TUCSON MARATHON 2008

In The Beginning....

For an entire week I was caught up in a tumultuous conundrum of conflicting attitude. Excitement in the culmination of more than 7 months of knee jarring, foot pounding, back breaking effort to prepare my body for, what I thought at the time, an impossible task. In direct conflict was the nervousness I was experiencing in the knowledge that maybe, just maybe, after all that pain......it wasn't enough?

Butterflies, an understatement, Excitement was at war with Nervousness and the battle was being waged in my stomach. I had not been this at odds with my body since puberty and I had no recourse to resolve the conflict. This war continued to escalate up to an including the morning of the big race. The night before was like the first day of school . I laid out all my clothes, made a list of all the things I needed to do in the morning before I left, and set my alarm for 4:10 a.m. and 4:25 a.m as back up.

RIIINNNNGGGG!!!!! "The alarms going off! What time is it? 4:25! What happened to the first alarm!" Trina turned it off she said she woke me up, obviously she didn't. "Can't worry about that now. Where's my list? Downstairs...... Have I done everything on the list? man, I have to use the bathroom, but I don't have the time, I should have put it on the list. 4:35! Dammit! I'm suppose to be out the door. Where is the map to Maria's house? Gatorade, Bananas, Sandwich.....shit, where's my IPOD, upstairs.......I got to use the bathroom.....4:40! I don't have time....(Tummy Rumbling) Looks like I gotta make time......Whew! I'm glad it was a clean one! I gotta go! Bye Trina." Good Luck Earl. "Where is that map! 4:43! Things are off to a very bad start!"

War is a savage beast. It is destroying my ability to relax. Excitement is taking a beating, Nervousness prevails.

With the war raging in my stomach there was just no way I could eat, but I managed to force down half a sandwich, two bites of my bananas, and some Gatorade. After I picked up Maria I quickly realized that I wasn't the only one nervous. I imagine we talked continuously from the moment she sat in the car till we separated to go to our respective buses.....

"I'm not going to be able to do this, I am two hundred and seventy freakin pounds what the hell am I thinking! Next year, yea I know I could do it next year...I mean really just because I ran 20 miles does in no way indicate that 26.2 miles is attainable. Awwww shoot.....I forgot my bag! I should just leave my stuff in the car, no, I need to be comfortable. Earl, get on the bus. Man just look at all the skinny assed people, they need a big people bus. Oh My God! She smells horrible! Note to self....Don't sit in the back of the charter bus! I need to focus. I should take a nap.....can't sleep......I'll listen to this book I have on my IPOD.

I'm gazing out the window as the bus travels to the start line and the view is just a blur. I wish I could relax. I worried about my calf tightening up, cramps, and simply not being able to finish. This is just horrible. I just don't know where to put my mind.

"OK, focus on what you need to accomplish in the beginning. One step at a time. I need to stretch my calves, go empty the bladder......I can't believe I left my bag and I am not throwing this sweatshirt away...Don't start out too fast..... (LOUDSPEAKER) THE RACE WILL START ON TIME. TWO MINUTES TILL WE START! What did she say? I didn't stretch my calves enough. This nervousness is ridiculous. I can do this. I am a grown ass man! THE START GUN FIRES!!!



Start Running TM 2008 Part II

There is nothing to do now but start running.

Nervousness has an ally now, and is attacking excitement on it's flank. Every person that passes me is a jab at my ego and is heightening my anxiety levels. I wanna break out running right up to the front of the pack. But I have to remember what happened to me during the 10 mile run I did earlier. I took off like a bat out of hell and I didn't have anything at the end, and the goal is to finish.

"Let the people pass you. Remember what happened in the last race. Start slow. So what if you're last, what is that saying about the turtle and hare, something about long and slow...no, no, that's not it.....enduring to the end.......no, that's biblical. Hell, you now what you are trying to say to yourself! Just do it! Stay within your own pace. 1/2 mile walk, 1/2 mile run ......Looks like I'm keepin up with this old lady, I'll pace off her....I think I should run.........NO!!! It hasn't been a half mile, patience my friend. The turtle and the hare. Stay focused. OK, I'm at the half mile point, GO! ..............Self Diagnostic. Not tire, NOT NERVOUS. I'm good...... OK here's the mile marker. My IPOD says 1.1 miles. Does that mean I didn't run 20 miles for my training run? No, Tia says it was 20 miles, then it was 20 miles. Self Diagnostic...... Hows my breathing? Good, not tired. Hows my left calf? Not tight! Achilles tendon? Sore, but well within typical parameters. No unusual pains. Self diagnostic complete. PASS. I can do this.

