Life as Liia

The message I sent to my old friend asking for half marathon advice:

In case anyone else wants to know my I-ran-2-half-marathons-once-and-1-marathon-once advice. (she has a relatively short period of time before her race—about 8 weeks and exercises regularly but does not run.)

“Here are my personal suggestions:

First, listen to your body. Running is very different from other exercise. I swear to god, I’ll be doing intense interval training or ellipticaling until I’m dripping sweat for an hour and then I try to run a 5k and I’m like AWE MAN! But it gets easier. Basically don’t be discouraged if it’s not as easy as you think it should be based on physical fitness.

Don’t worry about time. Running long distances means pacing, which is a pain. When I run a 5k I run about 2 minutes faster per mile than I do long distances but if I don’t pace myself, I die by mile 7. Seriously. And for the first 4 weeks of training, just get the miles in, even if you have to walk a full one. Upping your milage is important and if you get comfortable around 8 miles, then you can work on speed if you’d like (I can tell you how to do that too. It’s a pain, but do-able.)

MUSIC. Music is a life saver. First of all, it makes you go faster naturally with an upbeat pace but also, especially when you do longer runs alone, it makes you not go insane. I ran and trained for my first half alone and running for 2 hours can be super boring and make me feel absolutely nuts but with music, it’s delightful. Also I don’t know what you think about podcasts/radio shows, but I heart radio is a great app if you have an iphone or droid or whatever. Makes time fly.

STRETCH. It seems silly, but when you are significantly upping your milage in a shrot period of time, like you will be, you need to spend at LEAST 20 minutes stretching. It’s super easy to hurt yourself. When J and I were running 2 summers ago in preparation for my half, we got excited at the end of the summer (and also stressed about things so we were running more) and we upped our weekly miles from around 20 to 30 and I hurt my knee and had to do physical therapy for 2 months with no running. It was fucking lame. I still was able to do the half, but I had been running a lot prior so I would just make sure you stretch longer than you think you need to and if it hurts, START WALKING. Even if you are like seriously, wtf body why do you hurt I AM IN BETTER SHAPE THAN THIS? If your foot hurts or your knee hurtso r your hips hurt, walk, stretch, and then run once you feel back to normal.

What kind of shoes are you wearing? If they are old, buy new ones and spend money on them. I swear by Oasics but I would go to a running store (are you local? There’s a great one in ____ called _____) and have them watch you walk and buy a shoe they suggest. If you are on a budget, just be like okkkkk and find them online but the correct shoes are crucially important.

When running over an hour, buy gels. You can get them at sports fitnessy stores. I like the ones you chew, the ones you drink out of pouches are NASTY. But they give you a burst of protein and energy and tehn you aren’t burning muscle because you have overworked yourself, you’re burning fat and all the good stuff.

Also, run outside as much as you can. I’ve found running outside is more difficult than running on the treadmill. Is the course hilly? Which one are you thinking of doing? All good things to know.

I tell everyone, if I can run a marathon/half marathon/ten miles, anyone can. It does kind of take over your life when you’re training for a full/half depending on what kind of schedule and how fast you are running, but it’s worth it. And when you get started, just be patient with yourself. I’ve fonud that after about 2 weeks, things get easier if you are vigilant. And if you are really aiming to do one in 8 weeks, absolutely do not run 2 days in a row and do not skip a scheduled run because you will need every single bit of the miles to get up to speed.

And TAKE YOUR REST DAYS. Some people get psychotic and are ilke I AM RUNNING YAY NOW IM ELLIPTCALING NOW I’M ZUMBAING YAY (me) and then they have to go to physical therapy and can’t exercise at all. Don’t do that.

OH also, for long distances, I force myself to run 9 minutes and walk 1 every single time. My mile average actually goes quicker tat way than if I try to run straight and then have to break because I tired out. In Canada, that’s how all runners run and there have beena lot of studies that show it’s successful for keeping pace throughout long distances. When I am tired I run 8 walk 2. And someimteims, usually around mile 13, I just walk until I’m ready to go again. I don’t know how competitive you are, but running long distances is unique in that you have to just be like ok. Finishing this race is the prize, not the speed or what time you come in. It’s great if you make good time, but running long distances is really just running yoru best and achieving more against yourself, at least for me. That makes me feel the happiest.

And seriously, that feeling when you cross the finish line and you realize holy fuck I just ran 13.1 miles. In a row. Is absolutely like nothing else I have ever experienced. Especially the first one. I cried. It’s awesome. And especially when things are not going well, I am always so amazed and happy with what I can accomplish physically. It’s partly why I started running—shit was terrible with my family and I was feeling lost and sad and all this stuff and I was like you know what? I’m going to run 10 miles. And then I was addicted. And when things got better I was like you know what? I’m still going to run 13 miles! I’M GOING TO RUN 26! And now I’m LESS crazy and sticking to 13. but it’s an amazing, amazing thing to accomplish.”

And that, my friends, is this sometimes-runner’s half marathon list of tips and tricks.

