It only seemed super sonic...

I was pretty calm showing up to the starting village, and didn't have TOO much time to wait around, about an hour, most of which was taken up waiting in line at the porter potty.  It was SO cold, and that's pretty much all I could think of- but I had sweats, gloves and hand warmers to take to the starting corals with me.

Once I got in the corral it was a little lonely, if you can be lonely among thousands... but it was just time I used to take it all in- there were so many people and so much going on around me.  Once I passed the start, and got on the course, I felt great!  I was still timid to talk to anyone until I found someone at a pace I liked, I didn't want to commit.  I made small talk with a few people throughout the first few miles, and wished them well as either I passed or they passed.

The mile markers seemed to be FLYING BY in the beginning... However, I had my watch and I was splitting time so I could track mile by mile and be sure I was keeping a steady pace that felt really comfortable; it only seemed super sonic.


It wasn't until I was approaching Georgetown that I finally noticed I was next to a lady, and we naturally kept pace together... I was super excited because I was dying to talk to someone!  Her name was Tracy and I quickly found out her goal was to keep between 11:30-12 minute miles throughout the entire race- sold!  We weaved in and out of people the entire way, kept a really feel-good pace and were both able to stop along the course to see our families and friends (Thank you: my awesome husband, Steve, Kristen & Geoff and my amazing parents who trekked from Brooklyn!).

We were both having a lot of fun and were sure to celebrate our accomplishments along the way, counting down the miles we've already put behind us instead of looking ahead at all the ones yet to come!

I was mostly surprised with how many people there were- the entire time- on the course... I mean, I almost felt like I was in Frogger.  I was constantly bobbing and weaving in foot traffic... the entire time... wow!  It was a benefit in that it kept me very engaged and focused in the moment, simply because I had to make sure I wasn't bumping into the next person.  It got mildly annoying at times, but nothing to take away my smile!

A little more than halfway through, the mile markers seemed to pass by a little more slowly- even though we knew we were keeping our pace while running, mentally the markers seemed to come by less often... it became a little harder to ignore exactly how many miles were left, but we decided it best to start counting only by water stops.  They seemed to be popping up right when it felt like we wanted one.  We started to stop at every water stop to go to the side and stretch our legs- better to get a little more comfortable at each stop for the next couple of miles than to push through and feel like hell... this was a huge help!!  It felt so good to stretch those old bones!!

Crossing the 14th street bridge was a stand out moment for me- there were SO many people who looked like they were just trying to "hang in there", and despite me battling a lot of pain I still felt SO strong- I had no doubts we were going to keep pace and get to the finish feeling strong enough to give it our all, it was just a matter of time.

Despite some of the less exciting course mileage after Crystal City, we kept pushing forward and once we reached that final strech, we wished each other well, thanked each other, and told each other to push through and just get to that finish!!  I moved ahead alone, feeling a burst of energy, especially after seeing my Mom and Dad who came down in hopes to see my finish, and kicked butt up the last "challenging hill"... thanks to my Carroll County training that last hill seemed more like a joke- ONLY because I was expecting MUCH worse (i.e. John Hyde, a hilly back country road on many of my training runs, was in my head).


And all in all, that's how I felt about my entire race- I was expecting a lot worse.  I truly enjoyed my time and even my friend Kristen who is a marathoner herself was so happy (and maybe a little shocked) with how much fun I looked like I was having... I guess the Flying Feet program really made a runner out of me!!

                                       What a day, what a day!!

The Kiss

Digital Cheering!

Your spectators forgot to pack your sign??  No worries!  Just text a picture of it to your runner! 

Now it's not just a one day reminder, it's a constant reminder to keep going and work toward my goals:) 

Thank you, Kristen for being the best digital cheerleader ever!!!

                                                   

Street stretching

Stretching feels better with a big ass Marathon medal around your neck!

Glorious!

                                      Finish line fist pumping.

Capitolized dreams...

I was savvy enough with my phone camera at mile 20ish to capture the Capitol building.

The night before the big day I knew it was my last night of dreaming.  I would get to chase the dream down come morning. 

The entire run I was filled with pride as I was finally working toward the completion of my crazy goal. It took months of hard work and I was now capitolizing on my dreams. 

It felt so good!!

Sleep: overrated?

Sleep probably isn't important the night before your first Marathon right??

Leaving for DC in the snow... in October. .. really?? Despite the anticipated awful drive I am excited to get down there for the Expo!! 

New 'fuel belt' for Marathon day... I wish they had it in a BRIGHTER color!!! (sarcasm for those who couldn't pick it up)

The Plan

Along my journey I read something that has stuck with me and has especially been on my mind recently as marathon day is catapulting towards me... split the race into three sections.  Run the first with your mind, the second with your personality and the third with your heart.

Marathon day is only 5 days away and I have basically calibrated my body to be capable of a 26.2 mile run.  So now a successful marathon is up to my mind... how does one calibrate their mind??

My intention is to follow directions... throughout my training I have had a *few* reminders (thank you to my coach, Dave)... it will be hard to go out slow, but GO OUT SLOW and there will be a point when it will become very difficult, BUT KEEP GOING...  So I have to prepare to face these two inevitable challenges.

My first challenge will be to go out SLOW... If I split the course into 3s, this will be my goal for my first 9 miles.  I run through Georgetown from about mile 8 through 9 on my course... so once I get to Georgetown I should be thinking something along the lines of- what a lovely course this has been, I'm so happy I've taken my time to enjoy it, I still feel so light, happy, determined, comfortable!  I should be between 103-108 minutes, anything faster and I haven't followed directions...

My second section will take me up to about mile 18- I'll be in Washington, DC at that point, passing by the Smithsonian and some other of the Nation's Capitol's finest sites... at this point I should be running with my personality- should be having fun and hopefully found a nice groove and met some good people along the way... I may be in danger of getting very close to the part where it feels very difficult- where I start to think holy crap what was I thinking?

Per my directions, I will start to run from the heart, and to break the remaining 8 miles into smaller, palpable measurements.  This will be where my courage may start to break down, but my willpower must kick in.

I am not oblivious to the fact that it was courage that helped me begin this (thank you courage!!!), but that it won't be enough to finish this.  In general, courage is good for starting a journey, but willpower, dedication, commitment is needed to end one.

In the end I can only trust in my training and give it everything I have to give to get to that freaking finish.  (and with any luck make it look good because there are photographs involved!)

I believe...

"You are what you believe yourself to be" Paulo Coelho




I believe...


I am a runner.
I am a happy runner.
I am a fast, happy runner.
I am an unstoppable, fast, happy runner.
I am a prepared, unstoppable, fast, happy runner.
I am a strong, prepared, unstoppable, fast, happy runner.
I am a determined, strong, prepared, unstoppable, fast, happy runner.
I am a motivated, determined, strong, prepared, unstoppable, fast, happy runner.
I am fearless, motivated, determined, strong, prepared, unstoppable, fast, happy runner.

Wisdom from Mom & Dad

This past Saturday I ran my big twenty mile training run.  It went well.  Weird.

It went so well I was immediately worrying about why it didn't go badly... I mean, surely something should have gone wrong!  The day after the run I spoke with my mom and dad... my mom had seen a Facebook status about the successful 20-mile run and she had left a comment, "I knew you could do it!!!".  As I talked to her about it though I aired my concern, "I'm so worried, I wonder why it went so well..."  She reminded me that I have been putting the effort in and I was well prepared now; of course I could do it!  I still spoke about how anxious I was but she reminded me that I chose this journey.  And I've prepared for this throughout the journey. And now it's my choice to just enjoy it and have fun.  My dad knew how to put it in terms I can agree to, breaking it down to the most simple idea... "half the time, life is just about showing up"... simple but smart!!  My entire journey has been about showing up... every single training run was more than I had done before the last... and every single one I was scared of... and every single time I found success along this journey, all I had to do was show up.  My nerves calmed, my worries passed.

Once again, my mom and dad helped me focus on what's truly important in my journey to 26.2 (and life in general): showing up and having fun.  It's frustratingly easy to forget these two simple ideas and I'm thankful to have parents who keep reminding me.

Spectator Signs... post Chicago Marathon...

After hearing about the woman who finished her Chicago marathon and shortly after gave birth I had a few initial reactions... first and foremost... "OMG, WTF?!"

I have not yet run a marathon and also have not given birth.  I am not a doctor either.  But I do not condone marathoning as a past-time for 39-week pregnant women.  If not for the questionable health effects on mommy or baby, because it's making the rest of us look bad.

But one insane woman decided to change the world forever, and she successfully completed a marathon while giving birth a few hours later resulting in the possibility of new spectator signs, which I may have to deal with... damnit.

"Complain to me when you're pregnant and try this"

"There's no crying in running... unless it's your newborn"

"Is that a bun in your oven or are you just happy to be running?"

"Mommies in Labor Do It Better"

"Pain Push Now.  Pride Mommy Forever."

"Your feet hurt because you've kicked so much butt been pregnant for 39 weeks!"

"Free Massages and Deliveries Here"

"Either your Ovaries are Sweating or Your Water Just Broke"

"The Pregnant Lady looked better in Spandex"

"Next Food Station Serving Pickles and Ice Cream!"

"Beat Oprah.  And the Pregnant Lady."

"HOV Lane Only"

Spectator Signs

After recently researching spectator signs commonly seen at races, I want to share these with you, along with my possible reactions, because if you show up with any of these signs, I'd like to give you fair warning of any bad reactions.

"Your feet hurt because you are kicking so much butt!"

Favorable reaction- yes, I kick butt!!  Tell me more nice things!

"Your legs will forgive you...eventually."

Neutral.  Thanks for coming out, but you don't even have a clue.

"Don't stop -- people are watching."

Favorable.  This is funny but also evokes feelings of peer pressure... effective!

"Worst Parade Ever"
Unfavorable.  Worst sign ever.  Go home- do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

"That's not sweat, it's your fat cells crying."
Unfavorable.  I don't even understand the purpose of this sign- is it an awkward compliment?  Like, oh, look at all that sweat, that's your fat cells crying, what I'm trying to say is you are looking quite skinny!  If I wanted to look skinny there are easier ways to do it than running a freaking marathon, i.e. I'd probably just quit my ice cream habit, thanks for trying though.

"If it was easy, I would do it."

Favorable.  Anything implying I'm working my ass off to acheive something really difficult is awesome.

"Run like you stole something."
Neutral.  That's all you had really?  I appreciate the sign though, that's cool you took the time.

"This is easier than labor and delivery."
Unfavorable.  Are you aware that you can't get a freaking epidural during a marathon??

"You're not slow. You're just enjoying the course."
Favorable.  Not that I need your approval, but yes, I am, thank you for noticing!!

"Stop reading this and keep running!"
Favorable.  Simple humor is good.

"Beat Oprah!"
Favorable.  Even if I don't beat her time, this sign would make me crawl to the finish if I needed to.

"Puke and rally!"
Favorable.  Anything referencing puke is funny.

"Don't worry, toenails are overrated."
Neutral.  I guess.

"Run like someone's chasing you."
Unfavorable.  This one is a little creepy.

"It'll feel better when it stops hurting."

Could go either way.  Smart ass sign.

"Mortuary ahead....look alive!"
Favorable.  LOL funny.

"If I ran it, by God, you can, too."
Favorable, only if the person holding this sign is about 40 pounds overweight, drunk and smoking cigs.

Unfavorable, if runner-type-for-life person with a six-pack and spandex hugging muscles is holding.

"Chuck Norris never ran a marathon." 

Favorable.  Hilarious.

"Staying up all night making this sign was hard too." 

Favorable.  I enjoy sick humor.

"You are NOT almost there." (seen at mile 1)
Unfavorable.  I may give you the finger for this.

"The end is near." (Sign held by man dressed as the Grim Reaper at mile 21 of the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, which was on Halloween)
Favorable.  This may result in hugs, or at least a thumbs up.

Be the tortoise, not the hare

"I didn't train all that time just to come here and get it over with as fast as I can."
-John Bingham, on running marathons

My first marathon is just a little over a month away, and so far I've had a pretty good attitude throughout my training. Just take one run at a time- on my longer runs, I break it down even further- take one mile at a time. I never really had a mantra before, but have finally adopted one: "Run for a Reason"... Wish I had thought of this myself, but really just got it off the postcard St. Jude's mailed me when I first registered.

I think about my upcoming marathon and I am a touch more confident than I was 6 months ago. At the start, I was still having problems running for 45 minutes without wanting to die. 6 months later and I think I'm doing so good that I'm pretty sure I'm annoying to all co-workers, friends, family and my entire Facebook network because I'm so consumed with running it's pretty much all I talk about. (But seriously Facebook friends- you run 18 miles and try not to post how awesome you are... not going to happen.)

But here's the thing... don't let me fool you... I'm still nervous as crap.  I've trained so much and so hard, but at the end of the day- well, not today thank god, but the end of marathon day- I still have to run for 5 consecutive hours- and that's if I do REALLY well, and don't make any mistakes, get injured, go insane, flag a taxi or hit the dreaded wall and let it destroy me like it does so many others.  So as funny as I think Bingham's quote is, I'm also sort of taking it to heart- I've put too much freaking time and effort into my months of training to mess this all up, so I am really focused on taking my time.

But identifying yourself as a runner, sometimes it's difficult to think this way, even though it's the only way a beginner marathoner should be thinking.  Running, at the root of it, is an individual sport.  Even if you're in a race with thousands of people, you're only racing yourself- and there's a 50/50 shot you're going to either succeed or fail, sometimes based on seconds.  And all the runners I know are always thinking in terms of PR: Personal Record.  Runners are definitely victims of their minds- because it's not a team sport, in a true sense of the word (can't really rely on the go-to guy to make you go faster if you're not having a good day), runners are left to battle themselves in every race... just a finish line and a struggle with their own worst enemy, themselves.

But in the end, I think I am still novice enough to really believe in Bingham's quote.  Plus, I can run all I want, but I hope I'll always be laid-back enough (ahem, lazy enough) to never be disappointed in a run--- any run.  At least I got off my freaking couch, right?  And I will strive to always be completely impressed with efforts and let you all know about it on Facebook to make myself feel good, no matter how much it pisses you off.  So stay tuned friends!

Things I learned...

Things I learned on my EIGHTEEN mile run this morning...

• There are better, more efficient, more enjoyable ways in which to travel 18 miles, but none are more rewarding than running
• What makes a bunion more unattractive?  A blistered bunion. When the shoe guys says don't wear your new shoes on your first long run, you should listen.
• Talking Trains are wise; The little train that could knew that there is power in positive thinking, and now I do too
• Sometimes you just get lucky... no chafing :)
• I am capable of a lot more than I ever thought I was!

Death by Chafing

I have been so consumed with the fact I've actually been able to complete my last couple of long runs that I've only touched on my excitement and appreciation on my success of my 14 and 16 miles runs.

Alas, there has been an issue I have been glossing over... holy chafing!!!!

I assume chafing is the number one reason humans aren't meant to run marathon distances.  But apparently the super human marathoners have long been  ignoring the fact that subjecting body parts to repetitive movements for extreme durations, creating, I estimate, enough friction to start a fire if arms and legs were made of kindle and wood, will cause gut wrenching chafing.

Now, I remember from Dawn Davis's witty marathon training book (The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women) she warned me of chafing to come.  But like many experiences you read about, or hear a friend talk about, or watch a television show describing, I had NO idea what it was all about until I lived it.

After my 14 miles I felt AWESOME!  I was on 2nd street in Ocean City, MD (after running to 127th St. and back), and I was literally cheering ("whooo!") for myself on the street as passer-bys moved aside telling their children not to make eye contact, I imagine.  I was on cloud 9, for sure.  Cloud 9 disintegrated once I got into the shower, and I fell fast and furious to the depths of a hellish sting as the water hit my butt.  OMG!  Chafe!  On my butt??!  How does that even happen... right where my leg meets my cheeks; it was most unfortunate.  Oh but wait- there was more- the insides of my arms- looked and felt like I had taken a cheese grater to them.  This was it: my first god-forsaken experience chafing.  Unfortunately I knew it wouldn't be my last.

So then this is where I'm at with this part of the whole journey: as a twenty-seven year old I've invested in more medicated burn ointment than I have in my former years combined.  But much like some of my other marathon training experiences so far, I'm learning what doesn't kill me makes me stronger.  And for that I'll stay positive and keep on keepin' on!

Doubtful, but not Defeated.

I ran sixteen miles today, but in heavy contrast from when I completed my fourteen mile run, I do not feel like I won the feel good lottery.  I feel more like I won the I-feel-like-I-just-got-hit-by-a-truck lottery.  After about four miles into the run, I realized I'm just not feeling it today.  From there on in, each step was filled with more and more doubt... how am I going to make it up that hill?  will I be able to finish?  everything hurts, is this normal? is my body ripping at the seams? how come I'm not a milking cow, they all look really happy over there...

But I wasn't a milking cow, and I chose this commitment to train for a marathon, and on days like today I remember that the struggle along the road will only help me reach my goal, as long as I fight through it (similarly to the kids at St. Jude's).

A deep thank you to the group I ran with today: Emily, JoAnne, Kim, Sara and Bobby.  They led the way and offered me the words of encouragement I needed throughout the run.  And with their help I was able to struggle through my doubtful, clumsy, tired strides and ensure I wouldn't be defeated in the end.

Just won the feel good lottery. .. 14 miles on my own... prisoner of my thoughts and all... AND in under two forty... excuse my French but fuck yea!

The Value of a Dollar

It's difficult for me to write about the reasons I picked St. Jude's as the charity I'll run for... not because I've personally known a child to battle a catastrophic disease, but because the opposite is true- I haven't personally known a child to battle a catastrophic disease.

There are many worthy charities out there that I would have also been honored to run for.  But St. Jude's stood out to me; the thought of battling 26 miles was scary to me, but the thought of a child battling for their future is even scarier to me.

I came from a great home, and I know my Mom and Dad would have done anything for me growing up, because time and time again they did (and still do; thank you!!!).  And I know that all the children that benefit from St. Jude's have parents that would do anything for their kids too.  I want to pay it forward- I want to help fight for St. Jude's, because I know my parents would've fought for me.

Although we all know that medical costs can be sky high, this will give a concrete insight into it.  At St. Jude's here's some costs for common treatments day in and day out:
Platelet count test:::::::::$45
Complete blood count test:::::::::$57
Chest X-ray, one view:::::::::$140
Spinal tap (includes physician fee):::::::::$282


This is the value of our dollar... we will pay for platelet count tests, complete blood count tests, chest x-rays, etc.... we will fund the fight these children need.  


Thanks to every one who has already donated, and thanks to all who will.