Is It Speedy Weather?

All summer I have repeated over and over to the girls I coach that heat slows you down and to not be concerned about pace.  And even though I said it, not sure *I* listened to myself - case in point, last Sunday.  FAIL. 

You can find a million articles online about heat and its effects on your body.  But, in general, the ideal temperature is viewed (depending on the source) as being about 55 deg F.  Once you hit about 85 deg F, you're looking at as much as 10% degradation in performance.  Using myself as a study case... my goal pace last Sunday was 9:20... it was 85 degrees out (maybe a little more at the end), which would put me at 10:16.  I ran a 10:18 min/mile average pace.  Hmmmmmmm... Interesting.

Anyhow, I didn't write this to make excuses for my poor tanked performance this past Sunday, but rather, to scream my excitement that Texas is actually making an attempt at fall weather, as of today (yes, it was 103 yesterday).  I have a 15k race tomorrow morning (15ks are popular in this area because it's 9.3 miles around White Rock Lake, our most popular running trail).  And here is the weather prediction:

So, I do believe I will be testing out the heat theory tomorrow.  Won't be ideal, but this will be as good as I can expect in this great state that somehow mimics the surface of the sun.

Oh?  I just did a race last weekend?  Yeah, well, there's a reason this blog is called RACING it off.  I know I have a problem!

Did you enter my Family Fan Club Giveaway?

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

Confession time:  This has not been my best week for running.  After a few days of dealing with a fever and a nasty cough with Paige, my 3-year-old, I decided on Monday to take her to the doctor.  After swabs, chest x-rays, and bloodwork... yep, the poor little thing had pneumonia.  So it was time to lock the doors, stay home (except for carting the big kids to and from school), and get the baby better!  What this means, is that coming off a tanked run - de-motivator #1, I was now locked in my house going stir-crazy - de-motivator #2, and the only option I had at all was the home treadmill - de-motivator #3 (I will take the gym treadmill over the home one any day because of the added distractions at the gym). 

Monday... I did nothing.  I figured I earned my day off, so I took it.  Tuesday, I was supposed to run 9.  Well I procrastinated and procrastinated until I literally only had time for 3.5.  Although I was proud of myself for doing something with the very little time I had.  Wednesday, I was supposed to only get in 3, but again, I procrastinated, and since I didn't start until late, and knowing I was supposed to run a lot on Thursday... I didn't even do that - I just walked 2.  So basically - fail Monday, fail Tuesday, fail Wednesday.  I just had no desire to run.  I get like that when I'm locked up at home.

Soooooooo... that brings us to today.  Still locked in the house, and I had so conveniently written in "20" on my schedule.  Yes, on a Thursday... because I have a 15k on Saturday, and while I have no delusions of granduer coming off a 20-miler, I wanted to be able to push a little and maybe PR (please don't tank 2 weeks in a row, Lesley). 

Anyhow, back to the 20-miler.  Only option I had was the home treadmill.  And I'm slow, so I needed almost 4 hours.  How would I do that with Paige home?  If I did it before the kids got up, I'd have to start at 2:30am.  If I did it after the kids went to bed at 8pm, it would take me until almost midnight.  Neither of those would work... so I had to do it during the normal daylight hours - BUT I still have a 3-year-old to maintain... and 2 other kids to cart to and from school.  I really didn't know how I was going to work it until today, but I knew that no matter what, it would probably involve a break or two.

I got Paige's lunch made and into the fridge, put on "The Incredibles" in my bedroom (where the tread is) for Paige, put "Rudy" into my smaller TV facing the treadmill, and around 10am, I started my quest.  Thankfully, Paige was very low maintenance and into the movie, a pleasure I'm not always afforded.  I plodded along at a slower-than-usual, but steady pace.  At 5 miles, I took quick break #1.

Break #1 - Pause "Rudy", hop off treadmill, gulp some Gatorade, pull Paige's lunch out of the fridge for her, grab a towel to wipe the sweat, potty, and back on.  No more than 3-5 minutes.  Not bad. 

Back on and going... for round 2.  Pretty much went exactly the same.  I kept the exact same pace the entire time, and at 5 miles, I paused for quick break #2.

Break #2 - Take "Rudy" out and insert "Chariots of Fire", refill water, take Paige to potty, and lie her down for a nap.  Again, no more than 3-5 minutes.  Obviously not optimal for a 20-miler, but I sincerely had no better way to get it done.

And on again.  This time Paige was asleep, so I figured I could push out the entire 10 uninterrupted... yeah, close, but not quite.  At mile 16, I could feel my back turning into a nasty bloody mess.  Why o' why do I forget anti-chafe cream when I'm on the tread?  I never forget it when I go for a run over 8 miles outdoors, but for some reason, since it was the home tread, I just hopped on... and my back was bad where the sports bra rubbed it (it's such a bad spot for chafing for me, that I literally have scars on my back). 

So Break #3 - I hopped off for less than 60 seconds and coated my back and thighs with anti-chafe cream.  It was too late for my back, but I didn't want it any worse.

The last 4 miles.  My previous longest tread distance was 16 (which I did when my friend, Elaine, had to do her 20-miler at the gym due to a nasty ice storm), so I was there... and 4 miles to go.  Miles 17 and 18 honestly weren't that bad.  I was still at the exact same pace I started at, and I was feeling good.  But for some reason, the second that treadmill registered 18.00, my whole body started to hurt... Ouch, my glute!  Ooooo, my hamstring is tender!  Is that my knee hurting?  I think I'm losing a toenail.  Ugh, my back is chafing more.  Is that my IT band tingling?  I think my whole body was in shut down mode, and my stomach was churning (I think, actually, from overhydration - cause I was chugging fluids like a lunatic, the entire time).  That 2 miles took forever... it was a death march... but again, I kept that same pace I had since the very first mile.

20 miles D-O-N-E.  Finally, a day this week where I did what I had to do to get in the day's miles.  Back on track!  Woo-hoo.  Treadmill is an interesting thing... besides the obvious reasons people dislike the treadmill, it was interesting to run a long run at the exact same pace the entire way through... not speeding up when I felt good, and not slowing down when I started to hurt.  I probably could've cranked the pace up a little.  I had it about 30 seconds slower than my normal long run pace because the mileage was more important to me today, and I didn't want to lower my odds of keeping my mind and my body moving for all 20 miles.

