Onward and Upward!

Now that the big, bad Portland Marathon is out of the way, the question is: What’s next?  The answer is: More running (and a few other athletic pursuits)!

I had been so tunnel-vision focused on my first full marathon that it seemed like the end-all be-all for me.  But that isn’t true!  I now have a calendar full of events to keep me focused and diligent in my training efforts.  Here is what 2014 has in store for me thus far:

• January 11: Nookachamps Half Marathon in Mount Vernon, WA
• February 2: Half Ass 25K (15 miles) in West Seattle, WA
• February 8: Snow Shoe 5K race in Cle Elum, WA (tentative)
• February 11 and 17: Jump rope fitness events at local elementary schools
• March 8: Lake Sammamish Half Marathon in Redmond, WA
• March 23: RainMan Indoor Triathlon in Seattle, WA
• April 6: Bridges to Brews 10K in Portland, OR
• May 4: Vancouver Full Marathon in Vancouver, Canada (another full marathon!!) 

Here’s hoping that I remain injury-free as I work on improving my speed and maintaining my endurance in the months to come!  Be on the lookout for race updates.

Girls on the Run

I was instructed not to post any pictures of participants
 online, but here I am at the start of the much-anticipated
 final 5K(in 23-degree weather, mind you!)!  You will
note that everyone who takes part in the run is #1.  Love it! 

I found a great way to combine my newfound love of running with a meaningful volunteer opportunity: Girls on the Run.  This afterschool program for girls in 3rd through 5th grade strives to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.” 

My role as a running buddy was to serve as a cheerleader/encourager/coach for one girl during two 5K’s (a practice race and a big event with all of the girls/buddies from around the county).  It was fun to interact with elementary school girls and watch how they were able to motivate themselves to finish a full 5K.  It seemed so daunting at first!  It’s a great program with lots of important lessons for young ladies, and I enjoyed my small part in it.  The experience reminded me of the goal-setting, challenges, lessons, and rewards of my own running journey!

5K Race to Save the Day!

I had typed up a full reflection of my first post-marathon race (a light-hearted fun run called the Everyday Superheroes 5K in Bellingham), but Blogger decided to completely erase it.  I have neither the time nor the patience to re-create what I'd written, so I will let the photos stand on their own.  After all, this run was certainly not about the running -- it was about the costumes!

We used our creativity,  two recycled Halloween costumes, decorative duct tape, and old blankets to become Super Hilary, Bat Nurse* (*Bat Woman mask not featured in photo), and Super Taco!!  The highlight of the entire event was when Super Taco was announced as the winner of the costume contest and awarded with a crisp $100 bill.  This was double the prize money that the overall winner of the race received!  

It was oodles of fun, and I am certain that we will accomplish many great feats now that we've unleashed our inner superheroes... Only time will tell what obstacles we'll overcome and villains we'll defeat as we continue our quests to be powerful forces of good!

Portland Marathon Recap: More than You Ever Wanted to Know

It has been over three weeks since I completed my first full marathon, and it already seems like a fuzzy memory from the distant past.  But it was such a huge milestone in my life that I’d like to preserve it in history via a comprehensive blog post!  Therefore, without further ado, here are my reflections about the entire rich experience—from start to end:

Pre-marathon excursions: 
Although the marathon wasn’t until Sunday morning, we arrived to Portland on Thursday evening.  This allowed us to take in some of the sights and sounds of this unique city, although it also meant those of us who would be running the marathon had to be extra careful about eating the right foods and not over-exerting ourselves.  I think that we found the right balance of fun and pre-race earnestness. 

Issac, Rachel, and I enjoyed picking up our
packets at the Race Exhibition.

It was very relaxing and beautiful to head to Portland's
Lan Su Chinese Gardens.  This photo features me with
my parents, Aunt Cheryl, and Auntie Kathleen.  I
loved having my family with me.

We had the best supporters ever!  Beth crafted
this very beautiful sign of encouragement.

Getting Started: 


Lots of other members of the Green Lake Running Group were there as well.

