Baltimore Half-Marathon

The nerves were all for nothing; however, I would bet they gave me my initial kick to start the Baltimore half this past weekend. A beautiful day for a run - overcast, mid-60s and spitting rain that lasted throughout the race. The marathoners started the first half of their race early. The half-marathon was scheduled to start at the marathon halfway point, allowing both groups of racers to finish together. Containing my nerves was quite the task before the race. When I woke up it was more or less controllable. It's when I walked downstairs to get breakfast (half a bagel with light butter) and to gather my things to leave it started to sink in. Then when we got to the race - I felt like the nerves were protruding from my skin. I asked Chris to hug me many times because it almost felt like he was holding them in! That relaxed me. Finally Marley, Ashley and I headed for the start line with about 10 minutes to go and our boyfriends all left to head for their first stop to cheer us on.

Race organizers shared some announcements over the loudspeaker and then someone sang the National Anthem. Before I knew it the gun sounded to signify the start of my very first half-marathon. My watch was ready to go and the crowd slowly jogged to the start banner. I reached the strip that activated the electronic timing chip that was attached to my shoe, which means GAME ON! Here comes the adrenaline rush ... it strung through my entire body like a lightening bolt, struck my legs and I took off. During the first mile I looked down at my watch once and noticed I was running at a 8:28 pace. Quickly I decided that going to be the last time I saw those numbers, and the last time I saw anything higher than eight. I thought my speedy start was going to make me pay later but luckily that wasn't the case.

Little did I know Baltimore has some pretty unforgiving hills. From miles three through 10 the racers experienced some gradual and steep hills. They all lasted between half a mile and one mile long. Training in Raleigh had thoroughly prepared me to face them though so they didn't slow up my pace too much, if at all. We weaved in and out of the ghetto of Baltimore. The marathoners started their race around the Inner Harbor and through Federal Hill - a much nicer part of the city - and then when they met up with us, we were the fortunate ones to get to see the less fortunate areas. Boarded up doors, shattered windows, detached siding ... quite the scene. But despite my surroundings I still enjoyed the run and all it had to offer very much. The support was great - running thin in some areas but flooding with enthusiasm in others. Something to expect from most any race I would assume.

I believe it was mile seven where we ran a one-mile loop around a beautiful lake outlined by a fence. I had two of my GU Chomps here. Two others I had right before the start, too - in hopes eating something would calm my nerves. There were groups of people on the side of the streets handing out peanut M&Ms, gummy bears, chips, bananas, among other things. I helped myself to some M&Ms. They are a weakness when I'm not running and apparently I can't turn them down when I'm in motion either. Bad idea. I took a handful and since they immediately started melting in my hand I popped them all into my mouth. Well when you have a mouthful of food it's hard to breath, and it's also hard to chew. About 20 minutes later I wanted to throw up chocolate. I don't hold a grudge against the M&Ms though - they are forgiven. :-) Halloween is right around the corner afterall!

I wore my water belt so to hold all my crap. I had chapstick, a few pieces of gum, GU Chomps, chafing cream that didn't get used, my phone and my disposable camera. I took pictures during the race - I forgot how bad the quality is with those cameras. I'll post them in addition to my other pictures taken with my digital camera. I like to keep my phone because after the race it's pure chaos and it's helpful to be able to call whoever you're with and find a meeting place. Also, I save draft text messages with various mileage numbers. This time I saved, 5, 8, 10 and 12. When I hit those marks I send the saved text to Chris so he knows where I am and where to find me. After the boys saw us in between mile one and two, they headed for the finish line. It helps him to know where I am so he isn't searching around aimlessly for one person out of 20,000 runners. Anyway - I didn't use the water bottles on the belt so to lighten to load and I knew I had multiple water stations to take advantage of along the course. The chaffing cream was not used but let me tell you - there have been more long runs where I wished I had some so it's worth being prepared!

The last few miles were great. Hundreds of people gathered on the outskirts of the course to cheer us on to the end. This really helps motivate a strong finish. We entered Camden Yards at mile 12 or a little after and ran on the brick path in the concourse of the baseball field. Then I heard a familiar shout - Chris and the boys were cheering and waving! He snapped a picture of me and then I crossed the finish line. What a feeling! I posted my results on the left side bar but to reiterate - I finished in 1:41:41 averaging a 7:46 pace. This was much better than I anticipated. To my surprise (again) I finished 8th in my division! :-) Now I'm more motivated than ever to kick some full marathon butt! It's going to be ruthless and exhausting but I know it's going to be well worth the work put in.


A spectator was holding a sign that caught my attention about halfway through the race ... "Pain is temporary but pride is forever." I really liked this and I kept thinking about it for the duration of the half. It'll be stored in the back of my mind whenever I need it to get me through any grueling runs.

