Going early, going long.

Some days, I don't even know who I am.

Some days, it seems, I'm an early morning runner. That is not me. Not at all.

Except for when I am training for a marathon. In the middle of the summer. Then, apparently, I turn into that strange being that is the early morning runner.

And I don't mind it -- mostly. So odd, right?

Now, I usually do all of my long runs in the morning and some other runs as well. But when I've done those long runs, they've been at fairly civilized times. 7:30, perhaps. Or 8:00. Times that allow me to sleep until at least 7. Nothing crazy.

On Friday, though, I had 16 miles on the schedule and one of my running pals had to get in to work after the run. So we needed to get out early. Which meant I woke up in the 5s!

Nuttiness.

But I did it. 16 hilly, early-morning miles. Done. The first 10 miles were with Bridget and Elisa and they were full of conversation. The last 6 miles were done alone. Miles 11-14 were run right around marathon goal pace (8:51).

The last two miles were run right around barely running pace. I was dragging. With a mile and a half to go, I wanted to scrap the whole thing. Not just the run but the whole marathon training.

I gave myself a virtual slap upside the head, got back in the game and ran on. I finished the whole 16  miles. And the benefit of starting so early? I still had the whole day ahead of me.

Then, on Tuesday, I got up in the 5s again! This time, to meet a neighbor for an easy run.

We ran a little less than 4 miles together and I ran a mile on my own. I hadn't run with my neighbor since before my half marathon in May so it was good to catch up. Even if it did mean seeing these numbers on the clock when I woke up:

Who am I?

Still the same happy runner, for sure. Just with the renewed ability to bust out some miles early in the morning!

That's what marathon training does, I guess!

Enjoy the rest of your week, everyone!

Let's remember the Run to Remember.

So, it has been, I don't know, over 3 weeks since I ran Boston's Run to Remember half marathon. Not a big deal, really, but odd for me because I like to write race reports somewhat soon after the actual races. By now, this race report is old, old news.

I guess my reporting is going the way that my training and eventual racing did.

Ah, yes. The race.

Well, let me start by saying I learned a few things about myself while running 13.1 miles in Boston. For starters, I now know that I can be one heck of a head-case during a race. Seriously. I also now know that I need to have a race goal. Doesn't have to be a stretch goal or anything aggressive. I just need a goal -- or else I turn into that head-case I mentioned.

Anyway -- race weekend started great. I went over to Boston with friends -- rode with Elisa and then Janis, Bridget, Kara and Caitlin followed us.

Janis, Elisa, me, Bridget, Kara, Caitlin.

After a few wrong turns, we made it to the expo for packet pickup. We picked up our packets, took some goofy pics, and bought t-shirts. Because that's what you when you're away for a race. Buy t-shirts.

At the Expo!

After the expo we checked-in at the hotel, hung out a bit and decided to walk over to Boston Common. It was a beautiful day and it was nice to stretch our legs on the walk and to do a little people watching.

Why on earth did we all have to put our hands on the frog?

Then, we went to dinner. We found a restaurant within walking distance and had delicious meals. Unfortunately, when we went to walk back to hotel, it was raining. What's a little rain, we asked ourselves. We're tough . . .

So we walked on. And then it started to pour. 

So we walked faster. It poured harder.

We then ran down the streets -- finding an awning, huddling under it, running on. We were drenched. Saturday night fun for the half-marathoners!

Under one of the many awnings that provided cover as we made our way back to the hotel in the pouring rain.

Sunday morning came wicked early and before I knew it we were piling into a (too small) cab on our way to the race. The Run to Remember was the largest race I've ever run. I think they said there were about 12,000 people registered for the half and the 5-mile races.

I lined up at the 8:30 pace flag. I felt so unsettled because, as I said, I had no goal. I knew that my training was not nearly strong enough to beat my PR (1:46:12) that I ran in October. And I pretty much knew that it would be hard for me to finish under 1:50. Truthfully, I wanted to. But, I told myself that anything under 1:55 would be fine. I'd be happy. Just run your own race. Run strong. Run smart.

Running through the streets of Boston was great. The first mile was tough because it was so packed. Then, I noticed I was pushing too hard so my second mile was too fast.

At some point, I went bonkers in my own head. I was having a tough time. I couldn't push the pace at all. It was a struggle run 8:30 miles. And it got in my head. By about halfway through the race, all I could think was, if running this half is this hard, how am I ever to run a marathon at an 8:45 pace? I can't do it. I might as well change my registration now and save myself tons of tears later.

Looking back, I have to wonder why my thoughts went from the present -- half-marathon in May -- to the far-away future -- marathon in October. It was not good thinking. It was defeatist and it slowed me down and made the race harder than it had to be.

