What nonsense is this!

So I was thinking about my last blog post (Marine Corps Marathon 2012) and it was a downer!!  Seriously, could I have been more negative?  Stopped caring at mile 20?  Who is that girl?

It's not MarathonMennone.

Am I always going to feel awesome after a race?  No.  Am I going to be the kind of person who gets crazy with time?  No!  But I will try my darndest to qualify for Boston, because I take myself seriously and I care about what I do. 

I'm not sure why I was so mopey with this race.  Maybe because of the weather forecasts?  Maybe I put too much pressure on myself for my time?  I can't figure it out.  I trained well and I actually did great.  So I think tonight I should open up a bottle of wine and toast myself!  Buy some of the pictures from the event (which actually turned out pretty good)!  And then sign up for another race!

I've been plotting my races for the next few years...I think 2013 will include the DC Rock n Roll in March, the Flying Pig in May, the BOMF 20in24 in July, and the Richmond in November.  Cheering/volunteering at the Marine Corps.  2014 should kick off with the Goofy Challenge in Disney and probably DC Rock n Roll again...and Marine Corps.  Marine Corps happens for me on even years (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014...).  Maybe 2014 will be the year that I do the JFK 50 mile race?

MarathonMennone does not give up!!  And I do NOT MOPE.  I RUN.

And I think I want to run the Las Vegas Marathon in December...

Marine Corps Marathon 2012

I'm sure you're on the edge of your chair, wanting to know if I qualified for Boston, so I will go ahead and answer that question: no.  I ran with the 3:35 pace group for 20 miles and then lost them at a water stop.  We didn't stop at water stations and I have a tough time drinking water from a cup while running (something to practice?).  After 20 miles, I just didn't feel like sprinting to catch up.  So I finished in 3:44:39 - a new PR.

I learned from this marathon - I do not like running with a pace group.  I found it to be very stressful!  Watching balloons bouncing from the sign made me feel dizzy and while I was fine with the pace, I was anxious about keeping up.  I really do enjoy running on my own.  In all of the official race photos, you can see me running with the pace group.  And I'm not smiling at all!! I forgot one of my own rules for a while - have fun!

By mile 20, I didn't really care about Boston.  I wanted it to be fun again.  I will have to work on new fun tactics for my next race...suggestions welcomed!

Countdown to Marathon #8

The Marine Corps Marathon is in less than 48 hours.  I am beyond pumped up.  In fact, I'm at the point of anxious, which is weird.  It's unusual for me to stress about a race and I have a feeling that it has something to do with my expectations for time.  Now that I've thrown it out there, I won't necessarily take it back, but I don't really enjoy putting this kind of pressure on myself.  Races are for fun, not for time!!

I went and picked up my packet yesterday, the first day of the expo.  It was relatively empty (relatively with 30,000 participants) and of course extremely well organized.  I went by myself and was in and out fairly quickly, although I did browse the booths and bought some presents for myself :)  But I kept feeling so anxious and I was trying to identify why as I waited to arrive while riding on the metro.  Did I think they would suddenly decide not to give me a bib?  Would they take one look at me and think, "you're not a runner?"  Would I fall on the metro escalator and bump my head?

But none of these make any sense to me, not even in my current state.  However, the expo did help to calm my nerves (temporarily).  I love going and seeing people.  I'm always amazed at all of the different kinds of people who run marathons.  People may not initially realize this but marathons don't separate, divide, or judge.  They bring us together. 

For example....some of you may have heard about the little hurricane that might be coming through.  If you go on the Facebook page for the marathon, everyone is hopeful, supportive, and encouraging.  No one is saying that the fast people should run and everyone else should give up.  When a newbie posts something about their fears, they are greeted with overwhelming positive feedback. 

I love running because every time I do a race, I find a new community and a temporary family.  We're all in it together and that is one of the reasons why I race. 

