Three Fourty-Four: A Marathon

There's nothing like it. Not love, not money, not good news, not great memories. Nothing comes close to the feeling you get when your effort pays off. You can't explain it, and in a way it's inherently selfish: you look at yourself and share your pride with yourself, and yourself only.
I was raised to believe modesty is the only way to be an upstanding member of a (freshly post communist) society. Russians do not encourage. Pride goes hand in hand with guilt, and I grew up with my parents enthusiastically pointing out everything that could ever be wrong with me. Luckily I got you back, mom, through the art of the written word! Who's laughing now?

I ran my first marathon in October. It's been three months and I've only now gotten the nerve to write about it with the pride it deserves. But today I thought enough is enough, it needs to be said: I fucking killed it. If it had come easily, if it had been something that happened by chance, I wouldn't bother writing about it because nobody likes a bragger. It did not happen by accident. I gave up my summer, my weekends, my sleep, some friends, and any sense of physical comfort. I broke a few toes, lost a few nails, and came embarrassingly close to fainting on a number of occasions. I wanted to stop, to skip runs, I wanted to give up more than I would ever admit. I didn't feel the running paying off, I just felt weaker as every week went by. And then, Toronto came. And then it was time to just do it, and I felt the same way I did three years ago, when I first thought about running. I was so nervous I put my mom and sister in a separate hotel room from mine. Anais suggested I get race gear because no matter what happens, I'll always want to remember my first marathon, so I got this one.

I couldn't find the 4:30 pacer so I decided to start with the 3:30 and let myself fall behind.  I didn't feel the first 15 kilometres. They just flew by, song after song, mile after mile, with no breaks or walking.  It was only at the halfway point that I realized my legs had started to shake. 15k later I knew I was in a new place. I had never run longer than 26km and I didn't know how my body would react to this new distance. This is what makes me nervous: the uncharted part. Still, I didn't stop, aside from slowing down to have a power gel. "I figure once we hit 35k, we're in the clear!" a Rastafarian man wearing head-to-toe neon green walked up behind me, eating a gel of his own. Perfect, I'm hallucinating, I thought. I mumbled something incomprehensible akin to "good luck" or something, and we both laughed and began running again.

I could no longer feel my feet in the last 5k. The pain had become too much to process, so I counted on what I memorized as a running stance, no longer sure of how fast I was going. I remember the 41km mark. The numbers ceased being numbers and it stopped being a countdown, but was something my body had decided was a continuous treadmill of pavement. And then..the finish line.  All I hoped was to not fall before hitting it. I remembered my silly goal of 3:55 that I talked about in the blog post I wrote while training.  It couldn't be that fast- I had fallen behind when my knees started to kill - but I knew I would be happy with whatever I got, as long as I just didn't fall. Hundreds of people high-fived us as we ran the last kilometre. I was sure I would cry, but all I did was thank them again and again, gasping for those last few breaths that would get me there so I could finally stop.  Just finish. Don't fall.

3:44

Three motherfucking fourty-four. 

Did I cry when I saw this? No. It's been months and I've been waiting to have that moment where I realize how overwhelming it was to see myself beating any goal I could've ever imagined. I thought I would be overcome with a mental slideshow of how far I've come, but I've felt nothing aside from an overwhelming shock. I'm still in shock, months later. 

230 / 1313 in my gender. 50/ 236 in the 25-29 category.  1:46 half-marathon time. *enter every Kanye song that has ever existed* Turns out the Hansons Marathon program really works. It kicks your ass, it's hard as hell, but it works. It helps you endure the pain, it helps you stay strong, stay light on your feet despite feeling every pound hit that pavement for the last few miles. It helps you push the pain aside, and isn't that what you have to do, not only in running but in life? Just keep going.

