Laurie Stern is an East coast turned mountain girl. She’s works as an attorney, but gets outside to ski, hike, and explore as often as possible. She is a loyal CW devotee since February 2013!
I finished my first half, the Jackson Hole Half Marathon, this past weekend. About a week before the race, Jovanna (fellow Wright trainee and JH half runner) said something like, “I’m so glad you suggested we do this race.” I thought this was an odd thing for her to say, since signing up for a half does not sound like the kind of idea that I would have… ever. Yet sure enough, I found proof in my email outbox. The only explanation for such temporary insanity was that I had just started working out with Crystal and was feeling like I could train for anything. And so, in an unexpected twist apparently of my own making, I found myself committed to a half marathon.
I like running, but I have always been a happy member of the Three Mile Club. Five miles was a big run and usually only happened by accident. Each week, my half training schedule called for two 3-4 mile runs, three days of cross training, and a long run on the weekend. (I used this one: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/files/pdfs/half-marathon-train.pdf) Crystal’s “Bike Fitness” classes were my weekday cross training. I have to admit, there were more than a few days where I skipped my 3-4 milers because I was too sore from class the night before (thank you “Curtis P,” whoever you are). At first I was worried that my additional rest days were going to lead to disaster. However, as the runs got longer every weekend, I was shocked at my ability to cover greater distances. I knew that what I was doing was working and that I was definitely getting stronger.
I had three goals for the race:
(1) run the whole time
(2) stay in a good place mentally (i.e. stay away from those “I can’t do this”/”I may die”/”Whose dumb idea was this?!” thoughts)
(3) finish under 2:30.
I can happily say I accomplished all three of those goals. It was a gorgeous sunny day, and I finished in 2:17—not the fastest time, but I felt strong throughout the course. Towards the end, I definitely had to tap some of the mental toughness that I have only begun to develop in Crystal’s class (“OK, Mile 10. If I can get through a 30-minute AMRAP, I can definitely get through the end of this race”). The last [uphill!] mile truly took everything I had left in the tank, but an awesome playlist plus friends and a PBR waiting at the finish helped me motivate through.
Overall it was an awesome race in an even more amazing place, and I am super stoked to have run it. Although I don’t plan on running any more long races this summer, I am looking forward to closing in on other goals… which may include someday doing a pull-up without the use of every single resistance band in the gym. Cheers!
