Happy Birthday Mom!

I have realized in the past few weeks that I am really bad about blogging.  It isn't that I don't want to blog, it's just that I am really busy.  Since April 3rd (the last time I posted anything) I have:

• Joined another running group (VA Runners) that meets on Wednesday night for a 5 mile fun run.  They are a great group of people and I am really enjoying running with them!
• Ran to DC to do Yoga on the Mall (I am NOT a yoga person), but it was fantastic!
• Had my sister from Germany visit for 8 days
• Ran Crystal City 5k and got a new PR of 26:36
• Ran 37.7 miles in a week (max I think I've ever done)
• Begun doing tempo runs and, wow, they are hard, but I have been pushing myself and I already see improvement!
• Ran GW Parkway 10 miler and got a new PR of 1:32:27 on what would have been my mom's 66th birthday

That's a lot of things on top of working full time during the week and part time on the weekends.  I am trying to blog, but sometimes, time gets the best of me.  So today after my race I have been able to have some time to myself (which is rare) and I am loving it!

Today is my mom's birthday.  She would have been 66, but she died 12 years ago when she was 54.  I was only 18 and I took it really hard.  My mom was my best friend and to loose her when I was just out of high school was the hardest thing I have ever had to go through.  Many times, as I run, I think of her.  So when I saw that the GW Parkway 10 miler was on her birthday I felt like the best way to represent her was to run for her.  I asked my dad make a shirt so others knew why I was running:

I wore this shirt today with pride.  My mom was my world and I think about her everyday.  It never is easy when you lose a parent, you just learn to move forward, but never forget.  There are so many times in my life that I wish my mom was with me.  It doesn't matter if I need a shopping partner, a shoulder to cry on, someone to tell me they're proud of the person I have grown into, a future grandmother, the person to one day help me pick out my wedding dress, to give me advice when I need it the most, or whatever the situation, there are times everyone needs a mom.  As I ran the 10 miles of the race today, I didn't think about time or distance or speed, I thought about the person who shaped me for many years.  It made a strong, proud, and ready to conquer whatever was in my way.  It even helped me PR!

After the race I met up with Jessica (Pace of Me), my stepsister, and she told me that my mom would have been proud of me for how far I've come with my running.  She's right.  My mom would be proud and I am going to take each day to remind myself of that.  No matter what I am doing my mom would be proud and even though she's not physically with me, she now has the best seat in the house for everything in my life so I better put on a good show!

Jess and I after GW Parkway 10 Miler

The other day,one of my other stepsisters, Jodi asked me why I run.  I realized, while I told her and tears filled my eyes, that a huge part of the reason I run is for my mom.  I run so I can be healthy, so I will be able to live a long, healthy life for my husband and children (whenever those things may happen), so I feel full inside, and to make sure that I always have something I am working towards.  My mom died from a torn aorta and heart disease is something that runs in my family.  The one thing that I can do to help prevent that from happening to myself is to strengthen my heart through running.  But I want to help others as well.  

When I got home from the race today I made a decision to raise money in her name for the American Heart Association by running and fundraising for Lawyers Have Heart 10k on June 9th (Donate Here).  I am not someone who asks for money for my runs, in fact, I really feel bad about it.  So please don't feel like you have to donate, but if you would like to, I would love the support.  I want to send a huge THANK YOU out to Jessica and Elizabeth who have already donated.  Your donations mean the world to me.  With your help maybe someone else will be able to spend that extra needed time with their mom through their own life events, big and small.

One of my favorite pictures of my mom

Another great picture of my mom

I made my day all about my mom and that makes me so happy.  Today is her day and always will be.  Of course, I wish she was here, but the next best thing is the memories that I have of her.  So take a minute to think about what makes your mom special to you and don't forget to let her know, it will mean more than you know.  Be grateful for what you have because one day it will be a memory.  Happy birthday Mom!  I love you!

My mom with me when I was born

Spring Training Plans

As I reflect on my last few races and the warm weather is become more consistent I have been beginning to think about how I can improve my running.  Two things come to mind: Hills and Speed.

Hills have always been my nemesis.  I hate them.  But then again I used to hate running.  I love running now and I will soon love hills.  It's as simple as that.  I need to maintain the same speed and tempo on the hills as I do on the flat distance.  They are hard, but if I want to improve my times, I will have to work on hills.  Let's face it, I'm not running in Holland.  This is Virginia and there are hills...everywhere.  Instead of fighting them and avoiding them, I will be embracing them.  I am going to seek out the hills and kick their asses!  If you have any suggestions of good hills in the area, let me know!

