Well, it definitely has been a while since my last posting. Hopefully everyone that reads my blog has enjoyed the heart of summer 2012. The pools are open, roads are hot, and bike routes are endless in Kentucky right now. Well, since my last posting I have been VERY busy with training, work, and just life in general. Not to bore anyone with the work or general life part of things, I will elaborate on the past few races.
First was the Warrior Dash held in Lebanon, Kentucky. Considering it was my first Mud/Obstacle Course run, I had no idea what to expect. Man, I was surprised! First of all, the run was a nice up and down cross-country type of trail and every 1/2 to 1/4 mile there was some sort of obstacle that included either running through tires, crawling through ditches, swimming in muddy creeks, jumping over logs, climbing cargo net ropes or walls, or just running down a zigzagging wooded trail, it was great! I never really intended to do the race, but a woman at work told me she always wanted to do a race like that and didn’t know if she wanted to do it because she had no one to run with her. I quickly volunteered and the next thing I knew, I was registered for a Warrior Dash! Well, anyway, it was her very first race and what a way to start. I stuck by her and we finished at the same time (well, actually she beat me by 0.01 sec). I must say, had it not been for her wanting to do the race, I never would have done it. Thanks Sharon!! A lot of times, I hear people ask if you really do get muddy, and the answer is simply "Yes, Yes, and Yes Again!" Just to show you how muddy you can get, I have included a few pictures from that race.
Ok, my next race was o the Fourth of July and this race had a special meaning to me. The race is called the Bluegrass 10,000 and it is the very first race that I ever participated. It was, in some sense, the stepping stone for me last year, and I haven’t stopped since. Anyway, it is a 10km (approx. 6.2 miles) and my main goal was to stomp, no crush, my time from last year. It's amazing because last year my goal was to run the entire race and not stop running. It's amazing how much difference one year can make.
On July 4th, 2011, I toed the starting line of the Bluegrass 10,000 alongside the walkers and little kids. I weighed approximately 295-300lbs and was really starting to feel good about running and even myself. I was scared that I bit off more than I could do for my first race and nervous about running the entire thing. I finished the race that day in 1:12:18, with one thing in my mind, "Do not stop running!!" I had just run something that just six months before that, I wouldn’t have even watched on TV. I was proud of myself, and I really think that day gave me the ability and motivation to believe in myself.
Now, one year later on July 4th, 2012, I toed the starting line of the Bluegrass 10,000 near the front of the pack, alongside the runners. I weighed in roughly at 211 lbs. and felt nervous and once again, a little scared. However, this time, I had one thing in mind, last year’s time - 1:12:18. I had to beat it, I knew I could, but didn’t just want to beat, I wanted to CRUSH IT! Within one year, I ran a couple 5Ks, a half marathon, a marathon, two triathlons, and an obstacle run. I knew I had it in me, but still was nervous. This race meant a lot to me and it helped start everything I had become over the past year, so I had to give it a hell of a shot. Well, as you might have guessed, I didn't cross the finish line at 1:11:00 or 1:10:00; I crossed it at 51:30. I felt that I hadn't pushed enough but I still felt good about where I stood. I cut about 21 minutes from the same race one year ago! Again, I was happy, but mostly I was proud. Of course, I didn't go home with an age group or overall award, and I doubt I ever will, but I went home with so much more, motivation and accomplishment.
The next event brings us to full circle and up-to-date with my last triathlon for the 2012 season. It was named the Buckhead Border Challenge. It was an Olympic distance triathlon and was essentially the same route (a couple little tweaks) as I raced the month before in the Southern Indiana Triathlon. The biggest difference in the route was that before, on my first open water swim, I swam in the Ohio River along the shoreline, but in this event, I had to swim across the damn river!! Ok, so needless to say, with how I feel about swimming (see multiple, multiple previous posts), I wasn't looking forward to that. Well, I will make this short or else this post will turn into a book, and no one needs that.
First of all, the morning of the race, I woke up at 4am to a text from the race stating that the bacteria in the water of the Ohio River was higher than normal and that triathletes were welcome to switch to a duathlon rather than have to swim in the river. Of course, as you guessed, I took a deep breath and packed my swim cap and goggles to take with me that morning because I am crazy and was going to swim anyway. Well, apparently I wasn't the only crazy person, because there were many more that decided to swim that day.
