Yesterday I woke up and just didn’t feel like running so I didn’t. I went one mile of my planned 10, heard the one mile beep on my Garmin, looked down saw the time and just stopped running. I walked back to the house. Today I woke up and couldn’t wait to get out the door. I did 6.5 miles and would have kept going if it hadn’t been time to get ready for work. In fact, as I got closer to the house I made the decision to pull a double today and run during my lunch break.
So what was the difference?
The weather was about the same both mornings – high 60s/low 70s with gross humidity. I got about the same amount of sleep both nights prior to the runs – 7.5 hours-ish. However, dinner the night before may have had something to do with (or, everything).
Monday night was happy hour at a bar where my husband and split a plate of (yummy!) nachos, sliders and a pitcher of beer. Although this doesn’t happen often and isn’t a dinner I am particularly proud of, I have done it plenty of times. I woke up Tuesday morning feeling drained and completely apathetic toward running.
…and my “run” reflected that feeling.
Tuesday evening we had breakfast for dinner (three pancakes and three sausage links), a bowl of baked swiss chard chips and a slice of Tomato Soup Cake. While not a gold star dinner, it beat the pants off the previous night’s bar food nosh-fest. This morning I woke up and felt good.
…and my RUN reflected how I felt.
It is a lesson I learn over and over again: Eat bad, feel bad. Eat well, feel well. It really isn’t rocket science but constantly need to remind myself.
I recently read a forum post about the idea of “eating to run, not running to eat.” In other words, runners often say they run so that they can eat whatever they want without gaining weight. When you are running 50 miles a week, a Big Mac isn’t going to push the scales up. However, we runners also pay excruciating attention to our on-the-run nutrition and fueling. We have fueling plans and hydration plans for races – specific miles to eat gels, alternating Gatorade and water at aid stations, packing gummy bears and orange slices. I would make sense to apply the same passion and interest to our pre-run nutrition as well.
Lesson Re-Learned: Eat to Run (and not the other way around)
Daily Dozen:
6.48 miles @ morning run
Planned, 2 mile run/walk hill intervals on the treadmill & stretching @ lunch break
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
New Bike
After last weekend’s nearly disastrous run, I laid low this weekend and skipped running altogether.
However, the weekend wasn’t a total loss because on Sunday I purchased a new bike and here it is:
It is a Cannondale Quick 4 and is supposed to be a good bike for riders who want to use it for both commuting, quick rides to run errands as well as some fitness riding and this is exactly how I want to use this bike. I’ve been saying for over a year now that I’d like to start biking to/from work but I had two excuses that have prevented me from actually doing it. One, I didn’t have a “good” bike and two, I am very nervous about riding on the roads in DC.
Well, I’ve eliminated the first excuse and the only way to get over the anxiety about riding in DC is to just do it.
Last night, Mike and I went for a ride and it really was a great deal of fun. I am looking forward to my future bike adventures!
Daily Dozen:
5 miles w/ ¼ mile intervals and ¼ mile rest – piriformis is acting up, bring on the tennis ball J
However, the weekend wasn’t a total loss because on Sunday I purchased a new bike and here it is:
It is a Cannondale Quick 4 and is supposed to be a good bike for riders who want to use it for both commuting, quick rides to run errands as well as some fitness riding and this is exactly how I want to use this bike. I’ve been saying for over a year now that I’d like to start biking to/from work but I had two excuses that have prevented me from actually doing it. One, I didn’t have a “good” bike and two, I am very nervous about riding on the roads in DC.
Well, I’ve eliminated the first excuse and the only way to get over the anxiety about riding in DC is to just do it.
Last night, Mike and I went for a ride and it really was a great deal of fun. I am looking forward to my future bike adventures!
Daily Dozen:
5 miles w/ ¼ mile intervals and ¼ mile rest – piriformis is acting up, bring on the tennis ball J
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Doubt
This past Sunday I woke up excited to try my first long run “ultra-style.” In other words, I was going out for 4 hours with the intention of doing run/walk intervals, 5 minutes running following by one minute walking repeated 40 times, and walking every incline, big or small. I got a late start, not getting out the door until just after 8 so I was going to be battling the heat and humidity along with the time/distance. However, I had a handheld of water, a camelbak full of water, food and a plan.
I headed east along the Custis Bike Trail toward the Potomac River and then turned on to the Mount Vernon Bike Trail going south. Even though it was hot, the bike path was shaded a decent amount and I felt good. I followed my run/walk/walk up inclines plan and things were going well.
After one hour, I took a longer walk break to eat a peanut butter bar.
The sun was beating down by this point but I was still feeling good and run/walk-ing well. My pace was nothing to be amazed by, probably a steady 11:00 minute/mile during the runs and a fast walk during the breaks. I also made it a point to power-hike the inclines.
