Diary of an "Old" Runner

by Patti Mulherin

Editor's Note: Patti sent this e-mail to members of her running group in Powhatan, Virginia after the 2010 Monument Ave. 10k and gave V permission to publish it. "If I could be an inspiration to other women I would love it," she said.

Powhatan Pacers,

While I am still basking in the glory of the Monument Avenue 10K, I wanted to offer a few thoughts to our newer runners and extend a thank you to many of you who offered me advice and provided encouragement since I joined the Powhatan Pacers last fall.

Background

My first real race was the 2009 Monument Ave. 10k. I had retired from teaching in 2008 and was searching for a sport or activity that I could enjoy. I first tried golf. Although I haven't given up completely on this game, it caused me such a high stress level, that I knew I had to find something else. When a sign went up at my Chesterfield exercise club advertising 10K training for all "ages, shapes, and sizes," I decided to give it a try. I've had a few ups and downs since then but I am committed (or should be committed/institutionalized) for the long haul. I participated in a 6 weeks training session for the 2009 spring event and finished the race in an upright position. While training for my first race, I made a good friend who managed to talk me into a 12 week training program for the November Suntrust Half-Marathon. Much to my surprise, I finished that 13+ mile race in an upright position. Truthfully, I actually felt better in this race even though it was a much longer distance. I turned in a respectable time for my age group. There is a very important lesson here: Never say "No, I can't do it." You can do any run/race regardless of distance if you have the proper training.

I also learned from these early racing experiences that if I wanted to keep my age a secret, then running/ racing, was not the sport for me. After my first race, the entire Richmond area including my own Powhatan County, saw my age or age group posted in the Richmond and local paper. I had several friends ask me, "Why on earth would you want to start running at the age of 57? Another asked me, "What are you running from?" My own family thought that I was crazy starting my "running career" at this point in my life. To both young and old "new" runners," I have one thing to say.... Be prepared for "snide" remarks but stand your ground. Running is a sport to be respected.

A Diary Account of Patti's Monument Ave. 10K

Thursday, March 25, 2010

When I first signed up for the race in January, I had decided to list my finishing time as 59 minutes. This was a stretch considering my 2009 10K time was 62:09 but I was feeling rather confident after the half-marathon in the fall and I like setting lofty goals for myself. Just a few weeks ago, I clocked myself at under 59 minutes so when I went to the Arthur Ashe center, I asked to move up to the 58 minute group. They allowed this request. I reasoned that I was used to running the Powhatan village hills so maybe I would be successful at achieving my goal of 58 minutes on flat rather than hilly terrain. I was also hoping to eliminate at least some of the arm-to-arm walkers that I had experienced in Wave R the previous year.

Friday, March 26, 2010

I rested up and ate my pasta meal at Joe's Inn. I hardly made a dent in it--- nervous stomach. (Does that sound familiar, Allen?--- It's nice to know that I am not alone in my suffering.)

Saturday, March 27, 2010. Race Day is finally here!

4:30 am. I got up and ate my bowl of oatmeal and a banana and completed my yoga stretches while listening to some peaceful music. Unfortunately, I am still nervous. I doubt that I will ever not be nervous on race day. I left the house at about 6:30 in order to allow plenty of time to find a parking space.

7:30 am. After finding a quick parking space and walking 5-6 blocks to Monroe Park, I meet up with a running friend. We share some words of support. She moves on to her Wave KA and I found my 58 min- M group. Then, I just hung out with the other runners, many of whom appeared to be nervous, also. Just as our wave was about to start the race, I shed my Goodwill-purchased jacket along the side line. There were many more items of clothing (gloves, hats, coats, etc.) that others had left to be picked up and donated back to charity.

Miles 1: It is 8:57 and my race has started. I notice early on that I was moving better than expected through the crowd of runners-- certainly much faster than last year. My time was about what I had hoped it would be at the end of this mile.

Miles 2 and 3: I am still feeling good. I am actually enjoying the craziness and bands when I am not glancing down at the pavement. This is fun! I don't remember seeing or hearing anything in my first 10K the year before.

Thank you, Pete, for reminding me (by example) to avoid uneven payment. For the most part, I am running on the concrete slabs next to the Monument Avenue grassy divider. If I have to pass someone I gently move back to the middle of the cobblestone portion where it is flatter and worn.

As I approach the mid-way point, I begin to feel a little fatigue.    Oh, no!--- have I started out too fast?!!  Everyone warned me -- this is the most common, big mistake runners make during a race. I round the median at the midway point and continue at my same speed.

Mile 4: I begin to notice that I am passing a lot of people - Wow!  What a great feeling! I pass 2, 3, 4, ... 10 people! My adrenaline is pumping again. These "weekend warriors" are really fading at this point. My training has given me confidence.

All of the volunteers are trying to hand me water. This reminds me to pull my water bottle out and try a few squirts. I drink a little and toss the bottle near a trash can. I think I must have appeared excited or enthusiastic about all this because one of the sideline cheerleaders runs along with me and tries to "high-five me." He looked to be about my age so maybe he wanted to see another senior citizen succeed.

Mile 4 1/2 or so: Ugh! I am starting to feel fatigued and a little uncomfortable. I look at my watch and realize that I must continue at the same pace to achieve my goal. What do I do now? Oh, yes, Donnie said that he sometimes meditates during a run when he gets tired or uncomfortable. How the hell am I supposed to do that now??!! I should have asked him what he meant by meditate. Instead, I begin to do my body check (mentally not physically). I start with my head - is it directly above my body? (I wasn't sure at this point). Next, are my shoulders relaxed? Of course not!! Who could be relaxed at this point in the race? I realize about midway down my body check that I am openly talking aloud about my body parts. Oh, well - everything probably seems normal to this crowd.

Mile 5: I've lost a little time but I am hanging in there. I start to plan my strategy for the final 1.2 miles. Do I have enough in me for the grand-finale sprint. I don't want to start too soon and expire before I get to the finish line. Just as I go past the last monument, I try to speed up a little. I know that I will be heading downhill soon. I remember what Amber said about taking advantage of the opportunity to pick up speed going down hill.  I start pumping my arms really fast just as she suggested. The big question is - Will the legs cooperate and follow the arms lead?  If they don't, will I go head over heel and roll across the finish line?

Mile 6: Fantastic! My legs are responding. Amber and several other people call out my name as I near the finish line. What a great feeling! I was so excited that I forgot to push the stop button on my watch until a few seconds later. I know I was close to the 58 minutes but didn't know my exact score until Saturday afternoon when the online results were posted…. Wow! I hit 58:00:00, right on the nose.

Sunday morning: Ouch! My left ankle hurts. Is this serious?? Is my running career over? Then, I remembered what a marathon-running friend once said. Almost everyone is going to have some discomfort after intensive training and a race. I won't panic.

It is now Sunday evening and my ankle is feeling better.

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Thank you to all of you who offered me words of encouragement, advice and support--- Suzanne, Donnie, Pete, Amber, Lou, Dave, Susan and Allen Moran, Kevin, Mike, Jimmy, Curtis, Gary, and anyone else who I might have forgotten.

Perhaps the greatest advice I received came last week from a non-running friend. He said, "Strive for your personal best."  His email arrived the same day as Kevin's email about "running for ourselves". I think I achieved my personal best for this particular day and time but I realize that my personal best may well change in the future. I know that I am not likely to knock 4 minutes off my time next year as I did this year. As I continue to age, I may be happy to simply maintain or even be close to my race times from my previous years. If I have an injury, I will have to re-adjust my expectations to allow for that. My personal best is not going to be static. It will change as I change.

One thing will never change - I love this sport!

Patti Mulherin