Just a quick little catch-up on what’s been going on in my world…
The Good:
I raced really well on Friday at the Pro.Active For Life 5K in Frankfort, Kentucky. For the first time in a long time, I ran without any pain. None. And I pushed my fastest mile yet (it’s always the first. Negative splits!? HA! I bring the best Positive splits!). That following morning, I woke to do my PT exercises and dynamic warm-up before heading out around my area for a solo 20 miler. This went…surprisingly well. Like…another run (and much longer) without any pain. This is progress.
I had said that the result of my 20 mile run (which I had to do alone as everyone I run with is (1) Recovering from the Boston Marathon; (2) Tapering for the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and/or Mini Marathon; or (3) Tapering for the Flying Pig Marathon) would determine whether or not I go ahead with my plan to run Grandma’s Marathon up in Duluth, MN. This is my grandpa’s favorite marathon and he speaks highly of it. That’s why I wanted to do it. And I signed up for it…not really knowing how I would be doing at that point, but figured I’d be in good shape.
And…for the most part I am. But the window for bib transfer ends on May 1, and I would not have time to attempt another long 20+ mile run before then. While I came out of this one in good form and shape, there was no guarantee that the next one would tell the same story.
The Bad:
Stress. Pressure. Not all related to running. It sort of just wears you down. And by the time Monday morning rolled around, I was feeling more than a little stressed. The window of opportunity for any sort of bib transfer for Grandma’s Marathon closed in just over a week, so time was short. And it was at that point, on a rest/cross-training day, that I made my final decision…
The Hard Decisions:
I opted to transfer my race bib and not run Grandma’s Marathon this year. It was not at all an easy decision to come to. I felt good. No pain. I have been having some great running moments as of late. I’ve become physically and mentally tough. But…I’m not mentally prepared for the chance that on the morning of the marathon, I may not feel 90-100%. I could hurt like hell. And I both physically and mentally can NOT handle another marathon turning into the death march that was my Boston Marathon. I made the decision early…while eating breakfast…before even heading out to what turned into a high stress day at the office. I can’t handle further setbacks like the year I had last year. If anything, the hip labrum injury has made me a more cautious and smarter runner. Maybe too cautious. Because, it was pointed out I could run 20 miles and walk 6 of this marathon…but I couldn’t fathom doing that. I know not every run will be good, but without the opportunity to throw down another 20+ mile run before the window for bib transfer closed…I decided to err on the side of caution and go back another year. Hopefully next year.
When I’ll be a bit more prepared.
When I’ll mentally be in a better place with my running.
I cried over it…a few times that day. That being said, while it wasn’t an easy decision…it was the right decision.
I don’t know how many marathons I have left in this body…so when I choose to run one, I want to give it my all. And it was just too soon to demand that of my body in mid-June. But, this means I can put all my focus and training on my September race instead. And I’m okay with that.
Me crossing the finish line of the Pro.Active For Life 5K – Frankfort, Kentucky (I admit, it looks like I’m just casually coming through, LOL!)
Race: Pro.Active For Life 5K
Place: Frankfort, Kentucky
Date: April 22, 2016
Time:22:07
It’s that time of year. Normally, this would be the 2nd race of the Frankfort Trifecta Run/Walk series…but there is no longer a Frankfort Trifecta. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to do some of my favorite races in one of my favorite cities to run.
Why is it my favorite? THE PEOPLE!!
The runners in the Frankfort, Kentucky community are awesome. Seriously, some of the most welcoming, nicest people I have ever met in my life. I have met and made so many great friends there…ongoing friendships…since a few years ago when I started making the trek from Louisville to Frankfort for the race series.
That being said…we all know how I feel about 5K races. Well, this is a 5K race I never, ever, would dream of missing (I had to last year…it ran while I was in Boston). While 5K races are one of my least favorite distances (I am NOT a sprinter), they are valuable to being a well-rounded runner. Speedwork…my enemy. HA!
I was a bit more prepared to make the trek to Frankfort this Friday evening rather than how I was for the Run For The Gold 3K on St. Patrick’s Day. I bought my dinner the night before (vegetarian sushi) and had a drink ready. No stopping. Clock out at work (already changed for the race) and head that way. We actually made decent time. We parked in the same place we always do for Frankfort races and made the walk to McClure Building, where packet pickup is always held. At least this race has everything in their normal spot and routine. I wasn’t as confused (or as rushed) as I was for Run For The Gold when it came to packet pickup…so that was less stress. I had my little bag with my race shirt and bib in a matter of moments. I got pinned up and then put my name in for some door prizes. I don’t think I won any of them…I had to leave before that even happened. But, it was fun. After that, I stepped outside and walked over to the Earth Day festivities happening on the lawn of the Old State Capitol. And I did a lot of people watching. I met up with Linda and we chatted and she showed me pictures from the Blue Ridge Half Marathon that she did in Roanoke, VA. LOVED it. She said it was one of the toughest half marathons she has run. And she does Run The Bluegrass. HA. The incline and hill they climb at the start…INSANE! She went to go and roll out her calf muscles prior to race start and I wandered around for a few more minutes. And then…people started to line up. It was almost go-time!
