Savannah Women's Half Marathon--Half Marathon Attempt #7

I was reminded of a quote in my old CrossFit box, Fall down 7 times, get up 8.

Well, I fell down 6 times, and have gotten up 7.

We went to the expo on Friday night with the plan of getting our stuff, then heading to the Hotel.  My sister told me to buy the "I did it" or finisher t-shirt and just own it and KNOW I was going to finish.  I was going to, however, they didn't have one to buy.  The only thing I'm sad about is that I didn't buy a t-shirt, and we didn't get one with our registration.

While we were at the Expo, we signed up for the RNR Savannah in November.  I knew I
HAD to finish on Saturday.

We got up on Saturday and got ready to go to the race.  It started in Savannah's historic Forsyth Square.  On the way to the start line, I took a picture of the finish line and posted it on my Facebook page with the caption "See you in about 4 hours".  There was a 4 hour time limit for the race, and I was planning to walk the majority of the race.  I started using my RunKeeper app, and following the 30 second run/30 second walk intervals.  I figured I'd stick with those until I just couldn't stand it anymore and then I would walk.

To my surprise, at mile 6, I was still feeling pretty dang good.  about mile 6.5 I was a bit crampy and decided to eat the banana I had in my skirt pocket.  I missed a few running intervals while I was eating my banana.  I threw my peel away and got right back to my intervals.  The miles were clicking by fairly quickly (I know, I'm slower than slow, but for me, it seemed fast)

I just kept plugging along and running/walking whenever my running app told me to.  I did see the "sag wagon" following the last 3 ladies when I was between miles 7 & 8.  The last ladies were just after mile 6, as this was the part of the course where we went up and back and around the same park about 6 different ways.  I was a good bit ahead of them, but felt my anxiety starting to creep up.  As soon as it started I told myself, "no, run 30 seconds...walk 30 seconds....that is ALL that matters right now!"

I absolutely REFUSED to let anything negative enter my mind.  I had met with my running coach only once, but he told me that running is the most mental sport.  I told him that I have no faith in my ability to be a runner, or have any success athletically.  My sister is the athlete.  She is the one that everyone just knows will be good at things.  Anything she decides to do, if it's a sport, she's gonna kill it, or die trying.  I've always been the girly girl.  No one expects me to be athletic.  I want to be an athlete, but I just don't have any faith in my ability to be successful.

I refused to let anything negative get to me this time.  I started thinking at mile 8, "OMG, I still have 5 more miles to go?  How can I do this?"  So then I turned it around mentally and said, "You've finished 8 miles and the only time you didn't do your run intervals was when you were eating, KEEP IT UP!"

I hit the historic square before mile 9 (I had seen the mile 9 sign before I turned right to run around the square so I knew I was close).  Not long after that my sister called to see where I was.  The cool thing is, even when I was talking on the phone, my running app would notify me of the upcoming interval.  So even while on the phone with my sister, my mom, my kids, my husband, I kept doing my intervals.  When I talked o my sister at mile 9, she said, "oh, so you'll be here in about an hour."  I asked her what time it was, and she said, "9:35".  I almost passed out!!

That meant that I had done between 8 and 9 miles in 2 hours...averaging about 15 minute miles....and I was at mile 9.  Unheard of for me.  I was shocked, in a good way, and just kept plugging along.

I got past mile 10, then mile 11.....now, mile 11 was brutal.  Why?  Not physically, no....but I was getting hungry...and someone between miles 11 & 12, somewhere, was cooking fried chicken.  I could smell it.  If I had known who it was, I would likely have busted through their door to steal a piece.  It smelled AMAZING!!!  I wanted a piece of that dang fried chicken.

I got to mile 12....almost the furthest I have ever been.  (remember at the Battleship Half I made it to mile 12.5).  Around the end of mile 11 my hamstrings would no longer let me run my 30 second intervals.  Kara called me again somewhere during mile 12.  I told her that I was somewhere in mile 12 and would be finishing soon.  About that time, I passed two of Savannah's finest, and asked them where I was, they said mile 12-1/2.  I told Kara that I couldn't run anymore, so it'd probably be like about 10-15 minutes.  Not too long after that, I turned a corner and I could see the fountain in Forsyth Park.  I started to cry...I knew I was going to make it.  I didn't give a CRAP about the time.  I was going to finish a half marathon!

