50K...errr, 25K Race!

Last weekend, my friend Carrie and I ran in a local 25K or 50K (~31 mile) race. It was the first year for this event and we thought it would be fun to do. Yes, we thought it would be FUN to run a 31 mile race, in Iowa, in December, on a trail, in the snow and cold temps. We girls know how to have a good time!

Let me just interject that this is a for realz trail race. It's not all nice and sparkly. We're talking mud, trees, roots, rocks, etc.

So, race day is a bit rainy, but at least it's a balmy 30 degrees outside! We geared up and headed to Lake MacBride. As we're sitting in the car with Denton (Carrie's hubby), Carrie says this. "I don't get why people seem to think we could get hurt." To which I say, "Carrie, because we might ACTUALLY get hurt!!!" Um, duh! Carrie then says that we are smart runners, so we wouldn't get hurt. To which I say, "No, we are not smart, Carrie. The very essence of what we're doing today, in these conditions, is stupid." I think I made Denton's day at that point.

We all gathered at the start line and took off. The first part of the race is on a short little woody trail, then it drops you off at a road. We were on that road for a few miles, before linking up with another trail.

I have to say, even though it was raining and not ideal conditions, I was able to keep a decent attitude. I was actually pretty warm for the first part of the race. I had no real time goal for this race, other than to just run however I felt and finish. So, I took my time and enjoyed the Christmas music mix on my Shuffle.

When I got to the trail in Solon, I realized just how much rain was falling. The trail was muddy. I have a bum ankle that doesn't particularly do well in uneven, muddy terrain. It basically starts to roll. It can only roll so many times before I actually sprain it. So, around mile 7, I was entertaining the thought that I might be doing one loop. The only reason being that my ankle wasn't going to do well when that trail got even muddier.

I finished that piece of the trail and then headed off to the part of the trail where you head toward the spillway. Oh yes, the spillway. This part of the race wasn't too bad...until the spillway.

As I came upon the spillway, I heard, "GO MARIAH!!!" It was Denton, being a fantastic cheerleader - that was a huge boost! I had packed a few Target bags in my coat, hoping they would help. The DNR lady told me not to bother. I was trying to figure out the best way to cross without getting wet. Then I decided that it was all just too funny, and I should just walk right through. So, I just let myself soak my shoes up to my ankles and crossed. I told Denton that it may be a one lap day and went ahead. I had about 4 miles left at this point.

Again, I had a pretty good attitude and hadn't thought about how wet I actually was...until now. My pants kept falling down and I honestly couldn't figure out why. Only after 11 miles did I realize they were SO soaked, they couldn't stay up. I thought, "Hmm, I might be wetter than I think I am..."

I came back to the start/finish area for one final drink, before the last 2 miles. When I took off for the last bit, I felt great and just went with it. But, the last mile slowed me down. It was all mud/sludge and very tricky. I can't say there was much running, as I was constantly dodging trees, rocks, and falling on my behind.

As I crossed the finish line, the volunteer said, "Are you a 25K or 50K runner?" My reply? "I'm a 25K now!"

Physically, I felt fine and I think I could have done a second lap (albeit, a slower second lap). But, I had a couple concerns. #1 being that my ankle(s) would likely collapse on the second lap, going through the muddy sludge. #2 being that I would be out on that second lap pretty much by myself. I had a cell phone with me, but I was worried about being soaking wet, in the middle of the woods, with the temps dropping and snow falling.

I opted for the smart choice of calling it a day at 15.5 miles. And I'm completely fine with that. It was a challenging run, but I'm glad we did it. I would do it again, but not in December.

When I finally changed into dry clothes, I can't even describe to you how heavy/soaked my clothes were. It was ridiculous!

A few pics from the race, courtesy of Denton:

Here I am crossing the spillway

Marathon #8 - Oorah!

As usual, my blogging is very sparse... Would it help if I said that I would LIKE to blog on a more regular basis?

