I have made it through a very tiring, very busy, very hectic week. But, I got a lot accomplished and even made it out for a pre-wedding 5K for two of my favorite peeps from my running group this morning. Their wedding was this afternoon…so I hope all in attendance had a fantastic time!!
But I’ll get to that some more in a moment.
This week, I’ve learned a lot about…patience. I’m Irish. Patience is not a virtue that I really have. Not much, anyway. But if there is one thing this hip labrum tear recovery period has taught me it’s that…I have to be patient. With myself. With my body. With my running. With vast changes in weather this week, my hip has been screaming at me. Everything is day-to-day…which is frustrating, but, it’s how it has to be. That being said, getting out this week in the various weather conditions and with a variety of people for various things has been…good for my soul.
So, with that in mind, here are some things that I found good for my soul this week…
1. Laura & Mike’s Wedding 5K
When I first started running consistently with the Blue Mile group (which has sort of stayed together despite the store no longer being there…although no more Monday fun runs), I got to know both Laura and Mike rather well. They are both fantastically bright, fun, and amazing people. And a perfect match for each other. When they (finally) got engaged, it was something to be celebrated. And then, today, Laura & Mike invited everyone out for a special running of the Breakfast Club, for a pre-wedding 5K and then breakfast. They surprised us all with finisher’s medals that commemorate the event and their special day. Runners are the best people. I wish both of my dear friends (both of whom I have had the honor of running with for short and long distances) much luck and love in their future! CHEERS!!
2. Louisville City FC First Kick @ Home Well, the winds were insane. That’s about all I can say. Nothing like seeing the guys out on the pitch kick a ball high, have it spin in place and then come right back to them. We had some crazy strong winds yesterday for the first home match for Louisville City FC. I (FINALLY) got to hang out with Natalie again, as she took up the third seat in the Season Tickets that we have kept from last year. Same row. Same seats. Same awesome view. LOVED being there again, despite the cold. LOVED hanging with Cathy & Natalie, watching the guys take on the New York City Redbulls II. And…sadly…and very disappointingly…we lost. Bad. It felt like we just didn’t have any rhythm. And we sort of looked a bit like a squad of newbie kids out there just mucking about. I hope this doesn’t set the tone for the rest of the season because Louisville City FC was SO amazing last year. Crossing our fingers that Saturday’s match is better.
3. THESE LEGGINGS!! A gift from my very own Sole Sister, Natalie…I love these leggings. They fit me perfectly, and they perfectly suit our friendship. Thank you, Natalie…for these. I have been sporting them all day and I really don’t want to take them off!!
4. A Run in the Rain A lot of times, I stay out of the rain and opt for a treadmill run or a later run. But this past Thursday, the 5 miler I put in during the wee hours of the morning was both cleansing and rejuvenating. I had no pace goals nor expectations. Normally I don’t want to go out in the rain, but it was the only time that day I’d have to do it, with nasty storms brewing that evening (right about the time I left work). And I’ve found I hurt a little more after a treadmill run than I do after an outdoor run. Sometimes a lot more. So, I opted to throw on some old running shoes, suit up, and take in 5 very wet miles. And I loved every moment of it. It was like I was a kid again. Splashing through puddles (one was ankle deep…thankfully I found that one (accidentally) near the end of the run), hearing my feet against the wet pavement, wondering what the drivers in the few cars that passed thought as I was lighting up the dark with my reflective gear and blinkie lights. It wasn’t a perfect run, nor a fast run, but it was the run I needed that morning. And I take every good and enjoyably run I can find these days!
5. Dinner Rolls It’s such a simple thing…and yet, after promising Cathy (the roomie) that I would make my gluten-free dinner rolls for over a month now, today, I finally set out to do it. And, yes, despite a very busy afternoon, much of it spent away from home…they are being made and I have one very happy roommate on my hands. Sometimes…it’s the simple things that bring the most joy! Gluten-free dinner rolls…oh yeah. As Oprah says…”I love bread.” HAHA!! And when I make it myself, I know exactly what is going into it!
6. Deciding To Run for a Charity I can’t plug this enough. When you believe in something, you do something. So, when I found the opportunity to run the Lumiere’s Challenge (Disney Wine & Dine 10K on Saturday and Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon on Sunday) for Disney Wine & Dine weekend not just for myself, but for a charity, I couldn’t be happier. As I said in a previous post…I have wanted to run for charity again for awhile. My injury kept me out of the running circuit for a year…so…yes…this had to happen. I am going to be running for Alliance For A Healthier Generation. And if you would like to support me with a donation, I would be forever grateful! I love being able to support a cause and do something I love at the same time!
After a year off from running due to a bad hip injury (which won’t ever heal…I’ve just been trained to work with it), there was one thing I made very clear as day after day ticked by and I started to get a little stronger, and live with a little less pain.
I wanted to run again for charity.
You might recall, back when I was training for my first marathon, Chicago 2013, I ran for the charity Action For Healthy Kids, a charity that Dean Karnazes works with, that aims to fight childhood obesity, undernourishment, and physical inactivity by helping schools become healthier places so kids can have healthier lives.
To keep true to my promise to myself to once again raise money for a cause, I found a great opportunity to do so…this November.
I have signed up to run the Lumiere’s Two Course Challenge at Disney World this November. You see, the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon is one of my favorite Disney races, and despite some rather major changes to the race this year, I was still eager to return to this one (I ran it 2 years ago on a broken toe, LOL!). One of the changes made this year was that they added a 10K race the day before the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon. So, on Saturday, November 5, at 5:30 a.m., I will be striking out (in costume!) to run the Disney Wine & Dine 10K course. Then, on Sunday, November 6, at 5:30 a.m. (yep…they moved it to a morning race…which is kind of MEH…but what do you do?), I will be running (in a different costume) the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon.
But the catch is…I’m raising money for a great cause this time!
I chose to run the Lumiere’s Two Course Challenge for Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a charity that also acts as a catalyst for children’s health. As an auntie to 7 (yes…7) nieces and nephews, I know, firsthand, how important it is for children to have a healthy lifestyle, which includes proper nutrition and physical activity. Alliance for a Healthier Generation works with schools, companies, community organizations, healthcare professionals, and families to transform the conditions and systems that lead to healthier kids. After all, childhood obesity is a national epidemic. Nearly 1 in 3 children (ages 2-19) in the United States is overweight or obese, which puts them at risk for serious health problems. If obesity among children continues at the current rate, this generation could become the first in American history to live shorter lives than their parents.
Scary, right?
Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s goal is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and empower children to develop lifelong, healthy habits.
As someone who has extensively studied nutrition, has my own food allergies to contend with, and is a dedicated home chef, and longtime food & fitness blogger, this charity seemed like a perfect fit for me.
My personal fundraising goal is $1000 (and hopefully beyond!). You can help by making a tax deductible donation to the Alliance. Your financial support will turn my efforts into research and programs to develop healthier opportunities during childhood.
If you can, please follow the link below and help support me in my fundraising efforts. No amount is too small or too big. And I appreciate any help I can get to achieving my fundraising goal.
Me at the start of the 2016 Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Papa John’s 10 Miler
Place: Louisville, Kentucky
Date: March 26, 2016
Time:1:16:41
Three years after I last ran my favorite race held in Louisville…I finally returned. I absolutely LOVE the Papa John’s 10 Miler. Seriously. I don’t call a race my favorite in the area if it really isn’t my favorite. I just love this race, despite the hills of Iroquois Park and all of that.
