See Jane Run

Telling

2012-02-02T08:52:00.000-06:00

As time passed, slowly but surely, the days crept closer to that first appointment date when I would have my first real appointment since discovering I was pregnant. I had planned to wait until after this day to tell my family but as I suspected, my habits had changed too drastically for them not to be suspicious. The first sign was the 50 miler I would not be running. Mom knew I'd run several races on a sore knee and suspected that couldn't be the only reason. The caffeine thing was also a dead giveaway since I went from being an avid coffee drinker to hardly drinking any at all. When I did it was decaf. Those things mixed in with what I did and did not say began to make Mom and Julie suspect so that when I finally told them, they confessed to having suspicions.

It was SO FUN to finally tell them. I swore them to secrecy until the first trimester was over and then we could tell the rest of the world including Julie's kiddos. As time passed and my symptoms continued, I grew more confident in the little blueberry (week 7) growing inside. I was still so very tired and getting up to run became harder and harder so that I only met the morning crew about once a week. My breasts were still unbelievably sore and... growing. I also experienced a strange nauseous type feeling after breakfast, which lasted until lunch or afterward. I lost my appetite for coffee (which I found bizarre and unfortunate) and discovered a love for Sprite and orange juice.

Once Mom and Julie (along with Jason's parents and brother) knew our good news, I had their added prayers to my own and that gave me confidence as well. I continued to seek the balance between faith and getting my hopes up... I wanted to have faith that God had not given me this new gift only for it to go away, but I knew of so many women who had faith and had lost their first pregnancy, and I couldn't explain that to my mustard seed-sized faith.

But my heart rejoiced in sore breasts, endless tiredness, and nausea because those things meant my blueberry was still growing. I read on whattoexpect.com about my baby each week and it was fascinating. I loved telling Jason what I learned and once my family knew, I couldn't wait to talk about it with them. Every detail, every experience, every thought, every question, every worry... I couldn't wait to tell all things pregnancy to those who were almost as invested as I was in this new little life.

Needless to say, telling helped with the waiting...

Waiting Endless Waiting

2012-02-01T08:29:00.000-06:00

Despite my belief that time had suddenly decided to stand still as I waited, it did pass. Day 27 became 28 and eventually we got to the weekend when time inevitably moves a little faster. I took more tests and laid them out in a row on the bathroom counter. I looked at them every day and smiled.

One thing that made the wait even worse was that I started to feel awful. On day 29 I stayed home from work with the worst headache in the world and other aches from head to toe. I attributed this to a cold since my nose was runny too, and since I had those two pink lines telling me I was pregnant I dared not take any medicine. I slept through it as best I could and the next day I felt better.

And time slowly ticked by... We went to see Mom and Dad over the weekend. I went for a walk with Mom and it was so hard not to just blurt out, "I MIGHT BE PREGNANT!" But conversations with Mom are always interesting and fun, so our 3.5 mile walk went by quickly without me spilling the beans all over the country road.

Sunday was day 31 and I was still unsure. Still waiting, but I was becoming more confident in those two pink lines. I took a total of 5 tests and they all showed the same thing. I stopped taking them after that and by day 34 there was still no monthly gift.

There were, however, other gifts. I started to get so tired and sleepy. Running became harder and I told myself it was just mental - my brain knowing that women are tired when pregnant - but I also let myself slow down and shorten the distances. My abdomen ached a lot, but only for short bursts of time, and there were other things that grew and became sore...

Jason and I had so much fun keeping our little secret. He'd call me at work a few times a day just to ask how I felt. We both thought about it all the time. I bought the book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and read up on all the things that happen in weeks 1-4.

By day 36 I would be officially 5 weeks and so I went ahead and read allowed to Jason what our baby was doing by week 5-8. It was amazing to read and as my confidence in my own pregnancy started to grow even more, so came the strong desire for it to be so, for everything to be okay, and for that first 8 week check up to GET HERE! I only had to wait through Christmas and New Years...

Two Pink Lines

2012-01-31T08:41:00.006-06:00

It was a cold, rainy day as I drove to meet Jason at the doctor’s office. We’d been trying to get pregnant for about a year and that meant it was time to talk about fertility. I really didn’t want to talk about it. I believed in the core of my being that we were both okay, but I also couldn’t explain why I hadn’t gotten pregnant in a year's time.

We met and talked with my doctor. We got all the information about the different tests that would be done and what these tests would tell us. When the appointment was over, Jason drove to a meeting and I drove to the grocery store to drop off my new prescriptions for prenatal vitamins and folic acid. Then I went home.

On a whim I decided to use the last pregnancy test that had been sitting in my bathroom drawer. I’m not even sure how or why the thought occurred to me, but I did it. I watched the usual pink line appear as it always did, signaling that I was not pregnant. I told myself I knew I wasn’t pregnant and that at least I’d be able to run the 50 mile run for which I’d been training. I gave myself the usual pep talk I'd been giving myself every month, reminding myself of all the things I love about my life without a little one in it. I glanced at the test before tossing it in the garbage and then I looked closer. There was a faint second line! It was very light, but it was there and I knew for a fact I’d never seen even a hint of a second line.

Jason called after his meeting and I told him about the second pink line. He said he’d stop and pick up my prescriptions and get more pregnancy tests. When he got home I took another one. This time there was no mistaking the second line. It was just as dark as the first line. We grinned at each other and I tried to push down the excitement that started to well up inside. I did not want to believe I was pregnant only to find out it wasn't true. I’d been disappointed by all the one-lined tests in the past and so as protection, I quit thinking of it as a possibility.

But there were two pink lines.

Jason and I discussed the 50 mile and I told him if I was pregnant I would not run it. He was relieved by this since he felt the same way about it. I could hardly go to sleep that night for being excited and then arguing with myself about being excited, thanking God for this new blessing and then pleading with Him to let it be so and protect the child that might be forming. I searched for the balance between having faith and not getting my hopes up, so I prayed about that too.

The next morning I took another test. Same result as before. Two pink lines. I met my morning crew for a run and thought about it the whole time. When I got to work later that morning, I looked at my calendar. I was on day 27 of my cycle which meant I still had a few days before a menstrual cycle was actually missed. This was going to be another long wait and all I could think about were two pink lines and how badly I wanted them to be right.

I called the nurse practitioner at my ob/gyn and told her about my three tests. I told her when I’d taken them and asked her how reliable they were. She said they were reliable and that I was most likely pregnant. She congratulated me and told me what to do next.

I glanced at my calender again and sighed. I refused to feel secure in the two pink lines until I had actually missed my cycle. The waiting seemed endless as the minutes slowed to a crawl and I wondered how in the world I would make it...

The Half Truth and the Big News

2012-01-30T16:45:00.000-06:00

Chance ponders the meaning of the tiny shoe...

I have been waiting what seems like an eternity to share this news and I have already written four posts (to follow in the next few days) on the subject. I was not entirely truthful with you, dear readers, about the reason for my decision not to run the 50 mile, but I think once I tell you why, you will understand. Some news cannot be rushed and this is such news.

I'm going to have a baby!

I did not want to lie, but I did not want to share the news until everything was checked out and an appropriate amount of time had passed with everything going well and right. I have finally reached that point, being now in my 2nd trimester and it is time to share the news.

I'm going to be a mom!

So there you have it. The big news. Stay tuned for the rest of the story - the whens, the whys, the hows... okay, maybe not the how... but you know what I mean. My focus on health and fitness is even more important now that I'm eating and drinking and running for two, and so my posts about running, eating, working out and all the things in between will have a slight slant toward the pregnant runner, but I hope you will join me as I experience all of this for the first time!

It is time for a whole new adventure!

Making Time

2012-01-25T09:07:00.002-06:00

So, in my previous post I wrote about Glennon - the author of "Momastery" and talked about one of her posts titled, "Don't Carpe Diem." One of the things she said that has really stuck with me was her description of the two types of time, Chronos and Kairos. Here's what she said about Kairos:

"Kairos is God’s time. It’s time outside of time. It’s metaphysical time. Kairos is those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day, and I cherish them."

Ever since reading that, I have taken special notice of my time. Or maybe more than that I have had something to call my time, a way to refer to it. Work time is, of course, mostly Chronos time. Glennon described Chronos time like this:

"Chronos time is what we live in. It’s regular time, it’s one minute at a time, it’s staring down the clock till bedtime time, it’s ten excruciating minutes in the Target line time, it’s four screaming minutes in time out time, it’s two hours till daddy gets home time. Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in."

I don't think Chronos time belongs only parents, but also to girls who like sunshine and running and who are stuck at a desk most of the day. So I count it as my work time, although I will say that Kairos moments do sneak in from time to time, even at work.

Still, while at work, while running in the mornings, while spending time with my niece and nephew, while sitting on the couch talking to Jason, while giving my pup a squeeze, while laughing with my sister on the phone, in my mind I am thinking about what type of time it is...like I am on the hunt for Kairos moments. It doesn't seem so different from the idea in "One Thousand Gifts" where we take special notice of the blessings that fill each moment. I've been thinking about the idea of Kairos time in tandem with the idea of counting my blessings and actually writing them down. I think the act of counting and noticing and being aware of all God's gifts to me during the day actually makes for more Kairos time.

It goes back to that idea of only having room for one feeling at a time. If I am busy being thankful for whatever gift God has sent my way in this moment, maybe I will not focus on my impatience with the long lasting Chronos time, but on the simple face that I've just had a gift...a Kairos moment.

Its my way of making time. Marking time. Turning Chronos into Kairos as often as possible.

And here's something else I want to say. I hope that my occasional posts about moms and how they present motherhood to the rest of us are not offensive. That is never my intent, just like I understand that a tired, frazzled mother's intent when she says she is tired and frazzled is not to turn me off to motherhood. I strive every day to deal with people, their words and actions, with grace, not judgement. I was reminded this past Sunday from Romans that those who judge convict themselves because they do the same things they are judging others for doing. It was convicting. A powerful reminder to seek understanding and grace instead of looking down my nose at other people's wrong doings. I'm pretty aware of my own and they leave me no room to point fingers.

So, on the occasion that I drift away from the lovely topic of running to other matters of life that I am still learning about and exploring, please, dear reader, deal with me gently as well.

Now, in the words of Glennon, get out there and seize a couple of Kairoses today!

Mom Blogs

2012-01-21T11:01:00.010-06:00

Yesterday my friend, Emily, sent me a link to a blog she has been reading. It is called Momastery (after monastery) and I immediately fell in love with this writer and her blog. She is hilarious, witty and real. I, like many others, am drawn to people who are real and honest, and maybe in addition to that, people who see (and bring out) the humor in daily life. I laughed so hard reading one of her posts called "911" that I actually had tears in my eyes and I read another post that brought tears to my eyes for an entirely different reason.

One of the posts I read was a beautifully written, heartfelt piece called "Don't Carpe Diem" and it received over 2000 responses from readers. It spread across the internet like wildfire and from what I read, her words were well received. If you haven't read it, in a nutshell (a much less eloquently put one) she writes about people, namely older women, who look at her with her three young children and tell her she should enjoy every moment with them because time flies. Receiving this advice, she often feels guilty because in reality she doesn't enjoy every single moment with her children. She described two types of time, chronos (the slow moving less enjoyable time that makes up most of her days) and kairos (those moments with God, the moments when she really notices how beautiful her children are, etc.). These moments are short, but there are many of these brief moments each day and she ended her post by saying "Carpe a couple of kairoses a day."

It wasn't until I got home and thought about it that I became sort of bothered. Not overly so, but just a little. I still LOVE what she had to say and agree. When I hear carpe diem from anyone at any time I think, "Well, drat, the last time I did that was on this morning's run and then I forgot for the next 8+ hours I was at work."

But here's the thing. I plan to be a mom one day and I do not have delusions that it is going to be all roses, soft, sweet babies, and sunshine. I know there is teething, crying, colic, endless dirty diapers, lack of sleep etc etc etc (moms post it ALL on facebook so I get a full picture). And then they become toddlers and there is another set and then they become tweens and have another set and so on and so on... But as someone who looks forward to being a parent, I WANT to believe that it is better than what I am doing now.

For now I am a working non-mom and I do not always enjoy my job. I print endless copies of seemingly meaningless pieces of paper, I deal with countless engineers who don't pay attention or read instructions, I deal with co-workers who sometimes get on my nerves, I sit in a dark room and record instructors talking about things I'm not interested in and when I work over 8 hours I am not always given that time back. And I get really tired of my phone ringing. I'd rather spend more time running, reading good books, walking in the woods, writing, maintaining a clean and orderly household, and running my new little coaching business. But right now, this job is something I'm doing. And I know for a fact that I do not carpe diem when I am there. I get through it.

Still, I do get a paycheck. And despite how my co-workers sometimes get on my nerves, I love them all and enjoy their company. I am glad I know them and I believe my life has been enriched by theirs. The engineers who don't read instructions are very grateful and kind when I help them with their classes, and it always feels nice to help. I like having a schedule so I get up every morning and run because I know I will need to go to work for 8 hours. I feel that having that time spoken for makes me more disciplined with my free time than I otherwise might be. And my office is really nice and the toilets in the bathrooms flush automatically.

All of that... the good parts and the bad parts, that is LIFE. It is just plain life. Life has good parts and life has bad parts. Life is hard and life is wonderful. (I like how the Momastery writer calls it "brutiful" which is brutal and beautiful.) We have an amazing God who stands by our side through it all and in Him is where my hope lies. Most days. And while I think parenting is WAY more important than my little job, sometimes I just want to say that (especially when the things they are complaining about sound so lovely to me).

Now, I'm not bashing moms who reach out to other moms and share their wild and woolly stories of child raising. I talk to my friends and family about the woes of my job. I tell Jason and Jason tells me and then we feel better because we've been heard and someone understands how we feel. And I'm 100% positive I will join the masses of moms and have plenty to say about the challenges I face when raising amazing little people to be amazing bigger people.

But in the meantime, just let me believe. As I sit in my office printing and pushing paper around and putting numbers into a computer that makes my eyes hurt after 8 hours, let me believe that I will like being a mom better. Let me look forward to it. Let me approach it with more hope and excitement and less fear and trepidation. I know I am the one in control of my thoughts and feelings, but I'd be lying if I did not admit that all of these posts and facebook statuses get to me once in a while and I wonder WHO in their right mind would have a kid after reading that. And I really don't think that's a mom's intent when she puts her woes into writing.

What I believe is that being a mom will be tough and new and challenging, and there will be days I want to take a leave of absence, just like I feel about work sometimes (or a lot of times if I'm honest). But here's the other part. I believe being a mom will be MUCH more rewarding and...dare I say it... fun than pushing paper around, answering phones, and dealing with people I don't want to deal with all day long 5 days a week, countless weeks a year. And I REALLY hope that on those rough days when I am a mom, I will remember how I feel now. I really can't imagine wishing for this life over that one, but I've never had that one so I don't really know... But for now...I want to BELIEVE.

And despite all the "woe-is-me" moms, I know a ton of other moms who LOVE what they do. My sister is one. She's the reason I was brave enough to take a good look at motherhood in the first place. My friend Shannon is one. She gets her run and her workout on while being an awesome mom. My friend Emily inspires me by all she fits into a day and how she makes it all work. All of my running girls amaze, encourage and inspire me by who they are and how they raise and love their children. And the author of the Momastery is another. For her it is real and challenging and wonderful and hopefully as hilarious as she makes it sound.

So I guess all of those women would be the basis for my belief that motherhood, whenever it should come, will be an amazingly challenging and wonderful adventure.

Age Old Running

2012-01-20T11:53:00.002-06:00

The other night as we were warming up before a tempo run, a client asked me how long I had been a runner. I told him I started running when I was 15. After I thought about it, I realized that my running years outnumbered my non-running years, which means I've been a runner longer than I haven't been. I kinda like that. And when I think about all that has changed from the beginning to the middle to now... it is pretty exciting. I wonder what else I will do, how far will I go, what new adventures are around the corner and I am filled with hope and anticipation.

I see so many women who are a little older and a lot older than I am, and they are doing the most amazing things. It is so inspiring to see that so many women are still going strong after so many years of running. Not only that, they are still improving, still pushing their limits to greater heights.

My mom started running when she was 36 and she ran her first marathon when she was 44. Since then she has run a marathon in all 50 states and 60 before the age of 60. And at 61, she's still running them! She's still training her friends to push past their limits and she is a constant inspiration to all who know her.

I work with a lady who is in her late 60s and I see her out running most mornings when I am running with my girls. She also runs the Huntsville Half Marathon every year and I always love seeing her finish. I hope I am doing that when I am 67.

The oldest member of our morning crew is 49 and she is one of the fastest in our group. She has qualified and run the Boston Marathon and has also qualified for the New York Marathon. I call her the "pixie runner" because that is what she looks like when she runs and she shimmies up a hill like it is a flat stretch of road.

Another of our running crew has a sister on the USA Ultra Marathon team. I never even knew they had a team until she told me and when I looked them up I discovered that Debra Horn is on the team and she was born in 1959. If you look at what is listed as her "career highlights" she has done quite a lot in the last few years. When asked why she runs she said, "Running is a great stress-reliever and keeps me feeling young." I'd say so! The other athlete bios for the team are pretty impressive and inspiring as well.

So there you have it. You are never too old to start running and you are never too old to try something new and you are never too old to improve. These are things I hold close to my heart as I dream and hope and plan and look forward to the years and the miles to come.

Mom after her 50th marathon state, Hartford, Connecticut 2008

A Rockin' Running Playlist

2012-01-18T21:00:00.004-06:00

While I love running with my girls or enjoying the quiet peacefulness of a morning run with a gorgeous sunrise as my company, sometimes this girl needs a little boost. Sometimes when the morning is super cold or super windy or super rainy or all three combined, I need a little something extra to make me feel...well...for lack of a better phrase, bad ass. And in order to get my "bad ass" on, I have a little playlist to help me.

A few friends and clients have requested some songs for their own playlists and so I am including mine here. May it give you just the boost you need to get you out the door when you are missing that extra bit of motivation!

If you don't see one of your faves on this list, please include it in the comments section!

I'll start with my newest top two. These are my current faves that get me going.

1. Blackout - Breathe Carolina. "I'm only getting started! I won't blackout!" They aren't talking about running but... it fits doesn't it!

"This won't stop till I say so...this won't stop till I say so!"

2. Good Feeling - Flo Rida. This would be a great pre-race song.

3. Stronger - Mandisa. Very powerful lyrics. I first heard about this song from Katie but it wasn't until I heard it on the radio and really felt the words that I added it to my list.

4. International Love - Pitbull (featuring Chris Brown). "Don't test me boy...." See, even if I'm a 32 year old woman with a tiny puff of a pony tail bouncing around behind me, that makes me feel bad ass.

5. Marry the Night - Lady Gaga. I'm a warrior queen. And so are you.

6. We Found Love - Rihanna. Love this beat.

7. Breathing - Jason Derulo. This is another one with a great beat and I like the chanting in it as well.

8. Turn Me On - Nicki Minaj and David Guetta. "Make me come alive!"

9. You Make Me Feel - Cobra Starship. "I'm the baddest baby in the atmosphere." See, she feels it.

10. Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes. A very steady beat and I just love this one.

11. Hold Me Together - Royal Tailor. "I'm getting stronger with You by my side..."

12. Lights (Bassnector Remix) - Ellie Goulding.

13. Welcome to the Club - Manian. Dance music with a great beat.

14. Black Betty - Ram Jam.

15. The Story of Us - Taylor Swift.

16. Best Love Song - T-Pain. This is a good one to start your run.

17. Don't Wanna Go Home - Jason Derulo. No, you don't wanna go home. You wanna RUN!

18. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO. "Shake that."

19. Tonight - Toby Mac. This is one of my all time faves. Fast and furious, I sometimes have to play it twice.

20. On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez. "If you're a criminal, kill it on the floor."

21. Blow - Ke$ha. I know. Don't judge.

22. Light up the Sky - the Afters. Another powerful one that makes me so thankful to be out running.

23. Take me back - Taio Cruz

24. Higher - Taio Cruz

25. No Other One - Taio Cruz. As you can see, I like several of his.

26. Avalanche - Manafest.

27. Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida. The road can't handle me either.

28. Raise Your Glass - P!nk. Are you wrong in all the right ways? You're probably a runner.

29. DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love - Usher. This title cracks me up.

30. Dynamite - Tiao Cruz. Yep. Dynamite.

31. La La La - Auburn (featuring Iyaz).

32. Beautiful Monster - Ne-yo.

33. Monday Morning - Melanie Fiona

34. Awake and Alive - Skillet. I don't need to explain this one.

35. More - Usher. "I'm a beast, I'm an animal, I'm that monster in the mirror..."

36. Misled - Kool and the Gang. An oldie but a goodie!

37. Do You Remember - Jay Sean.

38. The Olympic Spirit - John Williams & Boston Pops. This one is amazing. I feel triumphant every time I hear it.

39. The Battle - Gladiator Soundtrack. This one is powerful. Good for those really tough (and triumphant) days.

40. Russion Privjet - Basshunter. This is sort of trance, sort of dance and a great beat!

41. Kernkraft 400 (Sport Chant Stadium Remix) - Zombie Nation. If you've seen a football game lately, you know this one.

42. Desert Rose - Sting

43. Fire Burning - Sean Kingston. "She's fire burning, fire burning on the dance floor..." Or on the road.

44. Unbreakable - Fireflight. Need I say more? This one truly makes you feel it.

45. O...Saya - Slum Dog Millionaire Soundtrack. "Like a ninja, with speed I'm nifty..."

Cool down Songs

46. Beautiful Ending - Barlow Girl

47. Enchanted - Taylor Swift

48. Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw

49. The One that got Away - Katy Perry

50. Set Fire to Rain - Adele

And for your Bonus Track: Eye of the Tiger - Survivor. This is a classic.

Remember to listen responsibly while you run! Keep the volume reasonable and stay aware of what is going on around you! Also make sure to check race rules before using headphones in a race.

Happy listening!

Pinteresting

2012-01-16T16:18:00.000-06:00

Well, I have joined the newest craze. I am on pinterest. At first I had no idea what it was when I heard so many friends talking about it. They raved about it, actually. And even when a friend showed me what it was, and then another friend invited me, I still didn't really get it.

But I tried it anyway. And oh my word, I get it now. I'm addicted. It is GREAT. It is a way for me to keep all of my favorite things, or simply things I want to remember that I like such as recipes I want to try one day or decorating ideas that I'll never remember if I don't keep them in once place. And then I get to steal all of my friends ideas too! I love that. I've got some seriously cool and creative friends, let me just say.

I've got some "boxes" on running of course. And books too, which is a given. But then I have boxes I never thought I'd have like two I've named "Help in the Kitchen" and "Decorating Ideas." I could use some serious help in both of these areas, but every time I see something I would like to try, I promptly forget it. So now I have all these ideas all neat and tidy in a little box and whenever I finally get a moment in the kitchen to try something, I have a place where all my ideas are stashed.

I love it! Check out my boxes at http://pinterest.com/runningjane.

Working on Saturday

2012-01-14T18:45:00.000-06:00

Today's work was not just any old work, it was the work I love to do! Today I ran with 4 of my clients, talked with all of them about their training plans and strategies, strengths and weaknesses, the goals they have set for themselves, and their running form. I listened to their stories whether they were about running or not, and I believe I probably learned just as much from them as they did from me.

I love this. As I drove to meet my first client of the day, I could feel the excitement welling up. Finally. FINALLY. This is what I have been waiting to do! I feel like things are really moving forward and the experience so far has been wonderful.

Two clients are working to speed up their marathon time, while two others want to surpass the 5k distance, going to the 10k and their first half marathon this year. It is exciting to be a part of this. Some know they can do it and are pumped about the training ahead. Some are harder on themselves and the challenge before them is somewhat scary. But that's why its worth it. It is a challenge. It is an adventure. They suspect their limits and then try to push past them on to something they are not even sure they can do. But deep down...I think they know and that is why they keep running.

When I completed my last training session, I was tired and came home to a long hot shower. I stayed in until I was pruney and the whole time I thought about Running Start, LLC and where to go from here. I'm excited about the possibilities and hopeful for the future. I hope runners continue to come. Whether they want to try this running thing and see if they can grow to enjoy it or whether they want to race a new distance, going faster or farther than they have before.

I'm excited about those training with me now and I'm excited about those who haven't even started yet.

Doing this kind of work makes working on a Saturday sound GREAT!

Old and Sickly

2012-01-13T10:10:00.000-06:00

I turned 32 a few days ago, did I tell you that? I am 32. That seems so strange. Everyone is so quick to tell me how young that is and how I am such a baby but... they must have forgotten what it felt like to be in their 30s and still feel like they were just barely old enough to drive. Which is how I feel. Not a bad feeling at all. I hope I always feel young despite the number of my age. And I don't really think I'm "old." My parents being in their 60s and almost 70s, doing all the amazing things they do make me see that, Lord willing, I've got some great years ahead.

Still...how did I get to 32 already? It sounds so... grown up.

I've also gotten sick in my old but not old age. Right after my wonderful day of getting back into the swing of things, I woke up the next morning with plans to run in the rain with my girls and I felt awful. I was grateful that the thunder and lightning canceled our run so that I could stay in bed and I did not go to work that day or the next. My mom came the second day and I took a hot shower, made some chicken noodle soup and had a buddy to watch romantic comedies with instead of having to watch them alone. She helped me finish my laundry and dishes and that helped distract me from the fact that my nose had gone rogue.

I am back at work today but... things are not 100% yet. The thing is, I am never sick. When I say never, I mean a few years can go by before I catch anything. I don't get the flu, I don't get colds, I don't get fevers, I don't get whatever is going around the office. I've started to believe (and this may sound arrogant, but I don't mean it to be) that I am somewhat invincible. I've gotten so used to feeling good and strong and ready to tackle my run and the day, that when I am actually sick (like now)... it is almost depressing. Like somehow my superpowers were undermined by some evil force.

I didn't like missing work because I have so much to do here (I have worked a grand total of 2.5 days since Christmas). I didn't like feeling bad and not getting to run (even though the weather wasn't exactly conducive to it anyway). I had to cancel two client meetings with Running Start, LLC (although they may have been relieved as well since it was 30 degrees with gale force winds when we were supposed to meet).

