Run for the Red Race Report

Well, life's full of surprises, right?  This weekend was nothing short of a huge surprise, but not one that I would like to live again.  Ever.

The weekend started out great!  I was excited for the "fast, downhill, cool" marathon that was promised.  I was excited to run my 22nd marathon+ to date and finish my season on a strong note.  And I was excited to check Pennsylvania off my list of states left to cover.  My mom and I planned this whole trip, heading up to Stroudsburg, PA to explore the city I was born in and where my parents lived for 4 years.  I had only been to PA once in my adult life for a short drive by so I was excited to spend time here with my Mom who could show me all the sights.  We got up there on Friday afternoon, explored a bit, shopped a bit, ate a bit and slept great that night.  Saturday morning we got up and did a bit more of the same.  Downtown Stroudsburg is a GREAT part of the city!  Cute coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, and the best used book store ever!  We ended up at packet pick-up around 10:30 and killed time until we met up with my friend Meghan from NYC a few hours later (certainly NOT at the Nike outlet center... certainly not... )

The first house I ever lived in!

We found a great restaurant for lunch that served us amazing salads while we sat outside in the perfect 75 degree sunny day with a slight breeze.  Just after lunch we met up with my other friends Amanda and Todd from DC.  Amanda was running this as her first marathon and Todd came to crew (and taxi us all around... thanks Todd!).  This was Meg's 8th marathon, following Toronto just two short weeks ago.  I TOLD you I'm not the only crazy one :)

Mom at Sarah's Corner Cafe

The five of us headed back downtown Stroudsburg to walk around an Arts Festival for a while before we ended up somewhere for dinner.  I'm standing at an arts table scoping out some super tacky jewelry when I sense a man standing uncomfortably close to me.  After a couple seconds of awkward shifting, I finally look up and it's MY DAD!!!  He came up to run the marathon and surprise me.  I burst out in tears, looked wide-eyed to my mom (who was also tearing up) and hugged my dad like I never have.  It was the absolute best surprise I could ever imagine.  I found out they had been conspiring for months about how to travel to PA from NC and how to keep it a secret so I'd be surprised.  He said, "I can't believe you didn't figure out I was coming!  I wouldn't let you run a marathon up here without me!"  I couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the night.  I have the best dad and the best mom - even though they keep secrets from me :)

DAD'S HERE!!!

Dinner Saturday night was at the Barley Creek Brewery.  Normal pre-race dinner for me - steak and vegetables.  And some of the BEST sweet potato fries I have ever had.  Bedtime came early after we prepped for the big race.

Wake-up time was 5:30 Sunday morning.  Todd was taking us to the start instead of us riding the bus so we had some extra leeway and got to sleep in a little extra.  I woke up not feeling right.  I wasn't concerned until I found my stomach wasn't letting me eat my breakfast or drink my protein shake.  If there's one way you DON'T want to start a marathon, its on an empty tank.  When all my attempts to finish breakfast failed, I took a banana and a shake with me to the start with hopes of my appetite making an appearance.

At the starting line

The sun was out and bright when we woke up and by the time we got to the starting corrals at 7am it was already starting to heat up.  We were all comfortable standing around in our tanks and shorts.  If there's another way you DON'T want to start a marathon, its when you're already warm.  I stuffed down the banana and shake against my stomach's wishes and we rotated through the bathroom lines until just before the 8am start.

Dad met up with Susan Dumar with her husband Fred, both members of our Mangum Track Club.  He entered the corral with her and the three of us girls went in around the 3:45 pace mark.  I knew going in that Meghan and Amanda are naturally faster runners than me so I was fully prepared for them to run their own race.  Meghan was unsure about her intentions since it was her first time doing two marathons so close together and Amanda was unsure about her effort since it was her first time going the marathon distance.  I brought my ipod shuffle just in case I was solo.  When we crossed the start line, my stomach was not comfortable but I was hopeful that it was the case of the butterflies and it would go away as the miles went by.

Meg and I lost Amanda after the first couple miles through some serious ups and downs.  Overall the course brags a 1400ft elevation loss, most of which comes in the first half of the race.  I didn't realize I was in trouble until around the 8 mile mark.  I realized then that I hadn't had the appetite to stomach a gel or blocks of any kind.  I had been sipping some water and gatorade from a bottle but the temperature was rising quickly and my stomach started occasionally cramping.  I took my first walk break up a hill sometime in the 9th mile.  I urged Meg to go on, that I would be okay and finish, that I'd maybe even wait for my dad to catch up and finish with him.  She stubbornly refused, just like I knew she would.  I tried to eat a block around mile 12 but that almost came back up on the side of the road.  It was water with a bit of gatorade from then on out.  I was walking most of the uphills and even the downhills seemed to be too much impact for my stomach.  I was, to say the least, very uncomfortable.

