A Midnight Run

Workout Yesterday:
Race for the Cure 5K - Check
8 miles at Midnight - Check

Rewind time five years... I would've punched you in the face laughed at your face if you told me in 2013 I would run 8 miles in the dark, half on country roads. LAUGHED AT YOUR FACE.

One, because I simply wasn't a runner. That happened in late 2011 when my first ever race sucked me in... and from there, I was under the spell. 
and Two, because I had more important things in life... like shopping and drinking.

A few things have changed in five years. 

One, I'm a runner now... a marathoner to be specific. 
and Two, I don't drink and I only shop for our wedding. are we there yet, are we there yet?

If you would've asked me before the marathon if I was a runner yet... I would've told you no. I felt like a wannabe. In my loco mind, I had yet to achieve anything great. I didn't lose (notice how I did that there? lose... not loose? yes, that's an important distinction in the English language) weight, I hadn't completed the big 26.2, and I sure hadn't learned to love running. I felt fake. 

Even after completing the marathon I felt like I was missing the true runner bug. If there even was such a thing.

Last night, I got bit. hard. by that elusive runner bug.

I completed a 5K in the morning with some awesome friends... and needed to put down another 2 miles to complete my training for the day. If sitting on the floor wasting time on facebook for five hours equates to 2 running miles then yes, I put down those 2 miles with style. 

I checked the forecast for Sunday morning; thunderstorms and ickiness most of the day. It was 9:30pm on a lazy Saturday evening and I had this insane thought...

"Why not go for a midnight run?"

By 10:05pm I was out running. So not exactly midnight but I'm old so it felt like it.

I wore a headlamp around my waist (yes, you read that right) and one on my back that flashed so all the drunk drivers cars could see me running on the quiet country road. Only I don't think it worked because, although I could see the light from the headlamp, the cars pretended I wasn't there. I guess five years ago I would've done the same thing. #sadface 

Not to mention, the country roads create shadows and make noises in the middle of the night that are McCreepy.

I turned around and headed back to our small town a little before two miles. One, because I realized this might not be the safest decision and two, because I was scared. Picture this:

"Holy shit, I'm going to get eaten by a bobcat. I think I just heard him (always a him) over there."
...turn headlamp to look off into a field but keep running so you see nothing...
"Yes, that was definitely the bobcat. And now he's following me."

OR

"I bet that car that just drove by, that didn't move to the other lane to give me space, is going to turn around, come back, and kidnap me. I just know it."

yes, I'm totally sane. 

Oh, and there actually was an apparent bobcat or cougar sighting I was made aware of right before my run. by one of my neighbors. awesome.

After I was back "in town" I ran the next six under street lamps feeling much safer and much more responsible. gooooood little runner. 

I finished those 8 miles and realized something... only a runner, a real, live, in the flesh runner would run at night. 

Holy pepperoni, I'm a runner! and even more importantly, I LOVE RUNNING.

Hugs and kisses, Steffi

Race Recap: Madison Spring Half Marathon 2013

Today's Workout:

4 miles / 35:53

1 mile / Newton Testing

The Madison Spring Half Mary was a race I was targeting to PR back in January this year. My crystal ball was off... okay, really off. Fine, it was dead wrong.

Expo:

We picked up our packets at the Monona Terrace; super smooth packet pick-up. The expo was a good size relative to the race. There were maybe 40-50 vendors (keep in mind I'm terrible at estimating this stuff... there could've been 20-100 for all I know) and some great products and sales. 

One booth caught my eye; Fellow Flowers (FF). Now wait for it... 

I walk around the corner and Brett is chatting up the founder and her husband. Because he knows them. I felt like I met a celebrity. Mel, the founder is an incredible person. I fell in love with FF's mission... look for a giveaway in the near future. More about Fellow Flowers soon. 

source

After I spent some moola at the FF booth (go buy flowers... they're so rad!) we left and grabbed lunch at Kabul Afghani-Mediterranian Restaurant. OH MY YUM! I had a spinach-feta stuffed chicken breast with raspberry cream sauce. I die. And it was GLUTEN FREE!

