Half Marathon Recovery

You (the generic you, who might be interested in anything I have to say) will be happy to know I am still running. Sometimes I run faster than I ever thought possible. And then I die a little during my one minute walk break. But no matter, it's interval training at its finest and soon I will be super, extra speedy. In the two weeks following my half marathon I followed the recovery program from Marathoning for Mortals. They also have a walk/run program for the half so I'm following it for PF Chang's in January. The two weeks of recovery included walking at first and then shorter runs. I did progress to a 7 mile run last week and let's just say it was hovering above horrible. I like running in the cold but it feels like my legs are frozen chopsticks sometimes and they won't be lifted above shuffling. But the recovery period was super. Looking forward to doing it again.

Other Things Responsible for My Super Recovery:

Ice bath and massage day of the race

Continuing to exercise after the race and not allowing myself to take a six month time off

Volunteering for an Ironman.

Volunteering for the Ironman was perhaps key in my psychological recovery. I figure I cannot whine about 13.1 miles around people doing a marathon AFTER a 2.4 mile swim AND 112 mile bike ride. It was so inspiring to see all kinds of people (not just skinny little stick people) completing the distance. But I don't know if it made me want to do one or vow to never do one. Not in the near future anyway. An actual conversation with one of the participants:

Him: Do you know if soda settles your stomach?
Me: I've heard on good authority, from the only person I actually know who's completed an Ironman, that it helps.
Him: I feel like I need to throw up.
Me: Well, um, just throw up then. It's probably better, right?
Him: I've been trying to throw up for the last hour.
Me: (in my head) OK, good luck with that.

So you see, volunteering at an Ironman offers both highs and lows. Next year I'm going to volunteer early so I can actually see the Elites finish. I was an hour or so too late this time. Plus next year I'll try not to poke a snippy high school girl in the eye. Note to self: volunteer at an aid station with less teenage help. Because if you have to hear a 16 year old constantly yelling for volunteers to "back up" you tend to get a little jaded with the youth of today. Sorry for the tangent. Moral of story: volunteer at a race you think you would never do and it really puts your life in perspective. Especially when you see a woman with a prosthetic leg come by three times and know she will complete the race with one good leg while you moan and whinge about how much your arm hurts from pouring water into cups.

Things I Love...

just in case you want to  buy me a Christmas present.

I have a growing collection of exercise related stuff. I'm still searching for the perfect pack or belt to take on my runs but I am a huge believer in my Camelback hand held water bottle. I tend to drink more when wearing it and it gives me something to death grip when I feel like I might just die. But I have a new found favorite thing:

Bondi Bands! They are delightful  headbands that don't slip and wick the nasty sweat away from important areas (like eyes, because seeing while running is always helpful). I always wanted to try them out but could only find them online. Then I discovered their booth at the Women's Half Marathon expo and immediately bought 3. Of course I didn't realize at the time that I bought the "fashion" bands and not the "wicking" bands but that only forced me to order 5 more when I got home. I wore the fashion band under my hat for the half and it worked pretty well. I also wear it only an almost daily basis now (I washed it first!) And here's photographic evidence:

And you thought I was lying! HA! The wicking bands really stay put and today I used it to cover my ears because it was arctic outside (well, arctic for AZ anyway). They had a coupon code for 5 for $25 - just put FIVE in the coupon space. I ordered "Run Walk Crawl Finish," "Suck it Up Cupcake," "I love running I hate running" (and it glows in the dark!) a tiara design and was forced to  buy a glow in the dark for my daughter. I highly, highly recommend Bondi bands (and they don't even know I exist so I'm not getting anything in return for this except maybe high fives from any friends who try them and love them)!

Women's Half Marathon Race Report

I know it's been a good long while since I've posted. I've just been so busy running (and stuff). My first run/walk/run half marathon is now behind me. I walked PF Chang's half a couple years ago so this technically wasn't my first half, just my first half with any running beyond that at the finish line! I have learned so much since then and I know I'm in much better shape. So sit back and enjoy the mile by mile recap. OK, I would never do that to you. Just a general recap then. Based on what I can remember before race amnesia sets in.

