Jan 31, 2012 A Heartbeat Away - Boston 2012

4:23 am and the alarm was ringing.  Time to get up and start the day.  Headed to the Courts for my Tempo run.  I used today's run as sort of an experiment testing my mental v. physical strength while trying to keep a low heart rate.  Here is the story behind this.  Over the Christmas holiday Susanne my trainer came in and did a personal workout session with me.  At this session we did a workout on the path.  The workout was a 9 min warmup, 4 mile time trial and a 1 mile cool down.  We started our warmup a little fast but I think that was from all the excitement of what was lying ahead.  The four miles were run at 7:40, 7:40, 7:45 and 7:26 paces for a total time of 30:33.   The last quarter mile was a 5:52 pace kick to finish.  The purpose was to see how much I fast I could go while tolerating a pain level of 9.5 out of 10.  I needed to learn to work through the pain and tolerate it so that I could run faster.  I need to train my body to perform at a higher level.


Since then, I have utilized my heart monitor to check my effort when I am running.  It has become a valuable tool and is a great way to verify progress.  So, today, I thought I would do a self check on my pace, HR, mental and physical strength and pain tolerance.  Here is what I learned.


The workout was 8.5 miles.  The first mile and a half were my warm-up.  I ran them at my Mod. pace which is 75% - 84% HR(131-147).  My pace was 9:01.  Trying to relax as much as I could, I was able to run that pace with my HR beating at 140. The longer I can keep my HR low, the less energy I will use early on and be able to have more power and strength at the end of my run.  Knowing and understanding my zones is crucial to success in this program.


Then I stepped it up and began the Tempo run.    This pace was going to be a bit quicker,  I ran all 6 miles at an 8:05 pace.  Now, the trick was to keep my HR low and every once in a while check my pain tolerance to see how my body was feeling. Was I struggling with this pace at this level, or were things going well?

I finished my workout and my legs felt good.  They were tired but not exhausted.  Even though my HR climbed I was still able to maintain the pace and run smooth.   I know now that even if I see my HR go up, it doesn't mean that I need to slow down.  By monitoring my pace and HR I should be able to increase the distance on my tempo runs at an 8:05 pace and take another step closer to reaching my goal.

Jan 30, 2012 Swimming in a pool of Ice ---- Boston 2012

"Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you"

                                                                                                     -Ovid

Double workout today.  Started off strong with a spin class filled with hard resistance and lots of hill climbs.  Managed to ride 18 miles in class then came out to the floor to spin another 4 miles with more hill climbs and some additional speed work.  By the time my workout was over, my legs were toast.  They were burning on the last mile but it I kept pushing as hard as I could.  Dripping with sweat I dismounted from the bike and headed home for some time off before my next workout.

Got home and dove right into my work.  Things are busier than ever and I guess that is a good thing.  I am currently in the process of building a new web site and developing a new product line.  There is so much to think about on the creative end, that it is hard to get a full night's sleep without waking up and writing down ideas.  My business is a lot like my workouts.  I need to remember that the journey begins with one step at a time and the race is a long one.  Patience, hard work, sweat, and more patience. And then be patient a bit longer.   

Headed to the pool over the noon hour to get my swim workout in.  Its always a challenge to try and find a time when the pool has an open lane or that at least they are not filled with the "water walkers".  As I entered the facility there were very few people working out so I had hopes that the pool would be just as clear.  Made my way to the pool and things were a little bit different.  There were about 5 people standing by the water's edge but no one was in the pool.  Suddenly, one of the more seasoned swimmers in the area entered the water and screamed, "It's so cold"!  Well, that answered my question of why no one was swimming.  I made my way to an open lane to check it out for myself.  I cautiously touched the water feet first. Yep.  She was right.  It was cold.  And I don't mean a little bit cold.  It was like someone had filled the pool with snow and then added water to fill it up.  But, what could I do.  I was already dressed and ready to swim.  No one was going to do the workout for me so I jumped in and sat on the bottom to get used to the water.  Man, it was cold.  I told myself that things would get warmer after my 200 warm-up.  Ok, that didn't work too well.  I was shaking, but I had already started my workout so there was no turning back.  It was time to suck it up and swim.  

Today's swim workout is one of my favorites.  Its an 800 Ladder w/hypoxic set.  Total swim distance is 1600 yards.  I like it because the workout goes by fast and today I was hoping that all this swimming was going to warm me up as well.   It is an energy zapper but I always feel like a million bucks when I complete the workout.  So there is good news and bad news to this story.  The good news is that all of that swimming sort of warmed me up.  The bad news is that I started to get warm on my cool down.  Not too many people entered the pool from the time I started until I finished my workout.  Satisfied with my workout, I couldn't wait to shower, get into dry clothes and crawl under some warm covers for a quick nap.  

