So what’s taking me this long to get back on here? Well I took some time off and have been trying new things. I recently took up a rock climbing class, and have been mixing up my runs with gym workouts. But it was after hitting the path for an easy five miler today that I found myself wanting to hit the blogosphere once again. In the midst of winter break, I haven’t been writing much of anything so this is my way of putting fingers to keys, feet to pavement, and being somewhat productive while school is on hold for the rest of the month.

This is the first time I’ve ever been running regularly without a goal race in my future. I’m not planning or counting or pushing and it’s surprisingly refreshing. I’m sure I will sign up for a spring marathon very soon- most likely it will be the Cincinnati Flying Pig again- but for now, I’m learning to love the act of running, as much as I already love the sport of it. The empty lake front path, the lung piercing air, and the rare solitude that is so difficult to find in a city like Chicago, are all what pull me outside when the temperature flirts with single digits. I love running and although I haven’t been pushing myself the way I might in training, I’ve really been appreciating the mental and emotional benefits of spending time with myself, my music, and my thoughts. Don’t worry, I’m not going to get all Dear Diary on you. But anyone who runs knows how psychologically cleansing it can be and I’ve been fully embracing that aspect of it.

So here’s to a slow and steady return to my blog and whatever race I decide to add to my calendar in the near future. Whether I’m competing, exercising, or just throwing on the sneakers to get out of my stuffy apartment, this year I’m going to try to remember to love running, because that’s why I do it.

Chicago Marathon, 10.10.10

Well, I did it. I braved the torrential downpour of the Cincinnati Flying Pig, along with 6,500 other runners, and muscled through with wet shoes for 26.2 miles. There’s really nothing like an intense lightening and thunder storm, along with a power outage to get your adrenaline pumping before the start of a race.  But the Cincinnati Flying Pig, like each race I’ve run in its own special way, reminded me why I love this sport and the people who partake in it. Amidst the heavy downpour, lightening and thunder of the early morning hour, the atmosphere of the Flying Pig crowd was excited and uplifting. People joked about needing flippers instead of  running shoes, and how we should get credit for a dualathalon because we’d be swimming through puddles. Nervous laughs mingled with reassuring words of advice as we waited for the start, and despite my completely drenched shoes, hair, and soon to be clothes (as soon a I ditched the garbage bag poncho), I was able to feed off the energy of other participants and stay excited for the challenge that lay ahead.

My Uncle Dennis, an experienced Pig and seasoned runner, drove me along the course the night before so I thought I was mentally prepared for the hills I’d be facing.  Somehow they still managed to be steeper and longer and more frequent than I anticipated, but in the end, I think the challenge of running hills actually helped my time. I took an extremely conservative pace for the first portion and all through “The Climb” which was about a 3 mile stretch with over 300 feet of vertical climb. Dennis had also pointed out a bridge that would signal the end of the climb, and it was an incredible relief to see the overpass in the distance. After the stretch of hills, I felt surprisingly great, and as I continued to count off miles, my pace continued to quicken. I’d never thought to attempt negative splits. The only technique I’ve ever had in mind was to hold onto a respectable pace for as long as possible and then just hope to finish. But this time I was actually speeding up!

The rain continued to come down throughout the entire race, which looking back, was ideal. Had it stopped I would have become more aware of the heat and humidity, as well as the chaffing going at the neck of my shirt which I never actually noticed until taking it off. Thank you Body Glide for sparing the rest of my skin that ugly experience!

The last two miles were incredible. The race had gone by so much faster than the  Chicago Marathon had. I had yet to walk other than the occasional water break, and I knew I was going to beat my Chicago time. I also knew that I had the energy in me to not only finish, but to blow through that finish line- so I did. It felt like a dead sprint to my exhausted legs, but looking back at the footage, I was probably doing that last stretch at a modest 8:30 pace. Still, I felt like I was flying, right through the “finish swine”. The clock read about 4:23 so without considering the difference in clock time and chip time, I had already beat my previous marathon by thirteen minutes.

The whole Purcell family was there moments after I finished. (Being well-versed in the experience of marathons, I’m guessing they knew to give me those first few moments to steady my swaying body and not throw up.) But then there they were, and there is nothing like seeing family after a race to make you want to cry. The combination of exhaustion and elation was overwhelming and I could barely believe I was actually done.

After receiving my official results, I was even happier- having beat my Chicago time by 18 minutes. My pipe dream of qualifying for Boston doesn’t seem all that impossible with the reassurance that I can improve, and I am now more determined to do so.

Sub-4:00 Chicago Marathon 2010? Why the Hell not.

***Thank you SOOO much to my Uncle Dennis, Aunt Holly, and my cousins Hillary, Stacy, Erin, and Tim. Uncle Dennis (a previous Boston qualifier) has been a huge source of inspiration and motivation, and the entire family helped make the experience in Cincinnati a delight! I’m so happy to have shared in that with all of you!!

I’m really excited for the experience of running a marathon that is not a first. I sure wouldn’t call myself “experienced”, but I know the details this time around. My training was definitely more thorough this winter than it was last summer, and although I had less time to fit my runs in with school and work going on, I was more structured with my workouts and more focused on both mileage and speed.

The down side to that is when people ask how I did, I no longer get to say, “Well, it was my first so I’m just glad I finished.” Now I actually care about my time, and although I don’t plan on improving exponentially from Chicago, I would really like to do a little better- with the factor of hills and not having the chance to train on them, that would be very fulfilling.

