marathoner452

That was what they must call the “runner’s high.” I haven’t felt that before, at least not that intensely. It was like I was in some kind of trance. From about miles 5-11 anyway. Then I kinda came back down to earth when my body figured out I’d been running for 2 hours. Then at mile 15 I took a gel with some Gatorade and caught a second/third/fourth wind. I ran 10:30 average pace for the run but 10:00 and 9:00 for the last 2 miles. In the last mile I ran past two women about my age and one of them said something to the tune of “Look at her go, that’s impressive.” Nice little ego boost there.

Then I stretched and went to Bagel Works to chill out, read, and eat a honey granola bagel. I went to Snickerdoodles for the requisite enormous post-long-run pastry, a 4 inch tall Milky Way Tart with chocolate mousse and chocolate shavings and carmel in a chocolate tart. I just didn’t want that run to end.

I credit that to gels at miles 5, 10, and 15 and having a good attitude going into the run. I don’t know how people listen to music while they run. They miss out on so much, like birds and the running river, the idiosyncrasies of fellow runners, and mental toughness.

The only thing I would have done differently today was water instead of Gatorade with the gels because all that sugar made my stomach kinda touchy.

See more progress on: run another marathon

I was the race director for the Bachman Valley 1/2 Marathon in Westminster, Maryland last weekend. We had 4 water jugs for 3 water stops, we ran out of cups several times, and getting the race results compiled was a challenge because many runners didn't tear off their tags at the finish. We did see a rainbow prior to the race, have race tshirts for the first time in recent history, and have a new women's record set for the first time in 14 years. So I'd call the race a success. I think the runners would too:

"It was an excellent race on a beautiful course. Directing a race is huge, and can be very nerve racking. Thank you for your service to the running community."

So as we head into the heart of the fall racing season, remember before you run or before you complain that organizing a race is more difficult than you think. So offer to be on the planning committee. Volunteer at a water stop or put blankets around finishers after they finish their first marathon or set a personal best or qualify for Boston. Give back to the running community, because not only could races not function without volunteers, volunteering at a race does wonders for your motivation.

Besides, how else are most of us going to get to watch the winners cross the finish line?

~Bethany

X-posted to

marathoner452,

runners,

marathoners.

Current Mood: accomplished

I ran the 5th edition of the Run to Remember in Baltimore this morning. I would have kinda liked it if we would have gotten carnations to throw at the policemen (and women) by the Baltimore WTC like we did the first year, but it was still a very good run. The bagpipes playing Amazing Grace were amazing too-I just love bagpipes, and that song reminds me of my 3 weeks down in New Orleans with the Red Cross back in March. The kitchen manager walked through where we were loading up our hot meals for the day playing that song on his bagpipes.

You can’t beat the finish on top of Federal Hill either.

See more progress on: run a Run to Remember 9/11 every year

If I had run a 5k PR (under 24:28) I would have placed in my age group. As it is, I finished 517 out of 800-something and ran more than 30 miles this week.

I'm enjoying running shorter distances more than I imagined I would. I'm learning that there is just as much satisfaction to be had in running a shorter distance like a mile and doing it well as there is in finishing a marathon. Well, almost, but it takes a lot less time to recover and start thinking about the next one so it evens out.

I ran the Main Street Mile two days ago in 6:30. Keep in mind that a month prior to the race I was down in New Orleans where I didn't run a step except up the Mississippi levee in the lower 9th ward for 3 weeks. I was half tempted to forget about running any kind of a quality race, forget about training for the race with the Flying Feet, and worry about nothing but processing my experiences and getting my money back for the training program. I'm so glad I didn't decide to do that. I needed to get back to running. Running is as much therapy as it is exercise. I needed running to get back to feeling like myself. So I did it. Not much at first or even all that much now, but I stuck with the training program and met the goal time I set for myself before the Red Cross sent me down to Louisiana and I learned more than I could have imagined about life and injustice and the human spirit.

Judy told me when I got back that I would wake up one morning and feel back to normal. I resisted getting back to normal for a long time because I thought that what with all the people living down there are going through I had no right to get back to normal. I can't pinpoint a day, but I've gotten back to waking up and feeling back to normal. I've come to the realization that I did what I could while I was there and stewing in my own juices here at home is not going to help out the people down there on the Gulf Coast. Better to take care of myself so I'm ready for the next time the Red Cross deploys me because like it or not, there will be a next time.

Running is about so much more than putting one foot in front of the other.

Race results-if they're not up now they will be shortly

~Bethany

There's nothing like running on a beautiful fall day, warm but still crisp with the promise of a cold front. Running a new route dancing over the colorful fallen leaves. Listening to the geese overhead, watching the sun set over the water. Finishing just as the sun dipped behind the horizon. Running faster than I imagined along twisty, tree-lined, traffic-free streets with no one but a passing woman and her dog and a black cat in someone's front yard to keep me company.

I'm feeling very poetic tonight. This run this afternoon reminded me why I run. It's not just for faster race times or improved fitness, it's deeper than that. I'd venture to say it's a spiritual thing. Runner's high. I know most scientists say it doesn't exist, but I'm not a scientist and I'll bet most scientists aren't runners. It's not something you can explain or quantify, it just happens when you least expect it. And you have to enjoy it for all it's worth.

With that, I probably should head to bed. My body thinks it's after 11 and I have an 8 am philosophy class tomorrow and a 12 minute distance trial to run. After that awesome run, I have to run on the treadmill? Gag. I guess all good things have to come to an end sometime.

~Bethany

Current Mood: peaceful

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Entries tagged with why i run

18 miles

it's comments like this that make volunteering worthwhile

5 in a row as of this morning

life lessons from running/Main Street Mile Race Report

absolutely awesome fall run

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May 2010

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