Jan 29, 2012 When He speaks...listen Boston 2012

 Fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

-Isiah 41:10

I am a true believer in "everything happens for a reason", and "to hear Him, all you have to do is listen".  Today's workouts fell into both of these areas.  

My workout schedule for today was 14 miles.  I wanted to run hills for all of it but my coach suggested that I split the distance and do 7 flat and 7 on hills.  So, I started my 7 mile flat run on the cold dark streets of Elmhurst.  5:30 am and not another soul in sight.  The only sound I heard was the crunch of snow under my feet accompanied by a stiff wind blowing in my face.  At this point, it really doesn't matter what the temperature is.  Living in the midwest, you understand that winter can begin as early as Thanksgiving and end the first week in April.  So any day that isn't below zero is a treasure and any patch on the prairie path that is ice free, well, that is considered a gift as well.  So I began my run heading towards the Ovaltine factory.  The path was bright with the newly fallen snow from yesterday and the soft lights from the street lamps gave a calmness to the road ahead of me.  Lots of thoughts were going through my mind, especially the service project that we worked on yesterday.  John, Ian and I joined about 50 other scouts and packed food for an organization called, Feed My Starving Children.  FMSC is a Christian Organization committed to feeding God's hungry children in body and spirit.  The work is simple.  You hand pack meals specially formulated for malnourished children.  Those meals are shipped to nearly 70 countries around the world.  It is a simple task that makes a world of difference.  In 2 hours, our group packed 57 boxes of food which contained 12,312 meals. Those meals will feed 34 kids for one year.  The total cost of feeding them these meals, $2,954.88.  At the conclusion of our shift, we prayed over the food that we had put together.  What a great feeling to work with all of these young kids and see their happy faces when they learned that because of their donation of time and effort, 34 kids in another country will be able to go to sleep with food in their stomach.  As a family we have decided to continue volunteering at this organization and look forward to meeting new people and continuing God's work of helping those in need.  

Ian and I putting meals together at FMSC.

Warm thoughts continued to fill my head as I saw another runner coming towards me.  He is what I call an "old school runner".  This 72 year old youngster runs 8 miles every.  He doesn't wear flashy dry wick shirts or run barefoot or high tech running pants.  He wears the old cotton sweats and beanie hat.  He is out there every day and he is an inspiration to everyone that sees him.  He is also one of the friendliest people on the path.  Not a day goes by when I see him and we exchange hellos.  Finished my 7.2 mile run with a 9:03 pace.  A little faster than my target pace, but I'll take it.  Changed into some dry clothes, jumped in my car and headed to the Arboretum for my 7 mile hill run.

Second 7 mile run

Pulled into the Arboretum parkinglot a little after 7 a.m. and there were cars everywhere.  Almost every car that was sitting in the lot displayed either a 26.2 or 140.1 magnet.  The sun was rising, the wind was blowing and it was time to hit the hills.  I brought my iPod with me to pass the time on my run.  Its not something that I always do, but I thought that my music might give me a boost when I needed it most.  The grounds were beautiful.  They were covered in snow and the trees had a mixture of ice and frozen bark.  They were beautiful to run under and around.  I started the run with caution as I knew there would be a lot of ice on the road.  Hit the first hill, up and over I went.  Legs felt good.  No slippage with the feet and best of all, no cars on the road.  Heading into my second hill, it started snowing.  Small flakes at first and then it really started coming down. Huge flakes were falling and blowing everywhere. I started running with my mouth open in an effort to catch some flakes, but it wasn't working too well.  As my feet were pounding the pavement under this snow shower, I felt a sense of calmness come over me.  Then, one of my favorite songs started playing on my iPod; "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me.  With the memories of my grandmother passing, fresh in my mind, this song really struck a chord.  This whole last week, I held it together.  I was so strong and then, this.  I broke down and had to stop running.  I walked off the road to the middle of this open field and sat and cried in the snow.  The snow flakes coming down served as a nice curtain for privacy and helped me to finally let go of all these feelings I have been carrying around.  I knelt down and prayed for her.  Thanked God for giving me this opportunity to work through this myself and asked for strength to carry on and go forward.  I slowly made my way back to the route unsure of what was in store for me. 

