Denver Marathon and Stuff

 Ok, don't go thinking I got all crazy and went and registered for the Denver Marathon - that puppy sold out about 3 weeks ago, otherwise I may have given it some serious thought HAD MY HEEL BEEN COOPERATING and I could have gotten in at least a quarter of the proper training.  Are y'all sick of hearing about my heel?  I know I am.  Let's just cut this sucker off and get me a new one, ok?

Nope, this weekend wasn't about running 26.2 miles but rather being there for those who were. 

Saturday was a blog-fest lunchie downtown at the Rock Bottom Brewery.  The famous rainbow unicorn bloggerman, Adam, was in town with his muy preggo (and very, very nice) wife so us Denverites had to show him that we chicks are REAL people and just as fun in person as on computerland - and get some quick carbs in Adam (and Beth's husband who was running the half).   Bless Adam's wife who had to sit there and listen to relentless running talk for almost 2 hours. 

Pre-race carb-loading.  Why yes, those not running still
need to carb-load, it's a requirement when you lunch
with anyone who is racing the next day
(Adam, yours truly, Tara, Ken (Beth's sidekick), Beth)

Thankfully, none of our injuries were osmotically transfered over to Adam.  Let's review the current 'Injured Reserve List' sitting at the table:  Me = heel pain.  Tara = pain in the ass (piriformis, joint hip thingie).  Beth = femoral neck stress fracture (She's lucky enough to don crutches so she actually LOOKS like she has an injury unlike us unfortunate others who just get to only talk excessively about our injuries).  Only because I'm such a competitive freak and have to PR at everything, let me just add that my heel injury has outrun any of you others sidelined, so yeah, I STILL got it!!  Yay that Adam did not get any of our fluke injuries but more YAY-y that he was able to hold an incredible pace and PR in this oxygen deprived state of ours.

It was really fun to meet Adam, and I was fortunate enough to find him along the course the next day and got a little speedwork in when I ran a few steps with him of his neck-breaking PR pace.

After lunch, Tara and I popped over to the expo, ya know, just cuz we're runners (or once runners - whaaa) and that's what nerdy runners do, check out all latest running gear.  We heard the tail end of a seminar with Alan Culpepper and Frank Shorter and Tara managed to show her innocent (??) youth by not knowing who Frank Shorter was.  Youngsters, sheesh!!   Though I couldn't tell you one thing I actually learned (other than Frank Shorter is not a believer in the Barefoot movement, even gave some evidence of it not - but I DON'T want to get into that heated debate!) it was still cool to be in their presence and listen to their incredible stories.  After the seminar, I managed to talk Tara into keeping Colorado's economy afloat by persuading her to buy all the things I wished *I* could buy.  Gotta love that girl!

Sunday came dark and early when my neighbor, Jim, and his family arrived at 5:15am to pick me up.  Jim was running the marathon; it was his 2nd marathon and he had redemption on his agenda after becoming dehydrated last year in the same race and um, not ending that race very pretty.  What can I say, I'm a softie and when he asked if I would help reel him in at various points along the course, of course I agreed. 

 

Thank Gawd  Jim's wife bought some Brook shoes so
Jim could use the Brooks elite bathrooms.  Who
doesn't want to pee like a Rock Star?!

It was a gorgeous day out and I really enjoyed being along the course and being a part of it all.  Jim did great and achieved his goals (though I'm sure he wishes he could have done better - aren't we all like that at times, hard on ourselves?).  Anyway, due to a technical malfunction of losing the course map somewhere along the way and not able to meet up with him at  23-24 as hoped, you know, when things get mentally tough, so that has been weighing heavy with me since.  I did get an email from Jim today which said, "I think overall, I ran the race I planned to run, so I feel good about that.  The whole end of the race thing was probably way harder for you guys so I feel bad about that.  I was able to go through the mental battle of continuing when everything else says stop and I think that is important.  Still I have to say a huge thank you for your help and support, it means a lot to me."  I know the few times I've had someone there for me along the course when it gets tough is so mentally lifting and am so grateful, I'm glad I could be there.  I am equally glad I was able to keep up with Jim's pace, despite my latest snail pace (I hate my heel!!) and never thought I was going to choke.

Of course I always think you learn something in every race, even those you don't run.  Here's what I learned about Denver:

• Study course map beforehand when offering to pace someone.  If nothing else, at least LOOK at the map beforehand, especially when the course was changed this year.
• Never ever ever ever ever ever ever lose the bottom half of the one and only copy of the course map you do have, showing where miles 22-finish are, at mile 21.
• Never suggest to a XC child who has been home sick for two days vomiting that it would be a "good idea" to come along and help pace.
• Never suggest McDonalds as an alternative to not eating breakfast.
• Even if runner looks like total crap at mile 26, you tell them they look awesome and stress how proud you are of their efforts!

 Other News:
- Chris ROCKED the Des Moines Marathon, despite having a bum knee which totally gave out at mile 22 and landed him with a face plant.  He's so freaking awesome.  Check out his race report here and give him some love - his knee is being super annoying so he's benched for a few days to figure this out: http://albatross90.blogspot.com/2010/10/bittersweet-rr.html

- Andrew, despite me NOT hiring any short skirts to run in front of him, cranked out a fabulous10K, his very first 10K and second race ever.  Way to go, Andrew, very happy for you: http://runningmanwannabe.blogspot.com/2010/10/waterloo-10k-race-report.html

- Sooo, registration for Boston was yesterday, as you are all well aware.  Was I one of the crazed 25,000 souls on the internet repeatedly trying to register?  I'm sure you are all in suspense.  Some may know from my FB post, but for those that don't, I decided NO.  I didn't even pull up the registration page.  I can't train the way I want, or need, with my heel the way it is so it's not worth it to me to go back right now.  I have some thoughts on this whole BQ thing yesterday...but will share that for next post, I think.

- So, with Boston out, does that mean I'm heading for the 50?  Well, again, the heel.  Just when I thought thing were going well with it, it reared it's ugly head last week and just paralyzed me; I ended up walking, on my barefoot tippy toes, 3 miles to my house.  NOT a fun ordeal.  It's doing fine now...but who knows when it will decide to return.  For now, I'm just going to run what I can, get back into a wt training routine, and get stronger.  Hopefully 2012 will find me back on the race circuit.

- Next week is fall break.  HELLO, a whole week off work!!!  Don't be hating now!!  So what will I be doing, aside from cleaning closets (FUN!).  A trip down to New Mexico, perhaps?  Climbing another 14er?  Visiting Mesa Verde, where I haven't been in ages?  Or maybe Rocky Mountain National Park?  Who knows...a venture is indeed on the list.  Stay tuned.

- Chris K sent me an email: I made his blog roll. 

- Today's my half birthday.  No need for a party, but cash and gift cards gladly accepted.

Happy Running!!
Jill