Once I committed myself to the race, I got a coach. There are many great resources out there for training plans. Books have been written on specific training plans, a simple google search will bring you countless options. I’ve read the books and I’ve done the searches, but having a coach in your corner cannot be replicated. A coach gets to know you as a person and understands just exactly what makes you tick and what type of training will be best for you the individual. A coach can also safely navigate the rocky patches during a training cycle like injury or personal life issues that come up. I’m pretty sure Coach Meadors could write an entire blog post about what it’s like to train me as I dealt with personal stuff and injury stuff during this cycle.   

In my last blog post I wrote about my team. With all of the training, planning and organizing my friends and I did, you would think getting out of town would have been the easy part. My initial plan was to take the day off from work and take our time getting up to the race. With half of the 605 staff participating in Fargo and the other half taking finals, graduating or on leave with beautiful new babies it ended up being a pretty busy weekend. Taking the day off was ruled out pretty quick. After several travel discussions and a mild panic attack on my part we ended up splitting the band up for travel. Chelsea and I left around 1pm on Friday and made it to the expo to get everyone else’s packets, checked into the hotel and ordered food for the party to enjoy upon arrival. We stayed at the MyPlace Suites and took over the breakfast area for dinner. On the menu was Rhombus Guys pizza, just writing that makes me hungry all over again.

After dinner we took Benson over to his lodging for the evening. As an elite athlete Benson was assigned an apartment on the campus of NDSU. With the 5k event taking place in the evening some roads were closed which made it a bit of adventure to find where he was staying. Around every turn Benson would tell us a story of running in a particular area of Fargo and how nice it was. As the stories started to stack up and many laughs were had I asked Benson how many times he’d been to Fargo. His response caught us all off guard based on his stories,

“Once.”

After dropping the goofball off at his elite apartment we were back to the hotel for sleep.

I actually slept pretty well. My alarm was scheduled to go off at 4:30am. I got out of bed at 4:24am and started my race day. Being the first up I tried to be as silent as possible. I snuck into the bathroom to get some light. I put my race day kit on which was laid out the night before, followed by my sweats. From there I grabbed my pre-packaged breakfast from home and tried to sneak out of the room. My plan was to go to the breakfast area to heat up my oatmeal and drink coffee while Chelsea and Maren got some extra sleep. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a microwave down there so I had to return back to the room. Being a MyPlace Suites there was a large coffee maker and microwave in the room. Using as little light and trying not to make too much noise I prepared my oatmeal with bananas and peanut butter. Between the coffee pot gurgling and having to start microwave 3 separate times all hope was lost at not waking Chelsea and Maren.

We piled into our car and headed for the Fargodome just after 5:30am. Pre-race was pretty relaxed. I wasn’t feeling a lot of stress or anxiety. We were generally a pretty happy bunch, taking photos, stretching, visiting the restrooms and warming up. This was the most comfortable pre-race day I’ve ever had. Eventually, the time came to head to the floor of the dome, Chelsea and I said our goodbyes and wished each other luck on our respective races and away we went. It was a little comical how hard Chris, Scott and I had to work to get to the actual floor of the Fargodome, but we eventually figured out where we were going. After the national anthems we were ready to go. The gun went off and we made our way out of the dome and onto the streets.

For the first 5k Chris, Scott and I had all agreed that we couldn’t take it easy enough. We knew the beginning of a big race would be packed with people and we didn’t want to spend a lot of time trying to duck around people or running too hard so we casually got started running. Every once in awhile one of us would start to pull away from the group and we’d remind each other to pump the breaks and chill out. My first three miles were very comfortable: 8:39, 8:31 and 8:25. I desperately wanted to go out harder, but this was a good strategy for the group and we were able to stick together in a mass of people very well.

With that being said once the third mile buzzed on my watch I was ready to go and effortlessly clocked an 8:14. I felt some nerves from the guys, but I felt we were right where we wanted to be. We spent the next several miles cutting down, closer and closer to that 8 minute per mile mark. That is until just after the 8 mile mark. I had felt like I needed to pee while waiting for the starting gun. This isn’t abnormal for me and usually that feeling goes away and I chalk it up to nerves. Today, I actually had to go. I didn’t want to lose the group and I spent most of mile 8 thinking about how hard it would be to catch up to the guys. Finally, I had reached my breaking point and I mustered the most noble voice I could and told the guys,

“At the next aid station I gotta use the restroom, but I don’t want you to wait for me. I’ll catch-up, you’re doing great, don’t change a thing.”

