I NEED MO' COWBELL!

This, my friends, is the face of a woman that has just run 13 miles and would really like the finish line to be just a little bit closer.  Another tenth just seems too far.

This is also the face of a woman that did not quit. 

Who ran 13.1 miles on a very cold day even when she wasn't quite sure herself if she could do it.

Sure, others had confidence. 

Others believed. 

Others texted and called and cheered and facebooked, "You've got this".

But there was always that little bit of doubt.

This is my favorite running quote. 

My little voice, is not so little.  She is very loud, she likes to be heard and she likes to win.  It has taken a lot of training to shut her up. 

And race day ... race day was the ultimate battle ... to see who was truly going to win.

There were some factors working against me.  The biggest was the cold.  The weather turned crazy cold in the past week and I don't have a lot of experience running outside in the cold.  And I certainly didn't have the clothes for it!  I had to go out and buy some supplies. 

Yes, I know, I broke a cardinal rule of racing.  Never, ever, wear something on race day that you have never run in before.  But, dear readers, I had no choice.  I knew if I didn't buy something to cover my legs, I was going to freeze.

So here is the lovely outfit that I came up with. 

Ok, I have had 3 different people ask me why the shorts over the tights ... Um, because I don't want people staring at my ass, that's why.  And no, I don't know why this picture is sideways, I gave up fighting it!

I seriously should get some kind of award for this.  It's so, um, colorful, right?!? 

A friend suggested that I might need granimals for running ... so, fashion has never been my thing, what can I say?

You could certainly spot me in a crowd.

Anyway, back to the story.  It was cold, I was running in an article of clothing I had never run in before, I had totally slacked on my hill training and there was a big one at mile 11.  Seriously, what sick person puts a giant hill at mile 11??  Check out this elevation ... flat, flat, flat, flat, flat, HILL, then just for fun, when your legs are jell-o, we will make you go down hill - YIKES!

Again, back to the story ... cold, new clothes, hill, and nerves.  That was what I had going against me. 

Things in my favor, Wade was running it too (I cannot tell you how much having someone there with you helps, even though we don't run together - that is a whole other post) months and months and months of training, lots of support, and the thought that if I had to walk the only person that would likely ever know would be me - but that I would have to live with that forever. 

We got there super early.  I was worried about parking.  Because that is just what I do, I worry about things I cannot control.  So, we hung out in the car till about an hour before race time.  Breakfast consisted of a greek yogurt in the car on the way down and a mini bagel with peanut butter right before we got out of the car. 

I knew a few other people that were running the race and we ran into one of them on the way to the starting area.  Chatted with her while we walked.  Nerves officially kicking in.  Hit the port-o-potty, found the bag drop and then scored a sweet spot underneath some portable heaters to hang out for a bit.  At this point it was still dark!  We decide at 7:00 (start time is 7:30) to hit the port-o-potty one more time and then make our way to the corrals.  It is finally getting light.  We find our spots and do more waiting.  Ugh, will it ever end?  I see two port-o-potties near the start line and decide, maybe I should go again.  Wade thinks I am nuts and of course there is a line, but I do it anyway.  We kiss for luck before I try to get in line as I am afraid I might not see him again, it has started to get crowded.  Make my way back to the start with 2 minutes to spare.  It's show time.

Was a slow start to get to the actually starting line, but I prefer it that way - was never concerned I was going to be trampled.  And seeing as how I hate crowds and they mostly freak me out, this was a blessing!

The first mile, goes by pretty quick.  With the exception of a small hill about a half mile in.  I was like WTF??  This thing is billed as the flattest, fasted half in the state or something, come on!  Ha.  But I kept going.

Ooh, here is another rant, people are already ditching stuff ... hats, gloves, shirts, etc ... at a half mile in?  Why did you even bother???  But I guess the answer is because we were all standing outside waiting for so long, I don't know, still seem like a waste!

Ooh, last rant for awhile, there was a port-o-potty stop at about 3/4 of a mile in ... and there was a line!  Seriously??  That seems like a total failure to plan.  Ridiculous! 

Have I digressed enough?!?

At about mile 2, I can see Wade ahead in the distance, honestly, not too far in front of me.  This means one of two things, either I am running too fast or he is running too slow.  When runkeeper chick comes on in my ear and tells me I my pace is 9:40 at this point, I know the answer is that I am running too fast.  And not necessarily too too fast, but my biggest fear was coming out too fast and burning out too early.  So, I adjust my pace a bit and Wade slips away. 

Mile 4, I finally ditch the gloves.  Yes, I deem mile 4 appropriate for ditching clothing ;)  Though, I will want those darn things back at 5.5 when the wind kicks up.  I am feeling great at this point.  Breathing is good and legs are good.  I didn't really care for the gravel at around the 5 mile mark, but it didn't last for long.

We are now headed into the New Town area ... I am not sure how to describe this to people that aren't familiar.  It is a planned community, that has sort of a little "town" housed within it.  There are some shops and a park and a church.  All the houses have to look a certain way.  It seems sorta cultish to me, but, to each their own.  This part of the race is basically a big loop through this neighborhood and you come out the same way you go in.  You spend about 3 miles in the neighborhood, so those coming out as you are going in are 3 miles ahead of you.  Yikes!  Those people that I saw are what I would call the 'serious' runners.  They were people that could have thoughts on winning - whether this is true or not, I have no idea, but they all looked pretty intense.  I hit mile 6 here and I was starting to feel it.  Not fatigued yet, really, just sorta, blah.  The way this looped around, you got to see some other runners and I actually saw Wade!  I was ridiculously excited about it.  I saw him first and was afraid he was going to miss me, so I actually sprinted up so that I could catch him on the corner.  I can not tell you how uplifting this was.  I have no idea why, but it kicked my butt into gear.  He was about a mile ahead of me at this point.   

Finally made it out of this neighborhood and hit mile 9 and really, still feeling pretty good overall.  This is where I started to see people fall off.  Lots of people off to the side stretching, stopping to walk, etc.  I just kept going.  My mantra this race ... "Pain is temporary, Quitting is forever".  Anytime I got down, or started to feel tired, I would just repeat that over and over.  Or start singing loudly.  What did I care, I don't know any of these people!

