I Have a Medal!

This post is from my runner's log. I'm trying to keep my eagerness for the 2016 Paavo.

When I started this log on October 23, 2013 I was on my third year of running. Back then, running in a half-marathon didn't occur to me.

At the start line I my pre-race anxiety level was mild. Instead I was eager to get started. It's a good thing Lois drove me to the start line in plenty of time because we were under the impression of an 8:30 start time and the race began at 8:00, as I was down on one knee fiddling with my shoelaces. I didn't hear a gunshot, just saw everybody running in this great, big pack. I cast off my hoodie and joined the pack.

My expectations were realistic, being a first- timer; I just wanted to finish the 13.1 miles. I had trained for this for this since early May, logging about 25-30 miles per week.The months of training gave me an idea of what I could do as well as how hard I could push my body.

I'm a recovering alcoholic and one of the devils that dogged me in other non-running endeavors was the thought, "Who do you think you're kidding? This takes a better man than you. You can't do anything right. You're not as good, not as smart, not as strong; you don't have what it takes."

One Friday night Lois and I drove along the race course and as we came to the end I said to Lois, "I can do this!" I really believed it so I signed up online and committed myself to train for the event.

I found a training program on the Runner's World website. I stayed with two weeks before I violated the advice not to run too long a distance too soon, to work up to the half-marathon gradually. I ran 12.8 miles on Saturday, May 30 and I became overconfident. After running that distance I should have rested for two weeks, but I thought I'd try the actual race course the next week.

I charged up Highway 77 too aggressively and forgot about pacing myself to conserve my bodily resources. Halfway through the course my legs began to feel heavy. I took walk breaks thinking I could resume running in a short time, but at the junction of Highway C and Highway 51 I mostly walked. My upper back began a dull ache. My legs had weakened and I tried to make up time using timed walkin/ running intervals. The problem was that I became confused as to the most recent reading of my watch.

The final two miles were all in a slow-tempo walk. Inside the city limits of Hurley I crossed the road and sat on a low headstone in the cemetery. I had flopped and I was ashamed of myself. It took all of my strength to walk home.

I felt sorry for myself for a couple of days and then I looked at what went wrong. I had ignored expert advice because I thought I knew better. I had also run up and down the hills of Norrie Location two days before, another violation of expert advice. Thirdly, I hadn't slept well Thursday or Friday night. I should have postponed the run.

I went back to running in a disciplined way with slow, easy runs during the week and a longer route that progressed with each week. I watched what I ate and drank plenty of water, running or not. I gleaned every bit of wisdom I could from various runners and the result was heartening. On Saturday, July 4 I ran 13.1 miles and I did it in two segments, using our home as an aid station where I drank water. I also carried M&M candies with me for extra energy. I ran in Ironwood and Hurley, not the official race course. The discipline paid off.

In the ensuing weekends I began to taper my long Saturday runs but I made a mistake that almost cost me participation in the race. On a slow, mid-week run I decided to see how fast I could finish a four mile run. I was proud of  running four miles in 39 minutes. Later that day I felt the painful onset of shin splints. I had pushed myself too hard, again ignoring expert advice.

No running for the next two weeks as I iced my shins, rolled my calves on a foam roller and  showed up at work in shorts with support sleeves on my legs.
I prayed that I'd heal and be able to run the race.

After two weeks I started running, 10 seconds on and then a minute walking. I progressed with 20/60, 30/120 and back down to 10/60. The easy running was painful but with each day the pain eased and after a weekend with no running I felt no pain. I would be ready.

I was determined, running with this huge pack that I would stay with my pace even though others passed me by. When young women passed me I mentally complimented them. My pace through most of the race was the tempo of 'On Wisconsin" and when I felt I could go faster "Hail to the Victors" came to mind.

At the start the temperature was in the low sixties and kind of humid. By mid race it was a little warmer but it felt more humid. Glad I wore my headband.

I just have to give praise to the volunteers gathers at at intervals, aid stations. They held out cups of Gatorade, water, and at one station a gentleman offered me beer, which I declined, graciously.

I finished somewhere in the middle of the pack and that was okay. I want to do this again in 2016.