About two weeks ago, I came home from an 8-mile run and shortly thereafter my left knee started to ache. Nothing major: a little ibuprofen did the trick and I was fine to run the next day. Since then, it's appeared after some of my runs, but not all. No correlation with distance or speed, just a random ache that goes away within 24 hours. My left hip has also been feeling tighter than usual, which I suspected as the root of it.
Yesterday, I had an easy 10 scheduled as my last double-digit run before the Pensacola Marathon this coming Sunday. I made it about four miles into the run, and my left knee started to ache. It had never bothered me DURING a run before. Hmm. Stopped, walked, assessed: all better. Within a quarter mile, it started to hurt again. Worse this time. I alternated walking and running, then took a good long stretch break at mile five. My left hip was exceptionally tight by this time.
For the next couple of miles, I hobbled along. I'd run for a few minutes, then I'd feel my hip starting to clinch. I could feel the tightness moving down the outside of my thigh until -- SHAZAM! HOLY PAIN! --it hit the knee. There was no running on that. I'd stop and walk, and the muscles would immediately relax and the pain would disappear. So I'd give it a go again, and sure enough, excruciating debilitating pain would hit me square in the knee. Strangely, walking was perfectly comfortable. I had to walk the last 3.5 miles, which was pretty humbling.
Maybe I sensed something was wrong before, because I had already scheduled an appointment with a sports massage therapist for today to deal with the tight muscles. I've had far too much time on my hands since yesterday morning to search the internet and self-diagnose. I'm pretty sure it is my IT band, which may or may not be treatable in time for Sunday's marathon. I can't imagine, nor would I even want to attempt, 26.2 miles on this leg right now. I don't think I could run one mile today. I am praying that my massage therapist can work a miracle. I don't need to run a marathon on Sunday, I just need to run.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Chicago Marathon 2012
Three weeks after the marathon, I am finally getting around to posting about it! I remember looking at my calendar about 6 weeks ago and realizing that once my Chicago trip hit, my schedule was going to be non-stop for the rest of the year. That has certainly been the case. I had post-work activities every night last week except for Thursday. But I digress.
My friend Kimberly and I flew into Chicago on Thursday afternoon, October 4. I don't fly often, so I forgot about the general maladies that come with it. Aside from my flight anxiety, the pressure changes did a number on my sinuses, which remained clogged from the time we landed in Chi-Town to the time we got home, as well as my belly, which bloated to the size it was at about 4 months pregnant & stayed that way the entire trip. The belly bloating was particularly disappointing because Chicago had SO MUCH wonderful food to try, and I could only consume very small portions. We had dinner twice on Thursday -- an early meal at Kuma's Korner (where I ate about a quarter of the best burger I've had in years) and later at Balena's, a new Italian place in Lincoln Park that had ridiculously good pork ragu and several delicious gelato concoctions.
We went to the Expo on Friday morning. I've run Disney and Rock & Roll races before, so I've been to some pretty impressive expos, but this one took the cake. We were there for several hours and definitely didn't see everything. I met Deena Kastor, one of my favorite elite marathoners, and I finally got to try on a pair of Altra zero-drop shoes. I'd been eyeing those shoes online for several months, but I felt much better having a chance to get fitted and to discuss them with a knowledgeable rep. First non-food purchase of the trip, but certainly not the last. We followed the expo with shopping at consignment stores in Wicker Park. $18 cashmere sweater, $20 velvet blazer - score! Folks in Chicago get rid of much better clothes than folks in my hometown. Lou Malnati's pizza for dinner was a must.
On Saturday when my sinuses and belly were still acting up, I started to worry. I spent most of the day resting while Kimberly and her friends shopped some more. They cooked us a big pasta dinner (still couldn't eat very much) and we hit the sack at a reasonable time.
RACE DAY:
Conditions: It was chilly. Much chillier than predicted. About a week before the race, they were predicting mid-50's to 60 degrees. Every day the forecast got chillier and chillier. We woke up to temps in the upper 30's. By the time the race started, it was 42 degrees, and was in the upper 40's or maybe 50-ish when we finished. But it was perfectly overcast -- no need for sunglasses. And it wasn't all that windy. We did fine in throwaway sweatshirts and gloves.
