Yes, we decided to do the Rock n' Roll Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon again this year. After such an incredible experience on all levels last year, my husband and I decided it would be our yearly "thing". A healthy getaway so to speak. Last year was fun, he ran a PR (Personal Record) and actually had a good time doing it. Once the decision was made that we would repeat the feat - he had his sites set on December 4, 2011.
We signed up early and asked all our friends to come it had been so great. We talked it up for MONTHS! While we had a few jump in (and most bail at the end) we did have one little superstar join in the festivities with some of her SoCal buddies - Go Carrie!!! A few months after we signed on the dotted line it was announced the race would be at night. My first thought was "How COOL!!!!! Run the strip at NIGHT??? Yes!".
That feeling lasted until about a week before the race. What would I eat? How cold would it really be? Was evening colder than early morning? Who knows this stuff???? I didn't as the only time I ran at night before was during a Ragnar Relay (if you run and don't know what that is, look it up, it's AMAZING!) and that was continuous fueling for two days, no issue. I only had one shot for Vegas. That went for my husband too who had been training SO HARD for this race for months.
When I say training hard, I mean this guy was never a runner until after we met. He started doing it because he could do it with me. I know, so sweet right? He even found a running buddy (Hi Lou!) to train with at work with shorter runs at lunch - aka speed work! Now I curse Lou as much as I like him. He pushes Sean and Sean is constantly coming home with great running stories - did I create a monster? I might need to get this boy his own Garmin if he keeps stealing mine. For everything. Including training runs.
So with all that said and all the prep taken care of minus really knowing how to eat for a night race, we were ready. Sean was more trained than I was (this was to be my 3rd half marathon in 8 weeks with an injury) and far more focused. It really made me feel like an amateur! The week before the race we were adding more carbs slowly into our diets, eating super clean and healthy and watching our water intake. We.Were.Ready.
Arrive in Las Vegas: smooth. Went and spent a night with his Mom and her Boyfriend, gambled and had a good dinner. Saturday we hit the Expo. This is where the entire story takes a turn. Lets take it step by step:
EXPO:
NO SIGNS as to where to go. With the rodeo finals and several Christmas events going on it would have been nice to have some direction.
Crowds WHAT?? We were pretty early on Saturday but yet over half the merchandise was sold out. I've seen numerous complaints that they ran out of T shirts you were supposed to get as an entrant, but I did get mine and in the right size even though they are still hideous. However, they had cute styles of shirts for sale for both sexes but to find our sizes was almost impossible. With 44,000 runners you couldn't stock up?
We did request sizes for the tech shirt that comes with entrance to the race, at least check that people have a race BIB!!! That would be a start. The lady I got my shirt from didn't care if I was running or not.
The space wasn't made for the amount of people there and there were WAY too few check stands. I stood in line for 45 minutes to make a purchase. Elbows were flying and people were not happy but there was a lot of good stuff to see and purchase.
Bonus? I'm a huge Biggest Loser fan for lots of reasons and not a fan for others but I was STOKED to see Dan Evans from Season 5 and his Mom greeting and taking photos with people, LOOKING GREAT!!! I love that they have kept the weight off, I was so excited, might have been the best part of the expo.
RACE:
We shopped that day, wandered around, looked for food that wouldn't make us vomit during the run. We slept in as late as possible, stayed mellow, watched our caffeine and hydration. The shuttles were to run from 2-6 pm. Really? The Marathon starts at 4, the 1/2 at 5:30, why would the shuttle leave at 6? Oh, because they didn't have a clear path to the race.
Sean and I were dressed and ready to rock (no pun intended) by 2:30. We were layered up, beanies on, disposable gloves at hand, a disposable bag with our extra layers because it was supposed to be FORTY DEGREES - ouch. Almost to the shuttle line, um, no Garmin. Crap! Plenty of time, go back, get the Garmin, get in line for the shuttle. Stand and wait. Stand and wait. Stand and wait. Not all the shuttles were running, awesome. No clear path to the race, more awesome. Being an hour late because of mass traffic and no planning/adjustments for the overload of a closed Strip? Most awesome. It also made me most angry.