It has been a crazy couple of weeks for racing (heh…I guess when I get back into something, I totally jump right back into it, eh?). Two 2 mile sprints, a half marathon in NYC, and now a 10 miler. Whew.
Let me tell you, the travel time and early mornings to fit in some makeup time at the office have really caught up to me too. I was TIRED. T-I-R-E-D. In fact, I had logged online after doing my dynamic stretches Saturday morning before leaving for the race, and ended up almost falling asleep. Instead, though, I ate my breakfast (Chocolate Chex…yum!), brushed my teeth, and got my race bib pinned on and put on the clothes I could discard before the start…because the 32 degree air (with it feeling like 29 degrees) meant layers were necessary. And then…the trek over the river to Louisville.
Normally, the parking situation for the Papa John’s 10 Miler is easy. Park at the stadium. Good to go. Not so much this year. They weren’t letting anyone park at the stadium this time around. So…that was unexpected and different. Cathy and I ended up turning around and pulling into the parking lot of some little business and parking there, hoping against all odds that we didn’t get ticketed or towed. Seems a lot of people followed suit with that as well. Because we parked and soon the entire lot was parked up and so was the lawn. Go figure. We then had over a mile to hike from the car to start line due to this…so that was my warm up. Because I wasn’t going to have time to do my stretches prior to the start at this rate. I ate my banana as we walked and made the climb up the stairs to the overpass and crossed, where other runners were also making their way that way. Got there with 10 minutes to spare. Stretches weren’t happening. I shed my outer layer and went to go get into the massive group of people crowding the start gate. The wheelchair and pushers were set to go off first…so that was the beginning of the race. My friend, Daniel, was one of the pushers. These runners are amazing. And the wheelchair racers…inspiring. Especially on those hills in Iroquois.
Soon after the wheelchair and pushers were off…the start of the race was next. And with a “Runners on your mark…GO!” A horn sounded and we were off. It took me less than a minute to get to the start gate, and as I ran through, I saw Cathy waiving the sign and gave her a goofy “raise the roof” move and ran past. I was off.
Just coming off a half marathon in NYC, I had no plans to do anything but comfortably run this race. I had no idea what my previous times (I have run it 2 times before) were for this race. I didn’t look them up. Something I sort of lamented around Mile 2, haha! I think it was better that way. It meant I really would just run this as I felt.
Me making the final turn toward the finish line of the Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, Kentucky
Unfortunately, the cold air plays havoc with my hip these days. I am not saying it’s perfect in warmer temperatures, but it’s 70% harder in cold weather. The hip adductor locks up, gets tight…hurts. So, once again, I had to really make sure I focused on my form, on lifting that right leg up, on not doing any damage to myself. Stress fractures are not welcome here. Ever. Again. Between Mile 1 and 2…I heard someone call my name and turned around, and there was Geri. So that was really great. She was the first person to really take note of how my running form and style has changed since seeing my running specialist. She’s training for Boston…and London…and Grandma’s…and I’m sure another amazing adventure too. Beast mode is always on with Geri.
So, after all of that, I ran the rest of Southern Parkway and made the turn onto New Cut Road, running toward the entrance of Iroquois Park. Mile 3 is just before the turn into the park. I hit it and began to make the turn into the park. As I started on the hilly route, I came across Daniel and the athlete he was pushing for the race. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him that he was awesome. He said, “And you’re in neon…as always.” I might have a reputation, LOL! And just around Mile 4, I was running past the amphitheater and I heard Tammy and Dan start shouting at me. I gave them a wave and a smile…and it really just lifted me. The hills started soon after that…the first one is the one the training group does hill repeats on, and I took it easy on that. First hill. Done. The downhill was awesome, but I knew there were more hills to come. I let momentum carry me down, and did that throughout the rest of the park. Just after Mile 6, we come back out onto Southern Parkway for the straightaway back toward Papa John’s Stadium.
With the cold weather, there weren’t as many spectators that were out, but there were some…and I was happy to have them there. I ran comfortably, trading back and forths with a few runners. It amazes me how fast and hard people can push at later miles. Currently, I’m not ready to push…but I love hearing people discuss their paces and goals. My favorite was this mother running with her young son…around Mile 7 she said, “We only have one more hill at the overpass.” And they ran past me. I loved seeing that. They stuck together the entire time.
Miles 7-9 are all down Eastern Parkway, and then, right at the corner with the Starbucks, is Mile 9. Then, yes…the hill up over the overpass. My friend, Melissa, said that I really pushed her those last few miles. What a compliment. She was strong the entire time. Hills didn’t slow her down. Nothing seemed to. I hope to get back to that level some day. After climbing the hill, it was down and around to make the turn to take us into the stadium. Down the ramp, onto the AstroTurf, and I started to book it as much as I could toward that finish line. I could hear Cathy screaming at me from across the stadium, for real. I really pressed on the speed as much as I could (and that’s still not much right now) and ran across that finish line.
I felt great. I was smiling. I had a photographer come over to take my picture and then tell me that “he almost missed me.” Neon and all, yeah…I didn’t stand out much. LOL!! As I just got my medal, I heard someone say, “Karen?” It was Greg from Frankfort. We hugged and stood around talking for awhile about running and racing and things we have coming up, officially and unofficially. He took a picture of Melissa and I, because Greg is awesome like that. It was nice to see him again. He said at one point in Iroquois, we were running side by side, just like the 10K in Frankfort a couple years ago. I didn’t even notice…but he knew it was me. Guess I was in my zone.
I made my way out of the finish area and caught up with Cathy. She said the lines for the massages weren’t long so I went and stood in line. My friend, Renee, who I know from the YMCA and spin class came over and she had a new PR by 6 minutes. That’s huge. Cathy looked up my time on the official tracker…and I PR’d by 2 full minutes. 2 minutes, from the year I was running my best. What. The. Hell. I’m not complaining, but I wasn’t even trying. That’s…amazing. I was a little sore…I still blame most of that on the cold. But I felt good. And that was such a boost. The massage, by the way, felt great.
Finisher of the 3016 Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, Kentucky
So…the official results of the 2016 Papa John’s 10 Miler were that I finished in 1:16:41, shaving about 2 minutes off my time from 2013. I couldn’t believe it. I was just running as I felt, and I felt I was running much easier and slower than I had run this race in the past. Like I said, sometimes I surprise myself. A lot of times that happens when I’m tired or not at my best (like with a tight and sore hip)! I was 361/5188 overall, the 71/2915 female to cross the finish line, and I was 13/466 in my division. I couldn’t be more proud of myself. Or surprised. Again.
I feel a little more confident these days when I hit the roads, but I’m still very careful and tentative. Honestly. But, it feels good to say that this run felt easy…and when I crossed that finish line, I felt that I could have given a bit more. That’s a good feeling. I hope I can continue to make easy and steady progress, and one day feel a little more confident and ready to push. Because I am excited to see what I can make this body do.
Thanks for continuing to be my favorite Louisville race, Papa John’s 10 Miler. This is what keeps me coming back for more.
Me after finishing the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
Race: United Airlines NYC Half Marathon
Place: New York, New York
Date: March 20, 2016
Time: 1:43:53
When I go into a race without any expectations or goals…I seem to do better than anticipated. While I had a semi-goal of being able to do my first half marathon distance after injury (for a year) in sub-2 hours, I wasn’t going to be too hard on myself if it didn’t happen.
Especially since the weather changed drastically the week of the race.
