The Final Post

It is now 48 hours post marathon and I sit to write my final post. I had full intentions to write while we were in D.C., but time did not permit. It was a weekend filled with wonderful memories and unforgettable experiences. We arrived on Friday around 11am and headed to the hotel to check in. Once we dropped our bags in the room, we headed towards the MetroRail to go to the Expo. It was quite the experience trying to figure out the Metro system! By the end of the weekend, we were pros at figuring out which train we needed. We arrived at the Expo where I received my race packet, which included my race bib, t-shirt, and giveaways. We walked around and visited all the vendors for a couple hours. It was a lot of fun. There were a lot of people and I found it to be slightly overwhelming at times. I was trying to be careful not to be on my feet for too long at a time, taking short breaks to rest. After the Expo, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for our trip to Old Town (just outside of D.C.) for the Alexandria Ghost Tour. We had a great time in Old Town...did some window shopping, ghost tour, and a nice dinner. The weather was really chilly and windy, making it a nice change from the hot and humid temperatures in Florida. The following day we headed for Union Station to meet the Double Decker Tour Bus. However, we were a little discouraged when we arrived because we were told that there was a rally scheduled for 12pm-3pm and as a result some streets were closed. The main route that would tour the city would not be running that day due to the rally. We knew there was nothing we could do about that, so we stayed positive and took the "blue" route towards Arlington. We got to see a lot of the city along the way, including the White House, Federal Reserve, and Arlington Cemetery. There was so much to take in during our sight seeing. The buildings are massive and the architecture is amazing. By lunchtime we decided to hop off the bus and stay downtown to grab lunch and get a closer look at the White House. The crowds were out of control, and at a moment, I found myself completely overwhelmed by all the people. I never thought of myself as one to be so sensitive to crowds, but perhaps with all on my mind, it was just too much. Mike could tell that something was wrong with me and I had to get myself some lunch and try to re-center. We found a relatively quiet place to grab a sandwich and I did feel much better after I ate. We walked over to the White House to take pictures and finished up the afternoon with some shopping. Saturday evening we met up with the running group in the hotel lobby for a celebration of the race and last minute pep talks. I found myself to be relatively calm the eve of the race. I was confident that I had trained as much as I could train and really had no regrets in terms of my preparation. I also knew that my success in the race would be a matter of perspective and the grace of God. Despite my calmness, I slept with one eye open all night. The hotel failed to give us a wake-up call two mornings in a row and luckily I had set my phone alarm as a backup. But oversleeping wasn't an option on race day. I was awake and ready to go. Race temperatures at the start was 46 degrees and I believe it warmed up to about 58 degrees by the middle of the day. We all met in the hotel lobby at 6:40am and headed out together on the 1 mile walk to the start line. It was game time. The mass of people crowded in the corrals caused for some close personal space! As I approached the start line, I heard Mike screaming my name...I looked to my right and he was waving at me...Jason trying desperately to find me on the camera. "Wow, they saw me!", I thought to myself. We headed out onto the course and the runner traffic was heavy for a while into the race. People were throwing their sweatshirts, gloves, and hats on the street as their body heat was warming up. By mile 3, I approached the first incline I had heard so much about. I didn't find it to be more challenging than what I had trained on during the year. My breathing remained the same, stamina strong, and no change in pace. However, around mile 5 my right knee began to give me intense pain. It felt like IT Band pain, which if you remember from previous posts, after too long it will not allow to continue running. I started praying continuously and paying attention to my gait to make sure I had good posture. I couldn't understand why my knee was hurting so bad, especially this early in the race. I couldn't imagine that the few inclines early in the race could bother my knee so much. Just when I started to panic, the pain would subside a little bit. Then it would return again, and then it would subside. Going into the race, I was confident that the strongest part of the marathon would be the first 3/4 of the race. My longest training run was 19 miles and I had managed to beat that during training. The unknown was mile 20 plus. I couldn't have been more wrong! By mile 17, I finally told my coach, Mary, that my knee was bothering me and had been since mile 5. She told me I should have told her earlier! I just didn't want to put it out in the universe that I was hurting. I wasn't ready to consider what would happen if the pain would not subside. Mary handed me Alleve and I quickly prayed for a miracle. Within 5 minutes, my knee pain was virtually non-existent! We made the last loop before the bridge which signified mile 20!! Suddenly, I felt energized and recharged. What I thought would be the most difficult part of the race, became the most powerful. Along the race, we met another runner named Sarah. She was a survivor of Thyroid Cancer. At mile 22, we both felt a surge of energy and we left the pace group. We kicked it up a notch and busted out the last few miles. As we were approaching the 26 mile marker, I told her, "Let's sprint across the finish line!" She said for me to go and she would be right behind me. At that moment, I clicked a switch. I felt my gait roll up to my toes, my calves flexed, my arms propelled me forward, and my breathing was my fuel. The last .3 miles of the race were up-hill. Marines lined each side of the last 100 yards until the finish line. As I came around the corner and up the hill, one Marine told me to "Dig Deep" and I heard him and just continued up the hill. The only other thing I remember hearing was the sound of my husband screaming "Go Jenn, Go Jenn, Go Jenn!!!" It was the most powerful thing I could hear at that moment and will never forget what that sounded like. I crossed the finish line and was almost in shock that the race was complete. There were no tears, just pure satisfaction. I walked ahead to the line of Marines waiting to drape medals to the runners. I stepped up to him and he said, "Congratulations, Ma'am." This whole process, lasting most of the year, had come to an end. An end that declared success and achievement. An end that my husband and son were able to witness. An end that will forever define who I am. I have accomplished many things in my life that have been the result of fighting against the world and how I am shaped among others. But, I haven never accomplished such a fight against MYSELF. The distance race truly is a discovery of the self. I am honored that my body allowed me to partake in such an event. All the family, friends, money, and education would be worth nothing without my health. I am grateful that today, I have good health. I never know what tomorrow will bring. What I do know is this...I began this journey in hopes to complete a bucket list item. What I found in the end, was a closer look at what my soul is made of. I am already thinking of what I will do next! Perhaps another marathon? Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. My hopes is that you enjoyed reading about all the series of events that went along with my training and perhaps maybe even learned something. I have heard from many of you that I have inspired you to work towards YOUR goal. I want you to know that I believe in you and my only wish for you is to find YOUR power within you. It may not be in the form of completing a marathon. Life is short, and you DESERVE to experience self-discovery, in whatever form it may take. Remember this, to live each day as if it were your LAST, you would be trying to remedy all the mistakes you had made, all the regrets, all the things unsaid. If you live each day as if it were your FIRST, you are freed from all obligations, all guilt, all regret. Peace.