Organization: I have no idea how they managed to keep nearly 40,000 runners so organized. There were three separate entrances to the park, each with its own gear check, water station, and portalets. We had to show our race bibs to get into our starting corral -- best organizational tactic EVER and one that RnR should start utilizing. The corrals kept the race flowing very well. We had no problem staying at our goal pace in the crowds, until we took a bathroom break midway through the course and re-entered into a slower group of runners. Finishers chute was brilliantly organized as well. It was a long chute & it was well-staffed. There was never any need to actually stop and wait for anything. Just keep moving, & grab as you go. Gear check was also well-organized. I picked up my stuff and was on my way within a minute or two.
My Goal: It was Kimberly's first marathon, and I told her I'd stick with her the whole way, so I didn't really have a time goal going into the race. However, Kimberly said she'd like to finish around 4:30 and we were on pace for most of the first half. Then she had some hip cramps starting around mile 11 and had to take several stops to stretch. When we hit the halfway at 2:18, that crazy competitive voice in my head started shouting, and I started worrying about our finishing time. It was really a mental struggle for me to stop focusing on the pace and just enjoy the race, because it WAS a very fun race and worth enjoying. Somewhere around mile 16 or 18, I had the "a-ha!" moment where I realized that we were well over halfway finished and I didn't hurt at all. Ultimately, we got separated at mile 22, and when I realized that there was no way to find my running buddy, I picked up the pace. I ended up finishing in 4:44 and change -- about 20 seconds off my PR. Kimberly wasn't far behind me. It turns out she stopped to stretch and thought I was right behind her back at mile 22. She finished strong as well and was happy with her time. :)
Overall: Best thing about the Chicago Marathon? The spectators. They were amazing. I don't recall a time on the course where there weren't people cheering with signs and balloons. Next best thing? The city itself. The course took us through so many different neighborhoods , with so many different personalities. It's a beautiful way to discover the city, and the course is famously flat and fast. This race was eye-opening for me, because I am always competing with myself and trying to get a PR. I didn't PR this race, but I had a much better marathon than my first time, because I was better prepared physically and I wasn't constantly checking my watch & worrying about my pace (partly because my watch battery died at mile 21). I ran for fun and I enjoyed soaking up the city. Best of all, I was able to walk afterward, which was very good because we stayed in a 3rd-floor walkup. I would love to run this one again someday.
Next on the agenda is the Pensacola Marathon on November 11. During Chicago, I kept thinking "this is the fun marathon, Pensacola is where I'll prove myself". Despite not being very sore after the race, recovery has taken awhile & I'm still not fully there. I plan to run faster in Pensacola, but I don't have the same time goals that I originally had. My husband and kids will be there (which I wasn't originally expecting), and that will make it a very special race in a different way.
My friend Kimberly and I flew into Chicago on Thursday afternoon, October 4. I don't fly often, so I forgot about the general maladies that come with it. Aside from my flight anxiety, the pressure changes did a number on my sinuses, which remained clogged from the time we landed in Chi-Town to the time we got home, as well as my belly, which bloated to the size it was at about 4 months pregnant & stayed that way the entire trip. The belly bloating was particularly disappointing because Chicago had SO MUCH wonderful food to try, and I could only consume very small portions. We had dinner twice on Thursday -- an early meal at Kuma's Korner (where I ate about a quarter of the best burger I've had in years) and later at Balena's, a new Italian place in Lincoln Park that had ridiculously good pork ragu and several delicious gelato concoctions.
We went to the Expo on Friday morning. I've run Disney and Rock & Roll races before, so I've been to some pretty impressive expos, but this one took the cake. We were there for several hours and definitely didn't see everything. I met Deena Kastor, one of my favorite elite marathoners, and I finally got to try on a pair of Altra zero-drop shoes. I'd been eyeing those shoes online for several months, but I felt much better having a chance to get fitted and to discuss them with a knowledgeable rep. First non-food purchase of the trip, but certainly not the last. We followed the expo with shopping at consignment stores in Wicker Park. $18 cashmere sweater, $20 velvet blazer - score! Folks in Chicago get rid of much better clothes than folks in my hometown. Lou Malnati's pizza for dinner was a must.
On Saturday when my sinuses and belly were still acting up, I started to worry. I spent most of the day resting while Kimberly and her friends shopped some more. They cooked us a big pasta dinner (still couldn't eat very much) and we hit the sack at a reasonable time.
RACE DAY:
Conditions: It was chilly. Much chillier than predicted. About a week before the race, they were predicting mid-50's to 60 degrees. Every day the forecast got chillier and chillier. We woke up to temps in the upper 30's. By the time the race started, it was 42 degrees, and was in the upper 40's or maybe 50-ish when we finished. But it was perfectly overcast -- no need for sunglasses. And it wasn't all that windy. We did fine in throwaway sweatshirts and gloves.
