Thursday, June 4, 2009
The Half
It's official: I am a half-marathon finisher! Here's the email I sent out to family, friends and co-workers, summarizing the ordeal:
Well, I did it! Sunday May 31st was the big day and I came through it alive. I slept surprisingly well Saturday night into Sunday...I thought I'd be a bundle of nervous energy, taking forever to fall asleep and then waking up every half hour out of fear of my alarm clock not going off at the ungodly hour of 4:30am. But I was in bed by 9, passed right out and was actually chipper as I bustled around before we left Sunday morning (Josh wasn't too impressed with that, I feel obligated to point out).
All week long, the weather forecasters had been predicting gorgeous weather for race day...up until a few hours beforehand. Then it was a 30% chance of rain, which isn't so bad because the odds are in your favor that it won't happen. Well, we start driving to Timonium and we're barely five miles from the house before it starts pouring. It rained the entire way down there, which, of course, made me panic because I was dressed for a sunny, warm day, not a chilly, wet one. But as I'm standing at the start line with Josh, wondering if I should give him my fleece jacket or wear it and risk getting too warm, the rain suddenly stopped. It ended up washing all traces of humidity out of the air and the weather conditions were perfect throughout the entire race, cool with a light wind.
So the gun goes off at 7:30am and we start running through the neighborhoods surrounding the fairgrounds. Miles 1 to 4 were more challenging than I would have liked - slight uphill grades with few chances to recover. But it was still cloudy and cool from the rain, so I breezed through the first four miles with no problems. Mile 4 started a fabulous downhill stretch on a wooded road, a part of the course that should have been heavenly...but, of course, I got a stitch in my side and, rather than enjoying the scenery, I spent the next mile focusing on riding it out. I was more worried about losing momentum by stopping to walk to get rid of the stitch than I was about it feeling like a rib was stabbing into my lung, so I toughed it out. By the time I'd gotten rid of it at the 5-mile marker, the course went uphill again (noticing a trend here? Who knew there were so many hills outside of Baltimore??) and I motored right up it. They had a timer at the 6-mile mark, and I was very pleased to see that I was maintaining a ten-minute mile pace...I'd run the first six miles in almost exactly an hour. My goal was to keep that up for the rest of the race, but little did I know that those hills I'd just conquered were nothing more than bumps compared to what was ahead.
Miles 6 and 7 were downhill, but I knew that the course doubled back on itself and I'd have to run back up the way I'd just come, and that was were the trouble started. That long, relentless uphill killed me and I had to stop to walk for the first time around mile 7 1/2. My lungs could take the stress, but my legs couldn't. My hamstring (which had been twinging all throughout training) started to feel tight and I was afraid of really getting hurt if I pushed too hard. So I walked for a bit. Miles 8 and 9 sucked big time...the uphill grade got even steeper and I wasn't the only runner having issues tackling it. I got a bit of a reprieve during miles 9 and 10, but 10 was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen - the road literally went straight up. It was funny because every single runner who rounded the corner and saw what was ahead made some kind of comment about it, a groan or a curse. So for that mile, I went from being a runner to a mountain climber, and was ecstatic when I got to mile 11 and saw that it was a shady downhill...I needed a break!
Miles 11 and 12 were a blur of industrial parks and shopping centers (we actually ran through a Kohl's parking lot), but I was hanging in there. At this point, I was keeping pace with a few other people and we encouraged each other, which definitely helped. I barely registered when I entered back into the fairgrounds and only had a mile to go. The only thing going through my mind at this time was "You will NOT stop, you will NOT stop." People who had already finished the race were lining the course and cheering the rest of us on, and I didn't want to look like a tool by giving in so close to the finish line. Seeing the mile 13 marker and knowing that I only had a tenth of a mile to go was such an exhilarating feeling, even though my body was ready to give out at that point (and the pictures prove it. Josh said he could see my upper body pushing forward but my legs were struggling to keep up. So much for good running form). But the finish line eventually loomed in front of me and I crossed it in 2:26:22 (that's the chip time. My gun time was 2:26:53). Not the best - it ends up averaging an 11:11 mile - but considering how tough the course was and that it was my first half-marathon, I'll take it.
