Turtles Can Run

My daughter has been running with a running club at school.  She usually runs 2-3 miles once a week and she wanted to do a 5k with me again.  When I saw this Girls on the Run 5K on the RunTex calender I knew we had to do it.  She is such a girly girl and I knew it would be great for her to be out there running with other girls her age.

We went shopping and bought cute matching outfits again. These were a big hit at the race   In the two weeks before the race we also did some training runs, I was impressed by how much faster and how much more endurance she had just by running with the running club at school.  Every time we run 3 miles together I give her a little charm, she just loves this.  I figure it would give her a little more motivation to run and it would also be something to help her remember our times together.  I cherish our running time together, it gives us a chance to chat and it’s a great way to get our one on one time in.

Race morning she was all excited and ready to go.  Her enthusiasm and joy about getting to run in the 5k was awesome and contagious.  We planned on pacing to go for a sub 30 5K but she was comfortable at about a 9 pace for most of the run so that is what we ran.  She finished in 28:23.  I was surprised and so proud of her.  We crossed the finish line and she said did you see the clock it said 28, she was so happy and proud of herself for for not only meeting her goal but crushing it.

I loved the atmosphere of the race.  All the girls were so excited and looked like they were having a blast. It really was a much needed experience after my disappointing half marathon a couple of weeks ago.  Girls on the Run are doing a great job of empowering girls through running.

Here are some pics from the race.

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I’ve only had 2 races where I feel like I fell apart, they both  happened on warm, high humidity days. So when I awoke on race morning and the temperature said in the mid to high 60s with 90-100% (yes accuweather said 100%) humidity I wasn’t exactly thrilled.  But instead of adjusting my race plan and starting off a little slower I stuck with my goal pace (7:38).  I felt good for the first few miles and according to the race results when I passed the mid mark my average pace was exactly 7:38.  But my wheels came off very quickly after that.  My pace went from 7:30s to 8:30s.   I usually do have a really bad mile somewhere in the middle of a half marathon but can usually recover.  But I was never able to get my pace back up, in fact I started to go even slower.  Around mile 9 I threw my water bottle because my hand was cramping from holding it and I thought I would be able to run faster without it.  But having to stop at the water stations slowed me down even more and when the cold water hit my gut my stomach started cramping up.  My stomach was cramping the night before and into ther morning hours because of the  dinner I ate.   But up until this point in the race didn’t effect my running.   Everytime I tried to run fast the cramping got worse and forced me to walk a few seconds to lessen the pain.

People were passing left and right and I couldn’t even tap into my competitive nature and try to catch them or at least make them work to pass me.  My legs would not turnover and the cramps wouldn’t let up.  I think the last mile was the worst.  I was so upset by the end I just grabbed my medal and told my husband I was ready to go.

This makes bad race experience number 3 for me and this one stung the worse.  Not only did I not meet my goal of 1:40, I ran slower (5 minutes slower) than my PR which I did while having some pretty painful ITB issues.   Official time 1:48:31.  I trained hard for this one but kind of feel like I peaked a couple of weeks ago.  The weather and the stomach problems were definitely an factor but I was feeling a little overtrained the past couple of weeks and even with an easy training week did not feel as energized as I usually do before a big race.  My confidence was also down and doubted I could do it.  Much of running is a mental battle and I feel I lost that battle during this race.

I am ready to chill for a while.  My daughter and I will be doing a 5K in a couple of weeks and we have a family 5K planned as well.  No races for me though, at least not for a while.  I will be doing a fall marathon but after this race am doubting that I will be able to meet my goal of a BQ.

Now that I’ve told you how horrible I did let me just say a few words about the race.  The course was flat and had some nice tree lined stretches in the beginning and the end.  Crossing over the lake was also nice.  I do think the course was longer than it was supposed to be and not just because my watch said it was 13.3 miles and I couldn’t wait to stop running but because map my run said it was 13.22 miles long.  I loved all the schwag (tech T, socks, mug, medal, reusable bag). Great course support, plenty of water and gatorade to go around (at least when I ran by).  Cold rags and plenty of food at the finish..hot dogs, chips, cookies, soda, water, jamba juice which was nice.  Free massages too,  always a bonus.  I would do this race again and hope for better weather and hopefully not be  over-trained next time.

Here are some pictures of the race..Thanks to my wonderful husband for taking them.

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By nature I am a shy person.  That is actually how the whole turtle thing started.  A friend of mine gave me a little stuffed turtle who could come out of his shell.  My friend said that reminded him of me.  Running has really helped me come out of my shell and it seems to do the same with many other people.  It breaks down barriers and builds bonds.