Not having a goal also contributed to my nutty thinking. Sure, I lined up at the 8:30 pace flag but I also had a thought that I might be able to go faster. I ran a 48:56 10K two weeks before the half-marathon so I kinda thought I might be able to go under 1:50. But my training had been all over the place so I just wasn't confident. And I had no plan.

Wah, wah, wah.

In the end, I crossed the line in 1:51:18. It was a tough 1:51. Mentally, very tough.

I wasn't disappointed in my time but I was really disappointed in my mental attitude while I was running and how I let myself think such negative thoughts over and over and over again during the race. It was unlike me and it was not good!

What was good, however, was watching Kara finish her first half marathon. After grabbing some refreshments, I made my way up to the meeting spot and eventually met up with the rest of my friends. We were able to watch Kara run to the finish and I cheered for her with all my might. It was terrific! She did great.

So did everyone else! Caitlin ran her first half-marathon, too, but I didn't get to see her finish. Overall, it was a great time.

Finishers!

After the race, we cleaned up, put on our new t-shirts, and headed out to stuff our faces with lots of yummy, greasy food! Post-race food is the best.

And then we headed home and race weekend was over. But, no worries, we're already planning the next one!

Here's a look at my mile splits:

Mile 1: 8:49
Mile 2: 7:46
Mile 3: 7:59
Mile 4: 8:15
Mile 5: 8:01
Mile 6: 8:20
Mile 7: 8:31
Mile 8: 8:20
Mile 9: 8:25
Mile 10: 8:21
Mile 11: 8:35
Mile 12: 8:45
Mile 13: 8:18
last .1: 8:03 pace

OK, so, those aren't bad splits, which makes my negative thoughts during the race even worse. Well, I guess I know what I have to work on this summer! My mental game. For sure.

Overall time: 1:51:18
Overall pace: 8:30
Age group place (female, 40-49): 89 out of 828


Thanks for sticking around and reading my long race report! If you have any tried-and-true tips for improving your mental game, hit me up. I can use all the help I can get!

In the meantime, have a great day!

The Spring Runoff 10K.

So far, this here month of May is shaping up to be a good one.

On Saturday, I ran a 10K. Not a goal race, not even a race I'd been planning to run. Just a 10K that had been on my mind for a bit and that I decided earlier in the week to run.

I went to the race with Bridget and Janis and we met up with Kara at the registration table and set out to run 2 miles before the race started. We did -- but those 2+ miles were goofy. We ran with our goody bags back to Bridget's car. Break. Then we ran for about a mile until we hit the bathrooms. Another break. Then we ran toward Kara's car -- only we couldn't get there because we went the wrong way and it ended up that there were train tracks in our way and we had no interest in jumping them! So, another break.

Finally, we hit the starting line warmed-up from our almost 2.5 miles.

I said good luck to my friends and kept my eye out for my cousin, Kate. I found her and her boyfriend, Felix, and their friend Kyla just before the race started. After the start, I ran with Felix for about a minute before he sped off (and finished in a wicked fast 45:14 -- 7th overall!).

Look at me, hanging with the 20-somethings --

Me, Kate, Kyla, Felix

I had it in my mind that I would try to run 8 minute miles and that I would restrain myself and run a slower first half than second.

Now, if you've ever read one of my race reports, you know that I am just about the worst race starter there is. I start too fast. Pretty much every single time I race. Seriously.

On Saturday, though, I paced myself and ran a smart, strong, solid race. Check out the splits for my first 3 miles:

Mile 1: 8:00
Mile 2: 7:50
Mile 3: 7:51

The race was an out-and-back course, going out for a 5K and then turning around at a cone and going back to the finish for 5K. At the turn-around, a nice volunteer yelled out our 5K splits. Mine was 24:39.

Heading back, I got to see all my friends who were racing and give them some high-5s. It was so invigorating! I think that boost helped me run a faster second half. Well, that and holding myself back for those first miles.

Here are the rest of my mile splits:

Mile 4: 7:45
Mile 5: 7:46
Mile 6: 7:47
last .2: 7:43 pace

Hello, negative splits! I love it.

My friend Elisa made me smile with about a half mile to go.

 
It was a great race. I felt like I was definitely pushing myself, but also running well within my capabilities. The only downer was that my wonky pelvis couldn't contain itself and I felt discomfort in my right hip and hamstring for most of the race. Not cool.

I didn't dwell too much on that because I was busy cheering enthusiastically for my friends and family as they crossed the finish line!

