I Lived

 I Lived

 State 43- Mississippi 

Stennis space center marathon  

4:02:11

3rd place overall women 

1st place 40-45 female

Since the last marathon we moved but stayed close to my main running path and actually a little closer to it.   It’s weird because even though my running routes are the same - they are different as I have had to recalibrate turn arounds and mental notes of - how long it feels.  An old out and back for me of 10 miles only gets me about 7 now.   But since I used to be further from the path, an old 3 mile out and back only gets me 4.   It’s great that I’m  more on the path and no stop lights to have to stop at near the end, but still an adjustment.

This year I’ve also been able to add back a social part of running.   Tammy and I have kept to long distance accountability buddies but now I’m also adding back nearby partners.   It’s not like the good ole days were I was almost always running with a friend but given now I have less flexibility on when I run - I’m so happy with the miles I get with friends at whatever pace.   The three that fill my heart with so much joy this year:

Reena- a mom from mca. Her son was a year older than Sophia so we would see each other at drop off/pick up.  She started training for the Chicago marathon. After the third time of running into each other we finally exchanged numbers.   It was so fun to grow a friendship while logging miles. And great to watch her achieve her goal to run the marathon!!!! 

Alison-   One of my best friends from downtown life! My inspiration to do the Ironman, an old regular running, biking and swimming friend.   She moved close enough to my main running path to be a quick visit on a 17 mile turn around and anything greater than that she could run with me!  I’m so happy they moved and that I get to see her more!   And while Sophia and Madeline met as infants and Sophia seemed so young compared to Madeline -10 months older than her - now they are the same grade and have such similar hearts!

Linnea- While Elly is younger than Sophia, Sophia took her under her wing like her little sister at MCA.  What started out as playdates for them has turned into another amazing mommy friend.   Bonus we both would love to multitask  playdates into mommy workout (we really need to do this!).  Linnea is much faster than me but I Love the push to get fast miles in!  Esp when we always get lost in the chat we usually do more miles than anticipated.  

There are others that have become familiar faces on the path  on the rare occasion I will travel short distances and chat randomly and mostly just recognizable hellos.  

That’s the main highlight of training.   I have fallen twice while running in the last year.   Like big bad trips on roots and ripped up knees and hands.   Falling is different in your 40s.   I go on like I did in my 20s but it catches up with you!   Usually 2 months after the ignored fall - running on the out of alignment body just gets worse!   Thank goodness for Dr Sabrina!  

I actually think yoga was making my fall injury worse at the end because I was so out of alignment that the stretches weren’t doing what they were supposed to be doing.   After two adjustments yoga became beneficial  again.    Dr Sabrina doesn’t understand why I don’t come in right after the fall - not when my hips are so out of alignment and twisted that my body can’t even lay face down normally on the table.  .. hopefully there isn’t a fall for a long while but lesson learned - come in sooner rather than later! 

 Age is something you can’t ignore but you can take care of.   My knees are doing fine except for when Dr Sabrina pointed out the one was so swollen from ignoring the fall (trickle effect down my entire body and now all fixed), child’s pose isnt a 20s or non runner yogi kind of way, my ankle is tight and then apparently I have a bulging disc in my lower back that can flare up and create both lower back issues and hip issues.   But Dr Sabrina also equips me with quick exercises to do hourly when it’s at its worst and otherwise throughout  and it helps so much. Different ones for different pains because I have a lot!

This is just the reality of getting older.  Overall, I still forget I’m not 20 and am active and can be a fun mom for Sophia. 

Also the cross training is more important than ever before!

Now let’s talk mileage- this year I ended up with one 20 and two 22 milers before this race.   The 20 felt great for the first 17 miles but this was the run before getting adjusted. 

Then both 22 milers were great! The first was just going to be 20 and then … it was a good day so… I went to 22.   I think adding 20 minutes immediately after to stretch helped and perhaps the nutrition and hydration and not going too fast- averaging between 9 and 9:30 including walking as I socialized with Alison in the middle miles.

I think I added too much house work on Veterans Day (2nd 22 miler) because while my legs were fine, I threw out my back (and see above!).  But alas - Dr Sabrina to the rescue! 

1.5 week taper, and we were off to NOLA- while the marathon was in Mississippi it was just over the border- 45 min from NOLA so we could have a fun family vacation and cross off a state! 

