Well, I am officially a half marathoner now! I ran the Make It By Midnight Half Marathon on Friday, July 18th. I can't remember if I posted that I was planning on doing it or not, so here's the jist of it. The goal was to estimate the time it would take to complete the race, and start accordingly. We were supposed to finish as close to midnight as possible without going over. For doing so, we got a tiara (even the men) and if we missed it, we got a pumpkin.
We left our house, (DH, son and daughter and myself) at around 7:30 pm. We were followed the directions to the race area, which was actually a gated neighborhood where you have to stop at a guard booth to get in. We were under orders: when telling the guard where we were going, don't tell them it was a race, just give the address and the guy's name. They didn't know! It was guerilla style racing! LOL.
First of all I must say- HILLS HILLS HILLS! I dont think there was a single flat anything out there, other than my heart line! The course was actually a 4 mile loop that we ran three times, starting out at the race director's house and through the neighborhood, then a 1.1 mile add on after the third loop.
I got there on time and was ready to go at 8:36 pm, assuming that it was going to take a while to run it, with all of the hills and my knee issues. After a quick warm up up the street and back, I got my flashlight, donned my reflective belt and off I went.
My running partners and I took off and tackled the hills at a blazing pace (yeah right!) We trodded on and I was so happy to see the cooler (un-manned aid station as they called it) at mile 2. The humidity was incredible, along with the hills.... it made for a slow slow pace, just as I thought it might.
When we made it back, finishing the first 4 mile loop, I found that my daughter had become best friends with all of the people working the aid station area, and was helping to get the glow sticks ready to give out. By this time it was getting dark. We donned glowing bracelets and necklaces and took on a little hydration, and we were off once again! Zooom! Second lap.
That second hill is always the uber kill, or was it the third? Fourth? Hmm. They kinda blurr together about now. It was now dark and oddly spooky. That last mile towards their house always seemed to get further and further away! Another lap down! By now, my legs are feeling the miles some. My calves and hamstrings were getting a bit tight. More hydration, and ready to tackle the last full lap!
That last loop was a killer. Around 10 miles, my feet were hollering at me to have mercy! My legs were getting tired and my knees were starting to twinge a little. I was ready to just say I did two laps and would be happy. But nooooo, I had come this far! I refused to give up. I kept going! At one point we got a little turned around and had to find the way again. They had little LED lights on the turn signs, and the batteries were failing by this time, so they were hard to see and the course was getting a little confusing in the dark! That last loop went by slower and slower. I felt in a time warp. For Pete's sake... who moved their house!!?
I finally rounded the last turn and saw swirling glo sticks and then I knew, I was nearly done. I did the final bit of tenths to make it to 13.1. Finally. Done. Hills. Gone. Body. Tired. I picked up my tiara and was my finisher's medal, which was put around my neck by my daughter... and went straight to the car. I was ready for a shower and BED!
All in all, it was a great race! I enjoyed the experience, and I have a PR that will be fairly easy to beat.. My time ended up being 2 hours and 48 minutes thanks to those wonderful HILLS!! I am about to post a few pictures that were taken in my photo album... take a look! And I checked the race results and found out that I WON the half marathon... I was the overall winner. Of course, there were only 5 people running the half and 8 doing the full... but still.... 1 out of 5 ain't too shabby in my book! LOL
Well, I went to the orthopedic doctor yesterday. There's good news and bad news. The actual diagnosis of my knee malady is 'inflammation of the patella (kneecap)'. Basically, my knee isn't tracking correctly because I a tendon on one side of my knee is too tight and it's causing it to not move with the rest of the joint when I run. He gave me meds to take to get the pain and inflammation under control and a band to do specific exercises to strengthen the other side of my lower thigh muscle to help balance it out.
The good news is that I can still run, as long as I play it safe and don't over-do it. I am supposed to run on softer surfaces (grass, dirt) for a while and whenever possible. I can still train for and run my marathon, barring any significant changes in the pain.
The bad news is that it could get worse if the muscles don't strengthen properly and adjust the issue. If that happens, I am looking at cortisone shots and possibly surgery. BUT even if I have to have surgery, I can run afterwards, after the healing process is done... and it will probably fix me up to 'good as new' status. *crossing fingers*
I am thinking positively... the medications and the exercises WILL work and I will be able to run indefinitely and without surgery.