The weekend before the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…the weather was gorgeous. Not just in Louisville (where I ran my first official race back…the Rodes City Run 10K), but up in New York too. I was hoping it would hold. I do better in nicer temperatures. But as the week went on…the gorgeous weather started to go away.
NOOOOOO!!
For much of the week, the forecast was calling for rain…cold…wind. Then snow…cold…wind. And then, on Friday night, it changed to just really flippin cold and really flippin’ windy.
UGH!! Now I was in a crisis. I had my outfit planned out for weeks…but the 30 degree temps and the strong winds (and the wind chill it would bring), meant I needed to reevaluate my wardrobe. With much reluctance, the running skirt went back into the closet and a pair of my (albeit bright) compression tights came out. Any of you who regularly read my running blog know…I…HATE…PANTS. So this frustrated me. I also packed a big turtleneck lined top and a windbreaker…and at the last minute, just before walking out the door early Saturday…I tossed in a long sleeve shirt…just in case, because I never ran in a windbreaker and I was nervous it would annoy me or just not work out…in which case, I’d rather brace against the cold in layers than anything.
So, Saturday morning was an early morning for me. I was up at 2 am to do all my physical therapy exercises. The stretches, the dynamic stuff outside, the plyometrics. I knew once I touched down in NYC…I was on the move…and these stretches were more important than anything else.
I admit, a little voice in my head said, “Go on…go do an easy mile or two for a shakeout before getting on the plane.” But, as tempting as it was, I quieted that voice. I knew I’d be on the go both at the airports and once I touched down in the city, the shakeout wasn’t important, and I didn’t need to do it. I’d be doing ample time on my feet just moving about NYC.
See what I have learned??!!
So, we (my roommate and I) walked out the door right at 5 am (giving us time to get a light breakfast in our stomachs and (SO VERY MUCH NEEDED) coffee into our system. We got to the Louisville airport in record time…parked…had to take a roundabout way to the Southwest Airlines counter due to renovations that are going on, and which I hope they finish up before Derby, or that airport is going to be a mess. Security was quick, although I ended up being randomly chosen for the hand swab, and my laptop (as always) had to be examined more closely…but it was quick, painless, and we were off and heading to our gate (which was behind a bunch of renovation boards). Like I said, the airport was sort of a mess.
Deciding that we weren’t ready to settle in yet, we took a little walk, as usual, through the airport crowds, and Cathy and I grabbed a Cool Lime Refresher at Starbucks (and she got a breakfast sammie as well) and we went back to the gate. I downed one of the new LUNA Bars (the Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond, which has only 5 grams of sugar and tasted like an amazing caffe mocha) and then…it was time to board. We were at the end of the A group…so it worked out perfectly.
Our flight had a small layover at Chicago Midway before we went on to NYC. So, we took the time to stretch our legs and walk the terminal. I was really craving something sweet, so we went on the “Great Fruit Cup Hunt of Midway,” finding that everywhere that normally had fruit cups were sold out. With 5 minutes to boarding, we finally found something at one of the food court restaurants. It was a large fruit cup with honeydew melon, pineapple, grapes and strawberries in it. I carried it onto our flight into Laguardia Airport and ate it while still sitting on the runway.
The flight into Laguardia was uneventful, save for the funny flight crew. The lead flight
Me with the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon logo – New York, New York
attendant was in her 50s and just…SO funny. Love that. It also helps calm my nerves when the flight crew is loosey-goosey like that. I was drinking my water to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and we landed in Laguardia early. Taxied to the jetway…disembarked…and went to baggage claim. My bag was the 2nd one off the belt. Cathy’s wasn’t too far behind. With bags in hand, we called the hired car company and they had a car out to fetch us in about 5 or so minutes. Luggage went into the trunk and we were now on our way into Manhattan…staying at a different hotel this time (which was totally our fault because we originally had the race pegged for the weekend before this one and it wasn’t until about a month before that I realized the date of the race was for the week after…in my defense, it ran a week earlier last year!)…but the traffic situation wasn’t bad and our driver was really aggressive once he got into the city blocks, LOL! We were dropped off at the door of The Distrikt Hotel on W 40th Street and went to check in.
We were much earlier than anticipated, so our room wasn’t ready yet. We did go ahead and leave our bags and went to go buy a Metrocard and take the subway to get to the United Airlines NYC Half Experience (the expo), which was taking place at the Metropolitan Pavilion. We headed into the Expo, which was a madhouse! Seriously…at some points, I felt like salmon swimming upstream. I had the registration sheet with me so I went over to where my numbers were to pick up my bib. From there, it was through the store and over to get my official bag with my t-shirt and stuff in it. I haven’t really looked through what else was in there. I made one circuit of the expo before returning to the official store. There was a great t-shirt in there, pink and purple, that I had my eye on. But, to no surprise, my size was gone. Disappointing for sure. Ah well. Except, Cathy and I realized almost all official merchandise for women had nothing left in small. Now I remember why I order things online ahead of this. She did manage to find me an official finisher’s t-shirt and I grabbed a Sparkly Soul headband that had the event name on it. Purchases made. Back into the expo.
I actually thought there would be more vendors there and more to see and lots more places to shop. But, for the best, there wasn’t. I walked through the line of charities…I got in line to have my picture taken in front of the logo…Cathy made a couple signs (which never got used due to the 21 mph gusts of wind on race morning)…and we settled in for a moment at a table where I could charge my phone and we could catch our breath.
Me and my awesome friend Ellen at the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon Experience
My friend, Ellen, who got in on lottery this year (I deferred last year so had automatic entry…except I had to repay the $127 registration fee), turned up to meet up with me, and brought me a nice salad to boot. YAY for friends. YAY for food! We discussed what we were planning on wearing, food, and…all the crazy shit (hehehe…get it Ellen?) that runners rely on and need to have happen prior to a run. It was fun. I even did a Snapchat video for her giving a running tip. She calls me her inspiration…but I think she’s mine. She needed to get back to the charity event she was attending, and I needed to get back to the hotel to get into the room. The travel capris I was wearing weren’t very warm against the already chilly wind of NYC. So, we returned to the hotel, got our room, gathered our bags, and went upstairs. We flopped for a moment before changing into jeans and heading back out…this time just to explore. We didn’t want to stop in for dinner until at least 5 p.m. So, we had a couple of hours to just explore. That’s what we did, too.
With no plan, we just wandered through some of the area, stopping into shops that drew our attention. We went and got our chocolate from Teuscher (I got a mini champagne, dark mocha, and dark salted caramel…and Cathy got a limoncello, almond, and chocolate orange truffle), which is a requirement, and ducked into the Hard Rock Café for a shotglass and a pin. Back out and seeing the city until we decided to hike over to our pre-race dinner spot of choice, Don Antonio by Starita on W 50th Street. They have a fantastic gluten-free pizza menu, and while they have a couple of GF and Vegan options, I stuck with the one I knew I loved and wouldn’t give me too much. The Marinara Pizza Senza Glutine. OMG…this is my 2nd favorite gluten-free pizza crust in the world (the first being Annie May’s Sweet Café). I love when there is a real and actual crust on a gluten-free pizza, and not just a cracker crust. We devoured dinner and then hiked back to the hotel to cycle through showers, giving me time to foam roll, and to eat some chocolate. HA! It was an early to bed night…and by 9 pm…we were turning out the lights.
