Time Flies

Jun9

I’m not sure if it’s the heat we’ve been having.    I’m not sure if it’s because it seems like forever since I’ve been consistently running, but I almost feel like I’ve gone back to square one.    Yes, I know that I just ran a 50K but really that was a month ago already.

Time flies.

When I was running consistently training was built into my schedule.   I’m also trying to rebuild it back in as surprisingly the time not training was still not free time.  If you think about it, I had my ankle injury.   Then I did a few runs.   Then I started tapering for my 50K.   After that I was recovering without a lot of runs.   So although I know I have the stamina to go the distance everything else seems new to me.

   I almost feel like I’ve lost it.   I went for a slow paced seven miles the other day with a friend and it seemed longer than the 18 miler we did together in training.  (Actually 20 for her).    All through the run, I was thinking “When will this end.”    It made me question how I actually managed to complete a 50K.    These 7 miles were long.   They were grueling and they were slow.

What the Hell!

I’m also in end of school year craziness where it seems like every other day there is a school function.    Add to that the craziness of trying to schedule all other appointments before my little cherubs are home all day with me and it is a perfect storm.    As with everyone else, there is so much to do and so little time.    I am in awe of those who can make it look easy.    I’m sure they don’t have it any more together than me, but they make it look like they do.

So today, I’ve got 6 on the schedule.   It’s actually a perfect day for running as it is a little cooler this morning.   If only I could run.    School function.   Followed by some Cub Scout stuff and phone calls that must be made today.    I know I will get it in.   I’m just not sure when…..

How do you keep up with it all?

time-flies

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Oops I Did It Again

May24

As mentioned before, the second loop of the Dirty German I was on my own.   I had my trusty Garmin on counting down the miles left.   (Yes, at a certain point I like to think in terms of how many miles are left not how many I already ran).  When I was getting near the end though it seemed like the finish line would never come.   Then I heard noise in the distance breaking the silence of the trail.   It was like the call of the Sirens propelling me forward.    It beckoned me.   It gave my tired legs a jolt of energy.   It brought me out of the trail and across the finish line.

I thought it only fitting that the song playing while crossing the finish line was Brittney Spears Oops I did it again.      This seems to be how I get into these races in the first place.   I just kind of jump right in and then say to myself, “Oops I did it again”   guess I’m running another race.

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It was going to be different after the Dirty German I was 100% sure.   This was just going to be something to cross off my list.   Before the race, I even told my coach that I was going to need a break when it was over.   I was sure my body was telling me it was time to slow down and run like a normal person.   I’m sure that she’s heard these type of things from other runners, so she was like, “Yes, we can change things up, keep your base so your ready for marathon training, and have some fun.”    That may not really have been what I wanted to hear.   I wanted to hear, have a great summer, don’t eat to much ice cream, and have fun running like a normal person.

So here we are not even a  full two week post Dirty German.   I’ve had a few recovery runs and I’m chomping at the bits to get out there again.   I miss it.   I’ve got a lot of time when not running hours every day.    Still not enough time to get everything done, but that’s a different story.    Anyway, I told myself I was done.   I was toast.   I was not running anymore long races.   Couldn’t wait to be done with NYCM, so I could officially end my training.

Then like every normal person or should I say every normal runner I Know, I go and sign up for another race.   Actually, I signed up for three but it’s one event so I can count it as one sign up.   I’m heading back to the Runner’s World Festival in October to do the Hat Trick again.   This is the event where you run a 5K rest for about an hour.   Then run a 10K and go home.   Then come back the next day to run a half marathon.    Now signing up for this makes perfect sense to me.    Really, I can totally justify it…..

  1. I previously talked to my coach about it.   She, obviously, said the choice was mine and it would really depend how I wanted to run them and what I wanted to get out of NY since it is fairly close to it.
  2. I love this race as it was my first big event.
  3. I totally am justifying it by saying this will be good training for NY due to the hills.    Really.   Makes perfect sense.
  4. I couldn’t help myself.

