London's Half Marathon Race Report

Woke up this morning at the butt crack of dawn.  Okay I don't think it was dawn yet, it was 5 am but that is early for this non morning girl.  Got dressed, carried kids out to the car in their jammies, packed quick bag of kid clothes, ate some toast with peanut butter and a activia yogurt.  Pulled out at 5:30am.

5:35 am Reece (5yo) declares he has to go to the bathroom.  Pull off into random office parking lot and he waters the asphalt while standing firmly inside the minivan.  Peeing for boys is so convenient. Boys have all the fun.  

Continue driving.  1 hour later moms' activia yogurt has kicked in and we make a quick stop at McDonalds' where mom uses the potty.  Yes, success!  Shouldn't be pooping having any trouble along the run today! 

Arrive at race at 7:10 am.  Make a B line to the packet pick up.  Get number, race chip, t-shirt, turn and make a B-line back to the car where I stay until 7:45 am.  

This is all part of my race strategy.  I seem to not do well mixing and mingling with other racers before races because they may say something to me that might bug me or throw me off during my race. 

 (I know, I know, I'm weak, I'm soft, I'm working on it.)

Dear other racers,
It's not that I'm anti-social I just don't want to talk to you.  Thanks for understanding,
 Sincerely, Adrienne

Travis thought it was funny so he took a picture.  I think it's hilarious.  Can't you tell by my face?

Sadie knows what I need.  She makes her way into my arms.  

 Eventually I did have to get out of the car.

If this little 2 year old could be surgically attached to my hip I think she would live happily ever after.

 Spotted my friend Julie who is also running this race.  

10 seconds to start of race and I try to find a nice spot near the back.  It's always nicer to pass people who started too close to the front rather than being the one that started too close to the front and having tons of peeps pass you.  At least that is the way I like to do it. Ready, Set, Go! And we're off.

 Meanwhile, back at the farm....literally, they had lots of fun activities for the kids and spectators

 (one of the reasons I chose this race)

Checking out a big turtle

....and alligator?  They had his mouth tied shut and let the kids pet him.  Yay for animal cruelty and kids keeping their hands!

 Seriously what 2, 5, 8, and 10 year old would not love getting a ride to sit in a police helicopter.

 Or ride a ferocious mechanical bull?

 Or rip it up on the bouncer?

Okay, okay, now that we have all of that out of the way let's get on to the Race Report.
Like I said I started out in the near back and the first few miles were okay and I was just going with it.  I was checking the watch to make sure I wasn't going too fast but I also wasn't trying to slow down too much and just let the energy carry me the first few miles.  I was also working on trying not to  hyperventilate and get myself too worked up mentally.  I think I did a good job with that.  I used Coach Dean's 3 R's A LOT during this race and this was one of those times.  Realize if your off task, Regroup, and Refocus. The first 2-3 miles of a race and last 2-3 always seem to be the hardest.  This race was no different.  The middle miles were great.  I don't remember too much about them so that is a good thing for me.  Since this race is in honor of London who lost her fight to cancer and the $$ they earn from the race is used to help local families in the community who have children who are battling cancer they had all these signs along the way with pictures of the kids and little sayings like "You can do it!", "Thank you for running!", "Keep going", "Hold on", "Be Strong".  Of course this immediately made me get emotional and I had to use the 3 R's again.  The first half of the race I honestly tried not to look too long at the posters because it would have taken my emotional energy and unfortunately I knew I wouldn't have any to spare.  The second half of the race I looked forward to these signs.  There really are so many hard things we all must face in life and running a half marathon isn't really on the list but it was inspirational that these families are so strong and move forward even if they have to say goodbye to loved ones and that is so much harder.  I digress.

At around mile 8 I had what felt like a rock in my left shoe.  Dangit.  I ran for a while but then finally just decided to make a quick stop, take off the shoe and free the rock.  I think it took about 30 seconds but I was annoyed I had to stop.  I didn't dwell on it too long and moved on.  Right about the 2 hour mark which was a little after mile 10 I started feeling really tired.  I had been checking my Garmin non stop so far and was trying to stay at a 10:30 pace but it was starting to slip.  I started talking to myself.  "Hey legs, I trained you to go at 10:30 pace so you better get your butt in gear" (bet you didn't know legs had butts)  "Come on neurovascular training, let's go."  They were handing out Gu, oranges and poweraid at the stations at 8 and then again at 10 and 12 but I have never used anything but water and so I was unsure if I should try it or not.  My thought was, if that is going to help me I think it should have been taken at mile 6 or 7 so I opted for the water and power aid and didn't go for the Gu or oranges.  Fueling is something I have wondered about but I didn't want to chance taking a Gu and then having it make me sick or something so I didn't.  I guess I need to learn more about that.  Do you Gu on a half marathon?  I was thinking marathon fuel, half marathon no. (I could be wrong, I have been before-twice)
So after the Gu, no Gu, dilemma I was thinking I had 2 miles left and was concerned because my right knee was starting to hurt and I was tired.  Then I almost lost it.  Another one of those signs came up.  It was a picture of London's family all together with her and I literally choked up and my mind went immediately to Kaylee Ann.  It took me several seconds to pull myself together after that one.  I just started chanting, Realize, Regroup, Refocus over and over. I swear, I'm such a freak!  My husband says my "emotions" and "caring for people" is one of my best qualities but I say "I'm trying to run over here stupid emotions!"  Next thing I know I see a sign saying Mile 12.  What?  I only have one more mile not 2? Yes!  I must have missed the Mile 11 somehow and maybe that is why I was feeling so slow and thinking I wasn't going to make my goal.  (Yes I have a Garmin but I was looking only at current pace and overall pace and wasn't paying attention to mileage or time)
I then checked my watch for time and I knew I was going to make my goal and I was a little stoked by that but wanted to see how much I could beat it by and tried to push harder but my legs were done listening to me.  They stayed at the same pace they had been going the last mile or two which was about a 10:45/11:00 pace.  The first 8 or 9 miles I was averaging a 10:20 pace so I was hoping the speedier at first would make up for the slower at the end.  My brain also stopped working.  I kept thinking I needed to run 13.6 miles instead of 13.1.  I don't know why, I guess I was getting delirious.  I kept saying things to myself like "just 4 more laps", when really I only had 2 (if I was on a track, which I wasn't but anyway). I saw my husband and the finish line and I saw he had a camera and I tried to look like I was running super fast and not shuffling but like I said my legs were done so these pictures are as good as it gets.  I also tried to smile and wave.

