My First La Porte By the Bay Half Marathon

On December 4, 2011 I ran in the La Porte by the Bay Half Marathon on a whim.  Just 6 days before, after learning I would be a bachelorette for the weekend thanks to deer hunting season, I started the search for a local 5K race to have a little fun with.  Somehow I came across this race in my search, and before I knew it I was registered. Crazy, I know.  A half marathon just 4 weeks after a full is asking for pain, right?

It was a blast.

On a sad note, the Friday before the race, I learned my grandmother had passed away.  The visitation was the evening of the race, in New Braunfels.  That gave me plenty of time to run the race, then make the drive from Houston.  Knowing it would be cathartic, I decided to take it easy, but to go ahead and run.

The course was an out and back, taking you about 7.5 miles one way with the other 5.5 miles on the way back. The weather was awful.  65-70F and raining the entire time.  There was the Fred Hartman bridge in the middle.  Going both ways.  There was wind, spray from the traffic on the bridge, runners with no sense of ettiquette, and the entire course smelled like Deep Woods Off.

Did I mention it was a blast?

We started right on Galveston Bay in Sylvan Park and ran through some of La Porte's neighborhoods before turning out into the Houston Ship Channel's industrial area.  It was around mile 2.5 that I got my first laugh. The race turned onto Barbours Cut, which is a major trucking route for the ship channel. If you ever wondered how powerful running can be, try disrupting shipping traffic in one of the busiest ports in the world.  A very cool experience!

Just past the 3 mile marker, a man pushing a baby stroller passed me.  I know I'm slow, but that made me feel a little sick inside. Then we turned the corner and I could see the bridge.  Whoa!  Go on, baby stroller man, I'm saving some energy.

A bit past mile 4, we had one last water station before entering the bridge.  We had the shoulder and one lane blocked off for the race.  The rain was coming down pretty hard at this point, but I was pleased to find this part of the bridge was a very gentle grade. The tough part of the bridge was just after the 5 mile marker, and it was about a quarter of a mile up to the top. This was the last time until the final half mile that anyone passed me.  This was also where the we started seeing the leaders coming back at about 5.5 miles.  My goal was to make it to 6 miles before seeing them, so that was pretty close.

It was nice to get to the top of the bridge, where the La Porte PD had stationed some eye candy for the ladies.  He cheered us on as we crossed the top and started the descent.  On the downhill side, I passed a volunteer who had a cow bell and shouted, "We need more cowbell!"  He laughed and chased me part way down, clanging it as hard as he could.  We passed mile 6 on the way down and exited the bridge around mile 7.

The rain had let up by now, and the temperature was dropping.  We ran down to a boat ramp where someone was playing "Twist and Shout" in an endless loop from a loudspeaker.  That was about the extent of the course entertainment, which was fine with me.  I was high fiving the volunteers as we exited the boat ramp area at mile 8 and headed back for The Bridge.  Knowing what to expect this time, I picked it up on the gentle part of the grade and distracted myself watching pelicans flying under the bridge during the hardest part.  Back past the eye candy and down the other side, I decided to start picking people off.  The first 5 fell with no trouble, but there was one woman in a red shirt who was determined to stay ahead of me.  The afterburners came on as we approached the ramp off the bridge and I never saw her again.

I grabbed a cup of water just before the 11 mile marker and checked my Garmin.  Looking at my elapsed time, I realized I would have a PR unless I walked the rest of the race. Whoop! Halfway to mile 12 there was an underpass we had to go through and I looked up ahead to see if I could see the mile marker before starting the descent.  I did not see the mile marker but I spied...... baby stroller man!!!  Finally, a chance to vindicate my New York Marathoning self!  I passed him close to the top and kept right on going.  A pair of Gallowalking ladies toyed with me until the water station at the 12 mile marker, but I surprised them by not stopping to drink and left them in my wake.  With one mile to go, I started a gentle pick up, laughing again at those poor, confused truckers on Barbours Cut.

The last turn of the race came and I could see the finish line just over a half mile ahead.  It was here that a man wearing those hideous minimalist toe shoes passed me.  Humbled, I picked it up even harder.  A woman in a local running club t-shirt passed me.  Baffled by the thought of being passed by someone wearing cotton (cotton!!!) in a race, I pushed harder yet again.  I was passing people right and left, finally catching the guy who'd told me that "slower runners keep right" just after the start of the race. (You couldn't get any further right without running in the dirt.) I didn't think he'd remember me, after over 2 hours of running, but heard a surprised "Hey!" from behind.

I crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 16 minutes, as the announcer called my name.  Smaller races allow for name recognition, which is a really nice perk after running 13.1 miles.  I got a super cool medal and the satisfaction of knowing I managed a 5 minute PR for the half marathon distance just 4 weeks after a major marathon, even with having to cross that bridge twice.  The post race festivities included pizza, sausage on a stick, live music and beer.  In short, if you ever get the chance to run the La Porte By the Bay Half Marathon, do it!

Unfortunately, I had to beat it back to the car, drive home and pack up for the 3 hour drive to New Braunfels.  Please take my advice: Do not attempt 3 hours of highway driving in heavy rain immediately after a PR half marathon.  I wonder when my back will ever stop aching.

My first NYC Marathon

On Sunday, November 6, 2011, I ran my first NYC Marathon.  Whoa, what an experience!  Over 47,000 people started the race and over 46,000 finished.  There was no half option to bail out to if you got tired.  The streets were crowded, the energy was high, and the weather was perfect.  At 10:40am ET, the last wave of runners passed over the Verazzano Narrows Bridge with me in tow, and just over 5 hours and 12 minutes later, I crossed the finish line.  I crushed San Diego by 14 minutes.

Overall, I finished much stronger and felt better the whole race than last time. I discovered that I probably race more conservatively than I could, because I am so protective of my health.  The crowded course really affected me mentally and physically, as I darted and dodged to keep up my pace.  The support from the crowd was AMAZING (more on that later) and the course was incredible.  The weather was perfect, sunny and cool.  In all, an incredible experience.

The start of the race was on Staten Island, basically a 2 mile long bridge, so one up and one down.  Of course there were guys peeing off the bridge on the downhill side so I was glad to be on the upper deck of the bridge.  It was just us runners here, with the helicopters recording our progress and the NYFD boats spraying water into the air to cheer us along.  Then we turned off the bridge into Brooklyn and the wall of sound began.  People were stacked up 3 to 5 deep, cheering us on, playing music, offering free beer.  It was so motivating, no one stopped to walk until well past the 5K mark.

The 10K (6.2 mile) mark passed quickly and easily for me, right on target pace, smiling and high fiving the crowd.  Clinton Hill (mile 9-ish) was where the hills started getting to me, not slowing me down, just making me notice. Very few places where the streets weren't packed with spectators, especially anywhere we passed under a bridge, where the cheering echoed and reverberated at least twice as loud as in the open. I cruised up to the Pulaski Bridge, and crossed the halfway mark (13.1 miles) into Queens feeling strong, though the crowded course was starting to get to me.