Mile 10 there was a lot of mantra repeating.  The other thing I kept thinking was, seriously, there is only XX miles to go - you can't stop now! 

Mile 11 was the dreaded hill.  I am not going to lie, it did slow me down.  But it didn't stop me.  I found someone up in the distance.  She had on a bright blue shirt with one of those camelback things on her back.  I just looked at her and put one foot in front of the other and kept going.  Left.  Right.  Left.  Right.  Left.  Right.  And I guess I learned why the hill was at mile 11 and not mile 5.  If that hill had been earlier in the race, I can almost bet that I would have slowed to a walk to recover from it.  But when you are that close to the finish - there was no stopping!!!

Somewhere along here, I finally ditched the top shirt.  Don't laugh - I know it was late in the race.  But I was finally to the point where I was HOT and it had to go, so what if there was only 2 miles left.

After the hill, I was pretty much on autopilot.  Less than 2 miles left and you just go.  You know you are going to make it if you can just hang on a little bit longer.  There was a pretty big downhill in here at about mile 12, which in my head I was always thinking would be great, but in actuality, it was kinda scary.  Legs were a bit on the Jello-y side and hitting the pavement too quickly was killer on the knees.  I was lucky I didn't roll down it.

You can see the finish line with about 3 tenths to go.  And that was when I started to tear up.  I had done it, I was going to make it and nothing was going to stop me.  If you need a boost to your self confidence, if you need to feel good about yourself, train for this and do it - it was a tremendous feeling, to be proud of yourself for this accomplishment.

So here I am, about 20 feet from the finish line.  Dying on the outside, but bursting with pride on the inside. 

I crossed that finish line with my hands in the air and a smile on my face.

I had done it!

I have said this before and I will say it again.  If I can do it, you can do it.  I couldn't run 1/4 of a mile when I started.  13.1 miles seemed completely and totally impossible ... shoot 3 miles seemed impossible.  Don't think about the time it will take to get there, the time will pass anyway -- lace up those shoes and get out there!  You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Hallie

What I've learned ...

The race is less than a week away.  Yikes!  I had my last long run about a week ago.  12 miles.  Yes, you read that right.  I ran 12 miles.  It was a long way.  A really long way.  And those last 2 miles were hard.  But, I did it.  I am ready.  This week is a taper week - meaning you take it easy, get some miles in, but don't tax the body.  You want to save everything you have for next Sunday. 

I have been reflecting a lot this week.  So excited that the race is FINALLY here.  I sorta can't believe it's finally here.  I am already contemplating what's next - probably not another half, but maybe some of those warrior dashes, or mud runs.  We'll see.  For today, here is what I learned during training ...

10.  Running in the heat sucks.  However, it does make running in this nice Fall weather seem easier.  If you are considering taking up running, do it now!  Don't take it up after the temps get hot.  I used to refuse to run outside if it was below 60 degrees, now, I love 50!!  Bring on the cold!
9.  Body Glide is your friend. 

8.  A fun way to pass the time while on those long runs -- make up lives for the people you pass.  For instance, I pass one guy all the time.  I see him everyday walking and walking and walking.  He must walk 20 miles a day.  No exaggeration.  And he is kinda creepy looking.  He wears aviator type sunglasses and always looks at the ground, won't make eye contact.  He wears one of those belts with all the little water bottles on it.  And he smokes cigars while he is walking.  I have decided he is on house arrest and they let him walk as his only source of exercise for the day.  I am still undecided on his crime, but I am leaning towards peeping tom or a flasher.  (as a side note, a terrible way to pass the time is to think of your to do list for when you get home, it will just aggravate you and make you feel guilty for being out there running).

7.  You need good shoes.  Your knees and feet will thank you.  (A good sports bra too - the girls will thank you!)

6.  Injuries are no joke.  It is better to be cautious and not push if you feel you may be injured.  Better to sit out a couple of days than a few weeks.  The foam roller is your friend.  Even when it hurts.  I can't repeat the words I have screamed at my foam roller, but in the end, it helped tremendously!

5. Something weird happens to you when you become a runner.  You want to talk about it all.the.time.  Which I am sure can be annoying to non-runners.  You will also try to convert non-runners into runners.  This is probably because it gives you the opportunity to talk more about running!  Also, running stores become your crack.  You walk into one and want to buy everything in there.  Headbands, water bottles, dri fit shirts, compression pants, new socks, I'll take one of each please!!

4.  A good run can melt away stress like nothing else I have ever tried.

3.  Finally tried some of those GUs and Chews.  My verdict:  They are gross.  I'll pass, thanks.

2.  You always have more left than you think you do.  Always. Just keep going.  One foot after another.  One of my favorite quotes - "Pain is temporary, quitting is forever".  You can do it! 

1.  It's not about the destination, it's about enjoying the journey.  Yes, finishing that race is going to be a big accomplishment on Sunday.  And it is going to feel good.  But to me, the bigger accomplishment is sticking with the training ... even when I didn't want to ... even when it sucked ...even when it was too hot to breathe ... even when the time it was taking up was becoming an issue ... that is what I am most proud of.  I didn't quit, I didn't give up.  I made it.

I'll be back next week with a post race wrap up!

Hallie

What do you need to be a runner?

So I hung up my first pair of "real" running shoes today.  I couldn't believe it.  They had 400 miles on them and they had seen better days. 

Wait, what?

I've run 400 miles? 

Holy Shit!

Go me!

Sorry, back to the topic at hand ... running gear.

What kind of gear do you need to be a runner?

1.  First and foremost - a good pair of shoes.  Get out your wallet and head straight to a running store.  Not just a shoe store, not Kohl's, really not even a sporting goods store.  A running store.  They will measure you foot, feel your arches, potentially make fun of your socks, and find the perfect shoe for your foot.  Yes, they will cost a little more than your average tennis shoe, but they are so worth it when you aren't getting blisters or a host of other problems you can get from ill fitting shoes.

2.  A good sports bra.  This is almost as essential as the shoes.  The girls shouldn't be bouncing around ... at all ... during your run.  I mean seriously, do you want to help gravity?  I didn't think so.  The running store sells these too, (and I am sure they are fab) but I have been able to find a good fitting one at Target that saved me about $25 bucks.

