Random realizations and my new favorite drink

You can learn a lot about yourself when you stop going through the motions and pay more attention to what you're doing (something I've been working on lately)

I recently discovered that I get bored too easily while running without my Garmin. Does anyone else have this problem? Post-marathon I ran without it for a couple weeks, and really did no race-specific workouts. It was a welcomed break, but then I started to get bored.   I honestly thought that after this last race that I would want (and need) a little break from any sort of training.  Even though I'm not technically training for anything right now, turns out I DO need some race-specific workouts in my life.  I'm actually looking forward to doing more speed work soon (never thought I'd say THAT!) 

I have also recently discovered that I actually do love RPM and spinning.  Any friends who know me well know that was NOT always the case. I love jumping and moving, and I really do love plyometrics.  When I'm on a bike, I have a hard time motivating myself, so if I try and get a workout by myself on a stationary bike, it's a BIG struggle.  I need to work on that.  However, in a class setting, with awesome instructors, I actually really really really like the bike.  I'm not sure what clicked, but I guess I just decided to embrace it and I really love being able to get a hardcore cardio workout without any impact.  My ankles love that :)

This....

Have you ever mixed hot chocolate and coffee?? Seriously, you need to try this.  My new favorite combo!!!!

This article (not a new realization, I just think it's really important)-10 Reasons Why Runners Should Include Weight Training.  I like the explanations it gives, and I'm all for anything that helps me run faster and prevent injuries :) Although weight training has not always been my favorite activity, I've learned to "love" it over the years, and it's just part of my weekly workouts.  I weight train 3-4 times a week (both Body Pump and weight room weight training) and do core training 3 times/week.  Since our core is the foundation for all our body movements, it just makes sense that having a strong core will help us hold good form as we get tired.  

This thought to leave you with....:)

What is your favorite to do for weight training?

Favorite fall recipes?-I need some new ones!!

New goals

Looking at this next year and planning out my races, I’m trying to decide which ones will be run just for fun, and which ones will be aiming for a PR.  I personally need to have a mix of both, so that I stay on top of my training, but can also run more laid back races with no pressure ;) My goals for this next year:

• 1:35 half marathon (really anything under 1:40 would be fine-it’s been awhile since I’ve pushed the pace in a half). 
• Break 20 minutes in the 5K (It depends on the course I choose)
• 3:30 full marathon

It should be a fun year!!

One of the things I really love about running is that we all have different reasons for running, and different goals that are all equally important.  You can take 10 people who are about to run their first half marathon, and they all have reasons why it is important to them, and what it took for them to get there.  Some have a time goal in mind, some just want to get across that finish line…and I LOVE hearing everyone’s stories….so….feel free to share your story and why you run or workout!!!

On another note…has anyone read this book??….

It was a freebie in the “goodie bags” from St. George, and I plan on starting it tonight! 

How is your week going?

What are your current running goals?

Peanut butter quesadillas and cross training

I just needed to share this fantastic meal with the world.  I’ve been into these lately-if you like peanut butter and you like bananas, then you NEED to try these!!  I made one for dinner last night (one of my favorite “breakfasts for dinner” ) SO quick and easy to make:

All you need is:

Tortillas

Peanut butter

Honey

Cinnamon

Banana

Skillet and cooking spray

Spread peanut butter on half of the tortilla, then drizzle some honey on top of it and spread it all together.  Next, sprinkle some cinnamon on top of the pb (this wasn’t part of the original recipe, I added it because I think it tastes good!).  Slice a banana (not too thick) and make one layer of banana slices on top of the peanut butter.  Fold over the tortilla, and heat on a skillet just until it browns on both sides.  The bananas get softer and the pb starts to melt and it is DIVINE!!

I got in a nice run this morning-a nice, Garmin-less run, and it felt great.  I can’t wait to pick back up with my base mileage.  I’ll keep it easy for another week before I mix it up again.  I was happy that my legs felt good during today’s run.  After my last marathon, my first few runs post-race felt weaker, you know, when your legs feel strong, but when you start running the muscle fibers feel weak.  It’s a feeling I only feel after marathons.  This time though (probably since I gave my legs a couple more days off) that didn't happen.   I wasn't going to run another race until January, but I almost forgot about the Gilbert Half Marathon next month-it’s a brand new race (it used to be the Shun the Sun Race) and I can’t wait to run through the streets of Gilbert!!  I love small local races…it should be fun!!