Strong Running Mamas! Jennifer, Janis, me, Kara, Bridget, Elisa

Bridget, Janis and I had to book-it home so we took off before wishing friends -- including our best cheerleader, Elisa -- good luck in the 5K. And then we took our racers' highs out into the world of baseball games and birthday parties. You know, the regular weekend mom stuff!

Here are my race stats:

Overall time: 48:56
Overall pace: 7:53
Age group (F 40-49): 1 out of 15
Overall female: 5 out of 76
Overall place: 15 out of 127

Oh! That's right, I was first in my age group. How's that for a good race?

Now, I'm feeling all kinds of ready for the half-marathon. Just 3 weeks to go!

Thanks for stopping by -- and have a great week!

Strong Running Mama: Diane Montes Harris

Today's Strong Running Mama will prove to you all that you should never give up.

For real. Just check out this story . . .

Diane Montes Harris is a 46-year-old mother of two (Calvin, 20, and Elaine, 19) who works in sales. Both her husband and her son are in the New York Army National Guard -- her son is currently stationed in Kuwait and her husband spent 2012 in Bahrain.

She is also fast. Diane has a marathon PR of 3:53:33 and right now, she is training for the Boston Marathon and will run seven half-marathons in the first half of 2014. Check out her fast times (PRs):

Marathon, 3:53:33
Half marathon: 1:47:22  
Army Ten Miler: 1:20:42 
5K: 23:01

Impressive, right? Yes, for sure. However, even more impressive (to me, at least) and extremely inspirational is where Diane was before she posted her speedy times.

In 1999, Diane was skiing with friends at West Mountain in icy conditions. As she says:

"I volunteered to check things out and determine the safest route down. I stopped at a juncture and did a 'Suzy Chafee swish' (if you ever saw the old Chapstick commercials). My right leg and ski turned. My left leg turned -- but not the ski. There was lots of incredible pain. After a stretcher run down the mountain, they took me to Glens Falls Hospital where they pumped me with A LOT of morphine and determined they didn't know where to start."

Diane would later learn that one place they started was to consider amputation.

Fortunately, that didn't happen:

"I didn't know about the original prognosis or plans until after the heavy sedation lifted. I was not in decision-making mode; luckily the orthopedic surgeon had a plan. It involved dealing with acute compartment syndrome (swelling due to trauma) and an external fixator (looks like a bird cage, they will use this to treat spinal/neck injuries in motorcycle accident victims, for instance). I was only 'freaked out' when, after a couple of weeks, the doctor said I'd never run again and would always walk with a limp! That was unacceptable to me. My kids were 4 and 5 1/2 at the time . . . I was a single mother then, and there were many things I both needed and planned to do with them that involved a high activity level! I never learned the status of my ACL or MCL; I asked, and the doctor said, 'You don't want to know.' That was probably the right answer."

Diane was in the hospital for two weeks with a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula, and shattered tibial plateau.  She spent six months in an external fixator and seven months on crutches. Gradually, she was able to walk without crutches or a cane.

"First it was .1 mile (I remember that one in particular). Then .25 miles. Then a half mile. Eventually I worked up to walking 4-5 miles a day. One day I walked about 12 miles, just because. Then I joined a gym and in addition to weight training I walked on the treadmill. Then I wondered if I could run .  . . worked up a walk/run pattern for a while and got to 2 miles straight.

Eventually I started running outside and about the same time talked to a couple of family friends who were running the SEFCU Labor Day 5K. One of these friends and I then ran a 5K together every month for the following year except either January or February. Later that year (2010), I tried the Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K. Then another friend talked me into the 2011 Mohawk Hudson Half Marathon.  That was so much fun, I had to do a full. I bombed that at 4:10 (injured, sister with breast cancer, husband deployed in Bahrain, more excuses available if needed) so to redeem myself I then ran 4 marathons in 4 months in 2013 (Feb through May), and became a Marathon Maniac before running last year's 5th in October.

So I credit/blame my friend Frank for encouraging me to do my first series of 5Ks, my friend Cynthia for getting me into distance ("why bother with the Boilermaker 15K? Just do a half marathon!") and my husband for buying me a Garmin."

Smiling her way through the Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon

Pretty awesome -- for anyone, let alone someone who almost lost her leg and who was in an external fixator for six months!

Diane has had to deal with some running injuries as well. Last fall, before the Mohawk-Hudson Marathon she had really bad Plantar Fasciitis for which she went to a physical therapist for intense calf massage that helped get her through.

Some of Diane's favorites:

Running gear: "Yaktrax (Pro version) – they have made winter running possible!"

Place to run: "Anywhere flat. I live in a hilly area, so anytime I can get a break from hills I’m happy!"

