More Motivation

I am signing up for a 15k (9.3 miles) race on the 4th of July!

I started my training plan and I don't have any specific goals set yet, but I do know that my biggest challenge in this training period is not the number of runs, cross-training sessions, strength-training sessions, etc. I have before me, rather, the extra pounds (lbs, #s) I've been carrying around with me.

I know that I've come so far in my weight loss journey, but there's just this extra ~10 pounds that has been hanging around for many months. I go up and down 3-4 pounds constantly, but have been at a plateau for too long. It's gotta come off.

I know for me, exercise alone is not the key. I need to control what goes in my mouth or I will continue on this 3-4 # roller coaster.

So from this point forward, I will post my weekly weight loss (I might follow a cute idea I found on another blog called "WIW," or weigh in Wednesday). I can't bring myself to post my actual weight, but pounds lost (or gained) I can handle.

I'm gonna need some motivation, so here's some to start:



Some Days.....

It's been a long time since I lacked the motivation to exercise; weeks, months, years maybe.

Well, yesterday I woke up with no real plans for anything, let alone exercise. See, I got my long run in on Thursday evening with the Fox Trot running group, so I didn't have specific needs to SLR (slow long run) yesterday. I thought I'd want to maybe add another SLR in yesterday, or maybe I'd want to combine a short run with some cross-training. Instead, I found myself not wanting to. do. anything.

I slugged around the house for several hours and finally I knew what I needed to do = RUN!

But I also knew that I needed some motivation to get going, so I went to my Pinterest board "All things Running," and found the exact thing(s) I needed:

I laced up my shoes, grabbed my gear, and headed out. I told Jeremy that I was hoping for 3 miles, probably slowly and possibly even stopping to walk - I just had to get out there!

3.27 miles - 30:03 minutes - DONE!

I walked in the house and when Jeremy asked how I felt, I told him, "Exactly how I was hoping I'd feel - great!"

Lesson: Exercise - you might dread it, but you'll never regret it!

So true, so true.

Super Fans

Wow! We really packed a lot of activity into this weekend. It really became more of a racing weekend.

Yesterday, I took the boys out to the Altoona Curve stadium to cheer on 5k runners. We were 'super fans.' Wondering why I wasn't a runner? I was saving up my energy for a 5k this morning (race report further down).

I really enjoyed cheering on the runners. When you're a runner you never get to see the start of the race or the sprint to the end for the first place finisher.

Onto today's race.

This was my 'anniversary race.' Two years ago, I ran this race as my first 5k (and well, the rest is history).

I really wanted to write a post about my goals for this race but I wasn't 100% sure I was going to run it - I started having some hip pain on Friday during a very short run; enough pain that I stopped to walk and called the chiropractor immediately for an adjustment. Yesterday I planned to 'take it easy,' but between being a 'super fan,' grocery shopping, and the million other little things I did, my legs didn't really get the break I was planning for.

I jogged to the race start line from my parents house (about 1 mile) - I figured this would determine if I was going to run or just be a super fan again. The hip hurt, no lying. But the pain didn't increase as I ran, so I figured I'd give the race a try. I was lucky enough to have my own Super Fans (any guesses) for this run.

It was sunny, beautiful, and much warmer than any run I've done this year.

The whistle blew and we were off!

I ran my heart out - I was sweating, panting, cramping, all those good/bad things that come along with running hard.

I crossed the finish line in 26:25 - I was thrilled. I really wanted to come across that line in under 27:00 - I did way better than that! The best part of the race was when my Super Fans rang the little bell they brought with them (it was a bell you put on a kid's bike - we were joking about it earlier, thinking that I should take that with me and that when I wanted to pass someone, I could ring it) - I heard that bell and started laughing a little.

The best part of being happy with my race time was that I also earned a 1st place finish in the Female 36-40 age category (it was a small race)! Score!

Good run!

Joking around pre-race (humor is how I keep the nervousness to a minimum)

At the turn-around point (thanks to my Super fans for the photo)

Almost there!