Goodness.

My sweet husband returns to me today, finally having finished his work in Florida and he is not 100% either. So I've sterilized the whole house, saved plenty of chicken noodle soup for us both, stocked up on fruit and orange juice, and told him to take all of his laundry directly to the laundry room when he gets home. We are getting rid of this evil force right now!

And just in time too because all of those clients that I postponed... I'm meeting them ALL tomorrow!

Waves and Relaxation

2012-01-10T09:33:00.000-06:00

Last night I got back from a LOVELY trip down to Florida with Jason. He had to go for work so I tagged along. We stayed in a condo on the beach and each night we went to sleep to the sound of waves and woke up to them each morning. While it rained at home, I sat on my balcony in the sun enjoying the peacefulness of reading accompanied by the sound of waves. I love that sound. I don't think I ever realized how much I love that sound. I grew up in Florida, pretty close to the beach so maybe I took it for granted. But with the view of white sand dunes, a cool breeze blowing through the condo, and that lovely, rhythmic sound of waves... it was just perfect.

I relaxed. A LOT! I slept in and even when I did finally wake up, I didn't want to ruin the tranquility of the morning light and crash of waves. Jason read quietly next to me as I gazed out at the dunes, and it was just so... peaceful.

The first day it was completely foggy and I thought, Really? I am on the beach and I can't SEE the beach?! I ran that morning and when I got done everything was dripping. Not from sweat, but from the heavy fog! I had forgotten just how humid and wet it can be down there. I was reminded and it made me smile at the memories.

The next two days were amazing and that made up for the day when I couldn't see passed my nose. Warm sunshine, cool breezes and a quiet beach that we seemed to have mostly to ourselves since it is the off season. We ate seafood, read books in the sunshine, I visited a few friends when Jason was working and enjoyed seeing some of my old stomping grounds. I did not have time to drive all the way into Panama City...and I had sort of planned to do a run through my old neighborhoods and snap pictures of where I used to live, but I never made it happen. That was okay, though. We will go back before long and I can do it then. I was too busy enjoying my time with Jason on the beach and no responsibility to bother us.

I ran a little here and there but mostly it was about relaxing and listening to the waves. Soaking it all up. I thought this mini vacation at the end of Christmas break would make it harder to get back to work and I considered lengthening my stay, but in the end what it made me was ready. Ready to head back to work, back to my routine, back to my own bed and my own cooties (I have issues with hotels and condos sometimes). I think it renewed and refreshed me.

So this morning when the alarm went off at 5:30 signaling it was time to run, I was ready. I have not dreaded this work day like I thought I would, I've just been ready. All I needed was a little relaxation and some waves.

Tuesday's Treat

2012-01-03T11:25:00.002-06:00

Today's treat is not really new, and you may laugh, but this holiday season was the first time I'd ever tried one. And then I renamed it. Today's treat is angeled eggs (also known as deviled eggs). Yep, I had my very first deviled egg Christmas Eve and I LOVED it!

A while back, Katie shared her treat of boiled eggs. So this just adds a little zing to that already great treat. The recipe my sister used is below.

For 6 boiled eggs:

boil eggs, peel and cut in half
scoop out yoke and mix with the following ingredients:

1/4 cup of mayo (I used light)
1 tablespoon of vinegar (VERY good for you)
1 tablespoon of mustard

add mixture back into egg halves and sprinkle with paprika

My mom said she likes to add sweet pickle relish instead of vinegar, so if you like that, there's another option.

So last night I was thinking of healthy things to bring to work for lunch and I decided to make some angeled eggs. I made 3, which gave me 6 halves. Three for today and three for tomorrow. They are currently in the office fridge and I'd better go get them before the whole place smells like eggs (the downside to boiled eggs in the fridge).

If you are like me and somehow missed out on this southern tradition, give it a try. You may find yourself surprised (as I was) to like it! Also, try floating around the new name as well, if you don't mind.

Holidays, Precious Holidays!

2011-12-28T09:05:00.000-06:00

So far this holiday season, we've been pretty busy with family. We visited Jason's parents in Kentucky the weekend before Christmas, spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with mine, and then after Christmas took a short road trip with Jason's family again to visit his sister. This morning Jason asked what today's plan was and I will admit to looking at him somewhat testily as I said, "There is no plan. The plan is to do whatever our hearts desire."

For me that will include taking down Christmas decorations and getting my house back in order. I succeeded in getting most of our Christmas presents put away, but the tree and stockings and such are still up. I will also enjoy a glorious run in the beautiful sunshine, something I have not seen in several days. It was strange to wake up in such a bright bedroom, and I smiled with the knowledge that today I'd be running in the sun.

For me it also means catching up with some of my Running Start, LLC current and future clients! When January gets here... LOOK OUT WORLD! This girl is going to be one busy homefry! I've got 3 more clients ready to get started in the new year, along with another class at UAH to further my coaching goals. This one is The Essentials of Personal Training. After this class I will take my ACE certification exam (hopefully pass with flying colors) and add another certification to my little repertoire. In February I will attend the RRCA coaching course as well since it is geared more toward what I am currently doing than my USA Track and Field certification (although I'm really glad to have that one as well).

With this year's Just Move It program at UAH, I will be leading a 5k training group and I am so excited! Just Move It starts in January, but we will begin our 5k training in February with about 10 weeks before the Cookie Dash 5k, which will be our goal race. I am working closely with the Health and Physical Education Department at UAH to get things ready for the 5k training program, and I cannot wait to get started!

This is the first time during this holiday season that I have opened my laptop or looked at a computer at all. When work was over for the year, I just couldn't bring myself to look at a computer screen. Today I needed to charge my ipod shuffle so that sort of prompted this post. But now, I am off to enjoy this beautiful day during which I will do whatever my heart desires.

The Perfect Afternoon Run

2011-12-20T11:26:00.001-06:00

I think the closer Christmas Day gets and the more excited I become about it, the slower time seems to move. After today I only have 2 more days of work before 11 days of pure freedom and as crazy as it seems, 2 days feels like an eternity. Still, I press on. There is plenty to do at work to keep me busy, even if I would rather be wrapping the last of my Christmas presents and baking Christmas cookies with Jason.

As always with holiday or vacation time, I love running in the middle of the day instead of always in the wee morning hours, and never feeling rushed if I want a few more miles. The extra rest is lovely too and my runs while on vacation always seem stronger because there is plenty of time for rest and recovery between each one.

This past weekend we went up to Kentucky to see Jason's parents and on Saturday I went for a run in the countryside. I've written and posted pictures about this run before. I always follow the same route which is 3 miles out and back. It is extremely hilly but for some reason I always look forward to that. When I first married Jason I only did the 4 mile route and the hills just about did me in. Now I can shimmy up each one without much trouble and I take pride and joy in that each time I experience it.

When I ran on Saturday I had not run in two days so my legs were fresh. I felt strong, I felt great, the hills were fun and challenging and the entire run was simply wonderful. The air was cold but the sun was out, and the countryside looked just as lovely as ever. There were only two dogs on the course this time and they were too comfortable in their sunny spots to pay me much mind as I ran by.

It was one of those perfect afternoon runs that lift my spirit a little higher, that remind me of how much I love running in general, that make me want to throw my arms in the air and shout "thank you!" to the Creator of it all. That's what my heart was doing as I completed my run and then walked passed the driveway to the field where the family's horses are kept. I conclude each run out there with a visit to Lady, Rascal, and Rainbow who always come to the fence and let me pet their noses. It is my way of dragging it out a little, lingering in the beauty around me, savoring the feelings I feel while out there running.

Talking to People in Cars

2011-12-13T10:46:00.004-06:00

The other night I went for a short run after work. It was dark already, but I stayed in my neighborhood and enjoyed all the Christmas lights and decorations everywhere. I was running along, enjoying the lights and my run when a car slowed next to me and I heard a lady's voice say, "ma'am?" It was dark so I could not see who was in the car, and I did not stop. You may be thinking, that's kind of mean, but hear me out on this one. Before I tell you my little story, let me say this. I don't think you should ever stop and talk to people in a car, especially at night. Now, I have made the exception when I'm on a busy road in the daylight, but that is rare. I sort of wonder at the idiocy of a driver thinking they can pull up next to a running female at night believing she will (or should) actually stop and talk to them. Even if it is a car full of women who got lost on their way to Bunco night, it just isn't a good idea and as a runner you can't depend on it to be a car full of such women.

How did I come to feel this way? Well, first of all I was raised to be aware of what's going on around me, to pay attention to other people and to watch for signs of something strange or dangerous. So I've never been one to walk mindlessly to my car at night or to run in dark, unpopulated areas alone. But I also had quite an experience with a driver once and it has cured me from ever feeling like I should stop and help, even in the most seemingly safe conditions.

One morning I was running one of my regular routes. It was daylight and the school buses were already making their rounds. I was running to my sister's house and when I got there I was going to decide whether to turn around and run back or take the longer, hillier way home. As I turned on her road I crossed a 4 way stop. There was a white truck sitting in the opposite lane and so I waved as I always do when a car lets me pass. In a few minutes the car passed me, turned around and came back toward me. When it got to me it slowed and the man inside said something. It sounded like Spanish to me so I moved closer. I thought he might be lost.

When I was close enough to see him, I realized his pants were unzipped and he was workin' it (for lack of better phrasing). I was horrified and immediately turned and ran off. At this point I was almost to my sister's but I waited until the truck had driven out of sight before running into her driveway. I was so unsure of what to do. I told myself I wasn't hurt and nothing had happened, but my heart was racing and I had a sick feeling in my stomach. I wasn't sure if I should knock on Julie's door so early in the morning so I just stood there for a minute and all of a sudden her front curtains opened. She smiled to see me standing there in her yard and opened the door.

I told her what happened and got some water. She offered to drive me home and at first I said no, but then I realized I didn't have it in me to run back down that street. When I got home Jason encouraged me to call the police and I did. They came to the house and took a report. I described the truck and the man inside. I could tell they wanted more information and I wish I'd had all of my wits and had looked at the license plate, but I just wasn't prepared to see what I saw.

A few weeks later, the man's face was on the news. He was an illegal immigrant and he'd been showing himself to kids in other areas of town. I was relieved that they found him. After all, he'd been on my sister's road where her kids and countless others live! According to the news he was being deported, but who knows if that ever really came to be. It was a nice thought, though.

For a while I ran only with my morning crew. Eventually I started enjoying the occasional solo run once again and now I rarely give it a second thought when running down my sister's road. Still, I will not be approaching any cars, especially at night or in the dark early morning hours.

I wanted to write this cautionary post for the simple fact that I did feel kind of bad when I kept running the other night. But then part of me said that whoever was in that car had to understand. Even though I was in my neighborhood full of friendly Christmas lights, it is never safe to assume it is safe. Period. And if it really is a car full of ladies on their way to Bunco night, it is okay if they are a little late.

Running for the Holidays

2011-12-12T09:27:00.002-06:00

I love my daily Garfield comic. Especially around Christmas time because he is always up to something hilarious having to do with this most fun holiday season. And like Garfield, I am always thinking about it and planning for it - my gift purchases, gag gifts for dirty Santa (Jason and I had a pretty good laugh about that last night), cookie baking, Christmas tree decorating, office parties, watching Caroline in The Nutcracker ballet, and writing Christmas cards. Then there's looking forward to Christmas Day, and I'm like a 5 year old on Christmas Eve...beginning as soon as December gets here.

And now the countdown is on! Only 9 more work days and 16 days total until Christmas. I don't know how I'm supposed to concentrate at work. I'm already planning to spend my lunch break getting a few last minute items and present wrapping tonight.

There's also running during the holidays. I love this time of year because when I am on vacation, I can run whenever I want! I can still go early in the morning with the girls (and the promise of a nap later) or I can wait until the sun is high and the temperature is as warm as its going to get, and run then. I can run long or short or twice a day if I want. And lets face it, with all the Christmas goodies, a few extra miles in the sunshine is definitely warranted!

This past weekend was what would have been the 50 mile. I thought of it Friday when Jason and I would have been headed to Florida, and I thought of it Saturday as I drove to meet Shannon for a brisk morning run and then as I met with my first Running Start client after that. Sunday I realized I would have been recovering and wondered what the aftermath would have been. But even as I thought all of these things, I was not sad. Was it the Christmas season? The fact that my knee seemed a little less angry? Something else? I like to think it was a little of everything with God's grace mixed in. I think He knows the desires of our hearts and what brings us joy. And despite the fact that I gave up the goal this time around, I still feel so blessed, so taken care of and watched over.

So I'm not sad. And my knee isn't either. And as the holidays approach I will be able to run in the sunshine on a cool winter's day. That's pretty great. So is this second Garfield comic.

Hilarious! Here's hoping you are all looking forward to some GREAT running for the holidays!

Running and Writing

2011-12-07T09:13:00.001-06:00

"Like writing, running is so much about mind over matter. There are times when you have to override the discomfort and keep pushing. That capacity to endure and then prevail is just amazing." - Susan Orlean, Author and New Yorker staff writer

I saw this quote on Facebook today and it said exactly what I oftentimes feel about both running and writing. As I've mentioned before I absolutely love to write. My love of running has simply given me plenty of material to write about and so the two, for me, have gone hand in hand for quite a while. The more I wrote and the more I ran, the more stories I had to tell. I think pushing myself to tell of these running experiences, relationships, lessons, etc. has made me a better writer, just as training even when I don't feel like it has made me a better runner.

There are days when a runner has to override discomfort, the desire to sit this one out. And some might argue that running should be fun or there is no point (I agree with that for the most part), but sometimes the training, pushing, overriding, and overcoming is part of that fun. I really enjoy having a goal that gets me out there every morning and requires me to run certain distances and aim for certain paces. I also enjoy when I can simply run for fitness, pleasure, and a good chat with a friend or two (or seven) before work each day.

Either way, it is a journey well worth the effort.

The quote above also made me think of my friends and fellow local runners who will be running the Rocket City Marathon on Saturday. Many are entering their very first marathon, many are going for a personal record, and some are there to help runners from both groups achieve their goal. Saturday will be one of those days where they have to override the discomfort and keep pushing. They will have to endure for a little while in order to prevail.

Many of these runners I know, some I just know of, and countless others I know not at all, but I feel an excitement and anticipation for all of them. The weather Saturday is predicted to be absolutely perfect for marathon running and I wish all the runners out there the very, very best on their race day. Get out there and PREVAIL! (Maybe that's a good mantra word...)

Tuesday's Treat

2011-12-06T10:09:00.000-06:00

Today's treat is one recommended to me by my friend Shannon. On a bike ride one day we were discussing healthy snacks to keep us satisfied between meals while giving us nutrients our bodies needed, and she suggested Greek Yogurt. She said having some yogurt in the afternoon helped curb her sweet tooth and held her over until dinner time. I was in the thick of triathlon training at the time and I felt like I was always hungry. When I didn't have a healthy option, I would visit my co-worker's candy dish.

Something to curb my sweet tooth and mid after noon hunger? I was all about that! I tried several brands and my favorite so far is Chobani. They have several flavors with real fruit on the bottom such as black cheery, blueberry and strawberry. If you haven't tried Greek yogurt, it is a little thicker than other yogurts, but not so much that it becomes unappealing (to me). It is packed with good, wholesome ingredients and the website also claims that Chobani yogurt has no fat and no cholesterol, twice the protein, no artificial flavors or preservatives, no synthetic growth hormones, 3 types of probiotics, it is gluten free and kosher certified.

Sometimes I bring a little granola and sprinkle that in as well for a delicious mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack. I like knowing that I can curb that hunger and give my body something it needs. Give it a try! Most grocery stores carry it.

The Knee Knob Strikes Again

2011-12-05T10:16:00.000-06:00

As many of you regular readers know, I have a little injury I have dubbed, "the knee knob." I acquired this injury during a 50 mile trail run in October last year when my knee and the trail came to a disagreement and collided. The result was a calcium deposit that now sits on my knee right where my IT band and several other things intersect, which means if I don't keep those things super loose, the knob gets extremely angry and sore.

If you are a regular reader you may also know (possibly more than you cared to) about my current 50 mile ultra training. I have chronicled it every week, written countless posts on my thoughts, my training, my strategy, my doubt, my friends who help me with my doubt, etc.

That is why I think if you are a regular reader it may come as a bit of a surprise that I am not going to be running the 50 mile ultra this Saturday. I feel sort of ridiculous now that I have written about it ad nauseam and now, in the 11th hour, I am changing my mind. It seems like a lot of big talk and no action. I know. And it wasn't an easy decision to make, even if I know it to be the right one.

So let me explain. I have been able to run and train like I wanted (mostly), and even if the knee knob did complain somewhat during the run, it was not so bad and usually let up. It was after each run that it complained the loudest. When I'd get up from my desk at work, a certain amount of hobbling (sometimes groaning) would ensue. It was stiff and angry. Going up or down stairs hurt as well. At night, when I would fold myself up on the couch under a quilt, getting up was painful and many times it was hard to straighten out my knee after being still for so long.

I was also not as consistent with the foam roller as I should have been, nor with my stretching and grand plans to hit up a yoga class regularly. And the next morning I was up and at it again, allowing myself to ignore the previous evening's hobbling and creakiness.

After witnessing this over and over again, Jason talked to me about it. We decided that if I wanted to continue running - after the 50 mile and on into the future - maybe now was not the time to attempt such a long run with such a moody knee. He felt awful even bringing it up since I'd been looking forward to it for so long, but I knew he was right and I agreed. And if I'm honest with myself as I look back, I have not been able to train as hard as I would have liked due to the knee knob and my caution because of it. While I may have trained enough to go the distance, it wasn't what I had planned, and I think you have seen that in my weekly training posts.

So while I am disappointed to give up this adventure I've been looking forward to for so long, I'm also a little relieved. I was concerned about the aftermath of this 50 mile run, and I am not a big fan of taking time off. I want to run every day and I want to feel good. More than conquering new distances and better finish times is that fact. I simply love to run and it is my hope that I will be able to run as long as I live and desire to do so.

And so, as wishy-washy, ridiculous and odd as it may seem given what you've been reading the last few months, the verdict is out and I will not be running the 50 mile this weekend. Saturday may be tinged with a hint of disappointment as I think (or try not to think) about how I am not in Florida going the distance, and even as so many friends run and pace the Rocket City Marathon that day, but I know I've made the right decision and for the most part I am at peace with it.

MORE Christmas Gifts for Runners

2011-11-30T08:56:00.001-06:00

A few days ago I put together a full list of practical, much needed gifts for runners that most likely will not break the bank. You can find it here. When visiting Runnersworld.com yesterday, I saw they too had some gift guides. The first I saw was a slide show of unique runner gifts. Some of these are just downright cool. They listed Christmas ornaments, unique running shirt ideas, customizable race bib coasters, and even a race bib rack (compliments of etsy). A few of them are kind of goofy - such as the banana and gorilla costume, but the others are fun. Take a look at the slide show for some unique ideas!

Unique Gifts for Runners

If you like the Christmas ornament idea, our local (Huntsville, AL) specialty running stores carry them. I'm not 100% sure about Fleet Feet, but last year First Place Athletics had a ton in all colors that read 13.1, 26.2, Runner Girl, etc.

After reading about the unique gift options, I switched over to their 2011 Holiday Gift Guide. These are a little more expensive, but may give you more ideas on gifts to give your favorite runner.

Runner's World 2011 Holiday Gift Guide

Enjoy!

Final Ultra Training Week and Pre-Race Reading

2011-11-29T11:51:00.000-06:00

Ultra training for the Tallahassee Ultra Classic coming up December 10 is just about completed. I've given myself until the end of November but last week was really the end.

Sunday, Nov 20 - Jingle Bell 5k, 23:56, 7:43 average pace. This was a flat, fast course and a fun run. We got rained on toward the end, but it was still a blast.

Monday, Nov 21 - 19.2 miles around 9:30 average pace. I started the run with the girls, ran about 10 with them and then had 10 more to run solo. These were hard. I am not sure why, but they were. So when I showed back up at my car around 19.2 I'd had enough and I called it quits. I just hope this is not foreshadowing how the 50 mile will feel.

Tuesday, Nov 22 - rest

Wednesday, Nov 23 - ran 6 morning miles with the girls around 10 minute pace. Ran 3 afternoon miles around 8:30 pace.

Thursday, Nov 24 - ran the Turkey Trot 5k to start off my Thanksgiving Day festivities. Ran in 24:08, 7:47 average pace. Hiked after lunch that afternoon.

Friday, Nov 25 - rest, unless you count shopping till dropping, starting at midnight.

Saturday, Nov 26 - ran 6.5 afternoon miles, 8:21 pace.

Sunday, Nov 27 - rest (from what I'm not sure, but it rained the entire day giving me an excuse...sort of)

Monday, Nov 28 - ran 12 morning miles with Katie, 9:25 average pace. In a rainy 44 degrees. I felt tough afterward.

That leaves today and tomorrow and I'm not sure what these days will bring. I may be able to run this afternoon and plan to meet the girls tomorrow morning. After that I will taper, which means I will run no more than 6 miles a day, dropping the miles and relaxing the pace even more closer to race day.

I'm also focusing on mental preparation as well. I can freak myself out if I allow myself to really think about running 50 miles. That is a long way. But I did it once and on trails. So I've returned to my 3-part series about the Northface Endurance Challenge to serve as a reminder of what I can overcome.

My First Fifty Part I or the Woods were Lovely, Dark and Deep
My First Fifty Part II or Love Conquers All
My First Fifty Part II or I Could Be a Stunt Double

I also read the amazing write-up of Kristin Armstrong's recent 50 mile adventure. I love how she tells the story, how she remembers the run and the moving moments she experienced. It is definitely worth a read, even if ultra running is not your thing.

Mile Markers: Seven Sharpie Marks

So now its about waiting, tapering and getting my mind ready to lead my body through its second 50 mile journey.

Rainy Friends and Crazy Miles

2011-11-28T10:02:00.003-06:00

After the Thanksgiving holidays and Black Friday's crazy sleep schedule, I got out of my routine. This usually happens around the holidays since I don't have to get up so early to run when I'm not working. It doesn't take much and I am back to my old ways of staying up late and sleeping in (although I don't think my sleeping in now can hold a candle to what I used to do back in my high school and college years).

Friday and Saturday were gorgeous days filled with all kinds of shopping and errands. So when a rainy Sunday morning showed up, the lazies took hold with a vengeance. I didn't do a thing. Not one single thing. And it was lovely. But by the end of the day, I knew I was going to need a jolt to get me back into my routine, and with work starting back Monday so would my early morning runs.

I e-mailed my running crew about a morning run, but the weather did not look promising. The forecast predicted 100% chance of rain for 5am Monday morning and I groaned in annoyance. I don't get off work until 5pm and by then it is dark. I'm not a big treadmill fan, but I will run on one if there are no other options. I was trying to make a plan for the next day when I picked up my phone and noticed a text from Katie. She wanted to know if I would run even if it was raining. She wanted 12 miles and she wanted to start at 4:40am. I said yes. She probably knew I would, and that was the jolt I needed.

I checked the weather again, this time for the temperature. If I was going to be wet, I needed to know how much more to wear to compensate. For a rainy 44 degree morning, I chose calf tights, a long sleeved Nike shirt, a vest, a toboggan, and light gloves. This turned out to be just right.

There was a light but steady rain when I pulled up to our meeting place this morning. Katie was already there and as I parked we shared a glance that said, "Are we really doing this?" At least that's what I was thinking. As soon as we got out of our cars, we started running.

It really was not so bad and we had a good time. The rain came and went as we ran and chatted. The miles seemed to go by quickly as they always do when I run with Katie. We finished our 12 miles and we were both so glad to have gotten out there and done it. It is hard for both of us to run any other time of the day, so even with the rain we knew this was our best shot. Even being wet, I was warm and comfortable until I stopped running and then the cold set in quickly.

We said a quick good-bye, still smiling after our rainy morning run. I cranked up the heat in my car and rushed home to a hot shower and coffee. As I drove to work I thought about the morning run and how I probably would not have gotten out there alone in the dark rain without Katie. Sometimes, if you really want the miles, you have to get a little crazy to get them and I am so glad I have a running friend who will start at crazy early hours, run in crazy weather and help me get in those miles.

Christmas Gifts for Runners

2011-11-27T11:33:00.010-06:00

Are you the best friend, spouse, sibling or parent of a runner? Do you want to support their running hobby but don't know where to start? Working with a tight budget? This is the list for you!

I have compiled a list of gift ideas and all the information about each gift (location, price, function, good brands and brands to avoid, etc.). I cannot count how many times friends have asked me what to get the special runner in their life and this is my attempt to help! For any runners reading, add your suggestions in the comments section!

Socks

Most avid runners go through socks quickly and believe it or not, good socks are important to help avoid blisters and hot spots.

Balega socks (one of my faves) are about $12.99 a pair, unless you find a deal. Fleet Feet sometimes offers buy 3 get 1 free. Most specialty running stores like Fleet Feet carry these socks. I have not found them in larger sports stores such as Dick's or Sports Authority, but you can also order them online for cheaper prices.

Feetures is another good brand and these can also be found at many specialty running stores as well as some larger sports stores. Visit their site here.

Asics, Nike, and Reebok are also good brands and you can usually get 3 pair for $12.99 and they come in loud and sassy designs and colors. Most large sports stores such as Dick's and Sports Authority carry these brands.

One brand to avoid when sock shopping is Under Armor. I bought a pack of 6 socks and after one wear and wash, the toes had holes in them. I like their cotton-like running shirts, but I will not buy anymore of their socks (even if they do have some fun color schemes).

Hats and Visors

These are another great gift for runners. I like visors best to protect me from bright sun and bugs, but in cold temps, I wear a toboggan.

Headsweats are my all time favorite brand for visors. You can find these at specialty running stores such as Fleet Feet or your local running shop, and some other athletic stores carry them as well. These run around $20-$25. You can also order them online.

