2 PR's and a Doctor Appointment

Motive will always hold a special place in my heart. I started running last year, and joined the Motive Half Marathon training program, so a year ago last Sunday was my first race that I had trained for. That’s special. Furthermore, what’s even more special, is the fact that I ran so hard, and got so dehydrated, that I spent 4 hours that Sunday afternoon with stomach cramps, lying on the floor of my bathroom in a cold sweat with liquids and everything I had in me coming out through every possible way. (nice visual, eh!)

After Saturday’s wedding, which was nice, but not so much fun when you’re walking around with a water bottle in hand, and not eating the smoked salmon, the good looking dips and cheeses, and other delectables sprawled around the tables. You see, to me it’s all mental. While watching the NY marathon a couple of weekends ago, they talked about one of the contenders, and how he got food poisoning a few days before the race when he went out to eat at a seafood restaurant in NY with his extended family who was in town for the race. So there’s no way I’m sticking seafood in my mouth the night before. In addition, I didn’t eat their dinner, as I had a big breakfast, a giant bowl of pasta right before I left the house, and had another ‘safe’ helping of pasta with meat sauce waiting for me at the house.

I got home at 8pm from the wedding, scarfed down the pasta, and went to bed. 4AM came rather early. I woke up without the alarm at 3:45, so just decided to get up and add 10 minutes to Karma’s dog park fun. 4AM fun?... I dunno, but his tail was waggin’.
I got to the race at 6:10, and was the 5th to the Rogue tent. I like to get there early, because I always have to go to the bathroom a million times. (3 times before I left the house, and 3 more times before the race. And we’re not talking #1)

We have a 4, yes FOUR mile warm-up, so as you read this, remember, that you’d need to add 4 miles to those below to know what I’d done prior.

My goal, per coach Sisson, was to run this very hilly Half Marathon at Marathon Goal Pace. As I’ve decided to train for a 3 hour 13 minute Boston Qualifier time, my goal was 7min 23 second miles, making it a 1hour 37min run. (which would also be a new Personal Record for me in a Half Marathon by 45 seconds) I printed out a Pace band, so I could figure out where I stand overall, as the hills will probably screw things up. It’s a cool 48 degrees’ish at the start, I’m in shorts, short sleeve shirt and gloves. Perfect!

The course is hilly. It starts off at Motive (Riata Apartments), and runs down Jollyville(downhill), then down a step hill in Rain creek, and then at mile 4.5, the fun begins. Hill for 4 miles. Big ones. Check out the pictures… (http://stampede.motive.com/runnersviewpoint.asp) then some flat’ish miles, and finishes with more hills for the last 2 miles.

BANG!, gun goes off.

Mile 1 –
Given my historic fast starts that kill me at the end, I’m doing all I can to stay slow, but I can’t make sense of my pace with so many people weaving in and out. I run by Missy and Francie and Silke, wishing them luck. I spot Lex about 20-yards ahead of me, she’s struggling with her long sleeved shirt, her iPod, the headphones. I have no idea what the hell she’s doing, but she seems to not be liking it. I speed up to offer assistance and help hold her long sleeve while she readjusts the iPod. (it’s important for me to stay busy. If I can chat, help, look at, or do anything during the run, the miles will come easy.) We pass Mile one at 7:04. A bit fast, but can’t complain.

Mile 2 -
We turn on to Jollyville from Oak Knoll. Jollyville is a fast street, running-wise. It’s a nice gradual flat run, but has a negative grade, so it really is a tad downhill. I’m REALLY focusing in not going too fast. I want to lock in that 7:23 pace, and also not blow up in the hills because I went out too fast. People around me are running my pace, and when we click our watches at the 2 Mile marker, the chatter begins. “What the hell?” “We didn’t go that fast.” “That’s the easiest 6min35 mile I’ve ever run!” etc… Mile 2 – 6min 35 secs. Uh oh.

Mile 3 and 4 -
I let those fools keep running at their frantic pace, and take note of what they’re wearing so I can smile as I run by them later on when they’re gasping for air. We continue down Jollyville, then a right on Great Hills trail. It’s quiet. No one is saying anything, because we all know the big downhill is right around the corner, and hell is about to begin. I’m running much slower, I have no idea what my MGP should feel like, so I’m guessing, and end up doing a decent job.
Mile 3 - 7min 26. nice!
Mile 4 – 7:11 (this is good as part of it is on the giant downhill or Rain Creek. I take my first HammerGel here, so I have energy in the upcoming hills)

