4 miles – Silvia September 3, 2008

By the time I got home from school around 6:30 pm, it was still 85 degrees outside and humid. There was no way I was running in this weather.  So off to the gym I go.  I felt guilty today as I saw a woman running carrying a water bottle.  That’s what I should be doing, not going to the gym.  Think of the carbon footprint I am leaving.  I am driving to the gym, to run in an air conditioned  and artificially lit facility  on an electric treadmill.  Seems kind of stupid, doesn’t it?  Unfortunately, that’s as far as my thoughts went.  I didn’t feel guilty enough to turn the car around to run outside.

So, I get to the gym and weigh myself.  154.  I lost 6 pounds.  ONLY 6 pounds.  For the past ten days I have had no processed foods, no sugar, no alcohol, no caffeinated coffee ;and, in my few cups of decaf, I used unsweetened soy milk.  I ran 48 miles.  I didn’t even have dessert, Tiramisu (mmmmmm), at my husband’s boss dinner party.  Actually, all I ate at the lovely catered affair was salad!  After all that, only 6 pounds.  I felt like a biggest loser contestant who knew they were about to be voted off.  Dejected, I walked into the gym to do my run.

I passed this guy on a treadmill, who I could tell was going fast with his long strides.  I looked and he had a speed of 8.1!!!  He already did 4 miles and was going strong.  8.1!  I don’t even know how fast that was.  I put my mill on, and set it at 6.5.  I could see Mr. Runnerman gliding a few treadmills to my left.  Make me sick.  Anyway, I run and think how boring this was.  I brought my Ipod, but the connection to the headphone doesn’t work, so I had to take that whole contraption off my head.  I was so bored.  I wish I was outside.  The TVs are not in a good place, but I couldn’t hear them anyway.  I just kept looking at the seconds tick by and the miles slowly pile on. So boring.  I hate running.

Finally, at 3.8 with only the magical .2 to go I decided to risk it all and set the treadmill for 8.0!  I bolted. I was running my little heart out trying to keep pace, willing myself to keep going.  Only a little more,  You can do it. Come on. Finally I saw 4.00 come on the screen,  and mercifully,  the treadmill slowed down to the Cool Down phase.  8.0 was a 7:30 mile per minute pace.  Unbelievably fast.  How do people run so fast over such a long distance?  Then I remembered the marathon runners who ran at about a 5:04 or so pace.  That’s just insane.  I was in awe of the elite runners.

4 miles- Silvia August 29, 2008

Yesterday I should have run six miles according to the schedule.  I did 4.  I was exhausted. That’s my excuse.  The night before I couldn’t sleep well…first day jitters…even after 8 years of teaching!  Then when I finally could sleep, my darling husband began snoring.  Loudly.  I went downstairs to sleep in my son’s room (he’s off to college) and my dog decides it would be fun to play fetch at 3 am, and drops a tennis ball near my face.  I don’t think so.  I throw the ball away.  Duhhhh.  This is a dog.  Throwing the ball means playing fetch!  The tennis ball with drool was dropped neatly by my nose again.  This time, I put the ball in a drawer.  I couldn’t see his sad puppy dog eyes in the dark, so I felt OK about it.  I saw his shadwo lying in frot of the drawer, perhas willing it to open.  Eventaully he gave up and went away.  Meanwhile, it is 3:20 and I am trying desperately to get to sleep.  But there is added stress.  There is no alarm clock in my son’s room.  So, you know the kind of sleep you get when you know you have to wake up at a certain hour and there is no alarm clock to let you know the time and so you wake up every 20 minutes and look at the clock and feel relived that you have more time and mad because you woke up and you didn;t have to yet…well that’s what I had for the next 2 and half hours.  I arrived blearly eyed for the my first day of the new school year in a classroom full of high energy, eager middle schoolers.  Help me Lord geth through the day.  I did.

