half marathon

I have run numerous 5K, 10K and a 10 miler. So, now I am registered to run two 1/2 marathons in May 2009. I’m currently exercising using the Nike + program and mall walking since its too cold and snowing to train outside.

It is very important to have a base of running before you start training. It is also very important to read as much as you can about it. There is so much out there and what worked for me might not work for you. So head to your local library or bookstore and find some training recommendation books. You won’t be sorry!

Also, if you can and are good at fundraising, you might join a group like Team in Training to help find a cure for Leukemia.

Did my first 10k, still chipping away at this goal.

I’m done with week four of training for my half-marathon. The big date is May 4th. I just want to get through it. And then I’ll see if I really like running or not—I’ve really never given it a fair shot before, but this time I’ve got the 1/2 marathon to keep me going so I can decide after I’ve tried for more than two weeks or so.

what a ride it was.

That final week all I could think about was this half marathon.

I was nervous and anxious all week. Trying to lots of drink water. trying not to eat bad things but eating sugar because of said anxiety. I wanted the day to come so badly and yet I wanted it behind me.

I picked up my faithful running buddy at her house early- around 2.00 p.m. and headed to Phila. where we stayed overnight. Another buddy was already there. Arriving at the hotel, we had to beg for valet parking as the guy insisted they were full. We were rewarded. I think it had to do with my friend’s lower cut shirt. I was all sporty in a zipping wick, tho girly and bight pink, but NOT revealing.
Unloaded our stuff. I know, one night and we had to “unload”. It seems when we travel, we pack ungodly amounts of snacks. Pretzels, water, POM juice, peanut butter, one bagel, two yogurts, apple, two bananas, 2 muffins, almonds, etc. etc. We just weren’t sure what we might WANT before race day- so we wanted to have all our options covered.
Checked in and headed for our race packets and numbers.
Wow- i have to say their Expo was pretty good. I got the CUTEST necklace from www.onemoremile.net and snazzy girly sporty headband, too. Oh- and the race packet, yeah yeah yeah. Nuthin good in there save for the T-shirt and one soyjoy bar. Oh- and one Ben Gay patch. They were handing out Soymilk as well.
Back to the hotel where we changed (of COURSE!) and I put on my new headband and off to dinner. It was a MOB scene. I had chicken w wheat pasta and said no to the wine tho it was tempting me and calling me and teasing me. So hard to resist.
Feeling full of carbs, we headed pack to the hotel and I squeezed my full belly into my two race outfits, deciding which one looked best.
Laid out what i would need for the morning and we plopped onto the beds and I felt like Santa was coming. I was so excited. And exhausted. I slept, not very soundly, but I slept and woke up at 5.30 a.m. and ran to the window. No frost or snow. Before falling asleep- the weather channel said to prepare for CHILLY night and I freaked. Aside from that, Christmas was finally here! ;o)
There was quite a bit of girly drama having to do w someone accidentally slurping another girl’s contact. She had used the cup to hold the contacts and her roomie had filled it with tap water, promptly spit it out and said “Philadelphia water sucks.” Anyway, she ran into our room at 6.30 a.m. literally bawling until i said: Here, use my extra contact. No worries, i always have unopened packs with me as she was living out my biggest fear.
My race buddy was now having M A J O R gastrointestinal distress. TMI, you say??? not really when it starts to affect your run. I just wanted to get to the race.
Left the hotel at 6.45 a.m. and walked the 9 blocks to Eakins Oval. It was already hopping. Of course, had to wait in line 2x for running buddy’s GI issues.
My friends spotted me in my corral and pictures were taken and I got so HAPPY. Drama aside, we could not have asked for a better day. Beautiful weather. Perfect.
Race started PROMPTLY at 7.45 a.m. with about 10,000 runners. Energy energy energy. and then some.
We wound through the city, back to the start, and proceeded along the Schuylkill River. It was just gorgeous. I wanted to cry at about Mile Marker 8 when i heard a bag pipe player. Amazing. The bands and music were great, from Blues to Folk to Rock to a local H.S. band. I have to say, it was one of my easiest runs ever. Easier than some of my 5 or 6 mile runs. I could maybe have stepped it up a notch- but then perhaps I would not have felt so good during the run.
After mile 10, I put on some power. Still feeling great. even into the last mile…tho the the finished line was poorly set up: after a straight away it veered sharply to the right and suddenly a few hundred feet later there was the finish line. I wish it could have been a longer straight away- especially for all the people wanting to cheer on the runners. It was an awkward finish and, imho, poorly set up.
Having my chip cut off, crowded into one small area, i started to feel claustrophobic and shaky. and very very cold.
I wandered around a bit lost and then finally rememebred I had not gotten my medal, at which time I panicked a bit as no one was being let back in. I illegally squeezed my way thru a gate and grabbed my well-deserved medal. That was the reason I did it, afterall.
I met my people at the big blow-up SPENCO shoe and felt very very cold. Shivering. We went into the sun and there were shirtless people running around and I could not believe it. It seems we are react differently to the stimulus and excitement. I had had enough. It was strangely anti-climactic, sad, and yet freeing.
I am so happy with the run.
I am so happy I have done my first 1/2 marathon and that I stuck to it.
It is amazing to see so many people with the same goals but for many different motivations.
Thanks, Ooty, for your constant support. Much love.
I had an incredible show of support online, on the phone, in-person and text messaging. Oh- it helps to braodcast your goals!!!! I am not quiet about it. But the support is authentic and beautiful. I hope to return it and then some.

