Run Iris Run !

Marathon Recap

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 20:21:00 +0000

Preface: This is a recap of marathon weekend with some of its ups and downs, at least those I remember. It's already become a little vague. It is a long blog with a few pictures. For actual marathon pictures, you'll have to check out the ones Frank posted on the right. Browse if you want, read it all in detail, it’s up to you. The first picture is of a tired me with race t-shirt and the ugliest, but sweetest, medal ever!

FRIDAY: Our flight left at an early 7 am so I got up at 5 so Steve could drive me and Kristina to the airport. That crazy gal, she got up early to RUN! We hit the Starbucks in the airport, made it through security with thoughts of relaxing on the flight. Of course, I ended up meeting an interesting consultant on the way, spent the flight talking (a little of dad in me?), and got off the plane realizing that, as a social worker, I’m really at the bottom of the pay scale.

The AIDS Marathon reps met us at baggage and transported us to our hotel – I swear in the hood of Miami Beach. I’m not sure what happened here. Hurricane destruction, maybe? Our room was mint green, the bed looked like it had collapsed in the middle, and the hotel itself was a long way from anything of importance, such as restaurants, shopping, the race expo, etc. We ended up paying a whole lot of money to eat brunch in the hotel where I almost ate moldy grapes. We were on the beach, however, so took a walk along the boardwalk and enjoyed the scenery.

Heads up, Jill! Red and purple flags on the beach. Know what they mean? Riptides and DANGEROUS MARINE LIFE!!!! You thought you were kidding about the sharks. At some point, Kristina did brave the water. Luckily, no run-ins with things with fins or tentacles.

We also ventured out to the race expo using the AIDS Marathon shuttle which did not run all that often. We got free stuff, checked out the merchandise, watched a video of the race course, and then missed the bus back to the hotel. We had to take a cab, got back to the hotel where various discussions concerning dinner took place. Try figuring out where a large group of anxious runners are going to eat. We finally split up, found a table in South Beach, ordered the most expensive lasagna I’ve ever eaten, and ate on East Coast time (meaning several hours after 5 for you Midwesterners.)

SATURDAY: Dannie, Sam, Amy, Kristina and I decided to jog a little in the morning to loosen up. We started out at 9am on the boardwalk, heading in the direction of South Beach and Starbucks, quickly realizing that it was a little warmer than we were used to in good ol’ DC. I also had a major freak out moment when I realized that it was humid, I couldn’t breathe, and that it could be a very long 26.2 miles. I was also kicking myself for choosing yet again to run near a beach! You’d think I would have learned the first time that me and tropical life don’t mix. Now, for those with asthma, you can relate to the feelings of pure panic which accompany an asthma attack. This was the moment when I completely missed Steve, and felt totally alone. I definitely didn’t mean to be negative, but I think that’s how I came across to other people. I made it back to the hotel, got some great support by phone from Steve, and moved on.

Saturday evening, the AIDS Marathon staff put on a pasta party with some kooky, fun entertainment.

These are pictures of me with various members of my running group.

Afterwards, we all figured out how to secure the timing chips to our shoes, race number to our singlets, and gecko/AIDS Marathon tattoos to our arms and legs. We also wrote our names and those we were running for on the singlets. Then came supportive phone calls from family and friends and finally an early sleep.

SUNDAY: The alarm went off at 3:15 am so we could catch the shuttle to the start. We checked the Weather Channel before leaving and saw (to our dismay) that it was already 70 degrees.

We made it to the start area, took a last trip to the port-o-potties, and got in our corral. The first miles were in the dark, and it was really warm. I shed the extra t-shirt quickly, and focused on the view of cruise ships, water and palm trees. The first miles felt good and we picked up the pace. At mile 5.5, the AIDS Marathon family/friends crew was waiting along with Frank, Melissa and her parents. I was so happy to see them, and so grateful that they had gone to all the effort to be there. We slowed long enough to take pictures and were off again. By mile 10, I realized that I was not going to be able to keep up with the girls and finish OK. I was doing fine, but had some tightness in my chest. We saw the cheering group again at mile 11, and then I told the girls to go on ahead. There was no way I was going to end up in a medic tent!

Miles 11 – 21 were probably the best miles of the marathon for many reasons. First, I really liked running alone with my own thoughts. Second, I met some great people from New York, Florida, England. I liked hearing their stories, and the way complete strangers can motivate each other, even if only to the next aid or medic stop. Our coach and program rep made appearances during this time too, just to check on us. Third, it was during this time that I ran through some quiet residential streets where I could just enjoy the surroundings. The residents there brought out oranges, ice, water, and positive energy. Fourth, I finally remembered the reason I run. It seems that I lost some motivation to run during the last weeks of the training program. It could be due to the fundraising stressors, the irritating nuisance injuries, the constant “group mentality,” the training schedule or a combination of all. I just remember during these miles enjoying the simplicity of running, knowing it was just one foot in front of the other to the finish. It could also be the phone call I made to Steve at mile 19, knowing that he could offer support, encouragement and absolute, unconditional love regardless of what happened that day.

At mile 21, Melissa and Frank reappeared to run with me for awhile. I felt like I had my own crew. Frank filling my water bottle, Melissa offered sunglasses, both telling me stories, taking pictures and just motivating me onward. By this time, I was starting to hurt – everywhere. The nuisance foot injury was now screaming, my shins were starting to cramp, my stomach was not handling the Gatorade or GU anymore, and all I wanted was to be done.

