Blame It On The Rain.....

Milli Vanilli "said" "blame it on the rain" so that's my plan.... Oh and I'll blame it on the humidity and the 5 1/2 hours of kayaking I did I did the other day!  

I took my 2nd run test and did terribly*!   

*terribly is a relative term ha ha

You win some, you lose some I guess.  I'll meet with my coaches this week and hopefully they will have some words of wisdom to refocus me.  I'm not going to perseverate on this tho....it was one run and while I joke, I am cognizant of factors that may have led to these results.  Learn from it and move on is my plan.  

 Here are my overall stats:

 

Here are my splits :( :

Sure this was a decent run with pretty good splits (aka if I did this in the Philly marathon in November I'd be booking my hotel room in Boston for the marathon ha ha), but my last run test (3 miles) was sub 22 minutes and while it's a "small" difference I was hoping to be quicker.

It's all part of the process....

 

"We all have bad days and bad workouts, when running gets ugly, when split times seem slow, when you wonder why you started. It will pass."

-Hal Higdon

 

 

Then and Now.....

As I continue to grow as a runner through this training program I've noticed the effect the training has had on my body.  When I started training in the week of May 19th I took photos of myself and now, that I'm 8 weeks in, I took photos again to see some of the changes.  I was actually pleasantly surprised.  
I am generally very structured with my eating and drinking, but this past month has been disastrous and I was lazy.  "Junk food only once a week" was tossed out the window and "only having a drink or two on Friday and Saturday nights" has been abolished altogether ha ha I can't help think what these "after" photos would look like if was I was taking the care I usually take....

This 1st photo collage shows a side by side of then and now.  The left side is the week of May 19th and the right side is the week of July 7th.  While the changes aren't THAT drastic there are slightly noticeable changes..mostly in my abs, but a little in my face.  (and my hair grew...ha ha)  I was hoping to see some changes in my arms and back, but there are still 20 weeks of training to go so we'll see!

Here's a collage from the beginning....

And a collage of where I'm at now....

 

This post's quote is straight up Theta Phi Alpha style....“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.” -Catherine of Sienna

A champion is committed to a vision, a dream that originates in thesoul and evolves into action.

I'm 6 weeks into my training and I'm loving it.  Is it hard?  ABSOLUTELY!  After my run test my run pace was established.  My easy runs are now a 9:15 pace and my tempo runs (medium level) are an 8:13 pace.  I love that I'm out of the 11:00 minute per mile pace, but man who knew 9:15 could be so tough?!?!  A 9:15 pace was NOTHING to me before this training program with my coaches, but with the introduction of my new head to toe form and cadence I am both physically and mentally exhausted and sometimes barely able to keep the 9:15 pace.   

My program is a combination of strength and core enhancement (lifting) and running and because it is so different from what I've been doing I'm sleeping better and I'm in a constant state of "good sore".  I explained this feeling to one of my coaches and her response was along the line of "isn't it a great feeling to keep changing up your workout and tricking your body?"  It is...I've never felt better!  

I did a 40 minute tempo run (8:13 pace)...I was dying between the heat and the "grueling" pace.  I tired to stay as consistent as possible, but it was really hard.  I decided I will do all my tempo runs on a track since it's flat and I have a better shot of keeping my set pace...the only problem is 40 minutes on a track is sooooo boring.  

When I trained for my 1st marathon it was all new and exciting  so I never got bored....I actually LOVED  every bit of training.  During the last marathon training program it became so tedious-I really hated training. (Tho I missed training when it ended) This new training program is totally different from the combination of lifting and running to doing timed runs as opposed to distance runs I feel (even having 22 weeks left) I won't be getting bored.  The training plan my coaches have me on keeps me on my toes-literally and figuratively!  Ha Ha  

Sometimes the training is tough and I know it's only going to get tougher, but Boston is my goal and I need to push myself to get there.   I guess some people just get that about me. 

