Coeur d'Alene Half Marathon and a Digression (or Two)

 

Which one ran the half? Ask us to stand up...

The reason why I only write about marathons and not half marathons is because with the half marathon I tend to have very little to work with. As much as I enjoy running half marathons, the heart of the matter lies in the struggle, and things get way more interesting beyond 13.1 miles. Even a poorly executed half marathon ends without mortal reflection or a tapping into deep physical or mental reserves. For those that have never ran a marathon, it is NOT simply two half marathons. One may say it's more comparable to three half marathons, but I truly believe it is apples vs. oranges...or apples vs. some kind of fruit that tears you up from the inside out, yet leaves you euphoric and full of yourself. 

I have ran three half marathons so far this year, and I have to say I did not miss the pre-marathon race week stress that accompanies the marathon. My version of taper madness has ranged from mild fretting to full on psychosomatic injury or self sabotage. I have had real afflictions, like a kidney stone that I passed fifteen minutes before race start. Talk about stress! I did not miss the crazy marathon dreams, where I found myself showing up late to the race wearing wooden clogs and carrying my purse. I slept pretty damn good the nights before these races!

The first two half marathons I ran this year were planned half marathons. My next full marathon was supposed to be the Coeur d' Alene marathon in Idaho, but...

Last year, as Covid took over our lives, I started having back troubles. The initial "blame game" was placed on becoming less mobile by Covid (no more job, gym, yoga...), then Toby's bike accident (hours in hospital chairs, etc), and then my sister's sudden death, the crushing final blow. The pain would start out as a general tightness, which would increase until it felt like someone jumped on my back. I finally went to a back doctor who revealed this:

One of these is not like the other

Strangely enough, I have a spine compression between my L1-L2 lumbars. It's a mystery. It could be from an accident in my past or even genetic, but surprisingly enough it is not due to running. In fact, let me brag on my other lumbars, as they look pretty good for someone who's ran 56 marathons. The bad news is the only real fix for this is spinal fusion, which is major back surgery reserved for incapacitation, not so I can continue to run marathons. Enter the rabbit hole of pain management, PT, gym work, stretches, blah blah blah...all I can say to those who fall into this hole is to open your mind. Call me Alice, but I have become a believer in so many therapies, gadgets, and stretches. It's been months of hard work with agonizingly slow progress, but I finally made my way back to my regular weekly runs, and able to run half marathons, which is way beyond where I thought I could ever be! I'm not sure if I will be able to move beyond this point, but I'm still working on it, slowly, so we shall see.

I've had interesting conversations with my pain specialist, and yes, the rabbit hole involves this too. He said he tells his patients to stop running at 60. I was 2 weeks shy of my 60th birthday when he said this. One has to imagine what type of 60 year olds he's used to seeing to make such a statement. As he went on to justify his stance I realized I was somewhat of a unicorn in his world. He needs to take a trip around White Rock Lake on a Saturday morning! We tried a couple of cortisone shots without any success so I've moved on, but I would like to go back and show him my progress and tell him how I got there, if for no other reason just so he'll know that it can be done. 

It has been a long road back though, not going to lie. At its worst my back was described as "a piece of rippled cardboard" by one massage therapist who took ten sessions to work out most of the ripples, or knots in my back. My chiropractor was dry needling several muscles surrounding the compression that were more prone to spasms. What little running I was doing involved stopping as soon as the back started tightening up and walking it in. I started working on core strength by returning to the gym twice a week to lift weights, and I became more diligent about doing my "stretch routine", which is mostly moves I pilfered from yoga. Gaining mobility was key. I forced myself to go walking, which I hated with a passion, but I did it anyway.  What's funny is after several months of all this my back started cracking and popping, which is something my back rarely ever did! I have never had this much back movement in my life. 

