Category: running

Race: The Great Buffalo Chase 5K

Place: Frankfort, KY

Date: July 4, 2012

Time: 25:01

Okay…I’m going to admit it.  I’m more than a little ticked at the official results for The Great Buffalo Chase 5K race.  Why?  Because according to my Garmin, I finished at 24:59, as opposed to the 25:01 I’m listed under.  But…what can you do?  You have to go off the official, even though I started my Garmin when the air horn blew and stopped it after I crossed the finish.  Whatever.  It wasn’t going to be a new PR anyway, but I’m sort of protective of that sub-24 minute I set.  I’ll let it slide this time as it was around 86 degrees out and extremely humid that morning.

Happy 4th of July!!  Get out of bed early, despite dealing with neighbors setting off fireworks (during a ban) into the wee hours of the night, and get in the car to get to Frankfort, Kentucky.  That was what happened.  The full moon was still shining down on us as my roommate and I stepped out into the heavy, moist air that morning and packed up the car for our little sojourn to Frankfort (again).  I was more than a little tired and was nowhere near awake as we drove to Buffalo Trace Distillery, the start and finish of the annual Great Buffalo Chase 5K.

I knew this race was going to be bigger than most in the Frankfort area, because cash prizes were being waved.  BIG cash prizes.  Like…come in first and win $3000.  Yeah…like that.  So it was no surprise to arrive to a line of traffic, some very fit runners, and the ‘Kenyan”-types (who basically won it all).  Sure, I had dreams of winning that cash for myself, but…I’m not that fast of a runner.  I was looking at the previous year times and the winner came in at 16 minutes and change.  At 16 minutes, exactly, I was at Mile 2.

The other plan was to just run the hell out of this race.  Just push myself as hard as I could possibly manage and find out just what I can do during a 5K race.  I sometimes feel I just glide through and don’t really challenge myself at races until that last mile.  If I did it more during the first part, I might actually see some progress.  But the heat, humidity, and excessive heat index took away that option as well.  The best thing to do was to just run a smart, good, fun race.

And that’s what I ended up doing in the end.

But…we’ll get there.  First…upon arrival, I headed to the Visitor Center of the Buffalo Trace Distillery to get my packet.  The line in there was rather crazy, but it didn’t move too slowly.  It might have taken about 10 minutes total to get through the line and get my packet and t-shirt.  I snagged a sip of water from the water cooler before heading out to get my number pinned on and head out to stretch out my limbs, not just from the morning car ride, but to prepare for the race.

There wasn’t too much time to do that though.  No sooner had I started that the race director was on a bullhorn telling runners to head to the starting line as the race would be starting in 15 minutes.  Wow.  Okay.  Minor stretching done…both Cathy and I started to trek toward where the start would be.  We had a lot of people behind us too as well as in front of us.  Big race…you betcha!

No time for niceties at the start line either.  I got a good luck hug from my roommate and went to find a place in the mass of runners lining up.  I went back a little way, then realized there was no timing chip on this race…so I moved up as close as I dared and stayed there through the announcements and the instructions on our start.  I got my Garmin working on finding its satellites and then worried with my iPod.  I got both prepped just in time, because we heard “Runners ready…”  And then…an air horn blast sent us off for the race.

This was a relatively flat out-and-back 5K race.  There were some very minor rolling hills, but no steep inclines to sap your energy.  Instead, the heat would do that.  So thank God we only had to deal with one and not both.

The first mile of the race is around the warehouses buildings located inside the distillery grounds.  They took extra precautions to cover up tracks that run through there so no runners would trip or get their foot stuck.  I appreciated that effort.  After hit the the warehouse area, we head out onto the roads and begin to make our way around the beautiful ponds via the roads around Buffalo Trace Distllery.  Mile 1 came and went and I was making better time than I anticipated.

As I made my way toward Mile 2, we ran over a rolling country hill and headed back in toward the warehouses.  And this is where it gets evil, friends.  The race actually rounds back around two warehouse buildings, which leads runners right past where the finish line is sitting and waiting.  The crowd waiting there was awesome and shouted out support for everyone as they began to make their way back around and out of the parking lot to head back the way we all came and back toward the distillery one more time.

As I was making my way into Mile 3, I was nearing the end.  And as I ran over a bridge, I passed a young boy who was wheezing heavily in the heat of the morning.  I asked if he was okay and he said he’d be fine.  At his wave to continue on I went.  And I pushed it as much as I could toward the finish line.  Like I said, it was hot and heat just saps me of any push at the end.  I gave it what I could muster and crossed that finish line.

As I mentioned, there were no timing tags on this race, so we had to stay in line and hand over the bottom part of our race bibs in the order we came in.  I stopped my Garmin watch as I crossed the finish and it read 24:59.  But…official results had something to say about that.  But after I handed over my number, I made my way over to where there was some ice cold water waiting, grabbed a bottle and downed it.  I was dripping sweat from the heat and just needed to cool down.  But I had places to be, unfortunately, so no time to really cool down and dry off.  I grabbed my running bag and went into the bathroom to try to mop myself down and get changed.  I managed.

More water was downed as I came back outside and then I posed with the buffalo statue.  Racers were still coming in.  An ambulance pulled up as we were preparing to leave.  Apparently a female runner pushed too hard in the oppressive heat that morning and they were coming to check on her.  Cathy and I bid adieu to the race and headed out for the rest of the day in Lexington, Kentucky…which involved gluten-free pasta for me for lunch at a local Italian place and a showing of The Amazing Spiderman at the movie theater there.  It was a good day.

It took an entire day to get the official results, but they were finally posted.  So, officially, my results for The Great Buffalo Chase 5K are that I finished in 25:01 (2 seconds off of my official Garmin time).  I was 129/612 overall.  And I was 6th in my division.  Not too shabby given the heat that day and how tired I was at the start of the race.  I was really hoping to just run a hard race and push myself, but with how hot it was, I had to run it smart and save that experiment for another time.

