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!

The Marathon Bug Bit--#2 here I come!

I got bit by that bug my running friends warned me about. . . I have signed up for another marathon. I new I would want to do another as soon as I was done with Burlington (hopefully this not a sign that I didn't run hard enough). I have even set my sights on the possibility of grand plans for my approaching 30th birthday next June--3 marathons by 30? I think this would be an amazing goal and accomplishment for me. While I wait to figure that out--I registered for the Indianapolis Monumental marathon in November in Indiana. The plane ticket is purchased and the first week of training was this week! For this marathon, I also signed up for a marathon training group in Salem. For 12 weeks I'll have a real coach and track practice once a week with group runs on Saturday mornings at 7 am for our "long runs." I think this will help mix it up a bit and give me new routes to run and good people to train with (I loved training with my last partner for the record).

Here is the website if you want to join me or just check out the marathon info: Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Link.

Back on the Blog

I am disappointed in myself that my last blog was June 1--this is after all about more than running and I haven't updated the blog since just after the marathon. So, here is what I have been up to and what is to come in the near future. Soon after the marathon, my husband turned 30. I threw him a surprise weekend where his mom flew in (he thought he was going somewhere: packed a suitcase, went to the airport, walked to the check in counter, and then saw his mom!), we had a great seafood dinner, we rented a sailboat and we had a party with close friends.

Then, my little sister proved to me that we are both getting older by getting married. I flew back to Indiana for a week to host a shower for her, help prepare for the event, and spend some time with family. The wedding was a beautiful country themed wedding held outside at one of her friend's homes. She really pulled a lot of different ideas together and it worked. In the photos below, my paternal randmother (the big sewer) quickly determined the blue ties on sis' dress would be prettier if we. . . and then three perfect bows appeared. Man I love that she continues to teach me amazing skills (yes, like Martha Stewart I appreciate a perfect bow). After her wedding, my maternal grandfather had surgery and I wanted to be there. It was nice getting to visit with him and ask advice of him like I have always done.

In late June, one of my friends and I threw another friend a bachelorette party in Boston. We made a girls day of it rather than being raunchy or anything: nails, cocktails, dinner and drinks at one poshy bar with dancing at another. I wish her the best for her Irish wedding and regret that we won't be attending in person.

I spent the next few weeks recovering from all the business early summer brought and getting the piles of to do's taken care of that accumulate when you are busy with life. These to do's include taking Otis to the Ocean where he learned to swim. Of course, activities also included sewing!! I mostly dabled in hemming pants and minor repairs (a snagged favorite sweater, a torn hem on some blouses, making some older and larger summer tops fit my slimmer runners physique (hehe)). I am hoping to get to some larger projects soon.

Sewing and Running

The sewing and running combo is back. Today--post-marathon run #2 was successful. My husband joined me for a really nice 4 mile run around the cemetary again after work. I must be getting faster because he decided to run with me the whole way despite my encouragement to feel free to leave me. It felt good. We had a great post-run dinner of chicken sausage and roasted bell pepper pasta with beer from Burlington.

And, some sewing. I have a rather large pile of pants that need altered for myself, a neighbor, and my huband. I think it is about 8 pairs. So, the marking and seam ripper in hand, I at least got started. Plus, in 10 minutes I was able to reduce my marathon t-shirt by at least a size taking 1.5 inches off each side. At least it doesn't look like a night shirt now:)

There Goes Another One

Hmm, looks like the rain and pounding on my poor toes during the marathon has resulted in two black toenails. Not uncommon and yes, this has happened before, but does not help the arguement that running makes you better all over--not quite from your head all the way to your feet:) So, solution. . . paint the toes the darkest red I can find and wait a month or two for new toenails. These will probably come off within an month and then look like what I guess alien toenails look like for a bit. Sorry readers--no photos for this post:)