I started running again and noticed my pace was incredibly easy.  I felt like I was flying up and down the hills.  I did everything I could to hold myself back.  This was supposed to be a LSD run, not a race.  My legs were moving effortlessly.  I finished the first loop and went to the second without a thought.  Before I knew it, I was done with 7.59 miles.  I ran an 8:54 pace and that was with the stopping and praying.  I think that the good Lord was speaking to me with my music.  You see, I had my playlist on shuffle so I think He was talking to me by having "Imagine" play at that time.  I also think He has a great sense of humor because when I was on the back loop and the snow and wind kept blowing, I had "Walking On Sunshine" playing and a montage of Beach Boys songs.  

Finally I am feeling emotionally relieved and stronger.  It took a while to get there, but I am so glad that things worked out this way.  All it takes is a little faith, understanding and taking the time to listen to what He has to say.

Completed:

7.2 miles  9:03  pace

7.59 miles 8:54  pace

Total 14.61

Jan28, 2012 With A Little Self Control.....Boston 2012

Last week at this time, I was downtown Chicago and had already started my first mile for the Polar Dash Half Marathon.  A chilly race along the lake front that made me question my sanity.  Emotional and mentally draining days were ahead of me as I struggled with the death of a grandparent, increase in work and a workout schedule that really pushed me.  I was happy when my second workout on Friday was over because I knew that a day of rest was around the corner.  If I had known where a cave was, I would have crawled into it to be alone with my thoughts and recover.  I was spent.

Today, after 11 hours of sleep, I am following my schedule and taking the day off from running.  It always makes me smile when Coach Davis writes under my workout, "OFF - Don't exercise!".  I think she is sending me a message with the exclamation point at the end of her statement.  Sometimes following that  day on my schedule is my hardest workout of the week.  I find it hard to just stop doing something when I have been working at it for the last 6 days.  It is a constant battle between my body and mind.  My body is saying that it can use a day off but my mind...well thats another story.  My mind thinks it can go forever.

This sign sits on the kitchen wall above our breakfast table. 

So, this morning when I got up, I knew I wasn't supposed to run, bike or swim, but I needed to do something.  Something to challenge myself.  So, I turned on the Wii and played the St. Andrews course on Tiger Woods golf game. My goal was to make par for the course.  After 18 holes, I finished 2 under par.  A little more money in my bank and points for the Fed Ex Cup.  Sweet.  

Next up, laundry day and its white socks basketball with my son.  Its a goofy game that we came up with when we sort the clothes but its fun to see who makes the most shots with the socks from behind the line.  Last week Ian was the winner, today...I was unstoppable.  

The dog is next. Shared with my husband and son that they will have a chance to go on a 2 mile walk with "Beans" and I today.  I think they were excited?  I'm not too sure.  Anyway, it will be a great opportunity to get the blood moving and spend some time together.  It snowed last night, so no basketball outside today.  I'll have to think of something else to do.

We have a community service project later this afternoon and I have a photoshoot this evening.  Other than that, I will be filling my day off with fun ways to stay moving.  I hope I don't drive my family crazy!

I wish I would have been able to join my fellow ERC members at the Arboretum this morning.  With the freshly fallen snow, I am sure they ran on some beautiful roads.  Missed you guys.  Hopefully I will catch up with you guys again soon. Save some Arboretum beauty for me.  I will be running my 14 miles there tomorrow.  

Looks like the dog is ready for adventure, so I am off to the trail for a walk.  "Ready John, Ian, Beans?, Let's go".

   

Jan 27 2012 "Because You Never Forget Your First" Boston 2012

Shannon & I before my first marathon Oct. 1997

Any time I want to take a walk down memory lane, I can reach onto my bookshelf and grab one of my many running journals that I have written over the years.  My first marathon was The Chicago Marathon in October of 1997.  When I think about all the miles that I have run since then, it seems like so long ago.  But, when I think about all the fun places I have run races, and the great people that I have gotten to meet over the years, it seems like I started this craziness yesterday. 

This is my 15th year of running and Boston will be my 17th marathon. Each race has its own set of memories. Some of those times reflect new friendships, PRs, comeback runs, running pregnant with my son, crossing finish lines with my daughter and the run with my husband that got me to Boston the first time.  There were also some heartbreak runs or as I prefer to call them now, "races that educated me on how to run better in the future".

