Freedom's Run Race Report

Looking back, nothing about my training seemed spectacular. I had some great runs, some ok ones and some really bad ones, but you'll have that with any training cycle.

I think being so incredibly busy really helped me not *completely* freak out - I had my moments, but for the most part I didn't have time to dwell on what I was preparing for. But I'm a little bit amazed that I did it. I ran a marathon.

I've been running for just 3 years, of those I missed nearly 1 year to injury. I have a crazy schedule between homeschool and volunteer work. I'm generally lazy and eat too many sweets - which contributes to me being 15 pounds overweight. But I did it. I don't say all that to make anyone feel bad. If anything it's to encourage anyone who doubts they can do it. Seriously, if I can do it, YOU can!

Alright, enough of that. Here's how it went...

The day started really early - 3am. The first buses were leaving Shepherd U at 5:30 and my friend, Eddy, was picking me up at 4:45. We walked up to the bus stop and our friend Larry from our running club was already there.

It turns out Larry planned to run the same pace I did and he agreed to let me tag along. He is known for running an even pace - be it an 8 m/m or an 11 m/m, he can dial in and maintain his pace. I - on the other hand - am *not* known for running an even pace so running with him was a real Godsend.

We got to the start and met more folks from our running club, checked our bags and hung out until the start. With a "Ready, Set, Go!" we were on our way. I didn't carry my phone so I don't have any pictures but you'll have to trust me when I tell you that sunrise at Harpers Ferry is quite lovely.

Just after mile 4, we crossed the footbridge from Harpers Ferry, WV to the tow path in MD. The bridge was wet which made me wonder if it had rained. We got close to the spiral staircase where it was slippery and realized it was frost. Brrrr!

The temptation with this race is to hit the tow path and turn it on. That would be a really bad thing to do for someone like me because you get off the tow path at mile 15ish and begin the really steep climb to the battlefield. Thankfully I was running with Larry, a nice relaxed pace, and I felt great. We chatted with fellow runners, got a chuckle out of a really crabby older runner and generally enjoyed the ride.

We got to Millers Sawmill Rd and began the climb up. Still feeling good but I decided to walk the steeper parts of the hills in this section because I knew what was coming, and honestly my walk pace was about the same as my run pace on some of these!

The volunteers for this race are wonderful and cheered us on like rockstars. The aid stations were spaced well, and I was happy that I decided not to carry water. We walked through each aid station and walked for a bit past the one at mile 20ish.

Mentally I knew if I could make it to the elementary school, I was set because most of the course is downhill from there.  What I didn't count on was that my knees would start aching like crazy around mile 21 and my feet - oh my feet - they were talking by mile 22 and were done by 24.

not sure what that hill at mile 10ish is. the tow path is pretty flat

When I ran the Harpers Ferry Half in May, I got cramps in my feet. First time that had happened and I haven't had trouble like that since (that I can remember). Mile 24ish my feet started cramping hard. I would walk a bit, run a bit and pray.

I almost started to cry out of frustration and pain so I stopped, took a breath and said outloud "Pull yourself together. You can do this." So I did. Funny how that works.

I got to the bridge just after mile 25 and decided I was running to the finish come hell or high water. I heard some strange grunting sound and realized it was me! Each time my right foot hit the ground I made this awful sound, but I didn't slow down.

Because of road construction we had to wind through the campus a bit, and there was one last uphill. Really short, but steep and I got an awful cramp in the side of my right leg and my foot again. After that I couldn't feel my right foot (and it actually still hurts a little), but I kept my arms moving so my feet had no choice but to go.

I got to the top of the hill and couldn't figure out where to go. Thankfully someone was standing there, "follow the arrows!" Oh you mean those giant white arrows in the middle of the road?? doh!

The kids run was taking place next to the stadium entrance and there were people everywhere. My brain was addled so I was very grateful they had 2 lines of volunteers marking the way. Then I saw Bill and heard someone else yell name. At that point I couldn't feel my legs and ran as hard as I could focusing on my arms.

When I stopped my feet hurt so bad, I really did think I was going to cry. I wanted to wait for Larry who was just a couple of minutes behind me, but I had to keep moving or just melt into a puddle - and I had to pee.

I think I was in a state of shock...not physically...I was fine physically other than my feet. It just all seemed so surreal and a bit anticlimactic.

I hobbled around to find Bill and the kids, got something to drink, and we made our way to the Oktoberfest. On our way I saw Abbi and her husband. It was great finally meeting her in person after corresponding via email and blog for so long.

After hanging out with friends from the Steeplechasers for a bit, we headed home. I took a shower and went to bed and Bill took the kids to football. I guess he was right afterall.

Finish Time: 4:41:12.6

Pace: 10:44

Age Rank: 16/35 F-40 to 49

And I am nothing if not a good sport, particularly when it comes to unflattering photos. So I present to you....my unofficial finishline photo (at least I hope there was another photographer)

many thanks, I think, to Jacqueline of Charming and Quaint Photography

I realize she can only photograph what she sees so don't consider this picture a reflection of her skill as a photog. I like to think of it as a portrait of determination...yea, that's it, determination is all over my face. ;)

The Weekend In Pictures

20 mile run through Antietam

 

Flag Football

Love his hair in this one

Cutie Pie Game Face

My little cheer-cheer

 Cross Country Meet on Sunday

Ella's sport this year is jump rope so she's cheering on her cc friends instead of running

4 Amigos

Age group buddies

Digging Deep

Shane opted to go fishing with Bill at Broomes Island.

And I forgot to pack a jacket for him. It gets chilly on the water this time of year so he wore his jammies under his clothes.

