IronColl's redemption in Red Deer
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 11:32 am
I ran the Red Deer half marathon last Sunday, and it is one of my favourite races. It was my first ever half and I keep coming back to it. I think this was my 7th time? Not sure. I trained hard for this race. I was encouraged to run my tempo runs faster and farther than before, and actually, broke my 10k PB twice during training. I did 2 20km runs, 1 18km, 2 16km and the usual 10-14km in preparation. Every 3rd long run was 2/3 of the previous distance to give my body some rest. I ran 3-5 times a week depending on my schedule and what the total weekly mileage was, but still had either 1.5 or3h of spin that week. The biggest issue I have in a run is GI distress and I had a couple of very discouraging long runs where I had about 30 minutes of assorted stops. I tried to predict then, changing diet the day before and avoiding coffee the morning to see if that could help and it didn't. Maybe it was a coincidence, but the night before my 2nd 20km run I had junk food. Aside from the heat and feeling tired from flying all day the day before, I did not have problems during that run. Huzzah!! Red Vines to the rescue. Like I said before, I trained hard for this race, probably the hardest I have trained for a stand alone running race since I wanted to break an hour for a 10k. My goal for this half was 1:55.
The last week I felt really tired even though I was in taper. Even the short runs felt like a slog. I took it easy during my spin classes which I normally do. I tried to shake it off as my body playing tricks on me and adjusting to training.
Race morning was raining and cold. I had a good sleep the night before and did a bit of a stretch the morning of. I was seriously bummed about the weather, but I can't control it. I got up early to have breakfast and go to the bathroom. I still avoided coffee, just to be safe. I drove to the race site and stayed in my car as long as I could. I felt good at the start and raring to go. The first few km felt good, but I could still tell my body was tired. It's nothing new to me so I ran through it. About km 5 I was starting to really notice a knot in my right glute. I did a quick stretch and plugged on. I was an pace to make my goal and that motivated me. I followed my plan, taking water and gels when I was supposed to. There is a short steeping climb about 8 km in and this is where it all came apart. That hill was the last for my glute and my right hamstring was starting to cramp and tighten up. From this point my pace slowly dropped. At half way I was on target for 2h but shortly after that I wasn't. The second half was horrible. I could run in short intervals and then need a stretch. My feet were dragging with fatigue as I wasn't able to get a good stride or even maintain proper form. I noticed every little hill (which I honestly never noticed before as I thought the course was flat except for the 2 hills) and it took every ounce of me to move forward. With a little over 5km to go I had 27 minutes to get to the finish and still be close to 2h and I tried but my body wouldn't let me. By now I could barely feel my right leg and now my left leg was cramping. Some of my toes were starting to go numb. There is a certain amount of pain and fatigue I can run through but I reached my limit. I ended up crossing in 2:10, missing my goal by 15 minutes. Not my best but not my worst either. And it was still raining.
Why redemption? In December 2012 I had neurological episode. I spent the good part of a week off my feet, doing the bare minimum because I was getting shooting pains up and down my legs and arms, hands and feet were tingling or going numb, parts of my face were numb and I was in a constant state of nausea. Light activity would exhaust me and I would have to rest for the remainder of the day. I couldn't even clap my hands together at Jake's Christmas concert that year because it hurt too much. I was taking pain medication so I could fall asleep at night. On doctor's advice I cut all activity, and saw a neurologist and had an MRI. It revealed nothing, which was reassuring because up until then I was thinking MS, and the neurologist advised me to come back if things got better as they were slowly improving by January. He suggested light activity if I could handle it. I started slow short runs in February, but had a bit of regression so cut it out completely until May. On top of having to work, it was more than I could handle. I was frustrated, angry and cynical. I started alternative treatments and in May I started running again. Once a week for less than 30 minutes, then twice a week for less than 40 min total. The first week my weekly mileage was over 10km was July 3. I was able to build to 15km a week by mid August and raced a 5km on the 24 (27:30) and then Melissa's 10km September 28 (57:33 and was actually my first time running over 8 km). It felt good and I was feeling well. I started thinking about Red Deer half and kept at my 3 30min runs a week until January. I paid attention to my body and added a few minutes a run here and there until I was at 20km a week at the end of January, and held a consistent 25km a week in February. March I was able to handle 30km a week and I eventually built up to 2 40km weeks. I built my distance slowly, and trained smartly.
