Fitness Friday: race registration karma?

It seems the universe is conspiring against me in my quest to start signing up for races. (Even though I'm not currently running - I'm getting antsy.)

I've tried for 2 days in a row to register for the Fifth Third River Bank Run 25k Relay.  

Both days something went wrong - either I couldn't connect to the site at all or the coupon code I was given for unknowingly becoming their postcard image didn't work.  

I figured I could register for this one since I should be fine to run by May.  I hope the running God's aren't trying to tell me something because I'm really excited about this race now since I get to run the relay with Corey so I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REGISTER!

Since I had it in my head to register for SOMETHING today, I decided to go for this one instead.

Don't worry, I'm not running a marathon in 3 weeks, or even a half marathon.  I'm going to run the 1/6th Moonlight Marathon the night before.  I figure even broken I can walk 4.4 miles but hopefully I'll be able to at least run most of it or I'm going to freeze my ass off.

#TBT SCUBA

July 2007 in St. Lucia. With all the snow and ice and bitter cold making me miserable here in Michigan, I decided to post something warm :)

Yes, the French Angel is totally photo bombing me. Or maybe I photo bombed her?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Would you rather....?

I've been in a bit of a blogging slump.  This seems to happen at the start of every year when I run out of "recap" posts or when I'm on a running "break" and don't have a training plan to write about.

I saw this on Kimberly's blog yesterday and thought it looked fun, so I borrowed stole it.  

>>Would you rather run in a thunderstorm or a snowstorm? 

Since I've done both, I would have to say I actually prefer the snowstorm.  The snow, while beautiful and full of badassery, slows me down and that's frustrating.  But you aren't likely to die unless you fall in a snowbank, never to be seen from again (or until the snow melts in April).  Thunderstorms, with their accompanying lightening, scare me a little.  Now, if we're just talking a downpour on a warm day - the rain wins hands down.

>>Would you rather breathe through your nose or breathe through your mouth? 

Nose.  But if we are talking running, I can pretty much promise I'm breathing through my mouth.

>>Would you rather do 100 squats or 100 crunches? 

100 crunches.  There are lots of different styles so you could mix it up.

>>Would you rather have a baked good for dessert or an extra serving of your favorite entree? 

No brainer.  Dessert.

>>Would you rather run on a treadmill for an hour or run around the same street block for an hour? 

The street block for sure.  I really get bored on the treadmill and at least running around the block the scenery would change a little.

>>Would you rather have a headache during a run or a side stitch? 

I'm with Kim on this one.  Headache. Side stitches are awful.

>>Would you rather have a rest day on a work day or a day off? 

My rest days tend to always be on work days.  When I take them.  I try to do something everyday.

>>Would you rather be a race director or a race volunteer? 

I volunteered at my first race this year and it was so fun.  I think being a race director would just be full of headaches.

>>Would you rather spend your money on running gadgets [HRM, GPS watch, Headphones] or running shoes? 

This is a really hard call.  I'm all about the gadgets, but I have most of what I need.  Shoes need to be replaced often, so I'm going with shoes.

>>Would you rather run in a relay or do the run portion of a distance triathlon? 

Relays are so much fun.  Gotta go with the relay, but if someone wanted my slow ass to run the run portion of a triathlon, I probably wouldn't say no.

What about you?  Pick one or two of these and tell me what you'd rather do.

2013 Races in Review: the Year of the Half #runchat

February 2013

Groundhog Half Marathon - The start of the year of the halfs.  This race was the most fun one can have running through 14 inches of fresh snow with some of your very best running friends.  I was completely unprepared for this race but it really didn't matter.  It was 100% run for fun.  Dressing up like Miss Sunshine didn't hurt, either.

April 2013

Martian Half Marathon - This was supposed to be a training run and turned out to be a 17 minute half marathon PR when I finished in 2:10:36.  The weather was crap, the course was changed the night before because of flooding, and I was sick.  Didn't matter.  I killed that course and I got to meet Lori!

Rivertown Races Half Marathon - I tried very hard to run this as just a training run.  It was fun to run with Mindy and just take it easy.  The weather was crazy warm and this was another race that changed it's course the day before the race.  For an inaugural race, it was handled well and I'd consider running this one again.