Frogger. Constant dodging of slower runners and even walkers blocking the street five across sometimes.
This was frustrating to say the least. Not only was it freezing but I was being elbowed, shoved and swore at almost the entire race. I have never been so frustrated in a race. Ever. Then it really hit me - my mental state was getting the best of me. I didn't want to be there, I didn't want to run, I didn't want to be in the crowd but I was trying to push through as this isn't my race, it's Sean's. And as I was getting more and more stuck in my own head and blocked by slow runners and walkers (and bottle necked by crappy course management) I told Sean to just take off.
I knew it was the right thing to do but I was NOT happy about it. I guess it was like a Mama Bird watching her young take flight on his own for the first time. My heart dropped and my mental state crumbled further. I swore off racing with Sean because I was upset he was beating me and eventually swore off racing altogether. Cursing in my own head as I rolled into mile 11 the crowd broke apart and I had some room. Magically my mind opened as well. I noticed how much pain my hip was in and I pulled off to the side to stretch. I let go of my time an knew I would race again in just a few more weeks. There are days when, after you cross the start line, circumstance can alter how and if you reach your goal for that race. I knew a sub 2:00 wasn't happening as I toed the start line and I likely would have had a better race if I had let that number go in the first few miles.
POST RACE:
The medal was dangling from an outstretched hand who didn't even bother to check if I had a bib. I could have taken two if I wanted, there wasn't anyone policing the distribution which let to hundreds of finishers receiving the wrong medal or not receiving a medal at all. My legs were cramping, my hips killing and it was pitch black. I couldn't find water or the Mylar blankets or my husband. People were stumbling and feeling ill. There weren't any volunteers directing us like last year (which was the BEST organized race I have ever run) and I was completely lost and disoriented.
Luckily I found Sean and he did NOT look happy. There wasn't a stretching or cool down area so he felt ill from just having to stop after running hard for 13.5 miles. Yes, 13.5, all the dodging can add up after a while. Of course I started to worry and started trying to find water and food. Although he wanted nothing to do with either, I knew it would be important to get something in the tank ASAP. I grabbed a stale bagel by swooping in between the people walking on top of each other and bypassed the green bananas and Gogurt. What a load. At least they weren't giving us water out of fire hydrants like they were on the course. Now all we needed was the shuttle back to the Encore and we would be set.
Now, I'm known to be obsessive about checking a bag for post race warm, dry clothes. I hate hate hate being sweaty and cold. This race I decided that I wouldn't need a bag of warm clothes because we would hop on the waiting, heated shuttle. WRONG! Sure the shuttles were waiting, but you couldn't get to them. There wasn't a way to cross the course so we were stuck on foot, still, in the freezing cold and wind with our sweaty clothes and measly Mylar blankets. We even picked up another stranded runner on our 1.5-2 mile walk from the finish area to New York New York to finally catch a cab. Unfortunately, we didn't have any money. Ooops.
Talk about the best cabbie ever, he gave us his number and said "Call me tomorrow and pay me then". Can you even believe it?? Talk about hitting the jackpot in Vegas. We finally made it back, showered in a nice HOT HOT HOT shower, and shuffled down to dinner to one of the two restaurants near us that were still open. The after parties were not even a thought in our mind as we were beat. Amen for Stratta - that burger was incredible!
Although the weekend in itself was great, this was the WORST race in which I have ever participated. I'm lucky I carry my own water and gels as they ran out on the course and many who drank the water ended up in the hospital. I'm also lucky that I didn't check a bag as I would have been in the Mandalay Bay Melee which had people passing out and throwing up all over the place. Zero crowd control and an inability of emergency personnel to reach the sick. Apparently the police had to come with the riot control shields to make a path.
