Country Running

Fall is finally here...ok, at least the Virginia version of it. This means you can run and not leave a trail of sweat pools behind you because the humidity not only saps your speed but makes others question if you went running...or swimming. This also means a back to school schedule, more races and my favorite, cool crisp air. However, before the weather gods decided it was time for soccer and football, we got one last good wallop with the heat and humidity. Rock n Roll Virginia Beach broke heat and humidity records, I nearly broke my ankle. Bird in Hand was a week behind it an we somehow thought that in PA it would be cooler. Hahahahaha!

I took Friday off and drove up for the 5k Friday night. There was also a spaghetti and pizza dinner. After getting my numbers I headed to my motel, which promptly tried to over charge me and then after hammering that out they told me my room wasn't ready. Really?! They even had a sign up that said check in from 2-4. It was 3pm. THREE PM. Sigh. Fine. I would go drive around to see what there was to eat in case the spaghetti wasn't good. Finally I got to check in and got ready. For the record the travel thing was MUCH more fun with done with my running friends, among whom sarcasm has become a science.

Back to the race start where I met up with my BRF. It was a much cooler evening then we had seen in VB at the Rock n Roll. I was really looking forward to running in cooler weather. Especially since I saw where we were going to run. BEAUTIFUL!

As we walked over to the sketti dinner tent, my BRF's husband noted that there were signs in the potties and were they ever CLEAN! Right there- SOLD. It can't be a bad race with potties that clean! Then he read the sign...Go Long Go Deep. Ha! Turns out there were motivational signs in each one! See, even race support appreciates good sarcasm. Now you know you are among runners.

After cooing about how ADORABLE the little Amish kids were, we made our way to food. (Please don't take offense; they were Amish and really were cute- no sarcasm intended or implied here.) We hemmed and hawed about eating before a 5k and decided to just go light. The dinner proceeds were supporting the local fire department. Always a good cause to support. Now here we have to stop. I LOVE pizza. One of the many reasons I run is so I can eat said pizza. It isn't often I meet a bad pizza. (fast food pizza from Pizza Hut and Domino's are excluded from this- its fast food- yuck.) This pizza was BAD. The crust was hard, the sauce kinda tasteless and the cheese cold. My pizza bubble had been burst. However, others assured me the pie was delicious.

Finally it was time to run. Down the road, through the corn stalks to grandma's house...or at least to the finish line. The 5k was the precursor to gorgeous. I love seeing the outdoors when I run. Streams, mountains and all. I don't like running on uneven paths though. So 5k and done. It was fun. Not a bad run, but I discovered from the hills made my ankle hurt from where I had folded it in half the week before at Rock n Roll. "So don't run on it- duh!" Said no runner ever. It wasn't bad. I made arrangements to get my friend in the morning for the half and off we went to our respective sleeping arrangements. Once showered and having said good night to my kiddo I discovered to my dismay- NO Dallas Cheerleaders were available on my tv! This motel just gets worse and worse. I even checked for bed bugs, just in case.

Next morning up early for the half. Cinderella would have been singing at the sunrise, until she realized even her straight hair would curl in that humidity. I went to get my BRF and it was a pretty ride, even in the creeping hours of the morning. Corn fields, barns, and trains. Once I got a couple of blocks from the town center there seemed to be no one else on the road. It really was amazing country. Picked up the BRF at the trains (yes, she stayed in a real train) and headed to the race. The race directors had warned up to bring our patience so we had gone early. Turns out they were so efficient it wasn't needed and we got a front row parking spot. SCORE! Better yet, we had time to watch the balloons and the run come up.

It was time to line up. The air was humid but not too warm. If it stayed that way it would have been a perfect race. Mother nature had other ideas. The first few miles were great, but that was enough time for the sun to come up and make the humidity feel like running in a wet blanks. Throw in some hills and no shade and you found your self looking for some kind of shade next the corn stalks. My garmin breakdown said  was on pace for a PR...until the sun came up. Then my pace also had a breakdown so what can you do but just enjoy the view. Course support was amazing. They weren't loud but they had hoses, plenty of water and even coolers of ice for you, some of which I dumped down the back of my shirt. Even the camels came out to say hi.

Upon finishing in my second worst time we were given lucky horse shoe medals. LOVE THEM! I have already signed up to Rock n Roll (its a local race, how can you say no)  next year and am really hoping this one won't be on the same day so I can run it again too. Everything about this race was wonderful. It had hills, wonderfully friendly people, great race support, amazing countryside and really cool medals.

