Marathon #7 - Not so lucky...

Well, I had hoped that having the number 7 attached to this marathon would mean I'd FINALLY hit my goal of finishing in under 4:00.

I'm not a complete moron, I assumed my training would have something to do with it as well. But, it just didn't go as I had hoped.

This was the second year for the La Crosse Marathon and just under 300 people were registered, with several more running the half marathon.

We travelled to La Crosse on Saturday afternoon and then had a wonderful pre-race meal at Applebee's. We wanted Olive Garden, but the wait was too long. We went to bed at a decent hour and I think my sleep was pretty restful.

Here is something that was a little irritating, breakfast. We figured we could grab toast and/or cereal before heading to the race. The sign on the breakfast door said, 6-9am. So, we called the front desk, who snottily informed us that that was Mon. through Fri., Sunday breakfast starts at 7am. Um, wouldn't you think they'd make an adjustment knowing that most of their business the night before was in town for, um, a RACE???

My dad was nice enough to take us to the start, so we didn't have to deal with the shuttle. After an impromptu stop at Kwik Trip for a granola bar breakfast, we were on our way. We greatly misjudged how long it would take and arrived at the start area around 6:15am. The race was to begin at 7:30am. Oops!

Without going into any detail, let's just say my stomach was very nervous that morning. I'm fairly certain I started the race on a less than empty stomach. 'Nuff said.

The bonus of a small marathon is that you cross the start line within seconds...as opposed to minutes at a larger race. The negative? There were no pace groups to align myself with. I usually like to start with one and see how long I can hang on.

We took off and I felt pretty good. The first and supposedly only hill in the race was within a few minutes of the start, over a huge (and beautiful) bridge. Even though I felt like all 300 people were passing me, I tried to focus on not going out too hard. Well, I was marginally successful, but the first mile was 8:21, a little fast for what I was planning.

So, I re-evaluated and tried my best to slow down, but the pace I was running felt fine. Mile 2 was 8:25. OK, still not getting into the right pace...grrr!

My dad, stepmom, and Carrie's Dad were GREAT at getting around the course. We must have seen them at least 4 times before the first 4 miles, then again at mile 15.

I finally started to settle into a better pace around mile 3. Mile 3 was 8:38, Mile 4 was 8:46, Mile 5 was 8:42, Mile 6 was 8:51, Mile 7 was 8:45. All of these splits led to me hitting the 7 mile mark in an hour, 8:34 pace.

While I would normally be happy with that pace, I knew it could possibly come back to bite me later on. It did.

I still felt alright, but could feel myself slowing down, which was discouraging. Miles 7-14 were variations of 9:00, 9:15, etc. But, since the first 7 were a bit faster, I wasn't completely off my chance of breaking 4:00.

There were a few miles of panic where I thought I missed the turn off for the marathoners. It occurred to me that we hadn't yet split. So, I looked around me to see if there were any marathoners around me. Nope, all of them were half marathoners. So, I was beginning to wonder if I'd be running 13.1 rather than a full? As I approached the 13 mile mark, I could see that the half marathoners turned to the right to finish, while the marathoners continued ahead. Phew?

I saw my Dad and the crew at mile 15, which was encouraging. I have to say, with only 300 runners, I felt pretty lonely at times. I train with friends often, but I also run alone quite a bit. But, for some reason, it sure gets lonely in a marathon when there's no one else around you.

OK, so they advertised that this race was flat, other than the bridge in mile 1. I wouldn't say it was crazy hilly, but they could have been a bit more informative. We went over several overpasses and came back over them on the turn around. As I approached an overpass in the latter half of the race, I was SO negative, "Um, what the heck? Why does this overpass have to be here, now, at this moment?" So, I tried to push my way up the hill and then I see a mile marker sign, turned the other way. Frick! Now I know for sure that I will be coming BACK over this stupid overpass when my legs are even more tired. I checked the mile marker...mile 23. Grrr...

At this point, my splits are going into the high 9:00s and low 10:00s. I'm so disappointed in myself that I'm sure it's affecting my attitude, therefore my running. I hit the 20 mile mark around 3:05. So, if I busted the final 6 miles, maybe I could break 4:00. I can tell you right now, there was no "busting" in my vocabulary at that point. I tried my best to fight the negativity and make myself run through it, but it just wasn't enough.

My lower back wasn't really a big issue at this race, as it has been before. It did start to flare up in the final miles, but I can't blame it for my performance...or lack thereof.

As I finished the last few miles, I tried to remind myself that I was about to complete marathon #7 in less than 4 years. While that is a great accomplishment, it just didn't make me feel much better.

