Crystal's Last Chance for Boston Recap

Galen Rupp is making his 1/2 Marathon Debut at the NYC 1/2 Marathon! He and his coach, Alberto Salazar, talk about it. And Peter Sagal talks about his running experiences and being fat as a kid.

Wednesday, March 2nd - 5 miles (~38-39 minutes). Ran 2 up through the trail, one village circle loop mile, then 2 back. Slight stretching and ab work, still feeling residual soreness from earlier work. Felt ok overall, and nice to get in some easy miles. That evening, completed out my "flush" which consisted of drinking a concoction of olive oil and lemon juice, and some magnesium citrate to flush out all the impurities. I'll spare you the gory details, but my liver and gall bladder are completely flushed out. I don't feel anything different, other than feeling even more tired than usual - hmmm...

Without further adieu, here is my guest blogger, Crystal, to offer her insights on her running in 2011 and her recent marathon victory. Crystal is an accomplished runner, having competed in multiple marathons across the country including Chicago, New York, and Boston. She was an All-State track runner in Missouri, competing in the 400 meter, before finding her way into longer distances post-college. After signing on with the Big River Running team, Crystal's times have dramatically improved, culminating in some impressive races which include 3rd place in the 2010 Lewis and Clark 1/2 Marathon (1:25:53), and her victory in last week's Last Chance for Boston Marathon (3:10:29).

So first of all, I have to say what an honor it is to be able to guest blog for one of the hardest-working runners I know. Over the years, Peter has taught me a lot in regards to running (and probably life too), splashed me with a lot of puddles, kicked a few frogs on me, given me some well-deserved tough love, but most importantly, has provided endless encouragement along the way. PK is a great advocate for the sport of running as he is the first to offer congratulations to any running feat, no matter how small or large. In addition, he’s the guy leading the way by always working hard - busting his butt in wind, snow, rain, or heat. He is gracious in both victories and defeat and has become a true friend throughout our many hours of training together.

Secondly, I don’t feel that any marathon runner’s blog entry would be complete without mentioning their thoughts on the recent announcement by the BAA in regards to changing their qualifying times for the Boston Marathon. While I understand something needed to change, I personally think lowering the already aggressive (in my opinion) 3:10:59 standard for young men is ridiculous. Coming from a girl who has busted her tail for two and half years to reach the 3:10:59 standard, I can tell you that it is no joke. I am a 1:26 half-marathoner, but have struggled for three marathons to hit the men’s full standard. While many of my female counterparts may disagree, it is my opinion that the women’s standard is too lax and is what needs to be addressed. I ran my first marathon ever in 3:30:32 so ended up qualifying with over 10 minutes to spare and that was on a four-day a week training program. Come on BAA, challenge us a little bit. Give us something that we will have to work really hard for so that we push ourselves to become better runners. Give us something to be proud of. It is because of the slack women’s standards that I have been trying to qualify with the men’s time for the last 2 and half years. I want to feel that I belong and have deserved my entry. Until the women’s standards are reevaluated and are adjusted to more closely reflect the difference between men and women’s actual ability, I will not feel that my entry is deserved with anything less than the men’s qualifying time. Additionally, it was sad to read BAA’s press release in which they state that their rolling admissions process is meant to reward the “fastest runners”. Uhhh, last time I checked the fastest runners are the men/women qualifiers running 2 – low 3 hour marathons. It is NOT the women who are running high 3:20’s and crushing an already lax standard. Furthermore, how can the BAA give prioritization to a female running a 3:25 over a male running a 2:59 marathon? What is a male runner’s incentive to run a 3:04:59 when he most likely won’t even have the opportunity to register for the race? I am hopeful that the BAA will rethink the registration process again.

