Things I am Thinking About Today....

*Packing!

*Carbo-loading
Runner's World had a great article about it in the November 2011 issue that I read with great interest this week.  Understanding the science behind what your body goes through to train and run a marathon is fascinating to me but also hard to understand.  I am not sure about gaining four pounds before I run the race like it says you will once you have carbo-loaded.  Wouldn't that make you feel heavy and sluggish?  

*The weather in Chicago
It is supposed to be warm on race day.  Like starting in the 50s and finishing in the 70s.  It's a hot topic in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon facebook page.  Yes, I've trained in much hotter weather, but I've also seen how the heat affects my times during training.  My training long run times were easily a minute off from what I'd expect with cooler temperatures.  Plus, I've run marathons in the 70s and hotter (see here and here), and they are tough. 

Of course the weather is out of my control, but it's still nice to at least have thought about how this can affect things.  On the facebook page, people are suggesting for future races everything from having the race run backwards (they say the first half has more shade and thus would be better run later in the day) to starting earlier (7 rather than 7:30).  It's just something we're all going to be thinking about as we run.

*Setting my time goal
See the item above for reasons why I am really, really going to be okay if I don't get my "A" goal.  These goals just give me something to think about as I am running. 
"A" goal 3:15
"B" goal sub 3:30
"C" goal to finish

Without a Garmin (Rick will be wearing ours), I may have trouble knowing my pace if I fall behind.  I am thinking about buying a 3:15 pace tattoo to wear on race day.  This will help me stay on track.

Pace is still hard for me to plan.  I have never run such a big race before, and I wonder about the crowds.  With all of the corrals, is it easy to move with the runners around you since they are all going your pace?  I doubt whether my own training can get me the pace I want (I know I shouldn't, but I do).  I will try to keep in mind my ultimate goal--to finish this race and check Illinois off the list of states!

*Looking ahead
To keep myself from feeling let down when the race is over, I am looking ahead to my other events for fall/winter: the Huntsville half marathon (first time to race a 1/2 in years!), the Rocket City marathon (pacing the 3:55 group.  Go sub 4 runners!!!), and Mountain Mist 50K 2012 (awesome, awesome race.  I think it filled to capacity or close to it already and registration only opened on October 1st!).  Having these races in my mind will help me if I start to feel down after Chicago is over.

Preparing the Mind for the Marathon

I promised you my thoughts about preparing your mind for the marathon, so here goes.  First off, I think the mental preparation to run 26.2 miles comes long before you toe the line.  To start with, it comes from the thoughts you have as you do your long runs and solo runs.  Here is where you begin to let your mind take you to all of the different places it goes.  It distracts you in wonderful ways.  I think back to July, when I wrote this entry about communicating with God as I run and this entry about beauty on runs.  I believe I was writing and experiencing these "deep thoughts" during this month since it was the first time this season that I had ramped up my miles for marathon training.  I had more time out on the roads to allow these thoughts to creep in.  I felt refreshed after running many of my long runs because of all of the solo thinking that I had gotten to do.  I enjoyed the time alone to listen to music and to just think by myself.

I begin mentally rehearsing the marathon as the race gets closer.  I think back to previous marathons and try to remember how I felt as I was running them.  One day as I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep, I was picturing Myrtle Beach so vividly that I could not relax enough to sleep.  Adrenaline was coursing through my body.  My heart was racing, and my hands were sweaty.  I think picturing previous races can really help you to mentally prepare for an upcoming race (but don't do it while you are trying to go to sleep!).

Finally, I also reflect on quotes with a journal I've kept for years.  I joked one night to Rick as he tried to sneak a peak at my journal that, "You wouldn't understand these!!"  I really don't know if other people do this or not.  I've always written down quotes that I like.  Many closely apply to my life now even though I wrote them years ago. 

