Inside the head of a Runner!

Last Saturday marked my first half of 2015.  The Dick Lytie Spring Classic.

I have been looking forward to this run since last year, but up until I started running the course, I was not sure how it was going to go.  I actually didn't even sign up to run it until Monday!  After the 10 Mile St Pats run, I knew that I could cover the miles, so it was time for redemption!  Why Redemption?  Last year I was signed up to run the half, but after starting my PT for my uncooperative IT band, I was told by my physical therapist that I was NOT running the Half.  She did give me permission to run the 5k tho.  The Half was going to have to wait.

Asha and I pre-race - her first 15k race

 Now, these hills were mine!

Now, any of you that have been following my blog over the last few years know my usual recap posts... this one is going to be different.  Why?  Because this race was one of a kind for me and I had to do something different.   After chatting with a few friends the other night about everything that goes through our head when we are running, I knew what I wanted to do.

34 degrees and still some snow on the ground!

 Welcome to the random thoughts, arguments, and conversations that accompanied me on the 1st Half Marathon of 2015

So.... My half on Saturday went something like this (at least in my head):


~On way to start line:  Ugh, maybe I should have opted for the tights.  I might freeze with my capri's on.  Oh well, too late, time to suck it up and just deal. Maybe being cold will help me run faster.  I wonder how many of these people are actually running the Half?  I have a feeling it's going to be pretty quiet once we make the split for the 15k/Half Marathon.

Adrianne and I, Pre-race smiles

~ At start line:  At least the sun is out.  I can pretend it's warmer than 34 degrees.

~ Gun goes off:  CRAP!  My headphones didn't charge (darn bluetooth) and they won't even power on!  This sucks.  Guess we are running naked today.  No music, no pace information in my ear each mile.  I've done it before, guess I have to do it again.  I'm not going to like this!

~ First few miles through campus: Why am I doing this?  I'm getting passed by everyone.  I really wish I had my music.

My ears are cold.  Maybe I should have worn the other, warmer headband that covered my ears better.  I don't like this wind.

Why am I doing this again?  I could just cut the course short and just do the 15k... No one would know but me.  No, I can't cut it short.  I'm not afraid of those hills.  We spent time last week running them.

Approaching the first hill - bewares, its a long one!

~First Hill (approx 2 miles):  THIS SUCKS!  And  this in only the 1st of 3 hills that I have to go up.  I don't want to walk up this hill, but I don't want to kill myself before I even get to the halfway point.
(Brain) Ok, I'll just walk part way up... (Feet) like hell you are walking part way up...

And we run...

Ok, that was 1 hill.  2 more to go.  Hey, that's a cool looking house!  Maybe someday when I grow up, I'll have a cool house like that, but that would also mean more house to clean.  Maybe I'll stick with the one I have now.

WooHoo!  Time to go down a hill!  Ouch this is a steep hill!  I hope I don't fall on my nose running down it!

This is a cute little subdivision that we get to run through.

That level course was too good to last, time to head back UP again.  Now this hill looks steeper today than when I drove it last week. I hope I can even walk up it - I suppose I could crawl if needed.  Gotta walk this one... ok ,maybe bear crawl!  I will not stop!  How they heck to people run this course in under an hour and a half!?!?!  are they insane?

Mile 4 (approx):  UGH!  forgot to turn off bluetooth on phone since not using headphones.  Better turn if off.  Wow!  I'm at under an 11 min/mile pace.  Guess this running with no music isn't as bad as I thought.    I'm too warm, better take the jacket off, but I don't want to throw it somewhere... I might need it again. (tying jacket around waist and moving on)

 Hey, there's the turn off for the 15k to head back towards campus... oops, I forgot to turn...  guess I am running the entire 13 miles.  cold again... time to put he jacket back on.

Mile 6 - Hey I might be able to catch Michelle and Diane, they really are not THAT far in front of me!

I'm Hungry.  Sport Beans or Stinger Waffle?  Either way I'm going to have to keep hydrating.  I think I want the waffle.

The long approach to the last big hill

~Mile 7: water stop!  Man, that little guy helping at this station is too cute!  Love the fact that he is giving everyone high five's as they come through!

Mile 8 - ok, Michelle and Diane just ahead of me.... I must keep moving!  Am I really going to try and catch them on this hill?

OMG! I can't be she was that far off course!  How in the world did she miss that that turn back by the church?  I hope she makes it!  (FYI - she had the best attitude ever - "guess it's a few extra miles today")

I can't believe how good I'm still feeling and now that I climbed all 3 hills, the rest of this is pretty much downhill!

"Hey Diane!  Catching you guys is NOT an easy task!"

