Life is like Running

Today I spent some time reading thru my blog from start to finish.  I wanted to remind my body and mind why running is important phyically as well as mentally, how far I have come, and mostly the joy it gives me.

As I read thru each post one by one, I remembered how scared I was with each new venture I came to, but I made it thru each one and move on to the next venture and the next and the next. I feel running is like life, you start the race feeling excited, nervous and may even have to pee a little.

The national anthem is sung and you feel a since of encouragement and reminded why you set out for this journey. As you make you way to the start with the mobs of people you zone in on yourself and move forward, unsure but somewhat aware of how tough it could be, but you move forward one foot in front of the other slowly and steadily, as you think to yourself,

"Breath in...breath out...left foot....right foot...head up...loose arms and look forward"

The first few steps you tell yourself, this is no problem, I have trained for this, I can do this. You want to shout:

"HEY!!! HEY YOU!!...look at me! Look at what I am doing! I am running this race and I am doing it all on my own, no one can stop me now"

Along the side lines family, friends and strangers are cheering you on! You feel so proud of yourself, you feel belief and in that moment no one can tell you different.

You get half way thru the race and the rush of endorphins are starting to wear off.  The reality of what you are doing has come to full light. You may start to doubt yourself, wonder why you are doing this, wonder if you can do this, you may even think about taking the easy way out. Some how some where deep inside you, the strength finds you and keeps you moving forward, slow and steady one foot inform of the other and concentrating on yousrself. Family, friends and strangers are still on the sidelines cheering you on encouraging you to stay focused and keep moving, but no matter what they say or show there is no way they could know how or what you are feeling so you tune them out and keep going, focusing only on getting to the one thing you set out for....to finish what you started.

Just before you reach the end of the race, another wave of endorphins hits you. Suddenly it's like the clouds have lifted and you can picture the finish line.  You know that sign is just minutes away and you think about how far you have come and how little there is left to go. You push forward with a new found strength.

Just as you have use every ounce of strength that you have the finish sign comes into view. With each step your feet feel like it has a brick attached to it. In your mind you feel like your foot it 6" off the ground but in reality it's only a shuffle, but you keep going, the family, friend ans strangers that have  been cheering you on are louder and stronger than ever.  They can see you are beat up, tired and have not strength left so they cheer you on louder and louder hopping that their strength will carry you to the finish line.

As you cross the finish line a wave of emotions come over you. You feel so happy and relieved that you made it this far and you did it all the hard work on your own. Some may cry, some may fall to the ground out of shear and utter exertion, some may have family, friends or strangers rush to your side and hug you congratulating you on your journey.

The medal is placed around your neck and you feel so proud. It is a symbol of how hard you worked to get to where you are. You make sacrifices, you put things on hold and you have changed as a person along the way.

Running is like life, you may have hard times, you may fall down, but you get up and you may doubt yourself; but if you keep pushing forward one foot in front of the other slow and steady, keeping your sights on the horizon you will finish what you set out to do.



"I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I cannot run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the aches and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm; I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"

Xterra Half Marathon

So the picture above so does not show what Saturday looked like!

This is what it looked like:

 I woke up to freezing drizzle and I though great time to break out the winter gear! I pulled out my warm pants, long sleeve purple shirt black jacket and white beanie.

I filled my hydration pack one with water the other with 5 hour energy diluted with water and two Hammer gels. I wasn't very hungry so just a protein shake and half a bagel was all I could get down. I was a little worried that I wouldn't have enough energy and hit the wall. That's my second biggest fear in running. Having to"setting the turtles free" is my number one scare!

I got to Cheyenne Mountain State Park and the all familiar "oh man I forgot how hilly this place is" set in. I found the bathroom and emptied my bladder one last time.  There are not many crazy people that want to run this since, it is one of the harder Half Marathons in Colorado Sprigs.

I got to the start and was pretty nervous. I always am so worried that I will be the sweeper and finish last. As the One, two, three counted down we were off. It felt like everyone was off to a sprint! I got into my rhythm and tired to hold myself back. as we rounded the first turn there was a congestion and came to a walk, great I am thinking this will suck if its like this the whole way. But we thinned out and I was off.

You can see me just behind the fellow in the blue. Thanks Tim from PikesPeakSports.us for providing me with pictures and for standing out in the cold.

