My first Marathon

I can't really even believe I just typed that post title.  It still seems surreal to say that I ran a marathon:  26.2 miles, just last weekend!

For those of you not interested in hearing a complete break down of my marathon experience, here it is in a nutshell:  

• I did it! (I'm sure you'd already figured that part out from the beginning of this post...)
• I had a great time! (Everyone should visit Charleston, SC at least once!)
• I'm super pleased with my finish time! (4 hours, 41 minutes, 55 seconds)
• I'm not opposed to the idea of doing another one. (Yikes. I just put that in writing!)

There you have it. 

If you don't want to read on for the play-by-play and nitty gritty details, I completely understand.

Really.

Don't feel obligated to read more.

It could be a long post with too much information...

Still here?

Alrighty then.  

I flew to Charlotte Thursday evening to meet my sister and spend the night...except for we didn't spend the night because a snow storm was on its way. (Trust me, the last 30 minutes of turbulence on the flight convinced me that we did indeed need to head further south.)  The last thing we needed was to get stuck in Charlotte where there's little to no snow removal!  Instead, we drove to Columbia, SC in the rain to spend the night.  Friday morning we leisurely drove on to Charleston, SC.  

Our first stop was the race expo at Burke Middle High School to pick up our bibs and race bags.  It was a small expo at an amazing looking school.  I still managed to find several "needed" items!  (Running sunglasses, new 26.2 pink stickers for my car, Clif bars, throw away gloves, etc.)  The volunteers at the expo were very helpful answering questions and explaining the drop off points for bags, the sweep truck for dropped items, and the shuttle bus.  Next, we grabbed a late lunch with some good protein and carbs too (burrito bowls at local Mexican restaurant).  Then we checked into our hotel and rested!  (No point walking around Charleston and tiring out our legs pre-marathon!)  

We prepped our race outfits for the next day, going through the checklist of what we needed to check to have at the finish line (fresh socks, shoes, shirt,...) and what we needed to carry in our new FlipBelts.  (My generous sister had purchased each of us a flipbelt for the race after I showed her the site.  The belts are amazing and a race must have!)  The predicted starting temperature of 30 degrees threw me a bit in deciding on exactly what to wear, especially knowing it would quickly warm up to 60 while we ran.  I decided layers were the best plan of attack.

We had dinner at a near by restaurant, knowing that grilled tilapia, potatoes, and veggies would be a good choice for a pre-race meal.  That evening we watched a movie in our hotel room, read, and tried to get a good night's rest before the big race!  (Neither of us are great sleepers, so the emphasis is again on "tried".)  The morning of the race we got up, dressed, and drove back to Burke Middle High School.  A plus about starting at the school?  Indoor bathrooms.  Lots of indoor bathrooms.  Neither of us realized how close we were to starting race time as we milled through the runners and sought out the 4:30 pace group.  We'd barely gotten into our place when the countdown to run was on!  (Probably a great thing:  less time for nerves!)

The beginning of the race was really congested with lots of runners and very little space to move or pass each other.  For the first 10 miles of the race, the half and the full marathon runners were set to be together before the course divided.  We settled into a steady pace, keeping the Pace Leaders in sight.  The beginning of the course was beautiful!  

Running by the water, through the Battery, downtown Charleston...all made for great distractions!  Charleston is such a beautiful city and I LOVE the ocean.  My biggest issue was being aware of parked cars as I multi-tasked while running:  snapping photos, texting friends, and tweeting updates.  I really wanted to document as much of the experience as I could because I knew later on in the run I wouldn't have the energy or focus to do so.  Having my phone buzz and ding with encouraging tweets and texts encouraged and inspired me so much! It may sound cliche, but the miles really did seem to go quickly.  I bypassed the first few water/gatorade stops but had to grab a cup full of my favorite running snacks when I saw them at mile 5.5.  I ate them slowly, carrying the cup for about 2 miles!  

Around mile 14, I noticed my watch was dead.  Yep.  Dead.  Turns out it only had an 8 hour charge and I'd forgotten to charge it!  Not being able to see my pace and time made me more aware of just listening to my body and enjoying the run. My sister and I ran together for almost 17 miles before she got ahead of me.  We were making great time and I really wanted her to PR during this marathon.  I shouted to her, "Don't you dare wait for me!"  and settled into running at a comfortable pace and continuing on.  

thanks to PBC Sports Photography for pic!

