As we head into the holiday season, I find myself reflecting upon 2010. I find that as many people age, they become less enthusiastic, less willing to try new things, and they dip into this vicious cycle of complacency. Although I am only 24, I have vowed to myself to never let this happen to me---we will see if it can hold true. As I look back over the past year, I find myself smiling for all of the new opportunities I have been lucky to have since moving to Colorado.
Many of these opportunities didn't start until March 2010.
March 2010 is the month that I finally was able to move away from my past relationships and on to new people and things. I took a leap of faith and found a new running buddy, best friend, and later, boyfriend in Dan Simpson. Little did I know that this person would expand my horizons farther than ever before. In my opinion, this is what a significant other should do for you--challenge, love, and support you. Through Dan I have done things I had never done before---from climbing to roadtripping through the desert, there is never a dull moment with him in my life. Every weekend is a plan to do a new adventure---how many people can say this about their own lives?
Also in March, I signed up for my first marathon. After years of being told that the 26.2 is the best fit distance for me, I decided to check it out for myself in the Chicago Marathon! After some haphazard, inconsistent training, I took on the challenge in October. I think it may be up there with one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Despite the heat, I plowed through the 26.2 without too many problems, and for the little amount of training, surprised myself with a sub-3hr debut. I vowed to never do as little training for another marathon again, but was glad that I enjoyed my first experience!
In May, frustrated with working retail on Pearl Street, I needed more of a challenge. I heard about a job opening in the warehouse at World Triathlon Corporation in Boulder. Now, warehouse work isn't really my type of thing, especially with a college degree from a school like Richmond, but I went into it with the attitude that I would make it work, and I would move into a role that better fit me. I took the job at WTC and quit my other job at Powell's. It took me about 2 months of folding and inventorying clothes, but I eventually moved into an office role, mostly doing random jobs for different departments in our Boulder office. Time progressed and I found myself fitting best in the Operations department at WTC. After some hard work and quite a few talks with my boss, I was able to seal a salaried deal to be able to travel to some Ironman races next year, where I will be helping to organize banquets, ordering awards, and working with athlete services and requests. All of this happened in 6 months. You see, I never let myself settle, who knows where this could take me in my future? All that I know is that I get to work with an endurance sports company, and for me, that is a dream come true.
The summer found me everywhere from road trips into Utah to climbing 14ers to jumping over fire in endurance races. Who says you can't have fun when you are an adult?
Of course, I cant forget all of the wonderful people that I met out here this year (there are many that I met in 2009 as well and have been mentioned last year). Emma Keenan, whom Ill never forget running into in Whole Foods and randomly asking, are you that girl that runs on the Fleet Feet team? haha. Always there for a good run, good laugh, and good talk---a girl that is wise beyond her years, Im so thankful that I met her. Holly Cooper and Ryan VanHalle, one of the coolest and most adventurous couples I know. If you want an extreme couple to go on an adventure with, they are it! Chris LeMare, a buddy of Dan's since his childhood. A guy who always has a good story, it has been inspirational watching him turn into a runner, able to finish his first marathon in October. Sara Nelson and Jessica Gammey, my girls that I work with---the most helpful and amazing girls around---it has been an honor learning from you.
And this entry wouldn't be complete without a mention of the training group that I am a part of. Frustrated with the lack of training buddies in Boulder, I have finally found a wonderful group of people to train with---coached by legendary Steve Jones. We have no name, but simply come together each week to push each other to be the best that we can be---something that I have searched long and hard for out here. I have been honored to train with Olympian Kathy Butler (2:28 marathon!!!), Colleen De Reuck, and Nicole Aish, as well as Deanna Ardry, Amanda McCracken, and Andrea and Erica Viger. I get to see Jorge Torres bolt ahead on his workouts along with some other speedy men. It is all that I could ask for and more. To be able to have a group of fast people that I can learn from and count on, is a dream come true. I now have the confidence and support to know that come 2011, I will be ready to make a serious run at the Olympic Trials in the marathon.
There is so much more that occurred in 2010 than I can even put into words--- it is an understatement that this has been the best year of my life. A little over a year ago, I took a leap, moved to Colorado, and my life has changed forever. I will continue to write about my experiences out here, not to brag, but simply to inspire anyone who reads this. Always remember: Never give up, and never stop challenging yourself. For in the end, you will find peace and happiness, in all the years of your life.
Until next time....
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
T-E-A-M
It's amazing what a team can do for you.
I watched in anticipation as my alma mater Richmond Spiders competed in the Atlantic 10 cross country championships a few weekends ago. As soon as I found out that they had won the double gold, in the men's and women's races, I started jumping up and down---and I wasn't even there! Although I graduated two years ago, I still feel as though part of my heart is and always will be with this team. Especially impressive was the men's team, who won their first A-10 XC championship. Ten years ago this team was on the chopping block, when I was a freshman, I think there were six men on it, and on October 30, 2010, they became champions. What makes this spider men's team unique is that this is one of the only sports programs at UR that does not have scholarships. These men got the team to that championship podium, through hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and teamwork (and good coaching, of course!) Their story will always stand out in my mind---to motivate myself and inspire others.
As long as I can remember, I have been part of a team. Whether it was the all boys ice hockey team in middle school or the state runner up cross country team in high school, I have grown up with teammates. It was not until I left college that I really began to evaluate what a team is and how important it is to me personally. Teams are not for everyone, and oftentimes I get funny looks for how much I emphasize needing a team in my life. It is not that I am not self motivated, if that was the case, I don't think I would have accomplished half of what I have accomplished to this day. To me, a team can push you to limits that you may have never thought possible, and they can be there to see you through your best and your worst times.