I wandered up to stand between the 6 minute mile and the 8 minute mile groups. I figured that was as good a spot for me as any. Linda and Becca came over to stand with me, which was nice. Linda was still hurting from her race the weekend before and Becca wasn’t feeling good and hadn’t eaten anything all day…so she was running on empty. And me…I was mentally prepping for a long run the following morning…which I wasn’t sure how that would go after a 5K race. We were all quite the team. They rope across the front was moved out of the way and we all moved up. And then…the gun was fired and we were off!
Now, the first mile of this race is a good one. But there is 1-1/2 hills to climb and one of them is short, but quite steep. I was behind both Becca and Linda here up until around Mile 1. The three of us all ran in tandom for a moment, which was quite fun. Linda was struggling, I could tell. She looked at me and said that there were only 4 women ahead of me. I broke the pack and moved ahead.
My Garmin says this is the fastest mile I have ever run!!
This…just happened to be the fastest mile I ever ran. I just wasn’t aware of it at that point.
Mile 2 takes you up Capital Avenue, around the Capital building and…finally…back down a hill. My legs were feeling that first mile but I pressed on. To my surprise…I wasn’t hurting. Not yet. That was nice. Sort of lifted my spirits more than a little. After coming back down…there is a slight incline as you cross a bridge…where there is always a cluster of people cheering and the walkers coming the other way…all cheering you on. It’s one of my favorite points of any Frankfort race involving this corner. Back down the steep hill and down a long road to start making the final turns toward the finish line.
On the last turn, a woman was handing out popsicles of something. I never grab anything from race corners, but it was nice on a 65 degree evening. Some people did snag them, only to toss them aside in the final stretch. It was just a short climb up the ramp and straight on to the finish line. I had no idea where I was in the standings…I just knew my legs were ready to be done. I heard Cathy screaming at me and I just pushed and ran as hard as I could manage and crossed the line.
The course was about 0.06 miles short. It was close. But it seems like everyone was coming up just slightly short at the end. Ah well. Another (almost) 5K…DONE! My watch told me I had done it in 22:06…which was a nice surprise as I went to save it to my watch. Wow. That was actually very close to my PR time, which is from this race. No joke.
Soon after I finished in came Linda and Becca. Linda was limping. NO GOOD! She said her calf muscle cramped up so she had to slow and then she had to walk some. She still managed first in her age division though. So…badass. Becca won her age division as well. Let’s here it for a repeat from the Run For The Gold! YAY!! Linda went to get ice and I had to go and do my plyometrics that my physical therapist assigned me for after I ran. I told Cathy that I wasn’t hurting at all and I did all the jumping exercises and the leg swings. The forward leg swing with the right leg usually is an issue. It wasn’t this time. I felt incredibly blessed.
Me with my first place age division award at the Pro.Active For Life 5K – Frankfort, Kentucky
To keep me feeling good, we started walking around the area while we waited on the awards ceremony. I placed first in my age division, so I was one of the lucky recipients of one of the custom made medals for the different age division winners and the first timer awards. This made me incredibly happy because I had been saying I wanted one, but had been having some bad runs lately and this was a race. That being said…I was handed one at the award ceremony.
I stuck around to cheer for Becca and for Linda…and then Tim as well. Tim is another one of Linda’s runners (she’s an amazing coach) who hit a new PR at this race. YAY!! We took a big group photo at the end before I headed out to get home. It was getting late and I had a long, long run to do the following morning.
So, the official results of the Pro.Active For Life 5K are that I finished in 22:07, just shy of the PR I set there in 2013 (when I was in my best running shape and form). I was 22/630 finishers overall. I was 4/422 female finishers. And, I was 1/45 in my age division. For the record, my first mile was done in 6:53. After that, I was back to the mid-7 minute mile times. It would be so nice to one day be able to hold a sub-7 minute mile, but I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon. And that’s fine. The whole thing that made this race my happy place was that at no point did I hurt. Not once. So, it might have been a fly-and-die (although, my 3rd mile was faster than my 2nd mile), I consider it a total win when I come out of any run pain free.
SO HAPPY!
It’s weird not having the Frankfort Trifecta to train for, but being able to take part in the races that made that series so great has been very rewarding for me this year. I had to skip last year, but coming back to it this year, I have taken nothing for granted. Not the hills, not the courses, and definitely…not the people who have seen me through it all.
Frankfort…thank you…for always being so wonderful and welcoming…and fun! I can’t wait to come back for the next one!
Tim, Ruth, Amber, Becca, Me, and Linda after the Pro.Active For Life 5K…all sporting our bling!
These are the words that describe me when it comes to prepping for and going out for any sort of run. Whether it’s a race or a training run…or just an easy fun run to shake off a bad day or a extended period sitting…or even just an excuse to stretch the legs. I feel like my mind has to work overtime anymore for fear of, frankly, damaging myself again.
Where once I would have used words like…Confident. Strong. Fast. Free…to describe myself as a runner, I can’t seem to see that anymore in my running, my reflection, my ability.
Every run…is a mental and physical struggle for me. I have to think about everything and still attempt to run…well.
Note the phrasing…attempt to run well.
Because every step I take on a run, I have to listen to the signals my body is sending me. Does my hip hurt? If so, is it because of speed…or incline…or form? If so, am I overcompensating with the other leg? Does anything else hurt. Are my feet falling quickly and softly. Is my cadence even? Am I leaning back? Am I heel striking?
