Me crossing the finish line of the Pro.Active For Life 5K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Race: Pro.Active For Life 5K
Place: Frankfort, Kentucky
Date: May 18, 2012
Time: 26:58
This…was a tough race. Not that I haven’t run this exact route in Frankfort in other 5Ks prior to this one. That wasn’t what made it tough. What made this race a challenge was that I was coming off of only one day off of running (which was Wednesday night). On Thursday morning, I put in a hard run, plus some time on the elliptical and stationary bike at the gym. And prior to that, I had run both Monday and Tuesday…so needless to say, I was operating on very tired legs.
I totally understand now why people take a day off before a race.
That being said, this was a very fun race to participate in. The Pro.Active For Life 5K is the second race of the Frankfort Trifecta, the three-race series that I am entered to run in. The first race ran back in March. And the final one will run a month from now. This is actually quite a popular race as well. It even hands out awards for first timers…you know, those who are taking on their very first 5K. It’s a great motivator and definitely draws a crowd.
Getting to Frankfort was the challenge. My roommate and I put in a full day at the office, sneaking out 30 minutes before we normally leave. We stopped off to grab something to eat on the way and hit the road to Frankfort. The traffic in Louisville was pretty bad, but we got through it and made our way to the state capital.
We parked in our usual parking garage and headed into the historic downtown area. Packet pick-up was currently going on and I slipped inside the building, past the long line of people registering on race day, to get my number, my t-shirt, and a reusable bag to boot. Awesome. I got out of the crowded room and got my number pinned on to the front of my shirt.
It was a hot night and I was already questioning my choice of a t-shirt over a tanktop for the run. But, there wasn’t any time to change out now. I had to get stretching because the race would be starting momentarily. Yes…that is how close we cut it upon arrival. So, I stretched, and moved about, seeing the crowd assembling on the main street where the races usually start in Frankfort. My roommate and I headed that way and we noticed that the starting/finishing gate had been moved across the road. Volunteers were standing around with signs marking pace times. It was already time to start thinking about running.
Talk about being rushed.
So, I took my spot in the 20-30 minute 5K spot, and immediately got overtaken by young children. This often happens in races like this, so I attempted to move aside so I could at least get off to a good start and not worry about trampling a child on accident. This attempt failed, so I just chalked it up to the nature of this sort of race and prepped my Garmin (which I forgot needed some time to find its satellites) and set my iPod.
One of the race officials began making announcements. However, none of the runners could really make them out. They were being done to the side and behind most of us, which meant that it never really reached our ears. Apparently, they were giving instructions about going with the gun. And since none of us could hear it, when a loud gunshot rang out…everyone jumped.
…and we were off…
I zigged and zagged my way through the crowd as we took off down the roads of Frankfort for the first mile. I know exactly how this path winds. I knew that the first mile would be after climbing a steep hill toward the capitol building. About halfway towards it…that’s the mile marker. It’s always marked, but I’ve run Frankfort so many times that I just know where it is. My pace was slower than I normally take it. It wasn’t that I finally learned to pace myself in the first mile. I wish I could say it was. The fact was…it was HOT and I was doing my best just to stay focused on the run and not how much energy the heat was sapping from me.
Up another incline and around the capitol. This is where we finally get a little downhill momentum. But it lasts only for a moment. I was doing my best to keep pace…but it was really, really hard to do that in the heat of the evening. I mean, the race was running at 6:30 p.m. It is still quite hot out at 6:30 p.m. In fact, it was in the mid-80s at this point still. Mile 2 ticked off and I was now in the final mile of the race.
I took the little inclines with stride, and powered with the downhill portions as much as possible. I just felt drained because of the relentless sun and the heat coming up from the pavement. Couple that with the 773 runners sharing the course with you and it’s just a quagmire of heat. I was doing my best to keep to the shadier areas of the streets.
I knew when I rounded that last corner that I was pretty much done. The finish line was in sight, but the thought of even turning on the afterburners and fighting for a fast finish was draining. The heat was just getting me that night. I think I’ve come to realize that races this summer are going to be a shorts and bra-top affair. It might help a little with the heat. I just need to remember to slather on the sunscreen.
The picture from the newspaper of Cathy cheering for me as I finish while holding my sign!
That being said, I did pour some energy into the final sprint to the finish. I could hear some runners sneaking up behind me and I was determined not to let one of them pass me. It worked. And I crossed the finish line…with no new PR…but happy to be done. I snagged a very warm bottle of water and moved to the side where my roommate skipped over to congratulate me on another race. As we were standing around, a reporter from Frankfort’s Capital-Journal newspaper came over and told Cathy she had taken a picture of her and wanted to get her name and some information regarding the sign she was holding. I swear to God that sign gets her in more pictures and publications than I end up in…and I’m the runner. Hehehe.
After we parted ways with the reporter, Cathy ducked into the local coffee shop and snagged two cold bottles of water. We debated sticking around, however, I had another race to run in Indianapolis the following morning, which was already constituting an early wake-up call to make the over 2 hour drive to packet pick-up up there. So, we bid Frankfort adieu.
And until today…I had no idea how the race went. No results were posted until early this afternoon. But as it turns out…despite the hot, hot night, I didn’t do too bad. My official time was 26:58. I was the 85/773 finishers overall. And, it surprised me to find out I finished 2/65 in my age division. ROCK ON!
Time to get tough and get used to running in the heat. I have a feeling the more I do it, the less I’ll wilt.
Yep…you read that right. I am 100 miles away from my goal for the year.
400 miles!
I can’t believe how quickly these miles have just ticked off. There hasn’t been a day where I thought…”I just don’t want to run today.” I’ve been very diligent about following my half marathon training schedule. I’ve lightened up runs when my body has suggested it might be the best option to do so. I’ve run hard on hills, pushed myself in races, and sometimes have just had to stop and catch my breath for a moment.
But this is the life of a road runner.
And 500 miles is creeping up fast. The goal is going to have to be expanded. I don’t know what I’ll strive for in the end. Perhaps I’ll just add another 100 miles…and see what comes from it. Or perhaps I’ll add another 500 to the count. I just don’t know. It’s something to think about. The fact of the matter is, on Monday evening, upon arriving late to my group fun run and having to set out on my own…I hit that 400 mile mark.
