Rookie Mistakes...

Every Saturday I do my long run in preparation for the St Jude Half Marathon on Dec 6. Lately I have been heading out to the Greenline to do these runs because my neighborhood is getting old. My goal Saturday was to run 11 miles in 1:55, but I really set myself up for problems.

Saturday morning I invited two friends of mine to run with me. I usually do not like to run in groups, but I have been trying to branch out more and letting people push me further and faster. I find that running with a group makes it harder for me to stop and walk a bit when I am with others. Maybe it is an ego guy thing...

So Saturday I woke up at 6:30 and got ready to meet the guys at 8 AM for 11 miles. One thing that always messes with me is running in the cold because I am always afraid I am going to over dress and get hot. Saturday morning it was 34 degrees here in Memphis, so I really had to start digging out some cold weather gear. So after about three different running clothe changes I finally felt like I had a good combo and heading out to meet the guys. I had my fuelbelt, gloves I could ditch and glasses and I was ready.

The run started off really well. We were all having a good time talking and before I knew it, we were at the 5.5 mile turn around and we started heading back. I was having no issues and I was on my pace I wanted to be on...until about mile 8ish.

Then I realized that I did not eat anything that morning before my run. I had no fuel. And instead of realizing that and hitting the GU I had in my fuelbelt, my focus became about just finishing. Around mile 9.5 or so, I could feel my calf twinging, that good ol calf cramp was coming, but I wanted to keep going. I wanted to hit that 1:55. My running partners slowly inched away from me, leaving me to run alone (which was totally cool!) I could sense that my running gait was changing, but I kept trucking along, and finished in 1:54:33. Right on Target.

So here are my rookie mistakes I made, and I should know better:

1. No food before the run. This was extremely stupid of me and I know better. I had plenty of time to grab a bite before my run and for whatever reason, I didn't. I know this effected me in a bad way!
2. No water at all. While I had two bottles around my waist, I never went to them. After the run I did drink water, but I never had a swig. Now granted it was cold and I don't think I needed as much water as I would on a hot day, but going two hours without water is just stupid.

I am not sure what I was thinking, because we all talked about water stations and gels and how we would use them on race day, but I never even thought about it. It kind of sucked, inviting people to run with you and then being the one that got dropped, but it was a good reminder for me to fuel up before and during a long run. I won't make that mistake next Saturday. Saturday is another 11 miler!!!

It's Just The Way I Am!

Here recently I have been dreading my long runs and even some of my shorter runs. This time of year is always crazy busy for me being in retail and all, but I always sign up for the St Jude Marathon weekend, so I have to run. My plan has been calling for a Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday run, with Saturday being the long run. I have been fairly consistent in running during the week, but once the mileage got into double figures, man, have I been dreading it.

So, I have found the one thing that has helped me get out of this funk!

I change my route.

Simple huh? I have found that the easiest way to hit that dreaded run is to change the route entirely. I usually hate to drive somewhere to run because I think it is stupid, but on occasion, (like this weekend) I will drive myself over to the Greenline and run. It changes everything for me!

The Shelby Farms Greenline is a 6.5 mile urban trail connecting Midtown Memphis to Shelby Farms Park–the largest park of its kind in the country. Managed and operated by the nonprofit Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, the trail is an incredible community asset that provides new opportunities for recreation, exercise, togetherness, healthy activity, commuting and more. Now connected to Shelby Farms Park’s Wolf River Pedestrian Bridge, the Shelby Farms Greenline allows for miles of new trail routes. The paved trail currently runs from Tillman St. at Walnut Grove Rd. in Midtown to Farm Rd. at Mullins Station Rd. at Shelby Farms Park. There are access points at Tillman Street., Highland Street, High Point Terrace, Graham Street, Waring Road, Podesta Street, Sycamore View Road, and Farm Road at Shelby Farms Park. (I know these streets do not mean much to a lot of people, but it's cool). The trail has mile markers every half mile, which seems to really help. It also helps that there are always other runners or bikers on the Greenline. I think that my routes around my house get way to familiar and boring. So a new location is sometimes all I need to get refreshed and energized.

About two weeks ago I went to the Greenline for a 10 mile run. My plan was to run 2 miles, walk a minute and then run another two until I finished my 10 miles. So I started, it was a nice cool day with temps in the low 50s, I ran in shorts and my arm warmers. My goal was not about speed, but just finishing the 10 miles. After I hit the 2 mile marker, I thought to myself to go 3, then 4, then 5. I knew I have already hit runs of 8 and 9 miles, so I am not sure why I was so unconfident about this run, but I was! So at mile 5, I did walk a minute because I had to make some adjustments, but then I started running again for the next 5 miles. I covered 10 miles in 1:44 with a 10:24 pace. I was actually thrilled.

No, it was not nearly as fast as I had hoped, but I did finish it and I accomplished what I wanted to on my run. Sometimes you just need that extra encouragement to tell yourself you can do it. Even though I have run this distance and further in my triathlon career, and even though I just did this distance, I will still have these same thought sin my head as I prepare for this Saturday's run. I will still dread the pending 11 miler on Saturday morning, but I already have plans to hit the Greenline and hit my 11 miles under 1:55, and once I finish that, I can then start dreading the next long run, cause that is just the way I am!

