2012 Kalamazoo Marathon Race Report

Stomach was bugging me night before the race and I woke up at 3am with it still bugging me. I was real nervous about this race, but wanting to have some fun more than anything else. I had a goal in mind, but was very prepared that a PR might not happen on this one as my training wasn’t as good with all the cold weather and school. Plus this course was a lot harder. I should mention I got my hair done with pink hair braided in and had my pink running skirt and bright pink socks along with my supermom shirt. I was all psyched to have some fun with this one since I wasn’t sure that I was going to do well.
Get to start line and line up with the 4:15 pace group. That was fun. I talked with the people there and kept up with them for quite a while. Note to self – Don’t wear a shirt that says Supermom to Seven Cheer Me On unless you are prepared to answer the ages of all your children to every single runner that comes up behind you. By mile 10, I seriously started telling people that was taking too much mental energy and I just couldn’t do it. I had 2 pace tattoos, one on each arm, one for 4:15 pace and one for 4:30. I was just behind the 4:15 pacer at mile 10, but stopped to use the bathroom somewhere around there and got stuck waiting. I should have just kept going, but wasn’t sure where another one would be. By the time I got out the bathroom I saw the 4:30 pacer going by, but got going again. I was feeling tired there and was a little overwhelmed by the idea of having 16 miles left to go. Get to mile 11 and then mile 12 goes really fast and I make up a little time with a nice downhill. I lost track of the uphills. They weren’t awful, but they weren’t easy either and hills were a big area of weakness for me coming into training. I realize at this point that I was doing okay and should be able to finish under 4:30 – a time I could live with on this course. I kept plugging along. The crowds were amazing! We ran through several neighborhoods here and I cannot get over how much cheering and support was out there. I got a little emotional seeing the little kids out there with their “Go Mom” signs and really wished my kids were there. I seriously almost started crying on multiple occasions. Running a marathon in and of itself is emotional, but really these people were just something else. I must have waived at every camera too, haha. I figured I might as well have fun if I couldn’t be fast.
Miles 13, 14, and 15 went pretty smooth. I felt like I was going slower than molasses and I wasn’t going fast by any means, but I wasn’t embarrassingly slow either (well not to me anyway). Mile 16 was a very welcome downhill! I cruised right along there and took every fast mile I could find. By mile 16 I just wanted to get to single digits. Somewhere about there the sun really got warm and I was feeling the effects of the humidity. I just kept telling myself 10 miles, easy peasy, but it wasn’t feeling real easy. I think that’s when I had a little bit of a panic realizing I wasn’t feeling strong and started to freak a little about finishing this one. There wasn’t a lot of crowd support between miles 16-18 and there were a lot of people starting to walk. I know I was walking parts at this point. I was just trying to finish without a horrible time and didn’t care about a PR at this point. I just wanted to be done. I was still having fun, sort of, but just the same I was ready for the finish. Mile 22 was a big hill. I remember saying I wasn’t running this one I was walking it and some young guy next to me says it’ll be faster if you run it and me thinking screw you. He was actually a nice enough guy, but that was my thoughts about running up that hill. Of course, he wound up walking parts of it too, lol. Honestly by mile 20 everybody and I mean that literally, everyone was walking. You’d start running for a bit, they’d start walking, you’d start walking, and they’d start running. I think the hills and the heat were getting to everyone at my pace ability. Mile 23 there was a lot of crowd support again and I know I must have been quite the site having out loud conversations with my legs begging them to cooperate just a little bit longer. I also must have asked at least 3 complete strangers if I could borrow their legs for the last 3 miles. That was no game so I kept pushing along. They had another big hill at mile 24 or 25. Who puts a hill there? Ugh, I can’t say I ran that one. I did run parts of it and that was good enough for me. The last mile I was talking to another guy and his PR was 4:41 and I told him if we could just move along a little we could probably still make it in 4:30something. I finally got to the last .2 and the finish line in site and I am telling you my little legs started moving. I was determined to finish in 4:30something, anything. I was so thrilled to cross the line in 4:39:29. Not anywhere close to a PR, but I had a lot of fun with this race. I think I did my best and that’s all I can hope for. My legs don’t feel like death right now either so that’s a good sign! I am ready to start training for another one.
I finished 29 out of 46 in my age group, 166 out of 282 for women, and 470 out of 702 overall. Happy that I’ve firmly moved up to middle of the pack runner now. Making progress.

