Ann Arbor Probility Marathon

Running with a hemoglobin of 9 makes you learn to run a little different. Different running and different goals is what really took the reigns over competing, racing or trying to leave everything on the course. 

I got my blood work back a couple weeks ago. Anemic, like I didn't already know. I can't sleep, my legs are restless, I chew on ice all day long with intense cravings and I have horrible fatigue. 

My blood work explained a lot. My vomiting at every race, my breathlessness, racing heart and premature exhaustion when running or racing comes with this theory: 

With a low hemoglobin you have a decrease in your oxygen carrying capacity. Therefore, when you have a increased demand your lactate threshold is lower since you have a decreased oxygen supply to a already starved cell. 

This is why I believe I am vomiting at marathons with a average effort level. 

This is also why I chose to run my own race and set these three goals:

1. TRY not to VOMIT...No matter what, keep my heart rate down, focus. 
2. Sub 4 hour Marathon. 
3. Negitive split

(Knew that if I took it easy the first half I could pick up the pace the second. I also knew keeping my pace down would prevent me from going into my reserves prematurely and this would keep from heaving in a garbage can. I just really needed to focus on my heart rate and my breathing. 

Ann Arbor Marathon:

Distance: 26.2

Elevation Gain: 844

Start Time: 7:30am

Hills, Hills soo many Hills X 2 because you had to do the course twice if you were running the marathon.

Two loops, 26.2 miles...YEAH...see those hills?!

I got tangled in with the 4 hour pace group. (A 9.09min/mi) I thought "Hmm, this will be great, I will let them set the pace, let them do all the work and just tuck in." 

EH..NO! 

The first 4 miles are HILLS. This pacer was running sub 9 minute miles, I had miles in the 8:30's. I heard whispers from runners confused on his pace. I heard one of the runners repeatedly say, we need to bring it down...but he never did. 

My decision was finalized when I over heard him say "...we can just slow way down and cross the finish line at 4.00.00." The pacers have a contest who can get closest to their pace group. Then a couple of them laughed and even joked about "Whats the prize? A Lamborghini?" 

I didn't think it was funny. I looked at my watch, slowed myself down from a 8:30min/mi and reminded myself  "I am ultimately responsible for MY RACE." 

I was NOT going to burn myself out like a rookie, trashing my legs the first 13 miles. 

AFTER the first 5....

The first 5 miles, Lacey was in front of me about a tenth of a mile, Andy was just a speck and I was feeling great after 5 miles of Ann Arbor rollers. The course started to flatten out and the landscape began to change from city to a park setting, with the Huron River on one side of us. It was so pretty. 

The aid stations were incredible giving out water, Gatorade and Gu's. 

I ran on sidewalks, roads, through paved trails in parks and even a trail at mile 10. The trail winded into a woodsy areas hiding the HILL of ALL HILLS. 

All I could do was LAUGH. It was so insane. When you thought it was going to plateau, it actually winded and went up MORE. 

I was so happy I was with Christina and Antonio, some local runners. We made jokes and gutted ourselves up and out without stopping. I knew when I hit this hill again at mile 23 it was not going to feel the same. 

AFTER the first 13...

I could see Laceys pink Carhart hat bobbing just a little bit in front of me. Then I saw Andys familiar neon yellow windbreaker cheering me on. He jumped on the course for a minute to check on me. I was feeling great, he was exhausted and peeled back off after a few words. 

2hours..That was my goal for the first 13.1. I was ON. I nailed it.  

Between the hills and not getting proper GPS in the city it was hard to keep pace, I had to go mostly by feel and time. 

Somewhere around mile 15, we were running on the sidewalks off a huge highway.  The uncoming cars had a stop light. In my usual obnoxious self,  I tried to get the cars hyped to honk at us. In full energy mode I spotted AUSTIN in the last car! He rolled down his window and we shot virtual high fives at each other. I almost started crying I was so surprised and excited. LIKE..HOW does this happen?! All of Ann Arbor, all the road closures and I see MY SON! I twirled around feeling my running skirt floating in the air like a dancer "THAT'S MY BOY! THAT'S MY BOY!" 