I met a few people from our local running club on the Macon Tracks website/forum, and I am planning on hooking up with a running group that they have in the next couple of weeks who run mostly on dirt and grass trails in the area. God brings people into our lives at just the right time, doesn't He?
Well, I have to get to work now. Have a great day!!
Just wanted to give you all a little update on my weekend. I got up Saturday morning and headed to my 5K. It was a nice morning, a little overcast and about 75 degrees, but the air was thick and damp. The race course is flat and shady, so I was looking forward to a good run! I stopped by the registration table and picked up my packet, pinned on my number and ran a few slow laps around the church where we started to warm up. A little stretching and then it was off to the starting line.
I started out a little faster than I had planned, but so did everyone else... that's why I did I guess. It seemed like they were all FLYING!!! I was feeling really tired and slowed down some around mile 1. I wanted to make it to the finish line after all!
I ended up finishing in 26:12. I was happy with that. My 2nd best time ever. I took home a trophy for 2nd place in my age group. I don't have any pics from this one. My photographer (my daughter) didn't go. Oh well.
Yesterday I did a 6.5 mile long run. I think I strained a hamstring! Ouch!!
I have been MIA for a while now... I have just been in my own little world, I guess
I did not get to run my half marathon in March. My knee started giving me fits after my last 12 mile long run, and I didn't want to risk it. I figured if I could barely walk on it, then trying to run 13.1 miles on it might not be such a good idea.
I have run a few 5K's since then, and even a 12K, without too much trouble from it, but it's acting foolish again, so I finally made an appointment to go see an orthopedic doctor and find out what's going on before I start training for the full marathon I am hoping to do in November. I go to the doctor next Tuesday.
I don't have much time to post right now, but I will try to post more before the day is out.
My 5K this morning was definitely a new experience. Odd, to say the least!
This morning, I woke up at 4 am to the sound of howling wind outside. I remember thinking "Ok, that's got to stop soon... I don't think I'm running in THAT" Keep in mind, I live in GEORGIA. March weather is supposed to be warming up nicely with the occasional cold snap.
Well, anyway, I went back to sleep for a while, and got up at 6 am. The wind was still howling. I got on weather.com to check the forecast. It said "cloudy/wind.. current temp 45, feels like 38" and mentioned that we MIGHT get gusts up to 25 mph. So, I decided to brave the race after all. At least it wasn't raining, right??? And I'd already pre-registered... didn't want to waste that money!
Well, my two girls and I (my son was at a church event and DH had to work) got into the car and headed to the race. When we got there, I got checked in, and thought..."MAN... it's getting colder out here!! These people wearing shorts are out of their minds!!" Then, as I was warming up, guess what... you got it... it started raining! It rained kind of hard for a few minutes, then eased off to a misting.
Then, the race started! I hadn't really run much (ok, at all... I have a treadmill for rainy days) in the rain, so it was definitely an experience. I started out too fast, and started getting winded in mile 1, then adjusted my pace to get my heart rate leveled out some, and started feeling much better. It ended up being a great race. I finished in 26:23 with my daughters waiting for me in the cold at the finish. At their request, we went inside where it was warm to wait for the awards! LOL
While we waited, we looked outside and my 15 year old said "UM, Mom, is that SNOW??" I looked outside and YEP!!! It was SNOWING! Just a few flurries... but... did I mention I live in GEORGIA?? That's enough to shut down the whole CITY! LOL
Well we stood in the snow and waited for the awards to be handed out. I actually won 1st in my age group today!! I was sooo proud! I picked up my trophy and we got to the warm car! Southerners are wimps when it comes to cold dreary weather. LOL
Well, I have laundry to do and the house needs cleaning, so I guess I'd better get it all done!
Thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday. Turning 36 was not so bad. My co-workers took me out to lunch and decorated my office with the little pieces of paper that come out when you punch holes with the three hole punch. The cleaning lady is going to have a fit when she comes in the office this afternoon.
I have had so much going on the last week or so I haven't been able to log on at all, much less post a blog or check up on anyone.... (Julie probably understands since she works where I work). We have had a huge inspection going on all week, and it's been a major pain! Finally, though, the inspectors have left my area and I have a few spare minutes.
My workouts have been suffering lately, because my afternoons and evenings have been spent playing chauffer to m children who have numerous activities going on.... school play practice, church events, registration for next school year classes..... the list is seemingly endless. Hopefully I can work out tonight. (crossing fingers)
I didn't do much for my birthday... other than drive the kids all over town... but I am hoping to get out this weekend and do something.