3.  A good pair of socks - remember cotton is rotten.  I like Drymax, but there are tons of good brands out there.  Just make sure they are synthetic.  And probably you should order them on the internet, they are way cheaper!

4.  A DriFit shirt of some sort.  Doesn't have to be some name brand, mine are from Target, but does need to be made of the wicking material so you aren't drenched in your own sweat after 5 minutes.

Really, that's all that is essential.  There are some other things that are handy, here's that list:

1.  If you have an iPhone or other phone where you can get apps and you run with this device, I highly recommend downloading an app that tracks your run.  We use Map my Run.  A woman comes on however often you program her to and tells you your mileage and pace.  In the beginning, I really relied on this woman to get me through, I had her talking to me every 5 minutes.  Now, she only comes to alert me each mile. 

2.  Body Glide.  This is definitely a nice to have so that you can avoid chafing, but I only used it on and off (mostly because I forget) and really haven't had that big of an issue - some swear by this, so for now it remains on this part of the list.

3.  A GPS watch.  If you have an iPhone, then you don't need this, but if you don't, this is nice to have to keep track of your pace and distance.  They are a bit pricey, so to each his own.

4.  Running ID bracelet.  This isn't on the top list because, well, you can run without it.  But you shouldn't.  You really need to have some form of ID on you, just in case.  No one wants to think about the just in case, but it is a reality, so just be a Boy Scout, be Prepared.

5.  A phone, any phone, doesn't have to be fancy.  Just in case you need to call for help.

Things I tried and decided were a waste of money for me:

1.  Fancy headbands.  I found a brand from target that worked for me and the two expensive ones I bought didn't. 

2.  A running specific water bottle that can be carried.  I hated carrying it as much as I hated carrying a regular bottle of water, so I might as well carry the cheap bottle of water if I am going to carry anything.

3.  Fancy running shorts.  While I like my $30 Nike branded running shorts, they are not different than the $10 pair that I got from Target. 

4.  A running hat or visor:  Neither kept me cool or helped keep the sweat out of my eyes.  Trash.

Things I still want to try or things I haven't needed yet:

1.  Energy chews/gus/jelly beans.  There is so much information out there on running nutrition, that I really haven't been able to process it all.  There is a lot of info about eating something during a workout of more than 1 hour, because your energy stores may or may not be depleted.  I am still sorting through.  These packets are expensive and they come in a million different flavors and I don't want to waste the money until I know more about them.

2.  Reflective Gear:  If you run at night or early in the morning, this should move up to your essentials list.  People are not looking for you, you have to make them see you.  They make all kinds of things from vests to reflective bracelets to tape - you name it, you can probably get it so that it will glow in the dark.  I haven't tried any yet as I try to avoid running in the dark.  I don't need any help injuring myself!

What's on your list of running must haves?  Tried anything you would never spend a dime on again?

Hallie

Choosing a Training Program

How on earth do you choose a training program?  There are hundreds of them out there.  I did a Google search for Half Marathon Training and seriously, there are pages and pages and pages of results.  So I spent an hour going through them. 

Some seemed too easy.  Too easy meaning that I dont' think I would be ready with the amount of miles they were recommending.  

Some seemed to complicated.  Hill repeats, followed by speed intervals, then tempo runs, then ... that was a little much for me.  This is my first half marathon, after all.  Mostly, I just want to finish.

One requirement for me was that there can not be 3 days in a row of running.  I have been running 3 days in a row for awhile and it is killing me.  And I have ended up injured, twice, after doing that, so no more.  Maybe in the later weeks of training, but definitely not the first 6. 

Here are a few I looked at:

Marathon Rookie here

Jeff Galloway here

Hal Higdon here

Cool Running here

About.com here

In the end, I think I am probably going to make up my own.  With a combination of things from each of these plans.  I am also going to incorporate Yoga as a cross training activity.   I am going to start my official training on June 4th.  That gives me 19 weeks till the race.  I realize 19 weeks is way longer than most people officially train for a half marathon.  But I know me.  I will likely have to repeat some weeks to feel like I really mastered the mileage.  Also, we have a week of vacation in there where I will likely run, but it won't be the distance that it should be for training.

As soon as I get my weeks and mileage mapped out, I will be sure to post it.  That way you can run along with me!

Hallie

You can do it!

The most frequent reaction that I get when I start talking about running is, "That's great, I wish I could do that" or something to that effect.  Or, "I've always wanted to be a runner".

Here's the secret ...

You CAN do it!

Before I started, I couldn't run for even 60 seconds straight.  No lie. 

Running 1 mile seemed like something that would never happen.  Forget running 3 miles like the program promised.

But the trick is, you just have to stick with it. 

It's the trick to anything in life really, don't give up. 

That is the hard part.

Because in the beginning, it kinds sucks.  Well, not kinda, it really sucks.

You feel out of shape and tired.  You feel like the goal will never be in reach.

But eventually, it will feel good.

Eventually, you will be able to eat Dairy Queen and not think twice about it, because, hey, you ran 6 miles today.

Eventually, you will love to run because it provides not only great physical exercise, but great mental stress relief, and we can all use some of that. 

So go on ... Try it ... It's Good For You!

Hallie

Setting the Big Goal

Today's post is short and sweet.  It exists solely to announce ...

I have entered a half marathon!

13.1 Miles

At least 2 hours of running.

AHHHH!!!

It isn't till October 7th.  So there is plenty of time to train.

Not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

It's the MO Cowbell Half Marathon. Clever name, no?

As part of entering, they give you a cowbell.  Awesome.

You can enter Here.

Miles 9 to 11 has what looks to be a wicked hill.

Why would they do that?

Relatively flat other than that though.
 
You will likely be seeing lots of FFF posts about half marathon training. 

Maybe you all should start training with me so you don't get sick of the posts.

Or better yet, enter the race!

Wish me luck!

*I made the hubs enter too.  :)

Hallie

Running Terminology

I still consider myself new to running  Sometimes I will be reading different blogs or Runners World magazine and come across a term in a forum that I have no idea what means.  I feel like I should probably know what it means, you know, if I want to consider myself a real runner.  So I set out to educate myself ... and now, I am educating you!  Aren't you lucky?  Here we go, in no particular order:

Split Times:  This is the time it takes to complete a specific distance while running.  Typically, a mile, but can be any distance.  Let's say I ran 5 miles today and someone asked me what my splits were.  I would say 9:30, 9:15, 9:14, 9:09, 9: 00.  These numbers would represent how long it took me to run each mile. 