Two on a page from 1997 were:
For an instant, the old impulse of flight swept through her; but it was only the lift of a broken wing.
--Edith Wharton

and

"Nothing's worth that," the naysayers laughed.
"The crack of dawn!  The bitter cold!
The pouring rain!  Nothing's worth all that!"
"Obviously you don't know me," the woman said.
"For if you do, you'd know I am."
from a New Balance ad in 1997

I can only imagine this little twenty year old me thinking far enough in advance to know that one day I would be a stay-at-home mom of two needing to hear these things.  I don't want to have the impulse of flight, only to find that I don't have the wings to fly.  I want to take advantage of the opportunity to run while I can.  And, oh my, how true the New Balance ad is to me now!  So many people can't understand why my group gets up early to run.  Well, because we are worth it.  We are important and we matter, even though sometimes it feels like we get so little time to devote to ourselves.  We have to find it.  And sometimes that means running in the cold and the rain.  But I'm worth it!  I love this quote.

Finally, here's one more:

When you are old and gray and full of sleep
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep...
William Butler Yeats

With this one, I picture myself looking back at this blog one day and reading the tales of my marathon adventures.  I picture myself sharing these stories with my children and grandchildren.  This quote was in my high school yearbook, wayyyy back in 1995! 

So instead of just saying, "Carpe diem," these are some of the quotes that I read back over and reflect on.  I picture the upcoming marathon as being something I will always remember.  I try to imagine having a great outcome, which I will, even if I don't meet my time goal!  I look forward to the adventure that lies ahead.

Last Two Long Runs

I am in crunch mode now, trying to get everything thought about, written about, and said before this marathon comes and everything gets forgotten.

My last two long runs were on Saturday, September 24 (12 miles) and Friday, September 30 (8 miles).  Notice the sharp taper from the 20 miler the week before.  I was tempted to use these runs like tempo runs, but I played it smart and used them for long runs as they were intended to be.  On the 24th, I ran 13 miles with Julia and some with Jane at an 8:41 pace.  I pushed some of the last mile, and it was a 7:52.  We were aiming for between 8:30-9:00 minute miles that day, and I think we accomplished that nicely.

I ran 8 miles on the 30th by myself with an 8:41 pace.  It felt so odd to be done after only 8 miles.  I saved my speeding for the next day for a short tempo run, but I don't have the Garmin data on that run yet.

You can see from my last post that I am beginning the part of my training where I am looking back and telling myself that I have done this before, and I can do it again.  One part of me wants to say, "You haven't trained enough.  You're not ready for this race.  You can't PR."  I am trying to quiet that voice.  I am trying to build up my confidence.

It Takes a Village....

I'm sure you know the expression, "It takes a village to raise a child."  Well, it doesn't take a village, but it does take someone with a big ol' selfless heart to watch marathoners' kids so they can run a marathon.  That "someone" in our case has been a family member--my sisters, my mom, Rick's sister, or Rick's parents.  In the last four years, we have done seven marathons where we needed a sitter to come with us, to meet us in a different state, or to watch our children at our house so we could run the marathon.  This is huge.  Without them, we simply could not achieve what we have done over the last four years.  They have fueled our dreams.  "Thank you" does not encompass my gratitude for what they have done for us.  I liken it to give someone with a broken leg crutches so that they can walk.  I am not kidding.  It enabled us to do something that would be simply impossible without their help.  

My younger sister, Laurie, has gifted us once already with her babysitting skills.  Laurie was a twenty-five year old PhD student in chemical engineering with little free time and no children of her own when we asked her to watch our kids (1 1/2 years and nine months old) so we could run the Madison, WI marathon in May of 2008.  It was to be our first marathon since they were born.  We didn't know if it could be done.  It couldn't, without Laurie's help.  We were thankful for Laurie. 

Laurie is going to help us again this week so that we can run the Chicago marathon.  So again, we are thankful for Laurie.  

Do I envy people who can do it all themselves, as I used to before I had my kids?  No, I don't.  Learning to rely on others-- to meet me on early morning runs, to encourage me in emails and blog comments, and to watch my children so I can run---has made me a person who is full of gratitude, a person who realizes that it is not all about me.  

What is it like marathoning with young children?  Can you picture traveling with two babies for twelve hours in the car, having a sleepless night before the race, dropping them at a sitter's house in the early morning, running the marathon, and rushing back to nurse your nine month old?  So what is that like?  It is wonderful.  I am thankful for the chance.  And I wouldn't change a thing.  

I finished the race in 3:56:02, but it is was one of the races where my finish time was really irrelevant.  The whole experience meant so much more to me than my finish time.  I ran that race with my husband by my side, and I knew my children were being well taken care of while we ran.  I couldn't ask for more than that.

