Not Quite the Post I Had Hoped to Write

There’s a part of me that doesn’t even want to talk about the actual race. I could go on and on for days about meeting some of my favorite Marathon Mommies and how awesome they are. I could talk forever about how I wished I could take them home with me in my suitcase because they were so wonderful. But the race? The Half Marathon from Hell? Bleh.

Okay, it wasn’t from Hell…but it certainly wasn’t heavenly, by any stretch of the imagination.

In hindsight, I realize that as I prepared for the elevation difference by drinking lots and lots of water, my body was retaining all that water to prepare for…something else. I wish I could say that after mile 3, my breathing regulated, my muscles regulated and my stomach was fine…but I know better than to lie to all you awesome ladies. (Ya’ll run faster than I do…’nuff said.) I actually felt like I was going to throw-up the entire race. I walked WAY more than I ever wanted to. Nothing felt right. And that’s not even starting on the wind. (I know I’m a klutz, but holy cow…the wind nearly tripped me!!) I was bummed because while my first half (in October) was super hard – I enjoyed every minute of it. This time around, despite my grand ideas …it was just hard and I wanted to get it over with. I do believe this is what Miss Suzie P called: HUMBLE PIE…at a much higher elevation than I’m used to eating that humble pie. Bleh.

The silver lining of all of this includes many things: I finished. Even though it wasn’t all that great…I overcame. (And somehow (no idea how) improved my time by 4 minutes.) But mostly? The best part was that I met some of the most fantastic women in person…instead of just the internet. :-) I got to spend a ton of time talking and hanging out with Erin who helped me make it through this event. I could NOT have done this without her. (I'm so proud of her...she left me in the dust…don’t let her fool you!) I got to hang out with the person who inspired me to run…and others that help keep me running now. I wish I could express how wonderful it was to meet all of you Marathon Mommies and how much it meant to me. Even those that I didn’t “know” very well, I just was in awe of everyone around me. It was just so gosh darn exciting, I tell you!

The big ‘ol lesson I gained from this is that I’m going to get back on that proverbial horse and not give up. I’ve only been running for a little less than nine months. Not only that, I started big with a half marathon (for not doing any sort of running before in my life) and it’s probably time that I head on to train in smaller segments. I’ve got my first ever 5k coming up for the Race for the Cure in May. (Hurray!) And then I’ll probably do another in June to keep my interest and to give me a little bit more confidence. After that, I’ll start training for another half marathon a little closer to home in October. After that? Who knows…but I’m not going to stop.

I Think It Might Be Called Joy

I am technically way behind schedule in my training. I knew I’d be on a “break” when we went on vacation. I, of course, couldn’t know that I’d immediately get so sick and be on a forced “break” for another few weeks. (Darn that bronchitis.) My runs aren’t what they were before getting sick. My times are a tad poopy. I’m squeezing in my run each night at about 8:30 or 9…at the gym…on the treadmill because that’s the only time I have with our crazy life.

Each night when I get home my husband asks me how things went. I can’t help but smile and say, “really good” because despite all that I listed above, and maybe because of all that I listed above, I’m proud of even the small accomplishments.

By golly, I’m enjoying myself. THAT is why I run.

It's About Time I Showed My Face Around Here

This post is mostly to give proof that I'm still around. My running is a little sparse (slow and short runs) due to this knee of mine giving me trouble...but I have high hopes for it returning to normal soon.

Which brings me to my question: (You knew I had one...)

I live in the valley where we rest (and yes, run) at about 25 feet above sea level. Oh...and by the way, we're all planning on running in a marathon (half or otherwise) in such a place that is, oh...say, 4,226 feet above sea level. I'm in accounting so I feel obligated to tell you that the difference is 4,201 feet.

If we were being audited, that is definitely within the scope of notable variances.

I'm about 30 minutes away from 1,275 elevation...this is good practice. But folks, we're still at a difference of nearly 3,000 feet in elevation.

My current plan is to take a couple of trips to Tahoe City or Truckee. They are a couple of hours away, but that should give me a good start for tackling the elevation issue. Although, heading into the winter months, they will be a tad hard to get to.

And so, my lovely experts...this is where I ask you all for some of that yummy Runner's Wisdom that I do so love. Please talk some elevation sense into the Newbie.

I do realize that you may start charging me consulting fees at some point in the future. I'm figuring out how to work this into the budget.

