Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee [Lindsey]

Mohammad Ali once described his boxing technique as "float[ing] like a butterfly, sting[ing] like a bee" meaning that you need to be light on your feet and pack a good punch. I've been thinking about this concept a lot recently on my runs. While my stride has greatly improved from the "grandpa shuffle" from last year, I still get the occasional comment from Adam to "land lighter on your feet." This my friends is easier said then done. I can visualize myself landing lighter all day long but the truth is once I get past 11 miles, I'm getting tired. My muscles get tired and my feet hit the pavement harder which inevitably leads to foot aches and pains.

A couple weeks ago I bruised the bottom of the ball of my foot after a long run. To ease some of the pressure off of my foot, I put a Dr. Schols insert in my shoe. That has helped a lot, however, after my 14 miler the other day, I've come to the conclusion that I may need to switch to a different shoe. I LOVE my running shoes - PureCadence by Brooks, but I don't think my foot/body is in quite enough shape to handle the shoe for 26.2 miles. The PureCadence is a shoe designed with a lower heel drop and is really lightweight but I think at the cost of some padding that I still require for longer runs. Alas I am back on the shoe search...

Other than a new shoe and happy thoughts, how do I plan to "float like a butterfly"? Well, remember my post last year - Food Freedom? Let's just say that I went a little overboard with carb loading and haven't really stopped post race. nice. The end result has been zero weight loss since starting to train last year and in fact I think I've gained a few pounds. Yes, I realize I am now a muscle powerhouse these days but what's the point if your muscles are hidden under a winter coat all year round? Enter my new eating lifestyle - I refuse to use the word diet.

I've been flirting with the idea of a "Paleo lifestyle" for awhile. I've seen and spoken with some friends who are Paleo converts and all have been really happy and have felt great since making the switch. I struggle with some of the pillars of the concept but overall it makes sense. The past couple of weeks I've been making more Paleo-esk type food decisions and keeping track of what I eat with a nifty iPad app called MyFitnessPal and I've already seen results and actually feel better by not eating so much pasta and bread and eating more fruit, veggies, and wait for it... meat. (Who am I?) As a self proclaimed vegetarian since 14 (which in more recent years has turned into veggie/I eat some turkey and chicken) this is pretty huge. I haven't delved into a filet mignon (and I don't think I ever will) but I did eat a hamburger the other week!

Tracking what I eat has been a real eye opener as well. It's pretty shocking to see how much sugar I was ingesting... honestly I can't believe I'm not diabetic, which is somewhat scary to think because I wasn't eating horrible food. I don't want to think about how much sugar people eat when eating poorly but that's a whole other post for another blog...

73 Days to Go
Currently running to Purity Ring - Fineshrine

barefoot happiness (Lindsey)

I love to be barefoot - around my house, on the patio, in my office, on a photo shoot. Yes, I've even popped my shoes off at the barn but let's not get into details about how stupid that is. Sometimes you need to take of your shoes and feel the ground under your feet. I just may do this more than others.

This would be example "A" of my barefoot obsession. I like to photograph my feet in locations that have meaning to me or have shown me how far I've come in my life. This one was taken in a creek at Camp McDowell in Alabama.

But I digress...

Where am I going with this? oh yeah - barefoot. So, since my last post I've had a battle with poison ivy and the flu (in the summer!!). Needless to say training was adjusted if not put on hold for a bit. I finally got back on track last week and felt the need to push myself to makeup for lost time. This left me a little exhausted on Thursday for my short run. Finishing up my last couple of miles I thought, "hey, take off your shoes woman! The soft grass will feel great on your feet." It was just the rejuvenation I needed. I don't know what it is about running through the grass (albeit was the football field) that makes you feel like a deer springing across an open field. It's magic. Plus the wet grass feels so good when it's so hot outside. I can't believe I haven't done more shoeless running. Adam (my glorious trainer) had mentioned it last year when I was working on my stride. I tried it once, maybe twice but found it somewhat difficult and really awkward. I remember only being able to last a couple laps around the track. Thursday I flew through a couple miles like it wasn't a big deal. (I see progress!) No, I don't think you will see me sporting vibram 5 finger shoes (although I do love my quasi minimal running shoes - PureCadence by Brooks) but that doesn't mean I won't be treating myself to some barefoot running at the end of a long week.

95 Days to go

Currently running to - Ke$ha - TiK ToK

Revival (Lindsey)

It didn't take me long to sign up for my next marathon... a few weeks I think. Funny how I have no desire to run another half but jump at the chance to sign up for my next full. I love the challenge that a marathon presents and equate my desire to run these things with what it must be like for a drug addict. Just one more hit, one more. I'll do better this time, I swear.

The past four months have been a blur of life changes and I'm hoping my training schedule will help settle things down for a bit. Part of those changes includes my partner in running crime, Heather, moving away. While she is only a couple hours away, it feels like I've lost my right arm. Running partners are huge, especially when you have the best one. They push you when you need a push, encourage you and toughen you up. Heather is all of those things. She also is a fellow headphones runner and is only down for a chat when stopping for a drink (also clutch in my list of perfect partner qualities). Sigh. Austin, the other part of our trio, is still in town thank goodness. I'm hopeful I can talk her into some long runs but we will see. The weather is brutal this summer and I totally understand any lack of desire to go run in it.

Heather did finish her first marathon this past month. I couldn't be more proud of this girl. Before she takes the ID world by storm with her doctor brilliance, Heather made sure she finished what she set out to do so many months ago. After our run in Austin, Heather continued to train and on June 10th we ran the H H Country Ghetto Marathon. Seriously, this girl is a rock star. She ran a marathon in the middle of nowhere and without a cheering crowd! That is tough.

This was base camp. Heather ran the first half solo and then Austin jumped in (with broken toe) for the second half. I ran with them the last 8 and Heather's hubby jumped in for bits in between and at the end.

The HHCGM official gear.

Heather crossing the finish line (made courtesy of Michael with twine).

Welcome to the 0.1% Heather!! So proud of you!

Her run was truly inspiring and I know I'll be holding onto that to get me through the next 4 months. D-day for me is October 28th for the Marine Corps Marathon. I actually can't wait to do this all over again (am I really typing that? Perhaps I'm still delirious from my long run this morning...). I know this journey is going to be different from the last one (and some of that is a good thing - no injuries this time!) but I'm sure going to miss all the fun I had during the last one. So cheers (holding up my glass of water) to new goals, new memories, a new journey, and my dear running partners - Aussie and Heather.

stay tuned...

Days to go: 112
Currently running to Girl Talk

"I am ready to fly" (Lindsey)

I think I've started and re-started this post about a million times. I'm having a difficult time putting into words what Marathon weekend meant to me. Because it isn't just a 26.2 race - it's more than that. It's months of preparation and support from friends, family, co-workers, trainers, clients, and strangers. It's life changing and soul shaking. It's blood, sweat, and a whole lot of tears. It's also not about me - it's about my running buddies, my husband, my family. It's the humbling experience of watching a blind man finish the marathon and a fire woman dressed in full gear (including tank) finish the marathon to honor her deceased friend. It's about inspiring others while inspiring yourself and finding out how freaking strong you really are. Yes, when you finish your marathon - you are "freaking" strong. ;-)
So because I'm a photographer and it's easier for me to tell a story with pictures I thought it would be easier to tell my story with pictures from the weekend...

Rise and shine - it was a 5am wake up call to be ready to go by 7am. This is me and Austin in our pre-race glory. More like "holy cow what the heck am I doing??!" We were down a runner due to Heather having a knee injury but she was there to cheer us on like the rock star that she is. We missed you so much on that run Heather!

Zach ran the half marathon that day. He got a PR!! 1:53! then he ended up running another 3 miles but that's for later in the story...

Wow - well this was from early in the race. I think about mile 8. This is also about the time that my quad turned into a giant rock of pain. oh yeah it was awesome (she says in heavy sarcasm). Much of the rest of the race is me and Austin stopping for me to stretch and yes, Austin giving me a massage which one male runner enjoyed immensely. I don't actually recall most of this time because it was a) painful and b) non-descript. I like to compare it to what it must be like for someone having a kid. Women tend to forget all the painful stuff but remember all the good parts. 

 

Well here is the best part for me and thanks to my best bud Whitney - it will be with me always. :-) Mile 23, right where I needed it most were my husband, parents, sisters, soon to be brother in law, best friend, dear friends, and new friends. That's a lot of people! and yes I have the world's best husband and yes he ran the rest of the race with me and Austin. and yes, that's me cussing about wanting a beer. ;-) 

couple corrected false-hoods about marathons - 1) If you can run 20 miles, you can run 26.2. Technically this is true, however, they leave out the part where the last 6.2 are the hardest miles of your life. 2) do the training plan, you can finish. hmmm yes, technically true but in reality it wasn't just the training that got me through the race - it was my running buddies and all my support on race day. Seriously one of the most beautiful, human experiences of my life. 

Example of my beautiful, human experience. 

and then awkwardly stuffing your face not seconds later...

followed by choreographed crying. What can I say, we are Arnold's.

happiness

My awesome family!

Marathon runners are 0.1% of the population. So happy to be part of the club! Thanks Austin for pushing me to keep going when I didn't think I could. <3 

Curious about post race recovery? It's a lot like child birth or running a marathon - you forget the pain and remember the good parts. My ice bath following the race felt amazing and everyday my legs start feeling more and more normal. 

Now, which marathon will I run next...

83 hours, but who's counting (Lindsey)

I can't believe it, it's down to the wire. 3 more days, or 83 hours, 5037 minutes... who's counting? This past week I've felt somewhat like an addict coming off a high, looking forward to their next hit. Am I actually comparing long distance running to being high? sigh. This week has been a week of mixed emotions: excitement for Sunday's race melts into complete panic at the thought of running 26.2 miles but then they peak again at the thought of running across the finish line. This week has been more tapering and more stretching but I've had this feeling of "ansy-ness." I'm used to spending all afternoon running and now workouts are finishing in 30-45 minutes. What am I supposed to do with myself? Am I addicted to running now? I guess there could be worse things.

I've been trying to keep positive (there isn't anyway I'm going to get through this without some rose colored glasses) so I've been thinking about all the positive changes that training for this marathon has brought me. So here they are:

1) I can now lift my dogs' 50 lb dog food bag like it's a 5 lb weight. - yay for muscles!
2) Running has improved my riding. I rode Mafazi this past weekend and I'm pretty sure she was trying to figure out who the heck was on her back. "who is this chic w/ legs 'o steel and good posture?"
3) I'm learning how to tell the difference between pushing myself and being hard on myself - there's a difference.
4) I'm learning not to cheat myself - I have to do some of the hard stuff to get to the good part. You have to put in the work.
5) I'm learning that I'm a little more spiritual than I thought.
6) Discipline - you need it.

Remember those New Years Resolutions I hadn't figured out yet... well I've thought of one: I want to keep up with my running and cross training. I'm signed up for the Charlottesville 10 miler in March. It sounds like a piece of cake compared to the marathon but I think I'm going to aim to take some time off my PR. Who knows, maybe someday I'll be competitive in some of these races... we'll see.

Song of the week is Take on Me - covered by A.C. Newman - It's the first song on my marathon mix. I'm ready to take you on marathon!

Why I Run (Lindsey)

Hmm... well this has been an interesting week. No one talks about recovery from long runs, in my case this week, 20 miles. It's almost like running is the easy part. (I said almost) Last week's long run was surprisingly good. Surprising because I did it, and did it without knee pain. yay! One foot in front of the other, constant reminders to myself to hold my running form, stretching every now and then, and it all worked out. Miracle.
Now for the hard part. We get done with the run, we stretch, inhale any sort of calories available (in my case Gatorade for the drive home). When I get home all I want to do is eat but I have to stretch more, stretch, stretch, and ice. 30 minutes later I'm finally getting to the eating part. Heaven. Then more icing and the feeling of sheer exhaustion taking over. Nap time. Then wake up, more food, ice, and back to sleep. That was just Sunday.
Monday I woke up and I was pretty sure something was wrong with my body. My legs weren't moving right and there was a constant dull throb in my knee (oh no!). @#$#%$#@!@?! did I mess up my knee again? More icing, minor freak out at work and a call to the running clinic to schedule an appointment. More icing and freaking out. Then an e-mail to Adam to make sure I wasn't losing my mind. I'm supposed to feel tired and funky right? Adam suggested a short run (umm seriously?), deep water run (would love to do this sometime), or stationary bike to work out some of the soreness and yes it's normal to feel funky and tired. Minor sigh of relief. None of this happens on Monday due to work/life.
Tuesday. Feeling somewhat better, but only a little. I drag myself into the gym after work because I'm ridiculously tired. I do my workout and attempt to run a  couple laps. That's funny because I can barely move them in any sort of manner that resembles running so I hit the stationary bike. Success. oh yeah more stretching and icing.
Wednesday I attempt a run on the track. According to Hal I should have already run 5 miles on Tuesday and 8 miles Wednesday. Is this guy for real? How does anyone do that? I ran 3 and walked a 4th. stretch and iced. Oh yeah, I'm beyond tired.
Thursday (tonight) - workout at the gym and some running. ahhh... finally some relief. I can actually run again. huzzah. Just in time for another long run this weekend. stretch and ice of course.
So why do I put myself through this?
Gosh, isn't that the question. Yes, this is something that has been on my life goal/bucket list. But why? Am I trying to prove something? Why a marathon? I'm not sure yet. But I think I'm getting closer to the answer. I watched a cute movie tonight called "Saint Ralph" which is about a kid who runs the Boston Marathon in hopes that if he wins, that miracle will get his mother out of a coma (hey it was about a marathon ok). It turned out to be an ok movie but something that rang true to me was when Ralph asked one of the kids on the cross country team why they run and one of them replied, "it's in our blood, we have to." Hmm.. I wouldn't say running is in my blood per say, the Arnold's are not known for our speed and running form, but it's definitely in my heart. hmmm.. closer. But I'm still not sure. Maybe that's why I'm running this marathon? Maybe it's to figure out why?

17 days to go

Chuck Norris Never Ran a Marathon [Austin]

Only three weeks until Austin!!

I'll start by saying the third member of our trio was out today :(  Sadly, someone has been spreading the funk and she's under the weather, but no worries...rest is the second most important part of training!

This week's mileage was: 5 - 10 - 5 and 20 today.  Lindsey and I met at a Baptist Church in Ruckersville and ran and ran and ran and stretched and ran.  The run was much more flat than what we're used to in town but slow rolling hills were still in abundance.  I had a lot of time to think (4 hours to be exact - hence my motivation to blog)...and I started making a mental list of things running has taught me.

So, without further ado, and in honor of our 20 mile run today....the top ten things running has taught me:

10) Never skimp on a good pair of sneakers - your feet will thank you later, your wallet will forgive you.

9) There is no better way to learn your way around a new town or discover something new in an old one.

8) Food (carbs) are your friend.

7) Cars are not your friend.

6) Training is like a second job; it requires LOTS of time and planning but when it's gone, you don't know what to do with yourself.

5) I really do "hit the ground running"...and I have the scars and bruises to prove it.

4) There is not tolerance for runner's high.

3) Sweet frogs frozen yogurt is the best recovery food.

2) I am a worrier and would be even more insane if I did not.

1) To love and thank every part of my body for carrying me through the miles.

This week in training is the start of tapering down.  So after today we are officially "mentally prepared" for the marathon and these next two weeks will allow our bodies to rest...we'll see.

 

Mark your calendars.  Prayers will be appreciated on February 19th :)    

     

View from the run this morning (:

Eye of the Tiger (Lindsey)

For efficiency sake I'll cut to the chase... recent knee pain finally got the best of me and I had a minor freak out last week that I wasn't going to be able to run the marathon. After being assessed by my friend Rachel's trusted trainer, Adam, I am back on track... with probably more pain that when I started but at least I know it's good pain.

What I've learned this week...

Adam has rocked my running world. Basically from one session he determined that I'm not running off of my toes, utilizing my gluets and hamies like I should, but instead I hobble around in a half stride, using only my quads. Seriously, imagine an old man, hunched over, shuffling his way over the finish line - that is me in a nutshell. yikes! This completely makes sense. I've been wondering when my line on my thigh would return (the line I used to have in high school when I ran track) and if I would ever get any definition in my legs with all this training. Turns out if you aren't using muscles, they don't just suddenly appear. oops. I'm glad this was caught but now it's an uphill battle to fix my stride and get me in shape in the next month for the marathon. (cue the Rocky music). I am on a mission though and Adam has given me the tools to kick my own butt (literally).

Something else I learned this week - I've been stretching all wrong. Double oops. Static stretching shouldn't be done before a run as it can actually weaken your muscles. Before runs you should warm up with "dynamic stretching" to get and keep the muscles warmed up. see video below:

Better late than never I say. We still have our 20 miler up in a couple weeks... ek! But I'll be glad to be running with my buddies again. I missed them this weekend for the 18miler. Kudos to them for completing it!

We are getting close... I feel like we are at the part in the movie where the music plays and then there is a montage of scenes of running, lifting weights, etc. I'm actually getting excited for the part where the movie transitions to the epic last battle (marathon) and the hero(s) overcome great physical challenge.

Song of the week - Eye of the Tiger by Survivor 

32 days to go

Love song of a Runner (Lindsey)

"So this is the New Year/ and I have no resolutions..." (Death Cab for Cutie - The New Year)

Every year I take stock of the my past 365 days and set a list of goals for the following year. I believe self reflection is critical to growth and making for a happy and healthier life. So when I strapped on my shoes this morning for my 16 mile jaunt (groan) I set out to compile that list.

What did I come up with? Not much of anything. I actually spent the first 3 miles of my run cursing myself and my camel pack: myself for being such a crazy person for signing up for a marathon and my camel pack for leaking down my back. (My pack is pretty finicky. If I don't close the cap just right I get leakage.) Needless to say, it wasn't a fun start to my run.

But I kept going... why?

Zach, my sweet husband, accompanied me this morning on my run. He knew I was nervous and that I had a difficult time last week running on my own. Despite a recent lag in time since his last long distance run, he took on the challenge to keep me company. During my first 3 miles of cursing and self doubt, Zach took every stride with me and encouraged me to keep going. When my camel pack started dripping down my back he offered to carry it instead of me so I could be comfortable. I didn't hand it over because I'm stubborn but his offer melted my cold and angry heart. After that the miles ticked by under our feet.

My mind began to wander about running and it's impact on my relationship with Zach. It was difficult when we were first married to coordinate time to be together with our work schedules, school, hobbies, and sports. We are both pretty active people but our schedules never seemed to overlap. When we moved to Charlottesville for Zach's residency I picked up running races with Heather (see first post). I think running with Heather sparked Zach's interest in running races with me. Perhaps he saw that if we could do it, then he could do it too or maybe he was fed up and wanted to find some way for us to do something together. I'm not sure, but whatever got him over the first finish line in Williamsburg has been a blessing for me and for us. Since then I've had someone to push me out the door when I don't want to go and someone to understand what it's like to be so tired that you can't make it out of bed for the rest of the day. He's been my cheerleader and my running partner. Even when he's sprinting by me to meet me at the finish line, the fact that he's there means a lot. I think it's brought us closer. I know that he's proud of me and he knows that I'm just as proud of him. We help each other meet our goals. (Am I making you feel sick yet?) Sorry for all the sap but I thought it was worth it to share.

Whatever my New Years resolutions end up being and whatever life hands me to deal with this year, I know I can make it because I have my running buddy.

For those of you contemplating resolutions for the year: how about this year you tie those shoes on and step out the door with your significant other? See how far you can go together? See how close it brings you...

Most poignant song from my mix today: All I Need by Radiohead.

Days to go: 47 days

welcome to the dark side of the moon (Lindsey)

Breathe.
Breathe, breathe in the air... look around and choose your own ground/ for long you live and high you fly.
This past weekend I took on my longest run to date - 15 miles.

On the Run.
Run, run rabbit run.
To be quite honest, the distance was a little overwhelming in the beginning. But just like the energizer bunny, this chic put one foot in front of the other to get it done.


Time.
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain/ You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today/ And then one day you find ten years have got behind you/ No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.
Running long distance means you've got time. Time to think, agonize over little aches and pains, and play mental games with yourself so you can make it to the end.

Breathe.
When I come home coldened and tired/ It's good to warm my bones beside the fire.
There is nothing like walking through the front door after a long run. The seconds before you plop down on the couch...heavenly.

Money.
Money, get away.
The minutes, hours after the run, when I'm decompressing, are the simplest and purest of moments. I forget about my worries and relax... or maybe that's a runners high?

Us and Them.
Us and them/ and after all we're only ordinary men/ Me and you.
I really missed my running buddies this week. It was torture running that distance without my friends to help me along the way. Never again guys!

Brain Damage.
And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear/ You shout and no one seems to hear/ And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes/ I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
The higher the mileage gets, the more I think I've lost my mind.

Eclipse.
All that is now/ All that is gone/ All that's come/ and everything under the sun is in tune/ But the sun is eclipsed by the moon./ There is no dark side on the moon really. 
but the heck with it, thank you runners high. You've made it easy for me to forget the mental and physical torment and take on the road again, next week. 


Song to pull me through the last minutes of my run when all I wanted to do was lay out on the sidewalk and take a nap - I Like It by Enrique Iglesias. 


For those of you not catching the reference... see Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. 


54 days to go. 

Long time, No Blog (Heather)

It’s been a while…

Two whole months to be exact….

Oh blog, how I have missed thee.

These past several weeks have been incredibly busy at work. So busy, in fact, that it’s been a challenge to fit in my runs during the week. As Lindsey mentioned in a previous post, it gets dark so early now! It is funny- I’m sure that I noticed in past years of my life, but it’s only now that I immediately wonder how I will run in the dark when the sun starts to set at 4:30. A reflective belt is now a permanent part of my after work running attire. Becoming a runner has changed the way I look at a lot of things.

It has also changed my behavior. For example, I hate being cold. Moving from Georgia to Virginia took some getting used to for this southern girl.

{And no, I don’t think Virginia is the true South. I’ve had this conversation with a lot of people since moving here to this beautiful state, and it all depends on your perspective and home state. If you grew up in New York, I’m sure Virginia seems like a foreign country where no one- syllable words exist and girls secretly wish hoop skirts and petticoats were still in fashion. But for me, it’s not the South. I’m talking Deep South. Truth: If you can’t order sweet tea in every restaurant you visit, then it’s not the south. This is proven}

Anyway, back to the running. And my behavior change. And the cold. Yesterday was a chilly morning- around 8:00 a.m., I believe it was in the mid 30’s. Despite the warmth of my bed and a slumbering husband who sweetly said, “Hell, no, I’m not running out there,” I pulled on sweatpants, a long-sleeve shirt and a fleece. Even Austin looked at me and said, “I don’t think I’ll make it at 8:00.” (This statement was followed by the sound of her bedroom door shutting tight… smart girl, it keeps the warmth in)

Despite ALL of these intelligent people advising me otherwise, I laced up my new Brooks running shoes and headed outside in my neighborhood to run 10 miles. Let me just begin by saying that my neighborhood is entirely too full of hills. I’m not sure who put them there, but I really wish they’d come and take them back. I believe I’ve already stated my position on hills in a previous post, so I won’t go into that again. The reason I actually chose to run in my neighborhood is because Lindsey looked up the elevation in Austin and it seems like the first 8ish miles are pretty hilly. Sigh… So I guess it only makes sense that I put those pesky hills to use.

My plan was to run 5 miles straight away from our house so that at the end of them, I’d be forced to run (or crawl) 5 miles back. Even after three half-marathons, I still have to play mind games with myself. Especially on cold mornings and when I’m all by myself.

Bad thing about the run: The cold!! I ran with a pair of Old Navy fleece gloves, but my fingers were so  cold that they hurt. My solution was to pull my fleece sleeves over my gloves and continue running down the road looking like an idiot. I may try to get some hand warmers (which I saw in the hunting section at Dick’s… I was forced to stand in the hunting section with my husband on Saturday. Why we actually went into a store during the Christmas season is beyond me. Amazon, how I love thee… I’m feeling very Shakespearian today)

Good thing about the run: The new energy chews that Linds found! They are called Honey Stinger energy chews and taste almost just like Gummy Bears. I bought a box of the Cherry Blossom flavor and anticipate trying not to eat them for a snack when I’m just sitting around on the couch watching Bravo t.v.

I need to get some of those cold compression pants. Still not sure they’ll be comfortable to run in, but I’ve got to try something warmer than 5 year old sweat pants.

Currently (and shamelessly) listening to: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas”

I’m planning to do a repeat of last week and then add 2 onto the long run:  4, 5, and 8 mile runs during the week and then 12 this weekend.

Now, off to make myself do those 4 miles….

-Heather

the last piece of pie... (Lindsey)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As I write this I am enjoying familial laughter, the Simpson's, doggie fur, and one too many pieces of pie. I love the holidays. It's so nice to spend time with people who you are just comfortable with, who love you despite your quirks, and may share your healthy appetite for competition. I'm sure game night part 2 is about to start...

Well, we've reached the dark side of training, the untapped mileage is about to be tapped. I ate my pieces of pie without guilt this year because I'm about to embark on the impossible. Thankfully I have two great running buddies to share the blood, sweat, and tears. I also have one of the most supportive hubbies ever. Zach and I ran the Richmond half marathon a couple weeks ago and it turned out to be a motivating experience. The week before the race I was actually very fearful that I would have a difficult time, that I wouldn't feel good after the race and that would bring me down about my marathon training. However, it turned out to be quite the opposite. Zach ran the whole race with me (because he is super sweet) and I ended taking 13 minutes off my time! That was super motivating. But to top it off, I felt great after the race. Bonus! So in the very least I'm embarking on my impossible journey on the right foot.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

85 days to go!

man's best friend (Lindsey)

In case you didn't already know I'm kind of a crazy animal lover. Between my maniacal grooming and care taking of Mafazi, my ridiculous coddling of my fur babies, Harry and Tilly, and my unexplainable attachment to my crazy cat, it should probably be evident. But just in case you didn't know... This week's post goes out to my dogs. But to explain why, we should go back to last weekend...

I really don't remember much of last weeks training except for my long weekend run. I saved my long run for Sunday since Zach and I were attending the Montpelier Races on Saturday. Oh the races. If you haven't been and live in Charlottesville, you should check it out next year. It's probably one of mine and Zach's favorite days of the year. So I may have celebrated a little bit too much. oops. :-) I woke up Sunday morning refreshed, didn't feel any remnants from our festivities from the day before. However, my body said otherwise about halfway through my run. I ran the 10 miler course and added an extra loop to complete the full 12. I started my run pretty strong (9:30/10 min mile pace!) but once I hit the 9 mile marker I hit my wall. Nothing I did could make my steps go any faster. I felt like I had two heavy tree limbs for legs and was trying to run through a swamp. Ick! So that's when I realized... oops, I'm dehydrated. Way to go Linds. sigh. This is how we learn life lessons, right?

Which brings me to my dogs. This week's runs are a taper to prepare for my half marathon on Saturday. I was wicked sore from my Sunday run on Monday, so when Tuesday rolled around I was somewhat hesitant to put on my running shoes. I looked to my two dogs and thought "hmm... they could probably pull me around the neighborhood. Why not?" Tilly and Harry were up for the challenge and completed their 3 mile run on Tuesday with no problem.

It's funny, all day today at work I was excited to get home so me and the dogs could complete our 3 miler. I think I have some new running buddies. I mean honestly, doesn't Tilly look so cute in her red harness? 

In all seriousness though, it's go time. After this half marathon on Saturday I'm going to be running in uncharted territory. It's getting a little real and it's about time to put the shenanigans aside and get focused. gulp. 

Inspriational long run song of the week: Brittany Spears - Till the World Ends (because I'll be running until the world ends...)

100 days to go!!

"Whoaaa, we're halfway there..." (Austin)

So, I'm not sure if we are technically "halfway there", but distance wise, we've got 13.1 down!  The rock-n-roll half marathon in Savannah turned into 4 laps + some around a 3 mile park in Heather's and my hometown [Tara, one of our other bea-utiful sistas ran too].  I'm not going to lie...it was painful.  But we did get to celebrate with recovery fro-yo :) ....and I haven't stopped thinking about it since.  Good thing the new Sweet Frogs close to my parking lot hasn't opened yet!  

I got a glorious e-mail from Lindsey this weekend reminding Heather and I that we need to step up our elevation! Am I the only person that thought Texas was flat?  As much as that thought makes me cringe, I sucked it up and ran 7 miles of hills tonight.  

This time change is killer though!  I need to invest in reflective gear and a head lamp (gonna be hard to look any cooler than I already do with my water bottle fanny-pack!).  

So now I'm eating roasted brussel sprouts, carrots, and rice (nice cell phone shot, huh) and waiting for my MIA running partner, Heather, to come home. 

It's Malbec & Modern Family time!

 

Thanks for reading!  

Until next time I remember to blog... :)

PS:  I love her (and the rest of my precious family -- this is the only picture I took this weekend)

Dancing in the Dark (Lindsey)

Wow! It's been awhile since my last post. It's been busy around here! Our good friend Jess got married last weekend and it's been a whirlwind of festivities, work, and trying to fit in training. I was the photographer for Jess' wedding and was completely exhausted last Sunday so I moved my long run to Monday after work. Living on the east coast, it gets dark here fairly early these days so my 10 mile run ended in the dark. Creepy! Our neighborhood also does not provide good street lamp lighting. Let me tell you, it's quite strange running in the dark.  You can't really see where your feet are touching down on the pavement so your stride adjusts to over compensate. It's interesting... and a little glimpse into our future for our runs this winter. I'm going to invest in a reflective vest and head lamp this week so hopefully I don't get taken out by a motorist and so I can see better.

In honor of my "dance in the dark" this week, my inspirational long run song is: Dance in the Dark by my favorite - Lady Gaga!

111 Days to go!

L

A Monsoon Week (Lindsey)

Wow! What a week. Charlottesville had booku's of rain this week. I was so proud of myself because I actually got out and ran in it. There is nothing like running 5 miles in pouring rain, nothing. The only downfall was my shoes got soaked, which leads me to my picture below....

Yes those are new shoes! Heather and I went to Ragged Mountain Running Shop on the Corner this past Friday to get officially fitted into some new running shoes. In order to help them out I brought in my wet sneakers which at this point smelled like a dead cat. They didn't even flinch when they picked up my shoes to evaluate them. When I apologized for the stench, the guy helping me out didn't bat an eye and said, "you should see mine." And that is when I knew I was in good hands. Thanks Ragged Mountain for helping me find my new kicks. Can you tell I underpronate?! The really funny part of the story is that when Heather and I walked out of the store we realized we both bought the same pair of shoes. Nice! 

This week's long run was supposed to be 9miles, however I wasn't able to fit in my last short run of the week so I opted to run 10 with Heather. We ran the Charlottesville 10miler course this morning and finished at 1:50. Not too shabby. 

Song that got me through the last mile after hitting my "wall" at 9 miles - Katy Perry's Firework (yes super cheese but effective). 

125 Days to go!

Just how much bread CAN I eat? (Heather)

Greetings from Silver Spring, Maryland!  I am sitting in a hotel in downtown Silver Spring with a gray, rainy day outside the window. I actually changed up my running schedule this week because the weatherman predicted a 90% chance of rain today. I did 5 miles yesterday because I could NOT take doing longer than 3 miles on a treadmill (and I could barely stand that distance earlier this morning). So, yesterday while sitting in bed drinking some coffee, I did a little research on a good running spot in Silver Spring. 

{Side note: why, you ask, was I sitting in bed on a random Tuesday morning instead of sneaking in a blog post at work? Because I’m on vacation, that’s why! And why Silver Spring, Md for vaca? Because I’m moving to this area in June for a new job. Now… back to running}

I literally typed in “best running spots in Silver Spring, Md” into Google, and this eventually popped up:

http://home.comcast.net/~phyilla1/sstrails/altroute.html

This trail runs from Silver Spring, through Bethesda, and ends in Georgetown. The best part was that it literally starts right outside of my hotel. The funny part was that I spent 30 minutes poring over a Google map trying to figure out where it was in relation to my hotel, then walked outside and almost got smacked in the face by a sign stating “Silver Spring Trail.” Well, it would have smacked me in the face if I was 5 inches taller, but that phrase (“if I was 5 inches taller” not the face smacking part) is a part of my daily vocabulary. 

But I digress.

This run was overall beautiful. I will admit, there were some sketch parts that I had to run through, but some of that may just be the fact that I’m a small-town Georgia girl running in the city. And yes, to me, Silver Spring is a city. 

I’m starting to hit that part of training when the shorter runs start to feel easier. Overall, I prefer the long runs on the weekend. It’s probably because making myself run 3 days during the week after working all day is tough. As in, I whine to myself the whole time I’m tying my tennis shoes and trying to remember where I put my iPod. Because, let me tell you, I’m not running without my iPod. 

I’m also starting to hit that part of training where I think about food all the time. ALL. THE. TIME.  After reading Lindsey’s post about food, I immediately identified with her. I am a petite (albeit freakishly strong for my size… this must come from not having any brothers until about age 18) woman, but I have never been able to just eat whatever I want. My best friend and roommate from college used to eat Fritos and drink Coke on a daily basis, and I used to stare at her and wonder where she put it. (and no, by the way, it never caught up with her. She’s that lucky) I never had to wonder where I put it, let me assure you. I try very hard to eat an overall healthy diet and for the most part, I am pretty successful with thinking about what I eat before I put it in my mouth. Yes, I love carrots and hummus and grapes… but I also love French fries and Hershey’s milk chocolate. And peanut butter, oh my god, don’t even get me started on my love for that food. Over the past year or so, I’ve become very interested (read: obsessed with) in a few health/food blogs on the internet and as a result have tried a lot of new foods. I consider myself pretty educated when it comes to knowing how to eat a healthy, balanced diet (and it doesn’t hurt that my roommate is a dietetic intern!). However, I am at a loss when it comes to eating correctly while training for a marathon. I’m not good at all with estimating percentages of fat, carbs, or protein. My method has always been to fill my plate with at least ½ to 2/3 full of veggies and the rest with meat and starch. As a result, I feel like I really need to do some more research on what to eat while training… preferably some sources with pictures and examples!

10 miles this weekend with Lindsey! Other plans for the weekend include new running shoes (my current ones just developed a little hole in the big toe area of my right shoe) and downloading some new running music. I love fall running!

-Heather

Pre Run Sweet Frog (Lindsey)

This is going to be a short update because I'm sooo tired and yes I may be in bed before 8:30pm tonight. Last week was thankfully a step back week in training. My day job at CASA and (thankfully) my photography biz have been busy the past few weeks so it's been rough getting in my runs and getting everything else done. But I'm superwoman right? So to highlight what I learned in a few sentences...

1. Eventhough you aren't on the exact same schedule that old Hal has laid out, you MUST get the runs in. It makes a difference.
2. to do lists are vital to my well being
3. I may have a tendency to over extend myself... I need to work on this.
4. Sweet Frogs before even a short run is a bad idea...
5. Frozen yogurt is an ok treat according to Hal (woohoo!)

131 days to go
Most energizing long run song: Alice Donut - Millennium. Oldie but a goodie. :-)

Dodge ball & recovery (Austin)

Even if all this training doesn't pay off on race day...I will definitely be prepared for any sport that requires dodging objects or being quick on your feet.  On Wednesday, Heather and I ran 4 miles at Riverview.
Note to self...don't run Riverview between the hours of 5pm and 6:30 on a weekday.  I applaud all of the active families, however children learning to ride their bikes down hills + runners with Ipods in don't mix well.  And my puppy fever is now worse than ever....even when a St. Bernard sized dog almost knocked me over.
Our running pattern this week was 3, 4, 3 miles on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Then yesterday morning we tackled the 9 mile long run in downtown Charlottesville.  The weather was gorgeous and we finished in about an hour and a half.  The hills were no fun but otherwise it was surprisingly an easy run.
We came home to omelets filled with broccoli, spinach, and white beans (I should have taken a picture!) made by my loving brother-in-law.  The protein from the eggs and the carbs from our toast/yogurt made for a great "recovery" meal.  The recovery didn't stop there though.
We met Lindsey, Jess, and Hillary at the downtown mall for brunch/mimosas at Siips and then couldn't leave without a little Sweet Frogs frozen yogurt! I had the cake batter + cheesecake topped with nothing healthy (and I didn't care)!
Now I'm going to spend my Sunday doing homework and being lazy.  According to Hal, I should be cross-training but I really haven't decided what that is yet.

Food Freedom (Lindsey)

2nd week of training under my belt! I just finished my 7 mile long run with Heather and Austin. Their training schedule had them running a 5 miler today so the last two miles of my run were pretty lonely. I pushed through though and finished with a 1:13 time. Not too shabby. I'm looking forward to completing our half marathons so we can transition into being on the same training plan. Long runs are so much better with running buddies!

Looking back on this week the thing I noticed most was my focus on nutrition. I have somewhat of a sordid past with food. Like most good Southern families, social activities were scheduled or included a large spread or meal. I spent most of my youth agonizing over what to eat and feeling guilty about the food I did eat. My passion for running actually stemmed from me wanting to be healthier. I'd like to think that the intensity of my eating/food obsession has subsided in the past few years yet some guilt and anxiety still remains.

However, this week I experienced "food freedom." Most of my thoughts about food were geared towards fueling my energy instead of obsessing over what I wanted to eat and then feeling guilty later. I've never thought about food this way. It's always been an enemy of mine, not an ally. This week food choices were based upon what was going to make me feel energized and not bogged down. This meant low fats and little to no sweets and trying to eat as much protein as possible. I've also been reading about nutrition and what to eat in Hal Higdon's Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide and he recommends 55% carbs, 30% fats, and 15% protein. That 55% carbs makes me so happy! I hope this mindset sticks after the 18 weeks I'll be training. It has been one of the most liberating feelings that I've felt in a long time.  

140 days to go
Today's most energizing song on my long run mix: Mc Solaar - La Belle et le Bad Boy