Before I run. Oh how I miss just running out the door

"Activate the core" before you run

Oh yeah...I did come here to write about the half marathon! Well, there was no drama. I simply got out of the car and ran across the starting line whenever I felt like it, which was 6:15 AM, and proceeded to follow the arrows out of the park onto the course along the lake. I'd be running out and back on what was the second half of the full marathon course, and I timed it so I could catch Kelly and LSP (who were running the full) as they were heading out. (Around miles 11-12 for me). They chose a 5:30 start time, so they got there long before I did. They were supposed to meet me in the lobby so I could come down and wish them luck, but they were freaking out and left before I got down there! So much drama with the full!

The starting line is all mine!

It was a pretty course, but not like level 10 Big Sur pretty. There was a waste water treatment facility and a section of housing construction, but the worst part was a long stretch of no shade on a black asphalt path. The sun was so high, even that early in the morning, that I felt like I was being baked. I told myself this would be the most challenging part of the marathon, especially after it warmed up. I did catch the two of them heading out like I planned, and told them it's all good! (No need to tell them it's going to suck in some parts). The last mile went back into the park, which was madness. People coming every which way, dogs, strollers, just a cluster, and it had one of those circular finishes that goes ALL THE WAY AROUND the finish to the actual line. This is probably one of my top ten pet peeves of a marathon. My back behaved, and I ran just a little bit faster than my last half, but mostly I was, again, just really grateful to be able to run this.

I was saying how unfair it was that the most beautiful stretch of this course was for the full marathon only until I saw how hilly it was! 

Level 10 beauty

It's still interesting to see how all these races have had so many different Covid precautions in place. All of them except for one had bottles instead of cups at the aid stations. All but one of them had rolling starts instead of mass starts. The packet pick ups have been outdoors, except Maryland, which had a drive through packet pick up! None of them had beer at the finish. One race actually checked our temperatures as we entered the corral, and one race made us show proof of vaccination or negative Covid tests before giving us our packets. Some races made us cross the starting line with masks on, and one race wouldn't let us pass through the post race finish "food tent" without a mask. Maddening, yes, but these were assurances of the safety of the race, which were necessary for the race to take place. Approvals were needed. Race directors had to attain certain comfort levels with certain officials. Finding these races was a challenge! 

With the spring season over we look to the fall races. I'm feeling pretty confident that our quest for finding races is over, but what will the fall races look like? What Covid precautions will be in place and in what form? At what point will mass starts resume? When will the beer return? Will it ever be like it was? I'm thinking the answer is no, because we are forever changed.

I will return to write about my next race this fall, but at this point I have no idea if it will be a full or "just a half". Seriously people, stop saying that.

  

Tips for traveling to Races

 

The finish line awaits!

I've been traveling to races for decades and I'm pretty sure I've made every mistake mentioned below. Hopefully you will benefit from my mistakes by heeding my advice...

Packing: Do not rely on the weather forecast and pack everything! Even if rain isn't in the forecast pack for it. This has bitten me more than once. For me, this includes a running hat and a throw away rain poncho to wear to the race start. 

For tops I always pack a tank top, a short sleeved top, and a long sleeved top. Most race day mornings I have found myself deciding which top to wear based on the current temperature and hourly forecast, factoring in wind chill or humidity. Even though I normally run in shorts I throw in a pair of tights just in case.  It helps to lay everything out as if you were about to put it all on, possibly catching something you missed. 

Sometimes I pack "throw away" clothes to wear to the race start, but other times I pack clothes that I bag check for after the race. These decisions are based on the following: Is there a fairly long walk to the race start, will I be standing in a corral for a long period of time, will I be waiting for others to finish or spending a good deal of time outdoors after the finish, will I want to run in two shirts until it warms up and toss my outer shirt along the course. Don't rely on Mylar blankets at the finish line for warmth, as they aren't always there, especially at smaller races.

The things most people forget to pack include: sunscreen, body glide or Vaseline, sunglasses, and race day breakfast, including utensils; a spoon for your oatmeal, a knife for your peanut butter.

No accessory left behind!

