Three Things Thursday: What's next

I've been in a funk. A horrible, no good, yell at people for no reason funk since the race on Saturday

I can attribute my mood, in part, to my lackluster performance but I know some of it is because I'm in such an odd holding pattern. I'm registered for my second full marathon, Veterans, on Nov. 9, and I have Hood to Coast to look forward, too. However, neither event requires an immediate start to training -- other than to not sit on my butt for the next eight weeks.

And so what's a mother runner to do?

1. Part of me seriously considered trying to find a redemption half in late May or early June but despite my best efforts (and those of some supportive gals), I couldn't find one that fit my schedule and didn't require overnight travel. There's the Sunburst races in South Bend and a random half in Kokomo that I'm not sure is chip timed. Sunburst would be the better option but is pricy for trying to correct a mistake, and the Kokomo course (out and back on a country road) and it's 400-runner max make me want to pull off my black toe nails.

Rather, I've set my sights on the Fort4Fitness half in September. I saw a FB post that if I volunteered at the spring cycle event, I would earn an entry to the fall race. It's smack dab in the midst of full training but the course holds my previous PR and one that I'm very familiar with. I'm not going into with it a specific goal but to test my fitness for Veterans. And to have fun. Plus, it's really a great local race that I've done for the past three years.

2. With all of those races going on, I'm weighing the benefits of having a coach or some kind of custom plan. It's not really in the budget but part of me wonders if it's what might get me over this hump. I also grew a pair and reached out to the running club, which sometimes feels a bit exclusive, to see whether there's a group that does regular speed work. I'm thinking the camaraderie and support could be beneficial.

3. I'm going to try to keep a decent base, especially in the long run department, to help make full training more seamless. The next two weeks will be easy and then I'll try to get in some double digit runs.

Bonus: Photos from Saturday's race.

The worst of the worst was posted on my Facebook page. Sharing it once was enough.

Coming tomorrow: My bestie is saving you all from my spew and wrote a recap of her first half marathon.

Punk moves: A race report

Warning! Warning! The following post may contain some language that could offend sensitive readers, including talk of bodily functions and profanity.

I like my race reports to be positive. Uplifting. Reflective of the accomplishment that is completing any race distance.

But my recap of the Wisconsin half marathon won't be like that. This recap, in fact, will be down right shitty.

Quite literally.

After all, when you lose three minutes for a port-a-potty stop at mile 4 to take a dump you tried to take before the race, a runner lacking confidence in herself can let it define her race.

◊ ◊ ◊

The Wisconsin race takes place in Kenosha, starting in Harbor Park with beautiful views of Lake Michigan and winds through gorgeous neighborhoods, a lakefront park and to Carthage College before returning. There are some small hills but the race is perfect for a PR on a good day. And a good day it was Saturday. Though I had been worried it would be chillier than I had packed for when we arrived Friday, race day was a crisp day in the 40s with an overcast sky and a breeze - not gusts. Perfect running weather.

Bobbi, Kim and I arrived in Kenosha about 45 minutes before the start and quickly began the meets and greets. I finally got to see Marcia in person, as well as some of the Chicago Running Bloggers contingent, and I chatted with nuunie Lindsay for a few minutes. (Please note: My teammate is a Bodypump devotee. #winning) The race is a big small race (if that makes sense), and it was easy to find people in the crowd.

About 20 minutes till the gun, I decided to hop in the potty line. I was feeling good - having had two decent eliminations before leaving the house - but I had some cramping in the car on the trip up. It could have been period cramps but I didn't want to risk it. When I finally got in to the stall 5 minutes before the start, my body had nothing to give - no matter how much I tried. So I gave up.

I quickly exited and hopped into the mass of runners. There weren't corrals so I just sort of got in the middle and hoped for the best. I later saw some pace signs to help give people a guide but I was already walking toward the line after the gun by that point. Two minutes later, it was time to run.

Thoughts from miles 1-4 (9:04, 8:36, 8:33, 8:33)
Oh, I am not positioned in the right place. Dodge, weave, dodge, weave. Wait. Stop the dodge, weave, dodge, weave. Don't waste energy. Relax. Soak it in. The lake sure is beautiful. These houses are big. I want one. First mile just around 9. Perfect. Water stops and port-a-potties already. No thanks. Man, there's a lot of turns. I don't mind but I bet some people are bitching. I wish I didn't keep my hoodie on. Can I take this off mid-stride without throat-punching someone? Winning! I can. Oh. Shit. I should have gone to the bathroom. I wonder when the next water stop will be. Not at mile 2. My legs feel good. No potties at mile 3. This could be bad. Stay steady. Will the poop away. The mind is powerful. Will it away. Maybe not. I'm prairie doggin'. God I love "Little Miss Sunshine." For the love of heaven, there's a port-a-potty ahead. And a line. But there's no time to be picky. Stop watch. Must know how much time was lost.

