Race Report 10/23/11

Race: Honored Hero

Distance: 20 Miles

Time: 3:13

Finish: Overall:  , Gender:  , Age Group: 1/  (coming soon...)

Comments:  Small races can be so nice!  I had a really great run and by that I mean I felt good.  I can't say that about all my races.  But I felt good the entire 20 miles.  I'm not sure if it was because I was just running at a pace that felt right (no time goal).  In fact, I was feeling so good around mile 14, I started talking to just about everyone I came along, even if it was just to say "Good job!".  I was also able to speed up for my last 3 miles which was another sign that I was feeling pretty darn good.  Have I mentioned that?  What's kind of funny is that I was actually afraid I wouldn't finish the entire 20 miles.  I was worried I'd stop part way through.  One of the guys I chatted with is getting ready to run his 75th marathon next weekend.  Wow!  You can read about him here.  I met a grandmother who is training for her first marathon.  I met another woman who lost her mom to cancer and had a shirt that I would love to have - the back read "Strong for my mom". 

Lessons Learned:  I found some new spots that will need Body Glide during future long runs and the marathon.  ;)  I think a pit stop has to be part of my marathon plan - somewhere between mile 4 and mile 7.  I am just going to have to stop.  No other option as far as I can tell.  Oh well. 

Here are the girls waiting at the finish line.  Photo taken by ever-supportive husband. 

I tried to quit but . . .

Yes, it's true.  I tried to quit.  Several weeks ago after my 18 mile training run, I tried to quit. 
I haven't been able to get in my long runs on Saturdays which means either super early on Sunday, breaking them up on Sundays or running on Sunday afternoons (because I'm teaching Sunday School, of course).  I am a morning person.  Running after noon = bad.  I don't want to do much of anything after 3pm.  Five in the morning is much, much better than five in the evening. 

So when I did my 18 mile training run a few weeks ago, I wasn't in the greatest of moods to begin with.  It took me 3 hours.  My legs hurt.  They ached.  I was tired.  And I'd spent the majority of a weekend afternoon running.  Alone.  OK, not entirely alone since My Neighbor joined me a for a few miles around Mile 11.  But certainly without my girls or my man.  And weekends - at least for us - are supposed to be about family. 

So after feeling tired, achy and grumpy after my run, I decided it was just plain stupid.  Why am I doing this to myself?  Why am I spending all this time running?  It's never been a life long dream of mine to run a marathon.  I've never kicked myself for not doing it earlier in my life, unlike many other things I wish I'd done.  It's not one of those back-of-my-mind things I've thought about for years.  So why am I doing it?  I don't remember exactly.  I think it had something to do with needing a new goal, something to work toward and strive for. 

When my husband and girls returned home to find me soaking in a very hot bath, I announced that I had decided my training was STUPID and that I'd be changing my registrations to a half if the race organizers allowed that.  Angel Girl quickly responded with Mom, we don't say that word!   (Stupid, of course.)  So I said, OK, this is not smart.   And then to my complete and utter amazement my husband said, No.  You've trained too much for this.  You're too close.  Do it and then you can be done with it. 

And so it goes.  I am still training.  The 20 Miler is on Sunday.  I'm nervous and dreading it and worried about it.  I haven't gotten to do a 20 mile training run yet.  So I guess we'll just have to see how this goes. 

Still here

Yes, I'm still here.  I've got at least 1 race report due.  Training for the 20 miler and December marathon = HARD.  I almost quit.  More about that soon.