Archive for the 'Preparations' Category
This weekend I’ll be running in the Lake Padden Trail Classic half marathon. I’m not sure if I mentioned this, but this year I became a “Half Fanatic.” Bill signed me up because earlier in the year I ran a couple of half marathons back to back during the time I was “resting” my plantar fasciitis. I’d promised myself to take it easier than I had last year when I incurred the injury in the first place and to stick to no more than half a marathon until I felt better (which I do now).
I’m glad Bill signed me up. The Half Fanatics are a lot of fun (and not quite as exhausted as their brothers and sisters, the Marathon Maniacs - of which I am also a member). I’d forgotten how much I love a half marathon. You get a dang hard workout, but you can still walk afterwards. It’s a win/win!
But this weekend’s run is more important for our community than the average half marathon. The proceeds from the Lake Padden Trail Classic will go to the Anna Brulotte Memorial. Anna was only two when she lost her life as her family was hit by a car while crossing a street in a well-marked crosswalk. I’m as guilty as all of you for being occasionally distracted by my phone, the radio, or something interesting on the side of the road, but I’ve been consciously working on turning over a new leaf since I met Anna’s mom in a running class several months ago.
“Remember Anna: Keep Your Eyes on the Road” is the motto for her memorial foundation. If you wish to donate to their efforts, here’s a link. At the very least, “like” the foundation on Facebook and commit to focusing on the road when you’re in the car.
Yosemite:
It’s Saturday, August 27. We’ve been in Yosemite for several days–unplugged and totally disconnected from all that keeps us on schedule or organizes life. I camped with Bill, as promised, until I could camp no more without feeling anxious and crabby. In spite of the fact that we sandwiched Yosemite between two marathons, we managed to put in about 20 miles of walking and hiking throughout the week. Highlights for me include a hike up to Lembert Dome, a dip in Tenaya Lake and the Giant Sequoia grove. Just before we left the park an RV exploded near one of the gates and knocked the power out in the whole park.
On camping: I know so many friends who love the smell of campfires, the feeling of sleeping in the open air, and the sound of the wind rustling just outside their tents. As for me, I do not like having to bundle up and put on shoes to pee in the middle of the night and I cannot sleep wondering if a bear will smell the insect repellent on my skin and scratch its way into my tent. I apologize to all outdoor adventurers everywhere. I love nature, but I I think there is a reason why humans build shelters to protect themselves from certain aspects of it. I was most delighted to check into a Motel 6 last night with an en suite toilet. Still, in a couple of days, I’ll be back in the tent with my beloved (with a smile and my best “good sport” attitude).
Lembert Dome
Bill and Cami at the top of Lembert
Giant Sequoia
A Grouse with Half Dome
Santa Rosa:
We arrived in Santa Rosa, California today and picked up our bib numbers and swag bags for the Santa Rosa Marathon. For the second time (the first time was in Boston), Bill and I got the chance to talk to Marshall Ulrich, author of Running on Empty. Bill finished his book within a couple of days of buying it. I read part of it and then got waylaid by my own writing projects and other reading that seemed pressing. This time, we met Marshall’s wife, Heather, too. They are both lovely, warm people. Look for a review of his book in the next couple of weeks. I’m often asked what running books I’m reading… so now you know. And I’d love it if others would read along with me and share in the discussion.
Tomorrow, I may Tweet while I’m running: http://twitter.com/#!/camiostman. It mostly depends on if my phone still has a charge in the morning. The race begins at 7am, PST. After the race, we’ll have the chance to come back to our hotel, shower and then get on the road again to head north for a little wine tasting. More later.
I’ve been a little MIA here at The Blog. Sometimes life requires prioritizing, and that’s been true for me this past few months. Happily, I’m back to attending to my writing. That’s the way I like it.
So here’s an update:
While the rest of the country has been suffering above average temperatures these past two months, we’ve been hovering around 73 degrees in Bellingham. I’ve hardly broken out my shorts and halter tops, but that’s about to change.
I’m off in a few days for a driving trip with Bill (see my two blog posts for TheSpiritedWoman website regarding my camping preparations). Our first stop will be Park City for the Park City Marathon. This will be my first full marathon since I developed plantar fasciitis last year. I’m happy to report that resting my foot (and by “resting” I mean sticking to ten miles or under on any given outing for several months and then gradually working up to two 18-mile training runs in this past three weeks) has healed me up nicely! I’m more worried about the elevation than anything else for this one. It might be slower than my usual slow. Stay tuned for a report.
