Sometimes we do things a little out of the ordinary.
Sometimes we do things just a tad bit crazy.
And there are the times where we just... I don't know... do things that are more than crazy.
Yesterday I ran my very first marathon. To say it was a blast would be a lie. But to say it was horrible would also be a lie.
Mile 1 - Its cold. Very cold. From past experience I knew that the biting air wouldn't last long...
There was a sea of people and front and in the back, well I don't know, because I didn't turn around. We ran down an a long hill and I had to exert great control and resist the temptation to fly down the road and zap my energy.
Miles 2-6 - Life is good!! Very good! Even the nice long hill was rather ducky. It felt very invigorating to be running in the beautiful sun and listening to great music. At about mile six I saw the Larsens, Ramskey, and my sis. They were cheering, I was smiling, and I was right on schedule.
Mile 7-11 - Its going so great! I am moving along, through neighborhoods, along the waterfront, and up and down hills. I am drinking my electrolyte water (thanks Grant for that stuff...it is actually good) and eating gel and not bored. I see the Larsens about then. I am still right on time!
Mile 12-14 - Finally the turn off for the marathon and the half-marathon. It was right after a nasty incline and despite being slightly out of breath I couldn't help but smile. For a split second though, I did consider taking the turn off for the half-marathon. But no, I kept to the path I paid for. Then I was committed. For the longest time I ran without anyone around. That was rather boring and made running through neighborhoods dull. I kept myself entertained with pretending to own the houses.
Mile 15 - 16 - Pain. It started and didn't go away (in fact its still here as I am writing). We started the interurban trail. I saw Mr. Clarke...he was walking. I asked him how long till I would be turning around..he said quite a while. Little did I know how much he really meant by that. Slowly I wound around. Then I got to a decline... and I recognized that hill going down and knew and cringed at what was to come. I prayed for a water station. My water pack was empty, my tummy was growling, and I hadn't seen my family. I reached the bottom of the hill, rounded the corner and there was my dad and my sister. They jumped out the car and ran over to me. As they filled my water pack and gave me food I heard how my dad had finished his first half-marathon in an amazing time of 2:09! Way to go dad! Then I said my goodbyes, rounded another corner and began the long and painful ascent up California Hill. If you haven't seen this disgusting piece of torture...its worth seeing. Finally I made it to the top, alive but not thrilled.
Mile 16-22 - Oh man...its bad. Pain is all I can think of. Every once in a while I take a short walk break. I know this is where things start to get mentally grueling. I see Kristi again... she is looking a bit tired, but still running at a great pace.
I can't think of any more topics to mull and ponder over. Pain is just about the only present in my mind. That and the fact that my goal time is quickly disappearing, AND I am just about 100% sure that they messed up the mile markers. Miles were NEVER this long. Finally I reach California Hill...this time on the descent. Slowly I make my way down, tripping on this hill would result in the biggest slide-on-your-bum time of your life!
I round the corner to once again see my family and the Larsens and Ramskey. Life is looking up again. My water pack gets refilled, we talk briefly. Then I am off.
Mile 23-25 - When something goes down, its gotta go back up. That is what happened to that great downhill section of the course. Turning around made it go up. This is one of those times where you only think about the next step. Eventually I made it to the top and eventually I made it off the interurban trail. You know, pride is a great thing (hardly ever). It is what kept me going past people, and what made me dread seeing DNT (Did Not Finish) next to my name.
Mile 26 - Horrible...almost there. Can I make it? Maybe...
The minute I saw the sign saying 26 miles I began bawling. Not quiet tears...no this was boohooing, bawling, lots of noise-making. I don't know why...I just couldn't hold things in anymore.
26.2 - The end. My daddy was there cheering me on. Then Abbie, then Shelby and Kels holding a sign. I saw my sister, the Larsens, Sebens, Ramskey. I saw that glorious finish line... and I sprinted with the last little bit of "umph" that I had left. I made it. It was over. Thank you Lord!
Thank you to my great and awesome friends, family and support team. You all were awesome!!
My time... 5:52:10.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
University student...
Wednesday morning I embarked upon an adventure of great magnitude.
With knots in my stomach and slightly shaky hands I drove to the university. Getting off the freeway exit I glanced around me at the cars and saw that most of them had the university parking pass stuck in their window. We were all beginning this journey together...at the same time.
I pulled into the parking lot and gulped at the sea of cars already present at 7:40 in the morning. I slipped out of my car and prepared to put my backpack on only to hear my name called. Shocked I whirled around and saw two of my friends: Bailey and Adam. Seeing them made breathe slightly easier.