Running with hypothyroid can be tough.  My body wants to be slow, with my metabolism constantly playing tug of war against the supplements I take to counter it. It's a constant struggle to run faster, run lighter, to persevere despite the voice that tells me to just sit this one out. What screams louder than all that is effort. Effort is what got me here, bragging my ass off, and I stand behind it. Effort has no emotion. It doesn't care about your excuses. It just is or it isn't. You train, you see results. Effort will never let you down. I'm proud that I've felt it, I'm proud to have found the formula, and to have found that it's actually very simple: do it. In a sea of catchy sayings and quotes that are supposedly meant to inspire but don't hold weight in the real world, this is the absolute truth.

A Few Favourite Running Things

With less than 3 weeks to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, now’s a great time to share some of my favourite things with you, fellow runners (or people who like to laze around in crops and listen to some banging tracks!) Here, I’ve separated my favourite finds into quick sections you can reference if you’re looking for some inspiration, or to freshen up your current collection, whatever that may be. Without further ado:

Running Gear

Bottoms:

I used to only have two pairs of running pants, and both were from Lululemon, but lately I’ve been experimenting with lower priced pieces, and even wore one cheaper pair on a long run. The verdict: if the environmental conditions are right (ie. It’s not too hot so you don’t have to worry about wicking, high technical quality) lower-end pieces will do just fine.  I love the new mesh panel trend and these burgundy crops from Old Navy (get them here) are both flattering and practical:

Of course, I’d still recommend running pants from Lululemon like these Wunder Under 7/8 length pants. I’ve had these for about three years and they haven’t lost elasticity, the threading is perfect, and they fit well, not to mention they have pockets which I’ve stuffed with chocolate and blackberry running gels on various runs!

Tops:

I have this Gap v-neck tank in two colours, and it’s my absolute favourite top of all time. It’s got great support, falls in a flattering way, and the v-neck makes it look like I try to look presentable. I haven’t been able to find it since I first bought it a year ago at a Gap Factory Outlet, so if you see it anywhere, please let me know!

This flower print sweatshirt is perfect for colder weather, with sleeves that extend to cover your hands, and holes for your thumbs if you feel so inclined (that’s what she said). It’s got great structure so it won’t stretch easily, and it covers your neck against the wind.  It's by a brand called MPG and I bought it at Winners so it’s another reasonably priced piece.

I've also had to crop my face out of almost every picture because when my sister takes photos, the punchlines that come out of her mouth make it impossible for me not to look insane while trying not to laugh

Sometimes it’s hella hot and you need to wear something super breezy.  Enter Under Armour.  My girlfriend and I recently checked out their outlet and bought matching neon orange sports bras (soft, supportive, and no annoying underwire) and this neon yellow racer-back tank. We both loved that the tanks don’t slide around too much and have a super flattering cut, and Anais actually loved hers so much that she went back and bought more colours – and then a couple more for me. She is actually the greatest.

I really love this Lululemon scoop-neck tank because of its breathable material and how much support it offers when I’m running those long runs. I have it in pastel green, pastel purple, and neon orange, and though I’ve worn it a lot, it just won’t quit on elasticity, which I love and have come to expect of Lululemon. 

Recovery Nutrition

I’m not a nutritionist by any means, so this is entirely my opinion, but I really can’t recommend these protein supplements enough.  The first is the MRM Veggie Elite. It has no artificial flavors or sweeteners, it’s all natural, and has 24 grams of protein per scoop, at only 130 calories. It’s sweetened with Stevia so it doesn’t have all that chemical crap, and it’s got a pretty great chocolate mocha flavor. I’m not gonna say it “tastes just like a chocolate mocha so mmmm treat yourself” because you’re not an idiot, but for what it is, it’s pretty damn good.

The second thing is a Vega One nutritional shake powder packet. This one is green but unflavored, and I typically pour it into a green smoothie that already has flavor by virtue of kale and bananas/strawberries. This one also has no sugar added but gives you 50% of your daily intake of vitamins and minerals.  At 123 calories per pack, this guy is also sweetened with Stevia but I can't really taste it.