I know some folks that had an incredible experience and loved every minute and I heard horror stories all weekend from other runners I met. We fall in the middle and I really hope Rock n' Roll gets it together for next year because I would love to go back and continue to have this be our "thing" every year for a healthy getaway. We will not be talking this one up for months and thinking long and hard before we sign on the dotted line for this race again.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Slow and Steady
The growing process as we all know takes time. It isn't just about working out and eating right, there is a mental aspect that a lot of people ignore. We all eat and often eat too much, but WHY. Recently the biggest loser showed us how food triggers different responses in fit vs. overweight people. Interesting? Absolutely. Isn't the real issue why we overeat? What is our trigger? Happy, sad, frustrated, bored are common emotions which trigger eating when we aren't hungry or don't need as much as we are shoving in our mouths.
Another large problem is education and information - perhaps a lack thereof. I came across a woman in a consultation the other day who wanted to lose weight. She understood about the exercise and claimed to be eating healthy - even whole wheat pasta instead of white. Good choice? Yes. Then I found the problem. How much? We figured out it was about 3.5 servings of pasta. That was JUST the pasta, not the sauce or the meat or fats added via cooking method. Needless to say she was shocked. She had been educating herself via articles and the Internet, but piecing it all together wasn't happening the way she had hoped.
Part of growing is learning, part of learning is being willing to accept that you don't know it all and finally asking for help. The smile of my client when that last piece on portion control clicked into place, along with tips and suggestions to help her keep it going was so fabulous. No matter what part of your journey you are currently in, always remember to ask for help, tips and suggestions.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Better Body: Don't Call it a Comeback
Better Body: Don't Call it a Comeback: I've come to realize it is slow and steady that gets it done. It has been a long couple of months of rebuilding, reorganizing, starting ove...
Don't Call it a Comeback
I've come to realize it is slow and steady that gets it done. It has been a long couple of months of rebuilding, reorganizing, starting over and trying new things. All areas of my life had to be switched around and prioritized with me first. Selfish sounding? Sure. Actually selfish? Not at all. I can't be what I want for those I love without taking care of myself first. While this can be a hard idea for those around me to understand at first, now that it has taken root it makes much more sense and I think everyone is happier.
For my running, I have a lot of races on the board coming up (with one big one in the rear view). I've been making the true effort of getting out of bed at 4- 4:30am to meet my girls and get my miles in so I don't crash and burn without overdoing it and/or getting re-injured or irritating an old injury. Good thing my ladies are punchy and chipper that early! It makes for a good time and fun conversation, even on mile 10.
Yoga is what it is - relaxing, nice "me" time, challenging, making me more flexible and more forgivable of my body's current limitations.
Lifting has been another story altogether. After being sidelined from doctor's orders for so long, I wasn't aware at what I had lost not just physically, but in terms of lifting being an everyday part of my life and the mental strength of pushing through the frustration of not being able to do what I used to do so easily. While running comes back quickly and naturally, all the muscle I had taken for granted that had been built over years and years of effort, had severely dwindled. After day one; pain and exhaustion. After day two; still tired, still in pain. During day three; almost broke down out of frustration. It has been getting better day by day.
Yes, I know better. Yes, I know it takes time, dedication, perseverance, patience. Patience is something I've never been good at practicing. This "re-do" from ground zero of my strength building is testing that like nothing else. Being older now it takes longer to see the results which used to take a week or two, my eating has to be spot on 90% of the time instead of 80%. I have also overhauled my eating plan again much to my family's chagrin.
This all takes more planning/preparing than before and takes some of my time away from my family and friends but overall I have to say I think everyone around me that depends on me is happier. Even if the weight I'm lifting isn't what I want it to be RIGHT NOW, I know it will get there and I'm stronger after every workout regardless. Because I feel stronger and healthier with every day, I'm happier. I'm more giving, more empathetic and overall a better person.
Don't call it a comeback, call it a rebirth.
For my running, I have a lot of races on the board coming up (with one big one in the rear view). I've been making the true effort of getting out of bed at 4- 4:30am to meet my girls and get my miles in so I don't crash and burn without overdoing it and/or getting re-injured or irritating an old injury. Good thing my ladies are punchy and chipper that early! It makes for a good time and fun conversation, even on mile 10.
Yoga is what it is - relaxing, nice "me" time, challenging, making me more flexible and more forgivable of my body's current limitations.
