Air Force Marathon Race Recap

I had been anticipating this marathon since last year when my friend Nikki and I decided together we would go for it. I had been wanting to do a marathon near my hometown of Cincinnati since I started my marathon journies...

We arrived in Dayton on Friday and had a great dinner with my family but the rain came... This made me so nervous... 70% chance of rain did not sound like a fun marathon... The day started very wet... They said you should arrive 1.5-2 hours before the race started... They weren't kidding. If you ever do this race get there early. Parking is far from start and it took a long time to It rained literally until they sounded the gun to start the maratho... At least we were prepared with garbage bags. 

The race started on the Wright-Patterson Air Force base. The course was hilly from the beginning. A big hill literally in the first mile. I felt so good. We were right with the 4 hour pace group and I felt great. My best running friend Bryan was right there with me. The first 8 miles flew by. We ended up ahead of the 4:00 hour pace group at a water stop. Just after mile 8 I spotted super stars Chrys and Steve who also came to the race from Northwest Indiana. They totally rocked the marathon! Just after mile 8 we headed toward downtown Fairbourn. The residence and their support were awesome. I loved that they had the marching band out there also! After our tour through Fairbourn we headed back to the base. This is where we spotted our friend Brian who was also running and shortly after that we also saw our friend Nikki... its always good to see a familiar face.

I wish I remember the mile marker but the water stop was themed as aliens and they had people dressed as aliens handing out water and they were awesome. At this point I still felt really good. Around mile 15 I thought ok seriously we are getting there... But then the tough part came. We made it to mile 18 and Bryan told me he was really glad he made it that far and if he could just make it to 20 then he knew we would be in the clear. Mile 18 quickly approached and I was really starting to slow down. Mile 18 took 9:44... I was starting to feel the miles mount... The next couple miles were even slower and at 20 I forced myself to take a break and hit a port a potty... something I had done before. Mile 21 was the slowest I had ever run during a marathon and I was starting to let my mental emotions get to me. I was really starting to break down. The hills were mounting and I was just plain tired... I was talking every half mile for a few minutes. Then I was able to pick it up slightly but I was hurting. In  between mile 22 and 23 we were forced to climb and go down a highway overpass... this felt like a mental crushing... I hated every second of it. I had to walk my body just wouldn't carry me up the hill. 

At mile 22.5 I was startingn to feel defeated and I sent a text to my mom "22.5... hurting." I didn't want her worry where I was. Then I started talking to Bryan. He really started giving me all the positive thoughts I really needed. Not everyday has to be a PR I kept telling myself just go.. go Deanna go. At mile 24 I sent another message to my mom that said simply... "24." 

Once we hit 25 I started really watching my watch. Bryan said I need a break to walk. We were walking and I said no lets run to that water it is probably the last water stop. We took our water and this water stop was just like all the others AMAZING!! I cannot say enough about the water stop volunteers at this marathon. Every mile or more and awesome! They were so nice and so encouraging. Since the race was on a miltary base for much of it there were not the floods of spectators like at a race in Chicago but the water stop volunteers made up for it. They rocked! So once I passed that final water stop and made the turn I could see we were approaching the finish...

I looked at my watch... .80 to go. I told Bryan we have 11 mintues to make it and I will PR... Well that was all Bryan needed to here. I just kept pushing myself to the 26 mile marker because I knew once I got there I could fly... Well Bryan pulled me so hard that last .80 that we tapped out at 8:32 during what my watch said was .32 instead of .20... The finish shoot was awesome. They line the final .20 with planes and you run in between them and they have a crowed of people just cheering so hard for you. As we approached the finish I could see my family yelling for us. Bryan turned and grabbed my hand we we finished... 4 hours 12 mintues and 17 seconds later... I finished. I PR'd and my best running friend was by my side. They have a military member in uniform hang the medal around your neck and that was awesome. We then were able to get some fruit and yummy LaRosa's pizza (a local favoirte of mine).

My other friends Nikki and Brian also finished. I am so lucky to have such great running friends. I am also really lucky to have such a supportive family who came out to see my finish. I am so glad they came! 

Although this marathon was tougher than I expected but I finished and I cannot say enough about how nicely done this race was and what a great expricence it was. I finished 915 out of 3127 finishers, 203 out of 1047 women and 28 out 176 females the same age as me. I am super proud of these resutls! 

