Race bling: necklaces instead of finisher medals AND a PR (personal record, which in my case was finishing!) medal.
I want to write a real race report here, but my brain is not fully operational.
In fact, I’m not sleeping well and I’m a basket case, emotionally. Is this a post-race thing? I have no idea. If you’re a more experienced runner, go on and weigh in, because I’ve been a bit wonky since about 24-hours post-race.
Before I continue, let’s all accept that I will leave out some stuff, won’t mention all the people who deserve a-mentioning, and may not do my best (or even good) writing here. If you cannot agree to these terms, you should move along. I understand.
If you’re game for some rambles, here we go. Let’s talk about the course first.
This course was not my favorite. Granted, I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but I still know it was not my favorite. The handful of sheriff’s department employees and race volunteers were the only spectators until the last couple miles. There is no entertainment whatsoever, unless you count livestock.
And the hills. The hills!
I was told the last three miles would be flat. Someone needs to revisit math class to learn about angles or however it is you measure hills. With the exception of a couple flat-ish, rolling miles in the middle (I’d call most of it a false flat, because it was a long, slow climb from mile 8-to-9; at least I think that’s where it was – my memory is not 100% clear on which mile was which), the entire course is hills. Some are huge, like vertical, straight up, my car struggled with them; some are more like gentle rollers, if your idea of gentle is hauling your substantial behind up and down hills.
Thankfully, I had good company from Lisa, Nora, and Melanie during the middle of the race. I’m not so sure the tragicomedy I was writing in my head, starring race spectators Bessie the Cow and Carmine “The Big Chicken” Ragusa, would have been enough to entertain me for those miles.
Then there’s the golf course.
The last three miles were a special kind of mental torture. Miles so unpleasant that I think Guantanamo should look into a similar set-up. The mind-numbing boredom was paired with physical pain from trudging through a rat-maze-like course of rolling, concrete, golf cart paths. Hell, really.
I thought some very foul language and contemplated cheating by cutting across the course to the finish. I contemplated hard. But I don’t cheat, except for at board games. Look, Chutes and Ladders could last for hours. Someone has to end the game, for the love.
Hills from hell and imaginary conversations with roadside livestock aside, the most important bit of information is this: I finished, and I felt unbelievably good during the run. I took things really, really, really slowly, but it was the best run I’ve had in a while, as far as how I felt. My feet were light (until mile 10, the beginning of the concrete wasteland) and my head was clear (until mile 11, when I began flirting with streaking across a golf course).
I know a lot of people were praying for me. You may not believe in that, you may think it’s cheesy, you may not even be reading anymore.
I believe it made a difference, though, since the day before the race I was hurt. I had serious pain in my knee and hip with every step. And yes, I did the work, meaning I saw the sports chiropractor, then I iced, rolled out, took Advil, and rested as much as possible. But I also felt completely lifted up by the support of my friends and family. And yes, their prayers.
So there was that, for which I’m grateful.
I realize I’ve whined a lot about the course, and friends, it was hard for a first-timer. But here’s the thing (there’s always a thing): I did it, I feel amazing, aside from mild soreness, and I’m ready to go back for more. I’m ready, even if more means another round with that infernal golf course. So thank you, all of you who cheered me on during training and race day. It means everything to me.
There’s more to tell about the weekend, but, whoa, this post got long in a hurry. In summary:
* Hyatt Regency Lost Pines is beautiful (and they have good customer service – thank you, Hyatt, for responding to my check-out time dilemma).
* ZOOMA friends rock (please see the Ambassador page and the Muscle Milk Light Challenge page for a complete list of my new ZOOMA buddies – I’m so proud to know all of you!).
* Spa Django, heavenly.
* Coming home to 13 balloons, chocolate cake, and a proud family? Rocks.
Thanks to all of you!
And finally, here are some things I can now recommend as a running expert enthusiast:
* Trigger Point therapy
* Active Release Therapy (if you’re anywhere near Round Rock, TX, check out Dr. Seth Wagenblast at Active Sports Therapy)
* Pilates to stretch and strengthen hips and core (or any exercises that strengthen your core; I just happen to love Pilates and I have a great teacher if you want her name)
* Cross training (I need to do more of that)
* Compression socks and sleeves
* Good shoes (to celebrate my finish I ordered another pair of my beloved Brooks Glycerin 10s)
* Teammates or a training group (some kind of accountability)
* Body Glide
* Advil
* Tacos
I wonder…
:: If you run, what’s your favorite distance to run?
:: Any advice for recovery, especially my poor sleep and angst-y emotions?
P.S. None of the above links are sponsored. I’m just sharing them in case you want more info.
Lapsed homemaker. Looking to hire a full-time housekeeper who will work for the sheer joy of a job well done and free coffee. Interested parties, DM please. 
First off- CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I am so so so proud of you. You did awesome, you finished a hard course and you STILL want to keep running. That is pretty awesome, don’t you think?
