progress

Well, my legs are about 75% now.

Our coach Troy has said to wait a week before starting to run again- but I know that Teri said she was hoping to run by Friday, nurses do make such bad patients =). I think I will wait a couple more days.

Women from our church are going hiking Friday morning and I am planning to attempt that. Shouldn't be too difficult of a hike- and my FIRST since the summer so I can't wait.

half-crazy

My mind is filled with so many thoughts generated from yesterday's race that it is hard for me to think and write lucidly. I will attempt to give my low-down.

First, let me preface that it was an amazing experience and I would do it again next week if my legs would only let me. My quadriceps are extremely sore & achy; the first of their kind. I kept an electric warmer on my legs all night while I slept- pretty sure it didn't help. I attempted to jog across my house this morning to grab something for my daughter, and in the midst of that moment of mental amnesia, had to grab at my legs because of the weirdest sensation of my muscles spasming so oddly. Definitely could not run to save my life right now.

Looking back over this past year and the last 3 months of rigorous training, I would definitely say that the worst part of all of this was Saturday's pre-race anxiety and lack of sleep. Sunday morning, when our hotel room's alarm clock finally turned 0400, we were amazed to find out that not one of us had a decent night's sleep. But as Teri wrote, I too, experienced a complete sense of calm once we were out of bed and preparing for the race ahead of us. It was as if there was nothing more to worry about, so we didn't.

The morning of the race is pretty surreal to me now. We drove over in a chartered bus from our hotel at 0500. The bus driver was pretty funny making good-natured jokes about us half-marathoners being only "half-crazy" and telling us he would be thinking of us as he drove through Dunkin Donuts on his way home back to bed!

We arrived at our starting point at 0600- and except for the bright generated electric lights, could see absolutely nothing. It was great fun attempting to use the port-a-potties in the pitch black freezing weather (I think it was in the 50s or even cooler).

By the time 0700 came around, the sun had begun to peek around the mountains (we were up in them by Tucson's Biosphere). We had our gloves and layers on ready to begin. It was getting pretty exciting- tons of people, loud music, desert for miles, and one big hug before we were off!

As far as the race went, Kim and I make a great team. She has this internal pacing ability (befitting her personality) while I tend to run faster and then slower depending on my whim (befitting my personality). She is so good for me! We actually didn't talk too much, instead concentrating on our running, breathing and the people we would pass. Having her there, for me, was better than an iPod. Unspoken companionship. From the start, Teri, who is stinkin' fast, was off. She ran her race with the more competitive runners. Periodically, I would think about her or strain my eyes to the course ahead to see if I could pick her out. To run with friends is a great and rare gift I think.

The entire race, we plugged along, never stopping (a successful goal!) though I must admit to the occasional envious glance at the men who would dash into the desert for a quick bathroom break. So completely unfair. Compared to our long runs back at home the miles seemed to go by so quickly for me. At mile 9 I swallowed down some vanilla bean Gu (which actually tasted good for the first time) and then some water (which actually went down the wrong pipe. sheesh.) to help give me some energy- both physical and mental for the last 4 miles left.

For some reason, I didn't have my normal aches and pains and felt really strong the entire race. Only after I saw my husband, kids and mom at mile 11 did I slow down a bit because it definitely made me emotional (Kim and Teri too, such good friends!)and I then needed to get control as the biggest hill of all was looming ahead. Once we hit that the end was near.

All in all, a most amazing experience on so many levels.

symptomatic

the countdown is almost complete. race day is almost here. just writing this causes my heart to palpitate and my hands to feel weak. i have been pretty calm and collected up until now. i am not sure what really is starting to freak me out.

tonight at dinner, i was attempting to explain to my husband my anxiety symptoms. as i was doing so, it hit me that i have felt this way before. it took a few minutes of mental contemplation to figure out when, in the past, i have felt this exact same way. it hit me. public speaking. yup, feels the same HORRID way.

the beauty of 10 miles

Tuesday morning we awoke at 4 am.

Interestingly, I was dreading the early morning wake time above the 10 mile run we were about to embark on.

Running in complete blackness with the occasional vehicle interrupting the desert's eerie quiet is an experience. To see the sunrise slowly over the mountains is exquisite. Your senses are alert to every noise, smell and sight. I focused on my breathing, the rotating aches and pains, the mild rubbing pain on my toe, and the divots in the dirt ahead of me.

