The Raleigh half (me) and full (Ted) was the first weekend in November. For some reason I just felt like I couldn't get in the groove in this race. My prep was perfect...breakfast, bathroom, stretching, etc... But I think I burned all of the pre-race energy I consumed while shivering for 20 minutes at the start line. I started the race feeling hungry. Then my running app, which never gives me problems, decided to pause after every mile marker. I don't think I got into a rhythm until mile 6, at which point my IT band started acting up. I made it until mile 8 at which point I told Ted to keep going and slowed my own pace down considerably. The next few miles actually felt great. Things started hurting again around mile 11 and either my own stubbornness or just shear determination kept be running until mile 12. Then it was a walk/run/shuffle to the finish. My time was officially 2:26, fastest half so far. The running app recorded me at 2:17 but because of the problems I had with it and how far off it is from chip time, I'm not sure I should believe it. So even though it didn't go as I planned, there is a positive in the fact that I worked through my difficulties and kept going. Ted finished the marathon in five hours. He was definitely hoping for a fast time but found he had to do a lot of walking in the last few miles. Still, he finished his first marathon.
With those races and a week of rest and recovery under our belts we headed to the Outer Banks last Saturday for the OBX Half Marathon. I really set no goal for myself for this race because of my problems in the last one. We felt pretty good when we woke up Sunday morning and that feel carried through right until the start. I think it was the cold that got us again, we had to wait 40 minutes at the start and even though we kept moving it was hard not to get cold with the ocean wind blowing. We were both stiff when we started running but somehow got each other through the first two miles. I kept saying to myself "I'm warmer than I was a 1/4 mile ago." And we both did start to open up and feel more comfortable. But somewhere along the way the familiar leg and foot pains came back. We started to do a walk/run and then eventually it became a walk and no run. We told ourselves the goal is Asheville, better to walk and not risk injury. But wow, I don't ever want to walk one again. I think it was worse than running it, mostly because it seemed to take FOREVER. The Outer Banks are very flat so you can see a good two miles ahead of you. When we go to the road and bridge that crosses over from Nags Head to Roanoke Island you could easily see the whole span...all four miles of it. And it felt like the further we went, the farther away it was. By the time we got to Manteo my feet were burning. I hobbled across the finish line.
Which, as an aside, I totally loved the people cheering on the sidelines..."You're looking great!" Um, let's not fool ourselves. I know and you know that I do not look great right now. Saying that only makes it more obvious. Although I suppose it would be rude to say something like "You look like crap but hey, you're at the finish!"
Finish time: three hours. Not bad considering we walked most of it. Thanks to the less than adequate food options at the finishing line we hobbled our way back to our hotel (note to anyone planning a race, stay at a hotel near the FINISH, not the start...you'll thank me later), showered and hobbled back out to grab some lunch. All the way we talked about our game plan for the next few months" 1. Rest for the next week 2. STRETCHING, lots of stretching 3. Cross training. 4. Holding each other accountable for our training runs.
So how am I two days later? Much better, still a bit sore but improving. Figured out that my foot pain is probably plantar fasciitis; foot brace purchased and worn last night. I hope to see an improved in a couple of days. I'll start back up slowly and I've got some more supportive shoes this time around. Love my minimalist sneaks but they won't cut it as I build up my mileage. I think in a few days I'll be back in a groove. Still wondering if Asheville is doable or not but, hey, I just did back to back halfs. No one can take that away from me!
Right before the start of the Outer Banks half:
Ted finishing his marathon:
