Marathon #2 - Indiana

About three days after my first marathon, I was feeling much better.  I was excited about the fact that I had run a marathon and survived.  So excited, in fact, that I started researching other marathons online and planning for my second marathon.  That is how I found out about the 50 states marathon club, and decided to make that my goal - to run a marathon in all 50 states.

I don't remember why I chose Indianapolis as my second marathon.  Maybe I had gotten a coupon for registration or maybe it was just the cheapest race of the ones I had researched for my 50 states.

The Race: Indianapolis Marathon, Indianapolis, IN, October 2008

My Training Plan: I used the Hal Higdon Novice 2 Marathon training plan. My longest run during training was a 20 miler.  During this marathon training, I started taking ice baths for runs that were 18 miles or longer and realized that (despite how much I hate ice baths) they really help for recovery.

Weather: The weather was perfect.  It was in the upper 30s to start, but quickly warmed up.  I was able to take off my throw-away shirt by about mile 3, and didn't feel like I needed it again after that.  It was sunny, so the sun kept you warm, but the temperature wasn't too high, so you didn't get too hot.  The end of the race, once I cooled down, was a little cool (probably upper 50s or lower 60s)

Running Attire:  Purple LIZ tank top over a short sleeved shirt and a throw-away long-sleeved shirt over it.  Mizuno shorts with a pocket to hold food.

Who I ran with:  I was all by myself for this race.  I did talk to some runners along the way, but I didn't meet anyone during the run that I stuck with for any length of time. 

The Course:  This was a great course!  The race was nice and small, with a maximum of 6,000 people between the marathon, half marathon, and 5k.  The course was beautiful and mostly flat. The scenery was wonderful, and it goes through two parks.  It was right around the time the leaves had changed colors, and there were many places along the course that you got a great view of some beautiful fall colors.  There were only about three hills throughout the entire course and the first two were pretty short.  There were a few small hills in the middle as you were running through a park's narrow bike paths, but it wasn't bad.  The course ended in a pretty tough hill during the last mile. The hill was probably about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile long.  But the course was much flatter than the Georgia marathon.  The course has a lot of out-and-backs, but they count the numbers at mile 19 to ensure that everyone stays honest.

Organization:  For a small race, the organization was great! They keep the race small, so I never felt too crowded or like I was trying to weave my way through people. The packet pickup was very smooth.  I was able to pick up my race number the morning of the race and also able to wait for the start inside a warm building.  I don't remember the expo being very big, but I do think there were a few vendors there in the morning for race packet pick-up.  The water stations were well stocked and the volunteers were very nice.

Swag:  The race was pretty small, so the only swag that we got was a long-sleeved technical shirt that had all the races on it.  The medal also had all the races on it, so you couldn't really tell that you had run the marathon vs. the half marathon.  The only distinguishing characteristic between the two races was the color of the ribbon.

Starting Line:  The race was very small, so I sat on the steps of a building waiting for the race to start, and there was hardly anyone around.  The starting line had pink signs with an estimated pace time set up along the start so you could line up around your estimated finish time, but there were no pace groups.  There was no need for corrals because of the size of the race.

Fans:  The fan support was less than ideal. There was plenty of support during the first half of the race, but the second half - where you really need it - there was hardly anyone. My fellow racers became my fan support.  You would go miles without seeing a single fan. The racers became the fans, as the course was out-and-back, so many of the runners would shout "Great Job, Liz" and "Doing Well, Liz" as they passed me going the other direction (I had my name on the front of my shirt).

Finish Line: The food afterward was good - they had a free cookout for all participants.

How I felt:  I ran the first part in just over 2 hrs and was feeling good. I didn't start getting really tired until about mile 21, which was much better than last time when I hit my wall at mile 17. I did get a calf cramp around mile 18.  I stopped and stretched it, and it was fine after that.  The last five miles of the race were grueling, and I probably averaged about 12-15 minutes per mile during those last miles.  I was a little sore the next day, but my biggest concern was that my left foot was hurting when I put pressure on it. It was probably just a muscle problem, because it felt better the longer I walked on it, and it was better midway through the next week.

Travel/Tourism:  I flew into the Indianapolis airport.  The airport is much smaller than Atlanta (not many aren't), and it was easy to get through.  I rented a car and drove to the Ft. Harrison State Park Inn.  The Inn was very convenient to the marathon start and finish and also to the expo/packet pick-up  (walking distance).  The room was nice, and they were also able to accommodate the runners with a late check-out.  The one thing that I was not happy about was that the room had a stand-up shower, so I couldn't take an ice bath afterwards.

The Indianapolis Marathon was a quick day trip.  I flew in late Friday night, and flew back on Saturday after the race was over, so I didn't get to visit any touristy places while I was there.

I would definitely recommend this race to anyone who is doing the 50 states or who lives in the area!

Marathon #1 - Georgia

It was natural for my first marathon to be in my home state.  In fact, when I trained to run this marathon, I had no idea I would eventually set the goal to run one in every state.

My original post after the marathon can be found here.

The Race:  ING Georgia Marathon, Atlanta, GA, March 2008

My Training Plan: I used the Hal Higdon Novice 1 Marathon training plan.  My long runs were mostly on the Cochran Shoals river trail and along Columns Drive, which is flat.  My runs during the week were along Hammond Drive (the Jingle Jog route), so I did have some hills there, but only for shorter runs.

Weather: Mid-40s, windy and misty

Running Attire:  New Balance running pants, short sleeved shirt, jacket (to shield from rain), light gloves (at first)

Who I ran with:  I initially started off by myself.  I got in line with the 4:30 pace group.  There I met an amazing gal, Roberta Oveson.  She was from Minnesota and was running her third marathon.  We stuck together most of the way, chatting along and motivating each other to finish.  There were times when she felt better and would go a little faster, and then I would catch up with her.  She shared some hard candies with me toward the end.  When we were about two miles from the finish, we happened along another gal who was really struggling.  Roberta asked if she could pray for her.  We did, and I think it really helped the other gal finish the race.  Roberta was key in giving me the motivation to finish the race.

The Course:  Hilly.  That's the best way to describe it.  It did go through some nice neighborhoods.  The city of Decatur was especially accommodating and had great signs and crowds and some great neighborhoods to run through.  But the course was definitely challenging, especially for a first marathon.  It seemed like most of the last 7 miles were nothing but hills.

Organization:  From what I had heard, the year before (which was the inaugural run) was miserable.  It was hot and they ran out of water toward the end.  This year was much better!  They had water along the way with no problems. The expo was fairly big and had a lot of good vendors.

Swag:  The only real swag from this race was the technical t-shirt (at least during the year I ran it) and the race medal.

Starting Line:  The starting line was somewhat confusing, and both marathon and half marathon started at the same place and time.  It was not easy to get to the start - parking in the Olympic Park area isn't easy, and the Marta was packed full.  They did have wave starts, but it was not easy to find where the corrals were.  Also, the gear check truck was difficult to find as well.  Signage could have been improved so that people could see where to go.

Fans:  Water stations are sort of part of organization, but also apply to fans in this race.  There were competitions between the water stations for the best fan support.  Other than the water stations, though, once the marathon split from the half marathon, there was limited crowd support.  There were some people who lived in the neighborhoods where the course ran through, but other than that, crowd support was limited until you approached the finish line.  My personal fan support was great in this race, as Robby came to watch, brought me a fresh pair of shoes in the middle of the race, and also moved to three different spots on the course to see me as I ran.

Finish Line:  I was dead at the finish, and I didn't stay long because Robby was there to pick me up, but I do remember that they had bagels, bananas, and sports drink.  They had a nice little concert type of thing in Centennial Olympic Park.  The baggage claim trucks were convenient to the end too

How I felt: I hit "the wall" at mile 17, so I was really struggling toward the end. I hadn't planned well for nutrition throughout the race. I had a cut up Snickers marathon bar with me so I could eat pieces along the race, but hard candies really helped when I was feeling dehydrated toward the end. By the time I got to the end, I did not think I could go another step further.  I made the mistake of sitting down afterwards, and could barely stand back up.  The race was on a Sunday, and as soon as I had showered, I laid down to take a nap.  Another mistake!  I could barely walk the rest of the day or the following day.  I felt sick at work the next day.  It was miserable!

Travel/Tourism:  Since I live in the area, I didn't have to travel to this race.  But the race started and ended near some of the more touristy areas of Atlanta - Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center, Georgia Aquarium, and World of Coca-Cola are all near the start/finish.  The busiest airport in the world is the Atlanta airport, so traveling to the race, if I had to, would likely have been very easy.

My Ten Marathons

A week ago I finished my tenth marathon in my tenth state.  I can officially apply to the 50 States Marathon Club.  Here is a rundown of my ten marathons:

1.  March 2008 - ING Georgia Marathon, Atlanta, GA  Finishing time:  4:36
2.  October 2008 - Indianapolis Marathon, Indianapolis, IN.  Finishing time:  4:23
3.  January 2009 - Walt Disney World Marathon, Orlando, FL.  Finishing time:  4:57
4.  June 2009 - Pacific Crest Marathon, Sunriver, OR.  Finishing time:  4:20
5.  November 2009 - SunTrust Richmond Marathon, Richmond, VA.  Finishing time:  3:57
~~~Took some time off to have Alan~~~
6.  November 2011 - OBX Marathon, Kitty Hawk, NC.  Finishing time:  4:06
7.  January 2012 - Rock n Roll Arizona Marathon, Phoenix, AZ.  Finishing time:  4:02
8.  March 2012 - Columbia Marathon, Columbia, SC.  Finishing time:  3:51
9.  May 2012 - Wisconsin Marathon, Kenosha, WI, Finishing time:  4:09
10.  September 2012 - Quad Cities Marathon, Moline, IL.  Finishing time:  3:48

Over the next few weeks, I'll post more on each of the marathons I've done, including how I trained, how I felt, who I ran with (if anyone), what I thought about the course, organization, and fans, and any other bits of information about the trip.  With all my marathons being out of town, the travel can be very interesting.

I'm looking forward to 40 more marathons to come.

Hit and Run

Today I was involved in a three-car hit and run accident.  Everyone is okay.  Here is the story.

I had just dropped Alan off at daycare and was on my way to work.  I was sitting in the right lane at a red light heading westbound on Holcomb Bridge Rd at Terramont.  There was a car in front of me and a car behind me at the light.  All of a sudden, a black pickup truck comes full speed (probably 45-50 mph) and slams into the car behind me, pushing her into me.  He backs the truck up (as if he was backing out of a parking space), then drives over the curb and passes us on the right on the grass.  He turns right onto Terramont and speeds down the road.  When the light turns green a few seconds after the truck sped off, a car next to us turned in front of us down Terramont to try to catch the truck.  The car in front of me, the car behind me, and I pulled over onto Terramont to get out of the Holcomb Bridge traffic.  The truck that hit us was nowhere in sight.  I get out of the car to go see if the woman behind me is okay.  As I'm walking back to her car, the truck reappears, heading toward us.  The driver, a white male in his 40s who looked like a smoker (you know how people who have smoked for a long time seem to have  more leathery skin as they get older) and was wearing a red baseball cap and a white shirt, looks me in the eye, sorta waves at me with his finger, then continues past to the Terramont/Holcomb Bridge intersection.  Without stopping, he turns right onto Holcomb Bridge and speeds off.  I continue back to the car behind me to see if the woman inside is okay.  She says she's shaken, but she isn't badly hurt.  I went to look at the damage to the back of her car.  The trunk had completely collapsed like an accordion.  The glass in the back window was completely gone.  I could tell there was a stroller in her trunk.  I went back to the car and peeked inside.  A toddler was in a car seat in the back seat.  Thankfully, the little girl seemed okay.

At this point, a few other cars have pulled over.  A young lady who saw everything wrote her information down and gave it to me.  She had gotten the tag number (AUX9675) and had already called it in.  Another witness stopped and said that her husband worked for the police department and that she would stay to ensure they had her information so they could contact her if they needed more witnesses.  She also gave us her information.

I took a look at the front of my car, because I wasn't 100% sure I hadn't been pushed into the car in front of me, but there wasn't a scratch on the front of my car.  There wasn't anything indicating that the car in front of me had been hit either.  We must not have made contact.

About 5-10 minutes after the accident occurred the police came.  They had us recount the story and got our information.  The police asked the woman who was driving the car in front of me if she felt anything.  She said she feels a little strange in her lower back and that she hear some crashes, but wasn't really sure if she got hit.

One of the witnesses and I went over to Holcomb Bridge to pull some of the other car's (car that was behind me) bumper and other pieces of her car out of the road and onto the grass.  Two tow trucks showed up shortly afterwards.  One of the tow truck guys took a look at my car.  The bumper was sticking into the tire slightly, and he couldn't get it to stay off the tire.  So he pulled the bumper the rest of the way off and put it in my backseat so I would be able to drive.

The other tow truck got ready to take the car behind me.  They drove the car slowly onto the bed of the tow truck.  The passenger rear wheel wasn't even turning.  The car basically was dragging the rear end with it.

The police finished writing the report and had us fill out a form with a statement about what happened with as many details about the pickup truck and driver as possible.  The police officer told the woman in front of me that he couldn't include her as being involved in the accident, but would put her as a witness.  (He told us later that he knew she hadn't been involved when she started talking about medical things rather than the impact of the crash, and also that a witness had told him that she hadn't gotten hit.)

After the car behind me had been towed, I took the woman and the little girl (luckily I had Alan's car seat that she could ride in) back to her apartment, which was just a light east of us on Holcomb Bridge.  I found out that the girl is about Alan's age - she turns two in November.  She was such a trooper!  She didn't cry or fuss at all, and she waited patiently while her mom filled out the paperwork and waited for the police officer to finish his report.

