It was a long, holiday weekend. YAY!! And, as is usual for me over the 4th of July…I was out of town. At a convention. In Indianapolis. Now, normally when I am up in Indy for this convention, my Saturday morning is spent running the Monon Trail. It’s gorgeous. Seriously. I always look forward to it. The past few years (last year I wasn’t able to run at all at this point), I have managed to get out there for my long run of 10-12 or so miles.
But, this past weekend, Saturday’s Monon Trail run wasn’t happening…
MEH.
SO…on Saturday morning, I was down in the fitness center at 6 am…and on a treadmill to do 12 miles that morning. I started easy and worked up a ladder to a comfortable speed and then took it back down. It was mind numbing, despite the music (and to think, I almost left my iPod in my room). But, my training run was done.
And if that wasn’t enough punishment, I got up on Sunday morning to do my shakeout run. I decided to do an easy run for an hour…getting 7.36 miles in during that time.
I was feeling it Saturday and I really felt it Sunday. I hate running on treadmills. They seem to do more damage to me than road running does. I was sore through Wednesday, honestly. I don’t know how people do long distances on these things on a regular basis. My body couldn’t handle it!
My runs have been suffering since those treadmill runs. The hip was not mad…but not happy either. MEH. Not enough foam rolling in the world. Of course…the epic humidity with air so thick you could cut it with a knife…isn’t helping either.
But, despite the humidity and the fatigue from late nights, I’ve been keeping up with my training runs. Which…is impressive for me. It’s not been easy to get out of bed to just go outside and melt…but…
…I’ve been getting it done. It hasn’t been pretty…and I’m not always happy with the results on my Garmin, but I’m doing what my body is currently capable of…so, there is that.
OH…and this past week, I got to play around with recipes that I created. I made 6 different recipes…2 pasta dishes, a fusion pizza, a rice dish, a sandwich, and a dessert. I was quite proud of the results…all based off of Peter Cincotti’s recently released EP, Exit 105. Check out these images of the completed dishes…
Top (L-R): Island Spell Pizza (song: Palermo) – Jerk seasoned tofu, topped with onion, bell pepper, pineapple, cheddar cheese, and a Jamaican jerk coleslaw; Missing Sara Sammie (song: What’s Sara Doing?) – sammie layered with sweet potato, hummus, avocado (or guacamole), and kale; Unexpected Beat Tagliatelle (song: Long Way From Home) – tagliatelle pasta in a bechemel sauce and topped with shredded beets, goat cheese, parsley, toasted pine nuts, and toasted bread crumbs
Botton (L-R): Roamin’ Skies Pasta (song: Roman Skies) – my take on the traditional Roman dish – Cacio e Pepe – pasta mixed with butter, black pepper, Pecorino and Parmesan cheeses; Exit 105 Rice-A-Roni (Album Title: Exit 105) – my version of the San Francisco Treat (after all, Exit 105 takes you to the Golden Gate Bridge)…and it has been dubbed my “best rice dish in the history of ever”; Sexy on the Beach Ice Cream (song: Sexy) – a vegan ice cream made from coconut cream, pureed raspberries, pureed pineapple, chambord and vodka…just like the drink Sex on the Beach…
I love getting chefy.
So, aside from a little bit of work stress…that’s what’s going on thus far. Stay tuned as this weekend is going to be amazing. I can tell.
You know…it’s heating up outside. Yes. It is. And I sort of love it. I really, really do! I mean, I don’t want those blazing hot triple digits, but I have been waiting for the warmer weather…and suffered through the chilly, cold, bitter winter. We never really have spring here, so…yeah, I’ve been waiting for this.
Yesterday was beautiful. It was humid, but definitely not as stifling as last week. And I met with my training partner in a new space with new people…the Louisville Landsharks. Most of them were keeping their runs down to an hour or 2-6 miles, as they were all doing the TriLouisville triathlon this morning. As he and I are both running hilly races (and selfishly, we really didn’t want to take on Eastern Parkway), we continued on into Iroqouis Park, and ran all the way to the top and then back. It was one of my best training runs to date. I felt good during and after. Now before…before…not so much. Let’s take a look at some stuff this week.
1. Grandma’s Marathon When I started back to training this past January, after being cleared to run, and getting approval from Katie, my physical therapist, to follow the Norton Training Program as they all prepped for a late April marathon or half marathon (I ran the half), it was all part of going back and forth between the full and half training program as I prepped for the NYC Half Marathon and then…Grandma’s Marathon. I was signed up to run it. It’s my grandpa’s absolute favorite marathon. And this year…it was their 40th Anniversary. Big!! I pepped for this by jumping right into a 20 miler in April because…I needed to see how my body could handle long, long distance. I came out of it feeling great. But I didn’t feel ready. So I transferred my bib and that was that. The race ran yesterday…and that morning, I felt good. I felt really good. Physically, I could have gone out and run this marathon and completed it. But I think, mentally, I need more time before tackling the 26.2 mile distance. So, while giving up my spot in that marathon was the best choice, it wasn’t an easy one. I don’t regret it…but I know I could have done it…now. Even though the race did get black flagged due to extreme heat. Runners were allowed to stay out…but that’s pretty intense. Still…I do sort of wish I had gone…but I know this will just make me better and more prepared (mentally) for my brutal (but beautiful) September race.
2. The Best Water Stop Ever Need a good laugh? Check this out. As I mentioned, Matthew and I were running 14 miles yesterday and we took it to the hills. Along the way, there are a few spots we can stop to refill our water bottles. When the weather gets this humid and hot, hydration is important. So, on our way back to our starting point, we made our final water stop, thinking we were actually embarking on closer to 15 miles (which was fine…) to finish up. We filled up at the water fountain, took some swigs and poured the water over our heads to cool down. And started on our way again. Only to see that our finishing point…was not but 0.15 miles away. Seriously, we rounded the corner from the little alcove the water fountain was in and…BOOM. We could see our start point. We both busted out laughing. But it did get us to our 14 miles we set out to run…so there was that. This is what happens when you do something new. You don’t exactly know how much further you have to go. HA!
3. Mediterranean Food My roommate might be addicted to a meal that I make…although not too often. I say this because last night, I had the bright idea of making some Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) for dinner. I had one last batch of grape leaves in the fridge to use. But…as I went to get dinner prepped, as the rice was cooling…I noticed the grape leaves had gone bad. I told her we’d just have them tomorrow, but she insisted she’d been looking forward to them all day, and actually went out to Meijer to pick up more grape leaves. That was how much she wanted me to make these. So…for dinner, I cooked up the dolmades, served it with tzatziki and a side salad of greens and veggies and a garlic vinaigrette. It was really good. I love making these. Sort of labor intensive…but worth it. Besides, the Mediterranean Diet has been proven to be the healthiest one out there. Consider me…a giver of health. HA!