And already…I hope to go back next year and do it again.  Fantastic race.  I had a blast.

Race: Rock ‘N Soul Quarter Marathon

Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Date: June 23, 2012

Time: 54:52

Apparently, last year, the Rock ‘N Sole Half Marathon didn’t work out so well.  There were multiple hospitalizations, intense heat, and problems all around.  But for this year’s race, they hired a new race director, changed the start time, had more volunteers, much more water, and added two races – a Quarter Marathon and a 5K race.

I could have run the half marathon, but being as I just ran one at the beginning of the month, when I was eying the Rock ‘N Sole race, I figured it was probably better to stick with the quarter marathon (that’s 6.55 miles).  Besides, quarter marathons are rather rare, are a good distance, and it would fit right into my training for my next half marathon in September.

With no hesitation, I signed up.  And this meant taking Friday, June 22, off from work and driving all the way from my home in Southern Indiana to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  My roommate and I decided to work it like it was one of your gym mornings, get up early, grab some breakfast at home, pack some snacks for the road, finish packing, and hit the road by 6:30 a.m. at the very latest.  We hit the road at 6 a.m.

The drive up was long, but we put on the iPod and made it work.  Somewhere in Chicago we dove into our GoPicnic boxes for lunch.  And around 12:30 p.m., we were checking into our hotel in Milwaukee.  Happiness.  Soon after dropping off our luggage, we were hitting the road to downtown because I needed to hit up packet pick-up at the expo, which was happening at the Italian Community Center.

That expo was small as well, but larger than the one for Minneapolis.  I walked straight back to the packet pick-up desk and got my bag that contained some goodies, race information, my bib, timing chip, and my shirt.  The race excitement was definitely building now.  It was feeling real.  While walking around the expo, I was gifted with free socks being handed out by the main sponsor, BMO Harris Bank.  Sweet.  I eyed a few items at the expo, but as usual…lots of window shopping, no actual shopping.  With all that done, and the expo fully explored, my roommate and I headed out to do some exploring and shopping in Milwaukee.

A few stores, some frozen custard, and a stop back at the hotel later, we were dressed in jeans and out of our travel-in-the-car clothes and heading out for dinner.  Cathy found this great restaurant called Transfer Pizzeria & Café.  And what made it so great, aside from the ambiance and amazing staff?  Gluten-free bruschetta, gluten-free pizza, and a gluten-free brownie for dessert.  Perfect ending to the night before the race.  Carbs, dessert, and good times.  It was back to the hotel afterwards to settle in for the night because the morning was going to be another early one.

It was 4 a.m. when my alarm on my iPhone began to go off.  I got out of bed, grabbed my race clothes, and headed into the bathroom to change.  Cathy turned on the Weather so we could see what we would be dealing with while I ate a serving of gluten-free cereal and she had a breakfast bar.  We finished up, glad that it was in the low sixties currently and no rain was moving through, got our stuff, and headed downtown to the start of the race.

We arrived early so we could park in one of the free lots.  We did get a spot in one with no problem.  It wasn’t the one we were aiming for, but, hey…it was a spot.  We grabbed the race bag and she got my sign and off we went.  We could see the finish line from where we parked so now we had to make the walk to where the race was starting.  It was a bit of a haul, but it wasn’t too bad.  There were only a few runners currently mingling and standing around.  Most people out there were volunteers.  And as we neared the start line, which was in front of the Milwaukee Museum of Art on the lakefront, the sun began to come up and we had the most spectacular sunrise over the lake.  It was fantastic.

So, we settled in on a bench and about an hour before the race, we had the rest of our breakfast.  A granola bar for her and a banana with peanut butter for me.  This gave my body time to digest.  This was the same thing I ate before the Mini Marathon in Indianapolis…so I knew it would work out.  Then, just as suddenly as the sun came up…it disappeared.  And this thick wave of fog began to roll in off the lake.  It was a blanket.  No joke.  The sun was completely gone and it was getting difficult to see too far in front of you.

It was kind of great though.  I’ve run in heat, sun, snow, rain, cold, lightning…never fog.  First time for everything.  As 20 minutes to race time approached, the fog was even heavier.  There were much more people around now and we all began our tradition of stretching and warming up.  Everywhere you looked, runners were preparing for whichever race they were running.

The Half and Quarter Marathons were starting together at 7:00 a.m.  The 5K would start at 7:20 a.m.  So, around 6:45, the announcer began to tell runners to get into their corrals because the race would start promptly at 7:00.  I gave Cathy a hug, and she wished me luck, and off I went to Corral G…my short-term home at the start of the race.  At first, runners were scarce in the corrals.  No, the fog wasn’t hiding them, they were just still making their way here.  But soon we were lined up, listening to the National Anthem, and being told that at the top of the Daniel Hoan Bridge was our first water stop, but due to the fog…we couldn’t see it.  So, we were to listen for instructions on where to be so we didn’t run into volunteers, tables or whatever.  Yay, fog!

And then…the countdown began and we were off.  Well, it took about 2 minutes to get from Corral G to the start line.  Not too bad considering.  And then, I hit start on my Garmin as I crossed the start line…and away I went with the group.

It was rather quick getting to the bridge, which was to offer spectacular views of the Milwaukee skyline, Lake Michigan, and the Summerfest grounds.  But…we saw fog.  Ah well.  And, holding true…running up exit ramps…sucks.  They are a lot steeper than they look, trust me.  And about halfway up, my iPod shut off.  So, I had to mess with that and get it working, which meant I wasn’t really running my best.  But I got it sorted and back on track, and picked it up a little.

They were right…you couldn’t see the water station as you crested the top.  But they had volunteers funneling runners through so that we all got in and out safely.  Once we got past there, it was a breeze.  Mile 1 was already behind me and I was making the push for Mile 2.  The fog was beginning to become less dense, and the sun was making a play at coming back out.  Mile 2 arrived just before we headed down the ramp to run a stretch of road.  Mile 3 was at the top of the other exit ramp as we began to make our way back across the Daniel Hoan Bridge.  There still wasn’t any visibility of the downtown, the lake, or the Summerfest grounds, but running in the fog was an adventure.  However, with the sun breaking through, the heat of the day was starting to get felt.