Mile 15, WHOA!  Here comes the Queensboro bridge.  A full mile uphill again.  When we hit the top, a huge group of us smiled, nodded, and cheered in victory.  Complete strangers, we had offered each other encouragement over that tough mile, and we bonded in victory.  At the bottom of the bridge was a line of port-o-cans with no lines, so I stopped for a quick bathroom break. Then it was into the wall of sound entering Manhattan for the first time.  Incredible; like a giant frat party for runners.  I can only imagine how it feels for ball players to hear the crowds cheering them on.

At mile 18, some guy shoved me, hard, and almost knocked me down at the water station.  He found out the hard way that I am no wilting flower as I grabbed the back of his shirt and let him know that's no way to treat a lady.  I don't know whether he finished or not. I did not hurt him, but I think he went to the next porta potty.  After that, I sucked down a Gu and slowed down as I discovered that chocolate mint is not my flavor.  Started feeling better as we moved north into the Bronx and picked it up again. Until.... mile 21..... as we crossed back into Manhattan..... the guy next to me threw up on my foot.

I was so grossed out, I thought I was going to lose it.  Then I remembered I had already come over 21 miles and only 5 to go.  I was NOT going to let this stop me and I knew if I got sick to my stomach I was done.  On went my game face.  I did not look at my shoes and pulled my shirt up over my nose until the water station.  A volunteer tried to stop me, but once she realized what had happened, she helped me.  I grabbed a full jug of water and started dumping it on my feet.  Blisters be dammed, I was finishing this race.  She told me I was one tough mama and I was back off again.

Coming through Harlem around mile 22, a little girl really wanted to high 5 me. I cruised on by because my gloves were kind of icky by this point. Crying, she asked her mother how come the runner wouldn't give her a high 5.  It broke my heart, so I turned around and told her the truth, I'd been using my gloves to wipe my nose and didn't want to give her germs.  So I took off one glove and gave her a high 5 to make her day.  Her mother was very appreciative that I had turned around to make a difference for her little girl!  That gave me all the energy I needed to push down 5th Ave.

For anyone who checked my splits, there was a second bathroom break around mile 23.  The cans were on the wrong side of the tape, and spectators were helping runners to keep from tripping when they crossed over.  New Yorkers are so helpful that way!

Back out on the course, we turned into the park and it was hill city!  Also, being the first day after the time change, the sun was coming down fast and blinded us for the first 1.5 miles in the park.  People were trying to cross the road between runners and looked so confused as to why we weren't trying to avoid them.  Hello!  1) We've been running for 24+ miles already and 2) we can't see you for the sun in our faces.

As we turned onto 59th with less than a mile to go, I was a little loopy.  For some reason, I thought they had turned us out on Central Park West and was worried we would have to cross back over the other runners.  I thought maybe that was who was trying to cross over the course.  I kept thinking I should have had more than one Gu, but I was not about to try to stomach one now.  Then I saw Columbus Circle and the turn back into the park right after the .5 mile marker and all was well.  It was just low blood sugar panic, whew! I started a slow pickup to run past the bleachers at the finish line with spirit and strength.  When I hit the last hill with 200 yards to go, it was all out.  I sprinted to the finish with my hands in the air and a huge smile on my face.

I was bummed that I didn't make my time goal, but would have been more realistic if I'd known about the crowds.  Also if I'd known that I would constantly have to stop and pull something off the bottom of my shoe!  Among other things were a half finished Gu at 10K, a dried apple at mile 17 (that one KILLED my arch), and someone's cast off pace band at mile 20.  It's hard to pull industrial strength tape off the bottom of your shoe at mile 20, trust me. I was hopping all over the place like a jumping bean.  The course tested me, what with the crowded streets, the hills, being shoved and puked on, but I won in the end.  I finished.

After the death march to the bag check trucks the race organizers assure you is good for you, I hobbled out of the park at 77th, met DH at 66th, then walked slowly down to the 59th St subway station where I crammed us into a completely packed #1 train for the ride back to the hotel.  I pressed my fingertips hard against the roof of the train for balance since there wasn't even room to hold on to anything. So many congratulations for those of us wrapped up in those orange and blue space blankets, clutching our finisher food bags and proudly wearing our medals. All holding on to whatever we could for balance as the train rocked its way back downtown. What an amazing experience!  New York, you rock!

Resting and Carbing and Aches, Oh My!

Today is Thursday, June 2, 2011.  I am delirious with taper madness, that ghastly beast that haunts marathoners the last 3 weeks before the race.  My sources (Runner's World and Coach Ally) tell me I may experience the following symptoms:

1. A sudden, irrational urge to cram in extra miles.  Check.  These low mileage weeks are playing with my head.  My willpower is stretched to the max to restrain myself from long runs.  This is a very strange feeling - to think that 5 miles is "a short run."

2. Phantom Pains: You're walking across the room, and you feel a shooting pain in your knee.  And you start to think, "How the heck are am I going to run 26.2 miles when I can't even walk across the  room???" Check again.  My achilles tendons feel funny and the arches of my feet are alternating a strange ache I've never felt before. I woke up on Saturday with an ominous bruise on my left inner ankle.  Every joint in my body cracks and pops occasionally.  How do they predict these things???

3. Panic.  What did you get yourself into?  You guessed it - Check!  This one is starting to fade now, but over the weekend it hit something fierce.  Now I'm alternating between "WTF????" and "Can't wait to get started!"

4. Heavy Legs.  Tissue repair, along with the increase in Carbs and water can give you a very normal but disturbing feeling a week before your race.  Check again.  Another very strange feeling.

5. Weight gain.  As you eat more carbs, it helps to store more glycogen and water... which will help you on race day!  So don't weigh yourself and wear comfortable clothes.  Ahem, I am not breaking out the elastic-waist pants, but yes, check again.  I cheated this morning and stepped on the scale.  I was shocked, SHOCKED!!! to have gained 2 pounds.  (Just kidding - I totally expected and hoped for that.)

So I guess I'm doing this thing right.  Somewhere along the way, I turned myself into a runner and it feels good.  San Diego - look out!  I'll be there soon!!

Ferocious Friday - The Last Friday Long Run

It's taper time, folks, and today was the last sort-of longish run before the marathon next Sunday.  Two hours per our team training calendar.  Being the last quality day, you'd think I'd want everything just perfect, but nooooooo....... let me be the poster girl for doing everything ass-backward.  I survived and am in fine health, but let me break down what not to do (unless you want to carry a bucket when you run).

Rule 1: Carb-load the day before long runs; your body needs the stored energy to break down after about an hour's exercise.  What Mona did: Yogurt and fruit for breakfast the day before, followed by Mexican for lunch (we'll get to that in a minute) and a grilled chicken salad at the airport for dinner.  In my defense, it was a travel day, but still I could have tried to find a couple of slices of bread or some pasta somewhere.

Rule 2: Don't try any new foods the day before or the day of the long run.  What Mona did: Tried a delectable new Mexican specialty called Machaca, along with a bunch of spicy salsa.  I knew before I finished lunch I was going to regret that, but damn it was good!!  If you ever get to Phoenix, go to Carolina's and order the Machaca mix burrito.  Holy yum, Batman!

Rule 3: Eat something easily digestible before your run, including simple carbohydrates.  What Mona did: Had my usual breakfast shake (good) only without the banana (bad - there were none in the house).  The shake wasn't bad in itself, but the lack of the banana left me without a good part of my fuel.

