RR: Yuengling Shamrock Dolphin Challenge: Part 1: Towne Bank 8K

Yuengling Shamrock Dolphin Challenge
March 19-20, 2011 - Virginia Beach, VA

Saturday: Towne Bank 8K - 1:04:54
Sunday: Shamrock Half Marathon: 03:08:03

Race Summary:  Ran "nearly naked" all weekend long (no watch to keep track of race pace) and had a fantastic time enjoying the Race, my Friends, the Beach and, of course, the Beer!


Also picked up my HALF FANATICS membership by finishing 3 Half Marathons within 72 days!  I am already looking at the list, trying to figure out how to move up to the next level of membership since "3 Half Marathons in 90 days" is only Level One. 

THE LONG VERSION: (grab some coffee or a pint...this was a long weekend!)

Friday: Race Expo Fun

Headed down to Virginia Beach with my wonderful friends and Team Z teammates, Leanne and Judy and we timed it perfectly! 3.5 hours from my front door to the Race Expo in Virginia Beach. We had fun picking up our race packet and shopping the Expo. It always nice to be at a Race Expo with friends who like to check out every vendor. I bought an official Shamrock Race pint glass for Jim and a commemorative race pin for me and managed to leave the expo with only the two race shirts that were part of my registration! That is a real accomplishment for me! LOL

We headed to our hotel. Judy reserved a room in the Hampton Inn Oceanside  - PERFECT LOCATION! It was right on the Finish Line chute for all the races for the weekend as well as the START for the 8K race and the 12-mile point of the Marathon. We were within walking distance of the Finish Line and Beer Tent! It doesn't get much better than that.

We headed out to dinner at "Rudee's on the Inlet" and had a great meal and then went back to the Hampton Inn to chill, get ready to race the 8K and wait for the arrival of our friend/teammate Keri - who rolled in about 10PM. Let the MEGA SLEEPOVER / RACE WEEKEND Begin!

Saturday: Dolphin Challenge - Race #1: Towne Bank 8K (4.9 miles)


Got up at 6:30am for an 8am race start, got dressed and headed down to Continental Breakfast at the hotel. Bagel with Peanut butter (standard training/racing breakfast) and glass of Skim Milk and I was ready to go. In retrospect, I realized that I did not eat my breakfast early enough, compared to normal training days - I really felt that during the race.

We walked out the front door of the hotel and were immediately standing in front of Corral 3. We walked over to Corral 4 as a group and Leanne, Judy and I eased into the crowd to wait for the start.
The weather was descent; breezy but temps in the low 50s already - perfect for a nice "almost 5-mile run."

Wave Starts had us crossing the start line about 5 minutes after the Elite Wave and we headed South towards 2nd Ave (start line was 31st Ave) with the wind at our back. I decided that this weekend I was running "Naked" - No Watch or Garmin to keep track of my time or pace - This entire weekend would be about Running for Fun and having a wonderful time with my Friends and Teammates.  This would be my last big Team Z Race Weekend, as Jim and I are getting ready to move in the end of April.  FUN was the ONLY GOAL!

First 2 miles were OK - I was having some odd lower shin pain and felt really low on energy. It frustrated me a little, since this was the "short run of the weekend." I really had no clue how long we had been on the course because I never saw the Mile 1 marker but we passed a water stop at 1.5 miles (which I know from looking at the race map the day before).  Skipped that water stop and just enjoyed being well in the middle of the pack and really tried to let go of how frustrated I was at feeling "kinda empty of energy".  With 9,000 people racing the 8K, even my slower pace is still the middle of the pack - no chance to feel like you were alone on this race course.

We hit 2nd Ave and turned onto the Boardwalk and INTO THE WIND for the next mile.  The wind gusts were 15-20mph and all around, people were joking and/or moaning about the wind.  My shins had finally stopped bugging me, so I was just happy to feel like I finally warmed up a bit.  Took a cup of water at Mile 3 / water stop and enjoyed all the "Go Holly!" from fellow Team Z peeps as they passed me.  No worries on being passed, I was out to have FUN!

We turned left of the boardwalk sometime around 25th or 27th Ave and back onto Atlantic Ave and ran past the hotel and got a bit of a break from the wind - thanks to all the big hotels for the last mile.  Passed the Hampton Inn, passed the Start location for the Half Marathon on Sunday and turned Right for the last quarter mile down the boardwalk to the Finish Line.  Treated to a TAIL WIND all the way into the Finish Line and had the pleasure of running with Teammates AJ & Nicolas for a "Three Z Finish."

I expected that I would finish right around 1:00:00 and did not actually look at the Race Clock at the Finish Line because I was busy having fun finishing with my Teammates. Crossed the Finish, got a nice Finisher Medal, met up with Leanne and Judy and we headed straight to the Beer Tent for a Yuengling - By 9:15am - after running 8K - I was standing on the Beach enjoying a beer with good friends!

CHIP TIME: 1:04:54 - This definitely reflects that I was low on energy and could have done a better job of eating breakfast earlier.

Rest of Saturday: Race Expo, Cake Adventures & Team Z Dinner:


Met up with Keri after the 8K, rinsed off and changed and then went back out to the Race Expo so that Keri could pick up her packet for the Half Marathon too.  Then Keri and I went on a little COSTCO adventure.  Since this would be my last TEAM Z Race Weekend before our move to Alabama, I wanted to do something to say "Goodbye" to my Teammates, so Keri helped me coordinate with Coach Ed and Coach Alexis to bring "dessert" to the Team Z Pasta Dinner on Saturday night.