Race:  "Army Ten Miler"

Time to run: "I'm almost exclusively a morning runner – except when including hill/speed workouts with training partners. It’s easier to prioritize when running early in the day – the rest of the world may change what happens as the day goes on, but early mornings are mine." 

 

Most memorable running achievement: "I ran four marathons between February and May 2013, qualifying as a 'Marathon Maniac' and the March marathon yielded a BQ time!"

 

Yeah, that would seem a bit memorable to me!

One thing that has helped Diane run all of these marathons is having training partners. 

"For my first half marathon in 2011, I trained with a woman who became a good friend – and remains one of my dearest friends.  She suggested I join a training team for my first marathon; many of the folks from the 2012 training group are still my training partners and good friends, and we now travel together to other races.  There’s something about the support, motivation, camaraderie – something that happens as you go through the trenches together – that makes the finish line so much more special.  Not only are you celebrating your own accomplishment, but the triumphs of those around you.  And on rough days or after a rough finish, you don’t have to explain yourself -- you know that someone understands exactly what you’re going through."

As someone who used to run alone all the time, but now values running and training with friends, I believe Diane is right on!

Speaking of running with friends . . . I asked Diane what "strong running mama" means to her:

"To me, that means two things: First, a woman who’s willing and able to give herself the gift of fitness, health, strength, accomplishment – not at the expense of family responsibilities, but as an integral part of who she is/her identity within the family (it’s very easy to always put everyone’s needs first and run out of time for oneself); second, we all know our kids learn by watching what we do, not what we say.  Placing a value on physical activity and health, and demonstrating how to work that in as an important part of life is a HUGE life lesson.  (i.e., my daughter completed the Mohawk Hudson Half Marathon in 2013!)"

Yup. Totally agree.

And I am sure that Diane has set a great example for her kids -- and probably for most of us who've read her story! I'm sure there are many people who would have accepted their doctor's word that they'd never run again and would only walk with a limp. But not Diane. She had a busy life to lead so she sure proved that doctor wrong!

Let's hope we could all be that strong.

Thanks for sharing this, Diane. You're an inspiration!

Have a great week, everyone!

 

A running hurrah.

Two years ago, I ran the New Jersey Marathon. I trained through a mild winter with some great friends -- some long-time friends, some new ones -- and ended the training cycle with a memorable New Jersey weekend that will forever live in my mind as one of those really, really awesome times of my life.

Cheers! It was such a fun weekend!

One of the women I got to know while training for the marathon was Gail. We ran together some before the marathon and then had that super marathon weekend away. After the race, we continued to run here and there. And, as it goes with running, when you're out there running 10 (or however many) miles, you talk about pretty much everything. You get to know people on the run and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Gail whenever we ran together.

Fittingly, Gail is right in the middle.

Now, though, Gail is taking off. She's moving away sniff, sniff so her dear friend Elisa put together a running "last hurrah" for her on Saturday.

I think there were 12 of us who came out to celebrate Gail, including most of us from the NJ Marathon crew (and that includes Melissa, who just had a baby!), and a few other running pals. We ran a little more than 9 miles, starting together, but then spreading out over the miles. We all came back together at the turn-around where we chatted for a bit and then spread out again as we got running. We were back together again at the end:

Gail's Last Hurrah! Post-run -- Lara, Heidi, Elisa, Gail, Mike, Ginny, Melissa, Bridget, me, Janis (missing Sheila, Melissa D, and Karyn). Running friends rock!!

 
Elisa did a super job organizing the run and making the whole thing special. She even got the weather to cooperate . . . how nice of her!

It was the perfect way to send off a running friend -- with a run. We'll miss running with Gail, but we're all so happy for her!

So, cheers to Gail! And cheers to running friends! Mine sure are awesome.

Have a great week, everyone!

A week of running.

Finally. A week of good running for this happy runner!

Following the Runnin' of the Green on Saturday, I took Sunday and Monday off to rest my legs. On Tuesday, I was fortunate to get a quick 4.25 mile run in, before my little guy got sick that evening. I am no kind of fan of the stomach bug, that's for sure. But, I am happy that the rest of us avoided getting sick. Phew!

Wednesday was all about taking care of my patient, and he was such a good one, even though he felt lousy.

Smiling through the stomach bug -- but look at those sad eyes!!

Thursday was back to normal and I went to my physical therapy appointment and then for another quick 4.25 mile run. At my appointment, my PT taped my injured area with KT tape so I'm giving that a try. So far, so good!

On Saturday, the boys started swimming lessons -- which they loved -- and I sneaked in a sunny-but-windy run later in the afternoon.

And that brings me to today.

It was cold. It was windy. The route was hilly. We started early.

