IMMD Run: Maryland Victory

Welcome to Part Three of my Ironman Maryland story.  If you missed the swim you can catch up here and you can find the bike here - I'll wait if you need to catch up!

Run
I am a runner, running is what I do....time to get to it.  My plan was to run until I couldn't and then run from aide station to aide station, walking through the stations when I came to them.  I was so happy to see Baha within the first couple of miles, he said "keep this up and you will be an Ironman today." That was a super exciting thought, but I had a long way to go before I could dwell on that too much.  I ran the first three miles before my brain got the better of me and I started mixing in walk breaks.  I didn't comprehend that it was hot, but it must have been as both my pace and my spirits improved when the sun started to go down.

Fresh out of T2

The run course is two and a half loops with one end of the loop being pretty desolate and miserable and the other end being super fun since it goes to downtown Cambridge.  I saw Mr K for the first time on the run back in the desolate end of the loop, around my 4th mile.  We waved and he looked like he was moving well and it made me feel very happy to see his face and know that he was doing okay.  I made that turn around and headed back to the other end of the loop, on the way I saw Baha again and I felt for sure that he would lap me at some point, but my brain must have miscalculated just how far that side of the loop was because I didn't see him again until the beginning of my second loop.

I met up with Mr K again on my way towards downtown and he was still looking good, heading towards the end of his first loop. Then I saw Erin and Karen at the turn around in downtown, they called out "how are you feeling?" and I shrugged.  How else do you answer when you still have about 15 miles to run? As I made the turn around I gave them the thumbs up because I didn't want them to worry and I really wasn't feeling that bad.  I found a run pace that I could just kind of cruise at and then I walked through the aide stations, by doing this I settled into a pace in the mid 11:00s per mile.

Several years ago, while running the Chicago Marathon far from home and with no one there to cheer for me, I began to see the timing mats as a little boost of energy from home.  I knew that my friends and family would be tracking me and every time I crossed a timing mat I thought about them and how much they support me and I touched my heart and sent them a message in return. Those happy moments carried me throughout the day.

I've always struggled with the middle miles of a marathon.  I typically don't have the "wall" that many people have at mile 20, but miles 13 to about 18 just kill me mentally.  It is too far from the excitement of the start and also too far from the excitement of the end...no man's land.  And as luck would have it, many of these miles came the second time through that desolate loop.  If I had a mental low point, it might have been in this section.  I walked much of that turn around loop even though I didn't need too.  I saw Mr K again in this little loop and he said I was going to catch him, I honestly did not see how because I felt like I was moving so slowly.

With Super Sherpa Erin

I perked up a little bit as I left that area and realized just how many people were behind me.  I could totally do this! It was also a mental boost to know that I wouldn't have to come out to that part of the course again. I went back to my running/walking pattern as I headed back towards the other end of the loop.  I could see Mr K ahead of me by maybe a half a mile and I tried to keep him in my sights. Somewhere near mile 18 he pulled up with a big cramp, I stopped and offered to help (not sure what I could have done, but I wanted to try) and he sent me on my way. 

As I came back towards downtown suddenly Erin was running next to me.  I was not expecting to see her and just talking to her a minute or two gave me a big boost.  As I made the loop in downtown I saw another familiar face, our friend Jeff was there cheering on a friend.  He gave me some encouraging words and sent me out for that last half loop.  I saw the finishers chute as I headed back out and I knew that after passing it two times the next time would be my time to run towards the finish line.

It was dark by now and parts of the course were well lit and others were completely in the dark.  It was a bit of a relief not to be able to see just how far I had to run, but it also made me nervous because tripping or turning an ankle this late in the game would be awful.  There were a few spectators in their yards and one guy had a megaphone and was telling bad jokes into the darkness (What does a nosey pepper do? Gets jalapeno your business).  When I saw the marker for mile 22 I knew that I only had a Lake Grapevine Friday 4 miler left, I could do this!  Then at the half loop turn around we were at mile 23 - just a 5K left.   It gave me a shot of confidence when spectators would comment that I had a steady pace and that I was moving well because so many people were walking at this point. Wouldn't you know, I negative split those last 3 miles - like a horse to the barn, y'all!

Erin popped in to run with me one more time and I remember telling her "I'm going to do this!" It was starting to sink in that my journey was almost complete. I got a big hug and a hearty congrats from Jeff right before I ran towards the finishers chute.  This was the moment I had been waiting for so long for and I wanted to remember every bit of it - the lights, the music, the red carpet, the spectators - it was really happening! As much as I tried to remember, I'm afraid that so much of it is still a blur.  Isn't that how it goes with most big moments in life?

