I am a marathoner!

Well, I did it! Woo hoo! Reality is still setting in, but I am starting to realize now (as the pain in my legs wears off) the accomplishment that I achieved. I ran 26 miles, and I met my goal of under 4:15 minutes. My time? 4:14:11.


Overall, I think the time went much faster that I thought - you start to get in to a groove, there are tons of people running with you, and even more lining the streets to watch, and all of a sudden, you're done! The first half of the race went especially quickly - I remember looking at a clock when I was running up LaSalle Street and the clock said 8:15am, and it seemed only about a half hour later that I saw another clock saying it was 9:53. Time just flew by!



The morning started out very cold. Up until this point I think I had been pretty relaxed, but the morning of the race, I was doing my typical "bounce between twelve emotions within the span of 30 minutes" thing, which I'm sure was a pain for Doug. He's so great to put up with me. The day before at the Health and Fitness Expo I purchased a copy of the movie "The Spirit of the Marathon", which was a great distraction during my morning prep. I wasn't able to just sit and think while I prepared, it gave me something to watch and focus on that had to do with running. I got pretty emotional watching all the athletes cross the finish line, I could only imagine what I might do when I finished.



When we got to Grant Park, it was still dark, but there were hints of light on the horizon, which gave an erie calm to the whole situation. There were people everywhere, but it seemed like everyone was walking silently, mentally preparing themselves for the task ahead. I found the porta-potties and got one of my "nervous pees" out of the way right away. After that, it was time to stretch and do a little warm-up jog. The warm-up jog was just as much to keep my toes from going numb as it was for preparing my body for the race - it was only about 35 degrees out! I had bundled up for the travel to the starting line, but as the sun rose and the minutes ticked by, I had to start getting out of my comfy sweats and in to race mode. This fact prompted me to get in line again for "nervous pee #2". I kissed Doug and gave Terry a hug, and told them I'd see them at the finish line, and it was time for the final minutes.



By the time I got out of the porta-potty the second time, the start corrals were full! I had to run almost all the way to the back to get a spot, as they weren't letting runners in at the original spot I had planned. After getting all settled and doing some jumping jacks in line, I was ready to run! The pack of racers moved relatively quickly up to the starting point, but it made it really anti-climactic since it wasn't really a "mass start," but rather a bunch of people slowly shuffling their way across the timing mats and then picking up the pace. Nevertheless, the journey was on!



The first few miles were a bit rough, as I was in the middle of thousands of people, was trying to get the feeling back in my extremities, and was trying to calm my nerves. After a few miles though, I settled in and started looking around at all the other runners and the great scenery. That's one thing I love about Chicago races, there is a ton to look at, and the sheer number of people helps you normalize what it is you're doing. If everyone around you is running, you feel like you should be running, too! The toughest part about the first six miles was that I was in a pack of so many people, I was losing time every mile. I ended up about twenty seconds behind each mile, so once things thinned out a bit, it got a lot easier. The toughest part was running through the Lincoln Park zoo, where we slowed to a shuffle, literally, since the path was not very long. Add an aid station in there, and it was chaos. I just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible!



I started to really get in to a groove once we got to Boys Town/Lakeview. That's also where I saw Doug and Mike again, and their cheering totally energized me - I think I was even smiling and waving! I also started to pick up speed again, and the subtle urge I had in the back of my mind that I had to go to the bathroom also faded around this point. There was no way I was stopping to go potty again. Running through Lincoln Park and Lakeview was definitely the prettiest part of the race - beautiful houses, trees, views of the lake, and a large amount of stores to keep me occupied. I could hardly believe it when I got to the point where I had crossed the bridge into the loop again and it was the halfway point! I had a moment where I thought - wow, if this were a half, I'd be done already! Piece of cake.