I consider myself an old-timer now. Saturday’s race was my third Zooma Half and luckily, I knew what to expect. The hills are continuous and compared to the first nine miles, I do consider the golf course flat- ha!!! That being said, the last 2.5 miles are my least favorite of ALL races I have done and I have done a lot. Also, since I know that it sucks, that the concrete path is hard on the body, that the ant-like winding back and forth wreaks havoc on the mind, I was prepared this year. I knew it would end, I even knew when it would end and not one single negative thought entered my head, Even better, my body was ready for the concrete and I didn’t even hurt. When the race was over, I felt like I could have kept going (please don’t hate me).
This is first time at Zooma that I have felt this way. The other two years I felt exactly like you do. However, the mind is so powerful and I played my positive mental games there at the end. I even gave Nora a pep talk during Mile 12- I wish we had been together then and then I would have given you the same pep talk, although she looked like she wanted to punch me, ha ha.
I want to do Zooma again next year- it is by far the hardest course I have even done BUT it is also the best course I have ever done.
Congrats girlfriend!!!
If you run, what’s your favorite distance to run? 10k’s although I am starting to really really really love the 1/2 as well.
Any advice for recovery, especially my poor sleep and angst-y emotions? Easy exercise (I did one hour of yoga today and an outdoor hike), a glass of wine and get together with your runner friends to re-hash it all over again without boring everyone on Facebook!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS! That’s a HUGE accomplishment. I ran my first half marathon almost seven years ago and now have a rack of medals that my kids teasingly (and lovingly) call my “I’m better than you wall.”
I had a bit of an emotional let down after one of my marathons. I’m not sure why it was a particular one, but I did a lot of research and it’s definitely a “thing.” I think what helped me was to immediately plan another event. It doesn’t have to be a big distance (or even a running event), just an event that you can start focusing on the future vs. the “let down” of being done with such a huge goal.
As for the sleep, you’ll eventually sleep again. 🙂 If you haven’t tried some of the basics — chamomile tea, relaxing baths, etc. — you could pick it up a notch and try some melatonin. Your body could still be producing some extra “adrenaline-y” stuff.
Anyway, again — congrats. No matter what you do in life from now on, you know you can run 13.1 miles. There aren’t a lot of people who can say that.
OMG–yes to ALL that, especially re: the golf course from hell. I could not believe how awful that part of the race was–I would have preferred the steep hills to the mental torture of the last three miles. Also, while I did not want to *punch* Lisa I was for sure super grumpy. But she still loves me–right Lisa???? Congratulations on finishing, and finishing STRONG! What race should we do next???
Love this recap. Mental torture is right about that golf course. Don’t forget the short, yet possible injury inducing trail of wood chips! So fun.
I’m so glad we got to be apart of this together even if we didn’t run together. I know you struggled a little with pain in your training, and I was so glad to see you at the finish! Also, I’m glad you hooked me up with ZOOMA, otherwise I don’t think I ever would have had the balls to do this.
congrats!!! hills are beasts – way to push through!! and yes, i do think prayer helps. i’m mostly certain the beer station at mile 10 of my last half was an answered prayer for a mental boost!
Congratulations on finishing! I still remember my first marathon — at about mile marker 15, you could see runners coming back from some unknown difference. I knew I could shortcut & nobody would know the better (except all of the runners who watched me complete the shortcut, but, honestly, at that point, I didn’t care). I didn’t, and because I didn’t, I didn’t end up with a DQ (there was a RFID checkin that I’d have missed). Anyway, good on you for getting to the end.
And, like every race I complete, always remember to start slow and then ease up from there.
And you’re going to hate this, but my favorite distance? The half-marathon. I’ve tricked my body into thinking that it can complete a half-marathon with little-to-no training…I’m sore for a day or two, when I’m done, but, if I have two hours & nothing better to do? I’m usually out running 13.1
And Mmmmmmm, tacos (beer-battered onion rings are my “I just completed a kick-ass race” treat)
A friend just asked me to do a 1/2 with her next October. I said “no way.” Now this post? Kind of inspires me! Congrats!
I haven’t been running hardly at all for the past few months and this post made me miss it SO MUCH.
Especially since I think my favorite distance for a race is the half marathon.
I have all kinds of excuses and rationalizations for why I let my running go but you’ve got me thinking I need to bring that routine back into my days…
Still, this isn’t about me. It’s about YOU! So congratulations, my friend. 13.1 miles is a huge accomplishment. And after this course description, even HUGE-r.
p.s. In case you’re wondering? I want to read more. Really. But I know. This isn’t about me 🙂
I feel such a sloth … HUGE congrats to you and what an incredible accomplishment to have under your belt. So many talents you have girl … whatever will you do next? Much love xxx
Another very belated congrats here! I will once again be starting the Couch to 5 K program in a few weeks (first I’ve got to walk for a while to build up the stupid broken knee) but I can’t even imagine doing a half marathon. You’e awesome!