Biltmore Duathlon Race Report

I am usually a middle of the pack racer, but I was more like an end of the pack racer at this year's inaugural duathlon on Biltmore Estate March 23 But hey, it's early in the season and for someone with absolutely zero mountain bike and trail running experience, thats ok. I managed to finish the 5K run, followed by a 10 mile off road mountain bike ride through mostly unseen (by the public) dirt and gravel backroads of the Biltmore Estate, followed by a challenging second 5K run through the wooded forest above the Biltmore Winery on a narrow and winding single track path (in a little over 2 hours).  Most of what went through my mind today was how my midwestern running/tri peeps would have enjoyed the beauty and undulating terrain which lent itself to this gorgeous and crazy fun race. This race is definitely worth a du-over next year. (I crack myself up sometimes).  The second thing I couldn't stop thinking about is how much I have fallen in love with Asheville and its racing community.

Ten miles is my longest mountain bike ride ever, and while it requires a lot more work compared to a road bike, the places your mountain bike can take you has me thinking that I  definitely need to invest in one.

This race is memorable for a few reasons. I often run at the Biltmore Estate by myself, but today I  witnessed a large pack of colorfully dressed runners streamlined down my usual path that parallels the French Broad River. To finally see races happening here is terrific. We ran to the Lagoon on a paved trail that eventually looks up to the grande Biltmore House, and then back to T1. Jumping on our mountain bikes, we headed out over the French Broad River to the West side of the estate that is typically off limits to guests. The first few miles were all up hill, passing cows, barns,  past pristine lakes, past vineyards, and through narrow wooded roads where (near the end of the pack and often feeling secluded) I expected a bear and her cubs to cross my path at any moment.  As we reached the height of each climb, we picked up speed on  downhill portions, and sharp turns, and at every moment I couldn't wait to see what was around the corner. The second reason this race is memorable is for its sheer beauty. At one point I think I let four cyclists pass me because I had to stop and take photos.

Once back at T2, we headed out on foot behind the Biltmore Winery, another uphill run for at least a mile up a service road, and then headed into a wooded forest in which our single track dirt path was only marked by orange ties on the trees (more firsts for me). There we zig-zagged up, and then down, and then up again, through the trees with careful attention to footing as I continued to trip on rocks and tree roots almost every step. Once back on the service road, the last three quarters of a mile or so was downhill to the finish.

After all these years of racing (I've been doing marathons for nearly 10 years now), Forrest never ceases to amaze me. He showed up to watch my race.  I love that guy!  And I highly recommend this race!

New Year, New Town, New Race Season

Can I first say, no more excuses. While "normal" will never describe my range of motion for my shoulder, it would appear I am ready for what will hopefully be an awesome year of racing. With Ironman frequently still in my thoughts, I decided to put another 70.3 on my schedule and test the shoulder and see if this body can still handle a rigorous training schedule that emulates 2011. Asheville is my new home and offers many advantages over training in the midwest. First, ideal year round weather will mean less training indoors. Second, no matter what race I choose, the hills and mountains of Western North Carolina are sure to prepare me well! My 2011 RAGNAR team from Illinois has decided to put the Blue Ridge Relay on their 2013 schedule, and so I not only look forward to being part of this challenging race, but I look forward to hosting many of them who will be staying with us after the race, which begins in Virginia and ends in Asheville!

From the beautiful trails of Bent Creek, to the wide open trails on the Biltmore Estate, to the never ending and scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, I am looking forward to training and experiencing new places and with new faces. Here's to 2013 and making the best of my good health and new surroundings!

Optimism and Slugging Through PT

Many of my athlete friends know the meaning of pain and suffering. We sign up for it in any way we can. We actually PAY for it. Because the moment we realize that the self-inflicted pain is gone, we feel like a superhero, overwhelmed with adrenaline and the satisfaction that we have achieved something big; A PR, qualifying time, a medal to hang on our wall. Praise from our less than superhuman friends.

If you're lucky enough to avoid injury while you're out conquering the world with your great feats, then all the better. If not, you most likely will have to pay the price of pain, unrewarded in the traditional sense, and without pomp or circumstance or any of the other usual ways that superheroes are exalted.

