The 2011 CIM Experience … more than I’ve ever hoped for.

It started out as an ordinary CIM race weekend here in Sacramento.  Work on Friday, working the Expo Saturday and then getting ready for the race.  Friday after work I went by the Expo to meet up with Maddie and check out the SF Marathon booth I’d be working the next day.  Afterwards I headed home to meet up with one of my roommates who was moving out that night.  😦  I was sad to see Tristy Bear move out, but glad to know he’s like family so it’s not the last time I will see him.

I packed up my race clothes and shoes so I’d be ready for the race on Sunday and cooked myself some delicious pasta with meat sauce.  At 10 o’clock, my friend Choy who I originally met at the Hilo Marathon was flying in for the race so I picked him up from the airport for a quick trip downtown.  It was SOO GREAT to catch up with him a bit and tell him about Sacramento.  Then it was back home to rest and hopefully beat the cold that started to come on a few days before.

The next morning I popped out of bed bright and early, loaded my car and headed off for the CIM Expo.  I was working the SF Marathon booth as an Ambassador for 2012 and was really excited to see many of my running friends who said they were coming by.  Kelly, Choy, Keith, Julie, Dave, Joanna, Taryn, and several other friends stopped by the booth along with fellow SFM Ambassadors Charlie, Jennifer, Alyssa and Courtney.

With Jennifer

With Charlie

With Courtney and Alyssa

Around 3:45 p.m. I got a text message from my friend Chris who was coming to stay with us for the night before the race.  He said that his train was delayed and he wouldn’t make it to the Expo before it closed so he asked me to pick up his bib and bus ticket for him.  I took care of it and told him I’d pick him up at the train station when he arrived just after 5 p.m.  The rest of the afternoon was a breeze and by the time 5 p.m. rolled around I was ready to pack up the booth and head off for a night of rest and relaxation.  I headed to the train station and picked up Chris, then it was off to Will’s house where we were staying that night.

When we got to Will’s house I whipped up some pasta with ground turkey sauce while the boys went through their race goody bags. We all got our running clothes ready and laid out, fuel and electrolytes set up and watched a little MMA fighting before heading off to bed. Our alarms were set to go off at 3:45 the next morning.  EARLY wake up call.

When my alarm went off I REALLY did not want to get out of bed, but I forced myself anyway.  We packed up our stuff, got dressed, whipped up breakfast and headed out for the race.  We went over to Kelly’s house and picked her up.  She was going to take my car to the halfway point because she was running the second half of the race and I was running the first.  That way I wouldn’t have to leave my car out there over night and she wouldn’t have to figure out how to get back to hers.  We picked her up around 4:45 and got downtown right around 5 when everyone started lining up for the busses.  When we got there we said hi to a few running friends (Dr. Rob, Claudia and other SacFitters) and then found Dave outside and lined up with him.

The bus ride was long but warm which is always a plus for this race.  When we got to the start line it was 6:15 and we headed to the 100 porta potties lining the side of the road.  I’ve never seen such a long line of porta potties!!  Not even at a Rock N Roll race!  That process went pretty quick because we walked further out to the short lines.  I also got to see my old friend Kevin when we were out there.  We headed to the start line to try and find some friends and checked our sweat bags.  The race started right on time at 7 a.m. and we were off with the other 9,000 runners hitting the streets of Sacramento.

With my Will right before the race started!!

The weather was cold, but once the sun came up it was actually pretty mild.  I had put hand warmers inside my gloves and ended up chucking them at mile 3 because I was getting so warm.  We cruised along the course nice and easy at about a 10:45 pace for the first few miles, and upped it to about 10-10:30 from mile 5 on.  We took a few of the downhills faster but just followed what worked for our bodies.  Will was running the full but had me set the pace for my half so he could pace with me.  I took my fuel at the right places and kept plugging along, only stopping once for Will to take a bathroom break around mile 7.

