The Swiss Runner That Could

By Guest Blogger Karen Keller

I have never liked the word “can’t”. Ever since I can remember I was told “You could not”. It has always been my encouragement to prove everyone that I could.

A lot of people have asked me “Why do I run?” “Are you running from something?” The answer is, I run because I enjoy it and I still can. I  love how it feels under my feet and can get out into nature and experience the beauty around me.

I started running just to get in shape and when I met my husband, he encouraged me to run. I ran around the block, my husband way in front and I thought to myself, this is not fun and I was going to die. As I got better I began to enjoy it more and entered my first 5K. When I was a Caregiver to my mother I was so emotionally drained, and running became my escape. Whenever I could I would run the trails and streets of Tucson and then started to realize that I could handle life better and that it was okay to take care of myself. I always thought I had to take care of everyone else first and myself last.

In the spring of 2006 I was training for the San Francisco marathon when I discovered a lump, two weeks later I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I went numb. I could not function. I was in excellent health, working out 5 days a week and no sign of cancer in my family. The treatment: 6 months of chemo followed by surgery and 6 weeks of radiation. Was I going to die? All I wanted to do was run from my life. This is where the real race started for me. My life changed from then on. From fear, I became angry then accepted the reality and finally was determined to fight. I was not going to let this disease overtake me. The plan…I was going to do the treatment and then run a Half Marathon the following year. First round of Chemo began and 4 days later my hair started to fall out, but I was ready to fight to the end. The days became weeks and the weeks became months and when the going got tough and I could not get out of bed or eat, I decided I needed something to change my thoughts and look forward to. I decided that once treatment was over I would run the San Francisco Half marathon. I studied the route, read inspirational books and when I was in pain and wanted to give up, I would run the route in my head. July 2007, I found myself at the starting line. I was going to celebrate life and enjoy every step of the way even if it meant walking. I was happy to be alive. It was then that I decided that I was going to enjoy life to the fullest and do the things I enjoy the most. Life is short and you never know what will come your way.

Ever since that day, I have enjoyed every step of my running journey. My husband has supported me through this journey that I have taken.  He still thinks that I am nuts, running at the crack of dawn but he know I am safe and he is happy that I enjoy what I do. He is my rock and is always looking out for me. You may find him at the finish line with his camera in toe ready to snap some photos.

I am still that quiet, shy gal running at the back of the pack but I am catching up, turn around I might be right behind you. I have big goals and dreams. I still dream of running the Boston Marathon, who knows, maybe someday it will happen. For now I am running for the pure enjoyment of running and to see how far I can challenge myself.

One thing is for sure, do what you love to do. Life is short. Nothing is impossible. Why not go after your dreams and goals, I certainly am. Training may be hard but you put one step in front of the other. Yes there may be that time when you feel discouraged but you know what, you pick yourself up, and continue. There is a whole TRP family cheering you on, every step of the way. They will never judge you and they will pick you up when you are at your lowest. Do the things that you enjoy now.  My next big goal: An Ultra, hey, why not 

6 and a Half Months Equal a Year and a Lifetime

By Guest Blogger Naomi Sweat

I’ll start with the basics.  Strictly in 2016, I ran 993 miles and completed 7 races, which is 211 miles and 1 race more than I ran in 2015.  The races: Arizona Rock n Roll half marathon, Sabino Canyon Sunset Run, Meet Me Downtown 5k, San Diego Rock n Roll 5k, San Diego Rock n Roll half marathon, Desert Boneyard 10k, Everyone Runs, and Everyone Walks Veteran’s Day half marathon.

Now, the title.  My 2016 year of running really began when I joined TRP last May and ended when I completed my first full marathon this January.  There is so much that changed for me regarding my running in 2016, so it is fitting that I am writing my first ever “Running Year in Review”.  First, what’s the same?  I am still so determined to achieve my goals.  I am still, for better or worse, a slave to my training plans.  I still wake up at the crack of dawn to get my runs done before the normal person has even finished dreaming...most days.  I still love running most of the time, but dread running sometimes.  I still feel incomplete when I skip the occasional training run.

