Running in the Rain

For some reason, we always forget that the months of September and October are rather terrible in terms of weather here in Durban.  It's windy, wet and very unpredictable.  The weather was particularly bad today -- but I had to get a run in.  So, I went for a run at Moses Mabhida stadium and practiced some sprinting in the pouring rain in 14C (57F) weather.  I was soaked and rather happy to go have a warm shower! As I was running, I kept thinking that on June 10, I'll be finishing the Comrades race at this very spot...

The Mandela Marathon

A year ago, I ran my first marathon.  I loved it.  I took my time and really enjoyed it.  I accomplished a goal that I had set for myself.

This year, I set out to do it again.  I'd trained and I knew I could do it.  But, this year I really really really struggled.  I didn't enjoy it.  I found it grueling. I wasn't enchanted by running like I was the year before.  For the first 19 kilometers, I ran with Clive, a Comrades veteran, and an overall Energizer bunny. He can just decide to run a marathon and do it. I have to train...

I reached 20 kilometers and had terrible aches in my tummy. I was white and very pale but Clive didn't tell me to stop... He kept going, knowing that Jacques would be at halfway if I needed assistance.  

I got to my family at the halfway mark. Last year, I'd been energized seeing them.  This year I got sad and wished I were a spectator.  And my stomach just hurt.  My heart rate was high.  My bladder felt like it might fall out of me when I started to run.  

I kept talking to myself and willing myself to put one foot in front of the other. For the second half, I think I walked about two-thirds of it.  

Somehow, miraculously, I made it across the finish line in five hours and forty-seven minutes.  15 minutes faster than last year.  My running app said I had climbed 960 meters (3149 feet).  A whole lot of uphill.  

I got across the finish line and wanted to cry because my stomach hurt so badly.  

On the way home, we had to stop twice for me to go to the bathroom.  It wasn't a nice feeling.  

Anyway, I made it.  Let's hope my next marathon goes a bit better. 

At the start line

View from the top. 

We'd climbed that "hill".

I was never so relieved to know that I only had 1 kilometer to go.  

I'd been averaging 8:30 - 9:00 minute kilometers for the last ten kilometers, my tummy was really hurting.  For the last kilometer, I pushed the pain out of my mind and just ran, finishing at a 6:00 minute a kilometer pace, eager to cross the finish line. 

With my dear family at the end. 

I couldn't finish the Savanah in my hand. 

A very weak smile at the end. 

We stopped to get CitroSoda for my tummy and it helped.  Miraculously the next day I didn't feel too ill.  I'm not sure what happened, it was almost like a 12-hour bladder infection.  I felt alright the next day and my legs weren't too sore.  I hope my next marathon is a much better experience. 

Ten Days Until the Mandela Marathon

A lot has happened in my personal life in the past month, which has prevented me from keeping this little blog of mine going.  But here's to trying to keep it up.

My long runs have commenced and finished, I'm now in that taper stage.  I've done the long runs necessary to hopefully get me over the finish line for the Mandela Marathon on August 27.  I'm just not sure that I will get over the finish line quickly.  But, it's a training run.  It's a run to help me prepare mentally and physically for Comrades.  Though, looking at this profile map kinda has me scared for all those hills!

I recently journeyed to the United States, Oregon to be exact, to be with my father and sister.  It was an unexpected visit and one that was chaotic, tiring, heart wrenching and busy.  However, throughout the month, my running helped keep me grounded.  It gave me an excuse to take a little bit of time for myself.

I really enjoyed all of my runs in Oregon. Running in Oregon was so different than running in my neighborhood.  Runners and cyclists are respected and yielded to there.  There are sidewalks on nearly every roadway, along with bike paths.   It was also summer, with beautiful flowers blooming and blackberries to be harvested along the way if I got hungry.

The sun breaking through the trees at Oregon State University

Beautiful views along the Willamette River

Crazy flowers that reminded me of a Dr. Seuss book

Berries galore

Trail runs in the middle of suburbia

People really did do this

Well placed water fountains to rehydrate on those long runs

I managed a giant 25 kilometer loop around Corvallis that was beautiful.

We also did a little hike around Trillium Lake that had a gorgeous view of Mt. Hood

I enjoyed a ten kilometer trek through Portland, that led me to the Rose Garden. 

Mt. Hood is behind me as I ran an out and back route along the Colombia River along Marine Drive in Portland.  It was the easiest way to get in 30 kilometers without having to battle crosswalks, streets and finding my way. 

Beautiful Mt. Hood was a backdrop for a couple of my runs.