But the run.  Whose idea was it anyway to run this marathon?  I did not want to.  I wanted to go home, eat some food that I didn’t cook, have  a glass of wine and go to bed (before my husband so I fall asleep before he starts snoring).  But the run. I had to do that damn run.  I got home around 7:00.  I went to the gym.  I got up on the treadmill and at a mile 1.01 I was ready to call it a day.  I miss way back when I only had to run a couple of miles.  Nonetheless, I carried on and stopped at four.  I justified it by saying I’ll run 6 on Friday.

Today is Friday.  I finished day two in a classroom of energetic middle schoolers.  Do you think I feel like runnning six today?

Debris, Carnage 12 Miles – Silvia August 25, 2008

I had to laugh when the announcer commentating on the Olympic marathon predicted debris and carnage along the marathon route because the men went out at a blistering 2:04 pace, in the 84 degree temperature with high humidity. i expected bodies strewn all over the place where the men are prostrated on the road, drooling from their mouths. That didn’t quite happen, but it was a thrilling race to watch. I was so glad for the Kenyan who brought home that country’s first Olympic gold (were you as surprised as I was, finding out that little tidbit of information.)

The next morning I did my 12 mile run. I started late, after 11am. Dumb, dumb mistake. It was hot, almost 90 degress, the humidity was at about 60% and I had my dog. The good thing was that my husband made me a leash with some nylon rope so I wouldn’t have to lug around the heavy retractable leash. The bad thing was that we had no water. I know, call PETA on me. I knew there was a pavilion at the ark we were going to, so I was hoping that there was some sort of water there. I wanted to run at a 10 minute pace. I thought I could do that comfortably. The first 3 miles went well. I ran the first mile in 10 minutes, the second in 9:30 (oops- big mistake there) and the third in about 9:48. Then it went downhill. The sun was beating down on me; I was thirsty and felt the energy draining from me. Finally at mile 4, the pavilion loomed before me, like a lush oasis in the middle of the desert. I headed straight for the water fountain. As luck would have it there was a dog water bowl there, and I first filled it up for some water for Barclay, which he gladly lapped up. After I had my fill, I used the facilities. This is luxury – it had a flushing toilet sink, and mirror. Beachwood rocks! (This is the same spot that has wifi access.) I have to say – and you may want to turn away when I say this rather gross piece of information – but when it burned when I relieved myself. My body temperature was so hot. It scared me a little.

rested and refreshed we headed out. I have to say the next 8 miles were just torture. I stopped and walked. I ran. I slogged. I wanted to quit running and I remembered when the commentator mentioned that the Kenyan who won had a runner’s body – lean and light. He was 5′4″ and 112. What the hell am I doing out here at 5′6″ and 160? I have huge thighs, which makes me have more of a sprinter’s body. not a long distance body.

At one point when I had a tiny surge of energy my Garmin’s battery went low so it automatically stopped my timing. I must have ran at least a half mile…for nothing! When I figured that out I was so mad. I eventually made it to another park with another drinking fountain, not before I spent nearly minutes standing under a sprinkler with Barclay lying beside me. People went by us in their cars, laughing. I didn’t care and neither did Barclay the water felt so good. Finally, we hit Barclay’s swimming hole where he got to cool off again. By that time I had about 1 and half miles to go. I was spent. Barclay was refreshed. Oh well. I think I walked about a half mile and then decided to jog the rest.

I did 12 miles in 2 hours and 9 minutes. The men ran a whole mnarathon by that time. I felt dejected and defeated. But, I am not giving up.

4 miles- Silvia August 19, 2008

Home again, I thought the running would be easier.  It wasn’t.  The 4 miles were pure torture.  My dog’s retractable leash weighed a ton and my pace was so slow.  I finished.  I always finish, but I am getting sick of being so slow. 

Today I was especially annoyed at all the people walking their dogs and whenever their dogs saw my dog they went ballistic, barking and attacking and what not.  How irritating!

