#PrayingforBoston

I haven’t felt very compelled to blog lately but this morning I couldn’t help but write up the following after yesterday’s tragic, horrific events. Even if you are not normally a praying type, please pray this with me today:

Dear Father,

Please be with those who are still in critical condition in Boston today. Please bring them healing.

Please be with the doctors and the nurses in Boston. Please give them what they need to help those who are injured.

Please be with those who have lost family members, especially the parents of the little boy who was killed yesterday. Please don’t let his parents ever play the “what if?” game in their heads. Please be with his sister who will never be the same again.

Thank you for the fast acting medics at the race yesterday. I have no doubt those fast responses helped save lives.

Thank you for the police, the FBI and other emergency response personnel. Please keep them safe and provide them with the information they need to bring this terrorist to justice.

Please be with the entire running community. Even though many of us were not there yesterday, we are all feeling an inexplicable connection to what happened yesterday, I just know it. There is something strange about runners that makes us all feel like friends when we are on or off a race course.

Please help us all be nice to everyone today. Please help me be nice to everyone today. There is no doubt in my mind this world needs a whole lot more “nice” in it.

Please also be with those that still have hate in their hearts today. Please let this hate die and be replaced with compassion for others for we are all in this world together, for better or worse.

Thank you for the safety of those I knew of that were in Boston yesterday and the safety of all those that were far from the incident yesterday.

Please be with anyone and everyone affected by the tragedy yesterday.

Please help us to find healing in Your love.

In Your Name we pray,

Amen.

Slowing Down.

I need to slow down.

Not really with blogging, not so much with running either. Just in general. I had a realization over the weekend that the only times I feel relaxed and stomach-ache free are 1) when I am babysitting, 2) when I am on vacation and 3) when I am drinking (preferably 2+3 but never 1+3) The common motivating factor? Mono-tasking.

A drink in my hand…

When I am babysitting, I am focused on the kids, nothing else. When I am on vacation, I don’t have a to-do list in my brain a mile long. When I have had a drink, I stop caring about said to-do list. So I think I need to amend by February goal list and add:

6) Do one thing at a time, and slowly.

I’m a horrendous multi-tasker at work, at home, even when working out. I always HAVE to be thinking of “what next?” “Once I finish this, then what?” And so on and so forth. Wouldn’t it be much less stressful if I just focused on the now of what I am doing instead of the later and what I need to be doing eventually?

When I am running, I should just focus on how I feel at that moment, not dwell on the 20+, 40+, 60+ minutes I have left of my run.

This is how I run

When I am doing something at home, I should just focus on that task instead of getting worked up about everything I am not doing and still should do at some point.

It seems easy. I’m gonna guess it is much harder than it sounds. (side note: just checked my phone instead of just finishing this paragraph, see? hard.) But I want to get better. I want to stress less. I want to enjoy more.

This next week I am going to challenge myself to run slower, drive slower, eat slower, work slower (and on ONE THING) and worry about my to-do list less. Because really, what’s my hurry?

What is your go-to method for reducing stress? Or do you not ever feel stress? (jealous)

What now?

I feel like I have been training for a race for like two years.  Scratch that, I am pretty sure I HAVE been training for most of the last two years.  And as you can probably gather from the last six months of my training (or really lack thereof), I need a break.  I want to like running and I want to like following a training plan… but I just don’t right now.  And haven’t really since oh, May?

Back when training was fun… even when it was COLD!

I want to complete a successful training cycle for a race and feel prepared on race day! (has never happened)

I want to feel like my running fitness is improving rather than disappearing.

I want to strive for PRs instead of just setting personal pain records.

I want to surprise myself by actually enjoying a run instead of dreading it.

I want to be a “runner” again…

But I think in order to do any of this, I’m going to have to take a few weeks/months off of running and see what happens.  I’m thinking not much running until end of March/beginning of April.  It’s not really a ton of time but I’m hoping it might do my legs and body some good?

This guy still likes running – except he’s not fond of the current weather.

