McMillanElite :: Paige Higgins
Entry #186 The first month and a half of this year has been already so full I’m excited to see what the rest holds. It started with Brett and I running Houston. Fourth fastest debut ever for Brett and a great start for me. Alvina running Rock and Roll Phoenix, running a 5 minute PR!!! Jordan got the “A” World’s standard in the 3k for indoor. Emily and Jordan are racing again this weekend and I’m excited and inspired by both of them. Emily has worked harder and maintained more focus this past year than most people can do over multiple lifetimes. Her dedication to this sport and doggedness through injuries has been an inspirational journey to watch. She is one heck of an athlete and an even better person. Emily…thank you and I hope you dominate this weekend! Entry #177 Hmmmm….now for someone who could pretty much talk to a wall for a good hour and be totally entertained, I find myself blanking on what to write about this blog. Everyone has pretty much left town for the Holidays. I am unable to go home for the first time ever. I’m trying to not listen to “I’ll be home for Christmas” too many times, it seems to be on the “repeat” button in my head anyway. Entry #157 This past week I was able to go home and spend time with my WHOLE family…Patrick is home from Afghanistan!! It’s been a long time the Higgins’/Sharkey’s were all together, I think a little over 10 months. That might not be long for some, but for me, it seems like an eternity. My family makes me feel so at ease, comfortable, and happy. Shannon is the originator of my nickname “Paigie”. I always wait for her to call me that. It makes my day every time. Patrick and I spent time together watching bad movies and giving each other sarcastic responses to the other’s questions. Mike throttled people in a cyclo cross race off of zero sleep, never complaining once. Dad and I bonded via a bike/run with me, and Mom had everyone lining up for her foot rubs. I don’t know what she does but it fixes everything!!! Truman, who is now 5 weeks old, dressed up as a bear for us and showed me his “ROAR!!!” (It’s funny for us, not so much for Shannon and Mike at 3am-ha).
I also got to run on the roads I’ve grown up on. I know what stop light changes when and in what order cars are allowed to go. I know to always be careful at the right hand turn of Simms and Kipling because people just don’t look there. I know I like the left side the C-470 trail better than the right, but to stay on the right side on Thursday’s because it’s “Bike to Work Day”. I know to the minute how long it takes to get anywhere on anyone of my runs. My favorite track in town is asphalt with a warped turn on the south end. I decided something last night as I was holding Truman . One of my new life goals is to make sure that Truman will always know he is totally and unconditionally loved; that he knows his family will ALWAYS be there for him. While everyone was finishing up their dinner, I told him I loved him sooooo much, and tried my best to be as “cozy” as I could be for him. This little baby boy, I can’t even put into words… To my family, I love you more than life. I miss you and you are in my heart every day. My family keeps me inspired. I want to be great for them. However I know no matter where I am in a race or in my life, my Mom’s cheer will remain the same…”I love you Honey!” Entry #146 So, I was supposed to write a blog the week before the World Champs. Middle was nice enough to prolong it until after the marathon. The last few blogs I wrote were followed by me either getting sick or injured. I’m hoping I’m going to break the streak with this one! It’s been about 2 weeks since the World Champs. It was a surreal experience. I ran with women who I respect and admire. At one point in the race, I ran through the Brandenbourgh Gates with a Japanese and Korean marathoner. We in no way, shape, or form could have a decent conversation with each other, but we were running as one, running our best we could for our countries in one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. At one point I was running with a Kenyan woman. She was suggesting I should run on the two rows of cobblestones on the road via elbow. I was not to happy with her at the time, but the next day during the tour I learned that the cobblestones were where the Berlin Wall was once stood….pretty…freakin…cool. After the race, I was able to tour Berlin. I went full swing “tourist” with my parents. We hopped on 3 tours, went to the top of the Television Tower, ate at awesome restaurants (although not as good as the dinners Terri McManus made for us at her house!), and learned so much about the city which I was running in yet failed to look up at and appreciate. Once again, super cool. As much as I loved experiencing what Europe had to offer, I was pretty happy to come home to the states and my family. Patrick is coming home in 5 weeks, and my sister and brother in law are going to have their baby soon. It’s going to be a welcome home for Patrick, and an overall “welcome” for the newest member of our Higgins family (well…Sharkey, but Higgins is in there!). I also got to catch up with all my friends in Colorado and had a great time. I have so many people to thank it would take up another blog! To my team, family, and friends…thank you for all the emails, text messages, letters, and phone calls. YOU got me through this and I am incredibly grateful. I’m pumped to see what my team can do this fall, they are looking good!!! The McManus family, thank you soooo much for letting us into your home for two weeks and for Terri cooking rock star dinners, you guys are the best. To Adidas, thank you for your hospitality, generosity, and support. To USATF, thank you for making sure I was safe, settled, and ready to go on race day. Greg and Tracy, thank you for giving me a wonderful first experience in Europe and being there every step of the way. To Dr. Yuri Lewicky…thank you for working a small miracle. I literally wouldn’t be running right now had it not been for your unparalleled skill and care. To everyone that has ever made a wish for me, or cheered me on…thank you. I might be the one running the race, but I’m never alone. It would not be possible without the wonderful support I am surrounded by in my life. My victories are yours. Entry #127 As of June 4th, 2009 I have been part of McMillan Elite for one year. I promised Greg and Tracy that I would give them all I had, and then keep going. This year has shown me so much more than I could’ve ever expected...