No Problems TM 2008 Part III

Oh I'm running now. Obviously, it all comes out in the wash, and that appears to include nervousness and all that other stuff that was plaguing me pre race. Now, I'm Good. First 6 miles up and down hills, I have a split time of 14:04 mpm, people are cheering and all enthusiastic and I was riding the wave. My motivation is peaked. So as I turn onto Oracle Rd I am cautiously confident that I will finish this race, but respectful that 20 miles is a long way.

Vince stops by to check on me asks me how I'm doing. I reply, "4 miles per hour, gotta good pace going, I'm doing good. Well within my physical parameters. Monitor my hydration stay up on the Hot Shots one between the cheek and gums will do me just fine.

As far as I knew I was well prepared, three blocks per hour, 6 blocks per pack, 2 hours per pack, 3 packs gives me 6 hours. I'm good. Unfortunately I have a dilemma, I just don't know it yet.

Vince rides up again and says, "Well, you'll have a few more hills when you hit the 10 mile mark, but after that it's all down hill." I tell him thanks for the heads up. "See you down the road."

I've been running for 3 miles continuously and I'm coasting, but with the warning at mile 8 I decide to check up and start alternating my running and walking every half mile per my plan.

DAMN!!! More hills!! This is going to be trouble. Ok, I need to approach this methodically. (Light bulb comes on!) I know I'll walk up the hills and run down. Shoot, that felt like a ...... is that a twinge in my thigh....I sure hope not, not with all these hills coming up let me eat some more gels and drink two cups of water at the next station....Hey, I am actually going to pass these two guys! I am no longer last whoohoooo!

Mile 10

Oh, it's serious now! Biosphere Rd is an out and back and this water station is a lot thinner with volunteers although they are still enthusiastic. I am uplifted by the number of people that are coming back since that means they are only a couple of miles ahead of me.

I hope these hills aren't too steep, maybe I should get 3 cups of water....

I won't let you into my head for miles 10 thru 13 due to the harsh language as a result of those damnable hills. But needless to say those hill whipped my ass! At mile 12 I felt my first cramp and it scared me. This was the first time my doubts had corroborating evidence. Biosphere Rd was not just up and down it was up and up and down. I was briefly excited at the 13 mile point, since it marked the half way point, but I had been doing this for more than 3 hours and the excitement quickly receded. On top of that, not only was my thigh feeling crampy, but now my groin was starting to suffer the consequences of those damnable hills.

Mile 14

26.2 miles is a long way. My feet are throbbing with an intensity I have heretofore never experienced, AND can I keep these cramps at bay? Will I be able to finish? This thing right here is going to be ugly at the end.

The Dead Zone

Just to prove my point, I enter the Dead Zone. This is what I refer to as the distance between mile 14 and mile 20. There is nothing you can do during this segment to motivate yourself, there is no positive side to look at in the Dead Zone. The Dead Zone crushes optimism and severs the tenous hold on your sanity. At the point I reached mile 14 I have been running for 3.5 hours and I still had more than 3.5 hours to go. There is no mental nor physical comfort in the dead zone. Each mile marker is gruesome reminder that you are slowly destroying yourself physically and there is no end in sight. Your mind is your worst enemy because is continually reminds you that you are an idiot in this attempt at stupidity, yet it is your mind that convinces your body to keep going. I don't even remember mile 15. I must of blacked out. Dead man running! Mile 16 includes a new muscle cramp, the calves, to add to the groin and the thighs, yes plural, thighs. A pain in my right knee and that persistent never ending throbbing in my feet serve to round out the platter of pain I am engorging myself with. Mile 17 I have seen the gates of hell! At this point your mind starts playing cruel tricks on you. He suggest that hey it's only 9 miles to go. And just as you start to focus on the positive aspect of that statement he reminds you, "but you still have over 2 hours of running to do!" How do I go on!

Mile 18

What is that! I am your runners soul. I need you to focus on the goal that I might flourish and strengthen to carry you to the end. What....................? Anyway. Man, I wonder what I would say if the news cameras just so happen to be at the finish line when I get there. "First, I would like to thank my wife and family for there support. Training for this marathon has been a time consuming yet rewarding in.......WHY IN THE HELL would the person in dead last be newsworthy.....I am officially losing it. My mind is going and it's all I have, because were it left up to my feet, I would stop now! I'm not going to make it..........................

