San Francisco Half Marathon

Well, I am finally getting around to telling the tale of running my first half marathon on July 31, 2011, the San Francisco half marathon!

- excitement – anticipation - apprehension - joy – discouragement

- determination - exhaustion - relief - jubilation - contentment - pride –

These are many of the emotions I experienced before and during running my first half marathon. What an experience it was!

When we arrived in down town San Francisco to participate in our first half marathon, it was still dark. Mike and I had woken up at 4 am to drive into the city to be there for starting time. The weather was perfect and the mood was electric! Our designated starting section was a little behind and we actually ran to the starting line to make it on time. Then we passed the line and our first half marathon officially began!

The beginning of the run was pretty easy; it was flat and interesting as we ran past the Fisherman’s Wharf area. In fact Mike and I had to make sure we were running our predetermined pace and not going too fast, we didn’t want to run out of steam near the end of the 13.1 miles.

I was excited about running on the Golden Gate Bridge and was thrilled when I actually stepped foot on it. We had bumped into our friend Oscar and he ran with us over the bridge. There was no fog on this beautiful morning and our view was magnificent! The bridge, however, is much longer when running over it than when driving! Nonetheless, running across the Golden Gate Bridge is an experience I will always be very glad I was privileged to have.

After conquering the bridge, what we did not know is that we would be required to conquer hill, after hill, after hill, after hill, after…well you get the picture! We were feeling pretty good and our pace was right on pace to accomplish our goal of a finishing time of 2 hrs 30 minutes. Then we hit mile 10 ½ and things began to change. Our pace began to slow; the hills were getting to us. In fact at some point I declared that I had a new goal, to finish in 3 hours! Honestly, I was disappointed in myself; I had trained so hard and thought I would conquer this challenge with ease. This was not easy, it was hard. It took all that was inside me to trudge on. We kept running.

Then when we were getting near the finish line I could feel it, we turned a corner and headed up one last hill, and then we could see it! I am embarrassed to say and as silly as it may sound to seasoned runners, my mind seemed in a fog and all I could do was focus on crossing that finish line. I did not really know what was going on around me; I just stumbled over the line and was much relieved!

It was over, I did it! I was pretty contented that I had pushed through the difficulties and accomplished my goal, and only 11 minutes longer than my original time goal of 2hrs 30 minutes. I was proud to place the medal around my neck and wrap myself in a strange silver, superman cape that is customary (I learned) to sport after marathons with cooler climates. As we headed towards the bus to bring us back to the starting line I could not believe how tired and spent I was. Then I knew that I would never do it ever again.

It’s funny how time changes our minds. Two weeks after the race I was talking to some of my Snail’s Pace running comrades, they asked me when my next race was and I said that it would probably be next year sometime. And now, 2 ½ months later, I am seriously calculating how long it will be before I have enough time in my schedule (after graduating from Grad-school to be sure) to begin training for my first marathon!

Training for the San Francisco Half-Marathon

So, on my running adventures this past year-and-a-half, I have encountered many of my fellow runners who are “training” for their next race, marathon, ultra-marathon etc. I have been looking forward to the day that I am also actually “training” for an up-coming event. Well, the time has finally come that I am training for the San Francisco Half-Marathon on July 31st!

A couple months ago Mike and I embarked on our training. We began to extend our Saturday runs to 10 miles with the idea of going up to 13 so that we could experience the full mileage of the race. I must say that running 10 miles every Saturday is hard on one’s body. I began to get some serious knee pain that I had never had before. I would have to “ice” my knee all day Saturday and Sunday, not fun. Anyway, we have our half-marathon goal so we will “press on”!
As it turns out, life keeps happening, even if you have planned to run in your first half-marathon. If we would have known what the summer really had in store, we may have waited and ran a different one. Mike and I both ended up having a double-load of school this summer, meaning, Mike has four classes and I had three, in a span of 8 weeks!! Dillon and Megan got married at the end of June! This was wonderful and very fun, however, we did have to travel to Washington to enjoy the festivities. We were dedicated to our training and even ran 8 ½ miles on the Padon Parkway Trail in Vancouver, WA on the Friday before the wedding! (A beautiful trail, I might add). (I do not have a picture of us on the trail, but have added a picture of us at the wedding) Along with all the good and bad stressors came some physical battles with allergies and colds and knee pain, all rather exhausting to be honest.