The Final Days...

Yesterday morning, I completed my last run with the group for the training season. Mary, Nancy, and I set out for an easy 7 mile run and we were done before sunrise. It is still slightly surreal that the days and weeks have lead me to the final week before the marathon. I have juggled training, injuries, work, family responsibilities, and travel to accomplish the commitment required to train for a marathon. I couldn't have been in better company with those that I trained with, along with the support I received from my family and closest of friends. This weekend has been busy, but I spent most of the morning organizing the paperwork I need to bring to D.C. Flight information, hotel and expo directions, and registration confirmation forms are all included, just to name a few. I have my "Bring to D.C." list on the fridge and I am adding more to the list each day. My running coach suggested that I pack everything on a carry-on bag...this will avoid the baggage fee at the airport and ensure that my luggage won't get lost! The last thing I need is to lose my running shoes! I will be very strict with my diet this week. I will completely avoid refined sugar, increase my hydration, and stock up on Vitamin C. Of all weeks, my husband is getting sick with a respiratory cold. He will be sleeping in our spare room and staying AWAY from spreading his germs as much as possible. This week will be very little exercise. I will do TRX on Monday and Wednesday and will run a few miles on Tuesday. Wednesday will be my last day of exercise this week. We fly into D.C. on Friday the 29th. I am looking forward to the sight-seeing in D.C., all the while, taking care of my legs and making sure I'm not on my feet too much before the race. Stay tuned for more updates this week as I prepare for the big day on Sunday!