Arizonans run in the morning to escape the desert's arid heat- even in November. The downside would be that total darkness leads to vision impairment. Kim actually twisted her ankle at one point during this run on a rock she didn't see(which fortunately didn't have any lasting effects).

As this is the longest run any of us have done, we are feeling pretty proud and very satisfied! It felt no longer than last week's 8 and we have completed our last long run before the half.

There are so many pieces to running. Even this dreaded but beautiful early morning run. Not many get to experience nature in the way that a runner can.

upping the ante

Our last scheduled long run is next week. According to our training program we are supposed to be running 9 miles. Our coach Troy is encouraging us to increase that to 10 so our confidence will increase as well. Makes sense to me...on the day of the race, adding only 3 more miles versus 4 sounds a lot less in the grand scheme of all things running.

Definitely this second 8-miler was easier than the first time around and we felt we could have kept going. What an amazing feeling!

Physical discipline- in the form of running- is truly an amazing process.

amazing

Click here to read why Runners World listed this nun as one of their 2007 Heroes.

evolution

When I started on the path of running, January of this year, a big catalyst for me was weight loss. I needed to find an aerobic activity that would get me into shape and get rid of the extra poundage. Running was something that always fascinated me because it was always something that I definitely didn't think I could do. Happily, I have proven myself wrong. Really on two accounts. Let me explain.

As I was recovering and stretching the other day following a good run, my mind started wandering. From the glorious relief of accomplishing yet another long run, to the realization that this whole running journey, for me, has evolved.

Though I still check the scale periodically, and have found that numerically the numbers haven't much changed, mentally I am changed. It is no longer a goal to magically shed weight; it is a desire to get stronger.

I am running because I am beating my body. I am running because I am strengthening my body. I am running because I have two little ones who I want to model health for. I am running because.

novice notes

some positive things i have experienced as a novice runner:

1. body glide works.

2. as i increase my mileage in my long runs, what once seemed so long (5 miles, for example) is now not.

3. to stop means i might not restart.

4. i am learning to listen to my body. i am learning to speak to my body.

5. i am overwhelmingly proud of myself; possibly more than i have ever been before.

flying (or at least feeling like i am)

This week began our longest run to date: the infamous 7 miler. As "the day" loomed ever nearer, just thinking about running that far was making me very nervous. Not to mention my symptomatic anxiety an hour before I ran... aching stomach, sweating feet (a new one for me and quite gross), racing mind. You get the picture.

Fortunately, I got myself under control with a good mental beating. I am strong. I have been safely and slowly getting myself ready to be at this point. I can fly.

And I did.

Of course the next day the bird wasn't flying so well. I was limping around at work because I didn't stretch very well and pulled a muscle in my leg. It lasted only a day with some TLC. Lesson learned.

random thoughts on gear

being the newbies to double digit mile running that we are, it goes to say that we are either going to be well-prepared for the tucson marathon or not so much. by "prepared", i mean, all the gear that one needs to complete a 13.1 mile run.

some would say you need nothing- but i have a feeling most veteran runners do run with a few stand-bys. whether that is some sort of water carrier, mp3 player, sunglasses, hat, sweatbands, etc... the list goes on.

things i have been thinking about.... gear i think i will need (having only done a 6-miler as my longest run thus far): something to wipe away my copious amounts of sweat; my burts bees chapstick (i tend to lick my lips raw as i run which means i will be miserable without it); maybe my ipod; my perfectly comfortable lucy socks.

the rest goes to be seen as i extend my long runs. from what i have researched and heard, will be needing to check into gels, body glide type substance, and maybe a watch.

definitely out of my league here.

never say never

Okay. So I thought I wouldn't be able to run and talk simultaneously. I was wrong. Sort of.

Since Kim and I frequent the same gym we have begun to coordinate our longer runs on the treadmill. We ran 5 miles together last Thursday and it was very momentous for me: the ever first run that I didn't use my ipod for any period. How could this be? Because Kim talked to me the entire time (and I thought she couldn't talk and run either!). Let me tell you, she can talk and it is wonderfully amazing.

I, on the other hand, can talk using one to three word exclamations such as "cool" and "that's so awesome." If I try to speak in longer sentences, which I do attempt, to carry my weight of the conversation, they come out a little more choppy and disjointed. Thankfully, Kim still understands.

All I know is that carrying on a convo while running makes time speed up along with some good girl bonding. Even it is one-sided. Poor Kim.

down one

Just a little note to say that our group of four is now, sadly, three.