I never lost that JOY. 

From 15 to Finish.

I never lost my JOY. I never got nervous, I never got scared I wouldn't meet my goals. I Praised GOD. I praised Him for every perfect detail. 

By the grace of God HE kept me strong. 

After the second GU, I knew not to take anymore. I could gut out the last 10 miles on an empty stomach. 

Goal number 1, Don't Vomit. 

BREATH. Relax, Smile, cheer on the runners, and thank the volunteers. 

I kept waiting to hit "the wall". Antonio was ahead of me and stopped. I yelled, "are you ok?" 

He replied "Yeah, I am getting me some drugs." 

I was wondering if it was salt tablets, Mortin or some kind of nsaids, "Oh, whatcha got?" 

"Advil, you want some? He responded digging them out of a ziplock bag. 

"AHH, YES...." I quickly answered as he was handing out 2 Advil.

I couldn't take them without water so I palmed them and kept going. He stayed back to give Christina some as well. 

I knew that I couldn't stop long, I felt good and stopping too long could really be a game changer. 

That hill was daunting me. I would be hitting it at mile 23. I walked through almost every aid station. This calmed me down. 

At mile 22, I was still running flat and I could still see Lacey just a little bit ahead of me. I could also see the 4 hour pacer, for the first time! And I was on target for a 3:53 marathon. He had slowed WAYY down and only 2 people were with him. 

And then I turned into the woods, there she was....THE FINAL HILL. 

I was now with the pacer. I was running alongside them. We all tackled the hill. About half way in I took a 10 second walk break and they passed me. In that 10 seconds, I gave more thanks to God, took a couple deep breaths, relaxed and felt the tune of the music in my ears. I took off again passing them at the top of the hill, "GREAT JOB!" I yelled, hearing them all cheer me on as I broke off. 

That wasn't the end of the hill, the 3rd portion of that hill is out of the woods and on the road behind the hospital. 

I had a mile and half to go. I skipped the water station, walked for 5 seconds and looked up at Laceys pink hat and just focused. 

"I can do this, I can do this.." I heard my thoughts, they were positive. I clenched my fists and pumped my arms up the rest of that hill. 

My legs were tight and throbbing. But I never hit a wall. I had a mile to go. I was breathing, I was calm, and I was so excited I didn't pee my pants or puke! 

Last mile, down hill?! Wonders never cease, I picked up my pace and took that last hill like it was my first. 

Austin was at the finish line with his dad. I smiled bigger. 

Christina, Lacey and I all placed! WTG girls!

BOY Wonder! Happy Momma!

With a FULL smile I crossed that finish line strong and fast. And without my face in a garbage can! 

SO much swag! 

I hit all my GOALS! REMINDER......THIS WAS PART OF MY ULTRA TRAINING FOR MY 100k IN JUNE!

Third place in my age group!

CONGRATS TO ALL THAT RAN ANN ARBOR! Half Marathoners; Andy, Holly, Brad and Full Marathoners, Lacey, Christina, Antonio, Doug and all those unnamed, WTG! Congrats!

Anita

More isnt always Better.

I miss the TRAILS. I miss the adventure, the woods, the unexpected and the awesomeness of being hidden from the pollution of modern life. 

Sunday March 17th: Excalibur 10 miler. 

Melbourne FLORIDA! 

A family affair. I am getting out of here for a few days. Austin and I are heading out to visit my family. I miss them soo much. They love me enough to drive over an hour away to do a race with me! That is LOVE. And they are all dressing up! 

I am soo excited. I am smiling just thinking about it. This race cost me 35$ for Austin to WALK 2 miles with his AUNT!  But I really wanted us all to do it together.

Lacey made my outfit. You will have to wait to see it...It is soo darn CUTE. 