Saying it out loud was hard, but it brought almost enough relief as an actual visit to the restroom might bring. Better still both Scott and Chris responded with,

“I gotta go too”

And so in almost perfect unison three dudes all standing over 6 feet tall running a marathon went to the bathroom together. We didn’t lose too much time either. Mile 9 we clocked at 8:50 with our bathroom visit, and mile 10 we clocked our first sub 8 mile. The race was very much on. At the half marathon point I reminisced to the guys that two years ago that would be a half marathon PR. Chris smiled and said,

“And now we are going to negative split that!”

Miles 14-17 flew past bouncing between sub 8 and right at 8 minute pace. We were moving forward fast and things were going pretty well. Around this time we started to hit some of the more difficult wind. The conditions took the life out of me and I could feel myself slowing down. I tried to deny what was happening and refused to give in. Somewhere during this point we lost Scott. Miles 18, 19 and 20 we dropped back down to 8:20’s for pace. Chris was incredible at this time. He would say things like,

“This is why we did all of those 5:30am runs”

“It still isn’t as bad as running through that snow storm”

Miles 21 - 24 I continued to slow down. The wind was relentless. A pace group would go past and Chris would suggest we latch on to them. I would try and I would fail. Benson and Tessa from the store were on the course and cheered their souls out for us - I couldn’t even manage a smile for them. My quads were burning up at this point. My GU reserves were depleted and even if I had more I wouldn’t want it. I had made it to the wall. Mile 25 was my breaking point. I was mad, I was sad, I felt like I had let everyone down. I told Chris I was gassed. I walked the aid station, chugged a cup of Poweraid and two cups of water and got over it. The finish was right there I had to get my butt in gear. The last mile was painful, but faster than the two previous miles.
As we approached the Fargodome the realization that I was about to PR the marathon began to sink in. I didn’t have a “kick” in me, but I was running and that made me happy. The announcer got my name right as we approached the finish line which was very refreshing. As I crossed the line I decided I could raise my hands as though I won something and that made me happy. It was done and the real fun was just about to begin.

It started with an awkward side hug from Chris. I’m not sure if he was simply holding me up or we were actually having an embrace. It was both. I was so stinking proud of this run, but I was in awe of the whole atmosphere. To my right in the stands was a wall of ladies from SFWR and to my left on the floor was my beautiful bride and my friends from the store. There may have been some other people in the Fargodome, but as far as I was concerned this was a Sioux Falls party. I couldn’t believe how many people stuck around to see the full marathon finish. I found Scott who finished just three minutes after us and gave him a hug. I found Chad who finished 7 minutes in front of us and gave him a hug. I was just so stinking happy at this point. As a guy that doesn’t give hugs, 3 hugs in a matter of minutes had me feeling like Oprah!

“You get a hug, and you get a hug!”

We went through the food line and I promptly grabbed a chocolate milk, a slice of pizza, two containers of cookie dough and two chocolate chip cookies. We made our way to the stands, talked about the run we all just finished. I found out that my friend and co-worker Tessa had won the women’s half marathon. We took pictures, we laughed, I wanted to cry, we took more pictures, I ate more food and eventually we got up to go home.

Fargo was an incredible race experience. I did not hit my goal time, but I did set a new personal record by 14 minutes and change. Training for this race has been truly remarkable and for the first time in my running career I didn’t want to die at the end of the marathon. Yes, I was sore, but not like in the past. I know I have a lot more to give in the marathon distance. When that next marathon will be is still to be determined. In the meantime I will joining Benson on June 9th in Green Bay, Wisconsin for the Bellin Run 10k. A distance I’ve never raced.

I’m so thankful to everyone that ran with me during this training cycle, sent me kind words throughout, cheered me on, watched my live tracker and came to the store to talk about the experience. I am truly humbled by the grace and beauty of our running community.             

​

​A friend of mine told me he swam for 90 minutes today.

He’s not training for an Ironman, or any triathlon.

He’s just nursing an injury to his ankle. We were briefly commiserating on our injuries, and I realized I was truly in the dumps if I was envious of swimming laps. Friends, I hate swimming. I’ve done triathlons, and they’re fine, and I love running and cycling (and especially love the recent partnership with 605 Running Co. and Spoke-N-Sport to promote both activities).
​
But swimming?

Just no. First of all, I’m terrible at it – awkward and inefficient (sort of how I am in general, too, in most of my activities of daily life). My brother in law is the swim coach at Williams College, and once I asked him to give me a few tips. He watched me swim. Looked thoughtful. Then offered a piece of advice:

“You know, you can move your legs.”

