National 30K results and catch up

Wow, it's been a while since I posted.  I guess that's because things have been so up and down lately and I've barely known which way is up.  And training has been at times nonexistent.   I started having major problems with my stomach, lots of pain and cramping that would lead to desperately needing the restroom during a workout and leave me feeling completely depleted and have no energy.  The episodes were taking all my electrolytes, so once that happened I was toasted.  After a race in Ohio I had an episode with a ton of blood and that got us a bit worried so I went to the doctor. 

The doctor referred me to a specialist.  He ordered a bunch of tests including an endoscopy and colonoscopy, yay!!!!!  It definitely could've been worse, but not a ton of fun.  All the tests came back negative, which on the one hand was good, but on the other still left me not knowing why my stomach was hurting so much and why I couldn't get through a long workout. 

Long story short, after working with another doctor (because the specialist actually still hasn't called me with those results, I had to find out from my GP, even though the test was around 2.5 weeks ago...) and we figured that I had some sort of parasite.  It could've been left over from all the antibiotics I took back in January/February.  I had been feeling for a few months like I was constantly almost getting strep throat again and exhausted and really just wanting to lay on the couch.  I had some good training in Hungary and that probably lowered my immune system enough that it tipped me just a bit over the edge. 

I've since gone on some natural antibiotics and some herbs and stuff.  And thank goodness, I FINALLY AM FEELING BETTER!!!!!   I feel more like my old self than I have at all this year.  The stupid strep throat really took my body for a ride.  I hadn't felt good all year.  So it's nice to finally be having some energy again.   My stomach is still hurting but we figured that is actually caused by stress.  So I'm trying to manage that.  I've had some days where I almost feel like I'm having a panic attack and just have to sort of chill, but I think it's getting under control. 

I was both looking forward to and dreading the 30K.  I really want to be in good shape, but training has been spotty.   I figured I'd go to have fun and see what I could do and just think about it as a good training walk.  The nice thing was with multiple athletes racing, one who is pretty new, I had lots of things to focus on before the race other than me.  :)  More about them soon!

The race started off and I got into a nice comfortable groove.  I hoped I could keep it up, but I wanted to push the whole race so I kept the foot off the pedal a little.  I was feeling good through 10K, and wasn't thinking hardly at all since I was spending most of the time trying to get Lydia to follow her race plan, so time flew by.  At 15K I was still feeling great.  I did my second 10K faster than my first to finish off my 20K.  Around 22K I started to catch up to Maria who had walked a hard 20K and was doing a 10K chaser/cool down to finish off the 30K.  I decided that was good motivation to keep pushing and caught up to her and chatted for a bit and pulled a way a bit.  Basically I had unlapped myself from her.  It was a nice mental push to keep going and I ended with my last 10K being my fastest.  My 5K splits were as follows:

28:56, 28:50, 28:40, 28:33, 28:07, 28:32
Which gave me 10K splits of:
57:46, 57:13 and 56:39
And halves of:
1:26:26, 1:25:14

Really couldn't be much happier with that.  But the best part of the day was what my athletes did!!!

First up is Dave!!!  At the age of 59 he qualified for his 4th Olympic Trials event walking a single age best of 5:07:26!!!!  That got him 7.5 minutes under the qualifying time.  He raced super smart, starting off really easy and controlled.  He maybe started to make his move just a little early and slowed just a smidge his last 6K, but he looked strong and smooth throughout.  Never did he look like he was death marching.  I couldn't be more proud of him!

Lydia came through in a new 50K PB breaking 5 hours for the first time!  Her time of 4:56:48 is really solid and expect more to come from her!  Especially once we get her to really commit to following her race plan!

Siobhan is relatively new to race walking, having just started this summer.  This was her second race walking race and first time she's really been away from her family.  She handled it like a champ and did over a 5 minute personal best at the 5K distance!  Which is HUGE!  She still has to learn to have faith and believe in herself and she's going to start really turning some heads!

AJ also did a 50K.  We've been working on his nutrition plan and had great success with that.  It ended up being his second fastest 50K ever, so pretty darned happy about that.  A solid foundation is being laid that's going to really push him forward come January and the 50K Olympic Trials! 

Adrianna wasn't at the 30K, but did a local 5K race and broke 30 minutes.  She's another one that's going to be surprising some people soon!

For the national 30K  Siobhan won the 5K.  I came in second overall in the 50K and first masters, Lydia was 3rd overall and 2nd master.  AJ was second overall and Dave was third overall and first master.  AJ was the second male 50K finisher and Lydia was third overall and first female in the 50K.  Not a bad haul for the day!  Seeing how hard they work definitely inspires me to keep working too! 

Onward and upward.  Keep working hard, keep pushing, never lose sight of your dreams!