Day One Training for Half Marathon

     Today began my first day of earnest training for the half marathon coming up in a couple of months. It is my plan to run in the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Series Marathon and Half Marathon. On the first day of my training program I was to run a easy 30 minutes. No problem-right? I have already participated in some 5Ks and a 10K. So naturally a half was the next logical step. Granted it has been 3 months to the day since I laced up my running shoes, but it should still be easy right? BULL!

     For this "easy" run I decided I would have my man drop me off about 3 miles from our farm and while he tended to the critters, I would just jog on there. No problem. Nice winding rurally road. Little traffic with a little bit of scenery along the way. Ideal plan. Ha Ha Ha.

     The first omen that things might not be so smooth was when he decided to drop me off in the local funeral home parking lot. Mind you funeral homes don't spook me in the least, but today the vultures were circling as he drove off. Literally. Big ugly turkey vultures with their big ugly wrinkly naked necks landed near me as I started down the back road. It was as if they sensed a meal in the making.

     As I jogged along at a brisker than normal pace (maybe just to get away from the spooky carnivores), I was soon leaving them behind. About half a mile in is where I started smelling the stench of death. Surely it wasn't me already. Nope-just a dead possum whom had the misfortune of meeting the front bumper of a local citizen. Lordy did it stink.

     As I plodded along, my lungs screamed for air, my pace slowed and I soon started questioning my sanity. But still I continued, stopping ever so often to catch my breath. As I was half way through my "run" I reached an open stretch and kicked it up a notch. I heard the "vehicle" if you want to call it that, before I saw it. As it came around one of the 4 very sharp turns in the road, the yahoo driving it saw me and gunned the engine. I looked around in time to see him accelerating to what seemed like a 100 miles an hour in that short stretch headed straight for me in the opposite lane. I started looking for a spot to jump out of the way, but would have to jump into a drainage ditch to avoid him. Just as I was about to take the dive as he closed in, he veered off-chortling at my panic. He flew on down the road, around the curve and out of sight. Red-Neck Idiot!!

     I composed myself, I continued on, a bit shaken, but determined to get this over with. I was over half way to the farm, about to run out of steam with a pounding headache, and a stitch in my side.

     As I jogged past the country cemetery, I felt a shiver creep up my back even though the temp outside was almost 80. I could have been in one of these if that idiot hadn't  veered off in time. IDIOT!

     Just as I was approaching the final stretch to the farm, my other "worst" fear came dashing out of one the yards. A large mixed breed dog zeroed in on me, nose low to the ground and accelerating towards me. Dang! Just my luck. Armed with only a water bottle. I stopped and demanded that he STOP! Didn't work. Hmmm. It always worked for Caesar when he did it on TV. What the Heck! Well, I knew not to run. I stood my ground and waited. Thankfully all he seemed to want to do is sniff my feet. However, he was getting pushier and I needed to get on. Trying not to let him sense my discomfort, I moved forward, commanding him to go home. Then when I was just about to get a little more panicky at his insistence, I looked up in time to see my man coming to my rescue on his white horse, er.. I mean white truck. He pulled up and I jumped in. "I thought this one might give you some trouble", he said. Ahhh, my prince.....

     So with my head pounding, red faced and slightly nauseated, I had completed my first training run in my quest to run that cursed half marathon. All I can say is they had better have some really awesome goody bags and a super neat t-shirt for this.... 

EuroCross 2010 Huntsville, Alabama

Today in the muggy 80 degree Alabama heat, on the hidden depths of the UAH campus back fields, the Eurocross race was run by about 200 plus people in Huntsville. A 5K and an 8K were being run. This was my first experience with the Eurocross and while I had planned to run it, at the last minute my daughter and I decided to just watch it as spectators. I am so glad we made that decision.

As we made our way through the wet grass to the starting line area, we met up with a friend who had just run the 5K portion of it. He was covered in mud, soaked to the bone, and out of breath. He recounted his run and relayed that while he was glad he did it, he thought this would be his last. Finding it to be a pretty challenging course, he thought he’d stick to the regular races. Again, glad we made the decision to just observe.

We watched the end of the 5K race and I quite enjoyed listening to other runner friends describe their runs. Afterwards, we made our way to the area of the first water crossings where the swollen water was at least thigh deep due to the downpours of the previous night. Already muddied by the 5K runners, it was very slick on the banks. This should prove to be interesting indeed.

