Taper Crazies: The Road to the TCS NYC Marathon

The taper crazies have hit.  For those of you who do not run, this is the 2 weeks where you drastically cut your weekly mileage to prepare your muscles to run a marathon (26.2 miles; don't underestimate that .2).  This is where you review your training cycle and hope you 'did enough'.

The questions swirling around in your head can be staggering.

Did I run enough long runs?
Did I run enough hills?
Did I run enough tempo runs?
Did I? Did I? Did I?

Even though I have run over 15 marathons, 6 ultra marathons (anything over 26.2 is considered an ultra) and many, many half marathons I still respect the distance.  Yes I know I can run 26.2 miles.
Am I trying to race this marathon?  No.  I just want to run happy and enjoy it.  My focus is going to be shorter distances after this marathon so I truly just want to Boston Qualify (under 4 hours).  I ran a 1:37 half marathon the weekend before last and felt amazing.  Boom. I would be just fine keeping that train moving a little slower but nonetheless chugging along at a comfortable pace (for me). There is nothing better than feeling the miles click off on your Garmin without you realizing you are exerting effort.  Unfortunately, most runners know it is solely about THAT (race) day.  Race day can be anything, a mixed bag of sorts.

Each time I lace up my shoes to run a training run I always wonder if this is going to be a good day, tolerable day or a horrible running day.  Some training runs you question what the heck you are doing with running shoes on.  Some training runs you feel on top of the world.  This is where the taper crazies begin.

The time I would have used for running is now empty.  My energy levels swing higher and lower than a kid on a swing trying to touch the sky.  I find myself not sleeping very well either.  I have been waking up super early almost every day since my taper began.

The taper crazies have hit me so hard, I painted our youngest daughter's bedroom over the weekend. She is in her third year of teaching, so to say I dragged my feet is an understatement.  One of my steady running partners, Jeriann, helped me gather all my painting necessities because she was in taper mode till yesterday.  She rocked the Marine Corps marathon in DC with a 12 minute PR (3:25). I was singing and dancing following her on my phone all morning.  I should note I started texting her at 4:25am and she answered!  I think my husband was ready to have me committed.

Jeriann meeting me for a quick goodbye lunch before leaving for DC

My New York experience starts on Thursday afternoon.  I am lucky my Dad lives on Wall Street in Manhattan so I am walking distance to the South Ferry.  I will take the ferry to the starting line on Sunday at 6:00am. 

I found out that I will be starting at 9:50am on TOP of the bridge (insert yikes) in Wave 1, Corral D so I SHOULD have plenty of time to find where my corral is located.  I will also be taking a whole meal with me (in clear plastic bags) because I will be HUNGRY after just sitting/standing there for hours. One of my biggest racing idiosyncratic behaviors is that I need to see the starting line the day before or I don't sleep well because I will dream about the gun going off and I am scrambling trying to find the starting line.  Yes, that IS a taper crazy I have hung onto since high school.  I will have to deal with this this year because I will not be looking at the starting line the day before.  I will be visiting with family.

At Boston I had my friend, Jen Farrell with me.  Jen is one of my favorite running partners who put up with my crazy work  hours for years.  She was great about meeting me anywhere at anytime.  I still miss her immensely!  I will feel very alone without her with me at New York.

Notice the taper crazies unfolding in the above paragraphs?  I am bouncing all over the place.  I feel like a hamster who had their wheel taken away from them. I just want to run.....right now!

This morning I had a leisurely 6 mile run with some running buddies I do not get to run with very often.  We had a chatty, silly run that felt amazing in our cooler temperatures here in North Carolina. 

Beth and Amy allowed me to process my taper crazies while we chatted and ran farther than we originally scheduled.  This is why I love our Greensboro running community....EVERYONE IS AWESOME!

Amy and Beth were so much fun to run alongside!

I am sure I will have more to say about New York, Much more. I am trying to contain my excitement about seeing my Dad & Stepmom, and my sister and her family. I look forward to running all 5 boroughs by myself (alongside 50,000+other runners).  I think ONE of them will help me find the starting line before the gun goes off.

I leave you with a quote from William Shakespeare, "Things won are done, joy's soul is in the doing". I am fortunate to have supportive family and friends that give me daily encouragement.  Speaking of encouragement....here is a link to the trailer of my son's (Nick Westfall) first full length feature film he wrote and directed, "Finding Home".  I couldn't be more proud. It will premiere in Wilmington, NC on Saturday, November 21st on National Adoption Day.  Enjoy!

Click here to see "Finding Home"

Preparation for the TCS New York Marathon by way of the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon

How do you make sure you have some good solid training runs while preparing for a marathon?  Pick a couple of half marathons and sign-up.  Yes.  Just sign up.  Put the ego aside, slap on a cute, fun outfit , lace up your shoes and run for the sheer fun of running with friends.

I happen to have a great community of runners here in Greensboro, NC.  I tend to float from group to group so  I can experience a nice, varied mix of people.  This includes running with everyone from beginners to seasoned veterans (notice I didn't use the word 'old'. I'm taking issue with that word lately).  I am what you call a undisciplined free spirited runner.  I mainly run other people's plans.  Am I a certified running coach?  Yes.  Do I care exactly what my training plan should be when preparing for a marathon?  No.  I have been running my whole life.  I like to think I have a base that has a base.  I do, however, make sure I build distances, then take an off week where I decrease mileage considerably.  There is where that 'old' word comes back into play:  In order for ME to stay healthy, I must listen to my body and give it proper rest when I need it.