4. How A Superhero Learns To Fly… So…last Sunday, I had my friend Natalie over for dinner. I cooked up Smokey Zucchini Cakes with a Creamy Lemon Sauce, and some Cauliflower Breadsticks. She brought the fruit. SO GOOD! And then, we all settled in to watch Zootopia, rounding out the Disney Animated Movies In Order (as it is currently the last one) marathon. She had never seen it, so that was fun. But, during the movie, there was a loud BANG that sounded at the door. Instead of cowering and wondering what it was, Cathy, Natalie and I sprung up to go check it out. We ain’t afraid of no ghost…intruder…whatever it was. Turned out it was the wind, but it we all laughed at how we were ready to get our crime fighter mode on. Which started this talk about being Superheroes. Which lead to Cathy in a Jane hat (Firefly), carrying a Captain America shield (Marvel), with a cloak on (Lord of the Rings) and a pipe…for some reason (Sherlock), armed with a plunger (Dr. Who); Natalie in a pirate hat and coat, armed with a pistol and sword; and me in a mermaid dress and a squid hat carrying a Dinglehopper…er…I mean a fork…
We were…the Fandom Fighters…and we went outside in public like this and got caught by one of my neighbors. It was so much fun. I haven’t laughed like that in a long time.
Don’t ask why I have a mermaid dress…
5. Blueberry Picking Cross another thing off the Summer Bucket List. For real. Yesterday…after my humid and hot run, and after refueling with some Allergen Free Biscuits and Jam from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe…Cathy and I headed out to New Salisbury, Indiana, to Bryant’s Blueberries. There, under the screaming hot, mid-day sun…we picked 10 pounds of blueberries. What am I doing with 10 pounds of blueberries. Jam!! I am making jam. And, apparently, scones. Because Cathy keeps mentioning scones. And…I’m sue there will be pancakes. Pancakes are always a good idea. Or…maybe donuts. Hmmm…I’ve been meaning to make some donuts.
Or maybe…blueberry bagels. I need to make bagels. I might make bagels…I should make bagels.
Anyway…I have ALL THE BLUEBERRIES!! Blueberries for days!!!
And I’m known for my jam…so…I can’t wait to give some of these out to people!!
6. Finding Dory Well, the Renaissance Faire is a no-go this weekend. It is, after all, Father’s Day weekend. That being said, Cathy and I needed to fill in some time…so we are off to see Finding Dory this morning. SO excited for this sequal. Finding Nemo is probably my 2nd favorite Pixar movie (the first being Inside Out). So, this is a big huge deal for me. And I’m so excited to go. Other than being a film lover, and someone who used to want to animate for Disney, I just love the Finding Nemo story. And it is INCREDIBLE how far technology has come since the release of the original movie in 2003.
7. Earth to Echo Okay…I realize that the film, Earth to Echo, came out over 2 years ago, but I’ve been in this 2 year loop of ALL THE DISNEY ANIMATED MOVIES for the past 2 years. So, now I’m watching movies I wanted to see, but couldn’t since Disney was taking over my life, time, and movie watching time slot. I had my eyes on Earth to Echo for a long while…as it was made as an homage to Spielberg. I mean, the plot is pretty much lifted from E.T., but also borrows heavily from The Goonies and other 80s movies about kids hanging out and doing things. But it is filmed in that old-school Spielberg technique which just makes you feel like you are right there in the movie itself. I didn’t expect too much, but this film was adorable and I loved every moment of it. Seriously. If you overlooked this one…it’s on Netflix…go watch it…NOW.
8. Father’s Day
And…last, but not least…HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!! My dad has been such a steadfast, supportive, and integral part of my life. I may live in a totally different state, but he has always cheered for me, guided me, and helped me to understand the value of making it in the world…on my own. He’s why I am a strong, independent woman. My dad is one of the nicest men in the world, still opening doors for my mom, my sister and me when we are with him, still waits at the security check until I am completely through at the airport, and still wants to take me out to eat when I come visit. He’s my (super) hero…and I am lucky to have such an amazing man to call my dad!!
Did you do anything special in honor of Father’s Day? Seen any good movies lately? Ever pick blueberries?
HOLY HILLS, BATMAN!! Seriously…we’re talking some ELEVATION!!
Here’s the deal…when I first started back to running, my physical therapist, Katie, had me specifically working on…hills. Why? Well, when you come back form a hip labrum tear…the hip muscles remain weak. And…sadly…for me as I stare at that elevation chart…I truly understand why this was the first thing she had me working on. You see, by simply pushing off to run, your hip extensor muscles are working overtime. But they work even harder when you are running uphill. And guess what doesn’t want to fire correctly for me all the time since my injury and very slow return to running. You guessed it…the hips. They are weak from the tear for sure…and the time off…but the hip adductor, especially, was quite the issue when I was in physical therapy. Once some of the strength in my legs evened out and balanced…well…there was a bit more power…but…it’s nowhere near where it used to be.
Needless to say, hill repeats are now a part of my Tuesday routine.
This does not thrill me…nor do I enjoy having to do them, but you’re supposed to train for the race you are running and obviously…mine has quite a lot of climbing involved. I may not like it, but I gotta do it.
I’ve gone out to run hills twice now. Last week, I thought I did pretty good. I am slow on the uphill climbs…especially the steeper it goes, but I could keep up with the group of 5 that came out to do them. So, that was good. This week, however…this week all the local hill climb elites were out or something because they were all…
And I felt like I was being left in the dust. I was lapped on EVERY hill. Seriously. And I was pushing as hard as I could manage…I just wasn’t getting the power. So while they are all up, up and away…I felt like I was more…
I might be able to leave them in the dust with horizontal running, LOL!! I know, the more I do it, the better I will get at it. It was a very humbling, and at the same time, frustrating experience. I ran hills from winter into spring and was hoping to see a bit more power and strength for having done so…but it’s not there. Not yet.
Maybe one day I will know what it is like to be that runner who sees a hill and can just…
But for now…I’ll be huffing and puffing and pushing as hard as my legs can push to get me up each steep incline, only to turn around, jog easily to the bottom…and do it all again. The only way to get better…is to keep doing it. The only way to get stronger…is to never give up.
Find your strong, friends. And do something that scares you.
That’s a bit of an oxymoron, yes? It can be. In fact, the past few weeks for me have been nothing more than a big ball of S-T-R-E-S-S. Running and working out weren’t helping. Escaping work wasn’t easy to do either. But, so far, this week is off to a much better start.
For one thing…I had coffee this morning. So, yeah…already a better day than yesterday…when the tea did not quite measure up get this brain functioning on 11 (because why stop at 10, when it goes to 11?).
Work didn’t have me running around like a lunatic. Which was a nice change of pace. I did, however, make the mistake of hitting “REPLY ALL” on the e-mail to our HR person keeping track of mileage for our “Walking the Great Wall” challenge in the office. All miles are cumulative and there are no prizes for anyone who puts in more mileage than anyone else. But, man, I kept getting…”There is NO WAY you did that much…”
It’s called marathon training, friends. Try it sometime…
Doesn’t matter, all of it is tracked on my Garmin Connect…so I can show them, in living color that I’m not lying when I submit my miles for the week.
I…swear…to…GOD. People sometimes. They should know…I run, I spin, I bike, I gym, I walk, I workout. Mileage happens.
But, you know, nobody likes an overachiever…I guess…
On the subject of people, I do believe the weird people in my building who are up at weird hours of the day must wonder why I am hopping around on the sidewalk every morning between 3-4 am (depending on what else is happening that day and how early my run has to start). It’s fine…because I often wonder why the hell they are sitting out on their balcony, with their dog, at 3 am, on their tablets or phones watching YouTube. And I’m all…
Well…maybe nothing quite that dynamic…but I am jumping around past their balcony quite a few times…because I never miss a day of my PT exercises. When you’re injured for as long as I was…you just do it.