I never considered my running career without a team---post graduation I moved to Charlotte, NC and was lucky enough to be dumped right into the middle of a new group of people as I met Caitlin Chriman, Jay Holder, Aaron Linz, Matt Jaskot, and others. We began to run together, some days doing workouts and others just runs. It was during this time that we all discussed how great it would be that we formed a running club, since there was no formal one in Charlotte at the time. We had fun themed workouts (St.Patrick's Day) and went to races to cheer each other on. We had dinners and other outings. Most of all, we had each other to push, motivate and lean on. It is not a new idea that runners tend to flock together. I have found this to be true, simply because we have a different lifestyle and mentality than the rest of the population. Not that we can't have a variety of friends, but just simply that we share so much of the same sweat, pain, and experiences.
I took on one of the biggest challenges of my life leaving those that felt like a family to me in Charlotte and moving to Boulder, CO where I knew no one. I thought that it would be easy to meet runners out here, I mean, come on, it is considered one of the running meccas of the US, but I was wrong. My running took sort of a back seat simply because I felt a lack of motivation and could not find many others to relate to my running obsession (not to mention the altitude killed me). I ran at least 5 times a week, but they were just that---runs (no workouts, no hills)---at least the scenery was amazing! For the first time in my life, I was not part of a team, and I was struggling. It was not until January that I met Emma Keenan, who would become one of my best training partners out here. We decided to jointly sign up for Chicago and share in our first marathon experience. We tried to do at least one run a week, but our work schedules drastically varied. Emma ended up obtaining the last open spot on a team out here called Boulder Express and was able to join them for hills, workouts, and long runs. I became frustrated with my own training and simply did what I could.
As race day approached, I received a flooding of messages from former teammates and running buddies, people I haven't even spoken to since high school! The support from those people meant the world to me, and I knew that no matter what, all over the US I had the support of a conglomerate team. When I stood at the starting line on 10/10/10, I was no where near the fitness I wanted to be, but I had confidence that I would finish my first marathon and was comforted by the fact that my friends from all over the US were supporting me. My first marathon experience was amazing, one of the best days of my life, mainly because of the few fans I had in Chicago and those friends and family that flooded me with support.
When I returned to Boulder in mid-October I was determined to make the most of myself and my talents, no matter what it took. I got in touch with running legend Steve Jones and am now training with some girls under his coaching. And in just three short weeks, I am back to the familiar--the hills, the long runs, and the workouts. Since it has been so long since I have challenged my body in this way, it burns so much, but feels so good. And once again, I have a new group of girls there to support me, and I can do the same for them. And slowly but surely I am making my comeback. A comeback to the love of the sport that I have always had---I know that it was never really gone, but simply had to be brought out again with others by my side. As I look towards my dreams for my future in running, I look ahead with a smile for I know that no matter where I go, I will always have those runs of the past, that conglomerate of teammates that I have been touched by in all those years of my life and that will continue to support me for years to come.
I watched in anticipation as my alma mater Richmond Spiders competed in the Atlantic 10 cross country championships a few weekends ago. As soon as I found out that they had won the double gold, in the men's and women's races, I started jumping up and down---and I wasn't even there! Although I graduated two years ago, I still feel as though part of my heart is and always will be with this team. Especially impressive was the men's team, who won their first A-10 XC championship. Ten years ago this team was on the chopping block, when I was a freshman, I think there were six men on it, and on October 30, 2010, they became champions. What makes this spider men's team unique is that this is one of the only sports programs at UR that does not have scholarships. These men got the team to that championship podium, through hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and teamwork (and good coaching, of course!) Their story will always stand out in my mind---to motivate myself and inspire others.
As long as I can remember, I have been part of a team. Whether it was the all boys ice hockey team in middle school or the state runner up cross country team in high school, I have grown up with teammates. It was not until I left college that I really began to evaluate what a team is and how important it is to me personally. Teams are not for everyone, and oftentimes I get funny looks for how much I emphasize needing a team in my life. It is not that I am not self motivated, if that was the case, I don't think I would have accomplished half of what I have accomplished to this day. To me, a team can push you to limits that you may have never thought possible, and they can be there to see you through your best and your worst times.
I never considered my running career without a team---post graduation I moved to Charlotte, NC and was lucky enough to be dumped right into the middle of a new group of people as I met Caitlin Chriman, Jay Holder, Aaron Linz, Matt Jaskot, and others. We began to run together, some days doing workouts and others just runs. It was during this time that we all discussed how great it would be that we formed a running club, since there was no formal one in Charlotte at the time. We had fun themed workouts (St.Patrick's Day) and went to races to cheer each other on. We had dinners and other outings. Most of all, we had each other to push, motivate and lean on. It is not a new idea that runners tend to flock together. I have found this to be true, simply because we have a different lifestyle and mentality than the rest of the population. Not that we can't have a variety of friends, but just simply that we share so much of the same sweat, pain, and experiences.
I took on one of the biggest challenges of my life leaving those that felt like a family to me in Charlotte and moving to Boulder, CO where I knew no one. I thought that it would be easy to meet runners out here, I mean, come on, it is considered one of the running meccas of the US, but I was wrong. My running took sort of a back seat simply because I felt a lack of motivation and could not find many others to relate to my running obsession (not to mention the altitude killed me). I ran at least 5 times a week, but they were just that---runs (no workouts, no hills)---at least the scenery was amazing! For the first time in my life, I was not part of a team, and I was struggling. It was not until January that I met Emma Keenan, who would become one of my best training partners out here. We decided to jointly sign up for Chicago and share in our first marathon experience. We tried to do at least one run a week, but our work schedules drastically varied. Emma ended up obtaining the last open spot on a team out here called Boulder Express and was able to join them for hills, workouts, and long runs. I became frustrated with my own training and simply did what I could.
