Four months of training definitely paid off for this race!

The theme was #PRorBust for this race and I definitely achieved that goal.  But, more than a few times during these past few months before the race I was a little concerned that I wouldn’t be able to race.

I started training in July because I had taken the month of June almost entirely off from running.  July was hot and humid and so was August.  When September rolled around and we were driving up to Valpo for the Popcorn Panic I remember saying to Jerrod that I wasn’t sure I’d run the Monumental Half because I didn’t think I’d be ready and didn’t think I would be in the right shape to run it in time.  After finishing the Popcorn Panic strong, I changed my tune and started weekly training runs with a friend of mine to help keep each other on track.  I got serious about my training schedule and really dug in to training this time.

I had a really great long run three weeks ago that gave me a lot of confidence going into this weekend.  Two weeks ago I had a bad long run, which I was hoping meant I got that out of my system.  Last weekend I did a hard 6 miles, which was supposed to be an easy long run taper, but it felt a little rough regardless.  So, this week I took most of the week off and just did a few miles on Wednesday on a treadmill.

By Thursday this week I was chomping at the bit to race on Saturday.  I felt ready and excited and started to put my goals and race day plan together.

Based on my training plan, here was my race plan:

Miles 1-3: Run the first 3 miles, walk a minute, have some Gatorade, start back up.

Miles 4-6: Run the next 3 miles, walk a minute, have some energy chews, start back up.

Miles 7-10 and 11-13.1: Repeat pattern for the rest of the race.

I wanted to finish the race in 2:45:00, which was a bit of a stretch for me, but way better than my May 1/2 time of 3:08:27.  That meant basically shaving 2 minutes/mile off the last half time and was even :15 seconds faster/mile than I had been training at – even on my best days.  BUT, I wanted to aim high and see what happened.  I didn’ t put it in writing in public in advance because I was afraid of failing and too much pressure, but that was the goal time.  I expected to fall just short of it and end at a 12:45 pace, like my good training runs.

I woke up on Friday, the day before the race, and I knew something was wrong.  I didn’t feel well,  I didn’t feel like myself and I debated between going to the doctor or ignoring the symptoms and finally ended up at the doctor on Friday night.  And, it turns out, diagnosed with a bit of an infection.  The NP I saw said I could chance it and wait until after the race to take first course of antibiotics, but risk feeling bad during the race, or start the first course of antibiotics on Friday night as I was leaving her office, but risk running the race on the antibiotics which I didn’t know how they would impact my system during the race.

There’s a cardinal rule of running… Don’t try anything new on race day.   Welp, that doesn’t really help me here because either the meds, or the infection, was going to be new… so I opted to roll the dice with the medication and hope for the best.

So I was terrified on Friday night that after all this training, after feeling so ready for this race, that it wouldn’t happen.

Thankfully, I woke up on Saturday and felt much better than I had on Friday night.  It was looking like taking the medicine on Friday night was the right to do.

I had planned and laid out almost everything the night before so I quickly got ready to go and Jerrod bundled up because he was going to be biking along the course to see me at several points.  We were running just a few minutes behind when we were driving downtown and I realized, to my horror, that I had forgotten my bib.  Whoops.   I pulled a U-turn on College and ran back in the house to grab the bib.   Now, I was officially running late.

Luckily, there was no traffic and I got downtown just in time to walk over with about 10 minutes to spare before gun time.  We lined up and I was feeling pretty good about how the race was going to go.

Pre-Race

Race Recap

Miles 1-3: I started out at what I wanted to be a solid start pace, 12:30.  I was feeling like it was a bit fast, but I figured my watch was correct and I would just have to make it work.  About mile 2 I realized I had forgotten to turn the GPS feature on my watch on and it was WAY off.  By about 30 seconds, if not more.  So, I figured I would just do the best I could without dropping below an okay pace according to the watch and then I would have some padding built in to the end of the race.  Jerrod was going to be waiting to see me about mile 3, and I was internally debating if I would walk after mile 3, like I did on some training runs, or mile 4, but wanted to keep running until I saw Jerrod, so I decided to go until mile 4.

Miles 4-6: I started to feel good as I started this amount and decided to keep running, no break.  The only non-running steps I took through the first 6 miles were the few I took to swallow a sip of water and chew an energy bite at about mile 6.  I saw Jerrod just after mile 5 and I was feeling great and wanted to keep running as long as I could.   I set my next goal to keep running until at least mile 7, when I planned to take an aspirin and the half split off from the full marathon.

