Author: Jilligan
•7:00 PM
24thehardway-6 Hour Race in Pictures
Staging my bag at the campsite.
Last minute thoughts and motivation before heading to the start.
Campsite with nice signs that Kallie had made. We had a great spot for our awning.
What have I gotten myself into? About to start the race.
Darn mosquitoes. They were the size of a small dog.
This is my favorite picture but I wish my tongue wasn't sticking out.
First time I was able to think about having food. Even though it looks like I might not keep it down in this picture! Peanut butter sandwich and chips from the aid station. Oh, and see my blanket in the background that they had hung up to motivate me.
Trying to sit up straight for the picture but as you can see above, she already had the ugly shot.
Running strong now.
Looking much better now after a pep talk from "Arthur Itis". He was doing a 27 hour race.
 |
| Staking my flag. |
 |
| Congrats from Ultra Runner Woman. |
Mom and Shirley's sophisticated tally system
|
Author: Jilligan
•6:44 PM
Finally have some time to sit down and finish up my race report. I was wanting to wait until I had some pictures to add and the time to comment on them.
The timing of the race was harder for me then I thought. I hadn't really gotten the breakfast I wanted but had instead had a kolache and a do-nut. Yes, that made my stomach upset before I even started. It wasn't my usually stomach issues but just an unsettled feeling in my stomach. I think I battled this feeling for 3 hours. My mom and aunt went to the start with me to get some pictures. Then they settled in at camp. My aunt said she probably wasn't as sore as she thought she would be mainly because she had to hop up every time I came around the loop. Sometimes they would be sitting at camp when they saw me and other times they would walk towards me on the loop. They were always ready with something I had told them I might need or want. Because of the stomach issues, I couldn't really get my food intake going as soon as I wanted. Just felt nauseous. It's fun to look at the splits and try to remember if I stopped at the tent and what I had. They had water, diet coke, candy, ginger, pretzels, and powerade for me.
I told them I wanted to be seeing them every 12 minutes or less. When I came around the first time closer to 9, they were really worried. What I hadn't told them was that I was going to run my first lap and then start my run/walk laps. I had about 5-6 good miles even with the stomach bothering me. Then I ran into some mental issues around mile 15. Nothing hurt and I wasn't having any trouble running. I was just having some mental/emotional issue. Who knows why or what it was about? I cried a little and then got up and got going again. They told me another girl I had been running near was also crying at that point so maybe it wasn't as unusual as it felt.
It was a different kind of race then I have ever done. People weren't racing each other, they were racing themselves. It was a hard thing but everyone was in it together. Except for a few serious record breakers, everyone else was run/walking. So chances are when you walked you came up on someone else or someone caught up to you. It was fun hearing their stories and their goals. Since it was a mile loop, you meet up several times and were able to check in with each other's progress and pain. My goal was 20 miles so once I got my 20 miles, I stopped at the tent to put on dry socks and change shoes. I lost 6 minutes on that lap! I walked the last 1 1/2 hours just to see how far I could get. I really think this helped prevent soreness because I really just wanted to sit down in the tent and never move again.
As the race crew monitored your progress they handed you a flag when you came through the tent on what they thought would be your last lap. I was able to make it all the way around and through the tent again with my flag. I crossed the timing mat at 5:58 and then walked what I guess to be about 1/4 of a mile more. At 6 hours, a shotgun went off in the air and we staked our flags at our stopping point so we could get credit for partial laps in the event of a tie. I ended up 5th because another girl also got 24 miles but crossed the mat at 5:56. Looking at our splits today, I was way ahead of her the entire race but she ran her last mile and passed me at some point on the last lap. Maybe I shouldn't have changed shoes!
Right as the race finished the rain clouds opened up and we had to quickly pack up the tent and get everything to the car before the storm got worse.
It was a great race. I really had a good time and am thankful to have had the support I did for my "20" mile training run.