Thoughts from miles 5-9 (8:31, 8:52, 8:49, 8:58, 8:40)
Restart watch. Well, there goes any chance for a PR. What should I do now? I could still finish sub-2, maybe. Or I could take it easy. Easy sounds fun. You didn't come here to be easy. Hi, Lindsay! Oh, I like the lake. So pretty. I don't like this hill but it's not as bad as Lexington. There's the front-runners. And is that a guy juggling? While he runs 6-minute miles? That girl looks way too prancy to be running so fast. And happy. I want to shank her. Oooh, there's Kim. She's looking strong. I need to stop being a pansy. Buck up buttercup, you can be strong, too. It's Sarah! Hi, Sarah! Time to turnaround. Turn the beat around. Start spotting your peeps. Bobbi ... cousin Chris ... cousin, Kristen. This is fun. I need more peeps to spot. Mental note: Make more friends.

Thoughts from miles 10-13 (9:17, 8:57, 9:00, 9:45)
I liked running down this hill; it's sort of dumb to run up it. I am ready for this to be over. I think I can finish sub-2 even if I completely blow this. Let's just get this over with. Wait. If you run faster, it will be over faster. Turn it over. Turn it over. OH, there's Kim again. Is she already done? She must have smoked it. Why is she running more miles? Wait. She's not. We have another damn out and back turnaround thingy. This is stupid. I really don't like this anymore. Where is the damn turnaround? A water stop - thank heavens. I can walk. Just to that trash can. OK, the next one. Slow the sips. You can walk as long as you drink.

Thoughts from finish (8:07 pace, MOTOACTV read 13.3, probably because I weaved so much in beginning)
Time to be done. You can do this. Sarah! It's Sarah! "Don't let me finish like an asshole," I told her. Oops, I might have passed her. That was a dick move. I might as well pass someone else. There's that girl I've been jockeying with. She's so special in her cheese crown. NOT. Kick it. Kick it real good. Dun, dun, dun. Damnit, she's kicking it. Bitch. Harder. Bitch. Find more. Bitch. Oh, shit. She crossed first. Stop watch. Stop it. What does it say? 1:58:07. I'll take it.

Final thoughts
As I chatted with Sarah and found Kim (near 3-minute PR) and later the other Kim (who almost snaged a pregnant PR) and Bobbi, I was happy with how it turned out. I had ran some strong miles and even some faster at PR pace. It wasn't until I saw the official results, with a chip time of 2:01:10, that I got upset with my race. Not the race - because I have nothing good things to say about it and would highly recommend it - but how I handled it. I didn't stick to my plan and I gave up mentally. I'm fairly confident if I could have stayed mentally in it that I might have been able to squeak under 2 officially.

Even more upsetting is that I've let this affect how I viewed the experience. All the beautiful things I saw, bonds I strengthened and miles I ran were forgotten the moment I saw the official time. And though it's important to set goals and reach for them, it's not the only thing. It's not only succeeding or failing. There's always something more.

Girls gone WI(ld)

Alternate title: Photo dump of random pictures from Wisconsin

I ran the Wisconsin half and crossed the finish line in a gut-wrenching sprint to the end, and I promise to give you all the dirty details.

Later.

But it would be rude, in my struggle to put experience into words, to deny you with this.

The Kims

After all, this weekend was more than just 13.1 miles and a few goals. The race was about being with friends no longer in the computer.

Sarah and me post-finish

And thanking my lucky stars they didn't shank me for missing the meet-up because I was in the port-a-potty line.

It was about meeting a fellow nuunie and future teammate Lindsay who is even cuter and sweeter in person. (I'm sure I'll see the twisted side come August.)

It was about offering a toast to accomplishments and friendship.

And, most importantly, eating a big burger after 13.1 miles. With a side of fries. Dipped in ranch.

Because that's how I roll.

P.S. I hate all of these ladies for looking 1000 percent better than me in these photos. I think I need to start wearing makeup to races.

P.P.S. Just kidding.

P.P.P.S. Sort of.

Spring training: Week 17

Spring Training posts document my training for my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: 3.5 miles
Tuesday: 6 miles +  BODYPUMP (taught)
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 6 miles, intervals
Friday: 4 miles
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught)
Sunday: 8 miles

◊ ◊ ◊

Holy effin shoot. It's here. The week I've been working toward for the past 17. It's been forever and yet, I'll be honest, I don't feel 100 percent ready. Like I could use another month of solid training before I toe the line for a half-marathon. 

