Chicago Week 11 – Getting back in the Groove

August 25, 2019 by 22 Comments

Happy Sunday!

I have to say that I am way behind on replying to blog comments, so I first wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who commented or reached out on Instagram and Facebook to offer some words of encouragement! I was feeling pretty down after cutting last week’s long run short…and will admit to having a mild freak-out.

I’m happy to say that after an extra rest day I feel like I’m getting back into the groove. Here’s how this week went down.

Chicago Marathon Training Week 11

Monday — A much-needed rest day!

Tuesday — 5-mile run. The humidity was off the charts again, but my legs were feeling good so I was all smiles.

Wednesday — 6 miles on the treadmill. I just couldn’t bring myself to face another run in the humidity so I opted for a trip to the gym for a mill run.

Thursday — Had a fun day off from work with the family that included arcade games, mini-golf, and way too much ice cream!

Getting back into the groove for week 11 of @chimarathon training! #marathontraining #mychicagomarathon #runchat Share on X

Friday — Another day off from work to celebrate my husband’s birthday! I got him to join me for my run and 6.2 miles were done!

Saturday — 16 miles – a new first! Thankfully, the weather was near perfect, in the low 60s when I started and just 72 by the time I finished. Running 16 miles solo was definitely a mental challenge! Physically, it was a pretty good run through mile 12, things got a little rocky for miles 13 & 14 before I got back on track for the last 2 miles.

Sunday — 4-mile recovery run.

Total miles for the week – 37.2
Total miles on the road to Chicago – 258.3

In addition to my runs, there was daily PT exercises, planking, and time spent on active recovery. All this combined with a bit more sleep definitely helped to make for a better week! Hoping this trend continues as I take on week 12.

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

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Filed Under: Chicago Marathon, marathon training, Weekly Run Down

Chicago Week 10 – Zzzs wanted

August 18, 2019 by 16 Comments

Week 10 is done and there’s no sugar-coating it – it was a rough one!

The combination of a chaotic and stressful work schedule, an ITB flare-up, and ongoing sleep struggles made for a perfect storm.

Chicago Marathon Training Week 10

Monday — Yoga and a trip to the acupuncturist to try to calm a cranky ITB.

Tuesday — The legs were feeling much better and despite another night of lousy sleep, I was able to get 5 early morning miles done.

Wednesday — 6 miles.

Thursday — My struggle for a good night sleep had caught up with me and I ended up hitting the snooze button a couple of times but still had enough time for a short run and some core work.

Friday — I was up and out the door early for round 1 of event set-up for work so there was no time for a morning run, but I did manage to sneak in 6 miles before the day was done.

Saturday — It was event day for work so I was up by 2:30 am to be out the door by 3 and on the road to the event location. 12 hours of final set-up, event management (including playing race director for a 5K/10K), and event tear-down followed. To say I was toast by the day’s end would be an understatement.

Sunday — Given yesterday’s non-stop pace, I knew it would be asking a lot to hit the 12 miles on my plan. My legs were not on board at all and by mile 4 I started to be concerned that I was going to do more harm than good if I continued. I called my husband to pick me up and by the time he got to me, I’d only hit 5 miles. Never a great feeling to cut a long run short but I think I made the right call.

Total miles for the week – 25.5
Total miles on the road to Chicago – 221.1

I am so glad to have this week behind me! Things should be quieter on the work-front this week, and best of all I have a couple of days off. My two big goals for the week are to focus on my PT exercises for my IT band and to get some much-needed sleep.

How was your week? Do you cut runs short or try to push through?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

 

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Filed Under: Chicago Marathon, marathon training, Weekly Run Down

Running Shoes – My Current Favorites

August 13, 2019 by 12 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say that a runner’s search for the perfect running shoes can sometimes feel like a neverending quest. Too often, just as you find your ideal shoe, the manufacturer decides to tweak the design for the following year’s model and then it no longer has the same feel, leaving you to start your search again. Sound familiar?

