Ok, so it was 34 degrees. And there was still snow on the ground. I was all bundled up like Ralphie's kid brother and sweating like a pig by the time I finished the first mile. I got home, narrowly avoiding death only twice (people seriously looked at me like I was deranged for running outside)... my face was bright red, my eyes stinging with tears from the cold...
but it was FANTASTIC!
My 3 months at the gym comes to a close on March 5th. I don't know if I should extend for another month, or just suck it up. The weatherman says more snow and cold this week. But I'll still be inside. I can't decide. I'm burned out from the treadmill. I want to be OUT!
Gosh, I wish I lived somewhere that didn't require a snow shovel...
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
the most belated RR ever... aka cupid's dash 10K
I have 2 reasons for delaying this RR. #1- our home computer crashed. #2- it turns out that the lead vehicle made a wrong turn and cut the race course short! I finished the race, missing the mile 5 marker (figuring that I just spaced out, which happens a lot more than I care to admit), and wound up with a monster PR. Not so, apparently. I was majorly bummed... for like, a week.
But always, you play the hand you're dealt. Since I don't wear a GPS in races, and do not know where on the course map the wrong turn occurred, I am treating this race as my 10K PR, purely for the motivation factor. I can definitely average 7:30/mile in a 10K. So PR, you will stay. Now I want to beat you...
My cousin picked me up for this race, way back on February 13th, and we drove to the North Shore. We were drawn to this race by the hoodies, the promise of candy at the aid stations, and free fleece hats for registering before Jan 1st.
So we got to the race site, got our sweatshirts (which are AWESOME, btw... and they say "Your pace or mine?" on the back) and hats, and headed back to the car to wait for the race to start. It was definitely cold outside, but at least the snow had been cleared from the roads. It hadn't completely melted yet, but at least the roads weren't icy. We waited in the parking lot for the race to start, split into 2 groups (they also had a 6.4K), and right on time, we were off!
Mile 1: For those of you not fortunate enough to have visited the north shore Chicago suburbs before, I implore you to go, at least once. Quaint little town centers surrounded by sprawling estates, immaculately kept golf courses, and million dollar lakefront homes... it's spectacular. This is where old family money lives, and they live in style. Winding roads and beautiful houses. I'm having a great time just enjoying the scenery, and before I know it, mile 1 is here. In a blazing speed! Whoa! 7:51
Mile 2: I had less than high hopes for this race. I'm 2 weekends post-marathon, and my body knows it. I'm currently beginning a maintenance program to get me ready for GO St Louis. I think the most miles I do in a week is 25. Running a 10K should be a piece of cake, but my lungs are already burning a bit. Is it the cold air? I sure hope so. I'd hate to think I'm out of shape. 7:58
Mile 3: I'm intensely focused on this race, all of a sudden. People who went out way too fast are dropping like flies as I zoom zoom past them. I've been told in 2 other races in 2011 that I run very consistently. Is being a pace leader somewhere in my future??? 7:57
Mile 4: I really want to catch the girl in the polka dotted running tights. Apparently she doesn't own a mirror. Those things are HEINOUS. Of course, I look like I'm about to rob a bank, with my black pants and black Nike 1/4 zip. The only thing saving me is my bright pink hat. And free white gloves I snagged at the Houston marathon expo.
Gosh, I'm sweating like crazy. I really want to take my hat off. Ok Maureen, it's still February. There's still 2 feet of snow on the ground. Be realistic. So the hat stays on. But I don't have to like it. 8:10
To the end: Did I mention that there are hills on this course? Not a whole lot, but enough to make the course interesting. Still hills though. I think, after races in Arkansas and Woodstock (IL), I am completely cured of my phobia. What hills? I can do anything. Wheeeeee downhills :)
Some guy just came from behind me and said, "Nice pace." Yep, there goes that consistent thing again. I wish when people said, "Nice pace," they ran with me instead of drafting off me. This is not, I repeat NOT, Nascar.
U2's live version of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" comes onto my ipod. I LOVE that song. I picked up the pace, turn a corner, and there's a sign saying "Almost there!" Wow. I look at my watch, astonished to see the time, and KNOW I'm gonna get a PR today. I sprint all the way to the driveway of the school parking lot, turn the corner, and finish with a smile on my face. Mission accomplished. 14:34
Final time? 46:33. MONSTER PR.
I wait for my cousin to finish. I can see her bright red gloves from pretty far away, but I stand on a snowbank to get a better view and take some photos.
We are both finishers, and both have shiny new medals to show for our efforts. It's my cousin's first medal! She is awesome! Can't wait for our next race...
FINAL TIME: 46:33 (PR)
AVERAGE PACE: 7:30ish
MILESTONE REACHED: A definite PR!
NEXT 10K: Looks to be the Woodstock Challenge, June 2011.
But always, you play the hand you're dealt. Since I don't wear a GPS in races, and do not know where on the course map the wrong turn occurred, I am treating this race as my 10K PR, purely for the motivation factor. I can definitely average 7:30/mile in a 10K. So PR, you will stay. Now I want to beat you...
