A Not-So-Quick Run Through 2011

2011 was a pretty great year for me. I ran my first half marathon in seven years, went rock climbing for the first time, developed a new obsession with Stand Up Paddleboarding, set a new personal best and completed my first full marathon. I also got to visit my "French sister" and one of her best friends in New York. 2011 was awesome!

Grandpa Ford

My first race of the year was the Lou Gehrig 5K in January of 2011. My kids and my oldest niece came to run the kids' race and to cheer me on at the finish. My sister came along too to hang out with the kids while I was on the course. I think this race might have been what sparked my niece's interest in running. I was really thankful that my sister came out to watch the kids for me. It was a really cold and foggy morning and I know it was no day at the beach. It helped that it was the Lou Gehrig 5K and benefiting the ALS association. Our grandfather had died of ALS two years before I was born. I never knew him in person but I always felt that I knew him in spirit. I don't think there is any other deceased family member that had been spoken about more than Grandpa Ford. Everyone who knew him seemed to have loved him. He was my mother's father but even my father has told me wonderful stories about him all my life. My sister's father-in-law had passed away from ALS about seven months before the 5K and his death was still a fresh wound for her and my niece. It was a nice day to remember him.
   

In February I ran a valentines' run along with my daughter and niece. It was a four mile race for me and the girls signed up for the 1.8 mile fun run. It was a really nice and sunny day and we all had a great time. I had bettered my January pace so I was pretty happy about that. March was my first 10k and while I could feel the increased mileage I still bettered my February pace time, I was able to shave off about 30 seconds off my minute/mile pace. In April I ran another 10k, the Zoo Zoom. I really liked that race. It was ran around the William Land Park area so it was a very pretty run. I again bettered my pace and shaved off another 13 seconds. The 10k's were part of my preparation for the half marathon in May-on my 31st birthday. 

on Drake's Beach in Point Reyes

Limantour 

By May, I had been training for about five months. We had taken the kids to the beach once and Jeremy and I had gone by ourselves once. My times were getting better and the kids where doing really well in school, ballet (just Sami) and martial arts. Jeremy hadn't gotten hurt yet and we were both doing well at work. Sami had continued to play the trumpet in the school band and Nevyn was on the school's basketball team. He had never played basketball before and it turned out, he was pretty good. He wasn't afraid to get right into the thick of it and go after the ball and he realized really quick to go to the back of the court after someone made a basket, something the other kids never really got. So far, the year was looking good.

 On my 31st birthday May 7th) I ran the Mermaid Half Marathon! I had ran a half in San Francisco in 2004 but that was my last long distance race for the past 7 years. I was excited, nervous but confidant that I could get through it. It helped that Jeremy was there to cheer me on. He's a great supporter! The race was so tough! I was exhausted when I crossed the finish line, 2 and half hours later. That time still blows me away. My goal was to finish in under 3 hours and I crushed it! It was one of the best moments of my life to that point. (After marrying Jeremy, the birth of our children and a few other life changing moments, of course.)

That night, after resting at home for a while, we went out with some friends to the Dive Bar downtown to celebrate my birthday. It was a great night! This bar has a tank with women dressed as mermaids swimming around with fish. It's the perfect place for this mermaid-obsessed mermaid to hang out with friends.   

The Next day we went for our first rock climbing trip with our good friends, Becky, Dave and their girls, Sage and Sierra. It was a lot of fun but I was really sore from the day before so I think I only climbed up twice. I was fine to hang out on the ground with the kids who were waiting their turns. Next time I go it wont be the day after a big race. My legs where aching from by but all the way down and my arms were a little sore too. It made climbing just that much more challenging. The kids did great. Especially Sami. Nevyn was a little nervous about using the ropes until Jeremy took him to the top to show him how it all worked then he was fine. At one point, the chalk bag on Sami's harness was opened a little too much and she hit it with her legs when she was coming down. By the time she hit the ground she had chalk all over her. it was pretty funny.

