The Finish Line

Saturday will by my 10th race ever, and first half marathon. To day I have done 5k's, 10k's, and a 10 miler.

When thinking about all my races one thing that everyone asks is always the same. "Who will be at the finish line for you?" No one. I guess it would be nice to have people see me make this huge accomplishment but it isn't the end of the world. Someone has to watch the kids, my mom doesn't drive in the cities , and my BFF is stuck in Iowa working. The only person I have seen at the finish line is my friend, who I have known since we were 3, is marathon mom. This is usually because we run the same races :) There will be many more races. This is just a toe in the water.

I don't run for anyone but me and I think that helps. I don't run to lose weight. I run to decompress, zone out, have my quiet time, and relax! I have truly changed my why's and how's of running. To go with this evolution I am reading about chi running and am going to begin working on this after the race.

I am interested to see where I am in a years time more of running. I didn't picture running a half marathon in 11 months of running. But I am :)

When I cross that finish line I will have someone take my picture and I will send it to my foot surgeon. No more " I think I can", I know I can!

What to say

I had friends who have run Boston before, all of them qualified this year but none decided to run it. I thank my luck stars they are all fine.

When I heard about the bombs I got chills. I knew a few friends who were there. One twin mom was way to close to the first garbage can before it went off. She is feeling lucky at the moment.

Wear your race shirts today. Runners are all family members. We don't compete with anyone but ourselves and always help each other out. Lets support those runners and victims in Boston.

1/2 marthon monday - What a run coach can do for you

So I have talked about the fact that yes, I am using a running coach to prepare for my first 1/2 marathon.  A lot of people don't understand why I need a coach and just don't "go out and run". Um these people have never tried to run more than a mile or three or they might not say that (or they are lucky). All that being said what has my run coach helped me with? Let me give you a little explanation.

Hills - I was not running nearly enough of these, OY! They are not fun but Saturday proved that using them in training is necessary.

Easy runs - prior to having a coach I thought my slower runs were easy runs. Not a chance. When my coach gave me my easy runs I thought "really? that is practically walking." BUT, thanks to those easy runs I have lowered my running heart rate ( a miracle), learned how to run much longer distances without having to stop ever, and how to listen to my body for when to back down. Seriously, I now LOVE my easy runs and I never looked at my heartrate during my 10 mile race. They always feel good (as they should) and I feel a sense of accomplishment that I can now run 10 number of miles without ever stopping, I never thought I would be so happy to run for almost 2 solid hours. As I have been doing my easy runs my speed has slowly increased.

Interval/Speedwork - I mean really, it is pushing yourself to the edge and then going a little further and then recovery. It's tough but when you know recovery is coming you feel that much more like pushing to get there.

Distance - I tried to create my own plan and sent it to my coach. I really understand now that my distances were not nearly long enough. I knew I would need long runs but the rest I was clueless on. I also knew to taper before my big 1/2 marathon which is coming up but didn't know how. This is where I need someone to guide me.

The unseen  - What to do when you are sick (repeatedly) and what runs to shuffle off the the board and how to go about getting back on track. As I was sick for 4 weeks this became so important. I still made it through my 10 mile run which means we did it right.

The other thing that she did is tailor my running program to Me! This is so important as everyone has a different amount of time they can dedicate to running and are a different levels when they start. She took my races from last year, figured out my paces for different distances of races and each of my runs is based off these.

This doesn't mean my tendon hasn't been crabby through this (it has) but I listen to my body and shuffle my runs around as needed. She laid the guidelines for what not to do (ie, don't run more than x number of days in a row), beware of injury, how to layer, etc. My coach has also been a cheerleader. I was considering changing the 10 mile race to the 5K and she was my cheerleader (don't worry about your finish, it's a training run). Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that a race isn't always a race. She also taught me so many tricks such as prevent chaffing owwww, groups to meet up with, and so much more. It is all the little things a new runner doesn't know that you will eventually need someone to ask.  So for all of your help, listening to me, and getting me through this, Thank you Marathon Mom!

Hills or hills? Preparation for Big Sur!

I made it! I did my first 10 mile race ever, but the hills!! I have no idea how I finished the race in under two hours with wind, mist, snow, and just overall weirdness but I am so glad I did. My running coach was totally right, just treat it as a training run and another twin mom said treat it as a long run with friends you don't know.

