Lucky #13

If the number 13 is unlucky, then I can't wait for my next half marathon! :-D

Today I PR'd at my 13th half marathon. I PR'd despite humid and warm conditions. Despite the course being full of hills. Despite worries and concerns over things I could not control.

Training for Soaring Wings was... interesting. I was following the Runner's World Break 2 plan. It had 4-5 runs per week with one speed day and one long run. The other 2-3 runs were short and easy. It blew my mind. How can a plan that has me doing long runs at a 10:20-10:30 pace, get me to a sub 2 finishing time?? I wasn't actually following the plan so that I could break 2 this time around. I said that all through training. I just wanted to see what the plan was like. However, the closer the race got, the more I considered the goal of breaking 2 hours. I didn't want to commit to it though. I wanted perfect conditions for that goal. Even though, no race will ever have perfect conditions. But could I at least deal with weather OR elevation, and not both? lol

I didn't want to add pressure or psych myself out, so by this morning my goal was to finish, hopefully in the lower range of my previous finish times, with a sub goal of possibly breaking 2. I figured if I wasn't able to get under 2 hours, then then more than likely I wouldn't PR either. I was fine with whatever the outcome would be. Or so I thought.

We got to the start line and only had to wait about 10 minutes until the first wave started. I wanted to start with the 2 hour pacer and just see how things went. After a prayer, and the National Anthem, the first wave was sent off. Expected finishing times between 2:00-2:15 were in wave two, so we only waited about 2-3 minutes before it was our turn.

Being well acquainted with a course can be good, or bad. I'm not totally sure which I would prefer. This was my 8th time to do Soaring Wings. (Just two short of being a part of every race from the start. This was their 10th anniversary!) So I remember every hill, and every turn. It's sort of nice to know when to prepare for the big ones, but at the same time, anticipating the hills can be mentally exhausting. I tried very hard to stay in the moment from the very start. Mile by mile. Step by step. Shortly after one mile, Scott and I passed the pacers. I was feeling pretty good, but I didn't want to give it all I had right from the start. Especially knowing that the second half of this course is the hardest.

I have no idea how far behind me the two pacers were for the amount of time they were behind me, but I stayed ahead for a surprisingly long time. For the next 8+ miles I was in front. I tried to keep that thought in mind as I made my way through the course. There was little else for me to focus on. I had my music and I would sing along in my head if I needed a distraction. Mostly though, this was one of the quietest Soaring Wings races I have done. And it wasn't just because our regular supporters, my parents and kids, weren't able to make it. (Half way to the race their truck broke down :( ) The course was still covered in wonderful spectators and volunteers at aid stations. But for whatever reason, maybe because I was trying to focus so much, I don't remember or have much to say about the middle 9 miles. Nothing other than going up and down, and up and down... and up and down another hill. :)

Somewhere around the 9 mile marker, I took my first walk. My legs and brain were in a massive argument over what to do. Going for a major goal will hurt. I know this. I also felt like I could not possibly run another step. So I got off to the side and walked. But only for a second because that's when I realized the pacers were RIGHT behind me. I said, "Nope nope nope," out loud and began running again. About half a mile or so later it was another uphill where I slowed down and the pacers were right next to me. I said something to them about how I had hoped to stay ahead. The two were very sweet and encouraging, but I can't remember what they said. They passed me and all of a sudden I realized how badly I had actually wanted to break 2. Even as I was telling myself it was fine, that it could still happen, I felt my breathing get erratic- The beginnings of what I've started calling a running panic attack. No matter how much I tell myself it's ok, and how much try to breath, something else inside me takes over and I lose control. One of the pacers heard whatever noise I made and told me I was fine and that I'd pass them on the downhill. I fell a little further behind and she kept encouraging me. Then I started with the full on attack and she was saying something that I wish I could hear, but know she was telling me to keep going, in a way. Through tears and gasping breaths I said I was ok and let myself walk to get it together.