My Aunt Holly and Uncle Dennis are so graciously putting me up for the weekend, and waking up early to get me to the race and to volunteer at different stations with my cousins. They have all been incredibly motivational and supportive since I first started training for Chicago and I’m really looking forward to sharing this experience with all of them!

Well, its time for dinner (my favorite of course… pasta pasta pasta!) and an early bedtime. Waking up to face whatever the morning bring- hills, rain and all (still not dwelling, I swear.)

I’m also freaking out, and while running is usually what makes me feel better about life in general- what I’m freaking out about is directly related to running so hopefully venting it here will help.

In the last couple weeks leading up to my first marathon, the 2010 Chicago marathon, my body decided to seek revenge for the intense transition from casual jogger to serious marathon trainer that I had forced upon it over the course of 6 short months.  As soon as I completed my 20 miler and started tapering, my immune system seemed to shut down. I got a horrible cold, everything hurt, and my confidence level went down the toilet.  It made me feel a little better when I went to the local specialized running store, Fleet Feet, to pick up some Gu and talked to one of the employees about my disheartening health.  How can I get sick now?? I pleaded to the sprightly young man who looked ready for an ultra that very second. He told me not to worry- that getting sick during your taper is perfectly normal and rather common.  Your body takes advantage of the fact that you haven’t let yourself rest in so long.  Its been so regularly pushed to the limit over the previous months, that the sudden drop in physical activity signals recovery, and a crash in energy.

Well now I know, but it still doesn’t make me feel better this time around.  I’m 9 days away from my second marathon and yesterday I found myself barely able to squeeze 5 miles out of my aching legs. Suddenly I’m exhausted, my knee is acting up, and my back is killing me. What gives?? Quite frankly, I don’t care if its normal. I still don’t like it one bit. I want to feel “peaked” right now. I want to feel ready to take on the world- to run 26.2 freaking miles! And I really just feel like climbing under the covers and taking a nap.

This is where I have to keep reminding myself of one monumental piece of advice offered by my seasoned marathoner uncle-  trust your training. I incorporated not one, but two twenty milers this time around, and significantly increased my weekly mileage as compared to last summer.  I completed my second 20 miler without a single walking break- something I never could have done before October. I incorporated hills and I even cross trained. I did everything I could do in the limited amount of free time allowed between classes, free lance writing and two jobs. I am ready, and even if I did crawl under the covers for the next 9 days, I’d still be able to run a marathon on May 2nd.

I’m ready. I just wish my body would believe me.

Click image link to visit Team Hoyt’s website

My second mode of motivation is my plan to run a half marathon sometime this winter, and make it a weekend get away.  I’m thinking either Austin or Phoenix.  And of course, there’s nothing like an impending race to get you out there, racking up the miles so you don’t embarass yourself.

Just gotta keep plugging away at the miles and remembering how great it feels every time I finish a good run.

So yesterday I got back on the road, armed with the confidence of 26.2 miles behind me, and a new pair of sneakers.  My poor Mizunos carried me through two half marathons and one full, as well as God knows how many training miles; they have now officially been retired.  I actually stopped into Nike after the marathon last weekend, (not something I wanted to do in my state of exhaustion but my parents insisted on getting a picture of the wall with all of the participants’ names) and while trying on their limited edition Chicago Marathon sneaks, was scolded by the sales associate for wearing such well worn running shoes in the race.  I swear, in all my advice searching and research in the past months, not once did I come across the idea that you should train with two pairs of shoes, alternating so that the ones you will race in don’t become overused.  Silly me.

Now I’ve got a new pair of Addidas (sorry Nike) and a better appreciation for how important it is to have a good pair of shoes for your training.  I originally bought my new Addidas about a month ago because I had a feeling my Mizunos were becoming a bit tired.  I went to the specialty running store in my neighborhood, Fleet Feet, known for their attention to detail when fitting you for shoes.

I’m not entirely happy with my new purchase, which is frustrating because running shoes are NOT cheap and extremely important to a runner.  They’re your only piece of “equipment” in this sport and are responsible for the survival of your tortured feet.  I believe I made two mistakes when I went to purchase my shoes.

1.) I went straight from work and wasn’t dressed to run.  Stores like Fleet Feet will have you run a bit outside to get a feel for your shoes and that’s difficult to do in jeans.  Had I been dressed more comfortably, I would have gotten a better feel for the sneakers I was trying on.

2.)  I described the problems I was having with my feet to the sales associate, and trusted that he could find shoes that would fix these problems.  Instead of paying close attention to how the shoes fit me, I assumed the ones he brought me would fill out my arches better and help with my blisters.  The sales associate can’t feel your foot inside the shoe, and its up to the runner to pay close attention to how natural the shoe feels on your foot.

To avoid a similar blunder in shoe shopping, don’t settle for the three or four shoes that the sales associate will likely suggest to you.  If none of them fit juuuust right, keep trying Cinderella.  Its worth the time.  Your running shoes should feel natural.  They should feel a little bit longer than your typical shoes because your toes will constantly be forced into the ends and, as I’ve experienced, blisters can get really nasty on the tips of your toes.

So I will see how these shoes work, and luckily I don’t have any races in the near future to worry about.  I’m sure these will at least work out as my “running-through-slush-and-snow-winter-training-shoes” and when marathon season comes around again, I can get a new pair and make these my alternates.  Good luck in your own shoe shopping and hopefully learn from my mistakes!