MICHELLE.
YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!

The volunteer helping me at the finish line was the same volunteer who helped me with my contact in T2.  When I mentioned that my husband would be coming along soon, she asked if I would like to medal him.  Of course I would, what an honor!  She was so sweet, waiting with me until Mr K came across the line.  I was so proud to give him his medal and a hug and a kiss.  He did it! Team K did it - we are Ironmen.

Official time: 5:07:32
Total time: 13:24:33

There is something magic about the first time you finish a big race distance.  October 7 will live on in my memories as the day I proved to myself that I am stronger and more capable that I ever dreamed. I loved everything about Ironman. I loved the training and I loved the race and I feel like I thrived during all of it.  One of my favorite quotes is "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." I feel like I was both challenged and changed and I'm walking away from this a better person than I was at the beginning of training.  On race morning, I wrote the words "make it count" on my hand with a Sharpie.  During this training process, I had been given a couple of very clear reminders that there are no guarantees in life.  Every finish line should be a celebration because you just can't take them for granted, while you assume that you will be healthy and strong and ready to race for years to come you just never know.  You only get one shot at a first Ironman on a gorgeous day and I did my very best to make it count.

Ironman Maryland Part II: There's a Girl in the Heart of Maryland

Welcome to Part Two of my Ironman Maryland story.  If you missed Part One you can catch up here - don't worry, I will wait for you!

Bike
Preparation pays off again and I was thankful that we had driven the bike course on Thursday afternoon.  It sure helped me to be able to visualize what would be coming at me that day.  I was very excited about the course because it covered some beautiful territory and the roads were simply divine - all asphalt without as much as an inch of chip seal.  A rare treat for a Texas cyclist! This course was also two loops and was as flat as flat could be.  There are positives and negatives to this - no rolling hills to climb, but also no coasting.  I knew that if I stopped pedaling, my bike would stop moving.  There was one "hill" on the course, which they had jokingly marked with tape, because if they didn't then we might have just missed it! I don't even think that there was even a false flat on this entire ride.  I do love getting in aero and cranking out some big gear miles on a straight flat road and there were some long stretches of road that begged me to do just that.

There were several turns in the beginning as it took us a little bit to get out of Cambridge.  I worked on just settling in and getting comfortable on the ride during all of this.  This year I added a new dimension to my cycling by training and riding with a power meter.  It helped me so much during this race because all I had to think about was staying in my range.  I'm not one to "blow up" on the bike, but I do tend to ride a little more conservatively and the power meter helps to prevent me from getting lazy.  "Ride to power" because my frequent mantra.  I ended up on the low end of my power range and that tells me that I can and will push a little harder in the future.

One of the "perks" of being a slower swimmer is that I always pass tons of people on the ride.  It is always fun to zoom by people and then work hard not to let them repass me on down the road.  It was a beautiful morning out there on that first loop - beautiful skies and plenty of sunshine.  The wind was in our faces at times, but nothing that I really noticed until I made a right turn that put the wind at my back.  My main focus was getting to the halfway mark around mile 56, as I got closer I decided that I wanted to take a restroom break mostly just to get off my bike for a minute and take a break from that constant pedaling in the aero position.  Again, I was surprised to hear my name and see Karen there.  Turns out, Erin was on the other side and I didn't actually see her face....but I knew that she had to be there.  I had packed some "emergency" Pop Tarts in my special needs bag in case I needed something different nutritionally, but I didn't need that bag at all. I got in and out of there as fast as I could and started out on the second loop.

Ooops....didn't see Erin over there

As I began the second loop I could tell that the winds had picked up quite a bit.  I remembered that right turn later in the course and just put my head down and got to work knowing that it would get better eventually.  I heard a familiar voice right about then and saw Mr K ride up beside me. It was a relief to see him because I'd been wondering how his day was going.  He said that he had a very enjoyable swim, but he had been stung by a bee on the ride.  We chatted a little bit longer before he slipped away.  He is such a strong cyclist, I knew that I would not see him again until the run.  The second time through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was not quite as enjoyable as the first because there was nothing to block the winds.

I focused on eating and drinking and knocking off the miles.  My fueling plan of Shot Blocks, Honey Stinger Waffles, EFS drink, and water worked very well for me.  I stopped at aide stations a couple of times just to take a break and put my feet on the ground for a minute or two, I just felt so much stronger after taking the quickest break like that.  I picked up a bottle of Gatorade Endurance, but I did not drink very much of it as I prefer water when I am riding or running.  The cross winds were a bit scary at times on the back half of that second loop and I found myself holding on for dear life a few times.  The road was beautiful, fresh asphalt but the row of rumble strips paired with those cross winds made passing tricky at times.  Did I trust my bike skills enough to negotiate the short gap in the rumble strip paired with the strong wind? Sometimes I did and sometimes I didn't.

