Sedona Full Marathon Race Report

Arrived a night early for packet pick up.  This went smooth other than the fact that by the time we arrived there were no more small shirts left.  So why is it that there are never smalls left when I go to pick up my packet?  Why do they bother asking what size you want when you pre-register?  I know these shirts run big and that is why I order a small, now I will just give away my medium.  Better yet why don’t they just give me the option to pay less if I don’t want the shirt or any of the give aways?  I’ve only seen 1 race use this awesome idea!  Ok off my soapbox.

It was a brisk start to race day, somewhere around 32 when we got ready to head out the door.  Lesson Learned  #1: Don’t take the word of the front desk clerk when they say it is less than a quarter mile from the hotel to the start.  We walked to the start in not much clothes which ended up being at least a mile walk.  My hands were frozen by the time we got there.  The stunning vistas and some nicely placed hot air balloons momentarily distracted me from this.  There were about 1,700 entrants total which we later found out was mainly for the ½ marathon or less (10k or 5k) 168 were for the full, which made for a very lonely race, which for some is welcomed.  The start was a little unorganized due to the fact that a lot of people thought all the races started at the same time.  Luckily the timing chips on our bibs made up for this little fumble.  About ½ hour into the race my hands finally started getting some feeling  in them and my muscles started to loosen  up a bit.  The bf and I ran about the first 6 miles together.  At the turn around for the ½ marathon is where I lost sight of him and it became a very lonely run.  I tend to be a middle of the packer and end up with people far in  front and far behind.  I actually took my little camera in my fuel belt and it’s a good thing I did because this ended up being the best part of the marathon.

Lesson Learned #2: Train for the race not for the convenience of the trails near your house.  The hills were mixed throughout the run which is something we failed to train for.  Our training involved lots of hills but we usually did one really long steep hill at the beginning then had it easy for the second half.  That made these rolling hills difficult on the second half.  The 10 miles in the middle of the race were on red sand dirt roads.  It was more uneven then I expected and the rocks and dips made my hips very tight.  Again made for very pretty scenery.  Apparently this is voted in the top 3 most scenic marathons in the world by some trail magazine which explained why there were people there from all over the world (Japan, Sweden etc.)  The top male finisher passed me on his way back when I was at about mile 11.  He finished in 2:50. 



Just Past the
1/2 Marathon Turnaround



The aid stations were awesome and stalked with all kinds of treats they were about 1.5 miles apart.  I opted for my own plain water which they refilled for me as necessary.  The really odd part was that I packed 3 packs of Clif Shot Bloks which I had used for all my training and I should have eaten all 3 throughout the race.  But my stomach decided not to be happy with me on race day and I barely made it through 1 pack and had to force that.  About mile 18 it started to really hurt and by mile 20 I was having to walk part of the uphill portions and at the aid stations.  Miles 22-26 felt a lot longer and I even thought at one point “am I going to make it in the allotted 6 hours?!?!?!”  There was no way I was going to quit especially knowing the bf was waiting for me at the finish line and it was his first marathon. 

It warmed up to 65 by noon.  I ended up finishing in over 5 hours I think it was 5:28 he finished in 5:12 and  by the time I finished they had shut down the massage tables and there wasn’t much left to hydrate with or eat at the finish.  All in all I am glad I did it and even happier that I was able to finish.  It was a great bonding experience and the most fun I've had as far as the personal aspects of the race.  This is the first relationship I've been in that we share these intrests together and I will never take that for granted!  The biggest pro for this race was the location and scenic road.  The biggest con was the organization but if you were just doing it for fun and not for a fast time this was a good winter race to attend.

I am very happy that we ended up staying a second night before driving back.  We were wobbling around so much that it was hard to sit in the car for 5-6 hours on that drive back and that we were able to take in some of the sites and visit with the bf’s family! 

Final Countdown!

Taper Week!

Saturday - Had an awesome last 10 mile run.  Started at the bottom of a 5 mile hill, temperatures were kind enough to go above freezing with only 1 snow flurry at mile 5, then south for about 2.5 miles of easy rolling hills, where I picked up speed and the bf was cursing me, then 1.5 miles of excruciating downhill, where I was cursing the bf because he caught up to me when I had to wait for the light and as he speedily eased his way downhill, then the last 1 mile relatively flat stretch home where I kicked it up a notch cause I was just ready to be home.  Lots of stretching afterwards and was a little stiff in the left knee. 

Sunday - Day off recovered fairly quickly by mid-day.  