A friend once told me about an explorer in the 1800's who set out to cross the Antarctic from sea to sea, via the pole. Disaster struck this expedition when its ship  became trapped in ice and was slowly crushed before the party could land. Ultimately they escaped, with no lives lost, and he too, became a hero.

The explorer, known as Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, eventually became a role model as one who, in an extreme circumstance, persevered. Somewhere in his life's journey he was quoted as saying,  “Optimism is true moral courage.”

It's easy to be an optimist when all is going well, but who you are when things fall apart is truly an eye-opening and sometimes frightening realization. To experience pain to such a degree that each day is a challenge makes it difficult if not impossible some days to remain optimistic.  To any type "A" personality who is also an athlete, it can become a difficult pill to swallow, given their goal-oriented nature.

And as if time, the metric by which all progress is measured, becomes your enemy because, well, you're not getting any younger.

Three long months of PT with no end in sight; Ironman continues to be....elusive. In the meantime, trying to be optimistic.

An Injury of Colossal Proportion

2 weeks after shoulder surgery

Who would have guessed a 30 year old ski injury would bring down my 2012 Racing Season, which was expected to be my most awesome racing season thus far. But perhaps I saw it coming.  Over the years, multiple shoulder dislocations in the gym while lifting weights, and three times in the past year while swimming. Probably more than a dozen times in the past two or three years alone. Last summer, I dislocated my shoulder in the middle of an open-water lake swim all while wearing a wetsuit. Crazy! Feb 20 I dislocated my shoulder in masters swim as a result of some minor contact with another swimmer in my lane (second time in a month). 15 people who responded to a "Code Yellow" didn't know how to put it back in so I had to do it myself. Again. Suddenly the mass start at Ironman Florida seemed like a pretty scary and impossible proposition, considering my apparently worsening and delicate condition. Shoulder surgery was two weeks ago, doc pretty much found my ligaments "shredded" 'and labrum nowhere it was supposed to be.  I am told at least a six month rehab. Given all the anxiety I was feeling about an ocean swim and now as I recover from shoulder surgery gives me new hope to find my perfect location for my first Ironman distance race. Lake Placid 2013, Challenge Roth (Germany) maybe. There's a good chance I can salvage the second half of my racing season so long as it does not include swimming. For now, I remain bruised but not undeterred.  And unfortunately Ironman will have to wait.

Check out our triathlon club's year end video! Awesome!

Time for Ironman

July 17, 2011, after having completed my first Half Ironman race in Racine, was the day I declared at the finish line, "That was the most difficult thing I have ever done" and "I'll never do an Ironman". Somehow I forgot those words and on November 6 I found myself  poised and ready to push the button to claim one of very few spots that were available online for Ironman Florida 2012. The race sold out in 16 minutes, and yours truly had no problem getting a coveted spot. Destiny! Nearly three months later, I find myself preparing for the day I will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles in Panama City, Florida on November 3, 2012. It has been roughly six years since I began to wonder if I could do an Ironman. My time has finally come!  So I am praying to the triathlon gods, for no injuries, a great racing season, and to make it across that finish line in November!

BTW, meet Eli, my new climbing companion who will help me navigate the beautiful but challenging mountains of Western North Carolina. Trek Madone 4.5 WSD triple. Named after Eli Manning, Super Bowl MVP and who helped me win my football pool and purchase a new road bike! Let's roll!

My first 70.3 Racine, Wisconsin

July 17, 2011 - The week before the race I began to prepare for what was going to be a grueling hot day competing in my first Half Ironman. To complicate things further, my daughter managed to break her arm on the Friday prior to race day and rendered my entire family unable to come up and cheer me on. Bummed as I was, I headed for Racine alone on Saturday to pick up my packet, rack my bike (affectionately named Alice), and don my wetsuit and take a swim in Lake Michigan to see how cold the water temp was. Fortunately there were lots of MSM team members around and I was invited to a pre-race dinner at our club President's beach house. My motel was dingy and creepy, complete with Christmas ornaments in the lobby. In July.

On the morning of the race, the transition area (T1) was bustling with activity, and I was unbelievably nervous. I set up my very small area carefully with my helmet, gloves, shoes, and all my gear. Pumped up my tires and tried to get over my nervousness by chatting with other athletes and greeting other MSM team members. Everyone was so helpful, offering up items I had forgotten. I left all of my gatorade in my fridge back at the hotel and forgot sunscreen.