Anyway, marathon #8 is complete! My brother Gabe and I ran the Marine Corps Marathon on Halloween. The trip was pretty good and it was fun to be in DC again. I love how much there is to see there!

Gabe had an injured foot and had concerns about being able to run the whole thing. Lower back pain struck me at mile 9 (grrrr), so I was not a very happy camper either. The BEST part of the race was around mile 20 on the bridge. There I was running along, trying to stay positive, and my bro comes up beside me. Let me relish this moment for a minute - my brother (uber-athlete) caught up, to ME. (Sure, he had an injury, but let's just pretend he didn't, mmmkay?) Anyway, we ran together very briefly, but long enough for me to snap a picture of us with my disposable (cheeseball) camera. To date, said camera has not been developed, so the picture could very well be of our heads.

Gabe moved on so he could keep whatever pace he was doing and I stayed my course. I looked for him in the last miles, but never did see him. We ended up finishing about a minute apart! How crazy is that? If either of us had known that would happen, we could have just run the whole thing together!

So, here's a bit more detail on the overall race. A howitzer kicks off the 26.2 mile journey and it's incredible! I crossed the start line after only a few minutes (over 21,000 people ran this race). Overall, I felt pretty good. I saw Dad, Pat, Julie, and new niece Sydney, at mile 1. I was amazed that in a race that big, with that many spectators, that I could see them!

I ran pretty much on pace for the first half of the race. Like I said, around mile 9, my back was aching, but I tried to stick to my plan. I crossed the halfway point nearly on pace for 4:00. But, the back had other plans. I made it to mile 16ish and saw my family. I decided it would be worth it to stop and take a picture. When ELSE can I do that? So, I gave my new baby niece a kiss, told my Dad I was in a lot of pain, and took off running. At this point, I wasn't sure if Gabe was still running or not. Then he and I saw each other at mile 20. I ran/walked from mile 15ish on, I think.

We had perfect running weather, it was gorgeous! But, at mile 24, a lovely headwind decided to swoop in and stay for the last 2.2 miles. Good times, good times. I finished somewhat strong (as much as I could) and was greeted by Marines at the finish (and all throughout the race!).

Here's the thing, as disappointed as I am that I still haven't hit my 4:00 goal, I'm not THAT upset this time. Had either Gabe or I run any faster/slower, we wouldn't have had that moment at mile 20. And that moment will always be special to me (however brief it was). Because I highly doubt he and I will ever be in that situation again. It also allowed me to get that picture with my family cheerleaders during the race.

Overall, this marathon was an incredible experience. My dad so appreciated that we ran in his honor (we had t-shirts made for the race). And it was very inspirational to see so many amputees/vets doing the race. I certainly couldn't complain about my back if these guys were charging up hills on hand bikes!

Below are a few pics from the experience:

The shirts we made/wore for Dad

Mid-race pic (mile 16ish)

Gabe & I post-race, modeling our stinky shirts!

Cutest. Cheerleader. Ever!

Best post-marathon activity? Feeding my beautiful niece, Sydney!

Back again...

It's been a few weeks since my last entry and I've decided that I'm a horrible blogger. I am very sporadic and would like to post more often. Unfortunately, my busy schedule is to blame. Maybe someday, I can actually blog on a regular basis. Because, let's face it, you all are DYING to read my daily entries!

Update #1 (for those who don't know or haven't seen) - I recently chopped nearly ALL of my hair off! Yep, I had 16" cut off and donated 2 very thick pigtails to Locks of Love. I've been wanting a major change for a while, but couldn't get the guts. I finally reached the point of full on annoyance with my mass of curly hair, that cutting 16" was PAINLESS! I didn't even flinch!

So far, I have no regrets and am really enjoying the new 'do. I can't believe how much easier life is with short hair. Seriously. It's easier. I'm not making this up! For the record, I lost 3 pounds of hair...3 POUNDS! That. Is. Ridiculous. 'Nuff said.

I've run a few more races since my last post. They have both gone well. Most recently, I ran a 5K and hit a big PR. My goal this year was to break 24:00, and I came close in April, with a 24:10. With all the speed work I've been doing, I was 90% sure that I'd break 24:00, but didn't expect my 23:21 final time. Total surprise!

