Guest Post! Bec's First Marathon

Marathon weekend, what a weekend!

So the weekend started Saturday with my sister picking me up at my house with a surprise visitor, my Aunt Susie! She flew up from Florida to surprise me and help my sister pace me through the marathon.  We headed to Grand Ledge for a few shake out miles through the ledges on our favorite trails and a quick stop at a super fabulous little bakery for some of the most delicious carbs ever.  Then we headed on to Grand Rapids to hit up the race expo next to pick up my bib and shirt and make it really real, there's no going back now!  We went to a pre-race favorite Flanagan's Irish pub for our potato-loving pre-race carb load feast, so  yummy.   Then it was back to the hotel for some running related movies (I'm partial to the movie about the Barkley if I'm stressed/panicky about a race because that is real tough running right there.) and the usual pre-race prep; flat layouts and face masks.

So marathon morning was here. I definitely could have used a couple more hours of sleep. I was probably pretty quiet for the morning, I don't remember doing much but getting dressed and packing everything back up to leave the hotel. When we got down to the start I bumped in to one of my favorite people,  Coach Amy. She talked me down a bit (when she asked how I was I teared up and couldn't answer) and lined up to start with me in the back. She's an incredibly wonderful woman who has been through so much. She was going to walk the half marathon so she ended up walking the first 8-9 miles of the race with me until the turn off. Having her for that first big chunk was really a blessing, she helped distract me from my mind wandering about the long day still ahead. We also got to see our cheer squad Sarah & Aunt Susie at mile 4 and again at mile 7 for some extra smiles & a boost. This 8-9 mile area is also where I started to feel the blister forming on the bottom of my foot.

Now I know I had made sure to lube both feet so I'm not sure exactly what happened, but that blister was coming in with force.  I messaged my sister because I knew I'd see her again soon and asked her to bring the Vaseline so I could re-lube the feet.   So mile 11ish there they were cheering and bell ringing away. I took my outer layer off, threw it on the ground, and sat on it to take my shoes off and re-lube, what else you gonna do?!  So I lube up and carry on along the path around the lake as the prettiest views were coming just up ahead. As I approached the aid station just before mile 14 I felt the blister pop.   It stopped me in my tracks for a moment.  Funny side story...I texted my sister because for a minute I went into panic mode. My text to her, "It popped." Followed up a few moments later by "what do I do?!"  what she apparently read at first glance, " I pooped"  >.<  I will remember that and belly laugh forever.  As I was really close to the aid station I went to the medical people to see what I could wrap it up with somehow. They only thing they really had to offer they said were band-aids, well that won't stick to the bottom of my foot. So what I saw they did have was medical lubricating jelly tubes. I grabbed a few of those and super lubed my foot up and hiked on. My sister was due to meet me again at the turn around at mile 18 and honestly I wanted to at least try to make it to her and go from there. She asked if I wanted her to come towards me and meet me sooner and I said no, I wanted to get myself through it, I knew it was still a mental battle more than anything. 

As I approach mile 18 I see my sister and my aunt again cheering and bell ringing away this time with my aunt holding a towel she'd made that said "pain is french for bread", everyone knows I love a good pun! As I got to them there was a guy going back down the out and back who loved the towel and their cheering, we'll catch up with him later and find out his name is Travis. So Sarah joins me now for a bit and it was MUCH needed. She sang, she joked, she encouraged. Somewhere around mile 19 Coach Amy appeared back out on her bicycle, such a treasure.  Mile 20 the timing mat was picked up and any app tracking then stopped. I later found out some wonderful online running friends were tracking me trying to catch my finish to cheer for me. I stopped one more time to lube up my foot because I could tell the lube had kind of worn away and the pain was getting bad. 

