What a great start to a beautiful weekend.
After a very long week of work and hot stickiness, I was blessed with a beautiful (and quiet) Friday and an even more beautiful Saturday morning.
Today's race party was whittled down to two: my friend David and myself. A few months ago, Renee booked her family vacation to start today; a few weeks ago, David's wife Glenna, a teacher, found out her students secured a spot at a state competition; a few days ago, James realized he was going to have to work today.
James was particularly bummed, as this would have been his third year running this small race on the fast and flat course around the Mount Olive College campus. Mt. Olive, North Carolina is in fact home to the Mt. Olive Pickle Company. Every April they put on a Pickle Festival and for the past ten years, they have been hosting a 5K run. And yes, the goody bags have a free jar of pickles.
When James ran it two years ago, he said there couldn't have been more than 50 people. Last year, there was 100. This year, I would estimate 150, and the local running team from the Raleigh Running Outfitters shop showed up (and smoked all us local yokels).
I wasn't really sure how the race was going to go until it was already almost over. James not being there really messed me up - I woke up too late to eat anything of substance; realized I hadn't done running apparel laundry in over a week and had to scrounge up stinky clothes; didn't have time to make prerace coffee.
But the weather really was something spectacular. It's the kind of weather I wish I had at every race - sunny, breezy, cool, and dry. For once, I edged myself to the front of the pack with David (who regularly runs in the 20-22 minute range), and took off.
I had forgotten they didn't mark off the miles on this course, which in the end, helped. I did remember, though, that the course layout leads you to believe you're coming into the final turn about a half a mile before you actually do. I was breathing hard but coming into the final stretch, I kicked it up into high gear, and watched the final second tick down as I sprinted across the final line.
Miles 169-171: a 5K PR of 24:55, 8:05 min/miles.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Miles 161.5-164 and 165-168: Erin 1, Rain 1
This week's runs have been colored specifically by the storms that have been sweeping from the Midwest to the Atlantic coast.
Tuesday's storms dumped torrential rain just as I was getting out of work. So I warily opted to head to the gym and run sprints on the treadmill. (I felt I kind of had to, after eating two donuts.)
I was incredibly pleased with my 3 x 1 mile sprints at 8:30 min/mile. Okay, at that speed, the runs are not technically sprints; in my defense, I wasn't sure how my shins were going to hold up. However, the speed work went so well, I plan to do the same thing next week, regardless of the weather. And because I felt I had enough juice to dial the speed up a little further, next week we'll go to 8:15 min/mile. Let's hope it wasn't just the donuts.
Today's storms cleared up just before I got out of work, but the lack of rain was about the only luck I had. The stretch of thunderstorms didn't clear the air, and James and I ran through a sauna. I started out strong - James clocked us at 8:47 and 8:55 for the first two miles - but not long after, I felt the wind go out of my sails. Drenched in sweat, I struggled for breath. I did a mental check and realized that I had drank very little water today. I can always tell because my mouth feels like a cotton ball and my lips like parchment paper.
Miles 161.5-164: Speed work confidence booster.
Miles 165-168: Sucking air in a steam bath.
Tuesday's storms dumped torrential rain just as I was getting out of work. So I warily opted to head to the gym and run sprints on the treadmill. (I felt I kind of had to, after eating two donuts.)
I was incredibly pleased with my 3 x 1 mile sprints at 8:30 min/mile. Okay, at that speed, the runs are not technically sprints; in my defense, I wasn't sure how my shins were going to hold up. However, the speed work went so well, I plan to do the same thing next week, regardless of the weather. And because I felt I had enough juice to dial the speed up a little further, next week we'll go to 8:15 min/mile. Let's hope it wasn't just the donuts.
Today's storms cleared up just before I got out of work, but the lack of rain was about the only luck I had. The stretch of thunderstorms didn't clear the air, and James and I ran through a sauna. I started out strong - James clocked us at 8:47 and 8:55 for the first two miles - but not long after, I felt the wind go out of my sails. Drenched in sweat, I struggled for breath. I did a mental check and realized that I had drank very little water today. I can always tell because my mouth feels like a cotton ball and my lips like parchment paper.
Miles 161.5-164: Speed work confidence booster.
Miles 165-168: Sucking air in a steam bath.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Miles 153.5-161.5: Steamy
The weekend's off-and-on showers continued through last night and early this morning and James and I dressed for our long run for the week.
Sadly, even if we had been running naked, this run would have been uncomfortable.
