Anyone else out there have to contend with stupid strong winds this week? I swear, it was strong winds all week. You know…those types of winds that, when you head out for a run, you are running into the wind…and when you turn around to come back…you are still running into the wind.
That being said, the cold temperatures have really wreaked havoc on my body. At least, I hope it’s the cold weather…hard to say when spring weather has all but disappeared…despite being mid-April-ish! UGH!
But that being said, there has been some amazing stuff going on this week for me too. Sometimes it might seem mundane, but, you know…simple things make me happy, and there is nothing wrong with that.
1. My new favorite piece of kitchen gear
This…is a cutting board. This is a cutting board made by my super speedy, awesome, super-talented friend and running buddy, Dennis!! How amazing is this?! I love it. I tried it out all this week, and it seriously makes me happy just to chop up my vegetables and fruits and tofu…and whatever else needed a happy bit of chopping.
Dennis, you’re super talented and I thank you so much for this gift. Seriously, my favorite thing in the kitchen.
2. Game of Thrones Okay, so, I don’t have cable. Nor do I have anything Apple that I could get HBO Go or whatever it was so I could watch Game of Thrones Season 5 while it was airing. This meant, I was dodging spoilers (and still am whenever an actor from the show starts trending). But, I purchased the Blu-Rays the other day, and have dived headlong into the season. I’ve gotten through half of the season so far and am eager to wrap it up. And then I need to figure out how to watch Season 6 as it airs…if possible. Shhh…no spoilers!
3. Cupcake of the Week
Annie May’s Sweet Café Cupcake of the Week – Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake (vanilla cupcake filled with strawberry jam and topped with vanilla frosting and a fresh strawberry)
I have never been a cupcake person, but lately, Annie May’s Sweet Cafe, has been putting out a new weekly special…CUPCAKE OF THE WEEK! And they always just sound so amazing. I think I’ve only missed out on 2 of the weeks (once because I got a cookie, and the other because they were sold out). But it has been my favorite thing to check out when I go in for Soft Pretzel Wednesday. It’s usually the dessert I split with my roomie that night. A nice mid-week treat for sure. Anyway, some of the standouts have been the “Unicorn Cupcake,” the “Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake” and the “Hot Fudge Sunday Cupcake.” I missed the Cookie Dough one so maybe they’ll bring that one back sometime. All allergen-free…and all have been totally yummy!!
4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Are you aware that the new Star Wars came out on Blu-Ray and DVD this week? I got the special edition at Walmart…because it had BB-8 on the cover. Dammit, I’m such a BB-8 fangirl. Regardless, I LOVED this movie. And I love the new characters. And I really love BB-8. So, yeah, I braved Walmart and bought the Blu-Ray this past week. I hear my Sphero BB-8 droid will react to the movie if I have him turned on and watching it when I am. So, yeah…that’s happening.
5. PB&J Breakfast Bowls Want to know what my latest obsession is? Parfait bowls. Now, I’m not new to breakfast parfaits, but this is a brand new, and SUPER good way to eat them. And I have the Chobani Cafe in SoHo, NYC, to thank for it. I eat this every morning after the gym. And this coming week, with me heading out of town, this is breakfast all week. Super easy to make:
1 cup yogurt (vegan, Greek, etc.)
1/4 cup grapes, sliced
2 tablespoons natural grape jelly
2 tablespoons peanut butter (I use NuttZo!!) #NuttZoAmbassador #NuttZoFanatic #NuttZoLove #NuttZo
1 tablespoon peanuts
Place yogurt in a bowl. Scatter grapes over yogurt. Place the grape jelly in the center. Place the peanut butter around the edge of the bowl. Top off with nuts. Enjoy!
I have done variations on this, using orange marmalade and either Smudge, Nutella, or the NuttZo chocolate versions. Also strawberry with the chocolate Smudge, Nutella, or NuttZo is also delicious. Want a healthy but delicious breakfast? Make this. You’ll thank me for it!
6. I HAVE A ROAD BIKE!! It finally happened. After years of talking about it. And over a year of trying to get one for myself, but always having medical bills (hello, MRIs) to cover instead…the perfect bike finally came into my life. Someone was selling their road bike that they hardly rode for a really good price. Way less than what the bike was originally purchased for. It had been sitting in her storage room. It came with all the gadgets and gizmos. And it is BB-8 colors, so it was truly meant to be. I’m taking it to get fitted properly for me so I don’t do any hip damage or get injured…and then…I’m road ready. FINALLY!! I love this bike. And, yes, I did name it BB-8.
How was your week? Has the wind in your area been crazy-strong and gusty too? What fun and exciting things do you have coming up? Buy anything fun this week?
I have made it through a very tiring, very busy, very hectic week. But, I got a lot accomplished and even made it out for a pre-wedding 5K for two of my favorite peeps from my running group this morning. Their wedding was this afternoon…so I hope all in attendance had a fantastic time!!
But I’ll get to that some more in a moment.
This week, I’ve learned a lot about…patience. I’m Irish. Patience is not a virtue that I really have. Not much, anyway. But if there is one thing this hip labrum tear recovery period has taught me it’s that…I have to be patient. With myself. With my body. With my running. With vast changes in weather this week, my hip has been screaming at me. Everything is day-to-day…which is frustrating, but, it’s how it has to be. That being said, getting out this week in the various weather conditions and with a variety of people for various things has been…good for my soul.
So, with that in mind, here are some things that I found good for my soul this week…
1. Laura & Mike’s Wedding 5K
When I first started running consistently with the Blue Mile group (which has sort of stayed together despite the store no longer being there…although no more Monday fun runs), I got to know both Laura and Mike rather well. They are both fantastically bright, fun, and amazing people. And a perfect match for each other. When they (finally) got engaged, it was something to be celebrated. And then, today, Laura & Mike invited everyone out for a special running of the Breakfast Club, for a pre-wedding 5K and then breakfast. They surprised us all with finisher’s medals that commemorate the event and their special day. Runners are the best people. I wish both of my dear friends (both of whom I have had the honor of running with for short and long distances) much luck and love in their future! CHEERS!!
2. Louisville City FC First Kick @ Home Well, the winds were insane. That’s about all I can say. Nothing like seeing the guys out on the pitch kick a ball high, have it spin in place and then come right back to them. We had some crazy strong winds yesterday for the first home match for Louisville City FC. I (FINALLY) got to hang out with Natalie again, as she took up the third seat in the Season Tickets that we have kept from last year. Same row. Same seats. Same awesome view. LOVED being there again, despite the cold. LOVED hanging with Cathy & Natalie, watching the guys take on the New York City Redbulls II. And…sadly…and very disappointingly…we lost. Bad. It felt like we just didn’t have any rhythm. And we sort of looked a bit like a squad of newbie kids out there just mucking about. I hope this doesn’t set the tone for the rest of the season because Louisville City FC was SO amazing last year. Crossing our fingers that Saturday’s match is better.
3. THESE LEGGINGS!! A gift from my very own Sole Sister, Natalie…I love these leggings. They fit me perfectly, and they perfectly suit our friendship. Thank you, Natalie…for these. I have been sporting them all day and I really don’t want to take them off!!
4. A Run in the Rain A lot of times, I stay out of the rain and opt for a treadmill run or a later run. But this past Thursday, the 5 miler I put in during the wee hours of the morning was both cleansing and rejuvenating. I had no pace goals nor expectations. Normally I don’t want to go out in the rain, but it was the only time that day I’d have to do it, with nasty storms brewing that evening (right about the time I left work). And I’ve found I hurt a little more after a treadmill run than I do after an outdoor run. Sometimes a lot more. So, I opted to throw on some old running shoes, suit up, and take in 5 very wet miles. And I loved every moment of it. It was like I was a kid again. Splashing through puddles (one was ankle deep…thankfully I found that one (accidentally) near the end of the run), hearing my feet against the wet pavement, wondering what the drivers in the few cars that passed thought as I was lighting up the dark with my reflective gear and blinkie lights. It wasn’t a perfect run, nor a fast run, but it was the run I needed that morning. And I take every good and enjoyably run I can find these days!
5. Dinner Rolls It’s such a simple thing…and yet, after promising Cathy (the roomie) that I would make my gluten-free dinner rolls for over a month now, today, I finally set out to do it. And, yes, despite a very busy afternoon, much of it spent away from home…they are being made and I have one very happy roommate on my hands. Sometimes…it’s the simple things that bring the most joy! Gluten-free dinner rolls…oh yeah. As Oprah says…”I love bread.” HAHA!! And when I make it myself, I know exactly what is going into it!
6. Deciding To Run for a Charity I can’t plug this enough. When you believe in something, you do something. So, when I found the opportunity to run the Lumiere’s Challenge (Disney Wine & Dine 10K on Saturday and Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon on Sunday) for Disney Wine & Dine weekend not just for myself, but for a charity, I couldn’t be happier. As I said in a previous post…I have wanted to run for charity again for awhile. My injury kept me out of the running circuit for a year…so…yes…this had to happen. I am going to be running for Alliance For A Healthier Generation. And if you would like to support me with a donation, I would be forever grateful! I love being able to support a cause and do something I love at the same time!
Me after finishing the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
Race: United Airlines NYC Half Marathon
Place: New York, New York
Date: March 20, 2016
Time: 1:43:53
When I go into a race without any expectations or goals…I seem to do better than anticipated. While I had a semi-goal of being able to do my first half marathon distance after injury (for a year) in sub-2 hours, I wasn’t going to be too hard on myself if it didn’t happen.
Especially since the weather changed drastically the week of the race.
The weekend before the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…the weather was gorgeous. Not just in Louisville (where I ran my first official race back…the Rodes City Run 10K), but up in New York too. I was hoping it would hold. I do better in nicer temperatures. But as the week went on…the gorgeous weather started to go away.
NOOOOOO!!
For much of the week, the forecast was calling for rain…cold…wind. Then snow…cold…wind. And then, on Friday night, it changed to just really flippin cold and really flippin’ windy.
UGH!! Now I was in a crisis. I had my outfit planned out for weeks…but the 30 degree temps and the strong winds (and the wind chill it would bring), meant I needed to reevaluate my wardrobe. With much reluctance, the running skirt went back into the closet and a pair of my (albeit bright) compression tights came out. Any of you who regularly read my running blog know…I…HATE…PANTS. So this frustrated me. I also packed a big turtleneck lined top and a windbreaker…and at the last minute, just before walking out the door early Saturday…I tossed in a long sleeve shirt…just in case, because I never ran in a windbreaker and I was nervous it would annoy me or just not work out…in which case, I’d rather brace against the cold in layers than anything.
So, Saturday morning was an early morning for me. I was up at 2 am to do all my physical therapy exercises. The stretches, the dynamic stuff outside, the plyometrics. I knew once I touched down in NYC…I was on the move…and these stretches were more important than anything else.
I admit, a little voice in my head said, “Go on…go do an easy mile or two for a shakeout before getting on the plane.” But, as tempting as it was, I quieted that voice. I knew I’d be on the go both at the airports and once I touched down in the city, the shakeout wasn’t important, and I didn’t need to do it. I’d be doing ample time on my feet just moving about NYC.
See what I have learned??!!
So, we (my roommate and I) walked out the door right at 5 am (giving us time to get a light breakfast in our stomachs and (SO VERY MUCH NEEDED) coffee into our system. We got to the Louisville airport in record time…parked…had to take a roundabout way to the Southwest Airlines counter due to renovations that are going on, and which I hope they finish up before Derby, or that airport is going to be a mess. Security was quick, although I ended up being randomly chosen for the hand swab, and my laptop (as always) had to be examined more closely…but it was quick, painless, and we were off and heading to our gate (which was behind a bunch of renovation boards). Like I said, the airport was sort of a mess.
Deciding that we weren’t ready to settle in yet, we took a little walk, as usual, through the airport crowds, and Cathy and I grabbed a Cool Lime Refresher at Starbucks (and she got a breakfast sammie as well) and we went back to the gate. I downed one of the new LUNA Bars (the Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond, which has only 5 grams of sugar and tasted like an amazing caffe mocha) and then…it was time to board. We were at the end of the A group…so it worked out perfectly.
Our flight had a small layover at Chicago Midway before we went on to NYC. So, we took the time to stretch our legs and walk the terminal. I was really craving something sweet, so we went on the “Great Fruit Cup Hunt of Midway,” finding that everywhere that normally had fruit cups were sold out. With 5 minutes to boarding, we finally found something at one of the food court restaurants. It was a large fruit cup with honeydew melon, pineapple, grapes and strawberries in it. I carried it onto our flight into Laguardia Airport and ate it while still sitting on the runway.
The flight into Laguardia was uneventful, save for the funny flight crew. The lead flight
Me with the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon logo – New York, New York
attendant was in her 50s and just…SO funny. Love that. It also helps calm my nerves when the flight crew is loosey-goosey like that. I was drinking my water to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and we landed in Laguardia early. Taxied to the jetway…disembarked…and went to baggage claim. My bag was the 2nd one off the belt. Cathy’s wasn’t too far behind. With bags in hand, we called the hired car company and they had a car out to fetch us in about 5 or so minutes. Luggage went into the trunk and we were now on our way into Manhattan…staying at a different hotel this time (which was totally our fault because we originally had the race pegged for the weekend before this one and it wasn’t until about a month before that I realized the date of the race was for the week after…in my defense, it ran a week earlier last year!)…but the traffic situation wasn’t bad and our driver was really aggressive once he got into the city blocks, LOL! We were dropped off at the door of The Distrikt Hotel on W 40th Street and went to check in.
We were much earlier than anticipated, so our room wasn’t ready yet. We did go ahead and leave our bags and went to go buy a Metrocard and take the subway to get to the United Airlines NYC Half Experience (the expo), which was taking place at the Metropolitan Pavilion. We headed into the Expo, which was a madhouse! Seriously…at some points, I felt like salmon swimming upstream. I had the registration sheet with me so I went over to where my numbers were to pick up my bib. From there, it was through the store and over to get my official bag with my t-shirt and stuff in it. I haven’t really looked through what else was in there. I made one circuit of the expo before returning to the official store. There was a great t-shirt in there, pink and purple, that I had my eye on. But, to no surprise, my size was gone. Disappointing for sure. Ah well. Except, Cathy and I realized almost all official merchandise for women had nothing left in small. Now I remember why I order things online ahead of this. She did manage to find me an official finisher’s t-shirt and I grabbed a Sparkly Soul headband that had the event name on it. Purchases made. Back into the expo.
I actually thought there would be more vendors there and more to see and lots more places to shop. But, for the best, there wasn’t. I walked through the line of charities…I got in line to have my picture taken in front of the logo…Cathy made a couple signs (which never got used due to the 21 mph gusts of wind on race morning)…and we settled in for a moment at a table where I could charge my phone and we could catch our breath.
