I Love Race Day

I love race day!
There’s always something in the air that makes you run better than you would when you’re training.

Some….nooo…. most people think that it is a little strange that I could enjoy running such far distances. And few can comprehend that this can physically be accomplished without complete exhaustion. My own mother doesn’t understand why I do this. When I told her my last marathon was coming up she responded, “Alex?!”, as though I was doing something harmful and irresponsible. Some friends will comment that I am crazy for doing this. Others try to act understanding and encouraging, but inside they are just like my “you’re crazy” friends. My good friends encourage me, complement me, and sincerely want to know how my training is going or how my race went. They know how rewarding this is in my life. On race day, no one around me thinks I am a lunatic for running, because most are there because they love it just as much as I do.

So what is it that makes me run better on race day? Is it the long anticipating course, the encouragement you receive from those around you, the ability to pace yourself with other good runners, the competition of catching up….keeping up….or not letting the other person catch you? I believe that it is the combination of all three: the competition, the camaraderie; and the anticipation that contribute to a great race day.

My fall marathon was at Cannan Air Force Base, October 9th, 2010. I ran my personal best with an average of 10 minute miles. That may sound slow, but for 13 miles that is not bad.
I met a young woman in her 20’s before the race began. There are some people that you meet for the first time and you click. Conversation comes easily, enjoyable, and fulfilling. Olivia was one of those people. As we spoke before the race she expressed sentiments of how this was her first half marathon. BUT then she began to tell me the times that she had on some of her other races. WHOAH!……she was good. After my asking, she confided that she was running about 8 minute miles. Long race short….I kept pace with her (from a distance) for a little over half of the race, but then in the end she blew me away (big time!). Olivia came in third place among the women, and I think that I was somewhere around 7th or 8th. I am not a great runner, but I am probably average for someone who trains well.

Marathon Update

Don’t know why I haven’t updated on the marathon sooner…..

Yes I do know why, I’ve been very tired and sore! The 21st Annual Bataan Memorial Death March was great. There were over 5700 participants. This was the hardest thing I have ever put my body through. People can tell you about the difficulty level of this marathon, but you don’t know how true it is until you are trudging up sandy, rocky hill sides and dragging yourself through almost 2 miles of sand pits. I was only going to walk the half marathon(15 miles) course, but ended up running the full course(26miles). Started out running, got to the 2 mile marker, and thought, “That had to have been at least 5 miles.” After 9 miles, I was feeling pretty good. My previous stress fracture wasn’t hurting. Then mile 10 hit. It was a steady up hill barrier. I walked most of that; which is by the way when I began to form blisters on both of my feet. The course then turned into a mountainous terrain. I jogged the flat and down hill areas and torturously, slowly climbed the up hills. At mile 15, I thought I wanted to quit. Another racer walked up to me and asked if I was okay. I responded with a weepy voice, “No, my feet hurt. my hips hurt, and my knees hurt.” (I recall my left knee was knocking at this point.) I soon came to a watering station, where I refueled. A little nourishment, helped and I was off again. It felt better to jog than it did to walk, so from this point on I jogged as much as I could. I say jog instead of run, because what I was doing can hardly be considered jogging. I found friendly people at every pace I took. The marchers around me were very encouraging, and kept me going the whole time. I met racers from Montana, Missouri, D.C. , California, Texas!!!, literally all over. The Marchers came from not only all over the states, but also from all over the world. Continuing on my path, the blisters were getting worse and my stride was getting shorter. At mile 18 we had topped the last big hill and it was mostly down hill from there. Mile 20 the sand pits began, and by mile marker 22 we came out. At this point I felt my blisters burst!!!. I was in so much pain. After stopping at a medic station and having my feet treated, I decided that there was no way I was going to be able to finish the last four miles. I ended up being one of the 90 participants that had to be taken off the course. L I am disappointed a bit. On the other hand after having a stress fracture just a month and half ago, I ended up running much more than I ever thought I could walk. I didn’t complete the 26 miles, but 22 miles isn’t bad for being completely out of shape!

Still a little disappointed I didn’t cross the finish line. J

BTW

By The Way!!!!

My first Marathon is this weekend.  It is a memorial/march in honor of those who endured the Batan Death March.  Wesley’s grandfather will not be going this year, but we are doing this of course in honor of him and all he endured for our great country. 

I am bummed that I won’t be able to run the full marathon as I had been training.  BTW I was ready for it.  Oh well, I am looking for another to run in, possibly in the fall.  Yes I will be walking the half this time.  A big blow to my pride, my poor old body!!!  It will  be great anyway.  I will get to walk the course with Wesley’s Parents.  It will be a good weekend.    🙂

No More Guilt

Awwww………The smell of spring time, the warmth of a changing season……..this is what I’m looking forward to right now. I can truly say that I am a person that likes winter, but I am ready for a change. And I want that change to be….warmth! There are alot of things that I look forward to….and many more that I have on my “To Do List”. At the top of my “To Do List” this week is …. Exercise!!! Yey, I’m going to start back running(walking) again, after a torturous month of no exercising. About two weeks ago, I tried walking, but the pain in my foot was still there. The marathon is in three weeks!!! I am so frustrated that I will not be able to run the full marathon, but I will, I will finish the half. After training for this marathon for so long and then to have an injury at the pinnacle of my training, I was crushed. I had been increasing my long run by two miles every week. I was in great shape, feeling good, and anticipating my long runs. I have said that not running feels almost like the guilt of sinning. But starting Monday, I will begin gradually introducing pressure upon my poor little foot. No more guilt!