I didn’t even realize it at the time, but it happened. Probably somewhere when my paced slowed to a crawl as I hit the hardest hill in Cherokee Park over in Louisville, Kentucky. One day I will conquer that hill without feeling like I’ve just pushed myself up a mountain. With each run, with each session at the gym, I am getting stronger. I can feel it in my running. I can feel it every day.
But this is where it stands today…over 400 miles of road covered and quite a bit more already planned as far as future races go.
I’m not burned out on it at all. I crave more of it. And that, my friends, is only a good thing.
Me crossing the finish line at the Throo The Zoo 5K – Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Throo The Zoo 5K
Place: Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Kentucky
Date: May 12, 2012
Time: 25:10
And so, my friends…I finally managed a new PR for a 5K race. I have yet to achieve my goal of a (real) sub-25 minute 5K…but I’m getting closer. Second-by-second. And, really, it should be taken one second at a time, right?
Apparently, the Throo The Zoo 5K is one of the more popular races in the Louisville area. I was actually surprised by the number of bibs stacked up on the table when I went to Fleet Feet in Louisville on Friday morning to pick up my race packet. For one thing, there was a long line and I was there right when they opened. The volume of t-shirts and bibs was crazy. I’m used to Louisville’s little 5Ks that run through one of the local parks. But Throo The Zoo is a big deal it seems.
With race packet in hand, I returned to work on Friday. But something was different. You see, my office had a nice handful of people who were not only coming out for the race, but some were going to walk it as well. For the first time in…well…ever…I was going to know someone at a local 5K race I was in. This, for some reason, made me incredibly happy. And, my roommate and her aunt, Judi, were coming out to watch, wave signs, scream, shout, and be an awesome cheering section.
Saturday morning came way too soon. I was up at 5:00 a.m. to get ready for the race. This meant packing up my race bag with a change of clothes and everything I might need post-race. Eating some cereal. Meeting up with Judi. Getting us all in the car and over to the Louisville Zoo by 7:00 a.m. They recommended on the Web site that we arrive early because roads coming into the zoo were going to be closed at 7:30 a.m. in preparation for the race. That being said, we barely made it there due to the massive amount of traffic heading into the zoo. Seriously. Then the hunt for a parking spot (that we would remember) was on. My roommate was determined to park near a landmark so she chose one of many similar looking trees in a lot and parked. I was eating a Lärabar in the backseat because I hate at 5:45 a.m. and knew I would be starving by the time the race started at 8:00 a.m. if I didn’t eat something I could easily digest in between. So when 7:00 hit…I was making sure I’d have some energy for the race itself.
Me, Kayla and Will before the Throo The Zoo 5K – Louisville, Kentucky
We grabbed the race stuff from the trunk (bag and signs) and made our way toward where the starting gate was staked. It wasn’t in place yet as traffic was still pouring into the zoo. Too early to stretch, we sort of just hung around and chatted, taking in the sheer volume of people that were arriving for this 5K race. And that’s when my teammate from the office, Kayla, found us. She and her husband, Will, were both participating in the walk. Amazing they even spotted us. So, we conversed and chatted and goofed around. Will inquired as to when I would normally finish one of these races. I said I tend to come in between 25-27 minutes in 5Ks these days, but didn’t know what to expect with it being this big. Oh…and that I always finish fourth in my age division. We all laughed about that…because…I’m usually right on that cusp when it comes to the smaller races. The clock was ticking down toward race time so it was time to do my stretches to get my muscles loose and warm before shucking my hoodie. We took a couple of pictures before we saw a flood of runners and walkers making their way toward the starting gate, which had been moved now across the road. It was 10 minutes before race time. Hugs. Luck. And all that good karma stuff was thrown out among all of us and we took our respective spots.
The wait for the start wasn’t too bad. There was an electricity with this race. No one was being negative at all about anything. People of all ages were around me, from kids to older adults. I love glancing around me at my starting position just to see what kind of people turned out for the race. And it was a mixed bag of everyone for this one.
No sooner had I turned on my iPod, we started moving. I guess the race started and somehow I missed the whistle. Not that it matters. I usually position myself toward the front of the middle of the pack, so I move when everyone else does. I go where everyone else goes. I’m never the fastest at a race, so I don’t ever concern myself with learning the route pre-race. I just go where everyone else does.
Michael, Harold and Laura, the rest of the team from the office, starting at the Throo The Zoo 5K – Louisville, Kentucky
That being said, this race being so big and running on tight neighborhood streets, were cars were parked on the side, made this a new kind of a challenge. I had been warned that there were too many people at this race, and it was too big, to attempt any personal goal or record. So, I went into it just planning to run a good race and to keep a good pace. My GPS watch was my guide for that. And as we headed through the neighborhoods, I also discovered how hilly this area was.
Initially, the hills were little mounds that were just a little hindrance to the pace. I powered through them as best as I could, not wanting to expend too much energy too soon because I wanted that strong finish. I didn’t want another Frankfort, KY moment where someone outruns me at the very…last…second. That being said, as we crested another rolling hill, one of the runners in a Fleet Feet shirt stood at the top, high-fiving people as they came up and said, “It’s all downhill from here!” We all pretty much knew better and I laughed at that when I heard it. However, I did find myself passing people though as we moved, and being passed in return. We wound our way past the zoo and down through another neighborhood before turning, heading back toward the zoo for the final portion, which actually took us through the Louisville Zoo (hence the name of the race).
This was actually the part I was looking forward to the most. We entered the zoo and were directed down a hill (FINALLY!). The path we were taking was the one that wound through the outer parameter of the zoo itself. And it also brought about our water stop. I found out from one of the walkers later that when they hit that spot, all the water was gone. You’d think a race that is this big of a deal in this area would come better stocked with water.
