State #42 Springdale, Arkansas

April 14, 2018

Well, I guess it was bound to happen my computer ineptness has reached new heights. In an effort to fine tune my blog posts in preparation to print them out at the completion of the states, I inadvertently delete one with the stroke of a key. All the content for State #42 Hogeye Marathon is now floating somewhere in the infinite universe. Poof...go the words and pictures on the page. Another reminder of how life and our experiences are  fleeting. It reaffirms how precious life is~in an instant~things can change or simply cease being. We can't take anything for granted. A sinking feeling settles in my stomach when the realization hits that there is no magic button to press to bring back my write-up. Many of my blogs are simple recaps of the race experience and travel, but Hogeye contained internal struggle at the time. A blog can be rewritten, but it is hard to recapture, the elusive thoughts once they are gone and maybe that's a good thing. Only words on a page to anyone else, but a piece of myself on the pages, a glimpse of my turmoil, are mere white space now never to be again! The original blog captured a negative mindset, that thankfully has shifted and my struggle is less amplified as I work through my inner conflictions. Not to despair...there is still anguish to spare, but watching Des Linden win the Boston Marathon on Monday as I recovered from my Saturday race inspired me to keep striving for the big goals.
"The process of becoming is better than being. Set big goals and learn to love the work that gets you to them! Even if you fall short you'll still be winning." Des Linden

"Some days it just flows and I feel like I am born to do this, other days it feels like I'm trudging through hell. Every day I make the choice to show up see what I've got, to try and be better!"  Des Linden

My husband tells me lesson learned...now learn! He writes his marathon state recaps of his experiences on "Word" where his content is easily saved before he adds it to his blog. Yes, that is the ideal way to operate and in hindsight could have spared me my current angst. Thick-skulled people however, must learn lessons the hard way through continual trial and error.  My impetuous nature and less disciplined approach leads to consequences for my actions. I will never hit the right curving arrow while in draft form with such haste ever again...I hope not anyway! When looking back at this post it will have a different significance, probably a more accurate view for my daughter, but then again she already knows how I am. 

In the big scheme of life’s disappoints it is but a tiny blip on the screen. In the spirit of not crying over split milk State #42 take two begins…
In the days leading up to our trip to Arkansas, there is little excitement. I am only looking forward to getting home to watch Boston on Marathon Monday from the comfort of my couch! Last year I ran Boston with dismal effort due to extreme exhaustion. This year I am perfectly content to watch, but before that can happen we have to drive to LAX, run a marathon and drive home. When getting home from the trip is more exciting than taking the trip it is time to re-evaluate. The urgency to get done with our states has 

increased the number of trips we schedule in a year, if only our bodies can keep up with our excitement and desire to get to the final finish line. Accomplishing the goal, the actual running part, is slightly more challenging than making the plans. We are still recovering from the Carmel Marathon. Apparently fifty plus bodies need more than one week to rest and recover. On our weekend training run, we need walk breaks after each mile and we limp home with calf strains. My last scheduled run turns into a walk. The legs are too tired to power up a run and I must lower my expectations. My competitive self wants to run as hard as I can, but sometimes it is not possible and goals must be readjusted in order to accomplish the bigger goal. Originally, when I signed up for the race months prior...

my plan was to run under four hours, and try to set an age group course record~on the new course! That's out the window, I will be happy just to finish! The year starts out so well with some of my best running in years even a new PR, but recovering from illness, tick bites, injuries and Easter candy has plunged me into a proverbial tailspin. All my hard work is quickly erased and starting over from square one is never easy. Watching my progress slip through my fingers is disheartening. I go into the weekend with one goal...to get it done! I do not even charge my watch, if it dies it dies, I will know my time when I cross the finish line. Ready or not Arkansas here we come. 

We are slow getting out the door for the early morning flight and are delayed by a traffic accident on the Grapevine. It is impossible to find a parking space at Lot C and, out of fear of missing the flight, elect to park at the airport terminal...yikes is that costly! Even those lots are full and we are forced to park two terminals down from the airline we are flying. As we make a mad dash to get through security the handle on my extra bag breaks sending everything flying. We finally reach the security check point and the TSA agent says to my husband, "Sir, you are sweating are you okay?" Who says day flights aren't stressful. Each time we arrive at the airport it seems there are new scanning rules. Today food has to come out of our bags along with the usual liquids and I-pads, but shoes must go on the rollers, not in the bins. Oh geez. Once on the plane, our only feast~packed healthy snacks~an orange, apple slices and carrot chips! Bring on dinner our first and only meal for the day. Something a little less healthy please!