As for toboggans, I think the louder the color the better. You can get these at Target, Wal-mart, Dick's, Sports Authority, Fleet Feet, First Place Athletics, etc.

Gloves

These are another must for cold weather running. I prefer to buy the super cheap pairs in case I need to toss them in a race.

Target and Wal-mart sell these for $1.50-$2.00 for 2 pairs and these come in all sorts of colorful designs. A great stocking stuffer, and like socks, you can't have too many.

If you want a nicer pair, Nike and Under Armor have some great gloves and you can get these at both specialty running stores and the larger sports stores such as Dick's and Sport's Authority. These run from $20-$30 dollars depending on the brand.

Books

There are some great reads out there for runners so if your runner is a reader too, here are a few titles they may enjoy. Most of these can be found at local bookstores, although a safe bet is always amazon.com. Some specialty running stores carry popular titles as well.

My Life on the Run by Bart Yasso. This is one of my all time favorite running books. Filled with stories of triumph and defeat, humor and adventure, this is the perfect book to inspire, uplift, and explain the highs and lows of a runner's journey. The paperback version is available on Amazon.com for $6.78, but there are not many copies left in stock.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. This is another adventure story that covers the issues of running form, shoes and natural running. McDougall tells the story of a hidden tribe of "superatheletes" the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons. A great read to the very end. This one is $15.82 on Amazon.com.

Run the Edge by Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano. This is a great read full of inspiring, moving stories to motivate every runner from the experienced to those just starting out. This book can be found at their website for $17.95.

Mile Markers by Kristin Armstrong. I have not read this one yet, but it is on my wish list this Christmas. I have been reading Kristin's blog on the Runner's World website and I really like her writing style and approach to running. You can get this one at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com for around $11.00.

The Runner's Rule Book by Mark Remy. This is another favorite of mine. A hilarious mixture of true and witty running etiquette. I found this one in Barnes & Noble a long time ago so I'm not sure if they still carry it, but you can find it on Amazon.com for $12.23.

Injury Prevention

Two things I use when trying to stretch out sore tendons and muscles are the foam roller (written about here) and the stick. Low priced and easy to use, these items are a must for the avid runner in your life.

Foam roller - I purchased mine from Power Systems online for $18.95 (36x6). The standard white foam roller is great for getting to those hard to stretch areas such as the IT band. You can also find these at Fleet Feet and other specialty running or sports stores.

The Stick - This is another rolling self massage tool, but one you hold in your hands. It is more mobile so runners can take it to races and events out of town if they wish. Many specialty running stores such as Fleet Feet carry this item, and you can also find it on Amazon.com. It runs from $27-45 depending on the brand.

Stocking Stuffers

Below are some smaller items to keep your runner safe, visible and well fueled for those longer runs.

Mace - Many running stores sell small mace sprayers, but you can also find them at places like Gander Mountain, Wal-mart, Dick's, Sports Authority, etc. They come in all colors and sizes and are great if your runner goes for early morning or late afternoon runs in the dark. These range from $10-$20 depending on brand.

Sports Beans - Many runners (and other athletes as well) use these for quick, easy, portable fuel. They are a lot like jelly beans but with more than just sugar, and you can find these at most sports stores like Fleet Feet or Sports Authority. They cost around $3.00 each.

Blinky lights - These are also important to keep your runner visible if they run in the dark. There are clip on lights and even lights you can wear like rings. You can get a 12 pack of the rings from Amazon.com for around $12.00. They are called Flashing LED Bumpy Rings. You can get the clip on lights from stores such as Fleet Feet for around $5-$12 depending on the brand.

Other types of fuel your runner might like to try are Gu, Nuun, Honey Stinger bars, and Power Bar bites and gummies. These all make good stocking stuffers as well.

Body Glide - This is another must for runners. It is an anti-chafe agent and it works like a charm. It comes in different sized tubes that look a lot like deodorant. Prices vary according to what size tube you get and these can be found at all sports stores and race expos as well.

iPod Shuffle - Okay, maybe a little more than a stocking stuffer, this gift usually runs around $45-$50 depending on where you get it. For the runner who likes to rock out during a run, this is the easiest device. It clips on apparel (and many types of running apparel provide pockets for it), so that the runner hardly knows it is there. The controls are easy to use without looking, so runners can change a song, adjust the volume or pause it in mere seconds. You can find these at Wal-mart, Target, Best Buy, the Apple Store, and online on Amazon.com. An iTunes gift card is always a nice addition to this gift as well.

Apparel

This can sometimes be tricky unless you know your runner well and know their sizes. I'm pretty picky about what I wear since I like to be comfortable and feel like I look good in what I wear. Some brands run small while others run large, so that can be tough too. However, one safe bet is usually the tempo short.

Tempo shorts come in all colors and are great for not only running but for gym classes, weights, walking and yard mowing. These can be found everywhere and run around $25.00 a pair. You can even get these designed with your favorite sports team logo on them as well.

A good rule of thumb when purchasing apparel is to keep the gift receipt. That way your runner can pick something that works if your gift does not. Either way, you are helping them in their running journey, so don't feel bad if what you picked doesn't fit. A running apparel shopping spree is always fun!

Gift Certificate Ideas

Wanting to spend a bit more on the special runner in your life? Here are some gift certificate ideas that may help.

Deep Tissue Massage - A massage does wonders for your runner and is always such a treat. Most spas have some sort of deep tissue massage (although you can't really go wrong with any of the other massage types), but if you are a Huntsville local I would suggest Kim Susor at the Body Reform Pilates Fitness Studio or Naomi Jacobs with Massage and Movement Synergy. These run anywhere from $70-$100.

Pedicures - I don't know a runner (at least in the female category) who does not enjoy a good pedicure. These run anywhere from $25-$30 depending on where you go (a spa may be more than a nail salon). One thing to check on before you purchase your gift certificate, however, is the health score. This is usually posted somewhere inside the salon, and I would not settle for less than 100%.

Private coaching or a personal trainer - If your runner is seeking to improve, one of these can always be of assistance. It is my turn to put in a shameless plug for Running Start, LLC. I do provide gift certificates and would love to work with your favorite runner to help them reach a distance goal, work on speed and endurance, running form and injury prevention. Check out my website for packages and pricing.

Was this list helpful? Did I leave out anything important? Feel free to send questions in the comments section and I, along with my other running readers will share our thoughts and comments on the matter. I will also add anything else I think of, so check back for new ideas. Good luck shopping for your runner. You never know... you may discover an interest in the sport yourself.

Running, Eating, Hiking and Shopping

2011-11-26T09:52:00.005-06:00

I started my Thanksgiving Day festivities with a local Turkey Trot 5k. I picked up my friend Katie, my mom and sister, and it was so fun. My finish time was 24:08, which is not my best but at this race I decided something. I don't want to get into the habit of making excuses or looking for a reason every time I don't run my best. Every time can't be a personal record. It just can't. And it won't. Sure, I'll step on that starting line with the intention of doing my absolute best. But if my best is 24:08 that day, I'm going to be happy with that. I get tired of thinking about and talking about all the reasons why... not enough sleep, did not taper, too cold, too hot, my foot hurt, I didn't eat enough, I ate too much...

So. No more. This runner is going to be thankful (good word for the day) for a race with friends, for a good run, for the health that allows me to do it. That doesn't mean the next time I shoot for a PR and don't make it I won't be disappointed. Sure, I understand that and I've been there. It's hard. But I don't want to treat every race, especially those run for a little holiday fun, like that. It just gets kinda silly after a while, you know?

Julie, Mom and me in our Turkey Trot 5k t-shirts.

After the Turkey Trot it was cold so as soon as we all finished running, we hopped in the car. My amazing sister DID get a PR that day, and she was pretty excited. She got a little worn out with running while training for her first half-marathon, and I think seeing improvement has restored her interest in it. When I got home I took a shower, packed up my pecan pie, the ingredients for green bean casserole, my pup and Jason, and we headed to Mom and Dad's.

It was an absolute gorgeous day to be on the mountain. Thanksgiving lunch was delicious and it was so fun to be surrounded by sweet family and friends all talking and laughing. I love the traditional Thanksgiving Day meal and everything was great. After lunch we headed outside where Julie took some pictures of Jason and me (for possible Christmas cards) and then we all went for a hike. It has been so long since I have hiked on the mountain and I had forgotten how much fun it is. Chance agreed but was worn out pretty quick since he is not used to running around that long. He had his cousin, Jethro, with him as well which meant extra romping and wrestling.


Jethro and Chance hiking, wrestling, and sniffing all the new sniffs.

Reaching Mid-Field half way up the mountain.

Me with my one true love on Thanksgiving Day.

It just doesn't get any better than that. After our hike we enjoyed pecan pie made by me, apple pie made by Mark (Julie's husband) and coffee as we looked over all the Black Friday ads and made our plans for the next day (aka, that night!). When I realized that many of the places we wanted to go opened at midnight, I had another cup of coffee for good measure.

Coffee cups and Black Friday ads

We headed home around 7:00 p.m. and when Julie and Mom told me they'd pick me up at 12:30a.m., I went to bed at 8:30...but didn't really sleep until around 10:00 or so. Sure enough, we were out and about by 12:30, laughing at ourselves for being so crazy. We hit up Target first where we got coffee before shopping. Julie bought the Nintendo DS bundle she wanted for Caleb and I'm pretty sure that was the only deal we were after there. The hardest part was standing in line all that time to purchase it, but we eventually made it out and headed to Bed, Bath & Beyond where I purchased bathmats and towels to decorate my bathroom, receiving 20% off everything. Mom also purchased mine and Jason's Christmas present for a discount. After that we hit Kohls, which is a place I rarely shop but I got my Dad and brother-in-law a shirt for 60% off, along with some sweaters for myself at that same discount. I saved $128.00, spending less than that. I was pretty excited about those purchases. After Kohls we headed to Toys R Us for Legos, but were disappointed to find that the ones we wanted were not included in the 35% off deal. By this time it was 5:30 a.m. so we headed to Breuggers for breakfast and home for a much needed nap.

I crawled in bed next to my sleeping husband around 6:30 a.m. thinking I was too wound up to sleep, but it hit me and I slept until about 8:50 a.m. I got up, had coffee, took a blissfully hot shower and hit the streets yet again with my crazy mom and sis, this time with a niece in tow. We headed to Bridge Street shopping center and it was another gorgeous day to be out and about. I bought a few little things for Jason, Caroline, and my soon-to-be sister-in-law, but we found the best and most surprising deal at Barnes & Noble. They had a 50% off discount for all educational toys and games, and Legos were included! I got Caleb's Star Wars Lego set for half price!

We ended our shopping spree around 3:00 p.m. and I was really beat this time. I had planned to run, but my legs were tired and achy from all the walking and standing, so I cleaned my bathroom instead and put out all my new things. It looks lovely too. I went to bed at 8:30 p.m., not being able to hold my eyes open any longer as Jason and I watched TV. And I slept until 7:30 the next morning. Luxurious!!

It felt a lot like Thanksgiving Day just went on and on with a few naps sprinkled in, but it was so much fun! I've never gotten up quite that early to shop on Black Friday before and I'm not sure I will again, but it was fun to say we did and it was fun while we did it!

Today will be house cleaning and maybe some present wrapping (so that curious eyes will not find their gifts), and one more run before I total up this week's ultra training numbers. This is the last week before the taper...and the countdown begins for the Tallahassee Ultra Classic 50 Mile.

I'd close with "On with the training!" but that doesn't really fit anymore. Instead, I will say it has been a wonderful Thanksgiving and I have been overwhelmed as I often am by how much I have been given. I am blown away and humbled by it all. And thankful. So very thankful.

Ultra Training Week 12 and the Power of a Strong Mind

2011-11-19T10:19:00.005-06:00

It won't be long until November is over and taper time will begin! I can't believe December is so close! For this week, here are the totals:

Sunday, Nov 13 - Ran 7 miles that afternoon. Ran 2 to the local YMCA, ran 3 on the treadmill with Shannon, and ran 2 home. The first two were awful. I really thought I would not make it. I think that was due to the half-marathon the day before, dozing on the couch, and a bowl of ice cream after lunch. It got better, though. The treadmill part was good and I left the pace at 9:50 for most of it. Then I ran home and felt a ton better, with my last mile split at 8:29.

Monday, Nov 14 - Ran 10 morning miles, 9:53 pace. I ran 6 with the girls but Katie wanted 10 so I continued with her and I was so glad I did!

Tuesday, Nov 15 - Ran 6.3 solo morning miles in the warm, humid air at 8:50 pace. My legs were super tired, but I got it done. Attended the Turbokick class at the gym that night. I love that class, but I have paid for my long absence from it all week! Ouch! I may have been a little two enthusiastic with my uppercuts and hooks.

Wednesday, Nov 16 - Ran 6.7 morning miles at 9:13 pace. Ran solo again because it rained out the early morning crew. Another run with tired legs, but I was glad the rain stopped and I got out there.

Thursday, Nov 17 - I was too tired that morning, but I attended the Body Attack (I feel so hard core saying that) class that night at the gym. This was the first time I'd attended this class and it was tough, but great. High cardio with lots of jumping around and throwing my arms in the air. The instructor was awesome and hilarious, which kept me grinning even when she yelled, "High knees!" for the 50th time.

Friday, Nov 18 - Ran 6 morning miles with Katie and Tracey. The warm, humid weather left us a COLD morning in which to run. We warmed up quickly, though, and I enjoyed our morning jaunt around 9:36 pace.

Saturday, Nov 19 (today) - Ran 10.3 morning miles with Katie. She was doing her long run of 20 miles and shooting for an 8:55 pace since that is her pacing time for the Rocket City Marathon (she's the 3:55 pacer). When we first started I felt tired and creaky (this may have much to do with Turbokick and Body Attack), but once we got going I felt better. I had no idea what sort of pace we were doing as I got lost in our conversation, but I completed my 10.3 in 1:32:00 which is around 8:50 average pace. I left Katie right before mile 10 to head back and when my watch beeped the 10 mile split, it showed an 8:55. I grinned.

My weekly total is 46.1 miles.

I have NO idea what the deal is this time around in my ultra training. Is it the cold and the dark? Is it my knee knob? Is it all the sports nutrition/running form/pose method/training talk in which I've engaged this semester that has muddied the waters when I think about training?

Whatever it is, it's annoying. I had a great talk with Jason about it all over dinner last night. I talk with other runners and trainers and athletes with different perspectives, and I begin to doubt what I know and what I think as I consider what they've said. But when I talk to Jason, everything makes sense. If there is anyone I trust to really know what he's talking about, its Jason (my amazing 2:38 marathoner, Ironman husband).

One thing he said last night was that I have to do what I believe is necessary to run a 50 mile ultra run. The mind is a powerful tool and if my mind believes I have done what was needed and that I'm ready, then I'm ready. While I believe knowledge, research, and experience are important factors when training and seeking to improve, I also agree with his statement about the mind.

So here's what my mind is telling me. My mind is sort of aggravated that I've let all this information crowd in and change my training strategy mid-course. However, my mind also knows that I've been consistent in my training. My mind knows that I am tough and my mind knows what I have done before. It remembers the marathons and the previous ultras. My mind knows I can dig deep. I also have people like Jason and Katie and my mom to remind me of these things when I forget.

Would I change a few things that I've done up to this point? I would. I would do more. Despite that I still believe I can complete this 50 mile. It may not be the most impressive time. There may be (will be) lots of room for improvement. And when it is all said and done I will have learned some great lessons, providing more ammunition for a strong mind and future races...

A Runner's Quotable Quotes

2011-11-18T11:18:00.008-06:00

As I've mentioned before, now that I'm down to the wire I've been doing a lot of worrying about the upcoming 50 Mile. The end of November signals the end of my training and as many runners do, I begin to question and doubt what I've done up to that point.

Well, I've got some pretty good running friends and because of them (and some lunch-time running website browsing) I came across some very encouraging quotes.

The first I found on the Run the Edge blog, and while the writer, Adam Goucher, is on an entirely different level than I am, our feelings about the start line of a race are very similar. He described it perfectly in his post. Here are the bits that spoke to me.

I have always craved starting lines. Starting lines have a magnetic pull for me. Even more than the finish, I crave the start. I yearn to toe that line and measure myself not only against my competitors and the clock, but also against my previous limits. Starting lines represent hope. They represent a dream, and all the preparation it took to get there.

I believe starting lines give you a purpose. When you stand at the line before the start of a race you know exactly what you want to do. You have a direction and a goal. During the race you are fulfilling that purpose with each stride and each breath. You are constantly striving to do exactly what you set out to do before the race began.

Maybe what he says here can help me answer the age-old question of non-runners, "Why?" Hope. A dream. Purpose. That's why.

The next quote I received from my dear friend, Julia, who sent me a link to Kristin Armstrong's blog on the Runner's World website. Kristin has also been training for a 50 mile race and I think hers is very soon. In her article she quoted Keith Pippin and his article, "Rules for Being an Ultrarunner."

When you run, there are no mistakes, only lessons. The art and science of ultra running is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The failed experiments are as much a part of the successes as the combination that eventually works.

Lessons will be presented in various forms and intensities. Each lesson will be repeated until it is learned. When you have learned one lesson you will be presented with another.

The learning of lessons does not end. There is no part of your running experience that does not contain lessons. Each time you run there are lessons to be learned.

As you advance to greater challenges, you will continue to gain knowledge of yourself. Periodically you will be required to reach ever deeper in to your inner being, seeking out the strength needed to continue the endeavor of the moment. The strength you seek is layered within. The number of layers in infinite. All you have to do is believe, have faith in yourself, and expect to find that which you seek.

And finally, this morning after a run with Katie and Tracey, Katie and I talked about the usual worry that always accompanies the end of one's training. I thought it was kind of funny as we switched roles and she told me exactly what I told her as she approached her Chicago Marathon and a 3:15 marathon finish time. She reminded me to have confidence in my training so far and not to scramble now, trying to fit in last minute things in an effort to catch up with whatever I thought I had not done (my paraphrase). Even though I knew these things in my head, it helped so much to hear them from her. She knows exactly how I'm feeling and exactly how to help, just as Julia found an article that might help me and sent it my way.

I'm so thankful for good running friends and for great runners who have shared their knowledge and experience with the rest of us. I hope you too, dear reader, can find some encouragement from these runner quotable quotes.

My Cool Older Sister and the Bad Hair Decade

2011-11-17T15:12:00.023-06:00

The other night Jason and I were talking about kids because we'd like to have some, and I asked him which gender he'd like to have first. He said he didn't really care as long as they were healthy. I agreed, but went on to discuss which gender made the best "older sibling." I decided upon females because they are more nurturing. Jason said I felt that way because I had only known an older sister and I'd had a good experience (he is an oldest sibling himself).

This was so true. Immediately a thousand memories came barreling through my thoughts - memories of my wonderful experience as the little sister of an older sister. I alluded to a few of these memories in a post a while back.

I don't know about you, but my growing up years were fraught with awkwardness. I had big, frizzy hair because my mom didn't realize it was naturally curly and she blew it out every morning, making for the fro of the century. I had the worst air stylist in the world as well and so my fro usually looked like an gigantic tent on top of my head (except for my brief mullet phase). Take thick, frizzy hair and put it smack in the middle of one of the most humid places on earth (Panama City, FL) and that makes for a lot of ponytails in my day. I think I had one good hair day a year, sometime in January.

My sis (center) back in the day.

My sister, who had blissfully thin, straight hair would often try to help me with mine. She'd tease up my bangs as was the style of the day and help me look "cool" for school picture day. She'd even let me borrow her super stylish high school clothes, although I'm not sure anyone ever noticed my hip attire with that gigantic mop on top of my head. It helped me feel better, though, and if I got made fun of, it wasn't so bad because my sister was most likely way cooler than theirs.

In the 6th grade the worst thing imaginable happened for someone with thick, frizzy hair. I got lice from a friend at school. It took us a while to figure it out, but once we did I was mortified. Julie had taken me to a fancy hair stylist to try to do something new and better with my hair and they discovered it there. They hurriedly ushered us out of the salon, and as we made our way back to her car I started to cry. Julie hugged me (even with the new residents in my hair) and told me it would be okay. We told Mom and Dad, and they got what we needed from the store. It was my sister who washed my hair with that horrible smelling shampoo and combed it with that tiny little comb...which took hours. My dad threatened to shave my head if I didn't cooperate and looking back, that might have been the best approach. After countless tears, tangles and broken combs, however, we got it.

Right after I got engaged.

And not too long after that I discovered the magic of Pantene styling mousse which made tiny, bouncy curls explode from my head. Still not ideal for a middle school girl who longed for the straight and easy hair of her older sister, but a definite improvement from what used to be.

Hanging at the Botanical Gardens in Huntsville

This story is just one of many about my amazing older sister (6 years older to be exact) who stepped in again and again to make my awkward tween and teen years less awkward. She took care of me when I was sick, hugged me when my little heart got broken, let me wear all of her clothes and even shared her Michael Jackson and REO Speedwagon cassettes.

"The Hurkey" in Julie's backyard

So Jason was right. Having an older sister is all I know and my experience was pretty great. But if Jason and I are blessed with kids and we have a girl first, I'm going to do my best to teach her to be a good big sister. And I know just who to ask for pointers!

Excitement and Such

2011-11-16T15:51:00.000-06:00

I'm sitting in the recording studio at work recording an engineering class that makes very little sense to me. I'm monitoring the audio and video, making sure everything I'm recording is coming through okay and making editing notes along the way of bits I don't want in the final version that I will put online for our distance education students.

However, while I'm doing all of this I'm getting excited! So much fun is just around the corner and I can hardly contain myself... which makes sitting in this dark, quiet room somewhat torturous. I'll be recording this class until Saturday and then... it will be time for FUN!

Sunday afternoon I will run the Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell 5k with my 32 team members. We have raised a total of $1010.00 so far and I am pumped about that! (Note: if you are reading this and want to join us or donate, you have until tomorrow night at midnight to do so online). You can still register before the race at packet pick-up or on race day.

Sunday has also been dubbed Hug a Runner Day by Run the Edge and I absolutely love this.

According to Run the Edge's blog on the subject, you can participate by wearing running shoes all day long or by taking it a step further and wearing a race bib on your normal clothes (I am so tempted...). If you see someone at church, work, or on the street wearing either of these items you are to rush over and give them a hug!

I intend to make good on this. So...look out. You may get hugged and I can't promise it will be before the 5k either.

After the Jingle Bell 5k I will have a day off on Monday to make up for working on Saturday and on that day I will run a 20 miler and catch up on house work. After that, it is only a day and a half of work and a much needed haircut before Thanksgiving is here. Time with family. Fun pictures. Great food. No work. Cool temps. And shopping on Black Friday with my sister. We haven't done this in 2 years because our Thanksgivings at home have not been in sync but they are this time and I can't wait! I've been itching to start my Christmas shopping and decorating, but I prefer to hold off until after Thanksgiving.

After the eating, relaxing, celebrating and shopping, it will be back to work and I'll have to enlist all the self-discipline I have (which on most days isn't much) to focus on work before the Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50 mile. I am excited and nervous about this...but mostly excited. I can't wait for that moment at the start line... the moment of unknowns and butterflies, deep breaths, the wringing of hands both out of nervousness and the attempt to keep them warm... And then the race starts and I become the strongest version of myself as I run, trying to overcome fatigue, weakness, and doubt.

Once the 50 mile is over, I will begin looking forward to Christmas (well, I probably won't wait until the 50 mile is over to start but you know what I mean). I've written before about how much I love gift giving. I love planning out the perfect gifts for those I love and then the search, purchase and wrapping with fun, decorative paper of those oh-so-perfect gifts. I love watching them accumulate under my tree and thinking about each person's reaction when they open them.

So, as I sit here in this dark recording room day dreaming, planning, and looking forward to all of these events, I am getting excited. There is so much to look forward to...I just have to make it to Saturday.

Things That Matter

2011-11-16T10:36:00.001-06:00

I write a lot about running. Sometimes when I think about it, it seems kind of silly to write (and think) so much about picking up one foot and putting down the other foot as fast as I can over and over again. But I love to run and I love to write and the two have morphed together resulting in this blog. So I write about amazing running experiences like PR races, special moments with good friends, and sunrises that blow me away. I also get down into the less interesting nitty gritty of numbers and times, predictions and training. I love to tell and relive the experiences, and I like to write the numbers to organize it all in my mind.

And I feel blessed by all of this. It is no exaggeration to say that every single time I run, I am thankful to be able to do so. But even with all this love and thankfulness and time spent writing and thinking about it...I know it really does not matter. Nope. Not a single mile of it. It does not matter in the big scheme of things.

So what matters? Love. Glorifying God. Helping others. Remembering what matters. And while running is a huge blessing in my life, I think it can also serve as a distraction from what matters. I was reminded of this on Sunday. Gary Bradley spoke of the good we should be doing, but how easy it is to get distracted. He said those distractions may not even be wrong. Like running. Running isn't wrong, but I could get so wrapped up in it that I forget what matters. More important than my physical self is a spiritual self that needs a workout as well.

As cliche as it may sound, this month makes me reflect more so than usual on being thankful (although I've been trying to keep that going with my list of gifts). And once I get started counting... look out! In the book, "One Thousand Gifts", one of the most powerful things I read said that if you fill your mind with the things for which you are thankful, there is no room for all of the other negative thoughts (that's my paraphrase, although I quote it in this entry). You can only feel one emotion at a time, so you can use thankfulness to battle against anger, hurt, or any other sort of negative feeling that has taken hold.

And let me just say if you haven't tried it, sitting around being thankful feels pretty great. I'd rather give up whatever anger or frustration or worry or jealousy or any other negative feeling for a thankful one. It feels so much better to sit around day dreaming about the amazing husband I married than to think about what I don't like about my job.

This applies to my running because lately I have been worried. I've been worried about Running Start, LLC and finally chasing my passion to DO what I love. I've been worried about my upcoming 50 mile and whether or not I've trained enough and if I'll have a good race. I even worry about what others think of all this, although I usually give that one up pretty quickly because I have zero control over it. Instead of smiling and being grateful for the run that day, I'm sitting at my desk with a furrowed brow looking at the mileage numbers with a critical eye. That is not what my journey as a runner is about.