2 weeks ago I paced the Cannonball Half Marathon in Greensboro.  My friend, Jeriann and I paced the 1:45 group and had a blast talking, teaching, singing and coaching our group to the finish line in under 1:45.  The skies were gloomy and humid, but it never rained.  We remained upbeat and cheered everyone around us.  THIS is what the love of running does.

Jeriann is getting ready to run in the Marine Corps Marathon in D.C.  So proud of her and her running accomplishments as a new runner!

Yesterday was the Myrtle Beach Mini-Marathon (I love that they say 'mini' instead of 'half' marathon).  I wanted to run happy, consistent and stay within 1:35-1:45 range.  I ran each mile within 5 seconds of one another and  allowed myself to go a little faster the last mile.  I stayed in my sweet spot so that I didn't feel taxed, yet I knew I was working.  I worked myself comfortably to a 1:37:44 finish, which translated to a 7:27 average mile.

  I was so happy to run into these running friends after the race!

Johnny and Suzette Redwine,  We competed in  the Denver  Rock and Roll Marathon together last October.  I just adore these two!

Running happy (for me) involves a couple of things:  great traveling companions and perfect weather.  I had great travelling companions and the weather was PERFECT for running.  It was windy, but the temperature ranged from 45-60 degrees.  Aah, perfect running weather!

Here is the gang trying to stay warm before the start:  Christie, Lori, me, Amy and Erin.  Erin was competing in her first half-marathon ever and cruised her way in to a 2:07 finish.  She was wanting under 2:30.  I say she crushed her goal.  Don't you?  We had a great race mom:  Amanda.  Amanda drove us to the start line, parked the car at the finish line, and cheered for us with her sombrero on throughout the course.  Everything went smoothly and thanks to her super driving skills it was a fun weekend.  Here we are trying to stay warm after the race!

                             Amanda, Erin, me, Suzette below me, Lori, Christie and Amy

Next up:  TCS New York City Marathon...do I have a race plan?  Yes.  Finish. I want to run happy so I can take it all in and enjoy myself.  I need to BQ so that if a certain group of special running friends all qualify we will go together in 2017.  The only time I enjoy being old is the qualifying BQ time for my age is 3:55.  I  need to race under 3:49 to secure my spot.

I know I have been terrible about blogging this past year.  I keep thinking things need to be EPIC.  I am accepting that this is my issue and I will work on it this year.....through the blog.  Thanks for reading!

The Elusive 100 miles in 24 hours is Finally Mine and I have a Virginia State Record to Prove It!

It's been (gulp) a week since I ran the Crooked Road 24 Hour Ultra, but the miles still seem fresh.  This was the first year I achieved breaking the 100 mile barrier and ironically this year was the easiest.  Was I stronger than last year?  Probably yes.  Was I more patient than last year?  Decidedly so.  Was I more relaxed about it this year?  ABSOLUTELY.  I have photographic proof of my calmness.  In previous years I would not have stopped long enough for a photo for fear of being late to the starting line.  We were definitely bundled up because it was 21 degrees outside.  The good news is that we knew this would be the coldest it would get throughout the next 24 hours.

Me, Chris Bean, Trish Lebsack & Josie Whitmore

I coerced convinced some tennis/running friends into participating in the Crooked Road 24 Hour Ultra.  Trish Lebsack & Chris Bean came to cheer me on last year with another friend, Chris Walker. Even though I had a rough day (didn't feel well, even colder than this year complete with snow showers) they loved the party atmosphere of a 24 hour race.  You see, everyone has different goals and aspirations but the common denominator is everyone has FUN!  The volunteers are awesome and since the loop is only .95 miles long you get to see everyone quite often.  By far, this is my favorite course.  I liken it to cupcake racing.  You get food and drink every .95 miles.  What's not to love?

Trish, Josie, Chris and myself show up to the starting line and it's like a reunion of sorts.  Usually at the start of a race candid shots of me closely resemble someone about to throw up, not this time.  I found this one and I look like I'm happy and confident. I don't know if I'm stretching or strutting.

 I got the most sleep I've ever gotten before one of these type of races and felt FULLY ready to tackle my 100.  My friend, Charlie Engle, and I shared a picnic table under the shelter.  Every year I've procured the same table.  I think his superior talent rubbed off on me which enabled me to break a 100.  Anyway, I had oodles of stuff (as usual) because  you never know what you are going to need for a 24 hour race.  I knew Charlie was going to be there all night, but I knew I had my friend Jen Pack running with me for a little in the evening (she ran 10 miles with me!) and Pam (who I met at this race several years earlier and I adore) running with me at 2am.  My friend, Dena, shared the table with us, but didn't show up for the race until the start.  In fact, I didn't see her until a couple of laps into the race.  We are sole sister racing buddies and good friends.  We have worked together at 24 hour races before and have pushed each other to new distances that we never thought possible.  She and I mostly ran together the first 50 miles.  She had logged many more miles than me the last couple of months, so her body was done after 50.  If she had not done a 24 hour race,  a marathon, etc. I think she would have been right there by my side.  We took a little photo somewhere in the 35-50 mile range.

