It’s official: I’m tapering for JFK. I’ve been training for 4 months and have run three marathons, two ultras, and roughly 650 miles to prepare for this event. I’ve been hit by a car and been diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia. I’ve met a lot of cool people and even got my first sponsorship (thanks, Sugoi!). This has been one heck of a training cycle and it peaked with an awesome weekend of lots of running and friends.
Friday
I started Friday with a quick 5 mile run commute where I rocked a meeting and entertained questions about ultrarunning posed by my social development professor who seems so curious about my sport. That night I carbed up with the most ridiculous penne with shrimp, arugula, and sundried tomato dish. Make it, it’s so good!!
Beautiful trees on Fifth Avenue on the way into Oakland
Saturday
I was up at 5 to meet my friend Rich at 6:30 for a 30 mile training run. Yes, I realize how crazy “30 mile training run” sounds. I’ve known Rich since before I was a runner (yes, that Kat existed not too long ago) and he must be one of my biggest cheerleaders. He’s also a professional endurance athlete with major sponsorships who has gone after world records and just a few weeks ago finished in the top 10 at the US 50 mile National Championships. I did my very best to make it very clear to Rich that I just needed to get 30 on the books and I didn’t care about speed- in fact, I wanted to intentionally go out slow. I was worried that Rich wouldn’t be able to run as slowly as I needed to run, but he stuck with me the whole way, even through the wind that stole our words and the torrential rain that filled our shoes. We caught up on mutual friends and recent races, all the while keeping our first 5 five mile loops within 45 seconds of each other. He kept commenting on what great shape I was in (based on the consistency of our splits), how much potential he saw on me, and his belief that next year I’m going to qualify for Boston. I’m not sure I believe Rich, but I sure like him! We were entertained by a costume 5K with costumes that included: a porta potty, the Pittsburgh pierogies, and three blind mice. We also spotted and befriend Eric, another runner in training for JFK who was IDed as an ultrarunner when we saw him running while eating a piece of pizza. At the end of the day we stretched our 30 miles to a 50K and for the first time in the last four months I realized that I might be able to do JFK. Having those glimmers of hope and confidence were welcomed but overwhelming.
Check out the incredible sunrise. This was the only time we saw the sun all morning. Shortly after I took this, the clouds rolled in, the temperatures dropped and the rain fell.
Sunday
I slept in on Sunday. Rich had organized a trail run with some Pittsburgh ultrarunners at Ohiopyle, a state park an hour and a half away. Even with an extra hour thanks to daylight savings time, I needed every single hour on Sunday. In place of Ohiopyle, I ran 10 miles of trails around Frick Park which was just idyllic. It was serene and I felt cloaked in the vibrant yellow leaves. I was so moved that at one point I just stopped to absorb all the beauty around me. The air was crisp, the leaves were crunchy and the sun beams found holes in the canopy to reach down and kiss me. There was never a better day for a run.
Homewood Cemetery across from Frick. You can tell what a beautiful day was from the bright sunshine and clear blue sky.
Total for the weekend: 45.75 miles. That’s a lot of running, but the miles were wonderful and I recovered well enough to wear heels on Sunday. As anyone who reads this blog knows, I value balance and people, so I can assure you that this weekend was not only about running. On Saturday night I was able to partake in Halloween festivities, on Sunday I finished my run in time to enjoy some amazing pumpkin pancakes at a brunch hosted by a friend and I spent Sunday afternoon drinking beer and eating chili with the Pittsburgh Triathlon Club.
I’m really surprised that all the hard work is behind me. It didn’t seem like work because I was so busy making it fun. I just hope that I can have as much fun at JFK as I did while training for it. Stay tuned: three weeks until my JFK race report!
The 2009 MCM was my 9th marathon, my 7th since March. The goal of this race was yet another training run for JFK50 (total training races: 2 marathons and 2 ultras), but after coming so close to a PR two weeks ago at the Baltimore Marathon, I knew it could be a PR day.
Saturday: Expo and Pre-Race
I got to the expo and it was enormous, crowded and overwhelming.
Only some of the really huge expo
The volunteers were exceedingly kind and helpful and I just love seeing the Marines in their uniforms. I ran into my buddy Dane and we chatted for a while.
I also went to the Semper Fi Fund table where I finally got to meet Corey, an injured Marine who was helped by The Fund and now works for them. We’ve been in touch since I raised funds with Antarctica. She was so sweet and I was so happy that I was able to help the cause; if you would like to donate to an incredible organization, you can do so here.
I also bargained a $110 jacket down to $80 (paying cash, asking for deals and male vendors all help) and got a $50 Dick’s gift card for signing up for the Pittsburgh marathon. I love deals! Next up I headed down to Ike’s where we would meet Shell to go to dinner with friends. I was relaxing on his couch, curled under a blanket when I see Shell come in… followed by Ben! Why is this notable and/or exciting? Ben is one of my very best friends and my neighbor in Pittsburgh who is supposed to be visiting his family in New Jersey this weekend. So why is he in DC?! Well, come to find out, ever since Ben met Shell and Ike at the Pittsburgh marathon, he has been scheming to come down and surprise whoever was running MCM! I love Ben! Both Shell and Ike were out with injuries so they were co-conspirators! After a lot of confusion as to why he was there, squeaking about the fact that he actually WAS there, telling him I hated him, proposing to him, and hitting him a few times so that I wouldn’t cry (and yes, I realize the diversity of that response) we headed to an awesome dinner with friends in Crystal City.
Me and Ben at dinner
The rest of the night was spent making signs, drinking pumpkin beer, eating ice cream and watching Grey’s Anatomy.
Shell making one of several awesome signs
Good times with great friends. I went to sleep feeling so excited for race day and so well-loved to have such fabulous people rallying to support me. If I’m not the luckiest girl in the world, I want to meet the girl who is.
Sunday: Race Day
Shell and I are up and going a million miles a minute and before 6:30 she had already rewritten song lyrics to reflect race day (e.g. “Shorty fire burning on the race course, whoa-o; Kat’s gonna run real fast, she’s gonna kick a lot of @ss on the race course, woa-o”), hosted a disco party in Ike’s car (courtesy of his emergency light/whistle) and slow danced with Ike while waiting for balloons.
I love, love, love, love, LOVE race morning. Getting to the start of the race was such a rush and we timed it so that I could use a porta potty, meet some old friends and make some new friends before the start. Perfect.
Me, Mike, Carl (who is also running JFK50) and Chris
Since a PR was a possibility my plan was to start out conservatively (9:45-10 min/miles) and pick it up if I felt better later; I think I tend to go out too fast in the beginning of races and I wanted to mitigate that.
MCM Start
Video of the start, and thanking Marines
Immediately after the start we pass by Arlington National Cemetery. My step-dad’s sister was just buried at Arlington and it simultaneously shook me and inspired me. There are always inspiring stories at races, but MCM seems to have more- they are everywhere you look. But I wasn’t ready for one so early, and also not such a personal one. I turn a corner not much later to see an enormous American flag suspended over the marathon course. I’m such a giant, sappy, bleeding heart and this race is going to tug on every heart string I have.
