Tuesday, April 30, 2019

SMILE because it happened


It's been a rather interesting, racing-packed spring for me.

All told, there have been seven races run over the time-span of  9.5 weeks, 67 days to be exact.

I'm pretty happy with how each and every one of them played out...but now what???

Should I be sorrowful that a great season has come to an end? Anxious that the momentum may cease during this brief time of rebooting? Or, shall I simply smile, and be quite content that all went well?

Well, I'm choosing to smile. It's rare, quite rare indeed, for a runner to have such a successful season. It's even more rare that it happened to ME. A lot of odds were stacked against me, after all, especially in terms of training.

Shall we do a quick re-wind? Remember the extremely cold winter? All the snow, wind, ice, and sub-ZERO temps? This #optoutside runner was forced to keep it inside, and Milly, my treadmill, got more action than she's seen in the past 14 years.

My races saw all kinds of weather, and each one had different circumstances to keep me challenged:

First, there was the FreezeFest 5K, on February 16th. The temps were cold (16F), amazingly, though, the wind was almost a no-show that morning. I had been running almost exclusively on the treadmill in the four weeks prior, so I had no idea how my lungs would do in all that brisk air or how my legs would do without the "assistance" of a treadmill belt. Oh, and there also was the issue of the forgotten Garmin and IPod, so I was completely running "old school." Low and behold, my legs felt free and the cold (and still) air was invigorating...and I finished with my fastest 5K in several years, and brought home a 2nd place AG medal.

A few weeks later, I had the Leprechaun Chase 10K on tap (March 9th). Let me set the scene...there were piles of remaining snow everywhere, temps were in the upper 30's, and it was raining. In fact, it had rained before the race and tapered off, only to return right as we were lining up at the start line. Although the rain was a bit of a buzzkill, I think it motivated me to run steady, not taking any walk breaks (not even for water), just to get to the finish line before the rain got worse. Somehow, I managed a 56:13 finish time, one of my faster 10K's in recent years. The icky weather kept a lot of people away, so I was able to snag a 2nd place AG...my first time ever making the podium in the six times I've run this race.

Two weeks later, while on vacation in Florida, I ran the Hero's Memorial Run 10K. This was an evening race, near downtown St. Petersburg. The temps were warmer than what I'd been experiencing in Iowa, but felt like heaven to me. I felt hungry and thirsty for most of the 6.2 miles, but didn't want to ease up (much) on my pace. I finished in 54:51. No age group awards at this endeavor, but they recognized the first 25 females and males to cross the finish line. I was the 20th female, so I brought home a plaque.

Eight days following, I had another 10K race on the roster, the Chocoholic Frolic 10K. Having never done a chocolate-themed race, this was a new-to-me adventure. As if winter wasn't bad enough, spring was having attitude as well. Momma N served up moderately cool temps (high 30's) with 20 mph wind (thankfully, she also gave us a bit of sunshine). The route was pretty flat with some gentle curves around a lake along a woodland trail, but the wind was brutal. I'm still not sure how I pulled it off, but I almost bested my PR (set seven years ago) with a 53:59 finish and a 1st place AG. Again, I believe the weather kept some racers at home, but I was pretty pleased with that sub-54.

A week later found me in Washington, DC for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile. A race that had been long on my bucket list, the event didn't disappoint. Also, we were blessed with fantastic weather and the cherry blossoms were at their peak bloom.
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Just recently, on April 20th, I ran the Drake Road Races Half Marathon. Traditionally a hilly course, I had no idea how the day would play out. I had not trained specifically for the 13.1 distance, but was hoping all of my 10K racing, as well as the 10-miler at the Cherry Blossom, would suffice. We were treated to near-perfect weather (sunshine and temps in the mid-60's by the finish). I did battle a few odd aches in my right knee, and had to white flag it and walk a few times near the end, but was blessed with a brief mojo surge in the final mile and managed a course PR (2:04:32).