Shut Up + Run: HOKA One One Shoe Review and Giveaway#c9078072696866262139

Shut Up + Run: HOKA One One Shoe Review and Giveaway#c9078072696866262139

Virginia Beach Rock n Roll is Labor Day weekend every year. Every year the weather is miserable, yet suckers like me still sign up to run (or walk or crawl) for a tee shirt and some bling every year. Better yet, we pay for the (dis)pleasure of doing that. Takes a special kind of crazy. This year the day before there was a breeze, it was over cast and cool, at least by Virginia Beach summer standards. A real teaser. You start to think maybe, just maybe the weather will be nice. That plus the bonus of it only being $45.00 dollars to sign up for the next year and you are suckered in again. They should offer tattoos instead of tee shirts.

My daughter and I had signed up for the Mile of the Beach run which was the intro run the day before the half. Why? For more bling of course. A medal to run the mile, a medal for the half, and an extra one to prove just how crazy you were to do it in the first place.

The mile on the beach was no joke. Less then a quarter of the way in, the loose sand got the best of us and my daughter and my calves quickly realized we weren't running the whole mile. After some whining, walking and chin up talks we made it to the finish, where my daughter promptly informed me, we were never, EVER doing that again. For once AGREED. That being said and done, we headed down to the water where some friends waited and spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon chilling on the beach. This is how Labor Day weekend should be spent.

Next up was the half. Up at 4 a.m. because running in the heat and humidity isn't enough, you have to get up predawn just to get there to do it. Thank goodness for funny morning friends. My stomach can't handle a lot that early so no breakfast and very little coffee are not a good way to start a race. However, my running friends are just as crazy as me and a whole lot funnier. One of said friends noted we took up half the shuttle and the rest were probably wishing they had grabbed the next one. She was probably right, but smiles and laughter are a great way to start a race. One of the many reasons I like starting with my BRF even though we don't actually run together anymore.

So I got up, cussed the alarm, cussed the weather, cussed the fact that I had signed up in the first place, got in the car and drove to the shuttles 45 minutes away, finally thought I was awake enough to have it semi-together and I stepped in the only hole to China in the whole lawn walking from my car to the shuttle. Really?! The darn shuttle wasn't that far from my car! That hurt. Took a deep breath and decided it didn't hurt too badly, I could walk on it, therefor I could run on it, and over to my friends.

Once on the shuttle, it is another 20 minutes to the race start, which is why you have to get up so early. The race doesn't actually start until 7 a.m. but they close the roads, so no in or out except for emergency, shuttles and race workers. Once there we met others in my Moms Run This Town Group (which BTW is the most awesome group of women you will every meet. I make new friends at each race).  Obligatory picture taken, and then off to find bag check and stand in line for one last potty. My group and I made it to the start and jumped in early (I know, race shame on us, but the amount of people there were getting to me), which in the end made my finish deceiving. Because we started in front of the 2:45 pacer and finished in front of the pacer, it didn't match my Garmin. For a few seconds I thought maybe I had done better than I thought. About that time the math fought through the humidity to burst my bubble. It was weird to physically finish in front of the pacer yet still be a few minutes behind on the chip time.

Before I had finished mile 1, the humidity was so bad, I was dripping sweat. Mile 5ish I had to stop to potty since I was making sure to remain well hydrated given the heat and humidity. I took salt and Nunn and managed to avoid a headache, but I didn't beat my time from last year. The humidity was just too much. Its like running with a hot wet blanket thrown over you. YUCK! I beat 3 hours and didn't pass out so I am counting it as a personal win. I know I am faster then that. I also know I can't beat heat and humidity. I am a northern girl at heart. I can adjust forever and still prefer to run when its super cold rather then super hot. Maine girl all the way.

Swiped from Rock N Roll website

Once done, we were to meet a D for done. So I met a few of the girls, who told me where I could go get my stuff and extra medal. Off I went saying I would be back. They waited but had to go after that. My ankle was throbbing, a heat headache was coming and I was miserable standing in the direct sun. I needed something wet and cold and to get off my ankle so after waiting a bit more and then wandering to look for my other friends I finally went home, but not before stopping for an orangeade (orange juice and ground up ice slushy). It was probably my savings grace. Cold and it put back some of what I had lost in the heat and sweat. One the shuttle back to the car and home. Boy did I stink! Thank goodness so did everyone else. I don't have a lot of pictures because I was so hot and sweaty I didn't take the time to stop and take any. The ones that were taken, I just look nasty in. Next week is Bird in Hand. A fun race in PA with my BRF in cooler weather. I should have pictures of that one. Next year Rock n Roll, next year.

