Sweet 16: Marathon Training

The process of marathon training is not one for the faint of heart or lacking motivation.  This task requires a lengthy commitment and dedication that will challenge and test any runner.  I knew this when I began training for my first marathon on the heels of my 25K in May.  My 18 week marathon training plan was going to push me to mileage and extended paces I had never attempted before.  

The Sweet 16 Route

Running six days a week, with two quality workouts, I wrapped up my eleventh week this morning, and I must say, it was a very different my most of my training runs.  Not only did I run the first of three 16 mile runs, but I raced my first back to back races ever in the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival run (I did the 5K and 10K).

Leading up to this long run, I have been combating loneliness on most of my runs.  There aren’t many local runners who want to join me on my quality workouts (speed and tempo runs) at my pace...and I don’t blame them.  Sweating it out for eight or more miles as the mercury climbs and the humidity thickens is not what I’d call fun.  But the work must be done, and I must do it.  So far I have varied my routes as much as I can within the limits of childcare arrangements and taken to listening to the backlog of podcasts on my iPhone.  I have longed for company on my long, easy runs.  

As an attempt to lure other runners to join me for a stretch of what is one of my longest runs in my training plan, I decided to change up my route and run around Muskegon Lake.  I checked the distance, following the Lakeshore Bike path, beginning at one side of the channel around to the other side.  The distance was the 16 miles that was penciled into my training log.  Next step...find some others willing to get up and brave the warm morning.  I threw the invite out to my run groups, hoping that my easy pace of 8:30ish would be tempting for a few.  

Starting Point: Steven & I at the Muskegon Lighthouse and South Pier Head.

Only my boyfriend Steve joined me for the entire distance (he is in the earlier weeks of a marathon training plan), but we picked up a several other local runners for varying distances along the way.  Their smiles, hellos, and conversations helped the miles fly by in quick little chunks.  Catching up with Alana, Heidi, Colin, and Shawn was a bonus to the sunny, long miles around Muskegon Lake.  With them also came offers of ice water (yes please!), sunscreen, body glide, gels, and words of encouragement.  (Side note:  Heidi, Colin, and Shawn all ran the Kalamazoo Marathon this past spring.)  

Heidi, me, and Alana during the first six miles.

Colin and Shawn joined me at the half way point in North Muskegon

Finished!  We made it around to the other side!

As Steve and I approached Muskegon State Park, we were greeted by a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan.  “Hello my friend,” Steve said as we made our way over the last of the backwood dune hills and into the state park.  Until this run, I had never been in this part of the park before.  I was stunned by the beauty of the dunescape that surrounded us:  gently rolling dunes blanketed with marram grass, patches of milkweed and other native flowers dotting the roadside, a calm and majestic water as far as the eye could see.  Carlo and Sofia awaited us at the end of our sweet 16 miles with water and smiles.  

I couldn’t be happier about how my highest mileage week yet ended:  a wonderful long, slow run.  

Steve, me, Jack, Sofia, and Carlo before we headed home!

Race Recap: Nike Women's 15K Toronto

Ever since I began running longer distances, the Nike Women’s race series has been on my bucket list.  I had expected it to stay there for a while because the reality of a single mom on a school teacher budget traveling across the country (or internationally) for a fairly pricey half marathon just wasn’t realistic.  I willingly put dreams of a Tiffany finisher’s pendant off to the side and focused on other running goals.

Then along came a day in March, and word spread that Nike was adding a race in Toronto!  Practically a hop, skip, and a few hours of driving away!  Excitement persuaded reason to take a leap of faith.  So I entered my name in the lottery, fingers-crossed that I have the chance for an international running adventure.  

Early April, I receive an email that made me squeal with glee:  I had an entry into the Nike Women’s 15K Toronto race!  I couldn’t believe it!  A rash of text messages and emails went out, bombarding my inner circle with my good news.  A few hours later, after I began to plan out and coordinate the logistics of this mini runcation, reality set in:  I was going to do this race and most likely, I was going to do it all by myself.  Toronto was not only going to be my longest road trip to date (is that sad for an independent woman in this day and age??) but my first solo international trip (yes...Canada counts...my passport was required!)  

