Last Thursday was International Women's Day, and I was pleasantly surprised at how many posts I saw come across my social channels celebrating the day. It seemed a much bigger deal this year, or maybe I was just paying more attention.
Women, of course, should be celebrated every day, but at least we have this one day set aside internationally as well as March also being National Women's History Month here in the U.S. (maybe other places as well).
One of my favorite genres to listen to while I run is 1980s pop, so I thought it would be fun to celebrate National Women's History Month with a playlist of the awesome female artists of the 1980s.
It's no secret that one of my goals for 2018 is to transition to forefoot running. I feel like it's all I've been talking about lately. It's definitely my current BHAG - Big Hairy Audacious Goal.
I've had a few people ask me why I decided to make the change, so I thought it would be a good idea to share my why behind this life-changing goal.
It all started a few years ago when I read Born to Run. Well, it may have started earlier than that, but that's when I really fell in love with the idea.
This post is sponsored by Tabio USA in partnership with FitApproach. All opinions and images are my own.
I made the switch to toe socks back in Aug 2014 (thank you IG!) and have never looked back. Well, it did take a couple runs to get used to fabric between my toes. It didn't take more than a couple runs, though, before they were comfier than any other socks. I honestly cannot imagine running in any other type of socks.
Yesterday, I shared my Happy New Year 2018 goals. I'm keeping my annual goals really simple this year and am just focusing on two goals 1) Transitioning to Forefoot Running and 2) Improving my Blog. Each month, I'll be setting more specific goals to help me achieve these larger ones.
FOREFOOT RUNNING
It's something I've wanted to do for awhile now, but it's definitely still a hard concept for me to wrap my head around. I'm taking my time and slowly easing into the world of forefoot running.
I'm finally starting to come back to normal after my very emotional finish! You may already know that I had the most amazing race on Saturday - pretty much start to finish - and the icing on it all was a shiny, new PR.
I was pretty nervous the day before and the couple hours leading up to the race. Despite having a great plan laid out, I was having some issues that I really thought would derail that plan and prevent me from having the race I so desired.
My recap has to start with the day before the race because it helps set the scene of why I was so nervous about the race, and why I was so emotional at the end.
Friday
Even as I wrote up my Race Day Goals & Strategy, I had a feeling that the worst was likely to happen. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about! I wrote my goals hoping and hoping that my period and corresponding cramps would hold off until Sunday.
They did not. Much to my dismay my period arrived on Friday, which meant the cramps would hit just in time for the race Saturday morning. I kept trying to will them to stay away. Hence, my nerves the night before. I still wanted to have a great race, but I really didn't think it was in the cards.
Kristy, from Runaway Bridal Planner, picked me up to make the drive to Laughlin, NV. We'd never met in person before, but I was excited for a tiny little runcation with my blogging friend. Jeff walked me to her car to say good-bye, and I fretted about not having packed enough ibuprofen. He said to not worry about it and to just buy some more if I needed some. D'uh.
We arrived in Laughlin, checked into our room, dropped off our stuff, and headed to packet pick-up. It's a pretty small race, so there was no expo. It was literally just pick up your bib, pick up your shirt, and grab a small bag with a couple goodies in it.
We were hungry, so we googled "where locals eat" and decided on a restaurant based {almost} solely on pictures of the views of the Colorado river. Nope, not location or pics of the food. LOL The restaurant was a bit out of town, but we got there just as the sun was setting.
The sunset was totally worth the drive!
We each ordered the burger our waitress recommended. It. Was. Greasy! Delicious, but we both kind of worried that it might not have been the wisest of decisions.
After dinner, it was still pretty early, so we walked along the river a bit and then sat and listened to a band before heading back up to the room. While listening to the band, it occurred to me that I forgot a toothbrush. We stopped at a hotel shop and I bought a toothbrush/toothpaste and grabbed some Midol as well. Just in case.
It was still early, but for some reason, I was already exhausted. I was in bed before 9PM. I think.
Here's the thing. Laughlin is right on the Arizona border. Arizona doesn't do Daylight Savings, so they are in a different time zone this time of year. Our phones and watches kept randomly changing times on us! It was both amusing and annoying.
I'd like to say I slept well, but that would just be lying. I tossed. I turned. I got up to go to the bathroom. I fretted about the inevitable cramps. I had this terrible, pain isn't quite the right word, in my diaphragm. It was uncomfortable, but I kept falling back asleep. So, I was getting at least some rest.