As soon as I get back...

  

SUNDAY March 24th: Probility Ann Arbor Marathon

Without sharing too much detail, I have no idea what to expect for my marathon. 

I have been having some health issues that I have kept on the down low. 

It explains a lot. I think. 

The last few months I have been to the Dr.s more than I want and unfortunately I have more appointments waiting for me when I get back. 

I don't get too rattled, you can't worry about things you have no control over. Therefore, when it comes to my marathon, I am going to do like I do with "most" of my races, TRY my BEST, look better than I will be feeling and SMILE! 

(I don't get rattled about my health because I know that I have taken the best care of this old body. God gave me this body to honor and manage, I have no regrets in the way that I have taken care of it...If something happens to me...God is on FULL CONTROL.) 

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that Gods Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys Gods Temple God will destroy him. For Gods Temple is holy, and you are that temple." 1Cor. 3:16-17

"I always try to keep in mind its better to be undertrained and healthy rather than incredibly fit and injured." Asheton Eaton Two time Olympic Gold Medalist and World Record Holder

MORE ISNT ALWAYS BETTER

TRUST in your training. If you are anything like me, if your training plan says to run 20 miles, 22 must be better. 

Last week, I was 4 miles short on my training plan. 4 MILES. I went into a tail spin. I tried to figure out how I could squeeze in 4 more miles. 

In between working, Parenting, Wife-ing, Church, Ministries (Youth and Addiction) cleaning my grandmas house and managing my own house....THERE just wasn't time. 

I still calculated over 50 miles last week. 

LET it GO ANITA. 

I did a track work out that only accumulated 6 miles,

But MORE ISNT BETTER...

(Big hair don't care)

Monday, I had a day from the bad place. I crawled back into bed. My body had been abused and retaliated against me. I fought so hard to stay up and run after I had everyone taken care of and out of the house but I was sick I was so depleted. 

Depression set in. "I should be able to GOO, get things done...." 

I was so mad at myself, at my body, at my head space.  Feeling guilty, lazy, useless I crawled back under the fuzzy blanket in secret. 

When I woke, 2 hours later, My feet hit the ground and I had enough mental stamina to dig in and fight for life again. Monday wasn't going to come easy. I was going to have to work hard for everything I did. 

As I went out for my run, the run that was supposed to be 12-14 miles, I consulted with myself and decided 11 was sufficient. 

MORE ISNT BETTER.  My body isn't responding well to more miles. For that matter, my body isn't responding well all together. 

I am NOT going to beat myself up over a few miles, I am going to do the best I can. 

WHY do we beat ourselves up when our cape has holes in it? 

No Shame. I am woman...I don't always ROAR, sometimes I whimper. 

Transparency here. I have no bragging rights on being anything other than incredibly ordinary. 

I have a flaw in my code as Halsey says. I am working with it. 

Giving myself Grace.

Not Getting stuck on Stupid.

More isn't always better.

Getting out of my own head. 

RUNDOWN:

Distance: 15 miles

Where: Holly Rec. Wilderness loop X2 and Lakeloop. 

KAHTOOLAS! We ran with confidence in our spikes. It was nice to be back on the trails after a few weeks. I was back in my element. The temperatures were a reminder Spring is right around the corner. The ice was melting, it was like I was running in a little waterfall, as the water melted it rippled down the trail. It was flowing more graceful than I was running. It made my heart so happy.  

SQUIRREL! After running the wilderness loop we came back to our cars for water and nutrition. When I opened my car door this lil guy was racing through my truck like a crazy varmint. I had the doors all open and assumed he got out. We went back out to the trail and came back, finishing up. To be safe I opened all my doors and that lil guy never came out. Not a peep....Until I was DRIVING and almost out of the park and heard a little chatter in the passenger door. 

OUT HE CAME. I am not sure who was more alarmed! I slammed the car into park without looking for other cars. I JUMPED out screaming. That poor lil guy just ran ALL over my truck but wouldn't run OUT! 

