Your Girlfriend's Guide to Marathoning

2008 Twin Cities Marathon

2008-10-08T04:53:00.000-07:00

by Maureen

The day did not start off well. As my family and I pulled out of our garage it began to rain. We stopped at Starbucks so my daughter and I could get our favorite drinks. I don’t normally drink coffee and only drink Caramel Macchiato occasionally but so many people talk about staying off coffee the week/month before a marathon I thought I’d try it to see if it’d give me an extra boost – anything for a better finishing time right? It began to really pour down rain while we were in Starbucks. I was beginning to dread running the marathon since the weather guys had all been saying the rain was probably going to hold off until the afternoon and here it was 6:30 a.m. and already raining like crazy.
The marathon began at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The backup of cars wasn’t too bad but I decided to get out of the car anyway and walk. It was good I did as the area where I got out was right in front of Gate C, the starting area for the marathon. I was supposed to meet my training group at 7:00 a.m. I went in and saw a bunch of the group standing around but wanted to go to the bathroom so headed to the closest one. My favorite part about starting off at the Metrodome is we could use regular bathrooms inside and not have to use port-a-potties. Of course, there was a very long line. I went downstairs instead and there was only one person in front of me at the downstairs bathroom. I had placed my bib on my shirt but decided to move it to my shorts as it seemed to make my shirt ride up and it was harder to get my shirt back in place with my bib on it. I was standing in front of the sink by the exit door to the restroom so I could check in the mirror that my number was visible on my shorts. All of a sudden someone sprinted in the exit door and into the stall straight ahead of the door. IT WAS A MAN!!! I couldn’t believe it. I looked around to double check that I was really in the women’s restroom. A minute or so later he sprinted out and two women standing at the door said, “Was that a man?” They had funny looks on their faces. I told them, “Yep, that was a man” and they said there was a very long line at the men’s restroom. Very odd since it’s always women’s restrooms with long lines. I then had to go all the way back outside to drop off my sweats bag. When I went back into the Metrodome my group had already left to go out to the start line. I tried to find them near the 4:30 pace group but couldn’t. I was disappointed I wasn’t able to start off with my group but hoped I’d run into some of them along the way.
The Twin Cities allows 11,000 people to register for the marathon and has two start Corrals. Corral 1 I think is for the sub-3 hour runners and everybody else is in Corral 2. When the start gun went off it took over 5 minutes for me to cross the start line. It was 48 degrees at the start and had stopped raining. I wore the tank top from my training group and a throw-away sweatshirt since it was so chilly. As we left the start line we were in the downtown area with office buildings and businesses along the course, so not very many spectators. I began to warm up quickly and decided to take off my sweatshirt. Just as I did I saw a couple and the man picked up a discarded shirt and was showing it to the woman. I tossed my shirt near him and kept running. I looked back and the man had picked up my shirt and had a big smile on his face. It was a really good sweatshirt but way too big for me, especially since I’ve lost a lot of weight with all this running. I hope he was able to use it. I kept on the running gloves I had picked up at the expo for free. I knew I’d be in trouble if my fingers got cold.
Not far past this point I could hear the bells of the Basilica of St. Mary ringing. This church is America’s first basilica, built in 1914, and as you can imagine, a huge, beautiful old church. The bells were very loud as I ran passed the church and there were a bunch of people in front of the church cheering for us. It was great the church had the bells ringing for all us runners.
Just past this area we turned left and there was a line of port-a-potties. It’s also a park and about 15 or so guys were using the bathroom at the edge of the park. Disgusting! I noticed as I came around the corner the police officer manning the corner had what looked like a video camera out and had it pointed toward the men. I hope they get fined for urinating in public. It’s absolutely disgusting they didn’t even bother to go up into the trees/bushes. Plus, they are at mile 1 – why didn’t they go at the Metrodome??!! Plus the port-a-potties didn’t even have that long of a line. This is the only thing that’s been bugging me about this race.
We are now at about mile 1. I’m lucky that my training group did the majority of our runs on the actual course so I was ready for the first hill coming up shortly. I knew it would be best to hold back and not push it. It was also very congested so it wouldn’t have done any good for me to try to weave in and out of people as I probably would have twisted my knee or something trying to get around everyone. I had made the decision to run/walk the first 2 miles to keep myself at a slow pace as we should do. It was still congested so I kept doing the run/walk for another half mile and then felt like I was okay to pick up the pace. Unfortunately, it was now also raining again. When we arrived at the first lake, Lake of the Isles, I jumped over onto the walking path with some other people to get out of the congestion. From Lake of the Isles we ran to Lake Calhoun. The wind had picked up by now with the rain and it was really blowing off the lake. We were now beginning to see a bunch of spectators. There were a small amount of spectators on the lake side of the street. A man running near me was yelling at the people thanking them for blocking the wind for us and yelling at the people on the opposite side to move over and help block the wind. He was hilarious. I love people like him joking around with the spectators.
After Lake Calhoun we went up a parkway with another hill and over to Lake Harriet. A man was warning people about a deep pot hole filled with water just ahead. I’d managed to avoid the deep puddles so far and was glad I heard him in time to avoid the pot hole. Unfortunately, just past him we turned left and this area is a slight uphill which meant all the water was flowing completely across the roadway and there was no way to avoid the water. I could feel my socks get really soaking wet. This was at about mile 6.5 and I just gave up trying to avoid the water now. I was lucky enough to know my husband was waiting for me at mile 14 with a dry pair of shoes and socks.
Just past mile 8 I stopped at a port-a-potty since the line was not very long. Just my luck though when I got to be the second person in line it took forever for the people to do there “stuff” and keep the line moving. This wasted time for me. I almost just got out of line but figured I might have the same problem at the next set of port-a-potties so just waited it out. While standing in line the rain was flowing off my hat.
I don’t remember exactly where along the course but I noticed as I was breathing white smoke was coming out of my mouth, it was that cold. I looked around and it was happening to other people too. Hard to miss with all the heavy breathers running along beside me.
I eventually made my way to Lake Nokomis, miles 11-13. Going across the bridge was a bit windy. Thank goodness it finally stopped raining. I’m sure I ran in the rain for about and hour and a half. When we got off the bridge there were once again a lot of spectators. I was in awe that so many people were standing out in the cold rain just to cheer for all of us.
I’m now getting close to mile 14 and there were even more spectators along this section. I began looking for the Milo donut/bakery shop since my husband and daughter were going to be just past this building. Thank goodness I knew where they were going to be or I’m sure I would have missed them among all the spectators. I stopped and they helped me get out of my soaking wet shoes and socks, dry my feet off, put Vaseline on to prevent blisters, and switch my timing chip to the dry pair of shoes. I had stuck a note to the dry shoes saying “chip” so I wouldn’t forget the timing chip. Wouldn’t that be awful if I’d forgotten my chip! This took at least 5 minutes but I think it was worth it as I didn’t get one blister. My husband had my favorite energy drink so I drank a bit of it and took my Ziploc bag of orange slices and ate them while running. I also took six mellowcreme pumpkins in a Ziploc bag that my husband folded over on my waistband so I’d have my sugar rush after mile 20. That worked well. Three of the pumpkins were on the inside and three were on the outside so it was balanced out and didn’t bounce as I ran -- something to think about if you don’t have pockets. I had Kleenex (bad allergies) and Gu in my one pocket and didn’t have room for the pumpkins.
Just past mile 15 we began running along the Mississippi River. There were people handing out bananas and I took one. There were not very many spectators along this part of the course but I couldn’t believe that I could hear the spectators on the OTHER SIDE of the River. Unbelievable, it’s a wide river. I got excited hearing spectators cheering on the other side. I made my way up and over the Franklin St. bridge (mile 19) and started down the other side of the river. As I came around the corner at the end of the bridge there was a big sign saying “Medtronics” – one of the big sponsors of the marathon – and once again a big group of spectators. Along this section the funny man who kept joking around with the spectators earlier in the race was running near me again. We ran close to the same pace for awhile and I enjoyed listening to all the funny things he had to say to the spectators.
I knew I was running a good pace but kept thinking about the fact that the “big hill” was just ahead at about mile 21. Finally I heard one of the people from my training group calling out my name. We ran together for a little while and she told me the group had actually started out behind me as they were just in front of the 4:45 pacer at the start line and I was lined up at the 4:30 pacer. At the next water stop she got ahead of me. We were getting close to the “big hill” I was dreading. Going up the hill she started walking and I caught up to her and told her I was thinking of all the things a previous coach of ours had taught us about running up hills and I told her I had the coach “in my head” getting me up the hill. She started running up the hill again and thanked me for helping her through it. It made me feel good to be able to help her.
Once you’re up the hill you round the corner and are at the University of St. Thomas and then finally on Summit Ave. THIS IS WHERE THE MARATHON REALLY STARTS. I was now at about mile 21 ½ along with thousands of spectators lining the street. Summit Ave. is a very long but gradual hill that seemed to take forever in training whenever I ran it. On race day there are so many spectators along Summit that it doesn’t even seem like the same street -- there are people the entire 5 miles to the finish line cheering for every single runner.
At mile 23 I felt like I had to try to speed up and kick it in to the finish line. It was really hard as I was getting tired and my legs were really feeling it. I knew if I kept up my pace though I’d be close to a 4:30 marathon and I was still in awe of that fact. I began my training hoping for a 4:45, so I was really motivated to keep going. My training buddy fell behind me just a little bit, but another person from my training group now caught up with me. That helped me to pick up the pace a little, but he got ahead of me.
Somewhere around mile 24 one of the three coaches from my training group and his group of friends were screaming out my name. It was so awesome to hear my name being yelled out over all the noise of the spectators! That put a little spring in my run.
I knew I was getting close to mile 25 which is where the Target tunnel is located. Target is a big sponsor of the marathon also. They have a tunnel you run through with music blaring. I knew once I got through the tunnel I’d be able to see the curve a little ways up, which meant I was almost to Cathedral Hill. You wouldn’t think the spectators could get any louder but I began to hear the spectators at the finish area and you can’t even see them yet!!!
Cathedral Hill is the downhill, FINAL portion of the course where you run past the massive Cathedral of St. Paul. As you come around the corner and see the Cathedral rise up in front of you, you know you’ve made it. As you come down the hill the spectators are so loud, you just can’t imagine how loud they are at this point. I found out later that night another one of my coaches was across from the Cathedral with a group of people including his brother taking pictures. He said they were yelling my name but I didn’t hear them. He says his brother got an awesome picture of me with the Cathedral in the background. I sure hope so and can’t wait for him to download the pictures. Another person from my regular run club also said he saw me at the Cathedral and I looked strong. I didn’t hear him yelling out to me either. Wow!
Now that I rounded the Cathedral the Finish Line is straight ahead, with people still lining the course, and you can see the State Capitol building just beyond the Finish Line. My husband and daughter were just before the Finish Line but once again I couldn’t hear them calling out my name it was so loud and I never saw them. My husband did get some pictures of me coming into the finish. I picked up my speed as best as I could and finished the marathon in 4:33:39. Not bad for someone who just got back into running two years ago.
At the Finish Line I was given my medal. Later when I looked at the medal it’s funny that it looks like a big rain drop after all the rain we had to run through. I was also given a warming blanket and a piece of tape to keep it closed so my hands would be free. I was glad to have the blanket as I knew I was going to start getting cold very quickly now that I was not running anymore. It was in the 50s when I finished. They had bottled water, delicious rolls from Great Harvest Bread Co., bananas, Land O Lakes chocolate milk, and believe it or not, hot soup – I got the chicken soup. I then had my chip removed and went over to have my picture taken with my medal. As we were leaving, a runner proposed to his girlfriend at the Finish Line as they crossed the finish. It was so romantic.
I can’t say enough about the awesome spectators at this race. THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of people stood out in the cold rain and cheered for us. As I was coming into the finish I felt like an elite runner so many people were cheering. Every one of you should add this to your “soon to do” marathons so you can have as great a marathon as I had, even in the pouring down rain.