At the two hour point, I turned around and headed back toward home and took a longer walk break to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was feeling pretty good at this point. I had done around 9.5 miles in 2 hours. For me, during long runs, the hardest part is just getting to the halfway point. In my mind, getting halfway means that the only thing left to do is make it home…and I always make it home. The sun was getting higher and the stretches with shade were getting further apart but I continue drinking every time I stopped to walk.
However, the wheels started to come off about an hour later. Somewhere around the 13 mile point my legs were not moving as quickly as I wanted them to and the running portions were getting harder. I decided to take a long walk break, sipping water as I went. I didn’t feel thirsty but I drank anyway. The heat also started getting to me.
This is when doubt started entering my head.
What am I doing? I asked myself. Why am I out here? I can’t run an ultra without months of training! I’m still recovering from the marathon. Wait, the marathon…two weeks ago I ran 26.2 miles in 4 hours 7 minutes and today I am struggling to finish half that….at a much, slower, deliberately slower, pace. What was a I thinking signing up for this ultra?
I decided to call it quits. I was about 2 miles from the Arlington National Cemetery metro station. I decided to run/walk to it and then call it a day. I debated just toughing it out but I decided to make the “smart” decision and not push myself. Live to fight another day, I told myself and I felt good about the decision.
I made it to the metro station, thanked all that was holy that I had remembered to throw a few bucks in my camelbak, and jumped on the next train. I was a little bummed that I didn’t make it the full distance but I felt good about the 15.5 miles (in 3 hours 19 minutes) that I had covered. It is going to be a hot day when I run the ultra so it was good practice, I thought to myself.
Unfortunately, I had to transfer trains and I had to wait 12 minutes for a train. As I waited on the bottom level of the Rosslyn metro station I noticed that my ears started to feel clogged. That’s unusual! I was listening to a podcast and it increasingly sounded like I was hearing it while holding my head under water. Then, my vision started going black. Oh my god! I am going to faint, I thought, so this is what it feels like to pass out.
Because my ears were clogged, I could hear my breathing very well and the one thing I noticed (other than how loud it sounded) was that it was actually pretty even. I told myself to keep calm and to think. My vision still getting dimmer and dimmer, I started looking around – the bench was full but I could sit on the floor (I was leaning on the wall). No, don’t sit on the floor, if I sit on the floor I’m going to pass out. Bad idea. I looked up and I still had 7 minutes until my train would arrive. I started paying attention to the people around me – when I pass out, which one is going to get to me first, which one is going to call for help, who looks like they would be good in crisis?
I honestly evaluated all the people on the platform around me (all tourists) and decided that I would have better chances upstairs at the metro kiosk with an employee or outside entirely. Don’t panic. Stay calm. I repeated this over and over to myself. I listened to my breathing – it was so loud in my ears. I don’t remember my heart racing but my breathing was steady.
Alright, pushing myself off the wall, eyes down and focused on each step my foot was taking, just get upstairs. If I pass out, I want to be as close to above ground as possible. If I can make it all the way out of the station, I’ll call Mike and he can come pick me up. I was making deals with myself – don’t pass out until you see sunlight or an employee. Just keep walking.
And, then, just like that…my vision came back. My ears felt better (still a little clogged). Walking was helping. I kept pacing along the platform, afraid that if I stopped I would start to feel bad again. I also started sweating even more. It was like walking flipped a switch and my body was functioning properly again.
My train finally pulled in to the station, which means I was fighting off fainting for over 5 minutes. I jumped on the train and couldn’t wait to go the four stops. I tried to look as normal as possible even though I was absolutely soaked in sweat and who knows what my face looked like (I’m not good at hiding my emotions – they are always written all over my face). I’m sure I looked frightened and I was!
I made it to the Ballston metro station and high-tailed it out to the street. I called Mike to pick me up because I didn’t want to chance the walk home. If I passed out in a neighborhood, who knows how long it would be until someone noticed me. As I waited for Mike to drive to the station, I started to feel really scared. No longer faced with the crisis, it started to hit me just what had happened to me, just how close I had come to something very serious happening to me.
Mike got me home and I showered and changed. I felt pretty off for the rest of the day – slight headache and just whole-body tired. I’ve been thinking about what I did wrong – more water, more often, saltier foods (pretzels were in my pack but I hadn’t eaten them), run earlier to avoid the worst of the day’s heat.
As I get farther from Sunday’s experience, I am slowly gaining back my confidence but I still have quite a few doubts. I’ll attempt another long run this weekend (much earlier in the day though) and if it doesn’t go well, I may have to face facts – I may not be ready to run an ultra marathon so soon after a marathon. I’m worried…but hopeful.
Daily Dozen:
No running – my body needs a break
Slow walk and stretching @ lunch hour
I headed east along the Custis Bike Trail toward the Potomac River and then turned on to the Mount Vernon Bike Trail going south. Even though it was hot, the bike path was shaded a decent amount and I felt good. I followed my run/walk/walk up inclines plan and things were going well.
