As I write the entry, it’s hard to stay focused on my own aches and pains from running a mini marathon last Saturday, as the news is being continually updated with the events of the massacre in Las Vegas on Sunday night. My heart goes out to everyone whose life was affected.
Last weekend was a painful, (in more ways than one), recollection of the way things used to be when I was much younger. As baby boomers, some things get so much easier and then others, more difficult. Running is my nemesis or, maybe, my knees? Idk …….. We used to be friends 35 years ago, (running and my knees), but we no longer get along. I remember a time when I could push my body to the limits and the recovery time wasn’t very long and my joints didn’t require Icy Hot applications. Not so much anymore. I might as well invest in some Biofreeze stock at this point.
In retrospect it probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, however I signed Poo and I up for the Fort4Fitness Mini Marathon several months ago. It takes place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where I am from originally. This year was the 10th anniversary running. As with many of these kind of events, there are multiple races to choose from, but, if you’re going to travel and have to spend the night for an event like this, it’s either GO BIG or GO HOME, right?
Poo and I had run this several years ago, probably the 4th or 5th annual run and I had walked the 2nd annual race with one of my sisters and a sister-in-law.
It’s great fun (until about mile 10), and a lot of excitement for the neighborhoods that we run through. The people who live on the route really get into it. Many of them bring their boom boxes or stereos out to the street and blast the music to pump up the runners. The best one I heard Saturday was the theme from Rocky. What a great movie, and even better song! That song could get my 83-year-old Mother-in-Law pumped up. Some of the families handed out bananas, apples, much-needed tissues and complimentary beer shots. The Southward Park area rented a bouncy house for the kids to play in while the parents sat along the side of the road and cheered us on.
When I signed us up for this run I fully intended to train for it, but, I didn’t. Oops. The last time I ran was 4th of July weekend with Poo and my sister-in-law, who lives in San Fransisco and is a triathlete. She is one tough 50+er. Apparently I thought I had matching skills by stupidly trying to run 13.1 miles without one day of training. What was I thinking?
I walked, periodically, just to catch my breath and then I would start running again. My running buddy stayed with me the entire time even though he could have finished a lot sooner. Well, I finished ……… IT WAS UGLY! But, it is pretty cool when you come into the ballpark and they announce your name over the loud speaker and have your image on the big screen as you cross the finish line! For just about 1 minute you feel like a SUPERSTAR! Then, you feel the pain.
When I checked the website the next day, the unofficial results revealed that I finished 37th for my age group, (I think out of 60), at a 12:45 pace. Not too great but I did finish and received this very cool medal that says “Half Marathon” on it as proof of my fleeting pain!
Obviously, I would not do this again nor would I recommend this approach to anyone. Most likely my weight training and knee sleeves are what saved me. Since I have been lifting for a couple of years now, I have a pretty strong core, legs, arms and back. Still …….. it was not a good idea!
“It’s when the discomfort strikes that one realizes a strong mind is the most powerful weapon of all.”
Train hard, play hard …… xoxo, Katy