The swim was probably the most frightening for me, mostly because of the wait. We slowly walked down to the beach in our wet suits, the day already getting warm. Waves lined up and since mine didn't start until 48 minutes afer the start, I just stood in the water, more waiting. I really wanted to throw up. I did a few strokes so that I could get my heart to stop racing.

Once we lined up, we got the go and off I went. The 1.2 mile course was visibly very far, and so each buoy I reached I wished I had counted them so that I knew how much longer I had to swim. It seemed like eternity; eventually, the younger males behind me caught up to me and I had to deal with crowds of swimmers now and then knocking and kicking me. I counted and talked to myself to keep a relaxed rhythm, trying not to panic like I did in an earlier Sprint triathlon. Sighting is a great idea, but eventually it becomes very challenging when your goggles fog up and you have just a split second above the water to see where you are actually going. I just tried staying with the pack, and seeing an occasional buoy. I finally made the last major buoy before turning into to the beach and it felt great knowing I was almost done with the swim.

Swim 1.2 Miles - 48:56 Woohoo!!!

Racine comes with wetsuit strippers and so I sat on the ground and they ripped off my wetsuit in about 4 seconds, saving me valuable time in transition (now T2) struggling with it myself. I quickly slipped my sandy feet into socks and bike shoes, put on my helmet, sunglasses, race belt, and headed out with Alice. The temperature was climbing quickly, and so my race strategy (per my coach) was to consume 200 calories of my gels (electrolytes and carbohydrates) and another 800 mg of sodium every hour. In a marathon, 80 + degree temps would be disastrous and here I am facing a day that would eventually reach 110 heat index.

I felt very good on my bike. There were challenging hills but I managed to get enough confidence to let loose on the downhill portions, reaching speeds of 28 mph which is fast for me! (my triathlete friends are probably laughing at this) I remember at one point blasting down a hill, all smiles, and shouting woo hooo!!!!! That was the longest bike ride I had ever done.

Bike 56 miles - 3:20:31

Being an experienced marathon runner, getting off my bike and beginning the run was the best part. This is what I'm supposed to be good at. I dropped Alice, put my running shoes on, and headed out on the two loop course. My legs were only wobbly for about a half mile, but I began a slow and steady climb that overlooked the shores where my swim began more than four hours earlier in the day. Finishers were already coming in and I had to ignore the excitement of the finish line and remind myself I had a few more hours to go before my journey would come to an end. My goal was to to not walk any of the run course. By this time, the heat was pretty discouraging for many runners who were shuffling or even walking. I gathered later that it was 100 degrees by the time my run started. I kept moving, adding ice to my regimen. One cup in my bra, the other in my tri shorts. Apparentliy there is a major artery that controls your body temperature and so if you can get some ice down there, its like a thermostat. And it worked fairly well. I ran through every possible sprinkler, soaking wet from head to toe for the entire race. Since it was a double loop, I had to come in close to the finish line, and see other finishers and then go back out for another loop. I hate running loops like that because mentally you feel like you're done but you're really not. But once I reached the peak of the hill outside the turnaround, I felt comforted to pass so many runners up who were obviously affected by the heat more than I was. I made sure to cheer on my fellow MSM team mates by high fiving them as they passed me going the other way, and I was actually still smiling. Despite 100+ degree day and still not being done, I was so happy. Who does this anyway? I do! And I'm doing it!

Run 13.1 miles - 2:23:19

The photo says it all. Elated. Within seconds, felt like I was going to throw up. That my friends, was the most difficult thing I had ever accomplished in my lifetime. At that moment, I felt satisfied that 70.3 would be the longest race I would ever do. At this writing, months later, who knows. Maybe a full Ironman one day. But for now, I will never forget this day. A special thanks to my coach, Chris Palmquist, who taught me everything I needed to know and who was so encouraging every step of the way.