Besides, I think I still have self control because I had been thinking of signing up to run a trail event in the beginning of June.   I haven’t done that yet, so I don’t think I’ve totally lost it yet.   (Must be strong!)

As I said before, when you surround yourself with encouraging people doing amazing things, you can’t but help yourself.

How do you keep yourself in check?

 

 

 

What is an Athlete Anyway?

May21

Coming home from my 50K, I was tired.    It was a long drive and I thought I would break up the boring drive to let me Mom know I was finished.   She really has been one of my biggest champions on my journey.    She said a funny thing though.   She was telling me how she had been bragging about me to a friend.    She then said something that she totally meant as a compliment but made me scratch my head.

“Do you realize that this makes you a real athlete?”

I’m guessing the 3 marathons, countless half marathons, plus the other distances, and lets not forget the few sprint Tri’s I did did not make me a real athlete.

Hmmmmm

Then a funny thing happened two days later.   I was chatting with someone totally different about my race and she said the same thing.

I think people just like to categorize people.   Not sure why, but I think they do.

A while later I was in one of my Facebook groups and someone I don’t know  posed the question, “When did you consider yourself a runner or an athlete?”

Some people replied that they knew when they were in 8th grade, some when they ran their first 5K, and a whole host of other answers.    For me I know that it took a long time for me to identify as a runner and I’ve really never thought of myself as an athlete.   That was until very recently like driving home from a 50k.

Athlete

It’s hard to think of yourself in these terms when you surround yourself with people who are so much more athletic than you.     I realize that I am more than a weekend warrior.   Per the definition, I guess some of it might apply.   Now, obviously, there are so many degrees of being an athlete and I think that is why most people even if they identify as a runner may not identify as an athlete.

My children do various sports.   They are not at the top of their field, but I know that they are athletes.    I would go toe to toe with someone who dismissed their athletic abilities.   They go to their practices.   They put in their time.   They work hard.   Period.

You know what, I’m not at the top of my field.   I’m not winning any races, but I’m out there.   I’m out there A LOT.   I’m putting in the time.    I work hard.   Your not finishing a 50K without stamina that’s for sure.  (that and a lot of fuel).

It’s funny a friend recently said to me when I was talking about the Dirty German and I was telling her that I was going with people running various distances.   Some were doing the 25K, another woman was doing the 50K, and two were running 50 miles.   Here response was spot on (and sorry, I’m going to paraphrase as I didn’t take notes that day:)

“No matter how awesome what your doing is there is always someone who is doing something more awesome.”

To a degree that is so true, but at the same time it doesn’t matter.    Someone running 50 miles, does not take away how awesome of an experience I had running a 50k.   Nor does my 50K take away from those BAMR’s who did the 25K.    And on that same day, my town was hosting a 5K and our race takes nothing away from them.

It is true there can only be one winner.    The thing is that each of us brings something different to the start line.    We all have gone through different things to get to where we are today.  We are not Elite Athletes nor are we Weekend Warriors.   We are athletes who are pushing ourselves to be the best that we can be.   We are competing against ourselves and I think that is what most of us know.   That’s why we often make our goals based on our PR’s (personal records).

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I am so many things and now that I think about it I can add athlete to that list of things.

Are you an athlete?

 

Friday Five – The Trail vs. The Road

May20

Today I am joining in on the Friday Five with Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up for What and Mar at Mar on the Run.

5 Ways a Trail Race is SOOOO very different than a road race.

No matter the distance, running on the trails is so much different than running on Satan’s Tar as my friend refers to the road.   The only real similarity is that your feet are moving, but running trails has a whole different feel than running on the road besides the obvious surface area.  Some of these things may just apply to me too:)

The Vibe

Yes, road races can and often do have a “party” atmosphere but underneath it there is a different feel.   At the start line, most people are checking their Garmin, thinking race strategy, and just the underline tension of trying to meet a sub 2 half or goal.  For me,  I’ve experienced none of that at my trail races.   Now this may be on me as usually when I do a trail race, I take the wait and see approach.   My goal for the 50K was to finish and not to die while finishing.   Lofty goals, I know.    But I also know that trails are different and even the same trail on a different day will need to be run different.     Now if somehow I were to go back to the Dirty German again next year (ahem, just saying), I would still have the same goals but maybe with the added goal to be more consistent on the second loop.

