Well, we finally completed our Season's final goal - the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon. Four of us finished the full Marathon, three finished the Half Marathon. It was the first Full for 2 people, and the first Half for 2 people. It was awesome to have everyone achieve their goal - to FINISH!!!
Racing is a difficult thing. You can train and train, yet you just never know what race day will bring. Sometimes you wake up feeling amazing and ready to reach a new PR, yet sometimes you wake up and feel the dread of impending "defeat" (whether its valid or not). For me, I woke up Sunday morning feeling good but as we walked out of our condo towards the start area my fuel belt felt like it weighed 10 pounds. It never feels like that. It didn't occur to me immediately that the heaviness of my belt would be an indication of how I would feel during the race, but it sure came back to me later!
I had intended on running a 10 minute pace for the first couple of miles, and walking with every water stop or mile marker. Instead, I felt pretty good so started out averaging a 9:30 pace. I started the walk breaks early, because I wanted to make sure I conserved some energy. I figured that if I could hold a 9:30 pace WITH my walk breaks then I would be sure to finish in 4 hrs 10 mins. By the halfway point I was definitely not holding my 9:30 pace and my hamstrings were already starting to get really sore. This was not good.
Every mile saw me getting slower and slower, and by mile 20 I was taking walk breaks not just every mile but every half mile - at the water stops AND the mile markers!! Sigh.....this was not what I had planned. I tried to cheer up and enjoy the scenery around me, but at about that point I think the city had their fill of the race and the people stuck in their cars at the intersections were blaring their horns and cussing out the runners and police officers. It was getting "hot" out, and I was so naseous that I couldn't drink any sports drinks or water. I resorted to rubbing on the BioFreeze to cover up the aching in my hamstrings and calves. Since I couldn't drink anything I started swishing water and spitting it out so that I could at least "feel" hydrated!
I guess it was around mile 23 when there were young kids handing out sponges out of a big bucket of nice, cold water. I HAPPILY took one, but as I wiped it across my face realized that one side of the sponge was scratchy. Combine the scratchy side of a sponge with the huge amounts of salt on my face (from sweating) and you have one very painful instant exfoliation! Not exactly what I wanted during my Marathon! But, I figured it out quickly and the soft side of the sponge felt so good I carried it with me to replenish with water at the remaining water stops!
During the race I had seen "Elvis" several times, but somehow during the last 3 miles of this race we kept passing each other. He was having fun getting all the shouts and cheers, but I was annoyed because I kept having to look at his butt with his pink or orange underwear showing through his white pants. So, I decided that I just couldn't have Elvis beating me in this Marathon! It was my motivation to keep running and stop letting the exhaustion and aches and pains make me want to sit down and whine! I think that I actually did beat him, if only by a minute.
For the first time ever, I finished a marathon feeling like crap, not just physcially but emotionally. Usually there is a sense of elation just to have finished! This time it was odd. It was like the negativity of the angry crowd stuck in traffic had washed over me. I just wanted it to be OVER!!! But, after getting my food and goodies, I went back to the tent and my friends eventually found me. After getting to relax, I started to feel better and started to feel happier about the race.
No, I didn't finish as fast as I wanted. I was, in fact, at least 20 minutes slower than I had wanted to be. Yet, considering how much pain I was in back in October during the Steamtown Marathon, and this time my knee wasn't even really hurting at all (just achy by about the 23rd mile), I realized this was actually a good race. October wasn't that long ago, and it took me a good two months for my knee to stop hurting, and I've now just run another Marathon and it didn't hurt at all!
So, I guess it isn't always about speed! I can whine all day that I didn't run 20 minutes faster, but the fact is - I FINISHED and I finished without injury! My strength training is working because I am getting stronger and I am recovering incredibly fast! Besides that, I was there with friends, and being able to share the triumphs and disappointments together - that is what REALLY mattered!!
Its not about the speed....its about the friendships, the small successes, and just having fun!!!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Overall Fitness
This weekend will basically "tell the tale". I've been working hard the last few months trying to improve my overall fitness, instead of just focusing on running and running alone. My intent is to try to improve my running by improving every other aspect of my fitness. I've seen the results and I certainly feel the results. This weekend will be a TEST of the results....by running the ING Miami Marathon and hopefully running it better than the last few of my marathons.
Since 7/28/08 I've gone from 131/2 lbs. and 28% body fat down to 123 lbs and 20% body fat. I feel wonderful, my energy levels are at "high" most of the time (when I sleep good), and I just FEEL happier and better. I love the feeling of my clothes being loose, and I love seeing the changes in my body. I've got muscles where everything had begun getting flabby again. I'm seeing the hint of that ever elusive 6-pack that I never fully achieved but once came close to having (maybe this time I'll actually get it!). I'm strong and can actually do a few pull ups, which I never even tried doing before even when I was at my most fit.
There is most certainly something to be said for MAKING time in your schedule for even a short workout. When I first started working out this way, I asked my Trainer (Jerome) if a 10-20 minute workout was really going to be enough. I was so skeptical. I was of the school of thought that it took an hour or two a day, at least 6 days a week, of heavy lifting to get the fitness I desired. I couldn't have been more wrong.