All in Good Company

With the last long run behind me, today Leah and I set out for a 7 mile run. At 6am, the temperature was a brisk 55 degrees. Within the first mile, our body heat had warmed up and we were running in perfect running temperature. We enjoy our runs so much. It's a chance to catch up on the weeks activity and chat about the plans for the weekend. After our run, we headed to the YMCA for the 8:30am TRX class. Our morning was certainly productive, to say the least! All the while we were running 7, our running coach was in Iowa running her 78th marathon in her 50th state!!! That's right, Mary started running 11 years ago and she has managed to run 78 marathons. Her goal is to run 100 marathons by the time she is 65. She is truly an inspiration. I have one more week of my usual activity before I have to really taper my physical activity. I got my last pre-marathon massage yesterday and plan to do HOT yoga tomorrow for some deep stretching. Next week will include the usual running, TRX, and personal training. I really have to listen to my body and make sure I get plenty of sleep. In fact, today I crashed for over an hour. I need to be super charged on sleep for the big day. I'm really concentrating on my hydration and nutrition these next 2 weeks. Each and every day leading up to the marathon are critical. Mary shared 26 marathon tips on her weekly email this week that I think are helpful. I have printed them out and plan to refer to them for reminders! 1. It's better to be 10% under trained than 1% over trained. 2. Remember that nutrition is not just important the day of the race. Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat balanced meals several days leading up to the race so your body is well nourished. 3. Trim your toenails at least two days before your race. 4. Trust your training and go with what the day gives you. Be flexible enough to make adjustments during the race and don't be afraid to have multiple goals going into it. Start conservative and hopefully game plan A will take full effect!! 5. Get a really good nights rest two nights before. It's much more important than the night before the big day. 6. Have a dress rehearsal of what you want to wear head to toe for the race. This includes laying out all items you will need or be taking with you for the race. Always include a cold or hot option so you can adjust depending on the race day weather. Pack one of every type of gear... no matter what the weather is SUPPOSED to be. 7. A huge need is BODY GLIDE and SOCKS. 8. Don't try anything new on race day. 9. Wear compression to avoid chafing. 10.Always go to the bathroom AT LEAST twice before the race, even if you don't think you need to go. 11. Take a Pepto-Bismol tablet before the race begins. It will settle a nervous stomach and help you avoid those "long stops" in the porta-potties. 12. Use a plastic bag, or throw away shirt at the start of the race instead of overdressing. 13. Remember a 1% decrease in hydration results in a 2% decrease in performance... Training for a 5k is a hobby. Training for a marathon is a lifestyle. 14. Wear your name on your shirt if it's not on your race number so spectators can cheer for you! 15. Don't go out faster than you trained, start slow and relaxed. Use the hydration/nutrition products you trained with. 16. Think of your race in pieces, run aid station to aid station. Mentally it is easier to do 2 miles than the full distance. 17. If doing the full, don't get sucked in to the half marathoner's pace when they are nearing their finish. Remember that they are finishing and you still have 13 miles to go! Also just watch your pace overall. Use that race day adrenaline but in an endurance pick me up way, not an excited sprint the first 3 miles way. 18. Walk through the aid stations. It's better to get a good drink. You'll lose more time if you get dehydrated than by walking a couple of minutes. 19. Take the electrolyte drinks whenever you can and water at every stop, don't wait until you need them. 20. Squeeze the cup! So you can drink out the little V opening. If you do choose to jog through, it will minimize what you spill on yourself. Practicing this technique could be beneficial if you are really trying for a good PR. 21. In the later miles make sure your arms are swinging forward and back, not side to side. 22. If you're going to make a mistake in a marathon, make it late! Too many runners run themselves out of races in the beginning. Save your bad (or brave) ideas for the last half. 23. When its late in the race, and you're hitting the wall...just keep taking steps. The miles run themselves. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other, and you'll get there. It may seem like you're so far away from finishing, but you just have to keep taking steps. 24. Have fun! The marathon is an incredible feat. It's a shame to finish something so incredible and feel anything less than the kind of joy that brings tears to your eyes. If you can't have fun, it's not worth it. AND try to smile, it helps to relax your muscles which will leave you feeling better running, and you look good for the photographers along the course! 25. To aid in recovery, walk a little after you finish, hydrate, and eat a carbohydrate/protein snack. Compression sleeves are great to wear afterwards, especially if you are going to be driving a long way. Take plenty of easy rest days and take pride in your accomplishment! 26. Learn a lesson from every race. 14 days and counting until race day!!!