That being said, I was winding my way through the different areas of the zoo. There wasn’t too much out to be seen at this point. I did see a polar bear as I ran under one of the walkways in a concession area. The polar bear was up in the pass, sort of watching all of us. Probably thinking breakfast was served. But, that was basically it for me as far as the animals went. The path took another twist and at the 2.5 mile mark…Gorilla Hill. Welcome to the cruelest thing to throw at a runner when they are making their way toward the finish line. A massive, massive hill. Gorilla Hill (near the gorilla exhibit) was a climb. And my legs felt every bit as I pushed my way up it. It slowed me down, for sure, but I’ve been making a point to get out and run on hills, so my legs are starting to get used to that kind of a push. Normally I take hills leisurely, but during races I tend to push a bit more. And I was pushing as much as my body would allow.
As it leveled out, I was down to the final portion of the race. We finished up inside the zoo and were brought out. We turned a corner and the finish line was now in sight. I picked it up as much as I could, really working on that strong finish. That is such a vital part of road racing. With me passing people, people passing me, and the usual runners dance toward the finish, I crossed, stopped my GPS watch and was immediately greeted by Cathy and Judi. And for the first time, I checked my GPS watch. If it was correct, then I had a new PR. Only time would tell.
Judi and Cathy…here to cheer me and the rest of the office crew on. Every race needs people like them in the crowd!
I meandered over to the recovery area where runners could pick up some post-race goodies. Clif Bars, bananas, barbeque sandwiches, donuts, etc. I grabbed a banana and thanked the people at the booth for having something gluten-free. I walked around the area to see what all there was, then rejoined Cathy and Judi near the finish line.
We had a lot going on that day…plans to hit up a local farmer’s market (opening weekend!), see The Avengers at the theater, do lunch, and grab some ice cream…so as much as we wanted to stay to cheer on the people from our office, we had to depart. We gave a parting glance to the finish line and made our way through the parking lot, searching for the elusive tree we parked near. With the car found, we piled in and headed out to enjoy our day.
It was while the credits were rolling during the film that I pulled up the race results on my iPhone.
And the results were that I finished the Throo The Zoo 5K in 25:10. A new PR! It beat out my time in the Westerville Bunny Hop 5K (my fastest 5K at the time, not counting the Durbin Classic 5K where they said the course might have been shorter than 3.1 miles) by 14 seconds. I was the 210/2153 finishers overall. And yes…I finished 4/169 in my age division. See…always 4th. It made me laugh when I saw that.
This was a great, packed race that had a great atmosphere to it. I would totally run this one again in a heartbeat. So…if I’m here next year…it’s going on the list.
Me with my finisher’s medal at the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon – Indianapolis, Indiana
Race: OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon
Place: Downtown Indianapolis, IN
Date: May 5, 2012
Time: 2:04:51
It was going to be hot. That’s all I knew coming into the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. That and this is the largest half marathon in the country. One reason it was on my bucket list of races to run in my lifetime. *places a check mark next to that one* And, I’ll be honest, if it weren’t for a slew of other races that run this same weekend that I’m interested in, I’d be back again next year. It was that amazing of a race.
But let’s get back to the heat.
All week the weather had said rain. Then no rain. Then…possible rain. I’m no stranger to running races in the rain. A majority of my races have been in the rain. I just, really, wasn’t feeling 13.1 miles in the rain. It would mean being wet the entire time…and the need for brand new shoes at the end of it all. Then…the weather changed again. Now…a high of 85 degrees…humidity of 97%. In other words…HOT.
The gross kind of hot. That sticky, humid, you just always feel moist kind of hot. The worst kind of hot.
Time to dig out the race outfit I wore in Chicago (it was hot then too) and give it another spin. And that’s what I did on Friday night when I started packing up my race clothes for this event. I’d go to work that day, leave around 3 p.m. and hit the road to Indianapolis. I’d arrive around rush hour (joy), attempt to find parking downtown that didn’t cost an arm and a leg (I didn’t have any to spare), and get into the Mini Marathon Race Expo to pick up my packet and check out the vendors.
It took a bit of lapping around the convention center, but my roommate and I pulled into a parking garage, parked, and headed into the expo with the hope of it taking less than an hour. That would mean parking would be $5.00, not $10.00. So…one hour. It took us about 10 minutes or so to get from where we parked, inside the convention center, and to where the expo was being held. Honestly, I think we parked as far away as humanly possible without even realizing it. But, we got there…and ducked inside.
Now, my first half marathon was last year’s Chicago Half Marathon (which I ran in 2:20:59, fresh off of two very bad and debilitating injuries and in heat/humidity of orange flag proportions), which had a really, really big expo as well over on Navy Pier. But this one dwarfed that one. Honestly. It was crazy big. Lots of vendors. Lots of races. Lots of races that sounded really awesome to run. This is the place for a runner to get inspired. But first thing was first…packet pick-up.
I went all the way to the back of the expo center where the booths were lined up for racers to pick up their packet. It was done by bib number. I had just a short wait (2 people ahead of me) before handing over my postcard, receiving my swag bag and race number, and stepping away. I was giddy with excitement and did a little happy dance of joy when I walked over to where my roommate was waiting for me. Yeah…I was now getting into the mood.
We did a quick stroll around the expo, starting at the very end and wending our way up and down the multiple aisles. As we started up one aisle, we spotted the booth for Tap ‘N Run. And there, on the backdrop of the booth…was a photo of me. So…we asked if I could get a picture of myself with their promotional backdrop as I was the girl in the purple. The guy looked at the backdrop, looked at me, invited me back, high-fived me, and I got the picture. I should be in race modeling, just saying.
After that, we continued on…picking up a couple of race brochures, seeing what races were represented, checking out the BlueMile running store booth, and other booths. And making good time. Until I hit the booth for BondiBand. BondiBand and I have a race history. I bought my first one (it simply says 13.1) when I ran the Chicago Half Marathon. Since then, I have acquired quite a collection of them. They (and colored hair extensions) have become a part of my race uniform on race day. So…most of my one hour was spent pawing through the stacks, piles, and cases of BondiBands, and finally purchasing four new ones. I couldn’t resist. So…look for them in future races.
