First Marathon Complete!!!!

Northeast Ohio TNT Group

Cleveland Marathon - done and done. 4 Hours 27 Minutes 33 Seconds

An estimate 19,000 runner at the starting line
 for the Cleveland Full, Half and 10K Marathon

This was my first marathon and I couldn’t be happier! I ran the whole way with my sister and we saw some amazing sights. (I’m not talking about the Cleveland scenery, though we did get a feel for ALL the flavors of Cleveland.) We saw people dressed in some crazy costumes - hot dogs, bananas, wearing tutus. Someone dressed in a gorilla costume with a TNT bib suddenly said to my sister “I know you,” and he knew where she works. Freaked us out a littler. I met the guy later and he couldn’t have been nicer, but I’ll probably have nightmares about monkeys tonight. We also saw people throwing up over the edge of bridges and peeing on the side of the road.



Me and my sister at the halfway point

 We saw A LOT of fabulous people out in the cold and rain cheering on the runners. Those people ROCKED! It’s surprising how much energy you can draw from a little kid you don’t even know yelling “Good job,” and giving you a high five. And you get ten times the energy from those people that you do know. Knowing they are there to see you gives you wings to cross that finish line!



Us with the finishline in sight

 Thank you to everyone who supported me and my sister!!!! I'm going to leave it at this for now. I'm both physically and mentally tired. I'll write up a play-by-play later. My running journey definitely has not ended.

Me and my sister crossing the finishline at Cleveland Marathon

One Day and Counting - Training Update

Tomorrow is the big day! At 7:00 AM over 19,000 people will take off at the shot of a gun at the Cleveland Marathon.

It's been a while since I've updated my blog, but as the training mileage increased, my personal time decreased. Though it has been quiet here, my training has been in full swing.

I wanted to share an update on my Team in Training fundraising efforts and my training efforts. So here it is:

Click the image to take a virtual tour of the course. (Is it me, or does it seem longer than 26.2 miles?)

Finding Inspiration

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT

These past weeks have been increasingly difficult. Yes, the mileage is a lot longer, but that is only a portion of the challenge. The last few miles of my long runs have taken every last ounce of energy and every portion of will power that I can manage.

The mental challenge of running long distances was something that I was not prepared for. A few weeks ago I almost gave up. It was icy and there was two inches of snow on the trail. As if that was not difficult enough, on the return portion of the run, the sun came out and started melting the snow turning it into two inches of slush. My feet were soaked, I had blisters on the entire arch of my foot, and my jacket was chaffing around my neck. With two miles to go I just could not go any further.

At that point I received a text message from my sister. I welcomed the distraction and the excuse to stop and walk. She inquired how my run went and I confessed that I was struggling to finish. She replied “Then get off the phone and finish. You can go this!”

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT

I put my phone away and said, “I can do this.” I got back to running. It was just as difficult as ever, but I was determined to finish. I started thinking about why I was doing it. I thought of my sister running with me. I thought of all the people that have supported me through donations and encouragement. I thought of everything my husband has given up so I could train. And most of all, I thought of Mikey. He is my honoree for this marathon. I thought of everything that Mikey went through while receiving treatment for leukemia. I thought of how much he endured through spinal taps and chemo at the age of four. I told myself that if a four-year-old could fight through years of battling leukemia, then I could fight through another two miles. I dug down and I finished the last two miles sweating and panting the whole way, but I finished!

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT

The following week, my sister also had a rough run and considered quitting. We decided to run together for the next long run and that run was very enjoyable. We chatted the whole way and barely noticed as the miles passed. We were still tired from the run, but having each other helped us keep our minds off of the effort.

My 18 mile run was with Team in Training. The first seven miles were no problem. For the next several miles I ran with one of the coaches. Again, talking helped the miles to fly by. We discussed what he called “Mind Over Marathon.”  I explained how unexpected the mental challenge was. He said that in his opinion the physical preparation only accounted for 10% of the marathon. The other 90% was mental. One piece of advice he gave me was break the run into mini-goals. Instead of focusing on completing a marathon, he suggested to look at each individual run and break it down even further.

