The Newport Marathon was a comedy of errors. The trip down the Oregon Coast was good enough… excellent in fact. The weather was beautiful, we stopped in Tillamook to eat grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory , and we made it to Newport in time to play on the beach before dinner. After a dinner of pizza, we all went to bed with the alarm set for 5:00. I told the family to sleep in and have fun at the beach. I’d call when I reached the finish line and we would meet up.
I woke up before the alarm, ate a light breakfast and slipped out the door while everyone slept. I drove to the finish line, boarded the bus for the start and commenced chatting with a few new maniacs. Once we arrived at the start line, I saw all of my favorite running friends and immediately fell into a big group conversation. Before I knew it, the race director was announcing “5 minutes until the start!”. I quickly made my way over to the sag wagon and checked my drop bag. Within a minute or two panic set in: I had forgotten to take my gels and electrolyte tablets out of my drop bag. I had no gel. On any other marathon that may not have been a problem, but the race directions clearly indicated gels only at mile 15, and only one per runner. That simply wasn’t enough to get through 26.2 miles, I usually need two and sometimes 4. That wasn’t my biggest worry, though. I didn’t have my electrolytes! After being cursed by leg cramps since the last Octobers Northface Challenge 50k, I finally had figured out THE formula. One tablet every 5 miles, then 2 at mile 20 if I needed it. Water and gel as necessary. I started to fret about what to do, then the gun went off and I was swept away on my journey to another marathon finish.
It just so happens that the course passed our hotel at mile 2. I thought briefly about stopping to get some gel out of the room, but didn’t. We passed the hotel again at mile 4. this time Mom was standing on the sidelines watching us pass and I decided a quick stop at the hotel may save me from walking the last 6 miles of the race. I grabbed the key from her, bolted to the elevator and down the hall to our room. Alec and Evan were in the hallway and took great pleasure in helping me search for gels. Of course there were none to be found, I had packed them all in my drop bag. Back down the hall I went and plunged down the stairwell, barefoot kids in jammies in hot pursuit. I reached the lobby door, gave them both a kiss and continued on my journey down Yaquina Bay. My watch indicated I had lost almost 6 minutes, (there goes my PR attempt). I was also in the back of the pack so I sped up a little, hoping to catch one of my slower Maniac friends. By mile 6 I caught Leslie Miller. Leslie is great fun and was my running angel on day two of my double last summer. I knew I’d need her inspiration again today so I decided to throw out any time goal and spend my hours with Leslie. We chatted about everything: mostly running, but also work, travel, relationships. I think we solved some of life’s major problems while out on the course. Maniac #3 tp!, tossed me a gel at mile 10. Leslie gave me a salt tablet at mile 12. My fears had vanished, I knew my friends would make sure I had what I needed. We reached the gel station at mile 15 and the volunteer gave me 3 gels. We passed the gel station again at mile 17 (the way back on this out-and-back course) and I was handed 2 more. I was the gel queen! I had ‘em stashed everywhere! We continued to lope along, ticking off the uneventful but beautiful miles. Soon we were crossing the finish line, getting our medals and looking for food. I called Mom and was told they were just settling down for lunch so I spent some time relishing the post-race glow with the main Maniacs. My time for marathon #26? 4:29 and it really isn’t important.
Oh, one little detail: Somewhere along the course I promised Leslie I would run the Green River/North Olympic Discovery Marathons with her next weekend. It’s time to rest up, eat lots of quality food and tackle marathons 27 and 28 in a few days.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Capital City Marathon
The Capital City Marathon was significant because it was my 25th marathon/ultra marathon. I can’t believe I’ve run so many in such a short period of time …. this marathoning thing was something that just kind of fell upon me. You see, in the beginning I only wanted to run one marathon and check it off my “life list”. I did a lot of research on marathonguide.com and settled on the 2006 Vancouver International Marathon. The timing was perfect (giving me 6 months to train) and the location ideal. My training went better than planned, and so did my research: in February, a full 3 months before my scheduled marathon debut, I went to visit Ric in Arizona and ran a little race that marathonguide touted as one of the best of the west: the Lost Dutchman Marathon.
Okay, I can check running a marathon off my list.
One problem, though, I had already paid for Vancouver and I wasn’t going to let that $100 entry fee go to waste. Less than three months later, I was heading to Canada. I had a great time in Vancouver and enjoyed it more than the Dutchman. I even started contemplating a marathon as an annual tradition. I posted my race report on Coolrunning and sat back to watch the kudos come in. They came flooding in, in droves, and private emails too. One such email from a Seattle runner pointed out that if I ran Capital City in the next two weeks I would qualify for that exclusive Marathon Maniacs club. I was tired and ready to take the summer off, but the idea was too tempting. I wanted one of those yellow singlets… then I would settle back and run my once (or maybe twice) a year marathon. Of course it didn’t stop there, on those familiar streets of Olympia. Another marathon, this time in Bend, Oregon was calling my name. Then another marathon, and another. Suddenly I’m toeing the line at the 2008 version of Capital City Marathon: preparing to run my 25th and reflecting back on the last two years. As friends and familiar faces came up to chat, I realized this is who I’ve become. I’m a marathoner, one of the regulars.
