The Point of No Return

... I apologize if I now have some of you singing the soundtrack from The Phantom of the Opera.
... and I apologize if that apology has triggered operatic singing from those of you who only know the title song of that musical.

This past weekend was supposed to be an easy run. Twelve miles - psh, that's nothing at this point. Easy-peasy.

Well, it wasn't. It was tough. I didn't want to do it. My heart wasn't in it.

But, I was at the point of no return. 17 weeks of marathon training with only 1 missed long run and I sure as heck wasn't going to miss another.

So off I went ... hoping things would get better. Meh. They kind of did, they kind of didn't. The miles weren't physically hard in any way, shape or form.

Mentally, though, it was the hardest run of the training cycle.

I'm hoping it was just one of those days, and things will be fine again for the next run.

In any case, it was good mental training for me - and honestly, that's what I need right now. I mean, the only two reasons I'm doing 20 next weekend are 1) it's on the schedule and 2) I've been holding out on a delicious, high calorie ice cream concoction for a while now and I sure as heck am going to earn it next weekend.

Also, ice baths are kind of fun, in the sense that I feel like a real athlete when I take them.

Back to the run this past weekend.
It was surprising, because I really kicked ass in Tuesday's speed sessions, and I had a decent run early on Friday morning.

I would give you more details on Tuesday, except I forgot my Garmin so I ran a 24 minute fartlek of 10K/marathon pace by feel ... and I have no idea how fast I was going or how far I went, but I left my group in the dust. Normally, I would feel badly about that. But it was fun on Tuesday :)

I simply ran 4.5 miles to the local high school track and enjoyed running on that nice surface for awhile. I was able to make myself keep going until mile 7 when I started the trek back. By 11.14, I was done ... and pretty much home anyway. I called it close enough and gave my head, my heart and my legs a short break.

Then I showered, ate a boring breakfast of oatmeal & berries (didn't feel like I had earned my fattycakes) and snuggled with my puppy.

All in all, I guess it was an ok run day. But I really hope my heart is in for the 20 ... or that is going to be really rough. And quite frankly, I really want that ice cream.

The big 1-8

Eightteen was on the schedule for this weekend, and honestly, I was excited.

Mostly, because that meant pancakes afterwards.

If you don't love pancakes, you are weird.

Anyway, I was all ready for the 18.

Fuelbelt: check.
GU/Honeystingers: check.
Visor: check.
Sunglasses: check.
Tjom (Garmin): check.
Sunscreen: check.
Clothes: check. (hehehe)

I got about a quarter of a mile out after my warm up and realized I forgot BodyGlide. Yikes! I turned around and bopped back in.

BodyGlide: check.

Ok, THEN I was ready.

Fall is awesome, because it doesn't require 5 AM wake up calls on a Sunday to get a long run in. However, when the forecast is sunny, I don't recommend waiting to start your long run until 8:30. That sun can still get a little warm.

Lately, it's been taking me about 3 or 4 miles to really find my groove. Or maybe my body just knows how to really do the proper racing strategy: it definitely starts out slow.

It was an interesting run. I'm the sort of runner that likes to acknowledge my fellow runners when I come across them on the road. After all, we are kindred. However, every single female runner I came across would not acknowledge me. It really got to me after awhile.

Then I realized I needed to get over myself.

After that, I was happily bopping along.

I really love running in Kansas City, even if it is super hilly.

Yes, I realize hilly is a relative term. It's Midwest hilly, I promise.

About mile 14, I started to get bored. I was kind of over the run, but I only had 4 left. I can do 4, I kept telling myself.

After mile 16, I didn't really care that I was automatically hitting a mileage PR with every step I took. My brain was mush. I had to focus on my breathing during my run portions and count by 3's on the walk portions just to keep my sanity.

But then ... 18! Yessssss! Time: 3:45:46. I don't mind being slow, but damn, it's time consuming.

I was so happy, mostly because I was done and there was an ice bath followed by pancakes waiting for me. All I had to do was take Jeff out to do his business. Of course, he would take forever when I wanted him to be quick about it.

Did I mention I had pancakes?

Also, that ice bath was amazing. I am forever grateful to the person who practically forced me into my first one.

4 more weeks ....

Marathon Head

It's just under 6 weeks until race day and all I can think about is race day!

I'm completely confident I can tackle the 26.2 mile distance, even though my longest run to date is 16 miles (totally understand the Hanson method now).

Not going to lie, still excited for 18 and 20 mile runs because 18 means lots of pancakes and eggs and a Snickers bar and 20 means B-Dub's garlic parmesean wings and a delicious 500-800 calorie ice cream concoction.

That's right.

I call those days "fatty cake" days.

Seriously, though, I'm finding it hard to focus.