I’ve been down this path a couple of times. Thankfully, my latest quest seems to be on track.

Running Shoes – My Current Favorites

Back in January, after coming off a year of injuries, it felt like the right time to return to my favorite local running store for a fitting. It had been ages since I’d gone through the process, but it was well worth the time. The end result was a brand new pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19.

These shoes provide solid support and are nicely cushioned, though, at 9.6 oz, I do find them to be a tad heavy. I always like to have a couple of pairs of shoes in rotation, so when I came across a crazy sale on the GTS 18s in February, I picked up a pair.

Now yes, the support mechanism of the 18s varies from the 19s, but I find both pairs to be comfortable, and have had no issues rotating between the two.

Sharing my favorite running shoes on this week's Tuesday Topics! #runchat #ASICS #BrooksRunning Share on X

Then along came ASICS

As I started training for the Run to Remember half in the Spring, I wanted to find a lighter, more responsive shoe for speedwork. Enter the ASICS Gel-DS Trainer 24. And, oh my gosh, it was love at first run! I ran 5 miles in them right out of the box and, of late, I have to say I find myself reaching for this pair more and more.

There are so many elements I love about this shoe:

  • a roomy toe box with a narrow enough heel so you don’t feel like you’re sliding around
  • lightweight, knit upper which fits like a glove
  • designed for overpronators, they feel supportive without “over guiding” or too much weight
  • fun, fresh design (seriously the photos do not do the colors justice!)

I never expected to love these shoes as much as I do – especially on my long runs! I’m now debating whether this will be my marathon shoe or whether to go with the Adrenalines.

Do you run in more than one model of shoe? What’s your current favorite?

I am linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics.

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Filed Under: ASICS DS-Gel Trainer, Brooks Adrenaline, Running Shoes, Tuesday Topics

Chicago Marathon Training – Half way point

August 11, 2019 by 30 Comments

Chicago Marathon training week 9 is in the books which means I’ve officially reached the halfway point! Say what now?! This week definitely challenged me! Here’s how things went down.

Chicago Marathon Training Week 9

Monday — Rest day.

Tuesday — 4-mile run. I wasn’t feeling so hot in the morning so this became an afternoon run. And, given how stressful work was, this road therapy was so needed!

Wednesday — 6 miles and a glimpse of the start of a new day.

Thursday — 6.25 miles. While mile 1 was a sluggish mess, things quickly settled down and this ended being my best run of the week!

Friday — Rest day.

Saturday — 14.2 miles and a new personal distance record!

Sunday — A 4-mile recovery run is on the schedule for today, but my left knee wasn’t feeling so great this morning so I may opt for either a walk later or some yoga – or both.

Total miles for the week – 30.45
Total miles on the road to Chicago – 195.6

Week 9 is done and I'm halfway through Chicago Training! #runchat #running #mychicagomarathon #marathontraining Share on X

Managing the long runs

Saturday’s run went much better than last week’s 12-miler. I did a much better job of managing my fueling for this week’s long-run – though there’s still room for improvement. It also helped that the humidity of the past few days broke and temps were in the mid-60s for a majority of the run. Just like last week, I did the run in two parts: an 8-mile loop stopping at my house for a quick bathroom break and then on for the final 6.

The struggle bus started tailing me around the 10.5-mile mark, but thankfully I crossed paths with my oldest son who was out running 6 and he helped to “pace” me. While I couldn’t keep up with him, I made it my goal to just keep him in my sights and it really helped to have him to focus on. Self-doubt started to really creep in at 12-miles – I was starting to feel sore and tired, and the thought of two more miles felt like too much. Hearing my Garmin beep at 14 miles was just the sweetest sound!

Having tried a few different fueling options over the past three weeks, I’ve had the best results so far with SIS Salted Strawberry, along with Tailwind. So I’ll be ordering more SIS for the weeks ahead.