The Aid Stations

Oh my God, the aid stations.   There is no comparison here.   None.   The aid station on a road race is all about efficiency.   Getting runners in and getting them out in a seemless move.   In a trail race, it is a smorgasbord of goodies.    Peanut M&M’s, Twizzlers, PBJ sandwiches, SODA, and so many other things.   I will say my favorites are soda and M&M’s.   Yummy!     I think I finished my 50K on sugar alone:):)

aiddirtygerman

(Photo from Dirty German Website)

The Bathrooms

Ok, they are basically the same.   A line of Port-a-Potties.   The difference is on the course.   Now maybe I shouldn’t go here, but I will……    Yes, on any given race you will see a man run behind a tree or next to a bridge or what ever.    I always hate it because I think it is unfair to us woman who don’t have the luxury.    Well on more than one occasion on the first loop, I saw two different women running in front of me who veered to the side to squat behind a tree.   Don’t judge.

Walking

I’m not sure why but I often feel like walking is looked down upon in road races.   Not by me as I have yet to complete a marathon where I haven’t walked and I’ve had some half marathons where I’ve also needed to walk.  It happens.    It’s just not the “norm.”   That being said, walking is expected during parts of a trail race.   My coach even pointed out that there are some places on the trail that walking is really more efficient and ” everyone walks, except for the elite few.”   Going into every trail race/run I’ve done, I knew that there would be parts that I would walk.   It is the nature of the beast.   The only problem is to make sure to start running again!

DG3

The Spectators

If you are someone who feeds off the crowds at a road race to push through, running a trail race may not be for you.   I say this because outside of the start/finish line and the aid stations, there are no crowds.    You for the most part on on your own.   As you can see there are not lines of people there to cheer you on, but those there do!  Yes, you will start with a crowd of people but the further you run the more spread out the runners become.   I started with the crowd and by the time I was nearing the end of my first lap there were only a few people near me.    The second lap I was for the most part on my own.   Be prepared for some alone time which I tend to like.   If you don’t like that make sure to have a running buddy then.

I will say that I am a mixture of both.   I do love the trails, but I also like the road.  No matter if your a road runner, trail runner, or a bit of both there is enough roads and trails to make us all happy.

Which are you?

Now What?

May19

Months of training, thought, and preparation.   Then in just over 7 hours it’s all over.

DG4

Now What?

Recovery, of course.

Many people and training plans thing that it all ends with the race, but it doesn’t.   There is more to recovery than sitting back and eating some bon bons.   Not that I had those, but I did treat myself to a chocolate fudge waffle with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

waffles

Although, I don’t really think that had anything to do with recovery and was just a yummy celebratory treat.   Although, I can totally justify it as recovery:)  That being said, recovery is an important part of training.

Depending upon what app I look at my calorie burn during the ultra was over 4,000.    How many calories I burned the day really is not exact.   Some sources put it as high as 6,000 and others as low as 3,000.    All I know is that I burned a lot even with the eating of the peanut M&M and the guzzling of the soda at the aid stations. (soda is the best on a run like this!)    The funny thing though is that often after even a normal long run, I’m not hungry.   This is one of the reasons that I usually use a recover drink instead.   On the road, my choice is always a large Caramel Latte iced with whole milk.    I try to add a protein bar, banana or something else too.

Once I was done, running. I did do some stretches but really not much.   I did what I could as I needed to get on the road.   One thing that I totally understand but on the day of the race I thought added insult to injury is that once finished, I needed to make the LONG walk to my car carrying my bucket of supplies.   I’m guessing it added at least another mile.   I viewed this as an active cool down.

shower

Once I made it to my car, it was time to shower.   You know your a runner if using shower wipes and putting fresh deodorant on next to your car counts.   Hey, I had to do something because even I didn’t want to be in the car with me until I wiped some of the stench off.  I will say the best feeling was taking off my sneakers and socks and putting on some flip flops.   Then off to find a Dunkin Donuts.

