Azalea Trail Race & Week of Runs

This past week has been a good running week for me as you can see in my Weekly Running Log above. I put in more miles this week preparing for the Azalea Trail 10k than I have since my injury in the Mardi Gras Half Marathon. It was the first time I could run without pain (or little pain). I ran slow easy paces so that I could run the ATR and not walk.

My plan was to run 3 miles on Thursday at a competitive speed; but that didn't work out. It was VERY humid and hard to breathe so I got 3 miles any way I could hoping it would be enough for the 10k in a couple of days. My goal had been to run, not walk, and with little or no pain. Now that I was feeling better, my competitive part of me wanted to aim for speed and forget the fact that I had hardly run since my injury. With the 3 mile run ending my runs for the week until the race, I settled on accepting a 10 minute mile pace for the 10k.

ON TO THE AZALEA TRAIL:
Saturday came and I felt really good. I had experienced no recent pains with the exception of one here and there to remind me that it could still have control of me when it wants to. But it was waning in intensity and regularity so I was hoping my body was getting control again. Having babied my cracked rib for a while now, my thinking was that it was healing well. Although...it had been a month since the fall! I mean, how long can a runner wait??? Right??

The temp was in the mid forty's and the weather was clear. Everything was great for a Spring 10k. The air was filled with excitement and people were beginning to gather everywhere you looked. This year the ATR added a 5k which many participated in. I think it was a great idea. Also, new this year was a chipped bib. I was excited about this thinking my "real" time would be the recorded result and I could compare it with my Garmin. Although I take the Garmin over any other type of recording since it is satellite regulated.

My plan was to shoot for a 10 minute pace. Competing against my time last year, which was my best 10k to date, was out of the question as I didn't want to damage any healing I had received over the month. BUT, as with all races, once the gun is fired, the legs and feet have only one goal...run as fast as you can. I "tried" not to do this but it is absolutely the most exciting time of the race with entering the shoot a close second. Everyone is so hyped up and no one is tired, hurt, or sick at this point. This is sooo much fun!

I constantly looked at my watch to see my pace and, of course, it was faster than I had intended on running. But I thought after the first mile, I'd slow down just from the fact that I hadn't run like this in quite a while. The second mile marker appeared and I was still keeping the faster pace with ease. I just knew that I would be pooped by the 5th mile if I didn't take it easier. Then I did a little evaluating. How am I feeling? Am I breathing too hard? How is my rib feeling? Are my legs or feet hurting? And, honestly, I must say "No" to all of these questions. So.....I kept running.

Before I knew it, the 5k'ers were entering the race with us at the 5 mile mark. BIG problem here...Although I was excited about having a 5k and even at the same time, the funnelling in with the longer race runners was almost a disaster. You begin to see that the walkers from the 5k were taking the entire road. Now, your mission for the race has changed from achieving a good time to avoiding obstacles...like baby carriages side by side and talkers strolling in the middle of the road and small children everywhere!! This caused a lot of slowing down and weaving and bobbing killing precious time. And this was at the 5 mile mark...basically the end when you're pushing a little harder for a better time!! I did my best in pushing my way through them and finished with a great time but wondered how I would have done without the extra "issues" we had to encounter. Hopefully, they will rethink how to bring the two races together for a smooter transition for next year.

As mentioned earlier, my goal was a 10 minute mile pace. My Garmin results were: 55:41 with a 8:53 pace!! I was sooooo excited. And comparing with last year's results, that was only 28 seconds off! I couldn't believe it. Now, I really can't wait until next year's race! Kent ran a good race, too. He beat the 30 minutes he had wanted to do in the 5k. We are off to a great year of racing!!

A FINAL NOTE: The thing I like about races is that size and shape make no difference! Anyone can do it and should. If you can't tackle a 10k you should be able to do a 5k. I mean, really...a woman can walk miles shopping, even one or two getting groceries in Wal-Mart alone! So what's the excuse? You CAN do it!!

Eagle 5k Race

Saturday was the Eagle 5k Race. It started at 9:30 with the Fun Run preceding the 5k. There were so many sweet children in the Fun Run and I enjoyed watching them run. Since I didn't want to run a race until the Azalea Trail, I was on the sidelines watching everyone. This has been so hard for me but I didn't want to mess up next weekend. The police had to make last minute changes to the race course for the 5k due to five other conflicts and being spread out all over. So the race was basically run in two halves with the midway turn-around being at the beginning of the course. I'm sure this pleased Leonard, the Race Director, greatly. The humidity was high but it didn't rain.

Three seconds into the race. Check out my Joe Cool here!


At the turn around.


Coming in after a hard-to-breathe kinda race!


