Chicago Marathon Training Weeks 1-6

As I mentioned in April, I signed up for the Chicago Marathon and got in! For the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon I ran last year I followed Hal Higdon's Novice 1 training plan.  It was 18 weeks long and I think it fit great into my life and prepared me for the Marathon.  So naturally, I wanted to follow the same plan again.  This time, however, I checked out his Novice 2 training plan which increases your long weekend runs a little quicker.  I decided to mesh the two plans together and use parts from both of them.

After a May full of being busy and taking it easy with the running, I jumped into June full force. I started training for the marathon the first week I was out of school for the summer.  Summer training is way easier than Fall training. Yes, the temps are insane and even an easy 3-mile run feels like 10 miles and it makes me look like I jumped in a swimming pool, but scheduling my runs is easy-peasy! Tony hasn't traveled too much this summer, so I am able to wake up and run in the morning while he's home with the kiddos.  Since we go to the lake a lot in the summer, I've been actually completing my long runs on Friday mornings (more about lake running later).  I know that once school and sports start back up, getting my runs in is a little more complicated, so I'm thankful that I can at least get in about half the training without going crazy with scheduling.

The first 6 weeks of training have been going really well.  I have to admit, running in the heat is hard work.  I always forget how much slower I go in the heat and humidity even though I am putting forth some serious effort.  I just have to accept that fact.  I've read a lot of articles discussing this phenomenon and how you do run slower the hotter it is outside. It does make sense! If I run anything over 6 miles, I carry my water with me.  Besides dealing with a little left knee pain, I've been feeling pretty good.  I've jumped on the Podcast train and I love it.  I've always listened to music while running and Tony likes podcasts, so he got me hooked! I kind of "zone out" while listening to people talk which makes the time fly by (let's face it...running long distances isn't the most exciting thing in the world)! So far I've listened to a lot of Another Mother Runner's podcasts as well as some from the Human Race.  If you have any good podcasts that you listen to and recommend, let me know!

As I approach the halfway point in my training, I know that I need to start figuring out fuel and hydration.  This race will be very different than Indianapolis...there will be about 35,000 more people running it.  The logistics of everything will be very different so I'm trying to figure certain things out.

Ok, hopefully next time I post it won't be 6 weeks from now. My goal is every week or at least every other.  Happy Trails!

Derby Half-Marathon

Yikes! Time certainly slips away from you.  I meant to post about my Derby Half-Marathon after I ran it, but life once again got in the way.  The challenge most recently has been that the blogspot app on my phone that I was using to update the blog is no longer available...so that means I have to fire  up the old laptop to update...let's just say our home laptop is quite ancient and extremely slow.  Anybody have an app they use for iPhones that allows for blog posting to blogspot? Let me know!

Anyways, I ran my 6th half-marathon on April 30th.  All week I had been stalking the weather, and it didn't look good.  It was actually calling for torrential rain and lightning...yikes! The night before, I spent the night with my mom and I checked the weather one last time before I went to sleep.  It showed a later start to the rain, so I was hoping the start would be dry! Sure enough, when I woke up the next morning, the rain wasn't supposed to come until a little after the 7:30am start time...woohoo!! Since it was supposed to be a pretty crappy day, I wasn't going to have any fan support.  Tony would've been miserable taking the 3 girls out so we decided to just leave them home.  The plan was for my dad to take me (and drop me off), and my mom would come later and watch the finish and take me home. My mom and I had planned out where we would meet if we couldn't find each other the night before...thank goodness, because we had to use our meeting spot!

I woke up and ate my normal pre-race breakfast and since it was calling for rain, I wrapped my phone (I still use my old iPhone for running) in a ziploc bag and got it all situated in my arm-band.  I hate wearing hats, but had that on as well (which by the way, I need to invest in a visor because the hat was too hot as well).  When I did this race the year before, it rained as well, and I wore a rain jacket...but I was so incredibly hot in that thing so I just figured I'd get wet this year...no biggie. I brought along a garbage bag with me in case it started raining while waiting at the starting line...that way I could wear it and stay dry as long as possible.

My dad dropped me off about a mile away from the starting line.  I went ahead and used the bathroom on the Waterfront because the line was super short and then headed to the start.  I never had to use my garbage bag as it was still not raining.  I was supposed to meet up with Angie and Bill before the race, but we never found each other.  I started moving myself to the middle of the wave and got myself situated.

