Honey, is it supposed to hurt this much??

My husband and I are running in the Bear Creek ten mile trail run this next weekend I think it is. We haven't been doing any really heavy training, especially with Thanksgiving being this past week. So when Brad was invited by Jim, a really nifty guy, with a fabulous wife, to join a group of people trail running this weekend Brad said we'd be there. We were running trails in downtown Richmond. Jim had a route set up along the North bank trail, across the Nickel bridge (which actually costs like 35 cents to cross anymore but no one is willing to change the name to reflect the increase)the Buttermilk trail and across Belle Isle (which I swear you can feel the spirits of the people who died there in that Confederate Prison camp). It's neat running in downtown, you get completely swallowed up by the trails, the trees, the foliage, and suddenly you aren't downtown, in a city, at least in your mind anymore. It is really something.

Trail running is fun, and totally different from running on the road. You are so busy trying to stay vertical, and not trip over something, at least I am anyway, that it takes your mind off of the fact that you are running.

When we started running this morning, it was a nice pace. We were looping around, going back and forth, this way and that. It felt we kept going from point A to point B and back again. Indecision is an awful thing! But foraged on we did until the pack started to break apart and I felt like we were actually running somewhere and not stuck on a treadmill from hell. You had the speedy guys, running like we were on a flat surface, you had some runners just a bit behind them, and those of us who were the caboose on this train. After the first two or so miles, the lead pack waited for the rest of us to get there. Then we started up again, part on the road, about a mile or so, then back to the trails. We were all trotting along happily, and over the misleadingly named Nickel bridge, which reminded me eerily of the 59th St. bridge during the marathon, it's all uphill I swear. After the top of the hill, we looped around and back to the trails. Again, we broke into the groups and started speeding up and down the hills of the trails. Then it happened. Someone in my group fell. A really, really nice woman named Jan. I liked her a lot when I met her this morning. Anyway, she bit it big and went down. We all stopped to help her, but she waved us off and told us she was fine, only her pride was hurt. So we loped along again. It was pretty treacherous and I wondered how people mountain biked the trails. I would have been flying off of the cliffs, crashing as I hit the huge rocks and chunks of concrete, but these trails are really cool and makes me wish I could ride my mountain bike well, but I digress. Where was I, oh yeah, we were all running along after Jan fell, we hit a particularly steep down hill, all covered with leaves and then the next thing you know Craig, another super nice guy we ran with, wiped out. If you have never seen a person who is 6 foot, 8 inches tall fall, it is something. It was a jangle of arms, legs and wham. So we all stopped to make sure he was okay, which he was. Besides a bruised ego, he had a cut knee. Okay, we finally meet up with the rest of the crew. Jim was kind enough to have a rest station set up for us at mile 5. He had Gatorade for us, which was really so nice, but that's what you'd expect from him. Did I mention he is genuinely nice guy?? If you're reading this Jim, you are you know!! It was at this point I decided I had to use the restroom. As luck would have it, there was a Port-O-Potty. I went to it, blessed it with a giant sign of the cross to drive out any demons of grossness I could, held my breath, and went it. Grandma Tav would have been proud, I put toilet paper on the seat so if I accidentally touched it while I hovered, I wouldn't get germs. Now if I just had that giant purse of hers with the stolen packets of sugar and wet naps in it to wash my hands with, I would have been set! Okay, back to the run.