That was about it for me. That and the part where I’m just full on terrified of open water. I get all creeped out about what could touch me underwater (fish, plants, the feet of other swimmers, my own insecurities).

But I’m just over two weeks into this broken wrist, and while the level of pain has gone down, my level of depression about it just continues to rise. It would help if I could run, but the weird calf pull I had is still bothering me. I can walk all day and it doesn’t hurt, but after a few minutes of running, everything tightens up. I saw someone about it and hope to start physical therapy soon, or something.

I’ve been injured before – this is my seventh broken bone, I think – but for some reason this time is making me so much more frustrated. Or maybe it always does, and it’s just been so long I’ve forgotten about how it plays with your emotions. And it’s not like it won’t heal – none of this is permanent.
But to see the green grass and the bike path and the leaves coming in, and to know that I won’t be out there for a few weeks still has been tough.

At this point, I would welcome a 90-minute swim. Or a 30-minute pool run. Anything except this nothingness.

The other night, I came home from work and felt like I couldn’t get out of bed. I haven’t felt that way in a while, and it’s not a good feeling. It was sunny and still and gorgeous out. I wanted to trail run. Or ride my bike. Do yoga on the back patio. Something.

Instead, we went for a walk.

Made salads.

Sat on the deck and played backgammon.

It was a wonderful evening, and I was grateful for it.

But the next morning was crisp and cool and still, and I couldn’t make myself just go take a walk. We were leaving for another few days, and my arm hurt, and I told myself just rest, and start it all over again when you get back.

Well, we’re back.

I’m going to set up a bike trainer in the garage, I think, so if you see me pedaling in there and watching the cars go by, wave. I plan to meet a friend to run tomorrow, knowing that we might end up just walking instead. And I’ll go to the Thursday evening group run at Good Earth State Park, my favorite spring and summer tradition, and run as long as I can. Another friend is meeting me there, and she’s not a runner, so we’ll hike around.

Just like when you’re in the thick of training, you surround yourself with others who can keep you motivated and challenge you, I’m trying to make myself accountable to the people I love and who love me. I know it will help. It always does.

And sometimes you just need to make a plan, stick to it, and let your bones and emotions and life knit itself all back together again.
​
I’m trying.

​Jacqueline Palfy is a longtime runner, reader and writer, marathoner, mom and board member of the nonprofit Sioux Falls Area Running Club. Her contributions to the 605 Running Co. blog will appear every other Tuesday. You can follow her on Twitter @runnerJPK or reach her at [email protected]. Story ideas are encouraged.

​This weekend I will be participating in the Fargo Marathon. The marathon distance is something I’ve really struggled with in the past; especially my last effort in Houston. In many ways I’m out to avenge my previous effort. To do that I’ve had a pretty amazing team helping me get ready for the Fargo Marathon. Today on the blog I’ve decided to compare my team to characters from the Avengers. Why? Because it is really fun. I cannot say thank you to these characters enough and what they have meant in my journey so this, in my own weird way is the best I can do today.

​Coach Jacqui Meadors is Maria Hill. Maria Hill is the Deputy Director of SHIELD. She is a character in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) that is known for being clearheaded and tough minded. She is one of the characters that works in the shadows and is often times the right hand of Nick Fury. Will get into him later. I think this character works for Coach Meadors because Maria Hill isn’t afraid of anything or any opponent. While she doesn’t have any official super powers that doesn’t stop her from taking names and kicking butt when she needs to. In similar regard Coach is a highly decorated runner, but for as talented of an athlete that she is, she just may be a better coach. Coach has successfully guided me through injury, doubts and mental blocks throughout training.

​Ben Kohls is Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye. Fans were totally surprised in the Avengers: Age of Ultron movie to discover that Hawkeye had a secret family. When I first met Ben at the Saturday morning group run at 605 Running Company I literally ran with him for weeks before learning he had 6 kids! Hawkeye is another character that doesn’t technically have any super powers, but fans have grown to love this character and his humor. This character fits Ben so well. He has a very dry humor and he is always working to insure that the group we run with is truly a team. He genuinely cares about people and wants to see them succeed. Plus he is pretty dang fast with an appropriate GIF in a text train.

​Chris Anderson is Steve Rogers AKA Captain America. Cap. Is known as the first avenger. Anyone that enjoys our Wednesday evening group run has Chris Anderson to thank. When our store first opened Chris came to many-a-group-run events where he was the only participant. His dedication can easily be compared to Steve Rogers trying time and time again to join the service in Captain America: The First Avenger. I’m not going to say that the CA Not On Instagram has been genetically altered to have super powers, but he has a great way of running most any pace and any distance with anyone and everyone that shows up to a group run at 605 Running Company or at Good Earth on Thursdays. Plus if you ever do a long run with Chris he usually has chocolate milk for everyone at the finish. How Captain America is that!

