I'm back!! Now that we have gotten all the summer trips out of the way, I'm trying to focus on running again. I managed to get in a few runs even while on vacation. Let me tell you, running down a beach boardwalk in Hawaii will get me out! It was kind of a neat way to tour Waikiki Beach! There were so many runners up and going every morning in Hawaii on both Oahu and Maui. It was great to see! People seemed so much healthier there overall. I would love to live and run in Hawaii year-round. It would be amazing to say the least!
Now that I'm back in the "real" world, I guess I'm out of excuses. I've gained about three pounds over the last month and a half maybe. I fluctuate in a five pound range though, so I'm not too worried. It will come off eventually, I think. I'm back to watching my calorie intake and making sure I do something active every day.
The hard part is that we've been in a heat wave for weeks it seems! Today, the high temperature will be in the upper 90's, but around 115 degrees with the heat index. These are the kind of temperatures that kill people. So, yesterday I hauled my lazy butt out of bed at 6:30 a.m. and did a morning run for the first time in a long time (see, I told you I was back). The past two weeks, we've done a Saturday long run of six miles and seven miles. Unfortunately, those were the only miles I got in those weeks. I did some elliptical and workout videos, but no other running. This week, I'm trying to run three mile easy runs twice and the long run on Saturday. If that goes well, I'm going to switch an easy run with some speed work next week.
My next race is going to be a two-mile parade run for the Illinois State Parade. Then ten days later will be Abe's Amble. Abe's is a 10K starting at the state fairgrounds, through Lincoln Park and Oak Ridge Cemetery where Lincoln is buried. There's some good hills in there! A lot of the course is similar to the roughest parts of the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon, so I'm familiar. We've also done a training run on the course before.
I'm not quite sure what pace I'm shooting for yet. With all this time off running, I don't know how much I've lost since the half. I would hope that I could maintain a similar pace (9:15) for less than half the distance of a half marathon. I'll see how my speed work is shaking out in the next couple of weeks. I would probably be happy with that pace, but I haven't ran that pace since in months.
Shane is doing a mini-triathlon at the end of the month. I've been so tempted to try it, but I'd really like to do a little bit of training before I launched into something like that. I haven't really done any swimming or much biking. Plus I don't have a good bike to use. Maybe next year. It sure would be fun--everything besides swimming in that gross lake of ours! That part kind of creeps me out.
On a health related note, today I got the official okay from my doctor to stay off the blood pressure meds I've been on since shortly after my daughter was born three years ago. One was a diuretic, the other one suppressed my heart rate--both of them not good for people who exert themselves outside in the sun on a regular basis (like someone who runs). I'm so thrilled about being off of them. I couldn't imagine taking two pills every day for the rest of my life, which could potentially be another 50 to 60 years or more! Especially ones that made it harder to run and messed with body functions which are important for running efficiently. So, YAY for that one! The doctor took one look at my heart rate (low) while I was showing him my blood pressure history and said that I must be an active person. I can't help to be a little bit proud of that.
So, boys and girls, I'm mostly back in the saddle. I'm working on running more and my health. I'll let you know how speed work goes. I'm kind of dreading it.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Off the wagon :(
It's been three weeks since my last race, and let me confess that I've officially fallen off the wagon. The other wagons may have ran over me too. Life just reared up and got busy on me! I was in a friend's wedding. I play volleyball on Thursday nights. We went to a musical one night. I volunteer at church on other nights. I have a part-time job selling real estate. The weather has been rainy and horrible. I needed to get the garden planted. My niece graduated from high school. There's a graduation party. I was planning a 3rd birthday bash for Jocelyn. Do you want more excuses? Let me tell you, I've got 'em!
So, why didn't I just get up early and run in the morning? Going to bed late at night is my excuse. My "real" reason? I didn't feel like it. If I'm being totally honest, I just didn't want to. I woke up many mornings and thought about it. I was just not getting enough sleep as it was. I was getting canker sores and other ailments from lack of sleep. I'm just having a hard time fitting it in.
Here's my problem. I am extremely goal oriented. After each race, I have to fight the backlash to just quit for a while. Take a break. I am commonly overwhelmed with all I have to do in life while working a full time job and being a mom. I am still looking for balance, and it's just not easy. I need to focus and remember that getting my heart rate up and moving isn't just for me. It's for my family. It makes me more pleasant to be around. It make me healthier. When I am training for a race, I make time for runs. Right now, I've logged six miles in three weeks. That's bad.
So, I'm thinking about upcoming races. There's a 5K on June 18th. I could try to beat my new PR that I accomplished on the Fat Ass 5K. The women's distance festival is on July 9th. It's a two mile run. That would be fun to race such a short distance. The Sizzling Mile is on July 20th: one fast mile on a track. Of course there's the State Fair runs in August. The two mile parade race and then Abe's Amble on the last day of the fair. Abe's Amble is a 10K that I'm definitely running, but since it's so far away, I can't focus on training for it yet!
So, there's my update. Nothing good. I'm getting ready to head to Minnesota for a week, and when I return, there's a lot more traveling to do including Chicago and Hawaii this month alone!
Will I ever get back on track? I'm sure I will eventually. When? Only time will tell at this point.
So, why didn't I just get up early and run in the morning? Going to bed late at night is my excuse. My "real" reason? I didn't feel like it. If I'm being totally honest, I just didn't want to. I woke up many mornings and thought about it. I was just not getting enough sleep as it was. I was getting canker sores and other ailments from lack of sleep. I'm just having a hard time fitting it in.
Here's my problem. I am extremely goal oriented. After each race, I have to fight the backlash to just quit for a while. Take a break. I am commonly overwhelmed with all I have to do in life while working a full time job and being a mom. I am still looking for balance, and it's just not easy. I need to focus and remember that getting my heart rate up and moving isn't just for me. It's for my family. It makes me more pleasant to be around. It make me healthier. When I am training for a race, I make time for runs. Right now, I've logged six miles in three weeks. That's bad.
So, I'm thinking about upcoming races. There's a 5K on June 18th. I could try to beat my new PR that I accomplished on the Fat Ass 5K. The women's distance festival is on July 9th. It's a two mile run. That would be fun to race such a short distance. The Sizzling Mile is on July 20th: one fast mile on a track. Of course there's the State Fair runs in August. The two mile parade race and then Abe's Amble on the last day of the fair. Abe's Amble is a 10K that I'm definitely running, but since it's so far away, I can't focus on training for it yet!
