Category: Running

Bay Days 5 Miler Recap

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The Bay Days 5 Miler is a race I’ve always been intrigued by. I’ve wanted to do it, but my biggest fear in the past was running 5 miles in the heat. Coincidentally, a 5 mile tempo run was scheduled for July 4th, so what better way to get in those miles. I haven’t done many 5 mile races, my only experience was doing the Eagle Run a few times in high school and St. Malachi this past year. Bay Days is quite opposite of St. Malachi, flat and hot.

Going in I knew it was going to be hot, but the 50 feet walk from my car to packet pick up already had me sweating. The 8:30am start time was already too late to avoid the heat. I wasn’t trying to PR, I knew there was no way this was possible. I just wanted to have a decent pace and follow my training schedule. I did a short warm up, ran into a fellow Muskie and energized with some Gu. I grabbed my hand held and some Sport Beans and I was ready, just a few minutes left to settle my nerves and soak in the last amount of shade for a while.

The race started off, and I knew right away I was going too quick. I checked and I was at an 8:30 pace, so I slowed it to a 9:30 pace. This wasn’t a 5k, and this wasn’t the 60 degree temperature I was used to.  It was pretty crowded for the first half mile, and eventually everyone found a pace that they were comfortable with. Shade wasn’t a guaranteed thing, so when I found it, I made sure to stay close to the edge and let my body temperature cool down. I was certainly feeling the heat, but focused on one mile at a time to get me through. I tried to stay hydrated, but didn’t want to make myself sick with too much water. Looking back, I probably should have drank more.

One perk of the race was the sprinklers! There were at least 15 along the course and a few people spraying hoses at the runners. Seriously, awesome. While the crowd was no where near the amount of Cleveland half, they were still out there cheering, handing out water and doing anything to keep the runners cool. I even saw one of my fellow JDRF runner’s along the course handing out water.

By mile 3, I was really wishing the race was cut down to a 5k, I was toast. I stopped to drench myself in water, down some Sport Beans and make sure I wouldn’t pass out. My pace was getting slower, and it was getting hotter. By this point, my goal was to get to the finish. I finally got there, and was pretty disappointed with my time. I just had to remind myself that it wasn’t ideal race weather, and I don’t normally race 5 miles.

Overall I was glad I got to run Bay Days. It was a good flat course, with excellent spectators. It was also a good reminder that I’ll need to get up extra early for my long runs on Saturday to  beat the heat.

Garmin Time: 50:25

Overall Place: 357/479

AG Place: 10/14

Marathon Promises

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Today is day one. The first of many in what is now becoming my next adventure, training for the Columbus Marathon. I’m still very unsure about the idea of running 26.2 miles, but I’m also excited to see just how far I can push myself and become an even better runner. To start myself on the right foot, I’ve made some promises.

  • Don’t over do it. This will be hard, but I’ll have to ease myself into the first couple of weeks. I can’t just jump into double digit runs before getting some good base miles in. I also don’t want to push myself too far where I’m in constant pain for miles. I’ll need to find a balance.
  • Cross train. I love my bike and I’ve neglected it some, so I need to spend some quality time with it. The only thing holding me back, is the fear of traffic. I’ll just have to ride smart and find the best routes for me.
  • Pay attention to pain. I’ve had knee pain since March, and have yet to see a doctor. Maybe that’s because it goes away, or maybe because I’m afraid to hear the words, “Stop running.” Either way, I need to pay attention to pain and aide it right away.
  • Build some muscle. Remember way back in the winter when I was lifting a small amount. I want to pick that back up. I want to tone my entire body, not just my legs. If my body is stronger, those miles may seem a little easier.
  • Eat healthier. I’m guilty when it comes to eating a poor diet. I’d live off pasta if I could. I’ve made small attempts at eating better, but I fall back into what’s quick and easy. This time I really want to stay on a good path. Goodbye ice cream and snacks.
  • Have fun. Honestly, this is most important. I’m only going to run one marathon, so I might as well enjoy it. It’s going to be an experience, and I may get frustrated, upset, emotional, etc… But the feeling after crossing that finish line in October will be like no other. So I’m going to have fun.

And it begins. 111 days until Columbus Marathon….

The Other Half

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A few weeks from starting the second half of 2012, and I can’t believe how quickly everything has gone by. I still remember getting into my cold gear and heading out the door for long Sunday runs in the snow cold weather. I would give just about anything to have that weather back right about now. But half the fun of summer is adjusting to the heat and figuring out what to do in the second half of the year. And while I’ve been adjusting to the heat these past few weeks, I’ve also been enjoying my summer. I nixed a race due to my legs not feeling 100% and just slacked a bit on some sort of training plan I had for myself. It’s ok though, I decided I should enjoy these last two weeks of no real plan before the mother of all training schedule arrives.

