Running Through Agony To Joy

Driving out of the hotel parking lot, about 45 minutes from the starting line, the temperature outside was in the 40’s and the winds were whipping.  25 minutes down the road, light rain drops started falling.  Got a little panicked, as now was I not only broken and expecting 30 degree temps with little to no wind, but surely I was going to get hypothermia in this weather.   Thankfully by the time we pulled into the high school parking lot and boarded the bus, the wind was light and the rain was non-existent.  WHEW!

After what seemed like a very long uphill bus ride with the heat blasting, we arrived about a ¼ mile from the starting line.  Got off the bus and headed for the bathrooms with my friend’s nice puffy very warm jacket on to keep me warm.  Nice thing about a small race, the line for the bathroom was short and Steve and I headed for the bus, shed our jackets, and gave someone our drop bags that we would get at the finish.  Jumped up and down a little to stay warm, got many compliments on my cute outfit and we were off!

In Calistoga, before the start of the race.

It didn’t take long to warm up and Steve and I found a  nice rhythm.  It seemed like we were doing more passing, than being passed, were running around 7:20’s for 10 miles and trying to enjoy the view.  The whole “rolling hills” description is total BS as we had a couple legit climbs in there.   I was very happy with our half marathon pace of 1:38 and felt good enough that I was visualizing a PR.  The Flashdance song “What A Feeling” had played on the radio in the car on the way to the race and that is what I was singing in my head.  Couldn’t even feel my calf strain, my side/rib pain was barely there, and it didn’t feel like it was the only the 3^rd time running in my new Brooks. 

Feeling great about half way through the race!

Ah, the joy of running a marathon is there are so many different stages until you cross the finish line.  Between mile 14 and 15, the pain in my side became stronger and the hill climb left me in no mood to talk or enjoy any of the damn vineyards lining the course.  It got worse as we hit mile 16 (SIDE NOTE:  this course has a huge ass red flag at EVERY mile.  You could see them in the distance and all 26 of them were beautiful encouraging sites!!).  As we climbed a hill at mile 16 and ¾’s I started to walk. 

I am not a walker.  Don’t like to walk.  Don’t like to run with people who walk.  But I couldn’t catch my breath.

Steve told me to keep going and reminded me that I am not a walker.  He is a walker.  But I am NOT!  We had made a deal the day before that if any of us broke(injuries flared up), the other would continue going and not wait up.  It was deal.  Sealed with a kiss.  I told him to go.  He hesitated and I’m confident it was pretty hard for him to leave me walking on the side of the road, but off he went.   A very tall, slim, handsome (this has absolutely nothing to do with anything) man did slow down and ask me if I was ok. When I told him I was in pain but had an injury, he told me to hang on; someone would be there to pick me up. HELL NO! I was not going to get picked up.  If I was walking, I was not above crawling.

When the pain subsided I started running again.  Actually logged quite a few sub 7:45’s after mile 17.  Also spent a lot of time walking.  It seemed to hurt more when I drank so considered skipping the aid stations but figured that really wasn’t a good idea so decided to walk through aid stations.  What a concept!  I have heard of a ton of peeps that run marathons that way.  It helped me get through the pain.  The last few miles were a combination of not taking deep breaths because it was so painful and my legs blowing up because of lack of training due to being broke for almost 2 months.  At one point I ran a 9:20 mile. &^#%!*  There are no words.

A ton of women passed me in the last mile.  Didn’t care.  I was giving it all I could.  There was a guy in a grey shirt (not tall, yes slim, and I was dizzy but don’t think he was handsome) who I ran with the last few miles.  We didn’t talk.  We were both just trying to get to the finish line.  He had friends who offered him a coke.  What I would have given for a sip of that coke. 

The crowds were huge and so awesome near the finish.  They were actually all over the course.  Many yelled out that my outfit was cute (there is a point to this) and I always get the biggest chuckle when someone yells that they love my skirt!  Seriously, “GO GIRL GO! LOVE your skirt and your tank is so cute!” 