So, there's my update. Nothing good. I'm getting ready to head to Minnesota for a week, and when I return, there's a lot more traveling to do including Chicago and Hawaii this month alone!
Will I ever get back on track? I'm sure I will eventually. When? Only time will tell at this point.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Fat Ass 5K
We got a late start this morning. Well, it feels like it, but not really. We leave the house and show up a little early to wait for Shane's mom to meet us so she could take Jocelyn during the race. Somehow in the early-late start, I forget the Gatorade and the GPS watch. I remember it right about the time it's too late to go back and get it. I am SO mad at myself when I realize that I don't have the GPS!
I would consider using my iPhone like last week, but it's raining. I don't want to risk messing up my phone with moisture. It has been raining for nearly 24 hours straight. There is a big, green blob on the weather radar just circling over Springfield. It hasn't moved much, and it doesn't look like it is going anywhere soon! The temperature is in the 50's. So, it's wet and cold for race conditions.
By the time we get downtown, there are a bunch of streets blocked off for the race route. We aren't exactly sure how to get closer to the starting line, and start time is getting closer. We decide to park at Shane's office and use the distance between there and the race as a warm-up. It is only 5-6 blocks away.
As we approach the starting line area, we see just how big the crowd of participants were. It is huge even though the race is a "fun run" and the weather is just bad for a mid-May weekend. Much of the proceeds go to charity, so I'm glad that people are out here having fun for a good cause. There are some serious looking runners here, but there are also many people in crazy costumes and outfits.
We move up to the front of the starting line and wait for the start. Here and there, we stop to talk to people we know in the crowd. I look around for the start and finish mats for the electronic timing chips and I don't see it. I'm just confused. I noticed when we were doing the warm-up runs that there was one down the street around the corner. So why are we starting here? I just really don't get it.
After the National Anthem, some warm up exercises, we are off!
The surge of people move down the street and around the corner. Like many of these races there are little kids that are going all out down the street. It's nearly shoulder to shoulder as we take the first turn. I see Shane up ahead of me. I know he was shooting for a 7:30 pace, so I'm not trying to keep up with him. I'm running blind on my pace and trying to listen to my breathing an use my body signals to tell me if my pace is good or not. It's so hard to judge your own pace when your are moving in a sea of people. Starting line adrenaline is a crazy thing that tricks your senses.
We round the first corner and cross the blue chip sensor--start/finish line? I'm still confused. I'm bumping into people at each corner. I'm passing some and others are passing me. We run by the first aid station. This one is serving beer. I pass, but there are already people stopping for a beer.
We head down 7th Street, past the Irish bagpipes. As we turn the corner on Jackson, we approach another aid station. This one is offering donut holes. Ick. Even though I would normally love one of those glazed balls of sugar and fried dough, it does not sound good right now! I keep on moving, already seeing an aftermath of dropped donuts across the course. I wonder if they are slippery on the street in the rain. I'll just avoid stepping on one, just in case. Amazingly, Shane is still in my sights, however, we have not even passed mile marker 1.
I keep picking runners to pace with. I am tempted to ask someone with a GPS watch on about our pace, but I decide to not do it. I'm looking at it as an experiment. How much different will I run if I don't know my pace? I feel a strain on my legs and occasionally my lungs, but overall I'm feeling strong. However, I feel unfocused without the GPS. I find myself letting people pass me and not thinking twice about it. I'm not really running with a plan. With a GPS, my pace is my plan. Without it, I'm somewhat lost.
As we near the final stretch of the second lap, I wonder if my legs will take a sprint at the finish. I start planning the point to kick it up a notch. I'm assuming the end will be down the street and around the corner from where we actually started--the blue mat we ran over in the first quarter mile.
As I run past the place we started the race, I notice some runners going straight (to where I think the finish line is) and others turning earlier onto Adams. What's going on? Where am I supposed to go? I look around and there's nothing and no one marking the turn for us. I look down Adams Street a little and I see a double blue mat across the street and a timing clock. That must be the finish line, I guess?
The race ending was anti-climactic considering I thought I still had another 10th of a mile or so to go. I never even saw a mile 3 sign. It was kind of a bummer end to the race.
I looked around and found Shane. His watch said 24 minutes and some seconds, but he wasn't sure where the race actually began either. Did he start his watch too soon? Should it have been started when we crossed that first blue timing line down around the corner. Really we have no clue. What we do know is that in these types of races, you almost always get a better time than what it says on the timing clock. If so, then there's great chance that I could have finished under 25 minutes! That would be amazing! Since there's no awards ceremony that we know of, we don't wait around for race results. We'll get them online later.
It was an interesting adventure--running without a GPS. I really, really didn't like it! I can't complain too much though, I have a new PR. I don't think I'll try this little experiment again. I felt like I was running blind. The stress of not having it probably used more oxygen that I could have used.
We jog back to the car in the never-ending rain. Shane takes a race photo of me, and I take one of him. We don't get to have one together because there's no one around to take the picture. Oh well, next time.
The next day, when we pull race results, we're pretty bummed--and annoyed. My official time was actually MORE than the finish line timer said. It was 25:15 (8:07/mile pace). Close, but still six seconds more. I also noticed that someone I know for sure who WALKED the race showed up as finishing in 6th place! I wonder how many other walkers crossed the finish line after the first lap and pushed me down the list? I finished the 19th female (even though I know it was actually 18th or higher). I was pretty proud of that. My next 5K goal is under 25 minutes! I can do it, I know I can!!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
IAMM Fun Run 5K
Pre-warning: This race was somewhat uneventful. The blog entry is a little dry. I do not believe it is representative of our entire blog. Please check out some other entries if this one bores you to death!
On somewhat short notice, we decided to run the International Assist Medical Missions (IAMM) fun run 5K on May 7th. A friend of ours is very active in the mission organization, and it was definitely for a good cause. We registered this week, and then I didn't think much else about it.
As I pointed out in my previous post, I have been SLACKING off terribly! This week I ran the most miles since the LPHM--7 whole miles! Woo-hoo! Hold me back, or I'll hurt myself, right? Four miles Monday. Three miles on Wednesday. That's it. This makes me a little worried about how today will go. This is a wake up call that I better get my butt in gear if I want to be ready for my first full race season!
We got to the park in Rochester, and everything was really laid back. There were a few people milling about, but mostly it looked like walkers. We thought, maybe we even had a chance to win this thing...until the kid in the running tank and shorts showed up. He looked like he was in uniform ready for a cross country meet. We'll see what happens when the race starts, but I have a feeling he'll do well.