American flags were hoisted
and carried
We run down Spout Run and turn onto Canal Road where I befriend Wayne, a Navy guy who is also running with Team Semper Fi.
Running by Georgetown University
I catch up to a runner from a DC running group that I ran with when visiting DC this summer and then I have my next tear-jerking moment. I see a singlet with a very handsome Marine who was killed in action- Bill Jacobsen. The singlet also says, “My son, my hero.” I’m compelled to say something, but what can you possibly say to a father that has lost his beautiful son? I tell him that I’m sorry for his loss and am completely overwhelmed by tears that I choked back as I ran ahead. What I said felt too superficial and I regretted it, but couldn’t figure out what else to say. I spent most of the rest of the race running right behind Bill’s sister (wearing a similar singlet) and trying not to think of my own brother who is a Marine about to deploy to Afghanistan.
We then turned into Georgetown where there are lots of great crowds and really fun personal memories. MCM was less of a trip down memory lane than the Baltimore marathon, but the house I grew up in is 11 radial miles from the White House so I’ve spent a lot of time in DC and I love so much about the city.
Georgetown spectators, Part I
Georgetown Spectators, Part II (shorter but better quality)
Before we reach the Kennedy Center I start to pass a man when I read something on his singlet that makes me realize he is Will Brown, one of the Groundpounders, a group of 4 men who have run every single MCM. All 34 of them! I know Will through the MCM message boards, but instead of treating him like a friend, I act like a total groupie and ask to take a picture of him. He humors me, but as I run on I can only hope that I didn’t annoy the Marine and ultrarunner with my obsequiousness.
As we head into Haines Point there are lots of spectators, even MY spectators!
Ben, Ike and Shell cheering for me
Lined up and ready to cheer
I also remember that last year this is where I started to fall apart and, in contrast, this year I feel great and I’m keeping my sub-10 splits as planned. I find Haines Point peaceful and I see my friend’s girlfriend who cheers for me and I stumble upon Ray, who is carrying an American flag. The theme for the day is tearjerkers and seeing a Ray immediately made me think of my friend Ray who is currently deployed in Afghanistan. I thank runner Ray and try to shift my focus to anything but worrying about “my” Ray. On one hand, as an American I am so proud to have amazing men like Ray doing good for our country; on the other hand, as a friend, it breaks my heart that someone that I care about is deployed. After dating my ex through 2 deployments, I want my heart in the US and not in Iraq or Afghanistan.
I think it is so amazing that people carry flags the entire race.
Check out this amazing tree in Haines Point!
After Haines Point we turn onto the National Mall where I see Ike before I am swarmed with spectators. I’m holding onto my pace but it’s a little more work now. I keep telling myself just to run the mile I’m in, make it to the Sports Beans, and to get to Ben, Ike and Shell.
A high school band playing for the spectators
Pink gorilla. There were also spectators dressed as a beaver and a bumble bee
Mile 15 had an awesome band and a great view of hte Washington monument
Runners and spectators behind the Lincoln memorial
Around mile 16 I see a man who is walking on crutches who is missing some of his calf and he is being followed by men pushing a wheelchair. I have this overwhelming wave of feeling so thankful that I have two working legs and lungs and heart that are more healthy than not. A flash of an e-mail that Corey once sent me sticks out: she asked me to enjoy running because she misses it so much (she is paralyzed). I suddenly feel so thankful yet burdened by wanting to do well for all those people who can’t do what I take for granted more days than not. I keep running, trying not to cry. I can’t believe I’ve held back so many tears in one stupid race.
It was such a perfect day for a race
Capitol Building
Bagpipers played for the runners on the National Mall
A ridiculous womens drumming group that comes out every year
I see my friends at Mile 20 coming onto the bridge. I hate the bridge. It’s long, boring, there are very few spectators and it’s a hill. Plus, people start to fall apart here so it’s easy to thinking about stopping to walk with everyone else. The problem is, if you’re strong enough to keep running there are so many runners who have stopped or slowed that it becomes a contest in weaving which makes running even harder. I see my friend Tuan, who is running across the bridge with runners from his running group and I run with him for a bit before I tell him to go take care of his own. He later told me I looked “so relaxed” like I was “going to get the paper.” I don’t believe him based on how I was feeling, but I get to the end of the bridge and turn into Crystal City.
A member of Team Semper Fi
Best end of bridge spectator EVER!
I also don’t like Crystal City. There are lots of spectators but it’s an out and back and that late in the race it’s tough to mentally have a loop going in the wrong direction just to tack on mileage. I make it to mile 23 and I start to have problems breathing. Stupid asthma. I’m so angry and frustrated, it feels like I’m sucking air through a straw into lungs the size of golf balls. The rest of my body feels great and mentally I’m so in the game but it’s all I can do just to get enough air to keep moving forward. This means I also can’t cheer for spectators, encourage other runners or thank the volunteers- my favorite parts of racing. Add to this that I see a group of motorcyclists who escort the coffins of members of the armed forces who were killed in action. Tears well up as they cheer for me and I choke them down again, telling myself I can cry at the end.
The last few miles are some of the hardest I’ve run because I feel muted by my difficulty breathing. I want to interact with people around me, but don’t have the air to do it. I run in silence and as the spectators begin to thicken near the finish line so many people look me in the eye and cheer for me by name. I can’t thank them and it kills me. A thumbs up just doesn’t express how thankful I am that they are cheering for me. I see friends Brett and Steve and begin up the hill towards the finish at the Iwo Jima memorial. The hill isn’t terrible but men are walking and limping up it and I think of how hard it would be to be a wheelchair athlete. There are Marines standing near the chute and I muster all I can for a high-five as I cross the finish line at 4:26:53.
Final hill on the way to the finish line. What's it like to cross? You'll need to find out for yourself.
A Marine puts a medal around my neck and I think of Dan, who I met at the start. Dan said that he had ordered a hundred medals that he passed out to runners so that the runners could give the Marines a medal that was so deserved. Dan, thank you for sharing such a wonderful idea; I hope you don’t mind if I borrow it next year.
Salty and not cute after 26.2 miles but so honored to be getting a medal from a Marine. I tried to thank him for his service but ended up a stupid, stammering mess and shook his hand.
The medal Dan was going to give a Marine at the finish.
My race wasn’t a PR, although I think it could have been if a) my asthma wouldn’t have started to give me problems and b) I wouldn’t have run an extra (are you ready for this?) 0.8 miles! I love this race, but it’s so crowded and so many runners stop to walk in the middle of the course (please move to the side), which resulted in a lot of weaving which really compounds over 26.2 miles. My pace applied to 26.2 miles and not 27 would have been a PR by almost 2 minutes, but such is racing. At the end of the race I got to give the pink balloons that Shell and Ike carried to help me locate them to little kids! I am the biggest fan ever of random acts of kindness so this was possibly the best part of the race! Next up: JFK50!
Background: The 2004 Baltimore half-marathon was my first-ever distance beyond 10K. I had a miserable race and crossed the finish line proclaiming to my support crew that I would never run again. I really thought I meant it! This year’s marathon would serve as training for JFK50, with my plan being to run it as a training run (not race), take some pictures and video for this blog and encourage others along the way.