Unlike last year, I decided that I was not going to attack the sugar table until deep into the race.  I think this may have had a big impact on my blood sugar levels.  I felt great throughout and I did not have a single gummy bear, oreo, etc.  I did have my magical elixir, coke, but I didn't have any until after the 50 mile mark.  I took a couple of ounces every 5-8 miles.  I did drink some Nuun, Heed, Gatorade and water throughout.  Another reason I had so much fun was that we had so many friends from Greensboro running in the event.  Everyone arrived with different plans, but it was so exciting seeing everyone throughout the day and into the night.

Food.  I probably didn't eat enough of it, but I did have Kashi bars, banana chips, Honey Stinger waffles and peanut butter crackers.  Crooked Road provided McDonald's hamburgers, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, soup, and pizza.  I stayed away from dairy this year, but had plenty of sandwich squares and chicken broth to fill up on.  The volunteers made it easy.....I would ask for broth and by the next time you arrived at the table, it would be there.  It was magical!  I also had some great help from Chip and Kerri Person.  They are Wilder's parents and it was so nice seeing them every mile while Wilder completed 50 miles!  I was so proud of his progress in this sport.  Longevity does not come overnight and he is well on his way to really make an impact in this sport.

Around 2am I (for some unknown reason) felt like I could not have solid food anymore.  I wasn't feeling bad, but I just knew I didn't want to eat anything.  I then switched to broth, Muscle Milk, Gu's and Honey Stinger Chews until I finished.  I never had GI issues (unlike the year before) which was lucky. I also never felt delirious and I definitely didn't do any death marching.  I was running, jogging and power walking throughout.  I don't think I slowly walked at all as a matter of fact.

Pam and I ran a few laps but I soon sent her to administer to the runners that really needed her.  I was feeling great.  Unfortunately we were passing some people that were doing a death march slow, staggered walk so I told her I felt great and they needed her more than me.  I continued my jogging/race walking as I counted down the laps I needed to achieve my goal.  I even took a selfie in the brand new heated bathroom with only 4 1/2 laps to go!

The eyes were definitely tired looking and the heavy salt intake was taking its toll.  But.....the bathroom was warm and I wanted 1 more minute of warmth....taking a picture seemed normal (maybe I was a bit delirious?).  Maybe it was foreshadowing because this picture proved to be the signal for my friends, Mel and Christine, to get there fast because I was going to finish ahead of schedule!  I had no idea they were coming.

Every time I was within 50 feet or so of the volunteer table I would say, "HHHHIIIIIIIII    Taaaaaarrrrrraaaaaaaa" (yes, I dragged out her name that long because it was great to see her each lap!)  Well....when she yelled that I just finished 105 laps my smile was huge, but when Mel and Christine appeared I went euphoric.  I remember jumping up and down (knocking my headlamp off) yelling, "You came!" over and over and over.  I then remember giggling like a kid at Christmas and we took off.  I forewarned the girls at the table that they might hear some yelling when I reached the 100 mile sign, but that I was okay.  The 3 of us took off hand in hand and we screamed at the top of our lungs at the sign....well, the girls at the table screamed back.  We couldn't stop laughing.  We ran the rest of the lap and I stopped.  Yes, I stopped.  My goal was 100 miles.  I completed 100.7.  Could I have gone on for the next hour and a half?  I don't know.  All I knew is that I felt so great I didn't want to jinx myself.  I then cheered Emily on to break the Virginia State Record for her age group and overall.  Little did I know that I broke a Virginia State Record that day for my 45-49 year old age group and ended up 2nd overall female. I sat by the fire and waited for my husband to pick me up.  When Dan arrived I think he thought he was going to walk a few laps with me, but I was already done.  We He packed up all my things and I decided I couldn't wait for the awards ceremony.  The tiredness set in.  Ricky Scott, the race director, handed me my precious jewel.  I couldn't have been more proud to receive this

My day got just a little bit brighter because I was inducted into the Team Buttercup group.  Bill Keane, pictured here with Amy Surrette and myself sent me a "Suck It Up Buttercup" shirt and the 100 mile sign he confiscated from the course.  I talked to that sign for 106 laps....I truly YELLED to that sign 106 times.  I cannot wait to hang it in my home office.

Sorry this was so long, but I am trying to blog a little more often.  I keep reminding myself it doesn't have to be big or epic.  It just has to 'be'.   Happy Running !!

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I felt lazy not running in a Thanksgiving Day/Weekend race, but I did manage to run 10 miles on Saturday with Jeriann and her husband, Byron.  We ran happy....can you guess who's wearing the dirty shoes?

The 2014 Road to Crooked Road, a year in quick review

Well....I finally did it.  I completed 100.7 miles within 24 hours. Actually, due to my poor math skills, I  completed it in 22 hours 27 minutes. I thought I was in the 23rd hour so I was actually running quite a bit those last couple of hours thinking I was going to be racing the clock.  Seeing as I have not had time to blog in the last YEAR, I thought I should give  a quick recap of the year and the race and then go into more specifics of the race in a separate post.

2014.  What a year it has been thus far.  To be honest, it has flown by not just because I am getting old  seasoned, but also because I returned to the full-time work force in February.  I am back in the wellness industry at Starmount Forest Country Club which is 3.5 miles from my house.  I have the privilege of imparting my passion for wellness to a great group of members.  Besides loving my job, I have the most incredible view from my desk.  Most who know me know I don't sit well, but if you have to sit to get paperwork done, a great view of the golf course helps!

