half marathon

You Got This

Filed Under: Fitness, Inspire, Love, Workouts Tagged With: half marathon, inspire, life, motivation, running

“You got this,” seemed to be the mantra that played over and over in my head before I fell asleep last night.

You may have seen the post on Facebook or Instagram, but yesterday at my 7th half marathon, I finally PR’d again for the first time since my first half marathon in 2009. More on that in a bit…..

You Got This

Saturday

It all started Saturday morning. Ryan and I took the kids to coffee and the farmer’s market, and then Ryan had to leave to go to a golf event to play and show our improvement thanks to skytrak simulator,if you are a serious golfer and looking to lower your scores and strike the ball better, than best putting mat golf simulator is definitely worth it. The feedback you receive on each shot is truly remarkable and can be of great assistance in lowering your scores and improving your ball striking.

We needed some things at Target, so I took the kids by myself.

It was still morning, but even then, Target was packed. I parked. I got the kids out, one-by-one, then we went into the store. Every single time I take all three by myself, it’s chaos. There really is just no way around it. Amiya still goes in the Ergo, Isaiah in the front of the cart, and Samarah in the back. They are loud, they sometimes fight, and there is always a meltdown or two.

Never fails.

But I’m pretty used to it, and it’s okay.

So we did Target and headed out. I put the girls in the car and shut the door. I started wheeling Isaiah around to his side (the right side), when a man pulled his small SUV out of the space directly to my right, rolled down his window and said, “You need to learn how to park. You cramped me backing out.”

My right, rear tire was literally on the white line (everything else was inside the white line), and I had parked like that because when I got there, I was parked in on the other side and I needed a little space in order to get all the kids out.

I stared at him because I thought he was kidding. He had clearly seen me struggle with all three children, so I was thinking he was about to say something like, “Just kidding. Good luck with all the kids.” But then, nope, nothing. Just a lecture, rolled up his window and drove off.

It took every single last ounce of patience in me not to scream total obscenities at him. I haven’t been livid like that in so long. What’s wrong with people?!

I got Isaiah into the car, I got into the car, sent Ryan a picture of the scene and story, took several deep breaths and drove off.

On the way home, a man was trying to get out at a busy intersection. I stopped to let him get out when no one else would. Because, well, I had a decision. Pass along the horrible actions or create something good. I chose the latter.

A one, two, and three-year-old and a man with no class…..I’ve totally got this.

Sunday

I wish I had a big story about the race yesterday (like what I learned at my 10K), but I don’t.

The goal for this race was to PR. That was it. In 2009, I ran a 1:48:30. I wanted to pace at 8:15/mile or less. And I did it. But honestly? I’m not sure how.

Around mile 5 already I started to fade. I went in and out of feeling good from miles 5-13.1, but mostly I felt less than great. But still, I kept on telling myself, “You got this.”

I kept my eyes ahead, and while I thought it was a super pretty run, it was an extremely mentally challenging run because most of the time I was running alone. I steadily passed about 5-7 people, letting only 1 re-pass me.

Towards the end of the race, I kept looking at my Garmin, and she told me during that last .75-ish miles that I had to move fast or I would, in fact, miss my PR. And at that point, that was not an option because I had spent the better portion of 7 miles feeling blah so what would another mile be?

As I sprinted to cross the finish line, I saw 1:47 on the clock (but also knew I started several seconds after the clock began) and also threw up (well nothing came up, but all the motions happened). I have never ever thrown up after a race or workout in general.

But my whole body was spent, and sometimes I think this has to do with the fact that I don’t just run races, I run them while also battling a healing journey still. Running is super stressful on the body for the normal runner, much less someone like me. (And no, I’m not giving it up. It’s not currently an option, and you’ll understand why sooner rather than later likely.)

Anyways, the people at the finish line were amazing, and quickly got me water and food. I drank all the water I could, and then I was perfectly fine.

Ryan is amazing (as always) and brought the kids to the race so they were all at the finish line. We all left together, grabbed a latte on the way out of town, and headed home. I spent a few hours relaxing, and once Amiya and Isaiah were up from their naps, we all went to the pool.

Later that night it was confirmed that I did in fact PR. I clocked in at 1:46:49, and for only consistently training about 5 months now, I was (and am still) super excited!

My next goal would be to hit 1:45, but I also want to spend some time lifting again. I’m re-dedicating two full days to lifting because I miss the balance.

Shaving off another 1:49 might take quite some time. I have this amazing running mentor, and we talked after the race. She told me, “My improvements came over the years with consistency. Years ago I ran a bunch of 1:35’s. I could not budge past that. My goal for years was 7 minute pace. Which is 1:31:45. I kept plugging away at the training and one day skipped right on past 1:31 and ran 1:27!!! It takes consistency and keeping on doing the do. Trust me in this…. it all comes in time. Consistent training and recovery and your body builds fitness. Trust the process!”

Again, I have only been at this for 5 months. I feel optimistic, healthy, and happy for all that lies ahead – in so many facets.

Monday

And here we are, Monday again. I am thinking about all the weirdness, greatness, and everything in between from this past weekend.

During it all, no matter, remember……you got this, I got this, we got this.

