Chicago Triathlon Weekend

Kicking off the race weekend at the expo with the Ebony Mermaids & Chicago Runners

Montrose Harbor before the Super Sprint

Becoming a triathlete has been one of my proudest moment as an athlete. Sure I won trophies or awards when I was younger but that was always about the team. Last year as I crossed that finished in line it was like the culmination of all my hard work put to the test. And I passed! After I finished I knew I'd be back for more and I wanted to share that passion with others. I'm not exactly sure when Sam and I first crossed paths, but as soon as mentioned her desire to one day do a triathlon my immediate response was "so why not next year?". 

So proud of this lady, Sam is a triathlete!

I'm guilty of this as I'm sure many of us all are, I'm my biggest obstacle. I imagine all these excuses disguised as reason as to why I can't do something and I let it hold me back. The same thing was happening with Sam. She would come up with an excuse and I would come up with a solution. She, along with her friend, signed up for the Super Sprint. The closer we got to the race the more I went into coaching mode to make sure she was ready. We went to the lake to swim together. We cross trained at the gym to increase strength and endurance. We had a similar race schedule so we ran together almost every weekend it seemed like. In the final week I knew she was ready. Everything she worked for came down to this moment. I felt so excited for her to experience the joy and pride of calling yourself a triathlete.

For her, race day was Saturday so I tagged along to cheer her on as she would do the same for me on Sunday. We got to Montrose with plenty of time for her to set up transition and get the nerves out. We ran into some of our Chicago Runners family and my friends I met during training the year before. Some were out there for the first time, others like Denise were out there to claim the triple challenge by completing all 3 races that weekend. I watched as Sam came running back from the water with a smile on her face, knowing she had the full confidence to kill this race. I cheered for her on the bike then waited for her at the finish line as she made her debut as a Triathlete. 

Me, Sam and Angela

Sunday morning was my turn. I woke up with that same nervous energy I get right before any big race. I had laid everything out the night before but I double checked to make sure I had everything. Once I was ready we were on our way. I knew it had rained the night before but I was not prepared for just how muddy it would be in transition. I slipped a few times as I tried to walk my bike up the hill and when I finally made it to my rack it was almost full. I was able to ferret out a small space near one of the flags and set up my transition area mostly on my bike to keep it all clean and dry. 

Transition is set!

I ran into Johnny's uncle and a few other ironman friends who helped calm my nerves a bit as I made my way back to where Sam was. The pros were set to start at 6am and that's where I wanted to be. We staked out a great spot on the lakefront just south of the swim start and cheered as we watched the best in the sport cruise by us. Denise, the one I mentioned earlier, she was in the wave right after the pros so I made sure to wave and wish her good luck before she got in the water. Her wife Claire had a later start time so she sat with us to cheer and take pictures. I was so anxious I couldn't sit still. This is where I begin yo have all those doubt's and wonder if I'll be able to do this race. Thankfully I saw some familiar faces from the Ebony Mermaids and they reassured me of my abilities. My start time was getting close and that meant I had to get my last hug from my friends before going into the starting chute alone. 

Iliana and I at the swim start

This is moment, this is where I find greatness. I kept reminding myself THIS is what I trained. THIS is what keeps me going. I had almost forgotten that Iliana (the one who talked me into jumping up to the Olympic distance) would be in the same wave as me. As soon as I saw her it was like the fear melted away. I had a friend in the water and that was super comforting. I knew it wouldn't last long since she's much faster than me but just knowing I wasn't alone really helped me.   I'm so thankful to her for helping me when I was a total newb last year and for pushing me to do the longer distance.  She believed in me before I even realized what I was capable of.  (side note: those are not gang signs in the picture, it is our sorority hand sign for Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Incorporated)

Sweet swimming action shots (thanks Sam!)

I felt great in the water. I was relaxed, comfortable and best of all, I was quicker than the year before. It was much choppier than I expected and the sea weed may have been plotting to drown me but I just kept putting one arm in front of the other. I passed quite a few people holding onto the wall and I remember thinking I hope they don't let this crush them. I hope they can push past it and then come back again next year to crush it. As soon as I hit those steps and got pulled out of the water I was on my way! 

