Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon...May 15, 2011

I eyeballed this race several times before actually signing up for it. I began looking at it back in January thinking it would be nice to run a race in Virginia when it was not too terribly hot. The final decision came in when I competed in the Columbia Half Marathon in March and was unable to complete it due to a stomach virus...I knew that if I wanted to achieve my goal of 6 half marathons in 2011, I was going to have to find another spring half. With that in mind, I signed up for it.

After the wonderment of the Palmetto Half Marathon in April, I decided to try and take my training a bit more seriously and asked my dear friend and trainer, Tripp, to help me out. So, we have been training for the past two weeks and working towards getting me ready. I knew it was not enough time to challenge myself to reach for a PR, but I also knew it would be better than my last half where I ran/walked it with a broken pinky toe and twisted ankle. So, my goal was truly to come in at least 10 minutes under my time for that half.

The weather for this race was really questionable. I seriously thought it was going to pour down raining. So, I planned for it by wrapping my iPod in plastic prior to the race. There was no way I was doing this without my music and my special mp3s that Tripp recorded for me. And those mp3s were so worth it!!!

We got to the start/finish line early Sunday morning. I wanted to make sure that my dear friend, Ann, who accompanied me was going to have a good spot to stay where we would not have to worry too much about me finding her at the end of the race. They allowed us to park in the start area since Ann had a broken foot. It was a good spot because she was right at the finish line and able to wander among the few vendors at the end and the VIP tent.

At 6:30, the opening ceremony began. Drew Carey was running his first ever half marathon and spoke at the beginning. I believe he also may have started the race by shooting the gun at 7 a.m. A couple others spoke and the race was under way. This was much larger than the races I have been in lately...close to 6000 people were competing. It took me about 5 minutes to actually cross the start line. The miles were very clearly numbered and there were tons of Marines, cops and volunteers along the course. There were no issues with traffic or concerns about cars or anything. They had plenty of water and gatorade along the course. And there were lots of Marines and spectators out and about to cheer you on. It was also a pretty run.

It ended up not raining and the sun came out and made for a much warmer run than I expected. I was focused though on my run. I purposely avoided making friends and kept my eyes on the prize...the finish line. This was a hilly course. I didn't mind the downhills but the hill around mile 11 that led into mile12 was painful!!! After two weeks of serious training, I knew that I could not expect miracles or perfection, so my goal was simple...enjoy the run and finish the race.

At just the right times in the race, inspirational messages from Tripp popped up on my iPod or songs that remind me of my running buddies or just the right song to push me along. But about mile 10, I experienced some of the most severe pain I have ever felt. I cannot tell you how much I wanted to stop moving altogether. I tried everything I could to stop focusing on the cramping that started at the bottom of my left calf. I kept moving...much slower at this point, but I kept going forward.

Then, the cramping became spasms in my calf. At one point, the spasms went up and down my left leg and I began dragging the left side of my body along. It was so painful. About then, I happened to notice another runner also having some difficulty. I actually asked her where we were on the course (closing in on mile 11) and if I had to stop at that point, was there a way to get back to the finish line. Somewhere along there we were passing the ER and I debated on making a pit stop there too. My new friend, though, was a former Marine, who was running this with her husband (former Marine also). She was not new to the marathoning world and she was experiencing similar issues. She told me that I was way too far along to give up and that she was going to get me across the line. There was no way I was not going to finish.

I soldiered on but the pain continued to get worse and worse. At one point, I was seriously scared about just how much pain I was experiencing. And then, the spasming decided to spread to the right leg as well. I wish I could tell you my friend's name, but my poor brain was not functioning on very high levels. I can tell you that had it not been for her and her husband, I might not have made those last 3 miles. They kept me focused and kept me going. Along with my special encouragements from Tripp, I was able to get closer to the finish line.

The hardest part for me was the last hill which was uphill right before mile 12!!! And boy was it a hill! I wasn't sure I was going to make it to the top. But, my new drill sergeants would not give up on me! And I knew that I had come too far to stop now, no matter what. With the finish line in sight, I knew I had to do my best to finish strong. So, I sucked up the pain, remembered the goal and ran to the finish line!! And my drill sergeants were right, the feeling at the finish line was so much better than the pain!