When we woke, clouds from the night's rain were still lingering, but by the time we returned home from a quick trip to James's work, the sun had burned up the clouds and it was S-T-E-A-M-Y.
After the first mile, James ditched his shirt. By mile 2 - despite occasional strong winds - we were both soaked in sweat. By mile 5 (around 11 am), the heat was shimmering off the pavement.
It was like Go! STL all over again. Except without all the awesome fan and volunteer support.
On the positive side, my legs felt great and, despite feeling like I was running very slowly, I averaged a 9:45 mile pace over 8 miles.
James decided to go on and run a few more miles, so I headed home where I promptly tore off my sunglasses and hat and soaked my head with water from the garden hose.
Miles 153.5-161.5: 77 minutes on a steamy Easter Sunday morning.
Sadly, even if we had been running naked, this run would have been uncomfortable.
When we woke, clouds from the night's rain were still lingering, but by the time we returned home from a quick trip to James's work, the sun had burned up the clouds and it was S-T-E-A-M-Y.
After the first mile, James ditched his shirt. By mile 2 - despite occasional strong winds - we were both soaked in sweat. By mile 5 (around 11 am), the heat was shimmering off the pavement.
It was like Go! STL all over again. Except without all the awesome fan and volunteer support.
On the positive side, my legs felt great and, despite feeling like I was running very slowly, I averaged a 9:45 mile pace over 8 miles.
James decided to go on and run a few more miles, so I headed home where I promptly tore off my sunglasses and hat and soaked my head with water from the garden hose.
Miles 153.5-161.5: 77 minutes on a steamy Easter Sunday morning.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Birthday Reminiscing: Races
Due to rain - I can't really say unforeseen, because 9 times of out 10 it rains on my birthday - I'm currently stuck inside. After yesterday's posts about upcoming races, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on past races.
Based on my limited understanding of the history of running in America, I've gathered that once upon a time you only ran if you kicked ass and felt you could win. You ran to win. There were no elite runners, there were only runners. While competition is the driving force for many runners still, I'm happy to be one of the recreational generation of runners, those who run races because it's a place where a group - anywhere from 100 to 15,000 people - come together together for a common goal, to cross a finish line. It's kind of like yoga - a communion of souls moving and breathing in concert.
Before I moved to North Carolina, I had only run two races, a Fall 2003 5K in Chicago and a Spring 2005 3.5 miler in Chicago. Since moving here to be with James, we've run 18 races.
03/21/09 Greenville Home Run 5K 27:32
04/04/09 Greater Goldsboro Road Race 10K 57.40
06/06/09 Run the Quay 5K 27:05
07/04/09 Great Raleigh Road Race 4M 35:56
10/11/09 Garris Chapel 5K 28:33
11/14/09 Richamond Half Marathon 2:10:44
02/27/10 Crystal Coast 5K 27:31
03/27/10 Raleigh Rocks Half Marathon 2:10:18
04/10/10 Greater Goldsboro Road Race 10K 57:12
04/24/10 Mt. Olive Cuke Patch 5K 24:42
05/01/10 Wounded Warrior 10K 60:05
10/09/10 Garrish Chapel 5K 26:34
10/30/10 Faison Market Day 5K 25:?
11/07/10 City of Oaks Half Marathon 2:09:33
12/05/10 Reindeer Dash 4 Cash 5K 28:47
03/05/11 Crystal Coast 5K 26:13
03/26/11 Kinston Run the River 8K 43:54
04/10/11 Go! St. Louis Half Marathon 2:28:44
Looking over this list, I can remember each race vividly. The lady at the 2009 GGRR 10K whose running skirt got sucked into the vortex of her butt crack; the delirious heat at the 2009 July 4th 4-Miler, running downhill to the finish line; stumbling through my last three miles of the 2010 Raleigh Rocks Half convinced I was going to finish a half an hour behind my previous time and then collapsing into James's arms a mess of tears and shock that I actually beat my previous time by 30 seconds; running back to get my friends at the 2010 Garris Chapel 5K (their first race) cheering them on.
Tonight at dinner, I'll drink to this - to many more years, many more races, and many more memories.
Based on my limited understanding of the history of running in America, I've gathered that once upon a time you only ran if you kicked ass and felt you could win. You ran to win. There were no elite runners, there were only runners. While competition is the driving force for many runners still, I'm happy to be one of the recreational generation of runners, those who run races because it's a place where a group - anywhere from 100 to 15,000 people - come together together for a common goal, to cross a finish line. It's kind of like yoga - a communion of souls moving and breathing in concert.