I guess we’ll all just carry on with our early morning rituals and ignore each other. And then whisper nervously to our roommates about one another in the privacy of our own apartments.
So Monday went well…without stressing me out too much. So, I hope the rest of the week continues on this trend.
I should never, ever, EVER skip morning coffee. I had 2 cups of green tea…but it just wasn’t the same. I do not function well without my coffee.
I was having massive coffee withdrawal brain fog. Which…in many ways is probably not healthy either…but I mean…I was making really stupid errors and doing really stupid things. ALL THE STUPID THINGS!
It was about…Wednesday afternoon…and I’m sitting at work…working (because, what else are you doing at work?)…and all of a sudden I just start to feel…meh. Welcome to the Ohio River Valley. The area of the country where air quality is horrible in the spring and allergies have me all…
Yeah…SUCK!
So, from Thursday on…the struggle has been real. I’ve gone from feeling really good to…meh…back to good all in a matter of an hour. But, this too shall pass, and yes…I will survive.
1. Bondi Band Compression Socks
On Tuesday, my Bondi Band Compression Socks arrived in the mail. All of the #BondiBandAmbassadors got a pair to test drive. I decided to wear mine out to hill repeats. Yep…hill repeats are back in my life…and they still suck. Why am I doing hill repeats? Have you seen the elevation chart to the marathon I’m running in September. They say to train according to your race. My race has HILLS FOR DAYS. I’m struggling with these. It seems I just can’t get the power on the uphills that I used to get. I hope, in time, this will change. But, it’s aggravating and frustrating when you’re one of the first people to head up a hill and get passed up by every one on the way to the top. Stupid hip.
Anyway…the point of this tale was to say, the Bondi Band Compression Socks (and they do sleeves) are comfortable and nice. And they come in fun patterns. I was secretly hoping for argyle, but I was sent the pirate ones. As I was born on National Talk Like A Pirate Day…this will do. Head over to Bondi Band‘s Web site and check them out. If you place an order, please feel free to use my discount code to get 10% off your purchase. When you checkout, use CELIATHLETE.
2. Meal Prep
Yesterday, I felt like a total rockstar. I got up…and muddled through a 14 mile solo run around my town because the usual suspects I run with were all doing the Barn Yard Dash up at Hubers. They were also winning ALL THE AWARDS! That being said…I had planned to do 16 miles in Frankfort with two amazing runners that my coach, Linda Word, also coaches. I had to cancel due to feeling like death in a pollen-infused bubble. MEH. So, I went out on my own, early, and got it done…before 8 am. Afterwards, I went to get coffee, breakfast, hit up the Farmers Market, do the rest of the grocery shopping, and then…I got into my kitchen and made ALL THE MEALS for this week. ALL THE MEALS. They are done and in the fridge…ready to go. Seriously. And this was all accomplished before 4:30 p.m. I think all the cooking and prep only took 2.5 hours at most. I’m getting the hang of this meal prep thing, I think! This also means that I have my entire Sunday to do whatever I want, instead of stressing out over making all the meals for the week, which is my usual Sunday panic/freak-out. YAY!
3. Future Sister Time
Karla & Landon at the Birmingham Color Run on May 28
Nothing will brighten my day more than a text or call from my sister. Especially when said contact means she is planning a trip up this way. This time, she’s aiming at bringing Landon up with her. Now, Landon is a bit of a soccer star there in Alabama, so I thought, if it worked with the schedule, doing a Louisville City FC match with them. I would, because I am an awesome auntie, spoil Landon rotten and get him a scarf or shirt or whatever he wanted. And food. And the match. I love seeing my sister and spending time with her and her kiddliewinks. I am SO excited. Now she just needs to dial in on a weekend. I can’t wait to spend some time with her. It’s never long enough, but it is better than nothing.
4. Runner Girl
Dean, one of the numerous friendships that I have made in the local running community here in Louisville, is quite the craftsman. He has gifted many a female runner with these amazing wooden Runner Girl’s that he makes himself. I was on the receiving end of one today at the Breakfast Club run (where I did 2 more miles than I thought I was going to do…quicker than I intended). She is hanging proudly off the rearview mirror of my car. Super special. This little gift meant a lot to me, for real. It’s the little things in life that mean the most to me. This was one of them. So, thank you, Dean, for this little token. It lifted my spirits after a hard week…and totally just makes my car look complete! I display her proudly!
5. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of Warm Weather
I won’t lie. I would much rather sweat it out and fight through hot weather than step outside and run in cold weather. Warm weather is my friend and I love being out in it. But humidity…humidity and I don’t even talk. I can gut anything out in the heat, but add that sweltering, stifling humidity to it and I’m all…
Couple that with the allergy issues I mentioned above, and every run has just felt…so much harder. You know, it’s summer. And the past 2 summers I’ve pretty much sat out thanks to injury after injury after injury…and I have been wanting to gut out another summer of running. I’m weird…the heat doesn’t bother me much. I can go out in any dry (not humid) heat and rock a run that when I finish I’m all…
…but this week has just been humid. And my 14 mile solo run was not what I had expected nor wanted on Saturday. But I got it done…pain-free. So…if I have to conquer allergies and humidity all over again for the first time since 2013…I will. I can do this. And I’ll smile, even after a disappointing run…
Any day I am able to run without pain is a good day. Even when the run is anything but good. I’m thankful and blessed for each day I am able to do what I haven’t been able to do for far too long.
So, remember, bad runs happen. Keep smiling.
6. Stress Relief
This past Wednesday was National Running Day! YAY, RUNNERS!! And running has been quite the stress reliever for me. However, given the amount of time I had been forced to take off due to all the injuries…sometimes where activity was very limited, I lost a lot of my good habits I started to embrace back in 2013. And I have been really starting to get mad at myself for stress eating and just eating out of boredom. That being said, instead of doing the organized 4 mile group run for National Running Day (it’s okay…I dedicated 6 miles that morning to 2 friends who currently are injured and can’t run) on Wednesday, I was meeting with my sports nutritionist and she and I are focusing on a plan to break me of bad habits and what I do when I do get stressed out. I am already feeling a bit better about things and am working to do a few other things, nutrition-wise, that will help me in the long run (ha…punny). Stress is no joke…and it affects everyone differently. It puts me in a dark, unhappy place and I’m not happy there. Time to get out of it. I’m sure there will be days I fail…because I’m human…but I’m being proactive before this becomes more difficult and harder to fix.
What struggles have you been dealing with lately? How do you break yourself of bad habits? Did you do something for National Running Day?
Sometimes the hardest things in life to do is to branch out of the norm and try something new. However, the only way to grow, to experience, and to become…is to step outside of your comfort zone. I certainly did that a couple of times this week…and it’s not easy…it’s quite scary…but it’s helping me more than I can even see at the moment.
As the holiday weekend is shifting into gear, and I have an extra day off from work, I’m trying not to focus on everything I’ll have to attempt to do to stay caught up at work the four days I’ll be there, and instead focusing on a few things that I get to enjoy while not working on Monday.
YAY!
So…with that sort of attitude in mind…here are a few things that have made this week amazing.
1. Clipping Into A Road Bike
Me on my 2nd attempt at riding – 5 miles – before I took my first (of many) falls.
