Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Running for the Soul
Sometimes you just need to run. When the people find all the right buttons to really hurt or make you angry you need to run. When the day has been so amazing you think you will never receive such an amazing gift again you have to run. When tears start to run down your face and you don't want to uncurl from the fetal position you have to run. It's the piece that makes your soul whole. No matter the hurtful words, the animosity, the frustration and hopefully combined with the joy, is the amazingness of the run to make it all okay; to put the world back on an even keel and move forward. Always remember, all of us are amazing and we all deserve to be recognized as such. Be you. Run.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Country Running
Fall is finally here...ok, at least the Virginia version of it. This means you can run and not leave a trail of sweat pools behind you because the humidity not only saps your speed but makes others question if you went running...or swimming. This also means a back to school schedule, more races and my favorite, cool crisp air. However, before the weather gods decided it was time for soccer and football, we got one last good wallop with the heat and humidity. Rock n Roll Virginia Beach broke heat and humidity records, I nearly broke my ankle. Bird in Hand was a week behind it an we somehow thought that in PA it would be cooler. Hahahahaha!
I took Friday off and drove up for the 5k Friday night. There was also a spaghetti and pizza dinner. After getting my numbers I headed to my motel, which promptly tried to over charge me and then after hammering that out they told me my room wasn't ready. Really?! They even had a sign up that said check in from 2-4. It was 3pm. THREE PM. Sigh. Fine. I would go drive around to see what there was to eat in case the spaghetti wasn't good. Finally I got to check in and got ready. For the record the travel thing was MUCH more fun with done with my running friends, among whom sarcasm has become a science.
Back to the race start where I met up with my BRF. It was a much cooler evening then we had seen in VB at the Rock n Roll. I was really looking forward to running in cooler weather. Especially since I saw where we were going to run. BEAUTIFUL!
As we walked over to the sketti dinner tent, my BRF's husband noted that there were signs in the potties and were they ever CLEAN! Right there- SOLD. It can't be a bad race with potties that clean! Then he read the sign...Go Long Go Deep. Ha! Turns out there were motivational signs in each one! See, even race support appreciates good sarcasm. Now you know you are among runners.
After cooing about how ADORABLE the little Amish kids were, we made our way to food. (Please don't take offense; they were Amish and really were cute- no sarcasm intended or implied here.) We hemmed and hawed about eating before a 5k and decided to just go light. The dinner proceeds were supporting the local fire department. Always a good cause to support. Now here we have to stop. I LOVE pizza. One of the many reasons I run is so I can eat said pizza. It isn't often I meet a bad pizza. (fast food pizza from Pizza Hut and Domino's are excluded from this- its fast food- yuck.) This pizza was BAD. The crust was hard, the sauce kinda tasteless and the cheese cold. My pizza bubble had been burst. However, others assured me the pie was delicious.
Finally it was time to run. Down the road, through the corn stalks to grandma's house...or at least to the finish line. The 5k was the precursor to gorgeous. I love seeing the outdoors when I run. Streams, mountains and all. I don't like running on uneven paths though. So 5k and done. It was fun. Not a bad run, but I discovered from the hills made my ankle hurt from where I had folded it in half the week before at Rock n Roll. "So don't run on it- duh!" Said no runner ever. It wasn't bad. I made arrangements to get my friend in the morning for the half and off we went to our respective sleeping arrangements. Once showered and having said good night to my kiddo I discovered to my dismay- NO Dallas Cheerleaders were available on my tv! This motel just gets worse and worse. I even checked for bed bugs, just in case.
Next morning up early for the half. Cinderella would have been singing at the sunrise, until she realized even her straight hair would curl in that humidity. I went to get my BRF and it was a pretty ride, even in the creeping hours of the morning. Corn fields, barns, and trains. Once I got a couple of blocks from the town center there seemed to be no one else on the road. It really was amazing country. Picked up the BRF at the trains (yes, she stayed in a real train) and headed to the race. The race directors had warned up to bring our patience so we had gone early. Turns out they were so efficient it wasn't needed and we got a front row parking spot. SCORE! Better yet, we had time to watch the balloons and the run come up.