Lifting has been another story altogether. After being sidelined from doctor's orders for so long, I wasn't aware at what I had lost not just physically, but in terms of lifting being an everyday part of my life and the mental strength of pushing through the frustration of not being able to do what I used to do so easily. While running comes back quickly and naturally, all the muscle I had taken for granted that had been built over years and years of effort, had severely dwindled. After day one; pain and exhaustion. After day two; still tired, still in pain. During day three; almost broke down out of frustration. It has been getting better day by day.
Yes, I know better. Yes, I know it takes time, dedication, perseverance, patience. Patience is something I've never been good at practicing. This "re-do" from ground zero of my strength building is testing that like nothing else. Being older now it takes longer to see the results which used to take a week or two, my eating has to be spot on 90% of the time instead of 80%. I have also overhauled my eating plan again much to my family's chagrin.
This all takes more planning/preparing than before and takes some of my time away from my family and friends but overall I have to say I think everyone around me that depends on me is happier. Even if the weight I'm lifting isn't what I want it to be RIGHT NOW, I know it will get there and I'm stronger after every workout regardless. Because I feel stronger and healthier with every day, I'm happier. I'm more giving, more empathetic and overall a better person.
Don't call it a comeback, call it a rebirth.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Excuses Excuses - Enough!!
It has been forever since I have been on here. I was really hoping that after the "Injury" entry I would have some bad ass "comeback" entry. Alas, I'm still on the outskirts nursing a bad hip. Really? What am I, 90??? A bad HIP?? Good Lord.
At the same time, however, I overused my injury excuse. There was no need for me to put on those extra pounds making my jeans just a little too tight for my liking and making me not want to wear my cute tank tops and short sleeve shirts. So I couldn't run. I couldn't squat. I couldn't lunge. I couldn't have weight bearing on the joint. Does it suck? Yes. Did I have to let go? Absolutely not.
A bum hip didn't mean I needed to stop planning all my meals. It didn't mean I needed to slack on my clean eating style. It didn't mean I couldn't walk in the pool. It didn't mean comfort myself with having foods more often in which I don't normally indulge. I fell off my wagon and just rolled right down the hill into a ditch.
Today, I decided I wanted to do something, anything. So off I went to Bikram Yoga. It is something I used to find such comfort in doing when living in San Francisco. I love the heat, the stretching, the isometric muscular holds, the calmness in the room. I needed that today. Calm, stretching, solace. Even if I couldn't do all the poses, I knew I would walk away better than when I walked into the studio. And better I am.
As I was laying in Savasana and the instructor was talking, he started orating about injuries and fear and being willing to push past, little by little, the fear of re-injuring ourselves through going into poses a little deeper every time we practice. How we are not victims of our injuries. We need not be afraid. It was my "AH-HA" moment. This injury had become my EXCUSE, my crutch to slack off and just be pissy and behave like a victim instead of pulling up my proverbial bootstraps and focusing on the things I COULD do, not what I couldn't.
No more excuses - do what you can. No more victim mentality of just being sad and feeling helpless or acting like a big fat baby. Even if it is tightening up your eating because you really can't exercise at all, do it. Hand bikes if your leg is hurt, walking if your upper body is injured. Something, Anything.
I certainly could not do everything in my class today but I could do much more than I expected. It whipped me, hard. You know what? I LOVED IT. I was worked, stretched, tired, sweaty and at peace with a new state of mind. I couldn't have asked for anything better.
To my instructor who helped me today - Thank you and Namaste.
At the same time, however, I overused my injury excuse. There was no need for me to put on those extra pounds making my jeans just a little too tight for my liking and making me not want to wear my cute tank tops and short sleeve shirts. So I couldn't run. I couldn't squat. I couldn't lunge. I couldn't have weight bearing on the joint. Does it suck? Yes. Did I have to let go? Absolutely not.
A bum hip didn't mean I needed to stop planning all my meals. It didn't mean I needed to slack on my clean eating style. It didn't mean I couldn't walk in the pool. It didn't mean comfort myself with having foods more often in which I don't normally indulge. I fell off my wagon and just rolled right down the hill into a ditch.
