The Idea

I have said, no more marathons. None...for now. I felt tired, didn't like it...burnt out. However, the idea of an ultra marathon has been brought to my attention again...hmmm. I didn't say no ultra marathons. Come fall, we shall see how I feel. Fall 2014 may, and its a hesitant "may", include an ultra... to be determined.

2016

     I really only have one goal this year...to be healthy. No, I don't normally have an issue with this. Lets expand a bit. I want to exercise more, not just running, but other exercise so that I continue to love running and I want to make better food choices, less carbs more veggie. I love veggies, I need to use that. I want to be a good example for my daughter...and I really want to kick 40 in the face (this is made easier by being carded the other day for the bottle of wine in my shopping cart-Score!).

    In the past year, my running times slowed down. I had gotten my half marathon time under 2:30:00 for two races, then started marathon training in the heat and humidity. This year, no excuses. You want to be fast, you run fast and you work hard. You suck it up and hit the hills and cross train. In light of that, I am giving up one of my short runs so I have time for two days a week to go to the gym with the honey. Theoretically, I loose 10 pounds, my run times get faster, and better yet, I am not burnt out from just running so all of it feels better, weight loss or not. Not following the written schedule kills me, so this will be a test in loosening up. End goal- enjoy the running more.

     I also have a full running schedule...Alabama and Mississippi kick off January...then I am throwing in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming in June, Maine and Vermont in July, New York in October and maybe Connecticut in September...its and expensive traveling kind of year...but I am turning 40 and I am worth it.

     I am also taking another wack at Tobacco Road Marathon, will try to get into Marine Corp Marathon and the Philadelphia Marathon.

     It sounds like a lot, but really, its all geared towards healthy choices that make me feel good. Bring it on 2016! Lets see what you've got!

Everlast Sample

 I belong to one of the best running groups out there-Moms Run This Town. There are chapters everywhere and they are some of the most friendly and welcoming runners you will every meet. I highly recommend you look them up. I am a mom and these ladies get revolving kid schedules, running at odd hours and the need for some adult conversation sometimes. Its is a free group and they run at all different paces. Let me tell you, it is really nice to walk up to a race start and run into someone you know so you don't have to start alone.

Recently I had the change to try a new Protein Powder through that group. Everlast Vegan Protein Vanilla. Normally, protein powder-YUCK! Its like drinking liquid chalk, its sticks to the darn cup and doesn't wash off in the dishwasher, not to mention, it you don't like chocolate like me, your options are usually limited as the other flavors are even worse if there are other flavors. I was cautious, but after finding that even a carnation instant breakfast after a long run helped, I was game to try. It couldn't be any worse then the others I had tried.

My sample came and I saw that it was vanilla...not chocolate. There was potential. I figured I had a long run coming up in a couple of weekends and I would give it a try after that run.

The day dawned hot and steamy. Virginia has recently decided to mimic a sauna, even at 6  in the morning. Even taking water with you, you are thirsty and hot and have sweated five pounds of water and nutrients out when you are done. I met my friend and off we went. We were so miserable that when we went by an apartment complex with the sprinklers on we walked...no, strolled, through the sprinklers. Thank you apartment complex. Same time next week.

Despite drinking my now warm sports drink on the run, I was starting to get a headache. For me, this is indicative of one of two things...not enough fluids or I have lost too many of the essential minerals (read salt) through sweat.  It was a great day to try the sample.

Once home and showered (I know, I know- eat first, shower later) I went down and mixed it up. Opening the packet I noticed the powder was finer then most protein drinks I had tried. I mixed it up and it mixed better too. I did only use a spoon so a shaker ball would probably be even better, but it didn't have all that drink froth on the top that you have to slog through before you get to drink the rest.

Down the hatch! It had a creamer texture and was a little thicker then what I had expected, but it tasted good! Not grainy, not chunky with bits that didn't mix. I drank the whole thing. Better yet, it wasn't chocolate. Better yet, it was vanilla! So, I checked the ingredients, the nutrition and the cost.

There are two things I don't like. It has carrageen, which supposedly isn't good for you. However, this depends on how much you ingest and what study you read. You do the research and you choose. The other thing is the sodium. While I agree, I need to put my sweaty, nasty salt back, I think I would rather do it naturally. As a society, we eat more sodium then we need just in our meals. Then we add table salt. Most people do need to add it synthetically too. I don't have a blood pressure issue, but that may be something to consider for those who do. As always, consult your doctor before starting a new diet/exercise program etc. and remember, this is only what I think and I am NOT a professional. (this is where I say, you are on your own, always be smart about what you do and try and I take no responsibility, etc.)

