Santa Clarita RR - I found my limit

I found my limit.

I did a lot of evaluating of my last two marathons before this one.  January was a 3:28 and May was 3:28. They were very different courses at different altitudes and I ran very different races but the overall time was nearly identical. In January I was somewhat injured and ran as tough as I could.  In May I ran to negative split and enjoy the run (which I did) but the whole race was too slow.  So for this weekend my plan was to go with it in the first half and see how long I could hang on and hoped it would be enough to break 3:25. It wasn’t.

I’m not sure what to write about this race. It didn’t go by fast. It didn’t go by slow (except the last 8 miles). Nothing really monumental happened (except I went my best Half Marathon time in the first half of the race). I was happy. I felt good. Weather was perfect. Course was busy with too many turns and little foot bridges and underpasses but it kept things interesting.  I started out cruising in the 7:30s so I went with it.

The last 8 miles brought a mental struggle of fatigue combined with about 6 women all racing within a few minutes of each other.  Who had enough left? Could I tail this ponytail and then pass her with a mile left? Or will she pass me back and will the other ponytail behind me pass me also? So hard to know and there is no way to tell. I did what I could. I passed 3 ponytails and I got passed by 2 different ponytails that crept up from the back. 

Highlights from the race:

-Seeing JB at the start…a virtual friend who I met for the first time on Friday night.  It was so encouraging to have a supporter at the race.

-Seeing JB at 3ish, 6ish and just before the Half.  I was ecstatic when I saw him at the Half because I knew I was completing my best Half Marathon time (it’s been well over a 1 ½ years since I ran a Half so it’s expected to be faster but I was still really happy).  1:39. Yay!

-Seeing DH (GutterRunner) at 20ish.  There was a little out-and-back from 19.5-23.5ish and we estimated before the race that if all went as planned we would just catch a glimpse of each other here. We were right. I entered the stretch of out-and-back and hadn’t run 1/10 of a mile by the time I saw him.  We gave a low five.  I cheered him on. He said nothing. He looked like crap. Breathing hard. Sweating like a pig.  I felt as bad as he looked. But I also knew that we were both pretty close to being on target at that point.  From my estimation, he was going to BQ and that was what I wanted more than anything for this race.

-Every aid station where I took a drink, I tried to take the cup from the smallest and youngest volunteer. Their cheers and encouragement made my day.  I thanked them and always gave them my best smile.

As I closed in on the finish, it hurt. I never like to remember this part because there is nothing like it. The fight is over. The pounding subsides. I see DH and he can barely walk. He cheers me on and says the finish is just around the corner. “Go” he says. I turn the corner and finish (I think there was a Bangle Pump in there but it’s all a blur now). I congratulate the other girls that I raced with and they were all so nice.  I love this sport because of this. We are just all out there for ourselves and we are all so proud of each other for our individual accomplishments. The finish line is full of kind words and wonderful goal-oriented people.  I grabbed some chocolate milk and water.  I hobbled to the side of the recovery area to watch for DH coming back from the course where he cheered me on.  As I watched for him and looked down, the ugly sweats I wore to the start were laying in front of me. Someone had gathered up all the ditched clothing and brought them in a heap to the finish. Dang. Turquoise fleece with paint on it and ugly green sweatpants came home with me AGAIN (this is the 2^nd time now that they have been returned to me without a go-bag). 

Final result was 3:26:46.  I was 32^nd place overall.  I was 5^th place woman. I got 2^nd in my age group.

Crazy part was, DH went 3:01. He was 5^th place man. He got 2^nd in his age group.

We placed identically.  Couldn’t have planned that one!

I love running. At mile 13 a woman hollered to me that I was in 7^th place and that I looked great. I smiled and waved and told her thank you. Then she hollered back that I was the first woman so far that was smiling. I smiled even bigger.  I had a wonderful race and I did smile most of the time. I run because I can. I run 26.2 because it’s fun for a good 20 miles and a good fight with yourself after that.

Thank you JB for the wonderful photos that captured our race: 

http://junblack.smugmug.com/Events/2013-Santa-Clarita-Marathon/n-R6gWd

Taper Tantrum

Here we go.  TEN DAYS TIL SANTA CLARITA MARATHON!!!  Marathon #5 for me...in just under 2 years.  Before that if someone said the word "marathon" I couldn't have told you how far it was...my answer would have been "a long way...20ish miles."  