What's the longest you've ever spent on a treadmill???

Don't forget my awesome Family Fan Club giveaway!  (And discount...)

RIO and Family Fan Club - Shirt Fever! (+ Giveaway)

Did you see how cute the awesome Racing It Off girls looked at Heels and Hills?

I know, it was dark so the photo is grainy, but just in case you can't make out the graphic... here ya go:

First, I want to say THANK YOU to the amazing Jaymee who designed this logo for me.  She did amazing work in a very very short amount of time because I wanted to get the shirts quick so we could have them for the race, and I knew printing would take time.



Next I needed to find the right person to make the shirts.  On the recommendation of Beth, Jason, and Tricia, I contacted Family Fan Club.  And as soon as I talked to Paul from Family Fan Club, I knew I had the right team for the job.  The team of Paul and Kim at Family Fan Club was responsive, flexible, and willing to do the job exactly how I wanted, no matter how many rounds of back and forth it took. 

Look at the awesome thing we put together:

The women's white ALO technical tank with the Blue/Pink logo.  Most people know that I have a love affair with Running Chics Tanks, and guess what?  They use this exact same tank!  I was willing to go for the premium tank to have the best of the best.  The most comfortable tank ever.  Love the low cut neck, love the mesh back, and it looks even better with the RacingItOff logo, doesn't it?  (These run a bit large.)

The women's pink ALO technical tee with the Blue/Pink logo. The awesome ALO brand shirt again.  Absolutely the best shirts out there, I think. Extremely comfortable shirt, and super cute on!!!  Isn't the pink awesome?  (These are just a smidge snug, so if you like a roomier tee, order a size up.)  This is also available as a youth shirt on a Badger brand technical tee.

The white ALO technical tee with the Blue/Green logo. This is available in women's and men's. The women's is exactly like the above pink tee.  Super cute.  You can also get this in a youth shirt printed on a Badger brand technical tee.  Lots of fun choices.

 
 
 
 
 
 

And because I love to run with hats, I also asked for this HeadSweats hat.  Love it!  You can get it with either logo. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
But enough about the awesome Racing It Off products, Paul and Kim would love to work with *you* on your own custom designs.  They have a huge selection of tees, technical shirts, hoodies, water bottles, hats, etc.  If you can think it up, they can probably do it.  (And yes, they are willing to do some design work as well!)
 
Do you want some awesome stuff from the Racing It Off Store or any of the other Family Fan Club Items?  Well guess what?  You can enjoy $10 off your next purchase of $50 or more.  Coupon Code:  racingitoff10   This coupon is valid for the duration of the giveaway... today through October 6th!
 
Want to WIN one shirt, hat, or visor currently available on the Family Fan Club site including the items in the Racing It Off Store???  Here's what you need to do.
 
Required:
1.  You must follow this blog via google connect *and* you must visit Family Fan Club and leave me ONE comment about your favorite item on the site. 
 
Extra Entries:
2.  Follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Leave me a comment for each.
3.  Follow Family Fan Club on Facebook and Twitter.  Leave me a comment for each.
4.  Spread the word - Facebook, Blog, Twitter!  (If you tweet, please include both @RacingItOff and @FamilyFanClub )  Leave me a comment for each.
 
BONUS:
If Family Fan Club gets above 325 "likes" on Facebook, we'll pick a second winner!!!
 
Giveaway winner will be announced on October 6th.

Heels and Hills and Him Half Race Report (Part 2 of 2)

You can read Part 1 HERE.  But basically... I tanked the race and felt like an utter train wreck - dizzy, knotted stomach, cramping calf. 

And because I didn't have it yesterday, here's another picture a group of us took that serves as my excuse for not going potty pre-race!!!

Me, Fiona, Amanda A, Robin W, Amanda H, Dana, and Marcie

(Note to self:  Don't stand by the most petite person in the group when taking photos...)

But as I was lying at the finish, chugging a water (thanks Christina), and texting Adam and Tricia, who I knew would be waiting to hear from me... I noticed a text from Holly C. She was at mile 10.25 and wasn't feeling good.  Hmmmm, I know that feeling.  I had just experienced it.  Who am I kidding... I was *still* experiencing it, even after stopping.  8 minutes after finishing, I was up and heading back out. 

I tried to start running back and couldn't manage to shake out my legs, so I started a quick walk.  I knew I could cut across the field and get to about the 11 mile point with only about a 0.5 mile walk  (thankful for a course like that on this day because I couldn't have made it nearly as far back if I had to backtrack the whole course).  Timing was perfect, as soon as I crossed the field, I saw my friend Heather who told me Holly C was just a smidge behind her... then I found that inner mojo that lets you continue through pain and started running the course backwards, and I found her in just a couple minutes. 

I don't think she expected to see me.  And in the moment, I don't know if she was upset that she knew I would push her, or happy to have company.  I tried to minimize my chitter-chatter because I could tell she wasn't having the best time.  I tried to remind her that she was still on track for her goal even though she was beating herself up.  We took walk breaks.  Every time we would start to walk, I would pick a landmark that would be where we started running again.  I think it was at one of these points that she told me she hated me.  He he he.  I knew what she meant.  (I love you too, Holly.)  And despite the look of death she gave me when I told her it was time to run again... every. single. time.  she did it... she started running again. 

We kept it to a slow shuffle, but we were still moving forward towards the finish.  I pointed out the last water stop around mile 12, and we took another brief break up the small incline to get back to the main road.  She was doing awesome.  She was saying no, but she was moving forward anyhow.  Pretty sure she only told me she hated me and that she was gonna punch me 3 or 4 times.  (No worries, I tell Adam I hate him every speedwork day.)  I think I told her to please punch my arm because my leg and gut couldn't take it. 