Great Eastern Endurance Run

2008-10-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

By SuSu

Well, let’s just say I’m just on cloud nine over how well the race went on Saturday. I think back that at the end of May 2007, I weighed over 270 pounds and could barely walk, much less run. Now, less than a year and a half later, I’m 137 pounds lighter and just finished my first half-marathon trail race. But, not only finished, I won my age division, was the 6th female to cross the finish line and the 19th overall finisher (It was a small race – 85 signed up, 62 started the race, 56 finished). This journey has been one of growth, of transformation, and of empowering. What I knew in my head, I now believe in my heart that the human spirit has the potential to overcome any obstacle, and to achieve any goal, strengthened by God and the power of prayer, and the will and dedication to succeed.

Race Details: Friday, after picking up the popup camper (the electrical system needed repairing), my DD and I headed down to Sherando Lake. It was a rainy two hour drive. Once we got to the park, we found out that there were only 3 or 4 campsites left. Good thing we didn’t have any delays! We got the last site in the loop we wanted to camp in, set up and headed back into town for dinner. (Setting up the camper without DH is another story, but we got her done). Although I got to bed early, I couldn’t sleep. The rain was pounding on the camper roof, and I was having self doubts. Finally, 5 am arrived. It was cold and rainy and I couldn’t decided what to wear. I put on my rain pants, a sleeveless shirt and my rain jacket thinking I could peel layers before the race if I wanted. I also wore my knee pads and had on weight training gloves. I arrived at the race site at 5:55 am and watched the 100k and 50k racers take off in the dark. By race time it was still cold and rainy, so I left my layers on. That was probably a mistake but I hate being cold!

We took off down the park road and started to climb the hill. I felt pretty good, and was trying to hold myself back so I wouldn’t go out too fast. One fellow asked me how I felt and I said “I’m scared, it’s my first race!” He was very encouraging – more about him later. When we crested the hill, I saw that there were a good many runners ahead of me. I didn’t want to be caught behind someone going up the mountain, so I picked up the pace and passed several runners. Now we started the mountain climb. For as rainy as it was, the footing was actually pretty good. Unfortunately, my plan didn’t work and I was still behind someone going slower than I wanted. There was a group of 5 of us stuck behind the one person. The trail was really narrow and rocky and her pace was okay so I decided to hang back for a while. I figured it would keep me from expending too much energy too early. Now, I was hot. Since we were mostly “power hiking” I was able to take my jacket off and tie it around my waist. Finally, after 700-800 ft of climbing we crested the ridge and I was able to get around her and pick up the pace again. I was running pretty good, but I could tell I didn’t quite have my “chi” going. Then I fell, and shortly after, fell again. Good thing I had my knee pads and gloves. I decided to slow down and catch my equilibrium. At this point, several runners passed me and I was getting a little discouraged. “Run your own race,” I kept saying to myself. I got behind one runner and followed her along the ridge. There were several rocky climbs so it was a combination of running and hiking. There were moments where it was just me and the trail and I felt my rhythm returning.

The first aid station was at 5.7 miles. Some of the runners stopped, but I felt good and kept going. I had my sport beans, my electrolyte water and my pemmican so I was good to keep going. This allowed me to pass some of the runners who had passed me. The next phase of the race was down a trail that followed a water fall. It had some pretty steep descents and lots of twists and turns. Two women passed me and I followed them the best I could, but some of the descents were tricky. “Run your own race,” I kept telling myself again. After splashing through the creek where the waterfall crosses, we started to climb again. At this point I passed some runners, but those two women were still ahead of me. My “friend” caught up and passed me. “You’re doing great!” he said. Next aid station was at 7.7 miles. For me, it was the turning point.

I knew I could finish from there. One more climb and then it was downhill to the finish line. I grabbed a quick drink and kept going, leaving my friend at the rest area. After about half a mile down the trail once again went up the mountain. The first park was a rocky ditch and hard to run. Up ahead I could see the two women that had passed me. I pushed hard up the hill, running as much as I could (it was about a 600-700 ft climb). I passed one of the women and a few others. The leaders of the race were coming back down the trail and as they passed one of them step on a branch which broke and flew at me, nicking me in the face just below the eyeball. Whew that was close! My friend had joined me, but didn’t pass – he was content for me to lead the charge up the hill.