Dad caught up to us just past the halfway point.  He seemed happy (and concerned) to see me hobbling along.  We ended up walking and running, setting "visual goals" as my dad likes to call them.  He'd say, "We're going to run from this cone to the third cone ahead, is that okay?"  I'd agree and we'd do it.  Occasionally I'd make it one more cone before another terrible cramp would cause me to fold forward at my waist.  Around mile 17 we passed a table with a box of orange slices.  I grabbed two and managed to eat them both.  First food calories since my banana and I was three hours in.

Dad and Meg told story after story keeping us all entertained and my mind off my quitting.  Somehow we made it through the hills, on the asphalt, in the 80+ sun and into downtown.  Runners were struggling everywhere.  Some aid stations had run out of cups and were handing out bottles of water for runners to run with.  They were pouring gallons of water down runners throats and on their heads.  Tables were set up with coolers full of ice cubes to put on your head and neck to help cool things off.  I think the high temperature that day was 83 and not a cloud in the sky.  A beautiful day for the beach.  A hot-as-hell day for a marathon.  But I guess we've been seeing a lot of those this spring.

The finish was after a loop around the Stroudsburg High School track, which was a nice change from the sidewalks in the final mile.  We finished, I hugged my dad and Meghan, never happier to cross a finish line and never happier that they were by my side.  My mom found us at the finish, as did Amanda (who did AWESOME!!!) and Todd.  We found shade immediately and after about a half hour I managed to slowly sip a recovery shake.  My stomach and insides took a beating and I'm slowly adding in real solid food just today (Tuesday) and its going down in small doses.  Though I'm glad I finished - I hope I NEVER have to do that again!

And the finish!  With my heros :)

Pennsylvania: check!
12 states down.  Now a few months of recovery before I decide on my fall/spring line-up :)

Big Sur Race Report

Well, I should start this blog off by saying there is no way, shape, or form I can put this experience into words.  There is simply no combination of adjectives that could possibly come close to describing the epitome of marathons that is the Big Sur International Marathon (www.bsim.org/).  Its a bucket list, gotta do before you die, and if-you-only-ever-do-one-marathon-make-it-this-one kind of race.  

We usually travel to races over a weekend's time, maybe taking a day off work, but cramming it all into as little time as possible so as to get back to our real lives with little disturbance.  This time we invited a few husbands along and my parents came out to run with some friends, so we extended our visit by a few days.  This way we could fit in some sight-seeing around the Monterrey area.  I'm very thankful we did, but I'll try to stick to the race experience for the sake of the blog.  I do have to say though, the area is stunningly beautiful and should be on your "to see" list, even if you're not interested in the marathon (say whaaaaat??).

Race expo was convenient and well-stocked, long sleeve tech shirts were beautiful, and everything to do with the marathon was perfectly organized.  Without question, we knew where to go, what time to be there, and what to expect.  I gotta give it up to the volunteers and race director for a job super well done.

Only 26.2 to go!

Wake up time Sunday morning was 2:30am.  Yes, that's right.  2:30am.  Two and a half hours past midnight we were up and moving.  We had to be downtown at the bus stop by 3:45am.  My husband (bless his heart...) woke up to shuttle us to the busses.  We boarded the bus promptly at 4am.  Since the Big Sur course  is a point-to-point course, starting in Big Sur and finishing 26.2 miles straight north on the Pacific Coast Highway in Carmel, they bused us from Monterrey down to the start.  It took about an hour to get down the winding highway that split the mountains from the coast.  We got there just after 5am, found coffee and a spot to sit and wait for the 7am race start.  Temperature was in the low 50s.  Chilly to sit around, but would be really perfect running weather.

Squinty eyes at 3:30am

Race started right on time, with the help of Bart Yasso, which was cool.  He bent down from his podium and was giving everyone high 5's as they walked by.  We also caught a glimpse of Dean Karnazes at the start.  Danielle, Tracy, and I started off together and remained that way all the way through the race, entertaining other runners as they inevitably commented on our "Team Hot Legs" shirts.  