Negative Splits:  Basically running the second half of a race faster than the first.  Or running each progressive mile, faster than the past mile.  In the above example, I had negative splits.  Each progressive mile was faster than the last.  This is generally the recommended way to run.  Start out slow and save your energy for the end.  I am still working on this, mostly I have it backwards, my first mile is fastest and my last slowest.

Pace:  The rate at which you are running.  Typically given as minutes per mile.

Chip Time:  The amount of time it took you to finish a race, measured by a chip worn by the runner, sometimes in the shoe, other times on the back of the running number.

Fartlek: (no giggling, please, this is serious running business), This one, we are going to take straight from Wikipedia:

Fartlek, which means "speed play" in Swedish,^[1] is a form of interval training which puts stress on the whole aerobic energy system due to the continuous nature of the exercise. The difference between this type of training and continuous training is that the intensity or speed of the exercise varies, meaning that both aerobic and anaerobic systems can be put under stress. It differs from traditional interval training in that it is unstructured; intensity and/or speed can be varied whenever the athlete wishes.^[2][3] Most fartlek sessions last a minimum of 45 minutes and can vary from aerobic walking to anaerobic sprinting. Fartlek training is generally associated with running, but can include almost any kind of exercise.

So, basically unstructured interval training.  Basically, you go out and run hard until you hit the 5th drive way.  Then you recover.  Then you run hard to the next Dairy Queen.  Then recover (and no, that recovery does not include a Blizzard!).  You saw the word unstructured in there right?  Yea, doesn't really sound like me.  I typically do all my interval/speed work on the treadmill.  I love structure. 

Singlet: 

Don't laugh, I knew this was a piece of clothing, just wasn't exactly sure what it looked like.  When I hear singlet, I think wrestling, not running.  And I just couldn't see people running in those crazy one piece things.  So basically a running singlet is a shirt with no sleeves.  Why isn't it called a tank top?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Probably, you won't be seeing me in one of these. 

Tempo Run:  Runs that are run at a very steady pace.  Usually slightly slower than your 10k pace.  A way to build endurance.

Taper:  To reduce your mileage in the two weeks before a big race.  Trying to ensure maximum performance levels for the race.  Done typically for half marathon and longer distances. 

Carb Loading:  It is exactly as it sounds, consuming a heavy amount of carbs in the few days before a race.  For those that recommend this practice, 60 to 70% of calories are recommended to come from carbs.

Glycogen:  Going hand in hand with Carb Loading - this is how carbohydrates are stored in your body.  When glycogen stores are depleted, you fatigue.  See Hitting the Wall.  Carb Loading is supposed to help keep you from hitting the wall.  

Hitting the Wall:  The point at which you are completely drained of energy (glycogen is depleted) and you cannot go on.  Muscles may seize up.  Very painful.

DNF:  A dreaded term in racing, stands for Did Not Finish

DNS:  Did Not Start

PR:  Personal Record

RICE:  Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.  Used to treat many injuries.

Speedwork:  Short, fast interval training.  Helps increase stamina.

LSD: This has nothing to do with drugs or anything that happened on a Mad Men episode my husband was just watching.  Stands for Long Slow Distance. 

BQ:  to Boston Qualify.  This particular race has very specific targets you have to hit in order to enter.  You won't hear me throwing this term around!

TM:  Treadmill

C25K:  A beginners running plan.  A great great program, I highly recommend it!

Hill Repeats:  Um, these suck.  Is that definition enough?  It is exactly what it sounds like, running up hill, at a fast pace, over and over and over.  Recovery interval in between.  It is hard, but it does build endurance. 

Out and Back:  A course where you run out a certain distance and then turn around and come home.

Bonk:  Same as hitting the wall. 

In addition to these terms, you should also know your distances: 

• 5K:  3.1 Miles
• 10K:  6.2 Miles
• Half Marathon:  13.1 Miles
• Marathon:  26.2 Miles

Those are the most popular races.  Our area has a 7k, which is 4.3 miles.  I have also seen advertisements for a 50k or ultra marathon.  A 50k is 31 miles.  An ultra marathon is generally any distance over a marathon. 

I hope this helps any beginners out there navigate the world of running.  If you are new to running and looking for some motivation - you should check out dailymile.com.  It is sort of like facebook for exercise.  You friend people who then comment on your workout and encourage you.  There is also a forum for questions and answers.  I really like it.  Send me a FR (friend request!).

Hallie

Tales from my first 10k

Official Mission:  Finish the hilly 6.2 miles in under an hour.  My goal was 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

Unofficial Mission:  Beat the pink girls that were running in front of me.  There were two girls that were in front of me most of the race, dressed in matchy matchy pink.  Pink shoes, pink running shorts and pink headbands.  They also had make up on, they looked cute the whole race, and they certainly weren't red in the face like I was at the end ... and because I need something for my brain to do while I run, I decided that I needed to beat them.   But more on that later. 

Because I am a crazy person and even the thought of being late gives me stomach cramps, I left the house at 6:55 am for a race that is 5 minutes from my house and that started at 7:30 am.  You just never know if there will be a parking problem or you'll get lost or have to pee, or there will be an accident and a 20 minute detour.  So I got there at 7:00 with 30 minutes to spare.  And surprisingly, I was not the first person there. :)

One of the best parts of this race ... it was on a community college campus and we got to use the bathrooms inside, no port a potty, yippee!  So, I went to the bathroom ... twice ... did a little light jogging around the parking lot and then listened to my ipod.

At 10 minutes till race time, they had us line up.  At this point, I realized this was a relatively small race (Yea!) ... 274 people ran.  I line up near the back for several reasons. 

1.  I hate crowds and need my space. 
2.  Being passed by lots of people is mentally defeating, I need to be the passer, not the passee
3.  I hate crowds.
4.  I have a hard time pacing myself during a race and didn't want to get caught up trying to keep up with someone who was running a 7 minute mile and burnout before I was halfway done.
5.  I hate crowds.

