Race Report: Leadville Heavy Half
13.1 Today in MAY!!!
MAY! One of my all time favorite months. Everything just keeps getting greener, it’s warm, the clouds low and puffy in the sky. I seized the glorious weather of today to run another solo half marathon. It was sooo glorious out that I didn’t even bother checking what my time was; I know it took about the same time as other solo/ training half marathon runs. Gotta admit, it was nice not to concern myself with time. Instead, I just took in the beautiful foothills and this run by far has been the most…well, relaxing run! Think me crazy for thinking a half as relaxing, but such is the magic of May in the CO foothills. It is paradise on earth, so much so you almost forget that a season such as winter even exists. Yes yes, dramatic I know, but late spring/ early summer is such a beautiful, hopeful time. It is a season of rebirth, of renewal, of freedom. When I was in school, the air itself felt restless with anticipation when May swung around. As any student knows, all you think about is summer. With everything looking more summery outside, it’s difficult to focus on final exams and projects. One of my favorite May memories as a child was my last day of 3rd grade. As the final bell rang, I bounded out the classroom with denizens of kids whooping it was summer time! Making my way across the athletic field behind the school, my friend Susan and I started hollering in turn: IT’S SUMMER! I was so jubilant that I started spinning around, feeling the tug of gravity as I held my backpack in one hand. I spun around so violently that I nearly toppled over in the freshly mowed grass. My voice was hoarse from yelling, and I was free. Memories like that stay with you forever. I freakin’ love MAY!
~LMC
BIRTHDAY RUN!
It’s my birthday, and I’ll RUN if I want to!!!…
16 miles, that is!
I know what you’re thinking: That I’m crazy! That out of all the ways I choose to celebrate my birthday, I RUN. Yep! And that today I chose to run the longest distance I’ve ever done before. 13.1 just wasn’t gonna do it today; I wanted to, had to, surpass that. Really, I wanted, and still do (and will!) run a marathon, but I didn’t want to injure myself. Everything in good time…
Historically, it usually rains and/ or snows on my birthday; tempestuous CO weather! But today I was gifted with temps in the 70s, and low, puffy white clouds sailing ‘cross azure skies. I had to take advantage of such glorious weather.
My run today was 70% trail, 30% road, up and down, along the foothills and accompanying strike valleys. I didn’t bother concerning myself with splits or time really; distance is what mattered. I kept entertaining the thought of running my first marathon distance, but knew that that was not yet quite feasible…but sometime this year, yes… 😉
Plus, I was planning on going out to dinner this evening with family and friends, and such a distance would take too long, since I started my run mid-afternoon…and I would need to clean up once done.
The majority of my run felt great: I was flying. The last four miles are when I felt fatigue settle in. Despite consuming multiple gels and goos, the heat was finally sapping my energy. But I kept at it. My speed slowed, but my determination did not. I sprinted the last half mile, and when I finally slowed to a walk, I was beaming. I was absolutely gross but felt glorious. Sweaty but sublime. A new running milestone, and on my birthday no less. A true present to myself. I was definitely “high” on the “runner’s high.” 🙂
I walked, stretched, cooled down, hopped in the shower. I put on my favorite blue dress, a memento from my trip to Barcelona a few years ago. Running, and exercise in general, gives your face the best glow. I’m serious! If makeup companies could somehow create a potion that mimics the runner’s glow, that company would make millions. My eyes were bright, my skin the perfect combination of tan and flush. It’s weird, given how sweaty (especially after this particular run), I can be after exercise, but it’s often when I feel the most beautiful. I feel strong, empowered, capable of anything.
******
As you can guess, I devoured everything in sight after my run. I went to my favorite Italian restaurant, and promptly replenished all my lost carbs via chicken parmigiana with spaghetti. My Mom, super loving and generous as always, had brought cupcakes from a professional baker, for dessert.
Having my family and family friends surrounding me, well, I’m going to say a total cliché, but…I’m lucky. Blessed. I know, saaaapppy. I won’t bog you down with further, well exhausted clichés. But truly, you know who you are, and I want to say thank you. I mean it. To everyone who wished me a happy birthday, whether by text, post, card, etc., thank you. 🙂 I love you all. You all made my day extremely special.