I set the alarm on my phone for the first one to wake me up at 4 a.m. It went off and I got up to use the bathroom, take my medicine, and then crawled back into bed for another 50 minutes. The second alarm was the 5 a.m. one, and I got up and started to get changed into my running gear for the race. Cathy was up at 5:15 to get dressed and ready. And while I felt good all day prior to this morning, I felt tired, but in good shape for the actual race. I was not happy that I had to wear pants to run a half marathon, but the windchill was a factor and I under-dressed once before for a full and have been nervous about doing that again ever since (hypothermia is NOT fun, my friends). I decided to wear a long sleeve tech shirt under my warmer top with the big turtleneck top, figuring it would be good against the wind, without me trying to get used to running in a windbreaker on the fly. I got my number pinned on, threw on the hoodie I was going to leave behind, filled up my water bottles and we were off.
We took the subway to Columbus Circle and disembarked, climbing the stairs and being
Me at then entrance of Central Park, Times Square behind me, on the morning of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
greeted with some of the coldest wind. I don’t know how the dude in front of us was handling being in short running shorts, because I would have been dying. I think he was. But…to each their own, right?! We walked over to the checkpoint at Central Park where Cathy had to go her own way and I had to show my bib number and enter. We took a picture of me with Times Square behind me and then I went in. I walked with a bunch of runners who were just talking about some of the most random stuff. One was talking about Scott Jurek on Instagram and it was kind of amusing to me. We went through the medal detectors and then continued on the path to the corrals. There was a line of port-o-potties without lines and many of the people I was walking with went to take advantage of them…and I kept on trekking. I made my way to the line of corrals, working my way up to the one for 10000-10999. I did a few of my dynamic warm-up moves from physical therapy, but the air temperature was enough to make me not want to do it anymore. I did one set of each, then hunkered down and shivered for a good half hour more. It was really, really cold. When the corrals opened for the start of the wheelchair race, I stepped inside and did a few static stretches just to loosen up. From the onslaught of the cold wind, my hip was already not loving me. It began to ache during the easy walk from security to the corals. Seriously, my body and cold weather never got along, but it really doesn’t get along with it these days.
The wheelchair racers, hand crank racers, and elite women were all sent off by 7:15 a.m. It was awesome standing in the corral and being able to see each group take off. When the elite women took up, I cheered loudly for Molly Huddle, who is from Elmira, NY…my hometown area. She’s amazing. She’s fast. She set a new course record that morning and it came down to an eighth of a second…it was THAT close. The elite men went off with Wave 1 at 7:30 a.m.. Then my wave…Wave 2…were shuffled forward for our 7:45 a.m. start. It was really exciting. When the airhorn blew to send us off, I began the walk toward the official start, and started my Garmin as I crossed. The first step already had my hip screaming at me. I struggled through the final mile of a 10K the weekend prior…and I just started a half marathon. I really just made a point go focus on my form and my breathing, and just finding a comfortable pace to run at. As I said, I had no goals or expectations…just to have fun and to finish what I start. Well…I started. I now had to finish.
Me running through the 10K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
The 6 miles through Central Park are beautiful and quiet. There were pockets of spectators out there, but mostly it was runners, our feet, and our breathing. Being the start of the race, I would catch snatches of conversations people were having as they ran the race with friends or running partners. It keeps me amused. Some people were tucked into their earbuds, their music propelling them forward. There was a couple running together, and on the back of his shirt was a sign that said “Baby on Board” and an arrow pointing to his wife who was running right next to him. The people inside the park were loud and awesome and the little loop we do outside the park to turn around and head back in…was packed, crowded and loud. I love a good crowd. The hills of Central Park are respectable, but my hill repeats have been more intense than those, so while they slowed me down slightly, they didn’t have me huffing and puffing. I’m learning to love to hate to love those hill repeat sessions more and more. I didn’t check my pace on my watch at any point, but I hit the 5K mark and felt like I was coming along well for someone who was fighting hip pain twinges since the start. With the hills now behind us, the runners exit Central Park onto 7th Avenue. Cathy said she’d be outside the park to see me there, so I got to the left per her instructions and headed up 7th Avenue. She was tucked into the pocket of the turn, but I heard her shouting and screaming and I gave a wave at her as I ran past. It lifted my spirits, for sure. And it was on to run down 7th Avenue and into Times Square.
I think Times Square was my favorite part of this race. The crowd was intense. There was so much noise. All the screens were lit up. The Kids Mile was running through there. There was so much energy there…that it just pulsed through you. I loved every stretch of this portion of the race. And it is the part I remember the most. I love a good crowd.
And with the extreme winds we were getting, it was a great way to start off the last stretch of the race. This portion is pretty flat, save for just after the 20K mark. So, it was nice to easily pick up the pace a little here. Miles 8-12 really just have you fighting the windtunnels that are 42nd Street. Here you make a U-Turn and head down the West Side Highway. Wind. Lots of wind. Thankfully there was music blasting at various stages throughout this stretch of the run. The crowds were sparse, but there were some spectators out there to cheer. But without the bands, this might have been a tough slog through these 4 miles. However, as the miles tick down, One World Trade Center/Freedom Tower keep getting closer and closer. It’s gorgeous. I can’t tell you how long I just kept my eyes on that building, minding each time I drew up my right leg, making sure I wasn’t overcompensating due to the hip pain. This was…uplifting.
Mile 12 takes runners through the Battery Park Underpass. This…was fun. Seriously. You are underground for a long while. Runners scream and shout and let out whoops as they run through the dark, spooky tunnel. I loved it. I even left my sunglasses on. Just powered on through. Running through tunnels is fun. For some reason, I always smile more in them. The 20K mark was just as we were let out to run up a hill.
Me coming out of the Battery Park Underpass at the 20K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
This is where Cathy was situated to see me before I hit the finish line. LOVED this little uplift right at the end. I waived and smiled as she shouted, “YOU REALLY ARE ALMOST THERE!” And so, I burst up the hill and got hit by one hell of a headwind. NYC has this way of always being super windy when I run there. So…I battled the headwind and just ran…ran…ran…rounding a corner…passing up a pace group….rounding another turn and seeing that finish line. As I ran this race rather conservatively, I still had some go in the tank and so…I powered up, powered through, and crossed that finish line.
I stopped my Garmin…and the tears just started going. I didn’t know my official time. I didn’t check the Garmin. I competed and finished my first half marathon since my hip labrum tear over a year ago. And I could still move. No limping. Just a small ache. I had done what I thought I wouldn’t be able to do…and it turns out I did it well.
We were filtered through the finisher’s area where we had medals hung around our necks and mylar sheets wrapped around us to keep us warm. We were given these nice bags filled with snacks, Gatorade and water, and then shuttled out toward Battery Park. At the exit, Cathy was waiting. I hurried over and got a hug and she said, “YOU KILLED IT!! Do you want to know your time?” Of course I did. She told me…and I started crying. Not only was it better than I anticipated, it was better than I could have dreamed of doing, given the circumstances.
Our bodies find ways of surprising us. And I think not having a specific goal or pace I wanted to hit helped.
So, the official results of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon are that I finished in 1:43:53. I was 3318/20,149 finishers overall. I was 786/10,556 female finishers. And I was 132/1706 finishers in my division. I, honestly, couldn’t have run this any better. Since the cold weather made me sore from just shivering at the start, I just took this race one step at a time…one mile at a time. And I LOVED it. I loved this race. It was…probably….one of my favorite half marathons I have ever run. Even in the cold…and the wind…and the suck…it was just…fun. And I had fun running it. It was a struggle at times…but I finished it and I felt good at the end.
Afterwards, we hopped the subway back to the hotel where I showered and changed.
Cathy, Me and Marisa after a great evening of celebration at Red Rooster Harlem.