11 miles – Silvia August 19, 2008

I looked down at my Garmin 405 and read 4.66. Shit! I am not even half way done! I stopped. I can’t do this. I look ahead and see my dog look back at me as if to say, why are we stopping. Damn dog with limitless energy. I keep going.

The night before I watched the women’s marathon. I was amazed and enthralled with their super lean bodies and blistering pace, despite the announcer saying they were running at a “pedestrian” 5:30. Pedestrian! He even said that one of the runners was “slogging” along. Slogging? That’s my word…that’s me. That’s not them. I was “running” at a 11 minute mile pace – not consistently either.

Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth I ran along the 2 mile dirt road. I was getting sick of trees, mud, and weeds. I saw a deer take off and that was cool. I heard wld turkeys and wanted my dog to chase them for fun, but he didn’t. He was too busy staying ahead of me and then looking back and thinking, come on slowpoke.

I finished the 11 miles, on one hour and 59 minutes. Sick. The marathoners were practically done by that time. How in the hell am I going to run 26.2?

I did decide in my 2 hours of thinking and running and dehydrating ( I didnt have any water…stupid I know) to go on a diet. Perhaps I was delirious. But I can’t carry around these extra 4 bowling balls anymore. It’s just too hard. The day after my 11 miles, I could barely move. My mother is taking care of her husband, who is really sick, and needs a walker to move around. Believe me, I was eying that walker with envy. That’s how sore I was. So, starting Thursday (well maybe Friday because my hubby and I have date night Thursdays) I am going to try to make some lifestyle changes in my eating habits. I will keep you posted.

One more thing.  As I was getting ready for my run, I put on my hefty armor to hold in the girls because this was going to be a long run.  I  checked my luggage and I was aghast because I forgot my Vaseline.  Uh oh!  You know what that means…major chaffing.   So, I decided to improvise and used my Adidas deodorant in all the strategic spots.  I figured the chaffing is caused by the wetness rubbing against straps.  Guess what?  It worked.  There was no chaffing in the spots where I applied the deodorant.  Yippee!  I didn’t worry about blocking sweat glands or whatever because I sweat in so many places that it more than makes up for the lack of sweat near my buxom bosom.   Speaking of sweat.  My ears sweated so much that my headphones (the kind you wear over your ears with the foam over the speakers) were soaked and I could ring them out like a sponge!  YUCK!

10 Miles – Silvia August 10, 2008

The day after my “vacation” in hell, I did not feel like running, let alone running 10 miles. Nonetheless, that’s what my training chart said, so off I went with my Ipod and Garmin 405. Before I began I was sure to grease myself up like a pig in a hog wrestling competition. Lena suggested Body Glide and although we don’t have that store I will find that stuff somewhere.

My slowest mile, believe it or not was the first. I ran it in 11:11. I think my mind was telling my body, oh no, here comes that great big hill. My mind forgot that we were back home in Cleveland where flat means flat (unlike in WV where flat means rolling hills). I was blessed with cool weather today and a nice cool breeze. Ahhhhhhhhh. I dare say it was almost pleasurable. No I can’t say that. But I can say, it wasn’t torture.

When I hit mile 5, I could not believe how far I was- distance becomes so much more meaningful when you are running. A couple of interesting things happened during the run. First, what goes down must come up. I loved running the down hills and I hated when they became up hills later. I just want to run down hill and take a elevator up hill. Also, at around the 5 mile mark I really had to use the facilities. I mean really. And to make matters worse it was number 2. I mean, here I am running, exhausted, and now my mind is distracted by another body part demanding attention. Why don’t they have Porta-Potties strategically placed throughout the trail. ( I was on a lovely asphalt all purpose trail- Beachwood put a lovely all-purpose trail in the middle of a boulveard- it is a little bit of nature in the middle of the city). So I thought there must be facilities in the shaded rest area I spotted a mile back (where they also have Wifi!!!!). If I just make it back I will get relief. So, I ran and ran and by the time I hit that area, I was over the urge. Thank God. Good bowels-way to hold back for the team! Still in the netherlands, I had a bad battle with chaffing down under. Ughhh. Even though I wore capri style pants thus hoping to eliminate any chaffing, it didn’t work. I was so sweaty it felt like I peed my pants. I know, gross. I was running with that feeling. The last interesting thing was that when I finally finished the 10 miles (I literally ran the last 0.10 miles looking at my Garmin waiting for the 10.00 to come up so I can stop my watch and stop running-I refuse to run one step more than I have to). I wiped my face with my hand and felt crunchiness like dirt. That’s wierd. So I tasted the dirt and it was salt! The air was so cool I guess the sweat quickly eavporated from my face and left salt crystals. When I got home and looked in the mirror there was a whole bunch of salt crystals framing my face. I thought that was pretty cool.

