See Stacy Run

2006-06-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm finally going to finish up the recap of the marathon. When I last posted, I was describing the last 6 miles. At that point, I started to feel a little naseous and dizzy. I had been drinking tons of gatorade and water and I had eaten 2 salt packets. I guess my body had just reached the point where it went "what the hell are you doing to me?" I wouldn't say I hit the wall because I felt like I could keep going but I definitely wasn't feeling 100 percent. Anyway, I played little games in my mind. There were 2 women who were running together. One of them was obviously having a hard time because her friend was giving her constant pep talk. I thought, "I'll just make sure that I stay close to them." So, whenever they started to get too far away, I'd start jogging a bit to catch up or even pass them. Then, eventually, they would pass me. And then I'd pass them. I kept this up for a while. It was getting hotter and my feet were starting to hurt. Amazingly, my knees didn't hurt at all! I reached mile marker 25 and I decided I could run the last 1.2 miles so I just took off and passed those two women. That really was a long mile to mile 26. The finish line was in this area called the MCRD (I think it stands for Marine Corp Recruit Depot). So, I was running along the outside of it for most of that last mile. So close, but yet so far! I finally reached the entrance and went through a gate. I was looking for the finish line but I still couldn't see it. There were tons of people standing along the route and cheering the runners on. I had my name on my shirt so I got a few "Go Stacy" cheers. Then, all of a sudden I saw this woman I met during a few of my training runs in Santa Cruz. I think I first met her on my 14 mile run. She was really encouraging (she's run over 7 marathons) and I saw her a few more times. So, she had already finished the marathon and was standing there with some friends when I came along. She got so excited she actually ran the rest of the way with me. It was a really cool way to end the race. She even got me to sprint that last .2 miles. It's hard to describe how I felt when I crossed the finish line. I felt really happy, proud, relieved, tired. Mostly I felt gratitude. I'm grateful for all the support I received during the training, the sacrifices that Martin made so I could go for my runs and to my yoga class, that my Mom came all the way out to San Diego. I also appreciate all the donations everyone made to Stephanie's scholarship fund. When Stephanie passed on, I felt an emptiness, like the world had lost one of the good people. Although I still feel her loss, it's nice to be able, in some small way, to support the continuation of her good works. So, thank you again to all the people who have donated. You rock!

2006-06-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone for your notes and well wishes. I'm flying high this week even though I'm hobbling around. The marathon was an incredible experience and I'm so grateful for all your support. I will try to describe it but I'm afraid I won't do it justice.

The race started at 6:30 am so I had set my alarm for 5:00 am to give myself time to get ready. Unfortunately, the hotel we were staying in had a lot of noisy partying going on until the wee hours so I was woken up around 4:00 am by some loud drunk people returning to their rooms. Hopefully they weren't planning on running the marathon in a few hours! Anyway, I was too excited and couldn't get back to sleep so I finally got up around 4:30. I could see out the window of our hotel room that is was very foggy which is great weather for running. I was hoping it would stay that way for a while. The day before it had been foggy in the morning but it burned off pretty early and got hot (about 80 degrees). It was a worrying development since I had not been able to train in that kind of heat.

So, I ate a bagel and some yogurt, got dressed and stretched for a while, then went down the hall to get my brother, Lance. Martin came along as well to get some pictures and video of the start. We stayed at a hotel that was a few blocks from the start and that turned out to be a really good idea (thanks to Martin!). There were huge lines for the Port-O-Potties as everyone was trying to empty themselves at the last minute. We went to drop off our gear bags (they transport it to the finish line where you can pick the bag up after your run) and then lined up in our assigned corrals. I was in corral 21 (there were 22) and Lance was way up in the front. They assign you by when you estimate you'll finish. I had just put the maximum time allowed so I was way towards the back. It seemed like it would be better for my moral if I was passing people instead of having people pass me, and in fact, that did work. I spent most of the marathon passing people and I felt like I was jammin'. It turns out you can walk a marathon in 7 hours so there were a lot of walkers in the back.

There were so many people, especially Team-in-Training folks with their purple shirts. There was so much excitement in the air and of course, this being the Rock-n-Roll marathon, they had music being piped through tons of speakers lined up along the start of the course. They played "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones and the crowd just went wild. The announcer was telling everyone to raise their hands for a picture and that must have looked pretty cool. There were about 20,000 participants there. I felt really good and really ready. I just tried to soak it all up because as someone recently told me, "Enjoy it. You only run your 1st marathon once." It's an amazing event because suddenly, everyone is an equal. Everyone there is in the marathon and about to experience the same 26.2 miles together. It's an incredible feeling.

It took about 10 minutes to cross the actual start line and then I was able to start slowly jogging. I couldn't believe it and I had no pain at all in either leg. I was wearing my newer pair of running shoes so I felt like I was running on air. After a couple of miles, we passed one of the many bands on the course (there were 41 bands in all). The band were wearing their Navy outfits (this is San Diego!) and doing modern music. I stopped to use the bathroom there so I got a chance to listen to them. There were really good. They did a song from the band, the Gorillaz, called Feel Good Inc. I have that album and they did a great job with that song. Then they broke out into a Kelly Clarkson song, "Since You've Been Gone" and the lead singer nailed it (not an easy song to do). I think that band impressed me the most.

