2014 Recap & Running Total Finale

One year ago, I set a goal for myself to keep track of how far I ran during 2014. I'd been following some running bloggers and many of them had been posting their total mileage for the year, which made me wonder how far I could run in one year. I also thought there could be value in keeping track of what I wore, ate, drank, etc. and how the temperatures affected my running. I didn't go so far as to set a goal,  though, because I honestly didn't know what was reasonable for a newbie who had only just joined the ranks of half-marathon runners.

So 2014 started out like every new year - full of excitement and motivation. I carefully logged every run in a cute little pink notebook and noted every detail that I thought relevant: time, distance, temperature, weather conditions, wardrobe and shoe selections, running companions, perceived effort, etc. In an effort to maintain accountability I also posted weekly updates here on my newly renovated blog. Not that anyone was actually reading my blog, but making it public helped me stick with it.

Needless to say, I did not keep up with my weekly posts. What's more, I stopped using my little pink notebook all together when I went home to America for the summer and was gifted with an iPhone 4. I began to use the free iRunner app to log my runs, and no longer felt it necessary to document as many details for each run.

Today, as part of the Runner's World Run Streak, I completed my last run of 2014. I had hoped to really go out with a bang, but all the snow we got this week has turned to ice and slush, and it was just impossible for me to run safely. So, I did my mile and called it a day. I did, however, get a great calves workout - running on slushy snow is not unlike running on the beach!

So now that I've logged today's run, I can share my final Running Total report for the year. Are you ready for this?! During 2014 I ran a total of 519.11 kilometers! That's 322.56 miles!! YASSS!!!

Looking back, 2014 was probably my most exciting and adventurous year of running! My Nikes pounded the pavement in Germany, France, Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, and three different states within the USA. I completed four half marathons, three of which were "official." I went on three Racecations: Nice, France with my friends Megan and Jacob; Chicago with my parents; and Lisbon, Portugal with my friend Jen. I also spent the second half of the year learning how to be a solo runner as I was separated from my two best friends and running buddies in June.

Rock'n'Roll Nice 10 Miles du Carnaval

Freiheitslauf (fundraiser)

Dreiländerlauf Three Country Run

Rock'n'Roll Chicago Half Marathon

Putnam County Mental Health 4-Miler

Rock'n'Roll Lisbon Half Marathon

At the beginning of the year I had no idea I would accomplish so much, or how addicted I would become to racing! I can't help but feel an immense amount of pride as I scroll through this list of races from the last year; just a few years ago I could barely run a mile without wanting to die, and now I am the one dragging my friends to races and going on "fun runs." I have learned so much this year and become a stronger runner through it. I am by no means an expert, but I finally feel like I can truly call myself a real runner. I am so excited for what's to come in 2015!!

Rock'n'Roll Lisbon Half Marathon: October 2014

If you had asked me one year ago what I would be doing in October, running a half marathon in Portugal would have been the last thing on my mind.

Originally, I was planning to do the RnR Edinburgh in June because I had won a free entry via Twitter. After about a week of researching flights, places to stay, etc. I was just ready to begin booking reservations when I discovered that the race had been cancelled. Super bummed, I contacted the race organizers about getting an entry for another race, and they offered me my choice of Dublin in August or Lisbon in October. Knowing that I would be in Spain that fall, I opted for Lisbon. 

I immediately began trying to rally some of my running friends to meet me in Portugal and run with me. Sadly, no one was able to join me. As excited as I was to run in Lisbon, I wasn't looking forward to traveling to a strange country all by myself. I prayed for some solution that would allow me to safely travel to Portugal, and then I learned that my new ECA friend Jen would be traveling to Portugal to see her sister run in the exact same race that I was running! It was such a blessing to have someone to make plans and travel with. We ended up getting a great deal on a hostel and decided to travel by night bus to avoid having to miss school.

So, our adventure began Friday night as we boarded a bus to Portugal and learned that we had assigned seats! Praise the Lord we had the front seats, so I was able to stretch my legs out for the eight hour bus ride.

