Second Helpings

“What’s next” is the question everyone is asking, and the question I ask the day after every race.  I’m prone to the post race blues and have found the best thing to combat it is plan my next race. 

Now that I’ve sampled them all from the 5k up to the full marathon, what next indeed?  Some folks once they’ve reached the full marathon distance stick with that and try to improve their times; maybe to qualify for Boston.  In order for me to qualify for Boston, I’d have to shave off more than 2 ½ hrs; so that’s not going to happen.

I found that when starting my running journey years ago and reached a 5k distance, after a while you think about going further and increasing the distance to a 10k.  And once you do the 10k, you look to the ½ marathon distance.  A lot of folks stick at the ½ marathon distance as there are loads of races for the ½ and it becomes fairly easy to train up for the distance and the recovery is quick.  Plus it’s an exponential jump up to the full marathon distance which scares most runners away.  But after a while you start thinking “just maybe…”  Luckily we have a handy 30k race nearby and that’s just 9k more than the ½.  After completing the 30k you get to thinking “well that’s was tough, but I survived, and it’s only another 12k to a full marathon.”  So let’s go for it!

I said prior to even contemplating the 30k distance that instead I wanted to work on getting faster at the 10k and ½ marathon distance and only then I might do the 30k and full.  However, that idea got snuffed as the 30k and full came into view and I felt the drive to go the distance. 

But now that I’ve successfully completed the full distance, I feel an almost calming sense of relief, like a weight has been lifted.  I have nothing more to prove to myself.  Now I feel I can go back for second helpings.  I’ve eaten everything on my plate and now I can have more of the yummy thing that I like the most.

For me, the most delicious thing is speed instead of distance.  I want to run to a faster 10k. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m really glad we did the full marathon distance; and this won’t be my last full marathon, I just don’t feel it calling to me as other folks do.  I found that in order to go longer distances I had to slow my pace considerably which seemed very unnatural for me.  And running those long tedious distances I didn’t find that exciting.  Sure it’s really neat to look back on a 20+k run and say “wow, look how far I ran.” But I didn’t find it nearly as thrilling as just plan running fast.  Maybe because I’m more built for speed, but I find it loads more exhilarating to run a fast 10k.  Running 20+k only leaves me exhausted, whereas I get a much bigger endorphin rush going shorter and faster.   

Plus you can recover from a 10k much quicker, it takes way less time to complete, you can get away from having to carry water, food, etc. on your run.  It has more of an appealing “just throw on some shoes and head out the door” kind of feel to it.  And training for a 10k doesn’t totally consume your whole weekend like marathon training does.  So I look forward t running less, but faster and not feeling totally whipped for the entire weekend.  But then again, I’ll have no excuse why stuff is not getting done on the weekends.

Marathon day

Race day started out at 5:30 am with Nancy being stressed.  Not stressed about the race at all, but stressed about us getting to the bus on time, stressed about getting to the starting area on time for the group stretch.  We get to the bus pickup and off we go but the driver ends up doing a loop right back to where we started out.  Folks on the bus are now a little concerned about whether the driver knows the route to the starting line.  So now the driver finds the way to the highway, but wait, we’re headed Toronto bound on the QEW.  Wha??  Ok, now everyone on the bus is getting quite concerned, as we’re headed in the opposite direction of the starting line.  We finally get turned around and headed in the right direction for the Peace Bridge.  Nancy is trying hard to contain herself as the biggest thing that drives her nuts the most is “being late” for something (anything in fact).  Finally we arrive at the starting area but we’re still sitting on the bus waiting to get off.  We can see our running group right next to the bus but they won't let us off yet.  The bus ends up driving to the other side of the starting area and we have to make our way back to our running group.  Oh, I almost forgot to mention, the whole bus ride I had a spring from the seat sticking in my crotch, just for some added fun along the way, plus the seats are made for kids so I’m crammed in the wee space with my legs bent in half almost. 