Around mile 10 I hit my usual wall (in a full, this is mile 20) where I started asking myself what I was doing, started cursing the hills, allowing my mental toughness to waiver and whining to Will about how beat up I was feeling and asking him not to leave me on the course.  For some reason when I’m in a race with him, I tend to do this (happened last year too) and he ALWAYS pulls me through and gets me where I need to go.  For some reason I listen to him and he’s able to fix my mental state so I stop second guessing myself.  Again, he did this and that’s the first of many reasons why he was my hero out there at this race.  🙂

Between mile 10 and 13 there are some pretty fierce hills… 3-4 of them in a row if I remember correctly.  I cursed every one of those, but welcomed the downhills and cruised down the best I could to make up some time.  My original goal was to run a 2:15 half marathon, but when I realized I wasn’t going to make that I shot to just PR and with my previous PR being a 2:27, I knew I could do it.  Will kept pushing me along and after mile 12 he kept telling me that I was gonna do it and telling me to kick it in the ass and just run.  I love having him there to cheer me on.  So I kicked it in to the 13.1 mark and PRd with a 2:19:40.

Just after the half marathon mark

I continued on at a quick pace to the 13.5 mark where I handed off our chip to Alexa who was walking in the second half.  This is where my job of being race support started.  I stopped with Will (one of his friends brought him a PayDay bar and Gatorade), took his gear he didn’t want to carry and sent him off for the second half then went to meet Kelly to find my car and start following the course on back streets.

Kelly and I chatted for a bit and I took time to change out of my wet clothes because I knew I had a bit of time before I had to meet him at the first spot.  She was getting ready to run the second half in with a few friends so she dropped her gear in my car and headed back to the halfway exchange.  I took off to meet Will around the 17 mile mark first.  I found a perfect parking spot and ran out to the street with all my goodies in hand (chomps, chews, protein bars, gatorade, SCaps, water) and waited for him to come through.  He was carrying his phone and texting me his location every few miles so I would know where he was.

When I got to my parking spot I texted him and he wrote back “I’m at mile 16 and I’m cramping”… not good.  I told him to push through, take another SCap and re-evaluate when he got to me.  When he arrived he didn’t look so hot.  He told me he was cramping really bad in his hamstrings and he wasn’t sure if this was going to work.  I asked him what he wanted to do and he decided to keep moving (I was so glad he said that) and I told him I’d find him in a few miles.  Thus began the race support chase because there was NO WAY I was leaving my love out there struggling without me to cheer him on as much as possible.

I found him the next time around mile 18.5 and gave him more snacks.  I reminded him how bad we were hurting when we ran the full the year before and how his body knew pain and could tolerate it if his head could push past it.  He thanked me, took a protein bar, said I love you and was on his way.  I headed out and went up the street another mile or so and stopped to catch him one more time at the intersection of Watt Avenue and Fair Oaks Blvd.

Will around the Watt and Fair Oaks intersection

It’s such a good feeling to see someone you are cheering for come running up when they are not looking their best and smile because you are there.  🙂

On Fair Oaks Blvd. At least he was smiling for the camera! 🙂

The next stop I was headed to was the 20 mile mark at Loehman’s Plaza.  I had to hustle to get over there and ended up running from my car to the course getting there about 30 seconds before Will came through.  He was still pretty exhausted but was pushing through like a champ.  I kept reminding him that today he was MY hero and I was so proud of him for pushing through.  He took off and I told him I’d find him in the streets once he got past the bridge at Sac State.

I ran back to my car and high tailed it out of there because there was only one way to get around to downtown from where I had parked.  It took me a bit longer than I thought, but I caught him at the intersection of 56th and J Streets.  I gave him more Gatorade and snacks and told him the next time I’d see him would be at the finish line.  Go baby Go!

I zipped over to the finish line and parking was a nightmare.  I ended up parking about 4 blocks away and running in because I didn’t want to miss him.  We texted when I got there and he was at mile 25 so I was right on time.  I grabbed a spot along the fence at the men’s finish line (the CIM finishes on two sides of the Capitol Mall plaza with the women on one and men on the other).  Once I got situated I immediately started crying.  Seeing all the runners coming in, crying, struggling, some charging the finish and some loathing it was so touching as a spectator.  Every marathon I go to I’m the one crossing the finish line and it’s so different to see it from the other angle.  I was also crying because of how proud I was of Will and what he was about to accomplish.