I made huge progress this week with riding my road bike. BB-8 has been sitting against the wall of my room in the apartment…but I wasn’t able to ride him until I had him properly fitted. And I had that done last week…and was eager to get on the bike and ride. It’s scary, using clipless pedals on a bike outside. But, my first attempt was twice around the parking lot without any issues. I was feeling confident on Friday night. And then on Saturday afternoon, I headed back out…deciding I’d still keep to the parking lot, but aim for mileage. So I did 5 miles. In my last mile…I was making a turn, and a car came out…and I panicked. I attempted to brake and forgot that I was clipped in, so I tried to put my foot down, was stuck, tried to unclip, but was now off-balance and BOOM…down I went. Totally crashed down on my right hip and side. The right hip is the injured hip, but, I thankfully have some nice padding there and just came out of it with a bit of road rash on my elbow and lower arm, a scraped up right knee, and a bit of a bruised ankle. I was fine…more embarassed than anything. The driver, a young 20-something, stopped and hopped out of his car, asking me if I needed help, but I was already unclipped and pulling myself back up. I told him I was fine and I took a few deep breaths, clipped back in, and finished my ride. After that, I had enough for the night.
2. Finishing up the Disney Animated Movies In Order Movie Marathon It took two (2) years, but last night, Cathy and I finished up our attempt to watch every single Disney Animated Movie (available on DVD or Blu-Ray, or for purchase to view on Netflix/Hulu/Amazon) in order from their theater release date. We started with Snow White over two years ago and last night wrapped it up with The Good Dinosaur. Zootopia comes out in a couple of weeks, and we will watch that after I purchase it, but as of last night…we completed our bucket list goal of watching every single Disney (and later Pixar) animated feature, including a few hybrids like Mary Poppins, Tron, and Tron: Legacy. It was a lot of fun revisiting some films…and realizing they were either better than I remembered (Oliver & Company)…or worse than I remembered (The Sword & The Stone)…and some I hadn’t seen yet and was surprised I liked (Planes and Planes: Fire & Rescue). Next up, after we view a few movies we have been meaning to watch, but had Disney taking over our lives…Spielberg movies. YAY!
3. Strawberries…Strawberries For Days…
Jars of my homemade strawberry jam…processed and ready for giving away!
On Sunday morning, I ran in the Run For The Berries 5K up in Starlight, Indiana. I love this race, and hadn’t run it since 2013 due to other commitments (2014 Buffalo Marathon) and injury (all of 2015). One of my favorite things about this race is the big bowl of strawberries I purchase after running. This year, I turned in an amazing time (not a PR), clocked a new fastest mile (6:48) and conquered some hills. I came in first in my age division as well…which was exciting. But one of my favorite things to do after the 5K and scoping out the festival is to drive over to Huber’s Family Farm and buy a LOT of strawberries. I got enough to use with my yogurt bowls, my PB&J Breakfast Bowls, and to make some homemade strawberry jam. YUMMY!! I do love my berries!!
When you are a Celiac, simple pleasures like soft pretzels don’t happen every day. In fact, they happen very infrequently. Unless, you live near my local allergen-free bakery here in Louisville, Kentucky. Every Wednesday, Annie May’s Sweet Cafe, on Frankfort Avenue, host Soft Pretzel Wednesday, offering three varieties of pretzels each week: Salt, Cinnamon-Sugar, and Everything. And, every week they are amazing. But there was something so delicious about this past week’s pretzels. They were the perfect size. They had that perfect crust on the outside and chewy center in each bite. Serious pretzel perfection. I was one happy lady!
5. The Monkees So, it’s Memorial Day. And after my morning run and a little bit of final grocery shopping for stuff I realized I needed but forgot to put on the list, didn’t realize needed to be on the list, or just didn’t buy enough of something. So, while working in the kitchen and around the apartment, Cathy and I threw on the DVDs of The Monkees. I can still recite the episodes from memory…that’s how much I watched these. HAHA!! Seriously, you don’t get nicknamed Monkeegirl in school without having The Monkees to thank for it. It’s been amusing to revisit these episodes and just…relax and enjoy the holiday off of work. Their latest album was released on Friday…I haven’t gotten out to FYE to purchase it.
On Sunday morning, Cathy & I met up with Amanda & Richie (that’s Cathy’s sister and brother-in-law) at the Outlets of the Bluegrass in Simpsonville, Kentucky for some shopping and hanging out and just escaping real life for a moment. Amanda said she needed help finding shoes for her maxi dress and I found her a cute, strappy pair. I finally replaced the Sketchers that I use as my airport shoes/spin class shoes (they slip on and off), I purchased a new sports bra, Amanda found some shorts, Richie got some shoes and shirts…it was a successful day. And then…we went to one of my favorite places to eat…Tazikis Mediterranean Grill in Louisville, on Shelbyville Road. LOVE their food. And they do a good job with food allergies…when they remember to prepare the dish properly. The past two times, they have had to remake my dish…but it gets fixed. They are normally much better than that. If you haven’t eaten there yet…you need to. Check to see if there is one in your area! Healthy, amazing food. I love their Dolmades Plate (the vegetarian stuffed grape leaves done gluten-free) and Cathy, Amanda and Richie got their favorites…the Lamb Gyro. I love good times and good eats with good friends!
7. Sweet ‘N Savory Food Truck & Steel City Pops
Gluten Free The Eccentric Crepe from Sweet ‘N Savory and a Strawberry Lemonade Popsicle & Pineapple Popsicle from Steel City Pops
On Saturday, after the Strawberry Festival and before heading to Annie May’s for treats for that evening and the following morning, Cathy and I stopped by the Fleur de Flea at Waterfront Park. The main reason…Sweet ‘N Savory Food Truck. It’s under new ownership, but the crepes are still being done 100% gluten-free. And they are using all of Richard & Ashley’s recipes. The new owner, Brandon, knows the importance of keeping things gluten free as his wife is a Celiac. So the truck and recipes are in good hands. Brandon was on his own when we arrived, only one of his crepe stones functioning, and his help not having shown up yet. Service was slow, but as always, worth the wait. He was doing the best he could with what he had, for sure. I got one of my favorites…The Eccentric. OM NOM NOM!! And afterwards, while we normally would get the gelato, I had heard so much about Steel City Pops, we decided to try them out. Cathy got the Strawberry Lemonade popsicle and I went with the Pineapple. OMG…I’m stopping by the store on Bardstown Road and buying a bunch of flavors…these were phenomenal. All natural…gluten-free…vegan…and amazing. LOVE helping out local businesses!
I hope everyone has been enjoying their long weekend, spending time with people that mean the world to them, and eating amazing things!! And I hope everyone took some time to remember those who fought and died for this country that we live in and the freedoms we enjoy!
Me after finishing the Geist Half Marathon – Fishers, IN
Race: Geist Half Marathon
Place: Fishers, Indiana
Date: May 21, 2016
Time:1:42:13
I’m not going to sugarcoat this in any way. A part of me is very, very happy with this race result; the other part of me is beyond disappointed.
I know…I know…I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, but it’s hard…when this race is, specifically, your PR half marathon. And I ran that PR 2 years ago…back when the course finished up a hill and around a corner. In fact…my blog from 2 years ago recounted said finish…
I had been hearing tales of the “hill at the end” and wasn’t sure what to expect.
