints or might be a stress fracture. So there's plenty to share.
And then I realized why as I sat here on the sofa with ice on my shin, unable to run tonight.
Sitting on the couch and being a couch potato, even if forced by an injury, is not in my makeup anymore. There is nothing more I'd rather be doing tonight than running on a treadmill or on a path around the lake. I see hills...Hills!...and I wish I was able to run up them and work on my intervals. After all this time, my mindset has truly changed. I don't envision a time in my life when I'll ever give up on fitness again.
And this is why I agreed to do a sprint triathlon with an ocean swim with virtually no training.
About a month ago, I flew down to California to spend some time with my sisters. I had extended my trip for a few days longer than originally planned because I wanted to be there to cheer them on as they did the Carpinteria triathlon. My sister Nancy picked me up from the airport, and no sooner did we start driving up the 101 did she inform me that our friend Kerry had to back out of the triathlon due to a back injury, and there was a space for me to do it.
My first thought was that I hadn't been on a bike since the Danskin in August, and I'd never done an open water ocean swim, and oh by the way, aren't there sharks????? So I ducked it and said, "Love to, but I don't have a bike."
"We have an extra one you can use."
"And I don't have a wetsuit," I said.
"We have an extra one of those too."
"I've never trained in the ocean." I was grasping for anything at this point.
"We'll get you out there today if you want."
I was running out of excuses. "But there are sharks! I don't want to die!" As I said, I was grasping.
This mind shift to fitness as a lifestyle has been life changing, and I hope that I have good health late in life so I can continue taking on fitness challenges for a long time to come. I like the person I've become, the people that have come into my life because of it, and the much-needed confidence it has given to me.
Oh, and you'll be glad to know that I used my "reluctance" to do the triathlon and parlayed that into a challenge for my sister, Nancy. One that she reluctantly accepted.
I said, "Okay, I'll do your triathlon if you do the Napa Marathon with me in March." All of a sudden, me doing the tri didn't seem like such a good idea. And once I stepped foot in the ocean on the day of the tri, she knew she was committed.
Good thing she didn't know that I was gonna do the tri anyway with no convincing.
Next up: Training for Marathon #2: Applying Lessons Learned
So it's not like I did the marathon, collapsed back on the couch with a pint of Chubby Hubby and never looked back. And it's not like there haven't been challenges to share here. A visit to the medic tent after the half-marathon and a new injury that might be shin splints or might be a stress fracture. So there's plenty to share.
And then I realized why as I sat here on the sofa with ice on my shin, unable to run tonight.
Sitting on the couch and being a couch potato, even if forced by an injury, is not in my makeup anymore. There is nothing more I'd rather be doing tonight than running on a treadmill or on a path around the lake. I see hills...Hills!...and I wish I was able to run up them and work on my intervals. After all this time, my mindset has truly changed. I don't envision a time in my life when I'll ever give up on fitness again.
And this is why I agreed to do a sprint triathlon with an ocean swim with virtually no training.
About a month ago, I flew down to California to spend some time with my sisters. I had extended my trip for a few days longer than originally planned because I wanted to be there to cheer them on as they did the Carpinteria triathlon. My sister Nancy picked me up from the airport, and no sooner did we start driving up the 101 did she inform me that our friend Kerry had to back out of the triathlon due to a back injury, and there was a space for me to do it.
My first thought was that I hadn't been on a bike since the Danskin in August, and I'd never done an open water ocean swim, and oh by the way, aren't there sharks????? So I ducked it and said, "Love to, but I don't have a bike."
"We have an extra one you can use."
"And I don't have a wetsuit," I said.
"We have an extra one of those too."
"I've never trained in the ocean." I was grasping for anything at this point.
"We'll get you out there today if you want."
