Marathon Number 2

Sorry the delay in my post, but I kinda wanted a few days just to soak this in for myself.  I haven't really talked about it a lot because its hard to describe how I feel, so lets see how I do.
A group of 6 of us decided early last spring to run the Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon.  5 of us ran Charleston together, with the addition of our friend Keisha Rathbone, whose husband was already part of our group.  We decided to follow the same plan as before even though it was a first timers plan.  Because of all my teaching, the three running days a week are easier for me to follow without overtraining.  ok......hahahaha I overtrain.
My training went really well, all my long runs went faster and easier than the time before.  We also used lots of long trail races as our long runs, making the training more fun as well.  Unfortunately, I also suffered from lots of leg cramps and a back injury, so I had some really good, and really poor races along the way.  A month before the marathon I realized I was worrying so much about times and pr's that I was loosing my bliss, so I made the decision to enjoy running first and foremost.  The Cherokee Half was my first race getting this back and I love it.
It was very cold at the beginning of the race, about 40, but was supposed to warm up to mid 60's during run.  I was layered well, but did have on shorts.  Everyone knows I always freeze so my muscles were really tight all morning.  From the first mile I could tell that I would be fighting leg problems this race, I've felt it before, I know.  My hope was it would hold out as long as possible, the end of the race please?  I ran the first 12ish miles with my friend Alice.  I knew I wouldn't be able to hang with her the whole race because she is able to kick it in last half much better than me, but we held together good until the split.  I did, however, push how fast I had planned on starting, but I really didn't want to run alone, and then I decided, well, it is a race, push it a little.  By pushing I mean I hit my 9:40 and then 9:30 pace quicker than I had planned.
At about mile 14 or 15 my legs were fighting cramping everywhere.  At this point we also entered the Savannah State University Campus.  These students lined the campus everywhere, cheering us on, singing, giving us high fives.  When we ran around the track they were lined up all around, cheerleaders were there, athletes, and someone over the loud speaker cheering us on.  It gave you chills.  I stopped after this to loosen and stretch quickly, but I think I should have done that sooner.  At mile 20, right inner thigh completely locked up.  I mean, you could see the cramp sticking out of my leg.  I was across the road from a med station.  I debated, and then decided to visit the med tent.  They gave me salt, not much because I was also using Gatorlytes, I massaged and iced my legs, while I watched the 4:15 and 4:30 pace groups go by.  At this point, I knew I would just be finishing this race, but I was going to finish this race.  Sprayed down with Bio Freeze I started back.
The last 6.2 miles are kind of a blur, the pain, a few steps walked and then the determination to finish strong.  These 3 stages repeated the whole last 10k.  This is when I turned on my music, but sometimes their bands or music were so good I would turn it off.
At mile 25, I ran up to one more medic tent, grabbed salt Gatorade, sprayed my legs with bio freeze and vowed to not stop again.  And I didn't.  I was so afraid I would lock up again, but I continued to pick up my pace, slowly haha.  At 26 miles when I entered the finishers chute I was extatic.  I finished the race, on my own!!! Best .2 miles of the race.
Normally, old me, would have obsessed about the slower finish time. 4:54 and some change where last time I was 4:33,  I would have obsessed about the speed I started with, or should I have worn my older shoes, etc etc etc.  Of course I wish I had been faster and not hurt as bad, but how can you not be proud when you just ran 26.2 frickin miles.  It wasn't a fluke, it wasn't a one time thing, I AM A MARATHONER!  This race was harder that Charleston by far, I hurt more during and after, but I learned more about myself this time.  I can do this...I am strong,.. I am determined.... I want to see how far I can push myself.  And I love this crap.  Will I do another marathon, why yes I will.........
AFTER I RUN MY FIRST ULTRA IN JANUARY.  Stay tuned to my insanity

Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon Recap

photo by Kathy Helmond

While we wait for Laura to tell us about her marathon yesterday, I'll recap last week's Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon.  This is one of the biggest races in Indianapolis every year.  It also has a full marathon, a 5K, and a kid's one mile fun run.  There are several official cheer zones set up along the course, and many businesses and neighborhoods along the course hold their own cheer parties as well.

My Monumental History

2012

In 2012 I ran the 5K.  At that time, I had been running for almost 5 months.  I had not yet run an entire 5K without walking some, but I was hopeful that would be the race I finally did it.  Race day was really cold, with wintry precipitation expected.  I had not run in the cold weather yet, and did not really know how to layer properly, nor how to breathe.  I made it halfway before I had to walk - I just really had such a hard time catching my breath in the cold air.  Shortly after I finished, it began to sleet, which later changed to snow for the people running the longer races.