It was an honor to have my medal placed around my neck by a Marine and to be congratulated by one of our country's warriors. I thanked every service person I saw. After being awarded two bottles of water, I decided to use one to help cool me down and poured one directly overhead as I was heading to find some fruit and my friend, Ann.

Ann met me near the end of the finish line and told me she found Drew Carey and got some pictures for me and she took me over to where he was. I was able to get about a five minute conversation in with him. We discussed our weight loss and we discussed how we had new goals like being fit and looking good without a shirt! It was awesome. And perhaps it was marathon brain, but I was not starstruck or nervous, I just said, "I'm a huge fan. Can I trouble you for a picture?" And I asked how much weight he had lost (80 pounds) and told him about my journey. It was just awesome!! Here's my pic...

So, it was an awesome experience. It was perhaps one of the best run races I have done and I think I would like to do it again in the future. (Definitely training better next time!) I beat the goal Tripp and I set out for me...which was awesome since I had no idea I was going to experience the calf spasms! But as my Marine friends told me on those last 3 miles, no race is ever the same...no matter if you are competing in one you have done before, trained exactly the same, they are all different and there is always something new and challenging.

However, I am re-focused and recommitted to my training. Tripp is going to keep working with me and I am hoping to see some new and improved numbers in the fall! But I will not lie, I am psyched to get back in the game and start seriously training. Next race is in September! I am going to be so much more than ready!!!

Palmetto Half Marathon Race Report :)

Why is it that every race seems to include some type of injury for me beforehand or during that I have to overcome?? LOL...The Palmetto Half Marathon is no different than the others! On Thursday, I was getting something out of my pantry and had a Tupperware container of coffee filters fall from the top shelf onto my pinky toe on my left foot...and well, there we have a broken pinky. And because I couldn't be done with just one injury for this race, I managed to twist my right ankle, falling and scraping my shin and bruising the middle toe on my right foot as well. Yeah, it was all painful! But I had a race to run and couldn't let a few minor details keep me from it.

In addition to my injuries, my training prior to the race was extremely sporadic and sometimes non-existent. After the Did Not Finish during the Columbia Half, I was having a really rough time staying motivated and fighting the inner voice that kept telling me that walking off a course is going to be easier the second time than it was the first time. So, I was quite nervous and spazzing out. The only saving grace for me was that Cathy agreed to run the race with me at my pace. I felt pretty good that I could make it to the finish line with Cathy spurring me on!

I did contact my favorite trainer, Tripp, and let him know that I was having a difficult time pre-race and needed one of his pep talks. So, I got an awesome pep talk the night before the race from Tripp. He told me a lot of things that I needed to hear. He reminded me that the important thing to remember was to have fun and to finish. He said even if it took me 6 hours to finish that I had to stick with it and complete my race. I was so thankful that he took the time to encourage me and help me out before the race!

On race morning, I was doing pretty well. Other than being a bit tired and needing some caffeine, I was ready. Cathy and I searched for Ricky. We wanted to see Taz!!! I knew he was planning on running the half and we had really hoped to catch him before the race started. It was like playing a game of Where's Waldo! We were calling out for Ricky and searching the crowds. And then, Cathy spotted him!! It was great to see both Ricky and Kathy! We chatted for a few minutes before the start of the race.

Before the race began we were informed that if racing conditions became unsafe during the race that we were on our own and should get to somewhere safe! LOL...apparently there was no way for them to pick up the runners if the race was canceled because weather conditions became worse. At least we were prepared with ponchos in case it rained!

The race started pretty well. It was a bit chilly but not bad once we started moving and the rain seemed to be holding off. I jogged for awhile until my toe began to ache a little bit and I was worrying a little about making sure the hip was warmed up well before pushing it too hard. So, I decided to do some walking and I jogged when I was able to without pain. I kept reminding myself that this race was for fun. I was not concerned about my time. I was concerned about finishing my race. I was so thankful that Cathy was with me because I know there were a couple times early in the race that I thought I was certainly insane for doing this!