Things I block out about long distance running:

1) The pounding headache I get after really pushing it during a long distance run. This usually happens after races, mostly. I never remember, then I run one, get a bad headache, and wonder why I don’t pack advil so I can pop some right after I finish. 

2) How sore my back is for days afterwards. It’s like I end up pulling with my arms in an effort to get to the finish faster. My back hurts all over like someone stepped on it, picked me up, threw me around a little bit, and then erased my memory. Aka it hurst a lot.

3) How much sweat stings when it is in your eye for hours at a time. And how there’s really nothing you can do about it the whole time you are running because there’s just more sweat. An epic amount of sweat, if you are like me, and a sweaty little person.

4) How nervous I get before I run a distance I haven’t before. When I was talking to my boy about how I was convinced something bad was going to happen and I might just NOT FINISH, he reminded me that the night before the 10 mile run, I freaked out and said about the same thing. I have literally no memory of this. I clearly blocked it out so I would continue to run more races.

When I started making this list, I thought it would be longer. But those are the only 4 things I can think of that I dislike about running races. And most of them are fixable. Well, the advil thing is fixable and the back can be helped by icy hot and/or a massage when I’m no longer a poor student.

Basically, races are awesome. But I am going to look back at this next time I run a long race (this summer/definitely September for the Philadelphia half marathon) and pack myself some advil. 

You know what’s cool?

In May of 2010, I finished the 10 mile Broad Street Run with a 12:55 pace.

Yesterday, I finished a half marathon with an 11:55 pace!

Exactly a minute faster! How cool. 

Half Marathon Recap!

(this is a lot longer than I thought it would be, but I want to remember as much as I can. Excuse the excessive length! :) 

The race was in San Diego, which is an hour and a half from my LA college, so Friday I got on a train and went to stay with my friend Katie. We had a delicious dinner, this is not race related, but I didn’t feel guilty at all eating delicious chocolate mousse because I was all, I’m going to run 13 miles in two days, nbd! Chocolate for me! 

Anyway, Saturday was the race expo (and when I started feeling anxious.) This was the first race I have ever run by myself and the longest I have ever run in my life. While I know how races work, it felt funny and strange to not be running it with someone, knowing they were somewhere on the course with me. But Katie was being wonderful and amusing and supportive and so we drove to Carlsbad to head to the mall and pick up my race stuff.

I got my number! It was a smaller expo than the one I went to for the Broad Street Run, but it as still crazy packed. I got my awesome running shirt, it’s long sleeved and light weight and pretty because it has waves on it, and I also bought a light weight jacket that said “Carlsbad Half Marathon” on it. I don’t own anything that has my school’s name on it, or high school really, I never thought it was worth spending money on but or races? Yes. Please. :) 

So we went back home and we watched some How I Met Your Mother and Katie assured me I was going to be awesome and we hung out until it was…carbo loading time! We went to this EPIC place called “The Soup Plantation” which apparently is a chain out here on the west coast but I’d never even heard of. Basically it’s 10 dollars and a huge salad bar and soup bar and pasta bar and muffin bar and frozen yogurt bar. It was amazing. Afterwards, I showered, put all of my racing needs in a pile (my outfit, shoes, borrowed sox since I forgot to pack some, my Garmin watch, my ipod, my ipod arm holder thing, sunscreen) sat in bed and googled “running races with an ipod” for a long time because apparently they are discouraged in this race, realized that in almost every picture from the previous year of the marathon that at least half the people had ipods, felt anxious, and went to bed. (I understand why people say you shouldn’t use an ipod or headset when running a race. But I love music and need it to not go crazy on long runs, my mind just runs away with me. So I like to wear one head phone in, one out, and then I can hear all the awesome cheering and still have my jams!)

Then came race day. I slept pretty well, although apparently Katie kept waking up every hour because she was sure she was going to sleep through her alarm (adorable.) I actually woke up much less anxious and mostly just determined and ready to get it done. After eating a delicious egg/egg white and cheese omelette on toast, we drove to the race. Our friend Karli (and my best friend here in Claremont…./only friend since I am a 5th year senior  and I hang out in the library a lot.) drove down from LA to cheer me on and we met up with her before the starting line. They stood with me as I debated whether or not to wear my jacket because it was freeezing in the morning, well, freezing for California, which was about 40 degrees. I ultimately decided not to which was smart because I was hot after like half a mile. I don’t know why I can’t seem to figure out that I will be warm enough as soon as I start. I always overdress. After we walked past all the fast people to my wave, I was excited and READY TO GO! :) Katie snapped this shot

(I look SUPER EXCITED!) and they left to find a spot to sit near mile 4/9 (it was a loop) and I disappeared into the crowd, ready to run.

Then we began. There were less people on the sidelines of this race than in Philadelphia, which I guess makes sense because this is a small beach town and Philadelphia is a city, but it was a different feel for sure. The first 5-6 miles I was feeling awesome. It was perfect weather, cool and breezy but not freezing, I was pacing myself really well with my watch/other people, and I felt good. It was strange in the beginning being alone, especially as we waited for the race to begin, but once I got to mile 2, I was totally fine. I was running about a 10:30 pace including the 30 second walking breaks I took every 10 minutes. 