Me and my awesome friend Ellen at the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon Experience
My friend, Ellen, who got in on lottery this year (I deferred last year so had automatic entry…except I had to repay the $127 registration fee), turned up to meet up with me, and brought me a nice salad to boot. YAY for friends. YAY for food! We discussed what we were planning on wearing, food, and…all the crazy shit (hehehe…get it Ellen?) that runners rely on and need to have happen prior to a run. It was fun. I even did a Snapchat video for her giving a running tip. She calls me her inspiration…but I think she’s mine. She needed to get back to the charity event she was attending, and I needed to get back to the hotel to get into the room. The travel capris I was wearing weren’t very warm against the already chilly wind of NYC. So, we returned to the hotel, got our room, gathered our bags, and went upstairs. We flopped for a moment before changing into jeans and heading back out…this time just to explore. We didn’t want to stop in for dinner until at least 5 p.m. So, we had a couple of hours to just explore. That’s what we did, too.
With no plan, we just wandered through some of the area, stopping into shops that drew our attention. We went and got our chocolate from Teuscher (I got a mini champagne, dark mocha, and dark salted caramel…and Cathy got a limoncello, almond, and chocolate orange truffle), which is a requirement, and ducked into the Hard Rock Café for a shotglass and a pin. Back out and seeing the city until we decided to hike over to our pre-race dinner spot of choice, Don Antonio by Starita on W 50th Street. They have a fantastic gluten-free pizza menu, and while they have a couple of GF and Vegan options, I stuck with the one I knew I loved and wouldn’t give me too much. The Marinara Pizza Senza Glutine. OMG…this is my 2nd favorite gluten-free pizza crust in the world (the first being Annie May’s Sweet Café). I love when there is a real and actual crust on a gluten-free pizza, and not just a cracker crust. We devoured dinner and then hiked back to the hotel to cycle through showers, giving me time to foam roll, and to eat some chocolate. HA! It was an early to bed night…and by 9 pm…we were turning out the lights.
I set the alarm on my phone for the first one to wake me up at 4 a.m. It went off and I got up to use the bathroom, take my medicine, and then crawled back into bed for another 50 minutes. The second alarm was the 5 a.m. one, and I got up and started to get changed into my running gear for the race. Cathy was up at 5:15 to get dressed and ready. And while I felt good all day prior to this morning, I felt tired, but in good shape for the actual race. I was not happy that I had to wear pants to run a half marathon, but the windchill was a factor and I under-dressed once before for a full and have been nervous about doing that again ever since (hypothermia is NOT fun, my friends). I decided to wear a long sleeve tech shirt under my warmer top with the big turtleneck top, figuring it would be good against the wind, without me trying to get used to running in a windbreaker on the fly. I got my number pinned on, threw on the hoodie I was going to leave behind, filled up my water bottles and we were off.
We took the subway to Columbus Circle and disembarked, climbing the stairs and being
Me at then entrance of Central Park, Times Square behind me, on the morning of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
greeted with some of the coldest wind. I don’t know how the dude in front of us was handling being in short running shorts, because I would have been dying. I think he was. But…to each their own, right?! We walked over to the checkpoint at Central Park where Cathy had to go her own way and I had to show my bib number and enter. We took a picture of me with Times Square behind me and then I went in. I walked with a bunch of runners who were just talking about some of the most random stuff. One was talking about Scott Jurek on Instagram and it was kind of amusing to me. We went through the medal detectors and then continued on the path to the corrals. There was a line of port-o-potties without lines and many of the people I was walking with went to take advantage of them…and I kept on trekking. I made my way to the line of corrals, working my way up to the one for 10000-10999. I did a few of my dynamic warm-up moves from physical therapy, but the air temperature was enough to make me not want to do it anymore. I did one set of each, then hunkered down and shivered for a good half hour more. It was really, really cold. When the corrals opened for the start of the wheelchair race, I stepped inside and did a few static stretches just to loosen up. From the onslaught of the cold wind, my hip was already not loving me. It began to ache during the easy walk from security to the corals. Seriously, my body and cold weather never got along, but it really doesn’t get along with it these days.
The wheelchair racers, hand crank racers, and elite women were all sent off by 7:15 a.m. It was awesome standing in the corral and being able to see each group take off. When the elite women took up, I cheered loudly for Molly Huddle, who is from Elmira, NY…my hometown area. She’s amazing. She’s fast. She set a new course record that morning and it came down to an eighth of a second…it was THAT close. The elite men went off with Wave 1 at 7:30 a.m.. Then my wave…Wave 2…were shuffled forward for our 7:45 a.m. start. It was really exciting. When the airhorn blew to send us off, I began the walk toward the official start, and started my Garmin as I crossed. The first step already had my hip screaming at me. I struggled through the final mile of a 10K the weekend prior…and I just started a half marathon. I really just made a point go focus on my form and my breathing, and just finding a comfortable pace to run at. As I said, I had no goals or expectations…just to have fun and to finish what I start. Well…I started. I now had to finish.
Me running through the 10K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
The 6 miles through Central Park are beautiful and quiet. There were pockets of spectators out there, but mostly it was runners, our feet, and our breathing. Being the start of the race, I would catch snatches of conversations people were having as they ran the race with friends or running partners. It keeps me amused. Some people were tucked into their earbuds, their music propelling them forward. There was a couple running together, and on the back of his shirt was a sign that said “Baby on Board” and an arrow pointing to his wife who was running right next to him. The people inside the park were loud and awesome and the little loop we do outside the park to turn around and head back in…was packed, crowded and loud. I love a good crowd. The hills of Central Park are respectable, but my hill repeats have been more intense than those, so while they slowed me down slightly, they didn’t have me huffing and puffing. I’m learning to love to hate to love those hill repeat sessions more and more. I didn’t check my pace on my watch at any point, but I hit the 5K mark and felt like I was coming along well for someone who was fighting hip pain twinges since the start. With the hills now behind us, the runners exit Central Park onto 7th Avenue. Cathy said she’d be outside the park to see me there, so I got to the left per her instructions and headed up 7th Avenue. She was tucked into the pocket of the turn, but I heard her shouting and screaming and I gave a wave at her as I ran past. It lifted my spirits, for sure. And it was on to run down 7th Avenue and into Times Square.
I think Times Square was my favorite part of this race. The crowd was intense. There was so much noise. All the screens were lit up. The Kids Mile was running through there. There was so much energy there…that it just pulsed through you. I loved every stretch of this portion of the race. And it is the part I remember the most. I love a good crowd.
And with the extreme winds we were getting, it was a great way to start off the last stretch of the race. This portion is pretty flat, save for just after the 20K mark. So, it was nice to easily pick up the pace a little here. Miles 8-12 really just have you fighting the windtunnels that are 42nd Street. Here you make a U-Turn and head down the West Side Highway. Wind. Lots of wind. Thankfully there was music blasting at various stages throughout this stretch of the run. The crowds were sparse, but there were some spectators out there to cheer. But without the bands, this might have been a tough slog through these 4 miles. However, as the miles tick down, One World Trade Center/Freedom Tower keep getting closer and closer. It’s gorgeous. I can’t tell you how long I just kept my eyes on that building, minding each time I drew up my right leg, making sure I wasn’t overcompensating due to the hip pain. This was…uplifting.
Mile 12 takes runners through the Battery Park Underpass. This…was fun. Seriously. You are underground for a long while. Runners scream and shout and let out whoops as they run through the dark, spooky tunnel. I loved it. I even left my sunglasses on. Just powered on through. Running through tunnels is fun. For some reason, I always smile more in them. The 20K mark was just as we were let out to run up a hill.
Me coming out of the Battery Park Underpass at the 20K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
This is where Cathy was situated to see me before I hit the finish line. LOVED this little uplift right at the end. I waived and smiled as she shouted, “YOU REALLY ARE ALMOST THERE!” And so, I burst up the hill and got hit by one hell of a headwind. NYC has this way of always being super windy when I run there. So…I battled the headwind and just ran…ran…ran…rounding a corner…passing up a pace group….rounding another turn and seeing that finish line. As I ran this race rather conservatively, I still had some go in the tank and so…I powered up, powered through, and crossed that finish line.
I stopped my Garmin…and the tears just started going. I didn’t know my official time. I didn’t check the Garmin. I competed and finished my first half marathon since my hip labrum tear over a year ago. And I could still move. No limping. Just a small ache. I had done what I thought I wouldn’t be able to do…and it turns out I did it well.
We were filtered through the finisher’s area where we had medals hung around our necks and mylar sheets wrapped around us to keep us warm. We were given these nice bags filled with snacks, Gatorade and water, and then shuttled out toward Battery Park. At the exit, Cathy was waiting. I hurried over and got a hug and she said, “YOU KILLED IT!! Do you want to know your time?” Of course I did. She told me…and I started crying. Not only was it better than I anticipated, it was better than I could have dreamed of doing, given the circumstances.
Our bodies find ways of surprising us. And I think not having a specific goal or pace I wanted to hit helped.
So, the official results of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon are that I finished in 1:43:53. I was 3318/20,149 finishers overall. I was 786/10,556 female finishers. And I was 132/1706 finishers in my division. I, honestly, couldn’t have run this any better. Since the cold weather made me sore from just shivering at the start, I just took this race one step at a time…one mile at a time. And I LOVED it. I loved this race. It was…probably….one of my favorite half marathons I have ever run. Even in the cold…and the wind…and the suck…it was just…fun. And I had fun running it. It was a struggle at times…but I finished it and I felt good at the end.
Afterwards, we hopped the subway back to the hotel where I showered and changed.
Cathy, Me and Marisa after a great evening of celebration at Red Rooster Harlem.
Cathy and I went to Empire Coffee & Tea House where I got a Pumpkin Spice Latte (dairy free…made with almond milk…and YUMMY!). Then we ended up hiking around NYC the rest of the day with Cathy and my friend Marisa, who I have known since high school. We stopped in at bakeries (I bought 3 cookies from By The Way (BTW) Bakery) and a tea shop (where I had the Energitea…an amazing green blend). We settled in for a bit at the hotel before getting ready to head to dinner at Red Rooster Harlem. You might recall, Red Rooster is where I celebrated my NYC Marathon finish…so I wanted to go back for this. And it was amazing. Once again, the chef created a dish to fit my dietary needs…and I was SO impressed. I even had dessert. And fun. We sat and talked over mint tea and listened to the live jazz music in the bar before calling it a night and making the trek back from Harlem to Midtown. We said goodbye to Marisa and settled in for the night.
Overall…I’m already ready to come back to NYC…even if I don’t have a race. There is always so much to see and do. But…this time…for me…the highlight was getting through the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…after having to defer it last year. It was just the boost I needed.
It’s Sunday night, and I’m finally settling in…even though my drier has now stopped for the 4th time and my clothes still are sitting in there begging for me to fold them. This is the busy, crazy, and rather hectic weekend I have had. How I haven’t screamed into a pillow just for the sake of my sanity is beyond me.
Do not get me wrong…this really isn’t a bad thing. But there were a few extra things going on this weekend…and it meant some things had to be put off and other things just, honestly, didn’t get done. BUT…these things are minor in the grand scheme of things. It’s just more of a stressor for me.
That being said…deep breaths…laundry can wait…a bit more…
Here are some highlights from this past week…
1. Zootopia OMG…THE CUTENESS!! This movie was adorable. And yes…I am so Officer Judy Hopps. No doubt about it. Except, minus the cute ears and twitchy nose. I might have the fluff butt though. HAHA!! Anyway…went to the movie theater this morning and caught the first showing of Zootopia and LOVED it. Totally loved it. Disney does it again. The sloth scene that is so famous…still funny…even though the trailer pretty much gave the entire scene to you. LOVE IT. I am so costuming as Officer Hopps for a Disney race in the future. THIS. IS. HAPPENING.
All that being said…when the hell did matinee movie prices skyrocket up to $9.00 for an adult??!! Not loving that.
2. THIS AMAZING BIRTHDAY CAKE!! Okay…regular followers of my blog and Instagram know how much I love, respect, adore, and hype my local gluten-free (allergen-free) bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café. Well…there is a reason. This place and I have had a relationship for the past 4 years of my life. It all started in 2012, when my roommate and I found it in a big search for anywhere local that could make me a birthday cake (because I was told the birthday girl shouldn’t have to make her own cake). Since then, you could say that we are regulars. In fact…I might be in there twice a week (SOFT PRETZEL WEDNESDAY!) and for breakfast/brunch/lunch (depending on when we get there, HAHA) every Saturday that I’m in town. I love the staff…I really love the food. It’s amazing.
Well, my roommate (Cathy), her mom, her sister, and her niece all have birthdays within 5 days of each other…for real. So, as we were having the big get-together celebration yesterday, it was cake time. And cake I can eat is always appreciated. Well, I just so happened to have stumbled across a BB-8 cake on Facebook one night and I tagged Annie May’s in it. They said they could make it…so we ordered one. But we did it differently. Instead of shaping the cake into a standing BB-8…we did a cake topper and set it on top of a delicious, amazing lemon cake. OMG…it was awesome. Ashley, the cake decorator there, did a fantastic job with the cake topper and icing. And the lemon cake…OMG…so good!! Moist…delicious…and it had the BEST DROID EVER on it.
Hey…foodie geeks are the best. To the amazing bakers at Annie May’s…THANK YOU!!
3. Fuller House
Okay…yes…I have decided to take the leap and watch the spin-off of the Late-80s-Mid-90s television show, Full House. Why? Because I grew up watching Full House and I really, really, really wanted to revisit the old stomping grounds.
You know what? It’s cheesy…it’s overacted…but it is just as charming (if not more so) as the original. And I love every moment of it. I am about 5 episodes in and already wanting to watch more and more and just not stop. Marathon time (of the non-running sort!) and I am one very happy girl! Netflix and Chill!
4. Getting Myself Back on Track
So, I am taking a few steps in the next couple of weeks to really get myself back on track. Now that the pain has (for the most part…as there are always good days and bad days) subsided enough to allow me to get back out on the roads and run…I’m taking everything my physical therapist told me to heart. I’m working on setting up a meeting with my sports nutritionist to get this diet (and my roomie’s too) back on track and in check. I am going to attempt to either take Body Pump or find someone who can show me how to properly strength train so I am truly building muscle and not just lifting weights or using weight machines completely wrong. I am finding joy in running again…and even dressing the part. No…not like Joy in Pixar’s Inside Out, although that’s in the queue too…but I am no longer struggling through every run. No…I’m not as fast as I was…but I figure once I get stronger, that will come. That being said, I am running strong and I have been joining different groups of people for their runs. This past Saturday, I did my 8-miler with my friend Dennis…and we did negative splits…which is AWESOME. And today, I did an easy 4-miler with the Breakfast Club group. Also, meeting all the new people out there that I have now that I’m back on the road…it has been uplifting and awesome…and I enjoy seeing and hearing all about their progress too. We all have different goals, dreams, and reasons…and that’s what makes running special.