A couple of days before I started my job, I paced the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon.  I LOVE pacing races.  I get out of my own head and focus on helping my group achieve their goal.  I paced the 1:45 group and I take my job seriously!  I always forewarn my pace group that I will indeed talk the whole time.  I also tell them I will sing, joke and get the crowd involved.  I am enjoying some high success rates because they are relaxed and laughing. There is no better compliment than to have someone come to me after it's over telling/hugging me that I helped them achieve a personal best.  If I could, I would pace every weekend.  Here is one of the only photos I have from that day, my friend Melanie and I picking up our pacing shirts.

March brought me participating in the Wrightsville Beach Half Marathon.  I was with awesome friends, but I was food poisoned the day before the race and didn't have anything in my system for over 24 hours.  I ran the race because I signed up for the race.  I pulled back every time I felt dizzy, and just enjoyed the run.  This is a theme this year......I've been running    h   a   p   p  y  .  I know I don't look very happy in this photo, but I had had zero food for over 28 hours and ran this race and somehow kept everything together.  I was indeed happy!

April brought  another pacing job.  This time it was the Raleigh Rock & Roll Marathon.  I was entrusted with the 4 hour pace group....and as you can see by the picture I took my job seriously had an incredible time getting my group in on time.  In fact, with the exception of only a few I had most of my group ahead of me.  This day was hot, hot, hot.  I was carrying 6 extra Gu's in my pocket and begged my group to stay hydrated.  This was probably the hardest pacing job I ever encountered because of the humidity and the sun.  Two people lost their lives in the half marathon this day, and my prayers still remain with these 2 families.  Rock & Roll events are incredible because they are well organized and  hearing the bands throughout the course make it even more fun!  

Due to a last minute phone call from a dear running friend, Rebecca Byerly, of Women of the Mountain, I was invited to pace her in Lake Tahoe during her Tahoe 200 race (may I just say it is REALLY 202 miles) in September.  It was a whirlwind trip I will never forget.  I flew and drove to Tahoe getting there somewhere around 2am with a Greensboro high school student named Wilder Person.  Wilder and I became fast friends even with the decades between us because we were there to get Rebecca across the finish line at all cost.  Wilder is not a seasoned runner and did over 40 miles with Rebecca.  Amazing!  I ended up pacing somewhere in the neighborhood of 90 miles and collectively we helped get Rebecca to the finish line as the 4th overall female.  It was easy being her friend and mentor, it was hard getting tough with her a few times as she battled fatigue.  I was so happy to help her, this picture is one of my favorites......

I ran a few other races, but by far my biggest race this year was the Denver Rock N Roll Marathon.  My hubby and I flew out to Colorado on a Friday, explored downtown Denver that afternoon and spent the next day hiking up near Boulder.  I knew I was going to have fun at Denver and not try to race it, so hiking for many hours in the mountains seemed normal to me.  I fell in love with Colorado and hope to return one day soon.  I encountered some altitude issues during the race on Sunday, but I ran happy.  I ended up 17th woman overall but the most interesting note is that I was the first female NOT from Colorado on the results list.  In my crazy world, I consider that a win!  I look too fresh for just running a marathon, but my time was pretty (relatively) slow for me.

Now we come to Crooked Road 24 Hour Ultra.  This race is a true test of your will and determination.  It gets dark by 5:15pm and doesn't get light again till almost 7am.  That is a LONG time to be running with a headlamp.  Crooked Road is set in a park near Rocky Mount, VA and is a certified .95 mile loop.  Notice I said .95, not 9.5!  May I just say I LOVE this loop.  It gave me 106 times to say hello to the great volunteers and more opportunity to run into people.  I love people!  Especially during a 24 hour race.  Here is a photo of my Greensboro Sole Sister, Dena, who was with me when I started running Crooked Road 4 years ago.  If you haven't read any of my previous posts from Crooked, I invite you to because this year's experience was NOTHING like the previous years.  I will explain that in more detail in an upcoming post.

I wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving and thank you for reading. I hope to write a full race report by the weekend!  I leave you with a few things I am thankful for:

1.  I am thankful I have the most wonderful husband, family and friends who support, lift, and encourage me.  More importantly, they accept me the way I am.
2.  I am thankful I have remained a healthy runner thanks to cross training and actually listening to my body.
3.  I am thankful I love running everything from the 800m to 100 miles.
4.  I am thankful that I surround myself with women who empower me and not try to tear me down.
5.  I am thankful I was born with endless energy which probably drives many people crazy :)
6.  I am thankful I have met so many incredible people through a sport I love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Good and The Bad. What a 24 Hour Race Feels Like.


I have been contemplating what to write about for the last 3 days.  There are so many facets to a 24 hour race.  I decided to break it into 2 parts.  The first part will entail all the logistics.  The second part will delve into the emotional side of a 24 hour race.

 

 

 



Photo & PhotoShopping Courtesy of Nathan Daughtrey
 

LOGISTICS
We had 13 runners from Greensboro tackle the 3rd Annual Crooked Road 24 Hour Run.   I have been fortunate to be a participant all 3 years.  I have made some great running friendships all 3 years.  Ultra runners themselves are a cheery bunch.  You can arrive to these type of events and not know anyone, but quickly you forge bonds and form lasting friendships.  I still wonder if ultra runners are just genuinely nice people, or are they genuinely happy to see other like-minded (crazy to the outside world) athletes.  Either way, they become family.....fast!