Before I moved to North Carolina, I had only run two races, a Fall 2003 5K in Chicago and a Spring 2005 3.5 miler in Chicago. Since moving here to be with James, we've run 18 races.
03/21/09 Greenville Home Run 5K 27:32
04/04/09 Greater Goldsboro Road Race 10K 57.40
06/06/09 Run the Quay 5K 27:05
07/04/09 Great Raleigh Road Race 4M 35:56
10/11/09 Garris Chapel 5K 28:33
11/14/09 Richamond Half Marathon 2:10:44
02/27/10 Crystal Coast 5K 27:31
03/27/10 Raleigh Rocks Half Marathon 2:10:18
04/10/10 Greater Goldsboro Road Race 10K 57:12
04/24/10 Mt. Olive Cuke Patch 5K 24:42
05/01/10 Wounded Warrior 10K 60:05
10/09/10 Garrish Chapel 5K 26:34
10/30/10 Faison Market Day 5K 25:?
11/07/10 City of Oaks Half Marathon 2:09:33
12/05/10 Reindeer Dash 4 Cash 5K 28:47
03/05/11 Crystal Coast 5K 26:13
03/26/11 Kinston Run the River 8K 43:54
04/10/11 Go! St. Louis Half Marathon 2:28:44
Looking over this list, I can remember each race vividly. The lady at the 2009 GGRR 10K whose running skirt got sucked into the vortex of her butt crack; the delirious heat at the 2009 July 4th 4-Miler, running downhill to the finish line; stumbling through my last three miles of the 2010 Raleigh Rocks Half convinced I was going to finish a half an hour behind my previous time and then collapsing into James's arms a mess of tears and shock that I actually beat my previous time by 30 seconds; running back to get my friends at the 2010 Garris Chapel 5K (their first race) cheering them on.
Tonight at dinner, I'll drink to this - to many more years, many more races, and many more memories.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Miles 149-153.5: Sheer awesomeness
I'm giddy and I'm jazzing because I just ran (technically) 5.75 miles in 49:32, which is roughly 8:40 min/mile.
Yes!
It probably helps that I've pigged out all day on cookie cake and a toasted sub and french fries from the local pizza shop near work in a pre-birthday celebration. The slippery slope argument of carbo-loading in this fashion is not advised, but once in a great while, it's acceptable.
Weather-wise it's crappy here - gloomy, windy, and humid from passing storms, but the run was perfectly awesome and an excellent rebound from Tuesday's perfectly awful showing.
As I've already pointed out here and here, I've royally screwed up my schedule to run 1111 miles in 2011. However, I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel and to keep myself motivated, James and I have arranged an impressive race schedule for the rest of the year:
May 22nd, Williamsburg Run for the Dream Half Marathon
An inagural half-marathon through historic Williamsburg should be an awesome cap to spring race season.
July 30th, Bix 7 (Davenport, IA)
We are travelling back to the midwest to visit James's family and friends and run this monster course, featuring one of the nastiest race starts - a sheer uphill during the first mile - and quite possibly the hilliest course I've run to date.
September 11th, Chicago Half Marathon (Chicago, IL)
James's mom Cathy plans to run her first half marathon at this fast and flat course and I hope to break 2 hours! Sister Emily and mom Janet will probably be joining us well, and my dad Mike - after doing his own race, the Big Shoulder's 1 mile open swim on Lake Michigan - will be there at the finish. James has already run fast enough to be seeded towards the front of the pack. Something tells me he is going to tear it up.
October 23rd, Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Our last big hurrah for 2011, Myrtle Beach will be a great place for my friend Glenna to run her first half marathon and for the NC gang to celebrate an awesome year.
Tomorrow - birthday run!
Yes!
It probably helps that I've pigged out all day on cookie cake and a toasted sub and french fries from the local pizza shop near work in a pre-birthday celebration. The slippery slope argument of carbo-loading in this fashion is not advised, but once in a great while, it's acceptable.
Weather-wise it's crappy here - gloomy, windy, and humid from passing storms, but the run was perfectly awesome and an excellent rebound from Tuesday's perfectly awful showing.
As I've already pointed out here and here, I've royally screwed up my schedule to run 1111 miles in 2011. However, I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel and to keep myself motivated, James and I have arranged an impressive race schedule for the rest of the year:
May 22nd, Williamsburg Run for the Dream Half Marathon
An inagural half-marathon through historic Williamsburg should be an awesome cap to spring race season.
July 30th, Bix 7 (Davenport, IA)
We are travelling back to the midwest to visit James's family and friends and run this monster course, featuring one of the nastiest race starts - a sheer uphill during the first mile - and quite possibly the hilliest course I've run to date.