It was the longest .2 miles of my life and when I saw the finish and the announcer said my name I knew I had made it.  Not a PR.  Yet a respectable sub 3:30 marathon with a chip time of 3:27:51. Each finisher got their own personal “catcher” who gave them water and led them to the medal girls.  As my catcher was holding me, Steve came over to hug me (he finished in 3:21 which is a PR!!!) and asked if I was ok.  I think I said no, he said do you need to go to medical and I said yes.  A person from medical magically appeared to assist me (I wonder if I looked bad heading to the finish?) and as we were walking to the tent the guy in the grey shirt hit the pavement face down unconscious.  I thought my medical person should have left me and ran over there, but she (or he?) had a firm grip on me and a bunch of medics went and helped my grey shirt runner friend.  

As I was laying on the gurney, I heard someone ask for a defib.  I was so out of it.  Blood pressure was low.  Got juiced up and then needed to get the heck up and moving.  As I walked past grey shirt, he was on his back, EMT’s were working on him, his face was bloody, but his legs were moving and he had an oxygen mask on.  (Found out later he is OK!).

Apparently I didn't take in enough liquid nor breath deep enough for 10 miles.

Somewhere around mile 20 I questioned the sanity of why I like to run marathons.  Surely half’s were sufficient and maybe I should just work on speed and do 5ks.  The whole idea that I want to do a 50k was laughable.  But when you finish and get through the demons of pain that don’t allow you to take a deep breath and legs that are indescribably heavy, I realized why I sign up for these events.  To feel alive!  The thought of sitting at a spa for 3 hours and 27 minutes having my nails done, facials, and whatever else you do at spas seems torturous and incredibly BORING!  And pretty pointless.  If you get off on sitting down and having someone else do all the work for you to look pretty or relaxed, good on ya.  But for me, sweating, sorting out my problems as my feet hit the ground, and accomplishing something my body sometimes fights, is what does it for me.  It is what I need to do to live.  And when you look at all those who sign up again and again for marathons and ultras, I know I’m not alone.

After soup and oranges. 

Didn’t sign up for The Hapalua Half on Sunday as I thought I would be in recovery mode a week out from Napa. I still have pain in my side.  Ultrasound is Monday.  My left big toe is a little sore, not from the Brooks, from 9 miles of trail running on the most glorious trails outside of SF on Tuesday.  Today I looked if I could register for Hapalua.  I can.  The only thing that may hold me back is the $125 entry fee.  If I don’t run it, I’ll do as planned and cheer on my incredibly dedicated 16 year old who fell in love with running. 

Back to the Skirt: After a cup of hot soup and more gatorade and water, Steve and I went to pick up the drop bags.  A girl came up to me and said, "Cute outfit! I followed you the entire race and your outfit is so adorable!"  Steve and her husband/boyfriend smiled and the husband/boyfriend actually asked her if she would like to get my # since she was google eyes over the Lulu outfit.  I always tell Steve that people cheer for the skirt and he witnessed first hand on both ends how much fun it is for me, and those around me, to wear ruffles as I run.  

Spas may not be my thing, but a glass of wine while wearing compression socks is the perfect end to a long day of running!

Hawaiians In NorCal

Arrived in NorCal Thursday afternoon on a charted military flight (ie: FREE!!!) and checked into our hotel room.  Found a cool hard packed sand trail around a duck pond right down the street, so we could stretch our legs on a short run.

Yesterday we got up early, ran half a mile at 7am to see how COLD we were going to be a the start of the marathon Sunday morning.  Not so bad.  Won't need anything covering my ears or hands.  :)  Then we headed towards the Golden Gate to hit some trails around the area.  Ran the Marin Headlands Coastal Trail, Dipsea Trail, and Kirby Cove.

Drove to Napa for packet pick up with WINE TASTING!!!  More Race Expos need to have wine and beer samples in my humble opinion.  We drove the course and whatever perception we had that the course was flat was quickly shattered.  Lots of rolling hills, which means lots of downhills. I'll take it!  Going to attempt to heal strike running up the steeper inclines in the hope my calf strain doesn't flare up.   On my normal 8.5 training run through Lanikai last week, I was stopped in my tracks coming back out of Lanikai due to the pain in my calf.

