Shamrock'n Half Marathon 3/14/2010

By looking at the name of this half mary, you already know that it's gonna be a fun race. Or so it sounded fun when my friend and running partner, Mac Donahoo, suggested that we run it. Why not, right? So registration was set and confirmed in January that we would run this half. In fact, it was decided in January that we would run a half every month this year! Yeah, I know, but that's another blog to write about!

I had talked my hubby, Chris, into running the half marathon relay with me. We had found him a willing partner, but she bailed at the last minute. It was a scramble up until the very last minute literally to find him a partner. Alas, one of my twitterverse friends, Linda, known as @MsV1959 on twitter, so graciously stepped in and agreed to be his partner. Whew!

We had picked up our packets and race paraphaneila the Thursday before the run. Good times as we met Mac at Fleet Feet in Sacramento, even though it was only for a few minutes. We were ready!

The race was to be held on Sunday, March 14 at Raley Field in Sac. Easy enough, right? Yeah, right. We had already planned on taking our sons and a couple of their friends to WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) on the Saturday before the race. We still didn't think that it would be an issue. However, we did not factor in the fact that WWE would end so late, and then daylight savings time was on Sunday ... yep, spring forward one hour!!! Ugh. Yet, Chris kept assuring me that we would be okay.

WWE was an interesting event. I had absolutely NO clue what was happening, but it was fun. The boys were entertained and they had a good time. Ironically, Chris' relay partner, Linda, also happened to have tickets to this event, and she sat only 2 rows ahead of us! It was smart of us to bring her race bib, and the relay bracelet to the event to give to her so that in case we didn't see her in the morning, she could at least start!

Unfortunately, we ended up getting home close to midnight. It was a mad dash to get everything I needed organized so that I could get to bed and not have to worry about stuff in the morning. I made sure that I set the clocks ahead, and set the alarm for the "right" time to get up. I asked Chris several times if he wanted me to Google our destination (Raley Field). Each time, he said, "No, we can do it in the morning. We'll be okay."

Sleep came easy for me, but with the usual pre-race anxieties, so I was awakened every couple hours or so. At one point I had a dream that I missed the start, and after that sleep was useless, but I continued to try to get some sort of shut eye. Lucky for me, I remembered that it's not the sleep that you get on the night before the run that counts, it's the sleep the day before the run that's important!

0515 came fast! I know I hit the snooze once, but was up soon afterwards. The plan was to get on the road by 0600 because it was recommended that we show up at 0630 because of traffic and parking delays! At 0600 Chris was having troubles getting directions to Raley Field. What? I said nothing. I couldn't because what good would it do? Instead, I decided to help him, and was able to pull up the address in a few seconds, and get directions immediately after that. Okay, it's 0615 ... let's goooo!

We have to stop, I tell Chris. I needed fuel ... breakfast. McDonald's please. Yes, I said McDonald's. I always get hotcakes and bacon before my races. Except this time, my hotcakes tasted like blah-cakes! I don't think I even barely ate half of them. Oh well. It was enough to fuel me. All this time as we're driving, Linda and Mac are both texting me ... Aaaahhh. I was ashamed to tell them that we were, as usual, perpetually late. We were on the road, and that's all that mattered.

We arrived at Raley Field at around 0715, maybe later. I'm not sure. I just knew that we were running late. I stepped out of the car and I knew that I was already in trouble. You see, I had dressed myself in shorts thinking that the weather would be fab. Mistake!!! I was instantly fffffrozen ... goose bump city on my quads! Gah! I decided it was too late to do anything about it and just suck it up and make the best of it. What else could I do?

Okay, I realize I'm getting winded ... time to move forward to the actual race ...

Mac and I started in Wave 2. Not sure why, or how I got put there, I just know that I was to start there. The first gun went off at 0800, and ours went off promptly at 0810. I was excited, and a little nervous, but overall, I was okay. When the gun went off ... I started Roxanne, my new Garmin, and took off.

I realize that there was a plan that my Coach, Craig Moss, had given me. I tried to follow it, but for some reason or another, my body did not comply with my mind and just took off. I tried to slow it down, but it was not happening, so I just went with it.