Since you are not able to use headphones it was going to be a long 13.1 miles of me and my inner dialogue. I felt pretty good for the first mile, then the hills came into play. As you can see 2-4 was a long hall and I was not happy about it and started to question why I am doing this.

On the way down about mile 5 I hit some VERY slick limestone. It was single track and wet I fell by just going to fast. I bruised my right knee, tore my jacket and hit my two ribs. Yep I went down and rolled. I though "Oh Shit I scratched my face and I am hurt they will come and get me." By no means was I about to let someone carry me down that hill. So after a few tears of disappointment I pulled myself together and started down the mountain. I was able to make up some good time until 8.5 then it was back up the bloody hills. I was starting to feel better and feeling like I normally do when I am preforming well. I am good at down hill running, I just hate going up the silly hill.

From miles 9 to 11.5 it was tough and I started to feel fatigue. I started to watch my watch closely and I wanted to finish with a sub 3 and as usual I knew it would be close.  Every down hill I tired to ride the trail but with my fall fresh in my mind and my knee throbbing I just could let go and let the trail take me.

I saw Tim once again from PikesPeakSports.us as I finished the end and I was very happy. Mostly because I like to get my finisher photos, I am always standing behind the camera!

I finished my 4th half marathon in 6 weeks. Oh yeah did I mention I also Ran a full marathon two week prior? Yeah I am a little bit of a Half Fanatic :)

Overall with the course and weather, I didn't do half bad, could have been better but some days we have off days and today was one of them.  I'll get that mountain next year!


"I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I cannot run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the aches and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm; I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"

Fall Series Race #1 North Monument Valley Park

This is race number one of the Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series.

The course started out in a grass field. As usually everyone started out fast. I had to hold Kimmy back so she wouldn’t crap out.  But after running this course we should have gone out gun blazing! I felt really good and settled into a nice 10min pace which felt really good. As we rounded to Mile two I could hear splashing.  I looked down and I see runners in the creek!

 I knew we were running in water, but guess I should have read the fine print! We ended up running ¾ of a mile up Monument Valley Creek! ICK you know that all flows downhill from the something really smelly.  At times that creek reeks and yep we were running in it.  Needless to say we all smelled lovely!

 

After I exited the creek my feet felt like each one weighed five pounds. There was so much gravel in my shoes and I refused to stop and empty them. There would have been no way to get them back on!

 I finished with an okay time not very good but I had a good time.

 

Kim and I are on a team of four, known as the DFL's, I will let you decided what that stands for :)  Two of our ladies are missing from our photo.  But we ran into two other runners we know Jeff from Barefoot Inclined and Dennis from our Wednesday night  Jose Muldoons Run Club. Yep Jeff ran in those Huaraches! He said it was great with every lift of the foot the water ran right off and flushed out the sand and gravel......CHEATER just sayin'











"I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I cannot run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the aches and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm; I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"

Denver Half Marathon

This is my third Half Marathon. This qualifies me to become a Half Fanatic. Being that I had just run a Half 5 days prior I was not so sure how I would do. I felt a case of the nerves coming on and for once I thought I would toss my cookies. This race only had 416 people registered so I was worried I would be left in the dust.

The start was crowded, and once again the start was fast! That's funny, see the guy in the green shirt standing in front of my picture? I passed him about mile 11. I remember that head band. SEEEEE starting out fast is not a good idea!

The trail was decent and had rolling hills. I saw parrie dogs talking to each other and the views were nice.  About mile 3 we headed out into so single track running, and I was scared I would be the slow one who would keep people from passing.  I used the though process my friend Jeff uses. He says he just looks down the the feet and keeps moving.  Surprisingly it works!

As we rounded mile 4 we headed into the wooded area.  This is what it looked like:

This was more of a paved road trail so wearing my trail shoes was not such a good idea. Although they did hold up well in the sand, loose thick gravel and the dirt.

Since I knew I was not going for time and didn't want to burn myself out 12 days before the big race I decided I would stop and take pictures along the way.

Mile 6:

Mile 7:

 

Mile 9:

 

Mile 12:

 

Yes, I was a little alone feeling. Overall I was okay with my time, little down feeling though. I though I could do better. I have to remember to tell myself that we all have bad day and this just happened to be one.

