49 and Fabulous

49 and Fabulous

Friday, April 27, 2012

LONG RUNS


Stephanie Caroline with Corral Map for Marathon Day !

18 Mile Run
I was hoping to run with one of my friends for my first-ever 18 mile long run and was disappointed because everyone was out of town due to it being a Holiday weekend (Easter and Passover).  I got up early and procrastinated and never really made it out the door in the morning.  I think my sister Patty texted me, and she ended up immediately called me and helped me get changed into my running clothes, geared up and out the door. It was a slow start.

I hit Central Park and took a right to run down the West Side for the first of my three loops and noticed these two women running at a pace that looked comfortable to me.  One had a Portland Marathon race shirt on I ran up behind them and said “what pace are you running,”
“Oh, we are running slow, I’m training for a marathon,” Portland said.
“Me too, I’m training as well,” I replied,
“We are doing 11 minute miles at this point” said Portland.
“Me too,” me.

I ended up running the next 10 miles with Jennifer, her friend Grace had run a 10K that morning and she exited at mile 5.  They both run with the Nike running club in Manhattan and gave me the details to run with the the club.  Jennifer is running the Big Sur Marathon this coming Sunday.

Once I told Jennifer I would be running my first marathon, she started going down the list how I should hydrate, carb load, gu – my training schedule.  She was very helpful and at one point I felt I was rapid fire asking questions, but wanted to take advantage of her experience. 

She started earlier than I did, so I had to run the last 7miles on my own, but before I left her, she looked at me glowing and thanked me “That was the best 18 miler I’ve ever had,” she said.

It made me feel good that she also benefited from the run, because I felt like it was a real 101 “How to Run your first Marathon Workshop.  She told me other runners had been generous with her when she was a newbie, it was her pleasure to pass it on.

The last 7 miles were not easy, it was getting hot out and my legs were cramping, I started with salt intake for my first time, but think I started to late to help the ache.  The last two miles were the toughest, being on the back side with downhill and uphill inclines.  I remember running towards Central Park West and out of the park, thinking, “I am really glad I am almost home.” I was able to keep running and didn’t have to stop that many times.  I did have the sensation if I stopped I would not be able to start running again, but finished my 18 miles.

 

20 Mile Run
After running the week before with Jennifer, I was really dreading running the 20 miler alone.  It was Saturday morning early and I made it out of the house, and set my running mix to my favorite selection.  I wanted to give myself every benefit of being able to complete all twenty miles.  I hit the park strong and settled into my pace.

It was probably the hardest run I’ve had ever, including my two half-marathon training.  It was one of the hot weekends and I made every beginners mistake you can.  I hit that wall, I probably did better than I want to give myself credit for but I did end up having to stop and walk more than I am comfortable with, my legs were cramping from mile 15, I felt like I was getting dehydrated, I would buy a new water and drink it, I ended up buying three waters from the same guy.

He looked at me and “your thirsty.”  I really did wanted to swear at him, but I smiled instead.

In the end I completed all twenty miles and later, when I was explain to Coach Ryan regarding how bad I felt the run went he said “who gives a shit, you finished.”   I also am now happy to make the mistakes in my 20 mile training run instead of race day

Here is what I learned for race day:
1.       Hydrate early, gu and drink Gatorade 20 minutes before the start of the race
2.       Keep hydrating for the first 6-8 miles, quite before you start the swish in your stomach
3.       Gu early in the run to store for the later miles to avoid hitting the wall, don’t start at mile 15, it’s too late
4.       Really watch what you eat 2-3 days before the run to store for the later miles
5.       You can eat, bananas or anything like chips or something with salt during the run


Every Saturday my one pleasure is to run down 100th street between Amsterdam and Columbus past Ladder 22 and Engine 76 Firehouse.  I always give the guys thumbs up and a big wave, especially if they are in the truck outside.  This day, they were outside just coming home for a small brush fire in Central Park.  I thanked them for being a touchstone of my marathon training and it was a thrill to see them outside talking.
On e of the guys, said “yeah you always run by and yell at us waving.”
“Yeah that’s me, “I blushed.”  I was happy for the opportunity to thank them and it was a thrill.

I crashed hard Saturday afternoon and Saturday night.  I was achy, had a headache and ate a few times without ever feeling like I made be able to supply my body with the nutrients it craved.  I continued Gatorade all night, but went to bed early and woke up Sunday feeling one hundred times better.


Taper
I am now in "the taper" and have been able to mentally prepare for the slowing down process.  I have been too tired to worry about if I’m running or not, but this morning for the first time, I started worrying that I need to do more.  Work has been so busy this week, I haven’t really had time to obsess about running or more, not running. Small miracles and even larger mercies.

In both runs, in the middle of it all was my Christian music and faith in Jesus.  Being Easter weekend, it didn’t take too long to remember the Passion of the Christ and the decision Christ made for the sins of the world.  And the price he paid to set me free.  I rejoice in my freedom today and devote the next eight days to prayer and meditation to my love of Jesus.


I invite anyone to run with me anytime.   I am now a member of the Nike running club that meets on Thursdays 6:30pm and Saturdays at 9am – with a fantastic Boot Camp on Monday nights at 6:30pm.