*****
Birthdays are about, well, getting older. But my five year old “former charge” (i.e., the girl I nannyed recently; clearly I read too many historical novels), is convinced that I am 10, and not a twentysomething. I told her my age, but she wouldn’t have it, as she steadfastly declared, “You’re 10! You’re the same size as my friend!”
Everyone at the table laughed. “Well, thank you! This is the best birthday ever! Instead of a year older, I’m more than a decade and a half younger! I can go with this!” I exclaimed, to more laughs. So, I run my longest distance so far and I’m getting younger? Cool. Happy Birthday to me. 🙂
~LMC
My First Ever True Running Shoes: A Total Fluke!
As an avid runner, having the right shoe is paramount. Comfort is key. It blows my mind that I used to run in my actual tennis shoes, which are like bricks: they’re sturdy and have no flexibility or cushion whatsoever. Great for stabilization on the court, for explosive moment and cutting type maneuvers…but for running, not so much.
As I increased my mileage in college during my junior and senior years, I knew I wanted, needed, a true running shoe. I had zero knowledge about actual running shoes, but I knew I needed something much lighter and flexible. As my senior year approached, my answer for running shoes was solved…via my grandma! I was visiting my grandparents for a few days in August 2013, two weeks before classes started. On the second to last day, my awesoma Grama Brenda came into my room holding a shoe box.
“Leah, darling,” she said with her beautiful English accent, “your Grandfather gave these to me for my birthday, but they don’t fit me. Would like to have these if they fit you?” Whereupon she proffered me the box.
Inside was a pair New Balance shoes, of a medium gray color with blue laces and trim. I’d never worn New Balance shoes before, but recognized the brand’s distinct “N” emblazoned on the sides. I quickly laced them on.
Right away I felt the difference: these shoes were flexible, comfy, and best of all, light weight. I knew I’d found an actual shoe for running.
“They’re a perfect fit! Thank you, Grandma,” I exclaimed with a hug. She stepped back and took in the sight of my new shoes. “They look wonderful on you, my dear. Glad to know they’ll be put to use!”
****
And were they ever. With my 2014 resolution to just, well, run more, I wore my New Balance 401s EVERY SINGLE DAY. With them, I practically flew. The difference between them and my tennis shoes was night and day; no longer was I clomping by. As I exponentially increased my mileage and frequency that year (I ran 6-7 days a week, 7-8 miles per run on average), those shoes practically became attached to me. In addition to running, they served as my gym/ strength conditioning shoes. I wore them to class and for walking. Unless I was dressed in my other outfit of t-shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots (Ariat or Justin), you were hard pressed to find me wearing other shoes.
In May 2014, I went to study abroad for a month in Spain, and you guessed it, those shoes came with me. Running along the streets of Barcelona, these shoes provided comfort on the often cobbled pathways and roads. Once back home for the summer, those NB traversed plenty of local trails, as well.
There’s no doubt I wore those shoes waaay past their lifetime. One day in late 2014, they just felt…flat. My feet felt like they were slapping the pavement. The cushion was long gone. I stopped, looked at the underside of one shoe. The tread under the ball of the foot and toes was worn smooth. Setting my foot back on the cement, I noted how my toes, particularly the right foot, had poked holes in the upper mesh of either shoe. They were so bad you could tell what color my socks were. I sighed. “Time for new shoes, I guess,” I muttered, before resuming the rest of my run, my feet noticeably whining, as I brainstormed the where and what for a new shoe…
~LMC
FIRST OFFICIAL HALF MARATHON :)
Ran a Half and Happy Birthday Bowie!
It’s a good day: ran 13.1 today AND it’s Bowie’s Birthday!
This is the second time I’ve ran this distance, and both runs were just on my own. I am currently training for an actual half marathon race coming up soon, and I guess I’m ready, much sooner than I thought! It was stunning outside today, t-shirt and shorts weather in January—heck yeah!
Today is what would’ve been Bowie’s 71st birthday. Two years on this very day, Bowie’s album, the critically acclaimed Blackstar came out. Two days later, he was gone. I’m still in a bit of shock that he is no longer on this earthly plane. He truly is a STARMAN now (not that he wasn’t before).
