#2 - Marathon Completed

Pavel and me with medals.

Left to right: my brother, my mom, me, my dad.

As I crossed the finish line this afternoon at the Royal Victoria Marathon (4:39:38), my brother called my name and asked me how I felt. "Like I just ran a marathon," I said, and that was the truth.

Though I did finish strong. Check it out on YouTube. (Scroll to 5:54 where the announcer says, "Nice strong work here from 1227" – that's me!)

I hardly know how to describe the feeling of getting to the end of 42.2 km (26.2 miles) and finally being able to stop pounding the pavement. It wasn't exactly what I'd expected it to be. It hurt so much. I almost cried at 34 km. Almost.

Like any race, it started well. It was a gorgeous sunny autumn day here in Victoria, and my brother and I were in good spirits this morning. As we crossed the start line I told him to go on ahead of me because he's fast. I had my MP3 player with a good two hours of inspiring tunes (everything from Beyonce to Josh Groban) to keep me company and the first half (21.1 km) was a piece of cake. I cheered out loud as I crossed the halfway mark. If that had been it, I'd have been ecstatic, because I got a PR for the half, coming in at 1:58.

But then things turned ugly. Well, just painful. At the 23 km mark, I started to feel my quads seize up, and they just got tighter and tighter until at around 28 km I started to wonder if I'd have to stop. I ate the banana I'd been holding in my sweaty hand, but it didn't help. It was a really awful feeling, both physically and emotionally. Though I didn't really have any kind of goal for the race, I knew I wanted to complete it and not walk any of the course (which I managed to accomplish), but I secretly hoped to run a sub-four marathon. My brother Pavel managed to finish in 4:03, which is fantastic, especially since we clearly didn't put in enough training. I hadn't run in three weeks, and yesterday and this morning I woke up with a headache and a sore throat.

Anyway, I did have to pause for a few seconds a couple of times to do the classic bend at the waist, hands on knees, grimacing with head hanging in defeat. But I soldiered on, despite wondering if I was irreparably damaging the blood vessels in my lower legs. (I'm sure the veins would explode right now if not for the fact that I'm siting with my feet up and in compression socks.) From 28 km to 40 km I basically just plodded along in pain. Screaming, wrenching, awful, indescribable burning pain from my hips to my ankles.

Truth: a marathon is not just double a half-marathon. It's a half marathon immediately followed by another two hours of totally masochistic torture. Can you believe runners pay a lot of money to voluntarily end up on the couch icing their knees and popping Ibuprofen for the rest of race day? And all I got was this lousy T-shirt... Actually the shirts are pretty bitchin' this year. The medal's nothing outstanding as far as medals go, but hey, it says "marathon" on it, so that's all I need.

By the time I got to the 39 km sign, trying to enjoy the amazing views of the ocean as I plodded along, I was wondering why God had forsaken me (well, not really, but I did have to seriously contemplate Jesus on the cross to motivate myself to keep going) and then I saw my parents and family friends on the sidewalk, with cameras and cowbells. My mom ran next to me for about a kilometer (ringing the cow bell until I had to tell her I couldn't take it anymore) and then the sign for the final mile came into view around the bend and I picked up my head and straightened my shoulders and picked it up again. And then I saw the finish. And like in all my best running fantasies, there was a crowd on either side of the fence, cheering and yelling and clapping... for me. I thought, well, there are two people ahead of me in this final 100 meters and they're walking... so I'd better put on a show for the people. So I furrowed my brow, pursed my lips, and leaned into a sprint, my arms pumping and Lady Gaga reminding me I was on the edge of glory.

And then... Katherine Switzer gave me a hug!!! The first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967 (despite women not being allowed to participate until 1972) was at the finish line of the Victoria Marathon today congratulating women on running... and she hugged me! (Or maybe I hugged her in my shock and admiration, but she didn't seem to mind either way.) The only thing I could think to say was, "Kathrine Switzer!" and she said, "Haha, yes!" to which I replied, "Thank you!" and then walked away in a daze. (For those who don't run, just imagine Sydney Crosby surprising you with a high five after your recreational hockey game.) Very cool.

I don't know if I'll do another marathon again, being able to cross this off my list but I -- oh, who am I kidding? I've got to try to beat my time... 4:40 just isn't good enough, and I know with better training I could do a sub-four. And I don't want to do any plodding next time. Just a strong, steady race.

What a day. What a run.