September 11th, Chicago Half Marathon (Chicago, IL)
James's mom Cathy plans to run her first half marathon at this fast and flat course and I hope to break 2 hours! Sister Emily and mom Janet will probably be joining us well, and my dad Mike - after doing his own race, the Big Shoulder's 1 mile open swim on Lake Michigan - will be there at the finish. James has already run fast enough to be seeded towards the front of the pack. Something tells me he is going to tear it up.
October 23rd, Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Our last big hurrah for 2011, Myrtle Beach will be a great place for my friend Glenna to run her first half marathon and for the NC gang to celebrate an awesome year.
Tomorrow - birthday run!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Miles 146-148: Hot! Hot! Hot!
I was tying my laces when James returned from his run panting, dripping with sweat, and repeating, "It is HOT out there."
I should have listened.
But, no, instead I thought I'd do a fast three miler. I figured I was wearing appropriate gear, there was a nice breeze, I'd be fine.
I sprinted off quickly, feet connecting solidly and my form strong, went around the first bend and - WHAM - my nice breeze was suddenly a fierce wind. After the first mile, I, too, was panting and feeling the heat and wondering if I made a mistake going out so quickly. By mile 2, I knew I had made a mistake as I watched my pace slow by 20%.
My mouth dried up and my tongue felt thick, my legs felt wobbly and my feet unsure, my face burned and dripped, my stomach revolted.
I hobbled home, grabbed some water, and sat on the porch. A freshly showered James came out and sat beside me.
"Well, how was it?"
It was HOT.
Miles 146-148: 3 sloppy miles in 85°F and 10.5 mph winds
I should have listened.
But, no, instead I thought I'd do a fast three miler. I figured I was wearing appropriate gear, there was a nice breeze, I'd be fine.
I sprinted off quickly, feet connecting solidly and my form strong, went around the first bend and - WHAM - my nice breeze was suddenly a fierce wind. After the first mile, I, too, was panting and feeling the heat and wondering if I made a mistake going out so quickly. By mile 2, I knew I had made a mistake as I watched my pace slow by 20%.
My mouth dried up and my tongue felt thick, my legs felt wobbly and my feet unsure, my face burned and dripped, my stomach revolted.
I hobbled home, grabbed some water, and sat on the porch. A freshly showered James came out and sat beside me.
"Well, how was it?"
It was HOT.
Miles 146-148: 3 sloppy miles in 85°F and 10.5 mph winds
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A Moment of Silence
 |
| Photo credit: Associated Press, 1983. |
Grete Waitz, Marathon Champion, Dies at 57
I had first learned about her in the fantastically inspirational documentary Run for Your Life. Even a non-runner can appreciate the amazing story of the New York Marathon - what the race did for the city, its runners, its residents and the sport of running in the United States over all.
Thank you, Grete Waitz, fair Norwegian slip of a woman, who learned to run in the woods but stormed the pavement with the best of them.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Miles 140-145: After the Storm
What a weekend.
Obviously, the Friday Freedom Run didn't happen; when you're in the middle of a good book and you come home to a cold beer and the weather is singing of spring, it's hard not to grab said book and beer and settle in on the deck for a long read.
Saturday I spent the day cleaning house, then watching movies with James, then freaking out and cleaning up our yard after a little Midwest storm action happened. A series of tornado touchdowns, complete with 70 mph winds and quarter- to golf ball-sized hail swept through the coastal plains, wantonly wreaking havoc as tornados do. One town’s Lowe’s was leveled, while another received only rain.
Other than our poor azaleas being stripped of their blooms and a brief flooding of the yard, our house and vehicles were unharmed. Thank god for the awesome drainage of sandy soil.
Today’s run was awesome. The tang of fresh broken pine needles hung in the air in the wake of the storm. The air was clear and crisp and the roads were quiet. It was still a tad windy, but nothing like yesterday’s gusts.
The father of my friend’s daughter’s boyfriend passed away on Friday. Sounds like I’m reaching for something, I know, but I know the friend’s daughter, I know her boyfriend. I will probably be sore tomorrow from this run (and from the planned yard work afterwards) but I can’t help but feel glad that I’m able to feel that pain.
Miles 140-145: 57 minutes of thanks.
Obviously, the Friday Freedom Run didn't happen; when you're in the middle of a good book and you come home to a cold beer and the weather is singing of spring, it's hard not to grab said book and beer and settle in on the deck for a long read.
