Essence of Freedom 5K Race Recap

Total Time: 26:00 (8:23/mile pace)
Age Group: 2/25
Women: 3/102
Overall: 37/220

**in which I raced on Day 2 of my period (that along deserves a medal IMHO) 

& where I confirmed that I absolutely suck running in the heat**

My dad is an Army veteran and my little sister serves in the Navy.  So, when I saw this race, I definitely felt like I had to run it to support them and the other servicemen and servicewomen who have sacrificed their lives to help keep us safe.

Leading Up to the Race:

I convinced my little brother to run it with me as well, so I didn't have to run it alone.  We had a great time!  He also took second in his age group with a time of 27:46.  This is super awesome, especially because he hasn't run much at all.

Packet pickup was super easy, with three days and on-site pickup (for a $5 fee).  My bibs weren't ready when I picked them up Saturday since I registered earlier that morning.  The women running the packet pickup at Essence Pilates were very helpful and assigned bibs to my brother and me.

I liked that they had a selection of goodies that you could choose from instead of pre-selected items.  When I raced competitively a few years ago, I always ended up with items that I've never use and wound up throwing away or into a drawer somewhere.

However, I wasn't feeling it leading up to the race.  On Saturday night, I had the chills, a massive headache and some nausea.  I'm not sure if it was because I spent time in the sun and wasn't hydrated enough.  Or, perhaps I ate something that didn't agree with me at brunch.  Either way, I felt like shit.  Thankfully, it went away after I slept it off.

That wasn't the end of my physical woes.  On Sunday night, I got my monthly gift.  I mean, seriously.  Could it have come at a worse time?  Ugh.  I immediately began re-adjusting my goals for this race.  Also, the temps at the start (7:45 AM) were projected to be in the low 60s.  Yuck.  That's too hot for me.  I'm such a baby about the heat.  I love racing in the 30s to 40s with mid 50s as my max.  Oh, and overcast of course!

However, I didn't want to let my little brother down or my $40 entry fee go to waste.  And, I'm glad that I powered through and managed to perform relatively well despite the weather conditions and my monthly gift.

RACE DAY:

The women at packet pickup recommended that we get there by 7:15.  My little brother and I rolled out the of house a bit late and showed up around 7:25.  Luckily, we snagged parking by the church and didn't have to park at the Metra train station.  I had just enough time to use the bathroom before the beginning of the race announcements and National Anthem.  Perhaps I would have shown up earlier, but I liked that we didn't have to wait so long for the race to begin.

As per usual, I didn't know where to line myself up at the starting line.  However, this race was chip-timed!  *does happy dance*  Chip-timed races are the best and so much more accurate.  I still had to dodge my way around slower runners before I could establish my pace.  In a sense, maybe that's good for me since I won't be tempted to blast out the gate too fast.

Results below - official and Fitbit

Top 5 dominated by 13 year olds! :o

Timing fail

I had problems with my Fitbit during this race.  I didn't start it as I crossed the line.  I also didn't have my Fitbit App open on my phone so it didn't calculate the beginning bits of the race.  Grrr.  Oh well.

The course was pretty nice and takes you through a residential area in Deerfield.  Overall, the course was nice, and I liked that they had two water stations.  Parts of the road, especially near the sidewalks, were a bit uneven, and I kind of rolled my foot in some spots.  Nothing enough to go down, but that definitely got me paying attention to where I was stepping.

Shade was lacking in certain spots, which only made it worse since the temps rose as the race went on.  The other downside was that I did not see any mile markers posted.  Perhaps there were volunteers calling out the times, but I had my headphones on and didn't hear anything.

Source

Mentally, I wasn't feeling this one like I was the 5k that I ran a month ago.  I'm not sure if the high temperatures and having my period demoralized me and sent me into a funk.  Normally, when people pass me, I like to give them some chase... or at least stick around long enough and pass them at the finish.  But nope, not this morning.  People blew past me and I'd just let them.

Source

Source

 Toward the end, I felt like I could have run with the man who passed me.  I ran with him for a bit, but quickly fell behind.  Thankfully, no one was close enough to me to give me chase at the finish.  I had enough in the tank to sprint it in and run through the finish line.

As I was finishing, I heard the announcer say "Third woman - 309."  I was shocked.  I didn't think my performance was good enough for any type of award - let alone third place woman.  I was pleased nonetheless.  My time was up 33 seconds from last month's 5k.  The temperatures were easily 20 degrees warmer.  So, overall, not bad at all.

I caught my brother's finish.  He didn't see where it ended and started slowing down before the finish. I made sure to tease him about that, since that's what big sisters do.

After the race, we had about an hour to go until the awards ceremony.  My calves, the right one especially, were killing me after the race, so I got a free massage.  The massage worked wonders and I felt a lot better afterward.

We chilled out for a bit in a park area before heading back for the awards ceremony.  We were both surprised when we heard his name called for an age group award.  This was his first time placing in a race!  I was so proud of him!  Hopefully we can run more races in the future.  I'll have to keep my eye out on him in case he comes to pass me.  Plus, he likes running in the heat!

After the race, my brother and I had breakfast at Walker Bros in Lincolnshire.  We had a great time catching up.  Before I left, he told me that he was glad that he participated.  I'm glad he did!  I told him we should find a race that we can run with my parents and make a family thing out of it like we did in the past.  So, we'll see.  I'll keep an eye out for upcoming races.

But, part of me wants to be a big baby, avoid the heat and race in the fall when the temperatures will hopefully be cooler!

Things I'd Change:

• Implement proper usage of Fitbit during the race for accurate results.
• Don't let the heat demoralize me.
• Maybe only wear one earbud so I can hear what's going on around me.

Training Leading Up to the Race:

• Friday: 2:29 miles in 19:58 (outside)
• Wednesday: ? miles.  Interval workout on treadmill at work.  Speed 6.0 to 7.5 mph with a 1.0 incline.
• Monday: 1.5 miles in 13:xx (treadmill at work)

As of now, the goal of a 10K by the end of the year still stands.  I'll have to pick one and work backwards with my training.  In the meantime, I'll have to start gradually upping my mileage and getting used to running outdoors when it's hot outside.  After all, it may still be hot in the fall.

In closing, I leave you with this beauty below:

Source

So excited for Season 5, which returns tomorrow!

Did you run a race over the holiday weekend?  If so, how was it?  How do you handle running in the heat?  Any tips to keep sane?