Week 23 - The Last Long Run

After all these weeks of training, today was the last long run before the marathon. The month of October has been surreal for me. All year I have been training for this month. I've battled 4 injuries since January, experimented with different nutritional supplements, introduced new cross-training, decreased and increased my run days during the week, and even hired a personal trainer. All year, I have been working towards getting myself strong enough to withstand the demands of distance running. I am proud to say that I completed 18 miles today and never have felt stronger. I remember when I ran 15 miles for the first time. And then I ran 19 miles. And then I did a 26 mile split weekend, 13 on Saturday and 13 on Sunday. I kept waiting and waiting to really feel like I could beat this thing called running. Today, I felt like I beat it. We set out this morning at 6am. Some of us were planned to run 9 miles and others started at 4am and did 26! I couldn't have been happier that one of my running coaches, Nancy, was able to run this morning. She suffered from a foot injury about 3 weeks ago and hasn't been able to run since. But she was there this morning, along with my other coach, Mary. I knew in advance that Mary and Nancy would do 9 miles today. I had planned to run the remaining miles with Karen. However, Karen had to leave after only a couple miles. Nancy, Mary, and I set out for the 9 and it was smooth sailing (or running, I suppose). On the way back over Ringling Bridge, I told Mary and Nancy bye and did a lap in Bird Key to begin my remaining 9 miles. Mary and Nancy continued on to their cars and headed to the usual meeting place, Starbucks. As I began my first mile on my own I turned on my iPod and enjoyed just being with me. When I first started running I couldn't have dreamed of running 9 miles by myself. But now, it is almost therapeutic to have some time on my own. I either get lost in whatever song is playing or I get lost in my thoughts. I started to think about how we will be leaving for D.C. in 3 weeks. I'm so excited that Mike and Jason will be seeing me cross the finish line. Mike has seen me finish in 1 of the 4 half-marathons I have done, but Jason has never. I started to think about Jason. I thought about how much he motivates me. For most people I would think that the children look up to their parents for motivation. And that is true with me, my parents have given me endless motivation to follow my dreams. But at the same time, my son has been the driving force of MY motivation since his first day in existence in this world. It is because of him that I strive to be better. My quest to complete this marathon has become a self-discovery. Only in the last 2 years have I taken this interest in ME. Prior to Mike's "great idea" to sign us up for a membership at the YMCA, I had done ZERO in terms of fitness. Working full-time, school full-time, and mommy-hood full-time was on the priority list. But a series of events occurred, along with reading a few books, and I began to change what I was eating, drinking, doing, and thinking. I still remember when I told Mike my crazy idea to train for a marathon. I turned 30 last year and started a bucketlist. I told him by the time I'm 31, I want to run a marathon. He had his doubts at first, which was the reason I decided to do it! I am so glad that I did. The Jennifer I used to be wouldn't recognize me now. So, as I was running today I was thinking about this road I've been on this year. The tears were falling down my cheeks and I told myself not to get all emotional, I still had 9 more miles to run! I am so grateful for the family and friends that I have. There is a select group of people that have really touched my life this year. You know who you are. I could not have done this without you. On my last 2 miles, I ran into Stephanie's pace group. Steph saw that I was running by myself and she stayed with me. We ran the last 2 miles together. It was great. I just can't describe the camaraderie between runners, especially between Stephanie and I. She's the one who originally encouraged me to train and complete a marathon. And I'm so glad that I did. This experience has changed my life. I'm proud that I have successfully completed the hardest part of marathon training. The next 2 weeks will be taper runs and nothing I can't handle. And from a distance, I can already see that finish line.

Scratch That!

