Progress

I had a nice run this morning, about 3 miles. I will update soon, more in depth. I did get my long run in last weekend though :)

"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." ~Benjamin Franklin

Recommitment

Saturday night I stayed at my friend Jen’s house in Somer’s Point. I had been really tired from a beautiful wedding in LBI (Congrats again to Colleen & Jamie) Friday, then heading to the shore for the afternoon Saturday to relax and catch up. I probably was asleep within seconds of my eyes shutting… I remember a lot of my dreams and I dream every night. Sometimes I forget them as soon as I wake up and other times, they stick with me for awhile. I had a dream Saturday night about 20 in 24. Maggie, Julieane, and some of the other Lone Ranger women were there. We were on a little street in Italy and it was night time. The other girls were getting ready and it was clear the race was happening here and now. I looked down and I had on shorts and a t-shirt, I could have run in them if I had to but it was clear I was not dressed for this occasion. I was worried because I had not trained but I was ready to go because I committed to it.

I was just about to start and my brother Sean grabbed my shoulder, “Kate! What are you doing?! Why aren’t you in this?” He was pointing at my clothes. “I am, Sean…I signed up in November, I am def in this!” and I tugged on my bib number. “I mean, you are usually psyched…you usually have on something fun you picked out, something bright to change into later, some stupid wrist things or something…this isn’t you! This isn’t how you race! Did you even train?!” I felt like a deer in headlights… “I, uh… I ran Broad Street” Yeah at that point we both looked at the ground and shook our heads. I woke up feeling terrible! I have NOT been training the way I did last year and even though it is less than two months away, I need to do something drastic!

Sunday I ran 11 miles, with the dream fresh in my mind. It was a gorgeous day, pretty hot too (around 80) and I went out with a goal to run 2 hours or at least 10 miles. I did 11 and was over 2 hours, so I felt great! Monday I was a little sore and did not run. Monday night when I was settling in for bed, after 4 hours of Microbiology…I asked God to help make running a priority again, for the help to get me up in the morning and get back to training. Tuesday I woke up before 6 and got dressed. It was raining so I decided to use the keychain I haven’t used too often to go to my gym. The treadmills have new TVs, touch screens, and it was pretty neat. The pace and time are right on the TV and the button to adjust the speed wasn’t a button but a lever type thing. I was liking it. It even gave you a workout summary when you were done. I did 4 miles, under an 11 min pace which is good! This morning the heat had me up before my alarm at 5:45. This time it was nice enough to run outside though. I did another 4 this morning. It was humid and I was soaking wet with sweat in the first mile, but I always prefer that to the treadmill!

My goal is to run for 3-4 hours this weekend. Next weekend I will be in CT Fri and Saturday and have a baby Shower Sunday so I will be happy if I get 2 hours in…I might have to wake up really early one week day and crank out like 10 miles..I am going to keep praying and see what God thinks I should do about it. June 9-10 weekend I would like to run 5-6 hours. Maggie said that our longest run should be June 16 or 17 because it will give us 4 weeks to recuperate. Her and Julieane just ran a 50 mile trail race on Sunday, so I think that is there farthest run (those girls are slightly crazy). I was thinking about an 8 hour run June 17. Maggie and Caroline said they are free too. 

I am going to see “Buddy” the musical about Buddy Holly with my parents and Patrick Saturday which will be a perfect time to see if they are free any of those days. Last year, I know I wrote about it…my parents showed up for Maggie and I on our longest run with ice cold water, bananas, and orange Gatorade. I think it qualified as top 5 happiest moments of my life. It would be awesome if we could get some support pacers to come out again like Bonnie, Ed, and I think Annukka and Matt were there. It is all kind of fuzzy now, but I remember that happiness. I was also delusional, but oh so happy. I have been hyper all day and I think it has everything to do with the fact that I am 100% back in this!

Broad Street Run 2012

Yesterday 40,000 people laced up to run 10 miles down Broad St, and I was one of them. It was a great day, beginning to end. Obviously if you have read my blog before you know that I run because it feels pretty awesome. I also like the t-shirts and medals, let’s not lie. Over the past couple years, doing Team in Training, and other group running organizations my mind set has completely changed. I prefer running without headphones and I like to start conversations with people. At least I make little comments if I like their shirts or it looks like they need some motivation, etc.

Here is the group I met at the subway to head to the start: Back row (L to R) Justin, Lauren, Evelyn, Maggie, Me, Matt, Lori, Jessie, Mark (front R to L) Caroline, Annukka, Julie, Dana, and Suzanne

I was in a groove yesterday, felt fantastic! I ran the first mile with Jessie and then decided to start run/walking. I was around a ten min mile for the first 3 miles, 51 mins for my 5 miles and 1:13 for my 7 miles, very very good for me!

Right after mile 8 I was grooving down the left side of Broad St, I tried to stay to the sides because I was taking walk breaks. I raised my arm (that had a neon green arm warmer on it) every time I transitioned into a walk as I was taught to do in any race. There were a couple snide comments directed my way by frustrated runners, telling me to move over to the side. With 40,000 runners it was hard to weave to the farthest lane every 2 minutes. I had to shake them off and realize some people are grumpy, and they probably didn’t like that I would run past them during my run spurts. I used to HATE when people ran/walked, because I felt like I put in way more effort than them because I was running the whole time. They should have to finish way behind me for ‘giving up’ and walking. My how the tables have turned! But I can understand people’s frustration when they look like they got hit by a truck 7 miles in and I am still smiling ear to ear as I power walk by.

 Ridiculous lines for the bathroom

As far as the eye can see---Sea of People

Me & Jessie

Ok so a little after 8 miles I saw this woman go off to the side and crouch down, grabbing her leg. She was using a car for support and I stopped to see if she was okay. I had a feeling she didn’t have a phone on her and there were no cops or medics in the near vicinity. She said she got a cramp in her calf for the first time ever. I started walking with her and she was devastated. It was her first Broad St Run, the longest race she has done. I pointed out how it could have been worse, she could have gotten this cramp at mile 4, she was so close the end now. There have been so many times when I wanted to quit, or I was alone in the race and got lost deep down in that dark mental spot that says I am no good. Something told me if I left this woman she could venture to her deep dark place and I didn’t want that to happen.

Mile 6- smiling and grooving- and waving to photographer Jay

She didn’t ask me to stay with her and has I kept running I would have gotten my best time, but I’ll run Broad St again and now maybe Patti will too. She tried to run a couple times but said it hurt too much. I got into my motivation mode and start telling her what a huge accomplishment it is to finish this race. That most people never run ten miles (oh and my fav shirt yesterday said something along the lines of “No matter how slow your pace, it’s faster than the people who never left the couch”- it def had better wording to it but I LOVED it and told the guy wearing it) and she should be proud. She said without hesitation ‘Well I didn’t run the ten miles, I’m walking!’ and like a dagger to my heart, I spouted back at her that I have walked/ran 3 marathons and still crossed the same finish line I would have had I ran the entire thing. There was a slightly awkward pause and then I smiled at her as we passed the ‘1/2 mile to the finish’ sign.

We did jog across the finish line and then Patti and I parted ways. I was really glad I got a chance to help out, because I feel like that is only a tiny bit of what other people have done for me. I was only 5 minutes slower than last year and I did have a hidden goal of under 2 hours, which I made (1 hour 52 mins). All in all it was a wonderful day!