I may never qualify for Boston but I'm trying not to care.  After all, that's not why I started running and it's still not why I run. 

I can't wait for Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!

Recap: Hershey Half Marathon 2012

Yesterday (how was it only yesterday??) I completed the Hershey Half Marathon in 1:50:33.  In general, it went by quickly and was fun.  I had some stomach issues, feeling kind of nauseous during the whole race, which wasn't super fun.  I also had to keep reminding myself not to go all out, since the Marine Corps is my main event this season.  The course was pretty hilly as well, so that part wasn't great.  So why do I describe it as fun?  I mean, it was a race through an amusement park with chocolate, chocolate themed mascots, and a trip to the Hershey spa for a chocolate massage afterwards.  How could it NOT be fun?

However, I'm doubting the wisdom of doing 2 big races 2 weeks in a row.  There are a few things to consider if you're thinking about doing this.  First, I have serious guilt issues with racing.  Typically, I have someone there with me and often they aren't running.  I dragged my mom to this race even though she's coming to the Marine Corps in DC this weekend.  Yes, she wanted to come and be with me, but at what point is it not fair to do this to loved ones?  She had to eat a crappy dinner at a local restaurant, stay in a crappy hotel, and wait outside in the chilly weather at the start line and yet I'm the one who gets a medal?

Second, I am worried about my time for the Marine Corps, although I don't think this race will affect it too much.  I was generally using this as a training run and did have to tell myself several times to slow it down.  So I think I am in good shape for 26.2 miles, especially since this race felt...short.  Yes, I was tired afterwards, but we went straight to the car and I've been fine since.  The only concern is the slightly still upset stomach that is lingering. 

But I felt stressed running this, almost like I was cheating on the Marine Corps Marathon.  I kept thinking, "if anything is going to go wrong, PLEASE let it happen today and not next week!"  That is not a great feeling.

I think I'd be fine doing something like the Goofy challenge in the Disney Marathon (for those of you who don't know, that is a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday).  And maybe if I keep doing this, I won't feel so anxious.  But I think I might prefer to space these out just a TINY bit more in the future....

Haha, I say this now.

Pain

Yesterday, I went to my eye dr, who told me that I must have a "high threshold for pain," because I've managed to scratch my cornea so badly and am still downplaying it.  I wanted to tell her, "well that's because I run marathons..." but thought better of it.

Then today, I was looking at some pics that on the Marine Corps Marathon facebook page and noticed a sign that said, "pain feels better than regret."

And of course, you've probably picked up on my current mantra: "what distinguishes marathoners is their willingness and capacity for pain."

Pain is a weird subject.  It's natural to feel averse to pain because, well, it's painful.  There has to be a point where it's bad to ignore pain, because your body feels pain in general to alert you to something bad.  But sometimes pain can lead you to glory.  Sometimes working through pain leads us to run farther than we ever thought possible, to try something that we never thought we could achieve, or to succeed when we thought it was impossible.  One of the most important parts of marathon running is learning to love pain, to savor it, to work through it. 

And then ultimately, forget all about it so that you can do it all over again!

The only thing standing between me and the Marine Corps Marathon is...the Hershey Half Marathon!  So excited to have a relaxing run this weekend and go to the marvelous spa with my mom.  And then...OORAH!

MarathonMennone's Race Day Tips

On a recent long run, I was thinking about how many races I've done in the past 4 years.  I'm on to marathon #8, but I've also done several half marathons, 10 milers, 5 milers, 10ks, and 5ks.  Sometimes race prep has been as easy as walking 3 blocks to the start from my apartment and sometimes it has involved a plane ride, a taxi ride, a hotel room, and dinner in a strange place.  So I can confidently say that I have come up with strategies that help me through each race.  Maybe these seem obvious, or maybe they will be the ah-ha! moment that someone needs to propel them through a race.

So without further ado....MARATHON MENNONE'S RACE DAY TIPS!

