RM: What type of training did you do to prepare yourself for the Bayshore Marathon?MR: I was very lucky to have tremendous support from family and friends during training. I knew I needed strength training and so hired my husband (for free) to help me with core strengthening. I never really had any structured plan for previous races and so realized I needed some kind of direction with my training- so hired my friend, Steve Menovcik, (again for free) to help develop some kind of structured approach. We were really impressed with a lecture that Coach Squires did at Total Runner last year. He suggested doing pick up runs on the longer mileage days. I love those runs! Steve also analyzed the Hanson elite women's training schedule. The Hanson's are very open with training logs etc and this was extremely helpful. We did lots of longer tempo runs and speed work with longer mile repeats 10 seconds faster than race pace. I could not have asked for a better coach!! Steve drove out from Lansing to run these with me-I really struggle with getting pace right and he helped me conquer that. What a machine!! He also put together this incredible binder which broke down all my splits from previous marathons (yikes) and it was evident I needed to work on negative splits -which I still have not mastered! My friend, Nina Bovio, sent cards and notes on a weekly basis to keep me motivated. She is an inspiration to me and many others.. Dave Peterson coached me on the speed workouts, as he's done for 9 years, at Farmington track. He is an incredible resource and invaluable gem in the running community!!! Julie Winter kept me running injury-free, STRONGLY encouraging me keep my recovery days nice and easy, she is so smart!! My friend Kim Peterson got me out on those horrible winter days and we finished our workouts with a bottle of wine to warm us up (yes a whole bottle is necessary-it was very very cold!!). Fun times! My kids and husband put up with 8:00 p.m dinners some nights while I tried to fit in two per day workouts on some 90-100 mile weeks! My husband, Bill, is beyond supportive of my running which has not always been easy. He is a genuine hero! I loved the whole process of training for this, but cannot take credit for accomplishing any goal on my own!
RM: What were your goals for the race and why?MR: My goal for Bayshore was to try to get a trial time of 2:47. I knew the course record was 2:48 something...(note to self... make sure you understand the "something" part- if I were 5 or 6 seconds faster gun time, I could have brought home an extra thousand dollars- my family keeps reminding me of all the things a thousand dollars could have bought! God I love them!) Instead, I slogged around the track just happy to see that finish line! But I left all I had on that course! Honestly, if someone were dangling a million dollars in front of me, I doubt I could have forced my legs to move any faster than they were! As Nina says, "Life is an incredible adventure"-true enough! The weather was completely ideal and I was out there on a truly beautiful course doing what I absolutely love. I have no regrets. (well, at least none until the VISA bill comes!)
RM: When did you feel like you had the race won and how did that feel?MR: Not once did I feel I had won the race until I crossed the finish line. I had hundreds of half marathoners and marathoners screaming, "First woman" and "You Go Girl" etc. which was so amazing and fun. I was touched by the fact that they were cheering so hard and still had to run the same distance as me! I tried to answer back a "thanks!... you too! "...with the same enthusiasm, but it only came out as a wave or a lame "yeah". At mile 11, my Mom screamed at the top of her lungs,"that's my daughter!!!" Everyone in the upper part of Michigan is aware of that now...Thanks Mom! I knew Sarah Plaxton and Jackie Rzpecki were out there and I fully expected to be passed at the end -which is usually the case with me... I fall apart that last 10k. Both women were experiencing some injuries prior to the race, or they very likely would have. I'm so impressed with their talent and it was a real thrill for me to talk with them. I think of them like local celebrities! I was also impressed with Abigal's time as she is so young to be running that fast in a marathon already! Wow! She took off from the start like a lightening bolt! She was way ahead-..I don't remember passing her.
RM: What are your plans on upcoming races? Do you plan on running another marathon in attempts of hitting the 2:47 Olympic Trials standard and why? MR: I plan to run Chicago in the Fall for a second chance at the trials time. I think I need the confidence a racing season provides. I will run on Frontline's team for the Great Lakes Relay. This event puts the fun back into running after so much focus on time etc. I laugh like a grade school kid on this relay-it is my favorite race of all!! Part "B" to your question re: why would I want to hit an Olympic Trials Time?? Hmmm. I guess I really want my two girls to see that not everything in life is about instant gratification. They know how hard I've been working on this goal and that it has and will take much in the way of patience and hard work. My Dad gave me a great work ethic and I want to pass that onto them. I also think it would be incredible to be in the same race as some of the women I read about and admire-I've already met two!! My 13 year old, Olivia, cried when I finished Bayshore. She was proud of me. She is usually publicly mortified by my very presence ....and so I guess I would have to add that I would like to make her proud again. I imagine there are few chances to impress your 13 year old!
RM: Why should people run the Bayshore Marathon?MR: Bayshore is a beautiful course. I've run it 3 times now. We plan a family vacation around it. We have walked the sand dunes, visited the Cherry Bowl Drive Inn theatre, shop and eat like crazy at the Cherry Republic, we've played Miniature Golf...this year we saw a minor league baseball game in the new Traverse City Beach Bum stadium. So let's see...the course is scenic and flat, lots to do, weather perfect, oh yeah- my favorite thing about Bayshore is that if you decide you really don't feel like finishing or maybe you're sick of Gatorade...there is always a really nice winery only steps away. I make it a point to visit a few of those----preferably post race!
I received my new "binder" from Steve today and am excited to start training for Chicago! He's added a 16 mile race pace run 4 weeks out and some cut down tempo runs. I'm so thankful for all the support I've had throughout this process. I dearly love every single one of the life-long friends running has introduced me to. They are the best of people. Meeting time goals is great, but I know my friends and family would be encouraging even if I came nowhere close!