​Maren Ernst is Bruce Banner AKA The Hulk. Imagine a character that is highly intelligent and downright witty one minute and a complete rage monster the next. Maren like Bruce is very smart and truly cares about people, but trust me you don’t want to see her when she is angry. Thankfully she is on our team and usually takes that rage out on a workout. Proving time-and-time again that she is one of the most talented runners I know Maren is the key to our training team, just like the Hulk is the key to the Avengers success. She usually keeps the group accountable by planning early morning runs and isn’t afraid to push the pace while saying she is dying at the same time. Like the Hulk gets stronger the madder you make him, Maren gets faster on most runs. 

​Coach Benson Langat is Nick Furry. Nick Furry is the man behind the scenes that creates the Avengers Initiative. The model that brings all of the hero’s together. Similar to the Wizard of Oz, Benson is behind the curtain pushing buttons and motivating each of us in his own way. Like Nick Furry he has his own team of elite agents (I’m looking at you Nic Penning, Bobby Brockmueller, Matt Horan, Dylan Slaba, Jordin Kopplow and Tessa Stoltenberg) that he usually works with, but he is very connected to our hero’s as well and you never know when he will show up and join us for a run or crew a Sunday long run.

This core group has made training truly fun. Some honorable mentions include Steven Burdick as Iron Man, Scott Kennedy as Star Lord, Nicole Black as Spider Man, Dan Zelenak as Quicksilver, Chad Brower as Vision and Nate Schwab as Doctor Strange. I’ve learned so much about myself and the power of surrounding yourself with good people. Working at the running store I get to see a lot of running groups come together. I’m always jealous of how connected they seem to be. I’d like to give a shout out to Jeroni, the local Hogwarts Running Club, the Sexy Pacers, the Kiwanis Hill group and all of the other amazing groups of runners supporting each other. I think this is a great indication of how strong our running scene is here. Our community has grown to support the Sioux Falls Area Running Club and Sioux Falls Women Run in a way that was simply not imaginable in years past. This weekend I’m traveling to run a race and I’m very proud to represent this great city! To all of my friends running with me this weekend lets go kick some butt! 

​Greg Koch is the General Manager/Co-Owner of the 605 Running Company. When he is not at the store he volunteers on the Sioux Falls Marathon Board and Co-Coaches his church softball co-ed team. Greg is an avid runner and enjoys being outdoors whenever possible. Follow Greg on Instagram @gregrun605

​I had grand plans for this post.
 
I’m fresh off a two-week trip to Italy that started with work and ended with vacation. We should have Strava(ed) our tourism, but I swear we walked 10 miles a day, more the two days we got so lost we actually walked in circles trying to figure out where we were.
 
I had let my calf heal – it seized up tromping through knee-high snow the last time I ran in late April, a maddening development after choosing to not go to Zumbro in an effort to avoid injury.
 
My plan was to post about how I was ready to dive back into training for the Black Hills 50 in June. About how happy I was to come home to green grass, blue skies and the promise of spring in South Dakota. I was so sad when I left for vacation. It was grey and cold and then all the late April snow just made me miserable. I felt myself sinking.
 
But then I left for a while, took time to unlearn all I’ve learned, for this life to unwind, as the song says, and came back to the city I love in a season I adore. 

​I woke up on Sunday feeling way less jet-lagged than I thought I would, and headed to Good Earth for a trail run. I knew re-entry to running would be tough – feeling out of shape and tired and just bleh. But I also knew I love the trails and the woods and time alone. I didn’t bring music. After weeks of being surrounded by crowds and people, I wanted to just be.  Me. My breathing. Footfall after footfall.
 
I got it, for a while, until my calf began to cramp up. I walked up the hills, found Patrick at the top. He had ridden out, hiked around with me for a while, and then I dropped down onto the paths again and ran another 20 minutes. When I finished, slightly despondent, there he was, staring at a tire on his bike that had just randomly blown off.
 
We threw it in the car, drove home.
 
Patrick put a new tire on, and we corralled the kids for an afternoon ride. We randomly caught up with the Harlan’s Bike & Tour ride, and headed to Riverdale Park to enjoy a beautiful day with everyone we know.
 
On the way, Viv pumped her way up a little hill, so proud of herself that she could stand up and ride now. “Go, Viv, you can do it,” I said as I pedaled next to her.
 
