For as long as I can remember, I told people "I can't run." But in March of 2009, I decided that this was no longer an option. From my first 5K to my second half marathon, I've endured my highest highs and lowest lows as an official Runner. This year I want to embrace running for something beyond times and distances.

Running is so much more than merely getting out there. I want to get out there and love it.

Friday, September 10, 2010

The Eleventh Hour

Sunday's the big day! Am I prepared? Yes and no.

First and foremost, it's nice to not be vomming my guts out and weak from nutrients rapidly being ejected from my body. I mean really nice. It really sucked to not be able to look forward to the race last time around. To wonder if I'd even run it at all...something I didn't officially decide until 5am that morning! This time I'm in mega relaxed mode.

But too relaxed?

This whole 12 week training process as been the epitome of too relaxed. Last time I ran 190 miles in 12 weeks, this time a mere 130. I didn't do any tempo or intervals. Last time I was running 5 miles at around 9min/mi pace. And doing it all the time. This time? I think I went for 5 mile runs like twice. I didn't really push at all. So my original goal of being super hardcore, rocking intervals, and pushing for a sub-2 pretty much went out the window at the word go. The goal just didn't stick.

My new goal? To enjoy the race.

And I think that's why I'm particularly relaxed this week. With my first Half, I didn't want ANYTHING to screw with it. And then the flu stuff messed with my head. So while the experience was amazing, don't get me wrong...you'll never forget such a major First...I think Sunday will be worlds different. Not better, just different. South Shore was small, meek, and bare bones. Chicago is, well, Chicago! Big city, awesome skyline view, thousands upon thousands upon thousands of runners. It will be a lot to take in. There will be a true sense of camaraderie. South Shore was very quiet, very personal. Chicago will be buzzing and I'll feel a part of this huge, loud, obnoxious picture. So I want to really enjoy taking that all in. The whole time thing won't be my priority. Sure, I'll want to do what I can to match the 2:15 from South Shore (I mean I even printed out one of those pace wristbands HA! But if a PR isn't in the cards, no big deal.

Most looking forward to???

The medal.

Like I said, South Shore was great. I'd do it again some day. But as I've noted previously, there was no medal, no shirt, nothing but a bib number and some race results somewhere on the web to prove I did it. I keep envisioning crossing that finish line and someone handing me a medal and then wearing it around all day! As I wrote in a past post, in the 5K I ran with my friend Monica, I watched the Half Marathoners receive their medals and was simply mesmerized and practically salivating!! It's super stupid, I know.

Sighhh, now watch. My arch will fall during the race and I'll get picked up by the 3 hour van. Yeah there's some rule where you have to finish in under 3 hours or they pick you up and that's it. Yikes. No medal for Katie.

Positive thoughts!!

The weather looks absolutely gorgeous for the 7am start! Free pizza afterward! Bear's Home Opener! Done training!!! Haha! The last one will be nice. I want to reboot and start fresh. I don't want to repeat last post-Half and just give up for a month! It's Fall...best running season ever! I want to enjoy myself and have fun again :)

In other news, my friend Mark is running this bad boy as well (he's my travel AND hotel buddy for the weekend!). My ex-coworker and fellow softball player Josh is running as well. Apparently his wife is like super speed bunny...I don't even want to know! This chick I currently work with is ALSO racing. This is her first half and she was diagnosed with bronchitis this week. She's on some meds and currently plans to still do it!! Flu is one thing, but bronchitis?? She's a trooper!!! And finally, my bestest friends Monica and Tim will simultaneously rock the Chicago 5K! I'm super stoked to spend the weekend AND this particular experience with them!! They're newish runners this year, so it's been awesome having friends to whom I bitch about running and they understand ;)

Alright dudes, let's get 'er done!!!

4 comments:

  1. Enjoy it! That's the spirit. How totally thrilling. And I COMPLETELY get the medal thing. The biggest disappointment of my racing career is that I never got a ribbon or a medal. (That's why I keep those lame President's Fitness ones by the NordicTrack, LOL!) GOOD LUCK KATESI!!!

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  2. I hope you have a most amazing race!! So nice to hear you relaxed and non-stressed...it will make things a ton better!!

    Best of luck to you friend....and I can't wait to hear about it!!!

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  3. GUH DIE! I wrote a nice chunky lil comment here yesterday and it's just NOT here? ARGH! Um, I don't even remember what I all said now and I'm mad!
    Just something to the effect of, going into this marathon was like planning a wedding - with all the crazy science fairs and the looong early travels to get TO the race probably helped to get you in that "big picture" feel...vs just driving down the road by yourself to your first Half.
    Oh and I said that *I felt pretty cool getting our lil 5K medal. when they handed it to me I said "but I only ran the 5K??" and that reminded me that even though *I think I suck at this 5K thing, there are ppl who think it's awesome I can run 3 mi and do races! And that was me only a few months ago. I have to remember that - b/c of course all summer I was surrounded by you, Tim, Josh and other BETTER runners that motivated me to keep at it, but also made me not very proud of what I do. And it's even weirder that I was in the top 30% of the 5Kers?? Of course there were a lot of ppl walking right out of the gate - but I also passed a lot of ppl who stopped running at 2mi!! That was me just weeks ago. Just like that was YOU a year and a half ago - when you thought you couldn't even go out for a leisurely jog w/o yarfing!! So yea - I gotta remember to look to you awesome runners for inspiration, but remember there are non-runners who think what I do is pretty cool too!!!
    Ok, so that was a tangent....but hope that made sense?

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  4. Trust me Monica...remember when I wasn't a runner and my sis did her first 5K? I was just in awe. And she did her first 5K in 34 minutes!!! STILL in awe. Because I couldn't run worth a damn at that point! So there you have it :) I'm going to go out on a limb and say a vast majority of the population doesn't run. So that's a vast majority of the population that sees what you're doing as inspiring!

    And at the end of the day you gotta just do this for yourself and no one else! I'm the first person in line to jam this into my brain :)

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