I had made a supply list for some of the other Greensboro runners, so here is what I sent them:

Supplies List for Crooked Road 24 hour Ultra
4 outfits….really….you have to get out of wet clothes to stay warm
Big jacket/hat(s)/mittens/gloves/neck warmer……it gets REALLY cold in the middle of the night Fleece pullovers- 2 thicknesses….thick and thin 3-4 pairs of shoes and the same for socks….
I used 3 pairs at Hinson Hot hands- I used 2 in my gloves, 2 in my shirt, 1 in my back pocket and one in my turtleneck Fleece blanket….you will want it when you are in walk mode…it definitely helps Arm warmers/compression socks- I took off compression socks at midnight- not sure if I will wear them at Crooked.
5-6 Gu Gels 2-3 pkgs of Gu Chomps
3 cans of coke or other magic elixir
2 5-hour energy drinks
1 Sugar Free RedBull
Hard Candy- help wet your mouth when you start to dehydrate a little
I made a gallon of Gatorade that I watered down a little into bottles I could quickly grab-the cups at the tables are so small that you need real fluid sometimes
Yoga Mat (for stretching on) and pillow Massage Stick/Foam Roller/tennis balls I used them all during Hinson
Pretzels or salty snacks….definitely need the salt.
 I love dipping half cooked potatoes into salt
I had 2 Ipods with me but didn’t use them until the evening…so many people around during the day. I downloaded some podcasts and some music
Winter coat & Scarf. I wore them the whole time at night.
I will definitely bring some soup mixes, or cans of soup.
Slip-on shoes (like Crocs)- you don’t want your feet touching the ground and you won’t have any balance- trust me on this one.
2 or 3 towels- 2 big ones, 1 hand towel.
Sanitizer- you will not want to go wash your hands, the bathroom is too far

Quite the list, but I ended up using most of everything.

The weather forecast changed so many times the week preceding the race that I frequently double-checked what city I had typed in.  The night before the race the weather people decided it could rain on Saturday before late afternoon and then there would be wind gusts up to 35 mph throughout the rest of Saturday into Sunday morning.  They also predicted snow flurries.  Did I mention they predicted real feel temperatures in the single digits?  They were accurate with the exception (thank goodness) of rain.  We, fortunately, did not have any rain....just snow flurries.

So, as you can see, you couldn't go into this race without preparation because the elements were going to be brutal, but I will save all those comments for the emotional section :)

I drove up the morning of the race with Christie & Bekah.  We had so much fun stopping to get a bacon biscuit.  I need laughter the morning of a race because I still tend to get very nervous about my own personal performance.  I am working on it, but alas "working" is a verb.  Look how much fun Bekah and Christie are having during the race.  This makes my heart smile.  I am a very competitive person, but somehow I really, really don't care how I place on a 24 hr. race.  I know it is hard to believe, but I don't even like to look at the leader boards because I'm racing myself; my own demons.

The great thing about the Crooked Road course is the .95 mile loop.  Yes.  I'm telling you, it is GREAT to have food, drink and PEOPLE every mile!  Would I prefer it to be a 1 mile exactly loop?  Absolutely.  On a good day I'm horrible at math.  On a 24 hour running/walking adventure I'm downright scary.  One question I frequently get asked (especially after 3 years of this race) is how do I not go insane going in circles?  I have never disliked this loop. Ever.  I love the winding path through brief trees.  I love running along the Pigg River.  I love hearing the waterfalls on the back corner of the course.  I love the little footbridge and the gravel road that leads to people, food & drink!  At night, there is no lighting so there are glow sticks which light the way.  It's really very peaceful at night.  The moon didn't come up till after 11pm (I think) and it illuminated much of the path, which was a good thing since my headlamp died around 4:30am.

The race itself started out just fine.  Here is a photo with my running friend, Amy.  Amy ran 102 miles at Hinson Lake 24 hour in September.  I actually ran a number of laps with her son, Drew, who is 10 and completed 50 miles there.  We became facebook friends and the rest is history.  I absolutely adore her!  She is a rockstar!

We ran a few laps together and chatted at the food table.  We encouraged one another and inspired the other to keep moving.  She also wanted to hit 100 miles.  Unfortunately it was not our day.  No woman went over 100 miles this year, and only 3 men made it.  We have chatted a few times since the race and we both are pleased with how we did considering the elements, but deep down still a little disappointed we didn't make it.

I have never made it a full 24 hours in a race because I previously hit my goals and went home.  Since I didn't make my goal, I did make it the full 24 hours.  It was really neat being a part of a small group that got to lay their stick down when we heard the air horn at 8am.  My husband was with me at the time and it is a moment I will NEVER forget.

Now....how I REALLY felt.....

EMOTIONS

The race started out great!  I felt good and I smiled for quite a few photos throughout the day.  A couple of hours into the race, my BFF Melissa came to the race with Bailey (her adorable Golden Retriever).  She ran a few laps with me.  Bailey ran a few laps with me and it felt GREAT to have her there to distract this weird feeling I was having most of the morning.  After she left, it wasn't too much longer before some more of my friends showed up; Trish, Chris & Chris.  I am the luckiest woman in the world to have such great friends that would brave the cold to see me for a brief stint every time I went around the course.

 I ran with people for quite a while, but when I started  feeling off, I wanted to be inside my own head.  Off.  What does that mean?  Wish I knew.  I was feeling lethargic yes, but it was more than that.  About 26 miles into the race I was feeling like I could not regulate my temperature.  I'd be hot, then I'd be cold.  I then started having some GI issues.  Controlled diarrhea, if you will.  Sorry about that.  Here I am in this photo, hot...notice the other people still wearing jackets, etc. behind me.

