Cool Fun Training Run (1/28/12)

Way too Cool 50k is a popular ultra marathon coming up in March. So popular is this event that you can only get in my lottery. But, I seem to be pretty lucky with lotteries so got in this year. This will be my first 50k (running).

I ran one long trail race last year and it gave me a little taste of what ultra marathons are like. They are very different than marathons. Marathons are done on roads (typically) and all about speed and pounding pavement. Ultra-marathons are typically on trails and more about getting through the distance. And, the trails are just gorgeous! Challenging but you get some stunning views! The aid stations are more than people shoving dixie cups of water or gatorade at you but tables with all kinds of food and kind volunteers. So, after my marathons, I wanted to try an ultra this year. And as luck would have it, I got into WTC!

On this day, there was a special FREE Cool Fun Training Run. A couple hundred runners came out for this organized training run. There were various distance options for people. I opted to do the long run (which was supposed to be 23 miles).

Me and some running friends (some Java Joggers and some Folsom Trail Runners) carpooled out there. Met many more other running friends (from both groups) at the Cool Firehouse. We then headed off for our 20-something mile journey around Cool. The first few miles were easy paced as there was quite the line of runners. We get down to Quarry trails and the trails widen so people start spacing themselves out more. I was running with some fast guys but we were laughing and having a good time.

We hit one hill and some of the guys just flew up it. I opted to take it a little easier rather than chase them as I had a lot more miles to cover. My buddy Scott opted to do the same. Scott & I have been running a lot lately and we seem to run about the same pace. So, it was nice having a running buddy during these long training runs.

We got through Quarry trails and headed on the Dead Truck loop, some new trails for Scott and me. They were beautiful! Again, how I just LOVE LOVE LOVE trail running! There's just something wonderful about being out in nature, running these trails. It wasn't until I become more of a serious runner that I come to realize that I live so close to amazing running territory.

Around mile 11-12ish, I start getting a little weary. I take some GU and keep trucking along. I am glad Scott is with me to chat with and keep me going. There's a special bond that develops when runners run together. And, I feel like Scott & I definitely further bonded on this run!

Then, we hit the aid station. There's some snacks, which I was grateful to see as I was getting hungry. I drank a little coke too (I am a major coke addict so this really helps!). After this, we head along some of my favorite trail sections out there. They're single track, windy with little rollers. Some of it you can just go flying on, like a roller coaster! And again, the views are gorgeous!

Around mile 16ish, I can tell I am getting weary. I try to make sure I am fueling every 30 minutes but I can tell I am a lot more tired than previous times I have run through this section. Of course in the previous times, I had not run quite so much when I got to these trails.

At mile 18, we hit the dread Goat Hill. This is a beastly hill. Everyone pretty much trudges up it. I have gone it at mile 12ish or so. But, not at mile 18. And, boy was it much harder. Towards the top, I was wishing I had a rope that I could use to pull myself up it.

After the hill, I was so wiped out, I could not keep up with Scott anymore. I was just dragging my way through the rest of this run. A couple miles later, my hamstring cramped a little. I took some GU and drank more electrolytes hoping it'd pass (which it kind of did). I also wasn't going to push myself too much. This was after all, just a training run.

The last couple miles were uphill again. But, I kept going. Around mile 21, I felt like I was close to the Cool Firehouse. As I was running in, I realized the route was going to be less than 23 miles. I was not going to complain! I was ready to be done!

I finished and saw a bunch of my running friends! Everyone brought food to share so it was this giant potluck afterwards! It was AWESOME! The soup someone had made really hit the spot. I downed a bunch of cold cokes. All that really helped. And, it was good fun hanging with my running friends. Since I started training for WTC, I have been running a little more with Folsom Trail Runners (FTR) and have made some new friends as a result. There are just some fun people in the group. Some I find are even crazier than me. I love it!


Despite the training run being a bit brutal towards the end, I had a lot of fun. Great company out. Another wonderful sunny day out on the trails. And, I was glad to get the training in and get myself even more familiar with the race course. I think I need to play around more with my fueling plan. I still have about six weeks or so before the race to get myself even more trained up. This is my longest trail run to date! Going to keep coming out!

Acknowledgments:

Thanks James Barstad for putting on such a fun, well-organized event! I thank all the volunteers out there! You were great! All the runners for bringing wonderful food/drinks to share after the run! And, great fun running with many of you Folsom Trail Runners today, especially you Scott Engquist! :)

TBF New Year's Duathlon (1/7/12)

Total Body Fitness (TBF) puts on a free duathlon at the beginner of the year. It's a fun event. You run 2 miles, bike 7 miles, and run another 2 miles. I did it last year and had fun. But, boy was it COLD! This year, weather was warmer and it seemed to have gotten more popular. Or, I just befriended more athletic friends in the past year. Whatever the reason, I got to see a lot more friends doing this event than the year before. Made it even more fun!

Before the race, I ran a little bit around then met up with my fellow Java Joggers. We did our warm up run together. It was fun as it kind of felt like we were doing our usual weekend run. My cyclist friends thought it was silly we would do such a "lengthy" warm up run when the first run is only 2 miles. I told them the shorter the race, the longer the warm up run. My running friends understand this.


This duathlon reminded as to why I prefer doing the longer distance events over the shorter ones. This one hurt! The shorter distances, you sprint and go all out rather than pace oneself.

The race started and I took off on the first run. Went running 7 min/miles. I think I might have ran a little harder than I should have but hard not to when the run is only 2 miles.

I finished the run and scurried off on my bike. My cycling legs had not quite recovered from the Beatty smack down. Every hill I hit was just tough and legs were aching like crazy every time I came out of the saddle to push myself up the hill. But, I kept pushing myself as it's only a 7 mile bike ride.

Halfway in the ride, I felt my right foot twinge a little bit. I could tell it was wanting to cramp up. I tried to ease up on the pace a little bit since I still had to run after the ride. As I rolled into transition, I unclip my foot and my whole foot and leg cramp up. I drag myself to the bike rack and rack my bike up. I grip the bike rack for dear life as my leg cramps up. Oh man, my marathons didn't hurt this bad! I hobble my way out of transition and eventually get to the water station. I ask for some electrolytes. I get a power gel and drink some gatorade and off I go.

I felt like I was running super slow. My legs felt really heavy and achy. I was just dragging myself along. Actually, I was not running that slow. I averaged 8:30's on my second run. The first mile was just painful. Eventually, my running legs found their groove and I got going in the second mile. Coming into the finish, I gave it all I got.

I finished. Cramped some more. Told myself, this is why I don't like short distance races. This is why I rather run a 50k over a 5k (which I have never done).

Last year, I finished this duathlon in 1:10:07. This year, I finished in 58:59. Both my running and cycling have improved greatly in one year. It's nice to do these events just to see how much progress I have made. But, I think I will aim to do longer distance events.

The post-race was fun hanging out and seeing numerous friends (both running and cycling friends).

Beatty Smack Down!

Beatty hill is well known by local cyclists as a toughie of a hill! Beatty Road is in El Dorado Hills, California. It is about a 375' climb in 0.7-0.8 miles with a mixture of 5-16% grades.

Yesterday, the Hammerin' Wheels Bike Club has a New Year's Day Smack Down - Beatty Hill Challenge. The challenge is to do as many hill repeats in two hours as you can. Riding up Beatty one time is already tough for a cyclist. Repeating it is a whole another challenge!



To give a little background, I will say two years ago, it was a struggle for me to ride over the overpasses in Davis. At my first triathlon (in September 2010), I ended up getting stuck with my bike on a hill. Very frustrating. So, in 2011, I was very determined to get better at climbing hills.

I first met Beatty in February 2011. I only got about half way up her. My foot cramped and so, I stopped. I had no idea how much more hill there was going to be so I turned back down. It seemed like this endless hill.

Later in the year, after riding much more hills and getting myself stronger, I was taken back to Beatty and trucked all the way to the top! Felt great to see the top. Then, I went up a second time just for good measure. I was really happy that after months of work, I was finally able to conquer this hill!

Then, I geared myself for the New Year's Smack Down. Prior to this, I had only repeated Beatty 3 (maybe 4) times. I wanted to try to do at least 10.

On the day of the event, there is a good showing of cyclists out there. The sun is shining and it is hard to believe that it is winter! A perfect day to ride! And, not only are there a good number of cyclists doing the smack down, there are quite a number out there for support and encouragement!

I find the first climb up Beatty always hurts the most. And, that is how it went this day. I take off on the first one trying to get ahead of the slower folks. The super fast folks (including my "sister" Sarah) got way ahead of me but I was glad not to be stuck behind the slower folks. I think I hammer a wee bit too hard on the first two times as it is just brutal getting up Beatty. However, the third time, it is feeling a little bit better. When I reach the bottom after the third repeat, I ask for some Gatorade as my hand/legs are shaking like crazy!

The next few feel much better. I actually feel really great at 5, 6, and 7. I find I am not so great at speed as I am endurance. And, this was a test of endurance alright! I just keep going up and down. It really helps seeing some of my cyclist friends standing all along the side of the hill cheering me on as I truck up and down. I come flying down the hill. Turn and see some folks at the bottom cheering me on. Then, I get going and reach the first bend where I see some more friends. I smile at them as they encourage me on!

Though, I go on and hit the second bend and have to buck down, pedaling hard to get through that darn middle section! But, having so many of my friends all along the hill cheering me on as I drag myself up and down that hill definitely helps a lot!