I ran the last 6 miles on my own. Once again when I got to the last 2 miles I struggled. I started doing what the coach suggested and breaking my run into smaller goals. I told myself that if I ran to the bench up ahead, I’d walk for twenty steps. If I made it to the tree, I’d walk for ten seconds. The mini-goals worked.
There was another runner that looked to be doing the same thing (mini-goal setting). We passed each other back and forth the entire two miles.

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT



When I made it back to the parking lot, I stretched and chatted with the coach hanging out for the return runners. The other mini-goal runner also finished her run at the same parking lot and walked over. I expected her to say something about us passing each other, but was very surprised and very touched by what she said.

The woman was a two time Hodgkin’s survivor. She expressed her sincere gratitude for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and especially for all the people volunteering to run and raise money through Team in Training. We talked about what she had gone through and how the support of LLS and TNT helped her through her ordeals.

The conversation that I had in that parking lot was like being smacked by the two-by-four of reality.

I am running this marathon and going through these struggles so that people like Mikey and that woman have the medicine and support they need to see another day.

 

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT



I am doing this so that I can have conversations tomorrow with someone who is fighting cancer today.

Ten years ago I would not have had the privilege to talk to that woman in the parking lot, and it is because of LLS and TNT that I received that special gift of inspiration!

Yes, I am working hard training and raising funds, but it is just a small effort in the bigger scheme of things. My inspiration is everyone that is fighting, has survived, or has been touched by blood cancer.

Shoes and Stats

49 Days to Race Day!!!

My Mizuno's have 200 miles on them, so I figured it was time to get a new pair of running shoes. I do not want to break in new shoes too close to the marathon date, so now's the time.

I went to Fleet Feet in Northfield and they were great! They did to usual observation of how I stand and run, but also took the time to explain things to me. Turns out that my physical therapy continues to work and has corrected my sever overpronation. I now only slightly overpronate and am almost to the point of a neutral shoe. My Mizuno's are designed for a lot of support, which I no long need. I was able to choose from shoes that are lighter. When I put them on it felt like I wasn't even wearing shoes.

Here are my new Brook's Adrenaline GTS 11. I love these shoes. They really feel great when I run! Very light.

I track all of my runs on Dailymile, so I am able to tell how many miles I've put on my shoes. Here are a few other stats that Dailymile provides:

I like the stat about how many donuts I've burned.

One other statistic that I'd like to share is my Team in Training fundraising stat. It is always at the top of this page, but I want to emphasize it today. I am so close to my $2,000 goal and I thank everyone that has helped me get this far!

There is another way that you can help. Tell someone you know that I am running 26.2 miles to raise funds and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Forward the link to my fundraising page and ask them to help.

The Mental Game

I’ve discovered that running is much more than a physical and endurance sport. There is an entire mental aspect to it I underestimated. I heard people say that they have trouble finding motivation and having to play mind games to continue running, but I did not see it as much of an obstacle. I was determined to succeed. I was determined to run in and finish the Cleveland Marathon.

Lately however, I’ve realized that the mental challenges are very real. Since I started running last August I’ve been battling injury and illness constantly. Every week it’s been something new from broken bones, strained muscles, bronchitis, and shin splints. All I want to do is go out and enjoy running.  I’ve worked very hard to overcome all of these issues. I’ve talked with specialists, I’ve exercised, I’ve rested; everything that I’m supposed to do, but the issues continued to occur.

Another factor has been the winter weather in Northeast Ohio. I do not recall seeing so much snow in one season. There has been so much snow that a lot of the training has required indoor running on the dreadmill (that is an intentional misspelling). It’s been cold, grey, and wet to further bring down the spirits.
Here are a few posts I wrote after some bad runs. I think that they accurately conves my state of mind.

3 mi 00:32 10:48 pace
Treadmill yet again. I could only force myself to run 3 miles, and even that was a major effort! My mental game just wasn't in it. Between rain, sleet, cold, and spiking migraines I guess I should see my 3 as an achievement, but I just see utter failure right now. Blah!

