First I want to say that I am super excited to be running for the Aravaipa Team this year. Aravaipa Running has created an amazing running community through its races and social events. It is an honor to represent this community through my racing this season.
I am also happy to still be working with Charlie at Cadence Physical Therapy. If it wasn't for Charlie I would be totally lost, sad and injured! He is an amazing physical therapist!
I had originally signed up to run the PF Chang's Rock and Roll marathon months ago as a speed workout for the Black Canyon 100K. Unfortunately, my rehab has taken longer than I thought and this race became a way to measure where my fitness is right now.
Marathon week – or as I like to call it – the week you eat a lot of white foods you don’t normally eat. The week did not start off so great. I had a stomach bug Sunday and Monday. It felt terrible to eat, but I made myself eat. On Wednesday I came down with a head cold or terrible allergies. Either way I felt like crap. On top of that, I have slept terrible all week. Even the days I slept in I woke up feeling exhausted. I have been having dreams that are so realistic and strange that I don’t feel like I slept.
On Friday night I ended up doing what I didn’t what want to do – driving all over the place. I took teenage boys to the mall. Then I had to chase down a particular pizza by driving to multiple Whole Foods. My daughter and I are gluten and dairy free and there is a particular pizza that she likes to eat. Ava and I both dislike fake cheese, but last time she ate the pizza she said it was good so I decided to give it a try. Big mistake! I didn’t even finish my pizza, but my stomach was not happy. (Note to self – no more fake cheese!)
I told myself I would have a lie-in on Saturday, but at 2:30 I was awake. From 2:30 to 6:30 I was basically awake. When I finally decided to get up I didn’t feel tired so I decided to not feel cranky about it. I got some work done and then headed downtown to pick up my race bib when the expo opened. I might be one of the few people that does not like an expo. I just want to get in and get out. I also needed to get back to take Enzo to a memorial service.
I am also happy to still be working with Charlie at Cadence Physical Therapy. If it wasn't for Charlie I would be totally lost, sad and injured! He is an amazing physical therapist!
I had originally signed up to run the PF Chang's Rock and Roll marathon months ago as a speed workout for the Black Canyon 100K. Unfortunately, my rehab has taken longer than I thought and this race became a way to measure where my fitness is right now.
Marathon week – or as I like to call it – the week you eat a lot of white foods you don’t normally eat. The week did not start off so great. I had a stomach bug Sunday and Monday. It felt terrible to eat, but I made myself eat. On Wednesday I came down with a head cold or terrible allergies. Either way I felt like crap. On top of that, I have slept terrible all week. Even the days I slept in I woke up feeling exhausted. I have been having dreams that are so realistic and strange that I don’t feel like I slept.
On Friday night I ended up doing what I didn’t what want to do – driving all over the place. I took teenage boys to the mall. Then I had to chase down a particular pizza by driving to multiple Whole Foods. My daughter and I are gluten and dairy free and there is a particular pizza that she likes to eat. Ava and I both dislike fake cheese, but last time she ate the pizza she said it was good so I decided to give it a try. Big mistake! I didn’t even finish my pizza, but my stomach was not happy. (Note to self – no more fake cheese!)
I told myself I would have a lie-in on Saturday, but at 2:30 I was awake. From 2:30 to 6:30 I was basically awake. When I finally decided to get up I didn’t feel tired so I decided to not feel cranky about it. I got some work done and then headed downtown to pick up my race bib when the expo opened. I might be one of the few people that does not like an expo. I just want to get in and get out. I also needed to get back to take Enzo to a memorial service.
Norm makes me gluten free vegan pancakes the morning before the race!
Do not hire Norm to take your picture!
Side note here. Those of you who live in the Phoenix area may have heard about a 16- year old boy that was shot by another teenager and died. As far as I know there is still no one in custody. My son Enzo was friends with AJ. Being a teenager today is nothing like when I was a teenager. I work with a lot of teenagers and I have teenage boys in and out of my house all the time. We have even taken a few on trips with us. I know that teenagers can be a pain, but trust me when I say that most need all the extra kindness, empathy and support we can extend.
When Norm and I got back from the expo I thought I was rushing off to the memorial service, but Enzo and his friends decided not to go after all. I suspect that actually going seemed a little too real. I had schoolwork to finish, some shopping to do, a shake out a run and then just rest.
I was up early on Sunday, but I was feeling good. I was able to take my time getting ready since the race was so close to my house. Norm as usual drove me crazy with his driving. I very clearly told him we had to go down 7th Ave and not Central, but he drove straight down Central. This is very typical of race morning. He has no concept of time and often pulls up as races are starting. In the end, we arrived with plenty of time. The organizers of the race were super kind and let us wait in the VIP area since I had an elite number.
My plan for the race was to run a negative split. I had divided the race into 5 mile segments. The plan felt really manageable. As a back up Norm was meeting me the iRun water station at mile 12. This way if things weren’t going well I could drop and be able to go back to training the next day.
Time to line up. I was super excited to see my friends Julie and Jake from Tribe Multisport. They were running for Best Buddies. I saw Tanaya and we exchanged hugs. Tanaya is with the Sonoran Distance Project and looking to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials. There was lots of “what are you running?” and pairing up with someone to run with based on desired times. This is one of the things I love about running. Yes, at some point we are trying to beat each other, but there are just a lot of miles of working together for a common goal.
When Norm and I got back from the expo I thought I was rushing off to the memorial service, but Enzo and his friends decided not to go after all. I suspect that actually going seemed a little too real. I had schoolwork to finish, some shopping to do, a shake out a run and then just rest.
