18 mile run... I mean 16 mile run.

This Saturday was our 18-19 mile group run with my running group. It was a gorgeous day to run, at 8AM we started our run, it was about 50 degrees with a perfect breeze, and the sun peaking through the clouds. Within the next hour the sun was fully out, 60ish degrees, birds chirping, everyone seemed to be out doing things in their yards, washing their cars, taking their dogs for a walk, just anything to be outside. I loveeeeeeee Spring!!!

I knew we were running pretty close to my apartment, so I decided to take a little detour and go pick up my favorite running partner, Ella! (see above map & doodles)It worked out perfectly because I could go change into a t-shirt and replace my sweaty hat. I was feeling pretty tired, but my lil' partner made the rest of my run fly by! Right when I went back on to our running path my "pace" group was just passing by. It worked out really well. My run was awesome, and I didn't have to worry about taking Ella on a walk after the long run. I wish I had a Gamin to check my pace. The last 4 miles of the run with my pup were fast, I ended up passing my pace group(or the group of people that I recognize as a pace group). I would guess that I was at about a 7:30-7:45 pace during my run.

Yesterday I got some new running gear for the Flying Pig Marathon at Dick's Sporting Goods... I think I found my new obsession... Under Armour compression running pants. They felt so good, I ended up putting them on as soon as I got home, and wearing them the rest of the day!

I also got a bright pink UA sports bra tank (so my family can spot me.. okay okay because it's Pink!) I also resorted back to my trusty Wave Mizuno's, (not the fancy, more stylish ones that I was oh-so-excited about in previous posts), and my favorite socks, SmartWool running socks.

I'm geared up, trained, and ready to run... 26 days...


my favorite little but mighty running partner!

weight gain during marathon training

I thought I was crazy when I stepped on the scale the other day. I have gained 11 lbs. since December!!!!!! (I don't want to sound like a typical girl...)

all my Small workout pants are overly tight, and my Mediums are fitting semi snug too... I do not think I'm fat by any means... but I look/feel thick compared to what I looked like pre-training. I'm not happy about my new shape, but am happy about feeling like I'm in great shape, and that I am a running machine. I feel confident for my first time that I will finish a marathon, usually it's like "i think i can do it, but i dont know?!"

I did a google search... look what I found... whew.. I'm not going crazy:

Question: Why Am I Gaining Weight During Marathon Training?
I thought I would lose weight when training for a marathon, but I actually have gained weight! Why is that?

Answer: You're not alone. Some marathoners-in-training hope to lose weight during their training, but they're surprised when they actually gain a few pounds or hit a weight loss plateau. One explanation is that as you're training, you're building more muscle mass, which is denser than fat. So while that may translate to an overall weight gain, your body fat percentage has decreased and you're more toned than you were before.
Also, you may have been increasing your calorie intake without realizing it. Keep in mind that running a lot does not give you carte blanche to eat whatever you want. The basic principle for weight loss still applies: You must burn more calories than you consume. To lose a pound, you have to burn, through exercise or life functions, about 3600 calories.

With all the calories you burn by running, some people are surprised when they don't lose weight during marathon training, but they forget that they're inhaling a quart of ice cream and a dozen Oreos for a snack after their run. Make sure you stock your kitchen with healthy foods, so when the "post-run hungries" hit, you'll be prepared with nutritious foods, not empty calories. It's normal to feel hungry when training for a marathon. Just try to stick to healthy foods and snacks.

It's also helpful to track your food intake in a training journal. It will make you think twice about the foods you're putting in your mouth and also help you figure out what foods work best for you.

Another area where long distance runners get into trouble is drinking too many calories. Just because you're training for a marathon doesn't mean that you need to constantly drink sugary sports drinks. While it's important that you replace electrolytes during your long runs, you don't need to constantly have a sports drink at your fingertips the rest of the time. Stay away from fruit juices and regular soda since they also add a lot of calories to your diet, but don't make you feel full. Plain water is fine for staying hydrated during the week.

If you've been eating a nutritious diet and you still find that you're gaining weight, try not to focus too much on that number on the scale. It could be inaccurate since our weight does fluctuate depending on what time of the day or month we weigh ourselves. Pay attention to other measurements such how your clothes are fitting, how toned you feel, body fat percentage, or inches lost. And if you really want to lose weight, remember that healthy weight loss takes time. Even with all the running that you're doing, you should not aim to lose more than a pound a week. So, try to be patient.

Foto Friday - Mini Heart Marathon 15k

I don't think I mentioned that the Mini Heart Marathon was essentially running from my WORK to my HOME, and then back to WORK... I think this made the race mentally hard, because I make this drive daily!

i felt terrible, last .3 miles of the 9.3 mile race... 2 thumbs up? sarcastic?! (no one usually feels good at this point)

do you spy the hotpants?!

my face is priceless!
crossing the finish line @ 74 mins. (clearly not happy about my time!)

www.Athlinks.com

I found a few of my races, and made an account:
http://www.athlinks.com/racer.aspx?rid=48706165

It's such a cool concept! You just type your name in, and the website finds different races you may have run/biked/swam in.

heart mini marathon 15k results

I hate to be Debbie Downer, but it was my worst race I've ever run... I was negative when I woke up, I didn't even want to go. (it was rainy/windy/30ish degrees)

I woke up so late that I didn't eat breakfast, I ended up eating a GU in the car. I forgot my ipod at home. I wore brand new running shoes. I ran alone.