Somewhere between Mile 3 and Mile 4, a man running in the half marathon stumbled and fell.  I mean, took a hard crash down on the bridge.  Runners stopped to help him up and make sure he was okay (I love the people in my sport!), and he shook it off and started back at a slower pace.  He looked okay and seemed fine after that fall.  That…is only a good thing.

Mile 4 kicked by us and soon we were heading off the bridge and into the downtown Milwaukee area.  I felt great.  This race felt great.  I was keeping a good pace because I wasn’t completely exhausted yet.  I was heading into Mile 5, feeling better than I did the previous 5 mile race the weekend before.  It was awesome and I was having a great time.

Mile 5 marked the split.  Quarter Marathon runners kept to the right to turn and head into the final 1.5 miles of the race to the finish line.  Half Marathon runners continued on for 8.2 more miles.  I made the split and was now running in downtown.  We were guided through this beautiful area between the lake.  With the sun out, it was a fantastic view.  And I was loving it.  Better yet, my legs were feeling strong and I was feeling better than I had on a longer race run in a long time.  Mile 6 was here and I was moving really good.  I knew I had just over a half mile to go.  Normally I ride this out until I can see the finish line…but like I said…I was feeling good.  Taking a risk, I picked up the pace.

The finish area was not in sight yet, but I could hear the announcer.  So, I knew I was getting close.  I came around a corner, and was heading down the street…then the course took another turn.  There it was…the finish line.  So…I decided to just put my all into the finish.  Finish strong.  That’s what I had every intention of doing.  I pushed hard, I found the strength, and I tore it up to the finish line.  I even remembered to stop my Garmin.

I saw Cathy up in the stands on the side of the course where all the 5K runners were coming in.  She was screaming and waving her sign.  I gave a fist pump of victory, not even looking at my time.  It just felt good.  The race felt good.  I knew I had run it well.  I made my way through runner’s services, receiving my finisher’s medal, water, some snacks, and getting my Finisher photo taken against the banner.  Then it was into the Summerfest grounds to find Cathy.

It only took a moment to spot her, waving my sign at me from a shady spot.  I hurried over there and finally checked my watch.  If the official results were close to what my Garmin said…then I really tore this race up.  That being said, I headed over to the results tent and got handed my ticket.

Official results of the Rock ‘N Sole Quarter Marathon are that I finished in 54:52. I was 171/1917 finishers overall. That…my friends…is AWESOME! I was 59/1309 women to cross the finish. And I was 12/228 people in my division.  You know what the most amazing part is?  That I beat out my last Quarter Marathon time by almost a full 10 minutes.  I was shocked.  Stunned.  And I have to admit, the time and effort I’ve been putting into my training for these races is really starting to pay off.  I can see the difference in my running.  I have never felt that amazing at that point of a race.  And when I look at my split times for each mile…for the first time ever…I ran a negative split, doing the second half of my race faster than the first half.  In fact, my last two miles were my fastest, which averaged out to a pace of 7.4.  Holy crap!

To say I am proud is an understatement.  I am amazed.  I am elated.  And I’m still in awe.  What a great race.  I had a good time and I really found my stride.  I learned to push myself beyond what I figured was what I could handle and discovered there is a lot more left in me than I thought.  I finished strong, had a good race, and hope to come back for it again.

Race: Activate America 5-Mile Run/2-Mile Walk

Place: Frankfort, Kentucky

Date: June 16, 2012

Time: 40:15

Ah…the Activate America 5 Miler.  I remember this race so well from the year prior to this one.  As I mentioned in my previous blog, it was the scene of my stress fracture and runner’s knee injuries that put me out of running not just in June, but also July and much of August too.  It took many doctor and hospital and specialist visits to get me back on my feet in time for two 5Ks and a half marathon in Chicago on September 11, 2011.

So, needless to say…I was more than a little nervous about this race.  I told myself I wasn’t going to dwell on it.  I wasn’t even going to think about it when I was out there running.  I was simply going to run the course and be zen.

And…I set a goal that I only shared with my roomie.  It remained unspoken until now.  Last year, I finished the Activate America 5-Mile Run in 45:07.  That’s pretty damn speedy, you know?  So, I wasn’t sure how I would fair this year.  But my goal was to come in at 42 minutes.  That, I figured, seemed like a good goal to have.  Shave three minutes off.  Golden.

Being that this race was in Frankfort, Kentucky, it meant another early morning to rise, prepare, get something in my stomach, hydrate, and get in the car to head to Frankfort.  It’s not as much of a drive as say…Indianapolis…but it still requires a bit of a haul from where I live.  So…my roommate and I piled our stuff into the car and away we went.  The drive was easy and we reached Frankfort an hour before race time.  Perfect.  I pulled out my thinkThin bar from my race bag and ate it as we walked toward the State Capitol, where the race started and where packet pick-up was being held on the steps.

The place was already buzzing.  I went and got my packet, which included a nice tech shirt.  And, since I ran all three races in the Frankfort Trifecta, I was given a horseshoe as well.  It’s Kentucky, folks.

I got pinned up and began to stretch out, taking in the view from the steps of the State Capitol.  I looked around to see if I recognized anyone.  And I let my nerves play out by constantly milling about and finding new ways to stretch out my legs.  Before long, people were lining up in front of the start line.

It was a humid morning.  Already 72 degrees at the start of the race.  I was in a bra top and some shorts.  I didn’t want to get too hot so I went with minimal clothing for this one.  I’m very glad I did.  We lined up by pace.  I was somewhere near the front of the pack, but there wasn’t much space between pace groups.  I turned on my watch to find its satellites, which it did, relatively quickly, and was futzing with my iPod when I hear the start gun go off.  No warning.  We were off.