So Very Long TM 2008 Part IV

It's Mile 19 and the water stations are no longer manned! Really they can't even be called stations since it's just a couple of bottles of water on the curb. Race officials keep riding by me like vultures waiting for me to keel over and die. I automatically give them the thumbs up to let them know I still have life left in me. But it's more of a reaction than a thought out process, because if I thought about it I would probably wave them over hop in the backseat and ride off into the sunset. But something won't let me. I just got to the top of a mile and a half gradient and my hamstrings have joined in the chorus. Dude, just stop! Unfortunately my mind won't let me. Isn' t that ironic. The same evil sadistic organ that kept trying to convince me that I couldn't do back at mile 14 is the same body part that rallies all the other tissue together to keep me going. Oh, that bastard is pure evil!

I wonder how Jamie and Tia are doing? I wish I was running with them. It would be a lot easier. MILE 20. SHIT! I thought that was mile 21! 6 instead of 5, no problem. Body: You can always just quit. Mind: Yes, you could, but how would you feel. Body: GREAT! The pain would end. Mind: No, my friend. it would only be just begining. The mind racking agony you would face knowing you just gave up.

MILE 21: No water for tears

5 miles all day no problem. Self Diagnostic.....Feet maybe 20% of capacity. Muscular endurance.... depleted, deep into reserves. Mental Capacity...failing Overall condition....failing. Executing past tolerances cannot continue to operate under these conditions. Failure Eminent. Suggest course of action. ALL STOP!!!

MILE 22: This is where I reached my lowest point mentally and physically. The cones marking the course, GONE! Water stations are notable for their lack of water and confluence of trash bags. I went from running in the Tucson Marathon to just some dude running on the side of the road. Ironically, the guy collecting the water station offers up some encouragement telling me not to stop no matter what. On the outside, I smile give the automated thumbs up, on the inside....Man you can kiss my running ass! If you wanna help leave the damn water stations.

MILE 23: I stop to pee! I'm standing in the blue upright coffin and my legs ache so bad I can hardly be still long enough to empty my bladder. This is just ridiculous.

MILE 24: Here we go! 2 miles all day no problem! I expected to gradually feel the growing ebb of excitement as I closed in on my final destination, but to my surprise it has hit me all of a sudden. Over the past couple of miles I was so distraught that I couldn't muster up enough mental energy to realize that I had 3 and 4 miles respectively remaining in my journey. Now I only have 2 and I am excited. Oh, don't get me wrong, my feet are still on the verge of exploding, but I am floating on a bubble of joy and the knowledge that nothing short of an earthquake is going to keep me from finishing, is the overiding theme in my conscienciousness. And God does not hate me enough to do that! Self Diagnostic....Doesn't even matter.

I don't have the mental capacity to appreciate the significance, I just notice the events.

MILE 25: The pain in my feet is closing in on unbearable, but I won't stop!
MILE 25.5: I catch the men picking up the cones and pass them.
MILE 25.6: I see Trina in the minivan
MILE 25.9: I turn the last corner, my stomach is upset and I just might yack!
MILE 26: I can't see the finish line, but I know it's close.
MILE 26.1: Josh runs up to greet me!


Post Race: It wasn't until the next morning that I fully grasped the level of my accomplishment due to the overwhelming pain throughout my entire body. Things I do remember.

1. My body hurts so bad.
2. Hey, I didn't yack!
3. I am going to punch this guy who keeps trying to give me water.
4. This medal is awful small
5. It was nice that Camile and Gretchen stayed.
6. There is no news camera!

Results:

1003 out of 1005
Time: 7:05:11 Pace: 16:13
Split Times:
6.1 Mile: 1:25:49 Pace: 14:04
12 Mile: 3:01:12 Pace: 15:06
15 Mile: 3:44:03 Pace: 14:57
19.3 Mile: 5:06:58 Pace: 15:55

Now I am going to recharge and do it all over again next year.

Run Like a Mother- MacKnitty's 26.2 journey

Deciding when the Marathon actually begins is the hard part-

Do you start the night before or at the start line? At the portipotty before the start?

I'll start at the start line.

Jamie and I stood there admist 20,000 other runners. We were surprisingly calm and ready for the mental battle to begin. There were people all around breathing on thier hands, setting up thier ipods, sipping water, and taking deep breaths.