Eventually I made it to mile 100 and then I got to make the turn towards town instead of going straight for another loop.  It was a happy moment, but I had to remind myself to be patient because those last twelve miles would feel like they took forever. When you sign up for an Ironman, you'd better be okay with spending a lot of time with yourself because you are going to do a lot of it during the swim and bike. My contacts tend to get dry when I am riding and especially when I'm riding into the wind and because of this I packed a spare pair of contacts in my transition bag.  It was a good thing that I did because somewhere after mile 100, my right contact blew out of my eye and stuck to the inside of my sunglasses.  Thankfully my vision is barely corrected and having only one contact did not cause me very much trouble.  As I pedaled towards transition, Erin and Karen popped up one more time.  Those girls are everywhere! I smiled super big because I knew that I'd made it.  I racked my bike with a huge sigh of relief as I always worry about the random fluke mechanical issue, flat tire, or crash that can ruin a day.  I gave her a pat and thanked her for the solid miles and I headed off to transition.

Almost done and happy to see Karen & Erin

Official time: 6:13:42
18.54 mph

T2
It felt like a long way from the bike racks until the back of the transition area where my bag would be waiting.  I will admit that I kind of sauntered through there a bit, using the time to gather myself and prepare mentally for the run.  I hit the restroom again before heading into the tent to see if they happened to have a mirror so that I could put in my new contact.  The sweetest volunteer ever came over to help, she did not have a mirror but she put her phone in selfie mode so that I could see to put my contact in.  She also helped me change my socks (Body Glide and toe socks are a must because my feet are so blister prone) and get ready to head out for the run.  I had no idea that I would see her later on in the evening.  I felt really satisfied heading into the run because I knew that I was two thirds done and I trusted my abilities as a runner to carry me the rest of the way to the finish line.

Ironman Maryland Part I: Going To Maryland

We arrived in Cambridge, Maryland on a beautiful, sunny Wednesday afternoon.  Mr K, Baha, myself, plus super sherpas Karen and Erin flew into Washington, DC and it was exciting to see all of the familiar scenes of our nation's capital as we drove towards Maryland. I haven't spent any time in this part of the country and I was surprised at how beautiful it was.  The town of Cambridge is small, with just over 12,000 residents, and quite charming.  The locals were so friendly and many wanted to personally welcome us and talk with us about our race.  Packet pick-up was pretty surreal, I'd been through these on several occasions with friends, but now it was my turn.   The enormity of what we were about to do really started to set in.  My favorite part of that was the note from a kiddo at the local elementary school tucked into my race packet - such a nice touch!

On Thursday morning the boys and I got up and went to check out the water for a short practice swim.  There were people milling about the area and the energy of the race was humming just under the surface.  The water was brackish and felt cold when I first put my face in it.  I had a moment of "oh no, I can't do this!" before I settled in and began to enjoy the swim.  It was just perfect, I could have swum and swum all day if I didn't have a race coming up.  After our short swim we picked up our bikes from Kevin at Cycle Chauffeur (I can't recommend him enough) and took a short ride to make sure that everything was in working order, followed by a brief run.  Again, I was taken by how beautiful the area was. We hit the water one more time on Friday morning and this time I saw some of the jelly fish that everyone was talking about. I was happy that we got two super laid back chances to get into the water before the race because I had very little apprehension about swimming on race day. The water was fabulous and I could already tell that I was going to have a blast.

Friday was pretty uneventful, other than dropping off our bikes and transition bags, it was lots of hanging out around the house, watching baseball, reading, napping, and snacking.  I didn't feel super nervous, rather I just kept thinking "What have you done?" and "It is too late to turn back now!" But mostly I felt ready to get started...no more training left to do, it was time to get to work.

I slept lightly, but better than expected, and was ready to wake up when my alarm went off.  We were staying in a house just a few blocks from transition so that made race morning super uncomplicated. The air was heavy with humidity when we stepped outside and it was noticeably warmer than it had been on our other mornings here.  Once we were in transition, I pumped up my tires and made final preparations with my bike.  I stood there for a few minutes and just took in the hustle and energy of the scene, I could hardly believe that I was about to do this.  Finally I gathered myself and left transition and joined Mr K, Baha, Erin, and Karen by the swim start.  I kept finding myself with tears in my eyes because the moment was just so overwhelming.  All those hours, all those miles, all those days spent chasing Mr K and Baha around in the hot summer sun were about to come to fruition.  The training challenged me and changed me and it was about to culminate in one amazing day.  I gave Erin and Karen one last hug and we lined up with all of the others. 

