Run to Remember Half Marathon

This past Sunday, I ran in my second half marathon (the first was the Wicked Half Marathon in Salem in 2007).   One thing I wish I were better at is taking picture while I run... though, maybe I'm amazing at it and have no idea, I didn't actually try.

I was worried on Thursday as I did my last pre-half run because it kind of sucked. It was hot and humid and I had been running in the cool rain so much that it was weird to get used to.  

Saturday, I think I may have over done it on the carbs.  No, no, I'm positive I over did it on the carbs.  I felt fine on Sunday, but I just had a one person carb party on Saturday (ok, and Sunday).  I mean, I only ran 13.1 miles... not 13.1 hours. (I did make sure I had those magic wheat berries, though)

Capris from Marshalls, tank from Old Navy,
sneakers, my number, my phone arm band,
heart rate monitor, bandanna, and NOT a
fanny pack... GU belt... shut up.

The night before, I set out my clothes because I was going to have to get up pretty early if I was going to eat a little something and then give myself some time to digest so it wouldn't bother my stomach as I ran.  I'm terrible at eating before I run.  (I will say, I felt great while I was running, so I should figure out how to do it without getting up at 4:30am to do it) 

So, I got out of bed at 4:45am and ate my breakfast while watching a really old episode of Law and Order.  that guest starred Julia Roberts.  

ugh

Breakfast of champions. I hope this sale at Target doesn't
mean the end of the Honey Pretzel variety of Luna Bars. 

I'm possibly still asleep here.

I got ready and drove out to Boston. I think I made it there at about 6:15am.  I parked in a lot close by (never again... we'll come back to this) and walked over to the Seaport World Trade Center.  

People were running from their cars to the start line....
cool it, guys, there'll be plenty of that later.

I wandered around the expo for a little while, avoiding the pushy sales people, picking up some free GU to add to my stash, and then walked over to my pacing area so I would have a space.

I was hoping to run around this time.

I hung out for a while and ate one chocolate GU packet 15 minutes before the start.  PS- they mean it when they say wash it down with water.  It just kind of hangs out and threatens acid reflux until you do.

So many people!

I decided not to use my GPS app because it's a total battery killer.  I just listened to my playlist.  Oh! I decided (a little late) to ask some friends for one song suggestion so that when it came up during the race, I would think of them and (hopefully) be happy.

Here are some highlights from my list- it was pretty great:

"Don't Stop Me Now"- Queen

"Sir Duke"- Stevie Wonder

"TV Eye"- Wylde Rattz (Stooges cover)

"Good Day Sunshine"- The Beatles

"Put It In a Love Song"- Alicia Keys featuring Beyonce

"Pump it Up"- Elvis Costello

"My Freeze Ray"- Dr. Horrible

"The Pretender"- Foo Fighters

"Pulling the Rug"- Imelda May

"Super Bass"- Nicki Minaj

"You're So Damn Hot"- OK Go

"All Fired Up"- Pat Benatar

"Live and Let Die"- Live version from Paul is Live

I started the playlist and my heart rate monitor a minute or so before we started... and we were off! And then we stopped... and then we ran!... and stopped... this happened a couple of times until everyone was off for a while and could actually run without bumping into each other.  

I was a little concerned because nerves and excitement raised my heart rate a bit at the start.  Also, there was the acid reflux no water GU feeling.  I just took a few deep breaths and tried to relax and enjoy the run.  The first water stop totally relieved the acid feeling, my heart rate came down to normal, and I just ran and enjoyed.

I got into a good rhythm at the water stations... I was nervous about getting in the way, about drinking too much, not drinking enough... I eventually decided that I would drink a cup of water, drink a cup of Gatorade, and then dump a cup of water on myself.  It was a good system.

The first friend suggestion song that came up was Pantera "Five Minutes Alone", suggested by Brian M.  Good suggestion!  It came up around mile 3.

Around the 4.5 mark, we saw some police motorcycles driving towards us.  The cops were telling us to move to the right and slowly our group realized at once that that meant there were people that already had looped around in Harvard Square and were coming back.  The way back was a little longer, so they probably had... 5.5 miles left to go?  And we were on 4.5. Yep.  We cheered the two front runners on as they flew past us and then the next few groups.  After a while there was a more steady stream of people (a lot closer to the loop around.

I think Sarah J's song was the next friend suggestion- and perfect timing! I was losing some steam and Beyonce "Girls Rule the World" got me through mile 9 to the next water stop :)  That song was quickly followed by "I'm So Tired" by The Beatles and I became the idiot laughing alone during the half marathon.