Clothes were discarded all along the start fences, the countdown began....
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.... Go!

Fireworks began, cheers, and we still hadn't crossed the start line. Family members all along the course with posters saying things like Run, Pat, Run! or Go, Jill, Go! My heart skipped paces when I reached The Luxor because I knew that inside was my family. I called my husband and told him that I was passing by (I was a little upset that they didn't see me start) but it all changes when you have a baby.

Mile 1, water cups everywhere. Long lines at the portipotties. Elvi (Elvises pass us in sweaty polyester). Mainly Jamie and I are quiet, I'm quiet because I'm sure if Jamie wants to talk and I am not sure what to say. We see 2 strippers stagger into the IHOP and point at the crowds of runners. I look behind us and see a sea of people- "This is going to be a good race, look at how many people are behind us."

Mile 4, protestors greet us with signs about repenting. The last sign is particularly hilarious, REPENT BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THE ROAD TO HELL. One lady runs by and says, "I thought I was running a marathon not going to hell.

(Post blog: Turns out the sign said, "Turn to Jesus, You are Headed for HELL". After some research for this sign, I found out that they also showed up at the P.F. Chang Half Marathon a year or two ago. Why would a person feel the need to show this sign at a marathon? Are we especially suceptable to HELL? Is it because I am not in church on Sunday morning and instead on a personal journey?)

Mile 5, I finally decide to jam to some Ipod songs when the road splits. On the road, spraypainted it says HALF and FULL on sides of the road. More and more people are switching to the half and less are coming over to the full side... there are 2 people in front of Jamie and I, 4 people behind us. The crowd has thinned and we are pretty much alone. As we trot down the Fremont Street, I keep praying that they won't open the roads on us.

Mile 9- My ipod kicks the bucket. It's frozen, I restart so there is no record on my ipod of my 26.2 miler. There is an underpass with a large hill. I trot up it and Jamie begins to walk (little do I know that she's blistering). I feel like my pace is consistant. I begin to pull away from Jamie but I fear that if I leave her she will battle her mind on her own so I slow back down until we are at the same pace again.

Mile 10- We watch a group of girls run into a CVS for some band-aids. Let's call them Blondies. We take a pee break.

Mile 11- A lady is sitting on the curb and cheering for us, She yells, "You're almost there." I yell back, "Almost done!?! I'm not even half way done yet."

Mile 12- I am hungry and all I can think about is my Payday bar in my pack. Mmm.... peanuts. I'm gelled to death. I gag one back every mile, at this point I've eaten 7 of them.

Mile 13.1- YAY! Payday! It's so good and yummy. I begin to trot again, my second wind. My legs begin to feel the pain. I don't think that I can make it another 13.1 miles. That's quite far away.

Mile 14- Okay, I am over that half way point but I still have 3-4 hours ahead of me. This is starting to get old fast. (An after note- Earl calls this the dead zone which is quite fitting because there is nothing you can really do, you are out here, you aren't ready to quit but you are ready to be done.) Jamie is now walking as fast as I am jogging.

Mile 17- Since the Nike+ diabacle, I know that every step is longer than I have ever run before in my life. But there really are over 9 more miles to go! This is getting overwhelming.

Mile 19- I don't think I can make it. One guys asks if we are still running the marathon and is saying that this is unbelievable. We also pass by some guys who are telling us they are going to just stop at the McDonald's and going to eat a burger.

Mile 20- I can't believe it's actually here, they are now closing down the water stations. One guy on a truck says to me, "I can tell my your scarf that you have a goal." My headband reads, "RUN LIKE A MOTHER." (It's a double meaning) We are now running on the gravel since there is no sidewalk. I'm feeling every sharp rock in my shoes.

Mile 21- I am going to finish this race. It's doable. They say that after mile 20 it's just a mental game. We begin to get calls and texts from our teammates, I'm too engrossed in putting one step in front of the other to answer the questions. I call Jas and tell him that I'm okay but still out on the course. Water is not making my tongue wet any more and I feel like I'm full of water and gels. It's not nice out there. I'm cold and sweaty, I just want to be done.

Mile 22- I can hear my feet drag on the sidewalk. I see people start to pull away from us. I know my feet sounds are annoying to others. Jamie and I don't talk much. I finally get my bearings on where we are. I'm confused. It's like when I go into the Tucson Mall and start walking the wrong way back to my car, I swear I parked over there.

