I've known that my "bright idea" / "redemption" race was fast approaching, and yet I've done very little in preparation for the half iron distance I am attempting to finish this Saturday.
On paper, I know I have set myself up for failure. I have not followed any sort of training schedule. In fact, I am relatively certain that I have trained less for this event than for any other event I have chosen to do. I have taken steps to get better - boot camp for strength and agility, swim lessons for any sort of improvement in the water, track/speed clinics for running smarter and faster. But training? It is a sad state of affairs, my friends. Last week I believe I swam for 1 hour and 30 minutes, total, rode 26 miles on my bike at a semi-leisurely pace, ran 11 miles, went to my first track workout and did 2 boot camp classes. Now, had I been diligently following my training plan and had the room to begin my taper last week, this would be somewhat acceptable.
Mentally, I know that I can press on, that I will be able to push past the point of pain. My guess is that this will come somewhere around the first buoy of the 1.2 mile swim, when I will think "Oh my goodness! I am exhausted and I just got to the first buoy! How am I ever going to swim 1.2 miles in an hour?" I will tell myself "Take a deep breath, use your side stroke, get to the next marker. It will be okay." And somehow, I will get out of the water, just beating the clock, close to tears because I am tired and relieved at the same time, trying to remember where I racked my bike, going over my transition routine as I make my way from the water to my bike.
I have read and re-read the athlete guide at least 5 times, and will most likely do so another 5 times before race day. I know the cut off times for each leg, I know where the aid stations are and what will be served at each one. I have a good idea of the course, thanks to my friends John and Jen, who not only went to the HITS tri camp earlier this month, but who also went back to Ocala to do part of the course this past weekend while I went to a birthday party and watched game after game of conference basketball tournaments. What can I say? It's MARCH MADNESS, BABY!
My friend Jim completed his very first 70.3 yesterday in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He did AWESOME!!!!! I am so proud of him - I know it was a long road full of trials and compromise, and I know he is in some pain, but it will wear off and he will be ready to go again. It's just what triathletes do.
The only worry I have for this race (besides the swim, of course) is how my body will hold. I know I am strong, but I am worn out. It started with a tight calf muscle, which has since progressed to a tight hip, glute, hamstring and shin; not to mention a high ankle strain (most likely from overcompensating for the tightness in my right leg) and a back that sounds like milk being poured on a bowl of Rice Krispies every time I move. I've been doing everything I can think of to loosen up - stretching, ice baths, compression socks, Arctic Ease wraps, a heating pad - even Advil. I need to book a massage, but I am nervous that it will only make my poor muscles more sore (if that is even possible). I should probably go to the doctor, but it's going to have to wait until after the race.
You're shaking your head. I know - I, too, am wondering what I am doing, attempting a half iron distance without proper training. My goal is simply to finish. I do have a time in mind, but that would require everything going extremely well, and I am enough of a realist to know that it's a long shot. So as long as I get out of the water in the 70 minute allotment, I have faith that I will finish the race. I am excited to go to Ocala, to toe the line with many of my friends, and to cheer them along as they begin their race season.
And so I run.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
This Seemed Like a Good Idea 6 Months Ago
Two weeks out from my 2nd attempt at the half-iron distance triathlon, and I am sitting here questioning whether or not I can really do this.
Normally I would confidantly say YES, I CAN, but . . . . this time, I have doubts. Rewind to this time last year, when I was just beginning to test the triathlon waters, nervously building my endurance in the pool to get ready for St. Anthony's Triathlon. I was focused, trying to learn all I could about swimming and biking, and then adding it to what I thought I knew about running.
All things considered, my first triathlon season was a success. I completed 3 sprint distance triathlons, knocking 15 minutes off of my time at each race. I completed an Olympic Distance triathlon, and I was so proud of myself for doing so. I attempted a 70.3 triathlon, and in my failure to do so, I had the strength to cheer on everyone else that was finishing, because I was so happy to see their hard work pay off, to see them be the champions they are. I made new friends, learned new skills, and had FUN!
That being said . . . back to Miami. I learned more from not finishing that race than perhaps I would have had I actually crossed the line. Or so I tell myself. Right after Miami, I turned my focus to the Goofy Challenge at Disney World. I stopped swimming, rode my bike occassionally, and ran . . . once in awhile. I was so tired - I was slammed at work, newly engaged, and ready to enjoy the holidays. I finished both the half and full marathons at Disney, and, tired or not, it was time to re-train for triathlon.
I signed up for the HITS series in Ocala, FL, to prove to myself that I am capable of completing the distance, that I am better than Miami. The race is close to home, well before our upcoming wedding, and extremely affordable.
What I did not expect, however, was that I would not want to train. At all. I didn't run for two weeks after Disney . . . I got on my bike on the weekends, but only if it was above 50 degreees. I took a spin class here and there, and avoided the pool like the plague.
It wasn't until recently that I began to get it together. I've still only swam twice, and I haven't been on my bike in 2, maybe 3 weeks. There have been no brick workouts. I've been going to boot camp and running. I am sore, but I feel stronger.
Today I learned that there is a 1 hour and 10 minute limit for the swim portion of the tri. My swim time in Miami was 1:08:57. Did I mention that I haven't been swimming? I am now freaking out, worrying that I just might have another DNF.
There's not much I can do at this point, except swim a few times a week for the next two weeks, trying my best to stay calm in the water. My plan for race day is to take my time. Trying to go fast will just cause me to panic, and then it will go south from there. I have to stay positive, stay focused, and just take one stroke at a time. Once I get out of the water, it will be okay.
So ready or not, in two weeks I will attempt another 70.3. This really did seem like a good idea six months ago. It is what it is. Maybe in failing to prepare I have prepared myself to fail, but I will pack my bag and toe the line, ready to give it my best shot.
And so I run.
Normally I would confidantly say YES, I CAN, but . . . . this time, I have doubts. Rewind to this time last year, when I was just beginning to test the triathlon waters, nervously building my endurance in the pool to get ready for St. Anthony's Triathlon. I was focused, trying to learn all I could about swimming and biking, and then adding it to what I thought I knew about running.
All things considered, my first triathlon season was a success. I completed 3 sprint distance triathlons, knocking 15 minutes off of my time at each race. I completed an Olympic Distance triathlon, and I was so proud of myself for doing so. I attempted a 70.3 triathlon, and in my failure to do so, I had the strength to cheer on everyone else that was finishing, because I was so happy to see their hard work pay off, to see them be the champions they are. I made new friends, learned new skills, and had FUN!
That being said . . . back to Miami. I learned more from not finishing that race than perhaps I would have had I actually crossed the line. Or so I tell myself. Right after Miami, I turned my focus to the Goofy Challenge at Disney World. I stopped swimming, rode my bike occassionally, and ran . . . once in awhile. I was so tired - I was slammed at work, newly engaged, and ready to enjoy the holidays. I finished both the half and full marathons at Disney, and, tired or not, it was time to re-train for triathlon.
I signed up for the HITS series in Ocala, FL, to prove to myself that I am capable of completing the distance, that I am better than Miami. The race is close to home, well before our upcoming wedding, and extremely affordable.
What I did not expect, however, was that I would not want to train. At all. I didn't run for two weeks after Disney . . . I got on my bike on the weekends, but only if it was above 50 degreees. I took a spin class here and there, and avoided the pool like the plague.
It wasn't until recently that I began to get it together. I've still only swam twice, and I haven't been on my bike in 2, maybe 3 weeks. There have been no brick workouts. I've been going to boot camp and running. I am sore, but I feel stronger.