1st Race Since 2013 - Loop the Lakes 5K Recap

Total Time: 25:27.5 (8:13 pace)

Age Group (30-39): 2/26

Overall: 24/151

Women: 4/89

The medal that I earned at the end of this race will be one that I'm proud of for a long time.  The medal represents my efforts to return to the fold (see post below) after a long period of inactivity.  I was able to put my mind into it and consistently train, without overdoing it or injuring myself.

I was so happy to have finished the race well under my goal time (sub-9 minute pace).  I remembered how much fun it is to run races, even though it was windy & cold.  I met some great women and enjoyed the race atmosphere again.

I was nervous leading up to the race.  The weather leading up to the race didn't look good - cold and rainy.  I really didn't want to have to deal with running in the rain, so I'm glad that the rain held off until later in the afternoon.  Also, I haven't run a race since 2013.  Would I even know how to put a bib on?  It's like riding a bicycle, right?

Worse of all, I didn't have any moral support with me.  My parents and little brother couldn't run the race.  My fiance had an appointment in the morning.  It was the first race that I've done by myself, so I was proud of myself for showing up without any support.  However, in my opinion, it's more fun to participate in races with people you know.

I was off the day before so I went to park to see where to park and to find the start and finish area.  I walked around a little to, trying to figure out where the miles would be.  The course map showed the kilometers, which I found a bit odd, since most race maps I've seen either show the miles only or both the miles/kilometers.  The new route is certified.  Unfortunately, they didn't do away with the rolling hills.  Me no likey hills of any kind.  Thankfully, we didn't have to run up the big sled hill because that would have just been cruel and unusual punishment and entirely unnecessary.

  

The Course (Source)

The race started at 9:00 AM so I woke up at 7:00, ate a Belvita breakfast bar and drank 15 ounces of water.  The night before, I made sure to lay off fiber-rich foods and I also didn't indulge in my usual sweets before bed.  I ate lemon chicken tacos and white rice.  Super boring, but I didn't have any tummy trouble during the race, so there's that.

Packet pick up was at 7:45, so I wanted to make sure I left early enough to snag a spot in the parking lot closest to the starting line.  Technically, I could have walked to the race since the park is close to my house.  However, I wasn't about ready to walk in temps that were in the upper 30s/lower 40s.  Nope.  No dice.

I got there with plenty of time to spare and chilled in my car for a little bit.  I managed to put my bib on correctly and only pricked myself once.  I forced myself outside to get adjusted to the elements.  While I was waiting, I met T.  This race would be T's first and she was walking it.  Her family didn't want to come, so she was also alone.  We chatted for a bit before we started and took a picture together.

Results from FitBit

Mile 1: 8:13

I wasn't really sure where to place myself at the starting line.  I didn't want to go too far up front since I'm not that speedy, but I didn't want to go too far back and have to run past a lot of slower runners.  Plus, this race isn't chip timed, hence the five second differential from my FitBit time and my official time.  No biggie, but still.  I prefer chip timing, but this is a small local race, so I don't expect it.

Portions of the path are a little narrow, so I had to make sure I wasn't cutting anyone off when I tried to pass.  The downside of wearing headphones is that you can't really hear what's going on around you.  I don't think I cut anyone off though, which is good.  I don't want to be *that* runner.

Here are some pictures of the lake, which I took the day before.

Thankfully the rolling hills happen early in the course, so I'm still feeling pretty good as I approach them.

Mile 2: 8:13

I'm beginning to suspect that my FitBit is a dirty liar!  I don't think I've ever run the same time for the first two miles in any race ever.  *raises eyebrows*  Interesting.  Perhaps I've learnt how to pace myself?  Haha... yeah right.

Along the way, I see two women in front of me.  One is wearing a bright yellow jacket and she looks out of range, unless I book it.  I manage to catch the other woman and pass her.  I make a mental note of her in case she passes me.  A little boy is in front of me.  I definitely want to pass him, but for now, I trail behind him.  When I raced a lot, I *never* wanted to let an old man, old woman or child pass me.  It's a pride thing, I think.  So yes, *must pass the boy*... at some point.

I'm bothered by not being able to see mile markers either.  No way in hell can I do the mental math to convert kilometers to miles.  

Source

Also, the course isn't point-to-point so you pass the 4km marker before you've run 4km.  No biggie though.  

Mile 3: 8:08

Am I actually going to run a negative split for this race?!  It looks like it's possible so long as the wheels don't fall off the bus.

Physically, I'm feeling fine - a little tired, but not hurting.  I'm still trying to be a little conservative as to not kill myself, but I definitely want to start passing people, if I can.

On the way to the 4th kilometer, I'm passed by the woman I passed earlier and a man.  Shit.  It's gut check time.  Problem with me is that when a few people pass me, I get demoralized.  That just means that more people pass me and I get more demoralized.  'Tis an evil cycle.

Time to pull my head out of my ass, turn on my turbo boosters and finish strong.

Source

With 0.4 left to go, I figure it's now or never.  Also, I took a look behind me as we turned to run around the back of the sled hell.  A shitload of people are behind me.  Meaning, more people to pass me if I don't hurry up!

I overtake the man and the boy.  Woo hoo!  The woman is in striking distance.  Though, I want to time it right.  As we approach the 5KM mark, I go for it.

Problem is, she starts sprinting too.  Ummm... yeah... wasn't expecting that.  We round the corner, run down some pavement before we have a sprint finish on the grass.

Unfortunately, she surges ahead of me.  I try to catch up, but it's too late.  She finished a second ahead of me.

After the race, I came up to her and told her, "Good job!"  She thanked me for pushing her to a strong finish.  We chatted for a bit before going our separate ways.  I'll have to keep an eye out for her during races.  I'll get you next time!

0.10 7:32 pace

The only hill in Vernon Hills.  We finished in front of it.

Holy crap!  This may be the first race that I've run where I've run a negative split!  I always blast it out of the gate in the first mile.  I fade a little in Mile 2, fade significantly in Mile 3 and hang on for the rest of the ride.  Perhaps the long layoff has made me change my ways??

After the race, I hung around, mainly to get my official results and see if I placed.  I also caught T.'s finish and chatted with her post-race.

I'm not sure what happened during the awards ceremony, but I didn't hear my name called.  I thought I may have placed since the woman who won the race ran it just a little faster than me.  I saw the woman who out-sprinted me inquiring about the results.  Low and behold, I placed second in my age group.  Go me!

