Finally a grey Sunday with no plans. It’s exactly one month until we leave for Mozambique and I desperately needed a day like today to get organized, set up a calendar, and make lists of everything that needs to be done before we leave.

Work is a challenge right now because we are transitioning to a new software platform which is set to go live on January 1st. I’m in the first group of employees being trained on the new software. We had two days of computer training this past week and now we are left with the capability of “playing around” with the program. It’s different, and there are definitely some unique features that are not present in our current program, but we will all learn it eventually.

I’ve just plotted out the next 4 weeks of home visits and possible telephonic assessments. Barring any major issues I could very well assess all of my December members (patients) as well as many from early January. I’m not being negative when I say that it is wishful thinking that I will achieve this goal. I am being realistic.

Things that will throw off my goal are members being hospitalized and discharged before I leave, new enrollees assigned to me, and members I am unable to reach by phone. When a member is hospitalized we are supposed to see them within 72 hours of discharge. New enrollees have to be seen before the last day of the month. I have one for December so far. Typically we know the month before, but I have been assigned new enrollees during the current month. The biggest challenge with my members is the ever changing phone number. I have never seen people rotate through phone numbers so rapidly. Because of this I have now amassed a large directory of phone numbers for each member including relative’s phone numbers and anyone else they can identify as an emergency contact. In the event that I cannot reach someone by phone I will make an unannounced visit in hopes of finding them at home. It is likely that all of these things will happen so I’ve tried to build in a little flexibility into my schedule.

Holidays and birthdays…The next few weeks are full of them! All are cause for happiness so definitely worth making room in the schedule for a little fun. We begin with Thanksgiving this week. My sister and I have invited some new faces to Thanksgiving dinner. This time of year has been clouded by the sadness of losing my stepfather on 12/2/1996. Thanksgiving was the last holiday we all spent together and it was his favorite holiday. Needless to say it’s never been the same since and some years it’s been downright miserable. Carlos changed that a lot and obviously we are much happier with him in our lives. Last year I invited a good friend to spend Thanksgiving with us and I just felt that he breathed new life into the day for us. This year Orlando and I have invited a friend we’ve never even met before, but he’s Mozambican and studying in Boston. OK that doesn’t exactly sounds like grounds to invite a perfect stranger to Thanksgiving dinner, but we feel like we’ve known him for a while now. He was introduced to us in a Facebook Peace Corps Mozambique group and he and Orlando have spoken on the phone a number of times over the last year or so. We are really looking forward to finally meeting him in person. He will be staying with us from Tuesday through Friday. My sister’s husband’s cousin, wife and son will also be joining us. They are from Brazil so there will probably be more Portuguese than English spoken.

On Friday we leave bright and early on the train headed for NYC. My sister and I have planned the first annual post Thanksgiving holiday trip. I’m not sure if that’s the official name for it, but we have been determined to start a tradition. Unlike most families we feel as though we lack traditions. Carlos, Orlando, my mom, her husband, my sister, her husband, and I are going to the Christmas show at Radio City Music Theater, out to dinner and then we will sight see the next day before returning home Saturday evening. I’m not sure we will do the exact same thing each year, but we hope to do something all together as a family the day after Thanksgiving each year. We will see how this goes!

My sister’s husband’s birthday is 12/15 and my sister and Carlos celebrate their birthday on 12/17. Carlos’ best friend, Tyler’s birthday is in December too. Carlos’ “friend” birthday party is on December 5th. It’s a winter pool party at a local school’s aquatic center. My sister is turning 40 this year. Nothing is set in stone yet, but her husband mentioned getting together on December 12th. On my son’s actual birthday we have tickets for an advanced showing of the new Star Wars movie which is set to open nationwide the following day. We are going with his friend Tyler. The boys are so excited. Light sabers are encouraged!!

Carlos has his own iCal color because his schedule is often more involved than mine. I have to work in religion class, karate, skating, and play dates. We have a couple of school events including his birthday celebration in the classroom. They do a really special ceremony with the birthday child sharing photos of each year of their life and a healthy treat for their classmates.

With all of that going on how could I even imagine training for anything? I’m not technically training right now. I have a fun run 5K on 12/6 that I’m doing with Carlos and friends. No pressure, no time goals, just fun and hot chocolate (maybe a soy latte for me!). Aside from that I’m feeling really loose about my fitness goals right now. I’ve been focused on incorporating a daily yoga practice into my life. It’s been going really well. I am up around 4:15 each day including this weekend and I have begun each day with 20-30 minutes of yoga. What I wouldn’t give to have the absolute freedom to become an accomplished yoga student. It is challenging, makes me sweat sometimes, my muscles feel the burn, and yet I always come away with this sense of calmness and serenity. I want so much to be good at yoga, to have the time to really master the postures, and maybe some day the skill to teach others.

I’ve also been throwing in some kettle bell swings after yoga and whenever I can throughout the day. Since my work is very sedentary it’s a good way to get the blood flowing and add a little impromptu strength training for whatever it’s worth.

Now to the real point of this post…running. I’m still running, not every day and with no plan. I just run when I feel like it and either however long I have time to run or however long I want to run. I have been consistently keeping an average pace of under 10 minutes/mile. Some days that pace feels smooth and other days it feels like I’m sprinting.