FINISH TIME 6:44:53

Swimming to Racine

Recently, I asked my tri coach how to become a faster swimmer. Her reply was not what I expected. Not that building strength and endurance doesn't matter, but my form - everything from rotating my core, to head position, kicking, breathing, bent elbows, entry, pull, ALL MATTER. I learned this, because my coach referred me to an awesome swim coach who filmed me swimming in a local pool, and then he evaluated my form and offerred suggestions for modifying or correcting what I am doing wrong. The list is long. I'm not discouraged; however, this process closely resembles recent outings with my golf pro who took apart my amateur golf swing, piece by piece, only to build it back up, slowly, one bit at a time. The first time you hit a bucket of balls, you're like Tin Cup, wondering how all of a sudden you have a case of the "shanks", and why you are getting worse instead of better. Same goes for swimming. I spent this week in masters swim class, focusing on one thing, as my swim instructor had asked. The end result was the consumption of a lot of pool water. Call it a reality check; and definitely a humbling process. Thank God I have cycling tomorrow.

Meet "Alice"

Every other marathon year tends to be a year of turmoil; one of significant reflection about whether I've run my last PR race, if I can overcome my myriad of injuries, and if my age will deter me from pursuing more. Now that I've completed the five World Marathon Majors, I easily came to the conclusion that I've accomplished about all I want to in regard to running some of the more prominent marathons. And yet there is a bigger race out there that continues to haunt me. It did not take long for me to find a way to channel my "I'm done" phase into what I think might be my most challenging race season yet. Meet Alice. She flaunted herself under my nose while I was testing a Trek Madone road bike. Can you say sweeeet? Trek's newest Speed Concept carbon fiber tri bike, which made its debut in the time trials at last year's Tour De France. Screw the road bike. So I signed up for my first Half Ironman in Racine, Wisconsin, to be preceeded by a few other shorter distance triathlons, a half marathon and followed by a fall half marathon and a local marathon that made its debut in the Fox Valley last year . With the help of my awesome coach, Chris Palmquist, my journey has begun. Off for a ride...

2010 Berlin Marathon; Not so Pretty Second Half

9.26.10 was a silent observance of my mom's birthday as well as a celebration that I finally finished all of the five World Marathon Majors! In addition, the Berlin Marathon served the purpose of helping me to raise funds for the National MS Society. To date, I have raised more than $20,000 for various MS charities, running different marathons in numerous cities across the world. As a runner with MS, I am blessed to have my good health and the ability to do what I love more than anything in the world- run. Thanks to all who gave!

Let's face it. Ten weeks of training doesn't prepare anyone for a PR race, but I went for it anyway. Entering the starting corals, we met with cold and rainy conditions, not ideal for a marathon. Despite the weather, our group, which included a large group of German runners whom we have had the pleasure of touring Berlin together, was quite jovial; many of us were dancing and laughing to the pre-race music, trying to stay warm.

Figuring a 9:58 average pace was all I needed for a PR time, I went out slightly on the fast side, feeling pretty good. The rain kept many spectators away, and with so many international runners, there wasn't much opportunity for conversation along the route. So I pretty much kept my head down and focused on one mile at at a time. The first 13 were fairly solid miles (mile splits as follows: 9:54, 9:47, 9:46, 9:46, 9:37, 10:05, 9:37, 10:05, 10:31, 10:15, 9:49, 10:08, 9:50). Crossing the half way mark at 2 hours and 10 minutes on my Garmin (official time was at 2 hours 12 min to the half way point) left me with the idea that I'd likely not PR and I'd have to settle for a finish time somewhere between 4:25 and 4:30. But things pretty much slowed from there, and the impact of a shortened training season was felt. (mile splits for the second half: 10:06, 11:07, 11:07, 11:27, 12:35, 11:13, 11:15, 11:30, 11:35, 13:11 (ouch!), 13:04, 12:31, 12:14). Definitely one of my slowest marathons, but an amazing experience nonetheless. Maybe its also time to consider retiring, but I'm definitely taking some time off to really heal.

I am grateful for having the opportunity to meet such fantastic people during this journey, some of whom will travel to Chicago next year for the 2011 marathon. At which time, I hope to reciprocate the warm reception that we experienced in Berlin. After the marathon, Tina, Joy and I left for Prague and enjoyed a few days of sight seeing and some amazing memories along the way!