I get 10 repeats in and am feeling pretty good (happy that I got ten) and thinking I could do more. Now, I being to figure out how much time of the 2 hours I had left. On my 11th repeat, I push myself a little extra hoping that I could squeeze in a 12th one before the cut off time. I get to the top of the 11th one and zip down as fast as I can. I hit the bottom and turn ready to charge the hill one more time. Jeff says I still have time so I go!

So, I finish doing 12 repeats on a hill! A hill I could not climb a year ago! I am amazed (and also on a fantastic endorphin high)! I end up being third female. So, a respectable appearance at the Smack Down. Did more than what I set out to do so I am happy with that! :)

It was such a well organized event! Tons of Hammerin' Wheels volunteers out and friends cheering! It was great! The bibs they had made for us were awesome! They had barcodes which were scanned every time you made it to the top. People would ask how you were doing and offer water, GUs, etc.... I felt well taken care of during the event! This was better organized than some of the paid events I have been in. And, perhaps the funnest cycling event I had ever done! Crazy but OH, so much fun!! What a great way to kick of my new year of crazy! :)



















Acknowledgments:
I want to express great thanks to Scott Taggart and Hammerin' Wheels for putting on such a great event and for getting to me to do all those hill repeats last year which made me able to partake in this event! Much thanks to Jeff Sanford for being the organizer of such an awesome cycling group and for providing support at the aid station today! The Hammerin' Wheels folks have really helped me become a cyclist in the past year and definitely made me much better at climbing hills. I thank you all for that! Thanks for those folks who came out to cheer me on as it was greatly appreciated and did really help me get up and down that hill! :)

[forgot to start garmin on the first climb so probably my fastest time up beatty is not recorded]

It Gets Crazy in 2012!

Two years ago, I decided to train for a sprint triathlon. Rather than resolve to exercise more or to get into shape, I made a goal to do a triathlon in September 2010. Back then, I could hardly run, bike, or swim. I started from scratch. It was tough but somewhere along the way, I got hooked into the endurance sports.

In 2011, I decided I would try to do at least one event a month. I started off running a few half marathons. By late spring and summer, things started getting a little crazy. I was most definitely hooked on the running, especially the distance running. My cycling started to get better too. And, I enjoyed the swimming, though slow as molasses in the water.

In 2011, I completed my first two marathons, biked my first century, and completed two Olympic distance triathlons. I did quite a number of other events as well but what I had set out to do, I accomplished even more than that. This pleased me. I was amazed as to how much one can improve over a year.

So, for 2012, the stakes have been raised even higher! Most of my friends think I am completely crazy now with all my running and cycling (still trying to get better on the swimming). But, I am going to take crazy to a whole new level.

Some goals for 2012:

-complete an ultra-marathon (namely, a 50k). I got into the lottery for Way Too Cool 50k! So, I will be doing that in March. However, I am looking to do Tahoe Rim 50k (in July) and maybe Run on the Sly 50k (in August; I ran the 20 mile race last year and really enjoyed it so we'll see).

-get the California Triple Crown (that's finishing three double centuries in a year). Feel like I tested my running endurance last year with a lot of running events so this year, I want to test my cycling endurance. Haven't figured out which three doubles I want to ride in this year but I plan to do at least three and earn that triple (crazy) crown. :)

-ride the Death Ride. Death Ride is in the California mountains. 129 miles with 15,000 feet of climbing. It's crazy but I am doing it. Signed up with a bunch of my Hammerin' Wheels friends. I am excited that we'll be training and doing the event together!

-ride in the Northern California AIDS Cycle. felt like doing a charity event this year and someone suggested this and it really appealed to me. The monies raised goes to the local community rather than some generic AIDS organization. It's 330 miles in 4 days. It should be a fun, memorable event for a good cause. The funny thing is that I am not so much worried about riding the 330 miles as I am raising the $2000. I was never so good at fundraising but I am going to give it my best shot. (By the way, if you're interested in donating or seeing how much I have raised so far, you can check out this link: http://norcalaidscycle.org.kintera.org/2012/crazyhelen)

-finish a half ironman distance triathlon. I really want to do Wildflower Half Ironman this year so I have my eye on that one. But, I will do at least one half ironman distance triathlon. That's 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run.

So, we'll see how this year turns out as I take crazy to a whole new level! :)

2011 Totals

My dailymile totals for 2011!

The breakdown:
Running: 1440.96 miles (only ~350 miles in 2010)
Cycling: 2902.32 miles (only ~550 miles in 2010)
Swimming: 75.34 miles (only ~35 miles in 2010)

Other than running 1.5 miles in the Chicago airport, all my running was done outside! No miles run on a dreadmill! About 250 miles were run in races. All the cycling was done outdoors.

I should probably swim a bit more than I did. It still needs work. But, I definitely got stronger and faster in running and cycling! Got some big goals in 2012! Plan to rack even more mileage this next year! :)

California International Marathon (12/4/11)

CIM RECAP

"You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming." -Frank Shorter

"I don't think about the miles that are coming down the road, I don't think about the mile I'm on right now, I don't think about the miles I've already covered. I think about what I'm doing right now, just being lost in the moment." -Ryan Hall, on running a marathon

"The key to running a good marathon is to not listen to anyone’s advice the last week before the race. That's when people tend to do stupid things that disrupt all the input and training of the previous months." -Don Kardong

Preface: From NYC to CIM

Normal people finish a marathon saying "I am never doing that again." While I finished NYC feeling awful, I never said I never would do it again. But, I never said I was normal. ;-)

Four weeks prior to CIM

Four week prior to CIM...no thoughts about running CIM. I just finished my first marathon, the NYC marathon. That marathon was possibly the best and worst experience ever (read my NYC Marathon recap to understand why). Some people talk about how the NYC Marathon was the most amazing experience ever. While the crowds and build up was great, I did not feel amazing out there. I know somewhere out there I had lost my usual determination, lost my usual drive, lost myself. I did not feel I had given it my all so that may be partly why I did not achieve my time goal. It also might be why I went into some post-marathon depression.

I think the NYC Marathon got to be too big. It's the biggest marathon in the world and it was just so exciting that my very first marathon would be on such a huge stage. There's a lot of hype and excitement to that. Everyone was just so excited for me (which I really appreciated and loved the support I got). But, I had a lot of opinions and advice thrown at me. And, people just making it bigger and bigger. And, the pressure grows. I feel like all that commotion made me lose focus. I kind of feel like at some point, it stopped being a race for me and became a race for everyone else.

Later, Joanne plants the crazy idea of CIM into my head. I tell her the idea is just CRAZY. No way! Now how! It is in four weeks, are you CRAZY?!? She tells me I am trained up. She even lays out the plan: run the lake loop this next weekend, then do a long run, then taper. So simple she makes it seem. I continue to resist. She tells me she believes I can break four hours if I run at home. I get to sleep in my own bed so get the rest I need. I get to run at home on the streets I know. She also tells me how I would be running with Cathy and Diane. You've been training with them so why not run with them. She knows I run better with my my friends around than without. I eventually end the conversation telling her to stop planting crazy ideas into my head!

Meanwhile, back in California (unknown to me at this time), the Java Joggers have already predicted that I will be doing CIM in four weeks.

Three weeks prior to CIM

The crazy CIM idea starts to grow a little...

I return to California ready to just go back to doing what feels good to me. Not dealing with any training plans anymore. Just running what feels good to me (as well as getting back on my bike). However, the crazy seed Joanne planted starts to grow a little. I am still physically and mentally recovering from NYC. Yet, I feel the desire growing. The desire for CIM. The desire to do a marathon at home and break four hours. I keep running the NYC marathon through my head and replaying the things I could have done differently to have broken four hours.

Mica then gives me numerous reasons why I should do CIM even telling me about someone he knows who ran NYC, had a tough time there, came back, did CIM and blew her PR time away. And somewhere around then, CIM tipped from crazy idea to crazy possibility.

I then find that practically all the Java Joggers (and other running friends) already had it in their minds I would be doing CIM. No question about it. When I hesitantly told them I am maybe pondering CIM, my friend Kim responded "Who didn't see this coming? … anyone? … anyone?"; Dave tells me that as soon as finished the NYC marathon, him and the other java joggers were already talking about me doing CIM. Wendy said "We already know you're crazy. You won't shock us!!" And, this is what surprises me. No one is talking me out of this crazy idea. But rather I am strongly encouraged to do this crazy thing of back to back marathons.

So, I run the lake loop like Joanne suggested. I tell myself, if my legs feel okay running the loop, I may be able to recover from NYC to do CIM. I run the loop. The legs feel great. I start looking to see if I can get a bib for CIM. But, no promises that I am doing it. I am still recovering...

Two weeks prior to CIM

A runner (that I don't really know) says to me "NYC was my first marathon too! And, I'd hate to bum you out, but it's all downhill from here. Seven marathons later and ultras I haven't had anything close to NYC's support and fun. Chicago tries to to tell me it comes close, but I don't think so...Les sign...such disappoint. CIM is the furthest thing from NYC. I would never do those back to back. I'd be so bored in comparison & wonder where all the spectators were."

My response: "when I did my first triathlon, I did it in Seattle. while nice, I wanted to do one back home on the paths I know with the people I trained with...while CIM is not NYC, I just feel the need to do one on home turf with the people I run best with...I came so close to my goal time that I'm sure I can do it at CIM when it isn't so crowded...but that's just me...some people are different."