Upon arrival in Lisbon we met up with Jen's sister and spent the day seeing as much as we could around town using our day passes for the transit system. We stopped at the expo so I could pick up my race packet, then made our way to the hostel where we would be staying the night. 

Sunday morning I awoke at 5:00 am because I had to catch a train into the center of Lisbon and was not quite sure where I was supposed to be going. The half marathon, as it turns out, had its starting line on the Vasco de Gama Bridge, and the only way to get to there was to board a shuttle bus for the 15 minute commute.

Because I was being extra cautious, I ended up arriving early enough to catch the first shuttle and was one of the first people to get to the bridge. The sun was coming up and it was looking like a beautiful day for a run, but again, I would have to wait an hour and a half for the actual race to begin.

I found a spot next to the starting line, sat down, and got comfortable with everyone else.

As more people arrived, it started to get more crowded. Then, with still almost 45 minutes to go, some very anxious people started picking their way through those of us seated on the ground and began to crowd the front of the pack. Hundreds of people followed suit. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by butts.

At one point a helicopter circled overhead, taking aerial photos and video while we all waved like maniacs.

When it came time for the race to begin, there was a lot of chaos and confusion - a guy started shouting in Portuguese on the microphone while really loud rock music was playing, and everyone just started running. There was no gun, and certainly no wave start like in Chicago. Everyone just ran.

The Vasco de Gama bridge is about 10 miles long and is the longest bridge in Europe. When I found out that I would be running across this bridge, I was terrified. The thought of running and running and running and never actually getting across the bridge was just so demoralizing. Turns out we only ran one piece of it, about a mile and a half worth. The rest of the run was in town and for awhile we had a nice view of the ocean.

Preparing for this race was tough mentally, because I had to prepare myself for the fact that nowhere along the way would anyone be looking for me or cheering for me in particular. There was no one at the start line to send me off, and it was unlikely that my friend would be waiting for me at the finish because she would be looking for her sister. I was completely alone for this race.

I also put a lot of thought into how I would actually run the race. After two bad experiences earlier in the spring, I knew I needed a better solution for fueling during the race. In the weeks leading up to Lisbon I had a few really good long runs during which I tried out some new flavors of Gu and Nuun, and the success gave me hope for Lisbon. I also wanted to break my cycle of going hard and strong for ten miles and falling apart during the last three. My plan was that every five kilometers I would take a walking break and, while walking, take a shot of Gu. I vowed not to stop at any of the aid stations unless I was desperate, and I refused to drink their energy drinks. Thankfully the stations passed out water bottles, so rather than making an unnecessary stop I just picked one up as I passed by and sipped it when I needed it.

Mentally, this may have been the "fastest" half marathon I have ever run - meaning that the time seemed to pass quickly; the miles flew by! It seemed like I had only just begun when suddenly I found myself in mile 13 and nearing the finish! My fueling strategy worked really well, and not once during or after the race did I experience my usual nausea. What's more, my walking breaks actually helped my pace, as I beat my Chicago time by five whole minutes! I felt fabulous at the finish, and while I was definitely spent, I didn't feel completely drained or dead. I stocked up on some refreshments, took advantage of my free beer, and enjoyed listening to the concert for a few minutes before meeting up with Jen and her sister. Together we hobbled to the subway and made our way back to the hostel where hot showers and delicious food awaited!

The final verdict: the race had some organizational/logistical quirks, but I had a blast running and would do it again in a heartbeat! I'm not sure I would have run this particular race had I not received the free entry, but now that I have experienced it I would be more likely to choose it intentionally in the future. I learned from this race that I can successfully fuel during a run and not puke my guts out afterwards, and I learned that walking doesn't necessarily make you slower. 

Rock'n'Roll Chicago Half Marathon: July 2014

I committed to this race seven months in advance - the farthest ahead I'd ever planned for a race! It would also be my first American race, as all my prior races had taken place here in Europe. The only problem was that it would take place smack in the middle of one of the biggest transitions of my life, in moving to Spain after having lived and worked in Germany for five years. My stress levels certainly prevented me from training to my full potential, but at the same time the training that I did accomplish definitely helped keep me sane.

