I RAN DC - Nike Women's DC Half 2013

found my name on the wall...I'm an actual Runner!

What a great race! After running the San Francisco Half (my first half ever) last fall with Team in Training, I knew this would be a great event.  I HAD to run the inaugural race in my hometown.

My training was not what I wanted it to be. At the start of the training cycle (late January),  I had some dizziness during a gym workout. I went to the doctor the next day for a medication adjustment, and he got real worried. He put me on "only yoga" for exercise for two weeks until I had a stress test.  Eventually he cleared me to go train, but by then my pace had dropped to 17-minute miles. The cutoff for the race was 15-minute miles. A month ago, I did not know if I'd be able to finish the race before the finish line closed. But I decided to start the race and then run until someone invited me to leave the course. Here's a picture of our last long run with the PRR Training Programs group:

photo credit: Deborah Brooks

Spoiler alert - I FINISHED THE RACE.

  In fact I finished with over 1,000 people behind me! There were a few things I did right before the race this time... I hydrated well, I rested properly, and I paid attention to my eating. In SF I had too many things that were left up to Team in Training - such as the fabulous inspiration dinner - but it was on their schedule, not mine. I loved the complete control of not traveling and eating my own food. And Hubby cooking for me. Hubby and I decided to drive to the race. We know the city and he could drop me at the start and then go park. It eliminated the need for bag check. Frank then followed me around the course on his bike. So he took fabulous photos. In the Last Wave -- the 14++ corral where I was assigned -- didn't feel crowded to me at all. I felt much more crowded when I ran Cherry Blossom in 2010. So I was pretty happy back there. I was one of the few without a purple TNT shirt on...and I was glad to see them all. But felt a little out of place with my green race bib and blue Tshirt marking me as "just a runner" and not part of TNT. But I did find the pace runner - a great lady named Stephanie - who would run a pace to finish in the goal of 3:20. "If you finish in front of me you are guaranteed to finish." That's all I needed to hear. I was going to keep her in my sights. As the race started, I mentally recounted my race strategy: 2 minute run, 90 second walk. Repeat. Stay in control first 3 miles. And I crossed the start line and headed to the 9th Street tunnel. The road was downhill and there were two drum lines inside the tunnel. I couldn't slow down if I tried. I passed the 3:10 pace runner and found myself near the 3:00 pace runner. Uh-oh. SLOW DOWN. Nope. couldn't do it. I know why the military used to have drummers march with the soldiers - to keep them going. Nike figured this out. Loved all the drumlines, Nike! As we approached mile 3, we crossed Memorial Bridge and straight ahead was Lee Mansion, and Arlington National Cemetery. To the left was the Air Force Memorial. I was within sight of those monuments just 20 days ago when we attended the burial of a dear friend, Mark Scott. I had to stop and snap a photo for Kimberly. Then it was back to the business at hand - getting that necklace. At the other end of the bridge was my first hubby-sighting. He was snapping away on his cell phone. Here's a shot across Memorial Bridge with Lee Mansion in the background.

 

 

As we progressed to mile 4, we ran into another awesome drumline - an all female group with awesome rhythm.  I was still on my run-walk cycle, but feeling a little tired.  I remembered to eat my clif blox at mile 3 - and kept drinking water and everything else they offered me.  We headed toward Hains Point, past the Green Machine

and I was still running... next came Howard University's Pep Band around mile 7, and they were great!  Now we  were into the more quiet, breezy Hain's Point.  It's great because its SO FLAT  down there.  I was happy with my run, but was starting to get really tired.   I knew I was ahead of my schedule - I hit the sign that said "if you arrive here after 9 AM you may take the bus back" at 8:45.  So I decided I had the luxury of a potty stop.  And even if it wasn't a luxury, I am a 47 year old woman with a tiny bladder.  I can't go 3 hours without a potty stop!

