Rain running

I tried soemthing new this week. Instead of hitting the treadmill when it was raining I hit the lakes. Let me tell you it was Lovely!!! There was no crowds to weave through, I had a great coat so no chill, and it was calm and relaxing. I have managed to get most of my runs in between the storms (literally it stops and I run out the door). However, Monday or Tuesday I just couldn't take one more day of rain.  It took all day to get myself out the door but I did.

My half marathon is just three days away and now I have another sick kid. I swear it never ends. I have to take Sara to the Doctor in an hour as when she inhales its a mix between wheezing and barking and while walking down the street it was too much for her. To top it off 103 fever for her again yesterday. I am wondering when the day of healthy kids will happen.

Winter versus Summer running

Trust me we don't have summer yet. Considering I was running in shorts and a tank top and it was 50 degrees was great. I really hope this is the weather we have next weekend for the half marathon. I was summer as much as the next person. Skirts, sandals, the beach, but for the half marathon I was it cool and cloud.

After having about 3 nice running days this spring I was thinking about the difference between summer and winter running and what I like about each

Summer

• less clothes so you don't feel so weighed down
• the bathrooms are open around the lake and the water fountains work (one less thing to carry)
• early morning runs as the sun is out so early
• late night runs as the sun is our super late
• wine, always a nice treat after a run

Winter

• pockets! no need to worry about where to put your Huma, water, keys. Pockets take care of that
• less issues with needing water as its cold out
• motivation to move faster as you can be so cold somedays
• fun themed races

There are plenty of things I don't like about each, but each has their perks. I guess it is just figuring out how to make the best. This is why I am enjoying this spring I don't feel like I am roasting yet. The cooler days have led to some amazing times for my runs. I am running closer to 9:30 - 10 minute miles. As it warms up I am sure that will increase. Humidity is not my friend. I think I need to try and run in the rain this summer on hot days. That should be nice and refreshing right?

I have the bug

I decides last night to run another 1/2 marathon in 11 days. Oops. I have been thinking about the Minneapolis half for a while. Maybe that is why my mileage has been so high lately. I knew in the back often mind I would do it. 

I feel like I can only improve in this race. We have 3 1/2 hours to finish so less stress. More water stops and I just feel more ready. I have been working on refinding my motivation. 

Here is to hoping for a great race. 

On a super happy note. During my 6 mile run yesterday 3 of my miles were sub 10. A first!!

Snow, Sick kids, and the mommy wall

Could this winter feel any longer? It is cold today and I was up for 4 hours with a little man who has a 104 temp and his sister who has a gross cough.  Poor buddies can barely stand up his tummy hurts so bad. Sara has proceeded to get up every day by 5:30 if not earlier! This means no sleep between Danyal going to sleep at 4am and Sara getting up.

To top it off more snow is expected today?! I put away the kids winter clothes, my winter running gear, I should have known better.

I am trying to debate what to go about for my running next.  Train up to 20 miles, or just try and start a marathon training program to feel better prepared for Big Sur and good preparation to run a marathon next year.

So far I managed a nice 3 mile walk with my mom this week, a quick run, and now my strength training couldn't happen today since the kids are sick. I feel like I pay for school that they never get to go to as they are sick all the time! I know this is from not having much interaction with other kids the first 2 years of their life.  They only have a few classes left. I will miss school this summer.

I know in running about hitting the wall, but today I hit the mommy wall. I am exhausted from no sleep for a few nights, and no rest during the day. This usually leads to me getting sick. I am hoping it doesn't happen this round. Once spring comes back I want to get outside and run!!

The verdict for the kids is- not quite there but heading towards croup! It appears croup, influenza, and strep are making the rounds again. Ugh

Half-Marathon Recap

It all started out odd. By this I mean I slept amazing the night before the race (this never happens), however at 2am my calves started cramping up on me. I knew this was weird and was trying to think of why, and then I figured it out. I wore flip flops the day before the race. I forgot that it takes a bit for my legs to adjust from winter heeled boots to flip-flops. I threw on my calf sleeves and my legs felt better by race time.

I got to the race early (bad habit of mine) as I knew parking was really limited.  I charged up my phone, ate a last minute banana with peanut butter and watched all the other people who got there early.  8:40am came I dropped my bag and headed to the start line. I was surprised how unorganized this race felt compared to many others I have done. I feel that this led to some of the issues.

There were no pacers and it took me a littles less than 2 minutes to cross the start.  The parkway is not very wide, but for the amount of people there it was packed. So packed, that by not having people grouped by pace people were literally pushing people out of the way to get ahead. This is when some guy decided he wanted to pass me (I even kept my earbuds out for this reason) and he pushed me and another lady up onto the sidewalk over the curb. Not nice Mister.

