Adjusted Reality

Something weird happened around 5pm Friday.  It was as if someone removed the butterflies prematurely – all the nerves and ramblings that I blogged about that morning pretty much left in the car on the way to San Antonio.   Usually the night before a race I’m jumpy and excitable and can barely get myself to calm down.  That day, once we were in the car and finally through South Austin traffic, I got so relaxed and tired that I wasn’t even thinking about the race.  I’m sure it helped that I only managed 5 hours of sleep Thursday night, but finally being on the way and the road vibrations were just lulling me to sleep.  I resisted a nap, but I kept that serene calmness through the rest of the evening.

We got to the hotel, relaxed a little bit, and then headed out for dinner.  I wanted something I’d had before, and something not spicy (which eliminates most of the food I like), but also something sizable (I wanted to wake up not feeling hungry), so we settled on Saltgrass.  I had half a loaf of bread, a salad with full fat ranch, a 7 ounce filet mignon, 5 fried shrimp, and mashed potatoes.  I ate every bite except a few bites of leftover taters, and it was WONDERFUL.  In retrospect, I don’t think I could have picked anything more satisfying to eat.

We were going to make use of the hotel pool, but there was a huge family there, so we decided to wait until a little later and see if they had left.  At 9pm, I was so wonderfully sunk into bed dorking on the laptop watching Sci-Fi, I didn’t even want to get up and take a shower like I had planned, so I just relaxed and drifted off to bed around 10:30.  I found myself getting a *little* antsy when I started to try and close my eyes, but I just went ahead and went over my morning routine a few times and it was tedious enough to get me to dreamyland.

The alarm blaring at 6am made me want to throw things, and immediately upon waking, my tummy was a bit upset (my 50 bazillion calorie meal and then sleep right after – it made sense), but after a nice long shower I felt good to go.  My good shoes FINALLY didn’t make my hurty toe hurt, so I said a quick “thank you” to the running gods.  TMI incoming – so I had not…shall we say…taken the kids to the pool in a while.  I had been not quite so regular lately, but it seemed like it was more a situation of my body was using everything it was being given to power the flaming furnace which was the Quix-running-machine that I have been.  This week, being a light workout week, I hadn’t quite had that problem.  Until now.  It had been at least 24 hours since my last “moving” moment.  I had ingested a seriously large quantity of food the night before.  And nothing.  Even after chowing down on a whole Zone bar.

We had to go even though I couldn’t…go (ok, poop puns stop here), so we got into the car, got slightly lost, and then around 7:10 found the place to catch the shuttle.  No problem, right?  So, so wrong.  We were in line until 7 freaking 45 (yes, 15 minutes to gun time).  The shuttle dropped us off at around 7:50-something, and then we found out it was about a half mile walk to the actual race.  I started hearing “last call to get your numbers” so I left Zliten with the stuff and sprinted my ass off across the field and got my number and my chip, and was applying it while the first wave of relay racers crossed the starting line.  Since the start was staggered, I went ahead and got rid of some excess water in toilets that didn’t have doors (eww) and when I got out, I saw the second wave go.  I got up to the starting line as they were taking everything down and I frantically waved and pointed at my tag and they sorta rolled their eyes and said, go ahead.  I was the last person across the line.  The chip time probably included about 30 seconds to 2 minutes of standing on the mat haggling with the officials.  Worst race start ever.

I got out a little fast because I wanted to catch up with someone…anyone…  I kept getting these pity cheers, like I was the slow kid, so I was very happy once we turned into the woods and I passed the second slowest person.  After settling down from that, I started feeling really good.  It was a beautiful morning, it was breezy, pretty temperate around 80 (not prime running weather for someone that hadn’t been training for it, but I didn’t feel like I was wading through a sauna), and the course was through a beautiful park.  The first 3 miles were pretty awesome.  When we rounded the final corner of the first lap, I got some encouragement from a relay runner after I asked an official how far we had left to go (no mile markers sucked!).  She cheered for me every time she saw me.  That was pretty awesome!

About halfway into the second lap (50 minutes in), I ate my caffeine beans, which I had binder clipped to the inside of my running skirt (most genius idea ever – it held up so well and wasn’t uncomfortable at all) and then got a nice little boost.  At the end of the second lap, I realized something was a little off – my feet were hurting.  Not my toe, but my feet.  I realized then how uneven the pavement was on some parts of the trail, and my tootsies were more used to sidewalk or level streets.  After a while it just started to become a constant ache which I was able to get used to, so it wasn’t too horrible.