After the potty stop, I looked ahead of me and saw the pace-lady Stephanie!  Oh no!  I sprinted to get in front of her... and that probably was a mistake. More shot blox at mile 9, but I began to have calf-cramps.  So I slowed down, tried the Chip Hulbert method of stretch-walking, and kept going.  I was also watching my heartrate not go down during my walk breaks, another sign that I was maximizing my endurance.  I did what I could to keep going, and watched the pace lady pass me a few times.  I'd try to catch up, get a cramp and have to slow down.  I decided about mile 11 to just walk it out. I took my final set of shot blox and drank some water as I watched the pace lady get farther ahead of me... sigh.   Hubby showed up again with the camera..

 

At this point I was walking and my pace looked like 14:30.  I knew I could finish just with a walk. So I race-walked the last two miles, and was thrilled when another runner called out at mile twelve that we had 40 minutes to get through the next mile.  I can do this in 15 minutes, I thought.  I won't be pulled off the course! So here's the last shot of me trying to run at the finish:

 

 

I got across the finish line with a major calf cramp in my right calf.  The medic was right there ready to help me.  He got me to the back of a chair to stretch the calf out and was watching me.  After a minute I realized that I still had to get that necklace!  So I was off.  Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of getting the necklace. :(  But I put it on as soon as I could:

 

 

 

And then it was time to refuel with all the carbs we could find at Pi.  This is one of the few times you'll ever see me with a beer at 11 AM on Sunday morning!  But it was so good. 

 

 

 

All in all, an excellent race.  I PR'd by 35 minutes over San Francisco, and more importantly, I finished the race.  Six weeks ago I wasn't sure I could do it, and had talks with several people about whether or not to even try.  But once again, I learned what I can do if only I will try.  I do want to thank Joe O'Gorman at the Reston Y for training us old runners who are more interested in coffee than running and Wendi and Maura at Potomac River Running for running so slow on Saturdays with our training group.  And a shout-out to Wendi who came in second overall in the race! 

 

 

So that's the view from the back of the pack.  A final time of 3:26.08, placing 13,891.  That means I finished ahead of 1,109 runners (who may or may not have actually finished themselves.)  Who knew!  Next race: Brambleton 10K on Memorial Day.  I own last place in that race...maybe I can get to "not last" this year!





 



My next adventure in the Last Wave

This morning I kicked off my next running adventure. I have signed up to run a half-marathon with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It seems like I never really succeeded at the 10-mile mark, but I am moving on to a half-marathon. Kind of crazy. But not as crazy as living with a blood cancer. Cancer treatment is a long, tough slog. Kinda like a half-marathon. Won't you join me in supporting Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?

Fixing my Heart Rate Monitor

Sometimes technology can really help you. Sometimes it can be really really annoying. That's what I've found with my Garmin Forerunner 210. I love love love the watch, except for the heart rate monitor. And I must admit, I am on my second strap in less than a year. Apparently you have to take care of these things!

This morning I found an excellent link on troubleshooting the heart rate monitor, so I am posting here.



Hopefully I will be able to get readings less than 200 bpm today! I did update the software on my watch this morning, and I have been diligent about rinsing my strap after every use. Not so diligent about washing it with dish soap...

Hot Mess 15K

No, I did not get caught in the traffic.  I had a brilliant plan to avoid that.  But I did not have a plan to avoid the myriad issues created by race management. 

Let me back up just a moment and admit my responsibility.  I registered last summer for the "DC Hot Chocolate 15K" without reading the fine print that this race was actually in Prince George's County, MD.  PG County and I go way back - as in, I grew up there.  I never could run there (a topic for another blog). I thought I'd be running... um, in DC. Silly me.

I registered for this race as a sort of "consolation prize" for my inability to train the way I wanted for the Army 10-miler.  That was before I injured my foot in September and had to scratch the ATM, so this would be my only big race of the fall/winter.  Not quite a 10-miler, but close enough.

Our brilliant plan to avoid traffic involved my brother and his new (to him) houseboat.  He's docked at Belle Haven, literally across the river from National Harbor.  Two months ago, when I got the threatening email about parking at the Harbor, I asked my brother about the possibility of taking the boat across.  I bought a pass just in case, and ended up giving it to my neighbor.  So I could have predicted the mess that developed on the Wilson Bridge Saturday morning. 

