Longest run EVAAAA!

You'll be hearing that a lot over the next few months, so I'll just leave it at that. 

My husband will tell you I have a habit of jumping in to things with both feet - diving is more like it. So  after printing out my training schedule back in May for the next five months and posting it on the fridge, I couldn't stop talking about what my marathon training would involve and how nervous I was about completing distances. He put a stop to the right away telling me he wouldn't be able to deal with marathon talk for the next six months (as supportive as he is of me/my racing, I just can't get him to enjoy running!), and told me to just focus on one day at a time.

Obviously that wasn't going to happen, but I did look at my schedule and tell myself I've run 13.1 miles (completed three half marathons), I know I can do that. It's getting past that that worries me. So the first five or six weeks were fine because I knew I was capable of that distance, but I just kept thinking about going beyond that. 

Given all that anxiety/nerves/anticipation, it was kind of nice the way the 15 miles happened. I was scheduled to run 15 miles next weekend - my husband's birthday. So last Monday I started talking to him about it, and decided I would skip the easy five miles and just do the 15 then instead. Sure it was pushing it, but I felt like I was listening to my body and it wasn't in that much need of rest. 

Well I made it through surprisingly well and am thrilled. The moment I hit 13 miles I just kept thinking, this is it, this is the furthest you've ever run! Wow that was a great feeling. 

I attempted a negative split for the first time with maybe not enough preparation, so my pace was quite slow (9'30"/mi), but I guess it's better to figure that out now when I still have 14 weeks to go before the marathon and adjust as I go. I've got a 7 miler this Saturday so I'll start to play with negative splits there and as I go forward.

Anyways, I survived the 15 miles! Feeling good. Though I need a new pair of shoes. And more Gu!

Quiz: Which is healthier?

Unfortunately, this is going to be a quick post since the husband is just back from work trip in Bermuda (tough life amIright???)! It's probably for the best - two nights alone and I reverted to bachelor(ette) mode, catching up on all my TV shows and eating nachos for dinner. Shameless. 

Anywho, the Wall Street Journal had a post on the gluten free diet saying what everyone knows - it's great for the small percentage of people who can't digest gluten, but won't necessarily help you lose weight. That being said, I do think it's a bonus for making you more aware of what you're eating, and can help for weight loss in that way. 

The story had a great link in there to a quiz about packaged food. Test yourself - much harder/more unexpected than you'd think! This is seriously what scares me off from packaged food... easier to have a banana. Nice encouragement for clean eating, though lets get real, I'll never go completely clean!

Keeping at it - Motivation for morning runs

Just one month into training (six weeks if you count the pre-training), and I had my first battle with motivation.

Last week was a long week, and I was looking forward to having some free time. Matt asked me Friday night what I wanted to do the next day, and all I could think was, I don't want to plan anything. Thoughts of laying in bed, watching TV, taking the day slow and doing whatever I felt like came to me. But, of course, I knew I had to wake up and run ten miles in the morning. 

It was a passing thought, but I couldn't help thinking how much easier it would be to give up. No running schedule. No demands every single Saturday between now and October. Just whatever I felt like doing. 

I posted my entire training plan on the fridge, and above my computer at work. While at times it seems daunting, it's nice to be able to look at it to know what to expect this week - because you'll see it's entirely manageable when you break it up day by day/week by week - but also to be able to look back and see how much you've accomplished. It's only been four weeks, but already, I don't want to mess up my streak. I've committed so much time to this race already, how can I mess it up now?

Well I got up and did the 10 miles, and I'm so glad I did. The whole time I was just thinking about how lucky I am that my body is capable of this. Six weeks of running and I can run ten miles. It feels amazing. 

The more I run, the more I want to keep pushing the boundaries - thinking I've found my limit and then surpassing it the next week. Your body is capable of outstanding things. Treat it well, fuel it properly, listen to it, and be amazed.

Words to live by

Words to live by. For real. Do you know how freeing it is when you let go of the need to be perfect, and just focus on being a better version of you? 