Overall, I’m really happy with the way my training’s been going so far and I’m ready for the next 9 weeks

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

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Filed Under: Chicago Marathon, marathon training, Weekly Run Down

Chicago Week 8 and August Goals

August 4, 2019 by 26 Comments

Each month I like to set a couple of monthly goals to help me stay on track. So with July now in the rearview mirror, it’s time to share some goals for August.

But first, a quick run down on week 8 of Chicago training.

Chicago Marathon Training Week 8

Monday — Rest day with mini golf, bowling, and arcade games on the side as part of my youngest son’s birthday celebration.

Tuesday — 5-mile run and a much-needed massage!

Wednesday — 6 miles. With this run, I hit 107.65 miles for July!

Thursday — 5-miles.

Friday — Rest day.

Chicago Marathon training wk 8 and some August goals #WeeklyRunDown #MyChicagoMarathon #MarathonTraining #Runchat Share on X

Saturday — 12 miles. I ran the first 6-miles as an out and back, which felt pretty good. But the next 6 miles were just plain u-g-l-y! It’s clear I still have work to do to figure out my pre-run and mid-run fueling because I felt like I had hit a wall by mile 9. The last 3 miles were just hard and I’m so grateful my husband had joined me for the final 6 miles.

Sunday — 4-mile recovery run. I was surprised at how fresh my legs felt, even on the hills.

Total miles for the week – 32
Total miles on the road to Chicago – 165.15

August Goals

  • Figure out my fueling and hydration strategy
  • 10 minutes of daily core work
  • Develop a consistent recovery routine — the key word here is consistent!
  • Continue to focus on self-care — massage, acupuncture and getting enough sleep!

I am really happy with the way my training went in July. Hopefully, these goals will help me to stay on track in August as the mileage grows.

How was your week? Any goals for August?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

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Filed Under: Chicago Marathon, goals, marathon training, Weekly Run Down

August Coffee Date

August 2, 2019 by 8 Comments

Hello August!

It’s the first weekend of the month and time to catch up over coffee. I’m joining Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date.

August Ultimate Coffee Date

Over coffee, I would tell you about the sheer chaos going on at my house at the moment. The painters we hired back in May have finally started working on our house. Thanks to a ridiculously rainy spring, they have been way behind schedule and were just able to start work here last week. After agonizing over paint colors, I cannot wait to see the final product!

Over coffee, I would tell you that the back-to-school drumbeat is starting to get louder and no one in my house wants to listen! I have started to quietly nag suggest that my boys start diving into their required reading books. But, I admit I cannot bring myself to brave the school supplies aisle at Target yet.

Over coffee, I would tell you that I’m really looking forward to taking some days off at the end of the month! This summer has just flown by far too quickly for me. There is still much left on my summer wishlist, so now the trick is to maximize my days off and still feel rested come Labor Day.

What would you tell me over coffee? Do you have any time off planned?

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Filed Under: Ultimate coffee date

Chicago Week 7 – Just Running

July 28, 2019 by 36 Comments

Is it possible to feel on one hand like the days are flying by, but on the other hand feel like this past week was the longest week ever?!

Well, that pretty much sums up my past week. It was a stressful work week, but training kept chugging along. I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down. This is a great link-up for motivation and inspiration!

Chicago Marathon Training Week 7

Monday – Rest Day!

Tuesday – 5-mile run. It was raining hard when my alarm went off so I pushed my run to the afternoon and was rewarded with a break in the heatwave!

Wednesday – 5 miles with Coach Marc. I always enjoy catching up with Marc for a run – it gives us a chance to talk about how training is going and I can work on my chi running form cues. As always, we spotted a lot of wildlife during the run, but seeing this little guy (and his friends) crossing the road stopped us in our tracks!

Thursday – 6 more miles plus yoga.

Friday – Rest day and a trip to the acupuncturist.

Saturday – 10 miles. This was just a hard run from start to finish. You know those days where you’re just not feeling the run – yeah that was this day for me.

