Philly Distance Run!!

This weekend was a flurry of excitement. Saturday, 18 of us went white water rafting in the poconos.......it was a BLAST! and exhausting. and i knew I had the Philly Distance Run (half marathon) on sunday, so I was a little nervous!

So I had to be at the RWA shelter at 6am on Sunday, we had 5 guys from Back on my Feet running the PDR. We all walked together through Love Park, and up to the start near the Art Museum. I finally started realizing, "oh shit, am I ready to run a half marathon today? maybe I shouldve taken this more seriously this week?"

We get to the start, and Fred (one of the homeless guys) and I were planning to run together. It was an absolutely beautiful morning, minus the fact the race has you running directly into the sun for the first 2 miles, haha. So Fred had me running at like, a 9 minute mile pace........I was barely keeping up, and knew there was absolutely no way I was running 13 miles at that pace. Finally around the 2nd mile I had to slow down, and he just took off (thanks alot Fred, haha....just kidding). But after the next mile, I realized I was running just under 10 minute miles on my own. What? I almost always run 11+ minute miles, especially when I'm not keeping up with anyone else!

So I decided I was doing this for as many miles as I could keep it up. At mile 8 or 9, I decided, thats it, I'm running this pace the whoooole race if I can! I was so excited about completely shattering my time from last year's half marathon! I remembered being somewhere around 2:30 and figured maybe I could pull a 2:15 if I kicked my butt into gear.

I felt great, even at mile 11! So great, in fact, that I took advantage of a "Beer Stop" along the side of Kelly Drive. It was the most delicious beer I had ever tasted (probably a natty light or something gross, haha). I was so pumped about how well it was going that I just wanted to celebrate (a little early). I didn't start feeling sluggish and tired until after mile 12, but thankfully the sidelines were packed with people cheering me along.

I finished in 2:10!!! And when i got home, I looked up my time from last year- 2:40! I shaved 30 MINUTES off my time! It was really amazing to see how far I've come in just a year, and really motivated me to get through this marathon.

Plus, once I made my way through the crowds upon crowds of people, and back to the BOMF tent.....I almost cried at how proud I was of our guys. They not only finished their first race, but a half-marathon nonetheless! I dont think any of them really grasp what a major accomplishment that is yet, but I hope they realize that lots of runners never even get that far, let alone people who have only been running for 2-3 months. Absolutely amazing!

So here's some pictures of all of us, pre and post-race.

Up this week- (2) 5 milers, an 8 miler, and a 14 miler this weekend (mixed in with at LEAST a 30 mile bike ride somewhere). Less than 2 weeks until the MS 150, City to Shore bike ride. Starting to get nervous about that, since I've focused sooo much on running the past few months. YIKES!

yikes....

Last night, I had to get in an 8 mile run....and didnt get to leave work until 6:30. So I knew I had a long run ahead of me....and the rain was looming.

I found a little pouch made of crypton, from a fabric rep, that I was going to use to attempt to protect my iphone, and I set off running.

First of all, a long sleeved tshirt was a HORRIBLE choice, it was a weird combination of mugginess and cool and rainy, and humid. But it was too hot with the long sleeves. And second, my legs felt like lead weights. I couldnt get any sort of "speed" (which, again, is way slower than normal people), and one mile in I didnt see any way i'd make it through 8 miles. Also, my stomach had been bugging me all day (which is why I missed my morning BOMF run).

Anyways, 3 or so miles in, I realize...it is DEFINITELY going to be dark out for the better half of my run. And I'm running along kelly drive, alone.....and there's been so many rapes/attacks lately. So naturally, I spent most of my run scaring myself that someone was going to jump out of every single bush or corner. I was very jumpy, and just imagining the worst.

So much for a relaxing run, right?

And then it got worse....my stomach was KILLING me, and I knew I'd never make it back, 3 more miles to go, without a bathroom break. All I could think of was the picture that Dave posted awhile back, haha. It was dark, I was running a variety of options through my head........and finally, with one mile to go to Lloyd Hall (and bathrooms), a magical port-a-potty appeared. BUT.......it was scary, and dark, and i just saw shadows of giant spiders. It was awful....but it saved me life. And then I sprinted the last mile and a half home, because I was over it. I was over running, and just wanted to be home.

So I went to the grocery store, and made meatballs, and a bunch of healthy stuff....I'm determined to lose weight during this marathon training if it kills me!! And it just might!

So far today I had:
a screwed up smoothie (ice wouldnt crush, so it was like, strawberry soup)
4 mushrooms
1 roma tomato (my obsession)
healthy homemade meatballs, with some marinara, on a wheat bun.

sheesh......i just want to bury my head in a pizza and snickers feast. hehe.

Running 6 tonite, 6 tomorrow, 5k race saturday (plus 3), and biking 30 miles sunday. yikes...

long lonely road

Well this weekend I've been staying home in Paoli visiting my parents, and yesterday called for a 14 mile run. So I mapped out a run that would take me to Radnor, run the 5 mile Radnor Trail, then home. I wasnt sure how this was going to go, running so far by myself, but I was ready with my Fuel Belt, and carried some money, and a granola bar, just in case. I felt like the Bear Grylls of running. I set off along Sugartown Road, which was pretty much the only road I took all the way to the trail. WAY different than city running, in that there was no shoulder, no sidewalk, and cars were not used to seeing a runner along the side of the street. Some of the twists and turns I was actually scared that a car would zip around the corner and slam into me. So it wasnt the most relaxing of runs, but getting to the trail was nice, because its tree covered, and chock full of runners, walkers, bikers, etc. (think: smaller scale of kelly drive- and less Lance Armstrongs zipping along).

I was feeling REALLY great until about mile 11. I was just about out of water/gatorade, in all 4 bottles, and was trudging along at a 12 minute mile pace. A Michael Jackson song came up- Rock with You, and I actually started singing along and felt the urge to dance, haha. But it really motivated me to keep going, which i also found hilarious. At one point I took my headphones out, and realized that my "singing" after running 12+ miles, actually just sounded like squeaking and breathing, haha, but when I was blasting the music at least i felt like i was singing along. I mustve sounded absolutely crazy to anyone driving by who heard me. Also, the entire run, I pondered my marathon weight loss cookbook. I really want to make it happen and have a ton of great ideas. which, i should write down before i forget, haha. And a few ideas for other running related things that i've decided need to be invented. But i cant post them or you'll steal them! hehe.

oh, and my iphone died at 13.8 miles. WORST. that last little bit is when i really need some music pulling me along. that was tough. and then, i couldnt even cool down because my muscles were immediately seizing up after stopping.

And i'm supposed to be able to run 12 more???????????????

no freakin way. I barely wouldve had half a mile more in me. How am I going to be able to do this? Sometimes after runs, I know I have a few more in me, but am just following my training schedule. At this point, I don't see how in a few weeks I'm going to be able to run 16 or 18 or whatever, i really don't. Its almost like a religious feeling....I need to place my faith in this training plan, and trust that its leading me on the right path (literally), but I just cant forsee it. So i'm trying to remain optimistic, and know that if i follow all my runs, the mileage will come. but sheesh. i was really wiped out yesterday.

on that note- off to go bike 20 miles, since the MS 150 is quickly approaching as well!

remind me never to train for a marathon AND a 150 mile bike ride at the same time? k, thanks!

-bridge