Race Morning
Kristy's alarm went off at what her phone thought was 4:15. In reality, it was only 3:15, as confirmed by the clock in the hotel room, which wasn't randomly changing like our phones. We were both glad for the additional hour of sleep. 😌
When I was getting ready to catch the shuttle, I sent Jeff this message:
I was so uncomfortable! I took two Midol, hoping that it would make me feel better so to not completely derail the race.
I wasn't very optimistic on the shuttle to the start.
Nor for the hour+ waiting in the high school gym.
Kristy and Jeff were both very encouraging, though, so I tried to keep an open-mind.
By the time, we were lining up at the start, the Midol had definitely kicked in. The cramps had subsided and the excitement of the race had set in.
The Race
As I crossed the start line, I pushed the RACE screen on my Garmin. I kept glancing down at my watch to check my pace. Around 0.35 miles, I finally noticed that all the other fields were still showing zeros. Yep. I hadn't actually pressed the START button.
I had all kinds of alerts programmed into my Garmin, so I'd know when to change my pace. I decided to still go with those alerts - even though they were a bit off of the official distance.
Mile 1
In the first mile of the race, we ran from one parking lot at the high school to the track and did one lap around the track.
This was probably one of the most complicated parts of the race! Racers were entering and exiting at the same point, so it was a little tricky making sure you didn't bump into anyone.
Miles 1 - 3.5
This was the first uphill climb of the race. It was tough but I was pretty good at sticking to a sub-10'30" pace. There were definitely a few spots that my Garmin was beeping a bit crazily for me to speed up.
The first two aid stations were in these early miles. I skipped them both. I didn't start the race with a full water bottle, but I figured I'd easily be able to make it to the next stop. I was wrong.
Miles 3.5 - 7
This was supposed to be my speediest section. It was a solid, steady downhill. I set my slow alert for a 9'30" pace. I shouldn't have had a problem maintaining that pace, but obviously I kept slowing down because my Garmin kept telling me to go faster. While the views were incredible (when I remembered to look around)...
I think I got a little bored on the downhill. I was also concentrating on not tripping and falling.
I had a gel at 45min. My plan was to take a salt tablet at the same time; however, I was running low on water and wanted to conserve what little I had left. I decided to take the salt at the next aid station, which had to be coming up soon.
Turns out that next aid station wasn't for another mile and a half.
Miles 7-8.5
This was the 2nd uphill climb, but first, the aid station. Yes!
I unscrewed the lid of my handheld as I approached the water stop. I grabbed a cup from a volunteer and dumped it into my handheld. I handed him the empty cup and grabbed the 2nd cup in his hands. He looked at me so confused as to why I was handing him my empty cup! My bottle still wasn't full, so I handed him the 2nd empty cup while grabbing a 3rd cup from the guy next to him. By the time I handed my 3rd empty to the volunteer, he seemed less confused. LOL I still didn't take a salt tablet because I didn't want to waste any more time at the water stop.
Free photo courtesy of Run Laughlin
Since I started my Garmin late, it still thought I had 0.35 miles before hitting the hill. I tried to still speed my way up the hill, but quickly decided it wasn't worth it. I slowed down a bit but still tried to stay close to a 10'15" pace.
Turns out my goal for this section was a 10'25" pace. I was pleased to see that alert pop-up, because this uphill seemed a little relentless.
We crossed over the Davis Dam and into Arizona! And continued the uphill.
Free photo courtesy of Run Laughlin
Finally the turnaround was in sight!
Miles 8.5-10
The uphill was over! It was the final pace reset. 9'45" slow pace. This was when the real fun began. I didn't need to worry about conserving energy. I had run a great race so far and now I could really focus on getting to the finish.
Since this was an out-and-back portion, I wanted to look for Kristy on my way back down the hill. But, I got lost in my music and footsteps until I heard her call out Good Luck to me. I waved and continued on my way. I also waved to a couple Vegas runners I knew as I saw them making their way up the hill.
I was really starting to groove to my music and was having a great time! My head was bopping along and I kind of felt like I was dancing. I may or may not have accidentally sung out loud a few times, but I tried to control myself.
Miles 10-13.1
I was cruising along and fighting back tears. It was really starting to become real. I WAS GOING TO PR! There wasn't really anymore doubt. I felt so STRONG and I was having such a great time!