I didn't do much today to prep for the race. Didn't eat any special meals last night. Actually, I ate badly last night. Wendy's cheeseburger and fries. Oops! I get to do it sometimes, right? Nothing special this morning for breakfast. Drank a little Gatorade before the race and that was about it. Nice pre-race preparation.
Fifteen minutes before the race begins, we take a warm-up lap around the park. My legs are feeling a bit tired and not quite awake yet. Shake out the cobwebs! I forgot to borrow my dad's GPS watch from him, so I'm using the GPS running application in my iPhone called RunKeeper. I hope it keeps accurate time. I would like to be aware of my pace as we go. I hate not knowing!
We head back to the pavilion. They briefly explain the course route and we head up to the road to the starting line. Ready-set-go! The handful of runners, me included, move out in front. In the lead is the kid I mentioned before. No shocker. A few guys get ahead of me, and I'm running side-by-side with Stacey, a friend of ours.
My RunKeeper tells me my first mile is done, 8:20 pace. I'm feeling a burst of energy, and I begin pulling ahead of Stacey. I hope I'm not making a bad decision for moving ahead so early. I feel good right now though, so I better take advantage of it while I can. Next up is the guy in orange. He's still a little ways ahead of me, so I take my time catching him.
Right about the time we are turning on to the bike trail, I'm even with him. I run along side of him for a while, and then I decide to move forward. At this point, I know we are not even half way done. I couldn't look down at my watch (because I didn't have one! GRRR!) to see what I was pacing. It was so much harder to check my time on the iPhone. Mental note to self: NEVER ever forget the GPS watch again! Again, I am just hoping I'm not doing too much too soon. It keeps popping into my head (ah, my self-doubting voice appears to be back). Please don't burn out legs!
Next, ahead of me was Drew, Shane's friend. I slowly close the gap on him, then I pass. I'm still feeling good, and another pumping song has just kicked in on my iPhone: Aerials by System of a Down. That always gets me moving! We finish mile two, my phone tells me my pace is 8:24. At least I'm consistent.
Now, there's not too many others in front of me. I think it's just the cross country kid and Shane. Could I be the first female? Is that even possible?! I get really excited for a second as I daydream about finishing as top female runner. As I approach the turn-around right after mile two, I could see the leaders. The cross country kid is running with a teenage girl. I'm not the first female, but I'm thrilled that a girl is doing so well! Awesome for her! Then I pass Shane with a high-five.
Just a little less than a mile left. I hit the turn-around and face all the runners who are just behind me. The guy in orange stayed with me and has passed Drew. He's not too far behind me. I imagine him creeping there and passing me in the end. I hope to not let that happen. Right now, I'm running fourth place. I'm liking that!
We break out of the bike trail trees and head back into the park. I don't see Shane anywhere which is odd. Where did they go? I am now running across an open field with the wind pushing me back all in my face, and the sun has gotten HOT! I don't like this. I keep chugging along, but my legs are starting to protest now. I can feel myself slowing. I need a good tune, but not coming up with anything as I skip around on songs on the iPhone. I can't mess with this. I need to pay attention. Whatever, let's just get this over with. I let the music just play. Mile three, my phone annouces, with a 8:48. Slowed down there. I think I'm running out of steam.
Just then, I notice that people are running over from the pavilion pointing down the road, they look a little panicked. I think that we are supposed to turn and go across this parking lot, but I'm not totally sure. Is that what they are trying to tell me? To turn here? I turn around and ask the guy in orange. They said earlier that he mapped out the course. He nods. I turn and there's just this parking lot and a small stretch of road between me and the finish. My legs are fighting me now, but once I know I'm almost done, I always seem to pull on strength I didn't know I had.
Across the parking lot, I turn onto the road--the final stretch--probably less than 400 meters. I see the end, the finish line. I pick up my pace, but my usual sprint isn't there. I'm going faster than my previous race pace, but this is not my normal sprint. I really think I did too much for too little training, but I'm still going to give it all I've got! I cross the finish line and look down at my phone to stop it. It says 25:56 by the time I slide the screen lock over. So, I don't know how accurate it is, but close enough to still be a new PR for me! My last official 5K was 26:40 back in November. Yay!
So, I placed 4th place overall, 2nd place female. It was fun to run (and actually place), even if it was a very small fun run. It gives me confidence to do better! Train better! Hopefully, I will do as well on the Fat Ass 5K next weekend. They'll have timing chips, so we'll have more accurate times. I'll also remember to bring the GPS.
My legs are mad at me. Mostly my calves are cramping and telling me that if I run like this again without training, they are going to kill me! I believe them too. No substitute for good training. Gotta do it! Until next week--and the Fat Ass! See ya then!
On somewhat short notice, we decided to run the International Assist Medical Missions (IAMM) fun run 5K on May 7th. A friend of ours is very active in the mission organization, and it was definitely for a good cause. We registered this week, and then I didn't think much else about it.
As I pointed out in my previous post, I have been SLACKING off terribly! This week I ran the most miles since the LPHM--7 whole miles! Woo-hoo! Hold me back, or I'll hurt myself, right? Four miles Monday. Three miles on Wednesday. That's it. This makes me a little worried about how today will go. This is a wake up call that I better get my butt in gear if I want to be ready for my first full race season!
We got to the park in Rochester, and everything was really laid back. There were a few people milling about, but mostly it looked like walkers. We thought, maybe we even had a chance to win this thing...until the kid in the running tank and shorts showed up. He looked like he was in uniform ready for a cross country meet. We'll see what happens when the race starts, but I have a feeling he'll do well.
I didn't do much today to prep for the race. Didn't eat any special meals last night. Actually, I ate badly last night. Wendy's cheeseburger and fries. Oops! I get to do it sometimes, right? Nothing special this morning for breakfast. Drank a little Gatorade before the race and that was about it. Nice pre-race preparation.
Fifteen minutes before the race begins, we take a warm-up lap around the park. My legs are feeling a bit tired and not quite awake yet. Shake out the cobwebs! I forgot to borrow my dad's GPS watch from him, so I'm using the GPS running application in my iPhone called RunKeeper. I hope it keeps accurate time. I would like to be aware of my pace as we go. I hate not knowing!
We head back to the pavilion. They briefly explain the course route and we head up to the road to the starting line. Ready-set-go! The handful of runners, me included, move out in front. In the lead is the kid I mentioned before. No shocker. A few guys get ahead of me, and I'm running side-by-side with Stacey, a friend of ours.
