Running as a Resume' Item: Who'd Have Thought?

About two months ago I was on my way into the bank taking a check from the 15 year-old boy for deposit as reimbursement for the overly extravagant radio control helicopter Colin he "just had to have", when I am stopped on the steps leading into to the bank by a nice, younger, man and his very attractive wife.

He says to me that he noticed the stickers on the Odyssey - as if anyone could miss them, really - and asked if I ran locally and if I was also "doing triathlons."  Knowing that my triathlon bike is at this moment on the roof rack of the Odyssey, I politely answer, "Yes."  I explain that I am new to triathlon but that I have been running for some time now.  He introduces himself as Nate Brannen, one of the partners/owners of a new running and triathlon shop getting ready to open here in Tallahassee.  Many of us in the running and triathlon community have been waiting with somewhat anxious feet for this shop to get out of the blocks.  I have read here and there about their shop, so I was somewhat familiar with his and his partner's goals as well as their accolades.  His partner, by-the-way, is Kevin Sullivan (husband of Karen Harvey, coach of the Florida State University Women's Cross Country Team).

Now to most of you, except our Grandpa Don McEwen, these names mean next to nothing.  However, they are BOTH Canadian and ran at the University of Michigan ... and they BOTH ran in the 2008 Beijing Olympics for Canada.  I find that peculiar, knowing Don and his history as we do, so I have to include it here.  So, back to my story.  When I met Nate, I joked with him that I would love to chat with the two of them about working part time in the shop.  Not too many weeks later, Colin and I run a 5K that Nate and Kevin and Karen are also running.  No shock to either of us when the "Canooks" win 1st and 2nd, because we actually know "who they are."  Colin, who finished 5th overall, chats with them both after the race as he waits for his slow mother to shuffle to the finish.  Nate, Kevin, and Karen are all quite pleasant we talk very briefly and then go our separate ways.

A day or so after the race, I get a short message from Nate that he and Kevin would be interested in talking to me about working with them in the new shop, Capital City Runners, would I please send him my resume'.  So I do.  I am not completely stupid you know.  Well, turns out that my massive retail experience, running finesse, and ties to the local running/triathlon community simply wowed and overwhelmed them.  Bah, ha, ha!!!  No, really, they quite plainly told me that they believe we will be a good match to get the shop open and off and running.  I can only hope that they like working with me as much as I believe I am going to enjoy working with them.

 

Holy Moly!  Leave it to me to find, yet another something new out there in a runner's world to get in on.  I am lovin' it to the max.  Start looking for me, the Boston Qualifier on staff, over there on Thomasville Road between Five Guys Burgers and Red Elephant starting October 16.  It's going to be a blast.  Real runners getting more real runners ready to run.  What more could a running girl want?

A Somewhat Disjointed and Very Tardy Report on "Sarasota" Senior Champs (July 22-25, 2010)

Saturday, July 24

Here I sit in the hotel room with Colin this morning waiting for the 400 Freestyle event to come up on the heat sheet/event listing for today's swims.  His coach advised him to leave the pool after this morning's warm up session so that he could stay out of the heat and sun and off his legs until necessary.  So, here we are in the air conditioned (thank the good Lord for a/c) room doing next to nothing.

First, I apologize for there not being many pictures.  I have my camera but I have not really had an opportunity to take any pictures as the parents are kept separate from the kids, and when I do have the chance Colin acts like Calvin without his Hobbes and it all goes South...