My first mile I felt good, but before I hit the 2nd mile mark, I started to sound like a horse... my shoes felt like they had bricks in them... I'm not sure what it wrong with my new fancy shoes, but I think I like my older cheaper style better. I was cussing in my head the entire race, I didn't have nutrition, Advil, or my ipod to keep me going. By mile 6 I was ready to pass out, I started walking up the highest elevation on the course and walked to the side to ask the Medical peeps to hook me up with ANYTHING with Sugar. I was so dizzy! I took the O.J. and chugged for a bit then made up a story in my head that it was magic super man juice and that this will save my race. Fortunately I made it to the top of the hill just in time for my super juice to kick in. So I got to fly down the hill and pass all the people that passed me while I was nearly passing out/walking up the hill. I know that tiny bit of the race that I walked was going to mess up my entire run... I kept repeating I drank the magic juice, i now have super powers in my head... and other crazy thoughts to just try to stay positive. I passed mile 7... WHEW... I didn't think I'd even make it that far... 1 more mile left.... STRAIGHT UP A HILL... I just kept looking for crowd support and people cheering and the finish line. The weather was so rainy/windy/cold... there weren't that many supporters. I decided to say a few words to a guy next to me so I could have anything to think about but my negativity. I had a half mile left and finally saw the finish line... I wanted to quit, I was just done... my superman juice failed me and I was on E. I just kept going... the last .3 of the 9.3 ...one of the coaches from my flying pig training group tapped my on my shoulder... YAY finally... someone to keep me going... I was at this point about to faint... he just talked me through it, and we crossed the line at 1:14:01.

After the race I ate a banana and had an energy water, and couldn't believe I actually finished in an okay time, for how bad I felt, and nearly passing out. I was still really mad at myself for preparing right, staying in the night before, training groups, new music on my ipod... but not remembering to EAT breakfast, bring my ipod, wear comfy shoes!?!?? I should have at least ran it at a 7:30 pace(from my weekly runs with the training group)! not 7:58. Oh well... NEXT year I'll know what NOT to do :)

I feel very lucky to have my friends, runninduff, and family cheering me on through texts, emails, and messages... thank you!

Results:

bib#4658
name:Danielle

overall: 540
division place: 28 , out of 330 25-29 y/o women
women: 116, place out of 1624
10k time: 49:09
first mile: 6:50
last mile: 7:27
final time: 1:14:01
average pace: 7:58




Article from the Cincinnati Enquirer about the race: "Hip and back problems made 2008 pretty much of a “waste” for Chris Reis. He’s hoping to get back on track on 2009.

Reis took a big step on that journey Sunday with a win in the 15-kilometer Heart Mini-Marathon. Reis ran the course, most of which was on chilly, wet and windswept Columbia Parkway, in 49:03 – far below the times with which he won three consecutive Heart 15-k before sitting out last year’s, but still somewhat satisfying.

“I’m getting there,” the 27-year-old Delhi native said. “This wasn’t the greatest day for proving your fitness.”

Reis finished exactly a full minute ahead of Chris Herren. Last year’s winner, Brian List, finished third at 50:19.


They dealt with temperatures in the 30s, intermittent rain and swirling winds that never settled on one direction. "

heart mini marathon 15k 3/29/09

Goal is 1 hour and 10 mins....

crossing my fingers!!

Course: http://www.heartmini.org/documents/CourseMap.pdf




Elevations
(ft above sea level)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fountain Square 551
2K turnaround 529
5K turnaround 578
10K turnaround 564
15K turnaround 513

blisters...?!

I ran about 9 miles with my training group on Wednesday in our "hill" run workout in my new Mizuno's and awesome new Smart Wool sox. I have a huge/deep blister, and have a 17 mile run tomorrow morning at 8AM. How do I run the 17 miles with my blister? it's popped, opened, and "drying out". I know this is gross.. but I seriously need advice.



Did I get it from the new shoes? were my socks not good enough? or was it hills and my new faster pace? all of the above?!


(yes I took this at work, notice the mat for my chair, if my co-workers caught me...how funny would that be!)


I feel like I have "broken in" feet, with calluses and thick skin... you name it.



Proof: I ran 2 marathons, and 1 half with only 1 or 2 tiny blisters on the tips of my toes.



Why now am I getting blisters on my arches? It's only happened recently, 2 wks ago in my old Mizuno's on a 14 mile run, and this week on a 9 mile run in my new shoes?



-slightly annoyed