Well, some people have noticed that I haven't run a race since my heat exhaustion incident on May 2nd. And, no, I haven't given up running. In fact, I ran 114 miles in July, which isn't bad considering I went on vacation to the Caribbean and spent a long weekend in D.C. My running philosophy is that when I race I want to see results. I don't like to just go out there and say I ran a race. Every time I hit the starting line, I expect and like to see a PR. Well lately my priorities with running (and the rest of my life) have changed. And the reason is.....
I am pregnant! Yep, 16 weeks to be exact! I figured that it is time to come out to to the rest of the world, although those close to us have known since we came back from vacation on July 18th. I found out on May 8th (Mother's Day). Aaron and I had the plan that we would start trying for a baby after the Boston Marathon in April. Well, let's just say that this is a Boston Marathon Baby as I conceived about a week after it. Our baby is due January 18th and so far, everything has been great.
People often say that I am a lucky person, and honestly, I have been extremely blessed with this pregnancy. I am sure many women out there will hate me, but I have not felt different at all since finding out. I never had nausea, fatigue, heart burn, bloating, etc, although my face is broken out like I am 12! I feel perfectly normal. I often forget that I am actually pregnant. I could say it is because I am in such good shape, but I know that isn't always the case. I know many fit women that had very hard first trimesters. In my first trimester, I actually lost half a pound (maybe I wore different shoes or something that day!). I had genetic testing, 3 ultrasounds, and everything looks good so far. I went for my 16 week appointment today, and I gained 2 lbs and the baby was so active they had a hard time finding the heartbeat. They would find it for 5 seconds, then lose it, then repeat! It's amazing because I can't yet feel a thing. I think I still look perfectly normal. I can still button my pants, and if you didn't know, I don't think you can tell. The nurse told me today that because I have good muscle tone in my abs that I may not really look pregnant til 20-22 weeks. I hope I am that lucky!
Yes, I have still been running. I am trying to get in 25-28 miles per week and have no trouble doing so. My doctor encourages exercise and as long as I feel up to it, I can continue. On hot days, I hit the treadmill and I now always carry a water bottle with me. I have been stopping halfway through each run just to make sure my heart rate isn't too high, and it's usually around 140-150, which isn't that high. I actually lent my Garmin to my father-in-law because I don't want to run by pace anymore. I have just been running by feel and taking it easy. I imagine I am running about 9:30-10 min miles (ok, 9:00 on the treadmill). Obviously, if I need to stop for medical reasons, i will, but as long as I and the baby are healthy, I plan to run the entire pregnancy. I have done extensive research on the topic (If interested, there is a great book by Dr. Clapp called Exercising Through Your Pregnancy), and there are many benefits for a baby whose mother exercises, so I am pretty determined. I know this is controversial, but I am confident in my decision and would never put our baby's health at risk. I am glad that times have changed and that it is now encouraged to stay active thoughout pregnancy.
I still hope to keep this blog running related, but the focus will obviously shift. If you read this for the training, there won't be much on the topic! This blog will now be a combination of running and pregnancy (baby). So let this new journey for Aaron and me begin!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
June Mileage
I haven't been blogging much because there is nothing really new and exciting as far as my running goes. I have been holding steading at around 28 miles per week. For June, I ran 119 miles, which I think is pretty good since I'm not training for anything. It has been nice to just run for run and not worry about pace or hitting a specific mileage goal.
On another note, my sister got married on Saturday. Her wedding was gorgeous and everything went perfectly. I'll post a picture of me and the beautiful bride below. I was the matron of honor.
July is going to be a very busy month for us. This weekend we are going to DC to visit Aaron's sister. We will see some sights and go to the mall for the fireworks. It should be a good time! Next week, we are going on our cruise! We leave out of Tampa and are going to Cozumel, Cayman, Honduras and Belize. It's my 15th cruise and I am finally a Platinum Member on Carnival, so VIP status for us...yay! It's actually not that big of a deal because my parents have been VIPs for years, so when we travel with them, we get the perks. This vacation is just Aaron and I so it's nice to attain it ourselves. I hate running on the ship because I have to use a treadmill (no way am I counting laps on the deck outside..it's like 8 times around is a mile). They have a 30 minute time limit which doesn't allow me much mileage. I then cover up the time and hope noone says anything. I hate being "one of those people," but not enough to follow the rules!
Happy 4th!
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On another note, my sister got married on Saturday. Her wedding was gorgeous and everything went perfectly. I'll post a picture of me and the beautiful bride below. I was the matron of honor.
July is going to be a very busy month for us. This weekend we are going to DC to visit Aaron's sister. We will see some sights and go to the mall for the fireworks. It should be a good time! Next week, we are going on our cruise! We leave out of Tampa and are going to Cozumel, Cayman, Honduras and Belize. It's my 15th cruise and I am finally a Platinum Member on Carnival, so VIP status for us...yay! It's actually not that big of a deal because my parents have been VIPs for years, so when we travel with them, we get the perks. This vacation is just Aaron and I so it's nice to attain it ourselves. I hate running on the ship because I have to use a treadmill (no way am I counting laps on the deck outside..it's like 8 times around is a mile). They have a 30 minute time limit which doesn't allow me much mileage. I then cover up the time and hope noone says anything. I hate being "one of those people," but not enough to follow the rules!
Happy 4th!
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Monday, June 7, 2010
I've been boring lately
It has been awhile since I blogged because my running has not been that great. After my last race, I took about a week off before I attempted to run again. Since then, I have been trying to run between 25-30 miles per week and keep my long run between 8 and 10. I figure that this should maintain my base and allow me to race various distances this summer. I have my eye on the inaugural Wilkes-Barre Half Marathon on Labor Day, but that is it. I skipped my town’s Memorial Day 5-miler because the heat has really been bothering me and it was 88 that day. Plus, I feel like my speed isn’t up to par. I haven’t been doing any quality workouts, just easy runs, so I didn’t feel “race ready.” It killed me to miss it, but it was the right move.
I have been very careful since my “incident.” On very hot days, I have been running inside. However, that does not help me get acclimated to the warm temperatures. I ran 4 miles on the levee last Friday, and I really thought I was going to die! It was about 85 and sunny. I was aiming for 6, but it didn't happen, which is rare because I barely ever cut my runs short. When I reread my old posts, I really am a whiner....I complain in the winter about the cold, and now I am complaining about the heat. Now that I am off from work, I can get up early and get my runs in, which will be nice.