1.67 mi 00:20 11:58 pace
Was supposed to do 5, but my shins started hurting again and I just didn't have it in me. The whole mental thing is really dragging me down.

I started questioning why I was doing this. I would respond – yes, I know this sounds schizophrenic – I’m doing this for me and I’m doing this for Mikey. I need to finish this or else I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, and I need to finish this because so many people have supported me by donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Then I would rebut with questioning if this race is really worth the physical strain I am putting my body through. Who knows if anything that I’m doing will have long term adverse effects. And I rebut the rebuttal by reminding myself that if one little boy could go through the necessary, and often painful treatments for leukemia then I could finish the rest of my 60 days of training and run the marathon because what he went through is nothing compared to training for a marathon. I have the choice to stop. People with blood cancers do not have the option of stopping.

This is how I’ve gotten through the last several weeks of training, but I think that I’ve rounded the bend in the mental challenge. I’ve pushed myself and have run further than I’ve ever run before. The sun has finally come out and the temperatures have warmed. It is nice to be out there again and I can smile while I run. I’m still battling tightness and tenderness in my shins, but I don’t care.

I just run!

Apple iPad & Flip Camera Drawing

I have a great fundraiser starting today! It's an easy way for you to help support my Team in Training efforts.

I am selling tickets for a drawing. First place is an Apple iPad (16GB) and second place is a Flip Ultra Video Camcorder (2 hour).

Tickets are $10 each or $20 for three ($30 for four, $40 for six, etc.).

The drawing is on April 6th at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (the winner does not need to be present). Tickets will be on sale until April 1st (no joke!).

If you are interested in the entering the drawing, you can make a donation on my TNT Fundraising site and put TNT Fundraiser in the notes section, or mail me a check (leave your email address in the comments section).

Thank you for your continued support, and good luck!

Lessons Learned

I've learned a few lessons this week, and I've learned the value (and necessity) of recovery days.

Blisters are a reoccurring issue for me after running more than three miles. I've received some great advice from other runners and I think that I've found the combination that is going to work ... fingers crossed. If you get blisters, you can't stop training while they heal. You have to keep going. Unfortunately, if you continue, you break the blisters open and they get worse, not better. Here's what seems to work for me. 1) Non-cotton socks. Turns out that cotton holds in moisture, and when you run, you have moisture whether from snow, water puddles, or sweat. I've been wearing my Team In Training wick dry socks. 2) Two pairs of socks. Blisters are caused by friction of something rubbing against the skin. When there are two socks, the majority of the friction is between the two socks and not the sock and foot. 3) New-Skin liquid bandage. I brushed on a double coat of the liquid bandage over my current blisters and other areas prone to blistering. 4) Looser laces. I was pulling my shoelaces as tight as possible but it was getting uncomfortable and there wasn't a benefit that I could tell.

I hope that, continuing with these four things will keep the blisters away, or if not away will keep them from bothering me during my runs.

This photo is from Flickr user lobstar28.

I am currently typing this post, sitting on the couch with a heating pad under my calves, and there are two reasons.

The first reason is my own stupid fault. After my run on Friday, I felt great! I walked in the house, got my water and a snack, and chatted with my family. Everyone was in a good mood and talkative (possible a result of the beautiful weather). Time got away from and I needed to get dinner going and then take a shower. When i finally sat down two hours later, I realized that I did not stretch after my run and I was starting to feel the effects. My calf muscles were tight and knotted. The next day, they were still very tight so I took extra time to stretch well. I didn't have trouble during the run, so all seemed well.

The second reason I'm sitting with my legs propped up on the couch like a prima donna is because after my long run yesterday, I decided to wear my cute boots with a two inch heel. Bad Idea! Walking around in heels stretched my calves in the wrong way and I didn't realize it until I took my boots off five hours later and my calves SCREAMED!

So, the lessons learned: Always, always, always stretch before and after a run, and refrain from heels for at least a few hours.