It sort of takes the joy out of lacing up those shoes and going out. PLUS…before I even get started, I have about 30 minutes of necessary PT exercises and warm-ups, and those are usually a good gauge as to how any sort of run is going to feel. If my leg lifts hurt…you better believe my run is going to hurt. And then the brain starts working overtime, doubting myself, thinking I’m just going to end up sidelined again. Wondering…is it all really worth it? What happens when the activity that you used to do so easily, freely, and with so much joy…mentally and physically drains you?
You press on! Or at least, that’s what I do.
When it was bitterly cold, when there was snow, when it rains…I’m out on that sidewalk in front of my apartment doing all the plyometrics and warm-up exercises that my physical therapist assigned me. Why? Because taking another year off to recover from injury doesn’t sound appealing at all. In fact, it scares me. I have gone through a year of hardships, trials, and a lot of pain…and my journey is not over yet. That being said, I’m not one to give up either.
What brings this up? Well…tomorrow is one of my favorite races to participate in. I had to miss it last year as I was…running the Boston Marathon. Injured. So, I would have had to miss it regardless…but…I have a history with this little 5K.
The Pro.Active For Life 5K is in its 10th year running. And I have run it in 2012, 2013, and 2014. In each one…I have placed in my age division and/or as one of the top 3 female finishers. And…it is my PR 5K race.
And tomorrow, for the first time, I’m actually nervous about going to Frankfort after work to run in this race. And it’s simply because…every run is day-to-day. I feel good some days; I hurt some days. There is no rhyme or reason to it. And there are a lot of amazing, skilled, fast, and mad talented runners in Frankfort and at this race. My legs are still weak from a year off…the hill repeats sometimes making me feel strong, and sometimes making my legs scream at me and my hip hate me for the next 3 days. My speed…is not consistent. My legs tire easily…or just refuse to power me through some runs. Yes…even short ones. And especially sprints…and I’ve never been a sprinter.
And all of this has been rolling around in my head this entire week since getting back from Florida. I am not afraid of not placing or setting a new PR. I don’t care about that. I’m afraid of letting myself down. I hold myself up to a certain level and expect a lot of myself…especially at races I’ve always performed well in. But…it just seems daunting and impossible these days. Because. my mind races through that checklist EVERY. SINGLE. RUN.
I have to work harder than before to run. I have to work harder than most to be able to run. My body, literally, is not made for it. But I’m not letting it stop me. I am a work in progress, for sure. And it’s hard…and I know it’s possible that I may not get stronger, or better, or even faster…but I’m not going to stop trying.
I’m also scared going into tomorrow evening because I have a rather long run planned for Saturday morning…and I’m doing it solo…because people are recovering from Boston, or tapering for Derby or Flying Pig. And that scares me too. I worry about pushing too hard in the 5K and not being able to do my run on Saturday. And, sadly, the run on Saturday is the more important of the two. And this has been my struggle, my concerns, and my fears/worries since…well…I started running again. But, it’s been weighing heavy on me for this entire week leading into tomorrow night.
I have lost a lot of confidence in myself. I know that. And I have lost strength, fitness, and speed. But I have not lost my drive. Running may feel harder…because, these days running is harder.
But I can’t stop. And I won’t stop.
It’s okay to be scared…but I can’t let it take control.
This is my comeback. It’s slow. But it’s progress. And for now, progress is all I can ask for. The rest will…hopefully…fall into place.
Me at the start of the 2016 Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Papa John’s 10 Miler
Place: Louisville, Kentucky
Date: March 26, 2016
Time:1:16:41
Three years after I last ran my favorite race held in Louisville…I finally returned. I absolutely LOVE the Papa John’s 10 Miler. Seriously. I don’t call a race my favorite in the area if it really isn’t my favorite. I just love this race, despite the hills of Iroquois Park and all of that.
It has been a crazy couple of weeks for racing (heh…I guess when I get back into something, I totally jump right back into it, eh?). Two 2 mile sprints, a half marathon in NYC, and now a 10 miler. Whew.
Let me tell you, the travel time and early mornings to fit in some makeup time at the office have really caught up to me too. I was TIRED. T-I-R-E-D. In fact, I had logged online after doing my dynamic stretches Saturday morning before leaving for the race, and ended up almost falling asleep. Instead, though, I ate my breakfast (Chocolate Chex…yum!), brushed my teeth, and got my race bib pinned on and put on the clothes I could discard before the start…because the 32 degree air (with it feeling like 29 degrees) meant layers were necessary. And then…the trek over the river to Louisville.
Normally, the parking situation for the Papa John’s 10 Miler is easy. Park at the stadium. Good to go. Not so much this year. They weren’t letting anyone park at the stadium this time around. So…that was unexpected and different. Cathy and I ended up turning around and pulling into the parking lot of some little business and parking there, hoping against all odds that we didn’t get ticketed or towed. Seems a lot of people followed suit with that as well. Because we parked and soon the entire lot was parked up and so was the lawn. Go figure. We then had over a mile to hike from the car to start line due to this…so that was my warm up. Because I wasn’t going to have time to do my stretches prior to the start at this rate. I ate my banana as we walked and made the climb up the stairs to the overpass and crossed, where other runners were also making their way that way. Got there with 10 minutes to spare. Stretches weren’t happening. I shed my outer layer and went to go get into the massive group of people crowding the start gate. The wheelchair and pushers were set to go off first…so that was the beginning of the race. My friend, Daniel, was one of the pushers. These runners are amazing. And the wheelchair racers…inspiring. Especially on those hills in Iroquois.