As race day approached, I received a flooding of messages from former teammates and running buddies, people I haven't even spoken to since high school! The support from those people meant the world to me, and I knew that no matter what, all over the US I had the support of a conglomerate team. When I stood at the starting line on 10/10/10, I was no where near the fitness I wanted to be, but I had confidence that I would finish my first marathon and was comforted by the fact that my friends from all over the US were supporting me. My first marathon experience was amazing, one of the best days of my life, mainly because of the few fans I had in Chicago and those friends and family that flooded me with support.
When I returned to Boulder in mid-October I was determined to make the most of myself and my talents, no matter what it took. I got in touch with running legend Steve Jones and am now training with some girls under his coaching. And in just three short weeks, I am back to the familiar--the hills, the long runs, and the workouts. Since it has been so long since I have challenged my body in this way, it burns so much, but feels so good. And once again, I have a new group of girls there to support me, and I can do the same for them. And slowly but surely I am making my comeback. A comeback to the love of the sport that I have always had---I know that it was never really gone, but simply had to be brought out again with others by my side. As I look towards my dreams for my future in running, I look ahead with a smile for I know that no matter where I go, I will always have those runs of the past, that conglomerate of teammates that I have been touched by in all those years of my life and that will continue to support me for years to come.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Chicago Marathon Recap
I remember my first race like it was yesterday. It was the Great Race in Pittsburgh. I was 11 years old and had no idea what I was doing and just went out there and ran and won my age group. Fast forward ahead 13 years on 10/10/10---my first marathon. In a way, I felt like I was 11 again, and it was a day I will never forget.
This was my first time in Chicago, and thankfully, I was lucky enough to have a good friend and training partner of mine, Emma Keenan, who is originally from Chicago, with me. We arrived on Thursday because we wanted to make this trip memorable and kind of like a mini-vacation. On Thursday, we just relaxed and checked out the Whole Foods in the area, which is the biggest one I have ever seen in my life! We took a day off from running on Thursday because of the early wake up and travel.
Before I knew it, Friday came and it was expo day! We went for a 35 minute run in the local forest preserve in the Northside of Chicago (which is where Emma's family is located) and it was gorgeous with all of the reds, oranges, and golds of the leaves. I noticed that it was very warm by the time we finished our run at 1030 AM, but I tried to ignore it. I decided that I better start hydrating a lot now, rather than waiting until the last minute and started downing the electrolytes. In the afternoon, Emma and I headed down to the expo at the McCormick Center in downtown Chicago. It was by far, the coolest expo I have ever been to! It was huge, with every kind of vendor you can imagine. We literally walked around for 3 hours, getting as many freebies as we could. We both decided to splurge on a Nike 1/2 zip jacket, afterall, this was our first one! After the expo, we headed to a great pasta dinner at Maggianos, where I had some cheese ravioli, salad, and of course, water!
Saturday, Emma and I slept in, since it was the most important night of sleep. We went for a 20 minute shake out run through Niles, IL, where I proceeded to fall in the last 5 minutes of our run and scraped up my knee and hands. For those of you that know my running style, you know that this is not uncommon, so I didnt let it bother me! We went to pick up our #1 fans, aka our boyfriends, at the Midway Airport around 1PM and then stopped by Trader Joe's. I stocked up there on some granola and fruit leather, man, I miss that place! We at a good dinner of pasta (I put extra salt on mine) at Emma's grandma's house, where we would be staying (closer to the city). After a little bit of movie watching and race day preparation, we headed to bed.
Everyone always says that it is very hard to sleep before a race, but I slept like a rock. My alarm went off at 4:33, and I jumped out of bed, ready to go. I got dressed, had a bagel with peanut butter and some gatorade. Emma, the guys, and I were ready to roll around 530AM and Emma's mom drove us down to the start area. We hopped out of the car around 6 AM, Emma and I entered the athlete area and the boys went their own way. I walked with Emma to the Elite Development tent, wished her 'Good luck', and sadly walked away by myself to find the Seeded Corral Gear check and some bathrooms. After I checked my gear, I began what was one of the most stressful parts of the pre-race, waiting in line for a bathroom. I knew that the lines would be long, but I had no idea they would be as long as they were. If I had one complaint about the Chicago Marathon, it was the bathroom situation. The Port-O-Johns were spread out all over the place, and all of the lines were at least 20 people deep. I got in line around 630 and waited for 20 minutes, only to have moved about 5 steps. I began to get nervous and frustrated with the situation. I decided to leave the line and wander around....I found a woman and her husband in a garden area and we decided to block each other as we went to the bathroom in the bushes. There was no way I would have made the start if I would have waited in line. After losing my dignity, I went to Corral B, and waded through the sea of participants. I got slightly claustrophobic and hated being in there with so many people. I tried to elbow my way to the front of this corral because I knew I shouldn't have been in that one. The problem was, I hadn't run a half marathon in two years and my time was only fast enough to get me in the B corral. After much frustration, I just stayed put and waited in anticipation.