The marathon start time was 7:00AM, which meant that Rachel and I had set our alarms for the ungodly hour of 4:30AM.  This allowed me to complete all of my necessary pre-race rituals (Nettie Pot, high energy snacks, anti-chafing cream, etc.), and it also ensured that we’d make it to the race start line for a group picture with our fellow Green Lake Runners at 6:30AM. 

 



I was ready to go!

I was not set to start until Corral E.  This is because I had originally overestimated how long it would take me to run a marathon (I’d read that the average woman completed one in 4:52 last year, so that’s what I’d put as my estimated finish time on the registration), so I wasn’t able to start with other running friends in the C and D groups.  I was frustrated by this at first, yet I soon realized that it could be good for me.

Miles 1-20:

When the race officially started (after a collective rendition of the National Anthem), I was in the massive porta-potty line in Corral E.  This made me a bit nervous that I’d get left behind, but I had more than enough time to catch-up with the rest of my corral as it slowly inched toward the official start line.  I met-up with Rachel, Joanna, and Amina—yet I soon lost them as I pushed my way to the front of our corral.  I crossed the start line about 12 minutes after the gun had sounded.

My parents and aunts waved flags to help me see them along
the course.  These were very helpful and motivating.

Once we were able to start running, it was a burst of excitement.  We immediately passed a Chinese lion dance group, drum corps, and handbell choir during the first few miles.   I remembered my goal of noting something fun from every mile (which was incredibly easy to do), yet it went by so fast that the miles began blurring together.  I really focused on keeping a slow and consistent speed; I didn’t want to make the #1 marathon mistake of starting out way too fast.  

I loved giving high-fives to
friends and family along the way.



I couldn’t believe how quickly the time passed as I hit mile after mile.  I was in a groove, and my running felt fairly effortless.  I had enough distractions with the music on my radio, the constant entertainment on the road, and my fellow runners that it was easy to forget that I was even running in the first place.  The GPS watch that I had borrowed died at about mile 12, which made it slightly more difficult to continuously check my pace (although I still had the Runkeeper App on my phone, yet it was a bit off because I had somehow paused it at the beginning of the run). 

The support on the course made a huge difference as well.  Our main cheer squad --my parents, Cheryl (aunt), Kathleen (“auntie”), Matt, and Beth-- had given me a heads-up that they would be waiting for me at about mile 5, so I was on the lookout for them.   It was so exciting to spot them on the side of the course, give them high-fives, and continue on quickly with the race.   I had my first sighting of Jacob and Jenny at about mile 12, and it was also fun to catch-up and briefly run with other runners from the Green Lake Running Group throughout the first 10 miles.

I had opted to wear my water belt for hydration and electrolyte replacement, and I was very conscientious about eating/drinking every forty-five minutes.  A friend had also given me SaltSticks, which she assured me would prevent any type of muscle cramping, so I took one tablet every forty-five minutes as well.  I think these calculated snacks helped me psychologically (because they broke down the time into smaller chunks and gave me something to look forward to), although I don’t think it was necessary to wear my own water belt.  The course had very frequent water stations, and they were not very congested.  This is good to know for next time!

The hill that started at mile 16 and continued until mile 17.5 was a much bigger, longer beast than I’d anticipated, but it was certainly manageable.  I kept reminding myself of all the hill training I’d done to prepare for this obstacle, which motivated me to stay at a decent pace.  I certainly didn’t sprint up it, but I was pleased that I wasn’t tempted to walk it.  Once it was out of the way, I knew that I’d conquered the main challenge of the course.

Miles 20-26.2: 

I was soooo happy when I realized that the end was fast approaching!

Highlights of this portion of the race included spotting Beth and Matt at about mile 20 and Jacob and Jenny at about mile 22.  This gave me extra energy.  As expected, the last part was the most difficult part of the marathon experience.  I was surprised at how good I felt up until mile 20.  I kept waiting for the problems to come… And then they did!   Luckily, it wasn’t as bad as I’d previously envisioned.  My stomach was not happy at about 20, so I eagerly searched for a porta-potty.  Once I found it, the stop set me behind a couple minutes, but it was a huge relief.   Definitely worth it!