The third item (and the one I use the most) is the Vega Sport Performance Protein Powder, in a very modest, simple “Vanilla” flavor.  At 131 calories in a scoop, this one is gluten-free, with no sugar added, and is a complete protein blend.  No whey (just like the others), nothing toxic, just pure post- workout support.  The best part is that I’ve been drinking both this mix and the MRM with just water, and both are pretty good. Up until last year, I didn’t think I could stomach a shake that wasn’t mixed with almond milk, so this has been an eye-opener!

Also, my dad gave me these power bars for my birthday ("Because of all that training you're doing") and although I'm usually a little skeptical about vegan granola and power bars on account of their taste slightly resembling that of a ground-up retainer, these ones actually taste amazing. Highly recommended, with bonus points for being organic.

 

Songs to Get You to the Finish Line

I would rather skip a run than run without music. I find the sound of my feet hitting the pavement absolutely maddening, and I really rely on Chumbawumba to drown out the atrocity of my allergy-induced gasps for any shred of remaining air.  I usually listen to really fast music when I run, and that sort of music (when it’s not Chumbawumba) tends to be aggressive and the kind of music Vin Diesel would probably roll a cigarette to.  That and I really like Ellie Goulding, Die Antwoord, and Santigold.  And for those runs where you need a little something extra, here are some songs to guarantee you make it to the finish line. I will certainly be listening to these by the 40^th kilometer next month:

Nicki Minaj – Roman’s Revenge 

(this one is super fun when you want to pretend you’re mad about something)

Pharrell Williams – Freedom

Daft Punk – Contact 

(this one makes me tear up every now and then, so listen at your own risk)

 Kanye West – Power 

Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)

(an oldie but still makes me so happy!)

Shoes to Get You to the Finish Line

Shoes should always be chosen based on what fits you best, but these are a few models that I’ve worn for years, and can vouch for their flexibility, fit, and durability:

 

Nike Lunarglide:

I had originally bought these for winter running because they’re darker and have a cool reflective print, but now I’ve switched to them to train, because they’re big enough to accommodate my feet swelling from long runs. The Lunarglides have a more accommodating fit than any other model I’ve worn, and seem to get wider in the toe area. 

Nike Zoom Pegasus 30:

These shoes have the most cushioning and bounce when I wear them, especially when I stick the insole in. I bought mine in New York City when they first came out, and it was so funny seeing half the city wearing them too. I would highly, highly recommend.

Nike Zoom Pegasus 31:

I bought these shoes in Tallinn on my last trip, and they’re a tad too small, which caused my toenails to turn purple after a long run. I blame the fact that I don’t speak Estonian, and the fact that I ignorantly didn’t wanna look like my feet were huge, so I bought shoes that fit juuuuuust right.  Big, big mistake. Overall, though, I would also recommend the Pegasus model because it hugs your foot in a way that makes you feel secure and like your ankle won’t roll. I’ve had some really great runs in them. I just wouldn’t wear them on anything past 15km.

*Always, always, always make sure your toes are comfortable in your shoes. Don’t be shy about asking a sales person to help you determine whether you have the right size shoe. For really long distance running, I would also highly recommend buying a shoe at least half a size bigger, because your foot will expand.  I’m currently wearing my Nike Lunarglides because they’re a size bigger and towards the end of a 20+ km run, they start fitting just right.  

To Protect Your Feet

I love, love, love these Dr.Scholl’s Active Series insoles.  Just as with other insoles, you cut them to your shoe size, slip them in, and feel the difference immediately. They have a good amount of arch support (you can feel the plastic base underneath) while their padding provides just the perfect level of shock absorption.  I switch them up about every 5 months and at roughly $25 a pair, they’re a worthwhile investment in the world of over-the-counter insoles. Insoles generally help protect your feet from shin splints, stabilize your ankle, and absorb the shock of pounding the pavement, among other things. I personally would never run without them.