My workouts range between 10 and 30 minutes, but more often than not are around 20 minutes. It isn't the time I spend working out - it is what I DO while working out. My short workouts are intense, and they work! Too bad I was only doing this 1 or 2 days a week for the first two months. Its only been since about November that I stepped it up to 3 or more days a week. I should have started sooner.
That is why even if I have an "average" Marathon time, compared to my other Marathons, I will still be pleased. The true test will come this fall when I run an October Marathon after taking the next few months to REALLY focus on my overall fitness. I'm going to have fun doing CrossFit, take the pressure out of running, and head into my 40th birthday being in the best shape of my entire life!
That's the goal for the year, and I INTEND and EXPECT to achieve it. GET SOME!!!
Since 7/28/08 I've gone from 131/2 lbs. and 28% body fat down to 123 lbs and 20% body fat. I feel wonderful, my energy levels are at "high" most of the time (when I sleep good), and I just FEEL happier and better. I love the feeling of my clothes being loose, and I love seeing the changes in my body. I've got muscles where everything had begun getting flabby again. I'm seeing the hint of that ever elusive 6-pack that I never fully achieved but once came close to having (maybe this time I'll actually get it!). I'm strong and can actually do a few pull ups, which I never even tried doing before even when I was at my most fit.
There is most certainly something to be said for MAKING time in your schedule for even a short workout. When I first started working out this way, I asked my Trainer (Jerome) if a 10-20 minute workout was really going to be enough. I was so skeptical. I was of the school of thought that it took an hour or two a day, at least 6 days a week, of heavy lifting to get the fitness I desired. I couldn't have been more wrong.
My workouts range between 10 and 30 minutes, but more often than not are around 20 minutes. It isn't the time I spend working out - it is what I DO while working out. My short workouts are intense, and they work! Too bad I was only doing this 1 or 2 days a week for the first two months. Its only been since about November that I stepped it up to 3 or more days a week. I should have started sooner.
That is why even if I have an "average" Marathon time, compared to my other Marathons, I will still be pleased. The true test will come this fall when I run an October Marathon after taking the next few months to REALLY focus on my overall fitness. I'm going to have fun doing CrossFit, take the pressure out of running, and head into my 40th birthday being in the best shape of my entire life!
That's the goal for the year, and I INTEND and EXPECT to achieve it. GET SOME!!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Its a New Year
It is hard to believe that we are already two weeks in to a brand new year. Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was having to remember to write 2008 down with dates, and now I have to start that reminding all over again with 2009. But, life seems to be like that....just when we start to feel comfortable, or get used to things, it changes.
It is pretty ironic that for someone who really isn't fond of change, I so look forward to the New Year, and I inevitably am the sole cause of much of the change in my own life. I guess none of us really like change, yet deep down we know it is good for us.
Like the moment I realized that I was the reason why my kids were shy to talk to new people, and vowed to change that within myself so that I could set the example for them. I've worked hard at that for the last four years and it is amazing what that one small "change" did to change my life. It brought me new friends that have become some of the best friends I've ever had. It It has led me to attend different churches by myself, allowing me to meet some really great people and learn from them. led me to start USA Fit Gwinnett, which is the most amazing group of runners, coaches, and friends!
I often sit in wonder at my life and how fortunate I am, and realize that it is mostly a series of small events that open the way for so many greater things. Things that are often not even anticipated, and maybe not even wanted or thought of at the time. Yet, when you open up to change, to growing yourself, the possibilities are truly endless. It just takes a little courage, a little faith in yourself, and the desire to just take that first step.
So, as we head in to another New Year, 2009, I will once again take stock of my life and myself, and I'll contemplate ways that I can change and hopefully open some more doors to some really wonderful things to add to my already really great life.
It is pretty ironic that for someone who really isn't fond of change, I so look forward to the New Year, and I inevitably am the sole cause of much of the change in my own life. I guess none of us really like change, yet deep down we know it is good for us.
Like the moment I realized that I was the reason why my kids were shy to talk to new people, and vowed to change that within myself so that I could set the example for them. I've worked hard at that for the last four years and it is amazing what that one small "change" did to change my life. It brought me new friends that have become some of the best friends I've ever had. It It has led me to attend different churches by myself, allowing me to meet some really great people and learn from them. led me to start USA Fit Gwinnett, which is the most amazing group of runners, coaches, and friends!
I often sit in wonder at my life and how fortunate I am, and realize that it is mostly a series of small events that open the way for so many greater things. Things that are often not even anticipated, and maybe not even wanted or thought of at the time. Yet, when you open up to change, to growing yourself, the possibilities are truly endless. It just takes a little courage, a little faith in yourself, and the desire to just take that first step.
So, as we head in to another New Year, 2009, I will once again take stock of my life and myself, and I'll contemplate ways that I can change and hopefully open some more doors to some really wonderful things to add to my already really great life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