I crossed the finish line in 4:11:51, full of disappointment and frustration. Everyone has been so encouraging and telling me that I'm too hard on myself, which I so appreciate! But, when you spend 4 1/2 months working toward a goal and on the 7th attempt STILL don't do it...it's VERY upsetting. It's not as if I'm going to quit marathoning once I break 4:00, but it's just a barrier I need to break through. Then I can focus on qualifying for Boston (hopefully some day!).

I'm still down about it, but of course I realize there are much worse things than this. I have a ton of races on my schedule in the next several months. My goal is to set some PR's in the shorter distances and then start training for the Marine Corps Marathon!

Our post race "meal?" We stopped at Kwik Trip and purchased a 44 oz. diet pepsi fountain pop, a large bag of Cheetos, and a Twix ice cream bar, EACH of us. Mmm, very healthy!

Here are some pics from the race!

Me & Carrie before the race, we've run 5 marathons together (sort of)!

Here I am, I think maybe the first few miles of the race.

Here I am around mile 15, feeling tired...

Me & Carrie after the race
Carrie ran a PR and was the 4th female overall!

Yay for PRs (and taper time)!

Last Friday was my last long(ish) run before I taper for the marathon in 2 weeks. I had a plan...to have a fantastic run and just let the time fly by. As some of you know, this plan doesn't always work out. You take off and don't feel right, legs feel heavy, and the run takes forever.

I took off on a gorgeous day and felt great. It was a titch windy for my taste (I can be a pansy, I know), but for some reason I was just loving my run. I loved it so much, in fact, that when I hit the required 12 miles, I decided I'd tag a few more on. My pace was right where it needed to be and the time literally flew by. This is exactly how you want your final long run to go.

I ran a local 5K race on Saturday morning. My goal this year is to break 24:00 in the 5K. This requires me to cut 25 seconds off my current PR. Typically, I like to have an easy rest day before a race, but with training, that doesn't always work out. So, I went into the race with an open mind and just hoping to feel good and have fun.

An elite friend of mine (who was 1st female) reminded me of what a hilly course this was and how she thinks it's a tough course to PR on. Oops...maybe I won't PR today?

I took off and felt great! My first mile was 7:50 and I felt strong, so I tried to keep that up. Mile 2 was a bit slower, 7:56. I think the hills were in mile 2? I don't remember... I was feeling strong into the final mile, so I really tried to push. Mile 3 was 7:47. Final time: 24:10.

Woohoo! What a great feeling! The last few times I've PR'd were when I went into the race with low to no expectations. Maybe there's something to this? This was my 2nd 5K of the year and I felt SO much better after this one than I did after the one in February (which was slow and not a PR).

So, now I just have to cut a pesky 10 seconds from my time to meet my goal. Is it possible for me to run in the 23:00s??? I sure hope so and I'm going to push myself to do it!

Back to taper time...while I enjoy the decrease in mileage, I don't enjoy that I'd like to eat anything and everything at ALL times. Oh wait, I do that the entire time I'm training anyway. However, with less mileage, maybe I don't want to eat 6,000 calories a day? Ugh, I'm a born eater, I can't help it!

I hope I feel as good as I've felt the last few weeks on marathon day. No matter what, it will be another fun experience!

T Minus 3 weeks...

The LaCrosse Marathon is creeping ever so much closer...less than 3 weeks away!

I ran my 3rd and final 20 miler this past Saturday. After a brief experience with allergies on Friday, I was thrilled to feel 100% ready to run Saturday morning. The goal was to feel strong throughout and make sure my GU/water stops were very brief. Mission accomplished!

I met our local running club and ran the first few by myself. Then, I ran a stretch of 6 miles with a girl I had just met that morning. Again, a very cool by-product of running...making a new buddy in minutes! So, I ended up running about 13 of it by myself.

I felt pretty good throughout, with no major issues or moments of frustration. My last 2 miles were the only 2 over 9:00, so I was pleased with that. I ran this 3rd 20 miler in 2:56, which is pretty much what I ran the other two in. So, at least I'm consistent, right?

I just need to carry that through for the final 6.2 miles! That's where I typically get into trouble...so I really really really really really really hope I can push past that this time, and break 4:00!

I remember the first 20 milers I did and they took well over 3 hours...with a LOT of walking. Now, while I may stop for a quick water break, for the most part, I can run the whole distance. We can do anything we set our minds to!

On another note, I registered for the Marine Corps Marathon last Wednesday! Honestly, when I first started to think about running a marathon, THIS is the one I wanted to do. Four years later, here I go!