Unfortunately, our brilliant plan did not anticipate that the race management would delay the start for the traffic. As we walked up the hill for the 15K and tried to make sense of the corral system (only my sister was in a "corral" the rest of us were "O" for "open") we realized the 5K hadn't started. So we froze for an hour and 15 minutes. If you know me, you know I am a "start on time, end on time" kinda gal, so a late start is inexcusable. (OK, I'll give a few minutes for unforeseen circumstances, but an hour and a quarter is ridiculous).

Once the race got underway, I tried to let the fast people go first. In fact, I sent my sister, brother-in-law and friend on out. I waited and then started running. I did okay, but was suprised by how many elbows I hit as people passed me, and I passed people. I stopped at the first set of portapotties on the highway (only 5, really????) and did my business, and thought about the hundreds of portapotties behind the fence at the finish festival. I ended up walking more of the highway than I wanted, but there were BIG dump trucks ten feet away!

20,000 people through this tunnel? Really????

As I ran down the hill back into National Harbor, I was looking forward to the last 5K. Sadly, I was in the Last Wave, and the early and mid-pack finishers were sauntering across the course to get back to their cars. Apparently that's what delayed the 5K start (besides the parking). Then I had to run up hill at the Harbor. And at mile 7.2, right on schedule my right calf began to cramp. I hadn't run more than 7 miles all fall, due to my foot injury, and so it was to be anticipated. But I wonder if I had been able to run right away after warming up, would I have cramped up? Then my left foot began "talking" to me and I decided to walk the rest of the way. Why risk another injury on this course? I finally crossed the finish line, not the greatest time (a 14:11 pace, though, and I wasn't sure I'd meet their 15-minute pace limit a month ago).

So I walked up the hill to the finish, but turned the corner and ran as fast as I could across the finish line. Then another long walk UP the hill to the fondue tent where my husband was serving chocolate to the masses.

All of this to say, personal goal: met. Family time: fabulous and enjoyable. Race experience: worst I've ever seen. Seeing how RAM Racing, an out-of-town firm, managed this race makes me thankful for groups like Potomac River Running, Pacers, and the fabulous military folks who do great races in this area! I won't be running another RAM Racing event, but I LOVED the boat ride!

BOOTED TO THE (REALLY) SLOW LANE

Just over a week ago, my nasty running habit caught up to me.  The summer wreaked havoc on my training plans for the Army 10-miler, but I was committed to making up for it in September.  I aggravated my plantar fasciitis.  My doctor put me in a walking boot for two weeks. 
And life in the boot puts you in the slow lane.  I haven't weighed this thing, but I think I have 10 extra pounds on my left leg to drag around. Fortunately I found that my Dansko clogs (almost) match the height of the boot, so I'm wearing one clog and one boot.  I am definitely in the Fashion Slow Lane this week!  With all the extra weight from the boot, and the altered gait from the boot, I am moving SLOWLY this week.

I've taken the opportunity to not exercise and I can feel the fat growing around my middle.  OK - not an opportunity, just an excuse.   Of course, extra weight also aggravates plantar fasciitis.  And extra weight slows you down.   And I miss the emotional and psychological benefits of running - I always felt better after I ran.  (Maybe that's just because the run was done!)
So as I sit in my living room looking out at a rainy Friday, I wonder, "what would I be doing if it weren't for this boot?"  I am kidding myself if I think I'd be doing more housework (the bane of my existence) or more activities.  The truth is that except for the exercise, I've kept up with most of my activities - just slower and more laboriously.  And that's why I am in the (really) slow lane this week.  It takes work.  It takes work to climb the stairs.  It takes work to walk through the grocery store or the mall. It takes work to return books to the library or even get to the phone before it stops ringing.  So the answer is ... nothing different.  I just wouldn't even think about it.

One of the blessings of the boot is just this: it forces me to slow down.  The awkwardness of the boot reminds me to rest and to heal. It brings my routine activities out of the routine and back into my consiousness.  I must think about how to do things that I used to do automatically.  And in that mindfulness, maybe there is something that needs changing. (My eating habits, for instance.)    As I look forward to the day I don't have to put the boot on, I will relish these last few days of becoming aware - once again - of my routine.