The week leading up to the Nike Women’s 15K Toronto race was flooded with last minute travel arrangements, emailed updates from Nike, packing, and weather checking.  I am fortunate to have several family members who live near Toronto and many emails and messages later, my cousin Kristin helped me find a place to stay.  Arriving in Toronto in the mid-afternoon, I had just enough time to roam about the expo and pick up my packet.  

The Women’s Village was set up on Queens Quay West and chalk full of exciting things to see.  The Crystal Palace (a floating barge in the harbor) hosted multiple classes and exercise opportunities leading up to race morning.  Nike had a very impressive shop with race specific apparel, shoes, running analysts, etc.  The pounding music only drove my excitement to be at this event even further to the edge.  Walking along and exploring the vendors and sponsor tents gave me the chance to stretch my travel stiffened legs and hook up to the complementary WiFi.  (Sidenote:  When doing an international race, check with your cell phone carrier about an addon for international data and minutes.  I overlooked this detail and was at the mercy of Tim Horton’s and Starbuck’s free WiFi!)

Downtown Toronto as seen from the Centre Island Dock.

My Canadian cousins, Deb and Eric, put me up at their house for the night prior to the race.   A few shake out miles and a shower later, we sat down for dinner.  It was lovely to spend the evening catching up and listening to family stories...the ones that only come out decades later once everyone has found the humor in the incidents.  I laid out my race gear and pinned on my bib, a la Flat Courtney style and crawled into bed.  The excitement of my journey and the long car ride had wiped me out.

Flat Courtney

Waking up at the crack of dawn, I quietly dressed and packed while my hosts brewed a pot of coffee.  One cup and I was on my way back to downtown and Queens Quay to catch my 6:00 am ferry.  I had my fingers crossed that I could navigate back without assistance from my GPS on my phone.  Only making one wrong turn, I had little trouble finding parking and following the obvious tide of women runners heading for the docks.  I lined up in my queue and waited with anticipation and the fervent wish I had stopped somewhere for another cup of coffee.  As the sun dawned upon Lake Huron and the Toronto Islands, ferries transported participants and spectators.  I was greeted by a fantastic drumline as I made my way to the starting area, where I met up with fellow Oiselle birds, Carly and Lauren.  There was plenty of time to walk about, find bathrooms, check our gear and warm up before the 9:30 am start time.  

Being in the first half of marathon training, I honestly had no idea what to expect of myself as far as a finish time.  I did not allow myself a taper for this race, instead letting it count as tempo run.  My hope was to beat my prior 15K time of 1:06:13, but other than that, I simply wanted to race well and strategically.

Oiselle Birds ready to fly!  Myself, Carly, & Lauren representing!

A cool, steady light rain began just as I entered my wave corral.  I joined a huddle of runners jumping up and down to stay warm as the announcer pumped everyone up and counted down the start.

This was an amazing course for being on a small island, alternating pavement, dirt, and grassy paths...even an airport runway!  (Yes...planes were taking off as we ran on the neighboring runway!) The drumline that greeted us off the ferry was on the course, as well as a church choir.  It was interested to see a course marked out in both kilometers and miles.  And I could guess if my fellow runners were Canadian or American by where their GPS watches beeped!  One of my most favorite sights on the course was running past the pink lighthouse.  My other was the last mile of the race when I came to the boardwalk along the southern part of the island.  It was slick from the rain, so I wasn’t able to push my pace as fast as I wanted to, but the views of Lake Ontario were breathtaking.

Here is the preview of the course Nike released:

Nike Women's 15K - Course Preview
Your training got you here. Your best will take you home.Get your sneak peek of the Nike Women's 15K Toronto course.
Posted by Run Nike Women Series on Sunday, June 7, 2015

As with most races, the best part was the finish line:  Olympian Joan Benoit Samuelson was high-five-ing finishers!  A very sweet and unique ending to a race that gave me a new PR: 1:05:54!

And yes, I got my Tiffany blue box with my race pendant.  

Overall, this was an amazing experience.  There were a few hiccups, as there are with any first time race.  I don’t believe it was necessary to have the runners on ferries as early as 6:00 am when the race began at 9:30 am.  The course was a slow one, even though it was pretty flat.  The combination of pavement, dirt and grassy paths, several turns, and a slippery boardwalk did not allow for blazing fast times.  

In spite of these minor issues, Nike did put on a wonderful event from start to finish.  The entry fee and travel was worth checking this race series off my bucket list.