Keri and I bought 3 huge sheet cakes for the 130+ folks that were going to be at the Team Z Pasta Dinner and then we headed back to the Hamton Inn to chill out with Leanne, Judy and Alexis until it was time to go to Dinner.

Had a wonderful time at the Team Z Pasta Dinner and Coach Alexis helped me tell the Team "Goodbye" and we all enjoyed some tasty cake - then we headed back to the hotel for an early night before the Half Marathon in the AM.

That's it for PART 1....

Yuengling Half Marathon to follow in Part II (Damn this is long! LOL)

Stuck in T1

So there are big things afoot in our household, we are looking at a Big Move in our immediate future but we are waiting on the final paperwork...

Big Life Changes like this always remind me of being in Transition; waiting for your teammate to finish the swim so you can get on the bike.

I'm excited, nervous, worried, pumped up, full of adrenaline - but I am just waiting...doing my best tp "patiently wait" (which, if you know me at all, you understand that PATIENCE is my least successful virtue.)...just WAITING.

In the mean time, life is moving forward, as usual, around me:

• CANCER to 5K is getting ready to start another Spring season in VA and MD! (GO TEAM!)

• Team Z is heading to Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend:
-  I'm running the Dolphin Challenge - 8K on Saturday and 13.1 on Sunday

• Team FIGHT has an amazing season of races ahead!
- Survivor Harbor 7
- IronGirl Columbia Triathlon
- Half Full TRI
- REV 3 TRI Series

• If paperwork goes smoothly (fingered and toes crossed), I will be racing the Gulf Coast Half Marathon on April 10th which means;

• I will complete the requirements to be a HALF FANATIC "Saturn Status" by finishing 4 Half Marathons in 4 consecutive months.

So as you can see, even while I am waiting, I find a way to keep myself occupied...

After all, a girl has gotta do something while she is waiting in T1.


Life is Good! LiveSTRONG! (y'all)

Race Report: 14th Annual Myrtle Beach Half Marathon

Myrtle Beach Half Marathon
Chip Time: 3:08:59
Myrtle Beach, SC - February 19, 2011


Michalob Ultra/Conway Bike Ride
14-miles: 60:00
Conway, SC - February 20, 2011

Executive Summary: 7th Consecutive Myrtle Beach Race Weekend - LOVE THIS WEEKEND!


Well another Myrtle Beach weekend has come and gone and it was WONDERFUL!  Perfect Weather, lots of time spent with both family and friends. This is one of my favorite times of the year, regardless of how my race day goes.

And this time, that is a good thing, because my Half Marathon was kind of *BLAH* from a race perspective. I'm pretty sure I know why the day went badly. It has everything to do with my current weight. You can't expect to run 13.1 miles easily carrying an extra 25 pounds - and I didn't expect a PR.

BUT

Based on recent training and the MS BLUES Half Marathon last month, I was expecting that a sub 3:00 finish was a given. And I was wrong. Oh well, at least I finished and have a fun day!

The race started out with the traditional early morning wake-up call (4:40AM) and obligatory "Goofy Pre-Race" photo with my sister Heather.  Then we made one last bathroom break, dropped out gear off at the Grand Strand Running Club tent near the finish line and then headed towards the START.

I got a chance to say Hi to several of Heather's friends, including Christine, and then we parted ways, since they were running the full Marathon and I was running the Half. While waiting for the start, I was happy to stand with my good friend Shawn and we talked about the upcoming VA Beach/Shamrock Weekend and her upcoming nuptials at the Las Vegas Marathon in December. I love waiting for race starts with Shawn and was so happy to know that I would at least see her ahead of me out on the course somewhere before the finish!

The race started at 6:30 and away we went.  I started out slow and easy and I felt just fine for the first 5 miles - I even ended up running the first 5K a little faster than I had planned (Sub 36) and maybe that is where the problem really lies.  By the time I was on my way to Mile 6 - got a rousing "Yahoo" from Shawn passing Mile 7 going the other direction - I just felt like I was dragging.

I just told myself "It's just a phase, it will pass" and continued to tell myself that for the NEXT 7 Miles!

Only, sadly, it wasn't just a "phase" and no amount of water or GU would fix my slow pace. So I did what I knew how to do, just kept on running.  And as my pace got slower and slower, I kept on making silly challenges in my head to keep myself from walking more than running. "Run 4 Light Poles - Walk 1 Light Pole" and "Catch the TNT Walker and then you can walk 1-minute recovery."


Finally, I was at the 12 mile marker and I just wanted to be DONE for the day.  So I told myself that there was no choice but to suck it up and "Run/Walk One Minute Intervals until the Finish Line was in sight" because I simply *had* to finish within a few minutes of Christine", who was running the Marathon and who I knew expected to finish between 2:45 & 3:00.

I had joked with Christine, before the race start, that if she saw me, she needed to "Pat me on the shoulder and tell me to Get Moving!" Little did I know that Christine had a bit of a rough day herself and was a few minutes behind her Finishing Goal.  As I ran into the last 1/10th of a mile to the Half Marathon Finisher Chute - along came Christine in the Marathon Finisher Chute running parallel to mine and true to her word, she yelled "Come On Holly, Let's Finish STRONG!" so I did my best to pick up the pace so that I could Congratulate her on the other side of the Finish Lines.

Coming into the finish of Myrtle Beach Half Marathon 2011

 Ron S., Shawn N., running friend of Heather,
Holly S. (me), Christine R. and Heather G. - Post Race

Nothing so humbling as meeting a friend at the Finish Line and knowing that in the time it took you to run 13.1 miles, she ran 26.2 miles, on a recently smashed big toe! I was honored to share the Finish Line with Christine and she was as kind to ask about my race as she was humble about her own day.