My first race of 2013 (that I am signed up for already) is not until June 15th so I should have time to get in a 10-12 week 1/2 marathon training plan.  And hopefully “just” training for a half marathon will be a needed change as well.  I really think halfs are my favorite!  And races are my favorite too

I’m sure I’ll be looking forward to training for this one

Maybe a few weeks from now I will be ready to run again and excited to run again?  I guess only time will tell… But until then, I plan to have some fun revisiting my workout DVDs I already kind of miss running…

Have you ever trained yourself into running exhaustion?

Running Recap: 2012.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas yesterday!  My second most favorite Holiday ever Too bad I woke up feeling sick as a dog and have continued to feel horrendous for the past 48 hours.  You know what’s also awesome?  Being the only person out of three at work this week when it’s our busiest week of the year.  #fml

I’ve seen quite a few bloggers post about their years in review as far as running is concerned and I really liked that idea so here is my year in review:

Total miles: 807 per Daily mile.  This is likely not 100% accurate.

Total Races: Started = 10, Finished = 9

This is not going to end well.

Total States run in: FL, TN, MN, IN, WI

# of new shoes purchased: 4-5 I think?

New Distances: Marathon! and 15k

PRs: 5k!

Favorite Race: Tie between Maritime Marathon and Disneyworld Half Marathon

And just like that… a Marathoner!

Least Favorite Race: Turkey Trot 15k.

Most forgotten race: Bellin 10k.  Totally forgot about this one happening in 2012  Also, the Madison Shamrock Shuffle 10k…

Most remembered race: Fox Cities Half Marathon

Most disappointing race: Cellcom Marathon

Best Race Photo EVER!: (You’re quite welcome for this)

Don’t let anyone tell you marathons are easy.

It really was a crazy running year for me this year.  Starting with hurting my back in January and being unsure how I would recover to run again.  Then, the fiasco that was Cellcom and living with the severe disappointment of a race that I never got to finish because of the weather.  Five more weeks of training and then FINALLY becoming a Marathoner!  Totally being burnt out on running after training for 6+ months and then taking a running break that lasted a few months (and fighting a piriformis/sciatic issues all the while).  To really make it a weird year, throw in one of my most favorite half marathons ever in Appleton and then randomly deciding to attempt Lakefront even though I was not trained at all and finishing it in relatively good shape…

I think 2012 will always be remembered by me as the year where I learned you have to just throw all your expectations out the window with running and just have fun!  Rest when you need to, break if you want to but run when you can.

Here’s to another good year in 2013!

Girls on the Run – Fall 2012.

It’s really hard for me to believe that this season of Girls on the Run is already over!  It seems like this 10 week session was going to take forever but then all of a sudden it was over.  It’s strange to think that I will likely never see any of the girls again from our group and even stranger to wonder if they really learned anything or had any real takeaways.  One thing that always keeps me guessing about kids is this – you think they are getting nothing out of it and you are just wasting your time and then all of a sudden you learn something from their parents of they say something that makes you realize you are getting something across to them!

New shoes are so exciting!

I’m not going to lie and say this season was all fun and fantastic.  We had a few challenging girls and a few challenging events with said girls but I’m guessing all groups had some interesting experiences these past 10 weeks??  Also, some of the lessons really had me and the other coaches rolling our eyes… like the lesson on good v bad levels of popularity – really strange… but for the most part, we tried to just trust the process and go with what we had outlined for us even though that made for a few really random confusing transitions from warm-up to lesson.  Maybe us coaches were not smart enough to follow along or something?  We also were perpetually running out of time and rushed because the program is designed for 90 minutes and we only had 75 minutes at our location.  Talk about scrambling.  Plus when you add in the ability of kids to be utterly distracted and obnoxious for the first 20 minutes/entire lesson…

Never distracting, no…

Even though I know I swore I never would help with this again at certain times throughout the last 10 weeks, I am actually excited to help again after seeing the girls run on Sunday.  I know there are things I will do differently to try to make it run (haha) smoother and to not sweat the small stuff so much and follow the lessons so closely.  That was way too stressful and not worth it!  Guideline is the key word!

Totally jealous of those laces!

Sunday was their season ending 5k and the other coaches and I got to cheer on the girls and their running buddies as they all did something that many adults in American have never/will never do and that was run a 5k!  3 whole miles + .1!  When I was their age, that would have seemed like an eternity!  I was so proud of each and every one of those girls on Sunday.  I also thought it was fantastic that their running buddies were willing to run with them even though many of then were not “runners” at all!