As we come closer to the race (about 1 week away) I am gaining some relief from the stress of training I have felt. I am actually happy that tomorrow our training requires us to “taper-down” the week before the race meaning we will only run about 5 miles. This gives me peace. My knees will probably not require ice and a 5 mile run seems “easy’ to me at this point. I am looking forward to the half-marathon; it’s going to be great! However, I am surprised at myself for the many thoughts I am having about running these days.

I have had thoughts about how running is pretty hard; I could go to the gym 5 days a week and not experience the kind of knee pain I have experienced with running. I find that I have to be emotionally prepared to go the long distance; it is so difficult when I am emotionally taxed. I have thoughts about my future in running, do I love it as much as I used to? I love the results of it, but, it is very hard work. Mike has encouraged me by reminding me that when the race is over we will go back to our long run being 5 or 6 miles and that will seem pretty easy for us. He has reminded me that we will not feel so pressured and running will probably become more fun again, and certainly, our bodies will not have as many aches and pains!

It seems so strange to me, in some ways I am disappointed in those thoughts and feelings I have been having, as if somehow I have failed, failed to love the long-distance part of the sport that so many people adore. I have a dream to run in a marathon some day, a full marathon, but, I think that will have to wait until my schooling is done and I have a little less “on my plate” than I do now. I do not want to stop running, but this experience has caused me to see things in a new light. I will feel much more content to run 12 to 15 miles a week and know that someday I will run the full marathon, someday, but not now.

Two Months Later....

Brea 8k

First time running 10 miles in one day!

Well, my last Blog was over two months ago! I said that I would blog after my first race, and I did not.

Not long after the Brea 8k, on a Saturday morning run, I ran 10 miles for the first time ever! I was pretty happy about that, really, I will add my picture of that morning. I knew I would Blog about that too...but I did not

I must say, that these last two months have been rather stressful due to various circumstances in my life. I have had the kind of emotions flowing through me that have caused me to lose any desire to write. Today I write, even though I do not really "feel" like it in hopes to get a little out of this no-writing "funk". I think it is working.

Over the last couple months I have experienced quite a range of emotions regarding running. Honestly, I was a little disappointed with my first race, kind of a let down. I cannot put my finger on it, but, it just wasn't as fun as I had anticipated, that is one reason why I did not write about it, I did not want to admit to this. When a couple of weeks later I ran 10 miles that one Saturday (and could have kept going) I was elated and just couldn't wait till my next run. This past week I find my self at the opposite end, I have no desire to run. This is the first time since my running adventures began that I have literally not wanted to run. I ran on Monday, but only two miles. I ran on Tuesday, 4 miles, but my heart just was not in it. And today, I am not going to run due to a slight injury I am feeling in my leg, and I am glad not to run...that's a long cry from my total joy of running just a month ago.

I am sure things will change, I will want to run again, my heart will join me when I run. But, for right now, today, I will just keep on keeping on, I will run, probably not 10 miles, maybe not even 6, I won't quit though. The running adventures are about so much more than running, even more that fitness, the adventures are about life and wholeness. My friend Lori reminded me today of the hope I have in my God. He will get me through the difficult times in my life, He is my Hope. With His love, I am sustained. Through whatever difficulties I walk (or run) through, the adventure is all about God shaping me to be the person He wants me to be.

First Race!

As you know, my husband Mike and I embarked on our running adventures just over a year ago. Well, when we were volunteering at the Brea 8k, 2010, we said, “Next year we will run in this race!” Well, it’s now next year and we will be running in the Brea 8k on Sunday Feb. 27, 2011, our first race ever!

I am pretty excited about running in the Brea 8k this Sunday! As I look at the weather forecast, rain all Friday and Saturday…I hope and pray that it will be dry on Sunday! I really never envisioned my first race being in the rain; however, it will make a good story if it rains!

A running friend of mine asked if I had set any PR (personal record) goals for this race. The answer is “no”. This race is for the experience. I’ve heard that it is good just to run in your first race and get the experience, no pressure about PR’s, just enjoy the excitement of the race and the feeling of accomplishment, just have fun and enjoy. That is precisely what I intend on doing! Oh, and also enjoy the free food at the finish line…it is said that no other race has better food at the finish line than the Brea 8k!