Organization: I have no idea how they managed to keep nearly 40,000 runners so organized. There were three separate entrances to the park, each with its own gear check, water station, and portalets. We had to show our race bibs to get into our starting corral -- best organizational tactic EVER and one that RnR should start utilizing. The corrals kept the race flowing very well. We had no problem staying at our goal pace in the crowds, until we took a bathroom break midway through the course and re-entered into a slower group of runners. Finishers chute was brilliantly organized as well. It was a long chute & it was well-staffed. There was never any need to actually stop and wait for anything. Just keep moving, & grab as you go. Gear check was also well-organized. I picked up my stuff and was on my way within a minute or two.
My Goal: It was Kimberly's first marathon, and I told her I'd stick with her the whole way, so I didn't really have a time goal going into the race. However, Kimberly said she'd like to finish around 4:30 and we were on pace for most of the first half. Then she had some hip cramps starting around mile 11 and had to take several stops to stretch. When we hit the halfway at 2:18, that crazy competitive voice in my head started shouting, and I started worrying about our finishing time. It was really a mental struggle for me to stop focusing on the pace and just enjoy the race, because it WAS a very fun race and worth enjoying. Somewhere around mile 16 or 18, I had the "a-ha!" moment where I realized that we were well over halfway finished and I didn't hurt at all. Ultimately, we got separated at mile 22, and when I realized that there was no way to find my running buddy, I picked up the pace. I ended up finishing in 4:44 and change -- about 20 seconds off my PR. Kimberly wasn't far behind me. It turns out she stopped to stretch and thought I was right behind her back at mile 22. She finished strong as well and was happy with her time. :)
Overall: Best thing about the Chicago Marathon? The spectators. They were amazing. I don't recall a time on the course where there weren't people cheering with signs and balloons. Next best thing? The city itself. The course took us through so many different neighborhoods , with so many different personalities. It's a beautiful way to discover the city, and the course is famously flat and fast. This race was eye-opening for me, because I am always competing with myself and trying to get a PR. I didn't PR this race, but I had a much better marathon than my first time, because I was better prepared physically and I wasn't constantly checking my watch & worrying about my pace (partly because my watch battery died at mile 21). I ran for fun and I enjoyed soaking up the city. Best of all, I was able to walk afterward, which was very good because we stayed in a 3rd-floor walkup. I would love to run this one again someday.
Next on the agenda is the Pensacola Marathon on November 11. During Chicago, I kept thinking "this is the fun marathon, Pensacola is where I'll prove myself". Despite not being very sore after the race, recovery has taken awhile & I'm still not fully there. I plan to run faster in Pensacola, but I don't have the same time goals that I originally had. My husband and kids will be there (which I wasn't originally expecting), and that will make it a very special race in a different way.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
A week without running
Last Friday I got in a 7-mile tempo run before my kids went to school & daycare. It was one of the best runs I have had all summer. That was 8 days ago, and I haven't run at all since then.
That Friday, my husband and I took a quick overnight trip to go to a concert. We had a little too much fun, as I expected we would. I never had any plans of running that Saturday, so that day wasn't a loss. Sunday was supposed to be 13 miles around 5:30 in the morning. I was too comfy back in my own bed snuggling with my 3-year-old, so I decided to put it off until Sunday evening. On Sunday, I got caught up in the ridiculous panic that overcomes our coastal community anytime a tropical storm or hurricane approaches. I spent the day monitoring weather reports & taking stock of my pantry, battery supply, etc. It never seemed like a good time to take a break for running. The rest of the week just got worse. School was cancelled for 2 days, my husband was out of town, and I still had to go to the office. It was a downward spiral -- no running made me sleep poorly, so I never had the energy to get out of bed at 5 a.m. to run. I drank too much coffee and I was a cranky, jittery mess.
I am so grateful for this 3-day weekend. I didn't run today, but I have a date with a 20-miler tomorrow morning. I sure hope I can handle it.