After one hour, I took a longer walk break to eat a peanut butter bar.
The sun was beating down by this point but I was still feeling good and run/walk-ing well. My pace was nothing to be amazed by, probably a steady 11:00 minute/mile during the runs and a fast walk during the breaks. I also made it a point to power-hike the inclines.
At the two hour point, I turned around and headed back toward home and took a longer walk break to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was feeling pretty good at this point. I had done around 9.5 miles in 2 hours. For me, during long runs, the hardest part is just getting to the halfway point. In my mind, getting halfway means that the only thing left to do is make it home…and I always make it home. The sun was getting higher and the stretches with shade were getting further apart but I continue drinking every time I stopped to walk.
However, the wheels started to come off about an hour later. Somewhere around the 13 mile point my legs were not moving as quickly as I wanted them to and the running portions were getting harder. I decided to take a long walk break, sipping water as I went. I didn’t feel thirsty but I drank anyway. The heat also started getting to me.
This is when doubt started entering my head.
What am I doing? I asked myself. Why am I out here? I can’t run an ultra without months of training! I’m still recovering from the marathon. Wait, the marathon…two weeks ago I ran 26.2 miles in 4 hours 7 minutes and today I am struggling to finish half that….at a much, slower, deliberately slower, pace. What was a I thinking signing up for this ultra?
I decided to call it quits. I was about 2 miles from the Arlington National Cemetery metro station. I decided to run/walk to it and then call it a day. I debated just toughing it out but I decided to make the “smart” decision and not push myself. Live to fight another day, I told myself and I felt good about the decision.
I made it to the metro station, thanked all that was holy that I had remembered to throw a few bucks in my camelbak, and jumped on the next train. I was a little bummed that I didn’t make it the full distance but I felt good about the 15.5 miles (in 3 hours 19 minutes) that I had covered. It is going to be a hot day when I run the ultra so it was good practice, I thought to myself.
Unfortunately, I had to transfer trains and I had to wait 12 minutes for a train. As I waited on the bottom level of the Rosslyn metro station I noticed that my ears started to feel clogged. That’s unusual! I was listening to a podcast and it increasingly sounded like I was hearing it while holding my head under water. Then, my vision started going black. Oh my god! I am going to faint, I thought, so this is what it feels like to pass out.
Because my ears were clogged, I could hear my breathing very well and the one thing I noticed (other than how loud it sounded) was that it was actually pretty even. I told myself to keep calm and to think. My vision still getting dimmer and dimmer, I started looking around – the bench was full but I could sit on the floor (I was leaning on the wall). No, don’t sit on the floor, if I sit on the floor I’m going to pass out. Bad idea. I looked up and I still had 7 minutes until my train would arrive. I started paying attention to the people around me – when I pass out, which one is going to get to me first, which one is going to call for help, who looks like they would be good in crisis?
I honestly evaluated all the people on the platform around me (all tourists) and decided that I would have better chances upstairs at the metro kiosk with an employee or outside entirely. Don’t panic. Stay calm. I repeated this over and over to myself. I listened to my breathing – it was so loud in my ears. I don’t remember my heart racing but my breathing was steady.
Alright, pushing myself off the wall, eyes down and focused on each step my foot was taking, just get upstairs. If I pass out, I want to be as close to above ground as possible. If I can make it all the way out of the station, I’ll call Mike and he can come pick me up. I was making deals with myself – don’t pass out until you see sunlight or an employee. Just keep walking.
And, then, just like that…my vision came back. My ears felt better (still a little clogged). Walking was helping. I kept pacing along the platform, afraid that if I stopped I would start to feel bad again. I also started sweating even more. It was like walking flipped a switch and my body was functioning properly again.
My train finally pulled in to the station, which means I was fighting off fainting for over 5 minutes. I jumped on the train and couldn’t wait to go the four stops. I tried to look as normal as possible even though I was absolutely soaked in sweat and who knows what my face looked like (I’m not good at hiding my emotions – they are always written all over my face). I’m sure I looked frightened and I was!
I made it to the Ballston metro station and high-tailed it out to the street. I called Mike to pick me up because I didn’t want to chance the walk home. If I passed out in a neighborhood, who knows how long it would be until someone noticed me. As I waited for Mike to drive to the station, I started to feel really scared. No longer faced with the crisis, it started to hit me just what had happened to me, just how close I had come to something very serious happening to me.
Mike got me home and I showered and changed. I felt pretty off for the rest of the day – slight headache and just whole-body tired. I’ve been thinking about what I did wrong – more water, more often, saltier foods (pretzels were in my pack but I hadn’t eaten them), run earlier to avoid the worst of the day’s heat.
As I get farther from Sunday’s experience, I am slowly gaining back my confidence but I still have quite a few doubts. I’ll attempt another long run this weekend (much earlier in the day though) and if it doesn’t go well, I may have to face facts – I may not be ready to run an ultra marathon so soon after a marathon. I’m worried…but hopeful.