If ‘If’s and ‘Buts’ Were Candy and Nuts, We’d All be Triathletes!

I am sure you will soon realize by the proper grammar skills and correct spelling of all the words that I did not write this post. Today's post is from my bride, who is competing in her 1st triathlon on Saturday. Here are her thoughts as she prepares to race this Saturday at the Memphis in May Sprint Triathlon.


So I am finally putting to rest all of those “ifs” and “buts” that prevented me from taking the plunge into triathlons, as in, “if I had more time” or “but I’m not sure I could actually do it.” Now, I’m ready to attempt my first “real” triathlon, Memphis in May sprint, this Saturday. So how the heck did I end up here?

I can only assume( as I usually do) that this is actually all my husband’s fault. Watching him over the years competing in triathlons of all distances – sprint, Olympic, 70.3, and even an Ironman - it was probably inevitable that I would finally bite the proverbial bullet.

Around the time he got serious about triathlons again, we welcomed our third son. So there was no hurry for me to train for my own races. I was more than content to be the cheerleader, child wrangler, and masseuse. I especially enjoyed the venue at Memphis in May because there is a great pool right along the race course. Our 3 boys and I would watch the swim, cheer James on at transition, get in the pool while he was on the bike course, get out and cheer him on at the finish. It’s pretty spectator/kid-friendly.

Maybe I entertained the idea of being out there on the course myself. It did seem like such a rush to cross that finish line. I wondered if I had what it took to do one, but I wasn’t really a runner and the only biking I did was trudging around on my mountain bike with my youngest on front.

Run

But, about 4 years ago, I started running. I've never enjoyed running in any way except for the sprinting we did in 6^th grade for the Presidential fitness awards. That I could do. However, Memphis has an amazing running program for women every summer at Shelby Farms, one of my favorite places in Memphis. Hundreds of women participate and it’s broken down into nice categories based on experience. I started with a group of hopeful beginners and surprised myself by enjoying the freedom to head out on Monday nights starting in July and run with other women. I was hooked. I could actually run. I’ve been back every year since and keep moving up a level.

Bike

Then I asked for and received a road bike for Christmas. Before that, my biking had pretty much be limited to riding my youngest son on the front of my mountain bike and tootling around. Once I got my new road bike out on the Greenline and rode it, well, I felt a huge sense of freedom. 

Swim

And then, there is the swim. I’ve always been a decent swimmer. I was raised by a mother who body-surfed in the ocean when she was eight months pregnant with me. To teach us to swim, she let go of us in the water as toddlers. It was sink or swim, literally. My only concern is that I'm the type of swimmer who doesn't even like to share a lane. Swimming in the open water where it's inevitable to get bumped is going to freak me out a bit. 

I’m Guessing Stopping to Comb my Hair in Transition Would be Frowned on?

So the disciplines were coming together. Then came Valentine’s Day. My darling husband gave me a training plan as a gift. (Crazy, huh?)  And, I was actually excited about it. (Even crazier!) Being able to see in each little square what training I should do each day made me feel like I could give it a go.

The past few months of training have been interesting. I’ve learned that it’s true that we make time for what’s important to us. I’ve always been impressed by James’ ability to balance training and having an engaged family life. Since that often meant getting up at 5 in the morning while training for his 140.6, I could hardly complain about fitting in a 2-mile run.

That’s not to say I didn’t have to be creative. I do still have a 5-year-old at home. So on Mondays, a swim day, I would take Jesse to the Rec. Center with me. He'd go to the childcare while I did an hour of weight-training. Then, I’d swim my laps. After that I’d go get Jesse and we would splash around and swim for a bit. It was a three hour process, but I will never forget having that time with my son.

Other days, I’d wait until my older boys got home from school and then go do my run while they could watch Jesse. If I took Jesse with me on my runs, he’d ride his bike. Once it took us an hour and a half to do 2 miles! We did stop to play on the playground and throw rocks in the creek. Sometimes you have to adapt.

I’ve learned that training can be fun. It’s made me order my days differently trying to fit a specific workout in. For example, I happen to teach a college class at a community college right near our city’s greenline, a 7 mile paved trail. This semester, after I gave my final exam, I  celebrated by changing into my bike kit and hitting the greenline for a refreshing 11 mile ride. (Usually, I reward myself with something like a Gigi’s cupcake and running home to watch a DVRed Sherlock Holmes  before I have to pick my youngest  up from Mother’s Day Out.) Guess which one I now prefer.

I’ve also learned that training makes me feel like a badass, especially wearing my team’s kit. It may sound a little odd to already be part of a racing team when I haven’t proven myself. But, the team I am on is about much more than races. It’s about people, specifically being an encouragement to people with cancer. If you follow this blog, you’ve surely seen James post about Jessica Hambrick who with her husband, James, founded the team GI Jess’s Warriors for a Cause. Even though Jessica entered eternity a month ago, her spirit and her vision and her compassion will live on through this team. She was such an encouragement to so many triathletes and Christians and cancer fighters.