At the next rest stop (9.3 miles) again I just grabbed a drink and kept going. That meant I passed the other woman! For a while the trail went up and down, but I really picked up my pace and ran all of it. One of the 50k runners got behind me and I told him he could pass, but he said I was doing a good pace and he wanted to follow. Then everything clicked – we hit the last 3 miles and it was all downhill. I let myself free fall down the mountain. It was almost as if I was outside myself. The pace was fast and I knew one wrong move and I would tumble dangerously down the mountain, but I was in the zone and I knew it wouldn’t happen. It was me and the 50k runner and my friend behind him. After splashing through a few creeks and with about a mile to go the 50k runner took off to push toward the finish. We entered the campground and my friend encouraged me, told me how good I had done. Throughout the day, I had told him about my weight loss and what it had taken for me to get there and that I just wanted to finish. Finally he moved on ahead. I was tired but I knew I only had about ½ mile to go. As I entered the finish area I looked up and saw that I was just under 3:08! (My goal had been to finish in 3:30 - The first place female finished in 2:43) Then, while I was walking around, trying to loosen up my tired legs, my friend had gone to the race director and told her my weight loss story. She asked for my e-mail and they might put something about it on their website. A little while later she came back and told me I had won my age division. At that point, I was in shock. She smiled and said, “It just keeps getting better, doesn’t it.” Indeed it does.

After the race, I have a good idea of how I want to train, especially going into the fall and winter.

Copenhagen Marathon May 18th, 2008

2008-06-15T18:53:00.001-07:00

Goal: Another under 5 hour marathon.

To sum it up: not the marathon I wanted. It had to be a combination of things that some were out of my control but still it was a disappointment

I left MSP on Thrusday and arrived in CPH on Friday afternoon and the marathon was on Sunday. I hydrated on the flight and had lots of bagels and bananas. I think I correctly fueled during the week but once in Denmark the fueling / food was different. Friday after arriving we also headed to the Expo. It was rather small but I got a few good tech shirts. I also tried to chat up the 5 hour pacer but she didn't speak English. That worried me. I rested Friday evening but couldn't sleep well during the night. On Saturday DH was visiting with friends. They decided to walk around and I reminded them I was running a marathon the next day and needed to rest my legs. No luck. We ended up walking around for 2 hours. Mistake of one of many. Saturday evening couldn't find a decent place to have my normal pasta dinner. I finally got to see my son in the first time in 2 weeks. I sure missed him. Again didn't sleep well at night. The bathrooms where shared for a whole floor in the hotel, which was odd and ruined my normal bathroom rountine.

Race day: I brought my normal oatmeal packets and some peanut butter to put on the bread. It just didn't fill me up like when I'm at home. Trying to get all family members ready and a 3 year old to the start line was more hassle. I still haden't had my normal action and that was worrysome. So I left without them and hooked up with an English runner walking to the start. I was rushed to get my bag checked and get back to the start line. I didn't have a chance to pee again. Standing with the 5 hour pacer I was nervous but my legs felt dead and not fresh. Not a good sign. During the whole race I was about 3 strides behind the pacer and that didn't feel comfortable and they were running some fast miles and I knew that was going to hurt me in the end. By mile 6 I just couldn't keep pace with the pacer and let them go. They weren't too far ahead of me. By mile 10 I couldn't see them anymore. I knew my paces and I knew I was still on pace. I hit the half way mark in 2:30, right on target if no slowing down but I knew I was going to. It felt forced all the way to the half. By mile 16 my legs where shot and had enough. This is where I mentally gave up and didn't care if I walked and sat down to fix my shoe. I just wanted to stop but I forged on. By this time there weren't many runners near by and the thought of I hope I'm not last kept crossing my mind. It's werid running in a different country to see the KM's keep getting bigger and bigger and having the spectators shout at you in Danish. I know Danish so that was helpful. My Garmin was measuring longer and that was frustrating. My DH came looking for me at the end and wasn't helpful at all. He wanted to know why I wasn't running and what was taking so long. I told him I didn't care and just wanted to stop walking. I told him I was walking until I could see the finish line and slightly run across it because I only had enough in my legs to do that. I saw the end but didn't care and made it across with an annoyed look on my face. Final time was 5:49:xx. Yeah, my second worst marathon time. The second half time was 3:20.

Note to add: I was also 8 weeks pregnant at the time. That would also explain the fatigue and why my long runs weren't going as great as they should have been. I can't be too disappointed because of all the factors but I still am.

Next: Continue to run throughout my pregnancy and then stay active. Targeting a half marathon maybe at 18 weeks. Not going for speed. Just for fun. The time limit is 3.5 so I think I could do it. Then once the baby is born get back into shape and work on my half marathon time. Once I can get a sub 2 hour half, I'll focus on another marathon. I have to take off about 6 mins.

Eat To Train!

2008-05-25T17:48:00.001-07:00

I have been reading "Nutrition Periodization for Endurance Athletes" by Bob Seebohar. He is a Registered Dietician who works with Olympic Athletes among others.

He talked about how and what we eat. The thing he said that resonated with me was that we should eat to train, not train to eat. Having struggled with my weight for pretty much my whole life, I really did start running to be able to eat more.

Once I started racing, I discovered training and started working on being a better runner. Part of this progression is that I have had to look at my eating and hydration habits for more than just weight control.

To me, eating to train means that my choices of fuel and hydration and their consistency are the things that prepare me to run--the meal I eat the morning of my race, while it may help me is not the determining factor in my performance.

I've always said that running is a cummulative event--it is not a History final, you cannot cram for it. I hope I can continue to do prepare and not cram.

Easing back into it

2008-04-05T03:38:00.000-07:00

Well, my pain / soreness in my left leg hamstring / knee is still there but it comes and goes. I saw my normal doctor in early March to get a referal to a good PT person but that didn't help. I was referred to a neurological doctor. All the tests came back negative with them. Of course it did because it is some sort of a muscle pull not related to the nerves. So in March I had two weeks completely off from running. One week was also due to the flu.

I have ran 5 runs since the time off and illness. Those runs weren't the best but slowly I felt my pace was coming back. The leg is kinda sore when I run but bareable. However, on April 3rd, after my run I stretched and foam rolled my leg and immediately after my leg was super painful to walk on. I have been icing it on and off and doing short walk breaks at work. That seems to help but I don't know if my leg can take running on it for the distance I need to get in.
If this marathon was anywhere but Copenhagen, Denmark I would cancel. I know my leg needs to heal from whatever is causing the pain and it won't go away with the continued increase in long run mileage. This is not how I wanted this race to go. I'm just hoping to get to the start line. I just know the feelings of running a marathon and I sometimes don't know if my leg will be able to handle the distance on race day. I am trying to stay positive but it's hard and every run I do the pain is there somewhat. It just doesn't feel like last fall's training for Columbus.

There is 43 days to go. I don't think I can afford anymore days off from running as my long run days haven't been long and they end with a big decrease in pace. Doing shorter runs feel fine but not %100 but anything over 9/10 miles isn't fun. I know it's not supposr to be fun but they don't feel like they should. I keep saying it's mostly mental. I do see myself crossing the finish line. So that's a plus. I'll keep at it.

Down and Out! Injured

2008-03-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted. Just as what I suspected Pfitz was too much for me to handle. Weekly mileage including the half marathon weekend: 36, 32, 35, 25, 28, 23, 0. Somewhere along the way I didn't listen to my body soon enough. I seem to be injured and the pain / soreness isn't going away. I have pain in my lower back right side and pain in my left leg the whole leg from the hip to the ankle. I saw my normal doctor and I have an apt with neurological doctor on the 17th. That's another week. She looked at my xray of my lower back and was concerned. I'm was just hoping for a referal to a good PT person. She thinks it may be a pinched nerve. I've looked that up but not all of it applies. The strange thing is that sort of pain always appears training for a Spring Marathon.

So I ran 1 mile to test out the level of pain or if it's just magnified in my mind, pace was good and that's about it. This isn't looking good. My back felt fine. It's mainly my left leg that is the issue. It's the hamstring that is still super tight but the soreness and pain is in the bending motion of the knee and the muscles and tendons of the upper calf. The knee felt fine it's just all the attachement to it like the hamstring and calf. It felt like there wasn't enough strenght to push off the ground to sustain all the pounding. Running uphill is where I slowed but straight way wasn't looking good either. I just don't get it. I'm 9 weeks out to the marathon. Argh!!