That and the Minion leggings I wore to the Breakfast Club run this morning! HA!! Told you I was back!
So, yeah…I’ve had a week of good things and good stuff. And I’ve put 12 miles on these legs the past 2 days and heave come out of it feeling confident with myself. Every run just helps me get past that mental thing.
And having my friends not only tell me they are happy to have me back…but telling me I am totally capable of doing all the things I have discussed with them. It helps…having that sort of a support system. I love all of them for it. Runner friends, baristas, bakers, family, and just friends. Everyone. All of you.
Thank you!
Do anything fun this weekend? Eat anything amazing? See a good movie? Get inspired?
Don’t worry, this isn’t a post about something else going wrong with me. Quite the opposite. This is a post about how I am finally feeling like myself again. I am regaining confidence. I’m working hard to regain any lost momentum and strength and fitness that I have lost over the past year of being unable to run.
This week started off with me still dealing with the aches and pains in my left quad (aka: the leg that doesn’t have the torn hip labrum) which just got me all worked up all over again. I contacted Katie (my physical therapist) on Tuesday prior to running some hill repeats to get her thoughts on it. I didn’t hear back from her before I went running, but she managed to work me in on Thursday afternoon to take a look at the quad. We discussed cutting back on my mileage…just in case.
That being said, as I mentioned in a previous blog…it seems to just be a muscle strain, and it doesn’t bother me while I’m running. Sometimes when I am warming up…and cooling down…but not during the actual act of running. I purchased a (pink) lacrosse ball this weekend to help give some trigger point therapy to the spot and so far so good.
Despite all of that, I had a horrible treadmill run on Wednesday…rain. LOTS of rain. So, after that, I made it a point to get outside on Thursday for my 4 miles that morning. It wasn’t easy…but it was SO much better than the treadmill. And I don’t hurt like I do after running on a treadmill…so there is some helpful insight.
And so…with a bit of stress at work…a couple of good and bad running days…and lots of good food (that I cooked)…it was a pretty good week. And with that being said…here are three things I’m loving this week:
1. Running With the Gang
Me and Matthew after Tuesday Hill Repeats at Iroquois ParkSo, there is this amazing group of fantastic runners that I used to go out and pound out some miles with…every Saturday. They were my training group. They pushed me, they made me better, they accepted me. I trained with them through cold winters and hot summers. They helped me through injuries and helped me with each comeback. Well, with a year of being mostly unable to run, I wasn’t up to running with them. My speed is lacking and I just don’t feel fit enough to keep up. BUT…that being said, on Tuesday, I ran 6 miles of hill repeats with Matthew (who trained hard with me the summer I was working toward my first marathon)…and on Saturday, I ran 10 amazing miles with most of the group. It felt awesome to be out there again, clicking off the miles. At one point, we even joined up with the Anthem 5K, relatively close to the leaders of the race. And as we ran through Mile 2 with them, we all commented on how this is what it felt like to be up front. We left the course shortly after that to round off the mileage. I can’t even begin to describe how good it felt to be out there with all of them again. I had really missed it and them. And Matthew has told me a few times that he and everyone else are so happy that I am back. Over 10 very strong miles later…I feel like my comeback is officially a comeback. Add on the 2 fantastic miles I added in this afternoon (it was SO windy, but it was too pretty not to go out and run…so I kept it short and easy)…and my confidence might slowly be building too. I owe a lot of that to all the people who have continued to tell me to be careful, to do what is best for me, to not rush anything…and who have been waiting for me to come back to them. Arms open. I’m back!
2. THIS BOOK! I am a bookworm. And I love it when I’m walking through a bookstore or a library and a title or subject catches my eye. That actually happened on Friday. The book is Fit Not Healthy by Vanessa Alford, a true and personal account of the author’s downward spiral in an attempt to improve her performance in running, pushing her body harder and further, determined to be the best runner she can be. Even though she was a physiotherapist, she soon becomes trapped in a spiral of extreme dieting and exercise in order to improve her performance and maintain her ‘fit and healthy’ look. She ignored the growing concerns of friends and family, denying that there was anything unhealthy about her fitness training, until her body begins to rebel against her. She was offered a commercial sponsorship and attracted the attentions of elite coaches, but striving to become faster and fitter, she fell into the trap of overexercising and calorie deprivation. I have known and still know so many runners (and athletes) who do not fuel their body right…who take stupid risks with their helps because they are trying to fit into their idea of the “perfect” body, the “perfect” weight, the “perfect” athlete. Denial is a demon that is hard to defeat. This book has had me turning page after page. The disordered thinking, eating, and exercising that Alford did is not only scary…but an eye opener. My dearest friends…we are all beautiful works in progress. DO NOT try to better yourself by taking risks with your body. It will and does catch up to you! Take care of your body…it’s the only place you have to live.
3. SHOPPING!! There really is something so therapeutic about shopping. Retail therapy is real and it is life-changing. This weekend, along with getting some upcoming birthday shopping done, my roommate and I both invested a little bit…in ourselves. I purchased some reflective gear (capris and a matching top) for running, as well as a pair of Adidas Grete Shorts. I usually am a running skirt girl, but I LOVE these shorts. And I got them for $10 at the Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass. I picked up shampoo bar and body wash from LUSH (LOVE LUSH!), and I picked up good eats at Annie May’s Sweet Café, Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Rice, Cellar Door Chocolates, and of course, the food of my own making…including getting some batch cooking done for this week. All my meals are prepped and ready. And it didn’t take long at all. NICE! AND…I also have indulged in some delicious berries and peaches this weekend too. LOVE my fruit for a snack. And some of my favorites are close to being back in season!!
All-in-all…what a fantastic weekend. And now…I’m working on some upcoming goals and plans…and feeling good. I haven’t been able to say that in a long time.
How did you spend your weekend? Do anything fun? Eat anything delicious? Read anything amazing? Tell me all about it!
I am not going to lie. Every time something that shouldn’t be twinging at me makes any sort of unhappy pain or unusual pain…or just pain…I get a little freaked out. Hard to imagine, I know! *sarcasm*
Hey, after the past year of pain that wouldn’t go away and injury after injury after injury…I am more than a little anxious when my body is doing something that it shouldn’t. Two weeks ago, after my physical therapy session and just before my sister came into town (and right before my first double-digit run since August 2015), my left quad (yes…the quad on the leg that doesn’t have a torn hip labrum) had a knot of pain near the top. Not at the hip…but at the front of the leg. I freaked out (a little) and e-mailed my physical therapist. She told me that it sounded like a muscle strain and to just roll it and stretch. And to keep runs on ground as flat as possible.
Easier said than done in this area. And, wouldn’t you know it, the group run that Saturday (for 10 miles), was straight up to the top of Iroquois Park. I actually got through the run without problems, and failed to stretch or roll any of that weekend because I was hanging out with my sister and nephew, which was WAY more important. But…I was doing good. I just had that little knot of pain that would flair up when I’d stand up or…go upstairs.
I rolled, I skipped hill repeats and opted for the mileage on the very flat treadmill (in the sweltering hot gym). And I even skipped out on The Hard 10 run, which I love doing with my favorite peeps from my running group, but it would have been another stint all the way to the top of Iroquois Park, and I figured I best obey my therapist and not run that hill again. It’s a steep one. A big one. So, instead I went out and rocked 13.15 miles around Seneca Park. The quad did fine during the run, and even handled the few hills that I had to get over without even a flare-up.
But I still had that little knot there. On Tuesday, I went out to Iroquois Park to do hill repeats with group…and came out of that better than I thought. For one thing, my hip flexor on the right leg wasn’t hurting as much or as tight after the 8 hill repeats I did. The quad handled it just fine. And I was doing this all in new shoes (which gave me a blister (GRRR!)…
But when the pain was still there…now 2 weeks later, I decided to get in touch with my physical therapist. She decided that I needed to come in for a quick assessment, asked me a few questions, and arranged for me to come in this afternoon at 1 p.m.
After doing a little stretching with my left leg, she determined I have a strained Rectus Femoris…probably brought on by all the hills that I am running these days. No big deal. Lots of rolling, sticking, and trigger point and it should work out. And…once again…I am to keep runs as flat as possible.
So, at least there was good news. I was getting all worked up, because I had visions of this past year and all the trouble and pain and frustration the hip flexor and hip labrum in the right leg. I just knew the same thing was happening now with the left leg. But…thankfully, that’s not the case. She added a new stretch for me and sent me on my way. Easy fix.
YAY!
So…that’s the latest. I did attempt a few sprint intervals on my 4 mile run this morning, but my legs just aren’t firing fast right now. It’s frustrating, but I’m sure it will come in time. For now, I’ll just keep focusing on my form. The rest will fall into place from there.
As you may have noticed on the side of my blog…or through my postings on social media (like my Instagram), for the second year in a row, I was given the opportunity to be an Ambassador for Nuun. I have been using Nuun since I began training for my first marathon, and I haven’t looked back to Gatorade or those sports drinks since. I don’t like the way all the sugar in those drinks messes with my stomach and body…so Nuun was a fantastic choice for me.
What’s even better is, just this month, they released their new and improved formula for their Nuun Active and Nuun Energy varieties. These tablets that you drop into your water now use a combination of plant-based sweeteners that help provide a balanced sweetness profile. This is obtained by using a combination of monk fruit extract and stevia leaf extract. Nuun Active and Nuun Energy also now include 1 gram dextrose (d-glucose), a natural, fast-releasing carbohydrate serving roles in the production of the Nuun tablets (in regards to tablet integrity), as well as its ability to bind sodium and water to help increase the rate of fluid and electrolyte delivery. In addition, both Nuun Active and Nuun Energy are now certified gluten free, vegan, and Informed-Choice (trusted by sport certified). The upgrade was, ultimately, done to help take your favorite hydration product, and make it better. With the addition of a non-GMO sourced dextrose, the rate at which fluids and electrolytes make their way to working muscles increases. And the use of plant-based sweeteners provides an ideal sweetness profile, without being too over-powering or sweet.
I know that got a little scientific, but it’s a big deal and those of us who are a part of the Nuun family are excited about these changes. Especially me.
Proud Nuun Ambassador
All that being said, as part of the Nuun Ambassador team and as a runner, once again, attempting a comeback from a nagging (1 year on February 16) hip labrum tear injury…I really wanted to participate in the Nuun Year Dash 5K/10K virtual race that was being held. I normally would have kicked in for that 10K distance, but I’ve worked too hard at getting back on the road to push too much, too hard, too fast. I stuck with the 5K distance, registered, and awaited the package with all the swag to arrive.
And it did…back on February 1. The actual event is taking place from Friday, February 5 – Monday, February 8…but my weekend is pretty packed and after my “long” run on Saturday (longest run since August when I did a 16 miler on leg with a stress fracture (which I wasn’t aware of at the time)) of only 8 miles, my hip might be done for. So, the training plan I am quasi-following had me scheduled for 3 miles on Thursday…so I figured I could run from my job to my home and tack on the additional .1 (yep…I live 3 miles away)…and that way I get it done (a day early, but still done). My roommate drove the car home from work…no worries, LOL!
At about 4:10 pm on Thursday, I went to go get changed, for the first time since August, into “racing gear.” Granted, this is a virtual 5K, and while there are prizes being awarded, the biggest reward to me, at this time, is the fact that I’m getting out there again and participating in group runs and…(virtual) races. I had no expectations for time or placement…I just wanted the distance. So, I stepped out in my bright colors (I’m always bright), my hair color, pigtails, and the provided race big. I knew I was going to freeze out there. It was around 33 degrees Thursday when I left work, and since the previous day had a high of 50, I didn’t think about the change in temperature when I packed my bag the night before. I put my Nuun Year Dash t-shirt on over my long sleeve tech shirt and hoped it would keep me warm for the (at least) 30 minutes I was out running. I got the provided race bib pinned on…left my stuff with my roommate to take home…and left the office just after 4:30 pm.
The biggest challenge, after my Garmin found it’s signal, which took forever, was going to be the stoplights and rush hour traffic. But this wasn’t the first time I’ve run home from the office…so…I knew what I was getting myself into. This is, however, the coldest it has been when I have run home from work, so there is that. HA!
I started by the YMCA and ran through the parking lot, around my building, up an incline, back onto Main Street, back toward the YMCA, managed to hit the light at the right time to cross the street and make the trek home. It was cold and windy…but the leg and hip felt good. I felt good. It had been ages, it seemed, since I ran home from the office. It was a blessing just to be able to do this. I was cautious, of course, trying to remember my training in physical therapy because the last thing I need to do is get another stress fracture because I am compensating for the hip. The run felt good, and when I caught myself favoring the hip and applying more time and pressure to the opposite leg, I fixed it immediately. I had to top at a couple of stop lights on the way, but once they changed and I made sure traffic was aware of me (I was in bright, fluorescent yellow pants…I’m hard to miss!), I continued on the route I had run so many fall, spring and summer days before. I probably got some pretty strange looks, being the only person out and running, wearing a race bib, but that’s part of the fun. I’ve never been normal…why start now?
I made the turn onto the road I live off of, with about 1.5 miles to go. There was a 4-way stop to navigate through, but I swore I saw my car (driven by the roomie) pull out just as I turned…so she would make it home to be my race photographer. YAY! I slowed slightly at the 4 way stop…then when I knew for sure all the drivers were aware of me, I crossed and made my way to the stoplight about a quarter mile further up the road. I had to stop again and wait for the lights…one to cross the road, and then the other to cross to the other side of the homestretch because that way I could just turn into my apartment complex and not have to dodge traffic to get there. Once that was accomplished, I had just over a half mile left. I made a small climb over a hill…knowing it was the last incline of the day…so I pushed a little more…then ran past the old cemetery…up the way…past a house with a barking dog…and toward my apartment complex. I half expected my roommate to be standing out there with the sign she holds at all my races and camera ready…but there was no sign of her. At all. My watch beeped for 3 miles just before I made the turn into the drive of the apartment complex. I took the turn toward my apartment building, and still no sign of the roommate. And then I hit 3.11 miles and…was done.
Me after completing the Nuun Year Dash Virtual 5K in my own city
After I stopped my Garmin and then started to walk to cool off, she rounds the corner, on her phone, still doing work, camera in hand…but the moment was done and so was I. I had her snap a few pictures (no official finisher photo this time) before calling it a day and heading upstairs for a nice hot shower to take the chill out of me. Because I was cold. I never really warmed up on that run, which is weird for me.
