It's about time I reflect on 26.2

Been very busy since the marathon.  My summer masters classes started and I've been trying to get out and be active in other ways since I know long distance running should not be the only way I get my heart pumping.  My husband and I have a new goal to get in shape by putting on some muscle, which is hard to do when you are running long distances.  So, we've started to incorporate more weight training into our routine and we're cutting back on running.  I ran six miles the other day around my neighborhood and it was perfect.  Great distance, great scenery and great feeling :) Happy to report that I still love running after that damn marathon!

Speaking of the marathon...I always find it beneficial to reflect on things in life as they come and go (my teaching, running, just about everything).  It's been a while since the race itself, but I'm sure it would be good to document those moments of torture that I remember so that when my crazy self tries to sign up for another one, I have documentation of why I shouldn't...kidding :)

Actually, surprisingly, it was a lot of fun!  (I say that now because I am not currently running or training to run 26.2 miles).  No, really, it was a great experience--one that I am happy to look back on.  So, here goes:

The last few days before race day could not have been better.  I was eating the recommended foods from Jeff Galloway's training programs (small snacks and meals every 1.5 hours).  I hydrated with water only throughout the day and took melatonin so I could sleep at night.  I refrained from taking melatonin the night before the race to avoid grogginess.  Because our sleep and eating patterns were in control, we felt in control.

The day before the race, I got everything ready for my husband and I in separate bags (clothes, bibs, snacks, water, etc.).  Our bags were surprisingly full!  This is a great race trick that I would highly recommend: do your laundry, and get your clothes ready as well as other supplies you've trained with.  No one wants to be looking for that one lucky/magic sock that is probably hiding somewhere dirty...so, plan, plan, plan!

Since everything was well planned out, race morning went super smoothly!  My husband and I had already thought about the car/driving situation, thankfully.  Because the start and finish were in different locations, we left one car parked near the finish with a key inside (use padlock to get in).  We didn't have to run with a stupid key!

Throughout the day, I kept reminding myself to savor each moment, and the starting line was no exception.  I looked around, made observations, took in deep breaths.  I know it sounds weird, but it was actually really calming.  I thought to myself, this is my last pre-marathon moment.  After this, I might not be able to run.  Of course, thoughts of doubt went through my mind about not being able to finish or getting hurt, but I had practiced being in control of those thoughts during my training.  (Mind training is almost more important than running training for long distances).  I was in control.

The first few miles were AWESOME, which is usually not the case for me.  It takes me a few miles to get into the zone, which is why I am not a fan of 5K races.  By the time I climb over "the wall" and get into my groove, the race is over.  Long distance running is perfect for me.  I may be slow, but I feel like I can run forever.  

The first half of the marathon was slow.  We told ourselves it was because we were conserving energy to speed up the last half.  Lies!  We ended up going even slower for the last half, but at least we finished.  I was even more thrilled to speed by a half marathoner at the finish line who had started an hour after us.  Evil, I know!

Other highlights & memories:

*I had a hard time getting into the zone THE WHOLE RUN because of the trail we were on—there were lots of rocks and things to watch out for!  In fact, I slightly twisted an ankle at one point and had no other choice than to run it off!  It was beautiful though and certainly beats a treadmill or track!!

*As planned and practice, we passed at least one person on every hill (burn to their ego).

*Nathan had to remind me once or twice to control my breathing (I was listening to music and therefore couldn’t hear my-terrible-self panting for life)

*I’m pretty sure we passed mile marker 18 twice.

*We ran 26.2 miles.

*We ran 26.2 miles!

*We were pretty sore halfway through (hence the slowing down), but I had just enough energy to kick ass the last 0.1 mile, which is the most important part—I fooled the crowd into thinking I am a good runner J

Quotes for the day:

“Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind” – Psalm 26:2

“The person who starts the marathon is not the same person who finishes” -Unknown

Marathon Finish Line Pic

Here is our pic from last weekend's race.  Hope to blog about it tomorrow--been gathering my thoughts since race day about highs and lows :)

18 hours until MARATHON!

