Runner's Low

I mentioned in a previous blog something that came up during the 10 mile run.  Herein lies the discussion of that particular feeling.

This, of course, happened a few weeks ago, but life has been a bit busy since then, but I feel this is something worth discussing and sharing.

We've all heard of runner's high... well, at least those who are running or plan to run or are thinking about maybe, possibly, someday, let's scope it out first, running.  I have to be honest... a runner's high is hard to explain.  I've asked runners... none of them can quite describe it, so that I might know it when it hits.  I get the Potter Stewart version of the answer... "You'll know it when you feel it."

Well...I got the complete opposite of this elusive high around mile 7 of the 10 miler.  I almost started bawling.  I spoke with my running partner about it last week and she did note that she noticed I wasn't feeling so hot.  But she was letting me work it out, etc.

I literally hit the wall.  My body was going strong, we had a great consistent mile time, but emotionally I just felt like a wreck.  Self-doubts, tiredness, life issues, what am I doing... all of that just descended on me until I felt stifled and bam!  I just teared up and it was all I could do not to stop right there and let those little teardrops leak.

I can sit here now and be proud of myself for finishing regardless, for not letting aches and pains stop me.  But then?  I just need to get home.  It was to the point where I need to use the restroom (I do drink a lot of water...), but I kept us pushing on because I just wanted to get back to the site, check-in, go there, and GO.

As I noted, I spoke with my partner about it last week and she did say she noticed something was up.  She said she understood and just to let her know when I'm feeling that way, maybe we can talk it out... and she'll do the same.  It's nice to have a small pace group (um... the two of us... maybe three one of these weeks...) for this particular reason.

I'll keep you updated if I should ever happen to get that runner's high and use my extensive vocabulary to try to put it into words.

Updates!

Wowie, have I been lackadaisical about updating...

Post 6 miles run, I kept up with my maintenance runs.  Now that cross-training thing... well... Hhmmm...

I did bike ride one day.  I haven't ridden in quite possibly over 10 years.  To say that was reallllllly amusing it to put it nicely.  I didn't fall off!  I won't mention the running into a fence...

Anyways!

The week after the 6-miler was an 8 mile run.  Holy smokies... But got it done!  Whoo!

Then... then it came... the 10 mile.  Wow.  I had trouble with this one, something I'll discuss in my next blog.  I'll hint now and say it references the "runner's low".  But!  I did 10 miles!  At a 15 minute pace!  I've already knocked a minute off my time, so keep on trucking downward!  The goal is sub-14 minute mile consistently by October 30th (race day).

The weekend after was this last weekend, a recovery run of 5 miles.  I ended up sleeping in a bit after a dinner party the previous night.  The guy I'm dating ran with me... which I wasn't too sure about in the beginning and remain on the fence about now.  He's mucho faster than I and I just felt sort of embarrassed the whole time.  I don't mind my time in general... there's just something about running with the significant other when your paces are so clearly off the mark.  But he was very sweet to want to support me and come out with me.  I will admit... as mean as it is... I got secret pleasure the next day out of the fact that he was sore... Hehehe.  I never said I was ALWAYS nice!!! 

Anyways, so I'll be running 12 miles this weekend.  Ho boy.

On another note, I'm still about $250 short of the mark... Oh gosh!  Hopefully I'll make it in time.  I've got a few days left!

Picture blog to come...

On yet another note, an extended family member was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  The outlook is not good.  So please people, get checked.  Whether it's the prostate, genitals, breasts, and whatever else, take care of yourself.  It's not just about healthy eating and working out, it's about being vigilant about your own health.  So take charge.

Training Day!

Today was a 6 miler.  See, last week, the jump from 4 to 5 miles was not particularly horrendous.  So I figured... not a problem.  Not big deal.  6 miles?  Ppssshhh.

Ok, let's review how I went into these 6 miles.  *Very little running during the week.  *3 glasses of alcohol the previous night.  *Lots of food eaten last night.  *Lots of food I rarely eat eaten last night.  *Dancing for a couple of hours at the Go Go's concert on a sloped hill.

Now let's discuss the end of these 6 miles.

TIRED.  SORE.  HOLY SHIZA THAT'S A LOT OF MILES AND I'M ADDING 20 MORE?!  AM I NUTS?!

Yes.  That sums that up.  This all being said... I still haven't gotten the "runner's high", but the sense of accomplishment at the end... wow.  Just... wow.  It may not be a lot of mileage to some people, but it is to me and I'm doing it.  I'm the one making this happen.  I'm the one using positive thoughts to push me through.

And then there was my new group.  Singing for the last three miles.  How they ran and sing... well... I have NO clue, but they did.  It cracked me up.

And now for your entertainment...

 Air and Space Museum.  Also... note the weather.  The only thing we won't run in is lightening.

 See that big white thing far off in the distance?  We have to run all the way to that.  After already running 2.25 miles...

 MADE IT!  Oh man... now we gotta run BACK.

 Note the insanely red, insanely shiny face.  Also note the pb&j sammies.  Please also note that pb&j has NEVER tasted so good.

LOOK HOW SKINNY I AM!  Ok, not skinny by society's standards, but ppppssshhh, who needs those?  ;).  This running thing may have something to it...

Volunteer Day!

Derrick joined me today!  I love my friends!  Aren't they just amazing?!