SO…while the official results have yet to be tallied, I can tell you this much…my official time for the Nuun Year Dash (Virtual) 5K is 25:38. I keep telling myself, I’m fresh to my comeback. Speed will (hopefully) eventually come back. For now, just be thankful for the time out on the road, and the ability to be out there running again. I’m really proud of myself for pushing it (a little) and for getting this run done…with perfect negative splits to boot! It’s hard, because I used to be so focused on my numbers and so speed driven, that this slow down hasn’t been an easy transition for me. I push as hard as my body allows sometimes, and while it’s not up to par with where I used to be, this is a fresh start…and I have to realize that with these limitations with my hip…I may never be pushing those 7 minute miles again. It’s not easy…believe me…there have been tears shed over this…but the best feeling right now…is my feet on that pavement again. Every run is a blessing. Even the slow(er) ones.
I am so proud to be a part of the Nuun Family and hope to continue to be an ambassador for their amazing (and new and improved) products. If you haven’t tried Nuun yet…I encourage it. It’s a great way to make your water count and to stay hydrated. Even on the cold runs. This race wasn’t against the others competing and participating, but against all the self-doubt, fear, and pain that I’ve dealt with for almost a year. This is definitely the start of, what I hope will be, a beautiful comeback.
Me crossing the finish line of the Charleston Marathon – Charleston, South Carolina
Race: Charleston Marathon
Place: Charleston, South Carolina
Date: January 17, 2015
Time:3:40:54
First race of the year. Why not make it a marathon, right? Right! Actually, I had this one on the radar since last year…so, I was very excited to finally register for it (which I did late…like in December…whoops!). I already had a place to stay (thanks Janet Dailey!) and two amazing tour guides (shout-out to Richie and Amanda!) who spend as much time as they can in Charleston, South Carolina, taking out any sort of travel apprehension because…they know everything! So things were definitely falling into place.
The only thing that wasn’t was, naturally, my foot. It had been doing so well, but the week before the race, my plantar fasciitis decided it wanted to flare up again. Not the foot that caused me issues this past summer. Original foot. The one with the plantar issue to begin with. I think I need to get some new shoes…because I have worn the hell out of both pairs that I am wearing currently.
Anyway, I’d continued to train, easing up on pace and doing my speed work slower. And it seemed that after the first two miles, it stopped hurting. I didn’t tempt fate though…just did what I could while maintaining my training. Foot was no bueno…but it wasn’t knocking me out. Nope. I could still run. Granted 7 treadmill miles is definitely different from 26.2 miles on the road (tready running is VERY different from road running…and I prefer the road!), but for now I’m keeping speed work inside on the treadmill. Most of my runs leading up to this marathon have been indoors due to the extreme cold. Call me a wimp, but once the temps fall below 20 degrees, I don’t consider it safe for my body to be out running, even if it is a couple of miles. My longest run leading into this race was back before Christmas…14 miles…after that, nothing went over 10. Not the best way to train, but I think subconsciously, I was ignoring the fact that I signed up for a marathon.
That’s what happens when you deal with a debilitating injury for 3 months. You get…a little nervous. Nevermind that I ran the TCS NYC Marathon back in November. I have a goal this year to make it out injury free. I’m doing what I can to maintain that goal. So, definitely under-trained for this one, for sure.
On Friday, I got up and did an easy 3-mile shakeout, still babying the foot. I wasn’t worried about speed. I went outside and just did 3 miles. Home, shower, breakfast, finish packing, and then Cathy and I went to work. We weren’t there long. Only for a few hours, to close out accounts and enter as much as we could before the clock hit 10:30 a.m. Then, we were out the door, to the bank, and then on the way to the Louisville airport. Parked the car, headed inside. I checked my bag, praying that it would get to Charleston as it had all my race gear in it (I know…never do that, but I had no choice!), and we got into the security line. I was randomly selected to do TSA Pre-Screen…which meant I got the shorter security line, didn’t have to take off my shoes, my hoodie, or remove my laptop from my backpack. LOVE IT! Cathy was not as fortunate, and it took her quite a bit longer to navigate the regular TSA security line. But, she eventually made it through. We got to our gate and she went to grab some loaded baked potato soup from Chili’s and grabbed me a fruit cup. We ate lunch and polished it all off just before we had to board the plane. Good timing! Our first stop was Atlanta…ugh. We were also boarding in Zone 3…and had a feeling Cathy would have to check her bag due to lack of overhead space. She did…but at least she got to do it for free. It would meet us in Charleston as well. With that done, we hopped on our flight and found our seats.
First stop…Atlanta. Very brief stop at that. We had long enough to get off the plane, go to the train, take it from A to B gates…find our gate…go to the bathroom…eat a snack bar…and then get ready to board. At least we had time for that. We took our seats, took flight…and read until we hit the runway at the Charleston International Airport. The airport was really small for being an international hub, but we made our way to Baggage Claim…got our luggage than headed to Enterprise for the rental car. Longest line ever. For real. It took us longer to get a rental car than it did to do anything else in any of the airports that day. None of the other car rental places had lines, but we had already reserved a car with Enterprise, and we trust Enterprise. So…we stuck it out. Finally, it was our turn and we ended up with a Hyundai Elantra. We went out to retrieve said car, piled our stuff inside, and made our way to Burke High School for the Health & Fitness Expo and Packet Pick-up. It took us about 15 minutes to navigate to the high school, following horrible Google Map directions. But, we made it…parked…and had to walk all the way around the building to get inside the area where the expo was being held.
That being said…we made it. I immediately headed over to the packet pickup for the full marathon. I got out my wallet to show my ID and was just asked for my bib number. This was sent to me via e-mail earlier and was really easy to remember. I replied with “Bib 113.” And they got it down from their system of hanging bibs and handed it to me. No ID check or anything. They said that the t-shirt and bag pick-up were across the auditorium. Awesome. I went down to the end of the table to scan my chip and ensure that it was, indeed, functioning. Then…off I went to retrieve my race shirt and bag. The bag only contained some pamphlets for local businesses and races. The shirt was white with a painting of Rainbow Row houses on it. Gorgeous. I tucked the shirt inside the bag and then went on the hunt for some GU. Luckily the Fleet Feet booth had some for sale, and I snagged 2 Strawberry Banana, 1 Triple Berry, and 1 Mandarin Orange. I had one with me in my luggage…so that would do. After I left, I spotted the rack of CEP Compression Gear…and had noted that I had forgotten my recovery socks…so I went to see if they had anything in my size. They had a pair of black and grey CEP socks…so I went back to the Fleet Feet booth and purchased those as well. HA! They were getting my money for sure. With that done, Cathy went to see where she could get shuttle tickets to get from the start to the finish and then from the finish back to the start (runners got to do this for free)…and I went in search of my NYC Marathon Hard Core Runner buddy, Jennie. We met up near the Community Coffee booth and had hugs all around and discussed how the weather would be chilly, but after NYC…eh…this was nothing. We talked about running, families, training, outfits, and even our injuries. She was doing a run/walk method due to an issue with her back. We hung around and talked and Cathy returned to steal my phone and place a delivery order with the Charleston Mellow Mushroom for a gluten-free and vegan Cosmic Karma pizza for that night. She returned and we talked a bit more with Jennie before we all said goodbye. Cathy and I needed to hit up the local grocery store (and race sponsor), Harris Teeter, for some things for the hotel room (fruit, water, yogurt) and then get to the hotel before the pizza did. So, we left the expo and then headed to the grocery store, following even worse Google Map directions. I got out my cell phone and directed her.
Me with Jennie at the Charleston Marathon Expo! So great to meet one of my Hard Core Runners!
We made it to the Harris Teeter and started loading up a basket with bananas, apples, Greek yogurt, water, and a Sprite Zero. After I run a marathon, it helps calm my stomach. It’s the only time I drink soda anymore. We checked out at the grocery store and hopped back into the car. And went the wrong way to the Lodge Alley Inn, where we were staying. So, we turned around, and just as we pulled up in front of the hotel on East Bay Street, Mellow Mushroom’s delivery guy called. He was outside of the hotel. I told him we just pulled up and he met me on the corner. We did some shady (not really) dealings and I gave him money and tip for the pizza and thanked him very much. Cathy wasn’t sure what to do with the car now that we were there and put on the blinkers and left me standing there with the pizza while she went inside. It took her about 5 minutes…and here I am with a car that was definitely not parked well and all that…just waiting. She returned, said we were good to go, and the valet met us with a cart to put our luggage and groceries on. He then took the keys and went with us up to our room on the third floor. We got inside…got things put down…and gave the valet a tip. He left to go park the car after unloading our stuff. And I put away what needed to go in the fridge. Then, as it was nearing 7 p.m…I said, “Can we eat pizza now? It’s getting SO late.” I don’t like to eat too late when I have a race. I like everything to be digested. So, we went into the living room, turned on Diners, Drive-In’s & Dives, and dove into the pizza. I think I devoured it in record time. It is so much better at the restaurant. With it getting a little cooled off on the delivery and the wait for the room, the crust got a little soggy. MEH. Oh well…I ate it. Fuel for the following morning.
Cathy’s sister and brother-in-law, Amanda and Richie, stopped by after we finished eating to make sure we were settled in. We stood around and talked for awhile, but Amanda said she knew we had an early morning. She said she would try to make it down to the finish, but no promises. I told her no worries either way. Hugs all around and promises of lots of site seeing after I ran. I went to brush my teeth and get into my pajamas so I could climb into bed and zonk out for the night. I didn’t sleep well that night. I kept worrying that the two alarms I set to wake me up for the race wouldn’t go off. And, at some point, Cathy had gotten out of her bed and turned the clock down because it “emitted too much light.” So, as I was tossing and turning, I went to check the time and couldn’t find it. I thought she unplugged it and was now pissed because I couldn’t reassure myself that I wouldn’t oversleep. UGH! The alarm went off a bit later…I got up…did my usual first alarm stuff…then climbed back into bed for less than an hour. More tossing and turning. Second alarm. Up to change and get ready for the race. I never felt so tired and unenthusiastic in my life. I grumbled a bit at her after I woke her up so she could get ready about the clock thing. The next few nights, the clock was left untouched.
We were up…and I ate my serving of cereal, as I often due on race morning. She had a breakfast bar. I filled up my water bottles with my water and electrolyte drinks, tucked my GU packets into pockets, and got pinned up with my race bib. It was 36 degrees that morning and I went back and forth on wearing a tank top or a short sleeve shirt. Given it was in the 30s, I opted for the shirt. I made sure my anklet with wings on it that my mom and dad got me for Christmas was on my ankle, then put on my hat, gloves, and coat. I was as ready as I was going to be. Grabbing two bananas for the road, we headed out. The valet had our car ready and we got inside, heading off to the start line, near where packet pickup was at Burke High School. We parked in one of the nearby parking lots with over an hour in time to spare, so I leaned the seat back and took a nap. Seriously. I was grumpy and tired and my foot had been bugging me slightly, so I said, “Screw it…I’m napping.”
Me taking a nap before the Charleston Marathon
No argument from Cathy, although she took a picture on my phone and put it up on Facebook. HA! She made me open my eyes around 7:15 to get out, stretch, eat my banana, and get acclimated. So…I reluctantly peeled myself out of the car. It was chilly, but not too bad. I walked over to the starting area where runners for both the marathon and half marathon were clustering. Some were being interviewed on camera. Some were talking with friends. I handed Cathy my banana and did some actual stretching. Especially with the foot…although it really didn’t help. Meh. Then, at about 7:30, I ate my banana and then continued to stretch until I decided I was done with that. We then looked around at all the runners, noting that most of them were doing the half marathon. I saw some great running tights that I now need to find and purchase for myself. And I noticed a guy near where I was standing who was going to go running in…sandals. Ouch. But, hey, to each their own.
The announcer said we were getting close to go time and that there were 49 states and 7 countries. The holdout state who didn’t show up…Hawaii. Naturally. Cathy said she was going to go get her spot to watch the start…so she wished me luck and I went to move further back into the pack. My goal for this race was to run it smart, run what I felt, and to run the entire way. With the foot acting up as of late though, I wasn’t sure how much of this I could accomplish. In the end, it’s just about crossing that finish line. No time goal for me…just to run well. I was also dedicating this race to a friend of mine, who I won’t list by name, but simply call her out by her first initial – N – who is going through a rough patch and I wanted to just run this for her.
The Charleston Marathon benefits the arts, so two students of a local school of the arts beautifully sang the National Anthem. And, moments after that…we were told to get ready…and GO!
We were off!
I started my Garmin as I crossed the start line, flashed a wave at Cathy as I ran by, and joined the very crowded start for an easy pace. It had to be an easy pace…which was good. Everything at the start was just crowded with both the marathon and half marathon runners, that it was just a slow start. Perfect. This kept me from going out too fast.
And that sort of set the pace (literally) for the remainder of the race. With one little glitch. After perfectly hitting that first mile, something went wrong. My watch beeped heading into Mile 2…and it was .25 miles further down the road that the mile marker stood. Um…perhaps they were getting a perfect 26 mile marking? I was trying to figure it out, but my brain wasn’t wrapping around it. Ah well…sometimes this happens and it fixes itself later on. I just kept on going. Miles 2 – 3 were spent on the beautiful coat line, with the palmeto trees, the battery, and the gorgeous mansion houses. I was just loving the scenery. Beautiful morning and a beautiful run.
Miles 3 – 9 were all spent on King Street. The first part of King Street being the shops and stores that you would find around most downtowns. There were clutches of people there to cheer on runners. I even noticed a Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams shop just before my watch beeped to Mile 5. I love Jeni’s…
Ahem.
The other half of King Street was more industrial and a lot quieter. Once all the people and the shops were passed…and the houses gone…there was only the industrial district. Granted, there were race volunteers, police, and even entertainment scattered throughout, but much of this was definitely out of the way and going to be a bit of a lull in the small crowd that had been spectating before.
Just before Mile 10 there was the split for the half marathon and full marathon happened. This was slightly confusing as the race official said, “Split after the water station.” It meant…right after the water station. I was running along and both half and full marathoners were weaving over to get the water/Gatorade…and quite a few of us thought that the turn was up ahead where the half marathon continued on. But a race volunteer saw my yellow bib and said, “Full marathon turn here…RIGHT HERE!” Sharp pivot and off I went in the correct direction where some orange cones were set up. This was sort of a gravely area that gave way to broken pavement and then made a bit of a turn to an area that was an old Navy base. It was really fun to run in an area where all the signs said that proper identification was needed to enter. HA! This section of the run was pretty brutal…just because there was no one out there. Up until you make a turn to head out to Cooper River Marina. There was a group of cheerleaders out there as you headed onto the marina. This section was hard because about 3/4 of the way up the marina, there was a sign that had you turn around. Pinpoint turn. One of those turns my friend, Natalie, hates. I hate them too. This totally messed with the cadence and pace I had at the time, but I turned…and then took back off the other way. As we came off the marina, our time chips were read off. This was supposed to be around Mile 11.9…but as we know…I was ahead of the mile markers.
