Done, Done, and Done!

I finished the Hood to Coast, and I'm not dead! I definitely FELT like I was going to die, between the terrible nervous side aches, absolutely NO sleep (not even 5 minutes), tight muscles, panic attacks (first one ever!), night runs, long runs, and too many runs. But here I am, broken but alive.

What an experience, though! Talk about motivation to perform better. Running amongst thousands of incredible athletes is very intimidating and humbling. Encouraging, as well. If all those other people can run miles and miles at an 8 minute (or less) pace, then why can't I? I just have to work a HECK of a lot harder!


I have taken many good (and bad) memories from this adventure. Some of my favorite memories include meeting my other team members, everyone in the car downing 5-hour energy drinks right before their runs (and at any other random time they wanted), me not being able to handle my 5-hour energy drink and freaking out at 3 in the morning ("I am SOOOO NERVOUS! I can't do this, I have to get out of the car! GET ME OUT OF THE CAR!"), chasing down the maple bar van to get free maple bars, using the Honey Bucket about 58 times, spotting Matt Zaffino and the Roloff family (little people, big world). I also enjoyed getting absolutely no sleep, thinking I was going to die alone on leg #35, enduring excruciating knee pains and side aches, wishing I could shove my smelly socks down the throat of the extremely loud volunteer at exchange #30 that thought it was appropriate to scream as loud as possible right next to the hundreds of people trying to sleep....for 4 straight hours. Topping that list is the single, hardest hour of the race, during my last leg, in which I had a couple of panic attacks, swallowed my tears and the huge lump in my throat, and swore to myself I would never run again.

Overall, I hated the race. I also loved it. The challenge is incredible, and the atmosphere is like nothing I've ever been involved in. 30 hours have never lasted so long. But I want to do it again, because I want to run better than I did this time. And I love being able to say, "I finished the Hood to Coast," even though I fell apart at the end and hobbled across the finish line.

Since then, I have been running again. Only twice, not exceeding 3 miles each time. And this is probably how it will stay for a couple months. I am burned out on running. Biking, swimming, hiking, climbing, anything that does not have the word "run" in it, and I'll do it. But don't make me run long distances anymore. Think of this as an experimental stage, where I make up new workout routines and concentrate on strengthening my core, arms and minor muscles so that when (if) I begin to train for a race again, I will be much more equipped and less injury prone.

Lastly, I want to say kudos to the thousands of runners who managed to keep the hundreds of port-a-potties inexplicably clean. Those things were in use for 30 hours straight. Never have I seen such heavy use and such cleanliness at the same time! It made me proud to be a runner=)

Hood to Coast, here I come

Today is the day, people.

I woke up at 7 because my pager started beeping. I had to check it or else I would lay in bed for hours wondering who paged me, and why, considering it's my DAY OFF! So I got up. The message read:

"Good luck Liz, please don't die..." -Lori

Thank you, supporting coworker, for having faith in me! I would have kept sleeping for another hour and a half to get as much rest as possible before sleep-depriving myself for two days, but now I'm up. Can't go back to sleep after a pep talk like that!

Nonetheless, I appreciate the support. Hopefully I will have lots of pictures and fun stories afterwards!

3 days!

Actually less than that. 2 days, 12 hours until the main event! All the running stores are packed with people searching for reflective vests, flashing lights, and the latest running apparel that will carry them through their arduous Hood to Coast legs.

I bought a new pair of running shorts for the event. Typical Nike shorts that everyone else has. My approach to the Hood to Coast is to at least look like I know what I'm doing. Maybe if I blend in, nobody will notice me running slower than everyone else!

I've managed to stay pretty positive about the race, up until about a week ago. Since then, I've had three different people tell me that this race is more difficult than running a marathon.

Oh shit.

I am not ready for this.

Wildwood Trail Run

I participated in a 10K trail run this weekend. It was in Forest Park, and a couple of friends invited me to partake. Sounded like fun, and not too difficult for me.

Oh boy, was I wrong!

This trail has a 750' elevation gain in roughly the first 3 miles. I was running up switchbacks for 3 stinkin' miles! Needless to say, I didn't make it. I ended up stopping close to ten times to catch my breath. Oh, and of course I received a side ache halfway through the race, which meant more torture and pain.

All week I have been disappointed with my performance. I keep thinking, "If only I hadn't drank too much on Friday," or "I shouldn't have eaten all that cheese!" So I've decided that I will go back someday in the future and try it again, just on my own; not with other racers. My goal is to be able to make it the whole way without stopping once. I think if I can get myself to that point, I'll be in good shape for the hood to coast. I am worried now that I am going to do poorly! I definitely need to step it up a notch. Guess I better go put my shorts on and go for a run...