I think that taking it easy for a month will have a positive effect on my running. My body feels good and it is nice to not “have” to run every day (although I am trying to run 5 days per week). I was trying to talk Aaron into running the big 4th of July 3-miler and he agreed! I told him that we could run it together and I won’t burn him! He can probably run about a 24 minute 3 mile without training, so I agreed. Last year, I had a great race, but it will be nice to run together for fun. I wish he enjoyed running, so this may be a start.
Also...I have finished my 7th year of teaching! Time flies!
I have been very careful since my “incident.” On very hot days, I have been running inside. However, that does not help me get acclimated to the warm temperatures. I ran 4 miles on the levee last Friday, and I really thought I was going to die! It was about 85 and sunny. I was aiming for 6, but it didn't happen, which is rare because I barely ever cut my runs short. When I reread my old posts, I really am a whiner....I complain in the winter about the cold, and now I am complaining about the heat. Now that I am off from work, I can get up early and get my runs in, which will be nice.
I think that taking it easy for a month will have a positive effect on my running. My body feels good and it is nice to not “have” to run every day (although I am trying to run 5 days per week). I was trying to talk Aaron into running the big 4th of July 3-miler and he agreed! I told him that we could run it together and I won’t burn him! He can probably run about a 24 minute 3 mile without training, so I agreed. Last year, I had a great race, but it will be nice to run together for fun. I wish he enjoyed running, so this may be a start.
Also...I have finished my 7th year of teaching! Time flies!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Crash and Burn
Well, I do have a story to tell. I am embarrassed about what happened, but since I always blog about the awesome runs I have and PRs that I set, I have to "keep it real" and blog about the bad as well. Plus, if anyone can learn from my experiences, then it will make the event a positive thing.
Post-Boston
After Boston I took off 8 days. I was going to take off two weeks, but I felt I had a really easy recovery. My legs were never that sore and by 4 days post marathon, I only felt a few knots in my hamstrings and quads. After 6 days, I felt completely normal. So 8 days post marathon, I went for a 2 mile jog on my treadmill. I felt the knot return, so I stopped after 2 miles. That night, I rolled my muscles out really good and took another day off. 10 days post marathon, I ran 4 miles outside slowly with no watch. I felt okay. Not great, but not terrible. The next day, I ran 4 more and felt much better. I didn't wear a watch, but I felt I was running my usual easy run pace.
Here is where the stupidity comes in. My local running club has a "Triple Crown" racing series. I ran the first leg in March, and that left me in 6th place. The 2nd leg was on May 2nd. It was a 5 mile race. I started thinking that I could just run the race for fun, and with some luck, leave myself in decent standings for the last leg. I knew deep down, I should never run a race that soon after a marathon, but I was so hyped up after Boston, I felt like I was invincible. Here's what went down.
Sunday, May 2nd Cherry Blossom 5-miler
I woke up on Sunday and went to register for the race. It was about 85 degrees and the humidity was high, so I decided to carry my handheld water bottle with me. I knew I wasn't acclimated to the warm weather, so I decided it was worth carrying during the race (even though it was "only" 5 miles). My parents wanted to go, even though I told them it wasn't necessary. Aaron was playing paintball with his friends, and I guess they wanted someone to be there. I have gone to races by myself and my uncle is usually there anyway. Regardless, they insisted on going.
After I registered, I ran into my uncle and my parents. I did my warm-up and was already sweating. I complained to my uncle and a friend from work (who was there with her children) about how warm I was. We went to line up, and I put myself towards the front of the women. The gun went off, and it was a really crowded start. We were on top of the levee in Kirby Park (which I run often), so it wasn't a huge path. I took off to distance myself from the crowd. Well guess who ran a 6:45 first mile...not smart. I saw my parents at mile 1 (because we did a loop in the park) and I yelled to them that I went out too fast. My dad yelled to take it easy. I am way too competitive for that. I kept pushing.
By mile 2, I didn't feel right. My stomach didn't feel nauseaus, but just didn't feel quite right. I knew I should probably stop and take a DNF, but my pride wouldn't let me do that. I knew my parents were there, plus several students that I have taught, so I kept pushing, saying to myself that it is only 3 more miles. Well at mile 3, I had to stop to walk. I walked for about 10 seconds, then started running again. At mile 4, I had to stop again. Some guy stopped in front of me, so I stopped with him. I told him I felt dizzy and he told me he felt the same. The whole time I kept making myself drink my water.
At mile 4.25, I had nothing left. Two women passed me, and there wasn't a thing I could do about it. Now...here comes the big finish.
First off, I don't recall finishing. I remember stopping to walk about 50 yards from the finish. Then my dad tells me I started running to the end. My dad tells me I was zig zagging all over. He thought I had a cramp because of the way my left leg was running. As soon as I crossed the line, my dad was waiting next to the chute (it was a small race...200 people). I told him I was dizzy. The race officials told me to just go under the tape, but I told them I wanted my time recorded. They told me it was and my dad took me to sit down (actually right under the official clock). He said my lips were grey and I was bone dry. Not an ounce of sweat on me. At this point, I remember what happened. I sat down and started throwing up. I kept complaining that this was a repeat of the NJ marathon and how could this happen to me again. I then got sooo hot. I started dumping water over my head to cool down. My mom got me a bunch of water and I kept dumping them over my head. At this point, I started to get dizzy. I layed down and really felt like I was going to pass out. My mom brought me gatorade and I tried to keep that down, but I kept vomiting. Every time I would sit up, I would get dizzy and feel like I was going to pass out. My friend from work Tracy came over, and I asked her if any of our kids from school saw this, and she said yes, they all did.....great! At this point, I was okay, just very nauseaus (I hate this word...for some reason, I just can't spell it and I am too lazy to spell check).
I then decided that I just wanted to go home, so my mom was going to drive my car home and my dad was going to drive me in his car. As I started walking, I collapsed. I couldn't get up. I started crying hysterically. My mom kept telling me that it was only a race and who cares how I did. I wasn't crying over that, I just had no control over my emotions at that point. I have no idea why I was crying. I felt ok to walk, so I tried again with my dad supporting me, and I collapsed again. At this point, my dad said my eyes started rolling around. All I remember is that I couldn't think. My dad would ask me questions, I couldn't respond. I remember him saying, "Tell me right now what day it is, or I am calling an ambulance." I immediately answered "Sunday." Now keep in mind, my parents owned an ambulance company for 20 years, so they are medical people. My mother is a nurse and my father an EMT. He said that he was very worried at this point. They got me under a tree where there was a breeze and just poured water over my head. Of course, the race directors and many people were extememly concerned, but my dad told them that he had it.