It was time to line up. The air was humid but not too warm. If it stayed that way it would have been a perfect race. Mother nature had other ideas. The first few miles were great, but that was enough time for the sun to come up and make the humidity feel like running in a wet blanks. Throw in some hills and no shade and you found your self looking for some kind of shade next the corn stalks. My garmin breakdown said was on pace for a PR...until the sun came up. Then my pace also had a breakdown so what can you do but just enjoy the view. Course support was amazing. They weren't loud but they had hoses, plenty of water and even coolers of ice for you, some of which I dumped down the back of my shirt. Even the camels came out to say hi.
Upon finishing in my second worst time we were given lucky horse shoe medals. LOVE THEM! I have already signed up to Rock n Roll (its a local race, how can you say no) next year and am really hoping this one won't be on the same day so I can run it again too. Everything about this race was wonderful. It had hills, wonderfully friendly people, great race support, amazing countryside and really cool medals.
I took Friday off and drove up for the 5k Friday night. There was also a spaghetti and pizza dinner. After getting my numbers I headed to my motel, which promptly tried to over charge me and then after hammering that out they told me my room wasn't ready. Really?! They even had a sign up that said check in from 2-4. It was 3pm. THREE PM. Sigh. Fine. I would go drive around to see what there was to eat in case the spaghetti wasn't good. Finally I got to check in and got ready. For the record the travel thing was MUCH more fun with done with my running friends, among whom sarcasm has become a science.
Back to the race start where I met up with my BRF. It was a much cooler evening then we had seen in VB at the Rock n Roll. I was really looking forward to running in cooler weather. Especially since I saw where we were going to run. BEAUTIFUL!
As we walked over to the sketti dinner tent, my BRF's husband noted that there were signs in the potties and were they ever CLEAN! Right there- SOLD. It can't be a bad race with potties that clean! Then he read the sign...Go Long Go Deep. Ha! Turns out there were motivational signs in each one! See, even race support appreciates good sarcasm. Now you know you are among runners.
After cooing about how ADORABLE the little Amish kids were, we made our way to food. (Please don't take offense; they were Amish and really were cute- no sarcasm intended or implied here.) We hemmed and hawed about eating before a 5k and decided to just go light. The dinner proceeds were supporting the local fire department. Always a good cause to support. Now here we have to stop. I LOVE pizza. One of the many reasons I run is so I can eat said pizza. It isn't often I meet a bad pizza. (fast food pizza from Pizza Hut and Domino's are excluded from this- its fast food- yuck.) This pizza was BAD. The crust was hard, the sauce kinda tasteless and the cheese cold. My pizza bubble had been burst. However, others assured me the pie was delicious.
Finally it was time to run. Down the road, through the corn stalks to grandma's house...or at least to the finish line. The 5k was the precursor to gorgeous. I love seeing the outdoors when I run. Streams, mountains and all. I don't like running on uneven paths though. So 5k and done. It was fun. Not a bad run, but I discovered from the hills made my ankle hurt from where I had folded it in half the week before at Rock n Roll. "So don't run on it- duh!" Said no runner ever. It wasn't bad. I made arrangements to get my friend in the morning for the half and off we went to our respective sleeping arrangements. Once showered and having said good night to my kiddo I discovered to my dismay- NO Dallas Cheerleaders were available on my tv! This motel just gets worse and worse. I even checked for bed bugs, just in case.
Next morning up early for the half. Cinderella would have been singing at the sunrise, until she realized even her straight hair would curl in that humidity. I went to get my BRF and it was a pretty ride, even in the creeping hours of the morning. Corn fields, barns, and trains. Once I got a couple of blocks from the town center there seemed to be no one else on the road. It really was amazing country. Picked up the BRF at the trains (yes, she stayed in a real train) and headed to the race. The race directors had warned up to bring our patience so we had gone early. Turns out they were so efficient it wasn't needed and we got a front row parking spot. SCORE! Better yet, we had time to watch the balloons and the run come up.