Swim
I felt very calm heading into the swim and I was grateful for the two practice swims that we had done in Cambridge as well as our faithful Snake Island swims at Lake Grapevine every Friday during the summer.  I probably would have seeded myself with a slower group, but Baha insisted that I start with him in a faster group.  I gave Mr K one last hug and kiss and told him to be safe and have a good day then waited with Baha for our turn to start the race. I had such high hopes for my guys and knew that I would miss spending the day with them as we did most Saturdays. I took a deep breath as I waded into the water and I watched Baha dive in and slip away into the distance.  That would be the last time I saw him until mile 1 of the run.  The water was great - temperatures in the mid to low 70s and brackish and fairly smooth - I felt fine in my sleeveless wetsuit.  The threat of jellyfish was always at the back of my mind and, at the advice of a local,  I'd taken the precaution of putting Aquaphor on my arms and face.

It wasn't long until the next group of swimmers was approaching as I found myself slowing up a bit so that they could pass. I'm not sure why I turned into a huge chicken there in the water because I felt quite comfortable with my abilities.  Maybe I still have flashbacks/fears from that first OWS race at Redman 70.3?  I would never let a group of runners or cyclists pass me by during a race but each time a pack of swimmers came by I found myself slowing a bit. I also found that I tended to swim towards the outside of the lane as another way to avoid people, which means I swam at least a couple hundred yards extra. It is certainly something that I will work on for the future, gotta find my inner swimming badass.  Aside from feeling slow, everything else was going quite well.  Every now and again I'd be overwhelmed with a happy "holy smokes, I'm doing this!" feeling.

The swim course was a giant rectangle shape that we swam twice and I appreciated that it was a loop because I didn't really have to see just how far we were going.  I fell into a steady rhythm of swimming buoy to buoy.  My splits from the race results are within a second of each other, consistent all the way, in typical MK fashion.  I was very happy to keep going straight at the end of the second loop to head for the swim finish.  I was going to make it with no drama, no freak-outs, no major incidents - my goal anytime that I race in the open water.  I still can't believe that I am capable of swimming 2.4 miles. I was surprised to see Erin and Karen cheering for me right at the swim exit.  Their cheers stayed with me as I headed into transition.

Official time: 1:41:26

T1
It is amazing how fast time flies by when you are in transition.  I felt like I was just there a few minutes, but in reality it was nearly 11 minutes.  I could hustle through there a lot faster, but I wanted to make sure that I had everything set for the 112 bike ride that awaited me on the other end.  Volunteers were spraying people who had been stung by jellyfish with some kind of vinegar concoction and I was extra thankful that I avoided those guys.  Bike gear on, sunscreen applied, bike food crammed into pockets....it was time to go for a little ride.

How do you measure an Ironman?

How do you measure an Ironman? The obvious answer would be 140.6 miles, but it is so much more than that.  I saw yet another beautiful sunrise while I was running this morning and it brought the song "Seasons of Love" to mind.  You know the song from the musical Rent - how do you measure a year? Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes.  (lyrics here if you need a refresher)

Well it got me to thinking: How do you measure an Ironman?  We all know that it is 140.6 miles, but what about all the other "things" that make the story complete?

 Of course, there are all the basics that happen in 18 weeks of training:
1931 miles on the bike
543 miles run
137,000 yards (78 miles) of swimming
280 hours of training

And don't forget:
3 pairs of running shoes
54 loads of laundry
1 flat tire
3 dropped chains

There has to be food:
176 cups of coffee
24 post training breakfast/brunches in which we solved the world's problems
32 breakfast tacos
10 pizzas
countless pancakes/waffles
52 packages of Shot Blocks
10 Pop Tarts
85 bottles of Topo Chico
24 MexiCokes

Along the way there were also:
2 races
3 bike rallies
1 5K age group win
3 parties
5 pedicures
4 massages
1 large book read entirely on the bike trainer

But this is the best part of the whole process, the part that will keep me coming back again and again:
24 Lake Grapevine sunrises
1 duck (the lovable Floyd MayFeather)
35 bad jokes
235 laughs
4 "you are stronger than you think" pep talks
1 long Goat walk
3 "pretty sure this brick run might kill me" runs
1 rain run
8 post long training day camp chair chats
3 friendships that grew stronger and deeper

It is officially less than a week until race day and my bike is on its way to Maryland tonight.  I didn't just survive the training, I thrived.  I am not sure that I have ever had this much fun or learned this much about myself while training for a race.  I feel as if I am on a roller coaster that is slowly climbing the hill before that first big drop.  There is no getting off now, time to enjoy the final ride.

The Space Between: Summer 2017

Hello, first sunrise of summer...we are going to be seeing a lot of each other over the next
few months. There will be smiles and laughter and frustration and exhaustion
and everything in between...and I can't wait.

I snapped this picture and wrote the caption on the first day of summer break, a beautiful Friday morning at Lake Grapevine.  I watched the sunrise every single Friday in this spot and summer saved her most glorious sunrise for the last Friday of my break.  I snapped a picture of that one too because it was just so quietly stunning in its beauty.  Swimming in the calm waters while the sun gently slipped up into an orange sky filled my soul with so much peace.  For a moment I knew that everything in this scary world was going to be okay. Looking through my Instagram feed, I noticed that I had a picture of both the first and last day of summer...but what really caught my attention was all the pictures in the space between those two.  I couldn't stop looking at all of the pictures and thinking of the memories that are attached to each. It is moments like this when I realize just how much my cup overfloweth with people and experiences and love. I am the luckiest. 

I have spent the bulk of my time this summer training for Ironman Maryland, my first.  It has been a real labor of love. I had no idea what to expect when I began this journey, I knew that I was about to put in some of the hardest work that I'd ever done.  I knew that the hours would be long, it would be hot and gritty, and that at times I would be weary.  I expected to be tested and I expected to be pushed beyond what I thought I was capable of.  I didn't expect to have so much fun, to smile so much, and to learn so much about myself. The first week of training was so darned hard, I seriously wondered how I would survive the coming weeks.  But then I found my groove, calmed my perfectionist mind, got to work, and I've never looked back.  There have been times where I read the training plan and wondered how I would pull it off, but then I put my head down and I ended up surprising myself.  Just a few more weeks of hard work remain before the race day in October. You only get one "first" shot at a race and I'm soaking up all of the new experiences, I don't want to forget a thing.

So now it is time for me to head back to work.  I'm thankful for a job that I love and coworkers who are like family to me.  I've missed the kiddos that I work with and I can't wait to see how they have grown and changed over the summer.  I'm also thankful for a job that lets me recharge and enjoy life at an easier pace a couple of months out of the year.  I am a better therapist, a better colleague, and a better version of myself because of the time that I am given.

The space between the tears we cry is the laughter keeps us coming back for more.

St Paddy's Tri: Swim, Bike, Run (from the gorilla)

Texas weather is a cruel mistress and she will get you every time.  Like when it is 42 degrees and windy for your first triathlon of the year and 80 and sunny for your trail half a week later....(but that is another story).  St Paddy's Tri is a favorite because it is the unofficial start of tri season around here and because it is my tri-versary.  Can you believe I am starting my third season already? That first tri two years ago is still one of my favorite race days.

Swim 

The worst thing about a pool swim is waiting around forever before it is my turn to go.  I never know how to seed myself and I always end up being one of the last of my group of friends to go.  I didn't mind quite as much this day because I was hoping that it would warm up a few degrees while we were in the warm pool area waiting to start.  The longer I waited, the more anxious I got. I really just wanted to have a good race and standing around thinking about it was causing my energy level to rise. Mr K was there with me and was super calm, which helped pass the time. Waiting is hard, I just needed to get to work! As far as pool swims goes, it was probably my fastest one yet and was 30 seconds faster than last year - so yay for that! I passed two people too, which felt pretty good. But....my swim is so much slower than the rest of my race and my race swim was much slower than my training pace.  I have a lot of work to do, and I got to work on it the very next day.  It can be a little overwhelming to think about, but I'm also excited about the possibilities.

300m

7:01

6th place AG

With E - Gorilla Handler and Photographer Extraordinaire!

Bike 

I braced myself as I ran out of that warm pool and into the cold air.  I was surprised to find that it wasn't as cold as I thought that it would be.  Adrenaline is a pretty amazing thing, right? It also helps that all of my peeps are standing right there screaming their heads off at me.  I always expect them to be there, yet their voices still shock me a little as climbing out of the pool is a bit disorienting. My transition times were improving last season, but I'm always a little rusty in the first race.  I also forgot to pull my hat out of my backpack, so it took a little bit longer as it was buried in the bottom of the bag (of course).  It also took a bit more time to get my jacket and gloves on so my T1 ended up being 2:22 - definitely something to work on this year.  I grabbed my bike and ran out of there and just as I clipped in I noticed that I didn't fasten my left shoe.  I made a quick decision to let it go since the bike ride would be pretty short.  I'm still trying to figure out why this ride felt so difficult.  It felt like a struggle for the entire time, I never felt like I found my groove.  Looking back, I realized that the cold weather probably did not help too much.  Mr K passed me within the first five miles and I tried to keep him within my sights, but he got away from me. I was held up passing people a few times too, it seemed like they were always at to corners.  The whole thing was pretty frustrating and I know that I have a much better bike in me. I was pretty happy to rack that bike and get on with the run. 

12 miles

43:34

3rd place AG

Run

I had a much better transition time of 1:49 in T2, apparently it is much easier to throw off half of your clothes and put on some running shoes.  Mr K headed out just before me and Baha and Goat were near Run Out screaming at me to go run hard and catch him.  I never did catch him, in fact, we ended up with the exact same run time.  I couldn't really feel my feet for the first couple of miles and I was starting to think that maybe I should have kept my jacket.  No time to think of that, just run MK.  It felt like I'd been running for a while when I looked at my watch to see that exactly a half mile had passed...womp.  Time to settle in and just do the work.  This course always takes me off guard a little bit because it looks so flat on the elevation chart, but there are a few gentle climbs and false flats that make things challenging.  I knew that Stude (The Encourager) and Erin were out there somewhere and I got a huge laugh when I saw him dressed in his gorilla suit.  My friends make this race the most fun!

I never know what the first mile pace is going to look like until it beeps on my watch - I was happy to see 8:13.  I focused on getting to the turn around because knowing that I'm running towards the finish is always a huge mental boost to me.  On the way back, my Gorilla hopped on the trail with me and gave me some great words of encouragement.  My favorite part might have been mile 2 when Gorilla Stude shouted "what time is it, MK?!" and I hollered "LOFO time!" (LOFO is last one, fast one and it is one of my favorite things to do - although it hurts a little bit in the moment). My mile 2 came up at 8:08 so I knew that I had some work to do.  I got super jealous of Gorilla when he took off across the grass and I had to stay on the path. Finally, I could see the finish and hear my people yelling and the announcer encouraging me to hurry and finish so that those people would be quiet. I am the most proud of this run and yes, I got that LOFO - 7:49 for that last mile.

5K

24:16

3rd place AG

Total time: 1:19:04

3rd place AG

Any day that I can race, laugh, and earn a spot on the podium is a darned fine day in my book.  Not to mention the post race coffee and grub with friends around a huge table - this might be my favorite part of the whole thing! Yay for the return of my favorite season....Tri Season!

(Pictures by E and Goat)

Cowtown Half: #workharder

Cowtown Half is one of my favorite races and it is a highlight of my racing calendar.  I haven't missed a year since my first time running it in 2009 and boy, do we have some stories together! That first time is still one of the coldest races I've ever run. Then there was the year of the terrible traffic, when I kicked Mr K out of the car on the freeway so he could get to the marathon start in time.  Two years ago there was snow on the ground and I hit the "peak" of my running plateau.  And then last year...the year that I ran 1:49:55 and after five years got that 1:50 monkey off my back.  It really has been the best of times and the worst of times, all rolled into one race.

I didn't really know what to expect this year as I had a strong running base, but had not done any consistent speedwork.  I certainly had not been working as hard as I was last year when I had that magical race day.  The Cowtown isn't the easiest course, but I knew that anything was possible - a glance at my race history confirmed that.  The weather was just perfectly chilly and the wind was fairly low, so I decided to give it a shot and see what happened.

When in Cowtown...

One of the reasons that this race is one of my favorites is because I get to see so many of "my people" there. Mr K and I were in corral 2 and we got off to a smooth start, I love it when that happens.  I also love it when they play Bruno Mars as I run out - showtime!!  Mr K slipped away fairly quickly and I went about the business of settling into my race.  Cowtown is a favorite because it always seems like such a community event.  I spotted Stude (The Encourager) around mile 2 and he shouted "Last 4 Fast Four, MK." I gotta tell you, this bit of encouragement might have saved my race because I'm not so sure I would have pushed as hard without the reminder.

I passed the first 5K in 27:29 with an average pace of 8:51 and I saw Marlon somewhere after the 5K mark.  I met Marlon years ago on Daily Mile and then later in person when we were in OKC for the half marathon.  He was running the marathon and went on to have a strong day.  I stuck with him for a little bit as I know that he is such a strong runner and would set a consistent pace, but eventually I lost sight of him.  Not long after that I spotted Jessica (of @JessRunsBlessed fame).  She had a great day too!