I was up early on Sunday, but I was feeling good. I was able to take my time getting ready since the race was so close to my house. Norm as usual drove me crazy with his driving. I very clearly told him we had to go down 7th Ave and not Central, but he drove straight down Central. This is very typical of race morning. He has no concept of time and often pulls up as races are starting. In the end, we arrived with plenty of time. The organizers of the race were super kind and let us wait in the VIP area since I had an elite number.
My plan for the race was to run a negative split. I had divided the race into 5 mile segments. The plan felt really manageable. As a back up Norm was meeting me the iRun water station at mile 12. This way if things weren’t going well I could drop and be able to go back to training the next day.
Time to line up. I was super excited to see my friends Julie and Jake from Tribe Multisport. They were running for Best Buddies. I saw Tanaya and we exchanged hugs. Tanaya is with the Sonoran Distance Project and looking to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials. There was lots of “what are you running?” and pairing up with someone to run with based on desired times. This is one of the things I love about running. Yes, at some point we are trying to beat each other, but there are just a lot of miles of working together for a common goal.
 Waiting (and again with the terrible picture!) My plan was going okay, except the first 5 miles were a pretty slow pace and it was feeling like work. I kept reminding myself that this is typical for me. I truly am a long distance runner. I dislike running until about mile 8 or 10 and then I am smiles and speed. I hit the second 5 miles and was able to pick up to the next pace. I did try something new and walked through the aid station. I have a hard time getting gels down and it seemed like it would be easier if I was walking. It was! And I easily caught up to the group I had been running with before the aid station. Sometime during mile 10 I started seriously considering dropping at mile 12. It felt like I had no power in my legs. This had been the same feeling I had all week on my training runs. I had tried not to worry about it during the week, but during the race I was starting to worry. Then things got worse. My left hip flexor was hurting. Similar to the pain I had at Leona Divide last year that eventually caused me to drop. I stopped and stretched and then my leg felt better, but my heart was no longer in this race. At the iRun water station I saw Miguel first. I stopped and told him I was done. He hugged me and I think offered me a taco… Then Mark Cosmas saw me and started asking me what was going on. When I told him I was going to call it a day he strongly encouraged me to complete the out and back portion on Indian School. Because I would be close to the iRun water station again I would easily be able to drop again if I wanted. Ok – I agree to this and start moving. Now I see Norm. I make him walk and then jog to talk to me. I told him the plan and he could go to the finish if he wanted and I would call from someone’s cell phone if I decided to drop. |  Me telling this nice lady that I am not running as fast as her today.  Miguel comforting me at the iRun aid station  Discussing my options with Mark. Mark has been so supportive of me - I really couldn't do this with out his help. |
The out and back was pretty terrible. It started okay. I picked things up a bit and felt encouraged by seeing my friends. But then I had to pee really bad. Normally during a race I would pee on myself, but I really was not running fast enough for that nonsense. And I knew from ultra running that I can pee in about 20 seconds. And again, I easily caught up the lady I had been running with.
At mile 19 I decided to call it a day. I had stopped to stretch my hip flexor twice. I had no energy and was struggling to hold what would normally be my easy run pace. I found a place to hop on the canal and off the race course, took off my race number and made an easy jog back to the iRun water station. That was a much longer distance than I thought it was! Miguel let me use his phone to call Norm. I was pissed at myself for telling Norm to go to the finish. I called Norm, but I couldn’t hear a word he was saying due to the rock band playing on the corner. Luckily, Norm had not gone far and he was able to jog back to the water station. We chatted with friends, ate some tacos and headed home.
At mile 19 I decided to call it a day. I had stopped to stretch my hip flexor twice. I had no energy and was struggling to hold what would normally be my easy run pace. I found a place to hop on the canal and off the race course, took off my race number and made an easy jog back to the iRun water station. That was a much longer distance than I thought it was! Miguel let me use his phone to call Norm. I was pissed at myself for telling Norm to go to the finish. I called Norm, but I couldn’t hear a word he was saying due to the rock band playing on the corner. Luckily, Norm had not gone far and he was able to jog back to the water station. We chatted with friends, ate some tacos and headed home.
Miguel photo bombs Lisa and me! This ridiculous smile on his face is how he always looks! The happiest guy I know! Thanks to Lisa for letting me use these pictures that she took!
I was disappointed, but knew I made the right decision. What really was bothering me was how out of shape I must be right now. I had a really good speed work out the week before the race, but maybe it was a fluke. I was overwhelmed with how much work I would need to do before Crown King. I decided to drop racing from February and focus on Crown King and Zane Gray.
But here it is Thursday and I have been struggling with a yucky stomach since the race. I am wondering if the reason I felt sluggish all week before the race was because I was still sick. I have alternated between feeling really sick and feeling mostly okay, but never a hundred percent. I don’t normally want to be sick, I would rather that be the reason I struggled on Sunday.
I am disappointed to not be running Black Canyon 100K. I really wanted to try for a shot at Western States, but I am excited to still be at this event and to have the opportunity to crew for an athlete I coach that day.
But here it is Thursday and I have been struggling with a yucky stomach since the race. I am wondering if the reason I felt sluggish all week before the race was because I was still sick. I have alternated between feeling really sick and feeling mostly okay, but never a hundred percent. I don’t normally want to be sick, I would rather that be the reason I struggled on Sunday.
I am disappointed to not be running Black Canyon 100K. I really wanted to try for a shot at Western States, but I am excited to still be at this event and to have the opportunity to crew for an athlete I coach that day.
At the start of the race
