Elevation

Elevation
State 31
West Virginia- Freedom’s Run
4:01:45

Harper's Ferry

When picking out my marathons, I tend to plan them around seeing loved ones.  I knew I could maximize states around DC, and finally went out to cross off West Virginia.   I didn’t really realize how beautiful and historical this run would be until the week before.    The run was point to point, starting and ending in West Virginia but we were in Maryland for a large part of it.   We went through 4 national parks including a battle ground.    We will get back to this later but let’s back up some…

 

This summer I didn’t get a half ironman completed and I’m fine with that.   Danielle and I had done a handful of our own triathlon Saturdays.  Much cheaper and pretty fun.  With that, Erin and I got many long runs in, but with our schedules we were together about every other weekend.  We would run anywhere between 12-15 miles but as she was taking a break from working towards Boston, I wasn’t pushing my mileage without her.  Once I signed up for the marathon (a month before) I got an 18 miler and a 22 miler in.  While Danielle and I got our endurance fixes in and I do plenty of two-a-days, I didn’t know how conditioned I was for a strong 26.2.  Of course I didn’t think about this until the night before the race.

 
I got to DC Thursday night, had one night with Marie then went out to Virginia to see Rachel, Matt and Madeline.  For the first time, I decided to do race day packet pick up.  The drive from Fairfax to Harper’s Ferry, WV was likely a beautiful drive.   However, I drove it at 5:00am in the rainy dark weather.   There was a lot of traffic on the road for a Saturday Morning at 5am!
 

I looked at the course elevation beforehand and I knew part of it was on trail but didn’t give my race plan much thought.  I think this was one of those runs where I forgot 26.2 miles is a long distance- until I got there.    Once I started thinking about it I figured this would be a “run fast and let yourself burn out” sort of run given the fact Erin and I run fast together but no more than 15 miles.   

 I got to the start and picked up my packet and shirt.   I got there early because I didn’t want to be stressed on not being able to get my race bib.  This went flawless so I had a lot of time to kill.  The race director was rattling off a bunch of information about the run- when to look for good views, when to slow down for slippery areas etc.  He also was giving many plugs for local shops.   They brought in some coffee from a coffee shop that got started by a man who ran this marathon in a previous year.  He loved the course and the towns so much, he decided he wanted to move there and move his coffee shop there.   He also told us about an ice cream shop 2 miles from the finish where if you wanted to stop it only costs $2 for 4 heaping scoops of ice cream.  Then there was the historic stuff:  We would be running through 4 National Parks.  We would be running through Murphy Farm, an out and back where we would run around  the place John Brown's Fort once sat.  We would be running though the Harper’s Ferry National Park, we would be running along the Shenandoah River and over the Potomac River.  We would be running on the C&O Canal National Park Trail (alongside the former B&O Railway- you know, Monopoly!), we would be running through the Antietam National Battlefield (Home of the  single most worst day in battle in American history.  Over 23,000 were killed on Sept. 17th 1862), through Sharpsburg  (aka the bloodiest town) and ending in Shepherdstown.    

Murphy's Farm -
Old John Brown Fort Site

The race started, no chip timer at the start, just a clock that started.   This was an honor system sort of run.   You feel you missed Boston by 20 seconds and feel it took 20 seconds to cross that start line?  Talk to the race director, he would likely adjust your time.     It was point to point, but an option to cheat a mile or two if you stuck with the half marathoners- there were no check point timers, they just trust that you are doing this, you mean business- runners are honest- so-  be honest cheating only hurts yourself.

 So we were off.   The first 4 miles had a lot of rolling hills with a slight net increase in elevation.  We got on a trail as we went to Murphy’s Farm.   The moment I hit that trail I just was in this happy zone, enjoying the experience.  This is tough to remember to do when you are on state #31.  Being a smaller marathon, something about it reminded me to enjoy it.     At one point we hit the historic town of Harper’s Ferry.  This is a place I definitely would want to go back to visit.  It was just so cute!

Harper's Ferry

 Around mile 4 we started a HUGE descent.    Now with such a big drop in elevation, you ask yourself, how will you take that decline?   The best way is you shouldn’t waste energy by resisting it, you should just let your legs pick up the speed, lean forward and go down. The problem is- all that pounding is going to make you feel it later on in the race.    I did my best to not resist the down.  Part of this down included a few flights of stairs after you crossed the Potomac River.   They warned us that with the rain we had before the race started, this would be slick and to take it slow (metal steps).   Slow I did- I held onto the railing and walked it down.   This is the point I should have pulled over and re-tied my left shoe as it was loose and with the trail coming up- having those shoes tightly on so I’m not overcompensating in my ankles, would have been good.   But- I just wanted to keep on moving- so that’s what I did. 

 



Steps down to C&O Canal

Now we had a good 13 miles of flat.   I decided I should try to slow it down for a bit to make sure I had enough fuel left when we started to hit the hills.  At this point I was averaging about an 8:20 with one full mile of the descent being a 7:40.   Given the lack of training, I didn’t think this was a smart pace to hold.   So I slowed it down to a 9minute mile.    However, I had a battle in my mind going on as I did that.   Part of me said “Well you need to push it til you can’t anymore and just embrace a crash and burn given your lack of high mileage running” and another part of me kept saying “you know when you pace yourself better, you always finish feeling so great, you should do that”   but then I would go back to “but the hills in the future are going to be hell no matter what, you should just go fast on the flat and then walk the inclines and enjoy the view. 