We arrived in Sarasota Thursday afternoon about 2:30 following a completely non-eventful drive.  Pretty easy to get here and it has been remarkably easy to navigate this part of Sarasota so far.  The pool is a 3 mile straight shot up the road. and the hotel runs a shuttle for just the swimmers if we, the parents, just don't feel like taking them to warm ups.  Colin and his distance swimming team mates were in the pool for warm up on time Thursday evening and then began the WAIT for Colin's heat of the 800 Freestyle.  Keep in mind that this particular event can "run" as quickly as 8 minutes per heat or as long as 10+ minutes per heat.  Turns out that there were enough masochistic distance swimmers from around the state to fill 19 heats of 8 swimmers for this event and Colin was seeded in Heat 14.  Blech!  We were going to be there alllllllllll night!  All of the other ATAC 800 Free swimmers were in heats prior to Colin's so we got to see everyone swim and we saw some great finishes.  Scott Fortier swam a blazing fast time - achieving a Junior National qualifying time (VERY FAST!); Sergey Rogachev dropped 10 seconds to get under the 9 minute mark; Joey Leonard turned in a best time by 9 seconds; Hannah Capers dropped about 16 seconds for a best time; Madison Osterlund dropped 20+ seconds for a new best time.  Colin and his team mate John Gideon Mottice were in the same heat (2 lanes apart) and the race was on from the first 50 meters.  Colin went out strong, got in front and stayed in front.  It was an amazing swim for him.  He pulled away from all the others bit by bit and was nearly 25-30 meters ahead of the next swimmer by the time he stretched into the wall for the finish.  He dropped a scorching 25 seconds for a 9:25:73 finish.  A fabulous, fantastic, outstanding start for what has continued to be a great weekend of swimming for him and his team.

Yesterday began overcast, not quite as hot, and a bit breezy.  The breeze was very welcome until we all realized that might mean breaking down all of the pop-up sun shade tents we bring to meets.  The rain managed to stay away until the break between the preliminary and finals sessions.  And we all waited with some anxiety about the potential trouble Bonnie was swirling towards us.  ATAC swam exceptionally well in the preliminary session and sent swimmers to nearly every event in at finals.  We had winners in the 400 IM, the 100 Fly and our Boys A 800 Free Relay team took second place and the B Team finished in 10th place.  Yippee!  Colin swam the 200 Free in the preliminary session as a bonus event, dropping 4+ seconds to achieve the qualifying time for this event, thus he will now be eligible to swim it in February.  Later in the afternoon his 400 Free would be nearly as spectacular as his 800 performance on Thursday.  He left more than 10 seconds in the water to swim a 4:32:33 and have another Senior (17-18 age group) time to his credit.  He continues to have a great meet.

Our "new college swimmer" Hunter Hinson is also swimming very strong next to his future 'Bama team mate Joe Ziegler (who is also training to swim at the National meet in Irvine, California, in two weeks).  Hunter continues to turn in strong, steady, scorching fast swims and impresses all those in the stands wishing their boys had half of what he does.  It is going to be awesome to watch him swim for the NCAA next year.  Roll Tide!

This was a welcome sight to the swimmers:  rarely seen and highly sought.

Sunday, July 25

Today held in store the 200 Backstroke and the 1500 Freestyle for Colin.  After early morning warm up, we returned to the hotel for air conditioned relief from the continual onslaught of humidity and heat of Sarasota.  Our return to the pool was timed so Colin would have plenty of time to completely warm up again for the 200 Back, and then wait for his heat assignment in the 1500 Free.  The 200 Back had been chosen as his second bonus event with his only goal to better his time.  Better it he would, and by enough time (-5.5 seconds) to bank a qualifying time for February's Senior Champs.  For the next 2 hours, we patiently melted and thus periodically reconstituted ourselves while waiting for Colin's heat of the 1500 Free.  After swimming 4 best times and putting up 2 more qualifying times, I fully expected Colin to be tired and ready to get on the road.  He amazed all of us yet again by swimming the 1500 in 18:05:84, dropping 16 seconds from his seed time.  He placed 11th out of nearly 30 (15-16 boys) swimmers, and earned his fair share of points for the team.

ATAC went on to finish 3rd overall; Boys 2nd and Girls 4th.  Colin was ecstatic with his swimming and left Sarasota looking forward to the Area I-IV Championships on July 31-August 1 and another Senior Champs in February.