Super Fans!

Coming Up Next...

The half marathon has been the only thing on my mind since January. Now that it's done, the logical question is, "What's next?"

It seems that spring/summer is full of races, so the answer to this question is quite easy: another race.

Thinking back 2 years ago, I was just getting into running and picked a 5K to give me a goal to strive toward - the Cresson Area Heritage Days 5K. I remember working so hard to get myself to that day of my first 5K. There were several things I remember so clearly about that 1st race:

* Showing up in shorts and tee shirt - it was about 45 degrees. I was so cold, never really warming up for the duration of the race (I remember my legs were so cold, I couldn't even feel them after a bit). That's how I learned that I'm 'cold runner.'

* Meeting up with some old friends from high school and the one saying, "We're going to jog a little to get warmed up; do you want to come with us?" I remember thinking, "I've got 3.1 miles in me, I couldn't possibly include a warm up...."

*Starting out way too fast - by the 2nd mile, I was dragging and I had to include about 4 walk breaks. You get so excited and sucked into the vibes of the other runners.

*Coming across that finish line with a million feelings running through me from extreme happiness, "I stinkin' did it," to wanting to throw up. It was awesome!

I ran that 1st 5K in 30:03 and earned a 3rd place medal in my age category!

All smiles before the race. Notice the long sleeve shirt?
 I ditched it just before the race, thinking I'd warm up  (bad move).

Coming across the finish line - I just ran my first 5K!!!!!

Back to today! I'm planning on running this 5K (including the link to the race registration just in case you want it:) again in 3 weeks. I created a modified training plan (since I couldn't really find a 3-week training plan coming off of recovery week).

I'm excited.

Training starts tomorrow!

I'll post some goals closer to race day.



My First 1/2 Marathon - What I Learned

Having a little time to reflect on my first 1/2 marathon (and a little time to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment), I wanted to write a blog post about what I learned through all of this; what I did right and what I could've done better. This information is what I learned about me and what's right for me. You may find that none of this applies to you or that none of it is found in the science of running, take note. If I did gather some info, I cited the website.

So here it goes!

Things I did right:

* Training

I picked the right training program for me. I used Hal Higdon's Novice 2 plan. I stuck to it pretty closely (when I started the plan, I was running 4 milers on a regular basis, so my first long run was 5 miles and then I progressed from there. Each week my long run (LR) was a mile longer than outlined in the plan), especially the mid week run distances. I debated on whether to use Higdon's plan 1 or 2. Plan 1 was for those who were truly novices, who have never run a 1/2 before. True, this was my first 1/2 but I have trained for one before, so I went with plan 2, since it had some longer LRs included.

Take away: pick the training that is right for you. Remember that no one can run the race for you, so you have to train within your abilities and goals.

*Race

Originally, I was to run the Cook Forest 1/2m in March (an illness kept me from it - boo, hiss!). The race I ended up running was the Boston Trail Half Marathon in Boston, PA (you saw Boston and thought I went for the big one, didn't you?). There were several great things about this race:

- It was an out and back course - I like those; they work for me.

- It was on a trail - not pavement - kinder on the joints. Plus, most of my training LRs were on a similar trail, so the terrain was familiar.

- It was flat - kind for a 1st-timer.

- It was well organized - highly recommend this course, especially for a 1st 1/2M.

- There were pacers - just cool; and motivating (we wanted to stay in front of the 2:10 pacer)

- It was beautiful - the scenery was just gorgeous. River, trees, nice houses, etc. My kind of thing.

Take away: Do a little research and make sure your race, especially your first one, will be a memorable course and that it fits who you are as a runner.

*Nutrition and General Preparation

I was pretty focused on eating well and hydrating well during my training period. I tried to keep a good balance of proteins, carbs, etc in my diet. I added chia seeds into my daily foods, mainly my morning oatmeal.