I got my music going.  I started my watch as I crossed the start line…and I was on the road to rematch with the Activate America 5 Mile Run.

I was so absorbed in the run that I actually was surprised when I rounded a corner and there was the marker for the first mile.  One down.  Four to go.  We were running through downtown Frankfort at this point…a route I know rather well as most races down there follow it.  This was the easy part.  Minor hills, save for the one when you double back and head back toward the Capitol before branching off and taking the long road down to the turn-around point before coming back to the finish (which was also the start).  Did you get all that?

*cough*

Anyway, back to the race.  As we’re running through downtown and heading toward the street that takes us up the hill and toward the Capitol (also Mile 2), I discovered the first problem.  We were running into the walkers.  They were walking one way…we were running the other.  And we were having a difficult time traversing each other.  A walker wouldn’t want to give way to the runner.  And the runner is on a mission to win, or beat a personal time, or to reach a goal.  So that crossing there wasn’t awesome at all.  But…we managed.  Somehow.

Mile 2 was right as we reached the road that we now got to run down for over a mile and a half before turning around and coming back.  This road is pretty empty.  Not much there.  You head under an parking deck and it’s just road out ahead of you, a few scattered buildings, some businesses, and a dog that chased a couple runners.  Thankfully not me.  It was a big dog and I’m terrified of big dogs.  But the runners just ahead of me got it chasing, barking, and nipping at their heels.  YIKES!  The dog broke off and ran towards me, past me, and that was the last I saw of it.  By now, Mile 3 had passed and I knew the turnaround was coming up.  I was doing good.  Making good time.  Keeping my pace pretty well, despite some inclines and the like.  It was hard…especially in that heat.  But I was doing better than I anticipated.

Just as Mile 4 was coming up, there was one of the two water stations (the other one was before Mile 2).  I grabbed a water bottle, took a few refreshing sips as I ran, then decided there was a better use for that water.  And over my head it went.  The cold water felt awesome.  Last mile.  And a lady who ran by me and a couple runners even encouraged us, “Come on runners!  Last mile!”  And she was off.  I never have that sort of energy at the end of a race.  I admire people who do.  That’s the next thing I need to work on once I get used to hill repeats.

The last mile was sheer willpower.  I knew when I saw that parking deck that I was getting closer.  And when I rounded a corner, I could see the hill (YES!  YOU FINISH ON A HILL!) that led up to the finish line.  I poured on my speed last year, despite injury, to finish strong.  I did it again here.

I could see Cathy at the finish, waving my sign and cheering me on.  I ran fast…then a little bit faster.  My legs were straining but I was going.  And after I crossed, I stopped my Garmin.  I didn’t even glance at it.  I moved out of the way and attempted to catch my breath.  Cathy found me, told me to go get some water and we moved out of the finish line area.  Before turning to head to where the water was, I took a look at my Garmin.  It said 40:15.  If that was right, I shaved 5 minutes off my previous year’s finish time.  I even beat the goal I set for myself.  I wasn’t just happy.  I was surprised, elated, and thirsty!  Oh…and this year…no injuries.  Even better.

I went and got some water then we climbed the stairs of the Capitol to take a seat.  They were going to hand out awards and we usually stay for that.  The announcer eventually said that results were being posted, so I got up to see if I was listed somewhere.  Sure enough…I was.  In fact, I came in 2nd in my age division.  WOOHOO!  Granted, the person who won my age division ran the race a full 7 minutes faster than me, so…I have room for improvement.

The official results of the Activate America 5 Mile Run/2 Mile Walk are that I finished in 40:15.  I was 63/265 finishers overall and was 2/22 people in my division.  These results were completely unexpected…but I am very proud of them.

What’s more is the results for the entire Frankfort Trifecta were tallied and posted.  And I came in 5th for the Overall Women’s Open Division (ages 18-39).  I was beat out for 4th place…by 2 seconds.  TWO SECONDS!  Ah well.  I’ll take 5th place.  That’s pretty awesome considering I’ve only been running for about a year and a half now.

This was a great race series and I am definitely going to run it again.  Each race gives just enough of a challenge to keep it interesting.  And…I love running in Frankfort.

And…for those of you keeping track…yes…soon after the awards were handed out, a storm rolled in and pelted Frankfort, Kentucky.  So the streak remains.  If I run in Frankfort…it rains.

Thank you, Frankfort, Kentucky, for your Frankfort Trifecta Run/Walk Series.  I enjoyed being a part of all three races this year.  Maybe I can win back those two seconds next year.

Race: Minneapolis Half Marathon

Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: June 3, 2012

Time: 1:58:28

Oh yes…you read that right. My first ever sub-2 hour half marathon. It was my goal to do that once this year in the four half marathon’s I am signed up to run in (with a possible 5th one in the works). And then I go and do it on my second one for the year. This has been a fantastic running season. And I couldn’t be more proud of this finish.

If something was going to go wrong leading into this race…it was bound to happen. I’m not being dramatic. Bear with me.

On Monday, after I went for a run, my roommate and I went into work (yes…on Memorial Day when everyone else had the day off) and put in six long, hard hours to get into a good spot as we were only working a half day on Thursday before taking off to Minnesota. For lunch, we got Chick-Fil-A. Don’t get on my case yet. As a vegetarian, I got a large fruit cup and a medium order of waffle fries. I’ve done that before, and been fine. But something (we’re guessing some accidental gluten contamination in what is usually gluten-free fries) made me feel under the weather for five days…including travel days. I worked through it and no one was the wiser, but I felt awful. And now…Chick-Fil-A makes me more than a little nervous when it comes to eating on the go. Ugh. Gluten intolerance sucks.

Add on top of that the flight delays from hell. We got to the airport in Louisville in good time, thanks to my co-worker and teammate, Kayla, who was kind enough to take us there. After breezing through security and getting to our gate…our flight is delayed? Why? Because we are flying through O’Hare in Chicago…and all flights were grounded due to very bad weather. AH!

