The Seven Mile Snob

It’s funny. Today I was reflecting on my running miles and remember when I found 7 miles scary. Seven miles is nothing. I laugh in the face of 7 miles now. HA I’m so over 7 miles. I’ve turned into a seven mile snob. I can do seven any day. It’s the high miles that kick your butt. 13-14-15-16-17-18. Here it is finally. This is what the marathon is about. Not 7 miles. But double digit, humid, hot, hilly, long miles. Here they are. This is where you are tested. The miles really challenge me physically. I’m still having issues with my left calf and right ITBand. I had to opt out of the Patrick Henry Half. It took me 4-5 days for walking to NOT be painful. Why run another half only to suffer the same another week. What is the point of running if I’m injuring myself. I decided to skip it. Run at home. Let my body heal a big and then try the Va Beach rock n roll half next weekend. Give myself a rest. Then run a half and see how my body feels. And run slower. It’s a flat course. Gee, maybe I need to start listening to my body. What a novel idea. I don’t want to. I want to run the marathon and I want my body to shut up. BUT that’s not what’s happening so I have no choice. I’m late to the knowledge that you should run 1-1:30 slower on the long runs than your normal pace. I think I heard that once mentioned early in training, but I really didn’t get it. “A lot of first time marathoners make that mistake.” Okay. Think I'd better implement that into my training plan. I may even move to a novice level running group. Why run 20 x 3 during training as an intermediate and risk hurting my obviously moody bones, muscles and ligaments. Novice only do 20 once. I found the slowest group and may be joining soon. I’d rather make it to the starting line healthy and slightly trained and ready to run. But not so broken I can’t even start. What is the point of running if I’m hurt the whole time? It’s so frustrating having to deal with the constant issues of injury, PT, and wondering if I’ll be able to run it. We'll see! Stay tuned and find out what will happen in the Saga of Karen Runner. My whole marriage I was so attached to my maiden name, Brodie. Rarely used Runner. Now that I'm running I find it irresistable NOT to call myself Karen Runner. It's funny.

Tale of the Lone Ranger

If I didn’t come out and run with the group, I would never successfully run 13-14-etc miles on my own. Well maybe because I'm reaching so many firsts... my first ever running x-y-z miles. And now we are taking further. My IT Band had started to act up last week. So today’s run was challenging for me. It was much warmer. And the novelty of running longer distance had worn off. I was tired. I knew immediately I was going to be at the back of the pack. I didn't mind it. I just didn't want to be running alone. It took a good 4-5 miles before I found my stride. The whole time thinking I'm going to cut this short. Why not cut back now on the Boulevard and go home? While those thoughts bounced around in my brain, I did not bail out. I ran the miles. This week the "bike babysitter" was replaced by Ken and Leon who were the coaches running at the back. They worked in tandem to make sure I didn’t drop off the face of the earth. And I met Angela. She, too, had IT Band issues. So I wasn't alone afterall. We chatted but we mostly we ran. It was a tough one. Part of the run included crossing the Nickel Bridge (Boulevard Bridge) and down Riverside Dr. (hills hills hills) until it connected to the Lee Bridge. Leon kept running ahead and then he’d circle back to where Angela and I were running. The last 2 miles felt like 20. But I did it. I was so glad when it was over. Came home and iced the legs. Relaxing right now drinking a cold beer.

Old Friends Are New Again

I haven’t been blogging and I haven’t been able to run with the group. I’ve had a calf injury that has sidelined me and slowed me down around June 15th. It got better and then eventually required a sports doctor and physical therapy. Then I was sick on top of it so for two weeks I barely ran at all. I picked back up at 7.3 miles on July 12th. This was my first group run since then. And we went double digits. I was so nervous. I barely slept. Decided at 2am I wasn’t doing the run. Woke up at 5am and felt strong enough. Realized that if ever I was going to be successful at running long distance, it would be today. It was in the 60’s and low humidity. The weather and the power of the group made it happen for me. It was good to be there with the group again. I did it. I ran. I eventually ended up in the back of the line. The “bike guy” who stays at the back of the pack and makes sure there are no strays. I also chatted with a number of nice women who I never would have met with had I not been slow. My leg hurt slightly throughout the run. But not enough to make me stop. My ipod died at mile 4 so I had no musical crutch to lean upon. We ran by Brown’s Island. I was all alone. But eventually I caught back up with the group. As I reached the last 1.5 miles on Boulevard I started chatting with one of the back of the pack women I had met earlier. I looked at her and she was so familiar. I said I know you… she asked my maiden name, Brodie. Turns out she grew up in the same neighborhood as I did and we used to hang out in Junior High School and get into trouble. There were a number of others in the neighborhood… Nancy C., Jimbo, Pam B., Todd G., Ted R., Whitley C., and Nancy P. now T. and myself who have just reunited after 30 years. Many mornings spent together waiting at the bus stop. For good reason (trouble), my mother banned me from going to their bus stop. I would hide behind the bushes in the morning until she drove by on her way to her nurses position at the third floor of Chippenham Hospital Tuckers Pavillion as a nurse. Nancy and I chatted about Ted R. who had died suddenly of a heart attack when he was 36. I couldn’t believe I ran into her. I was struck by the absolute feeling that there are no accidents. Running into Nancy again after so long. We are on the same training team. We are both going through a divorce. And now life has brought us back together. It felt ordained. Wow this marathon training is definitely giving me so much more than I could ever have imagined. Even though it has sucked to be sick and away from the group constantly wondering if I could even get to the STARTING line ready for a marathon. This run was the first time I really got the feeling of what it is like to run long distance. I had no idea what mile I was at and didn’t ask. I really focused on the moment. Most of my earlier runs have been about doing this or that mile and when is it over? If you are going to run long distance you have to focus on what you are going through now. I really learned that lesson today. I’m sure that “be here now” will continually butt heads with “where is the finish line” throughout my marathon training. Especially as the miles increase. I walked away for the first time with the feeling that it may be possible for me to run a marathon after all. I just did half. That’s what it is about. Relax. Slow down. It was so hard to run and yet it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.