We walked through the rest of the expo…then figured it was getting really, really close to time on our parking, and exited. A check of the watch did show that our time was almost up on the parking garage, so we hurried as much as we could back, took the stairs down to the level where you paid, searched for the pay booth, found it, and got the ticket marked and paid for…with only two minutes to spare. We were two minutes away from paying $10 for parking. Whew. That was close. From there…we were off for dinner at Don Pablos before picking up a couple of bananas at Kroger and heading to the Fairfield Inn and collapsing for the night. When we got checked into the hotel and up to the room, I set out everything for the race the following day, changed into my pajamas, read the information packet in my swag bag, then turned in. My alarm was set for 4:30 a.m.
It arrived way too soon.
Race morning!!
Race morning is, as usual when on the road, a frantic hustle-bustle to get dressed, get fueled (this morning it was dry gluten-free EnviroKidz Gorilla Munch cereal), drink some water, brush teeth, put hair extensions in, put hair in pigtails, take a couple pictures, pack up water and protein shake from fridge, pack up post-race snacks, pack up luggage, check out of hotel, get to the race. So, it was a bit frantic, but we managed it all in and hour, and hit the road as planned. In the car, I snacked on a banana with peanut butter as we headed into downtown Indianapolis again, parked for only $5.00 (yes…event parking that cheap) at an easy-access garage for post-race, and took a stroll toward the race site.
And it was during that walk that the butterflies finally hit. The magnitude of this race was really starting to hit home. I have a half marathon goal this year. This is the first of four of them that I’m running. That goal…is to hit sub-2 hours. If it wasn’t so freakin’ hot at 6:00 a.m., this might have been the race it happened at. But it was already sticky humid and the sun hadn’t even come up yet. This was not the race to set a new PR at. This was a race to run smart and finish.
We took a couple pictures at the start line then went and sat down at a table to watch the runners, the news crew, the helicopters, and take it all in. At one point, they started the music up and we glanced up to the hotel windows where curtains snapped back, giggling a little at the ones we could recognize as not being in town because they are running. Check the event calendar, folks. This is a BIG deal here.
After a little bit of lingering, we decided it was time to head down the corral line and find Corral O, also known as, my home until the race began. But, as we were walking, I thought to travel down to Corral T, where my friend Julia was to be, as this was her first half marathon and I really wanted to give her a hug and wish her luck. I got down to T and couldn’t find her. So I texted her, but she was over at Military Park, where the post-race party was going to be held. So, I headed back toward Corral O and slipped inside and began to stretch out.
No sooner had I done that, Keith from my Monday night fun run group arrived. So, at least now I knew someone. He introduced me to his running partner, Carrie, and we all stood around and talked while we did some last minute stretching. The 5K race kicked off during all of this, but we were so far away from the start line that all we really heard was the countdown. Most of our talk was about training and the upcoming run. We took some pictures, stretched out some more, and then they removed the dividers for the corrals. The wheelchair race kicked off at 7:30 a.m. sharp. Again, we were too far away to see anything, but heard the countdown. This meant the start of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon was just three minutes away.
I gave my roommate a hug, wished Keith luck, and we heard the official countdown to the start of the Mini. Lots of clapping and cheers. And now the slow shuffle toward the start line began. This part is actually really exciting. Your heart is racing, you’re smiling, and the atmosphere is just electric. No one is hurting or dehydrated at this point. The mood is uplifting. And you can lose yourself in it so easily. The people I was around kept changing. However, my “GO KAREN GO” sign that my roommate had kept appearing at various points of the long shuffle up to the start line. The runners I was around tracked it the entire way. One group I was near said, “There is that Karen sign again!” and laughed because they had seen it a ways back. I turned and replied, “I’m Karen…and that’s my friend!” Cathy was bobbing, weaving, and hurrying on ahead so I’d continue to see the sign as I made my way toward the start. And soon…I had. Twenty minutes after the official start. And as Keith said at the fun run last night…I hit the start and was gone.
It was already sticky hot and nearing 8 a.m. at this point. I was glad I carried a water bottle with me. But there were tons of water and Gatorade “Pit Stops” along the way. I started off much slower than I normally do at races, because I had 13.1 miles to cover. So, slow and steady, especially in this heat. The first mile ticked by quickly, but I still noticed the elephants on parade at the zoo. That was cool. As we turned onto Michigan, mile 2 came into sight…then three. When I hit the 5K mark, I checked my GPS watch for the first time. Definitely running slower than I had thought I would, but I wanted to beat the heat and not fall victim to it. I would have other opportunities to break a 2 hour half marathon. Today was not that day. Today was a day to run smart.
The next two miles were a blur of bands, runners, and me focusing on breathing, pace, and what would be next. As we came into the sixth mile of this, we would be running the track of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 race. Awesome. And when I ran down a ramp and then back up to enter the speedway, I knew I was now entering my favorite part of the race. For the first time, and only for a few moments, the sun was shielded by clouds. And I managed to pick up my pace a little. My roommate told me that at the 10K mark in the Speedway, I was on pace for my 1:59:00 finish. But it was too fast for the heat of the day and I knew it…so I slowed down as the sun crept back out. Two and a half miles were spent running this famous track. It was awesome. Runners were taking video, taking pictures, and just soaking up the occasion. For some reason, this part of the race felt like it went on forever. I felt like the track portion of the race was never going to end, but soon, I was exiting the Speedway and hitting the pavement once again for the last five and a half miles.
I want to say a big thank you to the people who lived on the streets we ran down, because some were out there with their hoses just spraying down the runners. It was awesome and just what we needed. There were rigs set up for misting that the runners could go through as well to cool down. Very smart. But all this time the flag on the mile markers stayed green. I was surprised, because the heat was really intense. I hit Mile 10 and decided to check my watch again. I was about where I was on my training run, and only a few minutes behind where I was on the Papa John’s 10 Miler. Ideally, that was the pace I wanted. Realistically…that wasn’t happening today. I was proud of where I was and told myself I only had a 5K to go. Then…victory.
I didn’t want to hit the wall like I did in Chicago the previous September, so I dug out my package of Annie’s Organic Summer Strawberry Fruit Snacks (vegan & gluten-free), which I brought along for fuel as I didn’t have time to get beans and I don’t do the gels or gu. So…I downed these as I went and then focused on the task at hand. Mile 11 cruised by. Then…VICTORY MILE!