Overall this lack of structure was exactly what I needed post marathon, but I’m feeling ready to bring some focus back to running and begin setting some goals. I am definitely not planning to run a spring marathon. I didn’t enjoy training through the winter especially given the conditions we had last winter and the one before it. However, I do want to keep my eye on fall marathons and I don’t want to have to build my mileage from the ground up come July. So I’m hoping to use the next few months to begin working on increasing my speed and improving my endurance on hills. Nothing like a hill to warm you up on a cold winter’s day! My tentative race plans look like this:

December through February Snowstorm Classics – alternating 5K and 10K races every Saturday morning at a local park. The “race” are $5 and very low key. I’m hoping to do as many as possible as a means to improve speed and gauge my progress. I think it will also be a great incentive for getting outside to run when it’s cold.

February – Jones 10miler

March – St. Patrick’s 10K

April – Oleksak Lumber Half Marathon

June – Lake Wyola 4.8 miler, Vegan Power 25K trail race

August – Shelburne Falls 10K

September – Half Marathon (not sure which race yet)

October – Full Marathon (Wine Glass possible, but not my first choice)

Peppered in throughout the races I will be including as many 5K races as I can afford. There are local $5 Thursday night races and a Summer Sizzler Series similar to the Snowstorm Classics. I know the 5K races will be beneficial to improving my speed.

However, I don’t want to just run. I recall from my training for Montreal, the year I PR’d every race, it is important to include strength training and regular yoga to help avoid injury. One more thing I am going to add to my calendar this month is a return to the gym for a more structured strength training session.

Ideally my fitness schedule would include strength training twice a week, yoga 15-30 minutes daily, and 3-4 runs a week with one being at least an hour or more. This week I will run my annual solo 10+ mile turkey trot on Thanksgiving Day. There are no turkey trot races close by so for the last 4 years (maybe more) I’ve been running at least 10 miles on Thanksgiving morning.

It’s 2:30pm on Sunday and I’m still in my pajamas! I haven’t done this in ages. I suppose at some point I should consider going to the grocery store and preparing dinner.

Typically after I run a race there is another on the horizon. Going into Hartford, I deliberately planned a running respite to follow. I have actually been participating in something called the Yogi Detox run by Auyurvedic practitioner Cate Stillman. The detox began a couple of days after the marathon which was perfect timing. It’s a holistic detox that touches on all areas of life rather than simply a food cleanse. The program can be individualized and is designed to occur each fall and spring at the change of season. The idea is to clear out spiritually, physically, emotionally and spatially. 

I took a rather gentle approach as this was my first experience with the program. First I focused on re-creating my morning routine to once again include an early wake up, meditation, yoga, oil pulling (I know weird, but I cannot stop) and preparing for the day ahead. Oddly this all fell into place rather quickly and before I knew it I was back to waking up between 4 and 4:30 with little effort. I’m not perfect and it doesn’t happen every single day, but enough days to make me feel calmer, more organized, and a lot more at ease.

Cate incorporated the book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo into this detox. I have read most of the book and while I would love to jump in with both feet to clear out my entire house that is not realistic for me right now. The idea is to  tackle your belongings by category rather than room. So the first thing I did was remove every stitch of clothing from my bedroom and elsewhere in the house and put it in my office. I went through each piece one by one, holding it, asking myself if it brings joy to my life and then either discarding it into the give away bin or putting it in a pile to keep. It was an interesting concept to use to determine whether or not I should keep articles of clothing. In the past I would have kept most of it by reasoning that I might find it useful again or there might come a day when it will fit or look good on me. I would say about 75% of my clothing ended up in garbage bags. I’ve done the same with my son’s clothing only we based his on what fit. If it’s comfortable and fits then it brings joy to Carlos!

The next project will be books/magazines and papers. Although the detox is a 4 week program the actual process of tidying up the Marie Kondo way might take me 6 months or more. I am a minimalist at heart, but my home does not quite reflect that yet.

The yogi detox recommends a few different styles of eating and supports a couple of rather drastic cleanses if you are so inclined. I was not interested in making any major changes to my diet other than to adhere to a whole foods plant based diet with an emphasis on raw foods and as few packaged foods as possible. This was not a huge departure for me, but it provided me with the challenge of not grabbing pretzels or other processed snacks on the go. I opted instead for fruits and vegetables if I was hungry. 

I have been struggling rather violently with binge eating and a 10-12 pound weight gain since fall of 2013. I’ve mentioned it here at times. Although I tend not to harp on it like I might have in the past, it sits at the forefront of my thoughts most days. It has caused a surge of emotions and an onslaught of negative messages in my own head. Over the last 6 months or so I’ve tried to reconcile my feelings with my reality. It has become quite clear that for the first time in my struggle with weight I’ve learned how to maintain my weight consistently over the course of many months. I stopped weighing myself regularly last November. I have a documented weight from November 2014. I weighed myself again for the first time a number of months ago and weighed exactly the same as I did in November 2014. I weighed myself last week and I’m about a half pound less than I was a year ago. While I’m not at the most comfortable weight for my body I have not exceeded this weight in a year. It’s not an astronomical weight gain. I can reverse it and get back to a more comfortable weight if I continue to eat the way I have been eating throughout the detox.

Oddly with few restrictions on my diet as I entered into the yogi detox I have found that within the last few weeks I’m not hungry all the time like I have been for the last two years. My cravings are almost non-existent.  I have not experienced a binge or even the urge to binge. It’s weird. I don’t understand it and I want to understand why I am suddenly feeling very differently about food. I wish I could say it’s because I’ve developed an iron will against my nemesis, but I don’t think that is it. I’m frustrated because I also want to know why I reverted back to old behaviors two years ago after running the Montreal Marathon. I know some might say don’t overthink this and just go with the flow. However, I fear the day the switch flips again. If I don’t know what triggers it then how can I prevent it?