Official time: 2:42:04
Overall: 377/416
Gender Place: 211/242
Age Place: 85/93

"I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I cannot run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the aches and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm; I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"

American Discovery Trail Half Marathon

 

This Half Marathon is the second of three that I have set out to become a Half Fanatic.  Also since Kimmy and I have already gotten out qualifying times for the Pikes Peak Accent, we wanted to have fun with this run.

 

The start was fast! Kimmy is notorious for starting out to fast so I had to remind her to take her time, we will pick off these runners later. Looking down at my watch at mile 1 we had gotten a 9 minute mile. I knew there was no way we could keep this pace for another 12 miles so we slowed down and settled in to a nice pace where we could still talk.

 

The aid stations where well placed about every two miles but as always I carry my own stuff. I would rather be over prepared then under. Kim and I did our usual okay run to each aid station and walk thru it. After the first station, we saw the camera man, and as usually we ham it up for the camera.

 

Yeah, we always look like we are having so much fun.  Truth is we do. When we run we talk about what is going on in our lives, cry it out sometimes and even take diggers now and then.  This is "our time" as we like to call it. When all the worries of life can slip thru our minds and when we are done running we feel relaxed and free. If you don't run it is really hard to explain the liberating feeling you get after a good run.

The course was on the Santa Fe Trail and it was flat and uphill for the first 6.5 miles then down hill for the rest. The cheering crowds were great. I loved the gal at mile 4ish giving out free hugs, she was great! On our way back down Kim and I picked up another female runner. We learned it was her first half Marathon and was worried she wouldn't finish. She was tired and running low on fuel.  I gave her one of my GU's and Kim and I paced her out.

When there was three miles left, Kim told me it was time to go in her head and run it out.  As I slipped into my train of though I started to pull away from Kim and the gal we were pacing. I concentrated on my stride and kept telling myself, Kick, kick, kick with each stride. Once again I saw the camera man. Better look go for the camera, don't show the pain!

 

 

As I started to come into the finish I could see the end. Always such a great feeling, but as you can see I am tired.

 

 

Overall it was a good run and I am fairly happy with my time. Now time to rest, I've got my next half in 5 days, then I will be an Official Half Fanatic!

 

 

Official Time: 2:38:20

Age Place: 28 / 32

Gender Place: 177 / 240

Overall Place 359 / 445

"I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I cannot run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the aches and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm; I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"

Georgetown to Idaho Spring Half Marathon

Official Time: 2:28:04

Age Place: 220 / 278

Gender Place: 1137 / 1550

Overall Place: 2044 / 2575

Heading into the Georgetown to Idaho Spring Half Marathon I felt very nervous and uneasy.  My longest training run had only been a 10K at Jose Muldoon’s; and their 10K is rather hilly.  It made me feel inadequate that I wouldn’t be able to finish the Half Marathon in the time I needed to qualify for the Pikes Peak Accent.  

I got on the road at 4am to make the long drive up to Idaho Springs. I drink my banana and chocolate protein shake on the way up. The nerves made it hard to get it down so the shake got thick and warm quickly. Once up there and parked I had to walk to the bus that would take me to Georgetown.  Standing in line I ate the last of the breakfast I brought, I slice of toast with peanut butter. Hopefully it would tide me over and I wouldn’t run low on energy. Standing in line I looked at the other runners and I just thought to myself, what did I sign up for? Everyone looks to be in great shape, I am going to be the sweeper and I signed up for this race and it was a waist.

We loaded on to the bus and headed over. I sat to a guy that had this wet messy hair that I found rather eye appealing. Immediately I felt insecure, I swear he had less than 10% body fat on him.  I am sure as I sat next to him and tried not to stare, he was thinking

“great this frumpy girl is staring at me. Look at her with her running gear on thinking she can run a half marathon, look at her she doesn’t even look like a runner.”

Like how I channel my insecurities on to someone else J

 

I hopped off the bus and made my way to the packet pick up.  I always get a tad nervous that they wouldn’t have my registration and I would have to pay again. Of course grabbing my receipt would be way to easy. Of course they had my number.  I made a stop at the port-o-john’s, beside the fear of hitting the wall my other fear is having to stop and “set the turtles free”.  I spotted a few other running friends chatted up a bit.  Kimmy and I had our traditional start photo taken.
 

I found the 2:20 pacer and gathered around her. I stretched out a bit and got my music set. I told Kim before we started that I needed to go inside my head if I wanted to try and qualify for my time. I knew I needed to stay ahead of the 2:30 pacer and I felt that 10 minutes was a good cushion.