After hitting Mile 12, you enter the home stretch. This happens on New York Street. The Victory Mile is adorned with banners in the infamous black and white checkered flags. The crowd was awesome, just encouraging you onward. “You’re almost there runners!” “Good job, runners!” “You can do this!” Actually when someone shouted that, a runner right behind me replied, “I never doubted myself for a moment.” And yes…I laughed. Loudly. It felt great.
I admit…running that last mile was emotional. The checkered flags, the crowd, the cheering, and that final sprint when you know you are so close to the Finish. You can see the finish line and you know if you just put all your heart into it, you’re going to get there. So, you just give it all you have…and that’s what I did. I pushed. I could feel the finish with each footfall. And as I got close, my roommate was right there with my sign, screaming at me to go, to push, to finish.
And I did. Just five minutes shy of my goal. In the heat and humidity. Yeah…I’ll take that. Any day. I was so damn proud of myself for finishing as well as I did. I was hot, I was ready for some water. I needed my cold vegan chocolate protein shake. But it would be a moment before that happened. I had to get through Runner Services first. No problem. Just go with the crowd. First…the finisher’s medal. YAY! Then…a plastic bag for you to put all your goodies…bananas, fruit cups, fruit strips, dehydrated fruits, cookies (I skipped those because gluten is the enemy)…and of course my bag ripped when the banana (the first thing I got) went in. So I was juggling more than I wanted to. But, that’s what happens with me. I just laugh it off. I made it to where they were taking photos of runners, got mine, then proceeded to Military Park and toward the Family Reunion Area. I had to find the marker labeled B. That was where Cathy was going to meet me.
She was already there. And said, “Come here you sweaty runner person and give me a hug.” I did. I was still smiling. I got my cell phone from her, laid down on the ground, propped my feet up on her and called my mom. We talked for a little bit, then I stretched, stood up, and downed my protein shake and polished off my water. I got my Smart Water from Cathy and downed that too. She handed me the last bottle I had and I nursed that one as we went to the Convention Center to use the bathroom so I could get changed out of my damp running clothes.
When I was in the bathroom, I pulled open my bag to change and found a new t-shirt in there for me. Cathy got me a “I Finished” t-shirt. Which I wore proudly that day. After changing, we walked around, then it was off to lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise, where I was able to pick up my veggie burger and eat it like a real human does for the first time in ages, thanks to the gluten-free buns they have there.
And yeah…I was still smiling.
As for the official standings of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon, I finished in 2:04:51. Overall, I was 7271/31,129 finishers. I was437/2737 runners in my age division and 2191/16825 female finishers.
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon, Indianapolis, IN
The day has finally arrived. Since February, I’ve put a lot of miles on my feet and a lot of time into training for this. In some areas, I’ve fallen short (hello, strength training!). In other areas, I’ve really seen improvements. I’ve run through injury. I’ve run through rain. I’ve run in the cold. And I’ve slogged it out on the treadmill…all for this.
The nation’s largest half marathon. Yes. As in the biggest one in the country. And the best part is…it’s close to home. Just a short drive north to Indianapolis.
Tomorrow, my dear friends, I’ll be lining up in corral O and anticipating the start of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. I’ve had my eye on this race for awhile. And, unlike last year when I ran my first half marathon ever (Chicago), this time I have trained properly and even learned a thing or two in the process. Amazing how that happens.
I’m not going to lie…those pre-race butterflies are already kicking in. I’m giddy with excitement. I love running half marathons (despite only doing one and barely surviving). I love a good endurance race. And this one is a BIG deal. I mean…it’s the largest in the United States. Somewhere near 40,000 people run in this race. That’s not an exaggeration. And this year…I am one of them.
The weather on Saturday morning…hot and humid. Yeah. And it will only heat up as the day goes on. I’ve done some running on hot days, and I tend to wilt. So, I plan to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Just like I did when I ran the equally as hot Chicago Half Marathon back in September. It worked then…I hope it works now.
I also know, now, that I have to eat more than a serving of cereal before running 13.1 miles. So, last night I went to pick up a packet of peanut butter to throw on a banana pre-race. I’ll also have my cereal and that should see me through. If I need a boost while out running, I have one lonely pack of Annie’s vegan/gluten-free fruit snacks. I’m still not very good at eating while on the run. I have yet to master it without something upsetting my stomach or bringing on cramps. But as I’m aiming for a marathon in the very near future, well, I best learn what works and learn how to do it.
This morning, I was up early to pack up my race clothes, shoes, and my overnight bag. Right after work, I’m heading up to Indianapolis, stopping into the race expo, picking up my packet, walking around, drinking it all in, then grabbing something for dinner that won’t wreak havoc on my stomach, and then turning in for the night. As I’m staying outside of the downtown area, it means rising earlier than I would like to head into the city, get the parking garage I hope to get, and getting to that start line.
I have quite a few friends who are running in this race with me. One is in my corral. The other one hasn’t told me where she is positioned, but I hope to run into her either pre-race or after. This is her first half marathon and I want to wish her luck and congratulate her on finishing. I hope it happens.
I have goals this year when it comes to my distance races. Due to the heat that they are expecting tomorrow, I don’t think I’ll hit it on my first (of four) half marathon this year. But…there is time to improve, time to work through some kinks, and other races that I can aim for those goals during. I’d rather run smart in the heat then push too hard and not make it to the finish because of it.
So…first half marathon of the year and I’m doing it in a big way.
To all those running with me…best of luck!! See you at the finish!
I’ve put a lot of time, energy, strength, sweat, tears, and bruises into my half marathon training. I’ve continued to run races around the area and…in Colorado (because I am crazy!)…while maintaining my training program and keeping up with the mileage that is required on certain days. And I have had a blast doing it.
Well, today was my last long run before I kick off my first (of four, so far) half marathon of the year. I’m totally excited to be doing another half marathon. This will only be the second one that I have run, but I have trained smart for it…really listened to my body…and have found my runs improving. It makes me feel really good.