 Later in May I an 2 more races and it was during one of these race, the San Juan Rock n' Run, that I set my Personal best. I ran a 33:05 5K! That's a 10:40 pace! I was stoked! When I went to bed the night before the race I had a feeling it was going to be a great race. When I got up in the morning and started getting dressed I still had a really good feeling about it so I wasn't surprised that I had set a new PR but I was shocked by how much I beat my last PR (a 36:27 5K, a 11:45 pace). The other May race was the Buzz Oats, No Excuses 5K. I treated this race as a fun run. I wasn't running for time, just to be out there with the running community for a great event. My mother-in-law came to that one with my kids. It's always nice to have someone there at the finish for you, even if it's a laid back run.


In June I ran in the Women's Fitness Festival 5K. This was the race that started my running rebirth in 2010. My friend Becky ran it too again this year and we both had better finishing times than last year. I think the best part of this race didn't have anything to do with running. I met 2 great people, Jaime and Scott who, through their company, RiseSUP, teach Stand Up Paddleboarding and run SUP workouts in my area. I got to do an on land demo and I entered into a raffle for a free 2 hour water session. I ended up winning the raffle and have continued to get out on the water with Jaime and Scott every chance I get! I'm even saving up for my own SUP board. It's such a great hobby. Jaime really wants to get me in one of local SUP races.

 I can't leave out that in late June my little girl turned 11! There's something not right about that...

  

 After June, my race times started to go up. I'm not sure what happened but I got slower and slower as the year went on. I didn't run a race in July but I did run the Susan B. Anthony 5K in August. I ran that one the year before also. It's a nice smaller race. Also in August, Sami and Nevyn participated in the California's kids' Triathlon again. They both did great and had a lot of fun. I was so proud of both of them and Jeremy was too, of course. It was held in Davis so I got to get a bike rack for my car. Just driving around with bikes on the rake, on the back of my trunk make me feel sporty. Even when none of the bikes I'm hauling around are mine. (I would need a bike first, then I could carry it on my car.)

 We had the opportunity to go out on our cousin's boat a few times this year. We would get together with Jeremy's mom's family at Lake Camanche and take turns ridding behind the boat on a giant inflatable hot dog. We had so much fun. The kids learned how to paddle and steer a canoe and they got pretty good at it. As long as Jeremy and I stay out of it, they did great. The one time they gave us a ride was the only time it tipped over with them in it. Hot-dogging is a lot of fun but we learned that a hot dog could be very dangerous, especially if you're Jeremy. He and I were riding on it and when we tipped over Jeremy's arm pulled the wrong way and he ended up with a dislocated shoulder and torn rotator cuff. He was in physical therapy for months and had to take a long medical leave from work. I can't even describe the kind of pain he was in. But he did feel well enough to get back on that hot dog later that same day.

In September 2011 I ran the Miner's Ravine 10K. Not long before this I had decided to run the CIM marathon. The same marathon I had tried to run 7 years before but was unable to finish to due to a knee injury. So I needed to do a few longer races to get myself ready for this dream of mine. Miner's Ravine is in Roseville on the Miner's Ravine path (shocking, I know). It's basically the same route as the Lou Gehrig 5K. It's hilly, beautiful and the finish it up on a hill. It's one of the tougher ones for me but it's so pretty I can't resist it. Also in September, I went to New York for the first time. I was meeting my "French sister", Bene and her friend Matthew. Bene and I started writing to each other when we were in high school and have become very close. It turns out that I love NYC! I'm looking forward to going again with Jeremy.


In October I had my second half marathon of the year. It was the Urban Cow half and it's a really popular race. There were a ton of people there. I felt pretty good going into it but just after the mile 1 marker I felt something funny in my calf muscle and then it spammed. I had never felt anything like that ever. My leg literally felt like Jell-O. I kept on hobbling along the course though and I made it to the finish. I even managed a run-like hobble across the finish line. I received a red cow bell as a medal. My kids hate that thing but only because I keep threatening to use it as a wake-up-the-kids tool when getting then up for school.