Monday - I had a nice 40 minute jog with a mostly well behaved puppy.

Tuesday - Day is day off and going to puppy/owner training.  Wed. speed  work.  Thurs. easy swim  to stay stretched out.

Wednesday – Speed work but shorter than normal

Thursday – Easy Swim about 1,000 meters no drills

Friday – Day off and drive to Sedona, AZ  There is an all you can eat carb dinner before.  My concern is if the sauce is truly vegetarian or not.  Would hate to have an upset tummy night before race day!  Taking Fuel belt with watered down Clif electrolyte mix drink, 4 packages of Clif Shot Bloks.  Can’t decide how to layer yet because it has been cold but they are predicting a warm up may take a trip to Goodwill for clothes I wouldn’t mind discarding along the way…  Now as long as those darn hills (more specifically the downhill) don’t give me problems with joints or muscle tightness I should be good to go!

Quick article on Cold & Running

It's all relative right.  Less than a month ago I was hesitant to go outside and do my run in 22 degrees I thought that's craziness, but it's not.  NOw I think -11 is craziness.  But luckily I won't have to find out!  By Sat. when I need to do my next long run it should be a high in the low 40s here so I will be in the clear.  Luckily I only have a 40 min. run scheduled for today so I should be just fine on the treadmill for one day.  I believe the longest I've ran on the treadmill was 1 1/2 hours, you do what you gotta do right?  The longest I've been on the bike trainer was 2 1/2 hours.  Anything longer then that I'm looking for the right clothes to make sure I can get outside!!!  I remember reading an article about a woman who trained for an entire marathon on a treadmill.  How far would you be willing to go on a stationary exercise machine?  I found this article good and to the point.  So what does this article mean to you?  No more excuses or one missed run won't hurt?
http://www.active.com/triathlon/Articles/Is-Running-in-the-Cold-Bad-for-Your-Lungs.htm?cmp=291&memberid=107656707&lyrisid=21409653

Whose idea was this anyway?!?!

Have you ever had that thought as you are trudgin through a long workout?  I remember one time leaving the warmth of a cabin in windchills that were about -35 at the top of the mountain as my mother and I both could barely carry all of our ski equipment up to the slope walking like robots in our stiff boots, we both happened to look at each other at the same moment and busted out with hysterical laughter.  The sight of us was so silly and unatural and we both were thinking whose idea was this anyway?!?!?!!  Who thought let's put these long sticks on our feet and go out in the freezing cold and slide down a mountain?  Then when you get the rush of wind as you speed down a mountain and the adreniline hits you remember, oh that's why!

That cold I mentioned in my last post really took me down!  I went a whole week with no training.  SO other then taking the dog for a few walks the last thing I had done was the 22 mile run!  Usually during a taper I'll get a quick 2 day cold that's not bad.  This time it was demoralizing how long it has taken me to recover.  I missed my Saturday recovery 8 mile run.  It didnt' help that work was so busy I couldn't take a day off.  So now here I am back at they gym.  Yesterday I had snow day which meant the entire University was closed and meant I could spend as much time at the gym as I wanted.  I did 1 hour of weight lifting 20 mins. of abs and 1 hour spin class.  It felt good but I was really struggling in spin with a much higher than normal heart rate.  I guess I'm still recovering from my cold.  I"m just a little worried because it is so close to the race.  I will have the rest of this week then a last 10 mile run then taper week and Race Day!!  Will that be enough?  Have any of you struggled with tapering and colds?  I know it is a common occurance but how much of a hit can one take this close to race day?  So as I struggle through this week of training I think "Whose ideas was this anyway?"  I know I won't quit or give up but how quickly we forget these struggles when we put pen to paper on the next race's entry form! :-)    

Hope everyone is staying warm and safe during this storm & remember to dress accordingly no race is worth frost bite.... 

Tapering, Milestones and News

As I reflect on this last week I am happy to say I am now down 2 lbs from when I started this blog!  I will remain persistent and continue to move beyond any setbacks!   Hard work does pay off both in diet and exercise!  I was saddened by the news that has hit the health/fitness world of Jack LaLanne passing away at 96.  At the same time I am inspired not only by his enthusiasm for life and fitness but the ferocity by which he helped to spread the word and inspire others to follow his path.  It is key to believe in what you practice and to help others along that path.  

This week’s training consisted of:

Tues – No Gym

Wed - Weights and Abs

Thurs – Run on treadmill 30 mins (sprints) and elliptical 10 mins.

