I DID IT!!!!!!!
Ok, didn't want to leave you hanging. I made it through my first half marathon and what a race it was. Got some time? Let me tell you about it......
After obsessively checking the weather app all week hoping for a miracle, it finally became quite clear that this race was going to happen in the rain. Ok, accept it and figure out what to wear.
Got my Buddy Fruit!!!! Big shout out to my friend Robin, who used her brain when mine was stressed and panicked and told me where to go get my damn applesauce...thank you friend.
I wonder if Buddy Fruit needs a spokesperson? Anyone out there got a connection? I'm available Buddy Fruit!! Call me!!! I have nothing but good things to say!!!!
It was so cold before the race started, but not raining yet. Finally caught up with my friend who was starting in my wave, and we just stood and hugged each other for warmth. I was getting ready to start asking strangers to stand closer to me, but thankfully didn't have to go that route.
Wave start was great, I've never been in a race big enough to need one. There were 6 waves, each started within 2 minutes of each. It helped to thin the herd.
We were so happy to just start running so we could get warmer. It started raining lightly, so all good at this point. My sweet friend stayed with me for the first 3 miles as we planned and then I told her to go on, I needed to slow down. She was outta sight within a minute. BYE BYE
The course is nothing but hills. Up and down, up and down. I wish I had pics for you, but didn't want to pull out my phone in the rain. I tried to only look a few feet ahead and not at the top of the hill on the worst ones and it worked pretty good as a denial strategy.
What drove me crazy were all the people that walked up every hill and then would blow by me on the downhill. Was very annoying, as I would creep past them on every hill and then, bamn, there you go by me again!!! Ugh!! The downhills killed my knees. It got to the point that I dreaded going downhill. It's so funny during a race how to start to get familiar with the runners around you, especially in something this long and if someone new runs by you, you start to panic :-) "Have I slowed down? Who is that person? Where did they come from?"
It started raining really hard around mile 9, just before the worst hill on the course. I swear I felt some small hail hitting my face. And it was so windy!! Just made the rain feel even colder. From mile 9 to the end was pretty miserable. Even though I was running, I was starting to feel colder, especially my hands. I started having to mentally motivate myself by thinking of certain people I knew that were having a hard time in their lives right now and dedicating a mile to that person. It helped.
The highlights of the race:
*Having someone with me the first 3 miles to help get me started
*Gear check!! Never had this option before, but it sure was nice to have that bag available after the race to put on dry shoes, socks, and shirt. And a big ole towel
*Seeing 3 deer come running from behind a barn between miles 4-5 and watching them sail up into the air to jump over the plank fence and keep running through the field
*The numerous aid stations along the route. 3 different drink options at each, some even had porta potties and music. I made a point of thanking these wonderful volunteers who were out in the horrible weather for us. Amazing
*Speaking of music, thank you drummers for getting us up the hill at mile 9. So cool
*Beer at mile 11!!!!!! Of course I went for the Bourbon Barrel Ale instead of the Michelob Ultra. And then I was scared to death my stomach would revolt, but all was well. I was just hoping it would warm me up
*Getting that medal around my neck at the end
Lowlights:
*I've never been so cold. I know it was because I was wet too, but it was misery. I really think I was a little hypothermic at the end, couldn't use my hands for about 45mins after and was shaking uncontrollably. Could not open the water I grabbed at the end, couldn't think clear enough to get myself inside, couldn't find my friend.
*It's a beautiful course, but a lonely one. The only crowd support is at aid stations and at the end
*Did I mention all the hills?
I'm sore, I'm stiff, I've been eating like a horse and I took the longest hot shower of my life yesterday. But I will do this race again. I will do another half in the fall. This distance is amazing. It challenges you, but it is unbelievable what your body can do. All the training in the cold and the snow and the early morning hours and going to bed with the chickens and people thinking you are crazy......
All worth it. Every minute.
So I'm in a bit of a panic. Over applesauce. Yeah, applesauce.
I got this little thing called a half-marathon coming up, perhaps I've mentioned it??? Been training for months in the bitter cold of the most horrific winter in 20years. Very carefully followed my training plan. Finally figured out what I could eat during the run without vomiting. This wonderful little product here:
Yummy, portable applesauce with other fruits added. All natural. Didn't make me sick. Don't have to chew it. Tried 3 flavors, all good.
The problem? I can't find it anywhere!!!!!!! I'm having a brain fart remembering where I bought it, but I've tried all the grocery stores that I frequent and nobody has it!!!!!!!!!
You are probably thinking at this point: Good Lord! Just shut up and buy another brand. It's freaking applesauce! And maybe this is true. And I have bought another brand, because I had no choice. But everything I've read tells me that the cardinal rule of eating during a race is this: never, ever never, try anything new. You just don't know how your body will react to it. Could end up in the bushes. But now I have no choice but to use another brand. I have no other long runs to try anything different. I admit I feel kind of silly worrying about this, but I can't help it. Fingers crossed.
On a positive note, I can't tell you how abnormally happy I am to have earned this shirt to wear in the race!
I came to this running group a little late in my training, but logged enough training runs to get a free shirt. It's a great group, sponsored by a local craft brewery. I'll be so proud to wear this on race day.
