Tucson Marathon Race Report 2009

It seems weird that it has already been a year since I ran this race the last time. When I was preparing, I kept thinking about the anxiety I had last year. At one point when people were strategizing about the race, I had to be alone with my thoughts and my goals. A lot has changed in a year. I accomplished some major goals and had some major setbacks as well. I learned a lot, which is always a good thing.

We headed out Saturday afternoon, carpooling with some friends down to the race. We stayed at the host hotel and the expo took all of about 10 minutes. I am not huge on the expo's anyway. I prefer the kind at the ultra's where it is just a card table with some race numbers nestled against a tree somewhere at the base of a trail. The race shirt was downgraded from Cool Max to cotton this year, a product of the economy I guess. It will become what many race shirts become for me, either I get it in a large and give it to the hubby, or it becomes a dust rag.

After the expo we headed to a pasta dinner which was great and I even had a glass of vino, a first for me the night before the race and the whole table acknowledged my relaxed demeanor as compared to last year. It wasn't that I didn't have ANY concerns. I did. But, what could I expect, given only training for 5 weeks? To finish, basically, and that's about it. Here a group of us are a dinner.

Race morning and I woke before the alarm, as usual. Coffee and my power bagel shmeared with peanut butter, honey and a banana and I was good. We boarded the buses which took us to the start and were able to stay on them until the race actually started. Weather was supposed to be about 45 at the start and 63 or so at the finish, partly cloudy. Perfect. Here we are on the bus before the start.

Tina had her eyes closed, kind of like Troy, but she's a girl, so I won't show you the picture. Troy can handle it.

Miles 1-5.

The start is pretty. You are at the top of Mount Lemmon, in Oro Valley and just as the sun is rising the gun goes off. I told Troy and my friend Tina that I did not want to start with them because I was just not sure how this was going to pan out for me. I knew they were both capable of pr's if they had a good day so I tried to just do my thing. Tina decided to run with the pacer, but I don't like being behind the pacer because it makes me feel like I have to "catch up" if I need to get water and what not, so I just scooted a bit ahead. The first five miles were mostly downhill with some rolling slight uphills in there. I felt good. I was happy and not questioning my sanity yet.

Miles 5-9.

They changed the course this year so that instead of the out and back from 10-14 at the Biosphere, you experience it from 5-9. I heard from someone who drove the course beforehand that the out was great but the back was brutal. He couldn't have been more right. It's one thing to run a downhill marathon when you never have to turn around, but to run down a hill and run right back up? Not so fun. Troy suspiciously caught up with me (of course) and I wasn't about to give him the elbow--but we both noticed that as the elites were running past us on the opposite side, they looked as if they were crawling.

"Why do they look like they are going slow?"

"I don't know, but we do keep going down, down down!"

"I just want to go straight, I can't keep going down because soon that means up!"

I saw Tina just behind at the turn around and she was right with her pacer and looked great. And up we went....From about mile to 7 to mile 9. Straight up, trying to maintain a pace, and it was tough. I joked with Troy that at least I got my asthma attack out early in the race! As soon as we were flat again, it felt like heaven.

Miles 10-15.

These were great miles. We were making up time. Our half marathon was at about 1:47 and change and given the hills we had already done, along with the crowded start, that was great. I turned on the ipod at about 14 and got some good energy out of that. I had ingested 2 Gu Roctanes at this point, plus some water and Zood. I should have ingested more water I think. From mile 10 to 23, we were on the same stretch of road. One thing I noticed when we turned though. Holy head wind.

Miles 15-20.

The wind was brutal. 15-20 mile per hour head winds. It's kind of funny how you go from feeling "kick butt" to feeling like your butt has been kicked. And that's what happened to me between 17and 18. There was a water stop in there and I really stopped to take in some fluid and noticed Troy looking back at me like, "Ummm, what are you waiting for?" I just needed another second, but that's where the race changed for me. I knew he had more in him than I did in me at that point so I just pointed ahead and made him go. I was so glad when he did. I knew I was falling apart a bit and needed time to re-group. I felt a bit dehydrated and drank a ton between 18 and 22. I figured out I was low on hydration and started the bargaining. "If you just run to the next water stop, you can have a break. If you can just run X pace, you will be capable of Y marathon time." And so it goes. You guys know the drill. I also needed to see my peeps, but hubby and the kids missed a turn and were only capable of making it to the finish. I saw some running peeps and that was great. Really encouraging. But man, I was tired. Those five weeks were coming back to bite me. And the crux of it wasn't about finishing. I was GOING to finish. It was those two people talking on my shoulders. One was saying "You are doing okay, remember, no expectations? You are right on track. Keep it up!" And the other, (my least favorite) was saying, "You stink. You didn't miss a run last year. Not ONE. You think you can train for five weeks and run THIS race? Get real, sister! I hope you are prepared to be out here a while!"