Soon after the wheelchair and pushers were off…the start of the race was next. And with a “Runners on your mark…GO!” A horn sounded and we were off. It took me less than a minute to get to the start gate, and as I ran through, I saw Cathy waiving the sign and gave her a goofy “raise the roof” move and ran past. I was off.
Just coming off a half marathon in NYC, I had no plans to do anything but comfortably run this race. I had no idea what my previous times (I have run it 2 times before) were for this race. I didn’t look them up. Something I sort of lamented around Mile 2, haha! I think it was better that way. It meant I really would just run this as I felt.
Me making the final turn toward the finish line of the Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, Kentucky
Unfortunately, the cold air plays havoc with my hip these days. I am not saying it’s perfect in warmer temperatures, but it’s 70% harder in cold weather. The hip adductor locks up, gets tight…hurts. So, once again, I had to really make sure I focused on my form, on lifting that right leg up, on not doing any damage to myself. Stress fractures are not welcome here. Ever. Again. Between Mile 1 and 2…I heard someone call my name and turned around, and there was Geri. So that was really great. She was the first person to really take note of how my running form and style has changed since seeing my running specialist. She’s training for Boston…and London…and Grandma’s…and I’m sure another amazing adventure too. Beast mode is always on with Geri.
So, after all of that, I ran the rest of Southern Parkway and made the turn onto New Cut Road, running toward the entrance of Iroquois Park. Mile 3 is just before the turn into the park. I hit it and began to make the turn into the park. As I started on the hilly route, I came across Daniel and the athlete he was pushing for the race. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him that he was awesome. He said, “And you’re in neon…as always.” I might have a reputation, LOL! And just around Mile 4, I was running past the amphitheater and I heard Tammy and Dan start shouting at me. I gave them a wave and a smile…and it really just lifted me. The hills started soon after that…the first one is the one the training group does hill repeats on, and I took it easy on that. First hill. Done. The downhill was awesome, but I knew there were more hills to come. I let momentum carry me down, and did that throughout the rest of the park. Just after Mile 6, we come back out onto Southern Parkway for the straightaway back toward Papa John’s Stadium.
With the cold weather, there weren’t as many spectators that were out, but there were some…and I was happy to have them there. I ran comfortably, trading back and forths with a few runners. It amazes me how fast and hard people can push at later miles. Currently, I’m not ready to push…but I love hearing people discuss their paces and goals. My favorite was this mother running with her young son…around Mile 7 she said, “We only have one more hill at the overpass.” And they ran past me. I loved seeing that. They stuck together the entire time.
Miles 7-9 are all down Eastern Parkway, and then, right at the corner with the Starbucks, is Mile 9. Then, yes…the hill up over the overpass. My friend, Melissa, said that I really pushed her those last few miles. What a compliment. She was strong the entire time. Hills didn’t slow her down. Nothing seemed to. I hope to get back to that level some day. After climbing the hill, it was down and around to make the turn to take us into the stadium. Down the ramp, onto the AstroTurf, and I started to book it as much as I could toward that finish line. I could hear Cathy screaming at me from across the stadium, for real. I really pressed on the speed as much as I could (and that’s still not much right now) and ran across that finish line.
I felt great. I was smiling. I had a photographer come over to take my picture and then tell me that “he almost missed me.” Neon and all, yeah…I didn’t stand out much. LOL!! As I just got my medal, I heard someone say, “Karen?” It was Greg from Frankfort. We hugged and stood around talking for awhile about running and racing and things we have coming up, officially and unofficially. He took a picture of Melissa and I, because Greg is awesome like that. It was nice to see him again. He said at one point in Iroquois, we were running side by side, just like the 10K in Frankfort a couple years ago. I didn’t even notice…but he knew it was me. Guess I was in my zone.
I made my way out of the finish area and caught up with Cathy. She said the lines for the massages weren’t long so I went and stood in line. My friend, Renee, who I know from the YMCA and spin class came over and she had a new PR by 6 minutes. That’s huge. Cathy looked up my time on the official tracker…and I PR’d by 2 full minutes. 2 minutes, from the year I was running my best. What. The. Hell. I’m not complaining, but I wasn’t even trying. That’s…amazing. I was a little sore…I still blame most of that on the cold. But I felt good. And that was such a boost. The massage, by the way, felt great.
Finisher of the 3016 Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, Kentucky
So…the official results of the 2016 Papa John’s 10 Miler were that I finished in 1:16:41, shaving about 2 minutes off my time from 2013. I couldn’t believe it. I was just running as I felt, and I felt I was running much easier and slower than I had run this race in the past. Like I said, sometimes I surprise myself. A lot of times that happens when I’m tired or not at my best (like with a tight and sore hip)! I was 361/5188 overall, the 71/2915 female to cross the finish line, and I was 13/466 in my division. I couldn’t be more proud of myself. Or surprised. Again.
I feel a little more confident these days when I hit the roads, but I’m still very careful and tentative. Honestly. But, it feels good to say that this run felt easy…and when I crossed that finish line, I felt that I could have given a bit more. That’s a good feeling. I hope I can continue to make easy and steady progress, and one day feel a little more confident and ready to push. Because I am excited to see what I can make this body do.
