A New Way to Run

Sure there are different ways to run: slow, fast, at race pace, easy pace, sprinting, even "like you mean it." Today, I experienced running in a new way unlike these--with snow shoes in 18 inches or so of beautiful virgin white powder. It was amazing! The woods were pristine and a group of friends and I traversed the woods for 5 miles both on and off trail even jumping baby streams at times. We ran when we could, often taking advantage of straight aways without brush, tree limbs, or inclines. I even took off in front of the group, as the newbie, charging down a hill that had not a flake disturbed. . . well, not until I got there.

After just a few weeks back into running after taking a month or so off of training after the marathon to rest and spend time with my family, this was an amazing way to fall in love with running again. Further, this new way acted as a crude reminder that no matter how much time I spend running on the road, or even working out in the gym, my body can always be challenged in new ways. My quads and glutes burned as I lifted my legs and snow shoes above the drifts and through the powder as a reminder that we are a team. The bruise on my knee from my fall, reminds me that the team may not always work perfectly together. Yet, the little balls of ice on my eyelashes reminded me of the joys of seeing nature through different lenses. These lenses that my snow shoes brought me showed me childlike joy and an appreciation of nature.

Indianapolis Marathan Proves Monumental

I must say that the Indianapolis Marathon was in fact Monumental for me. With the help of the support noted in the previous blog, I shaved a substantial amount of time off my marathon finishing time wrapping up the race in 4:03, over 13 minutes off my Burlington finish. This race was one of the most organized races I have run with a ton of water and Poweraid stops, lots of crowd support, ample start and finish line amenities, and a fabulous t-shirt that finally fits me without the aid of my sewing machine! The weather was great and even got a little warm at the end. My favorites moments, besides running with the support of my family and finishing with my husband next to me, were running down Meridian street and running around the Circle Center monument. I later learned that while we Hoosiers call this just that, "Cirlce Center Monument," it is really the Soldiers' and Sailors' monument recognizing Indiana vetrans. Next time I am in town, maybe I'll climb the 331 steps to the top and observe the city from yet another perspective. In the meantime, here are some photo highlights of the race.

Reflection on Support

It seems after any big event in life, we have some down time and take a step back to ponder what it all means. Big races are no exception, after months of training and the finale of the big race--I often reflect (well in between naps at least). After my second marathon, and possibly it's location in my home state--I reflected on the meaning of support!

Support--by Melissa Jaynes (written for the beloved Wicked Running Club website and posted on 11/19)

Running always ends up teaching me something, even if I never intended to learn. In the very early days, my attempts at running quickly educated me on my lack of fitness; I missed the train when I couldn’t run a whopping quarter mile soon after moving to Salem. As I got a little better, running also taught me that pushing my body also helped push my mind in working through mental and emotional conundrums. When I started running road races I learned the importance of pacing, training, the value hidden in hills, and even the need to rest. Completing my first marathon taught me the invaluable lesson of not putting limits on my own capabilities.

As I prepared for my second marathon, running continued to act as my teacher. However, the most valuable lesson from this marathon was one we often must re-learn—the importance of support. I specifically signed up for this marathon in Indianapolis so that my family could see me run (did I mention Indiana is flat?). As planned, I expectantly learned lessons from a running clinic and multiple shorter races throughout my 20 week training schedule. I even learned lessons I didn’t anticipate such as how to “recover” from a race that just didn’t go as planned. But, my most important lesson was a reminder of the value of friendship and support. I loved the clinic because it challenged me physically, but mostly because I ran alongside up to 60 fellow runners who cheered for each other and noticed when someone was absent. I also loved running my long training runs with the support of a coach, and his beloved cooler of water and Gatorade, and fellow runners. We ran in heat and a lot of rain (see October entry on Amica marathon). Alone, such runs are often skipped or miserable, but alongside friends, I found myself laughing and sometimes even singing during torrential downpours and booming thunder. While the simple presence of the person next to you is support, so is the laughter and song that you remember in many following runs.