Injuries

For now, I'll just call it a stress fracture, the newest injury to add to my running repertoire. Bruised toenails, tight IT-Band, sore hamstrings, plantar fasciitis, they are all tolerable, however, the stress fracture trumps all other injuries. An MRI couldn't pinpint exactly what it was, but the bone itself was inflamed so I spent most of June and part of July with my foot in a bucket of ice, unable to run for about 7 weeks. It is now almost September 1 and I've managed to heal and get out on the trail once again. I've got a 10 miler, 13 miles, 15 miler and an 18 miler in for my long runs. As with other obstacles I've had to overcome during training, you deal with it and on race day you inevitably question whether you've put enough training in to achieve your goal, whatever it is. At this point, I am feeling optimistic because I've run a marathon before. In fact, more than a few times. A PR is an unlikely outcome, but I'm going to give it my best! Berlin, here I come!

P.S. This one is for the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society. If you'd care to donate, I'm trying to raise $5,000. Here is a link to my fundraising page.

Return to Marine Corps Marathon

2009 was a year of PR's. MCM was no exception. A 4:22:26 finish, a five minute improvement over London earlier this year.

Lauren Baumgarten (second from left) and I "officially met" via email as members of the 2007 NYC Marathon team raising money for the New York Chapter of the National M.S. Society. Unfortunately, on race day, delays in getting to the start prevented us from being able to meet in person until two years later. When I did not get picked for the NYC Marathon lottery for 2009, I bought a bib from another runner and joined Lauren and her friends in Washington D.C. for a wonderful marathon weekend. Jamie Masson (third from left) works with Lauren( who is a nurse) and is a pulminary doctor and Anita is a high school math teacher. It was great returning to Washington D.C. where I PR'd 4 years earlier. I forgot how hilly the marathon course was, but in the end, I truly enjoyed running it and experiencing the sights through the eyes of Lauren, who had never seen our nation's capitol before now. After the marathon, we grazed on hamburgers and beer, took a nap, and then let our tired feet walk around the national mall. We saw Lincoln's memorial for a second time in the same day, only this time it was empty of tourists, solemn, and beautiful. We proceeded to the F.D.R. memorial, which was built 10 years ago. Having been to Washington D.C. many times, I never knew this memorial existed and it was stunning to view at night. We made note of the beautiful silhouette made by the Washington monument as the nearby lights shone upon it. Makes me proud and grateful for our nation's founders. On to Berlin!

P.S. I was briefly interviewed by a local media outlet in D.C. My three seconds of fame...

Another PR...in London!

After more than a year with no marathons on my race schedule, I ran the Flora London Marathon on April 26. What a great experience. And, after a three year wait, I managed to eek out a PR on a rather warm 70 degree day with an extremely crowded field of participants. Wow!

Forrest and the girls joined me as we spent a week sight seeing in London and Paris. The marathon was definitely the highlight for me. I can honestly say I felt great through Mile 26...no cramping, well-hydrated, and cruising to the finish line. While my goal finish time was a 4:19, the crowded streets made it very difficult for me to run at my intended pace. In the end, I was happy with a PR of 4:27:19. Thanks to all who donated to my charity...I managed to raise more than 2,000 pounds and was the MS Trust's sixth highest fundraiser out of 44 team members!

As for the elite race, it was also pretty fantastic. Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru smashed Martin Lel's one-year-old course record to win the marathon in a personal best of 2:05:10 after a gripping battle with Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede who finished just 10 seconds behind. In the women’s race, Germany’s Irina Mikitenko became the first woman since Paula Radcliffe to retain her London Marathon title as she held off a spirited challenge from Britain's Mara Yamauchi to win the third marathon of her career and cement her first place on the World Marathon Majors leaderboard. What amazes me is that the men’s winner was 22 years old, while the winner of the female race was nearly 37 years old! There is hope for all of us older female runners!

Long Winter Runs at Fermilab

The knee problem I have been having is related to some tight quads and so my long runs have been taking their toll on me. I'm trying some PT and also working with a personal trainer to work on strength training. Also, I tried a new venue for my long runs last weekend - Fermilab, just a few miles from home. The facility is located on a large parcel of land that houses scientists from all over the world who study particles. Buffalo roam on the property and there are scenic creeks, nature trails, and a visitor's center plus housing for some of the scientists. It is open to the public (not cars) and as a result, it is a haven for cyclists and runners alike. I ran 16 last Sat. with a friend of mine. There is a large and small "loop" that follows the direction of the underground particle accelerator with paved and snow-plowed streets and running paths. Saturday was 30 degrees and a bit blustery but the scenery was much better than running on a treadmill for 3 hours. This Saturday is my first 20 miler and I think I'll return to Fermi for my run. The forecast looks like 45 degrees!