Later in October Jeremy and I went on a 10 mile hike to see the Alamer Falls. It's a waterfall that empties onto the beach. It's in Point Reyes and you really have to work to get to it. It was a very tough hike but it was a lot of fun. As we hiked to the falls we were passed up by a few different groups of 20-somethings and it was a little humbling. We were hiking with water and snacks and even a break here and there not to mention the heavy breathing and sweating. Then a group of "kids" walk past us at a decent pace, without water, backpacks or sweat.


 
Once we got to the falls it was mesmerizing. There are 4 falls in all and the largest is the last and falls onto the beach. While we were there there was a seal sunbathing on the rocks near the largest fall. We sat on the cliff and had our peanut butter and jelly sandwich lunch while watching the ocean. It was great! We stayed the night outside Santa Cruz and spent the next day walking the boardwalk and then visited an Ancient Egyptian Museum in San Jose before going home. It was a really great mini get-a-way.

 


In November I participated in another mermaid series race in San Francisco. I ran the 10k and Sami and Maddie, my niece, ran the 5k. It was the perfect day to go for a run in the city. It was cold but the sun was out and by the end of the run we were all warmed up. This was Sami's first trip to San Francisco and I think she had a great trip. We talked about everything on the road and I learned a lot about her and what is important to her right now. I've raised a mini environmentalist and she makes me so proud. Sami is growing up to be a very level-headed and caring person. We spent the night at the Motel Capri and in the morning we had Noah's Beagles for breakfast on our way to Crissy Field where the race was held. Maddie met us there and we did a little shopping before and after the race. I got both girls a hat and headband to wear on the run.

December! Christmas! CIM! I did it. I completed 26.2 miles! And it was not easy! I wore the wrong shoes and ended up with a horrible blister. If you want to know more about said blister, please refer to my previous blog. CIM ended up being my worse pace time of the whole year but...I finished. And lived! I also had a great time and the expo the day before. I spend way too much money but got so much awesome stuff. I'm slightly addicted to running wear, active wear, workout clothes, whatever you want to label it, I like it. I had just as much fun showing Jeremy and Samantha all my great finds as I did browsing the sections of all the different vendors that participated. The day after my dream came true, my baby boy turned 8! 10 days later it was our 12th wedding anniversary. A week later it was Christmas. A week later it was New Years.


Christmas was great. We saw most of our family who are here in town over 4 days so even though we did a lot we didn't feel rushed or too overwhelming. We got Nevyn a punching bag, the kind you fill the base up with sand and it's taller than him. Sami got a ballet bar. They both use these gifts daily. They also got a bunch of stuff for their gecko environments. Zephyr and Luna made out just as well as the kids did. I got a Giants pillow pet I named Pablo and a great necklace. Jeremy got an electric skillet and a new fancy pen. He was very happy. It was a nice Christmas.

On New Year's Eve we had our party like we do every year. We had a smaller group than previous years and we all a great time. There was a lot of laughing and some drink stealing (Jamie and Brad), some games, some drinking, some yummy wine and a happy way to bring in the new year.

       I hope you all the best in 2012. Try something new for the new year and see what you're capable of. You might surprise yourself.

Now I'm a Marathoner

CIM 2004

On December 4th, 2011 I completed a full marathon, the California International Marathon! 26.2 miles! For the last seven years I have been dreaming of accomplishing this goal. I had attempted this same marathon when I was training with Team in Training in 2004 but I didn't get further than mile six due to a knee injury. At the time I was in physical therapy and everyone knew I wouldn't be able to complete the race but I wanted to try. After all, I had been training for months and I didn't want to just give up before even trying. After that disappointing day I realized how much I really wanted to cross the finish line but that dream seemed way out of my reach.

June 2010

In 2010 I decided to try to run again. I signed up for a local 5K and started training. It was frustrating starting from scratch but liberating at the same time. I was very careful to increase my mileage slowly and paid close attention to my knee. Everything went well, the training and the race, and running spark was lit again. I continued to run a race every month for the rest of 2010.