Physiotherapy

I haven’t mentioned this yet, but I’ve managed to injure myself pretty badly, and by that I mean I am basically living with 24/7 pain from sciatica and some other nerve that I’ve hurt, the name of which I can’t for the life of me remember.  First of all, if for some reason your body starts hurting, don’t wait to see a doctor- do it as soon as possible. Secondly, before you do something really intense, try physiotherapy. If you live in Ottawa, I highly recommend Kyle Andrades of Get Physical Physiotherapy.    

Kyle is super strong and can pull your body apart and put it back together just enough to make everything feel like it’s where it’s supposed to be.  Apparently, my feet are now misaligned because of my newly rotated pelvis. Sometimes Kyle likes to tell me that I’ll need a “special shoe” (like an Elton John platform) for just one of my feet. Sometimes I feel like crying because I’m scared he’s not joking, or because he crunches my bones apart so hard I think I’ll literally break in half. But every single time, I leave his office feeling so, so great, and I haven’t cried yet, so he's obviously doing something right. Kyle is also super funny, super positive, and will remind you about your L4, L5, and L6 (I don’t know what those are) until you remember them, because he’s really focused on educating his patients, which I  really appreciate.  He also does acupuncture and will even offer to pass you your phone when you’re covered in needles and can’t reach it. You really can’t go wrong.

 And there you have it- a few of my favourite things! 

PS. Not all of these photos are mine. If you'd like to find out their sources, drop me a line in the comment section!

Marathon Training, and What Has Become of Me

There (probably) comes a time in every runner's life where they get cocky and decide that, having done a handful of half-marathons, they might as well run a full one because really, how much worse can it be?  Okay, so maybe that only happened to me, and it happened right around the time I was putting together my list of 30 things to accomplish by the time I'm 30 - a list that I plan to modify based on a new idea I've had.  So, with the ambition and confidence of a person who has never run longer than 21 kilometres, I signed up for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and will be running it (if I survive the remaining weeks of training) on October 18th, 2015!

At about this time last year, I went to Val’s high school graduation and accidentally spent three hours talking to her friend’s dad about running. It was the sort of thing where everyone leaves, and these two incongruous people (“Hey, isn’t that your dad, with…your friend's sister?”) are yelling things like “But have you felt the inclines of the Toronto terrain?!” and “I thought I’d never beat my PB but it’s all about dedication!” while waiters delicately rolled up the tablecloth around us. What I remember most about that conversation was Mr.Dad’s warning: “You think you’re ready for a marathon, but even running ten extra kilometres is insane for your body.”  I think it was at that point that I really knew I had to try, and while he suggested I start with a 30k race, I decided to go big or go home. That’s what she said.

For my training, frequent marathon-runner and general life enthusiast Anais suggested that I try the Hansons Marathon Method, (that's a link to a sassy article written in Runner's World) and over wine and fancy charcuterie, we discussed its benefits:

The idea behind this method is that you run more often, but shorter distances.  In fact, the longest distance you run is 16 miles or about 26km, and train your body to not just run a long distance, but to run when it's tired. You run 6 days, with one of them being your long distance day, and one day devoted to speed running where you basically sprint for specific periods of time, each week extending the speed runs. On the 7th day, you lie down in your refrigerator and sob into a sock. Then you start over.

Before starting the training, I pictured what life would be like running almost every day, and I figured I would just get used to waking up early and getting 'er done. I flipped through the Hansons book and, carefully considering my potential, chose my goal finish time.

"Okay, so 42k  is like one half marathon, then like...ten kilometres, then another ten, then just two more, and that's it. I should be able to finish in just under four hours. Let's say...3:55. Perfect." -Alisa, May 2015

"Okay, so.....what...day is it? When...is sleep? Are these your hands around me, satan?"  -Alisa, September 2015

The book warned me that I would eventually be extremely tired, that it's just as much of a mental challenge as it is physical, and that I would likely have to work hard at fitting the schedule into my week. Now, on week 13 of 18, I know what they mean.  This summer has been so hot that, often, even waking up at 5:30 to run, I'd still struggle against the 26 degree heat. It's been humid, which makes it very hard to breathe, and my eyes burn every day from the stinging of the sweat pouring down my face. In short, these days, I am very attractive.  Other things that have happened on my training journey:

• Ordering a celebratory coffee post long run and watching the cashier’s eyes widen, only to later discover that the sweat that had been pouring and pouring and pouring had dried up and crystallized into abstract designs all over my face until I inadvertently looked like Rorschach from Watchmen.

