An elite runner named Patrick Makau raced to a new record at the marathon distance in Berlin last weekend... an almost unfathomable 2:03:38!!! His average pace per mile -- 4 minutes and 43 seconds.
Just to compare, my fastest mile ever was somewhere around 7:30 and that's when I was in tip top shape! I can't run one mile under 5 minutes, let alone 26 of them!
Congratulations, Patrick!
Run started with a "little" roadblock... tree down in Duncan's Woods
On to the beach... not a soul on the volleyball courts today.
Almost the end of the season for campers.
I still get a little jolt of adrenaline when the waves are big. Love it!
These are the waves the surfers wait for. Lake Michigan: UNSALTED!
Wish I could capture how big these waves really are...
Feels like summer again! Which is a good motivator to get out the door. That, and the HUGE lunch I had at Olive Garden with Breck today!
I even made it out to the end of the pier again. This is probably my favorite running route, and it involves lots of hills to and from the beach... good for building my muscles and stamina again!
This week was the first week back to school for the fall. I had good intentions of getting a few runs in, but between the holiday on Monday, babysitting Tuesday and Wednesday and doing Jacob's paper route while he's training for cross country... today (Thursday) was the only day that it all came together. I guess it's time to get used my new schedule.
That's kind of an illusion, though. I was going through my insurmountable mental checklist of tasks to complete before we leave on Saturday... but in reality, all the most important preparation is done. I haven't packed, I still need to finish cleaning the house, I've got e-mails to send and people to call.
In spite of it all, I am ready. 16 weeks ready.
$1,010 raised so far for Team World Vision (THANK YOU!). 14 long runs done. Countless shorter runs, speed workouts and intervals logged. Hotel booked. Dozens of articles and newsletters read. Marathon clothing purchased, broken in. Shoes laced.
Mental readiness complete.
I think I'm as ready as possible! Since the River Bank Run in May, I've logged 764.10 miles with my Nike+ chip. Some of them are triumphant, others painful. I suspect that's a bit what the marathon will feel like. Again, I remind myself: Have fun!
Wednesday update: My run today was damp.
I decided to see how my iPod and gels fit into my new race belt. They fit well, and I can put my chapstick in there, too. My race bib will attach to loops on the belt as well, so that I don't have to worry about pinning it to the outermost shirt or changing it when I shed a layer of clothing. It bounces around quite a bit, but I think it'll be better once I use up the first gel or two. Since I was running with the iPod in the belt, I didn't wear the headphones. It was a nice time to think about what it will be like, running without music during the race. I'm sure the experience will be very different, running with thousands of on-lookers, but I still enjoyed the preparation.
In the damp, grey day, I almost had the pier and boardwalk to myself. It was intriguing to hear the wind and the waves over the sound of my own breathing. The wind was coming from the northwest, and the waves in the channel were gulping hungrily at the edge of the pier, while the waves on the Lake side were menacing, deadly, as they rolled silently toward the shore. The water was a dark, murky grey. It was beautiful.
Very different experiences await me in Chicago. I can't wait!
Friday update: I let the run come to me today. Basked in the sun, took in everything around me. What is it that makes one run so different from another?
There was so much to observe, and the distractions always help. It was also uplifting to feel GOOD while I ran. My breathing was easy, my stride fell into place. A few times I was surprised to find my pace increasing without consciously trying to speed up.
A few thoughts:
The waves again pounding up onto the pier... I wonder if the people standing on the end, gazing out at the Big Lake feel as exhilerated as I do when I round the corner? The same guy attempting to surf on the choppy rollers today... does he recognize me when I wave? The one-legged man spoke to me today! I think he said, "How are you today?" but my music drowned him out and I briefly regretted this. The Coast Guard boat heading out onto the Lake on my way out, and escorting a freighter loaded with sand or gravel on my return trip. The man standing on the bow of the freighter returned my wave. What a life that must be. Brown and crispy leaves skittering across the road like small animals. The sun settled resolutely in it's southern winter place in the sky... the shadows have shifted.
It was so GOOD to have a good run. Can you tell?
If I took anything away from all the rhetoric at work yesterday, it was the idea that we each place our "thumbprint" on each other from the moment we meet in passing... today, my smile and greeting were returned more often than not. Some days it's difficult to find eye contact from anyone else along the way. Today I gave and found positivity to my fellow boardwalkers, runners, bikers and boaters. It's a sunny day, in more ways than one!
One more week until the Race for the Cure 5K... this will by my sixth year in a row, competing in the 5K race after working all night. It's an incredible race, and a cause for which I am also passionate! You can visit my Race Center HERE. Thanks for your support, everyone!
Tuesday update: This is the perfect day, and so welcome after the wetness and gloom of the weekend. It was a little chilly, in the low 40's, this morning, but it was creeping up into the 50's as I left the house for a run. And the sun is out! That makes everything seem better. I hope to make it back to the boardwalk this afternoon and snap a few pictures of the sights and scenes I pass every day on my run.