Saturday I spent the day cleaning house, then watching movies with James, then freaking out and cleaning up our yard after a little Midwest storm action happened. A series of tornado touchdowns, complete with 70 mph winds and quarter- to golf ball-sized hail swept through the coastal plains, wantonly wreaking havoc as tornados do. One town’s Lowe’s was leveled, while another received only rain.
Other than our poor azaleas being stripped of their blooms and a brief flooding of the yard, our house and vehicles were unharmed. Thank god for the awesome drainage of sandy soil.
Today’s run was awesome. The tang of fresh broken pine needles hung in the air in the wake of the storm. The air was clear and crisp and the roads were quiet. It was still a tad windy, but nothing like yesterday’s gusts.
The father of my friend’s daughter’s boyfriend passed away on Friday. Sounds like I’m reaching for something, I know, but I know the friend’s daughter, I know her boyfriend. I will probably be sore tomorrow from this run (and from the planned yard work afterwards) but I can’t help but feel glad that I’m able to feel that pain.
Miles 140-145: 57 minutes of thanks.
Friday, April 15, 2011
You Might Be A Runner If....
Today will be my first day running after the half-marathon this past Sunday. The weather has been such that I've actually been itching to run sooner, however, with plans to run the Williamsburg Run for the Dream Half-Marathon on May 22nd, I thought it best to let my legs rest for several days. The shins have been doing surprisingly well, and I certainly don't want to jinx the relatively pain-free run I had on Sunday.
As I mentioned previously Running in the USA has become one of my favorite sites as of late, and I've been especially enjoying their "You Might Be A Runner If..." section. Here are their top 25, by voted ranking:
Check back later for today's Friday Freedom Run entry!
As I mentioned previously Running in the USA has become one of my favorite sites as of late, and I've been especially enjoying their "You Might Be A Runner If..." section. Here are their top 25, by voted ranking:
| 1 | You think $20 for a banana and some Powerade is a good deal | 8.93 | 41 |
| 2 | your day isn't complete until you've put your run in. | 8.72 | 500 |
| 3 | your daily run is like therapy, or an anti-depressant. | 8.62 | 397 |
| 4 | You know that a course was accurately measured just by looking at your race finishing time | 8.44 | 41 |
| 5 | Your 'To Do' list reads: 1) Go Run 2) Everything Else | 8.38 | 500 |
| 6 | you get upset about injuries because they keep you from running, not because you have actually damaged your body. | 8.36 | 347 |
| 7 | while driving places, you're constantly evaluating the road for it's "running route potential". | 8.31 | 13 |
| 8 | you run.....for fun | 8.26 | 233 |
| 9 | you are impressed and also happy when a female wins the overall race | 8.25 | 20 |
| 10 | you don't like having to take a "rest day" | 8.19 | 26 |
| 11 | you consider getting a PR almost as great as winning the race. | 8.17 | 319 |
| 12 | you have a list of all the races you plan to run for the next 12 months. | 8.16 | 479 |
| 13 | you are on this website | 8.15 | 500 |
| 14 | you are proud of and respect all runners of all abilities. | 8.14 | 277 |
| 15 | you feel an instant kinship to any other runner you pass by on the street. | 8.14 | 192 |
| 16 | Whether a 5K runner or a marathon runner, you understand "the runner's high". | 8.12 | 420 |
| 17 | The high you feel after a race outweighs the anxiety you feel before it. | 8.11 | 436 |
| 18 | You miss Will Chamberlin | 8.09 | 44 |
| 19 | a nice walk doesn't really feel much like excercise. | 8.02 | 401 |
| 20 | Your ipod has a "running" playlist | 7.97 | 305 |
| 21 | your non-running friends consider every race you run a "marathon". | 7.97 | 215 |
| 22 | you are happy when the overall race winner is over 40, allowing you to win the masters award even though you were the second masters finisher. | 7.97 | 30 |
| 23 | a good day is when you put more miles on your running shoes than your car tires. | 7.94 | 154 |
| 24 | you expect to come through a finish line seeing bananas, bagels, and Gatorade. | 7.93 | 28 |
| 25 | you only wear your running shoes for running. | 7.92 | 24 |
Check back later for today's Friday Freedom Run entry!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Miles 127-139: Go! St. Louis Half Marathon
It's now well over 48 hours since my sister Emily, my mother Janet, and myself crossed the finish line of my fourth, Emily's second, and Janet's first half marathon, hands held high in the runner's trifecta of agony, awe, and accomplishment after 2:28:44 of pounding the pavement.
