It’s Been a While!

When I decided to step back from coaching runners, I also consciously took a step back from my blog being a priority. Other things just had to come first. And let’s be honest, I am not a naturally gifted writer—I mostly write to inspire others; but I do also love to read my own posts as motivation. While I have been itching to make a post on how all of my spring races went down, time & life hasn’t allowed for that.

In my bathroom, the ledge of my tub is used for air-drying sweaty clothes & beachwear {often times, I can rarely find space for the newest sweaty garb with the prior worn ones still drying out, haha!}. But that ledge is also used for stashing my race bib/medal until my blog about the particular race has been written. And currently….. there are 5 race bibs sitting there. Yikes. Plus a few Lego creations, if I am being honest. #boymom I know some would say just “get over it” & start fresh; & that’s kind of what I want to do. But I am also an OCD, organized, Type-A freakazoid, so I feel like each race should at least be mentioned. So, here goes a quick {hopefully!} post about how my spring went/how the summer is going thus far!

~April~

Dismal Swamp Stomp Half Marathon: 1:51:48 {8:35/mile}

National Women’s Half Marathon: 1:41:42 {7:46/mile}

Two races—1 went awful {first really hot day of the season} & 1 went perfect {unseasonably cool}. Mother Nature was definitely the predictor of my April races outcome. The second of the two halfs brought home a PR {wooohooooo!}. After training with Coach Sarah since the beginning of March, I knew a half PR would eventually come… but I honestly didn’t expect it until the Fall. Sarah knew better though—she’s an awesome & very intuitive coach. Sure I had put the work in, but a sub-1:42 seemed pretty far off! But, like a good coach should be, she was right & I ran my fastest half that day through the streets of DC!! Ultimately, this PR has helped shape my mentality & racing plans for the Fall.

~May~

CHKD 8K: 39:02 {7:52/mile} *2^nd place age group; 8^th female overall*

Chicago Ragnar Relay, 3 legs for 17.81 miles total: 2:29:31 {8:23/mile}

One of my favorite annual races, the race that benefits the hospital where I have worked for 13+ years {CHKD} was held on another hot day. I wasn’t so concerned with time, as I knew a PR was next to impossible; but I did want to place well amongst my fellow lady competitors—check! This was a fun race as I got to see a bunch of ladies, who I had been working with & guiding their training through the local Fit4Mom franchise, complete their 8Ks! Hard work pays off! A few days later, my Ragnar team packed our bags & headed to the Windy City for another fantastic 200ish mile relay {aka party with 11 of your closest friends!}. While the sights during my time on the course were kind of bland compared to the other relay races I have done, the weekend itself was a BLAST!! I could write an entire book on the shenanigans of that weekend, but I’ll spare you the details. Just make sure you follow our Facebook page when we venture to our next Ragnar!

~June~

OK5K: 22:30 {7:15/mile} *1^st place age group; 5^th female overall*

Last months’ 5K result came as an actual surprise. My coach says I am capable of faster, & maybe I am, but I am completely happy with the official time! It was the 2^nd fastest 5K I have ever run & it came on a hot, sunny day in June. Anyone who knows me knows that I prefer 30 degree weather over 70 degree weather, for running at least! So to be only 17 seconds from a PR…. AMAZE-balls! I am excited to see what I can do when the dew point isn’t at the level of the Devils backside. Is it Fall yet?!???!!!

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So that’s what I have been up to race-wise. Running-wise, it’s been all miles, miles, miles! And I’m just LOVING IT, as is my body. Prior to the tibial plateau fracture that side-lined most of 2017, I was a pretty much injury-free runner. I had the occasional IT band twinge, but nothing a break from speedwork for a few days & an ART visit couldn’t fix. I am finally feeling like that runner over the last few months. I have said it before, but I am in awe of what the body can do.

Just to put things into a little perspective—

My peak weekly mileage for the Tokyo Marathon {current marathon PR}, was 60.13 miles. My average mileage for that race, over the 12 weeks of training, was 40 miles/week.

I hired McKirdy Trained, specifically coach Sarah Bishop, on March 5^th during the start of my Shamrock Marathon taper. Following the marathon, I took an entire week off. Zero, zilch, nada miles for a full 7 days. Then, we got to work. That puts us at March 26^th, 14 weeks ago. In that time, I have run 679.33 miles, for an average of 45.5 per week {max: 56.51 miles / min: 36.01 miles}. Definitely more miles than ALL of my FIVE marathon training cycles! Insane. And the even crazier part, I feel GOOD. Like real good. Healthy good.

I know, I know… that’s a lot of numbers in the preceding paragraph, for my non-math friends; but the gist is: I am running more & feeling great!

Most runs are slow jaunts {2-3 minutes per mile SLOWER than 5K pace}, with a handful of faster miles each week. I am keeping up with a monthly Trigger Point Therapy or Deep Tissue Massage—which I think makes all the difference in the world. But the real kicker {pun intended!} for me personally—which I believe has kept me healthy—is my rotating of 3-4 pairs of shoes & not letting said shoes accumulate too many miles. Running shoes are not the place to be frugal, folks! My only “sacrifice” with running so many miles each week is lack of time for strength training. I am however trying to re-incorporate that component this week, while still enjoying the summer with my sweet babies.

So what’s next?? Well, first off is a 5K tomorrow. Then a few other shorter races prior to Fall. I have my heart set on a sub-1:40 half marathon this Fall {signed up for 4 chances to do this in Sept-Nov!} & although I swore off another marathon in 2017, I have entertained the idea of a December marathon. Eeeekkk! Dream big, baby!

But, the big thing I am looking forward to in the nearest future is attending my first altitude training camp! Next month, I head to Flagstaff for 5 days of running fun. I get to be around running-obsessed-weirdos like me & I couldn’t be happier!

So that’s about it! I hope this was more concise than prior blog posts, as I have been told I am quite long-winded. HA!

Stay cool this summer & stay strong my fellow moms/dads at home with the kiddos… school will return before we know it {because let’s be honest, I doubt I’ll find another block of time to write a post for another few months}!

Happy Running!!