Cathy and I went to Empire Coffee & Tea House where I got a Pumpkin Spice Latte (dairy free…made with almond milk…and YUMMY!). Then we ended up hiking around NYC the rest of the day with Cathy and my friend Marisa, who I have known since high school. We stopped in at bakeries (I bought 3 cookies from By The Way (BTW) Bakery) and a tea shop (where I had the Energitea…an amazing green blend). We settled in for a bit at the hotel before getting ready to head to dinner at Red Rooster Harlem. You might recall, Red Rooster is where I celebrated my NYC Marathon finish…so I wanted to go back for this. And it was amazing. Once again, the chef created a dish to fit my dietary needs…and I was SO impressed. I even had dessert. And fun. We sat and talked over mint tea and listened to the live jazz music in the bar before calling it a night and making the trek back from Harlem to Midtown. We said goodbye to Marisa and settled in for the night.
Overall…I’m already ready to come back to NYC…even if I don’t have a race. There is always so much to see and do. But…this time…for me…the highlight was getting through the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…after having to defer it last year. It was just the boost I needed.
Me at the start of The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Race: The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K
Place: Frankfort, Kentucky
Date: March 17, 2016
Time: 13:09
It took too damn long to get back to Frankfort, Kentucky for an actual race. It took way too long. But…yesterday…despite my own skepticism about being able to do this race and do it well enough to make myself not feel totally out of shape and defeated…I ventured out to Frankfort for what used to be the first race of the Frankfort Trifecta.
The Frankfort Trifecta is no longer a thing. It seems that the Frankfort Striders stepped in and created a HUGE race series that has something like 17 or so races…and I love Frankfort, but there is no way I can do all of that. So, I’m sticking to my Trifecta races (all three are still running…just not as an overall series…which is nice because it takes a lot of pressure off of me…having placed the 2 years I competed in all three races) and just hoping for the best at this point.
All that being said, the madness began last night. I was scheduled for 4 miles that day, so I ran 2.25 of them that morning, saving the remaining 1.8 and change for the race. I kept the miles easy so I would have some gas in the tank at the end of the day. BUT…it was also a gym morning so off I went, keeping my usual routine much lighter and easier. Same reasoning. And then…work. I stood for half of the day at my standing desk because, starting on Wednesday after work, my left hamstring had been sore and tight…and I figured that it had a lot to do with how much and long I sat on Wednesday. Trying to counter that, I did more standing than I normally would have on a sprint effort run day.
Oh…that’s the other thing…I…AM…NOT…A…SPRINTER. I never have been. I never will be. I have short legs that can move, but they need time to warm up and find their strides. 5Ks and shorter races are the bane of my racing existence, and yet, I know the importance of doing them…and so I do.
But, I digress.
Where was I? Oh yes…leg stuff. My hamstring was still a bit unhappy when I ducked into the bathroom at work to get dressed for the race. Cathy and I ducked out early to hit the road. Dinner had to be on-the-go…so it was vegetarian sushi. Figured it wouldn’t be too heavy before a race, but it wouldn’t have me feeling hungry just before doing it either. So…yay for that. We actually hit a few pockets of slow-ass traffic, which hindered our progress to Frankfort, but we got there. I had to make my mandatory stop at Kroger to use the facilities (if I can avoid port-o-potties, I do…because…PRINCESS!), and then continued into Frankfort to get to the race. We parked…noticed that the start line wasn’t set up where it usually was…but it was, instead, on the other side of the square. Interesting. So, I hiked that way…and realized that packet pickup was not in the building it normally was held in. Now…with only 10 minutes to race time…I was starting to stress out. IT WAS ALL DIFFERENT!
And then I found…my dear friend Linda. She just suddenly was there…a sea of people having parted ways…her back to me…standing on the corner. I went up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. She didn’t know I was coming and gave me the biggest smile and hug. That helped.
A LOT.
I asked where packet pickup was now and she pointed to a table…then just went over there with me and got my race shirt, bag, and bib. I handed everything off to Cathy, who began to pin me up while Linda and I talked for a moment. But, you see, Linda knows EVERYONE!! So, I got introduced to a bunch of people and got the very fair warning to not run over any kids during the race. This is important, because this is THAT race where all the kids want to start up front and…well…some of them actually do belong up there, for sure. Some…maybe not so much, but you gotta love the enthusiasm. I promised her I would be very vigilant of the little humans. I wasn’t familiar with the course being run this way, but Linda quickly gave me an overview before everyone started to line up. There was a prayer and an Irish blessing (it DOES run on St. Patrick’s Day after all) and then we all moved forward and awaited the airhorn that would send us on our way.
It blew.
We took off.
Me after finishing The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
My legs felt tired and heavy from the start. The hamstring, much like in the morning, didn’t bother me while moving though, so that was good. My hip wasn’t aching…but, I raced hard on Tuesday…did 4 miles on Wednesday, and was now racing hard(ish) again on Thursday. Talk about giving these legs a bit of a workout this week. And all of this ahead of another big adventure this weekend. So…while I made a few surge attempts, the legs were sort of reluctant to get moving…even when I willed them to go a bit faster.
We turned a corner…turned again, stepping over a big hole, and took off up a hill…leading to the main drag that would take us up another (steeper) hill and then across a bridge and toward the state Capitol building. Close to the turn around point, we hit Mile 1. I didn’t look at my watch, I just kept going. I rounded the turn to now run on the other side of the road and headed back the way we came…down the long stretch…up to the bridge…then D-O-W-N to the main drag. At this point, you know you’re getting there. You’re almost done. It was basically straight on to the finish line.
I was slowing down, but I wasn’t having it. Linda was just slightly ahead of me…and then another woman…and me. I did all I could, minding my form, my hip, and my leg…to try to catch up, but it wasn’t having it. Once again, I lack that finisher’s kick that other people have. I even had people just up and sprint by me…as always. Frustrating when your mind is willing, but your body just isn’t capable. Between that and the strong wind that was blowing right into our faces…well…yeah. It was one of those finishes.
But…I crossed…and it was awesome. I felt good. I felt…incredible.
Cathy came over, waving the race sign, and said, “Shit, Twin…you placed!”
All that being said…I grabbed some water and ducked into an alley to do my plyometric exercises and stretches that I’m supposed to do after a run. See, I can behave. Well, I did half of them and got bored, to be honest, so I can semi-behave. We ducked back into the melee and I put my Boston Marathon windbreaker back on…because with the sun going down it was getting chilly.
Rebecca, Linda, and Me…all 1st place finishers in our age divisions at The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Cathy was right…I ended up taking first in my age division…and…get this…TYING MY TIME from 2014, when I ran this race last. I wasn’t expecting that. I was very, very happy with that performance, considering I was really struggling after that first mile. My Garmin said my first mile was in 7:01…so…I haven’t run that fast in…a very long time. VERY long. And when I do, I can’t sustain it. So, YES!! Happy. SO freakin’ happy because this injury has had me struggling to do this running thing for over a year. I’ll take a time of 13:09 and celebrate it!! Embrace it!!
The awards ceremony followed…the only hitch being that someone was being shown as winning female overall that wasn’t the actual female overall winner. So, they had to pause for a moment and go get it figured out. I had been chatting with Debbie Brown about my physical therapy and amazing physical therapist when this began and she went to go get it all straightened out. Because she’s Debbie. And she’s awesome.