We arrived Thanksgiving day- and while we had a car reserved -they were all out of cars for me and everyone else who reserved one on Thanksgiving day!!!  A little bump in the road, but we just ubered to our place and hoped for the best- getting one within our first 24 hours of us being in NOLA- the only issue was the airport was 25 min away, and not convenient at all when our trip was short enough.  They actually called mid Thanksgiving dinner out to eat and an amazing restaurant - Lula - with an electric car.  I said thanks but no thanks since I have no clue how I would get that charged.   Friday morning I called many coscto and budget customer service options (I should say- I also was trying to make this as convenient as possible for us from the start- and learned they didn’t have an Avis preferred /speedy at NOLA option so I went with budget .., aka we learned our lesson once when we paid more for the ‘better brand’ and had to stand in the same line - I will always research this! See the last marathon write up 🤣).

So Friday morning at 7:30 I learned they had cars!! We got a car by 8:30 and most of our vacation day was not interrupted - and we could also drive to city park for the afternoon. 

When I wasn’t sure I would have a car for the race- I posted it on the 50 marathon state and I did find a back up option with an awesome woman also in town, staying in NOLA and heading to the race the morning of- Kim- more on her later :)

Alas I had a car- I was packed and ready to wake up and hug my sweet family and head to Mississippi at 6:15 on Saturday morning.   The drive was easy as over the bridge- beautiful! 

   The security line to get into the space center was longer than they advised.   It took about 30 min to get through - you have to show your id to see you are on the list to enter and proof of car insurance.   Once through I just followed the car in front of me and hoped I found  my way to the start.  Because security was moving so slow they pushed the race 30 minutes.   So I had some time to lollygag.

It was cold - in the 30s which is not normal for this time of year there, and so I spent half the time in the car, and then decided to put on some makeup.  

I wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to wear because it was so much colder than anticipated.   I texted with Linnea some - part of the problem is I felt bad doing a throw away on the base.   I guess  I could have strategically thrown it at a water stop but I decided just with a short sleeve and then my long sleeve jacket I brought (my new favorite Joe got me from work (Lifetime) and my short sleeved happened to be a shirt I got from ffc when I taught spin there - ha !

So- without much announcement - when the race was ready to start - off we went.   The  course is known to be flat and all paved.   The biggest thing for me is that - I am not used to an all paved marathon.  It does not feel good and I knew it would be my biggest challenge compared to what I trained on.   But - my body was already struggling this training season so I wasn’t about to add concrete to the beatings on my legs/hips/back.   It would just be the element of challenge this race brought. 

The first mile actually was a little bit down and I took mental note of that.  This race was a combination of a 5k, half marathon and marathon all started at the same time.  

I did my best to start my normal pace and I think I did a good job, maybe a touch faster but it felt good as it always does.  There were little kids running the 5k all out huffing and puffing.  It was so cold for these kids - I wanted to tell this little boy to cover his ears!!! It always helps my breathing in the cold - but he was working so he’d to keep his bigger brother in sight that I don’t think he would have figured out how to use his face thing as an ear warmer.  So I just wished him luck, and then the 5k went straight and the half and full turned.  

I realized in the hour I had waiting for the race to start, that my phone battery was draining  kind of fast.  So I kept my phone /music off for the first hour of the race.   There were two different people  I ran near in this time that had music from a speaker which I appreciated and sparked a short convo with the one guy.   

Also- remember when I mentioned it was paved?  There was definitely a slope to the road one way or another and it was felt early on by me because that stuff hurts in your 40s!   So there came a point where the pavement was actually flat- and I mentioned it to this guy and his son.   The dad (also 50 stater- 3 to go!) agreed with me.  I chatted with them for a bit but went on my way.   This was the son’s first marathon and I was thinking the dad was running his son’s pace to help him accomplish the race later as the son (alone) passed me I realized it was the other way around. 

When I hit just over an hour- I turned on my phone- texted with Joe to check in and put it on airplane mode for hour number 2 - while listening  to music.   At mile 10 I decided I needed to slow it some to try to save energy at the end.   Training has been slow start, relaxed middle and then a kick in the second half, so I wanted to try to mimic that.  As I slowed I started to get passed and it kinda upset me - I didn’t know if it was half marathoners or marathoners.  But as I approached mile 12 the marathon turned and half went straight.   I was the only in my viewable area one who turned.  I thought - wow this is lonely and at least it was the half people who were passing me.  

I kept going - all alone.  I hit the half at about 1:54 and thought - okay a sub 4 might be possible. So I decided to try to pick it up just to give more room.  Mile 14 was an 8:20 and the next an 8:30 but then - I guess my legs didn’t like this idea and I could feel the cramps- so I had to not push it on them.   

About mile 17 - when I was still sub 9 minute miles-  a girl passed me.   And I was like ahhh no!!  Am I really slipping !?  I kept her in sight until about mile 21 but never in a place to catch up.   I also realized in a few sections where it was out /back I didn’t see any other women in front of me so I realized there is a chance I could be placing.