The worst part of the race motivation-wise came next. I wasn't a huge fan of going out west for a few miles, there wasn't much to see, and the crowd support was a little thinner. Out at the end past the United Center, there was almost no one, which made me really pick up my speed to look for the point where we would turn around and head back towards downtown. That was about mile 16, and once again, I saw Doug and Mike. They were so pumped up for me, it gave me a huge boost of energy and urged me on towards the southern part of the race. This was also the point where I finally was able to get rid of my jacket that I had been wearing for the first half of the race, as the sun had come out and it was warm enough to run in my short-sleeved shirt instead.



This is the part of the race where I realized I was crazy - I saw mile 16, passed it, and then realized "Hey! I only have 10 miles left!" I tried not to think about that statement too much, but knowing I still had 10 miles to go would have been a lot worse to think about. Once I hit mile 17 (and saw Terry, which was a nice surprise), I realized now I only had nine miles left, I was in the single digits! I believe now that you have to think crazy thoughts like this in order to succeed in endurance sports, otherwise you end up laughing at your insane sense of logic.

The longest miles were definitely miles 18 and 19. It seemed to take forever for those ones to get by. The nice part is that we were running through the UIC campus area, which was very nice. I'd never seen it before, but there were tons of cute shops and it looked like a very nice place to go to school. I never felt happier than when I saw mile 20...only six miles left! That's just a mere 10k! It was a great feeling that lasted me about a mile before my left knee started hurting. I wanted to quit running at this point and just walk for a bit, but I forced myself to keep going until I saw Doug and Mike in Chinatown. That was at mile 22 - I had to be able to make it another two miles.

Running in to Chinatown was an awesome feeling, and it came up so suddenly I couldn't believe I was already there! There was a huge sign that said "Welcome to Chinatown" and an oriental-style bridge, along with tons of screaming spectators! The best part? Doug was right there in the front row, so I high-fived him and smiled as I went past. I walked for a bit there just so I could let my knee have a break, and then once I finished my gatorade, I started right back up again. It's funny when you've been going for that long, because when you start going, it doesn't even feel like you ever stopped. Your legs almost WANT to continue running because that's the motion they've been going in for so long. It definitely makes it easier - that's a hint I'll remember on long runs in the future.

The next set of miles were easier, but still not pleasant. Miles 22-24 were along the Dan Ryan expressway, so not the most scenic of places. There was a Nike cheer zone there though, which had loud music and more crowds (I tell you, these crowds help SO much on race day, it's incredible). It wasn't too long before we were crossing a bridge over the expressway over to the other side - where we got to TURN BACK NORTH! That's when it started to hit me, I'm almost done! I stopped to walk for a minute at mile 24 for my last sip of gatorade to help wash down my Luna moons, and then I wasn't stopping until mile 26.2!

At mile 25, that's when I saw Doug for the final time. He told me to heed the words I'd written on my hands that morning - Dig Deep, Stay Strong. He would then run up a ways, and then wait until I got there to smile and cheer, and then ran again. We did that about three times, and then it was time for the final turn into Grant Park! Of course, there was the only "big" hill on the course, a whopping 24 feet elevation (which doesn't even really count). I couldn't have cared less - that mini speedbump was not stopping me from reaching the finish line! At this point I picked up my speed, I really wanted to make my goal, and it looked like I was going to do it! The hill leveled off, and it was a slight downhill and then straightaway to the finish.

I could SEE the finish line, I could hear the roaring crowd and the pounding of footsteps and whoops of glee from my fellow competitors. I threw my hands into the air, did a big fist pump and shouted out "YES! I DID IT!" and ran across the finish line. At that point, I didn't care how much I hurt, how I couldn't lift my legs, how salty my face was. I had run a marathon, and had a darn good time doing it. The finish line volunteers were amazing - they kept telling us how awesome we were and congratulating us, and it made me feel so happy and so proud. The next best part was reuniting with Doug, Mike, and Terry.

I stood wrapped in my foil "warming blanket" and felt the warm sun on my face and Doug's arms around me. It was the best feeling in the world. I did it! All those months of training, starting in a small workout room in Morgantown on January 18th, and it had all paid off. Running the marathon was a truly rewarding and fun experience, and I definitely plan on running again someday.

Home Stretch!

Race week is finally here. Even as I type those words, I just got a little nervous. I've been okay for the last few days, but inevitably as the weekend approaches, I start to realize what I am going to do on Sunday.

Some noteable developments:

• I've started to notice knee pain that without a doubt is IT band tightness. I've had it enough to know - but there's not much you can do about it. All I have to say, is that I think this is a tribute to how well I've been training so far, since I usually get IT band problems much earlier in race season. I've been doing my best to stretch it, but I think the best thing to do after Sunday is to take a long hiatus from running. I'll do some light stuff, but mostly eliptical, spinning, and swimming. It's best to listen to your body when it starts to yell at you - especially when the yelling is stinging pain (which also hurts your butt muscles too!).
• The weather has been C-R-A-P. I know there's nothing that can be done about weather conditions, but I've been putting in extra praying time with hopes that the weather is at least tolerable. The Event Alert System is set at Yellow right now, but moving towards Green. The last time it was set at Yellow, it snowed and slushed all the way through the morning of the Shamrock Shuffle. Dear God - please don't let that happen again. I'm planning on bringing my entire running wardrobe and just seeing what happens on race morning.
• Last weekend I ran seven miles on Saturday and ten on Sunday. Those were my last long runs, and I was hoping to get some of the "mileage effects" with long runs back to back. I definitely had some soreness, but not a lot - good sign for race day!
• This week, I ran four miles yesterday and I'll run five tomorrow. Then it's rest until Sunday! I realized that I've been training since January 18 - almost 10 months of preparation. It's going to feel good to get out there and show the world (and myself) that I can do it.

Doug has been awesome, he's helping me put together more motivational songs for my running mix. I'll need it, there are certain songs on this playlist that have the ability to keep me moving when I feel like giving up (for example: My Time by Fabolous). I can't wait to see what he comes up with!

Finally, I've been making a list of what I'm running for. I think it's awesome when people run for charities and other causes, if I do another marathon, I'm definitely going to run to benefit something or someone. So, when I feel like giving up, I started to make a list of what I'm running for (in no particular order):

• Sally - my friend going through chemo for Hodgkins Lymphoma. She is a runner too, and now she's fighting her way through cancer. She was always one of my best cheerleaders during high school and college, and her encouragement means so much to me.
• My mom - she's been sick for three months now with various random illnesses. She can't come to Chicago to watch me, but she is always my biggest cheerleader. I'm going to run since she can't.
• God - God has helped me stay injury free, provided me with inspiration, and kept me healthy enough to run. He also gave me the gift to be able to run long distances and the willpower to train for the race. I know he'll be with me, and I want to glorify him with my marathon.
• Wisconsin sports - I just love my state - Go Badgers and Packers! We don't need no stinkin' Favre.
• My husband - he is my best friend and my training partner, coach, and rehab expert. He has been so supportive and I want to make sure he knows that I'm crossing the finish line because of his love and help.
• My friend Kalan - Kalan has always encouraged my running and my spirit. She lived with us for awhile this summer, and has been checking up on me since leaving for culinary school. She gave me an important phrase that I'm sure I'll use during miles 16-24 - "The more I walk, the longer it will be until I'm done."

That's the list so far...I think I have to stop now before I get too fired up (and nervous too). The next time I write - I'll proudly have my 26.2 sticker on my bumper!

Long Runs - Done!

I did it! I did it!



I have now officially run a 15 mile course, and an 18 mile course! This week I have another 15 miler and then the long runs are over...until the marathon, that is.



