Running as Stress Relief

Many articles, websites, and medical experts tout the benefits of running for stress relief.  Whether someone runs alone or with others it still helps them release stress, tension, anger, and anxiety.  Just the physical act of running, increasing your heart rate, activating endorphins, and expending energy helps the body deal with those strong emotions.  I find it to be more helpful if I am running with others.  Social running has the additional benefit of a sympathetic ear.

I should have known I would be a social runner, who vents to her buddies.  Years ago, before I started running, I had a very stressful day at work.  It was one of those days where your whole world gets turned upside down.  You think you are doing a good job, that you have friends at work only to find out that they really don't like you and think that you are horrible and that they feel like they are picking up your slack.  After that day I couldn't go home.  I was wired and annoyed, so I went to a local park where I knew they had a little paved path so I could walk and rant.  And that's exactly what I did.  I went around that little path, talking to myself, sometimes yelling into the air for so long that some neighbors to the park started coming out of their house to check on me or call the police.  I found out that the path was really tiny (I must have circled it about 50 times) and that I would need to find a different place if I needed to vent again.

The circle I walked around, around, around...

When I began to run with others we talked.  It was friendly talking as we got to know each other, but if someone had a bad day, a stressful day coming up, or difficulties in general it started to come out as we ran together more and more.  I soon began to feel comfortable venting my own frustrations to my friends when I ran.  I don't complain all the time (and I hope my running buddies would say the same) and neither do my friends but it's nice to have that sympathetic ear when you need it.  There have been times I have looked forward to a run before being observed the next day.  I know I can vent my worries and stress to my friends.  Sometimes I only go out for a run because I have had a bad day.  Even though it may not be a training day I lace up my shoes and head out because I need that run that day.

I've also found out that my friends and I run faster when we're upset.  One time I asked a running buddy why she prefered one political stance over another.  I just wanted her honest opinion so I could weigh my options.  She was so passionate about her position that I found it difficult to keep up with her.  She increased her pace to the point that I was panting but she kept going (usually I had to slow down a bit for her).  I asked another friend about her day at work, having seen that she had posted about it on Facebook.  Again, even though it was a different friend, her pace increased and she was pushing me faster.  She didn't even realize she was going faster until we stopped.  I don't know if this might be a way to "hack" our training but I know we all feel better when we run and vent our frustrations.

One thing to keep in mind though is there are some things that you don't vent about.  If you are running with a person who is unemployed you don't complain about your job.  Complaining about a relationship when your buddy is going through a messy split is also not a good idea.  Despite the benefits, there are just some topics you can't vent about, which makes the run a little more awkward.  There have been times I go to run and vent only to realize I shouldn't bring that topic up right before we start running.  I have yet to figure out how to get the same benefits while running alone without talking to myself when having frustrations that I just can't talk to others about.  I also wish that I had discovered running and venting earlier, maybe I wouldn't have scared those poor people at the park.

Holly Jolly Race

Holly Jolly 5k 2011
Time 37:03

There are very few races that I have done consecutively every year that I have been running. Every year I find new and different races to do.  Some of the new races conflict with races that I've done in the past.  Some races I do not want to do again (poor planning, expensive, inconvenient, or tired of doing that race).  Some races stop occurring so even if I loved them I can't do them again.  There is one exception to this practice, The Holly Jolly 5k/10k.  This race takes place the 1st weekend in December in my hometown, Piqua, Ohio, and is part of the Piqua Weekend "Christmas on the Greene".

My Husband at the 2011 Holly Jolly

My Mom at the 2011 Holly Jolly

I started running in July of 2011.  My mom and I started exercising together that month with Walking Wednesdays and Cycling Saturdays.  We signed up for cheap and local races and events to motivate us, to give us a goal to work towards to keep us exercising.  The Holly Jolly fit our needs.  The start was about 3/4 of a mile from my home and it cost under $20 to register with a shirt.  When I ran it in 2011 I broke my 5k PR by about 4 minutes.  I was on home turf and felt comfortable with the course and it really made a difference in my time that day.  I didn't love the shirt, but I saw people that I knew at the race and had a great finish time so I was excited to race it again.  I also found out what the age group prizes were, ball ornaments.  I had never seen a race use such an item as an age group award.  It made it unique.  I wanted to win one of those ornaments one day.  My mom also ran the race and so did my husband.  He signed up on a whim, it wasn't his 1st 5k but he wasn't a runner either.  He ran in Doc Marten's and Jeans and he also had a PR...