Runners on your mark…

It was really interesting to watch the girls develop in their running abilities over the past 10 weeks.  We had the two girls who ran with no problems from day one but got much better at pacing themselves and even pushing themselves a bit.  Those two girls were some of the first GOTR finishers yesterday and I was so proud of them for that!  Then we had quite a few girls who were not really active at all prior to the program and the first few weeks could hardly keep active for 10 minutes.  Well, on Sunday, they all kept active for about 40+ minutes for the entire 5k!  So proud! I also loved how most of them were still smiling as they were gunning for the finish line!  And then we had the little girl who was definitely our greatest challenge this season… We really struggled to get her to keep moving for 10 minutes every lesson but yesterday she actually made it for a little more than half the 5k!  (It was about 2.5 laps around and she made it the 1.5 in about 30 mins or so).  But considering where we were with her the first week to Sunday, that was a really awesome advancement!

Besides (hopefully) teaching the girls something this past season, I hope I also can remember the lessons these girls taught me.  I’d forgotten what it’s like to be so trusting and so willing to be friends with everyone, regardless of your personalities.  I’d forgotten how to laugh and be goofy and not care what anyone else thinks of you.  I’d forgotten what it’s like to just be yourself and be proud of that, not wanting to be less, not wanting to be more.  I’d forgotten what it’s like to just be me!

Ahhh, the innocence of childhood  Until next season!

Running Chorizo for the win!

Marathon Comparison.

I’ve had a little over a week to think over the differences I noticed from running my first marathon compared to my second.  I don’t think I have a favorite of the two but there were still some notable differences and here are some of my top reflections!

1) Marathon #2 Medal > Marathon #1 Medal.  Sorry but there is no denying…

2) Marathon #1 had about 200 +/- runners while Marathon #2 had about 2,100.  Neither one of these races was very large compared to other large races but a 10x increase from marathon #1 to marathon #2 was pretty notable.  During my first marathon, I ended up running along the route on my own quite often.  During #2, I was never really far from anyone even though I was towards the back of the crowd during both races.

3) My parents, sister and puppy dog all spectated during marathon #1 but for #2, I was totally on my own!  I drove myself to and from the race finish and it made it kind of boring in ways… yet at least while I was running, it was easier to zone out and not have to worry about spotting my family.  But I would rather have someone out there cheering for me

Taking pictures of yourself is awkward…

4) After marathon #1, my legs hurt but I still tried to keep active with walking and other forms of working out and that just prolonged my recovery for like 4+ weeks… After the most recent marathon, I hurt so bad, working out was really not even an option so I was forced to take full rest days.  And one week out, I feel almost 100%.  My only complaint is a small amount of nagging hip pain.

5) The weather!  Marathon #1 was pretty warm and I ended up pretty sun burned.  Marathon #2 I almost ended up wind burned because it was pretty COLD!!  The temps in the morning were in the 30′s this time compared to the high 60″s last time!  I would rather run in the cold though so I kind of liked the change!

6) The mental struggle was much less during marathon #2 than it was during marathon #1.  It didn’t help that marathon #1 came right on the heels of a total marathon disappointment…  Even though I was totally untrained for this second marathon, I just knew that I was going to finish.  I knew it would end eventually so even when I was tired, I just needed to keep moving.

7) My second marathon was paced so much better than #!!!  Half #1 of marathon #1 was done in 2:08 but I finished in 4:38 (+ 22 mins).  Half #1 of marathon #2 was done in 2:23, finish in 4:51 (+ 5 mins).  It is really amazing how much easier that second half is when you start off the first half much slower than you think you should be going.

8) Marathon #1 left me wondering if I ever really wanted to train for and run another full marathon again.  Marathon #2 has left me wondering how soon I should sign up to tackle another

What a difference a few months can make.  And only a few more months until I can add marathon #3 to the record book!!

Impulse Decision.