Then, the second leg of our flights from Chicago to Minneapolis gets cancelled!! Good thing my roommate checked our flight status while we were waiting and went to get it sorted if possible. Yep. Flight was cancelled and we were now given two of the remaining three seats on the flight out of O’Hare to Minneapolis…at 8:15 p.m. Better than nothing. I text my Aunt Jan to let her know of our change in arrival time. And the long wait begins. Then, we board and fly to Chicago. Upon arrival we now have a five hour layover. So we walk around the terminals for a bit. Then get some dinner (I grabbed a salad and a gluten-free peanut butter cookie from CIBO and my roomie got a delicious sandwich from Frontera). We eat. We get some caffeine into our system. We buy some Garrett Popcorn. We munch. We wander. We get to our gate. We are moved to another gate. We finally board and we are off to Minneapolis. Arrival time…10:00 p.m. And Jan is there to pick us up.

Friday rolls around and we’re off hanging with Jan and my cousin Natalie. We hit up the Mall of America. It’s a good time. Except Grandpa, my road hero himself, is starting to feel under the weather. So, now we’re doing what we can to ensure that he gets to feeling better.

Saturday rolls in and I head to the race expo that morning to grab my packet and see what all is going on at the expo. This is a very small expo. Tiny. So, it takes a grand total of 15 minutes to do everything, and that included waiting in line at The Depot Hotel in downtown Minneapolis to get the packet. I go through the lines, get my bib, timing chip, t-shirt, and check out the few vendors that are there. And then…we leave to hit up a record store and grab some lunch. That afternoon…the rest of the family arrives (my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and two little nephews). All the cousins come over for dinner and we aim for an early bed time…which doesn’t exactly happen…but we tried.

Now, all afternoon I had been trying to get out of my family who might be coming out for the race. I knew my roommate and my aunt were a lock. But no one else for sure. And I was really bummed out about that. So, when Sunday morning rolled around and I hauled myself off my air mattress to get changed and ready for the race, I was still bummed. I headed upstairs to eat some cereal and get a banana to go. And up the stairs comes…my dad!! I ran over and hugged him. I was so happy to have him coming out to the race. Especially since my reason for running a half marathon in Minneapolis, my grandpa, was sick and couldn’t make it out to the event.

We headed into downtown Minneapolis and attempted to find the lot we had pre-paid for parking at. We managed, but all the gates were still down. Yes…on an event morning. We used the call box to get this information, but some marathon runners (the marathon started an hour before the half marathon) were in a hurry to get to the start and swiped their credit card so we went and parked on their dime. We ambled out of the car and toward the starting point. The are had the pace markers up and we walked by, seeing a lot of marathon runners stretching and getting ready to start. Since we still had a good amount of time…we headed to Caribou Coffee for…coffee and some breakfast. I got a Vanilla Northern Lite Cooler and ate my banana. Then made use of their indoor plumbing by using the bathroom. And while we were taking turns, I answered their chalkboard question…Who Do You Run For? My answer – “My Running Hero – My Grandpa!”

The marathon was getting ready to kick off, so we all headed out to the starting line to cheer them on. The National Anthem was sung and soon, they were off. This was the first time I got to be a spectator at a race. So it was a lot of fun shouting at the runners and getting them off to a good start. Once they passed, we crossed the street and I started to stretch out.

And that is when Heather, my bestie since third grade, showed up. Now, Heather is becoming a pro at being at my important races. She was at my first half marathon in Chicago too…which is where she was living at the time. Now in Minnesota, her arrival at the race really brightened my day. Yeah, I was very bummed about grandpa…but I had other friends and family who were turning up to cheer me on. And that meant the world to me!

I stretched and talked and talked and stretched…and soon I noticed the corals filling up. So, I gave hugs to everyone and they all wished me luck and I headed off alone to choose my pace group. I opted for the 9:00 pace, figuring that was as good a place as any to start. I also happened to be in the first wave they sent off.

I had some fun talking to some of the people I was near. Some were anxiously searching for the pacer, as they wanted to run near them so they knew they were on target. Some were running their first race ever. Some chose this as their first half marathon. Some were pros at this. Some were discussing the hills on the course. And others just plugged into their iPod’s and focused on the run ahead.

The National Anthem was sung once more and then…moments later…we were off.

I could hear my family and friends cheering for me as I crossed the start line. I flashed my signature peace sign and just told myself to pace myself. Why? Because I tend to go out way too fast and then suffer in the end. I knew that this course was going to provide some hills and I wanted my energy for them. So…I did what I could and kept a good pace. In fact, I somehow missed the mile marker for the first mile. Because, before I knew it…I was coming up on Mile 2. It was a great morning to run. A little warmer than I liked…and it was only going to heat up more, but it felt good to be out there. The spirit of the race was fantastic. People were scattered along the course. There were spectators and people cheering and holding signs everywhere along the way. Just after Mile 3, we doubled back and headed back along the river front.

And for the first time ever…I got the thrill of a lifetime at the halfway mark. I spotted my dad and my aunt on the side shouting and cheering as I passed. Yep. They met me halfway. And just a little more up the way…Heather and Cathy were there. And they were screaming for me. They were awesome. All four of them. Best spectator moment ever. Nothing gives you a second wind more than seeing your peeps cheering for you halfway through a 13.1 mile race. It felt great.

And then…the second half of the race kicked in. It was really starting to warm up now, but I was wearing my new race tank, and it was keeping me cool. I was carrying a water bottle with me. Unfortunately, and lesson learned, I had flavored water in it…which wasn’t settling well in my stomach now. But, it was hydration. So I sipped at it as needed. There had been hills here and there…and awesome people on them to tell you that you were almost at the top and to keep pushing. My speed slowed down now. I lost the pacer I had been keeping up with the entire time prior to that. But the heat was getting me…and so was that flavored water. Blech.