Around mile 20 I also took inventory of who was behind me - I think at that point the next girl was about 1.5 miles behind me.  

So while I was hoping for a sub 4 as usual, I was also thinking - just don’t let any more girls pass you!!!!

With 6 miles to go I knew I just needed a 10 minute mile- but those cramps were really something.  I also stopped twice at water stops to get my water bottle refilled and that hurt!! It was pretty abrupt / not really efficient.  By mile 23 the 10 minute started to slip to slower with short breaks as the cramps were in control.  If I looked back behind me they would Charlie horse and I tried to run in the long grass for softer terrain at one point but it was too late and the uneven terrain = Charlie horse.  I texted Tammy with 2 miles to go still in hopes I could just muster through.  Also somewhere in the last 5 miles-  my eyes watered so much that the make up I put on got on my contact and I could not see well out of my left eye. That really messed with me (I had to remove it after and pour water on it to wipe it clean to see out of it - it took 4 times of this in an hour before being able to safely drive ‘home’).  By 1 mile to go I told Tammy it’s not happening sub 4 but close enough.   I did not cross the finish looking like a 4 hour marathon but I crossed it and it turns out I was the third female to cross it and took first for my age. 

This is when I actually met Kim- the woman who would have gotten me to the start from NOLA if I never got my rental car, and the female who passed me around mile 17.  The 50 states community is a strong and small world I guess!   Her daughter also placed in the 5k so the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  Maybe Sophia will want to run a 5K while I do a marathon one day!    We hung out until we got our awards.   

This race had me remembering one of my favorite marathons (NOLA), and my Mississippi marathon  first attempt (when there was ice so the plane couldn’t land), and Oklahoma - my makeup state with an airline credit since I never made it to Mississippi. 

Oklahoma and Mississippi are now the two  marathons I have placed in. 

Also thinking  of all the friends I have traveled with through the years.  Esp NOLA - Rachel J(P), Alexis, Mike and Christine  and Mississippi first attempt with Kristen - a crazy 24 hours of travel, getting to stay the night at Rachel A’s in Georgia as a bonus! 

The memories and friends made are such a staple to what makes this journey so great!   I definitely have lived!    

…7 states to go

Strike a Pose!

​

State 42

10/22/2023

Albuquerque, New Mexico

3:58:10

This race was originally planned for 2020 as a family trip with Erin’s family since Erin is from the area!

But … covid derailed that as it derailed so much in so many’s lives. 

Yet, it all worked out. The last two years had a focus to also see family when crossing off states, so this was the year for New Mexico.

While it was no longer a combined family trip, Erin was with me via our long distance friendship helping us book our Vbro and hyping up the race.

The start of training was going fine.   However, my knee was bothering me again this summer until I started going to a chiropractor. Originally it was because an ear infection left me with Eustachian tube dysfunction and it was a 2 month wait for the ENT (after 6 months of hearing issues before making the appointment).

The chiro fixed my ear before that appointment and bonus- helped my knee issues which stemmed from the hips. 

There definitely was an adjustment period with my gate changing for the better, and I had to focus on my cadence but the noise in my knee was gone!

I had two 20 milers and a 22 miler planned in training.   The second 20 miler was changed to 22.  But then I got sick and my original 22 miler was pushed a week and cut back to 20 miles - run/ walk - talking to my dad on the phone as well as our mortgage banker (exciting stuff!).  

There has a been a lot going on in the last month or so- Work has been in transition with additional training then add buying and selling of our house to the mix….

There was so much going on and it was to a point that running didn’t help, rather the exhaustion made running hard.  I have been overtrained before so it’s always on the back of my mind when exhaustion is felt in my runs.  Luckily I blogged in great detail my signs (overtrained!!) and it helps me check in with myself… I was not there.  

Even still…, the last few runs before the race, I was so sluggish - heavy legs and lungs.  

With that feeling and the 5,000 ft elevation in Albuquerque - I accepted I would  start slow and be completely okay with walking.

 

While this was a family trip, we decided Joe and Sophia would not come to cheer me on.  This way I didn’t have the pressure of being in any sort of way at the finish.  Instead of trying to keep up communications of when that finish time would be, I could be completely present on the run and open to any possibility of the time.

On the morning of the race, Sophia was up already at 4am (and so was I).  At 6:30, they took me to the start of the race.  It was cold but not freezing.   I texted with some friends including Erin - pumping me up for the beautiful course.  

Sometimes I memorize the course and elevation profile. I make a plan for my music, podcasts etc,  and I practice all of that during training.   I did absolutely none of this.  The only thing I did was decide to take 4 Gus - early and often.   Usually I take 3 and push the limits on that but I don’t know why- it’s nonsensical!  So mile 6,12,18 and 23ish was the plan (and I stuck to it)

By 7am we were off and running.   

