Road Warrior Blog

12 May 2008

Great Expectations

Posted by Shelly under: Shelly Batterbee .

So I shall go from song titles to great works of literature in this, my post-race blog.  The 2008 Riverbank Run has now come and gone.  We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.  Perfect weather, great crowd, a fantastic win by fellow Michigander Brian Sell.   

My finish time:  3:05:07.  Not what I was hoping for.  Not even close.  I ran my first 7 miles with fellow Road Warrior Julie—and those miles were absolutely BEAUTIFUL—we averaged a 10:20 mile, easy breathing, legs felt great, foot hurting from about 1 mile into it, me ignoring it.  I try to pace myself in races so I can usually go faster my second half–doing negative splits like the pros, so I was excited for a good time on the clock.   

Then I decided to slow down for a moment and take a walk break, telling Julie to go ahead, and that I would try to catch up with her in a few moments.   

DUMB IDEA.  My arch locked up, my heel and Achilles got tight, and I felt like someone shot a bullet through my heel.  I should have known better, as I’ve experienced enhanced pain in my heel on training runs when I’ve stopped at aid stations.  I hadn’t intended to stop or slow down to much on this because of that reason.   

At that point, I had a very difficult time getting my pace back and an even more difficult time trying to even break back into a run.  Mile 8 took me 11 minutes which was still okay with me, since I’d had such a great pace going to that point and thought I could get it back.  But I pretty much walked the majority of my last 6 miles—so out of 15.5 miles, I guess I should be impressed that I still finished in 3:05:07.  I was ticked, though, to say the least, that I had gone over 3 hours, but I simply did not have it in me to get thru the sheer pain.  It was difficult, because everything else about me felt great, and with my first 7 miles I was on pace to finish in about 2:40:00 or less.   

I know I shouldn’t be upset, as I still finished–and I accomplished something most people will not even attempt, but it is that inner-competitive side in me.  Those of you who know me really well know that I am competitive even at a Tupperware party.  Seriously.  I am just disappointed, even though I was able to force myself to run up The Hill around mile 9 (where I could still hear the ending of Toni Basil’s “Mickey”—so I was able to RUN up The Hill with a smile thinking that is the only song they play there!).  At least I knew I still had plenty of time to walk slowly and still get a medal.  I am not a quitter.  I am a Road Warrior! 

Today, I am wearing my old storm-trooper boot (aka AirCast), as I really can’t put any weight down on my left foot.  I am hoping it is not another stress fracture, maybe it is just one giant bursa sac ready to explode and causing me a lot of pain.  Yes, I have called the doctor, but I can’t get in until Wednesday, so two more days of sheer pain.  Hopefully it will be a quick fix and I can be out on the roads again soon.  I have too many fun races I want to do this fall!!!!   

Despite the pain today, I wouldn’t change a thing.  I had such a great experience as a Road Warrior.  I’d like to thank race director Kristen Aidif and her staff, especially Brooke, for treating us like Running Royalty.  I hope I have done the Road Warrior name justice!   

I’d also like to thank Fifth Third Bank, for continuing to sponsor such a great race here in our own community.   

Thanks to Coach Mike and Coach Terry, previous Road Warriors themselves.  It was so nice to get to know them both this year (again, in Mike’s case!) and feed off of their strength and encouragement (and wit!).   I hope we can keep in touch so I can continue to soak up their wisdom.

I’d like to thank the thousands of volunteers I know it takes to put on such a great event.  Aid Station #2, which was staffed by 5/3 Bank employees, was fantastic to me—shouting out my name and keeping me going with a smile (even my husband and kids were at that station—all helping pass out ice!).  Thanks to the cheerleaders from Grandville, East Kentwood, Rockford, and Christian High who came down to give us some rah-rahs—those really do help the runners!  Thanks, too, to the Wyoming Park Pep Band—what a great place to hear some band music, between mile 14 and the finish! 

Thanks to ALL of the aid stations—your words of encouragement were helpful!!!  And thanks to the people lining the streets—that means so much that you took your own time to keep us going—especially well after the winners crossed the lines.   

Thanks to those of you who have come back often to keep up with our journey.  I realize few of you post comments, but it is nice to know you are out there reading.  Nasreen, Lisa, and a few others whom I have seen comment but never got the chance to meet–thanks for supporting us–and know we were supporting you in return!  I hope you had great runs on Saturday, whether it was in the Riverbank or elsewhere in the state!

Thanks to my Mom, who came down to cheer me on and see me cross the finish line.  Sorry I took so long to get there, Mom!   Thanks to my Dad, who watched from Heaven above.  I carried his Air Force dog tag with me the whole way.  I knew he was there at mile two when I saw some runners with “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me” written on the backs of their shirts.  My dad used to quote that to me if I was having a rough day, and I found that passage tucked into his bible after he passed away.   Thanks to my brother and sister, whom I know have kept up with my verbosity here in the blogs.

Thanks to my husband, Rob, and to my three children, for giving me the time to train, the patience through my aches and pains, and the spirit to keep going strong.   

Thanks again to Gazelle Sports and to Brooks.  Gazelle’s supplied us with the outfits we got to sport at the expo fashion show on May 9, and Brooks gave us some awesome running jackets in the beginning of our training. 

And, of course, thanks to my fellow Road Warriors, Sole Sisters and other running friends.   The Road Warriors this year all came into the “team” for different reasons–each one inspiring in its own right.  I am proud of you all for your great accomplishment on May 10! 

I’m excited to keep up training with RunGazelle—what a terrific training resource!  Hopefully I will not have wasted my money by renewing for the remainder of the year only to find out I’ll be in a cast.  I will miss my time with the Road Warriors, and I will miss sharing my experiences with you all, but hopefully I will still keep in touch with the new friends I have made.   

It’s tough mentally to know I was capable of more on Saturday, but I still finished—and to the cheers of my family and my fellow Road Warriors—while in complete agony, but still with a smile on my face.  Would I do it again, even with the same outcome?  You bet.  There is nothing like crossing that finish line.   Perseverance makes us stronger in the end. 

Hope to see you out there next year–whether you are running, walking, or cheering people on!  Happy running!

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