Oklahoma City Marathon Report

Weight: 133 after the race!

Miles ran 4/21-27/14 : 31

Miles ran so far in my training: 456.5

Got a great send off from some of my students on the Friday before the race.  Look how cute they decorated my Library Door. 

Arrived in Oklahoma City around noon on Saturday the 26th and went to the expo to pick up my packet.  The expo was HUGE!  At the expo you could sign up to run in the memory of one of the bombing victims. I chose Jamie because she was just two months older than me and she was Catholic.  I felt a connection.  Read more about this amazing woman here.  Walked around a bit in the brick town area which was really neat and we ate lunch at Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar."  The food was good but overpriced in my opinion.

Helaine and her son Sam met Brad and I for 4:00 Mass at The Old Saint Joseph's Cathedral (located across the street from the Murrah building)

It was a beautiful church.  After Mass when went to the "Jesus Wept" monument.

 Brad and I then checked into the Skirvin.  Let's just say 21 year old Natalie got this one wrong.  Very overpriced, no free wi-fi, no free breakfast.  It was a nice room though.  Considering booking now for a cheaper room for next year at another hotel.  After checking in Brad and I found a good BQ place to eat on the River Walk. Before checking into the hotel we found a parking garage where we were $1.00 short.  The attendant at the garage got a $1.00 out of her own pocket and paid it for us.  We were impressed with her kindness and made sure we went back to give her the $1:00 and a bonus for her kindness.  We got to bed and I got up at 4:30 to get ready for the race.  

Met Kathy by "Jesus Wept" at 6:00 an we were excitted to begin the Marathon at 6:30 AM.  Rain and horrible weather delayed the race by almost 2 hours.

 Kathy, I and her family took retreat under a covered garage.  My feet were drenched and most of my pre race fuel had worn off.  I tried to dry out my socks before the race actually began but did not have much luck.  Brad was in the hotel room watching live coverage of the weather and the race and it was within 2 minutes of being completely cancelled.  I was starting to cry and freaking out about the possibility of it being cancelled.  I was an emotional wreck. At 8:20 we got the official word: RACE ON!

 Kathy and I were in corral C in the back and it took us at least 8 minutes to get to the official start. We had a great pace going and at times we lost each other.  I had a great race until the 1/2 Marathoners went another direction and those of us running 26.2 headed into the wind.  

Miles 14-17 were around a lake and it was windy as hell.  I have ran in Kansas wind before but this wind was especially brutal.  Nothing could have prepared me for the hills.  Yes I did do some training runs in Derby and Health Strategies route but these hills were incredible and never ending.  I got to mile 20 and I sobbed.  I was emotionally and physically spent.  It just had to push on.  I found Kathy again around mile 24 and she was just what I needed to get those last 2 miles in.

 

 There was a pack of girls at the finishline and the announcer was announcing names.  No way would he announce my name after all those chicks so your girl NJ decided to run around that pack and beat them at the finish line.  BTW I did get my name and hometown announced. It was great to be done and I saw Brad, Helaine and Sam waiting for me near the finish.  I was emotionally and physically exhausted.  I had to walk almost all the hills after the 14 mile point and that added a bunch of time to my pace.  I crossed the finish line at 5:56 saying NEVER AGAIN!

 After the race I placed the bib on my back on Jamie's chair.  I hope her family gets it and knows how honored I was to run in her memory.

 I probably will change my mind and do another full marathon but this time do it in the fall instead of the spring.  I have learned a lot training for a marathon.  I have learned that I am pretty fit for a 51 year old woman.  It has given me the confidence to maybe try one again.  For the moment it has convinced me that I really do much prefer 13.1 miles.  It is easier to train for and I still think I got a fast half in me.

Is this the end of Library Girl On The Run?  Stay tuned as I plan on continuing my blog and sharing with you my fitness ventures.  A new venture coming up?  Kayaking with my husband Brad.  It is something we are really looking forward too.  And maybe, just maybe getting him to run the couples classic with me this June.  Wouldn't that be romantic?

6 days: 15 hours, 42 minutes until the OKC Marathon

15 Days until the OKC Marathon

 Week 18 report: "I will run, Run, RUN."