At the start

The first 5 miles were through Pfeiffer Park in Big Sur.  Rolling hills, mostly down, beautiful Redwoods, and the sun was just coming up in the sky.  The wind was quiet, the temperature crisp, and the legs were fresh.  Great combination!

Around mile 5 we got our first glimpse of the ocean on our left.  Through some dense fog you could barely make out the crashing waves against the rocky shore, hundreds of feet below the road we were running on.  It was breathtaking.  It was also around this point that the wind started to pick up.  By the time we reached the 7 mile mark we were facing 20 mph freezing winds coming from the north, right in our faces.  The winds were so strong our visors were blowing off and each step was a struggle.  I began to doubt my ability to even finish if this was going to continue.  I even remember turning my head and shouting to Danielle, "I can't do this for another 3 hours!"  Luckily we didn't have to.  About mile 9 we turned a curve and the wind died down (though only to pick up again several more times).

The views for the entire time were just awe-inspiring.  Everywhere you looked, I swear, was a picture from a postcard.  I felt like I was in a different country, along the coast on the edge of the world.  I had never seen any place as beautiful as this race course.

Photo Op in front of the Hurricane Point climb

We saw Hurricane Point long before we were at the foot of it.  Hurricane Point is a notorious 2 mile climb, at about a 5% grade starting around the 12 mile mark.  Its a long, slow, grueling hill that seems like its never going to end.  You see the "end" up ahead only to curve and continue to climb.  Thankfully at the foot of the hill before you climb (and you hear them before you see them) is the Watsonville Taiko drummer group (http://www.watsonvilletaiko.org/).  MAN these drummers are amazing!  Elaborate costumes, fancy footwork, and beats strong enough to miraculously get you to the top of the hill, thanks to high quality speakers.  I could seriously hear their beat for an entire two mile stretch.

THE HURRICANE POINT

Over the hill just past the halfway mark is the famous "Piano Man".  A man (Michael Martinez) dressed in the finest tuxedo playing beautiful classical music on a grande piano.  He sits on the side of the road just across the Bixby Bridge.  All through this three mile stretch from Hurricane Point the views stretch out farther than you can see.  People have spotted whales, otters, and sea lions on the coast during the race.  Though we kept our eyes peeled for whales, we didn't see any but there were lots of other wildlife out there.

The second half of the course is more hilly than the first.  Long, slow climbs and gradual descents.  The wind picked up to 20-25mph a few other times, thankfully not lasting more than a few minutes at a time but always blowing against us.  Every time the wind picked up the temperature dropped at least 10 degrees.  We would go from warm and slightly sweating to freezing cold and shivering.  We were never bored though!

Miles flew by.  I mean I was literally surprised when I saw each and every mile marker.  It was the first time I've ever been disappointed to finish the course, to have my experience in the Big Sur International Marathon be over.  We stopped several times to take pictures, which was a first for all of us but had to be done.  The last few miles curved along the same coastline but showcased multi-million dollar homes with unforgettable views and wrought iron gates.  Unbelievable.

Way before I was ready, we were passing the 23 mile marker and eating the sweetest strawberries in the world.  Soon after we crested the very last hill and crossed the finish line, all three of us, with the biggest smiles you've ever seen.  After we met up with the rest of our group (including my mom, who ran the 10.6 mile race through Point Lobos), we headed back and enjoyed the rest of the weekend.

THL Post Race Pose

If I haven't said it enough, this is one marathon that you should definitely put on your list.  It tops my list of favorites, bar none.  I'm so lucky to have shared it with some of my favorite people.  Huge congratulations to my father who ran Big Sur as his #75th marathon+ and is still going strong.  Thanks to Ted and Diane for coming all the way from Maine to hang out.  Ted ran Dad's first marathon with him in 1999 and ran his 75th at Big Sur.  It was a great, great time.  Do it!  Don't think about it - when July comes and registration opens up, DO IT!  You'll thank me, I promise.  

Job well done, THLers!

Tobacco Road Race Report and First 1/4 Year Review

There are lots of cliches I've been going over in my head when I think about my race experience yesterday at the Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary, NC. "You win some, you lose some." "It doesn't matter if you fall down, its whether you get back up." "When the going gets tough... " We all know them all. And yes, they all apply here.