I kept going, and a lady near me saw that I was crying and asked why.  I explained I had never finished a half marathon but had attempted it MANY times.  She slowed her pace a bit to stay with me, and encourage me through the last quarter mile or so.

Before I knew it, there was a guy telling us, "Congratulations...you're in the finisher's chute!!"  I was in shock.  There were people sitting on the park benches around the fountain, like spectators at a horse race.  I saw the mile 13 marker, and I wanted to run some intervals to finish.  I made myself run a bit.  I kept putting one foot in front of another.  I looked up at the finish line and could see the clock, which showed 3:27 something.  This is huge, because all Run Disney races, and most half marathons have a cap time of 3:30.  I was going to not only finish, but I was going to finish in under 3:30.  This is HUGE!!

Here are my split times, from RunKeeper, the third column has to do with change in elevation in each mile

1 mi

13:57

6

2 mi

13:24

8

3 mi

14:36

-18

4 mi

14:11

-13

5 mi

14:19

-9

6 mi

14:52

-8

7 mi

15:21

6

8 mi

15:52

-15

9 mi

14:53

0

10 mi

16:07

19

11 mi

17:18

10

12 mi

15:53

-13

13 mi

17:41

12

14 mi

18:04

-3

Then I looked up and saw my sister, standing there waiting for me.  She had my medal, and she was going to put my medal on.  I crossed that finish line....and I cried, A LOT!  My sister hugged me and we cried together.  She was there to put my medal on me.  We took a finisher's photos, and I couldn't be more proud.

I am moving forward and will continue to run and work hard.  My next race is the Rock-n-Roll Chicago Half Marathon in July.  I do have a running coach, who will help me to get to reach all of my goals.  I'm hoping to train and get a bit faster, and see if I can't finish that race in under 3 hours...even 2:59:59 would work.  I know I can.

Thank you to everyone who has been so amazing and supportive of me and my goals over the years.  You all help me continue to chase my dreams, rather than giving up on them.

3 years, and I'm STILL fighting!

Three years ago at the end of February my kids went to Florida to watch the final shuttle launch.  While they were there, my Mom and Dad, my kids, my niece and my sister stayed at Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Property.  As a last minute thing, my sister signed up for the 5k during Princess Half Marathon weekend.  She told me how awesome it was, and seeing all the ladies dressed up in princess costumes while running, and that she was going to sign up.  I had decided to seriously work on my weight issues, and thus, the road to me finishing a half marathon began....

I was working with a Personal trainer, and seeing significant changes in my weight and ability, but he ended up leaving the gym, and I was again lost at sea.  My trainer hadn't talked to me about the logic behind what I was doing, he didn't teach me what to do or why I should do it.  I was at sea without a rudder, so I went back to old, unhealthy habits, and pretty much quit working out again.  Not having any concept of what it took to run a half marathon, and in complete denial about just how miserable unhealthy I was, I decided to start training in early January for a late February race.  This was a horrible decision that led to a early diagnosis of having a broken bone in my right foot after just 1 run.  The follow-up with my orthopedist showed no break, so I was basically told that running at 270 pounds was of course going to hurt, but if I kept running and moving, my weight should go down, and thus, the pain in the foot would get better.

February 26, 2012, I attempted the Princess Half Marathon.  I made it a whopping 2 miles before I saw a charter bus pulled across the road, and the bus took me to the finish line.  We were encouraged that even Cinderella had to catch a ride to the ball.  We were given our medals, and congratulated for our efforts.  I found this laughable, and didn't feel like I deserved my medal at all.  To this day, I'm not even sure where that medal is.  I didn't feel worthy of that medal.

I'm nothing if not persistent, sometimes to my own detriment.  I hurried up and registered for the Battleship Half Marathon in Wilmington, NC for the first weekend in November of 2012.  It had a 3 hour time limit for runners, but walkers were welcome, and could start an hour earlier to have a 4 hour time limit.  I didn't train between the two.  I did a 5k here in town and then waited for the race.  Again, I was in complete denial of just out horribly unhealthy and out of shape I was.  That day, I made it 12.5 miles before I threw in the towel.