So, what’s different?  Just about everything else.  In order to train for the Arizona Rock n Roll half marathon last January, I used the plan from my previous running group session (which was pretty darn similar to the FREE Hal Higdon plan I downloaded to train for my first half marathon), and followed it to a T.  In 14 weeks, I skipped only 1 training run, and it paid off big time!  I PRed that race by almost 13 minutes.  I felt great, and I had my friend Stephanie there with me to celebrate my success.  But, aside from Stephanie, there wasn’t really anyone else there.  Josh had to work so he couldn’t come with me; a couple other people from my running group were there, but that was it.  It was still exciting to PR in such a big way, and Josh had bought a balloon and desserts for me for when I got home…perfect!  The Sabino Canyon Sunset Run was awful, really awful.  I got a calf cramp like I’d never experienced before and had to wait almost 5 minutes before I could get moving again.  I finished, but it was disappointing.  When I finished that race, there was no one there to cheer me up or talk me out of my funk.  And lastly, the Meet Me Downtown 5k: I was there with a group of my running friends, and the race went pretty well; not a PR, but fairly close and a fun time.  Wait, did I say “lastly” regarding the Meet Me Downtown race?  I did.  I said “lastly” because that was my last race before becoming a TRPer.

And that is when my pre-TRP year ended.  For 2 and a half years, I had participated in another group’s half marathon training programs.  I ran with some really great people, and, because of the commitment I made to my running and the friends I made (in particular, Stephanie) during that time, I will be forever grateful that I was part of the group.  However, being part of the group was demoralizing.  A particular leader of the group made me feel like I wasn’t a “real” runner because I don’t have the “runner’s body”, I am slow, and I have some mobility limitations because of an old but severe break and dislocation in my right ankle.  I felt minimalized and unimportant, something I hadn’t felt since I was 18 years old.  The final straw came when I told the group’s leader that I had signed up for my first full marathon.  She responded with, “Do you REALLY think you can complete a full?”.  That was it; I was done with that group, but one of their amazing coaches led me to Geoff Schmidt, who directed me to TRP.

My first run with TRP was a track workout.  Intimidating much?!  I had no clue what was going on, but I quickly found my way into a group with Karen, Dee, Susan, and Randi.  Randi so casually said, “We’re the slow group.  We won’t be running much faster than a 9:00 mile.”  A 9:00 MINUTE MILE?!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  I thought I was going to die, but I didn’t, so I became a TRPer.  I was very new to TRP when I ran the San Diego Rock n Roll 5k and half marathon, but Shokofeh still included me in the “Good luck” and “Congratulations” TRP posts.  That was when I really knew I had found a family in TRP. 

When I told Keith and Shokofeh that I had signed up for my first full marathon, they were both so encouraging and genuinely excited for me, so within a month of joining TRP, I decided that I would begin the coaching program.  We chose a start date of August 15^th (my sister’s birthday) to have a full 5 months to train for the marathon.  During that time, I ran two more races.  It was super hot the day of the Desert Boneyard 10k, and a couple thought it was perfectly acceptable to run the 10k with their children screaming, wailing, and hitting each other the entire time.  My time wasn’t a PR, but I had Dee and Denise there with me, so it was still lots of fun.  My last race before my marathon was the Veteran’s Day half marathon.  Initially, Keith told me just to treat it like a training run, so all that would matter would be time on my feet, especially since I was scheduled to run miles the next day, as well.  When I showed up race morning, however, Keith decided, in true Keith fashion, to tell me that he really wanted me to go out and PR the race, preferably reaching my first sub 2:30 half marathon.  I freaked out for a few minutes and then decided that, if Keith thought I could do it, I probably could.  I ended up not getting a PR; the temperature warmed up very quickly, the distance for the race was off, and I had a bit of trouble towards the end of the race…until I saw my TRP family there to run me into the finish.  It started at the corner of Bowles and Snyder; I saw Keith, Erin, Brian, Roi, and Chris.  They started cheering for me and running with me towards the school entrance.  On the track, Chris and Cassie took over, running with me for my last tenth of a mile or so.  I know other people were there, too, but all I really remember is Chris screaming at me, “Come on, Naomi!  Push it!  This is what you do track for every Wednesday!”  My legs started moving faster either because I knew Chris was right, or because I wanted the race to be over so he would stop yelling at me.  Either way, it worked!  I finished strong.  I was so full of gratitude, excitement, and love.  Somehow, I had found my way to this amazing group of people who I truly consider my family.  It was a good day!