That Friday, my husband and I took a quick overnight trip to go to a concert. We had a little too much fun, as I expected we would. I never had any plans of running that Saturday, so that day wasn't a loss. Sunday was supposed to be 13 miles around 5:30 in the morning. I was too comfy back in my own bed snuggling with my 3-year-old, so I decided to put it off until Sunday evening. On Sunday, I got caught up in the ridiculous panic that overcomes our coastal community anytime a tropical storm or hurricane approaches. I spent the day monitoring weather reports & taking stock of my pantry, battery supply, etc. It never seemed like a good time to take a break for running. The rest of the week just got worse. School was cancelled for 2 days, my husband was out of town, and I still had to go to the office. It was a downward spiral -- no running made me sleep poorly, so I never had the energy to get out of bed at 5 a.m. to run. I drank too much coffee and I was a cranky, jittery mess.
I am so grateful for this 3-day weekend. I didn't run today, but I have a date with a 20-miler tomorrow morning. I sure hope I can handle it.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Water, water, everywhere
It seems like my summer running has revolved around water, in its various forms. I've gone through marathon training twice before, but both times I was training through the winter for spring races. This summer, while I am training for the October 7 Chicago Marathon, I have been faced with so many new challenges, and the common factor (for the most part) has been water.
I guess the best place to start is SWEAT. It has been Hot Hot Hot in the Florida Panhandle this summer. Even before the sun comes up, the temps are in the 80's and the humidity -- don't get me started. I can't run a quarter mile without getting drenched. I literally lost a full pound during a 19-minute jog through my neighborhood one morning last week. In the winter, I can go for a short run without having to wash my hair. Now, my hair is not only soaked with sweat after even the shortest run, it also morphs from a straight ponytail to a big lump of tangles that I am sometimes quite tempted to just hack off when I get home rather than attempt to run a brush through it.
The next logical progression in this wet slog of a summer is HYDRATION. With all that sweating going on, water intake is more important than ever. I can tell a huge difference in my long runs when I keep a water bottle on my desk at work. I pretty much fill it up after each visit to the ladies room, so it's a cyclical thing if I can remember to fill it up when I get to the office. On the weeks that I haven't been so prepared, the long runs have been brutal. It is a struggle to continue moving, both mentally and physically. I've gone to some very ugly places when I've been overheated and dehydrated.
Finally, in this part of the country, this summer has been RAINY. Yesterday I overheard someone say that it has rained here 17 out of the past 19 days. As of today, it's 18 out of 20. And I really do love running in the rain. I do not, however, have any desire to run when there is lightning all around me. Unfortunately, a lot of our rain has come in the form of thunderstorms that start around 4 a.m. As a working mom with a husband who works a lot of nights, the only window of opportunity that I have for running is between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. This means that I have had a bitch of a time staying on schedule, even with a training program that only has me running 3 or 4 mornings per week.
I'm going to count my blessings and say that TEARS have not been a part of my water-themed summer training. I've had a few scares with a wonky right knee & left ankle, but nothing that turned into anything serious. I am so grateful that my family & I have stayed healthy and injury-free.
My friend Kimberly and I booked our plane tickets to Chicago last night, and I've got my first 20-miler scheduled for Saturday. This race is starting to feel real! I cannot wait. Hopefully, all these sweaty runs will have left me stronger, wiser, and more prepared than ever.
I guess the best place to start is SWEAT. It has been Hot Hot Hot in the Florida Panhandle this summer. Even before the sun comes up, the temps are in the 80's and the humidity -- don't get me started. I can't run a quarter mile without getting drenched. I literally lost a full pound during a 19-minute jog through my neighborhood one morning last week. In the winter, I can go for a short run without having to wash my hair. Now, my hair is not only soaked with sweat after even the shortest run, it also morphs from a straight ponytail to a big lump of tangles that I am sometimes quite tempted to just hack off when I get home rather than attempt to run a brush through it.
The next logical progression in this wet slog of a summer is HYDRATION. With all that sweating going on, water intake is more important than ever. I can tell a huge difference in my long runs when I keep a water bottle on my desk at work. I pretty much fill it up after each visit to the ladies room, so it's a cyclical thing if I can remember to fill it up when I get to the office. On the weeks that I haven't been so prepared, the long runs have been brutal. It is a struggle to continue moving, both mentally and physically. I've gone to some very ugly places when I've been overheated and dehydrated.
Finally, in this part of the country, this summer has been RAINY. Yesterday I overheard someone say that it has rained here 17 out of the past 19 days. As of today, it's 18 out of 20. And I really do love running in the rain. I do not, however, have any desire to run when there is lightning all around me. Unfortunately, a lot of our rain has come in the form of thunderstorms that start around 4 a.m. As a working mom with a husband who works a lot of nights, the only window of opportunity that I have for running is between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. This means that I have had a bitch of a time staying on schedule, even with a training program that only has me running 3 or 4 mornings per week.
