The Half Marathon That Almost Wasn't

I am officially a half marathoner! I was seriously worried this race wouldn't happen. After ATM, I was really looking forward to the Gettysburg Blue and the Grey Half Marathon. I'm a huge history nerd - so the thought of running a race in Gettysburg was really a draw. I never considered the weather- October wasn't bad at all and would be so pretty......so I thought (but more on that later). Also, congratulations to the AMAZING Jenny of Feetoffancy.wordpress.com on finishing her first marathon! 


I kept my eye on the weather all week and until Wednesday, everything looked perfect. Then mother nature decided to torture all runners on the east cost. THIS is what the parking lot of my hotel looked like the night before the race (and additional 3-4 inches fell after this). Also, the Universe decided to screw with me last week and give me a lovely case of bronchitis. Awesome. The week before my first half and I couldn't run at all without wheezing and sounding like a smoker. awesome.

I woke up at 6 and saw on the event's facebook page that the run had been delayed for an hour to give the road crews time to treat the roads. I'm not going to lie I was super thankful- I really needed the additional sleep. I woke up, took some dayquil and my antibiotics, got dressed, and proceeded to cough my head off. I came very very very close to crawling back in bed. But no- I made my boyfriend drive to Gettysburg in a snowstorm and I was going to run this thing.

I literally thought I was going to freeze to death waiting for the start.

While the course description said the course had gradual rolling hills, I beg to differ. My legs beg to differ, and the last 3 miles were just EVIL, but I was happy because I was actually running it, and not dying! (my expectations were very low for this race - obviously)

In the back of my head, I was hoping to finish in under 2:30. I missed that goal by 2 minutes and 49 seconds. (POUT!) However, I am very pleased with myself as I ran the race while not at 100% and I wasn't the last one across the finish line.

Now I have a pretty medal! WIN!

Army Ten Miler

Hi there- long time no post. My bad.

The Army 10 Miler was yesterday and while it wasn't my best pace (no PR = sad times) i'm choosing to draw some positives from the experience.

#1-Despite my horrible mood, ATM was so much fun! I loved the course and the spectators were fantastic!

When I got off the metro, I wasn't feeling this race at all. There were so many people and I was pretty bummed that the boyfriend had stayed at home. Everyone else had someone there and I just felt lonely. This was the first time i've woken up not excited to race. I think my brain was trying to tell me something was off, but I just ignored it and went about my business.

However, when we were directed to our corrals, that began to change. I can't even describe the energy of the runners. The race organizers did a fantastic job of managing 30,000 runners and the cannon or WHATEVER they shot off to start each wave was super cool. The race took you (more or less) by every cool monument in town and running alongside the river so early in the morning was so calming. I actually broke an 9 minute mile during this part of the course, which is great for me.

When I got to the 5 mile point of the race, I was doing fantastic - I was 10 minutes faster than my pace for the Navy 5 miler two weeks before. That was stellar!! I was a happy runner. About mid way through mile 5, my stomach started to let me know that it was not pleased. I ripped out some fuel and added some water and Gatorade and hoped that would calm it down till at least the finish. For the next mile, it seemed to work. Then mile 7 hit - OMG- I've never had stomach cramps like that before. EVER. I thought I was just going to throw up right in the middle of Constitution. I had no other choice but to walk. This was the next 3 miles of my race. I was so mad, so mad that I started crying near mile 8 and forced myself to suck it up by mile 9. I would run for about a quarter of a mile, but that would make it more upset.

At this point, I knew my goal of 1:50 was out of the question. It just wasn't going to happen, but I really wanted to finish strong. I sucked it up at mile 9.5 and ran the last half mile at a 10 minute pace. Yes, I wanted to die - but I also wanted to finish strong.  I crossed the line at 2:00 hrs 12 seconds which is about a 12 minute mile. BUMMER. Even for me that is really really slow. I was pissed for about 2 hrs.