January 2011

It felt great to be running again and to be apart of the huge running community here in town. I continued to run a race every month in 2011 but also accomplished some bigger goals. There was a half marathon in the bay area on my 31st birthday. I thought completing that would be an awesome way to celebrate me getting another year older so I registered and started increasing my mileage even more. The race was great! I killed my goal time by about fifteen minutes and even though I was exhausted and barely made it to the finish line on my feet I felt accomplished .

Mermaid half on my birthday

I ended up doing another half marathon in 2011 but after mile one my calf muscle spasmed (I never felt anything like that before) so I walked/hobbled my way through the rest of the 13.1 mile course and across the finish line. It was kind of a bummer to not be able to run the course but, I still had no knee pain.

I don't really know when or why but I decided to train for CIM-the same marathon I was forced to drop out of years before. I ran my long runs on the weekends either around my neighborhood or along the bike path that follows the river. My weekday workouts were done at the gym and I was luck enough  have my family so willing to help with watching my kids.

weekend training run

The last month and a half leading up to race day was not so good. I was sick a lot and the season change caused some problems with both my asthma and allergies. I skipped a lot of workouts and some of my long runs. I was worried that was going to reflect negatively during the race but as I stood at the start with 8,000 other runners I felt ready. I knew that I was strong and I could get through the race. I really had no regrets about my training, only my shoes.

I had planned on going to my favorite running store a few weeks before the race to get fitted for a good pair of shoes but I never made the time to go. That was the biggest mistake I made. The shoes I had been training in were really roomy in the toes and this, I found out, was not a good thing. The bottoms of my feet felt raw and were burring from sliding in those roomy toed shoes on every downhill stretch. By the time I got to mile fourteen it was almost unbearable. I had to take a lot more walking breaks through out the race than I had planned and before I knew it, the event trucks were driving by and cleaning up the aid tables and the mile markers. That was so discouraging.

Hi Dad! I made to mile 13 this time!

One of the highlights of the day at mile thirteen. That's where my parents, sister and cousin live. They all live on a little street just off of Fair Oaks and they all came out to cheer me on. My husband and kids were there too. It was great having them out there. I defiantly didn't feel the pain in my feet when I was running by them. Just seeing them smile and yelling my name made me so happy. My dad was a runner and I think I made him proud.

shoe switch at mile 20

Around mile fourteen I sent a text to my husband asking him to meet me at mile 20 with another pair of shoes. That made a big difference in the comfort of my feet but so much damage had already been done I still couldn't run much. My friends also met me at mile 20 and one of them joined me for a few miles. That was really awesome. He was a great support.

Finally I was running past Capitol Park so I knew I getting really close to the finish and on the corner I saw my husband and our two kids. They were all excited for me and that gave me the extra little boost I needed. The kids ran with me to the finish shoot then went around to the finish so they could see me cross. After 6 hours, 46 minutes and 26 seconds, I crossed the finish line. I met my family after receiving my medal in front of the State Capital and I was beaming. I did it! I completed a full marathon and I was still standing.


Afterwards we went to my dad's house and I got a good look at my poor feet. I ended up with red patches all over the tops and bottoms of them and the mother-of-all-blisters on one of my toes. I can't believe I was running on that thing. The blister hurt for two days and caused me to limp around the house.

I knew that the marathon distance was going to be tough for me when I started training. I trained and raced with the mindset that this was going to be my only marathon. After months and months of training I was excited for race day so it would be over. The day following the race I was glad I had done it and glad that it was over but now, a week later, I'm disappointed about my time. Really I just wanted to finish but I had a secondary goal of finishing in five hours and my time was almost two hours past that. So now I keep finding myself wondering if I could finish in a better time... I don't know... the training is pretty grueling but maybe someday I'll change my mind and run another. For now I'm planning my goals for 2012 and so far there isn't a full marathon on that list.    


Am I more happy I did it or because it's over?