My dad was a Marine and served proudly in Vietnam. He and my stepmom will be coming out to the race and he is VERY excited. My brother is also running the race, so that will be cool. I also know a few others running. The race is on 10/31/10, but already it's all I can think about...I need to pace myself. :-)

I have a 5K this Saturday and am looking forward to it. Of course I'd like to PR, but I'll be happy having a good race and supporting a good cause, victims of domestic violence.

Laziness...

Hot on the heels of my last upbeat blog entry, comes this entry.

A few weeks ago, I caught a cold, my first in a long time. It knocked me out for the weekend, but after that I felt fine. Mind you, I was still coughing and going through 1,000 tissues a day, but at least I didn't want to die anymore.

Well, as of today, I'm still sneezing, sniffling, and coughing. Ugh!!! In my head, I've had this cold for about 5 days. I took a look at my calendar and realized that this all started on March 2. Oopsy, I guess it's really hanging on!

I ran Monday and Tuesday and felt ok, but not 100%. The plan was to run an easy 6 miler today after work. I wasn't too enthused about it and was hoping my mood would change once I started.

I came home from work and changed into my running clothes. I turned on the Garmin and waited for the signal to pick up. I turned on my IPOD. I took off...

Fast forward (at a very slow, pathetic pace) three blocks. I have now switched to a walk. Fast forward another two blocks, I've stopped.

Now I'm considering my options. I could turn this into a run/walk and just log the miles. I could keep walking for a few miles and at least do something. I mean, it IS gorgeous outside!

Alas, I turned around and walked home. So, tonight's workout lasted a whopping 6 minutes and 3 seconds. Whoa, Nelly!

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I took the trouble to put ON workout clothes, only to be gone for a few minutes.

But here's the thing, this happens. I don't know that I've ever punked out like this before, but I'm sure it's happened to someone, right? Please tell me I'm not wrong about this!

Rather than struggle through the 6 miles tonight, knowing I wasn't feeling well, I decided rest was better. Those of you who know what a stickler I am for a plan, know how hard it is for me to go OFF the plan. So, I must have been tired/sick, right?

Here's hoping I can still get in some quality runs this week! More importantly, I should probably continue to focus on rest, as this cold (potential sinus infection) doesn't seem to be going anywhere!

7 weeks to go...

Marathon #7 is creeping closer and closer. I don't know where the time has gone, but I'm a bit surprised that it's nearly here! So far, training has gone pretty well.

I'm following a higher mileage plan this time around (Hal Higdon - Intermediate II). I wanted to do this for a few reasons. #1 - I wanted to change things up a little and not do the same exact plan. #2 - High mileage tends to be really difficult for me. The higher mileage weeks in previous plans were always the ones I had the most trouble completing.

When I do high mileage, I either burn out quickly or get so frustrated, that I walk more or slack on pace. So, THIS plan called for 3 - 50 mile weeks (including 3 - 20 milers) and I wanted to see if I could do it.

The most I've ever run in a week is 44 miles, and it was not what I would call easy or fun. Today, I hit a milestone - I ran 45 miles in one week! I know, for some of you runners, that is an "easy" week, but for me, it's an accomplishment of sorts.

I caught a cold last week, which meant I had to cut my mileage a bit short. So, I went into this week (still a little sick) hoping for the best. My plan called for 2x5 milers, 2x10 milers, and a 20 miler.

I took Monday off, because I was still feeling pretty crappy. I decided to see what I could do Tuesday, and ended up running an easy 10 miler. The weather is changing here, so I was excited to run Wednesday night as it was gorgeous. I had a good 5 mile run and felt great. I took Thursday off, in preparation for Friday's 20 miler.

By Friday, I was still sniffling, but not nearly as sick as the week before. Carrie and I had perfect weather for our 20, so we were pumped. The miles and time flew by and I ran it the fastest I've ever run 20 miles.

I debated running 5 Saturday morning, but I had a pretty busy day ahead, so I slept instead. Today, it was 54 degrees here! Unbelievable! So, I just HAD to get out there, no matter the mileage. I decided I'd just see how my legs felt and do whatever felt good. I ended up running a great 10 miler. It felt SO good to wear shorts and a t-shirt...ahhh!

My legs felt relaxed and the pace was perfect. The last 4 miles were a bit slower, as I was running into a fairly strong headwind. But, I enjoyed the entire run!

So, that brings me to 45 miles for the week. Here is why it's a big deal to me. It wasn't hard, I wasn't dragging my feet to go run today. My legs didn't feel like 150 pound weights attached to my hips.

Also, I'm not quite back to 100% yet. So, if I was able to do this while a little sick, I'm anxious to see what I can do when I'm healthy.