And, finally, last week was the Grand Blue Mile, "part - 2" of the Drake Relays' Bulldog Double (part -1 had been the half marathon, three days prior). An evening event in downtown Des Moines, this is not only a fast & flat race through the city streets, it's also the National USATF 1-mile Road Championship. I'd run this last year, and was hoping to run it faster this year. I'm not a natural-born sprinter, so having to gear-up my long legs for faster-than-normal movement is especially tough, even with a 1-mile warm-up run. My throat was so dry, my lungs felt like they were exploding, and my entire body felt like it was running on empty. I was able to finish in 7:23, 30 seconds faster than in 2018, and it took me several minutes to calm down my breathing afterwards. My finish time landed me 4th place out of the 72 "old ladies" in my (5-year) age group.   
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To say my body is a bit tired, not just from last week's 1-mile race, but from the past several weeks of non-stop racing, is an understatement. It's been quite a ride, though, and I'm quite grateful everything went so well. Believe me, this has not ever happened before. I'm usually laden with injuries or burnout, and I've never had this many AG placings in an entire season. I'm not only grateful, I'm also humbled because I know it's not gonna last forever.

How did I do it? I don't have any concrete answers other than I just did what I know best...moderate mileage and consistency. I keep my mileage on the low spectrum (usually less than 20 miles/week), and I do not run everyday. I also strength-train, and do a lot of walking and stair-climbing. There may be an occasional HIIT workout thrown in for fun as well. This is what works for me, and I'm thankful I don't have to rack up high mileage to succeed at running. It's great that we all get to do this running thing our own way, am I right?

So, my spring season has come to a close. I'm a little sad that it's over, but I'm eager for summer. I have a team relay on May 11th (my cumulative miles for the day will be around 15), but I have nothing on the race calendar until June 1st. After my busy spring, I think a little downtime is warranted.

How do you feel when a racing season winds down?  Do you give yourself a brief period of rest or recovery? Would YOU be sad that it's over, or would you smile because it happened?

I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

**I'm also linking this with Debbie and Marc  for the Running Coaches' Corner

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37 comments:

  1. This is AMAZING! More races than I've done in the last five years, I reckon!! Lovely colourful pics and great medals. Go you!

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    1. Thanks!! I have a hard time restraining from registering for races, especially for ones that I've done before and know are great events.

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  2. Not only did you have a busy racing season, you had fun while doing it! I think that's the most important thing. I'm eager to follow your summer racing season :)

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    1. Yes, Kim, I had so much fun! All that time with Milly forced me to enjoy every run when I was finally able to get back outside.

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  3. You've done more races already than I will do all year. Maybe even twice as many. ;-) You deserve a break, as hard as that is for you!

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    1. What can I say? I love the thrill of races ;-) This spring, though, it was especially fun adding in four new-to-me races...it's always exciting running a different course!

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  4. It definitely sounds like you had a great Spring! I'm usually happy to take a bit of a break after race season is over, and that usually means I'm excited to get back to training when it's time for that again.

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    1. This will be the biggest break I've ever taken (other than my forced 3-month break after my surgery in 2017). Of course, at least this time, I'll still be able to run...but I'm planning on taking things easy.

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  5. You were a racing machine!! Congrats on all of the great races and enjoy all of that sweet bling!

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    1. Thank you ;-) I got lucky...none of the new (to me) races were duds, so everything was enjoyable.

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  6. Oh, Kim..."Smile because it happened" is such a wonderful philosophy. I love it! Also love your Freeze Fest 5K T-shirt. If only Iowa wasn't so far away, I could come out next year and get one. I guess that would be an expensive T-shirt, huh?

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    1. AS I was reflecting back on all of these races, I couldn't help smiling. I was very lucky to have great experiences at all of them.

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  7. Great philosophy.

    I do the same. People ask how can you run so many races.

    I only run 3 miles during the week and not every day. I am not worn out from training because I don't train hard.

