Keep Calm and Run

Today... Since I was in Ohio I was excited to see some of my favorite runners. We decided on to run at 10:00AM. So I got up made sure I had a good breakfast and relaxed until time to go.

Today's run was set to be 20 miles...  I met Hillary and Chad some people I have known since we were young kids.I knew going into this that if I wanted to complete my new goal I would need to start training. Today I took my first steps toward that goal. It was an amazingly beautiful day to run. The first few miles seemed to fly by just chatting with Hillary and Chad. Then we hit the 14 mile mark. I didn't think those 6 miles were in me. I stopped when we got onto a less busy street and took my last gel. I just kept pushing and walking when I had to.

I am very happy with how the run turned out. I feel good and I survived all 20 miles. It is amazing how good a run can make you feel. Now I get to celebrate the birthday of one of my favorite people... My Nanny.

Thanks to pro compression for another good run...

20 miles
3:23:23

Runners and the weather

When you live in the Midwest and you are a runner you will notice one thing.. Runners think, talk, complain, love, hate, check and recheck the weather... It seems as though we all have our favorite temperature. For me I think right around 50 feels amazing. I can pull out the short sleeves. I don't need a winter hat. I really hate having to decide just how many layers are enough. Although one thing we have going for us is that we have an entire year to practice all types of weather.

Today when I checked the weather and saw that it was going to be nearly 40 degrees during my run you would have thought that I was thinking this...

I do think that warmer weather is finally on the way. All I know is that it will finally feel good to wear less layers on a run. 

Today's Run

6 miles with Tammy

10:44 Pace

Felt good

Less than one week and proof warmer weather will be coming...

Secret Mission

As a runner I always try to have a new goal in sight. Ever since I hit my weight goal something that has helped me push forward was having a new running goal always in my sights. Over the last week I have been pondering a race wondering if I could really do it... I don't want to announce it and I have not even signed up yet. All I know is I am going to spend the next few weeks seeking out the mission... This week I will be taking the first few steps... I am focusing this week on nutrition and strength. I really have to get myself back to a place where I am eating for the betterment of my running. I also need to get back into the habit of strength training. Today I worked late. I was mad. I really wanted to try this hot yoga class I bought a group to. However not all plans work out... I worked really late but I had told myself I would not quit on my mission of strength training today... I didn't. I did some research and found some simple moves the recommend for runners and I did them at home. 20 minutes later I had completed my workout. Now it is to focus on nutrition. I have a book that is for runners and I have really been trying to focus my meals on ideas from this book.

Stay tuned the secret could come to light sooner rather than later...

Holy Half Marathon Race Recap

My first half marathon of 2013 is complete. I decided early on this year I was going to run some new races that I had not run before or choose races I had not done the last couple of years.

So I set out for my first half of 2013.

Got up early and had waffles with peanut butter and set out to my friend Bryan's house. Once we got the entire group in one car we drove to South Bend together. As we drove we all chatted about goals and what we thought the race would be like. Bryan mentioned that the course was a two lap course around the campus of Notre Dame... I was instantly disappointed we wouldn't be running around some of the really nice parts of South Bend similar to the Sunburst half I did back in June of 2012.


My friend Bryan tried to do packet pickup for us Friday however the race event failed to mention we needed to send him with signed waivers so we had to check in Saturday morning... ANNOYING... this should have been posted on their site.


After we got checked in (which was very unorganized), hit the port a potties (there were not enough) we set out to figure out the start line. I understand that due to this being a small race (it is all put on and organized by students) there were no starting corrals. However this was the most unorganized start EVER! The announcements were hard to hear and it was very crowded at the start. I felt very uneasy getting started... Here is Lily, Bryan and myself at the start line. I am faking this smile entirely because I am so nervous about the unorganized start. To take my mind off the race and start I sent a text to my mom of this photo so she would know I was about to start the race. I was also freezing at the start of this race regardless of the blinding sun that was out.

Lily, Me and Bryan

They sounds the race horn and that is when I figured out that this was a chip start and finish (thank god). I wasn't sure if it was since it was such a small race. During the first mile I was running near Bryan and my other friend Brian. The made everyone stay on the sidewalk and the start was very crowded. Brian and I were discussing how crowded the beginning was. Then he goes on to mention that it seemed like there were a lot more females than males running (he was right 455 males finished but 521 females finished). I then said it looked like the race was mostly for the student body and that we should do really well in our respective age groups. I joked that maybe I would even win mine. As we looked around most of the runners seemed much younger than us. At the first water stop I passed on water. It wasn't even 1 mile into the race. Just after the first mile we went "off" roading. The area was a very hard frozen over mud. It was very hard to try to focus on my run because I was focused on not falling/tripping on the dirt. This went on for a couple of miles then we set out pass the lake and back onto the pavement. This is we went by student housing where students were very happy to see their friends. In fact they were already in celebrating mood. It was like running through a tailgate. Then we went out near the streets, then they made us go down and back a sidewalk. I noticed it seemed like we were headed back for the start line and we did. The marked everyone's 10K time because this was everyone's 10K mark. Then we set out for the 2nd loop. Although I knew what to expect for most of the 2nd loop I knew I couldn't keep the good pace I had the first loop because the uneven areas were making me so nervous. I was right. I ran nearly 7 minutes longer on the 2nd loop. You can see the water area marked where we had to run on the uneven pavement. As we went by the student housing again I knew we were getting very close to finish. By this time the students tailgate was much more roudy. One guy said to me "That guy up there is talking shit about you go get'em" I can't lie this thought really made me laugh and helped me push hard that last 1.5 miles or so. The out and back that we had to do near the baseball field I saw Bryan and Brian. They both really helped push me through to the end knowing I wasn't far behind.