My Winnings

Gear:

• Wore: running tights, short-sleeved top, long-sleeved top, light jacket, hat and gloves.  I got a touch hot toward the end and shed the hat and gloves.  Perhaps capris would have been the better thing to wear.
• Wireless headphones.  My fiance gave me these beauties for my birthday this year.  What a different running without cords makes!  Highly recommended!

Rowkin Wireless Headphones

Overall, I was very pleased with my performance, and I'm even more proud of myself for running it solo!

So, what's next?

As of right now, I don't have any races on the agenda.  I may try to run another 5K later in the month and am trying to decide which one.  As always, location and price are two key factors.  I kind of balk if I see a $40-$50 price tag for a 5K.  I can just run one for free outside.  Granted, the more expensive the race, the better the quality (hopefully anyway)... chip timing, start corrals, etc. etc.

Long term, I'd like to race a 10K before the year ends.  So I've got to boost my mileage.  But, I think it's a totally reasonable goal.  If not, I can always race more 5Ks if I'm not ready for the 10K.  There are some great fall races that I'd like to run if able.  We shall see!

But for now, I'm comfortably back on the boat and hoping to stay on for good!

Guess who's back? Grandma Pony has returned to the fold!

Greetings fellow runners!  So the year without running turned in almost three years without consistent running.

During those dark years, I exercised a handful of times, but fell off the boat as quickly as I got back on it.  Mentally, I wasn't motivated to incorporate a regular exercise routine in my life.  I clung to my excuses about my longer work schedule and how there was no gym in my office building.  Yes, I was super close to Millennium Park and the Lakefront Trail, but that didn't motivate me enough to start running again.  I didn't want to wake up early and work out.  I didn't want to work out at night after a long day at the office.

My ass grew larger and larger, but I didn't care.  I was comfortable on my spot on the couch, binge-watching TV shows and eating fattening snacks (doughnuts/donuts, chips, cookies... you name it; I ate it).  The rational voice in my head tried to make me feel guilty for not being active, but I quickly shut her up with more excuses and of course, more handfuls of fattening snacks.

Me basically (Source)

In 2015, my fiancé and I spent two weeks in London from mid-April to early May.  I celebrated my 30th birthday there and met up with a friend who lives in England.  Of course I wasn't going to run during my vacation when there are plenty of other things to see/do.  

In June, I went to trial on a big case that had been around at my previous firm for a long time.  Thankfully it was local, so I didn't need to travel.  The weeks preparing for it were intense - late nights & weekend work.  This quickly became yet another excuse why I could not work out.  

In August, my family, fiancé and I went to Pensacola to watch my sister get her wings.  She's in the Navy and was stationed in Pensacola.  Again, why bother running, right?  Who wants to run in sweltering heat?

Me circa post-CM '13 to September '16, though I probably did less than that.
(Source)

In May 2016, I left my previous firm.  I joined my current one in June 2016.  One of the biggest selling points to the firm was the free gym in the building.  My current firm is located in River North, just north of the Loop.  I have access to the Chicago Riverwalk for lunchtime exercise sessions.

The Turning Point:

Shit hit the fan one afternoon in July 2016.  I decided to weigh myself.  Now, I don't know what brought this about, since I knew the results weren't going to be good.  I suppose I wanted to see just how bad things had gotten.  And boy, were they bad.  I had gained 7 pounds and was officially the heaviest that I've been in recent times.

(Source)

SMH.  Needless to say, this was what lit the fuel under my ass and made me want to lose the weight ASAP.  I decided that I'd start working out in September, after my three month review at work.  Looking back at it, I don't know why I bothered to wait that long.  It's my lunch break, and I can do what I want with it.

I officially started running again on September 13, 2016.  For the most part, I've been consistent.  I've taken four extended periods of time off, but they've only been for a week max.  They were: Thanksgiving (because Thanksgiving), the week after (pulled lower back muscle), a week in January (infection) and a few days in March (NYC trip).

My Keys to Consistency:

1. Get up & get moving.  Doing something is better than doing nothing.
2. Ease back into it.  Don't overdo it and burn out.
3. Music
4. Set realistic goals and expectations.  Forget about the runner you once were.  Focus on the runner you are today.

#1: My parents got me a FitBit Charge HR 2 for Christmas.  This has definitely help me become more active.  I've made a good effort to complete my steps.  I walk the long way around my office.  I walk during my lunch break when I'm not working out.  Some people may find wearing a fitness tracker annoying, but I love it.  I love being able to see my daily progress.  Also, having the heart rate monitor tracker and sleep tracker is great.

#2:  I did this interval workout for a while to build up my stamina.  It was silly for me to think that I could easily run 3 miles (or more) in a sub-10 minute mile pace after years of inactivity.  As someone who is prone to overdo it, this was tough.  However, limiting myself to my lunch break (1 hour) during work really helped prevent me from doing this.  I can only spend 25-35 minutes working out, so I can allocate enough time to get changed and eat my lunch.

#3: Music has been essential for me to get through my runs.  I wasn't using it during my marathon training in '13, but I've brought it back since it helps motivate me.  My running playlist on Spotify was so big (193 songs/12 hours and 40 minutes) that I had to create a condensed version.  Playlist below.

"I'm Your Baby Tonight" is my warm-up song because it's exactly 5:00 minutes!  Unfortunately, there aren't many Aaliyah songs on Spotify, so I have to convert YouTube videos into MP3 files so I can play them off my local files on Spotify.  A small inconvenience, but necessary so I can have songs like:

in my life.  I ran to this and "We Need a Resolution" on repeat for an entire workout.  #bestworkoutever

#4: Currently, the most I've run in one sitting is 3.1 miles.  I definitely think I can run more than that, but I really want to ease back into it so I don't burn out or injure myself.  I used to look at only running 3.1 miles max as a failure since I was running a lot more miles when I was marathon training.

However, I'm not that runner anymore.  I may never be that runner again.  That could have been my physical peak.  Who knows.  I need to focus on the runner I am now, being consistent about workouts and slowly pushing myself to run longer distances and to run faster.

As for goals, the main one is to be consistent and not allow myself to fall off the boat again.  I should be able to work out at least 2-3 times a week, since I have a gym in my building and access to the Riverwalk.

