November passed rather flat as far as my running goes. I struggled with motivation and lack of energy. I basically made the decision nearly daily to focus on family and resting rather than running. I decided about halfway through the month that I wasn't going to beat myself up over it. I was tired and work had me busy, so I needed to re-evaluate my goals and make some decisions. In the long run I opted to let the training slide and have Miami be an enjoyable race as the last in the series with my 2011 RNR friends rather than be stressed over a time goal. As the race approached I got an email from the Heavy Medal folks at Rock N Roll letting me know that due to lack of planning I wouldn't be getting my Rock Idol at the event and it would be mailed. That was terribly disappointing. After being a part of the hub-bub when the first group of Idols got their medals in Philly (as they are friends of mine) it was a bit of a slap in the face to realize my Idol race was going to have no recognition. As I'm typing this (nearly 2 weeks after the race) I still have an empty spot on the wall where my Idol medal goes and I'm sure it will be a while til it's filled.
After getting over the initial let down of that, we headed to Miami on Saturday night. From the airport it was straight to the hotel to check in, then we decided to get a cab to the expo as we were told parking was scarce. The expo itself was an entirely different feel from any RNR event. The event was in tents on the beach!
I wasn't really sure about this concept at first as I've been ingrained with a particular vision of a Rock N Roll expo after attending 11 of their events, but I am a beach girl at heart and it was a gorgeous day so it took no convincing for me to kick off the flip flops and enjoy the sand in between my toes. As I walked onto the beach/into the expo area I saw a couple of boxes of the Competitor magazines beside the entry and grabbed one. I knew this would be the issue with the race guide and I try to keep one from every race for scrapbooking. As I picked it up I thought about the fact that there'd likely be one in our race bag, but figured I'd keep one just in case. Packet pickup was much quicker than most as it was all fairly compressed space-wise. We then wondered on to the beach and found Tracy for a quick hug and a few hellos before he had to move on for work. We saw Joseph and David and exchanged hugs and greetings, then began to wonder through the booths. The expo itself was much smaller so it didn't take nearly as long to see everything, but I did get my P.F. Chang's race fortune cookie and see Shannon Williams. After a quick chat it was on to pre-pay for my medal engraving. That box checked we headed to the Sport Hooks booth to place a special order for my Rock N Roll medal hanger and add on bar for my Heavy Medals. We stopped by the Rock N Roll booth to grab my Rock Idol bib and I felt so bad for Garret...he just didn't know which way to get. I could tell he felt bad about not having our medals, but I'd already given him my feedback via email so there was no reason to beat a dead horse. He did have a display version with him so he pulled it out and let me take pictures with it. I was slightly bummed that my Rock Idol would not have a green screen pic with the Miami logo or the Heavy Medalist logo as there was no green screen photos at the outdoor expo, but when I saw the pix that I did get I couldn't complain...they were actually really good!
From there we wondered through the remaining booths then headed to the main road to catch a cab to the hotel. When we got back and I'd rinsed the sand off my feet we settled in the room for a couple of hours until time for dinner. I did my typically pre race routine and laid out my race outfit, filled out my bib, packed my race belt, charged my Garmin, and sort out my swag bag. I then sat on the bed and picked up the race guide to flip through. I'd noticed there wasn't one in my swag bag so I was glad I'd grabbed it. I flipped to the race guide section and squealed! I was in it! There was a short blurb and my pic in the "faces in the crowd" section! OK...so not gonna lie...that made up for the lack of medal - just a little.
Of course I couldn't just have 1 copy of this...so when we headed to dinner we actually went back down to the expo area and I hopped out of the car and grabbed a stack of them! :) Then it was off to the Hard Rock Cafe Miami for dinner and a shot glass. One thing I seem to have forgotten to mention thus far is the guest for the Hard Rock shot glasses...somewhere along the way with the destination races I began going to the Hard Rock Cafes that were within driving distance of the race locations..and some that weren't really within driving distance! For instance, at the Diva in October of 2010 I had dinner at the Yankee Stadium HR, then hopped the subway to the NY Cafe in Manhatten the day before the race. Race day, after running and showering, I hopped the ferry from Long Island to CT, drove to Foxwoods Casino, hit the Hard Rock for dinner, and drove all the way back. In February 2011, I hit the New Orleans cafe for dinner the night before the race. Race day, after running and showering, I drove to Destin, FL and had lunch in that cafe then stopped at the Biloxi cafe, hotel, and casino on the return to New Orleans before flying out the next day. My goal is to hit all of the US cafes while doing my races. I have a few international, but I'm not as concerned with those for the time being. I also refuse to get a shot glass unless I was at the location. The collection is growing rapidly.