As I was around my halfway point, I saw Jennie, heading toward the old Navy base where I had just come from. We high-fived as we passed and I told her she was doing great. She was. And I hoped I would get to see her at another point. With this being said, let me point out that at this point, we have runners running one way and then the other way…in the same area…without cones up to keep the groups apart. In straightaways, like this part…it was fine. But when you’re trying to make turns on the tangents…this made for a right mess. Seriously. You had runners going opposite ways trying to occupy the same area. It was messy. Just before my watch beeped for Mile 15, we rejoined the half marathon route and headed up towards North Charleston.
Me heading into Mile 18 of the Charleston Marathon – Charleston, South Carolina
Just before Mile 16, we branch off once again from the half marathon runners. The half marathon runners kept going straight. The marathon runners turned left onto McMillan Avenue. Now, Cathy had said she was going to try to catch me somewhere between Mile 17 and Mile 18…so I started looking for her as my watch hit Mile 17…and then further up the road…the Mile 17 marker was standing. There were a few clumps of people here and there…but not many. But as I was heading into Mile 18, there she was…under a bridge with a small clump of people. She started yelling, “GO TWIN! GO MY SON!” It was awesome. As she snapped a picture, I flashed some thumbs up and she said, “Come on…look happy!” LOL!! But, it turned out to be a great photo. And as I was heading out she shouted, “SEE YOU AT THE FINISH!”
So started the miles of looping through neighborhoods and schools. No…seriously. It was just this back and forth through turns and twists and it was just mind boggling. As I was heading into Mile 19, I saw runners come back my way, which meant…more doubling back was ahead. I heard the photographers complaining about having a race that criss-crosses like this. And I totally saw the validity in their point. It just became chaotic at points with runners occupying the same space, once again, going different directions. So, we wound up and around these roundabouts, of what I think they call Park Circle. As the miles ticked down, we ran past Academic Magnet School. So many twists and turns and out and backs. It was dizzying. Thank goodness for the arrows to direct us the correct way.
It was about Mile 22 that my pace started to slow. And it wasn’t that I was tired. It was that my foot started to act up. It had behaved for the most part all the way up to that point, but now each step was starting to hurt. I wasn’t going to give up. I was four miles away and hadn’t walked yet. I was doing this thing. So, I gritted my teeth, literally, and just focused on getting to that finish line. Mile 23 was much the same, and I eased up a bit more. Mile 24 felt like it had a bit of a downhill to it, but I slowed up some more, while still keeping with my plan to run the entire race. The course turns back toward the old Navy base and to the Noisette Park. This area was stunning, with views of the Cooper River, huge houses, the old base, etc. We were back on the same course as the half marathon runners. And there were a few still out there. Two miles. I told myself two miles.
Before I knew it, I was making a turn and being told that I had one more turn ahead to the finish. My watch had long since beeped Mile 26. I had no idea how much further I had to go, but I knew I had to be almost to the finish line, which was located in front of North Charleston High School. There was a definite crowd down here. And as I spotted one more final turn, I saw Cathy right on the corner, screaming for me to GO! I dug deep, and pushed it. That finish line was right ahead. And as I crossed that finish line, I threw my arms up in the air and just…took in the moment. I had finished my 9th marathon! Charleston Marathon…done. I paused my Garmin and moved through the chute to obtain my medal. I grabbed some water and made a turn and saw Cathy heading my way. She gave me a hug and told me how well I did. I told her I was hurting really bad. But…I felt good. I checked my Garmin…26.69 miles it said.
We meandered out of the crowd toward where the after party was happening. Runners were given free beer (not my thing…for obvious reasons) and free shrimp and grits (also not my thing, for obvious reasons). I went to go elevate my feet and call my mom and dad to tell them how I did…but as we were heading that way, I said we needed to get my official time at the results booth. We doubled back a little and went to do just that.
And there it was…3:40:54.
Me after finishing the Charleston Marathon – Charleston, South Carolina
BRILLIANT! I couldn’t believe it. I was so happy with the time for my first Ultra Marathon (HAHAHA!). Well, it was my first marathon I went into feeling semi-ready. The only problem was my nagging plantar fasciitis, which I only aggravated in those last 4 miles. But hitting that finish line still feeling strong was an amazing feeling. With my official results now listed, I went to get my feet up and call my parents. Cathy went to claim the free shrimp and grits, which she said were watery and not all that good. She picked out the shrimp and ditched the rest. After I got off the phone with my parents, I was ready to head out. Amanda hadn’t made it to the finish…but after a shower and a change of clothes, we were all heading out for some sushi and then sight seeing. So, Cathy and I hopped onto the shuttle bus to go back to the start where the car was parked. I was moving slow, each step a little painful. But we got on the bus and found a seat. We were near the emergency exit and when we sat down, the seat pretty much sank. Leave it to us. Also, apparently after hitting a hard bump, the lever lifted up on the emergency door and the buzzer and alarm started sounding. Cathy managed to get that turned off eventually.
We were returned to the start line and I hobbled with Cathy’s help back to the car. I settled in, turned on the heat, and she drove us back to the hotel. I got cleaned up, Amanda came over, and we went out for the rest of the day. It was an amazing day. I couldn’t have asked for a better time.
So, the official results of the Charleston Marathon are that I ran 26.69 miles in 3:40:54. I was 112/1230 finishers over all. I was 26/580 females to cross the line. And I was 10/464 in my age division. I am over-the-moon with these results. I felt so good (save for the last four miles) for this entire race. And I feel it’s because I’ve taken a step back on the intensity of my training. I am resting and recovering better. It’s been awhile since I felt I could even do that. It was a great confidence booster.
Later, it came out that the lead vehicle took a wrong turn after Mile 1 and that’s what tacked on the extra .25 miles to the race. The race directors at the Charleston Marathon are remeasuring the race and adjusting everyone’s time to the 26.2 miles. But that might not happen until next week. So stay tuned for a new official time. Regardless…I’m damn proud of my performance and how I did on this run. Long, slow distance. Gorgeous scenery. Not perfect…but not bad either. It was great to run in Charleston. What a fantastic way to explore this historic city.
And N…(you know who you are!)…this one was for you!
Me crossing the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon – New York, New York
Race: TCS New York City Marathon
Place: New York, New York
Date: November 2, 2014
Time:3:50:32
There is just something about New York City! I have always loved this city. Seriously. And that was only reaffirmed two weekends ago when I was there to participate in the TCS New York City Marathon! Talk about an exciting, overwhelming, and interesting adventure.
Interesting, you say? Well…yes. Because this adventure started off with quite a few hiccups. And the first one was the flight there. For one thing, without being told, our American Airlines flight was changed. Yep. Changed. In fact, it was now a USAirways flight. Which, for reasons dating back to Ireland 2010…pissed me off. But, I guess it was a good thing I sent my roomie over to their site to check us into our flight, or we would have been 2 full hours late to the airport. Instead of leaving at 6 p.m., our flight was changed to 4 p.m. I never got word of this change…so…thankfully we checked. YIKES!
Now having to leave work earlier for the airport, we had to tie up things at work sooner. But the fun didn’t stop there. Our flight was delayed. And when the call came through (at least they let me know this time!), we found out that now we couldn’t make our connecting flight at Charlotte to get to LaGuardia, where we’d be meeting up with Heather to get to the hotel together. UGH. Cathy got on the phone and finally got to talk to someone who managed to get us on a flight that would get into Newark. Now we needed to get from New Jersey to Manhattan. So…now Cathy had to call and hire a car. I was stressed out. Very much not a zen runner at this time. So, that afternoon, we left work earlier than planned to get to the Louisville airport. We arrived…checked my bag (I had to…I actually had foam rollers, water, and even a protein shake)…and got through security without a line. The TSA agent was cracking me up. He asked where I was traveling to and me, wearing my TCS New York City Marathon pullover said, “New York City.” And he did the old Pace Picante Sauce commercial where he said, “New York City?…Get a rope.” I giggled. At least TSA was in a good mood on Halloween.
Now, we had time to kill. So, Cathy and I began our endless meandering between the two terminals at the Louisville airport. And on one of our circuits, we ran into our boss from the office and her husband, who were supposed to have left earlier that morning for London. Turns out their flight got cancelled and they had to come back to catch a later one…which was also flying to Charlotte (like ours!), but it was the flight following us. I have never run into anyone I know at any airport, so this kind of made my day. We talked for a bit and then we went to charge my phone and wait on our plane.
Me with the Horse Head Guy at Charlotte Airport
It arrived late. We boarded. We got into Charlotte and noticed that one of the passengers on our flight (I said he looked like he was in the mafia), was now walking around with a horse mask on his head. It cracked me up for some reason. And the double takes he would get on the moving sidewalk was priceless. Seriously. When he paused to look at the connection screens, I went up and asked if I could get a photo with him. He kindly did so. God, I love Halloween.
Anyway, while at Charlotte we got something to eat. I devoured a protein bar and a fruit cup I went and bought at Starbucks. Cathy got Burger King, something she hasn’t had in awhile. I think it was a good choice for her. After we ate and relaxed, we headed over to our gate to fly out to Newark. We boarded, we took off, we landed. Cathy called the car people while I snagged my bag from baggage claim. And then…we were picked up and taken to The Manhattan Club in downtown Manhattan, our home away from home for the rest of the weekend.
Heather got there about 4 hours before we did. They were nice enough to let her check into the room. She went out exploring and to grab dinner while we were still on our way. But, we arrived. Cathy switched the credit card over to hers and Heather came down to take us up to our room. Second floor. No long elevator rides and the option to take the stairs if needed. We talked for a little bit, but it was very early and we needed some rest. We all got ready for bed and I set an alarm to wake us up so we could head over to the expo in a couple of hours.
The alarm went off too early for my liking, but I got up, shut it off, and we were got dressed and headed out into the windy, chilly, and damp New York City morning. The shuttle to the expo was picking up not too far from our hotel. We were early, and happened to stroll past a Fresh & Co. We noted the gluten-free and vegetarian offerings, so we ducked inside to eat some breakfast as the shuttle was about a 30 minute wait and we had the time. The breakfast was good. Not great. But good. And filling. And as I had no lunch plans, that was the important thing. I ended up getting the Zen Quinoa Bowl, which had 2 eggs over easy, with chickpeas, kale, portobello mushrooms, and onions. I topped it off with hot sauce and…yeah…it saw me through. Cathy got one of their breakfast wraps and Heather got a Nutella Croissant.
Now fortified and with the shuttle scheduled to arrive at any time…we headed out to hop aboard and get to the Javits Center and get our expo on! I had heard amazing things about this expo…and being New York City…you just know it’s going to be HUGE. I was hoping to have a chance to catch a couple of the elites, but it was the day before the race…so it wasn’t happening. It was nice, however, to get out of the rain for a little while. We arrived via shuttle bus and disembarked, heading inside and following the crowds to the escalators that took us up…to a camera/photography expo. Walk around to another set of escalators and BAM…marathon heaven. And immediately you see the official merchandise booth. I had to hit this up.
Me with my race bib…#11415 – Orange – Wave 1 – Corral C!
For one thing, I was dedicating my race to a very brave young lady battling her second bout of brain cancer. I wanted to get Cailin something from the expo and my friend (her mom), Joanne, said that she loves hats…and they would keep her head warm during the winter as she went through treatments. Perfect. So, I purchased a hat for her…then arm warmers, gloves, and a t-shirt for me. Done. On to the rest of the expo. Packet pickup. Smooth and easy. No problems at all. And no line! Back to exploring. No BondiBands…so no purchasing of those as is tradition. But I got to sample a few products and know (for 100% sure) that I want a Yonana machine. I avoided the Newton tent…because I knew I’d purchase shoes that I didn’t currently need (I have a pair in the box still!). I did purchase a couple flavors of GU for the marathon, as I was in need of fuel. Aside from that, we strolled the aisles, sampled things, and then…went upstairs to do the passport thing to get a free poster. I love race posters. So, we traveled through the different boroughs of New York via the expo, got this little booklet stamped at each one, took pictures, pretended to cross the finish line…and then…then…
I met a legend.
Kathrine Switzer.
Heather, Me, Kathrine Switzer, and Cathy at the TCS New York City Marathon Race Expo
If you do not know who Kathrine Switzer is…shame on you. In case you are living in shame…she is the first female to run the Boston Marathon as a registered number. Albeit, she was registered under the name of K. Switzer and race officials thought she was a man. When they saw her running, they tried to forcefully remove her from the race. She slipped from their grasps and went on to finish the race. What an inspiration to women everywhere. Especially women runners.
I wanted to meet her. So…I got into her line. Her time was running short, as she was about to go and give a talk, and we were warned that she might not get to us. But…we decided to at least try. And…we were the last people to get to talk to her. She was very kind, giving all three of us hugs. And as she called me over to sign a copy of her book…this man from Mexico came over and tried to talk to her. He said he didn’t understand English, but her assistant spoke Spanish. I don’t think he expected that. This kind of shit always happens to me. I was having a moment…and then…someone sort of…ruins it for me. Kathrine, being Kathrine, indulged him and signed his book and snapped a photo with him, but now she was feeling even more hurried. She apologized so many times. We took a picture and then she insisted that Cathy and Heather get in the shot too. It has always been a dream of mine to run under her Boson number: 261. She told me to “be fearless” and to have a great marathon. Such a wonderful woman.
And then…we were done with the expo. Just like that. We hopped back on a shuttle to head back to the Manhattan Club, after grabbing some Starbucks. Mmmm…much needed caffeine. Upon returning, we went to Walgreens to purchase umbrellas and some water to have in the room. Hydration is very important! Heather had plans to meet up with her cousin for lunch, so she hopped into a taxi and went to do that. Cathy and I decided to go exploring. I know…the day before the race is not the time to be on your feet, but my time in NYC was so limited as it was, I needed to get out there. Even if it was pouring rain on us and just windy and gross. Off we went. First stop…Times Square! And from there…wherever our feet took us. And we literally pounded that pavement for hours. We went up Broadway…and I spotted the Phantom of the Opera in a window of a theater showing…Phantom of the Opera. He waved…and I waved back. We hiked around to various stores, ducking in to wherever looked interesting. We took in some famous sites. Cathy went and got cannoli from The Cake Boss store…something she had been dying to do. And then, we reconnected with Heather, and went to Rockerfeller Center. The ice rink was up, but I couldn’t justify paying $30 to skate…and that was without the skate rental fee. We went to the Lego store. We grabbed chocolates at Teuscher Chocolates (to have as dessert that night). And then, we finally wrapped everything up and went back to the hotel room to drop things off and head off to dinner.
