Antarctica Half Marathon

Aside form completing the 6 World Major Marathons and a Half Marathon in all 50 United States, I want to run on all 7 continents. So, a few years ago (pre-COVID), I joined the 7 Continents Club. I guess I never read the fine print. It took one of the marathon trips with Marathon Tours and Travel to realize that the rules for the Travel Seven Continents Club is that the races need to be all marathons or all half marathons to meet the seven continents club criteria. Well, after several problems with my IBD while training for the marathons, I decided that six would be it for me. I don't want to take medicine just to finish running a marathon on every continent. In all honesty, even the last 2 half marathons had my IBD in a flare. one of these was the half on Antarctica.

Marathon Tours and Travel has been offering the Antarctica Marathon and Half Marathon since 1995. I have been booked for this race since 2018!!! I was supposed to go in March 2019, but I had just finished the Tokyo Marathon in February 2019, so I postponed the race until 2020. I don't think there were any races on Antarctica in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID. I made a decision in November 2021 to push out my Antarctica trip scheduled for 3/2022 to 3/2023. I needed to schedule knee surgery for a partially torn meniscus. It is a good thing I did because Omicron hit the ship hard in 3/2022. Several people did not race. Ugh, could you imagine going all that way and not being able to race?

It is really hard to get to Antarctica - it is no joke. Aside from getting to Antarctica, physically, it was hard for me to go on an emotional level. I had to listen to Zach Williams song, "Fear is a Liar" over and over and over when I trained. I was nervous, but I had to lay these fears down at God's Feet. 

• You can't compete anymore - your knee surgery wasn't successful. You still have pain.
• You are so slow. This race is challenging. You have to climb hill after hill after hill. you will never make it.
• How dare you put yourself in harms way. You just lost your Dad. You want your family to mourn you as well?
• How dare you risk your life and travel to Antarctica - you know you're still your kids' only parent.
• You are so selfish - Ron is trying to be supportive in spite of the fact that you know he gets seasick.
• What if you have IBD problems on Antarctica? There are no bushes you can run into.
• It doesn't matter how far you run, where you run, you will never get over that pain.

I had to trust in God. I trust Him and pray that I am on a path that He wants me to be on, fail or succeed, as long as I bring glory to Him. My goal was to run the whole half marathon, regardless of how slow I was, regardless of all my fears, and all the awful lies.

The Marathon Tours Antarctica trip starts in Buenos Aires. I was pretty beat up physically by the time I got to Buenos Aires. I feel I over trained and my IBD was flaring. I did not participate in any outside runs, but I did some treadmill runs a few times at the hotel. Buenos Aires is super hot - and even the gym was hot and humid. So running on the treadmill was challenging. Of course there was a welcome dinner. I met a lot of great runners, and their friends and family. My IBD issues persisted in Buenos Aires, despite only running 3 miles here and there on the treadmill. It seemed that no matter what I ate - nothing was agreeing with me. After 3 days in Buenos Aires, we flew a small plane to Ushuaia. 

Ushuaia is beautiful. It is appropriately named, "Fin del Mundo", The End of the World, as it is the southern most city in the southern hemisphere. 

Fin Del Mundo!

We tooled around for a few hours and had lunch at a super cute cafe before we boarded the Ocean Victory. Mind you, the Ocean Victory is an expedition ship - not like a luxury cruise line. It pales in size to a Norwegian, Carnival or Princess Cruise ships. This makes for quite the experience navigating through the Beagle Channel and the Drake Passage. 

The Ocean Victory

Not quite the National Geographic Ship either . . .

I psyched myself up. I told myself it would be a great trip. Ron and I were in God's hands. We had the world on a string and we were sitting on a rainbow! We even filmed ourselves dancing  - no one had any idea what demons I fought to get to that dance! Ron was so supportive. Thanks, Ron!