Finally, I felt like I could walk to his truck. All I remember was concentrating on putting once foot in front of the other. I was so dizzy, I could barely see. I made it to his truck and just kind of slumped there.
At this point, he was afraid to take me to my house, so he took me to his. I started to feel better on the drive there (it's only about 2 miles away). I made it into my parent's house and sat on the couch. My mom got me a coke (my uncle's suggestion) and I drank that. Very shortly, I started to feel much better. After a half hour, I took a shower and ate some soup. I was then able to drive home.
The whole rest of the day, I felt terrible. I was very nauseated and couldn't keep anything but ginger ale down. Around 8, I ate some toast and kept that down. I woke up the next morning and felt alright so I went to work.
3 days later, I still don't feel back to normal. I just feel "off" and tired. I promised my mother that I would take another week off, which I also think is a good idea. I am trying to figure out what happened and I think it was a combination of several things. First, I wasn't recovered from Boston. I know darn well that you shouldn't race for 26 days after a marathon, but my ego got the best of me. I felt like Superwoman and that I could do anything. While I may have felt ok, my body must have still been out of whack. Second, I don't think I hydrated enough before the race. While I drank 20 oz during the race, I think it was too late. Third, my body isn't acclimated to the warm weather and I pushed it too hard. I looked up the symptoms of heat exhaustion, and I had almost every one. All of these things are stupid mistakes, but I guess we live and learn.
The ironic thing is that this is exactly one year to the day that I did this to myself at the NJ marathon...weird.
As for the race, it wasn't as bad as you would think. I got third in my age group and a 39:29 time. While it wasn't my best, it was still under 8:00 pace. I also moved up into 4th for the Triple Crown. Several people from the first race didn't show up for this one, and only one girl who was behind me beat me. So my plan actually worked out, but it definitely wasn't worth it. I hope I can run my hometown race on Memorial Day. It is around my neighborhood and I run the course at least once a week. For now, I am going to take it easy and ease my way back into training.
Also, I am definitely NOT running a fall marathon. I am giving my body a much needed break. I ran 4 marathon in 1.5 years, and despite this last disaster, i am going to slow down and relax a bit!
Post-Boston
After Boston I took off 8 days. I was going to take off two weeks, but I felt I had a really easy recovery. My legs were never that sore and by 4 days post marathon, I only felt a few knots in my hamstrings and quads. After 6 days, I felt completely normal. So 8 days post marathon, I went for a 2 mile jog on my treadmill. I felt the knot return, so I stopped after 2 miles. That night, I rolled my muscles out really good and took another day off. 10 days post marathon, I ran 4 miles outside slowly with no watch. I felt okay. Not great, but not terrible. The next day, I ran 4 more and felt much better. I didn't wear a watch, but I felt I was running my usual easy run pace.
Here is where the stupidity comes in. My local running club has a "Triple Crown" racing series. I ran the first leg in March, and that left me in 6th place. The 2nd leg was on May 2nd. It was a 5 mile race. I started thinking that I could just run the race for fun, and with some luck, leave myself in decent standings for the last leg. I knew deep down, I should never run a race that soon after a marathon, but I was so hyped up after Boston, I felt like I was invincible. Here's what went down.
Sunday, May 2nd Cherry Blossom 5-miler
I woke up on Sunday and went to register for the race. It was about 85 degrees and the humidity was high, so I decided to carry my handheld water bottle with me. I knew I wasn't acclimated to the warm weather, so I decided it was worth carrying during the race (even though it was "only" 5 miles). My parents wanted to go, even though I told them it wasn't necessary. Aaron was playing paintball with his friends, and I guess they wanted someone to be there. I have gone to races by myself and my uncle is usually there anyway. Regardless, they insisted on going.
After I registered, I ran into my uncle and my parents. I did my warm-up and was already sweating. I complained to my uncle and a friend from work (who was there with her children) about how warm I was. We went to line up, and I put myself towards the front of the women. The gun went off, and it was a really crowded start. We were on top of the levee in Kirby Park (which I run often), so it wasn't a huge path. I took off to distance myself from the crowd. Well guess who ran a 6:45 first mile...not smart. I saw my parents at mile 1 (because we did a loop in the park) and I yelled to them that I went out too fast. My dad yelled to take it easy. I am way too competitive for that. I kept pushing.
By mile 2, I didn't feel right. My stomach didn't feel nauseaus, but just didn't feel quite right. I knew I should probably stop and take a DNF, but my pride wouldn't let me do that. I knew my parents were there, plus several students that I have taught, so I kept pushing, saying to myself that it is only 3 more miles. Well at mile 3, I had to stop to walk. I walked for about 10 seconds, then started running again. At mile 4, I had to stop again. Some guy stopped in front of me, so I stopped with him. I told him I felt dizzy and he told me he felt the same. The whole time I kept making myself drink my water.
At mile 4.25, I had nothing left. Two women passed me, and there wasn't a thing I could do about it. Now...here comes the big finish.
First off, I don't recall finishing. I remember stopping to walk about 50 yards from the finish. Then my dad tells me I started running to the end. My dad tells me I was zig zagging all over. He thought I had a cramp because of the way my left leg was running. As soon as I crossed the line, my dad was waiting next to the chute (it was a small race...200 people). I told him I was dizzy. The race officials told me to just go under the tape, but I told them I wanted my time recorded. They told me it was and my dad took me to sit down (actually right under the official clock). He said my lips were grey and I was bone dry. Not an ounce of sweat on me. At this point, I remember what happened. I sat down and started throwing up. I kept complaining that this was a repeat of the NJ marathon and how could this happen to me again. I then got sooo hot. I started dumping water over my head to cool down. My mom got me a bunch of water and I kept dumping them over my head. At this point, I started to get dizzy. I layed down and really felt like I was going to pass out. My mom brought me gatorade and I tried to keep that down, but I kept vomiting. Every time I would sit up, I would get dizzy and feel like I was going to pass out. My friend from work Tracy came over, and I asked her if any of our kids from school saw this, and she said yes, they all did.....great! At this point, I was okay, just very nauseaus (I hate this word...for some reason, I just can't spell it and I am too lazy to spell check).