I hit my stop button as I crossed the line.  My goal was to try to come in around 2:30 but I was thinking my slower later miles and my "good as I could do right now, but not quite what I wanted training plan" was going to bring me in a little later but.......I came in at 2:20:28!

And I had the best fan club to meet me at the end.

Thank you to my family for all your support, especially my husband Travis for joining me for all my long runs and Landon for watching the little ones so much so mom could get her training in  AND of course all my peeps out there in bloggy land for all your kindness and words of encouragement.  They mean so so much.

Happy running (and Racing),

Adrienne

Warm feelings and What could possibly go wrong with racing?

One of the things I love about being a mother is sometimes late at night when the house is still and everyone is sleeping I hear the pitter patter of little feet.  They are always coming at a sprint to "my side" of the bed.  Little hands reach up and out for mama and I instinctively lift them up and over and they snuggle up in the crook of my arm and are instantly back to sleep.   

The other night this happened and as I was falling back to sleep I felt all warm inside....WAIT, WAIT, HOLD ON, that's not something warm on the inside that is something warm on the outside.  Travis must have felt the warmness as well because in a synchronized swimming type movement we both did a "up and out" type dive and then he stumbled for the light.  

TOO LATE

Our dear offspring was still sound asleep in the middle of our bed with a wide circle of pee surrounding them.  

AWESOME

Quick "washcloth" bath and change of PJ's later the little one was warm and asleep again in their own dry bed.  Travis snagged the available spot on the other "big" bed with one of the kids and I was left sleeping in a sideways U turn position for the rest of the night with the lovely smell of the urine/clorox quick cleaned mattress.  

$40 of dry cleaning later all is well with the world again.

Sleepers assume the position.  Just picture the black part as my body and the yellow as...well, you know.

..........................................................................................................................


More Pre Race thoughts:
I got an "urgent" email from the Race director about some changes in this Saturday's race course.

Dear 1/2 Marathon Participant,
Due to forces out of our control, we have had to change the 1/2 marathon course at the last minute. The course is still USATF certified and has been checked and double checked for length accuracy. We appreciate your patience in this matter!

My 1st thought:  "Oh great, they have turned the 1/2 marathon into a full one and made it all uphill."

So I clicked on the link to check out the new course and this is what I found.

Now I realize I'm not a seasoned runner but good grief this route seems a bit of a loop de loop. Actually it's perfect.  Jacked up course for a jacked up racer.

    "Put your right foot in, put your right foot out, put your right foot in then run a mile or two then shake it all about......"

Hey, whatever works.  Even with the changed route I think things should go well as long as I don't run into any of these problems these other runners had.

Ouch.  That's going to leave a mark.

Happy Running and good luck to all those Racing this weekend.

Adrienne

London's Race

Last week was a tough week for me.  It is every year.  Every year I try to pump myself up and say "Be strong, Be strong, she is fine, your fine" and every year it comes and knocks me straight on my REAR END (insert big sigh here).  Life can be that way.  I feel better now  :)  Thanks for listening and your kind words

Cool Quote #1  

"Stand up and Finish what you started" 
-Bob, The Biggest Loser

For my lady readers--you are welcome.

Whenever life knocks us on our rear we must get up and keep going, the race isn't over.  


Speaking of races, some of you have asked what race The Non Race Runner is training for in January.  It wasn't by accident I haven't mentioned the name of the race so my apologies if you think I wasn't answering your questions.  I was just ignoring you (with love).  A race really has to speak to me in order for me to sign up for it.  This one spoke, especially at this time of year it spoke, right to me.  

Cool Quote #2

"You'll never win any races looking in the rear view mirror"

Somehow I came across this race and it was perfect.  London's story touched me.  She was six years old when she was diagnosed with Cancer.  I hate cancer.  Cancer sucks.  Cancer can kiss my grits.  So many I love have been taken by cancer.  Others I love have kicked cancers butt.  So although I think there is a marathon race in the city right next to mine the same day as this race I'm going to drive an hour and a half to some small town, on some small farm, where I think this year they are actually getting all "official" and will have actual timing chips--I guess I better figure out what I'm suppose to do with those--on the shoe right? (j/k)  This sounds like my kind of race.  London lost her fight with cancer and this race is in her honor.  All proceeds go to help families that have children with cancer in this small community.  Yay for small communities, you are what make the world go round.  So there you have it!  The NRR 1st official race of 2011!  

I leave you with,
Cool quote #3:

"Life's journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn-out shouting Woohoo! What a ride!"

So get to the living people!


Happy Running,
NRR