This race was my 6th marathon this year. To be exact, it was my 6th full in 11 weekends. I have this terrible habit of pushing my threshold until I find my absolute limit. This usually results in an injury - stress fractures, overtraining, tendonitis, etc. Thankfully, this year I was able to find a limit before an injury stopped me. Instead, I only had a really hard, ridiculously stupid tough marathon. I've come up with a thousand excuses in the last 28 hours as to why, but the end result seems to be the same. I found my limit.

If you read my last post about my New Orleans race, you can probably just take the complete opposite of everything that happened there and apply it to yesterday. The best way I can describe the feeling in my legs was the "heaviness" that I usually feel for the first hour or so of a marathon, that normally works its way out around the 8-10 mile mark. After this part I am in my groove, my pace is steady, and I can oftentimes have a negative split. This time, however, I could never shake this feeling. I remember thinking at mile 12 (yes... mile TWELVE) that something was not right. I was passed by the 4 hour pace group like I was standing still. Since we didn't go into the race with any expectation about a finish time, I expected a repeat performance of my standard pace. Something was definitely wrong.

The course was a "T" shape with a short 2.5 mile to the split, then two long out and backs, then a finish up the same 2.5. The surface of the Tobacco Trail could not have been more perfect. Hard packed gravel for most and a paved asphalt path for part. The best part about this race (second to Danielle's unwavering support and company despite my ill mood, constant complaining, and crawling pace) was the out and back sections because searching for familiar faces kept my mind off the ever-slowing movement of my forward momentum. First we saw Jen and Dan, some friends from GNV, speedsters that finished super fast. Then we saw Jenny, who set a new PR, followed by Michelle and Sylvan (who also PRed). We even ran into Meredith, another local runner who made the trip up north to run. Knowing that at any moment one of our friends might see us was reason enough to keep moving forward with something that resembled a smile. And it worked. No matter how heavy the legs got, we always managed to run in the forward direction. The race organization was great, the aid stations were energetic and stocked, and even the shirts were great. I cannot say enough great things about this marathon.

The finish was a nice long downhill and the last 50 yards was a decent uphill. When we (finally) crossed the finish line I saw our crew cheering and waving. My mom came to meet us and for some reason the tears came (which happens a lot when mom is around to comfort me). After reassuring her I wasn't injured, that I just had a hard race, she followed it up with classic advice, "sometimes that happens". She's a runner too, so she gets it :)

Like I said before, I've come up with a dozen excuses why I bonked this race. Some of them are actually relevant. What I did learn though, was that I can't keep running these races and expect the same results when they're stacked so closely together. At least not yet.

I want to be clear about one thing. The finish time is irrelevant to me for 90% of my races. This is why I probably look at you like you have two heads when you ask me my finish time. With our frequency, most of my marathons are just training runs for the experience and to get me toward my 50 states goal. I usually only "race" 2 a year. So my finish time yesterday wasn't what got me down. I consider it a bonked race because my legs felt like lead the entire time. I never got a second wind (assuming I had a first, which is debatable), I never felt hydrated, and even though the course was flat, I felt like I was running an uphill race for most of it. THIS is the reason I'm disappointed in my performance. My coach works hard to design my plans, I work hard to execute them. When the pieces somehow fall short, its frustrating. The thing about long distance running (especially marathons and beyond) is that there are so many factors that go into play with each circumstance. You can't control for most things. You can only prepare through training and recovery. I will use this frustration to plan better for the future. I have 5 free weekends before we travel to Big Sur for my next marathon and I plan to use them wisely. I'll eat well, train hard, and recover smart.

As always, I owe infinite amounts to my training partner, Danielle, my wonderful Team Hot Legs, my family for being such wonderful and gracious

hosts for our whole group, and my coach for not telling me "I told you so" when he reads this blog posting.

If you need me over the next 6 weeks, I'll be the super focused one pounding the pavement. But I'll still give you a high 5 when we pass. Because at the end of the day, if you don't search for your limit, then how can you imagine your potential?

Run happy, folks!