One last push and all three of us finished... First Bryan, then Brian and then me...

Brian, Me and Bryan

All three of us were discussing did you see your time? I was wearing my watch but I wasn't sure of my actual time. I knew it was not a PR but I was proud of the way I ran considering the unexpected mileage "off road."  Then we saw the tent where you could get your actual race results... I was so proud when I saw the actual results: 1:55:41... 4th place out of 21 in my age group!! I was also 190/521 females and 476 out of 976 finishers.

Honestly I would not do this race again. However I am glad I went and ran. I learned a few things from this race though: be more prepared, need to get back to my correct eating habits the day before a race, and be more prepared for the unexpected during a race.

Just Run

Today I went to my gym at 5am and they were closed...


I was basically beyond frustrated...

I refused to let this stop me from getting in my run... So after work I hit the bike trail...

Ran into sunshine and much warmer temps. Felts good. Met a fellow runner. 6 miles of just running. Race day is Saturday. First half of 2013.

What Running Does...

Sometimes as a runner I forget how amazing running can be. Today I was out running with someone and I was telling her how proud she should be of where her half marathon training has brought her so far. Running can give us such a sense of pride and accomplishment that we don't get elsewhere. Running doesn't care how fast, far or even how long. 

Running is just a way to let it all go. All it takes is lacing up and stepping one foot in front of the other. Nothing can change the sense of accomplishment that a run can give you...

Runnin' with the Irish 5K Recap

Well I did it... my first 5K of 2013.

Started out the morning with my new go to breakfast. Waffles, PB and fruit. I was out of bananas...

I set out for this race early because I knew that parking was not the easiest and that the race is very popular. They hold the race at the Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton, IN. I arrived around 8:00 and the place was already packed. I made sure to include some St. Patrick's gear in my race attire. 

They color coded the bibs with expected race finish times in order to line everyone up. The race was really crowded so they ended up starting a few minutes late. Since the race was so crowded they set it up for a chip start and finish. Once I took off from the actual start line I tried dodging as many of the slower runners that I could. It was not very easy. I probably spent at least the first mile passing people. Then the big hill came. I love that they include this hill at the beginning because its tough and I like when a 5K at least pushes you a little bit. After the first lap around the parking lot we headed out by the beach and it was a sandy mess out there. I loved it. Around mile 2 I was feeling good but knew that I didn't have enough in me to push for a PR. I knew I would be about 30 seconds off. After we hit the last loop that goes around the campground I was really trying hard to pick up the pace. I couldn't seem to gain speed until I came out of the campground and I saw the finish line in my sights. I really picked up as much of my pace as I could... and finished. 

Directly after I finished I starting gathering the half marathon trainers that I have been running with. We hit the trails for another 8 miles. It was really hard but they did awesome. Afterwards when I went online to find results I found out Extra Mile/TH Timing now has instant results. I really love these instant results that Extra Mile created this year. They really give you all the information you really want to know. I was really proud when I saw these results. I looked up my results from 2 years ago and it was 26:53 so I shaved a decent amount of time off my time this year. I am really proud of how well I raced considering I have no run a race since December. The race is always well done and they had some really good food afterwards that I saved for after my additional 8 miles. 

How far will your next run take you?

The last several weeks have been very trying for me. Somedays go well and other days don't... I always say to someone who is struggling to fight on. Try to make the next moment better. We cannot control everything... One thing for me though that I can do is always commit to the next run. Today my mom sent me a quote saying that it reminder her of me...
"The day you lace up your shoes and take your step, you become a runner. There is no time or distance requirement. If you run, you are a runner (marathon not required)."

I could not say that I agree more. There are so many days when taking those first few steps feel impossible even more me now. Then I just get going. Running has such an empowering feeling for myself. I feel like I cann do anything when I finish a run. I feel unstoppable. I can still remember calling my sister when I first started my 5K journey every time I was able to go just a bit further. The feeling a run can give me feels like I have let all of the other fears and doubts go away for just a few brief moments.

Honestly I know not everyone can understand this. I even know that many of my readers are not even runners. Just take this one piece if you are reading this... Believe in yourself. Don't let fear stop you from trying to reach new heights. I truly believe we are all capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for...

Where will your next run take you...

Sometimes it's Hard

This winter has really put me in a funk. I have been able to do most of my runs but feel like a turtle. When I get out there I just can't seem to get my body moving. I am coming to enjoy the early morning runs more and more though. The feeling of accomplishment at an early hour seems to make for better days. Everything else though seems to be off... I basically feel like this...

My head is killing me from all of it... I hope that means spring is coming.

Eating
Since joining weight watchers back in 2008 I have lost nearly 50 pound. Most of which I maintained my goal weight. However I feel like I'm in a funk. Each week I hear myself telling other members what it takes but I can't seem to wrap it around my own head. I seem to do make mistakes that I ask my members and myself to commit to on a weekly basis. Then this morning before heading to my meeting I saw the below picture on the Weight Watchers Facebook page...

It really made me think to myself about how difficult the journey of losing weight or evening training for a long race can be. However when you cross the "finish line" the feeling you get overwhelms you in ways that cannot be explained in words. So after my meeting I set out to group run and felt amazing when it was all said and done. Sometimes a good run can just really give me new perspective. I am excited to continue this week of success and see what happens... I think we all struggle sometimes and I always try to just take it in small steps. The arc wasn't built overnight...