Miles 22-24 were the worst. I walked a lot. I thought a lot about my sister, her battle with RSD and chronic pain, and I started to cry. I knew I could get through a few more miles when other people live with so much worse every day. Somewhere during this time, the San Francisco coach appeared with words of motivation. At mile 24, Coach Fred showed up again telling me I could run the last two miles. I decided he was right. It hurt just as much to walk, so why not run it? At mile 25, the two blisters that had developed on my big toes must have popped because I felt a searing pain. There was a hill at the end, and somehow I made it over the top, then I was at the finish. I saw Amy (another runner in my group) cheering me on like crazy, and then Frank and Melissa. Someone took the timing chip off my shoe, put a medal around my neck and told me to get some food. My thoughts? “I’m done; I’m ready to go home; don’t puke in front of all these people.” My final time was much slower than I had hoped – 5:21, but I learned so much during those 26.2 miles. The best part? There was never a moment where I thought I was going to quit. I’m really proud of that.

Lessons learned:
1. Run your own race.
2. For me, it’s all about the experience along the way.
3. If you can’t have your own family, definitely bring a surrogate (thanks Melissa and family)!
4. No more fuel belt at races. The events have what you need and it left a huge bruise on my hip.
5. DO NOT REGISTER FOR ONE MORE EVENT NEAR A BEACH!!!!! Been there, done that; I’m ready for cold, northern temperatures and very few people.

After the race, Melissa’s parents took me to lunch. They all walked with me on the beach and kept me company for the afternoon. That evening, there was a brief get together/sign off from the AIDS marathon staff. Some of us ate really good pizza, napped, and packed. Some went out for a drink and dancing on South Beach, but I stayed at the hotel, took cold medicine and called Steve, happy that I would be going home the next morning.

These are flowers from my amazing co-workers the day I got back.

A FEW DAYS LATER: I've run a couple of times this week, thinking about the past 6 months. I’m so glad I had the experience of running for Whitman Walker Clinic. We raised a lot of money, met interesting people, and finished a marathon. Again, thank you for the donations, emails and phone calls. I could have run this without you, but it was far more fun and meaningful with you. I am, however, glad to be moving on to new adventures. I loved getting to know my fellow pace group members, but continue to think of myself as a solitary runner. Today was my first trip back to quiet, soft trails, where I got to run with my thoughts and a group of white tailed deer. You can't beat that!

I’ll probably enter a few smaller races and am registered for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in April. Yes, I’ll run another marathon (I’ve set my sights on the 2007 Fargo Marathon – my home state, family close by, cheap hotels, and cooler weather), but I think I need a break from a specific training schedule for awhile. I haven’t decided about the blog yet. Maybe I’ll continue it, maybe not…check back in a few weeks, and we’ll both know! Until then...

Iris vs. 26.2

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:22:00 +0000

I did it. I finished. I'm tired. More to come later...

26.2 Miles Later

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 17:01:00 +0000

She did it!!!! Iris is officially a marathon-survivor! See her story in photos to the right... videos below:

Iris at the 21-mile mark:

Iris getting medal after completing marathon:

Taper madness?

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 01:34:00 +0000

Hmmmm...so it does exist. In my situation, it's been a serious case of anxiety, inability to concentrate on anything, phantom injuries, insomnia, and general selfishness. Friday night, a few people from my running group got together to watch the movie "Touching the Void." The general idea was to gain motivation by watching two men live through the impossible. I'm not sure it motivated me to run a marathon, but it sure motivated me to NEVER become a mountain climber. We did have really good food (thanks Kristina) and conversation. Amazing that we've known each other six months. It's gone by so fast. Saturday night, another friend cooked a few of us a wonderful curry dinner (thanks Marisa). Sunday, Steve and I finally got to spend some time together shopping and going to Ted's for bison burgers. YUM!!! I feel spoiled on good food and company.

Another positive - ART worked wonders for me. I've got my flexibility back, and relieved fears about my foot. I was worried about a stress fracture but with a little work on a tendon, things are looking up!

We leave for Miami early Friday morning, so I'm off to fret over what to pack!!! For those planning to send positive thoughts my way, the official start to the marathon is Sunday morning, 6:00 am, EST. A big thank you for all of the encouraging emails and phone calls I've received this week. Your support during the last six months means a whole lot, and I can't wait to share a recap of marathon weekend. See you back here next week!

A little fixin' up...

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:58:00 +0000

During last week's maintenance runs, I felt a little off. Although Saturday's 8 mile run was fine, and it felt good to be out running a regular pace, my right knee and foot seemed to be out of alignment. My right glute and hamstring had been tight off and on throughout the training program, but after the long runs, they seem to have gotten worse.

Today, thanks to the MLK holiday, I was able to see a chiropractor who specializes in Active Release Technique (A.R.T.). Instead of just "cracking everything back into place," (a reflection of my past chiropractic experience) it was more like manipulating tight spots to loosen things up. Several spots were "OOOWWWWWWW, I actually stopped breathing" painful; others were not. For the first time, I felt like someone was actually listening and understanding the problem, not just saying "people should not run." The experience also reminded me of how flexible I used to be and how many years it's actually been since I took a dance class. I'll keep you posted on how this goes...

The excitement of the week? I got my AIDS Marathon race singlet in the mail!!! Seeing it made me think again about why we are out doing this crazy stuff, about the huge number of people who will benefit and about those who have helped make it a reality (you, of course).

12 days until the marathon!!! Be hoping for cooler temps for us in Miami. Either way, I'm confident in our training and our ability to finish. So, let the taper madness begin...

Too many words, yet I'm speechless.

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 22:50:00 +0000

I've been sitting here trying to formulate words to describe the 23 mile run. I can't seem to do it. Here are my random thoughts from Saturday's run.

Miles 1 – 10
23 miles. I can do this…

Is that a twinge in my calf? Nope. OK, good, just checking.

I’m so glad I took those 7 days off.

I need some food. GU is just not cutting it today.

Drink some salt and Gatorade. Mmmmmm…

Can we go any slower? I could walk this fast. (Dannie tried it and yes, she can walk that fast).

Mile 11 – 15
We’ve got to pick up the pace or we’re going to be running until tomorrow.

Does this trail ever end?

We’re in Maryland. Maryland!

So glad my team members have gossip.

It’s 30 degrees and I’m hot. How am I going to run in Miami?

Beaches? Who needs beaches?