My plan for the race was to run the first 8 miles and then kind of do a mental reset at that point. Then I would only have to do another 18 miler which I knew I could do. So, Martin, who was on his bike, met me at mile 8 to replenish my Gatorade and Clif Bar supply. I got to mile 8 pretty fast even though I was trying to keep my pace slow so I wouldn't burn out too early. I think the adrenaline of the day just got the best of me. I usually run about 14 minute miles and I was doing 12 minute miles. I couldn't believe how good I felt. I really did feel like I had just done a warm up and was ready to run 18 miles. It was still overcast so I hadn't even really broke a sweat. I continued on and at this point on the course, we got a highway that they had closed for the race ( or at least one side). The next 2 miles were a steady, slow uphill. I felt pretty ready for that since Santa Cruz is pretty hilly. I made it up the hill no problem. We passed some more bands and cheerleaders. Even the water stops were entertaining. Each water stop had a theme, there was one where everyone was dressed in pajamas, another togas, and my favorite, the cute Marines. The Marines were cool because they were towards the end, and they were really encouraging. I met up again with Martin around mile 17. I was still feeling good up until around mile 20. I got to mile 20 at about 5 hours which was way ahead of where I thought I'd be. I started feeling a bit sick and woozy and I think it was because I wasn't drinking enough. Also, the sun finally came out and it warm up a bit. I decided not to push myself so I started alternating running and walking. It's true what they say. The last 6 miles is 90 percent of the marathon. Even though I knew I only had 6 miles left, it suddenly seemed really far. Since I had slowed down, it seemed like it took forever to reach each mile marker. Plus, you could hear the crowds and the bands at the finish line.

More later . . . .

2006-06-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

Stacy Walsh Completes 2006 San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon

Stacy Walsh has helped raise over $1500 for the Stephanie Brown Cadet Memorial Scholarship Award by completing the 2006 San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon in record time.

Scotts Valley, CA (PRWEB) May 24, 2006 -- In a thrilling finish, Stacy Walsh, a Marathoner for Scotts Valley, California beat all expectations to finish the 2006 San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon in six hours and nineteen minutes. With this time, she beat her husband, Martin’s, previous record of eight hours and three minutes by a considerable margin.

“I’m very proud of Stacy”, said Martin at an impromptu press conference after the run. “Before training for this race, Stacy was not a runner, with a 10K personal best distance. For a first-timer, this was an amazing result, although I don’t think she can refer to herself as a non-runner after this. She has exceeded even her own expectations and has proven to everyone that she is capable of anything and everything she sets her mind to”.

Stacy said that her main motivation and inspiration during the race was her friend, Stephanie Cadet, who tragically died of heart failure last year after an ongoing battle with heart disease. “Steph never gave up on her hopes and dreams, no matter what the circumstance”, said Mrs. Walsh, “she has always inspired me to be more than I think I can be. I know she would be very proud of me today.”

Stacy has been running to help raise funds for the Stephanie Brown Cadet Memorial Foundation. So far she has raise $1500 and hopes to add more to that total even after the race. Those interested in giving a congratulatory donation can do so at the following web address:

http://www.sbcadetfoundation.org/campaigns/seestacyrun/seestacyrun.htm

Stacy has also been keeping all of her supporters up to date via her blog, which can be found here. Notes of congratulations and support are encouraged.

http://seestacyrun.blogspot.com/

About
The Stephanie Brown Cadet Memorial Scholarship Award is the Foundation's inaugural program. In keeping with Stephanie's passion, this scholarship awards students who are exemplary in volunteering their time to their community in service. Scholarship winners are chosen by the SBCadet Foundation Scholarship Committee each year and will receive awards applicable to any university level school of their choosing. At present, scholarship winners are chosen from the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. For complete information on the scholarship award, please see
http://www.sbcadetfoundation.org/programs/programs.htm

2006-06-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

It turns out the hotel we are staying in has wireless internet so a quick post before the big day. We got to San Diego yesterday and today my brother, Lance and I headed down to the Marathon Expo at the San Diego convention center. We had to pick up our race numbers and our timing chip. What's a timing chip? It's this little plastic thing you attach to your shoe and it is a way to keep track of your splits (10k, half-marathon, and finish time). The expo was pretty cool. There were tons of people and there was definitely excitement in the air. The expo basically is a lot of booths of running gear and food and other cities advertising their marathons (there is one on Dublin!). There are lots of freebies handed out and I picked up some free Tylenol but that was about it. Actually, I picked up this inflatable airplane from Southwest Airlines for Ronan and he loved it.

So I got back to the hotel this afternoon and have just finished getting all my stuff together for tomorrow. My fuel belt is filled, my timing chip and race number attached. I'm good to go! I'm feeling pretty good, a little anxious but not too bad. I'm ready to just get to the starting line and get on with it. Whatever happens, I'm pleased with what I have accomplished so far and if I happen to have a bad day tomorrow, well then that's what was meant to be. I've done the best I could do as far as my training goes so I have no regrets. I think it will be a lot of fun and it will be interesting to see the whole spectacle of it. Martin will be my support crew during the race. He's got his bike and he's planning on meeting me at various places along the route. I think he's going to get a bigger workout than me! So, if you read this tonight, try to send good thoughts my way tomorrow morning and early afternoon (I estimate I'll finish around 1:30 pm). Thanks for the support and well wishes everyone!

2006-05-31T22:59:00.000-07:00

I went to have a massage today and I feel like a new woman! The massage therapist I see does a special kind of massage called trigger-point therapy and she focused in on my problem knee and found some areas that were really tight. I didn't even know there could be muscles in that area (I would describe it as the inside bottom of my knee). When she first massaged the area it hurt REALLY bad but by the end, she had worked out all the kinks and I walked out of her office with no pain in that leg! I'm still not going to run on it until Sunday but I feel much better about my chances now. Alas, my right leg still has a sore tendon but I have run on that sore leg before with no problems so hopefully it will hold out until the end of the marathon. Tomorrow I have to pack everything up for our trip down to San Diego. I'm flying with Ronan and Martin is going to drive down. I'm alternating between being excited and being worried but I'm practicing all my mental relaxation techniques to keep me from getting too freaked out.

