routine

training has become routine.  not in the dreadful meaning of the word though.  but in that i know what to expect.  even when going for a distance i've never run before, i know what to expect.
in a way, this bi-product of training ideally helps me *attempt* to focus on other things. the routine will simply take over.

so while today's ten mile run hovered over my head this week, i wasn't too worried.  i've achieved new distances before.  i could do this one.

well.
i did it. but routine did not take over.

i felt every step.  i remember every method of self-talk i used to get through it.
and i almost stopped. it was the closest i've ever come to stopping.

that point of no return came when i was 7 miles in.  everything was hurting.  water was almost on empty.  the detour to get water ended in padlocked bathrooms.  i thought through my options.  stop and walk for 3 plus miles? stop and call someone to pick me up?  any option i thought of became not an option.

and i kept going.

i pulled out some old motivators:
"your legs aren't quitting, your head is."

"you were strong enough to get this far, you're strong enough to keep going."

"just x more miles, you can do x miles easy."

even music wasn't working.
an ol' favorite kicked in a little over a mile and a half out: titanium.
that usually perks me up and keeps me running forever.
as soon as the familiar picked guitar intro started, i ripped my headphones out of my ears.
first time i've ever run without music and it was at a miserable part of the run.

at one mile left, a girl who was running toward me and gave me a thumbs up.  most just wave or look straight ahead.  i've had one other runner give me a thumbs up and it was the best "yes i can!" moment.  this girl gave me a thumbs up and a nod and i burst into tears.  finish this!

the last half mile was a constant push. a constant talk.
i'm not even sure what i was doing is considered a pace, but i was moving forward.

i got to the last bit and felt my gps vibrate notifying me of 10 miles.

i bent over and rested on the fence right next to that ten mile mark which now has some of my sweat and tears on it.


olentangy trail:
i have fallen deeply in love with the running trail.
today i saw more of it than i've ever seen.
and it was a beautiful day.
here are some highlights:

Ten Kays

Today's race was all about practice.

Practice for the big one in May.

I couldn't help thinking that as I laid awake at 2:30 last night.  Then again at 4.  

If my nerves for this race are only a fraction of May's half marathon, then I will not sleep or eat May 1-3.  

A lot of the nerves were about where to park.  Where to go.  Will I bring everything?  Will I bring too much?

I had a nightmare that I accidentally wore my glasses during the run and tripped and fell and broke my glasses.  ??  I think that was about my anxiety of being prepared.

The morning was a little chilly.  OK, a LOT chilly. 

I found parking. Geared up.  Walked over to COSI along with 2000 of my closest friends.  It was a silent walk.  Eerily quiet.  Felt like everyone was nervous.

And I was cold.

Oh good god.  I'm freezing.  

I'll warm up when I start running?

Luckily the museum was open and everyone huddled around the pendulum waiting for the time to tick closer to race time.

I started reading signs around the museum.  Wait, how can I read signs??  Why can I see??

My nightmare had come true.  I had my glasses on.  I forgot to put my glasses in the car!  

It was too close to start time to run back.  What am I supposed to do with my glasses???

UGH!

I checked pockets.  Too loose.  Too small. 

Oh brother.  Wear them??

I wandered away from the pendulum.

I wanted to get going.  10 minutes until start time.

"Hey, Joyce."

"DAVE!!!!  YOU'RE HERE!!!!"

I ran into a friend I didn't think would be there.

In the middle of 2000 people, we ran into each other.

"DAVEIHAVEMYGLASSESIDON'TKNOWWHATTODOSHOULDIWEARTHEM??!!!"

As always, his calm voice offered solace.  

"I'll just put them in my bag."

Oh.  Right.  OK.

Seeing Dave really helped me calm down. 

He reminded me this is all about practice for the big race. 

Everyone started inching toward the doors.  It was time to line up.

The flags outside were really blowing hard.  

The inflatable arch signaled the start and finish line.

House of Pain blared on the speakers.  "Jump around!  Jump around!"

It was time to start.

Dave and I parted. "Good luck!"  He would finish about a half hour ahead of me.

I found a pace marker that sounded about right.  I'll stand here.

The countdown began.

House of Pain was still yelling.

All my gear was queued up. iPod? check.  gps? check.

Jump Around!!!  Jump up, jump up, and get down!!!

3-2-1! 

The horn sounded.

Everyone surged toward the inflatable arch.  

Then we stopped.  Then we surged.  Then everyone slowly walked.

I had that feeling when I go up the hill on the roller coaster. 

I know exactly what's on the other side of that inflatable arch.  And it was coming slowly.

Then we were off.  

My legs felt fresh.  

No soreness. 

I looked at my gps at about 1/2 mile.  I was running WAY too fast.  I knew this was going to happen.

Slow.  Down.

I want to be able to finish the race!  Not be zonked and have to crawl.  

Slow.  DOWN!

At about a mile and half, there was a traffic jam.

What IS this!?!?  

It was the first water station.  I looked at my gps and noted where we were.  I was going to run this 5k loop twice and didn't need water now, but I knew it would be exactly where I'd need it second time around.  

First loop:

There were some HILLS!

some were short and steep.  some were long and steep.  some were long and not so steep.  

But there were some HILLS!

Yeah, that reminds me - I'm gonna need to train on some hills soon.

The route would have been beautiful if it was a little later in the year.  

We ran along the streets and trails that lined the river.  

Without the blooms of the trees, it was a bit desolate.  

The route winded enough that sometimes I could see people way way ahead of me and at the same time, I could see people way way behind me.  

At one point, I looked at the trail behind and only saw about 11 people.

So, you're telling me, I'm in place #1,989???

Just keep running.  Keep your pace.