Hansons training program complete (every single run in the entire program for 16 1/2 weeks...haven't missed a single mile or a single run). For the next 10 days I can run easy and slow.

The last two weeks of Thursday tempo runs have been fantastic. They are 12 miles. One mile warmup, 10 miles at goal marathon pace, one mile cool down.
7:38 is my goal marathon pace.
Last week:

7:38

7:27

7:34

7:34

7:35

7:37

7:36

7:34

7:38

7:34

This week:

7:32

7:34

7:34

7:38

7:34

7:38

7:38

7:28

7:36

7:30

Eek. So excited. 

Bad news. Got another blood test and my iron is still stupid low so I'm going to have to keep working on it.  I feel tons better already after 6 weeks of changing my diet to be more iron rich and taking some iron supplements but I still have a long way to go.  

Starting tomorrow I will be able to see race day in the forecast, I can start packing and I plan on trying really hard to stay off my feet so I can recover.  Maybe I will blog some more. 

And a few photos:

A pile of Newtons...mine and the husband's.  Love.

 A pretty new winter wool coat I sewed for my wonderful boy.

My nephew practicing for me (he is one of my violin students).  The apples and eggs help him play the sections of the violin piece in the correct order.  He is 5 years old.  Love my job!

24 days to go

24 days until Marathon #5.  Got this anemia thing taken care. Got the shoes picked out. Got the hundreds of miles logged. Got EVERY single stinking run in the Hansons Marathon Method in the books for an entire 18 weeks.....not a single miss.  Got the hotel booked for the night before. Got the dog sitter. Got my sights set on a combo race....what does that mean?  Well the last 2 marathons have been all over the map.  In January at Arizona Rock n Roll, I had a very upset foot/stabalizer ankle thing (peroneus brevis) so I spent the race crying inside. I managed a best time but much of the race is a blur as I was in so much pain.  In May I ran Shiprock Marathon in my backyard. I focused on negative splitting (which I'd never done before) and enjoying the race....all 26.2 of it, and I really did.  I raced and had a great time.  Santa Clarita on November 3 is going to be a combo. I'm going to love it, live it and race it.  I'm going to LOVE every step because for the first time I feel so ready (this will definitely change when I get taper brain a week from now and start freaking out). I'm going to LIVE it because I have trained hard and I know how my pace feels and I believe that I can get done what I've been aiming for (this will also change with taper brain because I will question everything and doubt all).  I will RACE it because I can and I'm a competitor.  I'm not afraid of those big numbers anymore. I know I can run a marathon. I know it's going to hurt so so so so stinkin bad even if I go slow so I'm going to push and hope for the best.

Seriously, I know this will all change after Sunday's last long run. I am confident right now though....for real.  My little brother (also a marathoner) told me today "Seriously...the work and pace you were done with a month ago will determine what happens in Santa Clarita. Just chill and let it happen. Don't obsess about these last training runs. Don't over-analyze. Just rest up and run."  I'm going to try so very hard to take those words to heart.

Time Flies

August 25

Oh how summer flies by…

After Shiprock Marathon in May and then my Memorial Day Riverfest 10k, I participated in the One Run for Boston Relay across the country.  I was very humbled by the entire experience. I don’t really know what to write about it since it encompasses so much; signing up for it, planning it, running the actual leg, the aftermath, tracking the progress for 3 weeks, reflecting on it, etc.  It’s just so much.

Summer Violin camp students wore yellow and blue to support Boston on the day we participated in the One Run for Boston relay. Great supporters!

I have been running quite a bit since Shiprock. 30-40 miles per week.  My husband (GutterRunner) ran a fantastic Half Marathon at Steamworks in Durango, CO in June and decided that he is done baby-ing his Plantar Fasciitis and decided we should train for another marathon. I honestly wasn’t sure that I was ready since I did PF Changs in Arizona in January and had 13 weeks to get ready for Shiprock. I was a little burnt out on following a training program (I’m a die-hard when it comes to training programs….if it says run, then I do, come hell or high water). He convinced me I could do it so we put in for New York Marathon and didn’t get in. So during the first week of July, we did a lot of “race shopping” online and decided on Santa Clarita, California Marathon on November 3.  We also decided to use the Hansons Marathon Training Method that I’d used for my previous two races.  As we made this decision, we looked at the training program and counted back the weeks and days from the race and it worked out that the first day of the training program was the very next day, July 4.  So I put my happy face on and got to work.