It's fun to look back and see how far I have come but let's face it, nothing really compares to your first marathon.  All the training and reading about workouts, paces, learning what fartleks and tempo runs are and of course all the advice from those that have gone before you are a big part of your journey.  This year, my daughter Shannon is running her first marathon in Eugene Oregon.  An accomplished runner in her own right, she has run 3 half marathons and competed on her high school cross country team. She is a great athlete and an even sweeter person.  I was excited for her when she signed up for the event.  I asked her if she wanted me to run it with her but she politely told me that this is something she wants to do on her own.  Together we developed a training plan and she is working hard on her training runs and cross training days.  She texts me her mileage and times and calls for advice.  I can feel the excitement in her voice when she shares with me how well her workouts are going.  Just today she told me that she is feeling anxious about the race. I told her thats normal and that I am always nervous up til  the start of the race.  She said she recalls how great she felt after her half marathons.  And then, I told her, "wait 'til you finish your first marathon."  "It's an unbelievable feeling and one you will never forget."  The Boston Marathon is April 16, 2012 and although Shannon won't be with me in Boston, I know that she will be cheering me on from afar.  Shannon's race is April 29th.  I will be flying out to Eugene to ride my bike and meet her at certain points on the course and cheer her on.  After all, she was there for me at my first marathon and I want to be there for her.  I am already so proud of her for committing herself to such a big goal.  She is a very driven individual and I know that she will give it everything she has and cross that finish line in victory.  I am so happy to be a part of her journey and first marathon.  Go Shannon!!!!!!

Today's Bike Workout

Bike

Planned Distance: 17 Miles

Completed:  22 Miles

Running Workout

Planned:  6 Miles EZ.

Completed:

6.07 miles

Jan 26, 2012 - "Laughter Is Music For The Soul"-Uknown

My training for the 2012 Boston Marathon began in December and I have already spent countless hours in the gym, pool and on the road.  My workouts are fueled by my passion to keep working hard and to continue to get better, stronger and faster as well as support from countless runners and of course advice from my coach.  In the midst of all this hard work and effort, I thought it was time to take a step back and remind myself of some of the light hearted reasons for running.  When I first read this list, I was amazed by how many of these statements applied to me.  Well, maybe not amazed, but they sure made me say, "yep, that's me".  

You Know You Are A Runner When...

• You have more running clothes than regular clothes in your laundry pile.

• You smirk when non-runners ask you, "So how long is this marathon?"

• You have a drawer full of medals and other race souvenirs that you're not sure what to do with.

• You no longer make fun of fanny packs because your running belt looks very similar (although cooler) to one.

• You get an invitation to a wedding and you automatically think about what race the date will conflict with.

• The salespeople at your local running shop know you by name.

• You know where your illiotibial band is located.

• You no longer hate port-a-johns. In fact, there have been times when you've been very happy to see one.

• You wear your running watch even when you're not running. ("It matches, right?")

• You've had your running shoes for three months and you know it's already time to replace them.

• You spend more time researching running routes than local restaurants when traveling to a new city.

• You know where exactly one mile from your front door is (in any direction).

• You know how to correctly spell and pronounce plantar fasciitis.

• You have more fun shopping for running clothes than you do non-running clothes.

• You pack more running clothes than bathing suits when going on a beach vacation.

• Your holiday wish list can be fulfilled at any running or sporting goods store.

• Your only recent photos of you alone are race photos.

• You always have your next race on the calendar.

• Your runs are sometimes longer than your commute to work or school.

• You get jealous when you're driving in your car and pass runners.

• You spent more timing researching a running watch than you did your car.

• You're excited for your next birthday because it means you'll be in a new age group at road races.

• You know the location of every 7-11, public restroom, and water fountain in running distance from your home. 

• You spend more money on running clothes than work or casual clothes.

• The only time major household projects get done is during tapering or race recovery.

• You frequently get asked, "When's your next race?"

• Your Facebook or Twitter updates frequently involve running.

Today's Workouts


Run Workout

Planned Distance - 7 Miles

Completed - 7 miles

Swim Workout

Planned Distance: 1600 yards

Completed - 1 mile swim 

Jan 25, 2012 Leaving Your Mark On This World - Boston 2012

How To Leave Your Mark

It was a cold 23 degrees on my run today, but I wouldn't have know if I hadn't check the temperature before I stepped out the door.  The streets were dark and quiet and today's workout was an easy 7 mile run.  The last couple of days have been an emotional roller coaster and the workouts have been a welcome distraction to  all of the craziness.  At night I have been so mentally exhausted that I think I have fallen asleep before my head even touched my pillow.  

