Race Recap Link-up! Beach to Beacon!!!

Welcome to the 17th Race Recap Link-Up!! I love reading recaps from other bloggers. Its a great way to learn about different races, support other runners, and gain motivation. A recap is the final leg of the race. It’s your chance to relive your race and allow others some insight. The training miles, the race day jitters, the glory of crossing the finish line. the good - the bad - the ugly We want to hear it all….

Meet the hosts...

Jessica at The Silvah Lining: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin'
Mary Beth at Tutus and Tennies: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Christina at Crazy Mama Runner: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

We'd love it if you'd follow us on all social media & let us know you've shared a post.

You must check out Amanda's (Unapologetically You) recap of Pike's Peak Ascent Race in CO. Her recap makes you feel like you were there with her. Ever wonder how to train for a 14,115' climb? While you there, poke around her blog and check out the training that went in to a race like that.

About this link up...

It is active every Tuesday - Friday. Link up your most recent recaps, or throwback to an old favorite. *If your post is unrelated to the theme, it will be deleted. One recap will be featured on the next link up! Read at least 3 other posts and leave them some love. The more the merrier… share on your social media so others can link-up. #TuesdayTales Grab the code to the link-up image below on your post or somewhere on your blog.

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An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you for linking up this week - be sure to come back next week.

And speaking of Race Recaps I have been holding onto one for awhile now, since August 1st actually! This link up day is the perfect day for me to release the recap for the very sought after Beach to Beacon!!!

Registration 

The quest for the TD Beach to Beacon 10k 2015 started in March.  Yep March for the August 1st race. No the training didn't start but the registration did.  Beach to Beacon is Maine's most popular race. Hosting over 6000 runners on a 6.25 mile course.  Being the most popular race the spots fill fast.  And by fast I mean like blink or have a typo and your chances of running it are slim to none.  This race sold out in just over 4 minutes.  FOUR MINUTES! Which means you have to be fast OR hope that one of the 1200 lottery spots they open after registration closes goes to you with the luck of the Irish on your side.  I happened to have my act together on the morning of March 13th and my typing fingers flew because I GOT IN!!!! For the first time ever I was going to be joining the masses and running this sought after course! 

Packet Pick-up/Expo

After the high of securing a spot in the 4 minutes of active registration I let the race slip from my mind.  I mean after all I was in the middle of Marathon training and raising three kids so I thought nothing of it, knowing that training was something that I wouldn't really need to focus on too much for a 10k.  After all I in May I held my own for 26.2!!!! But alas packet pick up was upon me.  There was really no choice of a morning of packet pick up like I was accustomed too.  Morning of pick-up was held only for the most needed cases, think those traveling from afar or having some special circumstances.  With 6000+ runners they really needed bibs to be picked up before.  So the afternoon before after spending the morning at the beach as a family we headed to the expo.  And it was immediately very clear as to why the packet pick-up was mandatory the day before.  There was pick-up TRAFFIC.  Yes, we sat in lines of traffic and then had race volunteers direct us to the very last lot left for parking.  I was starting to realize how big this race was going to be.  After the let down of the Maine Coast Marathon expo I wasn't expecting much but I was very VERY pleasantly surprised!!!! The packet pick up was a breeze, very well organized and over quickly.  Then I was sent out to enjoy the vendors and pick up me free Beach to Beacon shirt.  We were treated very well.  Given lots of samples, gift cards to a sports store and Dunkin Donuts.  (When all was said and done after that weekend I walked away with $15 of Dunkin Donut gift cards.  Enough to keep me happy for a long time!) The kids had a BLAST, each collecting their own little race expo goodie bags, including cow bells to cheer Mommy on!  A very well organized and fun expo for sure!