My journey as a runner is about being thankful for each mile. It is about being thankful for the amazing relationships I have because of my involvement in the sport. It is about staying healthy and being strong. It is about glorifying God in all that I do, and making sure He (and others) know that I'm grateful for every personal success. It is also about sharing it with others. My story is one of an average Jane doing more than she ever imagined and I believe wholeheartedly that others (you) can do those things too if they (you) want. Hence the founding of Running Start, LLC.

So as Thanksgiving draws nearer, followed by the 50 mile ultra that has consumed my thoughts of late, I want to remember what really matters. While I want to be the very best runner I can be, and give everything I do my all, I want to be a good person more. I want to be a good wife and friend and sister and follower of Christ. I want people to not only know that I love to run, but that I also love. Period.

That is what really matters to me.

Ultra Training Week 11 and the Huntsville Half Marathon

2011-11-14T13:23:00.001-06:00

This was a pretty good running week topped off with one of my favorite races in Huntsville, the Huntsville half-marathon. It was a great race, perfect weather, and it seemed like everyone was out there volunteering or running. But more on that later. Here are the weekly totals:

Sunday, Nov 6 - ran 10 strong afternoon miles with Katie who was pushing Clara in the jogging stroller. We tackled one of the toughest hills in Madison (dubbed, "the dragon") and averaged an 8:55 pace. The flatter miles were around 8:20-8:30 pace and I felt so good and strong. Katie texted me when she was on her run with Clara asking if I'd like to join them. I told her my plan and she joined me! We had the best time, and Clara was a trooper! It was also the most gorgeous fall day imaginable.

Monday, Nov 7 - ran 6.7 morning miles solo, 8:57 pace. My legs were VERY tired after the 10 mile hilly course the day before and I unwisely tackled another hill... making me super sore after that.

Tuesday, Nov 8 - ran 3 afternoon miles, 8:40 pace. Legs were still pretty sore, but I wanted to get out and work on my running form a bit.

Wednesday, Nov 9 - Ran 6 morning miles with the girls at 10:10 pace, and this run felt tough too. I began to get a little worried about how I'd feel in the upcoming half-marathon.

Thursday, Nov 10 - Ran 7 morning miles solo, 8:36 pace. Felt pretty good on this one. It was lovely brisk, chilly morning.

Friday, Nov 11 - Ran and walked 2 miles with my sis.

Saturday, Nov 12 - Ran the Huntsville Half-marathon in 1:48:26, 8:13 pace. I had a great time running with Kristi, catching up with her, and seeing so many friends and family members along the way. The last 3 miles felt tough, but I hung on to Kristi to get that 1:48. After I finished, I grabbed some water and headed backward along the course to get Julie. I probably should have taken off my race number, because to the runners still giving all they had to finish, I probably looked like a show-off. I cheered them all on, and some commented on the fact that I had not gotten enough and must be training for a marathon. Some asked if I was going back to get someone, and to all I responded that I was going back for my sister. I ran two miles to get to her and then ran with her to the finish.

These miles gave me a weekly training total of 47.8 miles. While that is a good training week, it is starting to concern me that none of my weekly totals are measuring up to what I've done in past ultra training or what I'd planned to do for the ultra that will be here in LESS THAN A MONTH!

I've been cautious. I've been trying to train smart. When my legs complained I listened. When they felt good I ran hard. And even though I am happy with those workouts, I have started feeling slightly panicked over not having run the high mileage I think may be necessary for a strong 50 mile ultra. I have the rest of November (16 days) to train and actually improve. After that it will be time to rest and begin to taper.

So I plan to train hard for the next 16 days. I am going to be less cautious and my muscles are going to have to catch up and hang with me. I do not want an injury so I will continue to listen to my body, but it is time (maybe past time) for my training to peak. I have a 20 miler planned, two 5ks (for a little speed work) and I'd like to tackle the dragon a few more times as well before the end of this month.

So until December... on with the training!

Half-Marathon Thoughts

2011-11-10T15:59:00.002-06:00

Huntsville Half Marathon 2010
(I'm in the green shorts)

So in the midst of my 50 Mile ultra training comes the Huntsville half-marathon this Saturday. I do this one every year and it is one of my all time favorites in Huntsville. Most of the time, when this race rolls around, I am in the midst of training for something else or still recovering from something I've already run, and I never really know what sort of finish time I should expect. This year is no different. I've been ultra training and trying to push the pace on some of my runs, but not really enough to make a difference in the shorter distances.

I looked at a recent 5k time, which was 23:43 at the Ribbon Run on October 15, and plugged it into the Runner's World training calculator. That gave me a projected half-marathon time of 1:48:54. I was sort of disappointed in that (although it is probably realistic), so I plugged in my 5k time from the Apple Festival 5k in September which was 22:59, and got a 1:45:32 half-marathon prediction. I liked that one better, but it still would not result in a personal record. No matter what these predictions say or what numbers I plug in to the training calculator, I think it is pretty realistic not to hope for a personal record this time.

After plugging in my 5k times and trying to find a satisfying prediction, I took a look at what I'd done in the past. Here's what I've got.

March 2011 - Seaside Half in 1:44:17. That is my current PR.

November 2010 - Huntsville Half - 1:47:51. I was pretty proud of that since I was still recovering from a brutal 50 mile trail run the month before.

Februray 2010 - Mercedes Half in 1:47:44.

November 2009 - Huntsville Half - 1:48:19.

And there are others further back, but the general progression was about a minute per year until the Seaside Half early this year, which was a month after my marathon PR in Feb. Seeing this information didn't really help me much in trying to figure out what I will be able to run this Saturday, but it was interesting anyway.

In order to run a PR half, I'd have to run faster than an average 7:57 pace. I just don't think I have that in me for 13.1 miles right now. It would be great if I did, but I don't really know how I trained to get to that point in February. In theory, I should be in pretty good shape right now if I'm planning to run a 50 Mile race in a month. But how does ultra training lend itself to a fast half-marathon? Does it at all? I think I'd be happy with a finish time around 1:48, but if I can't run a PR half this weekend, does that mean I'm not ready for the upcoming ultra? And that leads me to look at my training thus far and shake my head at the shorter-than-planned weekly totals and ask the question of the last 4 months, am I doing enough?

I'm going to stop there and remember what I said in the first paragraph. I love this race. And I have always loved this race no matter what my finish time happened to be. So I'm going to go with that. I'm going to show up Saturday morning with my mom in tow. I'm going to hug my sis and my friends who are running this distance for the FIRST TIME EVER (and I can think of at least 4 off the top of my head). I'm going to run with all I have and enjoy the fall colors before the trees drop the last of their leaves. I'm going to cheer for all my peeps on the greenway section (my favorite there-and-back part), and I'm going to finish with a smile.

I still have no idea what sort of finish time I should aim for, but I'm planning on having a great time while I'm out there and despite my doubt, I'm looking forward to it!

Huntsville Half Marathon 2009 with Julia

Running Friends and Blinky Bling

2011-11-09T09:06:00.000-06:00

I've said it many times before, but I'll say it again. I have a GREAT group of running friends. There is something about the time spent running and chatting that brings people closer, and that not only applies to my morning crew, but other girls as well who run with me from time to time. These friendships are the lasting kind - the ones where we spend miles upon miles sharing our stories, laughing, consoling, discussing or talking training strategy for our next race.

Not only does running with friends build strong, lasting friendships, it provides other things as well. I believe there is safety in numbers, and in order for many of us to get in the miles we want each day, we've got to start running in the wee, dark hours of the morning. Depending on the season, time running in the dark can be short or long, and we've had many runs that started and ended in the dark. But having such a herd (or gaggle) of women with me, I feel that I can run anywhere at any time. Some of us carry mace, some carry lights, and all watch out for the other when it comes to tripping on branches, holes in the road, sprinklers, dogs, skunks - all the things we come across as we run in these dark morning hours.

Recently one of our number moved out of town, but we keep up with her through e-mail and some of us occasionally see her and her husband at races. Her name is Angie and at the Chicago marathon, she gave Katie a blinky light in the form of a ring. When Katie returned from her trip and wore the light on one of our morning runs, the rest of us decided we needed one too. Katie found them on Amazon.com and ordered a box.

And the rings have been a hit! They flash in multiple colors, so that cars and other pedestrians can see us coming from a long way off. One runner commented that it looked "weird" to see us coming up the hill with all of these flashing lights but... at least he saw us! The rings are rubbery and stretchy, so we can wear them with gloves on the colder days. This particular brand does not last overly long, so we are on the lookout for something a little more sturdy, but in a pinch these have worked great and been fun.

So a big thanks to Angie for giving Katie the blinky ring, and to Katie for helping us all get one. There's nothing like feeling safe and sassy on a morning run with friends.

Running Start, LLC

2011-11-07T13:16:00.002-06:00

It is official! Running Start, LLC is up and running! This has been my dream for so long, and it has finally come to fruition. I am hopeful, ecstatic, overjoyed and ready to coach! I'm finally taking what I love to do and putting it to work.

What is Running Start, LLC? It is a private coaching business geared mostly toward new runners, but also to somewhat experienced runners trying new things. Whether clients want to run their first 5k, run their next 5k faster, increase their endurance for a longer distance, or simply work on form and fitness, I am ready to help, motivate, encourage, and give them a running start on this new adventure.

Am I qualified? This is a question I ask myself every day, and it is a question I hope to continue to ask as long as I am coaching. I will never stop learning, reading, researching, asking, discussing and experiencing all things running. So far I have obtained my USA Track and Field Level 1 Coaching Certification, and I am in the process of completing the Fitness and Wellness Certificate at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. This will include certifications in Group Fitness Instruction and Personal Training as well. In February of 2012 I will attend the Road Runners Club of America Coaching Certification course which is geared directly to helping me work with the types of new runners I hope to coach.

I have worked with new runners for three years through the New Balance No Boundaries 5k program, and I also have my own journey as a runner to use. That is not to say I believe one thing works for all runners - I don't believe that at all. That is the point of Running Start. Training plans geared toward the individual - who they are, where they are, and what they want to achieve. These are not simply static training plans either, but they can and will change with the runner. Each week I will meet with my client, ask them about their training since I last saw them - how they felt, what they did, how it went. With that information we will either stay on the course already set or modify it somewhat to fit the runner's lifestyle, schedule, and training needs.

Interested? Take a look at my website where I have tried to include all the information about Running Start, LLC, what I'm about and what is available. Please feel free to send me feedback. Is any information missing? Is there something you would like to know that isn't included? The website is brand new and so I am open for suggestions and improvements to better serve and educate potential clients on what is available through Running Start, LLC.

The website: www.runningstartllc.com
Contact: runningstartllc@gmail.com

Ultra Training Week 10

2011-11-07T09:41:00.003-06:00

It's been quiet on the ole blogging front, and I will explain (unveil!) what I've been up to later today. Despite my lack of entries, however, the training has continued. We've had some gorgeous, blow-your-mind amazing fall days and a little cold rain too this week. I used the cold, rainy days to rest and get rid of some nagging soreness in my legs and it worked.

I do wonder if I will ever get to the point where I stop asking myself if I'm doing it right, if I'm doing enough. Will I ever figure it out and really know? I've learned SO much lately about the body, muscles, fitness, etc., but it is almost as if there is so much information swimming around in my head, I'm unsure when it comes to knowing what type of training to do. But I'm still training. This whole running/ultra training thing is a process full of experiments and if I don't get it right the first or second time, Lord willing there will be another chance to try again with different strategies.

That said, here is what I've got for week 10:

Sunday, Oct 30 - 10 afternoon miles on a gorgeous day, 8:30 pace.

Monday, Oct 31 - 8 chilly morning miles with the girls, 9:45 pace. This was our spooky Halloween run with a hilarious scare in the middle. Some walkers got off of the sidewalk to let us by, but Katie didn't see them so when she and I were right next to them, she yelled and I grabbed her hand thinking something really awful was about to happen and then we all died laughing as we realized the walkers were just letting us by...not lying in wait as we passed... maybe you had to be there, but it was hilarious!

Tuesday, Nov 1 - 5 afternoon miles, 8:36 pace, followed by ab work, push-ups and the plank held for a minute (full of shaking and labor-like breathing, but I stayed there for a minute). I'm adding in this tiny workout 3 times a week.

Wednesday, Nov 2 - 9.1 morning miles. I tried to turn it into a tempo run, but succeeded with only 1 tempo-like mile in the middle. 9:12 average pace.

Thursday, Nov 3 - rest from running, but did abs, push-ups and plank, along with some foam roller time.

Friday, Nov 4 - jogged and walked 3 miles with my sis in the morning.

Saturday, Nov 5 - ran 7.7 miles alone through the misty fog that sat on my eyelashes, 8:32 pace. Shannon joined me after that for 4.3 at 9:47 pace. I was pretty tired by that point but she kept me going!

Weekly total - 44.1 miles with 206 for the month of October.

The weekly total is again not as high as I had planned, but I was pleased with each workout anyway. I've been a little tired lately, and I've been dealing with some headaches. I never have headaches so now that I am on week 3 of them, I think it is time to consult the doc and see what, if anything, is up. These have been only minor in discomfort, though, and they don't usually show up until later in the day. Is it crazy to think that running actually helps? Its probably just a mind thing, but the mind is a powerful thing so... I'll go with it.

I started this new week with a good, strong and hilly run with Katie and Clara and I'll write more about that later. The week will end with the Huntsville half-marathon, so I think all in all, this week will turn out to be a good one as far as ultra training goes. I'm getting excited as the ultra itself draws near. Despite my questions and doubt, I still can't wait to get out there and give it a go, see what I've got and give it my all. I've begun picturing it, planning my fueling strategy, thinking about pace and coaching myself on how to be tough and push through when fatigue sets in. I love this part.

Ultra Training Week 9 and Running as a Football Player

2011-10-30T09:54:00.001-05:00

And once again it has been a smaller-than-planned mileage week. My excuses are sore legs and cold rain. The good thing is that I'm mostly at peace with the numbers such as they are. For one thing, I'm trying to train smart and I can't get in a quality run if my legs are sore, nor does that give them time to heal and grow stronger. The second reason is I've been talking with a running friend who just ran a 50 mile race herself and her training plan included a lot less miles than mine has. Her approach? Have fun and enjoy the miles. This served as a good reminder that despite my training, I need to be enjoying this journey first and foremost, and so far I am.

I started the week with a good 20 miler and ended it with the Spooktacular 5k in which I ran as a football player in full football gear. That was an adventure! Fun, hilarious, and tough!

Sunday, Oct 23 - rest

Monday, Oct 24 - 20 morning miles, 9:15 pace. I wrote about it here.

Tuesday, Oct 25 - 4.5 afternoon miles, 8:45 pace. Legs were a tad sore but...it was such a gorgeous afternoon I just couldn't help myself.

Wednesday, Oct 26 - 6 afternoon miles around 8:50 pace. I stopped my watch to help a little kid catch his dog (who was after me) and forgot to restart it, but the 5.5 I recorded were around 8:50 pace.

Thursday, Oct 27 - rain rain rain and pajamas on the couch.

Friday, Oct 28 - 5.6 afternoon miles. I did 1 mile on the treadmill in the gym before deciding anything was better than that and heading outside. I ran 4.6 outside at 8:36 pace. It was cold and misty, but good and the color of the trees right now is amazing!

Saturday, Oct 29 - 3.1 miles in the Spooktacular 5k in 26:16 which is 8:27 pace. Let me just say that running in full football gear is TOUGH! But I had a blast with Shannon and Julie dressed as my fellow teammates and my mom dressed as our coach.

Total for the week - 39.2

Sometimes you've just gotta choose fun over...well...anything else. Happy Halloween, everyone!

Now That It's Real

2011-10-28T15:14:00.000-05:00

Today I made it real. I am an official entrant of the Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50 Mile, which will take place on December 10. I was waiting until the end of October to see how my training was going to shape up, if the knee knob would allow it, and now that the end of this month as arrived, I decided it was all systems go.

So I registered. Then I re-read everything I'd already read about the race. Then I looked at past race results. Then I looked at current entrants. And with every click of the mouse and every finish time recorded, my heart started to beat a little bit faster. It is a little early for butterflies to show up and doubt to creep in with one solid month left to train, but both have begun to show up anyway, now that it's real. I mean I've been planning and training, but when I hit that "process registration" button... it all became very real.

I'm excited about the possibilities. And I'm hopeful. Will it be great? Will it be amazing? Will I rise to the challenge and conquer this 50 mile? Will I run strong and finish well? I'm also nervous about the possibilities. Will unforeseen difficulties show up in this one like they did last time? What if something goes wrong with my fueling? What if the knee says no after all? What if I'm really not cut out for this type of thing? And then even if all goes well, will I be able to make the time I want? Am I being too ambitious with my first 50 mile on the road?

My goal is to finish in 9 hours. According to last year's results, if I finish in 9 hours I'd be in the back of the pack but as a first timer attempting this distance on the road, I'm afraid to be more ambitious than that, and I don't want to be less. At the moment there are 20 runners entered in the 50 Mile. Last year 21 entered, with 6 of those runners falling back to the 50k distance.

So what am I made of? Do I have what it takes? I look forward to and am nervous about finding out. But what is this life without a little mystery, without a little adventure, without a little push past what I believe is possible to the impossible? So I'm registered and my training continues. I have 5 more weeks (this one included), ultra training weeks 9-13...

Let's see how I do, now that it's real.

Get Fired Up!

2011-10-26T09:48:00.003-05:00

I think I have always been an enthusiastic person, maybe even annoyingly so at times. When I love something, enjoy something or when I am moved by something, I get excited about it. Lots of words, smiles, exclamation points, hand gestures - the works.

One of the things I'm enthusiastic about is running (GASP). Sure there are a lot of factors that go into that such as health and fitness, time with God, witnessing nature, and the way I've seen it change my life and the lives of others. But there is also the simplicity of going out for a run, feeling strong, pushing the pace, sweating and feeling good afterward. I love that.

Today, Life is Good posted a quote on Facebook that said, "Enthusiastically do what fills you with enthusiasm." For some reason, when I read this, it was like receiving permission to love what I love and to do what I love, and that it is okay to be enthusiastic about running.

By Tuesday of this week, distance running and training had come up in conversation twice and both times I received strange looks and the question, "why?" asked in that way that says, "that's ridiculous." I didn't really defend it and I didn't really answer the question either. I just smiled and moved on to the next topic. But on my run last night, I thought, "why not?" What else am I supposed to be doing?

Life can be so boring and mundane sometimes. Filled with long work hours sitting at a desk inside a building, people's words and opinions that are unpleasant, arguing, jealousy, ugliness, arrogance, time spent doing things that don't really matter, making tough decisions...but if I started the day running into a sunrise or if I know I'm going to conclude it with a run on a gorgeous fall afternoon... it makes it all seem okay, maybe even easier. And for those moments when I'm out there - just me, maybe some songs on my ipod or a friend, running, breathing, feeling free - it is wonderful! I can be whoever I want, think whatever I want, run wherever I want, dream, hope, pray, think, be. I can just be.

And then there's that feeling of accomplishment after a race. For me, this comes after a half-marathon, marathon, or ultra when I feel for a moment that I have transcended the human condition. I have taken my body, created for me by God, and I have made it strong and powerful. I have done more than I ever believed possible. I have overcome weakness, I have been brave, I have held on when it was tough. These are things I strive to do in my daily life but how often am I really successful?

So there is a small piece of the "why". Because I do believe we should enthusiastically do what fills us with enthusiasm. Life is really too short to do anything else. Life really is good, and for me getting outside and running around helps me see that.

What are you enthusiastic about? Are you going after it? I hope so!

Tuesday's Treat

2011-10-25T19:00:00.000-05:00

Today's treat is another favorite of mine and it is the pistachio! I have become so addicted to these little green nuts that I eat them almost every day. My brand of choice is Wonderful Pistachio and they can be found just about anywhere. Pour 1/2 cup into a bag or plastic container for a 160 calorie salty snack (or you can get them unsalted if you prefer). Sam's Club sells boxes of them in individual snack-sized bags as well.

I like taking them to work because they are quick and easy to pack and they take me a little while to eat so I get to enjoy them longer. They have all sorts of vitamins and minerals that we need, fiber, and antioxidants. For more info on how good they are for you, go here.

For more on Wonderful Pistachios, go here. And enjoy!

The First 20 of Training

2011-10-24T09:33:00.001-05:00

I count today as the first 20 mile of my training, even though I suppose the marathon on Oct 1 should really count for that. It is sort of funny how I have bypassed all the middle-long distances like 14-18 miles going from 12 and 16 to 26 and 20. I'm not sure if that is the smartest thing since I think for injury prevention purposes one should ease the body into the higher mileage, but so far things are okay. I'll also admit I've been somewhat concerned about the lack of long runs throughout this ultra training and I'm feeling like I need to pack them in now. I have two more planned and no idea if that is enough or not. But onward I go!

This morning was fun. I met Katie at 4:40 a.m. and we got started. She wanted to get in at least 12 before 6:50 and I was grateful for the company on so much of my long run. We ran mostly in the dark with a smiley face moon grinning down on us. It was a chilly 50 degrees and I wore shorts, a short sleeved top and gloves, which I never took off. We talked of all sorts of things as we always do, seeing many runners and walkers along the way. I thought we'd run into the other half of our group, but we never saw them.

Katie ended up running 13.5 with me and I grabbed my ipod for the rest. I ran 1.5 to Kroger and used the facilities before finishing my run. I felt good until the last 2 miles and then my legs were slow and achy. That is when I realized I'd had nothing to eat. It was not smart and not what I intended to do, but I started with Katie like any other regular morning run, not really thinking about how this one was different, requiring fuel. I had grabbed a banana when I ran out the door that morning, but when I grabbed my ipod and a sip of water, I'd forgotten about it.

I used to think that if I forced my body to do the work in training with no fuel, it would be tougher and even better when I did have fuel in the actual race. (I should add here that the fuel I chose for the race, while not often used in training, was NOT something new to my system. I don't think runners should try anything new on race day.) I recently learned that this type of training approach did not help things at all (except maybe a little mentally). The Sports Nutrition Instructor at UAH explained it like this: If your car is running low on gas and you say, "I'm just going to push it further without gas because that means it will be able to go even longer next time on the gas it has," what will happen? Your car will run out of gas and stop working. He said it is the same with fueling your body with both liquids and nutrients (bars, Gu, whatever your choice) while training. In fact, the fuel allows your body to do more in training, making for a more quality workout.

So this morning as I felt myself slowing down and my legs growing tired, I decided that next time I would make more of a point to eat something at least once during my long run. This run still turned out okay, though. I finished in 3:04:59, which is around a 9:15 average pace, and I'm pretty happy with that. Below are the splits, if you are interested. I always like looking at them on these longer runs (okay, and on the shorter ones too) because they show me where I'm slowing down and help me figure out how to improve.

Mile 1 - 9:03
Mile 2 - 9:15
Mile 3 - 9:18
Mile 4 - 9:30
Mile 5 - 9:33
Mile 6 - 9:32
Mile 7 - 9:28
Mile 8 - 9:20
Mile 9 - 9:13
Mile 10 - 9:31
Mile 11 - 10:11 (big hill)
Mile 12 - 9:17
Mile 13 - 9:12 (Katie was running me hard here as she needed to get back to her car)
Mile 14 - 8:44
Mile 15 - 8:26
Mile 16 - 8:41
Mile 17 - 8:58
Mile 18 - 8:54
Mile 19 - 9:28
Mile 20 - 9:15 (Kristen honked and waved while sitting in traffic and gave me a boost to finish strong)

Overall it was a GREAT run, and it was nice to be done by 8:00 so that I have the rest of my wide-open day to get stuff done and enjoy a birthday lunch with my mom (birthday girl) and sister.

Running for a Soldier

2011-10-23T08:55:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love our National Anthem. I love the words, the story behind it, and the country it represents. And like so many other sporting events in our country, it is played before most marathons and many shorter races as well. I am not sure why or how this tradition began, but it is one I love. I love how a hush falls over the antsy crowd waiting at the start line, and I always get a lump in my throat as I sing the words in my mind and consider my beloved country and the freedom I enjoy every single day. I think of the men and women who gave and continue to give so much to make this country what it is and I am humbly grateful.

A friend of mine (I say "friend" even though we've only met once, but I work with his mom and keep up with his running pursuits through her) named Timothy Savoy is running the Marine Corps Marathon in Arlington, Virginia next Sunday (October 30). He is currently a student at George Washington University and a friend of his talked him into running his marathon for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). This program sends 100% of the money raised to support the families of fallen soldiers.

At first, Tim says he was unsure about running for TAPS having no real attachment to the group, but he only had to raise a minimum of $500 so he decided to do it. Tim wrote in a letter to his friends and family, "I figured I would be running for a soldier who was killed in combat decades ago in a war before my generation and that this run would be more about honor than a reality I could relate to." This changed, however, when he learned he would be running for SSG. Patrick Dolphin who was killed July 31, 2011 while supporting combat operations in Herat Province, Afghanistan. Patrick was 29 years old and a native of Moscow, PA leaving behind a wife of almost 3 years and his parents.

Patrick's family contacted Tim, sending him e-mails and letting him know how much it meant to them that he was running for their son. Patrick's mom wrote that Patrick had always wanted to be a fighter pilot or some sort of soldier. When he found out his vision was not good enough to become a pilot, he joined the marines and was a member of the 2nd Marine Special Operations Command, based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. He would have served 12 years in the Marines this October. He completed two tours of duty in Iraq and was currently serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. After this tour, he planned to return home and start a family with his wife.

Running for Patrick has greatly changed Tim's outlook on things. He writes of this journey, "As a young man barely in my 20s and only now graduating from college, this reality has hit home more than I could have imagined. One lesson I have learned is to better appreciate the time we have here together. Time is not a certainty for any of us, so take advantage of the time you have here. Live each day to the fullest and take it as your own." Tim asks his readers to "take a moment each day to reflect on sacrifice and what it truly means to your life."