I have dialed down my fitness to daily yoga, some kettle bell swings and a few runs a week. I run when I really feel like it and I run as long or short as I want to or my schedule allows. I am using the 30 days of yoga with Adrienne for yoga practice most days, but if time is short then I do as many sun salutations as I can. The idea is building a routine without the pressure of being perfect.

I’ve taken a similar approach with meditation. I have a strong desire to build a meditation practice in my life. I know from experience that even a few minitues of meditation every morning has a significant impact on how my day begins and often how it continues. However, I stink at meditation. My mind is all over the place. So rather than start with a lofty goal of meditating for 15 minutes or more daily I started with  5 minutes. I’m still setting my timer for 5 minutes sometimes 6 minutes. I think I did 8 minutes one day. My mind races in the beginning and then it settles a little bit and I remember to count my breaths because that helps me to stop thinking for a few seconds. Whenever I start thinking about something I begin counting my breaths again. I try to employ techniques I’ve learned from the free portion of the Headspace App and from various You Tube meditations. I may never achieve a complete meditative state, but I can continue to practice mindfulness and breathing techniques so that I am a calmer, kinder, and more relaxed human being.

The Healthy Lifestyle Expo conference could not have come at a better time. I was less than a week into the detox when I left forCalifornia. I did not have to cook or be around food unless I was hungry. I was able to do longer yoga sessions via my iPad. I ran one morning and went for walks during every break throughout the conference.  I wrote about my goals with the Yogi Detox and outlined some goals for the year ahead. Upon my return home I stayed focused on simplifying as much of my life as possible. 

As with every experience I open myself up to I’ve learned a great deal about myself and about how I want to go forward in my life. The idea of a spring and fall detox really speaks to my need to simplify and organize my life. The one theme that kept popping up in the weekly detox calls and on the online Facebook forum was the idea that the detox can be whatever you want it to be. It can and likely will become a deeper detox each time. This was a learning experience. I will continue to draw off of it throughout the winter as I strive to live a simpler, cleaner, more streamlined life and I will apply what I’ve learned to the next experience. 

I know this probably seems way out there and a bit kooky. Some of it was a little far out to me too and I may never commit to a detox that involves deep cleansing practices, but I think checking in with ourselves a couple times of year is an easy way to realign values and restructure goals while taking a little time to take care of ourselves holistically. 

The conference finished on Sunday which meant I had Monday all to myself. I rented a car and took off to see as much of LA as I possibly could before I had to return the rental. It was a gorgeous day. I decided to head towards Santa Monica first. I’ve heard about the traffic in LA, but it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I had been on the roads at various times of day and there always seems to be a very slow moving back up of traffic on the highways.  I probably could have seen much more if had been drive faster than 20 miles an hour!

First stop Hollywood and a quick walk down part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There is only one star I wanted to see…Marilyn Monroe’s. I was obsessed with her when I was a teen.

I couldn’t let my first trip to California pass without catching a glimpse of the Hollywood sign. I drove part way up the road to the Griffith Observatory and then walked the rest of the way up. Despite the fact that the observatory was closed on Monday, there were bus loads of tourists, hikers, runners, and about as many selfie sticks as people. The views of LA from where the Observatory sits are spectacular. The city seems to go on forever.  The iconic Hollywood sign appears dwarfed as it sits nestled in the jutting landforms that surround it. It’s remarkable nonetheless because it represents the hopes of so many who have come from far and wide to pursue their dreams.

Griffith’s Observatory

Smoggy view of LA from Griffith’s Observatory

There it is!

Back on the freeway I went in search of the beach. The Santa Monica boardwalk is exactly as I had imagined, the Coney Island of the west perhaps? It’s bright and colorful, noisy, lively and whirring with energy. The beach sits off to the side of the mountains and it is the mountains I truly love. Having been to the coast in Mozambique, I’m not sure anything here in the U.S. can rival the pristine untouched Indian Ocean beaches, but the further you get from the boardwalk on either side the nicer the beach. I stuck my toes in the Pacific Ocean, checked out the boardwalk, and then walked into town. I had a delicious, but rather expensive raw foods lunch at Rawvolution complete with spirulina pie for dessert. Despite how unappealing that may sound I can assure you it was delicious. I try to sample new things whenever possible and this definitely fit the bill as new and different.

After lunch I walked about 2 miles from Santa Monica beach to Venice Beach. There is a large bike and walking path that links the beaches. It was a gorgeous day and I welcomed the opportunity to people watch while strolling along at my own pace. Venice is also as I had imagined. Lots of street vendors, performers, and other interesting characters along the way. There are restaurants, shops, and a beach that stretches on for as long as the eye can see.

Just hanging around

Venice Beach Boardwalk

I decided to drive up the coast towards Malibu instead of returning to Valencia the way I came.  I drove through Santa Monica on Ocean Boulevard for a while before getting on the Pacific Coast Highway. This may have been my first trip to California, but I was no stranger to the PCH. CHIPS anyone?! In more recent years this highway is more significant to me as part of the Big Sur marathon course which I hope to run someday. I sat in bumper to bumper traffic for ages. Sure the views are beautiful, but after a while I became so disillusioned I started researching other routes I could take and other attractions on my way back to the hotel. Using my phone was of no danger because I wasn’t moving more than a few hundred feet every 5 minutes or so.

