Steamboat Race Report

Well... I did it!  I completed my training of 548 miles, and the Steamboat Marathon in 4:56:41.

I have to say they were right - it is an ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS run.  I was smiling the entire race (and wearing a Beef Running Team/Beef... it's What's for Dinner t-shirt only added to the size of my smile, and the giggling from my internal comedy show).

The shuttle bus picked up up in Steamboat at 5:45 and shipped us up 26.2 miles to the race start.  I would have seen the entire course on the way up if I hadn't slept the entire way (which was probably a good thing).  There were 344 of us crazy marathoners which was really pretty cool.  Smallest race I've ever run.  The bus dropped us off at Hahn's Peak Village around 6:30, and the sun was already up and beating down on the mountain.  I met up with a few other Runner's Edge teammates - it was really good to have their company at the start of the race. 

The gun went off, and we all started running.  I did a great job on the first two miles at keeping my goal pace (warm-up miles).  Mile 3 was all uphill, and I could tell there wasn't as much oxygen up there to feed my muscles.  Still keep my pace going really well.  I was feeling really strong, and it was only 70ish degrees which was still relatively low.  I had trained to stop for water/gatorade every 2 miles (and it was greatly needed in this race), however, the water stops were more like every 4 miles.  And I had major cotton mouth the entire race. 

I seriously can't emphasize how absolutely breathtaking the scenary was.  For the first ten miles, that was all I could think about!  Beautiful purple and yellow wildflowers.  Green pastures for miles.  Snow topped purple mountain peaks in the distance.  Streams and lakes along the entire route.  Horses, deer, cows and baby cows nursing.  Even a coyote darted across the route at one point.  Ranchers were outside fixing fences, watching the race, etc.  Very very peaceful. 

Mentally I was really strong until mile 16ish.  By then it was blazing hot - and I was getting really dehydrated and my legs were cramping.  It was hard to get my quads to pull my legs forward anymore.  Still I told myself to run through the pain and ignore the heat.  It was constant positive support from my inner voice that kept me going.  I can't remember if it was mile 20 or 22 that had the water station where I drenched myself and drank LOTS of water... but about a quarter mile after that water stop, I lost my cookies (aka water and gatorade).  Pretty disgusting, but I knew the end was getting close and I told myself to keep running - one step at a time.  Mile after mile. 

At that point I saw a couple people get picked up by the shuttle that was driving back and forth making sure people were doing okay.  And the quantity of runners that were walking was around 80%.  Mentally it made it even harder to keep running, but it's always one of those things that if you stop it's really hard to start again.  And I knew I had my support crew waiting for me at the finish - and so I kept on running.  By mile 24 I was losing steam bad.  My muscles felt dehydrated, and didn't have much left in them.  All I thought about the last couple of miles is how I wanted to leap over the finish line - and made sure I saved enough energy to do so.  At mile 25 I ran into the girl I had sat next to on the bus ride up, Laura.  We ran the last mile together.  Kyle was there and cheered us on which gave me a little more energy and cleared brought my brain back to earth a little... and then it was funny.  About a quarter mile up the road Kyle was there again cheering for us... I told Laura that was my boyfriend, and she asked "is he a runner?" I had to say yes considering he cheer us on at two locations and all he had to get around was his legs (just like us) - but he was definitely more refreshed than we were.  With 0.2 miles to go Laura sprinted off... and I kept my legs moving, but wasn't getting much power out of them (running around a 12 min/mi pace).  I didn't want to push it too much cuz I was so hot I felt like I was gonna pass out - and that close to the finish line I didn't want to chance anything. =)

I did it though.  I got to the finish line and leapt over it.  It was awesome!  I seriously couldn't believe I was finished - it was pretty surreal.  As soon as they hung the metal around my neck I realized just how tired I was --- it was incredibly heavy - but I loved it.   Kyle, my sisters and Austin were there at the finish line, and it was amazing to see them there with smiles on their faces. 

Less than TWO weeks!

Steamboat Marathon came a lot faster than I had anticipated.  Only 12 days until I'm running 26.2!
At 7:30am on June 6th I will be taking my first steps in my 4th marathon - one of the top 10 most scenic marathons in this country. 
Wow, I can't wait!  A little nervous, but that's to be expected.  Finally found shoes that don't break the bottoms of my feet... have put in the miles and the time... my heart rate has dropped significantly since I started this training session... and my body is feeling strong!  I had a GREAT run today which turned my "freaking out" stage into the "can't freakin wait" stage.  And I found myself day dreaming about running an ultramarathon again... somehow, not sure how, but 26.2 miles doesn't seem all that far anymore.  I think that means I have done a good job of mentally training for Steamboat.  It is gonna be so beautiful - and hopefully the weather will cooperate. 
Also the Beef shirts are supposed to be in my mail box in the next couple of days.  Can't wait to see what they look like!!!!! 