Slow and steady taking in my surroundings.   At mile 1.5 there was already a photographer and I made my race number visible as I told myself- look strong but don’t look at the camera  - strike a pose!!!! So that inspired the playlist I started - on shuffle with ‘Vogue’ as the start …was that a great choice/random playlist!!!

Two miles in, we were on a path along the Rio Grande river, starting near the ABQ botanical gardens headed north.   Somewhere around  mile 3 is when we could see some hot air balloons.   These hot air balloons became my heart strings to Joe and Sophia.   I texted Joe to take her outside to see if you could see them- and they could- so we were looking at the same thing…. They were with me!

Around mile 8 I was planning on switching playlists to my 2022 chill playlist, but then a guy sparked up a convo.   I was wearing my twin cities marathon headband.  He’s from there and ran that same one.  He also knows the exact turn of the corner at the Bozeman marathon where it said 26 miles but the .2 was much longer than .2, he was also doing the 50 states, but decided not to need the club to validate what he’s doing.  He’s about 30-35 completed.  

… which sidetrack… I decided to ‘quit’ the club in the last few  years.  Reason- because, sometimes marathoners are egotistical and  insecurities come out in a braggy annoying way -liking to show superiority over others.  I do my best not to be like this and I hope I’m not, but the club has turned into the epitome of this.  Club rules - while I understand some of them- just really rubbed me the wrong way in how they are enforced.   A girl finished a race that was not cancelled but conditions made it a really tough one to complete - and she did it but many others did.  One of the requirements is something like at least 20 have to start the race and 10 have to finish.   More than 20 started her race but less than 10 people finished - the club will not count that as an official state and she has to repeat that state to qualify as a 50 stater with the club.   And the comments from both admin and other ‘club members’ when she posted this question …. it just made me realize- I don’t want to or need to be part of such a club.    

So this was a big part of our conversation.  We also talked about what’s next - which’s of course happens -  8 states to go … the question arises - what next?  I’ve started to see that light and I think World majors sounds good - since I’m half way done it’s just 3 international runs, and then maybe even before that … Athens!   But right now it’s all brainstorming - once I cross off 50 hard goals can be set :) 

My new running buddy also experienced the same rental car headaches the day before (2 hour wait!!!), he’s a lawyer, and has 3 kids - I think 1,4 and 7.   His family  was not with him and he was heading back home that  night. He started the 50 state goal after me but is catching up bc he’s doing multiple a year… something I stopped doing after having Sophia since my goal was always finish by 50 and I’m on track with one a year at this point… not that I won’t pick it back up I still would like to figure back to back races but we shall see….  

It was nice to chat with someone because I just don’t do that much anymore.    The miles were passing by in an enjoyable way!    

But as we got to the 13.1 mile turn around, I made a comment that we probably will leapfrog one another and I will chat with him again when we do, but I had some energy to enjoy the next bit at a slightly faster pace.  So I said ‘see you later’ 

… never got his name and never saw him again.  

I turned on my chill playlist around mile 14 and focused on getting to Mile 16, then 18 then 20.  I started playing some games with my pace.  

Around mile 15, I added some small bursts of energy near the end of each mile to keep those averages below a 9:30 average. 

By the 20 mile marker I decided I could start to aim for a sub 4 hour marathon, but told myself anything close to that would be amazing considering how I started this race.  

I played another ‘game’ I play sometimes -  and starting around mile 18, I told myself - the difference between a 10 minute mile and my mile split - would become a walking reserve.

So let’s say I ran a 9:30 - that means I could walk 30 seconds.   If I had 4 miles at 9:30, this would earn me 2 minutes of walk time. 

I was slowly banking a reserve - not much, so to make it worth it, I needed to keep passing the miles.   

By mile 23 I took my last gu. I managed to get my long sleeved shirt off and refill my water bottle from the water stations without walking … and the desire to walk was behind me.  Sometimes when I walk, that’s when I start to fall apart- I decided I just needed to keep relaxed and not push the speed but keep running.   

Also around mile 23 I changed my playlist to ‘beautiful day’ by U2 as the starting point on shuffle of similar songs.

By mile 25, ‘Break my stride’ started playing.   I was definitely slowing but not gonna break my stride!

The final push was back into the downtown area, and a turn of a corner… there was the finish line.   I turned off my music, gave the thumbs up to the cheers and crossed the finish line striking a pose - hands in the air and a smile on my face - sub 4 hours!  

Sub 4 hours in a race where I had no pressure, no expectations.  I just focused on using that time to enjoy myself.  And there is a lot to be said about the mental game of a race.  It is everything!!!!