RNR New Orleans Marathon Race Report

It was brought to my attention that my race report from the RNR Nola (3/4/12) should be posted, as its rather (2 weeks) late. And I agree! Especially before I embark on the Tobacco Road Marathon tomorrow and will surely cloud my post Nola race mind with another experience :)

I have to say, I didn't expect much from New Orleans. I am always excited to explore a new city, one that I haven't been to, and my favorite way to do such exploring is through a long run. I had heard several negative reviews about the city so I definitely had my guard up during packing, preparation and travel. Once again, it was Danielle, Tracy and I set to run. We drove out Friday for a Sunday race. Upon arrival we dumped our luggage at the hotel at 8pm and went exploring. We found Burbon Street without much trouble but could only handle the sensory overload for about a half hour before we retreated to a restaurant for a late dinner. I saw things on that street that will stay in my memory forever - unfortunately. That particular street was, and never will be, the place for me. The rest of the city, however - magnificent.

We woke the next day with a plan of action. We left the hotel and walked down to Cafe Du Monde to experience N'awlins at its finest - with beignets and cafe au laits. It was interesting, crowded, loud, rushed, and absolutely amazing. Set along the water with incredible architectural views as far as you could see, the cloudy/rainy weather didn't even dampen our experience.

After "breakfast" we headed to packet pick-up. Since I was battling some foot pain and wanted to avoid too much walking we grabbed a cab to get us to the Convention Center. Our cab driver was a young guy from Russia who moved to New Orleans "for the weather". He couldn't understand why we came all the way from Florida to run. He asked, "Do you win?" We chuckled and told him that yes, of course, we win all our races ;)

After packet pick-up we found our way back to the hotel in time to meet my cousin, Amanda, who lives in Houma, just north of Nola. She drove us around the beautiful parts of the city including the garden district, and we had lunch. A wonderful afternoon all in all.

Dinner was across the street from our hotel - Mr. B's. THE best shrimp and grits I've ever had, bar none. Totally lived up to all the hype and worth every dime. You should go.

Okay, so on to the actual race (seeing as this is a race report, I suppose...). Race start was 7am. We left the hotel to walk the half mile down just after 6 and got there in plenty of time to rotate through the bathroom line a few times. Weather was perfect, 50 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Shorts, visors, and THL shirts, as usual. Race start was smooth, easy, and we were off. The first 8 miles were on St. Charles Avenue with stunning live oaks hanging over the street, bands playing music every couple miles, and well-stocked aid stations. Around the 11 mile mark I found myself running past the St. Louis Cemetary #3 (the largest in the city and most accessible). That was an amazing view, one that I'll never forget. Soon after we split from the 1/2ers.

Usually when we run these races, especially the races with such a huge percentage of the runners doing the 1/2, we're disappointed by the second half. Understandably, it seems race directors make the first half the more beautiful, scenic, and pleasing part of the race, as there are always so many more people running that part. This course was the first I've run in a long time when I felt the second half was as beautiful, if not more, than the first. We spend miles 16-22 running along Lakeshore Drive, which parallels Lake Pontchartrain. This part was my favorite part of the race. Usually these miles are synonomous with "the wall" but with the views of a lake so large it looked like an ocean, the breezes blowing off said lake, the brilliant sunshine, and the oncoming runners from the out-and-back course design provided constant distraction and appreciation for the sport. I could not have felt better. The foot pain that had been bugging me since Wednesday failed to show its face. Danielle and I ran along this part of the course with ease, smiling and waving at all the fellow marathon maniacs we had met in previous races. In no time we were on the home stretch back around, running around the art museum and down the finish line shoot. We crossed the finish line with the biggest smiles you could imagine. We met up with Tracy soon after, mingled with our maniac friends, and then found the shuttles back to the start line.

I've done a lot of Rock and Roll events over the years. I love Virginia Beach, I love Nashville, I like a few others, but I have never had as wonderful an experience as this one. New Orleans put together a class act of a race, welcomed us runners, treated us like family, and showcased itself well. Seldom do I repeat marathons, especially on my quest to reach my goals, but I absolutely cannot wait to do this one again next year.

10 states down, 40 more to go.

Five Points of Life Marathon - Race Report

Well, it turns out a whole lot can change in 7 days. At least, when weather's concerned. As miserably freezing cold last weekend's race was in Jax, this weekend was equally (and unseasonably) unpleasant. I woke up Sunday morning and checked the weather. 70 degrees with 85% humidity and a 50% chance of thunderstorms all morning. Oh, now this could get exciting. We donned our FTC singlets and blue Brooks visors and were ready to go.

Danielle and I were the 4:15 marathon pacers. It would be our first official pacing experience and we were both really excited. Our plan was to start with a 9:30 pace, walk a few steps through some water stops, then bank a bit of time in case there was a struggle in the second half. Danielle has a Garmin, so thankfully we wouldn't have to do much guess work. We arrived at the start, got our signs, and hit the starting corral.