Miles 20-26

It took me until 22 to recover enough to run, albeit at a slower pace, consistently. I no longer had the urge to drink copious amounts of fluid, and I was still passing people here and there. My time was still decent and I was within reach of finishing where I did last year (3:42). But every mile, that got less and less likely and I was so, so tempted to walk it in. Then my good guy started to taunt me, "What kind of example is that? You can't PR here, so just chalk it up to failure and walk? You don't need to walk! You got your fluid back up, get your lazy butt going faster!" and the bad guy just trash talked my incapability's, but I decided to ignore him. We turned onto a different street at 23.5 and I saw a huge hill. Seriously? I ran all the way up it though, just like all the other ones. I may have walked at the water stations, but I was NOT going to walk up those darn hills. If I did, every 20 miler (okay 2) I did at 5 am the last month where I made myself do hills was shot.

I was begging and praying to be done! Why is .2 far? Why does the last mile take forever? Why when you turn to run under the balloons are you met with sand? Yes, sand. For the last .1--Really? But, I did it. I ran in at 3:46 and change, I think 3:47:00 according to the official race clock. Three minutes slower than last year, but I was content. Troy managed a 3:42!! This race last year was his first marathon and since he has run two more and an ultra, and this was his fastest time yet.

My friend Tina pr'd by four minutes, but missed her overall goal which was a sub 3:50 by two minutes. She had horrible calf cramps at 23, but until then was actually on pace for 3:45....bless her heart. She is one of the most knowledgeable and strong runners I know. I would never bet against her and I would never want to race against her. I know she will have her perfect day though!

I would have finale pics, but the ole camera died! Congrats to all my friends that did the race! For me, it was another race in the books and hopefully good prep for me trying to pr my half in January at PF Chang's. It has been almost three years since I have done a half, so who knows! I am doing the sideways down the stair thing today, so I think this week I will be in recovery :) My Christmas present to myself might be just getting back out on the road. Shorter and faster or longer and slower. That's my plan, anyway.

The Taper, in Acronym Form

T. T is for torture. Yes, when your body is used to burning lots and lots of calories and 14 miles doesn't even make you blink, then all of the sudden the endorphins are stripped away from you, it results in a kind of temporary insanity. At least that is the scientific excuse I try to explain to my little cuties and my dear hubby when I am somewhat less enjoyable to be around during taper week.

A. A is for ad-lib, which by definition means "In an improvisatory manner:spontaneously," which is basically how I am running the race since I only have five weeks of training.

P. P is for pain, which I know I will be in after this race. Last year, despite some really solid training and three 20 mile prep runs, I was S-O-R-E sore. Way more sore than following Boston with an ultra five days later. Way more sore than the most sore I have ever been. And probably more sore than if I were made to do squats continuously for 24 hours. There is just something about a fast downhill marathon that the quads do not enjoy.

E. E is for Exercise, which I am not really getting this week--, which leads to E being for energy, of which I have excess amounts. Just ask my husband, whose closet I decided NEEDED to be re-organized at 7 am this morning. Or the kids whose lego's I am just this side of color coordinating.

R. R is the last one. R is for Run (duh!). Or R is for race. Or R is for ridiculous. I guess we will see on Sunday!

Holy Tucson Marathon!

I have a marathon in six days. Surprised? Yeah, me too. Somehow a 5 week training cycle just goes a little bit faster than the ones that are 12 to 14 weeks. Combine that with some family stuff and throwing a big Christmas party last Saturday and I haven't even had time to stress about this marathon. Normally by now I would be checking and re-checking the weather forecast as if it is a) totally accurate this far out and b) likely to change between 10 am when I check it and again at 10:47. I have no fuel for race day. Like, none, in the house. I am out-and even if I had it, I would not have had time to select it. I have no idea what I am wearing, or what my "throw away" shirt will be. My shoes need washed, I haven't updated my playlist and I have no strategy. This time last year I was already thinking about what I would be thinking about during the race, which I wrote about here.