Then I realized- there will always be another race, another 10 miler where I can redeem myself. This was the first time i've ever had any kind of stomach issue and a year ago I would have probably quit mid race. This time quitting wasn't an option. I was actually pissed because I couldn't run, not pissed because my stomach hurt. So i'll take my 10 miles and my 2 hr 12 minute finish, and improve on it. Now I know what to and what to NOT eat the day before a race.

I have 2 1/2 weeks until my first half marathon. Bring it!

Trainer or no trainer- that is the question.

I've noticed lately that even with my increase in mileage and monitoring of calories- I haven't been losing any weight. Unfortunately, the increase in mileage has caused an increase on the scale. Much to my dissatisfaction. I have had some problem's with hitting a massive plateau in the past but always managed to make progress. I've hit it hard this time and while my clothes aren't getting any tighter, they're not getting smaller either. I've tried reducing calories and portions- and all that has left me with is a lightheaded dizzy feeling when running so I'm unsure what I should do. I'm eating between 1200 and 1500 calories depending on the length of my run each day. It's very frustrating.

My significant other suggested that I look into personal training to help me break through this time. I have to admit, I'm a little skeptical and probably a little snobby. My gym (which I will not mention the name of for fear of being sued) doesn't have the greatest track record with trainers. Most look like they could be college freshman and have the minimum (or less) certification that I'm comfortable with. My gym also charges an INSANE amount for personal training (above $50 a session on top of our monthly membership). I've seen the trainers at work and I'm honestly not that impressed.

My second worry is that these training sessions will cut into my running. I know that I need to increase the amount of strength training I'm doing (currently little to none, I know I know!) but I want my strength training to complement my running, not replace it. After speaking to a few of the runners at my gym, they said that when they started with trainers there- it took months for them to get back to their regular mileage.

This is just a rant- but I HATE how the trainers at my particular gym operate. It's mostly a bunch of young guys who view "training" as an opportunity to hit on the girls there or make them feel inferior. It's blatantly obvious what they are doing and I know more women than me avoid the weight room for that reason. We've complained to management with very little change. UGH.

So friends, do you use personal trainers - if so, did you get the results you wanted? Am I worrying over nothing?

New Rule: Never Look at Race Photos

I have made the decision to never look at a race photo again until I reach my goal weight. Race photographers are evil and I really will start acting live a diva if they put their camera in my face again.

One of the goals of my blog is to help myself document my weight loss. I've told myself that the only way to do this is to be perfectly honest on here. No i'm not some size 6 runner. I wish I was. Hell, I wish I was a size 4 but that's not going to happen for awhile.

This is pretty much the starting point. No laughing... seriously i'll hunt you down.

Don't laugh at me lady, I will sit on you. Under all this flab, no one will hear you scream.

Yes, the paleness factor is disgusting. The hips are disgusting and stomach (let's not EVEN go there). But I guess it can only get better from here.

Attack of the Angry Feet

My body hates me! It really hates me and I disgust it.

Case in point. My toes.

Not so long ago, I had pretty toes. Even years of dancing, tumbling, and cheerleading didn't injure and maul my toes the way running has.

So long and farewell to my days with beautiful toes and blissful pedicures. Only runners will understand.

Leesburg 20K Recap

Holy Hills Batman! Race recap is as follows.

Woke up to pouring rain on Sunday morning. BUMMER! Came wide awake at 4:30 on the dot and got up to immediately start getting ready. I opted for my cotton/dry wick mix tank because
i can't handle dry wick in the humidity. I know it works for some people, but it just ends up irritating me and making me feel like a big fat cow.

Jenny was kind enough to drive to the race. I would have probably wrecked because I was so nervous. After waiting forever for the bathrooms, we ran to the start just as they were getting underway.

Miles 1-3
SUCKED. We didn't get a chance to stretch and I thought my ankle was going to snap in half. Jenny had problems, I had problems, it was a train wreck of a beginning of the race. Jenny waved me on and I continued on - trying to sort out why my ankle was killing me. I knew once I got in a couple of miles my body would warm up and I'd be okay. Thankfully, the Advil I took before the race really really helped. What didn't help was the constant stream of hills. I swear to you I believe that miles 2-7 was a constant stream of hills and inclines. While I had trained on some hills- these kicked my ass in the worst way. My pace fell from 9:30- 9:50 per mile to something like 12minute miles. LAME.