I was running out of excuses. "But there are sharks! I don't want to die!" As I said, I was grasping.But here's the thing, and my sisters don't even know this. Not only did I know I'd do it from the first minute she brought it up, I had actually planned my trip to stay and "cheer them on" in the hopes that maybe I could find a way to do it too. It didn't even dawn on me to not participate. I didn't really want to be on the sidelines. And that is such a huge mindset change from where I was when I started this fitness journey almost 10 years ago. I didn't finish with my fastest time, but it felt great to do it, and even better to share that experience with my sisters.
This mind shift to fitness as a lifestyle has been life changing, and I hope that I have good health late in life so I can continue taking on fitness challenges for a long time to come. I like the person I've become, the people that have come into my life because of it, and the much-needed confidence it has given to me.
Oh, and you'll be glad to know that I used my "reluctance" to do the triathlon and parlayed that into a challenge for my sister, Nancy. One that she reluctantly accepted.
I said, "Okay, I'll do your triathlon if you do the Napa Marathon with me in March." All of a sudden, me doing the tri didn't seem like such a good idea. And once I stepped foot in the ocean on the day of the tri, she knew she was committed.
Good thing she didn't know that I was gonna do the tri anyway with no convincing.
Next up: Training for Marathon #2: Applying Lessons Learned
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
You didn't think I'd stop there, did you?
It's been almost 2 months since I finished the marathon. Since then:
- I officially lost one toenail
- I've started training for my sprint triathlon and, due to the horribly cold summer in Seattle, have only managed two open water swims
- I've gotten back on my bike, but haven't done enough riding
- I've run here and there, but nothing over 5k
In other words, a little bit of a marathon letdown. I thought that once I completed a marathon, I'd be so strong that training for the sprint triathlon I always do will be a piece of cake. But what happened is that I've lost the motivation I had.
I never thought I'd say this, but I miss training for the marathon. I miss the strategy sessions with my training buddies, the long weekend runs that I always dreaded, the aches and pains that came with those long runs, shopping for the right electrolyte powders and gels, and mostly, anticipating the big event.
I'm finally starting to kick the triathlon training into gear and getting myself motivated for the Danskin. But I still needed something else, something to look forward to, another challenge.
A brief Internet search turned up the answer. The Napa Valley Marathon. March 4th, 2012. Yep, I'm gonna do this again. Janna too. And we've already got some new recruits.
Sasha, my dear friend who has already signed up and is researching fabulous accommodations for us. Cindy, another fabulous friend, who was convinced to join us by Janna on a train ride to Portland (and hasn't quite committed yet, but maybe this will convince her). Amber, my amazing friend who just did her first half marathon in Missoula in July, and immediately declared herself 80% ready to join us. And if I can convince her, my beautiful sister Nancy, whose birthday is the day after the marathon (what better way to celebrate?).
Training starts in November. To prepare, I'll be doing the Oregon Wine Half Marathon in September. A perfect kickoff as it includes both running and wine.
And this time, I will be putting more focus on technique, injury prevention and nutrition, and I'll be blogging about what I learn as I go. My goal this time is to finish with a better time than last time, and my BHAG is to slice 45 minutes off my Edge to Edge time.
So stay tuned for more of the couch potato marathon blog. Here we go again.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
- I officially lost one toenail
- I've started training for my sprint triathlon and, due to the horribly cold summer in Seattle, have only managed two open water swims
- I've gotten back on my bike, but haven't done enough riding
- I've run here and there, but nothing over 5k
In other words, a little bit of a marathon letdown. I thought that once I completed a marathon, I'd be so strong that training for the sprint triathlon I always do will be a piece of cake. But what happened is that I've lost the motivation I had.
I never thought I'd say this, but I miss training for the marathon. I miss the strategy sessions with my training buddies, the long weekend runs that I always dreaded, the aches and pains that came with those long runs, shopping for the right electrolyte powders and gels, and mostly, anticipating the big event.
I'm finally starting to kick the triathlon training into gear and getting myself motivated for the Danskin. But I still needed something else, something to look forward to, another challenge.
A brief Internet search turned up the answer. The Napa Valley Marathon. March 4th, 2012. Yep, I'm gonna do this again. Janna too. And we've already got some new recruits.