Transition was a mess so I just did my best to get in and out as soon as possible. The first 6 miles on the bike seemed to fly by. I thought to myself, hey I might actually enjoy this. Then fatigue set in. My muscles started to cramp and I cursed myself for not investing in a better bike. As much as I love my hybrid it just wasn't meant for this. On the plus side, my struggle must have been evident because nearly everyone who passed had something encouraging to say. When I finally hit Lower Wacker it was a Godsend. It was flat, smooth and shielded from the sun. I was able to pick up some speed and actually enjoy the ride for a bit. I saw someone in my wave ahead and charged ahead to pass her. It was the only thing that motivated me at the time. Somewhere near the turnaround I saw Jose and Rey who told me it wasn't much further and cheered me on. A little later I ran into Mauricio who slowed to see how I was doing and asked if I needed anything. I was struggling by now and just that simple act of kindness was enough to keep me going. 

Oh hey hill of death, I'm still smiling!

 

By the time I made it out of transition and onto the run course I was dead on my feet. Sam was there to let me know I wasn't going to die and snapped a few pictures. This is where my strength as a runner kicked in. I've had plenty of tired runs and I know how to push through them. I took walking breaks when I needed them but it was getting so hot out I knew I needed to finish soon. I saw the boys out on the course again and they each high fived me as we crossed paths. My friend Nicole was out rollerblading and kept me company for another chunk of the race. As I made my way around the aquarium I saw Denise on her final leg of the day and we stopped to hug. There's a hill just before the last turn leading to the finish line and Sam was there waiting. All of my muscles were screaming and I felt like at any minute I may burst into a little pile of dust but I just kept going. I hit that final straight away and gave it everything I had left, which wasn't much. When I finally crossed that finish line I wanted to collapse. I wanted to cry myself into a puddle of happiness. 

Denise & Claire, my triathlon family

I remembered Denise was still out there so I double backed to the hill and waited with Sam. As we saw Denise reach the base of the hill we erupted in cheers on both sides of the barricades (she had a lot of friends out there). We all started running with her along the sides of the fence all the way to the finish line. Being a part of that moment was breathtaking. She had just finished her third race in two days. 

I'm still basking in the glory of that day. It helps that I have this fancy tan line of my number on my arm as a constant reminder of my accomplishment. I did it. I finished something I could never have even imagined was possible for me. Trust the journey and have faith that you have what it takes to get you as far as you can possibly go. Its not about the destination, enjoy the journey.

More sorority sisters! Jenny & Arasally

Walking away like a boss after crushing my first Oly Tri

Badass Dash

Pre-race at the Midwest Vikings tent

There are generally two types of OCRs, the kind that have no mud and the kind that has so much mud you're still finding remnants of it in your shoes for years to come. (note: if you've never done a mud run be sure to rinse everything as soon as possible...the stench can be quite potent and miscellaneous plant matter will begin to sprout from your shoes) Typically the mud runs have far better obstacles and the trails offer more of a challenge. Then there's the Badass Dash that blazes its own path among the OCR crowd bringing a mix of tough obstacles, hilly terrain and lots of water. They have two different Chicagoland races, this is a recap of the one in Rosemont. Next year I'll be running both hopefully.

