What is My Inspiration?

Runner's World Magazine recently published an article about pace teams. The article actually inspired me to sign up for the Clif Bar Pace Team for the White Rock Rock Marathon. I signed up for the 4:15 finish team, but I am secretly hoping to finish faster than that. My friend Mindi and I discussed this article over the weekend, so I read the article again when we returned from our trip. The part of the article that stands out for me is the discussion of the areas of focus for the last five miles of the marathon. My longest run before the marathon will be 22 miles, so I am going to have to use my head and my heart to finish those final miles. Here is what I hope I will have the presence of mind to think of during those last five miles of the marathon:

Mile 21: Focus on the work I have done to be at this point in the marathon and how the work is paying off at that moment.

• I have run consistently for over one year.
• I (will) have completed three half marathons.
• I followed a training plan.
• I took care of my body through rest and good nutrition.

Mile 22: Focus on my personal support system - my husband, my parents, my sister, my friends - who helped me make it to that moment.

• For everyone who donated money to sponsor me in the marathon.
• My husband, who was there for me day in and day out, supporting me through good days and bad.
• My parents, who taught me from the beginning that I could do anything I put my mind to doing.
• My sister, who ran her first half-marathon last year and inspired me to start running.
• My friends (especially Mindi) who listen to all my running stories and feed my running obsession.

Mile 23: Focus on my personal hero, someone who has been through something much harder than a marathon, and think about the strength it took that person to get through their ordeal.

• A week ago, I might not have been able to name this person off of the top of my head, but a lot can change in a week.
• A family friend tragically lost her husband last week when he was murdered in their home.
• She is in her early twenties and has managed to get herself out of bed each day and is already planning several different memorials to to her husband.
• If she can find the personal strength to do this, I can finish this race.

Mile 24: Focus on a time in my life that I demonstrated great strength in some area of my life other than running. Tap into that strength and remember that only one tenth of one percent of the U.S. population finishes a marathon every year.

• I overcame the bowed tibia and fibia in my right leg. I was a competitive athlete in high school and now I am a marathoner.
• I am running this race to benefit Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, where there are many patients, current and former, who are unable to run a marathon.
• I passed the Texas Bar Exam. I would definitely rather be running 26.2 miles that taking that stupid test again!

Mile 25: The last mile! Every step I take gets me that much closer to the finish line!

• I can run a mile in my sleep!
• Get out the tissues -- here come the tears!

A Weekend of Fun & Relaxation

This weekend, we went with friends to Angel Fire and Red River, New Mexico. We spent Saturday at Oktoberfest in Red River and got the opportunity to eat lots of great food and sample all kinds of beer. I got in two tough runs in the mountains. The air up there is thin, and the hills are at times unbearable, but the scenery (occasionally) took my mind off of the pain. It was nice to get away and enjoy the cool temperatures and the beautiful fall foliage with good friends.

Amarillo Race for the Cure - The Results

This past Saturday, I ran Race for the Cure in Amarillo. My friend Mindi and I put together a group from work, and Mindi designed cute race shirts with the law firm logo for everyone who joined the team. We had 38 participants on our team, up from last year's total of 15.

I also made bets with two of the guys from work. Acknowledging that I am a more consistent runner than either of them, I agreed to handicap the race. The bet: each of the guys got a 9 1/2 minute handicap, meaning that in order to win, they had to come within 9 1/2 minutes of my finishing time.

Daren agreed to negate a previous $20 bet between us, as well as to contribute at least $25 to my TSRHC marathon fundraiser. John and I agreed that the winner would buy the loser lunch, and that if he lost, he would contribute at least $25 to my marathon fundraiser.

David thought that 9 1/2 minutes was way too much time, but it was also a motivational tool for me. I wanted to see how fast I could finish the race. My goal was to keep David in my sights for the entire race. That way, I was guaranteed close to my personal best time of 23:24. I was nervous at the start of the race, and I would not talk to anyone. This local race designed to raise money for breast cancer research was, of course, very serious for me. The only light-hearted moment was while we were waiting for the start and the announcer stated that all of those in pink hats were breast cancer survivors. Of course, I wore a pink hat not because I am a survivor, but because it matched the pink stripe in my shorts. I spent a few minutes explaining this to everyone around me before the start of the race.

David has been running sprints and training for the race, but I have been putting in a lot of long, slow miles in preparation for the marathon. When he started out fast, I was not sure I could keep up with him, but I decided to try. I definitely slowed down some in the middle of the race, but I kept him in my sights. He finished with a personal best of 22:17, and finished with a new personal best of 22:38. I cut 46 seconds off of my best time! I really did not believe that I would break 23:00 this year, so I was obviously happy, if not even more confident in my 9 1/2 minute bet.

Unfortunately, Daren, with the help of his wife, came in a few seconds over 30:00, winning the bet. However, I was able to beat John, who came in around 36:00. I wasn't disappointed at all, considering my time. Apparently the bet motivated me to push myself; I might have to make these bets more often!

Congratulations to Mindi and Adrian for breaking 30:00 in the 5K!

Race for the Cure - This Weekend, It IS About Beating the Other Runners

Despite my previous quote about beating the voice inside my head, this weekend my quest is to beat two other runners in the Race for the Cure 5K. I will adhere to the philosophy behind that quote in the long races like 1/2 Marathons and Marathons, but not for this race.

My competition are two guys from my work. They are definitely not consistent runners, so we could not make a bet based on our times. I (regretfully) gave them each a 9 1/2 minute handicap in the race. That means if I run a 23:30, or 7:29 per mile pace, they will have to run a 33:00, or a 10:30 per mile pace. I believe that I can win, but it won't be easy.

If I do win, the guys have promised to donate to my marathon fundraiser for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, so that is a motivator. In addition, the bet motivates me to try to beat my current PR of 23:24. My legs are tired from increased mileage, but I am hoping my adrenaline will get me through the race so I can beat these guys. I will post the results, and hopefully some pictures, after Saturday's race...

Quote of the Day

This quote does a great job of explaining where I am and where I am going in my training:

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit." - GEORGE SHEEHAN

The Mayor's Half Marathon

Yesterday, I competed in the Mayor's Half Marathon. I posted Friday about my goal of breaking two hours, but I didn't make it. However, I did break my personal record with a time of 2:01:54, shaving three minutes off of my previous best. I haven't given up the goal of breaking two hours, and maybe I can accomplish this in my half marathon in November.

Here's what I learned yesterday:

(1) Running an even pace for 13.1 miles is not easy: My goal pace was 9:09 per mile, which would have led to a perfect 2:00:00 finish. I ended up with a 9:19 per mile average pace, but my pace varied wildly. Some of it had to do with a few hills on the course, but most of it had to do with the fact that I am still learning what a certain pace feels like. I think that this will come with time and experience. These long races are all about strategy, and I learned yesterday that I should still run a little more slowly at the beginning to warm up, but I should not start out too slow.

(2) Running a race with someone who runs your pace makes the time go by quickly: About mile four, I caught up with a guy named Paul who happens to be a neighbor David and I met a few months ago. We started talking and determined that we were trying to run a similar pace, so we ran together for the majority of the race. We did not talk that much, but just knowing someone was there was more comforting to me than I thought it would be. I consider myself a bit of a loner when it comes to running, but sharing the experience with someone was fun. It made me open my mind to trying to find a running buddy, maybe not for this marathon, but in the future, if only for long runs.

(3) Having someone with fresh legs push you at the end of a race is very helpful: David met up with me with about three miles to go in the race and finished the race with me. He ran the file mile race yesterday, finishing with a time of 39:40 and winning third place in his age group. When he joined me in my race, the first thing he said was, "I don't know how far I will be able to run with you. I just ate an orange, a banana, and a donut." This, of course, made me laugh and lightened the fact that my legs were burning and my mind was telling me to stop the craziness of running the race. Despite his concerns over his stomach, David finished the race with me, pushing me to run my last mile at under eight minute pace. I truly believe that I could not have finished with a PR if he hadn't pushed me like this. It meant so much to me to have him there pushing me to do my best.

(4) Friends and family cheering is definitely motivational: My parents, David, and my sister all cheered me on at the race (and also took all the great photos included here). It felt so good to know that I had people out there, and it definitely helped me push myself after I saw them cheering for me. They are all coming to White Rock in December, and I am really excited about having them there.

(5) I burned 1468 calories during the race: If this is not motivation to continue running, I do not know what is.

On another note: As of today, I have raised $945 for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children thanks to generous donations from friends and family. Thank you so much for your support!!

Can I Do It??

My mood is right (relaxed but nervous). The weather is right (cool, overcast, rainy). The temperature is right (in the 70s). Will these things come together so that I can run my half marathon in under two hours tomorrow?

I ran my first half in 2:05:09, and I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. I never checked my pace; I just ran to finish. However, anyone who knows me call tell you that I am not a run-to-finish type of girl. Maybe the first race I can have that mentality, but not in the second race. To finish in 2:00:00 or less, I have to average a 9:09 pace for 13.1 miles. I believe that I can do this. My legs are rested and my adreneline is up, and I wish I was running the race right now instead of tomorrow morning.

I entered my 10K time of 50:51 into the McMillan Running Calculator, and it projected a half-marathon finish time around 1:53. So, I am really taking it easy on myself. Therefore, the question becomes how will I handle it if I do not finish in two hours? Only time will tell, but I am hoping that I will remember that I am a rookie, and that this is just another in a long road of steps to make me a better runner. Sure, I won't be happy. But I will try not to let it ruin my day.