Sasha, my dear friend who has already signed up and is researching fabulous accommodations for us. Cindy, another fabulous friend, who was convinced to join us by Janna on a train ride to Portland (and hasn't quite committed yet, but maybe this will convince her). Amber, my amazing friend who just did her first half marathon in Missoula in July, and immediately declared herself 80% ready to join us. And if I can convince her, my beautiful sister Nancy, whose birthday is the day after the marathon (what better way to celebrate?).
Training starts in November. To prepare, I'll be doing the Oregon Wine Half Marathon in September. A perfect kickoff as it includes both running and wine.
And this time, I will be putting more focus on technique, injury prevention and nutrition, and I'll be blogging about what I learn as I go. My goal this time is to finish with a better time than last time, and my BHAG is to slice 45 minutes off my Edge to Edge time.
So stay tuned for more of the couch potato marathon blog. Here we go again.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, June 24, 2011
Last...But Not Least by a Long Shot
My marathon, the Edge to Edge Marathon from Tofino to Ucluelet, was June 12th. In some ways, that seems like so long ago. In others, I can still feel the fatigue in my legs as if I just crossed the finish line. This is my attempt to recap the experience, from the emotions to the physical challenges I faced throughout. As I learned well, the two things are inextricably linked.
Pre-Marathon - Preparing for the Battle
The alarm went off at 5:15, but I was wide awake by then. I always have a fear of oversleeping for really important events, and that fact alone usually wakes me up a half and hour prematurely. Combine that with the sheer terror I was feeling, and I was wide awake by the time it started to get light at 4:30. Of course, waking up to the pacific ocean isn't so bad.
I started drinking one of my water bottles I had prepared with my GU Brew because I knew that eating anything would probably be difficult given my extremely nervous stomach. I did manage half a banana and about 1/8 of a multigrain bagel with peanut butter, but even that was a struggle. Janna, my roommate for this adventure, was just excited, not nervous. She's one of these people who doesn't get nervous for these races like I do, but on this morning, her excitement wasn't rubbing off on me.
I can't even really tell you why I was so nervous. I certainly wasn't competing to win. I was only really competing with myself, with my mind. Maybe that's why I was so nervous. I wasn't sure it was a competition I'd win. I also didn't want to finish last, and in a marathon with only 150 people, there was a better than even chance I might.
6:15 - Waiting for the Bus to Tofino
There were six of us outside the BlackRockResort waiting for the bus. Mea, Tara, Janna and me, and two men who must have thought we were crazy. Let me explain. As I mentioned above, I was nervous. And during the course of the trip, we discovered a little song/video that sort of became the trip mascot. In order to relieve the tension, I decided to play our song and got us all dancing. At 6:15 in the morning. To Baby Monkey.
7:30 - Start Time for the Slow People, but Where is the Start Line?
So we arrive in Tofino, and there are a handful of people around, but I'm not really seeing a start line or any evidence that a marathon is about to take place. Now to be fair, I was starting in the unofficial early wave start, but I expected there to at least be a start line.
Finally, we saw a lady with a clipboard and a pace car, and we knew we were in the right place. And then we saw the start line, before
And after.
Time to get this party started. On island time, of course.
Miles 1-5 - Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me Where to Turn?
So the horn goes off, and I take off with about 25 other early bird runners and walkers. I get off to a good start and am planning to follow my "run a mile, walk a minute" plan. But I'm slow, and soon, I'm at the back of the pack with about 5 others. This is nothing new for me. I run at a pretty slow pace normally, and with having to go 26.2 miles, I'm definitely pacing myself.
Now, the Edge to Edge marathon is an open course, meaning you share the road with cars. This isn't a big deal leaving Tofino because there is a bike path we ran on. It's also not incredibly well marked at this point because a) we're starting at 7:30, and as evidenced with the start line, they're not quite set up yet, and b) it's Tofino, which gives laid back a whole new meaning.