Today I learned that there is a 1 hour and 10 minute limit for the swim portion of the tri. My swim time in Miami was 1:08:57. Did I mention that I haven't been swimming? I am now freaking out, worrying that I just might have another DNF.
There's not much I can do at this point, except swim a few times a week for the next two weeks, trying my best to stay calm in the water. My plan for race day is to take my time. Trying to go fast will just cause me to panic, and then it will go south from there. I have to stay positive, stay focused, and just take one stroke at a time. Once I get out of the water, it will be okay.
So ready or not, in two weeks I will attempt another 70.3. This really did seem like a good idea six months ago. It is what it is. Maybe in failing to prepare I have prepared myself to fail, but I will pack my bag and toe the line, ready to give it my best shot.
And so I run.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
You are what you eat
Last week, I decided that it would be a fantastic idea to start taking Boot Camp classes with Faith Jenkins at Del Oro Park in Clearwater. I did this for two reasons: 1) to tone my arms for my upcoming wedding (yes, I happen to be slightly vain), and 2) to strengthen the smaller muscle groups that will enable me to become a better triathlete. It's always there - that need to be better, to get stronger.
The classes are fantastic - small in size, but not in substance! I was so sore after the first class that it took me 3 days to be able to sit down without my legs wanting to buckle. I wisely paid upfront for 10 sessions, knowing that if I paid for it, I will go. And if I don't, Faith will totally call me out, and I cannot let that happen! If you have been thinking about adding a boot camp class or just trying something new, come on out and join us! It really is fun - I wasn't nearly as sore after my second class, and I ran 3 miles beforehand.
Faith has partnered with a new-ish establishment called Fit Life Foods.
I had heard of this previously, through my Team In Training coaches, but hadn't tried the meals. I had NO IDEA what I was missing! Now, I am not an expert, by any means, but lately I have been trying to tweak my diet, to choose healthier, more nutrient rich foods. Sadly, chocolate chip cookies do not fall into this category, and while I have cut back considerably, I do still cave once a week.
I try to follow the NSNG lifestyle, but it's not for me. Not right now. I think that I am not ready to accept it just yet, and that is the whole starting point of change, right? You have to WANT to change. I am working on it - Rome wasn't built in a day, you know ;-p
Anyways. Chad and I do not have a dishwasher in our new home. We will eventually purchase and install one, but for now we are the ones with dish pan hands. There are only two of us, so it's not completely awful. The tricky part is that we eat different things, and more often than not, I cook two different meals. The dishes add up, and sometimes I just don't want to dirty any new ones. You can judge me - I don't mind.
Sunday afternoon I went to Fit Life Foods on McMullen Booth Road to browse the selection and to learn a bit more about the food. Each meal is prepared with organic, preservative and additive free ingredients. It is all "clean eating," so to speak.
Most of the meals come in 3 different sizes - small, medium and large. The nice girl working there informed me that most women choose the small meals. I just smiled and nodded, knowing that I would need at least the medium meal in order to have enough energy to complete my workouts - or so I thought.
It took me awhile to decide, but finally I made my selections: cashew chicken, greek meatballs, salmon patty, and turkey chili with a mini cornbread flax seed muffin. The cashew chicken and salmon patty were the small meals, and lo and behold, both were completely satisfying! I wasn't hungry after eating either, and they were both tasty! The salmon patty came with a kick but spicy chipotle sauce. Delicious!!!!
Here is the label on the cashew chicken:
Cal 210
Fat 5g
Carb 16g
Prot 22g
Fiber 3g
I selected the Greek meatball meal in the medium size. It was okay - not my favorite, but only because of the sauce. The couscous, asparagus and meatballs I liked. The medium proved to be a little much, and so I gave a couple to Zeus. He was one happy pup!
Today I had the last meal - the Turkey Bean Chili. It was fantastic! I ate the entire large container, plus the mini muffin. I currently feel a bit like I just ate Thanksgiving dinner. Truthfully, I only bought the large because they didn't have the other sizes and I really wanted to try it as one of my meals. I had a coupon for a free meal, so in total I spent $23.95 on 3 meals - $8.31/meal on average, which is the same (or less) than you would spend eating fast food or at a restaurant.
Since I don't mind cooking or eating freshly prepared salads, I probably will not utilize the Meal Plan much, but I will be stopping to pick up fresh, healthy meals to have for lunch or dinner each week. They have such a great selection - mac n cheese, chicken, turkey, veggie burgers - even brownies and fruit bowls!
I am already busy planning my next visit to Fit Life, and scouring the menu to select the meals I will purchase to supplement my cooking over the next week.
I encourage you to check it out. There are (4) locations in the Tampa Bay area - South Tampa, 4th Street in St. Pete, Safety Harbor and Carrollwood. Give it a try - you will be glad that you did! Change your diet . . . change your life!
The classes are fantastic - small in size, but not in substance! I was so sore after the first class that it took me 3 days to be able to sit down without my legs wanting to buckle. I wisely paid upfront for 10 sessions, knowing that if I paid for it, I will go. And if I don't, Faith will totally call me out, and I cannot let that happen! If you have been thinking about adding a boot camp class or just trying something new, come on out and join us! It really is fun - I wasn't nearly as sore after my second class, and I ran 3 miles beforehand.
Faith has partnered with a new-ish establishment called Fit Life Foods.
I had heard of this previously, through my Team In Training coaches, but hadn't tried the meals. I had NO IDEA what I was missing! Now, I am not an expert, by any means, but lately I have been trying to tweak my diet, to choose healthier, more nutrient rich foods. Sadly, chocolate chip cookies do not fall into this category, and while I have cut back considerably, I do still cave once a week.
I try to follow the NSNG lifestyle, but it's not for me. Not right now. I think that I am not ready to accept it just yet, and that is the whole starting point of change, right? You have to WANT to change. I am working on it - Rome wasn't built in a day, you know ;-p
Anyways. Chad and I do not have a dishwasher in our new home. We will eventually purchase and install one, but for now we are the ones with dish pan hands. There are only two of us, so it's not completely awful. The tricky part is that we eat different things, and more often than not, I cook two different meals. The dishes add up, and sometimes I just don't want to dirty any new ones. You can judge me - I don't mind.
Sunday afternoon I went to Fit Life Foods on McMullen Booth Road to browse the selection and to learn a bit more about the food. Each meal is prepared with organic, preservative and additive free ingredients. It is all "clean eating," so to speak.
Most of the meals come in 3 different sizes - small, medium and large. The nice girl working there informed me that most women choose the small meals. I just smiled and nodded, knowing that I would need at least the medium meal in order to have enough energy to complete my workouts - or so I thought.
It took me awhile to decide, but finally I made my selections: cashew chicken, greek meatballs, salmon patty, and turkey chili with a mini cornbread flax seed muffin. The cashew chicken and salmon patty were the small meals, and lo and behold, both were completely satisfying! I wasn't hungry after eating either, and they were both tasty! The salmon patty came with a kick but spicy chipotle sauce. Delicious!!!!
Here is the label on the cashew chicken:
Cal 210
Fat 5g
Carb 16g
Prot 22g
Fiber 3g
I selected the Greek meatball meal in the medium size. It was okay - not my favorite, but only because of the sauce. The couscous, asparagus and meatballs I liked. The medium proved to be a little much, and so I gave a couple to Zeus. He was one happy pup!