I completed my first race since 2013, a 5K (see next post).  I was really pleased with my performance and will evaluate and decide what to focus on.  I can easily see myself racing more 5ks and completing the necessary mileage to run one works with my schedule.

Or I can try to increase my time/distance so I can eventually complete a 10K.  I think a half may be a bit of a stretch right now unless I really get back into it, but attempting a long run during the week is going to be a challenge for me.

So maybe I'll aim for a 10K sometime in the fall.  I've got all of summer to up my time/distance.  And if that all goes well, perhaps I can run a half marathon in the spring 2018.  We'll see.

Right now, I just need to stay on the boat!

What's the longest hiatus you've taken from running?  How'd you get back into it?

The Year Without (aka EPIC FAIL)

So, it's been almost a year without running.  I posted back in January about all the races I wanted to run and I even signed up for the Soldier Field 10 Miler.  Well, none of those things happened.  I haven't run a race since the Chicago Marathon last year.  In fact, the longest distance I've run since said marathon is 3 whopping miles.

And, honestly, there is no good reason why I simply stopped running.  I did get a new job in May after working at my previous firm for just over 4 years.  I lost my flexible schedule, and now have to leave at 5.  I've also stayed late (left at 10 one night and 8 another) a few times, and my building no longer has a gym.  Though, I'm closer to the lake, which does make a lakefront run more possible.

Perhaps I burnt out after running two marathons in two years.  Perhaps my body simply said "Enough is enough.  Time to take a break."  I didn't get injured after last year's race.  That's probably because I went to PT and caught what could have been a big ITB issue early on.

The scariest part is this: I don't really miss it.

Sums up my exercise this year

In all honestly, I've enjoyed being able to have my summer back.  It's not that I didn't enjoy my long runs with my pace group around the forest preserve.  Those were a lot of fun and essential to my training.  But, I've enjoyed being able to sleep in Saturdays, eat what I want and do what I want Friday evenings and not have to worry about injuring myself (since I'm doing nothing).

But now, as I sit on my ass on my couch in my spot (yes, I'm like Sheldon from BBT and I have a spot) watching coverage of CM14, I feel guilty more so than anything.  It's like I *know* that I should be out there with the runners sweating it out through a journey through Chicago, but instead, I'm at home sitting on my @$$.

I feel guilty that I let my brother down since we were supposed to run it together, and we both had to defer.  I'd like to believe that his training wasn't going well due to his jobs, but I'm really only saying that to feel better about my lazy @$$ self.  My parents are even volunteering at the race today.  They're somewhere around Lakeview.  How awesome would that have been to pass by them and grab some hydration??

My mother even noticed how lazy I've become.  She told me that maybe my body told me that I'm thin enough.  *shrugs*  Weight loss never was a goal on mine during marathon training.  I just wanted to break 4:30.  Anyway, my family and I would run a few races a year together.  This year we haven't run any.  My dad (who is in his upper 60s) is on a regular running regime - 3 miles a day (outdoors right now)/ 3 days a week.  There's no reason why my relatively healthy 29-year old self shouldn't be on one too.

The thing is this:  it's so hard to get on the boat once you've fallen off.

And, I fell off...  *HARD*

I did see a trainer when I worked at my old firm, but I stopped seeing her after I left since she's city based and I live in the 'burbs.  Oh, and I did complete the Hustle up the Hancock.  I was the last one out of my group and basically walked up the stairs.  Meh.  My attitude was, "Eh.  At least I got it done."

Ideally, I'd like to get back in shape so I can complete next year's race.  That goal seems so daunting right now.  But, I think it may be possible so long as I start getting in shape now.  My goal would be to finish it with my little brother.  A PR would be nice, but isn't the goal.  I've run under 4:30 so I'm satisfied.  I'd have to work hard to PR, but I'm not sure if that's possibly after a year long break.

*sigh*

I've just got to put my mind into it and get back in shape.  I've got a year, and I can do this if I focus on it again.  The guilt is really beginning to consume me.  Also, this sedentary lifestyle isn't healthy.  It really isn't.

In closing, stay tuned.  Hopefully I can have a comeback year and be at next year's race with my baby bro beside me.

How do you get back into it after a long break?  How do you mentally motivate yourself to get active when you've become used to being sedentary?  Is it even possible for me to run a full again after a year off?  Or, am I biting off more than I can chew?

I'm FAMOUS & signs

Hello all!

Forgive me, but I have been such a slacker post-marathon and have not been posting.  That would be because I haven't really done much since October and therefore, have little to blog about.  I kept trying to write a longer recap of the marathon, but have decided to forgo it.  I'm not going to give you the mile-by-mile.  First, it's so far in the past and second, the only thing I really have to say is that I'm happy that I set a huge PR and accomplished my goal of breaking 4:30.

In other news, I have started to work out again.  Granted, I'm not running yet, but am starting to do cardio work at the gym in my office building.  It's better than nothing.  Anyway, I swear, there are signs that are telling me that I have to get off my butt and get my rear in gear.

First, I had a dream that I weighed over 20 pounds than the most I have ever weighed in my life.  I FREAKED out when I woke up and immediately got on the scale (bad idea).  Thankfully, the number was not the number from my dream.  It's still more than I want, which is a given saying I've done nothing for three months.

Second, my work is participating in the Hustle Up the Hancock this year.  My office always participates and this year, I decided to join the team.  Now, I have to start working out so I don't make a fool out of myself and finish last out of my teammates.

Third, my picture is on the registration page for the Soldier Field 10 Miler.  If that's not a sign, then I don't know what is.  So needless to say, I signed up for that race.

I am the runner in the pink shirt & white cap

I'm thinking about doing the Shamrock Shuffle, but don't know if I can justify A) $45 for an 8K and B) having to trek down to the city.  Also, the weather can be bit of a doozy in March.  Have you participated in the Shamrock Shuffle?  If so, do you like it and is it worth doing?