I just want to think about my race day outfit (am I going to want some longer shorts under the star spangled shorties?), what gear I can buy at the expo (I want a visor and some type of shirt, at least), whether or not I should invest in a race belt with the gel holders (how the heck am I going to hold all that fuel??), and how delicious that Guinness is going to taste after I cross that finish line (heck yes, I'm cheating on the gluten free diet and I don't care about the consequences).

I just want to buy lots of fun fall running clothes and think about next year's races and whether or not I want to try to race the 5K's I'm planning on doing.

I just want to sleep in.

Do some yoga.

Lift a little.

Run a little more.

Get on a plane.

Fly to Ireland.

AND RUN A MARATHON!

5.5 weeks ... 

Broadway Bridge Run 13.1: Passing Guys in a Tutu is Fun

I've signed up for 7 half marathons in my running career.

Of those 7, I started 5.

Of those 5, I've finished 3.

It's not the best track record in the world, so when I was walking around with tired and sore legs on Friday and Saturday, I was more than a little worried.

But, I stretched, and foam rolled and tried to keep moving as much as possible. I reminded myself that it was going to be insanely hot on race day and that I needed to take it easy anyway.

Race day came, and I got nervous, mostly about being the woman in the tutu, because, honestly, I stood out just a bit:

pre-race, trying to look confident in a tutu

Then, I was jogging to the start, getting looks left and right. Oh well. The nice thing about wearing a ridiculously puffy tutu is that you have plenty of elbow room in the starting corral.

My biggest problem with run/walking in the past has been this need to not walk right away, as if people would judge me and think I'm not serious or something. But honestly, who really wants to be considered serious?

This would be my challenge. And thankfully, I rose to it. Two minutes into the race, I was walking. I was getting passed left and right. And that was A-Ok with me.

Some highlights from the race:

• It was hot. 
• It was fun running over a really busy bridge. 
• I smiled for photos:

  

  Hi, camera guy!

  
  

  
  

• Water stations became the most amazing thing ever. 
• I was constantly surprised at how "fast" I was going - the majority of my splits were under 13:00, which doesn't happen on training runs. 
• I killed it on the worst hill of the course, and I credit the run/walk strategy (because I wasn't killing myself in the brutal heat) and the endless hill work I've done during Runner's Edge speed sessions. 
• I loved running around Liberty Memorial:

  

  This is the most awesome place!

• I was amazed at the number of compliments I was getting on my tutu, from police officers guarding the roads to aid station volunteers to my fellow runners. It was awesome. 
• I took advantage of the downhills and increased my turnover. 
• Shade was a blessing from Jesus himself. 
• Passing two guys who had clearly gone out too hard and hearing their guffaws as I steadily cruised on past made me smile. I'm not going to lie, it was a lot of fun. 
• Having my best friend meet me about a half mile out from the finish was exactly what I needed. 
• Hearing cheers just for me as I rounded the final corner made me smile. 
• Getting a high 10 from a Special Olympics athlete as I crossed the finish line was a cherry on a great day. 

  

  Yay! It's over!

Sweet Sixteen

Over the weekend, I technically had 12 on the schedule. However, this coming weekend, I am running the Broadway Bridge Run half marathon (a wonderful race that supports the Missouri Special Olympics), so I traded the 16 scheduled that weekend. Since I missed the 15 the previous weekend, I figured this was an ok trade.

As luck would have it Labor Day gave us a brief reprieve from the sweltering 90* temps we've been having, and I woke up early to a nice, cool morning in the mid-60's.

YAY!!!

I've been pretty confident in my ability to tackle whatever distance has been thrown at my this entire training cycle. In fact, the distance is not intimidating to me anymore. The only thing that gets me is how time consuming it is, particularly since I am taking my sweet time. The night before my 16, I asked, "What am I going to think about for 16 miles???"

Somehow, I found something to think about. Mostly I had a handful of songs on repeat in my head. Also, I had a pretty stellar route around Kansas City and was distracted by the beautiful homes, buildings, and interesting characters I encountered along the way.

I got to zoom down a pretty hefty hill, which was super fun, although my hip is a bit cranky. Note to self: when zooming, increase turnover rather than lengthen stride, you idiot. (sigh ....)

Somehow, 9 miles "flew" by. Of course, then the next 3 c-r-a-w-l-e-d by. I suppose that was because it was all uphill (seriously).

I also accidentally found myself in the middle of the start area for a Labor Day parade. There were lots of horses, and I kept worrying that I was going to scare one and get kicked, so I went super slow. My hip appreciated it anyway.

I was getting seriously tired around 14 miles, until I realized that every step I took at that point was longer than I had ever ran before. Amazing how that thought can give you an immediate boost. Plus, I was two miles from the end ... which meant blueberry protein pancakes! Yessss!

In the end, I didn't do my usual run the majority of the last mile. I was tired, so I decided to just reel it in at a nice, steady pace.

Slow and steady finishes the race.

Yeah!

mmmm ... pancakes ... and eggs ... and other yummy food ...