The map showed I was close to Topanga Canyon. I excused myself from the PCH and took a right onto Topanga Canyon Road. Within minutes I knew I had made a wonderful decision. There was no traffic despite the slow speed limit. I found myself winding through the canyon with massive rock formations on either side. It was frightening and exhilarating at the same time. I love to witness varying landscapes and this was incredible. I tried to keep my eye on the road while soaking up all of the views. I saw a sign for Topanga State Park and in a split second my plan to head back to the hotel changed. I took a quick right and drove up to the park. I parked and hiked for about an hour. It was the absolute best part of the entire day. No photo could do the views justice. Had I not been alone and on a time limit to return the car I would have liked to explore more trails and stay to watch the sunset.
Talk about seizing the day! I saw Hollywood, the Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, drove along the PCH and hiked in Topanga Canyon. It was an amazing day. I miss my family, and I adore traveling with them, but I want to say something to people, women in particular, who have never traveled alone. Do it sometime. It’s empowering. I started traveling on my own in college when I lived in Mexico. I learned to dine alone, find my way around, ask questions, and find solace in being by myself. I always meet the most interesting people along the way. I love being able to do exactly what I feel like without having to please another person, hear someone complain, worry about someone else’s needs or make a compromise. That sounds awfully selfish, I know, but it’s more about self-care. I started each day on this trip at about 4:30 with meditation and yoga. I ate when I was hungry. I walked a lot. I ran a couple of times. I talked to people who were like-minded, but had different experiences. I heard things that made me really think about how I want to go forward with my life.  My batteries are recharged and I feel rejuvenated.

Before I launch into the last day of the Healthy Lifestyle Expo and a fun post about my last day in LA, I found this draft of a post I borrowed from Carina ages ago. I thought it would be a nice break from the conference talk.

Running Quiz

1.  Would you rather run along a beach path or on a mountain trail?
Mountain trail hands down! I love trail running although I don’t get to do it often enough. I really need a running partner to go out for longer trail runs.

2.  If you could choose the flavor of gatorade at your next race’s aid stations, what would it be?

I don’t care for gatorade. Nothing in nature is that color. If I had to choose a flavor I guess I would go for the lemon. If I had to create a flavor though I might go for watermelon with mint. My preferred drink at a water station would be cold coconut water.

3.  If I gave you a $100 gift card to a running store, what would be the first thing that you would purchase with it?

A new pair of Hoka running shoes. I really love these shoes. My feet never hurt after a run.
4.  Do you prefer to follow a training plan or wake up and decide then how far and how fast you want to run?

I thrive on a training plan. I’m going crazy right now because I don’t have one, but I also need the flexibility in my life at this time so it’s probably a good thing. I love how training plans push me out of my comfort zone and provide a structure that makes me accountable.

5.  Would you rather start your run with the uphill and end on the downhill or start your run with the downhill and end with the uphill?

I would prefer to start on the uphill and have it all be downhill from there.
6.  When you can’t run, what type of cross-training do you choose to do?

This is really something I need to get back into. I actually enjoy a combination of weight training, plyometrics, and yoga. My most successful marathon to date was the Montreal Marathon and my training consisted of an equal balance of all three along with running 4-5 days/week. Plus I’ve gone soft and I would really like to feel more toned again.

7.  What is your preference—  Out and back, point to point or loop runs?

I prefer a point to point. I find out and back runs painful. I don’t mind a loop course if it’s a really big loop, but a double loop is torture!

8.  If you could recommend ANY running related item to a new runner, it would be a:

smile and a positive attitude! Cheesy I know, but when you first start running it can be really challenging to progress. There are so many people turning to running these days and races are becoming the “in” thing to do, but I think sometimes people jump in for the wrong reasons. They have all the tech and fancy running gear, but they are miserable out there. Forget all of the “stuff” and just run. Later when you decide you really enjoy running and want to go further or faster then download a tracking app or buy a Garmin so you don’t have to run in mile loops to track your distance. Wear what feels comfortable not what is most expensive or in vogue.

9.  Do you ever see any wild animals while out on your runs?

Nothing crazy. I’ve seen deer, raccoon, and snakes. Once at the reservoir I was nearing the end of my run and getting close to where I parked my car. This guy was waving his arms overhead from the parking lot. I pulled my headphones off and he was yelling “there’s a bear out there.” He told me the bear had run in the direction I had come from just minutes before. Holy crap! I didn’t see it so it must have gone into the woods thankfully.

10.  Ever gotten lost while out on a run? No.

11.  If you could have one meal waiting and ready for you each time you got home from a run for the next 30 days… what would that meal be?

I would like a fruit platter and a delicious salad with lots of vegetables in a fresh lemon ginger dressing.

12.  Capris or shorts… what do you run in most often?

I have worn the same style of running capris for years now. They fit perfectly and there is a hidden pocket on the waist band big enough for my iPhone 5. They are Kirkland brand from Costco! You can’t buy them there anymore, but thank goodness for Amazon. I know I’m so fashion forward.

I cannot wear shorts. They ride up and there most definitely would be inner thigh chafing. My body simply cannot accommodate shorts, not for running or any other time.

13.  At what mile (or how many minutes) into your run does your body start to feel like it is warming up and ready to go?

It takes at least a mile or two to feel like I’m really ready to go. Every now and then I get into the groove right from the start. Those are usually great runs.

14.  What do you do with your key when you run?

Drop it right in the sports bra because I’m classy like that! My car key is too big to fit in my pocket with my phone.

15.  If you could relive any race that you have done in the past, which one what it be?

It would be the Middletown Half Marathon, my first sub 2 hour half marathon. Only this time I would have my family there at the finish.

16.  What type of run is your least favorite type of run?

Hill repeats are torture, but then there is this demented sort of pleasure I actually get out of them once the workout is finished.