My husband (Ryan) and I both read Dean Karnazes’ book this summer…Ultra-Marathon Man and it was an eye-opening read.  It taught me not just about running ridiculous amounts of miles, but rather that you have to live your life to live it…not to work your life away in an office somewhere.  So many occupations are monotonous and really don’t have an impact on your life and how it’s lived. They’re mundane activities that we do to pay the bills so we can live but I think if we spent more time living and less time working that we’d be happier. 75 years ago most people didn’t go to “work”, they stayed home and raised a garden to eat and did crafts or forms of art or performed services for others that were in need of that service and would barter or be paid for it.  Life was simpler. Now, people go to work for endless hours…sometimes never really actually getting anything done…and rarely doing anything that really impacts their LIFE.  I saw a commercial before a documentary that began with “Americans love to work.”  I felt abused by the commercial.  We shouldn’t love to work. We should love to live.

 A few days later, we were at a get together with some friends and someone asked “So, what do you do?” Ryan responded “I run and grow a garden and collect koi. And I like to read.” They seemed put-off that he didn’t answer with what his “occupation” was. I realized that his work is not his life…it’s not living to him…it’s just his job that pays the bills that he performs in order to do what he wants but he doesn’t let it run his life and he doesn’t see himself as a zombie going to work and performing mundane tasks on a daily basis. Love him.

September 18

All the sudden it’s September and I have less than 7 weeks until race day.  Hansons Marathon Method has been moving along at 50-60 miles per week. I have felt utterly exhausted since May and have worked to push through. I would randomly fall asleep on the sofa in under a few minutes (not typical for me). I kept telling myself it was burn-out or just getting older and less tolerant.  It continued…persistently. I realized my pace runs were slower than a year ago!!!! What the @$&???? So discouraging!!!! I started to evaluate and realized the exhaustion came before May. There were days in April and even March that I just seemed overly tired and in a non-training way….a more internal way.  I started to get worried. My mom began having thyroid problems at 35 and was finally diagnosed with thyroid cancer two years ago. Her mother and aunt had it years ago also.  I’m a firm believer that my body is designed well to heal itself. I rarely take medications and I have been to the doctor twice in the last 10 years. I buckled down and decided to get some bloodwork done.  Results came back and my thyroid is functioning beautifully (for now). Oh, but the Iron….and the B12….super super super anemic. Uh-oh. Started reading more about runners and iron. Oh gees. This is a serious epidemic. I will now take a blood test for iron at least twice a year. I have changed my diet over the last few weeks and have been taking some small iron supplements on the side and am feeling much better.  

Last week was redemption time. I had been suffering from the anemic exhaustion and was feeling very defeated (didn’t miss any runs though even on the bad days). Last week started out with a tough hilly and sandy trail run for 9.6 miles with a friend. The next day was the first day of Hansons Strength workouts (Speed work (5k  pace) is for the first 10 weeks then it switches to Strength work (half marathon pace-ish)). 6 x 1 mile @ 7:19-7:28 pace. Nailed it. Felt great. Wednesday is rest. Thursday Marathon Pace run (7:38-7:49). Best run I have had in a long time. Right on pace for the entire run. So happy. Finally! Friday and Saturday were easy. Sunday long run 16 miles at “long run” pace 8:19-:8:28. My average ended up 8:15. Yes!!!!!! Oh how I have missed the Runner’s High for the last 6 months!  Tears of joy.