A balmy 77 degrees as we step out of the airport, with a drastic weather change the next morning. A tornado warning instruction sheet is slipped under our door. We make it to packet pick-up under the big outdoor white tent before the heavy rainstorm hits and talk to so many nice people. Southern hospitality is a real thing. The weather is now bone chilling. It is too cold to be outdoors. After a peek at the Ozarks we hang out in the hot tub and watch the rain spill from the sky. What a weather spectacle. The hotel lobby is filled with chatty runners. Everyone is glued to the television coverage of the impending tornado, but plenty of runner talk still emanates. Thankfully, there are no injuries when the tornado hits a nearby town.

On race morning we find parking close to the start line...it is the best thing about small town races. We stay in the car until just before the race starts. It is colder than Louisiana mainly because of the wind. After the Star Spangled Banner, I squeeze into the middle of a sea of runners trying to absorb body heat and spot the four hour pacer stick as the race starts. The girls leading the group discuss how they are ahead of pace and it is a struggle for me to keep up after three miles, my calf pain is in charge today. When I am forced to slow down on a downhill section the group slowly disappears. A turn straight into the wind along with the sharp shooting pain in my calf is deflating my spirit.

Runner after runner pass me up. I look to see if my husband is behind me. I may have to walk or even stop. I decide to work on one mile at a time. I chant...the mile I am on focusing on just getting through that mile. I struggle along for four challenging miles until we make another turn at mile 7 heading into a trail section. A reprieve from the wind and the pain in my calf loosens up feeling more like a sore muscle. As my pace quickens visions of catching the four hour pacer dance in my head. I am making progress in catching up to many of the people that passed me as I struggled along. It is funny how quickly the tides can change. It is amazing how the mind works.

Just because you start at the back of the pack...doesn't mean you can't win the race!!

The trail section gives me a much needed boost to power through the next turn into a strong headwind and miles and miles of climbs. The hills do not bother me the way they did in Indiana mainly because I expect them. The fact that I am running slower may also be a factor as well. We get the opportunity to run through a baseball stadium. What a nice surprise.

As I continue knocking out the miles I pass a lady grunting and really struggling, boy can I relate that was me in the early miles. Every mile is different and I work on just the mile I am in...it is a "one mile at a time" kind of marathon. The marathon has been going on for 42 years, and they know how to put on a quality race even though the course recently moved to the Springdale area. The volunteers provide plenty of aid and encouragement. The course constantly changes keeping it interesting. At mile 19 I spot a vulture waiting to feast on a dead armadillo. You don't see that everyday.

 After running through a church parking lot, we spill back onto a main roadway.  The police officers do an excellent job with traffic control and are also very encouraging. At mile 20 a spectator in a big truck has heavy metal music blasting. Not my favorite type of music, but it is just what I need in the moment before we filter back onto the trail section at mile 22. My energy wanes as I am passed once again by a number of runners.

In the last few miles the cutest little boy is out with his dad encouraging every single runner that goes by. "You are doing great...you can do it!" When I thank him for being out here he says, "My pleasure!" It makes me love southern hospitality and charm even more. Finally, I reach the mile 26 marker where inspirational music is blaring out of a speaker empowering me to keep pushing myself through the last two turns. As I run down main street, there aren't any runners to pass and nobody passes me. I cross the line and I am rewarded with a huge medal and finishers jacket and even a first place grand master's award. The cold temperature forces me to the car to warm up, but not before grabbing a chicken sandwich and hot dog on my way. I warm up and move the car even closer to the finish line before going back to wait for my husband. He crosses the line and immediately makes a beeline for the car. He is freezing with sweat icicles on his bill, no time to search out the beer or visit the massage tent. We land back in the hot tub with others runners who are also thawing out. Three Arkansas ladies with the cutest accents tell us about tasty pizza they tried the night before.

Even though we swear never to eat pizza on our marathon trips anymore, we give it a try and it is actually really good. The trip turns out much better than anticipated and I relish my recovery by watching Des Linden battle through the toughest weather conditions to win the Boston Marathon, the first American women to win in 34 years. In 1985 when Joan Benoit Samuelson won, I was just graduating high school with a long limitless road before me. Now with a much shorter road...ahead of me, the rear view most likely eclipses what's to come, but today is a day for celebration! I Clap, I Cheer I Scream as Des Linden wins the race.

It is the best Monday in a very long time!!

We are just going to keep showing up...see what we've got and try to do better!