Today I had the last meal - the Turkey Bean Chili. It was fantastic! I ate the entire large container, plus the mini muffin. I currently feel a bit like I just ate Thanksgiving dinner. Truthfully, I only bought the large because they didn't have the other sizes and I really wanted to try it as one of my meals. I had a coupon for a free meal, so in total I spent $23.95 on 3 meals - $8.31/meal on average, which is the same (or less) than you would spend eating fast food or at a restaurant.
Since I don't mind cooking or eating freshly prepared salads, I probably will not utilize the Meal Plan much, but I will be stopping to pick up fresh, healthy meals to have for lunch or dinner each week. They have such a great selection - mac n cheese, chicken, turkey, veggie burgers - even brownies and fruit bowls!
I am already busy planning my next visit to Fit Life, and scouring the menu to select the meals I will purchase to supplement my cooking over the next week.
I encourage you to check it out. There are (4) locations in the Tampa Bay area - South Tampa, 4th Street in St. Pete, Safety Harbor and Carrollwood. Give it a try - you will be glad that you did! Change your diet . . . change your life!
Monday, March 4, 2013
PRODUCT REVIEW: The Aqua Tally
A while back, my friend (and fellow blogger) JC over at Fat Slow Triathlete gave me a product to test and review that he had received. He thought that it may inadvertently help me with my swimming. That, my friends, is a whole different blog. "Ain't no one got time for that" right now.
After a good 3 months away from the pool, I finally mustered enough self-discipline to go to the pool. I packed my swim gear, complete with my shiny new Aqua Tally. What is an Aqua Tally, you ask? GREAT question! It is a product designed to help swimmers keep track of how many laps they swim in the pool!
It is simply designed - it resembled an abacus! It is a small plastic contraption, with suction cups on the bottom (genius!), and a metal rod holding blue and white beads between plastic triangular "bookends." The product came with instructions, which seems sort of absurd, as anyone with a working eye and half a brain could figure out, but was a nice touch - many manufacturers deem printed instructions a waste of profit, and therefore require users to search high and low in order to simply use the product as intended.
The bar has five sets of (4) blue beads and (1) white bead - online, buyers are able to select different colors and even customize the tallys to team/school colors. Very neat.
I had decided to employ the KISS method - Keep It Simple, Silly - and decided that each blue bead would represent 50m, and the white beads would represent 100m.
I have to say, I lost count. In no way was this due to the design or function of the Aqua Tally. It had everything to do with my fatigue - "did I move the bead already?"
When I climbed out of the pool, I immediately counted the beads and made a note on my log - you know, give or take the 50m my brain was not working.
Over all, I am glad to have this product. It helps me keep track and stay focused, as well as remind myself that it is time to switch up my drills or add a few extra meters. I recommend adding this tool to your swim bag - you'll be glad you have it!
After a good 3 months away from the pool, I finally mustered enough self-discipline to go to the pool. I packed my swim gear, complete with my shiny new Aqua Tally. What is an Aqua Tally, you ask? GREAT question! It is a product designed to help swimmers keep track of how many laps they swim in the pool!
This is not me. This is from the product homepage.
It is simply designed - it resembled an abacus! It is a small plastic contraption, with suction cups on the bottom (genius!), and a metal rod holding blue and white beads between plastic triangular "bookends." The product came with instructions, which seems sort of absurd, as anyone with a working eye and half a brain could figure out, but was a nice touch - many manufacturers deem printed instructions a waste of profit, and therefore require users to search high and low in order to simply use the product as intended.
The bar has five sets of (4) blue beads and (1) white bead - online, buyers are able to select different colors and even customize the tallys to team/school colors. Very neat.
I had decided to employ the KISS method - Keep It Simple, Silly - and decided that each blue bead would represent 50m, and the white beads would represent 100m.
I have to say, I lost count. In no way was this due to the design or function of the Aqua Tally. It had everything to do with my fatigue - "did I move the bead already?"
When I climbed out of the pool, I immediately counted the beads and made a note on my log - you know, give or take the 50m my brain was not working.
Over all, I am glad to have this product. It helps me keep track and stay focused, as well as remind myself that it is time to switch up my drills or add a few extra meters. I recommend adding this tool to your swim bag - you'll be glad you have it!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Strength, Courage and Wisdom
Over the past month or so, I have been reading books, articles and blogs, in addition to listening to podcasts, regarding becoming a better endurance athlete and the benefits of following a "clean" diet. It occurred to me that I find this very interesting - not so much the exact science or the anal counting of calories, carbs, protein, etc that I consume each day, but the overall benefits of the wise words spoken by Hippocrates - "let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."
When I read this quote in my copy of "Eat and Run," by Scott Jurek, I began to give it thought. It makes sense. When I was diagnosed with NHL in 1998, my oncologist said that they didn't know where it came from, or what caused it, but that anything from alcohol consumption to antiperspirant could be the culprit. I try not to dwell on my retroactive decisions, because what good is that going to do, really? I could write a book called "What Not To Do," covering a wide array of topics, but I digress. Also, I am not about to cease using deoderant. It was invented for a reason. A very good reason. To further reaffirm my decision to tweak my diet and lifestyle, I thought "how wrong could the Father of Modern Medicine be? Or a vegan ultrarunner who runs 50 miles faster than I run a mere 26.2?" I figured that it's something to consider.
I decided to start a No Sugar, No Grain lifestyle this week. So far, I like it; I haven't been hungry throughout the day, and I haven't noticed a decreased energy level, although that could be due to the enormous mount of caffeine I consume via coffee. I am very new to this lifestyle, and I do not claim to know everything there is to know about NSNG - shoot, I don't even know a lot about it! I am learning everyday, making changes as I go. I am basically following a Paleo model, but with dairy. No, you do not need to lecture me on how this is completely incorrect, thank you very much. I am, however, open to suggestions on how to add a variety of foods to keep my days interesting.
This week, I have eaten the same exact thing for breakfast and lunch each day, changing it up for dinner. At breakfast, I have taken to eating 1/4c fresh berries, 1 medium banana, 1/2c full fat greek yogurt and 1/8c roasted pumpkin seeds, all mixed together in a bowl of deliciousness. I drink 1c of black coffee and 1c of coffee with heavy cream. I prefer the black coffee, but I wanted to curb my mid-morning sugar cravings, hence the heavy cream. So far it seems to be working! I have not felt the need to open the packages of cookies or a diet soda at 10am!
For lunch, I eat A big salad, filled with fresh spinach, hard boiled eggs, baby portabellas, carrots, green peppers, cherry tomatoes, grilled turkey and whatever other fresh veggies I have in the fridge. I drizzle it with 2T of olive oil/blue cheese dressing. Calm down - it contains ZERO sugar and is all natural. I read the label. Next week I will add the real cheese and switch to olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dress my lunch.
I did have afternoon snacks - Sunday I chose oven roasted chickpeas and Monday I chose coffee with heavy cream, accompanied by 1/4c macadamia nuts. I also had some cubed sharp chedder and a handful of baby carrots. Oink oink, lol. For dinner, I have had oven baked boneless, skinless chicken breasts with sweet potatoes - and I was 100% satisfied for the entire evening.
I stepped on the scale this morning, and I was shocked to see it down 4lbs from yesterday. I believe this reflects the loss of muscle mass due to my lack of exercising over the past week, but we all know it's water weight. Regardless, it is always nice to see the number go down. No, I do not, by any means, have a serious weight problem. If you ask my aunts, though, they will tell you I am too skinny. I assure you, I am not. I have a good 10 pounds that can go away, and I fully believe that it will, given my newly adopted NSNG lifestyle and my triathlon/marathon training.