Mile 23- I am just going to get through this mile then I know I'm almost done. Now I have to pee. I can see the strip. People are starting to just run across the road when ever they feel like it, "Please use the crosswalks." I look at my arm, I see Izzie's name and I grit my teeth. Jamie sees me looking and she says, "She's there waiting for you." I get a little teary.

Mile 23.5- There is a guy who is spinning his arrow that tell us where to go. He's pointing the arrow up to the sky. That's real helpful. I am beginning to get cynical.

Mile 24- I'm on FRANK SINATRA DRIVE! I'm gonna make it. I try to tell Jamie to go ahead. "I'm going to finish, don't worry about me. Go ahead Jamie." She tells me no and that we are going to finish together. We are running behind the casinos. Jamie is super happy and I am super serious and not happy.

Mile 25- We are running in some garages by Ceasar's Palace. We run up the strip some more. We run inside the Belligio and out back onto the strip. We ride up the escalator across the walk way between New York, New York and Excalibur BUT... the down escalator is broken. I NOW HATE THE EXCALIBUR. Stupid escalator. Who breaks an escalator!?! Jamie tells me I'm almost there, I don't believe her. I tell her, "No- it's not. It's so far away." It's too far.

I tell the guy directing us around the Luxor that, "You better have good news for me." He tells me that you are less than 2 miles away. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?? 1.9 miles? 1.3 miles? Those are two very different distances to have to fight through. There is no one to point the way around the Luxor so we don't know if we are going the right way.

Mile 26- Jamie tells me again that we can do it and that we are almost there. I'm really hurting bad and I don't even want to talk anymore. I'm in a deep dark mad place. I can see the Mandalay Bay but it's not getting closer. I run, I walk, I limp, I run, I walk, I limp...I limp. My spirit is broken. I just want Jamie to leave me and go ahead.

.2 of a mile to go- Jamie begins to tell me that we are almost there. I say, "Shh.... no more." She says, "Okay." (yes, I feel bad for shhing my teammate but I'm not in my right mind. I'm in marathon mind which wants silence, Sorry!)

I see my baby at the finish line. I cry, I start to cry louder. I can't believe it's done. It is all over. I made it. I'm a marathoner!

Jamie and I run to the finish. She is crying and I am crying. I am hugging my mom and Jas and my grandma and Jamie.

Marathon Foto Finish

All my Raptors came home. They all made it.

(To be continued)

Legs like logs

I ate some pasta and chicken last night and my legs feel like logs.
The pasta was a recipe from Runner's World and was called PR pasta.

I started out my run slow and a little painful, I had a leg ache and I was seriously considering calling it a day and going home 5 minutes into it but I just pushed a little further and it was all good.

I'm beginning to really get nervous but when I do, I always think about the finish line. I will finish.

I do worry about the streets opening back up right behind me and what it's be like when I walk the next day, I'll need a wheelchair. Or I freak out about forgetting something important like my water bottles.

It's getting deep.

11/27 Breakfast of Champions

It was our last run as a team BEFORE the big race on Sunday. It was hard to pin down the mood. Everyone was in thier own little world as we ran and when we finished.

It was a small group this week with only the 3 full marathon runners completing the run. MacKnitty, Dolce and Earl spent time dodging the dog poo on the trail (it was not my dog). MacKnitty figured that since her dog can run 4 miles why not make this 6 miler his training run.

It was an easy 6 miler or "only 6 miles".

After the 2 loops around Reid Park we drove to MacKnitty's house for some breakfast....mmmm.... bacon.

MacKnitty's hubby was nice enough to make some grub and feed us all. We even took a few catnaps but talked little about the marathon.

One piece of disheartening news, Chicka will not be doing the half marathon on Sunday. I felt sad but then we decided that she will continue to train until P.F. Chang's Half in January. Her and I will take a little trip up there.

It's almost time!

The Journey

I was watching the finishers in the IRONMAN competition cross the finish line. It wasn't the professionals that I was interested but the ones walking to the finish line. I watched them cry and kiss the ground, it made me a little teary.

My new frontier... the triathalon.



I feel like once I finish this marathon that I will physically be able to do anything. I can make it happen. I start my plan for my fitness life. I can do it.



In 7 short days, I will be at the start line with my teammates thinking about what I have done to prepare for this moment. We can do it.



See you at the finish line Raptors.

So McKnitty sends her e-mail that the BIG day is fast approaching and the only think I can think of is....

Arrgghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just go a knot of nerves on my stomach!!!!! I’m excited and scared! I feel I’m ready, but then I don’t think I am! I DO feel like training more, but my shins tell me NOT to, because I do run much better when I rest them properly. ...and take my Motrin! No! I don't take it before any run!!!! I've read on I must say my biggest fear is having to go to the bathroom... you know... go, go!!!! Nerves do that to me.... SO if you all see my sprint into a casino...... well.... I had to go! Heee...heeeLike always, I don't get tired of thanking McKnitty (she may get tired of hearing it/reading it) for getting me off my a----- to do this. I must say it is one of the craziest, irrational, challenging things I've ever gotten myself into. Getting jumped into a gang was easier than this... JUST KIDDING!!!!!! It wasn't easier..... JUST KIDDING! I'm not a former gang banger (Vata Loca)! No really...........Tia really motivated me and “intimidated” me (in a good way) because I would tell Maria (Kostin), “lets run because Tia is going to get mad if she sees us walking!” Tia scared me!!! I didn't want her scolding me about how I should be running not walking four months into our training! I must admit, there were a few times that we saw her coming and we'd start running and pretend we had never walked.... Sorry!!!! Heee heeee…. But hey, thanks to that fear, I can now jog/run/move 10 miles without walking!!!!!! Woohooo!!!!! A huge "Thanks!" to Maria for being my “pacer”!!!! We did it!!!!!!! Wow! 9 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vegas here we comeI don’t know if I’ll ever do another marathon, but I definitely want to keep running! Oh, did I mention, I motivated my husband to join me in running the 1/2 marathon in Vegas!!!!

10 Mile Run

I'm a little behind on my blogging, but I can't go without saying that jogging those 10 miles on that awful windy Saturday morning was on of the best days of my life! I have never felt so good in my life... well maybe I have, but you know what I mean! I have NEVER in my life been able to run, much less run a whole 10 miles without stopping (walking)!!!! I thank Maria for pacing me, but I still lagged a good minute behind her and all I could think to make myself feel better was, "remember, you're NOT slower, you are just carrying 55 more pounds than her." As long as I could see her at a close distance, I was okay.... We got to Josh and the boys pretty quickly that we didn't even stop for water... boy was I sorry I didn't take a sip because the next water station was nowhere to be seen!!!! We were thankful when we saw the water fountain! Those posted mileage signs on the side of the path really stink.... I think they calculated wrong! We never saw Tia's 5 miles sign and ran until we hit the "Turn back Earl." Once we hit all that dirt path I kept thinking... are we going the right way??? I didn't see many runners that far and I was just waiting for the path to reach a dead end....actually I was praying that the path would reach a dead end, but it never did! Once we saw the Earl sign Maria and I turned around and started back just to find that the damn wind not only held us back, it had us screaming for more kleenex! It felt good to get back on the path and then....there it was... our 5 miles sign!!!! Then it was back to those mind teasing mileage signs that seemed to be getting further and further apart! I have to say that towards the end I don't know if I would call what we were doing running, jogging or waddling.... I was just glad that I was moving in a way that was NOT walking! I kept telling myself I want to stop and walk the rest of the way... so I started saying, I'll start walking as soon as this song is over... when it was over I felt I could go a bit further, so I would tell myself, okay when THIS song is over... and that's how I managed to get to the end! Maria and I were ecstatic to have jogged the entire ten miles. Since we had gone an extra mile, we walked back a mile which was a great cool down. My shins weren't killing me and I felt great!!!! We went for a hearty breakfast and headed home. This run gave me the confidence I needed for the marathon, I'm just going to miss having Maria as my pacer/running buddy in Vegas! We'll be together in spirit! I just pray that I can do it one more time in Vegas!!!!!!

11/15 Gone with the Wind

A light breeze my butt!

It was less "tomorrow's another day" and more "Frankly dear, I don't give a damn."

We all started out nice and slow towards the dawn. At the 2 mile mark suddenly the temp picked up and so did the wind blowing some fun dandelion seeds into our mouths.

When we got back to the start line we still had 14 lovely miles to tackle but it was away from the sun and against the wind so it was a quick run UNTIL I had to pee, luckily I didn't have to use the scary bathroom (Children's Memorial Park).

Jas set up all of our water stations and Chicka (who was under the weather) was waiting for us at the 7.5 mile mark.

Around the area of Tucson's Stonehenge, we crossed paths with our halfers, Coco and Yuma, who were red in the face. They told me that there was NO water at the water station and that there was NO mark at the 5 mile point so they ran until they found the "Turn around Earl" sign from 2 weeks ago which is actually, 6 miles!!! Awesome ladies.