Now I should add: I love Baltimore. A lot. I spent a year living in Baltimore with my best friend, Hannah, while working at the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a post-bac fellow. It was one of the best years of my life and I love so much about the city- the cobblestone streets (created from stones that used to weight the ships that came into Baltimore harbor), the original Washington Monument, Hon culture, the farmer’s market under 83 and crabs. I loved the fries at Brewers Art, the beautiful architecture of the old mansions, gelato from Vaccaro’s and nights out in Canton Square. I am Baltimore’s #1 fan.
Pre-race: At the expo I meet up with my friend from college, Jamie.
Me and Jamie at the Expo
Jamie was one of the first people I met at Maryland and he was always floating around since he was friends with all of my roommates. We got back in touch and are going to do the Columbia triathlon together next May and I won’t let him forget that he pitched Kilimanjaro in 2011. We wandered what I thought was a very good expo and I was thrilled to see that the tech shirt was a women’s specific tech shirt! Good job, Under Armor! I’m sick of “small” race shirts that are longer than my shorts with sleeves down to my elbows. I split up with Jamie to head to my best friend Andy’s place where we spend the night drinking beer and playing the drums. Awesome way to relax pre-race.
Andy's drum room: Awesome.
Race day: I’m up early and the moment I step out the door, I am stunned by how hot (~65 at 5 am!) and humid it is. The weather stays warm and humid all day. I get to the start and try to find Jamie but instead befriend Sam, a Marine who is about to run his first marathon. I found the start to be very disorganized and there was no partition between the runners and the spectators meaning that some spectators formed a wall that prevented runners from entering the start. One bonus was that there was a confetti canon. Every marathon start should have a confetti canon.
Starting Line
We take off north and the first few miles are uphill but I keep a steady 9:45 pace. We run through the zoo and botanical gardens which I think are beautiful. I find a guy in a Steelers jersey and try to stay near him, deflecting a few comments from Raven’s fans who are not thrilled to see a Steeler on their territory.
I also find two guys decked out as Ravens- beaks, feathers, wings, the whole 9 yards.
We turn south and nostalgia sets in as we run by where my good friend Adrienne used to live, and me and Hannah’s old apartment. I see Oscar, a former co-worker, and run over to him for a quick hug before continuing forward (I have somehow had friends spectating at every marathon I’ve ever run! Even Antarctica. How lucky am I?!). I’ve passed the 4:15 pace group and I know I should slow down but I feel so strong as I head into downtown and my pace drops to around 9:15.
Lobster dog!! I saw him and asked the owners if I could take a picture. The dog was so super sweet, incredibly cute and very happy that one of the runners (me!) came to play with it!
I thought I would love Federal Hill, and while the first mile in and the last mile out were beautiful and had incredible spectator support, there was a three-mile loop that was no-man’s land; it also starts to rain.
The Star Spangled Banner was written after Francis Scott Key witnessed bombings in Baltimore's Fort Henry (wiki)
We come back through downtown and head over to Fells Point where I remember playing credit card roulette, drinking bellinis at a gorgeous waterfront bar, and even a very romantic first kiss on the water.
The Harbor from Federal Hill
It gets better as we run by the bakery that fills the air with the smell of fresh bread- one of my favorite things of this part of Baltimore (me and Han used to roll our windows down every time we went by). Right as I am reminiscing about me and Adrienne playing hooky on the first spring day to get our nails done and drink beer on a patio, the 4:15 pace group passes me. Let the mental games begin. We turn towards Canton Square and once we head towards Patterson Park I start to fall apart. This is compounded by the fact that this is where:
The second half of the hills begin
The half marathon joins the marathon (the slower marathons were joining with us, so a lot were walking and some lacked the etiquette to move to the side which created lots of people to run around)
We again head into an area almost devoid of spectators
THIS is where I bonked! Ugh!
I find a gu to snack on, start thinking mantras (“Who’s a runner? Kat’s a runner!” “Thankful. Focused. Calm.” “Breath”) and do anything I can to keep my head in the game, but I start to walk the hills. I check out. It turns from a good run to “just” a training run. My pace get closer to 11 minute miles. Then I get to mile 20 where there is a clock: 3:22. What?!?! I wasn’t watching time, just my pace, and I realize if I have a strong 10K I can PR. What?! I snap into action and just when I think I’m thirsty and could see another gu I see that both are available from Terp volunteers! Awesome! As we leave Lake Montebello one of the more passionate spectators had stopped cheering. “Hey!” I yell at him, “You stopped cheering!” He starts cheering so ferociously that about 5 runners around me start to laugh. I tell them my favorite running secret: If you cheer for spectators, they cheer for you!
I have this insane burst of energy from miles 22-24. Some runners have their names on their backs and as I pass a girl named Julia, I tell her she’s doing great. “OMG! THANK YOU!” she screams loud enough to startle me, “You have no idea how much I needed that!” Yay! I was a race angel! I see an older man standing watching the runners and I wave to him and yell good morning. He perks right up and tells me, “You look great, sweetheart!” I love when people call me sweetheart. As we go up yet another hill, I turn to a guy who seems to be having a tough time. I’m hamming it up and ask “Do the hills ever go down in this city?!” He is too tired to appreciate my humor and sadly shakes his head. I feel bad and immediately shout, “Yes! They go down! Really!!!” A few seconds later a relay runner passes me, saying “You are the friendliest runner I’ve ever seen!” Yay! That’s the best thing someone could ever say to me. The race could stop here and it would be a good one. But the race doesn’t end here, in fact here is the gummy bear station! One group of volunteers bough and distributed 400 POUNDS of gummy bears! I read this in a pre-race e-mail last week while at work and I frantically turned to my office mate: “OMG, Brian!” I pause to see if Brian is working or looking at sports scores. Just sports scores, so I continue: “Brian! There’s going to be a gummy bear man with 400 pounds of gummy bears at my race this weekend! That’s me, you, and Brooke (our boss), in gummy bears!!!!” Brian just shook his head.
Awesome spectators!!
This person was there 5 years ago! I never forgot them! So psyched I captured it this time!
We run through sections with amazing spectators and around mile 24 drivers stuck in traffic have gotten out of their cars to cheer for the runners. The final stretch is downhill and we pass my old apartment again, as well as my brother’s old apartment. I come upon a guy I’d been leapfrogging with the whole race. I told him he’d better beat me and he conceded that I could finish first as he dropped back…. Only to sprint ahead a few seconds later! I cheer for him and head to the finish line myself.
The girls on the left were holding hands as they ran towards the finish line.
Finish time: 4:23:47. I missed my PR by 47 seconds. In some ways that hurts- so close! But in other ways, it’s amazing. I ran 30 miles last weekend and an ultra three weekends ago meaning that my legs are anything but fresh and rested. This was a hilly course, I wasn’t going out to race, and I even stopped several times to take pictures and video. And I finished having fun unlike my 4:23:00 PR where the last 6 miles were miserable and I was gutting it out. It may not be reflected in the time, but this race shows me that my fitness is improving, which is great.