Final Long Run (31 km)

SO happy today -- the final long run for marathon training is over! Three laps (31 km) around Burnaby Lake today (2:57) and now it's all downhill from here. As I write this I'm sitting in sweat pants, wearing knee-high compression socks, trying to ignore the aching in my hips and knees. It just freaking hurts. AND, it takes up so much time, all this running. There's no way to get around the time committment of training for a marathon. And all the hunger. I'm so hungry all the time. I could eat dog food right now, I'm just starving.

Anyway, next week it'll be 21 km, the next, 11 km, and then it's race weekend.

Cross Training - Grouse Grind

Hiked the Grind this afternoon in 51:21, which is a personal best. I read an article that says hiking is good cross-training for running, which I believe, 'cause this was killer. I was panting like crazy and huge splashes of sweat were dropping off me the whole way up. Next time I've just got to remember not to wear a heavy backpack and I'm sure I'll be able to shave off another minute at least!

1984 Women's Olympic Marathon

Los Angeles, 1984.

Women were allowed to compete in the Olympic marathon event for the first time. American Joan Benoit won Gold, but the best finish was from the Swiss runner, Gabrielle Andersen-Scheiss who came in 37th place with the most inspiring finish ever seen.

Personal Training

Running up a hill past a group of fairly overweight folks this afternoon, I overheard a woman among them with a thick Dutch accent remark as she turned to watch me pass, "Uphill... My God!"

It was a hot late summer afternoon, yes, and it was uphill, sure, but it wasn't until I heard that comment that I truly felt like a superstar. Sometimes people will say things that give you rocket fuel for the final lap, without them even intending it to be so motivating. So a shout out to my new Dutch fan. Thanks, lady.

Today I also signed up for some weekly personal training at Innovative Fitness in Port Moody. My first session will be tomorrow and every Friday after that till race day. I need to work on core strength, flexibility and overall conditioning. I'm hoping with the cross-training at the gym I'll be able to run faster and with better form, thereby getting a good time and, more importantly, avoiding an injury. My hip flexors have been strained the last couple of long weekend runs, so I it's time to bring in the pros for some expert advice. Plus, it's just cool to be able to say I have a personal trainer. "Yeah, sorry, but I'm going to have to cut our coffee date short... I have to go see my personal trainer to shred my quads and whale on my abs. At the gym. With my personal trainer."

Long Run (31 km)

To use the vernacular of teenagers everywhere, OMG and WTF.

Three laps around Burnaby Lake is 31.8 km. Just over three hours of running. Ouch. Very ouch. The final lap I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish but I realized the pain had plateaued, and at a certain point, as long as you're not damaging yourself, does it really matter how much your quads, hamstrings and hip joints cry out in agony? Just keep going, put Lynyrd Skynyrd on repeat, and finish it. That's all you can do. Oh, and drink a lot of water and pop energy candy things (my brother calls them snotballs). 

Just five weeks to go till marathon race day. I can't wait till it's over....

Long Run (27 km)

Ran almost three laps around Burnaby Lake this morning for a total of 27 km. Took almost three hours. That's the farthest I've ever run.

Actually, it was 21 km of running, 7 km of pain. I can only assume I was running by the end because I made it back to my car, but it didn't feel like running should. My left hip flexor hates me today. Long distance hurts. It really does. Every fibre of my body was telling me to stop the madness. Even now, a cold bath, some good stretching and two cups of chocolate milk later, I still hurt. Even wearing compression socks and sitting with my feet up.

[Side note: compression socks aren't actually going to make a difference to your race, but they're a good idea for after the run, to help your circulation and prevent vein problems. Or maybe it's just a fad, but I got a pair for Christmas last year, so I'm trying them out.]

Here's my question: How do people run such distances without their legs falling apart? I wasn't going very fast by the last half lap, but I felt like I was killing my quads. To get in the training to be able to go 42.2 km I HAVE to be able to run at least 35 km within the next month, but the thought of that distance right now makes me want to cry. Besides cross-training to build up leg strength (and hip flexors), I don't really know what else to do besides run. Because unless I missed a memo, that's the only way to train for a marathon.

Even when it hurts.

Running = Ugly Feet

If you train for a marathon, don't bother getting a pedicure till it's all over.