So I did it! I can't thank you all enough for your support in this endeavor, whether it was listening to me talk about my training or donating money to UMGCC. I should mention too that I did reach my fundraising goal of $500! You can still donate up until June 30th, so here's the link if anyone wants to send a late donation in my name.
I have to say too that I had quite a few moments yesterday where I wondered what the hell I'd been thinking, signing up for something like that. But as I crossed the finish line, all I could think about was my next one. I'll be running the Philly Distance Run on Sunday September 20th (and will definitely improve my half-marathon time there. That course is a LOT flatter than what I faced yesterday!), and I'm using that as a training run leading up to my first marathon, the NCR Trail Marathon on Saturday November 28th. This running thing...it really gets in your blood if you let it!
Almost at the finish line
I won't lie, I was pretty disappointed when I saw my time. I'd been hoping for 2:15:00.
Rehydrating
My first (but not last) finisher's medal
Feeling great and ready for breakfast!
Well, I did it! Sunday May 31st was the big day and I came through it alive. I slept surprisingly well Saturday night into Sunday...I thought I'd be a bundle of nervous energy, taking forever to fall asleep and then waking up every half hour out of fear of my alarm clock not going off at the ungodly hour of 4:30am. But I was in bed by 9, passed right out and was actually chipper as I bustled around before we left Sunday morning (Josh wasn't too impressed with that, I feel obligated to point out).
All week long, the weather forecasters had been predicting gorgeous weather for race day...up until a few hours beforehand. Then it was a 30% chance of rain, which isn't so bad because the odds are in your favor that it won't happen. Well, we start driving to Timonium and we're barely five miles from the house before it starts pouring. It rained the entire way down there, which, of course, made me panic because I was dressed for a sunny, warm day, not a chilly, wet one. But as I'm standing at the start line with Josh, wondering if I should give him my fleece jacket or wear it and risk getting too warm, the rain suddenly stopped. It ended up washing all traces of humidity out of the air and the weather conditions were perfect throughout the entire race, cool with a light wind.
So the gun goes off at 7:30am and we start running through the neighborhoods surrounding the fairgrounds. Miles 1 to 4 were more challenging than I would have liked - slight uphill grades with few chances to recover. But it was still cloudy and cool from the rain, so I breezed through the first four miles with no problems. Mile 4 started a fabulous downhill stretch on a wooded road, a part of the course that should have been heavenly...but, of course, I got a stitch in my side and, rather than enjoying the scenery, I spent the next mile focusing on riding it out. I was more worried about losing momentum by stopping to walk to get rid of the stitch than I was about it feeling like a rib was stabbing into my lung, so I toughed it out. By the time I'd gotten rid of it at the 5-mile marker, the course went uphill again (noticing a trend here? Who knew there were so many hills outside of Baltimore??) and I motored right up it. They had a timer at the 6-mile mark, and I was very pleased to see that I was maintaining a ten-minute mile pace...I'd run the first six miles in almost exactly an hour. My goal was to keep that up for the rest of the race, but little did I know that those hills I'd just conquered were nothing more than bumps compared to what was ahead.
Miles 6 and 7 were downhill, but I knew that the course doubled back on itself and I'd have to run back up the way I'd just come, and that was were the trouble started. That long, relentless uphill killed me and I had to stop to walk for the first time around mile 7 1/2. My lungs could take the stress, but my legs couldn't. My hamstring (which had been twinging all throughout training) started to feel tight and I was afraid of really getting hurt if I pushed too hard. So I walked for a bit. Miles 8 and 9 sucked big time...the uphill grade got even steeper and I wasn't the only runner having issues tackling it. I got a bit of a reprieve during miles 9 and 10, but 10 was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen - the road literally went straight up. It was funny because every single runner who rounded the corner and saw what was ahead made some kind of comment about it, a groan or a curse. So for that mile, I went from being a runner to a mountain climber, and was ecstatic when I got to mile 11 and saw that it was a shady downhill...I needed a break!