Then I watched as she slowed down, began to stop and the bike leaned toward me. She laid it down, and stepped through to the other side.
 
Meanwhile, as I hyper focused on making sure she wasn’t going to fall, I came to a near standstill, riding uphill with my feet clipped in. I did the slow fall, put an arm out to stop me, felt a pain so intense I got nauseated immediately.
 
Viv began to cry, “I’m sorry!”
 
“It’s OK, it’s not your fault,” I said. It wasn’t. It was an accident.
 
“Can you ride,” Patrick asked.
 
I wasn’t sure. “Just go to the park, and I’ll meet you there,” I said.
 
My stomach was turning, my arm hurt and I felt flushed and awful and needed to be alone for a minute. He and Jack rode ahead. Viv walked over the bridge with me, got on her bike on the other side and gave me a moment alone. I got on. Rode with one hand. Laid my bike in the grass in the shade and sunk down next to it.
 
“I think I should go get the car,” Patrick said.
 
“I’m fine,” I said. “I just need a few minutes.”
 
About a decade ago, I fell off my bike near Brandon and fractured my elbow. I didn’t know it at the time, just that it hurt. I rode home and went to work that day. I asked myself if this fall hurt as badly, and I couldn’t tell.
 
Finally, as it swelled up as I sat there, I gave in.
 
“Can you ride with Jack and get the car,” I said.
 
“Yes, I’ve just been waiting for you to realize that,” Patrick said.
 
They rode off, came back with the car, ice and a Diet Coke.
 
“That’s love,” I said about the pop.
 
We climbed in, went home and I sat and iced it. Outside, some neighborhood kids climbed onto the playset in our yard, and it immediately snapped. It had been listing to the north for about a year, and this was the end. The kids were fine, but it was clear: It had to come down.
 
Patrick and Jack took it apart.
 
My wrist continued to swell.
 
My mood continued to deteriorate.
 
We all went to sleep, a rotting pile of wood in the middle of the back yard, a wrist growing more and more disfigured as the evening wore on, two kids with feet already stained with the grass green and black dirt of summer.
 
“This day was so weird,” Patrick said.
 
“I know,” I replied. “I’m afraid to do anything. It’s been all wildly inconvenient.”
 
I woke up and everything hurt. I iced. Ibuprofened. Took a shower. The kids did their best to help themselves. We all left the house.
 
By noon at work, my wrist was weird shapes and things were turning purple. It clicked when I turned it. I went to the walk-in clinic, where they did X-rays. Every step of the way, I considered leaving. There’s no way it’s broken. I jammed it a few years ago and it felt the same, and that was just a sprain.
 
I kept almost just leaving.
 
Then the physician’s assistant came back in, Eric Bannworth, a runner I know, and said, “It’s broken.”
 
“You’re kidding,” I said.
 
Then I let loose a string of expletives unfit for a family blog.
 
Thankfully he’s a runner, and we’ve been acquaintances for years, and he got it. He knows how frustrating it is when what you do for stress relief requires your body to be in working condition. I had consoled myself with my calf injury by replacing it with riding for a few weeks. At least I’d still be outside. Moving.
 
Now?
 
A month in a cast. A visit with a hand doctor. A calf that’s still sore.
 
No running until that heals (the worst). A Memorial Day bike packing trip that likely won’t happen. A trip across the country with both kids that will surely suck as we run through airports, dragging them behind to make our connections. No yoga.
 
It’s hard to not be frustrated.
 
But here we are.
 
The kids promised they would help me out. Patrick made dinner from a recipe I set out for him. Jack ate sweet potatoes in an effort to be kind – and liked them.
 
The lights are on over the deck. I opened a bottle of white wine. I’m listening to Internet radio.
 
I told myself this is the month the kids learn to be more self-sufficient. No time like the present.
 
I can finish my overdue library books.
 
I’ve been here before – injured, cracked bones, torn muscles.
 
We all have.
 
It all heals.
 
We all heal.
 
In time.

​​Jacqueline Palfy is a longtime runner, reader and writer, marathoner, mom and board member of the nonprofit Sioux Falls Area Running Club. Her contributions to the 605 Running Co. blog will appear every other Tuesday. You can follow her on Twitter @runnerJPK or reach her at [email protected]. Story ideas are encouraged.

​Jacqueline Palfy is a longtime runner, reader and writer, marathoner, mom and board member of the nonprofit Sioux Falls Area Running Club. Her contributions to the 605 Running Co. blog will appear every other Tuesday. You can follow her on Twitter @runnerJPK or reach her at [email protected]. Story ideas are encouraged.