My cousin picked me up for this race, way back on February 13th, and we drove to the North Shore. We were drawn to this race by the hoodies, the promise of candy at the aid stations, and free fleece hats for registering before Jan 1st.
So we got to the race site, got our sweatshirts (which are AWESOME, btw... and they say "Your pace or mine?" on the back) and hats, and headed back to the car to wait for the race to start. It was definitely cold outside, but at least the snow had been cleared from the roads. It hadn't completely melted yet, but at least the roads weren't icy. We waited in the parking lot for the race to start, split into 2 groups (they also had a 6.4K), and right on time, we were off!
Mile 1: For those of you not fortunate enough to have visited the north shore Chicago suburbs before, I implore you to go, at least once. Quaint little town centers surrounded by sprawling estates, immaculately kept golf courses, and million dollar lakefront homes... it's spectacular. This is where old family money lives, and they live in style. Winding roads and beautiful houses. I'm having a great time just enjoying the scenery, and before I know it, mile 1 is here. In a blazing speed! Whoa! 7:51
Mile 2: I had less than high hopes for this race. I'm 2 weekends post-marathon, and my body knows it. I'm currently beginning a maintenance program to get me ready for GO St Louis. I think the most miles I do in a week is 25. Running a 10K should be a piece of cake, but my lungs are already burning a bit. Is it the cold air? I sure hope so. I'd hate to think I'm out of shape. 7:58
Mile 3: I'm intensely focused on this race, all of a sudden. People who went out way too fast are dropping like flies as I zoom zoom past them. I've been told in 2 other races in 2011 that I run very consistently. Is being a pace leader somewhere in my future??? 7:57
Mile 4: I really want to catch the girl in the polka dotted running tights. Apparently she doesn't own a mirror. Those things are HEINOUS. Of course, I look like I'm about to rob a bank, with my black pants and black Nike 1/4 zip. The only thing saving me is my bright pink hat. And free white gloves I snagged at the Houston marathon expo.
Gosh, I'm sweating like crazy. I really want to take my hat off. Ok Maureen, it's still February. There's still 2 feet of snow on the ground. Be realistic. So the hat stays on. But I don't have to like it. 8:10
To the end: Did I mention that there are hills on this course? Not a whole lot, but enough to make the course interesting. Still hills though. I think, after races in Arkansas and Woodstock (IL), I am completely cured of my phobia. What hills? I can do anything. Wheeeeee downhills :)
Some guy just came from behind me and said, "Nice pace." Yep, there goes that consistent thing again. I wish when people said, "Nice pace," they ran with me instead of drafting off me. This is not, I repeat NOT, Nascar.
U2's live version of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" comes onto my ipod. I LOVE that song. I picked up the pace, turn a corner, and there's a sign saying "Almost there!" Wow. I look at my watch, astonished to see the time, and KNOW I'm gonna get a PR today. I sprint all the way to the driveway of the school parking lot, turn the corner, and finish with a smile on my face. Mission accomplished. 14:34
Final time? 46:33. MONSTER PR.
I wait for my cousin to finish. I can see her bright red gloves from pretty far away, but I stand on a snowbank to get a better view and take some photos.
We are both finishers, and both have shiny new medals to show for our efforts. It's my cousin's first medal! She is awesome! Can't wait for our next race...
FINAL TIME: 46:33 (PR)
AVERAGE PACE: 7:30ish
MILESTONE REACHED: A definite PR!
NEXT 10K: Looks to be the Woodstock Challenge, June 2011.
Monday, February 7, 2011
super bowl shuffle 5K
I woke up yesterday morning to a most unwelcome sight... more snow.
Saturday evening, I checked the Weather Channel. It said "accumulation less than 1 inch." Ok, I figured, no problem. But when I got up, there was much more than an inch. Enough that I would have to clean my car off... and dig out my newspapers.
And the roads? Yuck. The people on the roads? Double yuck.
Even so, I made it to the race site exactly an hour before the gun. I met my cousin and her husband, blogger-stalker Roger. (HAHA!) We went inside a middle school to pick up our packets (HOODIES!) and use the indoor bathrooms... score! We had absolutely no idea where the start line was, so once it was time, we just followed everyone else. They made an announcement that there were no mile markers on the course. Oh well, I laughed, just another race I get to run completely blind!
I had no expectations going into it. I mean, I just ran a marathon last Sunday, and only put in 6 treadmill miles, and a heck of a lot of snow shoveling, since. I just wanted to finish somewhere under 30 minutes, 27 would be nice, under 25 would be spectacular.
Right on time at 10:00, we were off!
Mile 1 (estimate): So I duct-taped the vents on my shoes. But my shoes were already wet from walking in the snowy parking lot. So now I have this duct tape flapping going on. I can hear it, because I left my ipod at home. I'm annoyed and I just want to rip it off both shoes, but I don't want to stop. So flappage it is.