Daily Dozen:
No running – my body needs a break
Slow walk and stretching @ lunch hour
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
So I did something…I did it a few months ago but I’ve been hesitant to tell too many people. I was waiting to see how I did running the marathon (well, what turned out to be two marathons) but I’m not even sure why. It is not like running poorly in the marathon was going to make this thing go away.
Well, what did I do? I signed up for my first ultramarathon. On July 11, I’ll be tackling the Skyline Challenge in the mountains of Virginia. It is a 50K (31 miles) of trails, out-and-back.
Ever since I signed up I have been at times excited, doubtful and scared, and some times even all three.
Since I just ran two marathons, I am going to use the endurance I’ve already gained and try to simply maintain my fitness through July in order to survive and finish the ultra. I am found several sources that says that running a 50K a month or two after a marathon is actually a great way to train so that is encouraging. My plan is to continue recovering from the marathon and slowly build up my weekly mileage back to the level I was running before Nashville.
At the same time, I am going to be doing something slightly different for the weekend long runs. Rather than focus on hitting a certain mileage I’ll run/walk with my focus on time on my feet and trying different foods to see how my stomach handles running and eating (this I am not worried about). I am taking the advice of most experienced ultra runners and will be walking up every hill no matter how small and when I can run, doing a 5 minute run/1 minute walk ratio. I’ll be practicing this on the weekends as well.
The other thing I am doing to prepare that is different from marathon training is walking. I’ll be hitting the gym during the work week for practice walking up hills and strengthening those muscles.
It’s funny, as I’ve been telling more and more people my doubt has been slipping away. I’m still exciting and scared but in a good way. I am starting to believe that I’ll finish it but I’m still scared that it is going to chew me up and then spit me back out.
Daily Dozen:
Walking – treadmill hill workout @ lunch hour
Well, what did I do? I signed up for my first ultramarathon. On July 11, I’ll be tackling the Skyline Challenge in the mountains of Virginia. It is a 50K (31 miles) of trails, out-and-back.
Ever since I signed up I have been at times excited, doubtful and scared, and some times even all three.
Since I just ran two marathons, I am going to use the endurance I’ve already gained and try to simply maintain my fitness through July in order to survive and finish the ultra. I am found several sources that says that running a 50K a month or two after a marathon is actually a great way to train so that is encouraging. My plan is to continue recovering from the marathon and slowly build up my weekly mileage back to the level I was running before Nashville.
At the same time, I am going to be doing something slightly different for the weekend long runs. Rather than focus on hitting a certain mileage I’ll run/walk with my focus on time on my feet and trying different foods to see how my stomach handles running and eating (this I am not worried about). I am taking the advice of most experienced ultra runners and will be walking up every hill no matter how small and when I can run, doing a 5 minute run/1 minute walk ratio. I’ll be practicing this on the weekends as well.
The other thing I am doing to prepare that is different from marathon training is walking. I’ll be hitting the gym during the work week for practice walking up hills and strengthening those muscles.
It’s funny, as I’ve been telling more and more people my doubt has been slipping away. I’m still exciting and scared but in a good way. I am starting to believe that I’ll finish it but I’m still scared that it is going to chew me up and then spit me back out.
Daily Dozen:
Walking – treadmill hill workout @ lunch hour
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Welcome Back
It is good to be back.
I know I shouldn’t rush recovery after a marathon but that doesn’t mean I can’t be excited about getting back out on my bike paths and streets.
This morning I headed out for a short 2-miler and I felt good and smooth.
I’ve really missed getting out in the morning, before even having a chance to think about work and cleaning the house and running errands and folding clothes, getting out before the sun comes up and just simply running. I love how I feel after a long, hard run, knowing that I have my whole day ahead of me and I’ve managed to accomplish so much.
I can honestly say that I’m excited to get back in to the groove of a fifty mile week.
As I set out this morning, running with a slight skip in my step, as they say, because of Sunday’s marathon PR, the future seemed limitless. Maybe I can one day break four hours, heck, maybe I’ll even qualify for Boston one day. I should shoot for that this fall, or tomorrow…
I got tired about mile 1 and even though I pushed just a bit further down the bike path before I turned around, I knew that this was a gentle reminder to be happy with my accomplishment now and to not be so quick to jump to the next impossible dream.
I made it through my 2 miles this morning and as I walked back to the house I felt very content and happy, which is such a relief from the anxiety and nerves of the past three weeks.
Daily Dozen:
2.3 miles run @ morning
Strength training @ lunch hour
I know I shouldn’t rush recovery after a marathon but that doesn’t mean I can’t be excited about getting back out on my bike paths and streets.
This morning I headed out for a short 2-miler and I felt good and smooth.