That's really the way I was able to find joy in running - once I stopped comparing myself to the women around me who could run sub-seven minute miles, and instead focused on going further than I did the week before, and maybe a little faster too. 

Now if only it was that easy in other aspects of my life! It's hard to recognize, sometimes. I find myself unhappy, worried that it's not good enough and not able to get anything  done. It's paralyzing. And that's the most ridiculous thing about it - you're so focused on doing it perfectly, that you can't get it done. Done is better than perfect, right?

Well, it's a work in progress. Just keep reminding myself: Let go of perfection.

Ten Miles and a Fanny Pac

Week four of marathon training ended with a ten mile run this weekend. The weather was just perfect and I felt great doing it. Averaged 8:33 minute miles.

I had tried out my new Ultimate Direction Jurek Endure hydration belt, AKA fanny pac, on my three mile run on Friday just to see how it felt/how much it moved, but this was my first time loading it up. And load it up I did. A bottle of water, bottle of Nuun (lemon lime) and a vanilla bean gu pouch. I've never run with anything before, and I was feeing so free knowing I could run for miles and miles with all that sustenance. I secured the belt at the smallest part of my waist above my hips hoping to keep it from moving. That, along with the full water bottle on each side, seemed to help keep it in place and it was so comfortable I hardly noticed it. For as nervous as I to start running with gear, this was a great experience. I'd definitely recommend it. 

Anyways, the vanilla bean gu was actually delish (or as delish as something called 'gu' can be). It tasted like a sugar cookie or something. Way better than the orange I tried last week. I was worried about stomach issues I'd heard about from others, so I pretty much chugged my water while I gulped it down. Worked well. 

Also, drama, I encountered some geese along the way. Terrifying. They had little babies with them which, while adorable, certainly upped the already testy attitudes of the parents. I kept thinking about the YouTube video where the goose was attacking anyone who tried to save the woman's bag and was convinced it was going to happen to me. I looked like an idiot, but I gave those geese a LOT of space. 

I joined Matt and little Mojo Man for a walk after my run and ran into a neighbor who has run a few marathons. I talked with her about training (and yes I was still rocking the fanny pac!), and she recommended the Fleet Feet training program. I have to say, the first question I seem to get from people after I say I'm training for the Hartford Marathon is "Who are you training with?" 

I'll likely change my tune as I up the miles and spending hours every weekend running, but running with someone else just doesn't appeal to me right now. I loved having an hour and a half yesterday all to myself - not talking to anyone, no more than a wave and a smile as I passed someone. The entire time was devoted to me and how I was feeling, and I could focus on my body and not have to worry about someone else. I didn't have to stop and walk, but if I needed to I could have, because the only one I'd be delaying would be me. I sped up the last two miles because I was feeling good and I wanted to better my pace, and didn't have to check with someone else to see if they'd be up for it, or feel guilty if I separated from my buddy. 

The main reason a group training program would probably help is keeping up motivation throughout the next four months, which is something I already struggled with just this week. I'll write a separate post on how I plan to keep motivated, and what I'm doing already to stay there. 

Gearing up

I took the plunge and ordered some running gear this weekend! I went with Ultimate Direction's Jurek Endure hydration belt and then ordered some basic flavors of Nuun. My next run isn't till Friday morning, so I'm looking forward to it!

It's week 4 of training for the Hartford Marathon. Things are going well, but I think I need to adjust some of my training. Right now I run five days a week and do strength training three days a week, meaning I have one day (Tuesday) where I lift before work and run after, and my two rest days from running are devoted to lifting. My legs have been feeling tired and maybe I need to change it up and take a full day no working out, or maybe my body is just still getting used to this routine. A part of me wants to just wait and see, but also don't want to be stupid considering I have 16 weeks of training to go.

Ten mile run scheduled this Saturday and I'm excited for it! I can't believe it's four weeks in and I'll be up to ten miles already. I get caught up sometimes thinking about how far 26.2 miles really is, how am I going to be able to run for 4+ hours straight, and need to keep reminding myself of this Nick Saban quote.