Jeffrey, who will be doing his first marathon at CIM, asks me "So what would do the same and what would you do differently next time?" I tell him about some various things but say "ultimately, you have to do what you feel is best for yourself. Everyone's body is different and I think I let other factors and people throw me off from what worked for me. Just do what you have been doing that you know works for you." I am not only tell him that but I am telling myself that. If I do CIM, I want it to be MY race, not everyone else's race. I am going to do it MY way. I am going train for it and prepare it MY way. Do what I know works best for me.

Joanne said "and the following weekend, do a long run...." I decide to run 19 miles. Longer than some would recommend to do two weeks before a marathon (or two weeks after a marathon) but this was what feels right for me. And, to my delight, Diane joins me (Cathy joins for 14 miles). I had not seen Diane since returning from NYC and had not actually told her I was thinking of CIM. She did not even question me or say anything about it. She just went along with me continuing our marathon training together. Cathy too (though Cathy actually said "why not?"). It was as though they both knew all along that I would run CIM with them. It was as though the three of us were meant to run CIM together! ;-)

We run 19 miles. We feel good. We feel ready for CIM!

I also make note that the night before, I had drank some beer. The night before my 23 mile training run over a month ago, I had beer also and the run was great. I did not have beer before the NYC marathon. Theresa has a theory about beer and pizza are the best things to have the night before a long run or race. Hmm. I start to really think there may be something to this beer theory. I decide if I do CIM, I am going to have beer the night before.

It starts looking highly likely that I am going to do CIM. But then, I get into a bike crash!

One week prior to CIM

The bike crash throws a wrench into things. Legs did not suffer any major injuries. But, running does not feel good, does not feel right. It hurts to run. I cannot find my running groove. On one short run, I have to stop Susie because it hurts so much. This is not normal. This worries me.

I fix my bike and eventually get back on the bike. I am hesitant since my running has not been feeling so good. But, I get back on the bike. My cycling is little off too. Not painful but I definitely don't have quite the same strength and speed as I had before. However, what I find interesting is after cycling, I am running a little better, with a little less pain, and a little stronger.

So, I bike a little more and run a little more. Things are a little better. Diane suggests going 10 miles. I agree. If this run goes okay, I will do CIM next week. We run 10 (Cathy runs 8) with a 4 mile pick up in the middle. And, we have a rock it! My running legs get their groove back! Diane and Cathy are both running strong! I also starting to see a nice connection between my running and cycling. Before NYC, I had cut way back on my cycling. Maybe I won't do that this time.

CIM starts to become more real...And, I think I found a bib into the race...

Days to CIM

A stressful trial and a wretched cold keep me pretty occupied during the week to think too much about CIM. Though, I do think if I manage to survive this stressful week, I think I will do okay at the marathon.

By the week's end, I put my trial stress aside for the moment. I feel mostly recovered from the cold. Then, I start feeling excited. I finally announce to everyone that I am actually doing CIM. I feel good about it. I am so SO excited to be running this marathon with Cathy and Diane. We have been training this whole time together. NYC was just a training run. CIM would be the real race. Not just my race but OUR race.

I am also excited that so many friends would be out running or just on the course volunteering and/or cheering. Various friends tell me where they are going to be during the race. So, my race plan becomes who I am going to see at what point. NYC may have way more people but the people that matter to me are here in Sacramento. So, I think I am more excited to run CIM than I was for NYC.

The night before the marathon, I eat pizza and drink beer. No crappy rice this time. Going for what I know works for me. And, I get to sleep in my own bed, not a couch.

RACE DAY

Pre-race

Alarms blare early on. I get up and get on the usual race gear. I super pack my fuel belt with extra snacks and GU and all. I had eaten and drank everything I had in NYC and yearned for more. So this time, I want to be better prepared. But, I am only carrying things I know works for me - orange vanilla GU, red shot blocks, peanut butter crackers and gold fish crackers.

And, as with all running races, I proudly wear the Java Joggers shirt. This time, to have a little fun, I stick a little sticker on the back. Below "good to the last mile," I have a sticker that says "...kind of..." Cathy and I had joked earlier about adding this to our shirts. We may make it to the end of a marathon but we probably are only feeling "kind of" good in the last miles.

I hit up Starbucks and get my usual pre-race fuel - vanilla latte & an oatmeal. This habit continues to be the same. I also pick Diane up a latte. We are the JAVA joggers after all. We need our java!

I pick up Diane and we head to the Karen's Bakery parking lot. It kind of felt like we were meeting up for our usual weekend run. We walk across the bridge and locate Cathy, who is just getting dropped off by Cheri. I think Joanne was SO right that I was going to have a much better time at CIM because I would be with Cathy and Diane. The race has not even started and I am already enjoying myself just being with Cathy and Diane. We are laughing and smiling. It is just fun!

We board the bus that takes us to the race start. Getting off the bus, Paulo finds us. He had come to give some support to the runners. It's nice to have friends around before the race. Before the NYC marathon, I was feeling lonely and sat on a curb listening to the voices I had recorded of the java joggers, missing them. But, here, I am with friends.

Cathy, Diane and I spend most of our time waiting in the potty line before the race start. While standing around, I pull out this wristband I got from NYC. It has all the splits for each of the miles in order to get a 4:00 hour marathon time. Cathy helps me put it on my wrist. I am going to try to stay ahead of goal time this time.

Immediately before the race, Paulo kindly takes some of our clothing we were planning on discarding. He also gives me a wonderful cup of hot water. It is pretty cold out so holding a cup of hot water is very nice for my hands as well as drinking it warms my insides up.

Diane and I lose Cathy at the start line as Cathy goes to find Allison. We get in front of the 4:00 pacer and are ready to for this thing! There's a guy that Diane keeps looking at. He looks at her. She asks "Do I know you?" He says he is Brian Hicky from KCRA, Channel 3. Diane tells him how she watches his show (or something) and they chat a little bit.

THE MARATHON

MILE 1

The gun goes off! Diane and I take off together. We move the crowds alright. We sometimes split apart but we seem to manage to get back together. After a little bit, Diane spots Cathy. We join up with Cathy. Yay, the three of us are together! Here we go! Let's do this!

I had lost a mitten somewhere at the beginning. My hands are cold so I wear the one mitten. After a bit, I take it off and put it on the other hand to warm that hand up. Hopefully, my hands warm up soon!

Finish this mile in 9:11

MILE 2-5

We turn the corner and start running down Oak Avenue. Diane and I seem to have lost Cathy in the crowds. But, we are at least still together. We are starting to warm up now. I throw away my mitten and my sweatshirt. Diane tosses her jacket. There are a few little roller hills on Oak Avenue but I have no issues running any of these hills. Diane and I even pick up our pace a bit. We are both feeling good. You can usually tell in the beginning whether this will be good race or a bad one. We could tell this is going to be a good one. :)

At one point, Diane says to me "You should have the fully good and I should have the kind of good." It takes me a moment to realize she's talking about our Java Joggers shirt. We both start laughing heartily as some other runners around us must wonder what is up with these two ladies. I am smiling to be running with Diane and that we can joke and laugh together.

We see someone wearing an RTO (Reno-Tahoe Odyssey) shirt (Diane and I were in the same van together when we did the RTO relay race). We comment on it and kind of think a little bit about the relay race we did earlier this year. Good times.

We also talk about our friends we hope to see along the way. The first one will be Fred, who told us to run on the right side. So, we make sure we are on the right side of the road. We are excited that we will be seeing so many familiar faces along the way.

We hit another hill and I start charging up it like I normally do. I am happy that I am running the hills like I normally do. I seemed to have struggled a little bit with the hills in NYC. They were not even that big of hills. But here, I go up them strongly. I lose Diane for a little bit. She apparently still can see me. I know she is not too far behind me.

Mile 2 - 8:55

Mile 3 - 8:27

Mile 4 - 8:29

Mile 5 - 8:29

MILE 6

Fred tells us he's going to be at the corner of Oak and Fair Oaks. Told us to run wide right so he can take our picture as we came around the corner. As we approach the corner, we make sure we are on the right. We knew Fred would be at the corner.

I come into the corner and hear Fred's voice and turn to see him with his camera. And, Diane is right on my tail.

I turn the corner and see the first relay exchange. Allan mentioned doing the second leg of the relay so I start looking at the relay runners for Allan. Then, I hear a laugh behind me and I know it is Diane. Sure enough, she comes right up on the side of me. I am very happy she is keeping pace with me. Before the race, she expressed uncertainty about keeping pace with me and Cathy. She did not want to push herself to the limit. I told her that I think the limit is a lot farther than you think it is. Sure enough, she's running right along side of me as we are going at a sub 8:30 pace (well below a 4 hour marathon pace).

I continue scanning the relay racers until I finally see Allan. Diane and I both yell and wave at him. He finally sees us and cheers us on! I am hoping whoever his relay person is comes in soon so that he might be able to join us. (Unfortunately, he was not able to. But, I find out later he did end up running with Cathy for a bit.)

Mile 6 - 8:25

MILE 7-10

Diane and I continuing zipping along Fair Oaks Blvd. I tell her I am happy she caught back up to me. She tells me she's feeling good. She said she was going to try running a 9:00/min pace for 5 miles. She felt good after 5 and going to try to keep it to mile 10. I tell her that we are going well under 9:00/min miles. I feel good too. I am also thinking man, these miles are going by a lot faster than they were in NYC. I do not know if it is because the streets are familiar to me or that the temperature is prefect for running (a little on the cold side).