And, i can mark this as DONE!

so chilly, had to wear long-sleeved wick, saw my buddy’s exhalations, had cold thumbs that I tucked under my other four fingers.

PERFECT weather to RUN!

:o)

And what a way to finish my official last long run.
It was not truly a “long run” on paper as I am supposed to ramp down for the grand finale on Sept. 16th. My goal was from 8- 11 miles.
Can I tell you that this was the worst run of my life ever????? Yes- what a fantastic way to end my training. Downward spiral and I can only blame….others. Yup, only blame others (please read drippping with sarcasm).

I blame my friends.
I blame the humidity.
I blame Hurricane Gabrielle.
I blame Veuve Cliquot.

And many other things that I am forgetting to blame.
On a high note, my new sneakers and very ultra-cool running shorts came this past week so that alone was motivation to get all gussied up in my running gear and look like a real runner for the first time in my life.
That got me out of bed on Sunday. As well as various text messages from my running buddy asking how my run went, as well as the foot in the back of my spine from Mr. Man.
Did I mention that I was in NYC all day into night on Saturday? In fact, did I mention that I taught a double on Sat. morning, maybe had a sip of water, then met my girlies for coffee, a LARGE coffee. Then zoomed home, showered and best friend took me out to lunch to use up her gift cert and we had a bottle of red. This is all before 1.00 p.m. Then, we met back at my place and gathered Mr. Man and drove to NYC into the Met Museum of Art to wander through the newly opened Greek and Roman galleries (go! amazing!) and then wandered our way to the rooftop where I had some Sangria overlooking Central Park. From there, went to another rooftop bar which had me nose-to-nose w the Empire State Building all night. Oh- and we drank bubblies and later switch to apple martinis. Then, met one of Mr. Man’s friends in some bar further downtown and somehow got home really really really late.
Now, back to my outfit on Sunday:
Wearin’ my spankin’ compression running shorts that held all the right stuff tight, had my sporty sunglasses and visor on and left my place around 1.00 p.m., potentially the hottest part of the day w the humidity of Hurricane Gabrielle building all morning. After about 4 minutes outside I thought- Holy Crap it’s so hot out. Why did I not wear my wicking jogbra and shirt? Out of sheer laziness, I just reached for the cotton sportsbra and tank top (blame cotton!!) since I did not want to search for the wicking stuff thinking it was cool enuff outside.
Ha.
Ran w Mr. Man on the bike next to me and I started whining. Christ, it’s hot here. Why did I wear cotton? Why didn’t I bring water? (see above sentences of day into night celebrations) Oh my god- I hardly drank any water in the last 25 hours. Just alcohol and coffee. What a true european I could be….
After mile four, I thought- I will never make it through another seven.
That, my friends, is the worst feeling to have when you barely are starting out.
I made it to mile five thinking it was all mental. I felt a bit queasy, but then remembered it must have been due to that one tequila shot. Yes, I forgot to mention that, too.
At mile six, after forcing Mr. Man to entertain me with his stories, I just stopped and started walking.
Here I am, all decked out in my sporty sport girl oufit, garmin attached to my wrist, and my legs are wobbling against me.
I looked longingly at his bike, knowing I had 5 miles to go and thinking it would take all freakin’ day to get there at this snail walking pace. So I got on the seat, he stood up and pedaled. Pedal pedal pedal! I said- You are my knight on a mountain bike. Then I held my legs out until my hip flexors turned to stone.
Crimoney! Honey, stop the bike. I need to get off. I limped off the bike, laughing at this point. And said to him- please ride as fast as you can and get car. It’s only 4 miles from here (thank god for the accuracy of the garmin!) and by the time I get to the access road- you can just pick me up. I can’t even finish this run, now walk, from hell.
And, I wobbled onwards as he pedaled and finally got his workout in.
I got to the access raod and sat down and waited. He pulled up, I guzzled water and said- I am totally sapped of any semblance of energy. I hadn’t eaten before the run save for 3 walnut halves. I figured I could work off my healthy gluteal reserves.
yes- I absolutely set myself up for the worst possible training run ever. I got in 8 miles overall, but only ran 6.
I had no glucose stored, so we stopped and got a cold vitamin water and then a snapple and I started to feel more like a human than just a mere shell.
So this week, I am downing water non-stop. Eating healthy and trying to get alot of sleep. ALOT of water and sleep.
Just a quick run this Thursday is all. Maybe 3 or 4 miles tops.
And I pray I do not feel this way for Sunday.