With the passing of my Grandmother this week and her upcoming memorial, I can't help but think about how she left her mark on this world.  To me, she was a highly educated woman, not in the book sense but in the school of life.  In her life she had struggled through major adversities yet still managed to provide for her family.  She was not a woman of monetary wealth, but she was rich in her passion for life and doing what she loved.  To my son and daughter not only was she a great-grandmother, but she was a storyteller, a set of open arms that were always ready for a hug and a promise that they could always call her if they needed anything.  Her passing has made me stop and think about how I will leave my mark on this world.  What have I done or am doing that will make a difference in someone's life?  How will my children remember me?  I think this question can best be answered similar to running a race; you do this one step at a time.  Find a way each day to love a little more. 

How To Leave Your Mark

A mighty vessel never sails the world
All within an hour

And it takes much more than just a day
For man to build a tower

So a legacy of love and care
Can’t be forged by just a snap

It’s a little here, a little there
A little this and that

Its one more hug, it’s one more kiss
It’s one more listening ear

It’s one more reassurance
As you wipe off one more tear

All in all, to leave your mark
There’s not a “secret way”

You’ll make a difference if you just love
A little more each day

-AJ Barlow

Workout 

7 miles 

Actual-7.17 miles

Jan 23, 2012 From Within - Boston Marathon 2012

Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.

A wise person recently shared similar words with me about believing in my abilities.  I am not sure why I struggle with this so much. It might be because I always want to push myself beyond the limits and when I don't take it up one notch it is hard to be satisfied with my final effort.  I have always been a goal orientated person. When I played basketball in high school, I remember not leaving practice until I made 10 free throws in a row. Even to this day, when we are playing basketball in our backyard I can't go in the house until I have made my last basket.  I need to learn to take a step back and live in the moment; celebrate a victory and use my experiences to improve for the next performance.  

Today's Workouts

Mod-Strong Spin Class. 

Planned distance-22 miles

Swim Workout

Completed distance 2200 yards.

After I had finished my first workout I received the news that my grandmother had just passed away.  Keeping my emotions intact, I mustered up enough energy to do my second workout.  Most of my swim time was spent reliving memories of good times with her.  She was a special lady and I already miss her dearly.

R.I.P. Patricia Smith.  

Jan 24, 2012- Where The Wild Things Are - Boston Marathon 2012

“There is no peace more wonderful than the peace we enjoy when faith shows us God in all created things.”

Today's scheduled running workout was a tempo hill run.  

Lucky for me I live close to the Morton Arboretum where I  have the pleasure of running hills on some of the prettiest grounds in the midwest.  A chill was in the air when I started, 28 degrees and the wind dropped it down to a crisp 25 degrees.  I have been spending a lot of time working on my pace on a treadmill so I was anxious to get out and feel the street under my feet.  There were quite a few other runners out there so at least I wasn't going to brave the chill myself.  There are two loops at the Arboretum, an East and West.  The East Loop is 4.5 miles and the West Loop is 2.9 miles.  There is a nice straight away between the loops that adds some extra distance to the route.  I usually start on the East Loop but something told me to begin my workout on the West Side.  Boy, was I glad that I did.  As I was making my way up the first hill, I saw this cool looking animal coming out from behind the trees.  It was making its way to the road, and if I was lucky, I would be able to get a good look at it before it scampered off.  Pushing myself as hard as I could, I came close enough to get a good look of this beautiful coyote.  And then when he saw me....he took off.  Wow, it was so cool and gave me a big lift at the start of my run.  I've seen deer here and have run with hawks flying over my head, but never a coyote.   That little glimpse of one of God's creations powered me through my first 10 minute tempo.  I knew this was going to be a long workout, but it was a necessary one.  This time I remembered to strap my HR watch to the outside of my coat so I could monitor how my beats throughout the run.  Before I knew it, I had finished the West Loop but still had a long way to go.  The East Side has more hills and they are steeper than on the other side.  It was time to put forth a strong effort and battle the rest of these hills and tempo sets.  As I ran, my eyes darted up and down the sides of the path in search of wildlife but I came up empty.  The frozen trees and ponds were pretty, but the patches of ice I could have done without.  One of them at the bottom of a hill was tricky but nothing that I couldn't handle.  As I approached the final hill of the route, I still had a 2 minute tempo to complete.  By this time, I was getting tired but worked through it and pushed myself as hard as I could to try and hit the 152 mark.  Aaaargh, 151 and holding.  

Just shy of where I needed to be but I gave it everything I had.  My tank was empty, time to finish the 8 miles and head home.  Good bye coyote  Hope to see you again soon.

Second Workout for today was on the Bike.  Went to the Courts to bike inside on the training bike.   A full day of photo work and workouts.  I should sleep well tonight.