Sunday – 3 miles. My husband and son decided to join me for my recovery run this morning – but truth be told, my son left us in the dust fairly quickly. He opted to do 4, we stuck with 3.

Total miles for the week – 29
Total miles on the road to Chicago – 133.15

I stuck with my plan for short strength/pre-hab workouts this week along with core work. As the miles increase, I think this will prove to be the best way to fit in some strength training.

So that’s my weekly run down! How was your week?

 

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Filed Under: Chicago Marathon, marathon training, Weekly Run Down

Sharing some July Runfessions

July 26, 2019 by 12 Comments

It is hard to believe we’re coming to the end of July already! Marcia has opened the runfessional and I’ve got a few things to share.

 July Runfessions

I’m sure this comes as no great surprise but I runfess that I am heat weary! I was pretty pleased that I was able to marshal through and stick to my training plan during last week’s heatwave. I am also certain that I did not have it in me to do it again! Thankfully temps have dropped this week.

And speaking of running in the heat – remember that idea I had to run a race each month this summer – yeah well I’m officially over it! I runfess that after facing scorching conditions for both the BAA 10K and the Gansett 10K, the idea of taking on a half marathon in August is just so unappealing to me right now. Luckily, I was smart enough to have held off on registering.

I runfess that my first attempt at running 5x/week wasn’t nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I think the key for me was really as simple as just taking it one run at a time and not thinking about “all the miles”. Since all went well, Coach Marc is going to have me stick with this approach for the foreseeable future.

Post-run recovery is going to be uber important as the miles continue to increase and I runfess that I’m very hit or miss in this department. I more often than not tend to blow this off largely due to time constraints. So the question becomes, just how early do I need to get up to fit it all in?!

So what are you runfessing? Are you good about post-run recovery?

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Filed Under: Runfessions

Chicago Marathon Training Week 6

July 21, 2019 by 34 Comments

The theme for this week was heat, humidity, run, repeat.  Week 6 of Chicago training is in the books! Here’s a recap of how it all played out.

Chicago Marathon Training Week 6

Monday — 4 miles plus plank series. A nice, uneventful early morning run.

Tuesday — Strength training. After missing my strength session last week, it felt great to get in a solid workout focusing on hips, glutes, and abs.

Wednesday — 5 miles, at tempo pace plus plank series.  Just like last week, this mid-week run was the highlight of the week. I hit my target pace and felt strong despite the rising dew point.

Thursday — 4.25 miles plus plank series. Tired, just tired – it was a slog from beginning to end. Thankfully, I had a massage scheduled in the afternoon – so needed!

Friday — Rest day!

Saturday — 8 miles on scorched earth!

Post-run deep breath!

Sunday — 8 miles on the treadmill

Total miles for the week — 29.25

Total miles on the road to Chicago — 104.15 (My son had asked how many miles I’ve logged so far so I thought I’d start keeping track)

Running 5x’s in a week

I ran 5 days this week and survived! Week 6 of @Chimarathon training is done! #weeklyrundown #mychicagomarathon #marathontraining #runchat Share on X

Last Sunday Coach Marc sent me an email saying that he wanted me to try running 5 days/week. I will admit that I was a little nervous when I saw the week’s plan, but I’ve said from the beginning that my goal with this training plan has been to 1) – trust the plan and 2) be willing to get out of my comfort zone.

All-in-all, running 5 days wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. My strategy was to just run the mile I was in and not worry too much about what was coming next.

The weather, of course, added to the challenge. Mother Nature seemed to up her game daily in the heat & humidity department and took things to a whole new level by the weekend. Overall, I feel like I managed Saturday’s run pretty well, but it was clear to me by how drained I felt Saturday night that I was just not up for a repeat performance. So, for as much as I am not a fan of treadmill running, it proved to be the lesser of two evils this morning.

Thankfully, this heatwave should break by Tuesday and logging miles should hopefully feel a little easier.

