Running into 2013

What would New Year's Eve be without ye tired old tradition of recapping 2012? First of all, we didn't blow up on December 21st, so we can take it from there.

Something though happened this year. Yes, I focused more on half marathons, switched to 5K's during the summer for heat purposes, then went back to halfs (pulling 3 within a month!) But this year wasn't so much about physical growth as emotional. While I still love to pick out a random race just for my own enjoyment, I found that this misfit could be part of a loose-knit runners group. And like it! I also discovered that there are times it's better to have a friend along, like the Cellcom.

The first goofy random one was an Oshkosh/New London St. Patrick's double fiasco that I didn't quite pull off (thanks to disregarding traffic from a parade of 25,000!) Things went better in St. Paul, MN April 8th, after a rocky start on the morning after my friend's wedding reception. When I found out he was tying the knot again, the first thing I did was check active.com for a race the next day. Despite the previous chaos (too much beer, appetizers, and emotion) the run itself around Lake Phaelen was very peaceful. Although it was right in the city, it was an beautiful oasis. I also showed I could kick ass on hills!

I'm also very glad I did the Runway Run at the EAA in Oshkosh. In a way it was a salute to my dad. We ran right under the control tower, and I made a point to salute the boys up there. We ran under the wing of a C5, and I PR'd to boot (by 6 seconds I believe.) I have a feeling if I go back next year I will have company.

My favorite "random" solo race had to be in Adams. Although temporarily taken aback by a detour, I got there in plenty of time. For 17 bucks I got two t-shirts, two medals, and a pancake breakfast! If that wasn't enough, I got the bonus of a ride on a 1938 fire engine. I asked another runner to take a picture of me, and it turned out so nice I had copies made.

But then it was back to the gang. Not long after I got home from Adams we went to Eagle River for a midnight run, followed by Run Your Bass Off in the U.P. the next morning. Understandbly my time sucked on that one, but it was a helluva a good time. The next week I ran in only a sports bra on a very steamy night in Point, Nobody passed out, nobody cared.

I noticed something else that night, looking at our group picture later. From the knees down, my calves looked just as strong and nice as anyone else's. I was always self-conscious of my body and supposed lack of fitness (which is really kind of bullshit) but thanks to these friends of mine, I'm starting to get over it. As I've been this way 43 years, I don't expect a full recovery anytime soon, but I'll take it.

When I went back to 5k's in summer, I started training more for speed and it showed. I PR'd in the 5k, mile, 2 and 5 miles (did especially well in that last one.) The only thing I didn't PR in was the half and all I have are excuses as to why I didn't. Bad ankle in Eagle River, adjusting to diabetes medicine at Fox Cities, sleet in Wautoma, heat in Titletown (not even going there!) But still, 13 halfs is nothing to sneeze at! Who would've thought the mouse potato would ever say that doing a half in Wisconsin Dells would make it one of her nicest birthdays ever? Not this chick.

Speaking of chicks, one of the more unusual races I've ever done was the all-women Chick-amegon in Ashland. Despite horrible weather, it was a roadtrip to remember, complete with feathered boas, artisan wells, and Barry Manilow. There's still more tales to tell, like the half in Norwalk where I was nearly taken out not by physical defect, but claustrophobia! Then there was the half in my hometown where I was totally kicking butt until I got to a hill that my sister doesn't even like to drive up. I learned a lot about pacing that day (and the evils of eating too many wings and drinking too much 75 cent Old Style after a race.)

So many memories, and lessons learned. Here's to 2013.

Fox Cities marathon

I've been reading several blogs from the Fox Cities Marathon, but I just can't seem to get mine going because it was a very drama-less race for me. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I was 4 minutes off last year's PR of 3:07, and really have no good reason for that. Sure I could blame the Forerunner for going into Personal Trainer mode so I didn't know what my pace was. And I could sing the blues about that damn Glipizide diabeties medicine I was put on the week before the race.

But that wouldn't be fair to either the Garmin corporation or the pharmaceutical industry. Simply put, sometimes under near-perfect conditions I suffer from a lack of mental focus. Like a race horse without blinders I start looking around, and forget why I'm there: to get the best time I possibly can. But then again, what's really so bad about that?