I will blog again, very soon, perhaps on Sunday after the race to tell all about my first running race!

Some Days I Just Don't Feel Like Running

I have to admit it, some days I just don’t feel like running! I know, I know, with how much I talk about how running has changed my life and how I absolutely LOVE it, how can I say that sometimes I just don’t feel like running? Well, it’s just the truth and today was one of those days.
Yesterday I had a terrible headache, you know, one of those dreadful headaches that plague you all day and don’t seem to be affected by the administration of Advil and caffeine? Well, I am happy to report that the headache was gone when I woke up this morning! However, by this afternoon, it was threatening to return, and then I went to the orthodontist… The orthodontist worked on my braces and well, my jaw and teeth began to hurt. To top it off my tummy started bothering me! As I drove home I knew that I did not feel like running today. I knew I did not feel like running, but, I knew that I would run anyway.

There are several reasons for this assurance that even though I did not “feel” like running that I would go running. Firstly, I love running, I look forward to running and if I actually didn’t go I would regret it instantly. Secondly, I had already RSVP’d on our meet up site, people were expecting me. Thirdly, I had secured a ride with a friend and she was picking me up at 5:50pm. Then, as if I really needed another motivation, a friend texted me and asked me to tell everyone “Hi” for him since he was out of town and (obviously) couldn’t make it. So, as you probably guessed, I went.

When I arrived I could not stop yawning! Thursdays for some reason are my most difficult days for motivation for running. It seems that I am always so tired. Anyway, I ran. I was happy to see everyone and am so glad I went. One thing I did though is that I only ran 4 miles, not the 5.3 as planned. Why? Well, one of my running friends wanted to cut it short, so I happily agreed (remember, I had all these great excuses for my fatigue). So, I ran 4 miles today, on a day that I did not feel like running…and yes, as you have probably guessed…I so wish I had run 5.3! Oh, well, silly me!

The Skinny on Running

When I began my adventures in running last year, many reasons played into it. The main reason of course was for overall health and longevity. Certainly, the idea that I might shed a few pounds in the process was in the back of my mind, after all, who doesn’t want to shed a few pounds? As it happened, I did not shed a few pounds…in my first 8 months of running I actually gained 5 pounds! Keep in mind that I had no real change in diet, I just started running.

Now, I am a reader, and when I begin a new adventure, know that I am reading everything I can about it; I want to know all about the subject! Running was no different, I had been reading about the changes that happen to a person who begins to run. Therefore, I learned that my body was producing more blood, storing more water (to have available when exertion kicked in), gaining bone mass and muscle mass. I did not become alarmed with the weight gain for a couple reasons, firstly because of the internal changes that were occurring in me because of running, and secondly because my clothing did not become too tight with the change, my clothes actually began to fit better! So, I took it in stride knowing that my goal of becoming healthier was being achieved even though the scale did not say what I really wanted it to.

Then, something changed…in the last 3 months I have shed 9 pounds! This too, began to occur with no real diet change. This also has included losing 3 of those 9 pounds in the midst of Christmas baking and indulging! And, of course, I had been reading in Jeff Galloway’s book “Marathon” about running and fat burning. Jeff theorized that a runner will turn their muscles into “fat burners” even while sleeping if the runner is running a nice “long” run every week. What does that mean? Jeff says that if a person runs a long run every week that is equal to about 7 or 8 miles at a slow pace, the muscles will become “fat burners”. Interestingly enough, I have begun to “up” my distance on my Saturday long run and my “shorter” runs during the week. So, I am thinking that my muscles may be at the point where they have become fat burning machines all day long! I tend to believe this theory because otherwise I do not know how to account for the recent weight loss. It certainly took me many months to build up to the longer mileage, but the results are well worth it!

So, here is the word of encouragement to those on running adventures that also want to lose weight; don’t give up! Running will change the way your body functions from the inside out. If you stick to it, the results will follow. The running life-style is not a “quick fix” to weight reduction, but results will come, the kind of results that can last a lifetime.

I love running and I keep loving it more the more I run! =)