• Running down the ever-busy Rideau street, clutching a bag of groceries because when your running takes up so much of your time you have no choice but to multi-task.  Here: an actual day of grocery running. Pictured: raggedy t-shirt, dish detergent, pack of 2 contact solution bottles, bar of dark chocolate, 9 kilometre run.  Not pictured: various heckling.

• Attempting to run 16 kilometres on the most humid day of the century without hydration, staggering into a Tim Horton’s casually asking for a glass of tap water please, and hearing “You okay? Yo lips look  green, or white or somethin'” from the very sweet cashier who immediately helped bring me back to life. Side note: another reason to love Tim’s…they will not let you die!

• Deciding that I had to have a spaghetti squash for dinner. Running to buy squash. Running back home clutching squash.  This was okay while I was on the running path, but when I had to take the main pedestrian roads I looked like a squash shoplifter. Cool.

Some of the less pleasant additions to my training ‘scrapbook’ have included a broken toe (actually a lot more painful than I thought it would be), a pulled thigh muscle which feels like basically one leg is shorter than the other and makes it very hard to fall asleep at night, a torn tendon in my pinky (pinkie?)  on account of holding my enormous phone in my hand while running for extended periods of time (like, HOW is that even a thing??), and generally, my feet being a complete mess. Almost every toenail is purple, almost every toe is a weird shade of greyish-blue, and, my heel was so cracked at one point that it bled all day, every day. Here is a picture of a squirrel eating a napkin. 

My dad calls me almost every evening now to tell me that I am doing a bad, bad thing and need to stop immediately and get into weight-training and take up boxing and drink raw eggs.  It’s getting to the point where I might take him up on the suggestion. But despite whining about it as I just did, I really have to say it’s been an incredible experience. I’ve never pushed myself this hard before, and didn’t know how persistent and stubborn my brain can be while my entire body is crying.

keep drinking dat haterade

an actual statue of Rocky that we saw in Philadelphia!

And speaking of the brain, an amazing thing happened on one of my long runs. As I often whine about in running posts, I am usually really sick after a half-marathon.  Like, almost dying, borderline puking, unable to walk, wanting to never run ever, ever again. The other day, however, I had a 26k run and after finishing it, I felt completely fine.  I stretched a bit, watched a couple of shows, then went out dancing with the girls.  The next day, I ran another 11 kilometres, and went on with my life.  It’s incredible how much of your physical perception of an experience is really just your mental perception.  When a 21k run is part of a race with a set beginning and end, my body let itself fall apart.  But, throw in a casual 26k run in the middle of training for a much greater goal, and my body was too busy with bigger ambitions to worry about feeling sick. I still can’t believe it. Super casual, no big deal, 26k, just like that.

On that note, I’m running the Army Run Half Marathon again this year, and just realized that it’s coming up next week, on September 20th! Last year, I was absolutely moved by my wonderful ex-boss who, seeing in what bad shape I was, ran beside me for nearly the entire race. This year, I won't be dehydrated and will run the race in his honour.

I still have a few weeks of training before the big race, but so far, I've learned a few things that I just have to share:

• If you are training for a marathon and you are seriously committed to the training, be prepared for spending a lot of nights in, just sleeping. See you later, Mr.Vodka. You will be legit exhausted...often.

• It's really, really important that you not only have the right running attire, but that it fits you properly as well.  After wearing an old top that had some threading come out, I ended up with a piece of skin missing from my body.  Not realizing that my long distance running shoes should be at least a half size bigger than my regular size, I injured two toes and turned my toenails purple (as I've already described, for your imagining pleasure).