Miles 1 thru 8 were uneventful. I remember I was feeling okay, and making good time. I had stayed with Mac until the 10k mark as I usually do, then I start to slow, while she keeps on going. Linda saw me at the halfway mark after she had already finished her leg of the relay. She inspired me to go on. I took my Gu at miles 4 and 8, but as I did so, I could feel my body tell me that it wasn't ready for it. But I was advised by my coach to do so, so I did as I was told.

My goal for this race was to not stop. I had a time goal of 2:10 to 2:15 which were reasonable time goals. I had been running well and without incident so I felt confident. I can't say that I ever hit "The Wall." Mile nine-ish was difficult, but I kept on. I saw Chris at this point and tried to yell at him, but he didn't hear me. Mac was ahead of me, and I thought I heard her yell at me at around mile 10. I asked her later on, and she said that she did which was cool.

At mile 11, it was as if I had a little burst of energy. At mile 12, I could feel the wheels loosen as if they wanted to fall off! It took all I had to hold it together and just will myself to keep on going. I did great talking to myself. I didn't let the voices in my head take over and get the best of me. I made it to mile 13, and I could see the finish and gave it all that I had and kicked it in to the end.

Immediately after stopping, I felt ill. Really, really sick. Physically gut twisting, nasueated SICK. I'd never felt like this before ... EVER! Then it hit me ... too much GU! I was advised to take it at miles 4 and 8 which I did. I should've stuck with my Gu Chomps. Too much Gu makes for a very twisted gut for Row. So ... lesson learned. Follow your gut. My gut kept telling me, "No, Row. It's not time for Gu." In retrospect, I believe that McDonald's may have played a small part in my GI issues. It took the better part of my whole day to get better.


Another no-no ... Not dressing correctly or underestimating the weather. I ran "COLD!" My muscles never warmed up during this run. I had goose bumps the entire run which I knew was bad. Not a good thing! So ... I will bring extra clothing to either dress up or undress! =)

Overall, I loved the course. It was a really nice day, and it was a lot of fun to run. My overall time was a PR for me at 2:18:00. 4 minutes off my previous half. Can't wait to run it again next year. Thanks, Mac, for the invite!

Kaiser Permanante Half Marathon

I realize that I am late posting this race recap, but not to worry, I remember it like it happened just yesterday!

Ah, the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon. San Francisco, California. Sunday, February 7th - Superbowl Sunday!!! (I'm not a huge football fan, so I didn't feel as if I were going to miss out on much.) As an employee of KP, I felt slightly obligated to run this half. I would have much rather have ran in sunny So. Cal at the Surf City Marathon!

The family and I headed out to San Fran on Saturday afternoon. We had debated on whether or not to go up the night before, or to leave early in the morning. It was decided that we would leave Saturday afternoon after I had gotten some sleep after my 12 hour shift worked. Sounded like a good plan. Hotel reservations were made, arrangements were made to have our daughter taken care of, and our bags were packed. Chris, the boys and I left at around four in the afternoon. It was slightly overcast, but rainbows were abound. I believe that this was a sign of good things to come!
The sun was setting, and Nathan remarked that when he thinks of God, he believe that this is where he believed that God would live.

After much deliberation, we settled on having dinner at Strings in Tracy. Carbo-loading on pasta! It was a nice family dinner, despite the endless chatter of the boy behind us!

We arrived at our hotel before seven, checked in and settled in for the night. As I was still tired, I almost immediately went to sleep. So boring, I know, but what can I say? I had no race jitters or anxiety, I just went to sleep.

The morning was a different story! I had awakened without incident and readied myself before I woke up the troops. It was already nearing 0630 as we headed out the door. I know it seems early when you think that the race starts at 0800, but when you don't really know your way around SF, it's a bit of a problem. We were low on gas, and we were hungry. My husband thought that we could easily find a gas station and a McDonalds along the way ... NOT! We drove around for awhile, but finally decided that we should bail on plan as his frustration level waned and the time got closer to 0730uckily for me, I had brought a preworkout shake and took that in for my "breakfast." Unfortunately, I only had enough for myself, and I was running the Half while they were "only" running the 5K. I had to put myself first in this case. Sorry guys!

By this time, my friend and virtual running partner, Machelle "Mac" Donahoo, had already parked and was waiting for us to arrive. She had called several times to find out where the heck we were?!? We saw her as we went to park and she waited for us so that we could all board the shuttle to the start together.

