I was asked to be an ambassador for the Glass City Marathon. I was scared & honored. I found out that my "responsibilities" would be to talk/post about my training & running. That's easy & nothing I don't do, already... I was supposed to talk about the Glass City event- which I do. I always talk about my upcoming races- again, not a difficult task to ask of me. -I will need to work at the expo; but, I'm going to be there, anyways- again, not a problem... BUT THEN (!!!) I was ...told I would get to give away two free registrations to the race! I was SO excited to do this!!! To a runner, that's like bestowing a million dollars with butterflies, rainbows & glitter to another runner!!! SIGN ME UP! -I knew if the girls drew names, it would get them involved & remove any doubt of "partiality" if I drew a name of a friend. I was just... HAPPY! I was happy all day thinking about running with Jim & giving a gift of running to someone else! The girls came with us & recorded our finish. We spent the day hanging out at home & had dinner, together. --It's been a REALLY great day! There are perfect days... then there are days when perfection stands still...

 

I have a race, tomorrow. I am becoming more comfortable at races. My runs are becoming stronger, therefore, I have more confidence in my abilities & am able to overcome my fears to come to races. I have to talk myself out of a "terror" at EVERY race, still. The fight or flight instinct is still incredibly strong in me. -Having a calmer mindset definitely helps in a better pace time. I often have to "trick" my mind to "just run-don't race". It takes the pressure off & I end up pushing it a bit more after the first warm up mile.

 

Tomorrow is different. Jim wants to run. We have always done our own thing at shortie races. I've done the longer races, solo. -I feel a need to run with him, now. He is putting in longer training runs & this will be his longest race, ever. He has done 5Ks in the past. Tomorrow is 4.8 miles & we are signed up for a 10K, together, this Spring. We HAVE DONE a 10K in training, together, but not many.  This is an epic event for him. None of his school buddies are running, still. He is +50. Taking up running at 50 is a bigger fish than taking up running at 15! I want to see his face & share the experience. I don't want to be a competitor, tomorrow. Tomorrow I will be on Team Speer. I know it sounds cheesy... My family has come to some of my races. At the beginning I went & competed solo then drove home. Those were lonely days. 

 

 

Eventually, (sometimes dragging them out of town) they came. Sometimes they were at the finish line. At some shorter races, I was able to get them to participate. (Color Runs & Disney races are quite the enticement!) My last crippling marathon affected Jim. He was there at the finish & when I saw him, I just cried. I hugged him & cried. I was doing everything I could to reach him at the finish line. Nothing else mattered but seeing him there. Then... there he was. -I was a salty, sweaty, cold, bawling mess... & he just hugged me.

 

 

I took some time to heal & Jim started running with me. Our miles were low & slow... but it was good to have company. Lucy has been a loyal companion but nothing beats a friend being with you. Jim's frequency increased. His pace has quickened & his mileage has increased. I may have a few years advancement on him, but I have no doubt that he will be beating me, soon. (I say that fondly & looking forward to the competition.) Until that day arrives... there is tomorrow. A milestone that BOTH of us will achieve, together. Tomorrow, we bloom, together...

Here it is! Let me know that you want to be part of Toledo's Glass City event and you could win a free entry! Let me know if you want a 5K, 1/2 marathon or marathon registration... I have two race entries to give away FOR FREE to a local, fast course & a Boston qualifying race.  I will have my girls each pull a name from those that request a free entry. Hope it's YOU!

 

When I first tried running, it was difficult. I had no training, no high school or college experience on a track or cross country team. I had no knowledge of shoes, fabrics, supplements or distances. I walk-ran as I could down country roads then at the local metro-parks.

I saw slow progress. Eventually, my husband bought me a Garmin watch. I felt I hadn't "earned" it. At the time I had finally reached three miles & was regularly logging weekly miles with my stop watch. That gift was a pivotal moment, however. I may have "only" been going three miles... but I could see my weaknesses & strengths. I saw a strong start & a progressively slower pace. I saw miniscule improvements in distances that were impossible to track with a stop watch. I was able to see that I was slower at one trail than another because of elevation changes. I saw my times s-l-o-w-l-y getting faster or my mileage slowly getting longer. I decided I had to make the commitment to run a race, a 1/2 marathon. Why? There were many that were faster than me. There were many that "looked" like a runner. I didn't. I felt that the only way I could prove to others (mostly to myself) that I was a "real runner" was to have my name "on the books" & a medal in my hand.

