Me.She.We. Half Marathon (6/1/19)

Again, I needed a training goal to get me out the door. It's a theme for my life. While things were crazy with Dad, Mom, and Eryn stuff, I needed the "forced" exercise to maintain my physical and mental health.

So I signed up for the Me.She.We Half Marathon in Wilsonville on June 1. The course was flat and looked pretty in a part of Wilsonville with which I'm not super familiar.

The elevation profile for half (second half was just the reverse)

This event aims to support women runners of all abilities and has no timing. It was a good feeling of women supporting each other!

I loved the idea of this race, but I hated the actual race.

The course was beautiful but also horrible. Streets weren't closed, so we had to run on the sidewalks. Much of it was in neighbors, which meant up and down curb cuts and driveways. Instead of running straight through intersections, we had to go around the corner to the official crosswalk and then back around the corner to the other sidewalk. It's hard to describe, but this extra running was incredibly frustrating. I would never run a race this way - or even a training run. Straight lines from Point A to Point B. Never weaving around like that. If I had been racing for time, I would have been pissed.

Also, about a mile was on crushed gravel in the Graham Oaks Nature Park. I wasn't prepared for that (maybe I missed it on the course description?!?!), and it was like running on sand. I was not happy about that.

After the turnaround, my energy just went away. It was during this time that I had an epiphany. This season of my life was the hardest I've ever had. I had the energy to train (perhaps it was just pure adrenaline getting me through) but my emotional and physical exhaustion was just too much to have a successful race. I didn't have adrenaline to get me through 13 miles. I had just enough energy for the "musts" of life and none left for the extras.

That self discovery was huge for me. Instead of feeling like a failure for all these races, I realized there was a real reason for my struggles. It was such a relief to have an explanation. DUH. I don't know why it took me over a year to get it, but it was a good moment.

The finish line came with a medal and pancakes :)

There was a woman I leapfrogged for much of the race. I learned it was her first half marathon, and we celebrated together at the finish. That part of the race was awesome.

According to my Garmin, I finished in 2:13:12. I had the course quite a bit short at 12.75 miles. Not sure how that happened with all the extra sidewalk running.

I would not recommend this race.

:)

Oregon Spring 5K (5/25/19)

When Pam suggested we do a 5K together, I jumped at the chance! I love racing with friends!

We chose the Oregon Spring 5K on May 25 in Champoeg State Park. The drive was easy, though Pam had a ways to go from Vancouver. Parking was in a field a short walk from the start line.

We decided to run together and had fun chatting the 3 miles away.

We ran faster than Pam had anticipated, and Pam took SECOND PLACE in her age/gender group!!!!!!!!

There was an amazing burrito bar at the end in which we fully indulged :)

It was a wonderful day reconnecting with Pam, and I'm so proud of her commitment to her running and fitness!

Let's do it again, Pam!!

My official time was 35:35, an 11:27 average :)

Vernonia Half Marathon (4/14/19)

Looking back at the past year or so, I realize I haven't run many small races. But I have run several half marathons. I didn't want to spend the time, energy, or money on small stuff - just bigger races that motivated training.

In April, I did the Vernonia Half Marathon, which starts in Stub Stewart State Park, speeds down the Banks-Vernonia Trail, crosses Banks, and ends with a lap on the Banks High School track.

It was a beautiful day at the top of the park:

Because it's a point-to-point course, most racers take a shuttle bus to the start. But Brad went with me to the Hilltop Day-Use area and stayed with me until race time. It was nice to stay in the warm car until it was time to warm up.

The course starts uphill but then it's miles and miles down the closed trail.

Knowing that banked speed in a distance race just doesn't work, I was unsure how to pace. I ran this course before, but it was part of marathon training, and I didn't race it at all.

I decided to hold back a bit on the steep down, but by the time the flat arrived, I was kinda done. I had a hard time pushing the last 5 miles, which are very flat, straight, and monotonous.    

Brad and Mom were waiting for me at the Manning trail head, one of the only spectator spots on the course.

The last miles were a struggle - mentally and physically. I knew I was done when I actually stopped on one of the bridges and stared at the creek for a second.

I finally hauled my butt through Banks to the high school. My fam was waiting at the track and watched me struggle through an entire lap before the finish line.

I had no kick left at all, but I gave it what I had.

I finished in 2:04:02 - a 9:28 average.

ORRC always puts on a good race, and this was no different. The after-party was inside the school with hot soup and baked potatoes.

There was also a big raffle, a I won a pie :)

Overall, a good race. Like I've mentioned before, I've not been in a good place since my dad's death. This race was a struggle, but I'm still proud to have tackled it and finished, even if my time wasn't anything record breaking :)

Shamrock Run (3/17/19)

I've done the Shamrock Run 15K every year since 2013, so this was my 7th running of the St. Paddy's Day event.

A dry day!

I don't remember all the details from the March race, but it must have been warm if I started without arm warmers:

Repping the Badass Lady Gang!

Mom snapped a pic on our descent into downtown:

 

Smiles all around:

We spotted Tina on the course, and she finished just moments behind us:

Hot soup is always a good reward. But I do miss the salmon chowder!

I ran a good race, but I didn't have a new PR in me. Once the chance of a PR slipped away, I pulled back a bit. I finished in 1:29:03 - a 9:33 average. (Current PR is 1:27:22)

Shamrock is always a fun event! We'll be back :)

Beaverton Half Marathon (9/22/19)

The Beaverton Half Marathon was an important race for me. 