Sometime on the third lap, I had convinced myself I was further along than I thought I was.  I thought I had to finish that lap and then go to the finish.  I ate my second beans close to the end of the lap and then when I approached the turn, I asked the offical and she said we had to complete FOUR full laps and THEN head to the end.  Zliten was right there and said “One more lap, keep going”.  I was totally flabbergasted.  I slowed down a little because the ache had come back.  I moped a bit.  Then I realized, I had one more lap to do and I was done and I could stop running, hell, I could stop standing for an entire week if I wanted.  So on I trudged.

I swear they added at least 2 extra miles to that last lap.  I kept thinking I was turning the last corner and nope, there was just more fucking forest.  I even got aide instead of water at one of the last stops hoping the sugar would help.  I must have looked so out of it, one of the officials cheered me on, telling me I had about one mile to go.  That was the longest fucking mile ever.  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I rounded the last corner and got a little pep back from a cheer from the relay runner, and headed for the finish.  I didn’t feel like I had anything left to give but when I saw the finish line, I started sprinting anyway.  In my head, instead of “dig, dig, dig, dig” which I’ve chanted to get me to the end of long runs, I was chanting something like “sit, sit, sit, sit”.

I crossed the finish looking pretty strong (according to Zliten), and managed to hold it together for them to clip off the chip.  I walked around a little bit, got about 6 cups of water, and then needed a sit.  Badly.  We found a bench and I just kinda recovered and stretched.  After I had use of my legs back (slightly), we walked back up to the race.  The post-race food didn’t look that great, so I tried a beer and some cheese.  After a bite and a few sips and another sit, those weren’t settling well at all, so we just decided to head out.  That half mile back to the shuttles was FUCKING painful.  I know you’re supposed to cool down and stay mobile for maximum recovery, but I just couldn’t.  I was hobbling.  Once we got on the shuttle, I exclaimed that sitting was the best thing ever.  I didn’t even notice the AC until Zliten told me that was the best thing ever for him.

We got back to the hotel, I stripped off my soggy clothes (a mix of sweat and dumping at least half a water on myself each mile – but I think either would have thoroughly soaked me through and through without the other) and took about a 20 minute bath, then a 20 minute shower.  I died on the bed for a bit and then we headed home, with a stop at the italian buffet first.  By that time I had the ability to maneuver my legs without worrying about failure, but there was definitely a dull, aching throb.  I was pretty much braindead the rest of the day and didn’t get up off the couch.  Sunday was a little better, but my hamstrings were still super sore.  Yesterday, however, I was a new person.  I got up, did a DDR and yoga session before work, and my legs feel, for all intents and purposes, back to normal.

What’s next for me?  Stay tuned and I”ll yak about that tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will post more in detail about the race, but I figured I might as well continue with this one more week. 🙂

If you’ve been following me here this shouldn’t be any surprise, but for the rest of you and for my posterity, here is how last week went.

Monday: 4 mile run and yoga

Check and check!  Not the greatest run – my headphones died so I had to find backup headphones so I got out late, it was HOT by then, my toe started bleeding for no apparent reason on the run, and I was almost late to work, but ya know, I got it done.  Yoga felt good after work that day!

Tuesday: 30 minute tempo run

Check, sorta.   My toe was hurting still so I wore my older, larger shoes.  They didn’t hurt my toe, but since they were pretty worn out, I definitely felt each step and couldn’t push myself so fast.  It was almost more of a regular run than tempo, but again, I did the miles.  Was gonna yoga after work, but I had to go to the Yelp party, so I never got time.

Wednesday: yoga

Check!  Ah, look, there is my yoga.  Was a nice day off as well.

Thursday: 2 mile run and yoga

Check and check!  After all that training, I finished this and went – uh, ok, my warmup’s done, now how far do I have to go?  Felt weird only doing that short of a distance (but kinda good).  I pushed myself a little harder than normal and felt fast – though I was still wearing the old and crappy shoes because of the hurty toe.

Friday: Rest/Travel

Check!  Packing was the most strenuous thing I did that day.  I pretty much got eaten by the hotel bed around 9pm, which was great, because I had to be up at 6am!

Saturday: HALF MARATHON!!!

Check!  I’ll go into this more tomorrow, but lets just say I know why they tell you to not do 13.1 miles before the race – if my 12 last week had been this brutal, I might have reconsidered!   But – I got through it and though I didn’t beat my goal time, I certainly got close!

Total week 12 mileage 22.1 (running):   (plus 1-2 miles of walking)

Now what happens?  I almost feel lost without a rigorous running schedule, but I’ll keep myself busy and make do.

Week 13 – the week after!