I didn’t experience any muscle cramping, but my calves got tight at about mile 23.  I wasn’t in a great deal of pain, but I came to the realization that my legs would not be able to go any faster than their current pace—no matter how much I wanted them to speed up.   I told myself, “This is when you start your final sprint to the finish!”  But it was clear that it wasn’t going to happen—no way, José.    I also had to stop for a light rail crossing at about mile 25, which made my legs very angry at me when they had to start running again after stopping for just a brief moment.  It was a horrible trick.

We did it!  Rachel, Issac, and I stopped for a photo with
Amina-- one of our Ragnar teammates. 

I finally came to the realization that I was almost there.  It was so exciting to come down the home stretch as I saw my friends and family cheering me on; it was a surreal moment.   But I was mainly glad to cross the finish line because it meant that I would be done running!   Phew. 

My pace throughout the race was fairly consistent, yet it slowed down notably during the last few miles.  Here are my split times:

• 5 Km: 28:05; pace: 9:03
• 10 Km:  55:41; pace: 8:58
• 8.9 Mi:  1:19:00; pace: 8:53
• Half: 1:59:13;  pace: 9:06
• 17.5 Mi: 2:41:44; pace: 9:15
• 21.1 Mi: 3:18:10; pace: 9:24
• 26.2 Mi: 4:10:09; pace: 9:33        



Here's a post-finish photo with my family.

Celebration:
Once I was done, it was time to celebrate!  There were all sorts of goodies for us—a finisher medal, long-sleeved technical shirt, rose, seedling, medallion, and pendant.  There were also lots of snacks and liquids.  I rushed through the vendors to meet my supporters and attempted to take in protein, carbs, and fluids to help my body to recover.  We soon met-up with additional runners (and even got to cheer some of them home to the finish) and spectators and went out for a celebratory meal.  I couldn’t believe it was over.

Recovery:

Issac and I joined a group of 10 of our supporters for a
fun and festive CELEBRATION at McMenamins!

Aside from being incredibly pale/blue-lipped (because, apparently, your body can decide to prioritize sending blood to muscles that are working hard when you’re exerting yourself for so long), sweaty, and fatigued, I wasn’t in that bad of shape afterward.  My calves remained tight for a few days, and my hips were sore as well.  Unexpectedly, the most painful part of my body was my neck (and accompanying shoulder).  I am not exactly sure how it happened (or even if I did it during the run), but I somehow managed to strain my trapezius muscle.  This caused lots of painful nights and discomfort for over a week, but I believe that I’m finally over it.  I eventually caved and went to the doctor, who prescribed a muscle relaxant.  In addition, my aunt purchased massages for both Issac and me, which certainly helped! 

All runners were provided with two Portland
Marathon shirts.  I can now wear them with
pride!

Course reflection:
I really loved the Portland Marathon and strongly believe that it was the best first full marathon that I could have chosen.  The weather was perfect; the community support was incredible; and the course entertainment was oodles of fun.  The race included the following everything from belly dancers, to pirates, to opera singers.  It was fabulous, and I highly recommend it to anyone!

Looking ahead:
Now that I’ve finished my first full marathon, I can say with some certainty that more will be in my future.  I’ve already registered for another half-marathon in a few months, and I’m contemplating signing-up for the Vancouver Marathon in May.  Who knows—I may make the Portland Marathon an annual tradition!  I am also tempted to try other athletic challenges, like triathlons or trail runs.  My main goal is just to maintain a certain level of fitness.

Whatever the future holds for me, I know that the Portland Marathon 2013 was undoubtedly one of the most special, memorable adventures of my life.   Many thanks to everyone who was a part of it!!

I did it!!!

It brings me much joy to share that I successfully completed the 2013 Portland Marathon!!!  It was a surreal, amazing experience.  I think I'm still on an endorphin high.  I have so many photos and reflections to post, but it may take me some time to get everything organized. 

Therefore, for now, I'll just provide you with my stats for the race: official time = 4 hours, 10 minutes, 9 seconds; pace per mile = 9 minutes, 32 seconds; average speed = 10.1 KPH or 6.3 MPH; place in my division = 151st out of 643; place out of all female finishers = 788th out of 3,537; and place overall with all finishers = 2,254th out of 6,813.