Another rule that I never break is: Do NOT put your running shoes or clothes in a checked bag at the airport! Don't put them in a carry-on suitcase either, because sometimes they check your carry-on due to limited space in the overhead compartments, or just because they deem your carry-on is too big. (Even if this is the same carry-on you have had for 20 years; trust me it happens). Carry your race day items in a backpack, and consider wearing your running shoes on the plane. Luggage gets lost, even on direct flights. 

Pre-race planning: Hopefully by race week-end you have a pretty good idea of what works for you in terms of pre-race day lunch or dinner. It would be wise to do some research on the local restaurants and possibly make a reservation. Most people opt for an Italian restaurant, but what I have found is that most Italian restaurants quickly become overwhelmed, especially in smaller towns, so my general rule here is the earlier the better! Even "to go" orders get bogged down. If you have a large party of six or more you will potentially have a more difficult time getting through dinner in a timely manner. You may want to consider splitting up into smaller groups. I have found that a very late lunch works better for me, but then again I eat breakfast before the race, so it's an individual thing. Another thing to consider is eating at other types of restaurants, like Thai for example. (Assuming of course, that you have already tested out Thai food as a pre race meal)!

Going to a local store for "necessary items" is a good idea too

Hotel: There are a few logistical issues to investigate when it comes to choosing a hotel. If it involves your car and a valet driver in the wee hours of the morning this can be an issue. Yes, I've been bitten by this one! It involved a terror-stricken valet guy staring at a mob of twenty plus runners demanding their cars ASAP...make sure you will have access to your car or even better, that you are within walking distance to the race. 

If you are checking out after the race you may want to get a late check-out, so be sure to ask for the late check-out as you check in. The earlier you ask for it the better your odds are of getting it.

If you are staying in a hotel within walking distance to the race, please pay attention to this rule, especially if you are "directionally challenged": On race day morning, as you exit your hotel look around at your surroundings and the street crossings near by. Know what street your hotel is on! It's usually dark when you head out and you're distracted by the upcoming race and blindly following everyone to the race start, so it's very common to get turned around and have no idea how to get back. Yes, I have been bitten by this one, but luckily with today's technology you can find your way back, assuming you have your phone with you...

Race day miscellaneous advice: When mapping out your timeline on when to get up, when to leave the hotel room, when to get to the starting line, etc. factor in extra time for everything. Hotel elevators can be problematic, for example. You may encounter traffic or parking issues if you're driving to the start. If buses are involved, there can be issues there, so it's best to try to get to the buses as early as possible. There have been stories of bus drivers getting lost, eating up a large amount of valuable pre-race time.

 Porta-potty lines can be ridiculously long, even at smaller races, especially if there are way too few of them or half of them are zip-tied shut. (Yes, that really happened). And not that this has anything to do with traveling to a race per-se, but as a rule ALWAYS bring your own toilet paper.

Well it is a stunning backdrop...

General advice: Every time I travel to a new town for a race I do a little research on things to see or do, if time allows. I try to choose local restaurants over chains as well. I'm always pleasantly surprised by the uniqueness or charm of the places I've been that stays with me longer than the memory of the race itself, although I do try to choose races that showcase their town's character as well.

And one last piece of advice: thank the volunteers and let them know how much you appreciate them! 

Enjoy that finish line!

50 State Quest 2020 Update

 

In my last 50 state update I commented that we always plan our races in pencil, as we never know what the future may bring. I said that long before Covid-19!

We did manage to run marathons in 2020, but none of the ones we planned. The one that hurt the most was our big trip planned for Alaska. We did make it to a race in Idaho, but I only ran the half due to injury. Idaho still haunts me! (I broke my foot before the one planned a few years ago). We got creative and went with a trail race in Kansas, since trail races had a better chance of happening than road races. Just before the pandemic hit hard (Feb) Jamie ran Louisiana, and she squeezed in Nebraska just 2 weeks before Kansas! In December it was a Christmas miracle, as my Mississippi marathon was seemingly the only race that didn't get canceled. Completing this one was extra special because I got iced out of Jackson a few years ago!

So now Jamie and I are tied with 12 marathons to go! We both have 9 marathons to run that are the same, and then we each have to run 3 that the other has already ran, so as you can see the planning is quite challenging, even without a pandemic to work with.

