Tbt-->To a wonderful weekend getaway!!

Wow, what a wonderful weekend getaway. I'm sure you've heard me talk about theses two jems.

Dan and Rachel

We went to their house for the weekend. The girls went to their dads Friday after work, so we jumped in the car and made the 6 hour trek to Maryland. I hung in there for a while but eventually fell asleep, leaving Phil to drive in solitude. We arrived around 11pm and definitely had some fireside catching up to do....it was a late night to say the least.

We found a gluten free pancake recipe and spiced em up with chocolate chips, who can argue with that?

And then off to the gym (downstairs) to run and stretch...my shin splints have been acting up so I had to call it a day after my first 2 intervals...3 miles total.

We had a fun filled day planned. First up a local winery. The tasting was moved inside the fermentation room since it was so cold here. We enjoyed the Cabernet Franc so we grabbed a bottle to share and chat. This paired lovely with some cheese and crackers-minus the crackers for me. It was Olympic trial day so I rudly checked my phone every couple of minute for updates!

From one great place to the next, we certainly had the best tour guides of Fredrick. We did some downtown shopping and playing-the boys found a toy store while Rachel and I perused and day dreamed about the $400 dresses at Silk & Burlap. A girl can pretend, cant she?

We had reservations at Family meal so this "shopping" was short lived. Dinner was excellent to say the least.

The mulled wine was fabulous!

We snuggled in for the night and I was super excited for Valentines day! 

We started the day with brunch, another fantastic restaurant, 

and then headed off to the Maryland division 1 gymnastics meet. Only fitting since both Rachael and I are former gymnasts...NOT division one college gymnastics, for me-these gals are insane.

We made our way home to have some experimental cocktails and a lovely homemade meal inspired by Food and wine magazine.

 

The boys didn't waste anytime discussing finances, this is their passion FOR SURE! Any chance they get to sneak away and compare spread sheets and investments and talk prospective properties...we are certainly lucky to have them in charge of our monies.

I know how much phil enjoys financial planning. Any chance he gets to optimize our life to better position ourselves for retirment, he does. I can be a little hard to talk to about the intricicies of investing. Lets face it, my passion is running. Well since it's valentines day what better gift can I give my husband than investing myself into his passion (you see what i did there?). So here oyu have it my gift to him

Click here!

Our love day ended with some pictionary and password by the fire.

I'm sad it was just a weekend, next time we will have to plan a longer stay! We made it home and scooped up the kidos right away...I love them so very much!

Marathon training recap....Lake Effect 1/2 Marathon!!

We have concluded week two of marathon training…How’s it going you ask?

Take that speed work!

Eh-I’m following my plan closely. I’m putting in the effort. I’m handling all the balls in the air so I’m calling it a success so far. The reason for my ‘eh’ is that I’m not hitting all my target times. It’s hard for me to visualize the natural progression through this training plan. I have decided to take the pressure off by blinding myself  to what is to come. I choose not to look forward and simply take it one run at a time.

My training recap:
Week one: 20 miles
Speed work: 1600 @ 7:02 x3 with 400 RI   1 mile warm up, 800 @ 7:02 x2, 1 mile cool down X2 attempts= 6miles total
Tempo: 2 easy,  2 @7:35, 2 easy  2.5 easy (9:03), 7:36, 7:52, 8:13, 4.5 easy (9:45) = 10 miles
Long run: 13 miles @ 8:53  4 miles + Bike 20
Kettle bell class
1 strength training

Week two: 22.6
Speed work: 800 @ 3:23 x 4 with 2 min RI  Completed all 4 at 3:32!! (SO HARD!!)= 3 miles
Tempo: 1 easy, 5 @ 8:23, 1 easy  did not attempt…
Long run: 15 @9:08  1 warm up, 13.1 @9:04-Lake Effect  ½  Marathon = 14.1 miles
3 miles on treadmill
2.5 miles on road- leg pain
Kettle bell class
1 strength training

So this is what I have learned…speed work is hard, tempo runs are hard, long runs are hard = Marathon training IS HARD!!