Focus on the process of what it takes to be successful. 

Gu!

Week two of marathon training culminated with a seven mile run on Saturday and my first attempt at fueling on the go. Months ago I found some article about eating solid food, which seemed like a great alternative to the aptly named "Gu." I grabbed two Fig Newtons and I was off!

I planned to have the Fig Newtons around mile five. I knew I wouldn't really need them for seven miles, but I know I will need to fuel for the marathon so better get my body used to fueling on the run sooner rather than later! Well I forgot a certain major point I've read in everything about fueling strategy - wash it down with water! Something to improve on next week. I took small bites, got the two Fig Newtons down and finished up my seven miles.

It wasn't awful, but it did motivate me to get over to Fleet Feet to try out some Gu. I haven't tried it yet - waiting for my eight mile run on Saturday. Mentally it's just going to be hard to get myself to eat it, so I'm hoping I'll be pleasantly surprised. Can't be that bad right? I'll let ya know.

I also tried on some little gear belts/vests. I spoke with one woman who insisted this one fuel belt was the way to go, apparently doesn't slide around, then talked to another guy who selected another belt for marathons, and then another woman swore by some little vest. Now I know it's all about what's comfortable for you and very much personal preference, but at $50-100, I want to make sure I'll be happy with what I buy!

Which is to say... I'm delaying the decision until I can do more research.

Belated National Running Day!

Yesterday was National Running Day, and what better way to celebrate than by registering for my first marathon? Honestly I can't believe I'm even saying that - oh boy, two weeks into training and I'm already psyching myself out!

I chose the Hartford Marathon (newly minted NU Hartford Marathon) mostly because of the location and I had a great experience doing the half marathon last year. Eventually I'll branch out and start doing more destination runs, but when I'm just starting out I want to stick with what I know.

I selected this plan from Cool Running to follow. I used their intermediate training plans for my half marathons and felt like I was well-prepared, so I figure it should work for a full too, right? Yes, it pains me to admit I should do the beginner plan for the marathon, but I don't want to push it. Blow to my ego now is better than a blow to my body later, am I right?

The plans has me running five days a week, and I have added three days a week of strength training. I was just thinking though, I was going to do strength on Sunday after my long run Sunday... is that bad? So many questions, so much research to be done.

Other than strength training, I vow to be consistent with stretching and warming up. I've gotten lucky so far completely avoiding those, and do not want to push my luck.

So many questions, so much to learn. Mainly on nutrition. I've adjusted my diet a lot over the past month to try to build muscle, and now I need to figure out what's right for runners - ahem, carbs. And I still haven't conquered the beast that is my sweet tooth. Soon enough.

Anyways, I'm signed up so here we go! It's on. I'm in. Hartford Marathon 2014!

How to Stay Motivated No Matter the Weather

I came across this Women's Running post this morning - and what great timing! It offers some great tips for keeping up your running motivation all year round. 

Thanks to Daylight Savings, this week has been especially challenging to get out of bed and get to they gym! What better motivation for ignoring my 5 o'clock alarm than the pitch black darkness outside? Seriously, it was a challenge.

This Monday will be one month since that fateful fitness assessment. I plan to post a formal one month reflection, to help me identify the progress I've made, and the progress that I still need to make. But in general, I'm excited about the plan I'm following. This Women's Health Body Transformation guide (which will hopefully produce results!), gives me sort of the "big picture" fitness plan, spanning the entire year. But because it's broken up into month-by-month plans, it keeps my focus!

For me, the hardest thing to deal with is my diet and I really haven't figured out how to keep on track. I'm also going to figure out how to train for my first marathon, and stick to this Women's Health plan. The WH plan requires three days of interval training, which I know is great for losing weight, so how do I combine with a beginner's marathon training plan... TBD. 