Another thing I’m excited about….

Cross training!  I cut this ^^^ out, along with most of my other cross training during my taper (I kept weight training up until the Monday before the race).  I am a STRONG believer in cross training.…group fitness/weight training/HIIT….and the effect they have on overall fitness and running.  I’ll write a whole other post on that because I have lots of reasons!!!  Haven’t done GRIT ( a Les Mills HIIT program) in a couple weeks now and I’m busting at the seams!!  I’m certified to teach it, so I have lots of releases that I do at home a couple times a week.  There are 3 different formats for GRIT- a cardio version, a strength version, and a plyometric version…all are 30 minute long, boot camp style high interval training. Check it out!!!... http://www.lesmills.com/workouts/high-intensity-interval-training/

Have a safe Friday night!! 

Post-marathon and race planning

A few days post-race and my legs are feeling pretty good overall!  I was sore for a couple days, actually more tight than sore. Some Epsom salt baths and stretching seemed to do the trick.  That’s one thing I REALLY need to work on.  If anyone has any ways they make themselves remember to stretch, I want to hear them! How long do you stretch for??  I need to make it an actual part of my workout.   

My toes did actually hurt A LOT more than my legs.  I had some pretty gnarly blood blisters from this one, and once I drained them (actually not painful at all-it felt fantastic) they felt soooo much better.  I will spare you pictures, and just say that they do not feel nor look pretty. 

I like the idea of a reverse taper after a marathon to build back up mileage to my base.  As much as I just want to run, marathons are HARD on the body, and these muscles that worked hard need time to repair.  Easy effort runs and cross training for a couple weeks it shall be!

I’m planning out my races for this next year and I’m thinking of running the Phoenix Marathon at the end of February.  That’s just over 20 weeks away.  Have you seen that course layout???  Fast and smooth-another great Boston Qualifier.  There was exactly 4 months between the San Diego Rock N’ Roll Marathon, and St. George.  The Phoenix Marathon is almost 5 months from now....so maybe that one, then St. George again (since it’s awesome and since I won a free entry for next year!)….then Boston ;)  

What are your favorite half marathons?  I like the Rock N’ Roll Phoenix half-easy PR course, so maybe that one in January.  Lots of things to think about!!

I’ve been sporting this sweatshirt all week.  I’m surprised I haven’t spilled on it yet.

Random-I made these hot chocolate snowmen from a pinterest link last Christmas.  I made a ton of them, and had a bunch of leftovers.  They’ve become kitchen fixtures at this point.  You know how when something is in one place for long enough, you kind of forget about it….you see it, but you really don’t pay attention to it….yeah, that.  I’m willing to put money on these marshmallows being suuuuper stale.   

Found these at Whole Foods tonight-umm yum??!!!!  Nut butters of all kinds are amazing.  I bought the macadamia one, the walnut one, and the cashew one.  I’ve never tried macadamia butter…

That's all for tonight...;)  What upcoming races are you running?  What's your favorite distance to run?

St. George Marathon Race Recap

The St. George Marathon is now officially my favorite race ever so far!!!  The entire experience, from the expo, to the organization getting to the start line, to the course support, to the views that make you appreciate life…the most enjoyable race I’ve ever run, and I will definitely be back. 

I trained myself for this race, and put together my own training plan.  My goal for this race was to qualify for Boston, and that moment crossing the finish line knowing I had reached my goal is a moment I NEVER want to forget.  I set out to run a negative split (for those that don’t know, that is when you run the second half of the race faster than the first).  I ran a negative split by 3 minutes, and actually felt good after finishing (I surprised myself with that one).    During training I practiced the negative splits, so I know that helped a lot.

