26.2 Miles of Glory

I can’t believe I did it.  Holy crap, I ran a marathon. 26.2 miles! And it was FUN?! Here’s a short story of the craziness….

The past month my runs (or lack of them!) were bad. After the half-marathon I pulled some muscle next to my calf and shin that took me out of running for two weeks. That was two long runs down the drain. My longest training run was only 16 miles. That meant 10.2 miles of unknown marathon miles. Scary thought.

The training grounds

The week prior to the marathon I was very nervous. I felt like I was getting a lower leg injury again, which freaked me out. My confidence in running the marathon was waning. I was preparing myself for the possibility of being in agony and not finishing. Which would have been oh so disappointing. I needed this win.

Norris and I out on a 15 mile run

The night before the marathon, I carbed up (pizza, pizza) and went to bed early. 4:15 am wake up. Ick. I dressed, got a few bites of food from the hotel breakfast and got on the marathon bus out the front door. Or so I thought? A few minutes after sitting down the gentlemen next to me starts talking, saying how he used to do the full but now only does the half. Wait? What? The half? It took me a minute (I was tired) but then I realized I was on the wrong bus! Whoops! Literally the doors were closed and it was about to take off as I jumped out of my seat and told the driver I needed to get out.

Turns out the marathon buses were across the street! Remembering details at four am can be rough. Luckily I still had five minutes to spare, and as I cross the road one of my favorite songs is on the speakers “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan. I take it as a good sign the rest of the day will go better.

As I stood in line for the correct bus, it turns out the full marathoners got nice tour buses instead of school buses. Riding in S.T.Y.L.E before running in P.A.I.N. I lucked into sitting next to two marathon pros. One guy had run this race every year since it was started: 12 times. That is promising. He said I’ll love it and it will get me hooked.

The other guy, get this, is running his 371st marathon! He’s 61, started running 20 or so years ago. He once ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks and has run a marathon on every continent. He gave me tips saying take it slow, enjoy it, walk. I Googled him later, here’s a story about him: http://magazine.byu.edu/print.php?a=2738.

Along the way they both were showing me the course, telling me where the rough parts were and where the fun parts were. This later proved to be extremely helpful in preparing my mind for what was next during the run.

Around 6:00 am we arrived at the starting line or the porta-party. For those of you not familiar with race starts, it seems to be about two things: staying warm and going potty. To stay warm, they had fires to gather around. Smart people brought extra clothing to wear while waiting and take off before the race. Being a novice, I did not understand why this was so brilliant. Now I do. Note to self: bring a blanket next time while waiting an hour until the sun rises and the race starts.

Now the potty dilemma is a funny one. Since you ate and hydrated an hour ago and are aiting another hour for the race to start, it is imperative that you utilize the porta-potty because horror of all horrors is that, while you are running, you lose control. Not pretty. Thus, nearly 3,000 runners are competing for 50 toilets (or sometimes bushes).

And then it is time to start. Well sorta. Lining up takes 10 minutes. Then when the gun actually goes off, for those of us in the back of the line, it is another 10 minutes until we actually cross the finish line. But then we’re (finally) off!

Now my main goal was under five hours, so I was debating between running with the 4:30 pace group and the 5:00 pace group. A pace group is led by an uber-elite runner that runs a certain pace, keeps you motivated, and helps you out. I informally ran with the 5:00 pace group. Although it got annoying at some point as he would run faster and then walk, passing me here and there. But seeing how I wasn’t confident in my ability to finish, I decided to take it easy and not push myself. Those first 8 miles seemed slow.

The day was a perfectly sunny day, although quickly getting hot. The high was forecasted to be 75! The past few years living in Alaska I had discovered my weakness to extreme sunshine and heat. I knew I had to watch out. Luckily the sun was at my back. I stayed overly hydrated (but still never had to use a porta along the course!) with aid stations every two miles. I learned to walk through them- drink water, PowerAde, take a cliff shot, and often throw water on my head.

Around mile 9 is when I started getting my stride. I broke free of the pacing group, decided to move on just in case I needed to walk later to still get in under five. The best thing about starting out slow is that you get to pass so many people! It is awesome.

The halfway point was exhilarating! A band playing, people cheering. I started to think I’m actually gonna do this. The course twisted and turned. Views of the mountains, lakes, and streams.   Then came mile 14, most of this course is downhill, this portion was not. Running into the sun, uphill. Lame. But that’s when I started using my phone and taking pictures, a nice distraction.

After that it was downhill. The next “milestone” was Mile 16. It’s scary going into the unknown. What is this going to feel like? How is my body going to react? Will I hit the dreaded wall?

Somewhere around Mile 17 my quads started to tighten up and ache. I had to stop and stretch here and there. But I was still cruisin, passing runners. One familiar runner even, #371.  I’m sure this was just a training run for him, but it made me feel good to pass the seasoned marathon runner.

