Category Archives: 13.1

I May Have Given Up Running Today*

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*…aka River City Half Marathon Report.

It is now 8pm PST, and I am finally, finally feeling back in this world.  Today was my very first half Marathon.  In Sacramento.  In a place that we had run before…Discovery Park.  We had our 10K back in  October…so it was with trepidation as we were looking over Hwy 99 AGAIN…and realizing…Hey, are we doing THAT trail again?

Jami was at my door at 5:20…Kim’s husband had driven to Fleet Feet to get our bibs, but there was really no need…not a big race.  We picked up Kim, and got on the road.  I fell asleep around Galt, and woke up on 99, when we should have been on I5.  Jami sped around the turns like a madwoman, and we finally made it to the Finish at Discovery park, where a big school bus would take us 13.1 miles away to the middle of the trail.

3 Bathroom stops later, and I realized that no, “nothing” would be moving today.  No big crowds, which was nice, but with that comes no clocks, and no mile markers as I was soon to figure out.  I read Glenn’s advice (THANK YOU!!!) on race strategy, and it was helpful.  He was in my brain for the whole time.  As was the mean girl, who also lived in my head from mile 7-11.  (More on that later)

Mile 1-2.  I really tried to go slowly.  I ran a 10:35 or so, but wasn’t sure due to no markers.  I practiced holding back.  My calves were trying to talk to me, but I ignored them…

Mile 3-6.  Plink, plink, plink.  I was passing women my age one by one…I was trying to not go all out, because the advice was pace pace pace so you are not miserable the second half.  (I was anyway).  I didn’t stop at the first aid station, but decided to stop at every one afterward.  It was in the mid 70s-low 80s that first hour.  I was confident, and happy.

Mile 7.  The calves were quiet, but suddenly my right baby toe was screaming.  It hurt.  I tried to alter my stride, to no avail.  Mile 7-10 were characterized by long sunny runs.  You would turn on the trail only to be met by another long hot run.  Someone was smoking on the side.  I do remember that.  I had taken some HEED at mile 6, and I started to upchuck a little.  What’s that advice about not trying anything new?

It was at this point that I had a very bad, negative, ugly voice in my head.  I’m serious when I say I’m not schizophrenic.  However, I battled her for 4 miles.  She was yammering on and on about how ridiculous it was for me to even try to run…who did I think I was…you’re too heavy, too old…she went on to rake me over the coals…you have no career, what a loser, etc.  On and off we battled, and I do have to say I won.  I finally said outloud, “SHUT UP AND RUN”.  She convinced me at one point to stop blogging, tweeting, etc., that I had nothing to offer, etc.   This was the crux of my run.

Mile 11-12-13 were all the same.  At 2 hours, I simply stopped and walked for a few minutes, and it felt wonderful.  It was 85 or hotter, and I knew the last three would be brutal.  Every runner I initially plinked off, now plinked off me.  A few bikers shouted, “You’re almost there!”, at mile 11.  My number one pet peeve…You’re almost there does not mean 2 more miles.  Ever.

Mile 13 I finally saw Kim and Jami on the course waving frantically.  I got up to them, and Kim yelled, “This is it.  Last corner!!!”  I had tears in my eyes, and wanted to bawl.  I did not think I could take one.more.step.  I turned and saw people, flags, cones.  And finally, peace.

We got on the lawn, and I said that was it.  I was done.  Never again, and who wants my Nike Women’s Marathon spot?  We got ice and laid the bag across my toes.  For several minutes my feet were in real pain.  I swore then and there that this 50 year old would NOT be running again.  Ever.  And, I meant it.  It was ugly.  It’s only now, after 2 hours in the spa and a big helping of Taco Bell, that I am finally feeling back in this world.

If I ever run again, ever, I will hire a coach/therapist for my head.  Seriously, I battled today.  My time is not terrible, considering my first half was better, but every step at the end was a struggle.  I am disappointed, but I learned a huge lesson.  I will have to slay this demon and b***h-slap her down to be able to run again.  Seriously.

Date: 4/19/2009 8:30 AM
Type: Race
Course: River City Half Marathon
Distance: 13.1 miles
Duration: 2:42:00
Pace: 12:22 / mile
Shoe: Mizuno Alchemy
Weight: same
Misc: Quality: 6/10, Effort: 4/10
Weather: 83° F, Sunny
Event URL: www.rivercitymarathon.com/parkwaymap3.pdf
Notes: Heat!
Statistics: Calories: 1823
VO2 Max: 25.3

(PS!  Great news:  Jami was first in 40-44 division with 1:50, and Kim got 2:15~~ We had so much fun together~~)

*whistling*this is for real*

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twiddling thumbs.

trying not to worry about tomorrow.

too late. 

stomach is puffy…watching weather…

how scary that I’m comparing this last 24 hours to this Johnny Cash song: *25 minutes to go*

Good luck to all the Boston runners, but right now…it’s allllllllll about River City for me!!!