Today, I decided I wanted to do something, anything. So off I went to Bikram Yoga. It is something I used to find such comfort in doing when living in San Francisco. I love the heat, the stretching, the isometric muscular holds, the calmness in the room. I needed that today. Calm, stretching, solace. Even if I couldn't do all the poses, I knew I would walk away better than when I walked into the studio. And better I am.
As I was laying in Savasana and the instructor was talking, he started orating about injuries and fear and being willing to push past, little by little, the fear of re-injuring ourselves through going into poses a little deeper every time we practice. How we are not victims of our injuries. We need not be afraid. It was my "AH-HA" moment. This injury had become my EXCUSE, my crutch to slack off and just be pissy and behave like a victim instead of pulling up my proverbial bootstraps and focusing on the things I COULD do, not what I couldn't.
No more excuses - do what you can. No more victim mentality of just being sad and feeling helpless or acting like a big fat baby. Even if it is tightening up your eating because you really can't exercise at all, do it. Hand bikes if your leg is hurt, walking if your upper body is injured. Something, Anything.
I certainly could not do everything in my class today but I could do much more than I expected. It whipped me, hard. You know what? I LOVED IT. I was worked, stretched, tired, sweaty and at peace with a new state of mind. I couldn't have asked for anything better.
To my instructor who helped me today - Thank you and Namaste.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Surviving the Injuries
Everyone has had an injury of some sort. Right now I'm struggling with a brutal one that is limiting me like no other injury has. No running, no lifting legs, no lunges, no real squats. I can safely say this completely sucks. My kneecap is off track and out of place and every "lateral" muscle I have in my right thigh is so tight it keeps pulling my kneecap even further out of place if that is possible. On top of all that, the compensation that has been going on in my hips to save my knee is now so wound up and tight it is now pulling my lower back out of alignment. Really?
Unfortunately yes. While going to physical therapy twice a week is helping, it is not curing the issues and it is not working quickly. What I am not, is patient. Especially when it comes to my injuries and recovery. What I am now learning is I do have to be patient. With an MRI and X-rays for my right hip on the books for tomorrow I am stressed and sad. This is the time I need my exercise the most. I am so grateful for the strong support system I have around me from family and friends to coaches (especially Coach Lauren from CSF). With this bout of injuries they have had to proverbially slap me around to make me snap out of my own head and take my injuries seriously.
What this HAS done for me is made me refocus on my nutrition (yes, I slip every so often too) and the things I CAN do. I can still walk, I can still do some core and some upper body. This has also made me realize how much I take for granted when my body is healthy. The hips and lower back are so important in all motions and movements and I neglected to make sure I was properly taking care of them. I must stretch, I must make sure my fascia is not wrapped in knots around my muscles pulling my body out of alignment, and I must feed my body properly so my muscles can properly protect my joints.
There are a few ways to do this but I believe if I diversified my training better after my ankle surgery last year, I would not be in this predicament now. All I worried about was getting to the gym, getting my cardio done and lifting my weights as I always had. What I wasn't doing, and needed to do, was incorporate alternate forms of exercises like yoga, stretching or pilates. Even doing a Spin class over a long run every so often would have saved wear and tear on both my hips and knees possibly alleviating some of the issues I now have.
My point today is even if you feel strong right now, it doesn't mean you are as strong as you feel or that everything is working how it should. Our bodies can hold out for quite some time even when it t is not in proper alignment before something gives. So take care of your body in all aspects, just getting to the gym isn't enough, what you do there is so important. Stretch, roll out your body and change up your exercises and forms of exercise every so often to continue to strengthen and challenge your muscles. Keep ALL parts of your body strong and healthy.
Unfortunately yes. While going to physical therapy twice a week is helping, it is not curing the issues and it is not working quickly. What I am not, is patient. Especially when it comes to my injuries and recovery. What I am now learning is I do have to be patient. With an MRI and X-rays for my right hip on the books for tomorrow I am stressed and sad. This is the time I need my exercise the most. I am so grateful for the strong support system I have around me from family and friends to coaches (especially Coach Lauren from CSF). With this bout of injuries they have had to proverbially slap me around to make me snap out of my own head and take my injuries seriously.