I talked to a few people as I ran (one guy and 5 of his friends had driven from Canada for the race!).  From mile 18 on, I ran with a friendly art history professor from Georgia (Hi Dinah!).  She was running her third marathon and recovering from plantar fasciitus.  We carried on a great conversation the rest of the race, spurring each other on to finish strong.  She suggested we walk through each water stop and I gladly obliged.  For the last 5 stops we grabbed a cup (or 2) of gatorade, drank up while walking to the trash can, then got back to running.  I think these small breaks really helped me.  At each mile marker, we listened closely to our time and were thrilled to hear how well we were doing!  Finishing under 4:45 wasn't a problem for us and we were stoked!  At mile 26, a volunteer held out a bag of candy offering us pieces.  When she said "gummy bears" I knew she was an angel sent from heaven!  She put several in my hand.  Dinah and I both sprinted the last .2 miles to the finish line, smiling and congratulating each other on a fantastic run.  

I met up with my sister soon after who had indeed finished with a Personal Record.  It was such a moving experience to share my first marathon with her!  We picked up our checked bags:  Dry tops and Nike flip flops have never felt so good!  We gingerly sat on a curb and ate a bowl of shrimp-n-grits.  Neither of us were sure we could stomach it, but after one bite it all seemed to disappear quickly!  We checked our official finish times (mine didn't actually show up on the site until that night!) and boarded the shuttle bus back to the start line.  I think I smiled the rest of the day thinking about this amazing accomplishment.  

I won't bore you any longer with the run-down of the rest of the day, but cupcakes and a wonderful seafood dinner were just some of our food rewards!  Was I sore the next day? Some, but not nearly what I expected to be thanks to compression socks worn after the race until the next morning.  My quads were still sore on Monday but by Tuesday I felt great!  

Will I run another marathon?  

Yes.

There.  I said it.  

#runteacherrun

A marathon? Really?

I began running almost 3 years ago.  I talked a bit about my journey into running in my first guest post on this blog here.  Even after I identified myself as a runner, I knew I would never be "that kind of runner" who ran marathons.  26.2 miles?  Are you kidding me?  No thank you!  I would NEVER do that.

Well my friends...never say never.  

My first year of running I tackled a 5K race, a 4 miler, and then jumped to a 15K.  My second year of running I ran three half marathons and a few 5Ks.  My plans for 2012 were to run at least four half marathons. I had found what I felt was the perfect distance for training and races.  Not too short and not too long.  Definitely a Goldilocks type of distance:  just right.  

Unfortunately, my body had other plans.  The very first day of school in August 2012, I was diagnosed with pneumonia.  Needless to say, the 6 weeks of mandated no running put quite a cramp in my fall half marathon training and plans.  My first race back was a 10K at the end of September.  My lungs were not back to full capacity yet, but I could run. 

That very same day, my sister texted me about a marathon she had decided to run in January.  I texted her back and told her it sounded great to celebrate my 40th birthday with a marathon.  She thought I was joking...which I was...but then something clicked.  Why not celebrate turning 40 by doing something really big like running a marathon?  I called to talk to her.  A decision this monumental could not be expressed through a text alone.  I expressed my desire to run the marathon but my doubt and fears that I really could do it.  We began to talk about training plans and how it would require 16 weeks.  (The timing was perfect with the race 18 weeks away.)  I decided to give the training a try but not actually register for the race.  

After a few weeks of training, I decided to register for the race, with the idea that I could always run the half marathon instead of the full if I needed to make the switch.  I still couldn't convince myself I was going to really do it.  But then I began talking about it.  I figured if I told people about it, I would be more likely to truly go for it.  Running friends encouraged me and told me stories about their own first marathons.  Non-running friends asked if I was crazy.  Apparently so!

Six weeks into the training, I ran my longest run ever: 14 miles.  I survived.  Two weeks later it was a 15 mile run.  My long runs grew and I continued to survive.  After a miserable 18 mile run in cold, rainy yuckiness I knew I really could do it.  I kept thinking that half the battle was mental and at least during the marathon I'd have my sister to keep me company, much better weather, and amazing views and scenery in Charleston, SC.  My final long run of 20 miles before my taper was a few weeks ago.  I ran with a new running friend for 13 of the miles and enjoyed the companionship and conversation.  (and I survived running 20 miles in the snow!) The last two and a half weeks of my training have been the famous taper. 

And now...here I am:  exactly 6 days before my first marathon.  

I'm excited.

I'm super nervous.

But I'm going to do it.

I'M GOING TO RUN A MARATHON!

I've told many people that this is a one-shot deal.  

A bucket list item.  

Check it off the list and be done with the whole marathon thing.  