Speed is something I can do, but it's hard to maintain.  I enjoy getting in a pace and sticking with it.  Pushing myself is a challenge.  A challenge I am going to take.  I know that I can do it because I have done it in training runs, but I get nervous during races to push too hard.  I talked to my chiropractor today and he suggested I run with a metronome to count my beats.  He said that I should be running around 180 beats per minute, but I should push myself to 200 and then bring back down to 180.

As well as running with a metronome, I am going to make sure I do one tempo run a week.  This will be hard work, but if I do it right, it will pay off.  The first one I want to try will be a 1 mile warm up, 2 miles with a 5 min fast pace, 5 mins slow pace, then 1 mile cool down.  I am planning on doing my first one this week.  With each week I will add another mile.  Eventually, I will switch over to running a warm-up mile, then a consistent faster 4 miles and then a cool down mile.

The journey of a runner is always changing because we always want to improve.  When you see the results of the first change, you move on to the next.  I am determined to improve.  The change will come!

Race Report - Cherry Blossom 10 Miler

First off, I want to apologize because the last two weeks since Rock 'n Roll have been VERY busy.  Not only have I been busy at work and trying to keep up with my running, I also had a family member pass away and had to leave the state for a few days.  Although what happened was sudden and incredibly tragic, it gave me a chance to rejuvenate and spend time with family members that I had not seen in a long time.  When I came back last week it was back to the grind stone at work and trying to get my miles in.  This past week I ended up running in the mornings with my school's Girls on the Run Program and another running program we offer students.  On top of that, I also ran/worked out each afternoon.  Needless to say, I was too tired to type.

Anyway, onto Cherry Blossom 10 miler this morning...I have to say waking up this morning at 4:15 came way to soon.  I had worked 12 hours yesterday and was so tried after sleeping only 5 hours.  The only thing I could think of as I headed to the metro was my bed.  I met Brooke and Jeff, my running friends, at the metro and headed down to DC.  Brooke and I chatted about our last race (Rock 'n Roll 1/2 Marathon) and the fact that we hated all of the pictures that were taken of us.  We were both very relaxed about Cherry Blossom because we had just had the half 2 weeks earlier so we were just going to take everything in stride.  Of course, we wanted to do well, but we weren't stressing about it like we were 2 weeks ago.  This race was more about having a nice run.  When we got off the metro it was dark and cold, it felt about 10 degrees colder in DC than it was in VA.

Brooke and I as we got off the metro

Before the race we relaxed/shivered with some of the other runners from the Potomac River Running Training Group.  Finally, it was time to check our bags and head to the start line.  Brooke, Jeff, and I headed up to the start and ran into my friends Brigid and Morgan.  Brigid is training for a Half Ironman and had biked 30 miles and ran 4 yesterday, her plan was to run the last 5 miles, so Morgan joined us in the coral.  The wave start seemed to go smoothly, although there was a lot of time in-between each wave.  Once we got started, the race was crowded (which we knew), but we were determined to keep a steady pace.

The first few miles seemed to fly by.  Brooke and I ran one behind one another so we could easily weave in and out of the crowd.  Around mile 3 we saw a photographer and gave a great, big smile and a wave.  We were hoping to get better pictures this time around.  Although the miles flew by, we were both very quiet.  We were taking in the scenery and enjoying the race.  It was wonderful.  All of a sudden we noticed (although we didn't mention it to each other at the time) two runners who jumped out of the race and raced each other up some stairs that were to the left side of the course.  They looked like they were having a great time!  Everyone was enjoying the race, smiles on their faces, feeling strong, and getting into the swing of things.  Then came the bridge on Independence Avenue that crossed over the Tidal Basin.

Right before mile 5 we crossed over this bridge, the race still fairly crowed, and heard a runner say, "Thanks Sweetie!" to another runner.  The second runner, frustrated because she felt like she had been cut off, yelled, "Don't call me Sweetie!"  The first runner replied, "I'm sorry, I call a lot of people that, I didn't mean to insult you!"  To which the second runner again expressed her anger.  Brooke and I were appalled!  We were running a race, having a nice time, do we really have to have tension between us?  The course is crowded, you may accidentally bump another runner...GET. OVER. IT.

We continued on with the situation in the back of our heads, but were focused on how well we were running.  As we ran around Hains Point, just after mile 7, there was another confrontation.  This time between a man and a woman.  The man was older, and the woman cut him off.  Words were exchanged between the two, I wish I could remember the exact conversation, but it ended very harshly.  As the woman continued to run past the older man, she yelled at him, "Maybe if I tripped you and you fell, your bad attitude would be improved."  Again, Brooke and I had no idea how to handle this.  I know that neither of us would have ever talked to someone like that.  In fact, most runners would not talk to each other like that.  This is a positive community that we are involved with and we support each other...or at least we should!  It is unfortunate, when a few people make comments that bring down the positive aura of a great race.  Either way, we did not let it get us down.  We felt great and we were pushing it to the finish!

