Move Along
Mercedes Marathon
Birmingham, Alabama
State #32
4:19:54
My amazing running partner chose a marathon in a state I haven't run in yet so we got to train all the way through together.
She's the perfect training partner in many ways, we push one another and challenge one another. She will deny it but she is faster than me. And I keep us honest with mileage when it's cold and bad weather... Or hot. And, we manage to have similar schedules and views on running... Life doesn't revolve around the runs, rather the runs revolve around life. When you have the running goals as we do, usually it becomes your life- and maybe it has been that way for me in the past ... But that is something I've been working on, to find a balance in life. That's where the Love comes into play helping me get there, and we will get there soon.
Training: we had my strongest and fastest long runs prepping for this race. There were a few slowdowns along the way but when it came to it, we put in the work, stuck to tempo runs, hill runs, speed workouts and easy runs then had some great long runs. ... At a level of comfort and speed that screamed PR.
Then we had taper time and I started to have health issues. Just things that were not normal to my body. And it has lasted 3 weeks (and counting) . This is where the Love really comes into play. My world has changed in the best ways because of my Boyfriend, Joe. I think twice about everything because it's not just me anymore. It's our future that makes you a little more aware of life. So when I start having health issues, instead of my usual blow off of the doctor, I make an appointment.
We will leave the doctor headaches out of it but the conclusion was my blood levels are normal, no thyroid issues, and I'm hydrated (even though I still wake up with dehydration headaches and make a conscious effort to drink 100oz a day ) Then I got flu like symptoms - maybe it is the flu maybe it isn't but the symptoms matched.
In summary, I'm starting this race with health issues but no conclusion as to why, and flu like symptoms added onto that ... And in the 8 days before the race I only ran twice. 10 miles left me feeling like I just ran a marathon and sitting down for a bit with my head between my knees to not pass out, and the 4 mile run while strong during made me feel sick standing after.
We started right on pace like we have trained and by mile 10 I was feeling the way I did on our 10 miler the week before. I pushed with Erin to 13 and when I say pushed, I felt like I was at mile 26. 13 miles became my goal- once we get to 13 I could walk and we would say goodbye. I hoped an easy mile would let my heart rate slow and body catch up to where I wanted to be.
Backing up...There was discussion about me skipping this race because of how I felt but since my blood tests came back normal I decided I was okay.
And now at 13 miles in, I knew I had another 3 miles to quit where I would be near the finish line. I've never quit before but the question in my mind was- how hard do you push for a bad time? What will this do to your body for recovery? The last few weeks have already been rough and while Joe would disagree, I feel like I've been an inattentive girlfriend because when home I'm crashing just to keep up outside of our house
At this point I reached out to Joe, and he gave me the validation I needed. My health is number one and whatever I choose to do he is proud and Loves me. So then I reached out to the experts, Ultra Jen and Tony. Jen must be on some crazy adventure because we have yet to hear back from her. Tony reminded me of how strong I am and no matter the pace- walking the rest or whatever - that you get to the finish line. You finish what you started ... Or you try your hardest- you don't give up.
So, I slowed it and walked a lot and I got there. One mile, I walked a 20 minute mile with someone worse off than me, trying to pay it forward from the Baltimore Marathon. Only one mile because I could tell he appreciated the company but didn't necessarily need it.
There was one bathroom stop which didn't help it just added more cramping and as much as I just didn't want to consume anything, I forced water at the water stops.. Having to walk at those points just to keep the fluids down.
The last 2 miles the tears hit. I struggled breathing - inhaling through my mouth wasn't getting much air, so I had to take it to yoga breath- through the nose, to try to get full breaths. It would help.
I don't expect Joe to travel to every race with me, but in a moment like that, I know the only place I would feel completely better is in his arms. Erin was texting me reminding I had them at the finish (she did PR... For us! 3:39) so her hug would have to do... And was soooo appreciated as at the finish when I'm in tears so frustrated with everything, only someone who has been there before on some sort of level, understands those tears. And her words made me feel better. The fact she got our PR - made me feel our focused training worked.
I finished, and I'm hoping I took it easy enough to not be paying for it this week. I'm sick of feeling like crap. But, I think it's time to slow down a bit. Doctors say I'm healthy and fine but I don't feel healthy and fine so maybe my body is telling me to give it a rest. Beyond classes I teach, I don't know how much more I will be at the gym.
While I used to have problems with the words 'rest', I am looking forward to more cuddle on the couch time. And making good dinners! Which for all who know me pre-Joe ... That's a shocker. He doesn't demand it but he appreciates it and I love being in our new kitchen.
State #32 is done. I kept moved along to get to the finish and now we will just leave it in the past and move along from it.
No matter the outcome of the race, I had the best training runs with Erin, and not mentioned until now, I got to see my friend, Rachel's life in Atlanta and spend Some quality time catching up with her. Rachel has been mentioned a lot in my past races. She was my pace leader in my second marathon and one of the most compassionate friends you could have. While we have both moved away from Chicago and we communicate less, she's a friendship that I have been blessed to have and it was so great to spend the weekend with her.
Not all races will be a win but the journey and time with friends makes it all a positive experience.
After the race:
The night after the marathon a light went on my head with my health issues. I'm overtrained ... My Best friend, Marie's husband called me out on it (though she, like me, didn't fully believe it until I said the words myself). So listening to him (because for someone like me, I need someone with the right credentials to tell me what I already know because it's so hard to face) I will be in complete (minus yoga) rest for the next 2 weeks. That means finding subs for all my non yoga classes or worst case teaching but not doing. I'll be putting together a special write up about being overtrained ... So stay tuned!
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