I must talk about running a lot and my students must listen to me and talk about me at home because I got one of the most thoughtful gifts ever from a student at the end of the school year.  I got the Alex and Ani Champion bracelet.  The quote says, "A champion is committed to a vision, a dream that originates in the soul and evolves into action. The winged sandal of Hermes, the Greek messenger of the gods, represents limitless potential as it radiates the ability to reach goals swiftly and share messages of love clearly. Look within your heart to summon the energy to finish the fight, believe in the impossible, and become a champion."  WOW!   I think it looks pretty sweet next to my running watch!  Thanks #8 I can't wait to get to my dream!  

"If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have received." -Unknown

When I left off in my last post I mentioned the running test I was to take for my training. After the initial freak out of seeing "Run-hard TEST" I spoke with my coaches only to find it was an east 10 minute warm-up, followed by 3 miles as hard as I could go/sustain for 3 miles, followed up with a 10 minute cool down. 

Work was crazy the day of the test and after work was crazy with errands.  I finally got home around 8:30pm, changed, and hit the track.  I don't know why I was so nervous...it was just running and I run all the time.  I had to do this run test for my coaches to get an idea of my pace for training...that's it.  I know I was nervous since the last 4 weeks of training was full of easy runs (pace being in the high 10 minutes zone as I was working on form) for 30 or 40 minutes.  I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to go fast again.  I warmed up at my slow pace and got set to time my 3 mile. 
As I ran my test, as hard as I thought I'd be able to go for 3 miles, I felt awesome.  I 'd look down at my watch thinking it wasn't working because the time was too quick or the splits were off, but it was  all correct. 
It wasn't anywhere as bad as I thought it would be.

For my timed test I ran:

Total Time: 21:59.8

Total Distance: 3.03 miles (7:16 avg)

Mile 1: 7:05

Mile 2: 7:24

Mile 3: 7:19

remaining amt: 0.03 

 

Changing my form has really helped me exert less energy to run quicker.  After it was done I thought, "I could have gone harder". ha ha

 

Bring On The Next Phase Of Training! 

 

"If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have received."
--Unknown

ahhh I jinxed myself...

Yesterday I wrote about my training so far.  I mentioned the "easy" runs I've been doing.  I've quite enjoyed looking at my schedule each week and seeing "run-easy 40 minutes" or "run-easy 1:10". Today I looked at my schedule for the week and noticed "run-easy 20 minute" tomorrow and thought, "that's weird, only 20 min?"  then saw on Wednesday I have a meeting with my coaches with a workout titled "Run-hard TEST"  I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous.   I knew this was coming but it frightens me as I still have 24 weeks of training....I don't want to leave "easy" zone just yet ha ha

Check back Wednesday night! 

167 days to go....

It's been a while since my last post...(I feel like all my posts start this way) 
At the end of my last post I mentioned I hired coaches.

While this is costing me a small fortune I am thrilled with this decision!  I do ZERO thinking with this training/coaching..I just listen and do...so far, so good! ha ha 
I've completed 3 weeks of my 28 week training program. 
While I don't actually see my coaches often I do communicate with them on a fairly regular basis...mostly because I email them with a million questions!  (I've met with them once and they told me I ask the most questions out of anyone ha ha)

Here's how it goes...
I filled out a LENGTHY questionnaire about me as an athlete, my running past, my goals, etc.  They develop a training program based on my needs.  My ATP (athlete training plan) each week is posted to secure website.  If I need something altered I email them and they change it and we move on.  Apparently I'm to stick to the program and not make my own decisions about when changes need to happen and what those changes should be.  My schedule is based on recovery days.  My training also includes a prescribed strength component which I do about twice a week. Another major change with this training is what I run. For my two previous marathons I ran 4 days a week based on mileage. This program has me running for amounts of time. I will never run a 20 mile training run with this program. While it's new and I'm REALLY working on trusting this plan.   I like how it's going so far.  Every so many weeks we meet and they check things, make changes to my form, test my pace, etc.  For my first meeting they watched me run and gave me form tips.  I thought I was a good runner....apparently I'm wasting a lot of energy when I run.  I have an entirely new running form from head to toe. 
 
