I am a Marathoner!

Ok, so this should have been written a month or so ago.  I’m slow what can I say.  Slow at running, slow at writing.  BUT eventually I reach the finish line.

This blog started to track my progress to the 2012 Chicago Marathon.  Due to injuries, I didn’t make the 2012 event, so once healed I started training for the 2013 Chicago Marathon.  As I sit here typing, I can now say I am a MARATHONER!  I’m not much of a blogger but I’m a MARATHONER.  On Sunday October 13th, I completed the Chicago Marathon in 5:51:58.  No land speed records here but I’m thrilled.   I gave up a lot of time running back and forth across the route to high five kids (my fairly accurate GPS said I covered 27.2 miles), a long wait at a port-a-potty and a struggle to get my right shoe and sock off and back on again around mile 23.  But who cares about the time, I finished under the limit (6.5 hours) and had a blast!   If I get in, I hope to do it again next year.  Or maybe the Portland Marathon or maybe a Wisconsin Marathon.

After Chicago, on Sunday, November 10^th , Naperville, my town had its inaugural annual Marathon and Half Marathon sponsored by Edwards Hospital.  I had first registered for the half marathon but before the Chicago Marathon one of my running club buddies talked me into switching to the full.  Cooler heads prevailed and immediately after the marathon, I switched back to the half marathon.  That was a much more wise choice. 

The 10^th dawned cold (upper 30’s) and clear, a perfect running day.  Naperville is a high energy town and by 6:00 AM the town was rocking with runners, volunteers, spectators and security.  My running buddies from the Bolingbrook Fun Run Club (BFRC) met at 6:15 AM by Fredenhagen fountain for our standard pre-race photograph.  A lot of the BFRC members were volunteering and having everyone either running or on the course made this event really special.  It was like an amped up version of one of our BFRC free events!  Gladys, the clubs founder and mainstay, was an official race director and stationed at Green Valley around mile 21.  I never saw Gladys as I was doing the half but it was great to know she was out there.

The organizers of this marathon and the city of Naperville both did themselves proud.  The number of runners was capped at 3500 to make sure this first event was manageable.  As such, it wasn’t a small event, but it wasn’t outrageously large either.  Everything went off seemingly without a hitch including the rescue of a man who apparently had a heart attack in Spring Valley forest preserve around mile 6.  He had just gone down, but was surrounded by assistants, as I ran by.   I knew I had nothing to offer so I kept going to stay out of the way.  The local paper ran a story that three nurses were running behind him, they stopped and gave him CPR and used the Naperville Park District’s defibrillator.  I can’t help but wonder if those nurses were out there because of the hospital sponsorship.   The expo was outstanding for a race of this size, the neighborhoods were out cheering, the volunteers were exceptional and the post-race food tent was well stocked and handled perfectly.  Not only that but parking was abundant and free. 

Back to my wise choice.  Even the Saturday night before I was thinking “do I really want to run 13.1 miles tomorrow morning?” and when I got up it wasn’t better, now it was “I don’t want to run 13.1 miles at this hour of the morning in the cold”   But, I kept thinking about the really nice finishers medal and the fact that BFRCers would all be out in force.   I really enjoyed having Lynn, a fellow BFRC runner, to chat with at the start line.  It made the wait go by in a flash.   Standing in the cold waiting for the run to start, however, my feet went numb. As the run started I could barely feel my feet.  It wasn’t until about mile 2 until things loosened up a little and even then, all I could think was “just get this over with and get the medal”    It’s amazing how the mind works.  Some days these runs feel great and other days, they’re pure torture.  Yesterday was pure torture. When we ran past my neighborhood, about half a mile from the house, it took everything I had to keep going and not veer off to home.  I passed water stations where friends called out my name and I barely noticed them, I just wanted to get done with it.  As I crossed the finish line, I pretty much forgot to smile.  Can’t wait to see those pictures ;-)    Oh, and the woman that first talked me into switching to the full marathon, she cramped up badly and only did the half.  AND, because she didn’t formally switch, she got the medal but was listed as Disqualified with no time.  Wise choice indeed.

I didn’t stick around to revel in the post run activity.  I walked to my car, drove home, took a shower and then went out to cheer on the middle and back of the pack marathoners.  I had an “I Love Runners” sign and a cowbell at mile 23.  It was a blast cheering folks on and having done Chicago, really knowing what they were going through.  Some of the runners looked like they were just out for a short run, still perky and looking good while others looked like they were definitely struggling.  I think over 50 percent of the runners walked most of the way from mile 22 to mile 23.   Runners loved the sign (the same one Gladys carried at the Chicago Marathoner) often yelling back “we love you too.”