The actual running of the marathon was rather uneventful. The morning was hot and the pavement even hotter as it radiated heat from the previous days 100 degree scorcher. The air was still as we made our way along the Puget Sound, talking about this marathon and that one. “I first ran with you in the 2006 Tri-Cities, that was a nasty headwind. Remember? Didn’t you set a PR that day?” one friend asked. “Oh, this is my 363rd marathon” another friend would comment when I asked his stats. Yet another would quip about our leg cramp mishaps in Boston, or the time we trudged up the final hill in Apache Junction in 85 degree weather. Not all the talk was happy, though. I passed my friend Uhna Lee attempting to finish her 100th marathon. I always pass her…. she goes out fast, I slow. I speed up, catch her and depending upon which mile marker that happens we make a comment on our relative runs. On most days I catch her around mile 20. This day I catch her at mile16. I ask about her health… she tells me she’s cramping badly. I give her my best healing hug (as best as I could do while running), offer her salt (which she declines) and tell her I’ll see her at the finish line. I continue on and catch Tom on the final, long hill before we head back into downtown. Tom runs my pace but always manages to beat me by a minute or five. As I come up to him, I can see he’s hurting. I try to get him to run the final 2 miles with me but he is clearly done for the day and just needs to dig deep and keep trudging. I finish feeling strong. Ric is waiting for me with a big hug and congratulations. He helps me untie my shoes, retrieve my clothing and buys me favorite post run treat: a coffee (and an extra pair of those great customized Capital City Marathon running pants). 25 is done but no time to rest… 26 is in two weeks.
Okay, I can check running a marathon off my list.
One problem, though, I had already paid for Vancouver and I wasn’t going to let that $100 entry fee go to waste. Less than three months later, I was heading to Canada. I had a great time in Vancouver and enjoyed it more than the Dutchman. I even started contemplating a marathon as an annual tradition. I posted my race report on Coolrunning and sat back to watch the kudos come in. They came flooding in, in droves, and private emails too. One such email from a Seattle runner pointed out that if I ran Capital City in the next two weeks I would qualify for that exclusive Marathon Maniacs club. I was tired and ready to take the summer off, but the idea was too tempting. I wanted one of those yellow singlets… then I would settle back and run my once (or maybe twice) a year marathon. Of course it didn’t stop there, on those familiar streets of Olympia. Another marathon, this time in Bend, Oregon was calling my name. Then another marathon, and another. Suddenly I’m toeing the line at the 2008 version of Capital City Marathon: preparing to run my 25th and reflecting back on the last two years. As friends and familiar faces came up to chat, I realized this is who I’ve become. I’m a marathoner, one of the regulars.
The actual running of the marathon was rather uneventful. The morning was hot and the pavement even hotter as it radiated heat from the previous days 100 degree scorcher. The air was still as we made our way along the Puget Sound, talking about this marathon and that one. “I first ran with you in the 2006 Tri-Cities, that was a nasty headwind. Remember? Didn’t you set a PR that day?” one friend asked. “Oh, this is my 363rd marathon” another friend would comment when I asked his stats. Yet another would quip about our leg cramp mishaps in Boston, or the time we trudged up the final hill in Apache Junction in 85 degree weather. Not all the talk was happy, though. I passed my friend Uhna Lee attempting to finish her 100th marathon. I always pass her…. she goes out fast, I slow. I speed up, catch her and depending upon which mile marker that happens we make a comment on our relative runs. On most days I catch her around mile 20. This day I catch her at mile16. I ask about her health… she tells me she’s cramping badly. I give her my best healing hug (as best as I could do while running), offer her salt (which she declines) and tell her I’ll see her at the finish line. I continue on and catch Tom on the final, long hill before we head back into downtown. Tom runs my pace but always manages to beat me by a minute or five. As I come up to him, I can see he’s hurting. I try to get him to run the final 2 miles with me but he is clearly done for the day and just needs to dig deep and keep trudging. I finish feeling strong. Ric is waiting for me with a big hug and congratulations. He helps me untie my shoes, retrieve my clothing and buys me favorite post run treat: a coffee (and an extra pair of those great customized Capital City Marathon running pants). 25 is done but no time to rest… 26 is in two weeks.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Tacoma City Marathon
I just finished running the Tacoma Marathon. The course was nice and hilly, and the weather was perfect (mid 40’s, clouds, a little drizzle). I took the early start since I was planning on using it as a training run. I had a couple of goals: Tweak with my electrolytes and try to get it right this time, practice a 5-1 run/walk ratio in preparation for a 12-hour race later this year, and feel recovered within 24 hours. I am happy to report I met 2 out my 3 goals. The 5-1 walk/run fell apart right away. The early start had about 40 runners so we were accompanied by a pace bike. It just so happens I was in the lead along with another woman. As we chatted the first few miles, I forgot to walk. Then I looked back and the two of us were alone with the pace bike. We couldn't walk because the pace bike was showing us the way, and he wasn't slowing down (we didn't want to get lost). We made a decision to keep our pace until the lead runners from the regular start passed us. We figured that would be about the half-way point. It didn't happen so we kept running. By that time it was conceivable to the spectators that we were actually leading the whole race, so everyone started cheering for us as we passed. It wasn't until mile 17 that the lead man overtook us. Relieved, we started to walk... but the spectators wouldn't let it be. Now it really appeared that we were the first women, and the leading women don't walk! At mile 21, the first woman passed us, quickly followed by another one. I finally allowed myself that walk break and walked the next 3 miles. I picked up my run again at mile 24 and cruised the last 2.2 miles .... my fans told me I was 5th woman (I didn't have the heart to tell them otherwise). My final time was 4:22:39 and some change. The last two miles were my fastest at a little under 8 minute miles. My legs didn't cramp (I took electrolytes every 45 minutes) and I felt good enough to walk a few miles in the afternoon. Even though the course as hilly, I didn’t have any leg cramping following the race or leg soreness the next day. This Sunday I have the Capital City Marathon: another long training run, then Newport at the end of the month. I may actually taper and race Newport if everything goes well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