My feet are taking a real beating, running long distances. There are blisters at the tips of my toes and one of my nails has turned light gray. I've heard of this happening, but I never thought it would happen to me. I bought new runners and I just got my orthotics refurbished and I wear synthetic socks. So what the heck?                                        

It's pretty gross. But kind of cool at the same time, right? 

(Marathon completed Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011)

New Training Plan

It's hard to run 32 km when no one's holding you accountable. Not being in a training clinic, I've let myself skip a couple of the long weekend runs, and now I think I need to change my training schedule to make up for it.

My brother came up with a simple plan. We're going to run 10 miles (17 km) this weekend, and keep adding 2 miles each week until two weeks before the race (20 miles, 33 km), and do just two 10 km runs during the week (Tues/Thurs) as base runs. He said it worked for him before when he ran the Washington D.C. Marines Corps Marathon, so I'm going to go with this. There's only 10 weeks to go before race day, and I definitely don't feel like I'm on track, so I'm going to have to step it up.

It really is more difficult to train on my own than with a club. But if I just put in the time, I should get there. At this point I'm just focusing on crossing the finish line, not on making any stellar time.

Long Run (1:15)

Met my brother at Burnaby Lake this morning for a run around the trails. It was a good, fast run. I was kind of annoyed he wanted to stop midway for a banana, but then, that's what having a running buddy is all about. Compromising. I stop all the time to pee, so I guess it's only fair. It was hot (we both had slept in and ended up running until around noon) but I had water with me this time. Granted, it was warm, but it went down smooth.

Next Sunday the schedule calls for a three-hour run. Mother of Pearl. I've never run that long ever. Not even close. The longest was 2:15 and that made me feel like a war hero. I half expected someone to hand me a medal when I got back to my car at Stanley Park. Nope. If they were staring it wasn't out of admiration but probably concern for my blotchy purple complexion and pained facial expressions. I don't know how I'm going to get through three hours. And my brother's going to be in Chicago, so it's just me and my own thoughts. Maybe I'll download a book on tape. Maybe War & Peace.

Running Thirsty

I used to run without water, but now it's impossible. Weird what your body gets used to. Strange what will happen if you let it get soft.

Today I ran 45 minutes and didn't bring my water belt with me. Since I've been training for a marathon I've brought water with me, and I guess my body just got used to having it. Within the first five minutes today I was thinking only of how sticky the inside of my mouth felt and how great it would be to have a sip of cold water. The entire run, I was spitting and gagging on thick saliva, toying with the idea of getting down on my hands and knees at the ditch along the side of the trail. The still water under dappled shadows in the forest looked incredible, and it's not something I usually notice. It's not especially hot and it's kind of overcast, but I was sweating something fierce. Every time I wiped my forehead I thought of all the water I was losing out of my pores. I wonder how much liquid we actually sweat out when we run?

Well, I made it home and had a tall glass of water at the kitchen sink before I'd even taken off my shoes. I can't imagine how Aaron Ralston felt after so many days without a drop to drink. What a nightmare. I'll remember to take my water belt with me next run. Even if it's just a short one.

Why I Run Long Distance

Do you remember Sports Day at elementary school? There was a build-up to the most fun day of the school year in June, when you'd relish the lack of bells and classes and the chance to be outside just playing games, eating hot dogs and going home early. Of course, if you grew up anywhere around Vancouver, Sports Day was postponed about seven times due to rain before it actually happened.

So it was extra exciting to finally, FINALLY have a day of fun. And the main event, at the very end of the day, after all the silly, not-real sports, was the race. The real test of athletic prowess. Everyone lines up at the ditch by the fence, wiggling like puppies on a leash, and the principal loudly announces, "Ready? Set? GO!" We take off, sprinting as fast as our gangly legs would take us to the finish line at the jungle gym, only about 100 feet away, but always just too far for me. I was as eager as anyone else, but my short little legs only got to second gear, and no matter how much I craved that first-place blue ribbon, no matter how much effort I put in, it was no good. I was always at the back of the pack. I learned early on I am not a sprinter and never will be.

But set me up with a pair of good shoes and a bottle of water and I'll run till the cows come home. I am a distance runner. That's the beauty of distance running: anyone can do it, no matter how short your legs are, or whether or not you started young, because it's just a matter of putting in the time and having the mental stamina. If you just keep going, you'll get there. And then, like any Sports Day hero, you can legitimately say, "I'm a runner, too."

