My own "Here and Now" 13.1 miles

Approaching mile 10 was one of the defining moments of yesterday's achievement. I know it may be an odd place to start this blog post. Especially since so many things happened before that moment.. However, it's the only thing I can think about right now as I try to sum up my first half marathon experience.  I had just endured the long and the "lowest" point of the race, roughly three miles up the winding hills and slopes in Mt. Hope cemetery.  There was a chill in the air and "my girls" were splattered all throughout the racecourse.  Ahead of me and in back of me, but we were still all in this together. I was alone with my thoughts (in the "Here and Now" to quote Peg) in such a beautiful and peaceful place.  I knew if I could get to mile 10, all I had was a 5K left. That's what Christine said on one of our training runs, and I already had a plan in place when I had reached that point. I held onto her words the entire race until it was time...

"Okay Divina... you only have a little bit more until you're done. Ignore the fact that your right arm is frozen and you can't open and close your hand. Put on your ear buds and blast your 3.1 mile playlist and don't you dare think about walking! This is the part you were waiting for and now it's time to prove that YOU CAN DO THIS!"

Insert this song:

Something about this song makes me feel invincible.

"Oh we got our feet on the ground and we're burning it down"

"Everybody stands as she goes by, cause they can see the flame that's in her eyes"

I knew this song could pump me up and rejuvenate my emotions and my mind. Maybe it could take me back to a week ago where I crushed my first leg of the Seneca 7.  

And guess what, IT DID!

Now that I was "on fire" I knew the next song on my playlist was going to make me even more focused for that finish line.

I know I've written my feelings about this song before but the way the beat, the chorus and a handful of fragment lyrics catch me at the right moment is what I wait for as I'm trudging along.  Eminem gets angry at the end of the song and I love the passion he has.  It's contagious. And when I'm at that point where my mind tries to get the best of me, screaming to stop.... this song allows me to scream right back  "feet fail me not this may be the only opportunity I got".

Every moment before this point of the race was truly special. 

This day wasn't just about me finishing. It was about strangers running for their own reasons and facing the challenge inside their minds.  Some ran in memory of a loved one, some ran with disabilities they battle each and every day.  It was truly moving and I was so proud of every single one of them!  Seeing raw emotions exposed on so many racers, friends and family who came out to support was overwhelming. 

I was able to see my cousin before her 5K race... a cousin that inspired me two Thanksgiving's ago to try this "whole running thing" as she ran passed me (while I walked the course) at the Webster Turkey Trot 2013.  She got me to tear up, and I hoped at that moment she knew how incredibly proud of her I was with everything she's accomplished.

Hearing the National Anthem sung before the race, running under the mammoth American flag that hung high above the course made it feel like a mission, and we'd all succeed at the end. I was with great friends, new friends and people who were there on day 1 (February 2, 2014) of this running journey.  It was such an incredible feeling.

During the race my husband rode around in his bike with my son and daughter in the trailer attached behind it. He came to various view points along the racecourse. While offering his support and love, he also made our children be part of this experience. To cheer for complete strangers and to hopefully show them that health, exercise and hard work can pay off... and that we'll always be there for them at their finish lines.  I can't find the word to describe what it meant for me to have them there yesterday.

When I came around one of the last bends before the finish line, I saw those three amazing people. I think I had maybe 1.5 miles left. It was awesome. I was able to give James one last kiss while he put the {much needed} arm sleeves back on my arm and offered a glove so my right hand could attempt to warm up. At that point, I could taste the finish line.

As I ran the last .8 mile of the race, my sister Jen greeted me and ran beside me for a little bit.  She told me she had seen Pina ahead of me, and that I looked so strong. It was the last push I needed to feel confident running passed the crowd lined up greeting all the runners home. She left when it was time for me to embrace everything I had worked for leading up to this point.  Man, was that stretch amazing or what!?!

Again, seeing so many faces that helped me get to that point of the day and faces of people who had already finished their race truly was the greatest feeling I've ever felt as a runner! 

As Ellen announced my arrival, I saw Pina standing there and I couldn't keep the tears in anymore. We had done it.. and together we were able to celebrate our achievement! Proud moment right there for sure, and something I'll hold close to my heart!

Alright Finish Line... I'll say the same thing I did to you a year ago. I'll be back to see you again, and I promise to look at you at the end of that race too, so you can push me to set my next goal.

Seneca 7 - Chafing The Dream

I never would have thought that joining a relay team back in January would have given me such an amazing experience like the one I had yesterday. Wait, let's take a step back.... First, I never thought I would ever join a relay team where I would be held responsible for running upwards to 9+ miles over the course of 12 hours. That was "something" my husband always did, but now I know why.  Yesterday I was part of a team that ran 77.7 miles around Seneca Lake. 