17.  What has been your biggest motivation lately to get out the door to get your run on?

Actually I’ve only run a few times since running the Hartford Marathon. I’ve been focusing on daily yoga over the last two weeks. I will get back to running next week and my motivation will be the crunchy leaves, seeing the last of the fall foliage, and enjoying myself before winter begins.

18.  When you go for a run, do you leave right from your front door or do you drive somewhere to start?

For most of this marathon training cycle I ran right from my front door. It was painfully boring at times, but I didn’t have the time to drive places to run.

19.  When running in daylight:  are sunglasses a must or an annoyance?

I never wear sunglasses to run. I think they would be an annoyance especially with sweat dripping down my face. I also don’t own any that would be ideal for running. On sunny days I usually wear a baseball hat.

20.  When you get tired, what keeps you from quitting?

Tired? I don’t get tired! OK every now and then I feel tired and that’s when my goals kick in and remind me why I’m doing this. I also think about how truly lucky I am to have a fully functioning body. If I feel tired or frustrated during a run I usually dial it down to allow myself to enjoy the run because ultimately that’s what it’s all about.

Marathon number 5 is in the books!!

Hartford is only a 35 minute drive from my house and not a very exciting place to visit if you’re local. My friend Kate was running the half marathon so rather than bore our families with an early morning and long day in Hartford we decided to make it a girls road trip like we did last year for the Baystate Half Marathon.

My excitement was really high. I was ready to run! I had been checking the 10 day forecast like a maniac! It went from a rainy day to ideal running weather.

Kate picked me up around 12:30 on Friday. We made it to Hartford in no time at all.

We checked into our hotel and then hit the Expo at the XL Center in downtown Hartford. It was the best expo I’ve been to by far. The vendors were really friendly and extremely generous. Our favorite was Bakery on Main. We got to try some new flavors they are working on and got a bunch of free samples including two of their True Bars, the Walnut Cappuccino and Raspberry Chocolate Almond flavors. They were amazing!

After the expo we went for a manicure. I got sparkly red to match the shirt I was going to run in the next day. Definitely not a color I would normally put on my nails, but so fun for the weekend. The manicure included an upper back and neck massage. Nice touch!! We had some coffee after while we killed time before the pasta dinner.

Orlando and I went to the pasta dinner the night before the Vermont City Marathon. I had never been to one before. They are a little pricey for what I tend to eat, but the money goes to charity and it is a great way to get into the spirit, meet some new people, and eat exactly what I want to eat. We had fun chatting with the eclectic group at our table including one woman who lived in a neighboring town from us and would be performing her first Burlesque show later after running the half marathon. Brave soul!! We joked that we might show up with our cow bells.

Pole dancing at mile 26!

The Arches all lit up. This is where we will run through to the finish.

Kate and I are not a wild duo so we were in bed by 10. We chatted. I added some new tunes to my playlist. We were probably asleep by 11. I woke up on my own around 5 and then tossed and turned until 6 at which time my marathon morning rituals began. Bathroom, shower, get dressed, eat (chia, oats, banana and a spoon of nut butter), bathroom, put bib on, bathroom… You would think after 4 marathons I wouldn’t be so nervous, but it’s the same feeling each time.

We left the room around 7:30 to walk to the start area. The Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon draws thousands of runners.

Marathon madness!

It wasn’t difficult to find the start. The energy was awesome. So many people, so much excitement. As we filtered into the herd of runners the national anthem started. It took my breath away for a moment. It always does. This part of my life is still so foreign to me in many ways. Aimee the runner is still not quite someone I identify with as part of me. Each time I line up at the start of a race I have this moment of confusion. “I’m not a runner.” “I don’t belong here.” And then the gun goes off and my legs override my mind and do what they know they are supposed to do at that moment. I gave Kate a hug and off I went.

The full and half run together for about a mile before the course separates. We go left and the half goes to the right and we don’t converge again until the finish. I fell into a comfortable pace. I settled into my thoughts. And I ran. I ran a solid, consistent pace throughout the race. I smiled and grooved to my music. I high-fived the kids spectating along the way. Around mile 19 a woman running past me fell to the ground. I stopped to help her. I think it startled me as much as it did her. Thankfully she seemed like she was going to be ok. Then at some point before mile 23 I stopped with a man limping badly. I walked with him for a stretch and offered to get help, but he declined.

From there I ran to the finish at a steady pace. I knew I wasn’t going to meet my goal of a sub-4:30 marathon, but I also knew I had run my best race. Mile 25 was a bit of a surprise. We had to go up and over the river which meant an incline. At the end of the overpass we encountered another hill which felt like a mountain after running for so long. Finally I saw the Mile 26 sign and those last 2 tenths of a mile were a blur although they felt like they stretched out for a mile. I ran my heart out and finally came to the arches.

I saw Kate and then crossed the finish line. The tears welled up in my eyes just like every marathon before. I did it!

I took this photo of the finish line after I finished. Aren’t the mums pretty!

Me getting my medal

Having run the Vermont City Marathon in May I was registered as a participant in the New England Double Header for running both Vermont and Hartford which really meant nothing more than double the bling!

Kate finished her second half marathon!! I’m so incredibly proud of her. She had some challenges throughout her training and although she didn’t feel quite as strong going into this one as she did the last, she completed it and said she felt good along the way. She’s already planning for another in the spring.

As for me, well I already mentioned I didn’t make my goal of completing the marathon in under 4:30. So here are my results. It may not be my best marathon time, but it is officially my new post-Achilles injury PR!!