I am running another 12K Saturday. It may not be pretty since I haven't been running much lately, but I am going to show up and run just the same.
Well, that's about all I have for now. My life is pretty dull. LOL
I'm a little late in posting this, since my race was Saturday, but it's been a VERY busy weekend, so I had to wait until it slowed down a little. I am off work today, so I have a few minutes to post.
Saturday morning, I woke up around 6:30. My 12K was set to begin at 8am, so I got ready, woke up DH and we left the house around 7:30... since the race was only 5 minutes away. When we arrived, I picked up my race packet with my number and my shirt, and warmed up a little. I stood there with the crowd of people and waited for the starting gun... and off we went. It was a good race... I was able to run the entire 7.46 miles, even carrying on a conversation with another lady off and on between miles 4 and the finish. If I had sped up a little instead of talking, I would've placed higher, but my legs were killing me, so I just stayed at the pace I was running.
I finished the race well under the time that I expected to finish in... My finishing time was 1 hr 4 min. I expected an hour and 15 minutes... Based on that time, my pace calculator says my average pace was 8:38/mile!!!! Umm, WOW. I finished 3rd in my age group!! All in all, I was very proud of my first 12K!
Well, I have lots and lots of house cleaning to do today since I am off work... so I should get busy. Have a great day everyone.
I just wanted to say thank you to all of my friends for checking up on me. I did go to the doctor and he said I did have a urinary tract infection (which was causing the low grade fever) but it didn't appear to be affecting my kidneys themselves... the pain in my back was not exactly in the "area" of the kidneys. It was just muscle strain from all the moving. I have been drinking lots and lots of water and taking my meds as prescribed, and I feel back to 100% now. YAY!
I actually got outside yesterday morning for a long run, and it felt GREAT! And I will actually get to do my race Saturday after all!! The doc gave the green light and said "Go for it and bring home a trophy!" LOL
Thank you so much for all of your well-wishes. It means so much!
Yesterday after my run it was a very lazy day. We moved a little more stuff from my dad's and did some unpacking and straightening and even brought the dog home from my dad's to get him acquainted with his new home. After that, we all watched basketball games for the rest of the day. My husband's Cleveland Cavaliers lost big time, but they are plagued with injuries right now, but my Suns won, even though I fell asleep in the 2nd quarter.
Well, getting back to work now. I'll try to catch up on everyone's blogs later in the day. I hope that you are all doing well!
Well, I am still not feeling any better. I'm convinced it's a kidney infection, and I'm in some pain and feel just plain yucky, low grade fever/chills/pain in back and side, etc.... I guess I am going to end up at the doctor. I called to make an appointment, and they didn't have anything available until tomorrow... so hopefully I can hold out until then. If not, I may end up going to the ER to get checked out tonight.
My husband had to threaten me last night to get me to stop unpacking and lay down since I was feeling so bad... He finally said "You need to sit down, and get some rest. If you pass out because you're acting stupid, I am not going to pick you up and take you to the Emergency Room!" LOL.. Knowing he WOULD take me, but he got his point across. I stopped what I was doing and laid down, and I was asleep by 8:30. Very unusual for me!
So, right now, it looks like this.... I have a 12K in 10 days.... I haven't run in a week. I feel like crap. I REALLY want to run this race! I planned on it last year and something happened and I wasn't able to, I just don't want to have to do that again!
Well, I have tons of work piling up on my desk. I should probably attempt to do some of it. Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!
Hi everyone! I have been sooo busy that I haven't been able to post lately, so I thought a quick check-in would be in order... I am totally exhausted from moving and on top of it, I am getting sick. We got all of the furniture and the "big stuff" moved on Saturday to the new house. We still have a few things to move, and we will finish that up a little at a time this week. Now we are moving into the unpacking stage and it's as big a pain as the moving itself.... maybe even a bigger chore. But we are getting it done. My washer and dryer got hooked up yesterday and I was finally able to do laundry. No more carting clothes back and forth to my dad's to wash! YAY!
I haven't been able to work out at all since last week sometime, and now that I am getting sick, it'll probably be a few more days yet. Our internet and cable aren't on at the new house yet, either, so I am checking in and blogging from work. I need to get off here and get some work done.