My proposed race agenda is as follows:

• March 16: St. Paddy's Day 5K (if I am ready by then, which I kind of doubt)
• March 30: Shamrock Shuffle
• April 19: CARA 10 Miler
• April 26: Loop the Lakes 5K (this is in my hometown so I most likely will do this and this will be my first race of the season if I can't get ready earlier)
• May 24: Soldier Field 10 Miler
• June 1: North Shore Half Marathon
• July: TBD - maybe a 4th of July race and/or the Run from the Cops 5K which is held in my town
• August 31: Buffalo Grove Stampede 10K or 5K
• September 21: CARA Ready to Run 20 Miler or the 20 Miler in Schaumburg (if I get into the marathon)
• October 12: Chicago Marathon (if I get in)

I want to run Chicago again.  I really don't want to run any other marathon than Chicago either.  I'm sure there are great marathons out there, but I like the city atmosphere, the big crowds and lots of runners.  My bro wants to run it as well since he could not run it last year due to a knee injury.  So, if we both get in, I can always run with him to make sure he finishes.  I've hit my time goal anyway.  The next goal will be to run a 4:22:00 (10 minute) miles or better.  Diddy's 4:14:54 looks tempting, but may be a stretch.

Anyway, hope that you all are doing well & are staying warm!  To all of you runners who brave these conditions, you are super brace & awesome!  More power to you!

October Foodie Penpals Reveal Day

I was paired with Andrea from Pennsylvania.  I told her that my favorite foods are dark chocolate, oatmeal, peanut butter and quinoa.  I also told her that I'd prefer it if she could send me local foods that I cannot find in my area.  And boy oh boy, did she deliver!

My Box of Goodies

She must have done her research about me by reading my blog or Yelp reviews since she picked up on my enormous sweet tooth! 

She sent a honey graham and dark chocolate vanilla sea salt caramels from Valos Chocolates which is based in Arnold, Pennsylvania.  I read about the company and the founder began his chocolate making career in Chicago!  That made me smile reading that.  The honey graham was a nice treat work, but the stars of the chocolates definitely were the caramels.  They were absolutely divine with the right amount of sweet and salty making it a perfect after dinner treat to keep my sweet tooth at bay.  Can you believe that I still have two pieces left?

She also sent over two packages of Nicholas Coffee & Tea Co. Gourmet Ground Coffee from Pittsburgh in the Scandinavian Morning Blend and Graham Cracker flavor.  They have been in business since 1919!  Unfortunately, I do not have a coffeemaker so I will have to buy a filer so I can make the coffee using my Keurig!  

Included in the package was Biscotti Brothers Bakery Granotti made with chocolate chips and sea salt.  I have never tried whole grain biscotti before.  My taste buds were pleasantly surprised when I took a bite.  Again, the sweet and salty flavors were awesome.  They are good to eat with breakfast and a cup of tea or coffee or as a snack.  They have whole grains so you can feel good eating them!

Lastly, she sent Ciciarelli Brothers salad dressing.  They have been in business for over 50 years.  However, it's not just a salad dressing.  It can be used as a marinade, in pasta salads and on white pizza.

Overall, excellent box and it has been wonderful having Andrea as my foodie pen pal this month!  I sincerely appreciate her efforts to put together a box filled with local goodies.

-----

Andrea's Box of Goodies

One day last week, a colleague asked me how my day was going.  “I had the best oatmeal for breakfast that I’ve ever had,” I replied.  He was a bit taken aback.  Not quite what he expected to hear!

But really, it was true, and it came to me courtesy of Jen, my October Foodie Penpal.  Jen is in Chicago, and she sent me a box of incredible local foods—this is perhaps the best package I have received in all of my months in this food exchange—definitely in the top tier. I was treated to a tour of Chicago in small bites, and it has me excited to visit there in January, when I’ll head in for the Modern Language Association convention.

The oatmeal was a perfect serving-sized pack from Milk and Honey, which is a restaurant I’d like to hit when I’m in town.  It’s their Cherry Almond Toasted Oatmeal, and it beat the heck out of anything I ever make for myself in the morning!  The fact that the oatmeal is toasted, I think, makes the difference, as well as the coarsely ground almonds.  There was flavor and texture there that was truly amazing.  Extra benefit:  I follow Weight Watchers, and so sometimes I can be afraid of packaged foods, even healthy ones, due to added Points Plus values, but this serving of Best Oatmeal Ever came with only 8 PP, which is not much more than a typical breakfast for me.  Score.

I’d told Jen that I try to eat healthy, and she sent a range of tasty things that have allowed me to treat myself without overdoing it.  Good flavors don’t need to come in big bites, and the many local sweets that were a part of my package provided me with a couple of weeks of indulgences.  Three caramels from Katherine Anne Confections—Rosemary Sea Salt, Banana Lemon, and Maple Bacon (ohmygoodnessyum)—were just wonderful, and the tiny Askinoise dark chocolate bar was excellent one night after dinner.  Just enough.  OK, I could have had maybe one more of those maple-bacon caramels, but still.

There was also some loose maté tea from David’s Tea, and that is a gift that I’ll be enjoying for weeks.  I get a little obsessive about teas when the weather gets cooler, and I had heard many friends say how much they like maté, so I’m glad to finally get a chance to enjoy some (this one is “Simply the Zest” with a nice citrus flavor).  I probably won’t give up my morning coffee, but the maté will add something to my afternoon repertoire when I need a little something-something but can’t add any more caffeine to my day.

Another healthy snack was a Mark Bar, which is made from quinoa and full of protein.  It says you can eat it before a workout, but I indulged midday.  And last, but not least, are some pepperoni sticks that we’re still enjoying—my eight-year-old daughter has found them, though, and so who knows how long they’ll be around?

I live near, but not at all in, a city, and so I forget sometimes the fun involved in shopping small producers and discovering neighborhood gems.  I not only found out about some of the places to go and things to eat when in Chicago (especially thanks to Jen’s lovely note that explains all of the places that these treats came from), but I have some renewed interest in getting out more and into my own nearby city of Pittsburgh, to which I moved not too long ago.  Maybe I can start out on a PA quest for some oatmeal that rivals what I got to try out this month.

Thanks so much to to Jen, and thanks to Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean for keeping this exchange going.  It’s so much fun!

---

For more information about Foodie Pen Pals and to sign up, see Lindsay's blog for more details!

CM13: Second Time's the Charm

I broke sub 4:30 in my second marathon ever.  I also beat Oprah and my managing partner so I am pleased.  A longer race recap will follow in the coming days.

My CM13 Splits

I barely beat her and I barely broke 4:30.  I'm proud of myself nonetheless.  Looks like I won't need a third chance to break 4:30.

Up next?  Diddy perhaps?  The music mogul ran a 4:14 in NYC in the 90s.  Sounds like a reasonable goal, right?

