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Tag: Dimity McDowell

I Have a Decision To Make

September 13, 2016

I have come to a point in my running life where I need to make a difficult decision.  This decision is based around the Marine Corps Marathon.  I entered the lottery for the marathon this year as a way of tossing my fate out to the universe, and I was chosen.  So I accepted the fact that I was chosen and I have been training for it.  I am coming to the point in the training where longer runs are required and these runs are intertwining with my family’s busy schedule of Fall softball season and back to school events, along with Fall activities.

If you read my blog you will remember that last year I had a very difficult race for the Marine Corps Marathon.  This year, during my training I have been analyzing my stats from last year’s race and mapping out training runs against the elevation map of the existing course map.  So I am preparing myself.  Also, major changes have been made to the race course this year because of the changes going on with the Metro construction.  If there ever is a year to do this race with a lot of leeway, this is the year.  BUT, I am just not feeling it in my heart.  If I am not feeling it in my heart now, what is going to happen on race day?  I already feel like I am setting myself up for failure.

Last year Dimity McDowell, from Another Mother Runner’s  spoke at a seminar for Girl’s Night Out during Hartford Marathon weekend.  She mentioned that there are sometimes things that happen in our life that get in the way of our training, or can cause a shift in our focus.  Changes in work, changes in family, health, etc.  I did just start a new job this past summer and my husband has been struggling with pain lately.  So there is a lot on my mind.

I finally vocalized my fear of this race to my husband today and told him I am considering deferring my registration this year.  He supports my decision either way; but did tell me that sometimes we get burnt out with things we do.  And that maybe I would benefit from the time off, or less pressure of getting in the marathon before my third Dopey challenge in January.  I believe I will feel a big weight off of my shoulders if I defer this race; but then I will also feel some guilt because of all years to get a “redo” of last year’s race, this is the year to do it.

I have shifted a lot of my efforts and focus this past summer on getting healthier.  I am eating better, working out differently and running casually.  I wanted to enjoy running and not have it become a chore, which it has now become.  When I trained for my first marathon, I enjoyed the training because it was leading me towards something I never did before.  As much as I would love to do this race this year; I want to do it when I am strong and looking forward to it.  Not as another, get it done for the sake of doing it.  Yes, it is a race for redemption to make up for my horrible experience last year; but I want to cross that line having the feeling that I was prepared.  Just like I felt after I finished my first marathon.

So I guess I made my decision.  Now I have to work on the paperwork.  Having said this out loud and writing about it; I can now also focus on getting some better half marathons under my belt as training runs.  I have been struggling with those races.  They used to be my favorite distance and I would like to also enjoy that distance again.

Girls Night Out with Dimity Was Like Runners Church For Me

October 18, 2015

Last week during the Hartford marathon pre-events, there was a girls night out meet up at the Hartford club with Dimity McDowell from Another Mother Runner. Before the event I went to the XL Center to pick up my bib and race shirts. On my way there I saw on my new sponsor Ron from Mintz + Hoke. As I was talking to Ron I saw Dimity and Denise leaving the XL Center to go to the Hartford Club. I said hi to them and goodbye to Ron and hurried down to the expo to get my race items.  At the expo I met up with Kimberlee D. and her husband.  I picked up my race shirts and then we visited some of the booth at the expo. It is definitely a small expo compared to some of the others that I have been too. But it was good to sample some of the items from local shops and spend a little time with Kimberlee and her husband.

I stayed there for about a half an hour and then walked over to the Hartford Club. It is a nice location to have a meet up like we did. They had finger sandwiches and a cash bar and we all received a raffle ticket when we entered. I sat down with a group of people that I did not know but I recognize one of the girls at the table. When I introduce myself she told me I looked familiar to her also. Then I realized she was Alison Overholt who was at the another mother meet up at Fleet Feet in west Hartford earlier in the Spring. She is one of the essayists in the latest Mother Runner book Tales From Another Mother Runner. She also read her essay at the last meet up at Fleet Feet. We talked for a bit about the races in the Connecticut area, since she recently moved here, and I recommended to her to do the Manchester Road race for Thanksgiving.

Ali was there that night to introduce Dimity and interview her for the meet up. I felt like I was at church for runners. Everything Dimity was talking about was exactly what I needed to hear at the time. Ali did a 20 questions interview with her which had some great questions.

 
The first thing Dimity said was to remember that good is good enough. Before kids when we used to train for our races we would train and follow the training plan to the letter. Now with kids and life we need to give ourselves a break. Sometimes if the training plan calls for 6 miles and we were only able to get in 4 miles, 4 is good enough. We made the effort and we should take pride in what we were able to do.

Another thing she talked about which stood out for me was to enjoy the moment. Dimity said that we need to enjoy the now and not look at the end of the race or how many miles we have left, or how much work is ahead of us; but to actually enjoy the moment we are in.  Running shouldn’t bring us stress. Running is our playtime. If we are worrying about how much is ahead of us, or the hills up in front of us, then we are not enjoying the now and having fun with it. I really needed to hear that.