I met Jim and Ron and Shawn at the Finish Line, grabbed my bag from the Grand Strand Runners Club tent and got a little snack from the Finish Line Expo and then we headed back to the other side of the chute to cheer in my sister Heather, who had chosen to run the full Marathon this year.

After 6 years of running the Half Marathon distance together, she decided to do the Marathon distance and was going for a solid PR effort.  It was an honor and a thrill to yell and scream as loud as I could as I watch Heather cross the Marathon Finish line with a solid 11-minute PR. (Read her Race Report HERE)

 

With Heather, showing off another year of Finisher Medal Bling!

Sunday's original plan was to ride the 33-mile Bike ride with Ron S. and Jim.  However my quads and IT band were having none of it, so I left the longer bike ride to the guys and did a nice easy 14-mile bike ride. It was the right choice and the guys had a great ride themselves!

Finishing up 14-miles - Zone 2: 60:00

Ron S. and Jim - looking fresh after a quick 33-miles at the front of the pack!

 Watching Heather finish strong, knowing that just 7 years ago, in 2005 the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon was her first road race ever! I was inspired.  I have decided that every 10th Anniversary of our Myrtle Beach Race Weekends, I will go ahead and run the Marathon distance. (2015)

However, for now, keep those Myrtle Beach Half Marathons and Bike Rides coming! There is no better way to celebrate my "LiveSTRONG - Cancer-anniversaries" than this race!

Bring it on 2012 - I'll be coming for you, minus 25 pounds (or more!) - There's got to be a PR on this course for me someday!  I'll just keep running until it comes!

Next UP: VA Beach/Shamrock Dolphin Challenge: 8K & Half Marathon with Team Z - Bring it ON!

MS BLUE HALF MARATHON: Race Report - 01/08/2011

Authors Note:  I know I am way behind on posting this but better late than never! I wanted to get this race report on the record before Myrtle Beach Half Marathon this coming weekend! Enjoy!


Mississippi Blues Half Marathon
Jackson, MS - January 8, 2011
Chip Time: 3:04:07

Summary: Who knew they had hills in Jackson, MS? Even a 2% change in elevation from sea level is UP my friends!

Race Report:

I signed up for the MS BLUES Marathon back in August 2010. It was my "excuse to keep consistently training through the winter." Sadly about 2 weeks after registering for the Marathon, I spent about 4 weeks going through some issues with undiagnosed pain in my back and abdomen (still undiagnosed but now gone!) and I missed the first 6 week of what would have been "early Marathon training".

I had two choice:
1.) Downgrade to Half Marathon distance or
2.) Not Race at All.

Of course, the choice was easy. There was still plenty of time to get in the quality milage necessary for a Half Marathon and the goal to "keep consistently training through the winter" still very much applied. So I wrote the race director and had them change my race registration from MARATHON to HALF MARATHON and spent Oct/Nov/Dec working on my milage.

This was to be my first race, of any kind, in Jackson, MS and I was looking forward to running in my husband's home town. The race expo was very well done and the race swag (free stuff) was simply excellent. There was a t-shirt, sling pack, "Elvis" gold sunglasses (complete with sideburns), a CD of classic MS BLUES music and a genuine harmonica.

The awesome race swag!

Genuine Harmonica and "Elvis" Gold Sunglasses with Sideburns!

This was no "toy" harmonica that made sounds like an "angry cat"!! With barely any experience at all, I was able to make pleasant, on-pitch music with this harmonica - something my parent can verify has never happened with the toy models I have had through the years. As my husband is my witness, I spend nearly the entire 20-minute car ride home from the expo saying "Look honey, I am making nice sounds - just like music" and wheezing in and out, happy as could be.  LOL

Race morning started out early (6AM) for a 7AM start and the weather was great for an early january race - mid 40s at start with Sun and a high of 55 for the day. Jim (my husband) and I joked about the people around us talking about how "hilly" this course was. "Hilly?  Jackson, MS? - yeah right - How Hilly could 2% about sea level really be?" The walk up a very steep hill to the race start should have been an "warning" but we simply thought it was the anomaly - the one "Hill" in Jackson.

We were WRONG!

After some quick photos of me channeling Elvis (it was his 75th Birthday after all) with gold sunglasses and sideburns at the Start Line, I ducked into the Port-o-Potty for a quick stop and joined the crowd for the race start. 7AM and we were off, after the National Anthem.

Channeling "Elvis" with my Gold Sunglasses with Sideburns!

Ready for a nice 13.1 miles through Jackson, MS!

In general, Jackson did a great job with the Marathon/Half Marathon course. There were plenty of aid stations and both courses were well marked! I had nothing to complain about and even the HILLS - that I really didn't anticipate - were not enough to make my race day a bad one.  I just took them, one at a time and really had a fabulous time, in general.

Honestly, I am not lying, for the FIRST TIME that I can remember, the hills really didn't upset me or piss me off, as they usually do. I just accepted them for what they were, and kept putting one foot in front of the other.  

Now while the "hills" didn't seem to give me any problems, I just about had a "Hissy Fit" when I saw Jim at Mile 8 and realized that "Not only am I passing within 2/10th of a mile from the the finish line (up a hill that I was very, VERY happy we did not have to run up) but I was passing my car!!!  WHAAAA!!! No Fair, Race Directors, No Fair!"

I got over it quickly enough and settled into my own for the last 5.1 miles. 

Mile 8 - where we passed by both the finish line and the car - HOW RUDE!