I then decided that I just wanted to go home, so my mom was going to drive my car home and my dad was going to drive me in his car. As I started walking, I collapsed. I couldn't get up. I started crying hysterically. My mom kept telling me that it was only a race and who cares how I did. I wasn't crying over that, I just had no control over my emotions at that point. I have no idea why I was crying. I felt ok to walk, so I tried again with my dad supporting me, and I collapsed again. At this point, my dad said my eyes started rolling around. All I remember is that I couldn't think. My dad would ask me questions, I couldn't respond. I remember him saying, "Tell me right now what day it is, or I am calling an ambulance." I immediately answered "Sunday." Now keep in mind, my parents owned an ambulance company for 20 years, so they are medical people. My mother is a nurse and my father an EMT. He said that he was very worried at this point. They got me under a tree where there was a breeze and just poured water over my head. Of course, the race directors and many people were extememly concerned, but my dad told them that he had it.
Finally, I felt like I could walk to his truck. All I remember was concentrating on putting once foot in front of the other. I was so dizzy, I could barely see. I made it to his truck and just kind of slumped there.
At this point, he was afraid to take me to my house, so he took me to his. I started to feel better on the drive there (it's only about 2 miles away). I made it into my parent's house and sat on the couch. My mom got me a coke (my uncle's suggestion) and I drank that. Very shortly, I started to feel much better. After a half hour, I took a shower and ate some soup. I was then able to drive home.
The whole rest of the day, I felt terrible. I was very nauseated and couldn't keep anything but ginger ale down. Around 8, I ate some toast and kept that down. I woke up the next morning and felt alright so I went to work.
3 days later, I still don't feel back to normal. I just feel "off" and tired. I promised my mother that I would take another week off, which I also think is a good idea. I am trying to figure out what happened and I think it was a combination of several things. First, I wasn't recovered from Boston. I know darn well that you shouldn't race for 26 days after a marathon, but my ego got the best of me. I felt like Superwoman and that I could do anything. While I may have felt ok, my body must have still been out of whack. Second, I don't think I hydrated enough before the race. While I drank 20 oz during the race, I think it was too late. Third, my body isn't acclimated to the warm weather and I pushed it too hard. I looked up the symptoms of heat exhaustion, and I had almost every one. All of these things are stupid mistakes, but I guess we live and learn.
The ironic thing is that this is exactly one year to the day that I did this to myself at the NJ marathon...weird.
As for the race, it wasn't as bad as you would think. I got third in my age group and a 39:29 time. While it wasn't my best, it was still under 8:00 pace. I also moved up into 4th for the Triple Crown. Several people from the first race didn't show up for this one, and only one girl who was behind me beat me. So my plan actually worked out, but it definitely wasn't worth it. I hope I can run my hometown race on Memorial Day. It is around my neighborhood and I run the course at least once a week. For now, I am going to take it easy and ease my way back into training.
Also, I am definitely NOT running a fall marathon. I am giving my body a much needed break. I ran 4 marathon in 1.5 years, and despite this last disaster, i am going to slow down and relax a bit!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Boston Recap
For those who don't want to read the entire post: I ran a 3:35:59...a PR by a minute and 9 seconds!
Prior to Leaving
The week before I left, I battled a terrible cold. I barely ran and had so much pressure in my chest, I had to get a Z-pack. I gradually started feeling better, and by Monday, I was pretty much back to normal. We left for Boston immediately after work on Friday, but little did I know what my school had in store for me before I left!
Everyone at work is always supportive about my running. They always ask questions and seem legitimately interested in my training. On Friday, I showed up for work, and all the ladies had on green. I was wondering if I missed the memo, and then they told me that they wore green for good luck in my honor! I thought that was so thoughtful. Then, on our morning show, they wished me luck and did all Boston Marathon fun facts. Of course, all the kids in my classes wanted to know about the race, so I spent some time telling them about it. 7th period came around, and four girls (good kids) never showed up for class. My other students told me they were called to the office, so I didn't do anything for awhile. About a half hour into class, I noticed my class staring at the clock and whispering to each other, so I thought something might be up, so I didn't call them on it.
With about 20 minutes left in the day, the principal came in and told my students to drop their pencils, and get out of there. They all ran off, and he told me to come with him. As he walked me downstairs, I noticed that there was noone in any of the classrooms. I told him I was getting very nervous, and he told me I should be. As we walked closer to the downstairs, I started to hear screaming and the band. I then realized that they were doing this for me. I immediately felt my face get red, and I told him that I couldn't go down there. He walked me downstairs to the entire 7th grade cheering for me with signs. The band was playing and everything. The one girl in my homeroom was standing in the middle of the lobby with a microphone and then handed me a framed copy of the Runner's Prayer. I almost lost it, but then she started reading the history of the Boston Marathon so I was able to compose myself. The principal then said some words about how proud they were of me, and gave me some Gatorade. The ladies I work with gave me a gift card to a spa as well! Apparently, the kids in my homeroom came up with this idea, and everyone helped them pull it off. I was and still am so touched and I couldn't believe that they did this for me running a race. I am so lucky to work with such great people and kids.
Boston Trip
We arrived at our hotel around 11 PM on Friday night and immediately went to bed. Saturday morning we woke up and went to the Race Expo. It was crazy! There were so many people and vendors. I bought some merchandise, got my bib and packet, then we left for our duck tour. The weather was terrible. It was cold and rainy, and while I booked the Duck Tour almost a month ago, we really weren't looking forward to it when we saw the weather. Lucky for us, it was covered! It was an enjoyable tour, and we were able to familiarize ourselves with Boston. After the tour, we went to see the finish area, which was pretty neat. We then went back to our hotel to change, and our friend, Kevin, who lives in Boston picked us up. Kevin took us to Downtown Boston and showed us the sights. He then took us to Cambridge to show us Harvard. We went to a great Mexican restaurant and had some great food and margaritas. After dinner, Kevin got us tickets to see Martin Sexton at the House of Blues. It was a great show. For someone I never heard of, he was really good! After the show, Peg and I went back to the hotel, and Aaron went out with Kevin for some guy time.