When I shared with my parents my plan to run, they immediately began to plan a family vacation around my race. We spent the days leading up to and after the race with family in the city, and I got to reconnect with several college friends. My parents and I visited the Expo together and I was blown away by the sheer size and amount of people present! European race expos are usually very small, and some races don't even have them.

The night before the race, I carb loaded with deep dish Chicago-style pizza from Giordano's. We stayed up late talking and laughing, but I soon excused myself as I would have an early morning. 

My parents and I headed out early on Sunday morning to catch the L train downtown. After dropping off my bag, I joined the massive lines for the porta-potties and tried to stay calm. The humidity coupled with the already high temps so early in the day were making me nervous as I didn't want to suffer from heat stroke again.

Dad was playing proud paparazzi and I was not enjoying it! 

Once I completed my pre-race checklist, I found my corral and bid adieu to my parents. Then, the worst part began: the waiting! The race began at 7:30 am but I didn't cross the start line until sometime after 8:00! It didn't help that I was in one of the last corrals, but I suppose that's what happens when over 20,000 people are racing - again, something I was not used to thanks to my Europe-only racing experience. As we snaked our way down the street and around the corner, I passed the time texting and tweeting. At one point, I caught up to my parents again, who had gone to the start to watch the beginning of the race.

There I am, texting again!

Finally I got to cross the finish line and begin the actual race, although I am pretty sure I began with the corral in front of me rather than my own. At that point I don't think it mattered anymore! While waiting to run I had spotted the 2:30 pacer and mentally prepared myself to try and stick with them as long as possible. I didn't know whether I'd be able to do it, but my goal was to finish between 2:30 and 2:40 so I vowed to do my best. 

The first several miles passed by quickly. I had crafted a pretty slammin' playlist but because there were so many people cheering us on at the beginning, I waited a few miles to hit play. I wanted to soak it all in - the music, the crowds cheering, the English conversations going on all around - this was truly becoming a cross-cultural experience for me! For a while I kept pace with a man pushing a wheelchair, then I set my sights on a few runners ahead of me and did my best to catch up with them, or at least keep them in sight. 

Ahead of time I had set my parents up with the free runner tracking service provided by the race officials, and I had given them several suggestions for meet up points. They wanted to see me run by and take pictures, and I wanted to see familiar faces in the crowd. Armed with a course map and their L passes, they hoofed it all over downtown Chicago attempting to find me, but as it turns out I was just running too fast for them to keep up! They managed to catch me once around mile five, but my mom was so excited to see me that she bumped my dad's arm just as he was taking my picture! He quickly recovered and managed to get one slightly blurry shot of my awesome gameface as I whizzed by.

Each time my parents reached one of our rendezvous points after that, they received a text message from the tracker service saying I'd passed a checkpoint further along! So there I was, looking for my parents around every corner and wondering where on earth they were, and they were literally chasing me through Chicago. They eventually gave up and just went to the finish line to wait for me to be done.

I started to slow down significantly after completing mile ten, which was becoming a regular thing for me. I had discovered during my last two races that I could keep up a pretty good pace for about two hours, and then it was all downhill from there  - and not in a good way! At this point I was dripping in sweat and dying to be done. One aid station offered wet sponges and I held onto mine until I reached the finish, using it to wipe the salty sweat from my face. Another offered ice cubes; I grabbed a fistful and dropped them down my shirt for safe-keeping, taking one out every few minutes to swipe across my forehead or cool my parched tongue. By the time I reached the finish line I was sopping wet but so thrilled to be finished! I was rather disappointed in my time of 2:48, but I knew I had done my best. My parents greeted me near the finisher's area and my arms quickly filled with all the food and drink samples being passed out by the crew.

This is my "I want to die" face.

Apparently all I can muster by this point is a thumbs up!

Overall, I had a great time running in Chicago, a city that holds so many memories for me. I am also looking forward to running again in 2015! That's right, I registered for next year's race at the expo! There are several things I plan to do differently this year, and I am hopeful that my upcoming training runs in Spain this spring will help my body make the transition to running in higher temperatures. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I have high hopes for RNRCHI2015!