only 3 weeks to go.

had a huge hangover from sat night which nixed the attempt to get the long run out of the way inthe morning. instead, got up and drank lotsa water, cleaned up some random piles on my cursed tables, and went back to bed. phone call around 1 p.m. got me “officially” up and at ‘em.
my usual running buddy gave me her garmin (as she could not run w me) for this weekend and that alone was motivation to get out on the trail and see if this high-tech stuff really works. holy crap, is it addicting. time, pace, distance all right THERE on my wrist. i think it def keeps me more paced and on track. there’s no lying to myself when i have the numbers right there to prove i am slowing waaaaaay down.
i ran 12.27 miles in the sweltering heat n humidity of a sunday afternoon. this time, my friend accompanied me on his bike. and, in advance, i had mixed Accelerade with water in a big nalgene water bottle as i knew I was playing w fire due to the alcohol dehydration from the night before…I have to say- as much as I despise endorsing sports drinks, I really feel like this one kept me more hydrated and less energy-sapped. More so than my usual drink of choice, Propel.
I survived and am amazed that I set-out to run 12 miles with the thought of: Well, just gotta get out there and do it. Versus months ago I would have said- ARE YOU FLIPPING CRAZY?????It’s motivating to see the perception shift.
And incredibly sweet, for my independent yet naive self, to be impressed with my water caddy who sprinted ahead on his bike when i was thirsty, got off and unloaded his pack to get to the water bottle, then held it out for me as I ran past. I laughed as i had to actually stop to guzzle down the water since it’s such a wide-mouth bottle that to keep running just caused it all to splash on my face and run down my shirt instead of making it down my throat. Now I understand the sports nozzle tip concept. Doh!

Holy Cannoli this summer is steamin’ by.

I’ve been keeping up w the training, just barely. Finished 12 miles yesterday and my hips are achy today. will do another 6 this week and then hover at the 12 mile marker.

Race is around the corner. Whooheee!

We are pretty much hovering at the 10+ mile marker. And I am totally cool with that…but holee heat wave this past Friday for the long run (8/3). The more humid and hot it is, the more brutal the runs are. A Friday a.m. run beats a Sunday morning run as I still have some energy resource to tap.
Wednesday we did our usual 6 mile run. The maintenance run, no matter how brutal I think they are, I can no longer complain about ‘em as they are over within an hour and I can taste the end. These long runs seem truly endless sometimes. The joy I think I will get out of this is a sense of personal accomplishment. How do people do 26 miles???? insane.