First Race of 2014

It's been over a year since my last blog! I haven't quit running or anything. Apparently, it's just taken me this long to figure out what I was going to write next. Yes, that's some pretty crazy writer's block but hopefully, it doesn't happen again. ;-)

I've ran a number of races since, including the Inaugural Eastside 10k on my birthday (which was cool)! I also did the Whistler 50 (miler) last October and beat my 2011 time by over 20 minutes. I even made a 21.1K PR with the Vancouver Historic Half last November (which is still at turtle power speed of 2 hours). So, while I'm still slow - I am improving! Hooray! Break out the balloons and champagne!

This year got off to an incredibly slow start, though. I only just did my first race of 2014 this past weekend: the Run for Water Marathon (my 5th full marathon). Originally, I was hoping to do the Ultra. However, a number of things were going against me in my training. In February, I had a large (5 cm+) benign lump (fibroadenoma) removed. I took a full week off, went for a run, and the next day it started bleeding in that area again. I went to the hospital and was told I had a hematoma (blood clot), and it just needed to drain. Gross! In order for it to heal quicker and prevent infection, I took another 2 weeks off of running. This put me very behind in my training. I had to even skip a half marathon I had signed up for months prior. This was all a little discouraging, but hey, life happens...  and when you get thrown lemons... you grab some vodka and throw a party!

Unfortunately, it didn't stop there. I ended up having some issues with my bladder and pain in my lower back and side (flank area). After being sent in for an ultrasound scan, I found out I have a lump in my ovary. By this point the song, "She's Lump, She's Lump...", was playing in my head...

This particular lump is called a dermoid/teratoma and is also benign. This of course, is fantastic news, but it's a real pain in the...  well... umm... flank. So what does this all mean? Well, boys and girls, I've got an exciting science class for you! The word "teratoma" is derived from the Greek word teraton - meaning "monster". They are made up of germ cells that can contain hair, teeth, eyes, sweat glands and other random body parts. (Now, seriously - if my ovary made a tooth, I would want to keep that sh** and put it under my pillow for the tooth fairy!)

When my doctor told me what it was, I started feeling a little nauseous. All that was running through my mind was that scene from Aliens... and then that scene from Spaceballs...

Nasty! So needless to say, running over longer distances can be a little sore and challenging some days.

Here I am the morning of the race. 
A little sleep deprived but ready!

During the Marathon, I started off well. I kept up with the 4:15 pace bunny until around the 18km point and then I started to feel the soreness kicking in so I slowed it right down from a 6:00 km pace to a 6:30. I figured I could still come in around 4:30. Then I hit around the 30km mark and my back started to ache so bad. I went scrambling for the Advil I packed.

"Where is my Advil?! Did it fall out of my belt?! Oh my God it did! It fell out?! Noooo!!!" At that point, I looked up and saw the 4:30 pace bunny. I joined them for a whole whopping 2 kilometers. I think they were behind because they were running a 6:00 pace and I just couldn't keep up. I slowed down to a 7:00 pace, then a 7:15... then a very awkward 7:30. My back just couldn't take it any more when I hit the 36km mark. I started to walk. I took out my phone in the pouring rain and started texting a few people and updated my Facebook status. I pretty much gave up. I also had to pee so bad but I didn't want to go in the port-o-potty. I was cold. Soaking wet. ...and my spirit was starting to dip.

I'm at the 39km mark and a nice fellow was cheering me on while saying, "Keep going! You're..." and I cut him off. "Ya, ya... I know. I'm almost there. The finish line is around the corner." He laughs and said, "I guess you've already heard all of that." I laughed and said "Yup, but it's all good!" There were quite a few spectators and "cheerleaders" along the final stretch and they really got my spirits back and smiling again.

One thing that has been a fear of mine is to walk through the finish line. I just can't do it. lol. So once I could see it, I started to run again. Sort of. Actually, it was more like some weird, violent shuffle. If you don't believe me, I have my finisher movie below. It's totally embarrassing. ...but I made it and you can't miss that HUGE smile I have on! lol. Surprisingly, I only came in 3 minutes slower than last year despite the fact I walked over 5km's at the end. My time was 4:41:13.

My finish line movie! 

During the race, the volunteers were absolutely awesome! The other runners were very supportive and friendly and the spectators definitely knew how to cheer! I would recommend this race to anyone. All in all it was a good experience and I'm so glad I participated. Although, I was pretty choked to get back to the hotel room and realize I placed my Advil in a different pocket on my hydration belt! Duh!

This year I also chose to fundraise, too. The money all goes to building clean water projects for villages in Ethiopia. As a runner who knows the importance of hydration, I think this was a very worthwhile cause to raise money for! I'm very happy and proud to have raised over $800. I didn't quite make my goal - but I'm very thankful to those who donated as well as showed their support.

The last few days I've been focusing on recovering from the race. I've been swimming almost every day and walking lots. Both are low impact. I've also been really watching my nutrition. Tomorrow I get to finally see the gynecologist so I'll know more on how to deal with this thing living in my ovary. *shivers* I will also know if surgery will be in my future. This, of course, will be the deciding factor on how hard I can train in the near future. I'm hoping it can just be monitored and controlled through medication for now. There's some races I have my eye on. ;-)

Thanks so much for reading! 

...Keep on shufflin'...