Rule 4: Get out early, before the heat.  What Mona did: Gave herself some extra sleep in time since she didn't get home until almost midnight the night before.  It was almost 80 degrees and about 1000% humidity when I started and closer to 90 and 1,000,000% humidity by the time I finished.  Blech.

As you can imagine, my run this morning was not the most comfortable experience of my life, but I felt like a ferocious beast for gutting it out and finishing the whole thing.  The second mile was the second hardest part of the run, getting my body woken up and adjusted to the 2 hour time difference.  I really felt the stress of travel in my neck and shoulders as well.  Somewhere after about 1.3 miles breakfast was arguing with me and I was wishing for that bucked Tony Horton used to talk about in P90X.  I fought it off and started feeling pretty good going into mile 3.  Cruising along for the next 3 miles or so, a breeze picked up and the sun went behind the clouds.  I gave thanks and carried on, sucking down Cytomax and water as needed.

During mile 7, a started to feel a rumble way down deep in my tummy.  I'm sure Mexican food lovers know the feeling I'm talking about.  I heard Coach telling us in practice, "Don't poop your pants!"  So I dashed home as fast as I could.  With that out of the way, I headed back out to finish up.  This is where I ran into a quandary.  In the marathon, that time would count.  So should I could it toward my 2 hours?  A quick clock check and the overheated sauna that greeted me as I walked back out the door both said yes, and I didn't argue.

I picked it back up right at mile 7 and made it to 8 right as the sun came out full force.  Talk about brutal.  I brought the pace down and seriously got into the Cytomax.  Now I was feeling the effects of the dry desert air, the airplane air, and the lack of proper fueling.  I sucked down a Gu.  Why didn't I think of that before?  That helped.  The sun hid behind another cloud and on I went.

Mile 9.  The Wall.  Thanks to the Cytomax, it wasn't all psychedelic like Pink Floyd's wall, but it hurt all the same.  Both sides suddenly cramped.  I was looking around for that bucket again.  Side stitches suck.  I walked about a half mile trying to work it out.  Coach's voice came into my head again.  "Listen to your body!"  "Don't be a hero."  I looked at the time again, getting later.  The sun came back out and started baking the sidewalk.  Another little voice reminded me that I had nice cold cottage cheese and blackberries at the house.  Then Coach popped into my head to say, "That last part of your workout when it gets really hard, think about that as the last 6 miles of your marathon.  Push through it!"  I turned the corner and jogged about another half mile to the house.

Almost exactly 2 hours.  Pretty much a perfect storm of bad conditions.  But I made it.  Full on Beast Mode.

Until next time, start slow, finish without a bucket.  :)

The Osyter Urban Adventure Race: Get You Some

Race Report!!!  I love being able to share race reports, because it means I finished a race!  Yesterday, some old high school friends (four guys and me as the solo female on the team) and I who reconnected on Facebook last year met up in Austin to do this crazy adventure race.  Basically, it's a hub and spoke thing, where you get a clue, have to travel on foot or bike to a location, participate in a challenge, and go back to the hub for the next challenge.  Three of us did this race the last time it was held in Austin, so we knew what to expect; the other two, not so much.  I don't think they were expecting for three of us to be tied together while mashing an avocado into guacamole, but we did and they took it in stride.  It was a blast!

Leg 1: We biked to a park, where one team member had to pull themselves up a hill on a wet tarp, and then slide back down the hill.  Our team did it with style!  Then we had to solve a puzzle to figure out where to go next, which was to a restaurant where we mashed up the guacamole.  This was gut check time.  Three out of the five of us are flatlanders.  The hills in this leg were kind of nasty, but we had a local on the team who took us into account and said he kept us away from the really bad ones.  We made it to the restaurant, made the guac, and took it back to the hub to prove we'd completed the challenge. 

Leg 2: I had to sit this one out.  My long run from Friday came back to haunt me just after we started.  That swimmy feeling came over me and I thought I was going to pass out.  The guys went on without me, and came back cussing me.  They had to do a bootcamp and one of the exercises was carrying someone.  Guess it's good to have one little chick on the team!  Then they did a slackline course and came back.

Leg 3:  I fueled up the half hour the guys were gone and was back in it.  This was the LONG leg.  We cycled about 6 miles one way to an indoor rock climbing facility.  There were a couple of climbing challenges, one where a team member was blindfolded and the other where a team member had to swing from rings to get from one side of the room to the other.  Then it was back to the bikes and ride 6 miles back to the hub.  The flatlanders fell behind the leaders on the way back and they had to wait for us at the gate before we could all go in together.  The hills got us again, but we made it back.

Leg 4:  Back to the bikes, we rode over to a park where we thought we were going to do something pretty silly.  Two team members were to carry a bucket of water to the top of the tower, where a third team member would stand at the base, blindfolded.  The first two team members were to fill a cup held by the third team member.  Local safety officials didn't show up for this leg, so we ran an obstacle course instead.  Then we were directed to go to another part of the park, where one team member ran to the other side of the lake while another did a stand up paddle across.  They switched positions and did the reverse coming back.  Meanwhile the rest of us had to flip a 1/4 full water bottle over a table until it landed on it's bottom, upright.  And back to base camp!

Leg 5:  For the final leg of the race, we ran to a nearby park..... well, some of the team was starting to cramp up and limp by now, so it wasn't all running, but we made it..... where we did Parkour.  This one was hard.  We had to go up a staircase, backward and upsidedown, to a deck.  Think feet first, like a crab.  Tougher than it sounds!  Then one team member had to run around the deck railing, assisted by another team member.  Then, we all had to go over the railing and traverse the cross braces that supported the deck.  Again, hard, and I was seriously worrying about splinters getting into delicate places.  Once that was done, we went up a terraced seating area, using only the terrace walls.  Finding your balance on this one so late in the race was hard.  The we ran (walked/limped/shuffled) back to home base and we were done!

Team Brazoswood 88 ate the Oyster in less than 5 hours, covering over 30 miles and completing 7 challenges.  I can still feel the burn in my quads and glutes, but put my 5 miles in this morning to start a proper taper for the marathon.  Just three weeks to go!

I think I killed my iPod

The title is true.  My iPod bravely entertained me through 18 miles this morning, whereupon it decided to curl up and die.  It will not respond to anything at the moment.  Bummer.  It is too young to die.  It didn't even reach it's fourth birthday, poor baby.  Oh wait, as I type this a message just popped up that Apple is "Preparing iPod for recovery."  iTunes to the rescue!!

In all seriousness, I ran 18.04 miles this morning.  That's a full 2 miles longer than I've ever run before.  My strategy was to run it in thirds, with hydration every 3 miles and fuel at the 6 and 12 mile marks.  I knew I had the first two thirds in me and was comfortable figuring out the last 6 miles based on how I felt.  The way the first third worked out, I ran 6.2 to get me back to the house for a quick bathroom break.  Swallowed my Gu, topped off the water, and was back at it.  As soon as I was back outside, I took off again and made it to 12 miles.  Swallowed my Gu Rocktane, stretched, and walked a bit.

