We Run For Boston 5k

I'd never done a "virtual" race before, but I really liked the bling for this one, and it was a fundraiser for The One Fund for Boston. I just ran around the country club nearby while the kids where in school.

BTN Big 10k (5k)

It was my best run ever! The weather was perfect. My nutrition was great. I was surrounded by approximately 15,000 of my closest friends. There was just so much positive energy in the air!

First, I'd planned to take the train to the city, and then a cab to the race. Race planners predicted the parking garage would be full by 5:45, and additional parking was over a mile away. The train was scheduled to leave at 6:20 am. I was awake, packed, and ready to leave at 5:45.... and decided to drive. I'm SO glad I did! I arrived at the parking garage at 6:15 (before the train was even scheduled to leave!), and there was a ton of parking!

I spent the next two hours wandering around, watching the 10k runners finish, using the bathroom many times to prevent a "my bladder is going to explode" repeat of my last race, and waking up.

At 8:15 am our corrals started moving toward the start line. I had my iPhone set to MapMyRun and Songza, and my new Soleus heart rate monitor/watch ready to go.

My first mile was great at around 9:30. Second mile also great. As usual, third mile I stopped to walk briefly. But I was bookin' it!

Official time.... 31:04!!! Two freakin' minutes faster than my last two 5ks! A 10 min/mile pace average for the whole race!

I skipped the post-race beer since the line was 200-people-long, and headed home on a natural post-race high. :) 

2013 Triathlon Kick Off Event!

It was another super fun event! This was the 2nd Annual event, and it'll be an annual event for us too!

In contrast to last year's 90°, today was a high of 72°. PERFECT for the Wetsuit Dash! The water in Lake Michigan was 62°... I anticipated being cold and uncomfortable, but once my feet and face adjusted to the cold it was quite pleasant.

I LOVE my ProMotion wetsuit! This was its inaugural swim, and not only did it do its wetsuit duty, it fit perfectly. Thank you! I never ever would have thought I'd get a suit fit for ME at an "off the rack" price. :D

Anyhoooooo, the run was fun. I tried really hard to keep pace with my sister, and thanks to a red light, we were not the last to show up at the beach.

The beach was not kind. Very choppy water today. My sister did the 1 mile group swim while I did the OWS Clinic again. It was nice NOT being the newby and working on OWS drills, but in hindsight, I wish I had done the 1/2 mile group swim. I need the OWS practice more than anything. Plus, fighting the waves is quite a workout!

Only 71 days left!

A Running BANANA?

I was out for a run in the neighborhood next door, and I saw a young couple moving in. As I passed them I heard "Look honey! It's a running banana!"

O_O

My first urge was to stop, turn around, and say something like, "My music isn't that loud... I can hear you!" But I kept running.

My second urge was to make a certain rude gesture to let them know I heard, but I don't do that sort of thing, ever.

After a few more minutes of running, I realized being compared to a banana isn't the worst thing to be called.

They could have called me an apple. Or a pear. Or a bunch of sour grapes. Bananas are tall and slim, and to be fair, I was wearing a yellow shirt.

I wear a lot of yellow and neon colors for visibility and safety, and this seems to prove it works. They certainly saw me enough to comment on it. I'll stick with being a running banana then, because at least I know I'll be seen. ;)

Foam Fest 5k Pictures

As promised, here are a few pictures from the muddy Foam Fest! I apologize for size and quality-- these are screen shots as I'm not paying $8-10 a picture.

My Personal Super Sprint

Today starts my 2nd 12-Week Triathlon training program. My 1st 12-week training was ok; I did about 1/2 of it, focusing mostly on swimming, while letting my feet heal. Now it's FOR REAL.

To kickoff the REAL training, I did a Super Sprint at the gym today: 400 meter swim, 6.2 miles on the stationary bike, and 1.55 miles on the treadmill. I used the stopwatch and lap feature on my iPhone to keep track of each leg of the "race" and the overall time.

Then I accidentally hit Reset instead of Lap at the very end, and lost it all!!

Luckily, I'd been paying attention to it as I was going, so I can give approximate times. :)

The total time before my finger hit the evil Reset was 1:00 and some seconds. I clearly remember being happy I hit the hour mark on the head. Not award winning, but 3 minutes less then last year!

Swim 10:30
T1 9:45 Hahahaha.... wrestling out of a swimsuit and into clothes while trying to go quickly.... I'm sure the lady next to me was thinking, "Its a not a race..." I'm so grateful I don't have do that during a real race!
Bike 20:30
T2 1:45 Basically walking from the bike to the treadmill, drinking my water, and tightening my shoelaces.
Run 17:30

So that's my Day 1. :) I've got my training schedule set up, my open water swims planned, and in 12 weeks I'll do it again and see how my results compare before race day!

Race to Wrigley 5k

6 am on Saturdays are becoming too familiar. ;) Actually, I was up at 5:30 so I could decide between multiple outfits, make coffee, and have some toast before my sister and BIL picked me up at 6:20.