2006-05-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

I'm trying not to stress out about next Sunday but it's really hard not to. My leg is feeling better but it's really hard to say whether it's going to be ok to run 26 miles. I stopped running last Wednesday and I'm going to the gym and going on the stationary bicycle instead. At least I can try to keep up my cardio training. It just felt like my knee would feel better after I got another injection, then it would hurt all over again after doing a run. So, that's it for me until the big day. So, hopefully in the next week, my leg will heal up enough for me to run.

Today is my son's 2nd birthday and we went to a park that has a mini-train that goes around the park. He loved it (he's obsessed with trains) and got incredibly wired by the whole thing. It was great to see such joy on his face and I try to just concentrate on that. That's what life is about and soon enough this whole marathon thing will be over. I will be relieved when it's done. However, I still have quite a ways to go on the fundraising so if you haven't donated yet, I would really appreciate it if you would go over to http://www.sbcadetfoundation.org and click on runner logo on the right side of the page. I would love to be close or at my goal before the run so don't delay!! Thanks!

2006-05-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

The marathon is only 11 days away and I'm starting to feel nervous about it. It's coming up fast and my leg still hurts. I ran 3 miles yesterday and again, it hurt at the start and then the pain subsided a little so I could run on it. I just don't think I could run 26 miles with my leg feeling like that. I'll be seeing Dr. MacFarlane again today so hopefully she'll have some encouraging words (and another injection). I don't know what else to do. I'm icing several times a day, stretching and taking lots of ibuprofen. There is not much more I can do.

2006-05-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, so a quick blog since I'm really tired and not in the mood to blog. I ran this morning for 7.5 miles and it felt pretty good. My left calf hurt a bit at the start but as I warmed up, the pain went away. It was raining and then it started pouring so I decided to cut the run short (it was supposed to by 9 miles). I figured that was far enough to get in some cardio training and I didn't need to push it since my leg isn't completely better.

After some food and icing of my leg, I'm feeling pretty good. It's quite a relief actually. So, hopefully this week I will continue to recover.

2006-05-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

I went to see Dr. MacFarlane (the sports medicine doctor I've been seeing) again on Friday. She gave me another injection (this time in the bum) and told me a story I think was meant to reassure me. She said she had a patient who had a similar injury 1 week before he was to run in the Boston Marathon. He went and saw her 3 times that week and ended up running in it and finishing with a really good time. Now, of course, that guy is probably some hardcore runner and much younger than me, but I guess I can gleam some good news from that story.

I went to the gym last night and rode the stationary bike for an hour. I would have been bored out of my mind but I brought my iPod and listened to some podcasts on running. Martin found a funny one that is a couple of guys who sit around and drink beer and talk about running. I don't think they actually DO any running at all. Each week they drink a specific beer and the week I was listening to they are drinking Molsen and Guinness, what a combination!?! Anyway, it kept me occupied and I was able to keep my heartrate up for a bit. It's not the same as running but it's better than nothing. It didn't hurt my leg at all.

Today my leg doesn't hurt when I walk so that's a big improvement. It still feels like it will hurt when I run but I'm going to give my legs one more day of rest and icing and try to do my 9 mile run tomorrow morning.

Thanks again to all those of you who have donated to Steph's fund. You rock!! For those who haven't yet, there's still time but I'd like to reach my goal before the marathon if possible, so don't delay!!

2006-05-17T12:22:00.000-07:00

I tried to run yesterday but I just couldn't do it. I got about 1 mile into my run and it was just too painful. I must of looked ridiculous because I was trying not to change my gate even though it hurt to put weight on my left leg. My doctor saw me on her way home (she lives in Scotts Valley) and pulled over to talk to me briefly. She suggested I try just going on a stationary bike instead. It looks like that's what I'll do because I feel like I'm doing more bad than good by running. I'm really bummed out by this. It's hard to think that I got this far in my training without any serious injuries and now all of a sudden I can't run at all. I'm going to rest today and try again tomorrow.

2006-05-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

The most scenic part of my run is on West Cliff Drive.

Well, I'm still able to walk which is really something considering how I felt Sunday afternoon. I did finish the 18 miles (barely) but I really did a number on my leg. Now this is not the leg that was already hurting. It's now my left leg (the calf area to be more precise) that is sore. It didn't hurt that much when I was running but by Sunday evening, I couldn't put any weight on that leg at all! It felt like someone was stabbing me. So, off to the doctor I went yet again on Monday. She said because the pain only occured when I put weight on it, it's only(!?) a muscle thing. So, she still isn't too concerned. I got another shot in the leg and today I'm able to walk on it ok. It's still sore and I'm continually icing throughout the day. Hopefully, I'll be able to do some runs this week but I feel like I need to take it easy.