We rounded the final corner, and I warned her it was still about 0.35 from the corner so it wasn't time to sprint the finish yet.  I think when I even mentioned the word "sprint", flames came out of her eyes.  She was thinking "Really?  You *still* expect me to sprint the finish."  We took one more quick walk break to refresh before the last stretch... then we slowly pushed towards the finish.  Her awesome cousin, Cassie, was cheering and came out to join us.  I knew sprinting too early would be bad, so I pointed out a flag and said "that's it, I want you to let loose when you get to that flag."  Again, I got the evil eye. 

But we got to that flag and my goodness...  she went off so fast I couldn't keep up, my chest was constricting because I was so emotional watching her sprint in her first half marathon.  I was a basketcase.  I ran around the finish line to hug her.  And despite her beating herself up for struggling the last 3 miles, she slid in just under the goal I had set for and had an average pace that was noticeably faster than her training runs!!!  Amazing. 

Going back out there meant I missed Holly F, Denya, and Helen finishing... but I think they understand.  And I'm glad there were several others there to cheer them across.  But crossing that line with Holly C, no matter how much she hated me at that moment, was the highlight of my day.  It. Was. Amazing.  (I think she's finally back to liking me again... maybe?)

Including this photo again, because I love these girls and want to recap how they did...

The Cheerleader - Denya - This was Denya's 4th half marathon, and she paced her best friend, Helen, for her first half marathon.  She's like an assistant coach on the run... preaching about breathing and pacing and everything else... congratulations Denya on yet another successful half!

The Amazon - Me - We already know how I did... boo.

Lightening - Deanna - This girl trained from nothing to a 10k in under 6 weeks.  And still had juice to push the pace at the end.  I cannot wait to see her conquer her first half.

Hot Sauce - Christina - She's petite and gorgeous... and her heat is going to sneak up on you.  She's gone from 0-10k super fast (like Deanna), and the potential is just oozing from her.  Watch out, folks!

The Soldier - Holly F - Mother of 4, dedicated soccer mom, soccer playing, softball playing, etc.  I honestly don't know how she fits it in.  Mom role comes first, but this lady put down a solid first half marathon.  She can soldier on through anything.  (Let's all remind her of this so that she realizes she *can* take on the marathon.)

The Rock - Holly C - Week in and week out, she puts in the time asked of her and gets it done.  This girl is rock solid in her commitment and dedication, not to mention her courage.  I never cease to be impressed and inspired by her.

Other important mentions:

Congrats to Robin D (2nd in Age Group!) and Robin W on their PR's.  Congrats to Helen, Heather D, Jenn C, and Sharon Y for first half marathons.  Congrats to Stephanie for her first 10k.

And to top the day off... I had organized a lunch afterwards for everyone I knew who was running (and the people they knew!).  We ended up with quite a large group, and it was REALLY nice to unwind with so many really amazing and supportive people before heading home to get back to the grind.  It really allowed me some time to relax, cool down, vent, and re-fuel.  So glad we did this, and so glad so many friends decided to join.  It was a party!!!

Down left of table - Libby, Trish, Stephanie (hiding), Monica, Denya, Alicia (hiding)

Down right of table - Sherry, Shannon, Robin D, Elaine (hiding), Robin W, Cara, Catherine, Sharon (hiding)

The latecomers... he he he... Heather, Jenn, Laura, and Holly F.

Heels and Hills and Him Half Race Recap (Part 1 of 2)

I have been staring at this blank screen for a solid 20 minutes.  I don't know how to put yesterday into words.  Some of the absolutely lowest lows and an undeniable highest high, all in the same day.  Misery and then laughter with amazing friends.  It's such a jumble that it's so difficult for me to lay out.

I was up early and ready to go.  Uber-excited about the day.  Adam had set me out a rather ambitious plan to run 9:20s all the way through.  I knew it would be tough, I knew the day would be hard.  But I knew ultimately, I was capable of it if everything went right.  Ah, the inevitable "if".

I loaded into the car with friends Elaine, Robin D, Monica, and Stephanie to head over to the race.  As soon as we got there, we headed over for a group photo with some of the most inspiring runners...

Stephanie (1st 10k!), Robin D (Rocked a 1:50 PR), Elaine (Paced the 3:00 group), Monica (3rd Half), Denya (4th Half), Me, Deanna (1st 10k!), Christina (1st 10k!), Holly F (1st Half!), Holly C (1st Half!), Helen (1st Half!)  

You might notice a slew of matching Racing It Off Shirts (by Family Fan Club)... I'll talk more about those soon, but I was seriously honored that my friends and the girls I coach wanted to wear these shirts.  It was really awesome seeing RIO shirts on the course.

Racing It Off Girls - It has been such an honor to coach these ladies.  *They* inspire me... not the other way around.  Each and every one of them, amazing.

And I had to get a photo with sweet Sherry, my long lost race buddy.  Come on out Aubrey, so I can run with your mommy again...

(Here is where I admit that I got dealt a lovely ego blow in that Sherry borrowed my clothes... she's 7 months pregnant, and fit into my clothes perfectly.  Hmmmmm.  Yes, I do realize we have a slight height and bone structure variation, but still!!!)

What does all this photo-taking mean?  It means I didn't make it to the potty line in time to get to go before the race started.  Not always a big deal but when the plan is to smoke it at 9:20s, not really wise.  Plus, I should mention that my stomach was talking to me.  It wasn't nice talk either.  The start of the race was supposed to be upper 60s, but we were surprised that it was over 80 at the start.  Really? 

How not to tank a race - Lesson 1 - ALWAYS leave time for the bathroom.  ALWAYS.  Even if you don't think you need to go.

How not to tank a race - Lesson 2 - If conditions aren't right, it might be smart to adjust your plan appropriately.  I know this, I say it over and over.  But I didn't do it.  I went forward with the same plan knowing that between the heat and the messed up stomach, I should probably be more conservative.

Robin W and Angela (why did I *not* get a picture with them?) started with me, and we were going to try to stay together.