Free photo courtesy of Run Laughlin
I do not know this jumper, but she was having a great time, too.
I sucked down another gel and actually took a salt tablet this time.
And then Starships by Nicki Minaj came on.
MY FEET WERE FLYING! I couldn't slow down. At the end of the song, I restarted it. Yeah, it was moving me that much.
It was good song after good song right until the finish, though I don't remember what they were.
I do remember thinking, This is the strongest I've ever felt during the last few miles of a half marathon. I kept pushing and trying to build on that momentum.
The course met up with the 10k and 5k racers. Lots of runners commented, You're doing great! All I could do was say Thank you! I probably should have said You, too, but honestly, I was too focused on my own race to comment on anyone else's. Does that make me a bad racer?! 😬
Every time someone said something, it put just a little more pep in my step. It's hard to describe how I was feeling. I was just gliding along, but still pushing it. I was so incredibly happy and proud that I was fighting back tears of joy.
Around mile 12.5, I did start to feel a bit tired, but I was SO close. I kept pushing myself. I saw the 6 mile marker for the 10k and thought only 0.2 miles to go. Then I saw the 3 mile and 13 mile signs for the 5k and Half. I forced myself to lengthen my stride and finish STRONG!
I crossed that finish line with pure determination on my face!! {and a LOT of salt}
Free photo courtesy of Run Laughlin
Post-Race
After getting my medal, I stopped and asked a guy where to get the official results. He pointed me to the tent, and I made a beeline to it - bypassing the tables of water and food. When a laptop freed up, I typed in my bib number and snapped a photo of my results.
I sent a message to Jeff on the way to the restroom.
I had been hoping to squeak out a PR with a 2:10:14 (previous was a 2:10:26), so I was blown away and so, so excited to see my official time!
I washed my face and went back to get some nourishment and free beer. I'm not a beer drinker, so I didn't even drink half of my small cup. It was a bit too bubbly. 😄
Still so emotional, I paced around the finish area trying to control myself. Waffling between smiling and crying. I was a mess inside!
I was hanging around the finish chute to see if I could see Kristy approaching when I overheard a trio of people talking about medals. It took me a minute to realize they were talking TO me! Apparently, they had run out of half marathon medals, and one girl was asking if she could borrow mine to take a picture. Of course, I said yes!
And then, I walked around some more. Trying to decide if I should head back up to the room to shower. I just wasn't ready yet. I couldn't bring myself to leave the finish area. I probably looked like a crazy person - pacing around the finish area, fighting back tears.
Finally, I saw Kristy approaching the finish line. I was doing something on my phone, so I couldn't snap a picture. I met her at the finish and then someone else asked if they could borrow my medal for a picture. I said sure and followed her to where she wanted to take the picture. Then she handed me her phone, Oh you want me to take the picture? LOL I snapped a few and then Kristy and I went to snap a few of our own.
Photo courtesy of Kristy
And that's the story of how I got my PR. A solid plan and a couple of Midol, without either of those, Run Laughlin definitely wouldn't have turned out so well. Tweet
After showering and relaxing a bit, Kristy and I did grab some lunch and do a little exploring before heading back to Vegas, but I'll leave that for another post.
I'm linking up today with Erika, Marcia and Patty for Tuesday's on the Run. This week's topic is Favorite Race in 2017, so I guess this post is pretty much perfect. :)
I don't know if it's because of half marathon training, or if it's flown by quickly for everyone, but man, have these past couple months have flown by! I can hardly believe that Run Laughlin is already this Saturday.
If you've been following along, I've been posting my training recaps each Sunday, and I think that's really helped me to stay motivated and on track. This is the first half marathon that I've actually trained for in quite sometime, and I'm proud of how well it's gone.
Time to set some Goals and Strategize for Saturday!
#1 Have fun!
Because otherwise, what is the point? Whether I'm running hard or taking it easy, if I'm not enjoying the race, then that's just not cool.
#2 PR, baby!
Despite Sunday's disappointing run, I'm still going to try for a PR on Saturday. Sure, I didn't do much (read: any) hill training, but I'm going to go into the race confident! It's 90% mental, right?!
Comparing the elevation map from Sunday's run and the one of the race, the hills on race day aren't as steep, so I really think I'll be OK.
