I did it! More to come, but for now – it was amazing, wonderful, moving, touching, inspiring, exhausting, uplifting, surprising and so many more things that don’t quite fit into words. It felt incredible to be tougher, stronger and more determined than Crohn’s; incredible to win.
But yes, more to come…
I didn’t get in the mileage I was hoping for this morning, but I got in a good 6.2 before Crohn’s got in the way. But that’s why I’m doing this, right? I was pacing at 14.9 minutes/mile, a good time and just over 3 minutes/mile faster than where I need to be in Vegas (which is in 2 weeks…what?!?). I’m not sure how it has gotten so close since it has seemed so far away for quite a while now, but here it is.
I’ll hopefully be able to get out again tomorrow and get in the mileage I wanted for today. Then I’m told it’s time to taper.
I’ve been quite bad at updating lately, but the miles have bee ticking by. In the last seven days I have hit 5.5, 6.5 and 9.6. I felt good after each, and after today’s 9.6 I felt like I had at least another mile or two in me before I would have chosen to stop. I could have kept going past that, but that’s where I would have stopped. I called it a day at 9.6 because my left knee was a bit achy so I thought I’d end things before it moved to hurt.
9.6 miles took me 2 hours and 3 minutes. No land speed records here, but I am on pace to finish with plenty of time left in Vegas. I know races, especially races with lots of people, are different, but I’m hoping that will push me faster and not the other way.
Race day is getting close and while it isn’t so much a race in the traditional sense for me, I am excited, nervous and a dozen other emotions all at the same time. I want it to be December now. I know it will come soon enough and I’ll be wishing I had a few more weeks to train, but at this moment, I wish the finish line was in sight in more than just my mind.
My day at work was long. Very long. But due to a meeting I had close to home near the end of my day, I was home at a rather reasonable hour. After a quick change it was off to the track.
Today found Kansas City hit with gusty winds that were going only in one direction. While I am not a fan of getting smacked in the face with a big burst of wind just as I turn a corner, it did keep me cool so I ought not complain.
I popped in my ear buds and enjoyed Jon Stewart for a bit over an hour and got in my 5.5 miles before the sun went down. A bit slower than I think it might have been had it been first thing in the morning (and not uber-windy), but I feel good about it.
I did my first track workout today. It was boring. Really boring. There was nothing to see or keep my interest but it is a necessary step to the half in Vegas as I need to get used to walking on a completely flat surface that has slightly less give than the trail on which I’ve been training. I was only able to get in an hour of time before a gaggle of children arrived to do whatever it is that gaggles of children do on Saturday mornings at a track. But I did cut 1.4 minutes off of my mile time. An abridged workout for sure, but a good one none the less.
Yesterday morning was 9 miles even. I was exhausted by the end and was actually having a conversation with myself for the last quarter mile, which is up hill. I was convincing myself I could in fact get there and if I did, it would be a short plateau and then downhill to the car. I might have looked like an idiot (it was an in-my-head conversation, but I am sure I still looked silly), but I got there.
My new camelback water backpack thingamajig worked rather well. It was nice not to have a pack on my hips and it was easy to use.
My hips are more achy than they have been, but there is substantial improvement over yesterday night what I had to be picked up at the curb when leaving the ball game because the car was too far for me to hobble, er, I mean walk, and better than having to use my hands to pick up my leg to put it in the car. So I’m guessing it is just two grouchy IT bands and a few quads that wanted some attention too. Nothing to sit me out for more than another day or two.
I’ve been awful about updating, but I’m making progress and I know that even if it takes me over three hours (which I’m fairly certain it will), I will get across the finish line in Vegas and I will be proud and strong and all that good stuff.
I woke up early and started at the end of the trail. The end is less busy than the beginning, which I prefer. I think it may be less busy because it isn’t convenient to most people and because an out and back path for shorter distances seems easier to plot based on the location of the rests areas/parking lots. But I digress…
It was nice and cool this morning, only about 64 when I hit the trail. I actually had on a shirt over my tank, very exciting to volunteer to wear extra layers in August in Missouri. I felt wonderful as I hit the second parking area (2.35 miles) and kept going to the third (4.64 miles). I stopped there for some stretching and to catch my breath a bit. After a few moments I started back towards the trail head.
There is something odd about an out and back on a trial because while you ought to know what is coming, it really does look different from the other direction. This particular trail runs along a river so it’s all green space and some woods, making it nice scenery for a long walk.
While making my way back, I could feel my muscles starting to burn some but as my knees and hips weren’t too angry I was happy. When I hit mile 7ish on my route I knew I didn’t have too far left, but I also knew I was getting tired and sore. More sore than tired, which I think is a good thing, but still. I didn’t stop at this parking area as I knew there was another just over a mile away and I wanted to keep going. Part of this whole thing, the half and Crohn’s, is that I want to keep going and I’m not giving up.
I hit the last parking lot before getting back to the trail head and as much as I wanted to just push on, I made friends with the picnic table and gave my legs a break. After a few minutes I was on my way again, knowing that I didn’t have much time to go. When I came around the bend and saw the parking lot waiting for me below, I could feel the smile cross my face.
I was happy to see the end because it meant I had gone further than I had before. It meant that I didn’t give up and call for a ride. It meant I pushed on even when I wanted to lay down in the grass and let the dew cool me off. Seeing the end gave me a great preview of how things will feel in Las Vegas in December. I loved it.
9.2 in the books for today. 3.9 more and I’ll have the distance I need. Until then, that visual will keep me going.