She also talked about some of the basics that I needed to hear all over again. The essentials like taking on fuel at miles 4, 8 and 11. Those will keep us hydrated and sufficiently fueled so that we can finish the race strong.  In doing so, we will keep our brain happy and will push away the mental monkeys.  I used to be diligent about my fueling and hydration during races; but lately have been running half marathons with little fuel, just enough to get by.  When you fuel properly you will have a stronger finish.  Especially at the time when you need it.  She also reminded us to start of slower so we can finish strong.  It’s so easy for me/us to go out fast because of the crowd pushing us along and when we do that we run out of gas too fast and then struggle at the end.  You have to make a very conscious effort to be slower the first half.  Especially in the beginning when everyone else is surging forward.

Keep a mantra in your head repeat that mantra to yourself so that you are taking your mind away from the bad thoughts and making a conscious effort to speak to yourself positively. She made an excellent point that struck a chord with me. She said don’t ever say something to yourself that you wouldn’t say to a friend. Would you tell your friend she looked fat? Would you tell your friend she’s too slow? So why is it that we can talk to ourselves that way?

I had been struggling with the upcoming Hartford half marathon coming up that week. I was afraid of arriving to the city on time., finding a place to park, and actually running the race. I had been having prerace anxiety with the last few races lately.  I don’t know what has been causing it, but hearing what Dimity had to say has been very very helpful to me. Especially the part about enjoying the moment. That is my playtime, that is my time to be with friends who enjoy the same thing that I enjoy.

After the interview was over there was a raffle for some great prizes and then Beth, the Race Director for the Hartford Marathon presented Dimity with the Wonder Woman award.    

It was a fun night and afterwards I visited with Dimity’s travelling partner Denise Dollar.  I met Denise at the Philadelphia Marathon and also at the Fleet Feet meet up.  

  
I had Dimity sign my bib for the race and took pictures with her and Ali.  It was a lot of fun and as always.  Thank you Hartford Marathon Foundation for another great event!  

Providence Marathon Training Picks Up

March 15, 2014

Last weekend I did a long run of 17 miles to prepare for the Providence Marathon on May 4th.  This was a big day for me.  I had been struggling mentally with running since I returned home from the Princess Glass Slipper Challenge weekend.  I had the BEST time running that weekend, but my legs weren’t good.  I had been having issues with my hip flexors.  I am also sooo slow!

I typically train by myself and do all of my long runs alone because I remain committed to my plan and am self-motivated.  But because of my apprehension about doing another marathon shortly after doing the Disney full marathon in January I decided to hire a training coach.  Not only did I hire a coach, I hired the best!  I am doing e-coaching with Jeff Galloway.  That was a VERY smart decision for me.  His instructions for my 17 mile run made a huge difference for me. I just received my autographed book from him in the mail and was excited!

jeffgallowaybook

I was just reading the latest Runners World magazine and there was an article from Dimity McDowell about her Iron Man endeavor.  You can also read about her Iron Man race on the anothermotherrunner.com site.  First of all, I am in awe by any mother who does the Iron Man.  That’s just awesome.  I met Dimity in February at the Princess Half Marathon weekend and she is so humble and friendly and awesome.  But her article hit home to me. She wrote about controlling as many variables as possible.  Having a coach to keep you on track is key.  I feel that having Jeff to help me achieve another marathon within a few short months of my last one will help me to avoid injury and still achieve my goal.

Proof of this success came when I did my 17 mile run last weekend.  All week prior I was having issues with a muscle spasm in my back.  I saw my incredible chiropractor three times and it quieted down the issue.  He also reassured me that I would still be able to do my run.  Mentally I was struggling.  I was having doubts about my ability.  Even though I did a half marathon just 2 weeks prior I didn’t feel like I had the base of mileage behind me.

When I set out on my run I did as Jeff recommended and changed my interval time to 30 seconds run, 1 minute walk.  At first that was nice, but it felt like I was going a lot slower.  I kept this interval up for the first 4 miles.  Then I changed it to my usual 30/30.  I did that for miles 5 – 10 then stepped back down to 30/1:00 for the rest of the run.  My average pace was about 13:30 per mile which again, is much slower than I am used to doing. However, I had a lot less pain during and after my run and I recovered much faster during the days after.  I know Jeff is my coach and he’s been doing this for MANY years so he knows what will work for me.  I have to trust that.  Even though it means I will be out on my training runs for 4-6 hours, these runs will help me for my race day so I don’t get hurt.

During the week I do my cadence drills to pick up speed and turnover, and hill repeats to build up the other muscles that get ignored by doing flat runs.  Even though I read magazines and books about running it really sunk in for me that each type of training run has a purpose and when you do them all as part of a plan it will make you a more efficient runner.  I am maturing in my knowledge about running and hopefully that will help me to achieve my goals and one day achieve a goal of qualifying for Boston.  That is a VERY hefty goal for slow little ole me, but it’s out there and hopefully one day it will happen.

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