The first few miles went easily. We got to know a few of our fellow 4:15ers and shared some great race stories. Some had run marathons before and some were experiencing their first. I loved sharing my own stories with them as well. We all cheered for the spectators on the street corners, we said hello and thanks to all the police officers, and we picked up other runners along the way. One of my runners told me that I deserved an award for "the most energetic pacer". I took that to heart and used it for fuel for the rest of the race.

The infamous hills along 16th avenue weren't as terrible as I had planned. The Duck Pond area was more beautiful than I remembered. The recorded announcer playing through the speakers in the stadium gave me the chills once again. The roads through campus were just as comfortably familiar as they always are.

The race got much more quiet after the halfway point. We crossed the mats at the 13.1 at exactly 2:07:25. Five seconds early. Close enough! We held onto a couple of our runners for a bit longer. The long stretch up Williston Road was a bit unfamiliar to me. It did seem to go on forever but that could have been because of the 20mph winds. So far the weather had held up. The humidity was high and the air was warm but the overcast threatening clouds had yet to open up on us. The winds were almost unbearable. There were times when I felt like my legs were moving underneath me but I wasn't moving forward. I almost lost my visor a dozen times. Somewhere around the 20 mile mark the sign blew off our pacing stick, so D dropped it on the side of the road. Hills are hills, and I can always get to the top. However, getting to the top of some of those climbs in the second half was so much harder with a headwind like that one.

Eventually we got to 34th Street, turned right and the wind was at our back. We literally had to work to slow down so that we wouldn't finish too soon. The last few miles went fairly easily and even though we didn't cross the finish line with any other runners, we accomplished our goal. We held a nice, steady pace the whole way through, told lots of good stories, gave lots of "high 5s" and felt great at the finish. For our second marathon in 7 days, I couldn't have asked for anything better. And no thunderstorms all day. So take that weather.com.

The volunteers and police force were nothing less than amazing for this race. The organization was top notch. I never had to wonder where I was going or if there was going to be an aid station soon. There was water and gatorade and every stop and Cliff Shots/Blocks at three different stations. Chip timing, tech shirts, medals for all finishers, and if its your thing - plentiful domino's pizza at the finish! Not much more you could ask for - especially for my first pacing opportunity! I would definitely do it again. Only shame is I have to wait a whole 'nother year. Well done, Five Points of Life, well done.

Until next time, run happy and high 5!

26.2 with Donna Race Report

This was my fourth year at the Donna race. There's only one other race I've repeated this many times, that's how much I love it. It has a great expo, a fantastic course with beautiful scenery, and the most supportive, encouraging crowd support you could imagine. The expo's pretty great also.

This year, as in year's past, we took a group of THL and co. up with us for the weekend. Michelle's mom came down from Myrtle Beach to walk the 1/2 (her first!) and brought her husband along. Michelle had a client come up for it to walk the 1/2 for company and also brought her husband. Danielle came over from Alabama, Jenny and Sylvan from NSB, Nicole and Beau from g'ville, and Tracy came up with a group of newbies to run their first 1/2 with them. It was a big, loud, fun group - as always.

Danielle and I decided to keep Nicole company and pace her for her first full marathon. My first full was a really long time ago and all I can seem to remember are the best parts. The stories my dad told me to keep me entertained, the 1/2 way point, those sneaky speedhumps at the very end of the course, holding my dad's hand as we crossed the finish line, and finally the tears that came flowing after said finish line. What I don't seem to remember too well is the pain in the knees, the ache in the hips, the fatigue in my low back, and the numbness in my feet. Since then I've paced a few friends through their first 5k, 15k, and even first 1/2, but its been about 7 years since I've had the privilege of pacing someone through their first full. I was excited for Nicole. She had trained hard, trained smart, and she has this determination unmatched by most. Six months ago she started training with us and quickly decided to run a full marathon. And run a marathon she did!

The day started out freeeeeeeezing. Well, actually, it was in the 20s, so WELL below freezing. And for these Florida girls, it was more than a little uncomfortable. We all dressed in layers - several layers - with gloves, hats, ear warmers, and throw-away clothes. Thankfully we found a spot (thanks to Beau) to wait inside a hotel lobby until 20 minutes before the race start. With heat. With chairs. AND with a bathroom!