While Tim Savoy started this journey running for TAPS and SSG. Patrick Dolphin as one person, I believe he will conclude this journey a different man. He surpassed his fundraising minimum of $500, raising a total of $1700.00 so far. If you would like to donate to TAPS through Tim, follow this link.

To learn more about SSG. Patrick Dolphin, go here, here or here.

May God bless and protect Dolphin's family and friends, his fellow marines, and Tim Savoy who will run 26.2 miles for Patrick Dolphin's memory. Stay tuned for Tim's post-race report which he has kindly agreed to write and post here. I dedicate this post (and many prayers along with it) to those still serving all over the world, and their family and friends who await their safe return home. We will remain forever grateful for your sacrifice for this great country and the freedom we enjoy because of you.

"O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O're the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

Ultra Training Week 8

2011-10-22T09:42:00.000-05:00

This has been a good training week. While the weekly mileage total is not as high as I had planned, I am satisfied with the quality of each run. The weather has bypassed the cool fall temperatures and gone straight for cold winter-like mornings, and I think this chill has helped me pick up my pace, if for nothing else than to warm up quickly. Below are the weekly totals and paces.

Sunday, Oct 16 - rest (4 leisurely miles with Mom)

Monday, Oct 17 - Ran 6.3 morning miles with the girls, 9:50 pace. I was tired this morning, but the miles went by quickly, as they always do with my morning gaggle.

Tuesday, Oct 18 - Ran 7.3 morning miles solo, 8:40 pace. Gorgeous sunrise the entire way.

Wednesday, Oct 19 - Ran 10.4 morning miles with the girls, 9:13 pace. Felt great!

Thursday, Oct 20 - Ran 7 afternoon miles solo, 8:22 pace. Good, strong run.

Friday, Oct 21 - Ran 7.1 miles, 9:00 pace. Ran 3.5 with the girls to my sister's, ran 3 with her, and then ran 3.5 back to my car, racing the clock. Legs were sore after this.

Saturday, Oct 22 - Ran 3 morning miles solo, 8:55 pace. It was 36 degrees! Brrrrr.

Total mileage - 41.1 miles

This morning I got up early to get in some miles before coming into work. I do not usually work on Saturdays, but we are recording a class here at UAH and the last part of it is today. At first I was annoyed by this because Saturdays are my long run days, but as I started my run this morning, I realized my legs were tired and sore. While the mileage numbers did not climb over 50 as planned this week, I increased the pace of the miles I did run, making for good workouts despite the shorter distances. So, this morning when I got close to mile 3, I headed home. I was tired, my legs were sore, and I knew it would be more beneficial for my training to let them heal.

I'll be off Monday since I'm working today and I plan to use that day to get in a 20 miler. Letting my legs heal today and tomorrow will allow that run to be a good, strong training run and I am looking forward to it. As it turns out, working today and postponing the long run will be better than forcing tired, sore legs to do the work anyway. Keeping this in mind helps me ward off that panicky voice inside that continually asks me if I'm doing enough to run 50 miles in December. In truth, I have no idea. All I know to do is keep running, train smart and go for it.

A Little Competition is Good for the Soul...and Arthritis

2011-10-20T10:02:00.001-05:00

A few years ago we had the rare event of a race in Madison. Most races in my area take place in Huntsville, but this race was actually taking place a few miles from my home, and I decided that merited my support as a resident and runner of Madison. The race was tiny at first and it was held on a Friday night in the parking lot of a church. We ran down a walking path along one of the main roads and I won second overall female. I remember it was FREEZING that night, and afterward I had some friends and family over for hot chocolate and snacks. The next year I talked my dad into doing the race (which, if you know my dad you'd know this was BIG) and since I had just run the Dizzy Fifties 40 Mile the day before, I walked it with him. He won first place in his age group in his first race ever.

The race is the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis held by the Arthritis Foundation and for all kinds of reasons, it is a special one to me. It is one of those races where participants can form a team and raise funds for the cause, so I started one. I think I called it the Reneau Runners or something like that the first year, but the next year I changed the name to the Red-nosed Runners and that is what we have been ever since.

This year marks the fourth year of this race, and it has grown exponentially. Even when I run my hardest, I am nowhere near winning an overall award and very possibly not even in my age group, but such a large race means great support for the Arthritis Foundation so it is a good problem to have. And while I may still run as hard as I can in an attempt to win a Jingle Bell 5k Christmas tree ornament, I've channeled my competitive edge to my team as well.

I have no idea why exactly, but I love seeing the Red-nosed Runners in the top 5 list of teams on the homepage of the race. If you follow this link, you will see we are currently 4th place in the team rankings for most money raised. Of course, we are still a month out from the race day (November 20), so there are probably a lot of folks yet to sign up, but I'm hopeful. I've got a whole list of friends, family and co-workers to pester into joining my team, and I have succeeded with 13 so far (although not yet with Dad, who I have told must return to defend his title). We have raised a total of $425.00 and this year, my goal is $3000.00. A bit lofty, perhaps but why not aim high? With so many friends and family who have dealt with arthritis, I think this is a great reason to get a little competition going.

And so it's on. I am gratefully accepting both donations and runners to my team, and if you are a local to this area, I think you should consider joining the fun! The race takes place on Sunday, November 20. At 1:30 there is a family 1 mile walk followed by the 5k at 2:00. At 3:00 there is a Santa Chase for kids 5 and under followed by the Reindeer Dash for kids 6-12. As you can see these is something for everyone, so what are you waiting for?

Let's do this!

Sunrise Surprise

2011-10-18T20:14:00.004-05:00

This morning when the alarm went off, it was a little harder to get out of bed. I hadn't made plans with my girls, so I had no one to which I'd be accountable. No one but myself and how I'd feel later in the day when the rain came and I had not run. I knew I'd be mad at myself so up I got. Eventually.

It was a little later than usual but still dark in the house. I was not looking forward to a solo run in the dark, but figured I'd stay in my neighborhood until it got light enough for me to feel comfortable venturing out. I changed into my running digs, strapped on my watch, and kissed my sleeping husband good-bye before leaving. The morning was chilly, but not cool enough to warrant more than a short sleeved top and shorts.

I walked lazily to the end of my driveway as I usually do, started my watch and turned right. And there it was. The purple and dull pink of a sunrise. A brand new, just beginning sunrise. With the morning darkness as the only thing coming in my bedroom windows, I had assumed it was still completely dark outside. This newly awakened sunrise was a beautiful surprise.

I turned my ipod to my current warm-up song, "Hold Me Together" by Royal Tailor, and ran facing east with the words of this song playing sweet and low in my ears. It was yet another of those magical morning moments and I soaked it in.

I faced east for quite a while so that I was constantly running into the ever changing and brightening sky. It was brilliant to watch. It unfolded and unfurled until it eventually exploded into an amazing neon orange across the sky. It was as if God had taken his pack of oils dipped his thumb into the neon carrot shade and smeared it across the sky. With love. For me. (If you know your Crayola crayons, you know what color that is.)

As I turned north, I glance several times to my right, afraid to miss one second of this light show. Even looking straight ahead, however, it was hard to miss as the bright orange spread across the entire sky like a spilled bucket of paint, smudging into hues of pink and red at the edges. With a backdrop of a light blue morning sky, this view was breathtaking.

Due to my late start, I had to hurry home and start the mad rush that was getting ready for work. It was worth it, though. My sunrise surprise had made my day and I had visions of it throughout with the words of my warm-up song still singing gently in my ears.

I'm feeling stronger with You by my side

I realize You are my Home...

Ultra Training Week 7

2011-10-15T19:53:00.002-05:00

This week was filled with good training miles and special moments with other running friends. See below for the weekly numbers and the moments.

Sunday, Oct 9 - rest

Monday, Oct 10 - 9 morning miles with my girls, 9:33 pace. No knee pain due to my rest day. That was big.

Tuesday, Oct 11 - 6 morning miles with the girls, 10:40 pace. The legs were feeling a little tired, but it was still good to be out. Ran 2 afternoon miles to mark the LAST No Boundaries course, 8:15 pace.

Wednesday, Oct 12 - 7.37 morning miles with the girls, 10:10 pace. I was feeling pretty good and wanted to go further, but ran out of time.

Thursday, Oct 13 - 7.02 afternoon miles, 8:32 pace.

Friday, Oct 14 - 11.61 morning miles with the girls. Hit 1 hard hill and slowed down for the last 3. I was tempted to stop at 8, but knew I needed those extra miles.

Saturday, Oct 15 - Ran the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5k in 23:43, 7:39 pace. Ran .60 before the race with Katie, and 5.3 after with Jessica, giving me 9 for the day.

The total for the week was 52 miles.

This week was extra special for a few reasons. First, we had a GREAT last run with our No Boundaries group. It was a misty, rainy afternoon but everyone got out there anyway and we ran, laughed and cheered each other on. I could feel the air of excitement as we concluded our 5k training program with only the race before us.

Then, Madelyn, one of the girls in our morning crew rejoined us for the first time in months. She has been dealing with some thyroid issues which completely drained her of energy. As an extremely energetic person who loves her morning runs, this was very tough on her, and it has been something we've been praying about for a long time. When she came and joined us Tuesday morning, it was so exciting to see those answered prayers. She ran 6 miles, feeling great and giving thanks.

On Friday we ran 11.6 and Jan, another of our morning crew, ran 12 miles for the first time ever. Toward the end of the run, it was just she and I, and it was so fun to be able to tell her congrats on her longest run to date as she trains for her first half-marathon. I got to experience this again as my No Boundaries group and my mom's Fayetteville No Boundaries group completed the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5k today. It is so moving to witness so many people do something they have worked so hard to do and share in their excitement as they reach their running goals. I cannot express what an honor it is to be a part of someone's journey as a runner in these moments.

Completing the Ribbon Run 5k wasn't the last of these moment's today, however. My friend Jessica is training for her first half marathon as well, and she needed 8 miles for today. After the race, we ran 5.3 together and when we finished she told me it was her longest run to date. It was another special moment as we gave each other a sweaty congratulatory hug and I got to share in her excitement over reaching another training milestone.

So as you can see, not only was it a good ultra training week, it was an extra special week filled with wonderful moments of triumph. These moments fuel me. They fill me up and spur me on to push myself as I see so many pushing passed their limits, on to their own personal triumphs. This is why running is so great and why I feel so blessed to call myself a runner.

With all of this in my heart...I carry on with my training feeling so humbly blessed by all these miles and moments.

Fun on Friday

2011-10-14T15:32:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine posted this picture on Facebook and I had to share it. It cracks me up!

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you have a great weekend planned. As for me, I will be closing out this No Boundaries season with the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5k tomorrow. All of my No Boundaries runners are ready and excited (at least they seem so) and I am excited for them! After 10 weeks of training together, we will hit the streets and run 3.1 miles for breast cancer awareness.

I'm not sure I have a PR in these legs, as I have not tapered at all, nor have I been focusing on the shorter, faster distances...but hey, I'll probably go for it anyway. I hope to run a few miles at home before the race and then a few miles after the race with a friend who is training for her first half-marathon.

I just gotta say... so much training, so many new challenges, so many firsts and triumphs...that is why I LOVE this sport! Happy Running to all of you racing this weekend!

November Needs to be Massive

2011-10-13T10:21:00.002-05:00

This is what I'm thinking as I write out a new ultra training plan. It probably is not that different from the one I made about 7 weeks ago, but I've deviated from that one so much that I want to refocus and make sure I'm getting in the long runs, 2-a-days, and cross training I need. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll just run 6-8 miles a day and time will slip away from me.

I want to pull out last year's calendar and take a look at my previous ultra training, but I keep forgetting to get it. I do have my monthly totals from last year, however (I have become a running numbers nut, and I like it) and one thing I noticed was that the month before my ultra (September) was HUGE on the mileage (for me). My ultra was the second weekend in October last year, and the mileage for September was 237.

This gives me hope. I am not as off track as I thought. As Jason pointed out when I was getting frustrated, I still have time to be ready. But November mileage needs to be massive (for me), and I need to begin the ramping up process now. If all goes as planned, October should be somewhere around 220 miles, which is a good lead-up to November which would be around 270 IF all goes as planned. That is a pretty big if, but I like having it there anyway.

The concerning thing is, looking back at the plan I just made, I only have three 20 milers planned... I'm not sure if that is enough long runs or not. I have plenty of 2-a-days and some longer runs back to back... I'm just wondering if I need more 20+ milers. I feel that I should plan as I go on that one, listening to my body and seeing what it is willing to do.

Anyway, this is me just thinking out loud really (or by keyboard). Refocusing. I think I've talked Jason into doing yoga with me twice a week at the local YMCA. I hope we stick to that. I think that would be really good for a body running all those miles, not to mention strengthening my core and upper body so it can hold up for 10+ hours of running.

In other news, we have another of our morning running crew who is going for a marathon PR this weekend. Our very own guest-poster, Julia is going for a 3:35 in Columbus, OH this Sunday. Julia is the youngest of our group and since she joined us, we've seen her get faster and faster. She is super disciplined when it comes to her training plan, getting up and getting after it every morning, and staying on schedule whether it calls for a long run, a track workout, or rest. GOOD LUCK, JULIA! It will be another edge-of-my-seat kind of Sunday.

Signs and Celebrations

2011-10-11T09:56:00.001-05:00

I've written before about my amazing group of running friends. I cannot even describe how much they bless my life. One thing I love about our group is how we support each other. If someone is going through a rough time, the prayers and encouragement are unending. If someone has something to celebrate, it is like having our own personal fan club. From babies to marriages to injuries and triumphs, we are there through it all. The funny thing is, most of us only see each other in the wee early morning hours of each day when we are running. It is comical when we run in to each other at the grocery store or bagel shop and are shocked to see each other so fixed up. It is almost like, "Wow, I had no idea you looked like that!"

Being that running is the first thing that brought us all together, we share in each others goals, training plans, worries and triumphs when it comes to racing. We know each others PRs. We know each others upcoming races. We know about each others training and the challenges faced along the way. And I know for me, I get invested. So as one of my girls approach their first half-marathon, or a hopeful PR marathon, I am excited and nervous and hopeful and sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for news. I'm pretty sure I can safely say I'm not the only one who feels this way.

We all got to experience this recently with our friend, Katie. Katie is one of our fastest runners and she is so inspiring for all of us. She's super talented, but I'm not sure she really sees it and that is probably one of the many reasons we like her so much. Anyway, Katie has been training HARD for the Chicago marathon. In fact, this was the first time she'd done a lot of what she did in training. It wasn't always fun. It was super challenging. And because she'd never done much of it, she was not quite sure if she was doing it right, if she was doing all she could, or if it would result in a PR marathon. Her goal was a 3:15. Her best was a 3:18.

Now, I felt the whole time that she had it in the bag. Not only is she already a strong and amazing runner, her training was hard core and she stuck with it the entire time. Still, there is always room for something beyond one's control to happen in a marathon. I have experienced it and seen it happen in others. And it is heartbreaking. Katie knows this too, and so as the marathon approached and she began to question and doubt and wonder and talk herself out of being disappointed if it didn't happen, the girls and I were right there with her.

On race day the e-mails were flying. We were on our computers before and after church services, and I wondered how she was doing the whole morning. And then I saw it. The e-mail titled, "KATIE ROCKS!" I almost stood up and cheered. I said, "SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT!" as Jason asked who did what. The e-mails continued to fly as each of us discovered the news. I'm sure Katie's phone and facebook page began to light up with congratulations and comments as her friends and family realized she had achieved her PR.

But I like to think her morning running crew were the ones who really knew, who really understood.

Anyway, Katie is back in town now and took a few moments to post quickly on her blog that she had in fact reached her goal and that she'd tell more soon (for which I am impatiently waiting). In her post she mentions a sign she read while running, and I found it so inspiring.

"There will come a day when you will not be able to do this. Today is not that day!"

Katie didn't have time to write much, but she did say she thought about these words for much of the race. I can understand why. These words are simple, but so powerful too! I absolutely love this and intend to use it as inspiration for my next event as well.

So today, this post is dedicated to Katie, my amazing marathoning and mothering friend. Check out her blog for an update on her marathon. I know that's what I'll be doing...or I might just show up at her house with 2 cups of coffee if I can't wait any longer for the scoop.

Ultra Training Week 6

2011-10-10T09:12:00.000-05:00

I guess I knew after running a marathon I would not be able to continue on with my ultra training as planned right away. Even if I did take it a little slower than usual, 26.2 miles is still a lot on the body. That said, and despite the previous post on rest, I got impatient and frustrated with the healing and waiting process. Especially by Saturday when what I wanted was a good strong 12+ miler. But before I get carried away with whining, here are the weekly totals.

Sunday, Oct 2 - rest

Monday, Oct 3 - 4 painful miles, 9:40 pace. Quads hurt the whole time.

Tuesday, Oct 4 - 3.5 miles, 9:00 pace. Marked the No Boundaries course and then walked it with my walking group.

Wednesday, Oct 5 - rest

Thursday, Oct 6 - 6 morning miles with the girls, 10:20 pace. Legs felt better but fatigue set in early. Afternoon walk with Chance.

Friday, Oct 7 - 7 morning miles, 9:25 pace. Ran 2 to meet my No Boundaries Group. No one showed, so I ran 3 with Julia and 2 back home. Legs felt a ton better.

Saturday, Oct 8 - 6 miles - ran 3 miles on the Liz Hurley course with No Boundaries runners, ran 3 miles at home. My knee and shin were extremely angry and I knew I had to give it a rest.

This is a grand total of 29.5 miles, which is a good mileage week if one is not training for an ultra marathon. While I knew rest was important and I really did want my muscles to heal fully before I asked them to work again, there was that other part of me that just wanted to stomp my foot and say in my whiniest voice, "But I wanted more!"

And then there's the panicky voice that looks at the calendar and asks, "Do I even have enough time to be ready for this thing?" As I finished up my second three miles on Saturday afternoon, I tossed my hat onto the counter and said, "I don't think this ultra thing is going to happen." So Jason gave me a pep talk. He reminded me of the marathon I'd just run and that I am half-way there. He reminded me of the time I have left and said I would be ready. I stood there sweaty and tired with an aching leg and let myself believe him. I felt so silly having just written that post about rest and here I was fighting mine.

So I iced my shin and knee, ate some lunch and took a shower. I rubbed Emu Oil on my shin and massaged it a few more times that afternoon, both with the stick and my hands. Sunday I rested again.

I am now on week 7 and so far, so good. I ran 9 miles this morning pain free. I wanted more, but decided not to push it. Yet.

Here's the thing. I don't want to slog through another ultra. I've run all of my ultras on trails and the goal has always been to survive it and finish strong. Or just finish. And I've done that. But trails are not my thing, so I have now chosen an ultra on familiar ground. This time I don't want to simply finish - I want to finish well. The laughable thing is I'm not even sure what that would be for a sort-of-still-beginner ultra runner. I'm estimating between 8-10 hours would make me happy. Eight hours is extremely ambitious. Under 10 may still be so, but maybe doable... I really don't know.

I do know what I want to do to get ready for this thing. The marathon was fun and great and motivating, but now I've got to get back to it. I've got miles to run and some cross training I want to add to the mix. I've got to take care of this knee so that it will go the distance. I'm ready to focus on these things as I approach ultra training week 7...rested and ready to go.

The Rest Challenge

2011-10-07T10:22:00.001-05:00

As a Distance Education Coordinator for Professional and Continuing Studies here at UAH, part of my job is to record classes being taught, edit the lecture videos, make html pages and build the classes online using our learning tool called Angel. Most of the classes I build and facilitate are engineering courses, but the Health and Physical Ed (HPE) department is also part of ours, so I have the pleasure of recording these classes as well. And let me just say I have learned a TON!

I get to know the instructors as we work together to get everything just so for their online course, and after each class, I wander out of my little recording studio and ask questions pertaining to the lesson they just taught. The class I am currently recording is called Nutrition for Fitness and Sport and it is being taught by a guy named Jeff Kinard. This HPE class is a little different from the others I have recorded because there are no students in the classroom. Its just me in the studio, and Jeff teaching. Each chapter takes about 30 minutes for him to teach, and the entire time I sit there like his only student and take notes. Not only do I want to know this information for myself, I also want to know it for No Boundaries and my future running clients. I will officially "take" this course when it is up and running, but for now I am just soaking up all the information.

He started with an overview and energy metabolism and then moved on to carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals. Each set of charts shows exactly how the body is using each nutrient, what it does with it, and how all of these processes work together to create energy, allowing athletes to train, improve, and compete. Now, a lot of this I knew - but only on a surface level. I knew I needed carbohydrates as fuel, but I did not know all the particulars of what went on in my body when I gave it these carbs. As a runner, I have read and heard so much about eating, nutrition, energy and so forth that sometimes I'm not quite sure what I believe. Eventually I discover what works for me (or what I decide works for me) and I go with that. But really knowing what is going on in my body and understanding how it produces and uses energy... well, that could be huge! It could have a major impact on my training and performance.

I see this already with rest and recovery. I made some decisions this week after my marathon that I don't think I would have made if I had not been recording Sports Nutrition. I made the decision to allow my muscles to heal before pushing them forward with my ultra training. And here's why.

I'm going to admit something here and I'm a little embarrassed. Having been a runner for over 16 years, I feel like I should have known this. I always thought that sore muscles meant I had lactic acid buildup in them. As long as they were sore, it was still there. When they felt better, that meant it was gone. As a result, whenever I was sore, I thought I should force myself to jog or run because that would get my blood flowing and would flush out that lactic acid.

The truth is, having extra lactic means the athlete exceeded their lactic threshold, which is how fast the body can break it down and use it as it is being produced. It is almost as if I said, drink this water as fast as you can and put a water hose into your cup. There would be no way you could drink it as fast as I was pouring it in (Jeff's analogy). However, with the body, it keeps breaking down the lactic acid until it is all gone. It doesn't stop just because I produced it at a faster rate than I could break it down. So when I stop running, my body continues breaking it down until it has used all I have produced. Then it is gone. Probably within the hour.

Sore muscles, then, are a result of all the contracting and use I just put them through (and if you are saying, "Well, duh, Jane" I don't blame you). They are sore because fibers are damaged and inflamed. That means they need to heal. Jeff said in some cases, muscles can use the healthy fibers while the damaged ones heal, but when you feel pain, that means the damaged fibers are being used. So if I go for a run and my quads are so sore they hurt the entire way, that means I am using the damaged muscle fibers to do the work. And when I am using them, they are not healing - they are surviving.

I asked Jeff how to get them to heal and he had one word. Rest. Not only does rest help them heal and quit hurting, it allows them to grow stronger from the exertion that damaged them. He used another analogy. Say I take a hammer and hit a wall so that it begins to break. An engineer comes along and says, "Oh, you want to hit that wall with a hammer? We need to make it stronger then." So they find stronger material that can withstand my hammer blows, and begin to rebuild the wall. If I continue hitting the wall while they are trying to rebuild it, I'm going to hold up progress. My muscles are that wall. They say, "Oh, you want to run 26 miles? We are going to need to be stronger (which was also explained to me, and I will attempt to explain that later), and so they begin to recruit all the help they need to allow me to run 26 miles. But if I take these legs out for a jog two days after my marathon, while they are trying to heal... I am slowing progress.

That does not necessarily mean that no pain signals full recovery, but it does mean I can begin using those muscles again. Also, just because I'm not going to run while they recover does not mean I have to sit around all day. Using the muscles produces heat and blood flow which takes oxygen to those muscles, which is what they need to heal. But I can do that with a gentle walk through the neighborhood. It also does not necessarily mean going for a jog so close to completing a marathon is a bad idea. I think each individual's body will tell them if they listen.

And that right there is the key. If they listen. One thing Jeff said about runners is that we will run through all sorts of injury and pain because we want to run, we love to run, we are addicted. He said it would be easier to ask his cross country runners to run through a stress fracture than it would be to ask them to rest and take some time off. He described the looks of horror on their faces when those words are mentioned and as he spoke I sort of grinned. Sheepishly. I didn't like that he was right, but I could see exactly what he was saying. How many times have I complained about resting? Tapering? Time off? What are my greatest fears? Injury. Stress fracture. Time off. Those words, "You can't run." I can almost hear the scary music playing in the background. And it isn't just me. I see facebook posts, twitter posts, I read blog posts and I've heard my running friends say the same things. They will drag their tired muscles, sore knees and blistered feet to the gym, to the trail, down the road...

Now, that does not mean I'm going to change. I'm still going to run most days. I do love it. I love everything about it and if you have read this blog, you know why. But I also want to be smart. I want to be able to step away when I need to step away. I don't want to fear the future, life changes, old age, etc. because it might have an impact on my running. I don't want to drag my aching legs for 4 painful miles because I think I should. Sure I want to train hard. I want to improve. I want to run faster and farther. But I want to be healthy too. I want to be reasonable - as much a runner can be. I want a balance. That is why I think it is important to know what is going on in my body as I train and compete and run and refuel. Resting now could not only mean I allow damaged muscles to heal and avoid injury, it may also mean better training runs which translate into better performance come race day.

So here's my challenge. I challenge you to rest. Not slack. Rest. That can mean going for a stroll on a gorgeous fall day, or putting your feet up and watching your favorite TV show on Netflix. Reading a book with a cup of coffee. Holding that sleeping child just a little longer. Choosing dinner with a friend instead of another 5 miles. This is my challenge as well. And who knows. This could be one of the most powerful workouts we use in our training.

Bits and Splits and Ultra Training Week 5

2011-10-06T10:03:00.000-05:00

Ultra training week 5 ended with a bang as I participated in a marathon for which I was not trained. The result turned out to be pretty great anyway, and the experience was a wonderful one. As for this week, ultra training week 6, it is going to be a little on the puny side as I let my legs recover before picking it back up again. I learned the importance of rest this week when I talked to the Sports Nutrition instructor here at UAH and I hope to share what I learned in a future post.

For now, here are the weekly workout totals for ultra training week 5 followed by the splits from Saturday's marathon.