I have a fever.....#cowbell

The 10K mat was somewhere in here and I crossed it in 55:14, average pace 8:53 - nice and consistent.  I saw Ninja just before the turn on Exchange Street.  It was just for a split second, but it was so nice to see one of my tribe and I knew that he got up early and made a long drive to be there to cheer everyone on.  That always lifts my spirits!  That turn on Exchange Street is my favorite part of the race, it is hard to top that view of the Stockyards and the crowds there are so spirited.  It passes by way too quickly and then it is back to work.

I was running pretty even splits, but I just wasn't "feeling it." It was like I couldn't quite settle into the race and lots of little things were annoying me.  My pace slipped a little bit in here and I worked to refocus before we got to the big climb up the Main Street bridge.  I knew that as soon as I got over the hill it would be time for "last four, fast four." Years ago I discovered that the easiest way for me to get up that hill is to run it one lamppost at a time.  It is just so much easier to focus on the increment right in front of me rather than look all the way to the top.  I think that is a great metaphor for life too!  About halfway up the hill I spotted Tini who gave me a huge cheer and a big high five - she is the best!

Mr K had another strong day! (Pic: Andy W)

Now it was time to get to work on a strong finish, time to focus and see if I could save my race.  My pace had started to slip a bit before the hill and I knew that this was my chance to regroup for a strong finish.  As I passed the split for the marathon I was thankful that I was not running the full and I sent all my best wishes to my friends who were - gooooo Sandie and Drum!! I got to mile 11 at 1:37:58, averaging 8:54.

I know the end of this race well - slight up hill to mile 11, then a big downhill, cross the long bridge and then another slight downhill to mile 12.  The last mile of the race is like torture because you can see where you stated at the Will Rogers Center, but you have to go a mile around to the other side where the finish line is.  Four turns to the finish, I could hear the announcer and I could taste the finish line.  Why is it that this part feels like it takes days?

I finished in 1:55:12 with an average pace of 8:47.  That "last four, fast four" insured that I would have my second fastest Cowtown in the nine times that I had run it.  It always takes me a few days to process a race.  I walked away from this one with a new respect for the PR I ran there last year.  Hard work pays off and I earned that one - no fluke, no luck, just putting in the miles and the intensity.  I felt like I ran the best race I had for my current level of training, but I also feel like I have a faster half in me if I just work a little harder. You want to run faster? Work harder. You want to be stronger? Work harder.  There was a whole lot of good on this race day, but the best thing to come from it was a new commitment to work harder this spring.  My fire was relit, time to focus and embrace my new mantra.....work harder.

3M Half Marathon: Finding Some Mojo

The 3M Half Marathon in Austin has become one of my favorite January races.  It falls near my birthday, so it has just naturally become a part of that celebration.  We have a good little group who travels for the race too, so it is also a good weekend in Austin with friends.  The race itself is great with a fun, point-to-point course that starts in north Austin and ends in front of the Texas State Capitol.  It might be the best finish line in Texas!  And because the race is sponsored by 3M, the swag bag is legendary - packed full of useful 3M products (hello post it notes and super glue!).

I wasn't really sure what to expect from myself at this race.  I am starting to realize what a special year 2016 was with PRs in almost every distance and course records at almost every attempt.  I ran 1:55 in half marathons in November and December and I had not done much structured speedwork since then.  My hip had been a bit cranky off and on during the last month....and on and on it goes....isn't it funny how we can talk ourselves into or out of just about anything?  The mind can be our biggest obstacle or our biggest ally.

I had a wildly successful race here last year, like crazy successful.  I finally busted through my half marathon PR of 6 years - it was such a perfectly wonderful day.  I couldn't believe that I did that and I went on to PR again a month later at Cowtown.  See? It was such a special year! My race plan worked out beautifully last year, I ran with the 1:55 pacers until mile 10 and then I took off on my own ran the last 3.1 miles like a 5K.  I was hoping to use a similar plan again this time, however, I was not expecting to get close to my time from last year (1:50:59), but I was hoping to break through that 1:55 streak that I had going on in recent races.  Then, right on schedule, I got a message from Stude (The Encourager - remember him?) reminding me to treat the last 5K like a LOFO (last one, fast one).  "Be fierce, MK."