1. Poop before you leave the house.  I know this might seem a bit dramatic, especially since this is my number 1 tip.  Do.not.forget.this.one.  Whether you're staying at home or spending the night in a hotel, spend enough time at home to get in a good poop.  You do NOT want to run a race clenching your butt and hoping for a miracle. And no matter how small your race is, there will be lines at the porta potties.  And even if you are the first person to use it, porta potties stink.  You just can't avoid it.  POOP and POOP OFTEN before you leave your house.
2. Eat enough.  Eat a big meal the night before (this facilitates number 1) and make sure to eat enough on the morning of the race.  Nerves will kick in and you will NOT want to eat, so it's important to be mindful of how much you're eating.  I usually eat a bagel or a cliff bar, and then munch a banana on my way to the race course (for a long race).  And coffee.  Always coffee (see tip #1).
3. Get everything together the night before a race.  This one seems obvious, but panic sets in quickly when you're less than 2 hours away from running 26.2 miles.  I'm not super meticulous about this, but I always have my clothes (usually with the bib already pinned to the shirt), shoes, and GU piled up the night before.
4. Take extra GU.  Or whatever it is you use for energy, take more than you think you need.  I've dropped GU, had it explode while running, and given it to fellow runners.  I've also been handed GU at an aid station, only to realize that I hate the flavor.  I'd rather finish a race with an extra packet than not have enough.
5. Have fun!  The first marathon I did, I think I looked straight ahead the whole time.  I was terrified to look at spectators.  I'm not sure why.  It can be very intimidating - surely they're clapping for someone else.  I thought they must be judging me for going slowly.  But after a few, I realized that people will cheer for ANYONE, especially the people who say thank you or high five them back.
6. Don't take food from strangers.  There will be people handing out food, beer, snacks, GU on the course.  Bless them.  I both love them and don't.  I am personally paranoid about what people might do to food.  However, I am always happy to get a tissue or a popsicle stick of vaseline.  This will be your call, but ultimately, I've made the "better safe than sorry" choice for this one.
7. Take a buddy.  My race buddy is usually my mom or my boyfriend.  I almost never check a bag on race day.  To be honest, the last thing I want to do after I run 26.2 miles is wait in line to get my flip flops or my cell phone.  This usually means that I have to beg to use a stranger's cell phone at the finish line area to find my family, but trust me, it's worth it.  And my buddy always waits with me at the start, allowing me to wear a coat if it's cold, keeping water close by, and keeping me calm.  Which leads me to...
8. Don't drink the kool-aid.  There will be people all around at the start line and probably half of them are really ready for the race.  People will say really stupid stuff like, "it's going to be so hot today!  They said we could drop out if we wanted to!"  "I did a 20 mile training run last week, I am SO ready to kick this race's butt!"  "Yeah, I'm planning on doing this one in under 3 hours."  Or, my personal favorite, people love to ask "have you SEEN the elevation charts on the hills???  They are going to be killer!!"  (My response to anyone mentioning or asking hills is always, ALWAYS: "Nah, I heard they're really small," even if I have not even looked at the race course.  Why get upset or stressed?  You still have to run them).  Don't let these people get in your head.  You don't care how many miles they ran to train.  Who cares if they think it will be hot?  This is your race, not theirs.
9. Have a mantra.  It should be short enough that you can remember it and enough meaning to kepe you going when things really start to hurt.  My mantra right now is "what distinguishes marathoners is their willingness and capacity for pain."  I even got it on a t-shirt for the Marine Corps (haha I am a dork).  But in the middle of a run, it's usually shortened to: "willingness and capacity for pain."  It keeps me focused on what makes me different from the rest of the world and why it's worth it to be hurting so much at the moment.
10. Put your name somewhere.  On a t-shirt, on your bib, write it on your arm.  People WILL cheer for you, especially if they can figure out your name.   If you forget to do this,  hopefully you have a common name like Sarah.  I've found other runners named Sarah with t-shirts in the past and I just run near them and pretend that everyone magically knows my name :)
11. Take some Advil before the race starts.  Everything you read says "don't take painkillers while you train."  I totally agree.  But on race day, I'm taking 2-3 Advil before the race even starts.  And then at least 2-3 when it's over!!
12. Use KT tape.  I have been incredibly lucky this race season (commence knocking on wood until Marine Corps Marathon is over...) and haven't had any serious injuries or pain.  But on race day, I'm going to put some KT tape on my knee and my achilles.  Even if you haven't been hurting all season, if you have anything that might flare up, take precautions.  You'll be going faster on race day (trust me, adrenaline will kick in!) and something will start to hurt.
13. If this is your first race, stop and drink your water at the water stations.  At least slow to a walk.  You cannot drink from a paper cup and run without coughing, spitting, or choking.  It will go up your nose or down your shirt.  It will be more stressful to go through a water station like this than it is to walk for 15 seconds to drink the water and move on. 
14. Don't be afraid to use the medical tents on the course.  I have a very slow marathon time from 2011, but I finished the race because I stopped and had them tie up my knee at mile 13.  Did I have an old injury?  Nope. It just was causing me major pain that day.  I used to think that those tents were for emergencies only and if you stopped, they would make you leave the course.  Not true!  The people were really nice, supportive and helpful!
15. Plan what you'll eat later in the day.  You won't want to cook and ordering a pizza might seem like a good idea, but you probably won't be able to eat as much as you think.  Have a lot of healthy snacks at home so that you can relax, unwind, and recharge easily!!
16. Enjoy the glory!  Wear your medal WHEREVER YOU GO on race day!!!  YOU DESERVE IT!

