my.daily.body

Ran a very easy 4 miles today. I called my sister to run with me today. It's been a long time since I ran with her. We kind of just shuffled through the run. It was very slow. I'm trying to be ridiculously cautious with my running. Average pace was over 10 min miles. :)

I had to dig deep today to find motivation. I think my mind has caught on to the fact it's cut back week because I just want to sleep all day and night. I did a .25 walking warm up at a steep incline then took off for my 4 miler. I ran on the treadmill since I decided to sleep in. The kids played much better in the playroom which made treadmill running a little more bearable.

Pace 7:30

The start of the run was a little stiff. I did a tough leg workout Monday night and I'm paying for it. Other than the sore muscles I felt really good. It was another treadmill run because I wanted to sleep in again. I find it hard to get up so early to only run 4 miles. Average pace 8:14.

Ran with Becky a little later in the morning. It was a slow 4 miles. My engine in my legs never fired up. I nice 8:51 pace that felt like an 8:00 pace. Nice! <---- sarcasm!

Another slow crawl. I'm not going to let this get in my head though. I have had better days and this week my body must know it's coming to an end. 8:54 average pace. 

Ran to Gold's gym to meet up with Charmaine and Barry.

mile 1: 8:31 
mile 2: 7:34

It was the last hurrah run with Becky before the marathon. 

mile 1: 8:40
mile 2: 8:19

What a run! I hydrated really well before the race. I drank a crystal light energy and 16 oz. of water after I had used the honey bucket, so I knew I would be hitting another toilet shortly after the run would start. It was like jumping on a trampoline for the first 4 miles every pound made my bladder more loose and I started to pee my pants. Seriously? This early in the race and this is already starting? I made it to the toilet just in time around mile 4. Stopping like that made my hip instantly act up and I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. I had an ibuprofen 800 in my pocked that I knew I could take if I absolutely needed to. I was happy to go to the bathroom in the beginning since I could make up time going down the canyon. I wore 3 different pace bands. I first wrapped the 3:30 pace band on my wrist. This was my worst case pace I would want to hit. Next I loosely wrapped the 3:20 band. To finish the race in a 3:20 was my goal. I really wanted to run this marathon the same minute miles I ran my first half marathon last year 2 days after Aaron had died. I knew it was aggressive for the lack of speed training I had done, but nonetheless, I knew I could do it with the downhill of the canyon. I wrapped the 3:15 pace band over the 3:20. I knew if I could use the 3:15 pace band to get me out of the canyon in 2 hours then I'd have some time to walk through the rest of the water stations and purhaps enough time to run slower on the hardest stretch of the race. Days leading up to this race I was torn whether to shoot for the goal or just be okay with running with a pacer to get me a qualifying time for Boston. I took the risk, and it payed off well. I followed the 3:15 and then ripped it off just as I hit the mouth of the canyon. I hit the mouth 1 minute behind the 3:15 paceband. I was in pain from that ridiculous downhill. my calves were as hard as rocks, and my quads were just as tense. My running stride quickly changed to a lopsided weird run since I was trying to go easy on the ole hip. At mile 18 is when I plugged my headphones in my phone and listened to "Ellie Goulding" on Pandora. This station really helps me stay distracted. I sang every song that came on. There were people scattered through out the end of this course cheering on their loved ones. I adopted every single one of them and pretended they were all there for me. I wanted to make them all proud. I threw the peace sign to many of them, and smiled, and waved. I even thanked them for cheering. One police officer around mile 22 clapped just for me (I was on my own at this point) I felt his strength for me, and I knew I could do it. I read a sign along the course that read "It took courage to start. It takes faith to finish". This resinated in my head over and over again. At mile 24 I was going down. NNNOOOO!!!! I looked down at my watch and saw it was hitting over a 9 minute pace. Dang-it! Then I saw Tara Summers running towards me. I wasn't sure what she was doing. I thought maybe she was just going to stand on the corner and cheer people on, but then she turned around and started running with me. What an angel!! Seriously, she totally picked me up. She coached me the whole way in. I told her I couldn't talk. My breath was as heavy as it gets when I run a 6 min/mile. I was panting and wanting to just stop. She ran ahead to the water station and picked me up a water cup. Who does this stuff for others? I stopped for a little bit to drink it. If she wasn't there saying "K, come on, let's go. You've got this!" I would've just shuffled to the finish line. I kept my head hanging down low just staring at my tired thighs and she said "Look up, look at that guy in the yellow. That's your point. Go get it." That was like hanging a carrot in front of a horse to keep it walking. Everytime my eyes would float south I forced them up again to find the guy in yellow. She talked me through every step. The corner to turn into the very last .40ish mile was approaching and I saw my sister standing on the corner. I threw my hand in the air so she would know it was me. When I got closer I realized my brother Luke was there holding a sign in Aaron's place. I busted into tears, but had to suck it up and finish this race. Charmaine ran on my right and Tara on my left as we got closer to the finish line. Tara told me to get a girl that I had noticed had been running stronger than me and a little ahead of me. That was blood for me. When someone challenges me I always step up. I looked at that girl and wanted to smoke her. A little boy darted right in front of me and I lost site of that girl so I pounded it forward hoping I had passed her. I near trampled the little child and yes, I did pass that girl. I was extremely light-headed and didn't notice the loads of people yelling and clapping. It was incredible. I was nearing the finish line when I saw my mom standing in the middle of it just behind it. I was shocked that she was there. She just had knee surgery. Was I hallucinating? That's when I really thought I was losing my mind. I've hallucinated before. In fact, I've hallucinated in Switzerland and saw her walk across my living room. When I really want my mom I seem to just pretend she is there. ha! Anyway, she stretched out her arms and I ran right into them. It was awesome to run into her. It was not the best idea to stop dead from my sprint because I had no time to cool down and I blanked out and fainted. Shinade caught me from behind and sat down behind me to rest my body in her lap. I think I heard her say "you did it telly! You did it!" If it wasn't her then it was Aaron. (That could be crazy thinking, but for me it's wishful thinking. ;) I couldn't open my eyes because they were just fluttering. I knew people were asking me questions, but come on medics... I hear you, but it's taking a while for my brain to get it off my lips. "What's your name?" They asked. I know my name, just give me a sec. Then a doctor ran over and took his knuckles and roughly rubbed them on my sternum. Um, Ouw!! I looked at my dad on my left and then fainted again. They put me on a gurney and moved me to the medical tent. They started poking me with needles trying to find a good vein and put an oxygen mask over my face. They flipped me over on my left and yanked my sweaty nasty shorts down and shoved a thermometer up my bum. Wow! It felt like this was all going so fast. My family had told them I had a heart condition so they called an ambulance and hooked me up to an EKG  machine. It all felt a bit dramatic. I know it was because I just stopped dead in my run. Bad idea!! Bad idea people! After breathing in sufficient oxygen I said "I feel great!" I sat up and said "I really don't need anymore needles in my arm." They wanted to draw blood and everything. They were very wonderful and I'm sure they had fun practicing all sorts of medical stuff on me. The paramedics were there with the ambulance and had me sign a waiver saying I declined the transportation to the hospital. Really? I was not going to the hospital. How embarrassing. I'd rather pee my pants! Who wants to leave the after race party with all the free goodies? I hobbled off the gurney and wobbled away. My poor hip just hates what I've done to it. My family had lined the last 6 miles with posters. They were beautiful and made me smile. My support was phenomenal! Tara was incredible for coaching me in! Mile 24 was 9:03, and then Tara came and got me an 8:36 for mile 25 and 8:18 for mile 26. I could not have got that pace without her running next to me. I will definitely pay that one forward!!