What this HAS done for me is made me refocus on my nutrition (yes, I slip every so often too) and the things I CAN do. I can still walk, I can still do some core and some upper body. This has also made me realize how much I take for granted when my body is healthy. The hips and lower back are so important in all motions and movements and I neglected to make sure I was properly taking care of them. I must stretch, I must make sure my fascia is not wrapped in knots around my muscles pulling my body out of alignment, and I must feed my body properly so my muscles can properly protect my joints.
There are a few ways to do this but I believe if I diversified my training better after my ankle surgery last year, I would not be in this predicament now. All I worried about was getting to the gym, getting my cardio done and lifting my weights as I always had. What I wasn't doing, and needed to do, was incorporate alternate forms of exercises like yoga, stretching or pilates. Even doing a Spin class over a long run every so often would have saved wear and tear on both my hips and knees possibly alleviating some of the issues I now have.
My point today is even if you feel strong right now, it doesn't mean you are as strong as you feel or that everything is working how it should. Our bodies can hold out for quite some time even when it t is not in proper alignment before something gives. So take care of your body in all aspects, just getting to the gym isn't enough, what you do there is so important. Stretch, roll out your body and change up your exercises and forms of exercise every so often to continue to strengthen and challenge your muscles. Keep ALL parts of your body strong and healthy.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Las Vegas Rock 'n Roll 1/2 Marathon
So this is a little late coming, but better late than never. I too get caught up in the Holiday Season.
Yes, two 1/2 Marathons in SIX weeks. This one was different, it wasn't for me or about me. This one was for my husband who has supported all of my fitness endeavors without question. He loves that I love to be healthy and strong and loves to participate when he can. He-Rocked-It.
We ran a 1/2 Marathon once before when we were dating a bit over four years ago in San Francisco - aptly named the San Francisco 1/2 Marathon. That was all fun and games, just get it done to say he did it. There was minimal training with a long run of only 10 miles one time before race day. Post race was not his favorite to say the least. Exhausted for a day or two, sore for at least two, but he did it and did it well with his kids and Mom at the finish cheering us on with signs.
I wanted to do it again, with him, and I have been hearing how fun the Rock 'n Roll series is for years. Then I saw it - Rock 'n Roll VEGAS. I had him, no doubt, slam dunk. It couldn't have been more perfect since he LOVES Las Vegas. The last time we traveled there was great and this was the perfect way to go have fun again and run together.
The biggest obstacle we had was training together. I wrote him a progressive program to get him prepared but what I didn't realize is that we really only had six weeks to train together and motivating someone from afar is tougher than when they are in the room training beside you. By the time he needed to start his training, I was already in my long long runs with my girls training for the Nike 1/2 in San Francisco. He needed shorter runs than I was doing but I had to put the miles in for my October race. Thankfully, the commitment was fully made by him and he began running on his own on his lunch hour at work. I didn't doubt it, I knew once he said he was in he would train properly. Running by yourself when it isn't really your "thing" takes big commitment.
If we were going to do training runs together, it would have to be at 5:30 am or 7:30 pm, both in the dark. I cannot run at night or super early morning before the sun, I trip on things and fall down. This has happened on several occasions and in several cities and I cannot explain it. During the week, this meant he had to run without me. Not ideal, but doable. Enter work friend/runner/savior. Maybe still not ideal but far more attractive than running solo three times a week.
And so our dual journey began. Weekends we would do long runs when we could manage around soccer and kids and every run he did better and became a stronger runner. So much so that on our 11 mile run, he was pulling me at more than one point. This was a GREAT sign of what this race would become and I was excited.
Jump forward a few weeks. The day before the race at the Expo, and a KILLER Expo it was. Great fitness tools everywhere, Josh Cox signing autographs, all sorts of runners wandering through it all. There was a HUGE line for the free Kinetic Taping and of course for all the free samples of food. We bought some running glasses and for me a beanie since we realized how cold it was really going to be in the morning.
