Eating Clean

I'm back from the holiday shutdown and just in time! Man, the holidays really kill me. I don't just let myself go a little, I let myself go completely! All last week I was actually looking forward to the 26th just so I could have some normalcy back into my life. As much as I complain about working, it definitely keeps me sane. I need that structure and routine in my life. But with all that being said, we had a great holiday with family and friends. I also enjoyed some really nice, stress free runs while I was off. It's so nice to be able to head out whenever you want and not have to rush around.

So, speaking of routines...this definitely goes for my eating. I have to know ahead of time what I'll be eating the next day or so. Might sound weird, but it not only keeps me calm, it keeps me on track with what I put in my mouth. So with the holiday goodies behind me, I decided to research the Eat Clean Diet. A lot of you have mentioned it with nothing but great things to say. I read the book over the holiday break and truthfully, it's not that far off from how I eat during the week now except that eating clean will incorporate more protein and veggies into my diet. For those of you not familiar with the program, here are a few of the principles:

• Eat 5-6 small meals a day, eating every 2-3 hours
• Combine lean protein and complex carbs at every meal
• Consume adequate healthy fats every day
• Avoid processed, refined foods (especially white flour and sugar)
• Avoid chemicals, preservatives and artificial sugar
• Avoid saturated and trans fats

You basically eat very healthy, making proper food choices, all while being mindful of portion sizes. Like I said, it's not that different than how I eat now during the week. But there's the one little, itsy, bitsy issue that I need to work on...the dreaded weekend. This is where I need help. I have to stop throwing away all my hard work when the weekend comes. I think the best way to tackle this is to plan my weekend eats. Treat Saturday and Sunday just like a work day and make my food for the day the night before. That way, when I need to eat, everything will be ready and I won't be tempted to reach for something I shouldn't be eating. Sadly, I guess this means no more crunch-n-munch.

I was also so motivated by some of the success stories I read from people who have switched to this way of eating that I had Andy take a before picture of me in my birthday...oh I mean, bathing suit this morning. Hopefully by the time Jamaica comes (4 months and counting) I'll be proud enough to post the after shots.

Here's my schedule for the week:
Mon - 2 mi
Tues - 5 mi
Wed - off
Thurs - 16 mi
Fri - 2 mi
Sat - 5 mi
Sun - off

And if I haven't lost you yet, I posted 2 new reviews (Tierra Farm and French Meadow Bakery) on my review page yesterday. Be sure to check them out!

Holiday Shutdown

There's too much going on lately to keep up with blogging so I'm implementing the Blogging Holiday Shutdown. I'm still running, getting out there in the cold and enjoying every minute of it. I'm so looking forward to my peaceful Christmas morning run!! I hope everyone has a great Holiday. Stay safe and healthy!

Oh, and don't forget today is Festivus. Be sure to air your grievances and conduct feats of strength. We're heading out for our annual Festivus celebration shortly. Starts with a boozy lunch then we watch the Festivus episode and play a Seinfeld game we made up. You go around and each say a Seinfeld character. You can't repeat a character who has already been said and you keep going until you can't come up with a character. You'd be amazed at how many characters are in that show!! I personally like Sue Ellen Mischke, the bra less wonder. ;-)

Here's my schedule for this week:
Mon - 2 mi
Tues - 5 mi (negative split run)
Wed - off
Thurs - 5 mi (negative split run)
Fri - 2 mi
Sat - 11 mi
Sun - off

Snow Run!

First of all, thanks for all your caring comments to my last post. I'm not allowed to say much, but it looks like we're going to have a happy ending. It will take several more trips to Russia and a few more months, but it'll be worth the wait. Thanks for keeping our family in your thoughts, my sister read all the comments and really appreciated all the support.

The East coast is getting its first real snow storm of the winter!! I don't know why this never happens on a work day so I can stay home. Thankfully I finished my shopping yesterday so I can sit in front of the fireplace today and enjoy it from the couch! I did my long run on Thursday since I was off from work and I was very thankful for that when I headed out for my run this morning. The wind was brutal!! At times I had to run with my eyes closed because I literally could not open them. The snow hitting my face hurt like hell, but after my face froze I couldn't feel it anymore. :-) It was a chilly 19 degrees and when the wind wasn't blowing, it was so calm and peaceful. I swear I smiled the entire run, I loved being out there. Andy snapped some pictures of me when I got home. Check out the icicles on my eye lashes! And no, I'm not pregnant like the one picture looks...That's my spibelt under there.

Check out the eye lashes!

Spibelt baby

Trying to smile but my face is frozen!

Eeek...I can't believe I post pictures of myself like this. My face still hurts a little and my eyes have been watering for an hour. Sort of makes me want to head out there for more...but I think I'll get under the snuggie and watch some movies instead. Stay warm!

Sisters

I'm the youngest of three girls. Growing up it wasn't pretty. My middle sister, Jeanette, and I pretty much wanted to kill one another. Things were much better between me and my oldest sister, Michelle. Probably because there was a larger gap in our ages (7 years) and we had more in common. We both played sports and were more tom-boyish. Jeanette was much more girly. While Michelle and I were out playing sports, Jeanette was making "Forenza" sweaters in home economics and playing "house."

The fighting between me and Jeanette was pretty ugly and lasted, I think, up through me going to college. Things started getting better when I graduated college but we still didn't have much of a relationship. It wasn't until I decided to end my first marriage and get a divorce that things really changed between us. I was really alone in my decision to get divorced and it was a hard pill for everyone to swallow since I had been with this person for 11 years. Jeanette opened her home to me and stood by my side and supported my decision. Now, while I'm not mentioning Michelle, it's not because she wasn't supportive. Mich doesn't live as close and being older, she provides a much more protective kind of support. She's always looking out for me and making sure I'm ok. You don't want to mess with me or you'll have Michelle to answer to!!

Flash forward to today...I talk to Jeanette at least once a day, if not more. She is the glue keeping me, my mom and Michelle all in the loop as to what is going on with each other. She has also been going through the process of adopting a baby for the last 3.5 years. Her and her husband have 2 healthy boys but always felt their family was not complete. Dying for a little girl, they started the adoption process. Well, after years of waiting, hopes up, major let downs, they finally left for Russia last Saturday to meet their baby girl. However, it turns out things didn't go the way they should have. The agency they used neglected to tell them that the baby girl was born 23 weeks premature and had health issues. Due to what they saw when they met the baby, they needed to turn this child down. There is so much more to this, which I can't possibly get into, but all I can say is that it's been a heart wrenching two days.

Yesterday, Michelle and I were hanging on to any email we could get from Jeanette in Russia. We were both physically sick to our stomachs worrying about her and so angry that someone hurt our sister like this. I cried all day, I couldn't imagine the hurt and disappointment Jeanette was feeling. And I hated that she was so far away and we couldn't have our daily phone conversation. What I felt yesterday, and even right now, is hard to explain. It's like I feel her pain. I can't stop crying or thinking about her and my heart actually hurts right now. Heh, I can't even pull myself together to go work out...so you know it must be bad!! Although the past few days have sucked, it actually taught me something. I love my sisters, but until yesterday, I never realized how incredible a bond between sisters can be. I am so thankful for my sisters and I haven't got a clue what I would do with out them. I would do absolutely anything for them and wish I could take Jeanette's pain away from her right now.

And if Jeanette gives me the ok, I'm going to unleash on the rep from this Agency they used. I'm crushed and sad and hurt, but I'm also beyond mad. I have no clue how someone can do this to a family. Send them across the world, thinking they are meeting their baby girl, only to find out they were deceived. This is some shady shit.

More weekend, please!

Is the weekend really over already? We had a busy one, but the housewarming party was a success. We had 22 people over and I pulled everything off! We had a ton of food and beer/wine but unfortunately, with all the cooking and running around I didn't have the chance to eat a thing! Needless to say, the vino hit me a little hard and I think I was more than a little goofy. Oh well, I had fun!!