At some point, we each eat something and keep trucking along. Somewhere along the way, I think when I hit a hill again, I lose Diane. I remember getting caught in crowds while in NYC and really appreciating the wide space I have running now. I am able to get into my running groove.

Around mile 8, I see someone dressed up as The Grinch so I run by him and give him a high five! I try to look for my friend Craig but I do not see him.

Mile 7 - 8:46

Mile 8 - 8:25

Mile 9 - 8:21

MILE 10

I pass through Fair Oaks. I am smiling big as I feel great. In NYC, at mile 10, I knew I was behind where I wanted to be. I was still on track for doing a sub-2 hour half but not as fast as I would normally be running a half. But here, I feel like I am running the first half as I should be. I will finish mile 10 under 1:30, which is typical of my half marathons. I am going at the pace I want to be. I want to be ahead because I expect to slow down in the teens.

As I am running along, to my surprise, I see Cheryl and she's holding up a Java Joggers sign! We wave at each other! This gives me a nice boost!

I then run along and see this guy standing to the side drinking a cup of coffee. He kind of looks like Paul (Grimes) (runners are hard to recognize when they are not in running gear). We kind of stare at each other for a moment. Then, Paul says "Hey Helen!" I give him a smile and a "yeah, I know I am crazy" look as I turn the corner! Paul had run in the NYC Marathon too four weeks ago but he is the sane one standing and watching while I am the crazy one running another marathon.

Mile 10 - 8:19

MILE 11

As I head down the street, I road kill a girl dressed in an angel costume. It is nice to be passing people in costume rather than costumed people passing me. A gorilla and a banana had passed me in NYC as well as various super heroes.

I run along nearing where Lora said she'd be. I am watching carefully the sides to see Lora. And sure enough, as I come up a little hill, there she is with Kevin ringing her bell cheering people on! I wave to both Lora and Kevin! They cheer me on and off I go!

Mile 11 - 8:06

MILE 12 & 13

As I approach the half way point, I am really happy that I am ahead of where I was in NYC. In NYC, my first half was done around 1:57, which is kind of a slow half for me. I wanted to be under 1:55. But here at CIM, I was going to be well under 1:57. I think I am 5 minutes ahead of where I was in NYC. I feel good too so this makes me happy. Again, I am smiling big as I run down the street.

I am also trying to not getting too excited as I am thinking the real race is the second half. The first half is just the warm up.

At the half way point, I start thinking of the friends that will be there: Theresa, Mica, and Michelle. Mica offered to bring me a coke in case I needed it then. I told him I do not think I want one at the half way point but you never know. As I am nearing the halfway point, I start thinking whether whether I want a coke or not. My water bottle is getting rather low. I really just want more water.

I do notice that I am drinking less water than I was in NYC. It is also not nearly as warm as NYC. I like that it is cooler here. I have not taken off my arm warmers, which is a good thing because I have tucked a packet of shot blocks up the sleeve of my arm warmer. It apparently fits perfectly right there.

Mile 12 - 8:15

Mile 13 - 8:17

MILE 14

As we approach the corner of Fair Oaks and Manzanita, it gets a bit crowded. There is another relay exchange so the road splits with the full marathoners running on the left half and the relay racers exchanging on the right half. There are a lot of fans at this area too. I try to scan through all the crowds hoping to see anyone I know. But, it is too crowded so I stop trying to spot my friends and focus on just getting through the crowds. I feel like I will not be seeing any of my friends at this section.

Then, as I am about to turn the corner, I hear Mica's voice yell my name. I turn my to briefly see him cheering me and barely catch a glimpse of the top Michelle's head. It's a good thing I did not need a coke then because I was in the middle of a pack and no way of stopping if I had wanted to. I smile and off I go (slightly bummed I did not see Theresa).

Mile 14 - 8:12

MILE 15-18: the not so terrible teens!

As I head down Manzanita, it gets a bit quieter. We pass all the crowds and it is quiet. I like the quietness. I could focus on my running. Not have crowds distract me. Also, because it is quiet now, when I do see the crowds again, I am more excited to see cheering people. To me, this is better than endless crowds and constant noise. I can get into the zone and just run. Run, run, run.

I had wanted more water. I see an aid station coming up. Think I will make a quick stop to refill my water bottles. Then, I see a gal giving out these mini water bottles (the airplane sized water bottles). Perfect! I grab one and it fits just so nicely in my hand as I run along. Just what I needed right then and there.

My stomach had a moment of uneasy-ness but I pop a peanut butter cracker and some gold fish crackers to settle it. It seems to work. I am happy I do not seem to be eating and/or drinking as much as I had in NYC. It also helps that I am not running at the lunch hour.

The terrible teens always worry me but I feel good right now. In fact, I am very happy I feel good right now. I have a huge grin at this point. In NYC, at this point, I had started to walk/run and was very frustrated. But here, I am still running and have no urge to walk. And, I am running ahead of schedule.

Along the way, I see a runner with a tutu on. OH MY GOD. I am laughing now. In NYC, somewhere around mile 15, I saw a runner with a tutu. In NYC, I was feeling oh so frustrated and when I saw the tutu girl, I pepped up a little thinking of my friend Javier. It had got me going again when things were rough. But here at CIM, it is just like the icing on top. I am already happy and this just is too funny. What are the odds of seeing a girl with a tutu at the same mile in two different marathons! Of course, I have to road kill the tutu girl (Java Joggers understand why). Then, I see two more tutu girls, which I easily road kill, making me chuckle a little each time. :)

I look down at my wristband to see how far ahead of schedule I am. It says I should be hit mile 15 at 2:17:18. I hit mile 15 at 2:07:06. I have a 10 minute lead on my 4 hour goal! That's a nice cushion to have. I can feel my legs are getting a little tired going at such a fast pace so I ease up a tad not worried about my pace now.

I start thinking about Dave (the Java Joggers organizer!). He is at mile 19! I just want to get to mile 19 so I can see Dave! I am also thinking Kim will be at mile 20, with a coke for me. I am starting to want a coke now. I did not want one earlier but I think I will want it at mile 20. I smile thinking of the friends I will be seeing ahead.

As I am running along eating a GU, I see a person who kind of looks like my friend Paul (different Paul than the one earlier). But, he's walking and walking kind of funny. That can't be my friend. So, I just run along. After I pass him, he shouts at me "Looking good Helen!" or something like that. I turn and see it is Paul. These Pauls are hard to recognize today for some reason. I am also thinking how is it possible that I passed Paul?!? I wave and keep on going and hoping he is okay. I actual hope that Paul starts running again and joins me for a bit as that would be fun (unfortunately, that did not happen).

Mile 15 - 8:32

Mile 16 - 8:36

Mile 17 - 8:29

Mile 18 - 8:52

MILE 19

Mile 19 is where the FTR aid station should be. I run along waiting for it to come up excited that I will be seeing Dave soon. And, he will know that I am doing much better than in NYC. Sure enough, I am still 10 minutes ahead of goal time.

I come up to the water station and scan all the volunteers for Dave. I want my water cup from Dave! I also want to hug him. I want him to know that I am having a great race. I spot him and run up to him. I think he is a little surprised to see me running up when I did. He scrambles a little away from me. I stop next to him. He says he has a coke for me! I take his water cup and drink it quickly and grab the coke bottle. I give him a hug and off I go again. As I am running off, I see and hear Scott cheering me on! I take off with a big smile! Great aid station! :D

The coke fizzes all over me. It shakes quite a bit as I am running. But I manage to drink some of it. Every time I open the bottle, it is fizzing all over my hands and such. This does not bother me. I find it kind of amusing. I drink about half of this coke and toss it as it's getting to be a bit too sticky. But, I did enjoy having the coke.

Mile 19 - 9:00

MILE 20

When I pass under the mile 20 sign and it is under 3 hours, I am overjoyed. I know I am breaking four hours now. Even if I slow down, I will still break four hours.

At the next water station, I grab a couple cups of water to wash my sticky hands with.

I pass Loehman's Plaza and see some guy standing with a bucket of red vines. For some reason, that looks SO good to me. I want one. I am discovering that on long runs, you will want the most random things. In NYC, I saw pretzel sticks and devoured them. Here, I see red vines and I want them. So, I run up to the guy and grab a couple.

As I still have a red vine hanging out of my mouth, I see Dana & Kim standing there holding an Energizer Bunny sign! Oh, I am so delighted! Since I am way ahead of schedule, I just have to stop and hug both of them. They give me a coke which I open and down quite a bit before taking off. :D

Off I go feeling pretty good. Really enjoying the coca-cola! It does give me a good pep! Kim had opened it before to let some of the carbonation out so this bottle is not nearly as fizzy as the other one.

And at some point, Cheri pops out from the side cheering me on! This is a very pleasant surprise and just energizes me!

Mile 20 - 8:45

MILE 21, 22, 23

I pass Sac State and approach H Street. I can feel the finish nearing. Things have been going good so far. I hope everything holds up. I am in the territory where "the wall" likes to hit people. I do not see quite as many people struggling as I did in NYC. That definitely helps me mentally.