No, I do not have a pet squirrel..he eventually scooted out, after we both peed our pants! 

Never a DULL moment.

ANITA

Fear: The word of the Week

FEAR

F-ALSE

E-VIDENCE

A-APEARING

R-REAL

This morning, I sluggardly dragged myself to GAC.
Claudia my running friend knows how much I enjoy reading and learning about all things RUNNING, shocker, I know. I have a library of books and stacks of Runners World magazines that would burn for heat an entire winter.
She shared a podcast with me.

The Podcast was FREAKANOMICS and the episode is "Think Like a Winner"
Throughout the podcast you listen to coaches and athletes as they describe how FEAR is an element that presents itself in different forms. The power that FEAR has over individuals, of course zoning in particularly on athletes and the strongholds it has over them and us.

Some of the Fears discussed were:

• The Fear of Failure
• The Fear of Pain
• The Fear of Embarrassment
• The Fear of Others, Competition
• The Fear of the Unknown

This is just a few fears that athletes are trying to overcome. Many of these Fears are the very same fears that most of us are challenged with, I mean if you really want to get honest. The speakers, athletes, coaches and narrators share the importance of taking control over your negative thoughts and TRULY BELEIVING in YOUR CAPABLITIES. 

When I coach CC we have a new quote put on our shirts every year. One year it read "STRONG MIND, STRONG BODY."  The entire season was designed to get these 50 kids to Believe in themselves. 
Strength has to start in their mind. Some are born warriors, a fire that burns the moment they take their first breath, but many have to be taught. 
Strong minds are taught in many ways. Often through adversity. We tend to pick on the "OVER CONFIDENT" bold person but the truth often is in what is not said, the battles they fought through, the challenges they overcame that many don't know. These are the hard lessons of strength. The ones you wouldn't wish on anyone. 
Some strength is taught through inspiration, some education, some perspiration and some frustration. But it can be taught. It does however have to be exercised constantly. 

Bob Tewksbury's 4 STEPS he coaches athletes, A retired Major League Baseball pitcher and current MENTAL SKILLS Coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. 

1. Slow down

2. Breathe

3. Engage in Positive self talk

4. Focus on the task at hand

Basic, simple, this is NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. These are just simple mental notes to help you be more successful, and of course I would add one more PRAY.
Keeping these at the forefront of your mind will help to alleviate unwanted and unwelcomed FEAR.
It reminds you to MAJOR on the MAJORS and not Major on the MINORS.

Dust off your cape.

Tell yourself you are a superhero

You are amazing

You are Fearfully and Wonderfully made

Be Brave enough to love yourself 

Be Strong enough to conquer one fear at a time

Be Bold enough to stand alone

Be Confident enough to take a leap of Faith

The Rundown: Tempo Run

Roll, stretch, Run, Roll stretch, core. 

My New Shoes! Brooks Glycerin...LOVE!

2miles w/u on the track. EASY jog

4miles Tempo-10k pace

2 miles c/d 40seconds faster than w/u

1.3 miles hills sprints.
Total Miles: 9.3

Dinner: a colorful power salad, roasted potatoes, herb baked chicken thighs and drumsticks (I love dark meat!) 

A little piece of me: Honestly, there probably isn't a day, I do not go through, that I do not engage in FEAR in some form or anther. 

As I listened to my own mental dialogue today:

1. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to hold my tempo pace for 4 miles, only to pick up each lap on my last mile!
2. I was afraid I would poop my pants on that last hill repeat in front of everyone at the gym.
3. I was afraid I wasn't worthy this week, I listened to a conversation a client of mine had with another client. Conversation skirted on those who didn't have a "Good" education and upper class environments.  They continued talking while I finished grooming. Their conversation was degrading. I lost myself in my past, I began to think because of how I grew up and where I grew up I was less. Even though the words were not directed at me, they haunted me. This was a VERY tough challenge. Overcoming your past. Sometimes in Fear you freeze and believe the lies. But I reminded myself....There is NO Shame in my past, there is NO fear in moving forward. God delivered me and has equipped me to do great and mighty things!