I’ve really missed getting out in the morning, before even having a chance to think about work and cleaning the house and running errands and folding clothes, getting out before the sun comes up and just simply running. I love how I feel after a long, hard run, knowing that I have my whole day ahead of me and I’ve managed to accomplish so much.
I can honestly say that I’m excited to get back in to the groove of a fifty mile week.
As I set out this morning, running with a slight skip in my step, as they say, because of Sunday’s marathon PR, the future seemed limitless. Maybe I can one day break four hours, heck, maybe I’ll even qualify for Boston one day. I should shoot for that this fall, or tomorrow…
I got tired about mile 1 and even though I pushed just a bit further down the bike path before I turned around, I knew that this was a gentle reminder to be happy with my accomplishment now and to not be so quick to jump to the next impossible dream.
I made it through my 2 miles this morning and as I walked back to the house I felt very content and happy, which is such a relief from the anxiety and nerves of the past three weeks.
Daily Dozen:
2.3 miles run @ morning
Strength training @ lunch hour
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Recovery
Let’s talk recovery.
I haven’t felt as beat up by this marathon as I have in the past. My legs are sore and the rest of me is just simply exhausted but I don’t think I did any damage or caused on injury. I feel steady on my feet (for the most part, there have been a few steps that have felt a little wobbly) and going up stairs isn’t too terrible. Now, going downstairs is still painful but I manage.
The only thing that has me worried is some swelling in one of my toes. After marathons, my toes usually feel a little beat up and I will have a small (not painful) blister or two on the tips of a toe(s). For nine out of ten toes, this marathon was no different – a little pain Sunday and Monday but today they’re fine. One toe, the second toe on my left foot is swollen and very tender to the touch all around the toe, not just under the nail bed. I’m not sure what is going on with it – it is much better today than yesterday but it is still painful. I’ll have to keep an eye on that one.
I’m attributing this better than experienced recovery to two things: one, the higher mileage and two, the course itself.
I went in to this round of marathon training running 50 mile weeks and progressed up to 55-60 mile weeks by the time I peaked for Nashville in early April. Even though I didn’t hit the 50+ miles as consistently as I would have liked, I noticed an increase in the strength of my running. Mid-week runs over 10 miles didn’t require a day off the next day and weekend long runs did seem to take as much out of me as they have in the past. This higher mileage, Just Run, experience succeeded in this aspect.
The other reason I am doing so well with my recovery on this go-round is because the course was 95% gravel and dirt. The same exact course on roads would have taken a larger toll on my legs, for sure. I’m sold! I love running on Rail Trails!
Fingers crossed for the continuation of a good recovery period and yay! for more sleep the past few days.
Daily Dozen:
Absolutely Nothing
I haven’t felt as beat up by this marathon as I have in the past. My legs are sore and the rest of me is just simply exhausted but I don’t think I did any damage or caused on injury. I feel steady on my feet (for the most part, there have been a few steps that have felt a little wobbly) and going up stairs isn’t too terrible. Now, going downstairs is still painful but I manage.
The only thing that has me worried is some swelling in one of my toes. After marathons, my toes usually feel a little beat up and I will have a small (not painful) blister or two on the tips of a toe(s). For nine out of ten toes, this marathon was no different – a little pain Sunday and Monday but today they’re fine. One toe, the second toe on my left foot is swollen and very tender to the touch all around the toe, not just under the nail bed. I’m not sure what is going on with it – it is much better today than yesterday but it is still painful. I’ll have to keep an eye on that one.
I’m attributing this better than experienced recovery to two things: one, the higher mileage and two, the course itself.
I went in to this round of marathon training running 50 mile weeks and progressed up to 55-60 mile weeks by the time I peaked for Nashville in early April. Even though I didn’t hit the 50+ miles as consistently as I would have liked, I noticed an increase in the strength of my running. Mid-week runs over 10 miles didn’t require a day off the next day and weekend long runs did seem to take as much out of me as they have in the past. This higher mileage, Just Run, experience succeeded in this aspect.
The other reason I am doing so well with my recovery on this go-round is because the course was 95% gravel and dirt. The same exact course on roads would have taken a larger toll on my legs, for sure. I’m sold! I love running on Rail Trails!
Fingers crossed for the continuation of a good recovery period and yay! for more sleep the past few days.
Daily Dozen:
Absolutely Nothing
Monday, May 17, 2010
Bob Potts Heritage Rail Trail Marathon – Race Report
Success!!
I don’t intend on burying the lead here; I ran a marathon – all 26.2 miles of it – in 4 hours 7 minutes 42 seconds! I am so proud of my time and my race yesterday. I ran the race my own way without getting caught up in the pace of the runners passing me during the early miles. I ran strong the entire way and I finished well (my legs were hurting and I didn’t have much of a finishing kick so I’m not saying I finished strong but it wasn’t the struggle I experienced in Vermont or Marine Corp and most certainly would have experienced in Nashville had I been allowed to complete the distance).