Now, when I say I walked, I wasn't dilly-dallying around.  I was still passing people, just not other runners.  As I walked, I decided on my final 1/3 strategy.  Walk a half mile and run a mile 3 times, then see what I had left in me for the final mile.  Well, guess what?  I did that 4 times and just about had a victory party in the driveway.

Why the celebration?  It's hot in Houston already.  Heat kills a good long run every time.  It's uncomfortable.  You start worrying about dehydration.  The streets start to stink.  Just not fun.  So around mile 14, I started thinking I might bow out early, between 16 and 17 miles.  I tried to tell myself to get out of my head and focus on breathing, form, the music from my (still dead at the moment) iPod.  Focus about ANYTHING, but not on stopping.  This is why long distance runners will tell you it is as much mental as it is physical.

To backtrack for a minute, my run started this morning by being interrupted before I'd made it a quarter mile.  A neighbor down the street stopped me to ask how far I was going.  I patiently stopped the timer, popped out the headphones and replied, 18 miles and that I was training for a marathon.  Turns out, he runs a marathon every year or two.  So we chatted for a few minutes about training techniques, long run distances, hills vs. flat courses, and then he told me to take off before it started getting hot. 

Flash forward to mile 16.  I'd distracted myself as long as I could.  Even though I've run 2 miles I don't know how many times in training, it just seemed like a little too long for how warm it was getting.  It was over 80 degrees, the sun was bright, and there was very little wind or shade to be found.  I was mentally prepared to run up to the park, walk the quarter mile loop around it once, and head home for 17 miles and change in total. Guess who just happened to drive by right then, honk, and wave?  The neighbor.  I smiled, waved back, and finished all 18 miles.  Sometimes life hands you just the right pick-me-up exactly when you need it.

Now I begin the taper process, where I start gradually reducing the miles each week until the race.  So guess what I'm going on Sunday?  The Oyster Race in Austin.  http://austinoyster.com/ That's about 20-30 miles of biking and running, while solving riddles and completing challenges like kayaking, rock climbing, and throwing fish at each other.  It's going to be a blast.... and my next blog update!

Happy Friday!!  Start slow, finish strong.

LSD is Good for Runners

I'll bet you did a little double take when you saw that post title.  It's been fun learning the runner's jargon these last few months, so I wanted you all to share in the fun.  LSD for runners, well I was going to say it's not mind altering but it is (we'll get to that in a minute).  When a runner says it was their LSD day, that's their day to run long, slow distance.  So, please don't report me to the authorities or anything drastic when I say today was my day for LSD.  And it felt SO good!

If you recall from last Fridays LSD report, I had a hard time of it, and I've been taking a lot of time to listen to my coaches as well as doing some research of my own.  I discovered my problem and have a fablous running report today - I feel great after 16 miles on my feet!  My problem was simple pride - I was going too fast.  What I'd been trying to maintain on my long runs was my typical easy run pace, and that's just way too fast for really long distances.  So I took the advice of someone who told me that to be on pace for a long run, I should start out uncomfortably slow.

Being a natural jackrabbit (my previous serious running experience was as a sprinter), it took me a long time to figure out how to pace myself just finish a normal distance run.  To run even slower than that took every ounce of my willpower, but I was determined to have a great Friday this week.  I went out the door an hour earlier than usual to allow for the extra time, and got to watch the sun come up.  Nice way to start the day.

Starting my run, I decided to target splitting the run into five 5Ks with a short walk/water break in between each one.  That worked well for the first three, and was going quite well in the fourth one when I was suddenly overcome with hunger.  I'd had a Gu at 6.4 miles and hadn't expected to need more fuel just yet.  Actually, to tell the truth, I did not think it was possible for the human body to even feel hungry after running 12 miles.  I always thought fueling was just something you did because you knew you needed to do it whether you wanted to or not.  Hearing my coach in my head ("Listen to your body!") I stopped and pulled out a second Gel.  It was the one I hadn't wanted to try last week because I've never tried them before.  Well, I ate it.  It was nasty.  I officially do not like the Powerade gels.  It didn't do anything bad to me; I just didn't care for the flavor or the texture.

From that point on it was run a mile, walk a quarter until 14.75 miles, when it was run a half, walk a quarter, run a half.  Yes, I was a little wobbly, but I was not totally wiped out.  The muscles I'd been having trouble with in my hips and glutes felt better than they had since before last Friday's long run.  Not only did I not crash, I went straight into the house, got my post run snack and a cup of coffee, and went upstairs in my wet running gear to log into my computer and get to work.  Wow!  I figured it out!

Okay, that go a little long, but I am so excited to have accomplished this milestone, I just had to share the experience.  I was really dreading this run all week after last week's pain and misery, but I did the homework I needed to do and made it what I really wanted this time around.  Go me!

Now, back to this thing about LSD and it being mind altering.  Distance running is as much a mental sport as it is anything else.  It's about commitment, thinking about how far you've come and how far you have left to go.  It's about focus, thinking about your cadence, stride, and pace, while listening to the feedback your poor, tired body is giving you.  It's about choosing to keep moving forward and doing more.  As crazy as it seems, your mental self-talk is critical after you get to a certain point, and you have to have your own personal pep rally in your head.  Because ultimately it's about encouraging and allowing yourself to achieve your goals.

Until next time: Start slow, Finish strong!

Pizza, Pasta, and Pinot

Fueling is a very important part of the marathon training process.  While every runner has to find their own balance, which takes a lot of trial and error and listening to your body, one thing that is essential is carbohydrates.  This has been a huge mental hurdle for me since I spent the last year or so learning to eat lower carb to maintain a major weight loss.  But, after a couple of crushingly painful long runs, I've learned my lesson and embraced my favorite carb-y foods.

Some of you may know that one of my hobbies is cooking.  I love to cook, whether it's a quick weeknight dinner or a marathon holiday meal.  Just being in the kitchen makes me happy, especially when it is full of warmth and yummy aromas.  So today, instead of talking up the wonderful 9 mile run I did this morning in the blessedly cool weather, I'm going to share a couple of recipes.

First up, pizza.  This is no ordinary pizza, as it's influence comes from a Runner's World cookbook, and it is delicious!  You can use refrigerated pizza dough, or you can make the best whole wheat pizza dough I've ever come across:

Ingredients

1 teaspoon sugar

1 1/2 cups water - (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the top, and let stand for about 10 minutes, until foamy.

2. Stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture, then mix in the whole wheat flour and 1 cup of the all-purpose flour until dough starts to come together. Tip dough out onto a surface floured with the remaining all-purpose flour, and knead until all of the flour has been absorbed, and the ball of dough becomes smooth, about 10 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface.

Cover loosely with a towel, and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

3. When the dough is doubled, tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 2 pieces for 2 thin crust, or leave whole to make one thick crust. Form into a tight ball. Let rise for about 45 minutes, until doubled.

4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roll a ball of dough with a rolling pin until it will not stretch any further. Then, drape it over both of your fists, and gently pull the edges outward, while rotating the crust. When the circle has reached the desired size, place on a well oiled pizza pan. Top pizza with your favorite toppings, such as sauce, cheese, meats, or vegetables.

5. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes (depending on thickness) in the preheated oven, until the crust is crisp and golden at the edges, and cheese is melted on the top.

