The Five-Year Plan {Three Things Thursday}

I think it has been established in previous posts that I am a fan of podcasts.

Fan, though, might be a kind term – fiend might be better. I listen to more than an hour a day, probably closer to two. I listen when I pump at work, on the way to work, on the way home from work. If I have the luxury of grocery shopping alone, I'll take a pair of earbuds and listen as I roam.

Despite this, I don't actually subscribe to that many. Jillian Michaels, Another Mother Runner, This American Life, Undisclosed and Vinnie Tortorich are the only ones that manage to keep me listening with any regularity.

So it piqued my interest when I got an email from Tina Muir, the host of the Run to the Top podcast and community manager for Runners Connect. I'm quite sure I was one of many she emailed that day but the message was kind, personable, humble and engaging.

And the email made me want to listen. So I did.

I've listened to a handful of episodes (definitely a fan) but there's been one that has stuck withe me this week: an interview with Michele Gonzalez of NYC Running Mama. Michele was talking about race goals and how it can be easy to want to focus on the big picture, missing smaller process goals. Maybe we run 3:55 in the marathon and now we want to BQ (3:35 for me, I think) instead of trying to break 3:50 or 3:45.

Her advice was to still look at the picture but break it up into pieces, maybe over the course of five years. So, let's say, we run a 3:55 in the marathon (because obviously we are all doing it together! yay!) this year. In 2016, we focus on nailing a 3:50 or 3:47. In 2017, we finish under 3:45. We continue to chip away at that time until 2020, when we make our BQ attempt.

Sounds tedious, right? But, it also sounds practical.

For me, the advice didn't really hit home when I was thinking about race times. Rather, it was about my to-do list for 2016. I have all of these races that I want to do right now but doing so will lead to burn out ... and an empty wallet. And, the thing is, those races are likely to be there in 2017 ... and 2018 ... and 2019 ... and 2020.

Why can't my five-year plan focus on events?

In 2012, when we ran Rock n Roll New Orleans

2016-2017: I can't stop thinking about the Flying Pig, as I mentioned in my previous post, so I see myself doing this sooner rather than later. It's that or Wisconsin. I think the decision will come down to the track club points race series and whether I try to go for the track club Ironman award.

It would be turbo nice to take a racecation with my friends, too. Ideally, I'd love to tackle another race with my BFF who lives entirely too far away (Nebraska). Our children will be old enough that we can get away without a ton of guilt and by setting our sights early, we can try to save toward something fun. Also, early planning means we can maybe invite others to participate in part of the weekend and it can be one giant girls weekend.

2018: Mark and I, hopefully, will celebrate our 10-year anniversary. Is it bad to put another racecation here? OK. I won't. We have talked about how much we would like to hike, at least part of, the Appalachian Trail. The desire was ignited by watching far too many documentaries on Netflix and fed by reading "Wild" and following Scott Jurek this summer.

The boys will be older (Miles, 7, and Si, 3) and if there was ever a time to do a Disney event, it might be this year. I have no desire to become obsessed with the RunDisney races but it would be nice to do one.

2019-2020: I really go back and forth on the marathon. I like running long (as evidenced by my run today. I said I should run 4 easy and ran nearly 6). However, the marathon is a beast and one of epic proportions with kids. I'm not sure if I really want to take one on while Si is little and ask Mark to shoulder the burden. Also, I think that I'd like to wait until I feel like that it's realistic for me to break 4 hours. While it would behoove me to take Michele's advice and chip away at my time, I'd rather focus on racing fast (for me) half marathons as the training doesn't eat up the weekend or make me a cranky hooker.

Grandma's and Twin Cities are the top candidates for this block, though one day I'd like to do Marine Corps and Chicago, too.

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.

Living the Lex life

I love the South. It's as if you enter a whole new world where people are nice and the pace is relaxed once you cross the Ohio River.

While our trip to Lexington was short, it was no different. There was a certain charm to the historic homes, hip food scene and rolling green hills.

The highlights ... so basically a detailed account of what we did.

Lunch at Doodles on Friday after we arrived. Doodles was recommended by Lex locals on the Run the Bluegrass Facebook page, and I loved the restaurant's emphasis on locally sourced ingredients.

I also loved that they had hot dogs and beans, which Miles had been requesting for at least 20 minutes. Let me tell you, there's nothing more inspiring than to hear a 20-month-old scream "HOT DOG, BEANS" from the back seat of a car.

As for me, I had the Super Veggie sandwich of the day, which was breaded, oven roasted eggplant, marinara and mozzarella. It was served with Doodles Flat Fries but I gave them to Mark, who was hungry after his grilled cheese and tomato-sausage soup.

After lunch, we headed to BabyCakes Cupcakes. I planned a one-day hiatus from my #sugardetox so I could celebrate my anticipated half-marathon finish with a sweet treat.

The shop was small but stylish, and it looked like much of the business is orders/catering rather than single cupcake sales. Nonetheless, there was a good selection of flavors. I went with Butterscotch, Mark with Red Velvet and Cookie Dough for Miles. I loved that the owner(?) was willing to cut the Cookie Dough Cupcake into four pieces so we could ration it out to Miles ... or so he could have a bite and Mark could eat the rest. I guess it was so good that Mark could not share and would deny his child that indulgence.

In a perfect world, we would have walked around downtown Lexington and took in the city but someone needed a nap. So it was to the hotel. I lived dangerously, canceling my room at the Hilton and booking a more affordable, last-minute room on Hotwire. I did this last year with the Martian race and ended up at the Motown Inn where the clerk offered to procure alcohol for us from guests checking in. Not the greatest experience.

We lucked out, though, as I did my best to narrow down our options and we ended up at the Crowne Plaza at the Campbell House. The hotel was gorgeous, rooms spacious and the elevators clean. I was more than impressed that housekeeping had the crib in our room before we made it there.

Except someone didn't want to sleep in it. Rather, Miles and I took advantage of the indoor pool while Miles napped. How cute is he in his skull trunks and girly life vest (which was at the pool)? Even cuter was just how much he loved the water. He now asks every day to "go fwimmin'." We tell him that he can in the summer.

Dinner became an interesting and rushed affair with a kid tired from no sleep + fwimmin'. We had planned to go to a local pizzeria downtown but upon discovering it was carry-out only, we were off to find "mac and cheese and pizza-pizza." By the grace of all that is holy, we were less than a mile away from Mellow Mushroom.

I had heard of the place via blogs and the like, and I was excited to finally try it out. I was also excited to drink, a rarity for me, but nearly required after Miles Meltdown No. 321 of the day. It was a Woodchuck Pear Cider, if you're curious.

As for the pizza? Loved it. I had the Mellowterranean on my half, and I took advantage of the carbo-loading excuse to eat the entire half.

There were a few more places that I had hoped to visit but time ran short. Of course, there's always next year ...

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