A few weeks ago, the team met at Jessica’s parents’ house to make a plan to go forward. It was there that I bought my Warriors tri top.  Putting it on for the first time made me feel like a triathlete. And wearing it to train as I see people watching me run or bike makes me feel so inspired to represent this team well. I feel like I belong.

And I vow to remember that when the doubt and worry creeps in. The “Can I do this?” “What was I thinking?”  “Can people tell I’m a newbie?” voices will be drowned out by the “Warrior Up” yell I know Jessica would give me. I will! 

I Had the Dreaded Ironman DQ Dream....

First off, I had a great weekend of training and a huge boost for my confidence. I finished a 3 hour ride on Saturday and felt great afterwards. Sunday was a 9.2 mile run which felt amazing. I had the right mindset going into it and I had the right fuel for it. I was really feeling good about everything and went to watch NASCAR on Sunday afternoon (which is code for taking a nap). And that is when I had the dream.

I have heard many people talk about the dreams they have leading up to Ironman. Many are dreams about forgetting their bike or some other valuable piece of equipment they need, some dream about waking up late for the race, but my dream was about me getting disqualified! So here it is:

It occurred on the bike. I remember I was riding up to a hill that was lined with blue carpet which led up another hill to the transition area. As I was coming up to it, I asked the volunteer that was sitting there if I was in the right area. She did not move but said yes, you are in the right spot, so I hopped off my bike and gave it to another volunteer that was going to rack my bike. The volunteer ran my bike up the hill as I went around the corner to change clothes for the run. As I got the to changing area, they immediately said I was the first one there! I knew this could not be right, so I looked at my GPS watch and saw I was still 30 miles short of 112. So I turn back around and run back to the volunteer and head back up the blue carpeted hill and see my bike on the rack. It is the only bike in T2 and there were 4 officials standing around my bike.

I ran over and told them I was totally off course and I still had some of the ride to go and they wouldn't let me take my bike. They told me that since I went so off course and missed the turn at the blue carpet and since I had racked my bike, they had no choice but to DQ me!

I tried to argue my case, but they were not budgeting. I thought if I could get that volunteer who told me I was going the right way to admit that, then they would know it was an honest mistake and I could get back on the course. As I trotted back to the volunteer, I got a good look at her and saw that it was my Nanny!

Then I woke up...


Weird.

This Ford Was Out of Gas!

I had a good weekend of training. It started on Friday and a 3400 yd swim that felt good. Saturday morning was the Graduation 5K race for the Run for God group my wife and I lead at our church! I am so proud of each one of those runners, they all did great and we even had 2 award winners! So after the 5K, I took Stella (my bike) out for a 2.5 hour ride outside on the Greenline! It was awesome and hott, so I ran out of water or I would have gone further. So Sunday morning rolls around and I am planning a 10 miler that morning before church. So I set my alarm for 5AM and I am out running by 5:40 (Yeah I hit the snooze a time or two, but it was planned out that way).

It was the worst run I have had in a really long time. I only managed about 5 miles in 1:15!!!

And I know why!

Here is what I ate on Saturday:

• water before the 5k
• 2 donuts at the race
• banana with PB before my ride
• 3 gels and Gatorade while riding
• hot dog after my ride
• 2 BLT sandwiches for dinner
• half a milkshake
• nothing on Sunday before my attempted run

Basically, I had no gas in the tank. I was running on empty. No bueno!!!

I sometimes tend to get so focused on the workouts that I forget my body needs fuel! And for some reason, I am worse at it on the weekends. Next weekend is going to be another step up in mileage on the bike, so I have to remember to fuel my body. I also have to find something that I can eat prior to workouts. I do not want to start Redman with nothing in the tank because that will set me up for failure right from the jump!

My 16 Mile Run Was A Bit Short...

Today, in my quest to conquer my first marathon, I had scheduled a 16 mile run. My plan is one I took from Breakaway Running and it seemed doable, so that has been my guide. So I was prepared for this to be my longest run to date, and I had the perfect route planned.

Here in Memphis, we have what is called the "Memphis Greenline" at Shelby Farms. Basically, it is an old railroad track that they redid and made it into a walking/biking path. I am not sure what the total mileage is on the entire Greenline, but I had a straight shot of 6.6 miles one way, then turned around for another 6.6 miles. It is pretty awesome too. You run through the woods, over the Wolf River and it is mostly shaded, so it made for the perfect place to do my long runs. My plan was to do the 13 miles and then do another 3 on the same route.

Well, it didn't happen. I only made it 13.4 miles. I could think of a lot of excuses, but the main thing for me was not the right nutrition. I only had a small bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast and that was it. After breakfast, I went to my oldest boys football game, came home and then went to the Greenline. So that whole day I had one little bowl of cereal and the Gatorade I brought in my fuel belt.

I know better than to do that too. The last 2 miles of my run was a struggle. My best half marathon is 1:55, and today I finished my total run in about 2:40, so I know I can do better. Thankfully I still have some time to prepare for this race, cause right now I would not even come close to hitting my goal.

For e to be so excited about going for my run, I was totally unprepared!

Thanks for Reading!