The gun went off at 730 AM and it took me about 2 minutes to cross the chip mat (Note: it was already 70 degrees). There were people elbowing and fighting to gain position at the start, but I just remained calm and worked my way around people at about a 730 pace. I think I went through the first mile at about 745 pace---way too slow, but honestly, I didnt have much choice. I just kept steadily passing people and tried to stay with the Nike 3:00 Pace Group. I saw Dan around Mile 1.5 screaming his head off with Emma's boyfriend, Nate, and it made me smile. Things didnt really start to break up until Mile 3, but since it was so hot out, I decided I would be taking water and Gatorade at every stop. If there was one thing my dad told me, it was to hydrate early. I literally double fisted Gatorade and water at every stop and would continue this process throughout the whole marathon. In the end, I think this is what saved me from dehydration.
I continued to stay with the 3:00 Pace Group for a while, and then decided that I felt good and wanted to go a bit faster. It is amazing the people that you meet while running a marathon. For a while, I clung to a group of four Brooks ID guys that were aiming for a sub-3 hr marathon and chatted with them for a bit and then moved on. I took my first gel around an hour. It was a GU Orange Vanilla Roctane, man I hate the taste of those things, but I am convinced they really work! I went through the half marathon around 1:27 and felt great, despite the temperature climb. I knew that once I passed the half marathon mark, I would need to keep my mind occupied or I would start to mentally break down. That is one thing that I have learned throughout this whole experience, playing mind games with yourself is a good way to help you be successful in the marathon. I focused on the neighborhoods we were going through, the people around me, and all of the people that I was running this marathon for. The previous night, I had made a list of 26.2 people that I would be running a mile each for, and honestly, it helped at some points during the race.
Surprisingly, the miles flew by with all of the water stops and fans along the way. I remember, it was around Mile 18, where I began to feel my legs and feet starting to hurt, but it was not an unfamiliar hurt. It was a tired hurt that I had felt many times before in college and when climbing 14,000 foot mountains out here in Colorado, it was nothing I couldn't handle. I heard familiar voices of Garrett Graham and Jon Molz around Mile 19 and got so energized by them! The heat kept creeping up, and I began to feel it a bit around Mile 20, but kept dumping water on my head....once I remember the cups being mixed up and I poured Gatorade on myself. My pace slowed a bit from Miles 19-24, I think mainly from losing focus and the tiredness that was overcoming me. The Nike Power Song that the marathon had at Mile 24 was perfectly placed. They were playing Metallica, and I thought of my dad and how he would always play this to get me pumped up for meets and hockey games when I was younger. I began to refocus and tell myself that this was just like a second run in college. I was tired but I would make it. It was Mile 25 that I remember the most. I saw Dan standing along the left side of the road cheering for me, he yelled to me "This is the mile you dedicated to me, do it for me." That was all I needed to take off running, it is amazing what you will do for the people that you love most. Most people in the race were dragging by this point, the heat had stopped them in their tracks or they had drastically slowed their pace, but not me. I was running free and passing people right and left. I kept tabs on my watch and knew that I didnt have much time to make it under 3 hours, but knew, that if I didnt make it, Id be disappointed in myself. I dont know where it came from, but I literally sprinted the last 1.2 miles of that marathon, and crossed the line with my arms up in the air. I had done it, finished my first marathon and had done it in under 3 hours. I found Emma, who had done a 2:56 and we hugged in celebration. Meanwhile, people were passed out left and right from the heat and ambulances were sirening about every 5 minutes---the temperature at the finish-85 degrees. It made me sad, seeing and hearing such a sight, knowing how much people train for these things, only to have the weather ruin their big day.
After cooling down with some ice and heading over to the Elite Development tent, we reunited with Dan, Nate, and Emma's family, and later I met up with Garrett, Molz, and Charlie Ban (fellow Richmond alums). I felt tired after the race, but not as tired as I thought I would. When I finally checked my cell phone, I had been flooded with calls, texts, and messages. I read every single one of them, and it almost made me tear up. Im not joking when I say that I got over 75 congratulations messages since I finished, from friends and family all over the USA. All of them meant the world to me, and honestly I couldnt believe it. People I havent talked to since sophomore year of high school, tracked me online. I can not express in words how this made me feel...All my life all I have wanted to do for people is inspire them to chase their own dreams, and after this weekend, it seems as though I may have done so.
I had a friend tell me before the race that her first marathon changed her life. Now, I wouldn't say that it changed my life, but rather, it gave me an experience and a perspective on things that can never be replicated. Chicago is an amazing city, and it puts on an amazing marathon. It is something I will surely remember for the rest of my life.
So where do I go from here? Well, I accomplished my goal of a 3 hour first marathon, on training that was not even very organized. From here, I plan on getting Coach Steve Jones to coach me and that I can train with the Boulder Express Running Team. I plan on picking a Winter Half Marathon and Spring Marathon and going for the Olympic Trials Qualifying time of 2:46 in whichever marathon I run. I have always had this as my dream, and until I get there I will never stop trying.
I hope that through this, I have inspired you all to follow your own dreams and make them come true. Looking back on my Chicago marathon experience, I didnt have the most organized training schedule or even a ton of people to train with. But what I did have, was a support system all over the USA and a determination that was rock solid. And with that combination, I think that anyone can be a winner. Houston 2012, here I come.
This was my first time in Chicago, and thankfully, I was lucky enough to have a good friend and training partner of mine, Emma Keenan, who is originally from Chicago, with me. We arrived on Thursday because we wanted to make this trip memorable and kind of like a mini-vacation. On Thursday, we just relaxed and checked out the Whole Foods in the area, which is the biggest one I have ever seen in my life! We took a day off from running on Thursday because of the early wake up and travel.