I ran 8 miles on Saturday, my longest run since the marathon, and it didn't go that great. I ran with the running club and got caught up with another runner and found myself running faster than I had wanted to. I tired out really fast and struggled through the remainder of the run. Afterwards, I was totally spent. I'm sure the cold weather didn't help, but I could also tell that I'm not completely recovered from the marathon yet. My legs just didn't have a lot in them. This week is another week of no set paces and just easy runs, which sounds good right about now. I'm doing a "prediction run" on Tuesday night at our local running store. You leave your Garmin/watch behind and tell the owner what time you expect to finish 5 miles. The person who is the closest to their predicted time wins a pair of Brooks shoes!!

Not sure if anyone noticed, but I put a link at the top of this page for "Reviews." I get lots of stuff to try out and I thought I'd designate a spot for all the reviews. I just posted 2 new ones: SPIbelt and Whooha gear. I am so happy with both of these products so check out the review in case you need some gift ideas for the runner in your life!!

Here's my schedule for the week:
Mon - 2 mi
Tues - 5 mi
Wed - off
Thurs - 4 mi (practice negative splits)
Fri - 2 mi
Sat - 9 mi
Sun - off

Philly Pics

Once again, the pictures taken by the course photographer sucked butt. I was really hoping for a good finish line photo as I grabbed that BQ, but no such luck. I looked like such a tool in every picture they got of me. Thankfully, Laurel was on the course and grabbed some great shots. I'm nominating her to be the new course photographer!

Right around mile 13...feeling great!

Heading towards the finish...

I can see it!

Dear God, just let this be over...

Running has been going really well this week. Still easing back into it and just running at paces which feel good and I'm having so much fun with it. I ran 4 on the treadmill this morning since it was so dark and cold out and it was mind numbingly boring. I have no idea how I ran 20 miles on that thing. I'm hoping it starts to get a little lighter out earlier so I can head outside. I'd rather run in the freezing cold then put in long miles on the treadmill.

We're having a housewarming party this weekend now that all the renovations done. The kitchen back splash was done this week and it looks amazing. I'll post pictures soon! I'm really looking forward to having friends and family over for the party...it's been so long since we've entertained with all the moving, etc. So nice to finally be settled.

Goals!

I had a meeting with Coach Jack yesterday to talk about goals and plans for 2010. I'm not one for goal setting...I don't even like to do it at work when we need to write objectives at the start of each year. You just never know what life is going to throw at you and honestly, I'm not a fan of the added pressure of trying to meet a goal. My goal of qualifying for Boston was stressful and now that I did it, I want to relax and have some fun over the Winter and Spring. So that's exactly what I'm going to do. At the end of the meeting we had lined up 3 marathons (Shamrock, NJ, Pocono) in 3 months so I can earn my way into Marathon Maniacs and we have a plan to work on some serious pacing. I want to learn to know my pace by effort, rather than relying on the Garmin. I hope to pace a bunch more marathons after NJ marathon, so this is something I'm taking very serious. As for the Fall, it all depends on how many miles I do in July for the Ultra and if I get selected for NYC marathon.

So while my running goals are fun and exciting, I still have this ever looming goal of losing weight. Yes people, it comes back to this again. In fact, it never really leaves. I've spent the past few months writing down what I'm eating and during the week it's really helpful. But then I completely fall apart on the weekend. I seriously sometimes wish I didn't have a weekend just so I could stay on track with the food. I want nothing more than to be able to relax and eat what I want, when I want it, in moderation of course, and be happy. The "in moderation" part is what I struggle so much with. I need to slow down and really listen to my body and shut up the voices telling me to shove my face when I do allow myself a treat. I have this awful all or none mentality which I desperately need to change. So, I'm taking a deep breath and I'll get through the next couple weeks the best I can. But then it's time to buckle down because we're heading to...

JAMAICA!!

This will be our 4th time visiting Jamaica and let me tell you, April 9th can not get here soon enough!

Here's my schedule for the week:
Mon - 2mi
Tues - 4 mi
Wed - off
Thurs - 4 mi
Fri - 2 mi
Sat - 8 mi
Sun - off

I've been adding cardio on to all my workouts since I'm still building my runs back up and I also got in 3 days of lifting last week. It felt so good to lift again!! Was extremely sore, but it was worth it!

Ultra Marathon -- Take Two!!

Registration for 20in24 (the 24 hour Ultra event I did last year) opened a few days early for past participants because they are expecting it to sell out again this year. Before I got the email for registering, I was all set to do it. But when it came time to commit, I got really nervous. Maybe it was the $200 entry fee (ugh!!) but I really doubt it. I've never been one to have a hard time spending money when it comes to running. But something inside of me was hesitant about doing it again. I kept asking Andy if I had fun, enjoyed the training, etc., but he wasn't much help. So I went back and read a few of my blog posts from last summer. I totally enjoyed it!! I loved the long 31 mile runs and even mentioned several times that I was sad training was nearing an end. So I did it! I took the plunge and registered!! I'll be a Lone Ranger again in 2010!!

Last summer there were 4 of us who trained and ran together on race day. This year, it's just me and Puddlz. I have to say, I'm not sure I would have registered if I didn't have a training buddy for the super long runs lined up. I'm good at entertaining myself but when it comes to 5 hours of running, yea, I'd probably drive myself crazy. We already know that Coach and Colleen (both ran it last year) will be there on race day to pace and crew for us.

Now, the big question...how many miles do I shoot for??? Part of me says, "just go for 50, you know you can do that and it won't be too bad" but then another part of me says, "go further!! See what you can do!" I have a meeting with Coach on Sunday to talk about goals for 2010 but I think I'm going to go into this with the goal of 75 miles. Maybe I'll shoot for 100 in 2011...who knows!! Puddlz is going for 100 miles so if I change my mind, I'd have company...just a thought.

Funny, I just read my race report from the Ultra last year and of course at the end of it I said I'd never do another 50 miler again. I'll never learn.

Ugly Digits

When I was in my late teens/early twenties I used to want to be a foot model. I thought I had the cutest feet and took really good care of them, always making sure my toenails were painted to look their best! Then about 10 years ago, I broke a pinky toe. I somehow stubbed my toe on a keg at a Jimmy Buffett concert and my pinky toe swelled up, never really to return to it's original state. Then a year later, I broke the other pinky toe at another concert. You think I would have learned my lesson from wearing flip flops to the first concert, but I had such cute feet, I wanted to show them off. Then one day in Michigan, I happened to glance down and noticed a bulge on the inside of my right foot. I pulled my sock off to see that it was the beginning of a bunion. At the time it didn't hurt but over the years this little deformity has gotten worse and not only is my big toe growing under my other toes, I now wear a bunion splint when I sleep to try to stretch it back. Sexy, I know. While these issues are ugly, there's one thing that I don't mind seeing when I look down at my feet. Hard earned, twin black and blue toe nails. When these puppies fall off I might just save them in remembrance of my BQ.




Creepy big toe


So JoyRuN, here's my entry!! I love my black and blue toe nails!

Back from recovery

I'm back after a glutaneous, lazy week of recovery. After qualifying last Sunday for Boston I was ecstatic. The high lasted most of the day on Monday and then I came crashing down with "what now" thoughts. I have so many things I want to do and wish I had more time in each day to do them all. I also have this all or nothing mentality and I need to let myself relax about some stuff. Running has taken up so much time over the past year and I realized that I'm not really allowing time for anything else. So, that needs to change. Running is and will always be a big part of my life but I won't let it become my life. I spent the whole week thinking of what I want to do, things I want to work on, accomplish, etc. I will never give up running but I have to make time for cross training, lifting and hopefully soon, yoga. On top of this, I need to find time to study for my personal training certification. I go in waves. I'll spend a few weeks studying every day, then I fall off the wagon and don't open a book for a month. I also really want to work on getting out of the food rut I'm in and start to eat more variety, more raw, and possibly eliminate the little meat (currently only chicken) I eat. I bought 2 books the other day which I hope will help with this: "Eat to Live" and "eat, drink & be vegan." I plan to post a little more about my eats (no worries, this won't turn into a food blog!) so I can share some of the fun stuff I'm hopefully learning.