So, once that was straightened out…the awards commenced. Overall winner was awarded to the correct, and super-fast, Roberta Meyer. For the overall male winner…it was Aaron Schaffner. It usually is. LOL!! He’s STUPID-FAST!! As in…blink and you might miss him. He was also in a Boston Marathon jacket…but I bet he ran his better than I ran mine. HA!
The rest of the awards for female runners was next…and I took first in the 35-39 age division with my time of 13:09. My overall pace was 7:04 for the entire 3K distance…so…that’s sort of impressive…for me…at this point in my running. It was pointed out by the announcer that I was also wearing a Boston Marathon jacket. Then he said, “Or is that New York.” Cathy said, “She has one of those too.” LOL!
True story.
Anyway…I stayed and cheered for the other winners, took a picture with Rebecca Atkins (1st female 40-44) and Linda [Word] (1st female 45-49). And then gave hugs and made my departure. I might have flailed happily as I was walking away, because this was such a huge boost to my confidence…even though my legs and brain aren’t quite working in tandem yet. They’ll get there.
I’ll get there.
Me with my age division award at the The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
So, the official results of The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K are that I finished in 13:09. I was 35/701 finishers overall. I was 9/466 female finishers. And I was 1/62 finishers in my division. I take nothing for granted anymore. Every run I am able to accomplish without pain or with minimal pain is a blessing. Getting through this week of harder runs, and really pushing and challenging myself has not only terrified me, but empowered me. I said it 2 years ago…and I’m going to say it again…Running is a gift, and I’m thankful I can do it again…even if it means slowing down for a little while to allow myself ample time to heal.
I’m looking forward (or so I am telling myself) to including a bit of speed work in my upcoming training…as well as continuing to focus on my hill repeats (because Frankfort hills are just…relentless!)…and, maybe I can finally figure out how to get that finishing kick. Until then…relentless forward motion…
“Don’t fear moving slowly forward…fear standing still.” ~ Kathleen Harris
Me crossing the finish line of The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run – Jeffersonville, Indiana
Race: The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run
Place: Jeffersonville, Indiana
Date: March 15, 2016
Time:14:36
Well…there it is. Another race this week. A short one. A sprint. But this is the most amazing part of this…
I have a new PR for a 2 mile race.
Granted, I think this is, really, the only 2 mile race I ever do…but still…a new course PR for me. I’m loving it. With this past year dealing with injury after injury and all the pain brought on by the torn hip labrum, I haven’t done a lot of running. I’ve done a lot of sitting. And I’ve done a lot of physical therapy. I’ve attempted to keep my fitness up by swimming (although I have REALLY slacked off doing that because I’m just NOT good at it) and spinning. And, to be honest, I hadn’t actually intended to run this race…but Matthew mentioned that he was running it when we were running hills last week at Iroquois together…and as my hill repeats were only 3 miles total at Cherokee Park this week (4 hills + 1 mile), I figured I could do a fast 2 miles instead. Works out to be the same level of effort, I would think.
So, after work, I went home and ate a quick dinner (avocado toast, because I needed something quick), changed into my running clothes, slathered on some sunscreen…and then headed out. I needed to be there before 6:15 since I wasn’t registered for the race. I had to do race day registration since this was sort of a last moment decision (I really blame Matthew, LOL!!). Getting there took a bit longer. We took a back route because I-65 was NOT happening. But, luckily there are various routes to Jeffersonville. We parked, got out of the car, and headed toward the 300 Spring building. I had to head over to race day registration and fill out the forms and my bib. But, I did…paid my $25 fee (okay…so hill repeats would have been free…)…and had Cathy pin me up for the race. Matthew, Laura, and Michael (from my running group) all found me at the table and we got ourselves pinned up. Michael, Laura and Matthew went out to run a warm up mile prior to the race. I did not. In fact, I stood around and watched people do their stretches and warmups…and eventually did my own…but the struggle is real on race days to get me to do these. I can’t help it.
The start of the race was getting close, and the DJ said that runners and walkers should head the couple of blocks up to the start. I began meandering that way, and had a group of people follow me. So…there was that.
As usual…there were a lot of collegiate athletes, top-of-the-ranks runners (both men and women) and kids who are track and cross-country stars. The people who have run for schools are amazing. I never did. I took up running when I was 30, so seeing these students kick ass is always so inspiring to me. I can never keep up with them, but they inspire! Matthew sneaked in next to me. I totally didn’t seem him arrive. I have to say, one of my biggest joys being back to running is the runs I get to do with my friends, specifically Matthew, since he and I trained through a lot of hot, humid days in 2013 together. He’s a strong and fast runner…and he helps me better myself every time we run together.
People who were running out and back to warm up came in and got in the cluster at the green tape that went across the road to mark the start of the race. The race was to start promptly at 6:30 pm. But they were ready to get started and at 6:27, Fred began making the instructions for the start. It was here that Tim, my friend Amber’s hubby, needed to retie his shoe, and just after he finished and stood back up…the whistle was blown.
And we were off.
And Matthew was gone. I don’t even know where he went. I lost him…but he was somewhere way ahead of me. Despite having done 2 miles earlier that morning and hitting the gym with my roommate, I felt strong from the start.
Short races are not my forte. I am not a sprinter. I am not good at running hard and fast from the start. I’m more of an endurance athlete. I like the build up. Two miles is my warmup…so these shorter races (through a 5K) are always a challenge for me. My muscles just don’t like to fire that fast for that long. But, 2 miles…I could do that.
This is not a difficult race at all. You simply run down the street until you reach this little island of shady trees, run around that and head back. On the circle around the tree, you hit the halfway point. The first mile of this race always seems to fly by. It’s not like there is a crowd out there making it feel easier, but I think the first mile just goes so quickly because I am so zoned in on my running. Especially these days…because I really need to pay attention to my form…and that sometimes means dialing back on the speed. But my hip was behaving, and when I made the turn, I felt good.
Of course, the second half of the race never feels easy. My legs were tired now…and I pressed on, really making sure to lift that right knee up and not rely on just my left side. All that focus takes energy and I felt like I was losing my pace. I reached the half mile remaining mark and pressed on…just hoping to get in before 16 minutes. I could hear the announcements, so I knew I was coming up to the finish chute. Women were to go in on the left side, men on the right.
Post-race with my friends, Matthew, Michael & Laura!
Here is where a couple of women really just kicked it. I don’t have a finishing kick. I never have. By the end of a race that I am truly racing, I just never have any steam left in my legs. It was okay…it didn’t bother me…but people who can just put on those afterburners and pass up people right at the end…that’s a gift. My friend Kelsey does that. ALL. THE. TIME. Once I know I can trust these legs, working on finding a finishing kick will be priority.
All that being said, I crossed the finish line at 14:36…a full 6 seconds faster than my 2013 time (which I ran when I was in the best shape of my life…although we also had 20 mph headwinds that year). But a PR is still a PR, right? Right!
I’ll take it!
So the official results of The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run is that I finished in 14:36. I was the 19th overall woman. And that’s all I got until official results are actually posted. But this was a very fun run. I’m glad I opted to do this rather than hills.
Afterwards, Matthew, Laura, Michael, Cathy and I took a little stroll to cool down and stretch out the legs. A little bit of active recovery. And then we parted ways. It was a good night to race. My confidence is slowly coming back. Every little bit helps. Every little bit.
It’s the small victories that really bring me joy these days.
Three years ago, I ran this very same race with bronchitis…and did it 15 seconds faster. No joke. A part of me says, “Hey…you’re so close to where you were when you started marathon training for the first time!” (although even this finishing time is 2:24 minutes slower than my 10K PR (45:31), which I set in 2013 as well…when I was really in my best shape and racing form). The other part of me says, “You ran this better when you couldn’t even breathe!”