Yes, this morning I ran 10 enjoyable miles with Bridget and Janis, plus a bonus of 4+ with our friend, Elisa. They were tough miles, but we covered them at a 9:44 pace. Go, us!

Overall, I ran 22.5 miles for the week. That's my highest weekly mileage since the first week of January. January! Sheesh. Yeah, I'm happy to be getting back on track.

My hope now is that I stay on track. I could use a long stretch of good, solid training.

And, with that, I'm off. Have a great week, everyone!

  

Strong Running Mama: Darlene Cardillo

This week, I bring you a totally inspirational Strong Running Mama: Darlene Cardillo!

Darlene is 60 years young and has two grown stepsons. She taught French for a number of years and is now an Instructional Technologist at a law school.

Running the Naples (FL) Half Marathon.

She is also very -- very -- active. In addition to her running, Darlene plays tennis once or twice a week, knits, quilts, reads, plays mah jongg, and fits in yoga when she can. But she makes a real effort to prioritize running:

"My running is very important to me and I am a type-A person.  So I plan all my runs each week.  I put them on my calendar(s) and post about them on my blog. I often re-arrange social activities to fit them into my running schedule and even plan vacations around races.  I am lucky to have a pretty understanding husband and friends.

I don’t own a treadmill but there is one where I work.  I hate running on it but sometimes in bad weather, it is the only way that I can squeeze my running (and if it’s on my calendar, I do it!). Watching a TV show on my iPad during the run makes it bearable (barely.)

I am currently paired (through IRUN4- www.whoirun4.com) with John Anthony, a special needs 9 year old.  This program has given my running new meaning. If ever I don’t feel like running, I think about him and out the door I go."

And this winter, for sure, has been rough so I'm sure that treadmill has come in handy -- especially because Darlene has a big race coming up soon:

"I am currently training for the LoveRun half marathon (Philadelphia) on March 30.  My hope is that I stay healthy and maybe regain some speed for shorter races this summer."

Speaking of races, Darlene runs tons of them. (I'm always amazed when I see that she has run yet another race -- I wish I could run as many as she does!) But she has good reasons to:

"Due to time restraints, pace and distance requirements, I find it easier to run alone.  Every now and then I do run with others and I enjoy it.

Running a lot of races helps to keep me connected to other runners."

Connecting at the Adirondack Half Marathon -- Darlene, me, Elisa, Amanda, Janis and Bridget

Some of Darlene's favorites:

Gear: "I prefer to run in running skirts.  I find them much more comfortable than shorts or capris.  Compression socks are essential for me. I wear them for long runs and races."

Place to run:  "During the week, I enjoy running around Washington Park (in Albany) since I work nearby.  On the weekend, my favorite places to run are the local bike paths – Corning, Niskayuna, and Colonie Town Park."


Race: "I enjoy both 5Ks and half marathons but for different reasons.  I love the feeling of accomplishment when I cross the finish line after completing 13.1 miles. I enjoy 5Ks because there are so many different ones to choose from so there are many opportunities to work on speed and maybe even win an AG award.

My favorite race is the Freihofer’s Run for Women.  First of all, it is ALL women – all ages, all sizes, veterans, newbies, elites, walkers.  When I ran it the first year that I started running (2008), it made feel like a “real” runner. Being part of the SRM’s first 5k (2010) made me so proud. Finishing it after suffering a serious injury (2012) helped me believe that I could be a runner again. And finally last year, completing it with a broken foot showed me how strong (or maybe stubborn) I was."

Yep, you read that right: Darlene ran the Freihofer's Run for Women on a broken foot. She's one tough mama!!

At the Mother's Day 5K.

Which brings me to injuries. We've all had them and Darlene is no exception. She's strained her Achilles tendon, and dealt with both a stress fracture and a broken bone in her foot. For each injury, she had to take 6-8 weeks off from running. Eventually, though, she was able to come back. When she was dealing with her worst injury, though, Darlene wasn't so sure she'd ever run again:

"My most serious injury was slipping on the ice during a long solo run and breaking several bones in my ankle, which then required surgery. Besides being painful, there was a lot of doubt about whether or not I would be able to run again.  I am not sure that I dealt with it well but I tried to remain positive and patient. I now realize that if you are a runner, injuries will happen. You don’t give up, you heal and then you return to running. Each injury makes you a stronger runner and person."

So, so true. I remember when Darlene suffered that injury and, man, it was horrible. Everyone in our running group felt awful for her -- but we also knew that if anyone was going to be able to overcome a terrible injury, it was Darlene. And, she proved us right!