It was my 34th half marathon since I began running in 2006. I really enjoy the half-marathon distance (13.1 miles) because it's a challenge that requires training but doesn't consume life like a marathon. It's achievable but still hard work. 

With 145 races under my belt, I don't really get nervous anymore. Running and racing is just something I do, and even with a goal in mind, I'm usually pretty chill leading up to the event.

But this race was different.

Since my dad died in February 2018, I've been living in a state of pure physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. It's unlike anything I've experienced before, dealing with grief and family duties and all that comes with a surprise death.

I've trained for and raced events since then, including four other half marathons. But those races fell flat, my exhaustion just too much to get me to the finish line strong and pleased with my performance. This realization hit me hard during my last 13.1 in June. I trained well but just didn't have the physical and emotional energy to finish strong. My tank was empty.

But things have been coming around lately for me. Life is still crazy-busy, but things involving Dad's estate, Mom's move, Eryn's move, house sales, etc., are wrapping up. I'm tired, but not exhausted. I feel like I'm coming around the other side of this - feeling more like myself and more like life is getting back to "normal."

Because I thrive when I have a schedule and a plan, I started training for a fall half marathon. The motivation got me out the door every weekend for my long runs, getting stronger with each workout. But with my June experience in the back of my head, I waited to register until the last minute. I found myself unusually nervous leading up to the race. I was afraid that, despite all my hard work, I would crash and burn again.

Race day came, and the forecast was for pouring rain. But since I actually enjoy running in the rain, I put on a hat to keep my glasses clear and drove to the start near Portland Running Company.

Parking was ample, and I got in the porta-potty line early to appease my nervous bladder. I dropped my warm, dry clothes in the bag check just as the rain started - about 7:45 a.m. I'd been nursing a glute/hamstring insertion pull, so I took time to jog, warm up, and stretch. The race started in a business park, so there was plenty of space behind the buildings for some strides.

After some group warm-up moves and the national anthem, the race started right on time at 8 a.m. - in the rain!

Brad had plans of his own that day, so I thought I was all on my own. But Mom and Eryn surprised me about 1 mile in and then showed up several more times on the course. It's always so great to have my own personal cheerleaders :) Also - major props to a family that will stand in the rain and watch you run! (And to a sister who will collect your sweaty arm warmers off the side of the road for you!)

I knew the general area where we were racing, but I didn't know specifics about the course. And since there was no elevation profile on the race Web site, I was surprised to find the first 4ish miles uphill. Nothing huge, but they seemed to go on forever.

I rounded a corner to find yet another hill, and the guy in front of me turned and asked, "Is it all uphill?!?" I was JUST about to ask him the same thing! Race camaraderie is so great! He and I ran much of the race "together" and celebrated briefly at the finish :)

I wound all over Beaverton, enjoying the closed course. Of all the race details, that stands out the most in my mind. I was so impressed with all the closed roads (almost everything was shut down!). It was incredibly nice to pick my line and run wherever I wanted - especially avoiding the rain-filled gutters.

I listen to music when I run - my iPod on "shuffle". Often, the music is just in the background, a beat to keep me moving forward. Sometimes a particular song makes me groove a little, giving me a momentary boost. Occasionally, a song comes on and becomes my theme for a bit. 

Rachel Platten's Fight Song came on and became my theme for the rest of the race. I hit repeat over and over and over again. For at least the last 5 miles (I'm not exactly sure when it first shuffled into my ears), I listened:

This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care
If nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

These words meant a lot to me, especially as the miles passed and my legs tired and my will weakened. I felt like I had something to prove with this race - not to anyone else, just to myself.

It rained most of the 2 hours I was on the course - sometimes light, sometimes heavy. But the torrential rain never arrived - thankfully! The temperature was perfect for me - though it would have been too warm if it had been sunny and dry. (I think it was in the 60s)

I slowed toward the end of the race, partly because I was tired and partly because the course went from wide-open roads to narrow, slippery, windy paths. But I felt good the entire race, never wanting to quit. I had enough left to speed up in the last mile and cross the finish line strong.

The home stretch:

My official finish-line pics:

This is me soaking wet and leaving it all out there.

Mom and Eryn hung out with me at the finish until I had to bundle up and get in the car before I froze :)

My mile splits were fairly even, and I'm proud of that. I finished in 2:07:56 - no where near my PR of 1:59:30. But for me, this race was a big win! 

My official numbers:

My watch had the course a tiny bit short, so my watch average was 9:48.

Run with Paula did a great job on this race. The best part was the closed course and the course support! My only real criticisms would be the short out-and-back in the park at the end and the lack of vegetarian sandwiches at the after party. Overall, a great race that I would recommend and would run again.

After a shower, Brad and I refueled at Carl's Jr. with a Beyond Burger, fries, and a Dr. Pepper! That sure hit the spot :)

Here's to life returning to "normal" and more opportunities for physical and mental health :)

Nos. 56 - 61

No. 56 was Robert Bryndza's The Girl in the Ice:

My grandfather is also a voracious reader of mysteries. He just gave me a pile of Bryndza's Erika Foster novels, and I brought this one along on our backpacking trip. I read it in a hammock next to a lake. It was marvelous :)

No. 57 - Violet Tendencies by Kate Dyer-Seeley, the second in her Rose City Mystery Series:

No. 58 - The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray:

No. 59 - The Night Stalker by Robert Bryndza:

No. 60 - Queer Eye Love Yourself. Love Your Life:

Loved this audio book, partly because they each read their own sections :)

No. 61 - Till Death Do Us Tart by Ellie Alexander:

Another good reading month :)