Why I run

Runner's World has a great campaign going on this week, #RWNewbieWeek, complete with tips for new runners, training plans, and inspiration. If you've been on the fence about getting started running, or have been running for awhile and need some extra inspiration, these are must-reads.

It got me thinking about why I started running originally. Despite brief stints in cross-country and track doing the "long-distance" 800m and 1600m (it was the cool thing to do and it got me out of gym class!), I never considered myself a runner until recently. I focused on field hockey in high school and college, and, while running was always a part of my life, it was more of a means to an end, than an end in and of itself. We warmed up with a three mile run, went through drills, scrimmages, and ended with sprints. In this mindset, I never embraced running.

But two years ago, the D.C. Young Republicans were putting together a team to run the Arlington 9/11 Memorial 5k, so I signed up. I thought it would be a good way to encourage me to get back in shape, and a fun way to meet people outside of the usual happy hours. Thanks to the encouragement of friends I met doing that run, I quickly followed up with more races including the Marine Corps 10k, the Hot Chocolate 15k, and the Rock n' Roll Philadelphia half marathon.

Now I'm hooked.

I love having the motivation and sense of accomplishment that comes with completing an organized race, but I'm completely addicted to the morning training runs these races require.

Last summer, I was training for the ING Hartford Half Marathon, preparing for my wedding, living with my in-laws after just moving to Connecticut, and working from home. I had no car, didn't know anyone in the area outside of my now husband's family, and was pretty overwhelmed with the stress of wedding planning. While I knew training was important to get me ready for the half marathon, I was also motivated by the chance to be on my own for an hour or so each day, clear my head, think through any issues I might be having, and just enjoy myself. Every run was a freeing experience that honestly saved me from a lot of regretted words or would be fights during that stressful time!

I had a few key revelations that made my enjoyment possible around this time:

• Focus less on how fast you go, and more on how far you go. It's about personal improvement, and conquering new challenges you never thought were possible.
• Running is a blessing. Your body is capable of amazing things, don't waste it.
• Workout clothes can be affordable, as long as you don't care what you look like. I've been rocking some neon pink Under Armour spandex lately. I think someone comments on them every time I wear them, but hey, they were $20. 
• Find a plan and schedule that works for you. I run first thing in the morning, so I'm out the door before I even realize what's happening. After work, I always seem to be able to think of something else that needs doing (or a glass of wine with my name on it), so I've found these morning workouts are most effective for me. 
• Running is free! Cross-fit, yoga, and even my beloved gym memberships, can all be expensive, especially when you're living on a tight budget! For under $100, you can get yourself a nice pair of running shoes and go for a run - any time of the year. Track your progress for motivation with a free app - I use Nike+. 
• The more you run, the more you can eat. Nuff said. 

What about you - why do you run? What tips do you have for new runners, or those who need some extra motivation?

Foam Roller Fun

This week, I went to what can only be described as a brutal bootcamp. Think: suicide bear crawls and TRX hip lifts. While stretching, someone suggested doing a few minutes of foam roller afterwards, and I readily agreed.

(Image from Rumble Roller.)

Honestly, I've never understood what a foam roller does exactly, other than it delivers a sort of hurts so good pain. To manage your expectations a bit, you will not be smiling when you use a foam roller. My expression is more of a grimace, eyes closed, hoping no one is watching me. Foam rolling helps your muscles recover, so these exercises are very important, especially after an intense session where you know you're going to be sore the next day!

Shape Magazine recently posted a how-to video for foam rollers that I find pretty helpful. The main thing to keep in mind is to keep shifting your weight around until you find the sweet spot for you - it will be different for everyone and depending on your recent workouts. Enjoy!

Figuring it all out

There are only a few blogs I am really committed to following (read: a few blogs that I remember to visit again). When I think about what these blogs have in common, it's that the authors have it all figured it out. Whether writing about running, cooking healthy, or fashion, they know exactly what works for them and share those experiences with others.

So I'm kind of wondering what I'm doing writing a blog.

