Blossom Time Report

To summarize - it was ugly.

It was a recovery week for me, but pretty much every workout this week hurt and I felt sluggish, not to mention I fell hard Tuesday and to make matters worse that woman-thing happened!! Always seems to happen when it is really fuckin' hot!!

I could tell from my warm-up I wasn't feeling too good. I had forgone eating anything because my alarm had not gone off and I wanted to be there by 8:00am. I just didn't think I would need anything for 5.25 miles. Lesson Learned *eating something before a race..anything dumbass*

I had run 7:40/mile at Maple Sap a few weeks ago and knew I was in better shape and down a few lbs., so I was hoping for 7:30-7:40 pace. When it is hot like this though, I should just NOT run.

The gun went off and I waited a few seconds to cross the line due to the enormous crowd of runners. I didn't have to fight my way through the first mile though which was a plus. I was about 2-3 minutes into the race and I felt like shit. I already wished I hadn't decided to run. My legs felt heavy and people were passing me left and right. This would become the theme for the race today.

Hit the first mile after what seemed like forever in 8:00. Ouch! Well, maybe the time delay and the crowded streets added a few seconds and my body would "wake up" and move, but it never happened. Before mile 2 I was looking for the aid station. I was hot, my stomach felt awful and my legs were very sluggish. I plodded on like a turtle, just trying not to walk off the course and say "Fuck it." Got to the aid station and took 2 cups, drank 1 and poured one on my shoulders. Mile 2 was 8:13. "Shit Heier, go home. You got nothing today!" At this point I was so pissed about the last 2 miles I started searcing for a way to make this a positive experience, but it never happened.

I just kept on going. Today I was only going to be an 8:00 minute miler. Fuck!! I was mad. I really thought I would do better, but this was not going to be my day. Mile 3 was pretty flat with some downhill and I got a 7:48. It was better than 8:00, but I knew there were more hills to come. People continued to pass me the entire race. I was running equal effort the whole way, but it seemed everyone had eaten their Wheaties, but me. All I could think was 2.25 miles and this crap is over. Mile 4, had a few more hills in it, just to ensure 8:00/miles would be a fight for me today (I think, I hate this course!!) Hit the 4th mile at 7:56, hearing the timer call sub-32 something or other. Now, I wonder was I going to run 8:00/mile or faster for 1.25. I thought, how embarassing this is, but kept up the effort. It is very disheartening to know I could have easily run sub-8:00's last fall for over 15 miles, now I can't do it for 40 minutes!! Oh God, where was the end.

Then, a guy pushing a stroller passed me on an uphill. "Grrr!! This race sucks! I suck. Where is the damn finish?" I could see the crowds in the distance and knew it was nearly over. I debated whether I was even going to pick it up for the finish, but this was a race and although I ran a terrible time, I still ran my best today. Mile 5 was 7:59. Now, if I don't blow it in .25 I can break 8's. Up ahead was my BD, owner of Achilles and he was nice enough to run with me the rest of the way. He pushed me to kick, letting me know there were a few girls coming up from behind. I really didn't want to,but I did. The heat was really taking it's toll on me and kicking was going to make me sick. I kicked and finished in 41:42 with the last 400 meteres at 1:43. PR'd by 7:35.

I walked through the very long shoot to turn in my bib, but the 2 girls that had tried to run me down jumped in front of me and tried to turn in their bib's ahead of me. I didn't care, but the official saw it and fixed it for me. "Thanks," I said. I made it through the shoot and immediately found a really nice grassy area to puke in. Threw-up about 4 times with a few dry heaves and felt much better.

I managed to snag a water, but after my awful run and puking, I just wanted to scoot, so I trudged up to my truck and headed to my parents. I am disappointed that my race time was so awful. I am disappointed I felt so sick, but I have no excuses. I ran the race I had in me today. I did not quit or give up, thought about it a lot,but kept going. But that's just me... I never quit, I never give up...ever.

Good News 1, Good News 2, Good News 3

I have once again fallen off the blogging wagon, but it was all for 3 good reason.

Good News 1
My family traveled home 2 weeks ago and after months of motivating emails from me and mostly AD four teams of six relay runners completed the Pine Line Marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAHOO!!!!!

It was the first time in many many years we were all together. We shared an awesome, awesome experience. We only needed to make one substitution from the original roster and everyone completed their leg. I could not have been more excited for my family and as an added bonus we raised over $2000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (more details to come...I swear).

Good News 2
But I have to move on as time is limited this weekend and I have to finish up the last few pages of my 25+ field experience report because................ that's right, I am done with school AGAIN. I finished my master's degree. Today is commencement and while I am happy to be done I will miss my friends and teachers as we are a really close department. It's obvious that I am typing so I am not at commencement ceremonies. I just didn't care to spend the money on a cap and gown or waste 6 hours of my life wishing I was out running or eating. I don't have a job either. Two degrees, the economy sucks and tons of debt...aahhhh....priceless.

Good News 3
Finally, after months of mishaps the doctors have given me clearance to run again. This will be the end of my third solid week back at running. I am definitely slower, but still faster than when I had my anemia (still amazes me how one little white pill can have that much of an effect). I am however; are you ready for this? 10 lbs up from my race weight!! I know some of it could be muscle (1-2 lbs.) from all the physcial therapy, but lets face it my ass does not have that much muscle!! It's fat, so now as the training volume and intensity increase I am dedicated to whittling my ass off!!!

Oh, and here is a new local running site Cleveland Plays Racing. It looks promising and I believe KP, the woman in charge of the Twilight 8k run (which is a great race) runs this too.

Good luck to all my SERC peeps and anyone else running Cleveland next weekend!! Krazy nutz, I know most of you just did Boston!!!