I realize now why I don't wear these Brooks shoes anymore. (I mean, besides the fact that they are just about at 300 miles.) My heels hurt SO BAD. And now I have to climb up a little hill! Yuck.
Mile 2 (approx): Did I mention that there is snow everywhere? The path isn't very well cleared. And under the snow? Solid ice. I slip a couple of times and catch myself.
For some bizarre reason, I am actually enjoying the hills on this course. I think if a course is too flat, it's too boring. Especially without the distraction of an ipod. God, I am missing it right now! Too many thoughts in my head.
Mile 3 (about): I have yet to check my watch. I know I'm almost done, because the guy at the start line said that the water station was right at mile 2, and I just passed it.
There's this guy in front of me who's grunting and talking to himself. I also think he might be conversing with the snow that's covering the path. I chase him for awhile, then pass him up. And increase the distance between us. I'm not really in the mood to deal with crazy today.
At this point, I can see the finish line. I can also see the path to get there! I knew after the first mile that a PR was completely out of the question, and now it appears that under 27 is out as well. The best I can do at this point is not fall on my ass.
Mile 3.1: I don't really sprint to the finish. I run kinda fast, and cross the line in 27 flat. I'm ok with that.
Roger and I wait for my cousin to finish... she's not sprinting as usual (maybe she doesn't want to fall on her ass either), but finishes strong and hardly out of breath. We pile into our vehicles and head to the post-race party at Buffalo Wild Wings! We're sitting down with our beers when the table next to us (also runners from the race) hands over the race results, telling us to check them and make sure our names were entered correctly. So I check it and guess what... I took 3rd in my age group! And now I have a shiny new medal to show for my efforts!
I can't wait for next year!
FINAL TIME: 27:00
MILESTONE REACHED: 1st time running a February race in Illinois.
NEXT 5K: Possibly the St Paddy's Day 5K in Naperville, IL... 3.12.2011
Saturday evening, I checked the Weather Channel. It said "accumulation less than 1 inch." Ok, I figured, no problem. But when I got up, there was much more than an inch. Enough that I would have to clean my car off... and dig out my newspapers.
And the roads? Yuck. The people on the roads? Double yuck.
Even so, I made it to the race site exactly an hour before the gun. I met my cousin and her husband, blogger-stalker Roger. (HAHA!) We went inside a middle school to pick up our packets (HOODIES!) and use the indoor bathrooms... score! We had absolutely no idea where the start line was, so once it was time, we just followed everyone else. They made an announcement that there were no mile markers on the course. Oh well, I laughed, just another race I get to run completely blind!
I had no expectations going into it. I mean, I just ran a marathon last Sunday, and only put in 6 treadmill miles, and a heck of a lot of snow shoveling, since. I just wanted to finish somewhere under 30 minutes, 27 would be nice, under 25 would be spectacular.
Right on time at 10:00, we were off!
Mile 1 (estimate): So I duct-taped the vents on my shoes. But my shoes were already wet from walking in the snowy parking lot. So now I have this duct tape flapping going on. I can hear it, because I left my ipod at home. I'm annoyed and I just want to rip it off both shoes, but I don't want to stop. So flappage it is.
I realize now why I don't wear these Brooks shoes anymore. (I mean, besides the fact that they are just about at 300 miles.) My heels hurt SO BAD. And now I have to climb up a little hill! Yuck.
Mile 2 (approx): Did I mention that there is snow everywhere? The path isn't very well cleared. And under the snow? Solid ice. I slip a couple of times and catch myself.
For some bizarre reason, I am actually enjoying the hills on this course. I think if a course is too flat, it's too boring. Especially without the distraction of an ipod. God, I am missing it right now! Too many thoughts in my head.
Mile 3 (about): I have yet to check my watch. I know I'm almost done, because the guy at the start line said that the water station was right at mile 2, and I just passed it.
There's this guy in front of me who's grunting and talking to himself. I also think he might be conversing with the snow that's covering the path. I chase him for awhile, then pass him up. And increase the distance between us. I'm not really in the mood to deal with crazy today.
At this point, I can see the finish line. I can also see the path to get there! I knew after the first mile that a PR was completely out of the question, and now it appears that under 27 is out as well. The best I can do at this point is not fall on my ass.
Mile 3.1: I don't really sprint to the finish. I run kinda fast, and cross the line in 27 flat. I'm ok with that.
Roger and I wait for my cousin to finish... she's not sprinting as usual (maybe she doesn't want to fall on her ass either), but finishes strong and hardly out of breath. We pile into our vehicles and head to the post-race party at Buffalo Wild Wings! We're sitting down with our beers when the table next to us (also runners from the race) hands over the race results, telling us to check them and make sure our names were entered correctly. So I check it and guess what... I took 3rd in my age group! And now I have a shiny new medal to show for my efforts!
I can't wait for next year!
FINAL TIME: 27:00
MILESTONE REACHED: 1st time running a February race in Illinois.