Fri. No Gym

Sat. 22 mile run in 4 hrs 10 mins.

Sun. No gym (helped brother install wood flooring)

This is not a typical week for me but it was the last long run of my upcoming marathon training.  I hardly ever have 3 days of no gym time but I have been fighting off a cold (this usually happens 1 week out from my main race but came early this time) and I new this last long run was KEY to my being able to successfully complete the upcoming marathon so I listened to my body a little more than I normally would have.  I would at this rate be set to hit a PR my 1^st marathon took me 5hrs 10 mins except for the fact that this training run was not very hilly (only 1 of 2 flat runs in my training plan) and the marathon itself has hills.  I will be prepared and complete it just probably not much faster than my 1^st.  The good news is this time around the marathon training hasn’t taken the same toll on my body that the 1^st one did.  I recover a lot faster from my long runs and feel good throughout the actual run.  I remember my 1^st training stint included 2 knee braces, advil before during and after each long run and lots of ice just to SURVIVE.  I am going to do a 30 minute run today at the gym and some ab work.  The last 5 miles of this run were hard and I had to start walking a little at each mile marker and the last 2 miles I battled mentally but succeeded by pushing through even though it meant I walked a little more than I would have liked. 

I needed more calories so on race day I will pack extra Shot Bloks by Clif (my favorite).  It was a great day to be on the trail because we are lucky to be hosting the indoor international track meet here this year and there were a lot of world class runners training out there.  It made me feel even slower than normal in comparison but what a great inspiration!

Today I am feeling a little tired and run down, still fighting off a cold, but I remember I use to after a long run fall asleep on my couch for roughly 5 hours usually with a half eaten burrito barley clinging on to the plate I had on my lap when I fell asleep.  This time I was able to continue with my day!  I have a 10 mile and 8 mile hill run left the next two weekends then it’s race day!!!  I’m excited yet nervous about the hills…. Let the tapering commence!

Goodbye to Zombie Killers or just see you soon…

Last night I played what I thought was going to be my last game with my favorite soccer gals “Zombie Killers” but every time I play I like it just that much more.  Indoor soccer is such a fun sport!  Not only was it my birthday but it was a tournament game and I scored a goal!!  We played our hearts out but still lost 3-2 L   I was anaerobic almost the entire game cuz we didn’t have the normal amount of subs.  I’m so use to doing triathlons or running races that it is nice to be on a team every once in a while and actually be in a full contact sport (unless the ref is looking) where you can kick some butt!  I will take next season off because being only 1 ½ months away from my marathon in Sedona I don’t want to risk any injuries and need to step it up on running.  But I bet I will be back I mean who can resist wearing such awesome team shirts?

Monday I did 45 mins on the bike trainer due to the massive amounts of resolutioners at the gym I decided to steer clear.  I also pulled out the old school ab wheel do you remember those?  I still have mine and not only were my abs sore the next day but so were my arms.  I think I’ll keep that out for a while.  It’s so fun to rotate workouts and try new moves I never get bored.  I feel that is the key to staying in shape, never get bored with your workout!  Tuesday we had “parent” I mean “puppy” training then we hit the gym for some weight training and some plyometrics, always fun.  Tonight I will have to skip a workout because the gym at work is closed so I can’t make it at lunch and my thoughtful bf is taking me for a belated b-day dinner at the restaurant I requested ( I had to postpone in order to be able to play soccer).  I am a year older but I feel like I’m in better shape than I was in my 20s so I’m loving life and all the great friends and family I have in it!

Post Thanksgiving Fallout

Thanksgiving was a success as far as food, friends, family, outdoors, relaxation, sleep goes.  As far as workout status I'm a little bummed.  On Thursday I managed to run 1 mile warm up, 8 hill sprints, and 1 mile cool down and it wasn't too cold.  The bf was complaining about his knee but I felt really good.  On Friday we took the entire family for a hike (about 3 miles), including the new pup and it was awesome weather.  Sat we started out on our 15 mile run and I felt awesome but bf still having knee problems.  Then about mile 4 he actually passed me and the wind hit me like a ton of bricks.  It slowed me down and I got very chilled!  We made it to 6.5 miles then decided to catch a ride back to town instead of finishing the run.  My ankle was swollen I think due to post soccer and hiking strain on the old sprain.  On Sunday we drove back and I had every intention of working out but when the weather didn't cooperate I decided to clean and decorate the house.   :-(

I'm torn I had an awesome weekend but am feeling desperate when I think about how far behind we are in our marathon training!  Wish me luck in hopes of catching up next weekend!  Tonight I have an 8:20pm soccer game and I hope I don't agitate the swollen ankle.  I can do this!  I won't let others influence my workout frame of mind and I won't be so easily swayed by extenuating circumstances, starting NOW!

