Early on into my training I knew this race was not going to be a race for a PR. Almost 5 years since my ACL repair and I find myself deconditioned despite my history of marathons, 1/2 marathons, triathlons. I really thought coming back would be easier as I got some runs in. I felt challenged with minimal mileage at times during this training schedule. I followed Hal Higdon's beginner 1/2 marathon plan and instead of running 4 days a week only ran three. This hopefully would help with less wear and tear on my "aged" body. I struggled early on in training with going very fast. Many of my early training runs were on the treadmill and I knew once I got outside my pace would slow further due to incline/terrain. I let the time thing go and moved onto wanting to just be able to run the whole race.
Few weeks ago I ran 10 miles and felt great- ran the whole way. Then when it was time to do my 12 mile run my hamstrings seized up on a hill at the 10 mile mark and I had to walk. Runners know that once you walk after running any long distance it is hard to start back running again. I ended up walking a mile, running a 1/2 mile and walking the last 1/2 of that 12 mile run. It was defeating to my ego. I felt good that I could run 10 miles, but was concerned that race day was going to be even more challenging due to the hills I'd have to run during the race.
Race day came and the temp/weather was really perfect. A little on the cool side with light sprinkles at the beginning of the race. I went to the back with the slow peeps. Prior to the race my husband had reviewed the route with me, same route he ran the year before. He started out up front with the fast peeps and I could see his maize shirt for about the first 1/2 mile and then he was gone. I started out feeling great and didn't have any issues with the first steep downward hill. When I reached the first upward hill I became confused. The racers weren't going up it they were going to the right- a flat path. Well you know we like to follow the pack so I went with the rest of the racers. I was concerned that we were going the wrong route. When I came upon mile marker 3 my Garmin said 2.5 miles and the girl who had been running next with me looked at her watch too and said- "we were supposed to go up that hill. I ran this race last year and we ran up that hill through upper city park". The mile marker confirmed we were missing a 1/2 mile. I started thinking about how I had trained for a 1/2 marathon not 12.6 mile race. So as I came upon mile marker 4 again my Garmin said 3.6 miles (off by 0.5 miles) I decided then and there that I wanted the full distance so I ran 0.25 miles out past the mile marker 4 and turned around and ran back 0.25 miles and this made up my missing 1/2 mile. I'm sure the other runners thought I'd lost my mind- turning around and running against the flow of the race. When I turned back around I quickly found that I was running more alone- the pack of runners I had been running with were ahead of me and the rest of the race I felt eerily isolated. Like I was running my own race. The last half of the race was the hardest- up and down hill work in a forested area followed by a pain in the butt slow incline along a winding road. I finished the last mile starting at a nice flat path which then became an uphill battle of emotional and physical ability. I saw my husband waiting to cheer me on, but I knew if I looked at him I'd stop running and start walking- the hill was really a test of will. So I pushed on, sounding like I was having an asthma attack or panic attack- hyperventilatory breathing. The hill finally evened out and I regained control of my breathing to have a successful kick at the end to finish the race up.
I came in at 2 hours 22 seconds- running a full 13.1 miles. A length of time I haven't seen since my beginning running years, but I didn't care. I was so happy that I had run the whole way. I was so content with finishing. I thought I would break down at the finish and start crying due to emotions of the return to racing, but I think that last hill took so much out of me I could only concentrate on continuing to run so when I finished I didn't cry I didn't really feeling anything but relief- I had done it.
Two days later and my quads going down stairs are still "yelling" at me and my hamstrings remain tight, but my knees don't hurt and I even got to the gym today for a work out. I feel like it has been a tad anti-climatic. I had been worried/concerned about return to running due to potential worsening of my arthritis, already present with ACL injury 4 1/2 years ago. Training flew by and the race day has come and gone. Not sure what I have planned next. Savoring this accomplishment and so grateful I did not incur any injury during training or race day. I am a runner, no matter what time or distance. Feels good to move forward and return to a part of who I am that makes me feel physically and emotionally whole.
No comments:
Post a Comment