Top it off with the hills and I was just fighting for each step I was taking at this point. I felt off. My great pace was lagging. And I was just starting to feel the effects of the stressful week. I was going to push through though. And I did. And that wall was broken through, especially at Mile 9.5, where the turnaround happened again and I was now on the last couple of miles to the finish. When I hit Mile 10…I knew it was only a 5K from there on and I was still making pretty decent time…despite the slow down. I got out my Annie’s Bunny Fruit Snacks (citrus flavored) to put something in my stomach. The citrus, while delicious, wasn’t a good choice on a day when flavored water was churning my stomach. But I needed the energy. From now on…I might go with the Sports Beans. Anyway…I gave the eat and run a go and continued on to Mile 11. Another mile down. Then another. Soon after Mile 12…a hill loomed. I knew it was coming because I had looked at the elevation map. It wasn’t going to be as hard as the one I hit around Mile 7…but my legs had carried me up and down hills all morning. By Mile 12, they’re ready for a rest. But I powered up it as best as my legs would allow. And then…the home stretch.

My iPod was playing Rob Thomas and Santana’s “Smooth.” And if you haven’t seen the video for Marathon Thoughts…you won’t understand why this was appropriate. I could hear the announcer. I knew I was close. Around a corner I came and there it was…the finish. I picked up speed. I even passed some people. I totally chicked a guy who was making his way to the finish by passing him on the double. I saw my dad, Jan, Heather and Cathy. Cathy was screaming at me about a new PR. I could see I was under 2 hours…and I bolted across that finish line.

As I made my way down to the end of the finish area, I was handed my finisher’s medal, a bag of snacks, some water…and I waited until I could spot my cheering section. They found me in no time and I shouted “THANK YOU, ROB THOMAS!” Cathy got it. No one else did. Again…watch Marathon thoughts. You’ll understand. Soon after, I was on my back with my feet up, laughing, talking, and discussing the race. According to my Garmin…I ran 13.2 miles from start to finish. So, let’s hear it for that extra 0.1 mile. WOOT! I was just elated. My first ever sub-2 hour half marathon. I was aiming to do that in Hershey, Pennsylvania in October. But I tore it out in Minneapolis…for Grandpa…who was there in spirit and doing himself some good by staying home and resting.

I ate my Picky Bar (by Lauren Fleshman…good carbs/protein ratio) and downed my protein shake. Water followed…and I downed two bottles on the walk back to the car. We parted ways here. Cathy and I headed off with Heather. We were going by her house. I was going to shower. And then we were heading out to a pub for lunch. My dad and Jan gave me hugs and I promised I would see them when I returned after lunch.

This race, for me, was a mixed bag of emotions. I am still working on getting my pace figured out…and how to properly fuel by body on these long runs. I loved having my dad there. I loved having my aunt, my roommate, and Heather there to cheer me on. I experienced the high of reaching one of my goals, finishing a half marathon in under 2 hours.

But…I was very sad not to have grandpa there to be a part of the experience. But…there will be other races. And, as I said before…he was there in spirit. It was best that he stayed home to rest and get better. I know that. And I’m glad he did just that. With that in mind, I think I was meant to set that PR at this race. For Grandpa. Just like my headband said.

Official results of the Minneapolis Half Marathon are that I finished in 1:58:28. I was 828/2779 finishers overall. WOOHOO! I was 366/1773 women to cross the finish. And I was 79/356 people in my division. I couldn’t be happier with these results.

You know what? Grandpa is pretty damn proud of me too!

Race: Run for the Berries 5K

Place: Starlight, Indiana

Date: May 26, 2012

Time: 24:50

YES!!

I finally managed it.  FINALLY!  And in heat and on massive rolling hills.  My sub-25 minute 5K happened on Saturday.

I actually wasn’t expecting any new records to be set at the Run for the Berries 5K on Saturday.  The weather before the sun even came up was in the low 70s.  In fact, when I was getting dressed, I checked the weather and at 5:30 a.m., it was 73 degrees out.  It was going to be a hot morning which would mean it would be one hot race.

Now, I’ve run in the heat before.  I’ve been making myself do it this year instead of hiding in the gym on a treadmill.  I am just smart and go out early or head out late.  No running in the heat of the day.  But I think making myself do it, despite always wilting in the heat, was a major factor in this finish.  That being said, I decked myself out in shorts and a sports bra.  The less fabric I had on, the cooler I would stay.

I ate a bowl of cereal prior to heading out to the Starlight Strawberry Festival, which this race was kicking off.  I packed a Lärabar for the road to eat about 45 minutes before the race so I wouldn’t get hungry while on the run.  No need to pack a change of clothes as home was a short drive away and I wanted to run, eat strawberries, and then go shower.  That was the plan.  So, into the car I went and headed up through the rolling and winding streets of Floyds Knobs towards Starlight, Indiana.

I actually ran this race last year.  But it was cold last year.  I was decked out in capri pants and a long-sleeve running shirt.  Shivering at the start.  So, this return was going to be quite different than the year before because running in cold is easier than running in heat.  At least when you warm up in the cold, you get warm.  When you warm up in the heat…you get even hotter than you already are.

We arrived at the Starlight Strawberry Festival and were directed to a spot to park.  Then it was off to packet pick-up.  This race always uses left-over race bibs from previous races, so I was decked out in one for The Shamrock 2 Miler.  My roommate helped me get pinned up and out the door we went to give me ample time to stretch.  As I was finishing that up, Judi, my roommate’s aunt, arrived with a newly decked out sign for me, completely adorned with strawberries in honor of the occasion.  Awesome.  Two signs (because the sign my roommate brings to every non-rainy race made the journey too).  I have the best peeps who support me in my running.  Honestly, I do.