OneRunForBoston...we are in! (and a 10kRR)

Ryan and I signed up for a 10-mile leg each in the-middle-of-nowhere New Mexico on the night of June 12. Excited to be part of such a cool huge thing.  Legs 71 and 72.  Woohoo!  There are still legs available so sign up if there is one near you and be part of this:

http://www.onerunforboston.org/

I ran a 10k last weekend at the big Riverfest that happens every Memorial Day here.  I ran it last year too.  I took 10 days off after the Shiprock Marathon and then had 10 days to prepare for the race. I did one speed-ish workout and then one long-ish run (8 miles) at a moderate pace.  Felt good during the race...more pop in the legs than I expected as the previous 10 days of running felt slow and exhausting and very-post-marathon. Ended up negative splitting the race (is this my new thing???? I did it in the marathon too!).  Managed 2nd place woman overall.  Won my age group. AND dropped 1:20 off my best time from last year.  Wooohoooo!.  45:03 chip time.  GarminGirl said 7:15 average.  

7:12

7:20

7:23

7:30 (90 foot elevation rise)

6:55 (nice)

7:06

1:34 for the last .2

Very encouraging.  

I put in for the lottery to NYC.  So did Ry.  We both got rejected. Lame.

So.....now the hunt for the fall marathon begins.  We have to be able to drive there (to bring DearDog). We are thinking Santa Clarita, California.  Looks lovely.

Shiprock Marathon RR

I planned to run smart. To hold back for the first 10 miles to save some for the end so I could negative split. That's what everyone says makes a great race....and every world record marathon has been a negative split so I figure most PRs happen that way too.  So I planned to chill for 10. Then be right on pace for 11-18, then see what I had left for the last 8.

Things started out great. I was holding back...kept going too fast and slowing myself down.  Rolling hills. Amazing scenery of the high desert right on the edge of the Arizona and New Mexico border running east into New Mexico. When it was time to step up the pace, I was on a hill....a 1.5 mile long hill....not ideal. So I   cruised...thinking I'd pick it up on the downhill afterward, which I did.  Then another hill...slower again.  I was enjoying the race. I wasn't calculating time. I was running across my beautiful New Mexico desert and was comfortable. Finally at 14 the uphills were over for a bit and it was time to pick it up.  I began running into very very slow half-marathoners. We are talking 23 minute per mile pace walkers.  At 16 I passed a girl marathoner. I could see another female marathoner ahead.  I kept her in sight while working to stay on goal pace up another hill through mile 17.  At 18 I had reeled her in and passed her.  Did I mention the crosswind we had the first 20 miles...not headwind and not totally sidewind, but X wind just into the front corner of my right shoulder....for TWENTY miles.

At 20 we reached the intersecting highway where we would turn north. I saw my dad and nephew E.  Turned the corner and saw my nephew A and my mom holding big signs for me and screaming.  Then on the other side of the highway was nephew O on top of my sister's car holding a sign for me and my sister on the ground next to him.  So encouraging.  I forged ahead so happy after seeing my big cheering section.

Best cheerleader ever!!!!  Nephew O.

A great pic my sister snapped of me with giant Shiprock right behind me!

At 23 there was another hill. Ugh. Just as I crested the hill around mile 24 and began heading down, an older guy passed me and said "It's all done hill from here babe. Keep it up."  I loved that he called me babe at this moment...feeling like I had been hit by a truck, looking lovely I'm sure...all sweaty and sticky and snotty and covered in the fine dirt of Shiprock, NM.  He called me babe.  I ran and worked to stay with him.  The plan was for my nephew E to meet me at 25 to run the last mile with me.  He's 13 and this was his first year of track where he ran the mile, the 800 and the 400.  He could easily run me in at a 7:30 or better. I have never run the last mile of a marathon under 8 minutes even though my average pace for my last 2 races have been 8:01 and 7:55.  I just never had enough left in the tank....so I asked him to run with me because I knew he could help me through, and I knew it would give us a special bond.  I could see an aid station ahead and E's yellow shirt...he was ready and waiting. I smiled and held back tears. I was so happy to see him and know that it was almost over.  I believe that no matter how you run the first 20 miles that the last 6 miles of a marathon are just stupid hard and hurt really bad.  E was amazing. I told him to talk. That I couldn't. He said I looked great and was doing great.  He asked what our pace was so he could make sure he pulled me along fast enough. I could hear him breathing hard. The watch said 7:23. I was glad to know I had enough in me to make him have to work to run with me.  It felt like we were going 10:30s. It was like my legs were in perfect stride with his....we trotted along.  I asked him about the girl I had passed at 18...if he could see her behind us.  He could.  He said she was back there but he didn't think she could catch us.  I said that we couldn't let her. He warned me that when we turned off the highway towards the finish line that we were going to have to run through sand. Seriously. Sand. No kidding. At mile 25.7 of a marathon. Sand. They're moving a fence or something and doing construction so there is currently sand and then REALLY REALLY rough asphalt.  Ok. Whatever.  25.7-26.2 hurts either way so why not run through sand and gravely asphalt?  He said "See that group ahead? Let's get them."  And we did.  It was so amazing.  At 26, he said "I'm dropping out. You got this." He yelled and yelled for me all the way to the finish. I could hear my mom and dad and sister and other nephews yelling too.  I crossed the line and there was E to give me a huge hug. I thanked him so much for bringing me in.  It was so fantastic to have him there...stride for stride. I got my medal and some water. Then chocolate milk.  Then more water. Then I sat, and then walked and then sat and then walked. That 30 minutes is kind of a crap-show of pain and undecided behavior cause nothing feels good.

