Living the Dream Then and Now
Over the summer I decided I needed a goal so I signed up for the Bay State Half Marathon. I love a good meaty challenge, and this race seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to get back into a regular running routine (and since I have the time, then hey, why not! The time off is a gift, right?). I also have this incredibly insane thought about running a qualifying marathon next year for Boston 2015. We'll see. First, let's start with 13.1.
As a side note, I ran this particular half marathon back on October 18, 1998 with my friend Melinda. Sheesh, doesn't that sound like ancient history? And now, 15 years and 2 days later, I laced up my shoes and made the trek to Lowell for this fast and flat course along the Merrimack River. Running a big race again conjured many fond old memories and quirky race rituals yet provided a fresh perspective on what's new in the running scene in the twenty first century.
Pre-race planning: I'm a creature of habit. Typically before any big race (over a 10K, that is) I like to eat my pre-race meal at home because the only important person at this point isme the runner and comfort is top priority. Yesterday we had plans with some friends to hang out at their house late in the afternoon for appetizers. I decided to hang out for a few hours then politely leave at 6:30pm with the kids and head home for some ziti with Rinaldi marina sauce.
Race dayparanoia arrival: I'm a punctual person. When it comes to road races, I'm a bit neurotic about getting to the race well before the start. The challenge for this race was the 8am start time. This meant getting up before the crack of dawn at 5:30am (yep, pitch black) and leaving by 6:30am (still pitch black by the way) which provided plenty of time to secure parking and take care of bodily necessities. The timing all worked out, and I arrived at the start 35 minutes pre-gun.
Find me some bush: Even with 35 minutes to spare (and freeze your behind off in 50 degree October morning air) the bathroom lines were abysmal. After hunting around for a few minutes I was feeling really discouraged to wait in lines of 100 people deep for a plastic pee house. So, I did what any resourceful runner would do and checked out the surrounding area for a cluster of trees and bushes. Thankfully the Tsongas Center has good landscapers so I escaped the port-o-john hell for a little one-on-one with nature then headed back to the corral.
Runner camaraderie: Runners are a darn friendly lot. With about 20 minutes to the starting gun, I chatted with several people like we were all lifelong friends. One lady commented on my bib logo, "Livin the Dream." She said she wished she was more creative than putting "Barbara" on her bib. Then another woman with a southern accent came up to me and told me she loved my shoes, then chuckled. It took me a second or two to realize that we were both wearing the same hideous purple, black and neon green Brooks Ravennas. We both joked about how the running stores said they only carried this color combination. Lying bastards. Ok, they do come with black laces, which probably would help with the glare.
One mile to go (not really): Why is that last mile both a blessing and a curse? On the positive, you've already pounded the pavement for 12 grueling miles, so one more should be a breeze. You see the big sign, "One Mile To Go" and should feel elated, but you're not. As you start picking up the pace and visualize the big finish banner, you realize this last mile is taking forever. You want to be done, but you're not. The problem is your brain is not communicating with your body. And then you realize that the race organizers have played a dirty trick on you and miscalculated this last, so-called MILE. Yep, they stretched it out so they could torture our poor blistered feet. You think the end is near, but it's nowhere to be found. You hear people cheering and start to sprint toward the finish, but you can't see them, the foil or the clock--anywhere. You start to get agitated and continually think, "Where the hell is the finish?" This race was no different. I heard the cheers and what I really needed was more cowbell -- pronto.
Apps: I started using RunKeeper over the summer and love the app. I went from wearing a running watch to holding my iPhone 4 and having a nice interface for observing my pace and hearing a happy little voice that provides an update every five minutes. Some features for your workouts include pace, calories, mile splits, course maps and elevation. And this company is Boston based too.
Cool race swag: All the runners received these nifty long sleeve whisk-free race T-shirts. I didn't even realize they had thumb holes until I got home much later after the race. You have to love a running shirt with built in thumb holes. These shirts also have a curvy, feminine fit. I mean, if you are wearing Kelly green, at least the fit should be flattering. So much better than the shapeless cotton long sleeves I used to get (decades ago).
Running Skirts: I did see plenty of running skirts and skorts. I'm just not a fan. I like skirts for tennis, but that's about it. I'm still a girl who will take fit and function over style when it comes to running. At the end of the day, you're going to sweat. Of course, I am a girl who still hoards all her black and navy running clothes from over a decade ago and could probably use a little upgrade. Or at least a splash of color.