In the wake of what happened to a number of the marathoners due to the unforeseen heat and humidity On Sunday, I am extremely pleased that we finished and am even more proud of our time.
But I'm getting ahead of myself - REWIND.
Sunday morning we all woke before light and snacked on parts of bagels and bananas and dressed in our snazzy matching running gear. Emily and Janet had been fretting about the predictions of early morning heat the night before and it was definitely disheartening to walk outside at 6 am to read that it was 73 degrees already. Nerves jangling, we packed into the car and my father kindly chauffeured us downtown.
Waiting in line at the requisite Port-A-John stop, I heard a veteran runner talking about planning to modify his pace due to the weather. Dressed in nothing but running shorts and shoes, with a hairless chest and legs, this man's words made the hair stand up on the back of my head and I prayed that Janet hadn't heard. If a pro is adjusting his plan of attack, you know a newbie is in for it.
With 17,000 registered participants in the half and full marathon, the starting line was headed by the elites, followed by five starting corrals. After snaking our way into the middle, Janet leaned over and whispered to me, "Am I supposed to feel like a cow?" We were a veritable pack of cattle - stomping, nervously tossing our heads, and anxiously awaiting the go.
Due to our "D" corral positioning, it took nearly ten minutes for us to actually start running the race - a brief anticlimactic hiatus after the shot goes off - and as we ran under the gate, I heard Janet shout, "I saw your father!"
The first few miles were absolutely crazy. With thousands of people running, we spent miles 1-4 dodging in and out of runners alone, in pairs, and groups, trying to find a slot to run at a comfortable pace. For the first time, I found myself shrouded in a fine mist of thousands of other people's sweat and hot breaths. (Trust me, that only reads half as disgusting as it felt.) Thankfully, those first miles were also some of the most scenic, taking us towards the Arch, then routing us through Soulard, around the Anheuser-Busch Brewery (nothing like the smell of fermenting hops and yeast on a warm, humid morning), and past Busch Stadium.
Up to this point, we had seen some fun signs and heard the encouragement of spectators, but when we doubled-back across the the start/finish area, we were all blown away by the roar of the crowd and the sight of thousands of people running up the gradual incline west on Chestnut Street.
After that high, things started to get a little dicey. The temperature was steadily rising, and the long slow rise and fall of rolling hills proved much more challenging than we expected. Emily struggled particularly with the heat, fighting off dehydration, and we backed down a little from our goal pace of 11:00/mile to walk up some of the hills. Going into the turn-around at mile 10, we started noticing runners on the side of the road being tended to by EMS. We weren't the only runners who had slowed to a walk.
I can only imagine what those final three miles felt like for my mother. I surprised myself, feeling as good as I did. For once, I was present enough to enjoy the runners (sweat and breath and all), the crowds, the music, the hills, and even the weather. But I've been in her shoes before. All three times before, actually - your mind goes numb while your body is acutely aware of how tired it is, and you believe that the miles will never end. I have fought tears during those last three miles before and I have wept after finishing. I kept shouting with each mile over 10 - Mile 11! Mile 12! Mile 13! - for each mile over 10 represented the longest run she had ever done.
When we came into the finish, I instinctively grabbed her hand and she Emily's and we crossed together. It was by far not my fastest half marathon but will undoutedly be my favorite.
And my favorite moment of my favorite half-marathon? Nearly 90 minutes after the race was finished and we were showered and on our way to a post-race brunch, my mother Janet shouts, in the car, "Oh my God! I actually did it!"
Yes, Mom, you actually did.
Miles 127-139: 13.1 miles at an 11:35/mile pace ran in the hot stickiness of a fickle spring day in the biggest small town I know.
In the wake of what happened to a number of the marathoners due to the unforeseen heat and humidity On Sunday, I am extremely pleased that we finished and am even more proud of our time.
But I'm getting ahead of myself - REWIND.
Sunday morning we all woke before light and snacked on parts of bagels and bananas and dressed in our snazzy matching running gear. Emily and Janet had been fretting about the predictions of early morning heat the night before and it was definitely disheartening to walk outside at 6 am to read that it was 73 degrees already. Nerves jangling, we packed into the car and my father kindly chauffeured us downtown.
Waiting in line at the requisite Port-A-John stop, I heard a veteran runner talking about planning to modify his pace due to the weather. Dressed in nothing but running shorts and shoes, with a hairless chest and legs, this man's words made the hair stand up on the back of my head and I prayed that Janet hadn't heard. If a pro is adjusting his plan of attack, you know a newbie is in for it.