Miles 7-10: I popped an aspirin at mile 7’s water stop and decided to keep running, no walk break.  I was still hanging in there and didn’t want to give in.  I just wanted to keep running, at least though nine miles, which was the longest I had previously run continuously.  I wasn’t going to see Jerrod until mile 11.5, so I figured if I was going to walk I could do it around mile 9 or 10.  My pace was slowing by about 10-15 seconds/mile and I was getting tired.  I grabbed my energy bites at mile 9 to eat a few more and as I chewed the first two, I decided to keep running.  I was going to try and go the distance.  At about mile marker 9.7, just as we turned on to Meridian Street I got the best surprise yet – a friend had a “Go Diana!” sign and was out braving the elements to cheer me on!  I nearly ran past her without noticing and when I did it gave me such a burst of energy to get through the next few hard miles!

Miles 11-13: As I approached mile 11, it started to rain/sleet.  I was determined, though, to just keep going and at this point I began to really think it would be possible to run the entire race.  I was tiring and it hurt, a lot, but I just kept reminding myself that this is what I’ve been training for.  I could destroy my muscles and body today, but this was no training run, I was going to leave everything I had out on the course.  I finished my energy chews as I approached 16th and Meridian, where I knew Jerrod was going to be waiting again (this time in the sleet… what a trooper!) and kissed him as I ran by.  The last few miles were going to be hard and tough, but I was going to make it happen.  My friend Jess was along the course again cheering and it was an awesome burst of energy as I high-fived her and kept on going.   I wanted to walk, my body wanted to give out on me, but I would not give in.  I was going to run this thing to the finish.

At the mile 12 I checked my watch and saw the goal time was in reach.  I just needed to keep running.   That last two miles got progressively harder to the point that I may have blacked out a bit because I can’t remember much more that just putting one painful foot in front of the other.   DO. NOT. STOP. RUNNING. was the only thing going through my head.  I had made it this far, there was NO WAY I was going to walk now.  Blisters, muscles spasms and pain are a given.  The last mile or two aren’t about your physical strength or training plan… it’s only about mental toughness, and this was a battle I was going to win.

Crossing the finish line!

The last half mile seemed like 5 miles.  I pushed and pushed and wondered if I was going to drop dead before I reached the goal.  DO. NOT. STOP. RUNNING. was all I had going through my head.  I told Jerrod later, after the race, that I really, REALLY, had wanted to walk during the last mile.  He said exactly what I had going through my head during that stretch… “If you had finished and told me you ran the entire race only to walk during the last mile, I would have been pissed.  And you would have been, too.”  [That’s the support I love ;-)]

But, I did not walk and I did finish the race.  And then my body just kind of gave up as I finally let it rest.  I paid for my leaving everything on the course for the next 5 or so hours, but it was well worth it thanks to the awesome accomplishments I achieved with this half.

What I achieved:

          – Longest consecutive running in personal history.

          – Ran the entire half marathon.

          – Bested my first 1/2 marathon time by 25 minutes, 1 second.

          – Bested my goal by 94 seconds.

This will go down as my best race to date and it’s in large part to all the awesome people who encouraged me in training and on race day.  All this excitement definitely gets me excited for Half #3… Mini Marathon 2013.

November Race
13.1 Miles
12:28 pace
2:43:26 total time

What’s next?

My next race will be the Santa Hustle 5k which would be another fun run to finish out the year. Jerrod and I are doing this one together and I love the energy and atmosphere at this run race, where everyone dresses as Santa.

I’m also considering joining the #RWSTREAK plan.  This is an initiative by Runner’s World magazine where everyone who commits promises to run at least one mile per day every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

This race put me back in my place.

Part of running is remembering to enjoy the journey.  Much like yoga, the destination is the journey. My joy in running is about learning to enjoy the tiny victories and push myself just enough to keep moving forward, without pushing farther than you’re ready for.

This weekend I was feeling great and strong going into Saturday’s 5k.  I was cocky. I thought… 3.1?  I can do 3.1 in my sleep.  My short runs these days are 4.  What’s a 5k going to do to me?

So, I set unrealistic expectations and unrealistic pace goals.  I wanted to hit 10 minute miles.

I was racing around the area of town I grew up in, so there was no fear of not knowing the roads or the area of the course. When we got to the race site, it was colder than I thought it would be and there was quite a bit of downtime between packet pick-up and race start.

Sidenote: I was very lucky to have my husband running this one with me, and promising not only to stick by my side, but push me when I needed it.

I started out hard and fast, and ran my first mile in just over 10 minutes.  And then, just as I hit the first mile, I couldn’t breathe.

I did too much, too fast, and learned very quickly that endurance training is not speed training.  So, I started gasping for air.  My lungs were full of junk as I slowed for the first water stop.

My husband helped me calm my breathing for a minute or two and get everything under control.  We started back up running after the water stop and I went probably too slow for this mile as I tried to catch my breath again.  I caught my breath and picked up the pace again only to have to slow myself again for the 2nd water stop and my husband helped me calm my breathing again.  Then we got ready to push it for the final mile.

Three miles never felt so long.

I was huffing and puffing for the last mile as we pushed it out and tried to kick it up the last quarter mile.  I made modest achievements in trying to finish strong (my prior worst running trait) and we kicked up through the end.