The leaves the big question of cost. Having found one I liked, I wondered what it would cost me. Most seem to average 35-45 bucks per container. Everlast has this one on its site on sale for about $40.00. Amazon sells it for twice that. A little expensive for my purse...but I liked it and it was on sale. I would like to try it mixed with ice and bananas or blueberries, but if I doesn't stay on sale, honestly, I probably won't buy it again. So that's what I did today. Not a race, but it could help with a race in the future.

Remember to rest

     Since the last post I have run the Heart Break Half at Camp Pendleton in California. California-check. Then The Petersburg Inaugural Half , The Elizabeth River Run 10k and then threw in Run for the Dream 5k and half for good measure. The first two were in May, a month after my 2 marathons in 7 days escapade, the others I ran in May. I don't like racing. Not at all. (Said with a healthy dose of sarcasm.)

     Heart Break half was rough. Its really called heart break hill for a reason. But, I checked of California and the neatest thing was to meet some girls from the west coast who are in another chapter of the Moms Run this Town Group I am a part of. Coast to coast MRTT, since I am from Virginia.

 ummmm...up hill both ways?

 It wasn't nearly as hot before the sun came up.

Can you find the civilian?

 

     It was one rough race. One that I am probably the most proud of. While there didn't seem to be many of us who weren't either retired, reserved or active duty, they were the friendliest along the course I have seen. They encourage everyone. Those running were throwing out encouragement. I wasn't last and I barely made it under the time limit, but it was worth it. My most awesome best friend even drove down hill to pick me up, so I wouldn't have to walk up the hill to car when I was done. You know you have a great friend when she does that AND gets up at the crack of dawn to drag your butt to a race she isn't even walking in.

     The one thing I noticed was I was tired after this race. Tired enough to take a nap. Say what?! A nap? Those are for sissies, right? I have never needed to do that after a race. My legs didn't hurt, but they were definitely not up to snuff either. Hmmm... Well, nap I did. I felt much better after, but my legs were still tired. We wrapped up California and sadly went home.

     Off to Petersburg a week later. I tried some short runs in between, but my legs were just heavy. Tired, heavy blocks of I don't know what. So I rested some more. When we got to Petersburg, I was excited but given the way my legs had been feeling planned on not running a fast (ish-for me) race from the beginning. I was also looking forward to the history of the place, but leery of it being and inaugural race.

     The first mile, my legs felt great, up hill no less. Then at about a mile and half they stopped working, at least the way I wanted them to. At about mile two, I gave up. I would have to run the pace my legs wanted to go. I would finish, but the lead bricks I had for legs said that pace wasn't going to be very fast at all. The marathons and lack of resting had caught up. Now I knew why people took a month off after a marathon. Lead legs is an awful feeling. I would finish the race and then was determined to take it easy.

 Downtown Petersburg, predawn

 Downtown Petersburg, dawn

 a meeting of the re-enactment minds

 Take back Virginia!

     I loved all the history. It was a great race. There were some things I would like to see done better...more water stops at the end, so you don't die in the heat, pizza without a bucket of salt added. Really, there are better ways for me to put that back...say some cold Gatorade, Powerade or something? Packet pick up was easy, the course was well manned and handled...hehe...manhandled. I would definitely run this again.

 

     I now had three weeks to rest my legs. Hahaha! Well, I kinda did. I found that if I didn't keep running the little voice in my head got louder...and cranky. I berated my poor legs for still being slow and tires and not moving fast enough, so I would take a day or two off and try to rest them, but when they were still slow I got frustrated. I didn't want to run. Realizing my old shoes were way beyond their life time, I got new shoes, but not the ones I normally get. BIG MISTAKE. While they weren't bad, and would be just fine for a 5k, anything beyond that made my feet hurt. I kept at it, sucking it up and ordered new shoes. I had hope new shoes would help refresh my legs, but with the wrong shoes, this didn't happen.

 

     The day before my next half, the Marine Corp Historic Half, the right shoes came in. YEAH! Lets just say Cinderella has nothing on good running shoes.

 

Hospital Hill, here I come, tired legs and all. It would be another slow race.

 13.1 Baby!

 Proud to be and American.

 Wish they were handing out water!

 Looking up Hospital Hill...at the half way.

Looking down...at the half way.

     It rained the night before, absolutely poured. We were excited to think it would cool things off...not so much. This was like running Virginia Beach Rock n Roll...hot, humid and miserable. I was so stinky and sweaty...ugh! Even Glide didn't completely help! The good news was, everyone had a slower race, and the even better news...my lefts felt better.