Holly Jolly 5k 2012
Time 32:30

My Dad and I at the 2012 Holly Jolly

By the 2012 race I had joined a running club, ran at least 4 days every week, and had completed 2 half marathons.  I felt like I was really a runner.  I was excited to run the Holly Jolly 5k again.  This year they changed the course.  Instead of starting going up a hill and finishing going down it followed a pretty level course along the river.  This year my dad joined my mom, my husband, and I in running the race.  The start was a bit farther from home but I still knew the area and was excited for another chance to PR at this local race.  The shirt design was the same as the year before, it was just a different color.  I still didn't like it.  The weather was a bit wetter but I knew better what I was doing than the last year.  I didn't get a PR that year, nor did I win an ornament.  Little did I know that I was running on multiple stress fractures and maybe a complete fracture.  Knowing now that I was running with such an injury I am happy I was able to run it and enjoy it.  It was my final race in the Miami County 5k tour and I did earn a medal for completing the tour and that was one of the reasons I ran it.  Even though I didn't know I had that injury, I was hurting and it was tempting to take that race off.  I just had to finish the tour and get the medal.  I also enjoyed running my family members in to the finish.  This was the 1st year I did that.

Holly Jolly 10k 2013
Time 1:04:16

In 2013 the organizers of the Holly Jolly decided to add a 10k.  I was ecstatic!  I had spent a lot of 2013 healing my foot, then training properly for a half marathon.  I didn't do a lot of races that were not a part of my training plan and I had to take about 3 months off of running to heal.  I had not done any 10ks in 2013 and that was my favorite distance at the time.  It was just wrong.  So I signed up and eagerly awaited the day of the race.  The day before the race there was a huge snowstorm.  Schools were closed, roads were dangerous, and a lot of the Christmas on the Greene was canceled.  We took the boys to the Kiddie Christmas shop that night and it was pretty deserted.  We had discovered the shop the year before since our oldest had to march in the parade with his scout troop and both of the boys loved it.  (The kids have a list and money.  They shop in a back room with a high school volunteer and wrap their gifts.  They come out with surprise presents for the whole family.)  It seemed we would have a very seasonal run.  I wasn't worried about running in the snow, I'd done it many times before but apparently the race organizers were.  That day they decided to cancel the 10k and transfer all the 10k entries to 5k entries.  There was a revolt.


My 1st Place ornament

10k runners wanted to run a 10k even if they had to run the 5k course twice.  We thought that they canceled it because they couldn't clear the whole course or something was blocking the course from the storm.  We knew we could find a way to preserve the 10k for the 10th anniversary of the race.  It turns out that they thought that runners wouldn't want to run a 10k in that weather.  Well, they were wrong.  I ran in YakTrax, there was frozen water at the water stations, and due to the debacle of cancellation there were not many 10k runners to compete against.  I had so much fun!  My husband stuck to the 5k and my mom opted out of running it that year so it was a bit different for us.  When my husband finished the 5k he talked to some reps from a local running store while he waited for me.  He told them that I was hoping for a PR, they laughed.  I not only got the PR (by 2 minutes) I also claimed my 1st ornament.  I had won 1st in my age group, 30-34.  (My Husband also won a hat from the people who laughed at me.)  It was a good year.  This was also the year that our awesome running store opened, Can't Stop Running Co., not the ones that laughed.