But, shockingly, I don't have the ability to make race scheduling changes or turn back the clock. It is go time. 

And, as such, it's time to focus on what should happen. Or at least what I'd like to happen. Since I have been following the Train Like a Mother plan, I deemed it appropriate to use the book's model for setting race-day goals.

Good goals: The time ones.

• Goal C (so help me God): Sub-2
• Goal B (attainable yet challenging): Overall pace a sub-9
• Goal A (pie in the sky): Come in at 1:53:59 or faster, which would be at least a 13-second PR

When I started this training journey at the beginning of the year, it was my absolute goal to PR at Wisconsin and to PR in a big way. I was going to do plyometrics every week and nail the speedwork but time, scheduling, motivation and weather played a big factor. I spent much more time on the treadmill than I anticipated and, as such, have focused much of my speed training on effort rather than pace. Even as I am back outdoors, I'm much more concerned about how the work feels than what the numbers say. It makes me feel a bit uncertain about what I'm capable of. My long run paces of late, though, definitely point to a sub-2, if not the sub-9 pace. I feel confident in that. Only race day will tell whether I put in the work for the PR.

Better goals. These are the goals about how you execute the race but not necessarily from a numbers perspective. For me, for this race, my better goal is to pace myself and trust the training. It's so easy to go out too fast too early but very rarely does it work to bank time. I know that I perform much better when I run negative splits, and I need to ease into the hurt.  I also want to knock the Negative Nelly who resides in my post-partum brain straight on her ass. I am not the runner I used to be - the one who was so self assured - but I am a better one. I am stronger and more determined. And I need to remember that race day.

Best goals. The ones that, hopefully, matter most. I want to revel in the accomplishment - not just finishing but sticking out the training. I want to smile so much it hurts. I want to have a good time, soak in the scenes of somewhere new, embrace my friends at the finish line.

And, I'll apologize in advance to Kim, Kim, Bobbi, Sarah and everyone else - I'm a really stinky sweater.

T-minus 4 days.

Spring Training: Week 16

Spring Training posts document my training for my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: 4.5 miles
Tuesday: 3.5 miles (for Boston) +  BODYPUMP (taught)
Wednesday: 6 (birthday) miles
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 6.31 miles
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught)
Sunday: 11.36 miles

◊ ◊ ◊

I don't think it's been a big secret that I've been playing with my fueling these past few months. I've tried Honey Stinger chews (love), Sport Beans (meh) and Clif Shot Bloks in about a million different flavors but all the while I've stuck with chews. I found last year, during Columbus Marathon training, that I couldn't stomach gels. Maybe it was the unbearable heat or changes in my body but my once reliable Gu made me nauseous.

And so it was with great caution that I accepted an invitation from Kevin Sherbourne, the co-founder of Huma Chia Energy Gel, to try his product.

According to the website:

The idea for Hüma was born in the sands of Iraq. In the summer of 2009 a US Army soldier named 1st Lieutenant McCollum was charged with leading grueling missions throughout Iraq. At the time he was reading a book about the Tarahumara, a tribe of Mexican Indians who regularly compete in epic 100+ mile races as part of their culture. To fuel themselves on these ultramarathons, they use a special chia seed blend. He figured if it worked for them in Mexico, maybe it would work for him in Iraq. Hüma brings together Tarahumara tradition, sports nutrition research, healthy ingredients and great taste as our best shot at helping you enjoy your gel. 

Reading that story and learning about the company made it impossible for me to turn down the chance to sample the gels, which come in two flavors - strawberry and apple cinnamon. After all, if I'm putting work to clean up my diet, shouldn't I do the same for the fuel that powers my runs? The ingredients for Huma include fruit, evaporated cane juice, brown rice syrup and chia seeds - a far cry from the long list that you see on other products.

I decided to take one of the gels - strawberry, if you are curious - on my long run Sunday at Chain O'Lakes, along with some Shot Bloks to see how it would work for me. As I said in my post about the Indiana Trail 100, even the roads in the park are hilly and I could feel the toll on my legs early on. I normally fuel at miles 5 and 10, and I was more than ready for a gel once the watched turned over from 4.99 to 5.00.

I stopped cold in my tracks, took a drink of nuun and took out the gel. My hands, cold from the blustery April temperatures, seemed to struggle to tear the foil but once I got the right spot, it opened immediately. I took the first bite(?) a bit apprehensively but was pleasantly surprised once the gel hit my tongue. It tasted just like strawberry jam, with a similar texture is well. It went down very easily and was far less goopy than traditional gels. It could very easily be taken mid-stride if fingers aren't frozen together.

