What was I thinking? Have I lost my mind?

As I sit here tonight, running through lists in my head, I can't help bu wonder if I have gone completely crazy!

Last winter I saw a post on Facebook for a local run.  Once that I had never even thought about running in the past, it was one of those races that only the dies hard crazy runners did.  A few years ago I recall watching a clip on the new about these crazy runners who were out running for crazy amounts of time, some out there from sun up to sun down!

It was the Titletown Ultra Series on the campus of UWGB.

Instead of your "traditional" Ultra where you choose your distance (generally 50k, 50 Miles, 100k or 100 miles) you choose your time/duration.  The Titletown Ultra Series offers you a 6 hour, 8 hour or Solstice (sun up to sun down) option.  REALLY?  15 1/5 hours?  More power to them!

However, this time, I found myself looking at it differently.  Not as insanity or craziness, but a new challenge.  I've run anything from 1 mile runs, to Half marathons, obstacle course races and color runs.  But was this my next challenge?

Somehow, Lisa and I ended up chatting about this race.  could we really do it?  Even if we walked most of it, it would be a great challenge to see how may miles we could cover in (an unfathomable) amount of time.  

When we started talking about it, I am trying to remember correctly, but I THINK part of the conversation when something like this:

Me:  I think we can do it!

Lisa:  I am sure we could... wait, are you thinking 6 or 8 hour?

Me: Um... 6 hour

Lisa: but 8 hours, is only 2 more hours, only 25% more time.  We can do 8

Me:  Yes, but... yeah I guess we could finish 8...

Lisa: We don't have to run it all...

This went back and forth and to this day we are not sure who talked who into it, but we decided that we were going to do the 8 hour event!

Then she realized she couldn't do it!  Something about a family vacation... this was y easy out.  My opportunity to back down from the challenge.  To say I'd just wait until next year to run it with her.

Funny thing... when you are a runner, you have runner friends.  When I started talking to other friends of mine about what I was signing up for, most friends would come right out and ask you if you were crazy...  That you were insane... But runner friends are different.  They were the extra push that I needed to send in my registration, motivating me, inspiring me and even telling me that they would run with me.  It was then I realized, that this was the challenge that I needed.  Something new, something beyond what I was comfortable with.

What! Hold it!

What was I thinking?  I have never run a FULL marathon before!  My longest race, at this point has been a Half Marathon!  Yes, 13.1 miles is a lot of miles already.  Now, here I am considering an 8 hour event!

Where were the people that were supposed to talk me OUT of this?  Oh, that's right, I have decided to surround myself with positive people!

With the encouragement from Lisa and several other friends, I signed up for the race... the 8 hour option!

My next step was to reach out to a friend to help with training.  I signed up for personal training sessions and Andy started working on a training plan with me.  I was determined to make it through this event!

That was over 6 months ago.

Since then a few other friends of mine have also signed up for the race, have joined me on numerous training runs, run countless loops on the trails where the race will take place (thanks ladies for those 5:30am Saturday morning runs!), were chased by geese, followed by turkey's, and so much more.  Andy has done everything he could to keep me on track with training, working my many other events earlier this year into my training plan.

Over the last 6 months, even tho she wasn't going to be able to be there, running with me on race day, Lisa put in her fair share of miles with me!  Getting up early to join me on training runs, impromptu afternoon runs on the trail, listening to me grumble at work that I felt like I was hungry ALL THE TIME and more.  Thank you Lisa for encouraging me to face this challenge head on.

But now, here we are, 1 day before the big day.  What they heck was I thinking?

In less than 24 hours, I hit the trail for 8 hours. Tracie will be out there with me along with about 90 other crazy runners.

We have put in the training miles, the strength training, the cross training and so much more.

But that doesn't mean that I'm not freaking out a little!

Did I do everything I needed to?

Do I have the right fuel packed?

Did I remember to pack my extra shoes?

Which running skirt do I wear (Yes this is an extremely important question!)

Do I have extra Bondi Bands packed>

What it...

What about..

Did I...

The questions are endless.

But deep down, I know that I am going to go out there tomorrow, hit the trail and complete the miles.  Will I hit that looming 50k mark?  You better believe that I am going to try!

I'll be back after to fill you in on how the morning went... that is once I finish, eat ALL the food and then sleep for 2 days!

Titletown Ultra Series - here I come!

Reading, learning and rediscovering

Every day is an opportunity to learn.  We are constantly learning.  Learning helps us grow, expand horizons, meet mew people, try new things and so much more.  In reality, we never can learn everything, there will always be something new.

This has been my life in the last few weeks.  

As you may recall, I recently found out that I have 22 trigger foods that have been wrecking havoc on my stomach and intestines, are potentially the cause of my headaches, fatigue and so much more!  I think I have read more food labels in the last 2 weeks than I have in my entire life.

Don't get me wrong, I read food labels before, but never like I do now!  Before I would take a quick scan of the ingredients, but my focus usually was more on the fat, calories, protein and carbs in anything I was considering buying.  Now, I am literally reading each and every ingredient on the label, trying to decipher what some things are, contemplating if it is "safe" for me to eat!

This weekend, I finally tackled the project of going through the pantry and cupboards to sort out what I could eat from what was now fair game for the rest of the family to enjoy.  Everything that contained Milk, almonds, cheese, onions, pineapple and more was set on one side of the table. Everything that was free of all trigger foods was placed on the other side of the table.

In the end, there was definitely more on the right side (avoid side) of the table than the left.  Wow!  No wonder why I feeling the way that I was, if I was eating so many of these foods on the "avoid" side of the table daily!  

How much of it was I eating?  just to give you an example:

Breakfast most mornings was a shake mixed with Chocolate Almond Milk, a milk based shake mix and either a banana or pineapple.  I have since learned that Milk (most Dairy) is a trigger, as are almonds and pineapple!

Now I am replacing my shake mix with a dairy free version and sticking with bananas, strawberries or other fruit!

Lunch was usually leftovers... this particular day, it was baked salmon (now on the list of avoid foods) and green beans (another avoid food!). Yes, I will miss as my salmon and

Shrimp and crab, but I still have scallops and a few other varieties of fish I can enjoy!

In the two weeks that I have been working to eliminate these trigger foods, I feel better, sleep better most nights and am starting to see higher energy levels.  Oh yeah, and I have not had any migraines!

I have also had to stop and think more about what I am feeding my body.  I have gone back to some of my favorite recipes, some of which I have not made in a long time, played with them to see what I could do to tweak them, to fit in the new diet

One of those recipes that I went back to, was my favorite chicken salad recipe!

A few years ago, I posted the recipe for this here and figured that it was time to share it again.. with a few modifications!

This light, summer chicken salad, in its original formula, was made with almond butter.  Since I can't have the almond butter anymore, I opted to make it now with cashew butter!  

What a game changer!  

Shredded chicken (perfect way to use up that leftover rotisserie chicken!), granny smith apples, grapes, cashew butter and honey!

The perfect blend of sweet and crunchy to go with the chicken!

Pure yum!

Yes, I am still learning what I can easily grab to eat when I need a quick snack or am making dinner.  I will continue to work on finding modified recipes for some of the family favorites that right now, I can't make in the same way that I did before... Chili without onions, kidney beans and cheese, just is not the same.   Same goes for sloppy joes and meatloaf.

Yes, this is a tough journey, but I know that it will be worth it in the end!  The next few months might be tough and I will miss my pizza, but if, in the end, it means that I am healthier, have more energy and can avoid the headaches, it will be worth it!  Your health is more important!

Now, time to scour the internet for dinner tomorrow!

Can a single race really change your life?

Yes, it can.  In more ways than one!

A few weekends ago (June 12-13th - sorry it's taken me this long to get this posted!) I had the opportunity to run the Chicago Raganr with a team from the Chicago area.  12 of us joined forces to run about 200 miles, from Madison WI to Chicago.  When I joined this team, I actually only knew 1 person on the team.  Jenn and I "met" via Twitter a little over a year ago and actually got to meet face to face last fall when I was in Chicago with the girls for the Women Rock Half Marathon.  I met a few others on the team back in January when we got together for dinner, just so everyone could meet each other.  But in reality, I didn't really know any of them!  And yes, for those of you that recognize the dates of the event, I was running across the start of WI, with 11 strangers, on my Birthday!   

So, here I was, Thursday afternoon, driving to Chicago to meet up with people that I really don't know, to spend 2 days in a van with them.  I will admit, I felt every emotion during that 3 hours drive!  Fear and nervousness for the fact that I am going to be stuck, for 2 days, with 5 other people that I really do not know (plus the other 6 people on our team traveling in the other van).  Stressed and apprehensive... would I really be able to complete all 3 of my legs with the pace that I want?  Nervous for the fact that for the first time EVER, I am going to have to run at night!  I am sure there were others in there too, my head was an interesting place to be that afternoon.  However, all of those emotions were also mixed with excitement for this race that we have been planing since last fall.  Determination to put all of my work in the gym over the last few months to the test and push myself to new limits, doing somethign that very few people have the chance to experience.  It was going to take a lot of mental toughness as well as physical strength to get through the next 48 hours!

Sleep did not come easy on Thursday night but I got in what I could.  When the alarm went off at 4:15am, I momentarily forgot where I was... and then reality hit!  It was time to go!  Thankfully Jenn has the coffee already going and her husband was up and ready to take us over to meet the rest of the team. When we got to Michael's to load the van, any apprehensions that I might have had vanished.

After a early morning, rainy drive to Madison, we made it to the start line about an hour before our scheduled start time, so we had plenty of time to pick up our race packet, go through watching the safely video and find the restrooms.  We were hoping that it was going to stop raining before our team started but Christy didn't get so lucky.  She was going to have to deal with some rain on the first leg of our adventure.

The start line in Madison

In the end, the rain let up shortly after we started out journey and it was the start of an amazing adventure!

Van 1 crew ready to run!

Now, I could sit here and go on for 3 days about all of the crazy adventure, the laughs, the u-turns, the lack of sleep and everything else, but I honestly don't even know where I would start.  The weekend was beyond amazing and unless you are a runner and have actually experienced a Ragnar event, you will never be able to to fully grasp the magnitude of this event!

Highlights from the weekend:

* We lost track of how many u-turns we had to make (We think our "kill" to u-turn ratio for our van was about even!)  and for those that are not familiar with the term... kills refer to how many people you pass on the course... and by the end of the weekend, our van had plenty of both!

* During Ragnar Weekend, real food is purely for survival and energy.  I don't even think I tasted the sub I had Friday afternoon for lunch!

Jimmy Johns to the rescue after a crazy morning!

* I lost count of how many Clif bars, homemade energy bars, bottles of water, bananas, bags of beef jerky and jelly beans were consumed in our van over the 2 days!  I will also never look at Oreo's and M&M's the same again... and did you know that Oreo's have to be eaten in pairs?  You can't eat an odd number of them!

BEST Jerky EVER

* Running at night, while a little unnerving, is actually fun... except when you have to cross a major highway (thank goodness for public safety officials at the intersections to help get you across!) But this was by far one of my favorite runs in a long time.  It made me face new challenges, get out of my comfort zone and just go!

ready for the night run!

* You really can run and survive on no sleep!  No matter how hard you try, stretching out in the back of a mini van CAN be comfortable, but I don't know how much sleep you will get!

* You might start out your adventure as strangers, but by the end of the weekend you will have created lasting friendships with these people that you now consider family!

The ladies of Team Where's the Finish!

* Many people will END their birthday celebration not knowing where they are.  I started mine that way!  At just after midnight on Saturday morning, we were somewhere between Waukesha and Racine.  I really don't know where!  All I know is that when the sun came up on Saturday morning, 2 of our van-mates were sleeping on the ground next to the park, the rest of us were "waking up" in the van.

* You never know when you might run into someone you know along the course!  At one of the later exchange points, I ran into one of John's coworkers... apparently they started 3 hours AFTER we did, but by Saturday morning, they caught up to us.  I saw Justin at 2 exchange points, but after that, we never saw each other again

Always nice to see a familiar face!

* However, I ended my birthday race weekend, crossing the finish line, on the beach, in Chicago with 11 of the greatest running friends I could ask for!  I ran my entire birthday weekend and would not have traded it for anything!  It was an epic weekend that I can't wait to repeat again one day!
 

In the end, once you get home from your Ragnar adventure, you get some sleep and start getting back to "normal" life, you quickly learn that "normal" has a new meaning.  The last 2 days will have changed your life.  You just spent 2 days motivating, encouraging and pushing each other, you look at challenges differently, you have a new extended family, and running with friends brings out a whole new meaning.

 After a crazy 2 days, we all headed home, never to forget the weekend we just spent together.  I ran 14.2 miles, walked another 15 (best guess anyway), slept for about 30 minutes and have ZERO regrets.  I have gained amazing friends, look at challenges differently and am ready to take on new challenges with a fresh attitude.   To be honest, before my Ragnar weekend adventures, I think I was stuck in a rut.  I dreaded my long training runs, my heart was not in it as much as it was before.  After this weekend, the fire has been restored!  I am ready to tackle my half marathon training (Women Rock Super Starlet Challenge in MN here I come!) and am actually considering training for a triathlon (yes that means I actually have to learn how to swim!).

 

 Chicago Ragnar Team Where's the Finish - THANK YOU for an awesome birthday weekend!  Can't wait to see everyone in October!  It's time to get the family together again for a reunion, reminisce about our adventures and start planning for the next one!

What have you don't lately to challenge yourself?  Go out there and do it, it could just change your life!

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!

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!