Then it was time for the start of the 8K run. We watched from our vantage point along the side of the first water crossing as about 50 or more runners, mostly men, hit the wet grass running. Wearing their assortment of gear from Nike, Brooks, Asics, to Reebok, Adidas, New Balance and Mizuno, to Izumi's, Saucony to the Montrail and Vibram shoes to just plain bare feet they ran. Giving it their all, hooping and hollering and huffing and puffing, smiling, laughing to grimacing...Making me wonder again, "why do we do this??"

The Trail itself was a freshly mown path through fields looping around and then through 4 points of water crossings along the way, through some woods and up a very steep embankment, then looping again. Proving to be a challenging course especially for the first timer.

As with most of our races around here, the first runner to reach the water was Hirbo Hirbo.  Way ahead of the rest of the pack, he easily crossed the water and was out of sight by the time the next racer reached it. As soon as the front pack made their crossings, we moved a few yards over to the next water crossing that the runners would loop back around to. As they began to make their way through many were already winded and some struggling.

All in all watching the race was very entertaining. We cheered them all on and in the end it was Hirbo winning with a time just over 30 minutes for the 8K victory.

As reported recently in the The Moulton Advertiser after winning the Jesse Owens Memorial Run in Moulton , Hirbo Hirbo, told reporter Jonathan Deal he began running as something to do when he was bored just a couple of years ago. The 23-year-old Florence resident moved to the United States from Ethiopia three years ago with no running experience. It was only by chance that Hirbo became involved in running as a sport.

“Two summers ago, I had nothing to do, so I went out and ran about a half mile,” Hirbo said. “I was sore for about three days, but I came back after that and have ran ever since.”

            That statement can either inspire us or depress us…Either way, I’m just going to keep on plodding forward. One foot in front of the other until I can’t anymore. And oh yeah, I remember now why we do this...because we can...   :-)

           Here are some pictures that I took of the runners doing their thing…

Training for the Cotton Row Run 10K

This week I have begun training for my first 10K. Even though I have run more than the standard 5K in my weekly runs, I usually have some resting time in between and I am not racing against a time clock and other runners. So this week in preparation for the 10K at the end of this month, I ran the course with my daughter.

The Cotton Row Run is a fairly flat course for the first mile or so but then it begins to rise into a rather steep elevation halfway through the course. The grade at the highest point is quite steep. After that steep climb you have one smaller hill heading towards Monte Sano Mountain before it turns and heads back down a sharp descent for about a mile down Bankhead Parkway. Once that descent levels off then it is back to a level course into town until the finish line back on the corner of Clinton Avenue and Monroe Street. You will pass Maple Hill Cemetery and weave through some lovely neighborhoods along the way.

For our “trial” run, we joined a group of twenty or so other runners that were also training, led by a delightful woman representing Fleet Feet Sports. Sporting my new Brooks Adrenaline shoes and my new Reebok top, I was ready to go.

I had already decided before we arrived that morning that I had a couple of goals for the day. First was to finish the course under the required cut off time. Secondly, not to try and set any records, just to enjoy the run and see if I could do it without killing myself. I knew I would be at the back of the pack and was okay with that for this trial run. Mostly I just wanted to be sure I had the stamina to finish.

With my trusty water bottle in hand, we began downtown near the Von Braun Civic Center and then proceeded down Church Street to Lowe and onward. As the other runners took off at the speed of light, I found myself struggling from the start. As they all passed me, I was surprised that it didn’t bother me more. I didn’t have any pressure on me to do anything more than finish. It was a beautiful cool morning and the traffic was light. So when I needed to walk-I walked. Once I felt ready then I ran again.

As the rest of the pack moved further away I just kept going. My resolve to enjoy and not be bothered by being left in the dust was waning. I was becoming frustrated and my stupid water bottle kept leaking. What was I doing thinking I could do this? I was still struggling with 5K’s and now I thought I could tackle a 10K?.. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Finding myself all alone, I reached a curve in the road bordered by a hedge row feeling a little dejected and sorry for myself.  Happily, as I reached the other side of the hedge row was my daughter standing patiently waiting for me. “Hey Mom. How are you making it?” she asked. So sweet that one. “Not so well I’m afraid…” I replied. “Well then I will just run with you.” she said. I protested but she insisted. Knowing she had no trouble finishing the course she said she wanted to stick with me. Probably worried I would have a heart attack. So together we trudged on with her encouraging, cajoling and sometimes ordering me along. Suck it up woman-you can do this!