Before I knew it, Friday came and it was expo day! We went for a 35 minute run in the local forest preserve in the Northside of Chicago (which is where Emma's family is located) and it was gorgeous with all of the reds, oranges, and golds of the leaves. I noticed that it was very warm by the time we finished our run at 1030 AM, but I tried to ignore it. I decided that I better start hydrating a lot now, rather than waiting until the last minute and started downing the electrolytes. In the afternoon, Emma and I headed down to the expo at the McCormick Center in downtown Chicago. It was by far, the coolest expo I have ever been to! It was huge, with every kind of vendor you can imagine. We literally walked around for 3 hours, getting as many freebies as we could. We both decided to splurge on a Nike 1/2 zip jacket, afterall, this was our first one! After the expo, we headed to a great pasta dinner at Maggianos, where I had some cheese ravioli, salad, and of course, water!
Saturday, Emma and I slept in, since it was the most important night of sleep. We went for a 20 minute shake out run through Niles, IL, where I proceeded to fall in the last 5 minutes of our run and scraped up my knee and hands. For those of you that know my running style, you know that this is not uncommon, so I didnt let it bother me! We went to pick up our #1 fans, aka our boyfriends, at the Midway Airport around 1PM and then stopped by Trader Joe's. I stocked up there on some granola and fruit leather, man, I miss that place! We at a good dinner of pasta (I put extra salt on mine) at Emma's grandma's house, where we would be staying (closer to the city). After a little bit of movie watching and race day preparation, we headed to bed.
Everyone always says that it is very hard to sleep before a race, but I slept like a rock. My alarm went off at 4:33, and I jumped out of bed, ready to go. I got dressed, had a bagel with peanut butter and some gatorade. Emma, the guys, and I were ready to roll around 530AM and Emma's mom drove us down to the start area. We hopped out of the car around 6 AM, Emma and I entered the athlete area and the boys went their own way. I walked with Emma to the Elite Development tent, wished her 'Good luck', and sadly walked away by myself to find the Seeded Corral Gear check and some bathrooms. After I checked my gear, I began what was one of the most stressful parts of the pre-race, waiting in line for a bathroom. I knew that the lines would be long, but I had no idea they would be as long as they were. If I had one complaint about the Chicago Marathon, it was the bathroom situation. The Port-O-Johns were spread out all over the place, and all of the lines were at least 20 people deep. I got in line around 630 and waited for 20 minutes, only to have moved about 5 steps. I began to get nervous and frustrated with the situation. I decided to leave the line and wander around....I found a woman and her husband in a garden area and we decided to block each other as we went to the bathroom in the bushes. There was no way I would have made the start if I would have waited in line. After losing my dignity, I went to Corral B, and waded through the sea of participants. I got slightly claustrophobic and hated being in there with so many people. I tried to elbow my way to the front of this corral because I knew I shouldn't have been in that one. The problem was, I hadn't run a half marathon in two years and my time was only fast enough to get me in the B corral. After much frustration, I just stayed put and waited in anticipation.
The gun went off at 730 AM and it took me about 2 minutes to cross the chip mat (Note: it was already 70 degrees). There were people elbowing and fighting to gain position at the start, but I just remained calm and worked my way around people at about a 730 pace. I think I went through the first mile at about 745 pace---way too slow, but honestly, I didnt have much choice. I just kept steadily passing people and tried to stay with the Nike 3:00 Pace Group. I saw Dan around Mile 1.5 screaming his head off with Emma's boyfriend, Nate, and it made me smile. Things didnt really start to break up until Mile 3, but since it was so hot out, I decided I would be taking water and Gatorade at every stop. If there was one thing my dad told me, it was to hydrate early. I literally double fisted Gatorade and water at every stop and would continue this process throughout the whole marathon. In the end, I think this is what saved me from dehydration.
I continued to stay with the 3:00 Pace Group for a while, and then decided that I felt good and wanted to go a bit faster. It is amazing the people that you meet while running a marathon. For a while, I clung to a group of four Brooks ID guys that were aiming for a sub-3 hr marathon and chatted with them for a bit and then moved on. I took my first gel around an hour. It was a GU Orange Vanilla Roctane, man I hate the taste of those things, but I am convinced they really work! I went through the half marathon around 1:27 and felt great, despite the temperature climb. I knew that once I passed the half marathon mark, I would need to keep my mind occupied or I would start to mentally break down. That is one thing that I have learned throughout this whole experience, playing mind games with yourself is a good way to help you be successful in the marathon. I focused on the neighborhoods we were going through, the people around me, and all of the people that I was running this marathon for. The previous night, I had made a list of 26.2 people that I would be running a mile each for, and honestly, it helped at some points during the race.