Sunday, Sept 25 - rest

Monday, Sept 26 - 7 morning miles with Jane, 10:00 pace

Tuesday, Sept 27 - 9.2 morning miles, 8:48 pace
3 afternoon miles to mark the No Boundaries course, 8:27 pace

Wednesday, Sept 28 - 6.1 morning miles with the girls, 9:50 pace

Thursday, Sept 29 - rest

Friday, Sept 30 - rest, although I did 3 miles run/walk with No Boundaries that morning.

Saturday, Oct 1 - Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon, 26.2 miles in 4:03:17, 9:17 pace

Total Mileage for the week: 51.5

Marathon Splits

Mile 1 - 11:40 (my GPS wasn't on at first so this is really mile 1.35)
Mile 2 - 9:07
Mile 3 - 9:21
Mile 4 - 9:11
Mile 5 - 9:21
Mile 6 - 9:36
Mile 7 - 9:26 (Sarah and I part ways at half-marathon turn off)
Mile 8 - 10:03 (potty break)
Mile 9 - 9:11
Mile 10 - 9:02
Mile 11 - 9:23
Mile 12 - 9:31
Mile 13 - 9:13 (hit 13.1 at 2:01)
Mile 14 - 8:57
Mile 15 - 8:53
Mile 16 - 9:12
Mile 17 - 9:04
Mile 18 - 9:14
Mile 19 - 9:34
Mile 20 - 9:18
Mile 21 - 8:57
Mile 22 - 9:12
Mile 23 - 9:18
Mile 24 - 8:46 (quit holding back)
Mile 25 - 9:02
Mile 26 - 9:01 (had to fight hard for this one)

Like Remembering an Old Friend

2011-10-05T10:14:00.002-05:00

Ever since the marathon Saturday, I find myself looking back at that wonderful day, the gorgeous weather and scenery, the experience of pushing myself and realizing more strength than I thought I'd have approaching a marathon untrained... and it is almost like remembering an old friend. I sigh. I smile. I think, what a great day that was.

I simply love remembering. My previous post about chasing my "huckleberries" does not really touch upon how much fun I had out there. How each step was a surprise because the whole time I expected to feel totally depleted around the next corner, on the next mile... I remember looking out at rolling green fields dotted with black cows. I remember looking up at the blue sky and noticing that the trees were beginning to change colors as just a touch of red could be seen at the tips. I remember glancing down to see a golden, furry caterpillar crawling across my path and hopping over him.

I remember the sensation of passing Blue Shirt after chasing her for so many miles. I laugh as I remember the game I played in my mind and the names I gave those in front of me. When climbing a hill and wondering if I could catch the person in front of me, I could hear Jason's voice say, "Everyone has to climb that hill," reminding me that I was not the only person facing these challenges and my legs were not the only ones burning. So were theirs. Its just something he always says to me when I talk about slowing down on hills or finding a course difficult. I knew that if Jason could see me along the course, he would make that hand motion he makes that signals me to pass the person in front of me. That always makes me laugh, but spurs me on to do it too.

Yesterday, I was talking with the Sports Nutrition instructor here at UAH about fueling, recovering and training and how the muscles respond, and he eventually asked about my questions. I told him about the marathon and training for an ultra, although I didn't go into specifics and while he had some great and helpful things to say about muscles and recovery, I could tell the overall view of people like me was one of extremism. He sort of had us all figured out and while I cannot argue with much of what he said, there was a component he didn't understand. But it wasn't one I could explain either.

It is that feeling of remembering Saturday. It is the memories I have of everything marathon I've run, good or bad. It is bonding with Jason and my mom. It is running with my dearest friends in the world - who I only see at 5:00 am in the morning. It is the experience of the body running down the road on a gorgeous day, wind sweeping by my ears. It is the tears, the sweat, the salt, the raised hands in triumph at the finish line. It is that feeling. And I think this feeling is more than what we like to call "runner's high." This feeling lasts much longer than that. It is a life-feeling.

As I said before, I can't explain it. The title of this post doesn't even really say it. But it is so wonderful and I feel so blessed to have it. No matter what anyone thinks or says, I will always be thankful for days like Saturday and all the experiences and memories and wordless feelings that surround it.

Finding Huckleberries

2011-10-02T10:28:00.000-05:00

You know that part in the movie "Tombstone" where Doc tells Ringo, "I'm your huckleberry." Like he's the one Ringo is after. Like a challenge. "Come after me, if you dare."

Many times in a race I'll find someone ahead of me who seems to be just a tad faster, and I will try to hang on or pass them. I don't think it is so much out of competitiveness, although that certainly has its place, as much as having someone to chase who will drag me along and challenge my pace. Like the rabbit before the greyhounds. Like the carrot that keeps the horse moving forward. Like Ringo's huckleberry - his only worthy opponent.

It was this action of finding and chasing huckleberries in yesterday's marathon that spurred me on, providing something to think about other than my own untrained legs running 26.2 miles. It turned the marathon into a game and instead of racing my time, I was simply out finding huckleberries.

The Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon had 80 runners. There was also a half marathon, so at the start line it didn't seem so sparse, but when the half-marathoners turned at mile 7.5, only a thin line of marathoners could be seen spread out along the road. I ran with my friend Sarah, for the first 7.5 miles. She was running her first half-marathon and as we chatted and ran, I did not feel like I was running a marathon at all.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day. A bit windy, but I did not mind. The temperature was perfect, starting around 43 degrees and getting up to 55 or so by the end of the race. The sky was a crisp, brilliant blue and as I ran, I could see the tips of tree leaves beginning to turn shades of red. After Sarah turned off, I turned on my ipod, found a comfortable pace and settled in. I fully expected to run out of steam sometime after mile 16 and so despite how good I felt, I tried to reign myself in. I needed to last. All I had for my training was a 12 miler, a 16 miler, and consistence in my weekly runs. That is good, but I wasn't sure it was enough to run a strong marathon.

There were two ladies and a man close to me. Two of them were taking walk breaks and so it wasn't long before I left them behind. I caught a man in a cap and another guy in a yellow shirt wearing a water pack on his back. After him, all I could see far in the distance was a blue shirt. So I made for the blue shirt.

Around mile 14 we turned and I began to have that wonderful sensation of heading back. This is one reason I like to look at the course map. Despite the fact that I had 12 miles left, that feeling of heading back made me feel like I was almost done. I still felt pretty good and I could see far ahead that two other runners were near the blue shirt. Slowly and steadily, I got closer.

I passed the first and dubbed him The Cyclist because he had on what appeared to be a tri top. Next was the bright yellow shirt. This was also an older man and as I passed him we looked at each other and said good morning. At this point I was close enough to Blue Shirt to realize she was a female! That's when I heard it. "I'm your huckleberry." Due to the smallness of this race, winning my age group was a possibility. Females had to be passed.

The thing about Blue Shirt was she looked really good. From behind she did not look tired and she had great legs. A long braid swung down her back as she made strong strides up each hill. I followed. The distance between us was not growing, but it was not shortening either. I wanted to catch her, but we were nearing mile 18 and I just wasn't sure. I fully expected to run out of steam any moment and to push now seemed sort of foolish.

I noticed, however, that she took longer at aid stations than I did and I decided to make my move on our next one. I had taken 3 Gu packets with me and I forced down my last one as we approached mile 18, took some sips of water and began to close in. As I got closer, I saw yet another female. I named her Tights. Now I had to take them both. At the next aid station, I made my move. They both stopped to drink their water as I grabbed mine, squeezed the top and slowed to a walk as I took two gulps and resumed running. I passed Tights first and we spoke briefly about the hills. Blue Shirt was right there. I ran up beside her and she said, "You must be feeling good." I said I was, but that I wasn't sure how long it would last. She said her goal was not to be last, and I said she shouldn't worry about that as she looked great. And she did. I knew when I passed her I had to hold a strong pace or she would catch back up. This was around mile 20.

I was still cautious about my pace. How long was I going to last? I had no more Gu (and I couldn't imagine eating anymore anyway), and a 10k. I imagined a 6 mile run with my morning girls and it seemed more doable. My quads were incredibly sore by this point, but it was nothing I couldn't run through. My left foot was aching and it seemed I'd aggravated a tendon, but I knew I could run through that as well.

And that's when I saw him. Green Shirt. He was wearing Vibram 5 fingers and I decided that right there was reason enough to take him. At the next aid station I almost ran into him as he stopped suddenly to eat an orange. I moved around him, grabbed a gatorade, took one sip and ran on. Down with Mr. Green Shirt.

When I reached mile 23 and still felt strong (ish), I quit holding back and quit listening to the voice of warning. And that's when I saw it. A yellow shirt. It was a long way off, but there was no mistaking it for a female. The tiny steps and all the swaying gave her away. In fact, her form was so terrible that I thought she must be a half-marathoner. Her head kept moving from side to side, her shoulders twisted in such a way that made my own form seem perfect (I twist when I run). I couldn't imagine running 26.2 miles with all that weaving, twisting and bobbing. There was only one thing for it. I had to catch and pass her. I had 2 miles to do so.

I ran an 8:48 mile to catch her, but I wasn't just chasing my last huckleberry. I was running for the 4 hour mark. I was running to shake off anyone who might be close behind. I ran because I knew my steam was running out. When I passed mile 25, I was tired. My legs were screaming, and my lack of training began whispering in my ear, but I only had 1 more mile and I was taking it down. There were no more huckleberries, except for the finish line.

I crossed in 4:03:17 as they called my name over the loud speakers. It was a little anti-climactic because no one was there, but I smiled anyway. I could not believe I had just run a 4:03 on no training. I was so thankful. I'd had so much fun! Despite all my chasing and pursuing those in front of me, I was still able to enjoy being out there, running on the most gorgeous first day of October. I was thankful to my God for getting me through it, thankful for the time out there with Him in His amazing creation. And I was excited! What did this mean for my ultra?! What might I be able to do with adequate training?! I put my medal around my neck and gulped down a cold bottle of water as I sat in the sunshine huddled against the wind.

Eventually Mary, mom's friend who had driven us there, found me and I got a jacket from the car and money for coffee. We waited for Mom, who ran in strong right under 5 hours. She was ecstatic having no idea she was capable of a sub 5. It was a wonderful day all around. The perfect day to be out finding huckleberries.

Training and Tapering...Who Needs 'Em?

2011-09-30T09:15:00.000-05:00

I guess we will find out the answer to that question tomorrow afternoon. My mom talked me into running a marathon she has been training for, and I hemmed and hawed and would not commit, thinking I might have to work that day. Finally I checked with my boss and she swapped dates with me and all of a sudden I was free and available to run the Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon with Ma. That was two weeks ago.

While I have been getting in some good mileage at quality paces, it is nothing near marathon training. I've been slowly working my mileage up to prepare for the 50 mile in December, and I thought the marathon might fit nicely in the middle...but it came a little soon and my longest run up to that point had been 12 miles.

So last Saturday (a week before the marathon) I did a little test and ran 16 miles to see what it would feel like. I haven't run that far since April. I held around a 9 minute pace most of the way and felt fine when I finished, although my legs were pretty tired and a little sore the next day. I was also reluctant to taper because I am in the middle of ultra training and I have just gotten cranked up on that. So I didn't want to slack off on ultra training just because I'd agreed to this crazy last minute marathon.

I ran 7 miles on Monday, a total of 12 on Tuesday (9 in the morning, 3 in the afternoon), and 6 on Wednesday. My leg soreness came back so I took yesterday off and this morning I ran 3 with my No Boundaries runners, driving to meet them instead of running there like I usually do. So that's a sort-of taper. If all goes as planned and I finish this marathon (which is the main and only goal, by the way), I will have 51.5 miles for the week. While that is a good mileage number, how it plays out is not exactly what I was looking for, but hopefully I can take it easy enough tomorrow that I can resume my ultra training shortly after without having to take too much of a break.

Smart? Probably not. A good plan? That's a negative. Kind of fun anyway? Yep. I will admit to being a little curious to see how I will fair on so little training. Am I seasoned enough to hang in for 26.2 miles? What kind of time will it be? This will be marathon #25, but regardless of how seasoned a marathoner may be, a lot can happen in that distance, and I am approaching it with caution.

I plan to start off slow, around a 10:00 or 9:30 pace for the first 3 or 4 miles. Then I will try to hold between a 9:00-9:30 the rest of the way. If I feel good at the end, I will pick it up, but I'm not expecting to have a whole lot left after about 20 miles. I've packed 4 Gu packets to pin to my shorts and will try to stay well fueled. That, a slower pace, and a history of finishing marathons is all I have to take with me on this one.

I'll let you know how it goes.

I Wish I'd Thought of That

2011-09-29T10:27:00.002-05:00

Did you know there is a running store called See Jane Run? It is the cutest and I wish I'd thought of it first. The girl who began it all is not even named Jane, but I absolutely love what she has made of this store and her story behind it. If you go to the "About Jane" section, you can see her manifesto (which totally rocks), and her story as a woman who wanted to make a change. Not only is See Jane Run a store, but they organize and plan events (races and triathlons) and offer training programs. I love this. I wish I'd thought of it first. Especially since my name is actually Jane.

There is a lot out there I wish I'd thought of first. I just bought a copy of The Runner's Devotional and I wish I'd thought of that first too. My mom gave it a once over and said, "You could write it better," but even if I could it has already been done now (and she's my mom, so she might be a tad biased). I also love Bart Yasso's book, My Life on the Run. It is one of the best running books I have ever read and one of the few that has actually kept me engaged and interested from start to finish. It doesn't bog you down in the boring details of 800s and endless mile repeats run around a track (although he has training plans and theory in there as well), it is a book of stories that comprise his journey as a runner. The triumphs, the failures, the trials, and the hilarious and crazy events that so many runners can identify with.

I wish I'd thought of that first too. And what a great title! The perfect play on words. Man, I wish I'd thought of that.

As I was thinking of all these great ways people have turned running into their life's work, I felt so...behind. Why am I just now joining the party? Why am I just now deciding this is what I want to do with my life? Has everything worth doing already been done? Has everything worth saying already been said? What do I have to offer the running community that isn't already available?

I am tired of sitting around watching all the great ideas fly by and waiting for one to fall into my lap. "Here Jane, there is this great running program and we want YOU to run it." That is really, quite literally, what I have been waiting on. I even thought I had a shot with the Fleet Feet No Boundaries program, but that went to someone else and I was so disappointed. Director of a running program - THAT is my dream! But I let it go and moved on. Still thinking.... still dreaming.

So I've decided to act. I have decided to start my own business and it will be a private running coach company. It is still in the beginning stages. I'm filling out paperwork, ironing out the details, reading and researching what is already out there...and I am impatient to get started. Actually, impatient isn't the word. I cannot WAIT! I feel a little unsure at times but that does not change my excitement, my resolve and my own personal call to action.

That's all I will say about it for now. I want to have all my ducks in a row before I get things rolling. I was hoping to have it ready by October 1, but I may need a few more days. I will hold on to my day job at UAH as I grow my little business and continue with my classes and certifications... but the possibilities seem wide open and I'm no longer sighing as I watch all the great ideas go by. I'm actively trying to start one of my own.

No Whining

2011-09-27T08:20:00.001-05:00

Growing up with a high school guidance counselor as a mom meant my sister and I never got to make excuses. There were no excuses for bad test grades or late homework or being late or doing something we knew was wrong. Teachers were not too mean or hard, rules were meant to be followed and if we did not do what we were supposed to do, we got in trouble. Every. Single. Time. There was no whining or complaining allowed. Just doing and having a good attitude.

Yesterday as I was getting ready for work, I had the TV on since Jason was not here. I was in and out of the living room, but when I stopped to make coffee I noticed that Joyce Meyer was on. I couldn't really hear what she was saying, but I noticed the text at the bottom of the screen.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

I knew that verse. Philippians 2:14. I think we memorized it in my Sunday school class when I was growing up. But in that moment when I read the words on the TV screen, I knew for a fact I never went a day without arguing or complaining.

Now, I'm not one of those people known for all the whining and complaining. In fact, most people who know me probably see me as upbeat and positive, which is something I strive to be and enjoy more than the alternative. But complaining is something that can easily sneak in there (like most sins). At work, when I'm talking with my co-workers, we may jokingly mention a student who has been particularly difficult and...that is complaining. I also know for a fact we whine about the workload and policies at times - and not in a joking fashion.

Do I whine about traffic in the mornings? I certainly have. Do I complain about the people around me? Jason can verify that. Do I complain when things are not going as I would like them? Sure enough. And this kind of thing happens every single day.

So after thinking about what I'd just read, and how I've always known that verse and how I've been raised to live that way...I gave it a try. I just wanted to see how long I could go. Well, it wasn't long before I was speaking with a co-worker and I complained. Man! And here I was trying to shine like a star and be pure and blameless, and failing within the first few hours!

I'm not giving it up, though. I'm going to attempt this every day. And maybe it will be like training for a marathon. The longer I go without a complaint, the longer I will be able to go in days to come. And really, what do any of us have to complain about? If we are complaining about work well, we do have jobs and right now that is really saying something. Do we complain about people? Well, give that up right now because people will never change. Do we whine about what we don't have? Look at what we do have! Homes, families, safety, freedom, cars, health, pets, food, sunrises.... Counting blessings helps with this immensely. When you are sitting around being thankful, it is hard to whine or complain at the same time.

So I'm going to add this to my training plan. How many miles can I run and how many hours can I go without a complaint about anything? Hopefully one day I will be able to change the hours to days.

A Reason to Laugh on a Monday

2011-09-26T09:15:00.000-05:00

I am currently taking a course at UAH called Health and Wellness Concepts. This is one of the many courses I will take to earn my Fitness and Wellness Certificate. I really like this class because it focuses on all aspects of wellness, not only physical fitness. Tonya Hardy, the instructor, has all sorts of fun and interesting activities for us to do as we learn all kinds of great information about physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness.

One such assignment was to create a brochure or video infomercial about our favorite physical fitness activity and to sort of "sell it" as the best way to get fit. Well... you can guess what I chose. But I didn't want to write up a brochure because...well... I write about running all the time! I wanted to do the video infomercial option and I knew just the gal to help me. You know her from the many mentions throughout my blog as well as her two guest posts about Racing and Running with Dogs. Julia works for Dreammaker Entertainment and has a ton of experience with video and video editing so I asked her if she could help.

Now, when I asked her I was thinking something like her holding a video camera and me running down the sidewalk and stopping to talk about running. She, however, had greater visions. She asked her boss if we could work in the studio and he said yes. I wrote up my script, covering all the information required in the assignment and e-mailed it to her for the teleprompter. They used a green screen as my background so that we could put whatever we wanted in the background of the video, and I felt a bit like a movie star as we did retakes from different angles and whenever I got tongue tied.

It was a lot of fun. I worked with both Julia and Jim on Friday after work to record the video and then Julia and I met Saturday to edit it and turn it into what it is now. And really, I just watched her work and told her what I liked. Julia did all the rest.

And so for your viewing pleasure, I am embedding it here for you. I'd say don't laugh, but that is sort of the point. We played up the cheese factor and tried to find videos that went along with what I was saying. So if you need a reason to chuckle on a Monday, here it is. Enjoy!

Ultra Training Week 4

2011-09-24T09:57:00.000-05:00

Finally! A great training week. It is a little later than planned and there are still no weights mixed in (I am so horrible at that), but it is much better on the mileage. If interested, take a look!

Sunday, Sept 18 - ran 5 miles, 8:31 pace.
I needed to try out my new shoes. Pricey, but worth it! So much has improved since I got them. I don't think shoes are the sole way to fix issues - I think a good bit of that is form - but I do think they have their place.

Monday, Sept 19 - ran 8 miles with Jane, 10:00 pace
Great morning run with Jane (yes I have a running partner named Jane) and it was her first time running 8 miles. I love being a part of those first time runs.

Tuesday, Sept 20 - ran 6.3 morning miles, 9:06 pace. It was a drizzly morning and I almost didn't get out, but I knew if I wanted those miles I had to go.
Ran 2.5 miles that afternoon to mark the No Boundaries course.

Wednesday, Sept 21 - ran 3 afternoon miles, 8:30 pace. I was pretty tired, but glad to do a little something after a day of sitting.

Thursday, Sept 22 - ran 10.2 morning miles with the girls, 9:54 pace. First 5 with the group, second 5 with Julia. She was doing 10 so I tagged along.

Friday, Sept 23 - ran 4 miles - 2 miles to the Nobo run, 2 miles back home. The first 2 miles were 9:22 pace, the second were 8:30 pace. It was a chilly morning and I liked it!

Saturday, Sept 24 - ran 16 miles, 9:02 pace. Started at 4:45 with the girls, had to make a pit stop at mile 4. Hung on to Julia and Katie from a distance before going my own way. They are both finishing up their marathon training and they are strong and ready to rock it! This run for me was sort of a test to make sure I'm not going to fall out next weekend. I let Mom talk me into a little marathon and well...my training will consist of what you have seen here. Hardly marathon training, but I'm hoping to have some strength reserves in there somewhere that make me tough enough to hang in for 26.2 miles. If that is not the case, I told Mom I would run as far as I could and then find a spot under a tree and wait for her there. Sort of tortoise and hare style.

Anyway, the week totals 55 miles and that makes me feel like I'm finally getting this ultra training started (at week 4, ha!).

Milwaukee and the "Terrible Awful"

2011-09-21T10:42:00.006-05:00

If you have read or seen "The Help" then you know what a "terrible awful" is. The "terrible awful" according to Minny, is doing the unthinkable. Of course, Minny's terrible awful was much more comical and entertaining than mine turned out to be, although I imagine I had the same panicky feeling afterward when it sunk in that I'd done the unthinkable.

Wednesday morning on our vacation, we awoke in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We'd arrived the night before and attended the Brewers vs Rockies baseball game and had plans to run the next morning before continuing our adventure in Chicago. We took our time, had some breakfast and relaxed a bit before packing up and heading to a nearby park to run.

I wasn't sure how far I'd go as my legs were very tired from a fast 12 miler the day before, along with staying up super late and getting some not-so-restful sleep in a hotel room. Still, it was a nice, cool day and a beautiful park awaited us. My run was slow and laborious, but there was so much beauty to see that I spent more time soaking it in than worrying about my pace.

We ran in Grant Park, which had seemingly endless greenways and despite the grayness of the day, I ran under lush, green trees and foliage most of the way. At one point I came out onto a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan. I stopped my watch and just stood there, taking it all in. It looked like an ocean! I saw several chipmunks scurry across the path in front of me as I ran, and saw two dear up close and personal as they munched on greens. I stopped then too, grinning like a fool at all the nature around me. I couldn't wait to finish up my run, grab my camera and drag Jason back to all these beautiful sites.

About two tenths before I finished my 6th mile and concluded my run, I realized I was not wearing my wedding rings. It only took me a second to realize I had taken them off the night before placing them on the bathroom counter and that I had not retrieved them that morning. I wasn't overly panicked. I figured I'd just call the hotel and tell them I needed to come back and get my rings. We were only about 10 minutes away and we'd only been gone about an hour. I knew my rings would still be there, and even if they'd cleaned the room, I knew they'd found them.

I was calling the hotel as Jason completed his run and I told him we needed to go back. He immediately hopped in the car, and as the head cleaning lady came back on the phone to tell me the room had been cleaned and there were no rings, I began to become more alarmed at the situation.

We got back to the hotel, went back to our room and there were no rings. We, along with two managers, searched the trash (multiple times), the sink, the sink drains, the vacuum and bags, the entire contents of laundry, both clean and dirty, under the beds and sheets and pillow cases... all to no avail. They were gone.

During all of this I was sort of stunned. I had been so sure we'd find them. I knew exactly where I'd left them and Jason had seen them there that morning. I felt guilty as I began to suspect they'd been taken by someone, but what other explanation could there be?

I'd been successful in holding it together in front of these strangers. I was so embarrassed and I knew I looked like a silly lady who'd lost her wedding rings. But when we got in the car to drive away, I realized they really were gone and I was not getting them back and I lost it. I cried so hard I wanted to throw up and I used up an entire travel bag of tissues in Jason's glove box. I couldn't believe I had done that. Who does that? Why hadn't I thought to put my rings on before we left? Jason had asked me if I had everything and I'd said yes! Why did I have to take them off in the first place? Where in the world were they anyway? They were the rings Jason had given me when he asked me to marry him and now I'd never see them again.

We almost cancelled our trip and headed home, but that made me sad too. We were having the most wonderful time. I had planned to show him the view of the lake/ocean. I was going to take pictures. We were going to go to Chicago and see the aquarium and run along the lakefront path and go to the apple festival in his hometown. I still wanted to do all of that, but I didn't feel like I deserved to.

Eventually, I got myself together and we drove to Chicago. It was hard to sleep that night and the next day there was a lingering sadness over us both. We were pretty quiet most of the day as we looked at the strange and beautiful creatures in the aquarium and walked along the water. I knew they were just rings and that my marriage to Jason was just as strong and wonderful with rings as without. This perspective began to take hold and by the next day, I think Jason and I were both starting to let it go a little more.

We did end up having a wonderful time on the rest of our trip. And maybe this whole ring-loss thing brought us even closer than we were before. I'm still disappointed that they are gone, and it feels very strange not to have them on my finger. I still go to put them on every morning and I am surprised they are not in the little soap dish on the bathroom counter where I always kept them. But I know in the big scheme of things this is a small thing. They are only things, after all, that will perish with every other material thing we own. Our marriage, however, will grow and change and remain and that is what matters most.

Tuesday's Treat

2011-09-20T21:46:00.001-05:00

Today's treat is a simple favorite of mine and it is string cheese! My favorite brand is Sargento, but when I'm feeling a little cheaper, I buy Publix, Target, or Kroger brand and it is basically the same. The light version is only 50 calories with good, quality ingredients (at least in the brands I know), and I must confess, I still enjoy pulling it apart in "strings" and eating it that way just like I did when I was little. It is super yummy and usually tides me over until lunch or dinner if I get the munchies before time to eat (which happens often).

It is perfect for packing in lunches or tossing in your purse on the run. And at only 50 calories, you can afford to indulge in this delicious snack.

Enjoy!