Finish time was 3:28 and change.  I was 3:28 in Arizona in January....so I knew I had basically matched my PR.

Awards began.
In the middle of awards, my friend K finished her FIRST marathon in 4:24.  She battled stomach issues and had 4 or 5 portapotty stops along the way but her splits were great for a first marathon and with the stomach cooperating I imagine her next one will be great.
I got my award for 1st in my age group (out of 19).
And I got 2nd overall for women. (out of 75).

Wordquota's family wasn't coming to the finish, or to the race.  Neither were any of her other friends.  I knew it'd be a while to wait but K and I decided we should.  K signed up for a massage and I ate some more and went to move the car and get my phone to check Endomondo to see where Wordquota was on the course.  She was at mile 23. We knew we could wait for that.  So when we saw she was reaching 25.5, I went out on the course at the end of the lovely sand portion and K waited at the finish line to scream her in.  And scream we did. I yelled and hollered and jumped and she cried when she saw me.  We hugged and I jogged with her for a hundred yards or so then dropped off to cheer her in. She finished strong and happy. Then we posed for a picture, got some food and headed home.

Got home. Checked out my splits and even though my overall race time was just equal to my personal best, I negative split and ran smart.  I'm proud of that.

Went out for french fries and a root beer float (I wanted salty and sweet).

Nephews E and A had run the kids 1 mile race during my race and got medals. So proud!

E is in the yellow (who ran me in).  A is in blue.  Great kiddos!

Now for rest and relaxation!  

Thank you to the Loop for all the great support and encouragement through this training cycle!  I look forward to all your race reviews and bloops.

Been too long. Just too much.

So much going on.  So long since I've posted.

I can't update on everything that's happened in the last month. It's been busy in every way possible.
Planting the garden.
Playing violin concerts.
Preparing violin students for concerts.
Playing at funerals.
Taking on 4 more laying hens (to add to our flock of 22)...refereeing the pecking order takes alot of time.
Trying to refinance our house (ugh....the paperwork).
On and on.

I have managed 50-60 miles per week and am now just under 3 weeks away from Shiprock Marathon.  I've been following the Hansons plan and the taper is more like 10 days so I still have a bit to go until official taper, but I am feeling very trashed and ready to rest. Tempo runs, speedwork, long runs, easy runs....all just chugging along.  Getting it done.

One of my favorite runs was in Durango with my friend K (also doing Shiprock...it'll be her first!)  I was in Durango to play a concert and had a 3 hour break between rehearsal and concert so we met up.  I had 10 on my plan and she had 18 so I did 13.5 with her.  We chatted and cruised along the river trail and the miles clicked by quickly.  Near the end of my run with her, I realized we were actually going to break her best time for her half-marathon.  Totally cool.  She did it so easily.  I am so excited for Shiprock to see how fast she can go.  She is super fit and so dedicated. It's going to be a great day!

K and I play in the San Juan Symphony together and all the local musicians were asked to go to a photo shoot for next year's promo material.  Here's one of the shots of us. I'll make sure and get one of us after Shiprock Marathon too!

Run Happy!