But today, something else happened on my last long run. Well, I discovered my water bottle was leaking…but that’s beside the point. As I rounded up my 10 mile run today, after an easy 5 miles followed by the last 5 miles with hills (I’m apparently a masochist when it comes to my training runs), I hit the 350 mile mark on my journey to run 500 miles this year. I couldn’t be more proud of this achievement either. This hasn’t been an easy road. I’ve even had to run on a sore Achilles tendon (I slowed down and didn’t push it on hills or for speed). I’ve worried about injuries, endured minor ones, one major one, and kept on going despite it. Why? Because I have a half marathon next weekend and I want to be ready for it.
When I ran my first half marathon last year in Chicago, I wasn’t prepared for it. I was straight off of a stress fracture to my foot and horrible runner’s knee in my right knee. Training wasn’t an option…I could barely run a mile on a treadmill at a slow speed. So, it was a miracle I finished. I didn’t eat right for it. I didn’t train. And yet…I got to that finish line in a respectable time.
My goal…to only improve on that.
So, having 350 miles behind me already feels great. I feel great. I couldn’t be more excited about hitting the road in Indianapolis next Saturday for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. I think it will be a good race. I think I will run a good race. And, I have 350 miles of training to thank for that.
Only 150 more to go. Looks like I might have to increase my goal for the year.
And that, my dearest friends, is how you can tell that I run for the love of it. I don’t make myself go out and run. I willingly go and put in the miles. It makes me feel better about life when I do it because I run because I love to run. And there is no better reason to run than because you love it. If you don’t love doing it…you’ll stop doing it. And I hope to be doing this for a very long time.
Me crossing the finish line at the Step 4 Life 5K - Brighton, Colorado
Race: Step 4 Life 5K/10K Race
Place: Brighton, CO
Date: April 21, 2012
Time: 27:16
To quote U2: “EL-E-VATION!”
So…here it is. I live in a river valley. The Ohio River Valley here in Southern Indiana. I’m so close to Louisville, Kentucky, I can see it from my apartment. Yeah. New Albany, Indiana sits at an elevation of 449 feet.
Now picture for a moment doing your first run ever in Colorado at 5,063 feet. Yeah. Elevation indeed!
Every April, I fly out to Denver, Colorado for a science fiction convention. No, really…I do. I love visiting Colorado. It’s such a beautiful state and every time I go out there, I hate leaving. I long for the next time I’ll be back. That’s how much I love it. This year, since I have taken up running and am pursuing a goal of running a race in all 50 states at some point, I thought why not run a race and cross Colorado off the list. My roommate found one…the Step 4 Life 5K/10K race that benefited lung cancer research. Awesome.
I really, really wanted to do the 10K, but after much thought and evaluation, decided it would probably be best when going from river valley to mountains to do a test run on the 5K. So, that’s what I signed up for. And, believe me, I had a lot of people concerned about how I would do at it. For me…I was just going to take it easy and do what I felt my body could do.
So, race morning came around. A beautiful 52 degree, sunny morning. I got up, ate a light breakfast of some gluten-free cereal and got dressed for the race. The drive from Denver to Brighton took about 25 minutes overall, and we got there right about the time we hoped to. I went to pick up my packet…and unfortunately…they couldn’t find my name on the list. YIKES!
But, they were very professional about it and simply handed me a number, had me write down my information, and let me enter. I had the receipt showing I paid for it, but they didn’t even ask to see it. Awesome. So, now that I was officially part of the race with my t-shirt and all, I went to pick up my timing chip.
This was apparently the first year that they used chip timing. So, this was going to be a new experience for anyone who had run this before. As I am getting pinned up and put, what I like to call the “house arrest timing chip” around my ankle, I’m noticing the other runners in the race. They are all super fit. No surprise. Colorado is the home of the two healthiest cities in the entire United States (Boulder and Fort Collins). So, there were people who had run the Boston Marathon that year, and people who were just all muscle. Lean, mean running machines. I consider myself to be in decent shape (although I admit that I do love my ice cream and chocolate too much for my own running good, but it never stops me!), but I was really intimidated by these other runners.
First race at elevation...done!
I guess that’s just natural. I usually try not to compare myself to others that are running with me, because no matter how fit someone is (or not fit) you don’t know how well they perform when running. I have been bested by people I thought I would leave behind in the dust, and likewise I have blasted past people I thought I’d never even have a chance of passing. It’s just one of those weird running quirks.
Well, race time was upon us and I was stretched out and as prepared as I was going to be. I booted up my iPod Nano and went to line up. In my head I was just reminding myself to breathe (which is what my headband for this race said, btw!). The announcer said that the 10K people were to line up first as they would kick off the race. Then the 5K people. Most of us didn’t hear him say they would have a separate start, but thankfully he said this before too many of the 5K people set out with the 10K people. After a two minute gap, they turned us loose on the course.
I did start off slower than I usually do. I really just wanted to see how I would do with the change in elevation and the thinner air. But, I felt good as I headed out and found myself running at a decent, though not normal, pace. That was a good thing. If I felt good, that meant I could push it a little more. After my first mile, I decided to do just that. And here is where we hit some minor inclines. No big deal now. I run on hills in my practice runs, easy and hard, so I pushed past them without any problem. And hey…I was passing people. Me! The lowlander from Indiana. The one not used to running at this sort of elevation. Yeah…I was passing and pressing onward.
The race course had a turn around point and as I passed a water station, the first of the 10K racers were heading back in our direction. Except they missed the turn, and when someone shouted after them, the guy in the lead just darted across my path, almost knocking right into me and pushing me over. I don’t think he would have stopped if that had actually occurred. But thankfully I was paying attention, pulled up to a quick stop and then continued onward. The turn-around point was a bit of a choke point. I was catching up to people as we were reaching the cone to run around and there was no room to maneuver past them, so I had to simply run their pace for a moment until the breakaway.
And breakaway I did. Down the hill I had run up, and then toward the water stop. Carefully I crossed against the people still coming the other way and made my way into the final leg of the race. One mile to go. The course was a mix of gravel, concrete, and then…grass. Yes…grass. I love running on grass, but I wasn’t expecting it. By now, I could see the finish line. It still felt miles away and I was starting to feel the effects of the elevation. I was more tired than usual, but I wasn’t about to stop. This race was so much fun and I was having a great time and not really worrying about what time I came in. Just finishing it would be amazing and awesome. And that was my goal.