People always talk about this jolt of energy that comes from taking a gel or sports fuel but I'll be honest, I'm not sure I've ever felt that way. More than anything, it just makes me feel like not crapping out. And I didn't crap out with Huma. Same as when I took Shot Bloks at mile 9. (Fueled early because I wanted to delay running up a hill.) But the bonus, which is one of the pros of Huma, is no stomach problems. Not a one. So I literally didn't crap out.

While I don't really think one time is enough to warrant a fair review, I look forward to trying the Apple Cinnamon gel on my run this weekend. A good run will earn it a spot in my SPIbelt for Wisconsin otherwise I'll stick with Margarita Shot Bloks and give the gels a second go as I base-build for my fall marathon. But I sincerely feel like the company - and the product - is one worth supporting.

Have you tried any new fuel lately? What do you take on long runs?

Disclosure: Huma provided me with samples of the gels to try at no charge but all opinions and thoughts are my own.

Spring Training: Week 14

Spring Training posts document my training for my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: 4 miles
Tuesday: 5 miles +  BODYPUMP (taught)
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 6 miles, tempo + BP rehearsal
Friday: 3.04 miles
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught)
Sunday: 10.1 miles

◊ ◊ ◊

This week presented me with an interesting dilemma - I was recovering from Run the Bluegrass and jumping on a training plan (Train Like A Mother: Own It) to bring me to a strong finish at Wisconsin. Recovery and ramping up aren't two things that usually go together.

Or do they?

While the course didn't allow me to race-race the event, my legs most definitely felt terrain of Run the Bluegrass. The quads, hamstrings, calves (of all things) and core were tight and tired. The idea of even a Sunday morning walk up a hill in Cincinnati was enough to make me grimace in pain. Thankfully, family time on Easter gave me a much needed full day of rest, and the travel time was an opportunity to think about how to tackle the week.

I decided, if I early-week miles were easy, I could amend the plan to give my legs a break without sacrificing quality miles. I cut out the hill workout - duh! - and I moved Tuesday's tempo run to Thursday, allowing for another day of rest between the race and harder effort (+ four days). I was also mindful to go light on my weights during BODYPUMP. While I did wear a watch on the runs, I rarely looked down at pace and administered the talk test throughout the runs. To avoid looking completely insane, I pretended that I was talking to Denali.

When it came time for that tempo run Thursday (4 by 1 mile tempo w/quarter-mile recovery), my legs were surprisingly springy and I ran sub-9s for the intervals on the treadmill - a first - and set a PR pace, as well. And, even better, I felt like I could have gone a smidge harder.

By Sunday's long run, I felt like a new woman. I ran a surprisingly fast 10 miles - and that was with constant reminders to not race the long run. I'm going to credit the ability to wear shorts and finally some new fuel, proper hydration (mmm, nuun) and a rediscovered route.

How do you recover from a race? Do you have favorite tips?

Spring Training: Week 13

Spring Training posts document my training for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon on March 30 and my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: 3.25 miles
Tuesday: 6 Week 6 Pack Abs, Level 1 +  BODYPUMP (taught)
Wednesday: 3.2-mile run
Thursday: 4.1-mile run
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon
Sunday: Rest

◊ ◊ ◊

First off, can I get a prize for respecting the taper? I totally rocked taking it easy last week!

Highlights of the week: Pretty much every thing. I really enjoyed the extra rest last week as did my legs. My easy runs seemed so slow and yet two of the runs were sub-9 averages, which is really good for me. All of the runs were outside and during daylight, and the weather was just slightly warmer. I also ran two new routes - Run the Bluegrass (race review in the works), which I loved, and the towpath trail near my dentist's office that I wasn't so enamored with.

Lowlights of the week: Pretty much none.

Moving forward: I have just less than six weeks until the Wisconsin half and between reverse taper and taper, I only have a few weeks of real work. Even though I went plan-less, sort of, for Run the Bluegrass and did well, I feel like I need more guidance going forward. Especially in terms of consistent speed work, which I decided was the difference between this cycle and the training cycle that I did when I trained for my PR in 2010. 

There are tons of plans out there, as we all know, but I really like the "Train Like A Mother" plans, and I will be following the last few weeks of the Half Marathon: Own It plan. I was drawn to the fact that it will take me up to 15 miles and and has speed work based on minutes. I will have to include more cross-training that it recommends but I'm not worried as it's been a constant in my routine.

Taking care of business: I finally created a Facebook page for Healthy Strides. It would be great for you to "like" me, and I think it will be a nice way to interact with all of y'all.

