I'm a Half Marathon Survivor!!!

OMG...we did it!!! Half Marathon.......CHECK!! Crossing it OFF the bucket list.

We actually completed a full 13.1 miles in the San Diego Rock n Roll Half Marathon... still cannot believe it.

And lookie what I have to show for it!! teehee:

it makes me smile :-)

So like I said before - we arrived bright 'n early...slight mishap with one of Amanda's water bottles mysteriously falling OUT of her hydration belt...must've happened while transferring from the coaster to the buses - no beuno! But seriously so many people run without belts at all! So, it could've been worse. We got off the bus and somehow found our running group just in time for a quick photo...then headed to the porta potties to stand in line for a solid 35 minutes!

After that we found our corral and got prepped along the sidelines. We had a packet of GU gel, stretched, adjusted our armbands/headphones, got our apps ready, and texted the boys that we were only moments from the start lines...ahhh, such excitement & adrenaline pumping at that moment. When our corral was next up (there was a minute in between each)...the music had us jumping up & down, singing, then finally counting down....

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...BAM!

That's what 30K+ runners looks like...amazing huh?!

Miles 1-3 were a blur....I got a bit emotional just realizing the fact that we were ACTUALLY doing this...finally. And then....I had to pee. HOW?! I just went!! ugh... so we stopped and all had the fastest potty break EVER while in Balboa Park! Just after that, we headed down the on-ramp to the 163 freeway. Let me tell you - it is WEIRD to run on the freeway, no cars in site - super erie...just us, and the sound of shoes pounding pavement, steady breathing, spectator cheering at some points, and a few bands playing tunes along the way. I just had to take a quick video:



After we exited the freeway, we hit mile 8 and started our long trek along Friars Road - which was just in time to see the boys along the side of the road cheering us on - taking pics/video...and I even stole a kiss from the hubs ;-)



Mile 9 & 10 blurred together...then Chelsea was hit with a ton of knee pain. Pain that intensified and put her in complete agony for the last 3 miles - no fun. But we stayed by her side, walking when she needed and keeping her motivated to go on. Through the tears I told her that "we started this together 4 months ago, and we're finishing together today...I will DRAG you across the finish line if I have to!!" Luckily, with the finish line literally around a corner, I heard my name calling out from my left...I looked over to find the boys all there again, cheering us on along with hundreds of other spectators - that smile never left my face.

As soon as we crossed that finish line (which felt amazingly great!), we got Chelsea over to the Medic stand and quickly got her knees saran-wrapped in hugs bags of ice. After that - we got the gratification of hanging some heavy medals around our necks... go US!! {there are a good handful of pics taken by "MarathonFoto" crews along the course/finish...but they're pretty expensive - I'll update this post if/when I get any!}

Then as we walked along to find the boys...we were greeted with tons of food, drinks, energy bars, bagels... you name it - our hands were packed....thank goodness, because I was STARVING by mile 7 - oye.

"BRAVE the RUN"

We also got gorgeous leis by our men... such a treat - not only to have them cheer us on, but to see how proud they were of us...I couldn't stop thanking them for coming! After that we started our mile trek back to the trolley station - our legs, knees & feet were aching and incredibly sore - but it was worth it... to me at least! haha

After we got back to the car, we changed into sandals...ahhhhmazing...and freshened up on our way to brunch. We went to a place called Offshore, where unexpectedly...was the mile-18 area for the full-marathoners!! With great atmosphere and with even better company, we ate a yummy breakfast & clinked champagne glasses, in celebration of our huge accomplishment together.

Here are our stats:

Left screen shot = official RnR split times/pace
Right screen shot = my recorded run time on MapMyRun iPhone app

Now the big question is... Would I ever do it again?? I'm not going to rule it out....it really is addicting.

And for those who know the PAIN of childbirth... that shiz is crazy tough...yet women typically give birth more than once. Why do you think that is? Well, the 'pain' of what you went through (ie: both birth &/or running a 1/2 marathon) - is worth it in the end. The reward after, and how proud you feel...makes us seemingly forget how hard the actual task was...and we do it all over again.

;-)

And we're OFF!

Crazy town in San Diego right now...where the Rock 'n Roll race is in full affect. My sisters & I are in corral #36 and I'm feeling amped!!

We woke up at 3 a.m. and arrived at the starting area around 5:20 a.m. The race officially started at 6:15 a.m., so I'm hoping we'll be 'released' around 7 a.m. - lots. of. WAITING! haha

I'm excited to see James (we decided to leave K with Grammy because of all this chaos)... hopefully we'll be able to see each other around mile 8ish...maybe he'll even jump in with me for a sec! We got our playlists ready, we're stretched, we're hydrated...we're feelin good!

For a quick overview of our race course, check out this vid: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2052156592417

Wish us luck!!!

the starting line up ahead!

Thoughts before race day

This was a goal for my sisters & I to complete...we trained hard...and I'm so amazed of the time, energy, dedication {and money, obvs} that we all put in.

Without them by my side to lean on for support both mentally and physically, I'm honestly not quite sure if I'd be ready for this race. This journey was tough. It was long. It was a test of our abilities... our strength... our willingness.

And thank goodness for some wonderful help and advise from our running coach Blake... And for the awesome acupuncture sessions from Michael!! And of course a huge THANK YOU to all the friends and family that helped watch Kapri when needed, during my endless hours of training. Lastly, the unwavering, constant support and love from the hubby... Love you babe!!!

PROUD - is the one word that comes to mind when I think about the last 4 months. It's been a road full of blood, sweat & tears - no joke. Love you girls, so glad it's you that I'll be crossing that finish line with!!! xoxo

Today we went to the Race Expo to pick up our bibs, and now we're all staying the night together at Amanda's - so we can get our gear ready & wake up at 3am...ew.

We did it!!! Now let's get this show on the road...literally!

The REAL costs of running

So you think running is FREE do you??

Well, think again...especially if you are a beginner, training for a long race like me.

With just 4 short days left in our very 1st Half Marathon training journey, I thought it'd be a good idea to jot down all the costs that are associated, with OUR particular case {this will vary per person of course!}:

• Rock & Roll Race Fee: $115
• Running Group Membership: $150
• Running Gear: $296
• Shoes (Brooks): $100 (post here...that was with a 20% discount too...whewww)
• Custom-Molded Shoe Inserts: $69
• Compression Sleeves (Skins A400) - recommended by my acupuncturist = $57
• Hydration Belt: $37 (Nathan's brand)
• Sony earbuds with volume/track change remote: $30
• iPhone Armband: $3
• Clothing: $175 (let's face it, you'll need a few pairs of everything...unless you want to run in stinky clothes OR do laundry every day!!)
• I personally bought:
• 4 pairs of pants ($70 at Marshalls)
• 3 sports bras (in addition to the handful I already had - $10 - cheap I know...Walmart!)
• 6 pairs of socks (with the thick little tab above the heal to prevent slipping down into shoe - ($10 - TJ Maxx/Walmart)
• 9 shirts/tanks ($45 - TJ Maxx/Walmart...yes Walmart - I'm cheap when it comes to shirts that I buy only to SWEAT in!)
• New shirt/sports bra for race day = $40 (we each got bright-colored, matching shirts...pics to come of course!)
• iPhone Apps: $3
• I bought the Nike+ app ($2) and an Interval Timer app ($1)
• MapMyRun is a great free app as well! I actually think I prefer it over the Nike one...
• Find a good free/cheap music app as well (like Pandora) or create a fab playlist - at least 2.5 - 3 hrs long (I use MOG):

my 'fitness' app folder

• Meds: $16
• Arnicare Gel/Tablets = $10
• Ibuprofin = $6
• Massages: $126
• $41 - online deal with $13 tip - it was the worst massage I'd ever gotten!
• $20 - tip only, from free one from a health expo at work
• $45 - referral deal/tip, from Amanda
• $20 - tip only, for after-race massage Chels bought me as a Mother's Day gift
• Doctor Visits: $90
• Co-Pay for General doc (to get PT referral) = $25
• PT co-pays (1 total - cancelled other appts because I loved acupuncture so much!) = $25
• Acupuncture co-pays (4 total) = $40
• Miscell: $35
• Foam Roller = $20
• Transportation = $10 (for race day coaster train ride down to starting area)
• Race Day "Runner Tracker" (for up to 5 people to get runner updates during race) = $5
• Endurance Drinks/Energy Chews/Gels: $56
• 3 Containers of Gatorade "Glacier Freeze" powder (8 packets = $4/ea)
• Sampling of different GU Chomps & Gels = $12
• Box of Peach GU Chomps (2x caffine - my fav!) = $23
• Box of Chocolate GU Gel (best flavor out of Straw/Banana or the PB, in my opinion) = $9

our favs!

So, in total, during this 4 month process - I personally, spent about $962...whoa!

I'm extremely shocked to see that number actually... Of course I didn't spend all this at once either, no way do I have that amount of extra money just laying around. I also don't have credit cards... so all these purchases were spread out over the entire 4 months little by little (and a bit of help here & there). Again - this was just MY scenario... it could definitely be less....or definitely higher if you have finer taste in running gear than I do ;-)

Running Playlist: a 'must-have'!

I'm feeling a bit down & discouraged right now because I'm out of commish at the moment...no running for a week (maybe 2)...I felt GREAT on Saturday, hitting just about 10 miles during a 2hr run...then on Monday I  did 5 miles in an hour...but now I think I have the beginnings of 'posterior shin splints'...since we just up'd our intervals to 1/4's, thus increasing our mileage/time.

I saw my doc on Tuesday after work and am waiting for a referral to see a PT that can help me get through this so I can continue training properly for our race, which is just 7 short weeks away. I'm actually jealous when I'm driving and see other runner's hitting the pavement  :'-(

So with this extra downtime, I thought I'd share my running music selection. I use MOG for my playlist...it's a pretty awesome app, recommended by my sis. It contains 46 songs, equaling about 3 hours.... I hope I can finish the race in much less time! We will see...

Anyway...I keep it on shuffle so I don't hear the same songs over & over...and I think this list kicks "A"!! It definitely helps push me through my runs. Any other recommendations I should I before race day??

1/2 Marathon Training - Month 2 Recap

I cannot believe we've completed HALF of our training already...it blows my mind looking back & realizing how dedicated we've been to our running schedule for the past 8.5 weeks - GO US!

We've been told that if we can make it to the 8 week mark, it'll get easier from here. Let me tell you... it's been a struggle. And I completely realize that if this were an EASY feat, than everyone would do it.

But they don't.

Because it is hard.
Because it is time consuming.
Because it is a long-term commitment.
Because it is draining.
Because it challenges us.
Because it is outside a comfort zone.

Lucky for us, we have each other to motivate & push us on to the next day. the next run. the next struggle to finish. About 3 weeks ago, I found myself in a moment during a run that required their strength to help me through. Where would I be without them?? No idea. Probably laying in a gutter from over-exerting myself during a run!

To celebrate this monumental event - I've rewarded myself with a new pair of kicks (it's been way TOO long):

I was torn - it was either the blue ones on my left foot, Saucony Progrid Omni 10 - or the 'winning' pink shoe. Going to try these out for a few runs to see how they feel: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12

What I've Learned
2 Month / Halfway Mark

• We've discovered "GU" energy products...life changing. Or as my sister said "Holy jeebus, how did we ever get by without them?!" hahaha
• Taking an extra rest day (or two) occasionally is NEEDED - you're body will tell you - just have to listen...and know that it won't adversely affect your training. For us, we're no longer running on Wednesdays now, since our training has ramped up. So time to work on our core!
• No run days are the same... you could have 2 days where you eat the same, sleep the same, drink the same amount of water/liquids, stretch the same - but one day you could feel GREAT and the other like CRAP. There are no guarantees!
• Eating a good, carb-y dinner (like breaded chicken & pasta) the night before a long run is very beneficial... sister also said "eat lots & lots of food (protein & carbs especially) to keep up with all the fat and calories your burning" 
• Blisters WILL happen...and they will hurt...and they will prevent you from running your best. I've tried athletic tape, band-aids, blister covers, corn covers...and now I finally found 'toe caps' ($14 for 4, yikes!) that I have yet to test out.
• We all love our foam rollers to 'roll out' our sore, tight calves... so does Kapri! haha

• More thoughts from my sis, Chelsea:

o   Don’t wear yoga pants, they will fall down  

o   Running form is super important in order to avoid injury or pain!!

o   Hydration belts are essential 

o   Never run without those special socks (the ones with the little ‘lip’ on the back end), the regular ones will eventually slip down and become a pain in the ass!! 

o   Good upbeat music is key in order to keep you motivated and avoid boredom…

o   And so is a smartphone, so you can have your music, interval timer, and run tracker all in one handy place!

o   Avoid running in the early-mid afternoon K it gets friggen HOT and is NOT fun.

• More thoughts from my sis-in-law, Amanda:

o   It’s great to have running partners, makes for good accountability 

o   Planning out your schedule so you work around the runs (i.e., going on your lunch breaks, planning alternate runs if you’re going to be out of town, after work runs, etc.) 

o   Headphones that have a remote/clicker attached is clutch, so when a slow song or something you don’t like comes on, you can easily change it

o   Tracking your runs (ie: on an app) or have someone track them with you to see where you started and how far you’ve come

Rainy Run-Day

Oh rain. Oh wind. Oh cold. All fantastic elements for a great run right??

Not so much.

Did we get up bright & early, bundle up, drive 30 min. and brave it anyway?

We sure did.

Here was my morning spread - all ready to go!

Toast with PB, sliced bananas...drizzled with honey for breakfast. Luna bar  and G2 Gatorade packet for after run

It was our longest run yet, a full 110 min. of 2/3 intervals. Of course my Nike app didn't start...probably a combo of it being sealed in a ziplock baggie and stuffed in my armband & the rain drops on it making it hard to read...I thought I pressed start, but it didn't register. I noticed this about 1/2 way through the run. I was so mad!! But I mapped it out once we got home with MapMyRun.com (coolest mapping tool ever!) and it shows we ran about 8.8 miles in just under 2 hours.

I would love to complete the Half Marathon in that amount of time...we will see. My original goal was 3 hrs, but we still have another 11 weeks of training left.

We struggled a TON the first 20 minutes or so...with tremendous calf pain/tightness...Then I decided we should test out the performance goods I bought yesterday from GNC:

GU Chomps in Strawberr and GU Energy Gel in Strawberry Banana

HOLY ENERGY! We are hooked for life on this little packet of 'Chomps'. There are 8 large gummies in each package (2 servings) and they do what the claim, that's for sure. It says they should last for up to 2 hours of activity (take with lots of water!), so it was perfect! We didn't try the GU Gel this time...maybe next long run. We were seriously amazed at how easy it made this run feel (especially with this crappy weather)...they even seamed to make our calf pain virtually disappear! They don't taste like cupcakes or anything...but they're tolerable.

The rain & wind intensified during the last leg of our run...it was so crazy. I had to put my face downward, with my head charging through the storm...the water was no bueno on my contacts! It really made it 10 times harder to even MOVE, let alone run...and I'm certain that if the weather was better, we would've hit exactly 9 miles. Ah well. We looked like drowned rats afterwards...thank goodness my brain was functioning this morning, because I made sure to bring a change of clothes/socks!!

My sister also bought this handy little hydration belt...think I may have to invest as well...it's great!! Which reminds me...at the end of all this training, I need to post on the actual 'costs' associated with running & training for a marathon!! It's not as 'cheap' as you may think...haha

1/2 Marathon Training - Month 1 Recap

A month has seriously flown by and our marathon training is going strong! Within our first month, my sisters & I have stuck with our strict schedule & have walked/jogged 20 days out of the last 28 days (though our very first day wasn't logged in the Nike app)...which is pretty freakin awesome!! A few times I have found myself 'itching' to do something active on Friday afternoons (one of our 'off' days)... because we walk/jog Mon-Thurs.

Saturdays are our long group runs - and last Saturday's was no joke....it was our longest yet - a timed 10K - to find out where we are in terms of pace. For us, we clocked in our 10K at a time of 1hr 15min., with an average pace of 11'47"/mi. - thank goodness for our Nike+ iPhone App!!

exact mileage can be slightly incorrect (either higher or lower) - depending on your GPS signal strength, length & pace of run...above screen shot should've only bee 6.2 miles {10K}

Not only does it do an awesome job of tracking each & every walk/jog we do...but it also syncs with Nike+ online...so I can look at my history of runs, charts and times...like this:

Pace overview from last night's run...in the RAIN and freezing COLD!

My GOAL to run 80 times by July...still have 62 more to go...wow

An overview of all 19 runs so far...it only gets more intense from here on out!

Anyway...back to the 10K...As we pushed through the last stretch of our run, I swore I could've cried at the finish line... I was soooo proud of us!! We all were in pain (mostly our calves/shins) - I was just so happy that we made it and got a pretty good time, for beginners following an interval program!!

Afterwards, we all went to a cute little place on 101 in ENC called 3rd Corner - where we ate yummy omelets and congratulated each other over a few mimosas. We thought it was well-deserved ;-)

What I've Learned
1 Month Mark

• Having my sisters running along side me is so amazing...I highly recommend getting a running buddy...it's great accountability!!
• Water, water...and more water! But for me, I cannot drink any about an hour before my walk/run... I am massively prone to side aches!
• Bananas are a runners BFF...lucky for me, I HEART them!!
• Stretching is extremely important - for me, it's my calves...they tighten up really bad, so pre & post helps a ton. I read that for those under 40 yrs old, to hold each stretch for 30 seconds...feels so good!
• Gradually introducing jogging with an interval system is key to maintaining stamina & injury prevention... changing it by 1 min. every few weeks. We started at 4/1 (walking 4 min. &jogging 1 min) are currently at 3/2 intervals, and change to 2/3's next week...ahhh!
• I really really enjoy our 'core strengthening' work outs - which involves a lot of planks (standard / sides), butt lifts, standard push-ups, etc.
• Getting my runs done during my lunch break is best, for me at least...it leaves the rest of my afternoon open for other things! And I'm hesitant to run while pushing K in our jogger...not sure I'd be able to keep up well on my intervals. I'm sure I'll have to here & there in the future... but for now, lunch breaks work just fine ;-)
• A good pair of shoes & custom molded inserts is CRITICAL!! I bought my Nike's almost 2 years ago... and according to the fantastic folks over at Road Runner Sports, I just found out that running shoes really should be replaced about once a year (less of course if you run more often). I knew the typical "replace every 500 miles max" rule of thumb, but I hadn't tracked any of my casual walking/jogs since I bought these shoes...so it's hard to know. But my goal was to make it through to the 1/2 way point of training (late March/early April)...and treat myself with a new pair of shoes...which also gives me time to properly wear them in before the Half Marathon on June 3rd.

My Road Runner "ShoeDog" Assessment and new custom molded inserts!!

To sum it up...we're all feeling great & looking forward to the future...dare I even say that?!! haha

1st Week of Training + Schedule

Well it's here - our first official week of marathon training...which will be 18 weeks in all. Oh boy. Our first meeting/group run this past Tuesday night went great...although I had a crazy pounding headache allll day long (thinking a sinus-related thing)... but for the first 3 weeks or so, we're doing 4/1 intervals...walk for 4 min and jog for 1 min...for 40-60 min. throughout the early weeks.

A perk of joining our fab group, is a fully laid out schedule...which I took, broke down and compiled it across the next 4 months. My sisters & I needed something we could print out and easily look at each day to know exactly what we need to do.

Another perk - receiving detailed, informative emails that we receive each week from our coach...being newbies to this whole thing, these are life-saving!!

2 apps that I'm going to rely on heavily are the Nike+ GPS app and the SIT app {Simple Interval Timer}. The Nike one is great for tracking your distance by GPS, tracking each & every run, tracking your pace, and even stops your music briefly to tell you which mile you've hit, your pace, and how much longer you have (if timing your run). Love. And the SIT app is is pretty self-explanatory...a basic, easy to use timer....if you are a beginner/interval runner, like moi!

Also - I washed & hung up my Rock 'n Roll Marathon t-shirt the other day....it's staying on this wall between my closet & bathroom until the race!!

K, I'm off for my walk/jog during my lunch break now!! Which reminds me....I need a good iPhone armband...think I'll head over to O.CO!!