Xox,
SKH

Nike Women’s Half Marathon: it’s over but I don’t want it to be

Filed Under: Fitness, Inspire, Love, Wellness, Workouts Tagged With: fitness, goals, half marathon, Healthy Lifestyle, inspire, life, races, running, workout

For that last .25 miles, I sprinted about a 7 minute per mile pace. I was facing a clock which said 2:02. I knew I started the race about 3 minutes in, so if there was any way I might have a 2:00 finish, I needed to book it.

The problem with that was that when I crossed the finish line, there was carpet and a magnetic strip “lump” (where our time was recorded). I slowed way down, but in the process tripped and subsequently fell directly on the finish line and on my knees. I ripped a hole in my brand new pants and got a little banged up. It hurt and naturally I was super embarrassed, but I was so excited, proud and happy so I quickly got up, laughed and enjoyed the moment.

This was a race I dreaded for several weeks. I put myself on a last-minute 5-week half marathon training program. I had more hiccups during this training schedule than ever before. Yet somehow, when race day came, I was free of all fears, pain and agony.

Race day began at 3am. I woke up, made coffee and sipped on the java plus coconut milk plus raw honey and nibbled on a banana while keeping super still and quiet – and perusing Pinterest, pinning things like this in anticipation of our little (a new pre-race routine for me I think!)

We left the house at 4:30am, and we arrived in San Francisco at 6am. The race started at 6:30am, and from 6-6:22am, I waited in line for a porta potty break. Thank God I was able to make it in time!

My friend Karen and I headed to the starting line. We were near the beginning, with those who anticipated an 8-8:59 minute/mile pace.

If you’ve never done the Nike Women’s, it’s hard to explain, but there is so much energy and emotion. I can never help but feel happily overwhelmed and grateful to be there with 30,000 other people who are ready to take on the same streets. (For me, this race is far more than the little blue box at the end….but that sure does help the finish line 🙂 )

Beyonce’s “Run the World” was blasting. It took me straight across the starting line.

I ran, peacefully, with Karen for the first 6 miles. I smelled the sourdough bread on Fisherman’s Wharf around mile 2.5. At mile 3, there was a short, but steep hill. Around this point, my long-sleeved shirt came off. I was hot, but definitely not tired.

I did this same race back in 2009, and I remembered an awful hill from mile 6-7. I did not remember that those awful hills failed to subside until about mile 9. Hill climb after hill climb all I could think was, “Is it over yet?”

Lesson learned: no matter how short of a training program I do, if I do hard, hilly courses, I must work in several hill runs.

Around mile 10-ish is when I flew by the Cliff House (on top of hill), and I knew that that would be the last hill I’d run. It was foggy, dull and icky, but yet so beautiful.

With 3 miles left, my body felt a little sore, yet it was nothing like any of my prior runs. I swear I had a running angel next to me. I kept looking down at my Polar and it kept on telling me, “7:30 – 8:34 min./mile pace.” (p.s. THANK YOU Polar for the amazing motivation all run long. I’m even more excited for the device moving forward!)

I knew at mile 11 that I would never be able to finish in a time like I had in 2009, but I also knew that if I could just run fast and stay focused, I might hit a 2 hour finish.

I gave it my very best right up until the sprint at the end and my grand finale “fall.” (I don’t have rights to the photos, so I could not put them on my blog, but I have the pictures to prove it. Just click HERE and then my last name, “Hoffman” and Bib Number, “1613.”)

I have no shame.

If there is one thing I’ve learned from this training, race, and life in general, it’s that I WILL fall, I DO fall, but it’s the way in which I get back up that proves my character.

Turns out, it was worth it. My chip time was that 2-hour finish. I placed 302nd out of 3,543 in my age group and somehow managed to do this all fairly pain-free (and again, on only a 5-week training program).

When the race was over, we headed for a beautiful brunch in Tiburon at Sam’s Cafe with friends.

On our way back, as we crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge, I felt these real and raw emotions of, “it’s over and I don’t want it to be.”

My body began to ache later that day, night and the following day.

But all throughout Monday, I thought about those feelings near the bridge.

I hate running.

I love running.

I hate it so much that I’m not willing to give it up.

Running is such a blessed metaphor for life, and I think it’s that core idea which makes me never want to leave it.

We hate a lot of things. We hate a lot of “processes” that take us from start to finish. There are bumps, lumps, pains and agonies in all facets of life.

Where we endure the most, we typically gain the most. We come out on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge with that feeling like, “it’s over but I don’t want it to be.”

It’s strange. It’s chaotic. It makes no sense.

So is life, and so has been my life for the past few years.

I’m ready to release my body from the stresses that long-distance running puts on it for awhile. (My sports doctor told me yesterday that I can still do sprints and run up to 3-ish miles while I “heal.” <–sweet!)

(NOTE: Does anyone know of a great – mostly flat – half marathon course in May/June-ish?)

But I’m NOT ready to throw it all in forever.

I’ll never be ready to throw in my running shoes.

In fact, I’ll never be ready to give up on anything that makes me feel something.

Xox,
SKH

p.s. Even though you parked 4 miles away (which made my distance over 16 miles for the day), I still love you, adore you and appreciate you. More than you know….