At the Expo
Finish Line
On Sunday, we took our time getting moving in the morning. We took the T into Boston and walked around Quincy Market. We ate lunch at a cute Irish pub before going to the Red Sox game. Again, the weather was terrible. Fenway was very neat to see, and luckily, our seats were under cover. The Sox lost, but we had a good time at the game. After the game, we met up with Kevin and went to the North End for some Italian food. Our dinner was fabulous! That is such a cute section of Boston. After dinner, we went back to the hotel and I was in bed by 9:30. I actually slept pretty well.
Quincy Market
Fenway
Race Day
I woke up around 5:30 on Monday morning. I got all my stuff together and Aaron walked me to the T. I took the train to downtown Boston and just followed the crowd of runners to Boston Common. The line for the buses was HUGE. I made friends with people I was standing in line with and we finally got our bus around 7:45. The ride to Hopkinton took forver. We were on the bus for about an hour and a half. When we got to the Athlete's Village, I immediately got in line for the Porta Potty. By the time I got out, I only had enough time to get dressed and pin my gels to my shorts. We saw the jets fly over at the start of the first wave which was pretty cool! I immediately went to check my bag, and followed the crowd to the start of Wave 2. It was a .7 mile walk. I felt like we were walking forever. I got to the corrals with 7 minutes to the gun, and I was at corral 27. I was in corral 15, which was closer to the start line. Wave 2 featured corrals 14-27, so mine was towards the front closer to the start. The problem was there were people everywhere. I saw people with lower bibs running across lawns to bypass the crowds, so I followed suit. I got to my corral with about 3 minutes to gun time slightly out of breath. For someone who is always early, this made me flustered. They were really strict about letting people into my corral. You had to show your bib, or you weren't getting in. The nice thing about the corral system is that everyone in my corral had close to the same qualifying time as me. So we were all pretty much the same level runner.
The gun went off, and it took me about 2 minutes to cross the start...not bad! I felt pretty good, but got hot immediately. It pained me, but I threw away my nice pink tech long sleeve shirt. I didn't want to carry it the entire race, so I ditched it around mile 2. At least it will be donated to charity. My corral went out kinda fast, so I hoped I didn't regret it. I'll post my splits later, but it was faster than i anticipated. The crowds were absolutely amazing. There were people the entire course. The first half of the course was pretty easy, some downhill with some slight rollers.
I carried a water bottle (disposable), which held me over til about mile 8 when I took my first gel. Right after I took my gel, my legs started to feel a little heavy. I kept my pace up, but I had a feeling that the race was not going to go well. Everytime I doubted myself, I thought of all the people who were tracking me and I didn't want to disappoint. I tried to slow myself down to around 8:20, but I just kept plugging along the 8:00-8:10 range. When we got to the half, I was around 1:46, which was a half PR for me. This was also the section of Wellesley College. It was awesome. All the girls had signs that read "Kiss me, I'm Polish" or "Kiss me, I'm Italian" or "Kiss me, I'm a Senior." Many of the guys stopped for kisses. I ran though and high fived a bunch of them! I took my second (and last) gel around mile 14.
After the half, I started anticipating the Newton Hills. I wasn't sure when they were coming, but I knew it was soon. I didn't look over the course profile too much before the race because I didn't want to anticipate the hills, but I did anyway, and wished I knew exactly when they were coming. We hit some downhills after the half, so I coasted them. My legs felt tight and heavy, and I worked to keep my pace up. I honestly kept waiting to crash and burn, so I thought if I could bank enough time, I could still have a good overall marathon (which is a terrible racing strategy). I started stopping at almost every water station for Gatorade. I could feel the salt on my face from the sweat which made me nervous about my electrolytes and sodium. I kept thinking about my disasterous NJ Marathon, and didn't want a repeat. I would grab a cup and jump off the course so I didn't get in the way of anyone to chug it down. It didn't take me long at all, and I almost immediately caught up to the people I was running with (not really with, but at the same time). One lady kept trying to talk to me, but I wasn't having it. I wasn't being rude, but I was running a marathon, not making friends!
We reached the Newton hills around Mile 16 and they really sucked. The crowds were great, but they were steeper than I thought. Everyone told me that they were overrated, but I disagree. They are quality hills. By the time Heartbreak Hill came around mile 20.5, I really wanted to cry. It wasn't that Hearbreak was that steep..it was just ANOTHER hill to run up. My legs were dead at that point, but I ran every step. Many people walked, but I refused. After Heartbreak was the Boston College section, which was awesome. Those kids know how to party. They were all hammered, but they were great cheerleaders. One guy pointed right at me and said "15220, You are a champion." That really got me moving! What disappointed me was that they said the course was all downhill after Heartbreak, and that was a lie. There were some rollers. Finally around mile 24, I could see the Citgo sign, which I knew was the mile to go sign. The crowds at this point were absolutely amazing. I wished I could enjoy them more, but it took everything I had to keep moving. I never even took my last gel because I was afraid if I stopped, I would cramp up and not be able to get moving again. I skipped all the water stations too, just so I could get to the finish line quicker. We ran past Fenway, and I finally reached the Citgo sign. I tried to focus on all the people and I kept repeating to myself "If it was easy, everyone would do it." I kept thinking of the send off my school gave me, and it really gave me strength, when I thought I couldn't run another step. I started looking for Aaron, who told me he was by the Hynes Convention Center, near the finish, but I wasn't sure how close that was. Every time we rounded a corner, I was hoping to see the finish only to be disappointed. Finally, we rounded a corner (Boylston St.), I saw the finish and my family at the same time. They were right up in front, and I managed a wave. I kept moving with everything I had towards the finish. I knew I was going to PR, but I wasn't sure by how much. Right at the end, there were two chutes, one for Wave 1 and one for Wave 2, so my finishing pic will have close to the right time! Every clock on the course annoyed me because they all started timing with wave 1, so I had to subtract a half hour...thank goodness for Garmin. At the end, I saw a guy raise his hands, so I tried to do the same. I hope the finishing pic comes out good!