 

C&O Canal Trail

 I finished mile 7 in 59 minutes and a fast song came on my ipod, there were also some men on my tail, so I picked the speed up to lose them.   This mile ended up being an 8 minute mile- when I finished it, I turned off my music and noticed these men were still with me.    Now as a woman running, you could take this a few ways- or really just one.   They didn’t want a girl to out run them- so they just had to keep up!    There are a few ways to handle this and if it weren’t a marathon, I would have let them pass, keep them in eye distance and then when you can tell they are slowing, pick it up and pass them all the while saying not so nice things in your head about them.    (yes road rage does exist in this form).    But, this was a marathon, and at the faster speeds, it’s harder to find the people who are willing to talk- and all you can do is try to make conversation with someone until you find someone who is cool.  So, when they made a comment about the 8 minute mile they just clocked so they better slow it down, I turned around and said- yeah same here- I had a fast song and just decided to let the energy take me away- no matter how dumb that might be this early on.   They said a few words but not many- so I figured they didn’t want to be my friend.     We ran through a water stop and I turned my music back on- and apparently they decided they wanted to talk.  

 We ran together for the rest of the trail portion.  These guys were in their 40s all have run at least a handful of marathons, with one guy being an Ironman and has run many more marathons than me.  We talked about other races, we talked about their kids, how their wives will sometimes run, where they all have lived etc.   Didn’t get names or even say goodbye when we hit the hill.    I was hurting already given with the trail came jumping over debris, slipping on muddy spots, running around puddles of water and just the extra work it takes my weak weak ankles to not roll.  (Someone needs more BOSU ball work to get stronger stabilizers!).

 

Elevation Profile from a Garmin

So the trail was over we were at mile 15 and I re-tied my left show.  My ankles and calves were hurting, and I embraced the walk the inclines to save your energy plan.    If you have ever heard of “the wall” in running.  That’s usually around mile 20 and that’s when your body feels dead- like it has run out of juice.  I’ve never felt this in a dramatic sense in a marathon.   This race had a new sense to “the wall” and it was mile 15 (Alaska had a wall like this too).   Erin and I compared it to Tans drive,  but what you see on the elevation profile isn't reality- the first climb was much steeper but shorter  (above is another elevation profile from someone's garmin )  Did I walk this?  Yes I did.   The idea here was to preserve enough energy for the last 6 miles of the race.   Sometimes when I walk, I get in a bad mood- ugh I’m walking- what is up with this?  But this was pre-planned.  I wanted to enjoy the battlefield we were making our way to so I wasn’t about to ruin my mood.

 

I made it up the first climb, and knew I had about 3 more real bad ones per what everyone was telling me.    If it was just a roll, I would run it, if it was one of these big hills- I slowed it down and walked it.   The % grade of inclines hurt my calves even walking.  But the views were amazing, the battle grounds, the brick and wood fences that lined the roads were beautiful, the monuments along the way were cool to see with random signs pointing off in directions to tell you something about the battle field.    We joined up with the half marathon for a while, and it’s always a good feeling as you pass the back runners.  Where you can motivate them.  I’m such a motivator not a motivatee!

 

The temperature actually dropped, the wind picked up and I kept hesitating on putting my throw away shirt back on.  I never did because I didn’t want to play that game of taking it off and putting it back on.   I just decided I needed to keep running more.  At this point I was still running between a 9 when I was running, and averaging a 9:30 with the walking.   I knew I could still finish in a 4 hour time though it would be pushing it a bit.   There was no slowing down allowed from my current strategy.  

 I had one moment of almost getting crabby.   As this was a smaller race and on trails –the water stops were pretty far and few in between, so we all had our own bottles on us.   Around mile 20 I was all out of water with no sight of a water stop.  I was thirsty, and I wanted water!  Luckily at that moment someone said water was .25 miles away so I stopped my almost bad mood and ran to the water stop.   I stopped, and refilled and in this time 4 girls passed me!!!!! WHAT!?   

 

Okay backing up here… I have always tried to just be self-competitive, but with all the age group placing I have been doing in the last year (even if it’s 3^rd it’s still placing!)  .. I have started to notice my surroundings.   Who I think is a “competitor”    I had already had 2 girls in my sights early on-  that I still could still see one ahead of me and now-  4 girls who all seemed competitors pass me as I take an actual stop to fill my water bottle at the water stop.   Now- I decided I needed to just run- no more playing around.   The goal is to keep them in sight for as long as possible and then if possible- pass them! (I ended up finishing 10^th in my division- had I finished sub 4 hours I would have been 5^th and had I finished 2 minutes faster than my time, I would have been in 3^rd. 

 

So, I continue to run- at this point as long as I keep a 9:45 average, I will be just fine on the sub 4 hours.  However, I ended up having to walk a few times and my legs were moving at a 9:30-10 without the walking.   These walks weren’t “I’m tired” walking-  it was more like-  I start to pick up the speed and get a charlie horse like cramp and have to walk.  There was a girl I was leap frogging with and I should haves started to talk to her to just see if that would distract me enough to get me to the finish. We talked after the race and she finished sub 4 hours (not my age group).  