Sitting in a car for over an hour really isn’t the best way to start recovery off, but until a magic carpet is invented that I can stretch out on this will have to do.   Besides, I came home to an empty house as my hubby had taken the boys out to dinner per my request.   I was able to soak in a hot bath and by the time I got out and big beautiful chicken taco salad was waiting for me.

Day one recovery is easy because you really are too sore to do much.   Day two, you feel a little better and think maybe.    I wisely took day two to get a massage.    The problem with recovery is that by day three you feel good and by day four you think I’m good as new.    But I’ve been burned by this feeling more than once.   I’m feeling good because I’m taking it easy.   Very easy.   I did meet a friend yesterday who is doing the Couch to 5K program.   I needed a walk and this was a great way to test the waters.   Felt good, but I was glad when it was time to walk again.   Tomorrow will be day five of recovery and I am set to go for a nice EASY 3 miles run.   My coach is the one who capitalized easy.

I will say that my family is eating very well during my recovery.   Since I’m not running for hours at a time, this does allow for other things and I’m not up for the bags of mulch yet:)

Bottom line is

We train hard.

We Run Hard.

We must respect that and allow ourselves time to recover.

To all things there is a season…

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What do you do during recovery when your not running?

 

One Thing At a Time

May18

Danger Will Robinson,

I am going to sound like the old lady that I am pretending not to become…….

When I was a kid we didn’t have all the technology we have now.    What am I talking about?   We didn’t have ANY.     There were no cell phones, i-pods, 24/7 updates.   Hell our phones were still attached to the wall and if you wanted to take music on the go, it was a big ole boom box.   Not conducive to going anywhere except your front lawn.

You know what?

We didn’t miss anything.   No we really didn’t.  They were good times.   We may have actually been more aware of what was going on than “the kids of today.”   I see it everyday at pick-up.   The first thing the kids do when they come out of school is look at their phones.   Walking out with their heads down missing it all.  Many of the parents too.   Don’t get me wrong, I am as bad as the next person.   I admit it.   I might be worse, but I’m work in progress.

Now what does this have to do with running?

I’m getting there.

When I was at Dirty German on Sunday, I knew I probably would not run with headphones as many times when I’m running I don’t use music.   I usually never do during a race because I usually like to experience the race around me. (try it)   Part of me thinks that on my second loop inspiring music might have helped as I was running by myself, but being as I didn’t bring earbuds the decision had already been made.   It didn’t really matter on the first loop because even though I was running by myself, I was not alone. (Yes, there is a difference).

There is a big part of me that loves running races without music, especially when I am by myself which is the norm. To save my phone battery, I even turned my phone onto airplane mode.   No interruptions.    I could hear my own breathing, I could be with my own thoughts, I could listen to the sounds of the trail, and really just be.    It is almost meditative.   Really.   This kind of “alone” time is hard to come buy in the world we live in today.  (Yes, I know I sound like Grandma).

We are so connected yet at the same time so disconnected.    No I did not have some  awe inspiring idea pop into my head or resolve an issue but it has happened.   This run was all about the run.   All about the distance and all about finishing.    So no I was not thinking about anything else but my run – moving one foot in front of the other.    This was enough.    We don’t do that enough.   We have become the age of the great multitaskers that we forget that sometimes it is ok to just do one thing at a time.

  It is enough.

How could I not get into the zone when running these trails alone.

There is something to be said about taking the time to be by ourselves with no distractions.   To get away from it all and just be.   Our minds need it.    A run like this recharges not just the body, but the mind.

relax

What do you think?

 

 

Just Keep Moving!

May16

So I did it.

It’s official.

I am an ultra Marathoner!

I wonder if I can keep this status if I only run one.

Hmmm

I have to admit

This was the hardest thing that I have ever done both physically and mentally.

To push myself so far when all I really wanted to do is stop.

But this is why we train so hard.   The training teaches you to push forward.

My Mantra on the second loop became

Run if you can, Walk if you must, but NEVER stop!

The problem with this mantra is that more times than I wanted, I had to honestly answer that “Yes, I can run.”    I didn’t want to, but I could.   So I ran.   I also reminded myself that the quicker I got to the finish line, the sooner I could stop and it would be over.

I’ll be honest.   It was brutal.   It was the hardest event I’ve ever done.   It taxed my body and brain.   My legs were heavy.  My knee had a twinge pain towards the end.   My thighs were on fire.   The logs which didn’t seem so bad the first loop were mountains the second.

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Loop one was made “easier” because I was traveling near a group of other runners.   Loop two for the most part, I was by myself.   There was no one to shadow pace with.   There was no one to try and keep in my site.   There were miles that it was just me unless you count the speedy runners going by (and I mean speedy).    You can see the difference in the loops with the time.

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Although loop 2 time does include time in “camp” refilling water bottles, putting more chaffing cream on, and other such things.   Realistically I probably only spent 15 minutes or so in camp.   I needed to keep moving.

I am sore.

I am tired.

Stairs are a bitch.

but it was amazing.

I am an Ultra Marathoner now!!

DG5

Yes, there is more to the story, but this is enough for today:)

Tick Tock Tick Tock Goes The Cuckoo Clock

May13

Just two more days and really at this point of the evening it really is one more day.   Two days till I attempt to run a 50K.   Somehow this really seemed like an amazingly great idea a few months ago.   Today not so much.   Today is the more, “What was I thinking?” kind of day.

What was I thinking

I usually get asked two questions about my upcoming race.   The first one is how far in miles is a 50K.   I had to look it up because although I knew it was 31 point something, I really didn’t know what the point was either.   It is 31.7 miles.    At some point it doesn’t matter except at the end when you are counting them down.

The second question is why?    We’ve been through this before.   Why not?

You think I would be nervous.   You think I’d be packed.   You think I would have read through all the information they sent.    I don’t even have directions to the hotel mapped out.  I will get to all of these things shortly I’m sure.    I’m actually pretty calm for some reason.   I guess you might refer to it as the calm before the storm.    Besides at this point I’m in for the LONG haul which hopefully will be only 31.7 miles baring any wrong turns.   Again, this is why I need to read the information and look at the map.   I can’t just follow the crowd because how do I know they won’t leave me in the dust or even that they know where they are going.

As far as goals, my number one and really only goal is to finish.   I would, of course, like to finish well but finishing is number one.   And as far as what I mean by finishing well, I do not mean winning the Cuckoo Clock the winners get.   I mean to finish strong.   To finish like I trained for this.   To finish without feeling like I want to die.  (Why am I doing this again?)   I would also like to make sure to finish before the twelve and half hour alloted time.   I think I should be ok as when I did the trail marathon in January I was at six and half hours.   That gives me a nice cushion:)

But it is time to get prepared.    It’s time to open the door to utra running and see what that is all about.    I would like to say that I will be one and done, but I said that about marathons too and I’ve already run 2 more than I said I would not counting NYCM coming in November.    And I won’t lie in the back of my mind I’m already toying with a 50 miler for the year I turn 50 which thankfully is a few years away.    Besides, I really should just get through this weekend before I start talking smack!!

Either way it’s going to be a great time filled with lots of laughs and good company since there are many BAMR’s going from my running group.   Some are doing 25k, some 50k, and the truly insane ones are doing 50 miles but insanity is a wonderful thing!  The support of these women is something I wish everyone experiences in their life in some shape or form.

Friends

So I’m off to do all the things that I need to do, but you can count on hearing more about this not matter how it turns out.

What are you doing this weekend?

 

 

 

What Time is It?

May5

 

The Dirty German 50K is in 10 days.     I love signing up for challenging races when it seems so far off in the distance.    Then lo and behold before you know it the actual event is upon you.   When you are in the midst of training it is easy to not think about the actual event.   That is for another day.   Besides your too busy training to really worry about it.