All in all...

** I loved the marathon. The distance wasn't so much the challenge as sustaining pace for that distance. I'd like to run another, but with less pressure on myself. 

** I stopped to hit the toilet 3 times. 

** I love my family

** I love Tara

** I'll never stop dead in a run again

** I walked through every aid station to drink water

** I had gu every 5 miles

** I had a cup of gatorade, and only one cup the whole race, AND NOT WITH GU!! I read that it was a bad idea to mix both.

I have zero miles to report. I decided after the marathon that I was going to take this whole week off, but knew I was probably lying to myself. I have been so sick today. I woke up through out the night last night feeling like I was going to throw up. I held it together until 6 this morning. That was it for me. I hugged the toilet for the next few minutes getting everything out. I wish it could've only been once that I threw up, but it was all morning. I've never had such stomach cramping, EVER!! I feel like garbage. I have an appointment tomorrow morning to talk with my cardiologist. Back in May he cleared me to run just one marathon. He's such a nonbeliever in me! I said "well, what if I qualify for Boston, can I run that one too?" He just laughed. I'm convinced he laughed with doubt that I'd qualify. Well, maybe he laughed because he thought after my first marathon I'd never want to run another. On the contrary... I loved it! I registered for Boston and now I have to go see if it's wise for the ole heart to carry me through. My biggest concern is how sick I get when I run strenuous runs. The ultra relay kicked me around the corner and I couldn't finish my last leg. I am not the type to bow down so easily. I love to be challenged, and try to fight every fear that I have. Again, I am sick. Swollen toes and short of breath. Please tell me this can be normal... Anyone?? I will update tomorrow with the cardiologists verdict on whether I'm cleared for another amazing marathon. 

Went to Firehouse today. It was an easy fast going workout. I don't feel like I got a great workout, but I'm okay with that. My legs are still a bit sore. My hip immediately acts up when I start running and my right quad is pretty painful and doesn't like to do any quick movements. I will just stick to walking like a grandma until I heal up. Secretly, I'm happy to take time off. :)