I'm thankful to God that everyone is okay.  I can't believe how well that Nissan Altima of hers held up.  That truck hit her HARD, and the back seat didn't even look like it had been affected.  If that had been me, I'm pretty sure the Bob stroller in the back of my car would have been in my front seat without a truck to take the brunt of the blow.

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

I love to run.  It is who I am.  I have an addictive personality, and right now I'm addicted to the runner high - the endorphins that are produced when you run.

But running isn't always the bee's knees (who came up with that saying ??).  Many times when I mention something that is a part of running (and I don't really even think twice about) to my husband, he says something to the effect of "and you think that is going to make me want to run?"  So I thought I'd break it down here for anyone interested.  Hopefully this doesn't deter anyone from falling in love with running, as I have.

The Good
There are so many good things about running, that I'm probably going to forget some of them as I make this list.  In my opinion, The Good far outweighs any of the other categories, which is why I keep running.

• Running helps you maintain your weight (or lose weight).
• Running improves (or at least helps to maintain) bone density that tends to be lost slowly (particularly in women) as you age.
• Running gives you that runner's high that I talked about.  Webster defines it as a feeling of euphoria that is experienced by some individuals engaged in strenuous running and that is held to be associated with the release of endorphins by the brain.
• Running allows you to eat more ice cream (or whatever your vice is) and not feel as guilty about it.
• Running is good for your social life.  Runners tend to flock together, so if you're looking for new friends, just start running and you will likely find some.  Whether it be in a organized running group, or some people you meet on your running route, or people you meet in a race, runners tend to be friendly and always open to chat with other runners.  I am typically not very good at carrying on conversations with people until I get to know them pretty well, but I can go on and on about running and races that I've run with anyone interested in listening.
• You don't need much to be a runner.  A pair of good shoes and an open road is all you need to start. The other things (additional running attire, training plans, race registrations, etc) will come as your interest grows, but are not necessary right away.
• Running clears your brain and helps you think more clearly.  Often times when I get stuck on something at work, I go for a run, and the answer just comes to me.
• Running is as challenging as you make it.  You are competing against yourself, primarily, when you run - trying to better your own time, accomplish a new distance, or work toward your own goal.  I shy away from playing team sports because I'm afraid that I will let the rest of the team down.  With running, you are the one that controls your own destiny.

The Bad

• Running can be dangerous.  There have been plenty of stories about injuries or deaths that have come out of running.  Runners get hit by cars.  Runners get mugged or raped.  Runners die of heat exhaustion after a hot Chicago marathon.  There are plenty of excuses that people can find regarding safety that can deter them from running.  However, if you are smart when you run, this can become a non-issue.  Stay alert and aware of your surroundings.  Don't assume that just because you have the walk signal that the cars are going to automatically let you go.  Make eye contact with drivers before crossing.  Make eye contact with pedestrians as you pass them.  Wear reflective clothing and/or a reflective vest.  Run with a friend.  Run when it is light outside.  Observe proper hydration methods, and don't over-exert yourself if it is hot.  All of these things can help to reduce the danger risk.
• Running can cause injuries.  Especially if you are drastically increasing the amount of time or distance that you run, you can be much more susceptible to injury than someone who is doing non-weight-bearing activities.  Not only can it cause injuries, but if you have injuries already, you won't be able to run.  Many people have back or knee problems that may prevent them from running.  While running doesn't necessarily cause back or knee injuries, it may highlight them to someone who already has them or is hereditarily prone to those types of injuries.  Always consult a doctor before starting any sort of new exercise program, including running.
• Running isn't for everyone.  While most people can get out there and run with little background or effort, obviously if someone has serious physical limitations (think paralysis or something similar), they can't run.  Although there have been many instances where people have overcome major obstacles to become runners.  A friend of mine was a guide for a blind runner in the New York City marathon.  There has also recently been a case where a person who was paralyzed from the chest down was able to complete a marathon with the help of some sort of special suit (although I think it took her over a week to finish).

The Ugly

Running messes with your digestive system.  You can develop a serious case of the "runs" (pun intended) due to the beating your bowels take on long distance runs.  My sister-in-law once called me to ask if runners actually go in their pants because they don't want to lose time by stopping.  I have no idea if some people do that, but I have never seen an elite runner stop during a race to go to the bathroom.  I will say that I have gone in the bushes on the side of the road more than once when there was no bathroom in sight during training runs.  When nature calls, you can't ignore it.

So there you have it.  Like I said, I'm sure I left some out of The Good list, and I truly believe The Good far outweighs The Bad or The Ugly.  If I didn't, I wouldn't continue to run.  As it is, running will continue to be a huge part of who I am.