As I started the long walk across campus my breath came in short gasps. Nerves were taking over and I sounded like an out of breath and out of shape person. How embarrassing!
Finally I reached my building...out of breath, sweat running down my face, and most likely a look of sheer panic written across my face.
The rest of the day was rather a blur. A fun blur for sure!! I must say that I just love my classes and my professors!
Do know how awesome it is to be in class with 40 other musicians!?! Its simply marvelous! When the teacher makes a joke about a chord, we ALL get it and think it is just the funniest thing!
My new instrument is the saxophone... I think it should be called the instrument-that-makes-your-mouth-hurt-and-where-you-see-stars. It makes quite the awfullest toots and snorts and I am endeavoring to get clear, long and steady sounds out of it instead of mooing warbles. You can now find me (at any point in the day) standing doing conducting exercises or talking in Spanish.
Welcome to the life of a music ed major (and Spanish too!!)!!
And what a wonderfully crazy life it is!
Monday, September 14, 2009
When manners run out the door...
We live in a society that overall, is polite. We say “excuse me” when we need to get past someone, we use a napkin when we eat, and we use tissues. But there is a time…even in our society…when manners seem to be completely forgotten. Those times are races…as in running races.
Today I saw that phenomena once again. When you get five hundred or so people together and make them run and then feed them food after, very little is left of the once prim and proper people that existed just hours before the race. Here is a brief and rather humorous account of races.
First we start with parking. Yes parking… the very first issue to deal with at a race. You have to arrive so stinkin’ early because everybody else is arriving early so that they can get a decent parking spot. And so as the years pass, the times that people arrive just get earlier and earlier as people fight for those precious parking spots. (you know, it would save time if they would just run to the race, don’t you think?)
Then the check ins, which are pretty much always done by letter of the last name now. So for example I checked in at the “F-G” box. I think this way of doing things was done because people were getting competive about their spot in the line and probably would get out of hand and snarky with each other.
Ok, so now that people have parked and checked in, the most crucial battle begins; the battle of the bathrooms/porta-potties. Oh yes, that is also a competitive thing. For some strange and unknown reason ever runner just has to use these lovely “thrones” at least once before the race commences. And so begins the oh so joyful event of standing in line for your “turn”. Mens and Womens restrooms are no longer segregated and the males in line don’t care if there are women waiting behind them, because they were FIRST in line.
Now you would think I am done discussing the mannerless actions of runners because the race should start. But nope… I am not done. We still have getting in order of time behind the starting line. Yup, this is also cause for confusion, pushing, shoving, and at times panic. People are trying desperately to find a spot to stand (forget about having room to move your arms, people become content to look like a sardine). And just when you think you have your spot you realize that you are in the wrong timing group and the process of pushing begins all over again.
The race starts, everything is rather ducky (in a different sort of way considering that runners pay to go through self-inflicted pain). Miles pass… Then other examples of non-existent manners begin to show themselves. You reach a water station. No stopping gracefully to take the cup of water and sip its contents casually… you grab that little flimsy paper cup and down its contents…all while you are on the move. Many times this quick gulping also includes spilling much of the liquid on your face and shirt. What ever happened to neatly drinking???
Briefly I will enliven you on two another aspects. Tissues… we use them to be polite. Tissues do not exist in races. Hahaha… why would you carry a tissue (and weigh yourself down with those heavy objects?) when you can just use your sleeve or the bottom of your shirt? This is said from experience… both in doing and watching, just in case you wanted to know. Also, that beautiful glistening on peoples’ faces and the dark spots showing on their clothes. Its sweat and they don’t care that you see it. Normally, we don’t glisten with sweat in public, but in this setting, I think sweat is almost worn with pride.
Eventually the race nears an end. Runners begin picking up speed or sprinting to the finish line. No “excuse me” when they need to get by. They just barrel on through. Oh and yup, you could have been pacing with somebody for much of the race. But when it comes down to the finish line, you will do EVERYTHING in your power to beat them.
The race is over and food is being served. Fruit is devoured and napkins are nowhere to be seen. Fruit juice runs down peoples chins and drops onto their clothes. Nobody blinks an eye. Chewing with your mouth open, while talking…pshaw, no biggie!!!
Ok… so I made things into a bigger deal than they really are. But I kid you not, people change in personality (or maybe it’s the “real” them coming out) when they go to race. And I have to admit, that I have done everything I just talked about. ;)
Today I saw that phenomena once again. When you get five hundred or so people together and make them run and then feed them food after, very little is left of the once prim and proper people that existed just hours before the race. Here is a brief and rather humorous account of races.
