The Streets Were Slick With Cytomax, Part 2

WARNING: This post is 13.1 miles long.

That's me! That's the end of the race, my finishing time. But let's begin at the beginning.

Saturday
John and I went to the Health Expo at the Alamo Dome to pick up my race number. I knew the race was going to be crazy when there were thousands of people at the expo alone. Got my race number and got out of there to go pick up my mom and stepdad. From there, we got haircuts and went to go carb up at Tre Trattoria. Delicious. I would like to publicly thank John for not slapping me. I was very anxious and short on Saturday.

Sunday
The race started at 7:30 am, so I decided we needed to leave at 6 am. You see, the drop off point for runners was Alamo Stadium and from there, everyone would walk a mile to the starting line at Mulberry and Broadway. To get there with time to spare, we needed to leave at 6. I decided to get up at 4:45 to stretch, eat breakfast and get dressed. But I was so anxious I woke up at 4. Fail.

We never got to the drop off point. The exit on Hildebrand was backed up for miles. At 6:50, we were still on 281 and could barely see the off-ramp. I said, fuck this noise, and I got out of the car. I walked and ran down 281 to Broadway and up to Mulberry. Lots of other people were doing the same thing. I made friends with a guy running the full marathon. He left to check his gear at the starting line and I left to find a bathroom. Though there were at least a hundred Port o Potties, they all had really long lines. I was still in line during the National Anthem.

But since I was in the last corral (we were in groups for a wave start), I didn't actually start running til 8:30. So for an hour, I stood in my corral and moved up about 10 feet at a time. Not so fun. The announcer was pretty good. On the half-marathon, he said "Good choice. Half the time, twice the fun."

But by the time I did get to run, it was awesome!There I go!

There was a mariachi band playing at the staring line and lots of other bands along the way. We went all through downtown. Look at this map if you want to know where I went.

Not gonna lie, the first 5 miles were rough. I was already getting tired. It wasn't hot, but it was really humid. It wasn't til I got to 7 miles and knew I was more than halfway done that I knew I could do this.

Things I saw:
-A group of old people in wheelchairs
-A running Elvis
-Lots of tutus
-Sign that said "Free beer this way"
-Sign that said "You are better than Chuck Norris"
-A man wearing a fur hat, dressed like a turkey on the top half, with a rifle waving the Texas flag, with a giant pink tutu, pink leopard-print tights and pink pom poms on his shoes. He beat me
-Lots of dogs
-Lots of kids
-A guy dressed like a banana
-Lots of shirtless guys, some of whom should not have been shirtless
-A margarita mama
-People drinking beer at 9 am
-A high school band
-Lots of cheerleaders
-Thousands of people watching

I saw Nicolette's band, the Melissa Ludwig Band, play at the 11 mile mark. I thought that's where my mom, Julius and John would be but I didn't see them.

So I kept running. I wish I could tell you more about the actual run, but I don't remember much specifically. It was really humid, and the energy drink they passed out, Cytomax, tasted like sugary Gatorade. Around every water and Cytomax station, the ground would be wet My shoes got sticky.

Finally, at the 12 mile mark, I saw my mom, Julius and John. I really can't tell you how happy I was to see them. I'd been losing steam since the 10 mile mark, just thinking about how far I still had to go. When I saw them, I was walking, but I burst into a run and held up my finger to tell them I had one more mile to go.

On my way to the finish line

The last mile was hard. Some of it was up that hill by the Alamodome. But there were tons of people there cheering us on. Plus, there were medals!

Go here and type in 34661 and you can see me cross the finish line. I'm the one checking my watch as I go by. I didn't realize I was being taped. And also, I was tired and didn't care.

So I finished 5002 in the women and 9800 overall. My time was 2:30:29. 25,834 people finished the race of more than 32,000 registered. That puts me in the top 38% overall. I thought I was going to finish in 2.5-3 hours, so I did better than I thought I would. I did about 11.5 minute miles. I was fast in the beginning, with 9 minute miles, but fatigue caught up with me.

After the finish, got my medal, got an iced towel and water, some chips, and met up with John, Julius and my mom at the family reunion. We got back on the shuttle and went to the car and eventually home. Once my sweat dried, I was covered in a fine film of salt. My legs are still sore, but I can walk and even took the stairs today. I didn't work out today, but I deserve a break.