I was able to continue to take fluids (protein drinks included), but I was having a hard time eating solids.  I did quite a few gels and chomps throughout the day and night.  I couldn't understand what was happening because I felt fabulous at Hinson.  I finished 75 miles by midnight there.  What was happening here?  I was deviating from the plan.  Yikes!  Late in the afternoon every time I saw my Greensboro peeps I would burst out in tears.  Don & Kathi came in the late afternoon with tomato soup and I cried as I tried to drink some of it while Kathi & Cara rubbed my legs to loosen them.  Once it got dark my trio (Trish, Chris, & Chris) came back to cheer me on for a few more laps.  Here is a very dark photo, but you can see the elation on my face to see friendly faces in the cold.

I wanted to hit my goal of 100 miles.  I wasn't taking any flack from my body.  Usually it is my mind that is my nemesis; not my body.  When the Greensboro peeps were leaving for their hotel, they asked me several times if I wanted to go with them.  I emphatically said no.  I was staying with Christine, Keith & David.  I think I remember crying as I said goodbye to them.  I started running again and ran into Keith.  He has done 100 miles before, just not in 24 hours, so it was my job in the middle of the night to help him achieve his goal.  He was having a really tough time.  At one point at our communal table, he said he was going to pack it in for the day.  I looked over at Christine and she was shivering so badly that I didn't have it in my heart to try and convince him to stay.  I think I teared up, gave them a hug, and soldiered on.  I have to tell you.  Giving up never entered my mind.  In retrospect, maybe I should have?  That is the interesting part of this journey.  Was I being too stubborn?  Who knows.  I do know I wore my black fellow flower which means, "Why yes, I am a force to be reckoned with".  I had it in my hair during the day and my pocket at night.  I touched it frequently to channel energy.

Around 1am the wind kicked up even more.  David was still there. He is the one in the photo above that looks like he is running on water.  David would run a few laps, walk a few laps, then get warm in his SUV.  We got to jog a few then walk a few laps together.  It started snowing and we interlocked our arms like we were on our way to a debutante ball.  Here is where I should tell you what I was wearing at the time (it's a wonder I could move at all!):

Climawear long sleeve shirt
Polar fleece pull-over
Down jacket
Lined, heavy raincoat (to block the wind)
thick, lined running tights
polar fleece pajama bottoms over top of the tights
hooded sweatshirt tied around my waist to keep my butt warm.
Fleece neck warmer I got in Sun Valley, ID
Winter hat given to us at Crooked Road last year
Hood from lined rain jacket over top of my hat
skiing mittens
I had hand warmers in both mittens, in my sports bra, in the back pocket of my running tights, and in the front waistband of my running tights.  I was BARELY warm enough.  Barely.

David and I chatted about music and the stars.  He talked about how much fun he was having at his first ultra.  He's never run a marathon, yet he was having a blast at an ultra.  I loved it!  When he decided to go lie down in his SUV, I had rejuvenated myself again and even starting running again.  The wind gusts were up to 35 mph.  It felt like I was being blown over a number of times.  Anyway, I was doing it.  I knew I wasn't going to hit my goal yet I was still determined to see what I could accomplish.  I was quite proud that I was still going, even knowing I wasn't going to succeed.  That was a huge break-through for me.  When things are going well, things are easy.  It's when things are going very wrong that you learn volumes about yourself.

It is the middle of the night and you know kept me trudging along?  The FANTASTIC volunteers.  They would bring you soup, coffee, hot chocolate and pretty much anything else you needed.  When my headlamp went dead around 4:30am, it was Sharon (wife of the race director) who loaned me her knuckle lights.  Sharon has been there for me through my best and more importantly, my worst.  It is amazing the level of care and hospitality all the volunteers gave us runners.  I would have been a frozen popsicle somewhere on the course if it had not been for their help.

Daylight started emerging.  Hallelujah.  My neck was sore from holding up the headlamp.  My back was sore probably because I was leaning over to illuminate my pathway with the headlamp.  Here is where I tell you I did not get a single blister.  Not a one.  I only got 2 chafe marks and they were where my capris squeezed my butt cheeks together.  Owww.  Yes, that took a number of days and a lot of Aquaphor to heal.  Some of the Greensboro runners came back to get a few more laps in.  I think I cried when I saw each one.  I walked a few laps with most of them.  Then, the most emotional moment of the whole 24 hours.  I saw Dan's car coming down the road towards the loop.  I started crying and hyperventilating.  I was so excited to see him I started running again.  I had less than 10 minutes left in the race so I told him to pack up all my stuff and I was going to run one more lap.  I ran the whole lap, even up the one big hill.  When I got around the course back to Dan I asked him to jog with me because I had 2 minutes left before the air horn and I wanted to get to the 100 mile marker on the course, even though I knew I didn't complete 100 miles.  I looked at that sign for 94 laps.  I told that sign for over 48 laps that I was going to see that 100 mile marker.  I then told that sign that even though I wasn't going to make it I was going to be joyful for EVERY lap I could see it.