• If you have a group of people in your life who support your running, never take that for granted. Thank them at every chance you get, because whether you realize it or not, they're a huge part of every single one of your runs.

aww!

• It's really, really important that you eat properly for energy and recovery from your running. There's nothing quite like that jittery, hollow feeling when you realize your brain is pushing your body but your body can no longer move (a sign that you haven't taken in enough calories to create that essential energy). I crave peanut butter 24/7 and while I give into this ridiculous craving, there also needs to be a ton of focus on complex carbs - don't just drink raw eggs please. Eat a really long banana, okay?

• It's really, really important to have good music to run to.  One time, on a really long run on a really hot day, I got really moody and hated every song on my playlist.  I had no other music but an old Enya album. It was a dark, dark rest of the run.  Always have backup playlists, ugh.

• Don't be afraid to instil a little competitive edge, if you're running with a group of friends. A little sass never hurt nobody, I always say.

• If you see something funny along your run, take a picture. Eventually, you'll have an album of hilarious things that will make your running memories that much more rewarding.

(By the way, I'll post another piece on things I recommend for training and running, in the coming weeks!! )

I still remember the day, many years ago, when I told a guy I was dating that I wanted to try running. His response: "No you don't. Running sucks."  Shortly after, he was out of my life, and running was in.  I remember when I would leave the gym glowing because I was able to run non-stop for four minutes. I remember when I couldn't sleep the night before my first race, shaking from the nervousness I felt at running a 10k. I remember clutching my first medal and thinking, wow, I'm proud of myself.  Of course, the feeling of pride isn't something I experience often or for very long, so it faded in like seven minutes, but I think the pursuit of its elusive nature is a huge part of what drives me to try for longer and longer distances.  For most of my life, the idea of running a marathon was tucked away in my wildest dreams, like riding a dragon, or playing saxophone for the Swedish delegation. I never imagined myself training for a race like this, and now, here I am.

Will I even be able to finish the race? If my longest run during training is 26k, I really have no way to ever know how capable I am of running that remaining 16. My new goal is just to get to the finish line before they send out the slow-moving ambulance to escort the very ill/ill-prepared. I'd love to have a great finish time, but I really have no idea how I'm gonna do, and amazingly enough, I'm okay with that. See you soon Toronto!

Half-Marathon #3: Goals and Their Consequences

I have a confession to make: I wasn't actually super thrilled with my time from my second half-marathon. I mean, I know in theory, I should've been proud, but I had a far higher goal in mind, and it drove me kinda crazy that I missed it by a few minutes. I was happy, but not Happy.  So, still high off the product of so many months of training, I decided to sign up for another marathon, held a month after the second one. My secret goal was to finish in 1:50 or under, and though it was still a pretty lofty goal, I just knew that if I pushed myself hard enough, I would achieve it.

My plan for this race was to follow a pacer.  I was planning to follow the 1:53 run/walk pacer, and had even met her the day before, but on the day of the race, I couldn't find her sign.  Instead, I found a 1:48 continuous runner.  Continuous. One of my most feared words in the running world.  I've never continuously run before. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to run a full two hours without stopping.  I always take walking breaks, so I obviously hadn't trained for this at all. It was my only option, though, so I thought I would give it a try.

I forgot to mention that the race was the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon, so a really exciting part of it was running in a new city.  I've never really seen downtown Toronto before, so I figured this would also be a great way to explore it (while, you know, being really exhausted and sweaty).  The morning of the race was extremely cold. I've never run in October before, and here I was, back in adrenaline mode again, just a few weeks after my last "okay this is it for the year" moment. My body was definitely confused by this point.