I could certainly drop down to the 4hr marathon time but if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m pretty competitive and once I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to stick to it!!

This Sunday was The Lake Effect ½ Marathon. I wasn’t planning on running this race since typically it’s so crazy cold this time of year. I got so excited when all of my Ragnar friends were making weekend plans in Syracuse for the race that I tried to score a bib and join them. The Race director Todd had 1 bib left and I snatched it up right away. This was a girls weekend so it’s only fitting that they join us. We made up some awesome signs and retrieved some postrace essentials.

The whole crew joined us after the race which was such a treat!

Every race changes you, this one I learned a very important life lesson…You know you have plenty of time to think when running 13.1 miles! It started with both my beauties running The Moose Mile. Allison came in 4th place-1st girl!! Annnd the first race she ran solo!! She’s so awesome.

Little Miss Laureate wanted to run with mama so bad, that I couldn’t resist making her happy. She started to get tired and wanted to walk…I tend to have a strict no walking policy so I tried some distraction techniques to help her out. I asked her to bring her arms in close to her body, bent at a 90 degree angle, and repeat “Choo, choo train. Choo choo train” She thought this was hysterical and lead that train across the finish line with the crowd cheering her on!!

Next up, me! I dropped off my extra layer at the car and proceeded to the start line to find my Ragnarians. It took me a bit of crowd navigating before we reunited.

We chatted for a couple of minutes and then were ready to run. I decided to stick with my friends because this was just a training run for me and I signed up for the race to be with them. But then something happened. This course was an out and back x2. So around 2.5 miles the leaders were heading back and they were flying. They are so inspiring. The look of dedication on their face, the focus. The perfect stride and fast cadence had me mesmerized. At this point my adrenaline kicked in and I wanted to GOOOO! So I did, I took off from my group of friends and decided to venture out alone. Over the next several miles I passed a bunch of people, high fived my fellow Ragnarians as we passed one another, and stripped off a layer of clothing. Leaving me in just a tank on this sunny 36* day!

 Then then turn around…eeeeek. The wind is cold and mean the other way. I fought against it but then settled into a comfortable pace (In hind sight I wished I had pushed through). I had lost my shock blocks when I took my top layer off and decided to just go with water and sports drink at the aid stations, until just then, I spotted my little plastic baggie of them on the ground! Yippiee!! I was SUPER excited! Yup, I picked them up and put the bag in my pocket (no littering allowed) and chomped away on my partially frozen, extra salty shock block-I know, I know in retrospect it’s kinda disgusting, but at that moment it was the best thing EVER! With that extra spark and only 3 miles left, I cranked the music and kept stride with a silent runner alongside me. We didn’t speak much, we just ran. It was very comforting having her beside me. I can see the finish line and I’m closing in. I look at my watch and think whoa after starting off so slow I’m still going to PR? Yessss!

I high five my little one as I fly by. 

Then I realize the meanest thing in the world just happened. We have to run past the finish line and circle back?? Not fair…I had already picked up to my go for the gusto finishing pace and your telling me I have another ½ mile to go?? Well, “Sometimes you just do things,” Scott Jurek said to me and I hung onto that pace and finished strong.

Check out the best cheerleaders at the race!

Lesson learned- Run your own race. I should have started off at my pace and ran that race for me, I think the only time from here on out that I will run a race with someone else is if I’m actually pacing them, or they are pacing me. Holding back just made me feel crappy for not trying my best-it’s a terrible feeling.
Lesson two- don’t hold back- I’ve never actually had to stop in the middle of a race due to extreme fatigue. Sure I’ve felt it. I’ve always talked myself out of the pain; I’ve always been able to push through that wall. I need to stop backing down from the pain and fatigue and push through it. I’m fearful of “I might fail” so I hold back which ultimately is a fail. I know I coulda ran this one way faster. I know for sure. So Syracuse 1/2 ... Watch out! I’m coming for you!!

Goals for week 3:
Complete ALL of my training runs! Fuel my body!
Speed work: 1200@ 5:10, 1000@ 4:16, 800 @3:23, 600 @2:31, 400 @1:39, with 200 RI = ~6:50 average pace
Tempo:  1 easy, 5 @8:05, 1 easy
Long run:  17 @ 9:08


What are your running plans?
Do you like to run with a friend or alone?
How do you get past the WALL?!