Overall, it felt good. 9 miles. I tried to push my pace a bit on miles 3,5 and 7. It felt good, but I am reminded that I probably won't be able to keep up that kind of speed for 26 miles. I don't want to go out too fast for the race, but I don't want to underestimate my potential either. Hopefully I'll be able to settle into a comfortable race pace once I get going on Race Day. So much to think about...
Monday update: I worked at Holland last night and was able to get a good day's sleep with the boys away at school and Michael off to run all of his errands. And tonight, when the boys headed to story time at the library with Grandma, I (finally) made it out for a run!
It was a cool 61 degrees and a bit breezy. The sidewalks were dry, no rain in the clouds today. The beach was nearly empty, save for one brave soul armed with a wetsuit and surfboard, attempting to catch the few small breakers on the Lake today. I ran into an old friend on the boardwalk. Lots of faithful fishermen on the pier. I had a few cramps and kinks to work out, but overall it felt really good to get out there again.
And tomorrow is another day!
This World Vision video was included in an e-mail newsletter I received today. I think it was made for me, mostly regarding my week last week!
You are amazing! Just two days after my e-mail reminder, you have brought the total donation up to $990!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I hope this momentum can continue, and in that spirit, I've raised my goal a bit:
I KNOW we can do it!
Sunday update: One word. IKE.
The rain continues, and I was unable to drag myself out of bed in time to make it to the gym this afternoon. I am disappointed, but I'm looking at this as a good chance to really rest my bones and muscles... to allow some much-needed sleep and healing. It's the first time in more than 10 weeks that I've gone for more than two days in a row without running. I'm itching to get out there, but I'm not ready to run soaking wet and running on the treadmill is something of a last resort.
So, it's back to work tonight, and tomorrow, I'll be out there, rain or shine!
You can check out my past runs on the Slowgeek website by clicking HERE. I use the Nike+ technology to keep track of my runs and distance (as seen in the widgets along the righthand side of the screen), and the Slowgeek site keeps track of this info as well. Very low mileage this week, but tomorrow is a new day!
Today marks another milestone: ONE MONTH until RACE DAY!!!
It has been an amazing journey, and now we're in the home stretch. There have been so many ups and downs... it is remarkable to look back on the last year and all that has changed and evolved in my life and particularly my running.
A sweet friend shared some words of encouragement the other night, and the phrase that struck me was this: "Last year this time, you couldn't have fathomed running the distances you're running now." How true! Last year this time, 5 or 6 miles was difficult. Now, I consider those an "easy" workout, a rest. I've tried to reassure myself with these thoughts when I start to panic, wondering how the race will go, realizing just how far those 26.2 miles really are. But in reality, the hardest work is done. I've loosely followed a training program, progressively building my mileage to the point where I'm capable of running more than 20 miles during my "long" run each week. The training and physical conditioning are there... now I just need to perfect the mental toughness necessary for carrying out the task. I completed a 24 mile run last week, my longest run before the marathon:
What a feeling of accomplishment! Don't get me wrong: it was slow, it was hard and I was hurting afterward... BUT I did it!
I can DO this.
As my training continues, so, too, does my fundraising effort for Team World Vision. The World Vision spirit and attitude have encouraged me tremendously over the past months. The idea that I'm doing this, not just for myself, but for a larger, more important cause, has helped me to overcome the daily hurdles involved with such intensive training... when I'm feeling down or unmotivated, I try to think about the people I'm doing this for. I think about those of you who have so generously donated to the cause in my name. What a burden. But what a privelege!
There is one month left for me to finish my training, strong and healthy. One month left for me to raise the remaining few dollars toward my goal for Team World Vision. My plan right now is to attempt to provide daily training logs and insights... I don't know if any of you are interested, but I'll post them here.
Thank you to everyone who has encouraged, cajoled and chided me in my training... while almost every step I've taken, every mile I've covered, has been on my own, I don't feel ALONE. I take all of you with me, and I thank you for that.
God bless.
Please see below for more of the fun activities that have taken me away from blogging over the past month or two.
Training continues. I've been working to fit each run into a very hectic summer schedule, and so far, it's going well. I feel like I'm in better shape now than I ever have been. I look at the definition in my legs and the veins taking shape in my arms with awe. Whose body is this? What a journey! I believe that if I can continue along this path, staying healthy and injury-free, the marathon will be a success. As the days tick away, I get a little tug of anxiety when I think about how much closer each one brings me to Race Day. But when I'm running, the fears subside and I'm able to focus on the moment and be positive about the future.
I'm taking a recovery week this week, mostly because there is too much going on (Coast Guard Festival, Michael's craft fair, Emily's bachelorette, EMILY and JEFF's WEDDING!) to fit all my runs, and more specifically a 20 mile run, in. But last week, I completed my longest run yet: 18 miles! I can't say that it felt "great", but I was very pleased with the accomplishment and can hopefully build upon those miles from here on out. Here's the Nike+ widget:
I receive a few fundraising newsletters by e-mail every couple of weeks, and I was inspired by an article in one this week entitled "The Power of One". It suggested that many people hesitate to donate to charities or fundraisers because they are unable to make a large contribution. But every single dollar helps!