Me in Times Square, New York, New York
Night before a race means…gluten-free pizza!!
And we had originally planned to go to a place called Nizza. But, the only reservation slot available was 4 pm. WAY too early. So, around 6 p.m., we went down to Don Antonio by Starita, a few blocks down from our hotel, instead. They didn’t take reservations, but said that there was never more than a 45 minute wait, even on weekends. We took them at their word. Upon arriving, I went in to put my name on the list. I was told…45 minutes. So we waited. Inside. This tiny little restaurant. It. Was. Worth. It.
Cathy and Heather actually got their first sample of the food as, because of the number of people, a sample pizza was sliced up and sent out. Cathy was impressed by what she tried. And soon after, the very Italian man (whom we nicknamed the Italian Adam Levine) called out my name. And he could have said it a few more times and I would not have minded at all. *DROOL* We were seated and given menus to browse. Because it had no cheese on it at all…Cathy and I opted to split the Gluten Free Marinara Pizza. She also decided to try one of their famous fried dough balls…opting for the Montanarine Genovese, which is a fried dough puff topped with onion, pancetta and pecorino romano. Heather ordered a pizza as well (she needed meat and cheese and took half of it back to the hotel, although we never got back around to it) and also tried one of the fried dough balls. Order in. Order out. I actually had to look VERY closely at the pizza to make sure it was gluten free. It actually had a CRUST. No cracker crust here. This was a substantial, real pizza crust. The only difference between it and the regular crust was that this was obviously cooked in a pan as the edges were very clean. It was fantastic. And filling. And after eating…we returned to the hotel, ate our chocolates, rotated through showers, and got to bed.
Underneath that fashionable robe is a girl ready to run the streets of NYC
THANK GOD FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME. We fell back that night. Extra hour of sleep. Which was good, because the alarm at 4 a.m. for me to get up and get dressed for the race came earlier than I wanted. I turned it off, went into the bathroom and started to get ready. And then I heard the alarm go off again (appropriately it was “New York Groove” by Kiss). I had only hit snooze. Whoops. It did that twice more…so by the time Heather and Cathy were supposed to get up…they were already up. They went to get ready and soon I was pinned up, donning the toss-away bathrobe to keep me warm at the start for hours, and we were heading out of the room to make the walk to the subway to get to the New York Public Library where I would catch a shuttle bus to the start.
We stepped outside and were immediately battered by a strong wind gust. I mean, it practically knocked us over. Very high winds. As we headed to the subway I said, “And I’m supposed to run in this?!” It would be interesting if nothing else. The underground subway terminal was a nice reprieve from the wind and soon we found ourselves on a train with other runners heading to the same place. We got off the train and headed up to the street to the library. We were all guided into this little chute, which we walked until we hit the security checkpoint where only people with a race bib could enter. I gave hugs to Cathy and Heather, and sent them off to get their breakfast…a NYC bagel…while I got into the madness of the bus queue. Oh…wow…this was insanity. So many people…all trying to get on their shuttles. WOW. It was…an adventure to say the least. But I picked a line further up and climbed into the bus to make the drive from the library to the start camp at the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge. I only had with me a change of shoes (I heard the grass could get wet so I was ditching an old pair in my corral and putting on my race shoes then), a banana and some cereal. My fuel belt was around my waist…and that was it. I was bundled up in a robe and gloves…but it was no match for the bitter wind that morning.
Heather, me, and Cathy in the subway waiting on the train to get to the New York City Library shuttles. We are very sleep deprived.
The ride over was uneventful. It was super early…my shuttle departed at 6 a.m. Everyone was I think just…sleeping or dozing or looking out the window. I did a lot of looking out the window on the ride to the bridge. I was in a calm place. I thought I was going to be a nervous wreck, especially since I wouldn’t know anyone at the start line. But I was as zen as could be expected…because the unexpected awaited. I will remind everyone…my training for this race fell to pieces back in July…when what was thought to be the start of a stress fracture turned out to be…inflammation…that still is rearing its ugly head. So, I knew this race had the potential to be…really, really, really bad. But I was going into it with my foot feeling…okay…and a lot of support.
The bus parked on the side of the road with a long line of other buses. And here, we all disembarked. There were volunteers out, directing all runners toward the staging area of Fort Wadsworth…where I would now have a 3 hour wait before my wave and corral would be sent off. Three long, cold, and windy hours. It was during this slow procession to the staging area and start villages that I realized my banana had fallen out of my robe pocket on the bus. Now…all that I had with me to eat…was a serving size of my cereal. And my GU packets for the run. I knew the start villages were going to have some items for runners to enjoy, including coffee, tea, and bagels. I was hoping bananas or something gluten-free might be there as well.
But first…I had to contend with the security. All runners had to show their bibs as they entered the staging area. Then…metal detectors. I had my clear starting area bag with just my shoes in it (and in hindsight, should have put my snacks in there as well!) so I was ushered through. I handed my stuff off to one of the officers, went through the metal detector, and then proceeded to get wanded because I was wearing my long robe. Ah well. No biggie. The wind was already brutal. In fact, race officials had to reduce the number of tents at the staging area because of the strong wind gusts. This meant, when I made it to the orange start village…there was one tent…and a lot…A LOT of people.
Me sitting in the tent for the Orange Start Village before the TCS New York City Marathon…rocking the free Dunkin Donuts Hat. I was, honestly, freezing!
Entering the staging area for my color was an experience. Lines of people were everywhere. But, by the grace of the running gods, Dunkin Donuts was there and they were passing out these hats to all the runners. Thank goodness, because the winds were not only gusting, but they were chilling. Down to the bone. And my head was cold. I immediately threw it onto my head (as so many others did as well) and made one circuit of the start village offerings. Tea, spring water, coffee (supplied by Dunkin Donuts), Gatorade Endurance products, bagels and PowerBars were all there were. I went up to the PowerBar people and asked if any of the bars were gluten-free. None of them were. I was about to have a mild panic attack. I had yet to eat something…because I didn’t want to eat too early…but I knew it would be impossible to go very far on just a serving of my gluten-free cereal. Yep. Panic. Not much I could do about it though…so taking the advice of my friend, Courtney, who ran New York City last year, I made my way to the one tent that they had up in my start village and ducked inside, spotting somewhere sort of near the middle and settled in. Maybe I could make friends. Maybe someone would have an extra banana. Maybe…
But…no one around me spoke English. No joke. Not very well, anyway. So, making friends was not going well for me. I finally just gave up, decided to eat bits of my cereal intermittently until I had to get to my corral, and just…try not to panic. I had one extra GU pack on me, which I would take 20 minutes before the run. It had to be good enough. So I began reading through Dean Koontz’s “Frankenstein” and would every now and again nibble on a bit of my cereal. My nerves were now way up.
After awhile, I started hearing some announcements over the loud speaker…but couldn’t make any of them out. I decided to risk losing my spot in the tent to step outside and see if I could get a clearer idea of what was being said. I am so glad I did. Because Wave 1 was being sent to their corrals and we had 20 minutes to make the walk there and get inside before we would be cut off and forced to start in the second wave instead. That was not going to happen to me. I made my way with the masses toward the corrals, now traipsing over a field with hay laid out on the ground. And I made it to the Orange Wave…Corral C. With only a few minutes to spare. Whew.
I admit…I think I was expecting something closer to the start corrals of the Chicago Marathon. But I was on a little side street, alleyway of some sort…with port-a-potties lining one entire side and the masses of runners in the Orange Wave Corral C all huddled together or in line to pee. It was…not glamorous at all. I made small talk with some people around me…a woman from Australia who commented on my dressing gown…a freezing guy who was dressed in shorts and a long sleeve shirt…not at all prepared for all the hours spent at the staging area in this kind of weather. And others. As the time got nearer, I changed my shoes and ditched the robe…to now freeze. Soon…the corral strings were dropped and we were all marched forward, up toward the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge.
The view of the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge from my corral on Staten Island
It is a beautiful bridge…but it is intimidating for sure. I saw a Marathon Maniac walking only a few steps ahead of me, so I called out to him and we were talking on the way up near the bridge. He asked where my Marathon Maniac gear was and I explained that my company sponsored me so I was wearing their uniform. Then, the loud speaker booted up again and we were hearing the names of the elite men (my wave started with them!) and we would all cheer. I mean…we were running with Wilson Kipsang, Geoffrey Mutai, and Meb Keflezighi. Legends. Then we were informed that was the dress rehearsal and the next time it would be live…so we were to cheer loudly again. HA. The magic of television.
They were announced. Again. And we cheered. Again. I removed the Dunkin Donuts hat and tucked it into my fuel belt. If it stayed…free hat. If not…eh…it was a free hat. The National Anthem was played and then…cannons. I knew that was how we were sent off…but it still scared the living daylights out of me. My heart skipped a beat, my feet began to move toward the start…and up we all started, crossing the first sensor pad at the start line…and taking the 3.6% grade of the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge. And that was when we got our first taste of the winds that we would be battling that morning. No joke, there were gusts that made me feel like my feet were going to come out from under me. We all put our heads down…our race bibs sounding like sails in hurricane force winds. The helicopters circled us overhead. The world was watching. And we must have looked like we were on the biggest treadmill in the wold.
The first mile is straight up the bridge and the second mile…you come back down and hit the streets. Everything is loud. After the bridge…it’s just people. So many people. And they are out there…cheering…and if you had your name on your shirt (I didn’t)…they would shout out your name. It was uplifting. It almost made you forget you were cold. And battling wind gusts between 40 mph and 60 mph. So, we left Staten Island and were immediately welcomed into…BROOKLYN!
I won’t lie…I had the Beastie Boys song “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” drumming through my mind. It was part of the music playlist I put together to get me excited for the NYC Marathon in the first place. We honestly rounded that corner and heard “WELCOME TO BROOKLYN!” Awesome.
The elite men on First Avenue around Mile 17.5. Meb is in the white arm warmers behind the second guy in orange.
Brooklyn is, honestly, the longest stretch of the five boroughs. Staten Island…we’re there for the start village and the bridge…then…up until the halfway point…honestly. And there was a lot going on for that first half. Rows of people lining the streets. Runners either pushing hard from the start or easing up to save it for the finish. I knew running the entire 26.2 miles wasn’t happening for me. I can’t run what I didn’t train for…but I was going to do my best. I dedicated this race to a brave young woman who was fighting the hardest battle of her life…and I was going to honor her as best I could. I was going to just give this race the best of me.
At mile 5…I ditched my gloves.
Brooklyn was interesting. It is also where, around Mile 10, we enter Bedford Avenue…Williamsburg…where the Orthodox Jews reside. While there were some scattered throughout this mile…watching…it was silent. No cheering. And hardly anyone out. It made Mile 10 one of the more challenging to get through in the race. The crowds carry you when you feel like you can’t take one more step. Here…you just had to get through. It was early though…and most of us still felt good. I did.
I hit the halfway point…and then…”WELCOME TO QUEENS!”
Pretty much every borough had someone that would scream a fantastic welcome to you as you ran through. LOVE. The Queensboro Bridge was ahead…and as I started to make my way inside…yes…we ran a lower deck…I saw many a male marathoner pull off to the side to pee. This was also the bridge where I lost my GPS signal for about .3 of a mile. I didn’t know it at the time, but it happened. I noticed as I came to Mile 16 and my watch didn’t beep. It did…a little later after I passed. I was now ahead of my watch. That is okay…I wear that as a backup for my time more than anything else. The zen runner does live on…sometimes. Exiting the bridge, which was just a cavern that echoed and amplified our breathing and footfalls, we were once again greeted by the masses. That rush you get when that crowd returns…when you get the shouting and the cowbells and the encouragement…it is the best feeling in the world. And it was what started to carry me.
Me waving to Heather and Cathy at Mile 17.5. Still smiling and feeling good!
Cathy and Heather had told me that they were going to try to catch me at Mile 17. As I crossed the Mile 17 marker, I began searching the crowd on the left for them. This was made even more challenging as we were now climbing another hill. I didn’t see them and had all but given up. The downside of the hill greeted me and as I crest it and begin my descent, there they are, screaming for me over the crowd. I run by, throwing them a huge smile and a wave. I love seeing my friends when I’m running. It is just…uplifting. It is.
I was running First Avenue now…and I remained on there through Mile 20 about. But before leaving this street…I still had to go over the Willis Avenue Bridge. The inclines were starting to get to my untrained legs, so I slowed a little. I hated to do it…but if I was going to make that last 10K, I had to. But I took the bridge like a champ, pushing myself through the strong headwinds and thinking of Cailin…wanting to finish this strong. I came off the bridge…
“WELCOME TO THE BRONX!”
We weren’t in The Bronx for long through…and soon the streets wound us through Harlem and the crowds were loud and it was exciting. I loved hearing people get called out. I loved hearing, “You’re looking strong, girl!” Even though I knew I looked anything but strong. It helped. A lot. This was around where runners hit the dreaded wall. With the strong wind gusts that day, I was battling this run harder than any other. I think this might be as close as I have ever gotten to hitting…”The Wall.” I fought it though…because I knew…I was close now. I was so close.
We make the turn onto Fifth Avenue and soon I hear the shout I’ve been waiting to hear…
“WELCOME BACK TO MANHATTAN!”
Love. I could see the city. I could hear the city. And here, the runners were pushing themselves toward Central Park. We get to duck inside the park around Mile 22, only to reemerge briefly. But when we return to the park…we are two miles away from glory. Just two miles. The crowds inside the park are amazing. They had to go through security checkpoints to be there. They were loud and giving us the “You’re so close! You’re almost there!” And you believe it…because it’s true. Two miles…
My selfie after crossing the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon
The park is beautiful this time of year. Still green, but shading to those perfect fall colors. The wind…was brutal that day. And I focused more on pushing through those gusts. I could taste the finish line. I could almost feel it with each step I willed myself to take. I was on my way. I came up hill at Mile 25…and I knew…I was close. Pushing on, the crowds became louder. I could hear the announcer at the finish line. And there it was. These arching towers…those little blue mats at our feet. I pushed with what I could find left in my tank. I pushed. And I crossed that finish line feeling like I just won the damn thing. My time…was my third fastest, although I felt like this one beat me up the most. I was tired and drained…but I felt so alive. There were no tears at this finish line. Smiles. Just smiles. I did it! I took a moment…and snapped a selfie.