Within moments, we were all moving a little ways up the street.  I gave hugs to Cathy and Judi and they wished me luck.  I prepped the iPod Nano as I made my way through the sea of runners and walkers to the little line across the road marking the start of the race.  I was about 3 rows back.  Next to me, I had a woman (who ended up taking 2nd for the women overall) who began bitching about running 5Ks.  She just went on and on about how she hated this distance and would rather run ultra’s any day.  Someone told her to just tack on another 97 miles then.  I was just shaking my head.  If you don’t like 5K races, don’t sign up to run in them.  That easy.

The announcements were made and then…the gun was to send us on our way.  But it didn’t fire.  Naturally.  So, we got a shout of “GO” and off we all went.  I wanted to start off slow as I tend to go out fast and then struggle at the end, but I ended up going out fast anyway.  Figures.  Another reason I wanted to start off at a better pace was the heat.  I was hot within moments of taking off on the race and heading up our first hill.  But, what better way to accustom yourself to running in the heat than to do it.

Mile 1 was rough.  There were quite a few small hills to take on.  I was running near one guy and as someone he knew caught up to him, they began having a conversation.  The guy who came up to him said that if they just run faster, it will be over sooner.  It made me laugh.  And then, before I knew it…Mile 1 was gone.  I remembered very little about this course from the previous year, but I did remember that the second mile was where a lot of runners dropped off last year to catch their breath near the cornfield.  I knew when I saw that cornfield I would be over halfway there.

And so I just kept going.  I just wanted to stay on pace.  No need to push too hard or drain myself in the heat for no reason.  I wanted to be comfortable and not push my body beyond limits it wasn’t ready for…or needed to go.  Mile 2 came around along with the only water stop on the route.  I pushed on and then…it was there…

A steep-ass hill.  No gradual incline here.  It looked like a monster just looming out ahead of me.  I admit…I was already feeling depleted of energy in the heat, that hill was the last thing I wanted to encounter.  But, what can you do?  You just run up it as best you can.  So, that’s what I did.  I won’t like…it totally slowed me down, but I just took it all in stride, pushed through it, and crested the top.  It felt good, but damn, it took a lot out of me.

From there on, it was just a series of small rolling hills.  As I rounded a corner, I could see the finish line.  I picked up the pace a bit.  And as I came in toward the finish line, my roommate was screaming at me.  Just shouting.  I checked the time clock and it was at 24-minutes and some seconds and ticking up.  I found whatever power left in my legs to propel me across that finish line in a very surprising sub-25 minute 5K.  My first.

It felt…amazing.  I couldn’t believe it.  Cathy and Judi came over, handed me water.  I downed it and went to turn in my card with my time, name and age on it.  When I returned, we made our way into the festival area and found a spot to camp out.  When the strawberry shortcake booth finally opened we went and got some strawberries.  As I can’t eat the shortcake, I just filled my bowl up with heaps of strawberries and dug in.

The awards ceremony began soon after and we cheered for the winners.  The overall winners were the team from the University of Cincinnati that always comes down and sweeps this race of the top awards.  It happened last year too.  Then the divisional awards were handed out.  And the craziest thing happened.

I won my division.  I wasn’t expecting that at all.  I was so surprised when they called my name for taking first place in the 30-34 women’s age group.  Cathy and Judi went ballistic and shouted for me as I went up to receive my award from the Strawberry Festival Queen.  I’m still in shock, I believe.

The official results for the Run for the Berries 5K haven’t been posted yet, but my official time is 24:50 (WOOHOO!).  The card I was handed at the finish had a 13 on it, but I’m not sure if that meant I was the 13th finisher of the 13th woman.  And, as I mentioned before, I placed first in my division.  If the results ever get posted, I’ll update this to give official standings.

For now…I sit here just really proud of myself for finally pulling off that sub-24 minute 5K.  I didn’t think I’d see it this year.  And this one…there was no mistaking the time.  The course is the right length.  The time…officially stands.

YES!

Race: Geist 5K

Place: Fishers, Indiana

Date: May 19, 2012

Time: 25:47

Tired doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt leading up to this race.  I was exhausted.  And here’s why…

The night prior I was running in the second race of the Frankfort Trifecta in Frankfort, Kentucky.  While I’ve done back-to-back races before, the second race usually suffers in comparison due to tired legs.  Races on two mornings leave some time for recovery.  A race at night followed by a race in the morning gives me time to sleep.

Usually.

The apartment below mine, however, is the home of a couple of baseball players in college.  And Friday night leading into Saturday morning they decided to be loud, obnoxious, shout, carry on, throw things around, bang around on things, and in general…be a complete nuisance.  Unfortunately, their loud antics meant very little sleep was had.  I finally stopped trying and just got up, got dressed in my race clothes, and came out to the living room to play on my computer until 4:00 a.m. when my roommate had set her alarm to get up.  But soon after I settled in on the couch, her door opened.  Yep…they woke her up too.

It was 3:30 a.m.  I put in a call to the landlord and we both decided we’d just get ready to get out on the road.  I got together some cereal to eat and grabbed a Lärabar for an hour before the actual race.  For my roommate, we’d grab something on the go, but just to get something in her stomach, we have granola bars on hand.  We grabbed the race gear and our stuff we’d need for the day…and headed out for the 2 hour drive from our apartment to Fishers, Indiana.

That, my friends, felt like an eternity.  When you are operating on very little sleep, everything seems to take longer.  But, we stuck some music on the iPod and made the drive to Hamilton Southeastern High School for race day packet pick-up (which thank God they have!).  We made one brief stop to get something for Cathy to eat for breakfast and as we neared the high school, I was tearing into my Lärabar (Peanut Butter Cookie flavor, FYI) so I wouldn’t find myself starving in the middle of the race.

We parked and headed toward the doors we entered through the day before.  However, they were locked with a sign on them that said “Go Around.”  The bad thing was, they didn’t indicate which way we needed to go.  And we chose unwisely.  The packet pickup was being held in the auxiliary gymnasium and we ended up taking the longer path around the school in the end.  But, we got there and I went up to the booth and claimed my packet and my t-shirt.