We take off again except we split into two groups. One group, the smart group, the group with my fellow fallees, went on the road trail. Me, I hadn't fallen yet, so I didn't think anything of saying, I'll keep with the trails and my husband. Trot, trot, trot, look at me. I am keeping up with the big boys, trot, trot, trot. Brad kept turning around to talk to me. It was nice, like when we run on the road together. As we started to go up a hill that was peppered with rocks and roots, it happened. *Insert the music from Psycho here* I'm going down, I tripped over a root, but this other root is sticking out like a spear, and I am coming down on it. Thankfully it was more horizontal then vertical. But I thought I impaled myself right through my left boob. That hurt and I grabbed at that root and my boob, but wait, I wasn't finished falling yet, duh. KABLAM!!!!!! *insert Flintstone style bonk here* Hold on a second, if my hands are grabbing my boob, what's breaking my fall????? My face of course!!! As I lay there and pondered the meaning of life, the mathematical substance behind the theory of relativity, the space time continuum, my husband is standing over me trying to make sure I am alive. Here come two other trail runners, inquiring as to my status. I hear myself say I am okay. But I swear I feel like someone else is saying it on my behalf. Brad runs to catch up with the rest of the group after making sure I didn't split my head open, which it felt like I did, to tell them what happened. I, on sort of wobbly legs and an ever spinning head, start walking and wiping off the dirt from my face. Thankfully there's no blood, but enough swelling underneath and on top of my eye that I am catching it with my peripheral vision. I get to the group and everyone looks at me with gaping mouths. Yep, I must look good. So they go on ahead and Brad and I let me walk for awhile, getting my legs underneath me. We walked about a half mile, and started to run again. We ran across Belle Isle, feeling the tortured spirits around me, and to the parking lot. Jan was there still, the road group beat us back. I told her I fell for her because she actually fell twice while we ran and I felt badly for her. It was the least I could do.

I got in the car and viewed the damage. Yikes, I look like I have been in a fist fight, yeah but you should see what the other guy looks like...Hahaha. That's when I quipped, Honey, is it supposed to hurt this much, to myself. Hey, I wasn't going to be the best at anything today, I might as well be the best out of everyone who fell. And that I was, no one even came close to the damage I did.

Listen up Jim, I am not wearing a helmet next week. If I can do this sort or damage today just training, I am really looking forward to what I can do next week!! A personal worst and bodily harm, wow, how can I refuse??

Running like a girl and other bits of training

When last I wrote, I was recovering from the NYC marathon. It was truly an experience. I told my coach, I think she was sending hypnotizing mind waves through the phone as we talked, that I would consider doing the Marine Corps. Marathon in DC this October. I know she was, otherwise WHY would I agree to such a crazy thing??? I have until next summer to reneg. We shall see about it.

Anyway, my husband and I are signed up for technique classes all off season long through Endorphin fitness. We finally made it to a running class on Wednesday night. I loved it. First of all a bunch of my running buddies from my previous class were there. Brian, Fred and Tom are a hoot to run with. Second of all, it's outside so you don't have to worry about overheating. It was a perfectly chilly 48 or so degrees on Wednesday. I actually was pretty frosty, then we did our 10 minute warm up. It was really nice. I got to hear Fred's stories about the Ironman he and his wife did the same weekend we ran the marathon. Fred you and Charlotte are such BEASTS and I mean that with total awe and admiration dripping from every pore!!! Brian ran the NYC marathon too. So we got to chat about that. Funny, I never could talk while I ran before. I think running for almost 5 hours of my life put my lungs into a totally different category of functioning. My legs too. I was like 10 mins of running???? Really now, I could do that with both legs tied behind my back, hahahaha! There'd be a sight for sure.

Anyway, we warmed up, and went back to our two coaches. One is my coach, HI BRENDA, I know you're reading my blog so I though I'd give you a shout out. And the other was a very nice guy named Bob. I think it was Bob, I could be wrong, but I think his name was Bob. He had an Ironman hat on and an Endorphin Fitness sweatshirt, so I know it wasn't some random guy who decided to teach the class. Some hobo with nothing to do but make a bunch of people sprint around like idiots.

To get back to my original thought there, we went back to the coaches who had us line up on one end of the football field. We were practicing our form tonight. So we had to remember to not slouch, lean at our ankles, and land on the middle of our foot. Kind of like the ball of it, but not on your toes. Not unless you want a world of hurt. We had to balance on one foot, things like that, all to drill the proper form into our heads.

