I honestly wasn't sure I was ever going to run another marathon after finishing the last one. Despite the amazing runner's high afterward and the incredible feeling of accomplishment for completing a 26.2 mile run...my knees were remarkably sore after the race. Even my lungs were sore. My muscles recovered pretty well but my joints were swollen and angry for a while. I'm sure some people get right back on the horse, but I took about 2 months off from running. I just had zero desire to run for a long time.
Eventually, I looked around at races and decided that I needed to give my knees a break...which meant that I could still train for races, but probably shouldn't do a lot of hills again. Not to mention the extreme slant in most of the road for the Big Sur marathon which put a lot of pressure on one leg or the other.
In the end, I found a pretty flat race that has a small attendance (also important for me), and a lot of places where people can cheer for you. Big Sur was beautiful and at different points it was so quiet you could just hear the ocean and the footsteps and breathing of those around you. While amazing, that can also be a very lonely experience, particularly when it's getting late in the race and you could really use some encouragement. I suppose you really just need yourself to be motivated (in theory) but I don't think I'd mind some additional voices once in a while, haha.
Anyway...I'm a month into training for my second marathon already. It seems kind of wild but it has all come back very easily. It seems much more organized this time around. I know what to expect and just get home and run. There are good runs and bad runs and none of it really surprises me anymore. It's been an interesting balance between work, taking classes, as well as training for a marathon...but I think I've finally got a good schedule where I can actually still have a life on top of everything else (shocking!)
Monday, January 21, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
As Promised...
...the Big Sur marathon experience.
After months of writing about preparing for the big run, I neglected to actually write about the experience itself. This was nearly 9 months ago, but the memory is still as fresh as ever. Here goes:
The day started with a rousing wake-up at 2:30am. Yes, 2:30 and the race began at 6:30am. Rough. The reason for this is that you must take a shuttle bus down to the starting line. You travel the course of the marathon in reverse and it takes about an hour to get there as the road is narrow and windy. In addition, the buses must have enough time to turn around and get off of the course before the race begins.
We boarded at bus at 3:15 am and arrived to the starting line roughly around 4:30 with 2 hours to kill before running. We huddled together and stayed warm, snacking on the available bagels and bananas and trying to drink enough coffee to stay warm/get yourself to poop.
Eventually it was time to shed our warm layers and get in line to start running. My adrenaline was off the charts and I was trying to maintain focus so I didn't churn out 7 minute miles in the beginning and tire myself out.
The first wave was off and my two friends and I lined up on the starting line. I heard the gunshot and began running down the road and suddenly the weight of the race and all of the anticipation just lifted away. The first few miles were freezing cold and my hands were nearly purple until mile 5. And then the winds. I'm not sure if this year was worse than previous years, but the headwinds were terrible. Also it felt as though from mile 6-mile 9 we were just at a constant incline. Straight into the cold, wet wind. I managed a pretty quick initial 10k, maintaining just over an 8 minute mile pace. Slowly the winds let up and I was able to see Hurricane Point, the two-mile long, 5% grade hill that stretches the last 4 miles before you reach the half-marathon point. I could hear the drums thumping at the base of the hill and my heart rate increased and I could feel myself focusing for what lay ahead. If you haven't yet, watch some YouTube videos of the Taiko drums at the base of this hill. The sounds of these drums will forever stay with me, not only for the anxiety it brings for the hill, but as a motivation and driving force that leads thousands of runners up and over Hurricane Point.
The next two miles were just brutal. 40mph headwinds and rain blowing in my race. I kept my head down and just looked at the ground and tried not to look up at the expansive hill in front of me. Runners around me chanted "what goes up, must come down" and I found that to be a nice thing to think about as my calves burned. The feeling at the crest of the hill was substantial. I was not prepared for the exhiliration of reaching the top of Hurricane Point. My legs were relieved and I was smiling. I knew that over half of the race still lay ahead but getting through the hill was an amazing feeling.
I cruised down the other 2 miles of the hill, down to Bixby Bridge where the infamous grand piano player rests. I didn't stop for pictures but looked around and tried to take in the sheer beauty of my surroundings.
At this point I was feeling pretty good. Finished the half marathon in just under two hours and was heading into mile 14. Things were feeling pretty great until mile 16 which was a long, drawn out hill. This is not what you want to be experiencing after the 2 mile slog up Hurricane Point. Needless to say, I made it through and tried to keep my head strong for the last 10 miles. (Yeah I know. 10 more miles, wtf??)