Surprisingly, the miles flew by with all of the water stops and fans along the way. I remember, it was around Mile 18, where I began to feel my legs and feet starting to hurt, but it was not an unfamiliar hurt. It was a tired hurt that I had felt many times before in college and when climbing 14,000 foot mountains out here in Colorado, it was nothing I couldn't handle. I heard familiar voices of Garrett Graham and Jon Molz around Mile 19 and got so energized by them! The heat kept creeping up, and I began to feel it a bit around Mile 20, but kept dumping water on my head....once I remember the cups being mixed up and I poured Gatorade on myself. My pace slowed a bit from Miles 19-24, I think mainly from losing focus and the tiredness that was overcoming me. The Nike Power Song that the marathon had at Mile 24 was perfectly placed. They were playing Metallica, and I thought of my dad and how he would always play this to get me pumped up for meets and hockey games when I was younger. I began to refocus and tell myself that this was just like a second run in college. I was tired but I would make it. It was Mile 25 that I remember the most. I saw Dan standing along the left side of the road cheering for me, he yelled to me "This is the mile you dedicated to me, do it for me." That was all I needed to take off running, it is amazing what you will do for the people that you love most. Most people in the race were dragging by this point, the heat had stopped them in their tracks or they had drastically slowed their pace, but not me. I was running free and passing people right and left. I kept tabs on my watch and knew that I didnt have much time to make it under 3 hours, but knew, that if I didnt make it, Id be disappointed in myself. I dont know where it came from, but I literally sprinted the last 1.2 miles of that marathon, and crossed the line with my arms up in the air. I had done it, finished my first marathon and had done it in under 3 hours. I found Emma, who had done a 2:56 and we hugged in celebration. Meanwhile, people were passed out left and right from the heat and ambulances were sirening about every 5 minutes---the temperature at the finish-85 degrees. It made me sad, seeing and hearing such a sight, knowing how much people train for these things, only to have the weather ruin their big day.
After cooling down with some ice and heading over to the Elite Development tent, we reunited with Dan, Nate, and Emma's family, and later I met up with Garrett, Molz, and Charlie Ban (fellow Richmond alums). I felt tired after the race, but not as tired as I thought I would. When I finally checked my cell phone, I had been flooded with calls, texts, and messages. I read every single one of them, and it almost made me tear up. Im not joking when I say that I got over 75 congratulations messages since I finished, from friends and family all over the USA. All of them meant the world to me, and honestly I couldnt believe it. People I havent talked to since sophomore year of high school, tracked me online. I can not express in words how this made me feel...All my life all I have wanted to do for people is inspire them to chase their own dreams, and after this weekend, it seems as though I may have done so.
I had a friend tell me before the race that her first marathon changed her life. Now, I wouldn't say that it changed my life, but rather, it gave me an experience and a perspective on things that can never be replicated. Chicago is an amazing city, and it puts on an amazing marathon. It is something I will surely remember for the rest of my life.
So where do I go from here? Well, I accomplished my goal of a 3 hour first marathon, on training that was not even very organized. From here, I plan on getting Coach Steve Jones to coach me and that I can train with the Boulder Express Running Team. I plan on picking a Winter Half Marathon and Spring Marathon and going for the Olympic Trials Qualifying time of 2:46 in whichever marathon I run. I have always had this as my dream, and until I get there I will never stop trying.
I hope that through this, I have inspired you all to follow your own dreams and make them come true. Looking back on my Chicago marathon experience, I didnt have the most organized training schedule or even a ton of people to train with. But what I did have, was a support system all over the USA and a determination that was rock solid. And with that combination, I think that anyone can be a winner. Houston 2012, here I come.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Big Day
Six months ago I made a decision. A decision that would open a new chapter in my life. I signed up for my first marathon. Ive been running since age 12 and have been told countless times that the marathon is "my event", but until I run my first one, I will never really know.
Marathon training is intense. It requires hard work, dedication, and a great deal of planning. I decided to really start a training plan in June, 16 weeks out. The thing is, I was all alone. For the first time in my life, I was not part of a team, and I have had very few training partners in Boulder. I tried to join a group out here coached by Steve Jones called Boulder Express, but unfortunately, there were no more spots left on it. I tried my best to formulate a loose training plan according to advice from my dad and my college roommate, Mary Dudley. But throughout these whole 16 weeks it has been just that, a loose plan. I have put in the miles, but at times I have felt lost and unmotivated. But I kept trekking onward. Luckily, I have had Dan training for his half ironman and my Chicago marathon debut buddy, Emma Keenan, to keep me going for a few runs here and there. It has been hard to get out there on 20 milers alone. My dad has told me countless stories about how he trained for mostly all his marathons alone. That is great and all, but for me, it’s about having those people there by your side to motivate and push you to be your best.
So am I ready for this debut? Ill be honest with you all that know me and will be watching come Sunday---my ultimate goal is to someday qualify for the Olympic Trials, but it will not be at this Chicago marathon. I have put in the miles throughout the summer, but I have not had the structure to be where I need to be. I have not done all of the mile repeats or enough 20+ mile runs. This is not to sounds negative, but rather realistic. On the plus side, I have improved my regular run pace at altitude to an average of 6:45-7 min miles and have built my weekly mileage back up, but it just has not been the best way to train for the marathon and I know that. When I signed up for Chicago my goal was to run a 3:00 marathon and today my goal remains the same, but I know that even if I don’t get there, I will still have my time to shine in the future.
Yesterday I watched a former training partner of mine, Caitlin Chrisman, run a 2:41 debut marathon and qualify for the trials. It makes me ecstatic for her, and brings back feelings of nostalgia for my teams and groups I have run with along the way. The support that the Charlotte Running Club has shown for each other in the past year is astounding, there should honestly be a story out there on this group. It puts things into perspective for me really. I have watched Caitlin’s dedication, as well as the other group members, and it has made me aware of what it is going to take to get me to the next level.
