I was ready for a good race at CO this year, but I'm okay with how it turned out. I think in the past I would have felt like all my training was for nothing. Did I really get up at 5am repeatedly to do tempo runs in 5 degree weather, only to not even have a chance at a PR on race day? Did I seriously give up running trails all year, spend my weekends running long, miss riding bikes with friends, just to have an epic fail on race day? But no, I stayed in shape over the winter, I ran the T&H races for the first time in a couple years, and I got to put in a ton of miles with Dan and other friends. It wasn't a waste. Sunday's marathon taught me that even when things don't go as planned, I still love running- a good reminder. HUGE congrats to everyone out there who finished and to those who ran their first half and full marathons- I know there were a bunch!
Training for this race went really well. The only issues I had were sore shins for a couple weeks in March, causing me to have to hike/jog a painful trail marathon in Salida, and decrease mileage a little bit one week. By far the most successful training I've done yet! However, starting the Saturday a week before the race, I was having some weird side stitches. They didn't feel like the ones I normally get, and when I tried to do just a recovery run on Tuesday and then again on Thursday, they were there. In fact, the side stitch was there all week even when I wasn't running and I knew something wasn't right. Maybe just nerves? I didn't feel nervous... I was more concerned with getting things ready for my internship! It was in my head... right? No less than 62 seconds after the start of the race I felt the cramp in my side that had been there all week. I didn't freak out, just thought, okay. This is happening. Just run your race and maybe it will work itself out. I ran for 9 miles exactly where I wanted to be. At COM you have to run easy down the canyon or you'll either blow your quads out, or just have nothing left later. It's crazy hard- all your rested body wants to do is bust out a 10k PR right off the bat! Shortly after mile 9, the weirdness in my side totally shifted, and I knew immediately my race was over. Well, not over, but that I wasn't going to come anywhere near my goal. I was almost glad it happened so early in the race- it probably would have been tougher to deal with mentally if I had been on track up to mile 20 and then lost it in the last 10k. At the same time, knowing I had 17 more miles to go with a side stitch felt a tad daunting. This pretty much sums up my race! haha photo by Terry Grenwelge Right then and there I had a major change in mindset. No longer was I focused on re-qualifying for Boston and PRing- I was determined to have fun and enjoy my little jaunt through the canyon with three thousand other people. The weather was beautiful (albeit very hot considering we all trained through a Colorado winter) and there were so many Fort Collins friends running our home race. Terry was on his bike and I would see him from time to time the entire race. I was bummed out to have to tell him that I had a side stitch and could only run 9-10 minute miles, but he still supported me the whole way. This is my favorite photo that Terry snapped :) They ran in the low 3 hour range, yet still planned this out Photos by Terry Grenwelge Coming out of the canyon and approaching Ted's Place was super fun. I had been waiting for Kate to pass me, and she and Filip, both Team Beef members, were with me at this point. Filip and I asked people cheering if they had any beer and NOBODY did! They must have been from out of state :) I told Filip to just hang on until mile 21.5- that my friends had PBR and would give him one. The three of us ran in a Team Beef line for a while and got a lot of cheers. Leaving Ted's, there was just Bagel Hill, which had Dennis and AiT volunteers at the top, including a saint who was spraying people with water from a hose, and Baller at the bottom! It was HOT and I could feel the salt caking on my face, despite the slow pace. I wondered how Kristyn was doing and if the heat was getting to her. It wasn't! She PR'd and won her age group! Bam, nailed it :) Kristyn, Kate and I caught at different points along the course by Terry Grenwelge As we rounded the middle school, I knew I was going to see friends and couldn't wait. As I approached their aid station (read: beer station), I just yelled out "Beeeeeer!!" and Curtis scrambled to pass me one like it was Gatorade and I was an elite racer. It was ICE cold. Ahhhhhh As I ran through Lion's Park, beer in hand, I got all kinds of cheers and laughs, totally making me forget about my aching stomach. I saw Kirsten and other FCRC members and held up my beer to cheers them. As I passed I heard them behind me going "was that a beer? That was a PBR! hahaha!" Totally made my race, thanks Alex and Curtis :D After hitting the bike path, I realized I could actually probably still get under 4 hours, which surprised me. With a 5k left to go, I made that my new goal. After the Taft hill, I tried to pick it up down Vine, but my cramp stabbed me and demanded I walk/jog until the very end where I actually managed an 8:05 pace for the last .4 to the finish, coming in at 3:57:57. I was ready for a good race at CO this year, but I'm okay with how it turned out. I think in the past I would have felt like all my training was for nothing. Did I really get up at 5am repeatedly to do tempo runs in 5 degree weather, only to not even have a chance at a PR on race day? Did I seriously give up running trails all year, spend my weekends running long, miss riding bikes with friends, just to have an epic fail on race day? But no, I stayed in shape over the winter, I ran the T&H races for the first time in a couple years, and I got to put in a ton of miles with Dan and other friends. It wasn't a waste. Sunday's marathon taught me that even when things don't go as planned, I still love running- a good reminder. HUGE congrats to everyone out there who finished and to those who ran their first half and full marathons- I know there were a bunch! Post race celebrations!
2 Comments
Luna
5/11/2015 12:36:30 am
Ellen!!!Loved this report!!!Every word of it --except the "fail" one near the end; a bad day for sure, but a fail???No no :-)) Besides, I don't know how you could run from start to finish with that pain and still finish sub 4!!!Congrats for pushing through.NOW, sort out the side stitches because they need to leave you alone!!!!! xoxoxo :)
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Ellen
5/11/2015 02:52:38 am
Lunaaaaaa! Thanks lady, you are the best, and such a huge inspiration to me! Thanks for reading :D <3 xoxoxo
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