Do I think I can do 100 mile weeks? Um, no...I can say with some certainty that I won't have a desire to do that, ever!

Here's to hoping the rest of training goes well and leads to a PR at marathon #7!

First race of 2010: Check!

Well, I've got my first race of the year checked off my list. The Freeze Fest 5K is a race put on by our local running club and it's always in February. Hence, the race's clever title! This was my third year running it and it is always a good time.

I'm following a higher mileage/more demanding marathon training plan right now and I'm about halfway through. While I'm doing ok with it, I can definitely feel the fatigue in my legs. Carrie and I ran 12 miles on Friday (the day before the 5K). This isn't ideal, but it's more important to me to get the long run in. Both of us were tired and just took the 12 miler nice and easy.

When I woke up on Saturday for the 5K, my legs were still telling me they weren't too pumped for a run, regardless that it was only 3 miles. I stretched and headed over to the race. Well...I was running a bit late, so I had to park at the other lodge, which was a little jaunt from the lodge where the race started. I did my "warm-up" jog/sprint to the lodge to get my bib and chip.

My goal for the 5K this year is to smash 24:00. My current PR is 24:25, so this should be achievable. I won't say I thought I'd break 24:00 on Saturday, but I did hope to have even a tiny PR. However, I'm also realistic and knew how my legs felt.

As the race started, I took off at a comfortable race pace and felt alright. I hit the first mile at 7:53 and was pleased. But, I wasn't feeling like I was going to be able to maintain that pace.

I was right. Mile 2 was 8:10, with mile 3 being 8:07. My final time was 25:34, an 8:14 pace. While this isn't a PR, it's also not my worst time or anything that truly disappoints me. I ran as hard as I could and this was the result. I can honestly say that this 5K hurt - which means I didn't go into it with the most rested legs. There are plenty more 5Ks this year and I plan to reach my goal at one of them!

The other cool thing about Saturday's race was the social atmosphere afterward. I ran into so many people I knew and it was fun to find out which marathons they're racing this year and what their plans are.

Again, one of the coolest things about running is the community of it. I have recently gotten to know a girl who is in my age group at a lot of races. She saw me at my gym (and at this race) and struck up a conversation about planning a run together. It turns out she's running the same Spring marathon as me! Very cool!

Then I ran into a high school girl I used to coach in basketball. She ran with her sister and her sister's friend. It was so cool to see her and talk to her about the race. Her sister is training for a half marathon and then a full and asked if she could run with me this summer. Um, YAH!

Running has a great way of bringing people together, no matter their pace or anything else. I remember growing up playing basketball. While I loved the game, I didn't like the cliques and the snottiness of a lot of the girls on the team. And, since it's a team sport, it's sort of important that everyone gets along.

Then I joined cross country my senior year. Oh. My. Gosh. I was completely shocked at the "team" atmosphere. I honestly had NO idea that THAT was what a team felt like. The varsity girls cheered for the junior varsity girls and vice versa. And we're talking genuine cheering here. I was never made to feel different since I was new to running and just joining the team my senior year. I felt encouraged at every practice and at every meet. Most importantly, we had FUN!

The good memories I have from that ONE year of cross country far outweigh any memories I have from playing basketball for 9 years. Isn't that interesting?

Running's life lessons...

For some reason, as I was going to bed the other night, I started thinking of all the things running has taught me (and probably several other runners) over the years. I decided to put them down on paper (so to speak) and share with you.

Keep in mind that you’ll see many of these intersect with one another, but I think they are all valuable lessons!

Patience: You have to be patient to endure the multiple miles you put in, whether training for a 5K or a marathon. Everyone knows that, with running, there are mostly good days. But, when you do have bad days, you have to have patience to get through the run (no matter what). The race atmosphere can be very hectic, chaotic and, most of all, crowded. A runner must be patient to deal with the crowds and the lines and just…relax and enjoy the experience!

Resilience: I was in quite a bit of pain the first few days after my first marathon. And while I’d already committed that I’d be running another one, my legs weren’t so sure. In those moments you think, “Seriously, is there any way I’ll ever be able to run again, period?” Here’s where the resilience comes in! Our bodies are incredible! I remember the first time I ran after that marathon, about a week later. I remember thinking, “Wow, I’m back!” This applies to life, too. No matter how bad it is or how bad it might feel, you can bounce back!