It's GO Time!!!

Alright people it’s go time!!! Marathon training has officially begun!

Let the 16 week count down begin....

I’ve dabbled a little bit here and there in the runs that I have scheduled and I have to admit this is not going to be easy. I have a ton of work to do. Especially speed work. My right shin has been bothering me so I saw Dr. Gomez right away. I certainly don’t want to miss any of this marathon training time, so I acted quick…be proud. It’s not like me at all. I typically put things like this off until I can’t walk anymore. I learned my lesson last time for sure. Gah!

My balance and stability checked out fine, my strength is still good, but with these long miles I have been putting in, my arches seem to be collapsing causing over pronation and the dreadful shin splints. Orthotics is the answer! He placed my feet into these cool forms and shipped ‘em off. Hopefully, I get the call that they are ready soon.

Until then I have been icing immediately post run and foam rolling…ahhhh it hurts so good. I have taken ibuprofen a couple of times but I'd rather not mask any injury that might be popping up, so I tend to be VERY conservative.

I am dedicated to strength training during the next 16 weeks. What every fast marathon runner has in common is strength!...look at a couple of these gals:

Wow!

I have scheduled kettlebell class every Monday at 5:30 for an overall body strengthening. Then every other Thursday right after work I’ll be meeting with Brent for some one on one personal strength training. Right now we are focusing on my hip flexors, gluteus medius, and obliques. He gives me lots of homework to do in my spare time-what’s that? and keeps me super accountable.

Let’s not forget about diet. I have been slacking in this area big time. I’m not a horrible eater; however, I have not been eating to fuel my body, that’s for sure. So I pledge to all of you right now that today it begins. I will only put things into my body that will help me accomplish my goals! Here it comes, my only exception, is the occasional glass of red wine, but never before a long run or race.

I’m really excited to see what this process is going to result!

Week 16:
Speed work- 10-20 min warm up, 1600 7:02 pace x3 with 400 RI, 10 min cool down
Tempo run- 2 miles easy, 2 miles 7:35, 2 miles easy
Long run- 13 miles 8:53 pace
Kettlebell class
Strength on my own
Free run
Rest
(not necessarily in that order)


What are your running goals this week?
Do you have any tricks or tips for shin splints??

Sunday Funday!!

Sunday Funday!!

Let’s back up for just a minute….I knew I had to put in a long run this weekend but when? Sat or Sunday? I was extra tired from working so much the week before and like every week not getting enough sleep. So as I lie in bed sat am ~630 am thinking about whether to join the lake effect run club for an early 8am run, I quickly dismissed that craziness and rolled over. Then a couple of bright eyed giggly girls jumped upon me and bam it was already 8. We have big plans for the day, so after some much needed snuggle time.

I headed to the treadmill to snag a quick 30 mins,

The shoe results are in!!! annnd 5 random thoughts...

Whats the result of the shoe competition you ask?

Well disappointingly I must say, neither is a winner. I found subtle issues with both and although subtleties can be ignored in the beginning, once you start putting in some significant mileage the minor issues become annoying problems.

Shoes

I go through this phase of having to find the ultimate pair of running shoes. Tell me I’m not the only one? I’ve gotten a little better at it though and thought you would like to follow me through this process.
In the past I would get the ‘new shoe itch’ and just randomly go buy a new pair that looks cool. Well, time after time, this has proven to be a bad decision. It usually ends with several miles placed on my new shoes, which in turn cause me arch pain, knee instability, or bleeding toe nails. I then go buy my old faithful Asics and carry on.

Two great gifts!

The usage of Christmas gifts is in full effect. I took some time off from blogging, simply because I was overwhelmed with the day to day routine. When I had time to sit down and pour out my thoughts on the computer, sleep over ruled that decision, every time. This happened day after day for a couple of weeks around the holidays. Along with no blogging came little to no exercising, no workouts.

The good news it was short lived and I’m Back!

Hi!!