Let the Taper Madness Begin!

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Indeed, 3 weeks from today my feet will cross the starting line of my first marathon. I can hardly believe it.

To date I have had two 18 mile runs, a 20 miler and my final long run of 21.22 miles yesterday. Yes, my training plan stopped at 20 miles. But my brain just had to know I could go further. Crazy how mental running is.

I ran the 20 miler two weeks ago with friends from my running group. Four hours of talking, laughing, encouraging, sharing and holding back tears on the killer 12% incline we hit during mile 19 helped pass the time. And once we got to the top of that hill, we all three cheered for Jesus, the One Who deserves all credit and glory.

Yesterday, though, I had to do my 21.22 mile run alone. It took me exactly 4 hours, and I felt pretty good when I was done. Today I feel great, even managed a 5 mile recovery run just to loosen up a little. Truthfully, I don't know which is harder. Running that distance, or staying with it for 4 hours. A little of both, but it was good mental preparation for the marathon I am about to run by myself (well, me and 50,000 other runners!).

Today is Mother's Day, my beloved family gave me what I asked for....new shoes and a sun visor. My Brooks Adrenalines have not failed me, and I replaced the outgoing pair with the exact same model.  This is my third pair of Adrenalines. I was happy to get over 500 miles out the outgoing pair, especially considering how many of those miles were on concrete and rough terrain.

So bring on taper. Crazy woman that I am, I'm already concocting my plan to run another marathon on September 22 here in Denver...16 weeks from my June 3rd marathon. Which means I have to do the standard 4 week recovery running, then slide back into a marathon plan at the midway point. CRAZINESS! I am so hooked.

In the spirit of my tired and achy feet, which were very glad to see the old shoes retire:

Now to stay steadfast and not start doubting myself. I have trained hard, and trained smart. My training WILL see me through. Most of all, Jesus will be with me, so I can't go wrong.

Race Report: Platte River Half Marathon

Fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

All week the weather reports for today, April 15th have been a conflicted jumble of rain/snow/thunder/lightning/zombie apocalypse. Seriously, I went to bed last night unsure of whether I would be running this race. My deciding factor would be accumulating snow. With 7 weeks till my full marathon, I have no desire to suffer a klutz-injury from falling (and I've been prone this winter). After listening to howling wind and snow pellets hitting the bedroom window most of the night, I was very surprised to see clearing skies and snow covered grassy areas, yet clear pavement in my neighborhood. So the race was on!

I had been debating for weeks how to run this race. Conservative as a training run, or race pace. The debate being whether it would be wise to actually "race" this race, with a marathon in 7 weeks, and risk a race related injury. So I asked Hal Higdon himself, whose plan I am following, and he advised me to race it just to test my fitness level leading up to my marathon. My previous fastest half marathon was 2:11:00, which was just about a 10:00 minute mile average, so I decided to try to do a bit better than that this race.
 

Lining up at the starting line, I saw some members of my running group, which was awesome and inspiring! It was a chilly but sunny morning, so spirits were high. As the race began, I started with a pretty solid 9:45 pace, and was able to stick between 9:30 and 9:45 until mile two...the first major bottle neck. And I do mean major. The trail squeezed down to the width of a city side walk, with rails on each side, as we passed under a major road and began to wind along the river. This lasted for at least a half a mile, during one point we slowed down to a 12 minute pace at best. Finally, it loosened up, and we began to spread back out.

About mile 5 the wind began to really pick up, to a full-on head wind for the rest of the race. By mile 6 the clouds came back, and it began sleeting/snowing. It remained cold and windy for the remainder.

For the first time ever, I raced without carrying my own water, the goal being to practice my marathon strategy of using the water stations. The best part was the friendly faces of members of my running group who were volunteering!

I was able to maintain a 9:30 to 9:45 or so pace throughout, until mile 13 when the wind really began to howl, to the point I was holding my hat on! This, coupled with running over the only truly big hill of the race, in the form of the 8th avenue viaduct which crosses over I 25,  slowed me down a bit in the end. At one point while on the bridge, two other runners jokingly asked if I wanted to hold hands with them so we would not blow over the rail, the wind was so strong. Finally after crossing the bridge and turning the corner, the finish line was visible. I finished at 2:08, with an average pace of 9:48 per mile.