 

     Lets throw in a 10k for good measure...plus I love this run. Its fun, local and friendly. This year the course got cut short because we had an emergency helicopter landing at the hospital we usually run around, but I can't complain about that. They were saving lives. Besides, the race crew adjust the course in record time, let us know what was up and we STILL started on time, had awards and yummy food at the end.

 

     To round everything out, my daughter joined me for Run for the Dream. I love this race. Don't know why, but I do. This was my third time running it. Friday, I ran the 5k with my daughter. She hates running, but does it to spend time with me and make me happy. What and awesome kid! Again with the hot and humid. Welcome to summer in Hampton Roads.  This won't ease up until October...if I am lucky. So you give you body time to adjust and don't except and PR's other then for that particular race and course. If you are lucky, it rains and you run faster because the rain cools it down.

Williamsburg, VA

 Williamsburg, VA

Williamsburg, VA

So here is what I learned...

1) everyone needs some rest, even me

2) lead legs suck

3) the wrong shoes do NOT help recovery

4) and in light of that, but LOTS of the new "right" shoes- they are pretty and make your feet and legs happy

5) sometimes, its ok to slow down and just enjoy the race

 

     I know, everyone already knows that. But somehow, I can convince myself I am exempt, until it happens. I very much dislike resting, but when it gets to a point where I am not excited to run, its time to stop and rest. This is why people taper right before marathons and normally, don't cram in so many races their legs start a sit in to protest.

 

     I have not more races until August and I have been doing easy evening runs to rest the legs. They are finally starting to get back to the speed they were at before, but dang!, it took FOREVER! and they still aren't there completely! Hot or not, I am at least excited to run again. Maybe I can thrown in a one in NY in July? hmmmm...we shall see!

 

 

The Picture Race

     My next half marathon was to be hilly, cold and a heck of a drive. It was also suppose to be amazingly beautiful and part of the trip was for my daughters birthday. She always gets shafted because Shamrock is on her birthday weekend and I am NOT mom of the year.

 Packet pick up and the race start/finish were near here.

 Miles...well, just about all of them looked like this...

and this...

 and this...

at the top of hill was this...

 another hill and this...

     I mean seriously, hills or no hills, 18 degrees Fahrenheit, this race lived to its name. "Run the Blue Grass- the prettiest half marathon" I loved it. After two marathons, the hills were hard, but I would absolutely do it again.

     They had a special vintage of bourbon you could buy if you could afford it and there were tons of tours that catered to the race. Since we were not only in horse country, but also bourbon country, a lot of tours were of distilleries and if I didn't have my daughter with me I would have gone. As it was, we went to visit the Secretariat center. They gave us really crappy directions to get there but once there it was worth it. The smile on my daughter's face was amazing. Best part of the whole trip.

Forget the bourbon, if I had a horse trailer and lots of money we would have gone home with this guy, whether I wanted to or not. If you can, the Run the Blue Grass is a half that needs to go on your list. Build time into you pace to take pictures and add days to see the sights. You won't be sorry.

2 Marathons 7 days

     Yes, you read that correctly. Two marathons in seven days. I blame my running friends. They are a bad influence. "You'll already be trained" they said. "You'll be a Marathon Maniac-Double Agent Status!" they said. "O.K." I said, and signed up. We trained just like we should, starting with about a group of five. Don't let anyone tell you different. Training for such craziness should only be done with equally crazy friends, and as you can see from the arm twisting, I have them in spades. It ABSOLUTELY makes marathon training...o.k. Because, let's be honest, who really enjoys  getting up early for weeks on end and running for hours in the cold, dark, sleet, rain and whatever else mother nature and fate can throw at you. My running friends are awesome. You really can't find better.
     On one of our long runs it sleeted. Of course. The only thing missing was hills. Another long run, it was COLD-at least for Virginia. It's all relative, right?

The good news is it didn't look like this...

(This is my hometown BTW-Maine. As I said, its all relative.)

Most of our runs were good conversation and hashing out the nerves about running two marathons so close together. The pain train seemed to be hitting everyone.  It was one of those training cycles. Disappointed, but good running friends that they are, they were still along for the ride, to offer wisdom and encouragement, and a little poop talk when needed.

