You never know what body is going to show up on race day ...where the heck was mine?

CIM has come and gone and after months of preparation I failed to complete the marathon in my predicted time. I finished. Don't get me wrong. Anyone that knows me knows that I would never quit. The paramedics would have to drag me off the course before I would quit. So I finished, but I finished 30 minutes over what I wanted.... coming in at 4:52. Not my worse marathon time ever but certainly not my best.

Here's a little bit of how my race went:

I had but maybe three minutes to spare before the gun went off when I reached the start line. Porta potties were a nightmare and I had gone to the bathroom about 1 mile and half down the road approximately 30 minutes before, but about five minutes to start, I had to go again and there was just no time so I started the race with "that feeling" of having to go. I was miserable. I got to the start, jumped the wall and positioned myself next to the 4:15 pacer where I remained until mile 13.5. I was psyched. I kept between a 9:20 and 9:45 pace. I felt confident I would make my goal time of doing anything under a 4:20, thereby beating last year's CIM time of 4:41.

Allow me however to go back to the beginning of the race......

I managed to find a porta potty at mile 2 and was in and out in a flash and was still keeping pace with the 4:15 group.

By mile four my right foot began to hurt and the fear set in. There were times I ran where I was able to run through the pain and other days where the pain brought me to my knees. What would today be like? OK. So I broke the first rule of runners and I did what one is NEVER supposed to do and I did something NEW. Something I had never tried before. At the mile 6 water station I popped two Advil's. I know! I know! But the pain had gotten intense and I was sure I would never make it through. I curse myself for even putting them in my pouch in the first place!


Cesar seemed to be all over the course and seeing his face and getting his encouragement revived me every time. Nothing beats having cheerleaders! I handed over my gloves to him around mile 7 and later, around mile 15 regretted it immensely as the cold and the wind set in again.

Mile 10 - This is where they ran out of water and I no longer had any in my bottle. Prior to that water station (about 2 minutes prior actually), I had sucked down another Gel and was anxiously awaiting the water I so desperately needed. You can understand my horror to discover that there would be no more water for another 3 miles or so. Needless to say, I became dehydrated faster than I thought I would and by the time I reached the half-way point of the marathon I was dying for water and could not seem to get enough of if. That did not change for the duration of the marathon. After the half-way point I lost the 4:15 pacer and was never able to catch her again but I still kept a pretty good pace of about 9:50. I could however, feel the 4:30 pacer inching her towards me. It was like a monster pursuing me. I kept asking people who were passing me how far back she was and she just kept getting closer. God! It was San Francisco Marathon all over again! So I kept running, determined not to let her catch up to me. I reached mile 16 and I was still running when I saw my daughters for the first time who shouted at me to "just keep going!" Before I reached the infamous "wall" the 4:30 pacer and her group had caught me. I tried desperately to keep up with them figuring that even if I came in with them I would still beat my last CIM time as well as my San Diego Rock 'n Roll time (4:33) so I kept going. I lasted maybe a mile and half and I had to just let it go.

Of course you know there was no chance in hell I was going to let the 4:45 pacer catch me so I kept running but by this time I was not only feeling weak, I was beginning to feel dizzy. Was it the Advil? The dehydration? The burning in my right foot? I knew the dizziness was not a good sign. Still I kept going but now I was walking more than running and I knew that it was only a matter of time before the 4:45 pacer came up behind me. I hate that feeling! They caught me at mile 23. A very cheery group who were calling to everyone along the way: "C'mon, you can do it! Stay with us. We'll bring you in! C'mon!!" I tried. I really did. I felt some renewed energy for maybe a few minutes and then not even a mile of running with them I had to start walking again and I saw them just keep running down the street ever closer to that finish that I wanted to badly to see. I was beginning to limp now.... I really thought about giving up. I really did. I just wanted to cry I hurt so bad. The pain in my right foot had come back just after mile 15 and the burning just would not subside. The dehydration did not help.

The guy with the licorice was there at mile 25 just like he was last year and God did those Red Vines taste good. I actually wanted to run BACK and grab a few more. I was craving something...... I just don't know what.... but the licorice seemed to give me a bit of a boost so I started running again despite the pain in my foot, the shaking quads (literally I could see the muscles bouncing and it was extremely painful), the dizziness and the cold. The wind had picked up considerably and by this time we were running into the wind....

I reached the finish line in 4:53. All I wanted at that point was to crawl to my car and go home. Coming in 30 minutes over my goal was a huge disappointment to me but it's like the 4:45 pacer told me as I ran alongside of him (mile 23) telling him my woes: "You can train, you can hydrate, and do everything else right, but the bottom line is that you never know what body is going to show up on race day." I could not have said it better as I had been wondering where my body had gone just after mile 13.