Weight: 140 (stress = weight gain)

Miles ran this week: 19

Miles ran so far in my training: 425.5

     Watch this video, it pretty much sums up how I feel at the moment. If you have ran with me I have listened to your stories.  YOU HAVE LISTENED TO MINE!  Your kind ears along with a steady pace have carried me through an incredible journey.  The first 20 miles are for YOU, my runner friends.

Helaine and I after Prairie Fire Fall 2013

 You know who the last 6.2 are for! I am now 6 days away from doing something I never thought I could do.  When I ran 20 miles with some of  you a few weeks ago, it was at that moment that I knew I could run a Marathon. 

Serious Running Face 

     The training is done and now I wait.  I do feel that I can now offer advice to those of you that might be contemplating your jump to 26.2

• The training is intense and will focus on running.  You will have to put your other fitness loves (like ZUMBA) on the back burner.
• The long Saturday run will eat away an entire day of your weekend (especially when they are 16-20 miles)
• ORGANIZE A CREW FOR THOSE LONG RUNS!  I will return the favor to those of you that joined me on those long runs.  I could not have gone those distances without you. 
• If you are running a spring Marathon you will have to do some long runs inside due to weather.  Be mentally prepared to loop the indoor track at the Down Town YMCA (I think my longest inside run was 14 miles)
• If you have the option of Saturday night church/Mass, do so.  You will want to sleep in on Sundays after long mileage.
• Your times on your run will slow down.  I can hold a 10 minute mile fairly easy in a half marathon.  For 26.2 miles I will be glad to maintain an 11:00-11:30 pace.
• You will need to sit back and not participate in races turning your taper.  It was hard to not run the "Easter Sun Run" Yesterday.
• If you are a woman try to time your first marathon before menopause.  The changes your body goes through are unpredictable during this time in your life.
• That being said, big miles does not equal big eating.  Notice how I have gained weight this last week.  Resist the urge to overeat.  
• Have support at home.  My husband Brad is my biggest fan.  He even has a 0.0 magnet on his car. 

WORKOUTS FOR THE WEEK:

Monday: Runners for Boston GoRun East, 3 miles

Tuesday: REST

Wednesday: 2 mile run with Lucky Annabelle Johnson (my Jack/Rat Terrier) who I have missed running with.

Thursday: REST

Friday: 2 mile run with Lucky

Saturday: REST

Sunday: OKLAHOMA CITY MARATHON 26.2 mile run

 

15 Days until the OKC Marathon

 Week 16 report: "How did your run go today Nan?"

Weight: 135

Miles ran this week: 15.5

Miles ran so far in my training: 404.5

On November 17, 2012 I was 4 days away from turning the big 5 OH!  I wanted to Give the Turkey Trot another try 

Shawndra and I before the Turkey Trot 

It was a great day to run and the beautiful Shawndra ran the race with me.  I had not done the TT for two years.  I can't remember my time but I had shaved 10 minutes off of my previous time.  My Dad had been a Widow now for a year and a half and he had taken a great interest in my running since my Mom died.  It really was special to me because when I was a high school athlete I do not recall my Dad ever attending any of my track or cross country meets.  I called my Dad as I did every weekend and he asked me, "How did your run go today Nan?  Did you win?"  It was the last time he asked me about a race.  My Dad went into the hospital in early December and he never checked out.

Family Photo 1972 before Todd.  My Dad was the life of the party!

 It was an agonizing month.  My sister and I took turns being by Dad's side, my brother helped out too.  The running stopped.  From my Dad's room in Hospice at St. Francis I could see that the brand new Down Town YMCA was just about ready to open.  Every time I looked out that window I told myself, I will run again.  My Dad's funeral was on January 3rd, and on that day I ran again.  It was a sad and emotional 3 mile run.  I know I was slow but it was a start.  My training was GREAT the spring of 2013 and I was set to PR at the Prairie Fire Half Marathon in May.

Annette, Shawndra and I at "Runner's For Boston"

 But then sadness struck again with the bomb attack at the Boston Marathon.  Some of my students actually thought I was at the race (little do they know I am just an average runner who probably will never BQ).  It was awesome how the whole running community came together to run for Boston.  We really do have something special we Wichita runners.  I was so excited for my upcoming half marathon and then tragedy stuck again.  This time it was closer to home.  Our beloved School Counselor suddenly passed away the Monday before my half marathon.  Our entire school was filled with a deep sadness.  It was probably the hardest week professionally of my entire teaching career,and it was the hardest thing I have EVER witnessed through the eyes of my students.  I did not sleep, I felt physically horrible.  I had no other runners in my building to talk to because I selfishly was saying to myself "Why did she have to die this week?"  If I would have said that to anyone I would have looked uncaring,  But I imagine that if you are a runner and you are reading this, you "get" how I felt.  With Shawndra by my side as my rabbit I ran the 1/2 Marathon Garmin free.