Race day weather....I could stop right there, right? Fortunately, we were spared the warm and humid temperatures that have plagued us lately....so, bright side there.....but the wind was another story.  I woke up on race morning and looked outside and the hotel pool looked like a small ocean.  The wind was blowing hard, directly from the west.  As luck would have it, the course runs mostly south and a little southeast with just a few turns to the west.  Mr K and I found ourselves in the slowest restroom line ever and had to hustle a bit to make it into the corral.  I ended up starting between the 1:50 and 1:55 groups, so the part of my plan that involved the pacers was out the window.  Mr K slipped ahead to the 1:45 pace group and ended up beating them to the finish line.  What a huge day and huge PR for that guy - he broke 1:45 for the first time!

I spotted this pre-race - a good sign!

The goal for the first couple of miles is to get a nice and steady start and to settle in both mentally and pace-wise.  I have gotten in the habit of running by feel, only getting my paces when the miles chime on my watch.  I tend to watch my heart rate more to make sure that my perceived effort is matching up with the real thing.  I was happily surprised when the first couple of miles came in the 8:40 neighborhood and I made it a goal to keep all my miles under 9:00.  Since this was my third time to run this race, I felt fairly familiar with the course and I just focused on taking one mile at a time.

I hit the 5K timing mat at 27:15 and an average pace of 8:45.  Off to a great start!  I felt more thirsty than usual and hit the water stops more often than in previous years (I only had 1 stop last year).  I assumed that this was a side effect of the wind and the humidity was pretty low that day too.  The course was winding in and out of the wind - sometimes there was a tough headwind, sometimes a crazy crosswind, and sometimes a sweet tailwind.  I tried to keep it even when running into the wind and then haul ass when I had it at my back.  Since it was a west wind, I looked forward to running towards the sun (sun in your face, wind at your back was my mantra).  I was just thankful that we were not running a westbound point-to-point course!

Spoiler alert: There was delicious Lockhart BBQ with these people (Pic: Dewberry)

This course has a sweet net downhill, but there are several hills in the race.  They are nothing huge, but after trending downhill, they probably just feel bigger than they are.  Much like with the winds, I worked to keep it steady running up the hill then I ran the downs as fast as I could.  I crossed the 10K timing mat in 54:36 with an average pace of 8:47 - holding nice and steady!  I'll blame the extra two seconds on the wind.

Post race with Drum (Girl is faaaaaast)

The crowds are probably the best between the 10K mark and the 10 mile mark.  The course takes us through some neighborhoods and people really come out to cheer.  The Beef Team has a huge cheering section somewhere in here too and they always provide an extra boost.  I continued along, focusing on one mile at a time (I still use that advice Meb gave me last year).  My plan of keeping my miles under 9:00 was working out nicely, in fact 8:49 was my slowest mile and that came in mile 3.  I just kept plugging along, keeping a strong pace but also preparing for my 5K LOFO at mile 10.

I got to 15K in 1:21:40 and an average pace of 8:46 - consistency is the name of my game!  I was mentally preparing for a fast finish when I spotted a sign that said "Nasty Women Run Faster." Hell yes they do!  That had to be the most perfectly placed sign ever because it gave me just the boost I needed to finish strong!

Best race sign ever (Pic: Mama C)

Soon enough, mile 10 chimed on my watch and I picked up the pace.  I had no idea how fast I was going, I didn't look at my watch for that entire mile.  I was running hard and my heart rate was up where it should be - nothing left to do but put one foot in front of the other.  I was very pleasantly surprised when my watch chimed at 7:59.  Just two more to go, MK!  I got a little bit of an assist with a nice downhill in the next mile.  I was looking ahead and picking out people that I wanted to pick off while trying to keep my mind quiet.  Uncomfortable? Yes.  Impossible? No.  Around the corner and through the University of Texas campus and another mile chimes - 7:54. Yeeehaw!!  I was doing it!!

Racing ain't pretty, y'all.

The end of this race is tough because there is a slight uphill right around mile 13.  It is hard enough on a regular day because it might as well be a mountain after all of the downhill in the proceeding miles, but it was a real doozie on this day because it took us right back into the headwind.  That little hill is probably less than a quarter mile, but it feels like forever.  My watch gave me a very encouraging 7:52 for that mile - just turn the corner and sprint to the finish line now!

My favorite finish line in all of Texas

I crossed the finish line in 1:52:11 (avg pace 8:33).  I ran this one only 1:12 seconds slower than last year and out of 60+ halves I am pretty certain that it is my third fastest.  I wasn't expecting a PR, but I also wasn't expecting to be so close to my course record.  It was just the race I needed to show me that last year wasn't a fluke and that I am right where I want to be.  The bit of mojo I have been missing has been recovered and I'm ready to work hard for some big goals coming up in 2017.