At mile 23 Sarah & Aunt Susie switched out and also right then a young lady from the next first-aid station ran out to check on me and walk me back till we got to the aid station, the table there where November Project Grand Rapids had been still had oreos and Gatorade and water at the table(you guys this is GREAT for back of the packers!)  so I filled up my handheld once more and we carried on. I honestly have no idea how much Aunt Susie and I spoke through the next two miles, we did see two tiny brown snakes through the park, jumping definitely hurt the blisters. They started picking up flags and things by now but they still left aid out, which was so helpful. Around mile 25 I saw us catching back up with Travis, he had slowed quite a bit as well. Just then I also saw my sister crossing the street coming towards us with none other than my husband Steve, who was coming to pick me up and drive me home. You guys, I cried. I ugly cried. I stopped to hug him and just sobbed into his shoulder until he kind of pushed me along to start walking again. We were on the sidewalks now and stopping for street lights is MISERABLE. 

We all walked the last mile together. Steve with me and Aunt Susie, Sarah behind talking with Travis. As we got to our last quarter mile Travis took off to run to the finish, I don't know how he did it but it did give me the urge to at least try to run across the finish line. And I did, we got to the chute, I told Steve I was going to run it in and I took off in my painful slow trot. I swallowed the ugly cry mustering back up my throat and managed a smile and I crossed. I saw Travis was still on the side there and had been cheering for me, and my sister ran ahead (bless her heart her back had been really bothering her) to get pics of me crossing.  I got my medal and headed over to sit and get my chocolate milk and orange slices. It was done. It  had taken me way longer than I wanted, an entire work day worth of time, but I finished it. I didn't quit, I didn't give up, I kept going. And honestly, that's been my takeaway from my entire marathon experience, training and all.  No matter what, keep going. 

Chronic Injuries Suck Part 2

Backstreet’s Back Alright

Guess who’s back. Back again

You are probably singing one of the two songs… You’re welcome. If you read my post from March of this year, you know I have back issues.  If you didn’t read it, go back now.  I’ll wait. https://runningwarriorsarah.com/home/2019/3/24/chronic-injuries-suck

Waiting

Waiting

Waiting

Thanks for coming back!

I am nearing the end of a recent flare up.  I went for a run in September and noticed something didn’t feel right.  I went home and iced my back.  I tried to stand up a little later and wasn’t able to.   I spent the next three days on the floor waiting for the pain in my back to subside enough to let me move around.  The one thing I noticed is that I need new carpeting.

I got back into physical therapy with Hulst Jensen. (Jess at the Cascade location is amazing!!!). Same issue, same root cause….I’m too bendy.  Same course of treatment.  After a few weeks I went back to my trainer at Stalta (Lauren is the bomb.com).  If you have a trainer, please make sure that they will always take your injuries seriously and adjust your workout plans accordingly.  Honestly, I was VERY scared to meet with Lauren.  What if I made the flare up worse?  What if I caused more pain?  What if I couldn’t do enough to feel like I got a good workout?

Each time I have this issue pop up it plays havoc with my mind. I question running, I question working out, I question everything.  This time was no different.  I have my fall goal race in just over a month, would it be possible?  Should I even be running?  Why is this my life?  Why can’t I get better?   While some of these questions are completely irrational, I can’t stop them from coming. So, I decided to answer just one of the questions.  What to do about my fall goal race, the 12 hour Ultra Bird.    12 hours is definitely out of the question.  I can hardly stand for 2-3 hours.  I decided a quick day trip to Chicago would be my test. If I could stand the entire time without getting pain, I would move forward with the 6 hour race instead of the 12. Well….. I made it further than I anticipated….I was able to stand/walk for four hours until my back started to hurt. So, 12 hours was off the table and 6 hours would be a stretch.  What to do, what to do?