My overall goal for this race, since it was the first race of my 2011 season, was simply to start race morning well prepared for the distance (which I was) and have a strong solid day. I was not looking for any PRs (personal records) - I simply wanted to start and finish feeling strong and fit.  And that is exactly what I did.  My pace slowed as the miles increase but I never felt like I had to give up and walk for any length of time - nor did I ever feel like I couldn't keep going.

The biggest treat for me, was actually the last mile of the race. The last mile went down State Street in Downtown Jackson, past the "Old Governor's Residence" which was the location for my Wedding Photos in April 2009.  To be able to run past the intersection of State Street and see the finish line at the top of the hill, was simply wonderful!  I smiled nearly the entire way up and simply focused on what a beautiful run I had and how I was nearly done!

 Finishing - Up Hill - Fun and Done!

Of course the race had an excellent Finisher Medal, which always adds to my personal joy along with a lovely "Congratulatory Finisher Kiss" from my husband, Jim! With those two things waiting for you at the end of 13.1 miles, how can any race be bad?

Finisher Photo with the great Finisher Medal!

Close-up of the MS Blues Half Marathon Finishers Medal 

It may not have been my fastest Half Marathon to-date (that's 2:43:19 at Myrtle Beach in 2005) but it was definitely up there as of my favorite races for sure!

Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

Three Little Words...

On Valentine's Day, we are told via Hallmark, Kay Jewelers and FTD and many, many other retailer that the Three Little Words of the day are "I Love You."

But Valentine's Day has a completely different meaning to me since 2005 because on that day as I sat at my office desk, the phone rang, and I heard the Three Little Words that nobody ever expects nor wants to hear:

"You Have Cancer."

Not quite the same ring to it, huh?

So every year on Valentine's Day, since 2005, I celebrate my personal "LiveSTRONG Anniversary."

Six years ago today, I was diagnosed with Nodular Melanoma. It would be another 4 weeks and Surgery #1 before I would learn that I was actually Stage III, Metastatic Melanoma and looking at a second surgery and a year of chemotherapy.

My life changed, on that day. I understood, suddenly, in a way that I never could before, that my life could end. That time was precious. That family means unconditional love and support, no matter how far the physical distance. That friendships could be fleeting but that true friendships will weather the storm. That true love means not having to worry about your boyfriend (now husband) going anywhere, ever, no matter how bad things seemed or how much hair was on the bathroom floor.

And I learned that both "Strength" and "Hope" come from deep within. That emotions can be harnessed and transformed: Anger, Fear, Pain, Sorrow...into what you need on any given day.

I consider myself "a lucky cancer survivor" in three ways:

1.) I was in peak health and fitness at the time of my diagnosis. I was 34-years old, had been doing long-distance road distance cycling, racing triathlons and running for over 4 years.

I tested the limit of every suggestion my DRs gave me in terms of keeping my fitness up while recovering from surgery and going through chemo.  I was very in tune with my body, and what it could handle, so that even early in the hardest part of treatment, I would walk the 2 miles from my house to the hospital to get in my daily workout while I still felt "good".  After all it was May in VA - Springtime Morning are not to be wasted!  It drove my Chemo nurses nuts, because my heart rate was always elevated and I was sweaty when I arrived for my daily infusions and they simple couldn't understand "why" I would want too continue to exercise - They dubbed me their "crazy runner girl" and I wore that name with pride.

2.) I was already aware of the "then" Lance Armstrong Foundation "now" LiveSTRONG.org prior to my diagnosis so I had instant resources available to me.

I have been wearing a LiveSTRONG band since Summer 2004 and our trip to Le Tour de France - I was a fan of LiveSTRONG - the concept - long before I became a survivor myself.


3.) I have continued to survive my diagnosis and each year, I come one day closer and one-percentage point further away from the "Guarded Prognosis" that accompanies Stage III Metastatic Melanoma.

The current statistical average for survival of Stage III Metastatic Melanoma is 63% survival at 5 years post diagnosis and 38% survival at 10 years post diagnosis.


For each survivor, there comes a moment when you decide how you are going to approach your survivorship - are you going to keep it personal or are you going to respond to what some call the "Obligation of the Cured" and I call the "Obligation as a Survivor."

I chose to go public with my Survivorship and my way of giving back to the cancer community is through the development of the CANCER to 5K Training Program.  I wanted to make sure that other cancer survivors would have the opportunity to continue to train and stay fit, during or after, their cancer treatment.  Because for me, Running and Exercise were my "therapy" from a bad day, week, month, year of dealing with cancer and I knew deep in my heart that if I felt this way than there would be other survivors out there that felt this way and I wanted them to have the program that I wish I had available to me.

The CANCER to 5K Training Program has helped over 30 cancer survivors train for and complete a 5K race and more importantly, given each of these survivors a chance to gain/regain fitness, in spite, of a cancer diagnosis, through support, encouragement, and more than a little "cowbell" on the side.

CANCER to 5K is how I define my continued survivorship and how I continue to look forward to every Valentine's Day - not for candy or kisses or declorations of love - but as a chance to say:

My name is Holly, I am a Melanoma survivor and I LiveSTRONG!

I hope you never forget:

 Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

 

The Way Ahead: My 2011 Season

Before I post the race report from my first race race of the season (since I am still working on downsizing the photos!) I figured I would share the 2011 Races that currently are on my calendar.  There are some "life-changing" events on the horizon (another post about that later and NO, I am NOT pregnant nor are we planning to be...) that are forcing me to be very conservative about my race schedule this year so even my season is pretty tentative after July 2011.

Holly's 2011 RACE SEASON:
Note: Green Races are Tentative Races: I have not yet Registered nor have I cleared my calendar with Jim, who's life if greatly impacted by my constantly growing race calendars!