What would you add to these lists?

The Power of Prayer

I often underestimate the power of prayer. Maybe it's not that I underestimate it, but rather that I don't fully believe that I will get the answer that I want when I want it. I know that God can do anything. He created this universe out of nothing. He made a man out of dust and a woman out of bone. He can raise the dead and heal the cripple and blind. All these things show that he has the power to do anything.

Jesus spent a lot of his time on earth in prayer. Before every major decision or event in his life, he prayed. He prayed while he was being baptized (Luke 3:21). He spent the night in prayer before choosing his 12 best friends (Luke 6:12). He prayed before the Transfiguration (Luke 9:29). He prayed each night during Passion week in the same place - the Mount of Olives/Garden of Gethsemane (coincidentally, that was how Judas Iscariot knew where he would be the night he betrayed Jesus into the hands of the Pharisees) (Luke 21:37). You often read of Jesus going away from the crowds to a solitary place to pray (Luke 11:1, Luke 9:18).

If the Son of God believes so much in the power of prayer and puts such an emphasis on its importance, it shouldn't surprise us that we should also spend much of our time in prayer.

The power of prayer is shown in the early church. After Jesus was taken up into heaven, the believers gathered together and prayed (Acts 1:14). They prayed before choosing a replacement for Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:24). They devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42). Peter and John were going to pray when they healed a crippled man (Acts 3:1). Peter prayed before raising Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:40). Prayer is prominent throughout both of Luke's New Testament books.

Like I said before, I know God can answer prayer. I am just skeptical about whether he will answer my prayers in the way I want him to. Jesus said, "if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (John 15:7). There is a condition in there: I have to remain in him, know and believe his teachings. If I am truly remaining in him, I will be asking for only things that are in God's will for me to have.

I like to pray when I run. I don't listen to music or run with a friend usually. Instead I pray. A few weeks back, I was running and my IT band (the muscle on the side of your hip that runs from your hip to your knee) started to hurt. It hurt so bad that it started to affect my gait, which is typically when I have to stop running or risk hurting myself even more. It was early on in my long run, and I didn't want to stop. Instead I prayed that God would heal my hurting muscle so I could finish my run. This was a somewhat selfish prayer, so I didn't really think he would do it. But, to my surprise, a mile later, I didn't even feel the muscle that had previously hurt so bad. God had answered my prayer and healed me. I was able to finish my 18 mile run and feel good at the end of it.

Can you recall any times that God has surprised you by answering a prayer you didn't really think he would answer?

Are you talking to me?

I was running the other day, when something happened that I didn't expect.

The trail where I run after work is a sidewalk-like trail surrounded by woods and along the river. It's not a loop, so I have to run out and then turn around at my halfway point and come back. It's frequented by bikers mostly, but I also pass runners and some dog walkers. On nice days there are a lot of people out there, but sometimes it can be quite deserted where I don't pass anyone for miles.

Last summer they found a woman's body not far from the parking lot where I park to go run on the trail. That, along with the news a few years back of the woman who was killed on the Silver Comet Trail while riding her bike, has made me slightly paranoid when I run. I am always on high alert. When I bring Alan with me in the jogger, I have a baseball bat in the basket under the stroller.

A few weeks ago, I was running on a nice day. I was at a point on the trail where I was passing several people. Typically when I pass people, I'll smile and sometimes say "hi." On this particular day, I smiled as a biker passed by. He seemed to be slowing down and turning around. I figured he had reached his turnaround point, and I kept on going, expecting him to pass by me going my direction. Then I heard "Hey, wait!"

I slowed down and turned around. He had dismounted his bike and was taking his helmet off. Immediately, my guard went up. I sized him up. He was not much taller than me, so I figured I could take him - or at least run fast enough away that he might not catch me if it came down to it.

He smiled and said, "I wanted to get your number." I wish I had a camera so I could playback the look of shock on my face. That was not at all what I expected.

I have fairly low self-esteem. Especially since I had Alan, I don't think very highly of myself. I'm getting older, and while I have finally gotten back down to my pre-pregnancy weight and fitness, I don't really see myself like I used to. In college, guys would do double takes all the time and hit on me. But I haven't had that happen in years.

I looked behind me to make sure he was talking to me. There was no one behind me. I looked back at him, smiled and let out a little chuckle. "Oh, I'm married," I responded. "Thanks though." I turned back around and kept running.

As short and silly as that interaction was, it really made me feel good. I'm happily married, and Rob will say nice things to me all the time...but he's my husband - he sorta has to. It's the same way with family. They can say nice things about you or to you, but it doesn't seem to have as much of an effect as if someone who has no vested interest in your life say something nice about you or the way you look.