We were told to go to an overpass/bridge and tell people to cross it.  We went to the wrong bridge.  Do you now see why we are friends?

This being said, we are so cool for doing it.  Ha!  And I FINALLY got my shirt.  Woohoo!!!  That's uber exciting if you ask me.  I'll have pics next week of that beauteous being.  And I realized just now I didn't get a pic of D and I.  I'll rectify that next weekend as well.

We were at the sight of where he got his engagement pictures, so we had fun chatting about that.

Now... onto the pictures.  I know, your favorite part.

 I call this the Georgetown Clock Tower.  Somebody knows what it really is... I don't!

Graffiti on the walls!  Some were really nifty.  Others?  Not so much...

Training Day!

Today made for a 5 mile day.  I have never run 5 miles before, so this was quite the experience.  I also have not been brilliant about my maintenance runs, so I definitely need to get on top of that.  This being said, I met some really nice ladies in my pace group.  They were fun and uber understanding.  I'm working toward ensuring I have a consistent 14 minute mile (which I currently do not) and so kept drifting ahead in pursuit of this goal.  Upshot is that the next run I'll be running with a different crew - but I'm looking forward to getting to know everybody and cheering everybody on!

Today was also Race for the Cure, which meant I got lost trying to re-route myself to the training site.  Yes... only me.  We did a slightly different route than we usually do as a result and I did rather like it.  It was down to Haines Point.

And now... for some pictures!  These are in no coherent order, so be forewarned!

 May I get a ride please?!  (Only about 1.5 miles in at this point...)

 Or I could get a ride on one of these...  Food, beverages (of the adult variety!), and access to potties (that aren't porta).

 Duckies!  I'm making friends with the wildlife everywhere!  Bet you didn't expect that of this California Beach Bum...

 The gals I ran with!

 Getting lapped!  Go fast people!

 The gal I ran with

 That would be a river

 Just starting out... see how happy they look?!

A Washington monument and one of the reasons I'm doing this race... this is my home now and where better to do it?!

New Goodies

I got a new toy and a new support system!  Woohoo!!!

New toy first.  What is it you ask???  A new camera!!!

 Isn't it just so cute?!  It is soooooooooooo tiny and lightweight.  I wanted something that wasn't too top-of-the-line as I don't want to cry and berate myself if I drop it, but also something useful for running around - whether it be training or hanging with the pals.  As I'm trying to document the bulk of this journey as I go, I needed something a bit more accessible than my massive blackberry that costs an arm and a leg and I would sob if I dropped and broke it.  So this really is just the perfect little bugger for me.

And next up... what else did I get???  A book!!!  Shocker of the century I know.  I was thinking about the foods I would need to be eating in the coming months and realizing that I really have absolutely no idea how I should be nourishing my body as I go.  So clearly, I needed some help.  I am not going to be able to afford a nutritionist and the amount of time it would take me to do all online research (read: free) would be ridiculous, as I would have to vet all of the sources.  A book became my choice.

Amazon.com reader reviews highly rate this book, i.e. people like to bash things when they can, so when they take time to write something nice, I pay attention.  So this came in the mail today too and...

I'm about 10 pages in and Clark makes sense to me.  She writes in a way that I understand and explains why she suggests the foods she does.  I'm not going to get obsessive about reading tonight as I have class soon and I want to go step by step.  So first, I'm going to change up my nutrition for this upcoming week and then read the book over the weekend, seeing what I need to do from there and how I need to be nourishing my body pre-long runs.  Any which way, so far I'm liking it.  I'll give a more comprehensive review as I actually try out the plan and see how it helps with the energy.

I continue to take this seriously and with great verve.  I'm excited and nervous and know that the next few months are going to be amazing, even if they kick my booty from here to next Tuesday.

Generosity

I have been blown away and humbled by the outpouring of support I have received the last few days.  Before starting this process, it was not the prospect of running for 6 or more hours straight that scared me, but raising enough money to train and run in the marathon.  Having a fundraising goal is not something I have ever had before.  (And no, selling girl scout cookies does not count - because, please, who could resist my crazy hair cuteness back when???)

This being said, I have until July 22nd to raise $1,000.  I will be volunteering at least six weekends, raising $150 toward that goal (we receive credit if we volunteer on our non-training day).  But $150 is a hole in the bucket compared to $1,000, no matter how much I say every penny counts.

Next thing I know, I have $30 coming in from complete strangers.  I have another $30 between two friends who do not necessarily make a lot of money.  And then... there's the family friends and mom's friends.  Yes, I have totally been using my mother.  Big drops in the bucket coming my way from this group.  All together, I have more than half of the monies I need raised to run this marathon.

What does this mean?  I can raise the rest of it.  Because every single dollar has counted and every single dollar continues to count.  What does this really mean?  I guess I'm running a marathon!

I'm blown away that so many people have such faith in me that I will complete this process and complete the race.  It is truly humbling to get an email on my blackberry telling me that somebody else has donated.  I email a thank you to these folks and try not to be too mushy or corny, since raunchy and sailor mouth are more my style ;), but my heart actually swells knowing that there are people who think enough of me and my drive to make this journey.

When the pain starts to hit, when the boredom sets in, when I can't keep myself enough company, or when "The Wall" seems insurmountable, I will have the names of my supporters in my head.  When the time comes that I cannot get myself through, and this time WILL come, it will be the people who believed in me that will get me through.

So thank you.