It was so cool out there, and I was feeling awesome. All of my running buddies were around, my husband was next to me and Brenda was one of the coaches. The perfect storm in my running world. Brenda had us running 50 yards practicing this or that drill regarding our form. I was all focused, and really trying. I wasn't intentionally running in the front of the pack of the 15 in our group. I was just trying. But I was out in front, cause the next thing you know I hear my husband's noisy sweatpants swooshing for all they were worth and another person busting it on my other side. Fred and my husband were trying to catch me. Hmmm, must be a male testosterone-y thing, you were being housed by a girl! Oooooooooooo, you want some ice for that burn boys????? That was it! It was ON BIGTIME. Brenda got laughing she saw what they were up to. Then Tom threw himself into the mix, I should mention Brian is running the Richmond Marathon this weekend so he was just doing many, many laps to our technique drills. I had my I know I Run Like A Girl Shirt on that I wore to the Marathon. When the guys were busting it to keep up with me, they started to tease me about how I ran like a girl. It was all in good fun, I do believe I heard a bunch of admiration when they teased me. At one point after many, many 50 yard drills, Brenda and Bob had us run the inside, grassy perimeter of the track. I took off, and was eating up the weather. It was perfect for me, I couldn't overheat if I tried, MS be damned, you will not touch me tonight!! It felt so good, then all of the sudden, as I was in my happy place and feeling sort of invincible, the peanut gallery of male runners started cat calling to me. BWAHAHAHAHA! Run, run as fast as I can, you boys can't catch me I'm like the gingerbread man!!!!!!!!

After that lap, we did what seemed like ten thousand more 50 yard drills. Each time the bunch of us getting faster and faster. I think our coaches loved it. We were so enthusiastic, laughing, bantering, it was AWESOME! I had so much fun, I can't begin to tell you. The only disappointing thing was we didn't get to do the barefoot striders. Too cold and the grass was sort of wet, so maybe next week. Unfortunately Brad won't be there, boo!!!! I love running with him. But my other buddies will. We are trying to plan a get together with a glass of wine or beer and the spouses and/or girlfriends too. I would love it.

We swam a bunch yesterday, that was my other bit of training. Actually, we did weights, it is absolutely hysterical to watch me bench press anything, then we road these nifty new bikes they have at Am Fam. It has a screen, you pick a course and you race other riders. We did a couple of miles of that, then we hit the pool. I did 30 full laps, which makes for 1500 yards. It felt really good. Once I found my rhythm I could have kept going. I didn't though, I hadn't been swimming in a bit, so I needed to remember how I would feel the next day, being today. My shoulders hurt and my lats, but that's good. Means I was using proper form and the right muscle groups as I pulled through the water.

I think I forgot to mention that my coach wants me to qualify for the Boston marathon this year. Is she nuts???? The marine corps marathon is a qualifier for Boston. That would mean me running the whole thing in like 3 hours and 30 minutes. It took almost 2 hours longer to do for NY, will a year of training really be enough to do that I wonder???? Where she get that type of faith in me, I have no idea!

I am training for a 10 mile trail run. Brad entered us in the Bear Creek 10 miler in a few weeks. It is supposed to be wickedly hairy and I am guaranteed a personal worst! That's what a group of Brad's triathlon friends said about it. I am so excited, the people we are going with (another group of really fun people), a personal worst, you can't beat that with a stick, or beat me at running clinic when I am running like a girl....

The Devastation that was once my lower half

Yes, I might have survived, but it is not without a price. My husband and I were lying in bed this morning, taking inventory and comparing aches. We both thought we were doing pretty well. Then I made the mistake of standing up. I needed to go to the bathroom and make some coffee. So I stand up and just started to laugh. I think I looked like I was cross country skiing at first. Choo-choo, my legs were sliding back and forth and all I could do was try and get to the bathroom without wetting my pants because I was laughing at myself so hard. After 20 minutes, no not really but it felt that long, I made it. Sitting down and then standing up was another neat trick to master. As the day has progressed I have been stretching and trying to feel better. I think Brad is worse then me. He ran way harder then I did, so it makes sense he should be walking like he has a basketball between his legs.