Introducing the new Kelly....
-My foot strike is now focused on landing on the forefront of my foot.
-My body lean was off and now I lean from my ankles, not my waist. 
-My knees go forward as opposed to up and my feet stay behind me. 
-My arms are held at a 90 degree angle with my hands by my waist, AND they stay at my sides as opposed to crossing in front.  I keep my shoulder back like I'm trying to pinch them together.
-My cadence has been altered also....my target cadence is 180 (aka each foot hits the ground 90 times in a minute)  I have a much shorter stride now. 
-The biggest change is that they currently have me running MUCH slower.  Apparently I have to learn to run slow to learn to run fast....I get it but I don't get it at the same time.  I'm having a VERY hard time with this.  At this point in my training, I should be running about an 11 minute mile, but I just can't get that slow.  Combining needing to slow down and all the aforementioned changes (including each foot hitting the ground 90 times a minute) I am mentally and physically drained at the end of each run.  (I can't listen to my ipod when I run because it's too distracting when I'm trying to listen to the metronome tap out when my feet should be hitting the ground)

At my next meeting with my coaches I will be timed on runs to see a good pace to set me out with.  I'm looking forward to getting a quicker pace but I know once they have me doing speed drills I will miss these days where my biggest problem is not being about to run slow enough ha ha

"We all have dreams, in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort."
- Jesse Owens

Still Licking My Wounds....

So It's been 2 weeks since the marathon and I'm ready to talk....barely.

When people ask you, "how are you?" you instinctively respond, "Well, you?" I think I do this a good 37 times a day.  When the question, "So how did your marathon go?" comes up I reply, "Awful, but thank you for asking."  I genuinely mean that....it was AWFUL! 
I will provide a small photo timeline to help tell my story....

Photo 1: My friends made me signs and hung them on my door to greet me before I left...AWESOME!  It was 3:30 in the morning, but I started to get excited....


Photo 2: My pre-marathon selfie....I was feeling great...I was psyched up and ready to get started.....

 

Photo 3:  I was a  few miles in and I have to admit I was feeling PHENOMENAL!  I was with the pace group and thinking "an 8:23 isn't so bad...I think I can do this"  WRONG! 

Photo 4:  I just call this IRONIC.  Yes, I look like hell, mouth open and tongue out, but it wasn't until a few glances at this that I notice the clock....THE TIME I NEEDED BUT FAILED TO GET! 


Photo 5: My finishers photo....Exhaustion

 

The Good Parts....
Photo 6:  One of my best friends and her family came down to see me.   My handsome boyfriend (the cutie in my arms) saw the 1st person finish and asked his mom if that was me....sorry kid you're gonna be here a while....

Photo 7: My sister's fiance made me a poster to encourage me...he's clearly aware of my fear.

\
Photo 8: More of my amazing best friends came to cheer me on....with a poster that had a misspelled word and all...PS they are educators ha ha


Photo 9:  My sister calls me Smelly....now everyone knows ha ha love it! 


Photo 10: This one speaks for itself


Photo 11: My sweet niece surprised me by coming down to watch <3

Photo 12:  Post marathon beer and disco fries.....


Photo 13: Celebrating with friends....


Photo 14: Post marathon Blizzard

 

And now the story the photo timeline missed...

The best way to start is by saying there's nothing like your 1st marathon.   I have lots of comparisons to help define this point...
-Everything was new the 1st time around.
-My 1st marathon was me just getting it off my bucket list and this one had a purpose...get my BQ. 
-Perhaps it was the training/time of year that I mentioned, time and time again, didn't go well.
-Maybe it was  the difference in events....Besides my fans who were spread throughout the course there were virtually no fans along the course in NJ...I felt like I was running alone.  In Chicago there were literally fans 26 out of the 26.2 miles cheering and helping carry me along.
(A quick shout out to all my fans who came to support me: my mom, dad, 2 of my sisters, 2 of my brothers, my sister's fiance, my sister in law, my 2 nieces, 1 of my nephews, my best friends Alice and Kathy (and Kat's family), my friends Jenn and Dave, and one of my students and her family.  Not to mention all my friends who followed me via text, Twitter and Facebook)
Whatever the reason, it's true...nothing will compare to my 1st marathon....I'll never get that feeling back. 