Around about mile 4, we picked up a new buddy, Ron. (That's right, even though I had a partner already for the race, I found another friend who was doing his first race and his buddies left him behind! That is apparently my normal race thing!) So, we befriended Ron and continued to encourage him and help him along the way. We had lots of laughs and jokes along the way. We especially enjoyed when the first downpour began, Cathy managed to get into her poncho with a bit of difficulty. However, I opted against it since I was already wet. Shortly after Cathy got her poncho on, the rain stopped and then she was jogging in her poncho and told us it was a bit warm! When she finally took it off, Ron and I were convinced it would start pouring again. And it did :) LOL

It was not the easiest of races. However, we persevered. We were wet, sore, and had sausage fingers, but we kept going! We sent Cathy ahead of us a little before mile 12 because she had a goal of finishing the race before the girl who was ahead of us most of the race (and she did!!!) Mile 12 seemed to be the longest mile ever. I didn't think it was going to ever end. It was a bit of torture because my feet and legs and hips were hurting and there was a short period of a torrential downpour on us. I just wanted to be done. I was tired, soaked and in desperate need of caffeine :) But then the finish line was finally in sight. And we made it. We finished the race and we had fun!!!

I did find this race to be a very well organized race. There were lots of volunteers and the course was marked very well. There was also a good amount of water/gatorade stations with fruit as well. I was very favorably impressed with the set up. I even liked the race shirt :) The course was a bit hilly but overall I felt it was a good course and I would consider running the race again.

So, now I am at home. I had a good post race massage that has helped to ease up the lactic acid in my muscles. And I am chilling with Advil in my system, an ice pack on my pinky toe and drinking lots of water. Tomorrow I know I will be sore but today I am happy. I finished my race and I survived! Ultimately, it was a great day. After some recovery, I will hit the floor running again to get ready for the race in May :)

Raw Honesty

For some reason, I generally don't want this blog to be a place where I post sad or depressing things. I never want to bring people down. So, occasionally, when things are going difficult for me, I tend to not post. I tend to just work through things until I get to a place where things are better or happier, a place where I can post about more positive things. But the truth is that I am being unfair to my readers. Everyday is not sunshiny and wonderful here. I have my moments too, moments of depression, of doubt, of fear, of insecurity. I try to hide those from other people so that I don't become so open and raw that everyone knows everything about me. But today, I will share a little bit of my heart.

This past Saturday, I was scheduled to run a half marathon. It was the same race that I tore my labrum in my left hip in last year. Prior to this race, I had taken a small hiatus from strength training but had full intentions of continuing my mileage so I would be ready for the race. However, my intentions were not lived out due to a huge amount of stress in my life. I had no idea how much stress and depression would enter my life when my best friends both moved away last month. I have depended on them so much for emotional support in the past and not having them there was unbelievably difficult. I didn't want to eat. I didn't want to workout. I didn't want to do much of anything. I found myself going through the motions of life. Honestly, with the little bit that I was nourishing my body, I don't even think I could have sustained any type of workout or cardio. So, it was probably for the best that I just didn't feel it. I think the hardest thing about my friends' moving was that I don't get to talk to either of them as much as I would like. Bottom line was that I was just really unhappy and felt very much alone.

So, fast forward to Saturday. I woke up Saturday morning with a horrible stomach ache. I assumed what I was experiencing was just nerves and figured that after I ate things would ease up. I got myself ready and headed out for the race. My stomach was still bothering me when the race started. Then, I made a rookie mistake and started out running way too fast. I was not running my pace but a much faster pace for the first mile. When I realized this, I slowed down but it was too late. I had already put some extra stress on my hip by pushing too hard that first mile. With every mile, my stomach bothered me more and more. And then, my hip began to ache so badly. I kept thinking most of running and racing is mental, so if I can just get my head right then I will be okay. But I could not get my mind off the pain at all. I kept trying to push through. I was struggling so badly at one point that I just started to cry. And fear set in as well. I remembered having pain in my hip last year during the race. I was scared to keep going.