I asked Darlene to talk about her most memorable running achievement.  Here's what she said:

"That would definitely be my first half marathon.  I didn’t tell my friends that I was doing it.  I had only raced 5Ks up to that point and they wouldn’t have understood.

The race also took place in Naples, Fla, my favorite vacation spot (where I go annually with my tennis friends.) It took place on my wedding anniversary and my hubby was there waiting for me at the finish line.

When I finished, I couldn’t believe that I had run 13.1 miles and I couldn’t wait to sign up for another.

I have to thank the Strong Running Mamas (SRMs) for their inspiration.  In their first year of running, they had run 5Ks, then a 10K and were training for a half marathon. I was supposedly the veteran runner and I was only training for 5Ks. I thought to myself “If they can do it, so can I!!”  So, thanks SRMs!!"

Darlene is right -- that group that started running in 2010 was -- and is -- inspirational. But, here's the thing: So is Darlene. She was a big help getting that group going, showing up for group runs and generally being supportive and encouraging! So, thank you, Darlene!

After the 2013 Mohawk-Hudson Half Marathon with Jen, Darlene, me, Karyn and Eileen.

Darlene's PRs:

5K: 27:30
15K: 1:36:08
half-marathon: 2:22:39

What Strong Running Mama means to Darlene:

“Strong Running Mama means being the best runner I can be.  That means setting my own goals.  I am older so my goals may be different than other runners’.  It means recovering from bad runs and injuries with a positive attitude.

The more I run, the younger I feel.  It’s my own personal time machine.

Strong Running Mama also means being part of an incredible supportive group of women of all ages and running abilities."

I love this: "The more I run, the younger I feel. It's my own personal time machine." It is the truth! So, keep running, Darlene. I know you will!!


You can follow Darlene's running adventures here:

Blog – myfirst5k.wordpress.com
Twitter - @dcardillo
Facebook – www.facebook.com/pages/My-First-5K-and-More
Instagram - @dsc59

Thanks for sharing a little of your running story, Darlene. And thanks, everyone, for reading!

 

Strong Running Mama: Sheila Couch

Today I have a new Strong Running Mama for you to meet. Give it up for Sheila Couch!

She's Miami Famous!

 

Sheila is 42 years young and married to Matthew Couch. She has two daughters: Gabriella is 7 and Brooke is 5. She's been a police officer for over 15 years and is currently a bike cop for the Albany Police Department.

Sheila on the job.

In other words, Sheila is one busy mama! But, that doesn't stop her from training for some big races:

"I just completed my first marathon (Miami Marathon) of 2014.  I have four more on the schedule for this year. Presently, I am training for the Boston Marathon. Most times I love the run. Lately, I've been battling a tight left gluteus muscle so sometimes I ask myself why am I doing this to myself. I could easily stay in shape doing CrossFit or some other type of exercise."

Sheila at the start of the Miami Marathon with fellow Strong Running Mamas, Gail and Elisa.

Sheila says she loves CrossFit and tries to fit it in whenever she can. She doesn't just do CrossFit, though. Sheila is taking it to the next level: In March she'll be going for her Level 1 CrossFit Certification so she can instruct CrossFit classes. She'll be an awesome instructor, I'm sure!

But, being able to fit in all of her workouts takes a good bit of planning and juggling:

"When the girls were little, I would go out with them in the jogging stroller. Now that they are big girls, on the weekdays I run on the Y's indoor track or treadmill. On the weekends, usually Sundays, it's up bright and early for a long run. I like to go while the family is asleep so that by the time I get back they are just getting up and I still get to make them breakfast."

Strong Running Mama!!

Some of Sheila's favorites:

Gear: "I usually run and race in a running skirt. They are very comfortable and girlie. I'm also loving my Altra sneakers right now. I love the wide toe box."

Race: "My race of choice right now is the marathon. There is something about running 26.2 miles. It changes me every single time I run it."

Training runs: "Sometimes I run solo, which is good for building mental toughness. Other times I run with a group of women known as the Strong Running Mamas, a.k.a. SRM."

Running achievement: "My most memorable running achievement would have to be running Boston in 2013. Although I did not finish, I put so much into getting to that race: I raised over $10,000 for basic cancer research, I ran in memory of a special Angel, I trained for 16 weeks, and I sat out for a week because of tendinitis. So much went into this race and then I was shorted by .1 miles. Tears still fill my eyes when I think or talk about Boston . . . I'll never forget that day. This year will be extremely emotional but I must go back and I will run and I will finish."

Along the Boston Marathon 2013 course.

I think there will be a ton of Strong Running Mamas who will be rooting for Sheila come April. Going back takes guts and that's just what Sheila has. No doubt about it. 