Holly Jolly 10k 2014
Time 56:07

Mark at the Holly Jolly 2014
With the white hat

2014 brought me my 1st marathon and many accomplishments.  I ran many races of all different lengths and I kept improving.  I had to run Holly Jolly again.  It helped that Can't Stop Running was having an after party with pancakes and other free goodies to celebrate their anniversary.  I had been running with the store groups solidly since May and I had made many friends their.  My son, Mark, also decided to join us in 2014 and I wasn't about to tell him he couldn't run and if he was running I might as well run it.  It was another rainy race and they changed the course back to what it was in 2011 (adding the 10k in as well).  My mom almost backed out, but Mark wanted to run with her and she couldn't say no.  I was happy with my results again.  It was another PR for me and my splits were really even.  I was surprised I wasn't faster on the downhill, but I was happy with my results.  I also earned my 2nd ornament.  Once again I was excited.  I was 2nd place in my age group but there was more competition since they didn't cancel it at the last minute.  My husband also earned an ornament as 3rd in his age group in the 5k.  At least I was excited at first.  When I got home I opened it to discover the same exact ornament with a different color ribbon.  The sticker on the box was different but the design was the same.  I was a little disappointed.  I thought that there would be something to mark it as being a new year, a different placing, but there wasn't.  I started to see the flaws in the Holly Jolly.  The water stations each year were either frozen, non-existent, or self serve (jug with glasses).  The shirts were always cotton.  The door prizes were given away long before everyone had finished.  I had to go back on course to retrieve a jacket I ditched and I accidentally ran 10 miles that day, whoops, and missed all the prizes.  Luckily my husband grabbed my ornament.  I was wondering if I would run this race again.

Holly Jolly 5k 2015
Time 29:19

 The Holly Jolly came again in 2015, like it always does.  I've been battling a foot injury since October and have only run 7 miles in the last month.  I don't love the race as much as I used to, but it is a part of our tradition.  Do I run this race again?

I chose to run it because of Can't Stop Running.  I now see it as a part of their anniversary celebration and I've done a lot with the store during the last year.  There's also a part of me that doesn't want to lose the tradition.  I signed up for the 5k because I know my fitness is lacking due to my injury.  I also don't want to push myself and re-injure my foot.  Surprisingly Mark wants to run it again.  My mom and husband are onboard for the race too.  It is truly a family tradition.  I saw all my friends and one paced with me for a while too.  I didn't push myself to PR or place (I didn't want another snowman ornament).  I just ran it to run it.  I finished in 29:19 which is 4:30 slower than my PR, but I didn't hurt and I was happy to run under 30 minutes after so much time off of running.  I walked back to run my husband, mom, and son in adding 2 miles to my day (I might as well have done the 10k).  I was happy I wasn't hurting.  There was no water on the course again, but I didn't really notice that.  Some of my friends were volunteering and cheering for me, that I noticed.  The Holly Jolly 5k this year helped me return to the joy of running with my friends and family.  Even after all these years and all the problems that have occurred, it's really a good race.  I think I'll do it again next year.

Running Mom

Me and my boys

I know many runners who are also moms.  Some of my friends were runners before they had kids and kept going through and after pregnancy.  Others did not even start running until all their kids were old enough to be left alone while they ran.  I am somewhere in the middle.

In June of 2011 Enzo was 2 years old and Mark was 6 years old and we were at the Troy Strawberry Festival waiting for Nick to finish riding the Strawberry Festival Bike Tour.  I thought he was silly, riding in a big circle for some free food and a T-shirt and paying to do that (now I would NEVER mock going in a big circle, getting free food, and a T-shirt, especially for as cheap as that event is.  What a fool I was) and I was getting impatient waiting for him.  Mark was old enough to be aware of this annoyance, Enzo was barely aware that his birthday was coming up.  He was more concerned with eating and sleeping at this point in his life.  One month later, I started my fitness journey.

Now some people might think me negligent, for taking time away from my 2 year old to go out and run or ride a bike.  How could I abandon him at home with a 6 year old?  One thing that helped was that my husband had been a stay-at-home dad for years.  I didn't have to find a sitter and I could exercise any time I wanted to exercise.  Others might ask how I could bear to be away from him at such a young age.  Well, I am one girl in a house with three boys.  While I love my sons it is hard to spend so much time surrounded by so much testosterone.  I am also not one of those moms that cries when school starts or my boys go on trips.  I love them, but I fully understand the need for them to leave (for both our sakes).

Mark at the Troy Kids Triathlon
I'm still jealous that he has finished one and I haven't

This created quite a difference in perception for my boys.  Mark knew me.  He knew me very well.  He knew that mommy had to grade, loved to watch TV, played online quite a bit, enjoyed popcorn, candy, and root beer, and spent a lot of time inside.  He liked this mommy and we spent a lot of time together doing these types of activities.