Ultimately, after Chicago, I would like to try and join the Boulder Express team again, run the Boston Marathon, and make a run at the Trials time. I would not say that this debut at Chicago is a waste for me. It was a true learning experience and ultimately, it will get me out there to try this whole new running event. Throughout it all, I have some amazing Colorado runners and triathletes alike, learned about marathon nutrition and training, and have taken some breathtaking runs in the Rockies. I want to thank you all for your advice, support, and friendship along the way. I especially want to thank, Dan, who was not even a runner before I met him, and now will be there at the finish line supporting me. Emma Keenan, who will also be making her marathon debut and most likely will qualify for the trials, I have loved our Friday morning runs :) Fast Forward Sports, the group I coach with, my athletes and the coaches have supported me more than I would have imagined. Runners Roost of Denver, who has kept me sane and introduced me to some amazing friends on their Weds night runs. The Charlotte Running Club, who even though they are 2000 miles away will always feel like family to me. My former teammates from Chambersburg to Richmond. And most importantly, my dad, who introduced me to this sport at age 12, gave me the good genes, and has been my mentor all along. Come Sunday, when I cross that finish line, I know no matter what the result, I will give it my all, and it will be a success in the end. And I know that someday, I will accomplish my dream of one day getting to the trials. This is just the beginning...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
One Year Later....
Tomorrow I will be attending and participating in the Pearl Street Mile in Boulder. One of the biggest races this town offers, I cant wait to watch all of the professionals and kids alike. I remember last year, this was one of the first community events that I attended and was in awe the number of people that came out. One year ago....
Looking back over the past year, it has not been easy, but it has gotten easier. I mean, really what can you expect from being 1700 miles away from all that you know and love? I remember two months after I came here, I wanted to leave. I missed people and places and things. The familiar. And I remember how the Charlotte Running Club reached out to me and made me feel like I had the biggest support group ever. But something inside of me, told me to stay. As hard as it was, I needed to stick it out. For this was my dream. I couldn't just abandon that.
So I did all that I could do. I reached out to any group and any people that I could. I couldnt just strictly rely on running anymore. I made friends and I left friends. There were people I met for a short while and then drifted away from. But one year later, I feel as though I finally have those people that I can count on. People that I can call my friends. You see, starting all over isn't easy. For me, I value friendships with people that I can count on, that have similar beliefs, and similar interests. It's almost like an interviewing process, making new friends, but once you find some good ones, you have to hold on tight!
The Runner's Roost in Denver has been the best running group I have joined out here. I started going to this again after a 4 month hiatus. Even if I have to sit in 2 hours of traffic every Weds night to get there, it is totally worth it. This group is extremely fun and supportive. Weds night runs followed by free food, beer, and great friends. I just love it. I will be applying to this racing team next year rather than being on the Fleet Feet Boulder team because I want to promote a store that has helped me so much! Unfortunately, I have felt that although I met one training partner at FF, it is not really what I have been searching for. Special thanks to Phil, Bridget, Heather, Ashley, Yaicha, Emma, and new friend, Becca. Without these people, my running experience would not be the same.
I would be lying if I didn't say that dating someone hasn't helped me. Even though Dan is from New York, he has a lot of friends already out here, all of whom have been incredibly welcoming and fun. Seems like this state is a gold mine of transplant Pennsylvanians, Californians, and New Yorkers. Dan has made my life infinitely easier out here, and honestly, it's nice to have that one person that you can count on to always want to go on adventures together. From traveling over 1300 miles in one weekend to training on the Boulder trails, the past five months of my life spent with a person that I can call a best friend has been absolutely thrilling.
Job wise, I am a living example of what can happen with hard work and patience. I started out in Boulder at a gym and a candy shop. I was enjoying the Boulder life, living the dream. I cant say that I wasnt a little bit jealous of those fellow classmates of mine that had real jobs, but honestly, you only live once and these jobs were stepping stones for me career wise. Willy Wonka wore on my last nerve but with patience, I found out through Phil, one of my Runner's Roost friends, that there was an opening with World Triathlon Company (Ironman) in their warehouse. It was basic shipping and ordering stuff, and to be honest, it did get boring, but within two short months, I advanced to office manager and who knows where I can go from here. This company is growing in an economy that is struggling and now I have my foot in the door. I have worked hard out here to make it, and I can honestly say, I am now making it and loving life and my job. I can wear what I want to work, my bosses are triathletes, I get free gear, and I get to be around athletes all of the time. It's really a dream job for me, and I cant wait to see where it takes me.
If you have never been to Boulder, you must come and see the beauty of this place. As I was driving home tonight after a run in Denver, I was in awe at the beauty that I saw out my window. The sun was setting behind the flatirons creating a backdrop of pinks, purples, and blues. And I felt a peace come over me. A peace that I have been longing for for many years on the East Coast. A peace that I hope remains for many years to come.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
This is Home.
This week, I find myself in Charlotte, NC visiting old friends from my 2008-09 year here as well as seeing best friends from college for a week long beach bachelorette party. Going back to places where I once was and seeing those friends of the past, always brings up feelings of nostalgia and old memories. Moving around has always been a big adjustment period for me, and I have always found myself longing to stay in an area for a while just so that I can establish connections and friends and really get to know an area well. I remember leaving the University of Richmond with a feeling of losing my team that had become a family, and similarly when leaving Charlotte, with the Charlotte Running Club.
Until about a month or two ago, Colorado still had not yet had this effect on me. I still hadn't quite figured things out yet, and for some reason, it just felt like I was in some kind of adventure land with no real purpose. Over the past month or so though, things have simply just been falling into place. I started doing consistent Weds Track workouts with Emma and Dan. I ran a few races and joined 24 hr fitness. I even explored some new things that Colorado has to offer, particularly some good breweries.