May 2013

5/3 River Bank Run 25k - Looking back at this race report and reading that I'd just planned to use a 15.5 mile race as a training run for my "A" race - the Bayshore Half - seems laughable now.  WTF was I thinking?  What ended up happening was a really great run, even paces, and another PR.  I took just over 11 minutes off of my only other 25k from 2 years before, running a 2:41:33 (a 10:25 pace).  I had fun, talked to lots of random strangers, and just got lost in the moment.  I snapped this selfie after the race, and wouldn't you know - the RBR people ended up using it for some of this year's media.  I managed to snag a free entry for 2014 out of the deal :)

 

Bayshore Half Marathon - This was my "A" race for 2013 and I scored an A+.  I took another 3 minutes off my half PR and this one stood for the rest of the year. 2:07:09 is my new time to beat.  This race will probably always be a favorite.  Beautiful scenery, the weather was awesome, and I got to run with a ton of my friends.  We stuck around afterwards to watch friends finish the full.  I rarely get to be a spectator at races and watching friends set marathon PRs was pretty freaking special.

June 2013

Get Lost in Running - Not an official race, but a race series based on the numbers from the movie LOST.  To kick off the series, I had already run the 4k race but I got to run the 8k with one of my favorite people in the whole world.  Corey was in Michigan for her nephew's graduation and she braved some nasty rain to drive over to my side of the mitten and run.  There's a pretty good chance this 8k is my fastest ever (we averaged a 9:18 pace!), but since it wasn't a real race, I don't know for sure.  All I know is I had a blast meeting up with Corey and we have some pretty awesome running planned for 2014.  I went on to finish the entire series - 4, 5, 15, 16, 23, 42k - before the end of the year and earned the series medal.  I still need to hand the medal hanger but I have to say, it was probably the most fun virtual race EVAH.

July 2013

Reed's Lake 10k - The PR streak continues!!!! I signed up for this race at the last minute and by race day a few days later, I didn't even want to run.  I met up with friends before and decided to try and reach that elusive sub-60.  I did a great warmup with Pete and even saw Cat on the course at one point.  The brain gets fuzzy when it's dehydrated (it was muggier than F*ck) and I wasn't sure I'd hit my goal, but the stars aligned and I nailed it - a 58:50!!! I found my friends again and we realized all 4 of us PR'd that day.  It's crazy how you can go into a race expecting nothing and pull an amazing run out of your very tired ass.

Tri Del Sol - I had planned on completing a few triathlons in 2013, but running sort of consumed my life.  At least I had registered for this one way back on New Year's Eve, so if forced me into crosstraining.  This race was so much more a mental challenge than my 2012 tri and I honestly don't know if I'd race it again. I hated everything about the swim and almost didn't even start.  The fact I finished was a huge accomplishment. 

Streets of Fire 8k - this was an evening race and the 2nd run in a double for relay training, so I wasn't expecting anything more than to get in a 2nd 5 mile run for the day.  I've only run one other official 8k and this one was a PR by almost 6 minutes (although my virtual 8k with Corey was about a minute faster).  I ran most of the race with my friend Jenn and she really pushed me at the end - I clocked a sub-9 mile for what might be the first time ever in a race!  The best part was the beer and pizza at the polish hall afterwards though :)

August 2013

The Fred 200 Mile Relay - In August, I checked something off my bucket list by participating in a 200 mile relay.  It was incredible in so many ways.  I faced my fears of running doubles and triples.  I ran at night in night gear.  I lived in a van.  Over the course of less than 24 hours, I clocked about 18 miles.  It was exhausting and exhilarating and I hope I get asked to run it again.

Michigan Wine Trail Half Marathon - When a huge group of girlfriends suggested we all head down to my home town and run a half marathon together, I jumped on the chance.  What I didn't think was how raced-out and broken I would be after so much racing all summer and finishing a relay just a few weeks before.  This weekend was so fun, but the uber-hilly race pretty much was the nail in my coffin.  I finished this race really injured and questioning how the rest of the year was going to play out.

October 2013

Shrinking Jeans Ghostly Gallop Virtual 10k - I wasn't going to include this since it wasn't an official race and I never even wrote a race report, but I changed my mind and put it in anyway since I included the LOST series.  I ran the 10k as part of a weekend long run (I think I ran 8 that day) and finished my 10k portion in 1:03:59. Not bad for a training run.

December 2013

Jax Bank Half Marathon - I capped off the Year of the Half by traveling to Jacksonville, Florida and running my 6th half of the year and 10th overall.  I wasn't 100% healthy and pretty much knew all hopes of finishing the year with another PR were probably shot.  Getting down there and being hit by the humidity and then rainstorms during the race just solidified that.  It was still a great weekend and I got to meet up with some DailyMile friends and drink a lot of local beers.  I fought hard and finished with my 4th fastest time ever (beating my 1st half marathon time by about a minute).  I'm not convinced Florida loves me since I've run 2 of my hardest halfs there, but I'm not giving up on southern climates yet.