Here are some pictures.

Two pack 'n' plays set up in our hotel room side-by-side.

Carbo loading with Aunt Laurie

Back at Laurie's apartment after the marathon

Post race ice cream shared by the whole family

A tired little one after the big marathon day

Laurie with her two small charges

Headphones or Not?

Racing is picking up here at our house lately.  The printer next to me is buzzing with confirmations for Mountain Mist 2012 (courtesy of my husband, who is downstairs registering us for our annual fun 50K!) and Chicago marathon confirmations have arrived via snail mail.  Once we are registered and confirmed for these events, they start to feel "real" to me. 

I've been thinking lately about a decision I made after reading the Chicago marathon confirmation packet.  Headphones are allowed in the race.  Headphones are allowed in the race!!!  At first, I was elated.  Distraction is so crucial to me during training.  I thrive with distraction.  At first, I was like, "Yes!!!!!!  I am totally bringing my music.  I'll use whatever I can to get my time!"

But then I thought more about it.  I have run 22 marathons without any music, sometimes without talking to another person the entire race.  I have also run many 50Ks without listening to any music.  I'm not afraid to let my mind wander to thoughts, to prayers, to songs, to splits.  I like following it on the twisty path it takes me as I run the marathon.  And I love the crowds cheering.  I love taking the whole event in---using all of my senses.  I want to be a part of the whole experience---the noises of the other runners, the cheering, the music, all of it.  I want this more than I want the benefit of being distracted by my music. 

So...I'm leaving my headphones at home.  The first of many little last minute race decisions that I will make this week---done!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Just when you think they're not watching...

They ride in your double jogging stroller, thinking that you are doing this for fun!

And they wind up deciding to push their older (and heavier) brother around the driveway over and over and over again!

It reminds me of the song "Oh, be careful little eyes."  Your children are always watching you and imitating you, even when you least expect it (like above).  If they see you running, they will run.  If they see you eating healthy foods, they will eat healthy foods.  If you see you pushing a double stroller, they, too, will want to push someone as they are running! 

That little four year old pushing more than her weight as she runs?  I love her. 

And, just for today, I feel like I am showing her the right example for her little feet to follow.

"High Tech" 5 Mile Pace Run

4 5 Mile Pace Run Friday, September 23, 2011

I was scheduled to run a 4 mile pace run this morning.  I've had a slight cold the last two days (it's normal for a preschool teacher to get many of these throughout the year!), but I wasn't congested this morning.  I was interested to see how I would do with the marathon pace run with such a light week of running since I am in the taper now.  I struggled with these during my high-mileage weeks. 

Well, I can see why Hal gives us this little run during taper time!  It is for our confidence!  My legs felt so fresh that the miles were very easy for me.  I was able to use only one mile as a warm up, whereas before on my solo dark runs I've taken up to four miles to get warmed up.  This run gave me some confidence about my pace for race day.  You can see below that, even with the 8:04 first mile as my warm up mile, my overall pace was still a 7:27. 

Oh, and the "high tech" picture below is courtesy of my husband. When I told him that I'd seen a Garmin screen like this on another blog, he was able to make one for me in no time!  Very fancy!  Thanks, Rick!  I like this much more than having to recopy everything!

Your Take-Away Message

I promised you tips and strategies for your mental preparations for race day.  My take-away for you on this run is two-fold:

* Completing short, on pace runs like this during your taper is a big confidence booster.  It helps you feel the pace and maintain it for a short amount of time, leaving you knowing that you could easily do more.  This is just what you should be thinking about in this stage of the game.

*From my run, you can see that starting slower than pace should not be a reason to be concerned race day.  This is something that I was shocked to notice today.  I thought I would just not count that first mile towards my marathon-paced miles since it was so much slower than I needed it to be.  But look at the change that was made in just 4 more miles!  The 8:04 did not "mess things up" for me.  I tend to think in terms of black and white-- it's either on pace or it's not.  Well, you can make up the difference!  In addition, if you start fast like I tend to, hitting some slower miles at the end isn't going to kill your time either.  I remember someone being shocked that I could have almost two 11 minute miles in St. Louis and still finish in 3:35.  It's all about overall pace.  Don't sweat on off-pace mile or two.  Just focus on the one you're on!