Mile 1 - 9:15

Mile 2 - 9:16

Mile 3 - 9:26

First 3 miles were on target, but I immediately noticed something drastic.  I wasn't talking... at all.  Anyone who has ever run with me knows that I talk the entire time.  Probably too much.  Probably to the extent that it's annoying.  Running with me is an acquired taste.  And here I was, only at mile 3, and I was silent.  Even Robin W had noticed... there was no jabber distracting from the painful pace.

How not to tank a race lesson 3 - If it's a long race, and you can't talk in the early miles, you should probably back off and even it out.

Mile 4 - 9:41

Mile 5 - 10:00

Mile 6 - 9:34

I know what you're thinking... ok, she backed off... but I didn't.  I felt like I was running the same pace, but it was getting hotter and I was at full effort, and that's all my body was giving me.  And I kept saying... that's ok, I'm still at PR pace... not the desired 9:20 pace, but still PR.  BUT, at this point, my stomach was a disaster.  I was really hurting.  The pace was downright exhausting me.  I wasn't drinking enough water because I was spending so much time focused on the stomach knots.  Angela and Robin started to pull away ahead of me... 7 miles left and I felt like utter crap.  If I had felt like this at mile 11, I think I could've gutted it out, but I knew I couldn't gut it out for 7 miles, but I continued to push hoping it would pass.  I had caught back up to Robin, and we gutted through a couple more miles...

Mile 7 - 10:13

Mile 8 - 10:04

After that mile clicked, I told her to go on.  I had to walk.  I was dizzy, I wanted to puke.  I was seeing friends coming the other direction on the course, and I waved and said hi but can't recall much of it.  There are people I literally don't even remember passing on my way back in that I apparently spoke to.  I was completely out of it.  I was not running straight.  I was actually hoping I would puke and get it over with, but it didn't happen... instead, I got dealt a lovely calf cramp.  Stellar!  Please... give me another obstacle.

Mile 9 - 12:04

Mile 10 - 12:16

Mile 11 - 11:55

Those 3 miles were the absolute worst.  I went back and forth between running and walking.  I pulled my phone out to call Tricia, but then decided not to, that it would take too much energy, and I'd probably break down.  I considered stopping and just sitting and waiting for Holly F or Holly C and then just running in with them.  I was literally looking at every patch of grass deciding if it would be shaded enough to sit and wait.  For the record, I have never ever even contemplating sitting down during a race.  This was not me, so I knew I was in bad shape.  But for some reason when I hit that mile 11 marker, all I could think was that everything hurt so bad (particularly my calf and my stomach) that I just had to get this over with.  Being out there another 30+ minutes was not an option.  I was limping by this point, but didn't care... time to soldier on...

Mile 12 - 11:07

Mile 13 - 10:24

Yes, I picked up the pace, but I was still defeated and really hurting... bad... I tried to pick up the pace for a strong finish, but had zero left, until I heard Jason screaming at me from the side something about speedwork.  And I found it in me...

Last 0.1 - 6:48 pace

Finish time 2:15.

Now, please note... I said over and over that I tanked this race, and I know that there are some that will look at my time and say "huh?"  And yes, less than a year ago, 2:15 was my PR.  Do not get me wrong, I don't think there is anything wrong with my time. I actually think a 2:15 is a great time.  And had I paced a nice even 10:20 min/mile the entire race (which is still a good pace for me), I would've been quite content with that time.  The reason I consider this a tank is because my pace literally varied by 3:01 min/mile between my first mile 9:15 and my worst mile 12:16.  I could list the reasons... the heat was ridiculous... very little shade, lots of bright sun, and temps soaring up to 90.  A stomach that was in knots and a potty break that I should've taken BEFORE I started.  Starting out too fast.  I should've started slower and then eased into the 9:20s if my body felt good... if not, I should've held back and paced a little more conservatively... had I done that, I could've PR'd... I wouldn't have hit the 2:03 I wanted, but I certainly could've come in below my current 2:09.

I plopped immediately into the grass in utter exhaustion and was greated by Christina (who had kicked her 10k in the rear) and the amazing Robin D (who grabbed second in her age group with her 1:50 PR).  I was a mess.  I was hurting, I was limping, my stomach was a disaster, it wasn't pretty.  But, I also wasn't beating myself up, it wasn't my day... it happens.  I had a huge influx of amazing e-mails and texts of support, and I am still overwhelmed by how amazing the running community is... but in all seriousness, I'm ok with it.  Racing is half science and half art because you never know the factors that will be thrown into the mix. 

So there I was lying in the grass, until... to be continued...

A Little Bit Of Late Night Randomness

Some random things that I intended to post about, and promptly forgot...

1.  Sara Johnson wrote a great article about coaching, featuring me, in the Dallas Examiner - read it HERE.  Thank you so much Sara!!!  (If you tweet, you can follow Sara on twitter - @realityrunning )

2.  Last Thursday, I decided a girls night was much needed... and I had a BLAST.  We headed to GrapeFest.

Because every good blogger needs a pic in the car on the way!!!

Getting the good times rolling with our first tasting.

With Jenn... this is how big I smile when I finally get out of the house without kids!

Yes, even moms know how to occassionally have a good time!!!

3.  The next morning I took Paige to the zoo with MarathonMaiden (who just recently moved to the area!!!) and my friend Alicia.  No clue why I failed to take a photo of all of us... ok, so maybe because I forgot my camera and was just capturing what I could with my phone.

Mommy and Paige on the Carousel!

What you lookin' at kid?

4.  Completely ready and excited to race my rear off this Sunday at Heels and Hills.  Not to mention I have 5 girls I coach racing... Denya running her 4th half marathon!  Holly F and Holly C running their 1st half marathon!  And Christina and Deanna running their first 10k!  Pluuuuuuus, I have about 20 other frunners (stealing this term from Corina because I *heart* it) that will be there.  If you plan to be there, let me know cause I'm organizing a lunch after!  Yum, yum for post-race nutrition.

Running a Marathon

So you decided to run a marathon after reading THIS. 

Then you took on the training after reading THIS. 

But now, it's time to run the race...