Pre-race podium action

Packet pickup was on site and I barely waited to grab my gear. The timing chip gets zip tied to your shoe which is a nice bonus since so many other mud runs have done away with timing chips. Our team (Midwest Vikings) had our own tent set up so that made finding our group super easy. We took the obligatory pre-race pictures then headed to the start line. Earlier in the morning there wasn't much of a wait but by the time we got in line it was starting to get crowded. We all started the race together in the same heat but quickly broke into groups according to pace.

action shot coming down from the stair climb

I knew I had to conserve energy for my half marathon the next day so I stayed towards the back with Tata who is making her post-surgery debut. When it comes to obstacles, this race does not disappoint. There's a wide variety as well as multiple challenges per mile giving you the most bang for your buck. We did lots of climbing, minimal crawling and even some sliding.  My favorite were the hills.  While they were super challenging I love the burn you feel when you know your muscles are putting in work and it really engaged your core.  Another highlight was the potato sack race.  I guess it wasn't really meant to be a race per say, but there were 2 guys in front of me and as I approached the first one his friend started yelling "speed it up! Are you really gonna let that girl pass you up?".  He may not have meant anything by it, but I'm pretty competitive so naturally I took that as a challenge and passed them both up. 

Bling Sweaty Selfie, always a must

Just when the heat was really starting to set in we reached the highlight of the race, water!  This obstacle has you cross a pond, balancing on plastic barrels rigged together.  A few steps in and I wanted to swim so I hopped off the obstacle to take a leisurely swim.  I reached the bank and started cheering on the rest of my teammates.  I realized the last of our group to cross was the one who would probably need the most help so I kept an eye out for her.  She doesn't know how to swim and the water was too deep to cross by walking so I was nervous about her falling in.  Sure enough a few steps in she met that fate and began to panic.  I ignored the volunteer yelling at me not to go back in and swam to reach my friend.  Thankfully I was able to calm her down enough so that I could carry her as I swam across the pond.  It was a good reminder that not everyone can swim and I need to start reaching out more to help new swimmers.

post race smiles & medals

When all was said and done I think we covered around 30 obstacles over a 7k course.  It was one of the best races I've done and I enjoyed myself tremendously.  Our team's elite runners finished the course and came back to finish the race with us which gave us an extra little boost.  As we approached the finish line we all grouped together to finish as one.  Yeah, we're kinda cheesy like that but those moments are really uplifting to the spirit. 

The Team - Midwest Vikings

Together we conquer, no one gets left behind

Pretty Muddy

Abby was the one who talked me into my first mud run so its only fitting that I spent her birthday running through the mud and jumping over walls with her. The race was on a Saturday morning and against our better judgment we went out to celebrate her birthday the night before. We got to the race site and breezed through packet pickup before dropping our stuff off at gear check. No lines anywhere which was awesome. We headed to the starting where Abby's husband Johnny snapped a few pictures and his uncle gave us a pep talk.

I've run with Abby before and I know she's faster but she usually slows it down a bit so I can keep pace with her. Our other teammates were a bit faster but I did my best to keep up. It felt good to really push myself to keep their pace but I didn't think I had it in me to do it for the whole race. That first obstacle was a sight for sore eyes because I was definitely ready for the break.

As far as obstacles go, this race had a good mix of various levels of difficulty. I've seen almost all of them before so I was able to charge through most of them. The real test came when we got to the cargo climb. I've done a variation of this plenty of times and now it just seems second nature (every OCR I've ever done has had some kind of cargo net climb). What I didn't realize is that usually Johnny is the one running with Abby so I've never seen her climb it before. I was on my way back down when I heard Abby at the top. She had a panic attack right there at the apex of the cargo net frame. We tried to calm her down and Martha helped her get anchored on the backside of the net. I heard words of encouragement all around us. There were women on the net, on the ground, all cheering Abby on, letting her know we were all there for her. It was one of those moments that reminded what I love about running and OCR in general. When we're out there everyone is a team and we all want to see each other succeed.

When we got to the finish line all four of us crossed together and stopped for a photo op. I really loved that this race wasn't super crowded so we didn't have to wait at obstacles or even at the hose station to clean off. It was well organized and ran smoothly from start to finish. Personally, I would have liked some tougher obstacles but its a great starter course to introduce women to OCR. If you're looking to get your feet muddy but not quite ready to jump over fire, check this race out and bring your friends.