Quick pic from the photographer at the start

And then...we were off!! The temps were in the 60s...and maybe event the low 70s, and I just felt hot and slightly dizzy.  Around mile 6 it started to drizzle, which honestly felt pretty good at first.  It wasn't too bad for several miles.  You enter Churchill Downs around Mile 8 and it definitely started to rain harder.

Love the twin spires in the background!

As the race went on, it started raining harder and harder.  It was pointless to avoid puddles because my feet were already soaked.  The last several miles seemed to drag on forever thanks to the hard rain.  My mom was supposed to be at the finish line, and as I was running down the final stretch, I kind of looked around, but I didn't spot her.  I finished the race with a new PR despite the rain: 1:55:26!

 I couldn't find my mom anywhere and since I was using my old phone I couldn't call her.  We had planned on meeting at the Run the Bluegrass/Half Classic tent where I would pick up my extra medal if she couldn't find me. After about 10-15 min of standing in the rain, she found me at the tent.  She said she was around the finish line but never saw me cross (it's a pretty crowded race).

A quick pic with my medal in the rain..

My mom came prepared!

Since I hit my PR, I was able to hit the PR gong!!

Overall, I did pretty well at the race.  I didn't feel all that great, but I made it!! Half-Marathon #6 is in the books!!

Chicago Bound!

I had gone back and forth with myself about signing up for the Chicago Marathon.  I don't really want to make full marathons a thing because they are expensive, challenging, and taxing.  However, I knew that if I did anymore, I'd want to do a big name one...like Chicago or Disney World. So the night before the deadline to apply for Chicago, I decided to submit my application.  This past Thursday was lottery day (Chicago is based on lottery, not on your finishing times)...and I got in!! Holy crap! As soon as I found out, I called Tony and he booked a hotel room (I knew they would fill up fast).

So, it looks like on Oct. 9th I'll be running in the Chicago Marathon!!!

Lexington's Run the Bluegrass Half-Marathon

I ran this race last year as part of the Kentucky Half Classic. If you run Lexington's half as well as the Derby Half, you get a 3rd medal if you sign up and finish both races, and you get added perks as well such as special use of porta-pots...woohoo (which by the way I never found)!

This race is no joke. It is straight up and down hills the whole way. It's definitely a very challenging race, but also extremely beautiful since you run by several horse farms. I was definitely feeling nervous about this race.

On Friday (4/2/16), my mom and I headed to Lexington after working. She went with me last year so it was great that she wanted to go with me again. We headed straight for the Expo and got my race packet.  I love Lexington's race bibs because they put your name on them...that way when you're dying at the end, people can encourage you and use your name! After the expo, we went out to eat.  I didn't really focus on eating anything specific which is a good thing, because I ended up ordering this:

It was absolutely delicious...I love a good burger! I don't usually recommend ordering such a large meal before a race, but it actually agreed with me, thank goodness! After dinner, we headed to our hotel room.  I was actually pretty tired and fell asleep a little after 10.  The race started later than I'm used to..9:00. So I got up around 7 and ate breakfast and got ready.  My mom snapped this pic of me before we left the hotel room:

The "5" stands for my 5th half marathon!

On our way there, we got stuck in some traffic and my nerves started to get to me.  I just wanted to make sure I had time to pee before the race started.  Luckily we got there in plenty of time...in fact, the race ended up being delayed 10 minutes because of a wreck and they wanted to make sure all the runners could get there.  In addition to the half-marathon, there was also a 5k and 7-miler.  I was in the second wave of runners and parked myself by the 2:00 pacers.  I knew I wanted to finish under 2 hrs so I figured as long as I stayed ahead of them, I'd be good. I wasn't worried too much about my time since this race is so intense.  Anyways, after what seemed like forever, the race started.  Even though I did this race last year, I forgot about how hard it was.  I felt like I was crawling up those hills.  I'm dead serious when I say that you go up and down the WHOLE way.  It was not only physically challenging, but mentally as well. 

I always try to smile when I see the camera, no matter how much pain I'm in...who wants a pic of grimaces and pain?!