It was an overcast cold 50° when we got to Chicago, and it didn't warm up. I'm glad I had knee-high socks with my capris, but by the end my thin pullover was wayyyy too hot over my T-shirt. Around mile 2 I pulled off to the side to take it off, since my earphones where woven down the arm. Worst decision. Those 30 seconds cost me 1) my sub 33 goal, and 2) a PR.

My official time was 33:09.

Yes, a minute and a half less than my last 5k, but still not where I want to be by August.

Also, I still need to work on my pre-race hydration. Buy mile 3 I was dieing.

Next two 5ks in June are muddy obstacle courses, which are so much fun!

Loop the Lakes 5k

Pre-race:
It's a perfect 52° and sunny this morning. My feet are taped, my Aleve taken, and race packets picked up. This race is 2 loops around a lake, and its beautiful! I'm glad I got here at 7:30; by 8:15 it's a madhouse--- someone parked on the grass right in front of the pickup area! I'm sure the park officials will just looove that!

Another perk of getting here so early is the people watching. I've seen everything you can imagine. No one who looks professional, "I'll be done in 15 minutes" yet... Mostly the average moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, with a few kids too. Most of them are in long pants and long sleeves. I learned my lesson last year-- shorts! Dress as if it's 20° warmer. At the O'Hare 5k we were icicles while waiting in pants and gloves, and I was overheating by mile 2.

Post race:
Wow!!
First, one of those "few kids" was the top female. A 11 year old! Second female? Her 8 year old sister!!!!! I'll keep my eyes on the future Olympics. ;)

Second, I am VERY pleased with my 34:30. (Albeit 10 minutes slower than the 8 year old.) I haven't run since February. My feet HURT. I'm thrilled!

Honestly. Mile 1 was great. I felt great. Tape and Aleve holding up. :) By 1.5 my right [bad] foot was talking to me. A bit after mile 2 the lefty started talking. I had to walk more than I'd like between mile 2-3, but once I saw that finish line I was a full sprinter! :D

34:30 isn't my best, but its not my worst either. It was 11:12 min/mile pace, which if you've read past posts, it's faster than my 11:30 "go fast to go slow" training pace.

Next race is in two weeks, and I really, really, really, hope to be closer to 32-33 minutes. At the end of the upcoming race there's beer waiting for me. ;D

Swim Goal...

MET! I swam a mile today. 1,600 meters. It took an hour, but I took a break after every 40-80 meters. ;) It's more than double the Sprint Triathlon swim distances.

However, my right foot pain continues to hinder my running. I took a month off, and within 5 minutes of running my arch hurt again. I'm 95% sure it's my arch and pronating ankle. I have to just "suck it up buttercup" and go see a doctor for custom orthotics.

It's disappointing because my next 5k is in two and a half weeks, which is not enough time to get back to running shape. Worst case scenario, I walk 3 miles. :(

New Running Shoes

I've been running for, what, a year and a half now? In the beginning I went a running store, walked, ran, tried on shoes, and was "fitted" for the Brook Adrenaline GTS. Loved them! Used the first pair for a year, then bought another pair after I wore my first in a Mud Run in June. I've been in pair #2 since.

Lately I've been trying to improve my running form by following the diagram. *Running* has gotten better, but now I get a low backache afterwards. I suspect it's the shoes.

I went to a new triathlon/running store, and talked to a nice young man. Tried on a few pairs, ran, he critiqued me and gave me MORE pointers, and I picked up Newton running shoes. They're shaped differently, like the part under the ball of foot is elevated, so my toes point up higher than in my Brooks.

I went for my first run in the Newtons today. The first mile was nice, very comfey. The second mile started to hurt. I quit around 1.9 miles with a painful right arch. I biked afterwards to continue my workout without the impact of the running.

Cupid's Dash Race Report

I didn't run. It wasn't worth an injury.

I went to packet pickup yesterday, and that was uncrowded and well organized. However, it was so icy and slippery that I had a hard time walking to the store! We just had over a feet of snow over a sheet of ice, and last night's email from the race organizers warned of icy conditions along one road we'd be running on.

Then to top it off, it's raining.

With 9 more races planned for the year, I decided my ankles were worth more than than the $20 entry fee, and went back to bed. :)

Next up, St Paddy's 5k on March 9, assuming the weather is better....

5k Registration Time

It's starting! Time to put my money were my mouth is, and actually register for races.

First up, the February 10th Cupid Dash.
Next, March's St Paddy's 5k.
April is all set for a Loop the Lakes 5k with my brother-in-law.
May I haven't paid for yet. I want to do the Race to Wrigley 5k, but I'm only driving to Chicago if my brother-in-law and/or sister run too. Otherwise it's a local Mother's Day 5k.
June was paid for last year- another Dirty Girl 5k Mud Run. All fun, no timing. :)
July.... Any suggestions?
August.... The event of 2013... My triathlon. Paid for last year too. :D

Bring it on!!