I don’t consider myself a very spontaneous person.  But for some reason when it comes to making “big” decisions, I do best when I just decide, sign up and move on! And that’s what may or may not have happened yesterday

I’ve been thinking about studying to be a certified personal trainer for a while now.  And over the past week, a job interview got me thinking about my current job and if that’s really what I want to be doing the rest of my life and every time I have these big life thinks, I always end up wishing I was a personal trainer… I am sure being a PT has it’s issues too but I will never know unless I try it out!

So yesterday, when I was checking NASM.org‘s website to look at the materials, they were advertising a sale… Well between the thought provoking interview and the sale on materials, I determined it was a sign that I should give it a shot!  Who knows what will come of it, maybe nothing, maybe a side fun job or maybe, someday, a full time career.  But the only thing that is certain is that I will never know unless I see for myself how it goes!

I could have just himmed and hawwwed about whether to make this decision but the sale ending yesterday made me just put my money on the line and go for it!  So in a week or so, I should receive my study materials and then from there, I will schedule when and where to take my exam.  From there, only time will tell!  I did splurge on the package that includes the *free retest so if I fail the first time, I won’t be done for  I really hate tests (ACTs ahem, LSATs ahem) so I know I might need the second chance  But overall, I am just excited for the option to try something new!

Four Day Week Friday.

Yikes.  Where has the last week gone.  I can’t completely blame my lack of blog posts on my level of busy-ness but rather because I am pretty lazy + sort of busy!  So to recap the past happenings of this week, here is another edition of random information Friday!

1) On Saturday I did my last long training bike ride before my upcoming 36 miler!  (it’s tomorrow, btw!)  I made it 26-27 miles in a little less than 2 hours and realized the kind of speed necessary to run a marathon in that time… crazy, really.  I can’t even bike that fast, let alone run!  I felt OK for most of the ride and I am pretty sure the ride tomorrow will be fine but towards the end, I started getting a little flare up of back pain.  I think I should be able to help that by taking a couple of breaks along the way and resetting my posture.  I’m hoping that’s all it takes anyways!  Looks like the weather is going to be very fallish which I am not ready for yet on my bike anyways?!  I have summer-y bike things but what about for cooler weather?!?

Pretty view on my 26 miler

2) My “long run” of the week was supposed to happen Sunday with sister.  Now, I am not sure if the utter failure of a run had more to do with the ride on Saturday, not eating enough carbs Sunday or some other outside factor but this run sucked.  Like mega-sucked.  Like I don’t really ever want to run again sucked.  I think I made it 7.5 miles and hated it the whole entire time.  I am clearly in a running funk and nothing seems to be able to help me break out of it!  Yuck.

3) In lieu of said horrible run, I am once again taking an extended break from rigorous exercise.  I just feel so burnt out most of the time lately and I am not sure if it’s just being lazy and out of shape or actually being “overtrained”, etc.  I am only taking walks this week, nothing else.  I’m hoping a little more rest will set me right again in the running department.  If not, I will either just cheer Sister on in the 1/2 marathon in two weeks or attempt to walk/run it also.  I’m planning to play it by ear until the very last minute.  Whatever is going on is so not like me that I can’t really force myself to run because I just loathe it if I do.  But this loathing feeling is now spreading to exercise in general which is REALLY not like me…  Maybe being in a race environment will re-kindle my love for running?  Either that or it’s going to be a long 4 months “training” for the Disney Marathon…

4) Last night was the first time I got to meet my Girls on the Run group!  We start next week with official lessons but this week was a meet and greet and it was so cool to have this opportunity to introduce ourselves as coaches before the actual training starts.  Hopefully all the girls enjoy the program, it seems like a very promising group of girls and the coaches also seem like people I will be able to get along with… although that could always change at a moment’s notice  But in all seriousness, I am very excited for the opportunity to make a positive impact in these girls’ lives and I am hoping I can live up to my intentions.

5) I’m headed out of town next week and I am going to miss this little butt so much!  It would be so much easier to leave him if he didn’t give this incredible guilt trip every time the suitcases come out… Poor bud!  I will miss you!

Irrational love of blankets and the color pink…

6) When did it get to be 1 week into September?  Just when I think the summer went fast, the fall proves it will fly by even faster!!