My ultimate goal, though, is not to lose weight - that's really just the icing on the cake, so to speak. My intentions are far more important than 10 pounds. My goal is to make my body strong by fueling it with the foods it needs, not the sugar I enjoy. I aim to evade serious health issues in the future, so that I am able to be here, in person, for my family, my friends, and all those I have yet to meet. It is also my intention, should I ever produce daughters, that they are born with all "good eggs," and by choosing this clean way of life, I am providing a bright, healthy future for my grandchildren.
And so I run.
When I read this quote in my copy of "Eat and Run," by Scott Jurek, I began to give it thought. It makes sense. When I was diagnosed with NHL in 1998, my oncologist said that they didn't know where it came from, or what caused it, but that anything from alcohol consumption to antiperspirant could be the culprit. I try not to dwell on my retroactive decisions, because what good is that going to do, really? I could write a book called "What Not To Do," covering a wide array of topics, but I digress. Also, I am not about to cease using deoderant. It was invented for a reason. A very good reason. To further reaffirm my decision to tweak my diet and lifestyle, I thought "how wrong could the Father of Modern Medicine be? Or a vegan ultrarunner who runs 50 miles faster than I run a mere 26.2?" I figured that it's something to consider.
I decided to start a No Sugar, No Grain lifestyle this week. So far, I like it; I haven't been hungry throughout the day, and I haven't noticed a decreased energy level, although that could be due to the enormous mount of caffeine I consume via coffee. I am very new to this lifestyle, and I do not claim to know everything there is to know about NSNG - shoot, I don't even know a lot about it! I am learning everyday, making changes as I go. I am basically following a Paleo model, but with dairy. No, you do not need to lecture me on how this is completely incorrect, thank you very much. I am, however, open to suggestions on how to add a variety of foods to keep my days interesting.
This week, I have eaten the same exact thing for breakfast and lunch each day, changing it up for dinner. At breakfast, I have taken to eating 1/4c fresh berries, 1 medium banana, 1/2c full fat greek yogurt and 1/8c roasted pumpkin seeds, all mixed together in a bowl of deliciousness. I drink 1c of black coffee and 1c of coffee with heavy cream. I prefer the black coffee, but I wanted to curb my mid-morning sugar cravings, hence the heavy cream. So far it seems to be working! I have not felt the need to open the packages of cookies or a diet soda at 10am!
For lunch, I eat A big salad, filled with fresh spinach, hard boiled eggs, baby portabellas, carrots, green peppers, cherry tomatoes, grilled turkey and whatever other fresh veggies I have in the fridge. I drizzle it with 2T of olive oil/blue cheese dressing. Calm down - it contains ZERO sugar and is all natural. I read the label. Next week I will add the real cheese and switch to olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dress my lunch.
I did have afternoon snacks - Sunday I chose oven roasted chickpeas and Monday I chose coffee with heavy cream, accompanied by 1/4c macadamia nuts. I also had some cubed sharp chedder and a handful of baby carrots. Oink oink, lol. For dinner, I have had oven baked boneless, skinless chicken breasts with sweet potatoes - and I was 100% satisfied for the entire evening.
I stepped on the scale this morning, and I was shocked to see it down 4lbs from yesterday. I believe this reflects the loss of muscle mass due to my lack of exercising over the past week, but we all know it's water weight. Regardless, it is always nice to see the number go down. No, I do not, by any means, have a serious weight problem. If you ask my aunts, though, they will tell you I am too skinny. I assure you, I am not. I have a good 10 pounds that can go away, and I fully believe that it will, given my newly adopted NSNG lifestyle and my triathlon/marathon training.
My ultimate goal, though, is not to lose weight - that's really just the icing on the cake, so to speak. My intentions are far more important than 10 pounds. My goal is to make my body strong by fueling it with the foods it needs, not the sugar I enjoy. I aim to evade serious health issues in the future, so that I am able to be here, in person, for my family, my friends, and all those I have yet to meet. It is also my intention, should I ever produce daughters, that they are born with all "good eggs," and by choosing this clean way of life, I am providing a bright, healthy future for my grandchildren.
And so I run.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Race Report - The Goofy Challenge
Last January, I had the opportunity to travel to Disney World for the Level 1 Team In Training coaching certification seminar. It was a great day, full of information, short runs and new friends. While I was there, I heard several people talking about something called "Goofy." I had to know - what was this, exactly? Turns out that it is running the 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday followed by running the Full Marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday - 39.3 miles in two days. How awful, I thought! Who would DO that?
Winter registration opened for Team In Training, and I signed myself up for the Goofy Challenge. How hard could it be, I thought? It will be fun, I thought! You can start laughing now. It was hard. And not super fun. Well, not the running part. The overall experience was AMAZING, though. I absolutely love Team In Training, and every moment I spend with my fellow purple people is a blessing.
I headed towards Orlando late Friday night. My girls had a game, and I didn't want to miss out on their first game in the new year. We didn't win - we didn't even play particularly well, actually. I think we are getting worse instead of better. I pocketed my frustration and gave the girls a pep talk, told them to keep their heads up and we'd give it another go Monday. I rushed out of the gym, anxious to get to the hotel for a few hours of sleep before race #1. You'd think I'd have learned from Miami Man, but as usual I had over committed myself and therefore I was only able to sleep for 4 hours.
I had my race gear all laid out and ready to go, so once I realized why my alarm was going off at 2am, I hopped up and started to get myself ready for Day One. I managed to get to the hotel lobby at 2:30am for a quick coffee run before the team meeting at 2:45am. I ran into Teresa and Elaine, who were probably surprised to see me so early - and on time, to boot - and then I saw Soly, who was headed to get some breakfast. I moseyed on down to our meeting place, coffee in hand, and continued to prepare for the race. There were squeals of excitement from all of us - yes, at 3am - and lots of hugs to go around. We love hugs almost as much as we love running! Once everyone was gathered and accounted for, we took a bunch of group photos, listened to Lyle, Teresa and Elaine for last minute race instructions, and walked to the buses.
Our group ended up separating on the buses, so it was a bit helter skelter. I stuck with Soly and Jeania, and we followed the 27,000 other people heading to the start line of the 1/2 Marathon. It did occur to me that we were behaving like cattle, shuffling our feet, following the masses. I also briefly thought of the Holocaust. I just cannot help myself sometimes. I changed the channel to more pleasant thoughts, and hiked the mile to the start line. Seriously - it couldn't have been closer to the bus drop-off?
Anyway. Due to my late arrival Friday night, I wasn't able to go to the expo to submit my proof of time to move from the last corral, so I was all the way in the back - as in Corral H. I didn't mind much, because the race times are based on when you cross the start and finish, not when the first person crosses the line. My corral started 51 minutes after the first runners began. It was a long time to wait, so I made friends with a woman from Indianapolis, who was back doing her 4th Goofy race. Once we made it to the front, we clapped and cheered as the last of the fireworks ignited, and off we went.
The course was a bit narrow, and VERY crowded. I focused on the path in front of me, and followed a family of 4 through the masses for the first 3 miles, since they were running about my pace. My stomach didn't feel quite right, but I tried to ignore it and focus on running. The first part of the course was highway, and I was debating whether or not I should use the portalet or wait until I got into the park, since the bathrooms would be open.