I honestly don't remember much through miles 17-20 other than the delicious snacks that were provided and how the course "seemed" to be gentle rolling hills which, while sometimes frustrating, kept things interesting. There were bands along the way and I was still smiling for the cameras that I saw. I was still running near the 4 hour pace group at this point which I hadn't expected, but was a big motivating factor.
Enter: Carmel Highlands. I know that everyone bitches about this point of the marathon because it's the end of the race and you really don't want to be running up these short, super steep hills. I was hanging tough until about mile 23 and the pain in my quad was unbearable. My right leg was nearly quivering and I slowed down to a quick walk to try and alleviate the pain but that was simply not enough. I kept thinking "don't stop Nicole just keep moving!!" but I couldn't. I needed to stretch desperately. In the end, it's good that I did. But wow.
I stopped on the side of the road to stretch and my legs felt like they were being electrocuted. My calves, quads, and hamstrings were on fire. Leaning over to stretch was the most painful and simultaneously glorious feeling in the world. I stretched out my quads for a few minutes and started to walk, and then run again. I lost a lot of time, but it saved the race for me.
The final few miles were hilly and painful. I now understand why they tell you that the final 10k is the absolute worst. Despite all of your training, it's really your head that gets you through it. You have to stay mentally tough and just tell yourself you can do it, even when your legs are brutally exhausted and all you want to do is just stop and lay on the ground.
Mile 25 was a half mile uphill and a half mile downhill. I ended up walking a little on the uphill just because my legs simply felt like jello. On the downhill I could see the sign for "Mile 26" and suddenly I was re-awakened.
I resumed a quick running pace and as soon as I could see the finish I broke out into as much of a sprint as I could muster. The pain lifted and I felt like I was running on air. I crossed the finish line and high-fived the attendants. I walked forward, legs like jelly, toward the tent where all of the food is, congratulating my fellow runners.
I honestly couldn't believe it was over. And the runner's high afterward was truly something I had never experienced before. (and the pain in my legs the next day was also something I had never experienced before. Think of the Tin-Man from the wizard of Oz)
Final time: 4:21:19. Just under 10 minute miles (avg) for the entire course.
I couldn't be happier with my time - my "secret" goal was to finish in under 4 hours and 30 minutes and I was super happy I was able to do that on such a hard course.
After months of writing about preparing for the big run, I neglected to actually write about the experience itself. This was nearly 9 months ago, but the memory is still as fresh as ever. Here goes:
The day started with a rousing wake-up at 2:30am. Yes, 2:30 and the race began at 6:30am. Rough. The reason for this is that you must take a shuttle bus down to the starting line. You travel the course of the marathon in reverse and it takes about an hour to get there as the road is narrow and windy. In addition, the buses must have enough time to turn around and get off of the course before the race begins.
We boarded at bus at 3:15 am and arrived to the starting line roughly around 4:30 with 2 hours to kill before running. We huddled together and stayed warm, snacking on the available bagels and bananas and trying to drink enough coffee to stay warm/get yourself to poop.
Eventually it was time to shed our warm layers and get in line to start running. My adrenaline was off the charts and I was trying to maintain focus so I didn't churn out 7 minute miles in the beginning and tire myself out.
The first wave was off and my two friends and I lined up on the starting line. I heard the gunshot and began running down the road and suddenly the weight of the race and all of the anticipation just lifted away. The first few miles were freezing cold and my hands were nearly purple until mile 5. And then the winds. I'm not sure if this year was worse than previous years, but the headwinds were terrible. Also it felt as though from mile 6-mile 9 we were just at a constant incline. Straight into the cold, wet wind. I managed a pretty quick initial 10k, maintaining just over an 8 minute mile pace. Slowly the winds let up and I was able to see Hurricane Point, the two-mile long, 5% grade hill that stretches the last 4 miles before you reach the half-marathon point. I could hear the drums thumping at the base of the hill and my heart rate increased and I could feel myself focusing for what lay ahead. If you haven't yet, watch some YouTube videos of the Taiko drums at the base of this hill. The sounds of these drums will forever stay with me, not only for the anxiety it brings for the hill, but as a motivation and driving force that leads thousands of runners up and over Hurricane Point.
