Run Under the Stars 2013: An Amazing Night

I finally feel like an ultramarathoner!  I completed 38.5 miles in 9 hours, 21 minutes at Run Under the Stars on Saturday night/Sunday morning.  That's 67 laps around a 1/2 mile horse track! 

There is a CONDENSED VERSION at the bottom if you want to skip to that!

I got up early on Saturday and planned to drive to Paducah, KY, check into the hotel, take a two-hour nap, and then meet some people for a pre-race dinner.  I arrived in Paducah around 2:00 p.m.  I took my drop bag and cooler to the track then drove to the hotel.  When I got there, I discovered a big hotel snafu (totally my fault), and had to find another hotel.  It took almost an hour and a half to get that sorted out, so rather than a nap, I got lots of stress.  I tried to put it behind me and move forward with the race.  I missed dinner and headed to the track about 6:15 p.m.  Here's a pre-race pic  (when you stay alone, a mirror pic will have to do): 

I was really excited about the race.  I so hoped it would go better than last year.  Turns out, it was amazing from start to finish.

When I first arrived, I started introducing myself to people from my running club Run It Fast.  It's a group I joined from the website www.runitfast.com, and I'd met 10 or so runners from the club.  I've talked regularly to 20 or 30 on Facebook, and it was nice to finally meet in person.  This is how many club members showed up to the race: 

 

Having this many people there to be friendly with made a huge difference! 

 

There were also about 10  runners from my hometown, many of whom ran it with me last year, plus a few new recruits.

 

The start was a bit unusual.  We started, and at the end of my first loop, the race staff ran out right as I was crossing the timing area and yelled, "Stop!"   The people who were ahead of me kept rounding the track, but I stopped, as did those behind me.  Apparently, the timing system wasn't picking up our chips.   A couple of minutes later, we had a 2nd start.  This time, I ran 4 laps (2 miles) before the race director stopped us again.   The system just wasn't working.  It was around 8:40 p.m., and they told us they were setting up a different timing system and that we would resume at 9:00.  Well, it was about 9:18 p.m. before the 3rd (and final!) start.   The timer was only set for 9 hours, so RUTS was only about 9 hours, 26 minutes this year.   My running time was 9 hours and 21 minutes.

 

I started running at a conservative pace, taking walk breaks occasionally, and having great chats with new friends and total strangers.   Everyone was so encouraging and friendly.   I was determined to stay on the track the entire time, no rest breaks, and that's what I did.  I only sat down to change socks and shoes 3 times and to empty rocks out of my shoes twice.  I ate and drank on the move.   I occasionally grabbed my mp3 player and listened to music for an hour at a time (just one ear bud), then I'd put it back down.  I didn't want to miss the opportunity to talk to people! 

 

Throughout the night, I just ran slow and steady and determined.  We were all in this together and the running community was constantly encouraging one another.  "How are you feeling?"  "You look strong."  "You are doing great!"  One older gentleman, in his 70's or older, said to me, "It's just so nice to see you young women out here."  I said, "Not that young."  He said, "Wait until you're my age!"  Then he sped off.   The whole night was a testament to the spirit of the running community.  We are a family.   I felt very grateful to be a part of that.

 

One funny thing happened.  I was running along kind of in a zone, and I hear the runners behind me yelling, "Stop!  Watch out!!"   I looked and thought, "Aw, the kitty from last year is back."  Then, "That's NOT a kitty!"  There was a skunk crossing the track right in front of me.  (I just had a similar close call  with a copperhead snake on a trail three weeks ago!)   I came to a dead stop and retreated.  I have never been that close to a skunk.   He ran into a drainage pipe in the ditch beside the track.  Throughout the night, I made sure to run on the OTHER side of the track in that area.   Occasionally, he'd poke his head out of the drain and spook us into an immediate sprint.   Apparently, he actually chased one runner about 20 yards.  I guess that's how you do speedwork in an ultra. 

 

At some point around midnight, I developed a "system" and used it until mile 38.  Around midnight, the lights on one side of the track had been turned off, and only a few tiki torches lit our way.   It was very dark, but it was also very cool.  There was a line of tents on the dark side of the track.   I called that area "tent city" (reference to my favorite play RENT) in my mind, and as soon as I got to the first tent, I'd power walk until the last one.  It was maybe .1.  Sometimes I'd walk all the way to the Santa Claus pole (that's how I thought of the red/white striped pole just a few steps past the last tent) or the restroom area.  My favorite part of the track was just beyond the restroom where we began to run in the light again.  I'd get as close to the inside as possible and run where the grass meets the gravel.  The grass helped greatly.   After I discovered running on the edge of the grass, I looked forward to that spot in every loop!  Then I'd run until I passed the timing table, walk a few seconds past my chair and drop bag to get any needed food/drink,  and run again until tent city.  Over and over.  It worked for me.   38.5 miles.   In those last few miles at dawn, it seemed like there were only 25 or so people left on the track.  I was happy to be one of them. 

 

I had a secret goal I had only shared with one person.  I set a high goal of placing in the top 10 women.  Turned out, I was 8th woman overall.   If I'd had the missing 30 minutes, I think I would have completed 40 miles.   (At the end, I was thinking, "Thank God, it was short!")