22 hours to go

Props to Bloggers: TIART

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For Runner’s Lounge TIART, something I don’t usually participate in…just read everyone else’s reponses…the topic today is Blogging & Running, how and why?

First of all, I used to teach PE & Health, so I started my blog two years ago as a vehicle to teach students how to blog their Health projects and final exams.  I was transferred the next year, and then to a full time PE job, then High School English, and along the way, the blog just went with me. 

Forward to Halloween 2007, when Kim says to me “I’d like to run…do you run?”  I had done the Couch to 5K program with my Jr. High students that previous Spring, and so I said, sure…and we started the C25K training. 

My first 5K in 25 years, was in January 2008.  I kept blogging, talking about school, my kids, my soon-to-be-but-never-finished divorce, and everything under the sun.  I think I started posting on other teachers’ blogs, but then found my first runner’s blog.  The poor guy…I think I pestered him about so many things.

When I finally started to use Bloglines, my blog reading changed.  I could find the blogs I wanted quickly, and could see automatic updates. 

Why do I blog?  Because I’m a crazy, self-centered, all about me runner…I need answers, and you all provide them.  What is a BQ?  I had no idea.  (No one would tell me, I just had to keep reading to figure it out).  What about food?  Garmins?  Shoes?  Going to the bathroom during a run?  Races? 

Bloggers provided me with all these answers:  Not official running sites.  Friendly folks sitting at home or work willing to dish out some answers.  Not only that:  When I had the most self-doubt, I had runner/bloggers lending support, quotes, advice.  I started using Runner’s World Training Log, and blogging about it, helps me keep accountable.

This Sunday I run my the River City Half Marathon in Sacramento/Folsom.  I couldn’t have gotten here on my own.  I thank the veterans out there who gave me advice all along the way. 

Sidenote:  Last night~10:02 pace; 3 miles.  My fastest ever.  Tonight:  2 miles, and our training is finished.

Restless, Irritable, Discontent

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Is it the upcoming Half Mary?  Is it the wind?  Is the chocolate?

I woke up with a raging case of restlessness.  I’m on vacation, Kim is not…so we are running tonight when she gets home.  Just a four miler on the plan…

I just got an alert that we are expected to have up to 40mph winds…but really I just needed to look outdoors.  My oldest and I were having a ping pong tournament, and, well that was my excuse for losing.

So, here are some random thoughts.  Actually, I’m truly thinking in bullet points this morning.  I don’t want to address the news, because it’s all bad.  Little girl was murdered 20 miles from me…and while I’m temporarily relieved the suspect (a woman) is in jail, it does not ease my fears when my boys and their friends want to go for a bike ride down by the river. 

  • I’m scanning my computer now.  I got me a Trojan Horse.
  • I have way too much chocolate around this house.  This was exactly why I avoided going to Woodland Hills this week…I thought my mother would have way too much good food.  Turns out, you can get good food in Northern CA, too.
  • I wonder if I could ever give up Twitter.  No.  That is a No.  Sort of similar to the day I realized I was an alcoholic.  Last night I realized that, while Facebook was relatively easy to delete, the TweetDeck sound is like crack for a geekaholic.
  • I went on eharmony.  I did.  I filled out their stupid profile, and here was the result:  I was labeled emotionally stable, and not so outgoing.  Then someone wanted an “introduction”, and I promptly deleted any and all reference to eharmony.  Me?  Emotionally stable.  I literally did laugh. out. loud.
  • Jobs.  There are 26000 teachers out of work.  Who is going to hire a 27 year veteran, with a MS+90, (read: far end of the pay scale), when there are perfectly good college grads waiting to be scooped up? 
  • Marketing:  To answer that question, I will just have to market myself.  Give me a salt shaker.  I can make a 2 week lesson plan, hitting all the standards in all the subject areas.  Yeah, I’m talented like that.
  • Holy Shit.  I’m running a Half Marathon on Sunday.  Holy Shit.

Ms. V’s Virgin Taper

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taper-river-city

Some time in Mid-January, we started this training for the River City Half Marathon, to be held in Sacramento & Folsom exactly one week from today. 

Here is our training schedule, and except for a 10 day blip for some reason (was I sick?  did I get injured?), we stayed consistent and to the course.  I fell on my knee twice…but that’s about all I can remember.