Spring Training: Week 12

Spring Training posts document my training for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon on March 30 and my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: Crunch "Fat Burning Yoga"
Tuesday: 5 miles + BODYPUMP (taught)
Wednesday: 4 miles, intervals
Thursday: 5 miles + Jillian Michaels' "Killer Abs," level one
Friday: Piloxing
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught) + 8.18-mile run
Sunday: Jillian Michael's "Yoga Meltdown," level one

◊ ◊ ◊

It's the final countdown. Five days till I toe the line at Run the Bluegrass. Five days till I gauge my fitness for the Wisconsin half marathon. Five days till I sink my teeth into a big ole Sweet & Sassy Redhead cupcake.

Don't hate - a girl's gotta have something to look forward to! And, after five days of no sugar, that cupcake sounds mighty good.

Anyway, it would seem natural in a post five days out from a half-marathon to share my goals for the race but I haven't really got any besides the basic things - run strong, have fun, don't puke at the finish. I'm really just using this as a supported training run with a beautiful break in scenery that offers the opportunity to eat Southern fare and goetta.

Instead, I'll share with you 13.1 notes about my training in honor of the 13.1 miles I'll be running.

1. I've never been more thankful for Netflix streaming than I have this winter as I have relied on it for entertainment on my treadmill runs. I've watched "Downton Abbey" (not very conducive to a sweat session), "LOST," "The Peacemaker" and, last week, "Psycho." We watched the pilot for "Bates Motel" (so good) and I wanted to get the back story. Or the front story. Whatev.

2. I will listen to music, occasionally, on the treadmill. My favorite songs right now are Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" and "Don't You Worry Child" from Swedish House Mafia. However, I mostly listen to Pandora's Cardio Dance Channel

3. Despite logging a lot of miles on the treadmill, I have been outside about half the time - or more - and I have to say this winter stunk for running. We might not have had a lot of snow (during actual winter) but I don't remember a colder or windier or just plain blustier winter in some time.

4. After eating Swedish fish throughout my marathon training, I've returned to more traditional fueling sources. I've had Honey Stinger Chews, Sport Beans and Shot Bloks. I'm the biggest fan of Shot Bloks, and I have a pack of tropical punch for the race.

5. The one thing that has been off is my hydration. I hate carrying water when it's cold outside, even with a handheld. The water freezes up and my hand is cold and the bottle throws off my balance. Unless Mark joins me with the stroller for 4 miles or I do loops, I have been guilty of doing long runs sans hydration. I definitely need to step up in this department and get things straight for Wisconsin.

6. I have made it through the plan without having to buy new shoes but my Nike Structure Triax now have 400+ miles on them, and I can tell they are ready to go. I'll be hitting the running store for some new kicks next week.

7. I also wear a pair of Nike Lunarfly 3's for lighter runs. Just so you know.

8. I always thought of myself as a 4-day-a-week runner, and I'm beginning to think that I'm more of a 5-day-a-week runner. I really like hitting higher mileage and combining a short run with some longer stretching or plyo workout .

9. Despite going to five days of running, it is still my rule not to run more than three days in a row. Hence why I only ran four times this week.

10. I have not pushed the stroller once during this training cycle. If I do a loop with the boys, Mark is a gentleman and volunteers for BOB duty. (Truth be told, I don't think he wants to deal with Denali pulling.)

11. I'm fairly certain that I have not lost a single toenail this cycle, which is incredible. I am not going to rule it out after the race, though.

12. I had been worried that I would have to give up dairy during this training cycle as I did during marathon training but everything seems to be OK. I've only had one incident, and it was after eating eggs pre-run. Not smart. Not smart at all.

13. And another thing I haven't done? I haven' intentionally carb-loaded for long runs. I probably eat enough carbs on a daily basis that I don't need to make a conscious effort to eat more.

13.1. I love running even when I don't like, and I feel blessed and thankful that I can do it.

Let's do this!

Spring Training: Week 11

Spring Training posts document my training for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon on March 30 and my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: TurboFire Stretch 40 + 4 miles
Tuesday: 5 miles + BODYPUMP (taught)
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 4 miles + BODYPUMP 85 (at home)
Friday: 5.35 miles
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught)
Sunday: 11.85 miles, long

◊ ◊ ◊

Run the Bluegrass is the fifth half-marathon that I trained for and will be my sixth 13.1 (I ran the Indianapolis Women's Half in September as part of marathon training). While those numbers still put me on the novice side, I can tell you I have learned one thing. One thing that will be true from training cycle to training cycle.

That truth? The last "real" long run will suck. And suck hard. 