Sheila's PRs:

5k- 23:10 (Literacy Race)

4-miler- 32:20 (Firecracker 4)

5-miler- 38:45 (Delmar Dash)

10k- 51:55 (Turkey Trot)

15k- 1:15:20 (Stockade-athon)

Half-marathon - 1:45:49 (Boston's Run to Remember)

Marathon - 3:45:45 (Mohawk Hudson)

She's speedy! Unfortunately, she's also human and -- like the rest of us -- Sheila has had her share of injuries:

"I've been injured several times. Six weeks out from my first marathon I sprained my ankle in a car accident at work. I spent a couple of weeks water jogging. I missed one or two long runs but managed to start and finish my first marathon.

I've also battled tendinitis in my right ankle. It kept me from training on several occasions but finally last summer I changed my diet to a Paleo lifestyle and no more tendinitis.

My last injury was IT band syndrome. I was about eight weeks out from the Philadelphia Marathon. I took two weeks off from running and did the exercises my chiropractor gave me. Religiously, I stretched and wore a compression strap. I started and finished Philly with just 12 miles for my longest run. Presently, I am dealing with a tight left gluteus muscle that has slowed me down but hasn't stopped me from marathoning. It's very slowly getting better.

The biggest advice I can give about being injured is to take the time off that you need to heal. If you allow yourself the time to heal, you will make it to the start and finish of your race."

Sheila at the Philly Marathon expo.

 

Good advice that we should all remember to follow!

What STRONG RUNNING MAMA means to Sheila: 

"Strong Running Mama it means bad ass. I'm a mother, a wife, and a protector and I'm out there running, staying in shape and setting an example for my girls and for other women. I embody those three words. I am STRONG, I'm always RUNNING, and I'm a MAMA."

Sheila with her family -- including her little runners, Gabriella and Brooke!

Yeah! I love finding out what Strong Running Mama means to my fellow SRM!! 

You can follow along with Sheila's running at her blog: thegirlcanrun1@blogspot.com. Thanks for taking the time to share your story, Sheila!

Strong Running Mama: Jen M.

Welcome to a new feature of this ol' blog! I've wanted to include runner profiles for a while and now I'm doing it. As you may remember, I'm part of the Strong Running Mamas, a running group that started back in 2010 when I helped a few non-runners train for their first 5K. It was awesome and I still look back at that time with fondness. Even better, though, is the fact that many of those mamas are still running! And, Strong Running Mamas has grown and grown and is just a super supportive group.

So, I want to highlight some of the rocking runners that make up the group. Each week (I hope!) I'll have a new runner profile up for you.

This week, we kick-off the series with our first profile -- a runner who happens to be a good friend, Jen M.

Strong Running Mama!

Jen is a 38 year old mother of four kids (ages 9, 6, 4 and 1-1/2). She lives in upstate New York (near me!) and writes YA book reviews for VOYA, the Voice of Youth Advocates, a professional library journal. She also writes reviews for her book blog, goddesslibrarian.blogspot.com, and she writes about her life -- including running -- at thejedimama.blogspot.com and on twitter: @jedimama.

Right now, Jen is training to become a better runner with a 2014 goal to shave two minutes off her current 5K time (which is one minute slower than her overall PR). She's concentrating on building her mileage and getting faster, using tempo runs and intervals and an interesting running partner:

"I'm doing a lot of my running with Jimmy Fallon right now. During the week I am stuck on the treadmill and Jimmy Fallon on my iPad often gets me through it. The weather this winter has been really snowy and wicked cold and my long outside run on the weekend is frequently impossible. I can't do a really long run on the treadmill, but Jimmy Fallon gets me through 5 miles." 

As a mom of four kids, Jen does a lot of balancing to fit in her runs. In essence, she makes it a priority because running is important to her:

"I rearrange my entire day around my run and I run the same days each week so it has become ingrained in my routine. My runs have to happen during my toddler's nap time. So I plan everything around that. I just switched my running days to days that I can get him down earlier for a nap so I can have more time before the big kids have to get off the bus. This is important because I am now practicing the "hard days hard" philosophy. Immediately after my run I do a 20-40 minute high intensity strength training workout. It's tough to squeeze in a run, workout, stretch and shower in one nap time and make it before the bus. If I have to be somewhere during my normal run time I get pretty annoyed, but I just switch things around and do what I have to do." 

A few of Jen's favorites:

Running gear:  "Injinji toe socks are a must, zensah calf sleeves for long runs. I currently have a garmin but I am in line to get the new BIA watch when it's shipped (soon). When it's cold, as it's been forever now, I use a neck gaiter so I'm not breathing in bitter cold air. This makes my sunglasses fog up, so I just bought anti-fog swimming goggles to try out. At the very least it should deter any strangers."