 

SUMMARY: 

 

Relentless forward progress.  Determination.  Ignoring the blister I had by mile 3.  Trying to ignore the half-dollar sized one on the bottom of my left foot by mile 13 that made every step painful.  Changing shoes, changing socks.  Grateful for all the encouragement from other runners.   26.2 in 6 hours. 30 miles by 4:00 a.m.  Fueling with Mountain Dew and Extra-Strength Tylenol.   Still running.  Making my goal of more than 31.5.  New mileage territory.  Going through some low periods of time where I was sure I could not run anymore, but running anyway.  Birds started singing by 4:45 a.m., a new day.  Daylight started coming around 5:00.   Realizing that I could probably get in four more miles.  Renewed determination and energy.  Running at a 12-13 minute mile pace because that was all I could do.  Watching the sun rise.  Beating my goal of 37.5 miles (60K).  Hitting 38 miles.  There's still time on the clock.  Walking one last lap to stretch out my legs.  38.5 miles.   Relieved to see only 5 minutes on the clock left and knowing I didn't have a 10-minute pace in me for one more lap.  Permission to stop.   8th woman overall.  Joy. 

 

This was taken in mile 37 or 38.  My joy is evident. 

 

 



I Believe I Said, "Never Again," But Here I Go......

A year ago, I ran 31.86 miles (just over 50K) at the Run Under the Stars 10-hour endurance event as my first and only ultramarathon.   It did not go well, as documented in my blog post written after I got home.  Here is an excerpt written as "a reminder to FUTURE ME": 

I don't think ultramarathoning is for me.    It is too punishing on the body.   I ran/walked almost 32 miles, but got nowhere.   What is the point of that?   What did it prove?   I suffered.  I wrecked my feet.  I am sore and I will have to take time off for recovery.  I can't say I had a lot of fun.

There is a running quote I was reminded of as I watched people limping and hurting toward the end:  Running Never Takes More than It Gives Back.   Believe in the Run.  I'm honestly not so sure about this one.   Senseless suffering.  Did it make me somehow "more" of a runner?  I don't think so.   Of course, I've only had 1.5 hours of sleep in the last 36 hours, so maybe it will look different tomorrow?  

 I have an ultramarathoner sticker for my car, but I don't think I'm going to put it on.  "Ultramarathoner" implies that it is who you are, and it isn't me.   

"Future Me" is apparently hard-headed or a masochist, because in about 58 hours, I'm running the same race again.   Practically the day registration opened, I whipped out my credit card and paid money.... to suffer.... once again.   Redemption = money well spent.

Maybe I'm broken somehow to even want to do this again, I don't know.  I'm not any better trained than last year, but I do know more than I did then.  I have bigger shoes to allow for my feet swelling.  I have a better plan for locating my stuff closer to the track (instead of having to walk 25-30 extra steps into the infield).  I plan to walk more often in the early miles.   Last year, it wasn't that my fitness or my endurance or even my legs betrayed me--- it was my feet and my spirit!   Covered in blisters and rubbed raw by 10 miles in from too-tight shoes and swollen feet, every step was painful.   Bored after six laps and not really talking to anyone, I just circled and circled alone and wondered when it would start being fun (as promised).   This time, I know about 35 or 40 people (a few for real, many just from FB conversations), so finding someone to pass the miles with should not be a problem.

The goal is to just come out of this better in three ways:

1.  Go further than 31.86 miles, achieving a new PL (personal long).  60K might be nice.
 
2.  Have a positive attitude the majority of the race---just a spirit of thankfulness for being able to run and spend time with new (and old) friends, determination to meet my goal of improving over last year, and to simply EMBRACE the inevitable suffering that comes with an ultramarathon.

3.  To take care of my body throughout--my feet, hydration, nutrition.  If something feels injured, I hope I will have the courage to STOP and not make it any worse. 

I don't want this race to take more than it gives back this year. 

We'll see......

Happy Six-Year Anniversary, Running!

This month, I am celebrating six years as a runner.   I can't believe it has been six years since I took those first steps on the treadmill at the YMCA.  I was 36 years old and had never been any sort of athlete.  At the time, I had a one-year old, a three-year- old, and a five-year-old.  I was a stay-at-home mom and my life completely revolved about being Nate, Annabeth, and Julia's mom and Chris's wife.  I loved my family, but I felt like I was losing myself.  Maybe it was a bit of post-partum depression, or maybe I was just looking for something for ME, to have some significance outside these four walls. 

I had actually been a regular exerciser for about three years, but I didn't actually sweat.  I thought I was one of those women who didn't perspire!  In fact, I was one of those women who "played" on the elliptical with resistance 0 for 45 minutes while mainly exercising my mouth to other moms beside me.   But one day, all of that changed. 

Walking through the back corridor at the YMCA one day in early June, I noticed a bulletin board advertising the upcoming Valerie Hunter Kelly Clarksville Half Marathon and 5K in October.  I thought, "I have no idea how far 5 kilometers is, but surely I can be ready for it by October."  When I got to the exercise floor, I had to ask someone how far 5K was.  :-)  

Three miles seemed fairly reasonable.  After all, my friends Tracy and Sherri had recently run a half marathon!   (Again, I wasn't sure how far that was, but I was pretty sure it was FAR!)   Encouraged, I hopped on the treadmill and cautiously adjusted it to a running pace.  It was tough.  I couldn't seem to run and breathe at the same time.  I only made it a quarter-mile before I had to stop.   But the next day, I did it again.  One day, I was so excited to run a half-mile without stopping.  I finally learned to run slowly and breathe at the same time.  Eventually, I started running a bit outside.  (June in Tennessee is a ROUGH time to start, but I didn't know any better!) 