I think I’m feeling a little sad (?) that it’s over…because really.  We did.  The. Whole. Thing.

This week, as you can see is a 4-3-2…then Sunday is the race.  This morning we did this run:

Date: 4/12/2009 6:30 AM
Type: Easy
Course: 5 Spring Creek-Starbucks
Distance: 5.01 miles
Duration: 51:43
Pace: 10:20 / mile
Shoe: Mizuno Alchemy
Weight: Same
Weather: 48° F
Statistics: Calories: 697
VO2 Max: 29.3

I can’t remember ever running a 10:20 mile.  Not for a long time anyway.  It just felt great.  Maybe I’m ready.  No, I know I am. 

Here’s to my virgin taper!  Next week, Ms. V will be sporting this:13.1 Half Marathon Bumper Sticker -White (Oval)

must. run. now.

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2.8

I hadn’t run for 11 days.  Kim and I were starting back again tonight.  She called me to say that no, she couldn’t run and had to work late, but tomorrow she could run. 

I figured I could get in the 5 miles tomorrow with her.  But tonight.  Tonight I would have to run, because tomorrow would be almost 2 weeks, and that is unacceptable in the middle of this Half Marathon training.  It’s exactly what happened while training in September.  We stopped halfway through. 

For whatever reason. 

Now, I have to do it.  I’ve paid the money for the River City Half, and I have to do it.  Plus, this would be the second time I started the training and quit it.  Just recently, my sister said, “What is it with you and not finishing books?”  I have tons of half started memoirs, fiction and self help books.  She gets a book?  She finishes it.  What a concept.

Perhaps this is my defect.  I can’t finish.  Two marriage, 28 books, 2 attempts at the Half Marathon. 

So I laced up.  I got my new shuffle *pink*…and got on the windy street.  The first 5 steps, my shins felt like they were plink plink plinking along.  I couldn’t catch my breath.  I felt out of shape….

…and then it happened.  What always happens at the start of mile 2.  I started breathing normally.  I was running.  Over the catwalk with a new song.  I didn’t even do 3 miles.  I just had to get out there.

I wonder if everyone else is this obsessed with their running?  Oh yeah, I know it’s true.  But, every day I’m out there, is a day that I’m moving.  That I’m breathing and alive.  And, I guess I’m feeling 50.  In a good way.  Like yeah.  I can do this.

So, I’m scared about the Half.  I just realized that. 
~~Carry on~~

(PS-This is so typical for our town.  The 8K this weekend?  Turns out it was a 4.8 miler.  Like last year’s 5K, a 2.7 miler.  Everyone was so excited with their time…then, not so much.  Why they can’t measure a correct route is beyond me!)

13.1~Sunday Confessions 1 & 2

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The Half Marathon in Fresno & Clovis is 22 weeks away.  We started training last week with Ryan Hall’s Half Marathon Training Plan.  It’s only a 10 week plan, so we decided to do half of the miles these ten weeks, then the full program the next ten.  Here is my wrap-up for the 2 weeks.  It’s Sunday, so confession time as well.  And, I’m not even Catholic.

  • I’ll get this out of the way first:  Last Sunday out in the country, nature called.  It called my name LOUDLY, and I had to go in a farmer’s orchard.  My running partner ran on ahead, and waited at the next stop.  She was the only one who knew.  I told one of my other non-running friends, and she sort of looked at me like I had suddenly grown two heads.  That was the last time I would tell someone who doesn’t run.  I’m gonna have to blog that stuff with you fine people.
  • Thought of Razzdoodle today during my first mile, which typically bites (the mile, not thinking of Razzdoodle).  It’s when I try to understand why I’m running, why I’m not in bed at 5:30 am on a Sunday. 
  • We are doing the Short program of Ryan Hall’s training.  Which actually feels like a LOT of running, and not short at all.
  • I have no idea what TEMPO or SPEED runs mean.  I’ll admit that.  I’m winging it.
  • When it says *4 miles* PLUS a warmup and cooldown mile, I’m like, wait, I’m supposed to run differently?
  • I need less salt at night.
  • ….and no ice cream at night.
  • ….or anything after 7pm if I’m running the next day (see bullet 1)

I leave you with a picture of my backyard, which is where I spend my cooldown, swimming a few laps, sitting in my spa with coffee, cranberry juice and a Luna bar.  It’s my own slice of heaven, and the morning glories in my toolbar are in my yard.  I took the dogs for a long walk after my run today, and my lab Chet fetched the ball and swam all morning with me.  Life is good.  Gotta be better than yesterday.

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!