Now, fast forward a month and a half to Christmas Day.  I was had my last long training run scheduled.  24 miles.  Alone.  In the cold.  On Christmas Day.  I started at Craycroft and River and ran the path all the way to Thornydale.  I could see the highway from my turn around point.  It was incredible to me that I had run that far on my own 2 legs, on legs that the leader of my previous running group probably didn’t think could take me 14 miles, let alone 24 miles.  I turned around and was doing well until mile 19.  My inner quads cramped.  I had to pause, stretch, and walk.  I tried to run again, but my legs just didn’t want do it.  I decided that 3 weeks before my marathon was not the time to push through pain.  I speed walked the last 5 miles, finished slower than I had hoped, but was still glad I got through it.  That last run made me pretty nervous for my marathon, though.  What if the same thing happened on race day?  I had an A goal of 5:40, a B goal of 6:00, and a C goal of just crossing the finish line, but, really, who wants to just cross the finish line?  Never in my life had I been so excited for taper.  The decreased mileage was incredibly refreshing.  I spent a few days prior to the race in Scottsdale with my husband and parents, who flew in from New York to watch me finish my first full marathon (aren’t they great?!). 

The night before my race, I slept like a baby for a full 8 hours.  Race day morning, I had coffee, a good breakfast, all of my gear…I was set.  I saw Keith before my race, and he sent me off with positive vibes and a hug.  I ran the first 1/3 of the marathon before forcing myself to take a walk break.  I ran another 1/3 of the marathon and took another walk break.  My pace was great; I was on track to beat my B goal!  Shortly thereafter, my inner quads cramped, not quite as bad, but similar to what happened during my 24 miler.  I had a momentary freak out session as I worked out my cramps, and then remembered what Teri said, “Forward is a pace.”  As long as I was still moving forward, it would be fine!

I slowed down a little bit in the last 10k or so, which I know had Keith a little worried.  When Keith came out and met me 1.25 miles from the finish, I knew I could make it!  Keith ran me in for all but the very last little stretch.  I saw my husband, my parents, and my TRP family there cheering me on, and I got a little extra spring in my step.  I finished just under 6:15.  I AM A MARATHONER!!!  I consider that race to have been my B goal, even though I missed the time by just shy of 15 minutes.  Actually, I consider it to be my A goal.  I felt amazing after that race!  I was still walking, I didn’t hurt too badly, and I was surrounded by and engulfed in love.  Never again will I run a race, good, bad or ugly, where I don’t have family there to celebrate with me or cheer me up.  So, in the 6 and a half months I had been in TRP I achieved a lifetime goal in completing my first full marathon, and I had more of a “year” of running than ever before!       

No More PR's

By Guest Blogger Judie Shyman

I have been thinking about this for a while and doing the 10K in Phoenix on Sunday and reading on Facebook about everyone’s running efforts and PRs made me confront my personal demons. I wanted to share my thoughts in the hope that you really appreciate the present moment and your running successes.

I started running at 60 with no other goal than to help my bone density. Little did I know that I had an innate ability for the sport. I worked very hard at training and I became more and more competitive with myself. I really enjoyed the efforts I put into training and competing against my own PRs. For those that know me, this should not come as any surprise since I originally lived in NY with my type A personality.

I read about everyone’s PRs and I know how exciting that is and how much self satisfaction that provides since you work so hard to attain them. For me, reading about them are poignant moments since I now have reached a point in my running where PRs will never happen again. It makes me feel badly because I know I can never be what I was and this is hard to accept. Intellectually, I understand it, but emotionally that is a different story. I know I am very lucky to still be running at my age as I am nearing 75 and I am still doing well for my age, setting Arizona state age records and I appreciate that so much. But that is not competing against one’s self. Running and aging is a difficult combination to deal with. I go back and forth about this so many times.

The bottom line of all this is appreciate all you are and what you can do now. Savor these special moments. Keep the joy in your running and be the best you can be.