With that, my long runs for 2013 are in the books.  Just a Turkey Trot tomorrow and a Jingle Bell run next week and 2014 will be up next!  I am thankful for a great year of running and my new found Bolingbrook Fun Run Club running family.  They truly are a blessing.

7 Days to 26.2

In 7 days, I will be running the Chicago Marathon.  Really, I will be running THE CHICAGO MARATHON.  It is less than a week to start time and I'm healthy, uninjured and excited about the whole thing.  After my inauspicious start, in 2011, to this whole running thing, I can barely believe that I'm about to run a marathon.  Consistent running coupled with taking the Good Form Running Clinic to heart has made a world of difference.  Am I going to set any speed records?  No.  But am I going to get out there and have a ball without a lot of pain?  I predict that is a yes.

I'm taking Friday off from work and going to the Marathon Expo with some friends from the Bolingbrook Fun Run Club.  We will have breakfast at Clow Airport first and then go down to the expo.  I volunteered at the expo last year and was intimidated as I wasn't running the marathon.  This year, I intend to stop at most of the vendors, register for the contests, pick up the freebies, talk to the various charities, etc.  This year I am a runner!  Might as well get the most out of the whole experience.

I'm running the marathon with Solemates on behalf of Girls On the Run - Chicago (GOTR)   If you would like to donate, my donation page can be reached at http://www.active.com/donate/gotrcsolemates2014/KShulma7  This is a fabulous organization that uses running to inspire girls to be healthy and confident.  I am so grateful to those that have donated and are supporting my run.  Knowing that so much money has been donated because I'm running really inspires me to get out there and do it!  I am most grateful to Ava, Olivia and Emmerson.  These three young ladies have taken money out of their own personal accounts to sponsor me.  Girls, I won't let you down.  Thank you so much in supporting other girls!!

So the big day is coming up fast, I'm tapering and trying to get enough sleep.  The next few days will mostly focus on the logistics, how to get into the city, where my husband will go to watch, where I will meet my husband after the marathon, etc., etc., etc.   I expect that my next blog post will be my race report.
Oh, and if you want to follow my progress on race day, you can register here https://register.athletetracking.net/bacm/index.html  my Bib # is 41645 if you need it to register.

It Ain't Just The Shoes

How many times do you see this statement “running is the simplest sport, all it takes is a good pair of running shoes”?  In today’s world, anyone that runs knows that is far from the truth.  Don’t get me wrong, a good pair of running shoes is supremely important and can make or break a runner, but running is not an inexpensive sport.  Sure, if you never run an organized race and if you live in a moderate climate and have a great running physique you can get away on the cheaper end of things but for most of us …

Currently Two Pairs of Brooks Ghost 5s in Rotation

For grins, let’s start with running shoes.  Some people are blessed with good mechanics and can run in just about anything.  It seems, however, the majority of us are really persnickety about what shoes work for us.  For instance, I started running in an Asics stability shoe.  What did I know?  Stability sounded like a good thing.  Yet, for someone with a very high arch and a rigid foot (who knew?) that was probably the worst choice I could make.  Luckily, I bought those first shoes on sale and was only out about $60 for the shoes.  But, I was out about $200 for the orthopedic exam and x-rays and out a whole season of running from the stress fractures and other problems that I’m sure were exacerbated by the shoes.  After hours of research, I settled on Mizuno Precision 13s (a less constructed shoe) and a pair of Brooks Ghost 5’s (more constructed).  Both pairs are neutral shoes and were approximately $100 each.  I love both shoes.  I’ve had no recurrences of injury and my legs and feet feel great.  As I’m approaching 300 miles on both pairs of shoes, I just purchased another 2 pairs, another $200.  You can start to see where this is going….

Let’s start moving up from the shoes.  What do you wear with your running shoes?  Some people go barefoot but I find that my feet get way too sweaty and I end up with blisters, chafing and all sorts of other problems.  Socks.  Oh no, not just any socks.  Socks with seams and/or inside threads rub and cause all sorts of problems.  Running socks, however, are seamless and usually EXPENSIVE.  I love Thorlos and Wrightsox but they are $15/each.  Wow, didn’t see that coming when I thought I might like running.  I can wear Adidas socks that I get 6 pairs for $12 at Coscto, but my toes pop through after about 3 wearings.  Not sure that’s much of a savings.