Although I didn’t sleep well the night before (I am blaming the iced coffee drink I had around noon but everyone else seems to think it was just “nerves”) I was able to wake up quickly. I think I went to the bathroom about a dozen times in the span of 45 minutes but I had to diligent with my hydration. I was feeling good as we left the hotel for the short trip to the other side of the town of York and the York College track – Grumbacher Center.
We were quickly able to find parking and I immediately got in line for the port-o-potties. I made it through the line with about 10 minutes left before race start time and as Mike and I walked to the start line, he asked me, “Well, how to do you feel?” I had told him earlier in the week (and then later in the week and on the drive up to York and a few more times that Saturday and then also before going to bed…). I answered honestly, “I’m not sure. It has really hit me that I’m running a marathon today.”
A quick kiss and that’s how I left it as I lined up toward the back of the small pack of runners.
The Bob Potts Heritage Rail Trail Marathon is only in its second year but it is a great race. The race is run in honor of Bob Potts, one of the first members of the York Road Runners, who passed away 4 years ago. His son organized this annual event to honor his father’s passion for running and to raise funds for a scholarship for two area high school cross country runners. With a field capped at 400 runners (333 runners crossed the finish line), this is a small race for sure but it is perfect for me.
The course is mostly run on the Heritage Rail Trail, a crushed gravel, flat as flat can be (I was told there was net uphill going out and net downhill coming back but I certainly couldn’t tell) trail starting in York, Pennsylvania. The organization of this small race is top-notch – packet pickup was a breeze, the start was easy and no-fuss, and the volunteers and water stops along the course were supportive and enthusiastic. The finish in the stadium at York College was a lot of fun and made it very easy for me to find my friends and family at the end.
The race director yelled “On your mark, get set, GO!” and suddenly I was running my fifth marathon. The first mile is run on the streets before hooking up with the rail trail and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t feeling great about the run. My legs didn’t feel particularly fresh and my spirits were a little low. As we made our way through the first few miles I repeatedly reminded myself, “Run your race.” I had to forget all those runners whizzing past me and keep an eye on my pace. As long as I was hitting my goal (9:30 pace overall), then I didn’t care who passed me.
It wasn’t easy, especially letting the lady dressed as a pink butterfly pass me and being ok with losing sight of her all together. “It’s OK. Just let them go. Your time is what is important; not their times.” I checked my watch at each mile marker waiting for it to be below 9:30 to give me an excuse to catch up to all those people running by me. However, that moment never came and by mile 4 or 5, I settled in for the long haul.
I saw Mike just before mile 10 and waved off the visor (in case the clouds opened up and it started to rain) and the banana. “Banana at Mile 17,” I shouted as I ran by. One of the great things about this out-and-back course is that he picked a spot and stayed there, seeing me twice.
I was feeling much better by this point and decided to allow myself to pick it up just a bit on the way to the turn around spot (which was beyond the 13.1 halfway mark). After hitting the turn around spot, I told myself that no one would pass me from that point on. I ran a consistent pace and everyone else was slowing down. I was able to pick people off easily – run an even pace, catch up to the runner in front of me, pass and pick the next one. A race experience like this has truly proven to me that the discipline to not go out to fast pays off big time!
Over the next 13 miles, I had 2 men pass me and 1 woman. Although I didn’t keep a count of the people I passed, I would estimate that it was 2 to 3 each mile so I would have to guess that I passed between 25 and 40 people. Passing so many people and doing so without struggling was an amazing feeling. Amazing what an evenly paced race will do for your racing confidence.
At Mile 15, I sucked do the Strawberry Gu I had gotten at Mile 13 and at Mile 17 I picked up the banana from Mike.
However, I held on to the banana until Mile 22 in order to (hopefully) give me a pick-me-up just when I would usually start to fade. Whether it was the banana or the even pacing or the gel or the higher mileage or some combination of all of the above (most likely answer), something went very right for me in this race.
By Mile 20 I was definitely feeling my legs but I was keeping my pace (and passing plenty of people) without any added effort. It wasn’t until Mile 24 that I was kinda wishing the marathon was over. My hamstrings were feeling tighter and tighter and I knew I didn’t have much left in me. I kept telling myself, “Only twenty more minutes running. That’s it. That’s nothing. You do that everyday and today is no different.”
I kept going and when I saw the mile marker for 25 I was very happy, only one more to go. However, that elation was short-lived because my watch read 9:55. For a few seconds, I was too shocked to react. My legs were still moving and I was still breathing but time stopped for a moment. Then, I got a little angry with myself. I didn’t run that far (25 freakin’ miles) to run my only 10+ minute mile of the day on the last mile of the marathon. “No way” and so I ran faster. It hurt (not in a sharp pain sort of way but definitely in the, my muscles have been whacked with a hammer and I should definitely give them a break, kind of way). I wanted to stop but I was too stubborn to give in. I had worked too hard to maintain a consistent pace and pass all those runners just to get passed back so close to the finish. The only option was to run and give it my all.