Some fellow Gulf Coast Club Racers. Our fearless leader, Leonard. Sorry the clock wasn't in view to capture the time.


Bob C. crossing the line.


Nancy P. coming in. I know she enjoyed running for a change.


Sausage, red beans and rice were served afterward along with bananas and drinks. Finally, a quick snapshot of me ... I know you've been waiting for this one ...

Medical Update

Got the results of my MRI and everything seems clear. I am now told that I have a cracked rib. I am thankful that that is all there is to it and it will heal on its own. I am feeling much better today and am running a little more each time, which is every other day right now. My run today was the fastest I've run since the injury and almost up to my norm. Wanting to run as best as I can, my runs will not be paced as fast as I usually run since I want to run medium to well at the Azalea Trail 10k Race in a week. Hopefully, it won't be long and I'll be good as new.

I am so blessed to be in good shape and thankful that I have a real yearning to take care of myself. And, best of all, to have a husband and friends that love this sport I'm falling deeper in love with all the time!

St. Patrick's Day 5k

The 5k Race Saturday was great! Though I couldn't...and didn't...run, I felt better than I had since the half marathon accident two weeks ago. It was a beautiful, yet windy, day! I gladly cheered Kent on. It was a great race for him! He has continued to have problems with his feet but today he ran well and did better than he expected.

Being thankful that I wasn't in pain for the first time in many days, I resorted to enjoying the beautiful sunshine until Kent came in. Then minutes before the race began, Leonard V. came to me and asked if I would take pictures at the beginning of the race. I was so excited that I had something "running-related" to do AND as a GCRC member, too! I felt useful! He'll never know how much I appreciated helping out. Thanks, Leonard!!!!! I was about to bust to run and this helped me so much.

Kent came in almost TWO minutes better than he was expecting even in the face of strong head winds on the return coming in at 29:43!! Fantastic job, Honey!!


My hero...


Winners! Can you tell Bob is excited?? (I think it was the weather, you think!) Kent received 3rd place...


The course was a flat, fast one...one I really looked forward to. There were many participants; the race was an overall success. There were all kinds of drinks available as well as oranges, bananas and pineapples. Now, I have next year to shoot for. I will work harder than ever for 2011!

A few candid pictures...

Prayers

For those that pray, I would ask for your prayers. I am really down. The fall I recently experienced has caused so many problems that seem to pop up. An MRI is scheduled tomorrow for my left side. Not sure what is going on. Am afraid of more trauma. Can't do much and yet there is so much planned to do. Thank you for your prayers!!

It's Now Been Confirmed!

I decided to go out for an easy 3 miler yesterday since my accident on Sunday. It was beautiful and I wanted to get out so bad. Nothing seem to hurt, so I thought I'd give it a try. I started out well then the pain took control! During my first mile, a sharp, burning pain shot through my left side. At first, I thought this was going to be a single incident so I ran another few steps; but it happened again and continued. What was this? I had not experienced this yet. I had felt a soreness and dull ache in this area right after the fall and for a couple of days but it seemed to have gotten better. The pain was so sharp that I stopped suddenly and grabbed my chest. Immediately I knew I could not run another step without intense pain. I began walking back to the truck and realized it stopped hurting and decided to complete my 3 miles with a walk. If I walked too fast, a dull pain would nudge me to remind me that it was still there but was being gracious to this stubborn runner.

By the time I got home, the pain returned and stayed with me. I could hardly stand it. I called the Sports Medicine Clinic in Hattiesburg and explained to them the events leading up to today's pain and they insisted on seeing me this morning. I was glad to oblige. The pain scared me as I wasn't sure that maybe I had a torn muscle from the fall and the running irritated it. Since the pain was so sharp and intense, I wanted to find out just exactly what was going on.

This morning I saw the doctor and after examination, she determined that I had a strained, torn muscle at the breastbone. She gave me some meds, some of which I can't wait to take (at night) for relief. Said that muscle relaxers would help me a lot in healing and to lay off running until next weekend (not tomomrrow). Ugh!!! I want to run outside so bad.

Though I have 3 races planned for the next three weekends (not tomorrow), the one I want to be sure I can do is the third one, the Azalea Trail 10k Run. So, I will be a good girl, do what the doc says, and wait this thing out; even if I have to miss the first two races.

But New Orleans hasn't heard the last of me yet. I WILL return next year. I will NOT let the New Orleans streets beat me...I'm coming back!!!!!!!

Mardi Gras 1/2 Marathon

There's so much to share on this post. This was an Inaugural Race and had always been called the Mardi Gras 1/2 Marathon and Marathon Race until this year when it was renamed to the Rock 'n Roll Mardi Gras 1/2 Marathon and Marathon Race. It is now included in the Rock 'n Roll Series of races held throughout the country.