I am quite happy with how I did. I am sure that minus the bottle necks and head wind I would have been faster, but improving my time by 3 minutes was good enough (this time).

Based on the McMillan pace calculator, a 2:08 half marathon should equate to a 4:30 full marathon. We'll see, I'll be happy just finishing!

I'm glad I ran the race, even though I wouldn't describe it as enjoyable, nor is this a race I plan to do again. But for a formally fair weather runner, I have seriously toughened up this year. I think God is showing me that my hard training is paying off, and that I am stronger than I think I am, because HE is with me.

First 18 Mile Run!

They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. John 19:17

Yesterday marked my longest run to date: 18 miles! To say it was tough is an understatement, but honestly, much of that is the mental aspect of running for over 3 hours. Thankfully a friend from my running group was able to join me for 13 of the miles, and it was a beautiful day.

Considering I had to do this run on Thursday, just 4 days after my usual Saturday long run day (last week was 16 miles), it went well. My legs were a bit fatigued, but not as bad as I feared they would be. The hard cold truth is my schedule is not my own, I have a family and obligations that dictate when I can run. With Easter weekend at hand, it just made sense to get the long run checked off the list early this week.

I LOVE my hydration pack! It seems impossible I can sip my way through 2 liters of water and not have to stop to pee along the way, but that's what happens when you live and run at altitude, in such a dry climate.

The front has two really nice pockets, one holds my I phone, one holds my gels and shot blocks:

The back is pretty compact, and is comfortable for a small woman (well, this small woman...but other small women say the same thing):

As for the run itself, I took it relatively easy with few brisk walk breaks to eat my shot blocks and drink water.  Hopefully race day adrenaline and running at sea level will help!

My next long run is actually a half marathon on April 15, it seems odd that 13.1 miles is considered a 'cutback' distance in my marathon training. Then it's back to 18 miles, and my first of two 20 milers. Marathon Day is 8 weeks from Sunday!

When I was running the last 5 miles alone, I tried to remember Jesus, and the walk He endured up that hill, bearing MY cross and MY sins. Suddenly my 18 mile run through beautiful trails on a 65 degree day didn't seem so tough.

Redirecting

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them... Exodus 20:4

Perspective is a funny thing. To my non-runner friends, my training schedule sounds monumental. However, compared to my veteran marathoner friends, it's pretty fledgling as far as marathon training goes.

But for me, reaching the point in training during which I have two long runs per week is a big deal. Wednesday has always been a 'sorta long run,' flanked by two shorter runs on Tuesday and Thursday.  From this point on, Wednesday's runs are anywhere from 8 to 10 miles long, with Tuesday and Thursday being 5 miles. This Saturday is a 16 mile long run, which I will be increasing by two miles per week from here on out (with a cutback weekend every 3 weeks). This will allow for two 20 mile runs before I enter the taper phase of training plan. My weekly mileage will peak somewhere around 40 to 45 miles, assuming I don't need to miss any weekday runs for extra rest.

I am reminded this Lenten Season that first and foremost in my life must be God. Period. No debate. However, it is so easy to try to check Jesus at the curb with the rest of the cheering crowd. It's so easy to make this all about ME. Running becomes a false idol.

Well, it's NOT all about me. It's all about HIM. My Lord and Savior Jesus, who by His very grace I am blessed to have two legs, two feet, and the strength to do this. Without Him I am nothing. Without Him, I can't do this. He is my Running Coach, plain and simple. He will give me one more breath, one more step, one more mile, until I reach the finish line. I rely solely upon Him.

I love this prayer:


Run by my side, live in my heartbeat. Give strength to my steps. As the cold surrounds me, as the wind pushes me, I know you surround me, as the rain cleanses me, I know you are touching me, challenging me, loving me. And so I give you this run. Thank you for matching my stride. Amen

Marathon Under 12 Weeks Away!