The run on Sunday took every ounce of energy and every bit of focus I had. I felt good for most of it, but I ran out of steam for the last 3 miles. I think it was just all the training had finally caught up with me. I was seriously fatigued. At one point, I really thought, "Wow, that's it. I can't keep running anymore." However, I then thought to myself, "I'm not going to quit now. I can do this." I started to just focus on my running, my feet, my form, the ground, whatever it took so I didn't think about how tired I was. Then I saw my shadow on the ground. The way the sun was angled, it looked like someone else was running with me. Then I thought of Steph. It was almost like she just came up along side of me and said, "wow, look at you! You go girl. You can do anything you set your mind to." It was the strangest feeling but I really felt like something/somebody was pushing me along (or maybe I was just out of my mind from fatigue and endorphins!) and I knew I could I finish. When Stephanie was alive, she really was one my biggest cheerleaders and was always encouraging and I miss that immensely. Then, Martin and Ronan met me on the bike and he rode behind me and talked me through to the end. It's great to know that I have such amazing support.

Here's a picture of Ronan helping me refill my water bottles.

2006-05-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my final 18 mile run and I'm feeling a little nervous for some reason. I guess it's just getting close to the day of the actual marathon and reality is setting in. My leg feels much better after seeing the doctor for yet another shot in the leg. She said she felt like she was shooting up the race horse and putting her back on the track. Hopefully I'll be able to completely recover over the next few weeks. Although I'm tapering the mileage, I'm still running quite a few miles.

Today we decided to celebrate Mother's Day since I'm doing my run tomorrow on the actual day. Martin and Ronan made me breakfast in bed and I got to read the newspaper from front to back. It was heaven! Then we went down to the boardwalk in Santa Cruz and walked around. Ronan liked the arcade even though the loud noises of it kind of scared him. He insisted that Martin carry him but he didn't want to leave either. Then, we went and had lunch at a place overlooking the beach. It was the perfect temperature and really sunny, so it was the perfect day to have lunch outside. Ronan was funny. Martin had a few dill pickle slices on his plate as garnish and as an experiment, he gave one to Ronan. We assumed he'd take one bite and spit it out. Instead, he held onto it and just licked the crap out of it. He wouldn't let us take it away. We let him have it and he held onto it even as he fell asleep in the car on the drive home!

Now I'm home resting my legs in anticipation for tomorrow morning. I'm actually going to try to get an early start so I get a feeling for what it's like to run really early in the morning on little sleep. My aim is to start my run around 6:30 am. I would say 6:00 am but I know that's probably unrealistic for me. I am not a morning person! I know the actual race starts at 6:00 am but it does seem different. I HAVE to get up for that. Well, I have to go get all my stuff ready for my run so I better get going.

2006-05-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

Today I'm feeling a bit tired. I did do my run this morning but it was more effort than usual. It started out ok but then I felt like I couldn't breathe. I figured out it was probably my allergies making my asthma act up. Anyway, I ran around Scotts Valley today using my handy GPS watch that Martin got me. It basically tells me exactly how far I've gone so I don't need to have a set path. I just keeping running until I reach whatever mileage is required.

At least, my leg felt better today. I went to the doctor yesterday and got another shot with cortisone. I also went to my Bikram yoga class last night (another reason for being tired) and gave my legs a good stretch. The Bikram yoga is that yoga that's done in a REALLY hot room. The idea is that you can really loosen up when you are warmed up. Of course, you are so warmed up that you are dripping with sweat! At one point in the class, the person next to me was more than dripping, it sounded like she was peeing on the floor. I had to stop myself from looking. It was definitely disconcerting. The class is an intense 90 minutes and I think running 8 miles the morning after is not generally a good idea because I felt like I was going to fall asleep all day today.

I went and bought another pair of shoes today. Well, not a different pair, just a new pair. By the end of this week, I'll have run almost 300 miles and they say running shoes last anywhere between 300 to 500 miles so these new shoes will be for the day of the marathon. I will probably wear them for a couple of runs to make sure they fit the same but that's it. I also bought a pair of tight running shorts to wear underneath my regular running shorts. Toward the end of the 18 mile run, I started to get chafing on my inner thighs so hopefully these shorts will help. This was the first time I got any chafing but it was warmer and I did sweat more. Oh how I wish I had skinny legs!

2006-05-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. I ran 18 miles today. It doesn't seem real except for the fact that my legs are REALLY sore. I was feeling a bit apprehensive this morning because of my right knee issue but Martin reminded me that once I got going it would probably feel better. I decided that I was going to go as slow as I could (without ruining my running form) to conserve energy. Plus, I set a timer on my gps/watch thingy so I would be reminded every 10 minutes to take a sip of my Gatorade and eat a couple squares of my energy bar. It really worked because I did not feel tired until at least 10 miles into the run. My knee pain flared up after about 5 miles but was gone again by 9 miles so I was greatly relieved about that. I just stopped every 20 minutes or so to stretch during that 5 miles and I guess that's what helped.

Martin and Ronan met me at the halfway point along West Cliff and so did my friend, Kate and her daughter, Natalie. Ronan and Natalie are best buds and the best little cheering section I could have had. It really gave me some extra energy to see family and friends out there to support me. So, thanks Martin, Ronan, Kate and Natalie for being out there today!

Here's a pic of Ronan doing stretches with me.