My advice:
- You've trained hard.  Trust that you are ready.  Don't fear 26.2.
- Try everything out ahead of time.  Something that is a very small issue can amplify 100x of the duration of the run.
- Look at the course map and elevation map and know what to expect.  A hill is easier to take if you know when it starts and ends.  Know where your course might part and merge from those running other distances.
- It's a long way to run.  Don't go out the gate without a plan.  Plan your nutrition, plan your pace, set goals, plan walk breaks if you feel you need them. 
- Know that there's a 99% chance that something won't go as planned.  Stay calm, take it in stride, and move past it.
- A positive attitude will get you through the last 6.2.  I am convinced that saying "I can't" will make your legs feel at least 20 lbs heavier.  Keep your eye on the finish and remember that even if you aren't meeting your time goal, you are going 26.2 amazing miles.  Enjoy the experience and remind yourself of your accomplishment.
- Celebrate the finish line.  No matter what your time.  No matter what went wrong.  No matter how bad you ache.  You ran 26.2 miles.  That is a long way to go... probably across your town and a couple more!  Whether the race was great or crappy - you earned the right to join the 1% of the population that are marathoners!

What to expect:
- Nerves.  No matter how prepared you are.
- Confidence.  That today is your day.
- Moments of feeling amazing.
- Moments where you are certain a leg might fall off or that your intestines are trying out for Olympic gymnastics.
- Trying to weave around those in front of you.
- Times you are sure there are a million people passing you.
- Times of feeling alone.
- Being overwhelmed by the sights and sounds that surround you.

- Enjoyment from watching other runners - funny shirts, silly outfits, amazing accomplishments, overheard conversations, crazy music blaring too loud on earphones.

- Annoyance by the most ridiculous minor things.  Everything seems amplified when you are enduring 26.2 miles.

- Ups and downs.  "I can" and "I can't"s.

- Times when you look at your Garmin, quite literally, every 0.01 mile.

- A finish line.  There will be a point where you think they might have moved it to a different country, but you will eventually get there.

What to Expect - Marathon Training

OK, so you read my last post on Deciding to Run a Marathon, and your heart and mind still said YES!  So you're in, you pick a marathon, and you're ready to train.  Yeah, that's right, the hard part... the training!

You mark out 20 weeks on your schedule and you put together a training plan.  And you're off!!!

What to expect...
Runs where you feel like you could go on forever.
Runs where you feel like you can't go one more step.
Chafing in corners that you didn't even know existed.
Toenails that decide to run away.
3 mile runs that feel impossible.
20 mile runs that feel liberating.
Days where you question what in the world you were thinking.
Days where you can "feel" that finish line and all that it means.
Friends that tell you you are crazy.
Friends that cheer you on and support you.
A new spot in your freezer just for ice packs.
A new smell following you around post-run that you finally realize is *you*.
Water bottles everywhere.
Ignored laundry piles and a sink full of dishes.
Napping at times only toddlers should be napping.
Times when you will, quite literally, eat everything nap stapled down.
Emergency potty-breaks mid-run.
A time when you are uber-motivated.
A time when you have absolutely no desire to get out and run.
Hot days, cold days, windy days, rainy days, snowy days... all days you need training.

Things to remember:
-You are defined by your best days, not by the bad ones.  And you will have bad days.  We all do.
-99.9% chance you will miss a run.  It is not the end of the world.  Your body will not suddenly become "untrained". 
-Get your rest when you can.  Your body will yearn for sleep... and when you can, yield to it!
-Ice is your friend.  Compression is your friend.  Baby your body.
-Listen to your body.  If something hurts (other than general soreness) or you're having reoccuring pain, pay attention and take care of the problem.  Many issues can be taken care of with a couple days of rest which is much less costly than getting yourself really injured and having to take weeks off.
-Don't be afraid to push yourself, but you shouldn't be pushing every single day.
-Trust your training, respect the schedule (within reason), and keep your eye on the finish line... which in this case, is getting to the starting line healthy, trained, and uninjured.

(I'm not sure why I felt compelled to write this little marathon series this week... but I did... so expect at least one more about the actual race.)

Deciding to Run a Marathon

First, it's important to cover the wrong reasons, in my opinion, to do a marathon:
-My friends are doing it -- This, more often than not, turns out bad.  Friends get overwhelmed with other things or get injured and then you're alone and thinking "why did I sign up for this?"
-It's on my bucket list --  Marathons take hours upon hours every single week for a minimum of about 5 months to train.  This is not a decision to take lightly and just "check" off your to-do list.  You really have to have your heart 100% in.
-I ran a half, so it's the next step -- Maybe.  It might be.  But there's also absolutely nothing wrong with sticking with the half distance for awhile and getting really comfortable in your new mileage.  If you are gung-ho and "all in" to push for the full marathon after your first half, then, by all means, go for it!  Just make sure you are aware of the dedication it takes.  The 26.2 miles is nothing compared to the 20+ weeks of training.
-I want to lose weight -- I hate to share this, but very few people lose weight during marathon training unless they are paying strict attention to their diet.  Strenuous training and really long runs will make you a ravenous beast throughout the majority of training, plus your body adapts and starts storing fuel for your runs.



First Marathon - White Rock 2010



When you come to the place in your running where your heart really

desires that 26.2 distance, there are some things to consider...
- Are you willing to dedicate anywhere from 5-10 hours a week for 4-6 months to your training?
- Are you willing to give up late nights in order to get your runs in?
- Are you willing to skip social activities in favor of running?
- Are you willing to give up activities on days your body needs to rest?
- Are you willing to listen to your body and give it the proper nutrition and hydration?
- Are you willing to potentially lose toenails, chafe in mysterious locations, sit in tubs of ice, and go through multiple pairs of good shoes?

Don't get me wrong, you do not have to give up your entire life to run a marathon.  Many people train for them while juggling jobs and children and social activities.  But there will, no matter how you schedule it, be times that you have to make choices for or against training.  And 4-6 months is a long time to be dedicated to making the right decisions for the sake of your training.  It's hard, it takes dedication, and you have to, deep down, *want* to do the marathon.