Race Morning:

I woke at 4:30am because I have a fur-baby that doesn't know what "LET MOMMY SLEEP" means. Race morning things happened; I ate a banana, I debated my outfit, I put my blue FF flower in my hair, I pooped (what, it's important to empty the tank), and then I got nervous. 

BUT, I didn't put my Garmin on because I purposely left it at home. Good choice, sister. 

The Race: 

We got to the start line with a few minutes to spare. I was running this one with the boys... for the first half mile. Then I let them go ahead of me (better view) and decided NOT to run 7 minute miles.

Miles 1-3 were sweet. I barely knew they happened... even with the big hills I was feeling decent. Brett even stuck around and ran the first mile with me. He's pretty sweet. I'm glad I'm marrying him. good thing too, not much time left to cancel this shindig.

Miles 3-9 were semi-sweet (yes, I'm comparing this to Chocolate. duh.). I felt the pain, I said hi to my friend Ang handing out water (SO AWESOME to see a friend!). I got to run alongside two of our other friends on bikes... they gave me a few giggles. I was hurting.

10-13.1 were dark cocoa bitterness. There was this hill at mile 10. Scratch that, not a hill. It was a mini-mountain in the middle of Wisconsin. Thanks for that Race Director. Right before that mini-mountain I hooked up with a woman named Christine. Oh, thank you God and the heavens above for Christine. Girl kept me going. I walked. A lot. I experienced cramping in my calves for the first time. That was awesome. I ran 10:00 minute miles. I officially hit the wall. Then just kept running smackdabintoit. over and over and over again.

But then I finished with an official time of 2:10:51. My PW (Personal Worst) by 11 minutes. ugh. And if that wasn't enough I went to medical. again. Dehydration. again. I bounced back this time... but it was still disheartening. Mentally challenging. And little embarrassing. It was good for my ego though, it needed a beating.

I learned a lot from this race. I'm not sure I can put it into words but I do know this. Don't believe anyone who tells you it's flat. IT IS NOT FLAT. 

Christine holding my arm up as we crossed the finish line!

The day after, I ran 1.5 miles in my Newtons. Yes, I'm trying to learn this thing called mid-foot running. My nickname is Stomper. This should be fun.

Hugs and Kisses. 

The Day Before

Hi. I'm alive. 

Wedding planning is now referred to as, "the great and all powerful vanisher of time." I've been forced to eat salads for lunch and dinner because my activity is zilch. Is that German? Zilch? If so, one word closer to hob-nobbin' with the Germs later this year. Hob-nobbin? Germs? I really need to get out more.

The rest of this post was written the day before the Madison 13.1 on May 26, 2013. As you'll read, I was a scant bit nervous. 

Dun, dun, duuuuuuuuun.

I'm running the Madison 13.1 this weekend. This is a fun run... a naked fun run.

Yes. Naked. 

Naked running simply means running sans watch. Sorry to get your hopes up but I'm not going to be prancing around with my you-know-whats hanging out. Trust me, ain't nobody want to see that or even read about that so moving right along...

The only things that differentiate this race from a long training run are:

the bib
timing chip
medal
water/gatorade handed to me by a complete stranger (until mile marker 6, then I get water handed to me by a FRIEND!)
and bananas at the end to fill my belly.

Notice I didn't list pace, time, PR, speed, negative-splits... etcetera. 

Tomorrow learn how this under-trained race concluded. Did I finish? Did I DNF? Did I cry? Did I walk? Did I PR? AND, I'm including pictures! YES, pictures! They're back. 

Hugs and Kisses. 

There's NO Chocolate in this house!

This post is from the week after my DNF. I forgot to share it. Typical. 

Enjoy my craziness...................