I suppose I should re-read the beginning of this blog post and never say never. :)

Guest Blog Post by Susan Geidner: Raising Boys, Running Races, Reading Books

Today's guest post comes from Susan Geidner. I put out a tweet last week asking for guest post and have been so excited about the people I've met and the stories I've heard because of that tweet.  (I already LOVE Susan's new blog (BRB) and excited to read it regularly!)  From what I can tell, Susan has figured out how to do it all--be a teacher, a mom, a wife, a reader and a runner!  You can follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanGeidner.  Here are her brilliant tips!

When Franki put out a request for guest bloggers, I had no idea the impact it would have on my life.  During what I like to call a "happy accident" I stumbled upon Franki's request on Twitter recently while vacationing from Facebook.  I had reached a point where FB posts seemed in large part to either be negative, emotionally draining, redundant, and/or self-involved.  I had briefly experimented with Twitter in the past, and have an account for my library, but the combination of my FB vaca and winter break gave me the perfect excuse to delve a little deeper into the Twitter world!  This quickly led to exploring blogs written by other teacher/runners/moms for inspiration, and I can honestly say I have never felt so empowered and supported by a community of complete strangers!  It was just the stimulus I needed to reflect on where I've been, where I am, and where I want to be as a runner, teacher, and mom.  As a result I spent much of my winter break creating my own blog.  In part to make my journey more meaningful, but also to hopefully play a more active role in inspiring others as I have been inspired.  The cherry on top?  Over the course of the past week, everything I have learned has re-connected me to Facebook, but in a much more purposeful, positive manner.  Love it when that happens!

Here are a few tips from my life as a running, teaching, mom...

Raising boys:

• An open mind and a sense of humor is essential!  There is rarely a reason boys do what they do-as Nike says "they just do it!"  So when my oldest declared that May 21st is National "Ryan appreciation day" and everyone should honor him by waving Twizzlers out the window, you just go with it!  Love them for the unique little creatures that they are!
• Safety 1st!  Boys WILL do crazy things!  They are simply wired that way, and I have to admit that over the years they have taught me that this is not always a bad thing.  So instead of saying "no" to all of their hair-brained ideas, I tend to say "yes." (And I wonder why they don't ever go to their dad for permission!) They simply have to explain to me what safety precautions they have in place.   This has forced them to become very creative about how they perform their crazy stunts, and it has saved us many trips to the ER!  (Plus they tend to be less sneaky & more upfront about their plans if they know I won't automatically shoot them down.)
• They ARE capable of taking care of themselves!  A wise friend once told me that if a child can work a Playstation, he can also work an appliance.  Consequently my boys have been doing their own laundry, dishes, etc... since about the age of 7.  Their clothes may not always be pretty, but they're clean, and I get more time to run & read!  :)

Running races:

• The hardest step is the 1st one!  Sometimes I spend 3X as long procrastinating and psyching myself up for a run, than I do actually running it!  (And some of my runs are several hours long!)  In 3 years I have never once regretted a run, but I have definitely had days when I have regretted not running!  (Which I usually respond to by eating...NOT GOOD!)
• You do not have to be in perfect shape to be a runner!  I am proof!  No one would ever look at me and think, "Wow!  She's obviously a runner!" I am 5'2" and 25 pounds overweight.  3 years ago I participated in a Santa Shuffle 5k on a whim with a friend and got hooked.  I have run over 4,500 miles since then, and while I still battle the weight, I know I am far healthier now than I was 3 years ago.
• Run races for the right reasons!  Unless you're an Olympian and/or an elite runner, the purpose of running a race is NOT to win it.  The reason everyone gets a medal is because everyone that crosses that finish line truly deserves one!  Be inspired by other runners! Most have overcome some type of challenge and running is their reward.  It is evident in the sea of personalized bibs and t-shirts.  Set goals for yourself including longer distances, PRs, new terrains, or even visiting new cities; but mostly just enjoy the adrenaline and euphoria that comes with completing something amazing!

Reading books:

• Read for a variety of reasons!  Read to relax, to laugh, to grow, to wonder, to learn, to challenge yourself, etc...  I can't think of one good reason not to read!
• Read "outside the box!" In other words, don't get too stuck in one genre.  One of the reasons I love working in a k-5 library is that I get to read lots of picture books and "kidlit."  Don't ever outgrow these wonderful treasures!  That said, it's also important to read grown up books both for pleasure and professional growth.   Give a new genre an honest chance before you decide you don't like it.
• Share your reading!  While reading itself is most often something you do independently, books really come to life when you discuss them with others.  One of my favorite things to do at school is to casually make sure that the book I am currently reading is visible at my circulation desk.  It is guaranteed to spark interest and conversation with students and staff alike!  (Not to mention, an impressive hold list!)  Social media makes it so easy to discuss books, so don't hesitate to jump into a virtual book group!