About the time we reached the bottom of the highest elevation hill at about 3 ½ miles, we heard some horrific sounding screaming coming from further down the road. It appeared that some loose larger dogs had attacked a smaller dog that a woman was walking on leash. It was horrible to hear and we considered seeing if there was anything we could do, but some men had come to her aid and we decided to keep going. The dogs had run the opposite direction, but we warned some people we passed who were in their yard with their dog to be vigilant.

As we started up the hill with that hateful elevation, I really had to dig deep to make it up to the top, walking (almost crawling) pretty much the whole thing (of course). We were both quite winded once we reached the top and I was out of water thanks to that dumb leaky water bottle. Gasping, exhausted and wondering if I was going to make it, another surprise awaited me. 

Thankfully at the very tip top of the hill was the sweetest, most angelic little girl standing there with a cup of cold lemonade for me. She and her brother and her young parents had graciously volunteered to hand out drinks and had waited on me to get there. She looked to be about 5 years old and bless her soul was so precious. That was the best tasting lemonade I have ever tasted. The parents encouraged me and told me it was all downhill from there. I felt that I would be able to continue after that.

After leveling off and then climbing another small grade, the road quickly did a switchback and it was a rapid descent. My daughter told me I looked like a crazy out of control hobbit running down that hill, flailing my arms for balance. I just laughed and kept going. I didn’t care; I was actually enjoying myself at that point, knowing I was over the halfway mark. 

At the bottom of the hill we were back in a neighborhood and zigzaged around until we reached the busy intersection of Pratt and Gallatin and then proceeded through downtown again. Heading back towards the Civic Center, I was never so glad to see the finish line.

I had done it!! Granted I am not sure I would have persevered without my daughter by my side on that initial run, but now I know I can do it. My goals for the day were accomplished and knowing what I face, I feel confident that I can improve my time and not be too embarrassed when I run (hobbit looking or not)...

As one of the more experienced runners told me the other day when I was complaining about my poor performance as a new runner, “At least you are out there doing it!” I say “Thank you!” I needed to hear that. Thank you for once again reinforcing my feelings that runners are some of the most optimistic, encouraging people I have ever met. So to all you old runners, new runners, and any in between- I want you to know, it really does matter when you pass along a kind word to your fellow runners. Please remember that…it might just make the difference between someone continuing this sport or giving up.

Laughing at the Speed Bumps

Ok, so by now I should feel like a pro on this 5K stuff right? Saturday I ran my third 5K. I was feeling like I should be ready for this without any problems. After all, I have already run two previous ones. This was at my hometown where I grew up. I knew the roads intimately. This should be a cinch. Wrong!

While my nerves on race morning were a little bit better controlled, I still felt a strong sense of self doubt. Touted as a flat and fast course that would allow you to improve your personal record, I signed up for this one thinking “Alright! I got this!”

However, once I arrived I saw that a smaller field of participants meant that the likelihood of me being at the back of the pack was higher. The majority of these runners looked very seasoned and younger than me. As I see it younger usually means faster. Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained.

My goal for the day was to first finish the race; second improve my personal record; and third not to come in last. As I relayed those goals to a friend who was running his second 5K, he told me that my goals were way too low. I should strive to WIN! As we lined up at the start line, I hung back. He came back to me and told me that I was taking a defeatist attitude by not lining up on the front; that positive thinking would make me run better and faster. I told him that I was just being a realist and letting the faster runners get a better start.

Then the horn blew and we were off. My friends and daughter rocketed across the start line to set the pace. I ran about a quarter of a mile and had to walk. What the HECK was going on with my body? My legs felt like mush and I couldn’t seem to get my breathing right. I looked around to see that I was at the back of the pack. Only a couple of people were behind me and gaining. I felt defeated already. Crap!

So I took a moment to gather myself and pushed forward. I ran slowly but steadily. Soon I started passing people. Several of those that had passed me had started walking by then and I soon made my way around them. Only a couple caught up to pass me after that point. Little by little I pushed my way through the runners until I had to stop again to walk. At a mile and half in I grabbed a drink of water at the water station. My mouth felt like I had cotton balls inside. As soon as I swished the water I was off again. Once I reached the two mile mark, I saw that I was off my desired pace by over a minute. Kick it girlie!