I don't know the course, but I know that at some point, I make a turn onto the beach. I just wasn't sure where that was, and with some turns in the road, there wasn't really anyone in front of me to watch where they go. So I jog on, figuring there would be a person or a sign. And I was right. There was a person. Unfortunately for me, he drove after me, stopping me about 1/2 kilometer past the beach turn, telling me I needed to turn back.
Yes, I went 1K out of my way. It was pretty discouraging, but that feeling soon went away when I got to the beach and was running along the surf. I didn't get my camera out to capture the moment, but luckily for me, Janna and Mea did.
Miles 6-12 - The Lonely Open Road
Running on the beach was definitely the highlight of the marathon. Unfortunately, it wasn't a long enough stretch, and soon we were back on the road where most of the run takes place, the road between Tofino and Ucluelet. And it was long. There were aid stations about every 2 miles, and it took me until the final aid station to realize they were all themed. The volunteers were all really great and put a lot of work in. A big thank you to them.
It was about mile 8 that the fast people from the 8:30 start time began to catch up to me, but until then, there were times when I couldn't see anyone in front of me. It was a little weird. This was also the point that the bear warning started to dance around in my head. Were they in the forest along the side of the road? Were there other animals? Hey, it kept my mind occupied.
At about mile 11, Janna and Mea had caught up to me. They were going strong.
We spent a couple of minutes jogging and talking, but soon they were off. But not before they gave me encouragement in the promise of much beer at the end. It definitely kept me going.
Somewhere Between Mile 12 and 13 - Heartbreak
About 10 minutes after Janna and Mea ran off, I approached the next aid station, and I saw a welcome face, but not welcome under the circumstances. It was Tara, and she had her knee brace hanging off her right knee. I was at first surprised to see her because when we started at 7:30, she took off and I lost sight of her quickly. I had figured she was at least a mile ahead, and it took a minute for it to dawn on me that seeing her here wasn't good news. And I was right.
She started to have knee pain around mile two and bravely continued running for another 10 miles! By mile 10, the pain in her knee had become unbearable, and by the time she got to the aid station we were at, she had to stop and end her marathon early. She put on such a brave face when I saw her, but I could see and feel how disappointed she was. I stayed and talked to her for about 10 minutes, and then I had to continue on. It was really hard to leave her there, and I kind of knew at that moment that this wasn't going to be my last marathon. Between Holly's knee that kept her from even starting and Tara's injury, we still had 2 team members to get through a marathon. Edge to Edge 2012, here we come.
Mile 13 - 20 - Let the Mind Games Begin and the Second Wind
Miles 13 to 17 could also be called the dead zone. You're over halfway, so that's promising. But it took me more than 3 hours to get to that point, so I knew I had another 3 hours at least to go. That is not a pleasant thought. My legs are already feeling fatigued, and I just left one of my friends who couldn't finish. This was probably when my confidence was lowest. I just had so far to go, and I was running on the fumes of GU Brew, Powerade and water.
After 18 miles of running and walking on a nearly empty stomach, the last thing I expected was a burst of energy. But it happened. After about a steady 30 minutes of walking, I suddenly felt ready to run again. And at this point, it becomes a mental game more than a physical one. I knew I had some energy to run, so I started to. But I was afraid to hit a wall I just knew was coming, so I played mind games to get me through. Run until the next car comes. Run to the next beach turnoff sign. Run to the next water station. Anything to keep myself running.
Mile 20 - 23 - Where Did All These Fu#%ing Hills Come From?
Ahh...the home stretch. The road to Ucluelet. It won't be long now. Except...what the hell is this? Hills? At the 20 mile mark? Whose idea of a bad joke is this?
At this point, it's me, an injured couple and a woman in a red jog bra. We're all in close enough proximity that I can hear faint conversation from the couple, and the woman in red isn't too far in front of me. Like me, she's walking up the hills and running down. So I'm pacing her pretty well. Until I summit one hill, and I see her at the bottom, thumb out, looking for a ride. Is that an option? I mean, I know this is my first marathon, so I don't know all the rules, but I'm pretty sure hitchhiking to the finish is frowned upon. I don't know for sure that she ever got a ride, but I do know that after the next hill, I never saw her again.