Securian Frozen Winter Carnivel Half Marathon

2008-01-26T13:27:00.000-08:00

I did it. Finished my 9th Half Marathon. I keep improving which is a great thing. However, as I become a better runner the improvement are smaller and smaller. I feel very improvement has to comes with tougher training. I used to improve with minimal training by 10 minutes but my last 3 half marathons were by 2 minutes. To shave off those 2 minutes each time is a killer. At this rate my goal of a sub 2 hour half marathon is a ways off in the future.

Summary:
Time: 2:06:34, ave pace 9:40. PR by almost 2 minutes.
Field size: 1007 out of 1208.
Spilts: 8:35, 9:03, 9:13, 9:18, 9:44 (hill), 9:26, 9:25, 9:22, 9:20, 9:48 (hill), 9:53, 9:50, 10:24
To work on: pacing. First 2 miles too fast, thus the graudal slow down towards the end. The last 3 miles were killer. My legs were shot and they felt like dead weight. They didn't seem that fast but gosh be golly they were.

I just don't understand how some runners are just naturally faster and I have to work for everything that comes to me. I'll work hard for the improvements but I wished I didn't have to. Why do I strive for something that I'll never be able to reach; which is a faster runner. I just need to be happy with the results but there will always be something to complain about. I think that is what is wrong with being a competitive person with myself. In the end no matter the outcome I'll never be satisfied. I can never be one of those carefree runners. I will always need to run with my watch to know the miles and the pace. I think being so caught up in that I'm sometimes missing the point. Sometimes the sport of running is so frustrating. But other times it's the greatest feeling in the world. It's hard to mesh those two feelings together. I think once put altogether a PR could be made that I'm proud of.

Treadmill Running - Argh!!!

2008-01-24T16:02:00.000-08:00

Some days you can't live with them and others days they are a necessity. For me I wish I would never have to set foot on another one. However, the weather this winter in MN has been so varied I have to train more and more on it. It gone from nice to warm to sub freezing temps with dangerously low windchill to snow and icey to nice. These aren't ideal running conditions. These are the reasons why I got a treadmill last winter.

For me treadmill running always makes me slower and my body aches so much after the run. I wonder if it does any good. When I run outside I wouldn't imagine walking for 1/4 to 1/2 mile because I was tired but I do it all the time on the treadmill. I don't think I have the mentality to run comfortably on it. Those horrible runs on the treaddmill make me question my running ability and how it will affect my training. I've tried all the tips in the world but I don't seem as fluid and effortless when running on the treadmill and it is discouraging.

I don't like the way my body response to training on it. My quads, hamstrings, and upper back/shoulder area are always super sore for a few days after the run. If I don't feel that way outside I wonder why it happens inside. Maybe stretching will help more and I'm considering getting massages more frequently during this training session.

The question is when the temps get colder I also seem to slow down. So what is the trade off? Running slower outside in the cold without the aches and pains or running on the treadmill pushing myself and maybe going a little faster but sorer for a few days.

We'll see if theincreased treadmill running I have done over the past few weeks will make a difference in the half marathon I'm doing this weekend. The Securian Frozen Half. Lovely title. :)

1st week down - 17 more to go!

2008-01-22T05:18:00.000-08:00

I survived my first week on the Pfitz's plan. Wasn't too much of an increase but when I look ahead to the schedule I get scared. So I'm taking the appoarch one day at a time. I feel if I can stick with it and get the medium-long runs to feel comfortable I'll have a huge PR. You can't beat that.

I'm really focusing on staying in the certain ranges for each run. I would normally run my reovery runs to fast. The other days I rest. Getting that extra 2 hours of sleep is wonderful.

1-14 = Biked 30 mins on my trainer.
1-15 = Did 7 miles outside in the freezing cold. ave pace was 10:43.
1-17 = Did 9 miles and went to the treadmill. . 40 combined with warm up and cool down. I hate that thing but the windchill was a little to far into the negative for my tastes. ave pace was 10:33.
1-19 = Did 12 miles in a sports dorm due to dangergously low windchills. Ave pace was 11:52. I ran with someone doing 4:1's and we had 6 short breaks.
1-20 = Did 4 miles on the treadmill. Recovery run of ave pace of 12:29.
Total miles 32.40

This week is a little confusing. I'm in full marathon training mode but have a half marathon on Saturday. I truely hope TOM will hold off until after the run. I won't have a taper as I have 10 miles to do on thursday. That leaves Friday with a rest day. I always take this half marathon as a new starting point for the year. I would really love to PR here but the cold weather conditions have me worried. I would really love a sub 2 hours but I think that is a stretch. Maybe my goal should be 2:05:xxx as that would be a 3 min improvement over my last one in August. Will keep you posted.

Disney Marathon Race Report

2008-01-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

I was up at 2:00 so I could eat, coffee and hopefully have "action" before catching the bus at 3:00. No action to start my day off--bummer--that's the first time that didn't work. Considering that 2:00 a.m. is really midnight in my normal time zone, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Caught the busses (we had to take 2) to the start. Used the restroom 2X but still no action. Disney does this type of crowd control well, lots of port-a-potties. Went to the start. It was humid and foggy, but warm. The fireworks were nice, but not all that impressive. Disney seems to have cut their fireworks budget based on previous vistits. Started the race, I decided I was going to do a 4:1 Galloway to see what it was like. My pace was pretty good with it, when I was able to run in the early parts. Lots of groups were running 4-5 across and add that to the crowding, it was really hard to get through quickly. Epcot was lit up well. Running through the parks was fun. The hard thing is that during some of the longer stretches, there were no water stations inside the park.

It was hard to get through the crowds in many places and I think there are more people at Disney who don't train adequately for it than in other races. There were people in my corral who had never run farther than 10 miles--and we were supposed to have to show proof of result to do this. TNT needs to talk to their people about not taking up the whole road when they run. Disney organized well, but the runners....oh well. My feet were good, I had some of the pains I expected. I got the cramps in the front of my ankle, but they were manageable. After the half, I started getting pains in the side of my knee (not ITB, but similar) I haven't had this bad since Denver Marathon. I was glad I was doing my run walk, which kept the pain manageable until about mile 16. We hit some steeply banked road that really set me off. I did see Jeff Galloway on the course talking people through the race.

So anyway, the steeply banked roads really set off this injury. I had to start walking until the pain stopped, and then would run again until it started. Biofreeze helped some. I noticed that the pain was affecting my gait, so I knew the running was pretty much done for me and started walking mostly by mile 21. I finished. There were times I was drippy wet with the humidity, and I was pretty hot by the end, but I drank enough that it wasn't an issue for me. Powerade is good for me. I had both Powerade and water at most water stations. This is the first race ever that I was stopped by the medical team after the race. It might have been the tears coming out from under my sunglasses. She asked me if I needed ice. I got an ice pack shrink wrapped to my knee and some tylenol. Went and found DH. The system had been down and he hadn't gotten any updates on me from mile 10 and was worried. The busses were close to the finish area (yeah) and the rain held off until I was off the course.

Spring Marathon Training starts!!

2008-01-16T16:32:00.000-08:00

So my 18 weeks to the Copenhagen, Denmark Marathon has officially arrived. I'm doing Pftiz's 18/55 plan. I hope it's not more than I can handle. I kept a great base since October and am ready to get this thing started. Reading all the folks Disney Half and Full Marathon race reports makes me super excited for training to start.

Columbus Marathon Race Report

2007-11-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness that is over with!! Marla and I were pacing all morning long as we hadn't had the big action before heading to the start line. I was nervous because I knew I needed to go. We accidently ran into Sherrie and her friend Sara, while waiting inside a building to get out of the cool breezy air of the morning. Out of all the runners there we happened to run into people we knew them and I thought that was neat. We left the buidling and went to the bathroom, which was about 20 minutes before the race started. I was finally able to have the right action I was looking for. I stepped out of the port a potty and realized I cut in front of the line. Both Marla and I did that. We don't know how it happened but it worked, since I went to the bathrroom.

The start of the marathon had perfect running conditions. It was in the low 50’s with crisp cool air. I just had my shorts and a t-shirt on and my arms and legs were cold but I knew I would warm up fast. As the start neared I lined up with Michelle, the 5 hour Clif Bar Pacer. The start had a couple of highlights – a flyover by three army Blackhawk helicopters and some great festive music. Throughout the course the live bands were great to provide extra motivation. Then the horn blew and the marathon was off.