I was zombie-like for a couple of days, but then all of the sudden I snapped back to the real me.  I never know if the fatigue is from running/walking so many miles or from the lack of sleep.  As I sit here and type I've already started running again.  I've taught a couple of yoga classes and 1 extreme interval (3/4 intensity for me) class. I feel like I accomplished more by falling short of my goal then if I had indeed succeeded.  I think ultras make you dig DEEP within yourself.  Do you have what it takes to persevere is a question you ask yourself many times.  I learned that I am tougher than I ever thought I was.  I learned that I can now safely call myself an ultra runner. For those of you who will ask,  I was 3rd female and 8th overall.  Not bad for a middle distance runner :)  What's up next?  I'm pacing the 1:45 half marathon at Myrtle Beach and I couldn't be happier and excited about it!

 

The Greensboro Marathon Journey. I paced a great group of runners

After a fitful night sleep, I woke up early to a dark, 28 degree day.  I was so excited about pacing for the 3:50:00 group of the Greensboro Marathon, nothing could dampen my spirit or enthusiasm.  This was the inaugural Greensboro Marathon that was a point-to-point race from Elon University to downtown Greensboro.  We boarded buses from the finish line area which took us to the starting line.  I proudly wore my pacing shirt with several layers underneath to stay warm.  I was doubly excited because I had 2 of my Sole Sisters, Dena and Sarah, with me at the start.  Here is a picture of Sarah who was about to embark on her first marathon journey and myself  near the start of the race huddling to keep warm.

Luckily, I knew several people which definitely made the time go by quickly until the start of the race.  Although, it doesn't take much for me to engage in conversation with just about anybody; especially runners!  Sarah's race plan was going to be to hang with me as long as possible and then hold on until the finish.  She had extra motivation and I will divulge that at the end.

The race went off and it was hard to convince everybody to stay slow and keep our 8:46 average mile pace.  You get wrapped up in the feeling of running and warming up.  Many tend to go out too fast which leads to 'hitting the wall' in the later stages of the marathon.

I told everyone they were either going to love me or hate me during this 3:50:00 adventure.  I was going to try and keep them focused on their goals and getting them to experience the magnificent journey in a confident, positive way.  It was great because 3 or 4 miles into the race, a runner passed our group who was in my Myrtle Beach half marathon pacing group and he told everyone how I had helped him achieve a PR that day and that they were in good hands.  My heart swelled and I think I got a little teary eyed, unless it was the cold air (wink, wink).

I wore 2 Garmins to ensure success of my group.  I had my newer Garmin set with our 8:46 pace and my older Garmin to give me in the moment pace, distance and time elapsed.  I was constantly monitoring our progress because this was a hilly course.  Here is a photo of me during the after party with my Garmins

The Greensboro Marathon was a beautifully rolling course with the exception of 3 major climbs.  My job was to instill confidence in my runners and I used the three plus hours to impart all of my racing knowledge.  The main focus was that my PR's in the marathon (3:10 Charlottesville) and half marathon (1:27 Cannonball) were on notably hilly courses.  I explained that hills were good because it gave your muscles something different to do.  My runners did great.  I had great help from another veteran marathoner, Jeff, who validated or imparted knowledge of his own to our group of new marathoners.  It was great to have someone else who has experienced the highs and lows that IS the marathon.

The course was very well marked and on the pavement below us were all the marathon mile markers.  I would yell "Bam" every time we stepped on a mile marker and exclaim, "Another mile down, now forget it and live and revel in THIS mile".  It was amazing how quickly the mile markers came up on us.  The sights of the horse farms, cows, cute little downtown Gibsonville and the journey into Greensboro definitely added to the charm of this race.

Here is a photo of us about to finish a big climb at mile 13.  Out of nowhere came the first wind of the day.  My hair is sideways in this photo!  But look at the determination on all of our faces!

They were all working hard:  Rusty, Jeff, Brandon, Mr. Brandon, Kelsey, Sarah and Zach.  It was quite a hill (of course the photo doesn't portray that) but they looked great!  I encouraged my runners to glance behind them when they reached the peak of each hill to see what they accomplished.  I also told them to give themselves a pat on the back to relax their neck and shoulders from climbing. 

At around mile 19, I started talking about the wall and what it feels like and how to overcome it.  It was at this point that my group starting passing people who had started out too fast and didn't have anything left in the tank.  I was careful to make sure everyone we passed was okay and offered fuel (my sleeves and shorts were filled with gels and chomps).  Only 1 runner took me up on my offer, but at least I did my job and offered.  I think it gave my new marathoners a boost in confidence that they were feeling so good.  Of course I encouraged everyone, not just those in my group.  When we hit the 20 mile marker, I think I said, "What a beautiful morning to race a 10k, isn't it"?  I got a few laughs, but a few were starting to feel the effects of running for so long.  With each water stop I was insistent about my runners getting water/Gatorade or fuel.  It was nice to have my boss from the Bryan Family YMCA, David Heggie, hand me a cup of Coke (my magic elixir).  I took one sip and gave the rest to some of my runners who did not know it can be a secret weapon.  I learned its magical powers at my first Crooked Road 24 hour Ultra 3 years ago.

With only a 5k to go, I told my flock that this is the time for them to fly if they were feeling good.  They didn't have to fly right then, but they were to think about it.  I was very proud to see some take off at that moment and we never caught up with them so it was definitely the right move for them!  With 1.2 miles to go, I encouraged the runners that were left that this is their time to take off.  We had a few runners drop back some, but their goal was to break 4 hours and they were clearly going to do that.  With less than a mile to go, I found myself all alone!  I began to pick up the pace more to run in with people than anything else.  I made the last turn before the finish line, stopped briefly to kiss my hubby and crossed the line doing a happy dance in 3:49:20.  I then ran back and helped my new marathoners finish their journey.  I would yell their name to the crowd and tell them that this was his/her first marathon and to give them a huge welcome!  It was great to see so many happy faces of runners finishing their journey.