They also provided me with information that puts this statistical information in a very ego-boosting format: I finished ahead of 77% of the women in my division; I finished ahead of 78% of all women; and I finished ahead of 67% of all finishers.  Furthermore, the website reports that I passed 223 runners (and 26 passed me) in the final 5 miles.  I certainly wasn't in the elite pack out front, but I can still feel like I didn't completely fail on the course.  My training paid off!  Many of my training partners did incredibly well, too, so we can all rejoice. Halleluiah! 

Now that the numbers are out of the way, stay tuned for a more thorough, personalized report at some point in the near future...

The Final Countdown!

It is difficult for me to fully grasp that I will be running the Portland Marathon in just 3 days and 17 hours from this very moment.   Wow!  Eek!  Yikes!  This ominous, futuristic, unknown beast is finally here.  I’ve spent the past several months building it up in my mind and envisioning what it might be like, and now I’ll get to experience it firsthand at last.  It’s time to meet the monster.

They say that you’re not supposed to set a goal time for your first marathon, as it’s impossible to know what your body will do on race day.  Your only goal should be to finish.  However, it has been very challenging for me to not play the number game.  I even have a running calculator saved to my desktop, and I often find myself crunching numbers and creating various scenarios: “What will my time be if I start out at 9-minute miles, and then slow to 10-minute miles at the half?  What if I run full-speed to 16 miles, then slow down to 11-minute miles?  What if I get completely burnt out and have to walk 3 miles near the end, then resume at a speed of 9-minute-30-second miles?”  It’s easy to make myself dizzy with so many numbers spinning in my head.  I am constantly reminding myself that the time on the clock when I cross the finish line is completely arbitrary and insignificant, but this seems to be a tough lesson for me to learn.

It’s also hard for me not to think of all of the horrible possible occurrences throughout the course.  I’ve read scary accounts of marathon runners with digestive problems (who aren’t able to make it to the portapotties-- yuck!), unforeseen injuries, bad chaffing, muscle cramps, dehydration, vomiting spells, etc.  I am coaching myself to push these negative thoughts aside and focus on all of the positive things of running these 26.2 miles.  This will be a goodtime! 

On that note, I’ve created non-numeric goal for myself: I’m going to find something “fun” on every mile of the course.  This could be an amusing sign, an enjoyable entertainment band on the side of the road, an interesting running outfit, a particularly enthusiastic supporter, an adorable child giving out high-fives, or a cute dog.  I will attempt to mentally take note of them all. The Portland Marathon is supposed to have one of the best crowds around, and this should greatly enhance my first marathon experience.  I’m going to try to appreciate every minute of it.

I also feel incredibly grateful that so many friends and family will be there to cheer me on throughout the way.  The support of my parents, aunts, friends, and co-workers (who are all traveling to the race) is very inspiring.   They will certainly make a difference for me.

I’m in the process of creating the final preparations for this event.  I have so many last-minute decisions that can stress me out (e.g.: Should I wear my water belt during the race or rely on the water stations?  What shirt should I wear?  Should I wear my heavier socks?  Should I wear rain gear?  What should I eat for breakfast before the race?  What should I eat to carbo load?), but I’m attempting to just take a deep breath and enjoy the rest of the journey.

Portland Marathon 2013, ready or not-- here I come! 

Fremont Oktoberfest 5K

Teams were in groups of four.  Our team consisted of Chris, Issac,
 myself, and Rachel.  Rachel and Issac will be running the
PDX Marathon, too! 

In the spirit of getting all of the prerace jitters out with a fun race before the big marathon, we recently took part in the Fremont Oktoberfest 5K.  It was a great event!

I will now provide you with all of my stats (just to be consistent with my previous posts): pace= 8:02 per mile, place in my division = 18 out of 199, place out of female finishers = 38 out of 557, and place overall = 148 out of 971.  I had a great time at this race, although I was just slightly disappointed my pace wasn’t just a bit faster.  My Runkeeper app had me tracking at 7:47-minute miles, so I’d led myself to believe I’d have a better time.  Oh, well!  My legs were still a bit tired from the previous day’s long run, which had included several mountainous hills.  Thus, I was still happy nonetheless.