Post-Race: This race was only one very small part of a big weekend. I left the race to head to the Chesapeake Bay to surprise my best friend for her birthday. She was surely surprised (“OMG, Kitty! I can’t believe you’re here! I want to keep touching you to make sure you’re real!”) and we spent the rest of the weekend gabbing like only best friends can and eating incredible food courtesy of her wonderful husband. We even went to the beach across the street from the new (five bedroom!) house they’re building.
"Small" nachos. We also had steak, brown rice with almonds, asparagus and onion, and ravioli with sauteed baby eggplant. The man is also a rocket scientist. Seriously.
Breakfast!Sweet potato hash, turkey bacon, eggs and waffles.
Morning walk on the beach
This weekend had it all: I saw old co-workers, my family, two of my best friends, toured one of my favorite cities and running the marathon was the keystone that brought it all together.
For people who don’t know, in addition to running marathons and ultramarathons, I’m getting my Ph.D. I spend a lot of hours working and managing school and training is a perpetual juggling act. Sometimes I feel like I don’t do either very well because I’m burning the candle at both ends and sacrificing one for the other, but recently it seems as though they’ve been fitting together in better ways than I’d ever expect.
Impossible2Possible
I’ve talked a lot about this group because I’m so excited to be working with them. Ray invited me to join him and Bob Cox for a camp in Canada in October. The problem is that October has 5 weekends:
2 I’m running marathons (Baltimore and MCM)
1 I’m at an all-day mindfulness meditation retreat
1 I’m vacationing in a cabin in upstate NY with some of my very best friends
1 I’m working (I work with kids so I work one weekend a month)
I was bummed that I’d need to sacrifice something in order to participate until Ray called me and told me that the camp would be November 14th and 15th (to mimic the arctic conditions they faced in Baffin Island!).Not only does it not conflict with races, school or personal obligations, but it’s the week before JFK50 meaning I won’t need to worry about running 30 miles at 3 am in Canada before working with 40 teenagers (although I bet between Ray and Bob I’d be able to find a running partner!). I’m amazed it all worked out and couldn’t be more excited. I’ll surely post more as this unfolds.
Ironman and Internship
Ahhhhhh. I said them. I said the “I” words. Ironman. Breath. Internship. Whoa!
I’m not sure which is scarier. I assume athletes read this blog so you know that an Ironman is a triathlon with a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. For the non-psychologists, internship is a year-long placement necessary for me to get my Ph.D. I will be matched (think med school residency match) somewhere (anywhere!) in the US for a year which is both scary and exciting- just like the thought of an Ironman.
I was thinking about an Ironman in 2010, but I can’t get my biking where it needs to be in time. That makes 2011 the next possibility. The problem is, I’m eligible to apply for internship next Fall (2010). I’ve gotten good at juggling, but applying for internship next Fall would mean that I would be training for an Ironman while:
Traveling the US interviewing for internship placements
Trying to wrap up my dissertation for defense
Moving my life somewhere between Pittsburgh and Seattle and
Starting a new job
That is a bad idea. I’m good, but I’m human and I can’t swing all of that. I spoke with my advisor about my plan for the next few years and, without knowing about my Ironman concerns, she suggested that I take an extra year and apply for internship in 2011 (not 2010). This means that I can do it all- apply for a competitive research grant from NIH (an NRSA in case an academic reads this), work on my dissertation, apply for internship and train for an Ironman. How did that all work out?!
As I begin to compete more and my races become more extreme and require more preparation, I know that I’ll need to make tough decisions and begin to sacrifice, but right now it feels really good to have everything that is important to me falling into place. I sort of feel unstoppable which I hope is a feeling I can hold onto for JFK and IM2011
I signed up for the Youngstown Ultra Trail Classic 50K as part of my training for JFK. It’s crazy to think that three months ago I wasn’t sure if I could run a 50K and now they’re training runs. Just two years ago I wasn’t sure I could run my first marathon and this was my 10th endurance running event. I didn’t have any time goals for this race, not knowing how technical it would be. I also didn’t taper at all, but I thought if I could come in under 8 hours then it would be a 47 minute improvement over Laurel Highlands and that could count as a good day.
I was up at 4 am to drive to Youngstown, Ohio, for the start of the race in Mill Creek State Park. The stars were out and I was able to watch the sun rise over the rolling countryside. Surely, this would be a beautiful day. The start was cold and as I went down the trail from the parking lot to the start, I hear my name and see Rick Freeman calling me over. Rick is the Laurel Highlands Ultra RD and he has run the Iditarod “Fun Run” (350 miles for anyone who is curious) a few times. He’s well-known in local running circles and his huge grin paired with the button down shirt he’s going to run in put a smile on my face. I still think it’s crazy that people like Rick know my name (and call me over), Ray Zahab wants me to be involved with impossible2Possible (expect an update on that soon, too- we have a call on Tuesday), Runners World contacted me for an interview, and Josh Cox is a fan of my Antarctica facebook page. I don’t get it.
Steam rising off of Lake Glacier at the start.
I make a half dozen other friends at the start and again I am convinced that ultrarunners are a great breed of people. We have a pre-race “meeting” (watch when crossing the street, don’t litter) and the race begins with the RD yelling “START!”
Runners listen to the RD at the Old Log Cabin
We take off down a paved road and turn up to a steep steel staircase, across a park area with tennis courts, football fields and the like and then the fun begins. The trails on this course are moderately technical single track but there are some flat stretches where you can pick up some decent speed. There are also technical climbs that stop mortal runners (i.e. me) dead in their tracks. Descents so sharp that my knees hurt (I’m 26, my knees don’t hurt yet).
Runners run down the second part of one of the first steep hills. Photo courtesy ofJoel Button.
See all those trees? That's the trail. Go to the bottom.
There were inclines so steep that my legs sometimes slip back while I climb.
Up, up, and away
Taking a breather two thirds up a hill. At the top is the "love log." One runner told me that when getting over the log: On the first pass, you get creative, on the second pass, you sit, on the third pass, you sit and contemplate life. He said this on the second pass after I sat to get over it. He bounded over it. I think he clicked his heels.
Falls on this course are frequent. I don’t know if I saw anyone who wasn’t bloodied from a fall and I witnessed some brutal wrecks. One man was going down a steep incline and all I saw through the woods was a white shirt launch forward about 5 feet and then drop about 10. I can’t believe he came back from it. A 73 year old runner (inspiration!) had duct-taped his wounds! I’m also in awe that I only fell once- and I bounced back quickly enough that the runner behind me commented: “Nice save!” No blood was spilled
The course was a figure-eight broken into 1 large top loop (7.5 miles) and 1 small bottom loop (4 miles) which allowed for aid every four miles (at the top and middle of the “8”). Course volunteers are always great, but I thought the course support was particularly enthusiastic, supportive and helpful. Both loops ran along lakes and had pretty dams with peaceful flowing water.
Pretty dam we ran by several times.
Lanterman's Mill
The weather was 70 degrees with bright sunshine and there couldn’t be a more perfect day to run. I don’t know how to describe it, but I felt in sync. I have this image of this runner floating through trails effortlessly- Lucas did this beautifully in Annie's Run. The lone runner who runs in perfect form through a serene setting and could be easily picked up and placed onto the pages of a running magazine. I felt seamless- like I was running strong and tall and I was meant to be running on this day. Around mile 29 a veteran of 90 ultramarathons commented on how consistently I was running.