Long Run (2:15)

Running on the seawall (two laps) today, with the sun shining and all the pretty people out with their dogs and frisbees, was just great. I love being all sweaty and imagining people all impressed with me flying by at warp speed. "Did you see her?" I can almost hear them whisper loudly, "Look at her go!"

These Sunday long runs I pretty much just do a fast jog, but I like to imagine it's so much more than that. Feel like a hero.

The first hour was cake, the second hour was just painful. This is only the second time I've run for this amount of time (besides the half-marathon) and found the muscles in my legs ache as soon as I stop. It's weird. I don't know if I'm missing some vitamin or mineral or something. Maybe I need to eat more bananas. Also, the giant blister under my left arch is really gross and annoying. I'd post a picture but no one wants to see that.

After today's run I went out for a steak dinner with a friend and we had frosty beer and watched the Canadian women's soccer team play Germany in the World Cup. What an awesome way to finish a good hard run.

Long Run (2:00)

Ran for exactly two hours this morning on the seawall at Stanley Park with my brother. We did just under two laps. After an hour I started to ignore any sensations below my waist. Felt like the cartilage in my knees was gone and my legs were only moving out of habit. It was a hard run, but it made the veggie dog I had for lunch and the sushi I had for dinner that much more tasty. And I imagine I'll sleep REALLY well tonight. So far, the training is going well.

Registered for Marathon

Well, today I paid $102 for this year's Royal Victoria Marathon, Sunday, Oct. 9. So I've got about four months to train. I've only been running three times in the last six weeks, so I'm going to have to step it up, and fast. My brother says he'll train with me, so I've got a running buddy for the longer runs. I've never run for more than two hours at a stretch, and I can imagine it might be more the boredom than the physical effort that would wear me down. Plus, it's just nice to run with someone every now and then.

I took my orthotics in to Kintec Footlabs this afternoon to get them refurbished (getting kinda worn out over the last few years of running) and I'm going to get new runners next month. I might get myself a nice water bottle belt, but I'm not sure I really need it. Other than that, it's just a matter of pounding the pavement and eating and sleeping more. I know a marathon is a hell of a lot of time and pain, but I think I'm as ready to takle the "Everest of running" as I'll ever be. One step at a time.

Half Marathon

Wow. I'm sore. But I'm halfway to a full marathon!

Finished a half today in 2:06:14, which I'm fairly happy with, though I was gunning for under two hours. The BMO Vancouver Marathon is a nice course for the half -- goes through downtown and around the sea wall. The hill up to Prospect Point was a bit of a killer, but after that it was (almost) all downhill.

After all the training in the cold, dark nights of January with the Runner's Den clinic, it was so great to cap it off with the big finale, 21.1 km! The first 11 km felt like nothing. Then between 11 km and 15 km my legs started to hurt. Somehow I managed to find another gear after the hill but then I think I must have slowed again at about the 19 km mark. Felt pretty good basically the whole way, though. The hill and track training definitely helped. So great to have a nice sunny day to run after this long, tedious spring we've had.

After the run it was champagne and orange juice, a post-race tradition my mom started years ago.

Then a long, hot shower and a nap before the running clinic after party. And now I'm totally pooped and am walking like an old woman. Going to take off at least two weeks from running (Paul, the Running Den owner, says you should take off a day for every mile you run in a race, so I am allowed to take 13 days). Going to keep up with yoga, walking, climbing, maybe a bit of cycling or swimming and then resume running in June.

And start training for a marathon!

Countdown to Half Marathon

Two weeks today I'll be running the BMO Vancouver half marathon, all 21.1 km of it!

This morning we ran about 11 or 12 km and next weekend we're only going about 10 km and then it's the big day the following weekend. Last Sunday we did the longest run we'll have done to date: 16 km around the Sea Wall and Kits. So I've no idea what an extra 5 km feels like on top of that, but I imagine it might hurt a bit. Whatever, I've done all the training I was supposed to do with the clinic, so it's all downhill from here. (In a good way, of course.)

I'm looking forward to having my Sunday mornings free again, though I guess I'll probably continue running either Saturday or Sunday mornings anyway because I want to keep the momentum going for a full marathon sometime in the next nine months.

One thing I've learned so far, especially this morning, is that if you're going to run for more than an hour you can't skip breakfast. I felt weak, like I'd given blood, and I was ravenous at the end. Breakfast is good. Gummy energy things are a bonus.

Two weeks!

