Wow. Just wow.

Today was great for so many reasons. In the name of organization, let me see if I can count them:

1. The overnight snow pushed the race back to 1:00, so I got to sleep in and enjoy the morning.
2. My hubby did end up running with me, even though he had a sucky week and had been doubtful up to the final hours beforehand.
3. Both of my parents ended up running/walking even though my mom had a sucky week and hadn't even been able to squeeze in a single run or walk to train.
4. The mixture of cops, Mormons and cub scouts (sponsors and race organizers) provided fodder for exactly the type of snarky banter that makes my heart swell with love for my family.
5. Even though I walked for a few seconds on the hills, the clock at the finish read 27:40something. I haven't seen my chip time yet (couldn't get past the mob to actually read the posted results), but I saw that I finished first in my age group and I suppose I shaved about 2 minutes off my last race time.
6. My husband finished around 39 minutes, even though he had ill-fitting running attire and had not done any training outdoors.
7. My parents finished at around 47 minutes and, as the last racers, jokingly ran across the finish line to the entire crowd cheering. For added effect, my Dad crossed the line running backwards.
8. Hot chocolate and bananas after the race.
9. My Dad and I both won door prizes - gift certificates to local restaurants we wouldn't be caught dead in, but that my Grandmother loves.
10. Back at my folks' house, my Dad revealed that he had worn his very newly purchased jogging suit OVER his regular dress pants and button-down shirt. (Not as much a strategic move as a response to us rushing him out the door.) I haven't laughed so hard in days.


So, in summary, I now feel I have adequately conquered the 5k. On to the 10ks in March and April, and of course with an eye on that half-marathon in May. Oh, and, the FULL marathon the following week. Did I mention I that I bit the bullet on that one? 5/22/10, Boone NC, my first marathon. Yessirree. Bring..... it..... on.

Here we go again

Saturday forecast for Sanford, NC - partly cloudy with a high of 47, low of 23. So, at 10 am when my next 5k starts? Probably not much warmer than the last race. BUT, at least I know what to expect, what to wear, etc. More importantly, this will not be my FIRST race. It's my second, and my husband is joining me this time! My mom and dad are running again as well, and my mom has promised to actually run the entire distance - woo hoo! So, the forecast may be frigid, but the outlook is sunny.

And I do need some sunshine to keep me motivated. All of the snow we've had recently, and the postponement of the much anticipated mother/daughter half-marathon have not been the most energizing of forces. I'm up to 10 miles on my weekly long runs, but lately it's been more of a trudge than a joy.

I am pretty bummed that my much-labored-over training schedule now has me ready for the 13.1 way way way ahead of the new race. I am still thinking that I may just count the half in May as a part of training for a real marathon in the Summer. Problem is, where in the southeast will it not be hot as hell? I searched online and there literally are no marathons in NC or any surrounding states between June and September.

Except for one in Boone, in July, which I find pretty tempting. Yes, Boone is in the mountains (not even hills, but freaking mountains), but the race is called the Flatlanders Marathon, so it at least sounds doable. However, as my husband so helpfully pointed out, the elevation difference (thinner air) may not be a good thing for a first-timer. I need to do some research on that. To be continued......

Oh, and by the way, I learned my lesson from the Tobacco Road 'race full' experience. I have now pre-registered and paid for two 10ks (one in March, one in April) and the new half-marathon in May. Done and done.

Plan Bs

Plan A: Run the Tobacco Road half-marathon on Sunday, March 21.
Reality: Mom just happened to check the race website the other day and it is already FULL! Crap!
Plan B: Run the next local half-marathon, the Inside Out Sports run in May.
Possible result: It could be hot as hell, but by then, my mom and I may be able to run it together. (She's now up to 3 miles!)