From Marathoner to Triathlete

Okay, so when a complete strangers tells you that maybe you should update your blog, perhaps it really and truly is time to post an update.  So, here we go.  Hang on, it's been an "E-Ticket Ride" of a spring and summer since qualifying for the Boston Marathon!

February included another marathon - 26.2 with Donna:  The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer (Jacksonville, Florida).  My purpose there this year was simply to be the pacer for my long-time running partner and near-to-bestest friend and her sister.  Their goal was 4 hours, and it was totally doable.  The Donna is a great event and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well run marathon.  Not-to-mention it is FLAT (except for that one bridge).  Did I mention it runs on the Beach?  Yep it does.  I will run this one for many years to come.  This month also finished up by helping another one of my training partners, Robin, get ready for the Snickers Marathon (Albany, Georgia) as her Boston Qualifying race.  Yes, sirree bob, she did it in splendid style...as I knew she would.

March was kind of calm with the focus on getting back on the bike for distance (Blue Line 100 Century at the end of the month) and cross-training while throwing in a couple of shorter races to look for some PRs:  Springtime Tallahassee 10K (49:06).  April was much the same:  ramping up on the bike miles and turning in a 5K PR (22:45) at the Palace Saloon 5K near mid-month.  April was spectacular in that I was able to be on the course for the 3rd year in a row while Colin competed in the Red Hills Triathlon along with his ATAC teammates Alex Dehner (Team TRIMac) and Colby Allen. 

My wonderful husband, Mike, raced his first ever triathlon at Red Hills this year, and it was a treat to see all of them finish, and to have the Son waiting for the Father at the finish line.  All in all April was great, the weather held and offered us the opportunities to train during daylight and to not yet suffer from any serious heat.

May was not so kind to me.  On the 3rd I rolled (severely sprained) my ankle during a very normal 12 mile run.  The type of sprain kept me off my bike and out of the running shoes for not quite three weeks.  Those of you that know me well, also know that by Day 2 I was losing my mind and took up yet another endeavor...I began distance swimming.  Blech!  By the end of the first 10 days I was "pulling" nearly 2000 yards during my younger son's swim practices.  Pulling only because the flutter kick motion caused quite a bit of pain for a long time.  Much longer than I would have thought.  So, by the time I was up to that distance, I started toying around with the possibility of a triathlon.  But here again, I was not thinking about any old Tri.  I was thinking Ironman 70.3 Augusta (Georgia).

For the uninitiated, a 70.3 is classified by USAT as a "Long Course" triathlon.  Most of the rest of us call them a Half Iron.  A full Ironman (or Ultra to USAT) is 140.6 miles:  2.4 mile swim. 112 mile ride, 26.2 mile run.  Cut it all in half to get a 70.3.  Yes, the stupid pills that I thought were gone after my last Goofy (2009) apparently had reappeared in my vitamin sorter.  OMG!  Really?  What was I thinking?

So, envision this:  I am running/training/coaching with my friend who is going to race to qualify for Boston in October.  I am riding with the Girls Gone Iron for my bike legs, and I am swimming 2 or 3 mornings at 5:30 when my oldest is also in the water for practice.  Somewhere around mid-June I decide that a local sprint Tri might be a good idea just to see if I "hate" the concept of putting all three together in any one day.  I pick, foolishly, the 25th "tri-ing" of the Freedom Springs Triathlon.  It consists of a .25 mile swim, 10 mile ride, and a 5K (3-ish) run.  I have been warned about the COLD water in the spring and the weeds along the swim course.  But, I think to myself I have been swimming upwards of the 1.2 miles necessary for the Half Iron, surely I can get through a 1/4 mile swim.  I have ridden and run the bike and run courses in the past, so I was not really concerned about them.  Completely doable is how I approached this race.  I had (of course...it's me) set a couple of time goals just for kicks and grins:  Best case:  1:10; Acceptable:  1:15; and Live with:  1:20.  I had pretty much banked on a 32 minute ride and a 25 minute run, so I was planning on a 9 or 10 minute swim.  All of that should have played out nearly to the minute.

