Causality #1

I knew it was going to happen. Before I even started running, other runners told me to be prepared. It wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when.

Last night, I lost a toenail (right foot, second toe). The entire nail is gone. We had gone for a short 5 mile run, much of it uphill. During the run, the nail was sore. I had a feeling it might be seeing the last of it's days. Sure enough, when we got home, I just needed to pull it back and it came off. Just like that.

Oddly, it looks so much better. It had been purple for a long time. Even a pedicure couldn't work it's magic.

1 down, 9 more to go. I definitely have runner's feet now.

I really hope this stops

I have become an excessive sweater. It's to the point where I am disgusting myself.

I'm constantly sweating, sometimes even after I shower. That is precisely how gross I've become.

I blame running. This one physical activity ignited some gland in my body that is on overdrive. All I know is that I didn't sweat to these extremes prior to January 2010.

However, it could be much, much worse. At this point, my sweating is contained to under the arms (well, unless I'm running, then I'm a wet mess).

Some positives ... I've convinced myself that if I'm sweating, then I must be burning calories. In cases like that, I tell myself it's okay to keep eating the pretzel M&Ms (which, for the record, is my new favorite candy). Even better, with this excessive sweating, my odds of being a guest on "Dr. Oz" has increased significantly. I am absolutely intrigued with that man and his purple medical gloves. With benefits like that, maybe this excessive sweating is actually a good thing.

That's how I've come to accept it because , either way, I don't think this is going away.

Rock the Crossroads 5K

Last night's 5K taught me a few scientific lessons. By running in the most excruciating heat (according to the weather, it was 95 degrees, with a heat index of 105), I can now say that I know what the inner core of the earth feels like. I have a better understanding of what it would feel like to be inside of an erupting volcano. I would spend 10 minutes inside of an oven, baking at 400 degrees, before I would ever run in those temperatures again. For once, I can say that I am not exaggerating about a running experience. It was so unbelievably hot (exhibit A: look at the above picture. See that fluid on the shirt. That would be sweat). The saddest part of the entire experience - I paid to experience that level of pain. Definitely not one of my brightest decisions.

Starting at 7 pm, we ran in the Crossroads district, past the Sprint Center, and into the Power and Light district. Aside from the excessive heat and humidity, I loved the route. However, because it was so hot, I actually only remember a few landmarks (mainly the water station). It was a great course; only a few inclines, mainly running downhill.

In all of the races we've been a part of, I've never witnessed so many people walking. It's always been a goal of mine to run the races without stopping to walk (I'm saving the walking for the marathon), but, last night, I learned, there are definitely times you have to stop and walk, especially if you want to make it to the finish line, without riding in an ambulance. As we were approaching the water station, I told Adam that I needed to walk for a few minutes, but he should continue to run and I would see him at the finish line (it's sad to discover that I didn't marry a human. How he was able to run in those temperatures without walking left me baffled). With a few sips of water, I was refreshed and ready to finish, running the rest the race.

As I ran through the finish line, I kept looking for Adam, expecting him to be right there. Yet, he was no where to be found. Luckily, Erica was there (always feels great to have someone at the finish line and she is always so supportive and encouraging). So, our search began. With over 1500 participants, it was a bit difficult to find him. Pretty soon, we were all looking for him. Curtis, Gavin, and Ryan went in one direction, while Erica and I went in the other direction; thinking one of us would eventually find him. As time progressed, I started to get worried, even looking for him near the medical area. Finally, after a 25 minute search, I saw him walking up the road toward the finish line. After he finished in 30:29, he grabbed two Vitamin waters and went back to the trail to look for me (until he came to the last two walkers). Little did he realize, but I finished just four minutes behind him at 34:16 and so we just missed each other. It was an incredible feeling to learn that he went back to support me; not such a great feeling to discover that he drank the Vitamin water that he took for me (completely teasing him).