Tomorrow tomorrow

The nerves going into tomorrow are high and will only get higher once I get into the city tomorrow morning.  I'm worried that I didn't train enough for this race.  I'm still struggling with the motivational issues I wrote about in my last post.  Thankfully, my monthly gift came Friday.  I'll still have to deal with it tomorrow, but it won't be as bad.

My training post the 20 miler hasn't gone over as well as I'd like mainly since I ran less than I should have.  But, that's been par for the course for this training season so I'm not too worried about it.  It's not like I can really do much about it now.  I'm going to show up tomorrow and run as best as I can.  The goals are: 1) to finish; 2) to beat my old time and 3) to PR.  

I ran 3 miles Monday and Wednesday and a shake out 2 this afternoon.  All the runs went over well and were pain-free.  I had my second to last PT session Friday and I did a lot of hip exercises and ab work.  My PT worked on my IT bands as well.

So yeah... not much I can do about it now... so I should probably pick out my race day outfit, pack my bag and get to bed.

Best of luck to anyone running Chicago tomorrow!  You will rock it!

I Kinda Want to BAIL...

I've taken my taper to a whole new level with the minimal running I've done since the 20 Miler.  But, life has gotten a bit hectic as of late.  My boyfriend of 9 years finally proposed last Thursday.  Needless to say, the focus hasn't been on running these days.

Two Saturdays ago, I was supposed to run 12 miles, but I was having some feminine issues and only completed 7.87 miles.  At least my legs weren't giving me trouble.  I contemplated on making up the remaining miles the following day, but skipped it.  My quads hurt like crazy after, but it was just a fluke thing and I have yet to figure out what caused it.  I didn't bother to run my 8 miler last Saturday and I don't regret missing that one bit. 

I got engaged!!  That's a good enough reason to put the running on hold.  It's not like not running for 4 whole days will really be that detrimental to my performance come Sunday, right?

However, the though about waking up early, going down to the city and schleping my ass down the streets of Chicago in search of my goal time don't sound like so much fun anymore. 

Oh... and I'm supposed to get my monthly gift Sunday... hum... how many feminine hygenine products can I shove into my SpiBelt?!  *shakes head*  Grrr... perhaps I can will my body to deliver my monthly gift before or after the race... (TMI: SORRY!)

Lazing around in bed with my fiancee and staring at my pretty diamond ring on my finger sounds much more appealing.  Yes, the goal was to improve upon my dismal time, but I thought it would be somewhat of a family affair this year.  Unfortuantely, my dad and my bro can't run due to injuries so it's just me.

I've got to get my head back in the game ASAP.  I'll remind myself of the following and hopefully this will serve as motivation:

1. Spent time and money on training and wouldn't want it to go to waste;
2. Don't want to hear the crap spewing out of my managing partner's mouth if he finds out that I didn't even show up to the race for no good reason at all; and
3. Having to blog about why I didn't run it for no good reason at all.

So yep... I gotta run it no matter what... I've come to far to quit.

If you have any motivation tips to send my way, please do!  Good luck to everyone running CM13 Sunday!  You will all do GREAT!

Weeks 14, 15 and 16 Recap: Is it October 14th yet?

Source

Hello everyone!  I'm still here and I'm still running.  I just haven't been blogging since I haven't really had much to say with regard to my training.

Truthfully, I would just like to get the race over with so I can take my life back.  I'd like to be able to run when I want and not because I feel like I have to run.  I'm looking forward to being able to wear my hair down and be able to sleep in on the weekends and in the mornings.

Mentally, I think I'm in a much better place compared to where I was last year.  I don't want to bail on the race like I did last year.  I completed a 20 mile run, which is a huge accomplishment saying that I didn't even run one last year.

My game plan is to stick with the 4:30 pace group, which is 10:18 per mile.  I think I can handle that.  I'll stick with them for as long as possible and try to pick it up at the end so I can achieve my goal time of 4:28.  That's an almost 20 minute cut, but I'm confident that if I maintain a run instead of dropping to a run/walk that it can happen.  I've also told myself that I never have to run a marathon again if I can achieve my goal time.  So, hopefully that will be incentive enough to get it done.  My performance will depend on a lot of things and weather will be a big factor.  I'm hoping for cooler temps like last year.

Week 14: 14.01 miles in 2:19:49 (9:59 average pace):  I ran along the DPR South with my training group.  Overall, it was a good run and I didn't have any major issues.  The weather cooperated too, which was nice.

I ran part of it with a woman who is training for the Ironman in Kona.  She's run the race there before.  I mentioned that I found out that former Pittsburgh Steelers, Hines Ward, was training for the race as well.  She mentioned that he's part of her team (Newton), but he's primarily advertising chocolate milk.  She said she met him once before.  How cool is that?  I totally look up to that woman since she's committed to being so fit and has completed multiple Ironmans.

Source

Week 15: 20.17 miles in 3:37:26 (10:47 average pace):  My little brother and I ran the 20 Miler at Busse Woods in Schaumburg.  My pace group leader and some other members from my training group were at the run so it was nice to see some familiar faces.  I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to do a true dress rehearsal for the full.

I ran with my little brother whose training hasn't been going as well as he would like.  His longest run was 12 miles which he did a long time before the 20 miler.  So, it's crazy that he even completed the run.  He started to hit the wall around 14 miles, but was able to finish the run.

I stuck with him for 18 miles than took off.  I ran the last mile in an 8:46, which was way too fast.  I just wanted to get the run done!  I didn't pause my Garmin for any of my aid station breaks or our walking/stretching breaks.

My legs were OK and I worked out a pretty good eating and drinking strategy.  I also drank Gatorade and didn't have any tummy trouble so I was pleased.

Also, our pace group leader had to use the bathroom around mile 9 so we choose to run without her.  In retrospect, I kind of wish that I stayed with so I'd have the support of the group.  But, I'm confident that I definitely could have run faster so I will hopefully be OK for the full.

Also, the little bro and I decided that I should do my own thing for the race and not worry about sticking with him.  Plus, there will be 45,000 people running the race so it's not like he will be alone.

Week 16: 7.87 out of 12 miles (DPR North) - TOTAL FAIL:  I had some feminine issues going on the morning before so my mental focus was on that instead of my run.  I decided to run just 8 and didn't even finish that.  I suppose I could make up for it and run 4.13 miles later today.  I may do that after the game if I'm in the mood, but I doubt it. 

My philosophy is that I'd rather go in to the race a bit undertrained (which I would say that I am) instead of overtrained.  A plan like Hanson's would never be something I'd even dream of trying to complete.  Too many miles!!