You see, Will’s longest training run for this race was about 7 weeks before when he ran 16 miles.  Right after that he hurt himself playing raquetball and wasn’t able to get in another long run before the marathon but wanted to push through anyway.  He had even told my relay partner he would crawl across the finish if he had to.  Later in the race, she and him were leapfrogging each other and he said that’s one thing that pulled him through.

Will is my hero on so many levels every day, but on this day he was my running hero.  He proved what we ALWAYS tell our runners in training.  It’s a mental game with yourself.  Your body knows what to do and will make it happen if you can train your brain to do it.  And he did.  He pushed himself through wanting to quit early, cramping, stomach pains, exhaustion, sore and undertrained legs and just did it.  Before he even came into the finish I was bawling.  I was so darn excited for him to finish and so proud I was bursting with excitement.  When he rounded the last corner I started screaming so loud that people were staring at me but anyone who knows me knows I didn’t care about that. I just wanted to see him finish.

   

There he is coming into the finish… and FINISHING! 🙂

When he did I ran right into his mom and cousin at the finish.  I was so glad they were there too!  I hugged him and cried and told him how proud I was of him as he made his way out of the finishers corral.  We went over and found a bench so he could eat a sandwich while I got our sweat bags.  Shortly after I got my car and took him home for an ice bath.  (He hates that part but knows it’s the best thing for him.)  Once I got him in the ice bath, I headed back and picked up Kelly to take her home, then headed to the SFM Ambassadors lunch I had planned at Tower Cafe.  I got to see all the Ambassadors who were still in town… ran into Courtney and Alyssa on their way out and ate lunch and dessert with Charlie and Monika.  🙂  So fun and afterwards I got to go home and shower… yes, finally. 🙂

Lunch/dessert with Monika, Charlie and his family/friends. 🙂

All in all the CIM was another great experience.  Though it was MUCH different from the previous three years on the course, it was awesome and I really enjoyed it.  I can’t say how proud I am of Will and all my friends who ran and PRd in their races.  Everyone did so awesome and I only heard good things about their experiences.  The 2011 CIM was much more than I had hoped for.

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Back at it – updates

CIM TRAINING

So, it’s been a month since I’ve gotten back to running after some much needed time off post SF Marathon.  I decided that 10 marathons, including an ultra, in 2.5 years deemed a 1.5 month rest.  I was proud of myself too! I only ran TWICE in that entire time!  I did do other cardio and weights, but the no running thing was HUGE for me.  🙂

Now here I am, 6 weeks away from my next race and in the middle of my training program.  It’s been a very gradual process getting back on the horse.  I started at just 5 miles as a long run because I really wanted to take the time to work my way back up to marathon strength.  I’ve gradually increased my mileage every week by only a mile and I’m up to 11 this weekend.  I’m feeling AWESOME.  Legs feel loose, I feel good and I’m running a fast pace straight through all my miles, without walk breaks (except for the occasional quick stop for fuel or water).  I honestly haven’t felt this good in a LONG time (fingers crossed and knock on wood so I don’t jinx myself).

I was thinking about the race I’m running in December, the California International Marathon (CIM).  I really enjoy this race.  It was my first marathon and it a wonderful Sacramento race I really enjoy.  This year will be a little different as I’m running half of the marathon as part of the relay with my friend Alexa.  I’m also running with my boyfriend, Will, as he’s doing the CIM as his second full marathon.  I have a goal to run the half marathon in 2:15 which is totally within my ability, it’s just my first race back out there and it honestly makes me nervous.  All I can do is go out there and give it my best.  🙂