Hmmm...have not looked at phone lately.  Wonder where my pace is now?  No time to look!  Must keep running!  (Diane did tell me approx what my pace at that point)

Wow! Those guys up there are walking... I wonder if I can pass them before I get to the end?

(10 minutes later)

Ok, passed them before I got back to campus... it's all downhill from here!!

1st hill we went up... now time to go down!

It is really peacful running through time, but I am ready to be done!

Ok, I can hear the finish line but it really blows that I can't see it!  Legs are dying, want to be done.

Finish line!  I LOVE YOU

Post race - smiles still there!

10 minutes post finish: calves screaming at me!  I want to curl up in a ball and sleep for a week... once I get my calves to loosen back up!  Oh, breakfast?!?  lets go!  I'm hungry!

Gyro stuffed hash browns with scrambled eggs

Offical Time: 2:27:30!  Missed my half PR by less than a minute!  Overall it was an awesome morning!  Can't wait to run Indy in May!

SO, what runs through your head when you are out there?

I dare you to share!

Happy St Patrick's Day (a little early I guess!)

Tis the time of year for green beer and leprechauns!

That means it is back to Tanners in Kimberly for the St. Pat's Run!  2 years ago, my running partner Matt and I did this run in single digit temperatures and last year we missed it as we were all in Arizona for spring training and ran the Kiss Me I'm Irish 5k/17k in Phoenix.  This year it was back to WI temperatures but apparently mother nature decided to make a deal with us.  Although it may not have been the mid 60's we ran in last year, it was not the freezing cold from 2 years ago!  mid 40's was perfect in my book!

I actually did not sign up for this race until yesterday morning.  I think this was the first time that I ever signed up at the last minute for a race!  I had 8 miles on the training calendar anyway so I decided to go with Matt and make it a 10 mile morning.  What was I thinking?!?!  This was going to be my first run of more than 6.4 miles since September of last year!  But I also was going to use this run to see where I really am with training, to determine which distance I would tackle for the Dick Lytie Spring Classic at the end of the month.

I will be honest, this morning when I woke up, I was not feeling it!  For some reason I was more anxious/nervous about this run than I have been for any, that I can remember, in a long time.  Why, not really sure.  I was hitting the course today with my long time running partner that I have not actually been able to run with since last summer, the weather was awesome and the sun was shining.  I had a feeling it was going to be a very mentally challenging race for me today, as well as physical.

For this run, the 10 mile course runs with the 5k up until almost the 3 mile marker and then splits and heads out to the CE Trail.  My biggest obstacle on courses like this is that I automatically find myself trying to keep pace with the 5k racers... and end up going to fast at first, and then end up running out of fuel in the tank too soon. I fell into a comfortable but faster than normal past over these few miles, but I knew that was going to happen.  Running with the 5k runners, as well as trying to keep up with Matt's long legs does that to me every time!   I figure if I hit those miles a little faster and have to slow down a little, I can still maintain and overall nigher average pace in the end!  When we hit the 5k/10 mile split, I had just averaged a 10:35 pace.  Very respectable in my book, knowing that I had another 7 miles to go.

 Matt ended up a little further ahead of me in those first few miles, but Now that the crowd had thinned out significantly, Matt slowed up just enough so that I could catch up.  We were ready for the second part of this adventure and we were able to fall into pace with each other. I knew that I was still keeping roughly the same pace, but was not sure how long that was going to happen.

This course runs along the trail in a very quiet area of town.  Even though it follows along one of the major highways through town, it's still fairly peaceful  to run.  One of the things that we forgot about tho was now many hills we had to go up and down along the trail!  At each point that the cross streets ran under the highway, we had to go down the hill to be able to cross the road... which meant that we had to go back uphill once we crossed the street!  I looked at those hills as an opportunity to push myself!  There was not going to be any walking up these hills today!  I hit each one with a purpose and didn't slow down until I reached the top.

I also made a point never to think of this race as how many more miles I had left to run.  I tackled each mile as I came to it, only worrying about the 1 that I was running.  Once we got to the point where we headed off the trail and into a residential area (around mile 6) I could feel the miles getting tougher.  I, however, was not going to let that stop me.  I was still keeping a sub 11min/mile pace!  In fact at that point, by slowest mile was 10:49!  Just as I started to feel myself slowing down, I passed 2 friends along the course.  They were coming back out of the residential area, heading back onto the trail.  Just seeing them and hearing their encouragement, gave me that extra boost to keep pushing along.

Matt and I curved our way through the residential area and before long were back out of the trail.  This also mean that we were down to just over 2 miles to go!  The nice part of the return trip on the trail is that it is slightly more downhill than up.  No, it's not all downhill but it seemed like the up hills were longer on the way out.  Then again, maybe it was just the mental game we were playing to keep ourselves going!