So lined up near the back.  The crowd kinda mobbed together after the starting siren (siren?  really?  I thought that was weird, don't they use guns anymore??).  Didn't get to start running until a few paces after the official start gate when there was enough space.

Mile 0 - 0.5:  Crowded, crowded, crowded.  Get out of my way people.  Maybe starting so far back wasn't a great idea. 

Mile .5 to 1:  Shoulder doing a weird seize up thing.  In a bit of pain.  Uh, am I going to have to quit before I even hit a mile?  Hell no, keep going.  Also, realize that this course is going to be hillier than I thought.  Flat to rolling my ass.  Notice the pink girls for the first time.  Whose hair is that perfect all the time?  They are a bit of a distance in front of me, but seriously, not a hair out of place.  I decided I want to beat them for all of us that look like we just rolled out of bed and didn't think to color co-ordinate our headbands to our shoes.
 
Mile 1 to 2:  Literally running in a circle.  We just went back through the starting gate and are headed to the dreaded hill I call "The Beast".  Shoulder pain is gone, still moving pretty good.  Breathing is nice and even.  Pink girls pulling ahead, may not be able to catch them.  The map my run app lady has been announcing my times and thus far averaging under a 9:30/mile avg. 

Mile 2 to 3:  Hills, hills, hills.  Or rather, just one big hill.  I have practiced this hill prior to the race.  So I knew what I was in for.  Up to this point, I have been able to run all the way to the peak, but have always had to take about a 10 second break to catch my breath at the top.  Not today - kept going.  Noticing others struggling with the hill.  Happy that I practiced it.  Pulled closer to the pink girls.  Also noticed that I am surrounded by redheads.  Weird.  Two women and a man.  Also, as a funny side note, as I started the hill, Eye of the Tiger came on the ipod.  I kid you not, I totally felt like Rocky! (why I have Eye of the Tiger on the Ipod is whole other post).

Mile 3 to 4:  One really steep decline followed by another incline.  I have ditched the redheads, left them in my dust.  My next target is serious runner guy.  He has all kinds of running gear - a fancy watch, the hydration belt, a running hat.  He definitely looks like he can run.  But I pass him anyway.  Closing in on the pinks. 

Mile 4 to 5:  Really got into my groove and this is probably my strongest mile of the race.  It is flat, which has definitely helped.  Breathing is good, the music is getting my feet moving and I am able to pass quite a few people here.  But the pinks seem to be having an equally good mile and while I am gaining, I still haven't quite caught them.  Starting to think it may not be possible. 

Mile 5 to 6:  Ugh.  As good as the last mile was, this one was a little bit more of a struggle.  The sun has really come out, so it is a bit warmer, which I hate.  But, I am glad that I put sunscreen on this morning, one less thing to worry about.  The group has really thinned out.  At about 5.5 miles, the mascot for the community college is out in the street dancing and high 5ing people.  Don't ask me why, but this somehow gives me a little spring in my step and I pick it back up.  Go me!  I can visualize the finish line at this point.  I can't see it, but I know it is close.  Let's move it feet.  And that my friends, is when I pass the pinks.  Thanks to the motivation by some guy dressed in a tiger suit.  Right near the 6 mile mark.  Wahoo! 

Mile 6 to 6.2:  There is another slight incline up the parking lot to the finish line.  I round the corner to see the clock say 59:17.  Heck yea, I am going to make it -- I sprinted to the finish line and passed it at a clock time of 59:24 ... Official finish time of 59:04!  So awesome to have made it under an hour!

That's my story.  I did it.  And really I wish the Pinks no ill will, I just needed a target and they were it.  If anything they helped get me through the race and I owe them a big thank you for keeping me motivated.

Next week I have a 5k which seems like a piece of cake now.  It is on Cinco de Mayo and they are encouraging people to dress up ... but somehow I am not thinking sombreros are very aerodynamic?!? 

Hallie

Calming the Pre-Race Jitters

So, tomorrow's the big day.  My first 10k!  Am I nervous, you ask?  Yes!  Don't ask me why ... I have no idea.  In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't mean anything - if I don't hit my goal time, the world is not going to end.  I am not competing for a team, so there isn't anyone to let down except myself.  It is not like anyone is going to be watching me either.  When you are out there running, really the only person you care about is yourself.  Yet, still nervous.  So, what can I do to calm these nerves? 

1.  Training- obviously, this is what I have been training for.  All the running I have been doing up to this point is going to help me tomorrow.  I ran 6 miles last Saturday.  I know I can do it.  Thinking about my past runs helps to calm my fears.

2.  Use Visualization - ok, so don't think I am cooky, but this really helps.  There is going to be one particularly challenging part of the 10k tomorrow.  It is about 1 mile in and it is very hilly for about 3/4 of a mile.  I call it The Beast.  I ran The Beast last weekend.  Picturing me, running that hill already, helps give me the confidence to know that I can do it again.

3. Get there early - I am a freak ... seriously, a FREAK about being on time, if I am not early to something, I consider myself late.  Getting there early will help calm the nerves.

4.  Keep it in perspective - It's just a race.  A race that no one cares about but me.  And it is supposed to be fun.  So I am going to worry less about time, more about finishing and mostly about what kind of yummy snacks there will be after the race!

Wish me Luck!  I'll report back next week with the results!

Hallie 

Running Safety

A friend of mine called and related to me a very sad story that reminded me that life is not fair. That life can down right suck. That sometimes there is no freakin' bright side. And sometimes that little bubble you live in where nothing bad ever happens, bursts.  Without giving you all the sad details, I will tell you that it has given me a new soap box issue. Running Safety.

There are so many things that can happen on a run.

You can injury yourself - twist an ankle or pull a hamstring

You could be attacked

You can be bit by a dog

You can have a medical emergency - heart attack, stroke, etc

You can be hit by a car and the driver may or may not stop to help you

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that from the year 2000 thru 2009, over 4,000 pedestrians* were KILLED in motor vehicle accidents EACH YEAR.  On top of that, over 59,000 were injured EVERY YEAR.  Every year people.  Talk about it being dangerous out there.  And this is just motor vehicle accidents.  It does not include any people who may have had a medical emergency while out running.  *The statistics are not recorded separating runners from any other pedestrians, this is the best I could find - if anyone has something more updated, I would love to see it.