That's it! I'm only setting 2 goals for this race. If I don't end up getting a PR, I'll be OK with just having fun. If my strategies start to fall apart, or if I crash into a wall like I did on Sunday, I'll just fall back on my # 1 goal of having fun.
Read on to find out my race day strategies.
Pace Strategy
My previous PR is a 2:10:26 half marathon, which is a 9'57" pace.
Based on the elevation map and crunching some numbers, here's how I plan to break it down:
Mile 1 Set alerts for 10'15" slow and 9'30" fast.
It's a slight downhill, but I still don't want to start off too fast. Plus, it usually takes a bit for my legs to warm-up.
Miles 1-3.5 Set alert for 10'30" slow; turn off the fast alert.
This is the first uphill climb, so I'll slow down a bit to conserve some energy. Miles 3.5-7 Set alert for 9'30" slow; no fast alert.
This is mostly downhill, so I'll speed up to make up some time lost on the first hill.
Miles 7-8.5 Set alert for 10'25" slow; no fast alert.
This is the 2nd uphill climb. Not as daunting as the first, but also rated a Cat 5 (the least difficult category). By this point in the race, hopefully, I'll be nice a warmed up, so I can conquer this hill a bit easier than the first.
Miles 8.5-Finish Set alert for 9'45" slow; no fast alert.
There are some uphills sprinkled throughout the last few miles, but I'm hoping they won't be so bad since they are relatively short hills.
I crunched the numbers.
If I can manage these paces, I'll barely squeak out a PR.
But a PR is a PR, right? Even if it is only a few seconds. 😂
Fuel and Hydration Strategy
I haven't really talked about it much throughout my training, but I'll continue with the same strategy on race day that I've done on all my long runs.
Hydration - I have an alert on my Garmin to drink every half mile. Just a sip or two. I find this really helps avoid sloshing and keeps me hydrated throughout the race. I'll carry my handheld and refill it at water stations as needed. There are 6 along the course, so I should be able to refill adequately.
Fuel - I'm all about the Garmin alerts! My Eat alert goes off every 45 minutes. I'll suck down a gel and swallow a salt tablet. I only started using salt tablets a few weeks ago but have found them helpful in training.
Music Strategy
I'm torn on using music. I usually skip music during a race, but I haven't done a long run without music in quite some time. I think I'll create a playlist just in case and decide on race morning if I want to listen to it while I run.
I feel like I have a pretty good strategy. Probably better than I've ever gone into a race. It feels good.
Who knows exactly what race day will bring, but I'm going to go into it with a positive mind and spirit. And a good plan.
What kind of goals do you do set for a race? Do you ever strategize to this extent? Music or no music?
I'm linking up today with Erika, Marcia and Patty for Tuesday's on the Run.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Does the big day include running for you? Perhaps you're running a Turkey Trot or just going for a run around your neighborhood.
Whatever your plans, here's how to create the perfect playlist for your Thanksgiving Day Run in 3 easy steps.
Step One: Make a list of things you're thankful for this year.
If you caught up with me on Saturday over coffee, you'll know that I am ready for fall! Bring on the cooler temps, all things pumpkin and apple, sweaters and boots.
Don't get me wrong. I love summer. I love the heat and the cold brew. Tank tops & shorts. This summer was all about turning 40 which I loved as well. But I'm ready to move on to the next thing.
Even though I'm not quite sure what that is yet.
What I do know...
My weight is slowly climbing back up.
My pace is slowing down.
My trail runs have all but disappeared.
Despite having finished RW Run Streak and the #ClarindaTurns40 fitness challenge, I've felt like my training lately has been floundering a bit. What am I training for? LIFE! :-) Time to set some goals for Fall!
Today's topic for Tuesday's on the Run is... (no surprise)... Stuff I love about running.
Obviously, I love so. much. about running.
Here are a few reasons why I love to run.
In no particular order.