Once you get through the Beagle Channel, you sail through the Drake Passage, which is the body of water between South America's Cape Horn, Chile, Argentina and then the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. The Drake Passage connects the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean with the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean and extends into the Antarctic Ocean. The Drake Passage is considered one of the most treacherous voyages for ships to make. Currents at its latitude meet no resistance from any landmass, so waves can top 40 feet, hence its reputation as "the most powerful convergence of seas". We didn't experience 40 feet swells, thankfully, but 25 feet swells was enough for me. You know it's rough when the crew places vomit bags throughout the stairwells and there are only a few left moments later! Most people wore the motion sickness patch behind the ear. Ron and I used ginger tablets. It wasn't so much the rocking as it was the rocking side to side WITH a big rise on top of a wave with the sudden fall of the wave. Ron nearly fell out of bed one night. I nearly fell out of bed another night. To me, it was rough!

What made it worse was since the winds were so strong, we did not reach land for three days. We were supposed to race on Sunday, but with the winds so strong, we had to do the trip backwards, and the race was rescheduled for Wednesday. Of course, no matter how clean I eat, additional stress like this, resulted in major Crohn's difficulties. As mentioned above, from the training and likely the passing of my Dad, I was already inflamed. I started to drink black coffee in the AM with the gluten free bread I brought and a little almond butter, which I also brought. During the day, I would hardly eat anything, and for dinner, I would order one baked potato, grilled chicken (no soy or corn oil) and steamed vegetables. I drank lots of green tea. I was not very social - due to my embarrassing urgency issues, but the one morning we sat down with some folks from New Zealand. Ugh - I had to keep excusing myself. I lost count at how many times I got up from breakfast after the fifth or sixth time! When we were finally able to make a Zodiac boat land expedition, I was nervous my stomach would get me in trouble. In fact during every Zodiac expedition we made in the morning and every zodiac cruise we made in the afternoon, I prayed my IBD would behave. 

Still, having a biology and environmental science background, I felt blessed in spite of my IBD issues. I saw some of the most amazing glaciers, cruised around brash icebergs, saw Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins, Fur and Elephant seals, as well as Blue, Fin, and Humpback whales! It was amazing! As we toured around the Shetland Islands and up to King George Island, where the race was planned, I took in the most amazing sights - beautiful sunrises, rainbows, and sunsets.

Penguin Welcome Wagon!!!

Beautiful Antarctica Glaciers

Remember M.A.S.H. ?

Seal Sunbathing

Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins

Beautiful Rainbows

Zodiac Cruise Among Icebergs

Finally, race day came. Since Ron was not running, he offered to volunteer setting up the race. I think Ron left at 4:30AM on a Zodiac ship. 

I was, of course doing my pre-race morning thing: Drinking coffee, eating homemade grain free banana bread, drinking lots of water, foam rolling, and eventually planning my medicine - prescription Imodium. That morning, I planned 1-tablet every hour after my morning routine. We were supposed to leave at 6AM, but the winds were too strong. I believe we left at 8AM. I felt blessed to be able to have a few more hours for the medicine to settle in.

We were called, like we were all week long, by color group, to the locker room. Every Zodiac cruise was completed in an orderly fashion. On race day, we made our way to the locker rooms wearing race gear - tights, sneakers, under layer, fleece layer, hat, rain jacket, dry outer pants layer. 

Locker rooms with Gear for Zodiac Excursions

Once in the locker room, we put our sneakers in our dry bag, got on our high top water boots on, put on our parkas, then the life vests and gloves. Before entering onto the Zodiac cruise ship, we had to dunk our boots in Virkon, to make sure we weren't bringing any bacteria or viruses onto the land in Antarctica. 

Race Day Zodiac Landing

Getting to the Starting Line

Ready To Run_ YADAH (Hands to God with Praise)!

To say the Antarctica Half was the toughest half marathon that I have ever run would be an understatement! I am telling you, it was tough, but not just one reason made it tough, it was for several reasons:

1. You did not run on pavement - you were on rocks and gravel. At some points, you were running through mud or hopping over puddles, that eventually became mudier as the day went on since the half race is an out and back three times and six times for the marathon. 
2. It is relentlessly hilly. Some so steep that the rocks and gravel crumble under your sneakers, making it hard to gain traction - especially as the legs get tired. It was the first race where I felt my legs and glutes burning as I climb/ran to the top if each hill.
3. There was a point during the race, where there was a mud lake. I must have faded out when approaching it, likely glucose-deprived, and I panicked. I yelled to a few runners or volunteers, "Where should I go?" They pointed to come towards them, around the mud and up another hill. It wore on me after awhile!
4. There were no water stops, you could not bring a cup - you could drop off bottles at certain points, but then you were responsible for bringing them back too. Since Ron was a volunteer, he kept my water bottle by the start/finish/turnaround point. I didn't drink water the first out and back, just the second time around. It was so cold, it burned going down. The last out and back, I decided to not drink the water.