And so this is where my story begins. After a couple of heart-breaking disappointments in Chicago 2009 (3:16) and Boston 2010 (another 3:16), I decided I needed some additional help in achieving my goal. Last June I signed up for personal coaching through the Big River Running organization. First of all, let me just say how grateful I am to say that Big River has become my running home. No matter the runner’s ability, they are there to answer any question and provide support along the way. I feel so lucky to be apart of such a tremendous organization. Secondly, I am incredibly grateful to Coach Tim who has transformed me into a completely different runner than I was a year ago today…Peter has been with me throughout this transformation and I’m pretty sure he would agree that the difference is as clear as night and day. Tim and I set our sights on an October 2010 marathon and while I again was in good shape and PR’d, I walked away with another heartbreak barely breaking 3:13. I did not follow the race strategy Tim had laid out (and Peter had attempted to drill into my head) and paid for going out too fast (frequent occurrence for me). So, we regrouped and set our sights on The Last Chance for Boston marathon on Feb 27 - fast, flat, controlled, and cold. Here are some highlights from my last couple of months of training:

January: Logged 248 miles this month. . whoa!! Running seems as natural as breathing at this point. The more I run, the better I feel. Hit a weekly mileage high (66 miles) this month. Tempo runs feel, um, easy. This is a definite first as I have always struggled through tempo runs, but this is further proof that my fitness is at a whole new level. I can run consecutive 6:40 minute miles without feeling like I’m really working that hard. I guess this is what Peter has been feeling for years now, and I finally understand what he meant when he said he knew he was ready for Chicago in 09. I feel confident that I’m ready for Last Chance. I just wish it would get here.

February or as I like to call it, The Month of Pace Runs: My body seems to have a natural aversion to running 7:15’s. It likes 6:48’s, 7:07’s, 7:20’s, but I can’t seem to find the sweet spot. My first pace run (10 miles) was done in my parent’s neighborhood, but unfortunately it isn’t exactly a mile so I was having a hard time locking in. I was wearing a heart rate monitor/watch for time/HR as well as a Garmin to track mileage. Tim has encouraged me to “rid” my dependency upon the Garmin and although I whined to anyone that would listen for about a week, I must say it has been one of the best pieces of advice I have received. Overall pace was 7:07 (too fast) for the 10 miles. Tim recommended I move to a two mile loop course in Forest Park for the future pace runs so that I wouldn’t have to worry about tracking mileage. Peter offers to run the remaining runs pace runs with me (what a guy).

Pace Run Number 2 (8 miles – Location: Forest Park). Ummm, hello cold and hills. Temps were about 20 when we started out and would continue to drop throughout the run. The two-mile course is a tough one too with rolling hills especially prevalent on the back half of the course. Peter and I do a one mile warm-up and then start the workout which is an uphill start. I am surging and can feel Peter lagging behind a little. I hear him tell me to slow down, I think he is off his rocker (as this feels way too easy for 7:15) and therefore I continue to push through the first mile. My split - 7:08 (or something like that), Peter’s split – 7:15 on the dot. Now, don’t get me wrong because I love Peter and we are both known to be fairly competitive, but I have to be honest that the first thing through my head after he calls out his split is @SSHOLE! I don’t slow down or turn around at first, because I know the look he is giving all too well. It is the same look that he gives when he plays you in darts, blind-folded throwing left-handed and still manages to beat you. The rest of the run was fairly uneventful, both of our legs were getting tired by the sixth mile because of the hills, but we managed to finish it out averaging about 7:07 pace.

Pace Run Number 3 (Impromptu pace run because Umm, I guess I’m in trouble). Coach Tim doesn’t appear to be happy with the results of the previous two pace runs (too fast). He therefore instructs me that part of my weekend workout will be to run four consecutive miles at 7:15. . no range, but I am to hit 7:15 pace. If I run faster than 7:15 (even by a second), I am to stop, take a minute rest and start over until I have run 4 consecutive 7:15 minute miles. It is okay if I run slower than 7:15 though. I have serious heartburn over the news that I am to complete this workout as I have completed two pace runs (10 and 8 miles) now and not one of those 18 miles was run at a 7:15 clip. I seriously believe that I will be attempting this run for HOURS and HOURS! Surprisingly, I am able to execute the run on the first attempt 7:18, 7:15, 7:15, 7:16. Maybe I’m beginning to understand what 7:15 should feel like. Having hit the workout on my first attempt, I’m no longer mad at Coach Tim. ;-)

