I am a FINISHER!

So remember when I said I was going to run a half marathon? The race was over a month ago and I still haven't shared my thoughts on the experience. It's a good thing I don't have a lot of people reading my blog! First, my excuse: When I finish one thing, I immediately move on to the next thing - 29 Random Acts of Kindness on Jan 29 for my 29th birthday - that's just how I roll; it's what I do. Now, my lecture to myself: Finish what you start; You created all of this build-up and then didn't post about the actual run!

Joe and I arrived at the pre-race prep area at 2:00 p.m. on December 2nd. Joe started the full marathon at 3:00 p.m. I "started" the half marathon at 4:30 p.m. I say "started" because by the time my corral (#31) made it to the start line, it was 5:30 p.m. The waiting to start was one of the worst parts. After sitting in the prep area for 2.5 hours, I just wanted to GO!

I started the race officially at 5:30 p.m. What a rush! I was pumped, amped, a true adrenalin junky, jogging past the slow pokes and loving it! The stomach cramps kicked in after about 30 minutes (first-timer mistake #1: taking an Imodium before the run). I grabbed a drink at the first water station (first-timer mistake #2: not running with my CamelBak), stopped to pee at the first rest station, and then went back to it. I'd estimate that I kept up the jog for the next hour or so and then the stomach cramps got the best of me. I slowed to a walk, did some intense breathing exercises, drank more water, ate some energy snacks, and watched some of those slow pokes jog past me...sigh. The race was really poorly marked in terms of how far we'd run so most of the time, I had no clue how far I was the finish (first-timer mistake #3: not bringing my own pedometer). At this point my foot (remember, I had, and still do have, tendinitis in my left foot) really started to bother me.

I started running again, enjoyed the rush that comes along with passing other people (it's incredible, really), and pushed myself until I just couldn't push anymore. I'd say I "walked" the last 3 miles or so. I say "walked" because I walked the 3rd last mile, hobbled, the 2nd last mile, and tried my absolute darndest not to pass out for the last mile. As I dragged myself passed the medical trucks, the thought crossed my mind, on more than one occasion, to just stop and get them to drive me to finish. By the end of the race, I was exhausted, sure I was going to vomit, and could hardly feel my left foot because of the pain. I was in rough shape...BUT...as I neared the finish line, the truly incredible experience of the half marathon really set in.

A small boy, maybe about 5, was standing off to the side of the course with his arm stretched out to give the runners a high-five. Most of the people had one-track minds, "I can see the finish; I'm almost there," and weren't paying any attention to him. While I was thinking the same things as the others, I was also looking for anything and everything to distract me from the fact that I was near unconsciousness. I went up to him and upon seeing that someone was actually paying attention to him, he braced himself and gave me a huge spin around high-five! At that moment, and even now, I love that kid! A little bit further on, a grown man who was clearly waiting for someone he knew to come along (which means I wasn't the last person to finish) gave me a high five and said, "You're almost there; you're doing awesome; keep it up!" I loved that man too.

At some point in there, I realised that I was actually going to finish. "Thanks, medics, but I don't need you!" With the last ounce of strength I could muster, I ran (or jogged...sort of) across the finish line. Congratulations all around, photo op, and then the struggle to figure out how to get out of the post-race area and back to my hotel so I could pass out!

I found an equally exhausted Joe already in the hotel room. We got pizza, did a bathtub soak, and fell asleep with the hopes that we'd be able to move the next morning. We could, move I mean, but barely. All day we hobbled around, braced ourselves for the immense pain every time we had to go down stairs (up wasn't really a problem), and laughed a little every time someone recognised us as runners because we were struggling so much to move.

"So how was the race?" That's all I heard (obviously) from everyone who knew I was doing it. My answer: "It was brutal, but I finished and the experience was amazing!" Would I do it again? (I was asked that quite often as well) and the answer is yes, definitely, but never with an injury again.

My official race time was 3:27:09 and I am happy with that. Ya, I wish I could have run the whole thing. Ya, I really wanted to finish in 3 hours. Ya, most average racers finish in 2.5 hours. The main point for me is that I finished. I am a FINISHER! I set a goal; I trained my ass off; and I completed what I set out to do; finish a half marathon and raise a bunch of money for the people and program that have changed my life.

21K for Change, indeed!