It was…KILLER! I thought Chicago was evil for putting a hill at Mile 26 of the marathon. This was the half marathon equivalent. Not only do you climb this hill…you then round a corner and the finish line is right ahead. So, with legs screaming at me…I got up the incline and took the turn…and there it was…the finish.
Ah…the good old days when nothing ever hurt. I was able to run free without all the stretching and warm ups and cool downs and all that stuff that takes a lot of my time away from my morning routines. I shouldn’t grouse about it. I’m back to running. And I’m happy about that for sure.
To be honest, the week leading into this race was not my best. Back on Sunday, I went out to eat and ordered something off a “gluten sensitive” menu. I normally don’t risk any sort of “sensitive” menu when it comes to gluten…but I’d eaten here before, so I figured it would be safe. NEGATIVE. I was glutened. And it really altered my mood and my energy levels. Top it off with the nasty cold snap that came through and ALL. THE. RAIN. Seriously, I was getting really tired of running in the rain this week. My hip has been unhappy with the return of the cold weather and with the dampness too. BAH. HUMBUG! AND…sinuses! My God, this area is HORRIBLE when it comes to allergies. And it started to hit me last week…and…oh yeah…tying to breathe on runs has been less than stellar.
So…while I was looking forward to Geist…and the new half marathon route (no more finishing up a hill!)…I also wasn’t feeling my best leading into it. And that sort of had me down in the dumps. Even though I knew there would be no shining PR in this race, a part of me, deep down, was really hoping to pull something off.
It was not meant to be.
All that being said, Cathy and I made the drive up to Fishers, Indiana, on Friday. We left work about an hour and a half early and hopped in the car. This drive always takes forever. Seriously. It’s just north of Indianapolis, so navigating all the traffic to get there is…well…frustrating. But, we managed to get up there without too much of a delay, but were quite happy with the decision to leave early, as by the time we got to the expo, it was already almost 6 p.m. Damn rush hour traffic.
Regardless, we got to the hospital where the expo is held and stepped inside. Before anything else, we both made a dodge for the bathroom. That was a long trip, and we downed a bottle of PACt Cranberry Lemonade. Anyway, once that was taken care of, we stepped back out, looked up my bib number at one of the convenient stations, and rounded a corner so I could pick up said bib. I was number 1541. And there was a small line…and one guy working. There is always a line. It wasn’t too much of a wait with the few people ahead of me, and soon I was being handed a bib. I stepped out of the room where I was handed a black reusable bag and we meandered further into the reaches of the expo to find the shirt booth.
I picked up my long sleeve shirt and after that…we made the short trek through the expo. I kept expecting to see a running store represented…because the weather changed and now it was looking like rain at the start and I needed a visor or a hat. But…nope. There was one booth of headbands, and the rest were like…attorney offices, Orange Theory, and a Chiropractor. Not much for your race day shopping needs. I was a bit bummed out about that. Thankfully, there was a Dick’s Sporting Goods just up the street. So, after checking the race map and then giving one small glance around to make sure we didn’t miss anything…we were off to Dick’s.
Dick’s was a bit of a mess. Finding the hats/visors was a task in and of itself for one thing. Cathy finally tracked them down…on a little hanger thing. I picked up an Under Armor pink visor…that way my pigtails could still fly free. We went to check out and the cashier was the S-L-O-W-E-S-T human being in the face of retail. Seriously. This guy was in NO hurry to do anything.
Wow…I am really taking advantage of caps abuse on this blog. But, seriously, we were standing in line for about 15 minutes while he rang up 2 pairs of shoes and a jacket that a lady was purchasing. Seriously. SERIOUSLY!! And there was another person in front of me to go. Luckily another cashier opened. And I was starting to wonder how long it would take for him to ring up my visor. The answer…about 5 freakin’ minutes.
At this point, I’m hungry and we’re coming up on 6:45 pm. This is now about an hour later than I like to eat on the night before a race. MEH! We had, at the last moment, changed our mind on our restaurant of choice for gluten-free pizza, and went over to Brixx Wood Fired Pizza…mainly because they had vegan cheese…and Cathy never likes to assume a place that doesn’t have a build your own option would allow a build your own or a cheese-less option. I say…they would. But nonetheless. We got to the small shopping center that Brixx was located in…and there was not a parking spot to be found. Not in the lot and not in the parking deck. We turned around in the parking deck and went back out, tuned around, and suddenly, there were 4 spots. GO FIGURE! We parked…and walked over to Brixx. I checked in with the hostess station and they said it would be a 20 minute wait. That meant it would be about 7 pm by the time we were seated…and we still had to order and eat. UGH. Nothing stresses me out more than eating later than I like on the night before the race. They took my phone number and said they would text me when my table was ready. So, Cathy and I took a short walk up the street…and then we went and sat down outside until a spot cleared up in the lobby area inside. We moved in there…and not but 5 minutes or so later, I was texted. We were seated just around the corner from the hostess station.
Gratuitous picture of Brixx Wood Fired Gluten Free and Vegan Artichoke Pizza
And our waiter, BTW, was adorable. He had the cutest smile with dimples. He was dark and handsome and tall…for me…maybe not for Cathy. I wanted to steal him and take him home with me. Cathy and I had it narrowed down to two of the veggie pizzas…either the Wild Mushroom or the Artichoke. We asked Hot Waiter for his opinion, and he said Artichoke. So…Brixx Wood Fired Gluten Free and Vegan Artichoke Pizza….order in.
About 15 minutes or so later…the pizza was arriving. There was enough time to snap a picture of it before we both just sort of pounced our our half and devoured. I mean, we were starving at that point. The combination of the herb-marinated artichiokes, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes, basil pesto and the vegan cheese was just what we needed. Our waiter was right…it was amazing. And gone in record time. HA! We paid and left…dropped by a Kroger for post-race watermelon, pre-race bananas, and some water. Then, we finally went to the hotel to check in and settle in for the night. Normally, this is where we settle in and watch Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives on Food Network, but this hotel didn’t get Food Network. In the end, we ended up watching Say Yes to the Dress…which is as addictive as ever…and we stayed up way past the usual pre-race bedtime.
I had alarms set as usual. The first alarm went off at 3:30 am. I got up and turned it off…went to take my medicine and use that bathroom. Then climbed right back into bed. The second alarm went off at 4:45 am. I hauled myself out of bed, turned it off again, and went to go get changed into my race clothes and slather on some sunscreen. Buy the time I was finished with that, I was making sure Cathy was getting out of her bed and getting herself ready to hit the road to get parked and to the start. This race starts at 7:00 am. Love an early start.
Oh…but guess what…that rain that was supposed to be out before start…was here. Pouring down rain. UGH. No wonder my hip was acting up that morning. I hadn’t bothered to look outside. At that point it was still dark. But, Cathy did look outside and grumbled about wet and rain and my spirits fell. I know some people don’t mind running in the rain, but I become a much more cautious runner when that pavement is wet. Last thing I want to do is slip and go down. Also, I don’t mind if it starts to rain on me when I’m out there, I just really hate starting a race in the rain. But, you can’t help what Mother Nature throws at you. Another rainy run. Um…yay? I think I had done my share of them leading up to this race. Regardless, I put the visor on and got my race bib pinned on. I threw on a jacket and we were out the door…banana in hand…fuel belt slung over my shoulder. Made a quick dash across the parking lot to the car and we were making the short 15-20 minute drive to the school to park the car and then hike…about a mile…to the start line. We were actually ahead of schedule on departing the hotel, so, I attempted to nap on the way…but that wasn’t working out. The trip was rainy and pouring and it just made my spirits fall and my hip hurt. MEH! Cathy parked, and we had about 30 minutes to start time. This left me a few minutes to once again attempt to nap. Still wasn’t happening. Instead, we looked around at everyone else sitting in their cars, hoping the rain would lighten up. It did…right as we needed to get of the car to make the hike to the start.