These things make you feel uncomfortable? Good, they should. Now here is what you should be doing to protect yourself:

Stay alert. Be aware of your surroundings. I know this sounds like a no brainer, but you sometimes get into a groove and you are really pushing a half mile goes by and you don't even realize it. Look and Listen for cars, people, animals.

Don't run at night. If you can avoid it. I know our lives are busy and sometimes it just can't be avoided, so if you have to run at night, wear light and reflective clothing. Drivers aren't looking for you, you need to make them see you.  There are tons of things you can wear to make yourself more visible - check out this link.  There are vests, lights, bracelets, there are even slap bracelets - seriously, you know you want one!  Check these things out on the web or at your local running store.

Carry ID. If something does happens to you and you are incapacitated in some way, first responders need to know who you are, when you were born and if you have any medical conditions. They need to know who to contact. I recently bought this fabulous product.

It's called Road ID.  You can see all their products Here .   It is a bracelet that has your name plus emergency contact information on it.  You can also put special medical info on it if that applies.  If you look at the picture, you can see a hint of the silver on the top side of my wrist, that is where this info is.  (I didn't really want to broadcast all my contact info all over the net, hence this picture).  If you don't think you can run with a bracelet on, they have something that goes on your shoe.  I honestly think that no runner should leave home without one of these. Get one. Get one now. Wear it. 

Carry a phone. Yes they are big and bulky and a pain in the ass. Get a fanny pack or get an arm band and get over it. If you are injured and you are able, you need to call for help. Prompt medical attention can make a huge difference.

Run with a partner.

Run with your dog. It's good for both of you.

Take a self defense class. My current knowledge of self defense comes from Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality.  SING.  Solar-plex, Instep, Neck, Groin.  I suppose it is better than nothing, but probably I should be finding Bryn and I a class ASAP.  You can most certainly know that we'll blog about it!

Pause at all intersections and look in all directions for cars. Remember, they are not looking for you. They are likely texting, yelling at their kids, or putting on makeup. Stop worrying about your time and worry about your safety.

Don't wear headphones. Ever get lost in the music when you run? Yeah, that's not good for safety. Obviously, you can't hear cars, people, dogs, etc with headphones in. Unfortunately, I haven't done this one yet, it is a hard one, I need the music to keep me moving.  But I am working on it.

Run against traffic and on the sidewalk.  I know that the road is supposed to be easier on your knees, but it just isn't safe.  In a fight between you and a car, the car will always win.  Always.

Vary your running route.  Don't go on the same path at the same time everyday.  There have been cases where women have been attacked after someone stalked them for a few weeks and learned their patterns.

Let whoever is waiting for you at home know which route you are running.  So should they have to come looking for you, they know where to start.  I always tell the hubby as I am living which way I am going and for about how many miles - that way he knows when and if he should start worrying.

Please be safe when you run.  Be alert. 

Have other tips, leave them in our comments section, we would love to hear them!

Hallie

Beginning Running Tips, from a Beginner

Sunday I had my best run ever.  Ever.  Not necessarily my best time ever, though my time was good, but my best run ever.  I felt great.  I wasn't worried about how much farther I had to go.  I wasn't worried about if I was going ot have to walk.  I was just running.  If every run was like that, I would LOVE running.  Right now, I just sorta like it.  I am hoping the more I do it, the more runs I will have like the one on Sunday.  For the record, I ran 4 miles at a pace of 9:27/mile.  And that was after doing 6 miles on saturday.  Yes, I know.  I am not crushing any land speed records, but for me, that is an EXCELLENT time.  I typically run right at a 10 minute mile.

And the key is in these two words  ... FOR ME.  I read this quote on Pinterest and it completely resonated with me:

"It is very hard to understand in the begining that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit"

This (among other things) is why I run.  Because I always thought I couldn't.  Because I always thought that it was one of those things that people that were skinny and in shape did.  But, I was wrong.  And I can do it.  And you can too, if you try!

Know if you are just starting out, that there will likely be a lot of times where it won't be fun.  I may have uttered a few of these from time to time:

"This is torture, why am I doing this again?"

"Why is this so hard, I have been running for months?"

"I hate running"

"Well, that run sucked"

"I am just going to quit, I am never going to be good at this"

But then there are the days like Sunday where it all comes together and you can think of nothing else you would rather be doing, then, it is all worth it!

I still consider myself a novice runner, but here are my top 10 tips that I would pass along to any of you that may be just starting your journey. 

**Please read in David Letterman Top 10 fashion!

The Top Ten Things I wish someone would have told me about Running before I started:

10.  It's going to suck for awhile.  There is just no getting around it.  Especially if you are starting from scratch.  Running is hard.  You are going to sweat.  You are going to be out of breath.  You are going to be tired.  You are probably going to be sore.  But these are all good things that will pay dividends in the end.

9.  It does get better.  Eventually, it will all be worth it.  Like when the weight starts falling off.  When you finish 3 miles and know that you could go for at least 1 more, maybe 2.  When you run with no thought of stopping.  When you can eat that Mint Oreo Blizzard with no guilt.  When you go buy pants that are 3 sizes smaller.  Oh yeah, it does get better.

8.  Go Slow.  When I first started, I wanted to run a 10 minute mile right out of the gate.  Uh, yeah, that isn't really the way it works.  And if you try to do that and fail, you will be discouraged, like I was.  Oh how depressed I was that I was such a slow runner.  But the truth is, you can go so much farther if you slow down.  My advice is to focus on distance first.  Doesn't matter how long it takes you, the speed will come on it's own.  A little faster every run.  Focus on getting 3 miles down.  Then focus on improving your speed.  I used the Couch to 5k Program to get started.  It mixes walking with running.  A great beginners program.

7.  Make sure to warm up and cool down.  This is so important. I didn't use to do it.  I have a very limited window to workout and I didn't want to waste any time with warming up or cooling down.  I just wanted to get at it.  But your muscles really need warmed up and stretched out to avoid injury.    See point 6.