My husband decided to start running as well, and we'd take turns running around the block where we live.  Two times around the block and running to the stop sign down the street was a mile, according to our car's odometer.  I remember the first time I ran it without stopping.   I came in red-faced and proud and announced, "I just ran the whole mile without stopping."  He was impressed.  Then he achieved that milestone a few days later.   In those early days of running, my husband struggled with shin splints.  Neither of us had real running shoes, but I somehow avoided any problems.  Then he broke a toe, and I was suddenly on my own in this journey.  

I was ready for that 5K in October.  In fact, I was ready for one in August!   The week before it, I ran three miles in my neighborhood.  My goals were to run the R3 Anniversary run without walking and under 35 minutes.  Not being last would be nice, too!    I pinned that bib to my shirt for the first time, and the rest is history.....   (I made both goals, by the way!)

I ran a 5K a month for August-December, each a little faster than the one before it.  I started reading everything I could get my hands on about running.  I started writing this running blog.  I joined a 10K training group at the R3 running store in December and was so excited to have a coach.   I remember the first time I ran 5K in under 30 minutes with my coach by my side that January.  In February, I ran my first 10K-- a tiny race on a blustery day and came in LAST.  I ran it in 1:03, which was pretty good, but it was just a small race.  Then in April, I ran the Country Music Half Marathon in 2:19:01, my first big-city race, finishing in the top half of the field.   I was definitely hooked. 

More half-marathons, a full marathon, and becoming a RRCA Certified Running Coach followed.   Two years after those first steps, I found myself coaching a half-marathon training group and a Couch to 5K group for that same October race that inspired me to start.   Just this past year, I coached Valerie Hunter Kelly to run her first half marathon and proudly ran her in to the finish.   Full circle. 

Running is about so much more than fitness.  It has given me confidence, independence, goals to strive for, and hope.  Running has profoundly changed me, or maybe it's just allowed me to realize the potential of who I was always supposed to be.   I will be forever grateful to have had this opportunity and hope to run for many, many years to come.  God knew exactly what I needed when I walked down that hallway that day.  I am so thankful for the new friends it has brought into my life, the adventures, the challenges, and most of all, the "new me." 
 

 

This was taken right before my 6th marathon this past April--my first trail marathon.  I ran it in honor of my 6th year of running.

Silly Little Decisions

Right now, a loved one is recovering from a double mastectomy.  She is facing the word no one ever wants to hear--cancer.   It really puts life into perspective.   Running, training, racing...  these are such silly little aspects of a life.   I have struggled with guilt lately over training while someone I care about struggles with life and death health issues.   

Cancer really makes you look at the big picture of life.  I think we, as runners, have to be careful that we pour as much into loving and serving others as we pour into running.   If I spend five hours a week running, have I spent at least that amount investing in others?   It is clear which is the more important aspect of living. 

The biggest struggle I've faced in the last twenty-four hours is trying to decide if it is worth it (and even appropriate) to get up at 3:00 a.m. and drive to the Viola Valley Half Marathon on Saturday morning.  It is ridiculous, really.   If that silly little decision is the biggest struggle I've got,  I should definitely count my blessings. 

It is so hard to watch someone you care about suffer.  As runners, we suffer, but it is by choice.  We choose to pay money and go run 13 or 26 miles and suffer blisters and muscle cramps and fatigue.  If it hurts too much, we can always drop out.  Others don't have that option. 

If I do run tomorrow, it will be with GRATITUDE for my own health, endurance, and strength.   For 13.1 miles, I will meditate on how thankful I am to even be able to run. 

So undeservingly blessed,
Runnermom

Identity Crisis

What is your running identity?

Do you jog a few times a week for fitness and mental health, but not train for races?

Are you a fast-and-short-race kind of runner?   Do you blow away the competition in your age group in local 5K's?  Maybe do Crossfit Endurance for training?

Are you a middle-distance runner of 8K's and 10K's? 

Do you believe a half-marathon is "half the pain, but all of the fun"?

Are you a Marathon Maniac?   Do you love those painful twenty-milers as you are building up to 26.2?   Are you a fan of the big-city Rock-N-Roll marathon series?

Or do you take the "road less traveled," seeking out different events like trail races and ultras?

I ask because I'm struggling to figure out what kind of runner I am. 

In the early months, I was a 5K-a-month kind of gal.   It was intoxicating to watch those minutes and seconds melt away from my time each month.   I had a yearlong string of PR's.   Then I ran my first 10K.  And. Came. In. Last.   DLF--Dead Last Finisher.  My time wasn't awful--1:03, it was just a tiny, tiny race.   I did win my age group, however.   :-)

A month later, I ventured into my first half marathon.  That distance has stuck with me as my most often raced, including three on trails.  Most of the time, I figure I can run 3.1 miles in my neighborhood for FREE, so I rarely pay to enter one.  I think 10K's keep you honest, and I've only run one or two well--it seems that those have been some of the toughest ones over the years.   Then there's the marathon.  I ran my first one in 2009--badly.  I finished on pure grit and determination on an unseasonably HOT Tennessee day.  I ran another in February 2010 well (for me).  I shaved 35 minutes off the second time around.  I ran a 3rd just for fun without much training.  I took a year off and then trained HARD for my 4th one--got a 9-minute PR and negative splits.  Number 5 was the toughest road course (Flying Monkey in Nashville) and the one where I sprained my ankle in mile 10 and limped/jogged slowly to the finish (and it was still my 3rd fastest!).   Number 6 was on a trail, and it was just ridiculous.  Mud, rain, no traction, undertrained.  It was tougher than them all added together and TWO HOURS slower than my slowest road marathon.