The miles passed quickly. I was feeling great. Water stops were very frequent in the beginning of the race. I think it had to do with the larger than normal field with the increase of the half marathoners. We were running on wide, fall colored tree-lined streets of the Bexley neigherhood. The shade it provided was heaven. This neighborhood has beautiful big houses and the governer lives near mile 5. There was one section in this neighborhood that had a crumbling brick road were you had to really watch your footing, which I didn’t like. It was somewhere in this area I saw Marla and the 5 hour pacer passed her by. We chatted for a few seconds and wished each other luck again and to see each back at the hotel. This neighborhood didn’t have many specutors cheerins us on, as say the Twin Cities would have.

With the abundance of water stops I was taking in more fuilds than normal and had to go pee already by mile 6.5. I was thinking 'oh no', this is too early to have to use the bathroom and I don’t want to lose the pacer. So I would scan the area for any signs of a port a potty coming our way. I saw some in the distance and picked up the race to not lose the pacer. I was lucky there was no line and it was by a water stop, which we walked. I was in and out in about a minute and raced to catch back up to the pacer. I also had to do that at mile 11. I was hoping it wouldn't be like that all day. I was lucky both times there wasn't a line and I could catch up with the pacer fairly easy.

After leaving the Bexley area we headed westbound towards downtown where we encountered some gentel hills through miles 7 to 10. The row type houses and buidlings become more dense as the crowds become more livier inspiring us runners though the inclines of the road. This section was lined with the colored flags in support of their partner choices. At this point the weather was getting warmer but tolerable and the wind was becoming alittle breezier at times. At mile 10 we turned south on Third Street making our way to German Village. We ran past Schiller Park about mile 11.5 in German Village and headed northward on High Street.

On High Street is were the one begins to believe they are truely running a marathon. The half marathoner split off and finish there race while we continued on up High Street for a total of 5 miles. Also, at the half way point we were joined by another pace leader, Robin, since Columbus is were most of them lived and they had many reserves to tap into. At this point during the race my knee started to hurt just for a little while. I fought off the pain and wasn’t going to let it ruin my chances of a sub five hour marathon. The northbound run up High Street provided little shade and the sun was relentless. I started to worry since I could tell I was becoming warmer and thrister. I thought after the half way point the water stops were a lot less frequent than in the beginning and I kept wondering when the next one would come. Reaching the end of High Street at mile 17 was heaven, since it was a good gradual incline for about a mile and half. Rounding the corner the runners we met with a severe downhill for about a half a mile. Then greeted with another incline cresting at about the highest point of the course at mile 18. There were a few good ups and downs from 15 to 23, that the elevation chart really didn’t show that well. What was flat on the chart was definitly an uphill incline. I really had to go bathroom again at around mile 20 or 21. I kept scanning up ahead for a port a potty but didn’t see any. I knew if I left them to use one I wouldn't be able to sustain the pace we were keeping. We did pass one but I chanced it to and held out until the finish. I couldn't believe how good I felt. All my other previous marathons up to this point I was doing a shufflers walk/run and I felt horrible. This marathon was a very unquie experience. I didn't feel bad and that was such a positive at this point in the race. It felt great to pass people and not be the passe. Our pace was great but I could start to feel it in my legs, the quads and calves, were starting to become tight and a little sore. It was nice to get out of the shade once in a while when that cover presented itself. Towards the end the weather was warmer for my tastes. I kept debating when I was going to pull away from the 5 hour pacer. They kept me telling me to wait to see what I felt like at mile 23. That was such a great thing.

Mile 23 approached and I knew I had to stay with the pacer. I was getting very tired but surprised I was still actually running and holding onto a pace. For the next two miles I didn’t say much. I tucked up right behind her, for one to have her block the wind and second I focused on her leg movements as we moved forward to the finish. I was starting to doubt if I could finish under 5 because my legs were so tired and sore. Those were the toughest miles in the whole marathon. Another pacer joined in at about 24.5. She paced the second half of the 4:30 group and walked back along the course to find the other pacers still making their way to the finish.

Once I saw mile 25 I KNEW I had my 5 hour marathon becaue that was ONLY 4 laps around a track. Peice of cake! I could do that, it would just be like any other old training run. I bolted and picked up the pace A LOT to see how far under 5 hours I could get. The 5 hour pacers cheered me on and the other pacer that just joined us helped me in. I started out fast for about 1 lap and started to slow. The pacer was very encouraging. She said I looked stronger than some of the 4:30 finishers. She said to relax my shoulders and breathe with the incline as there was still a ways to go. Since it was up a slight incline for about 2 more laps. She had me focus on landmark. She said only 2 more stoplights, take the right and you have a downhill finish. I liked knowing the distance of when I could pick up the pace again. Once I rounded that corner and saw the finish victory was mine. With only about 1 lap left I sprinted towards the finish. I was literally flying down the downhill to the finish. I could feel my calves burning but I so wanted to be finished and my journey of a sub 5 hour would be over. My chip time was 4:57:08.

The pacer just couldn't believe how fast I kicked it in that last mile. My last pace was about 10:45, where we were averaging about 11:27. It was nice to finish strong and realize a dream of mine for such a long time. It was just a great day. It all worked out perfectly and sticking with the 5 hour pacer is what did it for me. I was the only one from the beginning that was able to stay with her until the finish. Everyone dropped off between mile 16 and 21. I took my gels at around mile 6, 12, bag of shot bloks from mile 15 to 16, then another gel at mile 21. I had to force the last one down.

It was a super day and weekend by far. I loved meeting some of my fellow poster on the Weight Watchers Marathoner’s board and realizing a goal I set 5 years before when doing my first marathon.

Injured!?

2007-10-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

I made it through my Fall running season. I even made it throught a rainy, windy cold marathon that was as the newspaper termed it "on one of the 5 best sleeping in days all year".

Worse than the rain, cold or wind was the fact that my pace was no where near what I wanted to run for that race. I thought it was the cold or the rain--it turns out I was injured. Somehow, maybe out of sheer cussedness, I finished the marathon. I think it really was because I thought that it would take longer for someone to come and get me and take me back to the start than it would for me to gimp on in.

I thought I was tough--maybe I was--maybe I was kind of stupid too. I amaze myself at my capacity for denial when it comes to my own body. I am one of the first people to encourage someone to go to the doctor or PT, but apparently the last to go when it is my own issue.

After the race, I could hardly walk. I knew my feet had issues, I blamed the cold and the miles. I blamed myself and the fact that I missed about 5 runs out of my training schedule.

Basically all the injuries I had been trying to ignore came to their worst during the race. My feet felt horrible, my legs cramped, my piriformis screamed--thankfully the cold was my ally and I couldn't feel much of this during the race. This literally brought me to my knees and I reached out to get help feeling better for my next marathon.

I'm glad to say that finally I'm getting the injury treatment I need. I'm finding help for all of my issues and realized that they had been plaguing me all season if I had bothered to listen. I said that I was tired, or started out too fast--really my body was trying to ask for help.

Often I'm scared to go in for an injury because I think I'm going to be told that I shouldn't run or that I need surgery. I turns out I need some deep tissue massage and orthotics--maybe a heel lift too. I'll write more about the specifics of my injuries on my personal blog later.

I didn't need to tough out my pain, I didn't need to wait, I needed to make an appointment. If you have a nagging pain, something you really don't think is that bad--make an appointment!

Life Gets in the Way

2007-10-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

It seems like whatever race season I pick, life gets in my way

I have a job that requires occasional late evening work. Usually I like this because I can use it to have flexibility with some other areas of mylife--a late evening can make a short Friday, for example.

Sometimes though, I end up on a stress project where you are working 12+ hour days, evenings and you hope and pray that your weekend stays free. This happened to me last month--right at peak marathon milage!

I did the best I could, but the lack of sleep, stress and long hours took their toll. I did my 16 miler--my Father In Law came to town--there was a weekend with no rest!

I couldnt' do my track workout with my group, so I did it on my own. I missed the rest of the runs that week due to work and more work, plus the needs of my family. I did my 18 miler which was pretty good, but had horrible leg cramps during the run.