So great, now you have a crust worth writing home about.  What goes on top?  Well, I top mine with a little olive oil and pressed garlic.  None of the red sauce on this version.  You can have it if you must, but try one without it.  You can thank me later.  Then I like a little spinach or arugula, just about 1-1/2 cups, followed by a little Italian turkey sausage.  Follow that with a cheese trio - I like smoked Provolone, reduced fat Feta, and part-skim Mozzarella.  Finally, very thinly sliced red onion; it turns sweet as it cooks and adds a nice texture.  Bake as described above and enjoy.

Next up: Pasta.  I could share so many pasta recipes, but I'm going to pick my favorite simple weeknight recipe for one.  Just double, triple, quadruple, etc. for however many mouths you have to feed.
 

5 oz  chicken breast

1 egg white - whisked

1/4 cup bread crumbs - whole wheat

1/2 cup canned tomato sauce - no salt added

2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese

1/3 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

2 oz whole wheat linguine

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Dip chicken breast in egg white and dredge in bread crumbs.  Place in baking dish and bake the chicken for about 15 minutes, until almost cooked through.  Pull chicken out of the oven and top with tomato sauce and cheeses.  Bake again for 15 minutes, until cheese melts and chicken is cooked through.  Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Serve chicken and sauce over hot pasta.

Okay now, so what about that last part of the post title?  Well, that's the ideal partner to go with either of these dishes - Pinot Noir.  I have a few favorites, and recently I found a new one at the Wine Fest held at Brenners a few weeks ago.  Benzinger Family Vineyards Pinot Noir is  absolutely delicious, with just the right amount of body and structure to hold up to Italian style foods.  If you can't find that one, no worries, just ask for recommendations in the wine department wherever you happen to shop.  Tutto bene!

Until next time..... Start slow, finish strong.

14.5 and I'm still alive

This morning was brutal.  It was long run day and I had a goal of 14.5 miles in 2.5 hours.  Pretty aggressive considering my half marathon was 2 hours and 21 minutes at 13.1 miles.  Long story short, I started off slow, but didn't exactly finish strong.  I did finish, but it hurt..... a lot.

Whenever I have a sucky long run I learn things.  This morning was no exception.  The first thing I learned this morning was, no more long run days the day after tempo training.  I ran three 10 minute splits yesterday with an average pace of 9:07/mile.  That's fast for me and I have the achy piriformis muscle today to prove it (that's deep butt tissue pain for the uninitiated - way down in there where your sits bones are).  The second thing I learned is that it's a whole lot different running a half marathon at the end of a nice, low mileage taper week.  I already had 15 miles running and 9 miles on the bike going into the run this morning.  Ouch! 


The third thing was a reminder about fuel.  I kept my carbs up this week, but dropped my calories.  Bad idea.  While you can't bank time in a race, you can bank calories for the long run at the end of the week.  Ugh!  Back to more work on the meal planning.  I'll get the hang of this eventually.  And while we're on the topic of fuel, the fourth thing I learned was that when you feel like falling out, it's probably best to go ahead and eat that second energy gel, even if you've never tried that brand before.  Either that or just remember to look at what you're stuffing in your fuel belt and only take things you're familiar with.  I am sure I would have finished a lot stronger with that extra 100 calories and electrolytes to boost my system.

On to number 5 (really number 4 since I discovered this before the gel thing, but wanted to group the fuel things together..... anywhooo.....), I need to update my running playlist.  The run started well with a pump you up Kanye West tune, and then it was Lady Gaga until the 8.5 mile marker.  Really, iPod?  I have over 200 songs in that list and you have to "randomize" all the Gaga together???  That just plain mean.

The sixth thing I discovered is just how important wearing your Road ID is.  I forgot mine this morning and didn't realize it until the 12 mile mark.  I knew at that point if I headed to the house to get it I would not finish, but I was much more conservative after realizing I had no ID on me.  I am going to get a basket to keep all my long run stuff in to make sure I don't forget anything critical again.  That was just plain stupid on my part and could have been disastrous.

The seventh thing I learned is that the most fabulous post-long-run snack is 1% cottage cheese with strawberries on top.  Oh, heaven in a bowl!  Last night I was smart enough to take a cup or so of the cottage cheese and scoop it into a bowl, dump some frozen strawberries on top, sprinkle with chopped walnuts, and drizzle with agave nectar.  I got salt, sugars, protein, and a lil fat, along with welcome moisture and coldness.  Mmmmm, mmmmm.  I will definitely do that again.

So here I sit, on the ferry to Bolivar, with a fire in my glutes and an achy right hip flexor.  The run was not 2.5 hours, but 2.75 hours long, if you're still interested at this point, so my feet are enjoying a break.  I'm a little tired, but I got to have Amy's Organic Mac n'Cheese with Tabasco and Old Bay on top for lunch, and Morningstar Farms mini-corndogs with Zatarain's creole mustard for a snack.  Yummolicious! There is no running on my calendar for the weekend and I'm happy about that.  The truth is, I miss my weights.

Mostly, I'm thinking about the run.  That was only 14.5 miles and it was a killer.  How am I going to finish 26.2?  How do I fuel better, hydrate more efficiently, and stay on my feet even longer? Oh, I'll get there, and hopefully you'll stick with me to the finish line.  Only 5 weeks to go until San Diego!

And then, there's New York......

Start slow, finish strong.

13.1 - Oh, the burn!

Starting your first half marathon at 76 degrees is a little crazy.  Finishing at 83 degrees is closer to insane.  Thankfully, I believe in the old sticks and stones adage that words can't hurt me, so I am pleased to tell everyone that I did the above referenced 13.1 long, hot miles in 2 hours and 21 minutes.  (I'll spare you the seconds, but I know how many there were!)

All the running calculators told me, that based on my 10K time, overall experience, and the higher temps, I should expect to finish with an average pace per mile of 11:33.  It shouldn't surprise anyone that I blew that out of the water, finishing with an average pace of 10:47/mile.  Although the day was hot, the sun stayed mostly behind the clouds.  There was a stiff headwind most of the first half, but being an out and back course, that meant a stiff tailwind most of the second half.  Nice.

Being an inaugural race, there were a few hiccups.  I am not going to bash the race organizers for that.  Instead, I'd like to focus on the positive things they did.

1. They kept the race small.  352 participants was a nice small group for a first half marathon.
2. They did not run out of water.  Gatorade and cups, yes, but I didn't mind drinking out of the water cooler at the next to last water stop.  (Then again, I slide down muddy hills for fun from time to time, so I'm cool like that.)
3.  They had plenty of volunteers to: cheer me along at the water stops, hand me a much needed bottle of water at the finish line, put my medal over my head, and even take my timing chip off my ankle for me.
4.  They had the Muscle Milk people at the finish line.  Yum!
5.  Cute shirts.  Tech fabric.  Well done!

So, why the post title?  What's up with the burn?  First, the temperatures.  It was a hot race, especially at the finish.  You can see how red I am in my finish line photo at the top of this post.  I sweated out so much salt all over my face and neck, my husband thought I'd had a bad experience with suntan lotion somewhere along the race route.  Pfew!  Heat is a killer!