Race weekend started with the expo on Friday morning.  Before that, I ran one last shakeout run first thing in the morning in St. George.  My Garmin drained somewhere during our travels, so I made it about ¼ a mile before it totally died on me.  At that point I decided to just run for a set time vs distance, and maybe it was good that I couldn’t see my pace so I wouldn’t push harder than I should.  This was a quick, easy run, and it felt great.  St. George is gorgeous, and I wish I had more time to spend there!

We spent pretty much all day at the convention center for the expo.  Picked up my bib and shirt, bought some souvenirs, tried some samples, had them re-tape my Achilles with KT tape,  and just explored.  They had a few different clinics throughout the day, and I went to all of them, so that I wasn’t on my feet all day, and also because they were great and gave lots of good info. 

Race day started off early, at 3 am.  I planned on being in the hotel lobby at 4 am to take the first shuttle over to the buses that bused us to the start.  I was wide awake by 2:45, before my alarm even went off.  I always feel like I “half sleep” the night before a race, like sleeping with one eye open.  This race is a point to point race, and the starting line was up in Pine Valley, a good 26.2 miles away J  It was freezing and windy at the start, like really really cold to this Arizona girl.  I had my throwaway clothes on, so pants and a jacket, and even with that and the Mylar blankets they were giving out, it was really cold!!  There were tons of fires to keep people warm, but I didn’t want to deal with crowds yet, so I found my own spot.  There were random cars parked off to one side, so I found a spot behind one of them, along with lots of other people.  The cars blocked the wind and it actually wasn’t too bad!  My bus got up there around 4:55 and the race didn’t start until 6:45, so it was a necessity to figure out how to stay warm.  The race started around 7 am (15 minutes late) so it wasn’t dark for long at all once it began.

The first few miles of the race flew by.  Some rolling hills, but really pretty smooth, and it warmed up quickly so I tossed my jacket at the very start. I held back A LOT at the beginning of the race.  When you are tapered and your legs feel fresh, it’s hard to hold back and I was REALLY itching to speed up.  It felt too easy.  The first part of a race you are supposed to run with your head, and my head knew that to succeed in this one, I had to be smart and save my legs for what was ahead.

 Around mile 7 is where it started to get fun.  The Veyo hill- a LONG climb, with the steepest being the first mile of it. It was cool to see the volcano though.  I think that was the first time I actually ever saw a volcano!!  I ran these miles by effort rather than pace.  I tried to keep a steady effort, similar to the previous miles, to save my legs.  I’m glad I did, because it played in my favor later on.

Around mile 11 or so, my left hamstring started really hurting.  I wasn’t sure if it was just tight, or if something was wrong, so I maneuvered my stride a little to stretch it out and it ended up being just fine. 

The 15 mile marker came and I was amazed that 15 miles had already gone by!  From the start, aid stations every 2 miles with Gatorade and water and fruit. There were 4 (I think there were 4?) stations that offered Clif shots.  I only brought one with me since I knew I could get them on the course.  I stuck with what I had intended to do for my fueling, and my stomach cooperated the whole time.  Yaay!

The last few miles are all through St. George, and there are people pretty much lining the sides the entire way through the city.  It really makes such a difference to hear all the cheering those last few miles.  I was actually feeling pretty okay (hurting a lot, but besides my quads/hamstrings, I was feeling strong), and high fived lots of little kids over those last miles.  I finished in 3:33:01 and I can’t say enough how much I loved loved loved this race!!

Thoughts on this race:

-Holding back at the beginning…SO important, even though my legs wanted to take off.  Don’t do it.  Your legs will thank you later.

-I never hit the wall, probably partly because I didn’t burn myself out at the beginning.  Also, I tweaked my pre-race nutrition and race fueling this time and it worked out.  I ran a big negative split and this race felt strong-stronger than I expected.

-I have to say, I NAILED the water situation at aid stations this time.  I got plenty of water in my mouth, and dumped the rest down my back.  They gave out big cups of water, so there was plenty to drink and dump on you in each cup!  Plus, the water was cold!!!  One station even had ice in the water.

-The only really flat part of the course was through St. George over the last couple of mile.  Definitely a big net decline for this race, but it was not a downhill course!!

Thank you St. George Marathon for a fantastic experience.  I most definitely will be back!!!