I definitely don't have it all figured it out. I'm nowhere near my dream body right now, still trying to conquer my sweet tooth and commit to regular exercise. I'm no crossfit-convert or ridiculously flexible yogi (is that even what you call someone who does yoga?), and while I like to think of myself as a runner, my track record and lack of marathon experience might beg to differ.

Why I am doing it? Well, for two reasons. First, so many blogs I read document amazing results - a picture of a woman once pushing 200 pounds who is now nearly unrecognizable at a healthy, thin weight. But you rarely get to see the process - the weight is already lost, the lifestyle changes have already been made, the problem has been conquered. While these stories inspire me, I think seeing the process is important - like the monthly check-ins you see magazines do. They establish camaraderie, and help show you what sort of results are possible month by month. 

Second, a more selfish reason, I want to hold myself accountable. Sure, I don't really know that anyone will see this, but it's possible they will - and so I have to keep going! In the past, I've worked toward a certain event, like a race, and then completely fallen off my fitness goals, or everything is going well until that week-long work trip and suddenly I'm full of excuses when I get home. I know it's not healthy for my weight to keep fluctuating, even if just a few pounds now, as I get older, it's just going to get worse. I'm trying to establish this habit now - stay accountable to the blog. 

So here goes. I hope you'll follow along and share with your friends! I need the encouragement!

Back at it

After a couple of false starts this year, I finally took the plunge and joined a gym. Knowing I have a lot of work to do and we're under a tight budget, I weighed a few different factors - focusing mainly on monthly cost, class schedule, and proximity to our house. The gym I chose is less than a five minute drive, the cheapest option in town, and has a bare bones class schedule. I guess you've gotta sacrifice somewhere!

After signing up, I was excited to do a complimentary fitness assessment with one of the trainers. Boy, was I in for some unsettling news. 

We went through some basic exercises - push-ups, squats, and planks, and it was clear that my core strength was... not what it could be. Stepping on the scale, I knew I was above my comfortable weight, but I'd stayed within five pounds of that, so not too shabby, right? Wrong. He then pulled out a little torture device - calipers - to measure my body fat and the truth hurt. For those not familiar with calipers, check out this video. 

My fitness assessment: below average. 

Well, technically, on the border of below average for a woman my age, but still. I went home and cried. Productive, right? 

I looked up a training plan, based on what the trainer recommended - cardio, core, and weight lifting. Apparently, my "just keep logging more miles running," strategy wasn't the right one. 

I settled on this Women's Health workout program, and have been following it for two and a half weeks now. My diet could be better - I'm still struggling with the urge to binge and a strong sweet tooth - but I'm getting there. I can already feel a difference, not only in my strength, but in my happiness generally. Now I need to keep at it! 

I have a "check-up" with the trainer in a week and a half. Four weeks from our first one - time enough to make a difference, but not too far to lose focus (hopefully!). 

I'm back at it, now I just have to keep at it! 

Eat More to Weigh Less?

Sounds too good to be true, right? When you look at food more as fuel, and focus on not just calories, but also the nutrients you're getting from indulging in certain foods, you'll find you can feel fuller, eating more of what's good for you and recognizing many sweets and treats as the empty calories they are.

The holidays have wound down but somehow my sweet tooth is still around! Unfortunately all those holiday Hershey's Chocolate Kisses that seemed like a great idea before our Christmas party are still around, and are a kiss of death for my diet plan.

No joke they're everywhere. They're in the pantry, seemingly the perfect thing to grab when I want something to eat but not too heavy. They're on the kitchen counter, so I can casually eat a few while making dinner... or lunch... or breakfast. Shameless. They're on the table next to the couch in the family room, so I can mindlessly snack as I watch TV.

An easy solution right? Toss them out? Have the husband take them to work with them? Put them in a secret drawer? Problem is, I don't want to admit defeat. Just because it's Hershey's Kisses today, tomorrow it's cookies I made, or a cake my mother-in-law drops off, or something! So my real question is, how do I curb the sweet tooth?