It gets better (or worse depending on viewpoint.)  Running shorts.  In theory, almost any pair of athletic shorts will work and for short distances they do.  Start putting on miles, though, and shorts become a very critical part of the run.  Shorts have a horrible tendency to twist and/or ride up.  After a few miles, tugging shorts into place is really annoying.  Not only is it annoying, but it can lead to serious chafing. You also will need to ask yourself “do I want loose shorts or compression shorts?”  The former often come with an interior liner so you can opt out of underwear (or at least I do – I know, TMI!! TMI!!) The latter, while very comfortable sometimes just don’t seem right for an older gal.  Neither kind are cheap.   I think I’ve paid as much as $60 for a pair of shorts and believe me running pants can go well over $100.  I love my Brooks shorts and my Moving Comfort compression shorts but cheap they were not.  Sure sales can be found, but usually only XS and XXXL are in the good sale bins, Mediums rarely show up.  If compression shorts show too much, women can opt for running skirts.  These have compression shorts underneath, tend to have pockets on the shorts for gels, etc and look great.  Again, not cheap.

While we are on the subject, Body Glide or its equivalent is also a necessity.  Once you start racking up the mileage on hot summer days, chafing becomes a real issue.  You never know where it might raise its ugly specter – bra line, the crease between your leg and your butt, the neckline of your t-shirt????? I’ve got a chafed spot from my 23 miler a week or so ago that’s more like a gouge! This stuff isn’t cheap either but it is worth the dollars spent.  Well worth it.

Now one of the only places to save money is on tech shirts.  Why is that?  They almost always hand them out at running events/races…..for which you spend a lot of money.  But for us women, the “top” expense is the running bra.  Unless you’re built like an ironing board, this is a supreme necessity.  The girls do NOT stay still on a run.  The least expensive running bra that I’ve found that works for me is $50 ~ one of the Moving

Comfort models.  I always have at least 3 in rotation so that’s another $150.

No Shirt, but a Great Medal

Then there are the “extras”, hats, water belts, hand-held water bottles, GPS watches and/or heart monitors, cooling bandanas, nutrition aids for long runs, lights, reflective materials, etc.   All of which can be expensive.  

It ain’t just the shoes!  But as my husband pointed out, what a perfect sport for women … you get to buy new shoes!!!  What else have you had to purchase for running?

Wine, One Month and Counting!!

I’m an inconsistent blogger but a consistent runner.  Don’t take my lack of blog posts as an indication that I’ve stopped running.  Quite the contrary.  It is now one month to the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and I am ready.  This past Monday, I finished a 23 mile training run and have one more 20 miler to complete before the marathon.  None of it seems impossible anymore, it DID seem impossible just a few short months ago.

It was just a year ago that I started working with a running coach.  And, here it is a year later, and I have run a full year without injury and am about to complete my first marathon.  I no longer use the running coach but she really helped me establish the foundation and understand the power of consistency.  I will be forever grateful for her guidance.

Marathon training really is about the mental work.  Sure the longer distances are hard on the body, but the harder thing (especially for us slower runners) is the hours on the pavement.  It is so easy to pose the question “why the heck am I running for 3, 4 or 5 hours?” and convince yourself to quit.  Through each of these moments, you have to reach deep into yourself and remember the desire to reach the finish line and have a medal put around your neck.  Getting past each of these moments is an accomplishment in itself.  Looking back over my training, I see that I have done the half marathon (or more) distance 7 times since June 30^th, with many of these being WAY over the half marathon distance.  I find it funny that I now think of a 10 mile run as being kind of short.  It was just a short time ago when I would read about someone running 8 miles and feel kind of jealous of their ability to go that far.  

Two weeks ago, I ran in the Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon in Carlton, OR.  This was my first “travel to” run and we built a vacation around it.  The premise for the run is to run a half marathon in Yamhill wine country and then taste wine from local vineyards at the after party. 

Amazing Sunrise over Mt. Hood

The run is relatively flat, though as a flat lander from Illinois I found the rolling hills challenging, and goes through some beautiful valley landscape and past lovely vineyards and a monastery.  The highlights of the run were one, the start at Stoller Vineyards and the beautiful sunrise over Mt. Hood and tow, the two older women standing at the end of their rural driveway cheering the runners on.  For some reason, this really tickled and motivated me.  I finished in 2:45, not a PR by any means but not too bad considering the hills, the warm last half and that damn 1 mile of gravel.   The finisher’s medal is a lovely, heavy coaster commemorating the run.  It felt great to have it around my neck.

