Jocelyn's 1/2 Marathon Journal

[feelin-great]

Thanks Lynne and Becky I figured it was time for an update! That was taken right after my run last night, I was feeling awesome afterwards so I figured why not!

I posted after my run last night but that post seems to have disappeared Last night was my windiest run yet - except this time it was coming from the opposite direction, so by the time I got to the hill I thought I might die I actually thought I was going to have to walk part of the hill but I pushed through it and made it (although I did have to stop for a second when a big drooling yellow lab came barrelling at me ). She is a sweetheart, but she is huge and almost knocked me over!!! The second half of the run was great, I wasn't near as out of breath as I was just a couple of weeks ago, so I am definitely making progress

Last week weight - 151.6
Current weight - 150.0
Total Weight Loss - 14.0 lbs

REALLY?!?!?!? OK, I am happy with a 1.6 pound loss (extremely happy!) but come on, it couldn't at least have hit BELOW 150 - so close!!!!

[musculArgirl2]

congrats on the weight loss too jocelyn!!

[Nokie173]

Last week weight - 151.6
Current weight - 150.0
Total Weight Loss - 14.0 lbs

REALLY?!?!?!? OK, I am happy with a 1.6 pound loss (extremely happy!) but come on, it couldn't at least have hit BELOW 150 - so close!!!!

You will get there!!! Look how much you lost so far!!! Keep it up girl... I'm proud of you!

[feelin-great]

A while back (before I started running again) I had signed up for a 5K for my church for this coming Saturday, but I planned on walking it with my sister and my nephews. But now I have decided I want to run it. I have never done one before. I am so terrified of being the last one to cross the finish line!!! I know I can finish it, because I am currently running more than 3.1 miles, but I am slow Another concern I have is that I am not a morning exerciser - I ALWAYS work out after work in the evenings. But the race is at 8:00 am. I don't even know what to do for eating that morning - what time should I plan on eating? I figured I would just do a protein shake with blueberries - or is there something else that would be better? I could use any suggestions!! Can you tell I am terrified

[musculArgirl2]

I highly doubt that you would be the last person to finish Joc. Just do your best and forget the rest is what tony from p90x always says. I have no suggestions about what you should eat or anything but Good for you! I'm sure you will be fine! It is scary though i know. I'm scared to death about my indoor tri so i know how you feel. Good luck!

[Boss Man]

For muscle sparing and getting some energy, but the energy from the bluberries when it's early morning and Bloodsugar is low might not be quite enough and things like Gatorade or powerade wouldn't really have much effect, for the distance you're planning on doing.

I suggest you might benefit more something a bit more robust like a Chicken sandwich, or perhaps something like Grilled mushroom and rice, or some Eggs and Oatmeal. You could always have a protein shake after finishing, but the meal you would have could be consumed about 1 hour prior to the race, as it is probably local, so it's not like do a 13 or 26 miler, that might require an overnight stay somewhere or a lengthy drive to get there, which means you could consume your meal and then go to the race in good time and by then, some of the meal would really start breaking down and be usable as fuel and to combat the bodies urge ot lower bloodsugar more when it was already low.

[fitoverforty]

the race is at 8:00 am. I don't even know what to do for eating that morning - what time should I plan on eating?

You want to have a small meal about 2 hrs. before race time. But if that isn't possible, try to be finished eating no later than 1 hr. before race time. At least 80 percent of the calories you consume in your pre-race meal should come from carbohydrates.
My favorite pre-race meal is oatmeal with cinnamon and a little sugar, and I try to eat it 2 hrs. before race time. Then about 30 to 45 minutes before the race starts I may eat 1/2 banana. And I like to have a Gu Gel 15 minutes before the race starts & wash it down with a little water.
You wouldn't believe what I've seen people eating minutes before a race starts......McDonalds sausage egg biscuits...burritos.....pizza....it's crazy! I would be puking everywhere! I can't even stand the smell of that kind of stuff on race morning.

But now I have decided I want to run it. I have never done one before. I am so terrified of being the last one to cross the finish line!!!

You won't be. I have a feeling you will surprise yourself. You will have alot of adrenaline going, plus the energy of all the runners around you, PLUS you've been running really well. Just concentrate on finding your zone, "feel" your pace, run hard enough to be uncomfortable, but at the same time able to maintain the pace. Downhills you want to relax into the hill, let your body weight carry you and naturally speed up. Uphills, concentrate on pumping your arms (but not too much - don't waste energy), maintain the same effort. Some people say "attack a hill, rest on the downhill" but I like to do the opposite, I like to conserve energy, maintain the same effort, going up a hill, then let loose and fly down the hill.
On your breathing - some people say "breath in thru the nose, out thru the mouth" - I say forget that!! When you are pushing your body hard, you breath however you need to get the most air in to your muscles as possible. I probably sound like a freaking freight train when I'm racing (I've had "looks" from people.... )
I know I'm probably giving too much info...just excited for you and want to give a few tips.
Most importantly, enjoy the run. Enjoy the fact that you are able to do it, you are fit and healthy. Have fun, but work hard too - the feeling of accomplishment when you cross that finish line is something you can't measure. It's a gift you give yourself, that no one can take away. Good luck! I can't wait to hear how it went!