Entry #102 Right now I am sitting by my computer, refreshing it every 30 seconds. I'm waiting to see the results of the 3k Women's USATF Indoor Nationals, where my teammate Lindsay Allen is running. It is 3:55pm our time so I know the race is over (the race was in Boston at 5:40pm), and hopefully I'll know by the end of writing this blog...I'm thinking I'm going to have to write verrrryyyy slowly. Entry #93 We just got back from the Houston Half Marathon. I am so proud of Brett and Andrew, they had amazing races. They were the only thing that kept me going as I struggled to get myself across the finish line. With running you experience such great highs, but also have to accept the lows and bad races for what they are and move on. Houston was a very frustrating, disappointing race for me. It was really nice to have my family there though and have my sister and brother-in-law waiting for me in Phoenix once I got home (they ran the Phoenix Rock and Roll...Shannon in the Half and Mike in the full).
I know some people are wondering about training logs...here is an example of what mine looked like for Chicago when I was in full marathon mode: Monday - 90 minutes AM - usually a 30 min warm up, 20*1 min on/off 30 min cool down. Entry #84 Well this weekend was a pretty exciting time for our team. After so much hard work, dedication, sweat, pain, and anticipation, our men's team are officially National Champions! Congratulations guys, it gave me chills and I'm so honored and proud of all of you! Uh…just so proud of you guys!!! With Christmas only a week away, I've decided not talk about running this time around. The holiday season really makes me reflect and appreciate the people in my life that have always been there. The ones that let you know they will love you when the last workout is over, when the last race has been run. Mom, thank you for never accepting that your "babies" are now 27, 26, and 23. Thank you for sending care packages, phone calls, and not minding when I would announce that I am a grown-up, then asking for a "magic foot rub" that very night cause my feet are tired. Dad thank you for taking me out on my first run. Thank you for being so selfless and always making sure we stick exactly to the "plan" before my races. Thank you for sending my fish "balloons to heaven" when they jumped out of the tank or I forgot to feed them. Shannon thank you for insisting that EVERY conversation, email, or phone call ends with " I love you". Thank you for calling me Paigie during races. Thank you for dancing around as Debbie Gibson on our porch in Virginia, with Patrick and I as your "band". Patrick thank you for being as good at doing absolutely nothing as I am, then going out and trying to concur the world. Thanks for the inside jokes, the nights of "One Tree Hill", and getting my sense of humor the way no one else does. Thanks for still laughing like a little girl, even though it's in the deepest voice I've ever heard! Mike, thank you for being the best big brother I could've ever inherited via Shannon. You always know exactly what to say to me, whatever the situation. You know me better than I know myself sometimes, and it makes me so happy when I think I've made you proud. I wish everyone a Happy Holiday and wonderful New Year!! What a wonderful time to appreciate and realize the things and people in life that truly matter. All the best! Paige Entry #60 Hi Everyone, This week was one for the books. My legs were happy to get back into some solid miles after a down week following New Haven. Wednesday Bri and I had a really, REALLY good workout. Bri inspires me more than I can put into words, not only in running but also in all further aspects of life. I am so proud of her. I always have a little more to give and push a little harder when we workout together. Greg biked with us on our workout, which was awesome. He gives me a sense of peace, relaxation, and confidence, which in turn helps me run better workouts (40 seconds Greg...how much you wanna bet ; ) ). When I got home, I found a box filled with my big sister Shannon's homemade cookies. Then I received another package with the racers I will wear for Chicago. About an hour later Bri and I got a formal invitation to be part of the Elite field at the Chicago Marathon. Becky and Lindsay weren't home and it was probably a good thing because I think I was spastically running around the house yelling at the top of my lungs for a good 10 minutes. It was a "dream come true" phone call to say the least. I was riding off a high because the day before I was