My legs are feeling OK for the most part - my quads were a little sore post yesterday's run, which I will attribute to a hard PT session Friday afternoon.  Hopefully they'll be fine come race day.

In other news, my managing partner is also running the marathon this year.  He ran 21 miles one weekend and 20 the following.  He mentioned to my BQ marathoner attorney that he wanted to run the full 26.2 this weekend.  Personally, I don't see why anyone would do that.  Maybe it'd make him feel better mentally if he completed the full distance.  But, why risk getting injured?

Oh, and lastly, I mentioned to my pace group leader that my times to races have slowed down by about 2 minutes+ per event ever since I started training for the marathon in 2012.  He asked me if I should have trained with the 9:30 pace group instead of the 10:00 minute pace group.  I told him that I didn't think I could maintain the 9:30 pace for a long period of time.

But, maybe I could have and maybe I should have done that.  That way, I could run at the 9:30 pace as long as I could and then slow down.  Perhaps I would have been able to achieve my time goal.  Oh well.  What's done is done.  I suppose I could get back to my times from 2011, but that would involve the desire to do it on my part.  We'll see what happens after the marathon.  I'll have to reevaluate my goals and plan out what I want to do over the fall/winter and in 2014.

How's your training going??  Do you just want to get the race over with like me?  Would you ever run the full distance while training for a race?  Lastly, GO BEARS!!!!

Week 13 Recap: Another 18 Mile Run

Source

I successfully completed my second 18 mile training run in 3:00:47.  I didn't feel as good about it as I felt with my first one.  This was because it was a lot hotter toward the end of my run.  The first 15 miles went really well and then the wheels fell off the bus.  My other training group members were feeling the same way.  Therefore, we took extended walking breaks and hydrated a lot more.  There were points in the run where I didn't know if I'd make it, but I was able to power through and get it done.

My legs felt OK and my IT bands didn't bother me.  My right hip tweaked out a little bit during the run, but it was not anything serious.  My calves were sore post run and my Achilles still act up in the morning.  I'm doing my calf stretches per my PT's advice and that's supposed to help.

I had PT twice last week.  He worked on my right hip during my first session and stretched it and massaged it hard.  I almost cried.  On Friday, he used the dreaded stick to work on my right calf, hamstring and ITB.  I almost cried again, but he showed me pictures of his dogs so that helped.  I did a lot of hip work at PT this week, which I think is helping.

My PT asked me if I am more prepared for the marathon this year.  I told him that I think I am, but I really can't say for sure.  My IT bands hurt a lot less and I was able to put off PT until the 12th week of training.  I think I'm getting in about the same mileage and I haven't missed a long run yet.  My weekly long runs are another story though.

More importantly, I think my attitude toward the marathon is better since I know what to expect and I want to perform better this year compared to last year.  I really wanted to quit after week 15 after having missed my 20 miler for no good reason.  I'm definitely getting my 20 miler in this year. Hopefully I'll be able to achieve my time goal.

T-Minus 34 days until the marathon!  34 more days until I can get my life back!  GO BEARS!  Why are we losing to the Bengals?!  Hope your training is going well!

Buffalo Grove Stampede 10K Race Recap

Total Time: 55:14 (8:54 average pace)

9/21 age group

160/410 overall

38/147 women

Shirt, sticker and magnet - also pictured,
my new CEP compression sleeves which I used for the race

I came into this race without much of a time goal having run 13 miles the morning before.  I just wanted to run under 57:07 (9:12 avg mile pace), which is the time I'd need to run a 10K in order to run a marathon in my goal of 4:28:00.  It was also a hot morning so I wasn't expecting much.

Source

When we got to the race site, the announcer told us that we had to turn our bibs horizontal in order to get our times recorded.  Evidently the strip has to be placed up and down and it was misplaced on our bibs.  This is the first time that this has happened to me at a race.  It wasn't a big deal.

One guy tried to argue with my mom and I when we told him to turn his bib by telling us it was an RFD chip and would be read no matter now it was placed.  He eventually found me later and told me that he had caved and turned his bib.  Serves him right for being so smug!

First of all, I absolutely despise that the 5K runners and walkers get to start ahead of the 10K.  Shouldn't the longest distance go first?  The 5K started from 8:00 to 8:05 while the 10K runners had to wait until 8:22 to start.  Those minutes are crucial especially on a hot day.  Oh, and the top 5K runners were already finished before the 10K runners even started!

I bumped into my friends R and J from the training group and we chatted for a bit.  J wanted to run 9:05s to 9:00s while R wanted to run 9:30s to 9:15s.  I told them I wanted to break 57.

Course

Mile 1 - 8:36: The first part of this race is run though a residential area with windy roads and nice open stretches of road with minimal shade.  Yep.  It's a total pain in the butt when it's hot.  But, it's the start of the race so I'm still feeling good.

Miles 2 and 3 - 8:48 and 8:46:  These miles are run in the Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve, which is pretty, but the terrain is somewhat difficult.  You run down a hill before you get to mile 2 so you know you have to run up that bad boy on the way back.  It's two way running so you can see the elite runners zooming through the course.  Parts of the trail were shaded, which was nice, but there were some open areas, which were difficult to get through with the sun beating down on me.

Mile 4 and 5 - 8:56 and 9:05:  On the way to mile 4, I see the smug guy and I kind of wave at him.  In retrospect, this may have been an a-hole thing to do.  But, I don't really regret that I did it.  Spoiler alert:  I didn't see him pass me so I'm pretty sure I beat him.  But, with chip timing, you never know.  

In route to Mile 5, we run down a nice big residential road without absolutely no shade whatsoever.  The sun was beating down on the blacktop and I started to get pooped out.  Are we there yet??  I finally crossed Mile 5 and I knew that the bridge was up ahead, which I wasn't pleased about.  Also, I'm parched, but a volunteer tells me that there is water over the bridge.

Mile 6 to Mile 6:2 9:12 for Mile 6:  Now, the bridge was a pretty long one and yes, there was indeed water just shortly after it.  I also spotted J a little bit ahead of me.  Eventually I caught up to him and passed him when he stopped to walk.  He yelled at me to finish strong and I said, "You too dude!" 