For all the runners in my Fleet Feet running group (those of you who had disappointing times like me and also for those of you who accomplished your goals) and also for all the other runners out there, we're marathoners guys. No matter which way you slice it. Statistically speaking, how many people in the world will ever run a marathon in their lifetime? Exactly .... so you know what? I say we go back and kick butt next year!

I ran my first marathon in October 2006 and I just finished my 5th. Not my best and I am still trying to come to terms with it ... but nevertheless, I finished it and I am very proud of that.

In the meantime, I am trying to get an appointment with a Sports Medicine doctor to find out what is wrong with my foot. No leg pain at all and muscles have completely recuperated..... I am ready to go out and try again but I need some foot advice first ....

Stay tuned runners..... RunnerChik will soon be at it again.....

My beautiful girls - thank you for the awesome looking posters and for being at mile 16.... I really needed you ....

Cesar - thank you for ALL your support. I looked for your face every time I rounded a corner and your encouragement helped to keep me going ..... Thank you also for the pictures ..... they are awesome!

Mom and Dad - thank you for your words of encouragement and your prayers .....

Gentlemen, start your engines....

This will be quick as I'm headed out the door again....

San Diego was a blast! The best time ever!!! I went for my last run (eight miles) and it was cool to actually run on several of the streets where I ran San Diego Rock 'n Roll. The weather was great of course and it was hard to come back to northern California and run in 40 degree temperatures. Thanksgiving dinner was delicious at the Handerly Hotel and being with the team the whole weekend was an experience I will never forget. Unfortunately the boys lost the tournament and that of course was hard on them. They'll get 'em next time. They are a great group of boys (see attached photos).

On the way home we stopped in Hollywood to allow Hendrick (yellow shirt) to sightsee a bit before heading back to Germany later next year. Cesar also took me to the Walk of Fame as I had never been and we took some great photos there. We also went to the Kodak Theatre and to the Chinese Theatre. We managed to make it out of town before the yearly Christmas Parade got underway thereby missing all that traffic.

CIM is less than 2 days away and I am ready. Nothing more to say really. I have had a great time training and have prepared myself for this event. Now all I need to do is go out and prove to myself that I can do it. I am not anticipating the cold (starting temps will be in the low 30's) but I know that from my experience last year, I will warm up by mile 10 or so. I have watched my diet and have hydrated well so I am confident in that area.

I've got lots of cheerleaders this year and that is an added bonus. I will be looking for all of you.

Betty, thanks for taking the girls - you know Vanessa only wants you for your car right? Thank you also for your support!

Jake, so glad you have moved up our way... you won't regret it... can't wait to see you again. We'll definitely have to go shopping.

My beautiful girls, I am so glad you will be cheering for me along the way. Thanks for taking pictures Steph!

Cesar ... words cannot express what your support means to me .... Can't wait to see you along the course but mostly at the finish line ... I am sure your pictures will be amazing!!!

Mom and Dad, KCRA 3 Channel News .... I'll be wearing green .... I'll be thinking of you sitting in your comfortable recliners ....

Stay tuned ... results will be in soon ....

Sunny weather up ahead ...

This is my last week of training before CIM and what better place to do it in than sunny San Diego? I will be doing my last Sunday run in San Diego (8 miles) and undoubtedly feeling better about running than I have this week. The cold has hit Northern California and when that happens I have to go through several days of mentally preparing myself to run. Don't get me wrong ... I'm going to run. A little cold is certainly not going to stop me. But it just takes so much longer to get warmed up and I have to wear an extra layer of clothing just to stay warm and that's when I start missing the summer....

So ... back to San Diego ... I'm going down with Cesar who is coaching a Class 1 soccer team here in the valley. The soccer tournament is being held in SD this year so how could I pass up an opportunity like that? I get to sit and watch soccer meanwhile soaking up some rays .... Cesar and I are driving down early Thursday and we plan on leaving at about 5 am as we want to get there in time for Cesar to meet with the two players from Texas that are flying in.

Thanksgiving dinner has already been planned and we will be meeting up with the rest of the team for dinner that night. After that it will be soccer the rest of the weekend. Somewhere in there Cesar and I will fit in an eight-mile run, a shopping trip, and a visit to the comedy club to see the Triple Espressos.

So my fellow runners ... I'm feeling strong, energized and ready to kick some major butt in CIM. I can't believe it's only a week and a half away.... I hear I will have a cheering section this year ... Can't wait ...

Running buddies ....