The finish that moved me to visible tears was my little Sarah.  Here is a photo of her and I about to cross the finish line of her first marathon.  Sarah's journey started 2 years ago when she went through her whole marathon training program and got injured the week before the race.  Then last year, Sarah lost her mother to illness.  The Sole Sisters bought her a pendant she had pinned to the inside of her pocket.  On one side was her mother in her youth and on the other side was a photo of Sarah and her mom.  All of us were moved to tears at the finish line and it was great her Dad and hubby were there to hug and comfort her.  You can see we are both wearing our fellowflowers.com in our hair.  The black one I am wearing is described as:  Rock Star. Sexy, strong, sassy.  Rule breaker and resilient spirit.  Dances like she crosses the finish line- with her hands up.  Why yes, I am a force to be reckoned with.  Bloom, baby. Bloom.  Sarah wore red and it represents, Love, passion, commitment and spirit.  It takes strength to do what you love. 

That is the thing about marathons.  They are a journey.  Most training programs are 16-18 weeks long of diligent running, stretching and proper eating.  Usually there are sacrifices involved, but most importantly it is about the strengthening of the mind, body and spirit.  Marathons are hard.  I don't care what pace you average, how many you've run, etc.  It is more about what can you do with the cards you are dealt.  A marathon is about THAT day.  On any given day, anybody can beat anybody.  You never know what will happen when you step up to the starting line.  The key to marathon success is to trust your training and to adjust your expectations when necessary.  I love the journey because I learn something EVERY TIME I'm racing or pacing. I learned quite a bit on Saturday.  I mainly learned that I love pacing!

Although I LOVED pacing this marathon;  it is now over.  Now it is time to focus on my 100 miles at the Crooked Road 24 Hour race on November 23rd.  It is a little over 3 1/2 weeks away.  Did I mention I'm excited?!

Happy running and racing to all those doing Fall marathons/half-marathons!

Hinson Lake 92.7 miles.....Believe in your dream; your body will follow

I am currently on the couch thinking about all the wonderful memories I have from last Saturday's Hinson Lake 24 hour Ultra.  I am still in complete shock that I exceeded my goal of 90 miles.  Our local newspaper reporter (and fellow runner friend) Eddie Wooten, asked Dena & I to write a short report on the race, so here are the basics that I shared with him:

The race: 8^th Annual Hinson Lake 24-Hour Ultra Classic

September 28^th – 29^th, 2013

The place: Hinson Lake, Rockingham, NC

    My entry fee: $24.00

      About the race: Run as many miles as you can around a 1.52 trail loop. There were many runners that came to just put in a few laps and there were some who relentlessly hammered out a ridiculous amount of miles.

          Entry limited to 240 runners.  
      

Why I went: This was my first year at Hinson Lake.  My friend, Dena, told me how great it was to run a longer loop than Crooked Road (1.52 instead of .95 miles per lap).  She was definitely correct.

        My goal going into the race was 90 miles (I completed 75 miles last year at Crooked Road, so it was a natural progression).  I completed 92.7 miles. 

      

 Pluses:  This type of race is ideal because you are only minutes away from food, drink, bathroom, massage table, and PEOPLE!  The people in and around this race are fantastic.  Most everyone chatted, even in the middle of the morning.  

      

     Minus: It gets dark and once it gets dark it is hard to keep your energy levels at an optimum level.  The temperature only went down to 54 degrees, but after running all day my body definitely felt cold in the middle of the night.

 

I ran in 3 different pairs of shoes and I think I have a complete collection of every type of sand used to create the path in my shoes. Not sure if I need a washing machine or a trashcan.

 

     Racing tidbit:  I can be out on a 6 mile run and feel like it is an eternity.  I’m out on this course and if I feel like walking..Guess what?!  I WALK!  (I ran approximately 27 miles before I did any walking-if I plan on breaking a 100 miles, I’m going to need to walk earlier). 

      

     Another morsel-you really do not tire of the loop.  It was really great because you start over a bridge, then you pass all the tables of lap counters.  After the lap counters are the tables of drinks (Gatorade, water and the magical elixirs: Ginger ale, Coke & Mountain Dew).  Many of the runners set up tents along the lakeside so that by the time you pass all the fun people crewing for their runners you’ve already hit ¼ mile marker.  Then you cross a whole lot of foot bridges (in the dark you pray you are running straight so you don’t fall off).  There is a really long 300’ bridge complete with a gazebo before you enter what they call Mt. Hinson, and what I call climbing land of roots, divets holes, and loose sand.  This section was challenging mentally and physically once you started getting tired.  Then it was the section where you were counting the sewer lids till you saw the last ¼ mile marker (up a brief hill) which emptied you into the parking lot near the bridge where you began.  Some laps seemed to go by so quickly, other laps felt like an eternity.

 

In my last blog, I told you that my friend, Dena, was also participating in the event.  She exceeded her goal as well.  We probably couldn't have done it without the help of her husband, Blair, and some friends, Melissa & Daniel.  Here are some pictures with some of the gang, Blair took the picture so he's missing!  No other race would I have dared to stop and take a photo...that would have been valuable seconds!  That's one of the biggest reasons I love these ultra events.