Savoring this moment of excitement.  My poor husband--he's been having to deal with my "inspirational-ism," like when I was taking a bath last night and saying things like "this is the last day we will wonder what our marathon time will be...let's just savor this."  LOL.  Yeah, I've run myself crazy, but I've enjoyed every minute of it and am especially happy to be capturing it via blog (and sharing it with people in Germany and Russia--who'da thought?!).

I've taken tapering to a whole new level by pretty much quitting running completely (oops).  After a 20 mile run and 4 mile walk two weekends ago, I've been cross training (hiking, weight lifting, kayaking) to give myself a change of pace.  I know myself enough to recognize that if I cut back on running, I will miss it dearly and enjoy the next run that much more.  I DID run a 5k this weekend, slowly, more for pleasure, and ran three miles Monday morning and evening.  I find the short runs to be less enjoyable than the long ones--by the time I get into my "groove," it's over.  Strangely, yes, I'd rather run 20 miles than 2.  The sense of accomplishment makes it completely worthwhile.

I spoke with a long time friend a couple days ago who has run over 10 marathons, 5 of which were Boston.  She was surprised by my level of calmness and confidence.  I know I'm fairly motivated, but confident???  I figure I've done what I can, and I'm as ready as I'll ever be; there's no point in wishing I would've done more or less or whatever.  I did the training that made the most sense at the time given the circumstances (time, weather, fatigue, health, etc.).  The way my friend put it: I've done all the work; now the race is the opportunity to celebrate it.  Phew--that certainly takes off the pressure!

At this point, my husband and I would LOVE to finish in four hours, but if it doesn't happen (which it probably won't), oh well.  Realistically, we'll probably finish more like 4:30.  My back up goal is five hours, which seems totally manageable.  As long as I'm not injured (which I better not be), we just want to finish!  And of course, savor it! :)

Quote of the day: "If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon" -Emil Zatopek, Czech long distance runner and winner of three Olympic gold medals

Adventures in Cross-training: 6 days until BIG RACE!

I'll try to keep this short and sweet, although that my be hard, especially for me.  This summer, I have already had two scary experiences in pursuit of adventure.  The most recent and most scary by far was my recent climb of Mount Marathon in Seward, Alaska.  It's a three mile round trip climb from sea level to over 3,000 feet.  The average incline is 38 degrees.  Amazing view of Seward but almost hardly worth the fearful heart flutters.  Here is my story:

I'll admit that I was naive about the climb.  All I really knew about Mount Marathon was about the annual race every Fourth of July but also specifically about the runner last year who was "swallowed by the mountain."  An Anchorage man who started the race last year never finished.  It was hard to stomach last year, especially because Seward and Anchorage have that big town/small city feel.  Everyone knows everyone.  If someone dies tragically, chances are you are somehow connected.

Like I was saying, when invited by two teacher friends to tag along on their trip to Seward to climb the mountain from hell, I naively said, "sure!"  After a two hour drive to Seward, I looked up and was somewhat intimidated by the sheer size and incline of the beast.  The signs at the trail head pretty much say "turn around stupid or die," but hey, I'm in the best shape of my life, I've got this, I thought.  If there's ever a time to do it, do it now!  So dumb.

We started at the base of the mountain climbing hand over foot up a 60 degree rock face.  My friends climbed on although I later found out that was the most terrifying part for them.  I was all adrenaline, so I didn't care.  Once you hit the main trail, it's an easier climb--you can pull and hold yourself up by grabbing the exposed tree roots and sturdy rocks.  However, the higher you get, the looser the rocks.  I should've known.

Once you pass the tree line, there is nothing to hold onto, and you are still barely halfway up the mountain.  How do you climb up the additional 1,500 feet, you ask?  By holding onto loose rocks with dear life.  Yes, most of the time, the rocks you step and grip to crumble while or shortly after you step or grab.  About three quarters of the way up, I was reasonably uncomfortable.  "Look at the bald eagle soaring under us," my friends shouted and pointed.  "Hell no," I replied.  "I want to live."