Someone had planted a seed in my mind that "real runners" ran 9 minute miles or faster. At the time I was doing 10 minute miles. I didn't "FEEL" like a real runner... so I had to "prove" it by going "far" not "fast". I signed up for my first 1/2 marathon, locally, in Toledo.

I had a fateful day with a large, innocent puppy that forever changed my biomechanics.  I woke up the next morning & couldn't feel my legs. The lower half of my body was "asleep". The strange tingling sensation when your leg or arm falls asleep... no matter how hard you try to move, your muscles won't respond... I was in a full blown panic! This was one month before my first 1/2 marathon. I tried desperately to regain momentum but I "knew" I wouldn't be able to participate in Toledo's event. I couldn't walk, let alone run. I was in constant pain & aches... & continually hurting in other areas farther down the connective "chain". I came to understand... YEARS later... that my left leg had come out of socket at the hip and my Sacrum had displaced at the joints where it connected at my back/hips. I continued "running" as I could for four years in a constantly crippled, injured state. I felt pathetic & a poor excuse for a "runner". I continued training "solo" because my training was so erratic. Eventually... after feeling I was at the end of my rope, I turned to a chiropractor. I found some relief... but eventually left to a more aggressive treatment from another doctor. It was here, that I found pain free relief. Yoga has helped in conjunction with medical treatment.

I am currently finding my fastest race times. I am wiser about running shoes, fabrics & race distances. I am familiar with races, local runners, better eating habits & sports nutrition. Experience is an unforgiving teacher.

I shared my race times as I improved with the friend that planted the "definition" of a "runner" in my mind. He had originally said 9 minute miles were "real running times". When I shared my 9 minute race paces... He said in the same tone as he stated years prior: "You know, they say real running is 8 minutes per mile or faster..."

So... I FEEL more like a runner than I did years, ago. I've had moments of feeling like a "real runner". I am finally hitting 8 minute miles in shorter races. -Does that make me a "real runner"? I don't meet all of the standards some have laid out for a definition of a "real runner". (I have a slight idea that the pace time may shift again when I express my improved race times to my friend.) I run... I try... I sweat... I improve... I worry... I try again... With my Garmin, I see improvements in the right direction. My Garmin doesn't show the improvements of my smile, now with my husband running at my side. I am less fearful to toe the line because "I saw my numbers" of my last race. I want to push it faster at my next race... I need to prove it to the injured, untrained beginner that still lingers in my mind. I outrace the ghosts of people's voices that told me & laughed at me when I shared my goals of running. I'm still trying to prove myself... mostly... trying to prove it TO myself... You can overcome just about anything...

The Glass City races are on the 2015 calendar

http://glasscitymarathon.org/


Date: Saturday, April 25, 2015- The fun begins on Saturday with an expo and family friendly activities.

Findley Davies Kid’s Marathon
The biggest kids run around, the Findley Davies Kid’s Marathon includes runs for kids ages 2-12.

Location: TBD (UT Campus)
• Start Time
• 11:30am — Meet the UT Football Players, with Agility Angels Dog Show to Follow
• 12:00pm — 1/4 Mile Run, with 1/2 Mile and 1 Mile Run to Follow
• Suggested Age Groups
• Ages 2-3 — 1/4 mile
• Ages 4-12 — 1/2 or 1 mile

Date: Sunday, April 26, 2015 
• Marathon, Half Marathon, & relay team start -- 7am
• 5K start – 7:15 am

• Marathon Course is supported from 7 am – 1 pm

• Post Race Party in parking lot 10

The Overall Glass City Marathon Field Limited to a total of  9,000 Participants

Marathon: 2,000 Runners

5 Person Marathon Relay: 300 Teams/1,500 Runners

Half Marathon: 3,500 Runners

5K: 2,000 Runners/Walkers

Which race should you do? I personally, will be participating in the Owens Corning 1/2 marathon. I found that not having access to a treadmill, regularly, over the winter, makes long runs difficult in NW Ohio. I will save my 20-mile-long-run-legs for summer miles & a Fall marathon. :)

How should I train?
There are many online training plans. There are books & magazines with many options to choose. I, personally, have had much success using Hal Higdon's free online training schedules. I have tried numerous plans that all exacerbated an old injury. Hal Higdon's plans have yielded results, personally, & I am looking forward to including speed work, this year.
http://www.halhigdon.com/

A local perk is having free, weekly, group runs at the local running stores. Many find these doubly productive as training and for socializing. Dave's Running Shop is sponsoring supervised, weekly training starting in January. There is a free informational meeting on January 3rd at the Maumee Indoor Theater at 9AM for Q & A. The training program is not free...