Another thing that kept me going was having points in my mind to look forward to. As I mentioned before - I set text messages to send to Chris notifying him of my progress. So miles 5, 8, 10 and 12 were something to look forward to. I also was excited to see mile 6.55 ... halfway there! Then at mile 10 I knew after looking at the elevation map that most of the last three miles of the race was downhill, which gave me a little more of a boost. It helps me mentally to set little goals to reach the big one. If you break down the major goal into parts it doesn't make it seem as difficult to achieve anymore.

This was a great race and I recommend it to anyone. Baltimore was a wonderful host and Under Armour was a tremendous sponsor - mainly because of the awesome bag and shirt we got from participating. :-)

The day wasn't all good for everyone. A 23-year-old male marathoner collapsed and died at mile 25, just shy of the finish. They still don't know why. It's saddening to think about such a young life lost at a great event. My thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones.

Please check out the results image, my photos and the updated training schedule for this week. I'll be in touch with my continued marathon training. One goal down - one to go! This weekend will be my longest long run before the race - 22 miles. AND I have to knock it out while visiting my alma mater - Indiana University. What a great way to get reacquainted with the school again.

Thanks for the support! :-) Happy running!!

Half Tomorrow

As I've been saying over and over again ... I can't believe my half is already here. That means the full is just one month out. I've been very uppity and anxious these last couple days. I have no doubt that I can finish - that's not the issue. It's the competition with myself. I know how fast I am capable of running this and that's what terrifies me. What if I'm not feeling good at the start? What if I start out too fast? What if the hills are bigger than the hills in Raleigh? What if I don't live up to my successful training so far? Yup ... that's what has been flooding my mind.

Optimistically thinking - I know all this adrenaline will work in my favor (or I'm hoping it will). When I start the race all these thoughts will vanish and, just like when I ran the D.C. Cherry Blossom 10-miler, I will be in awe at my surroundings. Thousands of people running for so many different reasons, yet all having one goal and destination. Countless spectators cheering for you. They might forget you once you've passed but when they saw you - they were hoping for the very best for you at that moment. Their faces and shouts are genuine. It's a feeling like none other. Even if it's during a 5K I encourage anyone to experience it at least once.

I'm waiting for my clothes to finish drying in the dryer and then I'll take off for Maryland. I'm staying with my brother-in-law's sister tonight and we'll meet my sister tomorrow morning before we head to the start line. Chris is going to get on the road when he gets off work around 7pm. I'm so happy he'll be there. It makes the experience so much greater when I know I have him to run to at the finish line.

I have been drinking a lot of water this week especially and only one soda a day. In addition, I've been building up on carbs throughout the week so I have a good bit of energy to pull from for tomorrow. Tonight I'm eating a Healthy Choice frozen dinner (great choice, eh?). Chicken with rice and veggies. It has the carbs I need but not in excess. Carbs are important pre-race but you don't want to overload. Yesterday I bought GU Chomps. I went for the bite-sized gummies this time as opposed to the GU packets. No particular reason - it's just what I was feeling.

The first wave will start at 9:45am tomorrow. I'll get up around 6:30am so I can get something to eat and have enough time to use the bathroom before I start running. I would hate to have to stop mid-race. The hardest thing for me is stopping and starting; it almost feels like I need to warm up all over again. I think I'll eat half an English muffin or bagel and a banana, something along those lines. Nothing too heavy. I might even stick with just a banana. Again - it all depends on how I'm feeling at the time. I did buy a disposable camera for tomorrow! I want to take pictures during the race to share on my blog! If it gets to be too much of a nuissance then I will simply throw it away. No big loss. But since I brought you along in my training I owe it to you to share the sights!

I think it's time that I pack everything up and hit the road. Can you imagine how much I'll write for my marathon if I wrote this much before my half?! :-) Wish me luck and I'll be talking to you soon!!

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed." -Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

Recovery Run Blues/Pre Half Marathon Workouts

My legs have been fighting a brick wall this week during my runs and I think I know why. Sunday, the day after my long run, I ran the three mile recovery run that my program suggests that I do. In the past I've been taking the day after my long runs to rest and allow my muscle tissue to rebuild after being broken down the day before. I have yet to let my legs recover, which leads me to believe that is why I haven't been feeling up to par during my weekday runs this week.

Monday I stuck to my typical go-to with the elliptical. I worked out for a hard 40 minutes as I don't think reaching the suggested max (see workout schedule on left side bar) is necessary. As long as you get some variation in your routine - not like the elliptical is really throwing a wrench in my day to day - I think it's sufficient in training.

On Tuesday that brick wall that my legs have been battling applied to my entire body, including my mind. I was dragging all day possibly due to a lack of sleep from always being on the go, and when I walked into my apartment after work I hit the couch and didn't open my eyes for the next hour and a half. When I woke up it was nearing dark and as I've said before I don't trust people enough to run when it's pitch black outside. I had to force myself into running clothes and push my own behind out the door. Some nights are tougher than others. I managed to squeeze a solid four miles out of me even though I was supposed to run seven. Hey - at least I got out there. Dinner was ready (thanks to Chris) when I got back and after I ate my eyes didn't hold up for much longer. I was out like a light (or the Twins in the first round of the playoffs) by 9:30pm.