6.  If you get injured, treat it properly. As hard as it will be to stay off of the injury, that is exactly what you need to do.  I had some trouble with my hamstring and had to sit out a week.  It sucked.  I was afraid I wouldn't got back to running after being lazy for a week.  The injury likely would have been avoided, if I had followed point 7.  I followed RICE for my injury.  Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.  If you think it may be serious, go see a doctor!  The sooner you get the proper treatment, the quicker you can get back at it.

5. Drink your water or Gatorade (But really water, Gatorade is gross, right?  Who's with me?)  It is so important to stay hydrated.  Your body needs water to function properly.  You need it before, during and after your run.  Not getting enough water can lead to muscle tightness or cramping, heat exhaustion, and many other nasty things.  Drink your water.

4.It helps to have a goal.  Be it weight loss, training for a specific event (5k, 10k, half, etc), fit into a great pair of jeans, whatever your goal, it can help keep you going on days when you really just don't want to go. You can also use the reward strategy too.  Run for a month, get a new running outfit, something like that.

3.  It helps to have a buddy.  You don't necessarily need a buddy to run with, this would totally annoy me.  I need to set my own pace, go at my own speed.  I don't want to have to slow down or speed up or adjust my length for someone else.  But some people like it and it motivates them to get out there.  What I need is someone to talk to about running.  How hard it was, what is a good new route, how do I pace myself, etc.  And well, there is the competitive nature of my psyche.  If Wade had not taken up running at the same time, I probably would not have stuck with it. A little competition is fun.  He motivated me, I motivated him.  Dammit, if he went and ran 6 miles today, I was going to do 6.5 miles.  And you can bet the next time he did his long run, he went 7.  It works for us. 

2. You NEED a good pair of shoes.  And for that matter, a good pair of socks too!  If you want to avoid injury, run farther, feel better after your run, you need to wear a good pair of shoes.  Go to a running store and get fitted.  The have great computer programs that tell them which shoes fit YOUR feet.  Yes, they are going to cost some money.  But the $45 shoes I bought from Kohl's seriously do not compare to what I got a Fleet Feet.  I now feel like I am running on air.  And if you need an awesome pair of socks, you have to try Drymax Socks.  Check out my post about them Here.  I cannot say enough good things about them.  No foot sweat.  Very very comfortable.  I rain in the rain  and my feet were dry!  I wear the no show running socks and they are fantastic.  And padded.  Like running on pillows.  Sorta like sleeping bags for your feet.  Ok, I'm done here. 

1.  Running is 90% mental.  Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. This saying holds so true with running.  My biggest battle with running has not been physical, it has been mental.  That little voice saying, "You can't run 5 miles, who are you trying to kid?"  In the beginning, I would answer, "You're right.  I better walk for awhile, I am exhausted, I just CAN'T run any further."  But really, I probably could have.  The body almost always has something left when the brain just wants to give up.  What did Jillian Michaels always say -- "Unless you puke, faint, or die, keep going".  I won't say the voice ever goes away, at least not for me.  But the voice has gotten quieter and less frequent.  And now when she says, "No way can you do this, you aren't going to make it", I answer, "Shut up, I totally got this!"

Hallie

*Watch for updates on our challenges later today!

Running schedule

A couple of you asked if I would post my running schedule.

Ask and you shall receive!

Just to preface this schedule, know that I will be running a 10k on April 28th. So with that in mind, here is what I am doing this week:

Monday: off day

Tuesday: 4 mile Speed interval workout on the treadmill, my most fun workout of the week (does sarcasm come across on a blog?)

Wednesday: 3.1 miles, outside, focusing on time. Last week I had my personal best, which I can't remember right now what was, but it was sub 30 minutes. Yea me! I run roughly 10 minute miles. I would like to get to 9 minute miles.

Thursday: This will either be 4 miles of hills or 4 miles of speed intervals on the treadmill.

Friday: off day

Saturday: 6 miles, hard route, this means there are lots of hills and they are mostly on the back half

Sunday: 3 or 4 miles, just depending on how I feel. Easy route, outside.

Sounds like fun, right?

Hallie

And the winner is ...

#1 pulling the winning name from a hat.  In the future, we'll get fancy and use that random number generator thingie, but for now, #1 was thrilled to get to pick the winner!

McTrish11!  Congratulations on winning a fantastic pair of Drymax Running Socks.  We know you will put them to good use.  We will be in touch for shipping and sizing information.  Be sure to come back and tell us how much you enjoyed them!

Thanks to all who entered and helped make our first week in the blogosphere a success! 

Happy Easter and we will see ya Monday!

Hallie and Bryn

We don't quit when we're tired, we quit when we're done

That is our fitness mantra here at Try One.

You'll notice that the mantra says nothing about crying, whining, or complaining. There likely will be some of that too.  But we're hoping this will serve as motivation not only for us, but for you too!

Bryn and I have dubbed Fridays, Fabulous Fitness Fridays.  Every Friday we will be coming to you with stories of our workouts for the week, what worked well and what didn't. We'll talk about when it was great and when it was not so great.  Well discuss training schedules, products we love (or loathe), injuries, stretching and more. 

Expect nothing but honesty out of us, if I planned to run 5 today and was sucking wind at 3 and had to walk, I'll tell you.  And I hope you'll cheer me on next time.  Because we all need cheerleaders. 

To kick things off, here is a little bit of intro on both of us, where we've been health wise, where we are now and where we are going.

********
Hi, my name is Hallie and I hate working out. 

OK, that isn't entirely true, it used to be, but now, most days, I love it.  Truth is, if I have to miss a scheduled run, I actually feel it physically now.  I get antsy.  And I need it as much for my physical health as I do for my mental health.  Running cleans out the cobwebs and destresses me.

I am new to running.  I started the C25K program about a year ago.  But I got a weird pinched nerve in my neck in the beginning that took a long time to heal.  So instead of slowing down, I quit.  That has typically been my motto.  I get bored, I quit.  But for whatever reason, I picked up running again and ran my first race last weekend.  It was a 7k.  My only goal was to finish with no walking.  But really, I wanted to finish in under 45 minutes.  And I finished in 43:53.  A very proud moment for me.  I've got my next race scheduled for the end of April, you'll be hearing more about that next week. 

My workout time is limited.  During the week, I run on the treadmill in the basement while #2 naps.  On the weekends, I run outside when the hubby is home.  Since starting running I have lost 18 pounds.  (Reason #1 why I love running, it is great for weight loss!) Another proud moment. 