[feelin-great]

Now you have me excited for the race Although, I don't have as much confidence in me as you do My biggest fear is that it is a pretty small 5k, so there really aren't may people in it, which is why I am scared I will be dead last But it will at least get me started, and I will have a cheering section because I know several people who are walking it - and I will probably see them at some point because it is kind of a loop and I will be heading back when they are walking, so that will help! Luckily I don't think there are are hills on this route, and since I am used to running my hill hopefully this one will be a breeze!

On your breathing - some people say "breath in thru the nose, out thru the mouth" - I say forget that!! When you are pushing your body hard, you breath however you need to get the most air in to your muscles as possible. I probably sound like a freaking freight train when I'm racing (I've had "looks" from people.... )

I am glad you brought that up, because I am the same way. Since my surgery I am actually able to breathe through my nose, but when I am really huffing and puffing, sometimes I just need the extra oxygen I get from not using my nose

Last night I did the hot yoga again. Yup, I was just as wet as I remembered from Saturday

Tonight has to be a rest night because I have an appraiser coming and I have some other stuff to take care of.

Thursday night I was going to donate blood but I decided that isn't the best idea 36 hours before my first race ever So instead I am doing another yoga class. Friday I will run a little, but not a ton. Then it's race day

[fitoverforty]

If your race is on Saturday morning, don't run Friday morning or evening! That's like a runner's law or something - never run the day before a race. Your legs need to be fresh for the race, and they won't be if you run on Friday.

[feelin-great]

OK, I will take Friday off. Maybe I can squeeze in a run tonight then

[fitoverforty]

OK, I will take Friday off. Maybe I can squeeze in a run tonight then

Perfect!

I am scared I will be dead last

You won't be, but even if you were just remember you had the courage to get out there and give it your best shot, you put one in foot in front of the other, and ran the same distance as the 1st person to cross the finish line, so that's makes you a "winner" too. I have ran so many races that I've learned that in one single race, there is more going on than just fighting for a age group medal. I've watched grown women suddenly race to the death on the last 25 yards to beat who ever is in front of them - none of them were going to win a medal, but when you see that finish line and someone challenges you for those last few yards, time and time again I have seen normal, everyday people (like you and me) become running warriors racing for all they are worth - it never fails to inspire me. I've seen friends look back and see their friend struggling and go back and help them finish. At my last race I had a running friend who had already finished, come down to the last turn and when he saw me, he began to run beside me, telling me to run strong, almost there, you got this, let's go, let's go, push!! And when I came around the corner he dropped back and I ran like I've never ran before! He didn't have to do that, but it meant so much to me. So just remember on race day if you show up, do your best, then you have won.
"Dead last finish, is better than 'did not finish', which greatly trumps 'did not start".

[musculArgirl2]

did you go to yoga tonight? that sounds really interesting. what is the purpose of doing it in really warm temperatures just to kind of clean your pores from sweat?? burn more calories?? I know my sister goes to kind of like a yoga class not with heat though and she LOVES it.

[feelin-great]

I was home with a migraine yesterday It sucked. But I did recover enough to go to yoga last night, and strangely enough I felt quite a bit better afterwards! Becky, I think the point of the heated room is to keep your muscles relaxed so they stretch further than you would normally go. They compared it to trying to bend a piece of glass. If it is cold it will break, but if it is heated it will slowly bend. It really does work because I am much more flexible in this class than I have ever been before

My run is tomorrow morning so I will be taking tonight off. I am a little concerned that the 5K may get cancelled though because we are supposed to get storms tomorrow. I am crossing my fingers that the weather holds out until AFTER the race. I would be upset if it gets cancelled since this is the first time I have mentally prepared myself to actually do one!!!

[musculArgirl2]

it's suppose to rain here tomorrow too.

see what happens.

you can always do a 5k for halloween if there is one around or T-DAY. Turkey trots are fun to do on thanksgiving and there are a lot of them around. That might be a fun one to do if there is one nearby. you can burn some calories before you eat!

see what happens though would probably have to be a downpour before they cancelled it or lightening or something!

[fitoverforty]

It usually is only cancelled in cases of lightening. Although I once ran a race in a pouring down thunderstorm, lightening all around.....I just made sure I ran next to a tall guy.....
Good luck this weekend Joc! If there is rain, I hope it washes away your fears, if there is wind, I hope it's at your back for the last mile, and if there are cameras I hope you save your best smile for the finish line!! You got this!