It is my belief that the running gods feel the need to scoop up any doubt about a particular training cycle, form it into a ball and roll it down a giant hill, allowing it to gain incredible momentum. Enough to knock you right on your ass. The running gods want you to know that even though you've logged hundreds of miles, consumed your weight in carbs and finally feel strong, that you are not invincible.

The memory of my last long run for the 2010 Flying Pig half marathon is crystal clear. Every long then was a personal distance record, and the miles seemed overwhelming. Mark and I were nearing the 10.5-mile marker, and I just wanted to be home. But as we turned the corner to the street that would take us there, my calf seized up. I couldn't walk a step much less run one. I stopped to stretch and as I leaned over, the tears began to roll down my cheeks. I told Mark to go one without me, that I'd never be able to run 13.1. Mark believed otherwise, encouraged me to keep moving forward, and I hobbled the rest of the way. 

While my run on Sunday wasn't as dramatic, it was just as knock-you-on-your-ass. The weather was less than desirable though definitely not the worst I've seen this winter. And, yes, I said winter because those pesky running gods have failed to tell Mother Nature that it is March and time for spring. It was high 20s, or just at 30, and windy - just below my threshold for taking out Miles. But the little bugger was begging to go outside so we put him in snow pants, coat, gloves, hat and extra socks and decided to do a family loop before I finished up.

I wasn't particularly enthusiastic in the early part of that loop. There were lots of stops and starts - Miles kicking off his shoes, traffic on the way to the park, Denali's collar jacked - and I wasn't able to hit my groove once we were on the greenway. Mark and I strode in silence, which is never a good sign, only letting out grunts as we fought the wind. I tried to stay "in it" but as we closed in on home, all I could think was that it would be so nice to be done.

At which point Miles decided that he was no longer enjoying the run and began screaming. I told myself that my 8 remaining miles might suck but they'd be scream free. The inherent mother runner motivation.

Quiet though the miles were, they were unpleasant. I got temporarily mislocated in a confusing subdivision, finding myself on unfamiliar roads without sidewalks and drivers accustomed to seeing runners. I spent a good mile or two freaking out that I was going to be hit by a car or forced into a 14-mile long run that would incite panic in Mark when I didn't return in time. I eventually got my bearings and going in the right direction, a direction that happened to be into the wind. For four miles, the wind whipped around me and I cursed with every gust. 

And then, at mile 10, 10.25, I saw a police car sitting in the park. I knew I had a mile and a half to get home, farther if I wanted to hit 12, but the idea of being in the cold for another 15 minutes seemed like torture. I was sure that I could run up to the cruiser and kindly ask the officer to take me home. Or at least let me call Mark and request a pick-up. Of course, it would have taken 5 minutes to request the use of a phone/make the call, Mark a good 5 minutes to get Miles packed up and another 5 to get to the park. So 15 minutes. 

The time it would take for me to get home.

So that's what I did. I ran home. It was slow. Ugly. And 0.15 mile shy of the 12 I was aiming for. But, it was 8 more than I almost ran and brought me to the elusive 30-mile week, proving that finishing is winning.

Spring Training: Week 10

Spring Training posts document my training for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon on March 30 and my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: TurboFire Stretch 40 + 4 miles
Tuesday: 5 miles + Tabata
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 5 miles, intervals + Circuit class (womp, womp)
Friday: 3.55 miles
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught)
Sunday: 11.2 miles, long

◊ ◊ ◊

Boy, do I have a treat for you! It's me, in video form!

I haven't done a vlog about my training in six weeks, and I thought I'd take this week to personally thank you for all of the kind comments on yesterday's post and chat with you about my epiphany of sorts.

If you don't have earbuds at work, hate the sound of my voice or are annoyed that I do close my eyes when speaking (how do I fix that?), here are the highlights:

• Thank you for being awesome. Each and every comment yesterday made the situation that much better and helped me to feel more resolved and determined than ever.
• Training is going well, and I fell like things are clicking.
• My boys have been able to join me for portions of the past three long runs, and I think it's helping.
• My epiphany: Don't focus on what you've done but what you are doing. It applies to probably, like, everything in life.
• When in doubt, bring your attention to the very small things in the now: breath, form and lifting feet.

After all, you don't want to face-plant in someone's underwear.

Spring Training: Week 3

Spring Training posts document my training for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon on March 30 and my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: 5.5 miles, hill repeats
Tuesday: 45 minutes on indoor bike
Wednesday: 4.25 miles, speed (6 x 400 repeats) + RAW class
Thursday: 7 miles
Friday: RAW
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Rest

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I thought I had everything planned perfectly. I skipped a rest day Tuesday, adding in a light cardio session; got up early to squeeze in my long run on Thursday; and hit all of my quality workouts, even the ones the universe tried to thwart. All I had to do was go for a short run after Miles went down on Sunday, and I would get everything I wanted - a solid week of training, quality time with my grandma and a limited-demand trip to Cincinnati.