So where do I go from here? I talked with Coach Jack and I'll be taking my running down to 5 days a week, but still keeping up with my mileage. These 2 off days from running give me extra time to lift and do some other form of cardio...like taking a walk. I miss taking nice long walks! In addition, I will be adding on cardio to any run day where the mileage is low. I really want to keep my cardio to at least 60 minutes for each workout. I'm also going to check out a local yoga studio and hope to try that once or twice a week. Not only could my body use the benefits of yoga, but I think my crazy head could, too.

I will say this, though. While I was deep in thought all week about what to do now that I just crossed a huge goal off my list, I realized how much I love running. I love the simplicity of it and I love the people I've met through the sport. I love racing and I love proving to myself what I can do. But with that being said, I'm looking forward to a fun year of non BQ stress running!! Here's a little glimpse of what I have lined up so far in 2010. I also have some more things in the works, including another biggie, but I'm not ready to talk about that yet! And I entered the NYC lottery today.

Dec 31st - Puddlz NYE marathon (this is a just-for-fun marathon my friend is organizing at a local park. It's a one mile loop so people can come and go as they please. If there are any local runners interested, let me know! Run a few laps and bank some calories for champagne later that night!)

Feb 21st - Frostbite 5 miler (won third in my age group last year, trying to beat that)

Mar 21st - Shamrock Marathon (running for run, around the 4 hour pace group)

Apr - yea, no races this month because I'll be sunning it up in Jamaica. Not a bad trade off for Boston 2010 being sold out!

May 2nd - NJ Marathon (pacing the 4:15 group)

My recovery week, which consisted of NO running and too much food, is officially over. I'm so ready to get out there and hit the pavement tomorrow. Here's my schedule for the week. No set paces, just a nice easy jog.

Mon - 2 mi
Tues - 3 mi
Wed - off
Thurs - 3 mi
Fri - 2 mi
Sat - 6 mi
Sun - off

2009 Philly Marathon Race Report

Starting with Saturday...I woke up a nervous wreck. So nervous that I was emotional on and off all day. I know, me, emotional?? Shocker. It was a really long day and I was happy when it was finally time to go to bed. I headed up around 8:30pm and actually got a good night sleep.

Wake up call was 4am on Sunday and I woke up calm and collected. The day had finally arrived. We got down to the city in enough time to hit up the bathrooms at the Four Seasons then met up with Coach Jack and a bunch of other runners. At 6:30am I headed to my corral and situated myself right behind the pace leaders. I also met Bill, which was cool because we ran in the same group last year and never knew it! By the time we moved to the start line for our corral to start, I was shivering really bad but still feeling calm. When we finally got started it was really tight around the pacers and I was having trouble finding a spot where I could settle in and get into my groove. But right from the get go my breathing was great and the pace felt perfect. Definitely a good sign! After the first few miles I moved myself to just in front of the pacers and this was a great position to be in. I had plenty of room and I knew if I kept them in ear shot that I was holding my pace and would stay on target. After one of the early water stops I found myself pretty far out in front of the pace group but I was feeling good so I just went with it. I was so glad I carried my hand held and could just run right through the water stops. They are so chaotic and people really don't know how to move through them properly. More on that some other day. Anyway, I was feeling great and very early on, I thought several times, "today is my day."

When we arrived back to the art museum for the half marathoners to finish, I was feeling great and never once wished I was only running the half. Instead I told myself that the race was just beginning. I arrived at mile 13 in 1:46:43 which was a little over 2 minutes ahead of schedule. I rounded the corner near the art museum ready to tackle the second half of the course.

I think it was just after mile 14 when I could hear the crowd cheering for the 3:40 pace group and I realized I must have slowed down a bit. I decided to fall back a bit and use the group to tackle Lemon Hill, the last real hill of the race. But once again, I made it to the top of the hill, holding my 8:20 pace and lost the group who had dropped back a little. After Lemon Hill is where the race started getting harder. A few times I assessed how I was feeling using a scale devised by Coach Jack. Knowing I would not feel "great" the entire race, my goal was to stay in the "good" to "ok" range. At one point I thought I was just "ok" so I slowed down a bit to regroup. Doing this on and off during the latter part of the race for a few seconds really helped and I knew I had a few minute window to play with. Around mile 17 the 3:40 group caught up to me again so I held pace with them to keep me in check for a little bit. Shortly after that, I left them...never to see them again!

When I hit Manayunk around mile 19 I had two goals in mind...1) get to the turn around at mile 20 then you only have 6 miles left! and 2) get to Falls Bridge. This would put me on the second half of the 8.4 mile loop I did over the summer as part of my Ultra. I'm so familiar with this part of the course that I knew I could do it once I hit that part. Running through Manayunk was fun, lots of excitement and people and that's just what I needed. I saw Pumpkin with her hot pink sign and I got tears in my eyes! At that point in the race I really needed to see a familiar face. At the turn around point, mile 20, I was 2:44:10 into the race and was still well over 2 minutes ahead of pace. So out of Manayunk I headed and I told myself out loud, "take it home."

Back on Kelly drive for the last 5 miles, I was feeling it. What started hurting around mile 16 was REALLY hurting at this point. My calves were really tight and then my hamstrings started tightening up. I was just praying that I didn't get hit with any debilitating leg cramps. I almost gave up eating my shot bloks because I could barely choke them down at this point but I knew my body needed the salt so I forced myself to eat them. There were a couple of moments where I thought that I'd just like to walk but I quickly pushed them out of my head by saying, "keep going, you're going to qualify!" For the last few miles I felt like I was trying so hard but wasn't moving. But when I looked at my watch I was holding steady at a 8:20 pace. I told myself that if I had to, I could take it down to a 9 minute mile closer to the end and still meet my time goal, but I never did! When I hit mile 22 and realized I only had about a half hour left of running, the miles started flying by. Mile 22 - 8:21, Mile 23 - 8:21, Mile 24 - 8:24, Mile 25 - 8:34, Mile 26 - 8:24...I think it's safe to say that my training paid off and this pace was drilled into me! During these last few miles, I knew it was going to happen.

The last mile was tough but the crowd support really helped. Having our names on our bibs this year was great as so many spectators called out to keep us going. As I rounded the art museum and headed down the parkway, I gave it everything I had left, which wasn't much and I'm sure I didn't look pretty. Laurel was there (also saw her at mile 13...not sure how a complete stranger can pick me out of a crowd when I passed Andy twice and he never saw me!!) cheering me on and I forced a smile and a big wave to her. Seeing the finish line was amazing and I'm tearing up just thinking about it. I raised my arms in hopes of finally getting a good finish line photo, but I'm sure it won't be anything worth putting on the mantle! I finished in 3:38:02...earning my spot at the Boston marathon in 2011!!

After I crossed the finish line, I couldn't believe what I just did. I am not kidding when I say EVERYTHING hurt. EVERYTHING. After I got my medal and food, I found Andy and got an incredible hug. All I could tell him through the tears was that it was so hard. Because it was. But I did it. I freaking qualified for Boston with over 2 minutes to spare.

It was a great day. I'm still filled with emotion today. I keep surprising myself with what I'm capable of and I'm so happy I was able to come back to all of you guys and tell you that I did it. I thought of you often during the race and I didn't want to have to blog that it wasn't my day. So thankfully, it was my day. I ran hard and more importantly, I ran smart. I PR'd by roughly 13 minutes and like I said yesterday...I am so proud of myself.