Kristen shared with us a few nights ago that she is not going to be able to do the half with us because of her currently way too crazy life. Just starting graduate school and a new job over at ASU has been a huge strain on her commitments and she needed to let something go. We completely understood, just going to miss her!

At least for this race.

Don't forget the pf chang's is just around the corner...

treadmill season

Because of the high summer high heat in our city and the fact that we have small children, getting the perfect early morning outdoor run in can be challenging. This summer Kim and I have taken to using the treadmill at our gym. Convenience always trumps in motherhood.

As a beginning runner, it has also been a bonus to be able to monitor my pace, heart rate and time with only a glance.

Now that the weather is beginning to cool we will soon be able to venture back out on the streets. That should happen by the end of the month. This coincides perfectly with the start of our official half-marathon training schedule.

Note the lovely picture of Kim on a 5-miler we ran at the gym the other day....on the treadmill.

inspiration?

I love quotes that move me. I guess this quote by Winston Churchill parallels so perfectly with long-distance running that runners use it a lot:

"If you're going through hell, keep going."

I haven't reached that hellish point in my running yet and am honestly a little nervous just imagining it.

I guess my only personal experience would maybe be like having a baby with no epidural. Oh wait. I had an epidural. Twice.

be the tortoise

Every once in awhile I play around on the computer searching for other running blogs that might peak my interest and provide some useful knowledge. I love this girl's blog. Specifically, I love this post about coming in last.

To all the tortoises out there!

details, details, details

Every time us girls get together I realize that there is so much we still need to figure out. Little details. Maybe I am way over-analyzing this running thing, but I want to be prepared. At least, as prepared as I can be.

One of our more recent discussions was on the race itself and what we plan on actually doing while we run. I mean, besides running.

Kim informed us that she would be listening to her ipod. She would not be talking. No way, no how.

I, Candace, completely agreed with her. To talk while one runs is begging for a side ache. Besides the fact that I would be sharing what limited oxygen I will be gulping down with my vital organs. No thank you. My lips will be sealed tight- with maybe a periodic grunt here and there. I love to encourage others so this might be difficult; especially in a race setting where we will need all the cheering on we can get. I will have to try the mental form.

The night we discussed this, I didn't remember Teri or Kristin verbalizing their plans. However, I do remember Teri once telling me that when she runs at the gym (daily at 5 am!) she doesn't listen to music. She uses that time to pray. I was so amazed and awestruck. The only time I ever pray while I am running is to beg God to miraculously let me be at my mileage goal. And sadly, I am a pastor's wife.

I asked Teri last night what her plan was and she too is doing the ipod thing during the race.

Darn it. I was hoping she would keep praying. I had some requests. For the race.

five weeks left

Today I panicked.

This last week was so busy with working, out of town guests and birthday parties that I made it to the gym, I am embarrassed to say, only twice. I ran pretty hard the measly two times I went, but will have to make up a bit of running this week to get back into routine. Not looking forward to having to convince my body that this is really lots of fun.

About the panicking. I could not remember the date we were to start our "official" training schedule and was afraid it was this week. My brain has dementia sometimes. After finding the schedule, I was able to breathe a moment as I realized that I still have a whopping 5 more weeks of pacing myself with speedwork and easy runs.

September 30th begins the high level of accountability and progressively longer runs. Can't wait!

lululemon

Found another cute, organic athletic wear company. Its called lululemon athletica. The closest actual store to us would probably be in San Diego, but you can order via internet. Their line is geared towards dance, yoga, running and everything in between.

funny little thing

I begin to announce that I am running in a half-marathon.

I begin to get multiple running partner offers. I am not kidding.

People that have run them before and people that haven't.

Family and friends.

Just kind of funny.

The Look

Preparing for a race involves many aspects: the race, the pace, the shoes, the look, etc. As far as the look goes, I have found this great clothing line called Athleta that I love. They have super cute and functional pieces perfect for active women who want some style as they sweat!

One thing I am definitely purchasing is their sport tee that "proclaims your sport of choice before you ever open your mouth." I am obviously going for the running graphic. Its only $39 and I was thinking that if anyone else got one we could be twins, triplets, or quadruplets! What do you think??

By the way, my favorite female active wear store is Lucy. And not just because it is based out of Portland, OR- where I hail from! Their stuff has the best fit and the softest fabrics while looking ultra hip. Love it.