Plan A: Drive the 4+ hours from today's work location to tomorrow's work location, arrive at my hotel around 7ish and hit the treadmill in the fitness center asap to get in the 4 miles prescribed in my training schedule.
Reality: While looking up directions, noticed that my hotel relies on an "off-site" fitness center that closes at 8. Crap!
Plan B: Stop at a gym closer to today's work location and con my way into a day pass by posing as a 'local resident' interested in a membership.
Result: I was nearly caught when, after the obligatory 20 minute tour and sales pitch, I did not have any questions. After a very long, cock-eyed pause, the guy said,"You don't want to know how much it costs?" "Oh, yeah, of course, right. How much?" I absently responded while I eyed the quickly-filling cardio area. In the end, I got my run on. It was in a smelly gym, on a shaky treadmill, with a screen full of bad tv way too close to my face - but I can check off my mileage for the day. I'll probably get several phone calls following up on my interest in membership, but I'll just tell them that I ended up joining the other gym down the street.

Embrace the brace

Yes, I have passed the age of being routinely carded for alcohol.

Yes, I have a marriage, a mortgage and a career.

But, most days, (through frequent engagement in heavy drinking and toilet humor) I remain solidly in denial of my adulthood. So, coming to terms with my aging body is not something I do voluntarily. Funny how running 9 miles brings exactly this sort of unpleasantry into sharp focus.

As I had suspected, the knee pain has ceased being intermittent and now seems to be here to stay. Soooo, I bought a brace. And I wear the brace when I run. And it does what braces are supposed to do - it prevents the kind of pain I felt after my last two long runs. What it does not do, however, is allow me to indulge in my fantasy-life as a 31 year old teenager. I may be in the best shape of my life, but in my efforts to build and maintain this shape, I am continually reminded that it is now a downhill slide toward middle age and beyond.

What is a 30 something to do? Well, this 30 something combats the creeping creakiness by accompanying my runs with more silly tv (I've moved from LA Ink to Weeds) and an ipod playlist that includes most of the bands I listened to at 15 - plus some that today's 15-year-olds listen to.

Now, if I could just find ways to associate poop jokes with my mortgage and cartoons with my PhD study, I could make the regression complete!

Everybody's Doin' It

Running has recently become like hearing a new word on NPR - makes one appearance on 'The World' and suddenly you hear it coming out of everyone's mouth. Did everyone simultaneously begin using this new $5 word, or is it simple awareness? The answer is obvious, but it always seems like a weird coincidence.

So it is for me and running.

In the last few weeks, it seems that everyone I know has just casually picked it up. Obviously, that is not the case, but it's interesting that so many of my friends and family and acquaintances seem to have just recently begun posting/tweeting their latest mileage, times, races, etc. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention before. I'll admit - it is entirely possible that I am just self-centered enough to not notice other people's efforts until I have a common interest. I'd like to think we are all this self-centered, but I know otherwise. World-wise and conceited - that's me.

Anywho, this whole perspective change also applies to noticing random strangers running - everywhere. I spent the long weekend with friends in Brooklyn, where there seemed to be loads of folks pounding the pavement in their finest winter running attire. Are Park Slope and Queens the new running hot spots or did I miss something? Well, they succeeded in making me regret my 3-day hiatus (didn't even pack my sneaks) and in making me want to blow even more money on gear. Thank god it was 65 degrees today and I was able to run my 4 miles in the glorious outdoors. Goodbye running gear envy - hello Spring fever!

I made it

....through the week and the race. Both were pretty much exactly as bad as I had predicted, but I powered through. The first week back at work, and the big annual meeting, went fairly well - despite the snow that never came but still forced an unplanned 'early release' for the meeting (a wee bit stressful) and a necessary '2-hour delay' on Friday (translation: getting to end the week by sleeping in and launching the workday in pjs).

Since I would be giving up my Saturday long run for the race, I was even more determined than usual to stick to my training schedule during the work week. I did end up having to switch a couple of the days and do a couple of evening runs (which I loathe), but by Friday, I had nailed the mileage total. A small success. And the knee pain had gone away, at least for the moment, so score 2 for me!

I kept a constant eye on the weather forecast and steeled myself for big chill on race day, but signs were pointing to the fact that I would likely be on my own. All week, I was receiving emails from my mom asking things like, "How dedicated are you to the race on Sat.?" And, believe me, I was a little tempted to take this bait. Instead, I responded, "Very." I knew that if it snowed, I would definitely be on my own, but even my offers to buy coffee and lunch post-race didn't seem to be convincing my mom that the cold temps wouldn't be that bad.