Because of the heat, we skipped out on the post race-beer and local Kansas City bands, instead choosing to go home and enjoy the air conditioning. I've never been so appreciative of modern technology. Walking into 73 degree temperatures, I discovered I may not be running another race until the temperatures drop considerably or until I want to better understand what it feels like to boil.

My new best friend

Hal Higdon ... that name meant absolutely nothing to me prior to January. Sure, I would have known about him if he had been featured on the cover of "People" magazine or if he had opened up some amazing restaurant and was featured on "Top Chef" (I'm very up-to-date on the latest entertainment trends) but, because he is the guru of running, his name was foreign to me. Not anymore.

Hal and I are turning into best friends (sure, that sounds super creepy because it is super creepy). I'm feeling like he's become such a big part of our lives that if Adam and I ever have a son, I'm considering naming him Hal Higdon Mitchell. At this point, I'd even name a daughter after him. Yes, that's how close I'm feeling to this man (I know, I continue to increase my creepiness factor).

It's his marathon training plan that Adam and I are following. We've read countless articles from other runners that followed his plan and successfully completed a marathon and we had a friend recommend his plan. Because we know nothing about training, we needed someone to guide us. Who better than to guide us than the one who helped so many others?

Shockingly, his plan is very manageable. We're currently in Training Week 3 of 18, and I'm shocked at how much it makes sense (if running can make sense). I no longer dread running ... the heat and humidity I most definitely dread, but not the actual running. It's all because of Hal Higdon's daily emails. The night before, we receive an email outlining our training for the next day, along with a message/tip. It's sickening how much we look forward to these emails, although we already know what we're expected to run (when we initially signed up for his training plan, we sat down and outlined everything on our running calendar. I would like to note that this nerdy act was not under my direction - for once, Adam is completely responsible for that one).

The plan is set up where we run 4 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday). Saturday is our "long running" day (eventually we get up to 20 miles and then taper off) and the other days are short in mileage (anywhere from 3 to 10 miles. By the way, since when did 3 miles become a short run?). We have followed the plan religiously. Hal even says that if you follow his plan, he guarantees that you'll complete the marathon. That's what sold me on his plan. I needed someone to guarantee that I would complete this thing.

We've been getting up by 4:30 am to run during the week. In doing so, we thought we'd avoid the heat. Uh, I was completely fooled because, even at 4:30 in the morning, it is overwhelming hot. Sometimes I feel like I'm running with a heavy blanket over me. If you were running next to me, you would think that I had some serious respiratory issues, which often prompts Adam to ask, "Marena, are you sure you're okay?". Gotta love the Kansas City humidity.

Yet, I still look forward to the runs because of Hal Higdon. Adam and I believe that if we follow his plan, we will, without a doubt, accomplish something together we never imagined possible. How could I not name a child after Hal? Okay, maybe I'll just rename Jasper "Hal" and Stella "Higdon." That way, when I call them in, I can say his name in it's entirety. I know, the creepiness factor only gets creepier the more I talk about him.

I'm pretty certain that my love for Hal will disappear that moment he has me running more than 1o miles (sadly, that occurs on August 7th).

What to do with the running medals?

I just started running in January and I'm already the proud owner of 2 medals. Who knew that getting medals when you're 31 would feel so great? I don't want to just display them in my office; I feel like the medals should be showcased Vanna White style, but how? So, I've been thinking and this is what I've come up with:

• Wear the medals while I clean the house. Cleaning is one of my favorite hobbies (yes, you read that I correctly - I consider cleaning to be hobby) so I would get the opportunity to wear the medals on a daily basis. Medals would look great with my orange gloves and a toliet wand.
  

• Every once in a while, I should wear the medal in place of my necklace. I think I would get some interesting comments, especially from the cashier at Hen House (then we could talk about something other than how much she loves bananas).

• I could put them around Stella and Jasper's neck. It would definitely increase their coolness factor with Snickers, Batman, and Penny (some of the dogs in our neighborhood).