My RunKeeper tells me my first mile is done, 8:20 pace. I'm feeling a burst of energy, and I begin pulling ahead of Stacey. I hope I'm not making a bad decision for moving ahead so early. I feel good right now though, so I better take advantage of it while I can. Next up is the guy in orange. He's still a little ways ahead of me, so I take my time catching him.
Right about the time we are turning on to the bike trail, I'm even with him. I run along side of him for a while, and then I decide to move forward. At this point, I know we are not even half way done. I couldn't look down at my watch (because I didn't have one! GRRR!) to see what I was pacing. It was so much harder to check my time on the iPhone. Mental note to self: NEVER ever forget the GPS watch again! Again, I am just hoping I'm not doing too much too soon. It keeps popping into my head (ah, my self-doubting voice appears to be back). Please don't burn out legs!
Next, ahead of me was Drew, Shane's friend. I slowly close the gap on him, then I pass. I'm still feeling good, and another pumping song has just kicked in on my iPhone: Aerials by System of a Down. That always gets me moving! We finish mile two, my phone tells me my pace is 8:24. At least I'm consistent.
Now, there's not too many others in front of me. I think it's just the cross country kid and Shane. Could I be the first female? Is that even possible?! I get really excited for a second as I daydream about finishing as top female runner. As I approach the turn-around right after mile two, I could see the leaders. The cross country kid is running with a teenage girl. I'm not the first female, but I'm thrilled that a girl is doing so well! Awesome for her! Then I pass Shane with a high-five.
Just a little less than a mile left. I hit the turn-around and face all the runners who are just behind me. The guy in orange stayed with me and has passed Drew. He's not too far behind me. I imagine him creeping there and passing me in the end. I hope to not let that happen. Right now, I'm running fourth place. I'm liking that!
We break out of the bike trail trees and head back into the park. I don't see Shane anywhere which is odd. Where did they go? I am now running across an open field with the wind pushing me back all in my face, and the sun has gotten HOT! I don't like this. I keep chugging along, but my legs are starting to protest now. I can feel myself slowing. I need a good tune, but not coming up with anything as I skip around on songs on the iPhone. I can't mess with this. I need to pay attention. Whatever, let's just get this over with. I let the music just play. Mile three, my phone annouces, with a 8:48. Slowed down there. I think I'm running out of steam.
Just then, I notice that people are running over from the pavilion pointing down the road, they look a little panicked. I think that we are supposed to turn and go across this parking lot, but I'm not totally sure. Is that what they are trying to tell me? To turn here? I turn around and ask the guy in orange. They said earlier that he mapped out the course. He nods. I turn and there's just this parking lot and a small stretch of road between me and the finish. My legs are fighting me now, but once I know I'm almost done, I always seem to pull on strength I didn't know I had.
Across the parking lot, I turn onto the road--the final stretch--probably less than 400 meters. I see the end, the finish line. I pick up my pace, but my usual sprint isn't there. I'm going faster than my previous race pace, but this is not my normal sprint. I really think I did too much for too little training, but I'm still going to give it all I've got! I cross the finish line and look down at my phone to stop it. It says 25:56 by the time I slide the screen lock over. So, I don't know how accurate it is, but close enough to still be a new PR for me! My last official 5K was 26:40 back in November. Yay!
So, I placed 4th place overall, 2nd place female. It was fun to run (and actually place), even if it was a very small fun run. It gives me confidence to do better! Train better! Hopefully, I will do as well on the Fat Ass 5K next weekend. They'll have timing chips, so we'll have more accurate times. I'll also remember to bring the GPS.
My legs are mad at me. Mostly my calves are cramping and telling me that if I run like this again without training, they are going to kill me! I believe them too. No substitute for good training. Gotta do it! Until next week--and the Fat Ass! See ya then!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
SLACKER!!!!
Okay, so I've ran about as many miles since the half marathon as I did during the half marathon! I am such a post-race slacker! I even signed up for the Fat Ass 5K on May 14th to keep me motivated to keep moving. I was hoping to train for a new 5K PR for that race, but my stellar weekly mileage in the past five weeks is probably not going to allow that to happen. Whatever. Paid my money, I'll run as best as I can, and get a new t-shirt.If you've never heard of the Fat Ass 5K, it is something to behold. The aid stations include beer, corn dogs, ice cream and donuts. Quite a spectacle. You may also take the detour which goes straight into a local bar. Some people run it just for fun, but obviously there are still people who run it win. It should be a fun first 5K of the race season. I'll save my PR for later in the year.
I have had troubles getting my butt out the door to run. The weather has been rainy. I've had a lot going on. Busy with work. Busy with home. Would you like to hear all of my excuses, or are those enough? I know. No excuses. My weekly mileage hasn't exceeded three miles for five weeks. Disgraceful.
Yesterday, I had no excuses. The weather was nice. There was no reason to not run. I laced up headed out the door and ran. At first, I thought another three miler. However, I was feeling great at 1.5, so I decided to do four. It was a good run. I was maintaining a good "easy run" training pace. After the four miles, I felt amazing.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon - 2011: The race
I thought very little about my goals for this race, and it was intentional. I didn't want to set the bar too high, but I wanted it way above "just finishing" the race. I already knew that there was no option to not finish. What was my high bar? I settled in to a goal of pacing under 10 minute miles. It could be 9:45 pace or 9:59. Whatever, as long as it was under 10:00. I felt it was a reasonable goal. A very attainable goal, and that was my main focus.
My training was good, but sporadic at times. It certainly wasn't perfect. I missed lots of runs on the training schedule. I hadn't done any speed work near the end. I didn't want to set myself up for failure by shooting too high. However, I knew that anything deemed a failure was not an option today. I put in too many hours to end this day with anything that I determined to be "not good enough".
As the crowd of runners surged forward, I developed my game plan in my head. There were pacers at 2:00 and 2:15 finishing times. A 10 minute per mile pace puts me finishing in 2:11:06. As long as I finish ahead of the 2:15, I would be good then. Shane had previously suggested I stay with them at the beginning and then move ahead if I was feeling good. I thought about that for about two seconds. At 2:15, I would be four minutes over my goal. Nah, I'm going to stay ahead of them and work my own pace. I will not force myself to go slower than I want to go today. I don't care if I end up with negative splits or not. I'm not starting slower than the pace I want to beat. No way.
We move ahead, and I don't see Shane anymore after the starting gun. We're running through the streets of downtown Springfield, between the buildings, with traffic shut down. Again, the surreal nature of the morning really hits me. I feel on top of the freaking world!