I eat another GU just to be safe as I don't start feeling faint as I did in NYC. I also do NOT take any motrin as I had in NYC. I can feel my legs are getting a bit tight. They're a little tighter than they were in NYC. I can feel tightness in my hamstrings and calves. I slow the pace a little. Then, I feel slight twinges in my leg muscles. The foot twinges a little bit. The slight twinges you get when a muscle is about to cramp up. I sense they almost want to cramp up. I slow down the pace a little and tell my legs to keep going.

Mile 21 - 8:56

Mile 22 - 9:15

Mile 23 - 8:59

MILE 24

As I am running down the streets nearing midtown, I think about how I will see Desiree soon. Also, I am looking at the streets. Rather than thinking of how many miles I have left, I just look at the streets I am passing. I am at 50-something street. I get down to 12th or 13th, I'll be at the Capitol. I just have see these numbers go down and the closer I am.

I feel a few a slight twinge in my left foot. Oh, that foot almost wanted to cramp up there. Also, I have been feeling something on the side of my right foot, possibly a blister, but I am running okay. I tell myself (or my legs) not too much farther. Keep going.

Then, shortly before an aid station, the back of my right leg completely seizes up. The hamstring, calf and foot. OMFG, what pain! This fully stops me from moving and I nearly fell to the ground. Fortunately, I am not too far from the water station so I put my hand on the side of one table to hold myself up for a moment as the cramp passes. A lady near me says take it easy and start walking. I eventually am able to move the leg and hobble a little bit to shake out the cramp. Wow, that was intense. I happy it did not last very long.

I decide to walk through this aid station and take it easy. I walk through and drink some water and a couple cups of Gatorade.

Then, I slowly start to run again willing my legs to not cramp up again. I take deep breaths and start counting "1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4" over and over again. I also close my eyes for moments to just find my running groove. It is my way of finding my pace. Close my eyes, shut out the world, and run. I don't know what it is about the counting that keeps me calm but it seems to work. So, I run and count and breath for a bit. I am not worried about time anymore since I know I have plenty of time to finish within my goal. I do not need to push myself. I just need to run. So, I run, count and breath. "1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4"

Mile 24 - 10:11

MILE 25

As I go into mile 25, I am thinking Desiree should be at the next aid station. I feel the finish is near. I can almost walk to the finish now and still meet my goal time. This is a nice feeling. I feel my legs are weary and will be aching but for right now, they are still going.

I know where I am in downtown Sacramento. Oh, I can feel it. I can feel the finish. I feel my emotions start to well up a little. Then, I see the aid station. I see Desiree. My eyes water up a little bit. I am so happy to see her. I am so happy that I am nearing the finish and that I feel so much differently than I did in NYC.

But, as I run up to her, she starts running away from me. Why is she running away from me? I realize she's trying to take a picture of me. I chase her along the side and surprise her by stopping. I take a water cup from her and give her a big hug! She tells me I am doing great and cheers me on as I head in for the final stretch!

Mile 25 - 9:49

MILE 26

Coming into downtown Sacramento, I feel wonderful. I never hit that moment where I am like this is awful, awful, awful. I was waiting for it but it did not come and I do not think it will come. I am smiling at how wonderful this race has been. I know I am beating my NYC time. I know I am going to break the four hours. Not just by a little bit either. I know I am blowing four hours away!

I run by a guy dressed in a jesus outfit holding up a sign "THE END IS NEAR...the race that is" I just laugh at it as does the guy running next to me. I can hear various people running near me all saying whatever mantra they have to get themselves to the finish. This is kind of neat to be amongst strangers pushing each other along to the end of this journey we have opted to take together.

Mile 26 - 9:19

MY FINISH

I make the last couple turns by the Capitol and go dashing to the finish line! My legs kick up into high gear and I am smiling so big. I normally do not smile at the finish of a race because I am focused on the finish line. But this time, I am grinning ear to ear to see the clock say 3:52 (not 4:00). As I run into the finish, I raised my arms in utter joy at finishing this marathon. Finishing the race I wanted to run having run the way I wanted to run it! :D

Mile 26.2 - last .2ish miles was at a 8:39/min pace.

OUR FINISH!

I get my medal and foil wrap. I drink a chocolate milk and wait for Cathy and Diane, really hoping they had a good race too. I see Allison finish. She's happy to have qualified for Boston! Woot!! Then, we wait for the other girls, watching the clock carefully. I want them to break four hours too!

I see the race clock pass 4:00 but I know that we started a couple minutes after gun time. Then, I see Diane come into the finish! I am so happy and SO proud of her because she said she wasn't going to try to break four hours and I believe she just did it! And just seconds later, Cathy comes running into the finish! We had trained together and here we are at the finish together! It was a wonderful feeling. We all did great and all got PR's! There we hugs and smiles all around! :D

Then, we walk out and Lhia and Cheri greet us! More hugs and smiles and laughter! this is WAY better than my finish in NYC. :)

OUR FINISH TIMES

HELEN: 3:49:57!! PR! woot woot! almost 20 minutes faster than NYC 4 weeks ago!! :D

DIANE: 3:59:57! PR!!!!!

CATHY: 4:00:45! PR!!!!

When I finished NYC, I said "finished...possibly the best and worst experience ever..."

When I finished CIM, I said "finished with a rockin PR! broke 4 hours with room to spare! best and NOT worst experience ever! thanks those who were out there!!!"

CIM is quite possibly one of my best experiences ever. Not just the race itself but the whole journey to the race. I feel that my marathon journey did not end at NYC but was meant to end at CIM. I did not know it until after NYC. NYC was apparently just gearing me up for CIM, for the race I would do with the ones I had been training with. This was the real race for me. I also feel what was lost on the streets of NYC was found again on the streets of Sacramento. I was running on my home turf, running with great friends cheering me on, and running with the people I run best with! :D

Now, the question is will I do another one? Probably. ;-)

SOME THANK YOU'S!!

All the gratitude I expressed to those that helped me get to the NYC Marathon, I repeat those sentiments! I thank everyone for your support during my whole marathon journey especially this last stretch from NYC to CIM.

To Joanne Liu: I thank you for planting the crazy seed of me doing CIM. I did exactly as you told me to do. I ran the lake loop, did a long run, and then I tapered. You were right about me running at home would be better. You were SOOOO right that I would do way better running with Cathy and Diane. Again, I thank you for going to NYC with me and being my one person out there for me. But, I also thank you for planting the crazy idea me of doing CIM. You seemed to have known better than I did then that NYC did not turn out to be the race I wanted and you knew CIM would be the race I wanted.

Special thanks to Mica Dugan & David Friendman for strongly encouraging me to do CIM and being a big part of tipping me into it. Also, special thanks to the others that really encouraged me to do CIM and not telling me I was too crazy in thinking about doing CIM: Wendy Niger, Desiree Haight, Jennifer Sims, Theresa Lewis, Dan Velasco, Lhia Casazza, Scott Engquist, Cindy Spradlin, Kim Woodward, Lora Pittman, Jeffrey Thorne, Susie Maue and Todd Pearce.

Special thanks to those that were out volunteering and/or cheering me and the other Java joggers on at CIM: Paulo Medina Carcovich, Ralph Keith, Craig Dvta, Fred Magana, Allan D'Anneo, Cheryl Luhrs, Paul Grimes, Lora Pittman, Kevin Kruithof, Theresa Lewis, Mica Dugan, Michelle Kimura, Paul Lewis, David Friedman, Rachel Friedman, Cheri Elliot, Dana Woodward, Kim Woodward, Scott Engquist, Gary Duran, Desiree Haight, and Lhia Casazza.

Special thanks to all the Java Joggers for all the wonderful runs and fun times we have shared together. For all the support you have given me from the very beginning. I have shared with many of you how I read this book once where the author said she didn't realize that running would be so much about love. I continue to feel the same way. I knew it would be good for my health and body. I realized running was good for me mentally as well. But, running has become wonderful for my heart. I have come to love you all so very much in my time as a Java Jogger. I love that you all sometimes know me better than I know me. You knew I would do CIM before I knew it. You believed in me when I sometimes did not believe in myself. I love that you all encourage my craziness!

Lastly and most importantly, I give my utmost thanks to Cathy Tedesco and Diane Wurm!!! You gals are THE BEST marathon training buddies ever! As seasoned marathoners, I appreciated all the advice you gave me before my first marathon. I have always loved running with you two (as well as the other Java Joggers) but I feel we shared many special moments just in our marathon training. I have truly loved all the time we spent training together and all the "fun" moments that entailed: Cathy silently cursing at my back as we did pick up runs; me joking with Diane that I think Cathy just isn't that into you; going into the lake after long run; Diane and Cathy running up on me shortly after I fell off my bike; Diane and I talking about how we would chase Ryan Reynolds if we saw him in a marathon, etc....I love that we not only did much of our training together but we trained for the same time goal together. I am grateful for all you two did for me in getting me to NYC and to finish in NYC. You two were such significant parts of that journey. But, I am very thankful that you just let me continue on training with you when I returned. That you did not even question me joining you two doing CIM. It was as if you know that was the real plan all along. I feel like you two knew it all along, before I did. ;-)

I love that we were together at the beginning and together at the end. This race just SO much fun to have you two there. You two hold a very special place in my heart! I thank you for being part of such a wonderful experience for me and I am just so happy that all of us were able to run a good race!!! :D

New York City Marathon Recap (11/6/11)

[Disclaimer: this is long but it was a marathon so expect a marathon of a recap. I tried to put in much of what I was thinking and feeling during the race. so, there you go...]