From here…the long walk ensued. We were funneled through the finishing area, our medals placed around our necks and mylar blankets wrapped around us. There were people out there who attached stickers to hold the mylar in place as we continued up through Central Park. Finisher’s photos were taken…and the food goodie bag was passed out. Water and Gatorade were offered. I took some water. I was in the group of runners that had a bracelet on because I didn’t check a bag. This meant I got a free TCS New York City Marathon poncho. But my trek there was long…I had to get to 77th Street. Here, volunteers would wrap and secure the lined and heavy-duty poncho around the runners and send us up toward 72nd Street. This…was where we were out of the race zone.
I had through I’d be going straight up 77th street to rendezvous with Heather, Cathy and my friend Marisa…but now I was 5 blocks down. I checked the printed map Cathy had given me and this worked out better. The hot dog place they were grabbing lunch at (Gray’s Papaya) was closer to 72nd Street. So, I headed up that way. I was handed some tea and congratulated. Many people who walked by congratulated all the runners making their way up there.
Marisa, me, and Heather after the TCS New York City Marathon
And then…there was Heather. She hurried over and gave me a hug. She said, “You finished in 3:50-something.” I was beaming. Then…Cathy and Marisa were there…hugs all around. I wanted to get back to the hotel to shower because we had some things to do before dinner that night, and our reservation was at 6 p.m. So, we made the short walk back to The Manhattan Club. We went up to the hotel room and I took a nice hot shower. Nothing in the world felt better than that. After I was changed and my hair was dried…I gave another attempt at consuming a protein shake post-marathon. It didn’t sit well. Not one bit. I ended up throwing it up. But I felt better. We headed out…to walk to Tiffany’s because I needed to get a pendant engraved and do a bit of shopping. On the way, Cathy ducked into the place we had breakfast on Saturday morning and snagged me a bottle of Sprite Zero to settle my stomach. It helped. A lot.
We had a great time at Tiffany’s…but it took longer than anticipated. Back to the hotel to change for dinner. Then a fantastic and
Me, with Cathy, in my fancy dress, compression socks, and heels…because this is how a marathoner dresses up for dinner!
celebratory dinner at Red Rooster in Harlem. For any non-foodies…this is Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant. Usually we do pubs…but I requested this. I think the most epic moment of the night was as we were heading down to the subway, some girls were just coming up the steps with their mylar wrapped around them. They looked at me and said…”She’s in heels. She just ran a marathon…and she’s in heels. With compression socks!” Their eyes met mine and they said…”You’re my hero!” It made me laugh. I tend to recover well and fast after a marathon. I hope it stays like that. So…dinner in Harlem and then…we parted. Marisa had to return to New Jersey and the three of us went to retire to the hotel. Heather and I decided to head back out (I move as much as possible after a marathon) and see Ground Zero. We saw the new tower, which was opening the following morning. It was still bitter cold out and we ended up having a snafu with one of our trains back to Manhattan. So, we got in really late…and had to all get up super early to get a taxi to the airport. But every moment of this trip was worth it.
My official time for the TCS New York City Marathon was 3:50:32. I was 9984 out of 50,875 finishers overall. I was the 1970/20,414 female to cross the finish line. And I was 403/3740 in my age division to finish. When I look at the overall results…I am beyond impressed with my performance. This still wasn’t the race I wanted. But the winds…they were relentless. I heard on the news that all but 6 miles of the marathon were with a headwind. I believe it. It sucked. A lot. But, you can’t change the weather…you just adapt. That’s what I did. I would LOVE to run this one again, believe it or not. Minus the wind trying to take my feet out from under me. As a side note, the wheelchair racers were started at Mile 3…due to the heavy winds on the bridge. The race officials were afraid they would be blown over or off. It was honestly that bad. I had a fantastic time and a fantastic race given the circumstances…and I was once again reminded of the many reasons that I always have and continue to love New York.
Me and Kat crossing the finish line at the Buffalo Marathon – Buffalo, New York. This picture encapsulates everything about the marathon. (Photo Credit: Diane Sardes)
Race: Buffalo Marathon
Place: Buffalo, New York
Date: May 25, 2014
Time:4:32:44*
“When you cross the finish line, no matter how slow or fast, it will change your life forever.” – Spirit of the Marathon
I want to point out the asterisks above, as this race was not one that I was running at my normal marathon pace. Nope. I agreed back in March to pace two of my friends, Kat and Janelle, to their hopes of a sub-4 finish in the Buffalo Marathon. This race was not about me or my goals…this was all about them. And I took this responsibility very seriously, mind you! I trained as I would if I were going to be the one racing…meaning all of my training runs I did as though I were running this race at my pace. I didn’t want to over-train or get cocky and think that I could run more because this race wasn’t going to be done at my “normal” pace. Nope. Like I said…I take my job as a pacer very, very seriously.
I know what you’re doing. You’re looking at that finish time and wondering what went wrong.
Well…I will get to that. And then I will reflect on what this race has taught me, in general, about the human spirit and the spirit of the marathon. But…let me start at the very beginning.
Fridays are usually hectic as it is, but this Friday just put me out-of-my-mind. I had tried to do most of my packing on Thursday, but I still had plenty to do that morning…plus a date with my spinning class at 5:30 a.m. Go figure. As I was racing on Sunday, I went to class, but kept the heavy down and just did what I was comfortable with. I didn’t want to wear out these legs. I had two people counting on me and I wasn’t about to let them down. I thought about skipping my class, but I figured I’d be in a car most of Saturday, so as long as I didn’t put too much resistance on the bike…I’d be fine.
I did manage to get everything packed up and loaded into the car. But I wasn’t Buffalo bound yet. New York was going to have to wait. I had to go to work for the entire day first. Then…then I could start my journey toward my sixth marathon this year. Whew. I headed into the office and made little to no use of my standing desk, once again, trying to keep as much pressure off these legs as possible. I wanted to get to that start line feeling ready and relaxed. It worked. I got through the entire work day without any issues, then packed up and headed out at 4:30 p.m. to head up to Columbus, Ohio. Jenn was going to make this journey with us for the marathon, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. YAY! But…this meant enduring the ride up to Columbus. But first…I stopped off at my local gluten-free bakery to pick up a pizza crust. I promised Kat, back when she was in town for the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon that I’d bring her one of Annie May’s Sweet Café’s amazing gluten-free pizza crusts. And…while we were there, Cathy and I each ordered a sandwich to go to eat in the car on the way up to Jenn’s. We might have also picked up one of her vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies too. Maybe. Anyway, this plan to grab dinner worked out perfectly. An Annie May’s sandwich might be a new travel after work tradition.
Soon, we were on the road and making good time up to Columbus, Ohio. As we came through Cincinnati, Ohio, I asked Cathy if we were going to stop soon because the unsweetened iced tea and the water I had with dinner had gone right through me and I “really needed to pee.” TMI? Nah. Anyway, she said we’d stop at somewhere up the road…which turned into about an hour wait. Seriously. The information center she had wanted to stop at was closed…and already way further than I had hoped to go before I got my break. So…I was not happy. We finally pulled over at a gas station on the exit you would take if you were going to the Ohio Renaissance Festival. I went inside the BP and took care of business, only to be interrupted by a woman pounding on the door, declaring she had an emergency. Um…yeah…kinda busy…gotta wait. I peed as fast as I could…but she kept pounding and pissing me off. Do NOT piss off a runner who has been tapering. I washed my hands and hurried out of the bathroom, having her blow past me like I was doing it on purpose. UGH!! People suck.
Back on the road…and no more stops until we hit Jenn’s house somewhere around 9 p.m. Cathy and I changed out into more comfortable clothes and then we settled in to talk a bit and eat Jenn’s infamous (but to me it’s famous) Pink Salad. Mmmmm…just what I needed. Hit the freakin’ spot. I knew I needed to get up around 4 a.m. to do a shakeout run, stretch, shower, eat breakfast, and get out of the door in a timely manner to continue the journey up to Buffalo, New York on Saturday morning…so we were turning in earlier than normal.
My alarm went off at 4 a.m. and I immediately dropped my iPhone before I could turn it off. Whoops. I got up and got changed into my running clothes and headed out Jenn’s garage to do 3 very easy miles as a shakeout before my drive up for the marathon. I forgot that Jenn’s roads have storm drains in the center of the road, so those were some fun obstacles at first. HAHA! I finally just got off to the side, and ran a loop around her inner circle until I hit my miles for the day. I actually did it faster than I intended or felt like I was running…so my legs were definitely feeling good. I ducked back inside, shed the reflective gear and went to do my stretching. Jenn came down as I was finishing that up. And soon I was headed up to shower, wake up Cathy, and we were settling in for some gluten-free bagels for breakfast. Topped off with a Garlic and Herb cream cheese of deliciousness. It was like eating garlic bread. The car was loaded back up and we piled in…heading out for the long road to Buffalo, New York.
I was already tired from not sleeping much, so Jenn passed my pillow up and I dozed up until we made our first stop to put in some gas. There was a nice Starbucks attached to the gas station, so we all got one of their refreshers…mine…the Cool Lime (YUMMY!) before piling back into the car and making our way up to Erie, Pennsylvania. That was going to be our stop for lunch. Back when I ran the Hershey Half Marathon, we found a place called Picasso’s to eat dinner at on our way back to Jenn’s. They specialize in very unique sandwiches…and we fell in love with them. This was our lunch destination…and we got there just after they opened. We each got a sandwich and drink and settled in at a table. My Gluten-Free Venus de Milo Sandwich was fantastic. It was a combination of hummus, onions, baby spinach, tomato, muffaletta spread, carrots, avocado, and a roasted red pepper mayo, toasted on gluten-free bread (in the oven to keep it from being cross-contaminated). Seriously…delicious. Then, we ducked over to Wegmans (an awesome grocery store for those not familiar) to grab a few necessities for Sunday…like bananas and water and watermelon. Then…back on the road. Next stop…the Hyatt Regency Buffalo (the host hotel) where we were staying.
I had hoped to meet up with both Kat and Janelle at the the expo, but Kat was there earlier in the day and Janelle, honestly, was leaving as I was pulling in. Dang it. I was seeing Kat later that evening for dinner, but Janelle was not going to be able to make it. So, we all planned to meet up on Sunday morning with the 4 hour pace group. Deal. We pulled into the hotel and valet parked the car, hauling our stuff inside. I went to check in, and as I was running the marathon was gifted with a bottle of Gatorade. I signed a sneaker with how many marathons I had run and my best finishing time, was given two keys to the room (I gave them to Jenn and Cathy to handle…I am a zen runner on race weekends and want no responsibilities). We took our stuff up to the hotel room to drop it off and then headed out to walk through the walkways from the hotel to the expo center. Weirdly enough, there were no signs really directing anyone to where to find the expo…so we randomly followed some people and ended up making our way there. Let’s hear it for the blind leading the visually challenged!
Bart Yasso and me at the Buffalo Marathon Expo – Buffalo, New York
The expo was small. We stepped inside and I got in line to get a plastic bag that contained some race information and my safety pins. From there, I had to wind my way through the vendors and other races there to find the tables in the back where packet pickup was happening. I went over to the side for the marathon (there is also a 5K and a half marathon), and gave my name. The teenager behind the table looked me up, grabbed my race bib and race shirt and passed it over to me. I thanked him, tucked it into the plastic bag and went to meet Jenn and Cathy over at the BondiBand table. HA! They knew I’d want to make a stop there. We didn’t spend too long digging through the BondiBands as I own most of them (it’s a sickness…I know!)…but I found two that fit my personality and I ended up getting those. It’s tradition! You never break tradition. We wound our way back through, stopping off at a few interesting sounding races…all of which are on weekends that don’t work for me…this year…and ended up at Bart Yasso’s talk.
I LOVE Bart Yasso and really want to incorporate the Yasso 800’s into my training…eventually. We listened to him talk, and when he finished up, I went to see if he would sign my book (I brought it with me!) and maybe get a picture with him. There wasn’t a long line…and before long I was up there and talking with him. He remembered me from Facebook (HA!) and just asked if I spelled Karen with a “K.” That was awesome. He was very kind and wrote me a nice message before taking a picture with me and wishing me luck on Sunday. With that…we made our way out of the expo and back to our hotel room, where we crashed until about 4:15 p.m., watching Food Network (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives was on, followed by Guy’s Grocery Games). I took the time to do my evening stretches and some foam rolling so I wouldn’t have to worry about it after dinner and could focus more on getting race morning stuff together and getting to bed at a decent time.
All that did get accomplished before we headed back out to the streets of Buffalo and walked to our dinner destination, Merge, located on Delaware Avenue. We were early. The restaurant hadn’t even opened yet. But, we knew that would probably be the case. We left early to give us time to get lost and all. But at the first sense of us not knowing which way to go, Cathy asked the valet guys and we were immediately on track without the whole wander around town mess. Love nipping something in the bud. At 5 p.m., Kat and Adam (Kat’s boyfriend) arrived and we went inside for our dinner reservation. We were immediately seated and asked if we wanted something other than water to drink. I don’t do anything but water these days as it is…so I stuck with that. Then…it was menu time. I had looked at this menu DOZENS of times before…and I knew there was a gluten-free and vegan pizza option. That’s my traditional food before a race…but there were so many enticing dishes on this menu that I couldn’t get anywhere else…and I get good gluten-free pizza in Louisville. SO…now I was waffling on what I wanted for dinner and everyone else was ready. With the assistance of the waiter, I bucked tradition again and went with the Gluten-Free and Vegan Arugula Pesto Pasta, which was a basic brown rice fusilli pasta with local tomato, red onion, spinach and tossed with toasted walnuts. It was as amazing as it looked. Got a Gluten-Free and Vegan Chocolate Mousse with Spiced Berry Compote for dessert, which I split with Cathy. All of us talked for awhile, not much about running but about other stuff, until we were told they needed the table. So, with that, we parted ways. Cathy, Jenn and I walked back to the hotel room. and I changed into my pajamas, brushed my teeth, put out my race clothes for the morning, plugged in my Garmin to charge, set the two wake-up alarms, and then…went to bed.
My first alarm got me up and I went through my routine before hitting the sack again for another hour. The second alarm rang and I was up and into the bathroom to change into my race gear. I had opted for a tank top, despite the 47 degree weather that morning. I had my homemade arm warmers for the start, figuring I’d shed them sometime in the race. My running skirt, my CEP calf sleeves, my Newton’s. I was ready to run. I put on my sunscreen and got my “epic race hair” done up before stretching. Jenn woke up just before I was to wake up both her and Cathy to get ready…so I just needed to worry about getting Cathy moving. I woke her up and then settled in to eat my cereal (a pre-race tradition for EVERY race). I took my time, relaxed, and occupied my mind with things other than the race. Both Cathy and Jenn grabbed the free granola from the expo and got something in their stomachs and soon, I was grabbing my banana and we were heading down to the lobby and outside to the starting area.