Chicago 10k

Pre-race with Ernest and Sam

First things first, if you ever want to feel like Mr. T or Flava Flav as you cross the finish line, this race is DEFINITELY for you.  That being said, here's a little run down of how my Sunday went.  Be warned, it may be a bit long winded.  I got up early like any other race day but felt pretty sluggish.  Not sure if it was the open water swim I did the day before or perhaps spending too much time at the beach laying out afterwards but I certainly didn't feel like heading towards Grant Park yesterday.  I went through all the normal pre-race motions and made my way to the train. 

The crew- me, Freddie and Sam

A few stops after getting on, the gentleman across from me asked about my race bib.  He was wondering what the race was for and I simply said "it's the Chicago 10k".  Once I realized his question was really about the charity I had to do a quick google search before letting him know it benefited the Special Olympics (not to self, must pay more attention to race charities).  I apologized for not knowing already but explained that I run about 40 races a year and its hard to keep them all straight.  He looked puzzled that someone would actually want to run that many races and asked if it was a passion for running or the charities that made me want to run that much.  I realized I didn't really have a good answer to that question, I have a love/hate relationship with running as most of us do but I can't really pinpoint what keeps me coming back for more.  Each race is different, sometimes it's to help a friend, other times it's to prove I can do it and some I just simply like the course or medal.  After a long pause he said, "Now I don't want to put a negative spin on things, but do you think that runners are less likely to do races or want to do marathons because of those bombings?".  This seemed like such an odd question to me, I immediately blurted out "of course not!".  I then followed up by telling him that if anything it brought us all closer as a running community and made us stronger.  We aren't deterred, much the opposite, it made us want to run MORE.  Whenever we're faced with something difficult it drives us to push harder.  I explained that deep down all runners have an unconquerable soul, we refuse to let anything hold us back and continue to persevere no matter what. 

Midwest Vikings

After that little chat with a stranger I was feeling surprisingly energized.  I got off the train and was ready to take on the day.  I met up with my fellow Midwest Vikings for our pre-race photo op and then did some socializing with other friends.  We really are a big family.  People think that running is an individual sport, and I suppose in a way it kind of is but the camaraderie you build is what keeps me coming back.  I look forward to those hugs and well wishes before we head to our corrals.  I relish in the moments of meeting new friends and swapping stories of previous races. 

The race was about to get started so we split up to find our respective starting groups.  Sam, Freddie and I hung back while most of the other runners headed to earlier corrals.  As soon as we were off I was feeling really great, took off out of the gates a bit faster than usual.  I was able to hold a strong and steady pace for most of the first mile and a half before things got ugly.  We hadn't reached a water station yet and I didn't see any in sight.  I started to panic a bit as I was really starting to get thirsty.  By the time we finally reached that first table the damage had been done.  I tried to refuel as much as I could but my body couldn't hydrate fast enough.  My mouth felt dry and I was starting hallucinate telling Sam that I thought my skin was melting off.  Each water station I poured some on my head, drank some water & gatorade then splashed more water on my face.  It helped to keep me cool but I was still struggling. 

oh hey, me running into the skyline!

Thankfully I had plenty of friends coming back after the turnaround to cheer me on as I was still on the front half of the race.  After I reached the turnaround I made it my mission to cheer on everyone coming towards me.  Most of them were receptive of my cheers but one woman did not look very welcoming to my clapping.  Perhaps she was having a rough day too.  Each one who smiled back at me though helped to push me just a little bit farther.  As we approached the last mile I finally felt a tiny whisper of a second wind coming on.  I tried to ride it for as long as I could to get me to that finish line.  Somewhere in the last 1/4 a mile one girl kept trying to pass me.  Nothing bothers me more than someone who continuously tries to gain on me and then slows down...either pass me or stay behind.  I finally had enough and decided to kick in that final drive to get me to the finish line.  I forgot this part of the course takes a slight uphill to the finish but it didn't matter, I was on a mission (see picture).  I crossed the finish line and applauded myself for passing 20 people in that last stretch of the race, hey it's the little things right?

beast mode: activated

I got my medal and turned around to find Sam.  We gathered our post-race snacks and ventured off to find our other friends.  As we walked towards the train I scarfed down all the food I had picked up and downed all my water.  Sam offered to stop for breakfast but all I wanted was a shower and my bed.  I was hoping I had hydrated enough to off-set my earlier distress, but much to my dismay my body body was still pretty upset with me.  Despite all my efforts at appeasing it, I felt like garbage the rest of the day and had one of the most righteous headaches in recent history.  It wasn't my worst race ever but it certainly wasn't pretty. 