I was going to do my pictures on here but I think I will do a second post with pictures.
|
Author: Jilligan
•9:11 AM
I have been having some pain in my knee probably since the July 4 race. It hasn't been the same type of pain as my ACL or meniscus. It wasn't muscle soreness. It didn't really bother me while I was running but really bothered me after, really. I have iced, tensed, heated, taped, and braced. I was resigned to the fact that it was probably a stress fracture. I was waiting until our new insurance kicked in so I could go to the dr to get it checked out. Finally, yesterday I was able to get in to the chiro, (x-rays are cheaper here and he is pro-active). After a look at the x-rays, we(he) ruled out a stress fracture. There is some more wear and tear since the last knee surgery and it is clear the meniscus is completely gone now. My tibia was out of alignment and was rubbing on another bone or my knee cap. He said it was almost like a dislocation of the bone which could usually only occur with trauma. Is it possible that this has been out of place for 3 years? I have had pain in that thigh and calf every since my surgery. He wanted me to tens my calf and thigh because there was a lot of buildup of "knots" because of the tension on the muscles due to the misplacement of the tibia. He suggested no outside running but instead to try his Alter G machine. With a few "treatments" and a few weeks of alter g running, I should be good to go. His hours aren't that convenient for me since my daughter is going to school with me now. I think I will be able to get in for treatment 3 days a week and alter g running 2 x.
What that means is that I probably won't stop running outside. I just can't lose the cardio. This injury won't cause anything severe if I don't stop running, the pain will just continue. With treatment and a few adjustments to running, I hope to alleviate some of the pain. Just after one day of treatment, ice and new placement of the Tens unit, I am already much better. 18 miles this weekend will be the true test.
|
Author: Jilligan
•6:14 PM
I forgot to mention that I got my race skirt in. I had to wash it first because it had a terrible smell to it. Still can smell it after so may have to wash it again. I love the colors. It is made by
Running Funky. We went with the super hero print for the skort and the lightning print for the compression shorts. I had a blue shirt that matched it but it was sleeveless. I found another one today at Target. I really want some knee highs to wear but haven't found any close and don't want to pay more for shipping then I am paying for the socks. I still have a little while to work out the sock issue. I didn't think I would like running in knee highs but I really do. I will try to get a picture of the skirt. Aside from the smell, my only other complaint is the fullness of the skirt. It is really a fuller cut then I am used to. Glad I got the medium(uh hum)!
|
Author: Jilligan
•6:13 PM
After much debate about the expense, the time, the nerves, I finally booked my room in Vegas. Looks like I will drive out with the help of a few willing souls and then drive home the day after the race. Because of my DH's job change I had to wait to purchase anything else for the trip until we got our finances back in shape. Flights and hotel skyrocketed so the trip was looking like it wasn't going to happen. I kept trying to figure out ways to make it work and looking at every bargain website there was. Because I was going by myself (DH can't go now because of new job), I didn't want to stay very far away from the race sight. That meant a higher priced hotel. I felt confident about being in Vegas by myself because the last time we were there was for a youth football tournament and my oldest son and I were by ourselves most of the time. Since the plane tickets were out, I didn't want to drive by myself. Luckily my mom and my aunt said they would go with me. My uncle will go if he can. So now we have a road trip planned. As soon as I get the confirmation email from the hotel, we will officially have a room. Race has already been paid for.
So now the key is to survive the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll marathon and make it to the Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 3 weeks later. I am so excited and so thankful to have family that will drop everything in their life to let me live mine. 18 days until 24thehardway, 40 days until San Antonio Marathon, my first, and 61 days until Vegas Half. Pretty intense end of year, but I am really excited.
Oh, on the weight front, I am stuck at 88 pounds lost since October 8, 2010. I wanted to be at -100 by Oct 8, 2011 but don't think I will lose 12 pounds in 4 days. Maybe I can make it to 90. I am definitely tired of dieting and my running is suffering because of the lack of calories. I will be adding more food to my diet after October 16. Just wanted to try to make my goal. Time to run so I better hit the road.
|
Author: Jilligan
•10:08 PM
Tried my new running skirt tonight. Creases were much better. I loved the daisy print but I am thankful to the people at
Skirt Sports for the replacement skirt which is a great purple print. I emailed begging my case for a replacement, return, or other helpful information regarding the crease. They were kind enough to mail me a new skirt and a shipping label to return the other skirt. The only thing I can tell that might have caused a problem was a small catch in the seam. What great customer service!
Long run this weekend was 12. I got 10. I got sick to my stomach. Not really, "I need a bathroom now" sick but just upset stomach sick. Definitely didn't fuel myself properly over the weekend. I do great with my fruits and veggies during the week but the weekend is another story. Plus we were at the boys stock show this weekend so way too much soda and not enough water. Also, very little sleep. Overall, the run was good. Legs felt fine. Lungs were good. Nose ran a lot. Weather was nice. It got too dark on me to stay on the trail so I had to finish on the road.
20 days until OKC 6 hour race.
|