I think my training period was pretty spot on. I followed the plan, I hydrated well during training, I ate well, I slept well. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary on race day - I wore clothes I was used to running in, I wore my usual shoes, I took my usual fuel source (Swedish fish and sour patch kids). Overall, I was satisfied with this (If you read on, you'll find that I could've done a bit better with nutrition on race day).

Take away: preparing for a race is holistic; you can't just focus on running.

Things I could have done better:

* Race day fuel and hydration

This race was a 2-hour drive from home, so I got up @ 5am, we left @ 6am. I was so nervous for the race, that I didn't eat breakfast at home, as planned. I ate a banana, a few pretzels, a pack of Angry Bird gummies, and a couple of sips of water prior to the race. That's it. I know better than that! I was paying the stupid tax starting @ mile 8. My body was out-of-steam. It's not that I didn't want to go, I just felt like I couldn't. Yes, I had my Swedish fish, but I was beyond hungry at this point, my stomach was hurting and I couldn't handle more than 1 fish along the way. By mile 11, I was so dang thirsty, I almost asked an old man riding his bike on the course for some water......I should have eaten breakfast AND a snack + at least 32 oz of water prior to the race.

Take away: Take the time to properly fuel on race day. Get up earlier if that's what it takes. Don't go into your race without the fuel you'll need to get through.

*Less layering

I'm a cold runner. The forecast was calling for dropping temps and increasing rain, so I dressed accordingly. The top layer was a windbreaker/rain coat with a lining in it. By mile 2, I hung it on a post (hoping it would be there on the way back) - I was hot. I would've been fine for a 5k, not for a 1/2.

Take away: don't over dress. I read something (don't remember where, so I have no citation) that said dress as if it were 20 degrees warmer than the actual temp - that will ensure that even if you're cold in the beginning, you'll be comfortable by the end.

So there you have it - the things I learned from my first 1/2 marathon.

What's the most important thing(s) you've learned

from your first race (short or long distance)?

What's the race tip you give people most often?

What's the tip you've been given that has become part of your regular training?

Race Report

The short of the long: I did it! I'm a 1/2 Marathoner!

If you want the long of the long, continue reading.

My ultimate goal was simply to finish (running, walking, being pulled across the line, whatever).

Secretly, my goals were:

A: 2:09:59

B: 2:10:xx

C: 2:15-2:20 *

*I included this 'C' goal in case something really went in a way I wasn't planning for.

We arrived at the parking lot ~8:15ish, waited for Amy to pull in and then we

 had to find our way to the registration tents.

Hey, look what we found on our way to the registration tent!

The 13 mile marker - if only it was this easy getting to that point...

Just couldn't help having some fun with the Start Line signs.

 Here we go - packet pick up!

Race shirt - sa-weet!

Lacing the timing chips in our shoes.

Off to the start line - This is the first race I ever ran that had pacers - we got in the 2:10 pace group.

  One last hug from Jude.

 Not sure what I was thinking, but maybe something like, "Is this really going to happen?"

 Just about to start.

And then we were off.
I didn't take my iPhone (because of the strong chance of rain), which means I didn't have my Map My Run app to keep track of pace. We went retro and used our watches.
I wrote the mile split times for a 9:50 pace (even thought the 2:10 goal time would have us running 9:55 miles).

The weather was fine - cool and over cast. The first several miles flew by and we were actually keeping close to a 9:30 pace. We got water at every station (every 2 miles). The trail was beautiful and followed the Youghiogheny River - there was a lot of beauty to keep us occupied.
Amy and I chatted about a little of everything. Before we knew it, we started seeing runners coming back (meaning they hit the turn around point and were on their way back) - the leading guy was minutes ahead of the next couple of runners.
Eventually we hit the 1/2way mark, looped the trail and started our way back.