Second, as my Facebook friends previewed yesterday, I learned a new concept in running: chafing.  All this time I've been training with no chafing whatsoever.  I'd begun to think I was the exception that proved the old runner's rule, "It's not if you chafe, but when."  The half marathon proved me wrong.  When the gun went off I was feeling super confident in my Lululemon running skirt and cami.  Even after the race, I was feeling pretty smart and fashionable, if salty.  Only later, when I stepped into the shower and the water set my chest on fire, did I realize I'd fallen victim to the dreaded chafing.  Apparently the top seam of my Lulu cami did not agree with those last 2 miles it never saw in training.  Aquaphor is my new best friend.

Third, the calorie burn!!!  I burned almost as many calories in less than 2.5 hours on Saturday as I did in over 6 hours of Oyster Racing last fall.  I got to have Goode Company BBQ for lunch and eat my side of potato salad with NO guilt.  Yay!

I had thought I might have a fourth burn for you, sore muscles, but apparently the training plan I was on worked the way it was supposed to.  No aches, no pains, just a little bit of a scratchy throat.  Kudos to Cathe Friedrich, Hal Higdon, and Team in Training!!

Many thanks to everyone who has followed my journey so far.  I'm "halfway" there now, with 5.5 weeks to go until San Diego.  Now that I've seen the half, the full marathon is a little more intimidating, so keep those positive thoughts coming.  I need 'em!

Until next time - Start Slow, Finish Strong!

Random Thoughts on Running

Now that the miles are adding up, running is turning into a far more mental sport than I ever imagined.  Short, easy runs fly by, while longer runs take concentration and focus to finish.  The iPod isn't always the ticket to distract me from what I'm up against, so I've started playing some fun little mental games with myself.

At first, it was simple things, like counting the number of green cars that go by.  (Those of you who knew me in my crazy 20s remember my favorite little green Beretta.)  Then, it was how many people in the different carpool lines had their dogs in the car with them.  Late last week, I counted the number of different types of birds I saw.  I even used cadence work to focus myself, which is an all time favorite as I count the number of times my right foot hits the ground in 30 seconds (it should be about 45 times).

So today, I was tired of counting.  Thinking I'd be a little more creative, I decided to "eat up the miles".  I was Ms. PacMan.  The whole wocka-wocka soundtrack was playing in my head as I replaced the dots in the original game with the lines in the sidewalk.  Whenever I had to cross an intersection with no lines in the sidewalk, it was like when I got a power pill and I raced across the street in invincible mode!  Silly, I know, and I didn't really do it for the whole 6 miles, but whenever I needed a little pick-me-up, it worked.

It made me laugh a little on the way home tonight as I realized, running wildly through intersections in my neighborhood is probably more like Frogger than Ms. PacMan.  We have terribly aggressive drivers who, unfortunately, are hostile toward joggers.  I've come very close to being hit more times than I care to count.  And don't get me started on blocking the crosswalk (rude, rude, RUDE!).  Oh, let's not forget splashing runners when you practically have to drive up onto the curb to hit that puddle.  Ugh.  Whenever bad driving happens, I just ignore it, shake my head, and move on.  No use adding fuel to that fire.

Will I be Ms. PacMan again on Friday for my long run?  I don't know, but you'll be sure to hear about it.  The last long run before the half is on deck at 12 miles and I am gearing up for the carb loading.

Start Slow, Finish Strong.

2 Weeks Until the Half!

In just 2 weeks, I will lace up and run in my first half marathon.  The wonderful people with Run Over Cancer are hosting their inaugural half marathon in good old Cypress, Texas and I will be there bright and early to run.  Run Over Cancer raises money for cancer patients in need of assistance during their treatment.  They are just starting out and are ready for the challenge of fundraising for their cause.

This week's long run was yesterday morning.  I went out just about the same time the gun will go off for the half marathon.  Training for race day conditions is important; to help me know what I'm getting into.  My plan of attack was to have a water and Gu break at the 5.5 mile mark, a pit stop at 7.5 miles, and then finish out the rest of 11 miles.  I finished, at 2:05, and promptly needed to lie down.  Wondering why the bonk after last week's 10.5 miler was such a pleasant experience, I went back over my meal plan for the week.  Whoops!  I forgot the carbs again.  Now that I know what happens when you try to combine low carb with running, that will be taken care of.  Oatmeal, bread, pasta - what a wonderful world has opened up to me again!!

Also this week, I logged a total of 35 miles.  Okay, so 3 of those miles were logged taking the dog for a brisk walk, but they still count, right?  That tops my previous record week by 7 miles.  Wow!

In other news, I am appreciating running with a fuel belt.  No more hiding a bottle of water and some Shot Bloks in the bushes.  Now I carry it right with me.  I have discovered that, while I like running in tanks or singlets, I have strange tan lines from my iPod and BodyBugg.  My running shoes have 230 miles on them so far this year, and I think it's about time to get a new pair and start breaking them in.  And speaking of Shot Bloks, I have discovered that while I prefer them to Gu, it is just easier to suck down a Gu than to chew up a Blok.  Hmmm, the things you never thought you'd know...

For those of you who have been following me as I train for my full marathon, I am still fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  The Hippity ROC half marathon just happens to be at the perfect point in my training for me to run the half marathon distance.  Since it's always good practice to be in a few races, I took advantage of the schedule to lace up and raise even more money to fight cancer.  In case you hadn't guessed, I really, really, really don't like cancer.

It is such a terrible disease, and it brings pain, misery and fear to thousands of people every year.  While lots of people win the fight, not everyone can.  By raising money for both research and patient support, we can help those in need right now as well as supporting new treatment methods for the patients of the future.  Neither of those is more important than the other.

I've gotten a few questions, so I did want to clear one thing up about my fundraising.  Team in Training is not paying for my trip to San Diego.  I am making my own travel and hotel arrangements and paying for that personally.  So every dollar you donate to my fundraising efforts goes to LLS, not to me.

Thanks to everyone for your support as I race to fight cancer.  Whether you've contributed to my fundraising, or sent a prayer or positive energy my way, I appreciate it all!!

What Makes a Warrior?

Jumping over fire.  Add that to the list of things I might have said, "Why in the world would you want to do that?" to not so long ago.  

And while we're at it, let's add in sliding down a mud hill.

But last year, a group of old buddys challenged me to race in the Warrior Dash.  Thanks to my competitive streak, I couldn't very well say I was afraid, so into Warrior Dash Austin I went.  And I looked absolutely terrified in every.single.picture.  But at the end of the day, it was just good old play in the mud puddles kiddy fun.  So I signed up again when I found out they were bringing the Dash to Conroe and the same group of Brazoswood Buccaneers ran again.  Plus one - my husband joined us this time.

I got to thinking about Warrior Dash on my run this morning.  The first race, I over-thought it and psyched myself out.  Standing at the starting line I was really worried that the obstacles would be too hard and I would get the dreaded DNC (did not complete).  The day was hotter than the forecast had said it would be and I don't like to race in the heat.  There was the mud to get through and, having just had Lasik, I was worried about getting something in my eye. So at the end of that day, I was glad to have finished, but the fun factor was overshadowed by fear.