While this all sounds happy, it has taken a long time for me to get to this place.  Running was/is a struggle for me.  I don't consider myself  "good" at it.  Running 3 straight miles took months.  For me, running is 10% physical and 90% mental.  My head said "You can't do this" for a very long time.  Once you get over that, it gets a little easier.  But for me, every run I am telling myself, "You can do it" in that Hans and Franz voice.  I need a lot of positive reinforcement.

For those of you considering starting, as Nike would say, Just Do It!  Ttake it slow and just get started.  You won't finish any race if you never get off the couch!

So check me out on Fridays for running stories and to see what I am doing about these pesky bingo wings!

*******

Hi! My name is Bryn, and I have a problem.

I'm addicted to working out.

I get up at 4 a.m. in order to get my fix and without it I'm twitchy and cranky. Wow, when I say it out loud it does sound like a true addiction. Oh well. The high is totally worth it!

I started working out in high school and would go to the gym 5 nights a week. and then came college (and beer and pizza) where I gained around 50 lbs. my freshman year. You didn't read that wrong. 50. At that point I was too embarrassed to work out and frankly I was too busy enjoying the beer and the pizza to care. After college I decided to get back in shape so I started with my diet and cut my portion sizes and then eventually weeded out "bad" foods. Also, instead of using fear of embarrassment as an excuse, I started doing exercise videos at home and bought an elliptical trainer and I was hooked. I took kick boxing classes and fell back in love with the endorphin rush. Once eating right and exercising became a habit, the weight came right off. I was able to work out during both of my pregnancies and was lucky that I didn't have to put in too much effort to lose the baby weight.

I have a confession though. I have NEVER ran a mile. Ever. I've tried (kinda), but I feel awkward and intimidated. I don't think it's an endurance thing... I don't know what it is. However, I'm getting to the age now where I feel like if I'm ever going to do it...now is the time. I'm still breast feeding though, and I cant risk losing too much weight (go Hallie!), so I'm going to have to put off the C25K for this spring. Instead, I'm going to work up to a mile or two and then this fall start training with the C25K method. I really would love to run...and I'm going to do it!!!

So, for now, I'll be reviewing exercise videos, working on my booty, and learning to run around the block :).

************

Check back over the next few hours to get a glimpse of the two challenges we are taking on over the next several weeks.

Why we love it Wednesday and a Giveaway!

************The Giveaway is Now Closed********************************


The first feature that we would like to introduce you to is called, Why We Love it Wednesday.

I don’t know about you, but when I am out shopping for a specific item, the variety of choices can be overwhelming. I will look and look and look and then look at another store. I compare prices, colors, features, etc. because I don’t want to buy it and hate it. There are few things worse to me than wasting money. Seriously, I am way to cheap frugal to buy something and hate it and then just stick it in a cabinet and never use it.

So I am constantly looking for advice … and dispensing advice. If I have tried something and love it, you can bet you are going to hear about it. So this feature is dedicated to giving you our honest opinions about new things we have tried.

First up, running socks.

 
A few months ago, I didn’t really even realize that running socks existed.. I mean, I knew there were socks for running, but I didn’t really think they were any different than any other socks, just more expensive maybe. Boy was I wrong. Enter the local running store salesman.

I take off my shoes so he can do all the crazy measuring of my feet and then he goes over to a bin to grab a pair of socks. I immediately protest – “No, no “ I say. “I would rather try them on in these socks as these are what I wear to run in”. And then it happened. He laughed. Out loud. “Really, those are what you run in?” I was currently wearing a pair of regular socks, they were cute, they had polka dots on them, and I got them on sale at Kohls for less than a $1 a pair. They were also very thin and made of cotton. (Which I later learn, is rotten). “Do me a favor” he says “Just try the shoes on with these. There’s no pressure, you don’t have to buy them.” Alright, alright, I really don’t like to argue, so I gave in.

You know where this is going, right? I fell in love. I mean really really really fell in love. He had me try on the Drymax Running No Show Tab Socks. They are nothing but wonderful. They are a padded running sock that serve a whole host of purposes. First, never once have I taken them off and have had the socks feel like they are wet. This is apparently because they are NOT made of cotton. "Cotton is rotten", the salesmen informed me. Cotton absorbs all the moisture and keeps your feet wet. Which is well, gross. Drymax socks are equipped with a dual layer moisture removal system – which is fancy for my feet don’t feel wet when I run. Even when I run in the rain. My second favorite feature is how these socks fit. They hug my feet. They feel like they were made for my feet. The fit is perfect. And no blisters. Since I started running, I have been having trouble with blisters on the sides of my big toes. But no more. They have completely disappeared since wearing these socks. The hubby’s favorite feature is that my feet no longer stink after a run. Yes, you heard it here first, I have smelly feet. It has been a problem since I was a kid. Totally embarrassing, right? Well my friends, Drymax has taken care of this problem too. According to the Drymax website, “The MicroZap® antimicrobial in the Drymax® Fibers is a silver - zirconium phosphate ceramic ion-exchange resin. It fights odor-causing bacteria, helping keep socks odor free.” Fancy for, my feet don’t stink!! Everybody loves that.

I love these socks so much, that I think everyone should have a pair. I mean everyone. Not a runner? No problem, these are great just for working out.  The fabulous people at Drymax have kindly offered to give us a pair of their great socks to giveaway!!!! How wonderful is that?

You can receive two entries into this contest.  First, leave a comment on the blog about your current sock situation. Do you wear special running socks? Ever tried Drymax? We’d love to hear your stories. Second, become a follower.  Just hit the 'Become a Follower' button.  Once you are a follower, come back and leave us another comment saying you signed up.  Giveaway will close Friday at 5:00 PM CST.  #1 (my oldest child ;) will pick the winner from a hat draw Friday night and I'll announce the winner on the blog Saturday morning.  Good Luck!!!

And if you don’t win the giveaway, you can find these socks at local running stores and on-line. The Drymax Website has a store locater to make shopping easy.

*Please know that these opinions are mine and mine alone.  I have been using Drymax socks for months now.  I have not been compensated in any way to rave about how great this product is!  Drymax has been kind enough to provide the pair of socks to the winner.