Grab The Bull By The Horns

Yep, I figure this is what I need to do.

To my children and grandchildren......

If one day I end up crazy, it started today. I can not believe that it is only Tuesday and my daggum nerves have gone fool! The half-marathon is not until Sunday and I'm already in overdrive.  

Help!  

I can not stand this!

Why is this happening? I've run how many miles? I've run how many races now? This should not be an issue. I can't even go out and do an easy 3-mile run this morning because every time I start to dress in my running clothes, my stomach starts to flip flop.

It's bad....I'm telling you it's bad! I'm talking to myself, to my gut, to my nerves...... nothing is working.

I guess the only thing left to do is grab the bull by the horns and just go.

Well now that you know when I started to go crazy, I'm going to try putting on my running clothes again and see if I can haul that bull to the ground.

Time will tell.

 

Laurie

Run Like A Diva

The Divas 5K

April 28, 2013

Warning: There will be some talk of nerves.

Disclaimer: Cliff is not the best picture taker, but he is a great husband! 

Nuff said!

I have never run with so many people in my life! It was a sea of Divas lined up as far as the eye could see. Normally, this big of a crowd would scare me off from running, but this was the Diva's run. I had to! Even though as soon as my feet hit the floor Sunday morning, the dang nerves showed up. I'll not talk too much about the nerves today, other than to say 3 times.....really?

Cliff was such a big help. He rolled me out of bed and headed me in the right direction towards the shower. He even fixed breakfast for me. Toast and P-Nut Butter. I could only choke down one piece. I had no time for coffee, just a couple of sips of water. But never fear, Cliff had a bottle of his special triathlon-ironman concoction for me to drink. He said, "It even has some caffeine in it". Oh Yay!

I could have easily talked my way out of this one, but I pushed through and I am so glad I did. This Diva's race was jam up. There were over 5000 runners between the half-marathon and 5K. As you can imagine, parking would be tricky. Parking is the only thing that makes Cliff nervous. Lawd, to be so lucky. So, his way of dealing with his nerves is to get up before the crack of dawn in order to arrive early enough that we can get good parking. And we did....right beside a very nice bathroom in McLean Park. Yes! Because I definitely needed it! Third time's the charm, so they say.

That's me in the center below the big screen.

After reigning in the nerves, with a half-hour to spare, we made our way to the start line. As we rounded the corner, we could see shades of pink and black everywhere. They were the Diva's signature colors. There was a huge video screen at the start. As you passed by, you could see yourself on the big screen....so cool! Over 3000 half-marathoners were lined up and ready to go. Oh the anticipation! I could hardly take it all in. So much to see. Oh look, there are the porta potties. Must have been a dozen and lines for them were backed up 20 or more deep. I better get in line, just in case. I'm so sorry y'all have to endure this, but a million years from now I want my grandchildren to know everything I experienced, if you don't mind. Anyway, made it out in time to see the half-marathoners take off.

Me in the sea of Divas.

And then it was our time. The 5K'ers. There were 1112 of us to be exact. The nerves now gone, I was ready! Cliff was going to ghost run with me. I was happy about that for 2 reasons....1)moral support and 2)he could pace me. He runs so much faster than me, this was going to be a piece of cake for him. The horn blared and we were off....walking....what? There were so many people that it took us nearly a minute to make it to the start line and then another couple of minutes before the sea of Divas spread out enough that I could actually start running.

Now running, I was in the zone. I had concentration written all over my face. Weaving in and out of runners, I was passing some of them. Now, don't get me wrong, I was getting passed by some, too. But oh, what a feeling! I was definitely pumped! My adrenaline was in overdrive. We made it to the one-mile mark, before I knew it. Cliff was giving me updates on my pace. He was encouraging me to keep it up. Shortly, we merged for just a little while with the half-marathoners. I was keeping pace with some of them. It got me to thinking about next year. "I will be back next year for the Diva's half-marathon", I said to myself.

I knew a water station was coming up at the two mile mark so I pulled out my little bite-sized Snicker that I had concealed in the tiny little pocket of my running shorts. I was hoping the thing had not melted....that would have been a mess. How could I explain that the stain was a Snickers Bar? Hallelujah, it had not melted.....Snicker's stain explanation averted! Anyway, I ate the Snicker Bar slowly (so as not to choke) to Cliff's question of, "You're eating"? LOL!! He never knows what to expect with me. I ignored his comment! I saw the water station and got in line. Wow, I needed that!

The Loot!

Cliff looked at me after the tiny Snickers and water break and said, "Your time has improved"! Great! That made me run even faster. I don't know how far, but down the road a little further was another water station. Some lady bust right up in front of me.....nearly made me spill my Gatoraid. I thanked her and then it was back to business.  Just before the finish, the Divas organization had a table set up on the route for you to grab a pink feather boa and a tiara. They know how to spoil a Diva.

Oh Lord, that's a cheesy grin!

At the finish line. See the shirtless fireman behind me?

Rounding the final corner, I looked up and there I was on the big screen. I waved to myself. Ha!  I kicked it up a gear and crossed the finish line. What an awesome race! Making my way through the corral they had set up, I saw half naked men giving out our medals. I totally ignored Cliff and got in the cutest guys line. My first medal ever and it was placed around my neck by a half naked fireman! Now, don't you want to go out and sign up for next year's race? Go ahead, you know you do. Next in line, we received a rose and then a glass of champagne. I have never! I am a full-fledged Diva now. And I have pictures to prove it!