They say Mile 20 is when you hit “the wall”. The wall is a point at which you’ve expelled all your energy and it’s hard to push on. There is some course irony in that there was a retaining wall at that point in the canyon. Cruel? I’m not sure it was the constant intake of cliff shots, the water, the PowerAde, or the downhill, but I didn’t hit it. I actually was smiling and felt good. My legs were definitely in pain, but I could manage it, I could do this. Mind over matter. I was doing this. I was running a marathon.

Before leaving the canyon, around mile 23, one last sight: a waterfall. Didn’t expect that lovely surprise!

After that I saw my cheering crowd, giving me a boost and making me pick up my pace to get to that finish line! The last mile was grueling; the finish line seemed so far away. The last timing update within the last mile, told me I was close to finishing around 4:45. So I gave it all I had, pushing onward through the cheers and crowds. Then there it was: Mile 26.2. The goal that I had envisioned for so many years was within sight. With a few final steps I crossed the finish line. I had run a marathon.

Medal. Water. Food. Stretch. Pain. It’s all a blur after you finish.

As the aftermath of the run set in, I noticed how hard it was to sit up or down. I have to rely on my arms to pull me. Going up steps is painful, you opt to go sideways or backward. The next day, as the muscles settled, I encountered pains in places I never would have thought.  But as crazy as it sounds, it’s a good pain, a feeling of accomplishment in pushing your body’s limits.

It’s nearly a week later and I’m feeling significantly better. I went to work and was able to tell all those people that had I told about my training that I had actually done it.  Satisfaction in its purest form.

I have my medal hanging up, reminding me of my first marathon. What a great memory. Life goal: check. I can say I did it now. I have this feeling though that the story might not end there. That I might have just stirred something up. I’m already dreaming….what’s next?

To the Hills

A few photos from the half-marathon today in Emigrant. Perfect day for a run, although the last four miles were a little hilly and windy!

Pre-race photo with the half-marathoners

Running around mountains

Running to Emigrant Peak

Bison support

Hmmm not sure I love 13.1 miles of hills!

Finished (despite a horrible hill at the finish line)!

The half and 10k runners.

Only five weeks til the marathon. The next two weekends I'll be tested BIG with 18 mile and 20 mile runs. 

*With limited miles left to run through Montana, I've decided to travel "as the crow flies" taking the mountain route instead of the highway (especially fitting as I've been adding hills to my workout!). Thus landing me in the heart of the rockies in Montana, closing in on Glacier National Park. 

"Hills. We love them. We hate them. They make us strong. They make us weak. Today I chose to embrace hills." 

-Hal Higdon, running writer and coach 

Uncharted Running Territory

The end of March is near and with it the promise of spring, I think? Yesterday's long run definitely made me question that "spring" is here.

Up til now the longest I had run at once was 13.1 miles. My training plan required me to run 15 miles at this point. It all was starting to sink in that I was in uncharted running territory. What would I encounter?

Luckily I had the company and encouragement of a group of hardcore running gals called the Sage Leapers. This group seems to go out rain, snow, wind, animals, whatever! I met them for a gorgeous, winter wonderland run along a dirt road in Tom Miner. I was a little unprepared for the run, not wearing my normal getup. The road was wet and muddy. The bottom seam of my pants were soaking up all the water and it started to feel like I was wearing ankle weights! 

Along the run we saw deer run past, dodged some bison, and ran up never-ending hills. But the miles came and went. Soon enough it was time to part ways with my running partners. They were leaving me at Mile 12. The last three miles it was all me. I guzzled some nuun, ate some energy chews, and pushed through the snowy wind. The last few hundred feet my legs were TIRED. But I was pleasantly surprised it was a feeling I was familiar with. After a long day of hiking, you experience the same thing. But pushing through that pain, I did it! WOOHOO!

I wasn't on my A-game this run, but yet I persevered. Distance running is a mental game. Your body will ache. You'll feel pain all over (heads, shoulders, knees, and toes!). You recognize that most of the time those pains will pass and with each step you move closer to the finish line. I can't wait to cross that 26.2 mile finish line soon!

"A true runner has the heart and the soul for the sport which does not have to be proved to anyone else but oneself." 

Half Way There!

13.1 miles! Half way to my marathon goal. This morning I ran a half marathon here in Bozeman: The Run to the Pub. You finish out the run with a beer and the potential to win a trip to Dublin! Sadly I didn't win the trip (although someone behind us did, which felt like I did!). Here's how it went down.

I woke up nervous. The two days before my muscles were tight because I ran a little too hard on a long run. A few years ago I ran my first marathon in Eugene Oregon. It was fantastic and I was really wanting to beat that time. So I pushed myself. What's the old saying "Pride comes before the fall"? Well it was close. When pushing your body, sometimes it pushes back. My muscles were tired, tight, and angry with me after my long training run. And I was starting to get a cold. 