Where is the darn water stop? I need some food!

Seriously, we’ve got to go a little faster.

Miles 15 – 23
Yay, we’re running. (Four of us decided to pick up the pace).

Buffalo burger. Ted’s Montana Grill. Buffalo burger.

I’m so hungry. Does anyone have food? The monster is coming out.

Thank you Kristina, thank you. Luna Bar.

I think I might need some Tylenol after this.

Holy cow! We’re going to run 23 miles!!!!

Finish
Wow…23 miles. I ran to Bethesda. Are you kidding me?

I’m so impressed with the human body.

Oh, nice, Phil is there to cheer us in!! (Group member who is injured).

Oh, really nice. AIDS Marathon Training medals.

FOOD!!!!!!

And, there it is. 23 miles finished. Nothing can describe it. I am soooo pumped for the marathon!

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 19:04:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a wonderful (and safe) holiday season. It's back to work for me tomorrow, so I thought I'd better get something posted!

The last week was a little tense for me in regards to the marathon. I seemed to have developed a calf strain during the last 20 mile run. On the 23rd, before I got on the plane, I got up at 6:00 am (on a day off - see how important this endeavor has become?) to get in my 8 miles. Obviously, I didn't think this one through very well. Run 8 miles, then get on a cramped NORTHWEST flight? If anyone flies Northwest, you'll know what I'm talking about. It was also not my brightest moment, because halfway through the run I realized my calf was NOT better, yet I kept on going...

So...with blessings from my coach, I actually took 7 days off from running. And, I did not go insane, did not bite anyone's head off, did not gain the dreaded holiday pounds, and did not really lose much in way of my fitness level. Taking a week off, eating what I wanted, sleeping, spending quality time with my family without thinking of how many miles I should get in, in general taking care of myself, was really beneficial both physically and mentally. Sunday, I enjoyed some warmer VA temperatures, and ran an easy 3 miles outside. My calf did not hurt and I was really happy to be out there again. Definitely, a valuable lesson learned.

Today, due to rain, I did 3 miles on the dreadmill. Another lesson learned. No amount of rain, snow, sun, humidity, etc. is going to keep me from being outside! Anything has to be better than me in a hot, stinky, boring gym.

The countdown is on...only 27 days until the actual marathon! This Saturday, the AIDS Marathon staff will be setting the course up similar to the marathon for our 23 mile training run. Please send some positive vibes our way. Even though we are running for a great cause, I have a feeling this run is going to be a little painful :). See you after that!

20 miles come and gone

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 22:41:00 +0000

I spent the week in Minneapolis with my sister who is recovering from her SECOND surgery in TWO weeks. I've got to say, she is a trooper, and totally motivating for me, especially when pain in the last miles of a 20-miler starts to kick in. We were told by our coaches that we could take it a bit easy in the days before this big run. That was a really good thing, considering Minnesota was covered in new snow and ice. I walked the dogs, actually they kind of pulled me along on the ice, and only ran (if you call dodging ice running) one time. I got a little scared while out there, envisioning me in a cast watching someone else running MY marathon, so decided that I wasn't going to risk it.

The day before the run, I basically slept, ate, slept some more, partially due to the fact that schools were closed and I really needed to recover from the trip. The day of our first 20-miler was really perfect. 34 degrees, no wind, and some sun. Our group was smaller, more about that later, but we all seemed ready to take on the challenge. I'd like to say that the first 10 miles flew by, but they didn't. Our coaches slowed us down even more this week, and I have to say...
I think I could have crawled faster. Not sure I agree with this particular training technique.

Anyway, I felt like I was tripping over my own feet, and I was definitely stepping on the feet of others. It is really hard to shorten your stride enough to slow down that much. I was a mess. Then, around mile 10, my right calf muscle started to cramp. Not like a debilitating cramp where you MUST stop and work it out or be writhing on the ground in pain. It was more of a sore cramp that wouldn't work itself out. Strangely, it was kind of like the pain that comes AFTER a severe muscle cramp. I couldn't stop it, but could run through it. That's when I decided the marathon is completely a mental game. I kept thinking of the pain my sister lives with on a daily basis, and that I could go 5 more miles with a cramp.

By mile 15, several of us were just fed up with the pace and took off. Lengthening my stride seemed to make the cramping more bearable and we kept up the faster pace throughout the last miles. I'm all about doing the long runs more slowly, but when you can't maintain your stride and it feels absolutely uncomfortable, I think that's going to the extreme. The positive part of the training run is that my before and during the run eating/hydrating plan seems to be working! Also, I know that if I start out more slowly (within reason that is), I'll be comfortable enough to pick up the pace at the end.

Another new experience - the ice bath. When I got out of the car to walk to my apartment, I can't say that I was really walking. More of a shuffle/drag. I'm not sure what people were thinking of me at the time. My calf muscle was screaming, and I discovered I also had a huge knot in my lower back. Although difficult to maneuver, I did manage the ice bath, a shower and getting dressed (quite comical actually). My loving husband greeted me with a congratulatory hug and the best homeade club sandwich EVER. Turkey bacon and all.

On a sad note, two people in my group have had to withdraw from the program due to injuries. By now, we've become a group, and each person and his/her individual contributions will be missed.

As for the fundraising update...we are $100 from the required goal!!! Yay for many reasons including your support of me and the Whitman Walker Clinic, the money that will go to treat people living with HIV/AIDS, and least, but still important, my credit card that won't be charged :). You've all done such an awesome job, and I'm trying very hard to stay healthy, injury free, and motivated to finish 26.2 miles on January 29th!!!!!

Taking a break...

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 14:12:00 +0000

This weekend was another 9 mile recovery run that felt GREAT. No pain at all, and I was back to my regular self. I know that the pain from the 17-miler was largely caused by the horrible cold, so I'm feeling more confident since yesterday went well.