Rock the Canyon- quick version

So I had this bright idea that we should not only run the half marathon up  hill both ways on Saturday, but lets find a steeper path and run a marathon on it the next day. Thus my crazy running friends and I "Rocked the Canyon" in PA. My slightly saner BRF ran the half and graciously drove the nut jobs home the next day. I do appreciate her oh so much!

It really was an amazingly beautiful place to run even if it was one of the hardest races yet. There was certainly no PR. But dang! a half AND a whole in one weekend. I get bragging rights. correct?!


How could anyone not be glad they got to run in this place. So apparently, PA has its own Grand Canyon. Once upon a time, there was a rail road and it looked a lot more bare as they strip the lumber. The little town has a dinner-YUM! and you can actually drive a loop around the canyon if you want. There is also the option of a wagon ride, which after running up the thing, I recommend.

So up and down and up for 13.1 then allllllll over again for 26.2. That, my friends is the quick version ...

Time to write

So its been awhile. There has been running, tears, arguments with the husband and finally today, sick children. The latter of which being what sat me down to write, finally. Even with all that time I still have no direction, no theme, no real subject. I know, total failure of topic Mrs. Grindal.

The last time I had anything to say, it was really just that I had run my first marathon. Since then, there have been more races and now there is another marathon looming in the next couple of weeks.

In April I first went to Atlantic City. Sadly, I did not see any of the Real Housewives of New Jersey. This is very disappointing. I wanted to see tables thrown. This race was nice.  The most interesting thing about it was the hotel experience. My BRF had gone up with her mom and I took my husband so we had separate hotels. I had booked what looked like a nice, safe rightly price room two blocks off the shore. For those of you familiar with the area, please don't choke on your coffee laughing. My husband and I got there, and he looked at me. The area was not nice, but in I went, checked us in and up we went. My husband opened the door and looked around. "I can't stay here," he said. I tried convincing him it was only for one night. After all, it was paid for. He looked in the rest room. "Gross! I can't sit down on this!" He tried convincing me to get a new place again. One night, I reminded him. He looked at the beds, "I can't sleep on this with you! Who knows what those marks are!" As he was working up his rant, I looked around myself. Uh oh, no coffee pot. Wait, the ad said in room coffee. NO COFFEE??!! I turned to my husband handing him my already dialed, ringing phone to Trump Towers, "Get us a new room." We ended up on the boardwalk a bit of a ways down, but safe, in a large CLEAN room, with plenty of coffee. The first hotel even graciously gave me all my money back. There were really nice folks, just not in a safe area and with no coffee.

We went to dinner and met up with my BRF for some gambling. Clearly, I am not a gambler. Its good to know I can go to Vegas and I won't gamble away my house. I tried penny slots and freaked out at the money I was watching disappear. My BRF just laughed at me. I tried black jack. Not my thing either. I lost what I had left in two hands and the drunk guy told me I didn't know how to play. My husband, however, did all right. Nothing big, but broke even.

Atlantic City Board Walk April 2014

The next morning we raced. Running on the boardwalk was nice. You could see where they had repaired from hurricane Sandy and the boards had give. The section at the middle of the race was on the road, also being repaired, and that sucked. It was rough, very canted and just generally not in good condition. Fix the road and I would run it again, without the gambling.

 

 