Bio:

I taught grades prek-3rd for 20 years, before becoming the ITC director/library media specialist for Avoca West School in 2009. I live north of Chicago and randomly started running in December 2009.  I completed my 3rd marathon last October in Chicago, qualifying for Boston by 48 seconds! (This was another "happy accident!" Running Boston was never a goal of mine, and the reality of it all probably won't sink in until I'm crossing the finish line on April 15th!) Oh yeah, I also have a husband and 4 wonderful sons who range in age from 11-18! Needless to say, life is crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!  

Follow my new blog at BRB! I've got...Boys(to raise), Races(to run) & Books(to read)!

Guest Post by Gretchen Taylor: I Run for Selfish Reasons

Today, we have a guest post from Reading Teacher/Runner Gretchen Taylor.  Gretchen is a Sixth grade Language Arts teacher in Dublin City Schools. She is married to a baseball blogger, and is a soon-to-be-mother of two.  She is hopeful to be racing again this summer!

I run for selfish reasons.  

My running journey did begin for selfless reasons, though, when I started running as a participant in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program.  A former swimmer, I liked the idea of working with a team -- albeit one that didn’t require hand-eye coordination -- to benefit an important cause.  Don’t be fooled, though: a former swimmer does not necessarily an enthusiastic runner make. When I say I started running, I mean, I started. At first, I couldn’t run a mile. I swear. During my first half marathon, the culminating experience of my Team in Training season, I threatened my well-intentioned runner friend -- she’d generously offered to run me through the race -- that I’d throw up on her shoes if she kept talking to me.  That was at mile six. Of 13.1.

But after that first half, something strange happened.  I wanted to keep running. I continue to run today because I (usually) love it.  I started running for others, but now, I admit that I run for myself.

I run to feel the burn of a hill repeat. I run to gab with my running friends.  I run to pass other people while I’m pushing a jogging stroller.  I run to start the day with a rush of adrenaline.  I run to work up a good sweat on a summer morning.  I run to beat a bunch of college girls in a half marathon.  I run to problem solve.   I run to get faster.  I run to work through the haze of post-partum hormones. I run to set a good example for my daughter, and I run to give birth to a healthy son. I run to wear cute running clothes.

I run because it’s mine.

In teaching, we have learned to internalize every “failure” and externalize every success, probably because we by nature aren’t quitters.  The student who still hasn’t really finished a book this year, despite my best efforts? I haven’t found the right book to hook him.  The standardized test scores that I want to be higher? I should have been more aggressive with my diagnostic data results.  The poor behavior choices that just won’t quit?  I need to develop a better relationship with the student.

On the other hand, the student who explodes as a reader? Probably a combination of years of elementary support and being surrounded by other enthusiastic readers.  

We teachers are conditioned to beat ourselves up over the toughest missions and pass off to others the most gratifying credit.

It’s a bit of a twisted sense of efficacy.

But when I’m in my running shoes, I own the successes and the failures. I can internalize both the good and the bad; it’s a refreshing dose of intellectual consistency.  When I reach a personal best in a race, it’s because I trained hard and I earned it.  When I bomb, it’s because I slept in too much, ate poorly, neglected my strength training, or slipped up in any number of areas, all of which are firmly in my control.  

The running community’s all mine, too.  I get up at 4:45 a.m. for the running itself, yes, but also for the community.  For that hour or few, no one has an agenda for me except for making sure I get through my run, preferably with a sense at the end that I could do it all over again the next day.  When I run, I’m surrounded by people who are invested in and excited about each other’s successes.  We truly want each other to succeed.

I get a little twitchy when, in reference to the miles I put in, non-runners say things  to me like, “Oh, it must be nice to have that  kind of time!” or, better yet,  “Oh, but don’t you feel guilty being away from your daughter?”   (Because every two-year-old wants to play at 5:30 a.m., right?)

Some of the busiest, most accomplished, and happiest people I know choose to spend their time running.  Running makes us all better at all of the things we do.  Because of running, I’m more patient, more level-headed, more refreshed, and more confident, in everything I do; I’m more for myself and I have more to give everyone around me.

I might be selfish with my reasons for running … but I don’t feel guilty.