Monday – 30 mins DDR and yoga in the morning, bike ride after work

Tuesday – weights in the morning, roller skating at adult night after work

Wednesday – yoga or off

Thursday – 30 mins arc trainer and weights after work

Friday – 30 mins DDR and yoga in the morning

Weekend: epic bike ride, weights at the gym

This is all subject to change for any reason I damn well please, because this week is about making sure my poor little knotted up muscles get stretched out and used in different ways besides *poundypoundypoundy*.  I hope everyone enjoyed/tolerated these updates, they really helped me out!  For now, I will put away the weekly update until I get closer to something specific I’m training for…

Race: finished.  Massive amounts of italian food: eaten.  Legs: barely under my control.  Couch: yes, oh my yes.  Standing: overrated.

Chip times not up yet, but if it wasn’t 2:15 it was sure close.  More next week!

Well, race day is tomorrow and the nerves are definitely coming into play.  I’m sure it doesn’t help that I’m stuck at work when I would like to be packing, yoga’ing, and sleeping more (I had a small bout of the wakeup-then-can’t-fall-back-asleep fun last night and netted about 5.5 hours of sleep).  So instead of doing, I’m just going to type.

Things I am worried about:

-I’ve never run 13.1 miles before.  It still trips me out that training for a long race, you don’t run the full distance until you get to the starting line.

-I’ve put in very few miles this week.  I know you’re not supposed to, but it just feels wrong.

-Running in the heat.  I’ve had some good runs lately, but I’ve also had some miserable runs where I felt like I was wading, not running.

-My toe and shoe situation.  Monday’s run, my toe started bleeding for no reason.  My newest and best shoes fit me *perfect* so there is no extra toe room, and when I put them on, they hurt walking around so I wore my old-expired shoes.  My options are a) wear the new ones I’ve been training in and deal with any possible pain b) wear the old ones and gamble on my toe feeling good but the rest of my foot possibly hurting because they’re so worn or c) going to buy a pair just like my new ones in a half size bigger, and risk racing on new shoes (these had literally NO break in period, they were comfy from day 1 but still – not something you do on race day).  I’m thinking a), but I’m hoping d) toesies are fine tomorrow!

-Getting there.  We’re heading down this afternoon to beat traffic and relax and swim in the pool and get a yummy dinner, but I’m not sure how to navigate to the course/shuttles/whatnot.

Things I am confident about:

-Minus the intentional omissions while in Vegas, I followed my training program pretty much to a T.  While it was my program I concocted, it was after researching a LOT online.  I’m ready for this.

-I feel healthy and ready to push myself.  I’m not feeling burnt, I’m not physically exhausted, though I am surprised that I still have mild muscle soreness today having only done about 9 miles, yoga up the wazoo, and no strength training.

-The forecast tomorrow in San Antonio is promising.  The race starts at 78 degrees at 8am (feeling like 83) and ends around 83 at 10am (feeling like 88) with 15 mph wind.  The last few weeks I’ve been training in somewhere between “feels like 90” and “is actually 90” weather, and we have been strangely un-windy here lately, so I’m excited.  It will feel like the middle of winter!

Now, also, since I can’t be packing, I’m going to pretend:

Normal overnight stuff bag with toiletries, shower stuff, pajamas, swimsuit, a change of comfy clothes for Saturday after the race, my slippers just in case my tootsies are shot after the race (thanks for the idea, DietGirl!), a change of going out clothes in case we decide to stay down there another night (probably won’t, but…) and camera.

Body pillow.  I want to sleep as comfortably as I can.

Towel for the car so I don’t sweat all over it on the way back if we leave immediately.

Laptop with Sims 3 and movies to watch in case everything on TV sucks.

Running bag with what I’m going to wear to race in (and maybe a backup), vasolene (my version of body glide), my camelback (just in case I find out the water stops aren’t as frequent as I’d like), shoe wallet and safety pins (gonna pin sport beans #1 to the inside of my skirt, sport beans #2 going in the shoe wallet), both pairs of shoes JUST IN CASE (god I hope I don’t have to use my old shoes), sunglasses, timing watch, zune (just in case, I might as well see if everyone is showing up with mp3 players and ignoring the no-headphone rule), sunscreen, breakfast (fruit and a zone bar), water bottle (lukewarm water will be better than nothing if needed) hair ties, and chapstick.

Yes, I travel light.  Sue me, I like to be prepared!  Now, to finish the rest of the morning at work, have some lunch, hit the store for aforementioned fruit and water, and get to packin’!  Soon, so very soon, I’ll have the 4th race picture to add to these 3!