Pre-Race

After such crazy traffic for packet pick-up we decided that a VERY early morning departure was needed.  Which meant that my little cheering crew would not be attending.  I left the house at 5am after 3 hours of sleep and made my way to the Biddeford park and ride where two lovely ladies from the Lebanon Lady Runners run group met me and we then carpooled to a designated parking lot.  There were 4 such lots.  Since this was a point to point race shuttles were being used to get us all were we needed to be.  We arrived at the lot and had port-a-potties waiting for us.  A quick stop in and we were in the shuttle line. Awaiting our turn to board the school bus and be bussed to the start.  This was all done very quickly and organized.  Stepping out at the start line we were welcomed with oranges and bananas and some Gatorade if you so chose.  A sunscreen station was set up for those who may have forgotten to put it on and the smiles and welcomes were plenty from all the volunteers. Also awaiting us was the most glorious set up of port-a-potties EVER!   A line as far as the eye could see with alternating side entrances to keep the lines from being so chaotic.  Another stop in for a bathroom break and we had enough time to head down to the start to see the start of the wheel chair participants AND then the special guests.  This year the special guests were a 90 year adorable lady and her support crew and a strong and brave Boston Marathon bombing victim and her husband.  It was a pretty emotional send off.  Here we paused to snag a picture at the start line AND managed to even get Joan Benoit Samuelson in our shot!!!! It was really cool to see her at the start giving orders and saying good luck to all she came across.  One more trip to the port-a-potty line and I was off to seed myself.  

The Race

6000+ runners is something spectacular to see and to be in the mix of.  It was heads as far as I could see in both directions.  All gearing up to run.  We were packed in shoulder to shoulder and no where to move.  I had put myself up with the 10 min milers and as an after the race thought I wish I had gone closer to the 9 minute ones.  I however, was locked in.  There was no where to move once you stopped in your place.  People who were obviously late were trying to fight through to their pace section and were having no luck.  It was just wall to wall bodies.  The gun went off and somewhere over two minutes later I crossed the start line. I was running.  I was weaving and I was dodging and being dodged.  I waited for it to thin out so that I could get my groove and get focused.  It NEVER did.  In fact, they closed the whole course and we had the entire road to run both lanes but the people never thinned.  With no music and just the spectator cheers to focus me I put my head down and just made the best of it.  I weaved, I bobbed and I was passed or passing runners the entire time.  Not once did I have a spot where I could breathe and settle in the run.  I was constantly all over the place.  Things got a little worse at the finish.  I have always been one to save some for the end.  And when the two lanes of runners were funneled into a 6 foot wide single lane about .4 miles from the finish line it got tight and I got a little frustrated.  I was stuck in the spot I was in.  I couldn't open up and sprint, I couldn't try to get in under the hour like I had wanted to do.  I had to bid my time stuck behind groups of people running three across and not moving aside to let others through.  When I crossed the line not breathing that hard and 1 minute and 20 seconds over my goal I knew that I would have had it if it weren't for being stuck in such a tight pack the last quarter mile or so.  But I had done it. I had finished Maine's most popular race and I was feeling great.  Hot but great.  We were herded up a hill to find water and then down the other side for food.  

Post Race

The food lines were long and being one who never eats after a race, I circled around the lines and found the ladies I carpooled with.  We then headed out to find the shuttle line.  Although, the lines were long they were organized and went smoothly.  After about 45 minutes we were on the bus and headed back to our lot.  Once I got to my car and had 40 minutes to drive home alone in my thoughts I had time to decompress about the event.  Overall it is a spectacular race.  The energy from the expo right on through to the finish is unbelievable.  The spectators line the whole course and the cow bells, cheering and even live music blaring is an amazing sight.  To see so many runners together is chilling, the goosebumps from the inspiration of all sorts of runners.  The elite Kenyans who won to the back of the packers smiling high fiving and staying the course is all so beautiful.  The volunteers were plentiful and amazing.  The small touches of having sunscreen tents and pre race fuel were touching.  The smoothness of that many people being parked and shuttled and cared for during a race was phenomenal.  If this was a race you were hoping to PR in or beat a time you will be disappointed as the sheer amount of runners leaves the course packed and crowded the whole time.  But for a race to run just for fun and to see the running spirit in full force go for it!!!!! I do not think I will be up on a morning in March with my fingers ready to race for registration in 2016 but I am oh so glad I had done it this year! Oh and the FREE amazing race photos are a HUGE perk! 

#NationalRunningDay

It is National Running Day.  The love for running is flying around all social media outlets and I get so excited and giddy seeing all of these runner's coming together and running to celebrate today.  In true runner fashion I too laced up and hit the road running.  The whole time marveling on the difference a year makes.  Last year on this day I did 3.1 miles while pushing the double and being 36 weeks pregnant.  This year I went out early and met a friend out there.  4 glorious talkative miles later I came home to the screams of delight from all three of my miracles.  Great start to my day hands
down!!!

In honor of National Running Day I am super excited to team up with Kristen from JonesInForARun and a bunch of other blogs for a fun running interview.  Thanks Kristen for heading this up and sending the questions. I had so much fun answering them!!!

1. Why do you run? I run to feel limitless. To believe. To be brave. To discover me.

2. How do you plan to celebrate National Running Day? Hitting the road in the quiet start of the day.  When all there is out are the other runners and the birds waking up the neighborhood.

3. How many miles have you run so far this year? Oh my gosh how many miles have I run this year? It will take me a second but I will go add them up.... 492.5!!!!! Which means a part of me wants to push for 1,000 miles this year!!!

4. What big events do you have on the race calendar so far this year? First and foremost the biggest event was my first marathon.  Yes, I am now a MARATHONER and totally badass in my own personal opinion.  The events leading up to that 26.2 plus the insane INSANE heat after a very VERY long winter of training made me feel totally kickass :).  The rest of the year my calendar is surprisingly filling faster than I thought it would.  I have a Vermont 5k, a very sought after10k (hello Beach to Beacon!!!), my first EVER Ragnar with Reach the Beach and then I am doing a half with my sister.  Her first half, it is going to be epic!!!!

5. Before I leave for a run you must have: A dozen or more kisses from each of my littles, my epi pen and my phone.  My phone is only for emergency calls now, like in case I actually need to use the epi pen.  I learned last year to run sans music and I actually do not even think about putting it on anymore.

6. Do you have one favorite app to track your runs? RunKeeper!

7. Who is your favorite running partner? I LOVE having running partners and each time I have one or more I feel so lucky to be out there doing what I love doing with others!!! But hands down my fav is my hubby.  I love that he slows down for me.  I love that we can go out and be together and talk and catch up and he believes that I can do it.  He is my number one cheerleader and the one who most gets my crazy. :)

8. What races have you ran so far this year? Opps, here is where I should have mentioned that marathon huh?  I did the Maine Coast Marathon in May.  I completed the 26.2 miles and was so so so proud to cross that line to the cheers of my family!!!

9. If you had to give someone one piece of advice about running what would it be? The miles do not make the runner, the pace doesn't make the runner.  The fact that you are out there giving it your all makes you a runner.  Do NOT fall into the trap of thinking you are not a runner because you run 13 minute miles,  you don't look like the stereotypical runner, or because your long run is 4 miles.  You are a runner its all in a state of mind.

10.  Describe your relationship with running in one word: Evolving!

Why do YOU run? Have you put in some miles for #nationalrunningday?

Linking up is so much fun!!! 

A GiVeAwAy!!!!! Dream Big and GO for It!

Here I sit.  A few weeks after my marathon.  A few weeks after I actually toed the start line.  A few weeks after all the hard work, training and dreaming came to a conclusion, I AM A MARATHONER.  

Never in a million years have I ever thought I would say that.  I never thought that I was runner enough to achieve that goal but I had dreams and I had support and because of those dreams and support I was able to go for it! And go for it I did, I now have the amazing mermaid medal to prove it :)

Which is why as a mom and a runner, a supporter of healthy living I am beyond excited to have come across Go! Go! Sports Girls.  As a mom I want to instill healthy living and activity into my kids.  I want them to make choices and have fun while getting active and choosing healthy snacks. You can even find tips on how to get your kids involved in sports on the website here) While I live that example to the best I can to show them what it is like I am so thrilled that there are companies out there in society and the media that are promoting the same values that I am trying to.  It is like the founder of these amazing dolls, Jodi Norgaard, got down to the core of what I am trying to teach.  She has coached "Girls on the Run", a program which encourages girls to make healthy choices in life through running, for many years.  It was while working with these girls that Jodi had an idea. 


"I realized there was a need for a positive doll for girls that would be age appropriate, proportioned properly and send a positive message about a healthy lifestyle - physically, mentally and emotionally - through sports." -Jodi 

YES EXACTLY THAT Jodi!!!!! I am excited that this message is starting to make waves into our littles lives. "The whole point of the business is to send the message to girls to dream big and go for it." says Jodi. 

This right there is EXACTLY the type of message that I dream of for my daughters to embrace, hold on to and pass on.  I want her to dream her dreams and then go for it.  Even when in a million years she never thinks it will be possible.

Back in March I reached out to Jodi and the Go! Go! Sports Girl company to ask for a donation to our Daddy Daughter Dance raffle.  I was in charge and I wanted to put something together for the girls that embraced being active.  Jodi did me one better.  She sent a doll in for the raffle AND she sent me one to GIVEAWAY!!!!! 

Yes I have a doll, Ella the running doll to be exact to give to one lucky blog reader!!! Just leave a comment telling me how YOU Dream Big and GO For It!!!! 

By the way, how perfect is it that Ella is the name of the running doll?  My oldest is named Ella and I love that the runner here is also an Ella!!!! Now to just convince Jodi that she needs a doll named Lucille/Lulu/Lucy...... Maybe an extra bonus entry if you write in that suggestion ;) 

MARATHON recap and a GiVeAwAy announcement

I did it!!!! I. AM. A. MATHONER!!!!!!! enough said right?  Not really, just like child birth there is always a story, a journey of how your life was changed.

I spent Saturday with my family.  Watching my tiny dancer take the stage in the most beautiful dance I have ever seen, stopping at the greenhouse and enjoying the flowers, celebrating my neices 2nd birthday and then doing things that well as a runner getting ready to run a race you are never supposed to do.  I went to Target and bought myself new running clothes to wear FOR the race.  After training all winter, the only clothes I had worn were warm ones.  I needed something that would help keep me as cool as possible for the forecast of 85 degrees.  Then, then I ate pizza and onion rings.  Yep, take out.  Not really something I would normally do and especially not before a race but I did it.  Then I went to bed at 11.  Yep, late.

The day dawned for me at 12:37 am, to the lovely sound of puking, crying and moaning that "my belly hurts it really really hurts".  My heart broke for my oldest who was clearly extrememly sick.  My hubby was amazing and dealt with all the clean up and calming her down but as a mama I just couldn't go back to sleep with her so miserable.  At 5am, I was up packing and worrying about my mini.  She was insisting she still see mama race, and considering the race start was a drop off and I never bought a shuttle ticket because the plan had been for the kids and my husband to drop me off we had no real choice.  Since I had gotten my bib Friday night at the expo (If it can even be called that?  It was pretty much just a packet pick up with two vendors there not even trying to demo their stuff), we held off putting the kids in the van until the last possible second.

I walked out my door and the humidity hit me.  It was already thick and warm, 60 degrees.  I could already tell that things were going to get HOT.  As I walked around the van I came across the best surprise I  ever!!!! At some point in the middle of the night, without anyone in the house knowing some of my wonderful friends had lined my driveway with homemade race signs for me.  I just stood there and read them and cried.  It was truly the most thoughtful thing that could have ever had been done for me right there in that moment.  This was the start of what would be the reason I finished that race.

We drove the 20 minutes to the race start with my mini puking in a bowl and then smiling at me and telling me she was ok.  I wanted to stop go home and just snuggle her but I also knew that I really needed to do this or at least try as selfish as that made me.  My husband dropped me off with 20 minutes to go before the start.  He wasn't sure what his plan would be with Princess Pie throwing up so much but he gave me a kiss told me he was so proud of me and out the door I went to stand in line for the port-o-potties.  I tried one more time to eat something while I was standing there but I couldn't do it.  I was sick to my stomach and no food would go in.  Looked like I was relying solely on that take out pizza the night before.  In line I was surrounded by runners talking about all the other marathons they had run, which ones were better to BQ at and which ones to avoid.  I felt alone.  Never have I felt so alone at the start of a race before.  I used the potty and slowly made my way to the line.  

I made the decsion to run naked.  I didn't want any time pressure on me.  I just wanted to finish so I stood and I waited and then the gun went off.  We were warned the route was only closed to traffic

for the first mile and to not run in groups after that.  I was at the back of the pack and trying desparetly to find someone who looked friendly and wouldn't mind chatting for a few minutes but no luck.  I ran the first mile, and wished I was already done.  I knew that if my husband stuck around to cheer that I wouldn't see him until mile 4.5 or so and that seemed so far off.  Then as luck would have it a runner decided to run down the center line even when the road opened back up to traffic.  He didn't budge and those of us behind him kept yelling CAR, and because of this I found my opportunity to talk to someone.  It started with a "can you believe this guy?" and ended with chatting about anything and everything.  This was exactly what I needed to shake that alone feeling.  We ran together until I veered off to use a port-o-potty.  I was alone again but I was ok.

At mile 4.5 I was delighted and excited to see my small little family standing there, with specially made Mother's Day race signs and I tried so hard not to cry.  I stopped and gave them all a small kiss and off I went again to my husband yelling you look great keep it up!  This was the pattern that kept me going.  Each time, I was feeling like I couldn't do it, I happened upon surprise support.  At mile 6

my sister-in-law drove by screaming and waving.  At mile 8 it was some page followers/friends out there cheering me on and making sure to grab some pictures so I would have some part of my journey documented.  At mile 10, a friend jumped in and ran with me for 3 miles.  Some where in there my other sister-in-law and cousin drove by screaming and yelling.  At mile 13.5 I met the whole group of them cheering for me with signs and smiles.  I stopped here to apply some more sunscreen.  It was getting hot and there wasn't an ounce of shade out there at all.  Here yet another friend jumped in to run a bit.  She had a Sunday long run planned and thought why not run with me.

At mile 15 things started getting REALLY hard.  The heat was insane and I was starting to get so sick. I was unable to drink or fuel without wanting to throw up.  Having Annette out there with me then was pure magic.  She kept me calm, going and making sure I was sipping water as much as I could.  At mile 16 my sister-in-law and cousin had ice cold water for me to drink and dump over my head.  At mile 16.5 I came across the best cheerleader ever.  A random lady standing out there with a sign and a bowl of ice for the runners.  Truly a God send.  I grabbed a handful and dropped it in my bra. At mile 18 I found the page follower/friends again and couldn't have been more excited they were still out there tracking and cheering for me.  Then came, my husband again AND one of the sign
making friends who had lined my driveway.  My fan base was growing.  They were all leap frogging each other so that I had someone cheering me on every few miles.  I found them a few more times each time MORE friends had joined them.  These people had all taken time out of THIER Mother's Day to be out on the side of a hot road holding a sign waiting and waiting for me to be spotted.  At mile 24, Annette who was only going to run 10 miles with me was still there.  It was here she suggested that she put music on her phone and we run one song, walk one song.  This is how, I finished the race.  Focusing not on how sick I felt but one song at a time.  People were now starting to lie and tell me I was almost there.  I guess in the grand scheme of things yes I was.  But when you have 1.5 miles left DO NOT tell someone it's just a mile now.  The last mile lasted a lifetime and I started getting dizzy and even more sick.  Thankfully, the last aid station at mile 25.2 had cups of ice.  I was able to chew on the ice to get some liquid in and cool off some.

At the finish line I ran in to the cheers of my mini family and my sister-in-law and cousin who had stayed to see me through the whole thing.  Honestly, I do not remember much about the course.  They say it is a beautiful one.  The sites are specataculr.  I don't remember.  I don't remember the aid

stations or which was my favorite as I am supposed to vote.  I don't remember how many people passed me, or the time I finished in.  I don't think I even looked as I crossed the line.  All I remember was the support and encouragement.  I remember feeling loved and believed in.  The specators I had both there physically and from away.  All of the notes, texts, messages, signs, smiles, hugs, ALL of that.  That is what I remember.  That is what made this race so special.

Those signs in my driveway that morning, those signs were a foreshadow of how I was going to get through that race.  I was going to get through with a little help from my friends.


For me this race wasn't about the running, it was about the friendships, the believing in myself and the love that can get you through anything.



Speaking of believing in yourself, and fantastic role modeling look for a giveaway coming soon!!! One I am very VERY excited to be a part of!!!!  One that will definetly have your little ones on the Go GO... Anyone care to guess what it is?

Taper Crazies!!!!!

Ahhhhhh it is upon me!!!! Marathon weekend is about to start.  I can not even believe that 18 weeks
of training are under my belt.  It honestly feels like I just started and yet I am no where near ready.  Que: Taper Crazies.

Tapering is this funny funny thing.  I never understood it completely until right this week.  The last weeks of training, I was tired, I was ready for a break and I was feeling run down.  HA! This week I am ready to go, I want to run, I feel like I should be out there running and yet I am not.  Mind games are continuing and doubt is setting in.  Tapering may actually just be harder than the actual running!!!

Here are five ways to keep the tapering crazies at bay:

1) Clean.  Yep clean your house.  My house is normally a crazy loved lived in cozy mess.  Kids art work is everywhere, shoes are strewn, toys and forts and "doctor office" stations are stepped around
and lovingly turned into whatever else the imagination needs at the moment.  During training however, well that coordinated chaos turned into a disaster zone.  Laundry piled up, dishes are stacked up, beds are unmade and floors are pretty sticky in spots (pretty sure someone snuck juice in a room where it isn't allowed...) I spent yesterday, organizing everything. rearranging furniture, folding laundry and washing floors.  I was done by 1 o'clock and still itching to run BUT I put the laundry away instead.

2) Play.  All the weeks I have had to arrange schedules and fit in runs whenever I could are no more.  This week we have had park trips and picnics at random times.  We have had "paint nights" in with the music blaring and the paint flying everywhere and a little on the canvas.  Dance parties and bike rides.  It is almost like I am a kid again and the kids and I are enjoying it.  The forced time away from running is like a welcome playtime oasis.  We even managed a fantastic dinner picnic on the beach this week.  To soak up the sand and waves and to see the kids just carefree running between tide pools was exactly what I needed to fill my heart with love.



3) Weather Stalk.  Oh boy, this in itself can drive you crazy but it's like a bad movie you watch it anyway.  So far I have seen the weather go from my perfect conditions (50's with a 30% chance of rain) to pretty much hell.  Literally, the temps are forecasted to reach near 90 Sunday.  I am not accustomed to that type of heat yet.  I trained in the dead of winter.  A winter that didn't seem to want to end.  I ran in blizzards and through snow that was taller than me.  The summer is welcomed yes, but it is definitely going to make me work to finish that race.  Although, this is Maine.  Even the forecasted weather that morning will probably change yet again. Hopefully, to cool with some rain ;)



4) Plan.  I have lists of lists that I need to make.  I am taking the time to plan what to wear, what to eat, what to bring, You name it and I have a list for it.  Because there is no parking at the start, my husband and the kids are dropping me off.  Not only do I have to plan for me and pack and organize
my things but I need to do it for three kids and a hubby too.  They will need breakfast to go, snacks, lunch, toys, extra clothes, diapers, breast milk, sunscreen and strollers.  All of this planning has me running errands and staying busy.  A wicked good distraction to the not running thing this week.  Even my lists have lists who have lists.



5) Take it all in.  Lastly, just be.  Take it all in.  All of your training, all of your thoughts.  All of the support from your supporters.  The notes, the quotes and the words of encouragement.  Just let it all soak in and store it away.  Believe, their words and notes.  You are trained for this, you have this and
it is going to be life changing.  Let those in who are cheering for you.  Let them offer you little pick me ups that you will store close to the heart and pull them out when you need them the most.  For as in the words of the amazing Sue from This Mama Runs for Cupcakes: What will be, will be.


Thank you to all of you who have supported me, helped me train, ran with me, texted me with encouragement when you knew I was out.  Who left me notes and quotes.  Who have paved the way and inspired to me to test my limits in the first place.  This run I am doing for me but it is because of all of you that read this blog that I am finding the courage in myself to try for dreams.

A special huge thank you for this trifecta of amazing and inspiring runners and bloggers who took the time to read and comment on each weeks training journey post.  Thank you ladies for being such wonderful blog readers!!!!

Sue: This Mama Runs for Cupcakes 
Wendy: Taking the Long Way Home 
Michelle: Movin It With Michelle

And now we TAPER....

And now, now things are seeming all too real.  I just finished up my last week of real training. And I am officially in taper mode for the next two weeks.  The nerves are kicking in as is the little voice of doubt that lives in my head.  I am doing my best to keep it at bay but I know I am under trained and it knows exactly what to say to strike the fear of a DNF in my heart.

Marathon Training Week 16:

The Miles:
Tuesday ~ 6.5 miles
Wednesday Morning ~ 1.76 miles (then limped and cried home)
Wednesday Afternoon ~ 2.52 miles (first time ever pushing the youngest two while my oldest rode her bike!)
Friday ~ 4.5 miles
Saturday ~ 5.01 miles (Baby Shower and a Birthday party had me splitting the 10 to make time for it all)
Saturday Evening ~ 4.73 miles (again with the hip problem ahhhhh!)

The Routes:
Same ole boring home routes.  Yet I was dreaming of the Newport routes and reliving them in my mind as I ran along.  It was also so amazing to have a route that I could take all the kids on with me.

Weather:
Still below average for the temps! It isn't cold compared to January running but I wish it was warmer.  I would love to have it the temp that makes you just want to run and run and run and run.  I am hoping that it warms soon and that May 10th is a spectacular spring day!

Gear:
Same as ever.  I didn't even use an fuel.  Which makes me a bit nervous.  I do not feel confident in my plans for fueling yet....

Lessons Learned:
What a week this was.  The excitement of being done the toughest part of training and the anxiety of knowing I am slightly under trained.  The fear of a DNF is real, especially after finishing this week with some hip problems.  I am not sure how or why they started but I have now run a few times where I come limping home to ice, rest, and roll taking a day or two off and then testing out the hip again.  I have learned to listen to my body.  It doesn't matter if you have a sitter for the kids, that you inconvenienced them to watch your kids so you could run.  If you are hurting than STOP, come home and just let it go.  I have also learned that there is a difference between sticking with a dream and goal and being stupidly stubborn.  See it is the end of the money and I am close, close to having a 100 mile month.  And you know what?  I have to let it go.  Running an extra three miles isn't going to help me, my hip or my goal of running the marathon.  It is OK if my monthly mileage falls short.  It doesn't make me a real runner to have 100 miles this month.  It makes me a real runner because I know I AM a runner because I run and I am starting to be smart enough about the running to heal some injuries and not just keep pushing through.  Before I was a runner, before I let myself acknowledge that title I would make excuse after excuse as to why it wasn't good to run that day, that night, that weekend.  Today, I fight the opposite battle.  I have to recognize that these are NOT excuses for not running but legit reasons to stop for the day, the night or that weekend.  My body is adjusting to the miles, and still nursing a baby.  It is recovering from a pregnancy and birth and still trying to build endurance.  I am putting it through a lot and if my hip, or back or even soul just needs a break then I need to take it.  I am NOT failing I am growing.

Speaking of taking the stroller out with me, who is going to participate in National Stroller Running Day on May 31st?

Figuring more of me out! Weeks 14 and 15

When things get tough, when I start to doubt, when I feel alone, when I need a hug but can't ask, when I am scared, when I find that there is a chance I may fail.  I hide.  I withdraw and get quiet and lazy with making time to write.  My marathon training is winding down and yet now I am finding it harder and harder to put the training weeks up on the blog.  To write about them. To dig deep and
discover what they are telling me.  I am finding that I am burying them.  Running the miles and then forgetting about my thoughts while out there.  Which is funny.  I just came off a back injury, I am seeing a chiropractor three days a week and I missed most of week 14.  Only getting in two runs, thankfully one of which was a long 16 miler.  I should be thrilled to be back running and sticking with training.  I should be ecstatic that I hit a 16 miler, 16 whole miles with the help of some running friends coming off that back injury yet, I hid.  Following that week, I had one of the MOST enjoyable training weeks.  Nailing every run and finding myself doing it alone.  Just me.  The first time ever going over 10 with out having some chunk of my run with a buddy.  All of this leads me to believe I am way more conflicted about running this marathon than I thought I was.  I need some time to sort things out.

Marathon training week 14:

The Miles:
Wednesday 6.57
Saturday 16.02

The Routes:
Same old same old.  Circles of the local roads that I have been training on for the last 13 weeks.  Up and down the same roads.  I have come to know every pot hole, puddle, dog and most likely area to wave to kids or say hello to someone doing yard work.

Weather: 
Spring for the most part really is here.  It hasn't been super warm but it's been getting there.  Saturday morning I headed out early and was greeted by the chirping birds and the sun. No snow, which was a first for this training cycle :)

Gear:
No changes, although I am having sock problems and am struggling to find a good pair for long distances.

Lessons Learned:
I can make come backs.  Just because I have these little set backs doesn't mean that I can't push
through.  I can run long and I can do it without crying.  This 16 miler was much different from the first one, in fact after it I felt like I could go another 10.  HUGE gains in believing in myself :)






Marathon Week 15 training:

The Miles:
Tuesday 8.01
Thursday 16.01
Friday 9.01
Saturday 3.01

The Routes:
OH MY GOODNESS these routes!!!!! I had an opportunity to travel down to Newport, RI with my husband on his business trip.  I am forever thankful that family and friends stepped in and helped me out with the kids so that I could go.  I woke up Thursday morning kid less and alone with no plans.  I smiled, I knew that I had the whole day before me to run, so why not do my Saturday long run.  I talked with some locals and made a plan.  I set out and just ran.  I ran down Bellevue Avenue.  Home of the Newport Mansions.  The views of these summer "cottages" from the Guilded Age were just breathtaking.  Then I hit the end and turned onto the Cliff Walk.  Those Mansions I just saw the back of?  Yeah I was now in front of them.  Sandwiched between the centuries old houses and the Atlantic Ocean.  I was in pure joy.  So much in fact, I went right back out less than 24 hours later to run the route again with my husband.  I still can't get over those views.



Weather:

SPRING!!!!! In fact, Tuesday's run I ended up in just a tank top and it was so delightful to be down to minimum layers! The long run in Newport on Thursday was just sun and sea and so soul searchingly delightful.  Even the rain on Friday, the pouring rain for all 9 miles was spring like.  The head winds not so much but I was running in the rain on the coast and I was happy.


Gear:
Running alone in a new place, especially after my little "run in" that happened on my own turf Tuesday night I donned an alarm.  A little clip that when removed lets out a piercing alarm.  It was easy to run with, however, I forgot it was there.  Let's just say that I couldn't hear out of my left ear for a few days after I tried undressing.  I forgot it was on and when I took my shirt off it set ripped the alarm off and it went off in my ear.  Fun times :)

Lessons Learned:
I had the strongest week running ever.  Tuesdays 8 miler was beautiful.  I stopped to enjoy the deer, the sun set and the peepers.  (My first official sign of spring!!!) I had a small scare when I was running behind the main road and I was surrounded by three bigger than me high school boys.  My first thought was I can't out run them, my second I should have mace or my alarm on me.  But it didn't take me long to realize that in the dusk they simply thought I was much younger than my years and were actually hitting on me.  Which then sent me back home amused and in awe of the
confidence of high school boys.  Lesson, run in the safe lights and bring alarms or mace.  Thursdays 16 miler was done COMPLETELY alone.  Just me, the sun and the sea.  No music, no conversation.  It was the first time that I had ever done over 10 without having some chunk of my run with a running buddy.  I had the mental toughness to do it.  To stick it out. To overcome fears of being alone in a place I didn't know.  To run blind and "naked"  It was freeing!

Have you ever run in Newport?  I had a total love affair with the routes there and can not wait to go back!