Then there was the one ultramarathon 10-hour endurance event Run Under the Stars.   I swore "never again" afterwards, but here it is in just five weeks , and I seem to be registered.

Now that I'm recovered from that trail debacle, I'm trying to figure out where to go from here.  I'm intrigued by ultramarathoning.  I'm totally in love with trail running.  But I have unmet 5K and half marathon goals and an amazing opportunity to work with a coach starting in July. 

There are so many race experiences I want to have, but funds and time and training do not allow for them all.  I need to DECIDE and COMMIT to what kind of runner I want to be.  

Part of me wants to just focus on running faster for a little while.  And part of me wants to just forget about times and paces and just RUN on roads and trails and really, really far. 

Yep.  It's an identity crisis.  (Not to be confused with the midlife crisis I survived--just barely--last year.)

Mom Vs. Trail: Backside Trail Marathon Race Report

My sixth marathon and first trail marathon was quite eventful.   It was like a trip to Crazytown from the start. 

I was filled with dread and fear all week preceding the race.  On Saturday morning as I was packing, I was not in an excited mood, I was very much solemn.   I knew I was unprepared and was in for a difficult race,  I just didn't know HOW difficult it would actually turn out to be.   My longest trail run had been 11.6 miles plus about 3 on the road.   My longest road run had been 17 miles.   Both were about 3 hours long.  I figured I could just hike after I exceeded my training point. 

My friend Donna and I drove to Louisville.  The first challenge was finding packet pick up.  We drove around and around, fighting heavy Saturday-night mall traffic.  It was as if we couldn't get anywhere.  We finally got our packets.  We had dinner at Logan's near by and were off to find the hotel.

The Quality Inn had ok reviews, but when we got there, it was immediately evident that this was a really rough part of town.  There were people on the street corner in front of the hotel, and they were not waiting for a bus.   One guy just paced up and down the sidewalk.  There was a wrecked car parked out front.  We kept hearing sirens in the 10 minutes we spent there.  The back parking lot adjoined the parking lot of an empty, abandoned, broken down hotel.   Most of the rooms were outside entrance.  There were rooms padlocked, rooms standing wide open.  We finally found ours  in the corner behind the stairwell.  That was disconcerting.   It just felt like a really dangerous location for our room.   We put the key in, and the door handle was loose and flimsy.  We walked in and only one lamp worked.  I had a sick feeling.  We had already checked in and my credit card had been charged.  We had no other reservation on a busy night in Louisville.  But we knew we could not stay here.  It was the kind of place where people cook meth.  

Thank goodness, the clerk let us check right back out and refunded my credit card.  I started searching for another hotel, and we found refuge at the Southern Baptist Seminary's historic Legacy Hotel.   Here is a pic of the abandoned hotel adjoining ours and the seminary hotel for comparison:

Finally, about 9:00 p.m., we got settled into our room.  It rained all night long, unfortunately.   We were up at 5:30 a.m., quickly got ready, and checked back out.   Here we are at the start:  (I am on the left.)

I went with my Run Under the Stars 10-hour endurance event shirt and Land Between the Lakes trail race hat, which were both great conversation starters.   My biggest issue was shoes---my Brooks Cascadias tend to hurt my feet after about 8 miles.  I had purchased another pair of trail shoes--Merrell Mix Master Glide, but hadn't gotten to try them out on any runs.   I decided to stick with the Cascadias on the wet trails.   I packed the Merrells and some road shoes in my drop bag so I'd have an option to change into if needed after the first 13.1 mile loop.

The race started with about 100 people.  Only 34 people finished the full marathon.   Most people chose to only do one loop of the course.   (Smart people!)

The first 5 miles were not bad at all.  It had stopped raining, and the mud was still pretty hard packed.   Around mile 6, however, we had a DOWNPOUR.   Suddenly, there was standing water on the already saturated trails.   I had never trained in these conditions!  I had difficulty getting my footing on the trail.  Walking/hiking was tough, running was nearly impossible!

 

In the race I learned there are four types of mud:  nice hard-packed mud; deep, sucking mud that tries to steal your shoes; caking mud that comes along for the ride;  and slippery, slimy mud that is like trying to SKATE across a sheet of ice.  

 

At times, I would be trying to just walk, and my left foot (trail was slanted to the left) would just slide down the embankment with every step.  On a few muddy, slippery climbs, I used trees to hoist myself up a hill.  One time, no tree was available.  I tried and tried to walk up this hill, but kept sliding back to the bottom.  So I CRAWLED.   Once in mile 15, the mud sucked the shoe right off of my foot. 

 

For the first 11 miles, all of this seemed like a fun adventure.  Then around 11 miles, we came to an area where if you slipped to the left, you'd fall about 10 feet into a fast-moving river.  That was the first time I felt fear for my safety.  After 11 miles, the trail conditions detiorated considerably.   By 13, I wasn't really having a lot of fun.  I could have dropped to the half distance, but I was determined.    At 13.1, I stopped at the aid station with my drop bag.  The AWESOME volunteers got me a chair, filled my water bottles, and helped me change shoes and socks.  They really took care of me.  I was exhausted and not thinking clearly.  They even switched my chip to my new shoes.  These were all trail runners themselves.  This race had the BEST RACE VOLUNTEERS I've ever experienced.  At every aid station, they chatted with me about my race shirt and hat and were just amazingly helpful and encouraging.