NYC MARATHON RECAP

"Sometimes it’s just surreal out there, while you’re running a marathon. People just standing out in the cold, even the rain, cheering for you, blasting music for you. It’s an awesome show of camaraderie and community." John Roberts

"Completing a marathon is a feeling that you can’t buy. You have to earn it. The experience is what you make of it. The camaraderie is awesome." Dan Morihiko

"I also remember crying. Not out sadness but for joy….The race was an exorcism that will stay with me forever. It whetted my appetite for the running life—as I think all first marathons do." Charles Lyons

"A marathon is a string of moments, mixtures of events and emotions that we sample as we move along." -Unknown

They are right when they say a marathon will humble you. They are right when they say you will feel a roller coaster of emotions. They are right in that it is beyond a physical test of endurance but a mental and emotional one as well.

MY EXPERIENCE: THE BEST AND WORST EXPERIENCE EVER

As I had twittered: finished..possibly the best and worst experience ever...

Part of why it is the best experience is that it is THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON...the BIGGEST marathon in the WORLD...it is indeed a major event in running. And, it is exciting to be part of that. It was exciting from the moment I got into the marathon about six months ago. The training was an experience with some tough moments but many many great moments. Also, all kinds of people (both friends and strangers) express such enthusiasm and excitement to me when I told them I am running in the NYC Marathon. That was definitely a wonderful aspect of this marathon experience.

BEFORE THE RACE...

Getting to NYC was just so exciting. I meet marathoners on the plane and at the airports. Even non-runners who hear I am going to the NYC marathon express excitement to me. I see the marathon banner on buses or businesses. Just walking around NYC, you meet people doing the marathon, people from all over the world. The Expo is this big pep rally and filled with such wonderful energy. Crowds of people from so many different places. I got to meet Bart Yasso, a runner/writer that I am a big fan of. He signs my Runner's World magazine with a message that inspires me. Then, I run through Central Park the day before the race. I see the beauty of the park as well as what it will look like on race day (the mile markers, the world flags, the people, etc). I see all sorts of other runners out doing the same. I see all sorts of people crowding near the finish line checking out the giant screen and getting excited for race day. All the buzz and excitement before the race was electric!

Then, from 3000 miles away, messages of support from so many wonderful friends are being sent to me. Not just support from my running friends either. Though, the best support came from my fellow java joggers. All the wonderful messages I got just were all so touching and really got me pepped up for the race. And almost every one I got while I out here in NYC got my eyes to well up a little as well as give me the biggest smile. Most definitely the night before the race.

RACE MORNING

I wake up early. Shower and get on the gear. I smile as I put on the Java Joggers shirt and my Java Joggers road ID bracelets on. The bracelets I have a special significance. They say "New York 2011 Go Helen We are with you Java Joggers". I rarely run without the company of at least one Java Jogger. And, there was hardly a time I ran a long run without the company of Java Joggers. And, to do such a long run without them physically with me had me a bit anxious about the race. So, wearing the shirt and especially the bracelets have particular important to me. The bracelets I have worn everyday since leaving Sacramento. They make me feel as though the Java Joggers are with me.

When I am mostly ready, Joanne & I find a Starbucks so I can get my usual pre-race meal...vanilla latte & an oatmeal. Then, we head to the Staten Island Ferry Building. As we head that way, we see the streets start filling with marathon runners. All headed in the same direction. Floods of people come out of the subway tunnels like ants out of an ant hill. The number of runners grows and grows as we get closer and closer to the Ferry Building.

Joanne goes into the building with me as far as she can. I am a little sad when we part ways. She has traveled from Sacramento with me and been with me all this time, being just the best supporter to me. Even as we were walking, she sensed my pre-race anxiety and reminded me about Run on the Sly (Run on the Sly was a 20 mile trail race with some brutal hills that I had to hike. During that race, I had told myself and her that finishing that race, I knew I could finish in NYC since there would be no tough dirt trails and no steep climbing). Joanne just knows what to say to put me at ease. So, it was tough to part with her as she has been with me this far. And as I parted with her, I start to really miss the rest of the Java Joggers as well. It's strange to feel so lonely in such a huge crowd of people but that is what I feel.

Getting to the start villages was very much like being herded like cattle. Crowds of people are herded onto the ferry. Fortunately on the ferry, I sat on the upper deck to watch a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty (who I felt was kind of waving at us) and the sunrise over Manhattan. From the ferry, we were all herded onto buses. Packed liked sardines on the buses, we were transported to Fort Worth. Then, we were all herded to the start villages.

The start villages were intense. Tens of thousands of runners gathered up awaiting the race start. Some were literally camped out (sleeping bags and all!). Many were doing whatever their pre-race rituals are. All the curbs, ground, grass, etc... were filled with runners sitting, laying, standing, eating, drinking, stretching, talking, etc.... I found a little spot for myself and got my running stuff in order, ate breakfast and listened to my Java Joggers soundtrack (recordings of my fellow Java Joggers' voices). I turn off the internet to my phone to preserve the battery but I feel disconnected now. But, hearing the voices of Dave, Cathy, Lora, Wendy, Theresa, Allan, and Susie comfort me. I replay the soundtrack a few times.

Eventually, we are told to get to our corrals. So, I head to the start and put into a corral (again, like cattle getting herded!). In the corral, I can faintly hear the national anthem. There's a chopper or two flying about. I hear the canons go off for the first wave. It is starting to get a little warm so I dispose of my gloves & sweatshirt. I tuck the Dunkin Donuts beanie they gave me into my race belt along with the other one I got for my friend Cathy (who's a huge dunkin' donuts fan). I get a text message from Desiree wishing me good luck! I know the Java Joggers are watching me, cheering me on from miles away. :)

Then, we start making our way to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge...

THE MARATHON

MILE 1

The canons boom and we start moving. Sinatra's "New York, New York" is blasting as we start taking the streets of NYC. This has to be one of the most amazing race starts I have ever experienced. There are helicopters flying over us waving. The bridge is beautiful and has a stunning view of Manhattan. Everyone is excited and enthused. Runners are shouting with joy. The bridge workers are cheering at all of us.

Clothes are getting tossed in every direction so I have to keep my eyes out on the road so I don't trip over a sweater or glove. A guy runs by me wearing a giant crown. This makes me think of David Friedman since I have been joking with him how he has my crazy crown. This guy has to be crazy to wear a crown for the whole marathon.

I keep a decent but moderate pace. I ended up running a 9:37 mile. Right around where I wanted to be.

MILE 2

Still on the bridge but starting to descend into Brooklyn. My first mile definitely warmed me up so I take off the arm warmers and tuck them in my belt. My sunglasses fall off my head and hit the ground. I just let them go. I must keep going so I will run without them.

At the bottom of the bridge, I see a row of guys lined along the bridge rail. They were all pissing over the edge. About a dozen of them. my friend Paul was running on the lower level and had said before the race, he hopes he doesn't get pee'd on. I thought he was just being funny but there were guys that literally pee'd over the edge of the bridge. It looked like many of them just did to say they pee'd over the bridge during the NYC marathon. I keep going.

Because of the decline, I naturally start picking up my pace. I finish this mile with an 8:29/mile pace.

MILE 3

Heading into Brooklyn. The streets are crowded with cheering people. It's really exciting now. Crowds and crowds of people. And, music of all sorts is playing. It was electric! I am rolling now.

But then, my right leg starts feeling a bit funny. This isn't good. I am only a couple miles into the race and a lot more miles to do and hope this doesn't worsen. Sometimes if I keep going, whatever it is will shake itself out and I will be fine. I am hoping for that. But, this starts to concern me a little. I fish out the motrin I stuffed in my fuel belt and take a couple pills.

I also really need to go to the bathroom. I run by some port-a-potties but the line is so long that I keep going. Not sure how much longer I can hold it.

I finish this mile with in 8:51 minutes.

MILE 4 & 5

Still crowds and crowds of people. A few bands along the way which are neat. Some rock bands and a couple ethnic bands as well. I hear cheering in all kinds of languages. I notice some of the runners have the names of whatever country they are from. I notice a couple runners wearing blue & white striped shirts that are what the Argentinean soccer players wear (I think of Pame & Meli). I am moved by the number of people from around the world here. This really is a world event that I am part of.

I still really need to go to the bathroom but I keep running. The crowds are fun to see. I keep running by people yelling "Go Alex!!", " Great job Alex!!" etc....I am thinking wow, this guy Alex who's near me has a ton of supporters out for him. After awhile and people are still cheering for "Alex," I realize that he is wearing his name on his shirt so people are shouting at him. I had heard that crowds will shout your name if they see it. This is really neat to see. Too bad I didn't get around to putting my name on my shirt. But, such amazing crowds out in Brooklyn! This stretch of road goes for a few miles and I just see endless crowds of people all along the sides of the road. This is amazing!

There are so many runners on the roads so it is hard to get into a good running groove. I cannot maintain a steady pace because I keep running into people. Then, I zip around this person and that person. My pace is going up and down. And, my right leg is still bothering me.

I finish this mile 4 in 8:57 minutes & mile 5 in 8:51 minutes

MILE 6

I finally cave and stop and use the port-a-potties. It takes of a minute or so. I have to readjust my belt and I get rolling again. I feel SO much better. I feel like I am running much faster now. I am thinking the motrin is kicking in too now as my leg doesn't hurt too much anymore.