I finally reached the 6 mile marker and I start gunning it toward the finish line picking off a few people along the way.  I could see the finish line so I started to dog it a little bit.  I felt some footsteps coming behind me so I picked it up and finished in front of whoever was behind me.  *WHEW*  It sucks to be passed on the sprint especially being THAT close to being DONE.

Immediately after the race, I felt like garbage.  The heat got the best of me.  Also, there were only four water stations on the course, which didn't seem like enough since it was very hot.  I dumped a lot of water on myself.  In retrospect, I wish I just carried my bottle, but it felt too clunky.

My parents and I checked our results to confirm whether we won anything, which we did not.  We headed to the pancake breakfast where we chowed down and headed out.  If you plan on going to the breakfast, leave as early as you can since the parking is tough and can get crowded.

Overall, good race, tough course and great price especially if you're a CARA member.  I definitely plan on doing this race again.

Week 12 Recap: The Graston Technique & More

I had my first appointment with my physical therapist Friday afternoon.  I left the appointment with this:

Hurts so good

My physical therapist used the Graston Technique on my ITB and it hurt so bad.  I almost cried.  I told him that he should put pictures of puppies and kittens on the walls of his office so his patients can look at them while they are getting beat up.  He offered a picture of his kids for me to look at, which helped take my mind off the pain.  Also, the above is him going "easy" on me.  He knew I had a long run this morning and a 10K Sunday to run so he didn't want to beat me up too much.

We also reviewed some exercises that I need to be doing to help my ITB pain and Achilles pain.  My Achilles doesn't hurt when I run, but is a little sore in the mornings and after the run.  I learned how to do self-active release therapy on my IT bands by doing knee bends while on the foam roller.  He gave me some great calf stretches to do as well since those muscles lead to my Achilles.

Overall, it was a good appointment and I look forward to working with him in the future.  He said that he'll focus on more manual work instead of exercises if my pain goes away simply from doing the exercises at home.  Needless to say, the exercises are going on the top of my priority list.

Source

In other running news, this morning's long run of 13 miles was somewhat of a struggle.  I finished it in 2:11:xx for an average page of 10:07.  However, the splits were all over the place.

The run almost didn't happen since I broke my only hair tie on the way to the forest preserve.  Thankfully I ran into a guy who had extras in his car.  His friend freaked out over not having one at a race so he put extras in his car so that never happened again.  *WHEW*  I dodged a bullet on that one.

Also, only two other people in my running group decided to show up today.  My pace group leader was sick and his back up did not show up today.  So, I was tasked with leading our group since I was on the only one wearing a GPS watch.

The other two runners decided to turn around at the hydration stop, which was at 4.6 miles.  We caught up to the 9:30 pace group.  They invited me to run with them, but there was no way I could  go for it.  I know I can average out less than a 9:30 pace for 13 miles, but they were running faster than that and I didn't want to overdo it since I have that 10K tomorrow morning.

The 10:30 pace group showed up as the other two runners were turning back so I decided to run with them.  The pace was a little slow at times, but I ran with an elderly gentleman who picked up the pace quite a bit so I was able to get to a decent average.  My GPS must have measured it wrong since I had to circle around the parking lot until I hit 13.  It's so weird.  If Garmin doesn't say I ran 13 then I don't feel like I ran 13.

Anyway, the trail was covered with debris from the rain that swept through the area yesterday.  I rolled my ankle twice - on a crab apple and on a tree branch and almost went down.  It got a bit humid toward the end and I just really wanted it to be done.

The legs felt OK - I did the hip exercises, calf stretches and used my foam roller beforehand so my legs were a little tired, but overall, it was OK.

Truthfully, I'm a bit worried about the 10K since it's supposed to be hot, but I'm not looking to PR or anything so it should be fine.  I just want to complete it.  I bought a pair of CEP compression calf sleeves so I may try those out tomorrow during the race.  They say not to try new things on race day, but this is more of a training run not a race so I think it'll be fine.  Stay tuned for my recap tomorrow or Sunday!

How's your training going?  How do you make sure you don't get injured this late in training with the race getting closer?  Any big plans for the Labor Day weekend?

August Foodie Pen Pals Reveal

This is my first month participating in the Foodie Pen Pal Program.  My delivery came from Susan, a vegan mother of two girls from the Jersey Shore, sent me my goodies.  I told her that I love tea, dark chocolate, almonds and oatmeal.  I also told her that I'd love foods specific to her area that and that I'd be interested in healthier and more natural foods.

Her note informed me that Jersey is the garden state and that they are known for their sweet corn, which she included in her box.  She also included Old Trenton Crackers, which are a staple at New Jersey diners.  She sent a Zuppa Toscana Tuscan White Bean Soup mix to go along with the crackers.

The box also included Jasmine Green Tea from Wegmans, which is an awesome grocery chain out East.  For you Illinois folk, think, like Mariano's, but better.  She also sent me a Blueberry Muffin Larabar, Old Wessex Ltd. Scottish-Style Porridge Oats and a Swiss Dark Chocolate with Honey and Almond Nougat Toblerone.

The boyfriend and I made the soup and ate it with the crackers.  It was delicious!  We also ate the soup with a side of the sweet corn which we made with some pancetta.  I've also sampled the tea, which was also delicious.  I'm sure the rest will taste great!

A big thank you to Susan for picking out awesome goodies for me to eat!
_________________________________________________________________________________

I sent my box to Kim.  She doesn't have a blog, but was willing to write a guest post.

For this month of Foodie Penpals.  I was paired with receiving my box from Jennifer.  She got specifics from me,  such as, allergies, dietary restrictions, and likes/dislikes. When I received my box, I was amazed! Nothing she sent would go to waste. I loved everything she packed for me! I love unique, one of a kind and local food you can't find anywhere else! 

This is what was in my delicious box:
-Strawberry Preserves from Lambs Farm. The farm helps those with developmental disabilities by employing and giving them vocational and residential services.
-Green River Soda. A lemon-lime caffeine free soda that originates in Chicago and was established in the prohibition era.
-Frontier Soups Illinois Prairie Corn Chowder. Another local favorite.
-(3) The Spice House Spices. I received garlic salt, mulling spice, and a cheese sprinkle.
Last but not least...
-Carols Cookies. A Toffee Crunch Cookie with ooey gooey caramel goodness!

Thank you Jennifer for my box and anyone would be happy to be your receiving Foodie Penpal!

For more more information on Foodie Pen Pals, go to Lindsay's website above!

Can't wait to see what next month brings!