I worked through the next week, staggering through the track workout on my own again. Once again I missed all my cross training and runs for that week, started getting sick too. The 20-22 miler was up for that week--I ran it by myself and suffered in the nearly 90 degree heat for the last 10 miles--I did 21 and walked the last 1.

I like running because I learn a lot about myself. This time I learned that I have to accept what I get and I can't always just push my way through training. I also learned that I really hate missing dinner with my husband and daughter in order to get my run done. I would fix dinner for them and then nearly be in tears as I headed out the door. I knew there was no way that I could do speedwork after dinner, so I did this--I hope I don't have to do it again.

I'm finally feeling better, just in time for my marathon. I guess what I want to say is that this happens--usually at the worst possible time--and that you do the best you can.

2007-09-11T11:15:00.000-07:00

Run Proud

2007-09-11T04:38:00.000-07:00

"He taught me to run high on my toes. I will always remember his words: run proud & remember you are alive."

I love StoryPeople by Brian Andreas. I get them emailed to me everyday. Now that I am a 'runner' and run marathons, this message had new meaning for me.

back of the pack runners - here's to us!

2007-08-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a little inspiration for all of us back-of-the-pack runners...

I've met Grete Waitz a few times (9-time winner of NYC Marathon), and she said the toughest marathon she ever did was when she ran a 5:32 marathon w/ Fred Lebow, founder of NYC Marathon, when he ran it in '91 or '92 (it was the first time he'd run his own race, and he had brain cancer at the time).

In other words, it ain't easy running for 5+ hours.

My Body is Calling--Am I Listening?

2007-08-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

I have lost over 60 lbs. on various diets over about 15 years. Truthfully I lost and found many of those pounds many times over the years. I try to eat healthy, try to eat the correct amounts, try to adjust my intake for my activity level. You'd think after all this time, after this success, I would have this all down. However, I find that when my miles creep up, my weight does as well.

Last year I gained over 5 pounds as I trained for my first marathon. That doesn't seem like a huge number, but if you are a Weight Watchers Lifetime member, that can put you back into the place where you have to pay each month rather than it being free. There are significant health issues in my family that makes maintaining a healthy weight essential for me. Add that to the recent Runner's World article stating that 5 pounds equals 5 minutes on marathon times makes me realize that controlling my weight is more than just health, vanity or frugality--I need it to run faster! This seems to motivate me more than the other reasons--probably because I see the impact rather quickly.

I know what to eat, I know about how much to eat--so why do I overeat? I think it is because after all these years I have forgotten how to listen to my own hunger signals. I think that I am being strong when I don't eat when I'm hungry and weak if I eat. I am afraid that if I give myself the freedom to eat, I will never stop eating and my diet will consist of pasta, peanut butter and M&MS. I also find that because I have let myself get so hungry in the past, that I am actually afraid of my own hunger and try to "eat prevenatively" to avoid hunger. None of these extremes are good for me.

But is it really this simple--Wait until you are hungry, make healthy choices, and stop right before you are full? Why is it that running 10 miles is easier than putting my fork down before my plate is empty?

So this is what I am trying:

Ask myself if I am truly hungry before I eat--and wait to make sure I really am hungry rather than just thinking that I might be hungry.
Allow myself to eat if I am hungry. If this means eating lunch at 10:30, this is okay too.
Put down the fork and remind myself that food will be there later
Make the healthy choice when eating--peanut butter, pasta and M&Ms all do have a place in a healthy diet!
Eat the correct amount so that I am hungry in the morning, and before each meal.

I have learned to adjust my workouts for fatigue, sore muscles and my energy level. This involved listening to and trusting my body to tell me what it needed, but also knowing when to push a workout and when to back off. I can learn to trust my body for fuel as well. It will talk to me--I just need to stop and listen.

When will running get easier?

2007-07-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

Someone on a marathoner message board asked that question--that got me thinking.

I always had a vision of myself as an experienced runner. I would be gliding effortlessly along the path/trail/road. My legs and arms moving gracefully, my breath even.

(Sound of record screeching) Nope that's sure not me--at least not all the time. I find that as I progress, I still work hard--not because I am working to run at the same pace, but because I want to continue to improve my running.

Saturday I had one of those endorphin runs. I got to the end of my run and discovered I had more in my tank than I thought and was able to maintain a faster than usual pace and still run hard at the end of the run. It was one of those runs that makes you believe you have made a break through--at least until tonight.

Tonight's run was hard. It was actually for 10 less minutes than the Saturday run. I ran out on a trail I hadn't run yet this year. My mile splits were not what I wanted them to be and I started making all kinds of excuses--"It's hot" , "I didn't wait long enough after dinner", "I'm just having a bad run", "This part of the trail is rocky (it actually was) and I need to be careful here". I had a whole list and I started to drop into my misery.

I turned around at 25 minutes and headed back. I started to think about my run and told myself that I knew every run wouldn't be an endorphin moment--they couldn't all be. Every great, fantastic run is built on the blocks of the not so great feeling runs around them. I decided to get all that I could out of my run. I told myself I need to work on my form--knees up, arms down, shoulders back and relaxed, head up. I fell into the rhythm of my run. When I wanted to slow I told myself to go on, to be faithful, to be strong.

I negative split the run by 1:30--that's a pretty huge margin for me! Maybe it wasn't a horrible run after all, or maybe it just stopped being one when I changed my attitude.

Athlete, Me?

2007-07-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

How I see myself may not be the way that someone else does. To me I think an athlete is a professional individual who has a toned sculpted body competing on a high level or is good at what they do. Others may precive me as an athlete but my self image does catergize myself there. For instance do these marathon times, 5 hours 39 minutes, 5 hours 38 minutes, 5 hours 58 minutes, 5 hours 11 minutes, conjure up the imagine of an athlete? To me they don’t. They are the image of a back of the pack runner hoping to finish before they tear down the finish line. So, therefore, I don't consider myself as an athlete. I look at those times and see the determination of completing something that has been started. I do though think of myself as an active person who likes to do endurance events and put in the training required. I train hard for any improvement seen and to acheive goals set. These gains however aren’t from natural talent. Crosing the finish line is more about mental strength and fortitude rather than phyiscal ability. I am competitive but only with myself as a progression of my improvement. So I wonder I can run and bike and finish events entered but does that make me an athlete? Who decides what I am? I may be an ‘everyday’ athlete that inspires other that know me but not in the context of a ‘professional’ athlete. Being active and healthly is the most important part no matter if you consider yourself an athlete or not. Being out there is all that matters and that you are having fun. Again, I ask, me an athlete. Maybe my mindset will get there.

and the slump is over...

2007-07-23T18:21:00.001-07:00

Did 11 miles tonight, 2:02:45, treadmill. First 10 felt great, last mile was a little tough (I'm trying to finish all runs faster than I start, so had been ramping up the speed my entire run).

Someone give me a kick in the pants, please!

2007-07-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm having a major existential crisis here! Well, maybe not an existential crisis, but a running crisis for sure. I just can't get out the door. So I'm putting it down in writing, right here and now, that I'm running tonight.

My training schedule say 6 mile tempo run (10:26 miles). Or I'll do my 11-miler long run that I blew off yesterday when laying on the couch reading all day. OY.

I'll report in later this evening, you heard it here first.

Running is a Simple Sport?

2007-07-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

You read books about running and they say it is such a wonderful, simple sport because all you need is a good pair of shoes--and a good bra if you are female.

So how come I need so much stuff? Last Saturday I had (from head to toe)

Running hat (protects head, absorbs sweat, keeps sun out of my eyes)
Sunglasses (protects eyes from both Sun and flying insects)
Running bra (absolutely essential)
Heart Rate Monitor strap
Garmin 305 GPS and sport watch
Running shorts'
Sport Glide and Vaseline for Toes, feet, bra straps
Asics Kayano socks
Asics Kayano shoes with SuperFeet insoles
Sunscreen

I also carried:

Camelbak FlashFlo (with 1 liter of Gu2O orange flavor)
1 Gu brand sports gel (plain flavor)
Tissues
1 Bike bottle with ice and water (left in car for after the run)
Blue Ice reusable cooler pack (left in car)
1 Can of Lactose Free Slimfast French Vanilla drink (left in car on blue ice pack for post-run)

All of this for a 10 mile run (1:37)

Admittedly, I would not need to get all of this ready if I ran out and back from my house. I drive to my favorite running trail because I like the gravel path, and the slant on my neighborhood streets aggravate my ITBS. I also like to run with my training group.