UPCOMING RACES

In the next year I have several races on my schedule.  First, the Almond Blossom Run 10K in February.  It’s a race I run back in my hometown every year and I really enjoy it.  Following that I’m hoping to run the Shamrockin’ Half Marathon.  I loved the new course last year and am excited to run it again.  The Parkway Half Marathon (put on by SacFIT) is the next race on my list in April/May.  I have run this several times and am looking forward to returning to the Parkway for a race.  The last race I have planned until my first marathon of 2012 is the Reno/Tahoe Odyssey in June.  I LOVED this race last year and LOVED my team.  And after my crazy fall on leg 4 of the race last year, I’m ready to take REVENGE on Donner’s Downfall!  Bring it mountain! 🙂  After that I’m planning to run the SF Marathon.  It will be the 4th time I’ve run it and I can’t wait to tackle the course again! 🙂  And after that… I get to run… THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON!!!  I finally got to my guaranteed entry and I’m so darn excited!!! 🙂  I’m planning to cap off the year with another marathon and maybe this year it will be the Las Vegas marathon so I can check Nevada off my list for 50 in 50.  🙂

SF MARATHON AMBASSADOR

This past year I was lucky enough to be selected as a SF Marathon Ambassador.  It was the most wonderful experience, training runners, networking with some of the most amazing people from around the country and running a race near and dear to my heart.  I’m excited to find out if I’ve been chosen to be an Ambassador again for 2012.  I turned in my application last week and will find out in early November.  Fingers crossed!!  🙂

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Life is really awesome right now.  I’m really happy with work, so in love with my amazing boyfriend and healthy in my running and weight lifting.  I’m blessed to be so lucky in life and looking forward to things getting even better as time goes on.  🙂

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Frozen Stiff Marathon

CIM… or FSM…

It stands for California International Marathon… It also stands for “Frozen Stiff Marathon”… or that’s what I like to call it.  And I’m sure I have PLENTY of friends who will agree with me.

This past weekend was the 2009 CIM in Sacramento.  My fellow SacFIT Gold coaches and I decided to run the relay with our Gold members.  We figured that this would be a good opportunity for us to help them out by providing a fresh face every 5-7 miles.  I was running half of the race (leg 2 – 7+ miles and leg 4 – 5+ miles).  That meant starting around 8:15 a.m. and even then it was still frigid cold.

The morning started with an iced over windshield when trying to get ready for the race.  I knew that was a bad sign, especially since the start of the race was at a higher elevation than I was… Yipes.  As it is, I hear that the start line was 28 degrees… double yipes!

I met up with my co-coach Trista and headed to the start of my leg at Oak Ave. and Fair Oaks Blvd.  It was right around the 6 mile mark on the marathon course.  I arrived early, around 7:30, so I could see some of my fellow running friends race by.  I was able to catch Amy’s eye as she sped by, and saw Danica as well (check out their CIM stories at runningcommentaries.wordpress.com and chicrunner.com).

Shortly after they went by I was left to wait for my goldies to come through the relay exchange.  That was a mad house to say the least.  People everywhere screaming peoples names, holding up their bibs to try to find their relay exchange partner.  I’m just glad my group and I were running 12 minute miles which made it easier, since all the crazy speedy people were gone when my peeps got there.

I took off with my Goldies (who were all sporting gold tutus for the race – hilarious and hard to miss).  We ran 7 miles all together and were feeling great.  Everyone was in good spirits and just excited to be on the course running their first marathon (second for a few).  We met Trista at the 13.1 relay exchange point at the corner of Manzanita and Fair Oaks.

I left my group and headed to my car to make the traffic filled trip over to Loehman’s Plaza on Fair Oaks Blvd. (the 20 mile “wall”) point and last relay exchange.  I hoped in my car and checked my phone seeing that my best friend had called… twice.  Now usually when she calls it’s just to chat and she doesn’t call multiple times.  But today she called twice and had called the night before.  So, I put my phone on speaker and called her up.  She was her normal cheery self and asked what I had been up to… told me not to call her while on a run (lol) and then proceeded to tell me she got engaged the night before!!!  What??? YES!  Great news for the day.  A digression from my race report, but great news!  🙂

I reached Loehman’s plaza about 30 minutes before my group and had to park about a half mile away and walk against the runners, up to the relay exchange.  When I got there, I remember seeing several of my SacFIT friends run by, along with many other runners.  Some of them reminded me of last year when I ran the CIM.  I wasn’t a pretty sight at mile 20.  I was beat down, tore up and thought I wouldn’t finish.  At that point I remember not wanting another person to say “Lookin’ good!” to me… I wanted people to shove off and leave me alone.  ha!  So instead I did what I wanted people to do when I was out there running the year before.  Just smile at me and let me run on my merry little way.  I even got smiles back, it was amazing!