As we rounded the corner and headed up the hill in the last 400 meters of the race, Brooke took off up the hill (she is a fantastic hill runner!) and headed to the finish line, where I met her a few second behind.  We both agreed that this was such a great race!  It was well organized, great course, and we ran it strong and proud.  

Post race picture

Now instead of looking forward to going back to sleep, we wanted food!  Of course, we continued to take a few more pictures (we're still looking for the best race day photo) and then walked around to meet up with Jeff who had finished before us.  As we walked around, we first tried to talk the volunteers into giving us medals (you had to pay for them), with no luck, and then we ran into some other running friends, Dora and her husband Michiel.

Picture with Dora

Picture with Michiel

Finally, we met up with Jeff and were headed back to the metro and then to grab some food.  Without a doubt, the metro was packed, but the three of us were talking and one thing lead to another and we brought up the rudeness of some of the runners.  I was just about tell Jeff about the second incident when the train stopped to let some people out, so I sat down.  There were two people sitting right by me and Brooke recognized them as the two runners who had raced up the stairs.  The four of us had a good laugh about the odds of that.  The woman then commented about how she was surprised that we remembered her from that, cause she had really made a scene on the course with another runner.  Brooke and I looked at each other thinking, surely this is not the same runner that had raised her voice and we had witnessed it.  What were the odds of that???  Well, sure enough it was.  

The VERY upset runner around mile 7, now on the metro

She indeed was the runner who had basically told an older man that she wished she had tripped him.  Based on the continued conversation, it is clear that some runners get wrapped up in the race and forget about others around them.  They couple seemed nice, and in fact, they gave me an extra medal that they had taken.  The man even let Brooke take a picture with his medal!  We continued to talk and I found out that the woman was a former equestrian like me!  When we finally got to our metro stop we headed right over to grab lunch and relax.  

With our medals

I would have to say that this was a great race.  Everything went so well and looking back I have to say it was because I took the pressure off myself.  From the beginning to the end, I just ran.  I enjoyed every step and it showed in my attitude, my consistency, and my time.  It's ok to push in training because then you don't have to push come race time.  The training has already been done, take the pressure off and have fun!  I say that now, but will I follow my own advice???  The next race will only tell!

Cherry Blossom 10 Miler Breakdown:

Mile 1 - 9:27

Mile 2 - 9:02

Mile 3 - 8:59

Mile 4 - 8:59

Mile 5 - 9:13

Mile 6 - 9:15

Mile 7 - 9:27

Mile 8 - 9:32

Mile 9 - 9:29

Mile 10 - 9:20

Mile 11 (0.07) - 0:35

Time - 1:33:18 (A NEW 10 MILE PR BY OVER 2 MINS!!!!)

Average Pace - 9:16

Race Report - Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon

As I woke up yesterday at 4:15 am, my nerves were all over the place.  I was excited, nervous, confident, strong, but ready to race Rock 'n Roll USA.  In my head I tried to remain focused by repeating, "You are healthy.  You are strong.  You are ready."  I feel like in the last week this has helped me focus my positive energy.  Those three sentences may be my new running mantra.  Even being focused I had decided to have fun with the race and wear my new green Team Sparkle skirt and get in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day.  Although I wanted to have fun, I also wanted to PR and I really wanted to run this half in under 2 hours.  I have been training for this and I knew I was ready.  The one part that made me most nervous was the weather.  We had been training in 40 degrees or under and in the last week the average temp had risen to around 70 degrees.  I was trying not to think about the huge change in temperature and just focus on running.

My fun sparkle skirt for Rock 'N Roll USA on March 17th, 2012

My running buddies Terri, Brooke, and I had decided to drive down to DC and get to the race early so we didn't have to fight with the metro.  Terri met at my house around 5am and we picked Brooke up shortly after to arrive at RFK around 5:45am.  We had plenty of time before the race to relax and prepare.  We headed up to the lovely port-a-potties and had a great surprise when we ran into some of our other running friends including my sister, Jessica (Pace of Me).  Jessica, was looking to qualify for Boston yesterday so I was excited to give her a hug and a good luck in person.  It really made my morning.

Race time was 8:00am, so around 7:15 Terri, Brooke, and I headed up to bag check in the DC Armory where we ran into even more of our running friends.  We exchanged positive messages to each other, took pictures, and then all headed to our corrals.