Feeling a little discouraged

I have been a little discouraged the past couple weeks. I had a very slow recovery from Sault Saint Marie. It took me forever to get back in a rhythm. A lot of it had to do with my kids returning to school and me returning to school. Learning to rejuggle my time and such, but lately I just am feeling discouraged for different reasons. For the most part I have been able to put the miles in. I have missed a few runs here and there, but doing much better with staying on track with that. I am not sure though if those few missed workouts are the problem or what. I can't seem to keep my heart rate down to save my life and honestly my heart rate is reflective of how I feel so it's not all about the heart rate. I went into training for marathon 3 with a goal of sub 4. That'd be a 20 minute PR which in my head I was thinking if I could get an hour PR last time I surely can do 20 minutes this time. I am finding cracking to the next level to be very difficult. I just keep plugging along. I reminded myself of this post which is funny now rereading it because I didn't realize I was aiming for sub 4 way back then. I remember on that day I was aiming for 4:45 and wasn't sure if I could do 4:30. I thought that would be too hard and even race day wasn't so sure if I could do 4:30. I am trying to keep that thought in my head and not the discouraging "no way am I going to be able to do this" thoughts that have been going through my head lately. I keep feeling the need to lower my goal. (And I may have to, but trying to remember I still have a ways to go until May.) This course is going to be a lot harder than Sault Saint Marie. The hills are seriously kicking my butt and there are a lot of them. I feel like miss go speedy when I run on flats now because the time difference/effort level is so much easier. I just have to remind myself that hard work will pay off and to stay focused. So that's where I am at. Refocusing. I need to surround myself with some positive energy and stick to the plan.

Bit off more than I could chew

Well, it probably was not a good idea to try to start a new "challenge" and try and take as many classes at one time as I was taking. My challenge did not do so good, but I did keep on track with my running. The weight I thought I was up was actually due to a defective scale, kind of funny now. I mean I wasn't going crazy or anything, was just really puzzled as to why my weight was going up and not down. Happy to know that my scale was broken. I knew that my clothes all fit the same so I was just kind of puzzled with that. So with that I have no real weight goals really for the new years other than not gaining any weight.

I am trying to get back on track with some type of stretching and strength training. I need to figure out some way to include this into my routine that doesn't take a ton of time as my running takes so much of my time that I just find myself skipping stretching and strength. Not making any big goals until I figure out a way to squeeze more time into my day. I am really struggling with getting anything done during the day when me and Natalie are home. She doesn't like mama doing anything. Anyhow, just thought I'd make an update on here.

Day 3 and 4 down

I got my run in yesterday. I did wind up moving the upper body strength training to today (Saturday) which was my scheduled rest day, but so far so good. I'm feeling much more on track. I am still very frustrated with how poorly my running has been lately (as far as speed, HR, and effort). I am running, but not getting the same results I was. I am hoping I start making improvements again soon and can get back to where I was in September. I was expecting to be faster now, not slower - very frustrating. It is what it is though and I will just keep plugging along. I know how much progress I made last training cycle so I am sure that I will make improvements again. I just need to stick with the program. I have tons to do as usual. Still trying to juggle doing it all. Trying to take all these classes at an accelerated pace is taking its toll on me. I'll update tomorrow after my long run.

Day 2 check

Yay! Done with day 2. No problems. I didn't do a whole lot for ab work, but I did something. I did 4 sets of different crunches and a 30 second plank. I am sure I will feel it tomorrow though as I haven't done any ab work in months. I may find some videos to do for ab work. We'll see. Just want to be doing something. Ran 5 miles on the treadmill too.