At Mile 4 we found ourselves in the Magic Kingdom, which was all lit up and very pretty. I started to veer over to the restroom, only to see a long line. I was running at a decent pace, and I didn't want to stop and lose time, so I kept going.
At Mile 5, I realized that was a grave mistake, as my stomach was really unhappy. I was irritated that the runners were stopping in the middle of the course to take pictures, and I found myself aggravated and not enjoying the race.
At Mile 6, I spotted another bathroom, and I was NOT passing it up. There wasn't a line, and there was toilet paper, soap and water - score! That is the one really nice thing about running through the Disney Parks. They let you use their bathrooms, lol. I felt better, and only lost 2 minutes.
I don't really remember much after Mile 6. My stomach started cramping almost immediately, and I did not feel good. Somehow I made it to Mile 11.5, and used the bathroom in Epcot. I lost another 2 minutes, but it was worth it. I don't know what was going on, but it was awful. I rounded the corner, and there was a gospel choir, singing "Hallelujah." They were my favorite. Finally the finish line was in sight, and since I felt ok, I picked up my pace and headed on in. My official time was 2:34, which I was happy with, considering how awful I felt, the impromptu stops at the castle, walking where the course narrowed and bottlenecked, and the bathroom stops. I made my way through the finish chute, claiming my medal and a few bottles of water, thanking each of the volunteers along the way.
I went to get in line to have my official photo taken, and I spotted my friend Luis, so I went to chat with him. While we were talking, Soly came in! The three of us had some laughs, took pictures, and headed in to find food (and beer) before checking in at the Team In Training tent. I went to get my gear bag, and decided that perhaps I should use the bathroom one more time. It was a long day . . . .and it was about to get longer, only I had no idea, lol.
I continued on through, walking through the aid stations, taking in water and powerade and alternating gels and chews. I was being very careful, and trying not to take in too much - I didn't want to have to stop every mile to use the bathroom! My legs were screaming at me already, and I was only at Mile 5. It was about this time that I started to feel the searing pain on both of my feet - I had new blisters on top of the old ones. I tried not to think about it, and I just kept going. I felt ok, actually. I didn't mind stopping to walk through the water stations, and I even took a picture on the speedway of this fancy red car, which Chad informed me is a corvette.
My camera battery died right here, which was unfortunate, because 'Mater was at the other end of the Speedway. Boo. No more pictures for the day.
At Mile 12, we entered Animal Kingdom. The sun was rising right behind Expedition Everest, and I thought about how Animal Kingdom is my 2nd favorite Disney Park (I like Epcot the best), and what it must be like to actually see the sun while standing on top of Mt. Everest, and that perhaps I should put that on my bucket list. Why not add climbing to my list of athletic endeavors?
Mile 14. I was tired. Every single muscle in my body ached. My legs hurt worse than my feet, which I was certain were bleeding. I decided that I should walk for a mile, just to stretch out my muscles, give myself a break. I met up with a Coach from Seattle, and she assured me that this would be the worst I would feel all day. I am really glad that she lied to me :-)
At Mile 15, I saw Alyse and the rest of our Suncoast chEARsquad. Alyse walked with me for a few hundred yards - I knew she wanted to run with me, but my legs were cement blocks by now and I had to walk. I was super happy to see her, and I was glad that I had the chance to chat with her on the course!
At Mile 16, I forced myself to run a little bit. At Mile 16.2, I noticed that I was walking faster than I was running, so I decided that I would walk. I updated my Facebook page and sent a text message to Chad, just so that everyone knew I was okay but I was going to be a little slower than expected.
A few more miles passed, and I really was enjoying myself, despite the amount of pain I was feeling. I was wondering how Lyle and Rej finished (3:04 and 3:08, respectively), thinking about how the 70.3 triathlon felt easier than back to back running events, and what I needed to do to train for a full Ironman.
I saw Genna and Christa run past me, and I actually ran to catch up with them to see how they were feeling. They were having a good day - they both looked great, and they ROCKED it! I was so proud and happy. I wished them well, and fell back into my happy walk.
At Mile 19, I finally saw Elaine. She somehow got me to run for almost a full mile, made sure I was taking salt and fluids, and told me that I could walk when I got to the end of the track. She stayed true to her word, although in true coaching fashion, she did try to get me to run further :-)
I waved her off, told her I was fine, and that she should go back and check on the others. Elaine caught up with me at Mile 21, and our conversation went like this:
Elaine: Hey, Megan! You doing ok?
Me: Yep, I'm good!
Elaine: You want to run a little?
Me: Nope.
Elaine: You sure?
Me: Yep! I'm good!
I felt a little rude, but I knew I would do more damage than good by running. At Mile 23, Elaine was back. Apparently Genna and Christa told all of our coaches that they were fine, but that I needed them. She caught me at a moment of weakness - I was really hurting, and I wanted to run so badly, but my body wasn't cooperating. I was in the middle of calming myself down, and Elaine asked "So how old is Chad now?" And as I went to answer, only tears rolled out. Sigh. I managed to get it together, and I answered. Poor Chad. It was his birthday weekend, and I went off to run 39 miles :-)
Elaine (above left) promised me that Teresa (above right) was waiting for me at Mile 24, and there she was! I was excited to see her green wig, and was thankful for another diversion. Mentally I was solid - I never once doubted that I would not finish the race. I knew that there was a strong possibility that I would have to walk a lot, because I didn't train as well as I should have - and I was okay with this, because I was doing this for Team In Training, not to get a PR. But I was really in a lot of pain, and it's always nice to have a friend to talk to when that happens.
We stopped at a bathroom in Hollywood Studios, and when I went in, I was so sore that I almost couldn't sit down! I laughed, because all I could think that I was going to have to call Teresa to come in to help me get off the pot, lol. I had a fit of giggles, which continued for about a half mile, because she was outside thinking the same exact thing! The race photographers captured the moment, and it is actually one of my favorite photos. I might even buy it!
At Mile 25, Lyle was waiting for us, cold can of Coke in hand, and a smile that could melt ice. I pleaded with Teresa earlier to tell him not to try to make me run, because Lyle is so positive that he believes in you more than you can ever believe in yourself. Have I mentioned how AWESOME he is? He asked me if I was okay, which caused another round of laughter, because I told them I knew I looked like a 90 year old that had to use the bathroom. I told him that every single muscle in my body hurt - even the muscles that attached to my rib cage. He joked "so you're going to be super fun to dance with later!" He asked if I wanted to take pictures with the characters, but I was almost at Mile 26 and I just did not want to stop moving (even though it was Princess Jasmine). Teresa and Lyle gave me a hug and told me they'd see me later. I made sure to walk the tangents, and soon enough there was the Hallelujah choir. I clapped and told them they were awesome, and headed to the finish line.
I saw Alyse, Genna and Christa on the sideline, cheering for me as I made my way down the chute. I really wanted to run, but my legs just were not cooperating. So I walked across the line, with a smile on my face to mask the pain. I looked at my watch - 6 hours and 10 minutes. I didn't even care. I was done!
I hobbled through the finish line area again, making sure to collect my marathon medal AND my goofy medal. I took the extra bottles of water that the volunteers offered, and forced myself to eat a banana. I checked in at the Team In Training tent, and waited around for Soly, who wasn't far behind me. But first, I went to the beer truck for an ice cold Miller Lite and a turkey wrap. SO GOOD! I talked to a guy named Andrew, who ran the whole race with a fedora. He is in one of my race pictures, too! He's from the DC area, I believe. He is also a triathlete!