The best part of my recent running has been my participation with TRP. In general, runners are great people but TRP runners are the best! I have never met and been involved with such a warm, caring, kind and supportive group. It is a privilege to be part of TRP.

My So Called Marathon

By Guest Blogger Cassie Roberts

My so called Marathon doesn’t have the ending I expected. I mean, it’s pretty evident that you have to run 26.2 miles to run a marathon. My longest run this year was 18 miles, so how does someone like me have the audacity to title her year of running, “My so called Marathon.” Shouldn’t that be reserved for the athletes who accomplished such a feat?

Well....my marathon was a little different. It didn’t end at a finish line and it certainly didn’t start at a starting line.  It was an accumulation of something that goes beyond that of which any race could provide me. The true marathon for me was something within. Something that doesn’t come with a shinny trophy or cheers at the end. You couldn’t see the progress on a Runkeeper chart or your pace being blared every mile. There was no map to guide me, but similar to a marathon there was a lot of fighting with what my coach calls “the mind monkeys.”

I started running in 2015. My race started the second my feet decided to move and not give up. When I made the choice to become a survivor rather than a victim. That year I was sexually assaulted and abused. The harassment continued well into 2016. The trauma rendered me unable to function. With many survivors you try to piece together what happened to you. For me, my brain choose to shut down. It went into survival mode and never came out of it.

What I was experiencing was PTSD. I know that PTSD can be overcome in some cases. It doesn’t have to rule you and I refused to let it rule me. That’s were the running came in. Every mile I started to process the pain. I started to piece together everything that happened to me. I also reclaimed power over my own body, which was taken from me.

The running helped, but I found myself needing more. That’s when I discovered TRP. I was scared to say the least, to show up to a track not knowing anyone, but that quickly changed with the warmth I felt from others. I wanted to set more goals for myself and I asked Keith and Shokofeh if I could join in their coaching program.

Keith decided to take on my stubbornness and coach me. He talked me into running my first race, Run with the Roosters. I thought he was crazy for asking me to run this race, because I thought I wasn’t a “true” runner. I did what he said and I ended up placing 2nd in my age group.

That wasn’t the best thing that happened that day. What really meant something to me was the people  who cheered for me at the finish (including my coach) and having a friend running in with me to the finish line. I felt like I was worth something and I hadn’t felt that in a long time.

My coach had me run another race. The Catalina State Park Splitz. Again, I freaked out and thought I wasn’t good enough. With friends that helped me train and a schedule from my coach I was able to place 2nd in my age group.

My last race for the year was suppose to be the Tucson Marathon.  It was my goal race, but unfortunately, like life, things don’t go as planed. I ended up getting injured and unable to run. That injury hasn’t stopped me from wanting to run a marathon, just like life’s unfortunate events didn’t stop me from living. In 2017 I hope to run my first marathon, not as a survivor, but as a warrior.

I’m thankful for the friends I have made in TRP, my family, my significant other, my children, and SACASA for helping me see that their is a finish line and life is worth living. This was a different kind of marathon for me...it was my so called marathon.

 “I am not what happened to me. I am what I chose to become” Carl Jung

One Foot in Front of the Other

By Guest Blogger and 2016 TRP Athlete of the Year Susan Alexander

Coaches asked us to write a sort of “year in review” blog about our running life. Problem....my thoughts are clearest while I’m out there running. I have all the best revelations after around mile 6 and beyond. Especially on trails. And especially when I’m alone. By the time I get home and peel off my sweaty bra (isn’t that the first thing you just HAVE to do!) my mind is once again back to my non running life. All the revelations are shelved until I go out again.

So here it is New Years - seems like the appropriate day to get some of this down. It is a “rest” day for me and so what to do to get some running mind inspiration?? Running movies!! Of course :-)

I chose The Last Mile. Excellent. Wow - these runners are articulate even when they aren’t running! And for a bit I was transported into running mind even while sitting on the couch.

As I reflect back on my life I must honestly say that I DO have regrets. Regrets for things I didn’t do - missed moments. At the root of these regrets is FEAR. Fear that kept me from following my heart.

So what does this have to do with my year review of running? Truthfully I’m not completely sure. But there is a connection between facing my fears and pushing my limits running.