We pass a Lincoln site: the Old State Capitol. Then the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices. Down the street and around the corner, we run by Lincoln's Home on South Seventh Street. The noise of hundreds of feet on the gravel street sounded like a hard spring rainfall.
Mile one done: 9:37 pace.
I keep moving and consider my music for a second. No, I'll just wait. I'm soaking in the atmosphere and the people around me. I'm eavesdropping on conversations between running partners. I'm just enjoying myself tremendously, and I don't want to shut off the outside world with music.
The conversation over here is between a man and a woman, possibly a couple. He seems to want to go faster than she is willing to go. He pulls ahead, and turns around to look for her, urging her with his eyes to go faster. Finally he falls back in line with her and they start having a conversation about whether or not she would be mad if he runs ahead today. It seems that they should have had this conversation before that moment in time--maybe yesterday? Shane and I never had any illusions that we would run this race together, and I'm glad. I'm really enjoying my solitude among the crowd. I didn't have to worry about anyone else's comfort level or pace.
Mile two done: 9:30 pace.
This girl over here is telling her running partners they BETTER tell her if someone sees a camera. The guys over in this group laugh at her, but then agree among themselves that most of their running candids made them look like they are having some type of seizure while running. Ah, yes, I know of bad running photos. Hopefully today will be better than the pictures from the Frostbite Festival. Couldn't be much worse.
As we leave downtown Springfield, I remain in my "zone". Soaking in the atmosphere. I see all these people with signs supporting their friends and family members running, and I am suddenly overwhelmed with wanting to see Jocelyn on the side of the road! I also think about my parents. I know my mom is working this morning, but I imagine my dad being on the side of the road somewhere in Washington Park and it makes me smile. I know he won't be there because I didn't ask him to be, but the thought of my family supporting me kind of overwhelms me. I push forward. I still feel like I have to pee, darn it! It happens to me every race!
Mile three done: 9:23 pace.
As we enter Washington Park, the crowds surrounding the race route get thicker. I see people I know here and there. I scan the crowds, feeling energized by the cheers, even though they are not for me, but for people around me. A little girl holding up signs that says, "Great job, Mommy!" nearly makes me cry imagining Jocelyn holding a sign for me one day. We turn a corner and head away from the park into Leland Grove.
Mile four done: 9:27 pace.
Finally, I'm feeling warm enough that it's time to lose the fleece. While running, I unpin my number from my fleece and pin it to the shirt beneath. I only stab myself a couple times. I tie the fleece around my waist and barely miss a stride. A pick another runner and make sure I keep with him during the switch. I don't want to slow my pace just because I'm not paying attention to my surroundings. After a loop out into the neighborhood, we head back toward the park.
Mile five done: 9:25 pace. At least I'm consistent, right?
I'm paying attention to my pace and it's fluctuating between 9:00 and 9:35. I'm feeling great after five miles, but we're still miles from the hills that are ahead. I decide that I'm going to try to keep the pace around 9:15. As we pass the timing clock at mile number five, I hear someone behind me say to their running partner that if they keep up this pace, they should be able to finish under two hours. For a second, I think to myself, "Are they calculating that right?" I do some rough math, and a two hour finish would be around a 9:10 pace. It's not outrageous to think they could do it. Is it outrageous to think that I could do it? The thought is fleeting and drifts from my mind as we enter Washington Park again.
We head down the hill and around the lagoons. I think about how I'm glad that we are not heading the other direction. The slight feeling that I need to pee is lingering. The girls running next to me mention finding bathrooms as if they are reading my mind. As we approach the park exit, there are two porta-potties to the left. The two girls run forward and each take one. I'm certainly not going to stop and wait. Anyways, the feeling is still slight. I'm sure there will be more chances to stop along the way if I really need it. I will continue to gauge how I feel as the day goes on.
Mile six done: 9:17 pace.
We head down the longest straight-away in the race: Lincoln Avenue. Written all the way across the road in huge letters with sidewalk chalk are the words "GO MOMMY!" I smile. We head back through town to the north. Traffic is stopped at every major intersection by police officers. At one intersection, I hear an irate driver loudly asking the officer if they got a permit for the race. No moron, there are a thousand people running through the streets of Springfield, police have intersections closed temporarily, and no one thought to remember to get a permit for it. Sorry to get your panties in a bunch early on a Saturday morning. But I digress--the officer didn't deserve the grief. Thank you, Officer!!
Mile seven done: 9:31 pace. I don't know what happened there...slowed down a bit.
I realize that the race half over. I check myself mentally and physically, and I'm still feeling great. There's a little cramping in my toes on my right foot, but nothing too dramatic. I consider my music again and decide that it's time. I look up ahead and there is a decent hill to finish up Lincoln Avenue, so I fire up the iPod. Ah, sweet, motivational beats! I feel energy surging through me! I hit a water stop and try to grab some Gatorade, but they are only calling out "water". I read somewhere that you should do one or the other, not both. You don't want to water down the Gatorade. Oh well, I need hydration. I grab a water and put a bunch up my nose, and the rest down my throat. I still hate that they don't have trash bins set up. I would use one instead of throwing the cup on the ground. It just doesn't feel right!
We pass porta-potties again, I don't think I have to pee anymore. I'm feeling good and don't want to lose the time. We turn onto Calhoun Avenue and run by the house that Shane and I used to live at with Meredith. I barely recognize it. That was a long time ago, another lifetime.
Mile eight done: 9:11 pace. Now that's better! Ah, the music....
We run through some neighborhoods, winding through the north end of town, crossing North Grand. I don't remember much of this mile. At this point, I've got the music jamming, and I remember passing runners here and there. My pace is feeling great, and the music has rejunvenated me.
Mile nine done: 9:08 pace. Oh, yeah!
We are getting closer to Oak Ridge Cemetery, and the first of the really dreaded hills. I'm cruising along and at one point on Monument Avenue, we are running the opposite direction on the other side of the street of runners who are ahead of us. I'm scanning the faces for people I recognize, but I'm really just looking for Shane. I would love to see him! As I approach the entrance gates to Oak Ridge, I see a crowd of runners surrounding a pacer. It's Shane's pacer! Right before the routes split from each other, I see Shane for a moment, and yell his name. Darn it! He didn't hear me. Here I go....heading into Oak Ridge!
We're coming up on the next Lincoln site, the tomb. We head down a hill, turn a corner and start heading back up. I put my head down, looking right in front of me and start my "kill the hill" mantra in my head and under my breath. It really helps! This hill is NOTHING! There are quite a few people walking up the hill. I begin to pass several people. At the top of the hill, I'm breathing a little heavy, but still feeling absolutely great. I settle into a slower pace for a moment to recover, but then I'm ready to go again.