I did it! 10 miles and week four, or is it five, is done!

“Vacation” at Ace Adventure Resort in West Virginia August 9, 2008

This is Rams Head Cliff as seen from the mountain bike trail across the gorge.

My husband thought it would be fun to do an outdoor vacation this year. We packed up the car and drove about 6 leisurely miles south to Oak Hill, West Virginia for a fun-filled week of whitewater rafting on the Gauley and New Rivers, mountain biking, rockclimbing and rapelling, and horse back riding. Sounds like a blast, eh?

Well, for me, who has done none of these things before, it was one stomach in my throat activity after another. I was sacred to the point of tears every single day. I have to admit, the first day of rafting down the Lower New was exhilarating after the initial fear was over. I even jumped off the 25′ “Jumping Rock.” It was so scary, but I was wearing a PFD and after watching 20 other people do it, I had to. I jumped and plunged into the warm 75 degree water. It was thrilling to challenge my fear of heights. At the end of the day I thought this rafting business is not so bad.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_2378#rapid141

The second day was a different story. We went on the Upper Gauley in single man “duckies.” Duckies are like inflatable kayaks or rafts. I was terrified. The Upper Gauley was supposed to be the most difficult whitewater in the area. After just one day on the gentle Lower New River in a big 14′ boat with a guide on board I was not ready for such a difficult challenge. When we got in our duckies I thought, what the hell was I thinking. The water was 60 degrees, freezing compared to the New River. We rolled out of our duckies into the cold river to practice getting back in because “if you can’t do it in calm water how will you do it in the rapids.” (There was a comforting thought.) The guides were supportive, funny and helpful. Nonetheless, I “swam” (the rafting word for falling out of your raft) many times and I every time I got more and more scared. I would have been so happy just to leave my boat ashore and hike my way out. Unfortunately, once you start there is no turning back. When I fell into the Class V Iron Ring rapid, it felt like I was under for about 3 minutes, but the guides assure me it was only for a few seconds. I remember finally coming out of the water and one guy with bulging muscles was just hanging onto my PFD and I was so grateful that he had me. I grabbed his rope and then he said let go and grab the other guides rope and he will push me in the Flume (that was a chute of water, like a water slide made of rocks and emptying into churning whitewater, that take you away from the dangerous part of the rapid-we all jumped into that for practice as well). I didn’t want to let go of anything! But I did because they were yelling at me, and grabbed the other rope. The guide pulled me to the flume and away I went through the chute and saw my husband once i came up from under that water. He had my duckie and paddle which already floated down the rapid. From then on I was terrified and just got progressively worse. Fear is not something that helps you paddle through whitewater. Finally, the last rapid was more my speed – I forget what it was called, but it was actually fun, so I am sure it was a Class 1 or something. When we reached terra firma, I was relieved, especially since on the bus ride back, the guides told us someone actually died in the Iron Ring rapid the previous year.