There were 21 legs that had a certain number of miles attached to it and 7 runners (including myself) each had 3 legs to run. I had leg #2, #9 & #16 and ran a little more than 9 miles total. The legs went in order (of course) and after your first leg, you would wait to run your next one once everyone on the team finished their first leg.
We drove around in a minivan, cheering on our teammate by honking and ringing cowbells out the window as we passed them on the road while heading to the next checkpoint. There, the next runner would be ready to receive the official (and sweaty, mind you) Seneca 7 slap bracelet, and then they were off.  We congratulated that runner who had just finished, recorded their arrival time and then hopped back in the car to do it all over again.

Rich, a good friend that James works with put together EVERYTHING for our day of fun.  This guy is pretty awesome and a great planner. (Makes me wonder why James gets along so well with him.. a brother from another mother perhaps??) He packed our food, gave us all a 
checklist of things to bring, and carted our sweaty butts all day in his own van. We had maps, water, great company and even team shirts so Chafing The Dream could all be unified!

I, could not have asked for a better team.  I was honored to run with them.  They pushed me mentally, because to me, all of them are serious, experienced runners. It was no secret that I was the "dead weight" but that term only existed in my mind. Everyone gave everyone else so much support it was truly the best. What moved me yesterday?  They did! 

I was able to share this experience with James and my sister-in-law, Jen.  Watching them complete their legs was pretty cool and inspirational.  I was so proud for both of them. Jen had a huge hill to endure and she kicked it's butt even while it tried to kick hers. James pushed himself harder than I have ever seen. He was also given some hills and heat that tested his endurance level. Everyone just did AWESOME!

We seriously could not have asked for a better day. Aside from all the race excitement, we were able to enjoy the beautiful sun, scenery and mid 60 degrees under a perfect blue sky.  The Finger Lakes region is absolutely gorgeous. Hills, Vineyards, Wineries lined our route on this caravan adventure.  

Leg #2 is DONE

As I was waiting to begin Leg #2, the excitement and nerves grew.  Everyone who was running this leg had to shuffle on a school bus and be brought to their first checkpoint to wait for their teammate running leg #1. Matt (who had started the race for Chafing The Dream) was one of the last runners to arrive, leaving me about .5 mile behind the closest runner ahead of me. That runner was one of the driving forces that kept me going.  I knew I wasn't going to catch up to her, but I also knew I didn't want to lose her in my vision.  
When I wasn't focused on her, I looked left and was able to see the lake and all the houses that bumped up to it. The sun was still sitting on the water and it was peaceful.  My overall "plan" for this race was to push hard my first two legs (since they were my shortest at 2.7 miles each) so I could coast a little at the end. When I got to the checkpoint and handed off to Alexa, I was blown away with the numbers on my watch!

The beginning of Leg #9 was the toughest point of the day for me for some reason. After running my first leg, my left foot really started to bother me. Stupid PF! I took some Advil and massaged the heck out so I could avoid as much pain as possible. The dull ache still remained while I stood there, waiting for Matt to come hand off that bracelet at the checkpoint. The plan of "pushing myself hard" so I could get another great leg pace weighed on my mind, along with other things I really had no business thinking about at that moment. My husband, my rock, could see that from across the street and came to join me as we waited for Matt together. He gave me the words I needed to hear and calmed me while a few tears fell down my face to release the tension I was holding up inside. I'll always remember that. As soon as Matt came to greet me, I was off.

The sun was higher in the sky and that lake still stood to the left in all its' beauty! When I heard those cowbells and team cheering out the window as they drove to where I'd meet them next, it was really motivating. At the end of my route I turned into Lakewood Winery, ran through the front part of their vineyards and passed on the torch to Alexa once again!

Leg #9 is DONE!

I finished only 10 seconds slower than the first leg and was still very proud of those numbers on the watch.. it's still faster than I've been currently running in training!

As the end of the day was approaching and our team was nearing their last leg, fatigue and tiredness was clearly evident. I tried to eat and hydrate enough because my last leg had the most distance.  Not only was it my longest, I started in a golf course, ran part of it on a trail, passed an insane asylum and even a prison. The rumor of this leg was "not to get lost" oh and you had to pass a snow plow and jump over logs and boulders as well.  Also,  I had to wear a reflector vest because "God forbid IF there was a prison break" they would need that vest to distinguish that I was not "a prisoner on the run that they would have to send the dogs after".  True Story!!  With all these different things to think about, for some reason I wasn't the least bit concerned. Funny, huh? All I knew was that it was my last leg and I'd be done for the day once I handed that slap bracelet to Alexa the final time. No tears, only excitement!