In the end, even with my Dad coming down with a cold mid-week, he and my mom both joined me for the race on Saturday morning. It was 20 degrees. Polar fleece was indeed on full display. My dad ended up putting the race t-shirt on over his leather coat. And my loving husband never wavered in his commitment to cheer us on and take pictures from the sidelines, which actually ended up being no picnic either.

So, this was my first race. I had never even watched a race, so I really had no idea what to expect. On Friday, I actually bought the most recent issue of Runner's World hoping to get some good pointers. And it was helpful - especially the tidbit reassuring me that running in sub-zero temps does not damage the lungs. Very good to know.

Today's event, The Run for Young, was in honor of a local teenager who was killed in a car accident, and the proceeds went to 2 funds set up in his name. Although I knew about all of the charity stuff and agree that it is a good cause, I had not expected that, at 10 o'clock (the advertised race time), there would be speeches and prayers before the starting signal. They really weren't even all that long, but with it being so cold, I could barely contain my impatience and I don't think I was alone. The entire crowd seemed to be wincing, teeth chattering, as they bounced on their toes, through the prayers and speeches and door prizes, right up to the anticlimactic announcement to "Start". (I guess I'm being silly, but I really expected a gun or, at the very least, a megaphone.)

I made the mistake of starting near the back with my parents and other walkers, so it took my a while to get well enough out of the throng to establish a good pace. However, once I broke through, it was smooth sailing. I regained feeling in my thighs and toes at about the mid-way point and happily waved to my parents when I saw them on the way back. It was motivating to always have someone in front of me, especially when it was a little kid - which their participation I found to be absolutely astounding.

I crossed the finish line at 29:27, not far off my treadmill pace for 3 miles but not as fast as I thought I would do. I grabbed the bottle of water that was offered to me and looked around for my husband. When I saw his red, puffy face, my eyes actually teared up. It was obvious that his lot had really been the worst. Running had warmed me up. Standing on the sidelines had turned him into a popsicle. He smiled, gave me a big hug and a kiss and assured me that he had gotten good pictures - not one complaint. True love indeed.

We had time to walk a couple of blocks, to cool me down and warm him up, as we waited for my parents to come around. They jogged across the finish line together at 48:23. Both are 50+, non-exercisers, one a cancer survivor, the other a meat-eating coke-guzzling chain smoker. I have never been so proud. And they are both already talking about the NEXT race! Seems there is a 5k in their town next month. And my dad might even wear actual running shoes (as opposed to the work boots he walked/jogged in today). My mom is all revved up, and still talking about that full marathon in October. We'll see.

Don't think this counts as "hitting the wall" but...

......it's not looking good this week. So far, I have adhered to my training schedule like a militant religion, but this week is going to be a bitch. Mainly due to the fact that I'm headed back to work tomorrow after a wonderfully relaxing two week hiatus. This means that I will be back to fitting in my runs (which are now considerably longer than the last week I worked and ran) mainly in the evenings. Being January, it's still pitch dark by 5:30 but, hopefully, my Netflix Instant Queue will help get me through. On a more worrisome note, the seven miles/84 minutes of running yesterday has left me with a dull pain in my right knee. I am really hoping that it will either go away (not likely), or can be easily managed with one of those neoprene braces - of which I may soon be a proud owner. I've been running all of 5 weeks and I already have 'Runner's Knee'.

So, otherwise, this week holds my company's only annual conference/meeting/dinner and will end with not my usual Saturday long run (did I mention I'm up to 7 miles?) but a 5k road race with my mom. I think I would be more excited about the race except that snow is in the forecast for Friday and the high on Saturday is only supposed to be 29. It's projected be a balmy 18 degrees when the race starts at 10 am. Yeah.

On a happier note, my dad is now planning to join my mom in the race (both mainly walking), which is a nice show of support. I am already picturing the three of us, covered from stem to stern in uber-attractive polar fleece, running/walking into clouds of our own breath - my frosty husband cheering from the sidelines with a mug of something warm and maybe alcoholic. Hopefully, he'll have a little left for me at the finish-line. It should be fun. Really.