How are you holding up in this heat?

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

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Filed Under: Chicago Marathon, marathon training, Summer running, Weekly Run Down

Narragansett Summer Running Festival 10K Recap

July 16, 2019 by 11 Comments

Last Saturday I ran my second race of the summer – the Narragansett Summer Running Festival 10K!

Narragansett Summer Running Festival

The Narragansett Summer Running Festival is a two-day event held on the Stonehill College campus. The 5K and 10K were held on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday. Runners also had the option of running the “Beat the Heat” challenge – combining either the 5 or 10K  with the half.

Knowing that the access road into the campus could get a little congested, J and I had planned to meet my brother by 6:45. I love that this race was just a 25 min drive from my house and we breezed in and parked with no issue. We took a short walk down the hill to pick up our bibs & t-shirts and then went back to the cars to hang in the shade & stretch.

No medal but a cute shirt design

About a half-hour before the 5K start, we made our way down to the start area. Despite having about 15 porta-potties there were just two really long lines. With the clock ticking, one of the race staff finally got the lines reorganized into multiple lines and things moved a lot better.

The Race

The 5K was set to go off at 8, with the 10K starting at 8:30. Final announcements were made, a recording of the national anthem played, and the 5K started right on time. The sun was already intense and we did what we could to hide in the shade of the buildings for as long as possible. The 10Kers were called to line up by 8:20, took a group photo (I kid you not), and we were off promptly at 8:30.

The course was a winding loop through the campus – a mix of paved road, gravel, grass, and even a couple of wooden bridges. Without any form of self-seeding, the start was a bit jumbled. To get out in the open, I knew I had definitely started out way too fast, and would probably pay for it later. J’s hamstring was giving him trouble so he dropped back to take a walk break while my brother and I continued on. As we circled back to the start area, we reached the course’s only hill which led to the finish line and the start of the 2nd 5K loop. We powered past runners on the hill and could hear the music coming from the race’s after-party.

I will admit it was tough to see many of the 5kers already done, enjoying the after-party, and knowing we had another loop to run. By now it was getting really hot, and the second loop became a game of “run for the shade”. At about the 4.5-mile point, we were once again out on an open field and I was ready to be done. We both took a short walk break before making another push. We fell into conversation with a woman named Katie who we had been leapfrogging along the course. My brother was feeling pretty good and when I took another short walk break I encouraged him to keep going. I had hoped to catch up with him but didn’t see him again until the finish line.

Katie was still with me as we approached the hill and one of the race staff told us we only had 600 yards to go. I made one more strong push up the hill and passed a couple of runners as I made the final turn towards the finishing chute. I was happy to finish 3 minutes faster than last month’s 10K. We waited for J to finish and then it was time to hit the beer tent!

All smiles post-race!

Each runner got two beer tickets and there was a choice of 5 beers. I opted for the watermelon shandy which was so refreshing! There was live music and a small collection of vendors, including a massage therapist offering free rubdowns. With plenty of shaded areas to sit and hang out, no one seemed in a rush to leave. Katie and a friend of hers who had also run found us and the five of us hung out for a while enjoying the beers and trading running stories.

Final Thoughts

Race organizers did a great job with pre-race communications. Parking and bib pick up was super easy. And, despite the winding course, it was well marked and there were enough volunteers at all the key points to avoid confusion. The volunteers were also super friendly and encouraging.

While I wasn’t a fan of running over the gravel, the course is fairly flat, with just the one hill at the end of each loop and the Stonehill campus is really pretty which made for a nice backdrop.

My only criticisms are that it would have been helpful to have one volunteer stationed at the porta-potties earlier to avoid the long lines, and I would have preferred some form of self-seeding at the start. Post-race it would have been great to have more food options other than granola bars.

Overall, this race had a fun atmosphere and was really well organized, and I definitely look forward to running it again!

I’m linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics.

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Filed Under: family running, Narragansett Running Festival, race report