In January of 2008, I completed my first half marathon in Phoenix with my mom, Marci and a couple friends from high school. There were only a few reasons I agreed to train for it... mainly because my mom wanted to do another one, but this time just walk it instead of run. At the time, I wasn't a runner, so I said... ok, I suppose I could train to walk 13.1 miles. Because I definitely had no desire to run that far.
Marci was a pretty fast runner, but graciously agreed to walk it with us.
Another reason I agreed was because my mom, dad and sister, Marci, had all done multiple half and full marathons, so I decided I had to at least somewhat keep up with the Joneses.
And, since this would also involve a road trip to a warmer climate in the middle of winter, as well as competing in a Rock & Roll Marathon, which I'd already knew to be a fun course of bands playing at every mile marker... I thought.... yep, sign me up, I can do this.
As a side note... there is definitely a method to the madness, because the fast-paced walking I did during training, would eventually have me jogging during the actual race, much to my mom's dismay who kept saying for 13.1 miles.... "I thought we were going to walk this?" LOL
Although being a long-time runner herself, I don't think she was surprised that the excitement and adrenaline on race day would have me moving faster, but I digress.
If you've trained for a half or a full, you know there's a whole training schedule that involves a couple short runs during the week in addition to 1 long run, usually on the weekend... all of which gradually increases each week over the time of training that leads up to the race.
Anyway... this all happened prior to my blog, but I did keep notes and we'd of course encourage each other over email during this time too.
I found the following email I sent to everyone on the 8-mile training day that just came up in my memories...
Wasn't having a great morning until now.
It flat poured down rain on me at Barat Haven so I gave up after only 2.2 miles.
Homey don't do rain (or snow).
Went back home and finished up the 5.8 on the treadmill in my wet clothes.
Kept thinking to myself,
"Why did I drink wine with Mom & Dad last night?"
"When is this toenail going to finally fall off?"
"Why did I agree to doing this race in the first place?"
So I finally finished the 8 miles and was on my way back from Crazy Bowls & Wraps, (my favorite training meal) and was thinking of the lyrics to the song "Unwritten," mainly because it had been raining.
I kept thinking, I'm going to go home and send those lyrics to everyone in my next email.
Then I had what I can only describe as a moment with Kaysy when all my questions from today were answered. Swear to God, that song (which isn't even a current song anymore) came on the radio as I had been trying to remember the words in my head. I turned it up as loud as possible, sang as loud as I could and then after the song was over said, "Thanks, Kaysy, I needed that."
Here they are:
"Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten..."
RR 4 K. ... Team DKM
If you've trained for a half or a full, you also know that the biggest part of the journey is the training... not just the actual race day.
The discipline of sticking to a schedule, getting the miles in no matter what, staying in the right mindset and not giving up.
We finished the race in 2:33:45 and I'm pretty sure I was smiling the entire time...
In fact, it was such an amazing experience for me, one I felt really proud of what I'd accomplished... one that ranks right up there with giving birth, that I decided to do it again the following January. Same Rock & Roll race, same location in Phoenix, but this time I decided I was going to train to run it. And my goal was to run it in 2 hours or less.
I will say again, if you haven't already gathered this from the above, that I'm more of a fair-weather runner so most of my training was completed on my treadmill since I was training for a fair-weather race during a cold snowy winter in Missouri.
In fact, the only time I've ever actually endured and even somewhat enjoyed a long run in the pouring down rain, was when I was part of a full marathon as a relay team with my dad, Marci and Bob. It was the GO St Louis in 2009, and it poured for my entire 7.1 miles, the last leg of our race, where those 3 were standing there cheering for me right before the end when we all crossed the finish line together in 3:57:28. Anything under 4 hours for a full is a pretty amazing time.
And yes, I was yelling because our goal was to do it in under 4 and we did it in spite of the weather.
And dang, my quads look like I was a body builder. I wasn't, but I guess by the end of that many miles, you have some definition to your legs. LOL
So... suffice it to say that my longest run during training for my second half marathon was 12 miles and I did it on my treadmill while I watched a movie, because I didn't want to run outside in the cold and snow.
I know that sounds crazy, but I guess I am.
Fast forward to race weekend.
We arrived in Phoenix that Friday, 2 days prior to the race. I had a migraine that night, still had it the next day, and then MUCH to my dismay, woke up on race morning Sunday with the same damn migraine. This was also pre-migraine meds days for me, and of course Advil wasn't doing a thing to help. I literally cried that morning, thinking... I did all this training and there's no way I can go run this thing.
But I got out of bed, put on my clothes, got something to eat and we got on the shuttle to head to the race.
Crazy enough, I have learned over the years that adrenaline is a natural pain killer, so once I started running... I didn't feel my head throbbing as much anymore. I've taught many classes with a migraine. I've also learned how to dress better for running since then and not wear heavy sweat pants anymore. So dumb, but I didn't know any better.
Unlike those last 2 races, I'm pretty sure I was NOT smiling the entire race, especially once I hit miles 9-11 which were mostly uphill.
But in spite of not actually dressing for success and having a weekend-long migraine, I finished the race in 2:00:47.
Literally 47 seconds past my goal of 2 hours or less.
Wish I was kidding about that.
Had I realized I was that close, I think I would've sprinted at the end. In fact, I know I would've sprinted at the end.
I've thought about it many times over the years. How did I get that close? Should I go for a personal record and try again for under 2 hours or do I really want to work that hard again and just say it was close enough?
No one else even cares that you've achieved all these miles, or missed a goal by less than a minute, but it's one of those achievements that's personal.
And if you've missed a goal by getting that close, or have a similar story, you probably understand.
Not sure the thought of doing that many miles sounds appealing to me anymore, but there are certainly moments I'd consider it.
Just to say I did it.
Although maybe the whole point of that journey wasn't even the race or the time... it was in the training leading up to it.
For both races.
Close enough though, I suppose. For now anyway.
The rest is still unwritten...
XOXO