 

 

Personal Best

I love racing. I'm not a fast runner and I don't compete with anyone other than myself but the energy I get from a race is addicting. I've been participating in local races for almost a year. My first was a 5K last June. Since then I've ran a total of eight 5K's, two 10K's, a four miler and one half marathon. Today I ran number eight. My excitement for today's race has been building over the last few days. I've been feeling really good and yesterday I was sure I was going to run a personal best today. My goal was to finish the race in 35 minutes or less. My husband, being the coach that he is, challenged me to run it in 34 minutes. I decided to really push for my goal this time. I figured out my goal pace and when I need to hit each mile. I wrote those times on my hand so I could see if I was on pace. I had everything planned out. When the horn blow for the start of the race I felt confident and ready to go. The run was harder than I had anticipated. I stretched before the race but I didn't really warm up. That was stupid. The first half mile was really hard and I felt like crap. An other mistake I made was lining up for the start closer to the start line than I normally do. I like to line up in the back so I don't feel the push to start out too fast but that's exactly what happened today. In addition to not warming up and starting out too fast, the first half mile and last 1.1 mile were on the levee which is a loose gravel surface. I haven't ran on the levee in years and the feeling of pebbles moving under my feet kept me from running as fast as I wanted to. Even with all of these setbacks I managed to enjoy the race and I found my groove just over a mile in. I hit all of the mile markers ahead of schedule and that gave me the boast I needed to keep up my pace. I love the feeling I get when I start to run all out. my legs stretch out far in from and behind me and my arms start to pump smoothly. It feels like stretching after being in the car for a long time. Good and refreshing. Back on the levee, with just over a mile left till the finish, I started to get a camp in my side. I walked a little more than the 30 second split that was my race plan to slow my breathing. I could see the tent for the race workers at the finish and my family waiting for me up ahead. I ran, ignoring the cramp in my side and my intense thirst (I chose not to run with my water this time). My kids ran me in next to the course (until my son fell knee deep in a whole) and my husband was at the finish taking pictures. When I crossed the finish and checked my watch I was shocked to see that I had killed my goal and my husband's challenge. My finial time was 33:05, my fasted race ever! Makes me wounder what it could have been if I hadn't made the mistakes I did in the start of the race. After the race I was on cloud nine. What makes my victory even more sweet was the fact the my husband was there to be apart of it. Because of his work schedule he rarely get to come out and cheer me on. The first race he came to was my worst race time ever. It makes me very happy that he could be there for my best race time to date.

Goals

I've been thinking a lot about goals this week. I find this interesting because in the past I didn't want to have any goals. If I didn't have any goals then I wouldn't have to fail at meeting them. I think this is a very common attitude today but it's no longer the way I want to live so, I've changed. I have many goals and I believe I can achieve all of them. Maybe not on the first or even second try, but eventually I will. I know I will run a full marathon. I would love to do it in about four hours but even if it takes six it'll still be a goal that has been met. I want to finish a triathlon as well. I'm not a strong swimmer and I don't even own a bike but I will accomplish it and as long as I'm not dead last I will meet my goal. Another big goal for me is to earn my BA in Child Development. I think this goal will be the most challenging. Going back to school is a big decision and I have already gotten that far but it's not the right time. Right now I work 60 hours work weeks, my husband works full time as well and is a full time on-line student. In addition to that we have two children and they are my top priority. Not just providing for them but spending time with them as an active parent. I also need to make sure that I take care of myself. I've worked very hard to get to the healthy state I'm in today and a college degree is not worth being this physically active and healthy. I need my workout time and quality sleep and I refuse to give either of those needs up. Even for school. I asked myself, how am I going to find the time to go back to school and achieve this goal? My husband is going to school now so I wont start till after he's finished. He is also up for a promotion right now as an assistant store director for his company. The next step up from there is to get his own store and be a store director. When that happens I will enroll as a junior in our local state university. It will be the perfect time. I wont have to work full time, if at all and our kids will be much older. Until then, I'll take any outstanding prerequisite classes I may be lacking. And I definitely need to bone up on my math and English skills. Okay, so my new educational goal is to graduate with my BA by the time I'm 40 (I'm 31 now). Wow, that seems a little old to be getting my BA but at least I'll have it. I got married and had children very young so I've put off some of the goals I wanted for myself in order to be the kind parent I wanted to be. I did go to school when my kids were babies and earned my AA years ago. I decided then to wait until I could be a full time student before going back for my BA. I could never afford to be a part time student for another five or six years at a university. If everything goes according to my plan my kids and I can go homework together in the evenings and we might even graduate around the same time. Me from college and them from high school.