Mile 23 - Tears
There it was. The only 5K to go water station. Just to be sure, I asked the wonderful volunteers at the peace themed water station how much further. "Only 5k to go!" I drank my water and a cup of Powerade and continued on, and then it hit me. Only 5k to go. I can do that! How many 5k's have I done? Piece of cake. And then tears. A few at first, and then they started flowing. It was the first moment I knew for sure that I'd finish. I was going to do this, and all the training and effort was worth it. And given the injuries that hit two of my friends, it was never a foregone conclusion that I would finish. Until that moment. And I jogged and cried. At least until I got to the next hill.
Mile 24-25.5 - More Fu#%ing Hills?
Now I'm officially in Ucluelet, and more rolling hills. Seriously, for the last 6 miles. Rolling hills doesn't sound bad in theory. I mean, what goes up must come down, right? But by this point, going uphill makes every muscle in my legs burn, and going downhill, I can feel each toenail pressing against the front of my shoe, separating from my toes with each stride downhill. I had vaguely heard of this losing toenails thing, but it wasn't on my list of pre-race concerns. Maybe it should have been.
Mile 25.5-26.1 - Where is the Damn Finish Line?
About this time, I'm beginning to wonder how big Ucluelet really is and if they're going to make me run through all of it. I mean, I entered the town about a mile ago, and I just didn't remember there being this many side streets. Every time I saw someone and asked how much further, it was just one more kilometer, then 500 meters. Will this thing never end?????
Mile 26.1-26.2 - The Finish Line, All My Friends, and the Sprint to the Finish
Now I'm headed down hill, and I can see it. The finish line. And because there isn't really anyone left out there with me (not sure if the hitchhiker finished or not), I can start to hear my friends before I see them because they can see me. It was one of the coolest feelings I've ever had. I felt this surge of energy (a combination hearing my friends cheer me on and my overwhelmingly intense desire to be done with this thing), and I started to sprint! Seriously!
And finally, after 6 hours and 45 minutes, I crossed that finish line. My first words? "THANK CHRIST THAT'S OVER!" That made a couple people at the end chuckle. Next, a medal, and then hugs from all my friends, my support, the people that got me through this. Janna told me when I sprinted across the finish line, it made her cry. It makes me cry just to type that, to know what great friends and great support I have.
After lunch, a nice hot shower and much wine, it was time to bask in the accomplishment and tend to the sore muscles. And to celebrate what an amazing experience the whole thing was. Not just the run, but the training, the injuries, the strategy dinners, the email chains about which anti-inflammatories work best, the post-training beers, the pep talks, the physical therapy, the friendship and the support.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, I finished 126 of 126. There were a couple of people who crossed the finish line after me, but they were either from the 8:30 start time or relay people. I was dead freaking last. And I've never been prouder of myself.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Pre-Marathon - Preparing for the Battle
The alarm went off at 5:15, but I was wide awake by then. I always have a fear of oversleeping for really important events, and that fact alone usually wakes me up a half and hour prematurely. Combine that with the sheer terror I was feeling, and I was wide awake by the time it started to get light at 4:30. Of course, waking up to the pacific ocean isn't so bad.
I started drinking one of my water bottles I had prepared with my GU Brew because I knew that eating anything would probably be difficult given my extremely nervous stomach. I did manage half a banana and about 1/8 of a multigrain bagel with peanut butter, but even that was a struggle. Janna, my roommate for this adventure, was just excited, not nervous. She's one of these people who doesn't get nervous for these races like I do, but on this morning, her excitement wasn't rubbing off on me.
I can't even really tell you why I was so nervous. I certainly wasn't competing to win. I was only really competing with myself, with my mind. Maybe that's why I was so nervous. I wasn't sure it was a competition I'd win. I also didn't want to finish last, and in a marathon with only 150 people, there was a better than even chance I might.