• Mississippi Blues Half Marathon - 01/08/11 - Jackson, MS

• Myrtle Beach Half Marathon - 02/19/11 - Myrtle Beach, SC (7th year in a row!)

• VA Beach 8K and Shamrock Half Marathon: Dolphin Challenge - 03/19-20/11 - VA Beach, VA

• Gulf Coast Half Marathon - 04/10/11 - Pensacola, FL

****NOTE that at this point I will have officially qualified to be a HALF FANATIC by racing 4 Half Marathons in 4 consecutive months! I have not yet decided if I want to actually sign up or just be happy knowing that "I could sign up if I wanted too!" LOL****


• Kid One SPRINT Triathlon - 05/14/11 - Pike Road, AL


• Capital Crescent 5K (with VA CANCER to 5K Team) - 06/05/11 - Bethesda, MD

• Dragonfly SPRINT Triathlon - 06/18/2011 - Sardis, MS


•Vineman 70.3 Ironman (Half Ironman distance TRI) - 07/17/11 - Sonoma Valley, CA

•Revolutions3 South Carolina (Oly or Half - not decided yet...) - 10/08-09/11 - Anderson, SC

Now somewhere in-between April and July, I would like try to find an OLY distance TRI to race in preparation for Vineman, preferably something with some hills but for now, this is the tentative schedule.

One race down (Mississippi Blues Half Marathon - race report the weekend - I promise!) 5 more to GO for sure...the rest, well let's just say we "winging it" this year!

Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

Sweeping out the Dust Bunnies...2010 in Review

Already the last week of January 2011, now that is what you call an extended break from BLOGGING, I'd say I have gotten that all out of my system.  Let's see what's been happening in the last 3 months?

CANCER to 5K UPDATE:

Immediately following the HALF FULL TRIATHLON was the season  Races for both the VA & MD CANCER to 5K programs and our "At Home" CANCER to 5K teammates.  I had the pleasure to be in Baltimore, MD at the United Way 5K for the finish of the inaugural Howard County, MD CANCER to 5K Team and then at the end of October, was in Fairfax, VA at the Goblin Gallop 5K for the finish of the VA CANCER to 5K Team.

Both teams ROCKED their RACES and I was so PROUD and HAPPY to see another 2 groups of survivors cross their race day finish lines with SMILES of PRIDE and ACCOMPLISHMENT! In addition we had 3 survivors race with their family and friends in Pheonix, AZ, Portland, OR and Nacogdoches, TX.

 

 Howard County MD - CANCER to 5K Team on race day!

Proud MD Team CANCER to 5K survivors and with Coach Te!

Show us your BLING Ladies!

Proud MD Team CANCER to 5K survivors with their CANCER to 5K finisher's medals!

Libby M-W. ran and finished CANCER to 5K "At-Home" in Portland, OR!

Michelle H. ran and finished CANCER to 5K "At-Home" in Phoenix, AZ! 

Nate H. ran and finished CANCER to 5K "At-Home" in Nacogdoches, TX! 

Donna Z. (with me) ran her VA CANCER to 5K event at the Wolf Trap 5K! 

 VA - CANCER to 5K Team on race day at the Goblin Gallop 5K!

In total for the FALL 2010 season, the CANCER to 5K program helped another 14 cancer survivors train and complete 5K events all over the country.  We had folks training and racing in AZ, VA, MD, OR, & TX this fall.  Since we started the program in Fall 2007 - 47 Cancer Survivors have successfully completed the CANCER to 5K training program through the generous support of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and our Coaches and Volunteers!  

Go TEAM CANCER to 5K!!

MEDICAL UPDATE:  (TMI WARNINGS APPLY - You were warned!)

The pains that caused me to reconsider the rest of my 2010 racing season, ending with the HALF FULL TRIATHLON are gone now. It is fortunate that the pains went away, yet unfortunate that my DRs and I were never able to identify the root causes of the back pain and the severe abdominal pain except to know that they were not connected in any way. 

All my tests (CT scans, Blood Work, Xrays) came back clean - No evidence of Melanoma or anything else for that matter. (YEAH!) The pain and the tests lasted well into early November and then the pain slowly ebbed away and I called UNCLE on any more test, for my own personal sanity. 

The only residual side effects? Occasional back/kidney pain late at night (that wakes me) which is cured by a trip to the bathroom. I'd prefer a less aggressive way for my body to tell me my bladder is full but it would seem that I sleep through the more subtle signals so deep back pain it is. Interestingly this is the same pain that I get when I have a full bladder on the road bike. I am suspicious that 12 years of bike riding may have damaged some nerves that traditionally signal a full bladder but since it is just a "signal" issue and everything else seems to work normally, I am not incline to explore this recent development until the next yearly physical.  I have had ENOUGH of DRs and tests for at least 6-8 months!

Maybe this is an unexpected "physical price paid for coming an Ironman?" Who knows? My advice to others (any myself) - Get a GOOD SADDLE  - Honestly, I have never felt that my saddle has ever been uncomfortable but now I am thinking that maybe I should not have ignored the fact that it takes back pain on the bike to know that I have to pee...

Other than that, I am happy, healthy, a little plumper than I'd like and currently Cancer-FREE.  Life is GOOD, ya know!

PERSONAL RUNNING / TRIATHLON UPDATE: 

While I was officially done with any Triathlon races for the rest of the season, I never gave out hope that eventually, I would get back to training on some level and that much is true.  Once the pain was gone, there was no reason not to get back to training and I had adjusted my winter goals appropriately.