Attempt number 3 at a half marathon was the Princess Half Marathon 2013.  I again made it 10 miles.  My foot was really painful.  I reached the point where the pain in my foot was SO BAD that I was feeling nauseous with every step.  I sat down and waited for that oh-so-dreaded charter bus to take me to the finish line.  That afternoon I went to the ER and they suspected I had a stress fracture.  I again followed up with an orthopedist who said there was no fracture or break, just the expected pain from running at 260 pounds or so.

In June of 2013 I ran a local 5k here in my town, and it took me almost an hour to finish, and then I couldn't walk right for nearly 3 days.  I finally went to a foot specialist who sent me for an MRI.  They found a small break in my Navicular bone.  This is one of the bones in the foot that bears weight.  As a result of it being an old break, I got to spend 8 blissful, sweaty and hot weeks in a boot.  Bone healed.

On September 30, 2013, I went ahead with Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery.  Once cleared to start exercising, I did...very slowly.  Then I decided to sign up for a transformation challenge at my gym.  in the first week of the challenge, I went to a Zumba class and tore up my left knee.  I ended up having to have knee surgery a year ago, on March 6.  about 6 weeks later, I had a friend who won an entry to the Diva Half marathon.  I signed up, and made it to 7 miles, but my knee wasn't ready, and locked up.  This is also the race where I learned about the horrors of a Neuroma in my foot.

On to attempt 5, the Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon.  I always end up getting a nervous stomach.  I tend to take an Imodium to prevent it, but forgot it this particular morning.  I started having to stop at every port-o-potty from mile 4 on.  Not a good thing.  Especially as a post-op WLS patient.  Dehydration is a serious danger, which I found out for myself in Chicago.  I got to mile 8 and asked for some Imodium.  When they took my blood pressure I was immediately pulled from the course due to dehydration.  I was transported to the finish line, this time in an ambulance, and got Salted Gatorade (the worst invention since Pitocin in my opinion) to get myself rehydrated.

Attempt number 6 was at the Wine and Dine race at Walt Disney World, otherwise known as "Splash and Dash"  There is nothing more hellish than a night race that starts at 10:00 in 50* weather an pouring down rain.  I was swept at mile 11.

I was supposed to do the Glass Slipper Challenge in February, but I got a stomach bug and ended up in the ER instead.  As a consolation my sister signed the two of us up for the Publix Savannah Women's Half Marathon.  It was so very worth it!!!

Race recap coming up soon!

I have a running coach!!!

So, I've been attempting this running thing for the last few years, and failing miserably, over and over.

Here is what I have learned about myself over the last few years:

1.  I suck at holding myself accountable
2.  I need outside accountability
3.  No matter how much I want to do something I need external support

I found out tonight that I can sign up for unlimited monthly child care at our gym, which costs only $4 more than taking my 3 kids once.  So, this weekend, I'll be adding unlimited child care, so that the only limitation to my ability to work out is if child care is open or not.

The exciting news is that not having any timing stuff with me, just working at listening to Gene, I ran when he said to, walking when he said to.  After all was said and done, I did 2 miles, averaged a 15:41 pace, which include 2 warm-up laps and 2 cool-down laps.  That felt really good.

This is my base-line.  I'm excited for the next few months and training for the Rock 'n Roll Chicago Half Marathon.  I'm going to do measurements, and weight this weekend.  I'm also going to walk the Publix Savannah Half Marathon to get a baseline time

I'll post more when I get done on Saturday afternoon.

Krista

Sad, but moving on!!

Right now I SHOULD be reveling in the completion of my first Glass Slipper Challenge!  I SHOULD be walking around (more likely hobbling more than walking) around with 3 awesome medals clanging together on my chest.  I SHOULD be happy its over, but excited for having finished.
Instead, I'm sitting in the recliner, praying my lunch stays down.  I was supposed to leave Thursday to go to Disney World.  It was supposed to be my redemption from my previous DNF's.  I got my first serious stomach bug since weight loss surgery late on Tuesday night.