It was time to line up. The air was humid but not too warm. If it stayed that way it would have been a perfect race. Mother nature had other ideas. The first few miles were great, but that was enough time for the sun to come up and make the humidity feel like running in a wet blanks. Throw in some hills and no shade and you found your self looking for some kind of shade next the corn stalks. My garmin breakdown said was on pace for a PR...until the sun came up. Then my pace also had a breakdown so what can you do but just enjoy the view. Course support was amazing. They weren't loud but they had hoses, plenty of water and even coolers of ice for you, some of which I dumped down the back of my shirt. Even the camels came out to say hi.
Upon finishing in my second worst time we were given lucky horse shoe medals. LOVE THEM! I have already signed up to Rock n Roll (its a local race, how can you say no) next year and am really hoping this one won't be on the same day so I can run it again too. Everything about this race was wonderful. It had hills, wonderfully friendly people, great race support, amazing countryside and really cool medals.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Monday, September 1, 2014
Virginia Beach Rock n Roll is Labor Day weekend every year. Every year the weather is miserable, yet suckers like me still sign up to run (or walk or crawl) for a tee shirt and some bling every year. Better yet, we pay for the (dis)pleasure of doing that. Takes a special kind of crazy. This year the day before there was a breeze, it was over cast and cool, at least by Virginia Beach summer standards. A real teaser. You start to think maybe, just maybe the weather will be nice. That plus the bonus of it only being $45.00 dollars to sign up for the next year and you are suckered in again. They should offer tattoos instead of tee shirts.
My daughter and I had signed up for the Mile of the Beach run which was the intro run the day before the half. Why? For more bling of course. A medal to run the mile, a medal for the half, and an extra one to prove just how crazy you were to do it in the first place.
The mile on the beach was no joke. Less then a quarter of the way in, the loose sand got the best of us and my daughter and my calves quickly realized we weren't running the whole mile. After some whining, walking and chin up talks we made it to the finish, where my daughter promptly informed me, we were never, EVER doing that again. For once AGREED. That being said and done, we headed down to the water where some friends waited and spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon chilling on the beach. This is how Labor Day weekend should be spent.
Next up was the half. Up at 4 a.m. because running in the heat and humidity isn't enough, you have to get up predawn just to get there to do it. Thank goodness for funny morning friends. My stomach can't handle a lot that early so no breakfast and very little coffee are not a good way to start a race. However, my running friends are just as crazy as me and a whole lot funnier. One of said friends noted we took up half the shuttle and the rest were probably wishing they had grabbed the next one. She was probably right, but smiles and laughter are a great way to start a race. One of the many reasons I like starting with my BRF even though we don't actually run together anymore.
So I got up, cussed the alarm, cussed the weather, cussed the fact that I had signed up in the first place, got in the car and drove to the shuttles 45 minutes away, finally thought I was awake enough to have it semi-together and I stepped in the only hole to China in the whole lawn walking from my car to the shuttle. Really?! The darn shuttle wasn't that far from my car! That hurt. Took a deep breath and decided it didn't hurt too badly, I could walk on it, therefor I could run on it, and over to my friends.
Once on the shuttle, it is another 20 minutes to the race start, which is why you have to get up so early. The race doesn't actually start until 7 a.m. but they close the roads, so no in or out except for emergency, shuttles and race workers. Once there we met others in my Moms Run This Town Group (which BTW is the most awesome group of women you will every meet. I make new friends at each race). Obligatory picture taken, and then off to find bag check and stand in line for one last potty. My group and I made it to the start and jumped in early (I know, race shame on us, but the amount of people there were getting to me), which in the end made my finish deceiving. Because we started in front of the 2:45 pacer and finished in front of the pacer, it didn't match my Garmin. For a few seconds I thought maybe I had done better than I thought. About that time the math fought through the humidity to burst my bubble. It was weird to physically finish in front of the pacer yet still be a few minutes behind on the chip time.
Before I had finished mile 1, the humidity was so bad, I was dripping sweat. Mile 5ish I had to stop to potty since I was making sure to remain well hydrated given the heat and humidity. I took salt and Nunn and managed to avoid a headache, but I didn't beat my time from last year. The humidity was just too much. Its like running with a hot wet blanket thrown over you. YUCK! I beat 3 hours and didn't pass out so I am counting it as a personal win. I know I am faster then that. I also know I can't beat heat and humidity. I am a northern girl at heart. I can adjust forever and still prefer to run when its super cold rather then super hot. Maine girl all the way.