So, let's begin with how beautiful the day was. The sun was out and warm with no wind! Perfect...even the temp was perfect. We all lined up in our assigned Corrals (mine was #7). Each group was released according to each one's expected finish time with the first one being the fastest. There were twenty something corrals! Time was spaced between each corral release so as not to bottle-neck with so many runners participating. It was announced that there were 15,000 runners.

Excitement filled the air and people lined the streets to give us a great send-off. Less than a couple of years ago, I was one of them and now I'm proud to say that I'm now one of the ones being cheered on. It is a GREAT feeling!! Bands were stationed approximately every mile or so playing their hearts out for us as we passed. I believe there were about 20 in all.

The race seemed to fly by! Before I knew it we were at the first mile, then the second, then the 5k mark. I couldn't believe how fast the race was progressing with such ease. Guess it was because there was so much to see and hear. My iPod was off more than it was on during the race. Just before I got to the 7th mile, I called Kent to let him know that I was now into the last half of the race and that I was feeling great. My main concern had been my right hip as I've been experiencing some pain for the last 3 weeks but there had been NO pain so far. I had done very well in pacing myself and had decided to increase my speed when I got to the 10-11 mile marker.

Then, all of a sudden, things changed! Everything about me was weird as I felt myself airborne and suddenly FLAT on the ground!! If my hands had not caught me I would have kissed it! All I knew was that I was in a LOT of pain. Blood was everywhere, my whole right side was killing me. It seemed surreal as I felt myself hit the ground hard; first my hand, then my knee, followed by my right breast (sorry, but it was like I was in slow motion and pain hit each area specifically). My right knee was hurting bad. I was in agony and didn't know what had just happened. I never saw it coming. As I got up, I realized that my Garmin watch had been torn off my left wrist...torn off! I had fallen almost straight down and my left side got it, too. That hand was scratched up and the palm peeled back with skin hanging off. My right hand received the blunt of the fall. I hobbled over to the side to gather my senses and regain composure. I didn't know whether to cry or what, I was in shock trying to figure out what happened. Several people stopped to see if they could help and one sweet lady assisted me off the ground and asked if she could stay with me; but I told her no that I was fine. I could hardly speak at this time; I was stunned...I never saw it coming. But literally within seconds, I was on my way again...slowly at first, until I could overpower the pain in my right leg. Without walking any, I continued my running.

Then, out of the blue, I got mad! How could I have been so clumsy! As a matter of fact, I kept my eyes on the ground most of the time to prevent what had just happened. As I began to put the pieces together, I recalled looking up and the sun's rays caught my eye and blinded me for an nth of a second. It was then that I was personally introduced to New Orleans' fine street repairwork. My foot caught a "patched" place and it sent me flying through the air.

My right hand had torn open and flesh and blood was everywhere. Oh, the pain! I watched to see if it would coagulate and it did; therefore, I did not stop for first aid. The next couple of miles do not register with me. I do not remember them at all. Knowing the pain was going to stay with me until I got it looked at and bandaged, I focused on the race again. Surprisingly, I was doing well as far as running goes. Though I never increased my speed as I had hoped, I did regain the pace I was at before the fall. A First Aid station was inside the runner's shoot and I all but ran over there for assistance. I was still hurting and wanted to get this hand covered. Unfortunately, they couldn't give me anything for the pain; so we didn't stay long afterwards.

Later that day, when I was undressing, I saw bloody scratches on my left knee and my left arm all the way down my left side is so sore. My right knee is still swollen and deeply bruised as is my right hand. I do not bruise easy but let me tell you, if either of these two places are touched right now, I will probably scream! I am soooo very thankful that nothing was broken and that all of this will be nothing but a memory before long. It could have been so much worse.

Coming in to the Finish Line (I'm in black)


My prized medal...literally!!! It has gold gemstones all over it and must weigh 3 pounds!


Here are some pictures of my wounds that were taken a day and a half AFTER the race. Believe me when I tell you these wounds are almost healed now. This looks great! There is a large, deep bruise and still some swelling underneath the scratch on my right knee. It can hardly be touched even now.


You can see some bruising with great healing action going on here. Soreness is going away on this hand.


And the worse one...there is heavy trauma still going on with my right hand. It is still swollen quite bad and extremely tender to touch. The bruise is VERY deep but looks a ton better than it did when it happened. It is still an open wound. There are NO meds on it in this picture. And thanks to Tylenol, I'm gonna make it, ha!


All in all I really enjoyed the race...and don't be so critical when I say...I'd like to do this one again. It was flat and the course was very pretty. Let's just say I'm a determined kinda gal! I want to CONQUER these streets!!!

Below is a short slide that I made of a few Pacers that we met up with at the end of the half.