Brad found it funny that I was #2

 I don't know how I did it but I crossed the finish line at 2:12, two minutes shy of my goal.  Considering my physical exhaustion I am very proud of myself.  Running heals you if you allow it too.  It is always there for you, like a best friend.  How very fitting that my training began and ended with a death.

Helaine, Annette, Shawndra and I after the race.

 Running wise this week, I was a slacker.  Life got in the way and the things that I needed to tend to were more important than running.  I did a 5 mile recovery run on Monday, and on Saturday I did a 12 mile run with the S2F group.  I truly feel a special connection to the runners I have met this running season.  I believe that God put us together for a reason.  And now for another taper week.....

Workouts for the week
Monday: 4 mile run
Tuesday: 3 mile run
Wednesday: 4 mile run
Thursday: REST
Friday: 8 mile run
Saturday: REST and cheering my my S2F friends at the Easter Sun Run
Sunday: Rest

20 Days until the OKC Marathon

Week 15 report: A Girl named Karlee

Weight: 135

Miles ran this week: 30 

Miles ran so far in my training: 389

I love ZUMBA and in 2011 I was totally consumed by it.  I even told my BFF Penney "I think I love ZUMBA more than running!"

Me in my crazy ZUMBA days

 Yep, I was one of those ZUMBA chicks that you see at the Y.  One Sunday I was at class and this girl named Karlee asked me if she could take a picture of me holding up a "I LOVE Oprah" sign."  She was trying to win tickets to one of Oprah's last shows (which did happen for her!) Your girl NJ loves to pose for pictures, so I did so.

 I continued to see Karlee at ZUMBA and noticed that she wore running shirts, so naturally I thought I would ask her about running.  I found her to be very knowledgeable and passionate about running.

 Made me feel like falling in love with running again.  Through getting to know Karlee I discovered that her husband was Fernando.  I had known of Fernando for years as his running record is impressive.  Fernando helped me train for the Johnston's 2012 Half Marathon with a goal of 2:10.  He helped me to understand that I would need to run a minimum of 4 days a week if I wanted to improve my time.  It was raining almost the entire 1/2 on 4/29/12.  At mile 11 Fernando joined me and ran with me a while and it really helped me. I crossed the finish line at 2:15, a new PR for me but 5 minutes off of my goal.  I may have fallen short of my goal but I had fallen in love with running again. 

 Karlee told me that I should hook up with the Start to Finish program and do group runs with the group.  I remember being nervous about the first time I did a group run.  Would people like me?  Would people run with me?  I felt like a 12 year old girl. I went and did a group fun and the rest is history.I am so glad I met you Karlee because YOU CHANGED ME AS A RUNNER.   You led me to S2F and I am a better runner because of it.  

20 Fingers for 20 miles

NOW FOR THE BEST NEWS OF ALL!  I RAN 20 MILES YESTERDAY, HOLLA!  Kathy and I did our peak training run yesterday for the OKC Marathon.

 We knew we would need a crew to get through the mileage on this one.

 Joni joined us at 6:00 am for 5 miles.  When we finished up our run I had noticed that her picture was on the GORUN van. She looks beautiful and happy on it. At 7:30 Mandy joined us and we did 6 miles with our S2F groups. Helaine had driven in to run the last 9 miles of our run with us. Abi, Mandy and Joni joined us for a portion of it as well.

 I don't think I could have ran that far without the help of these awesome Women.  At Mass last night I felt God's wonderful love and the blessing of many wonderful running friends. I now know that I can run 26.2 miles and that many of you have helped me on this journey.  Let the taper begin.....

  

Workouts for week 16
Monday: AM 5 mile recovery run
Tuesday: AM 5 mile run
Wednesday: Extreme Ride
Thursday: PM BEER RUN? 4 miles who is going?
Friday: REST
Saturday: 12 mile run preview the PF course