One place I have noticed this is on my morning runs.  I have been running on the same trail at least 2 days a week for almost two years.  Many mornings at the same time of the morning so that I can run with my husband.  Day after day we see the same core group of runners and walkers.  I think of them of my trail family.  We always say hey, comment on the weather and wish each other a good day.   A few of them have noticed the changes in my weight and speed and have commented on it.  They are very encouraging, how sweet is that.  I have also noticed the changes many of them have made and the consistency in their workouts inspire and motivate me.  There is a group of men that love to razz my husband if I am running faster than him, that always gets my husband to pick up his pace. It is so funny.  On occasion  I have joined some of the ladies on their runs to chat for a few minutes if we are going in the same direction.  I love my morning trail runs for so many reasons and one big one is all these little exchanges.

The trail is not the only place I have met fellow runners.  On the track, at the gym, at races, online and even at the grocery store.  Runners are some of the friendliest people out there, either that or we just really like talking about running and will talk to anyone who will listen.   This turtle has made quite a few friends through running…yet another reason I am thankful for and love running!!

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Today on DailyMile people shared their before  running and after photos.  So many people had incredible transformations.  It was so motivational and inspiring. Some of them have lost over a 100 pounds and are now great runners.

It really made me think of all the changes I’ve made in my life over the past two years.  It is mind boggling to think that I couldn’t even run a mile back then.  The thought of running 10 miles seemed unfathomable, I thought nobody just goes out and runs 10 miles and yet that is what I am running tomorrow.  And some of my friends on DailyMile  run close to that almost every day of the week.

When I started losing weight I set out to lose 50 pounds and have now lost 65.  I never thought I would be back down to this weight.  I have finally learned how to eat.  Now I know if I am a little more careful and actually follow the lessons I have learned  I can lose even more and be at a peak running weight.

I was also infused with a new level of confidence today.  If I’ve come this far in 2 years surely I can achieve my goals for this year.  I just need to keep plugging away, work hard and be consistent.

Thanks and congrats to all my friends out there who have changed their lives and shared their stories, you’ve given me a big boost today.  For those of you just starting out stick with it.  Eat less, cut out the junk (most of the time)  and move.  Set goals, challenge yourself, you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish!

Here is the before and after pic I posted.  Hard to believe I was ever that woman.

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I’ve been having a hard time believing that I am going to be able to run a half marathon in one hour and forty minutes.  The pace required seems to fast for me.  Even though I have gotten faster over time,  I really still consider myself a turtle when it comes to running.  Setting goals with pace in the sevens scare me.  My mind keeps telling that pace is too fast for a turtle.

When feeling this way there are several things that help me break down the walls of self down. Look at past performances and my training log.  At the 3M marathon I ran a 1:43:32 half marathon.  Going into the race I thought if I fought hard I might be able to finish the race in 1:45. But I ran the race at what felt like a relaxed pace, I didn’t feel like I was really pushing and I exceeded my expectations.  Keeping this in mind I should be able to cut a few minutes off of that time if I am actually make a strong effort during AHC half marathon.

The second thing I need to have confidence in is my training.  I am following a pretty rigorous training schedule, it has much more speedwork than I am used to doing.  The first week of training was a disaster but last week was better and this week has been great so far.  My intervals and tempo run this week were actually better than the schedule called for and faster than I thought I could run them.  Following a training plan has always allowed me to meet my goals in the past. If I am consistent  and put the work in I will see good results.

The last mental barriers I need to knock down are my poor self image and low self confidence.  Sometimes I still see myself as that overweight woman who ran so slow speed walkers passed her on the trail.  I am not that woman anymore, I’ve worked hard,  have gotten much faster and if I don’t let my mind stop me I can kick butt this April.

I just want to leave you with some quotes I find helpful when I doubt myself:

“Run hard, be strong, think big!” -Percy Cerutty

“Part of a runner’s training consists of pushing back the limits of his mind..” -Kenny Moore

“The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go to far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy…It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed.” -Jacqueline Gareau

“Mind is everything: muscle–pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind” -Paavo Nurmi

Am I the only one who is constantly doubting herself?  Do you ever doubt yourself and your running ability?  How do you overcome your doubts?