My younger son and I arrived at Blue Springs in plenty of time to set up and get checked in and body marked.  I had a plan:  move slowly and in a relaxed manner until it was time for the pre-race "talk" and then go.  The water is very, very cold there.  But, I thought I had spent enough time (10+ minutes) submerged in the "freezing cold what was I thinking" water slowly stroking and trying to be in control of my breathing.  We paddled over to the start area and then tread water for 2-3 minutes waiting for the horn to sound.  I maintain that the treading of water and the weeds were my downfall.  Ha!  Needless to say, by the time I navigated the swim I was nearing the 16 minute mark and was not feeling to great about anything except that I had made it out of the water without anyone's assistance.  I shuffled to my towel, slipped on my flip flops, ditched my cap and goggles, and made my way in a slow jog to the bike transition area.  Got my gear together and on while listening to my baby boy and doll-girl (Savanah Crutchfield) tell me I was doing great.  I thanked them both, told them I loved them, and hauled my butt at full run out of T1.  I was in the "must make up that time" mind set, and make up time I was determined to do.

During one stage of this year's Tour de France, a commentator described one of the riders as "dancing on the pedal" while he broke away from a group and charged up a hill.  That was me as I took off.  I was up on the pedals trying to get up to speed in a big fat hurry.  I managed to turn in a 28+ minute ride thereby making up a few minutes that I had lost in the swim.  Now I was pleased.  I might actually be able to finish respectably.  I managed to get into my running shoes and visor without falling over and took off, again up hill, for the 3-ish mile run.  It is supposed to be a 5K, but I think it is really closer to 3 miles.  Finished the run in just over 24 minutes, again pleased that I was under my goal for that leg. 

 

Overall I finished in 1:13:54.  3rd in the 40-44 Female age group, and something like 63rd out of the pack.  I decided that was respectable enough to try (HA!) another Tri. 

Next on the list is the Jacksonville Sprint #3 on Amelia Island, August 7th.  Then, I will lay back and train like a demon for Augusta.  Yeah, it's still out there on the horizon.  Looks achievable.  What can I say?  I'm a freak.

This Girl is Going to Boston!

Yeah haw!  Just in case you hadn't heard ... I was about to die by the time I reached the finish line yesterday ... I qualified to run the (THE) Boston Marathon next April.  Actually, I qualified to run it this April, but registration is closed and the field of 25,000 runners is full.  So, next year it is.  And, that is OKAY by me because I am not sure I could run it this coming April even if I wanted to.

The race/marathon event that I chose to use as my qualifying race was here in Tallahassee.  It was chosen by Runner's World magazine as one of the top 10 marathons to run for those looking to qualify.  By all noticeable accounts, it is "flat," straight, and "fast."  I have run the half marathon distance of this event several times, but this is the first time I picked it for the full 26.22 miles.

It was a challenge and difficult run in that I knew I had to run "hard" early on in order to build a cushion so I would have time to back off and slow down if I needed it towards the end.  In hindsight, it being 20/20 and all, I probably could have laid back just a bit in the earlier miles and had something left to give at the end, but who knows.  And, to be honest, it doesn't really matter now.  It is done; I have my time to run the Boston Marathon; and it really was a good run overall.

This first picture (shirt tied around my waist) is some where between miles 6 and 7.  The next picture (no shirt around my waist) is just about the 30K (18.6 miles) mark.