 I can't tell you how many times I was negotiating with myself to just walk.  But, I didn't...I kept plugging along. I was so excited to see the finish line when it was over.

I love this pic...just wish it was focused on me! My mom was right where I was looking so I was making faces for her (see the above picture)

Imagine my surprise when I crossed the finish line and met up with my mom and she told me that I had just set a new PR for my half-marathon! 1:55:35! I couldn't believe it...and still don't.  I seriously felt like I was crawling up those hills and barely moving!

I grabbed a free beer...hey, why not?! And then mom and I took some quick pics:

We headed back to Louisville after stopping for lunch at Panera! 

Race day = eating whatever I want!

Up next...the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon on April 30th!

Papa John's 10 miler

Last weekend I ran the last leg of the Triple Crown, the Papa John's 10-miler. I ended up having a great race! I was supposed to meet Angie and Bill before the race, but they got stuck in traffic so I had to start the race without them. I'm a nervous pee-er before races so I headed for the Porta-pots before the race. After waiting about 20 minutes in line, I finally got to go! When I came out, there was only like 4 minutes till the start time so I went ahead and pushed my way up through the crowd (I like to start towards the front/middle of the pack).

The weather was chilly, but I tend to run better in the cold (it was in the low to mid 30's). Around mile 3-4 I wasn't feeling all that great (shakey and dizzy), but I stuck it out. This race runs through Iriquois Park which is all hills for 3 miles right smack dab in the middle of the race. I successfully made it! All I could think about while running the hills was that I was going to run 13.1 miles worth of hills in Lexington the following weekend, so I knew I could do it! The coolest part about this race is that it finishes on the football field at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. You literally run on the turf around the field to the finish line. I was happy with my time and had gone about 7 min faster than the time I ran it 2 yrs ago. I waited for Angie and Bill at the finish so we could take a quick pic:

We bypassed the free pizza (after running 10 miles? Yuck!). Grabbed a banana and some water and went home!

Next weekend is Lexington's Run the Bluegrass Half-Marathon!!

Rodes City Run 10k

I completed the second leg of the Triple Crown yesterday. All week I was keeping an eye on the weather because there was a chance of rain. I was kind of excited that it would be warmer though! I ran this race a few years ago and I remember it being very cold.

My mom picked up my packet for me Friday so I didn't have to worry about getting downtown to get it. Friday was Grace's 6th birthday so we headed to my mom and dad's house that night. Since it was a 10k, I didn't worry too much about what I was eating. Thank goodness, because Grace asked for tacos and I LOVE tacos!! I tried to keep a limit on my taco consumption and I think I did pretty well. However, tacos make me very thirsty and I probably didn't hydrate enough on Friday.  Friday night before bed I checked the weather one more time and it showed only a 20% chance of rain. I went ahead and laid out several different clothing options and would decide in the morning if I needed rain gear or not. Then it was time to sleep!

Every time my alarm goes off on a Saturday of a race day, I always think to myself, "why the heck to I do this?" I mean, really? Who likes to get up on a Saturday and go to a race. ME!! While I love to sleep, there is something about adrenaline and nerves for a race and all the hyped up music and people. Luckily after checking the weather, we seemed to be in the clear. I drove downtown and met Angie and Bill (their softball tourney was cancelled so they could run!) in the parking garage and we walked to the starting line.

(This is a horrible parking garage selfie of me)

We snuck inside a McDonald's to pee real fast (I'm a nervous pee-er...I ALWAYS have to pee when I get to a race). Once at the starting line we were ready!

The race overall went well. A few sprinkles here and there but nothing too bad. I didn't stop for any water along the way. I've done enough 6 mile runs without water that I thought I'd be fine. I was...but definitely wanted water at the finish line. I've been having a heart to heart with myself lately...I'm starting to get nervous/dread running because every time I run I try to beat my time before. I'm extremely competitive with myself and I need to chill out with that. I'm afraid if I continue being so hard on myself, I'm not going to want to continue to run. Make sense? So having this heart to heart with myself, I went into the race thinking that I would just enjoy the run and not worry about my time. I don't know why I feel I have to run faster than the time before, nobody knows what my times are and it doesn't matter. But guess what?....I did it again. I pushed it...it's so hard not to when it's a race. Let's just say it's a work in progress.