I have no idea how long it actually took. I feel like it wasn't too long. I could still see the pacers ahead of me, and the 2:05 pacers were still somewhere behind me. If I could stay ahead of them I'd still be doing better than I thought I would be doing when I started the race. Between the mile 10 marker and about 11 1/2 miles Scott and I ran, slower than we had been, but we ran. It felt like I was dragging. Little did I know that Scott had also began to struggle.
A little past 11 1/2 or so I was done. I had been replaying a moment in my head from the Little Rock marathon weekend 10k. I was going for a 10k PR. We had something like a mile left to go and I knew I had my PR. In fact, we were way ahead of what I needed to get it. So I told Scott we could slow down and still get the PR. He then said to me, "Why? Why wouldn't you push?" That memory helped for a little bit, but I truly felt like in that moment all I could give was a walk. When I walked, Scott said thank you. Turns out, we both needed it. We walked to the mile 12 marker. I'm not sure how long it was. It felt like a while, but I think it actually wasn't as long as we thought. We had just one mile left. 1.1 to be exact. And that was if we didn't go by our tracking devices. My watch had been measuring at least .1 ahead for about 3 miles already. We walked one more time a little past 12 1/2. Scott's heart rate was too high, and I'd rather walk the rest of the race, than have either of us be in that much pain or struggling. I can't say I felt better, but I did feel stronger. I don't know how that even makes sense, but it's how it was. Scott and I compliment each other so well. He helps me through the middle (and often times whole first half) and I help him through the last however much.

In that last mile, I was thinking MAYBE I'd still PR, but even if not, I knew it would be one of my better finishing times.
We made the last turn and I talked to Scott the whole way down the chute. Someone on the sidelines shouted Scott's name and I think that helped too. We crossed the line, and my favorite part of the whole race was here. Not finishing. But receiving my medal from one of the children I had just been running for. The kids who live on Soaring Wings Ranch are the ones who hand out the medals at the finish line. It's beyond special.

We snagged some snacks from the finisher's chute and then went to the tent where we could get a print out of our stats right away. That is when I found out I had definitely PR'd! Who knew, going into this hilly and humid race day, that I would actually set another personal record?! ...Lots of my supporters actually. They all have way more belief in my ability than I do. Apparently so did another participant. Just after I received my medal I heard someone say, "You made it!" I looked over and there was a lady who I had seen off and on along the course who seemed to possibly have the same goal of a sub 2 finish time as well. I realized she was talking to me and thanked her. She told me when the pacer group had passed me she saw me and was hoping I'd make it. We talked for a couple minutes and she hugged me. This, y'all, this is what the running community is about. I love it so much. I don't know this lady. But she was rooting for me when I didn't even know it. She made a point to say something to me when I finished. I wish I had thought to get her name. I did ask how she did. According to her Garmin she had just barely broke 2 hours. I told her that's what counted, but I happened to be behind her at the tent when she got her official time and loved watching her celebrate when she saw that she truly did break 2 hours. I wanted to jump up and down with her. These are the moments that matter.
Finishing stats:
Chip time- 2:01:35
Chip pace- 9:17
Overall place- 174 out of 867
Female age group place- 14 out of 89

Many things about today did not go the way the obsessive planner in me would have liked. From the weather, to my parents and kids only making it halfway before having to turn around and go home, to blisters (UGH!), but the one thing that did go right... The one thing that matters; my 13th half marathon. It just happens to be my favorite race. And I just happened to PR.

Lucky #13. ;)

More Than Pink

What. A. Day!!

I love Race for the Cure and the attention it brings for breast cancer awareness. It's hard to not be aware of something that everyone is affected by one way or another. But this day, that thousands and thousands of people gather to celebrate or memorialize their loved ones, it's just so special.

Scott and I drove to Little Rock, arriving much earlier than we needed to. That wasn't the plan, but I think we were... okay, I was anxious. It doesn't matter how many races I do, or what the distance is, I always have start line anxiety.

Because I'm actually training for Soaring Wings Half Marathon, and after that continuing on with Walt Disney World Marathon training, my training plan had 11 miles for today. We decided to do a warm up mile before the 5k race, then almost right away get 6-7 miles in before the survivor parade. Things almost went as planned.

After the warm up mile, we found a place in the corral for the competitive runners. There was about 15 minutes until our race began, but time went quickly. While we waited I was looking around to see if I could figure out where we were in the lineup. I didn't feel like there were THAT many people in the corral. I knew that the first 250 finishers received a medal, and at the time, that was my only goal.