We finally booked our hotel in London near the finish line of the race. I'm relieved to have that done.

Praise be thy Feet

Training for the London Marathon started last Monday. I've begun a new and rather intense training program from the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training's "Run Less, Run Faster" book. If you want to view my training program, go here for a PDF. The idea is to run fewer days per week but at higher intensity. Three key workouts consist of a speed workout to improve VO2Max, mid-week tempo run to improve lactate threshold, and a longer paced run on the weekend to build endurance. In all, I am going to run five 20-milers leading up to the marathon, something I have never done before. Three weekdays will be spent cross training (I have decided on spinning, swimming, and yoga) and one day rest per week. I am looking forward to winter training - generally colder and usually more lonely but it beats having to get out for a long run on an 80 degree morning. Right now it's been snowing a ton and the below-zero temps have me running indoors, which totally sucks, but there's nothing I can do about it. Tomorrow's long run is an 18 miler - which will take me about 3 hours on a treadmill. Hopefully soon the weather will warm up so I can get out for my long runs. Cheers for now.

World Marathon Majors!

It's official, I have just been accepted to be on a charity team of 30 to run the London Marathon 2009! I will be the only USA team member among 30 to represent the MS Trust, a UK-based charity that provides information, education, research, support for the 85,000 people living in the UK with MS. After taking the year off to complete a few triathlons, I am extremely excited about the opportunity to run my 7th marathon and be a part of my first overseas MS team! Completion of the London Marathon will help me get one step closer to completing all of the five World Marathon Majors (Boston, New York, Chicago, London and Berlin). Training begins in December, so stay tuned!

New York City has Hills?

"One Tough Course" - One cool thing about running two back-to-back marathons in 30 days is that the usual "post marathon depression" never came. You REALLY ARE OVER RUNNING MARATHONS at this point.

But I survived, and achieved my goal which was go have a good time and finish in a respectable time, 4:43:02. I ran with my Boston running buddy Silvia for nearly 21 miles, but my feet really began to hurt and I couldn't help but slow down as I ran (more like shuffled) the last 3 uphill miles through Central Park... Silvia managed to record her personal best of 4:29 and some change!

So for 2007, there will be no PR's, rather feelings of contentment in finishing both marathons, each of which posed different and unexpected challenges. Thanks to all who donated to the National MS Society - a total of $6,000 was raised. To all of you, I toast you and thank you for your wonderful generosity as we try to find a cure for MS.

Toughing it out in Chicago 2007

Brutally hot, and pretty unbelievable! The forecast called for upper 80's on race day and the result...10,000 "no-shows", more than 10,000 who didn't finish, 300 sent to area hospitals, and one very unfortunate fatality. The race was prematurely cancelled into the fourth hour, but not without 24,933 determined runners who kept on going and made it to the finish line. The elite race was pretty amazing as well, with neck-and-neck finishes for both the male and female categories. WOW! I toughed it out the last six miles and actually finished in a respectable time, 4:40:31. Tina and I agreed this was the single most physically challenging thing we had ever done in our lifetime, period. This photo was taken around mile 13 - Forrest was handing off an ice-cold sponge, which I placed in my cap to keep my head cool, and a water bottle to help bridge the long gaps between water stations. Despite running in water-soaked shoes, not one blister, and just a few sore muscles. This marathon is definitely one to remember!

Gotta Love a PR

How I achieved a PR (4:28:23)at the Marine Corps Marathon on October 29:

Speedwork - you can visit Runners World for an explanation behind "Yasso 800's" and finding the right pace for your speed workout. A MUST for anyone wanting to improve performance.
Mid-Week Interval Training - to help build lactate threshold
Starting out Slow and Steady- A painful lesson learned in Boston. While I was anxious those first miles, I held back.
Drinking Early in the Race - I was well hydrated before the race and continued to drink early in the race.
Increased Gel Consumption - I tried consuming a few more gels than usual
Finding a Training Partner - I joined a local running club (the best $15 I ever spent) and found a running partner with similar goals.
Finding the Right Race - The Marine Corps Marathon was a really beautiful course. There were some bottlenecks at the finish line that need to be worked out, but I'd run this race again in a heart beat.