There was just one thing I didn't factor into this whole plan: traveling with a toddler is exhausting, especially when you go it alone.

There's the  sleeping in a different bed, and the toddler who doesn't want to sleep in his different bed but your different bed. There's also the feeling a bit out of control with food consumption and, even worse, coffee. (A big thanks to my uncle who makes coffee morning, noon and night - literally!) There's trying to see everyone and be everywhere and doing it all on a toddler's schedule.

Oh, and making sure the toddler doesn't terrorize unsuspecting nursing home patients or unplug any oxygen machines. I might have missed a steady state run but I might have managed some sprints.

I might be whining but I promise that I'm not complaining. I designed my training plan so I could miss easy days. More importantly, I feel lucky that in our short trip we managed three visits with Grandma, three meals with my brother, a visit with my godfather, lots of quality time with my aunt and uncle with whom we were staying and short visits with another aunt-uncle pair and my mom's husband. 

Miles also had a good time, discovering a play shopping cart in my brother's basement (he bought a battery) and scoring lots of high fives, a lollipop and stuffed frog from the nursing home residents. I scored lots of coffee, Panera bagels and a couple pounds (more than likely).

But the best part was seeing Miles giving Grammy kisses and him bringing her a book to read.

It's been a rough couple months, uncertain of what was going on or just how serious it was, and it did me a lot of good to see her looking well and even getting a bit sassy. Let's just say she and her new roommate will not be BFFs. She seems motivated to work hard in therapy and get home, saying that by our next visit she'll be outta there.

And on that visit, we'll have the BOB because I learned I cannot run after 3.5+ hours in the car, meal preparation and cleanup. I might have thought I would be OK for "just" 3 miles on the treadmill but I was struggling to keep my eyes open at 6:45 and was in bed by 7:30.

Party. Animal.

Last week, I solicited questions about training and exercise. I am answering them this week - Tuesday or Wednesday more than likely. If you want to know something, fire away!

Spring Training: Week 2

Spring Training posts document my training for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon on March 30 and my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

The week, in training:

Monday: 4.5 miles, hill sprints (6 x 45 seconds at 7.0, 7% incline)
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 4.25 miles, tempo + RAW class
Thursday: 8 miles
Friday: RAW
Saturday: Bodypump + 4-mile run
Sunday: 1.5-mile walk + 25 minutes (of 40) TurboFire stretch

◊ ◊ ◊

I've written about five different versions of this blog, trying to expand on one aspect of last week's training. But my brain is tired and so is my body, especially after 5.5 miles of hills on the treadmill this morning.

Tired Kim = Bad, uninspired writer.

Trust me. I nearly wrote an ode to Dairy Queen ice cream cake and medium long runs, which, as you can see, are decidedly missing from this week's log.

So help a girl out. Get up with Miles tomorrow morning and go to work for me and I'll ... ha. Just kidding. Ask me some questions - about my training for the upcoming races, BODYPUMP, cross training, whatever.

I look forward to answering them (and being more clever next week).

Spring Training: Week 1

I had so much documenting my training for the Columbus Marathon in weekly recap posts that I thought I'd do the same for my spring half marathons. The Spring Training posts will discuss my training for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon on March 30 and my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.

This week, in training:

Monday - 5 miles, hill repeats (6x: 2 minutes at 4%, 2 minutes at 6%, 2 minutes @ 4% with 4 minutes recovery)
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 4 miles, intervals (6 x 400 repeats) + RAW class
Thursday: 4 miles
Friday: RAW
Saturday: Bodypump
Sunday: 7.68-mile run (outside!!!!!)

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People say that it's the taper period of any big training cycle that will make you crazy. Doubt yourself. Wonder whether you are even a runner. And while I went through my own manic period before Columbus, nothing has compared to this week.

This week being my first spent almost entirely on the treadmill, in the basement, at 5 a.m.

The weather here has been less than desirable, and a winter storm last weekend covered our street in a sheet of ice that refused to melt or become safely passable by car much less feet. While a previous version of myself might have toughed it out, the idea of traversing the precarious conditions at 5 a.m. in temperatures in the teens didn't sit well with me ... more Mark. So I resigned myself that it would be far safer to stick to the treadmill.

I will whine far and wide about my disdain for the treadmill, with my No. 1 complaint being that my pace suffers incredibly when inside. A 9:30 pace feels easy on the roads but I have to keep the treadmill at 5.5 to feel comfortable and 6.0 (10-minute pace) feels like a tempo effort.