When I reached mile 6, I knew without a doubt that I was not going to finish this race. I knew that to continue on was insanity and would end up causing me to put myself at risk for injury. I knew all those things and my mind had to convince my heart that it was okay to give up. I hate to quit things. Once I start things, I am a finisher. So, this was very difficult for me to walk off of the course knowing that I would not have a glorious finish. I would not be adding another medal to my collection. And it burned me up knowing that I was going to have to add a DNF (did not finish) to my record. But, I also knew that I wanted to be able to do other races in the future. I wanted to be healthy and wanted to finish future races without injury. So, had I continued on in this race, I would risk putting myself out for the rest of the year with an injury or some serious illness since my stomach was still aching.

Sometimes we have to know when to quit. I am a fighter and I hate to give up. However, in life, there are times when we have to weigh our options and know that a DNF today will allow me future amazing finishes. I won't lie this was probably one of the most emotional decisions I have made in some time. But I know I made the right decision. I walked off the course and called my friend Cathy to come rescue me. I knew she would understand as only another athlete could. And I needed the comfort of someone who wouldn't ask too many questions but would let me experience the raw pain of not finishing. I also called my friend, Ann, and talked to her for quite awhile. She is a dear friend and I knew she would understand how much my heart was hurting over this, since I had leaned on her quite a bit in the past few weeks. I found comfort from both Cathy and Ann and I am so thankful for them both.

Even though I walked off the course, I gained some wisdom from this race. I learned that I have to listen to my body better. I learned that I have to keep training even when my heart just isn't in it if I have a race scheduled. I think I could have overcome the stomach pains if my hip hadn't begun to hurt but with both areas having pain, it was not an option.

I will admit that Saturday, I was quite embarrassed about having to walk off the course. But today, I realize that there really isn't anything to be embarrassed about. I started the race knowing that I was not physically quite up to the challenge. It takes a lot to get to the starting line especially when you are sick. So, I am not disappointed in myself. I am re-motivated to get back to my training and back to the drawing board.

I hit the gym yesterday and trained myself with my back and biceps routine and did some cardio. It was really hard to have to scale back the weights from what I was doing 3 weeks ago but I knew that I had lost some muscle due to poor nutrition and no exercise. So, though I am not starting over, I am starting fresh. My arms and back are sore today...so I must've done something right.

And I am so thankful for my friends. Though I miss my best friends dearly, I am blessed to have dear friends who will step in and help me in whatever way they can. What a blessing to know you have people you can depend on. I cannot wait to talk to my best friends or spend time with them again, but in the mean time I have dear friends who can help me through the rough spots.

So, there you have it. A peek into some very raw emotions and circumstances in my life. It's not pretty, but it's honest.

Digging Deeper...

Today is the last day of my break. Tomorrow, I jump back into a regular routine. It has been good to have a break from normalcy for a bit. But it is going to be really hard to try and get a normal routine going again! But it is a necessity.

I have set myself some goals for the next few months. And in order to achieve those goals, I have to kick my butt in gear. I have to work really hard to get to those goals. Part of the reason I set those goals was to force myself to work harder and dig deeper. It will be very interesting over the next few months to see how things progress. Since my hip surgery I have been a bit more timid about pushing myself. But I feel good and I feel like my hip is ready for a little more challenge now. Today I sat down and wrote out what I want to see as my workout plan each week. I planned out what body parts would be worked during strength training, what type of cardio and how much and when I would do yoga during the week. I am excited about trying this out and seeing results!!

Also, I recently ordered some books on clean eating. I eat fairly clean for the most part, so I am more excited to look into the specifics of this. But even more so, I am excited to try out some new recipes in the cookbooks I got. I think I am going to have a lot of fun trying out new recipes and seeing how this works in to my current plan! I think I am going to see some great results by trying this!

I am really excited to see how the changes that I am making are going to impact my current plan. Lately life has been so emotional for me. Two of my closest friends move away this month...one to basic training and one to Asheville, NC. It will be weird not having them close enough to reach out to, but I am excited for their opportunities. And then in a few weeks, my hubby, Jason, will begin traveling again for 15 months. He will be gone every week Sunday through Thursday. It's going to be hard but it means that I will be able to really focus on my goals without my cheerleaders. It means I will have to dig deeper to do this on my own for awhile. And I am really thankful that I will still have friends here to help me stay on track!