The Miami cafe was amazing! The food was perfectly done, the staff was great, and the location was really nice. I can be a bit hard to please, but these folks were spot on. After dinner and my shot glass we wondered back to the car. Once we arrived back at the hotel I was beat! It was early, but I was exhausted so I called it a night. Despite a good night's sleep I was not feeling it race morning. I momentarily considered crawling back in bed and sleeping in...it'd been a busy few weeks and I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept it...why not make this a vacation? But I knew I couldn't flush my goal and the year of racing like that, so I pulled myself together and headed out. At the start line area I wondered over to the VIP tent and ran into Rafael. It was great to see him! We soon met up with David, Joseph, Denise, Michael, and the other elites. We snacked on a light breakfast, hydrated, discussed the crazy humidity, and noted that David...well, let's just say he had NOT gone to bed early as I had. ;) As we headed to the start line Rafael and I discussed running together again and while I was looking forward to that in the end he had to start in Corral 5 with the other Heavy Medal Elites for a group picture
so I wondered up to Corral 2 and took my place. I clipped the iPod on the sports bra and fired it up...nothing. I fiddled with it a little before giving up (still haven't checked that thing out actually....need to figure out if it's dead or just malfunctioned). I settled in for the start and away we went. I felt good starting out, but that didn't last long. It was by no means the worst heat or humidity I'd run in, but it is December after all...I've not been running in this for a while, it just sucked the life out of me quick. Thankfully it was overcast as the sun would've made it unbearable.
At the first water stop I grabbed two cups. The first was dumped over my head (my hair is thick and when pulled back in a ponytail it holds heat like crazy!), the second I sipped. I continued this throughout the race despite the fact that I RARELY dump water over my head...today it was needed. As we ran I noticed a bit of a rainbow in the distance and as we turned to head toward the bridge from Miami Beach to Miami the full rainbow came into view over Miami.
That kept the mind occupied long enough to forget the humidity and press onward a little. Then I began noticing bicyclist everywhere. It soon dawned on me they were support personnel for some of the runners. Once I realized this I was a bit surprised at just how close they were getting to us and the fact that the race folks were letting them. I backed off a little so I wouldn't be in the same area of the folks they seemed to be supporting. (There wasn't just a group of them supporting a group of runners it just seemed to be 4-6 individuals on bikes following 4 -6 unrelated/random runners near me.) My hunch proved accurate moments later when one of the cyclist (on a big beach cruiser) clipped the heel of a runner just a few strides ahead of me. The runner went down on the asphalt and rolled. The cyclist struck him with his front tire before coming to a stop. The runner hopped up a bit dazed and very confused looking and began rapid fire Spanish and profanity while the cyclist hurriedly tried to convince him he'd actually tripped over the cone and the cyclist just happened to be nearby (BS...I watch it). The runner took off again and I made sure to distance myself from that cyclist's runner. By this point I was hurting...not physically, mentally. Ijust didn't want to keep going. I found myself humming "just put one foot in front of the other...as you walk across the floor...one foot in front of the other...soon you'll be walking out the door"...I then realized I wasn't even getting the entire song right or in order...walk break was in order! Crap...I was barely at mile 4...that wasn't a good sign. I only let myself walk for 30 seconds and then pushed on, but it was the first 30 seconds with 9 miles left...whoops. From there I remember thinking just how dang long that causeway seemed...even running towards a gorgeous rainbow over the city and through the misty rain to cool off just didn't seem to help. There wasn't a lot of course support in this area...no spectators cheering us on, save the random bicyclist keeping up with their runner, an occassion Team In Training Coach hollering for folks in purple, and a random band placed by the race folks. Once we turned off the exit to come through the city I hoped things would improve...and it did as far as course support, not so much so as far as humidity and fatigue. Around mile 8 I considered a walk break...it didn't take much considering and I realized I was doing. Once I realized I was walking I kicked my own butt and got going again...this was going to be a long 5 miles at this rate...there was that damn song in my head again too and still in the wrong order and incomplete...I really wished that stupid iPod had worked! Just as I was driving myself crazy we ran into a rain cloud...it was nice. I could use the cooling off. I had to force a mental check at this point because things just weren't adding up. The rain had cooled me off - not overheated, had just come through a fluid station - properly hydrated, popped a GU about 10 mins ago and had breakfast before the run - properly fueled, nothing hurt - no injuries, heart rate was average, stride was...stride was a little off...what was it? Paying closer attention I realized the cold hard truth...my lack of training had caught up with me. My hip flexors were just flat tired. I'd not been running or lifting for weeks and those tiny little muscles were just not conditioned for going the distance. Not that knowing the problem gave me a solution, but it did let me know I was just going to have to suck it up and push through mentally. Just as I was figuring this all out we turned onto the causeway to head back to Miami Beach....from here on out it became a mental battle...just run to Mile 9 and you can walk....you've walked 30 seconds, get going now or you never will....just make it another half mile and you can walk....that was your 30 seconds, move it...shoot, there's pictures up here...run and smile...