Repeat.

As the first loop finished, the flags and the arch were once again in sight.  The techno music pumped through the speakers as the announcer repeated - keep going, doing great, stay to the right.

Second loop:

Pretty sure there are some hills coming.  

All I kept my mind on was that water station I saw way back when.

It was almost time to take my GU.

The water station was in sight.  I eyed my guy.  

I took the cup.

THANK YOU!!!

I may have yelled too loud. (headphones were in)

This water is blue.

Oh, god, this water is Gatorade.

I drink plenty on my training runs.  

Out of water bottles.  

This was a dixie cup.

With blue Gatorade.

I tried to sip. 

Blue Gatorade splashed all over my face and sweatshirt.

I tried again.

Too much went in my mouth and I choked and I almost threw up.  

OK, I quit the blue Gatorade.

Now my countdown to myself began.

2 miles left.  You can do two miles.  

Two miles is easy.

You can do 2 miles.

A steep, long hill.  OK. Got this.

People stopped to walk it.  

I refuse to stop.

I plowed up that hill. 

I will not walk.  I will not stop.

Forward.

Go.

Ugh.

My self talk is just syllables now.

Almost to the top and I realize I'm getting lapped by the faster runners doing the 15k.

Little dude SHOOTS to the top of the hill I felt like all my achievement in conquering this hill was just smacked down.
I look at the girl next to me.

"Holy Crap!"

We laugh and finish the hill together.

I can hear the music and the speaker guy again.  Half a mile.  

Got this!!!

Half a MILE!!!

The flags and inflatable arch are in view again.

This time, I don't take my eyes off the arch.

FINISH!!!!

And now I'm the proud owner of one of these.

Never had one of these before!!!

One more practice race (15k) in two weeks.  

And then....the big one in 40 days on May 4th.

limits.

Go Beyond Your LIMIT was a phrase/mantra i threw around when i first started training.

mostly cuz of this commercial:





yeah, yeah, i went beyond my limits when i got off the couch and started running. 
yeah, yeah, i signed up for a half marathon without a reasonable amount of experience.
yeah, yeah, i ran 5 miles - further than i'd ever run before.

but this phrase has kicked into high gear with me this week.

the mileage is increasing.  the workouts are getting longer.

and my body hurts. 

my legs ache....all the time. different parts of my legs hurt nearly every day.

it's wearing on me.

it's exciting to get those large miles in.  but it's not fun to come home from those runs and hardly be able to walk my dog for a few days or do much more than put my feet up and nap with a quilt.

but this week, it dawned on me.....

 

aches and pains are a limit.

exhaustion is a limit.

doubt is a limit.

there will always be new limits.
the key is:

find your limits. then exceed them.

gu.

for those of you who don't know what gu is, i googled it for you:: GU is an energy gel designed to be quickly and easily digestible so it can be eaten during endurance events, especially long distance running and cycling.

i'm getting up there in mileage, so before i collapse on the olentangy trail, i need some nutrition to make sure i can make it home.  last week, i tried the Clif Shot Bloks.

while they were indeed tasty, i found them cumbersome, quite a big bite, and a lot of effort afterward to clean them out of my teeth. (also found out AFTER the run, that for maximum effect i should have taken THREE! at a time - too much).

since gu will be the supplement offered at the cap city half, it was suggested i give gu a try during training.

after hearing horror stories about the texture, horrible taste, gagging, and the flavors, i was a bit terrified of taking a gu at the 45 minute mark.

i went with the vanilla bean flavor.  it was recommended and contained caffeine!

at the 45 minute mark, i bit off that top, and gulped it down like a champ in 3 swigs.

while it wasn't the worst thing i've ever tasted, it wasn't necessarily pleasant.

luckily, i was on an unoccupied stretch of the trail and was able to let off a loud, "eeugh..."

took another swig and let out another, "UUUGHHHH..."



chased it with some water.

whoa.

the texture combined with the vanilla bean flavor made it seem like slightly melted cookie dough.

not the refreshing uplift i'm looking for around mile 4.

next week will be strawberry banana.

maybe it'll be like a milk shake.



seven.

today's post is a copy of an email i sent to my friend detailing the 7 mile run i totally crushed today.

"hi amynoie. i did it.
i started out TOTALLY not feeling it.  couldn't get my legs working right.  it's weird, every week it's a different nuisance.  the last couple weeks were my calves.  this week it's my hip joints.
stupid.
the whole first couple of miles i just kept thinking, holy hell, i'm not gonna make it this time.  but it was the - ok, to that tree, ok past that trash can, etc.
then all of the sudden i was at 3.5 and it was time to turn around.
i love the turn around.  love it.
from 4.5 miles and on, i was smiling.  it was the realization - i'm gonna run 7 miles!  i'm gonna do it!!!
i did a gu at 45 minutes.  and maybe that's why i love the run back.
this time i had so much stuff - gu, water bottle, phone, ipod, gloves, hat, etc. i felt like i forgot how to hold my arms.  my shoulders hurt right now.  that's the first time in a long time they've hurt.
also, good gravy, i'm slow.  like SO slow.  the last half mile was misery.  maybe i could have taken another gu? but it was just at the next 45 minute mark and i felt like that was a waste.  but i felt like slow motion..
it's all a learning process i guess.
i'm super excited i did it.
that's a huge number.
but what the heck, they're ALL huge numbers now.
my favorite was when i looked at my gps and i was at 4 miles. my thought was - oh i'm only at 4. ONLY at 4.  😊
no big deal."

dodridge.

running the Olentangy Trail tomorrow.

click the link to follow along from just above the top of the page and following the red line down just past Dodridge St and back home.

7 miles.
do it do it!