Before getting to the race, I told Cliff that no matter what I said, do not let me go out and sign up for another race. My nerves just can't handle it.

 Girl, please!

I no longer crossed the finish line and received all my goodies than did my inner voice start asking, "OK, where's the next race"? Some Divas never learn!

If you are interested in running a Diva's race near you and I highly recommend it, check out their website (here).

And in case you were wondering, my stats for the Run Like A Diva 5K are:

Miles: 3.1
Time: 35:32 (Goal was to finish in 36 minutes or less)
Mph: 5.23
Pace: 11:28 (Goal was to run an 11:30 pace or better)
Finished: 347th out of 1112 overall
Finished: 24th out of 84 in my age group

Score!

Laurie

Race for the Inlet



2013 Race for the Inlet

Race for the Inlet was an 8K race I participated in Saturday, March 30, 2013. It took place in the picturesque fishing village of Murrells Inlet.

Cliff picked up my race packet the day before the race and when I got home, he had all my loot laid out.

Included in the race packet were my Bib number, t-shirt, a lanyard, a couple key chains, a pen, lots of coupons, water bottle, etc. Also included was a koozie with a DUI logo and a finger printing kit. Were they trying to tell us something? Sometimes, you just have to wonder....what were they thinking?



I was excited! I was anxious to know how the interval training had played into my time/pace. I planned and prepared everything the night before.

I pinned the bib number on my shirt, placed the timing chip on my shoe, had a bag ready with a few essentials...hat, Garmin watch, water and a few mini Snickers candy bars. Hot dog, I was ready!

The alarm went off at 6 a.m., Saturday morning. Ugh!! I rolled out of bed and was jack slapped with a good case of "the nerves". What the heck? I should be used to race day by now. I know "the nerves" affects everyone differently. For me.....my intestines go haywire. The intestines say, "Out! Everything, get out"! And that happened not just once, but three times Saturday. "Ain't nobody got time for that"! Ha! (I do apologize, if that's just TMI). Well, then my mind starts playing games with me. I almost back out every single time. I have to fight through "the nerves" and make myself just put one foot in front of the other.

Cliff was not going to be with me on race day. He had a 3.5 hour bike ride scheduled with a couple of friends and a run afterwards. They are in training for Ironmans and Triathlons. So, he left a little earlier and scouted out the parking situation for me. That helped. One less thing for "the nerves" to get their panties all in a wad about.

I arrived to the race and began my warm up. The legs were feeling good. The temperature was very nice. I chatted with a few people I knew at the start line. The time was getting near to start, so we lined up and was on the mark. What happened to "the nerves"? Those wicked pre-race jitters? Well it's crazy how our mind can affect us and then, just like that....they're gone. They disappeared the moment I stepped foot at the start line. Always does.

I had set a few goals for myself and began to mentally run through them. Goals: 1) Finish in 1:06. 2) Run the whole race (except for water breaks...don't want to get strangled and choke to death right there on the 8k race course).....And, 3) Don't finish last.

And then we started. Something was a little different this time. I was not getting left behind. I was keeping up with everyone around me. Wow! That's cool! So I checked the Garmin and I was doing a 10:30 min/mile pace. I couldn't believe it. I ran a little taller. We were nearing the first mile and I had even passed some people. I noticed this one particular lady running beside me. We ran neck and neck until the first water break. We both stopped for water and quickly began running again. Then she started walking just a short span and I would pass her. She would start running again and pass me. This happened 3 or 4 times until finally somewhere around mile 3. That time, I passed her and she never caught me again. That was fun! Cat and mouse games....a girl needs something to help pass the time. 

The course was gorgeous. For about the first mile, the creeks were visible. And then we turned onto streets lined with moss draped oaks.

As you can imagine, the adrenaline was pumping and my time was really great at the start. Over the course of the 5 miles, however, I grew tired and slowed down a little. But as I rounded the last corner and was into the home stretch, I felt the strangest sensation. I felt myself speeding up. I didn't feel like I was consciously doing it, but noticed that my stride had lengthened and my arms were really pumping. It almost felt like an outer body experience. Or, it could have been that bite sized snicker bar I inhaled at mile 3. Ha! But whatever it was..........I. Was. Running!

Finally, the finish line was in sight. And, just before crossing, I saw Cliff taking pictures as I ran across the finish line. Ahhh! That was a great surprise. He and his two riding partners had arranged their bike route to come see me finish.

That's me crossing the finish line. If you look closely, you can see my finish time on the clock in the background...57:29 min.

Wow, a great ending to a great race. I finished nearly 9 minutes faster than my goal time. I didn't win any awards or break any records, but setting goals and exceeding them was enough to give me a natural high. Cliff and his friends proceeded on and I stayed around for the awards. I knew I wasn't getting any, but wanted to support those who did.

8K Done!

Oh wait, in case you were wondering:  

8K = 4.98 miles

Goal: Finish in 1:06

Actual finish time: 57:29 min.

Ran the first mile in 10:51 min.

Finished the last mile in 11:24 min.

Average pace: 11:34 min/mile

Average speed:  5.2 mph

The End.

Laurie