We started running, and I was surprised by how leisurely the pace was.  I guess those walking breaks really add a lot of time, so making them up requires quite a significant increase in running speed. I was feeling pretty great for about the first hour, and felt comfortable enough to really take the sights in. So much so that I sort of forgot where I was, for while, and stepped into one of the streetcar grooves in the road. I felt my ankle roll, and then felt an immediate shot of pain. I kept running, and luckily, the pain went away after about ten minutes.  Yes, I persisted, but yes, I also cried. The real pain came at about the 1:15 mark.  We had turned to run back- the last stretch- and as I grabbed a drink from a nearby station, I realized that I needed to walk. I just wasn't prepared for this much running. The worst part about walking breaks is, as I mentioned during the above-linked second half-marathon post, seeing your target disappear from sight in mere seconds.  My pacer, from whom I had been just a few feet away for the majority of the run, was now a toned and motivated dot.  I knew I was tired when even this couldn't convince me to keep running. I walked for about two minutes, and then picked up the pace, and really gave it my all for the last 30 minutes, and finally, I saw the finish line.  What's funny is that by the time you see the word FINISH, it's not even a word anymore. It's not a finish line, it holds no meaning, people aren't really people, running isn't running. It's just a very loud silence, a bit of tunnel vision, a persistent RUN RUN RUN echoing in every step. I ran a few meters after crossing that line, because I was still in that weird zombiesque state, and then checked my race results.  I was alone in the crowd at Nathan Phillips Square.  I was surrounded by beautiful, exhausted, powerful champions: everyone. I was surrounded by trees, fences, brilliant aluminum make-shift blankets. A muffled voice congratulated us through the loudspeaker. The sun was shining on our heads. It was only me, and thousands of strangers.  And in that moment, my race results came up on my phone screen: 1:50:49.

I didn't want anyone to think I was a wuss, so I hid the tears that ran down my cheeks with my puffy hands.  Pride is the most elusive feeling to me, so, when somehow I manage to feel it, it takes absolutely everything out of me.  Looking back on that day, I really still can't believe I did it. Every song that pushed me when my legs didn't want to listen, every thought I forced myself to think to shut out the voices of pain...they were aligned just so, just perfectly, for me to finish in my goal time. What a miracle.

When we reach a goal by a mere ten seconds, when we reach it against all odds, having gone beyond what we trained to endure...is it a fluke? Is it all just random luck? Could this ever happen again?  Should I even bother trying for this time again, or for an even faster time? There's only one way to answer these questions, isn't there?

Half-Marathon #2: This Time It's Personal

I can't believe it was just yesterday morning that the long-awaited Ottawa Army Run took place. It seems like it was so long ago, or like it didn't happen at all. Was it all just a super exhausting dream? No. It wasn't.

It wasn't because today I can't walk down stairs, and when I do succeed in walking, I look like Gumby.
But that doesn't matter because I'm so super excited to have had a fantastic experience running and, this time, it was all because I kept it personal, or in other words, I focused on myself.

I sometimes get competitive, especially with people I don't know.  When I first ran the 10K races, or the previous half-marathon, it was so difficult not to feel pressured by the people around me to keep running, even when I felt I needed a break.  If you've ever run before, you'll know what I mean: walk on the side of the road for five seconds, and a hundred people will pass you.  And that pace-bunny you were right behind for the past 10 kilometres is now nowhere in sight.  Comparing yourself to other runners can be good for whipping you into finishing another mile at your best pace, but it can also be really bad if you end foregoing much-needed breaks because you're focused on keeping up.

And compare, compare, compare I always do.  But this time, I focused on my Nike running app, pacing myself as per my training plan, and when I wanted to speed up because senior citizens were zipping by me, I just looked away and at the river on my other side. I looked around and imagined that I was running alone. And when I took my one walking break, I looked straight at my watch to avoid seeing the seven million sprinters passing me. Granted, I resumed running after two minutes of walking, and didn't let myself stop once since then, but at least I'm starting to get it! I was able to pace myself so well that I easily sped up at the end of my race for a last quick sprint, and honestly didn't even realize the finish line was approaching. I felt great after the race, and can't wait to do another one.