 

Let me just say--- EXHAUSTED at 13.1 is not a good way to start the second half of a marathon.   At that point, I was over three hours---  every step was a step beyond my training and my current fitness. 

 

I had a second wind around 15, but it was short lived.  I think it was because I finally turned on my music at mile 14.  I was alone for the whole  second13.1, so I was singing at the top of my lungs:  "I am Ti-tan-i-uuummm!" and "Don't stop be-liev-iiiiiiing!"    It was both a bit scary, but nice to be alone over 3 hours on an unfamiliar trail.  

 

My body held up fairly well.  Left hip flexor stopped cooperating in the second half.   Both feet and ankles were in great pain from 21 on.  But my knees and hammies and quads all felt great!   My endurance struggled though.  Around mile 16, I told an aid station volunteer, "The running has left the building."   I planned to hike the rest.  But, I found new energy for a while around mile 20 and then again in miles 23-26.

 

I am not an inexperienced trail runner, but I sure felt like one in the Backside Trail Marathon.  My legs tired from struggling with the hills and the mud by mile 10.   The trail was marked fairly well, but I ran alone for the majority of 26 miles.   About every 10 minutes, I'd realize I hadn't seen a trail marking in a while.  Then I'd panic briefly until I came upon one.   Once, I backtracked to the last pink marking to make sure I hadn't veered off course.  I was so paranoid about getting lost.  Then in  mile 25, I ACTUALLY GOT LOST.   The pink tape had blown away, and I missed a left turn.  Luckily, I had the forethought to put the race director's cell number in my phone.  I called him, and he jumped in his car and found me on the road (there were short sections on the road), and got me back on the trail.  I had gone about .3 or .4 out of the way.   I ended the race with 26.96!

 

BY FAR THE TOUGHEST THING I'VE EVER DONE!!



 

Murray Half Marathon Race Report: A Pretty Good Day

Short version: 
The race was good and a little disappointing at the same time. 2:10:36, my 5th fastest of 16 half marathons.

Long version: 
In October, I ran a half in 2:05, and I was hoping to AT LEAST get sub 2:10 in the Murray Half Marathon on April 13.  

Training-  I've been running fairly consistently since the end of January, though not following a training plan. I've been winging it as I came back from the ankle sprain in November and honestly enjoying this low-key approach to running.  My mileage had been fairly low (15-20 miles per week) until the last 3 weeks, when I jumped to 25+ miles per week.  

Why the jump?  Because I was so disgusted with the way I blew up at the LBL trail 23K, I signed up for a consolation trail marathon at the end of this month with only four weeks to train.  (Call me crazy.  If nothing else, it lit a fire under my training!)   I don't know if I'm trying to punish my body for the terrible race or just looking for some trail redemption.  To compensate,  two weeks ago I jumped from a longest run/hike of 14 miles to 17 miles.  It went well, and I ran fast (for me).  Too fast.  The next week, fatigue lingered in my legs.  Then last weekend, I did double long runs--a two-hour trail run on Friday and then a three-hour road/trail run on Saturday.   I hit a wall in that 2nd one at mile 11 and had to walk the last 2 or 3 miles.  Ouch.  One week prior to this half marathon, the double left me with tired legs on top of tired legs.   I haven't felt fresh legs in weeks.  I think I've forgotten what they feel like.   I ran only six miles this week and taught my one HIIT class in hopes of a bit of recovery before race day. 

The race- For ONCE in my life, I actually ran smart.  I didn't go out too fast, and I ran consistently.  I listened to my body and let it dictate the pace, not what I thought I was supposed to run.  I was *hoping* about 9:40 or 9:45 would feel right, or even 9:20 for a nice surprise. 

Not today.  I warmed up for one gentle mile, and it was time to start.  I reigned in adrenaline and ran at a moderatly uncomfortable pace for that first mile-- 9:55 pace.  Then the next two were 9:53 and 9:51.  I always know by mile four how the day is going to go.  By mile 4, I could tell that around 9:55 was the pace my body wanted to run for the day.  So I ran that.   In fact,  my miles were all between 9:50 and 10:03 for the first 12 miles of the race.   My legs just felt too heavy and fatigued to go any faster. There was no fresh.   At times, it was a bit of a struggle to keep up a 9:55ish pace.

The middle miles are always the toughest for me, and today my miles 8, 9, and 10 were the slowest at 10:01, 10:02, and 10:03.  I was sad to see I was getting slower.  After mile 10, I knew there was just 5K left.  I decided I had a little fight left in me and pushed to get back under 10-minute miles.  I was relieved to see 9:56 and 9:52 for miles 11 and 12.  I knew I was almost done, so I pushed to 9:38 for mile 13 (yay for small victories!), and about a 9:18 pace for the UPHILL finish of .17 (by my watch).    I missed my sub-2:10 goal by 37 seconds but finished strong.   It's hard to call that a bad day.