The next time I have a race number pinned to my shirt will be in Portland!

The Enchantments

A year ago, I fell in love with the Enchantments-- an Alpine Lakes Wilderness region near Leavenworth, WA.  The area offers an amazing juxtaposition of tropical-colored waters, stark black-and-white granite geology, and rugged mountains, and it's impossible to describe the extensive color combinations and diverse panoramic scenes found within it.  Because it is such a natural treasure, the US Forest Service restricts the number of people who can stay in the Enchantments via a lottery system, and I feel very fortunate that I've been able to backpack into this natural wonderland two years in a row (thanks to Rachel's incredibly good luck!  I have never been awarded a permit myself, even though I've entered the lottery multiple times).  Both trips exposed me to different parts of the alpine basin (we entered and camped at opposite sides of the region) and reminded me of the fact that I don't need to travel far to see some of the world's most spectacular views.

I've struggled with writing an accurate trip report from our backpacking trip two weekends ago, but here are a few highlights with some of the 200+ photos we took throughout the journey:

We powered through the challenging hike-in with our heavy packs.  Although it included many obstacles and steep inclines, it was nothing compared to our scramble up Aasgard Pass last year!

We set-up camp right next to Upper Snow Lake, and Marc's  hammock provided the perfect accessory to go with our "home" for the trip.

We covered a lot of diverse terrain during our explorations, and our brightly colored outdoor apparel often contrasted with the bleak rock faces that surrounded us.

We came across lots of wildlife, including several friendly (luckily, non-aggressive) mountain goats --  as well as deer, marmots, and fish. 

We also ran into a fellow hiker who had the misfortune of injuring her leg while in this remote wilderness.  We watched as the helicopter circled around us, struggling to find the best location from which to rescue her.  (I later read in the local newspaper that she had been airlifted to a hospital and was doing well.  Thank goodness!).

The cold lake water helped soothe aching feet and legs at the end of long days.

My observations about this outdoor kingdom included the following:

The beautiful scenery of the Enchantments ranges from bright wildflowers...

... to austere peaks.

The colors of the waters range from bright greens...

... to teal blues.

                                       

In addition to the numerous lakes, the astounding water features of the area include many natural waterfalls...

... and this crazy man-made drainage created in the 1930's.  It looks like the world's largest fire hose spewing water off the top of a mountain!



Perhaps my favorite images of the Enchantments are the breathtaking, picturesque reflections often displayed on still waters.  It doesn't get more beautiful and peaceful than this!

We celebrated our successful 2013 Enchantments backpacking adventure at the Icicle Creek Brewery in Leavenworth. Unfortunately, it was then back to reality!

We have no plans to return to the Enchantments at any point in the near future, but perhaps these photos and memories will serve as my "happy place" during future times of stress or frustration.  Who could feel upset in such a majestic setting?!

Running High to Running Low

I sprinted down the home stretch.

August 3rd marked my fourth half-marathon since I ran my first one less than a year ago, and I am happy to report that it was my best time yet!  We took part in the Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon, a hilly course that began at the Tacoma Narrows Airport in Gig Harbor, crossed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, included a lap around Cheney Stadium, and finished near Tollefson Plaza in Downtown Tacoma.   

Here are my stats: overall time= 1:52:13, pace= 8:33 per mile, place out of 30-34-year-old women= 17th out of 83, place out of female runners= 67th out of 468, and place out of all male/female finishers= 206th out of 794. 



We proudly display our medals at the finish line.

I was very pleased with my pacing on this race.  Pacing has continuously been a struggle for me.  With so much adrenaline and determination pumping through me at the start line, I often start out full-force with sub-8-minute miles that are difficult for me to sustain.  By mile 10, I’ve usually run out of gas.  However, this time, I stayed very close to the 8:30 pace throughout the 13.1 miles.  I finished feeling strong and remarkably energized.

This pacing success boosted my running ego, and I was finally feeling confident about the upcoming full marathon... But that didn't last long!   Exactly one week after the Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon, I had one of my worst runs yet.