Thanks for continuing to be my favorite Louisville race, Papa John’s 10 Miler. This is what keeps me coming back for more.
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.
Me at the start of The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Race: The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K
Place: Frankfort, Kentucky
Date: March 17, 2016
Time: 13:09
It took too damn long to get back to Frankfort, Kentucky for an actual race. It took way too long. But…yesterday…despite my own skepticism about being able to do this race and do it well enough to make myself not feel totally out of shape and defeated…I ventured out to Frankfort for what used to be the first race of the Frankfort Trifecta.
The Frankfort Trifecta is no longer a thing. It seems that the Frankfort Striders stepped in and created a HUGE race series that has something like 17 or so races…and I love Frankfort, but there is no way I can do all of that. So, I’m sticking to my Trifecta races (all three are still running…just not as an overall series…which is nice because it takes a lot of pressure off of me…having placed the 2 years I competed in all three races) and just hoping for the best at this point.
All that being said, the madness began last night. I was scheduled for 4 miles that day, so I ran 2.25 of them that morning, saving the remaining 1.8 and change for the race. I kept the miles easy so I would have some gas in the tank at the end of the day. BUT…it was also a gym morning so off I went, keeping my usual routine much lighter and easier. Same reasoning. And then…work. I stood for half of the day at my standing desk because, starting on Wednesday after work, my left hamstring had been sore and tight…and I figured that it had a lot to do with how much and long I sat on Wednesday. Trying to counter that, I did more standing than I normally would have on a sprint effort run day.
Oh…that’s the other thing…I…AM…NOT…A…SPRINTER. I never have been. I never will be. I have short legs that can move, but they need time to warm up and find their strides. 5Ks and shorter races are the bane of my racing existence, and yet, I know the importance of doing them…and so I do.
But, I digress.
Where was I? Oh yes…leg stuff. My hamstring was still a bit unhappy when I ducked into the bathroom at work to get dressed for the race. Cathy and I ducked out early to hit the road. Dinner had to be on-the-go…so it was vegetarian sushi. Figured it wouldn’t be too heavy before a race, but it wouldn’t have me feeling hungry just before doing it either. So…yay for that. We actually hit a few pockets of slow-ass traffic, which hindered our progress to Frankfort, but we got there. I had to make my mandatory stop at Kroger to use the facilities (if I can avoid port-o-potties, I do…because…PRINCESS!), and then continued into Frankfort to get to the race. We parked…noticed that the start line wasn’t set up where it usually was…but it was, instead, on the other side of the square. Interesting. So, I hiked that way…and realized that packet pickup was not in the building it normally was held in. Now…with only 10 minutes to race time…I was starting to stress out. IT WAS ALL DIFFERENT!
And then I found…my dear friend Linda. She just suddenly was there…a sea of people having parted ways…her back to me…standing on the corner. I went up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. She didn’t know I was coming and gave me the biggest smile and hug. That helped.
A LOT.
I asked where packet pickup was now and she pointed to a table…then just went over there with me and got my race shirt, bag, and bib. I handed everything off to Cathy, who began to pin me up while Linda and I talked for a moment. But, you see, Linda knows EVERYONE!! So, I got introduced to a bunch of people and got the very fair warning to not run over any kids during the race. This is important, because this is THAT race where all the kids want to start up front and…well…some of them actually do belong up there, for sure. Some…maybe not so much, but you gotta love the enthusiasm. I promised her I would be very vigilant of the little humans. I wasn’t familiar with the course being run this way, but Linda quickly gave me an overview before everyone started to line up. There was a prayer and an Irish blessing (it DOES run on St. Patrick’s Day after all) and then we all moved forward and awaited the airhorn that would send us on our way.
It blew.
We took off.
Me after finishing The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
My legs felt tired and heavy from the start. The hamstring, much like in the morning, didn’t bother me while moving though, so that was good. My hip wasn’t aching…but, I raced hard on Tuesday…did 4 miles on Wednesday, and was now racing hard(ish) again on Thursday. Talk about giving these legs a bit of a workout this week. And all of this ahead of another big adventure this weekend. So…while I made a few surge attempts, the legs were sort of reluctant to get moving…even when I willed them to go a bit faster.
We turned a corner…turned again, stepping over a big hole, and took off up a hill…leading to the main drag that would take us up another (steeper) hill and then across a bridge and toward the state Capitol building. Close to the turn around point, we hit Mile 1. I didn’t look at my watch, I just kept going. I rounded the turn to now run on the other side of the road and headed back the way we came…down the long stretch…up to the bridge…then D-O-W-N to the main drag. At this point, you know you’re getting there. You’re almost done. It was basically straight on to the finish line.
I was slowing down, but I wasn’t having it. Linda was just slightly ahead of me…and then another woman…and me. I did all I could, minding my form, my hip, and my leg…to try to catch up, but it wasn’t having it. Once again, I lack that finisher’s kick that other people have. I even had people just up and sprint by me…as always. Frustrating when your mind is willing, but your body just isn’t capable. Between that and the strong wind that was blowing right into our faces…well…yeah. It was one of those finishes.
But…I crossed…and it was awesome. I felt good. I felt…incredible.
Cathy came over, waving the race sign, and said, “Shit, Twin…you placed!”