After the Park City Marathon, we’ll make our way over to Yosemite National Park for a few days and come out the west side just in time for the Santa Rosa Marathon. Finally, we’ll wind our way up Highway 101, stopping at the Redwood Forest, among other iconic coastal destinations. For reading material (not that I’ll get much time to lounge around) I’m taking along Marshall Ulrich’s book, Running on Empty (which I’ve been dying to read and keep getting waylaid with emergencies), Girl Meets God by Lauren F. Winner, and The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (a favorite I reread from time to time). I hope to get through them all, but I’m not setting any goals on this trip except to finish the races I start.
In 2009 and 2010, Bill and I visited so many time zones that it was hard to know if it was morning or night most of the time. I’m grateful for a slow, poking-our-way-through-the-west sort of vacation this year. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be elated for our next international trip, whenever it’s time, but for now, I’m excited to see my own little corner of the USA and tick off two more states in my “run a marathon in all 50 states by the time I’m 50″ quest.
Pictures and reports to follow in the days to come.
The starting gun is eleven hours from now. This afternoon Julie and I walked from the Luxor (where we’re staying) to the parking lot at Mandalay Bay (where the race starts) to get a sense of how much time we’ll need in the morning to get to corral 19. It takes fifteen minutes. That’s it. So we’ll get up, drink our coffee, get dressed and station ourselves at the starting line – all before our friends and families are out of bed.
We’ve had a lot of fun since we arrived on Wednesday evening. Thursday we walked the strip, stopping in to look at some of the more interesting casinos whenever we felt inclined. Friday, we spent a couple of hours at the race expo where, at 3:00, I finally got to meet Marie Bean. Readers might remember my e-pen friend, Marie. We “met” after the Rio de Janeiro race when she found my blog and reached out to me asking how I planned to get to Antarctica. She had planned on coming with Bill, Marina and me to Antarctica earlier this year, but had to change her plans in the end. What fun to finally meet her (and for more fun, check out her running business in Australia: Lazyrunner.com).
Today I crashed. For some reason I didn’t sleep more than a couple of hours on both Wednesday and Thursday nights. Last night (Friday), I took some sleeping aid and then felt like I wandered through today in a haze. So I spent most of today in the hotel room reading, catching up on Glee episodes and worrying about my foot (which I just wrapped according to Jason Gully’s specifications, hoping to give it some extra support tomorrow).
As I understand it, while the race starts at 7:00 am, each corral waits for a minute or two until it gets the go-ahead. Julie and I should actually start running anytime between 7:19 and 7:38. We’ve been told we have to make it to the 12.6-mile point by 10:15 in order to get the go-ahead to complete the full marathon (rather than be re-directed to do only the half). Even if we start at the latest possible time for our corral (7:38), this gives us 2 hours and 37 minutes to get to 12.6 (are you following?). We should be fine. The pain in my foot and the perpetual pain in Julie’s knee shouldn’t become acute until the second half of the race. The Las Vegas Marathon shuts down The Strip, so the race is only allowing 5.5 hours for participants to complete the full marathon, and I have to admit to a little concern about this. My last two races (Anchorage and Portland) have brought me in around 5:35. But Julie and I feel optimistic that we can pull it off with the help of the energy of the other twenty thousand runners and the bands stationed all along the route.
Watch our progress through the Rock n Roll website. I’m number 22435 and Julie is number 21240
Well, my running partner, Julie, and I flew to Las Vegas on Wednesday evening and settled into the Luxor without a hitch. Today we walked “the strip” and plugged the occasional slot machine with a dollar (or five).
Vegas is kind of a special place to me, even as it fills my introvert’s heart with over-stimulated exhaustion and makes me long for a good book and hot chocolate by a fire. I’ve been coming to Vegas in December for years. I used to come with my ex-husband to see his sister (who lived here) during the holidays. Then in recent years, Bill and I have flown in to Las Vegas, rented a car and driven to Phoenix many times over the last decade. It’s always festive and full of energy and, most of all, hopeful.
But this is the first time I’ve been in Sin City for a marathon. Today as I walked down the strip, I was thinking about how it will feel to run along the boulevard on Sunday. The race starts right here – with all the lights and noise and chaos. And since this is a Rock n Roll Marathon, there will be music and entertainment along the way – at almost every mile.
Needless to say, I’m excited. I’ve still got some pain in my heel (which is discouraging), but I’m prepared to put mind over matter. The course is only open for five and a half hours, which means Julie and I have to run a smart race this time.
I”m number 22435. Watch for my results Sunday afternoon.