In some ways, this is good. I have no expectations for this race. Okay, I have a few. Run smart, don't go for anything that you are not ready for, and try to finish. It would also be nice if those things happened in under four hours. Furthermore, if I truly run smart--I won't even be able to attain a pr because to me running smart after 5 weeks of training means running so slow and steady that a pr will not be physically possible by the time I know I feel strong enough to push the pace. I will do my best. I will listen to my body, and that's about all I can promise. Except for the fact that I will also predictably do three more things during the race. One of which is asking myself why, in fact, I do these crazy things. Two is internally cursing myself and promising it is the last time I do it, and the third is tearing up. Now the tearing up is almost never out of pain--sometimes I giggle and then tear up because giggling when running is hard, sometimes I am grateful that it is over, sometimes I see someone pushing themselves to the limit, and sometimes I just see a cute baby on the side of the road--and well, it makes me tear up for no apparent reason.

I know I will experience my usual Friday and Saturday night freakouts. I so, so wish more marathons were on Saturday--or even Fridays at midnight because I mean really, who is so anxiety free that they can sleep well on these nights. And hey, Friday at midnight means you are done Saturday morning at about 4 am or so, give or take. Just hit the sack for 6 or 7 hours and you still have your whole weekend ahead of you! But Sunday, really? Youcant try out a new restaurant because you are examining every morsel you put in your mouth, there are no glasses of wine or beers all weekend, and you are running when you know that you could be watching some good football. Then bam! Hello workweek. Ugh. So, let me know if you are up for the Friday night marathon. I am not sure where or when, but it sounds like more fun to me.

Marathon to 5K??

I have a thing with the 5k. I just do. I don't do them. I have never done one. Kind of crazy, right? I do marathons and halfs and ultra's and I don't even do a 5K? Nope. I am a 5K virgin. You heard it here first. Why, you ask? Well you didn't, but I am gonna tell ya.

I don't love racing. I love thinking about racing. I love training for racing (mostly), but the whole actual racing, well, we are just not one. So when I race, it better be good. It better be far. It better be worth my time, and I like to make it last. Do I really wanna pay $35 bucks for something that will take less than a half hour of my time AND gives me an ugly t-shirt? That's more than a buck a minute to do something that I could easily do around a track if I were so inclined. The whole thing is over before it even started! I can miss the crowds, not have to worry about parking and have some hot coffee within 10 minutes of my own personal 5 K if I wanted to!

But the marathon out my door? Not so easy. I would have to con a cop into leading me presidential style on his motorcycle through all the lights. Then I would have to talk a bunch of people I know (hint: the three guys I live with), into setting up makeshift aid stations every few miles. Then I would really have to hope to be running by a gas station when I needed to use the restroom, and finally, I would have to get hubby to borrow a megaphone and announce my time marathon style as I crested the driveway.

Furthermore, despite the logistics, to make a 5K worth it, I better run it darn fast--and until track last night I wasn't sure I was even capable of remotely fast. It takes me three miles to even breathe the way I want to and to regulate my asthma. Last night, before track I was dreading going, as per usual, and then I started thinking about not going (again, normal), but of course I went. I went because when I was injured and couldn't, I promised myself that when I could, I would have a better attitude about it. Well, that and the fact that I really wanna fit better in my pre-running layoff jeans before Christmas. So, I looked longingly at my boys seated at the dinner table (sigh!), and headed out the door into the dark of night.

Anyhow, I digress. The workout was a mile and a half warm-up, followed by 3X1 mile repeats, with a mile cool down. I did all three miles at 7min/mile pace with the last one just under. This is news for me! I always wondered whether I could do a sub 21 5k, and maybe I could. Granted, I would not be able to rest between my mile splits, but I only rested about 90 seconds or so--and I had run that morning, so with a pair of fresh legs and the adrenaline of race day, who knows? The enticement might just be enough to make me fork over the race fee and get an ugly t-shirt one of these days!

