Transcending Borders & Boundaries

Recent Italian transplants, Carlo and Sofia, had a few of our RunMuskegon members over for a pasta dinner this weekend.  I first met Sofia and Carlo a year ago on a November run group night.  They quickly became regulars, and went on to take part in several West Michigan races.  Usually we’d talk and share race stories over a pint after a group run.  So when the invite came, I jumped at the chance to get to know my Italian friends better.  

Sofia and I at the 2014 Katty Shack 5K in Grand Haven.

The food was fabulous...authentic Italian in every way from a mouth-watering puff pastry filled with zucchini and ricotta, scrumptious orecchiette with broccoli, a spinach salad, right down to the post-dessert espresso with chocolate.  Every bite was as warm and inviting as Sofia and Carlo welcoming us into their home.  Conversations flowed with the red wine, laughter and stories filled the room.  Surrounded by my runner friends, I felt truly fortunate and thankful for these individuals in my life, and in awe of how we came together.

Sometime between the salad and dessert, Sofia brought out a photobook of her 100K trail race (Magraid Trail Race) she completed in Italy before moving to Michigan.  She was part of a two woman team that ran side by side over the course of three days.  Flipping through the photos, she described the experience, I discovered this petite Italian woman was definitely a force to be reckoned with.  

Sofia & Carlo (in the blue) at the Old Boys Oktoberfest Race series.

As I listened to Sofia describe her 100K experience, I marveled at how running transcends borders and boundaries. Much like music and mathematics, which are considered to be universal because you don’t need to understand the English, French, Spanish, or (in this case) Italian it is spoken with...you only need to open yourself up and the passion easily communicates the meaning.  Our need to run extends across the world.  

Runners just ‘get’ other runners.  Especially runners that have trained and raced long distances.  The determination, intention, the sheer pure grit to reach a goal of that scale...it is identifiable in others who have it too.

Perhaps that is one of the underlying chords that ties running groups together.  Despite being a hodge-podge collection of people from widely differing backgrounds and lives, we understand each others’ journey...because we are on that path too.  We speak the language of runners...through the rhythm of our pounding feet, the beep of GPS watches, smiles and grimaces, high-fives, and pats on the back.  

Whatever it is that allows us to overcome language barriers, I happy it exists...especially now that I have my sights set on an international marathon in a few years!  Viviamo. Amiamo. Corriamo.

Old Boys Oktoberfest Half Marathon Recap

This recent change in West Michigan weather from hot and steamy to crisp and fall-ish as given my running a major boost.  The end of September marked the beginning of my last taper for the year...on September 27th, I will be running my fourth half marathon of the year at the Old Boys Oktoberfest Half Marathon.  

Up until now, I didn’t care for tapering...it interfered with my very heavy spring race schedule (three half marathons and my first 25K within 11 weeks) or I just didn’t want to give up my mileage.  I tried a two week taper in before my first half marathon of the year...it wasn’t pretty.  That was about the time I heard the term ‘taper tantrums’ and it fit my running-state-of-mind perfectly.  

To taper for Old Boys, I decided to return to my tried and true one week taper, running my longest training run two weeks prior to my race, with an 8 mile long run a week later.  Surprisingly, I relatively mellow...could be my allergy medicine talking.  Or focusing on seeing some of my family members for the first time in almost two years!  Or the fact that I am walking on marshmallow feet, babying my right Achilles tendon that flared up a bit after a beach 5K I ran the prior Friday night.  

Other things were definitely keeping the racing nerves at bay.I didn’t want to risk anything stopping me from running this half marathon.  It was the first half marathon that most of my family had the opportunity to attend.  (Did I mention my brother was also getting married a few hours after I would be completing this last half marathon???)  A majority of my family lives out of town, therefore has never had the chance to watch me finish a race.  I was secretly hoping for some flashy signs and familiar faces somewhere out on the course...a girl can hope, right?  The days leading up to Old Boys gave me hope that I could run the course no problem: my heel felt looser and almost ache-free.