Shortly after that, my group came through in pieces.  There were a few gals leading (co-coach Lauren and Heather) and I told them to go kill that race because I knew they would do great.  Then came Trista and Dr. Rob.  I got the chip anklet from Trista and started back in the race running with the two of them.  When they got to me, Trista informed me that Rob was having a hard time.  So I told him he’d be fine and we’d just keep trucking along even if we had to walk more than our 5 and 1’s allowed.  He agreed, but about a half mile down the road he was barely hanging on.  That’s when I decided we needed another approach.

Now, I’m a firm believer in doing a walk run pace for a reason or not doing one at all.  I don’t think you should run til you want to walk because 9 times out of 10 by the time you walk, you’re walking because you’re exhausted and need it, not because you should be.  With a walk run, hopefully you get to the walk before you need it so you can continue on and don’t get to the point where you must walk before you plan to (aka exhaustion).  It’s better to plan ahead, similar to fueling… fuel early and often so you don’t mess up your cycle.

Since we were doing a 5 and 1 and it wasn’t working at all (maybe running 1:30 before each walk), I decided we needed to change to a 2 and 1 ratio (run 2 mins, walk 1 min).  I told Rob that I believed in him and knew he could run for two minutes straight no matter what he thought.  So we did.  I would tell Rob when to run and when to walk, gave him countdowns as he came to the ends of his runs, and just pushed him to keep going and keep focusing on the small strides each interval was making in his finishing the marathon.

Around mile 25 we met up with another Goldie, Claudia.  She was feeling about the same as Rob and joined us in our 2 and 1 quest for the finish.  At this point Trista took Rob and I ran with Claudia and her son.  We pushed them both reminding them how far they’d come and that each block was only another 50 yards or so closer to the finish line.  When we got to the last two blocks I grabbed Claudia’s hand and pulled her to a run with me.  I had already slapped Rob on the back and told him to go get his finish – and he did.  Claudia and I weren’t far behind.

One of my favorite pictures from the CIM this year is of me and Claudia coming around the final bend with the finish line directly in front of us (taken by a SacBee reporter). It’s priceless, adorable and heartwarming.  I remember doing this part of the race the year before.  I remember Amy running me in.  I remember feeling like I couldn’t do it but finding in her, the strength I needed to finish the race.  I tried my best to give Claudia that feeling and I think I did and ok job.  She looks really stoked in this picture, and I’m so proud of her for pushing so hard to cross that finish line.

That’s us coming around the last corner and she’s looking at the finish line.

We finished in around 5:53 or so (beating my time last year) and I was all smiles (I’d only run 13 miles though).  I remember Claudia and her family, and Rob crying, and seeing my other running buddies, and waiting for the rest of the goldies to finish.  I remember it all.  I remember how darn proud I was of those runners I had coached for 6 months and who were feeling the marathon runners high.  I remember it and it brings a smile to my face as I type this…  🙂

And there we are, finishing the race.  🙂

I’m proud to coach.  I’ve decided to take next season off from coaching and focus on me and my goals.  But I do love coaching.  I love how excited people are, how amped they are to be out there and how proud they are when they achieve something huge, like finishing a marathon.  It’s very rewarding… actually one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.  🙂

I’m also so proud of Amy, Aaron and Danica for running the CIM in the 28 degree weather.  What a race day and what a challenge.  They all did great.

I’m in the middle of a break from running (well, it was a self prescribed break, but now it’s a sickness prescribed break – darn flu and cough).  I’m still fighting off the cough, but once it’s gone I’ll be back on track and training for the Hilo Marathon on March 21, 2010.  🙂

And who knows.  Maybe next year I’ll be writing this race report about my finishing my second full CIM.  🙂

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