A week later was the Dismal Swamp Stomp where I totally failed bathroom protocol. As my running friend Susan says "Go early, go often". My mistake. Won't happen again. It was a local race on a course I had trained for the marathon on. It goes out just past eight miles so its easy to get long runs in for those of us who hate running in circles. I am not a cartoon character and I don't want to run like one, despite what race pictures may reveal. I got there in plenty of time, with plenty of rest. Met up with some running friends for pictures. Went to the rest room. I don't eat breakfast on race day, so usually lots of potty is not on the agenda. (Bad Kris, bad. O.K., consider my hand smacked, I will work harder at fueling.) Chatted with friends and lined up only to think "Oh no. Naw, can't be." Yep, had to pee, again. Off goes the gun. I am slower, so you would think at the back of the pack, I probably still had time. Nope. Small race. The back really wasn't that far back so I had to make friends with the first potty on the course. There went any thought of a PR. The line was 4 deep. Apparently I wasn't the only one who forgot to read the race potty hand book. So I waited, and waived to my friends running by, and waited. Finally it was my turn and then I had to hurry to catch up. Having to do that at the beginning of the race sucks, what with all that not going out too fast and stuff. Totally blew all those rules out of the water. Over all, it was a great race after that. A little hot, but always a pretty course and anytime I meet up with running friends its fun. Plus they had pizza at the end. I love pizza. They should make a pizza race. Yum!

Not sure who took this, but credit goes out to them.

 

May was the Nut Job in Frederick Maryland. I quite enjoyed this race. It had hills, a little rain and historical landmarks. All things I like. I went up with a couple of race friends and we met up with my BRF. First night was shirts, bibs and a quick 5k. The race started on a race track, down the hill and back up the hill to the race track again. However, there was no 5k medal. What?! If you are running a challenge, one that says you're nuts, why isn't there a 5k medal? My running friends were very disappointed in this.  Up again the next morning for more running! Yep, now you know why they give you a Nut Job medal. The half was even better. Rolling hills, through a very quaint town, pretty neighborhoods, good race support and back up the hill for the Nut Job medal and half medal. After we showered, we went exploring. Frederick has some wonderful historic sights and we went to the cemetery to see Francis Scott Key. All in all, an awesome race, even with the late night calls from my daughter at Girl Scout camp for the weekend.

June is the Race for the Dream half. Last year it was sooooo hot. I was taking two waters. One to dump on my head and one to drink. However, its a 'local' race, so you can't miss it. This year was the complete opposite. They changed the course and the start place. The morning couldn't have been prettier. After a cat snafu, I got to the hotel late the night before and didn't get much sleep. The start was right at the hotel though, so I got up, met my friend in the hall (we had somehow managed to get rooms across from each other despite booking separately) and down to the start we went. Best advice of the day- "Run, my friend, just go run." The day was gorgeous, I felt good, the course was awesome, hills and all, so I did. I just ran. Hello my new PR! I didn't quite break the numbers I wanted to, but everyone has to have a goal. I am VERY happy with how I did.

Now reading this, and past blogs, you think, "What the heck?! Does something happen at every race?" Good question. No coffee, crying kids at night, cat issues, maybe I am writing about the wrong thing, or maybe I am just pessimistic, always finding bad things. Either way, its time to make it better.  To have positive things happen you have to be positive. Its ways been easy to blame myself for all the bad things in the world and convince myself I deserve them. What a horrible way to look at things. So no more. Stuff happens, friends come and go, but my running will always be there. My husband is a great guy, my daughter is a wonderful child. I really can't ask for better. I love running. I love seeing all the new places it takes me. I am a bit shy in making new friends, so if they want to be there great, if not, a team is not required to run. I can love what I have accomplished for me and support others without having it be a bad thing.

On that note, up next is Rock the Canyon. A half on Saturday and a whole on Sunday. It should be amazing. It looks soooo pretty and when I am done, I can say I did it. Plus, I can mark PA off the list and there will be a covered wagon ride, how awesome is that?! I can't wait! More great company, history and hills. My favorite! Bring it on!

The marathon

I did it. I am a marathoner. I got to check that one off my bucket list and I am darn proud of it. I also can't wait for the next one. Yes, someone needs to smack me and hard, I know. Better yet, the next one is a back to back half and then a whole. I am getting more badass as I go. Yes, I get to say that. All those training miles earned me that right as it does anyone who has run a marathon.

Whoever created the above got it right. I haven't smiled like that since I got married and had my daughter. The feeling of accomplishment is AMAZING and makes you want to accomplish more.

The Shamrock is always a good time, though I have always done the 8k. I heard from my BRF the beer stops on the half, though not race sanctioned, did have incredible race support and pink elephants. We are completely spoiled in Virginia Beach. The mass public always supports those of us crazy enough to get up a 4:30am to go running in the cold, the windy and the hot and humid. Maybe I just have it backwards and we are just great entertainment that they wait all year for, like the super bowl.