Group Shot! RunMuskegon Participants

Race morning began with my rituals: a breakfast of coffee, a banana, and peanut butter toast chased by water; gearing up in my Oiselle Flock singlet, Mac Roga shorts, and my favorite Zensah compression leg sleeves; and a few dynamic stretches to warm up.  It was a chilly morning, very similar to the weather of my last long training run in which I had run the race course in record time.  I knew that I had a very good chance to break through my goal of 1:45:00...as long as my Achilles could take the pavement pounding.  

My running group, RunMuskegon, met at the starting line for pictures.  Some of us were course veterans, while others, like my friend Ryno, would be running 13.1 miles for the first time.  We huddled for warmth and support until it was time to file into the starting corral.  The only thing I was nervous about was starting out too fast...a bad habit of mine.  My game plan was to start out around a 7:30 to 7:40 minute pace and try to maintain that for as long as I could.  Everything went so smoothly for the first six miles.  I saw the first group of loved ones waiting to cheer me on at the two mile mark, before they had to rush off to a soccer game.  My dad and son met me at the six mile mark along with a small crew of friends who had cowbells and posters.  I was feeling great!  Up until this point, I was running with a girl who was a collegiate cross country and track runner...and I was keeping pace through the rolling hills that surround Spring Lake!  

Still smiling at mile 2!

But just before mile seven, my right heel began to ache.  Dully at first, and then the rest of my leg began to tense up.  When I stopped to take my fuel (Huma Gel in Apple Cinnamon), I took a few seconds to stretch my calves, in the hope that loosening them up would help keep me on my goal pace.  I also slowed up a bit, wanting to hover around an 8 minute pace.  I knew that I needed to run at least that to have any hope of attaining a personal record.  And knowing that I usually hit a wall around mile ten and the race course became more hilly in the last half, I needed to soldier on.  

Instead of dwelling on the increasing discomfort in my lower right leg, I turned toward reflecting on the scenery, truly enjoying the beauty of the morning and the course as I followed the curves and turns around Spring Lake.  Eventually spectators began to appear on the course again, and I used their cheers to bolster my energy.  Some of them were even for me!  More friends had found spots at the park in Ferrysburg before the course swept over the bridges.

The most difficult part about the Old Boys course is the end.  As you complete the last hills, hiking up the bridges that connect Ferrysburg, Grand Haven, and Spring Lake, you run past the brewery where runners and their families were already celebrating finishes.  But YOU still have a mile to compete before the finish line appears.  Mentally, that is a downer...so close, but still a ways to go.  

As I rounded the last turn, my Achilles hurt bad enough to affect my stride.  I stopped looking at my GPS watch and really had no idea what my time was until I saw the clock at the finish line.  I almost cried when the red digits appeared...I was still within grasp of my goal...I could still do it.  Mustering everything I had left, I sprinted (or at least what felt like sprinting) to the finish line.  I could hear cheers from my run group friends as they saw me coming down the chute...they knew what I knew.  I was going to do it!  I finished those 13.1 miles with a PR time of 1:44:52.5 (8:00 minute pace), jumping across the finish line with tears in my eyes.  

Colin & Ryno cross the finish line!

While waiting for my friends Liz, Colin, and Ryno to finish the half, the tail end of my cheer team showed up to cheer me on...but I had run a bit quicker than anticipated, so they missed the finish!  We were still able to pose for pictures with all the signs afterward!  (Yes...I got my flashy signs and many smiling faces!)  My favorite moment post-race was seeing Ryno finish his first half marathon.  Our fellow RunMuskegon member, Colin ran with Ryno the entire time, finishing it off with a pat on the back as they crossed the finish line.  That moment says everything about our run group:  we support each other and cheer each other on.

I walked away with a new half marathon personal record as well as a third place age group finish! Celebrating my achievement with loved ones and friends, I grabbed a pint of Old Boys Oktoberfest beer. 

Next up:  Grand Rapids Marathon Relay October 19, 2014.