7) As proof that I am incredibly lazy + this year is going fast, my winter boots are still sitting in my office.  I really did plan to bring them home in like April.  Whoops.

Also envelopes I intended to return about 6+ months ago. #procrastinator

8) I am so, so, so sick of this election bull already… blech.  Still like 2 more months?!?  I am so anti-politics it’s got to be unpatriotic.  But when you are picking between a rock and a hard place… And seriously Mr. Ryan?  How in the heck can you not remember your marathon time by over 1 hour.  Why lie about something SO DUMB!?  Or why even talk about it at all…  But I bet with enough training he could probably pull off a 2:00 marathon, nbd.

9) This is the first year since I graduated college that I had zero sadness about not going back to school now that it’s fall!  And when did all the freshman start looking like small children?  I swear I am not THAT old.  Maybe a little but I still get confused with being a high schooler so apparently it’s just really hard to judge a person’s age?

10) That’s all I’ve got this week!  Hope everyone had a speedy 4-day week if you had Labor Day off and are now ready for another September weekend!  Happy Friday!

The no plan, plan.

This is the post were I warn you that the next few months could be a total train wreck for me in the area of running.  I am still in a total funk and have less than zero interest in putting forth any effort to train for my two upcoming half marathons (Sept & Oct) and upcoming marathon (Jan)…

The January marathon is priority #1.  I’m hopeful that if I don’t force myself to run and train for these half marathons that I will be more inclined to want to train for the full marathon come October.  Hopeful being the operative word.  There is really no option of not doing the January Marathon as it is in Disney and I am already registered, hotel booked, plane tickets purchased and really do want to complete the actual marathon.  It’s the training leading up to the marathon that I am total uninspired to complete.

Such pretty bling that I will never ever take off as long as I am in FL.

I know this is 100% my fault for being so determined to complete my marathon this Spring/Summer despite the cancellation of the first one mid-way that I signed up for another one a month or so later, therefore prolonging the number of Saturday mornings I spent beating myself up running for 3+ hours.  I am happy I just got it done with and now can call myself a marathoner but in so many ways, crossing that finish line has totally zapped any and all motivation for running another one.  Running an actual marathon is “easy” compared to training for one.  That’s where the real work happens.

Training for a marathon makes me gain weight, feel all gross and hungover after runs, incredibly tired and hungryrungry all.the.time, nervous, anxious, overly competitive about paces, sore, over-trained, etc., etc.  These are probably the parts of training that get glossed over but right now, that’s all I can think about and have zero ambition to re-subject myself to so soon after recovering from the last.  I really need that post-marathon amnesia to kick in!

Ideally, if I just could figure out how to literally not care/worry about anything during training, I would probably do fine.  But I am incredibly type-A and as soon as I decide I am “in training”, all hell breaks loose.  I start to obsess about the weather, I start to over-think anything and everything I eat, I start to feel even more phantom pains than usual, the thought of missing or skipping a run is absolutely not an option regardless of how I feel…the list goes on and on.  (I’m a real loser, clearly )

So, my “plan” for the next 140ish days (crap, that’s close!) is to… not have one.  No training plan, no goal paces, no goal finish time, nothing.  I just want to be able to run by feel so to speak and run for fun.  If that means running a slow 2-4 miles three days in a row, taking 4 days off and then doing a slow run/walk as my long run of the week, so be it.  If that means I want to do a speed work run, great.  If I just want to ride my bike, swim and lift weights one week, all the better!  The only thing that I know is I will stay active.  This at least is something I don’t have to worry about (unless I get hurt) as exercise has never been something I force myself to do, I really do look forward to working out!  Lately though, running is moving into the force category and that’s what I want to fix.

The one thing that might motivate me to actual do something in preparation for this marathon is Sister.  She is signed up to run her FIRST full marathon in Disney!  So maybe I can talk her into letting me tag along on her runs and hopefully not die doing them!  I’ve already warned her I am joining her on her first 20 miler Thanksgiving weekend!!!