6:15 - Waiting for the Bus to Tofino
There were six of us outside the BlackRockResort waiting for the bus. Mea, Tara, Janna and me, and two men who must have thought we were crazy. Let me explain. As I mentioned above, I was nervous. And during the course of the trip, we discovered a little song/video that sort of became the trip mascot. In order to relieve the tension, I decided to play our song and got us all dancing. At 6:15 in the morning. To Baby Monkey.
7:30 - Start Time for the Slow People, but Where is the Start Line?
So we arrive in Tofino, and there are a handful of people around, but I'm not really seeing a start line or any evidence that a marathon is about to take place. Now to be fair, I was starting in the unofficial early wave start, but I expected there to at least be a start line.
Finally, we saw a lady with a clipboard and a pace car, and we knew we were in the right place. And then we saw the start line, before
And after.
Time to get this party started. On island time, of course.
Miles 1-5 - Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me Where to Turn?
So the horn goes off, and I take off with about 25 other early bird runners and walkers. I get off to a good start and am planning to follow my "run a mile, walk a minute" plan. But I'm slow, and soon, I'm at the back of the pack with about 5 others. This is nothing new for me. I run at a pretty slow pace normally, and with having to go 26.2 miles, I'm definitely pacing myself.
Now, the Edge to Edge marathon is an open course, meaning you share the road with cars. This isn't a big deal leaving Tofino because there is a bike path we ran on. It's also not incredibly well marked at this point because a) we're starting at 7:30, and as evidenced with the start line, they're not quite set up yet, and b) it's Tofino, which gives laid back a whole new meaning.
I don't know the course, but I know that at some point, I make a turn onto the beach. I just wasn't sure where that was, and with some turns in the road, there wasn't really anyone in front of me to watch where they go. So I jog on, figuring there would be a person or a sign. And I was right. There was a person. Unfortunately for me, he drove after me, stopping me about 1/2 kilometer past the beach turn, telling me I needed to turn back.
Yes, I went 1K out of my way. It was pretty discouraging, but that feeling soon went away when I got to the beach and was running along the surf. I didn't get my camera out to capture the moment, but luckily for me, Janna and Mea did.
Miles 6-12 - The Lonely Open Road
Running on the beach was definitely the highlight of the marathon. Unfortunately, it wasn't a long enough stretch, and soon we were back on the road where most of the run takes place, the road between Tofino and Ucluelet. And it was long. There were aid stations about every 2 miles, and it took me until the final aid station to realize they were all themed. The volunteers were all really great and put a lot of work in. A big thank you to them.
It was about mile 8 that the fast people from the 8:30 start time began to catch up to me, but until then, there were times when I couldn't see anyone in front of me. It was a little weird. This was also the point that the bear warning started to dance around in my head. Were they in the forest along the side of the road? Were there other animals? Hey, it kept my mind occupied.
At about mile 11, Janna and Mea had caught up to me. They were going strong.
We spent a couple of minutes jogging and talking, but soon they were off. But not before they gave me encouragement in the promise of much beer at the end. It definitely kept me going.
Somewhere Between Mile 12 and 13 - Heartbreak
About 10 minutes after Janna and Mea ran off, I approached the next aid station, and I saw a welcome face, but not welcome under the circumstances. It was Tara, and she had her knee brace hanging off her right knee. I was at first surprised to see her because when we started at 7:30, she took off and I lost sight of her quickly. I had figured she was at least a mile ahead, and it took a minute for it to dawn on me that seeing her here wasn't good news. And I was right.
She started to have knee pain around mile two and bravely continued running for another 10 miles! By mile 10, the pain in her knee had become unbearable, and by the time she got to the aid station we were at, she had to stop and end her marathon early. She put on such a brave face when I saw her, but I could see and feel how disappointed she was. I stayed and talked to her for about 10 minutes, and then I had to continue on. It was really hard to leave her there, and I kind of knew at that moment that this wasn't going to be my last marathon. Between Holly's knee that kept her from even starting and Tara's injury, we still had 2 team members to get through a marathon. Edge to Edge 2012, here we come.