Welcome to the mind of a runner. And as someone who has come back after mostly a year away from the sport, I am in NO way disappointed with my performance. Not one bit. I lost a lot of strength and fitness in the time I was forced to take off. AND…as I will get to…this race was not perfect nor pain-free for me either. I think the excitement got the best of me and I pushed harder than I noticed or even intended.
All that being said…I ran in a road race…and I did better than I even anticipated.
I, actually, have no real time or speed goals for any runs that I go on, training, racing or otherwise. Why? Because, right now, I have to build my endurance, my fitness, and my strength back up. So, going into the Rodes City Run 10K…I merely stated that, if possible, I’d like to beat 50 minutes. If it happened…great…if not…I’d get there. I wouldn’t be disappointed either way.
So, Friday afternoon, I took my lunch break and headed down to Slugger Field to pick up my race packet…something that I haven’t done in way too long. It was scary and exciting, but I gave them my bib number (963) and got my shirt and bib and a gift card for a free Chik-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich (my roomie got this), checked out the new course (it was a loop this year, not a point-to-point…and then went back to the office to close out my Friday. Traditionally, I eat gluten-free pizza before a big race…but I had my meal plans worked out ahead of time and opted for my third round of potatoes that day…a healthy take on Take-Out Fries (think…In-N-Out Burger Animal Style). It was a 10K race…so I wasn’t really too worried about breaking tradition. I sort of hold that in check for the half and full marathon distance. For a 10K…I can go either way.
I called it a night early because I knew I needed to get up in time to do my PT exercises, do my dynamic warmup, and just attempt not to freak myself out. Recall…the last time I raced was August…and…HELLO STRESS FRACTURE. Well…this distance was twice that and I was pretty sore after hill repeats on torn up asphalt on Tuesday. Needless to say…I was a bit of a mess the night before and the morning of…I just put on my brave face and focused on the task at hand.
Since it was my first race back in…FOREVER…I opted to wear my Wonder Woman running outfit. Because…it had to happen. The start temperature was around 53 degrees, so I figured I could get by with a tank top and be comfortable. BEST. DECISION. EVER. I wore a pair of pants and a hoodie over my running clothes until about 15 minutes to start time. My roommate didn’t have the sign due to the possibility of rain that morning.
We arrived and parked with plenty of time to spare. I went ahead and ate a protein bar while we stood around near the start/finish area. Cathy (that’s the roomie) spotted our friend, Laura, and we called her over and talked with her up until about 15 minutes to start time. I told her to have a great run and went to get into the corral, moving slightly toward the front because…I’m more comfortable when there are fewer people in front of me at the start of a race. The national anthem was sung (quite nicely too!)…and then…we were off!
I felt good crossing that start line, even giving a wave in Cathy’s direction as I started off. I fell into stride with people around me, the little voice in my head telling me to not push too hard, to lift that right leg, and to listen to my body.
Needless to say, I sprinted through that first mile in 7:17…which is WAY faster than I have been running or capable of running on any sort of training run. I usually hover around 8:20-8:40 these days. Of course, soon after hitting Mile 1, we are sent up a hill…so this was a good way for me to ease into a more comfortable pace. It was still really early in the race, and I wasn’t here to race it, but more put in a “long” run, just with a bit more effort. The hill did its job, but thanks to my attendance to most of the hill repeat Tuesdays…I didn’t feel winded when I crested the hill. I felt strong and good. And the hip was still behaving. No pain…win. Mile 2 eased me down to a more manageable pace of 7:54. Thank you Phoenix Hill.
Another very exciting moment was hearing Harry cheer for me as I ran past. He was just outside of Cave Hill Cemetery. And not very many people knew I was doing this run. I haven’t discussed my racing schedule much because I am doing each run on a “as I feel” sort of thing. If I hurt…I’m not running. I’m done with this whole injury train. Just…done. So, that lifted my spirits…and I let my form go for a moment to raise up my arms and wave at him. Awesome.
Mile 3 was next, and my legs were ready to move again. I was in familiar territory, having run the outer rim of Grinstead and Cave Hill Cemetery a couple years ago when I was not inured and Blue Mile still had a running group that met on Mondays. It was comfortable and I felt comfortable coming into the halfway point. I managed that third mile in 7:36…which isn’t too shabby. I kept that same pace heading into Mile 4. But it was around hitting Mile 5 that my hip suddenly decided it waned nothing more to do with the speed I was somehow managing for this run. I had to slow up…which was fine. I’d been running hard(er) and strong for that much of the race. I was feeling good, save for a little muscle twing. Mile 5…I dialed it back to a 7:45.
Me crossing the finish line of the Rodes City Run 10K
Here was where my form really began to fall apart. I actually started to struggle. The reason…I noticed myself falling into that “limp run” that I had been doing prior to physical therapy. Visions of stress fractures began flashing through my mind, so I let go of the speed and focused really hard on my form. I was in the last mile…I would walk there if need be. But I WAS NOT GETTING INJURED!
The crowds were picking up now, so I knew that I was getting closer and closer. I still don’t look at my watch when I run, because if I focus on my pace…I start to psyche myself out. With that being said, I hit 6 miles in the 7:54 pace range (like when I had gone uphill at Mile 2). And the finish line was in sight. I pushed a little more, without letting my form fall apart again, focusing on balance and strength in my right hip. I surged a little…and crossed through the finish gate, hands up in the air.
Damn, that felt good to do again. I’m not going to lie. Cathy was screaming at me from the sidelines. And I paused my Garmin and took a glance. I was at 47 minutes and change. SO close to 48 minutes. Cathy walked over to where she could slip in and take my picture. I did my power stance, biceps flexed, and smiled. Then, one of the professional photographers came over and said that he had to get a picture of Wonder Woman. It made me laugh, but I obliged. I wanted to get some water, so we made our way over there. I downed two cups and then did my leg swings to help loosen the hip.
I felt good. Sore…but good. And I wasn’t limping. So, really it was just more of a muscle ache. That hip adductor still fights me at times.
Anyway…the official results of the Rodes City Run 10K are that I finished in 47:55. No PR…not even close…and still slower than the year I ran when I couldn’t breathe, but…for being out of the racing game for so long…THIS is such an accomplishment. To go from hardly any running for the past year to a 10K where none of my mile splits dropped below a 8 minute mile…WINNING! I was 424/5027 finishers overall, 82/2849 female finishers, and I was 14/430 in my age division. Seriously…I’m proud of what I accomplished here. And I did it without breaking myself!
I still am on the road to recovery and every day I go out to run is different. I’m so very thankful that my body game me a mostly perfect race at a time when I needed just that. Now…to fine-tune my fitness and get stronger.
Time to live up to my nickname of “Wonder Woman” and get this body fit and strong! This was only a test…
It’s Sunday night, and I’m finally settling in…even though my drier has now stopped for the 4th time and my clothes still are sitting in there begging for me to fold them. This is the busy, crazy, and rather hectic weekend I have had. How I haven’t screamed into a pillow just for the sake of my sanity is beyond me.
Do not get me wrong…this really isn’t a bad thing. But there were a few extra things going on this weekend…and it meant some things had to be put off and other things just, honestly, didn’t get done. BUT…these things are minor in the grand scheme of things. It’s just more of a stressor for me.