I'm putting myself on exercise timeout. So, naturally, I have more time to consume my favorite food group... Chocolate. 

First, more about this timeout. Some people are born tough, others just wish they were. My ego will tell you it's one of my many innate gifts, toughness. Unfortunately, my bullshit meter is always in working order. damn thing never breaks down. And it's SCREAMING bullshit. 

Yes, I'm a born sissylala. Sure, I participate in tough things... skydiving, rock climbing, marathoning, etc. BUT, trust me, fear is present. I've learned to turn it off... fear. But, it's self-sufficient and over the years it's learned how to turn back on. 

What does all this have to do with my timeout? So glad you asked. Last weekend was hard for me. I DNF'd. I felt like a cloak had been ripped off me and there I stood, a naked crybaby wimp. Only I wasn't naked, thank you God. 

I can get over that. I have things to blame the DNF on.

What I can't get over is this injury that sprung up after my DNF on Saturday. It's a calf thing OR it's a shin thing. Doctors scare me so no chance I'm going... I'll just rest, get mom to kiss my boo boo, and it will be all better in a week. It has till Monday, or else. 

So, exercise timeout. 

Which means I need chocolate. duh. And there's NO chocolate in this house. I'm crabbypatty central right now. 

......... calf is better, FYI. My week timeout turned into four weeks. I needed every day of that rest. But then the 13.1 happened. Sometimes, and this is one of those times, I question my sanity. From a responsible rester to a stupid sprinter. Good thing I'm still learning... if I was done, I'd be dead.

Dehydration: Episode 2

(Continuation from DNF: Episode 1) 

I felt hot, dizzy, sweaty, nauseous, and broken. I didn't stop my garmin. I was sure I was going to get up. and I did. I walked across the street and sat down again. and cried again. It was over. I wasn't going to finish. 

I few people stopped. One in particular stopped and stayed. Her name was Amanda. I never saw her face as I had mine buried in the dirt. eating it, of course. She talked to me. She stayed with me. She sacrificed her race for me. 

Runners are special. 

Amanda poured cool water over my neck. She kept me going when I'm not sure I could have kept myself going. The ambulance arrived. I refused care... I was tough. I didn't need any help. My future in-laws were there, they comforted me. Once in their car, I looked at my garmin... one hour had elapsed. I stopped the timer and switched the GPS to off. It was no longer about me. I wanted to see Brett finish.

and so we did. He took 4th overall and 1st in his age group. He's incredible.

We stayed for a bit but I was feeling ill so Brett and his mom walked me to the car. Only the walk was cut short when I fainted. What everyone doesn't know is I was just hungry for some more dirt. 

I woke up wondering where I was and why I was lying on the ground with people surrounding me that would not let me sit up. Can't a girl just sit up? Apparently not. These people included my family, an off-duty EMS woman, and strangers there to help. I'm one lucky little lady.

I heard a familiar voice, Dave the EMS dude. Dave was there at mile 4.85 when I refused the first ambulance ride. He told me I didn't have a choice now... and I didn't argue. 

After a few hours in the hospital and lots of pricks and pokes, I learned I suffered from a case of dehydration caused by a stomach virus exacerbated by my need to run a half marathon. 

There's a lot to be celebrated when you cross the finish line and a lot to be learned when you don't.

What I learned:

1. Don't run a race if you're Miss (or Mr.) Poopy Pants prior to said race.

2. ALWAYS stop to check on a runner who's walking, squatting, or sitting. ALWAYS. 

3. There's a fine line between tough and stupid. 

4. The days after a DNF are emotional. 

5. I love running and this will only make me stronger. 

DNF: Episode 1

April 100 Update:
89.54 miles 

The dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish). I wasn't sure I'd post about it. Not because I'm a private person (ahem, I'm a blogger) but because I'm embarrassed. and my ego is severely damaged. poor ego.