Regardless, I toughed it out in the name of miles. I ran hills as the Lexington course is of the rolling variety, not minding much as it's hard to find good inclines suitable for repeats near my house. I did 400 repeats, feeling good that I was able to "crank it up" to 7.0 at the end.

But come Thursday, when I hit the treadmill after dinner for an easy-ish run, I freaked. It just felt hard, and I hated that my 2013 training log didn't seem to be reflecting my fitness level. I messaged a running mentor, crazed that my now slower pace would somehow become the norm and once I got back outdoors, I'd slip to 10:XX instead of speeding up to 8:XX. Oh so wisely, she explained the mechanics of running on the treadmill versus running outside and advised that as long as you don't rely only on the treadmill, you are fine.

Her assurance did little to assuage my fears, and I was a bit nervous going into my first long run of the cycle. The weather had warmed enough on Saturday that much of the ice had melted and what was left was more slushy, making it safe to head outdoors. Still, what if I couldn't do it?

I took it slow as I headed toward the park as I was sure it was plowed. I focused on form, breathing (tried nose breathing as Scott Jurek suggests in "Eat to Live") and footing. I told myself to not look at the MOTOACTV as pace didn't matter. It's all about time on the feet, covering the distance and feeling good.

And feel good, I did. I was surprised that once I got acclimated to the cool air, just how fantastic it felt. It was nice to look at ice-covered branches instead of peeling paint and see the sun rather than a dim light bulb illuminating my path. There was a god number of runners out, all courteous and smiling as they passed.

I had seven miles on the plan but had that rare, "wish you could bottle it" feeling that I could just keep going and going and going. I ran a bit farther but kept my bonus mileage to three-quarters. Denali was getting lethargic, and I didn't want to worry Mark with a delayed return. Nor did I want to risk injury by increasing my mileage too quickly, too soon.

I came inside, stretched and synced the MOTOACTV. Lo and behold, the average pace was 9:27 with the fourth mile at 8:59. So much for being "slow."

Off to the races

My last run of 2012 was not a big send out. There weren't fireworks shooting off from the treadmill and "Auld Lang Syne" didn't blare from the speakers. I wasn't magically faster nor did it feel fantastically effortless. And the only thing that dropped was my iPod ... onto the ground.

In fact, the run was more of a beginning than an ending. The 5 miles of hill repeats was the first run on a training plan that will take me through not one but two spring half marathons and help me build a base for - gasp - a fall marathon.

I know, I know. I said I wasn't going to do a marathon in 2013 but then I told Mark if we  have a second baby, I wanted to run a second marathon first. And though I'm still uncertain on baby No. 2, Mark agreed. Then, on Saturday, I was chatting with the Veterans Marathon race director and there was this deal if you register today, you could do the full for $40 and well, yeah. I'm running the Veterans Marathon in November.

But back to things of more immediate importance: the half marathons.

On March 30, I am participating in Run the Bluegrass, formerly Rock 'n' Roll Lexington. The race starts in Keenland Race Park and promises fun with my favorite tweep, gorgeous scenery and hills. Lots of hills. Then, the first weekend in May, I will be headed up to the Chicagoland area to cheese it up at the Wisconsin half marathon. The race promises to be fun, with some of my fantastic ladies in attendance, and will hopefully earn me a nice, shiny PR.

Every workout between now and May 4 will be working toward that sub-1:54. And, yes, I have them mapped. Sort of.

My training for Run the Bluegrass is all about getting strong and getting ready for the hills. I'm finally womaning up and committing to doing hill work on the treadmill. One week will be longer repeats {Monday's workout: 2 minutes at 4% incline, 2 minutes at 6% incline, 2 minutes at 4% with 4 minutes recovery} and the next will be sprints. I'll also be doing interval and tempo workout under the principles of "Run Less, Run Faster" in the event I can only manage three runs a week. I'm not really set on distances - I'll just run as far as time allows in the morning.

The clincher of this plan, initially, is getting strong via a RAW class at the YMCA. We managed to snag a free month, and this class is high intensity, interval training ala Cross Fit or P90X. The instructor (my new hero) is a triathlete and is able to complete the races - and do it strong - with the cardio base she has from these classes.

I'll take that fitness and endurance base to the Wisconsin plan and take the training up a notch in the hopes to PR.

I know it's a lot and, if I think about it too much, I get overwhelmed. But I posted on the Nathan Performance Gear website that I wanted 2013 to be epic. I wanted to take it up. And when I got scared, I wouldn't run away; I would run harder.

And that's what I'm going to do.