The New 5 Week Marathon Training Program

This is what my new book will be titled. Or The Idiots Guide to Running a Marathon. Or How to Ignore All Good Running Advice. I kid, I kid. Sort of. I was out. I was out for a while, and then I came back--and I was doubtful, I was doubtful for a while--that I was healed, that it would be taken away again, that I got to relish in this thing that is hard, but that I love. Here's my 5 week long run training plan. Run 10, 14, 16, 20, 20....taper for 2 weeks, run the Tucson marathon. Oh yeah, and join track about three weeks into that plan.

That's what I did. And some of you are laughing and cursing me. And that's okay. I think I know my body at this point. I have been listening. I have been listening to soreness, to every twinge to every over tired muscle, to everything. And so far, I am okay. I am tired. I am happy. I am nervous. I am nervous like a cat on a hot tin roof. I have a marathon in two weeks. I know I can do it, but I don't think it's gonna be pretty.

I ran another 20 on Saturday. I was tired at 15, but I got a second wind at 17 and I finished. I finished it about 15 minutes or so faster than I did my 20 last weekend, but I was more tired. I will need to be careful, to hold back and remember that this will NOT be a record setter for me. It will be a "getting back in the game marathon." And that's okay--at this point these legs aren't getting any younger and not only do I not know I can run a marathon faster than 3:34, I don't know that I care to. Sure, I would like to be faster, but it's just not that important to me. I pretty much did everything I could these last two years and I accomplished a major goal for myself. I qualified and ran in Boston, and I had my best race ever while there. That seals the deal for me. I would rather do something crazy and longer and farther and wider. I would rather do something I haven't, or run farther than I have. Something new to keep me motivated. Otherwise its Days of Our Lives and Lay's Potato chips. Just kidding. I was always partial to General Hospital--and frankly, chips and salsa.

So the fact that I will not PR two weeks from now does not matter to me. I am so, so happy to be able to do it that I am promising myself not to have expectations, not to be let down. Hubby keeps reminding me how sore I was last year. I remember. It was Thursday before I could walk like a normal person. That's what you get with a downhill marathon. That's okay. I just need to feel that 26.2 again. To push the limits, but to remember where I am. I am capable of running a marathon. I am capable of doing it without getting hurt. I am capable of listening to my body. I am capable to finish smiling. Or that smile/cry that I usually do--I can't be helped people. I always tear up at some point. It's a guarantee. So here's to my comeback race. My first road race since April. Hallelujah.

Thanksgiving

Well, the trail run is complete....the cooking is done and in the oven, the counter tops are 409'd (new verb), and I am sitting down which is the biggest miracle of all. This past week has been really tough with some extended family related medical stuff and I am just thankful for the respite that running has given me. When I didn't know what to do or when I couldn't do anything else, I laced up and ran hard.

It did make me think, though....of the importance of taking time with those you love when you need to, of running as hard as you can when you need to, and of knowing how to balance those things. Balancing the challenge of doing what scares you and pushes you, with not running when someone more important needs you, or when your spirit tells you to slow down.

The list of what I am most thankful for is long and sometimes complicated and not for today's post. I decided to make a list of the "Top 10 Running Related things for which I am Thankful," which was going to be today's title but it was way too long! So here we go in no particular order:

1) Gu Roctane: This stuff makes me want to yak sometimes, I'm not gonna lie--but the more I practice fueling early in often in long runs, the more success I have. I have learned I need a little protein with my carbs, which the Roctane provides. That's the carnivore in me. It's still hard to turn down a good steak, and I hope it stays that way.

2) New Orthotics: Pretty sure the old ones were a big cause of my Plantar Fasciitis, and so I am so happy to be able to ambulate at whatever speed without pain. It's nice not to feel like an octogenarian.

3) Cool Max/Dry fit: Worn a cotton shirt running lately? Didn't think so. This stuff is the best thing to come along since Two Buck Chuck. What did we ever do before? Especially on a long run in the cold when you sweat and you really need some whicking or you will freeze your patootie off. Yes, I said patootie.

4) Ipods: Long run. Need I say more? I have trained myself to only use the ipod for runs over 12 or so. It took a while, like Pavlov's dog, but really--when I feel the need for speed the second half of a long run, I just plug that puppy in and go to it. Nobody knows I am "Gettin' Jiggy with It" so who cares?