Running is one of those sports that brings people into one's life in the most amazing ways. I was once again reminded of this yesterday when we were out on our 10-mile taper run out on the Brookside levee. I was at about mile 6.5 when I ran into another runner out for a morning run. We proceeded to run and talk and I once again felt honored to share the path with such a wonderful person. Lynn is a 57 -year old runner who has only been running since her early forties and she has run 12 marathons, including Boston and New York, countless small races and my favorite: the American River 50. She ran that one in 2005 when she was 55. What an amazing person! She proceeded to tell me about the 12 long hours it took her to finish and how empowering it was to cross that finish line.

I remember a time not so long ago when I set a goal for myself of running just one marathon in my life time. Back then I felt certain that I would feel very accomplished if I did that. It's only been a year since my first marathon and I am about to run my 5th....

Life is good isn't it?

And yes ..... the American River 50 is on my list of runs to do but before that one I will qualify for Boston, run Big Sur in Monterey, and repeat the SF Marathon with a less embarrassing time.

Stay tuned fellow runners ...

And now..... let the tapering begin ....

Sunday marked the last long run in preparation for CIM. 23.5 long miles in which I began to have serious doubts as to whether or not I would be able to finish the training, let alone set a PR at CIM. I hit "a wall" at about mile 18 and it lasted until about mile 22. I began experiencing pain in my left knee at about the time I hit "the wall" and it would not subside. I fully expected the pain in my right foot to come back but alas no. A felt a twinge now and then but nothing serious. Certainly nothing serious enough to not allow me to make it through CIM with a decent finish anyway. Now I get knee pain....

Aside from the knee pain I felt great. The weather was a little cool but I was still able to run in my usual tank top, there was a slight wind but nothing that impeded speed of any kind and I felt strong and energetic. The course was flat with only slight rolling hills here and there. We were running out in the country (Ripon), among the orchards, the beautiful hills, and wineries and aside from being a little chilly, the day was beautiful. It had rained the entire day and night before and so the sky was a little overcast and the ground very wet. We were thankful it wasn't raining anymore but the ground had a definite excess of water.

The first and last mile were run in the mud which caked to the bottom of our shoes and made the running a little miserable until it eventually came off. The heavy rains from the day before had not only made the ground soggy and muddy but it had also brought out hundreds of frogs that somehow or another got killed out there on the roads. I saw dozens of them lying sprawled out there on the blacktop. I also saw one dead dog (he hadn't been there long), and two dead raccoons. All in all it made for an interesting run. Between the dead dogs, raccoons, frogs and the screaming pain in my knee I was able to convince myself to keep going despite the carcasses that lined the roads.

I was exhausted by the end of the 23. 5 miles and wanted nothing more than to soak in a tub with some Epsom Salts. The knee pain had grown increasingly worse and slowed me down quite a bit. I finished about 10 minutes over my expected finish time so I was disappointed and hard on myself but tried to reason it all out as I do with everything. A soak in the tub did wonders... trust me ....

I took the rest of the day off, enjoyed some good company and food and tried not to beat myself up about my pathetic pacing. Knees hurt most of the night and I had a difficult time sleeping. Legs just had the usual soreness from running 23 miles. Other then that, I felt great.

The next day I felt fine. No knee pain. No soreness. Nothing. I decided to go to Fleet Feet and have them check my shoes. I had put 215 miles on them thus far and did not see any wear on them that really warranted buying new shoes. I knew I could wear them in the marathon and be fine. If I did buy new ones I would have to put a good 20 - 30 miles on them before the race and I wasn't sure if that would happen since we have now begun to taper.

Long story short .... OK .... too late I know .....

I got some inserts. After analyzing my stride (yet again) Fleet Feet's assessment is that I need inserts and not new shoes. So I got the inserts. I will run the next three weeks in them and see if I can adjust to them enough so that I can run the marathon in them. I will eventually go see a Sports Medicine doctor and probably get some inserts that are specifically molded to my feet. For now ..... I have the generic ones. I will do my first run in them tomorrow. Stay tuned ...

I got some new socks too as I was complaining a little bit of pain in my toes. I always wear my Thorlo's and while they are seamless perhaps they have been aggravating my toes a bit. Who knows? So I will try out these new German-made socks and provide feedback at a later date.

For now, this mom, runner, teacher has got to get to bed so I can be productive tomorrow.

Fellow runners, run hard, run strong. I cheer for you when I see you out there.....

Eat. Train. Sleep. Repeat.

Training continues for CIM and yesterday our running group did our second to last long run. We went out to the countryside in Salida and ran 21 miles of nothing but hills. A total killer of a run. The hills really did me in but I know I will be stronger because of it. I ended forgetting my Garmin at home and was pretty bummed about that. Terry however, did remember to bring his and so I ran with him the entire way. Great conversation and companionship and he kept me within my pace. Thanks Terry! I'll be sure and check out Journeyman this week.