Then, it got hotter, the course became more inclined, and it got a little harder. My pace slowed to about an 11 minute mile pace, but I kept taking my walking breaks and finding people to try to pace myself with. I find during races if I pick someone who’s going about my speed/a little faster, I am much more motivated to keep running than when I am alone. We ran right along the beach which was awesome, I watched a lot of surfers surf pretty big waves and the breeze from the ocean and the salty smell was really great to run to. 

The course had a turn around at about mile 6.5, and we went back the same way we came. Karli and Katie had gone to Target to get supplies to make posters (I didn’t know they were!) so I missed them at mile 4. But I knew I’d see them between mile 8 and 9, and it was so good they picked that spot to be. I was still powering through but losing some steam when I ran by them and saw this amazing sign: 

(It’s a How I Met Your Mother quote!) Katie also had a smaller sign that said “Congats Liia” (yes, Congats. She is an English major. :) I’ve never had anyone cheer for me on the side of a race like that and it was such a booster and amazing and exciting and just great. I was ready to start walking, by mile 9 I was tired and a losing steam a little, but seeing them gave me another burst and I kept on running! 

So I was trucking along all happy and I ran through mile 10 and about three quarters of the way through 10 I hit the wall. I was tired. I was hot. My breath hurt. I was very aware that this was the farthest I had ever run in my life and therefore, I deserved to start walking because I hurt. My knee decided this was as far as it wanted to go and it said “k, thanks, let’s stop now.” So I stopped on the side and stretched it out a little, and walked the rest of mile 11. The knee decided it would cooperate and I decided to do short run/walk intervals until mile 12. It’s so frustrating to have this knee issue. It’s also frustrating to have lots of doctors say it’s just something I will have to deal with. But, I kept reminding myself they also told me I”m not in danger of blowing my knee or doing permanent damage, so I kept walking and jogging as much as I could. 

When I got to mile twelve, I was so hot, but I knew I was almost there. I jogged until a HUGE HILL. Ok, it wasn’t huge, but it was a hill. Rude! There weren’t a lot of people on the side, and a LOT of the people around me were walking, but I ran as far up the hill as I could and walked the rest. Then I knew I only had about a half mile left to go and I ran, slowly but surely, until I only had a quarter mile left and there were LOTS of people with signs and cheering and yelling and I sped up and ran as quickly as my little knee and sweaty self could take me. I thought I would cry, but I didn’t. I ALMOST cried, but kept it together and got my AWESOME medal and went to find my friends. I finished in 2 hours and 36 minutes, which is only 6 minutes above my ideal goal time. I am really happy with that time and was SO proud of myself.

I found Katie and Karli almost immediately after I got my medal and walked off the course and after walking around so that my heart rate could come down, I sat on the ground: 

and ate some nuts. Food is delicious after you’ve been running for 2 and a half hours.

Then we walked to the car and I turned on my phone to a lot of wonderful text messages (I really have amazing friends and family.) and texted my parents to tell them I’d finished and my dad called me. Just looking at his number made me cry. I know I write about him a lot, but my dad is the reason I started running. He convinced me to sign up for the Broad Street, he has done 2 5k’s with me, I’ve only ever run races with him. He went with me on my 10 mile training run a few weeks ago for this race. It’s been a tough couple of years for me and my family and when I took a semester off last year, my dad helped me make the step to decide to change my life. I don’t know how to put it in words, but I am so grateful. When I run, I run for myself, but I also run for and with him. I know he is so proud of me and I am of myself and I couldn’t have done it without him. Anyway, I talked to him and then I called my mom and we drove to get brunch where I had a DELICIOUS sandwich but most importantly a mimosa!

Afterwards, I sat on a chair in Katie’s house icing my knee and she gave me a Princess hat :) 

the one she wore for her 21st birthday! 

It was an amazing weekend. I drove back to LA with Karli and her boyfriend and when I got home, I checked facebook and my mom and a bunch of my friends had tagged me in statuses congratulating me or wishing me luck. I am still overwhelmed by their love and support. I am also SO grateful for YOUR support. I got some wonderful messages before the race and on the day of and all of your comments and encouragement meant a lot to me. During mile 12, when I wanted to just walk the whole thing, I wanted to make sure I did my best so I could report back and that’s what helped me run the 2 minute incraments that I did. 

I never thought I’d run 3 miles, let alone 13.1. It’s such a high, such an amazing thing. And that, in lots of long detail, was the first half marathon I ever ran. :) 

I made it!!!!!!

Yayyy! and now I am going to nap. :) 

I have pictures to upload and a recap to write very soon, but sleep takes priority. Races start early! (Plus the running part all equals tired.) 

Race expo!!!!!!!!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!  :)

I think I will buy some new pants. I. Love. Running. Things.