Friday Five: Why Run a Half Marathon

Oct24

Another Friday Five! This time it’s 5 reasons to run a Half Marathon and considering that I just ran one and am also diligently looking for another one to run next month, I thought I would jump right in on the conversation.

Now please remember what Friday Five is all about……It is a weekly Friday link up to other like minded blogs — a “Friday Five.”

So without further ado,

5 REASONS TO RUN A HALF MARATHON

The Challenge and Accomplishement of Crossing the Finish Line: It’s a long enough distance to be challenging, but not so long that your life will become consumed with training still giving you time for a life. I ran my first Half before I even really knew what I was doing not that I really know now.

When you cross the finish line no matter what your time, you feel such a sense of accomplishment. There are always crowds cheering you on and the people are amazing. It’s even better when you cross the finish line with a smile too!

Bling, Bling, Bling –

(Yup, I’m going to use that picture as much as possible:)

Where else can you show up and when your done they will give you a pretty medal to wear, hang up, look at, and impress people with especially yourself. They are a reminder of what you can do when you put your nose to the grindstone or better yet your feet to the pavement!

Location, Location, Location

Since these races cover more ground and have larger crowds, they are usually held in larger locations. Every town can host a 5K (now, I’m not knocking the 5K because I like them too and actually one of my goals in 2015 is to run one in 25 minutes – Did I say that out loud). Most towns though can not host a Half Marathon leaving larger venues to hold them. So most have really good location or at least the ones I’ve been to – Central Park and Rolling Hills of Bethlehem, Pa just to name my two favorites. The Super Hero half also had a good location running through the hills of Chatam/Moristonw.

I’ll let you in on a secret – I’ve only done these three.

For now….

Tutus and Costumes

When you are running a Half, it is still a short enough distance that you can have fun with it and dress to impress without hurting your run time. You can still run a challenging race but manage not to take it so seriously that you can’t have fun.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Eating for the Run

While training for a Half, I needed to eat. So I ate. I ate to fuel but also because I could. Part of preparing for any race or run is making sure that your body is properly fueled, so I was just doing what I needed to do:)

According to the Runner’s World Calories Burned Calculator, I burned the following in my last Half:

You burned 1,486 calories.. Check out the table below for your calorie burn rates at this pace too.

Distance:13.1 miles

Duration:02:06:08

Pace:9:38 / mile

Calories Burned:1,486

Calorie Burn Rates:

113.44 / mile
706.9 / hour
11.78/ minute

So when you are burning up calories like that you don’t feel so bad going for that extra snack at night.

Now I will say these are not the only reasons, because I didn’t even get to the goodie bags and expos! So just sign up already and see what it’s all about!

You can join the Friday Five Link Up hosted by DC area bloggers Eat Pray Run DC, Mar on the Run and You Signed up for What?!! Don’t forget to visit each host and a few other blogs 🙂

What to Do? What to Do?

Oct23

Today I’m hitting 100 posts with my blog. That’s good news because not only does it mean that I’ve kept up with my blog, but that I’ve been keeping up with my training.

I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do now that I’ve accomplished the Hat Trick. I had thought about riding into the sunset until next season, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. If I could race this weekend, I probably would. Don’t know why. Don’t know when, but somehow I seem to have gotten hooked. It’s not necessarily about the bling, although I do love me some good bling. It’s about the feeling you get when you cross the finish line.

I’ve said it before I need a goal. My friend told me yesterday while trying to get me to sign up for the Philadelphia Gore-Tex race that she knows that I wouldn’t sign up for the full because I’m a planner. I may sign up for the half, but I’m not sure. Would love to do the full, but I’m not sure. It’s hard not to want to keep going though when you spent your weekend surrounded by amazing people with a love for running.

My friend is right though. I am a planner. I plotted and trained specifically for the Hat Trick. As soon as I register for it, I bought the Runners World Intermediate Hat Trick Training Plan. I needed it as I’ve said before I’m a good follower. Besides the fact that I was in no shape or form to run this event without training. I ran, but I didn’t RUN RUN. I also really wanted to not only finish, but to finish with a smile.

I can not say enough about this plan. I’m guessing if you are Runner’s World, you know how to train for a event of this kind. Thank God that with a few dollars from me that they were willing to share the plan. Money well spent! As you know not only did I Rock the Hat Trick, but I actually walked away feeling good. The only thing that really kept me from running this week is time. I actually could use a really nice long run too.

(Who said that!)

What made this plan so perfect for me other than the fact they told me exactly what to do when is that I learned not just about how to train better but how far that I can push myself. It was an amazing plan and I really can not say enough good things about it. Anyone who wants to try the Hat Trick next year, I really say add one of their Training Plans. Think of it as a registration fee. Think of it as insurance to make sure your ready.

So now I’m off to plot my next adventure because there is no way that I will make it till January without another race.