I have read and heard repeatedly since my surgery that throwing up after weight loss surgery is different...but never an explanation of what that means exactly.  You may not want to read this next part, but it's my reality.  After weight loss surgery, specifically with Gastric Sleeve, which I had, I only have about 20-35% of my original stomach.  That means that there isn't nearly enough force to have me be sick the way a person with a full stomach would.  First, I thought my body was trying to throw up my toes.  I knew it was coming for a few minutes before it actually happened I was sweating profusely.  Then it happened, and I realized the lack of force means that my body couldn't get it all out at once.  It was stuck in my throat, so basically, you either keep wretching, or you swallow it....I know that's gross, but it's still my reality.  I was also having intestinal issues to go with it.  I ended up in the ER on Wednesday night with dehydration.  I had to get two bags of fluids, zofran and phenergan through my IV and LOTS of prescriptions to keep me from throwing up any more.   I've had to continue to take the medicine to keep my stomach from cramping.

All of this considered, I wasn't able to head to Florida for the Princess Half Marathon weekend.  I have had to fax and email my ER discharge papers to Run Disney (hoping they'll allow me to defer, even though it's after the deferral deadline since it was for medical reasons) and Hotwire (in the hopes of getting our hotel money refunded, again, because it was medical).  I have spent a lot of time crying this week, and feeling sorry for myself.  I wanted redemption SO BADLY!!

My sister has paid for me to run the Publix Savannah Half Marathon at the end of March, as my 40th birthday gift from her.  There is a 4 hour time limit, so I should be fine.  Other than that, my next half marathon, and the only other race on my schedule is the Rock N Roll Half in Chicago.  I have a TON of time and training to get into shape.

The only positive I can find from this whole situation, is that I am now only 2.5 pounds from losing 100 pounds, rather than the 7 pounds away I was earlier this week.  I've got a lot of work to do, and buckling down to do over the next few months to get ready and to be successful.  I'd LOVE nothing more than to finish the RNR Chicago in under 3 hours....we'll see how that goes.

Krista

Day 1 in the books!

So I did the first day of training on the training plan that I could find.  It said 3 miles.  I decided that if I was under my PR for a 5k, I would go to get 3.1.

I did my first mile in 12:24

At this point I was still a bit tentative, I realized I was into my own head, as I tend to be.  I didn't believe I could do 4 mph for my walk interval (I was doing 3.5 sometimes, 4.0 sometimes).  I was doing my run intervals at 5.5 mph.

Mile 2 felt AMAZING!

I realized that I could walk between 4 mph and 4.5 mph.  I also upped my running speed.  I was doing my run intervals at 6.5 or 7 mph.  I would never have believed that was possible.  I have found that I am most comfortable stride-wise at 7 mph.  I feel like I can really stretch out my stride and RUN.  The thing is, I don't have the cardio endurance to do that consistently.  I would LOVE to build up to a point where I could run at 7mph for lon periods of time...and in a complete dream, maintain that pace for a 10k or Half Marathon.

Mile 3 I was tired, but on pace to PR, so I went to 3.1 for the sake of a PR.  Yeah...it's all about PR's, don't say you wouldn't feel the same way....

My fastest 5k previously was 44:38, with an average pace of 14:21.  Today, my average pace would be just over 12:20 per mile. That means that I was cutting off 2 minutes per mile...WOW--REALLY?  I'm just going to say that the possibility of that excites me.  It makes me wonder what will happen if I start to train consistently...could I build up to where I could consistently run at that 7mph pace?  I mean, the possibilities are endless.

I know a lot of people that are runner, with vast experience and training that could probably tell me whether that was a real legitimate possibility or not.

For now, I'm feeling pretty flipping good.  I also found a new shoe lacing technique that is purportedly good to help with Morton's Neuroma.  For the first time in nearly a year, I ran/walked 3 miles, and while I could still feel the neuroma, and a bit of tingling in my foot/toe, but it wasn't numb or painful.  I feel really awesome tonight.  I'm hoping that with repeated running, I can build a base, build some speed, and build my endurance.  I'm looking at the possibility of doing a half marathon in February (PHM), one in March (Tobacco Road Half), one in April, Diva in North Myrtle Beach, and then the RNR Chicago in July.  I'm hoping that at that point, I will have a decent base and be able to consistently run those 13.1 miles with an average speed of between 12:30 and 13:00 minute miles.   Also, if I can do all this and build all this, I can maybe shrink size-wise a bit as well.  I don't want to lose a ton of weight, but if I'm going to run a marathon, I really think that it would be best for my body and my joints if I could do that at about 135-140.   Doing that would mean I would be ready to start training for a Marathon in January, and possibly Goofy at WDW next year.