Immediately after finishing, I felt like collapsing. Some people did and were in wheelchairs. For one minute, I thought I was going to pass because I saw stars. I just held on to a railing, and the feeling passed. I immediately started drinking water, and was then given Gatorade. I got my mylar blanket, and started freezing. I was so hot on the course, but as soon as I stopped, I felt the wind. They gave us our medals and a bag of food. The chute was probably a block long. Then I was directed to get my bag. The bus with my bag was the LAST bus. So I had to walk and walk and walk. I got my bag, called Aaron, who told me they were at the family meeting area at the "M." Of course, the M was the LAST Sign. It was around the block. I started to get tears in my eyes because I was so frustrated, and I felt like I couldn't walk another step. One lady must have noticed, because she told me congratulations and that I should be proud of myself. I finally saw the M and Aaron, Peg, and Kevin were all there ready to give me hugs. Aaron got me some flower, and Peg was holding my signs. Aaron helped me put on my Boston Jacket (which I refused to wear until I finished). I thought we were going to have to walk to a T then back to the hotel, but luckily we found a cab.
Overall it was a great experience. I feel such pride knowing that I accomplished this amazing feat. Many people work years to get there, and I feel like I had it easier than most. I managed to PR on a difficult course and couldn't be happer. I am definitely taking some time off from running to let my body heal. This summer, I am going to focus on some shorter distances and hope to love running again. While I wouldn't trade this experience for the world, I am done marathoning for awhile!
Here are my splits from my Garmin:
1 8:04
2 8:02
3 7:58
4 7:47
5 8:09 (I tried to slow down after mile 4)
6 8:01
7 8:03
8 8:08
9 8:09
10 8:09
11 8:14
12 8:01
13 8:08
14 8:02
15 8:12
16 7:56 (downhill before the hills)
17 8:24
18 8:21
19 8:03
20 8:18
21 8:39 (Heartbreak Hill)
22 8:07
23 8:14
24 8:21
25 8:26
26 8:29
.2 3:43 (not totally accurate as Garmin says I ran 26.47 miles)
Overall pace: 8:15
Here are some finishing pics
Prior to Leaving
The week before I left, I battled a terrible cold. I barely ran and had so much pressure in my chest, I had to get a Z-pack. I gradually started feeling better, and by Monday, I was pretty much back to normal. We left for Boston immediately after work on Friday, but little did I know what my school had in store for me before I left!
Everyone at work is always supportive about my running. They always ask questions and seem legitimately interested in my training. On Friday, I showed up for work, and all the ladies had on green. I was wondering if I missed the memo, and then they told me that they wore green for good luck in my honor! I thought that was so thoughtful. Then, on our morning show, they wished me luck and did all Boston Marathon fun facts. Of course, all the kids in my classes wanted to know about the race, so I spent some time telling them about it. 7th period came around, and four girls (good kids) never showed up for class. My other students told me they were called to the office, so I didn't do anything for awhile. About a half hour into class, I noticed my class staring at the clock and whispering to each other, so I thought something might be up, so I didn't call them on it.
With about 20 minutes left in the day, the principal came in and told my students to drop their pencils, and get out of there. They all ran off, and he told me to come with him. As he walked me downstairs, I noticed that there was noone in any of the classrooms. I told him I was getting very nervous, and he told me I should be. As we walked closer to the downstairs, I started to hear screaming and the band. I then realized that they were doing this for me. I immediately felt my face get red, and I told him that I couldn't go down there. He walked me downstairs to the entire 7th grade cheering for me with signs. The band was playing and everything. The one girl in my homeroom was standing in the middle of the lobby with a microphone and then handed me a framed copy of the Runner's Prayer. I almost lost it, but then she started reading the history of the Boston Marathon so I was able to compose myself. The principal then said some words about how proud they were of me, and gave me some Gatorade. The ladies I work with gave me a gift card to a spa as well! Apparently, the kids in my homeroom came up with this idea, and everyone helped them pull it off. I was and still am so touched and I couldn't believe that they did this for me running a race. I am so lucky to work with such great people and kids.
Boston Trip
We arrived at our hotel around 11 PM on Friday night and immediately went to bed. Saturday morning we woke up and went to the Race Expo. It was crazy! There were so many people and vendors. I bought some merchandise, got my bib and packet, then we left for our duck tour. The weather was terrible. It was cold and rainy, and while I booked the Duck Tour almost a month ago, we really weren't looking forward to it when we saw the weather. Lucky for us, it was covered! It was an enjoyable tour, and we were able to familiarize ourselves with Boston. After the tour, we went to see the finish area, which was pretty neat. We then went back to our hotel to change, and our friend, Kevin, who lives in Boston picked us up. Kevin took us to Downtown Boston and showed us the sights. He then took us to Cambridge to show us Harvard. We went to a great Mexican restaurant and had some great food and margaritas. After dinner, Kevin got us tickets to see Martin Sexton at the House of Blues. It was a great show. For someone I never heard of, he was really good! After the show, Peg and I went back to the hotel, and Aaron went out with Kevin for some guy time.
At the Expo
Finish Line
On Sunday, we took our time getting moving in the morning. We took the T into Boston and walked around Quincy Market. We ate lunch at a cute Irish pub before going to the Red Sox game. Again, the weather was terrible. Fenway was very neat to see, and luckily, our seats were under cover. The Sox lost, but we had a good time at the game. After the game, we met up with Kevin and went to the North End for some Italian food. Our dinner was fabulous! That is such a cute section of Boston. After dinner, we went back to the hotel and I was in bed by 9:30. I actually slept pretty well.
Quincy Market
Fenway
Race Day
I woke up around 5:30 on Monday morning. I got all my stuff together and Aaron walked me to the T. I took the train to downtown Boston and just followed the crowd of runners to Boston Common. The line for the buses was HUGE. I made friends with people I was standing in line with and we finally got our bus around 7:45. The ride to Hopkinton took forver. We were on the bus for about an hour and a half. When we got to the Athlete's Village, I immediately got in line for the Porta Potty. By the time I got out, I only had enough time to get dressed and pin my gels to my shorts. We saw the jets fly over at the start of the first wave which was pretty cool! I immediately went to check my bag, and followed the crowd to the start of Wave 2. It was a .7 mile walk. I felt like we were walking forever. I got to the corrals with 7 minutes to the gun, and I was at corral 27. I was in corral 15, which was closer to the start line. Wave 2 featured corrals 14-27, so mine was towards the front closer to the start. The problem was there were people everywhere. I saw people with lower bibs running across lawns to bypass the crowds, so I followed suit. I got to my corral with about 3 minutes to gun time slightly out of breath. For someone who is always early, this made me flustered. They were really strict about letting people into my corral. You had to show your bib, or you weren't getting in. The nice thing about the corral system is that everyone in my corral had close to the same qualifying time as me. So we were all pretty much the same level runner.