Jan 22, 2012 A Day of Recovery and Reflection

The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children's children.  It is into us that the lives of grandparents have gone.  It is in us that their history becomes a future.  ~Charles and Ann Morse




Its always hard to predict how quickly my body can recover from a race.  Yesterday's half marathon took a lot out of me as evidenced by my 3 hour nap yesterday and 10 hours of sleep I got last night.  I thought that my body would be sore and achy today but surprisingly my legs were moving pretty good and my mind was looking forward to my morning workout.  I would say that today's routine was going to be easy, but biking 17 miles this morning after racing 13 miles the day before was not going to be a walk in the park.  Since this type of routine is new to me, I wasn't really sure how my body was going to respond to this.  I just knew that whatever I was going to do, I was going to give it my all.  


My coach scheduled today's workout as a 17 mile recovery ride.  It's purpose was to flush out the legs.   Worked up a great sweat. I was looking forward to seeing what Susanne had in store for me in the coming week.  I must be crazy because I can compare the excitement of seeing my weekly workouts to opening presents on Christmas morning.  Fun and exciting.  Well, lets not say always fun, but maybe challenging is a better word.  Either way, I know that I always have a hard week of workouts in front of me and that all this effort is just going to make me a stronger athlete, both physically and mentally.


I think some of the adrenaline I was feeling on today's ride was born of frustration and sorrow that I am trying to work through.  My 92 year old Grandmother suffered a stroke this weekend and is fighting for her life.  She is one of a kind.  She always had an opinion about something and great stories to tell about the depression and how she got by on almost nothing.  She is one of the strongest willed people I know and it hurts to see her lying-in bed unable to move or speak.  I can see wheels turning in her head as we talk to her.  She so badly wants to say something but can't speak.  My son brought a picture to the hospital today that he drew for her.  He laid it in the bed next to her so she would know he was thinking about her.  Although she couldn't tell him thank you, you could see by the twinkle in her eye that she loved his artwork.  She is my last surviving grandparent and has always expressed to me the importance of knowing our family history.  Last year, my daughter and I interviewed her about our family.  We videotaped her telling stories about where she grew up, about the jobs she had, the men in her life and our American Indian Heritage.  Listening to her share her life with us was something special and something I will never forget.  When we would chat on the phone, she would always ask if I was still running and when I would say yes, she would ask me why?  That always made me chuckle.  When I saw her today, I told her about my race yesterday hoping that she would ask me why I was running, but there was no response.  She just looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes and even though she didn't utter a word, I knew what she was thinking.  Right now, she is resting comfortably and is in God's hands.  I consider myself blessed to have such a kind, caring, fighting, and rebellious Grandmother in my life.   I will always carry her strength  and determination with me.

Jan 21, 2012 The Polar Dash- Still Defrosting

Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

-John Wooden

Listening to tunes before the race.

Trying to decide what to wear before the race.

Did you ever sign up for a race and at the time you did, everything sounded good.  The course looked good, the timing was perfect and the SWAG would be a nice addition to your collection.  Then came race day and things didn't seem to run as smoothly as you thought they would.  Well, that sets the stage for the 2012 Chicago Polar Dash.  The race was originally supposed to be held on Jan. 14, 2012, but they cancelled it because it was too cold and rescheduled it for today, January 21st.  Unfortunately for us runners, this weekend the temperatures were colder; 18 degrees at the start, there was snow on the ground and there was a hard blowing wind and lake effect snow to contend with.  Oh yeah, and did I mention that at the last minute they changed the course and had us run loops instead of out and back.  But, as a runner I know that things can change at the drop of a hat.  You have to be mentally prepared to deal with the changes so they don't interfere with your race.  It is the same thing in life.  You can sit back and complain about how some changes interrupted your usual way of doing things or you can take hold of the opportunity before you and make the best of it.  Even with all the changes to the race and the course, I was determined to have a good run.  Was I looking for a PR?  You bet.  Was I being a bit unrealistic, you bet.  But, it was a goal to shoot for and something that motivated me to run hard and do my best.

I took the Metra train downtown and used the beautiful Hilton Hotel as my changing station for the race.  John and Ian came down to the race to cheer me on but after we felt the temperature outside and the wind chill, they decided to stay back and have breakfast.  It was way too cold out there for anyone to run yet stand out in the cold and wait for someone to pass by.  Brrrr.  After a quick change into my layered running outfit, I said good-bye to them and braved the weather starting my warm-up and heading to the starting line. 