Awesomeness

Todays blog post is short but sweet...

I saw this on Facebook this morning and I thought it was very fitting...

My friend who I am running my marathon with Bryan always says this about me....

So no matter the weather brings tomorrow I know I will suck it up and carry on. I will be awesome because I will finish 26.2 miles of running. I am so lucky that I have some amazing friends who will be sharing this exprience with me... So go ahead and stare.

Be a Safe Runner

This morning I woke up to a post on Facebook from a good runner friend back in Ohio that a kind police officer pulled up beside her during her run to warn her. He explained that the residents near her home were not happy about her running and often call to complain. She lives in a small farm town and this made me feel very sad for her. For runners running gives us so much more than just a good workout. I have often talked about what running gives me in my life. I have been injured recently and forced to do a lot of resting... it is killing me. I know its good for me but I still hate it. So I thought since I have some spare time I would express the importance of being a safe runner.

Here is what I have learned over the last several years as well as some info I looked into online. Here is a link to the information provided by the Road Runner's Clubs of America

(http://www.rrca.org/education-advocacy/rrca-general-running-safety-tips/)

Always run against traffic

Find a running partner or a group. If you are local to Northwest Indiana check with Calumet Region Striders or the Extra Mile for weekly group runs. 

NEVER assume a driver sees you

Watch out for dogs... seriously they are not all friendly and will chase you

Seriously just move out of the way of cars

Always look both ways several times before crossing street

I don't usually run with music if you do I advise you turn it down. Only wear one of your ear buds and seriously pay attention.

As a female I try not to run the same route at the same time. I try to run a different route everyday so that no one could try to figure out my running patterns.

Wear reflective gear between Sunset and Sunrise. Seriously the more you wear the better. If I see a car approaching and I don't think they see me I stop and wait for them to pass. If you are unsure why kind of reflective gear you may need then get some advice... If you are reading this from Northwest Indiana I highly recommend stopping into Extra Mile and asking them for advice. 

My reflective gear includes a vest, flashing light and head light... I try to make sure I can be seen from the front and backside. If you feel really crazy Extra Mile even has a few pair of shoes that are reflective... how awesome is that?

Carry Mase... seriously you may need it.

Pay attention to your surroundings. 

Carry your phone with you.

Buy a ROAD ID... seriously no excuses... if you need a discount code ask me for one. 

Make sure someone knows your are running and where you are running. Also let them know how long it should take you. 

Lastly just be safe. We are a special family as runners so watch out for your fellow runners. Be smart and never let anyone stop you from running.

Air Force Marathon Week

The week has finally arrived... marathon week... so what happens...

Carbs

Nervousness

Planning

Packing

Limited miles

Rest

This is where all my hard work and running all summer long gets its reward. I am excited to go to this event with some of my favorite Northwest Indiana Running friends. I love them and can't wait to experience something new with them. I am also excited to "knock" off another state from my marathon list. Plus its close to where my family lives and I am excited to see them throughout the race and especially the finish line! I am so lucky to have such an amazing supportive family. It brings tears to my eyes when they tell me how amazing they think I am.

So the prep week is in full effect... 

23 Miles of Training

Many think we are crazy. Runners are a special breed. Especially those of us who run long distances. Yesterday one of my fellow long distance runners posted this and it is very fitting for my run today...

So what happens during 23 miles of running... well here are what my thoughts were.

The first mile was nerving because I was alone, it was dark and I was running through Hobart. Then the light started to come over the horizon. The next mile flew by. As I returned to downtown Hobart the breakfast spots were starting to fill with customers. As I returned to the parking lot at mile 3 Jennifer was already there. Jennifer and I began our journey through the next 20. Some of my main thoughts pretty much went like this...

20 more

Its humid

Darn you train... well we are over half way to Chesterton!

Oh darn you hill... 

Wow we made it to 10

Why doesn't Chesteron have water?

The sun!

Thank God for this port a potty.

Ok I feel better.

Ok seriously I'm soaked.

Its hot, omg its humid, omg its hot... I'm thirsty!

Ok 10K left.... 

Finally water! Ok only a little over 5 miles...

Where the heck is Olsen Park and why does it feel so far away... "Oh hey Norm."

Ok lets just make it from Olsen to Lute.