All that being said…I grabbed some water and ducked into an alley to do my plyometric exercises and stretches that I’m supposed to do after a run. See, I can behave. Well, I did half of them and got bored, to be honest, so I can semi-behave. We ducked back into the melee and I put my Boston Marathon windbreaker back on…because with the sun going down it was getting chilly.
Rebecca, Linda, and Me…all 1st place finishers in our age divisions at The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Cathy was right…I ended up taking first in my age division…and…get this…TYING MY TIME from 2014, when I ran this race last. I wasn’t expecting that. I was very, very happy with that performance, considering I was really struggling after that first mile. My Garmin said my first mile was in 7:01…so…I haven’t run that fast in…a very long time. VERY long. And when I do, I can’t sustain it. So, YES!! Happy. SO freakin’ happy because this injury has had me struggling to do this running thing for over a year. I’ll take a time of 13:09 and celebrate it!! Embrace it!!
The awards ceremony followed…the only hitch being that someone was being shown as winning female overall that wasn’t the actual female overall winner. So, they had to pause for a moment and go get it figured out. I had been chatting with Debbie Brown about my physical therapy and amazing physical therapist when this began and she went to go get it all straightened out. Because she’s Debbie. And she’s awesome.
So, once that was straightened out…the awards commenced. Overall winner was awarded to the correct, and super-fast, Roberta Meyer. For the overall male winner…it was Aaron Schaffner. It usually is. LOL!! He’s STUPID-FAST!! As in…blink and you might miss him. He was also in a Boston Marathon jacket…but I bet he ran his better than I ran mine. HA!
The rest of the awards for female runners was next…and I took first in the 35-39 age division with my time of 13:09. My overall pace was 7:04 for the entire 3K distance…so…that’s sort of impressive…for me…at this point in my running. It was pointed out by the announcer that I was also wearing a Boston Marathon jacket. Then he said, “Or is that New York.” Cathy said, “She has one of those too.” LOL!
True story.
Anyway…I stayed and cheered for the other winners, took a picture with Rebecca Atkins (1st female 40-44) and Linda [Word] (1st female 45-49). And then gave hugs and made my departure. I might have flailed happily as I was walking away, because this was such a huge boost to my confidence…even though my legs and brain aren’t quite working in tandem yet. They’ll get there.
I’ll get there.
Me with my age division award at the The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
So, the official results of The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K are that I finished in 13:09. I was 35/701 finishers overall. I was 9/466 female finishers. And I was 1/62 finishers in my division. I take nothing for granted anymore. Every run I am able to accomplish without pain or with minimal pain is a blessing. Getting through this week of harder runs, and really pushing and challenging myself has not only terrified me, but empowered me. I said it 2 years ago…and I’m going to say it again…Running is a gift, and I’m thankful I can do it again…even if it means slowing down for a little while to allow myself ample time to heal.
I’m looking forward (or so I am telling myself) to including a bit of speed work in my upcoming training…as well as continuing to focus on my hill repeats (because Frankfort hills are just…relentless!)…and, maybe I can finally figure out how to get that finishing kick. Until then…relentless forward motion…
“Don’t fear moving slowly forward…fear standing still.” ~ Kathleen Harris
Three years ago, I ran this very same race with bronchitis…and did it 15 seconds faster. No joke. A part of me says, “Hey…you’re so close to where you were when you started marathon training for the first time!” (although even this finishing time is 2:24 minutes slower than my 10K PR (45:31), which I set in 2013 as well…when I was really in my best shape and racing form). The other part of me says, “You ran this better when you couldn’t even breathe!”
Welcome to the mind of a runner. And as someone who has come back after mostly a year away from the sport, I am in NO way disappointed with my performance. Not one bit. I lost a lot of strength and fitness in the time I was forced to take off. AND…as I will get to…this race was not perfect nor pain-free for me either. I think the excitement got the best of me and I pushed harder than I noticed or even intended.
All that being said…I ran in a road race…and I did better than I even anticipated.
I, actually, have no real time or speed goals for any runs that I go on, training, racing or otherwise. Why? Because, right now, I have to build my endurance, my fitness, and my strength back up. So, going into the Rodes City Run 10K…I merely stated that, if possible, I’d like to beat 50 minutes. If it happened…great…if not…I’d get there. I wouldn’t be disappointed either way.
So, Friday afternoon, I took my lunch break and headed down to Slugger Field to pick up my race packet…something that I haven’t done in way too long. It was scary and exciting, but I gave them my bib number (963) and got my shirt and bib and a gift card for a free Chik-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich (my roomie got this), checked out the new course (it was a loop this year, not a point-to-point…and then went back to the office to close out my Friday. Traditionally, I eat gluten-free pizza before a big race…but I had my meal plans worked out ahead of time and opted for my third round of potatoes that day…a healthy take on Take-Out Fries (think…In-N-Out Burger Animal Style). It was a 10K race…so I wasn’t really too worried about breaking tradition. I sort of hold that in check for the half and full marathon distance. For a 10K…I can go either way.
I called it a night early because I knew I needed to get up in time to do my PT exercises, do my dynamic warmup, and just attempt not to freak myself out. Recall…the last time I raced was August…and…HELLO STRESS FRACTURE. Well…this distance was twice that and I was pretty sore after hill repeats on torn up asphalt on Tuesday. Needless to say…I was a bit of a mess the night before and the morning of…I just put on my brave face and focused on the task at hand.