Thankfully, my brave friends coached me to safely after I hugged the mountain in one spot for five minutes.  "I give up," I told them.  "I'm scared and I just want to get down."  "Um, well, Nicole, there's no way down really...so you're better off continuing up."

Although I don't really understand how someone can pretty much disappear from the mountain, I COMPLETELY understand why people call 911 and ask for immediate rescue assistance.  I almost sucked my thumb on the side of that damn mountain.  I felt a little better knowing my husband was 2,000 feet below working in Seward, but I also didn't want him to have to identify my mangled body.  Climb on I shall, I told myself.  And climb on I did.

Over two hours after beginning our climb, we summited.  I could hardly enjoy the view because I was so shaken up.  There's nothing like watching rocks fly by you as you hug a mountain with dear life and then almost immediately think about how your body would fare if it were to experience the fall.  Nothing.

After a short break and snack at the top, (thank you Costco Fiber One bars--surprisingly I kept my shit in), we started our climb down.  Much easier.  The momentum helps.  It's hard on the knees, but it a relief to know that ever step you take means you are closer to sea level.  Never been happier.

I managed down with minor scratches (no devil's club thorns this time, thankfully) and a few sore muscles (mostly my upper body from gripping the mountain side).  The most taxing part of the climb was mental--and I thought I was mentally tough.  I can run around a track 72 times, no problem, but I can't keep my mind busy on the side of a mountain.  My graphic imagination got the best of me.  I won by summiting but lost by surrendering.  I will never climb that mountain again.

Not thirty minutes after we made it down, a lone hiker was being heli-rescued off the mountain.  Surprise!  He had gotten himself in the same pickle--he was descending but got himself stuck and did not feel safe to continue down.  For hours, a helicopter searched, hovered, lowered a rescue team, etc.  I felt lucky--defeated but lucky.  If it weren't for my friends (shout out!), that would've been me--which is why I never hike alone and why I will never hike up Mount Marathon again.  Kuddos to the people who race up the mountain every Fourth of July.

Below is the link of the rescue the day of our climb:

http://sewardcitynews.com/2013/06/another-mount-marathon-rescue/ 

Quote of the day: "Friends don't let friends hike Mount Marathon.  Don't do it" -Nicole Staker

12 weeks until Marathon

Haven't blogged in a while, but I'm always up for it after a good run.  A little over a month ago, I did a 12 mile run on the treadmill that was just torturous.  I wasn't happy with how it went, which always gets me a little down and unmotivated.

A few weeks later, Nathan and I went to the track to run in order to start preparing our bodies to actually move forward as we run (because unfortunately, the ground won't be moving under us on marathon day).  Nathan was able to run about seven miles until he got really bad blisters, which is pretty good considering he has not been training regularly because of his busy schedule.  I ran 14 miles but was delusional by the end.  I went around a quarter-mile track 56 times!  No wonder I was a little loopy by the end of it!  That night, we went out to dinner, and I treated myself to a nice, big steak :)

In the days following (my Spring Break), I could barely move.  When I could finally exercise again, it hurt to run after only a few miles.  I ended up walking most of the following week and wondered why it was taking my body so long to recover.

I since then have decided to take it a little bit easier.  The training plan I was following starts increasing by three miles each long run, too much in my opinion, especially considering I need to transition from a treadmill to a track to outside (once the weather permits).  Since Nathan is still on track on a different program, I'll be adjusting so that I run following the schedule he is using.  What's nice about the plan I found for him is that it only increases a mile or two each week.  It also doesn't require that we run more than marathon distance before the race (which I was nervous about).  Supposedly, once you run 18 miles, you are ready for marathon day.  

I did not want to go to the track today, so I ran 12 miles on the treadmill at home.  I figured I would race against myself (rather than a schedule) and try to beat my 12 mile time from last month.  I only shaved off a minute, but this run was much for enjoyable.  I feel like I'm back on track in such a way that I am finding pleasure in running again instead of feeling constantly overwhelmed and behind.  It also helped that I downloaded a new song called "Radioactive" by the band Imagine Dragons.  I actually listened to it four times during my run because it totally got me in the zone!