Part of the race admission goes to receiving a large, red wine tasting glass.  Then after the race, 27 vineyards were gathered to give tastings of their wine.  This region is primarily growing and making Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.  Each vineyard had multiple wines and was more than willing to share multiple pours.   When I signed up for the run, I bought my husband a ticket for the after party.   A little later I thought “he won’t be interested in drinking wine at 9:30 AM on a Sunday” but he quickly got in the spirit.  It was a beautiful, warm morning and the town of Carlton really treated us well.  The after party went on until about 12:30 PM and Tim Wilson from Dennison Cellars was willing to pour until they shut him down.  Dennison’s wine is fabulous and if you’re ever in Oregon Wine Country seek him out.  He doesn’t have a tasting room but his wine is available at Horseradish in Carlton and other restaurants in the area.

While we were in Carlton, we stayed at the Carlton Inn.  We had stayed there last year on another trip and just loved the owner, Karen’s, hospitality.  Karen is a fabulous cook and the rooms are lovely.  We so enjoyed our stay and the other people staying at the Inn.  On Monday morning, all of us runners compared our race experiences over breakfast.  It made me think of golfers after a golf outing reliving every shot!

Now, it is on to the Chicago Marathon.  This will be a totally different, big city experience on my own home turf.  One of the biggest marathon events in the world.  I am excited and nervous but I know that I’m ready.  Bring it on!

What have you been training for and are you ready?   

Training - The Mundane

This weekend was the first run that I really consider a Long Run – 13 miles.  I’m now reaching the point where all of the long runs leading up to the marathon will each be longer than a half marathon but not yet a whole marathon.  Each long run will be a new distance achievement.  I’ve done 13 miles 3 times now, but anything 14 and beyond is all brand new.  This is both exciting and scary.  This is where the rubber meets the road – Do I have the mental strength to stick to the plan?  Will my body accept the new challenges without injury?  Will the weather cooperate and stay at temperatures that I can mostly tolerate? 

I’m following a Jeff Galloway run/walk plan and I am so excited to be able to complete longer distances without pain or debilitating fatigue.  Having started running later in life, mid 50’s, speed isn’t that important to me, finishing is.  I currently finish most races with a between 11 and 12 minute mile pace doing the whole thing in 1 minute increments.  I’m sure some faster, younger folks can’t understand doing this but for me, it is great.   I did my first half marathon in May using this method and came in first in my age group and some of the other people who placed behind me ran the whole way.  So, I have my whole plan laid out between now and a few weeks after the Chicago Marathon.  I’m surprised at how much I like having a solid plan to follow.  It makes decisions so much easier.  Is today a run day?  No, go do something else.  Yes, do what it says on the plan.  There’s room for a little change up and of course, choosing the route and surface to run on is something not on the plan.

The hardest thing about sticking to the plan is all the other runs I would like to do.  When my running group is doing a 4 miles run on a trail but I need to do 10 on pavement, I have to skip the group run.  I miss the camaraderie of the group but I REALLY want to complete the Chicago Marathon.  There will be plenty of opportunities to run with the group later. 

So how did my 13.5 miles go this weekend?  Well, compared to my awful Thursday night 5 mile run, it was great.  The weather in Chicagoland has been fantastic for running.  Sunday morning I got up at 5:50 AM, had a cup of tea, fed the cats, ate a little breakfast and was out the door by 6:50 AM.  The running group had a long run going at Waterfall Glen but I really want to do a lot of my training on the pavement.  I need to keep my legs and joints prepped for the brutality of running 5 to 6 hours on pavement.  So out the door I went for a 13 mile run through and around my neighborhood. The air was really still but it was relatively cool.  It is definitely quiet around here on Sunday mornings; I think I saw half a dozen cars on the entire run.  There were a lot of folks out walking their dogs, and I saw a cat chase a rabbit across a yard, but that was about it.  At mile 10, I stopped back at the house, refilled my water bottles and ate half a granola bar.  Peter was reading the paper and I told him I would be back in another 35 minutes or so, and out I went.  All in all it was a good run.  My overall pace was 12:20 including a bunch of walking at the beginning before warming up.  I’m never going to set land speed records but I was not wiped out for the rest of the day and my legs were sore but no sharp pains.

There was one major learning take away from this Sunday’s run.  Body Glide MUST be put on some additional places.  Ouch, ouch, ouch.  My sports bra definitely rubbed in some new areas!!!

This week is a step down week and my Sunday run is only 4 miles and I get to run it with the group at the Arboretum.  A total treat!  July 14^th is the big 15 mile run.  That will seem like quite an accomplishment.  I hope your training is going well.  What are your next big milestones?