Leg #16 really took it's toll on me. As I was going downhill on this grassy trail, filled with rocks, divots and trees, I kept my mind focused on footing. I had a lot of momentum (~11:35 min pace).  With my downhill speed and my brain working pretty hard to "not fall" or "hurt my foot in the beginning of this leg", I got a bit lightheaded at the bottom.  My vision got a bit wonky and I needed to stop, walk and hydrate.  Luckily I had my handheld water bottle filled with Scratch Labs (sports drink with electrolytes) that helped bring my focus back. 

Leg #16 is DONE!

Man, was this leg the prettiest of them all.  I was SO close to the lake on this route, and the scenery reminded of the River at the 1000 Islands.  I had a few hills and gravel roads and saw many runners on this route.  At one point, I was about to pass (aka "kill") this woman on our first incline.  She looked really out of sorts and that "Mentor" inside of me came out. It was like I took everything Pina says to me and applied it to her.  "C'mon girl, we'll do this together.  You've got this".  I told her to just "bounce with me up this hill" and to stay strong.  

It felt so nice helping out someone who I could completely relate to.  When we got to the top, she had a tear in her eye and I said.. "no crying, only I cry".  She smiled and yelled "thank you" as I slowly passed her to continue on my way.  It was pretty cool and that helped me the next two miles until I got to that last checkpoint. Sure, I was a bit slower than I really aimed for, but I was done and so proud of everyone that did this journey with me!

At the end of the race, our Chafing The Dream team met up with Tim (who ran leg, #21) at the "Team Unification Point" . The seven of us crossed that finish line together. It was awesome, and I'll always remember that.  7 runners, (some that I had just met earlier that morning) shared an experience that could never truly be repeated... that is, until next year! Sign me up Richard, I'm all in!!! ( Oh, and I think I'll volunteer for Leg #4 so I can tackle that huge hill.  It's easy to say a year away, right?)

Double Digits

Yesterday I woke up to the beautiful sunshine, a day that was predicted to dabble into the 60's, a TEN mile run on the agenda, and husband with a fever who was feeling under the weather. My immediate reaction was to jump into "mom mode" and take care of him while distracting the kids so their dad could get some rest on the couch. I was about ready to call Pina (even though I really really did not want to) and tell her that I couldn't meet up with her and Christine. I started to think about other ways I could find time this week and hit the huge 10 MILEstone.  It pained me, because every other Sunday morning we battled the snow, cold temps, wind and more snow.  And now, we had the most perfect morning given to us. A morning we "earned" to quote Pina, to face the open road and put in some serious miles.  The sun was shining it's wonderful face and I tried to hold back from letting James know that I was a bit disappointed on how my morning's plan could change.

But, because he's my biggest supporter and a fellow runner, he did NOT let me miss this opportunity. The day before he had pushed himself farther than he ever ran... TWENTY whole miles, and yesterday... it was my turn.

When he insisted that I go and that he'd be fine, I did what any other good wife/mom in a time sensitive situation would do.  I grabbed him aspirin and a large water bottle. I then grabbed the Fruity Pebbles, bowls, cups, milk & juice and set up a picnic breakfast downstairs for the kids.  I put on Curious George, kissed the kids and flew out of the house. 10 MILES was going to HAPPEN!

"Beautiful" is not even the word for yesterday. It was beyond that. Rochester has not seen a day like that this whole year. The capris made their debut for the first time since last fall and I was ready.  Even more, my MIND was ready. 

I could not have asked for better company. Christine & Pina were both so awesome, strong and exactly the right combination to get me through this task. We parked at the JCC and took the canal path heading west towards Genesee Valley Park. At mile 5 we turned around and repeated the path back. The first 5 went by nicely. The second half was when I started to get shaky at times, but knew that if I kept my mind and spirit in check, that it was perfectly doable.  "I got this" kept ringing in my brain... along with "... on such a beautiful morning".  I will never forget this run!

We passed walkers, bikers and other runners. Towards the end of our trek we passed a runner wearing the hot pink NoBo shirt from last summer.  As she ran by us, we all cheered and I yelled "Go NoBo". Odd as it may sound it made me feel that we're "still" all in this together. Season after season, people join NoBo to learn how to run, or put their running journey to the next test and then "graduate" and move onto their next path.  However, they're still part of the family.  No matter which season are/were involved with, you still played a part into what it is today... at least that's how I view it.

Yesterday, I too was wearing my blue NoBoundaries "I can do anything cape" shirt, and boy...was that a great run!

What moves me today? The growing excitement for 13.1 at the FCC in two weeks.  Can't wait!!