It was also at about this point that I could really start to feel it in my legs.  They felt like they had lead weights on them!  Legs don't fail me now!   In the end, our pace in those last few miles did slow a little but in the end our slowest mile was still at a 11:06 pace.

We crossed the finish line with a time of 1:46:48!  Average pace: 10:41!  This ended up being my fastest average pace for any race over 6 miles!  I never thought I would have been able to keep up that pace for that many miles, but we did it!

In the end, I am so glad that my husband and Matt helped to convince me to just go and do this race!  Mentally, I needed it!  Plus it was awesome to get back out and run with Matt again.  Running with him challenges me on so many levels!  He has been able to keep up on his miles over the last few months, where as I have had trouble getting the miles in.  Keeping up with his long legs is the other.  Have you ever tried running, and keeping up with someone that is nearly a foot taller than you?  Try it sometimes!  It will definitely push you to run faster, just to keep up!

What's next?  Well, 1st,  after this race, I decided that I am going to sign up for the Dick Lytie Half Marathon in 2 weeks (EEK!) and I will not let those hills scare me.  2nd - I can't wait to run Indy in May with Matt.  Our Goal for Indy 500 Mini Marathon?  Finish in under 2:30:00!! (I've only done that once before!)

Here's to the start of an awesome 2015 and all the miles to come!

What's your current goal for the year and when will you accomplish it?

Pi Day of the Century!

Pi Day of the century was upon us!  For all the math geeks out there, rejoice! 3/14/15 is here!

In honor of the fun day, the kids of Leonardo da Vinci school for Gifted Learners here in Green Bay put in hours upon hours of work and planning to create and execute the 1st annual Green Bay area Pi Day fun run!  They planned everything form the theme, raffle prizes, race route and everything in between!

To keep with the Pi theme, the race was officially set to start at the exact Pi moment! 3/14/15 at 9:26am - and yes we started on time!

Lisa decided to meet John and I for this fun morning too!  Granted none of us would actually be hitting the course together it is always fun to have good friends around!

The weather was perfect! Then again, any time that I can wear capri's and a long sleeve t-shirt in March and be outside, I'm not going to complain!  Granted, there was a chilly wind that kept pestering us, but I was not going to let that bother me!  As always, I seem to start out fast and then I end up slowing down so that I can get to the end.  When I hit the 1 mile marker I was pleasantly surprised that I was a 9:17 pace and still felt strong.  I was determined to make the most of the day and keep this pace as long as I could.

Start/Finish line was even built by the kids that planned the event (yes with help from some parents and teachers).  It was really awesome to see all of the thought that they put into this fun community event.  For a 1st time race in the area, they had over 750 people sign up!

Highlight of the course?  That's debatable!  Part of me wants to say the fact that there was virtually no snow in the park when we ran though.  However I also have to say that running past Joanne's Baseball stadium and knowing that summer baseball starts in just over 2 months makes me happy!  Summer evenings at the ballpark with some awesome friends, is always something good to look forward to!  So yes, spring is in the air and I am so ready for warmer weather to be back to stay for a few months!  Once I passed the ballpark, I felt like I had renewed energy!  When I hit the 2 mile marker, I was still pushing a 9:30 pace.  Time to kick in anything else that was left in the tank!

Running into other Fellow Flowers along the way is always fun!  I originally met Kerri when we were running the 1st leg of the Fall 50 last October and have been running into each other at events ever since!  The encouragement from other Flowers wherever we happen to meet is always amazing!

In the end, John, Lisa and myself were all pleased with our "unofficial" times for this fun run.  Any 5k that I can hit under 30 minutes, it's a good day in my book.   Over all it was a super morning, spent with family and friends!  I can't wait to see what these kids to next year for the 2nd annual fun run!!

Another crazy week and even crazier weekend!

Another crazy week has come and gone!  

One of my favorite quotes lately has been "Get comfortable with Being uncomfortable" This past week I definitely got out of my comfort zone and tried a few new things!

Last week on Thursday, my friend Colleen invited me to Bootcamp at her gym.  1st class was free and then they also offer the next full week of classes free too... so now was my chance to try a few new classes!

Monday night it was Insanity!  Now, I didn't get a change to get a picture of us after this workout - and that is probably a good thing!  I am sure I was looking mighty fine!  I managed to make it through the class with minimal  modifications, but yes, I did have to modify some.  I left knowing that I pushed it to my fullest potential!

New fitness adventures for the week

Tuesday morning I hit the 5:15am circuit at the gym, my favorite way to get my day started!  Nothing like a good workout to get the body moving!  Then Tuesday night was PIYO class with Colleen and Cat.  All I can say is WOW!  I felt like Gumby a few times, being twisted in all kinds of different directions!  It was really awesome to get some yoga mixed into the routine!  I can tell how adding this to my normal routine would be a huge benefit to helping me with my flexibility and balance.  

Tuesday Morning wake-up call!

Wednesday I opted to sleep in a bit and just hit the gym after work.  The workout was nothing to sneeze at either!  Strength Circuits!  Full on arm workout that left me with nothing left after all those rounds.  Floor presses, Seasaw presses, Below Deck push-ups and BosuBall Side Planks... But when those rounds were done, it was time for the "extra credit"... 30lb kettle bell in each hand, walking around the gym for 5 minutes! 

Doesn't seem like anything too bad, but anytime you either dropped or set down your kettle bells, you had to stop and do 10 push-ups.  Don't put your kettle bells down, you don't have to do any more push-ups.  I was determined NOT to do anymore push-ups!  I spent my 5 minutes walking around both the strength and Circuit sides of the gym, making laps through the entire gym.  My arms were burning but I was not stopping!

In the end I managed to do my entire 5 minutes without having to do any pushups!  Granted I couldn't lift my arms for another 5 minutes, but I did it!

All the toys were out at the gym on Wednesday!

Thursday night was the final free class for me at Energy Fitness & Dance and it was truly memorable!  It was Bootcamp night again!  Last week, everything we did was with tires... this week it was pumpkins!  

Over the course of the hour, we bonded with our pumpkins, squated with them, lunged with them, dragged then around the room on carpet squares.  The tires from last week were probably jealous of these beloved pumpkins!

Pumpkin Bootcamp!

Friday was break time!  My son had the day off from school and I needed a break and had a bunch of stuff that I wanted to get done, so I took the day off from work!  It was really a treat to be able to sleep in - even if that meant that I was still awake by 7:30am, it was past 4:30 so I was not going to complain!

Plus, my new running tights finally arrived!  Just in time for Saturday's Door County Fall 50 relay adventure!  But that is a whole new post... so stay tuned for those adventures!

On another fun note!! ENERGYbits is running a special promotion right now called BITS for BIBS: 

To celebrate your success and commitment to a lifestyle of running and working hard to achieve your fitness goals, the ENERGYbits team would like to congratulate you with some fun swag and a chance to brag!

All you need to do is:

1. Email Emily Pettengill  (epettengill@energybits.com) a photo of one or more of your 2014 race bibs and your twitter handle.

2. In the subject line of the email put “BITS for BIBS”.

3. Immediately (or within 48 hours of emailing Emily), place your next order on www.energybits.com.  

Don't forget to use the code RenegadeRunner for a 25% discount!!

4. The ENERGYbits team will include a SWAG Bag (value $50.00) when they receive your order.

5. They will post your bib photo on a promotion card and Tweet it!

Don’t delay! This promotion will only run for a few weeks!
[Please Note: they can only send one SWAG Bag per person. Thanks!]

Below is a sneak peak of what you might find in your SWAG bag!!

___________________________________________________________

Hello Miller Park! Brewers Mini Marathon time again - Sept 20th

Playing catch up here on a few posts from the last few weeks so bear with me!  2 half marathons, a marathon relay plus long hours at work have made the last few weeks a little hectic... hopefully over the next few days I can actually get caught up on some posts!

anyhow....

After running through Lambeau Field and Fox Cities Stadium in the spring and City Stadium a few weeks ago, why not finish out the summer with a run through Miller Park!  

This was the second year in a row that I made the trip down to Milwaukee for this race.  Last year was an awesome race for me with this race, hitting my half marathon PR here as well as the first time I finished one in under 2 1/2 hours! (2:29:10) so I had high hopes for 2014!  The course itself is good, the crowds along the course are always fun and the energy that hits you when you run that loop through the stadium is awesome!

  Once again,  Matt made the trip down to run the 10k here again.  Last year we were able to start together and run the first mile or so together before the Half and 10k split, but this year they did a staggered start and the 10 actually started 15 minutes before the half.  Before the crack of dawn we were off!  We left everyone else at the hotel to catch a little more sleep before they headed down to wait for us to finish.

  We were at the stadium bright and early (ok it really was not so "bright" out at 6am) and found prime parking right near the start line!   For any of you that have been to Miller Park, you know how far the lots "across the bridge" are from the front of the stadium so I knew I was going to like this parking spot even more after the race!  We were (blessed?) with a few light rain showers while we were waiting to start which was nice to keep things cool, but I was just afraid that this would bring more humidity later - unless we got more rain too!

This ended up being one of the toughest runs I have finished this year.  It started out really good - I was able to keep the 2:15 pace group within my sights for the first few miles, enjoying the cool morning and sights of Milwaukee.  It was after mile 4 or 5 that I was really reminded about how many hills were out on this course.  It would seem that I blocked all of the rolling hills that I ran last year from my mind!  It was also about this time that it started to get humid and the 2:30 pace team was just in front of me... but I was going to keep them in my sights!

Over the next few hours, I ended up running with some great people, other Half Fanatics, teams from myTEAM TRIUMPH and more.   I was not going to let the humidity and warming temperatures get me down.  I ran through 100% humidity a few weeks ago, I could do this!   I kept to my fueling plan throughout, EnergyBits at the start and again at mile 7, then some Sharkies and ProBar gels along the way (found out my stomach does not like these during long runs, but before short workouts are ok!).

I'm not sure what point I was at in the course when I realized that the 2:30 pace team was now no longer in my sights.  This was not going to be another PR day, but I was not going to let that stop me.  I was going to make it!  Just after the 10 mile marker is the Hill from Hell on this course - a nice incline switchback to get you heading back towards the stadium.  Then once you climb that hill, you get a nice downhill stretch, only to have to make another long climb.  These 2 hills took almost everything I had left.

 I will be honest, I struggled with those last few miles!  They were warm and tough.  But I was determined to finish strong.  Coming into the stadium is always a good boost.  The stands are open so that spectators can come in an cheer on runners as they make their trek around the warning track. This ended up being my fasted few minutes of the last 1/3 of the race!    Once I was in the stadium, I knew the finish line was just around the corner!

I finished!  It seems like I have had several of these type races.  Mother nature has been very fickle this summer and she has been fighting me all the way! I am not going to let her get me down tho!  This may have been a tough race both physically and mentally, but I am glad that I did it!    Official time today, 2:49:37.  I knew that my time might not have been the fastest on this one, considering this was the 3rd half in 5 weeks with a 5k thrown in the middle for good measure!  It's been a fun adventure and I am enjoying the ride! I may not be fast but I'm still moving forward and doing things that 5 years ago I could not even imagine doing!

Will I do this race again?  That is currently up for debate.  While I love runnign through Milwaukee, the spectator support along the course is awesome and running through Miller Park is always exciting, I have discovered a few other races that are usually this same weekend that I want to check out... so who knows where I will be this time next year!

Next stop?  Fox Cities Marathon relay tomorrow and then Chicago next weekend!

Exciting new adventures with the EnergyBits team!

As some of you may have noticed, last week there was a new badge added to the sidebar of my blog.   I was approached by ENERGYBits to become one of their Brand Ambassadors!  I am excited to let you know that I said YES!  

Back in April, someone told me about these as a energy source and race fuel.  I will tell you that I was skeptical at first, but when I received a sample of these and was amazed by the results that I saw with just using then a few times! (you can read my original review of of ENERGYBits here)   I did some more reading on these obscure little green tablets and really liked what I was reading.   I’m not aware of anything that offers the combination of benefits you get from ENERGYbits, plus the are gluten free and NON GMO certified!

Over the last few months I have been using them on a regular basis and can say only say that I wish I knew about them sooner!  My running has improved and I have been able to push myself harder and farther this summer that I would have imagined possible!  I also noticed quickly that I did not have to rely on my previous options for race fuel anymore (many of which were loaded with added sugar and carbs).  With ENERGYbits, I had the energy to get me through a run and when I finished I was not left feeling I was starving!  Many times, I actually have to force myself to stop and eat something just to start refueling my body!   This has also bee true with my workouts at the gym!

But these are more than just fuel for running and fitness enthusiasts!!!!!

I have even found that I can focus better at work and am not hungry all the time!  ENERGYbits algae tabs are the answer for pure energy and health. The are  all naturally too. They will help curb cravings, keep the hungries away and give you a steady stream of energy that will keep you going all day!   I have even noticed that I have been drinking significantly less coffee in the last few months, simply because I don't need to rely on the caffeine from it to get me through the day!  The once in a while that I do make myself coffee at work, I rarely even finish the cup... so most days I don't even bother.

The really exciting part of becoming a Brand Ambassador, means that I get to offer a discount on products for all of you!  I know for me, I am always looking to see where I can save a few buck - running all these events gets expensive!  Running can be an expensive "hobby"!  Between race fees, new shoes, traveling to numerous races, I am always looking to save money where I can.  Now, I will admit that my first thought was that the cost of the bags of ENERGYbits seemed like a lot, but with ENERGYbits, I have actually found that I am spending LESS on race fuel that I was in the past!  

A single serving on ENERGYbits (less that $3 when purchased with my discount) is enough to get me through a 6 mile run with no other fuel (just water!).  Before ENERGYbits, I was using an average of 2 gels (1 before and 1 during) plus some sort of recovery drink afterwards, which was $4-5 in fuel at a minimum, depending on what I selected as my post race recovery drink.  Now double this for a half marathon!  

I hope you’ll try them soon and when you do, use my promotional code RENEGADERUNNER to get a 25% DISCOUNT!  You can only purchase them online at www.energybits.com so when you check out, just enter discount code RENEGADERUNNER into the coupon box and your discount will immediately show up on screen. The discount works on all products.

Also, if you are interested in trying them as a sample, let me know!  Single serving sample bags are available for sale!  So if you don't want to jump straight in an order a whole bag without trying them first,  this is a awesome option!!  If this is something you are interested in, let me know!

Direct from the company:

The company explains why ENERGYbits®are so popular with runners, athletes and fitness enthusiasts:

When a handful of ENERGYbits® are swallowed 10 -15 minutes prior to a workout, race, game or run, they provide a steady flow of energy, eliminate fatigue and speed recovery, all naturally and all without digestive distress.  The reason is simple. ENERGYbits® do not contain any caffeine, sugar or chemicals yet they have the highest concentration of protein in the world (64%), all in amino acid form which are absorbed instantly to provide a steady flow of glucose. ENERGYbits® also contain 40 vitamins/minerals, natural nitric oxide to open blood vessels, antioxidants to fight free radicals, Omega 3 to reduce inflammation, iron to prevent fatigue and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. All this from just one ingredient –organic spirulina and all for just one calorie per tab.  

For more information or to buy yours, please visit:

Website: www.energybits.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/energybits

Twitter: @energybits and #poweredbybits

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/energybits

My first Half Marathon in Michigan finally complete!

Yes, that is correct... after growing up in Michigan, still traveling back there on a fairly regular basis and only living a few hours away, up until now, I had not run a Half Marathon in the state!

A few months ago, I saw a Facebook post about the Marquette Marathon and figured I'd check it out some more.  I remember the last time I looked at this race, it was a loop that started at Presque Isle, went through the city and along the lakeshore, ended back at the park.  It was a 13.1 mile loop and if you were running the full marathon, you ran the loop twice.  This year, they changed it up and the full and half  marathons were point-to-point races, started in Ishpeming and Negaunee respectively, following the Iron Ore Heritage Trail into Marquette.  Best part?  The course is predominantly downhill!

That's right!  The total elevation drop for the half marathon course was listed as 735 feet!  There was a few small hill on the course map, but nothing that looking to terrible!  The race was scheduled for Labor Day weekend, so we decided to make a detour in our plans to head up to visit family "up north".

On Saturday morning, we were up early so that I could catch the bus to the start line.  The weather was once again going to be playing a huge roll in my running adventures today!  This was a complete turn around from last weekends warm, humid weather at the Cheesehead run.  The weather app on my phone told me that the rain would STOP in 111 minutes... so 13 minutes after the race starts, it will stop raining.  Yippee!  Another first for me... running a half marathon in the rain!  Actually, thinking back, this was probably the first race I have run that was this rainy.  If I did run any in the rain before, the rain was so minimal that I completely have it blocked from memory!  So obviously it must not have been too bad!  I guess we all have to have that first wet, rainy race day!

When I hopped on the bus, it was cloudy and rainy, with no sign of letting up.  Thankfully the staff at the Iron Ore Museum was in bright and early, doors open with bagels, muffins, water and coffee for all of us crazy runners that were going to be hitting the wet trail in just over an hour!

I don't know about you, but I always have that fear that I am forgetting something when I head out for a race.  Usually, if I do forget something, it's not something major and I can live without it.  This morning, I did forget something... and in my book, it is something major! With the rain this weekend, I make sure to put my phone in my Lifeproof case to protect it from the rain.  Once we got to the museum, I was working on continuing my pre-race fueling and making sure I had everything ready to go. It was now that  I realized that I did not have the headphone adapter for my Lifeproof case!  

So now I had a choice - take my phone OUT of the waterproof case that it was in... or run without music.  Yeah - taking my phone out of the case and running in the ran was NOT going to be an option.  So I guess it was no music.  

I almost NEVER run without music!

In fact in the last 2 years, I think I can count the number of times I ran without music on one hand!

This was going to be a true test - 13.1 miles, in the rain, with no music!  But running without my headphones also means that I won't have my running app updating me with my current pace etc after each mile!  EEEK!

Weather app was correct, it was still raining when we started at 9am, and shortly after I hit mile 1, it stopped raining!  How's that for an accurate weather forecast?

I will have to say, despite the rain, I was feeling pretty good!  The trail was beautiful, the puddles were minimal and I found myself actually enjoying the peaceful quiet of this awesome trail!   Just past the 2 mile marker I actually found a familiar face on the trail!  My pastor from the church that I grew up in (just about an hour from where were were running) was out on the course!  Just after I saw Pastor Mike, I saw his wife on the sidelines cheering him on!  She spotted me and we shared quick waves as I kept moving. Moments later, their son came running up along side of us too!  Come to find out, Adam was out running this half marathon with his dad, who was running his first ever half marathon!  What an awesome experience for then share!  

Before I knew it I was passing mile 4!  Even though I didn't knowing overalls needed it or not, I was going to keep with the a fueling plan similar to what I did last week.  I can say that I was truly enjoying this race, the cool temperatures and the serenity of the beautiful trail I was running on. Every once in a while, the trail was close enough to houses or other roads that you could hear a random car or other voices, but for the most part it was just me, a few hundred other runners and the sounds of nature.  At one point a train past within feet of the train that we were running on!  Definitely not something on most race courses I run!

Before I knew it, we were coming into Marquette!  I was still feeling strong and had met some great people to run with over the last 8 miles!  Now time for the last 5 miles!  It was really nice to run some of these streets in Marquette after living here back in the early 90's.  Granted I was not a runner back then but this was my home for 2 years and just being able to travel these streets again by foot, brought back some great memories!

I want to say that the rest of the race was a piece of cake, that I blew through those last miles without a care in the world, but the last stretch to the finish was almost enough to kill me!  I completely forgot that the finish line was at the TOP of Third Street.  That last quarter of a mile was tough!  My calves were burning and I was ready to be done.  I wanted to walk, but that stubborn side of me was not about to let anyone pass me on the last stretch!  

As I crossed the finish line, I noticed the clock.  I don't remember exactly what it said, but I knew that it was close to a new Half Marathon PR!  I grabbed a water, but bypassed the food.  Nothing sounded good right now, except water.  At that point, all I wanted to do what find the gear check tent to get my compression sleeves and flip flops!  My calves were burning and my feet wanted out of my wet shoes!  Right next to the gear check tent was the massage tent!  Normally, I bypass the massage tent, but knowing that I have an hour plus ride in the car to get to our final destination for the weekend, it was just what I needed!

And it was awesome!!

Last stop before I left the finish line area?  Get my official time...

Official race time = 2:26:46! New Half Marathon PR by 2 minutes and 24 seconds!  

I'll take it!  I felt great (with the exception of that last quarter mile), ran with some great people, enjoyed the awesome course that the crew in Marquette put together and walked away smiling!  I kept with my fuel plan, between the EnergyBits, Honey Stingers cookie and my Adovcare Rehydrate gel, I have found a winning combination!  

Oh yeah, I did this all without my headphones and music that I always rely to to help keep me moving!  The only way I knew what my current pace was, I had to actually look at my phone, which was traveling with me in my armband.  Needless to say, I didn't look at it very often!  I just proved to myself that I can keep my pace without music and without having a little voice in my ear telling me how fast I was running!

2 races down and 2 to go on my quest to enter the Half Fanatics Asylum, completing 4 half marathons in 37 days, landing on Saturn.  Next stop on this adventure?  Miller Park in Milwaukee for the Brewers Mini Marathon (which is where my previous PR was set).

How are you doing on your goals?  Have you achieved them?  Are you still on track?   

Whatever you do, wherever you are in that journey, don't give up! 

Cheesehead Half Marathon Race recap

Last year's Cheesehead Marathon was a tough one (last years race details can be found here).  After the brutal sun last year, I could only hope for better weather this year.  

I wish I could say that this year was better.  There may not have been beating sun in a cloudless sky like last year, but the heat and humidity was enough to nearly kill me!  Regardless, I was determined to get out there and finish!  This was the first of 4 half marathons, over 36 days as I qualify to join the ranks of the Half Fanatics, joining the asylum and landing on Saturn.  

We were spending the weekend camping with friends again this year so, once again, we only had a 15-20 minute drive to get to the start line.  We made it to the start line early, so I had time to walk around, stretch out and mentally try and wrap myself around what I might be dealing with out there today.  Matt was running the relay with another friend of his, so he had time to relax in the car before he had to hop on the bus to head off to the relay exchange point.

 There was no sun to be seen on this warm, HUMID morning.  20 minutes before race time, my phone showed 80% hhumidity  I didn't believe it tho - it was so humid and sticky that I was already feeling like I could melt.

This was, by far the toughest run I have ever done.  The first half of the race was tough but I met a few awesome people on the course that helped me get through it!  One of these awesome runners that I met was another Half Fanatic!  Tracie was in the middle of a stretch of half marathons every weekend for like 9 weeks... and here I was worried about making in through 4 in 6 weeks!  We would run together for a while, pushing and encouraging each other to keep going!  We agreed, this was a walk/run type race and as long as we made it to the end upright and moving forward, we were successful!  I hit 6 miles at just over an hour, right on track for the pace I was shooting for at this point in the game. At the halfway point/relay exchange, I saw another friend of mine, who told me that Matt just left a few minutes ago.  No worries, I had no intention of trying to catch up to him!  He was running on fresh legs... mine had been moving for over an hour already!

I actually did see Matt out of the course tho!  At one point, just after the relay exchange point, we had to make a quick out and back down one of the streets and as I was heading out to the water station/turn around, I passed him on his was back.  This would be the only time I would see him until I finished!

The second half of this race was beyond brutal.  Tracie and I kept a fairly consistent pace over the next few miles but I lost her just past the 9 mile marker when I had to stop to get a pebble out of my shoe (the joys of running on an unpaved trail).  These back 6.5 miles of the course were partially on the trail, then finishing out by retracing the first 3 miles of the course... with no shade and rolling hills.

I knew that these last miles were going to take more than just my legs to get me through, and I was right.  It was a mental game!  I felt like I walked more than I ran (my pedometer app on my phone later told me differently) but that finish line was the only thing on my mind.  The biggest thing that I  kept thinking while I was running was that I needed to keep myself properly fueled.  Normally, when I carry fluids with me, I usually skip grabbing anything at the water stations.  This time, I grabbed water and each and every water station that I past. Overall, every 2 miles (after mile 4), I made sure I was getting fuel of some sort.  I have noted my full fueling for this race at the end of this post.

 Overall, I finished with a respectable 2:37:26 time, only a few minutes slower that my time for the Cellcom Half earlier this year and only 2 minutes slower than last year. Finish temp 72 with 100% humidity!  The race was done, but now it was time to switch to recovery mode.   Recovery from this race was rough.  Once I got a little food from the cheesy buffet and get to the car to get my calf sleeves on, my legs did start feeling a little better.

After we got back to the camper, it was foam roller and shower time before we headed out for some lunch.  I actually felt really good, managed to get some food into me as well as a few bottles of my Red Raspberry Recovery and more water.  Unfortunately, after we got back to the camper, I opted to stretch out in one of the lawn chairs to relax.  I should have headed inside the camper, where it was cooler, for my relaxing.

I dosed off for a little while and when I woke up, I actually felt worse than before I went to sleep.  Apparently, the heat and humidity took more out of me than I thought.  With the amount of water and Recovery I was drinking, I figured that I was doing ok. However, I was actually more dehydrated than I thought.  My body was not happy with me.

I ended up spending most of the rest of the evening inside the camper, relaxing, napping and sucking down more fluids, all while enjoying a nice bag of ice on my head!  WOW!  Not how I wanted to spend the evening, but it was what I needed to do!  Dinner ended up consisting of a pile of fruit salad and water... food didn't even sound good!

Thankfully by morning, I felt better and my appetite returned.  My body appeared to be heading back to normal!

When it comes to race fueling and preparing for each race, everyone needs to figure out what works best for them.  This is a constant learning process for me.  This was the first time that I actually set everything that I need for a race out in one place.  The above picture is everything that I had with me for this race, from my clothing to my fuel.  I never actually realized how much I needed until I saw it all in once place!

Today's fueling consisted of:

"Breakfast" while I was getting ready

       1 banana

       LARA bar

       Bottle of Spark (whb 10oz water)

       02 Gold

15 minutes pre race - 1 serving EnergyBits

Mile 4 - 1/2 of Chocolate Honey Stingers wafer cookie and a few Sharkies

Mile 6 - second serving of EnergyBits

Mile 8 - Recovery Gel

Mile 10 - rest of my pack of Sharkies

Overall, my fuel seemed to do well for me today!  It was just the humidity that pulled more out of me than I could have imagined

Will I run this race again?  That is a tough one... It is nice that it is close to home, but 2 years in a row with brutal weather conditions?    Not sure what next year will bring.

What is the toughest race that you have done?  What did you learn from that experience that has helped you grow as a runner?

Next week - Marquette Michigan for Half Marathon #2 in this crazy adventure of 4 in 36 days!