Mile 5 & Mile 6 & Mile 7 & Mile 8 –
The fun really begins at 4.5. You reach the bottom of the hill, and immediately start the climbing. I just don’t want to explode. Keep a steady pace, keep looking at the top of the hills, and keep chugging at a constant pace, stong arm movements to keep the body moving. I’m feeling good, but that hill’s a bitch, and when we hit a flat part, my quads announce their displeasure… Burning. I’m not giving up this easy though. It’s too friggin’ early, and I’m not letting any terrorists win. Nope. I’m taking these hills. No one passes me, which feels good, people are dropping around me. I tell some of them who are looking at their feet. “Don’t look down, keep your eyes on the top of the hill. Do NOT look down.” They listen, at least for the few seconds I can see them. The roads continue to wind through the neighborhoods, and at every turn, there’s a surprise… another whopping climb, another hill, another elevation. Sometimes some very welcome
short down hills, but for the most part, it’s uphill. I’m not quite sure where every was, but during these miles, there were tons of Rogue supporters, which was great. One recognizable face provides about a Mile in mental goodness! I love supporters! Erin, Tim, and everyone else, you guys rock!!!
I’m doing surprisingly well. The Miles are flowing, and I’m feeling surprisingly strong. I don’t really care about my goal pace in these hills, as it’s so hard to judge due to the ups and downs and speed changes. I’m just determined to run well throughout these miles.
Mile 5 – 7 min even
Mile 6 – 7:23
Mile 7 – 7:19
Mile 8 – 7:12!

Flat Miles: 9 and 10 and 11
I take my second Hammer Gel at the exit of the hills to regain some strength. I’m still feeling good, and have good songs playing on the Nano. I’m well ahead of pace, I think when I decided to take some time to math it out, I was about 2mins ahead of my projected pace. AS I’m feeling so good after running the hills, I decide that I’m not going to slow back down to my 7:23pace. I’m just going to keep it going, and see where it leads me. My right calf is hurting again, but surprisingly the pain is not going down into my fascia (sole of foot). And my left hamstring is hurting too, but other than those aches, physically, I’m feeling strong and able to keep up the pace.
Mile 9 – 7:02
Mile 10 – 7 flat
Mile 11 – 6:53!

Motivation comes from the weirdest places. Justr spotting a familiar face cheering you on pumps you up for a good Mile. A random ‘GO ROGUE!’ sign on an electric box. Lulu using her son Cooper to do arm curls was a hysterical site that pushed me for a good 10 mins! Marla and Anna with their doggies on the side of the road. A chat with a fellow runner can help you as well. Making a point to thank the Police Officers that hold up traffic helps you think about other things. Yelling “LEARN TO SPAY AND NEUTER!” to home owners selling Schnauzer puppies in their driveway is quite motivating too!
Towards the end, a new, random Weezer song I threw on my iPod really helped me push till the very end. The first two lines were so “on the money” to keep me going, I have no idea what the rest of the song is, but I clicked, “BACK” 3 times to re-hear the inspirational lyrics.

If you want it, you can have it,
But you've got to learn to reach out there and grab it

And boy did I want it!

Miles 12, 13 and the final 0.1
I’m running strong. I’m not feeling tired, I can keep this goiung, and just the thought of actually running Miles 16 and 17 is really motivating me too! I’ve never run past 14.5, and here I am flying down the street PR’ing in Distance! I’ve passed several people, and continue to pass more, and look at their faces. They’re dying, like I was last year. Cobra Starshipo song comes on! Hell yeah! Snakes on a Plane will take me to the finish! No doubt in my mind that I’m not going to slow down. I catch up to Aaron, the original White Kenyan at around Mile 12 and a half. He speeds up to my pace, but we don’t talk much. I’ve got Snakes on a Plane blasting in my ear, and I reload it a 2nd then 3rd time to make sure I keep the good Mojo going. At the 3rd to last turn, I tell Aaron: “It’s time, I’m picking up the pace for the final sprint” he says, ‘go for it’, (he just ran a marathon 3 weeks prior).
I sprint to the finish and see Ruth and Steve yelling hard. COME ON MIKE… PASS THAT GUY!!!
He’s got no shot at beating me, I’m going to destroy him. I fly by him… easy. He had no chance. He shouldn’t even have tried. I killed it.

Miles 12, 13 and 01 – 14mins 37seconds. (I didn’t click to do any splits)

Final Time: 1:32:46 -- 7:05 min/mile and NEW PERSONAL RECORD!!!
Motive 2005 time: 1:54:38 -- 8:45min/mile
Prior ½ Marathon Best: 1:37:24 -- 7:27min/mile

Overall - 95th out of 1778 (5.3%)
Age Group - 17th out of 158 (10.7%)

* I need the Miracle Man to work on my hamstring now.