Jen and Me after RnR San Diego 2011

With all that said, the satisfaction of completing up to 6 months of training, and then successfully running 26.2 miles and crossing the finish line still standing is something you just cannot explain to those that have not been there.  It is amazing.  It is emotional.  And if you gave your whole heart to the effort, you'll likely want to do it again!  And for me, I want to run a marathon again (Oct. 30) and again (Dec. 4) and again (Jan. 1) and who knows how many times after that!

Things I'm Loving Right Now...

1.  My new Punk Rock Racing Runner shirt!  Ron now makes them in tech fabric.  I wore this on my run this morning, and I was completely not surprised that it made me run faster.  (OK, maybe not, but it's still an uber-cool shirt... go get one!)

(No, I did not run with my hair down, just hadn't put it up yet.)

2. Kale Pizza - I don't know what inspired me to make this concoction other than I love kale, but I'm obsessed... thin crust... a smidge of garlic olive oil, hoards of kale, coarse salt, sliced tomatoes, and mozzerella.  Jason thinks I should add mushrooms, but he still has yet to convince me that a mushroom exists that wouldn't make me choke.

3.  My little Lily proving she has the heart of an athlete...

(That's tiny little her leading in that pack of adults.  She's not super speedy, but she's ALL heart.)

And if her at track practice wasn't enough to show you this girl has heart... well, we all went to the rodeo a couple weeks ago.  Each week, they select 8 kids to ride the sheep just like the bull-riders.  Lily got picked.  She suited up, and they put them on the sheep in the stalls just like the bull-riders use and then open the stalls and see how long the kids can hold on.  Most of the kids fell off 2 seconds after they came out of the chute.  One (much bigger) boy held on for quite a good ride.  But, though I'm biased, I think Lily was the crowd favorite.  Almost immediately out of the chute...

 Lily fell off to the side of the sheep...

But she would not let go...

Her  foot is all caught up on the side, this is sheer arm strength holding on...

And she keeps going... on sheer will...

And finally she falls.  The crowd went WILD!!!

She possibly got stomped a little, which scared her.

But the girl glowed for DAYS about her superstar experience.

(Don't know why I didn't recap that sooner... perhaps because I woke up for a 20-miler less than 4 hours after getting home from the rodeo that week and my head was in a fog.)

One of Those Days...

No, not one of thooooooose days.  One of those days where you smoke your long run, feel great and spend the whole day planning for world domination.  OK, so perhaps not world domination, perhaps just domination of my own personal running schedule, but a girl can dream, right? 

Today I wanted to push a little on my long run... not a lot, just a little.  My normal long run pace is 11-11:30, and I wanted to drop it 30 seconds today and push at 10:30-11.  I had 16 miles on the agenda.  I had a strong first loop (9 miles), but really questioned if I could hold the pace the last 7.  But I just kept going.  I ignored the aches and the can'ts, and just continued to turn my legs over... one step at a time.  By mile 13, I felt the pace slip, but I wanted that sub-11 average on a long run this week.  I'm working on pushing through fatigue.  But at this point, my intestines started to say no, but I refused to let go of my pace.  Much thanks to my running partner today, Robin D, who played my favorite running music... otherwise known as constant chit-chat!  Robin is also a good bit faster than me, so it really motivates me to keep moving.  She's also the person I always hear in my ear - never finish a run weak... go for the strong finish, you'll feel so much better.  So I pushed through it and even pushed mile 16 out at 9:59. 

Final average pace for the 16 miles was 10:35 min/mile.  Remember, only comparing with myself, that's a really stellar pace for me to keep on a long run in a non-race situation.  I was really pleased... but little did I know that the hard part was yet to come. 

Robin and I had parted ways by this point because she needed 20 miles instead of 16, and so I was alone... done with my run and 2 miles from my car.  Yes, I planned it this way, because when I walk post-long run, I recover so so much faster.  But have I ever mentioned how antsy I get walking that far?  I couldn't stand it, and I'd find myself starting to run again, then I'd force myself back to a walk.  My legs ached, my water was low, the sun had come out... and 30 more minutes to get to the car just sounded like torture.  But eventually I did get there, and I'm sure I'll be thankful for those 2 walking miles later.

This run felt like my redemption from the heat we've been stuck in.  The weather today was a nice relief and it was nice to be able to hold pace without withering, and I wanted full advantage of it.  Looks like Texas might once again be hotter than the sun's core by next weekend.  Well, at least I got in this good run!

Dear Non-Runners

Dear Non-Runners:

Yes, I have less than 10 toenails.  No, it doesn't hurt or bother me. 

I know I just ran a race last week.

I have, in fact, been up and running for potentially hours before you roll out of bed, so please don't judge my early bedtime.

No, no one is chasing me.  Yes, I pay money to torture myself for multiple hours.

A marathon is 26.2 miles.  All 365 days of the year and in every country, it is still 26.2 miles. 

Yes, I occassionally eat like a horse.  I also just burned off all those calories and then some.

I'm sorry about turning down your invite to {insert event here} but I have been training for this race for 6 months, and I feel justified turning the event down so I can continue my training, as needed.

Don't guess my time.  You're probably wrong.  I'm probably much slower than you think.  And I'm ok with that.  I still put in the effort and work. 

No, I did not win.  Yes, everyone gets a medal.  No, I don't think that's stupid.  We all crossed the same finish line.

Thank you for your concern for my knees.  They are doing just fine.  Millions of people who aren't runners have knee problems.  I'd rather be healthy and take the risk.

I know I said I'd never run this distance again.  And I definitely know I vowed I would *never* run further.  I lied.  It happens.

Sincerely,
The Runner

Books, Books, Books... and "An Accidental Athlete" Review

I'm going to admit it, I'm not a big reader.  I read articles and blogs, but to sit down and read a book is  a real rarity. But like Matt Damon said in Good Will Hunting, "You blew 150k on an education you could have gotten in$1.50 in late fees from the library.”  Exactly, so why wouldn't I accept what is essentially "free education".  There is so much out there on running.  And I feel like the more I read, not only the more I'll learn, but the more I'll be able to discern what I do and don't agree with and be able to adequately reason "why" I feel that way.  So this is my current nightstand of hopes and dreams.  Ha!  It's missing "The Lore of Running" which I also intend to read, but I was afraid my tower might topple if I put that monster in the stack.