Training for this has been an exceptionally lengthy process.  And my family and friends have been more than supportive, accommodating, and understanding.  My "plan" started 16 weeks ago in October, but I really started in August with my friend Cathy who was training for a November marathon.  I am not sure that I would go through that many weeks/months of training for the next marathon, but I can tell you that I was completely prepared for race day.  We had put in plenty of hill training; an abundance of tempo and pace runs; and goo-gobs of long runs not-to-mention the all dreaded speed work.  As much as I hate to admit it, because I despise it, speed work helps.  Not every week, and not all year long.  I truly believe you only run WHAT THE PLAN SAYS TO RUN AND WHEN IT SAYS TO RUN IT.  No deviations - and that includes the cross training.   I am confident when I say that cross training is an all important factor of "fast" marathon running.  Road cycling and high intensity spin classes teach/train the fast twitch muscles to move even when they don't  want to , particularly going up hill.  Now, I would mix up the days that things occurred, but I did not change the workouts themselves.  I am glad for that now as I have a wicked great time (at least for me) to show for it.

I did learn along the way to make sure the YOU are ready for the race and to not rely too heavily on anyone person being a part of your training or race day plans.  Colin begrudgingly agreed to meet me at Mile 20 and "run me in" for the last 10K.  By that time I was nearly run out and moving almost entirely on steam and determination.  He did a great job of keeping my feet going one foot in front of the other and by setting little bitty goals for me:  "Mom, you are going to catch that guy in the blue shirt."  "Mom, we are going to pass that guy in the blue shirt."  "Mom, you can't walk the finish line is right over there....."  "Go! Go! Go. Go. Go. I am not going to be quiet until you pick it up a little."  He really was a good kid to have for the last 6+ miles.  It would have been even harder than it was with out him.

My most wonderful,  very supportive, encouraging, loving,

understanding husband met me at the finish (after completing his first Half Marathon)  I could hear him as I made the last tenth of a mile or so, "Hello, Boston!"  he was shouting. I could see the clock was well below my goal time of 3:50:59 and I was so happy.  It won't show it in the pictures, but I was ecstatic that I had not only made the time, but torn it up just a little bit.  My fantastic running partner Cathy was there waiting for me, and Michelle, my newest "Life" friend, was there.  The three of them had all the right things to say and do for me.  It was truly a blessing to have them at the finish and to then hear my 15 year-old say out loud in front of complete strangers, "I love you, Mom.  I'm going to get Maggie."  And off he ran, back out onto the course to find and pick up Maggie who was on her way in to finish as well.  Not too long after that Maggie and Sherrie, with an entire entourage of escorts, arrived at the track.  Church bells began ringing the hour just as they crossed under the finish arch.  

It was fabulous.  Truly fabulous.  Except for the aching muscles, I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything.  Look out Boston!  You have 434 days to prepare for us to descend upon you.  We will leave our mark, I promise.

What a Reunion...

When my ten year high school reunion rolled around (in 1996), I had a one and a half-year old and Mike was trying valiantly to convince the DEA (federal Drug Enforcement Administration) to hire him.  When it came time for the 20 year reunion in 2006 not enough of my/our class was interested in that and all plans sort of just melted away into the dust and shadows.  I have said before that I don't have many "lifetime" friends, and those I do have I hold very dear.  These three girls (ladies, I suppose, now that we are in our 40's) have been near and dear to my heart since 1982 when I moved to Montevallo, Alabama, and sort of schlepped into their tightly knit cluster.  They re-wove to accommodate me and we have been friends ever since.  The three of them live within 30 miles of each other and have far more opportunity to get together as a group than the four of us.  But, it seems that no matter how long it has been and how far apart we make our homes and raise our families, we are close again immediately upon our reunion.

Saturday night we sat for HOURS in this "mom and pop" Italian bistro (Joe's Italian) in the Alabaster "sector" of Alabama.  We laughed, and talked, and ate, and drank some wine, and laughed until we cried and talked some more.  It was the best of evenings.  One of those evenings spent with friends who truly know ALL ABOUT you and love you until the end of times.

WOW!

Thanks, Ladies!  You make the entire 1,100+ miles this week more than worth it.

Holidays and Hopes

As the year 2009 draws to a close, I once again find myself looking ahead to the coming year with anxiety and anticipation of the goals I have set and hope to accomplish.  Briefly, this is what a portion of 2010 may or may not turn out to include...