Mile ten done: 9:16 pace. Not bad considering we tackled the first hill in that mile.
We round the corner on Third Street, and I know what's coming next. There's a big downhill run coming into Black Avenue, and then arguably the worst hill in the course. I'm ready for it! We head down, and I start thinking "kill the hill!" I begin passing people. People start walking. I'm pushing through it, keeping my breathing even and taking comfortable strides. In no time at all, I'm back at top, looking at the entrance to Lincoln Park. I turn in, steady my breathing, but I'm trying to recover without slowing much at all.
Mile 11 done: 9:02, even with the Black Avenue hill. What about that?! Woo-hoo!
There's just a bit over two miles left. A short run, right?! An easy run! I can't even believe it. I start planning my finishing strategy. Do I pick it up now? Do I wait a bit? Do I have enough in my tank to finish fast for the next two miles? As I'm thinking about this, a runner blows by me. I take notice because no one has passed me like that since the beginning of the race. Then I realize that it's someone I know. His name is John. I decide that I'm going to pick it up a bit. I'll slowly catch up and hang out behind him. I will race him in my mind to keep me moving. He's got a good lead on me right now.
I approach the last big hill leaving Lincoln Park. Kill the hill! My mantra is working. I pass several people walking up this final hill. I know once we leave the park that there will be no more hills heading back downtown. I keep John in my sights, and I'm now about 20 feet behind him heading up Third Street.
Mile 12 done: 8:44 pace. I'm moving now!
Wow, is there really only 1.1 miles left? Am I really about to finish my first half marathon, and I'm still feeling awesome?! At some point during the mile, I look at my watch and see that my overall time is 1:56. I realize that it is possible that I could finish under two hours! My brain is not able to do the math at the moment, so I decide that I'm just going to put everything out there and just see what happens. I'm elated with my time considering my original goal was finishing under 2:11.
I cruise behind John and decide that I'm not going to let anyone else pass me. I'm picking off runners one by one. We turn left on to Dodge Street, and I move ahead of John. How much is left? Is my GPS mileage right on? Can I maintain this pace and beat him? Did I pass him too soon?
We take another corner, and in my peripheral, I see him gaining on me. He passes me briefly, but I kick it up another notch. I start to see people who have already finished with medals on walking back to find friends who are still racing. I'm so close to done!
Mile 13 done: 8:01 pace. I like that pace.
Where is the finish line? It's so close, but I can't see it! I hear crowds of people. We've hit 13 miles, so there can only be a little left. I see crowds at the end of this street, but I don't see the finish line. I keep up my pace, not allowing anyone to get near me. I'm going to finish strong, but I'm not ready to sprint yet. I turn the final corner and there it is! The finish line just ahead!
The crowds are lining the roadside. The noise and energy is amazing! I pull on all that energy to start a flat out sprint to the finish. No one is going to pass me again! I cross the finish line!
I'm done! I stop my watch and look at my overall time of 2:01. I'm thrilled! I didn't break two hours, but who cares?! I blew away my goal that I set by a full 10 minutes. My final 10th of a mile was ran at a 7:18 pace. I kicked butt! <BIG SMILE>
Official marathon time: 2:01:00.
I would like to thank John for racing me at the end, even though he may not have been racing me at all. It was probably in my head only. If he wasn't there, I don't know if I would have kicked it in the last couple of miles. Maybe I would have picked someone else to race. Maybe not. Regardless, that's not how it turned out, and I'm very happy with my finish.
I floated around on Cloud 9 and searched for Shane in the crowd. Found him! We're both smiling from ear to ear. He finished under his goal too, 1:58:03. We were both glowing in post-race energy! Shortly thereafter, we headed to the Alamo for our free celebratory beers. Well earned. What an amazing day! It will be a day that I will not soon forget. You better bet that next year, I will be finishing this race under two hours. Mark my words!
My training was good, but sporadic at times. It certainly wasn't perfect. I missed lots of runs on the training schedule. I hadn't done any speed work near the end. I didn't want to set myself up for failure by shooting too high. However, I knew that anything deemed a failure was not an option today. I put in too many hours to end this day with anything that I determined to be "not good enough".
As the crowd of runners surged forward, I developed my game plan in my head. There were pacers at 2:00 and 2:15 finishing times. A 10 minute per mile pace puts me finishing in 2:11:06. As long as I finish ahead of the 2:15, I would be good then. Shane had previously suggested I stay with them at the beginning and then move ahead if I was feeling good. I thought about that for about two seconds. At 2:15, I would be four minutes over my goal. Nah, I'm going to stay ahead of them and work my own pace. I will not force myself to go slower than I want to go today. I don't care if I end up with negative splits or not. I'm not starting slower than the pace I want to beat. No way.
We move ahead, and I don't see Shane anymore after the starting gun. We're running through the streets of downtown Springfield, between the buildings, with traffic shut down. Again, the surreal nature of the morning really hits me. I feel on top of the freaking world!
Mile one done: 9:37 pace.
I keep moving and consider my music for a second. No, I'll just wait. I'm soaking in the atmosphere and the people around me. I'm eavesdropping on conversations between running partners. I'm just enjoying myself tremendously, and I don't want to shut off the outside world with music.
The conversation over here is between a man and a woman, possibly a couple. He seems to want to go faster than she is willing to go. He pulls ahead, and turns around to look for her, urging her with his eyes to go faster. Finally he falls back in line with her and they start having a conversation about whether or not she would be mad if he runs ahead today. It seems that they should have had this conversation before that moment in time--maybe yesterday? Shane and I never had any illusions that we would run this race together, and I'm glad. I'm really enjoying my solitude among the crowd. I didn't have to worry about anyone else's comfort level or pace.
Mile two done: 9:30 pace.
This girl over here is telling her running partners they BETTER tell her if someone sees a camera. The guys over in this group laugh at her, but then agree among themselves that most of their running candids made them look like they are having some type of seizure while running. Ah, yes, I know of bad running photos. Hopefully today will be better than the pictures from the Frostbite Festival. Couldn't be much worse.
Mile three done: 9:23 pace.
As we enter Washington Park, the crowds surrounding the race route get thicker. I see people I know here and there. I scan the crowds, feeling energized by the cheers, even though they are not for me, but for people around me. A little girl holding up signs that says, "Great job, Mommy!" nearly makes me cry imagining Jocelyn holding a sign for me one day. We turn a corner and head away from the park into Leland Grove.