My Race Prediction:

I'll start off slowly in the first few miles to conserve energy and ease into the race, begin shedding tears at mile 5 as I finally realize I'm racing, tell my body to take it easy on the intense downhill grade and rolling hills, hold back at mile 8 when I get my runners high and think I'm an Olympic runner, dance and jump up and down at mile 13 with pure joy and excitement (a signature move), laugh at mile 16 as my brain begins to entertain me with my own personal "stand up comedy" show (I really crack myself up, which cracks me up even more), attempt to do math at mile 18 to figure out how many hours I've been running only to blame the watch when I can't come up with an answer (even though it clearly says 3:00:00), push strong through to the 20-mile "halfway point", start crying again at mile 23 and 24 not wanting the race to ever end, then let my legs run free for the final stretch... next is the addictive part --- the crossing of the finish line.  I'll see the finish line up ahead and hear the crowd and the announcer in the distance.  This will signal a rush to consume my body and make everything go silent.  Only my inner voice and my overwhelming emotions in those last few steps... and then the pure elation and satisfaction as I leap, yes leap, over the finish line knowing I did it! Saving the best for last --- there will be a beer waiting for me across the finish line --- I will take three sips of before feeling my muscles spounge it up and take the already loopy Courtney to a whole new level of silly. 

Bring it on Steamboat!!!

BEEF... it's what's for dinner

I am officially sponsered by the Colorado Beef Council and am on the "Beef Running Team".  While I still haven't stopped giggling since I found out it's awesome because they will pay for my races!  Of course there is a catch... always a catch. =)  I will have to wear the BRT I love Beef t-shirt and supply them a picture taken of me at the race.  Pretty good deal if you ask me though. 

Eat beef.

20 Miles

It's always exciting when you accomplish the first 20 mile long run of your training.  I had doubts going into it... and ran the first 13 miles by myself.  Fortunately I was able to finish strong!
Ran along the Highline Canal which is a pretty easy run because it's a flat crusher fine trail.  When I first started running in 2006 this is where I did all of my long training runs - so I'm very familiar with the entire route.  It also made it easier because I could picture myself at the 10 mile turn around point for the first 10.  I took it easy, hydrated well before during and after, and oddly enough didn't get too sore!
Only 6 more long runs before the Steamboat Marathon - 14, 22, 10, 20, 12 and 8.  I'm getting pretty excited!

16 miles on a Dreadmill...

I did my long run on a treadmill this week.  When it started snowing my coach moved our Saturday long run to Sunday. =(
I really didn't want to have to think about the long run all weekend, so I decided to just get it away.  I was gonna run outside, but when I got out there, it was a wet, cold, slippery, snowy mess.  So I changed my plan and went to the gym.  For almost 3 hours I ran on a treadmill.  Yes, people were starring at me... you actually get quite a bit of attention when you are on a treadmill for over an hour and a half.  Apparently people start to wonder what you are doing.  And all I could imagine was that they were thinking the same thing that I was... "Is this girl crazy?!"  But any endurance runner will tell you that they have done at least one long run on a treadmill... also known as the "dreadmill".  And it actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be.  It was actually kind of fun... as sick as that sounds.  The fact that the time seemed to fly by made me realize that not only am I finally getting into shape, but that my brain is too!  At some point in training your brain learns how to relax and enjoy the run, and time doesn't exist anymore.  When I trained for my first marathon I first noticed that my brain was trained when I flew to North Carolina on a plane.  It's a three hour flight... but it flew by (pun not intended). I think it's a type of meditation - which probably adds to the addictive nature of running. 
Anyway, point is - I did it!

Green Mountain Trail

Today I decided to venture out and do a run I never have before.  I wanted a hilly run... and had heard that Green Mountain Trail in Lakewood was really fun.  So I tried it.  It's a 10k loop - which sounded fairly easy and innocent.  This was not really the case though.  There were over 900ft of elevation gain and decent... definitely challenging.  At times the trail was literally straight up!  I had a good time though and am looking forward to doing it again and improving my time.  These hilly runs really make you a stronger runner, and considering I signed up for a hilly marathon I'm gonna need all the strength I can get. =)  I think I'm gonna make trail running a bigger part of my training schedule.  Being out in the wilderness (in the middle of Lakewood...) was incredibly peaceful, and relaxing.  I even saw a deer on the mountain which was really cool!  I do need to go a little earlier however, it was pitch black outside when I finished... and it was pretty dangerous --- great place for wolves and mountain lions to eat me up!  But luckily that didn't happen this go around.  At the end of that workout I was absolutely BEAT.  Good times.

Thirty Two

I'm very excited to be turning 32 in a couple of weeks.  To help me celebrate my 32nd year of life my mom is flying out from NC, and we are gonna spend the day doing 32 yr old things... whatever that may entail.  But it will be great because I'll have my mama all to my self. =)