Hot in Cleveland: Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Recap

Sooooo. . . I've spent my time training in the coldest of cold temperatures this winter and spring. Zero degrees? PSSSHHHH.  Who knew that Cleveland would smack me in the face with 80+ degrees on race day???? But. . . I've gotten ahead of myself.

I worked the Expo on Saturday morning for a little bit, but things were slow, so I was allowed to go pick up my packet and browse the expo. So many fun things to do! I got a free blood pressure check and facial screening (Scary! Peeps, wear a hat when you run outside), and I bought socks, Bondi Bands, and a 50K car magnet (in honor of Forget the PR). I also took a pic, of course:

What bib number are you? Do you have any ID? NO???? NO BIB FOR YOU!!!

I'm official!

This is EXACTLY how I look when I win a marathon wearing Birkenstocks.

I met Marta for a pre-race dinner, took a two-mile walk with the kids, and then went to bed early.

The next morning was a 4:00 wake-up.  I had already laid out my clothes and gear,  so it was a matter of drinking my coffee and eating my bagel and fretting about finding a parking space. FYI: There is no need to fret about parking spaces, but I do it every year. This year I pulled right into a lot just feet away from the finish area. Easy peasy.

This is EXACTLY how I look when I am fretting about  parking. Notice that I am ALREADY SWEATING.

I met up for starting line promo pics:

2019 Ambassadors

This year the photographer didn't pick me to stand in front of everyone else. I am less special this year, I guess.

Marta and I took pictures with everyone we could find:

Women of Cleveland: Melissa, Pam (nice tongue), Stephanie, Katie, Melissa, Me, of course.

Marta and I walk to the start.

Marta found Jeffery and Nikki, who brought Rico Suave to cheer us on!

Corral Shenanigans: Here we go!

Normally, the first 13 miles of a marathon are pretty chillax for me because I don't push myself too hard. It's a time to warm up, talk, take the beer miles when/if you can, high five little kids. This year was different. Even after mile 2 I felt like I was on the struggle bus, and that bus was not where I wanted to be. It was so hot and humid; I was already finding it difficult to breathe and find a good pace.

There were definitely some great moments--like the Bishop, for instance:

I was hoping to get a picture with this dude! He made my day!

We took a beer mile, and it was very refreshing in the heat. I don't regret that at all.

Lots of bridges. So cool.
Photo credit: Marta Pacur

This is EXACTLY how I look when I am pretending I am not on the struggle bus.
Photo Credit: Marta Pacur

I love the Cleveland Marathon course. It has all kinds of neighborhoods and scenery: Downtown, The Flats (both East and West banks), Tremont, Ohio City (Hello, Speedo guy again this year!), Clifton, Edgewater, Battery Park, Gordon Square. Everything is so interesting, and the course really highlights what makes Cleveland special. I love running the out-and-back stretch to Rocky River and back to Edgewater because I can look for my fast friends to inspire me on the way down. I saw Ryan (3:05 pacer!), Steve (3:45 pacer!), Eric,  and Pam. When we were around Mile 14, we saw Luke, who was looking super strong, even in the incredible heat and humidity. He gave us hugs and high fives, and yelled, "Who made me sign up for this?" Marta and I both pointed to each other and shrugged.

The wheels really came off around mile 17. I was really, really hot. I wasn't sweating, and my heart was beating too fast. I was worried that I was getting heat stroke. I started walking a bit during almost every mile. I didn't want to fuel after mile 15 because I was feeling nauseous, but I knew I needed the fuel. I also felt like I was drinking too much water, so I started swishing and spitting at the aid stations and dumping water over my head instead of swallowing it. God bless the people who sprayed us with hoses because they probably saved me.  God bless Marta, too, because she stuck with me even though I told her to go ahead because I was definitely not going to make a good finish time.

Seriously, Peeps, it was really difficult out there. One mile out from the finish, I couldn't even get excited enough to run it in until Lee came by us just before the bridge. She gave a great pep talk and really helped me buck up. "There is serious carnage out there," she told us. "Even the elites have dropped the idea of a PR today, so you are badasses for being out here. Now, you are allowed to walk up the hill to that bridge because you are trail runners, but then you are going to run it in to the finish. Get going!" I managed to run and finish, and I fell apart as soon as I stopped my Garmin.