What are all the races distances?
A 5K is equivalent to 3.1 miles.
A half marathon is equivalent to 13.1 miles.
A marathon is 26.2 miles.
A marathon RELAY consists of a TEAM of runners each participating in a portion of the race course.
Leg 1 – 5.1 Miles
Leg 2 – 6.1 Miles
Leg 3 – 4.4 Miles
Leg 4 – 5.3 Miles
Leg 5 – 5.3 Miles
This sounds like a party to me! :)

Depending on your goals and foundation, any of these distances are eventually attainable. I started as a "walker" & weight lifter.

Speaking of where I "started", check out this energetic Ambassador Sarah Speer.

 

My race, last night, went well. I averaged 8:45 minute miles. I wish I was faster... but I am happy that I am making progress. Two years ago, I did my first 10K at 9:15-9:30 minute miles.  I would train at 10:30 to 11:00 minute miles. -SO...in any given race, sub-10 minute miles were celebrated! Now I'm doing 9 minute & sub-9 minute miles. I've even hit sub-8 minute miles on shorter 5K races, but not without feeling nauseous & having to emergency stop & heave... -Comparing apples to apples, I see improvement. This was the first race I've done (comfortably-without heaving) with NO KT Tape at my knee, Achilles, heel, or foot... all effects from a displaced hip now in the proper place!!! I felt no discomfort or "twinges" to alarm me to slow down. Today, I feel tightness in my Achilles but it is only because I am tuned into previous injuries. I am PLEASED with the improvement in performance- FINALLY!

I've kept my mileage low after Detroit's marathon to facilitate healing... but I'm now running daily! This was UNHEARD of a few months ago! Yoga is working miracles! I am looking forward to making advancement in those classes as well and may include a 3rd day of weekly yoga to counteract tight muscles as my mileage increases.

I was SO nervous thinking about this race (ANY race) that I was making myself sick to my gut. I think the elusive "PR" is what keeps runners coming back to races despite physical or emotional distress. The elusive improvement in any run: time, comfort, feeling of strength, ease of a race, coming ahead of a fellow runner... can be motivation to do better "next time". -While I don't think of competing against any one person in my running club, I must admit there is satisfaction seeing ones that I would finish "behind" (OFTEN)... now finishing behind me. There are still plenty finishing WAY ahead of me... but my personal improvement is all I can focus on...

What do I hope to achieve? I just want to see what I am capable of. For years I was limited due to religious fears, social fears & physical impairment. Now, I realize I am not breaking any moral laws with running. I am easing my social awkwardness/fears as well as calming emotional insecurities with running. My physical imbalances are being corrected. I want to see what this old girl can do. My mom asked me at the beginning: "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?" My answer now is: "I just want to see if I can..."

 

The butterflies never leave... It doesn't matter if I'm doing a 5K or a marathon... My stomach is always nervous at the thought of a race! Tonight, I have a 9K at 10:11 PM on 12-13-14. -Brain child in our running group & a series of races (10K on 10-10-10; 11K on 11-11-11; 12K at 12:12 AM on 12-12-12).

I was suspecting hubby would run, too. If he was participating, I would run with him. If he wasn't participating, I would try to RACE. He was considering running & just told me "no". Now, my butterflies are in full force! Why? There is no "person" coming that I am "gunning" for... It's the whole idea of "performance", I guess. "Those crossing the finish line ahead of me will judge my performance." Honestly, I can say, working a finish line is probably one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. To watch each person's face is amazing. Some are "in the zone/competing". Some are playful & supportive crossing the line with family & friends. Others are in pain, exerting themselves & using every ounce of "anything" left in them. Some hear my congratulations & respond... others do not. It reminds me that we are all exerting ourselves & FEEL different things at different times.

Today's race will be "different". It will be my first race with NO KT Tape, no serious pain or discomfort. I DID work all day, however. I have no plan on pace except Kamikaze as long as I can without vomiting... Going "hard" is exciting & terrifying at the same time. I have NO CLUE what my potential is, presently, & in the future. It's a new game & I wanna' see if I have wings...