Me attempting, and failing, to nap before the race…and also avoiding getting out in the rain…
We were not alone. There were steams of runners and spectators making the long walk toward the start line staging area. I have made this exact hike every year that I have run Geist…even the 5K. They were not doing shuttles this year like they have in the past. Thankfully, the air was just a little damp with a mist…the rain had let up. We got to the start with very little time to spare. There was time for a start line picture, a hug, good luck wishes, and Cathy was off to find a spot just beyond the start gate and I was in the corrals, moving as far forward as I could manage. I ended up getting locked in in Corral B…near the 1:55 pace group. No sooner had I got locked into that spot, the race was off…and we were running. No time to stretch or do any of my dynamic warm-ups. That…was it.
So, I crossed the finish line, scanning the line of people for Cathy. Due to the weather, the sign was not with her, but I saw her, gave a wave, and continued into the first mile. This is the first time we run across the reservoir. There is a bit of an incline leading into the turn to hit the first mile, and a teenager said to his buddy, “This hill is going to kill me!” And then said, “There was one year they sent us up a hill to finish.” I pointed and said, “Yeah…2014. It was 2014.” See, they will never live that down. Never ever. I made the turn after Mile 1 and started in through the neighborhood tour. This is a short tour, and due to the wet weather, there weren’t too many people out on the driveways to cheer like in past years. That was kind of a bummer. I love having some crowd support. Ah well…it is what it is. These neighborhoods boast gorgeous homes and, when the weather is better, families that come out and cheer on the runners that invade their neighborhoods.
Before Mile 3, you are back out on a main road and heading across the reservoir once again. Just beyond the reservoir was the turnaround for the 10K. This is also where the race used to end back when I was doing the 5K. I did it twice, and this was the final turn toward the finish back then. So, that sort of made me smile as I ran past. I cheered on the 10K runners who were booking it back to the start to hopefully win the race. Exciting stuff. And then, the half marathoners were on their own.
This portion of the race is a combination of commercial and residential…and just gorgeous scenery. There are businesses…and more gorgeous neighborhoods, and people standing on the corners just to cheer people on. The race volunteers were positioned throughout the various points, so there was always a voice at some point calling out to you. I was exchanging spots with a guy wearing a Boston 2015 shirt…he would lead, then I would, then he would…this went on for the entire rest of the race. And after a climb, I had a runner catch up wearing a Marathon Maniac singlet. I called out, “HEY MANIAC!” He wasn’t too talkative with me though. He was with this nice older man who told me he had a beer riding on this race. He was running here and a friend of his was running in Colorado. HA! So, I made some friends along the route this time around. It was nice, especially when they were talkative, because it took my mind off of the hip…which was still not feeling this run one bit.
I do want to give a shout-out to the guy who was just beyond Mile 9. There was a steep hill ahead, and he was at the base, calling out every race bib number and telling that runner that they were doing great, looking great, and that there were less than 4 miles left. Seriously, he was amazing. What he was doing was something every runner needs, especially when the struggle is getting real.
Just before Mile 10, we make a turn out of the neighborhoods and are back on familiar turf. We are back near that old finish line area…right where we cross the reservoir. Mile 10 was just beyond where the turn around for the 10K was marked. I pressed on, the humidity from the rain and weather starting to really exhaust me. Turn a corner, and now we’re running the opposite way through that first neighborhood. There were some rolling hills through this, so we were hitting them again, just backwards. My legs were pretty much done with hills. They were slowing me down more than they should have, which only pissed me off. But now the hip wasn’t wanting to fire, so you just do what you can manage at that point. Mile 12 was at the corner before you round for that final trek toward the reservoir again.
Me crossing the finish line of the Geist Half Marathon – Fishers, IN
I picked it up because I saw a female ahead of me, and I was now playing games to get myself to that finish line. I passed her, and that was a good feeling. I told myself to keep going, and not let her sneak up and catch me. She never did. I could finally see the finish line…which was such an uplifting feeling. I tried to put on the afterburners to sprint in like so many people can…but it wasn’t happening. I just pushed as hard and moved as fast as my legs could manage at that point…and ran across that finish line. I could hear Cathy screaming at me. When I crossed, I received my medal and felt this wave of emotion wash over me. This race was an important one to me, and I had some expectations…some desires…and, sadly, the race wasn’t the way I envisioned or imagined it would go. That being said, after receiving my medal, I had one of the guys who had talked with me come over and high five me. Cathy came over and as I was about to take my victory shot, the guy in the Boston shirt came over and high fived me as well and said said that I kept him on an amazing pace for the race. That was a nice feeling.
Cathy took the picture and I changed into different shoes. I keep forgetting to pack extra socks again. D’oh! After the shoe change, we decided to hike over to the runner recovery area and see what was there. We were in search of the massage tent, and we found it. YAY! But, after standing in line for 10 minutes, we were told that we needed to fill out a form. So, a bunch of us runners went to fill out the paperwork and get back into line. It was another 50 minutes before they even got to me. At this point, I was cold and had Cathy pull my jacket back out. But, the wait for the massage was worth it. This massage was very thorough and felt amazing on my achy body. Amy was my massage therapist and she did a great job. While I was getting worked on, Cathy went to get my official race results…and after that…I called my mom and spoke with her on the long walk back to the car. The long, cold, walk back to the car.
After that, it was just a short drive back to the hotel, where I hopped into a hot shower and warmed up and cleaned up. I changed clothes, checked out, and we were off to grab food and then coffee. Then…the trip home.
So, my official results of the Geist Half Marathon is that I finished in 1:42:13, which was faster than my NYC Half Marathon, but slower than Derby and Indy. I was a little bummed out with my time here, but I had a lot to contend with going into this and during this race. That being said, I was 103/1601 finishers overall! Almost in the top 100…how about that??! I was the 20/557 women to cross the finish line. And I was 6/185 people in the 30-39 female division! Can’t argue with those status right?!
Please don’t get me wrong, I am very proud of my accomplishment and this finish. I think that it’s hard, when you return to your PR race, to not be a little disappointed when a new PR doesn’t happen. I was so close when I ran the 500 Festival a few weekends ago…so I had some hopes that this race would get me a PR that I’m searching for this year. It wasn’t meant to be…and that’s okay. It will happen. I don’t know when or where…but it is bound to happen. I just have to keep running safe and strong. It was just not meant to be this year. But…this is still my favorite half marathon. It’s beautiful and challenging and just…fun. And this year, I got to talk to and meet some of the people running it with me. Those are special friendships forged during the grind.
Will I be back? Of course. The race is one of the best…and that’s why I keep coming back. Hopefully next year, the circumstances will be better.