Then it was 5:00AM in Las Vegas - RACE DAY. Winter running pants - check. Under Armour Cold Gear long sleeve - check. Shoes, beanie, race bib, running belt and bag check clothes - check. All ready. As we made our way through the drunken smoking gamblers who looked at US like WE were nuts, we giggled and thought about how great it was to NOT be them. I loved it. We walked outside to be slapped in the face with some ridiculously cold temperature I certainly wasn't expecting. Thank goodness for hot coffee :)
There were all sorts at the start - aliens, angels, hippies, sponge bob (yes, in a full cardboard costume) and of course a thousand Elvis' of both genders. There were also the serious runners doing their warm up runs in their compression socks, novice runners sort of trying to watch and do what others were doing and people who looked totally lost. I checked my bag and we headed to our corral. As we lined up and toed the line for our start Sean looks at me and says, my biggest stretch goal is 2:11. My answer - how bad do you want to make that?
He doesn't want to know the time so much just the time of each mile after a certain point, around mile 6. I'm still pacing him and we are headed at a good clip enjoying the scenery as you run straight down the strip. Through NY, Paris, you know the drill. All the lights are on, the billboards are wishing us luck. The corrals were run perfectly so that we didn't have to worry about weaving in and out of runners and could really look around and enjoy our environment. Even the water stations were run well without runners climbing all over each other to get to the tables. The bands made it even better. We heard a lot of Jimi Hendrix on that run but it was fabulous.
Around mile 11, Sean started to slow so I started to pull away to push him to maintain his pace. I knew he could but also knew he needed to just follow on auto pilot. Mile 12 he started to show a little glint of "thank God I'm almost there". For the last 1/2 mile of the race, I would hold up fingers for the remaining .5, .4, .3, etc. miles left. As soon as I held up 2 fingers - off he went like a shot. All I could think was "Are you nuts??? Do you know that is almost a quarter mile? Sprinting, really??" But instead I took off after him yelling as much encouragement on the way. I'm not entirely sure he knew it was encouragement as it could have been irritating him to no end but I wanted him to reach his best goal.
On immediate crossing of the finish line, he came to a complete halt and looked like he wanted to die. He did just full sprint .2 miles after all. And of course I forgot to stop my watch. I told him he did it, beat his best goal and he just looked at me. Official time? 2:09!!!!
With commitment, time and some nagging, he surpassed even his stretch goal. I was so proud of him and still am. He was even in good enough shape to rock out to Bret Michaels for over an hour at the post race concert and even make it to XS for the runner party held by the race later in the evening. He was proud of him too which he should be.
It was an amazing race and so fun to do it selflessly and watch him succeed past all his goals. I loved seeing him so happy and healthy and I can't wait to do it all over again.
Yes, two 1/2 Marathons in SIX weeks. This one was different, it wasn't for me or about me. This one was for my husband who has supported all of my fitness endeavors without question. He loves that I love to be healthy and strong and loves to participate when he can. He-Rocked-It.
We ran a 1/2 Marathon once before when we were dating a bit over four years ago in San Francisco - aptly named the San Francisco 1/2 Marathon. That was all fun and games, just get it done to say he did it. There was minimal training with a long run of only 10 miles one time before race day. Post race was not his favorite to say the least. Exhausted for a day or two, sore for at least two, but he did it and did it well with his kids and Mom at the finish cheering us on with signs.
I wanted to do it again, with him, and I have been hearing how fun the Rock 'n Roll series is for years. Then I saw it - Rock 'n Roll VEGAS. I had him, no doubt, slam dunk. It couldn't have been more perfect since he LOVES Las Vegas. The last time we traveled there was great and this was the perfect way to go have fun again and run together.