That being said…deep breaths…laundry can wait…a bit more…
Here are some highlights from this past week…
1. Zootopia OMG…THE CUTENESS!! This movie was adorable. And yes…I am so Officer Judy Hopps. No doubt about it. Except, minus the cute ears and twitchy nose. I might have the fluff butt though. HAHA!! Anyway…went to the movie theater this morning and caught the first showing of Zootopia and LOVED it. Totally loved it. Disney does it again. The sloth scene that is so famous…still funny…even though the trailer pretty much gave the entire scene to you. LOVE IT. I am so costuming as Officer Hopps for a Disney race in the future. THIS. IS. HAPPENING.
All that being said…when the hell did matinee movie prices skyrocket up to $9.00 for an adult??!! Not loving that.
2. THIS AMAZING BIRTHDAY CAKE!! Okay…regular followers of my blog and Instagram know how much I love, respect, adore, and hype my local gluten-free (allergen-free) bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café. Well…there is a reason. This place and I have had a relationship for the past 4 years of my life. It all started in 2012, when my roommate and I found it in a big search for anywhere local that could make me a birthday cake (because I was told the birthday girl shouldn’t have to make her own cake). Since then, you could say that we are regulars. In fact…I might be in there twice a week (SOFT PRETZEL WEDNESDAY!) and for breakfast/brunch/lunch (depending on when we get there, HAHA) every Saturday that I’m in town. I love the staff…I really love the food. It’s amazing.
Well, my roommate (Cathy), her mom, her sister, and her niece all have birthdays within 5 days of each other…for real. So, as we were having the big get-together celebration yesterday, it was cake time. And cake I can eat is always appreciated. Well, I just so happened to have stumbled across a BB-8 cake on Facebook one night and I tagged Annie May’s in it. They said they could make it…so we ordered one. But we did it differently. Instead of shaping the cake into a standing BB-8…we did a cake topper and set it on top of a delicious, amazing lemon cake. OMG…it was awesome. Ashley, the cake decorator there, did a fantastic job with the cake topper and icing. And the lemon cake…OMG…so good!! Moist…delicious…and it had the BEST DROID EVER on it.
Hey…foodie geeks are the best. To the amazing bakers at Annie May’s…THANK YOU!!
3. Fuller House
Okay…yes…I have decided to take the leap and watch the spin-off of the Late-80s-Mid-90s television show, Full House. Why? Because I grew up watching Full House and I really, really, really wanted to revisit the old stomping grounds.
You know what? It’s cheesy…it’s overacted…but it is just as charming (if not more so) as the original. And I love every moment of it. I am about 5 episodes in and already wanting to watch more and more and just not stop. Marathon time (of the non-running sort!) and I am one very happy girl! Netflix and Chill!
4. Getting Myself Back on Track
So, I am taking a few steps in the next couple of weeks to really get myself back on track. Now that the pain has (for the most part…as there are always good days and bad days) subsided enough to allow me to get back out on the roads and run…I’m taking everything my physical therapist told me to heart. I’m working on setting up a meeting with my sports nutritionist to get this diet (and my roomie’s too) back on track and in check. I am going to attempt to either take Body Pump or find someone who can show me how to properly strength train so I am truly building muscle and not just lifting weights or using weight machines completely wrong. I am finding joy in running again…and even dressing the part. No…not like Joy in Pixar’s Inside Out, although that’s in the queue too…but I am no longer struggling through every run. No…I’m not as fast as I was…but I figure once I get stronger, that will come. That being said, I am running strong and I have been joining different groups of people for their runs. This past Saturday, I did my 8-miler with my friend Dennis…and we did negative splits…which is AWESOME. And today, I did an easy 4-miler with the Breakfast Club group. Also, meeting all the new people out there that I have now that I’m back on the road…it has been uplifting and awesome…and I enjoy seeing and hearing all about their progress too. We all have different goals, dreams, and reasons…and that’s what makes running special.
That and the Minion leggings I wore to the Breakfast Club run this morning! HA!! Told you I was back!
So, yeah…I’ve had a week of good things and good stuff. And I’ve put 12 miles on these legs the past 2 days and heave come out of it feeling confident with myself. Every run just helps me get past that mental thing.
And having my friends not only tell me they are happy to have me back…but telling me I am totally capable of doing all the things I have discussed with them. It helps…having that sort of a support system. I love all of them for it. Runner friends, baristas, bakers, family, and just friends. Everyone. All of you.
Thank you!
Do anything fun this weekend? Eat anything amazing? See a good movie? Get inspired?
A part of me almost tacked on the words “…for now” to my subject line, but I’m not going to look at this like that.
Today was my final session with my physical therapist, Katie, unless I need her in the future. We’re now on an “as needed” basis, which is huge. I’ve been tossed around to various physical therapy places…therapists…and types of therapy…all in the time span of a year. And today…FINALLY…I have been officially…RELEASED!
My therapist put me on the treadmill again today (which is what she did during my first session with her) and filmed me running. The differences are STAGGERING. Angles, foot strike, the way I carry myself…it’s all normal now. I no longer am babying the right leg/hip…I’m not treating it like my “Bambi” leg. It’s strong…it’s getting powerful…and I’m finally running normally again.
THUS…eliminating (hopefully) the likelihood of another stress fracture or other issues brought on by imbalances. I am…running well again. I’m not where I was…I may not get back to there, but I’ve had a series of good runs lately. No pain (which is HUGE)…and a little speedier than I thought was even possible. I’m running hill repeats…regularly…and finally coming out of those okay. I have two very different pairs of running shoes…to keep my feet strong. And, for the first time in a very, very long time…I’m loving the way running feels.
This has been a very long road…and I’m going to do everything I can to keep this body strong, healthy, and happy. This means I need to definitely give more attention to the things that my physical therapist insisted I focus on (and things that the book I am reading, Fit Not Healthy by Vanessa Alford have also touched on when it comes to pursuing running and running goals in a healthy way)…NUTRITION, STRENGTH TRAINING, CONFIDENCE, and SMART MILEAGE INCREASES!
All of which I intend to continue to strive to improve on. I am not one to cut back on my calorie intake and my nutrition is pretty much on point, but there is always room for some improvement. So, I am going to meet with my sports nutritionist in the near future and go over some goals and plans. My friend, Deana, has agreed to help teach me some strength training. I’m a complete dolt when it comes to weights…I don’t think I challenge myself enough with them. My mileage has been approved by Katie…so I know that I have that where I need it to be for now. And, let’s face it, the confidence will come with every run that I can get through without pain.
So, I’m in a good place. And for the first time in a very long time, really anxious to get back out on the road and spend some time with all my runner friends, who I have missed SO MUCH this past year.
As for my goals…no time expectations or pace expectations. I’m just happy to be back. No pressure. Just out there to enjoy each and every run. I know they all won’t be good…and they don’t have to be. But as long as there are more good than bad…then I’ll be right on track.
OMG…THE CUTENESS!! This movie was adorable. And yes…I am so Officer Judy Hopps. No doubt about it. Except, minus the cute ears and twitchy nose. I might have the fluff butt though. HAHA!! Anyway…went to the movie theater this morning and caught the first showing of Zootopia and LOVED it. Totally loved it. Disney does it again. The sloth scene that is so famous…still funny…even though the trailer pretty much gave the entire scene to you. LOVE IT. I am so costuming as Officer Hopps for a Disney race in the future. THIS. IS. HAPPENING.
A part of me almost tacked on the words “…for now” to my subject line, but I’m not going to look at this like that.
The Celiathlete 