As I passed the 26 mile marker my watch read 9:34. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I had been aiming for a 4:10 for the day; a PR of over 9 minutes. It was a time I knew I had in me but honestly, wasn’t one that would be easy for me to achieve. When I saw 9:34 on my watch at that last mile marker I knew I would go get a 4:10 and if I could just maintain my pace for the next two tenths of a mile I might even get a sub 4:08. Again, the only thing to do was run. Trudge is probably a better description of the form of movement I used to make it up the “hill” (one those inclines in the road that probably isn’t truly considered a hill but at mile 26 of a marathon, it was a beast) and in to the stadium.
I entered the stadium tired and exhausted and ready to stop running but I had to make to the opposite side of the track (and let me tell you running on a bouncy track feels like walking on the moon – in a bad way – after 25 miles on a gravel trail) and the best way to do that was to run. As I rounded the track, I knew there was no way I would be catching the guy in front of me and so I didn’t even try. I did make an effort to dig deep and find a finishing kick but I didn’t come up with much of one. Anyway, I rounded the track and I saw an amazing site…4:07. That was the number on the clock. I had done it!
All the doubt and anxiety that had been bubbling in my since Nashville simple disappeared without a trace. I haven’t spent a single though second guessing myself or my training. It was the most perfect race I could have run on that day and I simply cannot ask any more of myself.
1 9:40
2 9:13
3 9:23
4 9:26
5 9:35
6 9:26
7 9:29
8 9:25
9 9:39
10 9:19
11 9:24
12 9:16
13 9:14
14 9:12
15 9:21
16 9:24
17 9:21
18 9:18
19 9:29
20 9:28
21 9:24
22 9:20
23 9:29
24 9:31
25 9:55
26 9:34
26.2 2:15
Pros
Small race with a hometown feel
Enthusiastic organization, volunteers and water stops
Flat, soft surface…flat
Cons
I really can’t complain but if you twist my arm I’d have to say that an x-small t-shirt would have been nice
I don’t intend on burying the lead here; I ran a marathon – all 26.2 miles of it – in 4 hours 7 minutes 42 seconds! I am so proud of my time and my race yesterday. I ran the race my own way without getting caught up in the pace of the runners passing me during the early miles. I ran strong the entire way and I finished well (my legs were hurting and I didn’t have much of a finishing kick so I’m not saying I finished strong but it wasn’t the struggle I experienced in Vermont or Marine Corp and most certainly would have experienced in Nashville had I been allowed to complete the distance).
Although I didn’t sleep well the night before (I am blaming the iced coffee drink I had around noon but everyone else seems to think it was just “nerves”) I was able to wake up quickly. I think I went to the bathroom about a dozen times in the span of 45 minutes but I had to diligent with my hydration. I was feeling good as we left the hotel for the short trip to the other side of the town of York and the York College track – Grumbacher Center.
We were quickly able to find parking and I immediately got in line for the port-o-potties. I made it through the line with about 10 minutes left before race start time and as Mike and I walked to the start line, he asked me, “Well, how to do you feel?” I had told him earlier in the week (and then later in the week and on the drive up to York and a few more times that Saturday and then also before going to bed…). I answered honestly, “I’m not sure. It has really hit me that I’m running a marathon today.”
A quick kiss and that’s how I left it as I lined up toward the back of the small pack of runners.
The Bob Potts Heritage Rail Trail Marathon is only in its second year but it is a great race. The race is run in honor of Bob Potts, one of the first members of the York Road Runners, who passed away 4 years ago. His son organized this annual event to honor his father’s passion for running and to raise funds for a scholarship for two area high school cross country runners. With a field capped at 400 runners (333 runners crossed the finish line), this is a small race for sure but it is perfect for me.
The course is mostly run on the Heritage Rail Trail, a crushed gravel, flat as flat can be (I was told there was net uphill going out and net downhill coming back but I certainly couldn’t tell) trail starting in York, Pennsylvania. The organization of this small race is top-notch – packet pickup was a breeze, the start was easy and no-fuss, and the volunteers and water stops along the course were supportive and enthusiastic. The finish in the stadium at York College was a lot of fun and made it very easy for me to find my friends and family at the end.
The race director yelled “On your mark, get set, GO!” and suddenly I was running my fifth marathon. The first mile is run on the streets before hooking up with the rail trail and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t feeling great about the run. My legs didn’t feel particularly fresh and my spirits were a little low. As we made our way through the first few miles I repeatedly reminded myself, “Run your race.” I had to forget all those runners whizzing past me and keep an eye on my pace. As long as I was hitting my goal (9:30 pace overall), then I didn’t care who passed me.