Since it was my first race back in…FOREVER…I opted to wear my Wonder Woman running outfit. Because…it had to happen. The start temperature was around 53 degrees, so I figured I could get by with a tank top and be comfortable. BEST. DECISION. EVER. I wore a pair of pants and a hoodie over my running clothes until about 15 minutes to start time. My roommate didn’t have the sign due to the possibility of rain that morning.
We arrived and parked with plenty of time to spare. I went ahead and ate a protein bar while we stood around near the start/finish area. Cathy (that’s the roomie) spotted our friend, Laura, and we called her over and talked with her up until about 15 minutes to start time. I told her to have a great run and went to get into the corral, moving slightly toward the front because…I’m more comfortable when there are fewer people in front of me at the start of a race. The national anthem was sung (quite nicely too!)…and then…we were off!
I felt good crossing that start line, even giving a wave in Cathy’s direction as I started off. I fell into stride with people around me, the little voice in my head telling me to not push too hard, to lift that right leg, and to listen to my body.
Needless to say, I sprinted through that first mile in 7:17…which is WAY faster than I have been running or capable of running on any sort of training run. I usually hover around 8:20-8:40 these days. Of course, soon after hitting Mile 1, we are sent up a hill…so this was a good way for me to ease into a more comfortable pace. It was still really early in the race, and I wasn’t here to race it, but more put in a “long” run, just with a bit more effort. The hill did its job, but thanks to my attendance to most of the hill repeat Tuesdays…I didn’t feel winded when I crested the hill. I felt strong and good. And the hip was still behaving. No pain…win. Mile 2 eased me down to a more manageable pace of 7:54. Thank you Phoenix Hill.
Another very exciting moment was hearing Harry cheer for me as I ran past. He was just outside of Cave Hill Cemetery. And not very many people knew I was doing this run. I haven’t discussed my racing schedule much because I am doing each run on a “as I feel” sort of thing. If I hurt…I’m not running. I’m done with this whole injury train. Just…done. So, that lifted my spirits…and I let my form go for a moment to raise up my arms and wave at him. Awesome.
Mile 3 was next, and my legs were ready to move again. I was in familiar territory, having run the outer rim of Grinstead and Cave Hill Cemetery a couple years ago when I was not inured and Blue Mile still had a running group that met on Mondays. It was comfortable and I felt comfortable coming into the halfway point. I managed that third mile in 7:36…which isn’t too shabby. I kept that same pace heading into Mile 4. But it was around hitting Mile 5 that my hip suddenly decided it waned nothing more to do with the speed I was somehow managing for this run. I had to slow up…which was fine. I’d been running hard(er) and strong for that much of the race. I was feeling good, save for a little muscle twing. Mile 5…I dialed it back to a 7:45.
Me crossing the finish line of the Rodes City Run 10K
Here was where my form really began to fall apart. I actually started to struggle. The reason…I noticed myself falling into that “limp run” that I had been doing prior to physical therapy. Visions of stress fractures began flashing through my mind, so I let go of the speed and focused really hard on my form. I was in the last mile…I would walk there if need be. But I WAS NOT GETTING INJURED!
The crowds were picking up now, so I knew that I was getting closer and closer. I still don’t look at my watch when I run, because if I focus on my pace…I start to psyche myself out. With that being said, I hit 6 miles in the 7:54 pace range (like when I had gone uphill at Mile 2). And the finish line was in sight. I pushed a little more, without letting my form fall apart again, focusing on balance and strength in my right hip. I surged a little…and crossed through the finish gate, hands up in the air.
Damn, that felt good to do again. I’m not going to lie. Cathy was screaming at me from the sidelines. And I paused my Garmin and took a glance. I was at 47 minutes and change. SO close to 48 minutes. Cathy walked over to where she could slip in and take my picture. I did my power stance, biceps flexed, and smiled. Then, one of the professional photographers came over and said that he had to get a picture of Wonder Woman. It made me laugh, but I obliged. I wanted to get some water, so we made our way over there. I downed two cups and then did my leg swings to help loosen the hip.
I felt good. Sore…but good. And I wasn’t limping. So, really it was just more of a muscle ache. That hip adductor still fights me at times.
Anyway…the official results of the Rodes City Run 10K are that I finished in 47:55. No PR…not even close…and still slower than the year I ran when I couldn’t breathe, but…for being out of the racing game for so long…THIS is such an accomplishment. To go from hardly any running for the past year to a 10K where none of my mile splits dropped below a 8 minute mile…WINNING! I was 424/5027 finishers overall, 82/2849 female finishers, and I was 14/430 in my age division. Seriously…I’m proud of what I accomplished here. And I did it without breaking myself!
I still am on the road to recovery and every day I go out to run is different. I’m so very thankful that my body game me a mostly perfect race at a time when I needed just that. Now…to fine-tune my fitness and get stronger.
Time to live up to my nickname of “Wonder Woman” and get this body fit and strong! This was only a test…
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?
What a difference! Before my diagnosis (visiting Ireland) in 2011 compared to today. Healthy sure feels good!
Five years! Five whole years. In some ways, I feel that the Celiac diagnosis happened a long time ago. In other ways, it feels like it was yesterday. The journey go discover what was making me sick was a long, stressful, and tear-filled journey. I have never felt so completely empty and so completely scared in my entire life.