I spent most of the race chatting with fellow runners, but I also enjoyed the quiet points where I was alone in the woods. Locals who I ran into were very kind and encouraging- including an older couple who watched me catch my toe on a rock and both reached out to catch me, although I’m sure I would have inadvertently tackled them both if I hadn’t righted myself first. I also ran into my ex Chris’ sister, Alyssa, and his mom, Kathy. It was around mile 24 and I was getting a little tired so it took me a minute to realize that it was really them and I wasn’t just seeing things. I haven’t seen them in the 6 months since Chris left me for another girl while we were on the ship in Antarctica (with 6 days left on the trip, and he couldn’t man up and tell me the real reason he left me… yeah, it was cold) and I had mixed feelings about them being there. On one hand, I think they found out I was running the race and came to see me and I really, truly appreciate that. They really are good people. On the other hand, seeing them really threw me for an emotional loop that I wasn’t prepared to tackle. It shook me for about 3 miles until I started to get so choked up that I couldn’t breathe and started to catch my toe on rocks because my mind wasn’t on the trail; thankfully I was able to use some of my mindfulness meditation techniques to refocus my attention and I was good from there. I finally met up with another runner for the last few miles which made them fly. When we reached the clearing to the finish I couldn’t believe we were already done!
View from the finish line
At the end of the day, I came in at 7:22, 1 hour and 25 minutes faster than Laurel Highlands! The vet of 90 ultras who commented on my form also said that he considered this a hard and technical course (I guess I’m biased by Laurel’s difficulty) and said that on another course we could finish 2 hours faster. Although there were flat parts where I could run fast (“fast” being relative, of course), my Garmin says the elevation gain over 31 miles was 12,000 feet; RunningAhead.com says it was 18,000 feet. Either way, I guess my experiences running in Pittsburgh have altered my perception of “flat.” I’m proud that I ran so strong without a taper and I’m psyched to be reaping the benefits of my training. This race didn’t hurt like shorter races have and I ran strong until the end (I realize this might mean I need to start running harder).
With new ultra runner friends at the finish. Me, Joel and Bob. I later found out it was Bob's first ultra. Congrats!!
Finishing so strong made me feel tough. I have this mental image of a woman running through the woods, getting dirty, tackling hills, roots and rocks, and being strong, beautiful and graceful all at once. I am certainly not very strong, I make no claims to being beautiful and I am surely not graceful- but floating through the woods today made me feel like I was all of the above. Today, running set me free and helped me realize that I’m becoming person I want to be. I hope there are more runs like this in store- if nothing else I’ll certainly seek it in this race next year. This was one of my favorite races and I’ve already recommended it to other runners.
Race Pros:
Great course support and accessibility
Frequent restrooms. Not porta potties, restrooms, located about every 2 miles.
Gorgeous course
Great packets, probably the best I’ve gotten. For $40 race registration, I got a fuel belt(!)* , a tech shirt, and lots of Hammer products and other goodies.
Possible Improvements:
The trails were poorly marked with ribbons and flour. The ribbons were pulled off the trees by passersby and the flour became thinned out towards the end. One runner commented that it was the poorest marked course he had run. At one place, about 10 other runners and I missed a turn the first time and I redirected runners who ran right past it the second and third times. I think this allowed two runners to cut the course because I left them in the dust on one loop, they never passed me (I didn’t make any stops and it was single track so I couldn’t have missed two runners passing me) and they somehow leapfrogged ahead of me to the next aid station. It was sketchy, but ultimately running is a race against yourself and I hope they didn’t cheat themselves out of an honest run.
My favorite course marking
No medals! Really? One of the race organizers asked: Do you really need another medal? No, I don’t. Honestly, I’m running out of room for them and I’m not sure how to display them without it being showy. But it’s nice to mark an accomplishment (and it helps me keep track of races). If I don’t need a medal, how about a diploma? I could use another one of those right about now. Could you please fast forward me to Doctor, Mr. RD?
I recently realized that although I talk a lot about my running and racing, I don’t talk a lot about my training. I thought it be a good idea to share how I’m training to run JFK50 in November.
AM: 7 plus running the Cathedral\stairs; PM; Swim no more than 2 miles
Thursday
Rest
Friday
5 plus yoga. I swapped Th/Fr so my legs would be fatigued for the weekend runs
Saturday
16-22 miles
Sunday
10 miles
The Cathedral of Learning where I run stairs. It's the second tallest academic building in the world.
I will try to run as many runs as I can on trails but with a busy semester that might be tough to swing logistically. I also plan to run extra long at least once a month. For September it will be the Youngstown Ultra Trail Classic 50K on the 19th. For October I have yet to decide. I want to shoot for a 40 miler a few weeks out. I have two options. I could either:
The previous or following day (I’m not sure if back to back runs would physiologically reproduce the stress of 40 continuously)
The same day
Run the Marine Corps Marathon slower than normal and try to tackle the 40 the following week.
I’m not sure if a too-long taper (Option 1) is better or worse than back to back high-mileage weeks (Option 2). This is a lot of mileage for me so I’m hoping I can maintain this volume and remain uninjured. Any input is more than appreciated!
On Wednesday I run into Lucas, a new friend I recently met at a coffee shop, who is also running JFK. He’s a 6 time Ironman and a 6 time marathoner with a personal best of 2:47. As we chat he mentions that he’s running a race called Annie’s Run on Saturday and invites me to join. It’s a 6 hour all you can run race on a 1.25 mile hilly wood chip trail a half hour south of the city. Registration is $3 and I’m scheduled to run 16 miles anyway. After consulting with my 50 mile coach and some friends, I can’t decide if I want to run for 16 miles or the full six hours. It’ll be a game day decision.
Race Day
Lucas, a Pittsburgh native, told me it would take 45 minutes to get to Upper St. Clair; it takes half that so I beat the RD to the course at 5:15 am. Lucas and his dad, Lou, aren’t far behind. I have no expectations for today, so I chat with Lou as Lucas runs around, registers, stretches, and finds out that the course record is 32 laps (40 miles). It’s interesting for me to see the game face of someone who I perceive as being very mellow and laid-back.
More people start to arrive and I befriend Mike, an electrician who has run two 50Ks (but never a marathon). I meet Kyle, who must be affiliated with Fleet Feet (he was giving out Fleet Feet tech shirts), who recognizes me from the Post-Gazette article. Kyle tells me he’s a Marine and thanks me for my efforts for the Semper Fi Fund. As I chat with Sam, the RD, I see Rick Freeman, the current Laurel Highlands RD, and he introduces me to the former Laurel RD (and former record holder). I recognize another Laurel 50Ker from this year, and I realize that this is not as casual a race as I first thought. I look more closely at the competition and I realize that at 5’8” and 135 lbs I easily outweigh the female competition by 30 pounds. The other female runners cumulatively have as much body fat as I do; they are cut and they look like they are about to crush this race. What is this race about that drew so many skilled athletes?? Maybe the 6 hour thing scared off anyone not insanely hardcore.