In case you weren't counting, that makes 13 races in 2013 :)  Yes, I know 2 of them don't really count, but for me this is a pretty big deal.  It was a busy, busy year and I think I learned a lot about myself as a runner.  Some of those thoughts might make it into a future post, but mostly I learned the valuable lesson of training to race and not racing to train.  I'm now struggling to take the month of January off from running so I can come back even stronger and faster in 2014.  Who knows, I might even have some pretty huge race goals this year.

How did your year shape up?

Monday Motivation: Running with the Sisterhood

In case you aren't aware, I also write for the most awesome site - The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.  I help with their Run with the Sisterhood Facebook page, as well as mentor new runners through a Couch to 5k program.  I absolutely LOVE being a part of this incredible group of ladies.  When Lisa announced the start of the next C25K program yesterday, my phone just about blew up with people joining our group.  It's so exciting!

If you've ever thought you'd like to try running, this is the perfect opportunity.  Join our running community and private Facebook group (private means only members of the group can see your posts) let us help you get started. All you need to do is commit to running 3 times a week and checking in over on Facebook so everyone can cheer you on.  Easy-peasy!

Several times a year, Shrinking Jeans organizes a virtual race.  This spring we are hosting the Shamrock Shuffle 5k/10k to be held Sunday, March 16, 2014.  You can run, walk, run/walk, whatever - and there are even mile options for the kids.  Click here for info on how to register!

Fitness Friday: race plans?

The thing to do the first week of a new year is lay out all your race plans for the year. I was 100% planning NOT to do that. I'm injured and burnt out and really wanted a break after completing 11 races this year. 13 if you count a virtual 10k and the Get Lost in Running virtual race. (I might count those because that means I did 13 in 2013!)

Anyhoo...like I was saying, I wasn't planning to post any race plans.

But then this happened yesterday.



That would be yours truly on the propaganda for the 2014 Fifth Third River Bank Run, the largest 25k road race in the country.  I can't even imagine how many of those postcards were delivered.  At least it's a cute picture and I set a PR that day.

And then my Facebook and Twitter exploded as friends all over the area got their mail today.  Oy.

look familiar?

So now I have a bit of a dilemma.  I wasn't planning to run the 25k this year.  I won't run the 5k or 10k because I'm too much of a bling whore and those races don't have medals.  Now I feel obligated to run because they used my picture.  (Side note - let this be a lesson that anything you post online can be used, especially if you put it on Facebook.)

So what's a girl to do?  It sorta looks like this one is running the 2014 Fifth Third River Bank Run 25k, or maybe I'll do the 5k/25k combo.  Kinda throws off my plans to take the month of January off from running, doesn't it?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Jax Bank Half Marathon #racereport #runchat

On the last weekend of 2013, I ran my 6th half marathon of the year and 10th overall.  I flew down to Jacksonville, Florida for what I hoped was a little sun and not too hot temps.  I ended up with rain, rain, and humidity.  Lots of humidity.

Going into the Jax Bank Half, I knew I wasn't at my best and I was in no way healthy enough for another PR.  I set some goals though, because that's what I do, and then I watched the weather report get worse and worse.

Friday night I had a great DailyMile meetup.  We met at Engine 15 Brewing and sampled some really great beers.  Meeting people that I had only known online previously was incredibly fun.  It was nice to have some friendly faces to find post-race as well.

Saturday, I decided to go out for a 2 mile shake-out run.  I'm not sure if this was a mistake or if it just solidified how awful Sunday was likely to be.  The humidity kicked my ass, although I was able to maintain about a 10 min/mile pace for those 2 miles.  The worst was how pissed off my heel was afterwards.  It hadn't been hurting much and after that 2 mile run it KILLED.  I limped my way to packet pickup (just tents outside the local running store) and then drove parts of the course.  I hit up another brewery, Intuition, and then went downtown where I had a great pizza for dinner.  I wish I could say I got a ton of sleep but I really didn't.  My hotel had paper-thin walls and I was living next door to an infant.  Who cried.  A lot.

Race morning proved to be just as hot (71*) and humid (90%) as predicted, but at least it wasn't raining.  I managed to eat some oatmeal, have some coffee, and I lined up near the 4:15 marathon pacers (which on a good day would have been a decent half marathon for me).  This was too far up but there were more people than I thought would be there so I just went with it.  The first 5k made a loop.  It was overcast and the humidity was nuts.  I was already feeling it by mile 2.  I decided to stop and take a picture as I crossed a bridge around mile 4.5 since I knew immediately my time goals were completely out the window and it wasn't raining yet. The race staff made announcements about storms moving into the area before we started, so I knew the rain would come.  Sadly, I was praying for it by mile 3.