Our goal going in was to run 2/1 intervals for the first 6 miles and then switch to 3/1. This did not work out so well but still living and learning here. We had an approximate time goal of "less than 3 hours." We had been doing our long runs about a 13 minute mile pace but gradually sped up to about a 12.50 pace. We certainly did not push ourselves during long runs. Our shorter runs were about 12. 30 to 12.45. So we didn't set an overly ambitious goal. I honestly did not know if we could maintain a 12.30 pace over 13 miles. We just set out to finish smiling.

Race morning we enlisted my (wonderful) husband to drop us off at the start so we didn't have to mess with the bus from the finish line nonsense. We even made a bathroom stop at McDonald's (smartest move of the whole day!) We started in corral 4 behind the 3 hour pace team. We probably should have moved up at this point but I don't think we were giving ourselves enough credit. The race started and we had to dodge walkers for awhile before settling in. Our first mile split was amazingly 12.30 despite the weaving. The field opened up and we settled in. The first 8 miles went pretty smoothly, in spite of some really nasty hills not mentioned on the "fast, downhill course" race website. I don't know if you have hills where you live. I do not. It is FLAT, like Kansas. So the hills were like someone hitching a ride on my back with their arms around my neck. I seriously began to wonder if I had exercise induced asthma because I was sucking wind. The hills took a little of the spirit out of our game plan, as did passing the finishers on the other side of the road while we were only on mile 8. Psychologically disheartening to say the least.

We started really slipping at mile 9 and the downhill slide continued to the finish. Before that point we had been running at an average pace of 12 minute miles. And I'm sure you can go faster but for me that's the pace I was doing before when I was running the whole time. So I was nothing but excited. From mile 10 on it was a long hard slog. 3 miles seems so short considering you've already gone 10; but those 3 miles were the longest of my life. It's sort of like watching "Man Versus Food." (Just go with it). I always get mad at Adam if he gives up with like 5 bites left because really, he's already eaten some 5 pounds of ribs or something. But now I totally understand. At some point your body starts to rebel and you cannot force it to take one more bite or run "swiftly." I knew I needed another Gu but I could not stomach the thought. Finally I added some non-Nuun flavored water to my bottle and just took the Gu already. That seemed to help a lot and while the last three miles were no frolic in the park, we made it. Eventually we settled on 1/1 intervals and reached the sweet, sweet finish line in 2.43.48. Now let me just tell you the pissy thing about our finish. Garmin said we did 13.34 in 2.43, which makes our average lower than 12.30. I know the weaving at the start added some distance but I heard from at least two competent runners that their Garmin said 13.21. So I'm going with my distance. So there Women's Half Marathon!

Overall it was a great experience. I felt so much better finishing this than I did walking PF Chang's. Nutrition and being in better shape really helped with that. I even had an ice bath upon my return home AND a massage. I know, I'm a lucky, lucky girl. My legs are a little sore. The stairs in our house are accursed and sitting down is not delightful. But I am so ready to get back out there and see if I can sustain a faster pace. I am so not going to quit running now. I finally feel like exercise is a part of my life and not just something I'm doing to lose weight or finish an event.

I know run/walk/run has some critics:

"Run/walking isn't really running"
"You could run the whole time if you really wanted to"
"You would go faster if you ran the whole time"

To this I say (in addition to some cursing and eye rolling and "oh yeah, when did you complete your last half marathon? Oh that's right, you haven't"):
Run/walk/run is almost solely responsible for my getting to the starting line and the finish line. I know I could run at least 5K at this point and after PF Chang's I'm going to start running shorter distance runs, but for right now I'm sticking with Jeff Galloway. I really like knowing I only need to focus on 2 or 3 minutes at a time. I like seeing my pace slowly get faster. I ran/walked 2 miles with an 11.22 pace the other day. I like not feeling like total crap after my long runs. I like not being injured (knock on wood). In short, I can see using the run/walk/run indefinitely for long runs. During the race we noticed we were pacing several ladies who ran the whole time. And it is sooooo much easier to get Gu down during a walk break!

Runner's High or Hormonal Mood Swing?

I don't care which, I'll take it.