 We made it up and over the river and coming into Shepherdstown, it was another cute town!   Now the Elevation profile is compacted so you don't see all the little rolls, but the last few miles still had significant climbs in them, so don't let that elevation profile fool you.

I turned on my music for the last mile to 3 of my newest purchase songs, the last one being a “Joe song”.   I knew it would distract me keeping me from being upset that I was finishing just over 4 hours.   We hit the turf of the football field, which was squishy and soft, usually something so great, but once again I had to work on not rolling my ankles and not stepping just wrong to get another Charlie horse.   I crossed the finish at 4:01:45 – never being upset or disappointed during the run- a small waive of emotion hit me after I  crossed the finish but overall ended up content.

 

Sheperdstown

State 31 was a beautiful one.  It makes me want to do more trail running, and it makes me excited for all the other smaller states I have yet to complete.  I technically ran in 3 states, but West Virginia is where it started and ended and it’s a the only state of the three I had yet to run.    I started the year thinking I would run 3-4 this year and have settled on 3.   I have run 3, of those 3, two have been sub 4 hours which his a victory from the two I ran last year, both ending in disappointment.   I knew I didn’t fully train for this, so while I decided I would end the year at 3, part of me wants to add a 4th   using this marathon as the training for another good race.   I guess I will just start price shopping for flights in states I haven’t run- and if something comes up that I can make work- then I’ll do it.   If not-  oh well.    There is a lot of other good stuff planned for the rest of this year, the rest of the states might just have to wait.

Don't stop the party!

Marion Rotary Marathon for Shoes

Marion, IA

State 30

3:50:42

Okay, so... I haven't made a Tara rendition of a song in a while.  So to change the race blog up some I made a race specific rendition to Pitbull's  'Don't stop the party' 

Here is a quick race review, then I'll jump into the song.

Weather forecast was constantly changing the day before.  Rain? storms? Colder? Warmer?

It was raining hard before the start, then lightened up to a drizzle for the first part.  It warmed up with light wind until the last few miles then the rain picked back up.   Overall I was grateful for the weather as I expected worse.

Then there was the race organization.   Less than 200 ran the full.  Beyond the full were the relay people and the half marathoners.  All that was wonderfully organized but no differentiation between the three (all got same medal).

Water people were the best! Always prepared, holding the cup right to easily grab.   Water was plentiful but only a limited amount of the stops had an electrolyte drink.   They used all advocare stuff which I LOVE.

The race bib/ chip was ghetto in my opinion ... There are so many better option. ... And of course something happened with my results so I had to email to get them.  I guess for it being a cheap marathon (when you don't forget to sign up like me and pay the late add ons) it was okay.  

And lastly ... The mile markers.  I've asked officials to check the last 1.2.  My garmin was dead on clicking the 25 mile marker!   And then mile 26 came with a whole half mile left to the finish line!  This is their second year doing this race, if you were able to run straight on the track (to finish) it likely would have been a correct distance, but we ran around to get in.  I will point out inconsistencies from garmin to race distances knowing the garmin is off bit by bit to make such a big difference, but when it happens in the last 1.2 miles, it's likely an error in the race.   So I like to believe I finished in 3:48 which makes me happier ha.  This wasn't too big of a deal for me but for someone trying to qualify for boston, calculating in their head what it takes in the last few miles... And then to run an extra .3 and not get Boston... Man! sucky!  

And now, for the song: 

It's no longer 'don't stop the party' but instead : 'don't stop to walk'

Gotta keep those legs loose, the upper body loose too too, you are so money, yeah you girl

Gotta keep those legs loose, the upper body loose too too, you are so money, yeah you girl

I say you all having a good time out there

Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah
Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah

I’m running front line one girl pack.
Covered lots of miles in my one girl pack.
23 miles hit the final turn with 6 big rolls to the finish line
Hit these rolls in the early miles getting warmed up,
Now I know whats gotta be done…. Push the up, recover the down, roll it
Almost there… don’t slow… go fast 
Just get to the end.

I can, I will, just do it, rock the rolls
I can, I will, just do it, rock the rolls

I say you all having a good time out there

Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah
Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah

I’m feeling so tired, 
I just don’t know how ever I’m gonna not slow.
Focused on my splits .5 don’t go above4:30
One girl ahead starts to walk, I’ll catch her 
What’s faster? Run or walk?
(ignoring all the aches in my body just wanna scream YEOW)
Yours Truly (Run)

I can, I will, just do it, rock the rolls
I can, I will, just do it, rock the rolls

I say you all having a good time out there

Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah
Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah

Just push the Up-ugh!
Recover the down-yeah
Just push the Up-ugh!
Recover the down-yeah

Just push the Up-ugh!
Recover the down-yeah

Stay Focused
Stay Focused
Don’t Stop,  I say you all having a good time out there

Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah
Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah
Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah (Sprint the track, don’t look back) No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah
Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah (26.2, plus extra-boo!) No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah
Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah (Sprint the track, don’t look back) No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah
Yeah-ee-ah-ee-eah (26.2, plus extra-boo!) No matter how you feel just don’t stop to walk yeah

It's Always a Good Time

It's always a good time 

State 29- Charleston, South Carolina

3:57:52

(I started writing this a week after the race and forgot about it so here I am, the day before my NEXT marathon, finishing it up ... Not super detailed but good enough!) 

time

tīm/

noun

1.

the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.

