The Petra Zone

Hiya PetHeads.

Hope you can spare a little prayer for safety and strength for me Saturday morning, as I run the Lake City Marathon.

I have had incredible and very abnormal challenges in preparing for this race, and it will be one of the hardest ones I have ever done. I was in a car accidnet in February, and lost 6 weeks of training to back injuries (which have been treated by ex-Petra member/fabulous chiropractor Greg Hough!) and the flu. Then just this past week, I contracted food poisoning. I am just getting back to normal eating, and the race is Saturday!

I'll get you guys know how it went sometime next week.

Jen

I read about your adventure with food poisoning in your online diary...Hey, anything on the Internet where I can find it and read it is fair game...Online diaries are too much fun for a nosy person like me... Food poisoning is no fun, I've had it a couple of times, and then to get it just before you have a big event really stinks. I hope everything goes well.

OK, I survived this thing, even with being sick all week and having a 20 degree F air temperature hike during the race...

My goal was to do my 26.2 miles between 5 and a half hours and 6 hours, just take it easy, and finish without any major problems. Maybe even have a little fun... I am happy to say did just that! I made all the right choices today, from clothing to what food I'd carry to when to walk to when to leave the person I was running with behind. I chose to wear a walkman and that helped me for the miles I was all alone, since there were only 80 runners in my race. I took a salt tab every hour and then ate a little peanut butter sandwich bite or some fruit about every 45 minutes. I also had some candy at around 18 and again around 23 miles. My finish time was in my target range, a pleasant 5:56:58. I am thrilled to say, even with my really awful season of training, I had no cramps, no upset stomach, no dizziness, and never hit any type of wall. I also recovered in around a half an hour, and never once had to sit on the ground. 45 minutes after the race, I was walking around and stretching in nice cool Center Lake (in lieu of an ice bath, I can actually tolerate this!) I even felt good enough to go with John to something interesting in Fort Wayne and we even walked to dinner last night. I'm a little stiff this morning, but not anywhere near what I would have expected... Anyhow, I am pleased!

Thanks for the support. I am doing a half marathon in 2 weeks and another full marathon, this one in Ohio, in 4 weeks...

Jen