I was already signed up for the MS BLUES MARATHON in Fall 2010 so I simply readjusted the goal to running the MS BLUES HALF MARATHON option instead.  So from mid-November through the first week in January, I focused primarily on running with some maintenance swimming on the side.

Sadly there was only ONE Bike Ride the entire fall season but it was a WONDERFUL bike ride with some great Team Z girlfriends! We went down to Cambridge, MD for the Terry Wild Goose Chase.  It was the BEST 25 miles on my bike in a long, long time! The TENT SALE shopping was pretty wonderful too! LOL

So after HALF FULL TRI, the rest of my 2010 race season went something like this:

OCTOBER 2010

• United Way 5K - Baltimore, MD: CANCER to 5K Cheerleader!

• Terry 2010 Wild Goose Chase: 25-mile bike ride

• Goblin Gallop 5K - Fairfax, VA: CANCER to 5K Cheerleader!

• Marine Corps Marathon - Arlington, VA: CANCER to 5K Cheerleader!

NOVEMBER 2010

• VA Turkey Trott 5K - Alexandria, VA: 38:38

DECEMBER 2010

• Rivertown Reindeer Race 5K - Conway, SC: 36:53

• Jingle All the Way 10K - Washington, DC: 1:22:53

• Fairfax Four Miler - Fairfax, VA: 49:02

As you can see, I spend the winter logging some miles on my running shoes and I did, indeed, at least stay in the pool until this past January.  The reason for my Pool Break?  That will have to wait for another BLOG post to follow this weekend but I promise, it's a "fun reason to stay out of the pool" in my opinion.

Also coming, my MS BLUES HALF MARATHON race report and an update on the coming 2011 Race Plans.  Lots of great things coming up this year and I am sure, lots of fun stories to share along the way!  I am happy to be back to blogging!

But for now, LETS HEAR IT FOR 2010!  All in all, it was a WONDERFUL YEAR!

Life is GOOD! LiveSTRONG!

Wrapping up my season HALF FULL...

This is not just a race report, this is also an "End of TRI season" report. As you may have noticed, things have been quiet on this blog and with good reason. I've been struggling with some undiagnosed pain issues and working closely with my Doctors to try to find the cause for the pain.

Of course, as you can imagine - this undiagnosed pain has put a real cramp into my active life style. Initially, in as much as I could manage, I had fought hard against letting the pain dictate my workout schedule. More than a little "hard-headed", I know but truthfully, sticking to my training plan and staying on target are important to my personal self-identity. The idea of "not working out" seemed wrong and I just couldn't see the connection between the workouts and the undiagnosed pain.

So after willingly putting aside IronGirl Columbia to watch my nephews in late August, the next race on the schedule was the Savageman Half with Team Shoemaker. A relay where I would swim 1.2 miles, my hubby Jim would bike 56 "very hilly" miles and then I would run 13.1 "very hilly" miles. Unfortunately, as the race drew closer, this "undiagnosed pain" I have been experiencing grew in intensity. I was skipping more workouts than I was getting in and while I knew I had the "base" to handle the distances - common sense and my Husband stepped in to suggest that perhaps this was not the best time to toe the line at "one of the hardest half ironman's race courses in the United States." So Team Shoemaker did not start the 2010 SavageMan Half but stayed home - to rest, do light workouts, and hopefully get some answers for my pain issues.

4 weeks have gone by, since this has all started, and I am sorry to stay that my Doctors and I are no closer to having any legitimate answers for what is going on. There has been lots of blood drawn, x-rays taken, ultrasounds done and still nothing to identify cause. That is good and bad news - because it means "More Tests."

In the meantime, while I am waiting on "more tests" and "more Doctor visits", my race calendar moves on. The next event on my calendar was this past weekend and was an event for a foundation that is near and dear to my heart: The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

Teams "CT5K Chicks" & "RacerZ with Sole"

Holly & Jess - Ready To Swim

This weekend was the HALF FULL TRIATHLON to benefit the Ulman Cancer Fund and the LiveSTRONG Young Adult Alliance. I put together a great relay team with Team Z team-mates Leanne Layne and Meghan Rooney. Together we made the Relay Team "RacerZ with Sole" - Swim - .9 miles: Holly ; Bike - 56 miles: Leanne, Run - 13.1 Miles: Meghan. In addition, I had put together a fantastic crew of volunteers from CANCER to 5K and UCF's Team FIGHT to run the "Gatoraid Hill Aid Station" at Miles 1/7.5 of the RUN course. It was going to be a busy but fun-filled Race Day.

THE SWIM: .9 Miles - 51:29

Well, truth be told, I had it in my mind that I was going to set a PR on this Swim. I knew the course well (Centennial Lake - Ellicot City, MD) and I have a season's worth of swim PR at every race I have done in 2010 - so why would this race be any different....Oh how naive I can be...

The SWIM was a 2-person "time-trial" start with swimmers starting every 5 seconds. We were set in waves and paired up. I was in Wave 10 with the rest of the relay folks and was thrilled to start with Jessica Datta, who was racing with Judy Layne and Jennifer McRobbie on the "CT5K Chicks" Relay Team. Jess and I both got hugs from Executive Director of the Ulman Cancer Fund, Brock Yetso, and then we were in the water and on our way.

The first half mile of the swim felt good to me. I was having no problems sighting, I was not experiencing any shoulder pains nor any other significant pain of any kind (which had been a concern) and I really did feel like I was doing well. As I got to the first turn bouy, I did notice that there did not seem to be as many swimmers around me as before. I brushed it off and just put my head down and focused on the next turn buoy.