The Longer Version

Being new to this, I have a feeling that me describing this race is going to be more emotional than technical. I have no other frame of reference! So you’ll have to excuse me “newbie” telling of the story:

It’s a little funny, but Nike really got it right several years back with their “Just Do It” campaign. When people ask how I did a half marathon, my reply is something along the lines of:

YOU JUST DO.

Don’t get me wrong, there is training involved. Lots of it. You work hard for your goal. But as I was “lining up” with 22,000 other women, looking as though I was about to throw up, never was it an option to turn back. I never once thought of NOT running…even when my thoughts were: “What the heck am I doing?!?!?!”

Ahhh yes, I was nervous. But I was also excited.

For the first 12 minutes after the official time began, I felt like I was in a parade. A very slow, slow, slow parade. I was expecting that, but it’s still pretty funny. Even after crossing the official starting line, you’re still dodging people left and right, front and back. It keeps you on your toes…and keeps you blissfully distracted when your stomach feels like it’s about to jump straight out of your body for the first 2-3 miles. Oh…and that nervous bladder that thinks you need to stop at every. single. porta-potty. I didn’t, though. Stop, I mean. The smell alone is enough to keep me running.

Around mile 4 I had my first hill. True, they weren’t cable car hills, but they were still San Francisco hills. My heart felt like it wanted to join my stomach and leap from body. I had to slow down. I had to walk the hills. I live in flat, Valley-Land. I trained in flat Land of the Valley. I had very little hill experience. But I was keeping a good pace, I didn’t get discouraged. I just knew from that first hill on that I would have to walk up those hills.

Now, I have to stop for a minute and tell you how BEAUTIFUL the scenery was the entire weekend. (There are a few pictures here.)One of the best things about the Bay Area in the fall is how clear and beautiful the weather is. I ran along The Embarcadero gazing out at the bay, the boats, the Bay Bridge and the Palace of Fine Arts. Further along, I made my way through the Presidio, barely taking my eyes off the Golden Gate Bridge glowing in the morning sunlight. I got to see how “the other half lives” as I made my way past homes where I couldn’t even afford to rent out the smallest bathroom. And then, at about mile 10, you turn a corner and you are staring at the Sea Cliffs and the beauty that is the Pacific Ocean. I have to tell you all this because I couldn’t have imagined a more amazing way to spend an October morning. Take away all the hard work for just a minute, and all I could think about was how LUCKY I was. I felt such peace and joy that I may never be able to think about that time without tears coming to my eyes. (Please excuse any typing errors from this point on.) I felt so blessed to have the ability (and the goal) to make my way through 13.1 miles of awesome.

You may now know why I don’t have very many specifics for mile five through ten. I was just a happy JP running through beautiful scenery, walking up the hills, empowered by the sisterhood of 22,000 women all there for the same reason. I grabbed water and Gatorade at some of the aid stations. I grabbed an orange slice at yet another station. Life was good. I had to remind the tears of joy and excitement to stay away because OH MY HECK, YOU CAN’T CRY – YOU’LL DEHYDRATE YOURSELF!!! There's no crying in baseball marathons!

Around mile 11, my right foot went a little numb. This used to happen to me A LOT before I learned that you need to buy your running shoes a half to a full size larger than you normally do. But this was the first time it had happened since then. I tried loosening my shoe a little…but the “damage” seemed to have already taken place. It was annoying, but I could deal with it. Even though I could feel the blister forming on one of my toes. (Bummer!)

Right before mile 12, one of my coaches was there to “hang out” with me for about a ¼ of a mile. I was so excited to see her and chat with her for a little bit. It gave me a huge boost. So it made me laugh that as soon as I passed the 12-mile marker I actually thought to myself: “I only have one mile left?!?! Seriously? ONLY ONE MORE MILE? This is GREAT NEWS!!”

Of course, the last mile was the hardest. I was still doing fine, but the numb foot was more than annoying at this point. But I kept on keeping on. And as I started seeing more and more markers lining the way, the tears just started welling up. My throat did that funny thing it does when you’ve got a big cry coming on. And as I crossed that finish line, I heard a loud “MOMMY!” and I turned to see my family, just as I grabbed my little blue box and my “silver metal.” I was done. I did it. I had completed my first half marathon. My first event of any kind.

I laughed. I cried. It was one of the best things I have ever done. I felt JOY. I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. I was so excited. I was tired. And dang-it, I was finally hungry!

But now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: How long did it take me? But first, an if then statement for your enjoyment.

IF I had better prepared for the hills, I’m excited to say that THEN my time would’ve been under three hours. Even still, after have only been running since August, I’m still proud that my actual time for my first half marathon was 3:20.