Acceptance is hard.  Especially accepting that you may not reach a specific goal that was set. I did some major thinking and pondering of my next steps.  I paid for the 12 hour.  I trained for the 12 hour.  My trail buddy was signed up for the 6 hour.  A friend from Run Camp also signed up for the 6 hour.  What was my number one priority for this race day?   That was easy.  I wanted to see Beth complete the 6 hour race.  The second goal was to support Emma on her 6 hour race.  Anything on top of that would just be icing on the cake.  My trail buddy, Emma and I went out to Pigeon Creek for the course preview.  I knew what my plan was at this point.  But, I only told a few people.  Honestly, I was hoping for a little trail magic to just fix my back so I could do 12 hours.  Realistic possibility, absolutely not.  But,  I just hoped something would change.   It didn’t. So my plan was simple.  I would walk the first three miles (1 loop) of the course.  If I felt good, I would go out again.  If I didn’t, I would be done and switch to my spectathlete roll.  You’ll have to wait until my race recap to find out how the race went.  But, I will say, I am happy with everything I was able to do at the race.

You may or may not be wondering what am I going to do next? How can I schedule goal races when my back’s schedule takes priority.  Have no fear, I have a plan for that…..  Just you wait and see…..

Until next time…. 

Training Journal thru 9/8/19

I keep a daily journal that only focuses on my workouts for that day. I thought it would be fun to start sharing my journal on a weekly basis to give insight into my training and into what goes through my head….

So here goes for the past two weeks!

8/26 Monday Plan: Crossfit Well, I took a rest day. No reason other than I was just tired for this past weekend.  And I didn't have a rest day plan…so let's just make it today.  I probably should workout prep my outfits so I am more motivated to go.  But, I’ll worry about that later.  For now, I am going to enjoy this rest day.

8/27 Tuesday Plan: Run. Ummm, yea. No run today. Didn't even get out of bed early enough  to go for a run. So, this week is going well. Still feeling emotionally drained from the weekend. Hoping tomorrow I wake up with some energy!

8/28 Wednesday Plan: CrossFit. What the heck? Still no energy and lack the desire to even put my workout clothes on. What is going on with me? This is not like me. I haven't missed three workout days in quite a while.

8/29 Thursday Plan: Trainer. I went into the workout determined to be in a great mood. Her workouts seem so hard, but yet I am always able to do them. I think this is the third week of this workout. The deadlifts are starting to feel really good. And my chest presses are coming along. I can’t stand how my left arm is just not as strong as my right. It always wants to give up!  I love the post-workout endorphins.  It makes me feel like such a rockstar! I can do anything!

8/30 Friday Plan: Rest. Well, I decided to go for a walk and get my legs moving. Nothing long distance or high in the heart rate…just a nice walk.  And there was nothing exciting about it at all!

8/31 Saturday Plan: Run with Gazelle Run Camp. Run went very well. Felt very good and had plenty of energy when I was done. So I decided to do a few extra miles on the trails afterwards. I went to Robinette’s and did the first loop. I would have done another but I had to use the ladies’ room and I wasn’t about to go in the woods. And since I didn’t have any additional time/mileage planned it was the perfect addition to my  workout.  It was nice being on the trail for a little quiet time.

9/1 Sunday Plan: 16 miles today.  8 biking and 8 running. Welp. My plan was to ride the first 8 miles with Bec and then run the last 8 miles with her. I forgot how bad I am at riding. My legs were jello at the end of the 8 miles.  And, why do you lose momentum SO FAST when going up a hill on a bike?  The run portion was more of a walk.  It was all about time on our feet.This was the perfect day because it was a distance PR for bec and I am so proud of her. I love our adventures in long running.

9/2 Monday Plan: Group Power. Because of the holiday, I let myself oversleep. So I missed group power. Instead, I decided to go to Luton and run on the trails. WOW was it busy. I added on the orange loop, which was a new trail for me. My only problem is that I under plan my water. Luckily, I finished the run after just finishing my water. I would have gone further if I had more water.  Note to self…plan more water!!!