I ran my 15 miler last Saturday. I was hoping to do it in the morning, but due to scheduling conflicts, I had to start it at 5pm instead. The sun is still pretty warm by then, but it cooled off quickly that day, so that's good. I realized that you hit several walls while running long distances, but if you just focus on something else and keep moving, you can make it. Doug was awesome - he put out water bottles at miles 6 and 12, along with a few nice notes to keep me motivated. He is the best marathon-husband ever. The hardest stretch was probably between miles 8-10. When I was training for the half marathon, it seemed to be miles 6-8. Therefore, I think it's whichever miles are in the middle - you're about halfway there, but you still seem to focus on what's left to finish rather than how far you've come. I'm going to try and remember that during the marathon.



This past weekend, I ran 18 miles. I decided to do this one in the morning, and downtown since I was running out of places to run in Verona after 15 miles! This run did not go as well as the 15 miler the weekend before. Someone (or several someones) stole my bottles I had placed out on the course! I had no gatorade, so I had to go to stores and ask for water. This was much less ideal than having gatorade, as I had no way to replenish a lot of my electrolytes. My Luna moons (which I carried with me, thank goodness), did a bit of good, but I was still feeling pretty exhausted after mile 13. I was able to finish, but it didn't inspire a lot of confidence in being able to run eight more on race day. When I got home, I felt pretty bad, but forced myself to drink some gatorade with extra salt and electrolytes. It tasted gross, but did the trick. Darn vagrants or hungover college kids.

Gross Determination

Last Friday I had to run 13 miles. I didn't feel like getting up at least an hour before sunrise to start running (and then have a full day of work ahead of me, gross!), so I ran seven before work, and then six after. Sounds a lot easier, right? Well, I felt gross all day. We're smack dab in the middle of a cold streak here in Madison, so the weather was not ideal Friday morning. It actually ended up okay, since it wasn't too hot, but it misted most of the time, and no one wants to run when it's gray and depressing.

After my run, I showered and had a nice breakfast before work. Something just didn't feel right though - I was very flushed and red, and couldn't shake the feeling of exhaustion and dizziness. Nevertheless though, since I was sick the Friday before, I didn't want to be sick again (people might think I was faking), so I went to work. I'm very fortunate that Fridays don't require much thought at work - it was pretty much just moving from one meeting to the next, which allowed me to stay in my somewhat distant state.

Around 4:15, I knew that if I didn't do something, I wouldn't be able to finish the last six miles after work. So, in a waking coma, I wandered home and fell right asleep on the couch. Doug woke me up around 6pm when he got home. I still didn't feel awesome, but the nap helped a bit.

So, I grudgingly changed in to my running clothes. At this point, another problem presented itself: bloating. No idea why, but my stomach looked like I was approximately five months pregnant (in my mind anyway). That made for an enjoyable run...I'm sure people saw me and thought "Oh, look at that pregnant lady running - good for her!"

I didn't start feeling better until about four miles in, and at that point I was already thinking how close I was to being done. I finished, and was very proud that I forced myself to finish what I'd started. I still wonder how useful it was to split the long run, but when you work full time, I'm learning that you just have to get the miles in however you can. I have a 15 mile run this week before I leave on vacation, and I'm going to try to do it all at once. Hopefully I won't have a gas baby this time.

Keep on Keepin' On

Hey all,

I finally got my new shoes, and the first time I wore them was for a sprint triathlon I did a few weeks ago. The race went okay, I felt good about the run, but I had a whole new appreciation for triathlons. Since I haven't really been swimming or biking, those events did not go so well. The one crummy thing? The website never actually posted searchable results, so I have no idea how I did in comparison with others in my age group.

Since then, I've been doing more mid-distance running, but my allergies have somewhat sidelined me. I was out sick on Friday and didn't get out of bed all day. Luckily, I got the needed dose of steroids that my doc prescribed me (don't worry, it's a low dose and only for a week!) which allowed me to go for a seven miler with Doug on Saturday. We felt pretty tired after that, since we waited until 3pm to run - the hottest part of the day.