A very cool feature of the race was they announced for the crowd as we crossed the finish line.

We finished in what is my second fastest 5k time, which I was happy with.  But, I was in pain at the end of this race and I learned my training lesson.  Endurance training is not speed training and just because I can run double digit mileage, doesn’t mean I can run shorter distance much faster.  After the race we walked around a bit and I tried to let go of the crankiness that had built up over my failed expectations.  We went off about our day and later found out that we had indeed crossed another milestone… despite my personal missed expectations, I placed for my age group (2nd place)!  It was a very small race, but still pretty cool.

When I started running I said, specifically, that I was never going to win any races, that’s just me acknowledging my journey and knowing that’s not where my expectations lie.  That said, it was a very happy milestone the day that I not only didn’t come in last, but was shown another small victory for all my hard work.

Next up is my second half marathon, in about four weeks.  I’ve got two more long runs ahead of me and three weeks of steady racing before the big day.  I’m nervous and excited, but I also feel strong as I continue on this running journey.

October Race
3.1 Miles
11:42 pace
36:15 total time

Often, in running, the biggest hurdle to overcome is not in your body’s ability, but in your mind’s ability.

Right now, I’m training for a half marathon.  It will be my second half marathon, so I’ve already passed through the barrier of seeing if I can do it.  I know I can physically make the distance, but somehow the idea that I can do it again is an even bigger hurdle.  It’s a bigger block on my mind than the first time I ran a half marathon.

As a result, I’ve found my training harder than I remember it being the first time around. It’s harder to make each step of my training schedule a reality and the heat and humidity of this summer certainly hasn’t helped.

All that aside, I’ve still managed to complete my one race a month goal that I set in January.  Each race has steadily made sure I stay in the game, and September I was scheduled for a 5-mile run while we were visiting my in-laws.

My husband even agreed to run with me, which is always a great boost, especially when he stays by my side and helps me push through the hard times and mental blocks.  And, boy, were there some mental blocks for this race.   Up until we started I was regretting the distance decision.  There was a tight cut-off of 14/min a mile and I was afraid on the new course, with hills, that I would get the course shut down on me.   I didn’t want to fail according to someone else, I kept trying to stop before I  could fail.  I was worried I wasn’t in good enough shape.  I thought I didn’t have it in me to do the full race this month since I’d been sloppy in my training to date.

Even through the first mile, I said out loud, “I so regret doing this race…”

By the end of the five miles that statement was obliterated.  We started the fist mile like I always do, let’s just run the first one and see where we’re at.  Get my road-legs, if you will.  So, we ran the first mile and there was a water stop right there, so I walked through the water stop, and we started back up running.  I set the plan, “Let’s try and make it to mile 2, if we get there, I’ll walk for one minute then pick it up again.”

Mile two completed, one minute walked, and we set off running again.  By this point, I was feeling pretty good and was happy my husband was right by my side, pushing me along, to make sure I ran to the best of my ability, instead of letting fear trick me into walking.

We make it to mile 3, walked one minute, and then started running again.  By this point, the course had been almost all gradual uphill.  I was looking forward to the downhill back down and was re-energized by how well I had done so far.  One minute walking for each mile, and on pace at just over 12 min/mile.   Mile 3 brought dancing, singing and a marvelous hill through a tree-shaded neighborhood when I realized, about half way down the hill… that we’d likely have to go uphill again after this.  It was too steep to be leading back to our gradual downhill last mile, there had to be more.

So, I asked my husband who was familiar with the course from his high school running days it was all downhill from here, “Pretty much, basically” was his answer and with that answer I knew there was a big one coming up.

And there it was.  Right at the end of mile 3, before the mile 4 marker, a steep, STEEP hill straight uphill.  I hadn’t walked more than 3 minutes to this point, exactly 1 minute at each mile marker.  I wanted to make this happen and didn’t want my mind to win out.  So, one step at time, head down, huffing and puffing, we pounded out that hill step by step.  I didn’t look up, I didn’t look to far forward, I just focused on getting through one step at a time.

And we did it.

At mile marker 4, we walked the final minute and then took off for the finish.  A wonderful gradual downhill until the last 1/4 mile uphill to the finish.

I was huffing and puffing at the finish, but I was stronger than I was before I started.

Often, in my training runs I walk because I think I won’t be able to do the distance without stopping.  I don’t push to the brink because… well I don’t know why, I just don’t push as much as I should.

This race behind me, I know now that part of this training series will be about the mental part of it.  Physically, I know I can do it, so now I just need to work on mentally making it through the rest of my fall training to get to where I need to be.

After the race, we had homemade strawberry pie for breakfast.  And that could be one of the best things about running… the freedom to have fresh strawberry pie as a celebratory breakfast.

September Race
5 Miles
12:16 pace
1:01:20 total time