I was having trouble walking, so I went to stand by the finish line area, where I knew I would eventually see Soly. I was afraid to sit down, because I wouldn't have been able to get up, and I was terrified to take off my shoes, for fear of the sad state of affairs my feet were surely experiencing.
Soly came around the corner, and said "Who's idea was this?" We were stupid with laughter. We hobbled down to the bus line - I am sure it took us a half hour, we were both in such bad shape. Somehow this caused us to laugh even more. We got on the bus, still laughing. A man sat down next to me, holding his baby boy, his wife sitting behind them. I looked over, and had to refrain from grabbing the baby. He was so sweet - he reminded me of my sister's baby boy, Joey, who is 7 months old, and who I miss terribly. I thought of my family, who all shake their head when they hear what I sign myself up to do, but still ask to hear about the events, and who continue to support me no matter what, and I laughed to myself because Nolan and Joey will probably call me "Crazy Aunt Megan."
Getting OFF the bus was tougher than getting on. We laughed all the way back to our rooms. On the way, we ran into Rej and Kristina, and then Miranda and Jeff. I loved hearing about everyone's day. Jeff is on the Disney Marathon Team, and he placed 1st in his age group - he ran a 2:54! Miranda ran a 4:41 - another great race!!!! She is one of my very favorite training partners. We will be running and biking together soon. Next up for her is the Paris Marathon! How exciting i that? Ooh la la!
I finally made it to my room, where Charlene was relaxing. I was really glad that she made it back before me, because I took forever in the shower. I chatted with her about her day, and was happy to hear that she had a fun time. I even saw her and her teammates on the course, in Hollywood Studios, right before I saw Teresa. That was really cool :-)
I spent most of the afternoon laying on the bed with a pillow under my knees. Everything was swollen - my fingers looked like bratwursts, and I had cankles. This also caused fits of laughter, because I must have looked ridiculous. At 4pm, I started to get ready for the Team In Training Victory party. I was driving home that evening, so I also had to pack and somehow get all of my bags to my car. It took me about an hour, haha. I finally walked into the ballroom, and was immediately greeted with a hug by Lyle, Elaine and Teresa. They give really good hugs. Cody, Genna and Christa came over to say hi, and Soly gave me the most important information - how to get beer and food :-)
I sat with Soly, and we watched as our teammates danced the evening away while we laughed at my feet. Luckily they weren't too bad - the blisters were there, and very obvious, but not popped or bleeding or anything else gross. The party ended on a high note - collectively, 1,080 athletes raised a whopping $3.4 MILLION dollars for cancer research at Disney!!!!!!! After a room full of cheers, I made my rounds and said goodbye, and waddled out to my car to go home. I smiled the whole way, thinking of what a great weekend it was with my friends. I made new friends, got to know some of my current friends a bit better, and helped to make a difference in the lives of others. That's why I do this - that's why I sign up to participate with Team In Training season after season. Because by walking, running, swimming and biking, we make a difference.
And so I run.
Silly me. I knew exactly who, hahaha!
Winter registration opened for Team In Training, and I signed myself up for the Goofy Challenge. How hard could it be, I thought? It will be fun, I thought! You can start laughing now. It was hard. And not super fun. Well, not the running part. The overall experience was AMAZING, though. I absolutely love Team In Training, and every moment I spend with my fellow purple people is a blessing.
I headed towards Orlando late Friday night. My girls had a game, and I didn't want to miss out on their first game in the new year. We didn't win - we didn't even play particularly well, actually. I think we are getting worse instead of better. I pocketed my frustration and gave the girls a pep talk, told them to keep their heads up and we'd give it another go Monday. I rushed out of the gym, anxious to get to the hotel for a few hours of sleep before race #1. You'd think I'd have learned from Miami Man, but as usual I had over committed myself and therefore I was only able to sleep for 4 hours.
I had my race gear all laid out and ready to go, so once I realized why my alarm was going off at 2am, I hopped up and started to get myself ready for Day One. I managed to get to the hotel lobby at 2:30am for a quick coffee run before the team meeting at 2:45am. I ran into Teresa and Elaine, who were probably surprised to see me so early - and on time, to boot - and then I saw Soly, who was headed to get some breakfast. I moseyed on down to our meeting place, coffee in hand, and continued to prepare for the race. There were squeals of excitement from all of us - yes, at 3am - and lots of hugs to go around. We love hugs almost as much as we love running! Once everyone was gathered and accounted for, we took a bunch of group photos, listened to Lyle, Teresa and Elaine for last minute race instructions, and walked to the buses.
Our group ended up separating on the buses, so it was a bit helter skelter. I stuck with Soly and Jeania, and we followed the 27,000 other people heading to the start line of the 1/2 Marathon. It did occur to me that we were behaving like cattle, shuffling our feet, following the masses. I also briefly thought of the Holocaust. I just cannot help myself sometimes. I changed the channel to more pleasant thoughts, and hiked the mile to the start line. Seriously - it couldn't have been closer to the bus drop-off?
Anyway. Due to my late arrival Friday night, I wasn't able to go to the expo to submit my proof of time to move from the last corral, so I was all the way in the back - as in Corral H. I didn't mind much, because the race times are based on when you cross the start and finish, not when the first person crosses the line. My corral started 51 minutes after the first runners began. It was a long time to wait, so I made friends with a woman from Indianapolis, who was back doing her 4th Goofy race. Once we made it to the front, we clapped and cheered as the last of the fireworks ignited, and off we went.
The course was a bit narrow, and VERY crowded. I focused on the path in front of me, and followed a family of 4 through the masses for the first 3 miles, since they were running about my pace. My stomach didn't feel quite right, but I tried to ignore it and focus on running. The first part of the course was highway, and I was debating whether or not I should use the portalet or wait until I got into the park, since the bathrooms would be open.
At Mile 4 we found ourselves in the Magic Kingdom, which was all lit up and very pretty. I started to veer over to the restroom, only to see a long line. I was running at a decent pace, and I didn't want to stop and lose time, so I kept going.
At Mile 5, I realized that was a grave mistake, as my stomach was really unhappy. I was irritated that the runners were stopping in the middle of the course to take pictures, and I found myself aggravated and not enjoying the race.
At Mile 6, I spotted another bathroom, and I was NOT passing it up. There wasn't a line, and there was toilet paper, soap and water - score! That is the one really nice thing about running through the Disney Parks. They let you use their bathrooms, lol. I felt better, and only lost 2 minutes.
I don't really remember much after Mile 6. My stomach started cramping almost immediately, and I did not feel good. Somehow I made it to Mile 11.5, and used the bathroom in Epcot. I lost another 2 minutes, but it was worth it. I don't know what was going on, but it was awful. I rounded the corner, and there was a gospel choir, singing "Hallelujah." They were my favorite. Finally the finish line was in sight, and since I felt ok, I picked up my pace and headed on in. My official time was 2:34, which I was happy with, considering how awful I felt, the impromptu stops at the castle, walking where the course narrowed and bottlenecked, and the bathroom stops. I made my way through the finish chute, claiming my medal and a few bottles of water, thanking each of the volunteers along the way.
I went to get in line to have my official photo taken, and I spotted my friend Luis, so I went to chat with him. While we were talking, Soly came in! The three of us had some laughs, took pictures, and headed in to find food (and beer) before checking in at the Team In Training tent. I went to get my gear bag, and decided that perhaps I should use the bathroom one more time. It was a long day . . . .and it was about to get longer, only I had no idea, lol.