I like the crowds so much I pull out the camera to take a few shots. As I put the camera back into the pouch, I miss and camera drops and hits the crowd. I have to run back a couple steps to get it. Camera was fine but whoops!

I finish this mile in 9:25 minutes.

MILE 7 & 8

Just enjoying seeing all the crowds and going through the different neighborhoods. So many different cultures. I am loving the cultural melting pot of Brooklyn.

I eat a couple peanut butter crackers and look at how my time is going. I would prefer to be going a little faster but this is good as I have a long way to go still.

At mile 8, they have the giant message screen up. I look to see if there's a message for me (Joanne really hoped I would see hers) but I do not see any for me so I trudge on.

mile 7 takes 8:39 minutes & mile 8 takes 8:48 minutes

MILE 9

For the past four-ish miles, we were mainly running on one long street. At the ninth mile, we turn and all the waves corrals merge together and so it gets even more packed. It is so crazy to navigate through all these crowds of people. It is hard to really take it all in since you are focused on the runners around you. Trying to keep going and not run into people or get run over.

At one point, the street narrows and I get boxed in by runners. Some maintenance person on some scooter or vehicle of some sort is on the road and creating a traffic jam of sorts (like when there is construction on the freeway and all the cars slow down to get around it). I bump into the back of a runner. I get elbowed by another runner. Someone bumps into my back. We eventually get around the obstruction. I really kick it up to make up for that delay.

I finish the mile in 8:44 minutes.

MILE 10

There are water & gatorade stations pretty much at every mile now. And, those stations are intense. I try to run up the middle so not to get knocked around but there are cups and liquid all over the place. People running in all sorts of directions. It is quite chaotic. I am not used to so many aid stations so frequently. Every mile, I have to deal with these aid stations and I generally run up the middle and try not to trip over cups or run into people.

I am also noting that my garmin is chirping its mile alerts a little before the mile markers. I sense that this course is going to be a little bit longer than 26.2. But, I feeling pretty decent at this point and nearing the halfway point.

I also think about Cindy. She told me you always remember your first marathon. She said in her first marathon, when she hit mile 10 and her formerly injured leg wasn't bothering her, she knew she could finish and was smiling the rest of the way. I hit mile 10 and thought of her and her story. I would not say I was smiling but her story was encouraging me onward. Fortunately, my leg seemed okay for the time being. It did not hurt but it did feel kind of off.

I finish this mile in 8:26 minutes.

MILE 11

I sense I cannot quite keep my usual race pace and I am slowing down a little. I start to think that I should not have tapered as much as I have. Fred told me that my body needs to hunger the long run. My body has tapered too much that it has forgotten how to do the long run. I rested my running legs too much. For other people, tapering is good for them. For me, I do not train like an average person and so, my way to taper is different than others. This is what I am thinking about as I run along.

I take a GU hoping that will give me a little boost. I normally do not take one this early but feel I could use the boost. I take it and trudge on. I am also noting I am drinking more water than usual. But, I was told to drink when I feel thirsty so I did. I was expecting slightly colder weather than this. However, it is a gorgeous day to be running in NYC.

At some point, I drop one of my water bottles. I just let it go rather than go chasing back for it. Some guy running behind me notices and says something like you can always buy another one later. I keep going.

I finish the mile in 8:55 minutes.

MILE 12 & 13

I can feel the halfway point nearing. I am nearly out of Brooklyn. The crowds are still amazing. There are still so many people all cheering. I remember hearing "Eye of the Tiger" and getting pumped with that before the song faded away and the sound of some bagpipes took over. Later, there were some gals bumping some good club-mix tunes that kind of pepped my stride a bit.

I finish the mile 12 in 8:43 minutes and mile 13 in 8:39 minutes.

MILE 14

They say I hit 13.1 (the halfway mark) at 1:57:07. I am happy that I managed to get my first half under 2 hours though I am not liking that it was not as faster as I should have been. Namely because the terrible teens are coming up and will be slowing down.

At this point, I am also thinking, I wonder if my half time posted on facebook for my friends to know where I am in the race (I would later learn the answer to this). I am also hoping Joanne got the text message of where I am in the race. I hope she can find me.

I cross the bridge out of Brooklyn and enter Queens. It's very industrial and not the prettiest part of Queens I remember the tour guide person saying.

I finish the mile in 8:57 minutes

MILE 15

This is the beginning of the terrible teens. And, in this race, they are indeed the TERRIBLE teens! I always struggle with these upper teen miles. Also, I am starting to run out of water, especially since I dropped a bottle. My electrolyte concoction in my other bottle is running low too. I think I have to start hitting the water stations. So, I hit the water station and stop to down a cup of Gatorade. I have learned that a short stop to fully drink water/Gatorade will have me running faster afterwards than if I did not stop at all. So, I do so.

But, I am starting to get tired. I can feel my pace dropping. I just keep on trekking along as best as I can. I know at mile 19, I will take my second GU, the one with the extra boost. And, I will kick it up in the twenties (like I did on my training run). Just have to get through the terrible teens.

I finish this mile in 9:34 minutes

MILE 16

We exit Queens and head to the Queensboro Bridge. This is one god awful segment of the race. You run on the lower level of the bridge (not sure if there is a top level) but it just feels like this dark tunnel with a very cold wind blowing on the left side. There are no fans on the bridge so we no longer have people cheering us on. And, there's a bit of an incline to the bridge. Steeper than the first bridge. Not the worst hill I have run but no hill is enjoyable, especially 16 miles into a race.

I absolutely hate wind and so really unhappy wind is blowing at me. I feel I am running so slow, I might as well walk to conserve some energy. So, I walk a little bit and really hating the terrible teens. I am very annoyed and very cranky at this point. I am thinking whoever said this would be the most amazing experience needs to suck it.

Then, this girl runs by wearing a tutu. I chuckle to myself. My friend Javier wore a tutu for a Halloween bike ride and posted that as his profile picture. The night before the race he wished me luck. I told him if I see a girl in a tutu, I will SO think of him and hopefully I don't trip from laughing. When I see the girl in the tutu, I just laugh a little to myself. Pull out the camera and snap a quick shot. And, I start running again. I have to keep going. Another girl in a tutu runs by. In an even cooler tutu. But, I do not get a chance to take a picture of that girl.

I eventually start descending down the bridge and I start to hear the crowds of Manhattan. I have been told that Manhattan is really loud. And, I can hear them as I descend down the bridge.

I finish the mile in 10:16 minutes.

MILE 17

I come off the bridge and turn into Manhattan and there are floods of people cheering. This is pretty amazing. They are SO loud! However, I feel like the streets of Manhattan are a lot wider than Brooklyn so I feel like the crowds a bit farther away from me than they were running through Brooklyn.

I pick it up for a bit but then I am getting wearing. I am struggling. I am hurting and just fighting to keep going. I cannot keep the pace I want and getting frustrated with myself. I walk through the aid stations now. And then I try to pick it up afterwards but I am just run walking at this point. What the F is going on?!?

I am really mad at those that pressured me to taper. I should have run 20 miles two weeks ago instead of 15. That was the plan but I was guilted to do less. I know I struggle with the terrible teens and needed to practice getting through the terrible teens. When I run an awful run, the next one I do shortly later feels much better. My body has forgotten how much it hates the terrible teens and I feel I tapered too much and lost the training to push through that. Now, I was never doubting my ability to get to the finish. I knew if I had to drag my beaten up body there, I would. But, I was irritated at this point that I am not running as well as I should be.

I finish the mile in 10:25 minutes

MILE 18

This has to be the longest stretch of road ever! I am struggling really badly. Finally, I give in and plug in my earphones and play the Java Joggers soundtrack. The crowds are so loud that is hard to hear the voices but I can hear Cathy's "Oh geez!", I can hear Lora's "Suck it Up Buttercup!" and "Open Up a Can of Whoop Ass," I hear Dave & Allan's voice. And, this gets me going again. I remember the words on the back of my shirt "Java Joggers - good to the last mile." I also remember Cathy joking that we need to add in tiny print "kind of" and this gets me to chuckle a bit and continue on.

As some point I think on this mile, they give us wet sponges to wipe ourselves down with. Best thing ever! I felt so refreshed after that.

I finish this mile in 9:26 minutes

MILE 19

I am relieved I am almost done with the terrible teens. But, I am SO hungry. The trouble with this race is that it started at 10:10 am so it's past the lunch hour and I am not used to running this late in the day. I eat the rest of my peanut butter crackers.

After I eat the last cracker, I do not zip the pouch to my fuel belt all the way and my iphone goes flying to the ground as does my GU. Talk about heart stopping panic! You probably know how attached I am to my iPhone. My phone also does not have its protective casing on as it hits the ground. I stop to scramble to get both my phone and GU (which I will definitely need). The phone seems to be okay but I have to shove everything back into the pouch and the cord to my earphones are dangling so I just stuff them into the pouch as well. Stressful!

I am struggling again. I start to run walk again. It's mental. I take the last GU hoping that will pep me up for the 20's.

Also, I drop one of my Dunkin' Donut hats. The hat I got for Cathy. That I was so excited to give to her and to be able to tell her I carried it through the marathon for her. But, it dropped somehow and somewhere. I was not even sure when or where to even pick it back up. (Cathy, know that I carried a Dunkin Donuts hat for 19 miles for you before I lost it. I made it but the hat did not).

I finish this mile in 10:16 minutes.