So, a new tip for anyone thinking about running a half marathon: pay attention to your body.  It's tempting to follow everyone into a starting sprint, but you don't know these people and their plans! They could slow down significantly mid-way through, or take a ten minute walking break somewhere down the line. Everyone has their own strategy and if you don't follow your heart *cue saxophone* plan, you'll end up confusing your body, leading to exhaustion, cramping, and let's not mention what else, but it starts with a d and ends with iarrhea.
But enough about that! On to the fun part: I finished in 1:55, which, given all the colds/viruses/crappy stuff I've faced this year, is a pretty awesome time!
And once more, I have to mention how incredible it is to see all of the spectators. Standing outside in the freezing cold, holding hilarious posters in their hands, smiling, waving, cheering on people they've never met before- what an overwhelmingly inspiring moment, and one safely in my vault of unforgettable feelings.

Coming up, in running...

Well, it has been about six months of training and at last, next Sunday, September 22nd is the long awaited Army Run! 21 kilometers of running, sweating, smiling (and maybe crying)....but also, a really, really exciting thing is set to happen during that half-marathon: at some point during this race I'm going to hit the blue level (1000Km) in my Nike Running app!!!! Stay tuned for a detailed listing of all the food I'll be eating in celebration...

rainy running

With Race Weekend fast approaching, and in light of my recent four day running hiatus (in favor of a wonderfully relaxing weekend in Caledon, Ontario!!), the pressure is really on to keep my running stamina up. This is the last week leading up to my 10K run, so I basically couldn't get out of running today.  Tomorrow is a scheduled day off so that I can eat food and think about things I would like to eat in the future, Thursday is my mandatory second day of running plus spinning, Friday I have rowing practice, and then Saturday's the big day. So, since I can't do back to back runs anyway (even if I did cancel my day of thinking about/eating food in the present/future), it was really today or bust. So, of course when I absolutely can't get out of running, it rains. It rained like all sorts of metaphorical felines and maybe even some heavier, more industrial sized farm animals too. Luckily, I changed into my running clothes before I had a chance to see what was really happening outside, and truthfully, I did stand by the doors of my building for about five minutes, concocting last minute negotiations with myself as to when else I could fit in that run. But, there was nothing to do but go. And so I ran, and I got soaked, and it was very uncomfortable but one exciting thing I can report is that somehow, for some weird reason, it makes running feel easier.  Maybe it's because you're focusing on how uncomfortable your face is, make up running off you like a mime act gone wrong. Maybe it's because the rain keeps you cool. I don't know what the reason is for feeling so great, but I barely took a break at all, and only noticed how attractively crimson my face and chest were when I was changing back into my work clothes. My speed was better, my lungs felt fresh (you would only find that weird until that hot summer day when your lungs feel like a paper bag set on fire), and gosh darn it, it was just fun being the only one out on the path.  Slash it was a little scary slash I figured rapists wouldn't want to get soaked like this slash I just hoped for the best. Here I am at the beginning of my run, being all "oh look at this drizzle hehe"....

 .....30 minutes later, my face has become an abstract painting as I wring out my t-shirt mid-run.  There is no photo of that, fortunately.
Oh, and here I am, about ten minutes into the run. Don't let the photo deceive you: you could barely see through the rain! (shoes are now aquariums...hopefully not permanently...)

 

You know, I have a strong aversion to being uncomfortable, and though I definitely was uncomfortable running in the middle of a rain-a-thon, I would highly recommend it to everyone! Variety is the spice of life or if you're not into sayings, just think how hardcore you'll look to anyone eating a grilled cheese sandwich while sitting in their diaper on the bus. You, stallion of endurance, majestically slamming the puddles like insects under your fervent gallop*. You, unbridled, a champion of athleticism, wincing while boldly piercing rain droplets with your stoicism, passing them as they collect on your glistening biceps and rock solid calves*. You- a rain runner.

*I did not resemble any of this. My appearance was more akin to a wet eggplant rolling down a moderately slanted hill.