Team In Training switched to a new check-in system - they used tablets! Instead of finding our name on a computer print out, they simply loaded it into the app, and took our picture, which was instantly sent to our email! This may be the only Disney Marathon Weekend in recent years with temperatures above freezing. Thank goodness, because I am not certain that my love for Team In Training would have gotten me to sit out in the cold for three hours before running. Look at that blue clear sky - it was a beautiful day! Not the least bit cold, sunny, dry, and not too humid. This is why I moved to Florida!
After we decided that we had everything, Soly and I made our way over to the bus lines that would take us back to the resort. I noticed a blister the size of a quarter on my right foot, at the exact spot my foot hits the ground with every step I take. I groaned inwardly, thinking "tomorrow is going to be a long 26 miles." Once we got the the hotel and climbed down off the bus (why are those steps so high?), I had to use the bathroom again. This went on the entire afternoon and evening - I used the bathroom every 30 minutes or so, right up until I passed out at 8:30pm.
We had a mini-inspiration dinner at the Olive Garden at 5pm, so Soly and I hobbled down to the lobby to head out. I was supposed to drive, but when we got to the parking lot, I realized I left my keys on the bed. Soly had hers, so she saved us the walk back, lol. When we arrived, the hostess was ready for us, so we were seated quickly. We shared a table with 5 others, and we enjoyed conversations and laughter. I had to get up and talk to Lyle, Elaine and Teresa before I ordered food.
Poor Lyle. He gets the most random questions, all what "regular" people would consider "embarrassing" and "TMI." He is a godsend, though. He never makes fun of any of us for asking weird questions, and he always helps. He told me what to order, and to go to Target for Immodium AD. He told me how much to take and when, he told me how to take care of the blisters on my feet, he told me what to eat for breakfast and how to fuel during the marathon. I drank up every single drop of information, and followed all of his instructions.
I drank two bottles of water, took medicine, I went to bed that night at 8:30pm, when my roommate Charlene and I agreed that we would turn out the lights. She was from our Ft. Lauderdale chapter, and running her first marathon! We were both excited, and we got along really well. At one point, I sat straight up in bed, sweating, and thought that I overslept and missed the bus. It was 10:15pm. I woke up every hour after that, worried that I was going to be late. Finally it was 1:50am, and I decided to just get out of bed and get ready for Day Two. My stomach felt better, but I took the Immodium, skipped the banana and peanut butter, and headed to the cafe for coffee. I bought two cups, because I knew from the prior morning that I would have awhile to wait and I would need the caffeine. My feet hurt pretty bad, so I carefully bandaged the blisters and tried not to think about them. It was 2:45am - time for roll call and pictures!
That's Lyle. And me. Kind of a terrible photo, but it was the middle of the night. Cut us some slack.
After pictures, we made our way to the buses - and we actually all got on the same one! We went to our established meeting place, and hung out until 4:15am-ish, when the corrals were opening. I must say, there is not a group of people I'd rather hang out with at 4am than my Team In Training friends. We had a great time, talking about the day and wishing each other good races.
The day before, Soly and I went to the expo so that I could change my corral - I was able to move up to E, so I started with PJ, Genna, Christa and Soly. I thought I could possibly finish the marathon in 5 hours, which would be a Personal Best for me, so I lined up with the pacer, Marie, who I had actually met last winter in St. Pete at the 1/2 Marathon. Marie also teaches at Thomas Jefferson, the school district where I coached! What a small world!!!
If you haven't guessed, this was a mistake. I started the race WAY too fast - my legs hurt before I even went to bed on Saturday, and my feet were feeling less than nice. I kept up for awhile, fully believeing that I could stick with the 5 hour pace group the entire marathon. I spotted Ben Mena on the side of the road at Mile 2ish, taking pictures of the runners. I shouted and waved, and then continued onward. I ran for awhile with a man named Jeff, who is from Baldwin, PA! We talked about the Burgh, and about Ironman training. I dropped back to tell PJ that I was stopping to use the bathroom at Mile 4, and that I would need to drop back a bit because the 5 hour pace was a bit too fast for me that day.
The bonus was that there were no lines at Mile 4. One of the cast members opened up their private restroom for us to use as well - talk about service! I was in and out, and decided that I would be ready to take some photos. I had my camera in hand, and stopped to take a picture of the castle.
My camera battery died right here, which was unfortunate, because 'Mater was at the other end of the Speedway. Boo. No more pictures for the day.
At Mile 12, we entered Animal Kingdom. The sun was rising right behind Expedition Everest, and I thought about how Animal Kingdom is my 2nd favorite Disney Park (I like Epcot the best), and what it must be like to actually see the sun while standing on top of Mt. Everest, and that perhaps I should put that on my bucket list. Why not add climbing to my list of athletic endeavors?
Mile 14. I was tired. Every single muscle in my body ached. My legs hurt worse than my feet, which I was certain were bleeding. I decided that I should walk for a mile, just to stretch out my muscles, give myself a break. I met up with a Coach from Seattle, and she assured me that this would be the worst I would feel all day. I am really glad that she lied to me :-)
At Mile 15, I saw Alyse and the rest of our Suncoast chEARsquad. Alyse walked with me for a few hundred yards - I knew she wanted to run with me, but my legs were cement blocks by now and I had to walk. I was super happy to see her, and I was glad that I had the chance to chat with her on the course!
At Mile 16, I forced myself to run a little bit. At Mile 16.2, I noticed that I was walking faster than I was running, so I decided that I would walk. I updated my Facebook page and sent a text message to Chad, just so that everyone knew I was okay but I was going to be a little slower than expected.
A few more miles passed, and I really was enjoying myself, despite the amount of pain I was feeling. I was wondering how Lyle and Rej finished (3:04 and 3:08, respectively), thinking about how the 70.3 triathlon felt easier than back to back running events, and what I needed to do to train for a full Ironman.
I saw Genna and Christa run past me, and I actually ran to catch up with them to see how they were feeling. They were having a good day - they both looked great, and they ROCKED it! I was so proud and happy. I wished them well, and fell back into my happy walk.
At Mile 19, I finally saw Elaine. She somehow got me to run for almost a full mile, made sure I was taking salt and fluids, and told me that I could walk when I got to the end of the track. She stayed true to her word, although in true coaching fashion, she did try to get me to run further :-)
I waved her off, told her I was fine, and that she should go back and check on the others. Elaine caught up with me at Mile 21, and our conversation went like this:
Elaine: Hey, Megan! You doing ok?
Me: Yep, I'm good!
Elaine: You want to run a little?
Me: Nope.
Elaine: You sure?
Me: Yep! I'm good!
I felt a little rude, but I knew I would do more damage than good by running. At Mile 23, Elaine was back. Apparently Genna and Christa told all of our coaches that they were fine, but that I needed them. She caught me at a moment of weakness - I was really hurting, and I wanted to run so badly, but my body wasn't cooperating. I was in the middle of calming myself down, and Elaine asked "So how old is Chad now?" And as I went to answer, only tears rolled out. Sigh. I managed to get it together, and I answered. Poor Chad. It was his birthday weekend, and I went off to run 39 miles :-)
Elaine (above left) promised me that Teresa (above right) was waiting for me at Mile 24, and there she was! I was excited to see her green wig, and was thankful for another diversion. Mentally I was solid - I never once doubted that I would not finish the race. I knew that there was a strong possibility that I would have to walk a lot, because I didn't train as well as I should have - and I was okay with this, because I was doing this for Team In Training, not to get a PR. But I was really in a lot of pain, and it's always nice to have a friend to talk to when that happens.