Well, Sunday my son was sick, and while my husband took my daughters to church, I stayed home with the sickie.  After my long run Saturday and before my race Monday, I figured my body could use a day of rest.  So I picked up "An Accidental Athlete" by John "The Penguin" Bingham and started in, expecting to only read a couple chapters.

First, if you don't know who John Bingham is, please remove the rock and come into the light!  You can look up to the header of my blog... "First or last... it's the same finish line."  John Bingham is the voice for those of us who will never be at the front of the pack.  If you've been around running for any period of time, you've probably seen a quote of his plastered on something.  So I was thrilled to take a peek into the life of John Bingham.

What this book is *not*:

This is not a "how to" book.  You are not going to get some great insight into how to run better.  You won't learn how to eat right or how to kick bad habits. 

What this book *is*:

The book is John Bingham's personal story.  You will enjoy moments of laughter and of sadness.  But most importantly, everyone will find something in there to relate to.  There will be a moment when you say "yep, that's me."  You will find encouragement and motivation.  And you will finish it with resolve that you can still be active and a competitor even in the middle and back-of-the-pack.

I had only planned to get through a couple chapters on Sunday, but ended up spending 8am-2pm like this:

And yes, I finished the entire book in one sitting.  (Mind you, I am a very slow reader, I bet some of you speed readers could finish this in a flight.)

This is an enjoyable quick read that I laughed at and then laughed more.  Not only do I think you should grab a copy of this book for yourself, but honestly, this book is the perfect gift for that person in your life - you know... the one that thinks they are "too old" or "too big" or "too slow" or whatever to ever take up and eventually enjoy running.  We all have at least one of those people in our lives.  This is the book that says "oh, he went through that too".  John Bingham ate too much, drank too much, and smoked too much.  And he didn't start running until age 43.  We all have our own obstacles, and I think it gives hope to those who don't believe they can.

Note:  This particular book was given to me to review.  I was not otherwise compensated,

and I was not obligated to give a positive review.

Labor of Love 10k Race Report

You get a whopping one photo in this race report because, well, I didn't even want one ounce of extra weight.  I originally signed up for this 10k in a really hilly area just for fun.  Several friends were also doing it.  But when Adam heard, he ignored my words and decided it was time for me to PR and prove all his speedwork efforts weren't in vain.   I whined and whined, but he insisted I needed to put the pedal to the metal.

Now, I'm not all that fast.  I consistent middle-of-the-pack girl.  But I do have a really good knack for tolerating pain during a race and pushing to my absolute limits.  Once I get the term "PR" in my head, I don't let go easily.  A leg needs to fall off... but I honestly was not confident that with the hills and the grand surprise - 30mph winds, I could hit my goal.  And, spoiler, I didn't hit my ultimate goal.

Let's take a look at the course of doom...

Looking at it, it's no wonder my race went exactly as it did.  I really really wanted to stay right at 9:00 min/mile.  My current PR was 59:35 - a pace of 9:37 (which was, BTW, set on a completely flat course in the middle of winter).  Knowing how hilly it was, a friend asked me how I planned to PR.  To which I responded - I don't know, I just *am*!  Because that's how I roll. 

Mile 1 - 9:03 - Right on pace.  Right where I wanted to be pace-wise, but I was already gasping for air.  My friend, Mike, had agreed to run this one with me.  He certainly wasn't lollygagging, but he wasn't hyperventilating like me.

Mile 2 - 9:29 - See profile above.  Yeah, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.  Somewhere in this mile Mike said, "If you need to walk, just let me know."  I'm pretty sure I responded with "not an option!"  Again, not how I roll.  I said I was going to get a PR and if I had to tolerate an hour of agony, I was going to do it.

Mile 3 - 9:31 - My breathing was awful.  I could not catch my breath at all.  It had flattened out a smidge, but I couldn't seem to get air into my lungs.  I had people asking if I was ok.  I was breathing like a congested horse.  It wasn't pretty.  I saw my pace slipping, and I picked up the pace.  And just before we hit the mile 3 marker, I hear Mike calmly say "my knee is hurt, you keep going."  I quickly glanced back with an "are you sure?" and he waved me on.  Mike had knee surgery about 6 months ago, and I figured he had some pain and was being precautious. I figured he'd just walk it in.

Mile 4 - 8:47 - See profile above... by far the easiest mile.  I still had a side stitch that I had since mile 2, but I was successfully ignoring it and just plowing through, knowing this would end soon.  This mile was for Adam... cause this is just under where he thinks I ideally should be able to run... and it convinced me that given a flat course, I might be able to pull it off.  I passed a few people which was a nice perk of the increased pace.  But there were 2 chicks in front of me that I was certain were in my age group that I tried to chase down (I never could, and as it turns out, they were a decade younger than me... oops!!!).

Mile 5 - 9:20 - Wind was getting a good bit harder and my body was just flat-out fatigued.  There was an older bald dude in front of me that was my carrot.  For once, I had zero desire to pass him.  I just wanted to hold on to him.  He would pull away a bit, and I'd catch up.  I never got uber close to him, but he was in my sights and was pulling me along.  As I hit the hill towards the end of this mile, I pushed hard to keep my pace in line.  I just could not push down towards the 9 end, I was giving everything I had.  My lungs were on fire.  We went through a tunnel and the sound of my breath was frightening.  I could've been the lead act in a Haunted House.

Mile 6 - 9:30 - Again, seems to follow the profile perfectly, I turned the corner to begin this mile and not only was there a giant hill, but the wind was really hard right at my face.  I felt like I was sliding backwards.  My pace was over 10 min/mile.  I was not going to end on a bad note.  I made it up the hill and had to make up the pace on the flat as best I could.  I was doing a countdown of how much longer I had to suffer.  Lungs were on FIRE.  I couldn't breath and then it happened... the older bald dude I had been chasing pulled back on the throttle.  I got to his side and said "no, you have to keep pushing... you are pulling me along."  He said "don't let me hold you back, go, go, go!"  I don't think he understood.  I needed him to go fast, I needed to chase him.  I had nothing left on my own.  But he let me go.  Ugh.  I was doing the best I could and just waiting to hit 6, because I know I can pull anything out on the back end.  It doesn't matter how fatigued I am...