It seems to take FOREVER to get 300 yards to the next turn buoy and as I got there and sighted, I thought to myself again "Where the heck is everybody?" and I sat up for a second to look around. There were a few people in front of me but nobody behind me and that threw me into a little bit of a panic because I knew there were 2 waves that started after our wave. I didn't feel like anything was wrong with my swim, so where the heck was everybody?

I put my head back down and focused on getting to the next buoys and damned if it didn't seem like it was taking forever to go these last 400 yards. At one point I looked up and saw that a man pulling an inflatable raft and his son, was passing me like I was treading water. That got me moving - because I knew he was the last wave and if he was passing me, than I was in some trouble in terms of losing time and missing the swim cutoffs. Still I didn't look at my watch, just put my head down and kept swimming. At this point, my calves began to cramp - and I would have to stop for a moment - and try to let them recover. I now had a kayak escort, which confirmed for me that I must be one of the last swimmers in the water - and still it was taking me what seems like "forever" to get the last 100 yards to the Swim Out.

Finally, I was standing up on shaky legs, to kind hearted cheers of some friends/CANCER to 5K teammates and the SWIM OUT volunteers and running up the long parking lot and up the steep hill to Transition. My Teammates let out a big "Yeah Holly" when they saw me (THANKS FOR TEAMMATE LOVE!) and Leanne and I switched the race chip as I apologized profusely for taking so much time to swim. Leanne would hear nothing of it and just told me she was happy to see me finish and she would see me when she got back from her BIKE. Meghan was super sweet and supportive and gave me a hug and told me not to worry about my swim time, we all have the occasional unexpected "rough swim" and told me not to be so hard on myself and I took her comments to heart and tried to do just that but I was still secretly feeling awful for having taken away a good 15 minutes from Leanne and Meghan on the race clock.

Holly, at Swim Out, Looking as Rough as I felt...

The Next Stop was to change clothes and then leave Meghan to take a rest in her car (and stay off her feet) while I headed up to the top of Gatorade Hill to work the Mile 1/7.5 Aid Station with volunteers from Team CANCER to 5K and Team FIGHT.

If I do say so myself - WE ROCKED THAT AID STATION! We were placed at the top of the first significant climb on a very hilly 2-loop Half Marathon RUN course. We had GU, GU CHOMPS, Water, CereSport (electrolyte replacement drink) and 10 volunteers for the AM and PM shifts! We rang cowbells of all kinds, left motivational signs on the course coming up the hill and played some awesome music on an portable iPOD stereo system to keep the energy UP and help all the Triathletes stay strong and fueled as they tackled Gatorade Hill twice on their way to finishing the HALF FULL TRIATHLON.

Just a portion of the GATORADE HILL Crew!

We got your GU, right here!

Working Hard for the Triathletes on Gatorade Hill....

Highlights of the Day:

1.) Witnessing CANCER to 5K volunteer and Relay Runner for "CT5K Chicks", Jennifer McRobbie, running so strong on the course! Her Marine Corps Marathon training made this 13.1 mile run look effortless and she proudly represented for Team CANCER to 5K!

Jenn McRobbie of "CT5K Chicks"

looking strong at the top of the climb!

2.) Watching CANCER to 5K volunteer Andrea Hampton keep a strong and steady pace on the run course. HALF FULL TRI was Andrea's first attempt at the Half Ironman distance in Triathlon and she expressed concerns that she might not make the bike cutoffs - so seeing her come up Gatorade Hill, strong and steady, was just a thrill! I knew deep in my heart that as long as Andrea made that bike cutoff, NOTHING was going to keep her from finishing the race! And FINISH she did - with a big smile!!

Andrea looking "great" coming out of the water...

Andrea looking "great" AGAIN on the run course...

3.) Seeing my "RacerZ with Sole" teammate Meghan, come running up Gatorade Hill, in all her bright green Team Z glory. Until that moment, I had no way to know if teammate Leanne had made the challenging and hilly BIKE cuttoff (SHE MADE IT WITH 1 MINUTE TO SPARE) so seeing Meghan brought of flood of relief. Meghan would have the toughest challenge of us all, she was in the back of the race pack, with 13.1 hill miles of running ahead of her. Talking to her, as she jogged through the aid station, she expressed some concern but said that she was going to do what she could for the first loop and then see how she felt. I could tell she was nervous but I also knew that her reason for racing with our relay team was to honor the passing of her grandmother, who recently passed away from cancer. So if anybody on our team has a reason to keep going, even with it got tough, it was Meghan.

When I saw Meghan for her second loop, it was like a fire had been lit deep inside her, I jogged up to her to ask her what we could get her from the Aid Station and asked how she was feeling, she told me, in no uncertain terms that "I am finishing this damn race, even if they take the finish line down!" I told her that Leanne and I would meet her at the Finish and that, according to my RUN COURSE Captain, she was not even the last runner, so she was doing great!

It was a good 10 minutes before the last runner came through the Aid Station and we were released from our Volunteer duties. We cleaned up the station and I headed towards the finish line with Meghan's friend Giovanni, to see Andrea and Meghan finish their races.

Leanne and Judy had gone to the park entrance, 1 mile from the finish line, to keep an eye out for Meghan while I stayed near the finish line, waiting for both Andrea and a text from Leanne, saying that Meghan was on her way. It was an honor an a privilege to be at the Finish Line of the HALF FULL TRIATHLON in that last hour.