This week, I'll be taking a short break from blogging. I'll be staying with my sister for a few days while she recovers from surgery. Maintenance runs in Minnesota - and I thought the DC runs have been cold!

We've reached $2200 in our fundraising goals! This is the last "official" week to donate, so if any of you would still like to contribute, this is the week to do so...

Again, thanks to all of you for your donations, attendance at fundraising activities, volunteerism, and positive thoughts. It would be much more difficult to do this without you, but much more meaningful to do this with you!!!

And there was pain...

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:38:00 +0000

I had some doubts as to whether or not the 17 miler was going to happen. Exactly 8 days before the scheduled run, I came down with some crazy sinus/respiratory thing that would not let up. Stupidly, 3 days after I came down with it, I thought I was improving, so went out for a SHORT, EASY, 2-3 MILES just to "work out the kinks." Of course, it happened to be a beautiful, abnormally warm (70 degree) day, and 2 miles turned into 5. 5miles turned into a hacking cough, huge sinus headache, and inability to sleep due to cold medicine and plugged nose. As chaos theory would predict, this coincided with a crazier than usual work week. As some of you know, my work week is crammed into M-TH with Fridays off. I slept until NOON on Friday, then parked myself on the couch the rest of it.

Soooo, Saturday arrived, and we had to be at the run site by 7:45 am. Our coach gave me the "you are not running today after being sick all week." I did the "but, I'm feeling much better" whine. Another group member wasn't able to complete all 17 miles due to her knees, so we compromised, me saying that I would do only 15 with her. Not really sure how that would have been any better than 17, but I just wanted to get out there! So, they loaded us up in a van to drop us off a couple miles out where we would meet up with the group. Well, my friend had a "nature call?" so we ran around the DC mall looking for a bush, tree or open museum where we could sneak in and use the bathroom. After all that, we ran back to find our group, meeting them before our designated spot. All in all, we ran as much as anybody else, and now can publish a book titled "Where to find a toilet at 8:00 am in DC."

On to the painful part. In case you are even slower at understanding this than me, I will inform you that 17 miles is a looooooooooong way to run, and it was a cold (OK- North Dakotans and Minnesotans have permission to laugh here) 30 degrees with cloudy skies and wind. Once we ran through the city and got to the trail, it was more sheltered and pleasant. But, the trail is long, long, long, and I didn't think we were ever going to turn around. By the halfway point, my body was hurting. I realized that this was partially due to being sick all week, so I tried to keep quiet about it. The last three miles, however, everyone was hurting. I am not kidding - there was pain everywhere. Head, back, hips, quads, knees, calves, feet, toes. Then, all of a sudden, I felt a twinge that reminded me of the onset of cramps I experienced during the half marathon. I started guzzling the rest of my Gatorade mix in hopes that it would prevent the worst from happening. It seemed to work, or maybe it was the "almost done" mantra that kept going through my head. Either way, the entire group finished!!!! A big thank you to my group, because there is no way I would have finished without you.

Despite the painful ending, I actually recovered quite quickly. I tried a mango "recovery" drink from Cliff Shot, took some advil and tried to walk as much as possible. Today, I was able to enjoy a 3 mile run in DC's first snowfall of the year. Big, messy snowflakes that made everything look awesome. My Achilles tendon is still a bit sore, so I'm happy this next weekend will be a short 8 mile recovery run.

Thank you once again to everyone who has donated money, volunteer time, and cheer. My thank you's are a couple weeks behind, but will be in the mail this week... Only $500 to go!!!! Take care everyone and see you North Dakota folks in a few weeks.

Where have all the married people gone?

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 04:49:00 +0000

This post is not really about running, mainly due to the fact that I got a horrible cold this week and haven't run in a few days. The topic of married vs. single people did arise from an evening out with my running group. It is not intended to be offensive toward anyone, but I am curious to know...where do people go when they get married?

Let me back up a little. Some of you know that my husband and I are socially different creatures. He is quiet, more introverted, and really does not like crowds of people. In fact, it took him some adjustment time just to get used to my family all crammed into one place for the holidays. I can be quiet (huh?), but like getting together with groups of friends and meeting new people. WE are totally ok with these differences, but I'm not sure OTHER people feel the same way.

One reason I joined the AIDS marathon training program was to meet new people, be part of a group, socialize, etc. Being the only married woman in the group did not phase me at first, but I've started to catch on that I might be viewed a little differently because I am married. (I should mention that this is not the first time). During our runs, I unintentionally offer the "married perspective" when conversations take a turn toward relationships. And, I went to a group fundraising activity one evening, and the conversation turned to discussing good places to meet guys. Some of the group was planning to get together to check out one of these places, when one of the girls said "Oh, no, my married friend is coming into town that weekend!" She wasn't saying it to put her friend down, she just wasn't sure if her friend would be interested. The statement got me thinking...

Does an invisible wall go up between friends when someone ties the knot?
Do people really become different when they marry, or do their friends just assume they are no longer fun?
Do the majority of married couples just stay home all the time? Only go out with other married couples? Maybe they experience the same things I am experiencing and eventually give up?
If I never told new people I was married, would they figure it out anyway - by some married body language and/or habits?

I'm honestly curious about this topic. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being married, but I do not define myself only as a married person. I still have my own interests, friends, job, identity, etc. I'm wondering if other people wonder about this as well? Feel free to post comments (see the bottom of this post.)

Who should be allowed to run a marathon?

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 15:45:00 +0000

Another picture of the Mt. Vernon trail - this time of me on a cross trianing day.

Since starting to taking this running thing seriously, I started “lurking” (a purely technical term for you non-internet people) around the Runner’s World and Cool Running message boards. These boards are full of running questions and words of wisdom from those at it a lot longer than me. I was somewhat disturbed, however, when I came across a few (ok –several) posts that take aim at Team-in-Training events, running for charities, and the Galloway run/walk method. It was only after the 2004 Marine Corp Marathon that I even had the brief, nanosecond of a thought that I might someday, years from now, attempt a marathon. When I saw the flyer for the AIDS Marathon Training Program, I thought I might as well be raising money for a good cause while logging all the miles. Plus, group long runs and coaching…what more could you ask for?