Now that I have been running, cycling, and cross-training for 4 years he doesn't always like it.  He enjoys my friends and likes hanging out at our local running store, Can't Stop Running Co., when Nick and I go running.  He's been in the running club at school as well as the track club at the Y.  He's done quite a few 5ks and some smaller kid's races (1 mile runs).  At the same time, he gets upset that I run.  Mark gets mad that we don't stock pop in the house anymore (really he's the only one that tends to drink it) and that I spend hours training some days.  He never said anything but he stopped playing soccer after Nick and I missed some tournament games he played in because we had a race.  We did plan it after the season so we wouldn't miss the games, we had no idea when tournament games would be because they didn't tell us until the end of the season.  When I ask him to come and run or walk with me he doesn't really want to because I am much faster than he is at this point.  In anger he has asked for the "old mommy" back because she was better.  Mark has seen me be lazy and unhealthy and has watched me be a very bad runner and observed my improvement to a decent runner.  There are days that he tries to be better because he has seen my journey and their are days he doesn't because he misses the past.  My hope for him is that he looks at the progress, not the past.  He is running in the Holly Jolly 5k next weekend, he wants to do better than he did at the Flying Pig 5k earlier this year (he was sick).

Mark and Enzo at a Fun Run
They were both part of Reasons to Run's Kids' Club

Enzo, on the other hand, was 2 when I began running.  His memory doesn't really extend to that point in his life (he was so happy just being a baby).  I asked him the other day if there was ever a time when mommy didn't run, and he said no.  All he knows in his life is mommy running.  One of my favorite memories of Enzo running was at the Miami County Parks Garbry Woods 5k in 2012.  I was volunteering with my running group, Reasons to Run, at the registration booth.  Nick was running the race.  Both of the boys were helping me.  When all the runners lined up and were started Enzo decided to join them.  Off he went, running after the crowd at 3 years old into a trail race in very tall grass.  I freaked out.  I was so scared he would get lost or hurt and Enzo just wanted to "run 5k" as he said.  To his memory our family has always been a running and cycling family, he just has to wait his turn and be ready when it comes.  Enzo has run one 5k and determined he isn't quite ready for that yet.  He has done some mile long runs and one that was much shorter.  Honestly he wants to ride, swim, or run any distance he can, though he loves swimming the most.  The one thing I worry about with him is that he didn't see us struggle to get better.  He knows that mommy and daddy have gotten better and faster, but he never saw us stink at being fit.  When he does a race or event and feels tired, hurt, or not good he thinks he can't do it and wants to try something else, something that comes naturally to him.  I've seen this with adults when people say they aren't fast enough to run a 5k yet even if they've been running for a year.  They think that have to be ready to win to be ready to run.  I hate this mentality.  I walked my first 5k in 50:40 and it started this whole crazy running business and now I have a PR at 24:46.  I want Enzo to know that he just has to do the events to be good, not win them, but it's hard for him to see this when I regularly come home with medals.

Mark and Enzo at the Subway Dayton Dragons 5k
Mark's PR, Enzo's only 5k

No matter how my boys see my running or me they know that I am a runner now and that isn't going to change.  I am glad I am setting a good example for them and I hope that my example as well as my attitude is encouraging them to follow in my footsteps.  I want my boys healthy, happy, and close to me.  I will always support them as long as they are doing things that help them become good people whether they come in dead last or 1st place, whether they run or play football.  Also, I hope that they both benefit from these experiences.  They both have a different view of them and I hope both views turn out to be good and that they see me as a good mom in the end.



My running Family
Yeah, I was taking this picture

Injuries



Running the Flying Pig 10k with my leg covered in KT tape
for an IT Band injury

Injuries stink.  Since I began running I have had my share of injuries.  Some of them were quick and easy to fix, annoying but nothing that would stop me from running long term.  Then I have had those injuries that stop me dead in my tracks.  Ones that have stopped me from running a single step for weeks to months at a time.

I know that running, heck exercising in general, can lead to both great health benefits and great injuries.  That is a part of the sport.  It doesn't stop them from being infuriating.