I am a Bowiephile, and I have my Dad to thank for that. 🙂 Ever since I can remember, Bowie has been on constant play in my parent’s house. No joke, when I was a toddler my mom would put a Bowie VHS tape (90s kid hehe) in the VCR, and I’d watch Bowie music vids while she did things around the house, no babysitter required. My fave Bowie VHS tape (we still have it) is Black Tie, White Noise, his ’93 album. I still love that particular Bowie era: he looks so fine in the “They Say Jump” vid. 🙂
I could dedicate this blog to Bowie’s talent and overall aesthetic (I’m sure plenty of those blogs exist), but let me get back on track here. I just want to say Happy Birthday David. We all miss you. And yes, I did listen to your music during my long run today. I often like to finish the last mile or two listening to “V-2 Schneider:” the bass and saxophone in that song are perfection. As is of course, that final guitar riff at the end, and I often sprint during that piece. So thinking of you today, Dave. Thank you for the memories and for literally being the soundtrack of my life (and all my running).
-LMC
Run Run Run
Yesterday I went on a 10 mile run, my first in a long time, and it was…delicious. Seriously, it was heaven.
I know, I know. For those who absolutely DESPISE running, you think we runners are INSANE. And in truth, we are.
Humans are bizarre creatures. After all, what creature exercises for fun? I remember those XC runners in high school, who proudly wore shirts that proclaimed, “Our sport is your sports’ punishment.” True dat. As a kid, I was never a big fan of running. Niether of my parents are runners, and on field day in elementary school, I was the slowest runner in my class. Every sprint, every relay, I was schooled. The taller, stronger, more athletically inclined kids crossed the finish line long before I had run past the first turn on the course.
I am, and will forever be, a tennis player. It’s the sport I’ve been playing since age 6, and continued all through my adolescence–USTA tournaments, practices, high school and college tennis. It’s only been the past few years that I haven’t been playing as much, but I never set aside my racquet for good. I still love tennis, it’s the sport I first identified with. Running came later–my college years.
I can tell you the exact day I discovered I actually LIKED running. 18 November 2010 was like any college day for me. Go to classes, have lunch before tennis practice. But instead of the usual 2 hr. tennis practice, it was a shorter one as the women’s team had to run 3 miles to raise money for the college tennis teams (our annual Runathon). I had never run 3 miles in my entire life. The days leading to the run, I was very nervous. Thoughts swarmed me: I’m never gonna make it, I’ll have to walk it, I’ll embarrass myself, I CAN’T RUN!
The day of, I told myself to do my best, whatever that meant. The course was city sidewalks in the middle of my small college town. As we all assembled in the parking lot next to the courts, my heart sped up. As our coach called go, we all started running up the first hill. Keep pace with the other girls was my thought, but I immediately realized something: they weren’t running competitively. Nope! They wanted to socialize instead, whereas I found myself wanting to break free of talking and running as a group; I wanted to a) run fast and b) run solely on my own. So I did. Quickening my pace, I soon found myself passing everyone and taking the lead. With my trusty iPod Nano blaring Crystal Castles in my ears, I flew away, rounding corners and speeding across town. I CAN DO THIS! This revelation reverberated through my being. I. CAN. RUN. And I realized I didn’t feel tired at all; my fitness from months of tennis and conditioning had come to fruition. I felt free and was having…fun! Fun while running! What a concept.
The last 3/4 of a mile were a gradual slope, and I flew down the hill at such a pace that a guy standing in front of his house cheered, “Go! Go! Go!” and waved his arms in the air. Encouraged, I sprinted the last quarter mile back to the tennis bubble: first one to finish!
My feet seemed to float as I walked into the tennis lobby, and my face and body felt aglow: my first runner’s high. Who knew running could make you feel soooo good? I was hooked—and for life.
I don’t remember the time I got, just that it was under 30 minutes (the time limit for us). Once the team started finishing, they looked at me in astonishment: “Dang, you were quick!” “I didn’t know you liked to run! Wish I did!” “You took off!” My tennis coach high-fived me: “Well done out there!” Uber-proud and content, I knew I had just discovered a lifelong passion.
~LMC
A Memorable Run and a Day of Tragedy: Reflecting on the Life—and Loss—of Madison Holleran