Around mile 11 or so, I was treated to some Candide. Oddly enough, "Bon Voyage" and "Auto de Fey" are fun to run to. 

We got to mile 12 and I tried to pick up the pace... the final friend suggestion came on, Corey J's, "Call Me Maybe". Yes. He did.  (I totally did the dance from the video for one line while it played).  

The final song was a really awesome streak of luck (it was just on shuffle), "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison. That song always comes on when I'm having a bad day either on my iPod, phone, or even Pandora.  It cheers me up.  (Also, the only song I've ever 'played' on the guitar in front of people)  It was a really lovely way to cross the finish line.

Woohoo!

I found Kevin waiting there! It really meant a lot to have him there at the finish line. :) (I think I mentioned before that at the other half, I finished alone, ate a bagel, and then left...)  I went inside, got my medal and a banana and some peanut butter and then found him in the crowd.  We walked around a little, but decided we should get going to my faaaaavorite brunch place, Red Lentil (they do more than brunch, they're a Vegetarian place in Watertown, they just have amazing brunch). 

As I said, I parked in a nearby lot.  Kevin had parked in a garage a little bit down the road since he met me there.  I waited LITERALLY an hour in line to get out of the lot... Next time, I park in the garage.  A little walk is so much better than sitting in the car for an hour after running 13.1 miles, no matter how much you stretch.  

I'm smiling because I don't know how long it will take to get out of there.

My official time was 2:16:05!  It's 14 minutes faster than the other half I did!  

I think my next half will be The Wicked Half in Salem in September.  It was a pretty race (though it was super hilly) and I think being more prepared will greatly improve the experience for me.  I have 17 weeks until the race and already put the training in my calendar.  This time, I'm doing some work on speed!  So far, I've only ever just run at a comfortable pace and worked on mileage.  I followed the Novice Program on Hal Higdon's site.  This time, I'm following the Intermediate.  

Thanks for reading and for all the kind words of support from my friends!  I really had a wonderful time running this race and I really am looking forward to the next one!

Next day post half marathon pedicure :)

Lifetime and other things

It's been a while since I've blogged!

First off- I hit Lifetime at Weight Watchers!

10% key chain with 25lb, 50lb, 75lb,
16 week, goal, and lifetime charms

This is the closest thing I currently have to an after picture... I'm sorry it sucks... It's even like a month old...

It feels great and a little strange, much like goal.  Like I have said before, I think when I started Weight Watchers a long long time ago, I viewed goal and lifetime as an ending, and I see now that it's really not.  For one, I still have to track food and exercise since NOT tracking food and exercise is how I gained weight.  I also still have lots to work on fitness-wise.  Please don't misunderstand- I am so proud of how far I've come with my weight loss (97lbs currently!!!) and my fitness level (more about that later), but I can always set a new goal to work on. I could run more miles, I could run faster, I could try a new activity, etc.  And I don't think that's a bad thing.

The Full Monty at Stoneham closed a very successful run a couple of weeks ago! It was a really great experience with some wonderful people and I got to wear this wig for one song- 

This happened.

and I got to share a dressing room with these hot chicks

Aw, I miss you girls.

I also had a cabaret this past Saturday at Arts After Hours. It was a lot of fun!  I think I saw Corey taking some pictures?  Corey, do you have any?

This is also the big audition season in Boston.  Ok. I'm done making excuses for not blogging....

So bad news on the marathon front- I will not be able to afford the Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge in 2013!  Turns out getting married is expensive and so is the race and a trip to Disney World. So... maybe next year. But I am still going to find a marathon to run in 2013. I'm open to fairly inexpensive, not too hilly, and pretty suggestions.  I am still going to run the Race to Remember May 27th.  (crap, I have to register for that)  The training is going pretty well!  My last long run was 10 miles and if it hadn't been raining, and I hadn't eaten tortilla chips before bed, I think it would have been pretty good.  I have no cold rainy running gear, so I ran in a wet and heavy sweatshirt.  

Ok- I'm going to admit something now.  I've had a rough week staying on program and I have no explanation.  Life can get in the way, but I know how to handle that, I just haven't very well.  I let myself have an extra beer or two on a couple of occasions, I indulged in the basket of chips at a restaurant, I had more almond milk ice cream than I should of, etc.  I've kept up the exercise, but I can feel myself slipping every now and then on the eating.  I'm hoping that putting it out there in this post will help me get back on track. If you see me pick up a chip, just slap it out of my hand (don't really do that, please).