Oh look there is Derrick... seriously less than 3 miles...

Sun.... Darn you Sun. Ahhh Shade thank you!

Countryside... ok break again... Seriously 1.7 to go

Oh crap... why does this hill coming out of the tunnel look like a mountain... meanwhile random person asks... "How far you going"... 20 and 23... wait miles?!?!

Crap Jennifer's watch stopped... seriously so frustrating for a runner.

Ok .55 to go... Omg could this half mile be any longer.

Omg I think I see the parking lot... 23.01 DONE!!!!!!

Now begins the cut back into the final weeks before the Air Force Marathon!

Marathon Training is Long...

Training for a marathon can be a long process the first time you ever do it. You work, you sleep, you run, you eat... then you repeat. There isn't much time to do much else. The best part is the day when you are able to line up and put all the hard work into place.

This summer has been different for me. I took on a new kind of training program to push myself to be a bit faster. One thing I say that I always do during marathon training is learn. I never stop trying new ideas or listening to other runners. I just told someone today who asked me if I missed Cincinnati that yes but the one thing I love about Northwest Indiana is the running community. Any problem, question or concern I have ever had during running I have found another runner to turn to. I love that any question I ever have about running just takes asking a runner who knows a runner who has been through a similar situation. This year I feel as though I have learned a lot about myself. When I started losing weight I was always wondering if I could do it... well I did. The first time I trained for a marathon I wondered if I could do it... I did. This year I have trained hard. Focused and tomorrow starts the final stage... my final long run before the cut back and downhill into my first marathon of the fall. I am excited that I was able to find another  runner who wanted to run 20 miles on a Friday morning.... so tomorrow will be the longest long run I have done since my 50K in the spring. I am nervous. Summer has set back in here in the Midwest... oh yay. Although I am lucky that we are going on a mostly shaded trail with water and bathrooms. It does not mean that nerves don't begin to set in. Long runs are great because they allow so much time for reflection but they also deserve good  company. 

Bring on 23 miles.... 

Ice Scream Half Marathon Race Recap

A few months ago the registration opened for the Ice Scream Half Marathon. I peeked ahead at my training schedule and saw 12 so I figured hey perfect, run a race and get free ice cream. YAY! I wasn't sure exactly what approach to take. The race was advertised as very flat and very fast. However my first full marathon of the fall is only 4 weeks from today so... I took this approach.
Don't kill yourself
Have fun
Run
Practice again with gel

When I arrived I starting seeing a lot of familiar faces show up. At the start I lined up with my friend Tim and asked him his game plan...since he didn't really have one he said he would hang with me as long as he could. We started out really great. The first mile was a bit fast so we had to dial back if we were going to hang in for the full 13.1. The first couple miles were a circle then we headed out the shaded portion of the bike trail that runs through Portage. Around mile 5 or so we got off the trail and went down Mcool to hit the Iron Horse Trial. At one point John the winner passed us and he looked so strong. He was totally in his zone. I was feeling really good. The next thing I know we hit mile 7. I said to Tim really we are at mile 7? Tim is one of my favorite friends to run with. He is funny in his own unique way and has tons of great running stories. He thinks I am crazy fast but I think he crazy amazing. I mean the man ran back to back marathons just to charity this year. On did I mention this was just shortly after he ran his first ever 50 miler. So maybe he thinks I have the need for speed but he can go and  go and go. Eventually we circled back around to hit the bike trail again. The next thing I know we are at mile 10. I always check my time at mile 10, if I am under 1:30 then I go. I was at 1:28 so I started to try to pick up our pace. I knew around mile 11 Tim's sore ankle did not feel good. At mile 12 he told me I had to go... So I really decided to kick it in that last mile. I wanted to practice that force of pushing through after a longer distance. My Garmin registered me at a 8:14 that last mile so I was really happy.

I crossed the finish line in 1:54:27 4th place in my age group out of 20. I was also 45 out of 140 finishers. The best part is that my crazy friend Tim who never races half marathons was pulled by me to yet again another PR. YAY TIM! Great well organized race. Plenty of shade. Loved the early start! I also got to actually meet someone who reads this blog that isn't my family member. Seriously if you read this blog and see me please introduce yourself. It is really nice to know people read my ramblings. All in all... I highly recommend this race!