The start area hadn’t been opened to the runners in the full or half marathon yet…so everyone was sort of behind a barrier on the other side of the street. I saw pacers walk by and really wanted to go find my girls, but Cathy was like…”Um…good luck with that!” Which, sort of annoyed me so I was in a huff when the starting area was finally opened. But, she called me back and I settled down. I got hugs and was told to have a good race. Jenn told me that “The Power of Dean [Karnazes] Compelled Me” and not to “pants my poop.” This is tradition. It has to happen. With that, I left them to go find a spot near the start line and I went to hopefully find Janelle (who I hadn’t met yet in person) and Kat.
Kat (green arm warmers), Me, and Janelle (pink shirt) heading out at the start of the Buffalo Marathon – Buffalo, New York (Photo Credit: Jennifer Mariani)
Janelle found me, actually…which was awesome. We were about 15 minutes away from race time. I was so happy to see her. She looked rested and ready to run. Perfect. I asked if she had seen Kat…and she hadn’t. But a few minutes later, miss Bright Green Arm Warmers was at our sides. We attempted to do some stretching in the start area but it was really crowded and moving around was not much of an option. Kat was talking to pretty much everyone…because I really think she knows everyone in Buffalo…and we did our best to keep our legs loose and limber in the chilly morning air. I pointed out that the girl in front of me had her shirt on inside out and we agreed that if it wasn’t three minutes to start time, we might have informed her…but it was too late now. The National Anthem was sung…and we were right in line with the 4-hour pace group. Right where I wanted to start. One moment later…runners were off. And we were making the march toward the start line. Kat doesn’t like to start running until she crosses that mat, so we kept a fast walk until we hit that start gate…and we were off. I spotted Cathy and Jenn immediately, flashed a peace sign…and fell into pace.
Janelle, Me, and Kat love seeing familiar faces around Mile 6.3 in the Buffalo Marathon – Buffalo, New York
We stayed behind the pace group for the first mile, wanting to make sure we didn’t have the “fly and die” technique…wanting to go into this easy and work our way up. Kat and Janelle both liked this plan and that was what we worked at doing. But somewhere before we hit Mile 2, we got ahead of the pace group. I asked my girls how they felt about pace, and both agreed it was good. I told them that whenever they wanted to back off, just to say the word and we would. So, Kat did that every now and again, terrified of going out too fast and wanting to have that 4 hour pace group not too much behind or ahead of us at any time. As both seemed comfortable…we continued on. We hit that 5K mark feeling strong, and I once again checked on the pace. We backed it off a little per Kat’s request and continued on. I ditched my arm warmers somewhere around here as well. HA! Looking at my Garmin…we actually were keeping a very level, even pace for a good stretch of this race. It was awesome. It felt good. We all felt good. Kat gave me a bit of a tour as we were running, as this is where she grew up. I’m a history buff, so I found every bit of this fascinating. And…it made the miles fly by without us really paying attention to them at all. Before we knew it, we were at the 10K mark…feeling good. We rounded a corner, and Kat spotted Adam and went over to see him, but he told her to keep going as she was right on pace. And just a few feet up…was Cathy and Jenn. I spotted the donkey sign! I gave a big wave and a smile. It’s always nice to see familiar faces during a race…and we were only 1/4 of the way done. But…we were feeling amazing. So, on we went.
We kept this great pace (just under sub-9) up through the LaSalle Park area. We hit the waterfront, where the road narrowed quite a bit. The slow-up was welcome though…so we took the break and eased our way through the crowds. The waterfront was gorgeous! Honestly. I loved running this part of the race. Great breeze. Great views. The lake was stunning. We knew as we were going to be leaving the waterfront that photographers were stationed. And we spotted them up ahead. The three of us raised our arms for the shot…and that was when some jackass pushed Kat. Like…literally pushed her. RUDE! So, not sure how that shot is going to turn out. Asshat. We had now hit the 15K mark…and all of us were still feeling good and strong. My girls were rockstars! I asked about pace every now and again, wanting them to feel comfortable with it…and so far, they were.
Janelle, Me, and Kat at the 13.1 mile point of the Buffalo Marathon! Feeling strong. Looking strong!
Kat continued her guided tour as we ran around the Erie Basin Marina and back into town. She was elated when she noticed the course was going to take us past the First Niagara Center, where the Buffalo Sabers play hockey. She has season tickets…so she was glad the new course still ran past there. The sun was up now and there were no clouds in the sky. None. So it was warming up fast. We came through town, loving the shade that the buildings provided, but the heat was there. We hit the halfway point…and were pleasantly surprised to see both Jenn and Cathy standing right at the 13.1 marker to cheer us on. We were powering through that first half, maintaining a relatively even pace…backing off where necessary…and feeling awesome. We were just where we needed to be…right in between the 3:50:00 pacers and the 4-hour pace group. We were right on target.
But as we headed a few miles further in, the heat started to really affect Kat. She came to a walk on a hill around Mile 15, taking out her inhaler. We were ahead of schedule and the walk break was a welcome one on the hill, and once she fueled and took in some liquid, we were back on our way. We knocked out another mile back on our pace, but the 4-hour pace group had caught up to us. We decided to run just behind them for a little while. Good strategy. But as we came into Mile 16, going into 17…Kat slowed again and the pace group moved ahead. She was getting angry and frustrated with herself, but we were still ahead of the pace group so that was of some help to get her focused again. The fuel belt she was wearing wasn’t sitting right on her body, so Janelle asked if she wanted to try holding her bottle with Nuun in it and ditching the belt with her husband at Mile 17. Kat agreed so Janelle ran up ahead to find her husband, dump water out of one of her bottles, and get one ready for Kat. Kat was really struggling here and as we walked a bit through Mile 16.55, with her in tears and angry at having to walk, one of the volunteers checked to make sure she was okay, letting us know where we were in the race and asking if she needed any sort of attention. She waved him off and we both thanked him, and when we hit some road signs, we started to pick up the pace again, maintaining that until we met up with Janelle and her husband near Mile 17. We changed out the fuel pack for the handheld water and we were back on our way.
We were now in Delaware Park, which would last for a mile, where we then would enter back onto the streets and re-enter the park around Mile 20.5. As we were heading up the hill, Kat went to fuel with her Craisins. But they didn’t stay down. The heat was really getting to her…as she hadn’t had warm weather this year to train in. Buffalo was 40 degrees all day on Friday…and Saturday was slightly warmer, but with a cool breeze that made it feel cooler. We had a slight breeze, but the air was hot and the sun was relentless. Kat handed me the handheld bottle and tried to fuel again, this time to keep it down. I gave her one of my bottles on my fuel belt that had water inside. She took it…and this time…it all stayed down. She asked if I was okay holding onto the handheld bottle for her…and I said that was fine. Mind you, I hate running with things in my hands, but this was definitely more important. And…it would help me keep a steadier pace for Kat. But then the 4:10 pace group past and I saw that fight go out of her. She felt defeated, but I did what I could to get her to press on. We could at least try for her next goal of a PR. We came out of the park and it was a run walk method, with Janelle and I just wanting to keep Kat going. Finally, Janelle said she was starting to hurt, so she was going to put on her headphones and head for the finish line. We had tried to get her to do that earlier…but she stuck it out with us for some of it, even giving up her sub-4 finish to make sure Kat was okay. But we wished her luck and sent her on, telling her to let Cathy and Jenn know that we would be behind her.
I did my best to keep Kat going. The heat was really doing a number on her. She was getting dizzy and suffering from a headache. In addition, she said at some points she felt like she was going to pass out. I didn’t want that to happen, so I told her to walk when she needed. We were coming up around Mile 20 when one lone woman was standing on the road, shouting support to everyone. She saw Kat, who was crying, and honed in on her. It made me smile when I heard her say to Kat…”I see you, 890! You look so strong. Come on 890…you can do this. Push through, 890! I know you can do this. I know you want to run.” Kat started crying more, but this time tears of happiness, and her pace…picked up. It was the push she needed…from a random stranger. And as she ran up the hill…the woman said, “That’s it 890! Keep going!!” and other inspiring and motivating words. She was a rockstar. And, honestly, was able to do what I couldn’t. As we came back into Delaware Park, Kat said she had to use the bathroom and maybe that would help. The problem was…there were no port-a-potties on the course winding through the park. So, it was run, walk, run…until we were heading out of the park where there were some port-a-potties. Luckily one was not in use. I waited on the corner while she ducked into one. A minute later, we were back on the road and back to running. She felt better. And we now had just over 4 more miles to go. We were getting there. When the 4:20 pace group passed, she started crying again. And…she handed over her Garmin, saying she didn’t want it on anymore. Is trapped it onto my wrist and we moved on. It was better this way. She had been so focused on that pace and now…her disappointment was setting in. I kept assuring her that her primary goal was to finish…and I was going to get her to that line.
With only a few miles left, we were determined to go without stopping. Kat was determined now, despite the heat. She was sweating out salt, so I was trying to get her to take in as much water and electrolytes as possible. Her compression socks were starting to bother her, so she stopped to roll them down. Only, that felt worse as we started up again, so she pulled them back up. We ran and walked for the next few miles, doing what she needed. I pushed her here and there, telling her what landmarks we would hit and start jogging and picking up the pace…easing back into it. She listened to me…and did as I said…and she’d slow and walk when she needed to. Around Mile 24, she was done with the compression socks. So she pulled over to the side of the road and sat down, taking off her shoes and removing the socks. I ended up tying them to my fuel belt and she put her shoes back on and decided to finish the race without socks on. I told her she’d blister…and she said blisters already happened. Might as well be comfortable. A woman who was cheering on runners across the street asked if she was okay…and we said she was…and within moments, she was back on her feet and we were heading down into the next mile…slapping hands with college boys at the water stop. We walked a bit coming into Mile 25 and I could hear that crowd ahead. The finish line was getting closer. We picked it up…we backed it off…we walked when she needed it. She finished off her Nuun…she took in one last water stop…and we pressed on…walking to the edge of a building I pointed out…and then picking up that pace. We were in the home stretch and she was going to run it in.
We had made a deal to cross that finish line together. I was wrapped up in the excitement and my finisher’s kick was already there. She called me back, saying she wasn’t ready yet. She wanted to see that finish line. So…I fell back and we rounded through Niagara Square. And then…there it was…the finisher’s chute! We picked up our pace and sprinted…as fast as our legs could go. As we neared that finish line, we took each other’s hands…and crossed together. It was…by far…one of the most rewarding and memorable finishes I have had in my life. We hugged tightly and I told her how proud I was of her. And we moved out of the way so that she could try to catch her breath, regain her strength…get her medal…and get some ice from the medical tent.
Kat, Me, and Janelle proudly displaying our finisher’s medals at the finish of the Buffalo Marathon – Buffalo, New York. So proud of these ladies!
After snagging an ice pack to put on the back of her neck, we headed back out, retrieving Mylar blankets and started down the chute. She spotted Adam and her mom and went to talk to them for a moment. And then…we went to get our picture taken for finishing. We moved further down the chute, retrieving water bottles and any snacks needed. She snagged an orange…good choice. And then we met up with Janelle, Cathy, Jenn, Janelle’s husband, Janelle’s dog (Domino), and Adam and Kat’s mom at the very end. We stood around talking for a little while and snapped a picture of the three of us with our medals. But then I needed to get up to the hotel room to shower off and change (as they were not allowing any late check-outs. Nope. Not at the host hotel!). Kat came with us because I forgot to give her the pizza the night before…and she changed while I went to shower. Cathy and Jenn packed everything up and when I stepped out of the shower…we were ready to head out.
Hugs all around and we were off.
So…my official results for the Buffalo Marathon are that I finished in a time of 4:32:44 (gun time) and 4:31: 36 (chip time) (for 26.49 miles). I was 832/1287 finishers overall. I was the 311/548 women to cross the finish line. And I was 64/108 in my age division. I can honestly say that this was the first time I ever crossed the finish line carrying more gear than I left with. HA! First time for everything!
Yes…there was a twinge of disappointment that came with this finish. But it wasn’t with the finishing time. It was watching a goal slip away from a good friend of mine, who worked her ass off to achieve it. Her body wasn’t ready for the heat, as she hadn’t trained in it yet. There were a few other factors as well. And the relentless sun did her in that day. But…she was not defeated. No matter how she felt, no matter how much she wanted to collapse and give up…she didn’t. Kat is a fighter. She’s strong and determined and stubborn as hell. And every time she fell back…I saw that flame in her eyes spark up…and she’d start to move again. There were plenty of tears shed at goals that weren’t reached, but ultimately, she proved not only her strength and her determination, but her worth out there on that course. I was so proud of her at that finish line. There was nowhere else I wanted to be than at her side that entire race, seeing her push through her own doubts. She is a fighter and she fought for this finish. She gave everything she had to reach that finish line. She finished strong. And every ounce of me has been inspired by her sheer determination and will to push through and see herself to that finish line. Her original goals fell to the wayside…but she finished. And ultimately...it’s not about finish times…it’s about finish lines. So often, as runners, we put so much emphasis on a new PR, a better time, faster, better, perfection. Those are all nice to accomplish and to have as goals, but we get so focused on that and sometimes we lose the actual joy of the run. We forget to have some fun. To enjoy it. To just take it in. When Kat crossed her finish line that morning…and when I gave her a tight hug, I told her just how proud I was of her. I still am. Best finish for me…ever.
Thank you, Kat…for inspiring me to push on when my self-doubts want me to stop. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. This is one race I will always point to and say…”She wanted to give up…but she never did.” For that…you are more than an inspiration. You’re my hero!
When you can’t walk, you crawl. When you can’t do that, you find someone to carry you. – Firefly
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OMG…THE CUTENESS!! This movie was adorable. And yes…I am so Officer Judy Hopps. No doubt about it. Except, minus the cute ears and twitchy nose. I might have the fluff butt though. HAHA!! Anyway…went to the movie theater this morning and caught the first showing of Zootopia and LOVED it. Totally loved it. Disney does it again. The sloth scene that is so famous…still funny…even though the trailer pretty much gave the entire scene to you. LOVE IT. I am so costuming as Officer Hopps for a Disney race in the future. THIS. IS. HAPPENING.
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I am not going to lie. Every time something that shouldn’t be twinging at me makes any sort of unhappy pain or unusual pain…or just pain…I get a little freaked out. Hard to imagine, I know! *sarcasm*
The Celiathlete 