My daughter and I had signed up for the Mile of the Beach run which was the intro run the day before the half. Why? For more bling of course. A medal to run the mile, a medal for the half, and an extra one to prove just how crazy you were to do it in the first place.
The mile on the beach was no joke. Less then a quarter of the way in, the loose sand got the best of us and my daughter and my calves quickly realized we weren't running the whole mile. After some whining, walking and chin up talks we made it to the finish, where my daughter promptly informed me, we were never, EVER doing that again. For once AGREED. That being said and done, we headed down to the water where some friends waited and spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon chilling on the beach. This is how Labor Day weekend should be spent.
Next up was the half. Up at 4 a.m. because running in the heat and humidity isn't enough, you have to get up predawn just to get there to do it. Thank goodness for funny morning friends. My stomach can't handle a lot that early so no breakfast and very little coffee are not a good way to start a race. However, my running friends are just as crazy as me and a whole lot funnier. One of said friends noted we took up half the shuttle and the rest were probably wishing they had grabbed the next one. She was probably right, but smiles and laughter are a great way to start a race. One of the many reasons I like starting with my BRF even though we don't actually run together anymore.
So I got up, cussed the alarm, cussed the weather, cussed the fact that I had signed up in the first place, got in the car and drove to the shuttles 45 minutes away, finally thought I was awake enough to have it semi-together and I stepped in the only hole to China in the whole lawn walking from my car to the shuttle. Really?! The darn shuttle wasn't that far from my car! That hurt. Took a deep breath and decided it didn't hurt too badly, I could walk on it, therefor I could run on it, and over to my friends.
Once on the shuttle, it is another 20 minutes to the race start, which is why you have to get up so early. The race doesn't actually start until 7 a.m. but they close the roads, so no in or out except for emergency, shuttles and race workers. Once there we met others in my Moms Run This Town Group (which BTW is the most awesome group of women you will every meet. I make new friends at each race). Obligatory picture taken, and then off to find bag check and stand in line for one last potty. My group and I made it to the start and jumped in early (I know, race shame on us, but the amount of people there were getting to me), which in the end made my finish deceiving. Because we started in front of the 2:45 pacer and finished in front of the pacer, it didn't match my Garmin. For a few seconds I thought maybe I had done better than I thought. About that time the math fought through the humidity to burst my bubble. It was weird to physically finish in front of the pacer yet still be a few minutes behind on the chip time.
Before I had finished mile 1, the humidity was so bad, I was dripping sweat. Mile 5ish I had to stop to potty since I was making sure to remain well hydrated given the heat and humidity. I took salt and Nunn and managed to avoid a headache, but I didn't beat my time from last year. The humidity was just too much. Its like running with a hot wet blanket thrown over you. YUCK! I beat 3 hours and didn't pass out so I am counting it as a personal win. I know I am faster then that. I also know I can't beat heat and humidity. I am a northern girl at heart. I can adjust forever and still prefer to run when its super cold rather then super hot. Maine girl all the way.
Swiped from Rock N Roll website
Once done, we were to meet a D for done. So I met a few of the girls, who told me where I could go get my stuff and extra medal. Off I went saying I would be back. They waited but had to go after that. My ankle was throbbing, a heat headache was coming and I was miserable standing in the direct sun. I needed something wet and cold and to get off my ankle so after waiting a bit more and then wandering to look for my other friends I finally went home, but not before stopping for an orangeade (orange juice and ground up ice slushy). It was probably my savings grace. Cold and it put back some of what I had lost in the heat and sweat. One the shuttle back to the car and home. Boy did I stink! Thank goodness so did everyone else. I don't have a lot of pictures because I was so hot and sweaty I didn't take the time to stop and take any. The ones that were taken, I just look nasty in. Next week is Bird in Hand. A fun race in PA with my BRF in cooler weather. I should have pictures of that one. Next year Rock n Roll, next year.
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