The clock creeps towards the start time of 6 am and Sam gathers the attention of the runners. He announces that for the past several years, his wife Annie had hosted a birthday run for him. He tearfully continues that he lost Annie to cancer in December so this year he renamed the race in her memory. Both Sam and Annie are accomplished ultrarunners and a quilt of Annie’s favorite races is hanging and some of her trophies are on the registration table. I’m simultaneously saddened by his loss and feel privileged to be part of honoring her memory and her love for the sport.
We begin running counterclockwise (three hours later we switch direction) and start by passing a sweet vegetable garden with male and female scarecrows who are dressed to the nines (tux and beautiful red party dress). Next there are cows and their calves. Along the course I’ll also see: bunnies, deer, a wild turkey, chipmunks and an enormous groundhog (comparing him to the size of my cat, I’m guessing he’s about 20 pounds). We turn a corner and there is a hill. The vets immediately start to walk- I trust their judgment. The hill is easily runnable, but running up it 20+ times would probably destroy my legs because I’m human.
Lucas, however, is not human. As the leader, he laps me three laps in and he is making it look so easy. His blond hair is waving in the wind (no, seriously, it is) and even though he’s coasting at a great clip, he makes it look effortless. The man should be a model- he makes our sport look graceful and beautiful as he bounds up the big hill and into the forest. As I clod along I simultaneously hate him and want to be him.
The loops aren’t as boring as I think they would be. Lucas laps me like a dozen times and some of the other runners lap me a few times, but everyone is exceedingly encouraging and it’s kind of nice to see people and chat with them as they run by you. Being lapped isn’t as demoralizing as I’d imagine- I’m running my own race and I’m not trying to kill myself since I have my first Olympic triathlon next weekend.
At mile 16 I take a break for a drink and chat with Lou for a minute. He’s a loyal spectator- watching us run loops over and over and over for 6 hours. He cheers for me when I see him and calls me baby which I find really endearing. At one point I run by him as he’s sitting and ask if he’s having a good time and making friends. He responds that he’s doing what he likes- being lazy. I joke that I need to pick up that hobby and he suddenly snaps into Dad mode: “Oh no you don’t! Don’t you dare!” So I run on
I decide I’ll push for 26.2 to round out a marathon- I’m feeling good and it’s a great day- why not? In my mind I’m weighing two factors:
It would be cool to shoot for 50K
I have a triathlon next weekend, I don’t want to kill my legs.
I waffle and then realize that at my pace 50K would take me 6 hours and 1 or 2 minutes. I’m not sure how strict Sam is, but I’d be livid if I missed a 50K by such a narrow margin so settle for 26.2.
I walk a lap after my marathon and Sam runs by me yelling: “Make sure to stick around! We have a prize for you!”
Me: “A prize?”
Sam: “Top three men and women get prizes,” and runs ahead like he just told me something as obvious as the sky is blue and we are running today.
But this is not insignificant news to me: I’m not even an age grouper (okay, I have one age group award that was a sham). There is no way I’m a top three female out of these thin, sinewy, muscled, insane women. I finish my lap, look at the tallies and realize two things:
I can’t count when I run. I ran 28.75 miles, not 27.5 (which also means I could have finished a 50K in time! Argh!)
I’m not just top three, I’m #2!
Lucas not only won the race, he shattered the course record with 36 laps (45 miles) on his first ultramarathon. It was inspirational to see such athleticism and the support on the course was fantastic.
This was a race I’d surely run again. It was challenging but not brutal. And my prize was a pie! Clearly my kind of race! The most incredible thing to me is that I found out about this race on Wednesday and ran 29 miles on Saturday. Saturday night I went out in 4” stilettos and Sunday morning I felt darn near 100%. I always wanted to be the type of runner who could wing a marathon, and now it looks like I am.
Today my running friend, Jen, and I went to Hartwood Acres to run some trails. The goal of the day was to hit double digit miles, explore (we couldn't find a trail map before leaving) and have fun. It was a perfect day to hit some single track trails. We also ran by horse stables and huge open fields- it was absolutely gorgeous!
Along our run we developed a point system:
-10 points for each fall (3 x 10= -30, all my fault)
+8 for each fall that draws blood (2 x 8 =16, all my fault, see photos below)
+1 for realizing I lost my sunglasses in fall #1 (1 point)
+5 for every almost fall turned recovery (5 x 5 = 25, 3 Jen, 2 me)
+1 for every mile (10 x 1= 10)
We definitely ended up in the positive, even though my first fall hit me kind of hard. My neighbor (a doctor) thinks I may have broken my hand (black, blue, swollen), but it doesn't hurt too badly so I'm holding out on the ER. But, check out the beating my legs took:
I can't wait to head back there for more running this summer and fall, as I prep for JFK!
Today with a 20 mile run, Chris and I are officially tapering for Antarctica. This is pretty remarkable considering I started training almost a year ago and have run about 1,200 miles in the process. I still feel under-prepared, but I have realized there is likely little I could do to feel confident about this "race." I know I'll need to take it slow and enjoy the experience for what it is worth.
As part of our taper run today, Chris and I met another runner who also is going to Antarctica in two weeks (omg, do I really leave in two weeks?!). We've seen him running all winter and just happened to stop and chat today. What are the chances that of a hundred or so runners, one lives in Pittsburgh, and we were running in the same place on the same day and happened to stop and talk? He seemed really nice (runners are), and I'm really excited to meet great people on this trip.
In order to prepare, final planning is underway. We have received our official race gear... my jacket is hanging in my closet, ready for when it will possibly be too warm to wear it when I return We also received some final planning information. Apparently both Jenny Hadfield and John Bingham will be on my ship. That is just insane. Also, with the help of my professional photographer friend, Jaime (aka the Blond Photographer), this morning I finally bought a digital SLR. I have been drooling over one for quite a while and with recent media interviews about the race (I'll post them as they are published if they're not too embarrassing), it was too hard to watch people use incredible cameras and know that I didn't have a camera adequate to capture the beauty that will be Antarctica. I am SO excited because I have always said if I could do anything I would travel the world as a photographer.
There are still many details that need to be figured out in the next two weeks. I'm currently second guessing the gear that has served me well all winter and I have no idea how I am going to pack for three week of temperatures ranging from 0-35 F (Antarctica) to 70-90F (Buenos Aires). But, if I'm going to run a marathon in Antarctica and that's all I'm worrying about, then I'm okay with that!
I have been a resident for two and a half years. You have helped me attain an education in affiliation with one of the best psychiatric hospitals in the country and your dirt cheap housing prices allowed me to buy a condo for a quarter of what it would cost in my beloved DC. Although not my preference, I find it endearing that people speak "[Pittsburghese|http://www.pittsburghese.com/]" and that a "Pittsburgh salad" is a salad with french fries on it.
The bridges are pretty......
It's also nice to be in a city where people love their football team.... a lot.
However, we must have a little talk about the weather situation. Snow is very pretty, I will agree. And Dippy holds a dear place in my heart. He is so handsome yet he only wears his signature scarf in the winter.