This course that Karen chose for us was great. We got our high mileage in and worked in hill training and we still have 4 weeks to recoup from it. Next week we're doing 23 miles (our last long run) and Karen has chosen a flat course very close to where we ran this past Sunday. The following week we're doing 10 miles and then 8 and the following week is CIM.

I've been averaging 30 - 40 miles per week so I am confident I can handle this race. I am not running anymore races this month and will keep my training steady until December 2.

Stayed tuned fellow runners ..... this RunnerChik may see Boston yet ....

And She Sets a PR....

It's official ladies and gentlemen.... I set a PR in the Lake Notama Four Bridges Half Marathon! I am just completely psyched! Coming through that finish line and looking at the clock and realizing that I had accomplished my goal of coming in under 2:10 was an amazing feat for me. And what a wonderful day! As runners, we could not have asked for a better day to run.

I got up at 6 am, showered, dressed (I had laid everything out the night before) and was in my car by 7 am heading for the start line. I parked about 1/4 mile away from the start line and walked up the hill to where all the other runners were congregating. I love that feeling of being out there early in the morning when all the runners are stretching,warming up, talking and get psyched up to run. It's an incredible feeling ... as the adrenaline slowly starts building and one breathes in the cool morning air. I had dressed in capris, a tank top and warm coolmax shirt but I soon realized that the cool max shirt was going to be much too warm. I realized I might not make it back to the start line in time if I decided to run to my car and drop it off so I decided to just tie it around my waist. It was a bit bulky and I also had my water pack around my waist so I was not that happy about having to lug that around for the next thirteen miles. But that's the way it is on race day. There are just some things one can't account for and so you just have to make the best of it. I decided that all I could do was suck it up and deal with it.

I was in wave 2 (thank God I got the right wave this time) and so we started 5 minutes after wave 1. As we took off, I realized that we were going to run right past where I had parked my car (I had parked on the street) and so I began untying my shirt as we ran down the hill towards where my car. I also got my key out and had both in hand as I approached my car. I unlocked it, threw the shirt inside, and locked it as I ran away from it. It took less than 3o seconds. Now I felt great...... light and ready to tackle this thing.

I wish I could adequately describe how I felt that morning. I felt light, limber and free. I felt good enough to do a full marathon that day. I had had a baked potato with a small salad the night before and I had been hydrating properly. When I got up that morning, I had had a full bottle of water and had used the infamous porta-potty right before the race. I also felt more rested than I had felt in weeks. My spirits were very high. Life was good and I was happy. Stress free.

With my Garmin strapped to my wrist I kept watch to make sure I was not going out too fast. The race starts out downhill and so it was quite easy to pick up the pace and run too fast. It was easy to do 7:30 and 8:00 min/miles. I held back but several times I noticed I was running sub 8's. The first two miles are down hill and I knew that if I held steady, didn't get too excited and allowed my body to warm up, I had a good chance of setting a personal record. We crossed the first bridge at just before mile 4 and so I knew it was one bridge down and three to go .... oh and 9 more miles ....

Bridges 2 and 3 are between miles 4 and 8 and the course is flat with some rolling hills in between. It is a beautiful course, mostly paved with amazing scenery. Since it is a bike path it is a little narrow in places but for the most part plenty wide enough for all of us. Miles 8 - 12 were uneventful. Almost completely flat and several downhill portions, just like the previous miles. I was getting a little tired by mile 10 but because of the flat course and the downhill portions I found myself at several points running sub 8's again. I knew better and slowed down but invariably I found myself running faster and better then I had in weeks. As I ran mile 11 I knew from studying the course map that the infamous killer hill was just about to start. I tried to prepare myself mentally for the challenge ahead. I knew what I was in for from hearing about it from other runners and from studying the map.

We crossed bridge # 4 just after mile 12 and we began to climb (see my picture with the older gentleman as we climbed it almost simultaneously) at a steady pace. Not only does this hill climb at a serious incline but in winds around and the turns were a bit difficult to navigate. I glanced at my Garmin and saw that I had slowed down to an 11 min/mile. Mentally I was telling myself I could do this. I already knew I wouldn't make it under 2 hours (yeah, at several points I actually thought I might make it) but felt confident I could make it in 2:05. I could now see the tall blue flags indicating I was close to the finish line. I gave it everything I had, but I could feel my calves were begging me to quit (I vowed I would do more hill training after this race). I kept pushing harder, and my breathing got more labored but I kept going, ignoring how I felt. I could now see the mat so I pushed harder and raised my arms, hands and fingers into my now traditional "peace sign." I crossed the finish line in 2:05:48. Yeah baby!!!! A personal record it is!!!!

I will definitely be at the start line next year for the Four Bridges race and I definitely plan to come in under 2 hours. This is one of those races that is meant to be repeated and who knows? I just might place myself in wave 1 next time.

Stay tuned fellow runners ...