I reminisced about how I did on this same race last year and realized it wasn't much better.  I made the mistake of doing a sprint distance invitational triathlon the day before and it showed as I cried coming across the finish line of the 2013 Chicago 10k.  There was a guy there perhaps waiting for a friend who snarkily asked, "Oh, is this your first 10k?" as if I wasn't capable of a long distance run.  It took every ounce of energy I had left to push down the rage I felt building inside of me to simply reply "no, I'm just a bit worn out after doing a triathlon yesterday".  That shut him right up and I walked away with my head held high.  You don't know me sir, and you have no idea what I've gone through...please don't make assumptions about me or my abilities.  All things considered, while it wasn't a 10k PR for me, it was a course PR so I'll take it :)  Now off to drink some more water...

Biggest Loser Run/Walk Chicago 13.1

Pre-race with my pacer sign

A first race for a runner can be pretty intimidating.  You don't know all the "race etiquette" and you're just hoping to make it to the end without a ride from the sag wagon.  I get it, I've been there.  Those of us at the back of the pack have a completely different experience than our leaders at the front. One of the things that keeps us from registering for a race is the fear that we won't make the cut-off time.  Then comes along the Biggest Loser Run Walk Series, geared towards making the race experience available to runners of ALL levels. 

Pre-race with Freddie

Yesterday I completed my 4th BLRW event and I have really mixed emotions on the experience.  Let's start from the beginning.  I had a few friends I was going to meet at packet pickup, but when they told me how ridiculous the line was I decided to grab lunch to wait it out and head over there later.  By the time I got to McCormick Place there weren't any crowds to follow to find my way but I did see a banner advertising the race and pointing inside the building.  I walked in and there were NO other signs to direct me.  McCormick is a big place so rather than walk around aimlessly I called Sam for some directions.  Finally made it to packet pickup and thankfully didn't have to wait long to grab my stuff and head out.  The other 3 races I've done all had really nice tech shirts so getting a neon cotton tee was a bit of a disappointment. 

Heather and I ready to start

Race morning I arrived early to meet up with friends and grab my pacer sign from the RD.  Now I've never paced a race before but I was really looking forward to it.  There weren't any corrals but I noticed I was the slowest pace group so I took my position at the back and prayed someone would want to join my group.  I ran into Heather (she ran the BLRW Alabama with me) and she decided to tag along.  We had a few people start near us but mostly everyone wanted to stay in front of us.  Typically my pace for a half marathon is between 12-15 min/mile and I was pacing for the 17 min/mile group so it was a bit tricky figuring out how to keep even splits at that pace. 

The starting line

Determination

First 3 miles felt great but we soon lost most of our group.  I was torn between the need to keep an even pace and wanting to help everyone make it to the finish line.  We kept pushing along, chatting as we went.  A woman pushing a young man in his wheelchair along with his guide dog soon passed us and I admired her strength for taking on the challenge.  I caught up with her later and she told me they also did the Chicago Marathon last year.  Here I am dreading my first marathon and she did all while pushing a wheel chair and holding onto a dog.  We also passed 2 gentleman, one who had some sort of physical limitation, charging down the path with a fierce determination that could match any front of pack runner. 