Spring 2021 is already iffy, as a lot of races have already canceled or postponed until the fall. We have no idea what we will be running! The fall may be easier to plan, as it appears that "normalcy" may start returning then, but you just never know. Hence, all plans are in pencil...

My Top Most Memorable Runs of 2020

 

Having popsicles 6 feet apart

I've been staring at the screen for what feels like an eternity. At the end of every year this would come easily to me. But today, not so much. I am grateful for all the runs of this year, and am certain they helped my sanity, but I'm not so sure they can overshadow what a horrible year this was. Not to mention all the other awful things that happened in 2020. If someone erased 2020 from my brain I'd be ok with that. But for now it's sitting here in my head, waiting to be poured out in summation, and frankly, I need the closure, so here goes...

The year started off with a bang, January 7, with the death of Neal Peart (of the band Rush), and although totally unrelated to COVID it was a sign. (FYI yes I am a serious Rush fan-one of the few female nerd fans). In February Jamie and I went to New Orleans to run in the Rock and Roll race. It was your typical cluster of a race, followed by a week-end with the masses on the streets of New Orleans, chaotic, crazy, fun, and the last time in 2020 we would have such an experience. In March, specifically March 11, my birthday, the worm turned as the NBA shut down the season. COVID became real. 

For the first few months that followed we all retreated indoors and all runs went solo. They even turned off all the fountains at the lake. We were still naively thinking marathons were going to happen, so we were still running long runs, which were painful to do alone. One of my most memorable runs was a long run in April of 21 miles where we couldn't take it anymore and decided to run together, and it was eerie and empty at the lake. We got some stink eye looks and comments from others that day. In fact, it took awhile before groups started running together again and the fountains were turned back on. 

So Pac trail is normally very busy

Race cancelations started happening one after another, and yet the long runs continued, which was good, because the days grew darker. Toby was hit by a car while out on a bike ride (he ran a red light and didn't see the car). Luckily he survived, but had surgery and intensive recovery to follow. Then later that summer my sister died rather suddenly. She had a bad liver, so we knew this was a possibility, but when it happened it happened quickly. With everything else going on my passing of a 5 mm kidney stone was just a blip, even though it took 3 weeks and finally passed 2 days before surgery. Then came the back troubles, which I attributed to COVID and everything else. Still, even through all of this the runs continued...

Finally, in late August a race did NOT get canceled, so off we went to Mesa Falls Idaho! 

Jamie and Jerod ran the full and Jedonna and I ran the half

It was so fun to run in a real race once again, even though it was pretty small. Great scenery helped!

Back in Dallas we had peeps who were running the virtual Boston marathon, so we collectively put on a "race" at and around the lake. Everybody from our running group and several significant others and family members had a hand in putting this on, which ended up being one of the most amazing events of 2020. 

In the fall we ran a trail race in Kansas, which again was pretty remote, but it felt good to finally run a marathon in 2020. I blogged about it here:

 https://tntlinder.blogspot.com/2020/10/marathon-55-kansas-rails-to-trails.html

As the COVID numbers started rising again late fall I didn't think my next marathon was going to happen, but it did. Blog: 

https://tntlinder.blogspot.com/2020/12/marathon-56-mississippi-gulf-coast.html

Yes, running events did happen, and we had some fun group runs, but there was no White Rock Lake Celebration Run, no Turkey Trot, no local Dallas marathon, no festive hill run, and no NY Eve Loop the Lake, which was beyond depressing. I think it was fitting that my last run of 2020 was alone in the pouring rain. 

As we roll into 2021 it's still the same story, at least for the first few months, with running events canceling or postponing already, but we do have hope that better days will come this year as the vaccine continues to get distributed. I will be curious to see how long it takes for the return to "normalcy" in road races. I'm hoping it happens by Fall...but it might not. The smaller and more remote races have a better chance of happening. We will continue to hunt them down! 

Here's to a better year than 2020, which is a pretty low bar, but hey I'll take it.