But the weather service tells me the following:
"LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY TONIGHT. SNOW WILL INTENSIFY THROUGH THE EVENING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF TWO TO FOUR INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED.
BEHIND THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM BITTER COLD ARCTIC AIR WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION THURSDAY AND REMAIN INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. THE COMBINATION OF COLD AND WIND WILL BRING WIND CHILL READINGS FROM 15 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO.
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS... MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES."
Now, it's very nice of you, Pittsburgh, to try to help me prepare for Antarctic conditions. Running in snow, cold and wind may be beneficial. This being said, conditions in Antarctica are expected to be a downright balmy 10 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit with a little wind and possible snow flurries. Not even snow, just flurries. So, dear city, please back off and warm up so that I can train in warmer temperatures that will more accurately reflect what running will be like on Antarctica without putting myself at risk for frost bite and hypothermia.
Today I ran my 17 miles in North Park which has a 5-mile paved running/biking loop around a beautiful lake about 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh. The course has rolling hills which I really like because where I live in Pittsburgh the hills are moderate to steep and completely unavoidable, even on short runs.
I was up at 5:45 and was at North Park by around 7:15 in the morning. It was a brisk 51 degrees. Recently I've been struggling with my paces... not struggling in that I haven't been able to keep them, but struggling in that I'm not sure how fast I can go. I've had a fairly successful string of long runs this training season, but I was still hesitant to push my pace. Based on planned marathon pace (9:40) I should be running my long runs at 10:30 pace slower, but I ran my 15 miles in 9:55 pace two weeks ago.
The first few miles I went out conservatively because with long runs, who knows what the day might hold (miles 1-5, average pace: 10:13). Then, I just started feeling strong and the pace kind of picked up on its own (miles 6-11, average pace: 9:31, including mile 11 which came in at 8:59 and included this absurd fist pumping wiggle dance while running after I saw that split). Now, with 6 miles left I had to make a decision about whether I should try to keep my fast pace or slow down. I thought that I would try to hold on to my fast pace as long as I could; even if I had to slow down substantially, it was still going to be a great run. Miles 12-17 average pace: 8:47!!!! Holy sh!t, I can't run that fast! But I did run that fast!! My last mile was 8:39 and my last three miles were 30 seconds faster than my hilly trail 5K last weekend! Overall pace for the run was 9:28; 30 seconds/mile faster than the last long run I did (15 miles at 9:55) and a full minute faster than my long runs should be based on PMP. I ran 17 miles in 2:40?!
It was a great way to end a landmark month: highest long run (17 miles), highest mileage week (42 miles), and highest mileage month (160 miles!) this training season.
Because my training had been progressing successfully with faster and easier runs, I thought that I'd incorporate some core work into my routine. Since I was at the gym I decided to throw in some Bulgarian split squats, demonstrated in the video below:
Even though I have strong legs, these are hard. I should have known better when my boyfriend, who pushes vans in the desert for a leg workout, recommended them to me. I did two sets of 8 on each leg with 2 5-pound weights. As a result, I have been unable to walk for the last two days. I've been the kind of sore where I tripped because I couldn't lift my leg high enough to keep my stiletto from catching a crack in the sidewalk. I've been the kind of sore where the pain woke me up at night when I was sleeping. On Wednesday, after a session with a client I went to stand up and couldn't without using my arms to push me up out of the chair. Those Bulgarian split squats put me in my place and showed me who was boss (not me).
Even though I was sore, I decided to get my runs in, hoping they'd help me loosen up. My 6 miles on Wednesday night were a complete and utter disaster. I knew my legs were shot but it was hot so I wanted to run through the park because there are water fountains. One of my favorite trails (Panther Hollow in Schenley Park) has a long, steady uphill that I usually run from the bottom up. Since my legs were so dead I thought I'd take the "easy" way out and run it downhill. Nope, that didn't work at all. In fact, my slowest mile was the downhill part because my quads were already shot. My pace for this 6 mile run was slower than my marathon pace from last year! It was the first bad run I've had in well over a month so I chalked it up to a bad day and figured it was due.
That, however was just the beginning. On Thursday I went running with my friend Steph who ran XC in college and qualified for Boston on her first marathon. Steph can easily place in local races and hopes to BQ again at Chicago this year. Let's just put this in perspective by saying that her planned marathon pace is about my 5K PR pace. We ran together because a) my tempo runs could be very slow recovery runs for her) and b) she knows the trails in Frick Park, which I've never run on and wanted to learn. I made a few critical mistakes: 1) Do not plan tempo runs on trails. 2) Do not run on new, technical trails on days where you can barely get out of bed. This run was abysmal. In a 3.5 mile run I had to stop twice to walk, which is uncharacteristic of me and terribly embarrassing in front of my very accomplished runner friend (who, I should mention, is the nicest person in the world and wouldn't be the type to judge). My "tempo" run which should have been about 8:45 pace ended up at a 10 minute pace. In some ways I think I'm being hard on myself because I was recovering from a tough few sessions and the terrain was more technical than I've ever run before, but it is disappointing to not meet goals that you've set for yourself.
What I've learned:
Bulgarian split squats are a great workout, but if executed should probably be left for Thursdays so I can recover with a rest day on Friday.
I love the trails in Frick Park! They are so beautiful and I can't wait to run there more.
I love running with other people, the time goes by so much faster. Steph and I blew through mile 1.
I need to be less hard on myself and keep in mind that external factors can effect my running and that bad days will pop up. And when bad days do pop up, you can only learn from them and move forward.
Over the last few years I've been trying to be better in my eating. I don't have certain goals, but only being a few years out of college, there was a lot of room for improvement from eating anything from Ramen to a half a bag of Reeses Pieces for dinner. My first year out of college I lived with my best friend Han who is as nice a person as she is a great cook (which says a lot on both counts!) and her way of relaxing was to cook healthy meals for us! Really! I would come home from work, hit the gym and come home to a well-balanced meal which we would eat while we chatted and drank wine. It was the best living situation I will ever have and if I could ever knock her new husband out of the picture to go back to living with Hannah, I would! (Sorry Andy!)
(Andy and Han after cheering me on at the Marine Corps Marathon 2007)
When I moved to Pittsburgh, Hannah was terrified I'd starve. I knew I wouldn't starve, but not starving and eating well are two very different things. In order to help me keep up the healthy eating Han made me "Kitty's Cookbook" which was full of all of our favorite recipes, along with short-cuts for the busy and starving graduate student, alongside pictures of us and our old home (really, everyone should be so luck to have such a best friend). At first, I did really, really well. I ate so well my co-workers even began to comment and wonder how long I'd be able to keep it up. The sad answer: about 3 months.
However, I wasn't ready to slide all the way back into my old habits. I made little changes... switching to whole wheat breads and pastas. Eating a balanced breakfast every day. Drinking more tea and less coffee. I've always drank several liters of water a day so I kept that up. And over the last few years I've made other changes, one at a time: soy milk and creamer, organic yogurt, cheese made from milk that wasn't treated with hormones. A trick that I really like is that I have a "snack" shelf in my fridge. When I'm busy and tired and don't feel like cooking or looking for food and it would be oh so easy to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's (which I've learned I can't keep in my house!), that shelf is packed with healthy, easy snacks: hummus, yogurt, low-fat string cheese, low-fat pudding, fruits and veggies.