This week I've done some runs in the mornings, which are just beautiful. Hans accompanies me most of the time, even though he usually stops every run at least once to go to the bathroom. I swear it is helping me train - I used to have a hard time starting back up after stopping, and I've gotten much better at that now. Tomorrow I have to run 13 miles, so I have no choice but to break it up into two runs - seven in the morning and six in the afternoon. Then on Saturday I'm running the Mama Goose 5K in honor of my friend's mom who passed away this winter from cancer. Go Mama Goose!

A Few Good Runs

The weather is finally getting summery out (it's about time - it's August for Pete's sake!). It's a good thing and a bad thing though - the mornings are beautiful, but the afternoons are humid, hot, and sunny. I've been forcing myself to get up and start running in the morning more often. It really starts my day off right, it gets Hans some exercise, and it gets me in the feel of what it will be like running early on the day of the race.

The runs have been going very well lately, I feel comfortable and can push myself a bit more than I used to be able to. As scary as it sounds, I find myself looking forward to runs! I'm trying to focus on running longer distances at a steady pace and pushing myself for small periods of time so that I can be prepared for long runs.

Last weekend, I was going to run 10 miles downtown to the Farmer's Market with my friend, but the morning was full of thunderstorms. We ended up running next to each other on treadmills instead - a far cry from outdoor running on a shaded path. The last three miles of the run were painful - there were only infomericals on TV, and you can only see so many of those before you're trying to run away. Nevertheless, I finished it and felt pretty good.

When I've trained for long races in the past, I've always gotten injured around this point, so I'm trying very hard to listen to my body, and have made stretching a REQUIRED part of training. The only thing that hurts right now is my shins, which might be because I've been running outside so much. I might start incorporating running indoors once a week just to make sure I'm not doing high impact running all the time. I need to get a new pair of shoes though, my shoes are starting to give me blisters and they hurt a bit more after runs. The seasoned marathon vets I've talked to said it's a good idea to get new shoes about two months before the race so you can break them in and still have a good amount of support. I'm headed to Fleet Feet tonight to get a new pair - this is really getting serious!

This weekend I'm supposed to run 11 miles, but I'm doing a sprint triathlon instead. I know it's not exactly the same, but I think it's still a good test of endurance, and between the running and biking, I'm sure it evens out to somewhere around 8 miles. Sometimes you've gotta change it up to not get bored with training. Wish me luck!

Soooo close...

Hi friends,

Well, Sunday went almost as well as I could have hoped. My goal was 2 hours or under, and my time was 2:00:51. So close! The course was amazing and there were fans everywhere. Even the weather cooperated! However, I got thrown off my losing my Gu packet, and had to stop at mile 10 to ingest it and get some water. It also meant I had to stop for a few seconds each at miles 5 and 7 to get some Cytomax to carry me through the tough miles. I wasn't planning on stopping then, so I think those brief stops are what killed me and those last 51 seconds. I tried not to be upset or disappointed - after all, it went very well, I felt great and didn't stop running for any other reason than to take fuel. I improved my time by ten minutes over my last half marathon.

The best thing though? It gave me hope that if I try pretty hard and push myself a bit, I can break four hours in the marathon in October. I checked my watch every mile, and I was spot on at nine minute miles for the first seven miles. When I hit my wall around then though, I started to slip a bit. I think the next month will be crucial for my training, as I increase the distance and force myself to keep pace during those tough miles. I found that once I passed mile 9 though, I was able to start cruising again.

The race was very well organized, and the post-race area was amazing - there were sprinklers for runners to stand under, and cold towels to put around your neck. They even had popsicles! I also went with my old standby - orange slices...so delicious.

Doug was great, he was there all day and cheered me on at mile 5 and then right before the end. I really needed it too, the end was an uphill finish and then a straightaway...those jerks.

I left Chicago feeling motivated and a bit hungry (not just for a red hot) - the next time I'm back here, I'm going all out.