I’ll even admit that maybe I even got a little burnt out, but who doesn’t. Sometimes you need to just step back, relax and get ready for what comes next. I’d love to put 100% into every race I do this fall, but I probably won’t be able to. I  have two races that will be the most important things this fall, MDI and Columbus. Of course the marathon is my main goal, but I don’t want to put all hope into one race and not enjoy some local runs. Here’s my tentative schedule for the next six months. Some are still in question, and I may add a few, but at least I have some idea of how to measure the second half of the year.

June 30, 2012 – Run for Help 5k?

July 4, 2012 – Bay Days 5M

July 14, 2012 – Winking Lizard A Shot in the Dark

August 11, 2012 – NR Lion’s Club 10k

September 8, 2012 – Run for the Record 5k

September 9, 2012 – River Run Half Marathon?

September 15, 2012 – Mount Desert Island Half Marathon

September 23, 2012 – Race with Grace 5k

October 21, 2012 – Columbus Marathon

November 4, 2012 – Inland Trail Half Marathon?

November 22, 2012 – Mesa Turkey Trot 10k

My biggest challenge is creating my marathon training. I’ve played around with Runner’s World’s Smart Coach to come up with a few plans, and I’ll probably end up combing a few, and changing a few. I have no idea what I’m doing, all I know is that those long runs count.

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway, it ends Sunday!

What’s your second half of the year look like? Any suggestions on marathon training?

Honey Stinger Review and Giveaway!

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I am a creature of habit when it comes to my race routine. Throughout high school and college I would do the exact same race prep every week. My Saturday morning’s consisted of Lemon Lime Powerade, a chocolate chip Chewy bar, Apple & Cinnamon Quakes and covering myself in Icy Hot. This year I’ve ventured out a lot and completely changed my pre race strategy. I nixed everything and started fresh. Now I start with a chocolate chip Clif Bar, Lemon Lime Gatorade, and Strawberry Banana Gu. Ok, so maybe not a lot has changed, but I feel better prepared when I step up to that line.

Right before Cleveland, I checked out the Gu stock at Second Sole and noticed Honey Stingers Energy Chews. They were new to the store and were pretty new to the staff as well. They offered to let me try a few, and I promised I’d give a review on how I thought they were.

The first pack I tried out was Caffeinated Lime-Ade. Because I love lemon lime flavors so much I figured this would be a hit. You’re supposed to eat about 5 for every hour you exercise. I had originally planned to do a long run, so I ate a few before and put them in my race belt to save for later. I loved the flavor, but I think because I drink it so much, I was caught off guard that I had to chew. I could feel the extra energy and wanted to run for hours. Unfortunately my legs were pretty sore from hills so I had to cut the run short. Overall I felt like I had a lot more energy than normal, which I believe came from the extra caffeine. Downside, I was thirsty the entire run, but this could have been from the heat as well.

The second one I tried was Fruit Smoothie. Honestly these taste just like fruit snacks and I love it. I had to slow myself down so I wouldn’t eat the entire pack. My energy didn’t feel as high, like it previously did with the caffeinated chews, but my energy was consistent. I enjoyed this flavor better and even though I ate a ton, I didn’t feel it weighing down my stomach.

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Overall I thought these were a great change from my routine. I’m looking forward to experimenting with other flavors and trying out other products. They’re healthy snacks that are light on the stomach and come in a variety of flavors to please everyone. In fact, Honey Stinger tells you up front just how healthy they are.

“Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews are formulated specifically for health-conscious individuals and athletes seeking a great tasting energy snack. Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews are unique as they are the first to include naturally occurring fiber and protein derived from 100% organic tapioca syrup and honey (Lime-Ade chews are 95% organic). Smaller and softer than other chews.

Made with USDA certified Organic ingredients. Gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO ingredients. 0g Trans Fats and no partially hydrogenated oils. 100% RDA Vitamin C along with 1g protein and 1g fibre per package.”

So what to do with the last pack? That’s yours to win! I’ll be giving away one pack of the Cherry Blossom flavor.

Want to win? Leave a separate comment for each entry. You’ll have four chances to win!

  • Tell me your pre race ritual.
  • Tweet about this giveaway! “I want to win some Honey Stinger Energy Chews from @masher!” And don’t forget the link!
  • Follow @2ndsolerockyriv on Twitter.
  • Follow @HoneyStinger on Twitter.
Make sure to get your entries in by 4:00pm on Sunday, June 24th. A winner will be picked and announced the following Monday. Good luck!
If you’re interested in more information or products from Honey Stinger, please visit their website.