Martin then drove down and met me at the Harbor which is about 3 miles from the finish point. He followed me on his bike and Ronan rode in the child bike seat in the back. I think Ronan was bored because he promptly fell asleep and slumped forward to use Martin's behind as a pillow. It didn't look comfortable but it seems babies can fall asleep in the strangest positions and be fine. Anyway, I really started to feel tired at that point. My legs felt heavy and my energy was getting lower by the minute. I ate some of that energy gel stuff and that really helped me towards the end. There's one last long gradual hill after the harbor and I just knew if I could get up that one, I'd be home free. I just hunkered down and tried to concentrate on my form. Martin kept saying today that I looked very strong (even when I wasn't feeling it) and his encouragement helped me to realize that I could do it. I had gone that far and there was no way I was going stop with a few miles left. The last mile I felt so good. Partly because I was just excited that I was almost done and also, I was proud that I had stuck it out. It's a wonderful feeling, that feeling of accomplishment. Part of the mental training for a marathon (yes, it's not just physical training, that would only get you about halfway there) is that I have to recite everyday the following:

I am a marathoner. I love to run and I never quit on a run. I love to run hills and I feel strong when I run. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I finish a run. I am a marathoner.

I repeat that to myself when I feel tired. Especially the part about never quitting and reminding myself of how good it feels to finish a run. I have been a stay-at-home mom for almost 2 years now. Now, I'm not complaining because I love Ronan and I feel fortunate that I've been able to stay home with him but it still has been hard for my self esteem to not be defined by a job. Unfortunately, that's how our culture works and even if I know that being a mom is really the most important job in the world, some days that just doesn't get me through the day. So, this marathon training has instilled in me a feeling that I if I can do this, I can do anything and THAT is wonderful thing.

2006-05-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

I went to see the sports medicine doctor yesterday because my knee still really hurt. She gave me another injection this time with some cortisone in it. The shot made that area even more sore so today I decided to take it easy while the inflammation goes down.I feel a little guilty not running but I don't think it will make a big difference in my training. I figure that the extra rest will help more.

So, I'm still reading the ChiRunning book and the author discusses marathons and training for them. He said he asks his clients, "So, you want to run a marathon? Great! What year do you want to run it in?" Yikes! I knew going into this that the training would be hard but the ChiRunning author says it can take up to a few years for your body to adjust to the long mileage. Well, now you tell me! Oh well. Although I have some minor wear and tear going on, the doctor doesn't seem concerned about it so I won't worry yet.

The other thing I found out was that the race has a limit of 7 hours! That's when they start opening the roads up again and tearing down the course and finish line. Now, the book I'm using for my training, The Non-Runner's Marathon Handbook, says the only goal for a first time marathoner should be to finish. So, I'm breaking the one major rule they have in that I do have a time limit. But, I figured out that I could run 17 minute miles and still finish on time. Currently, I average about 13 minute miles (yes, I'm very slow!) so I should be able to finish within the time limit. Still, it would be nice to think that I had all the time in the world to drag myself across the finish line.

2006-05-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had to do an 8 mile run. The middle of the week run sometimes is the hardest for me because I haven't quite recovered from the weekends long run and I'm feeling pretty tired. Plus, my right knee is still bothering me. But, I decided a way to motivate myself was to go down to West Cliff Dr. in Santa Cruz and run along the water. The sidewalk runs right along a cliff with about a 30 foot or so drop and on a big wave day, the waves crash right up onto the sidewalk. It's very scenic. It was a small wave day so there weren't any big crashing waves but it was still pretty. As always, there were plenty of people out for a walk or bike ride but not too crowded. On Saturday, I felt like I was running an obstacle course as I dodged around walkers, bikers, surfers and little kids running all over the place. Martin said it was good practice for the start of the marathon because it's VERY crowded for a while until the runners spread out a bit. Anyway, my run yesterday was going pretty well but then the pain I've been experiencing in my right knee flared up again. It's actually in the back of my right knee and it feels like someone is stabbing me with a knife. I continued to run and just tried to acknowledge the pain and hoped it would go away. Then the pain started shooting down my calf and up my hamstring. Now, I had this same pain on one of my long runs and it lasted for about 8 miles so I knew I could run through it, so I just kept going. It's weird because eventually it just goes away. Until I stop running, that is. I spent most of yesterday hobbling around. But, I was able to finish the 8 miles and other than my knee, I felt pretty good. Today I am scheduled to do a 5 mile run but I might postpone it until tomorrow and then do my long run on Sunday.

2006-05-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

I'd like to give a great big thanks to those of you who have donated. Your generosity is what will keep me motivated today to go out and run. You are all awesome! If you haven't donated yet, please go to the website and read about Stephanie and why you should support this important scholarship fund. You can donate right there on the website. You can find the link to the left under the title "Links".

Martin found a book called "ChiRunning" that I've been reading. It's about how to combine the philosophy of Tai Chi and running. The writer is an ultra-marathoner (he does races that are more than 26.2 miles) and he also studies Tai Chi. His basic premise is that by focusing on your core and relaxing the rest of your body, you cane run with more efficiency and no injuries. I'm still reading the book but I did make a few adjustments to my running style and it really has helped. One thing I was doing wrong was landing on my heel. I thought that's what you were supposed to do, land on your heel and then roll forward to your toes and push off. Well, according to the ChiRunning book, it's better to land on your midfoot and then lean forward and lift your leg. The best way to see if you are doing it correctly is to run on sand. Your footprint should be nice and flat. If done incorrectly, your foot will dig into the sand leaving a crater at the top of the footprint. It's really hard and I still need to practice but I think I'm getting the hang of it. My knees hurt a lot less now. I was having some knee pain and went to a doctor to have it checked out. She didn't seem to think it was anything to serious and just gave me a shot of some anti-inflammatory medicine right into my knees. I've had that done a few times in the last few weeks and I'll be going again today. I'm also taking 800mg ibuprofen 3 times a day and icing a few times a day. I feel like I'm still keeping ahead of the inflammation but it could all to pot come Saturday after my 18 mile run.