We stopped at a bathroom in Hollywood Studios, and when I went in, I was so sore that I almost couldn't sit down! I laughed, because all I could think that I was going to have to call Teresa to come in to help me get off the pot, lol. I had a fit of giggles, which continued for about a half mile, because she was outside thinking the same exact thing! The race photographers captured the moment, and it is actually one of my favorite photos. I might even buy it!
At Mile 25, Lyle was waiting for us, cold can of Coke in hand, and a smile that could melt ice. I pleaded with Teresa earlier to tell him not to try to make me run, because Lyle is so positive that he believes in you more than you can ever believe in yourself. Have I mentioned how AWESOME he is? He asked me if I was okay, which caused another round of laughter, because I told them I knew I looked like a 90 year old that had to use the bathroom. I told him that every single muscle in my body hurt - even the muscles that attached to my rib cage. He joked "so you're going to be super fun to dance with later!" He asked if I wanted to take pictures with the characters, but I was almost at Mile 26 and I just did not want to stop moving (even though it was Princess Jasmine). Teresa and Lyle gave me a hug and told me they'd see me later. I made sure to walk the tangents, and soon enough there was the Hallelujah choir. I clapped and told them they were awesome, and headed to the finish line.
I saw Alyse, Genna and Christa on the sideline, cheering for me as I made my way down the chute. I really wanted to run, but my legs just were not cooperating. So I walked across the line, with a smile on my face to mask the pain. I looked at my watch - 6 hours and 10 minutes. I didn't even care. I was done!
I hobbled through the finish line area again, making sure to collect my marathon medal AND my goofy medal. I took the extra bottles of water that the volunteers offered, and forced myself to eat a banana. I checked in at the Team In Training tent, and waited around for Soly, who wasn't far behind me. But first, I went to the beer truck for an ice cold Miller Lite and a turkey wrap. SO GOOD! I talked to a guy named Andrew, who ran the whole race with a fedora. He is in one of my race pictures, too! He's from the DC area, I believe. He is also a triathlete!
I was having trouble walking, so I went to stand by the finish line area, where I knew I would eventually see Soly. I was afraid to sit down, because I wouldn't have been able to get up, and I was terrified to take off my shoes, for fear of the sad state of affairs my feet were surely experiencing.
Soly came around the corner, and said "Who's idea was this?" We were stupid with laughter. We hobbled down to the bus line - I am sure it took us a half hour, we were both in such bad shape. Somehow this caused us to laugh even more. We got on the bus, still laughing. A man sat down next to me, holding his baby boy, his wife sitting behind them. I looked over, and had to refrain from grabbing the baby. He was so sweet - he reminded me of my sister's baby boy, Joey, who is 7 months old, and who I miss terribly. I thought of my family, who all shake their head when they hear what I sign myself up to do, but still ask to hear about the events, and who continue to support me no matter what, and I laughed to myself because Nolan and Joey will probably call me "Crazy Aunt Megan."
Getting OFF the bus was tougher than getting on. We laughed all the way back to our rooms. On the way, we ran into Rej and Kristina, and then Miranda and Jeff. I loved hearing about everyone's day. Jeff is on the Disney Marathon Team, and he placed 1st in his age group - he ran a 2:54! Miranda ran a 4:41 - another great race!!!! She is one of my very favorite training partners. We will be running and biking together soon. Next up for her is the Paris Marathon! How exciting i that? Ooh la la!
I finally made it to my room, where Charlene was relaxing. I was really glad that she made it back before me, because I took forever in the shower. I chatted with her about her day, and was happy to hear that she had a fun time. I even saw her and her teammates on the course, in Hollywood Studios, right before I saw Teresa. That was really cool :-)
I spent most of the afternoon laying on the bed with a pillow under my knees. Everything was swollen - my fingers looked like bratwursts, and I had cankles. This also caused fits of laughter, because I must have looked ridiculous. At 4pm, I started to get ready for the Team In Training Victory party. I was driving home that evening, so I also had to pack and somehow get all of my bags to my car. It took me about an hour, haha. I finally walked into the ballroom, and was immediately greeted with a hug by Lyle, Elaine and Teresa. They give really good hugs. Cody, Genna and Christa came over to say hi, and Soly gave me the most important information - how to get beer and food :-)
I sat with Soly, and we watched as our teammates danced the evening away while we laughed at my feet. Luckily they weren't too bad - the blisters were there, and very obvious, but not popped or bleeding or anything else gross. The party ended on a high note - collectively, 1,080 athletes raised a whopping $3.4 MILLION dollars for cancer research at Disney!!!!!!! After a room full of cheers, I made my rounds and said goodbye, and waddled out to my car to go home. I smiled the whole way, thinking of what a great weekend it was with my friends. I made new friends, got to know some of my current friends a bit better, and helped to make a difference in the lives of others. That's why I do this - that's why I sign up to participate with Team In Training season after season. Because by walking, running, swimming and biking, we make a difference.
And so I run.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Time Marches On
It's that time again . . . when the magic of the Christmas season has been carefully packed up and put away, resolutions have been penned (and perhaps forgotten), and offices are open for business as usual. Life, as we know it, has returned to "normal."
I am currently "tapering" for the Goofy Challenge, which means I am doing my best to stay hydrated and not eat junk food. Also, I am running less miles, which will give my poor tired legs an opportunity to recover before I take on 39.3 miles. I am also making mental checklists, collecting what I will need for race weekend to make certain that I don't forget anything important - you know, like running pants.
In addition to getting ready for Goofy, I am also preparing to begin my 11 week training plan for Ocala. My very awesome friend Pete composed a schedule for me to follow. The first week looks like this:
Now, I know this looks intimidating, but in all actuality, it's not too bad! Also, and I am being honest with myself, I will most likely NOT be running until at least Thursday. So I will substitute with swimming and biking.
Most of the workouts will take 2 hours or less, which is perfect, as it is still basketball season and I am a little short on "free" time. So if you are in Clearwater at LAF around 5am, let me know - I'd love company :-)
And so I run . . .
I am currently "tapering" for the Goofy Challenge, which means I am doing my best to stay hydrated and not eat junk food. Also, I am running less miles, which will give my poor tired legs an opportunity to recover before I take on 39.3 miles. I am also making mental checklists, collecting what I will need for race weekend to make certain that I don't forget anything important - you know, like running pants.
In addition to getting ready for Goofy, I am also preparing to begin my 11 week training plan for Ocala. My very awesome friend Pete composed a schedule for me to follow. The first week looks like this:
- Sun, Jan 13: Swim 2000m (drills), Bike 1 hour (HARD)
- Mon, Jan 14: Run 45 min, Strength training
- Tue, Jan 15: Bike 75 min, Swim 1500m
- Wed, Jan 16: Active Rest; Strength training
- Thu, Jan 17: Run 60 min
- Fri, Jan 18: Swim 800m, Bike 20 miles, Run 5k
- Sat, Jan 19: Run 45 min
Now, I know this looks intimidating, but in all actuality, it's not too bad! Also, and I am being honest with myself, I will most likely NOT be running until at least Thursday. So I will substitute with swimming and biking.
Most of the workouts will take 2 hours or less, which is perfect, as it is still basketball season and I am a little short on "free" time. So if you are in Clearwater at LAF around 5am, let me know - I'd love company :-)
And so I run . . .
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