Well, (long pause) there are many people who don’t take kindly to this type of program. The reasons vary and I’ll choose not to rehash all of them here. You can go to http://www.runnersworld.com/ or http://www.coolrunning.com/ message boards if you want all the dirt. The problem for me is that I understand some of their arguments. It’s true, you don’t see the general public deciding to play in every Redskins game to raise money for charity. In fact, not many sports would allow this. So, why allow it in the marathon? Also, these training programs usually incorporate some type of run/walk ratio because they say it increases recovery time for those not used to pounding the pavement. Many “real” runners (I’m not sure when a person becomes a “real” runner – any research out there?) claim that you haven’t done a marathon if you haven’t run a marathon.

At the same time, these training programs are partially responsible for getting some otherwise lazy people off the couch and into their running shoes. And, each week a large number of people find themselves able to complete the distance with a pretty quick recovery time. And, you can’t help think that they bring a new awareness for the sport of running (even though it still only gets about an hour of TV coverage every few months). And, the AIDS marathon training program states it has a 98% success rate for first time finishers.

Of course, I would love to RUN a marathon, and even qualify for Boston, but in reality, that will probably never happen. I’m actually quite happy plodding along at my slow, take in the scenery, pace. For me, the enjoyment of going for a run is what it’s all about. I only hope I don’t get a tomato or something worse thrown at me during the race because I might have to take a walk break!!!!! Anyway, these are just thoughts that have plagued me the past couple weeks. Feel free to comment.

P.S. I’ll be in North Dakota for Christmas. Anyone there want to join me for a cold 4 miler or 8 miler or just one mile of either? Take care all, and have a happy turkey day!

Halfway there!

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 01:51:00 +0000

Well, I got one picture to upload! This is one of my favorite parts of the Mount Vernon Trail, right before a small, but challenging hill.

A couple Friday's ago, my pace group got together for dinner to discuss fundraising efforts and our pace issue. On the way, my train decided to break down, traveling for 5 seconds at a time at a 10 second per hour pace, then slamming on the breaks, causing everyone to fall over into each other's stinky arm pits. Stop and go the entire way to Dupont Circle. By the time I got to the restaurant, I can't say I was in a festive mood. However, we had a nice dinner. I skipped the tour of "places of questionable amusement," and went home to see my husband who for once did not have a paper to write or test to study for. Saturday, we ran a recovery run of "only" six miles (I've always wanted to say that-it's as close to being an elite runner as I'll ever get). For some reason, my body was saying "noooo, sleep in, eat Heath Bites, and greasy pizza. I felt like a slug bug out there, but finished with the group. It seems I had a virus brewing, because a couple days later, I got good and sick.

Despite a case of nerves Friday night, I successfully completed my longest run yet – 14 miles!!! Our pace group did GREAT, even increasing the pace for the last mile. Thank you to Tina and Michele for volunteering again this week. They took pictures, gave us food and water, and lots of cheer! After the run, Steve and I (stupidly) went to a movie. Sitting in an extremely cold theatre (or was it? We saw “The Weatherman;” every scene was of cold, snowy, icy, Chicago) for two hours caused me to feel a little like the Tin Man. I tried to move, but could only whimper. Steve got me to the car, spoiled me with a hot Starbucks coffee, and I spent the next day and a half on the couch. I’m a little concerned about what the 17-miler, 20-miler, 23-miler and actual marathon might do to me. Today, however, I did my 45 minute maintenance run with only a little stiffness. Ice packs, Advil and stretching seem to be the key.

Soooo, onto the important stuff. Our fundraising total has reached $1900! We’ve got less than a thousand to go in order to reach the required goal. If you haven’t yet donated, and would like to contribute to these fundraising efforts for Whitman-Walker Clinic, please click on the “Sponsor Me” link on the right hand side of this page. For those who have already contributed, thank you so much. Please let your friends and family know about this great cause and encourage them to participate!

Last, I’m off to figure out the laptop issues. I WILL conquer this technology business in time to post some pictures. I will, I will, I will…

Grrrrrr...technology

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 23:48:00 +0000

I don't seem to have a lot of luck with posting pictures on this site. My computer skills are limited, so I'm waiting for some tech help from Frank before getting the rest of the them up. It's not worth self-destruction. The picture below is from the day of the Gulf Coast Relief Run. The race actually made the pages of Runner's World this month due to the outstanding fundraising efforts of the Alexandria community!

This past weekend our pace group finished the longest training run yet - 12 miles! Most weeks, we follow an out and back route, starting at the Waterfront in SW DC, heading to the mall, running past all the museums and monuments, past Kennedy Center towards the Capital Crescent Trail and back. It was nice to finally leave the sights and sounds of the city, and take in a couple quiet miles on the trail. This time of year is perfect, not too hot, not too cold, and the fall colors are beautiful. It was a good run, but a little too fast, and many people were feeling the distance at the end. I was happy the sun came out, because right before the run, one of my GU packs split open, getting all over my fuel belt, water bottles and fleece pants. Luckily, I had running shorts underneath, but what a sticky mess!

Sunday was the Marine Corp marathon. My friend, Melissa, and I parked ourselves at mile 23 and cheered in the runners. It was not only inspirational, but also a little bit frightening. I think it might have been a better idea for me to stand at mile 1 or 2, before the runners started limping, puking, and grimacing in pain. It was a fun day, though, and Melissa and I got in a 4 mile bike ride to kick off her triathlon training.

This week brought on some new challenges. As a team, we decided to set up some fundraising events for Whitman-Walker Clinic. A fellow teamate and I visited some local businesses asking them to contribute gift cards or store merchandise to be raffled at the events. Asking for donations is always hard, but there are some businesses who really go out of their way to be helpful - and then there are those who really go out of there way to be nasty. I know they get tired of people asking for things, but a simple no, thank you would be fine! I just want to say Kudos to Old Navy stores. I am always impressed with their contributions to the community, and once again, they really helped out.