Mile 13 - 20 - Let the Mind Games Begin and the Second Wind
Miles 13 to 17 could also be called the dead zone. You're over halfway, so that's promising. But it took me more than 3 hours to get to that point, so I knew I had another 3 hours at least to go. That is not a pleasant thought. My legs are already feeling fatigued, and I just left one of my friends who couldn't finish. This was probably when my confidence was lowest. I just had so far to go, and I was running on the fumes of GU Brew, Powerade and water.
After 18 miles of running and walking on a nearly empty stomach, the last thing I expected was a burst of energy. But it happened. After about a steady 30 minutes of walking, I suddenly felt ready to run again. And at this point, it becomes a mental game more than a physical one. I knew I had some energy to run, so I started to. But I was afraid to hit a wall I just knew was coming, so I played mind games to get me through. Run until the next car comes. Run to the next beach turnoff sign. Run to the next water station. Anything to keep myself running.
Mile 20 - 23 - Where Did All These Fu#%ing Hills Come From?
Ahh...the home stretch. The road to Ucluelet. It won't be long now. Except...what the hell is this? Hills? At the 20 mile mark? Whose idea of a bad joke is this?
At this point, it's me, an injured couple and a woman in a red jog bra. We're all in close enough proximity that I can hear faint conversation from the couple, and the woman in red isn't too far in front of me. Like me, she's walking up the hills and running down. So I'm pacing her pretty well. Until I summit one hill, and I see her at the bottom, thumb out, looking for a ride. Is that an option? I mean, I know this is my first marathon, so I don't know all the rules, but I'm pretty sure hitchhiking to the finish is frowned upon. I don't know for sure that she ever got a ride, but I do know that after the next hill, I never saw her again.
Mile 23 - Tears
There it was. The only 5K to go water station. Just to be sure, I asked the wonderful volunteers at the peace themed water station how much further. "Only 5k to go!" I drank my water and a cup of Powerade and continued on, and then it hit me. Only 5k to go. I can do that! How many 5k's have I done? Piece of cake. And then tears. A few at first, and then they started flowing. It was the first moment I knew for sure that I'd finish. I was going to do this, and all the training and effort was worth it. And given the injuries that hit two of my friends, it was never a foregone conclusion that I would finish. Until that moment. And I jogged and cried. At least until I got to the next hill.
Mile 24-25.5 - More Fu#%ing Hills?
Now I'm officially in Ucluelet, and more rolling hills. Seriously, for the last 6 miles. Rolling hills doesn't sound bad in theory. I mean, what goes up must come down, right? But by this point, going uphill makes every muscle in my legs burn, and going downhill, I can feel each toenail pressing against the front of my shoe, separating from my toes with each stride downhill. I had vaguely heard of this losing toenails thing, but it wasn't on my list of pre-race concerns. Maybe it should have been.
Mile 25.5-26.1 - Where is the Damn Finish Line?
About this time, I'm beginning to wonder how big Ucluelet really is and if they're going to make me run through all of it. I mean, I entered the town about a mile ago, and I just didn't remember there being this many side streets. Every time I saw someone and asked how much further, it was just one more kilometer, then 500 meters. Will this thing never end?????
Mile 26.1-26.2 - The Finish Line, All My Friends, and the Sprint to the Finish
Now I'm headed down hill, and I can see it. The finish line. And because there isn't really anyone left out there with me (not sure if the hitchhiker finished or not), I can start to hear my friends before I see them because they can see me. It was one of the coolest feelings I've ever had. I felt this surge of energy (a combination hearing my friends cheer me on and my overwhelmingly intense desire to be done with this thing), and I started to sprint! Seriously!