This was the Especially For You 5K (benefits breast cancer research) and I ran in honor of my Aunt Marilyn. She must have been pushing me along, because I felt pretty good throughout! It was incredible to see over 15,000 people out walking/running for this great cause. What a sight!

So now, my new goal is to break through...23:00? Seriously? I would NEVER have set that as a goal. For some, that might seem easy, but that's a time/pace that wouldn't have occurred to me until this past Sunday.

I'll say it again...Our bodies are AMAZING!!! I don't think I could have run a 23:21 5K when I was in college. So, to run that 10 years later is exciting!

In other news, my fave workout buddy, Carrie, is back in town. So, we are taking advantage of running/biking together and catching up, which has been fun! She's joining me for my final 20 miler this weekend.

My 8th marathon is only a few weeks away and I couldn't be more excited! Life is somewhat stressful/busy/overwhelming lately, and I'll take any break/vacation I can get. Even if it involves me running 26.2 miles.

At age 33, I still haven't learned the word NO. There are multiple "adds" in my life right now that I need to just say NO to and/or quit. If I don't, I'll never get sleep or time to clean my house. Or, time to just SIT.

So, here's to REST! May I get plenty of it in the next few weeks leading up to the marathon!

Catch up...part deux

Seriously, I have no idea what happened to the month of August. Absolutely. No. Idea!

Work has been busy, weekends have been busy...

OK, we'll start with running. For a while now, running has been a real chore. I've felt tired on runs and just really struggled with it in general. In mid-August, I ran a 10K race. Well, saying I ran it is generous...I pretty much willed myself to finish. In my defense, it was a very hot and humid morning, but still - the race shouldn't have gone that bad. I was winded, nauseous, and light headed.

Then, I attempted to run 18 miles the next day...I managed to complete 14.5, with a lot of walking. (My friend Denton is a true gem, for sticking with me, and for convincing me to stop.)

I talked to an elite runner friend of mine and sort of self diagnosed myself with anemia. I've been anemic before, but sort of slacked on taking my iron pills for a long while. So, now that I've been taking iron again...things are hopefully turning around.

I ran 2 half marathons within a week of one another and set a PR by over a minute. While I'm very happy to have PR'd, I really just wanted to run long and feel GOOD - for once. So, for both races, I was able to push myself but also feel strong. (Oh yah, and being able to breathe and not want to puke? Those are also good things!)

I went for a 10 mile run tonight and felt pretty good. It was 80 degrees with a breeze, but I felt good throughout. A month ago? I wouldn't have made it a few miles without dying.

So, I think things are turning around and I'm on the right track. Good thing, too...since my marathon is in 6 1/2 weeks!

OK, moving on to some fun stuff. I had my 2 nieces over for a sleepover at Auntie Mariah's. It was soooooo much fun! We colored, watched movies, ate pizza, painted nails, and just had a good time. And this past weekend, I took my nephew on a "date" to Chuck E. Cheese. I'm so fortunate to be an aunt.

My brother and his wife welcomed their first baby, Sydney, so I can't wait to meet her at the marathon. She's a doll and I can't wait to hold her!

The only other big news I can think of is that I will no longer have a ponytail after this weekend. The hair is getting chopped! I've had long, curly hair for a very long time and am just bored with it. I found a cut I really like and I'm hoping it works out. If not...I'll be on the hunt for a wig!

Catch up...

Ooh, yet again, it's been a while since my last post. I guess life got a little too busy for me this past month! Let's see, what have I been up to?

This past February I auditioned for a local CR production called, "Follies." I'd heard of it before, but had never seen it, so I really wasn't sure what to expect. Basically, it's a variety of singing and dancing acts - this year's theme was "Viva Las Vegas."

We've been rehearsing since May, but the schedule became really crazy in July, when we neared opening night. The show (all 6 of them!) went really well. I was very fortunate to have many family and friends come and support me. I think I had someone at nearly every show!

