Big Lake Half Marathon Race Recap

*I realize I didn't post anything for Mother's Day. It has nothing to do with my mother - who is my #1 hero - but we have had some other things going on as well, that I will post about later.  Right now, this is what I want to write about, so this is what you get.*

A year ago, I was contemplating starting the Couch to 5k running program.  I had run during soccer practices growing up, and on occasion thought I could hit the pavement and knock out a few miles, but I always ended up out of breath, miserable, and feeling like I never, ever wanted to do that again.  I've been known to make the comment "my body isn't made for running".

Last Saturday, I ran a half marathon.

Friday night I organized everything I'd need to for the next day, and set my alarm for 5:00am, with hopes to be at the race site by 6:30/6:45am - it was a little over an hour away.  I checked the weather, which showed 50s and partly cloudy. Perfect.  Sunrise? 5:30am.

I woke up panicked and looked at my phone/clock/alarm.  4:47am.  I should probably just get up since I'm awake.  But I'll just wait for my alarm to go off.  A bit later, I could feel light coming through my eyelids.  That's strange... sunrise is 5:30, it shouldn't be light yet.  My eyes popped open and I grabbed my phone. 5:40.  You've got to be effing kidding me.  I jumped out of bed, tried not to panic, and started getting ready as quickly as I could.  I was out the door by 5:50.

I promptly swore at every car that got in front of me for the entire drive.  Registration closed at 7:30.  I arrived about 7:10, and panicked again when I couldn't find parking.  Eventually I found my way into the gymnasium, and was glad I had checked the registration the night before, since bib pick up was by number, not name.  198.  I hurried back to the truck and got my ipod, garmin, and clothes ready, trying to text my friend I was meeting up with.

We finally found each other.  I was on edge, nervous.  Anxious to get to the starting area, to get moving.  The group of us (myself, my friend, her friend, her cousin, and her cousins fiancee) made our way down to the start.  I stopped by the Make-A-Wish table to check in there, and received my - extremely tight - jersey.  When I told the organizer my name and she saw I had raised $991 dollars, she was excited.  When I told her it was actually $1,091, and that I also had a matching form they could fill out for another $100, she jumped up and down, shouted "thank you so much!" and gave me a hug.  Incredible feeling.

 Me, in all my tight jersey glory.  This picture was really just to make sure I didn't look too tubby, not so much to share with the world. Ah well.

I thought I should probably use the port-a-potty.  Afterall, I was a 'Wish Racer', and there were some sectioned off specifically for us, ideally to reduce the lines.  I walked over, but the lines were still long.  Do I reallly have to go?  I decided no, knowing I may regret it later.  I anxiously kept checking my watch, suggesting to my group that maybe we should move towards the starting area.  Finally getting them to agree, we made our way over to the starting area.

My goals were simple.... 1) Finish and 2) Don't finish last.  But, I'm too competitive for my own good, and had to put a few other stipulations on myself.  Like, finishing under two and a half hours would be great.  And under 2:20 would be fantastic.  But all in all, if I made it, and didn't have to walk much, I'd be happy.

The first mile was heading into town and towards the lake.  We talked a lot and laughed at ourselves.  The first few miles felt really easy.  Around mile five I ate my package of dried cranberries, since that was what I had used during my training runs.  The first seven-ish miles were made up of rolling hills on a main road, overlooking the lake.  Not a cloud in the sky and mid-fifties, everything felt great.  The course had a total of nine water stops, which was perfect, never feeling like we had to go too long between.

Somewhere around mile four or five, I had it with my race jersey.  I took it off and tucked it into the back of my capris.  The compression wasn't something I was used to and I couldn't deal with anymore.  It stayed tucked well, and after a few minutes I didn't even notice the flapping against the back of my legs anymore.  After mile seven, we headed down back roads, that consisted of much steeper hills, and I made the mistake of letting myself use gravity to get down them - which wrecked havoc on my knees.  But, we kept chugging along at a pace I didn't think possible for myself.

The farthest I had run during training (and ever) was 10.25 miles.  I would say at right about that point, I was ready to be done.  I had my fun, and I would have been totally fine with rounding a corner and seeing the finish line.  No dice.

There were some serious elevation changes up and down during those last few miles, and they really zapped my energy.  My friend was carrying a camelpak and had some energy chews which I yelled ahead for at one point - going up a hill I had dropped back a ways.  It didn't seem to do much to help.

The last two miles were totally a mental game, and 20 (or so) very long minutes.  I told my friend J to go ahead without me, to stay with her friend who was running with us, but she dropped back with me anyway.  I mumbled alot of things those last two miles, including "I don't think I can make it" and "Why isn't the finish line here yet".  I had one older lady ask if I knew my pace, I glanced down at my garmin and told her.  She complained about going downhill, and I agreed, telling her I thought my kneecaps were going to fall off.

Even looking down at my garmin, knowing I had under a mile left, I didn't think I had any push left in me.  We finally started seeing the crowds and rounded into the finishers chute.  I knew my parents and B were there somewhere, but all I could focus on was getting to the point where I could finally stop.  I ducked my head down trying to make those last few seconds go by faster, and about 25 yards from the finish I looked up to see my parents smiling and waving, my mom and B snapping pictures.  I kicked it into gear with the last bit of energy I had left, and crossed that finish line, completing my first half marathon.

I grabbed my medal and had to keep walking around or I think I would have fallen down.  My legs were spent and tight, and even though I'm not sure I managed a smile for a while, I was ecstatic.  I didn't know my official time yet, but I knew it was under 2:20 according to my garmin.  I hit every goal I set out with, even the ones I didn't think were possible.

Splits, according to my garmin:

Official (chip) time: 2:11:25

FYI: Chip time is the actual time from when I crossed the start line, until I crossed the finish line.  There is a timing chip on the back of the numbers we wear.  Gun time is the time from the official start to when I crossed the finish line.


During training, I had a hard time hitting more than 1 sub-10 minute mile in a row.  I hit two in a row, 3 times during my half marathon.  And not a single mile was over 10:24.  I had been sure a majority of the miles would be closer to 11 minutes.  Incredible, once again.

A year ago, I couldn't have run a mile without feeling like I wanted to pass out.  Saturday, May 7th, I ran over 13 miles in a row, without stopping (only to finish a sip of water before throwing the cup away), in a time I honestly thought I couldn't achieve.

I had awesome support throughout my training as well as during the race.  I honestly don't know if I could have done it - at least not as well - without the people supporting me.  But in the end, I did it.  No one else.  Nobody did the training for me, suffering through miles on the treadmill, pouring ran, and the stench of cow manure (a training route I have to seriously rethink!).  Nobody made my legs keep moving during that race, only I kept them going forward, even when I felt like I was moving backward up that hill going into mile 12.  Nobody made me do it.  Nobody ever made me feel like I had to do it.  I didn't have to prove to anyone that I could.

Except for myself.

A year ago, I scoffed at the idea, thinking it was impossible.  But it wasn't, and it isn't.  And I kind of can't wait to do it again.

Now, I think I can finally admit to being a runner.

Almost Race Day!

Saturday is the half marathon.

The one I've been training for, thinking about, obsessing over, since January.

Something like 1 day 9 hours and 42 minutes left.

I got in as much training as I could. Life got in the way sometimes, but I didn't lose focus.  How could I? I was racing to benefit kids like this:

I set out with a goal to raise $500.  Generous friends and family helped me hit that goal in almost no time once I started asking.  B told me if I was going to keep asking for donations, I had to raise my goal.

I moved it to $1,000, with hopes of being able to hit it, but if not, I still did my part.

As of tonight, I've raised $1,041 with another $25 check waiting for me at work.  Plus, I have a form so that B's mom's employer will match her $100 donation.  Friends, family, and co-workers have all donated.

I'm so beside myself with all the support I've gotten.  Thus far, it has been a pretty difficult year emotionally, but I can't help but smile when I think of the joy these donations will help bring to a child whose life has been difficult emotionally and physically.

I can't wait for Saturday.

T minus 1 month

1 month from today I will be able to say I finished my first half marathon. (um, I better be able to say it!)

I'm in surprisingly good shape - as in no real injuries *knocks on wood*.  I have some sore legs, my knees act up, and I get shoulder pains. But its nothing I haven't been able to fight through.

My longest single run so far has been 7.3 miles.  I have an 8, 9, 11, and 10 left before the race.  My highest weekly mileage has been 20, which included two long runs.  Provided I complete my 5 miles tomorrow and 8 on Sunday, this week will be 23.  And the remaining weeks will increase from there.  Hopefully my body can handle it.

I've been using the Garmin B got me for my birthday for all of my runs and its amazing.... I just haven't been able to fully utilize all the features yet (the heart rate monitor, pace alarms, etc.).  Hopefully I'll find myself from free time to figure that out soon, but I'm not holding my breath.

My sneakers have about 240 miles on them.  I got them last July, but haven't been running consistently.  The rule of thumb is 300-500 miles.  Having worked in a sports shoe store (no literally, it was called Sportshoe Center) and knowing how important the right shoe, and replacing that shoe at the appropriate time is, I'm starting to panic a little.  Because I'll be over 300 miles by the race.  But you shouldn't wear brand news shoes (or anything) at a race.  So, I think I have to cough up the dough so I can run in them for a few weeks prior.  And then I can just switch back and forth for a while until my current shoes turn into my dog walking, mud, gardening, everyday sneakers.

Since I'm cheap, and picky, I have to try and find my current shoes in my size, on sale somewhere.  They came out with new ones, and the color choices are all ugly.  Which stinks, because looking good is clearly the most important part of running.

My fundraising is going awesome.  I have some very generous people in my life, that I am very grateful too! (Oh, and if you'd like to be one of them, go for it!) (Is it tacky that I just linked that twice? Yes? Oh well.)

Half Marathon, for real.

I've survived my first three weeks of half marathon training.  In one piece at that :)

I'm following this program by Hal Higdon, with slight modifications, since I had more than 12 weeks from when I started until the race.  I mostly just doubled up on a few weeks a little later in the training, especially the ones that involve running more than 6 miles, since that is currently my longest distance.

My half-marathon is on May 7, 2011.

Which is currently 83 days away.  Seems like alot, but it isn't.

It's the Big Lake Half Marathon and looks like it'll be a blast.  Well, as much of a blast as running 13.1 miles can be.  Each water stop is themed, and the volunteers compete to have the best one, there's even some live music along the course!  It's also along the lake, which, as long as the weather is good, will provide for some awesome views to distract from the distance.  And, I'm a big sucker for the free stuff, I think "real runners" call it swag, from the race, and this race includes a multi-color tech shirt, as well as a finishers medal at the end.  Which I mean, who doesn't love getting a medal?

As I mentioned previously, I'm also running for charity.  I've signed up to be a Wish Racer, for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  You can read more about my decision to do that on my fundraising website, which can be found here.  I think its a great cause, and it seems to be a no-pressure fundraising effort, which I appreciate.  A friend who is running a marathon, looked into running for a charity, which stipulated that you must raise a certain amount, and if you don't, they will charge your credit card the difference.  I don't know how common that is, but I found it kind of.... rude. Maybe its just me.

I'll try to keep updated on the training, and not beg for money too much :)

Anyway, there you have it. I'm really doing it.

I haven't told my knees yet though.  Not sure they can hold out that long, so let's just agree to not let them know until it gets a bit closer, k? Kthanks :)