Marta doesn't know it, but I was crying and hyperventilating here.

This is EXACTLY how I look when I fall apart after I stop my Garmin.

I'm a mess. Luke is fine; Pam and Steve are fine.
Photo Credit: Marta Pacur

I drank some chocolate milk, but I couldn't handle more sugar, so I drank a beer, and it actually made me feel better. Then I was able to interact a bit more.

Ambassadors Finish! Eric, Pam, Me
Photo Credit: Steve McGowan

Marta, Me, Pam, Eric, Luke
Photo Credit: Steve McGowan

Me, Luke, Marta
Photo Credit: Eric Geyer

This race was no joke, Peeps. I have never walked so much in a road race in my entire life. Today I feel like a long train ran me over. 

I am grateful that I was able to finish, and I am grateful to my friends who supported me in this journey.

I have more to say about the race, specifically about the people who couldn't finish, and more specifically about Taylor Ceepo, who collapsed and died a mile from the finish line. I will honor Taylor with a separate post, but I wanted to acknowledge that this day was marked by tragedy. My heart goes out to Taylor's family and friends.

Lastly (for this post), I want to thank all the volunteers who helped out in this race. You gave me water, Powerade, and HoneyStinger gels, you sprayed me with the hose, you smiled and cheered and awarded me a sweet medal. Thank you for giving so generously of your time and spirit. Thank you to the Staph family and all the organizers who put all of this together. Thank you to my fellow Ambassadors who are more than social media friends to me; they are my family.

And thank YOU, Peeps. 

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Run Happy, Peeps!

Race Recap: Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

I wasn't feeling the excitement and the love for running the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon until the Friday night before the race at the VIP dinner. Up until then, I was grumpy and unsure of myself, wondering why the heck I had once again signed up for 4+ hours of pain and suffering. Then I saw my fellow Ambassadors, and I regained some of that excitement.

Ambassadors lined up for the picture, on our best behavior. Or are we? Check out the shenanigans in the middle row.

Our traditional picture of a selfie in action

Pam and I are glamming it up.

The general consensus among my friends was that I should try for a 4:30 marathon, but I wasn't convinced. They basically kept reminding me that I had put in the training, and I needed to believe in it.  I told everyone that anything under a 4:50 would be awesome, but secretly I hoped for a 4:45.

The next day I visited the Expo very briefly before reporting to work at the Information Booth. The Expo was full of cool stuff, but I only had time for a quick picture with Marta.

I look like I want to throw up here.

Then I manned the Information Desk for three hours without ONE SINGLE FRAPPUCCINO, despite pleas to my fellow Ambassadors to hook me up with some caffeine.

I'm not happy here.

I counseled everyone who asked to arrive at a parking spot before 6 AM, and I had intended to get there at 5:45 AM, as parking is one of my worries in races. I got there at 6:00 on the dot, and there were no problems whatsoever in driving through the city and finding a parking space.  Whew. One worry down.

I dropped my gear bag and headed to the bathrooms, picking up Marta along the way. Bathrooms are my second worry in races, and I already knew that this was a non-issue with the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. Portapotties everywhere, plus Quicken Loans Arena was open to runners.

The Ambassadors took some pictures at the starting line.

We are the Ambassadors!

This is the best one for obvious reasons.
Photographer: You.  Come out front and hold this medal.
Me: Really? I must be the most important.
Photographer: No, you're short and wearing fluorescent yellow.

Ok, here is what I remember about the race. I'm going to try to distance myself from the emotional part because that will be another post. This time I want to talk about the fabulousness that is the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

The course was mostly as I remembered it. I loved the bridges, although they were slippery. I even loved the hills because what goes up must come down, and I really enjoy exerting myself on a hill when I know that I can relax on the downside.

Marta (I will write about Marta next time; she deserves her own post) and I discussed the possibility of taking the beer miles. I was hesitant because I feel like I'm not that good of a marathoner, but when I saw the sign saying Beer and Bacon, I said, "Hell, YES, we are doing this!" It was the best piece of bacon and the best shot of beer EVER, and I really think it helped my race that day.  I definitely said NO to the Fireball Shot Mile.

I loved running on Lake Ave. with the beautiful houses. Many people don't like out-and-backs on a race course, but I do because I can look for my friends. I saw Pam and Eric, fellow Ambassadors, and I saw Steve and Ryan, badass Pacers.  They were all super encouraging as we crossed each other.