No Matts - Jumping over these wires became more difficult with each turnaround!

No Mattas - Just Wires!

During the first loop, I gave Ron my windbreaker and gloves. Later, towards the turn around, my hands felt very cold. Ron asked if I wanted water or the gloves before my last loop. I said no to both. I instantly regretted passing on the gloves. 

Towards the turnaround, you climb up the side of a hill. The wind was very strong. My hands were very cold and my chest burned when I was breathing. The last leg back, I was still hanging with a young runner from NYC. I was yelling go to the left, to the right, everytime a mud puddle would come up. 

Somewhere along those last few miles, I got super dizzy. I was also very nauseous. I think being on the boat for three days -  rocking, being dehydrated from the IBD, and then running this very hilly half, constantly looking down to prevent landing in the mud or turning an ankle - made me super dizzy. I had to slow  - and had to walk a little - I was afraid I was going to pass out in the mud. I kept thinking how awful it would be if I landed flat on my face, in the mud.

I screamed a few times, "Keep running," to stay focussed and to stop thinking about the dizziness. I scared a few people around me. 

The very last hill, I slowed to a walk. I thought, "Catch your breath enough so that you can run up and over the top and all the way through to the finish line. Let Ron see you come in at full stride.

"Start now? No, walk a few more steps . . ."

"Start now? No, walk a few more steps . . ."

"Start now? No, walk a few more steps . . ."

"Start now? Yes . .  full on sprint up and over the hill to the finish! You got this girl!" So my knees were crying in pain, but I planned finishing with a smile on my face, hands to God and praise on my lips!

Antarctica Half Marathon Finisher 2023

Since there are only 100 people allowed on the island at one time, as soon as you finish, they want you off the island. Then, the next bunch of runners can land and start their race. 

Ron had to help me get undressed and dressed. My hands were frozen. In fact, for a few days, I could not feel my fingers and they tingled. Ron helped untie my sneakers, zip my dry pants over the waterproof pants, zip up the blue parka, and buckle my life preserver. 

Struggling with Getting My Sneakers Untied

Then off to walk through the cold water and onto the zodiac boat and back to the ship. I remember the zodiac driver saying, "C'mon, hop up and swing your legs in!" To which I replied, "What legs?" 

Mission Accomplished, Headed Back!

I finished 4th female overall, first in my age group (50-59). 2:25:38 My slowest and most difficult half marathon!

Of Course, Never Forget!

Holding Back the Tears #notenoughroad

Ron and I had a good cry. It took awhile before I got warm. Marathoners who had not left yet were asking me lots of questions:

Was it cold?

What should I wear?

Am I overdressed?

What was it like?

Is it muddy?

Are there lots of hills?

Was it difficult?

It is indescribable. Painful and gleeful, lots up ups, lots of downs - just like life!

Until next post, 

Train Hard,

Run Happy,

Run To Inspire

and God Bless America!

3

State #44: Iowa

I went to Iowa and ran The Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon! I had to run this race. I so desperately wanted the race shirt. Get this, it is a picture of a Hillbilly, with a corn husk pipe running with a straw hat and boots. 

I Had to Have this Shirt!

I never told this story publicly, but a few years ago, pre-COVID, when I owned a wellness center with cryotherapy and my nutrition office, a runner came in. He wanted to use the Normatec Compression boots. Love these boots! I think Hypervolt bought Normatec now, but this was 2019. This runner made me very upset because he accused me of . . . 

1. "Cherry Picking" races so that I could place in my age group.
2. Running small local races because I wanted to place in my age group.