All the best to you heading into another weekend,
Keep the faith, y'all !
Have a great weekend
Stephanie

Friday, April 6, 2012

Why Pittsburgh?

My favorite photo of my Mom and Dad

All the Glory goes to God

People get so excited when I tell them that I training for my first marathon. The normal next question is: “which marathon?”

When I say “Pittsburgh,” I watch the look on their face change from excitement to puzzlement with an expression of, “why Pittsburgh?”

The easiest way to answer is that my Dad is from Pittsburgh. Growing up in Ohio, he would talk about Pittsburgh and share stories of his childhood, which at that time my sisters and brother would roll our eyes and say “not again, those old stories.”

It was the 70's and on Sundays we would watch the Pittsburgh Steelers, I had jersey #88 Lynn Swann and it was the years of the Steel Curtain. The love of football and the Steelers would stay with me my whole life.

For the last several years I got into the practice of calling Dad on Sunday mornings, a tradition that has become very meaningful to me. I look forward to our talks every week.

But in the beginning, we started talking about gardening and the weather. "How's the weather in New York Steph?" My Dad and I had several years of not really talking often. I have to admit, it was more my fault than his.

So we kept it very brief on the phone, we didn't have much to say. That was until my friend Jen, a Miami Dolphin fan, invited me to watch a Jets game. At some bar on the east side of Manhattan, we watched the Jets. BUT, on the TV screen to the left...the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing. I remember saying “Who’s Ben Roethlisberger, who's James Harrison, who are all these guys?”

Jen said “I didn’t know you liked the Steelers.”

I called Dad and told him I had watched a game, that was 2009. And honestly that was when my Dad and I started connecting. Our Sunday talks were a way for us to find our way back to a father-daughter relationship. Our Sunday talks and the Pittsburgh Steelers where the catalyst to how I fell in love with my Daddy.

During the next several years our conversations have taken on many topics, but on several occasions I got to hear details of Dad growing up in our beloved Pittsburgh.

Dad was born in Bellville, PA which is the first borough outside of Pittsburgh on the north side. Back in the 40’s the steel industry was in full force and he and his friend John Sigliano would clean wallpaper in people’s homes from all the soot from the mills.

I couldn't believe when he told me, "we would charge fifty cents for a small room and a dollar for a large room." They take their earnings and go the Penguins and Pirates games.

"Back in those days, the tickets were cheap, and we could afford to go," he said.

For two summers, he worked on Dr. Robert Brown’s farm in New Castle PA, and learned how to drive when he was 15 years old.

"This made Grandpa Joe very angry" Dad laughed, if you knew my Grandpa Joe that would be very funny. Dad wanted to be a vet and I believe he still has that special touch with animals.

Mom and I went to Pittsburgh for my first time after many years in 2010 for Christmas and went straight to the Strip District where I bought my Troy Polamalu #43 jersey. We had lunch at a great place downtown and drove around my city – of course we found Heinz field and braved the cold weather for a photo op. I plan on getting my second jersey when I will pick up my marathon number on May 5th.

In 2010, when I was in Columbus, Ohio running my first half marathon with my sister Pam (walking her first half marathon), and Patty (running her first marathon) – there was a booth for the Pittsburgh marathon and I was like….”we have to run Pittsburgh, let’s run Pittsburgh -- rah rah rah.”

Well, that was before I knew about the hills and elevation, but one year went by and I did not run. I don't know about you, but I don't forget the things, I wanted to do but didn't.

I will start by saying, this is a whole other story that I will promise to expand on another time: I found out that I had a tumor in the back of my brain (reiterate, a whole other story). After six months of tests and waiting, my neurosurgeon, Dr. Parker told me that the results of my MRI results were: “YOUR FINE. YOUR HEALTHY, GO RUN!”

I literally walked out of NYU hospital on a bright sunshine filled day, a healthy woman and said , “I am running that Pittsburgh marathon.” I just knew, "I am healthy, I can do it, I WILL do it," and my decision was tied to several things:

    1. My love for my Dad and his city
    2. My love of my Steelers
    3. My love for running, my sister Patty is having hip problems and can't run long distances, so I am dedicating my race to her
    4. My love for Jesus Christ

    So, the under title of this post is All the Glory goes to God: I believe that on this holy day, Good Friday and the impending death of Christ on the cross that tonight will bring...ALL the Glory is His.

    I watched “The Passion of the Christ” last night and got to the part where Jesus is beaten -- hit after hit are blow after blow. I normally fast forward through the gore, for some reason I didn't fast forward -- I watched.

    Before the Romans begin to flog him, Jesus stands in His chains, bows his head and prays, “My heart is ready Father, my heart is ready.” As he said those words in the movie...I wept. I wept openly and I wept fully…I wept.

    I did not cry for the torturous beating that Jesus suffered, I cried because Jesus had an awareness of how He was about to suffer and -- here is the kicker: the openness of His heart and complete Trust in his Father.

    My prayer today: “God open my heart; let my heart be open to you.”


    So with all the being said, it is the love of my Dad that led me to the city of Pittsburgh, my friendship with my sisters Patty and Pam that inspired me to begin to run and my faith in God that moved my heart to run marathons.

    And that, my dear friends is, “Why Pittsburgh.”


    Keep the faith, y'all !
    Have a great Holiday weekend!
    Stephanie