Shortly after the turn around is where things got really tough.  When we got the water station at mile 7 they were completely out of drinks.  BONE DRY.  Zip, zilch, nada.  I lost a small piece of my soul and felt anger boil up inside me.  I hydrate especially well the day before a race but there aren't enough gallons of water that could have made up for getting to mile 7 and not having a cool cup of water to at least splash on my face.  Now I was on full alert trying to find a nearby water fountain.  My heart was breaking for those behind me though, I can't imagine their reaction to reach that table and find nothing but scattered cups on the ground.  The woman pushing the wheelchair needed to keep the dog cool as well as herself and the man in the chair.  I almost cried at the look on her face as the volunteers told her there wasn't any water left.  We just kept trudging along.

Post Race sweaty selfie

A little while later I saw another pacer on her way to the back of the pack to act as a sweeper.  I told her about the water situation and she assured me someone would take care of it.  The next few water stations wouldn't let us take more than one cup.  I understood the rations but it was still rough.  All I wanted was for the race to be over.  We were in the full heat of the sun (the race start was 7:30 but we were closer to 8 at the BOP).  When we finally saw Soldier Field in the distance it felt like a mirage.  So close, but yet, so far.  It felt like an eternity to make it to that last turn before the final stretch to the finish line.  As soon as we got there I looked around to who was left in my group and said "OK here we go ladies, it's time to pick up the pace and finish strong".  One woman gave me a terrified look and told me she didn't think she could do it.  I looked at her straight on and said, "Run with your heart, victory lies just on the other side of those banners.  You have what it takes, we'll finish strong together.  No one gets left behind".  My assurance was enough because she replied "you got me this far, I trust you".  We all broke into a sprint and didn't stop until they handed us our medals.  I stopped to make sure we were all there and she couldn't thank me enough for helping her get through it.  That moment made it all worth it.

I have to say that after the beautiful medals we got in Alabama, this Chicago one was a HUGE let down.  I've come to expect more from this race series and getting a medal with a stick-on decal just isn't a part of that level of excellence they've previously shown.  They also didn't have the additional medals for those of us Legacy runners who were doing the Chicago race for a second year in a row or the Double Medal for completing 2 races in a series.  More than anything I'm disappointed that this was supposed to be a momentous experience for many first time runners, and sadly it didn't quite meet the mark.  I hope that they didn't let this experience tar future races for them and I will continue to see their faces at many races to come. 

Invest in our future

As a kid my parents tried to get my brother and I involved in as many physical activities as possible.  I'm sure it was to keep us out of trouble but also to help us learn teamwork, dedication and determination.  We tried every sport from swimming to soccer and always kept busy from season to season.  While I was part of both a swim and track team back in Mexico, it never occurred to me to combine them and branch into triathlons.  I don't know if maybe I had just never heard of them or it was never suggested to me but I really wish that I had given it a try.  

I was fortunate enough this past weekend to not only attend a kid's triathlon, but also be a part of the event by volunteering in the transition area.  This was really one of the best spots because we got to see the kids as they charged in from the water and then dodge off for their run after coming in from their bike ride.  The first group (ages 11-15) were lead by a young gentleman who was leagues ahead of his comrades.  He had the intensity of a seasoned triathlete and only broke his stride to unrack his bike.  We soon saw the masses of kids coming in from the water, some looking a little more bewildered then others.  They all made their way to their respective transition areas and geared up for the bike ride.  It didn't take long before the leader was back from his cycle portion and onto the foot race.  These kids were SERIOUSLY impressive.  I had to keep reminding myself that some of them in this group were as young as 11!!!

BEST.BIKE. EVER.

For the little ones (ages 6-10) they had to bring the buoys in as the swim course was shorter as well as the other 2 legs of the course.  As soon as that first swimmer came galloping in we all cheered as we were ecstatic to see a girl leading the pack!  This was truly a proud girl power moment and I got a little misty eyed.  Some of the really young ones needed an extra boost as they made their way into transition so we made sure to encourage them as much as possible to keep them motivated.  I had a lot of favorites in this crowd and wished I could carry them all home with me haha.  One particular little boy stopped just in front of Sam and I then tears started streaming down his face.  He didn't say anything, just stood there, silently crying.  We offered him some water and Sam helped him find his way to his bike.  A little girl came bustling in and headed straight for her custom pink bike equipped with a pony along the handlebars.  She was my absolute favorite!  Once all the kids had made it back from the bike course, we headed to the finish line to watch them earn their medals.