Miles 11 and 12 were a blur of industrial parks and shopping centers (we actually ran through a Kohl's parking lot), but I was hanging in there. At this point, I was keeping pace with a few other people and we encouraged each other, which definitely helped. I barely registered when I entered back into the fairgrounds and only had a mile to go. The only thing going through my mind at this time was "You will NOT stop, you will NOT stop." People who had already finished the race were lining the course and cheering the rest of us on, and I didn't want to look like a tool by giving in so close to the finish line. Seeing the mile 13 marker and knowing that I only had a tenth of a mile to go was such an exhilarating feeling, even though my body was ready to give out at that point (and the pictures prove it. Josh said he could see my upper body pushing forward but my legs were struggling to keep up. So much for good running form). But the finish line eventually loomed in front of me and I crossed it in 2:26:22 (that's the chip time. My gun time was 2:26:53). Not the best - it ends up averaging an 11:11 mile - but considering how tough the course was and that it was my first half-marathon, I'll take it.
So I did it! I can't thank you all enough for your support in this endeavor, whether it was listening to me talk about my training or donating money to UMGCC. I should mention too that I did reach my fundraising goal of $500! You can still donate up until June 30th, so here's the link if anyone wants to send a late donation in my name.
I have to say too that I had quite a few moments yesterday where I wondered what the hell I'd been thinking, signing up for something like that. But as I crossed the finish line, all I could think about was my next one. I'll be running the Philly Distance Run on Sunday September 20th (and will definitely improve my half-marathon time there. That course is a LOT flatter than what I faced yesterday!), and I'm using that as a training run leading up to my first marathon, the NCR Trail Marathon on Saturday November 28th. This running thing...it really gets in your blood if you let it!
Almost at the finish line
I won't lie, I was pretty disappointed when I saw my time. I'd been hoping for 2:15:00.
Rehydrating
My first (but not last) finisher's medal
Feeling great and ready for breakfast!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Women's 5K by the Bay
A view of the Bay from Tydings Park, Havre de Grace, MD
Um, NOT. Yes, not having to defend your personal space from a million other people was nice, but that Sunday fell right smack in the middle of a freak heat wave that hit the east coast. It was 70 degrees at 7am, not a cloud in the sky, and muggy. In short, not very nice running weather.
I felt great throughout the first mile and was shocked to hear that I'd run it in 8:45. I was stoked! Unfortunately though, at that point, I knew I wouldn't be able to sustain that pace...it was just too damn hot. The one and only water station was lousy because the coolers had been sitting out in the sun and the water was less than refreshing. So I figured I'd just have to suck it up and get through it.
I was pretty aggravated with myself roundabout mile 2 because the heat really started to get to me...there was no shade along that stretch and with not being hydrated well enough, I knew I'd have to take a break or risk passing out and really pissing off the cops who were directing traffic...they had more important things to worry about than catering to some cream-puff, wannabe athlete who fell ass over head in the middle of the road. So I slowed to a walk. Twice. :-( I'm still really mad at myself for not toughing it out, but I learned my lesson and won't let it happen in the next one.
Of course, the last half mile was quick because I wasn't about to let anyone see me struggle. So I turned on the afterburners, got yelled at for trying to pass someone in the finish chute and had no idea what my finish time was because a group of retards were standing in front of the clock. At this point though, I didn't even care - all I wanted to do was walk off the nearest pier straight into that nasty, brackish bay that Josh got to stare out for a half hour while I was killing myself. But when all was said and done and they got around to posting the results, I was pleased to see that I'd made it in 30:03...not as quick as I would've liked (damn those two walking breaks!), but still five minutes better than my previous best. Not too shabby for a girl who couldn't even run a mile two years ago. I can only imagine where I'll be in another two years if I keep this up...Boston, anyone? ;-)
Sorry, I know I'm a little late in posting this, but I just haven't felt much like it. On Sunday April 26th, I had my first official road race since I started training for the half-marathon. I'd never done the Women's 5K by the Bay, but it appealed to me for a few reasons: 1) it's relatively close to home and in familiar territory (Havre de Grace, Maryland, which is a cute town once you get away from Route 40); 2) I figured that with the race being held at the end of April, the temperature would be cool, if not downright chilly, and possibly rainy; 3) it's exclusive to women, which leads me to 4) it's got a really small field. There were only 350 entrants in 2008, and this year, I think about 390 participated. As exciting as it can be to run with thousands of other people, you all know that crowds aren't my thing and I avoid them whenever possible. So this was going to be my first test of my new running prowess in what I thought would be ideal conditions.