I was powerfully reminded of support when about a month before the marathon, one of my closest friends from Indiana lost her father, Tim, to a Diabetes related illness. I was unable to fly attend the funeral, and instead found myself longing for a way to show support from 1,000 miles away. I suddenly found myself researching the American Diabetes Association and e-mailing family and friends asking for donations in Tim’s honor as I ran the race in his memory. His death also forced me to look back at my life and reminded me that all of my accomplishments in life were achieved with the support of my family and mentor’s like Tim. Once again this proved true throughout the marathon. While during the race, unlike my training runs, I did not have a partner directly next to me, I was surrounded and motivated by support. I was moved by the support of my friends in the Running Club and their well wishes, tips, and good luck trinkets (who knew how important chapstick and a lucky hair tie could be). I was also moved by the support of my family and their cheers along the course. There is just nothing like high-fiving your Dad, seeing your Mom and Sister holding bright yellow signs proudly, hearing your 80-year-old Grandfather yell “pick up the pace,” having professional style action photos from your uncle, or having your husband run the last mile with you in jeans after seeing the pain in my face. As a result, I did not cross the finish line alone, but with Tim on my mind, my friends in my heart, my family by my side, and a reminder of one of the most valuable lessons in life.

I'll post more details and photos of the race shortly, but first, must well, must take another nap:)

Made the News

This was the local paper from my hometown the Saturday of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (marathon #2). I ran the marathon in honor of my friend's father, and to aid the American Diabetes Association, who recently passed away after I couldn't attend the funeral. I was pleased that I even made the byline at the top of the front page:)

A Wild and Wet Ride

Before I agreed to jump in and help my friend (from the running club and my track group) run her first marathon, I checked out the marathon website. It read something like: The Amica Marathon offers runners a historic and scenic course. The route begins in downtown Newport, runs alongside the harbor, past picturesque Ocean Drive and along historic Bellevue Avenue. The second half of the 26.2 mile course runs besides the Sakonnet River. The finish line is at scenic Easton’s Beach.

Sounded great to me and I needed to get in my 22 mile training run the same weekend so why not run most of Amica with a friend? Plus, we could make a weekend away of it in a beautiful town. Well . . . sometimes things don't go as planned.

The Amica Marathon website now reads "In some of the worst imaginable running conditions, over 2,500 runners finished this year’s Amica Marathon . . . The perseverance of all runners, volunteers and fans was truly admirable, we look forward to seeing you all, and better weather in 2010!". Here are some more details about the weather: the forecast told of 48°F (which is normally perfect for running a marathon), 100% rain, and 28mph northeasterly winds gusting to 40. Yes, we'd be running in a what out here in New England they call a nor'easter. If you are uneducated about a nor'easter Wikipedia describes it as: a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States, so named because the winds come from the northeasta storm. These storms include thick, dark, low-level clouds that often block out the sun (check) and the precipitation can range from a torrential downpour (check) to a fine mist (I wish). Low temperatures (check--though actually ideal for running without the next point) and high wind gusts (yes, this point--check) are also associated with a nor'easter.

Regardless of this--I realize "shit happens, it is how you handle it that matters." We handled it by running, laughing, and smiling. I won't say my friend wasn't disappointed, who wouldn't be, but as she put it "I didn't train for 16 weeks to not run". Plus, I learned another valuable lesson--while the selection of one's running apparel is important and can make or break your comfort level, sometimes some good old bodyglide (think vasoline but way better) and a vinal poncho are all you need. (I'd like to thank the runner that felt too hot in this at mile 3, I also thought I would remove the poncho a couple miles into my run, but well, then came the wind).

Don't you think I look like a caped super hero? No?

Here are some blow by blows and photos from the course. . .

My friend left to go get on the bus to the starting line and I continued to listen to the rain and eat my peanut butter toast (a fabulous pre and post race treat if I do say so myself). My husband and I drove to Starbucks for coffee and so I could use the bathroom one more time. We watched the runners take off and jumped in the car to "race" them to the 4 mile mark. The 3 mile and 4 mile marks were just across from one another with portapots in between. As soon as we saw the lead runner hit mile 3, I jumped out of the car and hit the portapots and then cheared on runners before jumping to the 4 mile marker and watching for my friend. (My husband in the meantime drove the course out of town to our warm dry house--he noted later that the course was beautiful and maybe in better weather we could return.) I was watching for my friend and chearing on the runners. I had my eyes peeled for her white long sleeve shirt, and then. . . I saw her face, and what appeared to be a black vest--nope no vest, she had wisely found a trashbag and made a vest out of it. While sportier than my poncho, a gift from a passing runner, could she fly faster than a speeding bullet with her vest? She pulled two handwarmers from her gloves for me and off we went:)