Track workout in the low 40's is done for the day.  Getting gear ready, will see a movie, and shop at TRADER JOES (Steve's virgin shopping trip there) to get my mind off of the race tomorrow.  As prepared as I was 2 months ago, I'm not confident going into this race. Injured and my friend paid me a visit yesterday (TMI!); the ladies understand the suckiness in that!  Pressure to place is off as The Napa Valley Marathon is the RRCA National Championship.   Just hope I don't have to crawl across the finish line.

Picture dump:

Muir Islands Coastal Trail

Dipsea Trail

Kirby Cove

Golden Gate Bridge!

Little sips of Cab!!!

Track Workout with Brooks Armwarmers (new for the Hawaiians!)

lululemon, brooks, garmin, trails, Napa Valley Marathon, training, injured, sweatpinkambassador

Runner and Fashion Whore.

I saw a "warning" to all athletes running The Disney Princess Half Marathon today:

"HEAT ADVISORY: Temperatures this weekend are expected to reach the low-80's by mid-day. To help prepare for the heat, please read a special message from our Medical and Race Director at http://bit.ly/15DAi7a."

Since Hawaii is my running playground, , I spit out my coffee when I read this. 80's. Heat?  This is what I run in. Every. Single. Day. Add the humidity of Hawai'i, Diamond Head, the wind going out to Hawaii Kai, and that pretty much sums up why The Honolulu Marathon is one of the most difficult marathons. 

New Year's Resolution Ultra Run. Skirt. Minimal clothing. 

This morning on the Napa Valley Marathon page I read this:

"Despite being in Late Winter, the NVM enjoys some of the BEST running weather in the Nation for any Marathon at ANYTIME of year and this year is NO exception. March 3rd will dawn cool and clear. Starting temperature in the mid to upper 30's,warming rapidly to the low 50's for three hour runners and near 60 for the 4 hour finishers. There will be a light North wind at your back. See you there! Meteorologist Mike Pechner."

Cold and Wet. Napa 2012.

BRRRR! "BEST" running weather?!? So what is a girl to wear when I have major issues with fabric covering my shoulders, ears, and hands, and do not have running tights? And I hate to be hot. 

So this is my tentative plan: Visor(even though it will not provide warmth, the thought of a beanie or headband covering my ears is enough to make my nose twitch), Lulu tank top with Brooks Race Day Armwarmers (I can roll them down or take them off if I get warm), Lululemon Run Speed Short (I ALWAYS run in a skirt, but these shorts totally rock!), HOT PINK compression socks (if I want to keep my legs warm, might as well wear compressions as they may help my calf strain), and the most STRESSFUL decision: Mizuno's or Newtons?????  

Preferred racing attire. (Pic courtesy of ALL SPORTS)

Haven't worn non-minimalist shoes since the fall. Saucony's are shot.  My chiropractor thinks heel protection will help with my calf issue.   The Mizuons haven't seen more than 8 miles in AGES.

August.  Wearing Sauconys in the Ozarks.

All these decisions can make a girl a little stressed. 

Add a rib injury, or possible gallstones and I have no fricken clue what next Sunday will bring???????!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the plan: Set the pace at 7:45's.  The ribs seems to be able to handle that.  If I run that the entire race, I'll finish in 3:15:9.  GOAL WAS to break 3:15 before my body defied me and broke.  Yet I still think it's do-able and if I have any gas in the tank, can pick up the pace the last few miles for a PR.  

Good news: Wine tasting in comfy jeans and jackets are on schedule for the days AFTER the race.  

Lululemon, Newtons, Saucony, Marathon, SweatPinkAmbassador

#TeamClemons

21st Annual Seabee 10K Run 

My first race of the year was today and 3 members of #TeamClemons were racing.  Makai and I were signed up for the 10k, his first 10k, and Kanoa was going to tackle his first running race EVER and do a 1 mile Keiki Run.  Steve thought he had to work all night and is nursing lower back pain, so was going to be our cheerleader, with a cowbell, not pom poms. 