No pain no gain...

Or sadomasochism?

As I've been hobbling around the house tonight after three tough leg workouts, it dawned in me that the pain had somehow morphed from "this sucks" to "this is great!" When the heck does that happen, and why the heck do I look forward to the next round of pain?? :)

No pain, no gain is a phrase I've been familiar with since childhood. I grew up on the Cathy comics as soon as I could read. I've suffered for beauty over the decades. Botox... Dozens of needles poking into your face in an effort to freeze the nerves and prevent wrinkles. Hair colors that sting the eyes abs burn the scalp. There was even the accidental chemical peel once- that hurt more than a dozen sunburns! Dieting. Waxing. Tweezing. Ouch!!

Two years ago I was lifting weights. I GOT the "no pain no gain" from that. I'd do my workouts twice a week, using the other 5 days to rest and recover. Then a year ago I added in *just enough* cardio to work my way up to a Super Sprint triathlon and a few [subpar] 5k's. It was challenging, for sure, but I always had enough recover time to make it tolerable.

Or perhaps I only gave 95%...

This year my mind is in a different place. This year it's 110%. "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."

Which translates into workouts 5 days a week. Sore, barely walking legs. Can't move arms. Fatigue. Hunger.

Hell yeah, bring it on! 2013 is a New, and better, Year!!!

Reflecting... On running...

I keep thinking about this morning's workout. I ran a comfortable mile as a warm-up. A WARM-UP!!!

A year ago I couldn't run a mile straight. Maybe if my life depended on it, but certainly not on a cozy treadmill at the gym. I started at a 15 minute mile pace a year ago, and I could do about 1/2 mile before I had to walk.

Today I did an easy 11:30 minute mile. And I only set the treadmill on easy because it was a WARM-UP.

Need to PREPARE. First 5k is February 10!

First workout of 2013!

Easy peasy butt-kicking. ;) I did a 1 mile run to warm-up, followed by an hour long killer leg workout with my husband and personal trainer. My trainer really pushed us... I felt pretty good but hubby had a hard time walking when it was over.

Tomorrow, the bike. :)

My Circus Act

If I ever joined the circus I'd have a balancing act or juggle. It can't be any harder than the balancing and juggling I do every day as a wife, mom, nurse, and athlete-in-training.

Take today for instance... I worked last night so I got to bed about 2 am. The alarm went off at 7:30 am, although I could hear the kids up already. After the older kids get on the bus and I take the youngest to preschool, I have about two hours all to myself before picking the preschooler up.

Now the conundrum: run, nap, fold the mountain of laundry, or catch up on cleaning?

In the end I went for a run, laid on the couch for 15 minutes while catching up on the news, then used my last free 10 minutes to wrap a few Christmas presents. All while consuming copious amounts of coffee to counteract the lack of sleep.

I folded the hundred baskets of laundry with my toddler's "help." It took at least twice as long with "help" than usual. :-)

As for the basement? Well, it's nice outside. We're going outside to play. The basement isn't going anywhere.

Balance means letting somethings go until a better time, and focusing on the most important things.

Another 5k to feed the Addiction

It's official. I'm hooked. I'm by no means the fastest, but I LOVE the feeling of racing, and running, and finishing!

I love challenging myself to do a little better every time.

My last race of 2012 is this Thanksgiving. I still can't quite fathom that I went from "Me, running? You're crazy!" to "When's the next one??" in 6 months.

My first race EVER was June 29, and I'm proud to have competed three 5k's, two 3k's, and a triathlon since then.

As 2013 approaches, my goal for next year is two triathlons and seven or eight 5k's, March-November. One of my sons will also be doing his first triathlon in August. :-)

It's going to be a GREAT year!

5k on the Runway

My first official TIMED 5k was yesterday, and I'm very happy with how I did. :D

I've been running at a consistent 11:30 pace, so my goal time was 35 minutes.

My official time was 32:58!!!!! With the exception of three 30 second walk/water breaks, I ran the entire time. My average pace was 10:38, almost a whole minute faster than my "go slow to go fast" pace, and only 38 seconds slower than my old "fast" pace.

I'm hooked now. I realize I have raced in June, July, August, September, and October so far this year. Coming up will be a November Turkey Trot 5k and a December Santa Shuffle 5k.

Chugging away for another 5k

I'm still working on "go slow to go fast." I'm up to 2.4 miles at a 11:30 pace without dieing. :) I'm also using the Galloway Method for running now. It's simple: plan in walking breaks. I run a loop, which is about 0.94 miles. When I hit that marker, I slow down and walk for 30-60 seconds while drinking my water and slowing my breathing. Then I do another lap, and so on.

My next 5k is on Saturday! This will be my first TIMED 5k! I'm very excited to see how I do; with my current pace I'm hoping for 35-40 minutes.