5) Phoenix: Yes, the running through the summer stinks, stinks, stinks--but if you get up with the birds like I do, you can run year round without ever stepping on that enemy I call the treadmill. It. Is. Gorgeous. Here. Almost every day--and yet cools off so much in the winter and spring that you wonder why anyone lives anywhere else, till July rolls around.....

6) That little pocket thingy: You know the one, in your running shorts. It's pretty handy--a few shot blocks, your car key, half a Gu, a $5 bill, whatever. It comes in handy and I like to see how large the item is that I can fit in there, like McGyver if you will. Pretty soon I will pull out a car jack or something. You just wait.

7) My pooch: He is just so stinkin' happy. He waited for me to get better. He suffered through the bike around the park phase and most importantly, he does whatever I tell him. He is Irondog, and if they had a contest, I would enter him. 15 miles?? He is still up for the park later!

8) Endorphins: You know the ones. Don't pretend you don't. The things I was missing for weeks and months? They rock! Better than lots of other bad things that provide endorphins and so, so, fun. No matter HOW much I dread those 20 milers the day before--I am happy, happy, slap happy when I come home. Go ahead, jump on the couch, have a jujitsu match in the front yard! Glenda replaces the Wicked Witch of the night before, and all the world is good.

9) Strength: Bottom line. Running long and far or short and fast makes you strong. And it's not just the running, it's the courage and the guts it takes to get out there day after day. Because when you think about it-bon bons and TLC are pretty darn appealing-but not quite as appealing as if you can't carry four bags of groceries and two kids in from the car. It's is all worth it.

10) The Last Mile: Let's face it. How sweet does that taste? You can sense yourself speeding up, seeing your house, the end of the loop, the finish line. You can taste that hot cup of coffee, you can feel that ice bath or the medal placed around your neck, you can smell the sweat on your brow, and you can hear your heart beat or your name being called. It takes all you got, and you give it. All the time, you give it.

Happy Thanksgiving guys! Cheers.

Back To Track

To say I love going to track practice is like saying that cats enjoy swimming. It just ain't true. Speedy, I am not. I can just go the distance. I have written about my inexperience with that orangish oval before-I first set foot on a track two years ago, and last night was my first night back to track since, well, December of last year.

The familiar knot in my stomach starts to develop around Tuesday at noon. "Ugh, track tonight." That means two things--I will either have something that does not even remotely translate to dinner food at about 4 o' clock (read: energy bar), or I will have a real dinner precariously close to track and then be on the verge of throwing up each time I round those lovely corners.

So why do I subject myself to this torture each week? Especially when I could be snug on my couch watching Biggest Loser, or putting my freshly bathed small children to sleep? I have no idea! Kidding. It's because it is hard and because I stink at it....that's why. My good buddy Ellie Roosevelt said, "We must do that which we think we cannot do." And although I am pretty sure track practice was not the insurmountable goal she was addressing, I do think that it is good for me to do things that do not come easily and that I do not particularly enjoy from time to time.

Last night's work out was partner 800's. In case you haven't had the joy of experiencing this particular workout, I must say--it's a doozie. You start with a 10-15 minute warm-up and then find another soul that is close to equal in terms of speed as you are and buddy up. I was sure to be bringing up the rear no matter whom I was paired with since I just got back to running at a casual pace. After pairing up, you run around the track pretty much as fast as you can once, then you keep going but your partner joins you for the second lap, then your partner runs alone and you get to rest for as long as it takes them to run once around (which is never as long as you want it to be). Then, in our case last night, you do this seven more times.

It can be a fun workout, even if I do say so myself--because you get to encourage your partner and cheer for others. I got a little gregarious on the strides preceding the workout, and I am a little sore this morning, I gotta admit. According to Bart Yasso of Runner's World--if you do 8-10 800's at a consistent pace, that pace should closely translate to your marathon pace. I didn't do ten of them, but I have to say, it does seem pretty accurate.

And so it goes. Friday will be a big test for me, my longest run since my ultra right after Boston I think. Summer temps of 90 degrees at about 5 am kind of get in the way of runs longer than 12 or 13 miles. So 20 miles, here I come-ready or not. Slow and steady wins the race, right??