Till next time.

Krista

Let's get this started....

I realized this week that 6 weeks from today I will be running the Princess Half Marathon.

This will be my 3rd attempt, In 2012 I was swept at mile 2, and in 2013 I was swept at mile 10 due to pain in my foot/ankle.  (I threw in the towel, sat down and waited for the sweeper bus).

I realized that we are only 6 weeks away and I haven't trained at all since the Wine and Dine in November.  I feel completely ill-prepared, but I have 6 weeks to get some training in....

I found a 6 week training plan to get myself ready, or as ready as possible in the next 6 weeks.

The reality is, I have lofty goals, always have, but when it comes to holding myself accountable, I pretty much suck at it.  I want nothing more than to successfully complete the Princess Half Marathon and Glass Slipper Challenge.  While the balloon ladies are spectacularly nice people, I'd really rather not see them on the course for the first time ever at a Disney Race.

At the Wine and Dine, even with the horrific conditions, I was maintaining a 15:32 pace for the first 3.1 miles, and dropped back to about a 16:40 pace after the 10k.  By the 15k point I was slowed down to about 18:30 pace, and ended up getting swept just before mile 11.

When conditions are good, even without training, I've been able to do a 14:30 pace.  if, in the next 6 weeks, I can work hard enough and not miss any workouts, I'm hoping that I'll be able to maintain 14:30 pace for the majority of the race, or at least through the 10k.  If by some miracle I was able to maintain that pace for the entire 13.1, that would mean I would finish in just over 3 hours....not a huge deal, just under 3:30 with no balloon lady sightings is really all I aspire to at this point.

So, my blog will likely be much more active over the next 6 weeks as I count down to the race, and post about my training.  I have 6 weeks to make this dream a reality, and I have to grab this opportunity and run with it--no pun intended.

I also may be signing up for the New Year, New You Transformation challenge at my gym.

I have gotten a bit off track lately, and I MUST get back on track.  The scale went back up this morning, which is AWFUL...and I cannot let that continue to happen.  I need to seriously reign that stuff in and get the scale going back down again.

Krista

Good-bye 2014...what's Next 2015?

As I sit here waiting to say goodbye to 2014, I have been rather reflective on what has happened in the last year.

This time last year, I was only 3 months out of the life-changing decision to have weight loss surgery.  This time last year I had lost 47 pounds, today I have lost about 95.

In this last year, I have re-discovered the woman I always wanted to be.  I realize now that I had totally lost the woman I always intended to be.  I had given up on myself.  I had allowed my depression over my weight, and the number on the scale to rule my life.  I had quit doing my hair, wearing make-up, or even being me.  This year, I have remembered who I am, and who I always intended to be.  I am again wearing make-up, doing my hair, and trying to be the most beautiful woman, and person I can be, both for myself, and for my husband.

I have started to be far more comfortable in allowing myself to be the woman that God intended me to be.  I am comfortable in my skin, and when I look in the mirror.

I started this journey 15 months ago, at 270 pounds, and a shell of the woman I was meant to be.  I have spent the last 12 months settling back into "normal" life, and finding the person I was meant to be.  I fully intend to spend the next 12 months being the best wife, mother, teacher and woman I can possibly be.  That means that I will spend 2015 chasing the dreams I had given up on many years ago, when I gave up on myself.  I have some pretty big dreams, that I have always called "pipe dreams" They were pipe dreams because I have never thought they were actually possible...that I could actually complete them.  I won't complete all of them this year, but I will be well on my way to completing them.

I'm going to finish a half marathon (actually 3, Princess, Tobacco Road, and RNR Chicago)
I'm going to get my booty back in the gym and get these last 10-25 pounds off (I don't want to set a specific number, but want to remain comfortable with myself)
I'm going to complete another Sprint Triathlon (or maybe 2)

I'm going to start training so in 2016 I can complete a marathon, and a half ironman

Here's to the new me in 2015.

Till next year...
Krista