Well, if you read my previous post, my first open water swim wasn't the best it could have been, I got kicked in the chest and hit in the shoulder and swam from boat dock to boat dock just to stop from snapping due to anxiety in the water. Well, I will tell you, it's amazing what you learn in just one event. My swim wave was directed to get into the water which I nervously did, but this time, instead of treading water and staying close to the back of the pack, I hung on to the boat dock until the horn sounded and even then I counted to ten to let everyone go ahead, and then I went. I got out of the water without having to stop, without really freaking out, and without much more than some extra bacteria that day. I would later find out, I was out of the water a full 12 minutes faster than the month before!
Next, came the bike; I hopped on proceeded down essentially the same route as before, but they changed the route to a slightly flatter and faster route than in the Southern Indiana Triathlon. I got off the bike later to find out that I had averaged approximately 24.5 mph compared to last month's 20.5 mph average. Now came the run, I was especially nervous about the run because the previous month, I actually had to walk a little just to try to get my legs back from being on the bike. Not this time though. I finished strong and although not at a blistering pace of around 9 min per mile.
After all was said and done, I finished the same distance, understanding the bike route wasn't as hilly; I finished approximately 22 minutes faster than the triathlon just one month before. I was pleased and it was a good way to finish off my first triathlon season.
Now, you may ask why I decided to end my triathlon season right in the heart of the summer. Well, that is because I am starting to gear up for my final event of the season. I had originally hoped to run the Chicago Marathon in the first week of October but finances and poor planning on my part didn't allow things to work out that way. Well, I still wanted to run (or should I say attempt) one more marathon this year and through the recommendation of a couple of friends, I decided to run the Columbus Ohio Marathon on October 21st, 2012! I have already registered and have signed up for a pace group (hopefully this time I can keep up past mile 18). Anyway, I am in full training mode and need to have more focus on endurance running rather than just endurance training for triathlons. I will still get workouts on the bike and spinning classes and yes, I will even still do swimming because all are GREAT exercises to build endurance in any sport, but I need to focus on speed work, tempo running, and long distance running.
I don't know how I will feel after this marathon, but I know I LOVE running. It's what started me believing in myself and it’s the only place that I can be by myself and even within myself. I get more satisfaction from a difficult, hot run, than any mile long swim, or 30, 40, or 50 mile bike ride. We all have something that we enjoy doing more than others, and for me, it is running. I have done three triathlons to one marathon, and I can say while triathlons are mentally and physically challenging, the marathon was the most physically challenging. Now, don't get me wrong, I haven't competed in a half or full ironman and I am sure that those are even more physically challenging, but for me, the marathon gave me the best feeling of accomplishment so far. Now I plan to do an Ironman and a half-Ironman next year, so my tune may change a little, but I also plan to do two more marathons and maybe even an ultra next year too. Anyway, there is more to come, much, much more!!
Writing in this blog and thinking about how this all began for me with just a simple New Year’s Resolution, I have found that sometimes the event that you are training for sometimes gets to be the only reason why you go and run, bike, swim, or exercise, but running the Bluegrass 10,000 for a second time and seeing how things have changed for me over the past year; it helped me remember what it is really all about. It's not about how many miles you can run or how far fast you can pedal a bike, what the pace that your GPS watch says, or even how fast your 400 meter swim time is; it’s about being "able" to do it. Over a year ago, I wasn’t "able" to do it, and now I am. That's really why I started on this crazy journey; I started on this journey because I wanted to lose weight and get healthy, well, I think I can say I am accomplishing that, but now I need to remember that I never want to go back, never...
So while I sit here writing in this blog, I think about how much my life has changed. I think about where I would be if I had never decided to do this, if I never lost a pound. Would I be happy, would I be over 400 lbs.? The answer is I really don’t care anymore. I am where I am because I made a decision for myself and in the end, that’s all we have, that’s what makes up our lives, the decisions we make throughout, and for me, this is one of mine…
Living and loving life, no longer dictated by the size of my waistline, but by the motivation that lies within, but of course… Always running