I went into the Jailbreak Half Marathon this past Saturday with high hopes of finding a new PR waiting to hug me at the finish. I was confident I'd see a time of 1:51 or better. Instead I saw mile 4.85 and the three letters...

D N F

...flash through my mind. 

It all started a couple days prior (hence the "Episode 1"). A yucky case of diarrhea cha cha cha came to visit me. Aren't you so happy you read my blog? I'd love to tell a different story, one of heroic proportion, but instead we get to talk poop.

I didn't think much of these couple days because I was drinking coconut water and it's known to save the world. I felt great (other than living in the bathroom) and I was ready to race. Note to all runners: Listen to your body. Mine was telling me to DNS (Did Not Start) so I wouldn't DNF. I didn't listen. and I truly love acronyms. 

Race morning was the same yuckiness. That didn't stop me (until mile 4.85, of course). The gun went off and so did we. Brett zoomed ahead and I stayed back with the 8:30 runners. It was a small race. Well organized but run on country roads with little to no crowd support. I knew something was wrong at mile 0.5. Yes, you read that right. I was struggling to keep an 8:33 pace. something that should be easy for me this early on in a race. I chalked it up to a few things:

1. I, personally, don't ignite my engines until mile 3 so I just need to get through these first couple and then I'll cruise (possibly),
2. It's a little windy and I'm running into it so that's slowing me down (unlikely),
3. This course is not flat... it's full of rolling hills and by full I mean you're either running up or running down (truth). 

Here's the real story; I could've been warmed up, running with the wind, and on a flat course and I still would've DNF'd. 

Why? because I shouldn't have been running. 

I very clearly remember the 4.85 miles I ran on Saturday. 

Mile 1, I was ignoring the pain. telling myself to suck it up. The thought, "Quit being a sissylala," most definitely ran through my mind. 8:33 pace. 

Mile 2, I was furious this runnergirl passed me. I decided I was faster than she was and so I was going to re-pass her. Instead I watched as she disappeared from view. I never saw her again. 8:35 pace.

Mile 3, I walked. Walked? I've never walked in a race. ever. I took water, choked trying to drink it (so classy) and then walked. I was hot, weak, and out of breath. 9:01 pace.

Mile 4, There was this hill. I walked again. I let all these people pass me. I took in a gu. I felt horrible. I wanted to quit but I knew I had to keep going. I wanted that medal. I wanted to see my future in-laws at mile 5. I wanted to do this for Boston. 9:22 pace.

Mile 4.85, I realized I was running slower than my first half marathon by 40 seconds. My first half was hillier than this course and by every account, harder. Something was wrong. I stopped. I put my hands on my knees determined to keep going. I felt sick. I knelt down and finally I sat... and cried. A couple runners stopped, I told them to keep going. I asked them to get help. They did.

It doesn't end here. Episode 2 coming tomorrow. 

Unofficial PR

April 100 Update:
82.09 miles

I was never running a 5K again said Pouty Steffi Pants all of a month ago. Then last Saturday happened and I ran another 5K. And PR'd. I've been obsessively (that's an understatement) checking for results only to find they haven't been published... until today. No, I'm not normal and please, don't try to be like me. One is plenty, thank you.

I found the results today and to my dismay, my time wasn't captured. sad face. However, my #heartsforboston was! And I made a super pretty face for the camera as an added bonus. This picture puts me at 24:02 or 24:03 so I'm going with 24:03 as a finishing time. I've decided that if I post it on AHL it's pretty much official so YAY! New 5K PR!!

Update: It should come as no surprise that I emailed the Race Director regarding this missing PR. The reason I run is to beat my previous time (and so I can eat lots and lots of chocolate) so this is muy importante to my future running career. Drama Queen.

My OFFICIAL PR is 24:05, not 24:08 and not 24:03. I'm skittles happy about this new time.

p.s. We're eating Gluten Free Chicken Lettuce Wraps tonight for dinner. You're jealous, aren't you?