Yesterday afternoon, I returned home from work to find a package, delivered via UPS, sitting on my doorstep. It was from Louisville Stoneware. I hadn’t ordered anything and my roomie hadn’t ordered anything for me either. On the box, in black Sharpie, were the words Top 100 Female.
So, I hauled the box inside and opened it up. There was a roll of padding and packing material, which took me a moment or two to completely unroll and discover…a gorgeous tumbler made by Louisville Stoneware with the Kentucky Derby Festival logo on it (as well as the key sponsors of the race) and…on the reverse side…the words FEMALE DIVISION TOP 100.
When I ran the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon on April 30, I finished in the top 100 females. In fact, I was 95. WOOT WOOT!! And, apparently, this year they sent out these little mementos…little awards…to those that hit that mark. I am truly honored!
Considering how hit-and-miss my running has been with the return of the cold weather…and with how crappy the weather was on race day…this was a very nice, and uplifting, surprise!
And now…random thoughts I’ve had on my runs this week…
God bless the people who leave their porch lights on all night. It gives the morning warriors like me a little more light in a dark world usually lit by blinkie lights, head lamps, and maybe a street light or two.
WHY IS IT RAINING?!
Should I build an ark?
Wearing a windbreaker was a big mistake. I am sweltering. I am dying!
I. HATE. LAYERS.
I don’t think I’ll ever hit negative splits again…*sigh*
Rain?! Again?! Seriously?!
(*while running past a Starbucks*) I am awake and going before the Starbucks baristas. But if the cafe was open this early, I would learn to run and chug coffee.
ONE…MORE…MILE…(*tries to run faster…fails*)
Dammit…I forgot my mace…
Dammit…I forgot my Road ID…
It’s May, right? Like…mid-May?! WHY IS IT SO COLD! WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE NOVEMBER?
Fuck you, Mother Nature!
Don’t drink wine the night before a 7 mile run. Just don’t.
And…there it is. Now…off to the gym and then to suffer at work for another day. Is it the weekend yet? And, dammit, is it ever going to warm up?
Me running toward the finish line of the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon (in the rain, but still smiling) – Louisville, KY
Race: Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon
Place: Louisville, Kentucky
Date: April 30, 2016
Time: 1:41:18
You know…the week and morning I had leading into the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon was one that pointed to not running it at all. On Monday morning, I had an unexpected Great Cat Chase with my neighbors cat, which I was catsitting while they were at the beach. I love this cat, but that morning I was running late to my spin class and she slipped outside and just took off. I ended up having to wake my roommate up to find her while I went to spin. Since she is not my cat, I felt horrible not having her back inside while I wasn’t home. She behaved the rest of the week though and we had good purr sessions. Tuesday…my coffeemaker died. MY COFFEEMAKER DIED!! Do you know what that means??!! It meant that I had NO caffeine fix that morning. And after hitting up the gym, I begged my roommate for some Starbucks. She came through, with a tall sugar free cafe misto with coconut milk for me. She saved the day. Then…on Thursday…my Garmin died. I woke up to it having a blank screen and not turning on. I went on my 4 mile run sans-Garmin running watch. I was feeling pretty hated by technology at that point. One of the race ambassadors, and a friend of mine, Melissa, said that she had purchased an extra Garmin watch and that I could have it if I wanted it. OMG…that was the sweetest thing anyone has done for me.
Anyway…that was leading up to race day. I went to the race expo on Thursday night, and one of the first people I see is sweet Melissa. I gave her a hug and we lamented about the weather. I joked about carrying shampoo and body wash with me so as I head into the finish, I could just lather up, wash down, and look and smell immaculate at the finish. After chatting and wishing each other luck, I went over to the table to pick up my race packet.
Picking up my race bib from the nice volunteers at the expo! This was supposed to be posed, but Cathy snapped it candid.
This was funny…kinda. I listed off my bib number (937A) to the lady at the table. She asked for my ID…which I had to fish out. Cathy was poised with her camera to take a picture, which the nice volunteer noticed. So she had a plan to pose and everything, but before we could carry out the plan, Ninja Cathy already snapped the photo. The lady asked if she was ready to take the shot and Cathy said, “I already did.” We all laughed a little. I happily took my bib and the big plastic bag of stuff (including a full box of Cold-Eez) and went to retrieve the garishly bright yellow race shirt. I love bright shirts. What I don’t love on this shirt is the actual design. I loved the map route on the medal this year, but it didn’t transfer well over to the screen print on the shirt. Ah well. It’s another race/running shirt to add to my already full closet. I’ll take it. After that, we walked through the various booths at the expo. I was on the hunt for a Garmin at this point…but no one had any. I did purchase some new Bondi Bands (YAY!) and got to see my friend Daniel working at one of the booths. He was handing out free magnet things and I went to get one and he said, “Except for you…you have to pay for yours.” I love my friends. I also ran into my physical therapist, Katie, who was working an Alter-G treadmill. AH. I want to get on one of these SO bad. Needless to say, she messaged me after the race on Saturday morning and said I should come into the office and try it out. I’m SO taking her up on that. We wrapped up the expo and headed home for a late dinner and to settle in before the craziness of Friday at the office.
My delicious Gluten Free & Vegan Veggie Pizza from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe
Friday night is the night before the race…so I pulled a Gluten Free & Vegan Veggie Pizza from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe out of my freezer. I don’t risk anything the night before a race. I knew I’d be fine eating this. And it was delicious and amazing. I rested that night, foam rolled, and went to bed around 9:30 p.m. I set an early alarm to get up and do all my PT exercises, my dynamic warm-up and to get an early start on my mileage.
I was scheduled for 16 miles this weekend. Which was one reason I signed up for the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon. Why not run 13 miles with people and get a medal at the end of it, right? That being said, I went out that morning before the race and ran a slow, steady 3 miles. I came back home, ate my breakfast and got dressed into some (unflattering) running shorts, a light singlet, and my compression sleeves and running socks (I went with the Injinji toe socks to help prevent any blistering should rain kick in as scheduled). I had debated wearing my favorite running shoes (my Newton Distance III) and opted to wear my Nike Free RN Distance shoes, which I have never worn over a 10K mileage, but I’d rather let rain destroy those than my Newtons. So…I figured this would be interesting regardless. That being said and done, I brushed my teeth gathered up my change of clothes for afterwards, got all the running gear out and ready to go…and headed out the door.
This is what a runner who is running late to a race looks like. I’m trying to walk and snap on my hydration belt.