One goal for the day that I did meet was to run all 13.1 miles without stopping.  I never walked once, not even at water stops,  and didn't go to the restroom. I think it was only the 4th time I've run 13.1 nonstop.  I often have walked hills or through water stops or while searching for a good song on my mp3.   

In this race, my legs didn't do what I hoped they would do,  However, I didn't push hard to the point of hurting for two reasons---

A. I've forgotten how to do that and
B. I have a full trail marathon in only two weeks that I have undertrained for.   I didn't want to add much to the lingering fatigue. 

Course/race review-The course was my favorite kind of course---the perfect mix of hills and flats.  None of the hills were utterly ridiculous, and I've run more than a few of those lately.   I told myself, "I'm a mountain goat" as I ran up the hills.   After trail running, regular-sized road hills don't seem as daunting. It's a fairly challenging course (more than Tom King or the Music City Half in Nashville, which are flat, flat, flat), but I'm less sore and less bored with a little variety. It's not nearly as hard as the Country Music Half or Go Commando in Clarksville.   I enjoyed the mix of country roads with city streets.  The crowd support in this small-town half marathon was surprisingly wonderful as well.  Just don't stay at the Quality Inn.  You've been warned.   Overall, I highly recommend the Murray Half Marathon in Murray, KY.   I may be back next year to break 2:10.... or 2:05! 

Next up-   taper (thank God!!!!!) for the Backside Trail Marathon

Lots of Races and a Coach!

In July, I've committed to working with elite marathoner and 61-time marathon winner Justin Gillette for 4-6 months.   I feel like I've plateaued in terms of speed, and I want a fresh perspective.  It helps that he seems like a really nice and funny guy.   He's going to help me lower my half marathon and marathon times.  Without Justin, I think I could break 2:05 in a half finally, but not 2 hours.  With Justin, breaking two hours seems a little more possible.  Without Justin, I think I could break 4:35 in a marathon (PR is 4:36), but with Justin, maybe I could break 4:25 or even 4:20.    (You can hire him, too!  Go to www.gilletterunning.blogspot.com )

Between now and July 1, I want to have as much fun as possible running!!  I want to try some new things.  I want to do what I want to do, run as fast as I want to run, and run as far as I want to run.   Then it will be Justin's turn to tell me what to do.  And I'll do it. 

I have a half marathon in two weeks as sort of a fitness test and then a trail marathon at the end of the April.  I won't be tapering for the half--there's no time!  I literally just decided to do this trail full and only have a month to train.  I'd been planning on doing one in 2013 and there's no time like the present!   LBL was supposed to be my first trail full marathon, but I just didn't get the chance to train for it with my ankle sprain. 

I ran 17 miles today and it went EXTREMELY well (10:47 pace and last mile was 10:11--fastest of the day!).   My longest distance since November had been the 14 miler at LBL, and as you may know, I fell apart and hiked a bunch of that instead of running.   My longs have been 10, 14, 12, 12.5, and 17.   I was surprised that 17 went as well as it did.  I hit 13.1 at 2:20 and felt great.   I only walked a couple of the ridiculous hills at our Greenway, but never got so tired I felt like I even wanted to walk.  It was one of the best long runs I've ever had. 

I'm a believer in 3-hour training runs being sufficient for a marathon.  (Today's was 3:03.)   I've read many articles from Marathon Nation and the Hanson-Brooks project that espouse this plan.  Apparently, the training adaptations needed from the stimulus of a long run occur around the three-hour mark.  For slow runners like me, that is only 16-17 miles.  Putting my body through a longer run puts more stress and strain on it and takes too long to recover.  Sure, if your relaxed long-run pace is a 9:00 minute mile, you can run 20 miles in 3 hours.  Mine's certainly not!  In Europe, a longest run of 30K or 18.6 miles is the norm.  The U.S. is the main place where we worship at the altar of the 20-miler.   A couple of years ago, I declared that I was done with long, slow 20-milers that take me 3:45-4 hours and leave me sore and starving for days.   And since then, I've PR'd two marathons on no 20-milers!    For me, the key is getting in plenty of weekly mileage (several 30+ mile weeks), doing two or three 16's and maybe one 18 miler (I figure 3:10 or 15 isn't too harmful).    I also throw in a little back-to-back mileage running 3-6 on Friday before or Sunday after the long run.   It works for me (fairly well).  Ha--obviously not well enough.  It will be neat to see my coach's philosophy on 20-milers.

After the trail full, I'm scheduled to do a half marathon on some lovely country roads called the Viola Valley Half Marathon in mid-May.   It's just to get in one more long training run for the ultramarathon Run Under the Stars in June.   I've got to keep up with some long mileage.  I want to do well at RUTS.  I've set the goal of 60K.  I have 10 hours.   That's averaging a 16-minute mile (but that time includes all bathroom breaks, food, shoe/sock changes, etc.--stuff you don't have to worry about in a marathon).   My goal that night is to just OUTLAST.  I want to go until the clock runs out if my feet can possibly carry me that long.  

My RUTS training strategy is to do back-to-back long runs and keep my mileage up over 30-mpw.  I need to train both walking muscles and running muscles.   After the trail marathon, I will be alternating high mileage weeks with easy weeks.  I plan to taper for two weeks prior (and I'll be on vacation in Florida one of those weeks!).

After RUTS, I may do one or two last "crazy" events.  The Run It Fast Club is possibly planning on a series of marathons in late June.  I may try to do one or at least crew/volunteer.   Then the Loonies Midnight Marathon is in July.   It sounds like a lot of fun.  It falls after I've started training with Justin, but I'm sure we can work around it. 