YEAH
All in all, I will say that if you like running, this is DEFINITELY the way to do it. Thousands of people cheering and telling you you can do it, the energy of the other runners, the people in costumes, knowing that you've got 30,000 other people doing this with you - it's awesome. It's totally worth all the training and the pain, and, as Leigh pointed out, running by that (hopefully dead) snake. It was all totally worth it for the experience! I recommend it.

Who's in for Rock n Roll San Antonio 2010?

The Streets Were Slick With Cytomax

I could also call this, "The Time I Ran 13.1 Miles with 30,000 of My Closest Friends."

I made it! I will post more tomorrow, when I have slept and recovered, but I just wanted you to know that I did it in 2 hours and 30 minutes and 31 seconds! Success! Now, food and sleep.

Rock 'n Roll Time!

It is time to rock and roll! Rock 'n Roll Half-Marathon that is. The time has finally come for me to do what I've been talking about, training for and anticipating for months. I picked up my number today, picked up my mom and Julius, and got a hair cut. I need to look good for the marathon, see. Or rather, I was due for a haircut.

I'm #34661, so look for me!

I've still got to carb up and then go to bed early so I can get up early so I can RUN!

Look for me tomorrow! The marathon starts at 7:30 am, and I'll probably start running at 8:15. Exciting!

Thanks guys!

Thanks to everyone who left comments on my Sunday post about the marathon, and everyone who has ever given me support in the past and still continues to do so. You guys rock! I feel much better knowing that I have your support.

Yesterday, I decided that I was going for a run. I stretched really well and wore my old running shoes, because they're more comfortable for me. I started walking for about 0.25 miles, and then I started running. It was awesome! It reminded me of how much I love running. Of course, it wasn't so awesome when I passed the dead possum and almost tripped over some rocks in the dark. But I kept going, all the way down Hausman, down University Heights, down Silicon, and up Dezavala to the Wal-Mart entrance. And then I ran back. And then I ran around my neighborhood some. I could feel my muscles getting tired, but I stopped frequently to walk and stretch it out. And I made it 7.2 miles in 80 minutes! That's pretty good for me, because I'm a slow runner. But it doesn't matter how fast I run, as long as I finish the half-marathon.

Since the half-marathon is 13.1 miles, I feel pretty good about doing more than half of that last night. I think I'm ready!

Apprehension

I've been having some running problems lately. Pain in my Achilles tendon, tight calves, shin splints. I haven't run in 9 days, hoping to rest my body enough for the marathon. I've decided that I'm going to do the half-marathon no matter how I can, whether it's running or walking. I've been gearing up all week to run 10 miles today. I decided that I would stretch well, and just do my best, but I wouldn't stop until I hit 10 miles. I felt like I needed to do 10 miles one more time before the marathon.

But as I was stretching this morning, the thunder started rolling and the sky opened up and the rain poured down. Sigh. So I had to do some aerobics instead. It's stopped raining now, but it still looks like it will rain so I don't think I'll run today.

This disappoints me because I was counting on this 10 mile run today to put my mind at ease for the marathon, to prepare me for what will be an ordeal. And since I'd spent so much time psyching myself up for it, to not do it seems like a failure on my part.

I think I'm gonna try for 10 miles tomorrow. It will be long and tiring, since I'll have to do it after work, but I feel like I need to get it done before the marathon.

Wish me luck!

I spoke too soon

Remember how I said the running was going well? It seems I spoke too soon.

Last week, I did something to my Achilles tendon and then stupidly tried to stretch it out. I've since learned that this is the opposite of what you do.

I tried to run again yesterday for the first time in a week, only to bring the pain back.

It's almost November, and the marathon is November 15. I have 2 more weeks to train. My plan right now is to rest my tendon til next week. No more running til then, only aerobics and weights. No stretching it.

Then, next weekend, I'm gonna try to do 10 miles. I want to do 10 miles one more time before the marathon, to be ready.

Shouldn't be that bad, right?

How's the running going, Lauren?

Not bad, I reply. Sure, my knee is a little wonky, particularly when I go down the stairs. And my new running shoes blister the inside of the bottom of my feet something awful, but the blister on blister on blister thing is finally forming into a callous. Plus, thanks to the cooler weather, I've been running faster. I can usually get 5 miles in less than an hour now. I'm down to a 10-11 minute mile, depending on the day and how I'm feeling. I definitely need to buy some new music to listen to.