2006-04-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

I ran my third 16 miler this morning in Santa Cruz. It was long but after doing this same run three weeks in a row, the distance didn't seem AS long as the first time. I'm still just as sore afterwards. I've started doing the ice bath thing when I get home. Basically, I fill the bathtub with cold water, get in (fast, there's no other way to do it, trust me!) and because it's not quite cold enough, I add a bucket of ice. This is not something I look forward to but it does seem to help with the swelling in my legs and knees.

Martin and Ronan came out and gave me support around the half-way point. For those of you in Santa Cruz, that's on West Cliff Drive, 1 mile past the lighthouse. We bought a child bike seat and helmet for Ronan so Martin brought his bike. They looked so cute together! At first, Ronan had the funniest look on his face until he could see that it really was me. Then he kept saying, "Mama, Mama!" like he was surprised to see me running along side the bike. It was nice to see them and Martin brought some much needed water so I could refill my Fuel Belt flasks. I should include a picture of me in all my gear. I have a 6 bottle belt and I have my cell phone on it as well. Plus, I have a nifty new gadget (thanks for my gadget-loving husband) that tells me exactly how far I've gone and what my pace is, although I'm not trying to keep any specific pace. It works using GPS. So, I now I know that I actually ran 16.30 miles! Anyway, it helps to know how far I've gone and how far I have to go. Once I hit 14 miles and I still felt pretty good, I knew I could make it 2 more miles.

This week I ate and ate and ate. I had some trouble with my knees the last few weeks and I went to see an orthopedic doctor that specializes in sports medicine. I told her how exhausted I was after last weeks run. I basically came home and fell asleep for 3 hours! She said I probably wasn't eating enough. She then suggested I go out and eat some pie and ice cream. I never thought I'd hear a doctor say that! I did eat a lot more carbs this week and it seems to have paid off. I'm still tired and probably will take a nap but probably not for 3 hours. Martin really has a looong Saturday because of my training. I run for 3 and half hours and then come home and collapse. I literally couldn't do this without his support. He really is the world's greatest husband (and no, he didn't tell me to write that!).

Anyhew, this coming week is another high mileage week. I'm supposed to run 5 miles, 8 miles, 5 miles and 18 miles! It just doesn't seem possible that I'll run 18 miles. Wish me luck!

2006-04-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

Ack! I know. I'm so bad about updating this thing. Well, since I'm in the middle of my high mileage weeks, I need to post more often because I NEED THE FEEDBACK! Is anyone out there reading? Do you have any encouraging words or stories of your own about how you kept going when you were too tired or sick or whatever? I could use that about now. This week I got a cold from my little guy, Ronan and last night I had to go for a 5 mile run. I REALLY didn't want to do it but I put on my running gear and shoes and headed out the door. To make it worse, my asthma started bothering me on the run probably because of the cold. It was getting dark, the fog was rolling in and the temperature was dropping. And there I was, jogging in the dark (there aren't many streetlights in Scotts Valley). At least it wasn't raining!

Anyway, I do have great news! The Stephanie Cadet Foundation website is up and ready. Please take some time to read about Steph and her life and what she believed in. She really continues to be an inspiration to me and I think this Foundation is a great way to honor her and to continue the legacy she had already started. In this time, there is so much cynicism and apathy and I believe we need to counter this in whatever small way we can. This scholarship is to let young people know that it's a good thing to want to serve your community. So, please consider donating on the website and send me a note so I can thank you.

Next up for me, another 16 miler tomorrow! I'll post to let you know how it all goes.

2006-04-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Is there anyone still out there? I know it's been a while since I last posted. Several weeks ago Ronan got very sick and ended up in the hospital for a night. After that experience, we were scheduled to fly to Florida to visit my parents and we almost didn't go. But, Ronan made a quick recovery and off we went. Since I was on vacation (but not from training!) and didn't have easy access to a computer, I didn't post that week either. I have no excuse for not posting the last 2 weeks though! I have made a commitment to post at least on the days I do a training run so please come back and check for new posts.

Today I ran in Nisene Marks for approximately 8 miles. I don't really know how far I went because my original running route was blocked by a huge landslide. There were signs for a detour which I followed but the path got really narrow and extrememly muddy. I was running along when I hit a patch of mud that I couldn't get around. I was afraid there was poison oak on either side of the trail so I had to go through the mud. One of my shoes went in about 2 inches deep and it made that horrible sucking sound when I lifted my foot up. I was sure I was going to lose the shoe. I decided to turn around even though I hadn't gone the full 4 miles yet. So, instead I got back to the main trail which is a wide fire road and decided to go take a look at the landslide. It was pretty cool. The entire side of the hill gave way and was covering the path. I'm sure with the extra distance I ran to see the landslide I got in at least 8 miles, maybe more. It wasn't raining for once so I was extremely happy about that. Hopefully, the weather will hold for Saturday. Next up, 16 miles!

2006-03-18T19:46:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here enjoying my well deserved glass of wine. I have no guilt because I ran 10 miles today! At the end of the run, I actually felt I could have gone farther so that's a good sign for next week's long run. I didn't think I'd make it today because I had some "stomach issues" this morning. I won't go into details but I am taking antibiotics to fight a sinus infection that I had been hoping would go away. This past week it just got out of hand and I couldn't take it anymore, hence the medicine. But, it did not agree with my stomach. I was seriously worried I'd have an uncontrollable urge to use the bathroom on my run which would be quite the disaster. However, once I started running, I felt fine.