And with all this going on, I am planning on getting away myself for a bit. I want to get some quality time up in Virginia with my family soon. It has been way too long since I have had a long visit with them. And I am also planning on trying to get up to visit my friend Laura and her family. It has been awhile since they came here to visit and I would love to get a chance to head up there and visit with them for awhile.

So life is getting crazier and busier but I am hoping that I can get back to a regular schedule again. My break was good. It gave me some good quality time to spend with friends and family. But tomorrow, it is back to work again!

Taking A Break

So, I have been taking a small break from strength training since I overdid it a bit last week. After having lunch with Tripp, he agreed that if I stuck with my cardio routine and running schedules, then I could take a break from strength training for awhile. I find it incredibly difficult to change things up but right now, this is completely necessary. I have a lot of stress in my life right now. Some days, it is a bit overwhelming.

Life has just been crazy. Two of my best friends are moving away from here at the end of this month. I will miss them both terribly. And though I can go visit and check in with them, it's not the same as having them local. Also, I have been missing my Mom, Kathryn and the kids a lot. I have not been able to go visit them as often as I would've liked lately. I love spending time with them. I got to see them briefly last week for a quick visit. It was great to see them but it made me miss them even more. I am hoping to find some time in March to go visit. Also, work has been insane. I was helping out with freight and it has been much more stressful than I thought. So, I decided to take a couple of weeks off.

Next week, I will return to my strength training and back to work. With my next half marathon coming up soon, I definitely need to get back to a regular routine. I have set up some more goals for myself and all of those require me to have a regular routine to follow.

Anyways, I am glad to have had some time to rest and time to get my head on straight. I know that every once in awhile it is good to take a break from routine and recover. This also gives me some time to decide how to plan out my new routine and how to maximize it's benefits.

I'm A Fighter....

I absolutely love the lyrics to the song, Fighter, by Christina Aguilera. It is definitely my motivational, kick-butt, get me out of a funk song. In fact, I listen to it occasionally before heading into the gym for a workout and it's on most of my running playlists and is marked on my Nike iPod Sport as my Power Song! What is it about this song that motivates me so much and pushes me? I am not really sure but the first time I heard it, it connected with something deep within me. I AM a Fighter.

I have always been a fighter. Even in moments when I feel like I have given up, something in my spirit will not allow me to throw in the towel. If you corner me, I will come out swinging. If you cage me, I will do everything within my power to escape.

Here are the lyrics that ring so true for me:

'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter

Every time I need an extra push during my workouts, I think about these lyrics. When things in life start to frustrate me, I remember that being a fighter is part of who I am. Even though circumstances may not be part of my plan, I will fight for what I want. If you tell me that I can't do something, then I generally do everything within my power to prove you wrong.

When I was in Nashville last year, I found a company that I absolutely love that has a whole set up built around me. The company is called...Say I Won't. I love their stuff. I purchased one of their shirts and it's my favorite. It reminded me of when I was still 100 pounds overweight and at the beginning of my weight loss journey and I decided that I was going to complete a half-marathon. It amazed me that so many people looked at me like I was crazy and in fact, I know from several people, they gave me the "Sure you will" comment and probably laughed behind my back. Who's laughing now? Five half-marathons later and still going strong. Here's the slogan from Say I Won't:

Tell me that I can't do it.

Tell me that I shouldn't even try.

Tell me it's impossible.

Tell me the risk is too high, the challenge too much,

Or the feat too tough.

Tell me that I won't do it

And I WILL.

Yep, that about sums me up. I have always been like that. Even as a young child, I challenged my parents and authorities when told I couldn't do something. (Not always, but enough to have been labeled strong-willed.)

Recently, a friend of mine, who I refer to as the Hulk, mentioned in a Facebook post that he told someone at his gym that he was going to complete a triathlon and was told that he was too bulky. Now, the Hulk, is in amazing shape. I would never tell him he cannot complete a triathlon, much less any other task he sets his mind too because he is determined. I have no doubt in my mind that he will do an amazing job at a triathlon and I will be cheering him on while he trains and completes it!

Some people have the determination to push towards their goals. In the face of adversity, they struggle through whatever it takes to complete their goals.