Quote of the day: "I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones, enough to make my systems blow" from the song "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons, of course 

19 weeks until Marathon

Since my last post (two weeks ago--the date of my last long run), our treadmill has been getting lots of action.  I didn't write about my last long run, but overall, it went really well.  I ran eight 9 minute miles and then finished my last mile in a little over eight minutes.  I've been learning that, just as Jeff Galloway states, "all of us have much more potential than we usually allow ourselves to explore" (out of his book Training Programs, pg. 67).  I feel almost guilty that I did not share this quote on my last post, since that was a tradition I had created for my blog--to share some food for thought that helped me focus through my runs.  I've adapted this quote and actually say it out loud as I run: "I am more capable than I think I am...I am more capable than I think I am!"  (By the way, my husband thinks I'm crazy for talking to myself out loud while I run on the treadmill.  Oh, the joy of not being that crazy person at the gym!  I have the luxury of doing it in my own home.)

After my nine mile run, I started pushing myself to run faster, focusing on speed instead of distance (because I have two weeks of short runs between long runs).  I became curious as to what my fastest mile could be.  It'll be hard to even know, but I'm getting closer.  I ran a 7:57 mile, and then beat that a few runs later...

Which brings me to today's run: 10.5 miles total, with the last mile completed in 7:45.  I almost started crying when I was done; In fact, I actually couldn't believe it when I had finished.  I kept checking the clock/mileage on the treadmill screen.  How could I have completed my third longest run with no pain, no problem?  I could've kept running!  Not one mile was a misery, which is weird because sometimes a three mile run can seem like the end of the world.  I was never bored.  (I've found great pleasure in looking out the window while I run and watching cars slide down the street!)  That's when I started thinking that maybe some running alien took over my body.

Another accomplishment of today's long run was that I found my perfect snack!  After trying and spitting out some of those bars that taste like poo or fall apart in your hands while you run, I tried an Odwalla Fiber Bar (Dark Chocolate Chip Walnut flavor).  It's kinda like having a bite of oatmeal while you run--it tastes like real food, and after you gulp down some water, you feel like you just had a pick-me-up meal.  It is close to the snack guidelines given by Galloway (220 calories, 60 from fat--he says to stay away from high fat calories, which is almost impossible).  While I always enjoy gummy bears or some expensive running chew near the end of a run, I believe I've found the snack to carry me through the marathon!  One step (or 10.5 miles) closer :)

Quote of the day: "Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can" -Lowell Thomas, American writer (I love how inspiration quotes apply to every aspect of life)

21 weeks until MARATHON!

Wow, it's been seven months since I last blogged (but only three days since I last ran).  The good news is I am still "running strong" with the whole running thing.  In fact, I am happy to also report that after the half marathon seven months ago, I've kept up my healthy-active lifestyle and decided to pursue a marathon, yes, 26.2 miles.  The beauty of it all is that it will be the same race as last year's half marathon (Mayor's Marathon in Anchorage in June).  I'm not sure how finishing a marathon will compare to finishing a half, but what an awesome feeling to double my distance and go for it!  I will be in the 0.5% of the US population that has run a marathon, God willing.

My other running update is that my husband caved and bought me a treadmill for Christmas!  Although I'm not using it as much as I should for walking (on non-running days), it is SUPER convenient to walk downstairs anytime I feel like a run, be it morning, noon or night.  I can eat and shower immediately after without having to "drive" home, and I can stare out the bedroom window and creep on the neighbors across the street (jk, kinda).  Either way, it was a great buy!

Along with running, life is good.  We're in our new condo (which we moved into after the half marathon seven months ago) with our half marathon pic hanging proudly :) Work/school is good, mostly because I can easily run off the stress from it all.  The next few months will be an interesting venture as I increase my mileage (to 20-26) miles while still teaching and going to school.  I will try to blog about it all!

Running shortly (9 miles today).  Will share my interesting running tales :)