I never really pay attention to the clock time when I cross the finish line because I know that is not my time. When I looked down at my watch I knew I was close to a PR. I signed up for the text alert that tells you what your time was, and according to that, I was 5 seconds faster (than my previous PR)! Then, when I looked online at the results later, it had my time being 13 seconds slower than the text I received. Crazy! I'm not sure why the times are so different. So, now I'm not sure which time to use? Oh well, it is what it is!

Tony's out of town for most of the week and weekend so I'm hoping to get at least 1 run in this week and my mom said she'd watch the girls this weekend so I can do a long run. The 10-miler is in 2 weeks, and Lexington's Run the Bluegrass half marathon is in 3 weeks.  Welcome to spring running season!

Anthem 5k

This morning kicked off the first leg of the Triple Crown! It was downtown, and I despise driving downtown by myself because I ALWAYS get lost, but I made it! There were all sorts of road closures because of bridge construction and because of the race, but I followed a line of cars and found a parking spot on the side of the street only a few blocks away from where I was meeting my friend and her boyfriend...score! I had not run this particular 5k before but was told that due to the amount of people running it, not to expect a PR because it's hard to get your pace since you're dodging so many people. So I didn't have very high expectations for the race. Waiting at the corner for my friend, I checked the weather and it said it was a cold 31 degrees...brrr! Although I really don't like being cold, I run so much better in it. I also never wear my running tights outside my neighborhood runs, but I was brave and wore them to a race (they are comfortable and fit well, so I decided to go for it)! I finally found my friend and we headed for the starting line. There were almost 6,000 people doing it and luckily they had the walkers and runners separated to help with the crowds. I have to say, the first mile and a half was tricky. You are constantly dodging people and hoping not to fall/trip in a pothole. I felt pretty good and felt I was going pretty fast. I rarely look at my running watch during a race because I feel it psychs me out. 3 miles goes pretty quickly, so next thing I know the race was over. I actually beat my best 5k time by slightly over a minute!! Woohoo! I finished in 24:50 which was about 8:00/mi pace. I totally wasn't expecting that, so I was definitely surprised! I grabbed my free banana and water and got out of there.

The next race (10k) is in a couple of weeks and my friend can't go do I'll be flying solo. Guess I'll have to take a selfie of just me (I very rarely ever do that).

New Year, New Goals

Happy New Year!! I know we're already halfway through this month, but better late than never! Thought I'd let you all know my plan for the year ahead...or at least what "may" happen. 

First off, the marathon seems like a distant memory...did I really do that?! It seriously seems like it was a dream. I knew when it was over that I would not be able to maintain that kind of distance. So no, I haven't been doing 15-20 mile distance training runs. I am still running though....I'm doing about an 8-9 mile long run on the weekends and several 3-5 mile runs during the week. I've actually been pretty unmotivated with running lately. I'm sure it has something to do with winter and the cold as well as training non-stop for the marathon and getting burned out. I'm still getting out and running but not with as much enthusiasm as before. I've also started to add in some core/strengthening work. Jillian Michaels is a lot of fun! I've even been able to get Tony and Hannah doing a little bit of it too!

As the new year started, I decided to sign up for some upcoming races. I will be doing the Louisville Triple Crown of races (which includes a 5k, 10k, and 10-miler), as well as 2 half-marathons (Lexington's Run the Bluegrass and the Kentucky Derby Mini-Marathon). These will keep me fairly busy and in shape. I have done all of these before, so I know what to expect already...and hopefully they will bring back my motivation!

When I finished the marathon, I wasn't in any real hurry to find another one to do...and honestly, I didn't really care if I did another one or not. However, I've decided that I'd like to try to get into the CHICAGO MARATHON!! I know that I may be crazy! I've had several friends run it and they all said it was an awesome race, so I figured "why not?"  From what I understand, Chicago is done "lottery" style. They will be open to accepting applications in March for a short period of time and then they will close it and draw names. If I get in, I will be super excited and nervous...if I don't, I'll be bummed but then I know it just wasn't meant to be. It's an expensive race...$185. That doesn't even include travel, food, or lodging! But, since it's one of the top 10 marathons in the United States, I might as well give it a shot. 

I'll continue to keep you updated on my runs and races. Here's to a healthy, happy 2016!!!!

And also to filling up my medal/bib holder: