Brookings Marathon Pt 2 - The RACE!

I set my alarm for 5:00AM on race morning, but I woke up at 4:00 and stared at the clock.  I woke up thinking that in a few hours, all of this will be over.  All of the training, the anticipation, the fear of getting injured, everything.  Done.  I felt mixed emotions about all of it, but I was really just ready to get the show on the road!

I had a cup of coffee in the motel and started getting ready.  The race started at 7:00AM so I planned to eat my breakfast around 5:30.  My standard pre-race/run fuel has always been Cheerios and milk.  Last year it was Peanut Butter, this year, Honey Nut.  I had my cereal and a Clif bar and just a little bit of Gatorade.

At 6:00AM I took my O2 Gold and drank Spark and Arginine Extreme on the way to the race.

Gotta have a pre-race, motel bathroom selfie right?

I stretched and finished pinning on my bib and tying my shoes, and we were out the door.  We planned to leave the motel around 6:15 to make it to the park around 6:30.  It ended up only taking us about 10 minutes to get there.

It was a bit chilly, I had gloves, but ended up ditching them before the race started.

We had to pose and show off our guns

We hung out around the porta potties like cool people do and warmed up and stretched.  Then the announcement came that it was time to line up!  

I left my headphones out the first maybe half mile just to soak everything in.  I was in shock that this was actually happening, oh, and that I have 26 miles ahead of me.  I had to put my music on pretty quickly!

The course was fantastic.  There were lots of turns, lots to see.  The route went through the college campus, as well as a couple parks and a golf course.  Most of the streets we were on were residential, there wasn't much traffic going by.

The first 5 miles went fairly quickly.  I was in a zone, and I never once thought about how far I still had to go.  It was one of those running days where everything clicks.  Your brain and your legs are on the same wavelength, and it's just effortless.

Mile 5-6 is when I caught up with Heidi.  We ran side by side for about a mile and a half.  We have a strict "no talking while running" rule, and we stuck to it.  It was nice to just run silently together for a while.

Mile 7 I took my first Gu.  I carried my shot bottle filled with orange Powerade Zero.  This has always worked well for me.  I can't drink out of the cup at water stations to save my life, and I don't like to have to stop and deal with the crowds around them.

Mile 9 we entered the back side of a park, and there was the dumbest hill I've ever seen in my life.  It was the steepest hill of the entire course, but it was a tiny bike path, and it was just steep.  The downhill was actually worse than the uphill.  I had to almost completely stop to hold back downward momentum and not fall on my face.  I saw my mom for the first time at mile 9 and waved for her to refill my bottle.  She left the Powerade in the car, so that meant she was headed to mile 12 to meet me again.  I'm lucky to have such a great race assistant!

Mile 11 the half and full marathoners split off.  That was exciting to me.  That meant it was getting real, and I could also gauge who my competition was!  The nice thing about this race are the different bib colors to designate half, full, and relay runners.  It was nice to know the person sprinting past you was a relay runner!

Mile 12 I stopped for a second in the road to get some more Powerade from my mom and kept trucking along.  I hit the half mark at 1:52 something.  I don't know what happened after that, my body just took off.  My next miles were my fastest of the entire race.  8:15 and 8:08 came out of the blue.  I knew I needed to calm down a little and slow back down, but it was a serious rush at that point.

The miles after the half way point were out in a rural park and on a trail.  The wind had picked up quite a bit at this point and it seemed to be more of a struggle.  I really wanted to get back into town and feel more protected.  I took my second Gu at mile 14.

Mile 19 was the next marker I was focused on.  I knew it would be around a church we drove by the night before, and I knew my mom was planning to be there.  I refilled my bottle again and kept on going.  I focused on hitting mile 20 and taking my last Gu.  

I really had no idea what to expect that last 10K.  I hit 20 around 2:51, so I knew that even 10 minute miles the rest of the way got me sub 4.  But I knew I had faster miles left in me.  I kept waiting for "the wall".  I'm sure this was a rookie marathoner once in a lifetime kind of thing, but I NEVER hit it.  I never once felt like I couldn't keep going mentally or physically.  I slowed down quite a bit, but my slowest two miles were 9:20s.  I stopped at a water station around mile 23 and took a drink of water.  I had some Powerade left, but I felt like I needed water.  My lips were sticky with Gu, and I felt my face and lips getting sun and wind burned.

Mile 24 I realized I only had two more miles, and that I should just soak this all in.  I remember taking deep breaths and looking around and just enjoying the view.  I couldn't believe this was almost over.  Mile 25 the rush of what I had left in me hit, and I took off.  I passed about 3 guys in that last mile, which makes me smile.  I was on the last loop right before turning back into the park towards the finish line and I started swearing... I was just in shock this was real.  I couldn't believe it.  I said holy... to things that aren't holy... I'm pretty sure people had to have heard me!

I realized my time was going to be 3:48 something and I just couldn't believe it.  This was what I wanted SO BADLY for so long.  It was so surreal.  I tried to throw my hands in the air, but I think my arms were too tired!

At that second, I was convinced that was the greatest moment of my entire life.  It doesn't get better than this.  But it did...

Brookings Marathon - May 3, 2014

It's goin dooooown, I'm yellin timber...

 

Sorry... nothing says excitement like Ke$ha.

I've talked about about this a little bit on here, I've been pretty cryptic everywhere else.  I am officially registered for my spring marathon in Brookings, SD.  

 

I'm four weeks into my training cycle and feeling great.  I am not following a specific plan like I did last time.  I've taken many resources, and pieced them together for my own plan.  

My plan is loosely based on this:

Marathon Training Schedule (Schedule II)

Week#	Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.	Sat.	Total
1	10	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	34
2	12	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	36
3	6	Rest	4	Rest	4	Rest	4	18
4	14	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	38
5	16	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	5	41
6	18	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	5	43
7	6	Rest	5	Rest	5	Rest	4	20
8	20	Rest	5	7	6	Rest	4	42
9	14	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	38
10	7	Rest	5	Rest	6	Rest	4	22
11	21	Rest	5	7	6	Rest	4	43
12	14	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	38
13	8	Rest	6	Rest	6	Rest	4	24
14	22-23	Rest	5	7	6	Rest	5	45-46
15	12	Rest	6	8	6	Rest	4	36
16	14	Rest	7	Rest	5	Rest	4	30
17	10	Rest	6	Rest	4	Rest	1-2 Opt.	20-22
18	26.2 Marathon	Rest	Rest	Rest	Rest	Rest	Rest	26.2

Source: http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_sch_2.html


Check this site out, it has many great articles and resources.  My plan is more custom and I'm going on more a week to week basis in terms of determining my workouts.  I followed this mainly for the long run guide.

This January has been crazy mild in terms of Nebraska weather.  We've had no snow, just insane wind.  It's great to be able to sneak outside on clean, dry pavement on days it warms up and isn't a hurricane.  So, so far so good on that aspect.  I am aware that I do face the potential of doing some of these long runs on the treadmill due to the winter/spring aspect.  I will get myself a good movie to watch, and suck it up!

I've heard nothing but great things about Brookings and the course.  I'm really excited to run a new race.  I registered a few weeks ago, I was a little worried about it filling up quickly.  They only allow 300 in the marathon, and I believe the same in the half.  

This race means a lot to me for many reasons.  I pray for a successful training cycle that is injury free.  I've been craving the marathon since last August when I had to scrap Sioux Falls.  There were a lot of things that just didn't work in my favor at that point in time.  I have a different approach, and a little more faith this time.  Saturday, May 3, 2014 would have been my Grandma's 81st birthday.  Seems like a perfect day to run my first marathon.

 
 

Blessings in Disguise

I am so incredibly proud of the things I’ve accomplished this year.  I wish I didn’t have the lingering feeling of failure.  I hate feeling it, but buried beneath the half marathon PR and medals, there it is.  It makes its way out every once and awhile, when I least expect it.  That stupid marathon that should have been… It used to eat at me continually.  I would search races around the country within reach to still attempt to train and sign up for.  I considered running 26.2 miles around town just do say I freakin’ did it.  I’ve realized now how completely ridiculous that would be, and how to just straight up GET OVER what didn’t happen this year, reflect on what DID, and look forward to the year ahead.

So, this morning at 5am and 30 degrees, mid run, I finally compiled a list of POSITIVE things that came out of my training experience, and reasons why I’m thankful for the “failure”.