The Rock n Roll Marathon is on Sunday, November 15. Which means I have 3.5 weeks left. It's coming up fast. I haven't attempted 10 miles since I last blogged about it, but I've been doing at least 5 miles every time I run, so I'm feeling pretty good about it all. I'll be OK.

If you're in South Texas, the marathon is gonna be pretty fun. It might be too late to register now, but there are lots of bands to see and cheering sections and a huge concert featuring Los Lonely Boys at the finish. Plus, I get a beer at the finish line! And a medal

10 more miles!

I ran 10 miles again today. To celebrate, I thought I'd tell you exactly how it went.

Let's start by talking about what I'm wearing up there. It's a lot of crap, no? Ripped up, painted tshirt, biking short, GPS armband, watch, water bottle, headband, sunglasses, iPod shuffle, headphones. I look awesome.

Here's what I usually do on my runs: I start by running laps around my neighborhood. My neighborhood is 0.85 miles around. Then I usually run out onto Hausman, towards the light at University, turn right and head down to the corner of University and Silicon, where Sam's is. Then sometimes I turn right again and run up Silicon, towards Wal-Mart. One time, I kept going right again onto DeZavala and turned right into the neighborhood where Jarret and Casey live. That's how I found out that they live 3.2 miles from me. Today, my plan was to do laps around the neighborhood and then run to Jarret and Casey's house. Let's see how that went.

0.00 miles Start walking. Aerosmith comes on.

0.10 Lady in pink shirt is mowing her yard.

0.85 Back to my house.

1.04 Thank god it's cloudy today.

1.57 Passing the same houses. This is getting boring.

1.70 Have to pee. Stopping at my house.

1.99 OK, new plan. Going out of the neighborhood and going the other way on Hausman. I am already behind in my time (my goal was 12 minute miles). But my new goal is to finish 10 miles today, by hook or by crook.

2.16 Hey, good plan! How else would I have known they're opening a sports supply store here?

2.22 Encounter huge, scary drainage ditch. Filled with tree branches, zombies, drugs, possums, etc. Turn around.

2.48 Back at the neighborhood it is then.

2.50 Missy Elliott, "Get UR Freak On."

2.56 New plan - run laps around the neighborhood until I hit 7 miles, then run to Sam's and back.

3.40 That lady is still mowing her lawn! Does it really take this long?

3.85 (shame) The new Miley Cyrus song just came on. I know. Miley Cyrus. Shameful. But it's a fun song, and I need fun songs to keep me motivated. (/shame)

4.03 Hello, bald man walking tiny Chihuahua. The dog, who can't weigh more than 5 pounds, is frantically straining at the leash, trying to say hello to me, his teensy claws ineffectively scratching at the asphalt. I laugh. The bald man laughs.

4.76 This is hard. Can I make it even to 5 miles?

4.89 Passing my house again.

5.07 Evidently I can make it to 5 miles. Sudden burst of energy. Have I hit my stride?

5.48 311, "Down." "Fuck the naysayers" indeed.

5.55 I don't know if I can really do 10 miles today. It looks like it's about to seriously pour down rain.

5.70 But it's not raining yet.

6.15 Chihuahua, we can't keep meeting like this.

6.20 That burst of energy didn't last long, did it?

6.25 Stopping at my house for more water. I have already drunk half a liter. It is now noon and I have been running for over an hour.

6.31 Oops, I meant to make one last lap around the neighborhood, but I got distracted by the blue patch of sky peaking from the clouds. I followed it, and it led me to Hausman.

6.69 HOLY SHIT A SNAKE RUN RUN RUN

7.02 OK, I'm pretty sure that snake was dead, but I wasn't taking any chances there.

7.53 Pass a neighborhood with pink "1" balloons tied to a rail. I deduce that someone's daughter is having her first birthday party.

7.69 Going up the hill. It's not a big hill, but it's enough to make me dread it.

7.72 Passing Espana, the closest restaurant to our house. Unfortunately, it sucks.

7.89 Turning right onto University. Cutting through the parking lot, past The Boiler Room.

7.95 I don't know what the Boiler Room is. They only have a sign right now. A sign, and a bunch of PVC pipe, piles of metal, scaffolding, and exposed beams.

