Fifty K's Footnotes

Cycle of Anger

2012-01-27T10:31:00.001-05:00

I don’t even know where to start. I’m not writing this post as an update but as a sort of release as nothing else these days seems to be helping me. I wrote a post several months ago trying to explain my depression and my feelings about the accident. It has been over 10 months since the accident and I am still suffering. I still suffer from headaches, depression, anxiety, memory loss, mood swings, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, physical limitations and more.

I am thinking about closing down all my social media accounts (DailyMile, Facebook, and Twitter) because I can’t take seeing all the posts about running and working out anymore. When ¾ of my friends on both Twitter and Facebook (all friends on DM are runners of course) are all runners it makes my life sitting by the sidelines that much more miserable seeing them all comment and post about their workouts and races.

I just have to say how infuriating it is to get a text, email or private message asking for running advice or info about a race from people WHO KNOW I’M NOT CURRENLTY RUNNING. Why the hell would you ask me about something running related when you know I can currently physically run never mind the fact that I’m depressed because I can’t do it? WTF people!?! Use some common sense! I’m begging you; please do not talk to me about running anymore. I can’t take it.

I’m pretty sure if I’m told one more time that “you’ll get through this” or “things will turn around for you soon” or “that sucks” one more time, I’m going to be locked up for strangling someone. So if you know me in real life, please be warned, do yourself a favor and think before you say any of this stuff. I’ve heard it for the last 10 months and it hasn’t helped yet. Hearing even more of it doesn’t help, it makes things worse.

The amount of medications that I am on is downright scary and what they do to me is even scarier. But I can’t be without them, I tried. The anxiety, the depression, and the headaches are all too much to try and deal with without them.

I won’t even start in on the memory loss or my lack of being able to multi-task/plan anymore. It’s sad what’s happened to me. I used to be able to remember everything and now I’m lucky if I can remember what happened only moments ago. Everything is a struggle to do. I can’t multi-task anymore as I now have a very short attention span. I can’t even begin to explain on infuriating all this is.

I’ve been told to “persevere” in therapy. Persevere? I’m beyond angry right now at everything and I’m supposed to persevere? I've had a banging headache for the last week and I'm supposed to persevere? All I want is my life the way it was 10 months ago before that drunk driver hit me. How am I supposed to “persevere” when I have no indication as to when I may be able to run again or when these headaches may stop?

I think it’s pretty shitty that nothing will happen to the drunk driver as the douche bag cop that handled the accident that horrible day let him go. Nothing will happen to him. Nothing! He gets to continue living his life injury free as if nothing happened after hitting me with his car after drinking all morning. Yea, that seems pretty fair. I know life isn’t supposed to be fair but WTF? My life has been turned upside down and I have to suffer because of this dirt bag’s actions? He likes to drink at 7 in the morning and drive drunk at noon so I suffer? Got it.

I would also have to say one of the most upsetting parts of this whole experience would be the lack of understanding from friends and family. You would think that other runners would have some slight understanding that being out of the game for this long would be completely devistating. Yea, not so much. I get "that sucks" and they move on. Really? Is that how you show compassion for a "friend"? Wow. I will say, I've learned a lot about friends and friendships since this accident as well. I suppose I have my expectations set high when it comes to friends but then again, I think I should. Who wants shitty friends? I thought friends checked on one another in times like this? No? Not so much. There are a few close friends that have and some new friends that have become great friends by showing just how much they do care. Then there are those friends that call you out of the blue, you know when they need something, and are are "surprised" to hear I'm not doing any better since the last time we talked. Really? You are surprised? Well that's because you don't pick up the phone and don't ask. Nor did anyone take my accident seriously. Just because I didn't have any broken bones and didn't have any blood spilled doesn't make my accident any less serious people. This is my brain we are talking about. I don't think it gets anymore serious than that!

I've been told to not even think about races or running really until the end of the year!! Really? Another year lost? When I heard this news I was crushed. I'm at a complete and total loss.

On top of not working out and running, I am now packing on the weight. WTF!!!!!!!!! I know this is partially my fault because I continue to eat the way I did when ran. But being depressed doesn’t help. I don’t have one candy bar, I have several. I don’t have one Laffy Taffy, I have several. It’s out of control. I’m watching myself slip away. It was only 10 months ago I was in the best shape of my life and I PR’d at the marathon by 40+ minutes. Hard to believe right? My life has become a nightmare.

I know it all seems a bit dramatic as I wasn’t killed in the accident and I still have all my limbs but what the damage that was done was severe. It’s crazy how easy we take walking for granted never mind running or biking or working out. It kills me everyday a little more when I see a runner outside running on the roads while I’m in the car. I so badly want to shake them and say “Do you know how lucky you are?” but I can’t because then I would really seem like a crazy lady.

I guess what I am saying is if you are a runner and are able to run be grateful for it. Be a fast or a slow runner, be grateful. There is a chance I may never return to running. There’s a chance these horrible headaches may never go away.

I just don't know when there is no clear "end" to hope for how I can be anything LESS THAN miserable

Just call me Debbie Downer

2011-08-26T19:13:00.002-04:00

I hate to be a Debbie Downer but damn it, I'm entitled to it now and then. It's been over 5 months since the accident and I need to vent.

A quick rundown of what happened for those who don't know. Five months ago I was out getting lunch with a co-worker when her car was hit by a guy who enjoys one too many alcoholic beverages at noon. Yes, noon. Anyway, I suffered whiplash, backache, neckache and most unfortunately a concussion. This concussion has affected my life in several different ways and has put an end to my life as I previously knew it. The concussion has too many effects that I won't begin to list them here but just know that I'm not in a good place physically or mentally now. On top of all this I am also suffering from anxiety, depression and post tramatic stress syndrome due to the accident.

While I am lucky that I'm alive and that he didn't kill me, I am still beyond upset, depressed, frustrated, and saddened by the results of this accident. The financial burdens of this accident are becoming overwhelming. It's totally amazing what has happened to my life as a result of one complete stranger's lack of judgement and what it has caused me.

I'm on day number 19 of headaches. Oh the joy of extreme blinding head pain and the nauseousness that goes along with it are sometimes just too much to handle.

I'm even to depressed to finish this blog post about how I'm feeling. I came across a good example of how I'm feeling these days. Not completely (I'm a bit worse than the blogger I think) but you get the idea. Morgan over at Caution Redhead Running wrote about The Truth About Being Injured on her blog. Check it out.

While I completely agreed with it all there is one HUGE horrible difference. I'm not sure exactly how she became injured (I think it was running related), my was not. If only my injury had been self inflicted or running related or hell even my own stupid accident like falling down the stairs it would make all this a bit easier to deal with. But the fact that someone carelessly took my life as I knew it away from me and has turned it upside down has become to much for me to handle lately.

After reading her post it made me smile a bit. Not because she suffered too but because someone else felt SOME of the same things I am going through. But at the same time, it made me sink a bit deeper into my depression. I can't explain it, I'm just not in a good place.

I'm normally a count down type of person and would typically be bouncing off the walls by now with my trip to Scotland just around the corner but I'm not. I'm too depressed to be excited. While missing marathons and ultra marathons this past 5 months has been hard enough, I am obviously missing my next marathon (that I had planned on doing since LAST YEAR!) the Loch Ness Marathon. It was more than just a marathon to me. I was going to do the thing I love the most in the country my mum was from. She passed away 6 years ago and it was going to mean the world to me to go run this marathon in Scotland in her honor. This stupid drunken driver has taken that away from me along with everything else.

Things I should be excited about that I just can't be at the moment:
Scotland
Seeing my Scottish family
Loch Ness Marathon (obviously not participating in it so I can't get excited about it)
Going to South Carolina
Seeing a 6th grade best friend that I haven't seen in over 20+ years
Tour de Donut
Halloween Half Marathon in Provo, Utah (obviously not participating in this one either!)
Houston, Texas for the Texas Marathon (yep, you guessed it, not doing it either)
and many other things, I just can't think of them now because it hurts to and my memory just plain sucks these days.

Sorry this has been a sad and depressing blog post. I just felt the need to get some of it out.

On a roll.....literally

2011-08-25T12:55:00.003-04:00

I can't stop biking. I guess it's not a bad thing and there's worse things I could be doing. Check out my biking in the last two weeks!!! Just in the last 5 days I have rode 87 miles!

I still miss running but biking is helping. It is keeping me busy and keeping my mind off of my lack of running. I've been out riding with anyone who is willing to ride. I have joined several local groups and am enjoying every ride.

Last night I joined a group of almost 20 for a night ride from Lock 29 to Independence. We stopped for dinner and then rode back....in complete darkness. We all had bike lights but it is STILL very dark. Riding the towpath in the dark has to be one of the freakiest things I have ever done. On the way back I didn't take my eyes off the lighted path in front of me once (well, I tried not to) and kept my eyes glued to the path and any rider in front of me. We lead the group on the way back and covered 14 miles in a one hour time period. We were much faster going back than we were going up. It was a great group and look forward to doing it again soon.

A picture of my hubby and I after dinner before the ride back.

Sunday I accompanied a running group training for the local marathon on the towpath. I zipped up and down making sure everyone was ok and managed to get in 11 miles in doing so. Later my husband and I checked out a section of the towpath we've never been on before and managed to get in another 20 miles. We started in Manchester at the Vanderhoof trailhead and rode 10 miles south crossing into Clinton and then Canal Fulton. This ride we started in Summit County and rode into Stark County. I think it's neat that we are riding in and out of neighboring counties. We rode a few miles past the main section of Canal Fulton and then turned back so we could have a quick break before heading back. I was STARVING which is completely unusual for me as my appetite has completely disappeared since the accident. We snacked on chips, hotdogs and homemade lemonade and followed up by a creamy chocolate waffle cone. Great ride!

Us after finishing our ice cream and just before the ride back.

Monday, I just hadn't had enough so we went to the Bike and Hike trailhead on Route 303 and headed southeast. Again we started in Summit County and crossed into Portage County. My bike only has 8 gears which before Monday was completely sufficent but learned quickly that I top out around 23 miles an hour on my bike. It's very exciting to see how fast I can get going on my bike but at the same time it's also very scary as I don't want to get hurt. We rode just over 7 miles east into Portage County before turning around. We didn't set out to get in a 14 mile ride but it just happened. The weather was perfect so it was hard to cut it short!

A picture of us at the county line.

I have another group ride scheduled tonight and then two more on Saturday. I don't want this summer to end now that I am biking.

I also tried out a road bike on Sunday which was a big mistake. While I do love my Felt Cafe 8 bike, it's no road bike. The one I tried out was also a Felt and was on sale for $580! It's a shame it wasn't my size otherwise it would be mine (I'm such an impulse shopper!). I liked the style and the weight of this bike but didn't care for the hunched over feeling you have to get into to ride a road bike. My upright postion on my Cafe 8 bike is sooooo comfortable so it's going to be hard to make the switch. We decided that next year we will look into getting road bikes,

Up next is the Tour de Donut. What's that you ask? Oh, only the most delicious sugary bike ride in all of Ohio. As of now there are three of us headed to do this ride and I can't wait. Thirty glorious miles of country road with two donut stops along the way. While it really isn't a race, for every donut you eat and keep down (that being the key part) they deduct 5 minutes of your total finish time. The male record is TWO DOZEN donuts and the female record is ELEVEN donuts. Back in the day I could have done this especially if they were Krispy Kreme donuts but now that my appetite has changed not so much. Anyway, we are looking forward to it!

I began practicing for Tour de Donut yesterday ;)

Happy riding!

Filling the void

2011-08-10T14:59:00.000-04:00

Now that I'm not running I am looking to fill the big ol' void in my life. Running to me was more than just physical activity. It provided a social life for me as well. I don't see my friends much any more since March since I stopped running. I've seen some here and there but it's just not the same. And it's very hard for me to be around others doing the very activity I can no longer do. So you can't blame me for not wanting to hang around runners 24/7 anymore. I still see some but my life is completely different these days. Very strange.

As I noted in my last post I have taken up biking and I really am enjoying it. It's COMPLETELY different than running. I don't feel like I am working at all while biking. It's such a strange experience. Biking is soooo relaxing and enjoyable. It's only work-like when going up some hills which I have to do very carefully as to not get my blood pressure up. I even get off my bike and walk the hills to be extra carefull on the really large hills.

While I love and enjoy the running community here in Northeast Ohio, I am quickly learning there is a huge biking community here as well. I don't think it's quite a tight knit as the running community but I could be wrong. I don't see the opportunities to volunteer at events and meet other people like there are with running races EVERY weekend. I am making lots of new friends through biking though. It's nice to have a new group of people around me that enjoy biking as much as I do and even more so. I joined a few local biking groups and have made it out to a few group rides.

The weekend of Burning River 100 (that's a whole other post I still need to write up) the hubby and I had signed up to do the Sweet Corn Ride in Richfield. Every year I saw this event advertised and wanted to do it even though I was never a rider before. It just looked like a fun event. After volunteering 15+ hours in the hot 90 degree sun all day Saturday at BR100 helping out runners all day long, we were able to get a few hours of sleep before heading off to the corn ride. We actually thought about skipping it but went because we had paid for our jerseys so we dragged our tired selves out of bed to ride. We initially signed up to do the 25 mile ride but there was no way we were up to it. My legs felt trashed after standing on them the entire day before. We cut our ride down to 13 miles and had a nice ride. I'm convinced this ride is what brought my husband over to the ida of riding.

Coasting down the hills effortlessly was so fun. We were just cruising around in and out of farms and small towns and villages. I need to get better with taking pictures on bike rides as I was with running. After the ride was over we had a nice lunch, enjoyed some live music and picked up our 6 ears of fresh corn that was included (which was absolutely delish!) in our registration and headed home. The picture below is of me as some crazy art store along the bike route in Richfield. Of course it's without the bike (silly me) but it's still a fun pic anyway. Yes, I am posing with big metal chickens! If you have read this blog you would know what the picture is about. If you haven't read one of the funniest blog posts ever then you need to check it out. Absolutely hysterical.

Here are a few other pictures from other group rides.

First night group ride out of Lock 29.

Fourth of July bike ride to Brandywine Falls

Medina Ice Cream 25 Mile Ride July 16th

Begining of a night ride before the bikes and people started falling apart.

Group ride out of Lock 29 across one of the boardwalks.

And yes, I rock a skirt even while biking! At least I found another use for all the running clothes :)

Life without running

2011-08-09T09:30:00.000-04:00

Well we are going on close to 5 months since the accident and am STILL not running!!!!! I think I am going to lose it. Doesn't look as if I will be running anytime soon either.

So far I've missed the following races

Black Squirrel 5k
Toledo Marathon
Pittsburgh Marathon
Buckeye Trail 50k

plus several others that I couldn't even sign up for :(

AND NOW it seems as though I will be missing out on my Scottish marathon, The Loch Ness Marathon!!!

I am totally heartbroken. Traveling all those miles, spent all that money and for what??? Nothing!

To fill the void I have taken to a new hobby. Biking. Nothing extreme just simple laid back bike riding. This is my new bike. I've decided to name her Penelope, Penny for short. So far so good. I enjoy it because it's relaxed and it doesn't seem like work. The type of biking I am doing is low key so no chance to hinder my recovery. It's just something to keep my legs moving and get me out of the house.

I've also just received my free pair of Heely's and can't wait to try them out. Review to come shortly.

Since the accident I have also decided to return back to school. I've already finished one summer class (Media, Power & Culture) which I received an A for and am on my last week of a graphic design class. I was really nervous about the graphic design class at first but feel comfortable enough I can BS my way through the programs now and compose a design that I'm looking for. Final exam for that class is this week!

That's all for now.

Long overdue update

2011-07-14T21:28:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I last blogged but since the accident life has been kind of dull and drab. I've missed two marathons and this weekend's BT50k. :(

Still not running so life hasn't been the same. This accident has really messed up my whole lifestyle.

Trying to stay somewhat active but the injuries make it hard. I have to keep my activities on a low impact level.

I was just picked to try out Heelys!! This should be interesting!! Ha, I haven't skated in a long time. Good thing I have a helmet!

Sony Giveaway Winners Announced!

2011-04-19T12:49:00.000-04:00

There were 34 entries in my recent giveaway. There were two winners selected at random to receive one of the two Sony Walkman MP3 Players.

Random.org chose ……..

Winner #1
Vasma63

And Winner #2
"H"

Congratulations to VASMA63 and H. Please email me at (50kfootnotes at gmail dot com) with your name, email and mailing address.

Just in case you want one of these units and don't win one in the contest below I've got you covered. This all-in-one unit normally retails for $60.00 but if you use this discount link you can get it for $48.99!

[If you would like YOUR product or website featured on Fifty K's Footnotes please email me at (50kfootnotes at gmail dot com)

This runner is now a walker

2011-04-17T22:38:00.000-04:00

This just isn't going to be my year, I can see that now. First it was the fractured tailbone. Then it was the car accident almost a month ago. Now my Cough Variant Asthma is back and in full swing. Yea!

After 3 weeks of PT and a visit to the doctor this weekend, I have NOT be cleared for running. Wahhhhhhh! It feels so weird not to be running. I'm uber jealous of all my running friends posting on FB about races and runs and even more so of those I see running when I am WALKING! Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with walking except for the fact that I don't want to be doing it. Due to my concussion, I can't run because the fast motion hurts my head. Not right away but it causes some pretty wicked headaches, similar to the ones I experienced for the first two weeks after the accident.

So now I walk! Thank you careless jerk in the car who hit me! I've had to drop out of two races already, a 5k that was two weeks ago and Pittsburgh Marathon next month. I am now facing the fact that I may have to drop out of the Buckeye Trail 50k in July. If I'm not up and running in May, there is no way I can get back into the swing of things and be prepared for this race. I am so bummed. It will be a wait and see kind of thing.

That's all for now, just me venting my lack of running frustration. What kills me the most is that none of these injuries or reasons why I can't run aren't event running related! I think it would be a bit easier to swallow if I hurt myself running and sidelined myself. Woe is me!

Just a reminder that tomorrow is the last day for my Sony Walkman MP3 Giveaway! Hurry, check it out!

Funny review/giveaway with kitty picture outtakes

2011-04-04T21:58:00.003-04:00

I quickly learned when taking some pictures for my Sony Walkman MP3 Player review & giveaway (be sure to check it out!) that I need to lock up the kittens and older cats otherwise I'm in for some comical pictures. I knew after the first picture I would have to share them all in a post.

Here goes.

Sony Walkman MP3 Review Giveaway

2011-04-04T20:40:00.005-04:00

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Vasma63 and H were the winners.

I announced a giveaway and review last week so here it is! Wahoo!!!! My first giveaway and it’s a goodie! Let's get to it.

I was contacted to review the Sony Walkman MP3 player. I didn’t even know an all-in-one unit (headphones and MP3 player) even existed so I was stoked to hear that I would be receiving a free one to try and a few to give away.

I received them while at work and couldn’t wait to get home to try it out. The instruction pamphlet couldn’t be any easier to follow which worked in my favor as I don’t care to read instructions and usually only do a quick skim through them. The instructions were easy to follow and translated well to the actual product. Three steps, that's it!

After getting everything out of the package I was able to quickly hook up the USB cord to the MP3 player and then to my computer. Right away I saw the light come on on the unit indicating that it was charging. I think this is a great feature as you can just glance it and tell if it is charging or not.

The drivers quickly loaded onto my computer and with a few clicks I was through the set up stage. No cd's to use or lose. All the information needed is uploaded automatically when you plug the player. A true plug and play device. I’ve had a few MP3 players over the years and am not fond of the ones that you have to use certain programs just to upload music to the player. The Sony Walkman is not one of those products. I was very happy to see that this product allows you to drag and drop music files just as you do with moving any other files in regular computer usage. I copied a few songs to the player so that I could test it out. I allowed enough time for a sufficient charge and I was ready to go.

Normally I am not one for headphones that go inside my ears. I’ve tried several types and all of them aggravate me and the ones that I can mildly put up with don’t sound good to me. I’ve always been loyal to Sony headphones as far back as I can remember. The quality of the sound from headphones is a big deal for me. I would rather go without music rather than listen to my favorite tunes with mediocre sounding headphones. My current MP3 player has the Sony headphones that go around the back of my head so I already knew the quality of sound would be great. Great doesn’t even begin to describe the Sony Walkman W3 MP3 Player though. I was completely blown away by the rich sound coming out such little speakers. I was impressed already! Now to see if I could I could handle the little ear buds in my ears. Most ear buds also give me headaches so I was a bit hesitant with these ones but much to my surprise…..nothing but comfort! Sony really scored a home run with these ones for folks who don’t normally wear ear buds. Like I said I don’t normally wear ear buds so there was a bit of an adjustment for me but got through it very quickly. This player comes with three sizes of ear buds, small, medium and large. I picked the smallest set and they fit me perfectly. Color me impressed. Comfortable and quality sound.

The player is in the off position in the above picture. When placed together, the unit turns off. I like this feature. You never have to worry about running the battery down if you forgot to shut it off. The magnets in this unit click together to close and shut off the unit when not in play.

Up next, the controls on this device. Since I will be using this device while running or activities that will require me to keep my hands free the majority of the time, it’s important that the ease of use with buttons and controls on this MP3 player is key. After looking at the instructions I quickly learned how to turn on and off the unit. Very easy! I next learned the other important buttons, volume control and how to advance the song. There are three buttons on the right hand side of the unit that the user will use and it was easy to learn their location by touch. First button is volume up, the next one is volume down and the following toggle switch/button is the advance and pause. All buttons are easy to locate with just a quick touch of a finger and no need to remove the unit from your head to do so. I really like this feature as the MP3 unit I was previously using has a clip on it and while the clip-on feature is great I still have problems with volume and advancing a song when the player is on the front of my shirt under my chin. I normally have to stop what I’m doing and mess around with it until I get all the buttons hit that I need to get the desired outcome. Fortunately the exact opposite is true for the Sony Player. I can turn up and down the volume, pause or advance the song all with use of a few buttons and one finger.

The other side has a shuffle button which played the music in a random order.

But does it stay in place while running? I was a bit skeptical myself and it was a few days before I was able to try it out on a run. In the meantime I used this player around the house. I like music when I do chores such as cleaning and laundry. My biggest problem with my previous MP3 player and headset was that my wires always got tangled in something while doing housework. Not with this Sony player! I was really excited to see that I could now do all my work without worrying about getting caught on something. This player is really versatile. I even used it while cooking! What can I say, I love my music.

When I finally got the chance to run with the player I was shocked. The ear buds stayed in place and the entire set didn't bounce. It was also very comfortable to wear while running! HOMERUN Sony! I have found my new running music player. It was so nice to run without wires dangling from my head down through or over my shirt to my clip player. Ahhhhhh! This is how running with music should be!

A few more important tidbits about this player.

This MP3 player has a 2 GB memory. After a little research I found out that's about 500 songs. That's a lot of music and would be great for those long runs and marathon distances.

This unit is water resistant but not water proof. According to the instructions you can use this player while jogging or walking in the rain. You can use this unit if you get sweaty. And you can also wash it with normal fresh water or gently running tap water (follow instructions described in "cleaning after use".

Another great feature about this player is the price. Just in case you want one of these units and don't win one in the contest below I've got you covered. This all-in-one unit normally retails for $60.00 but if you use this discount link you can get it for $48.99!

A few quick pictures of me wearing the unit. Much nicer to look at then my previous headsets. They always looked so big and ridiculous on my head.

Ahhhh the end of the review and now time to get to the good stuff! I have two of these units for prizes in a contest thanks to Sony. Here's what you need to do:

1.You must be a follower of my blog by either using the FOLLOW link at the top of this page or by using the Google Connect at the side, and leave a comment here. MANDATORY

2. Go to Sony's Facebook page and "like" their page AND let me know that you did it by adding another comment here. BONUS ENTRY

3. If you blog about this review/add it to your sidebar for contests AND let me know that you did it by adding another comment here. BONUS ENTRY

4. Visit A KILTED RUNNER and let him know how great he looks in a kilt AND let me know that you did it by adding another comment here. BONUS ENTRY

This gives you 4 chances to win! The contest will not expire until April 19th so that gives you 2 weeks to enter. A huge thank you to Sony for this opportunity to host a giveaway. Good luck everyone!

So easy a kitten can do it.

Writing about running/Giveaway Announcement

2011-03-30T14:27:00.000-04:00

What else can I do since I can't physically run? I can blog about running related things. I wasn't sure if I had enough thoughts but here goes.

1. The Hubby and I are going to see My Run tomorrow night with a few fellow running friends. It maybe just want I need in regards to inspiration to get through this injury more quickly. If you don't know anything about the movie be sure to check it out here. It will be playing for one night only this Thursday, 3/31/11. To see if a theater is playing it near you check this out. My Run is the story of a man who runs 75 marathons in 75 days! I've watched the trailers several times over and I know I'm going to love this movie just as I have every other running movie I have watched. Which by the way, I have been very lucky as there have been several running related movies played in my area within the last 6 months. Love'em.

2. Burning River 100 Mile Endurance Run. Don't freak, I haven't signed up and won't be for a while. Both my husband and I have a sick sick desire to do this race. I can hardly wrap my head around the idea of running 100 miles in 30 hours but we want to do it. We originally said we would give it a go in 2012 but have pushed it back to 2013 so that we could get some fifty milers under our belts from now until then. I have recently had the pleasant experience of meeting some new running folks this past weekend who have run BR100. None of them ran 50 milers before hand and one said that their training never went over 8 hours for their long run and they completed the race without worries about finishing. How can that be? I feel like I'm to new of a runner to even be considering such an event (3 year runniversary is in May) but after talking to some veteran BR100 runners I found out some of them had only been running a few years as well before tackling this race.

I love talking to 100 Milers. They are the coolest people in the running community. So far every single one of them that I have talked to personally either during BR100 or afterwards are great people and so laid back. How anyone can be laid back about running 100 miles is beyond me but they are. After this weekend I am back to thinking 2012 again. Who knows though really. I always have big grandioso plans for things I want to do in the future but this one takes the cake for sure.

We have said that if we ever decide to run a 100 miler that we would do BR100 first for several reasons:
1. its in our backyard.
2. It's a great event
3. the people in the running community in Northeast Ohio are AMAZING!
4. the event is well staffed and aided
5. ALL my friends and family (real and running) could be there to support us.
6. I wouldn't have to worry about finding a pacer or crew to go with me as they are all here already.
7. I can practice on the course every.single.day.of.the.year!

Something to really think about. My 2010 BR100 Volunteer/Spectator experience here.

Best Aid Station at BR100.

3. This past Sunday I joined my fellow Towpath Trotters in volunteering for the Fool's 25k and 50k Trail Race. I ran the 25k race last year and it kicked my butt! Last year the weather was probably in the 30's and pouring down rain. Pouring rain and trails does not make for the ideal first long trail race. I got it done and that's all that matters. Since I wasn't a huge fan of the course I volunteered this year. I got there around 10am and stayed until 4pm helping the last 50k runner through our aid station. It was COLD. When I say cold, I mean in the 20's cold and we used the automatic dryers in the bathrooms of the shelters to thaw our toes every couple of hours.. I was actually comfortable as I was dressed appropriately except for my feet. I had smart wool socks on with wellies because I thought there would be a lot of mud like last year. Lesson learned, bring cold weather insulated boots next time. Watching the runners, both the 25k and 50k runners, was fun. I love helping out fellow runners out an aid station. I enjoy giving back to the running community that has given me so much in a few short years.

Towpath Trotters helping out at Fools 25k & 50K trail race.

Helping out one of my favorite running buddies!

4. I am all signed up for Buckeye Trail 50k again. I'm not a huge fan of running races that I have previously run before because there are so many races to do out there but this one is different. This was my first ever 50k that I ran last year. My only goal last year was to finish and I did. This year.....God willing....I want to knock ONE WHOLE HOUR off my time. Yes, I said one hour. I know what to expect this year and how to train for it. It will be different this year. I know I can run a whole marathon now (Thank you Little Rock Marathon) so I know I can cut a lot of the walking I did in the end of this race. I walked a good portion of the last 4-6 miles of the race last year. BT50k recaps here, here and here.

My first 50k finish.

5. 12 Marathons in 12 months in 2012. Speaking of grandioso....my plan to do 12 marathons in 12 months next year is going to be a lot harder and more expensive than I originally thought. While there are several marathons near by (lucky me!) they all fall into the same months (not so lucky!). Ohio has quite a few marathons but most fall in April, May and September. Ugh. Anyway, as I was hatching this grand plan I started going through several marathon calendars to find out what marathons I could do throughout the year. Many I can do nearby or are within a few hours driving but a few are going to have to be destination marathons (not that that's a bad thing, well according to my checkbook it is). When I told Hubby about my plan he just looked at me. I don't think he gave it much thought thinking that this idea of mine was just a fleeting thought. Either that or he wasn't amused. Ha, little does he know that if I get my way, I'm dragging him along. He does get a decision in all this though. He can run or he can watch. Bwhahahahaha. Ultimately it will depend on money and if I decide to ramp it up and go for BR100 in 2012 instead of 2013.

Well, that's all for now that's running related. Oh yea, I mentioned a giveaway didn't I? I need to experiment with the product a little more and then write a review. Once that's done my first giveway will be posted! And it's a good one! Stay tuned.

Woe is me, there won't be any running any time soon.

2011-03-28T12:24:00.000-04:00

Without going into great detail of what happened, I was in a car accident last week and the doctor has put kibosh on running for a while. Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I had a 5k to run this coming weekend so I'm out for that and I just cancelled my next marathon's registration. Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Who knows what will be in store for me this summer and fall.

So that's it for now. No running :(

I'm off to find a corner to sit in and cry.

Thankful, I am one lucky running wife.

2011-03-23T21:54:00.005-04:00

Thankful. I am thankful for many things in my life but unfortunately not always cognizant of all them most of the time.

Little Rock Marathon 2011

I almost take my in-house running partner for granted and I realize I shouldn't. I'm told "you are so lucky your husband runs with you" on a weekly basis. I didn't think much of it at first but recently I have given much more thought.

Age group winners together

I honestly don't know how couples manage where only one of them is in marathon training mode 24/7 365 days of the year. I'm lucky that if I'm out for a run 99% of the time so is my husband. I don't have to worry about leaving my husband behind at home or feeling like I'm neglecting him or our relationship. Marathon training takes up A LOT of time and I can't imagine trying to do it without him.

First Half Marathon together in Cleveland.

Since we started training for our first marathon back in August 2009, our lives and household haven't been the same. Our time at home is very limited during the week due to work and night runs and weekends are filled with long runs that last up to 4 hours. I wouldn't want to be the spouse of someone who's time was split between a spouse, a job, every day life and running. We probably spend too much time running at times but at least it's together so neither of us are left out or left behind.

Awful picture but our first age group awards together.

Another reason I'm glad we both run and run together is that we can both appreciate each other's successes and failures. Whenever one of us hits a new milestone or a new PR in our running careers, the other is there to support and revel in the moments with each other. When I finally had my big marathon moment 2.5 weeks ago in Little Rock, my husband could relate to how I felt and understood where I was coming from. He understood the relevance of finishing a marathon and achieving a goal while doing so. It made my moment of glory that much more exciting to have my husband only finish 6 minutes before me and waiting at the finish line. I was able to share my exciting news with him right in the heat of the moment before the moment was lost.

Photographer caught us chilling out after a race together

Running with my spouse also motivates me too. Those days when I don't mentally feel like running, he's there to get me moving. And those long runs when I don't feel like I'm going to be able to finish, he's there to push me on and encourage me. It's like having my own personal coach with me at all times.

If you can't have this much fun while doing a 20 (him) and a 22 miler (me) then why bother?

We aren't competitive between each other in regards to times or PR's but when it comes to medals and trophies that's a different story. The thought of either of one of us running a race that has a finishers medal and one of us has to sit it out drives us both crazy. We are tied as far as finishers medals and age group winner medals go but I have one more age group winners trophy then he does and I think it may drive him a little bit crazy. When I mentioned that I wanted to run Toledo Marathon next month he looked at me as if I were crazy. He reminded him that he didn't have to run it if he didn't want to he just gave me the look. The look that says "you aren't getting any medals without me". The downside to this means whatever I sign up for, he signs up for (insert evil laugh here). And since I handle all the registrations I automatically sign him up for everything I register for (insert another evil laugh). So when I said I wanted to sign up for my first 50k event four days before our first marathon he wasn't too thrilled with the idea because this meant he would have to do the same race if he wanted to keep up in the medal standings. A month or so before the 50k I think he wanted to kill me during a brief freakout for signing him up but after crossing the finish line, he was glad the race and that we did it together.

The both of us completely freaked out together minutes before our first 50k.

We don't typically run races together as we have different speeds and we race our own events. We did run our first two marathons together though and it turned out to be a rewarding experience. We were there for each other during our dark moments through both of those marathons. It's a great feeling to experience the high's and low's of running with my partner. No one can understand the insights of a runner like a runner. When we do run or race our own speeds, just knowing my spouse is somewhere out on the course is comforting to me.

The Las Vegas Marathon in December 2009. Our first marathon and we finished together hand in hand with a time of 5 hours and 44 minutes.

Our running has even helped our marriage. We have experienced some real lows in our marriage and running has always pulled us through. Running our first two marathons together actually strengthed our bond. Being able to put our troubles aside and run together helped us get through some really rough times. I can actually say I don't know where we would be without our running.

First 5k ever together

There are a couple of downsides to both of us racing and running together. The ever increasing costs of racing!!! Running and racing as you all know can be expensive but for us, it's double! The most expensive race we have have registered for so far was $105 and that was with a coupon. That's really expensive but then we had to pay it twice since we were both running it. Ugh. The other downside to both of us being in marathon training mode 24/7 is a messy house. Our house hasn't been the same since we started marathon training. We aren't normally messy people but I have learned to live with certain messes these days. Running 3 weeknights and a long run on the weekends takes a lot of time away from cleaning. Lastly, our poor kitties. I feel they don't get enough attention because we are gone so much. Don't get me wrong, they are loved, played with and attended to but I just feel bad when we aren't in the house. On the weekends we are out of town for races I always feel rotten for leaving them and miss them sorely.

Finishing the Wisconsin Marathon together as a couple of Cheeseheads.

The best part of having a spouse that shares the same love for running as I have is the TRAVEL! We get to plan our vacations around races and events. I've heard non-running spouses complain when their runner counterparts want to plan a vacation around a marathon or running event. Not us! We change our vacay plans to accomodate upcoming races. This also works out to our advantage because it's a trip based on something we both enjoy to do and can do it together.

Batpeople at Chicago's Monster Dash Half Marathon 2010

Fortunately the positives to both of us running outweigh the negatives so I plan on continue to run with my favorite running buddy, my husband. From our first 5k to our first 50k, we have done them together. Here's to our next 50 together, years and miles (shhhhh I'm planning on a 50 miler next year so you know what that means.......)

I am so thankful and blessed to have a partner that understand my needs and my love of running. I am happy I get to run with him every day. I wouldn't change this for the world. Besides, who else is going to help pop my blisters?

Our first real snowy trail run. Kevin looks on as I get whipped in the face by a tree. Nice, real nice!

We were the only ones to have real costumes on for the Cinco de Mayo race in 2009. We had a blast and had our pictures taken by everyone even MetroMix.

12 marathons in 12 months in 2012

2011-03-18T10:58:00.000-04:00

That's the plan.....for now. I think I could do it. I know it sounds like a lot (and it is) but I want to challenge myself. Plus it sounds cool!

The first part of this plan is to find 12 marathons I would want to do next year, one being in each month of the year. I don't want to travel all over the county (well, I do but my checkbook won't allow it) for all of them so I will have to do some local ones to help keep costs down.

So far I'm thinking Texas Marathon for January 2012. For anyone who knows me, Texas is not one of the states I really want to visit. I have my reasons and we will leave it at that. Theres a BIG but coming here.....BUT after reading about the Texas Marathon, I may have to rethink Texas. Besides, if I want to do a race in all 50 states, I'm gonna have to eventually go there anyway.

So why this race? I will show you why!

This is a picture that a runner shared on the Little Rock Marathon Facebook page. He ran both the Texas Marathon and the LRM. I thought the LRM medal was big. Daaaaaaamn! I have the LRM medal and now I need a big Texas one to go with it. Well you know what they say, "Everything is bigger in Texas". Medal aside, the race sounds cool too. For now, that race is in the back of my mind for January. I even have friends that said they would join me. All that's left to do is convince the hubby to go and register. Airline tickets would be free since I have enough miles to fly us both. See, this one is a no brainer!

For February I was thinking about Last Chance For Boston Marathon. It's held two hours away from me in Columbus, Ohio. It's on a 1 mile paved loop. No elevation at all. Talk about a chance to PR! I think I would rock this race. I can handle monotony well so I think I would do great at this race. The furthest you are ever away from aid stations and bathrooms would be .5 miles! How cool is that?

As for the rest of the year, I am going to have to sit down and use all the handy marathon guide websites to figure that out.

Any marathons you can recomend?

I'm all ears! Since I have already done half/full marathons in the following states they are out so I won't be going back to them any time soon (unless they are super cheap and am desperate for a marathon that month) : Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Arkansas, and soon to be Utah.

Random Running Notes 3.17.11

2011-03-17T13:38:00.006-04:00

Nothing in particular on my mind today so just a post of random things.

1. I feel as if I am THE ONLY person in the bloggy world NOT going to Boston. I'm ok with it but it seems like EVERYONE is going! Good luck to everyone headed to Beantown next month. (I'm not a hater, just a bit jealous because Boston will NEVER happen for me.)

2. Today is supposed to get up to 60 degrees! Wahooo!!!! Sounds like an awesome day for a trail run.

3. Speaking of trail runs, today will be my first run with the Crooked River Trail Runners since last fall. Since we gained some daylight with DST I can trail run again! I don't trust myself or a headlamp to get me in and out of the woods on the trails safely enough in the dark. Yea for a return to weekday trail running!

4. While on the topic of extra sunlight, I was in heaven last night while running. Hubby and I had 8 miles on tap to do so I was hoping that we would have enough light to do it and not get caught in Sand Run Park in the dark. It was in the high 40's when we started the run so capris and short sleeve shirt were in order for the run. By the end of the run it was a chilly 44 degrees but the sun was still up!!! I hate having to do 8 miles on a weeknight but if I have to do it, it's much better with the sunlight.

5. I so badly want to do the Glass City Marathon (Toledo, OH) next month but due to several unexpected expenses (like adopting 2 new baby kittens) I don't think we will be able to swing it :( I just know I could go there and PR again. Who know's maybe I can swing it. Fingers crossed.

Aren't they the sweetest little things you have ever layed eyes on?? Meet Jamie and Ollie (Oliver).

6. Started back at Yoga this week. I love Yoga but it's always hard finding time to work it into the schedule. We really need some more days and hours in the week. Every Tuesday a group of local Yoga instructors puts on a class in my city for FREE! So a bunch of us go and get our Yoga on. Didn't really care for the guy teaching this week but there's always next week ;)

7. I noticed that my jeans are fitting a bit tighter these days and after looking at the calendar I sadly realized that the pools open in less than 2.5 months! Time to get back to work. I wore a bikini every chance I could last summer because I felt like I finally could. This year......well, let's just say I have 2.5 months of work ahead of me. Yes, I run 4 days a week but that's not really doing anything for my figure, especially the middle bit. After a quick shopping trip during lunch yesterday I found my motivation in the shape of a cute pink bikini.

Sadly, the top doesn't fit right :( But seeing the swimsuits out and knowing that I don't look/feel like I did last summer was just he kick in the pants I needed. Luckily for me, I never just buy one of anything. I also picked up another suit and this one will work! The top has sparkly beads all over it. Very cute.

8. While trying on said bikinis at home last night, I noticed something I've never seen before and almost had a heart attack. A little bit of cellulite on the back of thighs! Ahhhhhh! Why me????? LOL Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. My husband was there when I shrieked and reminded me that he still loves me. It was a nice attempt at making me feel better but finding cellulite can't be comforted. Nice try sweetie!

9. I'm a bad runner. I have a foam roller and never use it. Ever! And for 5 months of the year, I don't stretch after runs. It's just too darn cold/snowy/icy/insert other horrible weather condition here to sit down outside to stretch after a run. I tell myself that I will stretch when I get home but that never happens. I know it's just a matter of time before I get hurt so I need to start doing more of both.

10. I started back on Sparkpeople.com to help watch my calorie intake. Fingers crossed this will help me achieve swimsuit goal.

11. Pittsburgh Marathon is looking for a few good men.....and women to help out with their race. I am actually already running it so I can't help but thought I would pass this along.

Volunteers who help out at the race will get the following:

•TRAVEL REWARDS: Every volunteer receives a 5,000 point Travel Voucher from Spirit Airlines!

•FREE official volunteer t-shirt

•ANNUAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION PARTY and PIRATE GAME at PNC Park, including food, prizes and entertainment on the Great Lawn on Tuesday, May 24, 2011

•Community Service Certificate: Available upon request!

Interested??? Check out the Volunteer page over on the Pittsburgh Marathon website.

_________________________________________________________________________________
Do you run trails? How often?

Aren't posts that include pictures of cute kittens better than ones that don't?

Have you ever used Sparkpeople or another weight loss/healthy website to help you get back on track? Did it work?

Could you use a couple more hours in the day?

Have you ever found anything on yourself and it scared/shocked you?

Little Rock Marathon post race report

2011-03-14T14:47:00.000-04:00

Fourth time's a charm right? Well it is for me. My first marathon SUCKED and the two after that weren't much better but I'm glad I stuck with it because I FINALLY had my moment of marathon glory after finishing the Little Rock Marathon (LRM) last week. I'm still on a high from this race. I have so many positive things to say about the race and my experience I hardly know where to start.

A group of 7 of us flew from Cleveland, Ohio to Little Rock, Arkansas for this race. Not exactly a destination marathon but we didn't go for the scenery or the attractions. We went for one thing and one thing only, THE MEDAL! Ever since I met the lovely ladies from LRM last year at the Cleveland Marathon Expo, I had my heart set on getting that Big Ass Medal (BAM). I was able to not only convince my husband to go to Arkansas but several others. I will say that the medal definitely lived up to the hype. Both the ribbon and the medal are absolutely gorgeous as far as medals go.

After several rounds of severely blistered feet and a badly fractured tailbone in January, I had no idea how LRM was going to play out for me. I decided that I would go in with the same attitude that I had for the Akron Marathon, "just going out for a long run and whatever happens, happens". After having a terrific 20 miler four weeks prior to the race I gained some badly needed confidence for LRM. My goal for this race was going to run the entire race without walking breaks. I wanted to run this entire thing, something I haven't done before. I wasn't too hung up on time as running the entire race was my main goal but I was aiming for 4:30-4:59 finishing time. I wanted to crack the sub 5-hour mark......badly but I wasn't going to hold on to this too tightly. I could have had a sub 5 race in Wisconsin but didn't want it that bad enough and let it slip away.

Turns out Little Rock weather on race day was very similar to Northeast Ohio weather which worked out to our advantage. It was in the 30's at the start of the race. I had my new Skirt Sports skirt on, new Nike Dry Fit shirt and a throw away long sleeved t-shirt on. I had forgot my gloves up in my room. Turns out I was comfortable all day except for my hands which were frozen 90% of the race, oh well. The field size was perfect, not too big and not too small. We lined up in our corrals and positioned our selves near the 4:45 hour group. The gun went off and confetti went spraying into the air falling down all over the runners as they passed the starting area. It was really quite a sight to see.

I found this video on the web it and shows the start of the race.

My friend Kathy ran with me during this race and I will say it is really nice to have someone to chat with during an event this long. There wasn't much chatting the last 6 miles on my end but it was definitely nice to have her there. Actually there were four of us that started off together and remainied fairly close for the first several miles and then we started to drift apart. Kathy and I maintained a good pace and the first several miles were even under 10 minute miles, something I hadn't planned on, I just ran what felt comfortable. We hit 6 miles and the Garmin hadn't even hit the hour mark yet. We had banked so much time in the begining compared to my previous marathons that we decided a potty break was in order. The next 8 miles or so we averaged 10-10:30 minute miles, still very comfortable. There were rolling hills throughout the first half of the course, nothing horrible and all managable.

This was the first marathon I was running without my hydration pack or a fuel belt. I knew there was going to be water stops every 2 miles for the first 20 miles and then one every mile for the remaining 6 miles so I felt comfortable enough to go without them. I carried a Gatorade bottle inside my handheld holder and knew I could ditch the bottle if I needed to and just loop the holder around my Spibelt. Turns out this plan would work wonderfully!

Before we knew it we had hit the 13 mile marker and were still feeling good. Half way done! We came up to the Capitol (beautiful building by the way) and made our way down a hill only to find that we were at the bottom of a very steep 2 mile climb up. We knew there would be a climb just after the 13 mile marker but just didn't know how bad it really would be. A local runner said "the next 2 miles are gonna suck!" as we passed her. NICE! "What the heck are we in for?" I thought to myself.

I can honestly say that that 2 mile climb did suck. It sucked even more than the 3 mile climb through Sand Run Park during the Akron Marathon. But I'm proud to say.....WE RAN THE ENTIRE TWO MILE CLIMB!!!! I'm very excited and proud of this marathon moment. I normally walk some of the hills especially if they are long and steep because "why kill yourself on the hills" is my motto. It wasn't easy but it wasn't killer either. I will say we were both very happy to come to the top of that final hill before making our decent back down. We hit another potty before coming down and I am still trying to figure out what those people were doing in those porta potties that took so long. This ended up being our longest "break". Because of this break the 4:45 pace group had finally caught us and I was bound and determined that I would not let them out of my site.

We chatted with the 4:45 pacer and he informed us to save a little for mile 25. Apparently there would be a hill there and would be a bit tough at the end of the race. A hill at mile 25??? That's absolutely cruel! I had flash back of the Las Vegas Marathon....Nooooooooooooo!

At mile 17.75 it flattened back out and life was good. Mile 18 started the begining of an out and back part of the course that totaled 6 miles. I normally don't like out and backs because I find it a bit demoralizing watching all those that are several miles ahead of me on their way to the finish. On out and backs I am constantly watching ahead for the turnaround. At what point can I turn around and join all those runners ahead of me and start heading back to the finish line?

We watched the runners who were headed back to see if we could find the others from our group. One by one we found them all and screamed our guts out for them. It actually kind of helped pass some time watching for our friends in the crowd of runners on the other side of the road. Around mile 20 I felt something in my stomach. "Oh my god Kathy, I'm gonna poop myself!" I exclaimed. Luckily for me there were more potties coming and up and I didn't have to poop myself. Turns out it was just a fart but one can never be too careful! I don't want to be THAT runner or the poopy girl out on the course. Better to be safe and a few minutes slower than sorry and poopy.

Around mile 21 it started getting harder. I was still moving and my mile 21 split was 10:19 which was awesome considering I had been running so long. I had my MP3 player around my neck the whole race but never needed until mile 22. I was starting to dig deep and needed anything that was going to keep me going. I sang outloud occassionally to Kathy and fist bumped when appropriate ;)

We hit mile 24 water stop and I tried to Gu one last time even though I wouldn't need it and my mouth/stomach/brain had enough Gu. Turns out Chocolate Mint Gu at mile 24 wasn't a good idea. I swished the Gu around my mouth trying to convince myself to swallow but just couldn't. I spit it out and almost got sick looking at it. Ewwww. We slowed down get water as we passed through the water stop and I can't honestly say picking up the pace again was one of the hardest parts of the day. I asked that my mom (who has passed away 5.5 years ago) to help me through the remaining two miles. I just wanted the race to be over. I wanted the last two miles to be painfree and zen-like. I don't think I got my zen-like run wish but I did get through those final miles.

At mile 24.60 there was a bridge and I just couldn't bring myself to run over. "This must be the part the pacer guy was talking about earlier" I told myself. Not to worry, I wasn't going to waste any energy here. My speed walking would be faster than my run on a bridge anyway at that point in the race so I changed to speed walking. I think I only walked about two tenths of a mile. There was no way I could run this bridge as this late point in the game. Bridge done. Let's get this thing over right?? NOPE!

Turns out there were two more hills except it looked like only one from a distance. We didn't find out about the second massive climb until we reached the peak of the first hill. Absolutely cruel!!! I speed walked up those things too as I was way too tired to try and run them. Turns out so was everyone else around me. We finally got to the top and started running again.

Somewhere along the way my Garmin had picked up an extra .20 miles of distance so I was off every time I came upon a mile marker. I can't even tell you how much this messed with my head the last two miles. Doing math while running is not my strong suit. By this point I new I was going to be a sub 5-hour marathoner and convinced myself to just keep running. I looked at my watch and it read 25.60 which meant I really had .80 of a mile left to go. Ugh. "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming". I came upon the lipstick stop and knew if I stopped that would be the end for me so I blew through but not before two ladies each handed me two free lipsticks! Woot! I knew those pockets in my skirt were gonna be handy for Gu's but turns out they were great lipstick holders too!

I could hear Bart Yasso annoucing each of the runners as they passed over the finish line off in the distance. I was going to make it! I was going to finish under 5 hours and have ran the whole marathon! (I'm not counting those three little speed walking encounters on the hills because damn it, that's just not right to put hills at the end!)

There I was, only a tenth of a mile from the finish line. OMG!! I couldn't believe it, it was almost over. Bart called out Kathy's name and then mine. He even said it correctly!! (Way to go Bart! No one ever says my name right!!) I hit the pads on the finsh line and stopped my Garmin. I looked at it and I realized I was now a sub 5-hour runner! I couldn't believe it. I tried to quickly do the math between this finishing time (4:46) and my next best marathon time which was Wisconsin (5:22). "14+22=36. Right? 36???" I PR'd my marathon time by 36 minutes! I was kind of out of it and couldn't figure out if I had done the math right. I had to ask Kathy if 14+22 was infact 36. I started crying. I was so filled with joy by not only my PR but the fact that I had ran the entire race. I finally experienced my moment of elation at the finish line. I was in shock.

The volunteers asked if I was ok and handed me my medal. I couldn't wait to get out of the finisher's corral to find my friends and husband. I found a few of them and screamed "I PR'd by 36 minutes". Everything else after that point at the race is moot because I was riding such a high. For what it's worth, the Athletes Village at the finish line was pretty awesome. They had everything a runner could need or want.

I accomplished both goals I started with that day I and find that pretty darn incredible. It's been 8 days since the race and I'm still flying high from my finish. My next marathon is in May in Pittsburgh but due to this wonderful experience, I am thinking about squeezing Toledo in before that one. I want to see if I can get through another marathon and eliminate a few of those bathroom breaks plus there aren't any hills in this race! Only one 50ft climb spread out over a few miles so I can handle that.

My wonderful experience at LRM couldn't have been made possible without the lovely city of Little Rock and it's residents. The volunteers and the people who came out to cheer from each of the communities along the course were amazing. These people from the communities were the best cheerleaders and were handing out everything a runner could need, full bottles of water, fruit, muffins, candy, tissues (How awesome is that? Our noses were so runny and the tissue lady came at just the perfect time) beer and even margaritas! Their support and signs were the best I have experienced yet. I can't thank the people of Little Rock enough. Thank you for making my marathon experience in your city that much better!

Now time for some pictures!

Some of our group at the Expo.

The shirt we got in our goody bag. I love it!

Sorry for the blurry pic but my phone was acting up. My husband and I showing a little pre-race leg. This was the first time he ran a race in his Sports Kilt.

My running buddy for the day.

Four of us from the group at the starting line.

Believe it or not, I was able to find myself in the picture below. I'm in the lower right hand corner with a white long sleeved shirt on.

The whole group. We all did the marathon.

A few of us got to meet Bart Yasso after the race in our hotel.

The Mother of All Medals!

2011-03-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

Feast your eyes on this!

I will write up a race report about the Little Rock Marathon shortly but just wanted to post a pic of the medal as starters.

Here's a copy of a pic someone else posted so you can see the details.

Stay tuned for full race report.

What storm?

2011-02-02T21:14:00.000-05:00

We all know that Snowmageddon has taken 2/3's of the country by storm but did ya know that even snow, wind and ice can't keep us runners down?

I had another snow day today (2 this week, wahooo!) due to the amount of ice and freezing rain that fell over night. I had two inches of solid ice on my front door step, sidewalk and parking lot outside my condo this morning. Just looking at that ice made my fractured tailbone want to retreat back inside at the very scary thought of walking on it nevermind driving on it.

I missed my run yesterday because of the freezing rain that fell last night during the time of our usual group run. I should have ran during the day as it wasn't horrible but missed my opportunity to do so as I lounged about on the couch and "rested" my tailbone. I wasn't going to miss today's run so at 4pm I took to the roads of my neighborhood. The temperatures were somewhere in the teens I think before windchill so I put on my windproof/waterproof jacket for this run. I put on my long sleeved shirt, jacket, thermal pants, running pants, smartwool socks, mittens, balaclava and ballcap to keep the snow out of my face.

Thankfully by the time I hit the roads, the snow stopped falling. The sun made a quick appearance along with some blue skies. I couldn't believe it! Sun and blue skies in Northeast Ohio in February! This is so very rare. I enjoyed the moment and smiled. The first 2.5 miles were easy and flat. The last 2.5 were the exact opposite. Lots of inclines and some good hills. Even with all the hills, I was able to maintain an average pace of 9:57 overall. As much as I dreaded today's run as I sat on the couch thinking about it, I'm glad I got out there and did it.

This weekend is my 20 miler!!! Only 31 days to go until Little Rock Marathon. I just received an email from the marathon that they are officially unveiling the medal this Friday at 1pm. Can't wait to see it. Runners World has dubbed this medal the World's Largest Marathon Medal! I can't wait to get my sweaty little hands on it. Here's hoping the 20 miler goes well and that no more physical issues pop up from now until LRM. Stay warm everyone and keep running. Don't let a little snow keep you from running. Bundle up and head outdoors!

Getting back on track

2011-02-01T15:11:00.000-05:00

After a fractured tailbone and a broken treadmill, things weren't looking so good for me in the running world. My husband didn't want to chance a 18 miler outside in the -7 degree weather so he opted for the treadmill. After 15+ miles into the run, I heard a loud popping noise from the basement. It was my beloved treadmill. I was actually going to give walking or a slight slow jog a try on the treadmill after 6-7 days on the couch but that went out the window after seeing the belt of the treadmill hanging off. Great!!! Now what??? A few days later and on day 9 of being on the couch and watching all my friends update their DailyMile accounts and post about runs on FB, I couldn't take it anymore. I decided I wanted to run. I can't begin to explain the amount of pain a fractured tailbone causes one when setting, getting up or down and laying in bed causes! Walking was becoming easier so I figured it was ok to try running.

When I saw the doctor about my fractured tailbone the first question out of my mouth was, you guessed it, "when can I run again?". I'm pretty sure she knew that was coming. After asking her about my poor blistered feet and telling her how I popped my blisters mid race that weekend, she knew I wasn't going to stay down for too long. Unfortunately, there is NOTHING you can do for a fractured tailbone but give it time to heal. I did, I gave it 9 days of just laying around. I hit the snowy streets of Cuyahoga Falls last week with my running group as my first run back. Of course it was all the fasties there running that night but thankfully my husband and another hung back with me so I wasn't all alone. It was cold and I had left my balaclava in the car. My face was cold and the air I was breathing was even colder. The group pushed me to keep up and I did. I stopped at 3 miles as I didn't want to push it too much. I ended up with a 9:57 minute pace which wasn't bad considering the lack of running lately.

Between the blisters and the fractured tailbone I feel as if I have lost a lot of miles. I missed a few long runs which I know won't kill me but it's hard mentally to miss those. Overall in January I ended up with 86 miles and 32 miles in the last week alone. I really wanted to get over a hundred but no point in worrying about that now.

I have 32 days until Little Rock Marathon. My running group and I are getting excited and are really looking forward to it. We have 7 in our group going and it should be a great time. I am sadly pushing aside my goal of 4:30 finish time to my next marathon which will be in Pittsburgh in May. I haven't done enough training like I wanted to do get that kind of time. Once again, my goal will be to finish. If I can crack 5 hours, I will be pleased. We are still awaiting the unveiling of this year's medal and have heard a rumor we will catch a glimpse of it on Friday on Facebook. This is THE REASON we picked this marathon. We want that huge honkin' medal! This is the medal from 2010.

Another snow day here in Ohio which means I'm off work and enjoying a lazy day at home. Grateful that I didn't have to make the drive into work which I heard had the potential to triple in amount of time. I would have not enjoyed a 3 hour commute to work today so I'm happy I'm home. Lots more snow and ICE on its way here today and tonight so I think the group run maybe cancelled. My husband and I may just give a try around the neighborhood a few times to get something in.

The treadmill has been fixed (hopefully) and I can always take to that tonight if I have to. I'm just glad she's back up and running for days like this!

Run for Regis recap & a broken butt!

2011-01-19T12:25:00.001-05:00

I was quite nervous going into this race and kind of dreaded it all week. Not because it was trails or the distance but because of the snow. As you see by my last post, there was a lot of snow to deal with. Running trails in the snow is so much work and much harder than road running. I was going to suck it up ang go. I mean, I already paid for the run and couldn't wimp out now. By the way, this event was more of a fun run more than an actual race.

My husband and I were going to meet our group at the starting area where the bib pick-up was at 6:30am. The alarm never went off and we woke up at 6:25am! Whoops. Thankfully we had everything set out and put together the night before. We arrived at the park shelter with enough time to see some friends, take some pictures and hear the pre-race instructions before the race started.

The starting temperature was a frigid 9 degrees. While it didn't seem horribly cold at the time, my feet did get cold standing in unheated shelter waiting for the instructions. The high for the day was to be 19 degrees. The run started and all the runners started and took off across the field. We did more walking than running when crossing the field due to the amount of snow and all the runners trying to make their way across it at one time. Those doing the 50k went right to do the 5 mile loop first and the half and full marathons went left to do the 8 mile loop.

The majority of my friends took off and surged ahead of the pack but I did have a few remaining running friends left and would run the first loop with them. We walked the hills both up and down as some of them were very slippery. I had my Yaktrax Pro's on and I do think they made a big difference compared to when I ran this same loop without them only weeks ago. I was able to safely make my way around parts of the course where I had previously slipped. I'm so glad I had the Yaktrax Pro's. Many other runners had them too.

Around mile 3 I needed some alone time and pulled ahead of my friends and the pack I was running with. I passed several other runners in the process and all I could think about was calling them "roadkill". That's what runners that got passed were called in the Hood to Coast movie. Even though it wasn't a race, I felt good that I was able to keep up a decent pace, pass some folks up and continue forward. At one point I w as so far ahead I couldn't even hear any runners behind me. I was all alone and it was great! The scenery was spectacular! The snow on the ground sparkled and highlighted every branch and twig on the trees. It really is something special to be running out there in those conditions.

As the race went on the temperature dropped even further. I didn't notice it until I stopped at the first aid station at Virgina Kendal. Just stopping even for a few brief moments sent cold chills all over me. The lovely volunteers had everything a runner could ask for including hot chocolate and ramen noodles! Does my running community know how to throw a winter race or what?? I enjoyed a Coke slushie and waited around a few minutes to see if my friends would catch up. Within minutes the three of them all showed up and enjoyed some refreshments and we were headed back off in the direction of the starting/finishing area where our next aid station/check-in would be.

For the last couple of miles I felt something not quite right with my left foot. I wasn't sure if it was the tape I had used to cover up my existing blisters or if a new blister had started. I wasn't in immense pain but it was bothersome enough that I would have to check it at the next stop. We only had 1.5 miles to go to the next station and I knew I could at least get through that. The thought of stopping at only 8 miles did cross my mind but I didn't want to be a quitter. I wouldn't feel right wearing my Run for Regis neon apple green Brooks pullover if I didn't at least complete the length I had signed up for.

The shelter came into view but it was a bit like a mirage as we had to go down the majority of the field before crossing over to it. I think I finished the first 8 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes (I think).

The volunteers asked if I was stopping or continuing on and I let them know they I had to check my feet first. My friends who had stopped after 8 miles and those that were volunteering found me as I was taking off my sock.

My feet weren't bad but I definitely grossed out my friends. Ha! I did have a new blister near all my existing blisters and I had a decision to make. Suck it up and go back out there or quit. Quitting wasn't an option. I was out there to run a half marathon and I was going to do it. I grabbed a safety pin, popped my new blister, changed my socks and headed back out there because that's how I roll ;) One of my friends from the first 8 miles was waiting on me and we picked up another runner for the next 5 miles.

The next loop was only 5 miles long and other runners had told us it was much easier than the first 8. This excited me but wasn't going to believe it until I experienced it. The race director and course marshalls has a good sense of humor about marking the trail as seen in these two pictures. The course was very well marked except for one spot which apparently many runners missed a turn off and we almost did too.

We made our way to the next aid station at Happy Days Lodge to meet a very happy bunch of volunteers standing out in the cold helping every runner in every way they could. These volunteers were the best! More Coke slushies, salt and vinegar Pringles and we were off. I still had water in my hand held so I was good. Turns out this loop was a lot easier than the first loop. By now it was snowing the it only added to the beauty of it all. I really wanted to get a picture of the falling snow through the trees and sunlight but didn't want to stop. The conversation was good between the three of us and we had a good time. I was ready for this to be over due to my newest blister.

We finished the race around 3:40 something and my entire group of friends were inside waiting on us. I became extremely cold after stopping because my clothes were soaking wet with sweat. The temperature had now dropped to 6 degrees and that was before winchill! I grabbed some hot grilled cheese sandwiches and some more frozen coke and joined my group inside. We all congratulated each other for finishing and most were already talking about doing it again next year! I collected my pullover and ran to the car as I was now shivering. I was ready for the couch and a hot shower.

Overall I had a good time and the event was a lot of fun even though it was only 6 degrees and lots of snow on the ground. I'm glad I stuck with it and finished it.

The following day we went sled riding in the same area as the race with family and friends. Unfortunately I fractured my tailbone and am now held up in my living room on a bag of ice. I can't believe I made it out of the race without hurting myself and but cracked my ass while sledding! Apparently this is going to take 4-6 weeks to heal and Little Rock Marathon is 47 days away. Plane ticket and registration have already been paid for so I'm going. I'm not sure what kind of condition I will be in by then but I will be there. My doctor said I can run as soon as I feel up to it. Here's to a speed recovery!

Did I mention we had some snow?

2011-01-15T20:47:00.001-05:00

And not just a little bit either. Some places have only a few inches and others have two feet! The way the snow falls around Northeast Ohio is very strange. During my snow day, I decided to try out my Yaktrax Pro's out on the trail so that I could decide whether or not I would be using them on race day. At my house we had about 8 or so inches on the ground. I met a fellow running buddy around 2pm at the Pine Lane so that we could run one of the courses around Kendal Hills. The only thing I can say is at least we had good intentions......

We ran about two-tenths of a mile in the parking lot in a grove in the snow made by a tire. From what I could tell, I think I liked the Yaktrax Pro's already. We came to the end of the parking lot and headed into the snow and into a field where one of the trails started. We got about another tenth of a mile out and had to stop. The snow was up to my knees! We were the first ones out there to break trail since the all the new snow had been dumped so running in it was hard nevermind just walking in it. We gave up really quickly when we realized just how silly this run was going to be before we even hit the hills. We took a few pics of the snow and headed back to our cars. Luckily for us I thought ahead and brought some sleds for after the run.

Before taking to the hills with our sleds my friend had the idea to check out the trail we would be running on Sunday during the Run for Regis trail race. Check it out below! We have received more since Wednesday and supposed to get more overnight and during the race. Yea :(

The next couple of pics are right before I went down the hill and after I reached the bottom. There was even too much snow to sled. I became a human snow plow on every trip down the hill.

The race is tomorrow and I don't wanna go! I am currently still experiencing blistering every time I run which causes pain afterwards. I have a bum knee right now due to a spectacular fall on the sidewalks after coming home from sledding. Yea, I'm not in good shape. Plus I have only ran 6 miles this week. And, I am not a huge fan of running trails in the snow. I know, I know, I shouldn't have signed up for it but I thought it would be a good test of my personal will and strength. I will be sure to post tomorrow after the race with details and pictures. My only goal is not to injure myself as my next marathon is only 50 days away. Slow and steady will be the theme of the race tomorrow.

Running in the winter

2011-01-12T13:03:00.002-05:00

Well the last couple of weeks have been interesting in regards to running to say the least. I had a 38 mile week two weeks ago and then only two days running last week. I go from one extreme to the next. It's already Wednesday and haven't run since Sunday. Not good.

The running group and I are gearing up for our first race of the new year this weekend which is Run for Regis. There are three options available, half, full and 50k. Our entire group choose the half marathon option just to play it safe. Two years ago the day before this race the area received two feet of new snow making an already challenging course even harder. From what I understand less than a quarter of the runners who started the event finished it. Looks like this weekend is going to be a white one too as we received a few inches days ago and several more last night and will continue to see more new white stuff all the way through race day! Ugh!

Our running group hit the trails and set out to do 8 miles of the course as practice last Saturday. The snow made the hills very hard to climb and even slippery at times. I have the Ice Spike kit but wasn't willing to put holes in my only real pair of trail shoes just yet so I ran without any added gear on my feet other than my shoes. Big mistake! I couldn't get my footing and become frustrated quickly. I normally walk uphills anyway but this day I would walk the uphills, downhills and other parts of the course as well. I finished up that run with 7.25 miles done.

My goal was to do 16 road miles the next day. Ummm it didn't happend. In fact, I didn't even get 4 miles done before throwing in the towel. I had felt soreness in my left calf muscle while trail running the day before but didn't give it much thought until I felt it the second I started my road run on Sunday. The group set off from the parking lot and I immediately knew I wasn't going to make it. I struggled just to hit the two mile mark. Lesson learned. No trail running in the snow the day before a long run. Hard lesson to learn but I won't do that again. Also, I haven't been stretching or drinking enough water so I'm sure that had something to do with it as well. I have no one to blame but myself. So no long run last week :(

I missed the group long run the weekend before so I had to do a 16 miler by myself. Yuck. I got a late start and wasn't about to run on the roads in the dark by myself for 16 miles so I hit the gym. If I am going to do this on a treadmill, I'm not about to do it at home in the basement. I was ready, BodyGlide on my arms, mp3 player, tv in front of me, two water bottles, lots of GU, even some gummies to eat while running.

The first 4 miles went pretty quickly believe it or not. I think I had enough people watching to keep my eyes occupied and the mp3 player was keeping my mind satisfied. It was January 2nd so there were some Resolutioners there but the gym wasn't too bad. Actually it was perfect, enough to watch but not be annoyed by. There were a few gym newbies attempting to use the treadmills around me that I thought I was going to have to strangle. They would get on and throw the speed all the way up and then wonder why they can't even go .10 of a mile. I was concerned not because they were probably going to hurt themselves but that they would also hurt someone else nearby including myself. This became a mental challenge to block out the stupidity while I ran.

Later someone from my running group jumped on the treadmill next to me and "paced" me for an hour or so. Talking to someone for that hour or so really did help pass the time. It was nice because he could run his speed and I ran my speed but we could still talk. See when we normally meet up for a run I see him for a few minutes at the begining of the run and then sometime later after I finish. He is super fast and is a great runner. I finally got to "run" with him even if it was treadmill running.

I had an hour of running left to do I was feeling good until the BodyGlide on my arm faded away. I always get chaffed on my left arm, the underside of my bicep. I had 6 miles to go and wasn't about to stop now. I didn't have any BodyGlide with me at the gym so I improvised. A fellow running buddy of mine was stuck without BodyGlide during a run and she used what she had in her pocket, a tube of chapstick. It wasn't pretty but it worked. Thankfully I had remembered to pack a chapstick and it was actually even on the treadmill with me. So I took the cap off and smeared the chapstick all over the sore spot. Again, not pretty but it worked. Now I know I can use chapstick in a pinch if needed. One more reason to care chapstick with me at all times. I was ready to keep going because I felt that good. The first three miles were at a 1% incline and then the remaining run was at .5% incline. I seriously considered continuing the run because I felt that good. When I finished at 16 miles, I thought, "wow, I could seriously do more on here if I wanted to. I could do a marathon on a treadmill if I wanted to. Only 10 more to go???" But I didn't as it was getting late and needed to get home. I will do it one day though. I'm taking it on as a personal challenge. Maybe that will be a challenge for 2011!

I'm on another snow day today and instead of just hitting the treadmill, I'm considering hitting the trails with a friend to try out my new YakTrax Pro. I want to see what they feel like before the race. I don't want to try them out for the first time on race day because we all know how well that goes over. I've heard many bad things about the regular YakTrax but heard the Pro ones were much better since they have the velcro on them which keeps them on the shoes. I will let ya know what I think about them once I have tried them out. Happy Trails!

2010 Recap and catching up

2011-01-07T13:51:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! Long time no blog. I was tied up with the holidays and became very lazy with blogging. I thought about it everyday but just couldn't do it. But I'm back now!!! So here goes a quick recap since my last post.

Christmas is over, start of the new year is over and so is my birthday that is squished in between the two. My original plan was to run 33 miles on my birthday to celebrate turning 33 but it was kind of just a fleeting thought and never gave much thought to it as this time of year you never know what the conditions are going to be like. I'm all for running outside in the snow and cold but not for 33 miles. I guess I'm just not that bad ass ;)

In other running related news, I entered a contest on Cleveland Marathon's Facebook page and I am their runner of the week! Check it out here! I am in their profile picture with my husband. This picture was taken at the Cleveland Marathon in 2009 after finishing my very first half marathon. It was such a good experience that I haven't stopped or looked back since!

In 2010 I had originally set out to accomplish one or two running goals, one of which was to run 1200 miles for the year. Sadly I knew back in September that I wouldn't make it due to illness and downtime in August & September. I readjusted my goal and decided to go for 1000 miles ran for the year. I'm proud to say that on 12/31/10 I ran my last 9 miles for the year and hit my goal! For 2011, I am going for 1200+ miles. Hopefully I can do it this time around.

I feel like I have so much to write about but then again I don't. I guess I will wrap this one up since my brain is ready to explode already. I have some other things to post about and will do it shortly.

I just heard about the movie Hood to Coast and will be going to the theater on Tuesday, 1/11/11 to check it out. I hadn't heard of this race until I saw the trailer for this movie. Be sure to check it out as it is only a one day event so don't miss it. Check here for local listings and tickets.

Hood To Coast Movie Trailer #2 for Race Website from HoodToCoastMovie on Vimeo.

Not so bad after all

2010-12-17T11:07:00.001-05:00

While my personal life is in the crapper and had a throughly craptastic day yesterday it did end on a bit of a high note due to running! No, I didn't have a great run but it was running related.

All my running friends who incidentally enough are my best real friends as well, knew I was having a craptacular day. One by one, they each checked on me throughout the day to see how I was. Last night was the Christmas Light Run that one of my friends organized as a free event in our city. I knew it would be fun but wasn't up to faking a smile even for friends for a few hours. I just wanted to be alone.

Anyway, one of my friends asked when I would be home so she could cheer me up with something. I told her it wasn't neccessary but she insisted that she come over. As she pulled up in front of my house I was just getting home and found a couple of nice surprises on my front door step.

Surprise #1

SCORE!!!! I won a GU Giveaway over at The Progress Post: Always on the Run. I knew it would be coming soon but it came a lot faster than I thought. Wahooo! I expected a handful of a few GU's but received just the opposite. I hit the GU jackpot!! Who knew winning GU would help me feel a little better?

Surprise #2

A sneaky little Running Fairy stopped by my house while I was at work and left two Icespikes for us to try! Thank you Running Fairy! That was really kind of you to do and I sooooo appreciate it especially in this weather. I will be sure to write a review once I have tried them out.

Surprise #3

Three Olive Cherry Vodka!!! Not really running related (well, I guess it could be right?) but one hell of a nice surprise anyway! This was from my friend that had stopped by. She surprised me with a bottle of my favorite vodka and a plate full of freshly baked cookies. Do my friends know me or what??? My friends ROCK!

In other running related news, that 14 mile treadmill run I did at the begining of the week left me with a bit of a strained right leg calf muscle. I think the .5 incline that I had on during the entire run is what did it for me. I also forgot to mention my running stats for that run in my last post. I ran the entire 14 miles at a 9:50 pace with a .5 incline. It wasn't non-stop because it was 14 MILES ON A TREADMILL!! It was all at the same time and I didn't break it up but did have to stop every couple miles for a minute or so to adjust the new SmartWool socks I received the other day at my running group's holiday party (running gift exchange was a great idea), put in several dvd's, get drinks, and do a few GU's.

Can you say badass?

2010-12-14T15:42:00.000-05:00

I can because I RAN 14 MILES ON A TREADMILL YESTERDAY!! Maybe more crazy than badass but either way, I did it.

I missed my weekend long run with the running group. This Saturday I missed because I am just burned out and needed some time at home and that damn PT job keeps me so busy on the weekends. Sunday, I was a bit too hungover from the running group's "Marathon of all Parties" party. One too many jello shots I think. I made about 150 jello shots and probably consumed anywhere from 20-30 myself. :)

Just a few of the shots I made!

A little tip not running related: Strawberry jello and Disaronno Amaretto is AWESOME!

Anyway, back to my 14 miler on the treadmill. So I was feeling bad that I missed my long run and lucky me, we had another snow day yesterday. I made the best of it and jumped on the mill and go to it. I can actually say with an MP3 player, kick ass music and some good movies, it wasn't all that bad. The last 2-3 miles were mentally tough but I stuck it out and finished it. After finishing that run, now I know I can do anything.