Marathon Training: Week Six

 Week Six started right on schedule. All of my training runs were "on point" and I will even go a step further to say, my training runs are going better than I had expected. I've had good training cycles and bad training cycles. There is a huge difference. When you are training at your correct pace for the shape you're in, you can advance as a runner. I do suggest having someone "coach" you or at least reach out to a runner who has many years under their belt. There is math and formulas involved in training and many people miss that and or don't know how to figure it out! It's ok to ask for help, I do it all the time! If you don't have a goal, no biggie, but I have always competed with myself. I want to advance as an athlete if my body allows and I need the help!

The last few weeks, as I've prepped for Shamrock 15k, I've been raising funds and love for Mason, a 13 year old who is battling Hodgkins Lymphoma. I simply asked folks to donate $15 and I would run the 15k. Together we could pray for the family. The outpour from co-workers, running friends and the community has been amazing. I was blessed to meet up with Mason and his family a couple days before the race, give Mason his cash (over $2400) and he gave me a running shirt. It was a moment I will never forget! 

My husband ran the 15k with me. We got up Saturday for our scheduled "long run" but it was different this week as we both planned on racing Sunday. It was a shorter long run but we both ran it strong and then headed to Portland. The Shamrock Expo was so grand! It was smaller than years past, but considering the last two years had been canceled due to the pandemic, I was just happy to be back! We got our race bibs and checked out the different vendors and met up with a few running friends. It was all so good! 

That night we stayed in a hotel on the waterfront side of downtown, ensuring a faster route for post race. We have parked downtown before and been blocked in for an hour! After Shamrock you can ensure you will be a wet cold mess so getting trapped downtown isn't a fun way to end the weekend. Our hotel was also 2 miles from the starting line! This would ensure that we would get a proper warm-up and cool-down in no matter what! 

The race didn't start until 8:55am and we woke up to high winds and low 40's that felt much colder. A running friend met us at the hotel that morning and all three of us headed out into the elements to do our warm-up/head to the starting line. It was about 7:50am! The warm-up miles did me a whole lot of good! It got my muscles warm and calmed my nerves! We got to the starting area with plenty of time to use the restroom and to visit with a few more running friends. As Jerry, Sandy and I came to a walk at the starting line, I was overwhelmed with happiness! Races are back! It's been a long two years and I didn't realize how much I truly missed it! We could hear the band playing, post race goodies were being set up! An announcer was saying all the things we love to hear but don't really listen too! The lines of port-a-potties! Seeing runners waiting with garbage bags over them to stay warm and dry! Seeing my running friends live, in person and not just on social media! It was all perfect! 

After all the pre-race rituals, it was time to line up! I love how Shamrock does this. It's a huge race so it must be organized! First you get into the shoot and find the pacer with the pace you are planning to run. I knew I wanted to run about 7:30 but I stood with the 8:00's. I wasn't doubting myself, I just wanted to be smart about this. The 7:30 pace group was smaller. I also know better than to start too fast. The Shamrock announcer told us to make our walk! We walk down and turn-a-round right in front of our starting line! I was in the first group that was sent off! The 15k course is described as "No joke, after conquering Terwilliger Blvd., waving at OHSU, and running through the Barbur Tunnel, you'll' have all the bragging rights and that green beer. Plus, once you reach mile 5.5, it's all downhill." 

Lining up to start

With that description and the fact that I've run this before, I knew it was going to be up, up, up and more up before I could come down. We started with a gentle up that didn't let up. I ran the first two miles with Jerry. I was confused by this as I knew either I was running too fast or he was running too slow. I was feeling really great so I just went with it. I knew if I didn't hold my own going up the hills, I wouldn't PR (personal record) today. A wise coach once told me just before I ran Shamrock, "don't let up on the up-hills, get to the top, I promise you will recover." This was a coach who was working with me and knew I could handle the hills but I needed to hear that. I've never forgotten it so I kept saying it over and over to myself. I also was so focused on this day that I could truly feel my "race mode" was on! It felt amazing to be in control of myself. 

So often in racing we let our heads get in the way. We tend to overthink and then our anxiety hits to fan and we start too fast, start too slow or just give up before we even start. With the years I've had to build my base, I've really focused on my mental game and gotten lots of help knowing how to be in control of MY race!

After mile two, Jerry decided to put on the gas and took off! I never saw him again. I was glad to see him move on as he should be running faster than me in any race. We were still climbing but we hadn't hit the hardest hill yet! We did a little turn-a round on S. Barbur Blvd and took a sharp left to go up SW Capitol Hwy and onto Terwillger. It was around mile four and it was by far, the hardest mile! My pace dropped during this mile but it was to be expected. I stayed in "race mode" despite my hill pain. I knew I would recover!!!! 

I now had made it to the first part of Shamrock that I love! Terwillger hill. I love running this hill loop. It's not only challenging but it's beautiful. You do have to go up, but you also have some down time and I fly. It's a feeling you don't get when running on the flat. This crazy loop also gives you a glimpse of OHSU where so many like Mason are receiving care. It always hits me when I get to this part. 

As we head back onto Barbur Blvd I tend to have to just blank out and run. Heading back up to the turn-a-round is rather boring and painful. I do enjoy picking a good fight with other runners at this point. They have no clue I'm doing it but I can pick people who are running a similar pace and I can test myself. If I can get behind them, draft off them for a bit and then pass them, I win! It's really fun in larger races as there as so many more runners to pick from. 

As we finally made it to the 2nd turn-a-round I hear my name from the other side! Someone I knew was cheering me on and it was really nice. As I turned onto SW Naito Pkway to go back down the hill we started on, I began my flight to the finish line. This is another part of Shamrock that keeps me coming back for more. The last 1-1.5 miles is a gentle down hill (except for the small part it's not!!!) and I feel like I'm flying. It's a beautiful experience. This is where it also gets gritty! You can see the finish line but it's still a long ways away. If you overrun, you may die! I knew for this last mile I needed to put the peddle to the medal. I had run too good of a race thus far to toss a PR out the window. So I flew! I was running fast! I came to mile 9 and got the nod of approval from a wise coach who taught me how to run hills and endure the distance as he glanced at his watch. I had .3 to go. That's over a lap around the track. Not much, but so far! I had a quick moment of wanting to let up so badly as I felt the stomach roar with warning that I may be pushing my luck! I didn't let up! Soon I saw the 7:30 pacer. I thanked him for being out there that day and passed him right up! As soon as I crossed the finish line I put my arms up in celebration and got the nod of approval from Jerry, who stood there watching me come in and looking so proud. I remember someone handing me a medal, I said thanks and then walked over to the side and dry heaved two times. I turned around and a volunteer had come over. She looked worried. I was totally fine. It was a minor heave that I had to just loose. Ha! I turned off into the finisher area feeling like I had just won the gold! I had beat myself! I got my PR, I felt really strong and I had completed something really hard for Mason.

These Girl Scouts got it right, having a booth here.

I was too cold to do much more but we did get some snacks and visit with some friends before heading back to our hotel to head home. This morning the aftermath has been minor. I'm less sore than my race a few weeks ago and I ran it much harder. I am very pleased with how this race played out. The foot issue I talked about last week is still there but I feel like it's under control. I've got the help of the PT's at work who have shown me how to tape myself up and what I should be doing daily to keep to from getting out of control and stronger. 

As I go into week seven I am reminded how important community is. The community has come together so well for Mason and the community has given me so much support. It's nice to have a few people interested in my running stories and to know some of you care so much you are willing to stalk my house while I'm at the races! ~Love to you all!!!! 

I did it! PR 1:08:44, 7:22 pace, 2nd in division