When I'm doing the long runs, I try to think of it in parts. So, for instance, I felt like once I made it to the halfway point then the rest is easy. I don't know why that works. I guess because I have already ran a certain course, then I'm more familiar with how far it is. Once I know how far it is, it doesn't seem as far. Sounds weird but it works for me. I have a few other mental tricks which worked today. When I start to feel tired, I imagine I have a big metal dial on my back like the Energizer Bunny. I picture the dial winding up and letting go. Then I get a surge of energy. That worked on the few hills on the way. The other mental idea I use is more a general philosophy I have developed during this training. I think to myself that if it was easy, it really wouldn't be worth trying to do or at least the payoff at the end wouldn't be as big. I've been reading about the concept of "flow" and the basic idea is if you do something that's demanding but also attainable, you reach this desirable state of flow. Sort of like what musicians experience during a jam session or an artist working on a painting. Anyway, during the long runs, there are moments where everything seems to float away and I'm in this amazing state where I feel really alive, in a heightened state of awareness. At one point, I was feeling this way and I noticed someone had spray painted on fence next to the beach, "Love Life" and that's how I felt. Like I was really loving life. Never would I have thought that I would feel that way while running!

2006-03-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

I ran yesterday for 5 miles. It seems that I saw that casually but I'm not, believe me. It's weird that I just go out and run 5 miles and I'm fine. I mentioned before that I am not athletic. It mainly stems from when I was a kid and had really bad asthma. I became very familiar with the ER back then. I dreaded PE class because I couldn't even run once around the field (probably about 400 yds.). Plus, I'll admit that I'm one of those people who don't like doing things they aren't good at. So, since I WAS good at playing piano and flute, I spent my time doing that and not running around like the other kids. I pretty much have stayed away from sports my whole life. Anyway, I still have asthma but I hardly ever have flare ups now. Medicine is so amazing!

The run itself started out pretty good. I went to Nisene Marks again. To those who don't live in Santa Cruz, it's a state park that used to be land where logging took place. It's a beautiful forest with very tall fir trees, lots of ferns and a creek running through most it. We here in SC are very lucky to have such a cool place to go for runs, walks, hikes and bike rides. The only part I don't like is that it's a gradual uphill and then a VERY steep uphill once you get deep into the forest. I know it's good training but when I going into the park (and up!), I'm counting the miles until I get to turn around. Then, of course, it's really great because it's all downhill! On my way back, I felt like I was just floating along. I kept thinking of a book I read, "Women Who Run With the Wolves". I was one of those women!

Tonight I had my yoga class. I have been going to a Bikram yoga class once a week for a couple of months now. Bikram yoga is this type of yoga you do in a extremely hot room. I sweat so much during the class that sometimes I can't see during a pose. It's intense but the reason they have the room heated is so you can stretch more easily. It does work but some nights I really have to take it one pose at a time just to make it until the end. I think it has helped my running because I haven't had much tightness after my big runs. Plus, there are a lot of poses that strengthen the core muscles which apparently is good for running a marathon.

Tomorrow is a light run (3 miles) but it's supposed to rain again. I'm so sick of the rain! I can't wait for Spring. Ok, I'm rambling at this point so I'll just end now.

2006-03-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

So, I realize that I haven't posted in a while. I haven't quite got the hang of this blogging thing. I know you are supposed to regularly make posts but I just keep forgetting. Anyway, I will try to be more consistent this week.

Last week started out not so good, but ended on a high note. I'm in my fourth week of training so the mileage is really starting to go up. However, this week also turned out to be really bad as far the weather goes, so it was quite a challenge to get my runs in. I'm sure I mentioned it before but I HATE being cold. I hate being cold about as much as a hate being wet so this week really wasn't good since it was both cold and rainy! Last Monday, I skipped my run because there was a serious downpour that morning and evening. I know there are people who can run in the rain, snow, whatever but I'm just not to that level. Not to mention, I don't have the gear. I have 1 pair of running pants and they are not waterproof. I do have a jacket that is "water resistant" which really means, if someone spits on you, you won't get wet but don't expect to stay dry in a downpour. So, I regrouped on Tuesday and was determined to do my run that day. The weather still wasn't cooperating and it was raining off and on all day. I decided to go in the afternoon because the rain was supposed to have stopped by then. I started out and it was so cold, I couldn't feel my feet or legs. I wore my running shorts which was my first mistake. My second mistake was listening to the weather forecast. A few minutes into my run, it started raining. And, of course, I didn't wear my "water-resistant" jacket. So, it's about 50 degrees, raining and the wind is picking up. It was not a great running day. I did manage to finish because I was determined not to be a wimp. Also, as I was leaving to go on the run, my husband reminded me to think of why I was doing this in the first place. That was really great advice because every time the wind blew through my soaked shirt, I just thought of my friend Steph who always did so much for other people. The reason I'm running this marathon is to raise money for a scholarship fund set up in her name to encourage young people to serve others in their community, just like Steph did. I can think of no better motivation to keep going.

So, with that thought in mind, I mentally prepared for last Saturday, my first 8 mile run. For those who know me well, you know I am not a runner by nature. I'm not even athletic. So, this really was quite a milestone for me. Again, the weather was not cooperating, but now I know I have to keep doing my training regardless of the weather. On Friday, it started raining, then up in the mountains it started snowing! On Saturday morning, I drove down to Santa Cruz to do my run. I saw cars with snow on their roofs and hoods, snow on the side of the road, even down on West Cliff where I was going for my run. It was 35 degrees! I just tried to think of how beautiful the day was since the sun was shining. Once I started running I realized that other than the temperature, it really was a gorgeous day. There were huge waves and the surfers were out early. There were still lots of people running and walking West Cliff. Anyway, I had my best run yet. I felt really good through the whole thing and right near the end, my husband showed up with my son, Ronan and my 2 dogs, Luka and Sammy. It was so great to see them, especially since I was around mile 7 and getting tired. It perked me up enough to finish the 8 miles.