The other challenge is the continuing struggle with our pace. This past weekend, we finished several minutes early, and our coach did not like it much. The majority of us appreciate the concept of this training program, but occasionally we slip up, get to talking during our run, and a natural pace just takes hold. But, we are supposed to run as a group, not leave anyone behind, and train at a slower pace to avoid injury. Our group has differing opinions of how this should be handled, and it's left a bit of a cloud over the whole experience. I'm hoping we'll be able to overcome it, and get through the rest of the training on a positive note.

At this time, we've raised over $1800! You can always check out the AIDS marathon sponsor page (the link is on the right of this page) to see the running scroll of names. Again, don't worry if you don't see your name right away as it takes several days to post.

Last, December 1st is World AIDS Day. Please use this day to take time to pat yourselves on the back for contributing to a great cause and to raise awareness about this disease.

Fundraising Update

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 03:00:00 +0000

Due to some team fundraising activities, and the fact that Steve is writing a huge paper with my laptop (yes, I'm experiencing some separation anxiety), my diary entry this week will be a bit delayed. Be patient, it will be worth it because I've actually got some pictures!

Give yourselves a big cheer because we've made it through the first fundraising deadline. We needed to raise at least $1,000 by Nov. 18 and we've done it! Our total so far is $1600 - halfway to the final goal. My mom suggested that I explain this process a bit, so I will, because when has a mom's advice ever been wrong?

The fundraising is a bit tricky, but can be done in increments. Basically, if you reach the first goal, as we've done, a runner can sign a re-committment form which gives you until December 18 to reach the total goal. At that time, whatever has not been raised gets charged to the runner's credit card. So, I've got about another 6 weeks before I get a talking to by Steve. :) Just kidding, he's a total supporter of this chaos!!!! But...Tina, please no more bad dreams, ok? They psych me out.

Thanks everyone! I know I'm being a bit cheesy, but I've got to tell you - I've been moved to tears so many times when I've seen your names posted on the donation page, when people offer to volunteer, and when reading your messages. YOU are what is making this to be the most incredible experience.

GU

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 03:00:00 +0000

The topic of the week is energy gels. I've never been a long distance runner, so this is a whole new experience for me. The words "energy gel" sound harmless enough, but there is reason to experiment and not take it lightly. Supposedly, a runner should take these packs of 100 calorie goop (more in a minute) every 30-45 minutes during long runs. During my half marathon in September, I ate Tootsie Rolls, which seemed to suit me just fine. Our training program, however, requires that we take some type of energy gel, bar, drink, etc. at least every hour. We were supposed to start this two weeks ago for our 8 mile run, but we were all too chicken. This week, group cohesiveness brought out the bravado, and we each showed up with our pick, to try them out and compare brands/flavors. There are many types...you may have heard of Power Bars, Cliff Bars and Luna Bars. All of those are fairly tolerable, but there are also gels. Power gel, Cliff Shots, and GU seem to be the most popular.

Earlier in the week, I had ventured out to Fleet Feet, (a running store in Adams Morgan) to get a gift certificate for my friend Melissa. It was her birthday, and she's decided to train for her first triathlon. Go Melissa!!!! The selection of energy resources (seriously, it sounds rather dramatic, doesn't it?) was overwhelming. Everything from Espresso to Tangerine to Banana Blitz. Then, you had to choose if you wanted caffeinated or not. When I chose non-caffeinated, the guy behind the counter said, "No caffeine? What's the point of taking one at all?" My reply, "have you seen me on caffeine?" Anyway, I brought my new treats (HA!) to our run site, and tore into them with a frenzy at mile 5.

No, really, it went more like this. Run 5 miles in a really cold drizzle. Bathroom break, all 10 girls trying to take turns with one stall without really slowing our time. Hmmmm... Gather again, resume walking, open the packets, hold your nose, and attempt the first gel. My flavor was Banana Blitz (GU). I was told it tastes like banana pudding. I can tell you firsthand, no way does it taste like banana pudding - at least none that I've ever had! It really was more like banana slime. You slide it out of the pack, into your mouth and swallow. I handled the first bit quite well, but the second part tested my gag reflex and I quickly had to down the Gatorade to survive it. No one was impressed. 10 minutes later, however, we had all resumed a good pace, were chatting again, and realized, WOW, that stuff totally works!!!!! We finished strong, with a good kick at the end, and everyone felt pretty darn cool. In the future, I will be trying new flavors. So far, Banana Blitz and Tangerine have been voted the worst. Strawberry Banana Power Gel is currently #1.

Other events... Maintenance runs have been great. Cooler temperatures, leaves changing color, and lots of good new songs on my iPod shuffle. Yes, I do occasionally run with headphones, much to the dismay of many. I did one run with a couple of group members. We did 5 miles on the Mt. Vernon trail at dusk. A beautiful view of the monuments across the river. It was a little hard to see the trail on the way back, but well worth the experience. Next week, I'm going to try to post some pictures of my favorite running places in DC/VA.

Yay! We've reached the $1500 mark! Many donations have come in this week to get us there, and I'm so thankful for the support. Again, thank you to those who shared memories of friends and loved ones they have lost to AIDS. I will be honored to wear their names when I run 26.2 miles. Until next week...

Group Work

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 04:01:00 +0000

After two years of graduate school, you would think I'd have learned all the rules of group work. It was always the biggest challenge, trying to figure out who was the leader, the follower, the complainer, the worker, etc., for every presentation or project. Well, the intricacies of group work have followed me into the real world, right down to my training pace group. I LOVE running as a group, believe me, running 7 miles in the rain is no time to go it alone. It is challenging, however, to organize 12-18 people, understand the running route (and all the NON-MARKED mile MARKERS), not get lost, run in pairs on one side of the road (so not to become bus ornaments), stay on pace, motivate each other, and not get on each other's nerves. We've all got our insecurities -and opinions about how things should be done- and there are moments where being in a group really is work. This week's run was internally challenging for me for those reasons, and I hope next week I can be a little more patient and LET IT GO! Also, I had a little bit of soreness in my hip joints at the end of this run. Please someone, convince me it's just a passing phase, nothing that a little stretching and ice won't take care of, and not a sign of aging!!!!!