I set out for a 16-mile run early Saturday morning with a running group.  I had been dealing with an upset stomach and perhaps was already dehydrated, yet I didn't feel that crummy... until we started moving.  I struggled with keeping up with my running partners and eventually had to ask them to continue on without me.  I soon was walking (walking is the runner's ultimate shame!), and every ailment I've ever had  seemed to be conspiring against me (my foot, my hamstring, my calf, my knee, etc.).  My stomach hurt; I had horrible side aches; I urgently needed to find a restroom; and I found myself spiraling down a path of negativity. 

I got lost after attempting to trek on for several miles by myself and tried to make a collect phone call (from a pay phone) to ask Issac to come and pick me up, although I was informed that collect calls cannot be made to cell numbers.  I thought about asking strangers to use their cell phones, although I was sweating so profusely that I was certain they would want me anywhere near their fragile devices.  I ultimately pulled myself together and was able to run home-- only to discover that I was locked out.  (My keys and phone were a few miles away, where I'd parked my car to meet-up with the running group that morning).  It had been over 3.5 hours since I'd first departed for the run.  I felt the complete opposite of strong and energized; I felt fully defeated.

As I reflect about these contrasting experiences, I accept that I'll have both good and bad running days.  I can't expect that every run will be my best, and I'll need to push through all of the physical and psychological challenges to keep at it -- even when it's not pleasant to do so.  I'm just crossing my fingers that October 6, 2013 will be a "good" running day for me.  Let the mental pep talks begin!

Out and About

After running 15 miles on Saturday (my longest run yet-- yay!), we ventured out for some more fresh air on Sunday.  Here are some photos from our hike:



 

 

The weekend culminated with a Sounders game, which also seems as though it should count as physical activity-- as there is so much standing, cheering, jumping up and down, etc. involved.

  

It is now Monday, and I am dragging.  As usual, I feel like I need a weekend to recover from my weekend.  :)

Running the Ragnar Relay

Last weekend, I took part in the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage race-- a 200-mile run that spanned from the Washington border with Canada all the way down to Whidbey Island.  I had trouble wrapping my mind around the logistical craziness of this event as we prepared for it to take place, but I had oodles of fun with my team (“The All Fun and Gamers”) as we ran and supported one another through this intense (yet enjoyable) journey.  Here is a bit of a photo montage documenting my experience:

“Ragnarians” are very spirited, and creativity is strongly encouraged.   The decorated vans were very amusing, and I was impressed with people’s originality. 

 

 

 

Materials ranged from Christmas lights to piñatas. 

 

As you can see, you can learn a lot about a Ragnar team by the outside of their van.  Do not worry-- we ran into this van many hours later in the race, and Sebo had pooped!  We heartily congratulated him.

 

People also had an assortment of themed costumes.

My first run was in the 90-degree heat of the late afternoon, and it was all uphill!  I was grateful that my team stopped to give me water at multiple points as I ran. 

 

Instead of using a baton, a slap-wrap bracelet was passed from one runner to the next at scheduled exchange locations. 

 

For obvious reasons, this bracelet was soon dripping with sweat.  There were 36 total exchanges.

 

Ragnar is very serious about safety.  Here, Luis models the proper nighttime safety gear.

 

This is what it looks like during the dark runs!  I started my second leg at 1:00AM.  It was incredibly surreal and peaceful at night, and my route led us over a bridge and along the waterfront.  This was also when I had my most “kills” (passes).  I passed 15 people on this run!  It was exhilarating to see the blinking red lights of other runners up ahead of me, then to run past them.

 

 

Mark, Rachel’s dad, was our last runner who brought us home.  We all crossed the finish line together.

 

 

Our team completed the course in 29 hours, 33 minutes.  We finished 166^th out of 373 teams.   We were very happy.

 

 

(Photo credit: Rachel)  After running my 17.7 miles and taking part in all of this nonstop excitement, I was exhausted.   I could not stay awake on the ride home.   I felt like I’d been gone for weeks and weeks!

 

I have now rested and recovered from my Ragnar 2013 experience, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.