Funtanilla Forty: Part 1

The Funtanilla Forty (40 mile run on 40th birthday) is done. I completed the run on 9/25/10 in a total time of 9 hours, 48 minutes. Here’s what the time included.

-waiting for support car to find me and Scott M at Lake Chabot for about 20 minutes

-waiting for all he stoplights throughout the city

-changing socks, shoes, shirt

-grabbing food, drinks from support car

-hilly 9 miles at Lake Chabot Trails

-mid-high 80 degree heat.

-bathroom stops

I mixed in walking, especially the last 10 miles, but I never took any rest breaks.

Very happy and proud. It was an amazing journey and  I can’t wait to share more of it with you all. Thanks for all the support and stay tuned for more of the story.

My Stuff Bags Foundation

Why 40 miles?

the last of the 30’s…

Last weekend I went into the Big Peach running store and in my excitement about all things running, I signed up for a race today; The Buckhead Sizzler 10k. I signed up for a few reasons. 1) cuz i like to support Big Peach & local races 2) i thought it would be good to mix in a race before the 40 miler on 9/25. 3) to get in one more 10k before turning 40 years old.

So, this morning, alarm clock went off at 6am and i had to hope outta bed or else I would have just kept sleeping. I had my customary coffee, clif bar & water & sat on my carpet, in quiet, while watching the darkness outside in the distance. There is something so serene & calming about just sitting in the morning darkness, looking out, while most others are sleeping. A comforting quiet. As I sat there, I started to become a little emotional…just thinking of the passage of time and the all races I have done, all the preparation, and of course, this upcoming adventure next Saturday.

My calmness quickly turned to a little chaos as i realized i was running behind in actually getting to the race start. I put on my running clothes and hit the door. I arrived at the race start with about 1.5 minutes to spare. I had to um…go to the bathroom, but i had to forego that and get going.

I started at the back and made my way along passing people here and there but I definitely did not want to “race” or push as hard as I could. I knew the course very well. It basically is all on Peachtree Rd (from Chamblee Marta to Buckhead) on a stretch that I run on quite a bit because it’s a great flat stretch (which is unheard of in Atlanta.)

At mile 2, I checked my watch and was on 9 min/mile pace. all good. Grabbed some water at about mile 2.5. Now, I get really thirsty while running…probably much more than the average runner, so by mile 4, I was looking for more water. None. I started feeling not so great by mile 4.5, was dehydrated and some minor stomach issues. Still no other water stop in sight. Finally, as we are approaching just past mile 5 (outside my office in buckhead) i see water stop. Hallelujiah! By this time my pace had slowed to about 9:15 min/mile – which is faster than all my long run paces. It was good to move my legs faster, but I could definitely feel the difference as I approached the 6 mile marker. I rounded the last corner and went through the finish line. My final 10k of being in my 30’s. 57:33/9:16 pace per mile. I can’t focus on that result cuz it was more of a training run. (for reference, I ran this race in 2005 and finished in 52:41/8:30 pace per mile.)

I grabbed my new technical Saucony shirt, a banana & some water and stretched a bit. This was a point to point race so I had to take the Marta train back to Chamblee station where I parked. However, instead of getting on at the nearest station, I walked about 1.5 miles to the Brookhaven station. Honestly, I just wanted more time on my feet and more time just outside moving! The great part about my walk was that I got to see those people who were coming in at the very end and i got to cheer them on. About 15 people passed me and I cheered on every one of them and they all smiled and thanked me. We all need cheering. Whether you are first, middle, or last. We are all out there doing our best on any given day and I cheer for that, for the effort. It is not always easy to get out the door, but once you do, it feels freaking GREAT!

Giants

Someone who inspired me

A favorite quote by someone whose story truly inspired me.

“I ran and ran every day, and I acquired a sense of determination, this sense of spirit that I would never, never, give up, no matter what else happened.” – Wilma Rudolph, US Track Star, Olympian

If you don’t know who she was, Google her. Amazing story!

Half-Reflections..

This morning, while having my usual pre-run coffee, clif bar & water, i was reading through some old training journals. I came across this one from January 31, 1999. It was after I completed my 1st Half-Marathon (13.1 Miles) while still living in SF.

“Well, I did it. I really did it. A 1/2 Marathon. I’ve completed something very big – quite an accomplishment and I’m going to let myself have it. I need more room to write than what is provided here. It rained last night so i thought it’d rain in the race, but it didn’t. It was a little misty at the start. I almost can’t believe that I did it. It seemed like such a big feat and now it’s over. Kinda a bummer. I’m so proud of myself – proud for many reasons – because i committed myself to something & I stayed with it – because I never let myself quit – because I made a goal and smashed it – because I stayed committed to a program and essentially, myself. The course was pretty & fast – a lot through Golden Gate Park and along Great Highway. It was neat/refreshing to see the big waves as I ran. Some of the wind was incredibly fierce. It was just awesome though..I can’t believe how much the powergel helped. It wasn’t actually until mile 12 when I felt real tired – but now I know – I know I can run a full marathon & I will.

One of the best things about journals of any kind is to be able to look back and see where you were at a particular time in life. I hope this post inspires you to set a goal and tackle it, whether that be to walk a mile, run a 5k, finish a project, tell someone you love them, ask for a raise, take a dance class…whatever YOUR THING is…I hope you GO FOR IT!

T-19

There’s been so much going on and so much I have wanted to post, but the moment keeps getting away from me. And honestly, I have been spending so much time in front of computer at work, that I really don’t want to be in front of it at home…which is a little bit of a shame considering i have a sweet-ass iMAC!

So, since this has been a 3-day weekend, it’s a good time for me to post!