•        MOST IMPORTANTLY by NOT running the marathon, I HEALED and didn’t do serious, long-term injury to my hip.
•        I conquered my fear of long runs.  I gained so much confidence by doing those long runs.  I was pretty darn nervous the night before my first 20 miler.  Knowing that I’ve see that 2 as the front digit on my watch definitely gives me confidence as I start my 2014 training cycle.  It’s nothing to be feared.
•       I got what I really wanted.  I really, really wanted a 1:45 half marathon in 2013.  I was hoping to get it in June before I started marathon training.  I didn’t get it, but by not running the marathon, I was able to pick up the Omaha half and get my 1:44.
•      I gained speed and strength.  I felt pretty weak going into the Sioux Falls half, I had taken time off, and was doing no major strength training in my healing efforts.  I was SO SORE for a solid week after this race, but it was like my muscles rebuilding and gearing up for bigger and better.  I’m really proud of the paces I ran my recent 15K and 10K in.
•     I have more mental strength and determination than ever before.  Last year, I would never in a billion years dream of running at 4am or running when it was 29 degrees out.  This morning, I got out of my warm bed and ventured out with no real goal other than 7 miles.  No reason to HAVE to.  Nothing to train for.  I’ve learned how to take the pressure off of myself.  That is HUGE. 

    This morning I came to accept what didn’t happen this year, and embrace the positive things that did.  I reflect back on the whole Sioux Falls weekend in general, the circumstances surrounding the weekend, the heat… it wasn’t supposed to happen.  It just wasn’t my time.  But, I was supposed to try.  I was supposed to register, train, and focus on a marathon.  Every situation brings something to our lives, be it a lesson, a success, a failure, a blessing… The standard “everything happens for a reason” quote really does always ring true.

 Something random from me for the day... my new coffee flavor is Dunkin' Donuts Apple Pie.  PLEASE TRY THIS!  It's sooooo good!  I go on coffee hiatuses over the summer months, and when I come back, I come back strong!

 

The 26.2 that wasn't...the injury story

2013 was going to be my year.  My goal was three half marathons in three months.  Check.  Then my plan was finally tackling the 26.2 in September in Sioux Falls.  I questioned whether or not my body would hold up through training.  I've dealt with overuse injuries in the past.  Of course the good ol shin splints, foot issues, random muscle aches that leave me immobile.  But I found a novice plan online and went for it...

I signed up for the race in the middle of June.  Race day September 8th...  I was coming off a half marathon in Norfolk in the middle of June.  Distance wise, I had a base.  I felt recovered and ready to start the long runs.  In reality, it was a pretty crammed and condensed plan.  I obsessed over every weekend, ensuring that I had the ability to get the long run in.  Luckily, I was able to, for the most part.  

Setback number one came in July.  Second week, my scheduled vacation days from work, I got sick... I went to the doctor and finally get some antibiotics and the confirmation that I had strep throat.  Lovely.  I missed a 5K I had registered for just for fun, and also missed a longer run that week. 

August approached and I reached cloud nine!  My second 18 mile run my average pace was in the high 8s!  I was so thrilled, this felt EASY!  My marathon goal pace was a 9 minute mile.  I was holding this pace consistently in all of my long runs.  Then 20!  It felt amazing to say I'd ran 20 miles!  My pace was on point, everything felt great.  Then it all ended...

The week following my 20, I took my usual two days off running and got back into mileage on Tuesday.  The Saturday following was a scheduled 18.  I took off just like usual, but something didn't feel right.  My right hip starting nagging early.  Like mile 2 early... Instead of stopping, I kept going.  I went all the way down to my turnaround point, which was mile 7, and by this time I was in serious pain.  I kept stopping for walking and stretching breaks, thinking my hip would loosen up.  It didn't.  Ever.  I kept running with the intention now of just getting home.  I knew I wouldn't make my loop for 18, JUST GET HOME.  I made it back into town which was about 11 miles.  It was all over.  I started walking, phoneless, limping in extreme pain by this point... gimped roughly 3 miles back home, cutting through every side street and alley I could find to shorten the route.  I remember crying a couple different times out of pain and frustration.  By the time I made it home, I bawled...sobbed.. for a solid 20 minutes.  I knew whatever I had done to my hip, that was it.

I finally went to the doctor the following Friday, and fortunately did not have a fracture.  The pain continued to worsen throughout the week, especially sitting in my office chair at work.  He diagnosed it as a hip flexor strain.  Based on my recovery time, I would safely say there was no tear, just strain.  At the time, he said no running for two weeks.  And don't run a marathon.... I went back to work, bawled my eyes out to my co-workers, and tried to mentally cope with it all.

Hands down worst day ever...