Race day started off great.  Despite the training I agonized over I felt prepared and ready to go.  I went in knowing it was going to be a fight and I probably wouldn't get my goal, but I was still positive and optimistic...ok, ok, realistic. 
Problem 1: Based on my time in Chicago I was put in corral C but my pace group was in Corral B.  They were at the tail end of the corral, but still they took off 2 minutes before me.  I know, you're probably saying, "so what? it's 2 minutes" and yes, that's true, but it's not the same with running...two minutes is a big thing.
It turned out that catching up to them was fine and sticking with them was actually not a problem either.  The race was going great....I was wishing there were more fans, but thankful I put my name on my shirt so the few fans out could cheer just for me.  ha ha I saw my student and her family around mile 7 and I looked and felt great.  A bit down the road I saw friends...I was so excited.  I was ahead of my pace and I realized that wasn't necessarily a good thing so I backed it down a bit.   I continued to look and feel great.  At mile 10 I was surprised to see siblings I didn't know were coming.  Still looking and feeling great.  At mile 10.5 I took in too much Gatorade and too fast.  I got a cramp...WTF?!?!  My pacer, Paul, (who, btw, was AMAZING...he was positive, helpful, entertaining, etc)  asked if I was ok.  I told Paul I had a cramp to which he replied, "take it easy...we're just getting warmed up"  I heard that and wanted to die.  He was right tho....mile 10 is pretty early on when you're doing a marathon. We weren't even half way there....ahhhhh

Problem 349670349760346: I broke the #1 rule.....I tried something new on race day.  After reading a book about marathon nutrition I was terrified I wasn't taking in enough carbs so I took a gel pack because it seemed better than taking in more sports beans.  The gels were awful and made me puke...twice.  There were points where I thought to myself, "puke in front of that cop and if he sees you puke he might pull you off the course and it's not you quitting, it's him pulling you." At that point, anything was better than finishing the race.

You're probably saying, "Oh man Kelly's race did go poorly" but I'm here to tell you it got worse....
I knew this race had uneven pavement from the last time I ran ii when  I did the 1/2 marathon a few years back, but I guess I forgot.  Around mile 13 I twisted me knee on uneven pavement.  I thought I was going to die.  I was in so much pain!  Again I thought about throwing in the towel and then feared having DNF by my name....I kept on going. 

 

Everyone was excited about running by the shore, but I knew better.....I knew the course would be flat, but in the back of my head thought, "if we get a windy day we're done."  Well, we got a windy day.  There were points I wasn't even sure I was moving....really. 

 

Shall I go on?  I feared walking, but it got to the point I couldn't go on and finish if I didn't walk a bit.  I know walking is fine, but for me, in my head, it was failure.  I walked through watter stations and slowly starting seeing pacing groups I started waaaaay before pass me.  My low point was when I saw the 4 hour pace group pass me.  I literally cried.  I cried because I was mentally beat and physically I was in so much pain. 

I finally made it to mile 22 where I knew I'd see my parents...I let them know with tongue out anguish face and thumbs down motions that it was not going well, but they seemed too excited to see me to notice that.

 

By some stroke of luck, I got to mile 25 where I saw more of my fans, again....Alice and then my little sister hopped on the course and ran with me trying to cheer me on.  Alice assured me the finish was "right around the bend"...LIES!!!!  ALL LIES! ha ha  I didn't think the end was ever coming.  Somehow I did it....I crossed the finish.  I felt nothing....I was so upset.  I got to see my fans and receive congratulations from them, but inside I was mixed with happy it was done and I actually didn't quit, anger for doing so much worse than I thought I would have done, and frustration for it all. 

 

My mental state was a mess as was my stomach.  To continue to add insult to injury I got sick and threw up a good portion of my trip back up north.  GROSS! 

 

I know you might be saying, "yeah, her race was kinda crappy, but she did it, she finished" I get that, it is huge that I ran a marathon....it's not normal to run that long/far, but in my head I failed.....in a huge way.  Finishing wasn't my goal; my goal was my BQ and not only did I not get my BQ it took me longer than my 1st marathon. 

Regardless of everything that happened it's over, I've sulked, and I know everything will be okay because I've hired coaches.....

To Be Continued.....