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A few months ago I wrote a post about buying a bike and 3 weeks ago I finally bought one.  I chose this bike because it is versatile, light and fast but I can still ride it on the gravel trail close to our house.  I’ve taken it out on a few 1 hour rides and am getting used to riding a real bike again.  I’ve spent plenty of time on stationary bikes in the past few years but being out on a bike is very different.  The person at the bicycle shop said I should get used to riding on the bike before putting on clipless pedals on.  I think I will be able to ride faster when I get them but honestly am glad I don’t have them yet because I know I will be taking a tumble on one of my first rides with the clipless pedals.  I have found my rides to be very relaxing, especially the ones where my family is along.  Going for a ride is a great alternative on a day when you need a break from the impact of running.  It is also a great activity to do with the family.  I don’t think I am likely to enter any triathlons anytime soon or be a speed demon on my bike ( I am likely to remain a turtle) but I can see riding a couple times a week for fun and exercise.

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First week of training is done.  Fast runs did not go as planned, I was winded and my heart rate was higher than normal all week.  Last year I would have been worried about this but I’ve been running long enough now to know that this sometimes happens.  Sometimes our bodies need a little rest and can not do what we want them to.  I find that every couple of months this happens to me, it usually occurs in the weeks following a big race or during the later part of my cycle.  Coach Jenny on Runnerworld.com wrote a good article describing the effects of a woman’s cycle on running.  After reading this I stopped freaking out when I couldn’t run as fast, was more winded and my heart rate was going crazy  during PMS.  Now I just try to come as close to my goals as I can reassured by the knowledge that next week will be better.  I am looking forward to next weeks training, I am hoping for much speedier times on my intervals and the tempo run.  I will be opting for the bike ride on Monday instead of the 3 mile run, my left ITB (it was the right one before) starting hurting after Saturday’s run so I am hoping a non running day with lots of stretching and rolling will help.

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I was originally planning on running the Zooma Austin Half Marathon this year but found out about the Angie’s Half Crazy! Half marathon and decided to do that instead.  One of my twitter and Daily Mile pals recommended it and I thought it would be fun to run it and spend the weekend in Houston with the family.  The course is a loop and really flat so I am going to try for a PR which means running something close to a 1:40 half marathon which seems kind of crazy to me.  I have a hard time thinking I can run that fast but I did run a 1:43:32 at the 3M so I should be able to run something close to my goal with smart training and if the weather isn’t crazy hot.   I chose to go with the Hal Higdon  advanced  half marathon training program for training, I tweaked it a bit to allow for 2 non running days if I choose and went with mileage instead of time for the long runs because that works better for me.  Here it is:

I will be started my training tomorrow.  I may add in a 5K or 10K in the schedule if anything catches my fancy.  After this race I plan on taking it easy the rest of the spring and the beginning of summer then I will start training for my fall marathon.  I am hoping by then I will be able to run a 3:40 and qualify for Boston.

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A couple of weeks after I ran the Rock and Roll San Antonio marathon my right ITB has been tight and painful.  The knee pain has made me walk home a couple of times from a run or cut a run short.  I keep thinking I have moved past it and then it comes back.  There are a few things that I have found that help relieve the pain,keep it and little looser and allow me to keep running.

First thing is the foam roller.  Using this before and after a run help the tightness from setting it too soon during the run and helps the pain afterwards.  Yoga, especially the pigeon pose and the winshield wiper.  When I do yoga 2 or 3 times a week the ITB pain/tightness is greatly decreased.  The Pro-Tec Iliotibial Band Compression Wrap has also helped me get through longer runs with less discomfort.  Usually the pain and tightness sets in around mile 3 or 4 but when I wear the strap and have been foam rolling I can get through 10-14 miles.  Some other things that help are avoiding hills (downhill really irritates it), replacing my shoes, keeping most runs short and running on even surfaces.

It was no surprise to me that after 3M race last weekend both my ITBs were painful because the race has a lot of downhill.  I was actually surprised that I made it through the race with just a little tightness and not much slowing down.  So this past week I have taken an easy rest week with just three runs 6-7 miles each and lots of rolling and stretching.  I am hoping to be back in business next week to start training for my next half marathon.

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Since I wrote about my Nike Free yesterday, I thought I would write about the shoe I run in the rest of the time today Brooks Women’s Launch Running Shoe. After I started running in the Nike Free once or twice a week I really started to hate running in my old Asics 2140.  They felt heavy, stiff and the heel just felt wrong.  So I searched, asked around and found these babies.  It was love at first run They are  lightweight neutral shoe with a nice flexible out-sole and great cushioning.  Recommended for fast running (tempos, intervals and racing) but I have found that I love to do any kind of run in them.    I have used them on long training runs  (up to 26 miles),  a marathon, half marathon and speed work.  I love them so much I am on my second pair .

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