 

     The first marathon up would be Tobacco Road. I heard about hills and rail trails. It was going to be a lot like the West Virginia half I ran that I still HATE to this day. Doing double the time and double the distance on something I hated made be nervous. I promised myself I wouldn't judge, just run and try to enjoy it. The best part of this race would be that my BRF would be running the half and I would have the chance for some running travel with her again. The half and the whole would start together and then there would be a split a few miles in.
     The hotel was fine, dinner was yummy, washed down with a little sangria, but no one seemed to sleep well. We were up, tired and I didn't have enough coffee. However, I did bring cheerios to try to get some breakfast in me. Always the hardest part of the run for me.  My tummy and mornings just to mix well.
     Before the sun was completely up, the gun went off and up we went. When is it a good idea to start a marathon on a hill?-NEVER. The good news was that it was a big up. Up we went and around a corner, then down. I love down hills. Its the only reason to run up them. Down you go, skipping a little and waving loose like a muppet. Total freedom. Kermit would be proud.
     A while back I had decided to race the first marathon and just try to finish the second. Race it (for me) I did. Right up to about mile twenty. It was a pretty train on a soft old rail trail. Lots of gentle inclines that seems to go forever, but then you got to go down. You could tell by your own breathing just how steep each incline was and when it started to go down. Since none of them were steep, for the most part it didn't bother my pace. I was running a 2:1 interval and tried to just keep running on the down hills to make the most of it. My running partner and I were well ahead of the 5:30:00 pacer which was my ultimate goal. I kept pushing too afraid that 5:30:00 monster would catch me. I had to take at least 5 minutes off my best marathon time. When you are a slower runner, 5 minutes is huge.
     We hit mile 18 and I started to get toe cramps. Like a Charlie horse but in your toe. Stops you in your tracks and I had to take my shoe off to work it out.  Once better, I started up again at the same hard pace. I was determined not to let it stop me. At about mile 20 I had to tell my running partner to go ahead. At mile 22 I just needed to finish. If I didn't push, no toe cramps. If I pushed they cramped. The soft ground combined did me in. I watched the 5:30:00 guy catch then pass me. I wanted to cry, but couldn't get the cramping to stop unless I slowed it down. One of the girls from my running group was volunteering since she couldn't run having been taken out by an injury towards the end of the training cycle. I was never so glad to see anyone. She walked with me a bit, added some words of encouragement (I really do have awesome running friends) and sent me off to finish.
    At the last couple of miles I ran into a girl we had met at the beginning. This was her first marathon and she looked done. We had been at a pace that was faster then she wanted to go at the beginning to we lost her, but here she was at the end. I caught up and told her she could do it. Told her 2 and 1's to the end. We had this. Up hill (remember we went down at the beginning, well now we had to go up that) little by little. We passed a few people because a lot were walking up the hill, but we kept up the chatter and the 2:1 and we finished. I was proud for her. Nothing beats your first marathon. Nothing. My amazing friends were there to cheer for me as I crossed the finish. I didn't beat the 5:30:00 monster but I finished. I blew my friends a kiss and walked it off until they met me.

     Seven days later and I was ready for Shamrock. The second marathon in seven days. Crazy at its best. I admit, I love it. Hard, crazy and I have to try. Its like being told you can't do something so you have to go do it to prove them wrong. In sports, that's ok. Other things, not so much.    
     This was a race I just wanted to enjoy. I had run it before, it was close to home and I could sleep in my own bed the night before. I got there, parked and walk to the start. My friend was volunteering again so I went to find her so she would tell me being crazy was good. I had run all week. I intentionally didn't run...well, maybe a few miles.  She told me I was indeed crazy and we chatted. It was just another race, right? Finally it was time to find my corral, which I did after running into some other friends at the potty like and on the way to the corral. I am part of an amazing group of women called Moms Run This Town. At any given local race, I run into some of them and they are all amazingly supportive of each other. 5k, 10k full marathon, doesn't matter, they always encourage. My running partner from last time came with the hubby this time so I didn't seen her until she showed up in the corral. We agreed we were just in it to finish and take it easy. Off we went and that's exactly what we did. Took it easy.
     We stopped for beer, mimosas, extra walk breaks and amazingly, I felt good. I was truly just enjoying it. At about mile 18 another friend biked out to find us. She assured us we were actually hauling butt. That our chip times (she founds us from our splits) looked really good. Huh. There really is something to just relaxing while you run. Now how the heck do you make that happen every other run?

My "Where is that darn lighthouse?!" Selfie -haha!

Photo courtesy of Heidi S.

      We finished up and my time for the second marathon, while not my best, was actually better then the first one seven days ago! (I will take my victory where I can.) TWO marathons in SEVEN days. I am one tough chick.
     Just to make it crazier, in seven more days I had a half marathon on the calendar...say what?!

Picture Time

The Richmond Half Was COLD and for a city run-Beautiful.

 until you had to walk back up the hill you ran down on the finish...

Harbor Lights was another cold one, but with the 5k company the day before, it was awesome!

 Cold, clear and colorful to start the half.

 ...for Thanksgiving, I found these turkeys at the Turkey Trot...

Now I am training for back to back marathons. Yep, that's 26.2...twice in 7 days. Tobacco Road Marathon and then Shamrock Marathon. Bring it.