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| Heading over...good thing I had my Chicaband on because it was a windy trip! |
The first 9 miles were along the coastline of the island and seriously I got lost in the GORGEOUS views!!! I honestly started thinking...I could live here. I stuck to my run 1 mile walk 40 seconds plan and was cruising along at just under 9 min miles. However it was not lost on my that as we started my stomach was growling. Important since this was my demise.
After snaking along the amazing coastline we turned onto a bike path which we follow for the next 8 miles. Mile 8, while I was soaking in the sun and serious views, my Garmin froze. This has never happened to me before so while I panicked for a minute knowing I was S-O-L for the next 12 miles, I came up with a plan to get to the mile markers and then walk while counting to 60.
It was around mile 15 where the problems began....ugh. I took a GU at mile 6 and another around mile 12 but I quickly became hungry. It was almost as if my belly was saying, "That's it?" My stomach started cramping badly and got worse when I drank water. I tried walking but every time I started running again it would seize again to the point where I was running bent over. Now normally I would have toughed it out but then I got dizzy and just not good. Just before mile 17 there were police officers in the road. By then Jill had caught up to me and helped to convince me to stop and get a ride to the finish. I can't tell you how many times waiting for the pick-up car I wanted to just say, "I'm good!" and start running again...mostly because I felt embarased to be standing there. I tried to convince the woman who picked me up to drop me off just before the finish so I could run it in....yeah no go! I went to the finish to cheer for Jill as she came trotting in!
Afterwards was SUPER organized. We got our bags, shirts (Jill convinced me to get one even though I may not wear it!), and food. We had about 30 minutes to change and catch the shuttle to the ferry. The funniest scene was the ferry ride back. Lots of very sore and stiff runners on a swaying ship!
Honestly speaking I would HIGHLY recommend this race. It was super well organized with lots of water stops run by local organizations. It was small but I never felt like I was out there alone. The cost was low ($50) and you seriously can't beat the views! Everyone was super nice and helpful and they had a ton of food after! Just make sure you eat enough before.....don't pull a me!! This has gotten me thinking more about my half coming up in March and how I am going to fuel. I feel like I needed more real food....maybe a bar or something like that.
oh friend. sorry to hear that it did not go as planned. but so strong of you to recognize your body was telling you it was ready to stop for the day. i like your running strategy and sounds like you were able to stay super consistent until the hunger set in! i hope you will find something that works best for you for your upcoming half! overall this race sounds gorgeous...one i will have to look into!
ReplyDeleteSounds beautiful but stressful with tummy issues! UGH! So sorry! I guess every run/race has something to teach us! HUGS!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you got so hungry when you were running, but way to go being smart and listening to your body and stopping! I hope you can get your fueling plan perfected by your half! That does sound like a beautiful, and cheap, race!
ReplyDeleteStomach issues are no fun, sorry it didn't go as you planned but sounds like you have a good attitude about it now!
ReplyDeleteNice blog Nancy. I'm sure you're not alone. I still think you did great for making it as far as you did. Could I ask what you had to eat before the race? My pre-race food is always oatmeal and toast w/peanut butter; and sometimes a banana. I eat at least 2 hours prior to the race.
ReplyDeleteI had a bagel with peanut butter about 2 hours before and then 2 granola bars about 45 minutes before. It was an 11am start.
DeleteI'm sorry you didn't have the race you were hoping for, but I remember you were debating how to fuel for this one since it was so late in the day. I guess now you know.
ReplyDeleteHopefully your next 20 miler goes much smoother.
Ugh- I'm so sorry the race didn't go well. It's sounds like a great race, though. Sometimes stomach issues just happen to us runners. I think it's good that you stopped. Better than being the one passed out on the course, right?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a really beautiful place to run. I would have thought that fuelling strategy would have been good but bodies are funny old rings aren't they. Like I said before, harder to not finish and listen to your body, well done xx
ReplyDelete*things not rings!!!! DOH!
DeleteThat sounds like a gorgeous run. I am sorry that you had some tummy issues - that's no fun at all. Way to go for listening to you body - it takes a stronger runner to do that than to finish.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed you have never been there living so close! But what a good excuse to go! Congrats on a good day. 450 sounds like the perfect number of competitors to me.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry things did not go well. Hope things go smoother next time. :)
ReplyDeleteOh Nancy I'm sorry about the stomach issues. I'm still trying to figure out the fueling thing and a late start just adds another wrinkle. Hope you get it figured out before New Bedford.
ReplyDeleteLove the Vineyard - haven't been in years, but your description makes me want to go back!
Sounds like you were smart and listened to your body. That will be my BIGGEST challenge after having this kid and starting running again. I am so used to my body performing a certain way and I know it'll take time to get back there. Bravo to you for being kind to your body!
ReplyDeleteOh man. Sorry about your DNF. You definitely made the right choice. What a good friend Jill is:) Sounds like it was just a good learning experience for next year. I've never been there. Sounds beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a beautiful place to race and I would LOVE to go there someday. Sorry about your garmin and tummy troubles. :(
ReplyDeleteNext year you'll KILL it!!
Those are such hard decisions to make when the race is not going as planned. The few times I've started a long run mid-morning it did not go well... I wouldn't know how to fuel for an 11am start, either! Overall it sounds like a great race, and congrats on running as far as you did! 17 miles at that pace is something to be proud of!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your troubles in the race. But it was a good idea to play it safe and live to run another day. Just as a side note, I personally cannot eat those GU products. I tried them once at an expo a day before a half and I had the worst stomach pains. I figured it was them that caused the pains so I tested it out a couple days later and sure enough I was right.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great race to run though. I'll have to keep this in mind for next year. I'm sure this will be a learning curve for your next race. New Bedford Half? I'm doing that one as well. Hope that one goes better for you.
Sorry to hear about your race, I would definitely suggest tracking your food and noting how you feel during your training runs for the Half Marathon to find your ideal nutrition level. It may be related to a later start so try to run around the same start time as the Half Marathon too. I am confident you will figure this out and do great!!
ReplyDeleteOh no, I hope you feel better by now!! I was once in Cape Cod but never made it to Martha's Vineyard unfortunately.
ReplyDeletewhen you said the views were gorgeous I was expecting photos haha! So sorry to hear about hunger pains- what did you end up eating before hand?!?! Regardless of how many races I do, I feel I always learn at least one thing from each one- seems to me your body decided it wants different nourishment.
ReplyDeleteWay to get a 20 miler done--- I seriously have NEVER ran past a half marathon distance, so i'm impressed with anyone that can do so.
I'm sorry your tummy wasn't cooperating! What a tough call...sounds like you made the right choice. Glad you're feeling better!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you had a dispointing finish. Judging by your reply above it sounds like you had enough to eat. Maybe it was more from the day before?? I know I try to eat a bigger dinner the night before a long run. I don't know. Sometimes running is like hair. Some days are bad and you can't figure out why?
ReplyDeleteThat's a bummer that you were not feeling well. I actually found that the Gu makes me feel that way. I usually eat a nice big dinner the night before as well as a nice big breakfast the day of and that usually does the trick.
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