Birch Bay 15 km

Ran the Birch Bay 15k road race in Washington today -- 1:25:04. Pretty happy with that time. I thought it would take me more like 1:40.

This road race is one I'd do again since it's fairly flat (except for a short, super steep uphill just before the finish (cruel), and they mark every km clearly so you can pace yourself.

The race goes along the road right around the bay and we had good weather. Sort of sunny, but cool. Also, the wait at the border this morning was not long because we got there before 7 a.m. -- my mom and sister-in-law, however, missed me at the finish because they got stuck at the border for over an hour!

Anyway, the first 5 km I ran in 29:11, the 10 km in 58:05, which I felt pretty good about. Those times are actually not too far off my PBs, which means if I'd been in either a 5 km or 10 km race I'd likely have broken a Personal Record.

I ran with a couple of girls from the Runner's Den clinic till the 11 km mark and then kicked into high gear and went solo for the final four. It was pretty hard, but really just a mental challenge more than a physical challenge. I did have enough juice left to sprint the final 100 m or so, so I felt like I finished strong.

I'm reading a book called Play by Stuart Brown, M.D., and in it he talks about running being a form of play. He theorizes there are six different running "personalities" in terms of how a runner plays at running. I think it's like, "Socializer," "Exerciser," "Competitor," "Just for the Fun of It," and one other. I am definitely the "Competitor." Knowing that I can beat my best time or push myself that much more is thrilling. And, I have to admit, another real thrill is the little giggle I have inside my head in the last 2 km in a race when I pass someone. "Hee hee, I'm beating you!" Feels awesome. Like I'm some kind of Olympic hero. I imagine the roar of the crowd as I turn into the stadium, Canadian fans jumping to their feet, a deafening roar of "Go, Canada!"as I sprint the final lap to take a medal for my country. Works every time.

Having done this race makes me feel now I definitely CAN do the half marathon in just over a month. It's just another 6 km than I did today. I have it in me. Oh, yes.

Running in the Rain

Last night was the weekly track workout, which has come to be known as the "hard" workout. Sunday long runs seem like a walk in the park in comparison.

Last night we ran 1 km loops at full speed, six times, with a two minute walk break between each loop (2.5 times around the track). Just about killed me. It's not so much the physical effort, actually, as the mental game you have to play with yourself to keep going.

It was raining when I got there. Hard, and sideways. Nothing makes me feel more like a hero than running at night in the driving rain under the spotlights.

We started with a four-lap jog, followed by short sprints and hurdle lifts to warm up. Then the six sets. Holy crap. I had to think of Terry Fox and Steve Prefontaine and Sylvia Ruegger to keep motivated to keep moving forward. At the end I've got enough to speed up, but in the middle, it feels like I'm done. Total mind game.

There's just about six weeks till the half marathon. I'm definitely stronger and faster than I was January 1,  but there's still lots of training time left and I want to make the most of it. Bring on the driving rain! Yar!

System Override

Today I figured something out about running. Although there's the old adage that your body is really good at telling you what it needs, sometimes your body will lie to you.

I went for a 12 km run this afternoon, and while it was a fine day and lovely in the forest, my bowels were roiling, so I had to push through the pain (and make a mental note of all the possible places to duck into the trees if I suddenly needed to, um, relieve myself). Though my body (specifically my intestines) was telling me (screaming at me) to stop being a fool and just go home, I kept going and made it to the end without any medical emergency or bathroom break. I ran the last lap pretty fast despite the nagging worry about the slightly heavy feeling and intermittent cramping deep in my guts. Maybe it was the waffles and sausages and coffee I had for brunch.

Well, I discovered that, despite the warnings, I did not drop to the ground at the end, clutching my stomach in agony or sprint to the outhouse at the parking lot. Like a twinge in the knee or a cramp in the hamstring, I think sometimes our bodies will try to fake us out when we're running with a little lie about impending toilet problems that end up being nothing but a sly move to get us to slow down or give up. Steve Prefontaine is supposed to have been so successful partly because of his ability to ignore pain. He once won a middle distance race with a badly cut foot. Maybe that's what all runners do -- override the system -- whether it's knee pain or a side cramp, at least to a certain extent. If you can get the most evolutionarily advanced part of your brain to override the lizard part of your brain then you can keep your legs "turning over" as the elite runners like to say, and finish or maybe even win the race.

So today it was 12 km in 1:17, which is a PR for me for that distance... and no diarrhea!