Then…..

Taper Time

or

Is it taper crazy time?

The brakes get put on and even though you are still running, your not running nearly as much.   Your giving your body a chance to rest, to prepare, to be ready.   The problem is that during this time, your mind no longer is occupied with the training at hand but with what is coming up.   Thoughts like….

Why did I sign up for this?

Will be able to do it?

Why did I schedule a Cub Scout meeting the day afterwards?

Will I be able to walk when I’m done?

Then on top of these thoughts, your (or maybe it’s just me) mind is also filled with the logistics of the race……

What do I need to bring?

Should I wear my trusty Fitletic hydration belt or my new hydration vest?

What should I take for fuel?

Why did I sign up for this?

The temperatures are supposed to also be in the high 70’s.   It has been VERY cool here as of late and then there is also the worry of running in the heat when your body isn’t used to it.

Do I need to bring my trusty bucket to haul my gear?

How far apart are the aid stations?

On and on it goes……..

My town is having a 5K the same day as my 50K.    Part of me thinks that running a 5K sounds nice:)    My 9 year old asked me why I was running a 50K?    He’s probably not alone in this question.    My answer to him was simple…

I’m running it because it is a challenge.   I don’t know if I can do it and you should always try to do things that you think you can’t do.   You should have goals.

dreams

 

It’s going to be a wild ride and I’m sure I will live to tell the tale:)    It may not be pretty.   It sure as Hell is going to be hard and I’m going to have to give it all I’ve got and then some.    Bottom line is no matter what the time or how it turns out, it is worth it.

It is already worth it.

Rosevelt

What do you do during taper time?

Where Did The Time Go!?!

May3

Most of the time, I ignore my Facebook memories posts, but sometimes….Sometimes, you have to take a moment and say, “Wow.”    That happened to me yesterday.   Scrolling through Facebook and a 2014 memory post pops up where I wrote:

“Running my first half marathon, Superhero Half, on May 18th”

Damn, that was only 2 years ago!    It seems so long ago to be honest.    I can’t believe how far I’ve come in just 2 short years from running my first half to preparing for a 50K.   How the Hell did that happen?    I know it’s really because of my Mom’s Run This Town group.    It all just snowballed….

I remember thinking about signing up for the Superhero half because people in my group were posting about it.    I remember going on a group run and dear, sweat Janna telling me, “Yeah, you could do that.”    Then I remember that fateful car ride to the race where I realized that I KNEW NOTHING!    Robyn, Dawn, and “Diane”  were all talking race strategy and pace and I sat in the back of the car thinking….. Ummmm,   Ummmm, Ummmm….

I had no plan.   I had no pace.   I had no goal.    I had no idea what I was getting myself into or where it would lead.

I will say I did really well for a race I probably wasn’t prepared for or had no idea how to actually run it.    What I did do is shadow my fellow MRTT Mama’s for probably the first half the race.   Then Janna and I ran the second half together dodging Klingon singing runners and my tired legs.   “Diane” kept us moving and her knowing what she was doing paced me to a sub 2:10 which I had no idea what it meant at the time.   Official time 2:09:24.

The rest they say is history……

It is amazing to me that this has only been 2 years.   I’ve learned SOOOOOO much in this time.   I’ve learned the importance of fueling, pacing, training, and so much more.    Yes, running is just running; but running properly is so much more.  I’ve also learned that even with everything I’ve learned, I still don’t know much.

I can’t believe just 3 days shy of my two year anniversary of my first half marathon, I will be hopefully finishing my first (I mean only) 50K.

Holly Smokes…….

There have been lots of changes in these last two years.   I think the most obvious can be seen in pictures…

Superhero half

 

Superhero Half May 2014

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Marine Corps Marathon October 2015

 

I never imagined that running would be such an important part of my life.   It’s been a wild, wild ride and can’t wait to be able to say that I am an Ultra marathoner soon.  (Hopefully!)