Mile four done: 9:27 pace.
Finally, I'm feeling warm enough that it's time to lose the fleece. While running, I unpin my number from my fleece and pin it to the shirt beneath. I only stab myself a couple times. I tie the fleece around my waist and barely miss a stride. A pick another runner and make sure I keep with him during the switch. I don't want to slow my pace just because I'm not paying attention to my surroundings. After a loop out into the neighborhood, we head back toward the park.
Mile five done: 9:25 pace. At least I'm consistent, right?
I'm paying attention to my pace and it's fluctuating between 9:00 and 9:35. I'm feeling great after five miles, but we're still miles from the hills that are ahead. I decide that I'm going to try to keep the pace around 9:15. As we pass the timing clock at mile number five, I hear someone behind me say to their running partner that if they keep up this pace, they should be able to finish under two hours. For a second, I think to myself, "Are they calculating that right?" I do some rough math, and a two hour finish would be around a 9:10 pace. It's not outrageous to think they could do it. Is it outrageous to think that I could do it? The thought is fleeting and drifts from my mind as we enter Washington Park again.
Mile six done: 9:17 pace.
We head down the longest straight-away in the race: Lincoln Avenue. Written all the way across the road in huge letters with sidewalk chalk are the words "GO MOMMY!" I smile. We head back through town to the north. Traffic is stopped at every major intersection by police officers. At one intersection, I hear an irate driver loudly asking the officer if they got a permit for the race. No moron, there are a thousand people running through the streets of Springfield, police have intersections closed temporarily, and no one thought to remember to get a permit for it. Sorry to get your panties in a bunch early on a Saturday morning. But I digress--the officer didn't deserve the grief. Thank you, Officer!!
Mile seven done: 9:31 pace. I don't know what happened there...slowed down a bit.
I realize that the race half over. I check myself mentally and physically, and I'm still feeling great. There's a little cramping in my toes on my right foot, but nothing too dramatic. I consider my music again and decide that it's time. I look up ahead and there is a decent hill to finish up Lincoln Avenue, so I fire up the iPod. Ah, sweet, motivational beats! I feel energy surging through me! I hit a water stop and try to grab some Gatorade, but they are only calling out "water". I read somewhere that you should do one or the other, not both. You don't want to water down the Gatorade. Oh well, I need hydration. I grab a water and put a bunch up my nose, and the rest down my throat. I still hate that they don't have trash bins set up. I would use one instead of throwing the cup on the ground. It just doesn't feel right!
We pass porta-potties again, I don't think I have to pee anymore. I'm feeling good and don't want to lose the time. We turn onto Calhoun Avenue and run by the house that Shane and I used to live at with Meredith. I barely recognize it. That was a long time ago, another lifetime.
Mile eight done: 9:11 pace. Now that's better! Ah, the music....
We run through some neighborhoods, winding through the north end of town, crossing North Grand. I don't remember much of this mile. At this point, I've got the music jamming, and I remember passing runners here and there. My pace is feeling great, and the music has rejunvenated me.
Mile nine done: 9:08 pace. Oh, yeah!
Mile ten done: 9:16 pace. Not bad considering we tackled the first hill in that mile.
We round the corner on Third Street, and I know what's coming next. There's a big downhill run coming into Black Avenue, and then arguably the worst hill in the course. I'm ready for it! We head down, and I start thinking "kill the hill!" I begin passing people. People start walking. I'm pushing through it, keeping my breathing even and taking comfortable strides. In no time at all, I'm back at top, looking at the entrance to Lincoln Park. I turn in, steady my breathing, but I'm trying to recover without slowing much at all.
Mile 11 done: 9:02, even with the Black Avenue hill. What about that?! Woo-hoo!
There's just a bit over two miles left. A short run, right?! An easy run! I can't even believe it. I start planning my finishing strategy. Do I pick it up now? Do I wait a bit? Do I have enough in my tank to finish fast for the next two miles? As I'm thinking about this, a runner blows by me. I take notice because no one has passed me like that since the beginning of the race. Then I realize that it's someone I know. His name is John. I decide that I'm going to pick it up a bit. I'll slowly catch up and hang out behind him. I will race him in my mind to keep me moving. He's got a good lead on me right now.
I approach the last big hill leaving Lincoln Park. Kill the hill! My mantra is working. I pass several people walking up this final hill. I know once we leave the park that there will be no more hills heading back downtown. I keep John in my sights, and I'm now about 20 feet behind him heading up Third Street.
Mile 12 done: 8:44 pace. I'm moving now!
Wow, is there really only 1.1 miles left? Am I really about to finish my first half marathon, and I'm still feeling awesome?! At some point during the mile, I look at my watch and see that my overall time is 1:56. I realize that it is possible that I could finish under two hours! My brain is not able to do the math at the moment, so I decide that I'm just going to put everything out there and just see what happens. I'm elated with my time considering my original goal was finishing under 2:11.
I cruise behind John and decide that I'm not going to let anyone else pass me. I'm picking off runners one by one. We turn left on to Dodge Street, and I move ahead of John. How much is left? Is my GPS mileage right on? Can I maintain this pace and beat him? Did I pass him too soon?
We take another corner, and in my peripheral, I see him gaining on me. He passes me briefly, but I kick it up another notch. I start to see people who have already finished with medals on walking back to find friends who are still racing. I'm so close to done!
Mile 13 done: 8:01 pace. I like that pace.
The crowds are lining the roadside. The noise and energy is amazing! I pull on all that energy to start a flat out sprint to the finish. No one is going to pass me again! I cross the finish line!
I'm done! I stop my watch and look at my overall time of 2:01. I'm thrilled! I didn't break two hours, but who cares?! I blew away my goal that I set by a full 10 minutes. My final 10th of a mile was ran at a 7:18 pace. I kicked butt! <BIG SMILE>
Official marathon time: 2:01:00.
I would like to thank John for racing me at the end, even though he may not have been racing me at all. It was probably in my head only. If he wasn't there, I don't know if I would have kicked it in the last couple of miles. Maybe I would have picked someone else to race. Maybe not. Regardless, that's not how it turned out, and I'm very happy with my finish.
The Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon - Part I: Pre-race
It's here! The day is finally here! It's time for the Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon!
Yesterday, I had an unsually busy day at work, so I didn't have much time to think about it. That was probably good too. I didn't need anything making me nervous or overthinking the situation. I tried to take it easy as much as I could this week. I had two easy runs of about three miles each. On Wednesday, my run averaged about 9:15 per mile. That felt very comfortable--I like that pace. That was my final training run.