Miles 4-7
I saw the 4 mile marker around 47 minutes (so much for finishing well) and looked up and saw the lead male runner sprinting towards mile 8-9. Holy mother of pearl! This was also up a hill, so i just gritted my teeth and probably cussed so much that there is zero chance of me ever getting into heaven. Mile 5 started the transition from road to the WOD trail and honestly it was nice to be fully covered by the trees because at this point it was pouring. Honestly, I loved it when it was raining, it cooled me off and I could actually breathe. Miles 6 and 7 brought out the ipod and I was jamming to some Glee. By this point I had reached the run around portion and knew that i was going to have to start run/walking. I was tired, but honestly it was so humid at this point that it hurt to breathe. So I started running a mile and then walking for 5-6 minutes and this worked well.

Miles 7-10
I thought these were going to be the miles that destroyed my will to live. I had only trained up to 8 miles so I knew that this was going to be tough to push through. It was so humid that i wanted to die but I held up really really well. My pace did slow at this point to 10:30-10:45 per mile but I kept chugging on. Once I passed mile marker 8, everything beyond that was a PDR for me and I think that adrenaline helped fuel me for the rest of the run. At this point I was relying only on signs because I had stupidly hit my Garmin which stopped it for over a mile. I could use it to keep my pace but I had no idea how long it had been off. Bummer.

Miles 11-12.5
I completely missed the mile 11 marker. I never saw it (it was apparently on the ground) and was getting so frustrated. I was passing over one of the roads when the officer shouted at me that I had less than 1 KM to go and to keep my head up. WTF? Talk about being taken by surprise. I fell into pace with one of the runners who looked like they were struggling to keep it together and we both shouted encouragement to each other (Runners are awesome like that) and decided that I was going to run the rest of the course come hell or high water. It was a slow run, but I did it! YES.

Then came the crash. The adrenaline got me home. I showered, took my ice bath, and then napped for 5 hrs straight. I haven't slept that hard in forever. Got up- ate some cereal for dinner and then went right back to sleep. No shame here. I was tired!

I woke up this morning a little sore but nothing like I was expecting. EXCEPT FOR MY TOENAILS.

Oh dear god. The pain. I'm terrified of losing my toenails. The thought of that makes me dry heave so i'm hoping and praying that I won't lose them. There are only two that I am really concerned about but there is nothing I can do at this point. I fully realize i'm being a huge baby about this. BUT UGH. Completely revolting. FML

Any of my fellow runners have any tips on running sans toenails? The very thought makes me woozy but i'm mentally preparing myself for it. WAAAA!

Edit: Got home and got up the courage to take off my nail polish. So much for pretty feet- both 2nd toenails are black as can be. :(

I'm gonna miss pedicures.

I Ran A 20k (And Didn't Die!)

So, it's a Sunday night and I woke up after a 4 hour nap. A 4 hour GLORIOUS nap that I totally needed. I ran my first 20k today. The weather was pretty disgusting. 80's humid when periods of monsoon rain. The first 6 1/2 to 7 miles were all uphill. I kinda wanted to die BUT I finished in 2 hrs and 28 minutes. Pretty slow, but whatever. It's a PDR for me and i didn't die. WIN.

I was up before the alarm this morning at 4:30. Drove to meet the wonderful Jenny. Off we went.
BUT FIRST:
We have determined that this is how you know that you are a runner, when you are up and preparing for a race just as all the other "twentysomethings" are coming home from a club. This girl, no lie - gets out of a car. Clearly drunk off her ass and reaches in the back of his car and grabs her underwear. Classy. Yes, this is how I started my morning.

Full recap of the race will be up tomorrow. I'm still tired so i'm going to bed.