Pace Run Number 3 (12 miles – Location: Back to Forest Park). Still hilly, but this time around I am battling the heat rather than the cold. Our lovely St. Louis weather men/women have let me down as they said the high would be 55, but it is 73 by the time I reach Forest Park. The wind is also incredibly strong. Peter and I hadn’t firmed up any details about the run today and he was swamped with meetings in the a.m., so I was attempting the run solo. Peter was greatly missed as this run went from ehh, to bad, to worse the longer it went on. My heart rate was way too high (173) and my legs felt completely dead. I thought about stopping after the sixth mile, but continued to push through. My splits were all over the place. Avg pace was 7:07, but that was only because my first few miles were way too fast (sub 7 - boo). My legs had no giddy-up and I’m feeling worn down. Not the way I was intending my last workout before the race to go. A month ago, I felt on top of the world in regards to running and now I’m feeling lethargic. I try to take it in stride and place the majority of the blame on the weather. I chalk it up to a small mental victory though for pushing through the workout when I wanted to quit about halfway through. Let’s hope I can channel that mental toughness on race day.

Pace Run Number 4 (3 X 1 Miles at Pace – Location: Track). Weather is perfect, and PK was at the track finishing up his workout. He was nice enough to jump in with me which made the miles go by quickly. We were able to lock into 7:15 almost immediately (although having 200 Meter splits to base your pace off of definitely helps). Splits were 7:14, 7:15, 7:15. Effort felt great. I’m ready to get this show on the road.

Race Day. So to say that I’ve been a nervous wreck the past week would be like the understatement of the century. I’m driving Patrick, Peter, coworkers (really anyone within a 10 foot radius) crazy . . .and may even be driving myself a little crazier in the process (if that is possible). I think I can physically feel the tension radiating from my body like some sort of force-field. I keep telling myself that I’ve done the work and that I just need to execute the strategy now. Patrick and Peter also continue to reemphasize this point. Very few people probably understand the sacrifices a marathon runner makes and I feel like I’ve been making the sacrifices for far too long now. The thought of having to continue with the sacrifice by not meeting my goal today is overwhelming, as is the thought of letting the dream die and accepting defeat. So really, it all comes down to this day. . .