That reminds me of the guy yesterday at the first aid station with his willy in one hand and a handful of Vaseline that he was rubbing all over his chafed "boys" in the other. He was cheerfully saying to these volunteers whose eyes were as wide as saucers, "Well now you can say you've seen everything!" I am sure there were some "things" on him those poor women didn't want to see!

I might not be blogging for awhile, or I might. I am taking time off from any kind of strenuous training for a bit. Sure I'll keep up with the running here and there, but I have earned a little time off before we start training for the half Ironman we are doing in April...

I Ran, I ran so far away.....

Okay, my wish came true. It is the night after the NYC Marathon! I survived!! I actually ran the whole way, I actually finished under 5 hours like I wanted to!

I left off yesterday with my fall down the stairs I think. I do not believe I mentioned dinner last night which was okay. We had an amazing antipasto misto, too delicious, and I had ravioli with vodka sauce. My husband did too, he wanted pizza, why he got the ravioli, I don't know, I guess so he could keep saying, "I should have gotten the pizza" and he did so frequently. We were sitting shoulder to shoulder with the other patrons ala NY restaurant. The ladies sitting next to us were a hoot. Such typical New Yorkers, I have to do the voices for you to truly appreciate the whole experience. But at one point the daughter (who was around 50) is swearing at her mom for holding her purse and actually called her a drunk for dropping her fork. "You're like and alcoholic with the way you're dropping things Ma." Like I said, you need the voice over from me to appreciate the whole experience.

We got home, ate these two little pastry that we got at a near supermarket, drank our cawfee (and there is nothing like a "regular" NY cawfee, again, you need my NY accent for that) and hit the hay. Let me tell you 5AM came way too early. But we got up, I dressed in my fleece lined running tights, two long sleeved t-shirts, the top one said "I know I run like a girl, try to keep up", put my race number on, grabbed my running belt with the pouch for my GUs, and off we went.

We walked down to the Staten Island Ferry terminal with thousands of other runners. We got into the terminal, sat for a few seconds and hopped on the next available ferry. We got a good couple of seats and marveled at the Statue of Liberty as we went past it. It truly moves me every time I see it. It is such a symbol, I almost broke out into God Bless America, but controlled myself.

After we go off of the ferry, we were in the terminal on Staten Island, here is where we needed to catch a bus to the race start. I got breakfast for us and Brad stood in a line for many minutes to take a whiz. But here is the best part of our breakfast, we found this quiet corner to sit and eat and drink our Gatorade. Well more people start coming into the terminal and started surrounding us. Here comes this guy, he takes out a little towel and places it just so on the floor in front of him. Then he sits down and gingerly removes his sneaker. Then he took his sock off and folded it neatly. Before you know it, the guy pulls out a pair of toenail clippers and starts going to town. He groomed those damn toenails of his while I tried to choke down my biscuit. I kept begging him, in my mind, to brush his teeth and shave next. Hell, he should have taken a sponge bath to complete my whole experience.

We decided we needed to take the bus to the start after the show, so off we go. It was nice and toasty on the buses. It was about 30 degrees with the biting wind. I felt like I was naked the wind bit through all of my layers of clothes. We got to the Verranzano bridge, found the Team for Kids tent and there we sat with 2000 or so other freezing folks. We did manage to go find some coffee and before you knew it, it was time to line up and make our way to the bridge.

At this point, I was with butterflies the size of lunar moths banging around in my tummy. We kept moving up, moving up, we heard the cannon sound to start the first wave of elites, we saw the throw a way sweatshirts flying off of the bridge, and they were off. It seemed like two seconds later and our cannon blew, off we went, there goes swifty! Brad and I ran together for the first 10k.

I have never experienced anything like the crowds at this race both running and cheering. There were 2 million spectators, and they were screaming like we were all their favorite rock stars flying past. There were some points that stunk, like the bridges especially the 59th street bridge. That sucker was about 10 miles long (really it was about 2 miles long) and had a 45 degree grade. Okay, I know I am exaggerating, but that is how it felt.