Creeping up to 7 miles now

I’ve been feeling pretty good about myself these last few days. I read the training book that was given out. I see that this Saturday’s long run will be 7 miles. I must admit that I felt slight twinge of fear arise – 7 miles, already? Uh oh maybe I’ve bitten off more than I can chew signing up for the intermediate group. Really I’m novice level based on the description that I read. However, I wanted to push myself to go to another level. I want to run and push it – I’m concerned that I would get injured. I combat that by educating myself with appropriate stretches. I’ve been running consistently and it’s really making an impact on my ability and strength. When I am running after 3 miles and I’m feeling good listening to Madonna on my ipod… nothing is better than than – it’s a drug for both the mental and physical. Of course that’s the byproduct. Sometimes to get there you’ve got to hit a few places where you are worn and tired and just don’t want to go another mile… THAT place is the beginning of the “wall” that can trip a runner up. It’s why I am running – to run head forward into that WALL and pull my ass over that wall once and forall. Because it’s hard. Because THAT very wall is the same wall that I’ve met many times in many forms through many mirrors and reflects in the people and experiences of my life. And when it defeated me in life, I lost. I have definitely made the easy choice. So I’m doing a marathon because it’s the antithesis of easy. I want to face and conquer that wall so that I never surrender to it again. That painful, suffering wall. That wall lives in the marathon – both during training and race. I can’t ever let it win again. Because I’m not traditionally a wall breaker. That is why I HAVE to run this marathon. It’s already meaning more to me than I could have imagined. How many times I didn’t push myself when things got hard… I’m such a late bloomer to the “challenge yourself and face your fear” model of living. Those are the winners the ones who don’t run away. The ones that find a way to get over or through that wall. And when you make it a physical challenge – there’s no faking it. You can hide to others with your mind, but not physically. You either run or you don’t. You win or you lose. It’s out there for everyone to see. Makes me wonder why I told anyone I wanted to run the marathon. Should have kept my big mouth shut.

First Group Run

Wow - I can't believe the day has finally arrived!! After much anticipation, today was the first group run with the Richmond Sports Backers Marathon Training Team! And I was there! We ran 6 miles (give or take). I never in my life imagined that I would run a marathon... or that I would even WANT to run a marathon. Did I just say I want to run a marathon? 26.2? Yes, it is true. And now it is official. I had my first official run with the team!

What I loved about today’s Run:
Being a part of the team – it feels SO good to be a part of this group, it’s overwhelming.
Making friends – my short term goal for today (besides the run) was to make at least one new friend – and I was more than successful.
PROUD of myself for getting out of bed and going to the run.

What I disliked about today’s Run:
The three glasses of wine I drank last night (what was I thinking?)
The lack of sleep due to excitement about today’s training
The heat/humidity and feeling a little tired

How did I get here anyway? Well, my first race was in November, 2007. I ran the 8K portion of the Richmond Marathon with my (future) ex-husband the morning after we both agreed to get a divorce and separate. I remember vividly picking up my race packet and being in awe of the marathon runners that were there. Never considered for a moment that I would ever run a marathon. Actually, I am quite sure that I swore to God and anyone who would listen that I would NEVER run a marathon. Those marathon runners were crazy. At that time in my life, I basically felt like crap about myself – both inside and out. But I was trying to get myself together and had gotten into running more and more over the last year. As that momentum was building, I was fortunate enough to work with a number of women who were into triathlon training and even did an Ironman competition or two. With people like that in your world, it’s easy to be inspired.

So I had done the 8K, Monument 10K, and finally the Carytown 10K. When I received the email announcement about the marathon training team my mind just took off with the idea as if it had a life of its own. In between the Monument and Carytown races, I had shaved about 30 seconds off my mile time injury free. (Compared to the day after the 8K when I could barely walk due to my left leg's iliotibial (IT) band throbbing every step - or nonstep - of the way.) Wow – maybe I can do a marathon afterall!! Talked to people about marathons and training and learned that your body adjusts pretty quickly to running long distance so it didn’t seem so far fetched for me to accomplish this lofty goal. I bought the book RUN YOUR FIRST MARATHON by Grete Waitz. I attended the intro meeting conducted by Don Garber outlining the training. It was a little before, definitely during and immediately after that meeting I knew this is WHAT I WANTED WITHOUT QUESTION. The marathon training team seemed to be everything I dreamed it would be!

Why am I running this marathon? I don’t consider myself someone who pushes herself hard to reach goals. I want to do the marathon to change that erred self-perception. I want to run the marathon because it is difficult and hard and would be a great accomplishment by anyone’s standards. I want to run the marathon because I need a strong focus to force me to run and be healthy when I would rather eat and drink and sleep. The marathon will undoubtedly boost my self-esteem. I want to train with the Marathon team because I want to meet new people and expand my social network of friends. I want to run the marathon because this (marathon training) is a great accompaniment to go with what is shaping up to be a great year of personal transformation and flowering. And, of course, the irony of my last name being RUNNER is not lost on me!! See you on the road!! Keep tuning in, I'll be writing more along my journey.