So I will focus on the 5K, which went very well, despite a few glitches. Just as they were making an announcement thanking so-and-so for the PA system, it cut out completely, along with the timing system and the giant Finish arch deflating. Somehow they lost all their power, and I saw several people trying to get it all back up with one extension cord. Finally they dropped the megaphones and got back on real power. By that time though, the starting area got pretty chaotic. I ended up further back than I should have been, right amongst the dog walkers and strollers. So there was lots of weaving at the start. Finally I got some clean air and started loosening up a bit. I was rather amused by the 75 volunteers wearing the same shirt so I uttered "looks like a whole church." "It is!" said the enthusiastic water lady.

I was feeling pretty good by the time we hit the trail, so I knew I could kick it in at the end. Unfortunately, not being able to see the finish line without the arch I started the kick too early, and missed my PR by 15 seconds at 39:22 (though I'm sure my weaving at the start didn't help matters there.) Still, the shoe-shaped medal was worth the price of admission. I was 61 out of 110 in my five-year age group.

As for the rest of Saturday, I took a bus tour of the full-marathon course. I thought that the windwill in Little Chute was only symbolic, but nope, it was 100 feet tall! I started to feel sort of woozy on the ride, so I needed food, soon. Thankfully I had some pretzels to hold me over, but then I tried to go to Noodles and Company and it looked like a riot. I attempted to drive somewhere else in the Fox River Mall area (impossible on a Saturday) and my car made me wait 10 minutes. So I ended up walking to this place called Serious Burger. Indeed it was, in taste and price! I had the Farmhouse Burger: Nueske's Bacon, sunny-side up egg, garlic mayo, and onion rings, 12 bucks! Still, any port in a storm.

Finally the car settled down and I got to Half-Price Books where I found a Sinatra set that turned out to have 7 songs I didn't have for $2! A treasure. Eventually I got to my motel, and made plans to meet Michelle for dinner a few doors down. Damn wifi wasn't working at motel, the only thing that marred the visit. Medium pizza cost only 2 bucks more than my bleeping burger. Took my picture by the tank at the American Legion. A nice time was had by all.

Running statistics, Patty style

Runners are obsessed with statistics: split times, negative split times, mileage, and pace. Looking at my physique, I’m sure a lot of people think the only “pace” I’m interested in is the picante sauce. Though it is one of nature’s most perfect foods, I am indeed concerned about the other one, and I crunch the numbers like everyone else.  While I used to keep a more detailed training log, these days I leave it up to my second Garmin to do that for me.

Instead, I log more fun stats. I finally sat down and totaled my number of races since 2009. To the best of my knowledge, I’m at 155 right now, including 13 half-marathons. Due to the fact that I have worry-wart, elderly parents, I try to confine my racing to counties that border my own (it doesn’t hurt that I live in the biggest county in Wisconsin!) While one of my friends doesn’t believe me, I can show him that yes indeed, most are within that radius. Out of 44 races so far this year, only 11 have been “outside the lines,” and most of those were within 2 hours of home.

I also keep track of the charities that I run for. Granted, some races are for profit, but I still enjoy the ones that are going to a good cause.  This past weekend, I ran to help the tuition assistance fund at a local Lutheran high school, and also did Lacey’s Run, which gives scholarships to people without insurance fighting cancer. This year I did a “virtual” run for Paul Newman’s camps for kids with cancer, ran to help preserve part of the Ice Age Trail, and hoofed it for high school sports teams, and fire departments.  Sometimes I wonder if I do too many races, but I really do enjoy that aspect of it, and it’s time and money I’m not spending in a thrift store (though I still partake in moderation.)

While hearing the words “Boston” and “New York” make  runners’ hearts beat a little faster, I am a small town woman, and my race roster reflects this. Of all the towns I’ve ever raced in, only 14 of them have a population over 12,000. The two smallest, Navarino and Mt. Morris are unincorporated. The next on the list is Eland at 251, an old railroad town where the postmistress once took my water bottle home to fill from her own well (and brought me back a cookie too!) Next is tiny White Lake at 329 souls, then Withee to the west at 508. On the other end of the scale, the largest is nowhere near NYC in population: St. Paul, Minnesota at 288,488. Maybe someday I will cross the start line in a big metropolis, but for right now, the eastern Twin City will have to do.

Maybe these are not the most competitive statistics you’ve ever seen, but they’re one of the big reasons I run.

Why I named my blog what I did

I decided to name my blog "Still Running Against the Wind" for several reasons. First of all, I love Bob Seger and his music, and the fact that he's a Midwestern boy done good. Years later the song was prominently used on the Forrest Gump soundtrack. I can relate to the Tom Hanks character very well.

One day, Forrest just started running across America, then went back and did it again. And again. He really had no goal in mind. Aside from getting fit, and wanting to use my feet to help others, that was me three years ago. And I still don't really have a big goal or uniqueness! 

Runners are very goal-oriented people in general. For the fast ones, it's getting an elusive BQ (a time good enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon.) Many people want to join the "50 marathons in 50 states" club. I know one gentleman that wants to do every marathon in the state of Wisconsin. My good friend Michelle is trying to do a race in every county of our state. I've seen people running and juggling at the same time, and I read about an excellent runner that became the world's fastest Elvis. While I have run several races as my superhero alter-ego "The Blue Blazer" she's not a part of my permanent ensemble.

I do try to do races for causes that may not be earthshaking, but are important to the people involved, like equiping fire engines, and playground equipment for domestic abuse shelters. I also enjoy very small town races: most practically give you the key to the city in your goodie bag! But neither of those are terribly organized goals either. So I am very open to suggestions.

More importantly, I called it "Still Running Against the Wind" because it also applies to my life. I have always been my own person, and have not always done things the conventional way. Marriage and the baby carriage just hasn't happened for me. I have many different interests, and friends from all walks of life. I certainly don't look like a runner either: I tend to surprise people when I come barrelling across the finish line. I've never had a trainer or training partner, and have basically learned by watching people who do know what they're doing. Sure, there's always a few militants that get irritated when they have to wait for their medals until I cross the finish line. But most runners are very supportive, and that's why I fell in love with the sport. As I'm already 42, I'm not sure how long I can keep going, but I will keep going against the wind as long as I can. 

An Unexpected Not-So Side Benefit to Running

When I first laced up my sneakers for my first race in 2009, I had a few fairly reasonable expectations. One was to lose weight and to improve my stamina and overall fitness. After 70 pounds gone and after almost 150 races including 12 half-marathons, I think that is mission: accomplished. I quickly found another reason: to help others raise funds for a variety of causes throughout the state. I've walked and jogged many steps for everything from Paul Newman's camps for kids, to horse therapy and catastrophic medical expenses for the uninsured.  

But I never expected racing would be the answer to a poem, a prayer almost, that I wrote in 2006, back when I weighed 250 pounds and could barely waddle across the living room. At the time, my best friend since childhood and I were estranged. Written on an old legal pad it said:

Wanted: another friend. Must be trustworthy, understanding, on time, and willing to take feelings seriously. Treating me like a queen is optional, but nice. 

While we have mended fences and are still dear friends, physical distance will probably limit our visits to once every year or two. It's the same with more of my wonderful friends: they all live at least 45 minutes from me, and many are busy raising their families. I just really missed having someone to hang out with and see fairly regularly (it doesn't have to be every day.)

That first year on the circuit I was still pretty out of shape and embarrassed to even be there, so I pretty much kept to myself before and after races. But it seemed I kept popping up at the same races as this younger blond woman. Near the end of that first season, we smiled at each other, and in 2010 we just started comparing notes on different races. Not much later, a gentleman about 10 years older than me started doing more races on the circuit. After one particularly rough 10K I had a year ago, they each gave me a high five at the finish.

Little did I know that each fit the description in that "want ad" to a T! Both of them have inspired me to become a better runner, and more importantly, a better person. Instead of going to thrift stores and buying everything in sight (I still go in moderation), I'd rather be hanging out with them after a race, riding a Ferris wheel, eating chicken wings, or just plain gabbing. I hope they have learned something from me as well.