....ok, you passed them, now walk...gotta get moving...only 1 mile left...you can run a mile easy....ok, maybe after you walk 30 seconds...alright, bring it in...phew! Yes, there was a lot of mental chatter going on and no I did not make any major time goals...2:25:32 made it quite unimpressive, but I didn't care, now was time for fun! I met up with everyone at the VIP tent and learned we were all less than happy with our results but enjoyed the race none the less. After a bit of chatting the awards started and I walked over to the stage. I was amazed to hear that Kara Goucher's coach had told her to run the race in 1:13 and she finished at 1:12:59...that takes SUCH discipline and being sooo in tune with ones' body. After the awards the headliner concert began...Pitbull.
It was a great concert, and yes, I really was that close to the stage...you've got to love a Rock N Roll event!
As the music continued I headed back to the VIP area to see if everyone was ready for the swim we'd talked about early. Before meeting up with everyone I had the opportunity to take a quick photo with Shalene Flanagan and Kara Goucher!
These incredible athletes were very down to earth. I can't wait to see their performances in Houston in January and hopefully in the Olympics in London!
As the concert wound down a rain storm blew through and folks began taking cover under the tents and/or heading out. We threw our stuff in a large trash bag Rafael had and started towards the ocean. The shower passed in a matter of minutes and Joseph, Rafael, Michael, and I took a swim...surprised by how warm the water was.
After our swim we headed back to our hotels for showers. Just before getting in the car I realized I didn't want my soaking wet running skirt to saturate the seat given that after my shower we'd be headed to the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, so when we got to the car I wrapped a towel around myself and stripped off my running skirt. Arriving at the Eden Roc (our hotel) I was KEENLY aware of what a hot mess I looked! As I walked into the lobby of folks dressed to the nines with my hair every which way from my impromptu swim wearing only a wet sports bra, my medal, and a white towel I made a beeline to the elevator in hopes of escaping unnoticed to my room and a hot shower. As I stepped onto the elevator and athletic looking gentleman was stepping off with his suitcase. He asked how I did and I replied. He asked if I won and I was a bit confused as I am by no means an elite runner (as you well know if you've been following my blog). The conversation went to a quick explanation of the fact that I'd run a half marathon, that it was my 10th RNR and 15th overall of the year. Two other ladies had stepped onto the elevator and joined the conversation, offering their congratulations on my great year, as the gentleman stood outside of the elevator holding the door open. An alarm sounded from the open door, but he didn't seem to be in a hurry. As we discussed the race another woman joined us on the elevator. He commented that he'd seen her before and she replied with her name, company, and the fact that she'd been involved with the body building show in town. She was obviously annoyed with the delay and after one more quick comment about the race, as the door closed the mystery man stretched his arm in the elevator and handed me a dozen long stem pink roses and congratulated me on my accomplishment. I took them and thanked him as his arm disappeared and the door closed. I commented out loud that I wondered who that was and the aggitated women informed me he was a professional body builder. I asked him name (out of curiosity) and she told me he was Edward Nunn, mystery solved.
After a shower and changing it was off to the Hard Rock Casino as planned, where we had lunch, got our shot glass, and turned $100 into $300 before heading out the door.
Though I'd told everyone to get ahold of me and we'd go out, I found myself exhausted upon arrival at the hotel and was asleep by 5:30pm! I slept through the night, awoke the next morning, showered, packed, conducted a couple of work telecons on the way to the airport, and flew home...somehow still sleepy!!
All in all, the Latin Music Half Marathon is definitely a run I'd do again sometime, but next time I'd actually train!