Boston or Bust!...or...not.

The Marine Corps Marathon is a mere 27 days away.  I am beyond excited to run my 8th marathon in 4 years and to run it in Washington, DC.  I am so excited to do another 26.2, my 3rd this year alone.  And so far, in the back of my mind, all I keep thinking about is how I'm only 10 minutes and 39 seconds away from qualifying for Boston.

For the first time ever, I am seriously considering running with a pace group.  Pace groups, for those of you who are not familiar, are led by insane runners who can not only finish at a certain time (like say 3:35:00), but can also lead a group of ambitious wannabes the whole time.  They usually carry balloons or something on a stick so that they are easy to find for the whole race.  They usually talk their group through the tough parts, the parts where normal runners don't want to talk, let alone make jokes or offer advice.  They pretty much guarantee that if you stick with them, you'll finish at your goal time.

Every once in a while in a previous race, I'd tag behind a pace group or two if I came across them.  But I've never really wanted to join one before.  I'm sure you may have noticed this, but I'm not a super social runner.  I don't necessarily want to have to talk to other runners when I'm in the middle of a grueling race.  But maybe it would help?  Maybe if I'm really in pain, it will help to know the name of the person in pain next to me?

I still haven't really decided if I'm going to do it.  A big part of me wonders if it will be too much added pressure.  What if I can't keep up?  What if I run with them for the first 20 miles and then just lose it for the last 6 and totally tank?  Could this actually lead to my worst time instead of my best?  What if we don't finish in 3:35:00 - what if we're 30 seconds over and I STILL don't qualify for Boston?

And then I have to ask...who cares?  Who cares if I qualify for Boston?  I mean, sure it would be great.  But when it comes down to it, there has to be a balance between enjoying the race and striving for excellence.  How to find that balance?  Does it include a pace group?  Does it include taking the week before the race off...or doing a half marathon in Hershey (hint, it should include a half marathon in Hershey, since that's what I'm doing).

No matter what happens, I just want to finish marathon #8.  And then, I want to make it to marathon #80.  I want my race pictures to still have me giving the thumbs up or dancing on the course.  Because if running has taught me anything, it's that a good time is nice, but having fun is ultimately what makes you remember a race.