21K Training Schedule

A few posts back (21 Weeks to 21K) I talked about the training schedule that I was following. Since then I've surpassed the repetition of the first week and become fully immersed in 19-week plan. I was also sick for a week and a half and am currently attempting to get myself moved. While I was sick, I wasn't running because that's just a no-no say the experts. Now that I am moving, I'm spending a lot of time packing and unpacking. I don't have time to run; I make time to run.

I finally decided that I should actually show people who are supporting me what I am putting myself through. This way you can feel my pain, feel sorry for me, and donate to make me feel better!

Well, that kind of stinks; you're going to have to actually click on the image so that it enlarges in order to actually read my training schedule. I have faith in your clicking abilities, though; you'll be fine. This week has been a little messed up what with being sick and trying to move. Sunday, I was sick so no run. Monday, I ran 45 minutes instead of resting and apparently lost my iPod :( Do you have any idea how unmotivating it is to run without music?! Tuesday, I ran 40 minutes while watching Dr. Phil. Wednesday, I spent 5 hours after work packing most of what was left in my apartment so no run. Today, I'm supposed to Cross-Train, but since I'll be in Winnipeg until late Saturday which likely means no run, I'm going to do the 45 minute run today that I should be doing Saturday. Instead of resting tomorrow, I'll Cross-Train - or something. As long as I'm getting the accurate amount of running time in each week, I think I'll be a-ok!

Things stay pretty reasonable throughout August until I hit Saturday, the 25th at which point I have to run for a solid hour and a half. Mind you, I have done this already, before I was really following a training plan. My hope is that it will be reasonably nice weather - not too hot, not too cold or rainy - so that I can run outside. An hour and a half on the treadmill really doesn't sound all that appealing to me. An hour and a half running doesn't sound all that appealing either, but it must be done. After all, it's all for a great cause!

All of a sudden, 90 minutes doesn't seem all that bad when I look at the 110 minutes I have to run on September 1st. Once again, hoping for nice outdoor running weather. If not, though, I sort of look forward to asking the gals at Fitness Quest if I can use a treadmill for 4 times the allotted time. You see, the treadmills have a 30 minute limit (which I always exceed, but only by 15 or 20 minutes at this point and it's never really busy when I go to work out anyway). "Would it be alright if I use one of the treadmills for 110 minutes? I'm just training for a half marathon; it's no big deal really." Come on, I get to be conceited every now and again; running for 21K in a row is actually a really big deal - to me anyway ;) As you can see, the training schedule switches from minutes to kilometres in September. Currently, I can run 10K in about 90 minutes (not ideal, but fine by me) so my runs will actually get shorter (if I can maintain my stamina) come the middle of the month. I must also add that today is Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen. As you can see by the photo above, I love food - especially dessert. My boyfriend is on his way with a Cookie Dough Blizzard with my name on it right now! 

I feel the need to express my appreciation of the fact that Thanksgiving falls on a Monday - a.k.a. - a Rest Day! Bring on the stuffing (and I am referring to both definitions of the word). At this point I am also curious if I can run and trick-or-treat at the same time - doubtful. BUT, I could go dressed up as a marathon runner for Halloween...hmm...Now before you get all, "you're 28-years old and you still go trick-or-treating? That's outlandish!" on me, let me explain. Every year the Brandon University WUSC Club participates in the Brandon University Students' Union Halloween Food Drive. Campus clubs go around the city and collect non-perishable food items for the university's food bank. See - it's all for another good cause. 

Ok, I digress, back to running and marathon training. I included a pre- and post-workout photo a few blog updates ago. I definitely have the sweating like a pig part down. I also have the eating like a pig part under control. As for the looking like a fox part...we'll just have to see about that after I get a bit more running under my belt. 

In November, you will notice that one of the days - Saturday, November 10 - is highlighted in red. That's because Saturday, November 10 is my longest run leading up to the half marathon. I dread that day. I have nightmares about that day. I also doubt from time to time whether I will actually be able to run that far. When I first read through this schedule I wondered when I would run a full 21K in preparation for the actual race. To my surprise, I never actually run the full 21K during training. Apparently, you don't run a half marathon until you run a half marathon. Apparently, if you can run 19.5K there is little doubt that you can run the additional 1.5K. 

On Sunday, December 2nd, I'll be in Las Vegas running a half marathon. It is my goal to simply finish the race in the allotted time (4 hours). I'll be honest; if I finish dead last, I'll be a little disappointed and embarrassed, but then I'll snap out of it and remind myself that I just ran a half marathon. I'll remind myself that I ran 21K straight for myself and a cause that is so dear to my heart - WUSC's SRP. For me and for them, I will run!