I always say I carry this stuff because I'm a mom, and I like to be prepared and find the feeling that I have what I need to be comforting. Still, I show up for my group runs and people don't have water, don't have gel, didn't eat breakfast, don't wear sunscreen. Most of my fellow group members are 15-20 years younger than I am--but should I be taking less, or should they be taking more?

In a way I envy them--not having the extra weight and all. But then I hear them talking about how tired they are for the rest of the day, and how they don't recover from their runs. This year I have been feeling pretty good after about an hour of rest after my long runs.

Maybe my stuff and I are just fine!

Mind over matter?

2007-07-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

I've been running for a few years now, since 2000. Not always consistently, by any means, but over time, I have some decent miles on my legs and muscle memory can take over where my training leaves off.

But when marathon training season comes around, I start having the same doubts every time, i.e. "What the hell am I doing this for?" or "I hate running long!" or "Am I going to be able to finish this long run?"

Clearly, after 4 marathons, I can go the distance. I just find it strange that sometimes my mind has more power than my body - or actually, that I GIVE my mind the power over my body. So maybe it's just a matter of "don't think, just run."

An Ode to a First Aid Kit

2007-07-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

Today after my long run, I had to deal with a huge blister and a hole rubbed in my middle toe. I have also been taping my feet before every run with trainer's tape. I realize that my pre- and post-running first aid supplies have taken over the table next to my couch and there was no room for the usual remote, coaster and box of tissues!

Now you may say that a normal person would just put all of this stuff back in the medicine cabinet after being done with it. The problem is that the last thing you want to do after running over 10 miles and finally sitting down, is get up again!

So now, I have a first aid box that I keep under the couch. Here are its contents:

Trainer's tape in 1.5 and 1 inch widths
Small scissors for cutting the tape
Body Glide
Bottle of hydrogen peroxide
Cotton balls
Sterilized quilting pin for lancing blisters
Tube of bacitraycin
Box of band-aids
Air Salonpas spray
Jar of menthol ice gel
Tube of foot cream with menthol

Now, anyone that comes to my house will not know that running has taken over my life... unless they happen to know me. ;-)

My first marathon - the why, how, and after

2007-06-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Twin Cities Marathon Oct 2003.

I didn't take the traditional route to doing a marathon. The marathon was my first race EVER. Now what was I thinking?!? Who knew there were other races out there. :) We were in the process of buying our first house in Jan. 2003 and our mortgage lady said she ran marathons and I was like I can do that too. So I found a book, "The Non Runners Guide to Marathon Training" and started to train on my own. So I trained using that book and then switched over to Hal Higdon's novice plan in July. I had ups and downs through the training. I kept getting injuries, mainly pains in my feet after a certain distance and needing to back off and start up again.

Needless to say going into the marathon was scary and nerve racking. My longest run to date was a 17 miler and that didn't go so well because my foot hurt. So I even questioned myself if I was going to even run the darn thing. I was so worried I wouldn't finish. It didn't even cross my mind that I wouldn't walk parts of the race because who knew other runners kinda look down on other runners that walk. Silly me, this race was for me and not them.

I can remember standing at the start line as it was yesterday. My heart was beating as fast as it could and my mind kept racing. What the hell was I thinking? What am I doing here? Wow, there are a lot of people that run these things. Will I finish? When is the horn going to blow?

It sounded and there we were off. I felt fine up through 7 miles. Then I kept getting tired. I was so tired at the half and realized I had half more to go. What was I thinking? Can I do this? I trudged on. Mile 19 - Man, I'm stupid, why am I out here, 26.2 miles is a long ways. My feet hurt and my legs are super tired. But all I kept thinking was I can't stop. I need to keep moving forward.

The last 10k is a blur. I can't even reminder how I got through it. At mile 26 and seeing the finish line a big smile came to my face and I ran as fast as I could. That meant I could stop running and rest and get off my feet. My legs, body, and mind were so sore. It took a lot of mental power to get through the last 10k. I didn't have a big emotional meltdown after I crossed the finish line as I was to emotional drained from just finishing a marathon. I was super happy I finished but wished I had done better.

Hey, it was my first and I did enjoy it and look I'm hooked. I've completed a total of 4 and currently training for number 5. But it took awhile. I totally took off running for 3 months since I couldn't think of running anymore. But I decided I wanted to run another one so I started training again in Jan of 2004 for the Grandma's Marathon in June 2004. Running marathons is a gradual process and I learn something new everytime I train and run another one. I don't get as nervous at the start line but I always do question myself during training but in the end I always finish the race even if it's not what I was hoping for.

What you can't reach makes you stronger as you strive to reach it.

Epiphany waiting to happen

2007-06-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

I have sat many hours thinking over my running and realized I have made huge improvements since I first started in 2002. Then how come my mind frame is still stuck in the past? I need to get past my fears and limitiations and not be afraid to finally surpass what I am seeking. I know I'm not that slow awkward runner anymore who was scared to look at her shadow while running because it wasn't a pretty sight.

My running times reflect something different than a slow runner of what I thought. I have improved significantly and then that raises a whole new set of issues for me. Can I get any faster? Do I want to? I know running should be about enjoying it and not worrying about what other runners do but for me it's all about the time. It has to do with the competitiveness nature within myself. I know I can do better, so how can that realization be made. What happens if the goal isn't met? I know I will never win but it's something about the numbers and where you stack up against other runners. I think our world forces people to judge one another and look down upon people who aren't at their same level. I think that is what I get when I run. Even though I have completed marathons I feel my finishing times aren't worthy enough as they were well over 5 hours. You always get asked, "Will you ever run Boston" "So what was your time?" You give it and they are like "wow that's a long time to be out there." "Did you then get picked up by the bus" I just get this feeling that anything over 5 hours isn't deem in high regard to other runners that finish faster. I want to get the same recognition of someone who finished faster. I am just slower but deserve the credit for being out there and it has nothing to do with poor training. Do you really think I enjoy being out there that long? Don't get me wrong, I love that I have finished all of my marathons but deep down in my heart I know I could have done better.

How come it's hard to change a mind set that is no longer true. Changing the way you look at reality is a tricky thing. Maybe it's just something you learn as you grow older and wiser. I don't know but it's something I struggle with. I also think body image issues come along with losing weight and they are all in the same mind set of beleiving you have gotten better/faster. For me running and losing weight have so much in common it's hard to wrap my mind around it all at once. For example: Shopping for clothes / running clothes. Why do you always go for the bigger size when you should try the next size down. Is it habit? Or are you afraid you don't fit in that next size? Whatever it is, it challenges the way you think. I think changes or epiphanies happen over time little by little sometimes without even realizing it and that is hard getting used to.

Shuffling it all around...

2007-06-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time fitting all my runs in. Sometimes it's because I'm scheduled up to my eyeballs, other times it's because I blew off a run early in the week and then get caught up with shuffling things around to make my remaining runs fit.

This week, for example, I had a work event Tuesday night. Wednesday, I ran just 3 miles, testing out the ITBS, felt fine. Last night, I stopped by my Mom's house to help her w/ something and of course got persuaded to stay for dinner - and I'm sorry, but I can't really run after a steak dinner. Now here it is, Friday afternoon, I can run tonight and tomorrow, but have houseguests arriving at noon and won't be able to run on Sunday.

So, I'm doing my long run tonight (8 miles), and will try to do 3 tomorrow a.m. I've never done an evening long run followed the next morning by short distance. I'll report back on how successful that is. :-)

If nothing else, shifting my long run to Friday THIS week helps w/ next week's scheduling. I'll be on the road starting next Friday a.m., so will do my long run on Thursday. Phew, too much to think about this far in advance...

Injuries--Peeling the Onion!

2007-06-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've been "peeling the onion" with my injuries since I started running. It sems like each injury is another layer in figuring out what needs to happen for me to run.

While training for my first 10K 3 years ago, I was running in my neighborhood. The streets in our neighborhood are narrow, and they slope to allow drainage into the ditch. You are supposed to run facing into the traffic for safety, so I was always running with my left leg on the slope. Soon I had a pain in my hip that I blamed on my dog pulling me into a ditch while she was chasing a rabbit.