The next day, we did Mountain Biking. I mistakenly thought it would be along a gravel path, with a few rolling hills. Oops, I forgot that my husband planned this vacation. We went up big hills, down steep hills filled with rocks and roots. We pedaled through mud and along paths that were about 3 feet wide with a huge gorge on one side. To make matters worse there was a huge thunderstorm that just stopped right before the ride. This was not the leisurely ride through abandoned towns that my husband promised me. Nonetheless, I biked that 19 miles through rocky terrain and although I was basically biking alone because my husband and the guide were so far ahead of me, after each mile, I gained more confidence in myself and my bike with its big fat tires.

The next day in hell consisted of rappelling off a 180 foot cliff called Ram’s Head. I remember looking up at it from the New River while rafting and also across at it when we were mountain biking. Rappelling off the cliff was so terrifying that I was in tears. Our guide, Josh, was so patient and encouraging and helped me go over the edge inch by inch. I am so scared of heights, that even going over a high bridge gives me the heebie jeebies in my legs. I can’t believe that I hung over the edge and went down, not once but I had to do it twice so I could get a picture of myself going down. After we went mountain climbing and my husband was a downright spider man scrambling up the cliffs. I was a slug and only made it part way, but I was Ok with that.

The last day was supposed to be relaxing. A nice horse back ride. I have never been on a horse and I had to stand on a picnic table to get on it becuase George was so big. We went over the rolling mountainous terrain and I marveled at how close the horses got to the edge of the gorge and yet they didn’t slip off the trail (Thank GOD!). They navigated over rock flides and huge logs over the road. By the middle of the 13 mile ride, I was more relaxed and actually enjoyed myself. The horses just walked, so my husband was not thrilled with the ride, but this day was about me!

This blog though was about running not my terrifying vacation. The two are analogous though. I did tings this week, which totally stretched me beyond my limits and yet I did them with a lot of people’s support and patience. All the guides at Ace were wonderful! I know i can run this marathin with the support of my friends and family who want to see me succeed at something else that seems impossible right now.

Running at Ace was awful. I ran 2 3 mile runs and one 5 mile run during this week. I was grateful for my Garmin 405, which told me that the first hill I had to climb was 0.6 miles long and when I inputted the data the elevation I ran ( if you want to call it that) was about 200 plus feet. By the time I reached the top I was exhausted. I ran it 3 times and each time my time was slower! Only the top was flat and during my five mile run (which I ran after the 19 mile mountain bike ride) I took advantage of it and zigzagged around campsites so I can get rid of 1.5 miles on flat terrain. After the mountain camp sites, I ran past the stables, and around the property going up and down and up and down and up and down (there is no flat in West Virginia). I loved looking at my Garmin to see how many miles I had left; I did not like seeing how slow I was going. My pace ranged from 9:30 to 18 minute miles. No Kidding! After each run I was exhausted, and although my average pace was about 11 minutes, I finished. And this week, just finishing was good enough for me.

8 miles with the Garmin Forerunner 405 – Silvia August 2, 2008

When I got home from Columbus I was greeted with a present from my loving husband.  It was a Garmin Forerunner 405.  What is that, you ask?  Well, its a GPS-enabled sports watch with wireless sync.  At first, I thought it would show me little maps where I could run and avoid nasty stuff like hills, but it’s not like that.  You can go for a run and then it can take you back home using a compass like feature.  I didn’t use that feature.  I don’t even know how to use that feature yet.  I just used the Training mode to show how far I ran and what pace.  It was like running with my treadmill!  I could see how far I still have to go and the time.

This run I took Barclay, my border collie.  I am happy to report that when I untangled him from the leash at around mile 5, he did’t stand there to wait, he actually lied down!  I was gleefully delighted.  Tired, are we, little doggie?  At mile 6.77 I was dying.  I wanted it to be over already.  I looked at my pace and it said 14:48 minute miles. No kidding!  I was practically walking!  What is more shocking I felt I was running!  At mile 7.9 0 sprinted the last bit and I only reached a 9:34 min/mile pace.  I did the 8 miles in 1 hour and 24 minutes, which is about a 11/mile pace.  I am not upset.  That’s why I am training for this marathon.  I realize that it is hard work and it may not look pretty but I can do it!

