Dec 12, 2011

the follow-up: Running a Half Marathon with No Training

Is it possible? HECK YES!
Did I do it? Obviously.
Would I do it again? Untrained? Likely. Maybe.

Some pointers:
- sleep. at least 7-8 hours. reason: i slept at 12:30a, to wake at 4:30a to leave the house... i was tired. and cold.
- eat. well the night before - not necessarily carbo-load, unless you feel that helps you prepare, mentally.
- hydrate. drink lots of water (all of the time, but most importantly) the week before the race.
- do not weight train several days before, especially not the legs on the Thursday before the weekend race. reason: i trained my legs... extra hard thursday thinking that i needed to tack on an extra leg workout, since i likely wouldn't do another for the rest of the weekend. boy, was i wrong. they felt like bricks going uphill on mile 7, they got heavier and heavier after mile 8, and fully cramped around mile 9. result: i walked about 98% of the last 5 miles.
- be mentally ready. set your mind to it, and do it. if you start to lose momentum, want to quit, or just stop altogether, remind yourself of the reasons why you're running this race, particularly.
- train, if you can. i did it without the training, and i think it is entirely possible. i ran/walked it in 2h:36m (11:56min/mile pace), but when i finished, my thoughts were *what would my time have been, if i had trained? run the entire distance? or at least run the last 2 miles?*

Reflections:
My whole intent when I initially signed up to run the race was merely to do it. The competitive nature in me wanted to prove that if other people, non-avid runners, can complete these runs, why couldn't I? I wanted to run, and to run well. Since I didn't train, as the day drew closer, my goals changed - I just wanted to finish, and collect my medal. Even if that meant walking across the line at 4 hours, I would do it - so when much older women, twice my size (I'm not an ageist, size-ist, etc etc... personal feelings knowing that I work out consistently and am considered "fit"... high expectations for self...) were running past me I was all too sure that I was close to the 4 hour limit, if not at it. So you can imagine my surprise when I crossed the finish to see the clock read 02:36:...

I'd do it again, in a heartbeat. I only hope, and wish, this time around the bug I've got sticks. I thought I got the bug the last time I ran a race, but it wasn't enough to encourage me to train to run this race any better.

verdict: Trampolines after Running a Half Marathon with No Training

No one thought I should/could successfully run a half marathon with no training. I think it was successful, some people run the entire distance at 11:56min/mi. And no one thought I'd even have the legs to go jump on trampolines... so I did everything possible to make sure I'd make it, and have a great time. I took protein/electrolytes throughout the day, used Bengay, had my boyfriend massage out my knots and any tight muscles, and I stretched a lot. Every time I randomly woke during the night, I would massage the legs.... and the result? I woke up still slightly sore, but I could move, much more easily. I had a protein shake that morning, and by the time we got to my boyfriend's house, I was fully mobile. I jumped with more enthusiasm than most of the people there, except my boyfriend, of course, who exerts an abundance of energy, all of the time. The reason I love him so much (he CAN keep up with me).

Would I jump on trampolines after a 13.1 mile run ever again? Maybe not. Neither my running partner nor I were injured, but we ended up in ER anyway, for another friend who dislocated an ankle. Ironic.

reaching the six month mark
Despite all of the mishaps, and unforeseen incidents, yesterday, I had the best birthday celebration/six month anniversary any GIRL could ask for. My friend dislocated her ankle, and all of my friends who had decided to come jump on trampolines with me, showed up at the Emergency Room with me. I spent three hours there, and all of my friends were there. How awesome is that? I still went out to "lunch" at 3:30P for all you can eat Shabu Shabu, and had ice cream as planned, with the best friends I could ever hope for. Complete with asian sticky pictures to boot. And we spent two hours at my injured friend's apartment after we got the car back, just catching up, and hanging out.

My boyfriend's got the best friends that I could ever ask to be friends with - one, offered to and, drove my friend to the ER while I drove my friend's car to the hospital; the other was good-natured and let us "kidnap" him for the duration of the night, so we could get my friend's car back to her... 45 min away.

What more could I ask for?