I really, really do want to run the Disney marathon!  I’ve always wanted to do this as long as I can remember being aware of what a marathon is!  But I think therein lies another problem.  I am terrified of trying and training as hard as I did last time to only have things falls apart come race day.  I think I’ve lost my marathon trust

I am fully aware this will likely be the worst plan, ever!  I’ll probably hurt myself by being under-trained, bonk at mile 12 or something equally ridiculous but right now, it’s the only thing I can think about without wanting to run screaming from!  The idea of creating a training plan and following one makes me literally sick to my stomach.  Luckily, the time cut-off on this marathon does make it walk-able so at least there is always that option!  Barring injury, I do know I will finish!  I also know I will get in some long runs.  Probably not every weekend but I am hoping for at least every third weekend or so.  Hopefully by spacing things out a bit, I can try to avoid killing my body again…

So anyways, I apologize for the rambles today but I have been wanting to post on this topic for a few weeks but kept holding off in hopes that I miraculously felt inspired to run, run, run!  But so far, no such luck so maybe by typing this I will help start to break the funk!

Marathon training train wreck will commence in five…four…three…two…one!

How closely do you follow your training plans?  Obsessively like me or more loosely?

It’s like learning to ride a bike.

Ever heard that totally cliche saying that normally refers to something relatively easy to learn?  Well, it’s bullshit.  Or the genius who started this saying never rode a road bike with clipless/clipin pedals around people with a wish to kill bikers with their cars (especially those who fall into the “Sunday Drivers” category).

When I first bought my new bike, I was ridiculously terrified of trying to learn something new at my ripe old age of 9626.  But darnit, I was bound and determined to not let some stupid pedals win me over.  It took me a few weeks of practice but I feel like I am finally getting to a place where I am not a hazard on the road when biking.  At least not the whole time I am out anyways…

However, I am now finding there are certain things about biking that I never knew before and no one ever warned me about.  Here are a few rules of the road I have learned in the last 3ish weeks:

1) Road rash hurts SO much worse when you fall a height of 5′+ rather than falling when you are five and probably more like 3′+ tall.  Way more than a little princess band-aid can fix up.

2) Road bikes actually go FAST!  Making said falls so much more painful if they happen at any kind of speed.

3) Cars will inevitably be annoyed you are on their road.  Last I checked I had as much of a right as you to be on the road in your car.  The most dangerous drivers are those I would describe as Sunday Drivers.  I think you know what I mean.  For some reason, a large target appears on my back when said drivers are near…

4) In my opinion, the rule of yielding at intersections/crossing should be as follows: runner/walkers always have the right of way, then real bikers (aka, those who pedal and are on two wheels), then sitting bikers (ESPECIALLY those with powered bicycles?!?)and finally cars.  Just because you have more power does not mean you can bud ahead and take out a walker/biker with your car/powered go-kart/bicycle thingy.

5) Helmets are not optional.  Stupid looking and total hair-do ruiners, yes, but optional, no.

6) It’s not OK to go topless on a bike.  Unless you have rock-hard abs of steel.  Then yes, there is a double standard.  But if your belly flops on the handlebars?  Yeah, that’s gross…

7) Drinking while riding a bike is even more challenging than clipping in pedals.  For this reason, always leave your water bottle in the open position.  It’s 200x harder to both open the bottle and drink while riding without falling on your face.

open before leaving…

8) You will get hit by bugs/stung by bees while riding.  This will hurt and cause you to fall off your bike.

9) You don’t have to be nice to people when you pass them going the opposite direction on the bike.  (something I often feel compelled to do when running) In other words, it’s fine to keep that scowl on your face as long as you want!  Especially when said powered bicycle riders try to run you off the road.

10) You heart rate will not get as high as it does when running so it’s not a substitute.  A compliment to running, yes, but it’s (so far for me anyways) endorphin high free.  Unless you count the adrenaline rush you get when you start to fall but just barely catch yourself – that DOES indeed make your heart rate accelerate.

So that is what I have learned thus far.  If you are contemplating getting a bike/riding the one you have, my advice is stock up on first aid gear, buy a helmet and have fun*!  Eventually you will start to feel more in control of the situation and really, really enjoy it.  Or at least I do!  Maybe that’s my need for speed finally getting a little action?!  Clearly that never happens with running…

*I am not trained to tell you this so please don’t take my word for it.  You may be much more graceful than me and not require band-aids.  If so, more power to you.