I'm home recovering today. Very sore, but not complaining. The aches and pains are more than worth it. Thanks for all your support!!

Drumroll Please...

Watch out Boston, here I come!!

3:38:02

I'm not even sure I'm capable of writing a race report at this time. All I can say is: It was a beautiful day for a marathon. It wasn't easy. Everything hurts, especially the chaffing in my nether region. I didn't poop myself. I'm happy. I'm emotional. I'm SO proud of myself...I'm crying again. *sigh* All the hard work paid off and now I'm off to crack open a bottle of champagne!

Race report to come....

Two Sleeps To Go

I woke up this morning around 6am a ball full of nerves. I was thinking and stressing about everything and anything regarding the marathon. I laid in bed for a while just playing the race out in my head trying to visualize the course, etc. After calming myself down a bit, I headed out for an easy 3 miles. Unfortunately, they weren't so easy. I just felt tired and my legs a bit heavy. I did do 5 miles the night before so I'm hoping it was from that. Now that the last run is done, it's all about relaxing and staying off my feet.

I headed down to the Expo today. I drove along part of the course and again tried to visualize race day. I know exactly what part will be toughest for me and I'm going to be prepared with a lot of positive thoughts for when I hit that part of the course. I already started laying out some stuff for race day and will have myself all set and ready to go tomorrow morning so there's nothing left to worry about. I'm still a tad nervous right now, but I'm also really excited. The weather is looking great with the low Saturday night around 40 and Sunday being sunny and 57. I am still planning on wearing my tights and a long sleeve shirt (probably my Kicked Asphalt shirt from Philly last year) since I'm always freezing. I also bought a pair of water resistant gloves at the Expo. If they work well, I'll be sure to let you know about them.

The Expo itself was just so so, nothing spectacular. But I'm really happy with the shirt we got this year, love the color. And instead of a big plastic bag, we got a mesh goodie bag, which was nice. I also stopped by the pace group table to see who the 3:40 pace leader was. Turns out it was the person manning the booth and I got to meet him. His name is Scott and we have a hot date Sunday morning at 7am!

My bib is 3895 and there's a link at the Philly marathon homepage to sign up to track runners for those who are interested!!

I hope the next time you hear from me I'll be celebrating a BQ!! Thanks for all your wonderful comments and support, they mean so much to me! xoxo

4 days to go...and some cookies

My mind is racing!! I'm trying to focus on work but I'm so excited for Sunday. The weather forecast that started off the week keeps changing for the better every day. First it was rain and now we're looking at mid 50's and cloudy. I'll take it!! I'm feeling absolutely great and I just can't wait for the weekend to get here. I could ramble on and on about my excitement, but instead I'll tell you about a little cookie I recently tried...

Marisela at Nutridel sent me two kinds of cookies to try out, Oatmeal and Almond. The cookies are 100% natural and contain no additives, preservatives, artificial colorings, flavorings or sweeteners of any kind. The cookies were interesting. They aren't your soft and chewy cookie, but are very thin and crunchy. The oatmeal cookie had 62 calories, 2.5g fat and 3g of protein. The ingredients are nice and simple, keeping it healthy: oats, whole wheat flour, wheat bran, sunflower seeds, dry coconut, sesame seeds, molasses and sunflower oil. In addition to the oatmeal and almond flavors, they also make pecan and flax seed. Of the two I tried, I preferred the almond which really surprised me since I'm a sucker for anything oatmeal. While I appreciated this as a healthy treat, I have to be honest and say that I wasn't a huge fan. And for $2.50 a pack (a package contains 2 cookies) I do not see myself purchasing these. Looking at the ingredients, they aren't that far off from the homemade granola bars that I've made for a heck of a lot cheaper, and tastier (in my humble opinion). It kills me to not be a fan of a cookie, since I looove me some cookies, but for the price I don't think these are worth it. I'm giving Nutridel 4 biscuits out of 10.

This Time Next Week...

it'll all be over! Just thinking about that makes me sad. We put in so much time and effort into getting ready for a race then it's over and done with just like that. But I'm getting ahead of myself...I still have one week to go.

Now for those of you who haven't heard, Boston did sell out. I heard about it on Friday from Aron and needless to say, I was more than bummed. I won't lie, this is making it a little harder on me, thinking that I'm trying for something that I won't even be able to run until 2011. Ugh, that just seems so far away. But qualifying is qualifying and I'm trying to keep that in mind and stay focused. I have so much going on in 2010 that maybe it's a blessing in disguise. I'm putting this out of my mind from here on out and focusing on my plan for next Sunday. I'll be heading to the Expo on Friday then taking it easy till Sunday. I purposely left some chores around the house to do on Saturday to keep me occupied so I don't go completely crazy, but aside from that, I'll be staying off my feet. I still have to figure out what to wear since the weather is unseasonably warm (hit upper 60's today!). I'm not complaining, though. I'll take anything other than 20 degrees we had last year!! I also practiced my Clif Blok dispenser again today on my 9 miler and I'm comfortable with it. The only thing left to decide is if I want someone staged with a water bottle replacement for my hand held or if I want to try to fill it up on the go. All in all, I'm feeling good. I'm feeling confident. I'm ready.

Here's my schedule for the week:
Mon - 3 mi
Tues - 5 mi with 2 mi at 8:20
Wed - off
Thurs - 5 mi with 4x50 strides at marathon pace
Fri - 3 mi
Sat - off
Sun - 26.2!!!

Selling Out??

Word on the street is that Boston is on target to sell out this week. What a bummer!! I guess this is the chance you take with running a late Fall marathon but apparently it's unusual for Boston to sell out this early. Now, nothing has happened yet, but I will say it dampened my spirit a little when I heard the news. I mean, I'm still going to give 150% but if it does sell out, it will be weird trying so hard for something that I can't even run until 2011. On the other hand, if it doesn't sell out, I feel like I need to be ready to register immediately after the race (if I qualify, I mean, when I qualify) since there will be a flood of people looking to do the same thing. Then there is the issue of booking a hotel ASAP, etc. I'm not sure which is worse...having it sell out and being bummed, or being rushed to book stuff!! I'm not good making quick decisions, in fact, I'm not good at making any decisions!! So, right now it's in the hands of the Boston Gods...I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

I went for my 5 mile run on Monday with the middle 3 miles at 8:20. I felt great!!! Something just clicked during that run and my confidence went through the roof!! I came home beaming and at that moment I knew I was ready. I trained smart, I put in the effort, and now all I can do is run!! If you've been reading my blog, you know there's no hiding the fact that I lack in the confidence department. So I'm going to follow some wise words from Coach Jack. During our run this past weekend he told me, "D, you have to let yourself be successful at this." He's exactly right and that's exactly what I'm going to do!

Oh, and the shot blok holder worked like a charm!! I'll definitely be doing this for the marathon and using my hand held. I'm glad I got that figured out.

Shot Blok Holder

I'm stilling fighting this stupid cold but managed to get out for a great 15 miler with Coach Jack yesterday. It's nice running with Coach because I get to vent about the things that have me nervous for race day and he usually has a fix for them all. Case in point...

I've mentioned before that I don't know if I want to wear my waist belt with water bottle or carry my hand held. I have to keep my hands dry and warm due to my Raynauds (click here for a picture) so I'll be wearing gloves under a pair of mittens. Last year, I lost all feeling in my hands and arms and was unable to open my Gus, grab water, etc. Not only is it annoying, but it's really painful so I need to keep my digits warm this year!! Since I'll be wearing mittens, I'm limited with what I can do without my fingers free. If I wear my waist belt, I'm worried I'll fumble to get my water bottle in and out of the holder (there's a little elastic strap that has to be put around the bottle after you put it in the sleeve to keep it from popping out). I think I'd rather use my hand held, but how will I get to my shot bloks and where will I put them? This may seem silly, but it's had me stressed out over the past few weeks. I have to be prepared to have limited movement/feeling in my hands and have to make sure I can get to my water and bloks easily. So, after mentioning all this to Coach, he of course had a solution. He suggested putting the shot bloks under a wrist band and then pushing out a blok one at a time, as needed. Totally doable with the new shot blok packaging (which between you and me, it took me FOREVER to figure out the point of the new packaging). Anyway, it just so happens that John at MarathonPaceBand.com sent me this pace band with my BQ splits on it to use on race day.