I was not planning to run this year's Monumental.  I had such bad memories of the 2012 race that I didn't want to repeat it, even though I know how to layer and breathe in the cold now.  Although most of the ladies in my fall training program were training for one of the Monumental races, I said after the Hendricks County Half Marathon in September that I was just going to take it easy until mid-November, when it would be time to start training again.

Marathon Motivation

I had a little fun with a baby picture of Starr, making a motivational post for Laura as she got ready for today's Savannah Rock 'n Roll Marathon.

Laura finished in 4:54:32, and Mark finished in 4:37:50.  Great finish times!  I can't wait to hear all about it!

PlowOn Gum Review

PlowOn Gum is caffeinated energy gum, designed to boost your energy before a workout.  The gum comes in packs of five pieces, and the instructions say to chew one piece for five minutes, and if you aren't feeling energized within fifteen minutes to chew one more piece.  According to the label, one piece has 100 mg of caffeine, or about the same amount as a cup of coffee or an energy drink.  It also contains taurine, ginseng, and green tea extract, with spearmint for flavoring. 

I won three packs of the gum in a giveaway from another site I follow: Melinda's Weight Loss Journey.  I gave one pack to Josh to try, since he likes energy supplements when he works out.  He reported back to me that he chewed some before playing football with his friends, and that it was "pretty intense".  When I questioned him later after I had tried it too, I found out he actually chewed three pieces at once when he was already "hyped up" to play football.

Teresa's weekend: Great Pumpkin Run and Tarheel Service Day

From Colts cheerleader to Roaming Advocate

I was very busy over the weekend, with The Great Pumpkin Run on Saturday morning and Tarheel Service Day on Sunday.  Both events involved a little wardrobe fun, too.

 

The Great Pumpkin Run

This is a Fall/Halloween themed trail run at The Appleworks in Trafalgar, IN.  I thought about doing it last year, but I didn't really want to drive all the way down there by myself.  It seemed like a race that would be more fun with friends, and I didn't really have many runner friends back then.  But now I do, and happily several of them wanted to do this race too.  It was a total blast!  Jana & Erin made super-cute Batman & Robin costumes complete with tutus, while Mel, Becky, Kathy, Alyssa & I went as Colts cheerleaders.  (Side note: I am a big fan of Sparkle Athletic's Sparkle Skirts for cosrunning.  I think they look great, and they are extremely comfortable too.)

Baby sis had a first (and probably last) this past weekend!

This past Saturday, my run club had their 2nd annual 5K, the WFAR Classic.  They had a 5 mile option this year, but I wanted to do the 5K again to try to improve over last year's time.  There are a few reasons that I didn't improve my time, but I will still call it a successful race!

Last year when I ran this race, I was near the end of my Couch to 5K training, and this year I have been quite slack on my training.  No true goals, I discovered during this run, is something that I need to change very soon.  But I am not using it as an excuse...sometimes life just gets in the way, and that is okay.  So lack of training on my part and not really paying attention to pace lately was one reason I didn't improve.  

Another reason I feel I didn't improve over last year's race is the weather.  Last year this race was in November, and I recall it being cool enough that I wore several layers, including long sleeves.  This past Saturday the temperature was in the high 60's and over 90% humidity and quite sunny.  I really thought I was done with high humidity running.  I should have hydrated a little better beforehand.

In addition to better hydration, I still need to figure out how to better fuel myself for morning races.  I am an afternoon/evening runner, and so I have no problem eating enough during the day for those runs.  I think I am doing fine with the meal I eat the night before, but I am still working on knowing how much I need to eat in the morning and how much time before the event is best for taking advantage of the energy.

So...my first?  Unfortunately for the 2 students this event raises scholarship money for, the attendance for this race wasn't all that great.  But I did benefit from the low participation.  I finished 3rd in my age group, earning me a $25 gift certificate from Sole Dimensions!  Yay for me!  I'll take placing in a race any way that I can!

Up next for me is Wicked 10K on 10/25.  My first 10K, but I already know I will be run/walking it, so there should be no disappointment.  Stay tuned...

Overheard at the Chocoholic Frolic

Chocolate Swag

Mmmm Chocolate

Last Sunday I ran the Chocoholic Frolic 10K, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.  While I don't think we got quite as much chocolate as we were promised, it was a fun race with some nice swag.  Pictured at left is what I received at packet pickup.  After the race, instead of finisher's medals we got candy bars.  And there was a chocolate fountain, with bananas, cookies & pretzels for dipping.  Yum!

A New PR!

Although I have run this distance many times in training, this was the first time I've raced an official 10K, so it was an automatic PR.  But I also consider it a real PR.  My 5K PR is 34:38, and twice that is 1:09:16.  I ran this race in 1:08:45!  I didn't hear THE VOICE until mile 5, when it tried to tell me I had done just fine & it was okay to slow down a little now.  Whatever, voice!  So I sped up, & my splits show that last mile was my fastest.