I'm going to count my blessings and say that TEARS have not been a part of my water-themed summer training. I've had a few scares with a wonky right knee & left ankle, but nothing that turned into anything serious. I am so grateful that my family & I have stayed healthy and injury-free.
My friend Kimberly and I booked our plane tickets to Chicago last night, and I've got my first 20-miler scheduled for Saturday. This race is starting to feel real! I cannot wait. Hopefully, all these sweaty runs will have left me stronger, wiser, and more prepared than ever.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Just Chalk It Up and Move On
I ran an awful half-marathon Saturday. Let me back up: I ran my best-ever half-marathon two weeks ago. So I'm trying to figure out what went right the first time and what went wrong Saturday.
I think it all comes down to having a plan, sticking to it if possible, and having a back-up plan/goal. In my positive race, I had a target pace, stuck to it for the first half of the race, then realized I had enough in me to kick it up a little. I finished strong, well under my target time. In my second race, I guess I felt a little cocky & wanted to see how much I had in me. I had a strong start, but when the wind picked up, I didn't have enough left in me to maintain it. Then I was disappointed that I wasn't going to be as fast as I hoped. Then I thought about giving up -- what was the point of finishing in pain if I wasn't going to set any personal records?
In perspective and in all fairness to myself, Saturday's race was the second fastest half-marathon I have run. Would I have been happy with my performance had I not just run one much faster? Probably. So why am I beating myself up? I don't think in the end that it is about the time on the clock or about where I placed in my age division. I hate where I went emotionally on that run. I was THIS close to flagging down a passing police cruiser and asking for a ride to the finish line. I was THIS close to walking the last couple of miles.
All in all, I learned some lessons from my most recent race. I need to come to the starting line more prepared next time. For one thing, I need to pay closer attention to what I eat before and during a race. I'm certain that poor fueling played a role in my near-meltdown. Second, I need to have back-up goals. There will always be factors out of my control, and I need to prepared to adjust my expectations if something goes awry. Third, I need to appreciate that I can get out there and run at all. A finish line is a finish line.
I think it all comes down to having a plan, sticking to it if possible, and having a back-up plan/goal. In my positive race, I had a target pace, stuck to it for the first half of the race, then realized I had enough in me to kick it up a little. I finished strong, well under my target time. In my second race, I guess I felt a little cocky & wanted to see how much I had in me. I had a strong start, but when the wind picked up, I didn't have enough left in me to maintain it. Then I was disappointed that I wasn't going to be as fast as I hoped. Then I thought about giving up -- what was the point of finishing in pain if I wasn't going to set any personal records?
In perspective and in all fairness to myself, Saturday's race was the second fastest half-marathon I have run. Would I have been happy with my performance had I not just run one much faster? Probably. So why am I beating myself up? I don't think in the end that it is about the time on the clock or about where I placed in my age division. I hate where I went emotionally on that run. I was THIS close to flagging down a passing police cruiser and asking for a ride to the finish line. I was THIS close to walking the last couple of miles.
All in all, I learned some lessons from my most recent race. I need to come to the starting line more prepared next time. For one thing, I need to pay closer attention to what I eat before and during a race. I'm certain that poor fueling played a role in my near-meltdown. Second, I need to have back-up goals. There will always be factors out of my control, and I need to prepared to adjust my expectations if something goes awry. Third, I need to appreciate that I can get out there and run at all. A finish line is a finish line.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
An Ode to Running
I'm fast approaching my two-year "runniversary" and it is hard to imagine what the past two years would have been like without running. I practiced real estate law in a crummy real estate market. The BP oil spill terrified & damaged my community. Finances are tighter than ever. My children aren't babies anymore. My business went under. In sum, my world has been a scary and challenging place over the past two years. Most of it is completely out of my control, and that is something I have a hard time accepting.
Running helps me maintain my Zen. It's not just the endorphins, although the Runner's High is a very real and very lovely experience. When I run, I am forced to put away the phone and the computer and the kids, and just be. I can focus on things that have been bothering me, and I can gain perspective. Or I can just focus on one foot in front of the other, and forget about my problems for an hour or two while I enjoy the beauty of God's creation.