I changed up how I prepped pre-race vs last year since I am onto longer runs. I actually ate a normal meal at 4:45am of something that I have found that sticks with me and doesn't kill my GI or give me the shakes from lack of food.  I had a Hammer 30 minutes before the race and a Gu at 4 miles. I am glad I had the Gu when I did as the water tables that were supposed to be at mile 6 and 8 were not (more like 7 and 9).  I think somewhere around mile 7 very bad words were going through my mind such as "not another flipping hill!! come on!!"  I looked at the elevation change from my watch and phone and there probably 6 good hills during the race and they were not short. My knees and shins were screaming at the end but nothing compression socks and a hot shower don't fix after a long run.

I did learn one thing. A new spot for chaffing, OY! I thought I had all my bases covered and I missed one. Lesson learned pre half-marathon thank heavens.

It is a training run indeed. I know I have my first half-marathon in 2 weeks and I am less nervous for that now that I completed this....but I also signed up for the Big Sur 1/2 Marthon in November. That will be filled with hills. I am hoping for no snow in CA and a beautiful view while I run.

It was a new first while running today. The longest distance I have ever run. I don't care about my time just that I did it. I ran the whole darn thing. Yea! Now when will I feel like a real runner? I still feel like such a newbie with so many tricks and small secrets to learn. The hills made me feel like a new runner. Maybe that is what keeps all of us running, something that we can do a million times but one thing can change it up and make it feel new.

I did it

I signed up for one a big 1/2 marathon. Last year Big Sur filled up before I could get in. This year I have a spot reserved. I am really

1/2 Marathon Monday

Well I have been worried about my 10 mile race this weekend and the 1/2 marathon in 2 1/2 weeks due to all of the bad sickness in the month of March. March was to be my peak training month. To top it off the weather has been awful. I mean a winter storm warning in April and a few inches of snow??? Blegh!!!

Anyways, I decided to enjoy a slightly okay day outside and run. My thought was I would start with my easy 3 mile run and if it felt ok go for my 6 mile run.  I managed my 6 mile time and my garmin told me it was a new PR for my 10K distance!!! Yea! It was more to prove to myself that I am ready for these races and that I have come a long way. I am still not the fastest runner but I have figured out how to manage longer distances at a much more consistent pace.  All of my splits today were within 4 seconds, I consider that really good. I have stopped looking at my watch when I run. I used to look at it for my heart rate, now I run to the point where I feel good. Today that was a 10:48 pace.  I think I am finally improving at this running thing.

The things kids do

This week feels never ending probably due  to the fact that the kids are on spring break.  This means no rest for mom and total craziness.

The craziness was the worst on Wednesday morning. We were all set to get out the door and head to Gaga's house and I walked out into the garage with Danyal and Sara shut the door behind us...and locked it!! My keys were still in the house. Thus began the fun of trying to keep her calm (it took a while), keep an eye on Danyal in the car, and get the security people here to open the door.  Turns out the mechanism inside of our door actually malfunctioned to and they couldn't pick the lock they had to drill it out.  At that point I said enough and just got a new door knob. One that doesn't have a push button option. If you have kids get rid of them all! It took a total of about 45 minutes but after a while Sara calmed down when I told her to grab an iphone to play with, at least that helped. As long as she could see me she was ok.  Danyal was just bored sitting in the car forever.

We eventually did make it up to my moms house to play and they had a good time.

I went for a run outside last night as it was beautiful (glad I grabbed my windbreaker though) and had this been a race it would have been a PR for me. Even after having been sick for the last 2 weeks more ear infections, sinus infection, bronchitis, and adenovirus I still had a relaxing run. Now that spring is here I can run later in the day and not on a treadmill, thank you daylight.

It always amazes me, on a treadmill I am sore afterwards as it is unnatural to run on those. Outside, no sore legs, knees, ankles, or tendons, just refreshed. It was rough after being sick for so long and I had the burn in my lungs but I just reminded myself I ran a solid 9 miles two weeks ago I can do an easy 4 (it turned into more of a race pace which felt good).  With having a new running watch I am learning to what my paces are outside I hope I have enough time before my 10 miles race in a week.

Round 2?

It seems that whatever has gone around this winter I just can't get better. I have now started round 2 of antibiotics for these ear and sinus infections. Over a week and my teeth are still pounding alon with my head. For the first time in a long time my ears just kill. It reminds me that my mom always said when I had ear infections as a kid I would just scream. I feel that way now. Here is to hoping for no blown ear drums.