~Racing Day~ During

(Megan’s girls) Makayla & Savannah, Emma & Gerrit

Course Map 

The starting buzzer must have gone off but we couldn’t hear it from as far back as we were.  People started walking, waiting for their turn to cross the starting line.  I could hear Eye of the Tiger playing loudly over the speakers.  I gave Megan a high five and about 10 feet before the line, people started jogging.  Here was the moment I had been working so hard for.  I was about to get the answer to my question.  Would my ankle hold up?  I took a tentative step and another one.  The air was filled with the sound of high pitched beeps as the racing chips looped on our shoes signified we had crossed the starting line.  I giggled with glee as I said to Cheri “I’m running!”.  I couldn’t believe it.  My ankle felt good.  No pain.

There was so much to absorb as we left.  We were thick in a herd of runners and people were trying to find their pace.  Every available hole was filled with runners trying to get ahead.  I looked and saw Megan & Amy were about 10 ft in front of us but we couldn’t reach them through all the people.  Down one street and around a corner.  Cheri & I used the curve in the road as a way to sneak around some people.  We reached them and I asked Amy how her knee was feeling.  Good… how’s my ankle?  Good!  We’re doing it!  Amy told me we just passed the first mile marker and I couldn’t believe it.  The crowd was still so thick, it was hard to run our natural gait because you’d step on someones heel.

Mile 2 passed by and Amy commented that her knee was tight.  Not a good sign.  I reminded her that I had my phone if she needed it and she said she was fine.  We continued on.  My ankle was doing good.  It didn’t hurt but I could feel pressure.  Almost like it needed to pop or something.  It wasn’t hurting so I wasn’t going to stop. 

The 3rd mile took us off the roads and onto the trail.  It was a beautiful site.  The sun was rising and the field was golden, the sky was a brilliant blue and the leaves on the trees were showing us their gorgeous colors.  It was cold but it felt good now.  I looked over the field and saw the long line of runners that were ahead.  They filled the mile ahead of us and past where we could see, curving around.  It was amazing to see the sheer number of people ahead of us and I knew there were more behind us.  I was excited to go around the bend after mile 3.  The guys & kids were supposed to be waiting for us and I couldn’t wait to see them.

As we came upon the curve entering mile 4, Cheri & I laughed at the people already in line at the port a potties.  Wow! 

~Racing Day~ Pre-race

I can’t believe it.  Sunday was racing day.  The day that I had been waiting for and training for was finally here!  I had some major ankle issues a couple weeks before the race and even consulted a doctor because the swelling and pain would not leave.  He thought I had a stress fracture and told me not to run until the day of the race.  I looked at him with skepticism on my face but he assured me that he was speaking not only as a doctor but as a fellow runner.  He has run 2 marathons himself so I tried to believe him.  It was hard to not run but the pain in my ankle let me know that I definitely wasn’t going anywhere.  Everyone kept asking if I was going to risk it.  Would I run on racing day?  I told them I was running.  I didn’t know how far I was getting but I was running.

I couldn’t run the week before the race but I could carb load!  I researched different menu ideas and made my week long schedule of food to consume.  Trying to stay away from high fat foods but high in carbs.  I planned refried bean burritos with some beef in there, white chicken chili, pastas, lasagna and home made chicken noodle soup.  Taking an extra potato at dinner and just a small piece of meat… it was the strangest sensation.  I don’t try to stay away from carbs but I try to eat more protein daily than carbs and it was bizzaro to intentionally be eating mostly starches.  I can safely say I have never had that many carbs before in a week’s time.  By Saturday, I was daydreaming of a big fat Whopper.  Meat!  I want meat!

The morning of the race, I awoke at 5am.  I was fuzzy brained from sleep but pulled

Surprise

Four and a half years ago, I was asked by a co-worker (Linda) if I was pregnant.  I shook my head no and looked at her like she was crazy.  Emma was 7 months old… of course I wasn’t pregnant.  I asked her why she would ask me that and she told me I was glowing.  Uhh… maybe I’m just getting some sleep now that Emma was sleeping thru the night finally.  I brushed it off and went to meet my boss for a meeting and 30 minutes later, my boss asked me the same question.  Why does everyone keep asking me that?  Mary asked me if I could be and I said I guess.  I don’t think so.  On the way home, I decided to buy a pregnancy test to make sure.

I took the test and it turned positive about 5 seconds into the test.  That freaked me out.  I had never had a positive at home test with Emma and it was weird that it turned so quickly.  I decided to put Emma in her infant car seat and go to Walgreens to buy another test.  I felt like an ass buying that while holding Emma in her car seat.  She was so tiny and the clerk looked at me like I was a crackhead.  I got home and the 2nd test turned positive immediately.  I was for sure pregnant. 

I wasn’t sure exactly how to tell Dan.

Yummy in my tummy

Holy cow!  Dan and I were watching tv and a commercial came on for this pancake puff maker.  Now, normally I am not the type to want things I see on these type of commercials.  But you watch it and tell me it doesn’t look freakin’ delicious.

I’m fiending for some donut holes right about now.  Dang

I won’t give up that ghost

Another end to a tired week.  This crazy new life I have wears me out.  Not only have I added all this new responsibility of watching babies but I’ve started volunteering at least once a week if not twice at Emma’s school.  I feel like I have a full time job.  My new found stress reliever, running, has been sidelined by my body turning against me and so I start to feel overwhelmed.  Add in a dash of PMS and I’ve just given you the recipe to become Lord of the Ultra B’s.  Poor Dan has been great and trying to help.  I feel bad for how much he gets it taken out on him.

The week before last was a real challenge.  I was able to run the Monday after the Bridge run but when Wednesday came for me to run again, my right knee and ankle were wonky.  I still don’t know what I did to them but they were punishing me greatly for whatever it was.  I wish I did know so I don’t do it again!  But I don’t so the odds are great, I will.  10 days went by with me not able to run and everyday that ticked by, I could almost feel my muscles atrophying.  All the progress I had made in the last 6 weeks of training, flushed down the toilet.  It’s frustrating to say the least.  I’ve been trying to do core work with the exercise ball since I couldn’t do anything aerobic.  But since it’s a no impact regimen, it’s not really good training for a half marathon.

Thursday, I felt good enough to give it a go.  While my desire to run further was high, I knew if I didn’t want to become a gimp again, I needed to take it easy.  I ran a lazy 1.5 miles nice and slow.  I can’t believe how much it hurt though!  Geez, it was like starting all over again.  All the fun was gone.

Today is Saturday and as always, our big runs.  We are starting to taper in our training for the big race in 2 weeks so it only called for 9 miles.  Megan, Cheri & I made plans to meet at Megan’s and run the trail out by her.  It’s flat and would probably be best for my jumping back into the game.  I was happy I was able to go but apprehensive about re-injuringmyself.  Would I be able to run that far?  Would I put myself out of commission again if I did run that far?

Here’s the dilemma…