Thanks so much this week to Tina. She's one of my supervisors, a former AIDS marathon finisher, and general supporter. Saturday, she went the extra step, becoming a volunteer, filling water bottles, passing out pretzels and cheering on the pace groups. Although I only saw her in passing, it was really great to see a familiar face out there!

Last, you've probably noticed, we've passed the $1,000 mark!!! As donations are posted to me, I add names to the donor scroll on the donor web page. You can click on the "sponsor me" link at the right hand side of this page to see it. Remember, it does take several days for donations to be posted, so please do not panic if you do not see your name yet. The donations are starting to post and I want to thank you for supporting me and this cause both monetarily and with absolutely awesome notes and emails. Each of you are part of this experience and I hope you are as excited as me!

Tropical Storm Tammy

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 22:30:00 +0000

It was a tough week for running. As we all know, junk food, soda and lack of sleep do not keep the body healthy. What I DIDN'T know is that those things (yes, even in moderation) lead to a really difficult run. Monday, I was pressed for time, did the fast food thing, did not do the water or gatorade thing, and suffered stomach pains and side stitches for my entire 45 minute run. I'm sure my facial expressions were not pleasant. The good news...I finished without a single walk break!!!! I think I'm finally getting the "mental motivation" part down. Lessons learned.

Due to a wonderful visit from Dawn, a Montana friend, I postponed my other maintenance run to Friday morning. It was a cool, cloudy and somewhat muggy morning, but the 3 miles rejuvenated me. If you've ever been to Arlington, you will know that there are plenty of military office buildings with security guards posted in these little "phone booth" type boxes. It's been kind of a game of mine to smile and say "good morning" to see if this one guard would ever say hi, smile, nod, blink... Well, Friday was the day. Maybe because the air was cooler, or the leaves were turning pretty colors, or maybe the inside of his little office box was newly decorated, the guy actually smiled and waved. Perseverance pays off!

Saturday, however, was a day. Tropical storm Tammy had been dumping inches on us since Friday afternoon, and was not planning to stop anytime soon. There's a little blurb in our training manual (which maybe I should have overlooked and gone back to bed), that reads:

"During your six months of training, it is likely that rain will fall...While your instinct may be to cancel your training, running in the rain will better prepare you for the possibility of a rainy marathon day."

Well, I fought my instinct and drove to my group run. Halfway there, I cancelled brunch with a friend, attempted to turn around and go back home. It was not sprinkling or even raining, it was more like the wind was blowing an entire lake onto the car. Every underpass had to be navigated carefully so the car wouldn't be swept away. But, turning around ended up not being a possibility because an accident (probably from a swept away car now floating to the Chesapeake), caused complete gridlock going in the direction of home. So, I went the rest of the way, and joined my dedicated pace group. We ran 7 miles in a complete downpour, trying not to slip on the mud and leaves, trying to ignore the ankle deep puddles, the rain burning our eyeballs, and trying to ignore the tour bus people with their noses pressed against the windows staring at us in disbelief. We tried to say, during the first couple miles, that "running in the rain is fun!" As the miles went by, however, we were saying, "thank god this is not a [26.2, 15, 10, 9, 8] miler. But, we finished, and if that experience can't create group camaraderie, what will?

Before I go, thank you to everyone who has donated, and to all of you who have sent blog messages and emails. You have no idea how motivating the messages are to me!

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Sun, 02 Oct 2005 20:41:00 +0000

For a long time, I've been impressed with runners. Runners who complete a 5k in under 20 minutes, run a 4- minute mile, or complete a 100 mile race. Since beginning the team-in-training program, however, I've become more impressed by those who don't do those things. From my first pace group meeting, I've met amazing people who are running - for the first time in their lives - just to support the Whitman Walker Clinic.

This week, pace groups completed the first 6 mile run together. For some of us, 6 miles wasn't too hard, and we had a great time chatting, sharing stories, getting to know each other, and taking in the sights on the DC mall. (Last week, we ran through anti-war protesters; this week, it was a solar panel exhibition where companies built small houses to show off the latest in solar technology. I'm not kidding. ) For some people, though, 6 miles at a 14-minute mile pace took a long time and was not easy. But, they kept smiling, cheering on the faster groups that passed them on the return to home base. One of the "rules" of the program is that faster groups must wait for other groups to finish and cheer them in. It's one of the best rules, because it really is an emotional experience getting a glimpse of these personal victories and watching a group of complete strangers come together for a great cause.

The week also brought an opportunity to volunteer a couple hours of time to the AIDS marathon office. I stuffed envelopes for an upcoming team in training event and got a "behind the scenes" look at what the program representatives do. What a great job! Wear shorts and running shoes to work and plan running related events. Maybe I should switch careers? Just kidding Tina!!!!!

Another great thing about this program is that your training is really laid out for you. You are only required to actually run three times a week, with an emphasis on cross-training the other days. This set-up has rejuvenated me and I've noticed that I've become faster and less fatigued during the weekly "maintenance" runs. I've also become less critical of myself and my times. I can pay more attention to the sights and the happiness of just being outside!

Lastly, I want to thank everyone for checking out my website, sending notes of encouragement (especially Kai - my faithful friend), Shelly for setting up a link on the Wildrose-Alamo website, my mom for telling other people and for constantly looking up addresses, and for all those who have donated! Please do not worry if you do not see your name listed on the donor scroll yet. It takes several days for donations to clear the main headquarters and get posted to me. See you next week!