I joined her at the perfect time because within a half mile we watched beautiful huge waves crash along the rocks on our right while viewing gorgeous homes on our left. Into mile 2 for me and almost 7 for her, we turned into the wind and I realized the poncho was here to stay. We were essentially headed into the wind until we finally turned around at mile 21. Plus, by now I'd stepped into enough puddles, or splashed myself with my own feet enough that my shoes were completely soaked. I believe it was at this point that my friend beemed a smile at me and realized she was in fact running a marathon!

From mile 7-10 ish we ran by mansions. Some people were singing behind us and we joined in until we realized they were almost done with the half-marathon and well the chearfulness faided a bit for us:) Running by the mansions was fun though--here's what the Breakers (built by Vanderbilts) and the Marble house look like on a sunnier day. . .

Well, if the wind was bad before, the last mile or so surrounding the half marathon point was the worst and this was the only time I thought I might have to pull out the stops to keep Kathey moving. See, to add insult to injury, the marathon runners were routed to go right past the half marathon finish line and practically through it in a river 2" deep which could not be avoided. We actually had to ask around to figure out where the marathoners were supposed to go--into the wind again was where and through one more unavoidable and rather large river into the second half where the wind actually howled for a quarter mile until we turned a corner.

We started our first of two out and backs making a good climb uphill from 17.5 until the top of 18. We'd see the crest of that hill again on the way back, but this time we were running into the wind. We made it "up and over" and onto a small second hill. Here was passed fellow a Wicked Running Club member coming out of the turn around ahead of us and cheared for her. It is always nice to see a familiar face. Suddenly my hands were freezing and I realized my cotton "throwaway" gloves were still on and soaking wet with the hand warmers acting as little pockets of water inside--I ripped off the gloves and kept on trucking. During these double digit miles, we passed more "starter castles" and large open lawns with fancy iron gates, even if smaller scaled compared to the mansions. I recall a white house along the coast with bright ocean blue trip that was stunning and looked like a postcard from Greece to me.

We hit mile 20 and cheared a little--my friend was in unchartered territory and while her hamstring was angry at her, she seemed to be right with the world. We even picked up the pace. My friend claimed after the marathon that mile 20 was her favorite point in the marathon and that she felt great:) We proceeded back along the opposide side of the road we had already traveled chearing on almost every runner we passed along the way. At mile 25.75 I told her she was on her own and took off (finally sans poncho) to beat her to the finish and chear her on. Unfortunately, I encountered a maze and even running at top speed didn't manage to see her cross the finish--a disappointment but I didnt' want to run in with those who were official runners. The camera man at the finish line had also given up on the weather and missed taking my friends photo--not cool Amica!

With lots of shivering, a quarter mile walk to the busses, and a short drive back to the condo she was staying at (with buttwarmers on again)--the event was over. She was beaming and teary eyed and I, I had earned my way into my taper weeks where I would run as intensively but fewer miles and prepare myself for my own marathon less than 3 weeks away!

Hampton Half Marathon

I recently ran the Hampton Half Marathon in Hampton, N.H. again this year--my sixth half marathon now. I ran this race last fall as well and finished in 2 hours. This year, I ran with three other Wicked Running Club memebers (see photo below taken just before the race). The course proved pretty again. I went out hoping to P.R. for the half, and instead had a challenging run and learned a valuable lesson.




Last year when trying to break the half I ran behind a pacer, someone the course has run at a specific pace (with a large sign with that pace on their back) so that people hoping to finish in a cetain time can run along and make it. The pacer last year went out too fast and I broke the 2 hours only after letting them pass me and catching them later in the race, saving my energy instead of buring out early on. This year, another pacer did this and while I was focusing on my own pace, the fact that a pacer who should have been behind me and was instead ahead of me played with my mind. As a result, I didn't check my pace and went out too fast for 3 miles resulting in the rest of the race feeling hard and finishing a little slower than I had hoped.