After the National Anthem the gun went off and the masses set out for the 13.1 mile run. I have learned from running many races never to start out too fast.  I settled into my pace quicker that I normally do. We made our way into down town Georgetown and looped around a lake and back down the trail to Idaho Springs.  This course has a gradual decent from 8,500 feet to 7,500 feet.  You follow the creek side, the course is mostly paved with a few trail spots.

 I felt really good and was ahead of schedule most of the run. As I passed the 10K split time I clocked in a 1:07:00, which was a great time! I wish I would have not known that because I started to relax and I started to see the 2:20 pacer slip out of view about mile 7.  I knew when the 2:25 was close by the crowd of people that started to pass me. I wanted to stay in front of them so I let my body “ride the road” and let my legs carry me thru the down hills.  Since I carried my own water I was able to run thru the next two water stations. I wanted to gain any extra time I could get. I know you should never glance over your shoulder, but I had to know how close the 2:25 group was.  I couldn’t see the flag so I started to feel less frantic. I settled back into my easy pace, which was about 10 ½ minutes per mile.

 I started to get tired about mile 10.  With the slanted road, I feet were sore. I really need to work on strengthening my feet muscles. Once again the 2:25 pacer stared to creep up on me. I decided I would use them as a buffer to keep me on track for the next three miles. I talked to the gal for a while and she told me she would be running the Accent next weekend. I told her I am trying to get my qualification time for next year.  She told me they were ahead of schedule and I would be just fine. This made me feel better. I felt like they started to speed up a, reality is I slowed down and the group started to slip away. I started to feel down but I told myself:

 

“you can do this don’t let the pain get the best of you, your almost there.”  

 

I craped out about mile 11.5. My feet hurt and I was tired, should have had more GU. I really started to feel the pressure of not getting the time I wanted. I slipped into a run walk for a mile just to try and recover anything I could.  When I saw the 12 mile marker I told myself:

 

“only one more mile that’s a little over 10 minutes, you can do anything for 10 minutes”.

I picked up my pace and started to jog. I kept looking at my watch keeping a close eye on the time. Rounding the last turn I could see the finish and the clock. I pushed every last ounce of energy I had left and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I knew if I lost it I wouldn’t get my cut off time. I pushed thru my watery eyes, thank goodness for sun glasses and as I passed the finish lines I looked at my watch, 2:28:04 I did it! I couldn’t believe it. I thought for sure I was off. I sat down to catch my breath and waited for Kim to finish.

 

 

 

 As the reality set in that I finished with almost two minutes to spare I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.  I did something I didn't think I could do. I guess when you push yourself you will find you can do things you never thought were possible.

 

 

 I look back at this race, I don’t know if I would do anything different. I enjoyed every minute of this race.  The people cheering along the course were fantastic.  The views were relaxing and I just let go and let myself be one with the road. Only a few times in my running career have I ever really let go and just let the road take me.

 







 

“I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I cannot run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the aches and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm; I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"

Summer Seriers #2 - Panoramic 4M

This is a very low keep run where only 50-100 runners show up for this event.  The Panoramic was originally conceived in the mid 80's as a fund raiser for the planned Olympics Hall of Fame which was to be part of the Jimmy Camp development.  When that fell through, the event was moved to Palmer Park and the Deaf and Blind School was designated as recipients,  The race was a 5 miler in Palmer Park, and was changed to 4 miles when the venue changes to Bear Creek Park in 2000.

This is really a beautiful course, and has a pretty hilly climb for hill training.  The course is mainly on dirt trails in Bear Creek Park, but there is a short distance on a paced entry road and a gravel parking lot.  There are a few decent hills to keep you pushing yourself.  The elevation is around 6,200 feet.

I started off the race well.  I was not ready for the hills and the heat so Kim and I as usual had fun and hammed it up for the camera!

To my surprise I placed thried in my age group! Who would have ever known that I could do that?

 

Here I am with my friend Lisa she got 1st in our age group (30-39) Myself and Kim.

 

"I run in the snow, rain, wind and heat. I run until I cannot run anymore then I run some more. I run thru the blur of tears, the aches and pains and then I keep going. I have more running clothes than some running stores, I know Fartklet does not mean like it sounds. I go to bed at 9pm; I get up early just to do it all over again. Why do I do this? Because I am a runner and that's who I am"