Ow! Week 3

Keeping up with my long runs on the weekends!  Working harder to keep up with my workouts during the week.  Missed a few last week but did a 9.9 mile run last Sat. on a loop course which meant there were 3 hills.  Training for a hilly marathon is way harder than training for a flat one....  At least on race day we'll be at a lower elevation than we are training in, woohooo! 

This was the first run the bf actually ran faster than me!  Not on the first loop but the 2nd a 3rd loop he smoked me...  He must be doing his weekly workouts now and I decided to slack last week, oh oh!  Also my foot hurts soooo bad ever since my long run Sat.  It's on the big toe of the right foot I believe it's the ligament that hurts.  It's a hard place to try and stretch.  Today walking around is very painful.  So tonight instead of a 40 minute run that it calls for in my training I'm going to do a 40 minute bike ride then go take my dog for a walk.

Hopefully this gets better soon because my run last Sat. although I felt good was pretty pathetic time wise.  It's been unseasonable warm for this time of year which has made it easier to get out there and run but that is supposed to change this week.  Next week for the long run we are doing the Veteran's 11k then gonna keep going to finish out the 14 mile run that's on our schedule.  So here's to hoping for a speedy recovery and motiviation on week nights to pump out those important evening workouts.  Wed. I start another indoor soccer season so that should help with sprints as long as I don't sprain my ankle again.  I think I'll wear my ankle brace during games to help prevent that!

I'm excited for these beautiful fall colors....
See you on the road!

Minor Setback to Training

I know, I know, so early into the training plan and ALREADY a set back!! But that is OK I will not let this deter me I also take FULL responsibility so in this explanation make no mistake when it sounds like I'm providing excuses I know I am the one that allowed the circumstances to overtake my will!  So we had to make a quick and unexpected trip to AZ (8 hour drive each way) due to a family emergency.  We were supposed to leave around 5 or 6pm on Fri. night but they didn't let my bf out from drill until about 8pm so he decided he'd rather take a 4 hour nap and drive the 8 hours at 2am.  So that's what we did we arrived in our PJs to see his family.  I went because it was really important to him for me to meet his grandparents, especially with the new developments on the health front.  I understood this and went along.  I decided I was way too tired to run the 8 miles that Sat. that we arrived and made the decision we should run it on Sun. before we would drive back.

Well, Sat. 3pm rolls around and "grandmother" decides it's time for some wine.  No one had eaten lunch yet other than some cheese and crackers and before we knew it everyone was a little bit tipsy.  Every time I turned my back my wine glass was being refilled by her.  I know I choose to keep drinking it.  Around dinner time I ate way more than I should have because the food was so good and I finally decided no more wine I was going to hide the wine glass.  But everyone else kept going and the tears were flowing freely due to the highly emotional state of everyone with the recent news.  Luckily we went to bed early but in new surroundings on a sofa bed I usually don't get much sleep.  I did see a wonderful sunrise!  I also got up enough times to chug water that I actually did not feel dehydrated the next morning but I was still very tired.  We arrived back home at 9pm Sunday and had to be up at 5am the next morning because the bf had to work out of town this week.

All that being said I have now gone 4 days without a workout!!!!!!!!!  Tonight is kickboxing and Wed. is sprints and so on and so forth.  I will get back on track starting tonight.  Now this coming weekend I am determined to run the 8 mile run on Sat. (instead of the planned 5 mile easy week)  as well as not participate in certain "liquid" celebrations during the bf's birthday party!  I will behave.  Totally did not take into consideration how hard it would be to train for an endurance event during the holiday season.  With another possible trip out to AZ for Thanksgiving my resolve has to be strong if I'm not gonna fall flat on my face for this race in Feb.  I have to know that I am my own person and if my bf decides not to commit that doesn't mean I can't.  It just means I might have the option of kicking his butt come Feb. if I remain more committed.

So here we go again!  Bring on the workouts and healthy eating.  Never stop, when the road ahead is steep and difficult just focus on the step you are about to take directly in front of you not the one half way up the hill that seems unattainable.  Step by step I will get there.  I will post again after this weekend hopefully with a story of a baby step success.  I will make it through the celebrations without another set back!