Although I only started running on Wednesday, after a week off due to a calf strain, I was fairly confident I could remain competitive for 6 miles and was determined to break 42:00.  More excited to see how Makai did at this distance and thrilled that Kanoa, at 9 years old, was finally going to experience the race day high.  

Had a headache Thursday and Friday, but there was a lot (A LOT!!!) going on at work and thought it was stress.  I was busy with work, basketball games, dinner, and rising out of bed early for a pre-work run, so I popped Motrin and used a natural ointment on my temples to alleviate the headache.  I was miserable at formation yesterday afternoon (I work with Marines), but attributed it to being in the sun and brushed it aside while talking to all 300 of my Marines, with a ton of enthusiasm if I do say so myself. :)

Came home.  Started dinner.  Hot.  Chills. S*%T!!

No, this is not 10.13 miles nor 1 hour, 1 minute, 3 seconds.  This is my temperature.

AAAAACK! Took Motrin and headed to bed with a glimmer of hope that my fever would break and I could run in the morning.  Took my temperature at 1am and it was 100.2, technically NOT a fever, so made a deal with myself that if it did not rise above 100.4 (a fever), I would run, although not push myself.  It rose.  This picture was just taken, despite Motrin 3 hours ago.

I went into cheerleader mode before the race.  Of course I went, as there was no way I was going to miss a 1st for my boys!

Kanoa lined up at the start.  Steve had instructed him to not go out full force and sprint with the leaders, but run comfortably.  He was adorable with his bib on and the racing flats we had purchased during Kai's cross country season, so he could be like his big brother.   As they took off, he was in 3rd.  Not sure how many kids ran but there were quite a few kids that were "bigger" than him and they were leading.  It was a 1 mile loop over and back on the Ford Island runway so we could see him racing the entire time.   Steve will run around the block with him and confirmed that Kanoa only knows 2 modes: Sprint and Walk.  We figured he would burn out quickly.  As they crossed over the runway we were trying to see what place he was in and saw a big kid with the 2nd pack so thought he was hanging in 3rd or 4th, with the leader way out in front.  As the leader came closer, this is what we saw:

Repping his Kenyan!

We were both shocked at how strong he looked.  How natural and untainted his gait was.  And how FAR he was from the pack.  When we are at local races, he is adamant that he has Kenyan blood, since the Kenyans win.  Not going to engage in any "African America" roots discussion after this race.  Maybe he is part Kenyan?!?!  Kanoa does not like attention, yet the finish was lined with the 5k and 10K racers cheering him on.  I even heard a few "look at that kid's time" as he crossed the finish line in 5:25.

Finishers Medal.  New Brooks Watch.  1st race behind him!

Then the 10k started.  We all rode bikes around the course to cheer on Makai.  The leaders were f-l-y-i-n-g!!!  Makai sat in 9th most of the race with the 8th place a full 20 seconds faster than him.  10th was on his tail coming across the bridge using Makai to tuck behind. (Mom rant: grown MEN should NOT use teen boys to save energy. Ok, I know it was a race and all is fair in a race, but...!!!)

Coming of the Ford Island Bridge and over half way through the race 

Makai came in 9th with a time of 37:57 which was faster than he predicted.  He did say that he had more energy than he thought he would, so could have gone harder.  That's why he raced, to gage what his body can do at different distances.  And more importantly, he lost 10th who was a full 30 seconds behind him. Mom grin :).

Working on his Chi!!!

All and all it was a good day on Ford Island.  I guess my calf needed more rest and this fever is making sure I stay put.  Day 2 today and praying we don't go into day 3.  These past couple weeks (20 miles 2 wks ago was tough), have made me really really really appreciate being healthy and able to not only run, but run competitively at home. I was aiming to take top 3 female at some races as I was so over being 4th female overall at the big races.  At this point, I'm happy if I make it to the starting line.