Now, I'm headed into week 5 of my training and next Saturday, I conquer my first 10-miler. I'll be updating more often now so you can read about how I'm doing in my preparation for that.

2006-02-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I did my first long run. It was for 5 miles, which doesn't seem like much but for me it was a big deal. The day did not start out well. It was cold (in the 30's) and rainy and I was thinking there was no way I could run in that kind of weather. Also, I was worried about how muddy it would be at the park where I was going to go do the run. I've never run in mud and kept thinking about whether I would slip and fall, twist my ankle, etc. Then, as I was stretching beforehand at home, I knocked a glass off of the bedside table and water and shattered glass landed all over the place. Ugh, it just wasn't my day. After cleaning up that mess, I basically had to drag myself out the door to the car.

I made it to the park, Nisene Marks, and it stopped raining before I got there. I was so happy about that. I was all bundled up, I had on a headband thing to keep my ears warm, gloves, pants and a sweatshirt, then I see a bunch of guys running in shorts and t-shirts! Well, what can I say? I'm a wimp when it comes to the cold. Anyway, I felt ok starting out and it was very pretty in the park. It's another popular place to go for a run and I can see why. All the runners going by say hello or wave. It was fun because I felt like I was one of the club except they didn't realize I wasn't! I ended up going past the point where I was supposed to turn around (the 2.5 mile point) because I got a bit lost but I really didn't mind because I got to go over this pretty little bridge that went over a creek. All in all, it was a successful run and now I get to rest today (Sunday). Yay!

2006-02-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

So, I have done 3 runs so far this week. My first workout was on Monday morning, early. For those who know me, this is a feat in and of itself, much less the running part. Anyway, I had my running gear set on the dresser so all I had to do was get up, get dressed and go. It still was hard but once I was on my way, I felt better. So, for the shorter runs (3 or 4 miles), it is convenient for me to go to the local park here in Scotts Valley, called Skypark, because it has an ashpalt path with a dirt and sand path right next to it. So, not only is it great for the 'ole knees, it's pretty much flat. The only downside is it's only .93 miles for 1 loop so I have to run around it a few times to get the mileage in. So, that's where I went on Monday. I felt pretty tired starting out; I couldn't catch my breath and my legs felt really heavy. However, after 1 mile, I felt pretty good and I finished the run without too much effort. On Tuesday, I had to do 4 miles and I was thinking there was no way I could make that because of how hard it was at the start on the 3 miler. But, when I started, I felt much better. I think it was because I decided to eat a bowl of cereal (Honey Nut Trader O's, yum!) beforehand. My run went much better than the day before and when I finished, I felt like I could have gone longer, which is a good thing since I have to run 5 miles on Saturday. That's how my training is going to go, Mondays, short run, Tuesdays, slightly longer run, Wednesdays, rest (except for Bikram yoga class at night), Thursday, short run, Friday, rest, Saturday, long run, Sunday, rest again.

So, yesterday, was another 3 mile run and I decided to go to this area called West Cliff in Santa Cruz. What a great place to run! It's an asphalt path along the water's edge. You can see waves breaking on rocks, surfers, seals, dogs running around on Lighthouse beach, lots of walkers and runners. I'm sure it will be too packed to go on weekends, but on a Thursday morning, it was nice. Not empty but definitely not crowded. It also was a crisp 40 degrees (yes, it gets cold here on the central coast of CA) but the sun was shining so I didn't feel it. I felt really good so I pushed myself for this run. I'm trying out a thing that Martin had told me about. Apparently, there is a pace that is the most efficient to run at. Something like 18 strides every 12 seconds. Anyway, I tried to keep up that pace once I got warmed up and wow that is fast. I tried taking smaller strides but I just couldn't keep it going. I did notice that I was running a lot smoother. I don't have a great runners gait, I tend to bounce up and down too much and I feel really heavy sometimes with each foot fall. But, I felt really light at faster pace. I think my cardiovascular system will have to catch up a bit before I can keep it up though. It was a great run but I really felt it later in the day. My knees got a bit stiff and I had a slight pain in the top of my right foot. I just got new running shoes so hopefully the pain in my foot isn't being caused by them. At this point, I assume it's just normal aches and pains from pushing my body to places it has NEVER gone before.

So, tomorrow is my first long run. I'm a bit nervouse because 5 miles seems like a big leap from 4 miles but hopefully it won't seem like it. I also am a bit worried because a cold front is passing through today and tomorrow and with it, rain. I'll be glad when winter is over because I do NOT like being cold, much less cold and wet. I'm hoping that the running trail won't be too muddy because I love my new running shoes and they won't look so new after running 5 miles in the mud.

2006-02-12T21:07:00.000-08:00

And so it starts . . . .

After watching my husband, Martin, train for the Honolulu marathon, you'd think I would know better than to put myself through all of it (pain, long runs, knee injuries, very painful deep tissue massage), but he really inspired me to reach higher in my life and see where that could take me. I also am doing this for my friend, Steph, who always supported me and I feel like I never did enough for her while she was alive. Her husband and sister have set up a scholarship fund in her name to encourage service to others. So, in my small way, I'd like to contribute to helping her memory and work stay alive. Please stay tuned for more . . .