When the gun went off I tried to focus only on the running I had to do. Not the people around me. Not a pace or goal time, even though Scott did ask what my goal was, and I told him I'd need a pace of 8:40 or less to PR. Something I had no expectation of getting because it was so warm already and humidity was at 100%. Not to mention, I know how many hills are squeezed into this course! Half a mile, and one bridge over the river in, I glanced at my watch and realized I was running a sub 8 pace. This is a very new pace for me!! It's also not the best way to start if I didn't want to flop before the finish line, but at the same time, I was surprised that even though it was hard, I was not struggling. I also knew I wouldn't hold that. I was close though, for the first mile. :) Out of habit I looked down when my watched beeped- Mile one was done in 8:01. That's also about the time Scott got a real in the moment picture of me. I thought I was smiling for the camera, but I was wrong. lol

I definitely slowed down over the next two miles. At least on the uphills. I tried to keep it steady, but around 1 1/2 miles I started getting a side cramp and it never went away. So I'd go up the hills at a slower pace, but try to pick it up on the downhills. I didn't hear the beep for mile two so it wasn't until almost 2 1/2 miles in that I realized my pace was in the 8:30's. Scott had been encouraging all along the way and at this point he started telling me he knew I had more in me. I told him I was giving it all I had. I really believed that. For the next .6 miles he kept telling me I could do this, but I had to go faster. At least, I think that's what he was saying. With about 1/3 left to go I turned my music up so I wouldn't hear him. Don't get me wrong, I REALLY loved and appreciated his support. So much. But I had a horrible cramp and I was pushing to the point of feeling like I'd be sick. I needed to just focus on whatever song was playing and making sure my legs didn't buckle underneath me. In my heart I knew he was encouraging me, and for that moment, that was what I needed. I knew if I could at least keep my current pace, I'd get the PR I didn't know I was going for. I also knew I was giving it all I could when my normal kick did not show up. Maybe it was the uphill climb to the finish line. I don't know, but it's ok. I had it! I crossed that finish line mat, stopped my watch, received my medal from a lovely volunteer, and after I got some much needed water, I finally looked to make it official. :-D

Finish time 26:54
Average pace 8:34
Overall place 56/211
Female place 25/152

My finishing place puts me in a higher percentage for placement than I have ever been for any race distance. It was a great surprise to find the results and see those numbers!

We only stopped for a couple minutes because I really wanted to get back for the survivor parade. Our next 6 miles were quite the adventure, which was good because after pushing so hard during the race I really just didn't want to move. I had planned for us to run the mile or so down to the river trail because I knew it would be mostly flat once we got down there, and do an out and back route. We got down to the trail and it was so peaceful and quite, but barely a mile on the trail, it ended because of construction.

So we battled with some traffic and ran on grass for a little bit until we found the next street we could turn on, and from there it was up and down more hills, over and over again, until we were able to make our way back in the direction of the race route to finish. We did stop for a couple pictures and a big drink of water when we reached the Capitol building. At that point we checked the time. I wasn't sure how behind we would be because of the detour and walking we were doing. I thought we may only be able to get in 5 miles. We realized we would have time to finish 6, but not the 7th mile, the one that would give us our 11 total for the day. That would have to wait until after the parade.

Once we hit 6 miles we had about 3 blocks to walk to where the parade would be. Those blocks just happened to be at the finishing area of the 5k. I really enjoyed walking the sidewalk and watching people finish!! I'm not sure if I've mentioned in past recaps, but the competitive run, which is what we did, starts half an hour earlier than the rest of the race. The number of participants is so large and there is so much entertainment along the course, that it can take an incredible amount of time to finish. I've walked it twice. One year, it took over 2 hours! So, when we finished our 6 miles, it had been an hour and a half since the general start of the race. At one point, not that long ago, Race for the Cure in Little Rock was number 2 in the country!! I'm not sure what the numbers were for this year.

I didn't know anyone in the parade, but I wanted to be there to honor my friend who normally is a part of it, and also because it is such a special part of the day. The song played during the parade this year was called "Run For Life" by Melissa Ethridge. This was the first time I have heard this song, and it touched me so deeply. Between the song and watching these amazing, strong women walking with huge smiles, I just couldn't keep my emotions under control.

A few of the ladies made eye contact and I'd gesture towards them, clapping or something. It's so hard to explain these experiences. One lady walked over and hugged me. But, it wasn't a hug FOR me... like she wasn't comforting me. It was a thank you. I've been trying to figure out how to put that moment into words and that's it. She was thanking me for being there. For the support. For the tears I'm shedding because I hate so much what they, and anyone with any form of cancer, has to go through. It's amazing what can happen when we show a little vulnerability.

The parade ended, but we waited another minute or two for things to clear up (emotions included!) before we started our final mile. I really didn't want to run anymore, but we had to get back to the car anyway, and it was almost a mile away. So we sucked it up and got moving. I was thankful that a good bit of that final mile was downhill or flat. :)

It was such a good day. The feelings were as much of a roller coaster as the hills we ran all morning long. I wouldn't have it any other way though!!