Race conditions are perfect at the start. I’m nervous at the start, but not nearly as nervous as I have been in other marathons. This can most likely be attributed to the fact that a) I had my breakdown the day before (sorry DBA and Megan) b) I know that if I cramp up I just need to walk across a parking lot to get to my hotel or c) I don’t bother walking to the start line until 5 minutes before the start of the race as I had gotten my warm-up in about 20 minutes prior to the race start and had ducked back in the hotel to change shoes and stay warm. Ken has agreed to take the first leg of the marathon relay (which Pat, Ken, Mick, and Timmy signed up for) and thus pace me through the first 10k of my race. Let me just say that I think Ken’s parents probably messed up by naming him Ken and not Gazelle, Pretty Runner Boy, Cheetah. . I think you get my point. The guy is probably one of the easiest guys to run with ever. He is so smooth and relaxed that you can’t help but follow suit. We cranked out the first few miles within seconds of the desired 7:15 pace. I could hear Pat, Tim, and Mick cheering us on for the first three miles.. . .especially Mick who was just awesomely loud! While I didn’t physically acknowledge them, I hope they know how much I love them and how wonderful it was to hear their cheers. I was really trying to lock in to the pace and remain focused, so it was nothing but “game face” for me. I think Timmy took that to mean I was feeling tight, but I felt pretty relaxed. On the fourth lap, we saw PK who had just finished the 5k (big Congrats to him for finishing 2nd overall). He was going out to bring Megan in who also recorded a PR and finished as the eleventh female in the 5k (30th overall) so a big congrats to her as well. On the fourth lap, I started thinking that the course was going to be lonely without Ken’s companionship so I asked Ken if he would ask Pat to get my IPOD from our room once he stopped so I could have it for future miles. One of my favorite miles was the completion of the fourth mile because I was able to see the entire crew as PK and Megan had joined them by this point. Ken finished out a couple more miles with me and I was definitely sad to see him go. Thankfully he agreed to come back out for a few more miles later in the race. I ran a solo lap without Ken or any music and was enjoying running in the moment. I knew the hard work wouldn’t come for awhile yet so I focused on treating it like a normal practice run. By the time I had come around for my next mile, Pat had managed to grab my IPOD. Um, Awesome. . for those of you wondering, this is why you run around in a circle 26 times. Some thought I was crazy for choosing this race, but the convenience of it all is too good to pass up. I was easily able to exchange out GU’s, had a personal cheering section EVERY mile, and was able to calculate my splits down to a quarter mile (which was marked along the course). I’m in a pretty good rhythm at this point and excited that I haven’t gone out too fast. I crank out another mile and the crew tells me that I need to go get Mick who apparently had just passed. I approach Mick and am able to give him a good pat on the rear before passing by. It’s so nice seeing people I know on the course. I run a few more miles and then Peter jumps in for a mile which is a nice surprise. I ask him how he and Megan fared in the 5k and it’s nice to hear about their respective victories. Peter is not the happiest with his time, but I’m still pretty amazed because if I had drank what he did the day before I would have been happy to just crawl across the finish line. Huge props to the guys for even making it out of bed!! Peter is trying to get some response out of me on how I’m feeling and I tell him I feel okay, but don’t offer much else. I can feel my breathing picking up when I attempt to talk so I figure he will understand if I just listen to him gab like a mother hen. It is very nice to have the company. He asks me what lap I’m on and I have to be completely honest, I have no freaking idea. . maybe ten or eleven. This is one of the downsides of running a one mile loop course. . it is VERY easy to lose track of what mile you are actually on. Thankfully, the night before Peter had drilled two numbers into my head (1:35 through the half, 2:25 at twenty). I go through the mile at 7:18 and I think Peter is definitely concerned that he took me through a slower mile. I’m not worried about it at all though. I still am feeling good and run the next mile in 7:11. I hit the half around 1:35:30 so I know I’m where I should be. I pass Pat on the course, but don’t realize it is him until I am almost past him (boohoo). . .I swear I think everyone on the course is wearing a black jacket so he blends right in. Peter jumps in for another mile around 14 or 15 (again, so easy to lose track) and I’m able to grab a GU from him so that I’ll have it in a few miles. I think he thinks I actually eat the GU (as opposed to pocketing it) and assumes I’m in trouble. I also start to get a bit of a side-stitch at this point, but it is something that I’ve run through before and I know if I stay calm it will work itself out. I apply some pressure to the spot for the next mile and it goes away. .YAY! Around mile 16 or 17, I start to feel my shins tightening up, a bi-product of running around in a circle I’m sure. I have never cramped here before, but I’ll take cramps in my shins over my hamstrings any day. I GU the next mile in hopes that it will help and start grabbing Gatorade or water every mile thereafter. Mentally, I’m still feeling strong. My legs feel strong despite the cramps. I will be okay. I need to get to 20 and then the race will start. I only have a 10k left after that. I can do this. Strong, Fast, Swift, Light. Strong, Fast, Swift, Light. Strong, Fast, Swift, Light. Ken hops in again for another couple miles. I relax a ton with him out there and am