Oh, and they added a little motivational saying to the other side...

So, I when I got home I immediately tested out the bloks under the band and I think this might work!

I will, of course, practice this on one of my runs this week to make sure it's comfortable. If it works, it's one less thing to be stressed about!

Here's my schedule for the week:

Mon - 5 mi, with 3 miles at 8:20

Tues - off

Wed - 3 mi

Thurs - 5 mi, with 4x100 strides

Fri - 3 mi

Sat - 9 mi with last mile at 8:20

Sun - off

Man, look at the low mileage! What am I going to do with all this free time? I better find something or else the taper madness will be sure to get me! Two weeks to go...

Under the Weather

Haven't had much to talk about this week because I've been a little sick. I woke up from a nap on Sunday with a sore throat and it just got worse through the night. When I got up on Monday for work, I could barely swallow and I thought I better try to sleep this thing off. To play it safe, I didn't run on Monday either, which killed me. I managed to get a 6 miler in on Tuesday but didn't have much in me. So instead of doing my scheduled workout with marathon pace miles, I did some strides instead. Then yesterday I pulled myself together and ran 4 miles after work. I thought I was on the upswing but then I woke up this morning and felt like poo! So I'm home again on the couch, trying to pee this thing out of me. I'm chugging water like it's nobody's business! I'm not sure if I'll get out for my 6 mile run today or not. I'm going to grab some lunch then head back to bed and see how I feel when I wake up.

I'm a little freaked out with the timing of this cold, but I guess it's better now than in 2 weeks right before the marathon. (AAHHH, I can' t believe it's only 2 weekends away!) I've sent a few panicky emails to Coach and he's assured me that I will not lose fitness by missing some runs and that I need to trust the training. I'm trying, Coach, I'm trying!!! I'm actually scheduled to be off from work tomorrow so I'm hoping 2 days of sleeping and hydrating will knock this out of me. I have a 15 miler scheduled on Saturday that I need to be healthy for.

And on a completely unrelated note...are any of you watching Modern Family? Oh my gosh, this might be the best show of all time. After Seinfeld, of course.

Helloooo Taper

November already?? Where the heck did October go? I finished October with 214 miles for the month and now it's taper time. I can't believe it's this time already. I was just starting to feel like I was really getting into the training and now it's time to cut back. This training season went so fast and thankfully I felt great throughout. I finished up my last big week with a fantastic 20 miler on Saturday. My legs felt great through the entire run and when it was over, I knew I had a lot more in me. It blows my mind that I'm capable of running 20 miles like it's nothing and I'm happy to be going into taper with some great long runs under my belt.

With only a few weeks left to go, I still have some details to iron out.

• I've been wearing my water bottle belt for my long runs, but that's it. I need to wear it on one of my runs where I run at marathon pace. Make sure it doesn't bounce around or move too much and to make sure I can easily get my bottle in and out. I love running with my hand held but I really think I want my hands free for the marathon. You know, so I can properly execute the snot rockets.
• I also need to practice eating my bloks at marathon pace. I already find it hard to chew those things so I better make sure I can do it without choking when I'm moving faster.
• This time last year I was bundled up for my long runs. But it's been much warmer this year and I'm still wearing shorts. I need to break out the tights and wear them regardless of temperature to make sure I'm still good with them if I need to pull them out on race day.

Here's my schedule for the week:

Mon - 4 mi

Tues - 6 mi, w/ middle 4 at marathon pace

Wed - 4 mi

Thurs - 6 mi, w/ 5 x 50 strides

Fri - 4 mi

Sat - 15 mi

Sun - off

Boo!

I am SO happy it's Friday!! After this week, I only have one full week of work left between now and the new year. I love short work weeks!!

This was my last big week of mileage before my taper starts next week and things went pretty well. I ended up taking off Tuesday for my birthday but I'll make up that 5 miler on Sunday. Last night I ran 8 miles with the middle six around marathon pace (8:20). I ran the first 4 miles at 8:15 and the last 2 miles at 8:10. This run wasn't as easy as the previous weeks and I actually thought the mid 6 miles felt down right hard at times. I kept reminding myself that I held around a 7:50 for the Philly Distance Run (half marathon) and that felt easy. I'm really hoping the excitement of race day, and being well rested from the taper, will make this 8:20 pace feel easy. But even though I was feeling a little beat up and tired last night, I still found myself speeding up. When I struggle to keep pace, it's never that I slow down. Instead I speed up!! This has me a little worried that I'll get caught up on race day and go out too fast. But knowing I do it, I'll have to make sure I keep it in check.

After the 8 miler last night, I was up and at it less than 12 hours later with a 5 miler this morning. I did it on my new treadmill and let me tell you...staring at a cement wall for 5 miles is not very exciting. And to make matters worse, it didn't help that I was still tired from the effort last night. But I got through it and now I have the whole day to rest up before my last 20 miler of the training season. I might be meeting up with Natalie tomorrow for the run. My first blogger meet up!!What should I wear? Will she like me? Oh, the pressure!! :-)

Hope everyone has a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Another Year in the Books (and Final Results)

I turned 33 yesterday. Another year in the books. Dare I say that each year is better than the one before it? I hope I didn't just jinx myself, but it's true. Looking back over the past 10 years, it just keeps getting better. I'm excited to see what this year brings me especially since a lot of the stressful things we've been dealing with for a few years are behind us. My running really took off last year...I ran my first marathon and my first Ultra. And I'm hoping to have a repeat of last year, with some significant improvements!! Anyway, as I blew out my candle last night, I decided that I'm going to spend this year focusing on me and my health. Spiritually, mentally, physically. From here on out, as I get older, I'm also going to get healthier. Here's to another good year...and thankfully, I'm not in my "mid" thirties yet. I still round down to 30!!

The competition ended yesterday. We lost a lot of people along the way but from the emails I got from the last few people still in it, it seemed to keep a lot of you on track. Congrats to everyone for sticking with it.

27-Oct
Ace - 2 %
Amanda - 3.4 %
Denise - 0.32 %
Hoodie - 3.3 %
Janice - 9 %
Jeanette - 0.95 %
Katelyn - 2.2 %
Laura - 2.8 %
Lisa - 1.6 %
Marci - 5.8 %
Natalie - 1.3 %

Janice, since you won, you get first pick of prizes. Up for grabs is a gift certificate (1) to Mix My Granola or a gift package (2) from Dr. Kracker. Winners, email me at dclaffey76@yahoo.com so I can get your address to give to the gracious hosts of the competition.

I'm heading into my last week before the taper starts. I can't believe it's that time already. Last year I felt like I was ready for it and I physically felt like needed it. This year, though, I feel great. I think it definitely goes to show there is a way to train smart, balancing out the hard and easy workouts. Last year I know I did way more hard workouts because I thought I constantly had to run hard and fast. While I'll be cutting back on total mileage starting next week, my sharpening runs will continue. I gotta get that 8:20 pace nailed down!!

In other news, I made a little purchase today. My sister wasn't using her treadmill since she belongs to a gym so she sold it to me. This is the treadmill I used 2 weeks ago for my 20 miler and I was really happy with it. One nice thing was that it doesn't stop after 60 minutes like the ones at the gym and when you stop and restart your mileage is never lost. I've been strictly running outside since last April and plan to continue doing so. But this is a nice little back up for those early morning runs when I just don't want to head out into the pitch black. And it will definitely come in handy when the ice storms come this winter.