I'm glad I did it, because it gave me the opportunity to do something I love, singing. I mean, I sing at weddings and church, but this was different. I also met some super fun people and had a great time!

Thanks to all who came to see the show - it meant a lot to have some "fans" in the audience!

OK, in addition to Follies, I began training for marathon #8 (Marine Corps). This new plan (Run Less, Run Faster) is a tough one. But, I think the change up in training will ultimately be good for me.

I went to Adventureland with a few friends a couple weeks ago. I hadn't been there since I was a little one, so it was fun to be a kid for the day. We had a great time, but there is one lesson I learned in a big way. Do NOT. I repeat, do NOT go on the Silly Silo as an adult. It will not work out for you, I promise. The Silly Silo was my fave ride as a kid, but not so much as a grown-up.

Then it was vacation time and I traveled to Denver, CO to visit my brother and sister-in-law. I had a good time and it was fun to be in Colorado again. I even met up with a random running club for my long run. It was so fun!

I really miss living out there and would love to live there again some day. (Too bad it isn't cheap!)

Now it's back to work and marathon training!

You just have to laugh...

This past weekend, I had a half marathon on the calendar. It's in my hometown and I look forward to it every year. While I wasn't planning to PR, I was hoping to have a good race.

Plans change...

Late Friday night, I woke up to go to the bathroom and walked back to my bedroom...in the dark. Well, I slammed/stubbed my pinky toe into the dresser (I think). Several thoughts went through my mind as I held my foot. The pain...oh the pain!

I really really wanted a good night's sleep, so I crawled back into bed, without looking at my toe. After about 10 minutes, the throbbing stopped, and I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up 7 hours later...remembering that I'd had a little mishap. My toe was at least twice its normal size and changing colors. OOPS! I've broken toes before, so I was fairly certain it was broken.

I tried to put my running shoes on, just to see, and that wasn't very fun. It felt so crunched in the shoe. I was a good girl, though, and elevated my foot. I even iced it!

Of course I was still planning to run my half the next day...stupid, I know. As I looked at the course route, I realized they'd made some changes, due to flooded trails. The course was going to be a bit boring and slightly more challenging.

It rained (for the millionth time this month) all night long. When I woke up on race day, it was STILL raining. Ugh! My shoe went on easier, so I took that to be a good sign. I picked up my friend and we headed to the race.

At this point, it was still raining, so I opted to leave my Shuffle in the car. I saw a ton of familiar faces, which was so fun.

Just as the race started, the rain stopped. Um...dang, I could have had music?

My friend took off and I just kept my own pace. I wasn't sure what I'd be able to do, let alone run the whole 13.1 on a bum toe. My plan was to quit, if necessary.

The first 4 miles were a bit of a chore, I was just telling myself anything I could to get to mile 5. By mile 5, I was convincing myself to make it to 7 miles. Actually, the last 8 or so miles, weren't too bad. My toe didn't bother me too much (thank goodness it's my pinky toe), until the last few miles. I'd say the humidity/muggy weather bothered me the most.

It turns out the course was shortened on race day, due to rain, so it was a 20K.

As I came around the final stretch, I saw members from my running club, my parents, my brother, sister-in-law, and their kids cheering me on. Seeing those kids brought the biggest grin to my sweaty face!

So here's my point (and the reason for the title of this post). Sometimes, things just don't go your way. But, you just have to laugh and embrace it a little. I'm not trying to be Sally Sunshine (ok, maybe a little), but I could have had the WORST attitude during this race.

1) I've got a broken toe - not ideal for running any distance, certainly not 12+ miles
2) The course has changed and is a bit more difficult, to me (on a street I hate)
3) The weather - very muggy and gross
4) No music (anyone who knows me as a runner, knows I prefer music and it gives me a
boost)

These four reasons alone, are enough for me to get super irritated and just not want to do it at all. But, I saw all of these familiar faces (ahead of me and behind me) and it just made me smile. And the fact is, everyone looked a little miserable. But it's that sort of miserable that is secretly happy...know what I mean? It sort of bonds us as runners.