This time was different.  Knowing pretty much what I was getting into, I was relaxed and ready to run.  None of us really enjoyed standing at the starting line, thanks to the jerk in the airboat who kept blowing water and shoreline debris at the crowd, but we were all ready to race.  The obstacles were just as challenging, but they were more of a puzzle to figure out than something that I might not be able to do.  I teamed up with my fellow competitors to help each other out when we needed it and finished with a big fat smile on my face.

So, continuing in the line of my last blog update, it's all in your attitude.  Instead of thinking, "Wow, that looks hard.  I'm not sure I can do that," I think "Wow, what a challenge.  What's the first step?" Or as my fitness guru Cathe Friedrich says "Embrace the Challenge". You can do anything, one step at a time.

Start slow, finish strong!

Training update: Attitude is everything

35 miles.   That's what I logged in total last week, between my solo runs, Team in Training, and walking with the family. Made my eyes pop out when I uploaded my data from my Garmin Forerunner this morning.  I had to double and then triple and even quadruple check the thing, but it is correct.  35 miles in one week.

So this is the week I buy a fuel belt.  You know, those things you see people wearing around their waists with water bottles in them.  Yes, I am going to be one of *those* people.  Those people with Gu and Shot Blocks in special little pouches in their shorts, water in one bottle and sports drink in another, wearing a GPS watch and a Road ID, running along as the cars whiz by.  I never thought I would be one of those people, but my Coach has convinced me the water and the fuel are just too important in keeping me healthy and comfortable on the run.

One thing I am determined not to be is one of those runners who always looks unhappy, angry, or in pain.  As I mentioned in my last blog update, sometimes running does hurt, and that's okay.... sometimes.  But I've noticed as I run, as with life in general, if I put a smile on my face things get better. Just attempting a smile makes my feet lighter and my head clearer.  My lungs stop burning, my heart rate goes down, and my pace picks up.  I just feel better all around when I choose to be positive.

So all you angry runners - look out!  I am going to smile at you, and maybe, without thinking about it, you will smile back.  Attitude is everything!

Breaking the 10 mile mark - Gut Check Time

So today was long run day.  My half marathon is only a few short weeks away and I took the last two weeks off from long runs.  And my, oh my, my body let me know it today.  The goal was 10 miles.  Since my last long run was 9, I was thinking, "no big deal."

At first, I was right.  I sailed past the 3 mile mark comfortably, and settled into an easy run pace to the 5 mile mark.  Then the sun came out from behind the clouds and the heat kicked in. Mile 6 was okay, but I was starting to get an uncomfortable feeling in my gut.  A little queasy and rumbly. I decided to keep on pushing and at least make it to mile 7 before taking a Gu break.

And I made it.... to mile 8, before I started to feel like my feet were completely disconnected from my body.  I took it down to a walk, pulled a Gu out of the fuel belt, and sucked it down.  Much better.  I walked to 8.25 miles and picked it back up to an easy run pace again.  My stomach was still not happy, but I was determined to finish.  I pushed on, going over both of the "hills" in the neighborhood (little humps in the road going over the golf cart path) and cursing the sun.  At 8.75, there was no more pretending; I needed to get home.  Thankfully that was just a quarter mile away.

I ran in and did what needed to be done, then went right back out the door for that last mile.  Uh uh.  Not happening.  I immediately cramped up and BAD.  Seriously, I was hoping a rib would pop out or something to stop the pain.  I walked, massaging my side and hoping it would go away.  It didn't.  I ended up walking .75 miles and then circling the court a few times until 10.01 showed up on the GPS watch.  I hit the stop button and went inside.

I'm not going to whine and feel defeated, though.  I made 10 miles in under 2 hours, through the pain, through the nausea, through the heat, through it all.  10 miles did not beat me, despite it's best efforts.  I put one foot in front of the other and I beat 10 miles.  Next week, 10.5 miles - BRING IT!

Training Update - Post-Vacation "Hangover"

Well, not exactly a hangover, but that same sluggish feeling that comes from too much good food and not enough serious training.  It was a great vacation, really, as a trip to our nation's capital always is.  I started the trip with 2 days getting my continuing education credits for my data privacy certification, and then  spent 3 more days seeing the sights with my husband.  It was a star-studded trip: we stood in line at the hostess stand behind Jerry Jones on Friday night at Old Ebbits, saw the presidential motorcade on Saturday, and saw several politicians over the weekend.  We visited Arlington National Cemetery, took a walking tour of Georgetown, drove over to Annapolis and took another walking tour of the naval academy and the city itself, and spent a long afternoon in the National Museum of Crime and Punishment after visiting Ford's Theatre.  In short, we walked a LOT.  But we did not run and there was no time with the iron on the itinerary.

So, I jumped right back into it the day after we got home.  Wednesday night was track practice with Team in Training and I pushed hard.  We did walk/run intervals and my running pace was around 8:45/mile.  That's fast for me and I felt it the next day.  Of course, I still have that last month of STS to finish, and that was on the agenda Thursday-Saturday.  Yes, I did the first week of Mesocycle 3 in three days.  I also ran on Friday morning and went back to Memorial Park yesterday morning for an hour's run with my Team in Training.

Sunday is a day of rest, right?  Apparently not for me.  We got up early, hooked up with some friends for breakfast, and headed to Conroe for the Warrior Dash.  For the uninitiated, that's 3.2 miles of trail running with 10 crazy obstacles thrown in.  We ran through a wind tunnel, slid down a muddy hill, climbed cargo nets, and hurdled logs in waist deep water before leaping over the Warrior Roast and crawling through mud (under barbed wire) to the finish line.  It was AWESOME!!

I am now officially cured of the post-vacation hangover. Next week will be the start of logging serious miles again as I am just 5 weeks away from the half marathon.  We'll be back to "Start slow, finish strong," soon but for this week, Start fast, finish muddy!

How about lunch?

I've been thinking a lot about this fundraising recently.  That minimum amount is really hanging over my head and it's messing with my mental state on my runs.  I know there are at least a few more people who can contribute a little to help save and enrich lives.  So, how about this?  Let's throw the notion that you have to give a lot to make a difference right out of the window.

Every dollar counts in the fight against leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins lymphoma and myeloma.  The funds go not only to research into cures, but also directly to patients to help them with expenses.  This got me to thinking on this morning's run.  I was thinking about all those hidden expenses when someone is hospitalized or in treatment.  Parking alone can cost $10-$20 per day.  (I remember this sticker shock all too clearly when a family member was hospitalized a couple of years ago.)  And meals in hospital cafeterias are pretty darn expensive.  (And not very tasty.)

Thinking about those hospital lunches I suffered through over those two weeks gave me an idea.  On average, according to the statistics I could find, lunch costs each of us about $5-7 per day.  Would you be willing to eat leftovers for one day and donate that lunch to LLS?  There is no minimum donation amount on my donation page, so how about it?  Just $5-$7? 

Training update tomorrow!

What scares a runner?

Long distance running is not for the faint of heart.  Some of you might be wondering where that internal fortitude comes from and what might leave me a little weak in the knees.

First of all, I've never run a marathon before.  So, while I am powering along adding mile after mile to the long runs, it is a little intimidating.  That said, I once hiked the longest trail in the Muir Woods park with no training whatsoever (7 hours!!!) so I am confident in my stamina.  The physical challenge is achievable.