You guessed it ... I'm a YANKEES fan! Today I was rushed in during my run because I had a date with Jeter and the gang at 6:07pm ... Yanks vs. Twins, first round of MLB playoffs. Getting home from work at 5:15pm allowed me 15 minutes to get ready and be out the door so I could get my four mile run over with before the first pitch. I ran eight-minute miles and walked back through the door at 6:09pm - JUST MISSED IT - but still made it for the top of the first. Not bad.

I plan on taking Thursday and Friday off to let my body rejuvenate before my half-marathon this weekend. If anything I might do a very slow two mile run tomorrow if I feel up to it. On the other hand I might just stick to some core work. Someone had described the hills in the Baltimore half-marathon as "beasts" today, which has made me that much more nervous. The anticipation of competition always makes me over think. I keep forgetting that I'm more than prepared to run 13.1 miles. Any fear or doubt will go away once the gun goes off ... it's just getting to the start line in one mental piece.

Alright it's time for me to shower and get my Yankees shirt on! I'll touch base before the race! Talk soon! GO YANKS!

18 ... Check

It's been a few days since I've lasted posted ... I've been on-the-go this weekend. Long story short - took Friday off, ran 18 miles on Saturday and recovered with three today. Now the long story version. There's not much to say about Friday except that I didn't run, I went to the Hurricanes game and then to my friend's apartment. Oh and I might have enjoyed some beers, too. :-) I ended up hitting the hay probably a little too late considering the 18-miler I had slated for the next morning. Let's just say that next morning came quicker than I wanted it to. Waking up with a pounding headache isn't the best way to wake up on a long run day. I took some Ibuprofin and tried to get a little bit more sleep before I attempted got moving. After finally forcing myself out of bed - I headed for the kitchen and ate a South Beach protein bar, drank lots of water and prepped myself for a long time on the pavement. Let me break this one down for you ... check list before the run: water belt - check, two packs of GU - check, charged Garmin watch - check, charged iPod - check, route directions - check. And the check list after: aching ankle - check, tingling legs - check, drooping eyes - check, chub rub - check, under arm rash - check, sports bra rash - check. Hmmm. Running is so glamorous, isn't it? I literally crawled up to my third floor apartment, threw open the door, looked at Chris in desperation and laid on the floor.

It could have been worse - the run wasn't as bad as I make it sound and I actually did very well. It was a beautiful October day in Raleigh - mid-70s with a nice breeze. I started out feeling great, like I was running on air. I had my first GU pack (Chocolate Outrage) around the eight-mile mark. The first mistake - I inhaled my water very early into the run. Around mile nine I started with the unexpected roller coaster. I couldn't have mapped a hillier run than I did. Another mistake was not driving the run that I mapped on MapMyRun the night before. These hills were exhausting and my legs were burning with pain. By this time my water had run dry. I felt like I was licking cement on a sticky summer day. The hills ceased (for the most part) around mile 13 or 14. I remember that because this is about where I started talking to myself out loud in hopes to motivate my rear end to the finish. I had my second GU pack about that time as well.

I had to stop and stretch/walk multiple times but I never stopped for long. I don't beat myself up over having to stop but it's not something I like to do. At mile 16 I passed Burger King so I ran in and asked for some water. Chugging those two cups of water was like I died and went to heaven at that moment. I filled up my water bottles on my belt and finished the final two miles fairly strong. Water made all the difference.

Time wise - I'm very proud of my performance. I averaged 8:45 minute miles, which includes all my stops to stretch and walk since I never stopped my watch during those times. While I was running I kept between 7:40 and 8:30 minute miles. With the hills, the stops and the lack of water ... I think all in all it was a very successful run, despite the many pains.

Today was probably the first time throughout my training that I ran a recovery run the day after a long run. I did a simple three-mile run.. It was probably good for my legs because they've been pretty sore since the run yesterday.

I can't believe the Baltimore half-marathon is this coming weekend! I'm looking forward to it but I also tend to work myself up with anticipation before races (not like I've run that many). I got the same way before field hockey games too so it's not surprising that I get a butterfly overload. I'm not sure if I'll alter my workouts this week due to the race this weekend. I was talking with my sister and she told me to treat this as a part of my marathon training and to keep with my regimen as it is. She suggested that instead of taking only Friday off, to take off Thursday and Friday so I'm refreshed before the race Saturday morning.

I'll update my weekly training schedule tonight or tomorrow. Also, stay tuned for my Baltimore half marathon running mix!! Thanks for reading! Happy training!