Last night, Shane and I ate our normal pre-race meal: whole wheat pasta, turkey meat sauce with extra chopped veggies (onions, garlic, green peppers and spinach) and garlic bread. I've had this same meal before every race I've run and it seemed to work very well for me so far. We got everything prepared to take Jocelyn to my mom's and a car seat to Shane's dad so they could pick her up in the morning from my mom's. Since the race starts at 7:30 a.m., we didn't want to deal with getting her up early or taking her somewhere before the race. We were already getting up and leaving earlier than normal. I might add, we are not morning people. Last weekend's long run starting at 9:00 a.m. felt incredibly foreign to our afternoon/evening legs.
I was lying in bed, already awake, before my alarm went off at 6:00 a.m. I decided I was going to take a shower to wake myself up a bit. I had set out my clothes the night before, and I hoped the weatherman was right. I flipped on the TV to the Weather Channel and it was currently in the low 30's. The high for the day was supposed to get to 59 degrees. Wind was blowing 10 to 20 mph. Not bad, about what we expected for the day. I didn't care much as long as it wasn't raining. Not a cloud in the sky!
We both decided no cereal for breakfast. Last weekend, the milk did a number on both of our stomachs! We grabbed fruit, granola bars, caffiene of choice, a bottle of Gatorade and headed out the door. I was still mulling over my clothing. I had a long sleeved shirt, capri running pants and a fleece. Should I ditch the fleece or not? I decided that I would keep it. I would rather be comfortable and have to eventually wear the fleece tied around my waist than to be freezing before and during the first part of the race.
As we got closer to downtown, we began seeing cars with racing decals. One said 13.1. Another said 70.3 (half an Ironman triathalon). We knew they were headed to the same place we were. As we approached the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, we could see the crowds of people gathering. You could already feel the energy in the air.
We parked the car and walked over to the starting line area. Of course, I have to go to the bathroom. Of course, there's only porta-potties. Of course, they are all the WAY over there. Is it a real feeling, or just nerves showing up? I'll take a gamble and wait to see what happens. We go to the designated meeting aera and find Jeremy Martin, a friend of Shane's. We also run into Rick Snow and Doug Cormeny from our church. Dave Anderson of Perfect Concept Photography, was also there to take some photographs. Thanks again, Dave!!
As we look around, we see the usual array of participants. The ones you know are SERIOUS, and the ones who are in it for fun (the girls in tutus, probably just having fun...just a guess). There are some serious athletes here, and I'm proud to be among them. I don't feel like an outsider today. I am more confident in my abilities this morning than I have ever felt before. I am one of "them".
As 7:30 approaches, we move toward the street with the other 1,100+ people running and walking today. I kiss and hug Shane good luck. I know we will not be seeing each other for the next two hours. There are a couple of announcements from Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, then gunfire, and the sea of people begins to flow down Sixth Street to the soundtrack of Van Halen's "Right Now."
Starting Line Video
It is very surreal feeling. I am feeling very much part of something bigger than me. The energy was amazing! I moved forward with the surging crowd and soaked it all in.
Yesterday, I had an unsually busy day at work, so I didn't have much time to think about it. That was probably good too. I didn't need anything making me nervous or overthinking the situation. I tried to take it easy as much as I could this week. I had two easy runs of about three miles each. On Wednesday, my run averaged about 9:15 per mile. That felt very comfortable--I like that pace. That was my final training run.
Last night, Shane and I ate our normal pre-race meal: whole wheat pasta, turkey meat sauce with extra chopped veggies (onions, garlic, green peppers and spinach) and garlic bread. I've had this same meal before every race I've run and it seemed to work very well for me so far. We got everything prepared to take Jocelyn to my mom's and a car seat to Shane's dad so they could pick her up in the morning from my mom's. Since the race starts at 7:30 a.m., we didn't want to deal with getting her up early or taking her somewhere before the race. We were already getting up and leaving earlier than normal. I might add, we are not morning people. Last weekend's long run starting at 9:00 a.m. felt incredibly foreign to our afternoon/evening legs.
I was lying in bed, already awake, before my alarm went off at 6:00 a.m. I decided I was going to take a shower to wake myself up a bit. I had set out my clothes the night before, and I hoped the weatherman was right. I flipped on the TV to the Weather Channel and it was currently in the low 30's. The high for the day was supposed to get to 59 degrees. Wind was blowing 10 to 20 mph. Not bad, about what we expected for the day. I didn't care much as long as it wasn't raining. Not a cloud in the sky!
We both decided no cereal for breakfast. Last weekend, the milk did a number on both of our stomachs! We grabbed fruit, granola bars, caffiene of choice, a bottle of Gatorade and headed out the door. I was still mulling over my clothing. I had a long sleeved shirt, capri running pants and a fleece. Should I ditch the fleece or not? I decided that I would keep it. I would rather be comfortable and have to eventually wear the fleece tied around my waist than to be freezing before and during the first part of the race.
As we got closer to downtown, we began seeing cars with racing decals. One said 13.1. Another said 70.3 (half an Ironman triathalon). We knew they were headed to the same place we were. As we approached the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, we could see the crowds of people gathering. You could already feel the energy in the air.
We parked the car and walked over to the starting line area. Of course, I have to go to the bathroom. Of course, there's only porta-potties. Of course, they are all the WAY over there. Is it a real feeling, or just nerves showing up? I'll take a gamble and wait to see what happens. We go to the designated meeting aera and find Jeremy Martin, a friend of Shane's. We also run into Rick Snow and Doug Cormeny from our church. Dave Anderson of Perfect Concept Photography, was also there to take some photographs. Thanks again, Dave!!
As we look around, we see the usual array of participants. The ones you know are SERIOUS, and the ones who are in it for fun (the girls in tutus, probably just having fun...just a guess). There are some serious athletes here, and I'm proud to be among them. I don't feel like an outsider today. I am more confident in my abilities this morning than I have ever felt before. I am one of "them".
As 7:30 approaches, we move toward the street with the other 1,100+ people running and walking today. I kiss and hug Shane good luck. I know we will not be seeing each other for the next two hours. There are a couple of announcements from Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, then gunfire, and the sea of people begins to flow down Sixth Street to the soundtrack of Van Halen's "Right Now."
Starting Line Video
It is very surreal feeling. I am feeling very much part of something bigger than me. The energy was amazing! I moved forward with the surging crowd and soaked it all in.
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