Um, NOT. Yes, not having to defend your personal space from a million other people was nice, but that Sunday fell right smack in the middle of a freak heat wave that hit the east coast. It was 70 degrees at 7am, not a cloud in the sky, and muggy. In short, not very nice running weather.
The day they come out with completely sweat- and waterproof makeup, I'm so there
The start of the race
I felt great throughout the first mile and was shocked to hear that I'd run it in 8:45. I was stoked! Unfortunately though, at that point, I knew I wouldn't be able to sustain that pace...it was just too damn hot. The one and only water station was lousy because the coolers had been sitting out in the sun and the water was less than refreshing. So I figured I'd just have to suck it up and get through it.
I was pretty aggravated with myself roundabout mile 2 because the heat really started to get to me...there was no shade along that stretch and with not being hydrated well enough, I knew I'd have to take a break or risk passing out and really pissing off the cops who were directing traffic...they had more important things to worry about than catering to some cream-puff, wannabe athlete who fell ass over head in the middle of the road. So I slowed to a walk. Twice. :-( I'm still really mad at myself for not toughing it out, but I learned my lesson and won't let it happen in the next one.
Of course, the last half mile was quick because I wasn't about to let anyone see me struggle. So I turned on the afterburners, got yelled at for trying to pass someone in the finish chute and had no idea what my finish time was because a group of retards were standing in front of the clock. At this point though, I didn't even care - all I wanted to do was walk off the nearest pier straight into that nasty, brackish bay that Josh got to stare out for a half hour while I was killing myself. But when all was said and done and they got around to posting the results, I was pleased to see that I'd made it in 30:03...not as quick as I would've liked (damn those two walking breaks!), but still five minutes better than my previous best. Not too shabby for a girl who couldn't even run a mile two years ago. I can only imagine where I'll be in another two years if I keep this up...Boston, anyone? ;-)
Friday, April 24, 2009
I want to adopt them all!
It doesn't matter how often I see this commerical, I weep like a baby every single time it comes on. The newest version is even worse, but I couldn't find it on YouTube. I wonder how many other people are tempted to send the ASPCA half their annual income after watching it?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Everything happens for a reason...
...and I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am that I married Josh. He was something unexpected that came into my life and ended up pulling me in a direction I didn't anticipate. I'd had my eye on someone else for the longest time, someone who I'd thought would be a perfect match for me, and I'll admit, as Josh and I got more serious about our relationship, that little, nagging "What if" was definitely in the back of my mind. But when I look at how my would-be paramour turned out, how he changed over the years to become an utter stranger, the relief I feel is immense, almost like a weight off my shoulders. I am so grateful that things turned out the way they did...I have a wonderful life and the best husband.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Springtime at the Martin household
Yesterday was the first gorgeous day of spring that Josh and I both had off, so we took full advantage of it. I got to use our new tractor (which, I've determined, is total overkill for the size yard we have, but I love it anyway), prune trees, till the flowerbeds, do some weeding, and take care of other miscellaneous stuff that had been waiting for a sunny day. Here are a few pics of how the garden looks this time of year.
PS...The reason why most of the flora and fauna looks young is because it is. I personally planted every single tree and shrub throughout the five years that we've been living here. I shudder to think of how barren it was when we first moved in!
My cherry tree is starting to bloom!
The new tractor. Awesome.
PS...The reason why most of the flora and fauna looks young is because it is. I personally planted every single tree and shrub throughout the five years that we've been living here. I shudder to think of how barren it was when we first moved in!
My cherry tree is starting to bloom!
The new tractor. Awesome.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Rockin' the workouts
6 miles in 57:00?? After taking an entire week off and not training consistently for over a month?? I'm so pleased with myself, you don't even understand. And if you can believe it, I'm having so much fun training for the half-marathon (yes, you read that right. It's been hard, but so fulfilling) that I'm actually seriously thinking about running a full marathon. My thought is, if not now, when? This is my opportunity to finally become the athlete I've always dreamed of being, so why not do this thing?
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