January, 2010
1.6.2010 - Colin leaves for the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena, California
1.8.2010 - Colin's 15th Birthday - OMG, he can get his driving permit...
1.16.2010 - GWTC 15K/30K
1.29-31.2010 - ATAC Short Course Invitational

February, 2010
2.7.2010 - Tallahassee Marathon and Half - Hoping to qualify for Boston 2011 here......
2.18.2010 - Mom-in-luv (Nancy's) Birthday!
2.21.2010 - 26.2 with Donna (3rd Time's the Charm) or Hope to qualify for Boston 2011 here......
2.25-28.2010 - Short Course Florida Swimming Senior Championships

March, 2010
3.6.2010 - TRBC 10K
3.7.2010 - Seaside Half Marathon - I most likely will not make this race, but who knows.
3.27.2010 - Springtime Tallahassee 10K
3.28.2010 - Blue Line 100 Century Ride


April, 2010
4.17-18.2010 - TOSRV Double Century Ride
Rose City Run (10K)

Small Quizzes - Just as Important as the Tests

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone and its wake left two minor quizzes  with a Passing grade.  Every Thanksgiving for last seven (yes, 7) years I get up early, usually with Colin, and head to Southwood for the annual running of the Tallahassee Turkey Trot.  In the beginning I ran the 5K with my friend Cathy and we worked our way up to the 15K where we have settled in the last 4 years.  This year's "Trot" was a personal challenge in two ways:  I wanted to beat last year's time which was phenomenal (then), and I had a time goal in mind.  That is something I very rarely do - set a time goal.  However, I have begun setting them for the shorter distances to see just how long I can hold onto that elusive Boston-qualifying pace that I need in a couple of months.

So, off we went with me a bit more nervous about 9.3 miles than in the past.  Colin sees friends right off the bat and falls into place with them, knowing that he will see me at the finish when I am done ... some 30 minutes after he completes the 10K race (which he did this year in 41:57 - a personal record by more than 3 minutes).  I chat with some friends and other runners as nearly 3,600 of us wait for the gun to sound and be on our way.  Better late than never, the horn sounds and we get moving.  Gosh, it takes a while to get out and around the crowds who didn't follow the corralling directions, but soon enough I am in my own bubble clipping along at a nice pace.  I guess about Mile 1 or so, Robin Safley eases up behind me and then next to me, and settles in with me for the next 8+ miles.  We chat a good bit until about mile 7, and then the conversation gets really one-sided:  only me talking.  I don't know if Robin was trying to give me a hint, or if we were at that point in a run where only one us should be talking at a time - not enough oxygen for both of us...  Ha!  Robin is one of those athletes who even when she is about to die on the course never looks like she is in distress, or working hard, or even sweating.  It can be somewhat disheartening if you let it get to you.  Thankfully, Robin is bubbly and fun, and chatty (most of the time) and always appreciative of company on the course - even when it's me.

We go on to put up two personal records (PRs) in fabulous style and we are both in great spirits when we finish.  It is always amazing to me to know that a running partner can make all the difference in a so-so run and a fantastic finish (1:17:55 for a 15K+).

Speaking of running partners, Monday morphed into the long run day this week by virtue of the holiday preceding it.  Family, turkey, football, church they just don't leave a lot of room in the day for an 18-mile jaunt down the St. Mark's Trail.  Nor should they.  So, after getting both the boys off to school, I zipped down to the south-side of town to meet my running buddies, Maggie and Michelle.  We started off in the cool, not quite 50 degree misty morning for our latest endurance test.  I knew that 18 was a long way, and I needed to be conservative, but not too slow, in my miles.  Michelle was just out because she and Maggie got a bug in their panties last weekend and decided to run the Tallahassee Marathon in February.  We had a great run:  18 miles at just about 9:10 pace and a bit better in some places.  I was happy because I can see that it might actually be a reasonable goal for me to attempt that whole Boston Qualifying thing in February.  Lots of prayers, and with God's grace I will get there.  Woo Hoo!