NEXT 5K: Possibly the St Paddy's Day 5K in Naperville, IL... 3.12.2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
chevron houston marathon RR (long)
The short version: I ran my 2nd best marathon time ever, 4:26:46. And I had a ball. Houston was SO AWESOME. I will be entering the lottery as soon as it opens, and I really really REALLY hope they'll pick me!
We arrived in Houston on Friday morning. Our hotel was downtown, so we cabbed it down there, dropped our stuff at our room, and headed to the expo. After about a mile's walk, we arrived. The bf decided at the last minute to register for the 5K, since he was going to the start line with me anyway. We both got our stuff and shopped a bit at the expo. I got some Nike shorts for $15 each! Awesome!
Lunch on Friday was at a place called Cabo, which claims to be the original home of Tex Mex. We were drawn by their outdoor patio and margaritas... so we sat outside in short sleeves, enjoying our lunch, and taking photos to send to poor suckers back home. HA!
Saturday we decided to take a trip to the Houston Zoo. We took public transit there, and spend the better part of the next 3 hours walking around the zoo enjoying the warm temps and the animals. I loved the zoo, and saw a ton of animals that I had never seen before (Red Panda, anyone?).
For dinner, we decided a trip to the Flying Saucer was in order. For those of you who have never been there before, 1. I feel sorry for you, and 2. You need to find one and go! It's a chain of bar/restaurants in the South- it's got like 200 beers on tap, and really terrific food. I had 2 regional beers, soft pretzels, and a chicken caesar wrap for dinner. Lately, chicken caesar salad has been my go-to meal before races 20+ miles. The results look promising, so I'm gonna stick with it!
Sunday the alarm clock buzzed way too early, and I was awake preparing for the race. Not gonna lie, I was totally freaking out.
I had every reason to freak out. I did 1 long double-digit run in preparation for this marathon. It was a half marathon. Last weekend. Yikes. Oh, also, they were expecting thunderstorms and sent out a map of shelters and ways we would be getting back to the convention center if the race was black flagged. Yeah. I was a little edgy, to say the least.
We walked a mile to the convention center, site of all pre- and post- race activities. Not gonna lie, it was SO NICE to be able to sit inside and stay warm (and dry) while we waited for the clock to tick closer to race time. I went to check my bag (craziest line EVER... I hope it's easier to retrieve my bag!), and we headed to the start line.
I was in the Red Wave, which was the first one to go. The bf and I walked to the start corral, and I started to freak out a little more. Oh, that and I had to use the bathroom for the 3rd time, but the line was wayyyy too long. I was just going to have to hold it.
After some motivational words from Clyde "The Glide" Drexler (he was running in the half), we were off!
Mile 1: Right at the start line, I'm not paying attention to the mats. I'm looking at the baseball stadium. I can see the train that runs along the track whenever the Astros hit a home run. Mental note: next year, you are going on the ballpark tour. I love baseball.
Wow was this race organized well. The marathon and the half start on completely different streets, and merge for a little bit on a highway bridge, then split off again and meet back up later. I never once, throughout the entire race, felt like I had to change my pace because it was too crowded. It was a terrific feeling. 9:42
Mile 2: Off to a good start, and right about where I want to be pace-wise... but I still have to pee. Might as well take care of it now before it becomes agonizing. 11:29
Mile 3: I hate how I can run a 5K under 27 minutes consistently when I'm at home training... but in marathons, I am ecstatic if I break 30 minutes. I mean, that's not going to happen today. But I wish I could do what I can do in shorter races during a marathon. I know what you're thinking, but forget it. It will be accomplished without speedwork, or not at all! 9:33
Mile 4: It's raining. And humid. Neither of which bothers me TOO much... especially when I consider the alternative and think about the weather back in Chicago. The rain actually feels nice... I was sweating profusely due to the humidity, and the rain is cooling me off. I don't mind it at all, in fact, especially since I I set my half marathon PR in the rain and high humidity back in July. 9:55
Mile 5: I'm running behind a ton of people wearing their finisher shirts from previous years. (Not gonna lie, one of the reasons I was interested in this race, besides never having been to Houston before, was the idea of a finisher shirt that I didn't have to purchase from the Nike website.) I LOVE the designs! I can't wait to finish the race and get my shirt! Can we fast forward...? 9:34
Mile 6: Just before the 10K mark, I see this lady standing by the police cars, crying her eyes out and talking on her phone. She's wearing a half marathon bib number and appears to be lost. Ok, I know that signage in some marathons is not all that hot, but this race? It could not be more straightforward. I don't get how she managed to do that! (Mark Remy would tell you it's because she was listening to her ipod.)
My favorite part of this whole thing? She managed to cause a gaper's delay. It's like a rush hour accident on the Kennedy here, folks. Crazy. 9:45
Mile 7: My inner goal for this race was to break 4:30. I know I can break 4:30, I've done it twice before. (Just not lately). I do some quick math and figure that if I can average 6 mph, it's in the bag. So that's my goal. And so far, I'm right on track. 9:56
Mile 8: I have absolutely no idea where downtown Houston is right now. None. It's kind of strange. I'm completely disoriented. Even during Marine Corps, when I was confused on where I was, I could just crane my neck this way or that and see the Washington Monument. Or the Potomac. While running Chicago, you can always see the skyline.