This was the first year that the Geist 5K was going to start in waves.  So, there was actually a corral system being used for the 5K as well as the half marathon, which was kicking off before the 5K.  I opened up my envelope that held my race bib and timing chip and discovered that I was being corralled in Corral A.  Now, for those of you unfamiliar with the corral system at races, the faster people are usually put in Corrals A-C.  Those at the Geist 5K who were in the first three corrals had a green stripe on their race bibs.  Well…I’m not a fast runner, nor do I claim to be.  Given my level of exhaustion and the fact that I had tired legs, I was also wearing a Bondiband that said: “What I lack in speed I make up for in cute!”  Sort of ironic to be wearing that when you’re being issued one of the more elite spots for the start of the race.

I ducked into the bathroom before I got pinned up and had the timing tag attached to my shoe.  From there, we headed outside to catch one of the shuttles (aka: a school bus) to the start point of the race.  We got on the first one and took our seats.  The drive didn’t even last that long, before we were pulling into a parking lot and being let off.  We had just gotten off the bus when some planes flew overhead.  I think this was marking the start of the half marathon.  As we walked toward the start we could see the last of the bobbing bodies going out of the start gate and up a hill.  The half marathon was off and running and now volunteers were readying the start area for the 5K race.

Cathy and I made our way down toward the start gate.  When we got close to Corral A, I went ahead and started stretching.  Good thing too, because the announcer suddenly said that the corrals were now ready for the 5K racers to begin lining up.  I shucked my hoodie, was wished luck by Cathy, and then…I stepped into Corral A.

Despite the fact that the official race site and rules say that headphones are prohibited, almost every runner had them in.  I left my iPod at home, because when a race says you can’t use headphones, I believe you should not wear headphones.  Rules are rules.

The announcer started calling out all the different teams that were running in the 5K race.  And soon, the corrals were moved forward.  The race would be started in waves.  Corral A would go, then four minutes later, the next wave would be set out.  And so on.  It made sense.  And, in the end, would probably make for a much smoother start to the race.

With all that being said, the announcer prepped us for the start.  And as soon as he said, “GO!” we were off…kind of.  You see, the ladies in front of me decided that they would rather walk through the start than go.  In fact, they might have decided to walk the entire thing.  I don’t know.  But I was already over the start line, my GPS was going, and I wasn’t running.  I literally had to push past them to get out and going, and that’s what I did.  I gave a wave to Cathy as I ran by and started up the initial hill that kicks off the Geist 5K.

You wouldn’t think it…but this area of Indianapolis is rather hilly.  The race is run through the surrounding neighborhoods, and then the last bit of it is spent running across the Geist Reservoir.  It starts and ends in two different spots, which meant Cathy had to dart from the start to a shuttle to get her to the finish line before I made it there.  It’s not as easy as it sounds.  For the second year in a row, she managed to get to where she needed to be moments before I rounded the corner for the sprint to the finish.

The first file ticked off without much fanfare.  As we rounded into the neighborhoods we were being told by a volunteer to watch our step on some pavement.  I thanked them as I ran by and headed into the rather hilly neighborhoods around the Geist Reservoir.  The people who live out there, however, are awesome.  Many of them were out on their driveways and in their yards to cheer on the runners.  It was a great atmosphere.  I was hoping there would be some music being played along the way, but no such luck.  Mile 2 was completed and I was heading into the last one.

I started up a hill and there was a sign indicating that 5K runners should hang left and half marathon runners should go to the right.  We were hitting the part where we run across the reservoir.  As I was coming up to the split, a volunteer was moving the sign and told me to go right.  I shouted, “I’m in the 5K!”  He still said I needed to go that way.  So…I did as I was told.  But I noticed all the other runners were in the other lane, and up ahead was a slow moving bus and some people walking.  So, despite what I was told, I hopped the median to join all the other 5K runners and avoided the slow down.  The last mile was being ticked off and I could see the bend that would carry me toward the finish line.

So, I decided, despite how tired I was, to go for it.  I came around the turn, and Cathy was there just shouting and cheering for me.  It was awesome.  I heard the finish line announcer say, “The donkey is flying!  Go Karen!”  It was awesome and funny and…well…awesome!  I was nearing the finish line and I heard people yelling, “GO GIRL!  RUN!”  And then…some walkers were in my way.  They were crossing about the time I was…but I just went around them.  I bet that makes interesting finish line photos.

Yeah…I was tired.  Yeah…my legs were screaming at me.  But I was handed one of the finisher medals and made my way through runner services, snagging a banana and some snacks along the way.  Then, I got the tag cut off my shoe and waited for a moment before I spotted Cathy heading my way.

We met up and I tucked the snacks away for later, drank down my bottle of water, and went to the results tent to get my official time.  It was printed off for me and I was stunned.  I walked the ticket over to Cathy and showed her that, currently, I was placed first in my division.  I did, however, tell her that was going to change.  So, while we waited in the recovery area, I decided to take advantage of the massage booth and got a nice post-race massage.  Then, I rejoined Cathy to polish off my bottle of water.  I went back over to the results booth, because enough of the 5K runners had come in at this point that the results would be a little more accurate.  I was right…my standing changed.

The official results for the Geist 5K have me finishing in 25:47 (not bad for being tired!).  I was 245/3063 finishers overall.  Sweet!  I was 57/1826 women to cross the finish.  And I was 2/173 people in my division.  Second place for my age division.  That’s amazing!  I was ecstatic.  I was actually quite surprised too.  I was running this race on tired legs and was overall just…tired…due to lack of sleep.  But I pulled off one hell of a finish.  I was very, very pleased with the results.  Quite proud of myself too.

I’m contemplating running the Geist Half Marathon next year as one of my half marathon races.  It would be a good run to do as I’m working toward my first marathon in 2013.  So, we’ll see what happens in the end.  But this was yet another race I returned to and bettered myself in.  Last year I finished in 28:10.  It was nice to see an improvement.