Week 6

Critical Runs

• Tuesday, 9/15/15 – 6 miles with 5 miles at half marathon pace
• Thursday, 9/17/15 – 90 minutes medium long run with at least 10×30 second pick ups
• Sunday, 9/20/15 – at least 2 hours with 45-60 minutes at marathon pace

Monday, 9/14/15

• 45-60 minute easy

I ran 3.32 miles with Kate in 45:10 (avg pace 13:37min/mile). Busy day. I’m getting a little tired of running in the dark early mornings. I waited and ran while Carlos was at swimming practice.

Tuesday, 9/15/15

• easy 2 miles, 5 by 1 mile at 1/2 marathon to 10K pace with 400 meter walk/job between, 1 mile cool down

I really wanted to tackle this run. I was going to do it in the evening, but then I found myself with a window of opportunity to go for a run before a hair appointment. I mean who really wants to get their hair colored, washed and styled and then go for a run? My hair is a complete disaster after any run longer than 30 minutes. I’m talking snarly rat’s nest. So I threw on my sneakers and hit the road. It was ridiculously hot and I only had time to do the critical run rather than the optimal workout. I ran 6.02 miles in 57:01 (avg pace 9:29 min/mile). I got to the salon and let my hair dresser untangle my hair!

Wednesday, 9/16/15

• Cross training or Yoga

I did a few sun salutations and called it a day.

Thursday, 9/17/15

• 90-100 minute medium log run with 20 x 30 sec pick ups throughout the run

9.04 miles in 1:30:02 (avg pace 9:57 min/mile). I accidentally programmed in 20 second intervals on my timer, but I did do 20 of them. It was blazing hot and of course I did this run around noon. I was nearing my house at around 1:25. I could have gone a different way to tack on the last 10 minutes, but I needed water badly.

Friday, 9/18/15

• 45-60 minute recovery run

5 miles in 46:14 (avg pace 9:14 min/mile). What?!! And again it was another hot midday run. The time worked out better for me this week, but the weather was unseasonably hot.

Saturday, 9/19/15

• Cross training or yoga

Carlos had a soccer game in Amherst at 1:15 and then he went home with my mom for a sleepover. I had loaded my bike on the bike rack and set out for an absolutely glorious solo bike ride through the valley. The fall scenery in the Amherst/Hadley area is beautiful. The air was warm, but the leaves were starting to turn. There were lots of people out and about. I stopped and had a salad at Whole Foods before heading back to my car. In total I biked 15.60miles in 1:42:37.

Later in the evening Orlando and I went out to dinner just up the street at the commons across from Mount Holyoke College. It was still so warm we were able to sit outside. We strolled around a little afterwards. It was nice low key evening.

Sunday, 9/20/15

• 150 minute long run with first 90 minutes easy, 30 minutes at marathon pace and 30 minutes at half marathon pace

I may have skimped on some of my runs this week, but I never short change myself on the long run. I ran 15.08 miles in 2:30:10 (avg pace 9:57 min/mile). Miles 9-15 were all under 10 minutes per mile. My half marathon pace at this point is around 9:54. I’m trying to work my way back to a sub 2:10 half. My marathon pace is around 10:13 as I shoot for a sub 4:30 once again. This was a great long run. I felt good and worked hard.

Total running miles = 38.46

Total activity miles = 54.06

These posts are probably really boring. I am doing it more for myself to be able to look back on the training and also it’s been a nice way to gauge my progress. The last two weeks have been so full and I am just now able to sit down and carve out a little time to write.

Week 4

Critical Runs

• Tuesday, 9/1/15 – 4 to 5 miles at half marathon goal pace
• Thursday, 9/3/15 – 50 to 60 minute Easy Run with Stride Workout: 10 to 15 times 20 seconds with 1 minute recovery job between
• Sunday 9/6 – Boothbay Harbor Half Marathon

Monday, 8/31/15 

• 45-60 minutes easy

I decided to sleep in and get up at 6am. I needed a break after the long run on Sunday. Carlos only had a half day on his first day of school so I wasn’t able to run in the afternoon.

My baby is in 3rd grade! He had a wonderful first day and seems very excited about the year ahead.

First day of 3rd Grade

First day of Pre-4…Time Flies

I had posted the first photo on Facebook and then the second photo popped up as a memory. I was doing ok that day until I saw my little 4 year old in his uniform. Seriously?! When the heck did this happen, he’s wearing high tops and is almost as tall as I am? The Mom tears were flowing!

Tuesday, 9/1/15

• 10 minute warm up 4-5 miles at 1/2 marathon goal pace (hilly course), 10 minute cool down.

I ran 7.50 miles in 1:10:33 (avg pace 9:23 min/mile). I was up at 4:25am and out the door by 5. I felt great, but worked hard to push it up the hills. Awesome run to start the day.

Wednesday, 9/2/15

• Cross training or yoga

So it’s evident from my training logs that I have done a horrible job at cross training nor have I reignited any semblance of a yoga routine. Instead I ran for a short time with Kate as she finished up her own run. We ran 1.64 miles in 23:54. Then I continued on for 2.31 miles in 21:53 (avg pace 9:20 min/mile).  I was trying to fit in Monday’s 45-60 minute easy run, but I made the mistake of going out for a run midday and it was stifling hot. I couldn’t bear to run anymore.

Thursday, 9/3/15

• 50 to 60 minute Easy Run with Stride Workout: 10 to 15 times 20 seconds with 1 minute recovery jog between

I ran 4.51 miles in 41:43 (avg pace 9:15 min/mile) – 10 minute warmup, 15×20 seconds/1 minute recovery, 10+ minute cool down. I woke up a bit later than I had hoped and it was too late to do the entire 50-60 minute run. I thought about scrapping the run, but then I figured I could still do the stride workout. I am so glad I went out anyway.