No joke, my roommate and I were down the road at a stoplight and I went…”I forgot to put on my wings anklet my mom gave me.” So…this is a thing now. Ever since I’ve returned to running, when I race, this anklet has been around my ankle. My mom got it for me because she said, “You don’t run, baby, you fly.” So, when I was finally able to get back out there to run and race…this anklet has been kept on my ankle. I feel like it’s carrying my mom’s words with me on each run. So, yeah…we turned around and I dashed back inside and grabbed the anklet. Back off we went…and I clasped the anklet on and felt better about life. We got back down the road to the stop light and Cathy started cussing and went to turn around. I was like, “WHAT??!” And she said, “We forgot the most important thing for today…” I was so confused. “What?” She said…”YOUR RACE BIB.” Oh…my…God. I felt like such a newbie, LOL!! We turned around and went back to the apartment. I was now a mess because we were running way late, still had to cross the bridge, still had to park, and had to get to the corrals for the start. I was supposed to meet up with my dear friend, Deana, to run with her, so I was texting her and telling her I had to go back to my apartment a few times and was just NOW getting underway. UGH. I was planning on napping on the way to the race, but it was now 7 a.m., 30 minutes before the start, and I now had to eat my banana. I was a mess now…feeling very stressed and rushed. I do NOT like getting to a race in this state. The parking garage Cathy wanted to park in was not accessible as they had closed the road getting to it. So, now we’re driving in circles looking for a place to park. She finally found a place…and paid only $5 to park there. We were shocked the price was so cheap! We got parked…and she grabbed the poncho I loaned her (it’s my super nice lined one from the NYC Marathon) and we headed down the stairs to the start. I tossed my banana peel and started to walk swiftly toward the start line. I got there with only moments to spare. No joke. We took a quick picture in front of the start line, I shed the poncho (it wasn’t raining yet) and ducked into my corral. I was so stressed and upset that I wasn’t going to be able to find Deana…and just as I found a place to stand…the gun went off…and we were off and running.
The morning was humid, but I felt good as I crossed the start line. I saw Cathy and gave a wave as I headed out for the first mile. I was determined to just keep it comfortable because I wasn’t here to race this half marathon. I was here just to run it. I fell into pace and headed down the long stretch of Main Street. It was crowded but I didn’t have to do too much bobbing and weaving, which is always appreciated. I felt good and blasted through the first 2 miles, making an easy turn onto 20th street. The pace remained relaxed for me, and I felt like I was pushing a little, but not hard, which I figured was fine for a girl who already ran 3 miles before the race. The course was a little less populated by spectators due to the impending weather. It was nice to have the scattered people out clapping and cheering though. At least this is a beautiful city to run, right?
Me heading out for the start of the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon – Louisville, KY
I ran the full marathon back in 2014, pacing a friend of mine, and somehow forgot about much of this course. For some reason, I thought we ran through Churchill Downs around mile 6, so I was really looking forward to that. At Mile 6, I was heading down Magnolia Avenue and turning back onto 4th street. Churchill Downs was nowhere in sight. I was so confused!! But, I just kept going. I knew my running buddy, Tammy, said she was going to be out near Churchill Downs, so I kept an eye out for her…because I was certain it was coming up. Two miles later, I saw Tammy and made the turn to run into Churchill Downs. 8 miles down and now was one of my favorite parts of the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and Mini Marathon…the lap through Churchill Downs. Down the tunnel and back up…and then it was time to run around the infield. Normally horses are out, but the weather was gearing up to start raining and none of the horses were out running or training. So, that was a bit of a bummer. Ah well…then…back out through a different tunnel…up…and out of Churchill Downs. Just up the way is the infamous split. Mini Marathon runners go left…and Marathon runners go right (and start making their way to the hills of Iroquois Park). I turned left this time…heading into the last 5 miles of the Mini Marathon. 9 miles down…and soon…came the rain.
I had been silently cussing the fact that I wore a hat (I hate wearing hats when I race) and my Nikes instead of my Newtons…until this point. The rain, at first, was a light drizzle. It actually felt good. It was around Mile 10 when my friend Dan came up beside me and said “Hi” to me. I asked how he was doing, and he said he was starting to hurt (he ran Boston), and I wished him luck as he pulled up ahead. With the new front of weather, the hip started to get tight and I was feeling it now. The rain picked up a little more as I made it to the 11th mile marker. Two more to go. That was my mantra. Just two more to go. The stretch of 3rd Street was lined with few spectators…up until we hit the downtown area. Around Mile 12…the crowds picked up. People were shouting encouragement. And I made the turn onto Market Street. I could hear the announcer at the finish line, so I knew I was getting close. But that small stretch before making the turn toward the finish line felt like it went on forever. But I finally made the turn and pushed it as much as my tired legs could manage to hit that finish line. I saw Cathy just before crossing and she was just screaming. I heard my name get announced and I threw up my arms in victory and was all smiles at the end. My friend Daniel, who headed up the training program I went out with every Saturday, was there and he came over to high five me. That was the best part of the finish, right there. That high five meant the world to me.
I kept moving through the chute, got my Mylar wrap and my medal. And then I continued on for some water. I got an official finish picture taken and then continued on toward the Family Reunion Area…where I spotted Cathy on the edge of the fence-line…just waiting for me. I came up to her and she gave me my official time. I took 2 minutes (somehow) off my NYC Half Marathon Time and actually turned in my 4th fastest half marathon. I was shocked. I passed off the snacks I snagged on the way to the meeting point and did a few leg swings to help loosen up the hip some. After that, I was ready to get out of my wet clothes, get some coffee, and grab some actual food. So we left and did just that.
16.17 miles done that day!! And 13.1 of them were done in racing conditions. I never really felt like I was racing though, which speaks highly of my fitness levels. Given that I had to take a forced year off, this makes me feel really good as I come back from this hip thing.
Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon…DONE! – Louisville, KY
So, the official results of the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon are that I finished in 1:41:18. I was 468/10,422 finishers overall. I was 95/6,209 female finishers. And I was 20/972 finishers in my division. I started this race under stress and a feeling more than a little flustered. I didn’t get to meet up with Deana as planned, but she and I texted pretty much most of the afternoon after she finished. We’re already making plans to train together for something bigger and better…and I couldn’t be more excited about this. My pace slowed at the end of this run, I think due to the weather and the fact that I ran ahead of the race. Next time, I’ll just count the race as my run. Regardless, this was my 17th half marathon I’ve run and my 4th fastest. Which…is super exciting given the challenges I have faced the past year. I am starting to not only regain confidence, but an easy, fast pace while racing too! I sort of needed this finish. I only wish I had felt stronger at the end of it.
I want to thank everyone who I met through the Norton Training Group (those who were race ambassadors, helping to run the group, and the runners themselves)!! I have some new running and, hopefully, lifelong friends who went through a rigorous training regimen and ran hills and did speed work and gave up their Saturday mornings just to train hard for this day. To everyone who finished…and to those who couldn’t…I am proud of all of you and am so happy to have met you.
When I started back to training this past January, after being cleared to run, and getting approval from Katie, my physical therapist, to follow the Norton Training Program as they all prepped for a late April marathon or half marathon (I ran the half), it was all part of going back and forth between the full and half training program as I prepped for the NYC Half Marathon and then…Grandma’s Marathon. I was signed up to run it. It’s my grandpa’s absolute favorite marathon. And this year…it was their 40th Anniversary. Big!! I pepped for this by jumping right into a 20 miler in April because…I needed to see how my body could handle long, long distance. I came out of it feeling great. But I didn’t feel ready. So I transferred my bib and that was that. The race ran yesterday…and that morning, I felt good. I felt really good. Physically, I could have gone out and run this marathon and completed it. But I think, mentally, I need more time before tackling the 26.2 mile distance. So, while giving up my spot in that marathon was the best choice, it wasn’t an easy one. I don’t regret it…but I know I could have done it…now. Even though the race did get black flagged due to extreme heat. Runners were allowed to stay out…but that’s pretty intense. Still…I do sort of wish I had gone…but I know this will just make me better and more prepared (mentally) for my brutal (but beautiful) September race.
The Celiathlete 