The two worst injuries I have had were stress fractures and, my current injury, plantar fasciitis (I also know that when you are in the midst of an injury it seems worse than other past injuries, but I'm blogging now so it's going onto my worst list).

My stress fractures occurred during the 2012 Columbus Half Marathon.  I had not kept up with my training and I was wearing practically brand new shoes (biggest mistake ever) and they weren't just new, they were a new style that I had never worn before.  This caused my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsals to have stress fractures, my 3rd eventually became a full fracture.  I didn't realize what had happened, don't ask me how I didn't notice broken bones, so I kept running.  I got a bit sore from time to time and my leg and foot hurt badly at times so I would take some time off, rest, then run again when feeling better until it hurt again.  I didn't suspect anything until I felt like I was dragging my left foot when I ran.  October 2012 to March 2013 is how long it took me to see a doctor about this issue.  That's how long I ran on a broken foot.  After I got the diagnosis I was stuck in a boot for about 8 weeks including weaning my body off the boot.  That was a long time where I could not run and it was torturous.  (Yes, I am addicted to running)  I kind of gauge injuries by the amount of time I spend away from running.




Boot from Stress Fractures

After the fractures I tried to be a lot more careful, listen to my body, and make sure I didn't end up in that situation again.  I was pretty successful.  Before and after I had some minor injuries, IT band issues, sprained ankles, shin splits, and other general exhaustion injuries that can be subdued with a few days' rest and KT tape.  I'd take the time off I need, tape if I had to, and be back to running in less than a week.

Now I've got this injury in my Plantar muscles, the same foot where I had the fractures.  I've had physical therapy, I've rested, I've stretched, and I've done exercises to strengthen it.  Other than a Halloween run I've been away from running for 4 weeks.  I have crosstrained (cycling and weight training) to keep my fitness up as much as I can.  Yet, I do not know when I will be able to return to running.  When I do return it may hurt again and I may be out for another 4 weeks trying to let it heal.  I know 4 weeks is not eternity, but it can feel like it when you've missed 24 runs, which means time with my friends, time to think on my own, and time to destress.  This is, so far, the 2nd longest period a injury has sidelined me and it may be worse than that.  I have heard from people that there is a chance that it will never leave me.  Plantars injuries can be chronic, some of my friends struggle with it on every run and never seem to be able to rid themselves of the injury.  I hope I can heal, and that it heals before Thanksgiving, if not I may be limping through my runs for a long time because it will not stop me.  Injuries stink and every time we are injured, we just hope that it won't be the one that stops us from running forever.

Running for Charity

Two of my Inspiring Friends

Another Very Inspiring Friend

So, whatever I had left, I think I have lost it.  My mind must be completely gone for me to even think about this.  Today I started looking up the charities that have runners in the Boston Marathon.

I don't know what I'm thinking.  I'm hurt, I can't run 2 miles without re-injuring my foot.  A spring marathon is definitely not in my plans.  I know I need to rest, recover, and heal if I ever want to get back to running the way I did before.  Yet I'm looking into one of the fastest and hardest marathons in the world.  I must be crazy.


There are many charities involved in Boston including hospitals, community resources and programs, sports teams funds, and disease research funds.  All of them have a god reason to raise funds and get a lot of money from the marathon.  Two charities, in particular, caught my eye.  Boston Children's Hospital (I have run the Nationwide Columbus Children's Hospital races 3 times so it seemed a natural connection) and CYCLE kids (an organization that works to get kids active via bikes and eating healthy) both seemed like a good fit to me.  Both charities support their runners with many different perks including training plans and coaches, a singlet to wear, special areas before and after the race, and support on training runs.  While the last doesn't really help me, it shows me that the groups don't just want the money, they want the people running for them to be successful as well.

Here comes the crazy part... I would need to raise $1500 for Boston Children's Hospital or $5000 for CYCLE kids to run with them.  Before I could even start raising that money I would have to apply with the charity and pay a $100 non-refundable application fee.  In a couple months I would also have to find $325 in our budget to sign up for the actual race (why didn't "Run Fatboy Run" cover this?).  If I get injured, and can't run, I still have to raise the money.  If I don't raise the minimum they take it from me using the same card number I gave for the deposit.  While I would love to support such great organizations and be able to run in such a glorious race, I can't seem to rationalize giving them about a month's worth of my income.