I used to be "normal", now I'm a runner

Runner's ( not all, but some) see the world a little differently than other, non-running-obsessed people. For example, if someone found an extra $10 in their jacket what are some things they would do with that cash? My husband would buy a book (or candy), my sister would treat herself to an extra cup or two of her favorite Starbucks. Some other people I know might just add it to their weekly groceries. Me on the other hand, would make a mad dash to my favorite running store for a pair of my beloved Balega socks. In my defence, most people who have hobbies (or obsessions) prioritize parts of their life like this, right? Shopping in general has changed for me. I used to browse the cute and trendy clothes before I looked at anything else. But now I seem to be pulled to the fitness section of any store where clothing is sold by an invisible cord. I didn't notice this change in my shopping habits until I went shopping with my sister. We were trying to find a deal at the clearance rack when I was distracted by some bright colors across the isle. (yes, I'm aware that fish and birds are also distracted my bright colors.) I wondered over there to get a better look. What caught my eye was a variety of brightly colored sport bras. I was checking for my size and the price when I hear: "what do you think you are doing?You have seven perfectly fine sports bras but the one regular bra you have is falling apart! Get out of the fitness section right now!" I guess my sister had a point... Time is something we all struggle with. There's never enough time in the day to do everything on my list but I slip in workouts whenever possible. Many moms I know set the family dinner time to be before and/or after kids' activities, meetings, and other out of the house events. Our dinnertime is usually around 6:00. Luckily for my family that happens to fall during a time of day when we are either done or in between activities. The real reason behind the 6:00 dinnertime? If we eat around 6:00 then I will be ready for an evening run or cross training workout by 7:00. In the spring and summer that gives me a good hour of daylight to get in a run and I'll be done a couple of hours before I need to hit the sack. My vocabulary has changed since I became a runner too. Long runs, tempo run, speed work, hill work, pace work, minute/mile pace, those words didn't mean anything to me before. Now that I read, talk about and, of course, run these workouts they mean a lot. Most people I talk to don't know or care about these things but they patiently listen to me. Some times I catch their eyes glazing over but that's okay. That happens to me when my husband starts talking World of Warcraft. I have totally become a running nerd. I read Runner's World magazine cover to cover, I read books by runners, I even follow some elite runners on Twitter. When I'm out on a run I find myself planning my next run. Running is the last thing I think about before I fall asleep at night and the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning. I want to run all the time. I'm currently registered for two races and I ran a half marathon a just over a week ago. Most weekends on my calendar I have notes about local 5 and 10K's. Some of them I run and others I just think about running. I would love to run all of them but I would need to be independently wealthy in order to afford all of them. About half a dozen of those races I plan on running including another half marathon and, at the end of the year, a full marathon. (Please pray for me) I volunteered at at half marathon a few ago and that was a great experience. It was so much fun handing out water and electrolytes to the participants and cheering them on. I gained an all new kind of motivation. Every runner and walker should volunteer at least once or twice a year. Now I wonder, have I become the runner I am today? Or, have I finally embraced who I always was but was too out of shape be? I guess it doesn't really matter. The bottom line is,I am a runner. I am strong. I am healthy. Someone asked me recently when I knew I had become a runner. I told them it was on a cold and rainy Saturday. I had a long run scheduled that day and skipping it due to the weather never even entered my mind. On my run my legs were stinging from the cold rain slapping against my skin, the wind was freezing and I was wet everywhere. Any reasonable person would have been miserable and turned back after five minutes. Not me, I caught myself smiling during the run and I truly enjoyed every step and every mile of that workout. When I got home I was still smiling and I felt the change in me. That's when I knew I was a runner, an no longer "normal".