Speaking of that; race day is 5 days away. Have a few easy runs this week, nothing major, but of course there is snow scheduled on one of those days. Of course. The forecast for Saturday keeps changing, hopefully will be nice.
Wish me luck.
Today I went on the longest run to date. 11 miles.. I'm sorry, what?! Even when I tell people that I don't know what I'm talking about. The whole time I'm running it, I don't know what I'm talking about. But here are the random thoughts that run through a runner's head during that long period of time......
Miles 1-3:
*I'm cold
*Wish I'd worn some gloves
*My plantar fasciitis hurts
*I can't breathe
*Why am I doing this?
*I'm hungry
*It's so gross to wipe my snotty nose on my sleeve
*Those birds could carry me away!!!!!
Miles 4-6:
*That house is pretty
*Watch that sidewalk
*I hear the birds chirping!
*Everything is warm but my hands. Why didn't I wear gloves?????
*What street am I on?
*I think I feel the runner's high at times!!!
*Oooo, haven't heard this song in a while....
*I wonder what time it is?
*Man, this flavored applesauce tastes good
*I think I just aspirated some water. Cough twice.
*I hope the light stays green at that intersection
*My fingers are numb! I would turn up the volume on this song, but I can't
*"You make me feel like I been locked out of heaven......"
*This is a great shortcut
*What am I going to do about that condo.....
*It's so gross to wipe my snotty nose on my sleeve
*Ducks!!!!!!
Miles 7-11:
*Does that car see me?
*I hope that light changes so I have to stop at that intersection
*"Nope, you need to turn around sir, go down one block and turn left and the student center is on your right"
*
Ugh, I'm burping up that flavored applesauce, think I might vomit
*Is that part of an animal?
*That guy is cute. Step up the pace, don't look like you're dying
*Jesus, what time is it?
*What street am I supposed to turn on???
*Wonder what my pace is?
*Well, don't wave back at me, bitch!
*
I can feel my fingers!!!!
*I'm just mentally tired, suck it up buttercup
*Mercy, I'm sick of carrying this water bottle
*Are my shoelaces coming untied?
*I'm tired
* I need more music
*It's so gross to wipe my snotty nose on my sleeve (constant, on a loop)
*I see my building!!!!!!
These are the earth shattering, important thoughts that go through my head during a long run. Just thought you wanted to know.
Where did February go? Oh wait, I know---- all I did was run, sleep and eat. And then there's the matter of that full time job thing. Anyway, sorry for the long break.
It's been the most brutal winter in about 20 years here and the half mary training has been rough to say the least. I believe the last time I was ranting on here, I had just ran 7 miles to my utter astonishment. Well, yesterday I hit an all time high of 10 miles. How does that even happen??? Even while I was doing it, I couldn't imagine how I was doing it. It took me 2 hours but at the same time it was over in an instant. I have been doing group runs with one of my local breweries (after trying many running groups) and I find this one to be the best one for me by far. Beer = friendly people??? Whatever the reason, I'm happy to be training with them and I'll even get a free t-shirt to wear on the big day labeling me as part of their group. This excites me to no end for some strange reason. I hope the blood, sweat and tears will wash out of it easily so I can wear it again.
I even found someone as slow as me to run with yesterday, and dare I say, he might have been a tiny bit slower. We paced each other the first 8 miles, then he made a detour to run by his house for water and snacks. Those last 2 miles alone were brutal. He gave me some great advice and information about this particular half since he ran it in 2012. He also promised that since he would be at the race I would not be last.
3 weeks until the race. One more long run of 11 miles. Then the taper begins. I feel stupid even saying that. I'm not ready for this, haven't done enough hill work, but it's going to happen. I'm still trying to figure out what to eat during the run and it's been hit and miss. Found a great blog, active-balanced-vegan, that listed some great vegan options for eating during endurance runs. This week I tried one of those squeezable flavored applesauce. It's a pretty good size to carry along, don't have to chew it. My tummy tolerated it pretty well. May try some gluten free pretzels and/or dates this week.
Strength training is going well, but I can't really tell any difference in my running yet. I'm sure that will take quite a while. I can say that I've never been so sore. How were these weak ass muscles carrying me down the street?! I can also say that the book I'm following is fantastic (Quick Strength for Runners by Jeff Horowitz) and I highly recommend it. It basically spoon feeds me what I need to do, when to do it and how many times. I have found this is what I need. I operate best with a clear plan.
My favorite running quote of the past week: "Running is a series of controlled falls". Ain't that the truth.
I'm getting so nervous. I'm even starting to stress out about the parking and how early I need to get there. There are going to be 5,000 runners!!!!!! That's crazy. I know it's going to be way harder than I am even imagining and I already know I'm going to cry. I just don't know if it will be during or after. Or both.
But the most stressful thing of all this past week? I made an offer on a condo and damn if they didn't accept it. So it was good in one way, took my mind off my other stressor, but this is stress of a whole other level, money and moving stress. I'm excited to hopefully have a place that is mine, where I can dig in and not move until I go to the assisted living facility. Inspection is this week, if that goes well, it's time to start signing some checks..... :-)