As I made the first turn past the two mile mark, I encountered the first of four speed bumps. It was comical to see the volunteers holding up signs to warn me that a speed bump was ahead when it was so largely obvious. Maybe it was hysterics or perhaps heat exhaustion, but I got so tickled that I got some funny looks as I trudged by. I was still laughing when I reached the second one at about 100 yards up the road.

Once I reached the two and half mile mark, I had slowed down to a walk again and was right behind a girl half my age walking. She looked dejected. I walked quietly behind her for about fifteen seconds and then took a deep breath. I looked at her and said “OK girlfriend-we’re at the two and a half mile mark. We can do this. Let’s go get ‘em!” She just smiled and shook her head no. I shrugged and took off again. As I neared the next to last turn there was a slight hill. I was all alone, except for the construction workers who just stared as I blasted down the incline as fast as my little short fat legs would go. I was reminded of my daughter jokingly telling me that I look like a hobbit when I run. Well whatever I can do to entertain…

Then I encountered two more speed bumps complete with volunteers holding signs warning of their existence. More laughter ensued in between my loud gasping for breath as I continued to push onward. Come on now! I am wasting valuable resources with this silliness. Get on with it!

At the last turn before the half mile push to the finish line, I was even able to appreciate the attractiveness of the beefy fireman working traffic control. One has to be able to enjoy themselves whenever the opportunity arises- right?

The last quarter of mile was sheer torture. My lungs felt like hot pokers of fire. My legs were screaming. My nausea was dangerously close to some embarrassing attention. I saw the timer at the finish line. I had only a short time to kick it in to beat my previous time. My daughter and her friend appeared out of the crowd running back towards me on the sidewalk.

Please believe me when I say my daughter can rival any track coach when it comes to urging me on in those final yards. She showed no mercy as I sprinted with the very last drop of energy I could muster toward the finish line. It was like I saw it all in slow motion as I raced to beat the clock in my Nike Structure running shoes. Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Gasp Gasp Gasp….

When I passed the finish line, I had shaved only a minute of my previous time off. But a minute was a minute and I’ll take what I can get. It was a hard earned minute and I refuse to diminish how significant it was to me.

Granted I am still as slow as a turtle compared to those in front of me, especially my daughter and friends. But each race is an improvement. There were still quite a few behind me yet to complete the race; the last one crossing a good twenty minutes behind me. As I sat on the sidewalk gasping for air, I knew I had done it! My husband, my daughter, friends and the crowd had all cheered me on to the finish. It was an incredible feeling. 

After the race, the awards ceremony followed. My friend came in first in his age division. My daughter came in third overall female and first in her age group. Her friend came in first in her age group. And low and behold- I came in second in my age group! We all received medals and gift certificates to the local Athletics/ Sporting Goods store. Sweet!

The third race was just as important as the first and second because I learned new things each time. This time I learned that even though it may seem everyone at the first is going to kick my butt, I just need to do my thing and believe in myself. I learned not to give up or give in to insecurity and doubt. I also learned how to reach down deep for that sprint to the finish. These are some lessons that I think would be wise to carry over into everyday life as well. I realize that even if I do finish last, at least I am in the race. I learned to enjoy the ride! Finally I learned its okay to laugh at the speed bumps along the way….

2nd 5K

Well after the last 5K On New Year’s Eve (see my previous blog) I decided that I would train a little harder and give it another shot. So with sheer determination, I decided that the best course of action was to go to the local wellness center and use the treadmills, run the local outdoor track and run around in my neighborhood. Though I was still self conscious about how I looked, I just pushed forward leaving the negative thoughts to the haters.

I ran at least 3 times a week. Each run was a struggle. First I battled hip flexor soreness so bad I truly thought that I had torn something. This lasted a couple of months. Then one day I noticed it was better. The more I did, the more determined I was to do more. Mistake, mistake, mistake! While I was “overtraining” my poor body, I needed to be cross training in order to get the whole body in shape. But being a person who really doesn’t enjoy exercise, I ignored good sense. I paid for it too. Every morning I woke so stiff and sore, I could barely move. My runs weren’t long ones, but I increased my distance at least once a week. At first I couldn’t run 200 yards without stopping. But this got better and then I could run a quarter of a mile without stopping. Then it was a half mile. I tried to mix up the surfaces that I was running on just to be sure I was covering all the bases.

No matter how hard I try to get there, I still can’t run a 5K without walking some in order to catch my breath. Not long, only about 10- 20 seconds. Getting my breathing rhythm down is very hard for me. I sound like a freight train coming down the track.