Happy Running!!! 

13 Weeks to Ultramarathon

Since I have an ultramarathon in 13 weeks, it is perhaps time to GET SERIOUS about training.   It is not a traditional ultra---it is Run Under the Stars 10-hour Endurance Event in Paducah, KY.   We will run around a 1/2 mile horse track for 10 hours--starting at 8:00 p.m. and ending at 6:00 a.m.   Sounds fun, right? 

Last year, I had a rough go of it.   I suffered from both boredom and blisters early on.   Every step was painful mentally and physically after mile 7.   My feet swelled due to the heat, my sodium intake, and the fact that the race began at 8:00 p.m. (and feet are naturally larger in the evening).   My normal running shoe size (which had fit just fine for 26.2 with just one blister!) no longer fit.  Finally, around mile 13, I borrowed a man's shoes several sizes too large, and running awkwardly in them at least dulled the pain for a while.   I felt and looked ridiculous in my giant man-shoes, so that kept me somewhat occupied.  Honestly, up to and after 26.2 wasn't too bad.  My knee started hurting around 30, but I was so close to 50K that I continued.   When I got to 31.5 miles, I stopped.   There was still time left in the event, but I had met my goal.

This year, my goal is to keep going until

A.  I simply can't go any longer in flip flops if necessary OR
B.  Time runs completely out on the clock. 

I hope to watch the sun set on the course and the sun rise on the course.  

I think I have the boredom situation covered.  I've made many new ultramarathoning friends over the past year who will be running RUTS.  I will be cheering them on and chatting with some of the more "normal" ones who jog or walk some of the miles like me. 

The shoe/blister situation is a work in progress.   At a summer night race, your feet are going to swell.  I have started buying shoes another 1/2 size larger since those awful blisters caused the loss of four or five toenails.  My street shoes are a ladies' 9, but I'm rocking a 10.5 in running shoes!  One-and-a-half sizes up is actually quite comfortable.  I should have gone up sooner!  I may take an old pair of my 12-year old's shoes to have as a back up.   He has outgrown me by a couple of sizes already.   His worn out, stretched out New Balance $50 shoes are still better than finishing in flip flops. 

I'm trying to get a handle on the training situation.  Last year, I was well-trained for a 26.2 that was 6 weeks from RUTS.  This year, I don't have a definite full marathon on my schedule in April or May.   I refuse to do the Country Music Marathon again and pay their ridiculous price.    I'm considering the Flying Pig in Cincinnati, but that involves a hotel stay and travel expenses PLUS the race fee.   I could technically do a 26-mile training run on my own for free, but  I'm not sure I have the gumption to run 26.2 on my own.   I will probably just put in a couple of 20 milers with maybe a 6 or 8 the next day. 

There is nothing like a BAD race (LBL trail race last weekend) to motivate you to get into gear!   I feel extremely motivated and not the least bit burned out.  

That's a good way to start 13 weeks of ultramarathon preparation, don't you think?  

Three Weeks of Races

I completed my 3rd race in three weeks yesterday.   That was definitely a first. 

Race one:  On February 23, I "got back on the horse that threw me" and ran the Race Judicata 10K in Percy Warner Park.  It is the toughest 10K course in the state of Tennessee.  My goals were to not resprain my ankle, to run hard and not walk any of the GIGANTIC hills, and to come in around a 10-minute mile.  I texted my friend Michelle, "10-minute miles or bust" the day before.   It was tough, but I met my goal!  I'm fairly certain my heartrate was at 110% of my max heart rate as I fought my way up a hill that was close to a mile long and later a shorter, incredibly steep one.  But determination won out.  I finished the race at a 9:55 pace.  Unfortunately, the course was short, so it was only 5.75.  I continued running after the finish until I was at 6.2, lowering my average to 9:53.  Yay!  For such a hilly course, that was a win.   I definitely had flashbacks to the Flying Monkey Marathon (I walked up the two terrible hills that I ran today).   On the downhills similar to the ones where I fell, I was very paranoid and couldn't just let go and let gravity do the work.  I think I will have to relearn how to run down hills or just overcome that fear of falling. 

Race two:  I participated in a little 5K race in my hometown called ReLove Haiti.  I planned to use it as a fitness test.   Race morning was snowy, with large, fat, wet flakes that just melted on the road.  It was about 33 degrees and very windy.   It snowed the entire race, which I loved.  I ran it hard.  I stayed with my friend Tim until about 2.5, then pulled ahead (that rarely happens to me!).  I finished 3.07 in 27:20, about 21 seconds off a PR.  I realized the Garmin wasn't quite at 3.1, so I continued (once again!) until 3.1, which was about 27:32 or so.  (I accidentally went to 3.13, so I'm estimating.)   I averaged about an 8:52 pace, which I can live with.  I was happy to be relatively close to my pre-injury running pace.  I ran a 5K in September in 27:11 I think.   I'd like to run one at an 8-8:30 pace later this year.   However, I came out with an age group 3rd place for ages 35-44.  I'll take it!