I am still in the midst of half marathon training. Our weekly long runs are up to 6 miles at this point. I am impressed with myself but continually wonder where the other 7 are going to come from. A couple weeks ago we did a horrible, horrible 5 miles on the canal. I was hot and had several, what I and my friend Sara love to call, "situations." I had chafing and rubbing and heat stress and general bitchiness. I seriously thought about calling the whole thing off. I truly questioned my sanity when I saw a small tree with shade and thought about crawling under it while waiting for my running buddies to come back and retrieve me. But I made it (obviously). The next week we were doing 5 again and I was so dreading it. I had solved the chafing/rubbing issues (thank you Body Glide)! I ate a little something before and I had some lovely Tri Berry Nuun. Plus the temps were in the normal for human beings range and the sun was behind clouds. Perfect. I had decided before that I would not look at the Garmin and would just run as fast or slow as my body wanted. The run/walk/run was awesome and when we finished I felt like I could keep going. Keep going! After 5 miles, which incidentally was my longest run/walk/run EVER. Then we went to breakfast at Paradise Bakery and I wanted to hug everyone. And possibly kiss them. I was JUST SO HAPPY. Maybe it was the elusive runner's high. Maybe I was just hyperventilating. I don't know. The point is, I did not feel like I was going to die. And this made me feel like I can accomplish the goals I have set for myself. So much so that I was inspired to sign up for another half marathon in January. Perhaps I should not be near the computer during a runner's high. It's like that middle of the night shopping or gambling for people taking Ambien. I cannot be responsible for what I sign up for during a period of extreme giddiness and love of life resulting from pushing my body beyond its comfort zone.

Week 3 of Half Marathon Training

Yes, amazingly I am sticking with my training plan. I've only missed one run so far. Yeah. Our last two long runs were 4 miles each. It does seem strange to think I just accept this as something I'm going to do rather than falling on the floor and crying and refusing to go. And it's not even that bad. I really, really like my intervals and hats off to Jeff Galloway. At this point I don't care how fast I'm going or that I'm not running the whole way, I'm just proud that I'm getting out there and doing it. Admittedly it's harder on the day I'm partner-less. I really struggle to make myself get out there and I give myself way too many excuses. I probably could talk Aaron into going with me. I get by with a little help from my friends.

Eating (and pronouncing) Quinoa

I have recently discovered the joy of eating (and saying) quinoa (keen wah). I have a strange compulsion to say the name over and over, which only works if you actually eat it. Otherwise it's just weird(er). I have read many articles about the benefits and tastiness of quinoa. Apparently it's a complete protein. And that's good. I just like the fact that you can eat it savory or sweet. I have tried two variations of quinoa:

Quinoa with Black Beans and Corn

and

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa

Both of these recipes came from SparkRecipes, which I also absolutely love. I have found so many good and healthy recipes there. Plus they provide the nutrition information per serving.

I used the black bean quinoa for vegetarian burritos and it was loverly. Quinoa has a slightly nutty flavor and reminds me a little of couscous. But it also has this little poppy crunch. So good. Try it and join the quinoa club. One of the benefits is being able to say "quinoa" in practically any conversation!

Thanks mmm-yoso!!! for the quinoa pic

Vacation Struggles

If you (meaning maybe one person) were wondering what happened to me in the month of July I am here to assure you I'm not going away. I always have these grand schemes for summer vacation. Small things, like redecorating the whole house or finally making a daily schedule that solves all of our problems and brings world peace. But does that ever happen? Instead it's a rush of trying to stay busy and then trying to recover from staying busy. And then the kids are back in school. I need another vacation. Throw in a road trip and a weekend trip to San Diego and summer is pretty much gone. We spent the last week of summer vacation driving to and from Oklahoma. And the worst thing about driving 18 hours (besides driving 18 hours) is the incessant eating. I am like a human vacuum. Of eating. I suppose I eat so much to keep myself from just closing my eyes for a second while driving 80 miles an hour on a busy interstate. I even brought along healthy snacks this time but half a bag of almonds, craisins and chocolate chips kinda adds up. Aaron and I did manage two workouts while on vacation. Not that it canceled out two (maybe three) trips to the ice cream store, one chili cheeseburger, conies, half a chimichanga and bowl of guacamole - and that was just day one. I jest. But not really. OK the food was spread out but in essence it's still the same. Oklahoma is all about eating for me. I think I did better than previous visits in balancing out the bad with the good but I'm still really struggling with the car eating. And that's why I should now fly everywhere I go!