This morning brought some frustrating news...after I managed to pull myself out of bed and head to the YMCA for the High Intensity Training class, I learned that it was cancelled. Apparently, not enough people signed up for the class. I was very frustrated since I was looking forward to it, but figure that everything happens for a reason. I was hesitant at first to sign up for the class just because I didn't want to over-extend myself in new exercises that could lead to a potential injury. I also seriously contemplated the fact that the series was $80 in addition to my monthly membership fee. But, in an effort to increase my stamina, I agreed to do the class and showed up this morning with high hopes. Since I was already dressed and ready for the workout, I ran 3 miles on the treadmill followed by TRX class. I had a great workout this morning despite the change of plans. Looking forward to a great week. The weather is really pleasant the last few days and it makes my run so much more enjoyable. Hoping to squeeze in a personal training session this week, if possible. Stay tuned this week for a post on a "Day in the Life" for nutritional and supplement information on my current regime.

Change of Plans

This morning was a scheduled 8 mile run, however I was unable to make it. When I woke up this morning I had severe stomach cramps (for reasons not needed to be discussed) and instead of reaching for my running shoes, I had to reach for the heating pad. I was paralyzed from the pain and still tried to convince myself to get up and get dressed. Unfortunately, I was unable and forced to listen to my body. My husband woke up to my agonizing pain and helped me get comfortable. I text messaged Leah and told her I didn't think I could make it this morning. I was able to find some relief from the heating pad and as the cramps subsided, I was able to sleep. When I woke up a couple hours later, I was feeling much better. I did some housework and went out for a 5K run in my neighborhood. Since my body was still slightly weak, I didn't push myself on the miles. But I had to do something since my day was completely thrown off by missing the run with the group. The upcoming week calls for intense training. I will be adding a 4th day of TRX this week. Leah is coming tomorrow for her introduction to TRX....I'm hoping she will like it as much as I do! It's actually a TRX/spin class. I'm also beginning a 4 week specialized class at the YMCA with my trainer. It will be 2 days a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6am. I will continue to do TRX on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays as well. And somehow, manage to fit some runs during the week as well. It will be busy, but it is marathon month! October will be intense training as I prepare for the race on the 31st. Stay tuned for updates on the new class!

Week 21

Since my last post, I recovered from the 26 mile split run with little injury. My left foot was giving me some trouble, however with some rest and that special touch from my chiropractor, it is back to normal. The plantar fasciitis pain has been creeping back up and I think that played a role in the foot pain. I'm trying to stretch it as much as possible and I wear my boot at night. I took Monday through Wednesday off from running last week. Even though my pain was almost non-existent, I didn't want to over do it from the 26 miles. Although I didn't just lay on the couch either...I still went to TRX class and by Thursday I was running again. I'm staying very busy between my runs, TRX class 3 times a week, and keeping up with weekly personal training sessions. The last two personal training sessions have focused on my abs. It's an area that I want to totally TRANSFORM on my body and will also keep propelling me through the marathon. A strong core is imperative for a runner. I'm finding that as much as I want to improve my ab strength, I also need to focus on my low back strength. For many of the exercises, the low back muscles are crucial. As a person who never thought would be the type to exercise, much less have a personal trainer, I have found it to be very motivational. When I'm running, I constantly have to self-talk my way through difficult parts of the run. But when I'm doing a personal training session, I have someone coaching me through the difficult parts and holds me accountable to finishing the task. It is very rewarding and challenging. This past weekend I was unable to run with the group on Saturday because I was out of town. However, Leah and I ran just shy of 8 miles on Sunday morning. The weather is starting to be consistently cool on our morning runs and it really makes such a difference! It is so much more enjoyable running in the morning when it isn't so dreadfully HOT! I am really getting excited about the marathon. I can't believe it is nearly October and soon it will be count down! Looking back on all these weeks of training, especially in the last month, I am feeling really confident. I know my mental strength is a big factor in finishing the race. But I also feel that I have kicked it up a notch in my physical routine, as well as, nutritional routine. I have found that there is ALWAYS room for improvement and I have really tried to incorporate different strategies in my workout to truly challenge myself. I've never been stronger than I am today. I am in the zone and I like it here.