MILE 20

I walk through the aid stations again. Then, I try to run as best as I can but it's a struggle. I know I should not be stopping as much as I do and just keep going as that's easier but I cannot do that for some reason.

As I am trudging along, I see a few people on the side holding out bowls. I get closer and I see a bowl of pretzel sticks. I had seen other people hold out bowls of candy along the way earlier but these pretzel sticks were just what I wanted. I go up to the lady and grab a handful of pretzel sticks. A boy offers fruit and candy but I decline. The salty pretzels are just what I wanted. I eat those quickly and trudge along.

Towards the end of this mile, I think the pretzels and GU are starting to kick in and I feel my legs find their groove again. I cross into the Bronx starting to feel better.

I finish this mile in 10:05 minutes

MILE 21

I am running through the Bronx. There is some good music playing and that peps me along. I turn one corner and I see Joanne with her poster she has for me. I am SO happy to see her. She's looking the other way so I slow down a little and yell "Joanne!" She turns and sees me and immediately starts shaking her clappers and cheering! Finally, someone cheering for me.

I am feeling good now and my legs kick it up a notch. I am not too far off schedule from my goal time.

I finish this mile in 9:09 minutes

MILE 22

I cross the bridge back into Manhattan. The final stretch is upon me. I just need to get myself to Central Park. I am thinking about the Wall now. Is it going to hit? I see some runners really struggling. Cramping horribly. Hobbling. It's a scary sight. I keep on going. Things are starting to hurt but I am doing okay. I pop a couple Motrin pills (bad idea!).

I turn a corner and there's a message board. I look up and my brain is a little fried so does not read so easily but I see "E.B." and I just know. There is one person who calls me "E.B" (short for energizer bunny). I wonder if that message is for me. I then see the picture of the energizer bunny appear and I know it has to be for me. I quickly scan to the bottom of the message to see who it is from and I see "Kim & Dana." It is for me! wow, a message really did appear for me! WOW!!

this message showed up on the race message board around mile 22...when i saw E.B., i thought it was for me since i know one person who calls me "E.B."...and when i saw the bunny, i knew it was for me. then i saw the names and was very touched! :)

I am so enthused by that message. I really start running. I look at my watch. I start to think that if I kick it into gear, I can still break four hours despite all those delays in the terrible teens.

I finish this mile in 9:04 minutes

MILE 23

I am running pretty good. Just thinking that I just need to get to Central Park and I am good since I know the finish. I grab a banana from one of the aid stations and get going.

This guy runs by wearing the marathon shirt. On the back, it says "I am in." I lock my eyes on the back of him and just run. This is when I run best. When I can focus on a target and chase it. It has been hard to do in this race because of the volume of people. I do the best I can to keep him within sight. I am able to follow him for a bit but as with everyone else, he gets lost in the crowds.

I run along. Then, I hear my name being yelled. I turn my head and see Joanne cheering away. She managed to get down from the Bronx and to Manhattan to cheer me for a second time. This really warms my heart and I run along. Not too much longer to the finish. I can do this.

I finish this mile in 9:17 minutes.

MILE 24

I start feeling light headed (Later, I think it as the motrin that did this). I think I really could use some more pretzels. I look at all the fans on the side seeing if anyone has any snacks to feed me. I really need it. I am also thinking that what I really want is a coke. I have not had one all day long. I think it's around 2pm at this point. I also have not had lunch and growing wearing. I feel faint. I also feel the muscles in my legs are twinging, almost ready to cramp up. Keep going I tell myself.

Ugh, this is just awful. I start to walk through the aid stations again. This time, I walk slower and stop to fully drink all the fluids. I run again and then immediately feel like walking. I do not care about the four hour mark anymore. I cannot make it. I will get to the finish line but I feel resigned. I want food. I need a coke fix. I should have told Joanne to have one for me at mile 20-something. I feel light headed and almost ready to faint but I keep going.

I finish this mile in 12:00 minutes

MILE 25

I am running and walking through Central Park. The crowds are there but I do not really hear or pay attention to them. I see all kinds of people struggling so I do not feel so bad. But, I am frustrated. I think this is the most awful thing I have put my body through and I have put my body through some brutal things before. I do not think I hit a physical wall as I was led to believe. It was a mental wall.

I wanted this to be over with. I wanted to not do this again. What the heck was I thinking. Who the heck said this was the most amazing experience ever. Who the heck told me this was going to be awesome. This is NOT awesome. This is awful, awful, awful!

I finish this mile in 10:51 minutes

MILE 26

I am going along as best as I can. When I am running, I am not running so bad but I do not go very far before I feel like walking again. My legs are nearly ready to give way. I can tell they are going to kill me tomorrow.

I exit out the front of Central Park. I know exactly how much farther I have to go. Less than a mile left I tell myself. Just keep going. I am nearly there.

Then, I think about how the finish line is less than a mile. Instead of getting energized and starting to run again (as I thought I might), I start to walk. I do not care about time anymore. I am just going to get there. I am almost there. I then start to cry. Not tears of sadness or really happiness. I am just emotional and the tears came. The finish is near. And there are not just some tears streaming down my eyes. I am sobbing, almost uncontrollably. I am hyperventilating and sobbing. I wipe my tears with the headband I had wrapped around my wrist but I cannot stop crying.

Also at this time, my whole right leg has cramped up. so now, I am crying and hobbling down the street. Though, I am not crying at the pain. I barely can feel the pain now. I am just crying as I am nearly done. A guy runs by me as I am hobbling and crying. He gives me a thumbs up and says you're almost there, you're doing great.

As I approach the turn, where we enter back into the park, the tears stop. I feel the energy return. I hear that they are playing "Don't Stop Believin'" I love that song and what a great song to end on! I also see all the flags of the world lining the sides to the finish line.

The tears quickly go away (they were not joking that the marathon will send you through a roller coaster of emotions). I start to run again. I am smiling. I know what is left in me.

I finish this mile in 11:13 minutes.

THE LAST 0.2 (or .4 according to the Garmin)

The final stretch, I am running again and almost back to my full stride, at my usual race pace. I am aware there's a short little hill before the finish and get up that just fine.

I see the finish and kick it up a little to cross that finish line with my arms raised in somewhat victory.

Thank god that was over with!

The last segment was at a 8:59/mile pace. And, my garmin says I ran a total of 26.43 miles (rather than 26.2).

FINISH

Like the marathon, the finish had it's good and bad. I was happy the race was finally over with it. I was disappointed in myself that I did not break the four hour goal. Mainly, I felt disappointed because I feel like I did not give it my all towards the latter part. I felt I had given up at some point.

Also, the way the race organizers had it, it was kind of anti-climatic and lonely at the finish. There was no post-race expo as I have experienced in other races. I finish and then I am herded like cattle again. We go into a runner's only zone so there are no people around to greet the runners. It is just us runners getting herded through the street. Move this way. Get a medal. Move this way. Get a sheet put on me. Move this way. Get a bag of food. (I devour nearly everything in the bag). Move this way. Pick up stuff that I had checked in before the race. Move this way to get out of Central Park. Keep moving. Eventually, the runners get out of the park and they have to locate their friends and family members. There is no post-race shindig of any sorts. Yay, you did it. Here's your stuff and you need to leave now. That's how I felt. No one was there too. They have a no friends/family zone I had to go through and with all the marathon chaos, Joanne & I planned to meet at Penn Station. So, it really was just me at Central Park.

Now, the good part of finishing:

I feel part of the club now. The stupid marathon club.

Also, after the race, random strangers congratulated me. Not just at the race site but throughout the day as I journeyed to find Joanne and we journeyed back to lower Manhattan. Random strangers would come up to me and ask me about the race and tell me congratulations for doing a marathon. That was really nice. (Though one random jerk overheard someone else talking to me said "you didn't finish the race" in particular nasty tone. Weird and random. I ignored him).

And now, the REALLY good part about finishing:

Almost immediately after my finish (before I even got my medal), I felt my phone vibrate. It was texts from my fellow Java Joggers. One tells me that they had gathered at Starbucks to track me through the race. Five of my wonderful running friends knew I had just finished and sent me wonderful messages. They were there for me before, during, and after the race. How great they all are!

Then, as I am getting herded along, I figure I should tell people I finished. So, I text an update to twitter/facebook that I finished. I was going to say more about the awfulness of the race but knew there were good moments too (even if I could not think of them at the time). so, I simply said "possibly the best and worst experience ever..."

I then turn back on the internet to my phone. I remember thinking I wonder if whatever tracker they had posted the updates to facebook like they said they would. As soon as my phone reconnected with the internet, I found the answer. My phone was filled with the messages, comments, status updates, pictures even, etc.... People had been tracking me all along. They had been cheering me and following me to the finish. I was floored!

It is hard for me to describe what I felt then. I think I was zonked out when I finished and brain had not processed what I had done. But, I was seriously stunned by how many friends had been tracking me the whole way through and had been for cheering throughout the race. Tears came down again but this was different than when I was dragging myself through that last mile. These were happy tears. The reality that I finished the NYC Marathon, my first marathon, had finally hit. Though I am standing alone in Central Park, I felt the love of my wonderful friends from 3000 miles away. Each and every one of those messages/comments/etc.. meant SO very much to me at that moment. It made all that suffering I had endured worth it.

so, there you have it. possibly the best and worst experience ever.

Will I do it again? As much as I hated it. I know myself. My answer is probably. I probably will do it again and think why am I doing this again. ;-)

my finisher's medal