Here she is, begging for some attention. Our little gym in the basement isn't the most welcoming space, but at least I have a tv, dvd player and a radio. Oooh, I just heard Andy tell his Dad he might have to check it out...I'll make a runner out of him one of these days!




Here's my schedule for the week:
Mon - 5 mi
Tues - 8 mi, with middle 6 at 8:20
Wed - 5 mi
Thurs - 8 mi, with last mile at 8:20
Fri - 5 mi
Sat - 20 mi
Sun - off

Relationships and Running

Do any of you ever get comments about how running must affect your relationship? I've gotten quite a few, actually and they all blow my mind.

The other day I was talking someone about my running goals for 2010 and they said, "poor Andy." I've heard similar comments before and it got me thinking…"poor Andy, what???" Why would anyone feel bad for Andy because I run?? I'm not a drug addict. I'm not an alcoholic. I'm a runner. Being a little bothered by it, I wanted to make sure Andy wasn't sitting at home sulking that he lost the most wonderful person in the world to running. So, I asked him how he felt about it. He looked at me confused, assured me there's no issue at all, and told me that he supports anything that makes me happy. And for the record, that goes both ways with us. Because after all, isn't that what a partnership is about?

Then the other day, while talking about marathons, I overheard someone say they wouldn't run a marathon because they wouldn't want their marriage to end in divorce (or something along those lines). Seriously? My first thought is that if a marriage falls apart because someone takes a few hours a week to go for a run that there is something FAR worse wrong with the marriage. Personally, I think it's good to take some time for ourselves. Not every waking second has to be spent with our partners, does it? And I bet there are a lot of people out there that wish their partners would go for a run and give them some alone time!!

I'm wondering if I missed something. When did marriage/relationships mean you lose your individuality and goals and dreams? Shouldn't you still be living these out? Only difference is now you have the love and support of your partner which makes every achievement more special because you have someone to share it with. I know that I love seeing Andy accomplish his goals. And apparently he feels the same way about me. I went to the dentist the other day and all she told me was how Andy bragged about me running the Ultra when he was in a few weeks ago. :-)

Yes, training is a time commitment, but that doesn't mean you can't have a healthy, loving relationship. I wake up at the crack of dawn on Saturday to do my long run so we can spend the whole day together. I plan my runs around Michigan football so we can watch the games together. I come into work early so I can get home and run so we can eat dinner together. It's called compromising. And there is no "poor" Andy or falling apart marriage. But there is an incredibly strong bond between two people who support each other's goals and love the heck out of each other.

I love every second I spend with Andy…and I'll spend those seconds with him just as soon as I get back from my run!

One Week Left

My 20 miler on the treadmill is such a blur, feels like it didn't happen. Oh wait, what's that piece of skin stuck to my shirt...riiiight, the chafing on my back that I keep ripping open each day when I run. Never mind, I remember the sweaty treadmill fun now. I think the next time I decide to do a long run on a treadmill I might just run naked. I've been feeling great since the run though and all my runs since have been fabulous!! This is my schedule for the week:

Mon - 7 mi, w/ last mile at 8:20
Tues - 5 mi
Wed - 7 mi, w/ mid 5 miles at 8:15
Thurs - 5 mi
Fri - 17 mi, ladder
Sat - 5 mi
Sun - off

Only one more weigh in left, people. Remember, there are prizes for the top 3 losers, so don't give up yet!! And I'm happy to say that I finally decided to join the competition...Janice better watch out!! ;-)

20-Oct
Ace - 1.1 %
Amanda - 2.96 %
Denise - 0.32 %
Hoodie - 2.63 %
Janice - 8.3 %
Jeanette - 0.95 %
Katelyn - 2.2 %
Laura - 2.8 %
Lisa - 1.6 %
Marci - 6.1 %
Natalie - +.12 %

20 on the Treadmill

I just ran my first 20 miler since the Ultra. Since it's pretty miserable out, raining and cold, I decided to go to my sisters house and run on her treadmill. I'm usually not such a sissy about the weather but we're leaving town in an hour for the weekend and I didn't want to feel icky. Sometimes it takes me a day or two to warm up after a really chilly run! Anyway, I haven't run on a treadmill since last April and it took a little bit of getting used to. First off, my pace felt quicker than it actually was but I quickly settled in to where I needed to be. I decided to break it up by getting off the treadmill every 5 miles which worked out well because it turned out I had to use the bathroom right about then anyway. One nice thing about running on a treadmill, I didn't have to worry about pooping in the woods. Since I was running inside, I was sweating so much more than normal. I was literally drenched, down to my undies! Running in soaking wet clothes really sucks and leads to some insane chafing. I just got out of THE MOST PAINFUL shower I've ever taken. I rarely, if ever, chafe but today was terrible. From the band of my shorts, my back, under my ta-tas, under my arms, my chest and my collar bone nubbins...ugh. All the red marks should look pretty in the dresses I'll be wearing this weekend. So despite all this complaining...first 20 miler of the training season in the books. I'm sporting my recovery socks and feeling great. Not tired or sore and ready for a great weekend!!

Pumpkin got married today so we're heading down to Cape May to celebrate. We'll be going to dinner tonight with her family and then the reception is tomorrow. I'll catch up on blogs when we get back to town. Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Dropping Like Flies

What happened to all my contestants?? We started with so many and now we're down to only a few. I think Janice has everyone scared...

There's only 2 more weeks left. If you want to win one of the 3 prizes, I gotta hear from you for both the last weigh ins.

13-Oct
Ace -
Amanda - 2.6 %
Dana - 1.4 %
Denise - 0 %
Erin C -
Hoodie - 1.98 %
Janice - 8.3 %
Jeanette - 0.95 %
Katelyn -
Laura - 2.5 %
Lisa - 1.5 %
Marci - 4.5 %
Marlene -
Natalie - 0 %

Times Have Changed

With Philly marathon right around the corner, I went back and read my race report from the marathon last year. I can't believe how much has changed since last November!! This is what I was thinking the day after..

"So, I did it!! Last night I wasn't sure I'd run another one. Today, I'm feeling a little different. I think, actually know, I will. BUT, I don't think I'll ever put the pressure on myself to qualify for Boston. I ran my first marathon in under 4 hours. I know that is an incredible achievement. I want to make sure I always enjoy this and have fun, I don't want the added pressure of qualifying. And as long as I'm in this age group, I don't think I'll get the 3:40 for Boston anyway!"

WOW! Complete 180 over here. Little did I know that not only would I be going for Boston this year but I never in a million years would have thought I would have run an Ultra, too! I can't believe how much has changed over the past year...for the better, of course. The best part of reading that little blip from last year is that training for my BQ so far has been anything but stressful. Yes, there's some added pressure that I've been putting on myself because I want this so badly, but not once have I thought this wasn't fun. If anything, I'm enjoying the training this year even more.

I ran 8 miles tonight with the middle 4 at marathon pace - 8:20. Every time I checked my Garmin I was dead on for pace. It's really starting to get comfortable and I can feel when I speed up/slow down. I spent the whole run thinking about the marathon and picturing the last 6 mile stretch, which I know will be tough. But every time I thought of finishing, my pace quickened and I smiled. I can't wait to see what the day has in store for me.

Here's my schedule for this week:
Mon - 8 mi w/ 4 mi at 8:20
Tue - 5 mi
Wed - 7 mi w/ last mile at 8:20
Thurs - 5 mi
Fri - 20 mi
Sat - 5 mi
Sun - Off

Pace Group

I registered with the 3:40 pace group yesterday for the Philly marathon. It really made me wonder what I was thinking when I registered with the 3:50 group last year. With it being my first marathon and the fact that I just followed any old schedule which didn't include any speed work, I probably shouldn't have set such a lofty goal. I'm glad the first one turned out ok because if I had flamed out, I'm not sure I'd have the confidence to shoot for my BQ this year.