The next two miles were just brutal. 40mph headwinds and rain blowing in my race. I kept my head down and just looked at the ground and tried not to look up at the expansive hill in front of me. Runners around me chanted "what goes up, must come down" and I found that to be a nice thing to think about as my calves burned. The feeling at the crest of the hill was substantial. I was not prepared for the exhiliration of reaching the top of Hurricane Point. My legs were relieved and I was smiling. I knew that over half of the race still lay ahead but getting through the hill was an amazing feeling.
I cruised down the other 2 miles of the hill, down to Bixby Bridge where the infamous grand piano player rests. I didn't stop for pictures but looked around and tried to take in the sheer beauty of my surroundings.
At this point I was feeling pretty good. Finished the half marathon in just under two hours and was heading into mile 14. Things were feeling pretty great until mile 16 which was a long, drawn out hill. This is not what you want to be experiencing after the 2 mile slog up Hurricane Point. Needless to say, I made it through and tried to keep my head strong for the last 10 miles. (Yeah I know. 10 more miles, wtf??)
I honestly don't remember much through miles 17-20 other than the delicious snacks that were provided and how the course "seemed" to be gentle rolling hills which, while sometimes frustrating, kept things interesting. There were bands along the way and I was still smiling for the cameras that I saw. I was still running near the 4 hour pace group at this point which I hadn't expected, but was a big motivating factor.
Enter: Carmel Highlands. I know that everyone bitches about this point of the marathon because it's the end of the race and you really don't want to be running up these short, super steep hills. I was hanging tough until about mile 23 and the pain in my quad was unbearable. My right leg was nearly quivering and I slowed down to a quick walk to try and alleviate the pain but that was simply not enough. I kept thinking "don't stop Nicole just keep moving!!" but I couldn't. I needed to stretch desperately. In the end, it's good that I did. But wow.
I stopped on the side of the road to stretch and my legs felt like they were being electrocuted. My calves, quads, and hamstrings were on fire. Leaning over to stretch was the most painful and simultaneously glorious feeling in the world. I stretched out my quads for a few minutes and started to walk, and then run again. I lost a lot of time, but it saved the race for me.
The final few miles were hilly and painful. I now understand why they tell you that the final 10k is the absolute worst. Despite all of your training, it's really your head that gets you through it. You have to stay mentally tough and just tell yourself you can do it, even when your legs are brutally exhausted and all you want to do is just stop and lay on the ground.
Mile 25 was a half mile uphill and a half mile downhill. I ended up walking a little on the uphill just because my legs simply felt like jello. On the downhill I could see the sign for "Mile 26" and suddenly I was re-awakened.
I resumed a quick running pace and as soon as I could see the finish I broke out into as much of a sprint as I could muster. The pain lifted and I felt like I was running on air. I crossed the finish line and high-fived the attendants. I walked forward, legs like jelly, toward the tent where all of the food is, congratulating my fellow runners.
I honestly couldn't believe it was over. And the runner's high afterward was truly something I had never experienced before. (and the pain in my legs the next day was also something I had never experienced before. Think of the Tin-Man from the wizard of Oz)
Final time: 4:21:19. Just under 10 minute miles (avg) for the entire course.
I couldn't be happier with my time - my "secret" goal was to finish in under 4 hours and 30 minutes and I was super happy I was able to do that on such a hard course.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Eugene, Oregon
Well for some masochistic reason, I've decided to do another marathon.
This time, however, it won't be nearly as insane as the last one in Big Sur. Doing the big bad hilly marathon was quite the way to go for my first marathon ever, but I decided to choose another pretty, scenic one this time in an area that isn't super hilly and will probably, dare I say it, be fun.
April 28, 2013: Eugene Marathon
I'm pretty pumped. Training has begun and it's just like old times. Or something like that...
Also I totally realized I never wrote a post about actually running the Big Sur Marathon. That will be coming soon...I have to stir up the memories I suppose, haha.
This time, however, it won't be nearly as insane as the last one in Big Sur. Doing the big bad hilly marathon was quite the way to go for my first marathon ever, but I decided to choose another pretty, scenic one this time in an area that isn't super hilly and will probably, dare I say it, be fun.
April 28, 2013: Eugene Marathon
I'm pretty pumped. Training has begun and it's just like old times. Or something like that...
Also I totally realized I never wrote a post about actually running the Big Sur Marathon. That will be coming soon...I have to stir up the memories I suppose, haha.
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