"travel through space and time"

; noun: Father Time

2.

a point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon.

"the time is 9:30"

synonyms: hour; More

This marathon title isn't necessarily true when the word 'always' is used, but when running a marathon in every state, if it's never a good time, then what's the point!?  After Baltimore, I needed to make sure the next race was a good time.. By both definitions of time; Enjoyment of the run and to get back under 4 hours.

 When I ran with Vanessa in the second half of Baltimore, I managed to enjoy myself instead of being focused on my mishaps of the race.   I ended up not running a marathon in December, and decided since Veronica and I were headed out to South Carolina together and she was so close to breaking 4 hours, I decided I would help her get there.

It's amazing, when I am focused on others, how great I can feel.  So while Veronica is grateful for me... Really, there was selfish motive as pacing her helped me achieve my goal:  feel good run sub 4 hours.

I was never fully trained for marathons in 2013.   I was conditioned but not a specific plan leading up to the race.   In October  I plotted out a training plan for Charleston.   Not Hal Higdon ... But personalized to me.  I picked back up on running 7-8 milers twice a week and then shorter fast runs, and I gave myself a few weeks of built up the long run mileage with no step backs until taper time. 

And then we had the element of Wisconsin weather.  

My long runs became split inside and out. Because of tons of snow, not cleared (or sharing roads with cars that don't share the road so you are constantly worried about rolling your ankles jumping off over to the ditch) I just didn't find it worth it to be in those conditions for 3 hours.   There was one Sunday morning I really wanted to skip the run, but I knew mentally, to feel prepared, I had to run!  Luckily it was after subbing a spin class, so fast Gary said he would join a few.   We ran 8-8:30s on poor footing and kept relaxed talking the whole time.   When he was done with the 6 he joined me on, he wanted to encourage me.  So he said 'if you keep working at it, you could be a good runner one day'. Which just makes me laugh.  It's all perspective.  I'm happy with where I'm at on my runs.  Faster is always lovely, but never want to trade out my good time for speed. 

Long runs continued to challenge my ability to keep disciplined in completing them.  There was the big ice morning.  Saturday was a great warm day (30s) but of course I didn't run that day.   Everything had melted, so as I was out running and temps dropped on Sunday, I was more so ice skating than running.  So once again my last 6 miles, I took to the treadmill.  With changing it up, the treadmill finish was always strong.  

Maddy and Jill would join me on cut back weeks, I really enjoyed their company.   Also both fast runners with a good stride. They were pushing their distance running while I was pushing speed at that distance.

So the weekend of the  race, I was prepared.  I was ready to feel good and get Veronica through a sub 4 hour.    We did our usual shopping for cloths.   Here is what I've learned about me:  I would rather be overdressed than be too cold in a marathon.  The run was point to point with most miles running into the wind.  I kept my throw away with me and almost always on, while Veronica is the opposite of me and would rather be under dressed and removed hers right away.    It's always good to know how your body responds to temps because it's going to play into your race!

So yes, Charleston ha unseasonably cold weather (just like most of our nation, dang vortex winds). While 60s and 70s were the norm, we were starting in the 30s making it to the 40s.

Veronica and I made the run fun from the start.  With matching throw aways.  As the race started we fell into that comfortable 9:00 pace.   Ever split was strong and awesome.  We chatted about everything under the sun as usual.  It was just so nice to be out there with a friend. A friend who has a positive outlook on life, and though it was unseasonably cold and we had wind, we just kept reminding ourselves how blessed we are to take quick trips like this one and run.   

At the half way point we had so much wind it was a push.   And every time I would tell Veronica to pick it up some so we don't fall behind, she would say 'okay'. ... Being the perfect person to pace!   I'm not an 'okay' girl.  When I'm running and someone wants to motivate me, I say words that rhyme with 'truck few'

Our pace did slip some, but we built a tiny bit of space.   When we ran out of things to talk about as we had the whole day and night before catching up as well, we would count our steps.  Focusing on cadence trying to remain efficient... Taking our mind off any pain.  We would use yoga breathing to help relax shoulders.  And then with 3 or 4 miles to go, we were slipping so I asked Veronica to give me a half mile push, and she did!  A 4:15 half mile split, showing it was the mind winning out on the body as she slowed otherwise that wouldn't have been possible!   Then we hit some pretty trail, and noticeable inclines.  Slowing started to happen in that last 1.5 miles.   

And again praising Veronica for being the best person to pace as I became the carrot.  I would shout out 'come get me!" And she would say "okay". At this point there was no change in her pace, but her metal capacity to stay positive was so strong!

We finished sub 4 hours, I was so proud of Veronica and so happy to have started 2014 racing right finishing feeling happy, strong, like my endurance legs are back.

Both definitions of time were deemed a success! 

Control

 Control
Baltimore Running Festival-  26.2
4:22:41

There is a big difference between taking control of your life and controlling everything that happens in your life, but I think sometimes we get them mixed up (or I do).   Taking control is a healthy way of reacting to life and the obstacles that are thrown at you.  It’s your attitude, and you have complete and total control over that.  What you can’t control is what happens to you, you can plan for something to happen, but it doesn’t mean obstacles won’t be thrown your way and you have to be open for the unknown to happen.