We get to the rest of our group, complain about the bus ride and start the warm up and stretch routine, drop off our bags on the bus and peel off extra warm clothes and await the start.  We plant ourselves towards the back so we don’t get caught up in the vortex of runners tearing off like jackrabbits at the start.  Nancy and I hug for a quite prayer and Christina takes some pics with her phone.  The race starts and we do a loop out and back and meet up with the Runner’s Edge cheering squad and off we go through the streets of Buffalo.  Local residents cheer us on as we run past which is loads of fun.  We meet up with Benny again about 1km from the peace bridge for some high 5s.  Running across the peace bridge was definitely the most fun part of the race as it’s a nice warm 15C with clear skies and the view is great.  Yay, back into Canada for a loop around Port Colborne with a nice cool breeze in our faces as the sun is getting quite warm.  Now we’re headed onto the Niagara Parkway for the long stretch to the finish line and the wind at our backs.  Wow, it’s getting sun is really heating things up.  We plod away and hey there’s more folks from the Runner’s Edge group cheering us on.  Coach Benny cheers from the bushes as he’s taking a leak – HA! 

Next up we cross the ½ way mark and continue to plod away making good time.  Woo, only 21.1k left.  Good Lord.  We meet up the Christina’s husband Joe as she picks up some bars, gels and body glide and tries to lube up those hard to reach areas.

Now we meet up with Jim, Janice and their son Josh along with way cheering loudly as they wish us a happy anniversary and we run by for some high 5s.  Awesome, Jim and his family are always out there being so supportive of all the runners.

At the next porta potty station we catch up to a fellow runner from our group who is struggling with sore, tight legs.  So we pick up Christina Dsalon and she joins our merry group headed towards the finish. 

The folks at the mile 15 water station are already packing up and ready to leave, but there is water and sports drink on the tables, it’s help yourself kinda style.  We’re all really not impressed as there are many more runners behind us still. 

Next we meet up with my friend Ruth from high school as she is one of the road marshals for the race.  A big hug and I introduce her to Nancy and we chat with Benny along the route once again.

We run along some more and in the distance we see Christina’s mom waving furiously and Christina starts to get emotional.  Nancy tries to remind her that you can’t run and cry because you need to breathe right now.  Her mom is a lifesaver as she has water for us.  She takes a bunch of pictures, fills us up with water and shower of praise and away we go.  She saved us a few times with water throughout the race.

Seeing as it was so warm and I don’t want to cramp up, I’ve been taking a salt packet at every 7k along with a gel, dates or a bar – I did this in the hot summer months and it worked well.  Except by about the 28k mark I’m now sooo thirsty that I can’t get enough water.  This makes things difficult as too much water in the stomach and it all sloshes around causing great discomfort, but my mouth is so dry, I can’t last more than about 2 minutes before I need a drink.  After the 30k mark things get really hard.  We’re doing the walk/run thing and everyone is starting to ache in various spots.  My calves, quads are ok, I’m just getting overall exhausted.  We pass a runner curled up in the fetal position lying in the grass.  Hmm…that looks like a great idea, just rest a while.  Onward we go into Chippewa and meet up with more Runner’s Edge folks cheering us on and more high 5s as we cross the bridge.  3k to go and we can see the mist from the Falls where the finish line is.  We get near the top of the last big hill and come across Nancy and her hubby Kim on bikes who follow us in.  Heading down the long hill and Geoff our chiropractor runs up to meet us.  Awesome, as we’re all ready to drop.  He’s great and keeps us all running with encouragement and telling us the finish line is just around the corner.  We near the line and see family and friends wildly cheering us on.  I run up to Nancy and grab her hand and with big smiles we cross the line triumphantly with arms raised.  We collapse on each other sobbing as emotions boil over.  We made it!  Friends and family come with hugs and I hug many people I didn’t even know.  Oh well, it’s all good.  We pose for numerous pictures and Christina hands us some custom made t-shirts she had done for the occasion.  Sweet! 

Nancy didn’t even notice but her mom is here, as my sister Sandra arranged the surprise.  Nancy practically runs up the race course again to find her mom, which really makes her day having her mom at the race. 

Sandra drives us to our parked car and off we go the YMCA for the best hot shower ever.  Next we all convene at Napoli’s Ristorante for the best dinner and drinks with the rest of the Runner’s Edge gang as a kind of end of race season bash.  Many thanks to Anthony, a fellow runner in our group, who has graciously opened up his restaurant and fed us all for almost nothing.  The food is sooo good, we vow to come back again and again.  More hugs and congrats from everyone as we stuff our faces with the best tasting food.