Some of the great PR runners before Rock 'n Roll USA

Terri, Brooke, and I remained together.  We all had the same goal, we had trained together, and were ready to run.  When we got to corral 10, Brooke ran into some friends and we hung out with them before the race began.  Each corral was sent off in about 1 minute shifts so we finally took off around 8:10am.  The three of us started strong.  We had talked about running a little faster than race pace in the beginning so we would have some wiggle room towards the end.  We did just that.

Me, Terri, and Brooke before the race

Mile 1, 2, and 3 were strong and they flew by fast.  I knew we were going faster than my body was telling me to go, but I kept pushing.  Even though I knew we were giving ourselves the wiggle room, I was getting nervous that I wouldn't be able to keep it up.  By the time we made it mile 4, I knew I couldn't keep up at that pace so I had to pull back a little and run my own race.  Brooke and Terri ran ahead, while I focused on myself.  Around mile 4.5 the race started an upward climb that didn't seem to end.  Hills have always been my kryptonite.  I know I need to work on them and this race really proved it to me.  As I began the uphill battle, literally, I felt myself not feeling well and slowed down a lot. I figured the sickness was just the struggle I was having with the hills and I continued, but in a much more conservative pace.  When I felt myself feeling ok, I would push, when I felt like I needed to slow down I would.  There was no consistency to my pace.  I had trained with a consistent pace so this was hard for me to wrap my head around for mile after mile.  The points where I was having a hard time I would have to get into my head in a positive way and say, "You are healthy.  You are strong.  You are ready."  It helped me refocus.  Looking at my pace each mile, I have realized that I would have tough miles back-to-back and then push it for a few miles and then have to bring it back.  My training did not reflect this race.  When I hit mile 12, I knew the last 1.1 miles would be hard, but I was going to push it and that's what I did to the finish.  I didn't PR, I didn't run under 2 hours, but I ran 13.1 (13.27 to be exact) miles.  That is an accomplishment.  Was it hard? Yes!  Could I have made changes?  Yes!  Have I reflected? Yes!

Mile by mile:

Mile 1 - 9:01

Mile 2 - 8:39

Mile 3 - 8:29

Mile 4 - 9:06

Mile 5 - 10:26

Mile 6 - 9:42

Mile 7 - 10:22

Mile 8 - 10:23

Mile 9 - 9:55

Mile 10 - 9:22

Mile 11 - 10:07

Mile 12 - 10:57

Mile 13 - 9:36

Mile .27 - 2:45

Time - 2:08:49

Average Pace - 9:43

After crossing the finish, I made my way over to where Terri, Brooke and I were meeting.  As I walked I began to feel sick, but I just thought my body was recovering.  In no time, the three of us had met up, and were headed back to pick up our bags.  They shared with me that they had both run great races Terri finishing in 2:00:20 and Brooke in 2:00:30.  They both PRed and had amazing races, but we will all be ready to race again to get under that 2 hour mark.  I am so proud of you girls!!!

As we walked into the DC Armory, a wave of sickness came over me, I threw my stuff at Terri and told her I had to run to the bathroom.  I couldn't get there fast enough, I felt horrible, almost to the point where I couldn't stand.  I regrouped after a few minutes, still feeling bad, and reconnected with my friends.  Brooke took one look at me and said, "You look grey!"  I felt the same way I looked.  I laid down on the floor of the armory trying to get my body to recover and I just couldn't, so they suggested I needed fresh air.  We headed outside to watch the marathoners finish.

Still not feeling well, I told them to go ahead and I would sit on the curb until I felt better.  That wasn't happening anytime soon, so I forced myself to stand up to try and find my sister, Jessica, who I knew was finishing shortly.  As I stood up, I felt a wave of nausea came over me so fast I couldn't find a trash can.  Then it happened again.  It was horrible, I felt like I was being hit by a truck.  It was then that I realized that maybe the heat had gotten to me.  Every time I drank water, I would just get sick.  I was able to cheer Jessica on and watched her as she finished and qualified for Boston with a marathon time of 3:34:48!!!  I watched my other sister, Jodi, finish in a fantastic time of 3:57:38, as well as my friends Amy and Dora who had great times as well, both of them PRing.  Each time I cheered for them I would stand up, cheer, and then run to some grass to get sick.  I know it sounds gross, and it was, but that's what happened.  My body was not happy with me yesterday at all. Once I got some Gatorade in me, my stomach started to settle.  It wasn't until about 4 hours later that I really feel whole again, but it finally did happen.  That's when I started to reflect...

