A Great Run

1:33:24

MY PLACE OVERALL:  72nd out of 1500 plus runners.

AGE CATEGORY Male   30-39 :18/133 

Gun Time                 1:35:15 

Chip time                1:33:24 

AVERAGE KM SPLIT    4:26 

The whole experience was incredible, emotional, nerve-wracking and all worth while.  I felt fantastic on the actual run.  Knowing when to step it up and when to hold back, as I had been nervous about, was the challenge yesterday morning.  The temperature was below freezing, so I had to think about keeping from getting uncomfortable from the cold.  I wore some tights I was wearing under my jogging pants, as i have yet to invest in thermal tights.  I saw some fancy pants there, that's for sure!
It seems trivial, but I see that I would have placed even higher if I had seeded correctly.  I have never competed like this before, so this counts for me in some fashion. I like to understand where i am at amongst all my peers here!  So my goals were met, I set a new PR for the 1/2 marathon and was able to place in the top 5% of the race.  Check!  And  most of all I enjoyed every moment of the day.  As I mentioned in my last blog, I am so THANKFUL that I went  to the hospital to treat my asthma.  This was a big part of my enjoying the whole run.
I had more energy, felt alive during the run and stayed focused.

My hope was for a negative split  and to match my PR of 1:38.  My first split was at 4:19, 4:27, then my Ipod died from cold exposure which was frustrating.  One thing about next time is not to panic last minute with technical gear, just focus on warming up.  Also, it took me 2 whole minutes to get to the start line!  I will seed myself further forward next time too.

Me, pre-race fresh.

Me, post race exhilarated.

BREATHING FREE!!

AHHHHHH...A little voice told me to go to the hospital today.  Okay, it was not a little voice, I know it was God.  Anyhow, with all my cruddy times and lack of motivation or energy, I felt it would be prudent to check out my lungs.  It has been so long since I have had to even think about them, so my asthma has not been forefront on my mind.  Until the trip I took to Silverwood a couple of weekends ago.  That was the beginning of crappy run times, of me needing my inhalor and of frustration.  You see, running has basically eliminated my need for my inhalors.  I am cured, save for a few allergy triggers like dog dander.  This in itself is a miracle.  In fact the lung test the doctor did on me was in his eyes surprizingly strong for the kind of lung inflammation I was experiencing.  I know it s the training, and it makes me smile.

So, long story short, I got my nebulizor, felt FANTASTIC after, in fact, I was so buzzed form the medication that made me better to breath, my wife sent me early with Jeremy, my running bud to the marathon site.  I guess me buzzing hyper diaper around the house, dancing around her and humping her leg was a little much for her.  But honestly, as I said to the doctor, that med should have been given to me the next morning just before my race, cuz I was raring to go.  I was feeling mighty high.  But alas, I will only have intact lungs to get me through the 21 k.  I breath a sigh , a full sigh of releif.

Half Marathon , A Personal Milestone

3-2-1Go.  My count down is on for the first longer race I will have ever competed this Sunday.  Am I nervous?  Yes!  I'm getting butterflies.  But like anything, I am prepared and I am excited to see what comes out of it.  Although I have had some very slow times lately, I know that there is lots to pour out on race day.  The race is in Kelowna, 1.5 hours away, so it is not a terribly far place to go.

What I am most nervous of is getting in my head too much, letting the race become more about other people than about me.  It is my nature to back off of competition and let others battle it out.  THis is good for me, I keep telling myself.  I am a champion!  I am on FIRE!  Mentally, I will need to get in the game by mapping out the distance and my goal times to keep me on track and out of the turmoil around me, as it will all be nw, from the aid stations to the crowds to the intimiation of the other athletes who obviously dressed better than I.

I am nervous also of the weather's sudden drop in morning temperature, which is approaching freezing levels here.  This makes for a different cardio for me. 

I am also wondering if me not doing my longer runs in the last three weeks as I taper will throw me off my ingrained pace.  This concerns me as I have had terrible slows runs as of late.  I have two runs left this week that will be short but zippy.  Hopefully this will boost my confidence for the big day!

One Foot In Front Of The Other

8 km todayStill Tapering.  The 1/2 marathon is in 6 days, and I have battled nervous thoughts lately.  I started the day with a pounding headache, which made for a terrible feeling run.  A severe cold is going around.  Yikes!  Excruciatingly slow run for me, an average time of about 5 minute km.  But that is where my complaining stops.  Watch this, I found it very encouraging and inspiring.  Eddie Iz Running . He is not a typical runner in the way of body, habit or anything but he faces a challenge I couldn't imagine.  A marathon a day!

What I see in me now is the will to keep going.  I have had a very difficult year personally.  Sometimes running is all I have had to keep me sane and healthy, and it turns into a deep prayer, a place to commune, to intercede.  Not everyone gets this, but I have been supported immensely in key ways but those that matter most.  Namely my beautiful wife who has been my cheerleader, my friend Jeremy, and a handful of others who I realize were engaging this part of my life.

So with every heavy footstep, I am thankful.  I am grateful for this day, for this step, for this road for this life.  I will get through the hard runs, have fast ones, slow ones, heavy and light ones.  What is important is that I keep finding joy in the moment, engage my spirit and praise God every time I draw a breath.  This is good.  As for the hard times, they too will pass, and like a good taper, I will heal and keep running that good race to the end.

MEH

I just don'tfeel so excited about running these days.  I think it is probably the season.  Its getting colder and darker, and I am back to work full time so squeezing in a run after the sun rises gives me maybe 1/2 hour to get going.  Winter.