Last week was interesting. I was more stressed with work stuff than I have been in a while and then having some anxiety about the 40 mile plan. I also had some physical issues. major fatigue. fatigue like i’m standing up at work talking to a colleague and just feel like I will fall down right then and there. Thank goodness, I didn’t. Fall down.

Then, on Friday, i also had some kind of intestinal issue which was not fun. I left work early, went home and slept a lot for the next 36 hours.

Even though as fatigued as i was, i ran on Tuesday after work. Weather has turned about 10 degrees cooler with significantly less humidity. On Thursday, I ran in the morning and then again later that evening. I felt really good on that second run, but now i think it may have been my adrenaline-induced self speaking. Who knows…I ran 4.5 miles on Saturday on treadmill and was extremely dehydrated. Afterwards, I basically slept for the rest of the day off and on.

So, i tell you all that because it really did not make ANY sense what happened on Sunday. Sunday was to be my longest long run before taper for 40 miler. I had no idea what I would be able to do given what my body was going through Fri/Sat.

I woke on Sunday and felt ok. I definitely felt rested. Legs didn’t feel as fresh as I would have liked, but I was glad to feel rested and AWAKE. I figured since it was my longest run yet, i would just go ahead and run thru the city rather than go to the Silver Comet Trail. I wanted to be alone on the empty Sunday streets of Atlanta. I wanted to see the city in its calm state, to look at the different architecture of downtown buildings, and to zig zag my way through various neighborhoods.

I drove and parked my car along Peachtree Ave, put on my Nathan Pack and headed East. Starting temperature was 56 with low low humidity. HEAVEN!

I made a conscious decision to walk any hilly parts so I could save my legs and last for as long as I could. I felt a lot of peace. It was soooo quiet being a Sunday and a holiday weekend. I had the streets to myself. Love that! The first 12 miles took me through Midtown and downtown. Running along some of the outer streets of downtown is where I encountered some of the homeless folks. They are the only ones up at that time of day. A lot of them sleeping on the concrete. Man, can you imagine? Regardless of how they arrived at a place in their lives where they know sleep on the street, in vacant, dirty, trash-filled parking lots, every one of them deserves compassion. I wanted to go home and get them some blankets. Some part of me frequently feels that only a few pieces of different luck or different choices and I could have been there…could be there…you never know.

On a stretch over by Turner Field (home of the Atlanta Braves) a couple of fellas were sitting there smiling at me as i ran past. “Run it out, run it out”, they cheered! Thx, fellas!

Physically, I was feeling better than I had expected and mentally, i felt stronger than in a while. I KNOW a lot of the mental strength came from simply better weather and not having to battle the flattening humidity. It’s truly amazing how much that had beaten me down over a good chunk of the summer. I ran into Decatur and found the track at Agnes Scott College open so i went on it. I was relieved to take off my pack and run without anything. No water, no iPOD. Free. The track there is awesome. Beautiful grass. Nice track. Serene setting. There were only 2 other people there; an older couple who were walk/running. They were adorable. I thought maybe that is how me & my loved one will be when we get old. (Whomever that loved one might be…) I ran a solid 4 miles on the track and then continued on for the final 8 miles back to my vehicle. 24 miles.

I was pretty psyched when I was finished. Why? Because I did it on tired legs. Because I had about the same pace I had at the LA Marathon back in March. Because like all the other times, I could have stopped at any point and I didn’t. Because I pushed myself and gained more confidence with each passing mile. Because even though I will still need to go another 16 miles to reach 40, I know i can do it. I know it in my blood. I needed that kind of a day, that kind of a run more than i could possibly explain.

Below are some recent pics a friend took during some different runs.

On Your Left

Since I have invaded her shoe space, why not her running space and blog as well?

I came to Atlanta to rally with Angie in her 40 mile mission which we kicked of at the raffle party at Carpe Diem.

It was fantastic and she raised over $900 for the My Stuff Bags Foundation. I was awestruck by the amount of love and support surrounding Angie.  However, it wasn’t until today (her weekly big run day) that I realized what a feat this truly is.

By no means am I a runner.  I am very active, but I have no concept of what constitutes a mile.  I am the type to hop in the kayak, on my mountain bike, or skates and go until I feel like stopping or find something to explore.  I just go with no real goal in mind.  Not the case with Angie.

We arrived at the trail head and she said, I will run 10 miles.  I said, Cool!  Sounds fun to me.  Off we went and within a matter of seconds I was over it!  Run?  Me? NO WAY.  I am not a runner.  I watched her as she raced on towards her goal.  A bright orange and red blur running with confidence.

I suddenly felt like I had to move.  Something in me was not about to stop.  Here was this woman who has overcome so many odds running like nothing mattered but the goal ahead of her.  So I ran, or I tried my best anyway.

Every excuse in the book came flooding into my head.  Here are a few because it was really pretty pitiful! 1. I forgot my ipod. 2. That kid just passed me.  3.  My knee will hurt. 4. Who says I have to run? 5. How far is a mile anyway?

With no music, I was tuned into my surroundings.  I kept hearing ON YOUR LEFT.  Of course that got me singing…To the left, to the left…

Just as I thought I was going to fall over and die, I saw it.  It was the sign that made all the difference.  It said 2.6 miles.

Wow, I had gone that far!  Only problem now was that I had to get back to the beginning.  I turned around with even more excitement at the thought of being able to say how far I had gone.  Suddenly, I had A GOAL!  5.2 miles!  My first running goal.  There it was.  Humbled, in pain, tired, and overwhelmed with joy I made it.

It didn’t matter that I was being passed by kids or that I had no music.  I made my own.  I found my goal.  Angie told me to find my rhythm and I had.  It went something like on your left, on your left.

ME: 5.2 miles

Angie: 10 miles

Coming to Atlanta to run with a goal: worth every mile.