What is scary to me is the financial commitment.  In order to get the expert advice of Team in Training, I committed to raising $2,900 to fight blood cancers.  That's a whole lotta moolah!

Sure, I could have joined a running club, but I have a split lifestyle syndrome, with weekends at the Bolivar beaches and weekdays in the Houston metropolitan area.  That makes running clubs and their usual weekend runs a little challenging.

So, I choose to work with Team in Training.  They have both weekend and weekday workouts and they don't count it against you if you don't make every weekend training.  They are gentle and supportive and promise to help their runners finish a marathon "as comfortably as possible."  I'm all about that.

What's scary?  I'm about to need to re-commit with only 25% of my total achieved.  That's a pretty big financial commitment to make.  A 26.2 mile gut check vs. my checkbook at the beginning of the year.  No contest.

I'm a little panicked.  My stomach if flip-flopping all over the place.  So if you've made it this far, consider this: if you donate $10, I will pin your name to my shoes when I run that marathon (this includes everyone who has already donated).  If you donate $25, I will pin your name on my sleeves when I run.  How about $50?  That'll get you a spot on my hat.  $100? The front of the jersey.  $150?  The back of the jersey.  And for a total donation of $250, I will make an iron transfer and run with your name on my butt.  So many options to join me on the marathon.  You can even pace me all the way across the finish line!

Folks, 75% of every dollar donated goes directly to the fight against blood cancers.  You will not get mailing labels or special occasion cards in the mail from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  I am their advertising, and am willing to be your personal billboard to prove it.  Please, consider helping me fight cancer.  I've had it.  It's a scary diagnosis.  But more and more of us can live the rest of our lives cancer free thanks to research and new medical procedures.

Start Slow, Finish Strong!

Mona

Strength Training for Runners

I maybe the only person crazy enough to train for a marathon while doing an extreme weight training program like Cathe Friedrich's STS.  Well, a half marathon anyway.  I'll finish this 3-1/ month program a couple of weeks before the half marathon I signed up for.  After that, I'll do something a little less taxing as I build up to the longer runs before the marathon.

A lot of runners don't do any strength training.  The theory is that muscle mass will slow runners down, and that is true after a certain point.  But I'm not trying to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, just get stronger.  And I subscribe to the theory that building strong muscle mass supports my joints, protects my connective tissue, and increases my potential power.

This is one of those hot topics in running, along with MP3 players and barefoot running.  Both sides have their arguments.  For the record, I listen to my iPod 2 out of every 3 runs and I wear regular running shoes.  And I strength train.

Like I said, I am not trying to be a body builder.  That, I think, would slow me down - just too much extra mass to carry around.  But a small, strong body gives me power.  Strong muscles make me less prone to injuries and promote a higher metabolism.  And strength training promotes muscle endurance, so it helps me run longer and farther.

But wait a minute, didn't I admit the program I am doing is a little too taxing for those training for a marathon?  Yep, you heard that right.  That's why I'm a little crazy right now.  I am doing an extreme strength building program while training for a half marathon.  I do not recommend anyone try this at home. 

What I do recommend is endurance training, and that's what I'm going back to in April. 

Since you're still here, if you haven't already, please click on the link on the right side of the page and donate to my fundraising campaign for LLS.  I'm in a race to fight cancer!

Thanks! Mona

My First 10K Experience

Well, of course I finished!  And I'm pretty happy with my time.  :)

A couple of people have already asked me, so I thought I'd better post an update fast.

Did I enjoy it?  For the most part, yes.  Did I reach my goal?  Pretty darn close.

Going in, I wanted to run 10 minutes per mile.  I finished with 10 minutes and 7 seconds per mile.  Chip time of 63 minutes and change.  Not too shabby for me.

I have to say, the race experience is completely different from training.  It wasn't the downtown Houston streets that got to me.  Nope, the streets downtown are honestly no worse than the sidewalks in my neighborhood: uneven, unlevel, and somewhat littered.  But, they were a LOT more crowded than suburban sidewalks, even during the morning "get the kids to school" rush.  Even more crowded than Memorial Park at peak hours.  Even worse than the Warrior Dash I was in last fall.

There were 13,000 people all leaving from the same Start, racing toward the same Finish.  And not everyone played by the rules.  Slower runners (and walkers) did not keep to the right.  People passed on both sides.  Runners jostled each other as they fiddled with the settings on their iPods.  I can't count the number of times someone stopped running and started walking right in front of me.  It was mayhem, people, just mayhem!

Okay, that's a little dramatic.  But I learned a lesson - courtesy is not common, and it goes straight out the window when the starting gun sounds. 

So, what else did I learn?
- There are hills in Houston and I need to train for them. 
- Right about the time you hit your personal wall is when some guy behind you will start a conversation on his iPhone ("It's okay, I can talk, I'm just running a 10K."). 
- There is a vast array of sounds that come out of the runners, especially after mile 4.  Some are funny.  Some are not. 
- Go with the downhill; you earned it on the uphill. 
- Always wait until the last table at the water stations.

Coming up this week: Strength training with Week 4 of Mesocycle 2 in Cathe Friedrich's STS, 17+ miles of running, and 2 days of high intensity interval training.  I'll fill you in on my thoughts about the importance of strength training for runners after leg day on Wednesday.

Until next time.
Start slow, finish strong.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/txg/rnr11/mdavisou4m

This week's training update

Well, I promised everyone that I would keep you posted on my training progress, so here goes.  I ran 20 miles last week.  20 miles!!!  Me!  Wow!

Tuesday was my tempo run at 4.5 miles, and that went not-so-well.  We had our annual awards presentation Tuesday morning, which meant I had to forego my usual work-from-home and drive into the office.  Then my boss won this HUGE award so of course we all took her out to lunch.  And that lunch was my downfall.  Instead of listening to my usual voice of sanity, I got something a co-worker recommended and it was wonderful..... until it was sitting in the bottom of my stomach like a chunk of lead 4 hours later.  I sucked it up and ran, but it was not a comfortable experience.  Live and learn.

Wednesday was our Team in Training track practice at Memorial Park.  I was a little nervous about that because I am still serious about completing a 2nd round of Cathe Friedrich's STS. And Wednesday is leg day for me.  Knowing the team practice was a walk/run, I pushed myself until my legs were SHAKING, then toweled off and drove into the city for practice.  Live and learn again.  The cardio really helped break the latic acid loose from my tired old legs and I felt great at the end.  Go Team!

Friday was my looooooong run.  I woke up early, fueled properly, and then procrastinated until I absolutely, positively HAD to start or I was out of time for the day.  The dread factor had kicked in and I was really nervous about the run (especially after the whole Tuesday experience).  Finally, I psyched myself up, stuck a Gu in the pocket of my super cute Lululemon running capris, strapped on the iPod and hit the bricks with the mantra: start slow, finish strong.  With each mile that passed, I told myself, "now you just have to do that X more times."  I had a little victory party when I passed the halfway mark, rallied myself past the 2/3 point, and kicked the last half mile.  I ran 9 miles without stopping.  What an accomplishment.

This week will be my drop-back week, as I will be running in the Houston Rodeo Run 10K on Saturday.  I have a time goal in mind, so I want to taper off the miles and focus on performance.  Wish me luck!