Towards the beginning of May fatigue started again. It could be the accumulated training, but also the reminder that my body isn't 100% physically ready for this yet. I noticed after the race when i reviewed my log that my long runs were getting a bit slower every week, and if I look at the past 12 months as a whole, it is a quick overall jump in training. There have been set backs along the way. Never as bad as the first month, but I have had reminders that I am not unchanged through this.
Even though I didn't make my time goal, I still worked hard. I don't think it is an unrealistic goal for me, but there are a few things I need to sort out. The tightness in my glute for one and the other being the right balance of running and life that my body can handle. I have come a long way since December 2012 and I have to remember that. I run for joy, and every time I can put one foot in front of the other to do it, it's a blessing.
The last week I felt really tired even though I was in taper. Even the short runs felt like a slog. I took it easy during my spin classes which I normally do. I tried to shake it off as my body playing tricks on me and adjusting to training.
Race morning was raining and cold. I had a good sleep the night before and did a bit of a stretch the morning of. I was seriously bummed about the weather, but I can't control it. I got up early to have breakfast and go to the bathroom. I still avoided coffee, just to be safe. I drove to the race site and stayed in my car as long as I could. I felt good at the start and raring to go. The first few km felt good, but I could still tell my body was tired. It's nothing new to me so I ran through it. About km 5 I was starting to really notice a knot in my right glute. I did a quick stretch and plugged on. I was an pace to make my goal and that motivated me. I followed my plan, taking water and gels when I was supposed to. There is a short steeping climb about 8 km in and this is where it all came apart. That hill was the last for my glute and my right hamstring was starting to cramp and tighten up. From this point my pace slowly dropped. At half way I was on target for 2h but shortly after that I wasn't. The second half was horrible. I could run in short intervals and then need a stretch. My feet were dragging with fatigue as I wasn't able to get a good stride or even maintain proper form. I noticed every little hill (which I honestly never noticed before as I thought the course was flat except for the 2 hills) and it took every ounce of me to move forward. With a little over 5km to go I had 27 minutes to get to the finish and still be close to 2h and I tried but my body wouldn't let me. By now I could barely feel my right leg and now my left leg was cramping. Some of my toes were starting to go numb. There is a certain amount of pain and fatigue I can run through but I reached my limit. I ended up crossing in 2:10, missing my goal by 15 minutes. Not my best but not my worst either. And it was still raining.
Why redemption? In December 2012 I had neurological episode. I spent the good part of a week off my feet, doing the bare minimum because I was getting shooting pains up and down my legs and arms, hands and feet were tingling or going numb, parts of my face were numb and I was in a constant state of nausea. Light activity would exhaust me and I would have to rest for the remainder of the day. I couldn't even clap my hands together at Jake's Christmas concert that year because it hurt too much. I was taking pain medication so I could fall asleep at night. On doctor's advice I cut all activity, and saw a neurologist and had an MRI. It revealed nothing, which was reassuring because up until then I was thinking MS, and the neurologist advised me to come back if things got better as they were slowly improving by January. He suggested light activity if I could handle it. I started slow short runs in February, but had a bit of regression so cut it out completely until May. On top of having to work, it was more than I could handle. I was frustrated, angry and cynical. I started alternative treatments and in May I started running again. Once a week for less than 30 minutes, then twice a week for less than 40 min total. The first week my weekly mileage was over 10km was July 3. I was able to build to 15km a week by mid August and raced a 5km on the 24 (27:30) and then Melissa's 10km September 28 (57:33 and was actually my first time running over 8 km). It felt good and I was feeling well. I started thinking about Red Deer half and kept at my 3 30min runs a week until January. I paid attention to my body and added a few minutes a run here and there until I was at 20km a week at the end of January, and held a consistent 25km a week in February. March I was able to handle 30km a week and I eventually built up to 2 40km weeks. I built my distance slowly, and trained smartly.
Towards the beginning of May fatigue started again. It could be the accumulated training, but also the reminder that my body isn't 100% physically ready for this yet. I noticed after the race when i reviewed my log that my long runs were getting a bit slower every week, and if I look at the past 12 months as a whole, it is a quick overall jump in training. There have been set backs along the way. Never as bad as the first month, but I have had reminders that I am not unchanged through this.
Even though I didn't make my time goal, I still worked hard. I don't think it is an unrealistic goal for me, but there are a few things I need to sort out. The tightness in my glute for one and the other being the right balance of running and life that my body can handle. I have come a long way since December 2012 and I have to remember that. I run for joy, and every time I can put one foot in front of the other to do it, it's a blessing.
you are awesome!