This week at work has been nuts and I've been working really long hours, but I managed to get my runs in with the exception of last night. By the time I got home, it was almost dark and since I only had 5 miles on the schedule, I decided I'd rather relax a little. I did get my two 7 milers in this week, though. One of them I ran the middle 3 miles at 8:15, the other I ran the last mile at 8:20. It's really important that I get comfortable at this pace considering I'm going to run 26.2 miles at it!! When I hit this pace during my runs, I feel good. The leg turnover is comfortable, my breathing is normal, etc. But I worry that keeping this pace for the whole marathon will be so hard. I think a lot of us forget how important the mental training is for running, I know I do at least. So I'm really going to start working on some visualization and positive thinking. If I don't qualify, it's going to be because something physically happens, not because my crazy head got in the way.

Speaking of crazy head...I wasn't going to say anything cause I feel like I'm always bitching about this, but what the heck is up with me not being able to drop a single freaking pound? I'm up about 10 lbs from the marathon last November. I went back and read some of my food journals and nothing has changed. I'm still eating the same things and I'm still running my butt off. What gives?? I'm starting to feel like I'm losing my mind people. Am I in denial? Am I eating and not even realizing it? Could it really be that peanut butter I eat a few times a week? I'm sorry but I'm so frustrated. I eat incredibly well and it's not like I shove my face with junk. My frustration has hit the point where I want to really cut back and restrict myself like the old days but I know I can't do that. I just wish I could accept things for how they are and shut off my brain..but unfortunately, I can't do either.

This was my schedule for the week:
Mon - 7 mi (mid 3 at 8:15)
Tues - 5 mi
Wed - 7 mi (last mile at 8:20)
Thurs - 5 mi (skipped...will do it on Sunday as an easy recovery run)
Fri - 5 mi
Sat - 17 mi
Sun - off

NuttZo and Results!

Since it's weight loss results day, I thought I'd tell you about another yummy treat I found. I know Natalie has tried it but have the rest of you?? I'm talking about NuttZo, people. One of the best nut butters I have tried. I have to be honest and say that a lot of the nut butters are in the same class, but NuttZo stood out for me. Maybe it was the fun packaging, the fact NuttZo is a supporter of Project Left Behind, or the crunchy little flax seeds...regardless, I loved it. NuttZo is an organic, omega 3 multi nut butter made of Valencia peanuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds and flax seed. There's nothing else to this deliciousness but I swear I thought it had sugar in it (which it doesn't). It's the perfect combination of nuts and has a sweetness to it that I loved. A lot of times nut butters are a little bland for me because they lack the sweetness I crave. The flax seeds aren't ground either so there's a crunch to the butter which is unique and tasty!! The only downside of the butter is it's price. It goes for about $11 a jar. Which would be fine if I had any control whatsoever around it. But since I can't keep my spoon out of the jar, it's a pricey little treat. Because I love the concept behind this product (the founder created it after adopting 2 malnourished boys), its support of a great cause, and the fact that it was deeelicious, I'm giving NuttZo 7 biscuits.

Below are the weight loss results for this week. I was going to say, "can someone please tell me why I'm sucking at my own competition?" but then I looked at what I wrote above...maybe I need to steer clear of the nut butters. Only 3 more weeks left...I don't think I stand a chance of catching Janice!

6-Oct
Ace - 1.34 %
Amanda -
Dana - 2.8 %
Denise - 0 %
Erin C -
Hoodie - 2.5 %
Janice - 7.7 %
Jeanette - 1.25 %
Katelyn - 2.2 %
Laura - 2.5 %
Lisa
Marci - 5.1 %
Marlene -
Natalie - 1.3 %

Heartbreak Hill Lookalike

Yesterday I ran 18 miles with Coach Jack. We headed to Valley Forge park which has a 5 mile loop consisting of rolling hills. Apparently, one of the hills is pretty similar to the famous "Heartbreak Hill" at the Boston Marathon. Our plan for this run was to run the first 6 miles around 9:45, then step it up to 9:00 minute miles for the next 6 miles, then finish up the remaining 6 miles at 8:45. Here's how it went:

Miles 1-6: 9:40/9:28/9:17/9:37/9:35/9:33

Miles 7-12: 9:08/9:06/9:17/9:02/9:07/8:53

Miles 13-18: 8:40/8:44/8:38/9:11/9:06/8:58

I was feeling great for the first 2 loops but the last loop got tough when we picked up the pace. I really felt it when we climbed the Heartbreak Hill lookalike for the third time. Running that hill at an 8:45 wasn't easy and it definitely took a lot out of me. After that climb, I was having a hard time concentrating and was feeling a little "funny". At mile 15 we stopped at the car to refill water and at that point I had to admit to Coach that I was dizzy. So for the last 3 miles, Coach told me I wasn't allowed to look at my Garmin and he let me set the pace based on how I felt. I'm surprised to see the stats above because I thought we were crawling and was sure I dropped us down to about a 10 minute mile. It's nice to know that even when I was tired I still kept us at a decent pace. As we were finishing the run Coach said to me, "No one said it was easy getting to Boston." Honestly, Coach, I'm glad. I wouldn't want this if it was easy.

Oh, and something I tried on this run...I'm planning on using the margarita shot bloks for the marathon and have used them on my last few long runs. On this run though, instead of eating 3 at a time throughout the run, I had one blok every 2.5 miles. I tried this at the suggestion of Coach and thought it worked pretty well. I usually get a stomach ache when I eat a few of them at once and they sit in my stomach like a brick. It also messes up my breathing trying to chew them on the go. Eating one at at time didn't bother my stomach at all and it was easier to eat just one. It was also like a little treat to look forward to throughout the run.

Love the Long Runs

Where did the week go! I can't believe it's Friday...I never even got around to posting my running schedule for the week. Well, it looked like this:

Mon - 3 mi
Tues - 6 mi (sharpening)
Wed - 4 mi
Thurs - 6 mi (6 x 100 strides)
Fri - 4 mi
Sat - 18 mi
Sun - off

For my Tuesday run, I was suppose to run 2 miles at 9:15, pick it up to marathon pace for miles 3 and 4, then finish off with the last two at 9:15. Starting off, the 9:15 pace was hard to hit and I ended up being slightly over. I was worried that it wasn't going to be a good run, but I nailed miles 3 and 4. I ran those miles right around 8:20 and felt really good. I'm still questioning holding that pace for 26.2 miles, but I know it's early on in training and I have lots of chances to build up my confidence. For the final 2 miles, it was damn near impossible to keep myself around a 9:15...all I wanted to do was run faster since I was in my groove at that point. I'm running my 18 miler tomorrow with Coach Jack. The plan is to run the first 6 miles at 9:30, the next 6 at 9:00 and the final 6 at 8:45. We're running a hilly course so this should be a great workout!!

Lately I can't stop thinking about how much I love this time of year and marathon training. I'm back at that point where I'm super excited for my long runs on Saturday and actually look forward to them all week. I remember feeling like this last year when I was training for the marathon. Except last year, the long runs scared me a bit. There was always a bit of anxiety mixed in with the excitement. I didn't know what to expect, how I would feel and if I could even handle it. This time around, things are totally different. I'm not nervous or scared and the distance doesn't seem intimidating at all. I think I have the Ultra to thank for that, it really changed my outlook and definition of the "long" run.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Good luck to all those running marathons!!

No More Naked Popcorn

Since weight loss results get posted today, I thought it'd be a good time to tell you about a healthy snack idea!! I know a lot of times when I want to snack, I go for the wrong thing (um, hello peanut butter jar). I always forget about popcorn, how healthy it is and how much I like it. Even though it's airy, it takes a while to eat and it fills me up. Well, recently Kernel Seasons sent me a ton of different popcorn seasonings to try out. Check out this loot!!