First we start with parking. Yes parking… the very first issue to deal with at a race. You have to arrive so stinkin’ early because everybody else is arriving early so that they can get a decent parking spot. And so as the years pass, the times that people arrive just get earlier and earlier as people fight for those precious parking spots. (you know, it would save time if they would just run to the race, don’t you think?)
Then the check ins, which are pretty much always done by letter of the last name now. So for example I checked in at the “F-G” box. I think this way of doing things was done because people were getting competive about their spot in the line and probably would get out of hand and snarky with each other.
Ok, so now that people have parked and checked in, the most crucial battle begins; the battle of the bathrooms/porta-potties. Oh yes, that is also a competitive thing. For some strange and unknown reason ever runner just has to use these lovely “thrones” at least once before the race commences. And so begins the oh so joyful event of standing in line for your “turn”. Mens and Womens restrooms are no longer segregated and the males in line don’t care if there are women waiting behind them, because they were FIRST in line.
Now you would think I am done discussing the mannerless actions of runners because the race should start. But nope… I am not done. We still have getting in order of time behind the starting line. Yup, this is also cause for confusion, pushing, shoving, and at times panic. People are trying desperately to find a spot to stand (forget about having room to move your arms, people become content to look like a sardine). And just when you think you have your spot you realize that you are in the wrong timing group and the process of pushing begins all over again.
The race starts, everything is rather ducky (in a different sort of way considering that runners pay to go through self-inflicted pain). Miles pass… Then other examples of non-existent manners begin to show themselves. You reach a water station. No stopping gracefully to take the cup of water and sip its contents casually… you grab that little flimsy paper cup and down its contents…all while you are on the move. Many times this quick gulping also includes spilling much of the liquid on your face and shirt. What ever happened to neatly drinking???
Briefly I will enliven you on two another aspects. Tissues… we use them to be polite. Tissues do not exist in races. Hahaha… why would you carry a tissue (and weigh yourself down with those heavy objects?) when you can just use your sleeve or the bottom of your shirt? This is said from experience… both in doing and watching, just in case you wanted to know. Also, that beautiful glistening on peoples’ faces and the dark spots showing on their clothes. Its sweat and they don’t care that you see it. Normally, we don’t glisten with sweat in public, but in this setting, I think sweat is almost worn with pride.
Eventually the race nears an end. Runners begin picking up speed or sprinting to the finish line. No “excuse me” when they need to get by. They just barrel on through. Oh and yup, you could have been pacing with somebody for much of the race. But when it comes down to the finish line, you will do EVERYTHING in your power to beat them.
The race is over and food is being served. Fruit is devoured and napkins are nowhere to be seen. Fruit juice runs down peoples chins and drops onto their clothes. Nobody blinks an eye. Chewing with your mouth open, while talking…pshaw, no biggie!!!
Ok… so I made things into a bigger deal than they really are. But I kid you not, people change in personality (or maybe it’s the “real” them coming out) when they go to race. And I have to admit, that I have done everything I just talked about. ;)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
And the countdown begins...
24 days. 24 days exact. "24 days until what?" you say. And I say, "24 days until I run the biggest race of my life".
Yes, the biggest....the longest...and the hardest.
On the 27th of September I will be running a marathon. That is 26.2 miles...
Hopefully it will be 26.2 miles of mostly some sort of enjoyment.
A few minutes ago I pushed the button that officially registered me for the race and the money has been spent. There is no turning back, at least in my book.
My heart did a little flip-flop and my hands shook slightly as I maneuvered the mouse over the submit button a few minutes ago. I gulped at and shot a questioning look at my dad as he too was registering. He was registering for the half-marathon and I was registering for the full.
I have had some second thoughts already, but they can't really be justified. I am ready to run this. Although it won't be a fast time I believe I will finish. I will have to wrap my feet after and take pain killer and my pace will probably drag a bit on those last few miles, but no matter. I AM RUNNING A MARATHON!!!!
Yes, the biggest....the longest...and the hardest.
On the 27th of September I will be running a marathon. That is 26.2 miles...
Hopefully it will be 26.2 miles of mostly some sort of enjoyment.
A few minutes ago I pushed the button that officially registered me for the race and the money has been spent. There is no turning back, at least in my book.
My heart did a little flip-flop and my hands shook slightly as I maneuvered the mouse over the submit button a few minutes ago. I gulped at and shot a questioning look at my dad as he too was registering. He was registering for the half-marathon and I was registering for the full.
I have had some second thoughts already, but they can't really be justified. I am ready to run this. Although it won't be a fast time I believe I will finish. I will have to wrap my feet after and take pain killer and my pace will probably drag a bit on those last few miles, but no matter. I AM RUNNING A MARATHON!!!!
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