Disclosure: I was given Honey Stinger Energy Chews to try out and review on my own time. The opinions are my own and not influenced by Second Sole or Honey Stinger.

MDI Week Two

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Last week was almost an embarrassment to my training schedule. I originally had high hopes of packing in the miles, but in the back of my mind, I knew traveling would dominate and put a back seat to my running. Lucky me got to visit the home of the Cheeseheads, three days in Wisconsin, and just an hour outside of Green Bay. Tuesday through Thursday I spent sun up to sun down in meetings. I traveled between Milwaukee to Oshkosh and back down to Milwaukee again. I spent a lot of time learning from the president of the company and hearing what our customers thought of our products. It was an insightful week, but lacked running. Being on my feet or in the car the entire time, wore me down, and I was left with no motivation or time to run.

I was fairly disappointed with the amount of running I didn’t do. However, I was able to score some Packers gear during a five hour wait for our delayed flight. (Thanks United for a horrible experience!)

Decisions, Decisions

 

So this week I plan to get things back on track. Race schedule shows the Park 2 Park Half Marathon this Sunday. I have yet to make a decision on this race, but it’s coming close to crunch time if I want to run or not. I’ll have to see how this week goes and if I’m able to get in some long runs, I’ll take a shot at another 13.1.

 

Has travel ever changed your training schedule? How do you balance traveling and running?

 

 

MDI Week One

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In just 16 weeks I’ll be up in Maine, enjoying the coast, checking out lighthouses, eating lots of seafood and running my second out of state half marathon. I’m so excited for this race, not only because it’s in Maine, but because it goes through Acadia National Park, right where my favorite lighthouse is. This is seriously a dream race, so I had to get it done in the first year of the 25 challenge. The Mount Desert Island YMCA Half Marathon has been a race I’ve had my eye on for the past year. It’s limited to 400 people, park limit, and has been closed out for months. Unfortunately MDI training will be overshadowed by marathon training after the first month, so this is my time to really put in the miles and get ready for what fall brings.

After taking a week off post Cleveland, I was certainly ready to get back into my shoes. Mentally and physically I feel better, I’m ready for my next training cycle. I had plans to rack up the miles this week, but I had to scale it back a bit. I’m still a bit nervous my knee will start to ache if I run too much too quickly. Luckily, I was able to break in my Asics 1140. The first couple days I tried them after Colorado I had major shin pains. This time around, the pain only lasted a few feet, sounds like a solid start to me!

 

Monday: Rest Day

Tuesday: 2 Miles

Wednesday: 3 Miles

Thursday: 6 Miles

Friday: Rest Day

Saturday: 3 Miles

Sunday: Rest Day

So what do I expect for the month of June? I’m hoping to get a lot of miles in, ramp up my training and prepare myself for those long runs that are right around the corner. I don’t have as many races on the schedule, but I’m hoping the half later on this month will be my best one yet.

This week I’ll be in Wisconsin for work, so getting miles in may be a bit tricky. I already have a packed schedule, and will be on the move constantly. Here’s to a new training cycle and some marathon prep!

 

The In-betweens

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I seem to be stuck in between training plans. I still have at least a month until Columbus training begins, I honestly can’t believe it’s that close! However, I am just about 16 weeks away from MDI Half Marathon in Maine, my second destination race. And while I could use this time to recoup  and take a break, I don’t want to. I’m so close to sub 2:00 and after looking back at my last two half marathons, I know I can find ways to break this. June will be my last shot at a PR until August, so I can’t give up yet.

I’ve come up with a few things to keep me motivated, but also keep me in shape through October. I may not be taking a break, but I’m up for new challenges.

I’m going to run lots of races. I’ve picked a few races to run throughout the next couple of months to keep my legs fresh, but also to keep up the high energy for Saturday runs. I have a few half marathons, a few 5k’s and an obsession of wanting to find more.

I’m running with a group. A way to keep my motivation up will be running with Second Sole. It should be a good tool to get me on pace to breaking more PR’s and a support system to help me in my super long runs.

I’m trying new things. I kept the same pre race ritual throughout all of my races so far, and they’ve worked. But I’m hoping I can find new things to help me exceed in my running. I want to run more with water, I’m sure I’ll need it on most runs this summer. I’m also hoping to change up my Gu flavors, sometimes I just can’t have strawberry banana first thing in the morning.

I’m setting goals. I normally don’t set a number of goals for a race, or for training, but with a little over 5 months until the big show, I’ve to set some goals along the way. My first one is *hopefully* the most obtainable, going sub 2:00 in the half.