The course was plowed but snowy and slushy, and the wind was biting, but what can you do.  You suck it up and put forth your best effort.  And remind yourself, that yes, you did sign up for this.  737 runners lined up to run the half marathon of a lifetime and 669 10K runners were thrown into the mix.   Over the next couple hours we would be competing for a clear running path along the lake front.  Some folks chose to draft other runners in an effort to improve their pace and one guy even crossed the line and headed back without going to the turn around.  Who knew that he did that other than those of us that saw him?  Well, he knew and now he has to live with the fact that he didn't complete the whole course.  Man that is a burden I would never want to carry.  Trudging along the lake front in freezing cold temperatures gives me a greater appreciation for everyone that works outside this time of year.  Yikes!  The only part of the race that made me feel better was that every mile I completed, I was closer to putting on dry clothes and coming out of the cold.  One of the coolest things I saw was the shoreline of lake michigan frozen over and the boat slips displaying a beautiful photo of winter in Chicago.  Another highlight of the run was watching families go down this big sled hill.  It was great to hear laughter from the kids as I was grimacing from the chill that had settled on my back.  Finishing the first loop was easy.  The second lap had a longer run along the lake, a huge puddle to jump over and a stoplight with cars?  Not sure how that got into the mix, but whatever, it was another aspect of the race that made it one of a kind.  Before I knew it, I was running up the last hill to the finish line.  I looked at my watch, 1:56:24.  Not too bad.  Not a PR but hey it wasn't a sunny day either.  There is room for improvement and it will come, but for now, I still had an important mission to finish before I headed to the hotel.  I knew that it took every ounce of energy from me to cross that finish line, now it was my turn to help other runners.  So, as cold as I was, I walked to the mid way part of the hill and started cheering for the other runners that were headed to the finish line.  In as loud of a voice as I could muster, I was yelling, screaming and cheering them on as if they were going to win the race.  Clapping my hands and jumping up and down, I could see that my cheering was pushing some of the runners up that last hill.  Even got some thank yous from some of the runners.  Now, to me, that was a great way to end the race.  Maybe I didn't make a PR but hopefully my cheering helped someone else reach their goal.  

I made it back to the hotel, met up with John and Ian and changed into some dry clothes.  We headed back home to Elmhurst and I was exhausted.  We got home, I changed clothes and crawled into bed for a 3 hour nap.  Boy did that feel good.  It was a great day filled with memories of a run that I might not ever (ok maybe I would run it again) do again.  Just don't ask me to sign up until I am completely defrosted.  

My Rock!

My little man!

Jan 20, 2012 From Within - Training for the 2012 Boston Marathon

Sarah Burke   9/3/92-1/19/12    

The purpose of life is a life of purpose.  ~Robert Byrne

The day before a half marathon and so much is going through my mind.  Ironically, none of it has to do with running, swimming or biking.  It has to do with being thankful for all that we have and to treasure each day as if its our last.  We hear people utter these words all the time but shrug them off thinking, nothings going to happen to me, those words are meant for someone else.  Sometimes that can't be farther from the truth.  Yesterday the sport world was rocked when Sarah Burke decorated freestyle Canadian skier passed away from injuries suffered on one of her runs. Now, I don't know Sarah personally and I can honestly say that until her accident, I probably wouldn't have taken note of her until I was watching the Olympics.  But her story intrigued me and I found myself wanting to learn more about who she was, not just as a skier but as a person.  Sarah was a pioneer of freestyle skiing for women.  She fought to get women into freestyle competitions.  They say that every female skier owes a debt of gratitude to her, but I think it goes farther than that.  Sarah's determination to bring equality for women to her sport is a shining example of the work that still needs to be done for female athletes so they can compete on a level playing field.  The Women's Professional Basketball League and National Pro Fastpitch League are making strides in the world of sports but they still have a long way to go until they are respected on the same level as their male counterparts.  Sarah was determined to show everyone that not only could she compete with and beat some of the boys but that there were other women out there that should be given a chance as well.  Hopefully, someone out there will read Sarah's story and use it to fuel their passion and make their mark in this world.