able to talk to my brother Patrick, whom I am so proud of. He is currently an Army Special Forces Infantry Officer in Germany. I laugh thinking back to when I threw a frozen Cadbury Egg at his head and almost gave him a concussion. Now he's in charge of an entire unit and I'm hoping he has a freezer full of those apparently effective little tranquilizers to keep him safe...ha. Other really fun things for the week included an absolutely delicious team pizza party courtesy of Lindsay, and talking to my Mom about the possibilities of getting my own place up here one day (Anyone who knows me could've probably bet I wouldn't have ever left Colorado, but now Flagstaff is what I think of when I think "home"). Every week I only further appreciate what I have been given and try to do my best to earn it for the runners who haven't been given this gift - runners and all athletes who have to hold down a full time job while still trying to pursue their dreams. Props to all you out there, I humbly tip my hat to you. Sorry I always end up rambling in these things, but thank you to everyone who supports this program and this team, you have given me what I only thought I could dream of...I'm doing the best I can to respect and honor this gift. This is the last blog for me before Chicago, so a special thanks to my family, friends, and teammates who have been there through it all, the good times, the injuries, my moodiness (stubborn? ME?), my quirks...all of it. My official "thank you" will physically manifest itself on October 12th. I'll be running for all of you... Everything I have, Paige
Entry #45 Things are pretty great here in Flag right now. If you can't be inspired by what is going on, you're not going to find it anywhere else. We just found out the other day that Lemon made the UK Olympic Team in the steeple. He will be joining Martin, who just left last week to go on and claim a National Championship before the Olympic Marathon. I'm really looking forward to watching them race and compete at the Olympics, they're great guys and I'm so proud of them! Greg posted in his last blog "there is something in the air;" he couldn't be more spot on. I really came to realize that during last week's long run at A-1. Greg and Tracy were at every few miles with our bottles waiting, which on a long run is more cherished than gold. The girls started out a little before the boys so we wouldn't be so stretched out this time. We did an out and back, then another few miles to add on as needed. Bri, Becky and I were going at a really strong pace and feeding well off each other. It's a great dynamic, because in the course of 22 miles, you are going to feel good and bad at different points. If we ever get separated, it's not competitive, it's a positive push. More of a "do you wanna come?" or a "good job, keep on rolling!" Anyway, Becky showed us how tough she is by running with Bri and I her entire run, even though she's only been here a week. As the boys passed us, they gave us a "good job" and we returned the encouragement. It felt effortless, and at mile 22 I was still pumped and wanted to go more. The support makes all the difference in the world. Such an amazing team, everyone is here to help each other. I am thoroughly looking forward to getting my butt kicked this week on the Chevron Hills by Bri, she's awesome at them and pushes me more than I could ever do alone.
Angus, though only five months old, is showing every single one of us up when it comes to core/circuit training. He can hold a V-up longer than anyone on the team, and he can't even crawl yet! He's always in tow at the long runs with Tracy and Greg, and as far as I know he hasn't complained once (although Tracy and Greg might argue that, I'm not there at 3am!). So thanks Angus!
Entry #40 Hi! This is Paige Higgins. I joined the McMillan gang about 9 days ago, and so far I can't believe I'm here. It's a surreal feeling to have one of your dreams come true. I no longer have to wake up at 4am to get workouts done before work, or worry about lack of sleep, which is the biggest thing I was missing in Denver. So far everyone here has been so supportive, so positive, and Flagstaff is just a beautiful city. Since last week was an "adjustment week" for me, i.e. lower miles, I had some extra energy to take my bike out and ride around town. It's just such a welcoming place, and I couldn't be happier or more sure that this is the place to be to make it to the next level in my training. ADJUSTMENTS SETTLING INTO LIFE AS A PROFESSIONAL RUNNER TTFN- Paige |
SPONSORS |
|---|
|