After the pack started calming down around mile 3 I realized I had been running to fast and slowed down a bit more.  I was very glad at this point I chose shorts and a tank and it was getting hot fast. Around mile 3.5 I decided I would go with a Gu as I had pushed the first 3 miles. I went to pull all my Gu and all I found was a sticky mess. Somehow all 3 of my gu's exploded in my pocket and my shorts were now stuck to my leg, along with having stick hands ugh!

I literally tried to get the rest of the Gu out of one packet and carried the one with the most left.  This was just not good as I knew they weren't doing Gu's until mile 10, and gatorade hates me. I kept running and pushing, and drinking my water, but I knew it was getting warmer and my calves started to cramp up.

Not shocked at how mad my calves got.  Lesson learned, give up flip-flops or buy better ones, and never wear new shoes the day before a race. Around mile 8 I cut across to hit the port-a, lets just say these were a rare find on this course.  There were 4!! And after drinking around a liter of water I had to wait two miles which led to a side stitch. I probably hit my wall around mile 9 (where a poor girl sat waiting for an ambulance from heat exhaustion, yes it did get that hot).  Somehow I made it to 10 and grabbed a Gu but my calves and quads were mad.  I had to do a walk/run combo the last 3 miles (not what I wanted) but I did it.

Somewhere near mile 12-13 I felt a super SHARP pain in my left quad. And there was Mr. Bee hanging out on my leg. Ugh what the heck! Anyone who knows me, knows I hate bee's!! I run screaming like a little girl. Today more than anything it ticked me off. I pulled him off and finished.  Then I grabbed ice and had the  first aid people get the stinger out.

So overall, I have a lot to learn, a lot to do different next time, and I lived to tell.  I did realized I don't like running with a hand held bottle anymore, I like having my arms free so I have to try a belt, ugh. I do have a clip bottle but it can be a pain too.  Any ideas for great hands free running? I am really happy I finished in under the time limit and didn't come in last.  For me this wasn't about finishing even in the front 3/4. It was about doing it to prove to myself I could.

I think I will be training all summer for Big Sur and maybe save the Marathon for next fall.  That doesn't mean I can't start doing some of that training now.  I am hoping by the end of summer to be able to do 15-18 mile relaxing runs and then maybe I will feel more confident about Big Sur.

I also realized last night I need to buy new sunscreen. Though I put it on my back it is still pink. One poor girl in front of me had blisters on her back already at mile 10. Yikes!

1/2 Marathon Monday week!!

The half marathon is in 6 days. I would say I am nervous but I think at this point it is more excited and I actually feel ready. I feel like I have come so far in 10 weeks. 10 weeks! It is such a short time, but such a long time. Through illnesses that seemed to last a month and having to skip runs.  It is just a crazy thing but I feel like I am at a great point.

I really have gotten to the point where I finally feel like I found my life long sport. It used to be dance but that is to hard to do as one gets older and has kids. I feel like with running I am showing the kids a healthy lifestyle.  I have gotten the bug so bad that I am signing on to start MARATHON training. OMG WTH! I still find this amazing considering I was told I would never run like this again. I disagree with the doctors and I think if you run smart and listen to you body you can. I know when I need to take an extra day off or just back off and do an easy run instead of hills. I think that is why this training has worked so well for me. I know my distances and I can shuffle them through the week to make it work.

Tonights run was amazing! I was told by a very smart running coach once "work on distance and the speed will come."  Tonight the proof was in the run.  5 miles in under 51 minutes! This is a total new first for me. I could have pushed it more but it was supposed to be an easy run. So for my next task, more distance, a marathon, and trying to get a 10K in an hour or under this year.

It's official. I love running and I am one of THOSE people now. I even have all my race bibs together. Next to get a medal tree or rack :)

Distance running

I have no idea when one officially becomes a "distance runner" but I feel like I am getting closer with half marathons.

Oddly, the more I run   lately the longer I want to go. Um, not sure who I have turned into but I love it. I have noticed a huge change on my runs in the last week or so, I totally zone. I have no recollection, of the music, my speed, my heart rate, I just run.  Ok I look at my speed to make sure I am fast enough but still, I have found my Zen zone and I am loving it. Now if only it would stop raining/snowing/sleeting or any of the other wierd things MN is doing at the moment UGH!!!

Since I have signed up for Big Sur I figure it is time to work more with my trainer. I don't need to do training runs for a long while and am really going to just try and enjoy spring/summer running when it gets here and see how I can increase my distance.

I think what shocked me most after my 10 mile race was how much my body is getting used to longer distances and my recovery times are MUCH faster. This makes me oh so happy.  Maybe a future marathon isn't as far away as I thought.

To go with all the running I have been looking for new gear since Lululemon hasn't put out anything great in a while.

I do not like to run with a pack so I have found some alternatives. The pack and dash tank by Lucy, the race ready Ld shorts, and the Nike long shape running tank. All have built in pockets. On addition, I found a water bottle by Fuelbelt that clips on and doesn't chaff or move. I have tested it on 2 of my long runs.

The half marathon is coming up. I think I am ready.