At the beginning of the running year 2016 I think I made a vague goal of trying to find a balance between pushing to my potential and avoiding injury. My life pattern seems to be holding back. Always holding back emotionally in relationships, holding back physically in challenges - always holding back because of fear of failure. In December 2015 I ran my first marathon. My second in January of 2016 and my third in February 2016. The February marathon was Sedona. It was obvious to me I had not done nearly enough hill training. I bonked at mile 15 and had my slowest finish of the three. I decided that hills would be my focus and I began training on the Mt. Lemmon Control Rd weekly.

My next race would be in May - Whiskey Row - and I wanted to prove to myself that I could run hills. I wasn’t completely pleased with my progress and decided to do the half marathon instead of the full. It was the most fun race I’ve ever run. I ran it with Raeschelle and Marti. That day stands out as one of the best days of 2016. Probably THE BEST.

Promptly afterwards I was down with what I am almost 100 percent certain was a stress fracture of my right fibula.

And then in June the most horrible thing that could have happened did - the love of my life died. And all I knew to do was to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I knew there was a coaching program started but I hadn’t considered it. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable with spending the money and I didn’t consider myself someone that was competitive and so of course I didn’t need coaching. I wasn’t trying to “win” anything. But some little voice inside me said “TRY IT”. I think I was just sort of flailing about hoping something would help in the darkness I was living in.

I am so very grateful that I listened to that little voice.

I really wasn’t able to think clearly for myself. I was on auto pilot. Get up. Take care of the animals. Take care of the teenagers. Oh and yes - take care of yourself so you can continue to take care of the animals and the teenagers.

So of course the coaching program was the perfect solution. I could give over the planning to someone else. It became clear to me after only a couple of weeks what an amazing mental relief having a coach is. No longer would I second guess my training plan. I could just get up and follow it.

My running year really began then - July 8 - when I got my first plan from Keith.

I was training for McDowell Ragnar Ultra. My ankle was still “cranky” but I decided not to worry about it and just follow the plan. Following the plan - what I didn’t anticipate was how much that training plan would bring to my life besides a consistent running routine.

 At the lowest point in my life I was surrounded by the most loving and supportive running family a person could ever dream of - Tucson Runners Project. I can’t imagine what this year would have been like without this beautiful group of individuals.

 Many have gone out of their way to support and lift me up. Others have inspired me just by who they are. And I feel I have gained a wealth of relationships this year simply because I chose to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I am a stronger runner at the end of 2016. It still makes me bashful to say that. But I am. Hills still scare me. But now I love them - and I am loving embracing fear. I chose for my final run of the year to once again push myself out of my comfort zone a bit. I’ve never run in snow. So I chose to run in Bear Wallow and surrounding trails (wearing my new crampons). It was amazing. I enjoyed every moment. The fast ones, the slow ones, the painful ones....I didn’t know that blowing snow stings your eyes! (I hope I do this enough to justify buying goggles). I didn’t know how fun crampons are. They are helpful in so many ways! I needed to scramble up steep embankments to avoid overflowing streams - crampons to the rescue. They give traction running up muddy hills with rain water flowing down around. But they are most fun in the snow. Even just the sound of them - crunch crunch crunch. And then they get heavy with accumulations of snow, ice and debris. If I am careful I can run and shake them and knock out the build up while moving. So much fun!

I am looking forward to a new running year filled with running adventures on new trails. I am now training for the Oracle Rumble. It will be my first Ultra. (no - Randi - I don’t count the Ragnar Ultra because of the way it is split up :-) ). I expect and hope to love it. I am thinking about it as that day I will get to spend out ALL DAY on trails with friends. Bruce and Randi - we got this!

It would only be better if I could take my ever faithful running companion - Cowboy. After all - he is training for it as well.

I want to run with my heart - not just my legs - and see where that takes me. I want to build even stronger relationships with myself and my running family. And I want to sign up for a few races that scare the crap out of me!

My Second and Last Marathon

By Guest Blogger Brian Deatherage

This is the sequel to my previous work of literary art “My First and Last Marathon”.    If my first marathon was going to be my last why did I title it that way you may ask?  Its because I forgot the tears, struggles and commitment involved with training for a marathon.  Mostly I forgot the pain.