Over a wooden footbridge and down the straightaway to the finish line. I was heading into the last stretch. Here is where I normally put on the speed and dash all out for the finish, but I didn’t hear. I couldn’t. Not this time. But I did put a little more speed into it…but only a little. I was tired. I admit that I was tired.
And I finished. My GPS watch stated at 27:10, but the official race results says 27:16. So, either way…a respectable time.
Here is where the Step 4 Life 5K stands. I finished, as I said, in 27:16. I was the I was 24/87 5K finishers overall and 6/41 women. And, of course, I finished 3/19 in my division. Being that this was my first race ever at altitude, I think that’s pretty rockstar. Yeah…I’m proud of that. And in the end, I felt great. I had an amazing race. And if it runs again next year, you better believe I’ll be a part of it.
Maybe I’ll even attempt the 10K. Maybe.
(On a side note, the second song to come up on my shuffled running mix on my iPod that day was U2’s “Elevation.” Perfection!)
It feels like just the other day I was touting my accomplishment of hitting the halfway mark to my goal of 500 miles this year. It seems that the mileage ramp-up to my first half marathon has been inching me further and further up the mileage chart.
It only seems fitting then that I struck my 300 mile mark during my long run on Sunday morning. In fact, I hit 300 miles in mile 6 of my long run. I just wasn’t aware of it at the time. I was focusing on my breathing, my footfall, and taking it easy on a tight, sore Achilles tendon that has been giving me some grief over the past week.
It’s the middle of April and in a couple of weeks the taper starts as the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon will be kicking off. It’s the largest mini-marathon in the United States and it runs up in Indianapolis. I am thrilled to be a part of it. I’ve trained hard for this race. I’m still working on proper fueling on long runs, but I’m getting the endurance part down. I think I’ll do better here than in Chicago, where I ran my first half marathon last September, completely untrained and completely lacking the knowledge of how to properly fuel and prepare for 13.1 miles of constant running.
This is my hope anyway.
A lot of my ability to work toward my mileage goal for the year just happens to be a direct result of my half marathon training. I honestly hope it pays off in the end.
That being said, I’m still looking ahead. Any one thing can derail a streak like this. And while you try not to dwell on it, accidents happen. Injuries happen. I hope that I can continue to run safe and smart.
300 miles down…200 more to go. Every mile closer feels so good!
Me crossing the finish line at the Tomorrow's Children 5K Fun Run/Walk - Frankfort, Kentucky
Race: Tomorrow’s Children 5K Fun Run/Walk
Place: Frankfort, KY
Date: April 14, 2012
Time: 25:32
Races are supposed to be fun. No pressure. No expectations. Just get out there and run.
That being said…this was the first race I ever revisited to date…although it won’t be the last. Of course, this was also a race that I showed really well at the first time I ran it, so expectations were actually there. In my head. No one was putting them on me. But, I wanted to prove that I rightfully placed last year and the bad weather wasn’t the reason I won first in my division (30-39).
No pressure. That’s a joke.
I woke up that morning and got dressed for the race. It was going to be a perfect 54 degrees out at race time, so I was in my shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt…and opted for fun rainbow socks. I don’t know why. I was just feeling all Skittle-ish that morning, I suppose.
The drive to Frankfort always seems longer than it is. It’s not really all that far, but I didn’t eat breakfast at home. I saved my cereal for the ride and broke into it around 7:30 a.m. as we were heading into the Frankfort area. I didn’t want to eat too soon and risk being hungry during the race, but I didn’t want to eat too late either. As it was, I think I got the timing down perfectly.
The drive in got a bit stressful as my roommate never can quite remember where to go. I race in Frankfort often enough, but it seems she always turns too soon and we end up getting lost. This did happen. And then once we got turned around, the bridge we were supposed to take was closed. So we followed some detour signs, spotted some runners, parked the car on the street and found our way to packet pickup via “Eye of the Tiger” blaring up the streets of Frankfort via a stereo system.
I got my packet. Then got my number pinned on me…and went to use the bathroom once more before the race. As there was a pancake breakfast (not gluten-free…so sad!) afterwards, we had access to the church’s bathrooms (huzzah for plumbing). Then, it was time to stretch it out. And I really wanted to stretch well as my Achilles tendon on my left foot has been giving me troubles since my roommate accidentally stepped on it and did some minor damage. So stretching was very, very important that morning. My tendon was a little tender as it was so I wanted to warm it up without putting any strain on it. I’d be doing enough of that with the run.
And before I knew it, the runners were getting into the road to line up for the start. There was nothing really to indicate the start line, so one of the organizers got out there and waved her arms to indicate where we should line up. And so…we moved forward and took our spots. And somehow…I ended up where I never do…the front.
I went ahead and started my iPod because it would be one less thing to worry about as the race started. It was down low so I could talk to people if I wanted and could clearly hear the announcements. They had a prayer just before the race and then once the Frankfort police that were assisting gave the thumbs up…they got us on our marks, getting set…and we were off.
To say that I was up front for the entire thing is a stretch of the truth. Considering the winner finished 9 minutes before I did means that while I was up at the front, I was nowhere near the lead pack. Between the start of the race and mile one, which included a steep little hill, I was the second female within range. The only other one was just ahead of me and just after mile 1, I passed her…only to be passed by two other women running together. One I recognized as the overall winner of this exact race last year. As I came up toward the capital, the other woman I passed went by me on the uphill part as well as two other females, who I ended up passing and never saw again as soon as it leveled out. Damn, time to work on hill repeats. I have got to get stronger on those hills.
I passed up the other woman again on the downhill and managed to stay ahead of her heading into mile 2. At mile 2 I was even closing the gap on the two other women who were just ahead of me. I was struggling a little because I knew that I went out really fast on this race. I always tell myself not to, and to save it for the end, but I really got caught up in this one. Probably because I felt like I really had something to prove. Not to anyone else…but to myself. I felt good as I ran down the hill and headed back through the city toward the finish line. As I turned a corner, I could see the finish line clock and I did my best to pick up the speed…but I really just couldn’t.