Another of my friends, who I refer to as "Taz," is like that. He is an Ironman. He runs triathlons, completes half-marathons, full marathons, bikes, and does Ironman events. He is the Taz because you can't really slow him down. He is determined to achieve the goals he sets before himself. When I decided I wanted to complete 6 half-marathons, this year, I turned to him for advice. I recognize a kindred spirit in him. I was being told by others that this was a crazy plan and that I couldn't do it and I would end up injured. So, I reached out to someone that I knew has been there and could guide me.

Taz and Hulk are just two of my friends who are kindred spirits. When others say they can't do something, they respond with "Challenge accepted!" I am honored to have them as my friends. I consider them my fellow fighters. And I have many other fellow fighters out there that I am honored to have as friends.

And even though, it irks me quite a bit that negative people out there seem to think that spreading their doubts into my life can keep me at their level or keep me from achieving my goals, I understand that there are people who just don't have the spirit to complete their goals or to work towards them. And if you are that naysayer...I ask that you keep telling me that I cannot achieve my goals or that I am crazy. Because all you are doing is pushing me even harder to reach those goals. I will not stop. I will prove you wrong every time.

So, go ahead...count me out. But I warn you, stand back because I always come out of my corner swinging...

Changes...

People who know me well know that I am not a fan of change. I like routines. I can definitely be spontaneous but for the most part I like knowing what is going on. Lately, changes are just abounding in my life and I am never sure what's going to happen next.

I admit that sometimes change is good. When Tye accepted his new job, I had the opportunity to train with Tripp. That was the most amazing change for me. After working with Tripp for 2 and a half months, I was able to shave 5:30 off my half-marathon time from last October. That's awesome progress. As nervous as I was about working with Tripp, the change was awesome and I am so thankful for the time that we had to work together.

Last week was rough for me. There's a whole lot of stuff going on and a lot of things were just not turning out as I expected them to. One of those things that set my world completely off kilter was that Tripp quit last Tuesday. This was so not the news I wanted to hear. I was making plans....I wanted to knock even more time off my next half-marathon. I was planning on re-signing a training contract with him to see how much more work we could do to improve my running as well as get me towards my weight loss goals. I was excited about the work we were going to do together. So, when I got the call that he was no longer going to be at my gym...I was brokenhearted and really, really angry. I was not angry with Tripp though. I know he had the best reasons for what he did and I respect him greatly. But I am really devastated that we won't be working together.

I met with Tripp last Friday for lunch. He is a truly amazing guy. My contract for personal training is about to be up in 2 weeks. Since I am completely paid up, I will finish my last two weeks with another trainer. I am hoping the new trainer will be willing to stick with the plan that Tripp set up for me. He knows my plans and goals and set up our workouts based on that. So, my true hope is that the new trainer will be willing to continue with the plan we had. After I finish that training, I will be training myself.

Sounds strange, doesn't it? Me training myself. Yep, that's right. When Tripp and I had lunch, he did something very amazing for me. He wrote me 9 new workout plans that I can use for about the next 6 months. I have 4 other workout plans that he had already written for me. These plans are all set up to help me achieve my running goals and weight loss goals. I am more than thrilled about the workouts he wrote for me!

So, change can be good. I am really excited about the new workouts that Tripp wrote for me. I will miss him dearly as my trainer. I already do. But we are still friends and we will stay in touch. I know that if I have any questions or concerns about strength training or nutrition, I can always count on him. Also, he promised me that he would come to my race in March and run the last mile with me. That is just plain awesomeness!! I am going to be working my butt off the next several weeks to get to that race and I cannot wait. But we will continue with the plan...running injury free. If I am going to run a total of 6 half-marathons this year, then I absolutely need to stick to the plan!!!

So, I will be finishing up the next two weeks with a new trainer. And then, I am on my own (or truthfully, I am following Tripp's plan for me.) This is a whole new world for me...I have had trainers for the past two years. And although, I started my journey on my own and have learned a lot but I know there is still a lot for me to learn. And if Tripp does go to a new gym to train, I will most definitely consider following him. But for now, I am going to focus on the plan.

I doubt that I will ever truly be a fan of change. But I am going to do my best to think positively about the changes that are coming.