Anita~

Training Tip: 

Prepare a Runners Repair KIT:

KT tape, provides support on runs longer than 10 miles

Electrolyte tablets, Used mostly on long hot summer runs when you are sweating a lot

Lubricant, Chaffing

Batteries

Toenail clippers

Band-Aids

Nutrition, gu's, nuts, bars

Advil, Tums, 

Salonpas, biofreeze, 

batteries

Babywipes

To name a few things!

Anita. 

A Warrior or a Worrier

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10 

Are you are Warrior or a Worrier?
I loved this little questionnaire in my running Journal

I am rather laid back. There was a day I was a worrier. A day when I had multiple panic attacks and locked myself in the bathroom at work thinking I was having a heart attack. A day when I would worry so bad I would bite all the skin off my tongue, I know gross. A day when I would worry myself so sick I would be in the bathroom vomiting. I was afraid of tomorrows, afraid of people, afraid of myself, I would worry about the unknown, the unimaginable and the unacceptable.
But that day isn't so much anymore.
I think a lot of it was growing up in chaos. Living with an addicted mother you knew could die any day.
So many fears and not enough tools to work through life.

Today, I look at fears as challenges.
Opportunities to overcome.

Trail running offers so many elements to overcome fears. It really is exciting to me.

In the summer, you are overcoming hours of heat, bugs, nutrition and hydration issues. You are often out there so long you get caught in thunderstorms seeing wildlife and jumping snakes. In the winter, you never know what the trail will look like. Running through fresh snow or trying to stay upright on ice covered trails is always a challenge.
But you just have to tackle that downhill with no fear, tree hopping or sliding in mud, you just need to do it fearless.
If you are worried about running trails or constantly concerned about the unknown then you should probably stick to roads.

HOWEVER, I haven't been on the trails the last week and possible for the next few weeks. I have a road marathon at the end of March, Ann Arbor Probility Marathon. Currently, running trails doesn't frighten me as much as it annoys me.
I need a faster turn over for my road marathon, therefore, for me it just isn't good training right now.

February Miles: 197.3
Last weeks Miles: 54
Last Weeks Goals; Shorter Faster Runs=ACCOMPLISHED
I ran 5 days last week, 3 days I only ran SINGLE Digit Runs but ran them stronger and faster.
(My ultimate goal is Kettle Moraine 100k in June, this marathon is designed to get me stronger and faster for my 100k.)


Rundown: 
I am really happy with my run week. The weather was gnarly, bitter cold but I still sucked it up and got it done.
Sunday was my LAST LONG RUN. 22 miles at Kensington Metropark adding on Island Lake at a 9:23min/mi. Initially, I was WORRIED.. Kensington is hilly, it is a tough run and 22 miles out there ain't not joke. Funny thing, yesterday morning I watched a video with "THE ROCK" in it. I was so inspired. He showed grit, sweat and pain. Every time I felt tired I thought of his grit.

All Smiles after our long COLD Kensington RUN. 

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10 

But ultimately when I am weak I seek Lord. I know Fearlessly He has me covered. He will strengthen me, he will remove my anxiety, he will calm me. It is really more exciting to me knowing he is taking care of me. In Running, that is part of the adventure. 

ARE YOU ARE WORRIER OR A WARRIOR? DO THE QUESTIONAIRE! 

WHATS YOUR SCORE?

Training Tip: "Clothing is a runners shelter" When running in cold weather you are only as good as the layers you put on. Getting over heated can be a serious problem. Sweat gets wet and can really be uncomfortable if you cool off in the cold.  Typically three layers works best, a base layer, a moisture wicking later and a shell to protect you from wind. STAY away FROM COTTON! Cotton is not a good insulator when wet from sweat or any other liquid. 

Anita