When we got to the start, we made a pit-stop to the porta-potties (gags) then my friend Suzanne found us. It was late, and I felt bad that I could not catch up with my other friends to say hi and wish them luck, but it was just not meant to be. There were so many people there! I bid my hubby and boys good luck and we headed off to the start line.

At 0800 the gun went off. I turned my iPod on, as did my partners, and we were off! It took us seven minutes to get to the official starting line. My nerves started to act up, and I had to remind myself that it was just running. That happens to me at every race in the beginning. After a couple of miles, I settled in and just ran. I stayed with Mac for a good six miles until I thought that she would make a bathroom break. She *always* takes a potty break, so I took one ... but she did NOT! I had lost Suzanne shortly after we started running, so I really had no idea where she was. I was alone for the next half of the run.

What goes through my mind while I'm running a race is simple. I always think that I'm crazy to be doing this, that I should know *better*, and that this is just too much. One reason why I run with an iPod is to drown out the voices in my head. The voices that attempt to drag me down. Hello? I just want to run. This time, I told the voices to just shut up. I remember last year I had to stop and walk for a minute. This year, I told myself that I would not walk. I would not give in to the temptation to walk. I would not believe that I was tired. Instead I tried to enjoy the views of the beach as I got to the Great Highway. I just remember thinking that it was torture to see the other runners running to the finish in the other direction! But I kept running ... all the way to the very end! My time 2:20 ... Roughly 15 minutes faster than my time from the previous year, and 7 minutes faster than my fastest half! A PR!!! I was proud of myself that day. I'm proud of myself everyday, but I was happy that I didn't walk, and that I was able to PR!

My Most Memorable Run

Running has been such a BIG part of my life since I was a youngster. When I was in high school, I ran cross country and track, and I had an awesome coach named Mr. Chun. I don't believe that he ever ran a day in his life, but he coached my teammates and I well!

My most memorable run ever, was during the summer before the start of my junior year! After much planning, fund raising, and begging our parents, Mr. Chun was able to plan an elaborate week for our cross country team on the island of Molokai, Hawaii!!!

I lived on the island of Oahu, so it was a short plane flight over to Molokai. First class flight on my first commuter plane! Wow! It took several planes to get our team to Molokai, and it was fun to see my teammates in the air as I would see them driving on the freeway! Somehow, Mr. Chun was able to get us five star accomodations at Molokai High School's gymnasium! With Mr. Chun as the chapparone for the boys team, and his wife as the chapparone for the girls team, we set up our sleeping bags on the gym floor and set up camp! Too much fun!!!

Our days were packed with various workouts - morning runs, afternoon runs, weight training, core training, callestenics, stretching. It wasn't all about running and working out though. He had planned hikes, beach trips, sight seeing, mule rides, and barbecues which were integrated with a workout in mind!!! Beach trip? Sure, let's make it a beach run! Hike? Uh huh, let's run up hills and do a trail run! Mule ride to the bottom of the mountain, but you gotta run back up it! It never seemed like "working" out to me though. I was with my best friends, and I was doing what I loved - what more could I ask for?

The island of Molokai, if you have never been there, is the 5th largest island of Hawaii. It's beautiful. When I went many moons ago, it was not as populated or commercialized as it is now, I'm sure. The beaches were empty. It was a pineapple plantation, and Molokai was home to the last Leper Colony.

Our last run, on the afternoon before we left, was a scheduled relay run thru the island! We had been divided into teams - mixed boys and girls. It was an amazing run for me! It was so long ago, but I distinctly remember running alongside one of my best friends, Frank, on the empty highway. I remember that Frank talked me through that long stretch. He could have easily left me behind, but our team was not like that. We actually cared about one another, and we had a Semper Fi mentality. When I wavered, he talked me through it, encouraging me. He reminded me to keep my head up, and to look at my surroundings. My surroundings were beautiful: lush greenery, clear, blue skies, perfect Hawaii weather, the sound of waves crashing, and the scent of pineapples! As we ran, I relaxed into the run, and just ran as my teammates cheered us on. That's the run that is the most memorable for me.

It's been a LONG time, but to this day, when I smell pineapples, I think of that run. I think of Molokai, and of my friends. I think of how wonderful it would be if I could go back and visit. I do go back and visit though, albeit in my dreams, or when I'm running and I waver. I bring my mind back to that time and place, and I once again hear Frank talking to me, and my teammates encouraging me on, reminding me that I CAN do it ...