I can relate to her story of wanting to be given a chance to show people how good you can be.  When I was younger I wanted to play baseball but there weren't  any girls teams.  If you wanted to play, you had to play with the boys.  So, my parents signed me up for the park district league and I was one of two girls out of over 200 boys that were signed up in my division to play .  I remember standing alone at my tryouts with all these boys staring at me and questioning why I was there.  All I thought about was how bad I wanted to play and show them that I was as good as the boy standing next to them.  When it came to my turn at the hitting tryout, the coach told me to relax and try my best.  With fire in my eyes I was bound and determined to show them what I could do.  The boys of course didn't show me much respect by moving in.   I hit the first pitch deep in the outfield over their heads and pulled some third base line shots that moved all the boys back.  By the time tryouts had ended I had quieted the non-believers and showed them just how hard a girl can compete.  That year I was the starting catcher for my team the Braves, made the All Star Team, led my team in home runs and won the Sportsmanship Award at the end of the season.  I also had earned the respect of my coaches, my teammates and their parents.  It was a great lesson for me in learning to stand up for myself, and be confident in my abilities.  The following year there were over 20 girls that tried out for baseball.  Its amazing what one person can change when they are determined and passionate about something.  To this day, one of my prized possessions is my All-Star hat from that season.  I'll never forget that magical summer and how it helped me develop as an athlete and as a person.

I believe that the experiences we have growing up shape us into who we are today.  Whether we display our passion on the slopes or in a race, our actions, our drive, our love of our sport is inspiring someone out thereto be brave and go for it.  One of the greatest things that Sarah did was donate all of her organs to those in need.  I signed my organ donor card years ago and hope that one day, when I am called home, I can give someone the gift of life.  

Today's Workout

Run

Swim Workout

1000 set.  

To learn more about Sarah Burke please cut and past the link below into your browser and see what an amazing person she was.

http://opensnow.com/blog/2012/01/in-memory-of-sarah-burke/

Jan 19, 2011 Training for the 2012 Boston Marathon

Ian and the famous Coach Joe Newton

NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU ARE RUNNING...RUN FASTER! -Coach Joe Newton


These words are replayed over and over in my head every time I enter the York High School Field House. When you enter this facility you can't help but feel that you have entered someplace special.  One whole side of the Field House is decorated with banners from the 27 Illinois State Cross Country Championships that have been won under Coach Joe Newton.  There are two hanging plaques on another wall displaying track and field records from York runners and those in their conference.  And then, there is the Elmhurst Running Club (the early risers) warming up on the track getting ready to push you to the limit.  There is no place that I would rather be at 5:00 a.m. on a cold winter's morning.  Gives me chills just thinking about it.


Let's take a step back.  Last night before I went to sleep, I was really nervous about going to the track workout the next day.  I knew that it was going to be a test of how hard I have been working and how much effort I wanted to continue to put forth.  The unknown is scary and when you have been working on something for over  a month you want and expect to see results.  So, this little seed of doubt creeps its way into my mind and starts playing with it.  What if I can't run as fast as I need to?  I went back and reviewed the workouts and routines I had been working on.  Was it enough so that I would see improvement?  I mean, when you run inside in shorts, and there are no weather conditions, there are also no excuses.  When you step on the track, you lay it on the line for everyone to see.  I prayed that I would get a good night's sleep and be ready to go in the morning.  


The alarm went off at 4:10 and I started getting dressed for my workout.  One peak out the window and seeing a light dusting of snow on the ground and the dark sky made me happy that I was running inside today.  What a difference a day makes.  All the seeds of doubt from last night were gone.  I was anxious to get to the track and start my warm-up.  


Saw the ERC runners on the track.  Started my warm-up and mentally prepped for my first test.  
Today's workout was Light Track Speed.  


Warm ups and strides done, it was time to toe up to the line and start.  I lined up behind the some of the fastest women in our club.  Their hard work ethic inspires me and trying to keep up with them would improve my chances of hitting my pace marks.  So, off we went and I could not believe how fast and smooth I felt.  I felt stronger than when I ran Boston last year and the NYC Marathon this past November.  Felt so good, that I actually ran my 300 and 600 faster than planned.  My 1000 I was right on the mark.  The second set, I needed some "Newton Juice".  His famous quote of "No matter how fast you are running...run faster", kept going through my head.  Every time I felt my legs slowing down, I could hear Newton in my head and pushed harder.  I started off strong and was not going to give in to fatigue.  Before I knew it, my workout was over, and my body was tired.  I left everything I had on the track and did it feel good.  I came up a bit short on the second set, but that gives me something to work on.  I need to remember that all of this training is a process and not something that can be done in one day or even one month.  


I finished the workout with my cooldown running with Becky and Susan.  They are two half marathoners that inspire me with their determination and spirit.  It was a different type of run and I enjoyed catching up with them.  Running today with the ERC, with Becky and Susan, and in a Field House made for Champions,  I had it all!  


It was a GREAT start to a GREAT day!