The gun went off, and it took me about 2 minutes to cross the start...not bad! I felt pretty good, but got hot immediately. It pained me, but I threw away my nice pink tech long sleeve shirt. I didn't want to carry it the entire race, so I ditched it around mile 2. At least it will be donated to charity. My corral went out kinda fast, so I hoped I didn't regret it. I'll post my splits later, but it was faster than i anticipated. The crowds were absolutely amazing. There were people the entire course. The first half of the course was pretty easy, some downhill with some slight rollers.
I carried a water bottle (disposable), which held me over til about mile 8 when I took my first gel. Right after I took my gel, my legs started to feel a little heavy. I kept my pace up, but I had a feeling that the race was not going to go well. Everytime I doubted myself, I thought of all the people who were tracking me and I didn't want to disappoint. I tried to slow myself down to around 8:20, but I just kept plugging along the 8:00-8:10 range. When we got to the half, I was around 1:46, which was a half PR for me. This was also the section of Wellesley College. It was awesome. All the girls had signs that read "Kiss me, I'm Polish" or "Kiss me, I'm Italian" or "Kiss me, I'm a Senior." Many of the guys stopped for kisses. I ran though and high fived a bunch of them! I took my second (and last) gel around mile 14.
After the half, I started anticipating the Newton Hills. I wasn't sure when they were coming, but I knew it was soon. I didn't look over the course profile too much before the race because I didn't want to anticipate the hills, but I did anyway, and wished I knew exactly when they were coming. We hit some downhills after the half, so I coasted them. My legs felt tight and heavy, and I worked to keep my pace up. I honestly kept waiting to crash and burn, so I thought if I could bank enough time, I could still have a good overall marathon (which is a terrible racing strategy). I started stopping at almost every water station for Gatorade. I could feel the salt on my face from the sweat which made me nervous about my electrolytes and sodium. I kept thinking about my disasterous NJ Marathon, and didn't want a repeat. I would grab a cup and jump off the course so I didn't get in the way of anyone to chug it down. It didn't take me long at all, and I almost immediately caught up to the people I was running with (not really with, but at the same time). One lady kept trying to talk to me, but I wasn't having it. I wasn't being rude, but I was running a marathon, not making friends!
We reached the Newton hills around Mile 16 and they really sucked. The crowds were great, but they were steeper than I thought. Everyone told me that they were overrated, but I disagree. They are quality hills. By the time Heartbreak Hill came around mile 20.5, I really wanted to cry. It wasn't that Hearbreak was that steep..it was just ANOTHER hill to run up. My legs were dead at that point, but I ran every step. Many people walked, but I refused. After Heartbreak was the Boston College section, which was awesome. Those kids know how to party. They were all hammered, but they were great cheerleaders. One guy pointed right at me and said "15220, You are a champion." That really got me moving! What disappointed me was that they said the course was all downhill after Heartbreak, and that was a lie. There were some rollers. Finally around mile 24, I could see the Citgo sign, which I knew was the mile to go sign. The crowds at this point were absolutely amazing. I wished I could enjoy them more, but it took everything I had to keep moving. I never even took my last gel because I was afraid if I stopped, I would cramp up and not be able to get moving again. I skipped all the water stations too, just so I could get to the finish line quicker. We ran past Fenway, and I finally reached the Citgo sign. I tried to focus on all the people and I kept repeating to myself "If it was easy, everyone would do it." I kept thinking of the send off my school gave me, and it really gave me strength, when I thought I couldn't run another step. I started looking for Aaron, who told me he was by the Hynes Convention Center, near the finish, but I wasn't sure how close that was. Every time we rounded a corner, I was hoping to see the finish only to be disappointed. Finally, we rounded a corner (Boylston St.), I saw the finish and my family at the same time. They were right up in front, and I managed a wave. I kept moving with everything I had towards the finish. I knew I was going to PR, but I wasn't sure by how much. Right at the end, there were two chutes, one for Wave 1 and one for Wave 2, so my finishing pic will have close to the right time! Every clock on the course annoyed me because they all started timing with wave 1, so I had to subtract a half hour...thank goodness for Garmin. At the end, I saw a guy raise his hands, so I tried to do the same. I hope the finishing pic comes out good!
Immediately after finishing, I felt like collapsing. Some people did and were in wheelchairs. For one minute, I thought I was going to pass because I saw stars. I just held on to a railing, and the feeling passed. I immediately started drinking water, and was then given Gatorade. I got my mylar blanket, and started freezing. I was so hot on the course, but as soon as I stopped, I felt the wind. They gave us our medals and a bag of food. The chute was probably a block long. Then I was directed to get my bag. The bus with my bag was the LAST bus. So I had to walk and walk and walk. I got my bag, called Aaron, who told me they were at the family meeting area at the "M." Of course, the M was the LAST Sign. It was around the block. I started to get tears in my eyes because I was so frustrated, and I felt like I couldn't walk another step. One lady must have noticed, because she told me congratulations and that I should be proud of myself. I finally saw the M and Aaron, Peg, and Kevin were all there ready to give me hugs. Aaron got me some flower, and Peg was holding my signs. Aaron helped me put on my Boston Jacket (which I refused to wear until I finished). I thought we were going to have to walk to a T then back to the hotel, but luckily we found a cab.
Overall it was a great experience. I feel such pride knowing that I accomplished this amazing feat. Many people work years to get there, and I feel like I had it easier than most. I managed to PR on a difficult course and couldn't be happer. I am definitely taking some time off from running to let my body heal. This summer, I am going to focus on some shorter distances and hope to love running again. While I wouldn't trade this experience for the world, I am done marathoning for awhile!
Here are my splits from my Garmin:
1 8:04
2 8:02
3 7:58
4 7:47
5 8:09 (I tried to slow down after mile 4)
6 8:01
7 8:03
8 8:08
9 8:09
10 8:09
11 8:14
12 8:01
13 8:08
14 8:02
15 8:12
16 7:56 (downhill before the hills)
17 8:24
18 8:21
19 8:03
20 8:18
21 8:39 (Heartbreak Hill)
22 8:07
23 8:14
24 8:21
25 8:26
26 8:29
.2 3:43 (not totally accurate as Garmin says I ran 26.47 miles)
Overall pace: 8:15
Here are some finishing pics
Friday, April 16, 2010
On the Road
I am leaving for Boston today! It was a crappy week of "training." I had/have a terrible chest cold. I took three days off running, and ran some slow miles later in the week. I am feeling better, but not 100%. Lucky for me, I still have 2 more days to recover. The weather doesn't look great for our weekend in Boston. All I have to say, is if I have to run another marathon in the rain, I will not be happy. My bib is 15220 if anyone wants to track me on the bostonmarathon.com web site. I will post a full report when I get back! Wish me luck!!!