Yes, these are the thoughts I have while I'm on summer vacation. Always intriguing (imagine the fun conversations Adam gets to experience when he walks in the door after he's been at work all day and I've been home).

Slow as a turtle

Adam and I completed our 3rd 10K this morning (Lenexa Freedom Run). We were so excited to see our friends Curtis and Erica near the start line. Curtis was there to run the 10K and Erica was there to cheer him on (as well as provide her observations/insight into the other runners and the MC: "All the way Ray"). Curtis completed the distance 13 minutes faster so they were they cheering us on as we ran through the finish line. Watching Curtis run is so impressive. He definitely gets into a zone and makes it look a lot easier than it is. I, on the other hand, look like I'm about to have a medical emergency. If you saw my face after a race, you would never want to run.

There are times I run slow (and I mean slow), but usually, on race day, I'm able to step up the pace a bit (meaning, I increase my time by 20-30 seconds for 10Ks and 60 seconds faster for 5Ks). Adam always tells me that time doesn't matter, it only matters that we cover the distance (that's the advice people give you when you run slow). Today, we ran a slow 10K (1:13:01). Granted, we ran the Hospital Hill 10K 38 seconds slower, but that was a challenging course, so I was just elated to complete it and was thrilled with my time.

Why did we run today's 10K so much slower? The course was relatively flat and should have been a fast and easy run. Could it have been because, during our two weeks in Greece, we didn't run? Was it because I was only going on 2 hours of sleep? Did it have anything to do with how very thirsty I was (the last water station was at mile marker 2.5 and I ran the additional 3.7 needing hydration - so much so I almost cried)? Was it because the last time I ran 6.2 miles was nearly a month ago? What I've come up with is that sometimes I'm going to run slow and that's okay. We covered the distance and that's all that matters (that's what you tell yourself when you run slow). All I can do is continue to train and get back out there and run more 10Ks.

Go, Amy, Go!

My sister, Amy, and I are only 18 months apart. By growing up that close in age (and only one grade apart), it's impossible to have memories that do not involve her. She could always easily embarrass me (for example, she insisted on standing on the front porch as I was getting onto the bus to go to kindergarten, saying, "Bye, Mawena" ). As often as she embarrassed me, she always managed to be the first to cheer me on (it was just the two of us sitting on my bedroom floor when I opened my college acceptance letter - she was just as thrilled as I was, if not more). I believe sisters have such a unique relationship and bond, one that is continually strengthened as time moves on. There are definitely times when we don't see eye to eye, but when it comes down to it, I can't imagine what my life would have been like without her (well, obviously, a lot less humiliating).

Last Saturday, our bond was strengthened as we ran a 5K together. It was her first.

Amy may not always go about things in the way that I would (for example, she stopped training 5 weeks prior to the race), but when she says that she's going to do something, she does it. So, I knew, that regardless of her comfort level, she was going to complete the race. She has a level of determination and will that I don't quite think she realizes. It was so inspiring to see her overcome her initial reluctance and run.

It was a perfect first 5K (Lawrence Foxtrot). The course was flat, the number of runners were small, the weather was gorgeous, and she had two people cheering from the sidelines - Adam and Arianna.



The night before, we spent some time talking and I shared my tidbits of running advice (1) go slow - time doesn't matter but finishing does, (2) take it all in - listen and watch everything around you, and (3) focus on breathing - it impacts the run.

As we ran, I loved every second of it. I loved being 31 years old and experiencing something with Amy for the first time. I loved being back in the rhythm of a run and having her by my side. I loved that Arianna got to see her mom accomplish something for the first time. Most importantly, I loved being the one who cheered her on.



Amy, I am so incredibly proud of you. You set a goal and accomplished it. You kept going, even when you wanted to stop. I can't wait to run next to you on your next 5K (I know you'll do another one, it's addicting and you need to know how it feels when you've trained properly). Thanks for such a phenomenal experience. It's one that I won't ever forget.