Right now I am going to download the software for the Garmin.  A new tech toy!  I’m in heaven!

The Why’s… July 25, 2008

Two days ago while driving back from the gym, I told Nick that I felt so far from our goal and that at this point it seemed like I was reaching for the impossible. He then looked at me and asked me why I am doing this training. I told him a few reasons, and he suggested that I write them down and at moments of feeling discouraged, go back and read them. Well what better place to do it then here on our blog. He told me a few of his friends wrote a page about why they were enrolling in medical school so in moments of uncertainty they could remind them self of why…

I realized in that moment I had not taken enough time to think about the whys…aside from the obvious love I have for food. So I am writing my why, and will use this as motivation for myself. I am running this marathon to satisfy a personal goal. In a sense I want to learn how to train my mind, because I think having power over your mind is a powerful tool to use in all aspects of life. I have always struggled with the fact that many times in my life I have given up on things when they got too hard; but now I am ready to push myself in a way I don’t think I ever have. I am running this marathon to feel good physically and mentally; starting the day with a run, for me, is the most fulfilling. I am happier when I run and stay active. I am running this marathon for the reaction I get from others and the fact that I have always wanted to say I ran a marathon. If a 65 year old man can run one a year after a heart attack, a 24 year old can push her body to the same level. I running this because I am a goal setter and I cannot wait for the satisfaction I will feel of fulfilling and reaching a goal of mine. I am running this for all the cliches I have written about…this is for me…this is something I can call my own, and that I am finishing by myself, even though I running this with two awesome people. I am running this marathon for Meghan and Silvia, because if I somehow keep you all going the way you keep me going, I can’t back down…

So thank you for anyone who reads this, because seeing that someone else cares about this marathon makes it easier to push through the hard days.

6 miles-Kirsten July 22, 2008

Yesterday I woke up so excited to go to the gym. It has been over a year since I belonged to one. So Nick and I woke up around 9:00 and I had my mind set on 6 miles on the tredmill. I felt I failed on Sunday; walked 3, ran 3. So I needed to prove to myself I could do it. After running the 5 miler race I thought 6 might not be TOO bad, but it was hard second attempt around. I did it; I stopped running for a minute to get a drink (I can’t run and drink, I will look like a fool!) and otherwise totaled 6.1 miles. However, it was hard!!! The whole time I wanted to just stop and at least get on a different machine. I looked around, and not only was I the only one running, everyone who started on the tredmill when I did had long cleared out. It got me to thinking…am I crazy? Is there a reason why I am the only one running, sweating, being tortured? Well, the after feeling of running 6 miles was great. I felt good and strong, and can honestly say you forget the pain. You forget feeling heavy, you forget the desire to stop, you forget the dripping sweat and red face. While running I told myself, just one foot in front of the other…

So I feel I sort of redeemed myself but doing 6 miles on Monday. Today is my rest day, and while I am tempted to go the gym, I think I might actually just take the day off and rest. Maybe I will go in the evening…right now I am just so content staying in my PJS and eating a bowl of icecream…ok I will hold off on the icecream until a more decent hour. This training is going to be HARD…I mean I realize that just because I ran 5 miles two weeks ago with ease (ok, not ease, but it wasn’t torture) doesn’t mean my 6 mile run will be any easier. I wonder if in three weeks 6 miles might feel easy? Nick has started running a mile a day; and he says he has no idea how I run 6, let alone 26. Which I of course added in that it is 26.2, can’t forget that .2 PEOPLE!!!! I really think the last 6 are just going to kill us in the race. What if I hit the wall before the 20 mile mark like they say? So many things I won’t know until I get to that day, in that moment. And while everything will be spinning around me, I will remember one foot in front of the other…it’s the only way! I miss you guys…I wish we were training closer, but we are going to do this!!!