All I know about this race is that I looked at the course map last night. And the shape of the course looked to me like the state of Texas. Is that on purpose? Or am I just the only one who treated the course map as a Magic Eye picture? 9:24
Mile 9: It's still raining. My feet are wet. The good news? No hot spots creating blisters! So far, so good! 9:31
(Story about my socks... I have tons of running socks, most of them Asics. Well, I was at Target a couple of weeks ago and came across the stock-up sale, and they had packs of 6 pairs of socks for $5.99. So I bought them. And I'm wearing a pair today. Proof positive that you don't need an $11 pair of socks to be successful! The Asics ones give me blisters, anyhow.)
Mile 10: For the first time since this thing started, I KNOW WHERE I AM! We're right by the park where the zoo is located! I'm beyond excited that I am familiar with this part of the course. I can see the park, and the sign for the zoo, and the Metro rail station, and the hospitals!
On the side of the road, there are 2 nurses huddled under an umbrella cheering for us. Looking at us like we're all nuts, but cheering just the same. 9:39
Mile 11: Still running on this endless street towards Rice University. I cannot wait to see the football stadium. (I'm a total geek for sports arenas, of any shape and size). I turn the corner and can see the mile marker... it's still soooo far away. There's a DJ playing music and yelling, "Welcome to Mile 11!" into the microphone. I think to myself, Hmph, that's a little premature. But I'm at the marker in a second, and the football stadium lies just beyond. 9:23
Mile 12: I really cannot believe how many people are out cheering for the runners. It's raining, and they're all standing under umbrellas, but they're HERE. And nearly everyone has a sign. It's incredible. As much as I love my city, once the weather gets crappy, Chicagoans abandon their cheering plans and stay inside where it's dry. It would be an interesting challenge to see how many people come out for a rainy Chicago marathon... 9:33
Mile 13: This is going to be my slowest half marathon in nearly a year, when I did one as part of a 20 miler last March. I don't really care. I'm right at my 4:30 pace, and just having a ball running this race. I have said before that in 2011 I'm just going to have fun and not panic about how fast I go. This race is starting it off the right way. Time doesn't matter. It's all about the journey. 9:47
Mile 14: There's a guy running the marathon whose name is Geoff. How do I know this? Because at every mile, his family/friends have tacked up a huge sign with his photo on it, a countdown of remaining miles, and something silly. My personal favorite is from this mile. It says, "14 down, 5.8 to go... if you take the most direct route." Hah. Kinda puts things into perspective. 9:21
Mile 15: Dangit, I have to use the bathroom again. I see a bank of smelly poo houses ahead, and sprint toward it like it's my oasis in the desert. This part of the highway has runners on the right, toilets on the left. I'm running on the left. Another awesome thing about this race? No waiting at the toilets. And they're stocked full of tp, BONUS! 11:23
Mile 16: I can't believe how great I feel for 16 miles. Seriously. The last time I ran this far was November 13th, 2010. True story. 9:45
Mile 17: I might have spoken too soon. My knee feels like it's about to fall off. Then it occurs to me that I didn't bother to stretch today. At all. Maybe I should stop and do that. I find a metal telephone pole and stretch. Then I realize that it's stopped raining... and I'm not entirely sure for how long it's been finished. My ipod and my mental capacity are definitely earning their keep today! 10:48
Mile 18: My favorite part of Hal Higdon's book "Marathon" is when he explains how to keep motivated during the race. One of his tricks is to count the miles up, and then count down when it gets to single digits. We're in single digit territory right now, and it feels GREAT!
Great sign in the crowd: "It it were easy, I would do it." Held by a lady sitting in her lawn chair. AWESOME. 10:24
Mile 19: My miles are getting slower at this point, because my legs are much more tired than they were 5 miles ago. I don't have any doubt about finishing, it's just a matter of WHEN. The best part is that I have not stopped to walk, except during the aid stations. Hal says that's acceptable. I trust Hal. 10:20
Mile 20: Yay we're going to a park! I love parks! But I'm slightly disappointed once we enter, since we're on the service roads and stuff. We can see signs for fun stuff, like the picnic area, but don't actually get to see it. LAME. 10:53
Mile 21: I really just want to sit on the ground for like 5 minutes, collect myself, and then resume running. But I'm worried that someone will call the medic. Hmmm, where to go to sit down for a minute where no one will bother you?
Smelly poo house it is!
I know, it's weird. I take my sweet time, and when I exit, I feel ready to conquer the rest of the race. If all goes according to plan, I should be done in an hour. I can do this for another hour. 12:20
Mile 22: There's all of these messages written in sidewalk chalk about pushing through the wall. It's annoying. I really want to exit this park.
