I successfully finished the OC Half Marathon this weekend, even with the shin issues I’ve been battling the last few weeks.
I also got new Nike’s from Road Runner. After going in the store and trying on a few, I bought a pair of pink and neon yellow, Nike Air Pegasus of their website for under $70! Amazing price since Nike’s generally run $99-120. I know a lot of the issues I have (runners knee, shin splints) are from two things, too many miles too soon, and shoes. Shoes are so critical and I go way too long before getting a new pair.
Last week, I put on my old Nikes (from 2009) and took them for a spin. Instantly the pain in my knee came back but my shin felt fine! Shoes, don’t underestimate them for a second. With the mileage I put on those bad boys, I need to invest in the best, (in my opinion) Nike’s.
The last few weeks I also stuck to biking and elliptical workouts to keep my cardio training up but to keep from putting full weight and pressure on my shin and I have really taken to biking. Turns out I’m actually pretty good at it I think. I bike 15-17 miles an hour on the recumbent bike while on level 10 (out of 20) on rolling hills. I like the recumbent bike because I feel like it isolates my glutes and outer quad region more than the standard bike which feels more like quads and calves, plus it puts less strain on my back. Dig it.
Anyway, back to the half marathon. In the weeks prior, I was considering asking around to see if anyone wanted to run it for me but I never actually went through with it. I set out to complete this “Beach Cities Challenge” and dang it if I am not going to finish it! I already have one run down and with the OC half I’ll be 2/3 of the way done. When have I ever backed out of a challenge I’ve set for myself? NEVER! Ball up.
All I knew was that I needed to cross that finish line even if I had to walk, crawl, or drag my fat ass the last half, I was crossing that damn line.
Turns out I did it in my third best time 2:17:10 and I was still in the top 50% of my age group!
It wasn’t easy, but then again, it never is. Seriously, it’s 13.1 miles and it's no walk in the park. Craziest thing is, I had NO PAIN! The KT tape did an amazing job. I tape my knees for tracking support and my left shin. My legs looked like a zebra but I had long pants over it and the shoes were exactly what I needed.
It was a nicer route this year and I had my music and a lot of prayer to keep me going. There is always this point when you are like, “I’m over this and it needs to be done already. Seriously. Done!” and then you look up and it’s mile 10. But those last 3 miles I tell you are the hardest. I actually think the last 1,000 feet was the hardest. I usually kick it in a fly to the finish, but I couldn’t. I was completely out of gas. I wasn’t trippin though, I was just glad to cross.
I got done around 8:45am (yes, start time was 6am and I had to be at the shuttle at 5:15am. Ridiculous) and sat on a shady spot on the grass. No one was there that I knew. Jelena is getting really close to having her baby girl and I can’t wait for to have my running partner back. Christa was busy, and anyone else I know in the area was too, so I chilled, stretched, and chatted with my mom. It was weird not having anyone there for support but I really didn’t mind because I was just so happy to be done. Nothing was going to get me down.
Out of nowhere on the drive home I got this super huge craving for this AAAmazing stuffed French toast I know about in Long Beach so I drove up there to Belmont Heights, Starling Diner. Esther and I had gone there after a Saturday 7 mile run and all I could think about was eating it again with a mimosa. I walked in fully decked out in my sweaty racing gear and bellied up to the bar to stuff my face and belly. Here is a picture.
With a full belly I rested on the couch with the pups, read and napped by the pool, and didn’t do much until church at 6pm.
Feelin pretty good. I don’t think I’d change a thing.
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