Back home for an ice bath til my legs are numb and fall asleep on the couch; so tired.   

It’s now the day after the race and I’m pretty sore all over as expected.  And as the post race blues start up all I can think of is “when can I go for my next run?”  Oddly, I miss it already.

Marathoning is risky business

Last Sunday during the Scotiabank ½ marathon a 27 yr old guy collapsed and died about 200m from the finish line.  My sincerest condolences to his family.  We were there and saw the ambulance.  Turns out a gal at work; it was her husband’s second cousin.  He had run many races in the past and was in good shape.  Now that’s an extreme case of this risk, that the media and general population will gladly raise the issue that marathoning is really bad for you and nobody should run at all.  But this guy could have died shovelling show (which accounts for about 12 000 American deaths every year) or watching TV or inadvertently walking in front of a bus. 

I also had a friend entered in the full marathon on Sunday who had to pull out at the half way mark due to an injury.  And there are a few other friends that never made it to the start line due to injuries that derailed their training leading up to the race. 

There are no guarantees in life.  And I’ve always been told in training for rowing and other races that “anything can happen on race day.”  The favourites to win an event might have a bad race and lose, or the underdog might have the perfect race of their lives and win the race (I personally love when this happens).    

 

So why do we risk it all?  All the training, the dreams, the emotions, the effort, all the time, the commitment.  It could all be for naught. 

We do it for the glory of crossing the finish line.  For the accomplishment.  For the sense of victory.

Sure it’d be safer to just stay at home, tucked away in our safe environments, but what fun is that?  What kind of boring life is that?

I used to be that person.  Just bidding my time until ________ and only then would I be happy and start to live my life and enjoy it.  Until then, I wait and find useless activities to kill the time.  What a waste.

I see many people follow this trend.  “Only when I get my dream job, will I be happy.  Only when I get married I will be happy.  Only when I lose the weight and am skinny…only when I get my dream house… “

Well I got news for you folks.  You’ll be waiting a lonnng time.  And most times, that dream job, house, spouse, etc just never comes along.  How long are you going to wait for nothing to happen?  And often, if the dream job, spouse, house does happen, you’re so used to not being happy that you’re stuck inside your shell, and you’re still not satisfied.

“Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”  I love this quote.  To me this also speaks that “It’s about the journey, not the destination.”  Why not enjoy the journey?  If you’re always just looking forward to only the destination or finish line, it’ll be over and you’ll be back in a slump. 

I really appreciate my friend Michelle’s greenkoolaid blog about “Take a Risk, Take a Chance, Make a Change!”  It takes a boat-load of courage to come out of your shell and take a risk, but it can be oh so worth it.  Sure it’s much easier to just become part of the background white noise and maintain the status quo; but do you really want to be known as an unknown?  Do you want to look back on your life and think “that was a nice, safe time.  Nobody got hurt.”  True enough, but what did you accomplish?   

I’m often reminded of one of my fav all time quotes “Beware the turtle that makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.”  This speaks volumes to me.  Ever watch a turtle?  They only move when they stick their neck out of their shell.  Only when you risk, do you make real progress.  Stay inside your shell Mr. Turtle, and you’ll go nowhere.  You may even get run over!

On Oct 23rd, I’m ready to stick my neck out and risk it all.  I look forward to taking my time and enjoying the entire marathon experience, from start to finish; not just focusing on crossing the finish line.  

So, I choose a turtle as my next running tattoo after completing my first full marathon.  For the above analogy, as well as the obvious ones:  The tortoise and the hare story, the fact that we are not fast runners by any stretch of the imagination. 

And also some other tidbits regarding the turtle symbol that I really like:

The turtle’s whole life is one of steadfastness, effort, and patience. 

The turtle takes its wisdom one day at a time - not reacting, simply accepting and moving on in its natural methods. 

The Turtle is an ancient symbol, representing Order, Creation, Endurance, Strength, Stability, and Longevity.

For the tattoo I’m thinking about some type of tribal turtle picture with 26.2 (this is the marathon distance in miles) on its back and this great scripture underneath.

Isaiah 40:31

The scripture is “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”