So, please... even if you are unable to give a large amount, keep in mind that every dollar will be put to good use, and every dollar is needed. A donation of $1 brings me that much closer to my goal! I am absolutely thrilled (and humbled) to see the donations that have already been made through my fundraising page. I am shocked each time another pledge comes in, and I appreciate your support for my training, but even more for this admirable cause. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
If you are able to give, even $1, please click here.
I've been mulling over various training schedules today, looking for the one best suited to my abilities and my life. In reality, I'll probably end up using a combination of the 4 I liked the best. It's amazing the differences from one to the next... some include 4 days of running and 3 days of resting or cross-training, others will have me running at least 6 days a week. I could run anywhere from about 30 to more than 60 miles per week. Most of them include special workouts: hills, intervals, fartleks (I'm not kidding), tempo runs... my favorite: "easy" runs. Each of them culminates 14 weeks from now, on October 12. Race Day.
I was not able to finish any of the suggested runs for today, and I'm feeling a bit disheartened by the fact that my right calf and shin are bothering me. I ran 1 mile this morning before the thunderstorm rolled in, and I tried to salvage the day with 5 miles while the boys were at storytime tonight, but only managed about 3. I couldn't shake the nagging pain. I've worked hard to avoid injury, and have been successful this far. I hope it's nothing serious, but I'm taking the advice any long-time runner will give: rest. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully elevation, ibuprofen, and stretching will do the trick.
Here is a fascinating video I found. Gives me goosebumps.
Oh, I've added this month's goal progress... going for 150 miles again!
I ran the 10K Reeds Lake Run for the first time this weekend! It was great! My friend, Kim, and I left right after our Friday night shift and made it down to East Grand Rapids just in time to pick up her packet, watch our friend Joleigh finish the 5K race and walk to the starting line.
Once we weaseled our way into the crowd for a place at the start, I saw my friend Monica walking up on the EGR football field... and realized that her husband, Brad, was standing right next to me. It was his first race ever (congrats, Brad!), as he and Monica prepare to run the Chicago Half Marathon in August.
The clouds parted and the sun came out, just as we started the race Saturday morning... it was very muggy, but I was so glad it didn't rain! Somewhere in that first mile, Kim's husband, Dave, caught up and surprised us... Kim knew that he was coming to watch, but instead he ran with her! Nice one, Dave!
The race was unremarkable, except for the fact that I felt pretty good running it, which I had not expected after working 12 hours through the night.
Mom and Dad came down to watch me, and I saw them THREE times over the course of the race... that was GREAT! What a nice energy boost to have them waving and cheering me on... thanks, guys! That was perfect!
The last time I saw them was right before the finish, and our family friend, Shane, was there with her kids, watching her husband run... she managed to snap these pictures of me as I dashed (trudged?) toward the finish line. I was smiling and waving at my mom, who was smiling, waving and cheering back!
It was a good time, and I was pleased with my performance, all things considered. Official chip time: 52:44. I finished 26th in my age group and division... goal for next year: somewhere in the top 25 for age and division.
Training for the River Bank Run was great preparation for the undertaking of a marathon, but I'm beginning to realize that I'll need to push my body and my mind much further this time. There will inevitably be those off-days, and the occasional illness, that slow me down. But I have no choice other than to pick myself back up and get back at it again, even harder than before...
It's tough to keep up this level of motivation and dedication, and I'm struggling with a little more fear than usual this week. I have no reason thus far to doubt myself, yet I can't help but wonder if I'm truly capable of this massive feat. What if it's a repeat of last year's Chicago Marathon, with sweltering heat in the upper 80's, forcing the race to shut down before most runners could finish? Nightmare! All that training and hard work for nothing. What if conditions are perfect but I become injured and am unable to participate? What if I'm just not able to make it across the finish line?
But, no.
I find the inspiration I need in those around me, and, this week, specifically in my training buddies, Natasha and Kim. Natasha has once again talked me into a Saturday race... we'll compete together this weekend in the Reeds Lake Run, after working together Friday night. Ha ha! Not the best race preparation, but a healthy reminder that we also do this for fun and because it feels GOOD! And Kim, who was very recently surprised to learn that she is expecting her 6th child next February, but has decided to go ahead with her marathon training, and take it one day at a time. With 5 little boys at home and an unwaveringly great attitude at work, Kim is the epitome of inspiration. She's also the one who led me to raise funds and run for World Vision, from which I draw great mountains of hope and motivation. We're running for a bigger cause!
Sometimes I like to think of the line from "Finding Nemo", with a twist:
Just keep running, just keep running, just keep running.....
Note to self: begin journaling effort at some point in the 13-15 hours of the day before 10:45 pm, when all thoughts cease to present themselves in orderly fashion.
In lieu of my own words of inspiration...
Can you see why I'm so touched (and a little bit freaked out) every time I think about running for this great cause? It makes me want to go out and RUN!
Well, okay. It's a little late for that.
Did you notice that I'm inching closer to my 150 miles this month? That'll be a first! ---->
Here is one of my runs for today... I broke them up for one of the Nike+ challenges I'm in.