Brad teased me and said I had my very own fan club. Everyone loved my shirt! Everyone called to me as I made it past. Imagine hearing "Yeah, you run like a girl!" in the Bronx or Harlem. I made friends with load of people as I ran, it was fun. The music was out of this world. There were bands set up and playing all over, you definitely didn't need an I-Pod. My favorite were the Bagpipers in their kilts. Men in skirts are way too sexy!!

I did fine for the first 13.1 miles. I have run the distance a billion times, and my legs were great through that distance. Miles 14 and 15 I was still okay. Mile 16, I was starting to fatigue. Miles 17 and 18, I was fatiguing even more and I'm thinking I have 11 more to go??? Oh sh*t. I made it to mile 20 and I think I hit the proverbial wall. But I pushed through, and you know mile 21 and 22 were okay. I made it through alright. Miles 23 and 24, how would I describe them? Hmmm, I think they sucked. If it weren't for the cheering crowds, I think don't think I would have made it. I kept telling myself I only had two miles plus a little until I finished. I made it through mile 25, I was hurting by now. My left knee was so painful, I can't begin to explain it. Here comes mile 26. I was never more thrilled to see a sign in my whole freaking life. It was at least 10 miles long, really, it was undoubtedly THE longest mile of my life, but I made it through, and then it was down to the .2 miles, then 200 yards, then 100 yards, then 50. I posed for pictures as I ran past the photographers, I laughed out loud, because I was delirious at this point, I crossed the finish line and said out loud, I DID IT! And I did didn't I?

We're on our way,....

So, as I sit here ready to barf on my husband as the train jostles me, I keep telling myself by 6 o'clock tomorrow, this will all be done. I will be an official "marathon runner" that title tucked neatly under my belt. I have to keep reminding myself, it's okay if I walk through the aid stations, okay to stop if I need to stretch, okay to walk just 'cause.

I can't figure out why I have the worst butterflies ever. I wasn't this nervous before the NYC Triathlon. I was unbelievably calm that morning. This, I am sitting on the train, barely able to sit through the ride. I keep shifting in my seat, fidgeting around and all around feeling like I drank ten cups of coffee.

The conductor just called Penn. I need to put the computer away, but I am dying here...

A LITTLE WHILE LATER-

We made it in, got through Penn Station and walked to the Javits Center. I have never been inside there, it was pretty cool. Very big, very crowded. After we got our race bibs and timing chips, we went to get our chips activated. That done, we went over to where T-Shirt pick up was.

This is were things go a little wrong. I didn't realize until I got back to our room that they gave me a large instead of a medium. While we were at the expo, who should we see besides Brandy Chastain. Brad said, let's get her autograph for Heather since she loves soccer the way she does. Okay, we tried, but there was this blow hard jack*ss that was trying to get over on her. He stood there with her for a good ten minutes, then, they said she needed to leave. We were one person away from getting her autograph. Oh well.

Did I mention my husband is more high strung than a cat, with a really long tail, laying down in a room full of moving rocking chairs??? He is nitpicking, letting everything bother him and is sort of twitchy. This is after he ate even! Usually give him a full belly and he turns into a happy boy, not so today!

My sort of oh crap luck continued after we ate some pretty yummy sammiches and some soup. We were leaving through the back of the place, I missed the first stair of these stone hewn stairs and wouldn't you know it, I melted down the stairs?? I can't say I fell, I was almost like a passive protester being picked up by the police to be carted off to jail. I went with the fall, dribbled down the stairs, and popped up like "I meant to do that! TA-DA, and now for my next trick...I will fall down a manhole cover...(God forbid)" I came out with a sock burn on my piggie toe on the right hand side and some definite bruising to my once decent sized ego. Geez, oh pete! Anyway.

I feel like I might do alright. I saw some of the marathoners at the Expo and I measured up alright. I did speak to a woman who hasn't trained in the last 6 weeks, but if she is a lifelong runner, she's still probably better off then me, the woman who's into her second year of running and doing a marathon. What's next?? DO NOT I repeat, DO NOT, say an Ironman....