First, I have run plenty of large races. I was never too afraid to enter all of the World Major marathons knowing I would not place in my age group. I have run many large half marathon races - like the Oklahoma City Memorial Half, Boston's Run to Remember, DC Rock 'n Roll Half, Lady's Speedstick Half in Nashville, and Rock Hall of Fame in Ohio - in major cities - most of which I placed in my age group might I add!!! I may have chosen one race over the next in the beginning, like the first 10 or 15 states, but after awhile - and those of you who have tried to run a race in every state know this - time, scheduling, injuries, family, other goals in life, etc. don't allow you to have the luxury of "cherry-picking" a race. So, no dear, this is not true!

Second, I like the small town races. I like the post run exploration of local brewpubs, craft beers, whiskey halls, etc.. I loved when the older veterans came out to play taps on Veteran's Day in Indiana. I loved watching the kids jump into Lake Michigan from the Black Rock Cliffs in Marquette after running in Marquette. It is so beautiful in that part of our country. Hey, if I want to go to a big city, I can hop on the path train or drive the 12 miles to Manhattan any day of the week. After running some half marathons throughout America, what I realized is, I want to know what it is like in the smaller suburbs. I want to know what it is like in the small towns that make up the heartland of America.

Fast forward  . . . 

Yes, Iowa is in the books. It was pouring rain and cold. I was 11 months post knee surgery and 2 weeks post COVID. Yup, that's right, I had a torn meniscus repair, repair of torn cartilage, and two weeks before I ran this half, I got COVID for the first time. 

Not the greatest weather for the Hillbilly Hike Half. In fact, this is on their Facebook page:

See that - I am a Hillbilly Warrior - and don't you forget it!

I was better prepared to run this race versus Tokyo. I actually went to REI the day before and bought this waterproof jacket. My hands were still freezing, and when the race was over, I regretted not bringing a change of clothes. All I could think is how beautiful this race must be when the weather isn't so cold and rainy.

The course takes place on the Somerset Trail. The race starts in Indianola at Indianola High School and ends in Indianola at Carlsile. The trail was flat through woodlands, farmlands, and wetlands. I am glad it was flat because my knee was still giving me a good deal of pain. 

Got Air Cover! You Can Not Make This Stuff Up!

Miss You, Karen!

At the end of the race, they served biscuits and gravy. Ron was in his glory!

I came in fourth in my age group. I ran 2:06:01. This was a 9:37 min/mile. Not bad post knee surgery and post COVID! 

Slow, But Strong!

If you watch the Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon Finish on You Tube you will see my poor little hobble trying to get myself over the finish line. That's okay. I realized, soon after I watched my Dad struggle through Stage 4 Congestive Heart Failure, it's okay to be slow, because even though I may be slow, I know I'm strong.

After the race, I had French Toast! I hadn't had French Toast in decades! I threw all (Crohnny IBD) caution to the wind and splurged! Of course I shivered the entire time in Crouse Cafe because I forgot to bring a change of gear! The Crouse Cafe was jam packed with people! No breakfast pun intended! It was quite possibly the best French Toast I have ever eaten! Of course, I needed to replenish my sodium and potassium stores too . . . 

So Yummy!
Cheers!

Next stop, hot shower! Like my post Tokyo rainy, cold, marathon shower, this one had to be the best post half marathon shower . . .

Thawed Out, Time to Celebrate!

Time to eat, again, of course. or as Ron says, "Time to feed the machine!!!" LOL! So, I googled some restaurants. We drove to Des Moines, and stumbled upon this restaurant:

More Air Cover!

We walked in and said, "Lunch for 2 people." The waitress said, "Sit anywhere." I said, "Welcome to Iowa!" No matter what time of day, day of the week, in North Jersey, you always have to wait for a table. 

Johnny's was great! 

Great food, great beer, and the service was also great!

Iowa is very pretty. Iowa is the only state bordered by two navigable rivers; the Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi River to the east. The capital of Iowa is Des Moines. Iowa's nickname is the Hawkeye state. Iowa is a big farm state and of course, it is known for corn, lost and lots of corn.

Here's to finishing Iowa, State #44!

Woohoo!

Until next post, 

Train Hard,

Run Happy,

Run To Inspire

and

God Bless America!