Last Saturday I ran my second half marathon since starting running about 14 months ago, proving to myself that I’m making a lot of progress and that crossing the finish line of that first half marathon wasn’t a fluke!
The distance was way less intimidating this time around and I was a lot more prepared. That’s not to say I didn’t have butterflies last Saturday morning and think to myself, as I stood in the kitchen all dressed and ready to go, “why exactly do I do this again?”
I got in several 9 and 10 mile runs this training cycle and peaked with one 11 mile run two weeks before the race. For my last half, I did one single 9 mile run as my longest distance prior to the race, so the addition of 4.1 miles on race day was a huge physical and mental challenge, whereas now I’ve been doing a lot of trail running and have become quite accustomed to and comfortable with 2.5+ hour runs. I was nervous before the race last weekend, but I knew I was prepared.
This was a trail race – not a true hard core mountainous race with 2,000+ feet of elevation gains and losses, streams, wildlife, etc., but this was 95% dirt, about 50% single track, and did have some leg trashing hill climbs and descents. I had run on part of the course a handful of times leading up to the race to train, but now this area and trail system is definitely one of my go-to spots here in the Denver metro area. You have a spectacular view of the whole Front Range for pretty much the entire time, it’s really quite lovely.
This was my first race without music, and it was a totally different experience. I have been doing most of my trail/mountain runs sans music, but I decided given the nature of the course to forego music for the race, and honestly I will be doing that again. Not only is it a more “pure” running experience – you hear each breath and footfall, tuning you into your own body more – but I had a totally different and enjoyable experience with my fellow runners! I had several conversations during the race, I overheard other groups’ conversations, I spoke more with/to the volunteers – I was tuned in. It was really enjoyable. I’m an introvert who is always more comfortable alone and with my own thoughts in a crowd, but this was a worthwhile and cool experience. I highly recommend it.
About a month ago, I scored an amazing deal on a pair of New Balance MT1210’s and they are great! They are a perfect dirt/trail running shoe and I think I’m permanently switching back to New Balance for all of my running shoes. That’s what I was running in before my injury and running in a pair again has just reminded me how well they fit and suit my physiology. I’ll finish out the life in my Brooks Addiction 11s, but then I’m switching back to NB for trail and road shoes.
The weather was glorious and the race went well. I fueled and hydrated perfectly, felt great the whole time, and just thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. After crossing the finish line and getting my medal, I got my free beer from Grist Brewery and indulged in a 10 minute session with some Normatec Recovery boots. Every race should end like this!
My official time was 2:36:45, which considering the terrain, I was quite pleased with. I’m obviously not a fast runner and I’ll never be one of those ripped women at the front of the pack clocking 6-minute miles uphill, but dammit, I can conquer this distance like a champ and feel good doing it!
Neal and I treated ourselves to sushi later that night. It was the first time I’ve broken my vegetarianism since I started that about 3.5 months ago, and it was delicious! It was one meal though and as much as I enjoyed it, I have been right back to the veggies since then. I had really been craving fish (I still haven’t missed chicken, turkey, pork, or beef) and so I decided to pay attention to my body and eat fish without guilt. A craving like that probably means there’s something lacking in my vegetarian diet, which I will explore over the coming weeks, but it was another epiphany in my journey into vegetarianism that I will be meat-free 99% of the time because I really do like it and feel better, but if I want fish a couple times a year, that’s perfectly okay. This may also still just be a stop on the way to 100% vegetarianism, which is okay too.
I am proud of myself. I felt so good the rest of that day – that high is just unlike any other. It’s a lot of work to chase it, but man, is it worth it. That grin on my face in the chair, holding my medal and beer – THAT is why I do this. I reveled in that feeling for that moment. Life was perfect for another brief instant.
Becky
Lace Up And Live Life 