It wasn’t easy, especially letting the lady dressed as a pink butterfly pass me and being ok with losing sight of her all together. “It’s OK. Just let them go. Your time is what is important; not their times.” I checked my watch at each mile marker waiting for it to be below 9:30 to give me an excuse to catch up to all those people running by me. However, that moment never came and by mile 4 or 5, I settled in for the long haul.
I saw Mike just before mile 10 and waved off the visor (in case the clouds opened up and it started to rain) and the banana. “Banana at Mile 17,” I shouted as I ran by. One of the great things about this out-and-back course is that he picked a spot and stayed there, seeing me twice.
I was feeling much better by this point and decided to allow myself to pick it up just a bit on the way to the turn around spot (which was beyond the 13.1 halfway mark). After hitting the turn around spot, I told myself that no one would pass me from that point on. I ran a consistent pace and everyone else was slowing down. I was able to pick people off easily – run an even pace, catch up to the runner in front of me, pass and pick the next one. A race experience like this has truly proven to me that the discipline to not go out to fast pays off big time!
Over the next 13 miles, I had 2 men pass me and 1 woman. Although I didn’t keep a count of the people I passed, I would estimate that it was 2 to 3 each mile so I would have to guess that I passed between 25 and 40 people. Passing so many people and doing so without struggling was an amazing feeling. Amazing what an evenly paced race will do for your racing confidence.
At Mile 15, I sucked do the Strawberry Gu I had gotten at Mile 13 and at Mile 17 I picked up the banana from Mike.
Banana handoffs are very important to my marathon success!
However, I held on to the banana until Mile 22 in order to (hopefully) give me a pick-me-up just when I would usually start to fade. Whether it was the banana or the even pacing or the gel or the higher mileage or some combination of all of the above (most likely answer), something went very right for me in this race.
By Mile 20 I was definitely feeling my legs but I was keeping my pace (and passing plenty of people) without any added effort. It wasn’t until Mile 24 that I was kinda wishing the marathon was over. My hamstrings were feeling tighter and tighter and I knew I didn’t have much left in me. I kept telling myself, “Only twenty more minutes running. That’s it. That’s nothing. You do that everyday and today is no different.”
I kept going and when I saw the mile marker for 25 I was very happy, only one more to go. However, that elation was short-lived because my watch read 9:55. For a few seconds, I was too shocked to react. My legs were still moving and I was still breathing but time stopped for a moment. Then, I got a little angry with myself. I didn’t run that far (25 freakin’ miles) to run my only 10+ minute mile of the day on the last mile of the marathon. “No way” and so I ran faster. It hurt (not in a sharp pain sort of way but definitely in the, my muscles have been whacked with a hammer and I should definitely give them a break, kind of way). I wanted to stop but I was too stubborn to give in. I had worked too hard to maintain a consistent pace and pass all those runners just to get passed back so close to the finish. The only option was to run and give it my all.
As I passed the 26 mile marker my watch read 9:34. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I had been aiming for a 4:10 for the day; a PR of over 9 minutes. It was a time I knew I had in me but honestly, wasn’t one that would be easy for me to achieve. When I saw 9:34 on my watch at that last mile marker I knew I would go get a 4:10 and if I could just maintain my pace for the next two tenths of a mile I might even get a sub 4:08. Again, the only thing to do was run. Trudge is probably a better description of the form of movement I used to make it up the “hill” (one those inclines in the road that probably isn’t truly considered a hill but at mile 26 of a marathon, it was a beast) and in to the stadium.
I entered the stadium tired and exhausted and ready to stop running but I had to make to the opposite side of the track (and let me tell you running on a bouncy track feels like walking on the moon – in a bad way – after 25 miles on a gravel trail) and the best way to do that was to run. As I rounded the track, I knew there was no way I would be catching the guy in front of me and so I didn’t even try. I did make an effort to dig deep and find a finishing kick but I didn’t come up with much of one. Anyway, I rounded the track and I saw an amazing site…4:07. That was the number on the clock. I had done it!
All the doubt and anxiety that had been bubbling in my since Nashville simple disappeared without a trace. I haven’t spent a single though second guessing myself or my training. It was the most perfect race I could have run on that day and I simply cannot ask any more of myself.
1 9:40
2 9:13
3 9:23
4 9:26
5 9:35
6 9:26
7 9:29
8 9:25
9 9:39
10 9:19
11 9:24
12 9:16
13 9:14
14 9:12
15 9:21
16 9:24
17 9:21
18 9:18
19 9:29
20 9:28
21 9:24
22 9:20
23 9:29
24 9:31
25 9:55
26 9:34
26.2 2:15
Pros
Small race with a hometown feel
Enthusiastic organization, volunteers and water stops
Flat, soft surface…flat
Cons
I really can’t complain but if you twist my arm I’d have to say that an x-small t-shirt would have been nice
At the finish with the Giant Red Cow
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