I was so mad at whoever took the water, why would you need a 78 cent bottle of water! Thankfully, Jas went back out and dropped us off some extra water. He also gave me a gel and waited for Dolce to come around the bend. This was the time that I think her battle was at it's peak. She was about a mile behind Earl and I and was slowing more and more.

Around mile 12, Earl schooled me and I was struggling with tightness in my knees. I felt like they would buckle at any minute.

Jas was at mile 15 with my baby girl, which was the best sight of my life, I was tearing up and I began to believe in what I was doing again.

At mile 16, my babies were waiting and this time with some COLD Gatorade.....mmmmm.... I was also breaking at this point. I started my downward spiral. I began to think," I can't do this. It hurts too bad. Why am I doing this? I can just call Jas and say I was sick and go home. I can make an excuse and no one will think less of me. I can go home. Maybe I'll quit my training. I'll say that I can't do it. Mentally, I'm not going to make it. My knees hurt so bad, what if I'm hurting myself?"

To get myself out of the funk, I began to just push through and think, "I can do it. I can do it. I'm going to make it. I'm going to make it." I had to carry those thoughts in my head for a full half mile before my mind got off the pain and the other issues I was having.

They always talk about the last legs of the marathon being a mental game and it's true. When I realized I had 5 miles left, I was so beat down but I had to start telling myself, "You are going to run this ONE MILE AT A TIME." I ran for 1 mile and I was 1 mile closer to home. Each step was towards the finish. It was so hard, so painful. Usually, I try to keep up a happy mood for my teammates but it was difficult this time with the wind and the heat. I started to really reconsider training for another one, why would anyone do this more than once? I think because it feels damn good when your done. I was thinking while I was into my last 2 miles about how much I HATE RUNNING. I HATE RUNNING.

At mile 19.5 I got a sad text from Dolce saying that she didn't have anything left in her to finish. She got to mile 17 and had to call it a day. I don't know how to comfort her because that has to be devastating to know that you had such a close call.

In the end, Earl and I had a decent run, not one that we would do again anytime soon but worth it because who else other than those of few can say that they have run 20 miles. I can say that, I ran 20 miles what did you do today?

I love the pain. I enjoy walking like I've just endured painful surgery into IHOP and eating a ham steak, eggs and pancakes. I love feeling the salt on my forehead because I know I pushed my body to a level that on 2% of the world's population will know.

I will finish the marathon. Even if it's on my hands and knees.

The miracle isn't that I finished but that I had to courage to start.

VEGAS!!!!

I totally second and third all said sentiments about the 18 miler last weekend. I am SO looking forward to a short 8 miles this coming Saturday!!!

In other news...I've (FINALLY) booked my flight to Vegas!!! Yay!!! Now, all I need to do is register for the actual Marathon on Friday and I'll be good to go!! Sweet!!!

Happy Running!!! See y'all on Saturday in Sahuarita!

18 Miles Part 2

I forgot my Nike+ Sensor, I finished the 10 miler at more than a 15 minute mile pace was still weighing heavily on my mind, and I was starting to feel sick Sat. morning. So I had a few obstacles to overcome even before I started running.


I believe my biggest problem was that I set an early pace that was just too aggressive, so I wanted to make sure that I controlled my pace early on 13 to 13.5 minute miles that was my goal. I came up with a scheme of walking .5 miles and then running the other half to loosen up the muscles and guard against going out too fast, but I felt so good at the two mile mark and I realized that my pace was a little more that 13.5 so I figured why not continue this mode of operandi since I had such a long way to travel. As MacKnitty commented I saw them around their 7 mile mark and I was at a little more than 4 I think, and I was feeling good. By the time I reached the 12 mile mark, my feet were hurting, like the blood wanted to burst out of the skin, but I was otherwise in a good physical state. The half and half technique was paying dividends. That was until I reached Oracle which was the 15 mile mark. On the turn, I felt a twinge of a cramp in my left calf muscle as I started the running portion of my mile. But I immediately stopped, strectched and massaged the offending appendage, and it seemed to have resolved the issue. But about a half a mile later it twinged again and I stopped running. But it didn't go away, in fact the front of my leg started cramping which really worried me seeing as I had no idea of how to stretch the muscles in the front of your leg. But I eased up my walking pace and hoped that I could trudge through. At about the 16.5 mile mark I felt good again so I thought to try and run .25 mile, but as I started my hamstring started to cramp. It was at this point I felt in danger of not being able to complete the run. Yet I continued to gut it out. At 17.5 my calf was hurting at every step, my hamstring was sore and to top it off, my thigh started to cramp as well. The frustrating part was that even though my left leg was packing it in, I wasn't tired. So, with the strength of my right leg, I managed to drag the weak one in and still had an average time of 13 minutes 45 seconds per mile.