My roommate was standing at the front of the finish, I could see her screaming, then hear her screaming, telling me to push, to dig, to go faster. The two women ahead of me crossed together. My roommate was pointing, flailing her hands, screaming at me to run faster. And I found out why a second before I crossed the finish line. That other woman, the one I battled back and forth with throughout the course, blew right past me and beat me to the finish line.
By one second.
I slowed and went through the finish gate, feeling…a mix of emotions really. The tag of my bib was torn off and I saw my roommate moving toward me. “Shit!” I said, despite being at a church. I wasn’t happy. Not at all. I had nothing left at the end and that was my undoing. The other woman, Heather Drake (a name I will never forget!), proceeded to move to the side and throw up. Well, at least I made her push hard enough to puke up her breakfast, right?
Shit.
Racing has never been about winning medals and placing for me. I do it because I love it. It means getting out to run with other people who love to run. The vibe, the atmosphere…it’s all just amazing. And it keeps me going back to races, no matter how short or how long. And it challenges me…pushes me to do better. But for some reason, being beat out at the last second by someone I passed and didn’t see again…stung. It really, really bothered me.
I languished for a moment on the sidewalk as I drank down a bottle of water. Then I remembered I never stopped my GPS watch, so now my time was all off. So I cussed again, threw a little fit, and then took a few deep breaths and reminded myself that this was supposed to be fun. My roommate helped with this too, telling me that I had a good race, that I ran well, and that while I still haven’t reached that elusive sub-25 minute goal, I ran well and finished. And she was right. Why was I being so petty? Was it because I had placed first in my division last year and just felt I needed to do it again for this race to mean something to me? Probably. But it was the wrong attitude to have.
After taking a moment to reflect on this, I stood up and went into the church bathroom to get changed out of my running clothes. I put one of my Icy-Hot patches on my tendon and headed up to the pancake breakfast, despite not being able to eat anything there. That was okay though, I had brunch plans back in Louisville, so I just sort of took a seat, put my foot up and waited for the awards ceremony to start.
Once people were given time to eat, the awards were handed out. For overall women, there was a tie for first (so it went first and second) and then Heather Drake (dammit!) took third overall.
One second.
Me with my medal for winning first in my age division (30-39) at the Tomorrow's Children 5K Fun Run/Walk - Frankfort, Kentucky
But I knew that this also meant that I had, in fact, defended my title, which was the original goal in the first place. My name was announced…first in my division, and I went to get my medal. I was happy. I really was. I would have been even if I had taken second or third. It was a good race for a good cause, and that was the important thing. Defending my title just put a little extra pressure on me that I probably didn’t need to carry with me…and in the future, I’ll remember that.
I was quite proud of myself for accomplishing my original goal. So, I was one second away from being one of the top female finishers overall. ONE SECOND! *cough* So, I didn’t set a new PR. What I did do, however, was run strong, run fast, and run well. In the future, I’ll pace myself better. I will save some push for the end. And one day…I’ll see the results of this. For now, I will call this a job well done and a race well run.
And I’m okay with that. Even that one second. Okay…maybe I’m not over that yet…but I will get there.
With all that being said, my official results of the Tomorrow’s Children 5K Fun Run/Walk are that I finished the race in 25:32. I was the I was 17/108 finishers overall and 4/42 women. And, of course, I finished 1/22 in my division. All that being said, it was a damn good race with damn good results.
Tomorrow's Children 5K Fun Run and Walk, Frankfort, KY
It’s difficult, as a runner, not to try to compare races. And normally races do stand on their own. No race is exactly like another. Weather, people, and even how you feel that day can affect performance and overall mood.
But this is a first for me…because I am returning to a race for the first time. Ever.
Last year, I ran in the Tomorrow’s Children 5K race in Frankfort, Kentucky. The race basically benefits people in the Frankfort community who are struggling with infertility. It’s held as a fundraiser and a way to bring awareness of the organization to the community. I have quite a few friends who struggle with infertility…so, this was a good cause to run for.
Back in 2011, this was my second 5K I ever ran. Ever. As in the history of my running career…which at that point consisted of a couple months of running around the track at the YMCA…little runs on the treadmill at the gym…and one 5K race a couple weeks prior. So, I was still quite the newbie to the racing scene. And, the drive out there was interesting as we had s a bit of thunder, some lightning, and a lot of rain. The lightning was gone by the time we got to packet pickup, but the rain was still constant. Up until the race was about to begin. Then…there was a lull.
But that only lasted a moment. No sooner had the race kicked off, but the sky opened up again and down came the rain. But, runners run in rain all the time. This was a new experience for me. And guess what…it was kinda fun too.
Dripping wet, I crossed the finish line in 27:04.
And won first in my division.
In my second 5K race…ever.
So, let’s put it this way…I’m nervous about not living up to that this year. The weather is supposed to be good…during the race. Keeping with tradition of me running in Frankfort, Kentucky…rain is scheduled for that day…just after the race is run. So, the turnout might be better. The runners…might be stronger. And, I feel like I have to prove to myself that winning that division title wasn’t just a fluke of bad weather and a small turn-out. I feel like I need to prove that I rightfully earned it…even with it being my second race ever.
Yeah, that’s a little bit of pressure weighing on my shoulders. And, of course, I might feel like a little bit of a failure should I not clinch the title this year too. But, you know, I don’t run to win divisions or place. I run because it’s something I enjoy and love to do. But, a part of me feels like I have a crown to defend here. And, despite having been nursing a sore Achilles tendon all week, a part of me wants to run like I’ve never run before tomorrow and just see what comes of it.
In the end, I’ll run a smart race. And whether I place at all won’t matter in the end. What matters is that I finish…be it first or last. And that’s the hardest lesson for some runners to bring to each race…and take home from each race too.
Do I feel like I have something to prove tomorrow? Yes. It’s only natural.
But if I walk away just another finisher…I’m okay with that too. I’m a winner just for taking part and finishing. And if I can do so without limping due to a sore tendon…all the better.
Second verse…same as the first? We’ll find out tomorrow.
The Celiathlete 