This time though, I did it differently; I found a Coach.

My original plan after the first marathon was to stick to what I felt I understood and could tackle successfully, the 5-10K and the occasional half marathon.  But as time moves on and my memory of the pain subsided, I was coaxed into another marathon.

I looked at the on-line coaching options, read a few books, surfed the web, did more surfing, and looked at the local running shops to get some ideas on my next training cycle.  I can’t say anything bad about any of them, I am sure they all work, for the right person.   The best piece of advice I can give you when choosing a program: whatever method you choose, you have to be committed 100%.  The timing of my search was perfect, coincidental or fate?  I found a coach who is knowledgeable, flexible, persistent, inspirational, actionable and holds me accountable.  If the schedule calls for 6 miles and I run 5 I will get an IM very shortly afterward asking if I am injured, how I felt, was I following this week’s plan (as I have messed that up before)?  I could go on and on about my coach, but this story is about me.

Where do I start?  I originally had planned on only getting coached on the shorter distances – I wanted to be faster.  I have this notion in my head that even though I have been out of high school for 25 something years (and a little heavier, just a little J) I should be closer to the speed I had back then, just a little closer.  I picked a few races that I had run before that I wanted to run again – and beat my previous years time.  I chose the TMC Meet Me Downtown 5K, Run with the Rooster 5M, Jim Click Run N Roll 8K, and the Bisbee 1000 stair race.   My intent isn’t to brag about myself….well maybe just a little.  Rather than give you details on how much faster I ran EVERY race in I will share this – My Coach made me faster and increased my endurance.  Let that sink in just a bit.  My Coach made me faster.  Was I injured sometimes? Did I ever get sick? Did some workouts not go as planned? Did I doubt myself? A big YES to all of those, but I was guided through it all.  I only had to have the willingness and discipline to trust.  Wait a sec, I started talking about my Coach again, more about me!

Training was going great, I had a few bad runs every once in a while, but the good runs – they had great psychological effects on me (I already thought I was awesome, these runs proved it!).  And then…Boom…an injury fell out of the sky and I happened to run into it (probably because I was running too fast to miss it).  Hip Flexor Tendonitis, the very top of the quad muscle where it attaches to the hip/groin area.  The timing of this injury was about the same in the training cycle as last years marathon training– right when the longest runs and most intense training was going to toughen me up.  I felt defeated, robbed of months and months of training.  I was frustrated and a little mad at myself.

Apparently, there is this crazy new fad out called “stretching”.  Sure I had heard about it, but thought it was for the ‘older’ runners.   I don’t think I have ever stretched more than a few minutes before running, definitely not afterward.  Now I have an intimate relationship with my very own foam roller and “stick” to roll out and loosen up my muscles both pre and post run. 

I ended up missing a few weeks of training and when I started again it was on a reduced plan as my injury refused to go away.  This would have been devastating to the average person – it’s a good thing I am not an average person.  I was just going to change the way I kept score!  I was going to “fun” run the Vegas half with my wife (I am so proud of her – she did such an awesome job for her first (and last) half marathon), and then I would “enjoy” my marathon by running and walking.  As an analogy for those of you who haven’t run a marathon – the “joy” of running a marathon is like being tickled so much that it makes you cry, do I laugh or do I cry I don’t know, then after you get tickled you get run over by a bus – and sometimes that bus backs up to make sure it got you.

I had a few decent runs before CIM (California International Marathon) but still felt like I missed too much.  I had already paid for the entry, the plane ride and the hotel – so I might as well go and “enjoy” it.  My Coach had a slightly different plan of attack for me and more confidence in my running abilities – in her words I had “months and months of training and a very solid base”.    Her plan of attack predicted a finish time of 3:30:00 for me (did I mention yet that she is crazy?).  The bus ride out to the start always seems much longer than the distance – it felt like we rode that bus for 100 mile to get to the start. The bus was cozy until I got off to visit porta john row – the slight breeze and spread out bodies made it very cold, I started shivering and couldn’t stop.  With minutes to spare I made my way over to the start to join some friends – the start lines always get crowded and I warmed right up thanks to all the body heat!