I think I have been getting a little too comfortable with my races so Baltimore was a good race to remind me A+B doesn’t always equal C.  I have run so many marathons, I have decided all I have to do is keep conditioned and you can make it through- as I have been doing for pretty much the past five years with decent for me times.

I booked this marathon and trip 2 weeks prior to the race, but had many long runs all throughout the summer.  They weren’t always fast, they weren’t always strong, but I figured as long as I put in the miles, mix some speed workouts in there, and cross train, this would be a sub 4 hour marathon – easy.  I thought I had control over my time given the consistent (though it has become almost effortless) training I put in.

The week of the Baltimore marathon, I started getting sick on Monday.  Nothing new here… typical taper.  Luckily I had some time to get over it.   It's the usual: fluids, rest and zinc.   I felt almost 100% when I flew to DC on Wednesday really only being congested as my ears popped and hurt a lot on the flight.
One determining factor to run Maryland this fall was to see my friend Jen.   I hope to be able to maximize those little states and close borders to DC to visit her as much as I possibly can.  So while there were prettier Maryland trail runs, Baltimore is super easy and convenient to make it also a Tanana Family trip.

On Friday Jen and I drove to Baltimore.   Jen is such a wonderful friend, she isn't a runner, but she supports me in the greatest of ways.  We go to the expo, and she loves it, asking all sorts of questions because she wants to understand this part of my life.   We have always had that kind of friendship where we don't need to do anything to have a good time... But just being together makes everything a good time (even the hardships are conquered with a laugh!). So after the expo we just hung out in the hotel.    Did I mention ... It rained Wednesday, Thursday and Friday...  It was fine by us!

I was having some piriformis/sciatic issues over the taper, so I was focused on trying to get as comfortable with that as possible.    While I know these issues suck, I also know how to remedy myself from them and that it's more painful walking than running so it wasn't a big worry, just something I want to remedy sooner rather than later.

I woke up at 6am on race day which felt like sleeping in!    I drank my fluids, had my coffee, and stretched ... A lot!   I had been up in the air on what to wear given the weather and decided no rain jacket was needed.   60s at race start and throughout the race ... A throw away was really all I needed beyond a tank and shorts.  Jen would check us out of the hotel while I was running (they gave us keys to the health club to shower after) so I made sure all was packed for her to do that.

I left the hotel and walked to the start.  The start was a crazy cluster ... There wasn't enough room for all runners to fit in the coral so we were bleeding over mixed with the spectators.    But we made it on the course.   I knew the first 3 miles would be an incline and the next 5 would be a gradual decline.  Because of this, I knew my warm up wouldn't be about a specific speed, but rather, how I felt (maybe no heart rate monitor but that might not be a bad idea for next time even if it chaffs).  The first three miles were between 8:30 and 9:00 and the next 5 were all under 8:30 but only once quicker than an 8 minute.  This seemed fine at the time.  But then we leveled off, and I was reminded of how I felt when I 'felt good' on the first many miles of Boston going downhill but then how the second half of the marathon did not feel good at all.  I started thinking maybe that wasn't such a good idea but what's done is done, and I could slow down in the middle to regain some strength that would work great.    Even what felt slow was still clicking in less than 9 minute miles.   At the half Marathon mark, I had 20 minutes to slow down in the second half to still be under 4 hours.  This was right on track to most of the last 15 marathons.

Somewhere after mile 13 before 14, I had already began walking.   I walked to take a gu and change up my music.  Then, already, it became a mile by mile thing.   Run a full mile then walk a minute.   I was doing this hoping that after a mile or two, I would have the looming cramps worked out.... Running relaxed and walking when I wasn't relaxed to become relaxed again (because too much tension for too long results in spasms).   I thought if I could keep relaxed and keep myself energized with what I consumed, I could fight through the cramps and be okay.  

With all the cramping, I was gu-ing more frequently and making sure I was drinking at least 2 cups of Gatorade at each aid station (and 1-2 cups of water).  I didn't have my electrolyte pills with me and thought this was fine given the weather and the fact the course was supplying the Gatorade endurance formula drink which is finally a drink with what is supposed to be enough electrolytes for marathoners (Normal Gatorade does not have enough).

Before I hit the water around mile 18, I remembered I had with me some powder of a natural energy drink which is supposed to give you a boost of energy for a strong workout.  I had never tried this before, but heard good things, and figured at that point, it couldn’t do harm. Though I know you should never try new things at a marathon, I break this rule all the time. ( I still don’t know if it could have been the culprit because if it was, it didn’t take long to cause problems.)  When I tried to run again ... I could make it 3 steps before stopping because of cramps.   And when I say cramps I mean spasms where you don't have control.  I would walk for 30 seconds, and try again.  I did this about 5 times before I gave up ... And stopped to stretch.   I'm off to the side as I start stretching and just on the inside of my left knee ... There is a pop... Like a spasm that then popped ... I hear it, I saw it since I was in a forward fold, and I definitely felt it.   It wasn't a muscle snapping I knew that ... The feeling was more like a gas bubble in your tummy so I figured it was just an intense lactic acid bubble.   I decided I better just walk a bit more.   I already knew sub 4 wasn't going to happen unless I could hold an 8:50 or better all the way through the rest of the run so I figured I better make sure I get to the finish injury free and walk a lot more.