And it all started a couple months after returning from my New Year’s trip to Ireland.
I’m about to get very real with you for a short moment…so please hang with me.
There is something very, very scary about stepping on a scale, in your clothes, and seeing only 2 digits reflecting back at you. In my jeans, tennis shoes, and shirt (with sweater), I went to my doctor for a check-up…and weighed in at 92 pounds…in clothes. I hadn’t been feeling well since before going to Ireland. I was fatigued all the time, often falling asleep on the couch while watching television or a movie. I had no energy. My body ached. I was angry and cranky and just a really mean person at times. My brain felt like it was in a fog. And it was just…bad.
While in Ireland, I discovered that when I ate sometimes, I would feel really sick. Or I would get a pain in my side that would just make me want to curl up and not move for awhile. It continued upon my return, so I went to the doctor…
The doctor immediately started running some tests on me for things like diabetes, gallbladder issues, cancer, and the like. I was told to take in more food, so I started to really up my protein, carbs and calories, any way I could think possible. I was probably taking in 5000 calories a day…and still losing weight. It was scary. My doctor ordered ultrasounds and a HIDA scan just in case it was the gallbladder or liver. Those results came back normal. As did all my blood work…save for a B-12 deficiency (and being vegetarian, that wasn’t unusual). I was tested for anemia, diabetes, and an overactive thyroid…but nothing was unusual. Everything was “normal.” But it wasn’t. I wasn’t feeling well.
And during this time, my friend, Heather, contacted me and asked me a few simple questions about my symptoms. And she said I needed to get tested for Celiac Disease. She sent me a link with the symptoms, and asked me what my current in-take of wheat, wheat gluten, and other food products that might react to someone with Celiac was. She had a friend diagnosed with it and thought the symptoms were familiar.
Guess what…she nailed it. Despite my calorie and food intake, I was still eating foods that my body couldn’t handle. The gluten was making me sick and malnourished. It was causing my body serious harm and doing great damage. A change had to be made. And it wasn’t easy. For weeks, I would go into the grocery store and just cry…stand in the aisle and burst into tears. It was not an easy transition…and for awhile…I still cheated. And then, I realized that the cheats weren’t helping me any…just making me sick.
So…the stopped.
And…three years after that, my malnourished body finally began to show some signs of recovery. The weight loss I was dealing with was because my body couldn’t absorb the nutrients from the food I was eating. So…once I fixed that…and gave my body a fair shake at healing…everything started to fall back into place.
Five years later, and I feel healthy. I no longer live in a brain fog, or drop off to sleep on the couch for no reason. I don’t yell and get angry over stupid things. But, most importantly, I feel good. I have become a strong runner. My muscles and my body are still on the rebound, at times, but I look healthy. And I don’t get the mean and hurtful comments about “being all skin and bones” like I used to. I didn’t ask for that to happen to me…but it did happen. And the comments that people would make about me cut deep. They still hurt at times.
So…there it is. Five years ago, I had to make a change in my life…or put my life at serious risk. Without hesitation…my eating habits changed and soon, so did my health. I am living life again…and, trust me, this gluten-free, dairy-intolerant, vegetarian still gets her foodie freak on. You would be amazed at the foods I can eat!! Oh, and it has made me become quite the chef too. My kitchen experiments don’t always work out…but when they do…bliss.
There are times, when the office does pitch-ins or has lunches where I feel a little left out because there is rarely something I can eat…but you will never hear me complain or “hate” the fact that I am a Celiac. I don’t want people to say to me, “That’s horrible, I could never do that!” Guess what…it’s not horrible, and yes…anyone could go gluten free when it is the only option to feel happy and healthy again.
YES…I do get miffy at the people who treat it like a fad diet. I know there are people who go gluten-free to enhance their athleticism, or because it’s the “hot diet” at the moment. But, it does make it really hard for people like me, who medically have to eat that way, to be taken seriously. No, I can’t have just the filling of a pie…if it touched the pie crust. I WILL get sick. No, I can’t use your peanut butter if you have spread it on regular bread and then put the knife back in. I WILL get sick. No, I can’t eat that meal you put down in front of me because the pita bread was put on the plate. I WILL get sick. And YES…you need to remake the entire dish. Yes…that cookie WILL hurt me if I eat it. This is not an easy lifestyle…but it DOES get easier.
My health is the most important thing. And I never want to go through the months of worry and stress and pain I had to go through to get these answers. I am fortunate enough to have restaurants around me that handle my dietary needs without making me nervous about going in there. I have a gluten free (allergen-free) bakery that I visit at least twice a week. My life wasn’t made more complicated by this disease, it was just made more interesting.
I am fortunate enough to be a healthy weight, running strong, and being the best Celiac I can be! Nothing slows me down for too long…
So…five years later…feeling fantastic. Still a work in progress. I want to build up my muscle mass again, so strength training will commence. My body is strong…it can handle it. Because it will just make it stronger in the end.
This disease didn’t drag me down…quite the opposite. This disease opened my eyes and made me really examine my health and my choices. I’m healthier now for it.
My journey wasn’t easy…but a journey worth taking rarely is. I have learned a lot about my body, my food, and myself. And I’m not done yet.
Just a quick little catch-up on what’s been going on in my world…
Slow. Weak. Broken. Scared.
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.
The Celiathlete 