Ahhh, Beating the Aches and Pains from Running

After being pretty battered and bruised from August 26th's grueling 18-miler, I decided the quickest way to recover would be an ice bath. I am not sure which was more painful, the ice bath, or the run itself. Yes sir, that 18 week marathon training schedule has now kicked into full gear! Those mid-week runs (at least mine) are reaching 10 and 12 miles long, and I've put one Saturday 20 miler behind me, one more to go. Speaking of which, Ann and I ran it in pouring rain for nearly 3 and a half hours. So then I think back to winter training for Boston and I'm not sure which is worse - a 7 degree day in which your water bottles freeze solid within 5 miles, or the quirky up and down weather of summer training. We are truly gluttons for punishment!

Boston 2006

The 2006 Boston Marathon took place on my birthday this year, April 17. Over the Easter weekend, we relaxed, enjoyed some wonderful New England seafood, visited some historic landmarks, met up with other teammates, as well as visited the Expo to pick up my bib and timing chip.

Early on Marathon Monday, Patriot's Day, Nancy picked us up at our hotel and we made it towards Hopkinton where we were greeted by tens of thousands of other seemingly anxious runners. As we hung out at "Athlete's Village" , I contemplated the months of effort I endured to realize this dream. We waited until the officials were ready to walk us nearly a mile down the road to the numbered corrals, positioned along the Hopkinton’s main street. As noon rolled around, the entire mass of people began its forward motion, and within moments, the 110th running of the Boston Marathon had begun.

“Run your own race”, coach Karen (1995 Kona Champion Karen Smyers!) reminded us Saturday night at our team pasta party in Brookline. Great advice, except when you’re a Boston marathon rookie and you think with a few marathons under your belt, and 18 weeks of training, you know it all. Boy, was I was wrong.

For the first 9 miles, I found myself running in a thick crowd at slightly over a 9 minute per mile pace. Bad idea ( I forgot I was one of only a handful who hadn't actually qualified for this race). So, despite a really fast first half, silly me found myself in a pickle at the mid-way point.

My second half (13.1 miles) was not as impressive as the first half. I did a rapid downward spiral. Uninspired by the crowds and uninspired by my music, my legs became heavy and stiffened. I began to notice that no amount of fluids were sufficient to reverse my slightly dehydrated state. I began to slow, knowing the hardest part of the course was still ahead. I struggled through the hills of Newton and Heart Break hill, with a few sightings of my family and coach Karen along the way. The succession of hills lasted for nearly 4 long miles. Once at the peak, I was ready to finish my race but the fans kept shouting, “Only 5 more miles to go!”. You’ve got to be kidding!

I had little energy at all for the last 5 miles. I was experiencing pain in my quads from the race's notorious downhill stretches and ultimately I threw away my hope of reaching my goal of 4:30. But the best part of the race was the last mile down Boylston, with thousands and thousands of spectators and partiers on each side, shouting words of encouragement, all the while, the finish line is in sight. I looked up one last time at the cameras and gave my “I finished Boston!” smile, and saved the tears for later. Yes, I did finish, in 5:04:11, a slower pace than I had hoped for.

I am humbled by this experience. One day, I will return.

Words cannot sufficiently express my gratitude for everyone’s well-wishes and donations to the MS Society - I exceeded my goal of raising $10,000 and I am fairly certain if I want to, I can come back to run Boston for MSAMS. We’ll see.

A Runner's Dream - Boston Marathon

President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veteran's Day are four distinctly American tributes to liberties, feedom and democracy, commemorated by a holiday in the United States.

Then there is Patriot's Day. For New Englanders, Patriot's Day remains the quintessential observance: the anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War between British troops and the Minute Men of Concord and Lexington, Massachusetts, and preceded by Paul Revere's famous Midnight Ride. For runners, Patriot's Day has become synonymous with the Boston Marathon, or as locals often refer to the day, Marathon Monday.

Two days prior to running the Chicago Marathon in October, I received word that I had been selected by the New England Chapter of the National MS Society to run in the Boston Marathon in 2006. This organization assembles a team of 50 each year to participate in the most prestigious marathon in the country while raising funds for MS. Next year's race will coincidentally take place on my birthday. I hope you will help sponsor me as I try to reach a personal goal of raising $10,000. You can click here to visit the chapter's web site to make an electronic donation. Dare to Dream! And if you choose to donate, thank you for your generosity!