(Who said that?!)

Find the Joy!

Oct22

So I’m taking a step back from all Runner’s World Hat Trick talk to tell you a cute story that happened today.

In my town, we do not have pick-up for recycling. You are required to take recycling to our town recycling center.

Yes, I know you are scratching your head thinking,

“What? You can’t just put it on the curb?”

No we can’t, but that’s a whole different post! Now even though I have to sort and drive over my recycling, I still do. I am THAT Recycler who even recycles the box her butter comes in, but considering the amount of butter I use in my house I feel like I’m doing the world a favor. I firmly believe in taking care of the earth and that there is no Plan B.

Anyway, that is not the point of this post.

Now, I’ve been dropping off my recycling now for about 15 years. Over time you get to know the people. To be honest most of them are a little on the grouchy side, but there is this one gentleman who is a sweetheart. We chat every time I go and he has such a positive outlook on life and makes the trip a little nicer. In talking to him today, he was telling me how everyone is thinking that he’s sick because he’s lost 25 pounds. He further goes on to tell me that he decided that he needed to start taking better care of himself and setting a better example for his grandkids since he’s older now ( I don’t know exactly how old he is, but I swear he said that he was in his 70’s). He started telling me how he just goes out and runs. He said, ” I run here. I run there. I just go out and do it. I don’t need to be doing marathons or any of that. I just want to be healthy. I used to be able to do it, so I just decided to do it again.”

I will interject to add that he has no idea that I like to run or that I run races (one day, I will get to say marathons). He was just so cute telling me how good he feels just because he started running. He said that he couldn’t stop telling people how great running is and how much better you feel doing it. He brought a real smile to my face simply with the joy he obviously gets simply from his runs.

I can further guarantee that this is not a gentleman who has any type of GPS training watch, fancy shoes, ear-buds, or any such thing many of us, myself included, think that are needed to run. He runs for the joy of it and there really is joy in running if you have the right attitude.

So next time I go out for a run, I am going to go out Naked and Afraid (not that way!!!!). I’m going to leave my GPS off (ok, I will never do that, but I WON’T look at it) and I will leave my music off just to run for the run. I will feel the wind on my face, the air in my lungs, and just experience the joy and beauty that is around me.

Don’t Be THAT Runner!!!

Oct22

Not sure if you know this, but I ran in a big event this past weekend.

(Just kidding because if you don’t know than you haven’t been paying attention!)

Anyway, since I was there by myself I was probably a little more observant to those around me.

I realized something and want to do a PSA announcement

(those who know me know I love my PSA’s)

This is important because I don’t want people to listen to you or see you and think,

“What an @sshole!”

So here are some tips.

Just because you think of yourself as a “serious” runner, don’t think that the rest of us are somehow beneath you. If not for those of us that finish slower than you, you wouldn’t look so good nor would your time.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. What is the point of all the training if you can’t enjoy yourself. Life is too short not to have fun.
Speaking of fun – If someone is wearing a tutu, costume, cape, or any such fun outfit to run it; smile at them. See number 2 for reasons why. Besides which, you don’t know their reasoning for wearing what they are wearing. Maybe it inspires them. Maybe it inspires others. Maybe they just want to have fun. If they can run in it, it’s their call. No one is making you dress up (but you should! Try it and you might see why it’s so fun).
Cheer on your fellow runners even after you finish. Now I’m not saying that you have to stay all day, but take a few minutes while you are stretching, refueling, or what ever your post race ritual is to cheer on those that finish after you. You know you like to hear the cheers when your running.
Don’t look down on other people’s time. See number 1 for why. If someone has the courage to start a race no matter what the distance, they deserve respect. If they cross the finish line even last (and someone always has to be last), they finished no matter what their time.
When waiting in line for the Port a Potty, don’t brag to your friend how at the last race you went to you consistently cut in line and only felt bad the first time. It makes you sound like a person who will rationalize parking in a handicap spot because you’ll only be in the store for a minute. Rules are rules and your not that special that they don’t apply to you.
When spitting while running (come on even us ladies do it even if you won’t admit it), please think/look before you spit.
Speaking of being polite, don’t throw your trash on the ground. I’m not talking about your drink cups at water stations as most of the time they are expected to be dropped (although, you could aim for the garbage to help the volunteers out). I’m talking about your Gu, shot blocks, or what ever. If you don’t want people throwing garbage in front of your house don’t throw yours in front of other peoples. I don’t care if it’s a race or not. You had a place you were holding it in when it was full, so wrap it up and put it back till the end of the race!
Lastly at the start of a Half Marathon don’t tell your friend whom you are waiting to start with that you think “running a FULL marathon is much easier than a Half.” When you say that where other people can hear you, it really makes them want to say something to you that isn’t very pleasant. Don’t ruin what may be their big moment because you are trying to sound so cool. You don’t come across as cool. You come across as a douche. Sorry to tell you that.