You can't see it, but Hooters is just to my left. I should've stopped for wings.

Miles 1 - 5: 10:29, 10:41, 10:54, 11:09, 11:23.  By mile 5 my re-established goal to maintain a sub-11 minute mile (when I should have been running about a 10 minute mile) was shot.

I should note that my heel hurt from the first step.  I didn't do any sort of warmup and I'm glad.  I think it would have just made things worse.  Somewhere in Mile 5 it started to drizzle.  The light rain was actually a relief because it helped cool me off a little.  The area we ran was very pretty with the huge live oaks dripping with Spanish moss.  This northern girl had never seen trees like that before.  Somewhere around mile 7 the rain really started coming down.  I stopped at an aide station near mile 8 and put Poweraide in one of my water bottles.  The humidity was kicking my ass and I was getting pissed.  Mentally I had already checked out.  I was walking way more than I probably needed to walk and I was frustrated.  I wanted the race to be done.  I felt very lonely running through those neighborhoods and just tried my best to get lost in my music.

Get lost I did.  Along with a bunch of other runners.  We really weren't lost but someone asked if the half was supposed to go straight at the aide station and for a few minutes, I panicked that I was on the course for the full.  I've never been so happy to see a directional sign in my life as I was to see that sign telling me to turn left around mile 8.3.

Faking a smile for the camera.

Miles 6-10: 12:13, 11:40, 12:46 (this was were I was trying to figure out if I was lost), 11:27, 11:17. My splits sucked.  12 minute miles? Seriously?  I thought I'm better than this but today, the humidity proved I'm not.

As we headed back toward the finish line, I felt a little burst of energy.  Or at least I thought I had until I saw my splits.  I hit the mile 11 sign and told myself that I was no longer allowed to walk under any circumstances.  I could run 2.1 freaking miles no matter how badly it hurt.  I kept trying to figure out if I was going to be able to beat my Grand Rapids Half Marathon time but my brain didn't really want to work.  I was pretty sure I'd failed in that final, last-ditch goal.  This course is a little bit cruel.  You can see the finish area, but they send you on another loop into a neighborhood with about 1.5 miles to go. There were a lot of people walking at this point and I just started counting off kills.  I eventually stopped counting.  Then, they make you run through a grass soccer field (remember, it's been pouring now for about an hour so it's mostly one giant puddle) and then onto the high school track to finish.  I was actually surprised at how well I ran on the grass and track. Maybe it was telling myself not to fall and make a fool of myself.  I saw one of my friends as I entered the track and this gave me a huge boost to finish strong.  A girl I started to pass on the track sped up but I still beat her.  I have no clue what my pace was for the last .1 because my Garmin read 13.0 but I'd be willing to bet it might have been my fastest pace the entire race.

Miles 11-13.1: 11:30, 10:57, 10:30.

Are both feet off the ground?  That chick in blue was the one who thought she could out-kick me.

I managed to finish a very hard half marathon in 2:26:53, an 11:12 pace, 80/133 in my age group.  I came no where close to meeting my time goal.  When I first planned this trip, I was thinking PR (2:06:xx).  Then my injuries really started to act up and I wanted to finish this race in my top 3 (2:19:xx).  By race morning, I just wanted to beat my first half marathon time (2:27:52).  I barely made it.

Very glad to be in the tent with Deb's running group.

I found my DailyMile friends at the finish line and managed to snag some beers with Deb's running club.  Those beers tasted so good.  I was very thankful for the tent they had set up because within 10 minutes of my finish, it looked like we might need to hire Noah to get us all home in his ark.  I have never been so glad to not be running a full marathon in my life.  My thoughts went out to Beth and Meghan still out on the course and I hoped they were doing ok.

How do I feel about finishing my 10th half marathon?  I'm definitely proud of what I've accomplished since I finished my first only 3 years, 2 months ago, but I'm not happy with how I ended 2013.  I raced too much and I'm paying for it.  I'm broken.  I can't walk without pain.  Even biking on the 1st aggravated my heel.  I'll survive, because I always do, but I wish I could have ended my 2013 racing year on a more positive note.

At least the swag was nice and I got to meet some really awesome runners.  The sunrises, beaches and beers were pretty special, too.


What's on my race schedule for 2014?  I honestly don't know.  Until I can get healthy I can't really make a plan.  Not having a plan stresses me out.  I have it in my head to complete my 2nd full marathon this year and even that is up in the air at this point.  Stay tuned.