Finally, race three was yesterday:  Land Between the Lakes trail 23K.   I actually enjoyed this one more as a social event than a race.  I had about six Facebook friends coming to the race with whom I've talked running for a while, but whom I'd never met.  I'm a member of a page called Run365 as well as the Run It Fast Club (no idea why they let me in!).    Both have members all over the U.S.  Some are elite runners, most are regular runners like me.  It's a great running network.   I had dinner plans with 6 strangers the night before the race.  We managed to find one another at the restaurant based on Facebook pics, and I really enjoyed chatting with them.  We found common ground even outside of running.  They were just easy to talk to and be with.   I got to meet one of the runners from the club who is a bit of a "running hero" to me.  I'd been following his running escapades on Facebook, so it was nice to finally talk in person. 

Social networking aside, the race was kind of AWFUL.  My goal was to beat last year's 2:50 finish time (11:52 pace) even though I had only a four-mile longest run on trails and a 10-mile longest road run.  Last year, I was in the heart of marathon training with a couple of 14-mile and 16-mile long runs under my belt.  BIG DIFFERENCE. 

I got up at 4:42 a.m. after little sleep to have breakfast at my hotel.   Unfortunately, they ran out of coffee!   I had about 1/2 cup of caffeinated and the rest was decaf.  I'm accustomed to 2 cups of caffeine at least on race day.   Not a great start to the day.  I drove 5 minutes to the start and immediately got in the port of potty line.   Then I wandered around trying to find our Run It Fast group picture.  I needed to get back in the port o john line though, but by then they were extremely long.  I figured I could make it to an aid station.  Our group met up and took a pre-race pic, and it was time to start at 6:30 a.m.   There was about a 1.5 mile run on the road to the trail that was fine, but I noticed I felt less energy than usual.  Then we turned onto the single track trail.   The first mile on the trail was really crowded and a couple of people started to walk, so we all had to walk.  It was very stop and go, like being in rush-hour traffic.   I was getting frustrated.  We finally settled in at about a 10:30 pace.  I was (perhaps stupidly) pushing to run about 10:15-10:45 in those early miles.  But it felt HARD.  That should have tipped me off!  I generally know what kind of day I'm having in a race by mile 4.  By mile 4 or 5, I thought I might not be having a great day.  My legs felt heavier than normal, and though warmed up, I still felt low in energy.

I was running along with a fully bladder hoping for an aid station with a restroom.   I didn't see one at the mile 4 aid station, so I kept moving along.  I was gelling about every 3.5 miles in hopes of finding that missing energy.   I tripped for the first time in about the 3rd mile.  I didn't fall, but it was unsettling.  I tripped on a root again a few minutes later.   Then in mile 6, the one thing I didn't want to happen happened--I rolled my left ankle--the one that had just healed.   That familiar burning pain came immediately back and stayed with me for the rest of the race.  I think that was when I lost the MENTAL GAME.   I felt scared that I had reinjured it and knew I had 8 miles to go on it--similar to when I sprained it in the marathon at mile 10 and had to run 15 more miles.   It hurt, but was manageable, so I was sure it wasn't as bad as the first time.  

I finally got to mile 8, where there was a lone restroom and about 7 people in line.  My bladder was hurting by now.  However, I thought I might be on track for a PR still at that point, so I couldn't afford the time.  Instead, I saw a road that went alongside the trail.  I went down that road a few yards (passing two gentlemen who had just done what I was about to do) and tried to find a discreet place.   I hiked through some brush and found the fattest tree I could.  I tried to hide behind it and finally relieved my bladder.  The funny thing is that I could SEE the runners on the trail, so that means they could also see ME if they chose to turn and look.   But none of them looked (that I know of).  In these situations, you just do what you've got to do!   I felt better.  

Shortly after my pit stop, the trail turned much more difficult.   I remembered these hills from last year, when I really didn't think they were that bad.   I was apparently on crack when I ran it last year.  They were TOUGH.   Between 8 and 11, I began to fall apart.  By mile 10, I had lost the mental game and was walking all the hills.  I was just plain over it.  By mile 11, I had lost the physical game-- my legs had just left me.  I hit THE WALL.   I simply had no energy, and no amount of caffeinated gels seemed to help.  My muscles were tight and began to cramp, especially my glutes and calves.  I generally don't cramp up in a race, but I did in this one.  I tripped HARD on a rock in mile 11, went airborne briefly, and landed awkwardly on my right leg.  I wrenched my back a bit in the landing and everything just tensed up.  After that, basically everything from my lower back to my feet hurt.   I was running some/hiking some.   I just wanted to be finish.

The worst part--- in the last mile, I could see a RACE WALKER ahead of me.  AHEAD.   And he was approximately 75 years old.   Awesome.

I finally finished  17 minutes off last year's time.    But I made it.  I had a shower and a brief nap and went back to watch the marathon, 60K, and 50 mile finishers.   It was really inspiring and made me want to come back and redeem this race next year.   I should probably train for it next time.  

Still, I enjoyed my mini-vacation to Kentucky Lake.  I watched the sun set the night before the race sitting alone on a jetty over the water.  It was amazingly peaceful.  I enjoyed my solo hotel stay and just a break from grading papers, walking the dog, cooking, cleaning up after 3 kids, and just life in general.  I made six new friends, and I spent a few hours enjoying a beautiful trail with some incredible views of the lake.   I was inspired by the determination of the ultramarathon finishers, especially the ones who completed the 50 miler in better shape than I was after 14.  I don't know how they managed to sprint that last 1/4 mile. 

Today, mainly my right foot hurts.  The ankle feels ok, which is a relief.   I'll live to run another day.