    Maybe I could be faster but maybe it wouldn't be as much fun.

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    1. Well, some of my training got a little intense (HIIT and speed work on hills LOL), but I kept the mileage relatively low. But, like you, I seldom ever felt totally worn out for extended periods (with the exception of last week).

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  8. You've certainly been busy! It's been a great spring race season for you. Congrats!

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  9. I can't believe you've ran that many races in 4 months! Wow, I have done 2.

    Great job!!! Excited to see what you do the rest of the year.

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    1. It actually was two months LOL...I know, what was I thinking??? Ha ha, no regrets. I'm thankful all went well.

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  10. It's been great watching you roll through this racing season! And I love your perspective of "smile because it happened" - just the best! :)

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    1. Thanks, Michelle ;-) It was a busy couple of months...

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  11. Your success this season comes as no surprise to me at all. You trained in a way that is right for your body. You changed up your workouts to include strength, speed and hills and you embraced the mill, which is a wonderful training tool. You have much to smile about! : )

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    1. Thank you, Marcia!! It's overwhelming the number of runners who are logging many more miles than I do....I'm thankful I don't need "all the miles" to get the work done. I've tried that rodeo and it was not a good fit for me.

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  12. It was great to meet you when you came for the Cherry Blossom!

    I feel like my spring was so crazy in other ways that "race season" was just random races thrown in. I still have at least 3 more races this spring though. Glad you had a fun spring and congrats on the age group placings.

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    1. It was nice meeting the real Erika in person, too!!!! I usually have a lot of random stuff happening as well, I got lucky in that the timing of all my races worked in sync.

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  13. You sure have had an amazing season of running this spring. Sounds like the perfect time for a little break and recovery

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    1. I'm feeling a bit out of sorts at the moment...but it's been a nice break in action ;-)

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  14. I need to rest after letting it sink in just how many races you've done over the last couple of months! crazy!

    to be honest I don't really run in seasons. At least I wasn't really doing that. I seem to just be training and running races as I go along. Maybe that's something I should consider (plus amping up my strength and HIIT training). I already reduced mileage so I would stay injury-free.

    You've had a GREAT spring season. You'll be racing again in no time!

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    1. I don't typically group my races by season, either. It just worked out that I have nothing happening in May (other than the relay)...and I'm choosing to keep it that way.

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  15. We do have some amazing races right here in Iowa!! Are you training for any fall races (DSM perhaps)? Enjoy the break in the racing!

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    1. Oh yes, I just added DSM (the 13.1) to my fall roster. It's the weekend before my marathon (Marine Corps), so the timing for 13.1 miles is perfect with my taper.

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  16. You have indeed had an amazing and impressive spring running season! Congratulations on all you have accomplished!

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  17. You’ve had a lot of great races this spring. But it’s only May. Surely you’ll squeeze in a few more in the next few months!

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    1. You think? ;-) I'm doing a team relay on the May 11th, but I don't consider that "racing" (at least I'm not treating it as such), and I have a 20K on June 1st. I don't have anything on my summer schedule yet...but I know there will be a few races added in for good measure as I start MCM training in July.

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  18. You are awesome! I am hoping for a semi packed fall with some longer distances on the calendar, but first I have to get through summer. I have two big out of state events coming up and I am super excited for those. But then I need to get back into half marathon mode and make something happen there. I've been away from the distance for too long.

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  19. Lady, you have been rocking your spring races! Just reading over them has made me tired! Haha!
    I always enjoyed the season, but also enjoyed a little break when it was over, especially with the hot Texas summers!

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  20. Good for you for packing your spring schedule with races! I am a big fan of that especially if it works for the runner. After a break, I'm sure your body and mind will pop back to normal. One suggestion I have: the shorter the race, the longer the warmup. You might have felt a bit better if you did more than a mile prior to your mile race. Just a suggestion, but either way, you rocked it!

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