After we braved the cold and found our corral, it was go time. National anthem, gun start, shuffle up to start line, and we were off. Dodging walkers for the first two miles helped warm us up and I soon took off two throw-away layers. The day was looking up! The first few miles of the course were on a huge highway with some significant banking. I think Nicole's ankle probably started to bother her here, but - in true Nicole fashion - she didn't let on.

Around the 5 mile mark, we hit the beach for about 2 miles. The tide is low, the sand hard packed, the ocean is beautiful, so its a nice change from pavement. This is also where the course spits off from the 1/2, so things get a bit more quiet after the beach. Nicole started getting a little quiet around this point so D and I started with the stories.

Danielle and I have only been running together just shy of two years, yet its amazing how many races we've done in that short time. We talked about the disaster of Appalachicola, the joys of the Jacks 50k(s), previous Donnas, the Back2Back weekend, and many others. Mainly to keep Nicole's mind off the impending pain that comes with a marathon, but also because that's what we do. We hash and re-hash experiences and are still trying to come up with the perfect scenario. One day we'll get it right. Maybe.

Miles 10-20 went fairly predictably. Somewhere in there we ran through the downtown portion which is a great area. One lone man with a microphone and a guitar happened to be singing "Bright Sunshiny Day" when we passed around mile 18 - one of my favorite memories of this year. Aches and pain start to kick in, we walked through some water stops, we just kept saying, "one mile at a time" and "relentless forward progress" (thanks, dad). It seems that when you reach the 20 mile marker of a marathon you realize that you will indeed finish. And you will indeed survive. This realization doesn't do much for the physical pains, but it does help a bit with the mental game.

The final 3 mile stretch is on the same highway we started on. Same banking - other direction. More aches = more stories. Then came the last mile, marked with the Lululemon girls on the final overpass. What a great aid station that was - loud music, funny signs, cheering girls (who somehow pretended not to notice the 35 degree temps), and lots of smiles. That's got to be one of the highlights of the race course.

Finally you exit the highway, turn right and you can see the finish line ahead. Pace stayed steady, we brought it in, and held our hands high as the three of us crossed the finish line. I looked over and saw that the tears in Nicole's eyes matched the tears in my own and I haven't ever been so proud.

The whole group did great as well. Jenny set a PR for the full, Sylvan for the 1/2, Michelle and Tracy both did great. Michelle's mom finished her first ever 1/2 (YAY!). And Nicole... Nicole did her first full marathon. First of many, I'm sure. And I can't wait for her next one!

Adaptation

"To get something you've never had, you have to be willing to do something you've never done."

This is a very powerful quote for me and one I remind myself of at least once every day, especially on Wednesdays. Wednesdays is speedwork day. Speedwork is hard and it hurts. I mean hurts like nothing else. But I knew if I wanted to run better than I ever had, it was crucial that I add this in. Before last summer, I had never done speedwork and finished at least 4 marathons in just a few months at virtually the same pace. If I wanted to get faster, I knew I had to do something different. Something I had never done. After a few months of speedwork I ran my PR. Finally.

Another favorite quote of mine is the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I get asked all the time what it takes to be fit. Being fit is not easy. It requires diligent effort, extreme dedication, and a willingness to be uncomfortable. I repeat - if you do what you've always done then you'll stay where you've always been. You must be willing to go out of your comfort zone if you want to see progress. Muscles break down during strenuous exercise, this is what makes you sore. You need some level of this break down in order to come back stronger the next time. Over time you'll need more (or different) stimulus to achieve the challenge. THIS IS NORMAL. If you keep walking on a treadmill at the same speed for the same amount of time at the same level of incline time and time again then chances are your forward progress will stall out in two weeks flat. The human body is an amazing organism that can adapt to pretty much anything. Because of this we can run marathons, race triathlons, or row 10,000 meters. Or we can spend 40 hours a week sitting at a computer, work the night shift, or eat a crappy diet. Our bodies will adapt to the stresses placed on it, whatever that stress may be. USE THIS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE! Spend some time getting stronger, lift weights, train your heart to work harder. Your body will adjust, adapt and be better for it. Likewise if you eat terrible food, sit at a desk for 8 hours, watch television for 4 hours and sleep for 6, your body will adapt to this. Don't be surprised when what you get out of your program is the direct result of what you put into it. That, in fact, is exactly what the body is supposed to do!

What kind of adaptation do you want?