Rite of Passage

What makes someone feel like a “real” runner? I think I’ve got the answer. Losing one’s first toenail! Yep, lost my big toenail in one big piece yesterday and I feel like a real runner. I knew it was going to go as my toenail had turned black after my first half marathon. It was kind of a fascinating process. First, the black nail, then the nail slowly started separating from the nail bed, and then off it came in one big piece, nail polish and all. Toenails, or lack thereof, tend to gross people out so I’m keeping it covered. But, deep down, the loss of the toenail makes me feel part of the larger running community. What made you feel like a “real” runner?

My First Half Marathon – It Pays To Grow Old

Wow, I really haven’t been posting in a long time.  I didn’t realize that I never recapped my first half marathon.  I think the first race of every distance is such a heady experience.  And of course, it’s a guaranteed PR! 

Earlier this year, I signed up for the Alexian Brothers Half Marathon that is run in the evening of July 20^th.  But as my training distances extended, I thought “I am going to be ready to run a half long before July 20^th” and I signed up for the Inaugural Fox River Trail Half Marathon on May 12^th, Mother’s Day.  Besides being nearly ready, this impulsive decision was pushed along by someone on the Bolingbrook Fun Run Club (BFRC) posting that there was a Groupon available at something like $40.  Not much more expensive than most of the 5Ks.  So a bunch of us signed up and nothing….not even an email confirmation from the organizer.  A few weeks went by, and still nothing.  At that point, one of the women in BFRC called the organizer who said “we will send a confirmation email sooner or later”…more time went past and still nothing.  Meanwhile, I made the mistake of Googling the name and organization of the race organizer, Dean Reinke and Reinke Sports Group, and found out that these folks are kind of notorious for poor communication, not well supported races and even occasionally cancelling at the last minute and not

refunding money.  Needless to say, I started to worry about how this race was going to go.

As race day approached, we finally received an email that just said “you’re registered.”  That was better than nothing, but didn’t relieve a lot of my concern.  It didn’t help that the night before packet pick-up and email came out saying “we need volunteers for packet pickup” and packet pickup was scheduled for a two-hour window at a local hotel.  We have so many running stores in the area and they ALWAYS handle packet pickups – what better way to get people into the store?  Yet, Reinke Sports couldn’t get a store to do this?  Packet pickup was uneventful but the promised technical shirt for half marathon participants was not to be.  Instead, a regular cotton t-shirt was given out.  Personally, I like the cotton t-shirts to wear around afterwards with jeans but the hype for the race was for a technical shirt.  However, the fact that packet pick-up happened helped qualm my fears that the race might not occur.

Mother’s Day turned out to be a bright, chilly morning (temperatures in the 40’s.)  BFRC met at a nearby pancake house and hung out together before the race started.  As anticipated, Reinke Sports group’s support was minimal.  First, there were only two port-a-potties for over 200 half marathoners and an even larger 5K field.  Many runners were still lined up when the race started.   Second, there was no starting mat, the starting line was just a stripe of duct tape across the street.  Even worse, the starting line was not where the finish line was and there was no one directing people to the starting line.  Yikes!  I only found the starting line by asking one of the two or three people associated with the race where it was.  Once the race was underway, things got better (until afterwards.)  The course, which followed the Fox River Trail from Aurora to Batavia and back, was absolutely lovely on a spring morning.  The trees were finishing leafing out, flowers were blooming, fish were jumping in the river and I saw a number of beautiful birds including a Bluebird and an Oriole.  I carried my own water but there appeared to be enough water stops and port-a-potties on the route.  I started running with Lorraine, one of the other women in the BFRC, and ran for about 5 minutes before breaking into a run 70 sec./ walk 50 sec. routine for the remainder of the run.  Poor Lorraine, our overall pace was about the same and we continually ran past each other depending upon where I was in my run walk cycle.  At one point, I asked her if she was ok with it and she said “run your own race”, so I did and finished in 2:39.  A PR!  Well, it was my first Half.  Not only that, but it pays to grow old as I was the first woman in my age group.   The little Lucite age group award means a lot to me.

Reinke Sports group had advertised a party afterwards with lots of food and music.  Guess what, by the time I was done, the food was all gone and the music was a guy with a boom box.  Oh, and if I had come in just a bit later, there wouldn’t have been any finishers medals left as they gave them out to the 5K finishers.  I had a great day but it wasn’t because of Reinke Sports group.   I might run this one again but only if there’s a discount coupon.  I suggest that Mr. Reinke team up with a charity and make this a real event. 

My first Half is under my belt.  I have the Alexian Bros. Half in July and then the Oregon Wine Country Half on Labor Day weekend in Carlton, OR.  Then the next 1^st, the Chicago Marathon, a guaranteed PR!!