Later on I ran 2.80 miles with Kate.

Friday, 9/4/15

• 45-60 minute recovery run or off

I ran 6.22 miles in 1:00:06 (avg pace 9:40 min/mile). Oh if only I could maintain this pace for the full marathon. It was simply a nice run.

Saturday, 9/5/15

• Cross training and optional 15-20 minute jog

I had to take advantage of the change in scenery in the Boothbay Harbor area so I ran 3.12 miles in 29:40 (avg pace 9:30 min/mile).

Sunday, 9/6/15

• Boothbay Harbor Half Marathon + 2-3 miles

The full recap of the half marathon is here. My finish time was 2:20:33 (avg pace 10:43 min/mile). So not my worst half marathon time ever, but it was by far the most effort I’ve ever put into a half marathon. Prior to the half marathon I ran 3.01 miles in 31:19 (avg pace 10:24). It was a beautiful morning and I was taking my time enjoying the scenery.

Total Mileage = 44.21 miles

Week 5

Critical Runs

• Wednesday – 60 minute progression run
• Thursday – 6 by Yasso 800
• Sunday – 18 miles

Monday, 9/7/15

• 45 to 60 minute Recovery Run

I did a run/walk with Carlos from our cabin to Fort Edgecomb. We did 4.46 miles in 1:00:32 (avg pace 13:36). We ran down a long dock on the water and checkout out the fort. It was nice to have some company even if he was a little crabby about the early run.

Tuesday, 9/8/15

• OFF or 30-45 minute Easy Run

3.08 miles in 30:26 (avg pace 9:53 min/mile). It was so hot even at 6pm when I finally had time to run. My legs felt like bricks and the humidity was stifling. Not a bad run though.

Wednesday, 9/9/15

• 60-80 minute Progrssion Run: Start slow, and increase to 10K pace by the last 10 minutes of the run.

I slept a bit later than I had planned because I had worked Monday night and was up for an ungodly amount of hours/days??? I drove and parked close to where Carlos goes to school and ran there. I’m getting really bored with running around my house. I didn’t start until 1:40pm. It was blazing hot again. I really wanted to go the full 80 minutes, but I had nothing left after an hour. I ran 6.12 miles in 1:00:17 (avg pace 9:51 min/mile), the last mile was 9:11min. I dream of holding that pace again for a half marathon! I walked another .70 miles after the run.

Thursday, 9/10/15

• 15-30 minute Warm Up + 8 times Yasso 800 + 15-30 min Cool Down.

This was a new to me workout though I’ve heard about Yasso 800s. The idea is that your time in minutes and seconds for a workout of 10 times 800 meters with equal recovery time is the same as the hours and minutes of your marathon time. So if your marathon goal is 3 hours and 10 minutes then convert that to 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Well a 3:10 marathon would mean I was running with someone else’s legs. For me it’s more like a 4:29 right now (must beat Oprah’s time…again!). So this wasn’t exactly a standard Yasso 800 workout, but it was a fun way to change up the workout and get in a mid-long run in during the week.

I ran 12.54 miles in 2:10:33 (avg pace 10:24 min/mile). The full workout:

I didn’t run 10×800, but if you average my 8×800 then I would be predicted to run a 4:28:50 marathon. I’ll take it! I really enjoyed this workout. It pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Friday, 9/11/15

• 45 to 60 minute Recovery Run

I had a super busy day at work. I thought I wasn’t going to get a run in, but around 4pm my friend texted to ask if Carlos could sleep over. He went to his friend’s house after school and the boys were lobbying for a sleep over. Sure why not! So I packed up work around 5 and went to my happy place for an evening run. I ran 6.67 miles in 1:05:01 (avg pace 9:44 min/mile) at the reservoir. It was a gorgeous night and there were lots of people out at the res. I love seeing people out and moving in any way possible.

Ashley Reservoir

Saturday, 9/12/15

• OFF, Cross train or 30-45 minute easy run

I worked Friday night at the hospital and then went straight up to my favorite Esselon Cafe to meet my BFF for my birthday breakfast. I knew I would get there early and my plan was to do half of a 40ish minute run before she arrived. Well I didn’t get there as early as planned. I ran 1.72 miles in 17 min (avg pace 9:51 min/mile). After breakfast I had a ton of errands before picking up Carlos. The morning flew by, then it was off to soccer, and both Carlos and I were wiped by the afternoon. I was done for the day.

Sunday, 9/13/15

• Long, easy pace run 18-20 miles

I got up early, felt rested. It was a nice cool morning to run. I ran 20.02 miles in 3:40:10 (avg pace 11:00 min/mile). I was a little surprised and admittedly disappointed in my time. I felt like it was a consistent run both mentally and physically. This is not what I want to see on race day, but hey if it is I will still be proud of myself. Oddly my last two miles were my fastest, both 10:15min each.

I had received an email the week before announcing that the Hartford Marathon would be using a new gel called Boom. I ordered a sample pack to try out before the race. I’ve been using Vega gels for a couple of years now, but I really can’t stomach them anymore. The Boom was very “gel” like and the texture was a bit different than what I’m used to, but I liked that the flavor was light, not so strong and sugary like most gels. I tried Apple Cinnamon and the Grape Pomegranate. I liked them both. The gels are vegan, have no added sugars, artificial sweeteners or colors. I only use gels during my long runs and races. These seem like a nice change.