Ok- onto my goals for this summer... 

1) I want to find a marathon to train for.  

I find that I like running more if I have a goal in mind.  Not just running faster or longer, but "I need to run this long or fast on this day, so I shouldn't skip this day of training".

2) I want to train to teach Les Mills Body Combat.

3) I want to play more than four chords on the guitar. 

I played along with the fabulous Josh Martin at the AAH show, but I would love to be able to play on my own without terror :)

4) I want to purchase and learn to play a ukulele.

Pink. Nuff said.

5) I want to be more mindful of the kinds of food I eat. 

I eat a lot of healthy food.  I also eat some junk food.  I really notice the difference in how I feel when I run. We had this wonderful pot luck between shows the last Saturday of The Full Monty.  People really outdid themselves!  Anyhow- I ate things like wheat berries, chick peas... whatever the hell it was that I brought... oh! Succotash.  I ran nine miles the next day, and if I didn't have a matinee, I could have run more. I felt amazing!  The ten miles I ran the next week? Not as good. The rain, sure, but the tortilla chips.  I counted them. They were within my points, but they really didn't give me much energy.

Alright- that's it for now!  

Running

I can't wait until I can just run without stopping again.

I don't know what made me start running a few years back. Maybe it was because I couldn't run for so long with my old giant boobs? (I had a reduction in 2002) I did the Couch-to-5-K plan to start. Well, technically, I started and stopped a bunch of times, but eventually, I finished it and started running regularly.
I was never a very fast runner, but I liked distances and, for some reason, wanted a medal. I signed up for a half marathon that was set for November of 2007 in New Hampshire. I had stayed pretty true to a schedule I found on Hal Higdon's website, and was feeling confident that I'd be ready to go in November.
On a trip to Salem, MA, I noticed a sign for the Wicked half that was going to take place in September. I thought "Maybe I'll be ready by then" and then forgot about it for a bit. I came across the site for the race a week or so before the event and thought... maybe... The night before, I set and alarm and informed my boyfriend at the time that I was thinking about running a half the next day in Salem (even though I had only run 10 miles in a row before) and that as long as I was able to get up (damn you have to get up early on a Saturday for these things), I was doing it. His reply "I guess you're probably not doing it then, huh?" Well, that sure settled it, I was doing it. "Will you come and watch me cross the finish line?" I asked... the response included excuses about being bored waiting and not wanting to waste the morning, and some other junk. Alright then.
I got up at whatever ungodly hour it was, put on my running gear, and headed to Salem. I wasn't sure if I had what I needed, or too much, or what the hell I was really doing. I brought some safety pins to pin money, my car key, and my bib to my shirt, a sweat shirt in case it was cold, and my iPod (I know, I know, you're not supposed to). I signed up and had a long wait for the start. My bib number was 420. I took that as a good sign because I was currently involved in a production of Reefer Madness. "I think I'm going to finish this thing".
Towards the beginning of the race, I tried to keep up with a group that seemed to be going a steady pace, but ended up falling behind along the way. WHY didn't anyone remind me how many friggen hills are in Salem and Marblehead?! Oh right, because I only told one person I was even doing it.
The course was a loop around, so I figured since we ran UP so many hills, the second half would be easier. Not really. I don't think I remember running down hill for the entire race. At one point, I ran around a corner and was faced with another giant hill. I said, apparently out loud "oh, what the fuck!". The man next to me said "SERIOUSLY?!?!" At least I wasn't alone.
It wasn't all bad. It was a very pretty course with lots of cheering stations around. I discovered that gatorade and that goo stuff really do help.
I crossed the finish line in a respectable amount of time for someone that didn't train enough and I wasn't even close to being the last one. It was exciting and then kind of disappointing realizing I had no one there to share my victory with. I grabbed a bagel and got in my car.
I drove to visit my dad at work to show him my medal. It was a long ride to Natick and a painful exit from the car once I got there (Oh why didn't I stretch!?). "Dad, I got a medal today for running a half marathon!". "Oh cool... wait, what?" (I have to mention my dad was very proud once I explained and he was happy that my first stop after was to show him the medal)

I'm very proud of my half. I had come a long way from not being able to run for 2 minutes at a time. Also, due to a knee injury, I didn't get to do the half I signed up for that November... lame.


I just finished week 4 of the C25K program, and I really am looking forward to just running. My goal is to run in the Wicked Half again this fall, but to be more prepared. I'll get there. It's getting easier.