While I was talking myself out of this, some friends (non-runners at that) were so excited and supportive I started to come back around to the idea.  One friend offered to help me travel to Boston, give me a place to stay, and give me yet another reason to run it.  Another friend was ready to help me fundraise every last penny I would need to meet the requirements.  One already promised a donation if I do this.  This just makes me want to run (even though my foot disagrees right now).

In this, I will turn to my friends, the ones who have run for charity (Mindy, Greg W, Greg M, and Andrew).  They have the experience and can help me make a good decision.  I'll also turn to my friends who have run Boston.  They can give me perspective on if this is worth it.  If I do this it won't be until 2017 (6 months is not enough time to prepare for something like this) apparently my crazy has a limit.  I'm glad I have friends who can either help me rein the crazy in or help me turn the crazy into reality, whether they are a runner or not.

But really, what am I thinking?

Things Learned Training for a Marathon

Mindy, Greg, and I

I've been compiling this list since my 1st marathon and, with a few additions, it rings true for my 2nd and 3rd marathons.

1.  It’s harder than you think it will be, way harder.
2.  By the time you get near the end it seems so much easier than it did in the middle, even before the taper.
3. Taper is a beautiful word.
4. Eating the right meal or the wrong meal can make the difference between the best run of your life and the worst you have ever felt.
5. There is no shame in walking, in fact, it can make you faster.
6. Hydration is essential.  On the other hand it is possible to drink too much water.
7. Keeping the routine up is the most important thing, not the pace or the number of miles in a week.
8.  Everything is scheduled around runs.
9. You find a lot to talk about over a 4 hour run with someone you met only a couple of months ago.

   

   Kendra and I in our 1st Marathon

10. You find ways around your problems whether it be a little leak while running, chafing, or aches and pains even if they are embarrassing solutions.
11. At some point half marathons become easy, something you do on an impulse.  Around that same point 5ks and 10ks seem too small and too fast at the same time.
12. Shoes wear out way too fast.

    

    Worn out Lady Isaac Newtons

    
    
13. You find the holes in your running wardrobe because you end up wearing just about every running article you have during your training since it covers many seasons.
14. Pain pills are good.
15. Friends along the course are worth more than all the caffeine in the world.
16.  It is the hardest thing you’ll ever do, and then you want to do it again.
17. The course dies after you split from the half marathon runners.
18. You get a lot more pictures along a marathon course.
19.  Have someone save goodies for you in the finish area if you are not in the top half of the pack.
20. Sunburn happens after 5 hours on a race course, did not expect that.
21. Water can be gross.
22. There are a lot of people who don’t finish or don’t start a marathon after they sign up.
23. You make the best friends training for a marathon.  It makes you sad that you won’t be spending all that time with them after the marathon is over.

    

    Me, Pam, and Kendra

    
    
24. If you have a coach you hate and love them in equal amounts.
25. Pacing is hard, pacers do their best.  Don't take out your frustrations about your inability to meet your goals out on them.

I know as I run I will continue learning new things, but this is what I've figured out so far.

Columbus Marathon 2015

 

Finishing Photo

       Sunday October 18th, 2015 marked my 2nd time running The Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon.  I spent all this summer, starting June 1st, training for this race.  I joined a group with a coach who would train me to run my fastest marathon ever.  Through the summer we did track workouts, tempo runs, steady runs, cut-down runs, hill work on trails, and mid distance runs followed by long runs (10 miles Friday, 20 miles Saturday).  It kicked my butt.  There were many times I hated the program.  I hated how I didn't have time for things I needed to do.  I hated how much I had to push myself.  But, I started to see results as I did races through the program.  I was showing improvement in all my times every time I crossed the finish line.

       Unfortunately, 3 weeks before race day I started to have pain in my left heal.  I kept running, it felt better when I ran, hoping it was just a little sore and that it would go away.  I only had 1 more week of increased mileage and intensity before I started to take my running more easily in the taper of my plan.  If I got through that last week I could rest.  I ran my last 20 and it was horrible.  I was in a lot of pain.  I knew it wasn't going to go away.  