Knee Socks: I've mostly observed marathoners wear compression socks. I believe these are most useful for longer runs to enhance blood circulation both during and after a long run. A lot of women wore them today in bright colors. I just wonder how well they stay up.
I ended the day at an old fashioned ice cream parlor with some friends visiting from Turkey. While I opted for a slice of apple pie topped with French vanilla, guess who decided to get the Sultan's Sunday? Even your biggest fans work up an appetite.
As a side note, I ran this particular half marathon back on October 18, 1998 with my friend Melinda. Sheesh, doesn't that sound like ancient history? And now, 15 years and 2 days later, I laced up my shoes and made the trek to Lowell for this fast and flat course along the Merrimack River. Running a big race again conjured many fond old memories and quirky race rituals yet provided a fresh perspective on what's new in the running scene in the twenty first century.
Some things never change
Pre-race planning: I'm a creature of habit. Typically before any big race (over a 10K, that is) I like to eat my pre-race meal at home because the only important person at this point is
Rinaldi's is excellent sauce in a jar (just saying)
Race day
Find me some bush: Even with 35 minutes to spare (and freeze your behind off in 50 degree October morning air) the bathroom lines were abysmal. After hunting around for a few minutes I was feeling really discouraged to wait in lines of 100 people deep for a plastic pee house. So, I did what any resourceful runner would do and checked out the surrounding area for a cluster of trees and bushes. Thankfully the Tsongas Center has good landscapers so I escaped the port-o-john hell for a little one-on-one with nature then headed back to the corral.
Runner camaraderie: Runners are a darn friendly lot. With about 20 minutes to the starting gun, I chatted with several people like we were all lifelong friends. One lady commented on my bib logo, "Livin the Dream." She said she wished she was more creative than putting "Barbara" on her bib. Then another woman with a southern accent came up to me and told me she loved my shoes, then chuckled. It took me a second or two to realize that we were both wearing the same hideous purple, black and neon green Brooks Ravennas. We both joked about how the running stores said they only carried this color combination. Lying bastards. Ok, they do come with black laces, which probably would help with the glare.
One mile to go (not really): Why is that last mile both a blessing and a curse? On the positive, you've already pounded the pavement for 12 grueling miles, so one more should be a breeze. You see the big sign, "One Mile To Go" and should feel elated, but you're not. As you start picking up the pace and visualize the big finish banner, you realize this last mile is taking forever. You want to be done, but you're not. The problem is your brain is not communicating with your body. And then you realize that the race organizers have played a dirty trick on you and miscalculated this last, so-called MILE. Yep, they stretched it out so they could torture our poor blistered feet. You think the end is near, but it's nowhere to be found. You hear people cheering and start to sprint toward the finish, but you can't see them, the foil or the clock--anywhere. You start to get agitated and continually think, "Where the hell is the finish?" This race was no different. I heard the cheers and what I really needed was more cowbell -- pronto.
What's New
Apps: I started using RunKeeper over the summer and love the app. I went from wearing a running watch to holding my iPhone 4 and having a nice interface for observing my pace and hearing a happy little voice that provides an update every five minutes. Some features for your workouts include pace, calories, mile splits, course maps and elevation. And this company is Boston based too.
Cool race swag: All the runners received these nifty long sleeve whisk-free race T-shirts. I didn't even realize they had thumb holes until I got home much later after the race. You have to love a running shirt with built in thumb holes. These shirts also have a curvy, feminine fit. I mean, if you are wearing Kelly green, at least the fit should be flattering. So much better than the shapeless cotton long sleeves I used to get (decades ago).
Running Skirts: I did see plenty of running skirts and skorts. I'm just not a fan. I like skirts for tennis, but that's about it. I'm still a girl who will take fit and function over style when it comes to running. At the end of the day, you're going to sweat. Of course, I am a girl who still hoards all her black and navy running clothes from over a decade ago and could probably use a little upgrade. Or at least a splash of color.
Knee Socks: I've mostly observed marathoners wear compression socks. I believe these are most useful for longer runs to enhance blood circulation both during and after a long run. A lot of women wore them today in bright colors. I just wonder how well they stay up.
I ended the day at an old fashioned ice cream parlor with some friends visiting from Turkey. While I opted for a slice of apple pie topped with French vanilla, guess who decided to get the Sultan's Sunday? Even your biggest fans work up an appetite.
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