Yet, while not a PR, I had a great time--I saw two friends complete their first half marathons and had another ride along with me in the car. Further, she helped me remember that this was in face my 6th half-marathon!!! I hadn't even realized it at the time and had a lot to be proud of regardless of any pace or P.R. So, I am happy to report that yes, I have now run 6 half-marathons, numerous races ranging from a 5k to 20 miles, and one marathon with another one less than three weeks away. Plus, I watched friends smile through 13.2 miles and was reminded of why I run--because I love it. Yes, I love getting faster too, but no matter what even when I was first running and slower--I run because I can and because I smile when I do.



Oh, and I eat when I run too--it seems all of the professional photos of me were of me eating GU.

More than Half-Way To Marathon #2

So, I realize I have not blogged in a long time--I regret this and will give the usual excuse that I have been busy (I mean heck training for a marathon takes a lot of time). Seriously though, we have had a lot going on in our lives--work has been super busy, it was summer briefly in New England, and well now football started (Go COLTS). From August to September, I got on an airplane more than 10 different times traveling to Chicago, Southern California (Laguna Niguel and San Francisco in one trip), D.C., Napa (the one trip for personal travel), and San Francisco. During all but one of these trips I was working crazy hours for work and squeezing in training but not always sleep. Somehow (thank you vitamin C) I managed to stay healthy and even ran some races on the weekend--very little sewing though.

The racing events:

--I signed up for a marathon training course. I have track practice once a week with about 40 other runners and a COACH--I have a COACH:) It is great--we run hill repeats and sprints and all sorts of stuff that would bore you all to tears but gives me chills of excitement. Yes, Mom, I do remember collapsing on the track in high school and had a brief moment of fear when I started but quickly got over it when I realized that now at 29 I am not bad running around the track and can do a mile around the track almost 6 minutes faster than in high school.:)

--I also now meet with this track group to do my long runs on the weekend. We meet at a local beach parking lot Saturday morning, by 7 am, and start most runs with 3.5 miles of hills and then head out for longer distances sometimes crossing three towns. It is nice because I have great friends to run with; get my long run done early on the weekend; have my coach out there to give water, Gatorade, and advice; and end at the icy ocean for a nice refreshing soak (much like the ice bathes in prior posts). I have met others with tons of marathon experience and have made friends and running partners with some running their first. It is nice to be able to even give advice to others and help my friends pace themselves for their own big day.

--I had my very first trail race where I was literally leaping tree roots and climbing steep loose-dirt hills. And, I LOVED it! This was a ton of fun and I ran the loop twice--once as a racer and once with a friend just for fun.

--I ran a 5K for the first time since I started running two years ago and set a PR by around 8 minutes dropping from a 33:18 to just under 26. I have now broken that PR as well thanks to the track practice:) (As a shout out and side note, the friend who talked me into that first 5K just finished her own first half-marathon and I am wicked proud of her!)

--I ran the famous (okay for New Englanders it is famous) Falmouth Road Race. This race is a 7.2 mile race in the Cape and has a limited entry number with a lottery system to get into the race with 25,000 runners and beautiful views of the coast. The light house view at the beginning of the race is in many films apparently (see photo below). My husband and I enjoyed a beautiful weekend and an okay race on my part (they can't all be your best race right).

--I ran my first official 10K last weekend, the day after running 20 miles mind you, and had an amazing race. I ran a 8:07 pace to finish 6.2 miles in 50:25. Okay, so my legs were shot the next day, but man, what a heck of a good time. (For photos go to capstonephoto.com and click on the Lone Gull 10K and then search by my last name.) The Lone Gull race was one of the most beautiful races in nearby Glocester (see photos below).

--I have run many of my long runs with a great friend from my running club and have laughed (and sung) through 16 miles of pouring rain with puddles up over my socks and encouraged her through the last 4 miles of a twenty miler refusing to let her quit (but telling her she could cry all she wanted--I know I am mean) and celebrating with her at the end (she is going to have a great marathon!).

Now, I have 6 more weeks until the marathon. I have just two real long runs ahead of me (a 20 and a 22) as well as a half-marathon, a 5K, and a 6.66 Devil run (come on I live in Salem) before marathon day--Nov. 7th. My spirits are high, the fridge full of carbs and protein, and my sleeps deep. I promise to blog lots more in the coming weeks before the marathon!