The next morning, my calf, groin, hamsting, and thigh muscles were all sore almost unbearably. After I got up and stretched, my calf was the only thing that continued to give me static. Otherwise I felt good and full of energy, so much so, that I went and did a little weight lifting that afternoon.

I lost almost 7lbs during the run and I think I lost a lot of water which is what led to the cramping. It wasn't that hot but the heat and dryness probably is what contributed to my cramping just as it caused dehydration in MacKnitty.

I to am looking forward to my run this evening, even after the pain I endured this weekend. So it seems as if I'll have to request that rubber room next to MacKnitty so friends and family can get a two fer when they come to visit.

Eat my dust...

I love morning run. I just hating having to stumble out of bed. I know that once I begin I'll be loving it but at that moment, I have to play the mental game with myself , I have to remind me that I'm doing this for a long term goal. I am doing this for me.

Once I start the run, it makes me feel so good, it makes my lungs feel clean and clears my mind and prepares me for my day. I think about how my day will pan out sometimes it causes anxiety, like today with observations up the wazoo.

Today, was easier than I thought it would be. I am still feeling lots of soreness in my hamstrings and it felt like a sore ankle but once I started, it's like it melted away.

I was running easy and smooth. I even picked up the pace at the end of the run, dropping 30 seconds off of my mile.

It's going to be a good day.

AM playlist
Eye of the Tiger Survivor
A Cartel
Umbrella Rhianna
Chasing Cars Snow Patrol
Let Her Cry Hootie & The Blowfish
Heartbreaker will.i.am
To Live & Die In L.A. 2Pac
Bed J. Holiday
Rainy Dayz Mary J. Blige Feat. Ja Rule

Just Slap me!

I always think of myself as tough, physically but when my body goes it's pretty messed up.

This run was pretty, it was the aftermath that wasn't so pretty.

Dolce and I left before Earl got there because we knew that we would be out on the course upward of 3 and half hours. For Dolce, the run didn't start out too hot, she had to rely on some "shady beans" instead of her usual CLIF SHOTS.


I got something new this time around, it was Black Cherry with Caffiene which was awesome! I also tossed in some peanut M&M's to outset my hunger and to motivate me. I tried to eat one every 2 miles but I had to keep taking out my gum and then the peanuts would get all stuck in the gum.

I got new shoes on Friday night so I was feeling pretty snazzy, along with my long sleeve tech shirt, I was feeling really special. I also had a new playlist of new songs playing so, I was rolling along. Dolce and I trotted along nicely for 7 miles, running part of the path that was completely new to us was exciting. At mile 7, there was a hawk sitting on the railing, just chill. We passed Early shortly after, he was looking strong.

I was feeling really strong all the way back to the start point. I turned around and knew that I needed to run out 3 miles and back again. I passed Dolce on the way and said, "5 more miles" but she didn't look too happy at that point.

I started to die out at the 13 mile mark. I began to really resent running. I thought, "why should I finish?" or "I can just walk in." or "Who's really going to know that I didn't finish my run?" My legs begun to block out the pain and just drag behind me. I get to a point when all I think about is the ice bath and dry clothes at the end of the line. My neck was the sorest part of my body.I was so tired at the end but happy.

I sat down and felt like peeing and passing out at the same time. I got up to go to the car to change my shirt and suddenly I felt like someone just slapped me across the face. I got out of the car and dry heaved into the bushes while sweat flowed down my face and onto the ground. I hobbled back to Jas and Dolce when suddenly I felt like the world was spinning and everything went white. My vision returned but in technocolor, there were splotches everywhere. (After consulting Dr. Internet, I self-diagnosed myself with heat exhaustion)I needed to get into a cool area and soon. I slowly recovered and limped into the Village Inn.

I didn't do ice bath and was achy all day so, ice bath is my friend and so is a nap..... I'm on the road again tomorrow so I can do this again in two weeks.

Am I crazy? Why would I do something so painful every weekend?