I listened to my body, got a massage to work out some kinks, started drinking LOTS of water, tea, and taking zinc. I finally invested in a foam roller to work out ongoing muscle knots. I did not want to get injured on this run, my main goal is the marathon (and to figuratively run across Montana). The night before I had a delicious carbo loaded pizza meal and got plenty of sleep. But I had no clue how it was going to play out.

The race started later in the morning, 10 am. Nice. Plenty of time to get ready, eat a good meal, and make sure I was ready. The weather had turned out nearly perfect. A little bit of wind, and a bit chilly, but I had worn the perfect amount of layers amazingly. The one funny thing you have to know about the race is that it is St. Patty's day themed. So everyone was dressed up in green and costumes. But when you are running 13 miles, you start to think about comfort. Thus I decided to forgo the costume. And my green was a little lackluster, technically more of a blue. Someone actually yelled at me (umm aren't they suppose to be cheering, not jeering from the side-lines) "You're suppose to wear green, not blue!" 

The line to the porta potty pre-race

The first three miles SUCKED. I felt my legs being a little twitchy. I was slow, tired, and nervous. At times I even felt like crying. Am I going to fail? I was just imagining myself getting into the finish lines hours later or having to be picked up. Come on body, don't fail me now. Somewhere around the first water station, I started to get energized. My legs were getting into a groove, the course was going downhill, my pace was picking up. I was RUNNING and it was great.

The starting line (and that's when I stopped taking pictures)

As the race went on I was feeling good. My pace was solid, but not too fast. But I was starting to get tired. I thought the race was going to provide some energy gels or something a few times along the way, but every break seemed to just have water. I started to freak out a little, without replenishing by eating something, I was going to crash. I looked to the ground to see if anyone had accidentally dropped one of their gels: nada. There was a hill coming up, uh. How am I going to conquer this depleted? We turned the corner and that's when I saw it: the human banana costume. YES!!! "Do you want a banana?" YES!!!! It was perhaps the best tasting banana ever. It gave me what I needed to push on the last 3 (or 4, I forget) miles. 

From there on, it was downhill (mostly, little hills even feel rough at that point). The race ended downtown, I even had a cheering team at the finish line. :) 2 hours and 20 minutes. I might not have beat my previous time, but I was darn close and proud of my muscles and limbs for what they accomplished. 13.1 miles to add to the journey through the state. Leaving me in the state's capital: Helena.

And now for a move to my new training grounds this week!

Getting Going

The past week we've been experiencing a bit of a warm spell. The days are warming up to 40-50 degrees! Which makes for perfect running conditions. The past few weeks I have run 34 miles. Here's a snapshot of the "run"...

It starts at the Boiling River on the Wyoming side in Yellowstone

Passing the 45th Parallel and entering Montana

Darting wildlife like Elk

Exiting Yellowstone through the Roosevelt Arch

Running through Gardiner, Montana

Following the Yellowstone River

Gazing at the Gallatin Mountain Range

Resting in beautiful Emigrant in Paradise Valley

On top of the running I have been learning to skate ski. Which has been a fun, fantastic cross training day. Skate skiing is a style of cross country skiing. The skis are short and narrow, allowing you to go fast and "skate" over the snow. Below is a photo of my friend Jan skate skiing on the river (frozen) in Alaska with dogs in tote wearing an Amazing Cape designed by my talented friend Roxanne. 

Jan skate skiing

Here in Montana, we usually have groomed trails wide enough for skate skiing. Last weekend I visited friends at Lone Mountain Ranch to get an introduction and this weekend my friend Wendie and I took a class in Yellowstone up at the Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces.

It's me! Skate skiing the Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces

Stay tuned for some exciting events to come this winter in Montana! :)

Running Through Montana

Happy New Year! 2014! The year of the horse and the year of galloping onward....

I'm doing it again, running. More specifically training for a marathon (err again). Third time is the charm right?! This time I have a number of things motivating me:

1. FIRST training plan. I found a flexible training plan that I only have three days of intense runs, and then cross train two other days. That means skiing or hiking or gym classes! So much less tedious and more fun!
2. Hot Springs gym membership! Soaking after a run is pretty good motivation to get em done!
3. Fun races ahead: SnowJoke, Run to the Pub, Sage Leapers, and those are just the half marathons! Excited for the events and swag!

The race is the Ogden Marathon. Their motto is "Get Out and Live"! Which is ultimately the goal, trying to get outside more and being more active.

In an effort to track my progress, I'm going to "Run through Montana". Well figuratively. I'll be tracking my miles starting at the border of Montana and Wyoming in Yellowstone National Park heading through Paradise Valley, through Bozeman, Missoula, up through Glacier, and ending somewhere around the Canadian Border (I think?).

So here I go! Wish me luck!