I stopped running for a while after that, and took it up again for the same 10K a year later. This time I ran on a local path and didn't really have much pain. I developed Runner's Knee and switched to more supportive inserts and that started going away. I ran 2 half mararthons and my first full marathon.

I then started a Winter base building program. Due to our super-snowy Winter in Colorado, I spent most of my time running on a treadmill. This altered my gait to the point where I got a pinched sciatic nerve and a pain around my hip that just hurt sometimes when I ran but mostly when I sat.

I went to my massage therapist and talked to her about this. I go for a Sports Massage about once a month. She told me that she thinks my pain is ITBS and that I should work with my foam roller and also on strengthening my lower back.

I am trying this, but I'm starting to wonder if I will ever run injury free.

2007-06-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are, 2 weeks into training season for my fall marathon, and I'm in slight panic mode because my IT Band is acting up.

I've had this once before, back in 2000 when I did my first marathon. Just a little discomfort during training season, didn't even know what it was, shrugged it off and kept running - that is, until race day, when after a mile-long downhill coming off the 59th street bridge, I was doubled over in pain. Walked the last 10 miles to finish the race, and two weeks post-marathon, when I was still in horrible pain just walking, gave in and saw a sports medicine guy who promptly diagnosed me with ITBS. Took about 5 months to recover from it.

Now here we are, early in the training season, and I'm already passed the mild discomfort stage. Am icing off and on during the day, being very faithful to my stretching, and will hope for the best.

In the meantime, I'm getting recommendations for sports medicine doctors in my area. Harrumph (as she stamps foot in annoyance)...

Twas The Night Before My First Marathon

2007-06-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm about to run my first marathon, I still can't believe it's here. As a fun way to visualize myself completing it I felt compelled to create a poem to remind me of how far I've come.

Enjoy!!!

----------

Twas the Night before my first marathon, when all through the house
I was trying to fall asleep, curled up next to my spouse;

My body was hydrated and nourished with care,
In hopes that the finish line soon would be there;

My Optima Orange mixture was poured in my bottles;
In hopes that its formula would result in full throttle;

I lay back and envisioned me in my mesh runner’s cap,
My mind racing as I went over the 26.2 mi course map;

When all of a sudden it was morning, it was time!
I sprang from my bed, I was ready, I was primed!

Away to the kitchen I flew like a sprinter,
And took in the Northern MN scenery, glad it wasn’t winter.

The sun was not up yet, the lake was still dark
But the energy of 9000 runners was making its mark

And suddenly, just then, as I stood in the hall
Out peaked the sun, saying morning to all!

I devoured my breakfast, a carb/protein feast
I would successfully battle the race jitters beast

We loaded the cars on the way to the bus
The mood was calm, no one made a fuss

The bus took us away up the road to Two Harbors
Everyone chattering, like you would to your barber

Hello! Good Morning! Fine Day for a Run!
I hear it might rain! Watch out for the Sun!

Is this your first one? Your first Marathon?
Good Luck! Have a Blast! You’ll Be a Pro Before Long!

I smiled and thought I’m not sure about that,
But then we rounded a bend, the start sign in view
And I got off the bus, the crisp air filled with dew

I wandered around, my sister in tow
Both wondering and waiting, how long till we go?

We found my friend Linda, under the right pace sign
And waited and waited until it was time.

We lined up and pondered whose idea was this?
I could be sleeping or relaxing with Chris!? (DH)

But no time for doubts, with a bang we were off!
We stood there, then walked, then started to trot.

Pretty soon we were running, and at a good clip
A volunteer offered me water and I took a big sip.

We ran and we walked and we ran and we walked,
We remembered our supporters, about them we talked

My running skirt flapped, my brow started to sweat
I poured water on my head, my team jersey proudly wet

We ticked off the miles, 5, 10, and 15,
It was getting warmer, the lake was pristine
(I thought am I really doing this, is this all a dream?)

We ran and we walked and we ran some more
What could be better then running along the North Shore?

Down Highway 61 we ran and we ran
Taking it all in, the beauty, the rigor, the fans

We racked up the miles, we started to slow
But we wouldn’t give in when fatigue tried to show

I listened to my breathing, steady and smooth
I could do it, I’d make it, success would I choose

Mile 17, and 18, 19, and 20
My body was starting to say, “Hey! This is Plenty!”

But I was nearing the end, the farthest I’d ran!
I’d followed my program, this was part of the plan!

We entered Duluth, the trickiest part
You think that you’re done, but that’s sure a lark!

2 more miles to go, running through town
The crowds cheering madly, I didn't dare frown!

Then what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But the finish line sign and the crowds they did cheer

The finish was close, the clock was in sight
I knew I wouldn't have trouble sleeping tonight!

And then we were there, crossing the line
We had made it, together, and in a pretty good time!

We took a quick photo, proof of our feat!
Grabbed bananas and water, slim fast, and carbo treats

We had done it, we finished, 26.2 miles!
And all we could do was just smile, smile, smile.

Running to ease the mind

2007-06-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Let me begin with the simple fact that I am an extremely anxious person. It takes very little to stress me out and it takes a long time for me to let go of things that a "normal" person can brush off easily. Throughout my life I have dealt with this anxiety with either stuffing my face or not eating at all. Neither which have been good for me and neither of which have made me feel any better. Thankfully I have re-found running.

I have been running on and off for 10 years now. I ran in high school on the cross country team and even on non-race days could not disassociate running from competition. Everything was about beating someone else whether it was in miles ran or time from start to finish. In the end, running became more of a stressor than a relaxor.

It took me a few years to learn that I could run for me and that being "slow" or only going for a 2 mile run was not a bad thing. I found that running helped me clear my head. Typically my mind will race a million miles a minute, but when I lace up my shoes and start my run I can sort through my thoughts and calm myself down. I don't find myself reaching for the fridge handle as much anymore but instead I reach for a clean sports bra. And although i still stress too much, and am a little stubborn, I have found something for me, that no one can take from me, that has the ability to make to feel better.

The mental game?

2007-06-15T08:39:00.001-07:00

I find the major challenge in my running is getting out the door at all. It's a real struggle for me sometimes to get out there after a sh*tty day at work, and there are MANY of them right now. It's just a matter of remembering how fantastic I feel both mentally and physically after a run. The person who could bottle that feeling would be rich indeed.

On the positive side, I'm much better at pushing myself and my limits during my actual run. Someone on another running board I follow has a quote in his siggy: "Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second. " - William James. I'm trying to live by that now - hey, my legs might be tired, my lungs might be about to burst on a tough hill, but darn it, I'm going to keep going - and sure enough, once I reach the top, I've completed it and I'm still moving. Hills, distance, speed, I'm trying to work that "second wind" on all of them, and am gratified to find it holds true more often than not.

Your friend Lisa hard at work

2007-06-15T07:52:00.001-07:00

Mother and Son running together

2007-06-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

This is me and my son Aidan running the 1 mile kid's beach run on Siesta Beach.

Future Topics!

2007-06-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

--How do I know if I have what it takes to run a half marathon or a marathon?
--How to find a running club
--How to pick a training plan
--Finding a good running bra
--Finding good shoes
--Injuries in the First Person--my (insert body part) hurts and what I did
--Personal Safety
--Significant Races
--How do I get faster?
--Picking a marathon
--Can I lose weight while training?
--Finding time to run
--Finding time to train
--What to wear to run in what condition
--Treadmill training
--Turning your event into a family vacation
--Gadgets, gizmos and accessories (GPS, Hydration kits, baby joggers anything that helps us!)
--Returning to running after an extended period

2007-06-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

We are a group of friends who met through a running message board. All of us wanted to lose weight, be healthy and we all wanted to see if we could finish a half marathon or marathon! Some of us run, some walk, some do a combination of the two. We did it, and we think you can too!

Most of us have run a full marathon; others have run a half marathon and are deciding if they want to run a full marathon

We are just like you. We have jobs, families, school and many reasons not to train, but we have found that we are better for our training and that we have made lasting friendships while we do it.

This site is not a collection of training schedules. There are other places to find those and they are that are written by people who train others for a living for that. This is common advice—the things your girlfriend would tell you—if she were a marathoner, that is!