Adrenaline always takes my body over, today was not any different – it really helped with my side as I did not feel any pain for several miles (also helping was the tube of some menthol smelling stuff that I rubbed all over my hip).  I was able to keep the excitement in check though and went out at what felt to be an easy pace – I needed to spread the adrenaline out as for many miles as I could.  The course was beautiful, at least the first 13 miles – a rolling country road with families in the yards cheering us on, lots of trees with yellow and gold leaves that had just begun to fall to the road.   On one of the little “hills” around mile 8 or 9 I caught myself pushing the uphill, I was feeling like I could really take off – but I knew I had to shut down those thoughts of wild and ambitious abandonment for the last few miles.  The miles were rolling by one after the other.  I never look at my watch during a race, and seldom on training runs – I run by how I feel at that specific time and knowing my pace may play mind games on me – I never look at my watch.  But as I was crossing the mat at the half marathon point I looked up and saw the time clock – dang it!  It was only a minute off my previous (and soon to be completely out dated) PR for a half.  I needed to ease back and relax, but darn it, I kept thinking about that time and the mind monkeys started up.  I wasn’t impressed with the second part of the course – I kept my head down and was staring at the pavement in front of me, I didn’t see much of my surroundings.  I did hear a lot of cheering going on though.  The miles continued to go by, but slower.  My feet were getting heavy, my hip was annoying and I felt tired.  Somewhere around mile 19-20 my pace slipped.  My focus was narrowing and I was concentrating on the pavement immediately in front of me.  Muscles were tired, little twinges of cramps from my legs and foot.  Yes foot, right in the arch – I have no idea how I got a cramp there but it happened.  Mile 22-23ish, my pace slipped quite a bit more, I kept telling myself it was only a 5k to go – only 13 laps.  I had to break up the distance into shorter segments as my brain was having difficulty wrapping itself around 13 laps.  Somewhere in mile 24 my body and mind were not in sync – the mind monkeys were there telling me to stop, to quit, to just be done.  The cramp in my hamstring and foot had me running all contorted.  The hard part about making the decision to walk is knowing how difficult it is to start running again.  I walked about 50 feet, just enough to let the cramps release their bite.  The next walking episode was somewhere around mile 25, walking might have been a faster pace than my running at that point as the cramp in my foot was robbing my energy and mind from moving forward.  You could have put a fork in me and called me done.  Off to the side there was a group of ladies cheering, I don’t know if they were cheering for a single person or for all of us but one of their group approached me – she was side stepping next to me with her face about 6 inches from mine.  Even with my mind numb this was a little close.  She was motivating me, she told me that I could finish, that I had to run, I had to run with her.  She was running in a side step kind of motion, still motivating me from 6 inches away.  Come on come on she said – a little surreal.  I am not sure if it was due to her motivation, or to put a little distance between her and me – but I started to run again.  If you call it running.  My legs and feet were all cramped up, I must have looked like that cozy bus from earlier had just ran over me and I was trying to get away from it as it was backing up to get me again.   As I got closer to the finish the course was lined more and more with supporters, cheering us on, holding up a lot of signs that I had stopped reading several miles before.   Finally the finish line was there – I wanted to turn around and give the course my middle finger, but I didn’t have the mental or physical capacity to do so.    I am not saying there was voodoo involved, but with all that had happened on the course, how on earth could my Coach predict my time to within 33 seconds? Official time 3:30:33.

My First and Last Marathon

by Guest Blogger Brian Deatherage

One great thing about racing distances up to the half marathon is the lack of planning required.  There is no need for carbo loading, no nutrition plan, no build up, no taper, no elevation analysis - ok wait, there is some of that, ummm, all of that - but no big deal right, just show up with your game face on and run!  I was perfectly content with running the 5k/10k, or a mud run, or the Vegas half marathon, which is until my super-athletic, ironman/marathon running co-worker walked into my office in December 2014.  It must have been the egg nog, somehow he convinced me oh what fun it would be to run the Big Cottonwood Marathon the following September.  I think I might have mentioned it to my wife – I don’t think she was all that impressed.