As a slower, or "Back of the Pack" athlete myself, I know what kind of physical and emotional effort it takes to race when you are clearly one of the last racers on the course. It takes courage and deep inner strength to find a reason to keep going, to shut our the negative voices that can creep into your head telling you that you are "slow" or "not good enough" or that this is "too hard" and too keep putting one foot in front of the other. As much as I love to marvel at the fast racers and cheer the average athlete, my heart and soul goes out to the "Back of the Pack" because I believe there is a completely different "race" that these athletes experience. One by one, the last athletes made their way across the finish line. You could see in their faces the struggle and the deep pride in what they accomplished.

It was an honor to be there to watch my friend and CANCER to 5K volunteer Andrea Hampton cross the the finish line. She toed the line to this race not really sure that she had what it took to complete a Half Ironman but ready to take on the challenge and all to honor her sister Sandra, a breast cancer survivor. Andrea's smile as she crossed that finish line and was handed her FINISHER shirt and race medal was just beautiful and I was so proud and happy to be able to share in her accomplishment.

I sat with Andrea for a few minutes, listening to her tell me about her race and finding out that she and Meghan had exchanged encouraging words throughout the race - switching back and forth with the last runner and the bike sweep during the last few miles. Then I got the text from Leanne, telling me that Meghan was on her way. At some point late in the race, Meghan and the last runner had switched places and as the second to last runner came into the finish line, I was already looking up the course, to the corner where I knew that I would catch site of Meghan on her way to the final climb to the finish line.

I rang my cowbell like I was a crowd of 1,000 people for Meghan - so very proud to see her with a big smile on her face, heading up to the finish line to complete what Team RacerZ with Sole had started at 7:45 that morning! Both Leanne, Judy and I ran to the Finish Line corral to congratulate her and we all received our HALF FULL Finishers Shirt and Finishers Medals and were the last RELAY TEAM to complete the Inaugural HALF FULL TRIATHLON on October 3, 2010. It was quite honestly, the perfect way to represent the Team Z BOP. We may not be fast, but WE WILL ALWAYS FINISH WHAT WE STARTED!

Meghan, just yards from the Finish Line!

Team "RacerZ with Sole" - HALF FULL TRI finishers

TEAM "RacerZ with Sole" - 8:12:59 (51:29 - 4:48:12 - 2:31:48)

As I drove home, exhausted but happy with my experience both as a RELAY RACER and a VOLUNTEER for the HALF FULL TRIATHLON, I took some time to think about some good advice that a fellow Triathlete and a CANCER to 5K volunteer and teammate Coleen, had given me while we were working the Gatorade Aid Station. She had asked me, in reference to my currently issues with undiagnosed pain, if I had considered simply taking a break from training and racing. To give my body a break and to take "exercise" out of the equation as a possible "cause" for the pain. At the time that she asked me, I hemmed and hawed, not really comfortable with considering the possibility, especially in the midst of the excitement of a race. But now, alone, coming down from the long day and race excitement, I took Coleen's suggestion to heart.

With all that that happened in the last 4 weeks, "What did I have to gain by trying to push through this pain and try to race the Beach2Battleship Half Ironman" in 6 weeks? Wasn't it more important to really focus in on getting some kind of answers to this pain? Isn't part of holding myself to the "LiveSTRONG" motto, facing unexpected challenges that come along and having courage? Maybe the courageous thing to do right now was to call this a season, and take a break from training and try to figure out where the pain is coming from and work with my Doctors to get back to being pain free?

The connections, if there are any, are still up for serious debate, both by myself and my Doctors but in an effort to "eliminate a potential cause", I've decided to completely back off of my regular training schedule for the next 2 weeks - to start. This will allow me to track the pain and determine if it is truly associated to any of my workouts.

Additionally, I am getting ready for another round of tests which should get a more detailed picture of what is going on internally. I have the love and strength of my friends, family and teammates at CANCER to 5K, the ULMAN FUND for YOUNG ADULTS, Team FIGHT and TEAM Z to help me through and I know that the future holds miles and miles of races for me so for now, the 2010 TRIATHLON season is closed and that is fine....

Because I am ending it HALF FULL! Who could ask for anything more?

Never forget, Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

10/2 - Today is LiveSTRONG DAY!

Wear Yellow! Show your support! Find an event going on today in your community!

LiveSTRONG DAY 2010



Life is Good! LiveSTRONG!

How's that workin' for ya?

I'm not blogging very regularly anymore - call it a "sign of the times" - it's easier to post a quick update on FACEBOOK - so the Blog posting has become less frequent but I hope it is seen as "quality over quantity" for those of you who still read this sometimes. LOL

I wanted to do a brief UPDATE on the TRIATHLON BIKE CHALLENGE that I set for myself a few months ago near the end of April....

40 lbs = NEW TRI BIKE with Custom Paint Job!

The Goal was pretty aggressive, as far as permanent weight-loss goes and my body doesn't respond quite the way it did in my late 20s so I simply have to accept that and stay focused.

RESULTS SO FAR?

10 pounds lost in 18 weeks

(since the Blog Post)

I'm not unhappy with these results, I am happy with my progress - it is slow but it is steady and that is the ideal path to long-term, permanent weight loss. I intend to keep going until I reach my goal - but at this rate - it looks like my "New TRIATHLON Bike" is still a good 6-9 months away.

It all balances out though...because there has been a lot going on in my life, and honestly, right now is not the time to drop $3000.00 on a brand new bike. So, there will be no new bike this September and probably not a new bike by Beach2Battleship Half Ironman in November. It will be Me and Sunshine, my trusty road bike, on the course together, as we have been for 10 years now. Sunshine is good to me - that trusty old Reynolds Steel Lemond Buenos Aires...

The challenge is still ON and GOING STRONG! It just might take me a little longer than I had originally planned.

And sometimes, that is the way life goes, right?

Life is Good! Keep Living STRONG!