I was so grateful to my goal of running a marathon on August 27th during this trip.  It helped me focus and take a time out from all the craziness going on around me (literal craziness as my father was diagnosed with dementia).  I hope that everyone can find a physical outlet like running that allows them to free their mind and focus their energy as I was really grateful that running allowed me to do that in a month of chaos. 

Running Views

I really did enjoy running in Oregon.  It was refreshing to have new routes and beauty to look at. Not to mention, it was a little safer -- pedestrians are respected there. But, I did miss my seaside running view as well.  I'm pretty lucky to be able to see this most days on my runs. 

A little bit of stormy weather

I ran the Supa Mamma Savages 21 kilometer race on Sunday, August 13. It's not an easy course. But, nor is Comrades or Mandela.  So, it was good training. I did run it 6 days after traveling a long distance and was just tired in general. But, alas I finished and the best part of that run was jumping into the sea with my two favorite eight-year-olds. 

 A beautiful refreshing dip in the Indian Ocean helped my legs!

A rather ominous ocean out there today when I was running.  

There's a big cold front coming in and it's cold out!

Checking out the START LINE!

On July 4, I got to take a little five-kilometer trot with my favorite eleven-year-old.  He also happens to be my son.  We were treated to an amazing sunrise!

 How's that sunrise?

 I loved running with this guy next to me. 

And then, we journeyed to Pietermaritzburg for the day... And I got to see the start line of Comrades.  The place where I hope to be in eleven months time! It was pretty exciting thinking about the fact that hopefully all will go right and that I will be standing at that spot ready to race down to Durban on June 10, 2018!

Ready. Set. GO!!!!!!!!!

Since it was America's birthday, we celebrated with pie.  Patriotic pie!

The Long Runs Commence

Right now my goal is to run the Nelson Mandela Marathon on August 27, nine weeks away.  So today, I had my first "long run" leading up to running 42.2 hilly kilometers on August 27.

A year ago, I would have been mildly freaked out by running 18 kilometers on my own from uMhlanga to Durban.  This time, I loaded up a bank card, chapstick and my cell phone into my little belt and headed on my way, telling my husband I'd see him in two hours at the beach.  I had so many thoughts going through my head in those two hours.  Sometimes I really wish there were something stuck to my brain to record the crazy musings of my brain while running.

Off I went.  Two kilometers in, I had to stop and take a few pictures.  The view was too pretty not to.

How's the lighthouse with the sky?

And the aloe with the sky?

I kept on running but then was again distracted when I came upon this...

Coral Gables -- not quite but reminded me of living in Miami, FL.

And I'm lucky to run by this petrol station, that has decent bathrooms, a cash machine and free water.

I stopped to get money and a drink.  (and stopped my watch)

I had two hundred meters to go to make it to 18 kilometers, so I kept on going to the end of the pier. And heard little voices shouting "mom".  They belonged to those little blobs in the water. 

And finally, I hit 18 kilometers.  

I was happy with my consistent pace.  

I did stop three times for about five-minute increments (photos, to return an urgent text message and for a drink at the petrol station) where I was able to regain my breath, etc. And that probably helped a lot.  In a race, you don't get that luxury.  But, today was to ease myself into those long runs again and I am so happy that I loved this run.  I really did.  

I had a little something to eat while watching my kids frolic in the waves and then I joined them!

The water was so nice and amazingly clear.  

How lucky I am to be able to finish my run with a dip in the sea?

I am so glad that I enjoyed this first long run.  The next long schlep is 21 kilometers in two weeks.  I'm actually looking forward to it! (I have a time in mind that I'd like to do it in so we will see if I accomplish my goal!)

I'm Not in Kansas Anymore

I've been living in South Africa for 6.5 years.  In this time, I've just adjusted to many aspects of South African living, some of which are better than others.  One aspect I really dislike is the complete disregard for pedestrians. South Africa is a country with A LOT of pedestrians.  Yet, sadly, no one gives them right of way or plans for them.  Instead, when you start to run or walk on SA roads, you often put your life at risk.  There aren't many sidewalks for you to walk on -- or there might be sidewalks but then they just abruptly end.  And if you cross in front of a car at a sidewalk, the car will most likely just keep going.  It's frustrating.  And irritating. And annoying.  Especially given that so much of the population walks everywhere. 

As I was running the other day, I took the picture above -- it epitomized some of my running frustrations: monkeys (they can chase you), sidewalks that just abruptly end, and cars that zoom by you. What are some of your running frustrations?