The biggest obstacle we had was training together. I wrote him a progressive program to get him prepared but what I didn't realize is that we really only had six weeks to train together and motivating someone from afar is tougher than when they are in the room training beside you. By the time he needed to start his training, I was already in my long long runs with my girls training for the Nike 1/2 in San Francisco. He needed shorter runs than I was doing but I had to put the miles in for my October race. Thankfully, the commitment was fully made by him and he began running on his own on his lunch hour at work. I didn't doubt it, I knew once he said he was in he would train properly. Running by yourself when it isn't really your "thing" takes big commitment.
If we were going to do training runs together, it would have to be at 5:30 am or 7:30 pm, both in the dark. I cannot run at night or super early morning before the sun, I trip on things and fall down. This has happened on several occasions and in several cities and I cannot explain it. During the week, this meant he had to run without me. Not ideal, but doable. Enter work friend/runner/savior. Maybe still not ideal but far more attractive than running solo three times a week.
And so our dual journey began. Weekends we would do long runs when we could manage around soccer and kids and every run he did better and became a stronger runner. So much so that on our 11 mile run, he was pulling me at more than one point. This was a GREAT sign of what this race would become and I was excited.
Jump forward a few weeks. The day before the race at the Expo, and a KILLER Expo it was. Great fitness tools everywhere, Josh Cox signing autographs, all sorts of runners wandering through it all. There was a HUGE line for the free Kinetic Taping and of course for all the free samples of food. We bought some running glasses and for me a beanie since we realized how cold it was really going to be in the morning.
Then it was 5:00AM in Las Vegas - RACE DAY. Winter running pants - check. Under Armour Cold Gear long sleeve - check. Shoes, beanie, race bib, running belt and bag check clothes - check. All ready. As we made our way through the drunken smoking gamblers who looked at US like WE were nuts, we giggled and thought about how great it was to NOT be them. I loved it. We walked outside to be slapped in the face with some ridiculously cold temperature I certainly wasn't expecting. Thank goodness for hot coffee :)
There were all sorts at the start - aliens, angels, hippies, sponge bob (yes, in a full cardboard costume) and of course a thousand Elvis' of both genders. There were also the serious runners doing their warm up runs in their compression socks, novice runners sort of trying to watch and do what others were doing and people who looked totally lost. I checked my bag and we headed to our corral. As we lined up and toed the line for our start Sean looks at me and says, my biggest stretch goal is 2:11. My answer - how bad do you want to make that?
He doesn't want to know the time so much just the time of each mile after a certain point, around mile 6. I'm still pacing him and we are headed at a good clip enjoying the scenery as you run straight down the strip. Through NY, Paris, you know the drill. All the lights are on, the billboards are wishing us luck. The corrals were run perfectly so that we didn't have to worry about weaving in and out of runners and could really look around and enjoy our environment. Even the water stations were run well without runners climbing all over each other to get to the tables. The bands made it even better. We heard a lot of Jimi Hendrix on that run but it was fabulous.
Around mile 11, Sean started to slow so I started to pull away to push him to maintain his pace. I knew he could but also knew he needed to just follow on auto pilot. Mile 12 he started to show a little glint of "thank God I'm almost there". For the last 1/2 mile of the race, I would hold up fingers for the remaining .5, .4, .3, etc. miles left. As soon as I held up 2 fingers - off he went like a shot. All I could think was "Are you nuts??? Do you know that is almost a quarter mile? Sprinting, really??" But instead I took off after him yelling as much encouragement on the way. I'm not entirely sure he knew it was encouragement as it could have been irritating him to no end but I wanted him to reach his best goal.
On immediate crossing of the finish line, he came to a complete halt and looked like he wanted to die. He did just full sprint .2 miles after all. And of course I forgot to stop my watch. I told him he did it, beat his best goal and he just looked at me. Official time? 2:09!!!!
With commitment, time and some nagging, he surpassed even his stretch goal. I was so proud of him and still am. He was even in good enough shape to rock out to Bret Michaels for over an hour at the post race concert and even make it to XS for the runner party held by the race later in the evening. He was proud of him too which he should be.
It was an amazing race and so fun to do it selflessly and watch him succeed past all his goals. I loved seeing him so happy and healthy and I can't wait to do it all over again.
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