A Run to Remember - 2005 Chicago Marathon

October 9, 2005. Up at 4:30 a.m. Bandaids, lip balm, MP3 player, chafing cream, gels, power bar, Tylenol, sunglasses, hat, socks and clothes neatly laid out with timing chip attached to shoe and bib pinned on the night before.

I started out with Tina in the 4:30 pace group, with the intention of finishing in 5 hours. The day earlier, I met Hal Higdon, Marathon guru and author of numerous running books. After I talked with him about how I had missed four weeks of training, his advice was "easy does it". Our journey began on Columbus Avenue at Grant Park. I watched as four television helecopters hovered above to capture images of 40,000 athletes eager to complete their goal. Thirteen long minutes went by after the starting gun before my wave actually moved up and crossed the start line. I started my stop watch and began to run. Each mile marker thereafter I checked my pace wristband to see If I was on target to finish in 5 hours. I surprised myself to see that I was gaining every mile. I felt like I was floating. Being a suburbanite, I caught glimpses of beautiful Chicago neighborhoods that I have never visited. We headed north through Lincoln Park neighborhoods and towards Wrigleyville on LaSalle and then back south to Adams Street where we entered Greek Town heading West.

After a while, the 4:30 pace group felt comfortable. The first 10 miles flew by. I weaved through runners and had many conversations along the way. By the mid-point (13 miles), I was in a groove, receiving congratulations from many 4:30 runners. One young gentleman said to me in a Southern accent, "ma'am, if you're shooting for five hours, you're going to smoke 'em!". (We wear pace group bibs on our back that indicate the time we intend to finish)

The weather cooperated in every possible way. 55 degrees by race start, and not much warmer throughout the run. It was slightly windy and cloudy, which helped to keep me from over-heating and dehydrating. By the time I hit Chinatown, the crowds were enormous and loud. When I hit mile 21, I began to feel the pain in my legs. While 5 miles seems a fairly short distance, it's the hardest part of the race. One t-shirt said it all: "Chicago Marathon: A 10K with a 20 miler warm-up" . We all know how hard that last 10K can be. From here on out it's purely a mental game. When I rounded the corner and saw the 26 mile marker and only .2 miles to go, I began to cry. This was it. I perservered despite an M.S. attack that wreaked havoc mid-training. Today was truly one of the best days in my life. Incidentally, I finished at 4:39:23, an unbelievable 29 minutes and 4 seconds faster than my first marathon! And Mom, you were with me every step of the way.

That's Me and Hal Higdon!

I met Hal Higdon at the Chicago Marathon Expo the day before the race. Hal is the official trainer for the Chicago Marathon and a revered author of several marathon books.

Synopsis of my First Marathon

Orlando seemed so long ago. 26,000 runners partcipated in the Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon on January 9, 2005. We started out at 6:30 a.m. on a day that would eventually hit 80 degrees. I felt I was pepared for anything that might go wrong. I was most concerned with the controversial subject of proper hydration. How much is too little or too much?

The first two hours were pleasant because it was dark out. I didn't anticipate the humidity would contribute to foot blisters that began to form by mile 6. If anything would take me out of the race, I thought this was it. Before long, I wrapped bandaids on my toes at an aid station and off I went. I forgot about the problem until I removed my bloody shoes from my feet in the hotel room about an hour after the marathon. Months later I calculate I lost about five toenails in all.

They say that a body can run for about two hours on glycogen, a main form of carbohydrate storage in the human body. Thereafter, the body converts to burning fat instead, a less efficient type of fuel. That is why most runners "hit a wall" after about 16 miles. My "wall" appeared before me around mile 22. I credited some of my fatigue to the rather boring stretch between mile markers 18 and 22, a four mile stretch along the outskirts of the park with few spectators and no shade. Upon exiting MGM studios around mile 23, the remainder of the course was a steady uphill run, a surprising encounter.

In all, the DW Marathon was a success and I enjoyed it. I finished in 5:08 and would have finished in under five hours if it had not been for the uphill run during the last stretch of the race.

Ad*dictive

adj. To occupy (oneself) with or involve (oneself) in something habitually or compulsively. See photo illustration to the right. This was my first half marathon in St. Charles, IL. The photographer was able to pick up on every bit of cellulite on my body with his expensive camera. That's why I made the photo small.