I'd never considered myself a healthy or nutritious eater until the last few days. The other day I was looking at my grocery cart and everything in it was healthy. Every flipping thing. Was that really my grocery cart? By making one change at a time (really, it was about one change every 3-6 months) I'd morphed into someone who ate well! Then last night, after a 16 hour day, I got home at 10 pm. Instead of grabbing ice cream or chips or ordering a pizza (all would have been so easy), I consulted my snack shelf and grabbed some hummus and broccoli and some string cheese. Veggies and protein. Overall not a great dinner, but my midnight snack could have been much, much worse. I thought about what I ate yesterday and it really wasn't too bad at all:
Breakfast: Bowl of cereal with light soy milk
During class: Banana and peach ginger tea
Lunch: Turkey sandwich on a whole wheat bagel with low fat chive cream cheese and dried cranberries
After-run snack: Organic yogurt with honey and fresh blueberries; cup of 100% orange juice (no sugar added)
I'm running late and not going to have a chance to eat dinner snack: Banana
It's 10 pm and I'm tired and still have work to do "dinner": Hummus and broccoli with string cheese.
I still need to work on incorporating more fruits and veggies into my diet but I'm really excited about all of the progress I've made. On another nutritional note I've actually started trying to eat more calories recently and I've found that it has really helped my running performance and recovery. Eat more, run faster? I like this sport Wishing everyone else happy running and yummy eating!
Since Saturday I have been in DC for the annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism (imagine a big science fair for anyone who studies anything related to alcoholism). As a doctoral student I wear a lot of hats, one of them scientific researcher, and I was at this meeting to learn, network and present some preliminary findings from my Masters (although collateral- and self-reports of smoking, drinking, and deviance are significantly concordant, adolescents are not sensitive in their reporting of their friends' problem behaviors). I had a great conference and I learned a lot, met a lot of really incredible people and saw some old friends.
Even though I did was I was "supposed" to do, one of my favorite parts of this trip was the time I spent running. I like running in Pittsburgh, but a thousand miles later my routes have gotten a little stale. I know hills are good for my training, but a break would be nice. I wasn't necessarily looking forward to running in DC because I knew I'd be so busy with the meeting, I thought I'd really just be squeezing them in when I could.
Sunday I was up at 5:30 to meet Jen, a colleague from Pittsburgh and an MCM runner from last year, and Isaac, a member of the Marine Corps Marathon community. Ike brought a friend, Dave, and we headed out for an 8-mile run along the mall, Haines Point and the tidal basin. It was hot and humid (much more than Pittsburgh) and we were going at a pace about 30 seconds faster than I had run my 8 the week before. I'm not sure whether it was running with a group (I always run solo) or just the excitement of seeing the city early in the morning, but the run was the easiest long run I've ever had. Not only did we come in under our target pace as a group but I had enough in me to push the last bit. I can't imagine a better way to start a Sunday morning than a sunrise run in the Nation's Capital with a group of friends. We met some other MCM friends at Lincoln Diner and I had some scrambled eggs and blueberry pancakes and I was ready to start a very long day. Not only was the run great, but I really do think it set me up for a great rest of the day as well (including a student luncheon and 6 hours of meetings!).
(Tidal Basin)
Tuesday I ran 4 miles around the monuments... I hit the Washington, WWII, Korean War, Lincoln (including running up the steps), Vietnam, and then ran by the White House. I've seen all these monuments dozens of times, but I really think running them is the way to do it. See, with the monuments, once you see them, you see them. There isn't much to DO there. You can stand, look, take pictures. But then you go to the next one and see that. I basically condensed a good morning worth of sight-seeing into about 35 minutes. Awesome.
(Lincoln Memorial)
This morning I ran a 5-mile loop with Jen. We started at the Woodley Park metro and ran to the National Cathedral, down Embassy Row and then through Rock Creek Park. It was so different than seeing the big touristy spots and it was wonderful not to need to dodge a million scattered sight-seers. Instead it was a really nice tour of beautiful neighborhoods, amazing architecture and DC's famous traffic circles (I've heard the traffic circles were to protect the Capitol during a war to confuse enemy troops). It was also nice to feel like a DC-er as opposed to a tourist.
(National Cathedral)
I miss DC a lot. I love the architecture and the people. I LOVE the food! I'm sorry Pittsburgh, but just because you put fries on it (salads especially) doesn't make it cultural, and it definitely does not make it good. A lot of people think DC is stuffy and Type-A.... but I'm formal and Type-A. When Jen and I were walking out of the Metro I realized where I got my impatience for slow Pittsburghers. In DC you can't stand and be confused because otherwise you create bottlenecks and inconvenience lots of people. I've learned not to do that and it drives me CRAZY when people in Pittsburgh (read: everyone!) does that (especially in the grocery store as they stop in the middle of the aisle and wonder where, or where could the milk possibly be).
It was great to be back home and although the conference was great in itself, running was definitely the icing on the cake. It made me feel really privileged to be healthy and in-shape enough to be able to enjoy the experiences I did (sight-seeing, being with friends) as I ran around the city this week.
(Pictures taken from the web... if I wasn't supposed to use them, tell me and I'll happily take them down)
I very rarely get nervous. I've found that the best cure for nerves is to prepare. Then, even if things don't go as planned, I know that I did all that I could leading up to the event.
Well, I am signed up for a 10K on Sunday and I am nervous.
Recently, my runs have sucked and I don't know why. There are legitimate factors like the heat, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm just in worse shape than I thought. I look back on my training log and before I got sick, I was cranking out awesome bricks... 15 mile bike rides followed by 6-8 mile runs at tempo pace. I'd been doing this weekly for about two months in addition to running three other times a week. But since I've been sick I've been having a hard time cranking out 6-8 mile runs at a slower pace and without the biking beforehand. I've been consistently hitting my other runs and those have been going great, but my long runs are really lacking. I can't figure out what is going on and I'm not sure what this is going to mean for my race on Sunday.
I also think some of this is psychological. This race last year was my first 10K in about a decade. Going in I was dehydrated, I rolled my ankle getting into the car the morning of, and I had no idea how to pace myself or what I was capable of. Even with all of that I far exceeded my expectations and had what, for me, was a really great race. Then in September, after a summer of marathon training, I smashed that solid performance with a 10K that I still can't believe I ran as fast as I did. That leaves me with a most recent 10K that is well out of my reach and a prior strong performance on this course... I have a lot to live up to with this race which compounds a bad two weeks of running.
I put off registering for this race all week but then I realized that NOT running this race because I was scared of doing poorly would be taking the easy way out and the wrong reason for not running. I'm not that person, so this morning I signed up. If nothing else, even if I have a bad race, I'm really glad I'm going to get out there and give it a go. Wish me and my nerves good luck
Once a non-runner, I am now an ultrarunner and triathlete. Running has taken me to Antarctica, and past what I once thought were my limits. My races and training cover the good, bad, and ugly, but it's always an adventure- one that you can follow here.
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