Now I’m only telling you these things out of concern. I will say that these runners are in the minority and if you come across one of them just ignore them. Go out there, do what you came to do and have the race out want to have! My PSA to you is don’t let THAT runner spoil your day! Enjoy doing what you want to do and just keep on running:)

Have you come across these people before?

In the Game

Oct17

It’s been a rough week to say the least, but I finally got my head back in the game!

I’m excited for tomorrow.
I’m nervous for tomorrow.
But most of all,
I’m ready for tomorrow.

My husband encouraged me to do it. There really is no reason not to do it. So, therefore, here I am all packed up, clothes out, 3 alarms set, and ready to go.

Got my race plan all mentally ready to go. Who would have thought that I need to remind myself to slow down, but that’s what I keep telling myself.

5K – Slow & Steady. Just warming up. No need to burn myself out as this is not my target race. This is not going to be a PR. This is just prep with a bonus medal at the end!!

10K – Run baby run! Anything I do will be an official PR as I’ve never raced a 10K. I’ve run enough training ones, so hopefully I can give it all I got and walk away with a smile. Plus some more bling!

If all goes well, I might even make it to my you guests soccer game too.

The plan is back in place. The laces are tied and all I need is to get some sleep:)

One Day at a Time

Oct15

I had a plan.

It was all worked out.

The Road Runner’s Hat Trick location is within a 10 minute drive of where my parents live. I was going to make an adventure of it. Sleep in late. Sleeping till 7:00 on a race day would feel absolutely sinful. Have my Mom drop me off near the venue. Have her pick me up when I was done with the expo. Maybe take a dinner. Back to her house early to get a good night sleep and basically repeat for the Half Marathon the following day. Easy Peasy.

But Life really is never easy peasy.

Life is full of complications.

Some good. Some bad. This is a mixture of both to be honest. Good because my Father-in-Law was a wonderful man who did not deserve to suffer. Good because he was a proud man who would have hated not to be able to do for himself as he always did. Bad because we are left missing him. Bad because we know how special he truly was. Bad for so many reasons, but we remind ourselves that this is the way he would have wanted it.

He was a man who knew what was important. His whole world was his family. He was married to the same woman for 58 years and they were still just as in love as when they first married. No lies. Just way too cute. He worked hard and raised 9 children. At the end he was surrounded by these children holding his loving wife’s hand with her name of his lips. Not a bad exit in the whole scheme of things.

Well done, Pop.

Well done.

Rest easy and know that we will take care of Mimi and that you leave a legacy of love behind you.

This is not how this post was supposed to go either, but again things are complicated. This was supposed to be a cut and dry post saying that after all this time with my sole focus being on this event, my heart just isn’t in it. I think you can understand why. There will be no funeral at this time as he is being cremated. There will be a service for him, but not yet. The service will be a celebration of him. Therefore, we are trying to keep a somewhat normal routine. The boys have been going to school and their normal activities. My husband thinks that I should run. The boys have their activities this weekend and it was planned anyway. Normal activity.

So at this time, I think I will run. I’m going to go pick up my bib (bibs?) Friday as planned. I will not stay at Mom’s. It won’t be as convenient, but I think I should be home at night. I think the boys need that or maybe I’m the one who does. Race morning is for getting up early anyway. Who knows maybe I will still drive to Mom’s and just have her drop me off. The plan is still forming. The plan is still evolving.

One Day at a Time.

Keep on Keeping on….Maybe

Oct14

I’ve been counting down and training for what seems like forever.

The race is in my site.

Now with just being in days of achieving my goal, I may not run it.

I hope that I do because if I do that means that the unthinkable yet totally expected has not happened. In the end though as fun and challenging as this has been, it is not as important as those I love. If I do not race this weekend, it will not matter. There will be other races. Other challenges. The biggest challenge in life though is to watch those we love in pain knowing we can not help, to be there when they need us even if it just means being there. In my heart of hearts, I hope that isn’t this weekend. I hope it isn’t this month. I wish it never had to be, but that is not the way life works.

At this time that is all I want to say.

So for now, I will bury my head in the sand and continue with my prep for this weekend.

It’s Go Time

Oct13

The Hat Trick

In case your forgot or your new here, I’ve been training for the Runner’s World Hat Trick. It’s just days away taking place this coming weekend.

So what is it?