A Vacation in Miles

2011-09-19T10:22:00.005-05:00

Jason and I left for Wisconsin mid-morning on Thursday, September 8. We would not be returning home until Saturday, September 17 and that week fell smack in the middle of my ultra marathon training. I knew I needed to get in some good runs amidst all of our traveling, site seeing and fun, so I tried to come up with a plan.

Running is a great way to see the sites of a new place, and during our 10 days of traveling I ran in 5 different cities, in 2 different States. While my mileage numbers were not as high as I would have liked had I been at home following my usual routine, I was pretty happy with them considering that we were traveling and completely off our regular routines. This is what it looked like:

Friday, September 9 - Madison, Wisconsin
6 miles, 9:04 average pace
We woke up Saturday morning in Bloomington, IL and drove the 3+ hours to Madison, Wisconsin where Jason checked into the Ironman Village. After checking in, we changed clothes in the car (tricky, but doable) and ran along a path by Lake Monona. I ran 6 miles with views of the water, a nearby park, and a brand new city all around. I was a little tired from all the driving and standing in line at the Ironman registration, but having new surroundings in which to run made it more pleasant.

Saturday, September 10 - Middleton, Wisconsin
8 miles, 9:12 average pace
Our hotel was located in Middleton, Wisconsin and just happened to be perfectly located next to another greenway. It was near a Research Park-like area with sidewalks so I veered off a few times to see what was around. I was pretty tired this day as well, but it was gorgeous weather in a new place and I ran 8 miles before going with Jason to set up his bike and go for a practice swim in Lake Monona.

Sunday, September 11 - Madison, Wisconsin
0 miles, Ironman Day
This was not a run day for me, as I spent over 12 hours with and watching for my Ironman as he completed his 3 events.

Monday, September 12 - Middleton, Wisconsin
3 miles, 9:31 average pace
This was almost a day of no running as Jason and I lazed around recovering from the day before, but Jason (the Ironman) got us both out and we went for a short 3 mile jaunt together. My legs felt like lead and I could tell I was just shuffling along, but it was another gorgeous day and it was nice to be out in it with Jason.

Tuesday, September 13 - Middleton, Wisconsin
12 miles, 8:39 average pace
I had set aside this day as my longer run day, and I got in a wonderful 12 miler on a gorgeous and windy Wisconsin day. My Ironman was safe and sound and whole after his event, we were traveling the world (okay, just Wisconsin and Illinois) together and life was good. This run was full of thankful thoughts. We left Middleton that afternoon and drove to Milwaukee where we attended a Brewers baseball game.

Wednesday, September 14 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
6 miles, 9:30 average pace
We stayed up late at the baseball game and even later once we got back to our room, but we still wanted to get in some miles so we Googled local running parks and greenways and found one very close by. We ran in Grant Park, which had endless greenways in all directions. I was a little nervous at first because there weren't many people out, but I stayed in the more populated areas and discovered some gorgeous scenery. I ran along the top of a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan, saw two dear and several chipmunks. I was super tired from the day before, but I managed 6 miles. They were tough, but my surroundings made it better, once again.

After this run, the "terrible awful" happened and broke my heart. I'll save this for another post. After we ran and experienced the "terrible awful" we drove to Chicago.

Thursday, September 15 - Chicago, Illinois
0 miles, 4+ miles of walking
Because of the "terrible awful" and staying up until 2:00 a.m. the night before, I stayed in bed until 10:00 a.m. (a record-breaking sleep-in for the last 5+ years) with the curtains pulled shut against the sun. Jason ran and when he got back we walked down to the Lakefront Path and to the Shedd Aquarium. After touring there, we walked down to Navy Pier where we ate shrimp cocktail and steamed clams and mussels, and I indulged in the largest margarita they sold. I do not make a habit of drinking away my sorrows (or of drinking much for that matter) but the mixture of long walks, seafood, and lingering sadness made it the perfect day for such.

Friday, September 16 - Chicago, Illinois
7 miles, 8:34 average pace
A new day dawned and Jason and I made our way back to the Lakefront Path where I ran 7 wonderful miles along Lake Michigan. It was a somewhat overcast and windy day, but lovely none the less and I allowed the miles to heal the lingering sadness within. After running we left Chicago and drove to Carbondale, Illinois, Jason's old stomping grounds, for the Apple Festival. I bought a few crafts and we rode the ferris wheel and another ride called the Cliff Hanger. Hilarious and fun. Before leaving we shared a funnel cake, which I would later regret, but in the moment it was the most delicious thing my taste buds had ever known.

Saturday, September 17 - Murphysboro, Illinois
1 warm-up mile, 10:00 pace/Apple Festival 5k, 22:59, 7:24 average pace
By this point in our vacation I think we were both sick of hotel rooms and hotel beds and sleep became hard to come by. We fell asleep around midnight, only to wake up again around 4:00 a.m. as my tummy rejected the delicious funnel cake. We left for the race at 6:30 and I felt nauseated up until the time I ran my warm-up mile. The goal for the race was not to barf while running, but I ended up coming close to a PR and feeling great. My splits were 7:13, 7:20, 7:25 and feeling that good I knew it wouldn't take much more to reach that PR (currently 22:40).

I got to meet a few of Jason's high school friends as well as his high school track coach. He had the most wonderful things to say about Jason - his work ethic, his willingness to do what it took to improve - and the interesting thing is these traits are still with him today. I loved hearing about his high school self. Jason won first in his age group and I was 4th in mine. We went back to the hotel to get cleaned up and then made our way home sweet home, reaching Madison, AL just in time to pick up our pup from the vet.

All in all it was a wonderful trip and running in each place enriched the experience showing me more of the local community and surroundings than I would have seen otherwise. I loved running along all the greenways and lake-side paths and the weather was always so cool and crisp, perfect for running. I am glad to be home and back into my old routines that I enjoy so much, but I will remember fondly all the miles and all the places I ran them while on vacation.

Ironman Wisconsin as told by the Ironwife

2011-09-18T10:35:00.002-05:00

The alarm clock went off at 4:00 a.m. and I took a quick, hot shower to wake up. I knew it would be a long (wonderful, emotional, moving, inspiring, anxious) day spent watching for my swimmer, my cyclist, my runner - my Ironman, and I wanted to be awake and ready. I had packed my drawstring bag the night before with the essentials - camera, iphone, chapstick, water bottle, and snacks, and I laid out my homemade Ironwife shirt, shorts, shoes and a light jacket for the chilly morning. I was ready to go.

Jason and I hopped on the shuttle that would drive us to the transition area at 5:00 a.m. I had a cup of coffee in my hand that I sipped as we drove in the early morning darkness through Madison, Wisconsin. Jason was quiet as we sat shoulder to shoulder, hands intertwined.

When we reached the transition area, Jason went to his bike to pump up his tires and check on his gear, and then he put on his wet suit and got ready for the swim. I had a hard time letting him out of my site as I wished him luck with a huge lump in my throat as the most beautiful sunrise began to color the sky. "Here we go," I thought once again, just as I had a year before in Ironman Kentucky.

Unlike the Louisville Ironman, (and like most of them), this Ironman was a mass start, and it was amazing to watch. After the most beautiful National Anthem (sung by an Ironman participant) followed by a moment of silence as we remembered all of those lost in 9/11, "It's a Beautiful Day" by U2 came over the loud speakers as the cannon fired signaling the swimmers to begin their 2.4 mile swim. The race had officially begun.

They swam two huge loops around buoys placed in the water. That meant spectators could see (and hear) the entire swim. The men wore green caps and the women wore pink caps and I wondered which cap belonged to Jason and how it was going as I watched the circle of swimmers. Jason completed his swim in 1:15, which was almost 10 minutes faster than last year. I was so excited as I saw him run onto the parking deck to get on his bike before cycling down the ramp, starting is 112 mile bike ride.

I crawled up into a planter directly across from where Jason's bike was parked.

The transition area as volunteers wait to help cyclists get their bikes. This picture does not encompass them all either. There were 2811 out there.

Once I saw Jason ride off, it was time to catch another shuttle to Verona where spectators could watch the cyclists come through at mile 54 and 94. There were tents set up with groups selling hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, and all sorts of snacks. I met a man on the bus whose wife was also doing the Ironman and we compared stories as we rode. We were some of the first people to Verona and I excitedly picked the spot I wanted and stayed there for 3 hours as the crowds filled the field and the side lines. I got quite the sunburn on the back of my legs, but I wasn't going to budge and lose my spot (you gotta be hardcore about this spectating thing).

I calculated when I should see Jason based on his previous Ironman and figured I might even see him before then. As the minutes and hours passed, however, I became concerned. Eventually I knew something had gone wrong because he would have shown up by this point, even if he had slowed down. The question was what, exactly, had gone wrong and where was he. I checked my phone again and again for emergency calls, but nothing came through. This was agonizing as I stared intently at each cyclists looking for the familiar signs that they were mine.

After what seemed like too many eternities, I saw him. Relief washed over me as I tried to cheer and snap a picture. He was in one piece. That was a good sign. Maybe my calculations had been wrong. I was very alarmed however, when he stopped his bike to talk to me. If he was racing, he should not be stopping! He told me his bike chain had broken at mile 10. He had to retrieve it from the road (with cyclists flying by) and then he used a tool he had with him to repair it as best he could. Shortly before he reached mile 54 where I was waiting, he found the Trek Bike assistance vehicle and they helped him adjust it. He had lost about 40-45 minutes doing all of this. He was disappointed and he told me the goal for the day was now to finish. I could see his disappointment and I was crushed for him.

He rode off and I stared after him, not sure what to do. I called Mom and told her what had happened and asked her to pray that he would keep his chin up and stay positive. I prayed the same, but I couldn't help asking why??? Why did his chain have to break?

I hadn't eaten all day and my coffee was long gone, so I went to a tent and bought a hamburger, chips and a drink. This helped quite a bit as I found a shady spot to eat. I knew I had a few more hours before I'd see him again and my legs could not handle any more sun. I recalculated when I should see him if there were no other issues, and this time he came in when he should have. He was smiling and slapping hands with spectators and I knew he had pushed through his disappointment and meant to finish his race as best he could.

This was the best I could do as he sped by, giving me a high five before riding out of sight.

After seeing him a second time, I texted his mom and mine, telling them he looked great, and I hopped on the bus that would take me back to the transition area and the start of the marathon. Jason's splits on the bike were 16 mph for the two loops where he had to stop, but for the loop when he didn't, he rode at 21 mph. If he had not had technical issues, his bike race would have been dynamite! I knew these things happen and that every triathlete had a story like Jason's, but I sure wished it hadn't happened to my triathlete! Still, his spirits seemed improved and I thanked God for that. Plus he was safe. He was unhurt. I was more grateful than I can express for that as well. He completed his bike ride 6:24:29, which was over 30 minutes slower than last year.

The way the marathon course was set up, I could see Jason 5 or 6 times as he ran, simply by walking a few blocks through downtown Madison. This was great for not only spectators but for the tired runners as well. They pretty much had fans and cheers for the entire marathon. Jason told me later that I became the goal as he completed each section of the run. He was exhausted from pushing so hard at the end of his bike ride, and the goal remained simply to finish. Despite the fact that this Ironman would be slower than his first, his run was still impressive. After the swim, he was slotted at 126 in his division. After the bike he was 156. After 8 miles of the marathon, he was down to 91 and as he ran, he jumped down 20 more spots to 71 in his division. I saw him several times, walking with him for a spell and giving him encouragement as best I could. He was tired, but he kept moving and I was so proud of him.

Jason finished his run in 4:02, completing his Ironman in 11:57:52. Despite the technical issues - the broken bike chain that never really shifted correctly during his 112 mile run and the two stops to fix it, he was pleased with his efforts and I was more proud than I can express. From my own experience, I know a lot can happen during a marathon to change the course of the race in a second. Add in a 2.4 mile swim and a 112 bike ride to the mix...and for these men and women to finish unscathed and in one piece is an impressive feat. I was so proud of my Ironman for pushing through despite the issues he faced during this race, and for not giving up. He gave it all he had and when he was moving, he was really moving! That, to me, is another trait belonging to a true Ironman.

Stats and such:

Louisville, Kentucky Ironman 2010 - Swim/1:24:30, Bike/5:45:24, Run/3:45:41 - 11:13:35
Madison, Wisconsin Ironman 2011 - Swim/1:15:28, Bike/6:24:29, Run/4:02:30 - 11:57:52

To read of Jason's first Ironman:
My Husband the Ironman, Part I
My Husband the Ironman, Part II
My Husband the Ironman, Part III

Race the Races

2011-09-16T21:55:00.002-05:00

Hi my blog reading friends! Jason and I are finishing out the last few days of what has been a wonderful vacation (minus one terrible awful that I will explain later), and that is why there has been mostly silence on the blog. My dear running pal, Julia Clark, has written another wonderful guest post WELL worth the read. Enjoy her spin on training and racing and I will be back soon!

Julia and her twin, Laura, running the Auburn Half-marathon

Race the Races

"We need to gauge our workouts and our workout progression to ensure that we'll be training tomorrow…and the next day, and next week, and next month and next year…Patience and long-term planning must be our training partners." - Pete Magill

For the past few months, I’ve been training for the Columbus Marathon on October 16th. My goal for this race is a 3:35, which is 22 minutes faster than my PR. It’s an ambitious attempt, so I considered my training program carefully. Too much speed work burns me out, but I need to be prepared to hold that pace. I could write a whole other blog post about how my training has progressed so far, but right now I want to focus on a particular aspect of my training philosophy: race the races, not the workouts.

Everyone is different, and everyone’s training is different. I know there are training plans that lay out 2-3 hard workouts per week, but that's not how I roll. I'm content to run a track workout or tempo run about every other week. And when I do, I don't run the same maximum effort that I would run in a race. I run hard, for sure, but it's a calculated hard.

A few weeks ago, I ran 7x800 meters with my friend Katie. I took the Yasso 800 approach and ran each one in 3 minutes and 30 seconds or better. At the end of the workout, I felt like I could have done at least one or two more 800s at the same effort level. That doesn't mean I didn't run hard. It definitely felt like work. But I wasn't completely exhausted afterwards, so I was able to recover faster and run well the rest of the week. Scott Douglas, co-author of Advanced Marathoning, explains, "The purpose of any workout, even the hardest, is to advance your fitness toward a performance goal. That means a measured effort that's hard enough to provide the desired stimulus, but not so hard that you're so trashed that the next few days of running are a waste. Remember Pete Magill's counsel: great training, not great workouts. Elite runners go to the well seldom if ever in their training; they save their racing for the races. You should finish hard workouts with more in the tank. If you're doing repeats, you should be able to run a few more at the same pace. If you're doing a tempo run, you should be able to run another couple miles at the same pace without a marked increase in effort."

Bill Squires, a coach for the Greater Boston Track Club, refers to workouts as "things you can handle." He says, "A workout is an effort where you can control your speed. That means you can control your form. They [his athletes] always have more in their gun when they leave. I'm not into these practice runners, the Cinderfellas, who want a Purple Heart for their workout. I always say, 'Let's see what we can do on Saturday [in the race]." Or consider the words of Greg McMillan, the coach of McMillanElite in Flagstaff, Arizona: "The optimal rate of adaptation…occurs when the body is stressed to a tolerable level, allowing it time to adapt without having to draw on every ounce of its physical and mental reserves. It gradually adapts and is at far less risk for injury or burnout…A little control will make training more enjoyable and lead to greater overall improvement and, most importantly, better race performance."

This Saturday my schedule calls for 13 miles at half marathon pace. The next big workout after that will be 10x800 meters on the track. The ten days in-between will include solid mileage (easy to moderate pace, including my final 20 miler) and rest. It’s so easy to get bogged down with workouts and paces and schedules, which is why striking the right balance between hard and easy is important to me. I want to feel fresh and motivated while striving for my goals. I want to push myself without losing the joy. Hopefully this approach will ensure that I’ll be training tomorrow...and the next day, and next week, and next month and next year...

Ultra Training Week 2

2011-09-10T17:10:00.000-05:00

This has been one of those training weeks where I had to just roll with the crazy schedule life handed me and get in what miles I could. I'm not complaining about that however. The crazy schedule included getting ready for and getting ourselves to Madison, Wisconsin for the Ironman (which is TOMORROW, by the way).

We had nonstop rain from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday night. This got in the way of any running on Monday (which smarted since we had Monday off and I could have easily run until my heart's content) as well as any doubles on Monday or Tuesday. Following the rain came the most glorious weather imaginable and I tried to make use of this as much as possible. Tuesday and Wednesday were busy days as I went to work, fit in as much running as I could, and ran errands to get ready to head out of town for over a week. Thursday I got up early, ran, and we hit the road for Wisconsin, arriving Friday morning. Jason checked in, picking up his packet, chip, arm band and transition bags, and then we shopped at the Ironman store before fitting in another run. This morning, before taking all of his gear to the transition area, I was able to get in another run. Below are the mileage numbers for this crazy week. Not exactly what I had planned, but not too bad either.

Here is what I had planned:
Sep 4 - 10
Sun - off or light and easy run/weights
M - 7 miles a.m./3-4 miles p.m.
T - 6-8 miles a.m./No Boundaries in the p.m.
W - 6-8 miles a.m./weights in the p.m.
Th - 8 miles a.m./3-4 in the p.m.
F - 4-6 easy miles/weights in the p.m.
Sat - 10-12 miles
Total: ~ 48-50 miles

Here is how it went down:
Sunday - 6.1 morning miles with Katie - 10:19 pace.
I think we were both a little creaky from the Monte Sano Road Races the day before, but it was very nice to get out and move those sore and tired muscles with good company.

Monday - Nada. Spent the rainy day in Fayetteville, TN with my fam. Had a great time, but no miles were run that day.

Tuesday - 9 afternoon miles - 8:19 pace.
No Boundaries was canceled due to the rain, but I decided after no miles on Monday, I had to face the drizzle. It ended up being a pretty awesome run.

Wednesday - 7 morning miles with Jane - 9:42 pace.

Thursday - 8.3 morning miles - 8:33 pace
Felt pretty good despite semi-sore quads and the morning was absolutely beautiful!

Friday - 6.1 afternoon miles in Madison, Wisconsin - 9:04 pace
I ran on a path around the lake where Jason will be swimming his 2.4 miles in the morning. It was very windy and I was very tired, but I was glad to get in a good run in new surroundings.

Saturday - 8.1 miles in Middleton, Wisconsin - 9:12 pace
The running and cycling paths here are amazing. They are everywhere! This was a different path from the one in Madison. I had planned 12, but I was tired and I didn't want to hold up Jason getting his bike set up in transition, so I cut it short.

That gives me a total of 44.6 for the week. While not exactly as much as I'd planned to fit in, it isn't too far off either. I've felt a little fatigued this week and I can't figure out if it is due to the Monte Sano Road Races, the monthly woman thing, traveling or a combination of all three, but I'm hoping to give that 12 miler another go this coming week, and get in a few more 8's and maybe a 10 as well since we will be vacationing and free time will be in abundance.

Tomorrow will be a rest day of sorts since I won't be running, and I think these legs need a break. Still, while I won't be doing any running, I will be spending lots of time on my feet as I cheer for my Ironman and hurriedly get myself from point to point to support him in each event. I am so excited I can hardly stand it!

Ironnerves for the Ironman

2011-09-07T09:40:00.001-05:00

It is almost here. Ironman Wisconsin. This will be my husband's second Ironman. And the wife is a nervous wreck! Okay, maybe not a wreck, but I'm getting the butterflies already. Not because I don't think he can do it and do it well. I know he can. I also know his hopes and his goals and how, just like many athletes, he can be hard on himself when his performance is not what he thinks it ought to be.

So as wife, best friend, cheerleader and president of his fan club (hee hee), I REALLY want him to reach his goals. I want him to succeed at everything he does and I want him to be proud of himself. It is this that makes waiting and watching both exciting and nerve wracking.

Still, nerves aside, I'm pretty excited. I loved watching the Louisville, Kentucky Ironman last year. It was amazing and inspiring and moving, and when I saw Jason come through that finish line, I thought I might explode with pride. So I am looking forward to doing it all again.

I'm also prepared. I'll be catching the shuttle to the swim start EARLY in the morning with Jason and from there I will catch another shuttle to where I can cheer him on during the bike ride. I'll then catch that same shuttle back to the transition area and be ready to cheer for him as he starts and completes his marathon. I've packed a little drawstring bag that I will carry with me and in it I will have my camera, iphone, water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, the athlete information booklet, snacks and money for more snacks (cheerleaders have to stay well fueled, you know). Am I forgetting anything?

I have also made sure that I can be easily spotted by my athlete and that other supporters will know my status as wife, cheerleader and fan club president. Instead of ordering this most important supporter apparel, I made it.

So yeah, this Ironwife is READY!

From Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano to YOU!

2011-09-06T10:11:00.006-05:00

As promised, I have Adam's and Tim's response to all who entered the "Running the Edge" giveaway this past week and wrote about how running has transformed their lives. Without further ado, here is what they had to say!

First of all a big thank you to Jane for including us in her first giveaway! She is a gift to the running blog community!

As we were reading the comments, we were so deeply moved by some of the stories that we asked if we could reply in a guest blog. Jane was kind enough to agree so we tried to think of a general way to communicate how we felt about these stories. The only thing we could think of was to respond to each one of them individually. Find your name below and a brief note from one of us. Thank you all again for sharing your stories! - Adam and Tim

Julie - You are so right about running friends! The bond created through the miles and hours spent training together is very unique and strong. I love running with Kara and if Colt ever decides to go for a run I will treasure that experience as well. - Adam

Jason - A 10K at the age of 4? That is truly a LIFETIME of running. I am sure with all the lessons you have learned over the years you have plenty to share and pass on to younger runners. All the best! - Adam

Lois - Both Adam and I can relate to your story. It is unlikely either of us would have ended up in college without running and it has definitely kept us away from possible bad influences and situations (other that each other! :)) Enjoy the run! - Tim

Lauriea - Like Tim said above, we can relate to these types of stories. It is great to hear how running can give people a higher self esteem and sense of accomplishment. That confidence spills into every other area of life and can make a tremendous difference in other aspects of your life. Keep it up! - Adam

Mark - We both laughed out loud after reading this! Because of you we are thinking about writing a blog from a running dogs perspective. Keep an eye on our blog in the next few months and you might see it! With or without a dog, running can make an otherwise straight forward life seem like something adventurous and challenging! - Tim

Audrey - Welcome to the running family! We are happy to have you and we hope that the advice, tools, motivation, and inspiration you find in Running the Edge will get you through many more Canadian runs! - Adam

Runnergirl - Wow! You and I should get together and compare injury and scar stories. Isn’t it strange how we can love something that breaks our bones?! We could also talk a lot about the highs and lows of running. You will find many of my highs and certainly lows in our book. Good luck with your masters goals. I am right behind you and hope to still be collecting age group medals throughout my life! - Adam

Julie Sam - I have also been an “off and on” runner since graduating from college. I have stopped running for up to six months at a time but the feeling of being fit and enjoying that amazing post workout high always lures me back and gets me back on my feet. I am happiest when I am fit and running. Your daughters are lucky to have a running mom setting a good example! - Tim

Robert - We are both HUGE high school cross country fans! This is where it begins for a lot of runners and if you can run through college as well, you will create a lifetime of very special memories. Good luck this season. Keep us posted on how you are doing on our facebook page. - Adam

Nicole - We hope you love our book but you will not find any information about mechanics or training advice or workout plans. We think you will enjoy the book and hopefully it will inspire you to BE a better runner by enhancing some of your running attributes. Let us know how it compares to the others you have read and good luck in your running and thirst for knowledge! - Tim

Brandi - My wife Kara would agree that running makes you a better mom. Keep it up! - Adam

Rachel - You are so right. Runners learn discipline and just how far consistent hard work can take you. The lessons are so valuable in every other area of your life. Sounds like you and Jacob were made for each other! - Tim

Jill - It is stories like these that give me chills. The fact that you have developed such a strong passion for running and that you have a supportive family is really inspiring! Like you I was hooked after my very first race. Congratulations on the 5k and 10k accomplishments and good luck in the half. Pretty soon we will see you in a full marathon! - Adam

Tom - We would be honored to be a part of your library! Running can certainly help you through both the highs and lows or life. Running teaches you how to handle both with a healthy perspective. - Tim

Shannon - Please come run with me! I need someone to talk to me to make me forget from time to time! The great part about running is that you can fill that need to be competitive throughout your whole life! - Adam

Liam - I am glad you liked Running with the Buffaloes. Those are some great memories for me. I hope you like Running the Edge just as much even though it is a very different kind of book. There are tons of stories in this new book that will give you a better idea of who I really am. - Adam

Justin - I love your story! You are right that running rewards hard work and if you are ending races in vomit then you are either pushing yourself very hard or you need to look at what you are eating before the race. You will love the story at the beginning of Chapter 1! - Tim

Katie - What a great goal to run a marathon in every state. And what is even better is that you get to do this with your husband! I plan on running my first Marathon this January at the Olympic trials. Then I will finally be able to see first hand what my wife keeps telling me about it. Good luck in your quest! - Adam

Scott - We might need to interview you for our blog! You must have some crazy stories from over 100 ultras and 50 marathons! What an inspiration you must be to everyone who knows you! We would love to hear some of your stories and what you think about Running the Edge! Email us at info@runtheedge.com -Tim

Gaye - Isn’t “Flower” great! She was a huge influence on me both as a runner and as a person. I will never forget the lessons she taught me in high school. Good luck in your own running career! - Adam

Debra - You have gone from mostly walking with some running here and there to two half marathons! That is a huge accomplishment! Good luck in your race in three weeks! Let us know how you do! - Tim

One Heart - This comment ranks as one of my favorites of all time on any running blog including our own! Yes you are a little crazy and yes you are strong, capable, determined, passionate, and resilient. You are also an inspiration. Yes you can learn these things about yourself in a single day in a single race. You will love our book because it is about EXACTLY these things! - Tim

Mrs C - Can we bottle your energy and passion and sell it to people? Like you I love proving people wrong when they say I can’t do something. After all you have done, you not only proved them wrong you proved yourself right. Reading your story has inspired me more than you know. I am proud to be a runner and kindred spirit with you! - Adam

Nate - Do you know Ben Davis? We did a blog about him and how he lost 120lbs running and he is featured as a story in our book (Chapter 15 I think). Your story reminds me of his. I read your comment before Adam did and then tried to paraphrase your words about being the most out of shape to most in shape in crowds. I didn’t do a very good job getting your words right but know you had us talking about YOU! Well done and keep it up! - Tim

Ohio Girl - What can I say? I want to hear more about your story. Tim and I live for inspirational people like you. Would you be willing to share your story in more detail? We could maybe put it up on our blog and let our readers be inspired by you! If you are willing to share contact us as info@runtheedge.com Keep up the running and belief in yourself! - Adam

Purple Lab - Yes! When running becomes its own reward then you have really arrived. When you do not have to race a certain distance or get a certain time or weigh a certain amount to love the sport then you are a true runner. You can run because the process itself is the payoff. This is a lesson that can take years to learn but when it hits you it is truly powerful! - Tim

Celeste - You are not taking the gift for granted now! Life changes and so do our priorities. You do not have to run every day or even every week to be a runner. Your goals for running might be different than someone who is training to qualify for Boston or run a new PR but that does not mean that you can’t enjoy the sport and the gift on your terms as it fits into your personal and family life. You have also shared the gift with others by coaching high school and now with your own children. Running is always a better gift when shared! - Adam

Eric - The great thing about being a runner is that you are given permission to be a bit socially awkward and still fit in perfectly! On some level we are all a little strange but that is what makes us unique and the most interesting people at most gatherings! Congratulations on the weight loss and increased proficiency at blowing snot rockets! - Adam and Tim

Tina - We have a chapter in our book called “Because it’s Hard" which talks about exactly that idea. If running were easy, not as many people would choose to do it and it certainly would not give you that tremendous sense of self satisfaction. - Tim

Julia - We have several chapters and sections in the book that talk about running with other people and how valuable shared experience can be. It sounds like you could have written those parts! May you have many many more years of those runs with your running girls! - Adam

Brandy - You have taken control of your health and your life and now you are sharing that experience with your whole family! What a gift and what an inspiration you are. Hopefully running will be a constant companion in your life for years to come! Good luck in Nashville and please let us know how you do! - Tim

Cara - I think looking at food and nutrition as a way to fuel your body and your running passion is a healthy outlook. Smoking and running don’t really go together and the fact that you quit smoking shows which is a more powerful influence in your life! You will be a great mom with the lessons you have already learned. Keep it up! - Adam

And the Winners Are...