Running has given me a new sense of identity. Before running, I defined myself as a working mother/wife and an attorney. Being a wife and being a mother are the most beautiful and important roles in my life, but they describe my relationships, not who I am. Being an attorney was a big source of pride for me, but I never fully identified with or enjoyed the career. Something about running just clicks with my soul. It is more than just an activity that I enjoy. And it is something that is all mine.
Running is something I can control. I love sitting down and planning my training schedule, considering all the different schools of thought on training, tracking my target race paces, setting goals. I can get frequent gratification, whether through racing my fastest half-marathon or watching the sunrise on a slow training run.
Almost as an afterthought, running keeps me fit. I may not rock a bikini like I did at age 20, but I am strong and I have a body that is capable of doing things I never dreamed. Running 26.2 miles? Been there, done that, can't wait to do it again!
Running helps me maintain my Zen. It's not just the endorphins, although the Runner's High is a very real and very lovely experience. When I run, I am forced to put away the phone and the computer and the kids, and just be. I can focus on things that have been bothering me, and I can gain perspective. Or I can just focus on one foot in front of the other, and forget about my problems for an hour or two while I enjoy the beauty of God's creation.
Running has given me a new sense of identity. Before running, I defined myself as a working mother/wife and an attorney. Being a wife and being a mother are the most beautiful and important roles in my life, but they describe my relationships, not who I am. Being an attorney was a big source of pride for me, but I never fully identified with or enjoyed the career. Something about running just clicks with my soul. It is more than just an activity that I enjoy. And it is something that is all mine.
Running is something I can control. I love sitting down and planning my training schedule, considering all the different schools of thought on training, tracking my target race paces, setting goals. I can get frequent gratification, whether through racing my fastest half-marathon or watching the sunrise on a slow training run.
Almost as an afterthought, running keeps me fit. I may not rock a bikini like I did at age 20, but I am strong and I have a body that is capable of doing things I never dreamed. Running 26.2 miles? Been there, done that, can't wait to do it again!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Race Report
Despite a bout with strep throat, I did run my half marathon last weekend. By Friday, I was feeling pretty good and on race-day I felt great. We left home at 5:00 in the morning to drive to Orlando. We had to check in at the Wide World of Sports complex, and got to spend some time exploring the booths filled with running gear for sale.
The race started at 10:00 p.m. with fire works at the starting line. We ran from the Wide World of Sports down to Animal Kingdom. There were bands and Disney characters along the roadside cheering us on. It was definitely entertaining. We were off at a decent pace and I was feeling pretty good as we entered the Animal Kingdom. Again, we saw characters and plenty of Disney "cast-members" in the park.
Shortly after we exited the park, at around mile 5, I started to feel a little funny. It was like a toy whose batteries were running low. We stopped and walked a minute while I ate a little bit of a power bar. From there, I went downhill. I continued running, but I was cold and clammy. By the time we ran into the Hollywood Studios, I was looking as bad as I felt. I had to take a walk break at least once or twice for each mile. My throat didn't hurt, my body didn't hurt, I didn't feel sick to my stomach. I just felt like a car running on fumes. I couldn't always run in a straight line. At one point, a cast-member asked me if I needed help. Thankfully, my friend stuck with me the entire race, so I felt confident pushing on.
By mile 10, I knew there was no way I was even going to come close to meeting my time goal. My running buddy and I had seen the same two women dressed as Minnie Mouse along the entire race course, and she told me that even if she had to drag me across the finish line, we were not going to get beat by those mice! That motivated me. I still couldn't run more than a few minutes at a time without feeling faint, but we kept the mice in our sights. When we finally entered Epcot, the finish line was less than a half mile away. I managed to find some reserve of energy and I think I ran the whole time we were in Epcot. I definitely started sprinting when I saw the finish line.
My official time was 2:20:53, the same as my friend. I was so glad to see the photos from the finish showing us crossing the line together. If it had not been for her, I probably would have dropped out around mile 7. And yes, we did pass the mice during our final surge.
This has been an amazing journey. I will say that the training and preparation meant more to me than the race itself. I have come out of this experience a stronger, more balanced person. If someone had told me a year ago that I would be running a half-marathon, I would have laughed.
Had I been able to run healthy, I would have considered this goal finished. But I want to know what I can do under optimal conditions. I am planning on trying a half marathon again in December. When I finish that (hopefully healthy and able to run the whole way), then I'll put the "13.1" sticker on my car.
Also coming up on the agenda: a full marathon in February! I am registered and start training in a few weeks. Details to come...
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