Monday, April 5, 2010
April 19th can't come soon enough
March mileage: 181 miles. Almost a mileage high, but last Sept. I ran 182...I knew I should have skipped that 5 miler in Week 14!
I am sick of running. I get this way every training cycle, but I seriously have no motivation right now. It took alot to get out there for 12 on Saturday. Thank goodness, I only have short runs left. I am slightly nervous because I feel I am putting forth alot of effort to run my usual paces. Last cycle, I felt awesome at this point. Every time I would look down at my watch, I surprised myself with how fast I was going...not this time. I was seriously wondering if my garmin was working properly when I looked down and saw 9:15 today on a 4-miler. I felt like I was going much quicker! Of course, this makes me question my marathon. I know I need to trust the taper, and it's only taper madness, but the mind can be a hard thing to control.
My aunt, uncle, and cousin got me an awesome basket in honor of my running Boston. It has a Boston visor, coffee mug, pin, gatorade, powerade, coke, GU, protein bars, bandaids, biofreeze, etc. They are a running family, so they "get" it. My uncle has run Boston several times and is an amazing runner, so he has really been an inspiration and support throughout this journey! I have been feeling down about myself lately, so this helped me see the support that I do have.
I also ordered my Boston jacket. I was undecided about ordering one. It is bright teal and yellow and very flashy! I tend to be a modest person and really couldn't see myself wearing this jacket...especially to local races because I feel that I'm not "that" good to prance around in a jacket like that. After talking to my uncle, he convinced me to buy it. I know I earned it, so I splurged and spent the bucks on it. Once it comes, it will stay unworn until I finish the race. Then, I need to work up the courage to wear it. It looks like a good running jacket anyway.
Our trip is shaping up too. Aaron and my mother-in-law will be joining me for the big weekend. My parents can't come because my sister's bridal shower is the following weekend, so they have to get ready for that. We are driving to Boston immediately after work (my work) on Friday the 16th. I figure if we leave around 3:30/4:00, we should get there by 11 (hopefully). Saturday, we plan to hit the expo first thing in the morning and do the Ride the Ducks Tour at 1. Aaron wasn't sure what this was until he watched Undercover Boss, now he is ready to kill me, but I really enjoyed it in Philly. I would also like to hit Quincy Market and walk part of the Freedom Trail. Sunday, I am going to try to take it easy. We got Red Sox tickets, so I will be sitting for most of the day. I am not sure what else we will do, except have a nice Italian dinner possibly in the North End. Aaron's good friend lives in Boston, so hopefully we will meet up with him and he can give us some suggestions. We are leaving right after the race on Monday, so we won't get home until late. I already took Tuesday off to recover! I can't believe it is here already. In fact, 2 weeks from this moment, it will be over and we will be driving home. Wow!
Week 17 Schedule
Monday- 4 miles
Tuesday- 6 miles
Wednesday- 30 min tempo (4 miles)
Friday- 4 miles
Long Run of 8 miles.....Monday the 12th! I want to get on track for a Monday marathon.
Total: 26 miles...yay!
I am sick of running. I get this way every training cycle, but I seriously have no motivation right now. It took alot to get out there for 12 on Saturday. Thank goodness, I only have short runs left. I am slightly nervous because I feel I am putting forth alot of effort to run my usual paces. Last cycle, I felt awesome at this point. Every time I would look down at my watch, I surprised myself with how fast I was going...not this time. I was seriously wondering if my garmin was working properly when I looked down and saw 9:15 today on a 4-miler. I felt like I was going much quicker! Of course, this makes me question my marathon. I know I need to trust the taper, and it's only taper madness, but the mind can be a hard thing to control.
My aunt, uncle, and cousin got me an awesome basket in honor of my running Boston. It has a Boston visor, coffee mug, pin, gatorade, powerade, coke, GU, protein bars, bandaids, biofreeze, etc. They are a running family, so they "get" it. My uncle has run Boston several times and is an amazing runner, so he has really been an inspiration and support throughout this journey! I have been feeling down about myself lately, so this helped me see the support that I do have.
I also ordered my Boston jacket. I was undecided about ordering one. It is bright teal and yellow and very flashy! I tend to be a modest person and really couldn't see myself wearing this jacket...especially to local races because I feel that I'm not "that" good to prance around in a jacket like that. After talking to my uncle, he convinced me to buy it. I know I earned it, so I splurged and spent the bucks on it. Once it comes, it will stay unworn until I finish the race. Then, I need to work up the courage to wear it. It looks like a good running jacket anyway.
Our trip is shaping up too. Aaron and my mother-in-law will be joining me for the big weekend. My parents can't come because my sister's bridal shower is the following weekend, so they have to get ready for that. We are driving to Boston immediately after work (my work) on Friday the 16th. I figure if we leave around 3:30/4:00, we should get there by 11 (hopefully). Saturday, we plan to hit the expo first thing in the morning and do the Ride the Ducks Tour at 1. Aaron wasn't sure what this was until he watched Undercover Boss, now he is ready to kill me, but I really enjoyed it in Philly. I would also like to hit Quincy Market and walk part of the Freedom Trail. Sunday, I am going to try to take it easy. We got Red Sox tickets, so I will be sitting for most of the day. I am not sure what else we will do, except have a nice Italian dinner possibly in the North End. Aaron's good friend lives in Boston, so hopefully we will meet up with him and he can give us some suggestions. We are leaving right after the race on Monday, so we won't get home until late. I already took Tuesday off to recover! I can't believe it is here already. In fact, 2 weeks from this moment, it will be over and we will be driving home. Wow!
Week 17 Schedule
Monday- 4 miles
Tuesday- 6 miles
Wednesday- 30 min tempo (4 miles)
Friday- 4 miles
Long Run of 8 miles.....Monday the 12th! I want to get on track for a Monday marathon.
Total: 26 miles...yay!
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