2011-09-05T18:57:00.004-05:00

Lois, MrsC, and Debra! But that is THREE, you say? Why yes it is! Tom and Adam loved reading your responses and have offered a THIRD book for me to give away!

Here are the stories these women shared about how running has transformed their lives:

Lois said:

I ran my first 5k in the 4th grade and from there I feel it took me in the right direction at the right time in a young girl's life. I grew up in a small town and experienced peer pressure that goes hand in hand with living in a small town without much to do. Instead of giving in to the pressure I turned to running. I started having success and loved the way it made me feel, confident, accomplished, and determined. After high school I received an academic and athletic scholarship and was able to receive an education. Without my running it would have been tough for my family and me to afford college. Since graduating I have not stopped running and continue to pursue my running dreams. It has opened up so many doors for me, helped me meet my now husband, and brought me into contact with the most amazing people. God willing I plan to run the rest of my life!

I have a blog I write through active.com's elite tribe. You can find it at: http://pulse.active.com/loisk

MrsC said:

I started running about ten years ago after I walked a 5K. My goal was to be able to run the while thing the following year. I did!

When I was younger I was told I would never be a runner due to some hip issues. After three marathons, a 50K, and countless half marathons, 10Ks, 8Ks, and 5Ks I think it is safe to say I proved them wrong!

Running has made me more fit, healthier, a more patient person, and has brought me closer to my family (especially my sister) and even contributed to my recent marriage (met my now-husband through a friend and he was impressed that I was running the next morning).

Running has changed my life and put me on a path that has made me unbelievably happy and it has formed new friendships in my life and strengthened many relationships. I cannot imagine a life without running...even when I am not running!

Debra said:

Hi Jane, Love your blog and love reading anything I can get my hands on that has to do with running. You (and your Mom) are such an inspiration to me! Anyway, I started running about 2 years ago. I am an "older" runner, so I started out mostly walking and eventually added in some running here and there. Well, that was until my first 5k in March last year, oh boy was I hooked! Since then I have participated in several 5k's and two half marathons. I have another half scheduled for September 24 in Nashville. I mostly run now, with a little walking added in here and there :-)

I truly wish I could give ALL of you a free book. Your comments and stories were so inspiring and I am so glad you took the time to share them with me and the readers of this little blog. One thing I can give you, however, are personal comments from Adam and Tim to the stories you have shared. I will post these tomorrow, so please check back for your personal response from Tim and Adam.

Also, I have decided to hold one giveaway per month and I already have next month's giveaway chosen. While probably not as exciting as this first giveaway, I hope all of these giveaways will provide a fun way to win something to improve or enrich your running experience in some way.

Thanks again to all who participated! In the words of Adam and Tim, keep running the edge!

Last Day for Running the Edge!

2011-09-04T08:10:00.001-05:00

Not the last day to run the edge, mind you, but the last day to enter the contest to win a signed copy of "Running the Edge" by Tim Catalano and Adam Goucher is TODAY! Tomorrow morning I will take all of your entries before the sacred judges panel (said in a deep formidable voice), and the winners will be announced as soon as they are chosen. I have the books sitting on my kitchen counter at this very moment, waiting impatiently to be read! I will mail them to the winners on Tuesday, September 6.

So get your entries in! If you are just learning of this contest, go to the contest post here, write a little bit about how running has transformed your life in the comment section, and include your e-mail there or send it to my e-mail account so I can contact you if you win.

A BIG THANK YOU to Tim and Adam for making this first giveaway such a success and for taking the time to write a book and tell your stories inspiring new and experienced runners alike. Also, a big thanks to all of you who entered the contest and shared your stories. They have inspired and touched me, Tim and Adam, and all of those who have read them.

Ultra Training Week 1

2011-09-03T16:09:00.003-05:00

If I could define this week in one word, it would be TI-YERD (southern speak for tired). While I had some pretty good runs, there wasn't a lot of sleeping going on and I think I felt the affects of that later in the week. Since mornings were so early and sleep so rare the first few days, I never did have enough energy and motivation to get to the gym for weights. I will have to start anew with that this week.

Here is what I wanted to week to look like according to my personalized guide:

Aug 28 - Sep 3
Sun - off
M - 7 miles
T - 10+ miles in the a.m./No Boundaries in the p.m.
W - 6-8 miles in the a.m./weights in the p.m.
Th - 6-8 miles in the a.m./3 miles in the p.m.
F - 4-6 miles in the a.m./weights in the p.m.
Sat - Monte Sano 10k and 5k - 10-11 miles total
Total: ~ 45 miles

Here is what the week actually looked like.

Sun - rest

Monday - 7 miles a.m. with Jane (on about 3 hours of sleep) - 10:00 pace
2 miles with Fayetteville No Boundaries group p.m. - 10:30 pace

Tuesday - 11 miles with Katie (at 4:15 a.m.) - 9:32 pace
1.5 miles p.m. to mark the No Boundaries course

Wednesday - 3 hot miles p.m. - 8:43 pace

Thursday - 8 miles a.m. - 8:52 pace (last two miles I got really hot and tired).

Friday - 4.2 morning miles with No Boundaries run between the first 2 and second 2 - splits were 9:30, 8:50, 8:01, 8:18.

Saturday - Monte Sano 10k (51:02), Monte Sano 5k (27 ish) for a total of 10 miles in 1:25 - average pace 8:34.

Total mileage: 46.7 for the week.

That is pretty close to the plan I made, and I am pleased with that. For the upcoming week I'd like to see some weight workouts, I'd like more consistent distances, and I'd like to slowly pick-up the pace getting the majority of my runs under 10:00. During the summer months I allow my pace to be whatever it is as I try to survive the heat and humidity. As things begin to cool down however, I feel more able (and willing) to push the pace back down to where I want it to be (and maybe even further). The weather promises to be cooling down this week and I am SO EXCITED! I feel ready to carve a pumpkin. (Jumping the gun, I know).

All in all, I think it is a pretty good start to my ultra training.

My New Favorite Month

2011-09-01T11:09:00.018-05:00

A very long time ago in a land far away (or really, just down the road from where I live now) I had a horrible September. I remember hearing the song, "Wake Me Up When September Ends," by Greenday and thinking that was my song. All I wanted to do was crawl in a hole and hide until October. I wanted to start over, I wanted my sadness to go away, I wanted the cool breezes and beauty of fall to ease my heavy heart. And that meant September had to end.

And as it always does, September did finally come to a close that year. I did get to start over and my spirits began to lift. Still, each year following that one when September rolled around, I remembered. I was sure I would never like September.

Several years later however, I changed my mind. In 2007 on the 3rd day of this previously hated month, I married Jason Reneau and September turned into my new favorite month.

We had a tiny little wedding at my parent's house with only our immediate family. It was absolutely perfect. No stress, no fuss, no "this day is all about me." We laughed, we decorated, we watched Father of the Bride. Mom made Dad and me practice our walk down the stairs 150 times the night before, and Dad rehearsed what he would say when he gave away me starting with, "At long last..." He had strict instructions to keep it to, "Her mother and I do." I had a dress, a cake, and my family, and that was all this bride needed.

The next September, when we celebrated our 1 year anniversary, we also embarked on a new little adventure called the Blue Ridge Relay. Our team of 6 people, The Tortoises and the Hares, ran 200 miles in 29 hours and 48 minutes, placing 4th in the ultra team division. I ran a little over 30 miles divided up in 6 legs and it was one of the most challenging and most rewarding adventures of my life. And I got to share it with my husband of 1 year.

In September of 2009 I ran the Air Force Marathon, and for the first time ever, Jason ran a marathon with me. The entire way. While I did not PR, it is still one of my favorite marathons because he was with me. We had the best time out there together. It may not seem like much, but for a 2:38 marathoner to run with a (then) 4:00 marathoner...it is a big deal. It is much harder than you might think to run slower than you can for 26.2 miles, and Jason ran over 3 minutes per mile slower than he would have otherwise. With me - his wife of 2 years.

Last September, Jason had just completed his very first Ironman in Louisville, KY. I was so proud I could have burst. Even though I did not do the event, I spent the day cheering and watching and praying and getting the Ironman logo painted on my arm, running (or driving) from one spectator station to the next, and it was a powerful experience for me as well as for my amazing Ironman. He finished in 11:13:36 and I could not have been prouder of him. For our anniversary, I got him a pretty sweet bike rack...and I was pretty proud of myself then too.

This September, in keeping with the tradition we've set, we will head out once again for Jason to enter his second Ironman in Madison, Wisconsin. It makes me smile and shake my head in wonder. In the 4 years we've been married, every September has held some new adventure that we share together, something that brings us closer and strengthens the bond we have. Every September I celebrate my marriage to this amazing man, feeling so thankful that we found each other (at long last...) as we gear up for whatever crazy event we've come up with to do next.

Needless to say, I love September now.

11 Miles Before 6:00 a.m.

2011-08-30T10:36:00.012-05:00

There is something about getting up REALLY early in the morning to run that just feels...secretive. Like I'm sneaking out of the house for some sort of clandestine meeting. And by "REALLY early" I mean setting the alarm for 3:55 a.m.

I don't often get up at that hour to run. The usual time is 4:50 or 5:00 a.m. to meet the girls, and a little later when I run solo. But on this particular morning, Katie needed 20 miles and she had to be home before 8:00 a.m, so I said I would join her. We have done this once or twice before for various reasons, and even though it is brutally early (and by 2:00 p.m. I am usually a useless lump of sleepiness), it is always fun. This morning was no exception.

We met at 4:15 a.m. to begin our run. The temperature was perfection as we started out and we headed for an old familiar route that would get us about 8 miles. I wasn't planning to do the entire 20, just 10 or so, but by then it would be light out and Katie would feel better about running alone.

As we ran we chatted about everything as we always do. Running, family, blogging, life, running, training, running... and the time seemed to fly by. We ran through part of a new neighborhood that was not very well lit, and as I looked up I was dazzled by the stars. They were so bright and there were so many! And they twinkled. I interrupted Katie and told her to look up. I did not expect to see so many stars at that hour, and they shown so brightly! I made a mental note of the gift as we continued our run and our conversation (which I think was on jogging strollers at that point).

It was fun being the only two people out and about at that hour. It was as if we had the cool morning temperatures and the brilliant starlight all to ourselves as we chatted and ran, enjoying it all. Eventually we spotted other runners and walkers as the morning hours became more reasonable, and just as we were reaching 8 miles, the sky finally began to grow lighter. I ended up running a total of 11 of Katie's 20 miles. I felt really good, but I knew I had No Boundaries that evening and I did not want to overdo by increasing my mileage too quickly and risk injury so early in my training.

Katie grabbed some aid before continuing on with the rest of her run just as two of our other running buddies were finishing theirs. I got in my car and laughed as I saw it was just a little passed 6:00 a.m. As I got ready for work, however, I began to feel the effects of such an early start. I glanced at the clock, saw that it was only 7:00 a.m. and grabbed a quick cat nap until Jason got home from his run. It was a little too quick for my tastes, but it helped. Especially when followed by an entire travel mug of coffee.

I might fight sleepiness later this afternoon, and bedtime may come as soon as I finish my last bite of dinner. But I wouldn't trade this early morning run for anything. Great company, good mileage, brilliant stars... you can't beat that. Not even with more sleep.

The Personalized Guide

2011-08-29T12:30:00.000-05:00

I was somewhat tempted to skip a plan altogether because I think as long as I'm getting high mileage with bits of tempo and speed mixed in, that is good enough. But then I counted my available weeks of solid training and I am looking at 14. That doesn't seem like much. Plus, I really enjoy coming up with a good training strategy and mileage plan, and I'm afraid if I don't, I won't get in the longer runs in time. I want to be prepared for this thing.

The plan below is simply a guide I have come up with to help me train. I scheduled runs around dates/races/plans currently on my calendar, but more could show up (life happens, you know). It also depends on how I feel. Certain weeks may have less or more mileage depending on what I (and the knee knob) can do. I may need more long runs back to back, and more long runs period. I may need another rest day each week. For now, however, this is my guide and what I think my weeks should look like leading up to the 50 mile. It feels somewhat ambitious, but why not push my limits a little? I can scale back if and as needed. For now, this is my guide for my next 50 mile ultra.

Aug 28 - Sep 3
Sun - off
M - 7 miles
T - 10+ miles in the a.m./No Boundaries in the p.m.
W - 6-8 miles in the a.m./weights in the p.m.
Th - 6-8 miles in the a.m./3 miles in the p.m.
F - 4-6 miles in the a.m./weights in the p.m.
Sat - Monte Sano 10k and 5k - 10-11 miles total
Total: ~ 45 miles

Sep 4 - 10
Sun - off or light and easy run/weights
M - 7 miles a.m./3-4 miles p.m.
T - 6-8 miles a.m./No Boundaries in the p.m.
W - 6-8 miles a.m./weights in the p.m.
Th - 8 miles a.m./3-4 in the p.m.
F - 4-6 easy miles/weights in the p.m.
Sat - 10-12 miles
Total: ~ 48-50 miles

Sep 11 - 17
Sun - Jason's Ironman
M - 8 miles a.m./3-4 miles p.m.
T - 8 mile tempo a.m./No Boundaries in the p.m.
W - 6 miles a.m./weights
Th - 8-9 miles a.m./3-4 miles p.m. (10k pace)
F - 4-5 easy miles/weights
Sat - 12-15 miles
Total: ~ 55 miles

Sep 18 - 24
Sun - off or light and easy/weights
M - 8 miles a.m./3-4 miles p.m. (10k pace)
T - 8-10 miles a.m./No Boundaries in the p.m.
W - 8 miles a.m./weights p.m.
Th - 6 miles a.m./4-5 miles p.m.
F - 4-5 easy a.m./weights
Sat - 15 miles
Total: ~ 58 miles

Sep 25-Oct 1
Sun - off or light and easy/weights
M - 9 miles a.m./3-4 miles p.m.
T - 8 miles a.m./No Boundaries p.m.
W - 6 miles a.m./weights p.m.
Th - 6-8 miles tempo a.m./3-4 miles easy p.m.
F - 15 miles a.m./weights
Sat - 8-10 miles
Total: ~ 63 miles

Oct 2 - 8
Sun - off or light and easy/weights
M - 8 miles a.m./3-4 easy miles p.m.
T - 6-8 miles a.m./No Boundaries p.m.
W - 10 miles a.m./weights
Th - 8 miles a.m./3-4 miles p.m. (5k pace)
F - 5 easy miles
S - Jason's Half-Ironman
Total: ~ 41 miles

Oct 9 - 15
Sun - off or light and easy/Weights
M - 16 miles a.m./3-4 easy miles p.m.
T - 8 miles a.m./No Boundaries p.m.
W - 6-8 miles a.m. tempo/Weights
Th - 10 miles a.m./4 miles easy p.m.
F - 10-12 miles a.m./Weights
Sat - Liz Hurley 5k No Boundaries goal race
Total: ~ 65 miles

Oct 16 - 22
Sun - off or light and easy/weights
M - 10 miles a.m./3-4 easy miles p.m.
T - 8 miles a.m./weights p.m.
W - 6-8 miles a.m./5 miles p.m. (10k pace)
Th - 6 miles a.m./weights p.m.
F - 5 miles a.m.
Sat - 18 miles
Total: ~ 61 miles

Oct 23 - 29
Sun - off/weights
M - 10 miles a.m.
T - 8 miles a.m./weights p.m.
W - 8-10 miles a.m./3-4 miles p.m.
Th - 6 miles a.m./weights p.m.
F - 10 miles a.m.
Sat - 15 miles
Total: ~ 63 miles

Oct 30 - Nov 5
Sun - off/weights
M - 6 miles a.m./3 miles p.m. (5k pace)
T - 8 miles a.m/weights p.m.
W - 10 miles a.m./5 miles p.m.
Th - 6 miles a.m./weights p.m.
Fri - 6 miles
Sat - 20 miles
Total: ~ 64 miles

Nov 6 - 12
Sun - off/weights
M - 8-10 miles a.m./3 miles easy p.m
T - 6 miles a.m./weights p.m.
W - 10 miles a.m./5 miles easy p.m.
Th - 6 miles a.m./weights p.m.
F - 6-8 miles a.m.
Sat - Huntsville Half-marathon
Total: ~ 53 miles

Nov 13 - 19
Sun off/weights
M - 10 miles a.m./5 miles p.m.
T - 8 miles a.m./weights p.m.
W - 12 miles a.m./3 mile easy p.m.
Th - 6 miles a.m./weights p.m.
F - 10 miles a.m./5 miles p.m.
Sat - 10-12 miles
Total: ~ 71 miles

Nov 20 - 26
Sun - off/weights
M - 10 miles a.m./5 miles p.m.
T - 8 miles a.m./weights
W - 10 miles a.m./3-5 miles p.m. (5k pace)
Th - Thanksgiving/Turkey Trot 5k/5 miles
F - 20 miles
Sat - 10 miles

Nov 27 - Dec 3
Start rest days - short fast runs, or slower 6 milers

Dec 4-10
Rest days running 3-5 miles per day
Saturday December 10th - Race Day

Fighting the Summer Doldrums

2011-08-28T09:49:00.003-05:00

I don't know about you, but towards the end of August I begin to feel really weary of running in the heat. I grow weary of training in it, and being forced to get up early every morning of the week to avoid running in the worst of it. After 3-4 months it begins to wear me down a little.

However, just as I am growing weary of fighting the constant heat, the smell of fall shows up in the air. Mornings start to cool off a little and the days seem a little less humid. A breeze or two may even start to grace the days. So as the summer doldrums begin to take hold, there is the hope of relief that helps me stay on track. I tell myself that if I just hold on a little bit longer, it will get better. Until then my daily run may simply have to be about getting it in and enjoying the time spent running, instead of constantly training, pushing, and timing.

That said, however, I'm planning to start a focused ultra training plan come September 1. The summer heat will still be hanging on, of course, but fall will also be whispering in my ear, telling me of pleasant days to come. So as I run each morning, I daydream about my training plan, about my strategy, about my pace. What pace should I run in the beginning of a 50 mile ultra? Is it possible to run negative splits? Is it possible to be competitive? Will the knee knob withstand the increase in mileage? I plan time on the foam roller, time in the weight room, 2-a-day runs... and despite my sweat gleaming in the hot morning sun, I know that just as my mileage must increase, the temps will slowly begin to decrease. And that, my friends, is Heaven on this earth to me.

This week I tried to get my mileage up. Over the summer, my weekly mileage has been in the 30s, and so as I approach ultra training, I wanted to gradually let those numbers creep up a little. This week I succeeded, but not without some complaining from the old knob (it has begun to have a life and personality of its own these days).

Here is what it looked like:

Sunday - 3 miles in the storm, weights in the gym, 4 miles on the treadmill, 2 miles home in the heat
Monday - 4 afternoon miles with the Fayetteville No Boundaries group - 10:39 average pace
Tuesday - 8 morning miles (69 degrees, baby!) - 9:16 average pace, 1.5 afternoon miles to mark the Nobo course.
Wednesday - 8.1 morning miles with the girls - 9:52 average pace. Weights after work.
Thursday - Off
Friday - 6 morning miles.
Saturday - 8.4 morning miles - 8:50 average pace

Total miles - 45
Weight workouts - 2

This is the ideal week for pre-training readiness, except I would like to do weights 3 times a week. I got lazy Friday and Saturday in that area.

In the remaining days before September, I'm going to do a little reading and thinking as I come up with my training plan and strategy. I love this part. There is nothing like having a goal race and formulating a training plan to help fight those summer doldrums.

First Giveaway: Running the Edge by Tim Catalano and Adam Goucher!

2011-08-26T09:58:00.002-05:00

I am so excited to announce my very first giveaway on See Jane Run! It is the new release (and by new I mean HOT off the presses and mailed September 1) by runners and authors, Tim Catalano and Adam Goucher. I stumbled upon their blog, Run the Edge, about a year ago and it has been a source of inspiration and entertainment ever since.

Olympian Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano team up to share a unique running philosophy that breaks the mold of traditional running books. By tapping into the transformative power found in the distance run, Running the Edge inspires readers not only to push their limits as runners, but as human beings in a relentless pursuit of excellence in everything.

I personally cannot WAIT to start reading my copy, and I have not one, but TWO copies to give away! And not only are they brand new hot off the press, they are signed by both Adam and Tim! To read the introduction of "Running the Edge" (and get totally sucked in), go here.

Here's how to enter:

1. Post your name and blog (if you have one) in the comments section of this post, and share a little bit with me and the other readers about how running has transformed your life.

2. Send your e-mail address to me at jane.reneau@gmail.com so I can contact you if you win.

The deadline to enter is Sunday, September 4, 2011. I will post the winning names and contact the winners on Monday, September 5 (Labor Day).

Good luck!

Let the Training Begin!

2011-08-25T10:31:00.000-05:00

The other day I had some stirrings for adventure. Then I did some searching on the internet. Then I found an idea. This idea takes the shape of another 50 mile ultra called Run Through the Jungle, and it is the 31st Anniversary of the Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50k/50 mile run. This 50 mile is not on trails like the Northface Endurance Challenge last year, it is on a paved path through the "jungle" of Wakulla Springs State Park. This will hopefully mean no face plants into rocks, trees, trails and such. The knee knob rejoices.

After the wild adventure that was my first 50 mile ultra I did find myself wondering if I could have done it better if given the right conditions. The majority of my running is done on the streets of my town, not on trails. Sure, Monte Sano is just a short drive away and provides plenty of trail types on which to run but...that always took extra planning and so I took to the roads about 90% of the time during my training.

I also learned that trails frustrate me. I have to slow down. I have to pay attention. I can't simply find a rhythm and lose myself in it. And I'm not willing to go to the extra trouble of getting myself to a trail when the road lies right outside my front door. After my first 40 mile ultra on Monte Sano I believed myself to have gotten the hang of it. I loved the beauty of the mountains, and since that race consisted of the same figure 8 of trail, I got used to it and had a wonderful time.

The Northface Endurance Challenge trails in Georgia however, were not nearly as friendly as those of Monte Sano, and I couldn't help but wonder at the completion of that ultra if I could do better at that distance if it were on my terms. My terms being the good ole familiar pavement.

All of that being said, I am ready to begin training for my new idea. I still have the Rocket Man Triathlon to gut through this Sunday. My performance there will be laughable, but I'll probably be okay with that since I have not invested any time and emotion in readying myself for it. As Jason reminds me when I bring it up, it is just for fun. That is the goal.

After that I'll be free and clear to begin my ultra training, and I've already begun the gradual increase in mileage so that these legs will be ready for the higher mileage weeks that usually accompany ultra training. And I'm excited! I love having a new adventure for which to day dream and train! Providing my knee does not argue and other more pleasant interferences don't show up (like babies), this will remain my plan. Sure I make plans, but I also prepare myself to be flexible as God's may be different than mine.

For now, however, let the training begin!

Tuesday's Treat

2011-08-23T09:08:00.000-05:00

Today's treat is one I recently discovered while shopping at Sam's and I LOVE it! The Sensible Portions Cinnamon Apple Straws are a VERY yummy snack. They remind me of the cinnamon straws you can get at Taco Bell, but these are probably better for you (although I've never checked the nutrition information on those from Taco Bell). You can eat 38 of these for 130 calories and the ingredients are all natural. No preservatives, no trans fat, cholesterol free. To me they are perfect to take to work for a midday snack because it takes me a while to eat them, they satisfy that craving for something sweet later in the day, and I don't feel like I'm in a sugar coma afterward.

If you visit the website, you will see that Sensible Portions makes other snacks as well. I haven't tried any of those yet, but I might! So far I have only seen this product at Sam's, but the website lists other locations where they can be purchased.

Enjoy!