As we approached the finishers area I started to feel overcome with emotion.  All that excitement, joy and pride I felt after my first triathlon came rushing back and my heart sang as I watched one after another cross that finish line.  I had to fight back tears quite a few times as the rush of feelings overwhelmed me.  These kids gave it their all.  They left NOTHING out on that course but their fears and doubts.  I was so blown away by just how hard they worked and refused to let anything stop them or get in their way.  Perhaps the most beautiful part was watching a group of girls all wait by the finish line for their friends to arrive and immediately embracing them in a giant group hug.  It was so heartwarming to see this.  I was inspired and empowered to know that these girls would grow into strong women who would constantly support and build each other up.  I felt like I was staring into our future, and it looked bright. 

Finishers welcoming team

Once the finishers made it past their welcoming committee of friends their parents were next in line to congratulate them.  This is really where the waterworks kicked in.  One girl ran to her family as her mom collapsed onto her knees in tears of joy, so proud to see her daughter finish. They both stayed there for a few minutes, embraced in a hug that really only a mother and daughter could understand.  Not saying a word but knowing exactly what each was thinking, tears pouring down all the while.  Just typing this I feel myself getting a bit choked up. 

Beyond the camaraderie and athleticism of the event there was something else that really struck me watching these kids.  Almost all of the kids present where local to the neighborhood, and for the most part were all minorities.  As an adult triathlete I'm no stranger to the fact that statistically, minorities are not very prevalent in this sport.  At one of my first events during training last year I met a wonderful couple (Denise & Claire) whom I still keep in touch with now.  I remember how Denise came up to Jenny and I to tell us how excited she was to see other Latinas getting involved in triathlons because it's rare, especially at our age.  It's true, there aren't many Latinas or other minorities at these races.  Knowing that events like this kids race could potentially shift the dynamic of the sport for the future is so thrilling and gives me such hope about where triathlons are heading

. 

This has BY FAR been one of the best experiences I've had as a race volunteer.  I left feeling hopeful, excited, motivated and most of all inspired.  If you could capture the essence of those kids heart and soul that day, it would be enough to fuel the entire universe.  Now my mission is to find a kid I can train to be my little protege...

Not just a finish line, a new beginning

Final straight away, I was loving life 2013 RNR

If you've followed my blog since I started you probably already know how big of a deal the Rock N Roll Half Marathon was to me last year.  My very first post I described how I used to feel about running and how I didn't even think I could finish a half marathon.  My follow up to that was this story about how I stumbled upon a free race registration for the half marathon. 

Finishing that half marathon was really a game changer for me.  Previous to that race I had only run 5 miles.  Yes, you read that right, 5 miles (of which I actually only ran about 3 miles and walked the other 2).  Maybe I was crazy or maybe somehow deep down I knew I could do it, but whatever the case may be, I showed up that morning and finished all 13.1 of those miles.  It wasn't graceful and I struggled quite a bit but I made it.  I crossed that finish line, gathered my spoils and celebrated quietly with myself as I realized I had no one there that day to share this moment with.  I was so afraid of not finishing and being embarrassed that I didn't tell anyone what I was doing.  Knowing that I did it all by myself pushed me far beyond my comfort zone and was truly a brand new start for me.  That day, I realized that I could conquer anything.

A random stranger I cheered on last year

As you can imagine, I've been looking forward to my rematch with the Rock N Roll ever since then.  In the days leading up to the race I shared as much wisdom as I could with my friends who would be taking this on as their first half marathon.  I bubbled with excitement as my friends now shared the same passion and zeal for running that I have.  I've turned them into race junkies.  The day before the race I met up with Abby and Ashley at the expo to get our bibs then headed back to their place for a pre-race dinner.  We feasted and relaxed while watching a League of Their Own then went to bed early to get enough rest before the race.  The next morning we all checked and rechecked our gear on the way downtown.  As we approached the starting corrals I got message after message from various friends all trying to find each other to offer good luck wishes. 