With 17,000 registered participants in the half and full marathon, the starting line was headed by the elites, followed by five starting corrals. After snaking our way into the middle, Janet leaned over and whispered to me, "Am I supposed to feel like a cow?" We were a veritable pack of cattle - stomping, nervously tossing our heads, and anxiously awaiting the go.
Due to our "D" corral positioning, it took nearly ten minutes for us to actually start running the race - a brief anticlimactic hiatus after the shot goes off - and as we ran under the gate, I heard Janet shout, "I saw your father!"
The first few miles were absolutely crazy. With thousands of people running, we spent miles 1-4 dodging in and out of runners alone, in pairs, and groups, trying to find a slot to run at a comfortable pace. For the first time, I found myself shrouded in a fine mist of thousands of other people's sweat and hot breaths. (Trust me, that only reads half as disgusting as it felt.) Thankfully, those first miles were also some of the most scenic, taking us towards the Arch, then routing us through Soulard, around the Anheuser-Busch Brewery (nothing like the smell of fermenting hops and yeast on a warm, humid morning), and past Busch Stadium.
Up to this point, we had seen some fun signs and heard the encouragement of spectators, but when we doubled-back across the the start/finish area, we were all blown away by the roar of the crowd and the sight of thousands of people running up the gradual incline west on Chestnut Street.
After that high, things started to get a little dicey. The temperature was steadily rising, and the long slow rise and fall of rolling hills proved much more challenging than we expected. Emily struggled particularly with the heat, fighting off dehydration, and we backed down a little from our goal pace of 11:00/mile to walk up some of the hills. Going into the turn-around at mile 10, we started noticing runners on the side of the road being tended to by EMS. We weren't the only runners who had slowed to a walk.
I can only imagine what those final three miles felt like for my mother. I surprised myself, feeling as good as I did. For once, I was present enough to enjoy the runners (sweat and breath and all), the crowds, the music, the hills, and even the weather. But I've been in her shoes before. All three times before, actually - your mind goes numb while your body is acutely aware of how tired it is, and you believe that the miles will never end. I have fought tears during those last three miles before and I have wept after finishing. I kept shouting with each mile over 10 - Mile 11! Mile 12! Mile 13! - for each mile over 10 represented the longest run she had ever done.
When we came into the finish, I instinctively grabbed her hand and she Emily's and we crossed together. It was by far not my fastest half marathon but will undoutedly be my favorite.
And my favorite moment of my favorite half-marathon? Nearly 90 minutes after the race was finished and we were showered and on our way to a post-race brunch, my mother Janet shouts, in the car, "Oh my God! I actually did it!"
Yes, Mom, you actually did.
Miles 127-139: 13.1 miles at an 11:35/mile pace ran in the hot stickiness of a fickle spring day in the biggest small town I know.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Go! St. Louis Half Marathon Prologue
Stay tuned tomorrow for a play by play of the half-marathon, but the highlights are:
It was hot.
It was humid.
They had to close the marathon course.
The volunteers rocked.
The crowds made awesome signage: "Chuck Norris Never Ran a Marathon," "Hurry Up! I'm in Labor" (held by massively pregnant woman), and "Show Us Your Sweaty Boobs" (in Soulard, home of famed STL Mardis Gras).
My mother ran her first half-marathon at age 50 in less than 2:30.
It was hot.
It was humid.
They had to close the marathon course.
The volunteers rocked.
The crowds made awesome signage: "Chuck Norris Never Ran a Marathon," "Hurry Up! I'm in Labor" (held by massively pregnant woman), and "Show Us Your Sweaty Boobs" (in Soulard, home of famed STL Mardis Gras).
My mother ran her first half-marathon at age 50 in less than 2:30.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Miles 122.5-126: 3 Days!
Okay, the following is cheesy. I admit it. But I still think it's worth watching, especially for my ladies and all y'all out there running the race this weekend.
I really needed to watch it last night after my run, which felt off and weird. My shins were aching and my feet and ankles felt disconnected from my legs. I was not surprised, after uploading the data, that my run was terribly inconsistent:
It's really hard for me to believe that in just over 50 hours, I will be running my fourth half-marathon. Watch out, St. Louis!
I really needed to watch it last night after my run, which felt off and weird. My shins were aching and my feet and ankles felt disconnected from my legs. I was not surprised, after uploading the data, that my run was terribly inconsistent:
See all those peaks and valleys? Compare to my 8K race, where I felt strong and sure throughout (though, uh, forgot to press the stop button at the end, hence the drastic drop-off):
It's really hard for me to believe that in just over 50 hours, I will be running my fourth half-marathon. Watch out, St. Louis!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Miles: 112.5-122.5: One week!