Last 0.2 - 7:30 - I could hear the music at the finish and I wanted this over.  I knew I hadn't met my "A" goal, but I knew I would PR.  I put on the jet-boosters and went.  Wasn't long before I heard all of my friends cheering like crazy.  So I pulled out my crazy long sprinter legs and pushed to the finish, and then promptly collapsed on the grass.  Wouldn't even take off my timing chip. 

Official time - 57:12 - Pace 9:13 min/mile - a PR by 2:23.  I will take it.  There was *nothing* left in me.  I could not have done better on that day given the hills and the wind (although the 20 degree drop in temps sure was nice).  I had left everything I had on the course, and I was not disappointed.  I know I can PR again on a flat course, although I'm not sure 5ks and 10ks fit into my plan for awhile, I have bigger fish to fry on the horizon.

Pictured - (and no, we did NOT color coordinate on purpose)
Monica - who ran an awesome 5k!
Robin D - who won Overall Female Masters!  (in 51min)  Chick is fast!
Jenn - who smoked her 5k and got second in her Age Group (glad to have her injury-free)
Me - who still couldn't breath, but was attempting to look joyful!
Sheila - who ran her *first* 5k today!  Apparently she was so excited, she smiled and waved across the finish... I think that's awesome and we should all try it sometime! (And for the record, I'm in the process of using my persuasive powers to convince Sheila that she's capable of a half marathon.)
Handicap Sign - Mike (who took the photo) said this represented him.  Sadly, he came up to me as I finished... so I knew it was bad, otherwise he would've walked it in.  His knee totally gave in, and he said he tried to run again, but it buckled.  He was driven to the finish.  Prayers appreciated for Mike's knee not to be seriously injured again.  Ugh.

Not pictured... Robin W (who got 2nd in her age group for the 10k) and Dana (who got an awesome PR)!!!  Great job by everyone!!!

Heat, Heat Go Away

As I'm sure you're all tired of hearing, the heat has been brutal and then more brutal and then still brutal.  Severe drought conditions down here.  So when I looked at the 10-day forecast and saw this:

Seriously?  Number that start with 6s, 7s, 8s, and 9s?  Oh, happy day.  Is it sad that I'm excited about weather in the 90s?  Well after two months of almost constant 100s, including many weeks where temps were in the 105-112 range and it was 90 degrees even at 5am, this looks like a very welcome relief... especially Monday.  I have the Labor of Love 10k on Monday.  And someone evil (hint - look right) thinks it's time for me to PR.  And that guy has massively selective hearing.  I try to remind him that I set my PR in fabulous 40 degree weather on a totally flat course.  I'll be running a very hilly course and it'll still be much hotter than optimal running temps. (The course is so hilly, that Libby used it to train for the San Fran marathon because the total elevation change for the distance was the same...)  But that dude just doesn't listen.  He *did* promise me that it would count for my Tuesday Torture and I could take Tuesday easy... so maybe he does occassionally wear a halo.  But I will be busting my rear to pound the pavement at super speeds on Monday.  I highly anticipate puking (and I have a very strong stomach).  I already warned my friends that are giving me a ride and running the 5k, that I will likely be a very moody witch when I finish... for at least 30 minutes, and then I'll whine and complain the whole way home.  Yep, that's the intent... but I *will* PR, and I'll make Adam hide his tail and horns for at least a day.

Introducing Shannon - The Beginning

Near the first of each month, I'm going to have a guest post from one of the girls I coach, Shannon!  Shannon is starting a really important journey in her life,  and I cannot wait to share her story with you and monthly updates of her trials and triumphs.  I think it's really important to share this journey because I bet there are many more people out there like Shannon that can really identify with the difficulty in taking that step to get healthy.  Please show Shannon some bloggy love and support!  I'm thrilled that she's agreed to document her journey here on a monthly basis. Without further ado...

So. Lesley asked me to tell you all a little about me. I'm 36, and I weigh 302 lbs. I'm a cancer survivor. I love to read and make jewelry and take crafting and jewelry classes. I'm a closed captioner for tv, a Dallas native, co-owner of an

online jewelry business with my sister. I'm not athletic in any way, never have been. I was a band nerd in high school, and one of the things I liked best about that at the time, was that it got me out of PE classes.


I've always been overweight, as long as I can remember. I have lost weight in the past, but gained it all back, and then some. After I was diagnosed with uterine cancer and went through chemo and radiation for it a few years ago, I got depressed. During that time, it was like I didn't care anymore, so it didn't matter what I ate or anything. So, I gained 100 lbs in less than two years. I started diets, and didn't stick to them. I bought a treadmill, used it a few times, and then it just started collecting dust. I truly think that I just wasn't ready to commit, no matter how much I knew I needed to. I think it works that way sometimes, if you can't really commit to something, it's just not going to work, no matter how many logical reasons you have to do it. There has to be something besides good, logical reasons. I'm not sure exactly what changed, but I think now, I am ready to do this.

I started a diet back in mid-June, and have lost over 30 lbs already, but I know that I need to add exercise as well, so that's where Lesley comes in. She's agreed to work with me, even though I'm far from being a runner. I'm still not entirely convinced I'll ever be a runner, but I'm willing to give it a try. Right now, I'm just walking. Thank goodness for that treadmill! It's dusted off, and moved into the living room in front of the tv, and I think it's been used more in the last two weeks than in the previous two years I've owned it. Sometimes when I walk, I feel like I'm just plodding along, and I think, is this really accomplishing anything? But I know I have to start somewhere, and it won't take me long to be moving a little faster or going a little farther each time.

Anyway, that's a little about me. I'll be checking in here every month, letting you know how it's going. Hopefully, you'll see me getting thinner and healthier over time.

 
Welcome Shannon!  And seriously, I am honored that she even considered letting me help her along on this journey.  I can't think of anything more valuable than claiming your health and life back!