I’ve come up with my training schedule for June, essential my base for marathon training:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Week One 4 5 6 6 0 10 0
Week Two 4 5 5 7 0 8 0
Week Three 6 6 6 6 0 11 0
Week Four 6 3 5 4 0 3.1 13.1
Week Five 0 4 5 6 0 11 0

Second Home

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Back in high school I ran with the Second Sole group from Rocky River twice a week. Our coach was heavily involved with Second Sole and offered this as an optional training day during the summer. This became a tradition throughout high school and we spent Tuesdays and Thursdays running in the metro parks, followed by Mitchell’s for a little post run snack. After I left for college, and took some time off from running, I stopped running with the group. Lately I’ve been thinking about going back, but was always afraid they’d smoke me.

So  yesterday I finally decided I would run with the group again. I had no idea if I would know anyone, what distance they were interested in or how fast they’d be running. I showed up early and there were just a few guys. First thought, can I still back out, I can’t keep up with them, they look way too fast. Eventually more people started showing up, and they mentioned only 3 miles were on the schedule for tonight, no one wanted to over do things before Sunday. They also broke off to pace groups, and I fit comfortably in with a group of 6.

We started off, and the group asked a few questions, they wanted to know if I was running Sunday and what my goal time was. They also wanted to make sure I was in the right pace group and if I was hoping for more miles. We ran a short three miles, 10 minute pace on the way out and negative split on the way back. As soon as we started, I felt comfortable, I felt home. I normally don’t like running in groups, but running with a group that cares just as much as you do is amazing. There was no competitiveness, just the path and the runners.

I loved every moment of running with SS and made a promise to myself that I would join them as much as I could. I may not realize it now, but these runners could very well help me when I’m struggling to do 20 miles later on this summer.

Cleveland training may be over for many, but if you have other races coming up or the motivation to keep running, then Second Sole running group is a great opportunity. To find out which days work best for you, check out their site. I’ll be there Thursdays!

Lucky Number Seven

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A year ago today, I ran my first half marathon. On Sunday I’ll be running my 7th, right back where it started, in Cleveland. This time around is a lot different. I’m not terrified or concerned I won’t make it to the finish. I’m relaxed, in control of my running, and most importantly, running it for a reason.

A lot has changed in the past year. I find that running 13.1 miles is comforting, almost the perfect distance. I’ve learned how to better pace myself throughout a race and how to control my breathing. I’ve tried new things, like Gu and Nuun, wearing a race belt, and using compression gear. I’ve gotten the hang of running a half marathon, and now I’m on my way to getting better and faster. So what do I expect come Sunday?

No goals. This race isn’t for me, I’m not trying to get a PR or take revenge on last year’s race. I’m running it for Team JDRF and everyone affected by Type 1 Diabetes. I just want to go out there and run. I ran about 3 days in the past two weeks to let my body recover and get over the nagging pain in my knee. I’m not expecting to wow myself out there. I want to enjoy it, I want to take it all in. I want to have fun.

But… I can’t help but have a competitive side, so of course I want to beat last year’s time of 2:15:47. And it would be even better if I got down to my current PR or better. However, the weather isn’t looking ideal for Sunday and I’m not ready for heat just yet. But overall, I’m ready to run Cleveland again. I love this city and everything about it.

Hey Colorado!

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Tomorrow I leave for the great state of Colorado! After 15.5 weeks I’m ready to take on 13.1 miles of high altitudes and a new adventure. I’ve been looking forward to this for months, as if my blog didn’t already show it. I’ve got my list of everything to pack, iPod is ready, and I’ve checked the weather about a hundred times.

I’ve had ups and downs in training, but I’ve come a long way. In no way am I expecting a PR on Sunday, but I don’t plan on just coasting through it. I’ll be running in altitudes that I can’t even imagine, and although the course is rumored to be flat, I guarantee it will be a challenge.

I’m excited to explore Denver and see this amazing city that so many people rave about. I’m even more excited to see things through a runner’s eye, find out why so many runners go out there to train. More importantly, how running in Denver will hopefully make running in Ohio much easier.

I’ve come so far, cutting down my mile pace by at least two minutes. I’ve used Gu on more than one occasion, and I’ve spent many nights with my foam roller. I’m back to the point in my running where I can just feel where a mile is. I’ve already run two PR’s this year and I haven’t even hit the peak of race season.

The greatest thing…

After running this weekend, I’ll be mentally ready to start training for my marathon. Every race this year is a challenge, and training for those wonderful 26.2 miles that await me in October.

I can tell myself to be cautious, to make sure I pace myself, drink lots of water and Nuun all weekend. But honestly, I’m going to enjoy it, soak up every single moment, and just do what feels right. I’m ready.