Total mileage – 55.29 miles

After a labor intensive summer for both my husband and I it was only appropriate that we spend the long Labor Day weekend reconnecting as a family. My marathon training schedule called for a race this weekend so I found a half marathon in Boothbay, Maine. Maine has yet to disappoint and Boothbay is a place we have never visited.

We arrived to our small rental cabin in Edgecomb, ME late on Friday night after a quick stop for dinner in Portsmouth, NH. Portsmouth is an eclectic, vibrant little seaside town. There are a variety of restaurants to appeal to all tastes. We settled on the Friendly Toast. It was kid friendly and offered some vegan dishes. After we walked around the bustling town to stretch our legs.

I slept until I woke up on Saturday morning, no alarm or need to get up for anything. I was still up before 7, but it felt really luxurious to “sleep in.” In need of coffee we traveled into Boothbay Harbor. Though it was early, there were lots of people out and about. The weather was gorgeous. We grabbed coffee at the Red Cup Coffeehouse and then booked ourselves on a harbor boat tour. We had enough time to explore the town a little before the boat tour began. Boothbay Harbor is a quaint seaside town. The narrow streets are dotted with old inns, stores, galleries, ice cream shops, and restaurants.

I’m a Star!

Love these two 🙂

Our harbor tour took us out to Squirrel Island and then back to the dock in Boothbay Harbor. On the way we were given a narrated history of the harbor. There was a wedding party on board who were headed to Squirrel Island for the wedding. At 10:30 in the morning the party was well under way as they were all enjoying a beverage or two! It was a fun group.

Squirrel Island

The afternoon included a quick 3 mile run for me. It was really hot by the time I went for a run, but I was enjoying the change of scenery. I ran from our cottage in Edgecomb into neighboring Wiscasset. Right before the bridge in Wiscasset there is little stand on the side of the road that sells lobster rolls. They must be amazing because there is always a really long line.

After my run we went to visit my cousin and his family at their cottage on Damariscotta Lake. Carlos was in heaven. He went kayaking, swimming, tubing and floated in a classic inner tube. I relaxed on the dock. Orlando swam and went tubing too. We were invited to stay for dinner and then sat around the camp fire chatting and roasting marshmallows.

I got up early on Sunday morning to run a few miles before the half marathon to get some extra mileage in for marathon training. I ran about 3 miles. There is absolutely nowhere you can run without encountering giant hills in this part of Maine. I felt good though. I slept well the night before and have been eating healthily. However, for some reason by the time I got back to the cottage I was feeling really on edge about the race. I’m usually a little nervous on race day, but this was different.

Orlando and Carlos drove me to the packet pick up at the Watershed Tavern. They went off in search of breakfast before going kayaking in the harbor. I sat alone waiting for the race to begin. I couldn’t shake the unsettled feeling in my stomach. The race began at 9am, a rather late start for what was shaping up to be a very hot morning. I had read a couple of reviews of the race and both indicated it was a challenging hilly course. I wasn’t too worried about that because I’m used to running hills around home. Well the reviewers weren’t lying. I started off ok. I felt better once I got going, but by mile 5 or so my stomach was a bundle of nauseous nerves. It was really hot and the water stations were far and few between. The hills were relentless. My legs felt like blocks trying to push myself up. The climbs were steep and the declines were short or nonexistent. I entered into that head space trying to convince myself I was going to make it to the finish. I have never DNF’d a race, but I have also never felt this horrible during a race.

The rest of the race I spent more time walking than I would like to admit, but my legs would not power up those steep hills. I felt as though I was able to walk them faster. I walked and ran, walked and ran. It was a demoralizing race. Each time I slowed to a walk I was disappointed in myself. Mile 13 seemed to last an eternity. I told myself I was going to run the last mile. I didn’t, I couldn’t. By that time my energy felt sapped. My stomach was on edge, I hadn’t even been able to take my Vega gel and every time I turned my head to the side I felt a bit dizzy. I ran as much as I could in the last mile. The race ended on an uphill and I forced myself to run up that last hill to the finish line.

I finished. I have absolutely no idea what my time was, but I am certain it was my slowest half. All I could think about was water. I sat for a little while to catch my breath and rehydrate.

More than a few times throughout the day I lamented about how disappointed I was with my performance during the race. I have been feeling really great about my training and running. I have improved so much throughout the summer.

With each bad experience I typically learn something about myself and I can identify something I could have done differently. I felt as though I prepared as well as I could have leading up to race day. I ate really well the day before. I went to bed fairly early. Was it the three miles I ran before? I did not give up or did I? Although I felt as though I had nothing more to give, I am frustrated by my failure to push harder and move faster.

After a much needed cold shower, we spent the afternoon at Popham Beach. It was restful and relaxing, exactly what I needed. I read a few chapters of a new book, Running with the Mind of Meditation by Sakyong Mipham. Carlos instantly made friends with an 8 year old girl who had an extra boogie board. They were hysterical together, seemed as though they had known each other forever. Orlando took a long walk on the beach.

Sunday evening we went on a Red Cloak Haunted History tour of Boothbay Harbor.

Lady in the red cloak

It was a fun and interesting way to see the town and learn more about it. It was a beautiful night, perfect for walking around the town. We had dinner at the Boat House Bistro.

Monday morning I invited Carlos to join me on my recovery run. We did a run/walk to Fort Edgecomb where we learned a bit more about coastal Maine history. The Blockhouse in the photo was built in 1809 and overlooks the Sheepscot River.

It was a great weekend. I love Maine. The air is cleaner and time moves a little slower. It’s rustic, scenic, and most importantly relaxing.