Also, been having problems with my heart rate being really high when I run as well as really bad orthostatic hypotension. The last couple days have been better, but it was getting to where every time I stood up I'd have a major head rush and have to just stand there. I've always had problems with it, but it's been worse lately. I have a few ideas for culprits. One being me burning the candle at both ends. This school and lack of sleep I think is doing me in. First thing I'm doing is trying to more sleep. 5 hours a sleep is just not cutting it and 6 is not much better. Second problem which sort of relates to the first one, my coffee intake. I have been drinking tons of coffee lately. Maybe 2 pots a day lately. I bought the 50/50 coffee and going to try to work my way down on the coffee. I'm not giving up coffee altogether, but I do not need this much. Finally, picked up a multi-vitamin and seeing if that will help. Since we are gluten free in the house I think I may be getting deficient with my vitamins. Oh and trying to drink more water too. We'll see if that helps. Will update tomorrow for day 3.

Day 1 of 30 day challenge

Well, day 1 is done! I am feeling much more accomplished (other than this stupid microbiology class that wants to put trivia pursuit questions on their test instead of the material that was covered in the book, but anyhoo back to my good day). I got up this morning and first thing did a 10 minute upper body workout. Since I have not been doing any strength training lately I didn't want to do too much and two, my arms hurt pretty quickly. I did 2 sets of everything including 2 sets of 10 push ups. Don't know the right names for all the exercises, but feel good about it.

I also did a real easy 3 mile TM run, but I have a ton to do today so don't have time to do much more including much of a real blog post. I still have an exam to do for microbiology and a lab report I need to finish up and get done before midnight. So with that I will end this.

Time for another 30 Day challenge!

I've been sucking big time! Well, I've been kicking serious butt with school and knocking out classes. I've taken 9 credits worth of CLEP tests in 5 weeks. Plus I am 4 weeks through an 8 week accelerated microbiology class and pulling an A, BUT in the process my running has gone into the crapper and I have gained 3-4 lbs. NOT COOL! I am not big on making excuses so time to get myself refocused. So my 30 day challenges have worked for me in the past so I figure I'll do it again. Be looking for a blog post from me EVERY single day for the next 30 days. They may be short and stupid, but I will be blogging something. (I have not been not exercising or running at all, but I've been missing runs entirely too often and strength training was tossed out the window a long while back.)

So onto what I've decided to do for my challenge.

Monday, Wednesday, & Friday - (Should only take 15 minutes)upper body pick 5 exercises 4 using chest, biceps, triceps, shoulders, and a set of push ups. Do at least 2 sets of each for the first week and increasing to 3 sets (and increasing weight or reps as needed after that).

Thursday, Friday, & Sunday - (Should only take 15 minutes) 5 ab exercises including a set of planks. Starting planks with 30 second hold and we'll see where I get at the end.

Saturday - Walk day. 30-60 minute walk, just to be doing something.

And of course RUNNING - Running goal is real simple stick to coach's schedule. No deviations. Determined to get that back on track as well.

Oops and food goals too - only goal is no binging. I am pretty good with everything else diet wise, but had a few bad binges in the past few weeks. One of my biggest downfalls is I binging when I am stressed. I do much better with it than I used to, but still have episodes now and then.

I will post my starting stats and will reweigh & remeasure at the end of 30 days. I am also posting before and after pics. I wasn't going to post them here as this blog is a little more public to real life friends and family, but decided to go ahead and hope nobody laughs too hard at my belly flab. Yes, I've had 7 kids and um, not been able to get rid of all of that. I'm okay with that. Not expecting perfection.

(And for the record NO I do not think I am fat. This is me fat (for those that have never seen my fat pics -

Me at 213lbs)

I would like to lose the 3 or 4 lbs I gained, but my main goal is getting my fitness back on track. I'm actually pretty happy with my weight. I do want to track weight and measurements though for this just to see how much adding back in strength training makes a difference.)

Now onto the measurements.

weight - 130 lbs

arm -9 3/4 inches
chest @ underarm - 33 inches
chest @ braline - 30 inches
true waist - 27 1/2 inches
@ belly button - 30 inches
hips - 35 1/2 inches
thigh - 20 1/2 inches
calf 12 3/4 inches

(Not stepping on scale or remeasuring until end of 30 days. This should be interesting.)

and finally for the starting picture for this challenge. I apologize for the horrible lighting. My 10 year old daughter is the only one I can get to take pics of me and she didn't do a perfect job, but I figure it gives me a reference point for starting.

(SORRY TOOK OUT THE PICTURE didn't like it)

I'll be back later today to post how I did with day 1.