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27

I can hardly believe it, the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon is just under 12 weeks away! I have that bizzare feeling of "I can't wait!!" mixed with "What am I DOING??"

My training is going very well (thanks Hal Higdon!) and I have met my new best friend, the 'calf compression sleeve.' I am currently running in black sleeves:

But in true Rock n Roll Marathon spirit think I will go a bit wild in neon pink!

Seriously, with people dressed like Elvis and Joan Jett at these races, how bad they can look?

The calf sleeve provides just enough compression to really feel good and supportive during my long runs, and for recovery after. My calves feel great, and I like that they aren't an actual sock.

I ran a beautiful and relaxing 12 miles last Saturday early morning, with an experienced marathoner from my group (thanks Pat!). I asked her a hundred questions as we wound through historic neighborhoods in downtown Denver (Cheesman Park area). Gorgeous tree-lined streets and beautiful mansions make for some nice scenary.

Now that I am under the 12 week mark, the miles are really picking up each week. I continually pray that Jesus will keep me strong and injury free, and that I will trust my training plan and stay with it.

Sometimes You Just Gotta Say....

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.... a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up..." Ecclesiastes 3: 1 and 3


I have a calf muscle that started with a dull ache last week (have done a lot of reading about this, turns out extreme cold below 20 or so degrees lends itself to calf muscle pulls! I was only wearing one layer of UA cold gear tights on my legs, should have had two more layers on). I don't think I am someone who can run when it is much below 25 degrees without consequence, I have definitely learned my limits this season.

Anyway, today is day three of no running while I use the tried and true principles of RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (it feels almost normal today, yay!), and I realized something... I needed the rest body, mind and spirit. It especially occurred to me this morning, when instead of meeting my running group for a 7 AM run, I slept until 9:30, then laid in bed drinking the Starbucks my lovely hubby brought me. Probably because I stayed up late watching movies with my family, instead of going to bed early due to a 6 AM Saturday alarm clock. That, after going out for Mexican food last night with my family...something I would NEVER do the night before a Saturday morning long run.

I've decided that my achy calf was just relaying a message for my whole body. Missing a run or two isn't a big deal (especially since this was my cutback week, I obviously needed it)...but failing to miss a run or two when my body needs to could very quickly become disastrous to my marathon training, on more than one level.

Virtual Run for Sherry Arnold

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. John 14:1-4

On Saturday morning, February 11, a virtual run was held in memory of Sherry Arnold, the Montana wife, mom, and teacher who in January was abducted and killed just a short distance from her home on an early morning run. Though her killer has been caught and has confessed, her body has yet to be located. Women runners around the country feel so acutely the pain and anguish of her family, and the outrage that a woman is not safe to go outside and revel in God's creation on a morning run.
 
My running group participated, as we all put on the memorial bibs and headed out at 7:25 AM on an arctic cold 10 degree, snowy morning...thankful to have a group to run with and stay safe.

It was one of those beautiful Colorado mornings with a blanket of snow, and air so cold it forms glittery crystals. But it was COLD. Once again I ran with a frozen water bottle!

I was blessed to run with two women who run a very similar pace to mine, and also have a little more marathon experience than I do. I was planning a 15 mile run, but the ice and cold slowed our pace enough that I ended up running just shy of 17 miles. We ran about 5 miles to Cherry Creek State Park, then ran through the snow covered park. A highlight was the small herd of deer running across our path, looking so graceful compared to how our cold and cramping legs felt!

During the last 4 or so miles we realized it was warming up, enough so we took our gloves off as we continued on. The sun had broken through, and the biting wind calmed. After arriving back to our cars I had to laugh when my thermometer read a balmy 19 degrees at that point...what a warm up!

It was grueling and wonderful all at the same time, in a way that only long distance runners can understand.

And still, I am not quite sure how my mountainous high altitude arctic training will relate to my sunny sea level San Diego Marathon on June 3, but runs like yesterday assure me I can do it.