Mental Toughness: Nothing teaches you mental toughness like grueling long runs in preparation for a marathon. Oh wait, running a marathon will really give you mental toughness (if you didn’t already have it). I was unemployed when I ran my first marathon. Or let’s just say I was “between jobs,” which sounds better, right? OK, so it was a pretty rough time for me, but I remember crossing the finish line and thinking, “If I can run 26.2 miles, I can get through THIS!” You have to be so focused to run these long distances. I’m not just talking about the race, either. I’m talking about sticking to a training plan that guides your mileage and then following through on race day. There are days where it’s so hot and humid outside, the last thing you want to do is run for 3 hours in it. There are days where you’d rather quit early and find/make up and excuse, but you push forward.

Determination: Sometimes I treat running as if it’s my opponent in a one on one match. And I refuse to let running win! Here is what I mean… I ran a marathon last year where intense lower back pain struck me at mile 6 (only 20.2 more miles to go!). Mind you, I had never had this issue before, so it was a complete surprise. And I had been running fine, up until that point. While the pain was pretty bad, I was determined to finish the race, no matter what the final time would be. I was able to run another 7 miles (at a slower pace) and then walk/run the last 13. There were some very unpleasant moments and two significant moments where I wanted to just quit. But, more than anything, I wanted to finish the race. I guess you could say running won, but I like to think we tied? (Side note: if the pain is so bad you think you are seriously injured, you should not feel “determined” to keep going. I think I knew I would be fine if I just adjusted my pace, how I ran the race, and my expectations for the race.) Another example of this determination? My friends (Carrie and Jen) and I ran the 2007 Twin Cities Marathon, in the humidity heat wave. We started separately and then finished together (about 20 pounds lighter). Did we have fun? OK, probably not. But, we powered through and finished the race, no matter what!

Discipline: You have to be disciplined. You can slack in other areas and maybe “get by,” but you can’t really do that in running, no matter your natural ability. For example, I don’t think most runners would just up and decide to run a marathon tomorrow if they’ve never run more than 10 miles in their life. This is where the training plan comes in. Yes, I’m a planner and have a bit of OCD, and I do love a good PLAN. I follow mine pretty close (some friends would say freakishly close). But, my reason is that I know I’m on track when I follow the plan. Yes, I might move Thursday’s workout to Monday, but I try to get the weekly miles in. Runners know how much worse they’ll feel on/after race day if they show up unprepared. I can’t imagine running a marathon without having put in the requisite long runs.

Time Management: If you weren’t good at managing your time before becoming a runner, I’ll bet you are now! This is especially true if you train for long distance races. Prior to training and running for marathons, I ran during the week, after work, usually 4-5 miles at a time, sometimes a bit longer. But, once you start doing the long runs, you have to block out 2-3 hours of time on a weekend day and sometimes an hour and a half on week nights. For me, that means getting up early on Saturday mornings and joining the local running club and my friends. It also means that I sometimes have to do that run on Friday, if I plan to be out of town that weekend. I’ve even taken a half day off of work to get my long run in. For others, it means making sure someone is watching the kids, making breakfast, etc. No matter your situation, you have to make time for the longer runs, which means planning the route, the water/Gatorade stops, and the Panera reward afterward!

Jedi Mind Tricks: I play so many little tricks on myself when I’m running. Sometimes I’m running with a good friend (Carrie) and mind tricks are not necessary. The two of us are gabbing so much that, before we know it, 14 miles are done! But, sometimes, you have to play little games with yourself in order to get through a run. You know what I’m talking about. “OK, I’ll stop and take a GU when I reach the bridge.” We all know that you get to the bridge because you have a little “reward” coming. “I’ll stop and walk for a bit when I reach that sign.” Typically, when you reach the sign, you keep running. My favorite trick is this – math! I ran 17 miles last Friday and it went well. I did a stretch of 7 miles, then another stretch of 6 miles, then 4. Let me tell you, when I hit 10 miles, I immediately told myself I had an easy 7 miler left. In my head, it was as if I was starting at zero miles and just had to run 7. After my last water stop (at 13 miles), it was refreshing to know I had 4 measly miles left. While I’m not a “math” person, it sure helps me during tough runs! I love that after all of these years, my mind still allows me to “lie” to it from time to time.

Appreciation: Running has taught me to appreciate my body and what it can, and can’t, do. I’m constantly thanking God for giving me a healthy body and strong legs that can withstand the training and run long distances. I am fully aware that there are people who would love to run, or even walk, and can’t. When you look at it this way, you see running as an incredible gift. It keeps you healthy and fit, while opening you up to wonderful experiences and friendships. Sure, some days it feels like running is a torture device, but most days you know the good you are doing and what running is giving back to you. It doesn’t matter that God didn’t give me a natural ability to be “fast,” He gave me the ability to run, period. He gave me a passion for it and that’s all you need!