There are a TON of different seasonings, most of which I never would have thought to put on my popcorn. A lot of the them could even go on things like oatmeal, veggies, and baked potatoes. The web site also has a recipe page and suggests sprinkling the chocolate marshmallow seasoning on a banana...YUM!! My favorites so far are the kettle corn and the caramel (can you tell I have a sweet tooth?)...but I'm anxious to try out the jalapeno!!! I love all the different choices because it gives you a way to change an ordinary snack to satisfy whatever you're in the mood. And if you needed another reason to check out this company...Kernel Seasons was developed in a University of Michigan dorm room. GO BLUE!!!

The seasonings are fat free and contain 0 - 5 calories depending on the flavor. I was really happy to see they weren't loaded with sugar, either. So for anyone trying to drop a few pounds, I think this is a good way to add a little fun to a traditional snack. A little sprinkle goes a long way, especially if you make the microwave popcorn and shake up the bag while it's still hot! I'm giving the Kernel 10 biscuits. I know, I know, 10 biscuits is unheard of!! But come on, the Kernel is a Michigan Wolverine!!

Here are the results for week 6. I cleaned up the list of participants and deleted those who have yet to submit a weight or haven't sent results in for a while. For those with no weights this week, I got them last week so they are still in the competition. There are still 4 weeks left and I know I finally decided to get in the game...I gotta catch up to Janice!!

29-Sep
Ace
Amanda - 3 %
Dana - 1.4 %
Denise - 0 %
Erin C
Hoodie - 1.8 %
Janice - 6.4 %
Jeanette - 0.94 %
Katelyn - 2.2 %
Laura - 1.9 %
Lisa - 0 %
Marci
Marlene
Natalie - 2.1 %

Fall Saturdays!

I can't believe it's Saturday and my vacation is nearing the end. I wish I could turn back time and have the week off all over again. I'm really not ready to go back to work. A while ago, January to be exact, I posted about my eye twitching. Well the f'er had been twitching ever since...until this week, when it miraculously stopped. I think this is sound evidence that work is obviously not agreeing with me.

I had a good week of running and enjoy it even much more when I can get up and head out whenever I want rather than fitting it in around my work schedule. Just another way work gets in the way. But anyway...I just got home from a 16 mile run and I feel great! The last two miles of the run we picked it up to marathon pace (8:25-8:30) to feel that pace on tired legs. I felt best during these last few miles. I really find it harder some times to run slow, but I know that's necessary. But those last 2 miles, I felt like I was in my groove. Breathing was good, legs felt great, I could have kept going. All in all, great run and the whole time I was thinking, "this is why I love fall...marathon training!" There's nothing better to me than starting off a Fall Saturday with a long run, coming home to catch a quick nap, then watching Michigan football with Andy. (GO BLUE!)

Oh, before I go...we had a great time at the shore. It was definitely the quiet alone time we were looking for. Lots of walks, laying around, playing games on the deck, and plenty of wine of course.

First time my feet were in the ocean ALL year...that is just wrong and I will never let it happen again!! (no vacations this year because of the house renovations)

Runs on the boardwalk are the best! I'm envious of JoyRuN...

After I crushed Andy at triple Yahtzee AND cribbage. It's tough being so darn good at everything!

PDR pic and some randomness

We leave for the shore tomorrow morning for a much needed mini vacation. I plan on disconnecting myself completely while we're away. There will be a lot of napping, walks on the boardwalk, wine on the deck and more napping. I won't even have access to a computer. But no worries, I'm not that crazy!! I'll have my phone with me so I can still update facebook. Whew!! But before I go...some random things.

• Check out this picture of me finishing PDR this weekend. I told you I couldn't believe I finished with that time. I think the look on my face is priceless...I'm in shock!

• My sister and brother in law have been going through the adoption process for what seems like forever. Well, today they heard some good news! There is a baby girl in Russia waiting to join their family! They find out next week when the traveling will begin to bring her home. While I'm so happy for my sister and her family, I'm even more happy that this little girl is going to be given a great shot at life. She will be so loved and spoiled by all of us!
• I'm still feeling great about my run on Sunday. I went for a nice easy recovery run this morning. Aside from some tight quads, I feel great. No soreness at all. I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks of training.
• I'm completely, 100%, addicted to bejeweled blitz on facebook. I go to bed at night playing it in my head.
• If you have a few minutes, check out this video clip of Ryan Hall winning the Philly Distance Run this past weekend. It's great coverage of the front runners. These guys are amazing. Go USA!!
• I hardly received any weight loss results this week so I'm not going to kill myself tomorrow morning getting them posted before I leave town. Sorry!
• I just signed up to be able to upload pictures directly to my blog from my phone. So if you see some random pics pop up later in the week, that's me playing around. I just hope I don't accidentally upload any dirty ones. ;-)
• I can't wait to OD on Johnson's Popcorn from the boardwalk. This is really the only reason I like the Jersey shore.

Hope everyone has a great week. Thanks for all your awesome comments to my PDR post!!

Another PR!!! PDR Half Marathon

I have to start off by saying that I'm beaming. Absolutely beaming!! I ran the Philadelphia Distance Run (half marathon) this morning. As I stated in my previous post, I had several different scenarios worked out for today. Totally lacking in the confidence department left me thinking that a 1:45 would be great, but I decided this morning when I arrived at the start to go for a 1:43.

We arrived down town in just enough time to hit the port o' pots and get to our corrals. It was PACKED!! We literally couldn't get through the gate to corral 3 so we had to climb under the fence in corral 4 and weasel our way to #3. Anyway, we got to our starting spot with 3 minutes to spare. They started in waves this year with each corral having their own start. I personally thought this was great but if I was in corral 18, I might have thought different. I imagine it took a while for those people to get the official start gun.

Anyway, my goal was to start off at an 8:00 minute mile and then speed up from there. Well, of course that didn't go exactly as planned and I found myself running a 7:42 to start. But you know what, it felt good so I went with it. The race through the city went quick and before I knew it we were heading back towards the start with about 4 miles under our belt. We passed thousands and thousands of runners who were just starting and for the first time in my running career I felt a touch of confidence...I was in the front. Hard to explain, but it felt good. So we continued on and before long I found myself right back on the 8.4 mile loop I ran 6 times this summer during my Ultra. Knowing this part of the course really helped mentally. I knew I just had to cross Falls Bridge and then I would be on my way "home", as I like to call it. At mile 9 the pace got the best of me and I started to go down mentally. My legs weren't turning over as easily as they had been and I started to psych myself out. But I fought back the fears of not being able to finish and just tried to remind myself of how comfortable the pace felt and that I was indeed...ok.

So enough babble, here's the important stuff. I finished with a time of 1:42:37. A HUGE PR for me, beating my current PR of 1:46:48. When I crossed the finish line I was tired but I wasn't spent. I was not breathing heavy or exhausted...but I was on the verge of tears. I honestly have ZERO confidence in myself and to finish at 1:42:37 was such a big deal. I kept saying to myself over and over, "I can't believe I just did that." This finish time has me at a 3:33 to 3:35 marathon time, which is the BQ I'm looking for. Eeek....I'm ready to go get that BQ, people. I'm soooo ready!!!

*sigh*...I've been on cloud nine all day. I could not be happier with the effort I put forth today. I live for pushing myself and I will continue to do so. It may be hard and out of my comfort zone, but it's definitely the way I like to do things. Bring on the next 9 weeks of training!!

Stats (total finishers: 12247)

Clock Time 1:44:47
Chip Time 1:42:37
Overall Place 1998 / 12247
Gender Place 407 / 6394
Division Place 81 / 1215
Age Grade 64.4%
Pace 7:50
Ttlrace 12247
Ttldiv1215
Ttlsex 6394
5 Km 24:35
10 Km 48:47
10 Mi 1:18:29