And finally, after 6 hours and 45 minutes, I crossed that finish line. My first words? "THANK CHRIST THAT'S OVER!" That made a couple people at the end chuckle. Next, a medal, and then hugs from all my friends, my support, the people that got me through this. Janna told me when I sprinted across the finish line, it made her cry. It makes me cry just to type that, to know what great friends and great support I have.
After lunch, a nice hot shower and much wine, it was time to bask in the accomplishment and tend to the sore muscles. And to celebrate what an amazing experience the whole thing was. Not just the run, but the training, the injuries, the strategy dinners, the email chains about which anti-inflammatories work best, the post-training beers, the pep talks, the physical therapy, the friendship and the support.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, I finished 126 of 126. There were a couple of people who crossed the finish line after me, but they were either from the 8:30 start time or relay people. I was dead freaking last. And I've never been prouder of myself.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A Shout Out to my Four Marathon Partners
Well, it's over. I did it. And I'll talk about more about the particulars in an upcoming blog.
But first, I wanted to talk a little about the amazing women that took this journey with me. I never would have crossed the finish line if it weren't for the things that each of them gave me on this journey.
First, Tara. You are the reason we are all here this weekend. If it wasn't for you and that damned article in Northwest Runners magazine (and too much wine), none of us would have even dreamed of attempting this. You are my shopping, travel and now running inspiration, and I promise to come back and do it again with you next year. But next time, we'll run together because my best training runs were when you were there pushing me.
Holly, you are such a super stud runner that the only reason you were held back this weekend is that you are so fast, it takes the messages from your body time to catch up. So many times through this, you encouraged me when I was injured, sick or just frustrated at how slow I was. And your friendship has been invaluable to me. As I said to Tara, we will all come back and do this again next year. I promise.
Mea, you are such a supportive friend. You made me believe I could actually do this, and you seem to think I can do more, but we'll discuss that later. :-) I'm so glad we've gotten to know each other so much better through this, and I might let you talk me into an olympic marathon, but we'll wait and see. ;-)
Janna, your positive outlook on everything is so infectious and inspires me, not just with running, but in life. Knowing that you are in for adventures like this encourages me to do things I might not do without you. I'm so proud of how you overcame so much to rock this marathon, even wearing bright pink socks to get it done. I am so looking forward to our next adventure together (as long as there's wine).
To all of you, from the decision to do this, to commiserating over our various injuries to all our training runs and subsequent celebrations, this has been one of the best experiences of my life. 2012 Edge to Edge, here we come.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
But first, I wanted to talk a little about the amazing women that took this journey with me. I never would have crossed the finish line if it weren't for the things that each of them gave me on this journey.
First, Tara. You are the reason we are all here this weekend. If it wasn't for you and that damned article in Northwest Runners magazine (and too much wine), none of us would have even dreamed of attempting this. You are my shopping, travel and now running inspiration, and I promise to come back and do it again with you next year. But next time, we'll run together because my best training runs were when you were there pushing me.
Holly, you are such a super stud runner that the only reason you were held back this weekend is that you are so fast, it takes the messages from your body time to catch up. So many times through this, you encouraged me when I was injured, sick or just frustrated at how slow I was. And your friendship has been invaluable to me. As I said to Tara, we will all come back and do this again next year. I promise.
Mea, you are such a supportive friend. You made me believe I could actually do this, and you seem to think I can do more, but we'll discuss that later. :-) I'm so glad we've gotten to know each other so much better through this, and I might let you talk me into an olympic marathon, but we'll wait and see. ;-)
Janna, your positive outlook on everything is so infectious and inspires me, not just with running, but in life. Knowing that you are in for adventures like this encourages me to do things I might not do without you. I'm so proud of how you overcame so much to rock this marathon, even wearing bright pink socks to get it done. I am so looking forward to our next adventure together (as long as there's wine).
To all of you, from the decision to do this, to commiserating over our various injuries to all our training runs and subsequent celebrations, this has been one of the best experiences of my life. 2012 Edge to Edge, here we come.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)