Battery Park was an interesting part of the course; I don't remember if it was part of the course last year, but I enjoyed it.

The course had plenty of water and fuel stops. New this year was the Honey Stinger Waffle, which I ate at Mile 17, and I LOVED it.

I tried hard not to focus on my time. I spent most of the time talking with Marta or looking at the scenery. When things got overwhelming, I would scan my body and count my breaths.

Seeing the flags at the end of the race, I got very excited, and Marta and I kicked it up for the end. And we finished together.

We finished! I don't know what the heck I'm doing with my swollen hand.

I got my medal and grabbed some food, and I met Marta in the Beer Garden. I was in some pain, and I was emotionally spent (more about this in next post). Pam and Steve had waited for me at the finish line, and it was nice to see them, although I could barely speak to them.

I love them all, but I was faking happiness here.

I drank half a chocolate milk, but I couldn't eat any food. I drank my beer, and all of a sudden I just wanted to go home.  Normally I was supposed to go out and celebrate with Pam and Steve, and I JUST COULDN'T EVEN.

Why am I so numb? Well, some of it is shock. Remember when I told you that I was secretly hoping for 4:45?  Here is my result:

Holy Shmoly! A 7 minute PR!

I have a lot to say about this accomplishment, of which I am very proud, but that will be for another post. For now, I would like to say that I will DEFINITELY run the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon next year. I loved the volunteers, the bands on the course, the support, the accessibility of bathrooms and fuel, and mostly the beautiful city course.

This is my third year as a Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Ambassador, and it has been a privilege for me to represent this race every year.

Next post will be about my experience running this marathon. Today I wanted to honor the race and the wonderful people who work so hard to make it happen. Thank you.

And thank you for following my posts! What races are you prepping for? Until then, run happy, Peeps!

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This Is the Moment!

This is it, Peeps. This is the moment for which I've been doing 400s at dark o'clock. This is the reason why I have been putting in insane miles on Sundays when everyone else is eating bagels and reading the newspaper.  This is the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, and I'm running it tomorrow.

I'm not panicking. I'm not. I'm also NOT sitting in the corner in the fetal position, rocking.

The end of the school year timed with tapering has been a bit stressful for me. It was really nice to meet up with my fellow Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors on Friday evening at the VIP Reception after visiting the Expo.

I saw Rachel and Melissa first at the Expo (after I caught Holly on her way out):

We are like Charlie's Angels. . . only more badass.

I also spotted my name on the Ambassador list:

"I'm kind of a big deal." I can't even write that with a straight face.

And I bought a signed copy of Jill's book.

Get your copy and check out the back. You may find a blurb written by someone you know. *cough*

Then I hugged and laughed and took as many selfies as I could with my fellow Ambassadors:

Andrew is so serious now that he wears a tie.

Stephani(e)s squared!

Emily and Jessica

Melissa and I are together again!

The Hyatt Regency. So beautiful

Rachel, Sara, and Melissa

Our traditional group shot.

I missed some Ambassadors, and I hope to get pictures with them tomorrow. . .if I am not hiding under my bed. It was so overwhelming to see everyone, and I got confused about which pictures I took.  I'd like to thank Jack Staph and Ralph Staph for including me in this wonderful experience of blogging for a race I love. I would like to thank Joan Freese, Kayla Henderson, and Mary Sutter for being my guides as a Rite Aid Cleveland Ambassador. Of course, I would like to thank all my fellow Ambassadors, YES, EVEN YOU, ANDREW. You all came into my life at a time where I was certain that I didn't want or need any more friends. I was so wrong.  Most of all, I'd like to thank you, Peeps. It really gets me through the dark times when you tell me that you enjoy my blog or when you comment on any of my posts. Thank you.

Today I spent most of the afternoon working Commencement for Medina High School. This helped me not to fret so much. Then I did some housework and took a looooong nap. I so needed it. Now I'm trying to settle in because this is where the scary head game starts. I've applied my tattoo:

And I've laid out Flat Stephani:

This is the moment, Peeps, the moment where there is no room for self-doubt. I've trained really well; I need to trust the training. I got this; I do.