As is race typical, we were up early. Most of the girls I run with were running the half. (most time for the after party that way) I caught a ride to the beach with one and hung out at Starbucks while they started since the half started and hour and a half prior to the full. It gave me a chance to settlement my stomach and gets some fuel in me. Normally, that's hard for me in the morning. By the time I was ready to head for the start the sun was up, but the temperature wasn't. Virginia Beach weather blessed us with 70 degrees Saturday but only 44 for my Sunday race start with rain predicted by about 1. Bleh! I was in the last corral and we counted down and off we went. It was weird to here the half coming in being announced while we counted down to start, but off we went.

We went over the bridge (hill-yeah! I am a closet hill lover.) down to the base and back up to the next base and back down the boardwalk. I stopped for pictures on the bridge and the second base which has a historic lighthouse. A girl has to have pictures-right?


I felt great to the half. Better yet I had screaming fans to cheer me on. My best running buds and my BRF were hollering my name loud enough for all
of Virginia to hear. It was AWESOME!

I stayed steady until about mile 18. Another running friend had told me about 18-20 would suck and then it would be ok again. When I hit 18, I knew exactly what she had been talking about. I swear, I didn't know Shore Drive was that long and boring. It was horrible. If I was someone who would give up, it would have been there. Instead, her voice hollered at me to suck it up. Get past 20 and it will be ok. So I did. At mile 20 one of the military guys gave me a banana and some pretzels and 2 minutes later every thing was a-ok. Thank you banana guy. Thank you.

At about mile 24 the banana wore off and my Garmin died, right in the middle of a walk interval. The guy behind me must have thought I had given up.

"Run with me to the 24 marker." he said. "We are almost there." and so we did. But when I was ready to keep going, he wasn't. I tried, but he wasn't willing so I just kept going. 25...I could see the Hilton. 26 and I was almost there. I think I could hear my cheering section before I saw them. 26 and I picked up speed. I'll be darn but I was going to pass that girl that kept playing leap from with me- and I did.  And then the finish. My BRF, my running friends, by husband and amazing daughter, all saw me through the finish of my very first marathon and I couldn't be happier that they were there to share the moment with me. It wouldn't have been the same with out them.

 Mile 9 for my daughter's 9th birthday which was the day I ran the race. Happy Birthday Honey!

The Finish is in sight!

"It's the final countdown..."

"It's the final countdown..."- tell me you can't hear the music from Starship backing that up.

Shamrock is a week away. My very first marathon, which was preceded by my very first taper. Let me tell you that sucks! I highly recommend stocking wine and lots of it and be prepared to clean your house thoroughly. With only a week to go, my final long run is 8 miles tomorrow. The words "it's only" 8 miles, 3 miles, X number of miles have crossed my lips more than once and left me chuckling at myself. I never thought I would say such a thing. 1 year ago I ran my first 1/2 marathon, 2 years ago I ran my first race ever. I feel ready. Bring it on! Oh, and yep, just for me, it's gonna rain.  So either I am going to rock it or blow it, but no matter what, I will finish it and will become a marathoner.

Taper mode it a whole new experience. One not unlike what I call a bad buzzy brain day. When you have ADHD or ADD or whatever they are calling it this week, you have trouble concentrating to begin with. As an adult, I can feel days that are worse than others. I know when the focus shuts off. Taper feels a little like that. I need stuff to do. I can't sit still and I can't focus on any one thing for very long. So to reign in that feeling and bring some focus back, I have been reading about autism Spectrum Disorder and how dopamine levels affect the level of disability and the correlation between those levels and ADHA, autism, depression, etc. It's fascinating stuff. What can I say, my brain needs input, especially during times of taper, apparently.

There are tons of articles on research showing how excise releases the feel good endorphins. Regulating dopamine and getting plenty of rest for the marathon and means good serotonin levels which together equal, you guess it- fewer buzzy brain days! At least, until you taper. So I have decided that running another marathon will be good for me. Not necessarily the marathon it's self but all the training that goes into. Its a forced regulation of dopamine. No drugs needed. The only problem, taper. So here it sit, typing about the countdown and a random subject.

I have checked the parking maps, the running maps, worked out a Gu/hour ratio, checked and rechecked the weather, sold girl scout cookies, rethought my running outfit, consulted the car pool, and thanked all the running gods for my BRF and family for supporting my craziness. The only thing left to do is run.

...at least I hope to be after next weekend.