I finished the 20K in 1:52:44 (9:05 pace). Considering I walked a bit a few times (and the reasons mentioned earlier), I was pleased.

The thing is, running is basically a hobby for me. It keeps me fit, sane, and usually happy. But having a bad race or less than ideal conditions, shouldn't get the best of you.

I have a friend who is out of work, a cousin with a baby in the hospital, and I'm sure there are so many other people suffering hardships. THESE are real problems that deserve care and attention.

Me having a crappy race? Not so important in the scheme of things.

Confidence Boost!

Yesterday, I ran a local race that commemorates the flood that hit Iowa 2 years ago, "Run The Flood." The race route (7 miles) takes you through many of the flooded neighborhoods and you can see where progress has been made and how far there is to go. I'm happy to support such a great cause.

But, I must say I didn't have high hopes for my performance at this race. For one, I've not run more than 5 or so miles since the marathon on May 2 (other than a slow 10 miler a week ago).

I've been running on the treadmill lately (I know, I know...) as well. I can't stand humidity and heat. There, I've said it. And no, I don't want to become tougher by suffering in it. Also, I've been trying to get back into a regular lifting routine. It's quicker for me to hop off the treadmill and go straight to the weights. If I run from my house, there's about 2% chance I'll go lift at the gym afterwards.

Aside from those things, I've just been kind of blah about running lately. I think the La Crosse Marathon really bummed me out. Of course, I've been running regularly, but just not very pepped up about it.

So, going into this race, I was thinking it would be a fun run - with NO expectations. I PR'd at this race last year, but didn't feel like that was realistic this year.

Add to that, the awesome forecast - 80 degrees with 90% humidity...and rain. Um, woohoo?

Alright, I decided I'd go run the race and plan on finishing anywhere between an hour to an hour and 10 minutes. Honestly, I'd have been happy with ANY time in that window, considering my attitude and the weather.

I found a bunch of my fellow CVRA club members at the start and got ready.

Mile 1 - I took off fast and then after a bit, realized I was running a 7:20 pace. While I dream of doing that consistently someday, I wasn't in any shape or attitude to do that to myself for the first mile. So, I made a concious effort to slow down a bit. I hit mile 1 at 7:53.

Mile 2 - I was feeling ok and tried to settle into a decent pace. I hit mile 2 at 8:20.

Mile 3 - Well, by now I was feeling pretty toasty (thank the LORD that the sun wasn't out). But, I tried to hold pace. I hit mile 3 at 8:22.

Mile 4 - At this point, I told myself that I was nearly half done and could do whatever I wanted for the second half. I hit mile 4 at 8:24.

Mile 5 - I was getting a little tired, but still trying to keep pace. I hit mile 5 at 8:36.

Mile 6 - When I saw that I hit 5 miles around 41:00, I did some quick math. Basically, I could run 9 minute miles for the last 2 and still finish under an hour. Since I honestly thought I wouldn't be finishing in an hour, this made me happy. I'm pretty sure I slowed down and "phoned in" the 6th mile. I hit mile 6 at 8:42.

Mile 7 - OK, 1 mile to go, so I might as well push it. By now, I'm positive I'll finish under an hour (unless something horrible happens). But, I still was doubtful of a PR. When I had about a half mile left, I was looking for the finish. They revamped it this year, so it was different than I remembered. All of a sudden it was in front of me - oops! So, I went as hard as I could. Mile 7 was 8:01.

I could see the clock and thought I could at least tie my time from last year. When I got home, I realized that I actually set a PR! My final time was 58:19. (Last year's time - 58:29) Woohoo!

I'm one of the biggest whiners about weather, so I am very excited that I set a PR in less than desirable conditions. It could have been much worse, had the sun been out or the rain come down harder. We even felt a breeze from time to time - which was heavenly!

This was a huge confidence boost for me right now. I have a half marathon at the end of the month and hopefully it will go well.