Will I see you at the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon tomorrow?  I hope so. If you do see me, yell something--ANYTHING--at me, even "Your blog sucks!" I will take it as encouragement.

Until then, run happy, Peeps!

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Magical Thinking

I believe in magical thinking. Call it what you want: prayer, visualization, meditation, voodoo. . .it's magic, and I believe it works. To this end, I have participated in some magical thinking lately:

1.  Achilles Tendon.

My Achilles Tendon has been bothering me since October. There are days when it is unbearable, and there are days where I don't even notice it. I spent months researching and doing strength training and stretches for my hamstrings and tendon, but it hasn't gotten better. I finally decided to find a chiropractor who specializes in Active Release Technique.

This is EXACTLY how my Achilles Tendon looks. Probably yours, too, by the way.

Active Release Technique basically uses deep muscle massage to help tendons and muscles that are strained or tight from overuse. My friend Ed, who is an amazing runner, convinced me that this would be the way to go, so I gave it a shot.

I had never visited a chiropractor before, but magical thinking, right? So far, I've had three sessions, and there isn't a magical cure, but I'm still hopeful.

2. K-Tape

This goes along with the Active Release Technique. I definitely think KTape is magical thinking, so it's a good thing I'm a believer.

3. Switching up the Routine

Not gonna lie, Peeps. I didn't post last week because I felt an overwhelming sense of metaphysical despair.  Shelby and I ran 16 miles, and each step felt like death to me. I just never got into a groove, and then I made the mistake of comparing that 16 miler to other 16 milers I have run. . .it just led to disgust with myself and life.

This week I got to roll back the miles a bit, and Shelby, feeling the same disgust, dumped me, so I decided to shake things up a bit. I messaged Jen and begged her to let me go trail running with her and her peeps. I went early and ran three road miles, and then I did ten miles with the Burning River Goddesses.  It was a trail I had never seen before, and I had a ton of fun.

Me, Renee, Jen.  See how happy we are?

 I felt much more positive about my training after a run through the forest with the sun shining through the trees, which leads me to number 4:

4.  Race Registration

I did it, Peeps; I pulled the trigger and registered for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon! This will be my second marathon, and I'm feeling a bit unsure of myself, so SHOW ME SOME FREAKING LOVE ABOUT THIS!!! The first thing you can do is register here so you can run with me! I'll need all the support I can get, PLUS a lot of magical thinking.

What kinds of magical thinking are you using this week, Peeps? Clap your hands if you believe in fairies! Until then, run happy!

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A Giveaway!

This week I get to give away one entry to any one race in the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon series!  I am so excited, Peeps.

As many of you already know, I am an ambassador for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. The lovely people in charge gave me a free entry and one to give to you, and that is exactly what I want to do this week. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I want to spread the love, Peeps.

I only say this because I am still on a runner's high after 12 miles this morning.

In the spirit of the season, I'd like to make LOVE the theme of this post.  Whom do you love?

I love. . .

1. My husband. He is a dufus, but he is MY dufus. And he bought me a phone charging cord today because I mentioned that mine is toast.

My husband: the Kabyle Chef

2. My kids. They are awesome even though they make me want to stick a screwdriver through my brain pan most days.

My son

My daughter

3.  Shelby. She runs with me on Sundays. She handles the long runs. When I tell her to f--ck off, she doesn't even blink.  She listens to me complain about my family, and she alternates between indulging me and telling me to get a grip on myself. I love you, Man.

One of our many pictures together. I have to run on Sundays because Shelby will be there.

Peeps, I love you, too. I love your comments, and I love your private messages. I love when you say that you read my blog (I have a huge ego, you know), and I feel like you are my friends.

Ok, that is enough. I can't take any more sweetness; I need to clean my teeth as it is. Let's get down to business. This giveaway opens at midnight, 2/14, and it closes at midnight, 2/21. Here are the rules:

1. If you already registered, don't enter. I can't reimburse you.
2. Entry is good for ONE race, not the series.
3. I received an entry (and some other swag) in exchange for writing about the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. Nobody buys my opinions, however. Any thoughts on the race series are my own and do not represent the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.
4. I will contact the winner by email.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Don't feel lucky today? You can register here for the race(s) of your choice.  Hurry, kids! Join me while you can! I don't want to be the only person complaining about training in the cold. Until then, run happy, Peeps!

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