This is the point where the faster starting pace caught up with me.
I started to struggle - I had a cramp, I had to pee, it felt like I was starting to lose steam.
My favorite part of the race was when I decided I had to pee, like NOW..... somewhere around mile 8 - I know I couldn't continue for 5 more miles feeling like this, so I darted off the path, into the woods, dropped the drawers, peed, got my gear back where it needed to be (which was a struggle b/c I was so sweaty), and got back onto the trail. I know Amy probably thought I was crazy, but it had to be done :)

Miles 8-11 were hard. I mean h-a-r-d. There were quite a few walk breaks and quite a few times that I thought I was done. My head was spinning, my stomach hurt, blah, blah, blah.
Any time I stopped to walk, Amy would say something like, "Don't walk too long, it'll just be harder to get going again..." I needed that (inside I kinda wanted to slap her - don't worry, she knows this, but I knew that's exactly what I needed). Every time I slowed, Amy slowed, respected it, and motivated me to keep pushing.

At mile 11, we saw the boys and, although I wanted to climb in the car with them, it did give me a sense of motivation and we were able to continue running pretty consistently.

Here we come in our pinkies (notice that I ditched the rain coat. I hung it on a post somewhere around mile 2; Amy graciously grabbed it on the way back).

Mile 11 was OK. After seeing the boys, I knew it was just about 20 minutes and change till I would see them again. The finish line being that close was also a tad of a motivator :)
I was totally dehydrated by this point. I've never been so thirsty in my life. The last water station was somewhere right around the 11 mile mark. Amy didn't want/need any. I stopped to get a drink. We started up again and I decided to turn around and get more water - I was a little scared too much water would give me stomach troubles, but I didn't care, I needed that water.
Amy would frequently turn around to see if she could see the 2:10 pace group. At one point,she could see them and told me that we needed to pick it up a little; no walk breaks were allowed if we were going to hit goal. I didn't look back - I didn't want to know where they were.

Here we are just about to cross the finish line.
In all my dehydration delirium, I was trying to make a 1-3 with my hands.
I look a little like dying and Amy looks like she's ready for 13 more....

We crossed that line in 2:08:50 (ish) - I'll post the official time once I get it.
We crossed the line and all I could think/speak was, "water!!" We had to walk about 2/10 mile to the tents. Now, you wouldn't think 2/10 of a mile is really anything after all that running, but it was.
We made it to the tent and I drank 3 cups of water, a cup of Gatorade, and a container of chocolate milk. Yeah, I was that thirsty.

Once I felt somewhat oriented again, we headed back to our cars. My calves were screaming.
Amy and I snuck into a banquet hall to use their bathroom to change. I put on my new race shirt that I just earned and my compression socks. My calves said, "Thank you!" for the socks.

We did it!



It's still so surreal right now. I'm a 1/2 Marathoner!
Lots of thanks to Jeremy and the boys for supporting me through this race (and what probably seemed like months and months of training) and to Amy for being a good friend to me (and a coach when I truly needed it). If it wasn't for Amy, I'd still be out on that course.

I learned a lot out on that course today and I'll be constructing a future post on that.
For now, I'm just going to cherish the fact that I finished a 1/2 (not only finished, but came in better than Goal A!)

Thanks for reading the long of the long!

'Twas the Night Before....

I promised myself I'd be in bed by 8:30 this evening, and here I am blogging away.

'Twas the night before my first 1/2  - many thoughts on my mind...

'If I can make it to the starting line, I'm sure I'll be fine!"

The table is covered with all of my gear

Clothes, shoes, water, watch; I forgot something, I fear.

It's time to bed down, a good rest is calling my name.

Fresh legs, a fresh mind - all part of the game.

5:00 am will come mighty quick,

we'll jump in the car and head out to the sticks.

The gun will go off, and we'll set out on the trail-

The pair of Amys enjoying the details..

I'm sure the time will fly and before I know we'll be done

Crossing the line of 13.1!

Here's my list for the day:

A little motivation!

Jeremy made me my own Garmin watch and a big water jug Amy and I can share........

I was laughing so hard, Jeremy couldn't get a good picture of me using my new 'gear!'

Next up: RACE REPORT!