Sucking it up for one picture after the race

Reflections:

• I know I can run a half marathon in under 2 hours and I will do it, yesterday was just not the day.
• I need to run my own race from start to finish.
• For my next race I am going to try and hydrate the day before by mixing in some electrolytes.
• Hills: More, more, more!
• I am not going to beat myself up about this race, I am going to learn from it.
• I AM HEALTHY!
• I AM STRONG!
• I AM READY!

 

I am Healthy. I am Strong. I am Ready.

The week before this 1/2 marathon has been really hard.  I should be resting, but all I want to do is run.  I know it sounds strange, but once you get in a pattern, it is really hard to stop yourself from wanting to exercise.  I have had to force myself to do less so I can do more on Saturday.

This morning I woke up feeling awful, with a terrible headache.  All I could think of was, "Really?  Today?  This week?"  I tried to push through the day at work, but it got unbearable in the afternoon and I left work a little early to rest, knowing I had my last track workout tonight.  On my drive home, I began to think about what my running buddy Terri always reminds us on our runs.  She says us to say things in a positive way to our bodies.  So instead of saying, "I won't get sick," say, "I am healthy."  I tried it.  On the way home, I repeated, "I am healthy.  I am strong.  I am ready."  When I got home I slept for a few hours with those words on my mind.  I woke up 2.5 hours later feeling fantastic!  Thanks for the positive thinking Terri!!!

I headed to the track to run my last few miles at race pace.  It was great.  My legs felt refreshed and ready to go.  Not only was I at running race pace, I was running faster than race pace!  I did 4 miles including a warm-up and cool down.  I am feeling stronger than ever and I am ready to RACE on Saturday.  After track, my running buddies and I went to carb load at Flippin' Pizza down the street.  It was a great way to celebrate an amazing season!

Mile 1: 8:50

Mile 2: 8:45

Mile 3: 8:51

Mile 4: 9:35

Average Pace: 9:00

Getting Flippin' Pizza with my sister Jodi!

After our last winter 2012 track workout!

Some of the most amazing runners and people I know!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE RACING THIS WEEKEND!!!

I AM HEALTHY!  I AM STRONG! I AM READY TO ROCK 'N ROLL 13.1 MILES IN DC THIS WEEKEND!!!

8 Miles - Ready to Rock 'n Roll!

This morning I did my last long run.  It was 8 miles, first 4 easy, last 4 race pace.  I felt good for every mile except mile 5, when my chest started to feel tight.  I took a rest, then kept going.  I was really happy with how the run went and I feel like I am ready for the half next weekend!  Bring it 13.1...I am ready for you :)

Mile 1 - 9:39
Mile 2 - 9:44
Mile 3 - 9:44
Mile 4 - 9:24
Mile 5 - 9:15
Mile 6 - 9:00
Mile 7 - 9:09
Mile 8 - 9:13
Total - 1:15:10
Average Pace - 9:24

Race Report - Reston 10 miler

I know this may be a few days late, but better late than never.  On Sunday, I woke up after only 5 hours of sleep, feeling pretty exhausted, but determined to run a strong race.  I was headed to South Lakes High School to run Reston 10 Miler with my friends Terri and Brooke.  We normally run together during our Saturday long runs and we all have the same goal for the half coming up, so we were excited about this race just 2 weeks before our big run.

As the race started I was still running back from the bathroom, but right after crossing the start line, I caught up with them and we were on our way.  We had a great plan, to keep a consistent pace for the first few miles and then about every 2 miles kick it up a bit until we got to our race pace.  We all did a great job of having nice conversation, keeping to our plan, and sticking together.  Around mile 7 I looked around and I couldn't find either of them.  I was so confused because I thought we had stuck together.  As it turned out all three of us had gotten in the groove and I had totally dazed out.  I was running a 10 minute mile!  It has been a while that I have run at that pace in a race so it really surprised me.  Anyway, I picked up the pace and saw Brooke and Terri about a tenth of a mile ahead of me, but at that point we were all keeping a good distance and pace so I ran the last 3 miles by myself.  It took me a while to get back in the groove after slowing down.  It was a great race despite the fact that I got lost in my running.  I finished in 1:35:23.  A PR by over 4 mins!  I was so happy!  A great race with great friends...what better way to start a Sunday?

Here's the break down:
Mile 1 - 9:59
Mile 2 - 9:49
Mile 3 - 9:42
Mile 4 - 9:30
Mile 5 - 9:14
Mile 6 - 9:18
Mile 7 - 10:00
Mile 8 - 9:32
Mile 9 - 9:25
Mile 10 - 8:50
Time: 1:35:23
Average Pace: 9:30

After the race