BUT ... As Correen says, we are endurance people, we don't give up so easily…

As we started to go downhill again, I decided to try to run again, and I did for maybe a minute or until we went back uphill and I was back to a walk.   I don't remember if that was a walk in my control or my body forced me to walk, but what happened next, I had no control over.

I was over on the left side walking as I passed a cop, I saw another ahead, so I decided to make it a goal to run from one cop to the other.  A few steps passed the cop, all at one time I had about a few different spasms that locked into place.    My left leg was bent slightly, my right leg was straight and right foot completely flexed, and on top of that- my stomach pulled me in and down like a forward fold.  Somehow I didn’t fall but I couldn’t move- I was like a statue- my arms were mobile as I was keeping myself up with them.   I was talking to myself to relax, just breath, but I couldn’t move.  I raised my right hand trying to wave to the cop behind me but I couldn’t see him and didn’t know if he could see me and as I did that I was thinking- if I can’t move and someone has to help me move, they are going to pull me and throw me in a medic tent- and that is NOT going to happen.     So…I somehow started to lift my upper body back up to stand upright (while my legs were still locked)  As I did this the muscles in my stomach did some crazy thing that I can only describe as an exorcism kind of thing or a baby in my belly kicking.   This freaked me out and put me to tears and slowly I was able to move my legs again.  

There was a little hyperventilating and I kept thinking is I’m not going to DNF even if it means walk the last 7 miles.   I thought – can I really walk for 7 miles with this feeling?  Have I ever had a freak out in a marathon this bad? 
 And that’s when- my marathon prayers were answered. (Yes I pray a lot in marathons- you know those moments where you say “Please God, just let me keep control of my legs and keep relaxed so they don’t spasm so I can make it under 4 hours so I don’t have to feel that I’ve aged and the best years are behind me”)   However, you know when you were a kid and you would ask for some cool toy and then all you got was clothes?  Prayers are often answered like that.   I wasn’t getting a cramp free sub 4 hour marathon, but I was given a “guardian angel”, Vanessa …a new friend.  To remind me I had control over my attitude (and that in the first 10 minutes of meeting me she could tell I was very hard on myself), that this race doesn’t define me, to give me a hand, to show I wasn’t out there alone and if I cramped up again and fell to the ground, I wouldn’t become road kill.  And most of all,  the race was no longer about how many miles you had to get through and how fast you could do it in.  It was about making a new friend, about sharing stories and laughing and having fun- the way marathons …and Life should be.

Vanessa was running the half marathon, which we merged at my mile 16 as they started 2 hours after we started.  She has run this race before, so when we got to this lake, she told me it was 1.3 miles around the lake so I should just focus getting around it.   She encouraged me to run, though didn’t pressure when I was scared.   And I was scared.  I worried if the first time I stopped and there was a pop in my leg, then the second time I spasmed like I did, I didn’t think I should wait around to see me in the medic tent with a third time.    She took my hand and let me lean on her to try to run, and we would stop, and stretch and maybe a bit later, we would try again.   I worried she wanted to run ahead and I told her she could, but she said she would stick with me around the lake.   We were having a good time talking that I thought- I should just try to get running by the end of the lake so I can run with someone so awesome.   And sure enough, by the end of the lake I was running, and somewhere after that, I was running without the crutch of her hand, but we stuck together to the end.  We shared stories, and I had a lot of reflecting in this time about control.     And somehow being able to control my attitude- not by forcing a relaxed state but enjoying myself, I was also eventually able to naturally regain control over my body.  

I made it to the finish, and still right after reflecting on what happened, I cried.  I don’t know what happened and even though Vanessa told me to not let it define me, I worried this would be it; I will never have another PR or even come close to my PR again.  But with time, I have come to the conclusion this isn’t an age thing, this isn’t that my best years are behind me.  I was given some wise words of wisdom:  “Over the years of training, our bodies change and throw different obstacles at us.  It’s how we overcome them and make ourselves better…go back to the drawing board and come back stronger” …He is very right.    I am going to change some things up and the next marathon actually start off slower and just try to end feeling strong- the way you feel at mile 26.2 of a 100 mile run! 

And from here on out- I hope to let go a little more and not try to control everything so much- well other than my own attitude.

***Ironically– the morning of the race as I was stretching I was playing on my phone as I always do. Though I don't really believe in horoscopes, they are entertaining, so I was playing around on one of the Aps Pam shared with me (DailyHoroscope) and found my 2013 Horoscope.
Part of it reads:
You are a shy and modest sign, Virgo. You are also quite practical, perfectionist, and methodical. You probably live by the saying "everything in moderation." And while these traits have contributed and will continue to contribute to your success financially and in business, they can have a negative impact in your personal relationships. This year you will need to learn how to find greater balance in your life. You have to learn to indulge now and then, because everybody needs to immerse themselves in passionate pursuits. In other words, you need to ease your grip on the reins in 2013, and try not to be as controlling, as critical, and as harsh as you have been in the past. Loosen up, and you'll feel happier far more often.

Yup, that pretty much sums up ‘me in 2013’!  All I needed to do was loosen up.  

Tri Again

Tri Again

High Cliff Triathalon
June 15, 2013

5 hr 31Min 16sec

Swim:  42:04
T1:  2:25
Bike: 2:48:18  (20mph avg)
T2: 1:55
Run: 1:55:45 (8:51 avg)




After completing the Ironman, you sometimes ask yourself, 'what's next?' And while I loved the Ironman, the Half Ironman Distance is more of a distance that I can do without it consuming me whole.  So, last year I completed Wild Flower, and this year I knew I wanted to get in just one Half Ironman.

I kept putting off signing up, as I didn't know what race I wanted to do.  Racine has always been a good one, as my family is able to watch, and my Dad loves my races.  But, I also thought maybe I wanted to do a different one this year.

My friend Jeff asked me if I would join him at High Cliff.  The biggest plus was the race entry was less than Half that of an Ironman Brand race!  So I decided to commit to the race.  I didn't do anything special with my training.  Or I should say, I didn't have a training schedule for it.  I just did what I always do, which is enough to keep conditioned for a half ironman.  It's kind of like my marathons where I would like to be conditioned to do a Marathon tomorrow on the whim, I like the idea that if I wanted to do a half ironman tomorrow, I would also be prepared.

Since the Brookings SD Marathon, my runs have been horrible.  Nicole had to put up with my requesting walks, more water stops, and cutting our runs short.  I ran nothing over 10 miles just because I couldn't get into a rhythm.  Of course this made me nervous for the Half Ironman, but at the same time, by the Friday before, I concluded I was just over trained, and I needed to take a step back.  (And luckily I didn't hold Nicole back too much, as she set a new PR at the Rock N Sole Half Marathon the same weekend as my race!).

The week before the race, I had some personal drama put me into a whole different state of mind.  My nutrition was messed up, and it took a lot of effort to get that back on track for the race.  And from there, it's like the world just rained on me;  I was stopped at a stop light when I was rear ended part of a 3 car accident created by a drunk driver.  My car was fine, but it gave me whiplash and a pinched nerve.  Then the day before the race, as I was getting gas, I was also cleaning out my car, and when I turned from shaking out my floor mat, I hit my face right into my car door, breaking my sun glasses and leaving me to be hurting even more.

When we got to Sherwood, things were a little lifted since I got to see my friends.  Friday afternoon, Jeff, John and I got into the open water and had a pre-race swim.  The waves weren't that bad, but just getting used to the waves again made me a little nervous.  The good thing we learned is you can touch for the first maybe 100 meters, so as you start, if you need a moment to collect yourself, I knew I would be able to.

Maria H and I got to talk a little Friday evening which was good because well,  no matter how ugly I can feel on the inside, she always looks at me in such a light I don't feel so ugly anymore.

The night is a little haze, in line with most of the previous week (big thanks to Irisa for being you!), I wasn't fully into the race.  When we woke up Saturday morning, they called for 60% chance rain.   I struggled getting out of bed, I told Jeff I didn't want to race, and I had a bad feeling, if everything else has gone wrong, that this would continue to be bad.  Of course, I couldn't not show up to the start.  I was texting with Danielle some as she was awake already.  And I made the decision that I had to suck it up and just focus on having a good race; it would give me six hours to be in my zone.

We got to the race transition, I set up my bike, and now it looked like the rain might just miss us. The pre-race jitters finally hit. Jeff went to jump in the water quickly, and Maria, Brett and I hung out.  Shannon, from my gym was also there and we saw each other briefly before the start.  I was in wave 6 as was Maria and Brett, and soon enough we had started...and I was in my zone.

Though they say not to try new things when you race, I tend to always have one thing new.  This time, it was putting my goggles UNDER my swim cap.   Jeff did this and he said it keeps them from falling off if you get kicked.   I always have problems with goggles so I decided this couldn't make things worse.   (And I was right! Happy I did that).

Every time I swim in a triathlon I have two goals:  1)  To survive it 2) To be able to go to the bathroom (yup that's right!)   ....  so why do i make this a goal?  I'm so tense with the swim: it's the start of t
he race, I know I have a few hours ahead of me to get through, so it's important I relax.   It's one thing to get in a rhythm of breathing, but then to be able to completely relax while swimming, helps me with the rest of the race.  If you have ever tried to pee while swimming, it's hard!  But it's possible when you are in a good calm place!   And that's why I always make that a goal ( if you don't know this- almost all triathletes pee in their wet suits..but most do it standing in the water waiting to start).

So, at the start, I slowly got into my rhythm, relaxing and just moving forward.   Working on not zig-zaging too much, working on not getting kicked and working on not kicking others.   The water was a little choppy, but not horrible.   It was the worst before the first turn and got better from there.    After I was fully relaxed, I kept trying to swim around this one person and it just wasn't happening, so instead of getting upset, I just visualized I was swimming next to Maria and we were just at Ohio Street Beach having an easy swim.

I prepared myself for feeling like it was going to take forever, and somehow, it never felt that way.  I got out of the water in 40 minutes ran part way up the hill, let the suit strippers take my suit off, and ran the rest of the way up.

As this is my one only this year, and haven't done one for over 12 months, I know my transitions aren't going to be sub 1 minute.   I took a gu, and drank some gatorade.  I had been up in the air if I wanted to wear my socks on the bike.  I've been biking sockless, but if it was going to be cold, I wanted them.   It felt warm, I was warm, so I decided to leave the socks behind.

I got on my way with the bike.   I usually don't like to have the course route memorized, just know a little bit of what to expect.   Maria M. (Wisconsin Maria)  had given me a course overview and what to expect.  This included a big climb at the start (so start on an easy gear) and then nothing too horrible from there.  She did warn me we would hit wind one way or another, it's inevitable.  So, as we made the initial climb, I just took it easy and enjoyed it. 

Jeff and I talk about how we race.  Every movement he makes in a race is calculated and has a lot of thought in it.   Whereas every movement in the water for me is focused to be relaxed, and every movement on the run I try to think of everything but my form and pace and distance.  The Bike is where I'm calculated.  Where I count my cadence, where I keep focused on consistent power, and where I know it's crucial to shift in the right places to keep moving at a good speed.   I didn't place much thought in my nutrition on the race, but I was the best at managing it here than any other race.  Eating, taking electrolyte pills and drinking fluids throughout.

I thought a little bit about my past week, the things I had control over and understanding what I don't have control over.  I knew how I did in this race was something I had control over. So greatness here is a start to coming back into greatness elsewhere. 

Once I made it up the hill, I was in my calculation zone.  We hit wind early on, so I was expecting the last half to be easier.  The miles passed slowly at first, then we hit some rolling hills.   I can't emphasize enough how much I love rolling hills.  It's all about working them right and they can just be amazing.  You power the down you and you keep the speed as you go up, and shift just right to get to the top of the roll and feel like you just went fast, not that you climbed a hill.  (This doesn't work so well with the 7 sisters in California- but for Wisconsin rolling hills it works).   I wasn't just in my zone at this point, I was genuinely in a happy place   
  

We were in the last 15 miles and we hit some down that was just so great.   And then we were less than 10 miles to go when we turned a corner, and Whoosh!  The wind.  We had wind at the beggining and throughout and this was the point I thought I should have the tail wind.  But instead, it was the hardest push we had.  I was averaging over 20mph so I refused to let it slow me down too much.  I didn't think of the wind, I just thought of getting through it and how to sit on my bike to be most aerodynamic.

The last two miles were a nice gradual down, and before I knew it, I was dismounting.   I made it to and through transition.   I make my way to the run, and my legs are feeling great.  We start in some grass, and we have to climb back up the big bike climb.   Given the grade is 8-12%, I ran/ walked it, just taking it easy conserving my energy for the rest of the run.  As I was making my way to turn onto the trail, a guy behind me started talking with me.   He ran right in front of me, and had a real steady and strong pace.   So I said, hey 646, you have a nice pace!   And from there we started talking.  He has paced half marathons, but with every triathlon, he crashes on the run.   This time he took the bike a little easier to see if he could make it through the run.

While Jeff was on the run he thought "I wonder who Tara is making friends with today"   ...because again, he is calculated on his runs, but I'm doing everything I can to not think of the next 2 hours ahead of me and I make friends.   So sure enough, I made friends with 646, Tim.  I learned he was a police officer from Sussex and did a lot of races, he is friends with the manager of the Oconomowoc Performance Running outfitters, and him and his wife were going to move to Oconomowoc soon. 

From the top of the hill we ran the rest of the run together.   Maria passed us at one point, and she was doing what she always does- kicks butt on the run!  The first loop we chatted a lot.   The trail was nice and soft, kind to our legs.  Around mile 4/10 Scott was handing out water, I didn't realize he was going to be up there, so it was nice to see another familiar face.   There was one point where we were running on rock and you could see Lake Winnebago.  It was a nice view and as I was enjoying it, I saw two people making out right there.   So of course, Tim and I were immature and made 'ooohhh' sounds.  This point I then referred to on loop number 2 as makeout point. I knew once we made it there, there was more down than up and we were almost home free.

Loop number two felt longer, but we didn't really slow down, we just talked less.  There was a point where we were running through tall grass and that section was real hot.  We had over 2 miles before we got water again (Which was the station Scott was at)  so before 10 miles, I made it clear to Tim he could go ahead if I slowed down.   He wouldn't accept that, and since I didn't want that to happen, I decided to not let that happen.   It felt like forever to get to makeout point.  I kept saying "Are we there yet?"    I was so happy to get there and from there we started to pick up our pace for a strong finish.  Our final turn was about a half mile to the finish, down the big hill.   We started to soar.  My garmin watch tells me we ran the last half mile at a 6:50average!
 

I sprinted across the finish and I had just gotten a P.R. at 5 hours and 31 minutes, 14 minutes better than my fastest time.  Without focused training, without even wanting to start the race that day.  I just went out and I got in my zone and did well. 

I  quickly found Maria, and Jeff and we all congratulated one another.     I decided to go into transition and get stuff to shower as my face was all salty and I  gross all around. 
Jeff wanted to watch the awards as his friend was getting one.   So we made a home in the grass at the top of the hill and watched the awards.   As we were in the middle of chatting, we hear my name.   I looked to him and we were like - wait what!?  I placed!?

So, not being down where most were if they knew they were getting a trophy, I was up on top of the hill.  I sprinted down like a crazy person, got my trophy and made my way back to laugh about it.  I knew I had done well, but didn't realize I had done that well. It was a very happy ending to a race I was weary about.

I'm glad I finally have had a good run, so the bad run streak is over.  I'm glad I did real well, and not only PRed but also placed well.   I'm glad to have had such a great weekend.    I'm hopeful that by taking control of my race, allowing myself to get into my zone, that I have turned around the bad streak.