Run Chat Hunt

Not sure if you've heard, but Run Chat is doing a scavenger hunt until the end of March.  I thought it would be fun to see how many of these I could get.  I managed to get to 5 photos already for 6 items, which is more than I expected!

Here we go, in the order I found them.

Day 1: It was just too darn windy for me to run outside (wind chill in the TEENS in March!), so I hit the treadmill.  Fortunately, my gym has the treadmills in a little green house overlooking a canal off the Charles River.  As you can see, my phone focused on the windows!  I didn't realize until today that I got a shot of the drawbridge at the end of the canal too.  So, that's 2 items: body of water and bridge (not covered)

Yes, I'm wearing an orange shirt.  How could you tell? :)

Then yesterday, I went out for a run around my neighborhood.  I took a picture of my "big hill".  I swear, they never look as bad in pictures!

It keeps going around that curve.

Of course, halfway up I saw a bunch of kids playing, including one of my scouts.  Now, you can't look weak in front of your scouts, so I had to power up the hill.  Which made it even more obvious I've been running on flat terrain recently!

Then I got back to my house, and guess what I saw! Of course, a car (in serious need of being washed) with running stickers.

Yep, that's my filthy car!

When I got inside my boys wanted to run around the block with me.  So, out we go and look what we find! I had already run past this house and didn't notice that all of the Christmas decorations were still up.  The 5 year old wondered if the Easter Bunny was going to be upset :)

Complete with red bows, white metal snowman and reindeer pulling a sleigh!

Then, my 5th photo.  I'll be honest: normally I love running along the Charles and I had every intention of taking another Boston Skyline at Sunrise photo.  It's flat, beautiful, well maintained and relatively safe.  But yesterday, running in the sunshine with my 2 boys, well, it was just pure joy!  I stopped and took this picture:

My Munchkins, on the first leg of our 1 mile run

Now, I realize it's technically not a place, but this was one of my favorite runs (the others being Color Me Rad Race that the whole family ran, and when my boys ran the last bit of a 5K with me that I came in last for my age group).  My favorite place to run is where ever these two decide to go for a run with Mommy.

I've got 6 of the items on the list, which is more than I was expecting.  I'll keep a look out for the remaining four, but I'm not terribly optimistic!  I really enjoyed this, it made me really look and absorb what's around me.

Running in the Dark

I know a lot of people say this, but I really hate the whole time change thing! I run at 6 in the morning, and it was just starting to get light again, then BAM! We're back to pre-dawn light. And it's a colder too :(

So, why have I been getting up 3-4 days per week for the last 2 weeks?  Other than the 5K in 5 weeks and the BAMR5K challenge. Well, I just found out I'm one of the Ambassadors for the Zooma Cape Cod Half Marathon!

I ran this race last year and LOVED it!  Heck, my training for last year's race was why I started this blog.  I have to admit, last year's race is where I felt like a "real" runner.  Yeah, I did the Princess Half, but it has such a Disney feel to it, that it's more about the "show" than the race. (I want to do it again, and stop and take pictures next time!)  Zooma is about experience.  It's about getting out there and doing something you never thought you could do.  I mean, look at their new Personal Best Program, where you get a bonus medal for PR'ing or doing a distance you haven't done before.  That's why I run and I think why a lot of women pick up running (and racing) as adults.  To challenge ourselves.

Plus, if I'm getting up at 4:30 am, I'm getting something shiny to show for it :)

Engineers Can't Count?

In my professional life, I'm an engineer.  I do lots of things with Math and lots of things with Schedules.   And I think I'm doing pretty darn well as an engineer.  So, you would think I could do some simple math and scheduling for my running life, right?  Yeah, not so much.

Back in January, I signed up for the BAA distance challenge.  It's a 5K, 10K and Half spread out from Spring (5K) to Fall (Half), and you get a personalize bib plus a bonus medal when you complete all 3 races.  I've been (to borrow a word from Another Mother Runner) "sputtering".  In Jan, I had more than doubled my December mileage (whoo!) but Feb was tough with the blizzard and my credit card expiring so I no longer have access to the gym (I did mention, I'm good with schedules, right?)

So I get an email from Dimity and Sarah about the AMR Virtual 5K on Mother's Day, with the "Finish It 5K" training plan starting on Monday March 4th.  Ok, great!  I can do this, get back into the swing of things.  I grab my iPhone and Kindle (one for the calendar, one for the plan) and start working out the 5-6 workouts per week I'll need (HINT: I'm scheduling 5, but it's one of the cross-training I'm bailing on. I just can't get up to 6/week!  I know it's mental, but hey, at least I'll be meeting my goal of 5).

And that's when I saw it.  The first Sunday of April Vacation.  The day before the Boston Marathon.  There, with the little red dot to designate "Family Activities".  April 14th 6:30 am - 9 am BAA 5K in Copley.  How are they pulling off 2 races in 2 days? Are they crazy?!

Wait. CRAP!  That's 1, 2, 3, 5, 6! 6 Weeks away!  It's a 5K.  I'm slow.  Ok, breathe, Nic, breathe.  You're doing 3 miles in a run now.  It's slow, but you're doing it.  Ok.  I can do this. The finish time will start with "3", but I can do this.

Wait! School Vacation.  DOUBLE CRAP! The couch!  We're supposed to be getting our living room, hallway and the boys' room floors redone that weekend.  I'm supposed to be with the boys at my Mother's house which is TWO hours away from BOSTON.  Ok, we can schedule this (because I've been so good about scheduling running related activities so far!)

Wait, when's the 10K.  June, ok, June is good.  That's 10 weeks after the 5K. Well, BAA really planned this well!  TLAM10K will kick off immediately after the 5K.  Ok, good.

So, my grand plan is:

• Kick off TLAM 5K Finish It on Monday, as part of the Virtual AMR 5K.  I will modify it a bit, instead of planning walk/runs, I'm doing my regular Run and take my 15 sec walk breaks as needed.
• Move Old Couch downstairs without getting injured or dropping the couch on Hubby
• On Week 5 of TLAM 5K Run the BAA 5K
• Kick off TLAM 10K (not sure if I'm aiming for Finish It or Own It... I've got 5 weeks to decide....said the "expert" scheduler...)
• Admire my new beautiful living room with FLOOR SPACE
• Run the Virtual AMR 5K Mother's Day Weekend (and the PawSox camp out ISN'T on Mother's Day this year! YES!)
• BAA 10K in June
• Maybe 5K by my mom's in August (hilly and humid, it's a great combo!)
• Zooma Cape Cod September
• BAA Half Columbus Day Weekend

The Heart of the Story

"To get to the heart of the story, you have to go back to the beginning" - Henry VIII in "The Tudors"

When I created this blog, it was really to track my training for my 2nd half marathon, since shortly after I completed my first, I had all but forgotten the tears shed when I first ran 10 miles or when I bonked at 8 miles and was still 5 miles from home (thank goodness for Dunk's and cell phones!).  But I feel like I've hit an emotional wall with regards to running, so I need to remind myself how I got here.  I haven't told anyone the whole story, although a few close family members and friends know it.

I didn't used to be a runner.  I joined volleyball in HS because we only needed to do 10 laps around the gym.  I was always "fluffy", "curvy" or "chubby".  Unless you look at my BMI from 1999-2009.  Then I was obese.  I really hate that word.  But yeah, I was.  See?

Me and 1 year old Pete. Summer 2006. 

After I had Brian, I lost some of the weight and fought to keep it off.  That was my first foray into running.  I did Couch to 5K and ran the 3.5 mile JP Morgan Corporate Challenge.  In 48 minutes.  Then I stopped running until I got sick.

October 2010, right between my sister's wedding and halloween, I ended up in Mass Gen's ER.  I honestly thought I was having a heart attack.  After spending 12 hrs in the ER, having them rule out the heart attack, stroke, rule in then out a pulmonary embolism, we figured out it was a gallbladder attack. Except my gallbladder and I parted ways in 1997 due to the same exact attack.  I'm just this side of a medical miracle; I make "chunky" bile.  Nothing 6 months of pills, minor surgery and diet modifications and exercise can't fix.  On February 17th, 2010, I set my alarm early, hit the gym before work and started on the journey that has lead me to a small collection of 5Ks, a 10K, 2 mud runs, a color run and 2 half marathons (and counting!)

Brian's 5th Bday 2012. Me at my healthiest.
Please excuse the mess! :) It's hard to find any pictures of me.

And here's why I'm typing this up today.  I've had a tough time staying motivated this winter.  I've gained weight. I feel sluggish. My running routine is, well, barely a routine. So, I'm frustrated, which means old habits, like eating, are coming back. Which make me feel more sluggish, more frustrated and it's this horrible cycle. And for me, the only way to break the cycle is to face it head on and remind myself of why I run.

This is my response to the simple question of "why do you run?"  I run because that woman in the first picture couldn't run 20 feet down a ramp. Because she had problems picking up a 1 year old.  Because she slept horribly due to all the snoring.  And because she hated all of those things.

I run because I remember when I couldn't and when I wouldn't.  And I won't ever go back there again.

Treadmill vs Slush

It's been a while.  Last time I posted, I committed to running 3 days a week, 3 miles a day at a minimum.  Yeah... confession time... didn't happen this month. I think part of it is the fact I'm working from home on Fridays, so I'm not in Cambridge, where the sidewalks are (relatively) plowed.  It makes it a little harder to do the MWF running routine.  I did manage TWO (2) days a week and 3 miles a day.  And I ran on the Dreaded Treadmill when it was 11 degrees outside.  The 5K program wasn't too boring, and I found that a 2% incline is actually easier for me run on than a 0%.  But my hips were still cranky. And I really don't like the showers at the gym.

I did manage to get back outside today.  It was 38 degrees, windy and slushy! I know New Balance is paying to keep the Charles River Path cleared, but, man, they are NOT getting their money's worth! One person wide path on the downhill side, so its filled with puddles, with slush and packed snow on the rest of it.  But I did manage to get my sloggy 3 miles in, and the Darn Tough socks handled the water nicely, although it would have been nice if I had a pair designed to cover my ankle bones!

But, I did do a few good running like things! One goal is to run at least 1, if not 2 half marathons this year.  Well, I've paid for 2 already!  I'm registered for the Zooma Cape Cod Half in September.  They've got a new program, where if you get a PR or run a new distance, you get some extra bling (check it out here!)  I've registered my half PR, which just so happens to be last year's Zooma!  I'm counting on it being a lucky course (and they're making it better, so it's going to just improve the luck), and I'm aiming to come home with a New Shiny!

Plus, thanks to Michelle over at Running With Attitude, and a few coworkers, I've registered for the BAA Distance Medley.  It's a 5K in April, a 10K in June and a Half in October.  You get a medal for each completed race, and a 4th medal for doing all 4.  Plus, I should get at least one kick-ass BAA Unicorn logo shirt.  I'll probably never run Boston (heck, I'll probably never run 26.2!), but I really love the BAA shirts.  And, I've kinda always had a thing for Unicorns...

So, here's to the short month of February: to it being at least 25 degrees at 6 am, to the snow not falling on the sidewalks and to me, getting out of bed early, just one more day a week!

Not a Resolution

Yeah, I know, it's been a while. I haven't really written about running for a good reason. I haven't really been running.  Since the Zooma Cape Cod Half, I put in about 13-15 miles.  Yes, I ran in ONE day the same miles as the 3 months since.  And yes, I'm very embarrassed.  But, part of it is OK too. I took some time off for legit reasons: post race, injured toe, the flu (2 days of 102+ fever! then a good week recovery till I could stand up with coughing).

But there were the less than legit reasons, like "I'm tired today"or, "It's 6 degrees on Jan 2. I'm not going to the gym I haven't gone to since the spring to run on the treadmill. Everyone there will think I'm a New Year's Resolution Person".  Made total sense at 4am.

When I found myself avoiding twitter, because I follow so many runners, I noticed.  When I weighed myself, I really noticed.  I had all but stopped running.  Sure, getting up early on a few Mondays and getting through a slow 30 minutes was keeping me from being totally sedentary, but I wasn't feeling fit or healthy.

I mentioned this before: I'm the type of person who needs goals. I need a race to aim for and train to.  Sept 29th is a bit far off, and I haven't really found anything sooner that fits my family's schedule. So, I made a goal.  Technically, it's 4 goals. I'm not calling it a resolution, because, well, they never make it to February.  So, without further ado:

Nicole's 2013 Running Goals

1. Run at least 3 days a week
2. Go at least 3 miles per run
3. Run at least 1 half marathon (aiming for 2)
4. Run at least 500 miles this year

Ok, I know you're looking at goal 4 and you're very confused.  If I'm running 1-2 halves, that should be easy, heck, I should have passed that during last year.  Nope. Didn't really come close, actually.  I ran Princess in Feb, and Zooma in Sept, plus a bunch of 5Ks (both virtual and "real").  I hit 350 miles. So this year, I figure I can average 10 miles a week, instead of the 7 (yes, I'm using 50 weeks per year. I'm assuming I'm going to miss at least 1 week for vacation, and 1 week buffer).  My minimum won't get me there, but it'll get me 90% of the way (hey, literally!).

I decided this over the weekend. I got up Monday, I ran 3.07 miles in 38:35. I got up this morning and ran it in 37:30.  I'm getting up tomorrow, and I'm running it.  

I'm a little nervous about the days when its below 25 in the morning. At what temperature do I get on the treadmill in the little gym with the icky showers?  The extended forecast is calling for single digits in 2 weeks.  I don't think I own enough clothing to go running in single digits!

Post-race reflections

If you've been following along this summer, you know I ran the Zooma Cape Cod Half Marathon this weekend.  It was a beautiful course, and very well run race. Don't tell the folks at Disney, but I think I actually liked Zooma better!  Less pagentry, more camaraderie. 

Anyway, I PR'd by 1.5 minutes at Zooma.  On hills. Almost 800 feet of elevation. I was flying high at the end of the race.  Crying and yelling when I crossed the finish line. 

Then, Sunday, we had a bit of excitement at home and I barely noticed the day (quick summary: It's all good now, Hubby got dehydrated, and passed out.  7 year old called 911 for me, Hubby ended up in the ER, discharged 6 hours later and has been fine since. Side note: I ran 13.1 miles and peed within an hour of finishing. Hubby had a gigantic buffet breakfast and ends up on IV fluids. Just saying.) But Monday? Monday hit me hard!

Monday, I couldn't walk up or down stairs without grimacing.  I was told to take the elevator several times.  I replied with "I ran 13 miles, I am not taking an elevator" and continued to hobble.  I fell into chairs instead of sitting.  I wore flip flops with work clothes because my weird toe nail hurt. I had slammed the toe into a curb a few years back and the nail now grows up instead of out. Apparently, it was too long during the race and got banged up. It's now a pretty pale purple color and achy. 

Tuesday, got better.  I could almost sit and stand easily. Stairs slowed me down, but weren't painful. Toe got some more color to it, and a bit throbby, but I could wear shoes.

All of the aches and pains got me thinking: during the training runs, I was fine.  No long recovery times, no toe issues.  But, then again, it took me 2:40 to run 12 miles during training.  What was different about the race? 

I ran faster.  That's it.  I checked the elevation, my 12 mile run was 787 ft, the Zooma Half was 797 ft.  Let's call that even (and I was worried about the elevation change! I probably should have check my long run elevation before the race, not afterwards!).  The only different was I kept my pace and walked less. I also set a more realistic pace than in training (10:20-12:30 min/mile vs 8:50-10:20 min/mile), which made it easier to keep.

Going into the race, I wasn't even thinking PR. Heck, I was hoping for 10 minutes over my first half.  At one point, I was running with Michelle, and found she was aiming for sub 2:30.  I ran with her for most of the race.  She finished stronger than I did, and got her goal and PR.  I was right there with her, till mile 10.

Up until mile 10, I was on target for a 2:30 finish.

Right now, I'm afraid to actually aim for a 2:30 goal.  But maybe that's just the busted toe nail talking.