That's right - one week until the STL Go! Half-Marathon.
Training for this race has been sketchy, what with the shin splints, bad weather, and various illnesses combated over the past 90 days, but today's run proves that the body is an amazing machine.
1:36:43 for 10 miles ain't too shabby. More importantly, it's right in pace with the 10 miler that my sister and my mom ran last weekend, so the impact of our matching running outfits should be stunning and we run side by side to the finish line.
James and I have been trying to decide what our next race will be. We both want to run one more half before spring race season is over. Unfortunately, due to the impending hot weather, this coming weekend is the last big half-marathon weekend in Eastern North Carolina, so we've been trying to look in Western NC as well as Eastern Virginia for a race in May. While it's a great way to sign up for races online, Active.com is no longer my prefered site - Running in the USA is.
Providing a far more user friendly search (i.e. click Find a Race, then on the state of your choice, the run of your choice and - voila! - a chronological list of races at your fingertips), this website allowd me to home in on a race the weekend before Memorial Day weekend in Williamsburg, VA - Run for the Dream.
The rest of our 2011 race year is loosely shaping up as:
April 9th - Greater Goldsboro Road Race 10K (James)
April 10th - STL Go! Half-Marathon (Erin)
April 30th - Mt. Olive Cuke Patch 5k
May 22nd - Williamsburg Run for the Dream Half-Marathon
July 30th - Davenport Bix 7
September 11th - Chicago Half Marathon
And, of course, hopefully some more 5K and 10K runs in there.
Maybe I'll get to 1111 miles yet.
Training for this race has been sketchy, what with the shin splints, bad weather, and various illnesses combated over the past 90 days, but today's run proves that the body is an amazing machine.
1:36:43 for 10 miles ain't too shabby. More importantly, it's right in pace with the 10 miler that my sister and my mom ran last weekend, so the impact of our matching running outfits should be stunning and we run side by side to the finish line.
James and I have been trying to decide what our next race will be. We both want to run one more half before spring race season is over. Unfortunately, due to the impending hot weather, this coming weekend is the last big half-marathon weekend in Eastern North Carolina, so we've been trying to look in Western NC as well as Eastern Virginia for a race in May. While it's a great way to sign up for races online, Active.com is no longer my prefered site - Running in the USA is.
Providing a far more user friendly search (i.e. click Find a Race, then on the state of your choice, the run of your choice and - voila! - a chronological list of races at your fingertips), this website allowd me to home in on a race the weekend before Memorial Day weekend in Williamsburg, VA - Run for the Dream.
The rest of our 2011 race year is loosely shaping up as:
April 9th - Greater Goldsboro Road Race 10K (James)
April 10th - STL Go! Half-Marathon (Erin)
April 30th - Mt. Olive Cuke Patch 5k
May 22nd - Williamsburg Run for the Dream Half-Marathon
July 30th - Davenport Bix 7
September 11th - Chicago Half Marathon
And, of course, hopefully some more 5K and 10K runs in there.
Maybe I'll get to 1111 miles yet.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Miles 110-112.5: April Fools Friday Freedom Run
The only April Foolin' part about this Friday was that I thought I would actually get to leave at 4:00 today, but it always seems that shit seems to blow up when I'm trying to get out of there.
As the French say, C'est la vie.
Neverthless, today's run was a good one. More importantly, with the arrival of April, I now have less than a week and a half before my sister Emily, my mom, my cousin's wife Jessica and I will be lining up with thousands of others to run the St. Louis Go! Half Marathon.
I am beyond excited to go home, but more importantly, to run this very special race - the first long distance race with my family. And, thanks to my father, one that will be celebrated with what promises to be an awesome brunch at Yia Yia's.
But tomorrow I go to cheer on the Wayne County gang at another 5K while I rest up for a 10-miler on Sunday.
As the French say, C'est la vie.
Neverthless, today's run was a good one. More importantly, with the arrival of April, I now have less than a week and a half before my sister Emily, my mom, my cousin's wife Jessica and I will be lining up with thousands of others to run the St. Louis Go! Half Marathon.
I am beyond excited to go home, but more importantly, to run this very special race - the first long distance race with my family. And, thanks to my father, one that will be celebrated with what promises to be an awesome brunch at Yia Yia's.
But tomorrow I go to cheer on the Wayne County gang at another 5K while I rest up for a 10-miler on Sunday.
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