I started reading online about marathon plans, whether I should have a coach or not, nutrition/hydration plans, pacing, on and on – there is A LOT of stuff out there on the Net.  I had plenty of time to plan.  I am a stereotypical guy when it comes to planning – I don’t do it, its way to much effort.   Very reluctantly I read about “Plans” for Marathon training.  I didn’t notice, until now, that they all implied that someone is going to run more than one, like your “first marathon” or “marathon for newbies” – I don’t think I ever saw an article or plan that was written specifically for the runner who was never going to run it again. Huh.  Strange, why would I want to do more than one?

Let’s fast forward a bit.  My “Plan” was going well, until 9 weeks before the race.  It was time to start my “speed” phase.  My first session went great….until 2 hours after I finished.  Without any warning aches or pains, I all of sudden could not get up from my chair – shooting pain from my gluteus maximus to the back of my knee.  Strange, clearly I must have tweaked something.  I tried to jog that night – I couldn’t.  I rested a few days – the aches were always with me – even when I slept.  I finally ran through the pain, it didn’t stop when I ran, but I could manage it.  If I was a little smarter I would have went to see someone about it, but like I mentioned before, I am a typical guy –I can handle the pain, it’ll go away.  4 weeks later I mentioned it on my Thursday night TRP run.  I wasn’t alone in my symptoms – my two running partners that night had a similar issue – it was their Piriformis.   I got the contact info for their physical therapist.  Made an appointment – same diagnosis!  I wasted, that is too drastic, I lost the timeframe for my most intense training – both the longest distance and the speed.  But, I’m a guy, who needs intense training; I will just start my taper and fake it on race day.  Not really, I was intimidated at the thought of 26.2 miles knowing my longest run had been 18 to date.  At least that 18 was just over my goal pace, with the last 5 of it being identical to my marathon elevation change much faster than my goal pace.  I must look at the positives, stick to the plan (less the month of the most important part) and move forward with what I have.  Awesome, taper time – I wasn’t sure exactly what I was tapering at this point but knew I needed the glycogen stores built up and ready to go.

The trip to Salt Lake was hectic to say the least, rushing everywhere –it seemed as if everything was getting in my way to stop me from running.

Made it to the hotel about 9 PM.  Got everything out and ready to go for my 3:30 AM wakeup.  Tried to sleep, kept trying to sleep, looked at watch, then again.  I decided at 2:30 AM to take a shower and get ready to go.  3 AM I ate a bagel and pop tart (pop tarts are my favorite pre-race meal!)

4 AM walked out the hotel door to load on the bus to transport all of us to the start line, way, way up the mountain.  About 26 miles up – that is sure a long ride.  We stopped at the half marathon start line to let those folks off – I was very tempted to go with them!

5 AM to 6:30 AM, 50 degrees, sitting on my butt with my feet on the ground and legs bent – head resting on my knees.  I was thinking this was a bad idea as I remembered my co-worker telling me on multiple occasions to buy a cheap folding chair and take it with me – stay off the cold ground he said.  I was able to snag an extra aluminum blanket to stay warm.  There were several runners walking around in short sleeve shirts and shorts holding onto their aluminum blanket in one hand not even noticing the cold – Crazy people!

A Marathon is a long way – I will just use the first few miles of it to warm up, get my blood pumping – then hit it hard.  First- I am bad at warm ups, second - I let the overbearing energy from the runners at the starting line rub off on me – I was amped and ready to go, mentally.  Note to self here – start doing warm ups pre-race or just start slower.

Go run a Marathon he said, it’ll be fun he said………….

I began training for this race just to say I did a Marathon, no goal other than to finish.  The intent was that this was my first and last Marathon.

I accomplished what I wanted – I finished.  No need to bore you with the mile by mile agony…. I mean….fun.  The mind has a way of forgetting the stuff that causes us pain and because of my inability to remember the last 10K of that Marathon (what I refer to as the second marathon within the first marathon), here I am 1 year later and 12 training weeks away from running another 26.2 miles just for fun.   My goal is the same – just to finish, plus, to make a personal record, plus to kick butt!

This time it will be my Second and Last Marathon.

If you want to see a little more of my journey via a video, here it is:

https://www.facebook.com/brian.deatherage.58/videos/10206415698085671/?autoplay_reason=gatekeeper