8.06 Passing the San Antonio FBI.

8.10 I feel like I'm being watched. Probably by the FBI.

8.17 Black truck, why did you slow down and turn around when you saw me? You're making me paranoid.

8.23 That giant cloud is so dark and close it looks like a UFO.

8.31 That would suck if it was a UFO. I might get abducted.

8.39 But that I wouldn't have to finish this run, at least.

8.41 But I would have to run from the aliens on that UFO.

8.45 But maybe aliens wouldn't be so judgmental as humans are. Maybe they wouldn't judge me for watching "Dance Your Ass Off."

8.48 But they would probably dissect me.

8.53 Or maybe they would revere me, like a god.

8.60 I can't really take that chance though.

8.66 It's settled: I'm glad that's a cloud and not a UFO.

8.73 The Boiler Room again.

8.85 I stand at the top of the hill and just look down at the rest of my run. Someone honks at me. I hate it when people honk at me. Why do they do that? Is it a compliment? It always freaks the hell out of me.

8.91 I make tiny deals with myself to get through this - run to the end of this street, run to the end of the sidewalk, run to that fire hydrant/crack in the ground/brick wall, and then you can walk. I make another now: run the rest of this mile and you can walk some.

9.00 Walking now. The sun is shining on my back, slowly killing my will to live. I can deal with rain, humidity, no breezes, but I can't deal with sun. Go away, sun.

9.23 Almost got hit by a car.

9.45 Almost to my neighborhood!

9.55 OK, there's that snake again. It hasn't changed position. I'm gonna call it dead now. I hope.

9.64 Sun, PLEASE GO AWAY. Back in my hood now.

9.71 I can run the rest of this block, til the corner.

9.83 No, I can't.

9.86 OK, maybe I can.

9.88 "Hey Jude" comes one. One of my all-time favorite songs. I WILL RUN UNTIL 10 MILES.

9.90 I'm almost there, I'm almost there, I'm almost there.

9.95 I am going out of my damn mind.

10.00 After two hours and seven seconds, I hit 10 miles. I beat my time last week of two hours and 15 minutes, and I managed to keep to my 12 minute mile goal today. I can now walk the rest of the way.

10.09 The sun comes out right when I round a corner, spy my house, and hear the swell of the "la la la la, LA LA LA LAAAAAAAAAAAA" in "Hey Jude." So I run some more.

10.15 OK, almost to the corner. Time to resume walking.

10.17 I am home, two hours later.

My legs hurt

Friends, I am tired. Tired in body, tired in spirit, tired in mind.

On Monday, I ran 10 miles. In a row.

Do you know how far that is? If you were to drive that at 60 miles per hour, it would take you 10 minutes. It took me far longer than 10 minutes - it took me 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The weather here in San Antonio was pretty hot, humid and sunny on Monday. But since it was a holiday, and I had nothing better to do, I decided to run 10 miles.

I'd run 6.5 miles on Sunday, in an effort to get back into running. I'd stopped running so much because it's been so hot recently, but the "cool spell" (i.e., 90 degrees) made me get off my ass and start running. And after running 6.5 miles, I figured 10 miles wouldn't be much more.

But it is. It so is. By the last mile, my calves, thighs, ankles all hurt. My skin was chafing. I was noticeably red. I'd worn sunscreen but sweated it all off. I probably looked like I was about to pass out. But the great thing about running outside is that you have to keep going, or you'll never get home. So keep going I did, even if it meant my running became sprints with long walks between.

Regardless of how I did it, I did it! When I signed up for the half-marathon, 13 miles sounded insurmountable. An Everest. An unattainable goal that would most certainly kill me. Now that I've made it through 10 miles, I'm pretty sure I can tackle 13.

Go Lauren Go!

I've been running so much recently that people keep asking me if I'm training for a marathon. I'm not, but that got me thinking if I could do a marathon.

A whole marathon is 26.2 miles. In laymen's terms, fucking long. I would die. But a half-marathon, that I could do. 13 miles! I run 5 miles when I go running, so I feel like I could work up to 13 miles.

I was talking to my friend Lyla about it, and she said she would do a half-marathon with me. And then I told a bunch of people I was going to do a half marathon. And then I told my mom, and she and Julius bought tickets to come see me run.

So then I thought, shit, I really have to do this.

And I really have to! Because I just registered, and I'll be damned if I'm going to lose that registration money now.

Come watch me run on November 15! http://www.rnrsa.com/home.html

I get a free beer at the finish line! Sweet!