Did I hit the wall today? Nope. How can I tell? There was 1. no crying, 2. no dramatic fantasies where I stomp off the course, mad at myself for not being able to go the distance, and 3. no wishing that my teddy bear was in my gear bag. #3 was a very good thing, since I left my bear back in Illinois. 10:10
Mile 23: Aaaaaand my feet hurt. Shocker. The inside of my leg is literally green from all the veins that are popping out. It's gross. A little more than a 5K left. I can do this. 10:44
Mile 24: I'm devoid of thoughts in my head at this point. I pass spectators and volunteers and barely glance at them. I'm disengaged. All I can focus on right now is one foot in front of the other. Mantra: Baby steps to the finish line. (Thank you, Bob Wiley.) 11:20
Mile 25: Mantra: It hurts but then it's over. 11:12
Mile 26: I hit the mile 25 clock and realize that I'm only 1.2 miles away from the finish (which means I get to change my shoes!). I'm beaten but not broken and I haven't walked. I also haven't puked, although for the last 3 miles it's been pretty touch-and-go. I can do this. Unless I fall on my face and lose consciousness for a brief period, I'm going to tell Oprah to suck it once again and break 4:30. And I know the course from here... it's where we've been walking all weekend.
So I make a decision... I'm going to gun it. I don't have to run again for days. I have nothing else to do today besides sit on an airplane. It's go time.
So I run, as hard and as fast as I can, for 1.2 miles. I feel like I'm flying. This ends up being my fastest mile of the entire day. 9:12
Mile 26.2: My mantra for right now is "Dig, dig, dig." And I'm digging as deep as I can. I know the finish line is right up ahead. I sprint as fast as I can go (although, when you view the video, I look like I have a little hitch in my giddy-up), put my arms up, and smile for the cameras. I finished. 1:43
Monday morning I was viewing the race website, and they had all these cool graphs, like what was your position on the course when the elites finished, stuff like that. The best stat of the race for me was:
In the last 1.5 miles, I passed 114 people. 0 passed me.
I love Houston! Pick me in 2012!
FINAL TIME: 4:26:46
AVERAGE PACE: 10:something
MILESTONE REACHED: 1st time I have ever completed a marathon after training for it solely on a treadmill.
NEXT MARATHON: Fox Valley Marathon, September 2011... yep, I'm taking the spring off of fulls!
We arrived in Houston on Friday morning. Our hotel was downtown, so we cabbed it down there, dropped our stuff at our room, and headed to the expo. After about a mile's walk, we arrived. The bf decided at the last minute to register for the 5K, since he was going to the start line with me anyway. We both got our stuff and shopped a bit at the expo. I got some Nike shorts for $15 each! Awesome!
Lunch on Friday was at a place called Cabo, which claims to be the original home of Tex Mex. We were drawn by their outdoor patio and margaritas... so we sat outside in short sleeves, enjoying our lunch, and taking photos to send to poor suckers back home. HA!
Saturday we decided to take a trip to the Houston Zoo. We took public transit there, and spend the better part of the next 3 hours walking around the zoo enjoying the warm temps and the animals. I loved the zoo, and saw a ton of animals that I had never seen before (Red Panda, anyone?).
For dinner, we decided a trip to the Flying Saucer was in order. For those of you who have never been there before, 1. I feel sorry for you, and 2. You need to find one and go! It's a chain of bar/restaurants in the South- it's got like 200 beers on tap, and really terrific food. I had 2 regional beers, soft pretzels, and a chicken caesar wrap for dinner. Lately, chicken caesar salad has been my go-to meal before races 20+ miles. The results look promising, so I'm gonna stick with it!
Sunday the alarm clock buzzed way too early, and I was awake preparing for the race. Not gonna lie, I was totally freaking out.
I had every reason to freak out. I did 1 long double-digit run in preparation for this marathon. It was a half marathon. Last weekend. Yikes. Oh, also, they were expecting thunderstorms and sent out a map of shelters and ways we would be getting back to the convention center if the race was black flagged. Yeah. I was a little edgy, to say the least.
We walked a mile to the convention center, site of all pre- and post- race activities. Not gonna lie, it was SO NICE to be able to sit inside and stay warm (and dry) while we waited for the clock to tick closer to race time. I went to check my bag (craziest line EVER... I hope it's easier to retrieve my bag!), and we headed to the start line.
I was in the Red Wave, which was the first one to go. The bf and I walked to the start corral, and I started to freak out a little more. Oh, that and I had to use the bathroom for the 3rd time, but the line was wayyyy too long. I was just going to have to hold it.
After some motivational words from Clyde "The Glide" Drexler (he was running in the half), we were off!
Mile 1: Right at the start line, I'm not paying attention to the mats. I'm looking at the baseball stadium. I can see the train that runs along the track whenever the Astros hit a home run. Mental note: next year, you are going on the ballpark tour. I love baseball.