"You must become the change you wish to see in the world."~Ghandi

Water Bottle Woes

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 03:47:00 +0000

As part of the Team in Training program, all participants are REQUIRED to wear a water bottle belt. I'm not sure how many of you out there are runners, but you might say that the simplicity of running is the appealing part. Put on shorts, t-shirts and shoes and you are out the door. These days, I look more like I'm on some sort of mission...cap, ipod arm band, headphones, water bottle belt with pouch for power gels (saving that for another time), cell phone, shoe tag with runner info, etc. It's kind of like preparing for a back country trip with no mountains in sight. In fact, I think I look even more out of place than the sunburned tourists who wander the DC mall area. Back to the point...

On a recent trip to the local running store (I'm starting to know the employees by name), I purchased the REQUIRED water bottle belt. Warning bells should have gone off when the employees (all frequent marathoners - who actually run the ENTIRE marathon) sort of looked down at their feet, possibly trying not to grimace. Well, I tried the water bottle belt - 4 times. The last time, it ended up on the side of the trail with a sign attached saying "please, someone steal me." You see, it's just not possible to run with a holstered water bottle and belt. Each step you take causes the bottle to bounce up and down, which causes the belt to loosen, which causes the belt to slide off the hip area, and you get the idea. I'm sure it works for some, but my advice: Do not buy this kind of water bottle.

The good news, I went to another running store. After explaining my problem, the guy says to me "yeah, we don't normally recommend that kind." Hmmmm...interesting. He did redirect me to the FUEL BELT. Sounds like something an astronaut would wear, right? I put it on and ran around the entire store. No bounce. No loosening. Bought it, ran 5 miles with it, and love it! The point of my story... if you ever decide to run a marathon, read my diary first. You'll save a lot of money not making my mistakes!

Despite the sometimes fun and funny experiences of this training program, I am frequently reminded of why I'm doing this. As some of you know, my husband, Steve, is currently doing rotations for the physician assistant program. Sadly, many of his patients are HIV positive. His message to you is this...these are real people, real lives that have been completely devastated by this disease. Often, the stigma of HIV/AIDS creates losses that are more painful than the physical. People lose jobs, financial security, friends, family members all because of this stigma. Please, please take a look at the website for the Whitman Walker Clinic by clicking on the link on the right side of the page. You are supporting a great cause!

Change of Attitude

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:40:00 +0000

When I initially thought of joining a team in training event, I wasn't really concerned (or all that aware of) the marathon location. As I learned more about New Orleans, it sounded like as good a place as any to run 26.2 miles. Of course, all that changed dramatically when Katrina hit, and I was really looking forward not only to raising money to fight AIDS, but also to bring some business back to this city.

One week exactly after training started, BIG disappointment! We were notified that the marathon is changing locations...to Miami, Florida. Understandably, the AIDS marathon hotel contract was cancelled to allow for FEMA relief workers, and there is speculation that the actual Mardi Gras Marathon will not go on as planned. Therefore, the AIDS marathon corporate headquarters decided to act now and find us a new place to run our miles. I spent the last few days trying to get over it, and to become excited about Miami (remember, we'll be training during a DC winter, then running a marathon in 75 degree weather with humidity - wasn't that the reason I chose not to do a spring/summer training program?). Plus, for those of you who know about my water phobia, a major portion of this race is near, next to, and over water. On bridges (who knew there were so many?). Over a whole lot of water. And sharks. Pre-race therapy needed, maybe?

So, enough whining, I'm moving on...and hopefully you are moving along with me. Normally, my pace group will meet on Saturdays, but this weekend, I decided to run the Alexandria Gulf Coast Relief 5k with my friend Marisa. Put together in less than two weeks, it was not ideal racing conditions, but over 3,000 people showed up and raised over $100,000! I have no idea what our times were, or if we were, in fact, even running. My description would be more like, jog, stall, hop, watch out - baby jogger, wait, are those the fast runners? Running directly at us? Oops, the course didn't allow for so many people. As I passed Starbucks, I thought about running in, grabbing a frappucino, and getting right back in the crowd. Probably wouldn't have lost much time. But, it was all about the cause, and it was fun seeing James Carville, Mary Matalin, and Alan Webb (under 4 minute mile man) hanging out with the locals.

I joined Sunday's pace group, which turned out ok since half of us were actually the Saturday group in disguise (all part of the 3,000 runners mentioned above). Only 4 miles today, with lots of enthusiasm and a pretty fast pace. The best part, MAGIC SOCKS!!!!! Katie, if you are reading this...you were right, they ARE awesome. Designed specifically for a left foot and a right foot to help prevent blisters. Those combined with a half size larger shoe, my poor, ugly feet problems have almost disappeared!

Last, a big thank you to all who have donated to this cause. I also appreciate the emails, phone calls, and blog messages. As my family is used to me saying, "I can't change the entire world, but I can make a difference every day." With all of you out there supporting me, I know that this is completely true!!!

First Day of Training

noreply@blogger.com (RunIrisRun) — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 01:28:00 +0000

Welcome to my running diary! Here you'll find updates on my training, mileage, and any other crazy facts I feel like sharing with you.

First, let me introduce you to my friend, Frank, who has kept me company on my 5K whims, and who created RunIrisRun.com! This picture was taken after the Herndon Sunrise 5k at Starbucks, of course!!!

Today was the first day of training for the AIDS marathon. I was really nervous leaving this morning, but after meeting several great people who were there to share a common goal, I was convinced I'd made the right decision to join a Team in Training event. We did a 3.5 mile timed "slow" run (timed and slow do not seem compatible, do they?), and were placed in our pace groups. Every Saturday, we'll run together in our groups, gradually increasing the distance. Next week, we'll be heading out for our first 4 mile run together.

Before I leave, I thought I'd share a couple of pictures from Girls Empowerment Weekend! We headed to Virginia Beach for the Rock "n" Roll half marathon. See you next week!