Saturday

Run a 5K (using as a warmup)

have an hour break

I hope

Run a 5K (this is my goal race)

Go home Sleep

Sunday

Go back and run a Half Marathon (hoping just to finish decent)

This past weeks training was both brutal and effective. I ran the following:

Tuesday – 4 easy miles -Done

Wednesday – 3 easy miles – Done

Thursday – Rest

Friday – 3 easy miles – Done

Saturday – 8 miles with repeats – Done

Sunday – 11 LSD 1:54

It really wasn’t that brutal, but I will admit I was exhausted last night. What this last week of hard training proved to me though is that my legs can go the distance. They did what needed to be done. Each day I finished feeling good. Feeling that I could go further and at the end of each run, I pushed myself to run hard. My last two miles of my LSD run was at 9:19 and 9:16. So my body is ready. I think my mind is ready too. I know I can do this. Isn’t that what all this running all over town has been for?

So as the saying goes

It’s Go Time!

(Can you name the show where I’m stealing that from?)

Anyway, I’m heading out to Bethlehem today and I’m going to see if I can find the course and maybe get a sneak peak and do a drive by. I’ll keep you posted!

Friday Fives: Five Favorite Foods

Oct10

One of the blogs that I really enjoy, http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/, is part of a weekly Friday link up to other like minded blogs — a “Friday Five.” Now for those that know me, you know I could not pass up a post involving food! I could go on about cakes and chocolate and such, but this post is about the Five Foods that keep me FUELED during a long workout. Therefore cake won’t make the list. Although last night as I was mixing up a batch of Vanilla Fondant for a cake, I thought to myself a small piece would be perfect to fuel me before a big race. I really did have that thought and although it would definitely give me the sugar rush that I need, it would not provide any other benefits and I might just crash and burn from the sugar high. So I will save that for a tasty treat for afterwards (maybe).

I’m pretty simple when it comes to my go to foods. I am a creature of habit and stick with what works for me.

1. GU – I will say when I first started out, the thought of sucking down a GU repulsed me. I can honestly admit that I now look forward to them and am totally over the gag reflex I first had. Might be that I discovered the yummy flavors now that I buy by the box from Amazon. Can we say – Strawberry Banana and Salted Caramel!

2. English Muffin with Peanut Butter – If I manage to get up early enough before an event, this is my go to breakfast. The only problem is that I am not the type of person who can roll out of bed and eat. So I have to get up even earlier which totally sucks and I hate. Therefore, this doesn’t always happen. If it did, I would be better off but I also can’t choke it down without some time to wake up.

3. Fig Bar – Since I don’t always have time or am not always hungry enough for my Enlglish Muffin, I’ve started eating these Fig Bar’s that I found at Costco. They have no fat, Non GMO, Cholesterol and Dairy Free and made with whole wheat. Plus they taste pretty good, are filling, and do give me enough fuel to get going.

4. Banana – usually I save these for after long workout in my smoothly, but if I am driving to an event early (therefore not eating), this is perfect for the car ride. I will usually pair this with a Fig or Protein Bar.

5. Waffles – This is only for when I am running from home at a normal hour (AKA – after the kids go to school). Now, I’m not talking frozen waffles either. I am one of those Mom’s that makes their kids waffles every morning for breakfast. Now don’t roll your eyes at me. It started because it is much cheaper to make a batch of waffles every morning than buy a box of waffles every morning which happens with 3 boys. I can whip up a batch without a second thought now. Besides I can pronounce all the words of the ingredients of my waffles:) So on weekday mornings, I usually will eat a half of waffle. No syrup. No Powdered Sugar. Plain with coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

So there you have it. These are my Five Favorites Foods that I must have to keep me going unless you count coffee which I don’t because coffee really is for survival overall. Without coffee the world really would just stop spinning.

So now I’m off to read about what other people use to fuel during their workouts and get some new ideas. Who knows maybe I will expand my horizons (but not till have next weekend:)

It’s Time To Get Serious!

Oct9

Ok, I’ve been pretty serious about my Hat Trick Training (ya think?). I’ve been following the plan. I’m a good follower. Probably because I wouldn’t know what to do otherwise and I’m committed to finishing. I’ve also been following a very specific plan for this event since it’s not your normal weekend run. The Intermediate Plan for Runner’s World Half-Marathon Hat Trick – 12 weeks from the people of Runner’s World. Can’t get much more specific than that!!

Will the plan work? Only time will tell and we’re in the single digits now! 9 DAYS! It feels like I’ve been training for this forever but I guess only 10 1/2 weeks now.

Am I ready?

Who knows!

What I do know is I’ve been running my @ss off. Too bad it didn’t also run off my pouch but that’s a different story. What I do have from following this plan is a sense of calmness. I know that I have done all that I can do to prepare. I have pushed myself. I have ran through the pain. I am ready to give it my all. I really can’t ask any more of myself.

Will I finish all three races?

I do think I will.

I, honestly, don’t see why I wouldn’t baring any problems race days. This last HM has shown me that when the going gets tough, I can keep going and really that’s all I need to do. All I want to do is cross the finish line.

Again and Again!

That will be enough for me

(maybe).

How to prepare for life big events?

The Accidentally Running Mama

Run, Bike, Swim and Have a Life!

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