And he got to drive Uncle Hervey's boat. They went from Broomes Island to Solomon's (or vice versa), and he got to hang out with the old guys at the marina. Little slice of heaven for this 6 year old!

The fun stuff of life. Busy but very good.

13 Miles Through Antietam National Battlefield

I'm just a month away from my first marathon and I'm trying not to freak out!! a little nervous. My last 3 long runs were major duds so my confidence is lagging, and I was beginning to wonder what the heck I was thinking.

 

The second half of my marathon runs through Antietam and Sharpsburg. Today was the first day of games for the boys' flag football league and they play in Shepherdstown which is just a short hop from Antietam. Bill is going to help out as a ref at the games so it made perfect sense for me to run in Antietam and just meet them at the game- as a sweaty, gross mess, but who really cares about those things??

 

It's just beautiful in the morning

 

The nice thing about running in this area is that there are always people - walkers, runners, cyclists, etc - around so I feel much safer running by myself. And since this weekend is the 150th anniversary of the battle of Antietam there were people everywhere.

I started a little after 7, spending the first couple of miles on the towpath - race day I'll spend about 13 miles on it - and then began the climb up from river level to the battlefield.

the tower at the end of Bloody Lane

view from the bottom of the hill

 

I felt really good. Strangely, surprisingly good. Even on the hills. I figured I'd just roll with it and see what happened.

I told some friends of mine that while I *love* trail running, it has kept me fat and made me slow and lazy. Maybe it made me a little stronger? Some of today's hills were pretty steep, but I didn't feel completely wiped out or beat up, even at the end of the run. It was kind of nice for a change!

 

 

When I got to the main part of the battlefield near the Visitor's Center, there were activity tents and people everywhere. It was mostly Boy Scouts and Civil War re-enactors so I couldn't walk or even slow down, no way! If anything I picked up the pace and rolled like a wheel into town.

 

In town there were even more people, setting up vendor booths, strolling, etc for the street festival. Lots of energy so on I went, dodging old people out for their morning walk and vendors hustling to finish their work. Happy, running me.

 

The miles ticked off and before I knew it I was back at the car. Sweaty and tired but feeling good.

 

It was just what I needed, and I'm so grateful.

Elevation charts are your friend

I am now officially registered for the Freedom's Run half marathon on October 2nd, and I'm a little skeerd.  I looked at the elevation chart (click on the .pdf on the right to see the charts)and read some of the reviews on the site, but hadn't done much investigating beyond that.  I realized that it would be challenging, but what half marathon isn't?

So anyway, it's reasonably priced, $40 until 9/1 and then it's $45; it's within an hour drive of my house with a course that winds through National Parks, and it's on a Saturday. I couldn't have written a better script for myself.

Well, actually free roundtrip air fare to and accommodations in Hawaii would have been a really nice script, but I digress...

Then I happened upon Dorothy Beal's blog Mile Posts, and I noticed that she ran the full marathon last year, and she said it was kinda hard, and the elevation charts weren't exactly accurate, and it was kinda hard. And so I start thinking, "this Dorothy Beal is quite a runner. She's faster than I'll ever be (even in my dreams). And she thinks this is a hard race. Hmmmm, maybe I should take a closer look at this course."

I loaded up my babies, and we headed to the wilds of  West Virginia and Maryland so I could see it for myself. The race starts in Sheperdstown, and I'm not sure I've ever been there. Maybe I have. Mom, I have been to Shepherdstown? 

I found my way to the university, guessed at where the race will start and started my beloved Garmin (I changed the mode to cycling first) as we headed out of Shepherdstown to Sharpsburg/Antietam.  It was kinda cool to drive with it on and check the speed on the speedometer vs. the Garmin (they were darn close). 

A lot of the half is run through Antietam battlefield. Now I've been to Antietam many, many times. I've even biked through the battlefields, but I didn't really pay all that much attention to the hills other than to note that there are quite a few and some are even a little steep.  Now I was  paying close attention, and as I would go up a hill I would say something like 'oh mercy, that's gonna be a tough one.' Pretty soon Hank started saying things like 'poor Momma' and 'wow, this race looks pretty hard....but you can do it!' Uh, thanks baby, I think?

I had to record my findings in two different 'events' because one of the roads through the other side of the battlefield, the insanely hilly part, was closed. The top chart is roughly the first 7 miles, and the bottom chart is roughly miles 9.5ish to 13ish.

I don't know how to make it any bigger - I clicked 'extra large' but that no look extra anything.

Anyhoo, I think this chart is a little hillier than the one the nice race director folks have on their site. It makes me think I need to run a lot more hills, a lot more. My legs hurt thinking about it.

I don't know why there's this huge white space so pretend it's intermission and you could hear music as you scrolled all  the way down here.

What's skeery for the folks running the full marathon is that their stint through Antietam is almost exactly the same as the half marathon - but in REVERSE. So that big momma of a hill that I'm going DOWN, they'll be going UP.

One thing that seems so benign when written down is how we half marathoners get from the tow path (blessedly flat) to the bridge that crosses over the Potomac back into Sheperdstown/The Finish Line. The written directions on the course description say, "Exit canal at the Rumsey Bridge via ramp under the bridge." Sounds so simple. Almost easy. Granted at that point in the race a ramp is a heck of a lot easier than steps. BUT the kids and I walked up that ramp today and I have a feeling I'm going to be crying and maybe even crawling my way to the top.

All this whining and nail biting will stop, and I"ll put on my big girl underpants and run this race the best that I can. When it's said and done, this is one race that I'll be very proud I completed.

I'm five weeks out so I still have time to push myself, run more hills and get stronger. And I will!