Things were progressing well and my daughter and I were going to the park and running with the dogs and were feeling really good about our progress. Then we decided to go hiking up a local mountain trail. The first time we went, we took our Labrador Retriever and had a blast. The trails were steep but passable for the average hiker. The problem began the next weekend when we went back and decided to tackle one of the more adventurous trails. It had some very steep paths with some actual rock climbing to traverse the trail. The descent was a steep incline over slippery rocks as it had rained earlier in the day. Because of the rain, I decided to wear an older pair of tennis shoes. Oh did I pay the price. In addition to the sore screaming muscles, I developed painful shin splints. An excruciating painful condition that sends shooting pain up and down each side of your shin bones every step you take. I am still battling this problem today from that one adventurous day trip. But I have decided to just try and work through it. Then a reoccurring heel spur came back. Ugh! The stars were lining up against me!

After “training” for 3 and ½ months, I prepared to run in my second 5K. It was a good flat course with only one hill at the end. About 400 people signed up for the race and that included those walking as well.

The night before the race I was so nervous I couldn’t sleep. I ended up only getting about 2 hours of sleep total. The morning of the race I felt sluggish. My daughter was running also and she encouraged me to eat a bagel with peanut butter on it for energy. I don’t usually eat peanut butter but I did so anyway. Afterward I felt jittery and like my blood sugar levels were all out of whack. I had a headache and just felt like crap. I tried to convince myself that it was just nerves and I would settle down once I got there. My shin splints still caused me pain every time I walked. As I was warming up by jogging around before the race, I thought I was going to cry from the pain and just feeling crappy and the bad case of nerves.

This race was different from the New Year’s Eve race because this was in my home town running with people I knew; in the daylight no less. Because I had committed to the race I was determined I was going to make the best of it.

I didn’t even hear the starting horn when it began. This time though I made sure I had my watch ready and working; my music was on and I was off. 200 yards in, I had to walk….I couldn’t get my breathing right. I felt claustrophobic with all the people around me. So I walked and talked to myself inside my head. I calmed my nerves and resumed. I ran about another 1/2 mile and had to walk again. Just a few seconds and then I was off again. Breathing loudly, but with some semblance of a rhythm to it, I started passing slower runners in front of me. Because this was a run/walk event, there were plenty of people behind me. This gave me a boost of confidence. Then about one and half mile in I was feeling very hot, thirsty and winded. The water station came up in perfect time and I grabbed a cup of water. It was just what I needed. Picking up my speed, I hit the 2 mile mark running and ran another 1/2 mile before having to slow down to a walk to catch my breath. After about 30 seconds of breathing deep I saw that the woman who I had been passing back and forth was about to catch up again. She looked like she was my age, so I dug in and took off. As I approached the town square we were circling, I saw our local news camera filming the runners as they went by. Oh Lordy! I couldn’t stop now! I keep digging and then at about 2 and 3/4 miles I saw one of my daughter’s friends running ahead of me. She was 20 years my junior. I had to catch her. She was steadily moving along and I was struggling and struggling hard. Almost there-THERE!!! I passed her..hooray!!!

Then I met the hateful ole hill on the last stretch to the finish line. About that time a friend came back to run me in. He’d finished his first 5K at a very respectable 28 minutes. God Bless Him. He wanted to share his feelings of happiness and cheer me on. He was trying to carry on a conversation with me. I could barely breathe-much less talk….

Just then the girl I had passed came whizzing by me. I faltered and had to walk to catch my breath again! Crap! She patted me on the back as she went by…..so sweet….Then I saw the woman my age coming in from behind…Oh Hell NO! I kicked in the last bit of resolve I had left in me and sprinted to the finish line. Exhausted, exhilarated, and barely breathing with legs of jello I had made it-just beating her! HooRA!!!

While a finish of 36 minutes isn’t exactly earth shattering land records, it was a triumph for me. I didn’t win any awards-not by a long shot-but I did accomplish another goal that I had set for myself. I had shaved off 3 minutes from my previous time coming in 23rd out of 73 in my age group. And after resting for about 10 minutes, I felt remarkably well.

The lesson learned here was simply that I could dig deeper than I ever dreamed possible when motivated….now whether that motivation was proper or not I’m not sure, but it got me there…;)

Tomorrow I run in my 3^rd 5K in the hometown where I grew up…Don’t mind saying I’m a little nervous about doing well. I will have family and friends there watching and cheering us on. I just hope I don’t screw up…..