And I didn’t steal anyone else’s bib number.

The Really, Really Short Version...For Now

We just got home from San Francisco about an hour ago. I don't have to tell you how tired I am...tired, but completely filled with joy. Yes, I ran my very first half marathon...my very first marathon of any kind. It was a beautiful (BEAUTIFUL) course with beautiful weather. I was a part of the largest women's marathon as I ran with 22,000 other women. (And a few men, too.) And through this event, along with Team and Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, raised more than $18.5 million dollars!

All of that is so incredibly amazing. Then you throw in the fact that I had ZERO chaffing, and you've got yourself a VERY happy, although quite tired and a bit sore, JP.

I'm off to bed. Thank you...ALL of you for your support and well wishes. What a wonderful day this has been.

Slow and Steady Doesn't Always Win

Dear Lovely Hares,

I am in awe of all of you. Your form, your pace, your finishing time – tremendous. I lay at your feet inspired by your greatness. (Please don't step on me.) I do realize that only began training (seriously) four months ago. I do realize that I have improved by leaps and bounds in the past two months. I do realize my limitations and also my strengths. But I feel it only fair that I should disclose this one thing:

I. RUN. SO. SLOW.

I read about your average pace of somewhere in the eight minute range and I think, “WOW.” My next thought is then “I want to be like them.” My third thought is: “I will probably run this HALF marathon in nearly the same time as you hares ran a FULL marathon! Holy crap!” And then I give myself a break and remember that my hard, outer shell weighs more than it used to…even if the weight is (slowly) going
down. I also remember that my back end…yeah, my back end sort of works like an anchor at this point. I also remind myself that I’m running ever so much farther than I ever have. That the self proclaimed hater of “running” is actually running. For miles at a time! And really, the bright side of all of this is that even after next Sunday has come and gone, there can only be room for improvement.

However, please note that, until further notice, I reserve the right to steal someone else’s number at the finish line and give their finishing time instead.

Love,
Your Friend, Tortoise.

Can We Talk?

I have a little over two weeks before my first marathon experience. I have questions. Lots of them. Some of them will be lame, I’m sure. But I was thinking I could bring some of them here to my favorite running experts. Maybe some of them may help other new runners out there. Well, one can hope. So, IF you will humor me, can you please channel your inner Mike Meyers of “Coffee Talk with Linda Richman” and let’s move ahead with “Newbie Talk with JP”…I’ll give you a topic. “Duran Duran. Is neither Duran nor Duran.”

Kidding.

Okay, here’s my real topic: Under-“things”. Do you stick with Under Armor, go “commando” or other. Yes, this is one of my concerns. (I told you there may be lameness ahead.)

Signed,
The (almost) Runner Petrified of Chaffing


*Tomorrow's topic: Body lube...it is or is not like buttah...*

Tales from the Newbie

I started running because of a cause. Originally, I started out as one of the walkers in the Nike Women’s Half Marathon. I was doing it for my honorees and to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I was proud of myself and was honored to be a part of Team in Training. It’s a good group of people with an amazing purpose.

And then there was this little voice inside of me that kept telling me to run.

I’ve only been running for a few months. I never thought that I would enjoy it or be good at it. And I know what you’re thinking…and you’re right: I’ve taken on a big goal with this half marathon gig. The good news is that Team in Training does an excellent job of training the Newbies. They start you out slow and gradually teach you to build up your mileage. They teach you about proper shoes and clothing. They also warn you about (gasp) chaffing! (Do tell your favorite “lube” if you get the chance. It’s time for me to be looking for that stuff.) They’ve been great…but I would have never believed that I am starting to love to run. I’m enjoying the clarity it has (recently) offered. (Those first few months are TOUGH.) I am starting to become addicted. I am proud that I haven’t quit. And I, um, (cough, cough) like the, er, effect that running has on my rump and legs.

The other day, a co-worker of mine called me a “runner.” Don’t get me wrong - I wasn’t offended by this in any way and was even flattered, but I felt the need to correct her. “I run.” I said. “I’m not a runner yet.”

I don’t know at what point I will feel like I can call myself a “runner.” I guess I’ll know when I get there. Right now, I just love that I’m pushing myself to do something that I never thought was possible…even though I’m SO NERVOUS about getting to that finish line. I look to you “official” runners. I’ve already learned quite a bit from you Marathon Mommies. So, a big thank you. To all of you. You make me that much more excited.