9/3 Tuesday Plan: Run.  Gazelle Run Camp tonight.  Not gonna lie.  I did not want to go.  Not at all.  I wanted to go home and get in my PJs. But, I went anyway and did the workout.  This is an amazing group of ladies!  I’m always glad when I go and get my workout in.  Isn’t there some quote about motivation is like baths, you have to do it daily or something?  Well, I need to find my motivation because it is lacking right now.  I know the past few days have been good.  But, overall, I feel like it is more of a struggle than usual.

9/4 Wednesday Plan: Crossfit.  I think I am coming down with a cold.  Throat hurts, tired and achy.  I hope I’m not.   Should I workout?  Well, my accountability agreement said I would get dressed.  Leggings, sports bra and tank top, check.  The next step is that I would go to the workout.  Drove to the gym, check.  Third step is to phone a friend.  Facebook message Bec and she tells me that I will feel better after getting a good sweat in, check.  The workout was good and yes, I felt better afterwards.    And, I just have to say I hate burpees.  That is all.

9/5 Thursday Plan:  Run.  Welp, no run today.  Decided to take a rest day because I've been good all week and my body is definitely feeling the strain.  

9/6 Friday Plan:  Trainer.  Met with Lauren this morning.  And she had someone observe our workout.  Kind of bummed because this is the last week for this workout.  I really enjoyed the deadlifts.  And don't tell, but I liked the sled drags too.  Definitely feeling stronger and noticing the improvement in this workout.  

9/7 Saturday Plan:  Run.  I always love Run Camp on Saturday mornings.  There is just something awesome about getting up before most people and running with amazing women.   Plus, the bonus this morning is that we get to run from Grain Sandwich Shop. Hello BLT!!!  Who says you can't have a BLT for breakfast?  The only bummer about today is that it is the last real Saturday run for this season.  While I'm excited to be able to do my own thing, I will miss seeing this amazing group of women.  

9/8 Sunday Plan: Trail time.  This is becoming my favorite day. Of the week.  I get to meet up with my trail bestie…Emma. It gives us a chance to catch up and get a good workout in.  We did two loops and I had enough energy to do the final loop.  Maybe next week!

My Why!

Hey!  I've been a little MIA lately. Not on social media, but MIA on this website.  I don't have any excuse other than I don't have the energy at night to sit down and write.  I've read a lot of personal development books and they all say that you have to have a strong "why". If your "why" is strong enough you can push yourself when you are tired.  So, I thought it would be a good reason to do a post about my "why"….  I can give you some background on why I do what I do and it will remind me of why I started this in the first place.

Initially, I wanted to inspire people that were like the old me. The person that knew she wanted to be active but spent the majority of her time on the couch watching life pass by. The person that knew she wanted to get healthy, but for whatever reason either wouldn't get started or couldn't keep at it.  That was me. I would try some workouts for a short period, but would ultimately give up.  I didn't have anyone that supported me and I felt like I was all on my own. I wanted to be active.  But, I would ultimately fail over and over again.

When I started running, speed was not something that even entered my mind.  I'm not fast and I never will be.  And, I am completely okay with that.  But, long distance endurance running is my jam.  I will never be on a podium, I will never get a fastest known time…. But, I will go longer than most people.  I will endure hours and hours of run/walking because I can.

Here is where my "why" comes into play.  How can I translate endurance running into inspiration for people that are not active at all?  They seem to be polar opposites.  Even seasoned runners shy away from long distances.  How I can I take something that very few active people do and inspire people that need it the most?  And that is when I had my first big inspiration.  I am not what people think of when they see a runner.  And, at my speed, most people don't think I should be run/walking as long as do.  But, I do it anyways.  I want to do the (excuse my language) hard shit.  And, if someone like me can train and run incredibly long distances, I am hoping that will motivate people that aren't active to just try walking to the mailbox or to the end of the block.  I will go further and lift heavier weights than what most people think I can do.  In return, I will inspire people to take the first step, no matter how small, towards a healthier active life.  What do I want at the end of the day?  I want someone to read my post and decide to talk a walk to the end of their block.  That is my goal.

My "why":  I will do the hart shit, to inspire and empower others to become more active.