Almost to the starting line

Sam found us as we were taking some pictures and downing our chia seed gels.  She made a last minute decision to do the half marathon instead of the 5k.  I assured her that I would stay with her every step of the way, no one gets left behind.  There was some nervous energy as we all made our way gradually to the starting line and once that countdown hit 0 Abby and Ashley were off.  As much as I would have liked to be with them for their first half, I knew Sam and I just couldn't keep that pace up for the whole race.  We glided through the first few miles with no problem.  Somewhere along the tunnels though my GPS got a bit wonky and started giving us some erroneous mileage reports.  We thought we had run our fastest 5k ever until we reached the 5k sign some ways later and realized it was a trick Nike+ was playing on us.  I wasn't able to get it calibrated back to our actual course so my results for the race, while really amazing, unfortunately aren't accurate. 

Photos courtesy of Zenaida

After about mile 7 or 8 I started to lose steam which is the norm for me.  I battle through those middle miles up to mile 10 and then get my second win to finish strong.  With Sam, I had no idea what her pace or energy levels would be like so I tried to keep it as even as possible and take walk breaks whenever necessary.  When we hit the turn from 31st onto Lake Shore going south I saw Zenaida who cheered me on and snapped a few pictures of me.  I needed that little boost as we were really starting to wane.  This was a tough spot for Sam, she thought from 31st we turned north to head back towards the finish line.  That loop down before coming back up to the 10 mile mark was a little rough.  It also doesn't help that before you get to that point you already hear the announcer saying "3 more miles" and then can still hear him a mile later when you approach 11.  It's like that 10th mile lasts forever.

Coming out of the McCormick Tunnel

Once we hit the sponge station I was feeling ecstatic.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sponges and mister.  They are exactly what I need at that very moment.  Being a past participant this particular aid station was the one I kept going on and on about.  I could tell that Sam was fighting with all she had to try and get through those final miles so I tried to stay as positive and encouraging as possible.  After coming through the last tunnel at McCormick I was ready to take off and quickly realized I needed to transfer some of that energy to Sam who just wasn't feeling it anymore.  She told me to go ahead but I didn't care about my time, what I cared about was getting her to that finish line.  If you've run this race, you know how brutal that last ramp onto Columbus is.  We walked up the ramp and despite my best efforts couldn't get us back into our stride.  The closer we got to the finishers chute the more I pushed Sam to give it all she had.  Finally I turned to her and said, "Look, I'll give you to that street light to walk.  Once we pass it I need you to dig down to whatever you have left and kick it hard until we cross that finish line.  You're not allowed to stop."  (before the race I had also threatened to carry her if need be to get her across that line)  She agreed and said she would soak up as much of the walk as she could before hitting the gas.  We crossed under that light and took off.  I'm pretty sure she hated me, but once we got through it and the enormity of her accomplishment set in that hatred subsided. 

Me, Abby and Ashley

Johnny (Abby's husband) was there to congratulate us and also look for Ashley.  We regrouped after getting through the finishers chute and Abby told me how the race went for her.  Finally we found Ashley on the other side of the crowd trying to rehydrate after losing so many fluids the last few miles.  She had gotten really sick and couldn't keep anything down after mile 10.  They headed back to the car and I stuck around to get some more pictures and look for other friends.  I wanted to soak up as much of that moment as possible.

Happy Finisher Face!

The look of pure accomplishment...Congrats Sam!!!!

Looking back on it now I realize how crazy it is that just one year after finishing my first half marathon I was checking half marathon #7 off my list.  I still have another 2 on the books for this summer and then my first full marathon in October.  It may not seem like much, but considering less than 2 years ago I could barely finish a mile this is a huge accomplishment for me.  I may not look like it, but I'm an endurance athlete.  I'm a runner.  I'm a beast and I wear those titles proudly.