able to crank out two great miles. I ask him to stick around for another one which he agrees to, but PK and Ken had already worked out the logistics of switching off so Peter hops in for the next mile. I hit twenty miles right around 2:25 so I know I’m still on pace. The wind has started to pick up a bit and PK tries to get me to draft off of him. Unfortunately, the wind is swirling and I feel like Peter is surging a little which he also realizes and quickly pulls back to run next to me. This is where things start to get a little dicey on the details. I get through 21 and the going is getting tough. Mentally, I keep telling myself to push through. My body is telling me something quite different though. Although it hurts, the pain is nothing like I’ve experienced in past marathons which I think is a great testament to how prepared I was for the race. Peter takes over grabbing my water at the water station, THANK YOU!!!, and I’m slurping the drinks down every mile. My breathing has definitely become more labored. We pass Timmy at some point and he gives me the strangest look. . .I either look like death or maybe I’m just delusional at this point.. . someday I’m sure he will tell me what he was thinking when he saw me. I think Peter is yelling at me when we pass Timmy so maybe he just felt sorry for me (haha). I know I am a slowing down, but it isn’t enough to have me significantly worried. . .yet. I’m missing my quarter splits by about 2 – 3 seconds. I just keep pushing. Ken hops in and reminds me that this is what the training was for. . this is what I have worked for. I keep telling myself, get through 23, get through 23. I start to battle a little bit of nausea, but try to keep my mind off of it. . .dwelling on it will only make it worse. Strong, Fast, Swift, Light. Strong, Fast, Swift, Light. Use my arms. Strong, Fast, Swift, Light. Strong, Fast, Swift, Light. Ken is encouraging me the whole way. And finally, I make it through 23. Peter is talking to the race commentator and I hear the commentator announce my name and state that I’m in the lead. It hits me. . I just might do this, it might FINALLY happen for me. Oh My God! I get completely choked up when I see everyone and hear the commentator tell me I have two left. Peter hops in and works with me through the next half mile to calm me down as I am nearly hyper-ventilating. I manage to calm down and start working with Peter who is yelling at me to FOCUS!! He is like a little drill sergeant and is really hammering on me to use my arms, relax, and focus. He is breaking the course down based on our Glen Carbon loop. “you’re at 270, you’re at the covered bridge, you’ve done this a million times, come on!!” He hopped in right at 24 so he has a good idea of what our splits are looking like through each quarter and as I begin to focus and pick up the pace he is there to congratulate the work. Every few steps, he is offering encouragement and telling me I’m looking better and to keep it up. We get through 25. I have one lap to go. I hear the group yell that I need a 7:30 as I go through the mile. The first half is again a real struggle. Peter continues to work with me. .thank God he is here. He starts clearing the course with about a half mile left to go. “On your left, you’ve got the female leader right here” he shouts.. .bless his heart, he has seen me through so much and I know he is just as excited for me as I am for myself. I’m trying to fight back the emotions. I can not lose it now. He tells me we are going to kick with a quarter left. . .I don’t have the energy to tell him he has lost his effing mind. I’m really feeling sort of sick and I have already picked up the pace. We run a few more meters and Patrick is there to bring me home. I’m so happy to see him that I just want to run to him for a big hug. I soon realize that he is there for a completely different purpose. . not to hug me, but to be drill sergeant Number 2. He takes off (classic “catch me if you can” style) and him and Peter are now yelling at anyone within earshot to make room on their left because they will ensure I get the inside lane for my final quarter. It’s kind of like “move or be moved” at this point. I am working really hard. .Peter and Pat are screaming at me to keep going and to use my arms. I guess Peter really wanted me to break the 30 second mark so he is really working on me. I can see the finish. I keep working, but man, I don’t feel very good and is the road starting to spin a little?? Peter and Pat drop off. I cross the line in 3:10:29. I had been anticipating this moment for years now and thought it would be such an emotional triumph. I had envisioned crossing the line with my hands raised above my head rejoicing in the fact that I had finally hit my goal. Well, let’s just say things don’t always end like we expect them to. In true “Warrior Princess” fashion, I leaned over the finish line and threw up not once, not twice, but 3 times to “celebrate” my victory which was received with huge applause from the DBA crew. Pat and Peter will be forever basking in the glory of having pushed me so hard that I puked. We had decided to finish the last mile of the marathon relay together, but I was getting pretty cold so I went to the hotel room to change. When I came back out the crew had already taken off so I started walking and was able to join the group with about a quarter mile left. Thankfully, they were walking, but it was at a pretty fast clip. My shin started to cramp up and Mick offered me a piggy-back ride which I was more than happy to accept. The relay finished in just under four hours and it was great to cross the finish line together. What an amazing weekend!!!

We headed out to lunch for some celebratory food and drinks and I was happy to finally relax. I don’t think the emotions really hit until we landed in St. Louis when I realized that at last, I feel like I have earned my ticket to Boston. . .