Wow was this race organized well. The marathon and the half start on completely different streets, and merge for a little bit on a highway bridge, then split off again and meet back up later. I never once, throughout the entire race, felt like I had to change my pace because it was too crowded. It was a terrific feeling. 9:42
Mile 2: Off to a good start, and right about where I want to be pace-wise... but I still have to pee. Might as well take care of it now before it becomes agonizing. 11:29
Mile 3: I hate how I can run a 5K under 27 minutes consistently when I'm at home training... but in marathons, I am ecstatic if I break 30 minutes. I mean, that's not going to happen today. But I wish I could do what I can do in shorter races during a marathon. I know what you're thinking, but forget it. It will be accomplished without speedwork, or not at all! 9:33
Mile 4: It's raining. And humid. Neither of which bothers me TOO much... especially when I consider the alternative and think about the weather back in Chicago. The rain actually feels nice... I was sweating profusely due to the humidity, and the rain is cooling me off. I don't mind it at all, in fact, especially since I I set my half marathon PR in the rain and high humidity back in July. 9:55
Mile 5: I'm running behind a ton of people wearing their finisher shirts from previous years. (Not gonna lie, one of the reasons I was interested in this race, besides never having been to Houston before, was the idea of a finisher shirt that I didn't have to purchase from the Nike website.) I LOVE the designs! I can't wait to finish the race and get my shirt! Can we fast forward...? 9:34
Mile 6: Just before the 10K mark, I see this lady standing by the police cars, crying her eyes out and talking on her phone. She's wearing a half marathon bib number and appears to be lost. Ok, I know that signage in some marathons is not all that hot, but this race? It could not be more straightforward. I don't get how she managed to do that! (Mark Remy would tell you it's because she was listening to her ipod.)
My favorite part of this whole thing? She managed to cause a gaper's delay. It's like a rush hour accident on the Kennedy here, folks. Crazy. 9:45
Mile 7: My inner goal for this race was to break 4:30. I know I can break 4:30, I've done it twice before. (Just not lately). I do some quick math and figure that if I can average 6 mph, it's in the bag. So that's my goal. And so far, I'm right on track. 9:56
Mile 8: I have absolutely no idea where downtown Houston is right now. None. It's kind of strange. I'm completely disoriented. Even during Marine Corps, when I was confused on where I was, I could just crane my neck this way or that and see the Washington Monument. Or the Potomac. While running Chicago, you can always see the skyline.
All I know about this race is that I looked at the course map last night. And the shape of the course looked to me like the state of Texas. Is that on purpose? Or am I just the only one who treated the course map as a Magic Eye picture? 9:24
Mile 9: It's still raining. My feet are wet. The good news? No hot spots creating blisters! So far, so good! 9:31
(Story about my socks... I have tons of running socks, most of them Asics. Well, I was at Target a couple of weeks ago and came across the stock-up sale, and they had packs of 6 pairs of socks for $5.99. So I bought them. And I'm wearing a pair today. Proof positive that you don't need an $11 pair of socks to be successful! The Asics ones give me blisters, anyhow.)
Mile 10: For the first time since this thing started, I KNOW WHERE I AM! We're right by the park where the zoo is located! I'm beyond excited that I am familiar with this part of the course. I can see the park, and the sign for the zoo, and the Metro rail station, and the hospitals!
On the side of the road, there are 2 nurses huddled under an umbrella cheering for us. Looking at us like we're all nuts, but cheering just the same. 9:39
Mile 11: Still running on this endless street towards Rice University. I cannot wait to see the football stadium. (I'm a total geek for sports arenas, of any shape and size). I turn the corner and can see the mile marker... it's still soooo far away. There's a DJ playing music and yelling, "Welcome to Mile 11!" into the microphone. I think to myself, Hmph, that's a little premature. But I'm at the marker in a second, and the football stadium lies just beyond. 9:23
Mile 12: I really cannot believe how many people are out cheering for the runners. It's raining, and they're all standing under umbrellas, but they're HERE. And nearly everyone has a sign. It's incredible. As much as I love my city, once the weather gets crappy, Chicagoans abandon their cheering plans and stay inside where it's dry. It would be an interesting challenge to see how many people come out for a rainy Chicago marathon... 9:33
Mile 13: This is going to be my slowest half marathon in nearly a year, when I did one as part of a 20 miler last March. I don't really care. I'm right at my 4:30 pace, and just having a ball running this race. I have said before that in 2011 I'm just going to have fun and not panic about how fast I go. This race is starting it off the right way. Time doesn't matter. It's all about the journey. 9:47
Mile 14: There's a guy running the marathon whose name is Geoff. How do I know this? Because at every mile, his family/friends have tacked up a huge sign with his photo on it, a countdown of remaining miles, and something silly. My personal favorite is from this mile. It says, "14 down, 5.8 to go... if you take the most direct route." Hah. Kinda puts things into perspective. 9:21
Mile 15: Dangit, I have to use the bathroom again. I see a bank of smelly poo houses ahead, and sprint toward it like it's my oasis in the desert. This part of the highway has runners on the right, toilets on the left. I'm running on the left. Another awesome thing about this race? No waiting at the toilets. And they're stocked full of tp, BONUS! 11:23
Mile 16: I can't believe how great I feel for 16 miles. Seriously. The last time I ran this far was November 13th, 2010. True story. 9:45
Mile 17: I might have spoken too soon. My knee feels like it's about to fall off. Then it occurs to me that I didn't bother to stretch today. At all. Maybe I should stop and do that. I find a metal telephone pole and stretch. Then I realize that it's stopped raining... and I'm not entirely sure for how long it's been finished. My ipod and my mental capacity are definitely earning their keep today! 10:48
Mile 18: My favorite part of Hal Higdon's book "Marathon" is when he explains how to keep motivated during the race. One of his tricks is to count the miles up, and then count down when it gets to single digits. We're in single digit territory right now, and it feels GREAT!