Running clothes are super cute and comfy. Next to yoga clothes, I'm not sure anything beats running clothes. At least the stuff I buy. I mean, I get by without wearing a bra or undies - cuz they come built it. 😏 Running makes me happy and feel alive. There's just something about getting that heart pumping and sweat flowing. It brings an energy that just makes me smile. Yes, even when it hurts - though sometimes not exactly in the moment. Running allows me to have lots of little personal victories. It's such a personal sport where you can challenge yourself to go just a tiny bit further - in time, distance, pace. You name it! It's 100% customizable, and when you've pushed yourself and beaten even the tiniest of goals, you just feel so. damn. good! Running gets me outside. If it weren't for running, I'd hardly leave my house. I certainly wouldn't explore my neighborhood as much as I do. It's a great excuse to get out there and enjoy the weather. Sun, rain, snow, clouds. I've learned to find beauty and joy in it all. Running can be done anywhere. I'm not going to lie. I'm sometimes a pretty lazy runner. I love that I can just lace up and run from right out my front door. Or if I'm travelling wish I could do this more often! I can run in the neighborhood of the hotel/resort. Never forget to pack the running shoes!! Tweet
Despite all of the above, sometimes running is hard and we need to remind ourselves of not only why we love it, but how to enjoy it. Be sure to check out my tips to make every run enjoyable for those runs when you're not feeling the love.
Don't forget to visit our TOTR hostesses - Marcia, Patty, and Erika - to read more posts about running love.
Why do you love running? What makes you wanna lace up those shoes and get out there? Doing anything fun for Valentine's Day?
Happy final day of January! This month really flew by! I can't believe we are already a full month into 2017.
Today's topic for Tuesdays on the Run is Give your running month a letter grade. Using that as inspiration, I decided to do a monthly report card to check in on my 2017 Goals.
We all have them, but as runners, we sure do like to push them, don't we? It's what makes us stronger, right?
Please tell me I'm right. :-) Otherwise, what you're about to read isn't just crazy, but crazy stupid.
I have a hard time defining my limits. I tend to have a pretty laissez-faire approach to running and fitness. But that's all about to change. At least for the next couple months.
I mentioned on Sunday that today I'd share with you what was next for me.
I'm linking up today with Marcia, Patty, and Erika for Tuesday's on the Run. This week's topic is Favorite Winter Gear. Winter's aren't really bad here in Vegas, so my winter gear isn't much more than long-sleeved shirts and running pants.
Instead, since I've received quite a few comments lately about Charity Miles (what it is, how it works, etc.), I thought I'd share a quick tutorial to show just how easy using Charity Miles is.
I've been using Charity Miles (off and on) for quite a few years now - at least back to 2012. The app has changed a bit since then, but the same basic idea behind it hasn't.
Every Mile Matters!
It's the perfect way for anyone to give back simply by going for a run, walk, or bike ride. There are a LOT of charities to choose from and the app really is so simple to use! You can earn up to 25¢ for a run or walk and up to 10¢ for a bike ride. All you do is use the app and then Charity Miles makes the actual donation to the various charities.
Seriously simply, but read on for a Step-by-Step guide to walk you through it all.
I'm linking up today with Marcia, Patty, & Erika for Tuesdays on the Run. This week's topic is Running Resolutions and Goals. Since I shared my 2017 goals yesterday, I thought I'd do a little recap of the winter #RWRunStreak that ended on January 1st.
Let's just begin by saying that I am not a streaker. I 💛 my rest days! But I'm also kind of a sucker for a good challenge, so I do enjoy the Runner's World Run Streaks and try to do them when I can. I think this was the first year that I did both the summer and winter streaks. Pretty exciting. 😉
Wow! It's so hard to believe that this is the final week of the year! I've been enjoying reflecting on the year and reading lots of other recaps from other running blogs.
I'm especially excited to see that the Year of Running is still a thing. It started with Amanda at Miss Zippy (no longer blogging) and is now being hosted by Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC.
Without further ado, here is the 2016 edition of My Year of Running.
Today's topic for Tuesday's on the Run is Your year in race bling and/or pictures. I didn't run a lot of races this year, but here's the bling I managed to snag.
I didn't write a recap for all of them, but click on the pictures to read the recaps that I did write.
We've all been there. Out on a run that makes you question why the hell you do this.
A run that hurts physically or mentally.
A run when your body or mind just isn't feeling it.
A run that's a struggle to put one foot in front of the other.
A run that just doesn't go as planned or as you hoped.
"Find a way to enjoy parts of every run. Most of your runs should be mostly enjoyable." ~Jeff Galloway
I love this quotation so much! But it got me thinking, How can I make most of my runs mostly enjoyable?
Last week, I stumbled upon a new {to me} link-up called Tuesdays on the Run. I'm excited to join in the fun {a day late}. This week's topic is Something new running taught you this year.