I posed this question to Shape Magazine last week, when they were have a Twitter conversation with Elizabeth Ward, a dietitian and writer for Men's Fitness.

More protein! But that got me thinking about a bigger issue for me, at least, which is eating enough during meals and snacks period. When I "diet," (if you can call any of my couple days' attempts dieting), I jump in with both feet. I find myself attempting extreme diets, limiting my calories and inevitably, failing withing a few days. Something isn't working.

So, it's time to attempt a different diet approach. I'm going to focus more on having a fully defined meal each time. Rather than eating a little yogurt here so I can have an excuse to grab some chips later and maybe some cookies later on, I'm going to take the time to prepare a meal with all of the nutrition and calories I need. Here goes nothing... 

For your viewing pleasure, today's lunch: Tuna sandwich with celery, carrots and Special K Chips

Book Review: Born to Run

I finally got around to reading Christopher McDougall's "Born to Run!" It was fascinating, and I really think now, as I'm getting more serious about running, was the right time for me to read it.

The book is truly inspirational and centers around a common topic any runner has pondered: Why does my foot hurt? This leads to a quest to find the remarkable Tarahumara Indians in Mexico, the world's greatest distance runner, tales of (what I'd consider) super-human feats, and the conclusion: everything we're doing to become better runners is ruining us.

For a girl who has often scoffed at people running around in Five Finger Shoes while rocking my Asics with built-in arch support to prevent shin splints and other injuries, this came as a shock. But as I sat there curled up with this book, I found myself wishing it were warm enough for me to give this a try: running in grass three times a week to strengthen the muscles in my feet. Sounds crazy, but after this book, it seems worth a try.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a true believer just yet. I went to my local running store, Fleet Feet Sports, and had them run me through different tests to find the best shoes for me, settling on the Brooks Ravenna 4. But I'll consider incorporating some of the minimalist theories into my training plan.

There were so many quotes in this book that hit home with me, but one of them really rang true. As the author is lined up, about to embark on a 50 mile race through Tarahumara wilderness, his friend says to him, "Look, I got some bad news. You're not going to win. No matter what you do, you're going to be out there all day. So you might as well just relax, take your time, and enjoy it."

For too long, I didn't bother with road races, knowing that I wasn't going to be the fastest. I knew I didn't stand a chance, so I focused my energies elsewhere - giving up track and cross country for field hockey, soccer and lacrosse, where speed and endurance were just one tool in your arsenal.

It was just in the last two years that I've found my love of running. It sounds simple, but once you find your "forever pace," you can let go, enjoy the run and take pride in finishing the race. There's a certain freedom I've discovered by focusing on this. Dropping comparisons to others, and knowing that I'm better than when I started. Alright, I have to include another quote that goes right along with that idea...

"They were expected to accomplish nothing, so they could try anything. Audacity beckoned."

"Born to Run" is a must-read book for people in any stage of their running journey. You won't regret it!

New Year, New Resolutions, New Commitment

Well, my first attempt at launching the blog was a bit lackluster. I won't say failure, because I'm back and ready to relaunch.

Things missed in the past couple months - I ran two half marathons. One in Connecticut that I trained like crazy for, and one in Chicago that I... did not train as much for. And it showed. I was feeling good until mile 8, pushed through to mile 10, and then dragged till the finish line. But, I stayed under two hours (1:54) and finished, so I'll take it. Lesson learned as far as training though.

We bought our first home and moved in in November. The scale is already showing the effects of my cooking habits and my lack of a gym, so I'm ready to change that. I've been shopping around gyms, trying to find the right one that's close enough that I don't have any excuse not to go, and has the right combination of classes and machines. And of course, comes at the right price!

Meanwhile, I'll also be experimenting with some new healthy recipes, that are hopefully tasty too! I'll share those on here, but get ready - I've already had a few kitchen mishaps, including "purple chicken" and "pasta mush." Never a dull day in the kitchen with Katie!

Anyways, just a quick post to say I'm going to be back at it!