Great sign in the crowd: "It it were easy, I would do it." Held by a lady sitting in her lawn chair. AWESOME. 10:24
Mile 19: My miles are getting slower at this point, because my legs are much more tired than they were 5 miles ago. I don't have any doubt about finishing, it's just a matter of WHEN. The best part is that I have not stopped to walk, except during the aid stations. Hal says that's acceptable. I trust Hal. 10:20
Mile 20: Yay we're going to a park! I love parks! But I'm slightly disappointed once we enter, since we're on the service roads and stuff. We can see signs for fun stuff, like the picnic area, but don't actually get to see it. LAME. 10:53
Mile 21: I really just want to sit on the ground for like 5 minutes, collect myself, and then resume running. But I'm worried that someone will call the medic. Hmmm, where to go to sit down for a minute where no one will bother you?
Smelly poo house it is!
I know, it's weird. I take my sweet time, and when I exit, I feel ready to conquer the rest of the race. If all goes according to plan, I should be done in an hour. I can do this for another hour. 12:20
Mile 22: There's all of these messages written in sidewalk chalk about pushing through the wall. It's annoying. I really want to exit this park.
Did I hit the wall today? Nope. How can I tell? There was 1. no crying, 2. no dramatic fantasies where I stomp off the course, mad at myself for not being able to go the distance, and 3. no wishing that my teddy bear was in my gear bag. #3 was a very good thing, since I left my bear back in Illinois. 10:10
Mile 23: Aaaaaand my feet hurt. Shocker. The inside of my leg is literally green from all the veins that are popping out. It's gross. A little more than a 5K left. I can do this. 10:44
Mile 24: I'm devoid of thoughts in my head at this point. I pass spectators and volunteers and barely glance at them. I'm disengaged. All I can focus on right now is one foot in front of the other. Mantra: Baby steps to the finish line. (Thank you, Bob Wiley.) 11:20
Mile 25: Mantra: It hurts but then it's over. 11:12
Mile 26: I hit the mile 25 clock and realize that I'm only 1.2 miles away from the finish (which means I get to change my shoes!). I'm beaten but not broken and I haven't walked. I also haven't puked, although for the last 3 miles it's been pretty touch-and-go. I can do this. Unless I fall on my face and lose consciousness for a brief period, I'm going to tell Oprah to suck it once again and break 4:30. And I know the course from here... it's where we've been walking all weekend.
So I make a decision... I'm going to gun it. I don't have to run again for days. I have nothing else to do today besides sit on an airplane. It's go time.
So I run, as hard and as fast as I can, for 1.2 miles. I feel like I'm flying. This ends up being my fastest mile of the entire day. 9:12
Mile 26.2: My mantra for right now is "Dig, dig, dig." And I'm digging as deep as I can. I know the finish line is right up ahead. I sprint as fast as I can go (although, when you view the video, I look like I have a little hitch in my giddy-up), put my arms up, and smile for the cameras. I finished. 1:43
Monday morning I was viewing the race website, and they had all these cool graphs, like what was your position on the course when the elites finished, stuff like that. The best stat of the race for me was:
In the last 1.5 miles, I passed 114 people. 0 passed me.
I love Houston! Pick me in 2012!
FINAL TIME: 4:26:46
AVERAGE PACE: 10:something
MILESTONE REACHED: 1st time I have ever completed a marathon after training for it solely on a treadmill.
NEXT MARATHON: Fox Valley Marathon, September 2011... yep, I'm taking the spring off of fulls!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
buried in snow...
I'm still working on my RR from Houston this past Sunday... but unfortunately it's saved on my work computer, and work was cancelled today! I would have started over, but I'd already done half of it. (Plus I'm kinda waiting to swipe the official photographs...)
Enjoy these pics from the blizzard that swept through Chicago!
Opening my garage door:
Poor buried car...
I have a front sidewalk here somewhere...
More of my poor car...
This is how high it got...
STAY WARM, FELLOW ILLINOISANS!
Enjoy these pics from the blizzard that swept through Chicago!
Opening my garage door:
Poor buried car...
I have a front sidewalk here somewhere...
More of my poor car...
This is how high it got...
STAY WARM, FELLOW ILLINOISANS!
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