       I spent my taper weeks resting and going to see a physical therapist to try to heal my heel.  I found out I had plantar fasciitis and that it would take a while to treat.  My PT planned to get me ready for the race and that is what we focused on.  I went on a run the Saturday before the race and things were feeling OK.  I was beginning to feel optimistic. 

       Race Day, parked, at the corrals and ready to go.  My foot, though numb from the cold is feeling good.  There had been no pain since I woke up.  I placed myself in my corral and looked for the pacers.  Less than 5 minutes before the race I spotted my pacer and tried to head towards them.  That's when I ran into some of my running buddies.  

Group of friends, ready to run

        We decided to start together then split off if we need to later.  Mindy helped me start off slow and reserve my energy.  Greg paced me after we left her.  We kept our miles around 9:30 and I was feeling good.  We passed some other friends on the course Roger, Nancy, Tammy, and Judy and talked with them for a while.  When we got around mile 9 my foot started hurting.  It was small, but it was there.  I kept going hoping it would feel better as I run, as it had in the past.  This wasn't the case.  By mile 9.5 I had to walk, it was too much.  Greg and Judy kept going and I dropped back.  I really feel like I could have stayed with Greg the whole time if it hadn't been for my foot.  I was feeling like the run was a good workout, not too hard, while we were running.  I felt like I could do that for a long time.  

       As I walked I thought about my options.  What if I had to walk the rest of the race?  What if a medical person pulled me?  What if I couldn't finish in time?  The worst thing was that the rest of my body felt great.  My legs, lungs, and heart weren't even close to tired and were quite annoyed that they had to slow down, they were enjoying the run.  The only thing holding me back was my injured foot.  This time the marathon wouldn't beat me, my foot would.  I kept going until I got to a First Aid table where I got some pain pills and hoped that they would help.  I continued knowing that, if nothing else, I would finish the half marathon so I could still get my medal.  Things weren't looking great for me finishing the race.

       I got to the half marathon split and tried to jog again.  This was the most painful my foot felt during the entire time.  It felt like it was ripping apart.  I thought, momentarily, that I should pull myself.  I should tell the medics that I can't continue and get off my foot.  But I'm too stubborn for that.  I still felt fine walking and I was keeping a 14 minute mile while walking.  If I could keep that I would finish in 5:45, my worst time ever, but I would finish.  So I kept going.  

       I started power-walking.  If I was going to walk I was going to give it my all and it wasn't going to be a mopey, pain filled walk.  I wanted to get my walking pace down, closer to 13 minute mile so I could assure I wouldn't be taken off the course.  I wasn't able to but I did improve my pace over the next 7 miles.  I had a feeling I was doing more work by walking than it would have been running since I wasn't spending time "in flight" and it made me wonder again how well I would have done if I had been healthy.

       Even though my left foot was being horrible to me, my right foot also wanted part of the fun.  I forgot to clip my toenails (part of not really running for 2 weeks) and one of them decided to cut into the neighbor toe.  Not only was it bleeding, it was bleeding a lot.  I had some oozing out of my shoe and coagulating on the outside.  It grossed out a couple people, but luckily it didn't really hurt, it was just annoying.  I'm guessing the loss of blood wasn't a great thing either.

       Around mile 20 my friend Bob caught up to me.  When he came beside me I wanted to run with him for a while.  I knew my foot would only let me run a little, I had done some intermittent running when I felt I could on prior miles, so I would stick with him. while I could.  At this point my foot decided it was going to be OK for a while, I didn't have to stop.  In fact I could keep going and increase my speed.  As long as it was cooperating I wasn't arguing.  I ran in the last 6 miles 11 minute and then 10 minute miles on my aching foot.

       Despite all the problems, all the aches, all the walking, somehow I set a new Personal Record.  I finished in 5:11:56 which is 14 minutes faster than my last marathon.  I really don't know how I did that, but it happened.  I wanted to run a marathon in 4:45 when I signed up, my coach planned for me to finish in 4:15 when he saw me train, and I was ecstatic to finish in 5:11 with a foot injury that tends to stop runners dead in their tracks.  Even though things didn't go as planned and I'm already planning another marathon for when I'm healthy and can get that 4:15 time, I am happy that I did not give up and that I finished my 3rd marathon.

I got to hit the gong