On a whim (with a recommendation from a Denver area running friend), I decided a week and a half ago to apply to a job with Ironman (the triathlon company). For me, the frustration was building as I worked 40+ hours a week managing a candy store that plays "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" on repeat all day, everyday. A personal goal of mine is to always be challenging myself. Was the candy store really challenging me? No. Was it helping me survive in Colorado. Yes, but that's just it. I saw it as a stepping stone and my time there was up. So I went into an interview a few days after applying with really nothing to lose. I was asked some questions, shown a tour of the warehouse and offices, and hired right there on the spot. I was ecstatic. For me, to be involved with a company that promotes endurance sports-something I have grown up loving, is a dream come true. Starting June 1st, I will be starting at the bottom of the ladder with merchandising and ordering, but who knows where this position could really take me? And I am so ready to embark on the journey with a real 9-5 M-F job, where I can have a real life. Honestly, I dont think you ever really appreciate things like a 9-5er unless you've had a retail or service job with crazy hours that really limit your lifestyle. This job with also provide me with more of the structure that I need to balance my life, training for Chicago and socially, as I continue to build my social network.
Running wise, things are really starting to come together. Emma and I are seeking out world class marathoner, Steve Jones, to be our coach for Chicago with a select group called Boulder Express Runners. Honestly, I think that having a structured plan, with the support of like minded and talented athletes, will really help me attain my future running goals. I was elated this past weekend, after me, Emma, Dan, Chris LeMare, and a new friend Scott Baker, entered the Denver Colfax Marathon Relay under team name D.I.R.T. (Denver's Intense Running Team) and won the co-ed division. I have to admit, I haven't done a team relay since the Richmond River 2 Sea got lost and had to drop out, so I was a little nervous. Luckily, everyone put forth 110% effort and we pulled out the victory! As I held the giant gold cup that we received at the awards ceremony, I was overcome with joy. This team effort made me feel like home again, like I had that family of teammates again. And for me, that is one of the best feelings in the world.
They say "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and for me that is just what happened as I took a leap of faith, moved out here, and followed my dream. I do not think my journey will ever really be through. After all, we all need a little daring, dreaming, and discovering in our lives.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Addicted to Life
I had never heard this saying before until last week (and yes, Im stealing it). But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much it relates to my life right now, as well as how I want to hold it close to my heart in the future.
An addiction is defined as: the state of being involved in a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming.
Usually possessing a negative connotation, the positivity of being "addicted to life" is the reason why I love the saying so much. For to me, being addicted to life means that I am loving living each and every day to the fullest and I want more of it!
Over the past few weeks and even the past month or so, I have felt a change coming about in my outlook on life in Colorado. I am finding that balance that I have been seeking since I came here, and consequently, I am feeling more content and happy with the direction that I am going. Every morning that I wake up I see the Rockies out my window and I cant help but smile. The beauty of them is absolutely astounding...
My running is taking a turn for the better and that has made me excited! Dan and I do at least a run or two a week-he has kept me more motivated than anyone else out here. I even did a mile repeat workout on the track on Saturday and although it wasn't like my mile repeats at sea level it wasn't half bad, and it was a start! Jaimelyn and I started a tradition of doing a night run through City Park in Denver once a week. It is so wonderful to be able to have those people again, to talk to on runs, that motivate and support me. It's nice to get down to Denver at least once a week to do a run-the city at night is just gorgeous and the neighborhoods are just awesome. Im going to run my first 5k in two weeks to break out the 2010 racing season. Although I know it may not go the greatest, simply because of where Im at in my training, I am confident that it will be the start of something great. I also just formed a relay team (team D.I.R.T.-Denver's Intense Running Team) for the Colfax Marathon in mid-May-it's so great to be doing those kind of things again! And of course, the Bolder Boulder, one of the largest 10ks in the nation will be a big race for me come Memorial Day weekend.
Ski season is officially over this weekend, but I am excited to be getting involved in some new adventure activities, I mean, thats one of the reasons I moved out here! I joined the Colorado 14ers Initiative a few weeks ago, which is a volunteer group that works to mitigate damage to Colorado's 14,000 ft mountains by educating the public on the trails. I got three people to join with me (Michael, Dan, and Antonio) so I am really looking forward to some great trips this summer! Dan took me climbing last week for the first time, and I must say, it was awesome (if you've never tried it you should)! I held my own and had a great time doing it-I cant wait to get stronger and into the harder stuff!
If you havent heard: Colorado has the most number of microbreweries per square mile than any other place in the USA. The other day I found a map showing all of the breweries in the state of Colorado and had to purchase it! In the past few weeks I have gone to 3-4 local breweries and they have all been pretty amazing! The goal is to try out many more in the upcoming months, especially the bike and brew tour day in Fort Collins where you "check out" a bike from their bike library and ride it around town to the different breweries! Thus far, Im extremely fond of the Espresso Stouts and Porters, but I have had a few good Belgium Whites. I think Im becoming spoiled by such good beers out here!
I started coaching a few weeks back for Fast Forward Sports and needless to say, it hasn't been easy getting to know and help train my 15 athletes, but it is so rewarding. The athletes I have really listen to what Im, saying, even though most are at least 20 years older than me. It's so awesome knowing that a sport that I have loved my whole life, can be used to impact the lives of so many others.
I have some upcoming exciting things happening in the next month or two including: my visit to Charlotte to see all my friends down there as well as to attend Mary Dudley's week long bachelorette party at the beach in South Carolina, my Abnormal Psychology course at CU, my racing schedule, a five course dinner with 7 different beers from Avery, and many more adventures throughout this state of daily wonder!
Til next time, "Ain't no mountain high enough!"
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