Place to run: "As long as I'm outside I'm happy."

Race: "5K. Nice and short. I love the Clove Run 5K. It starts and ends at our elementary school and it's nice to run in my comunity."

Running achievement: "Finishing my first half marathon in exactly the time I wanted to was pretty memorable."  

 

Go, smiley Jen!

Jen's PRs:

5K: 27:35

10 mile: 1:54:36

half marathon: 2:15:02

What STRONG RUNNING MAMA means to Jen: "Strong Running Mama means having the ability to balance running and parenting. Running makes me a better Mama. And being a Mama makes me a better runner--if I'm going to take my time away from my kids I'm not going to waste it. I'm going to be the best runner I can be. Also, if I can birth 4 babies I can run anything."

Amen to that! 

Huge thanks to Jen for sharing a little of her running story with us! If you'd like to read a little more, definitely check out her blog, especially this post that Jen considers the most meaningful to her: http://thejedimama.blogspot.com/2011/03/standing-on-your-own-two-feet.html

Running with her son -- awesome!

Thanks for stopping by -- and check back each week to read about another of my fellow Strong Running Mamas!

 

I am THAT runner.

It occurred to me on Monday -- and some of your will guffaw and think that it should have occurred to me long, long ago -- that I am, truly, that runner.

That overly-excited-about-all-things-running runner.

That probably-super-annoying-to-all-non-runners runner.

That holy-cow-she's-insane runner.

That runner.

So why did it suddenly occur to me on Monday? Well, I was planning to run with Elisa and Bridget, 4 easy miles from Bridget's house at 9:30. Owen was taking the boys sledding, leaving the house a little after 9, so I asked him to drop me off at Bridget's on the way.

As we drove down our street, Owen turned to me and asked if Bridget knew I was coming over. "Of course," I answered. "We made a plan to run."

"I mean, does she know you're going to be there early."

"Oh," I said. "Well, you're just going to drop me off and I'll run around her neighborhood until it is time to meet."

He gave me a look.

"What?" I asked.

"What. That's normal. You're just going to run around her neighborhood, waiting for her to come out. . . "

And we laughed. And then he dropped me off and I did just that -- I ran around her neighborhood until 9:30 when she came out of her house and Elisa drove up.

To me, it was perfectly normal. I mean, why not take advantage of the extra time and get in a little extra mileage?

But it got me thinking. Thinking of all the ways I am that runner. And there are many. How could I have missed the obvious clues in all of these that runner things that I do, like . . .

• wearing smelly running clothes because my running has outpaced my laundering;
• finding myself with 35 extra minutes before pre-school pickup and filling those minutes with a 4-mile run;

• becoming ridiculously happy when a friend decides to take up running;
• feeling a pang (or several pangs) of envy when I see others out running -- and it is a rest day for me;
• savoring Every. Single. Page of each issue of Runner's World magazine -- even all those pages that don't apply to me at all;
• having Facebook/Twitter/Instagram feeds full of runners, especially Paleo-eating, crossfit-dabbling runner mothers;
• knowing just what to wear for a run, but being sorta clueless about what to wear otherwise;
• feeling almost more joy for fellow runners' running accomplishments than for my own;
• owning multiple pairs of all the key types of running socks, including compression socks, toe socks, no-show socks, extra-lightweight socks, and heavier winter running socks;
• remembering marathon training with a tad of longing;
• packing running gear -- every trip, no matter what;
• getting giddy about new running shoes -- especially running shoes that match, serendipitously, my favorite running capris;

• strapping YakTrax on to my running shoes to head out for a run on snow-covered streets;
• gabbing about running until, I'm sure, the people around me wish to put a cork in me!

I could go on and on. The examples are many. Writing this blog is probably one of them.

But, yeah, I am that runner. Oh, well. I am who I am!

Are you that kind of runner, too? What clues do you have? 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

A look back at 2013.

Here we are two weeks into 2014 and I'm finally sitting down to take a look back at 2013. Fun, fun.

2013 was quite a year for me! Let's start with a brief look at my stats:

Total mileage: 903

Number of races: 7 

There was some good and some bad in 2013. On the bad side, I suffered probably my worst running injury to date. I tore two muscles in my hip and couldn't run for two months. As a result, I had to bag my fall marathon plans and was worried I wouldn't race at all in the fall. But, I was fairly good about my recovery efforts and I came back strong with a 5K PR in September and a half marathon PR in October.

Overall, the whole injury thing taught me a little more about patience and a good bit about listening to my body and importance of cross-training. Which, I am happy to report, I have embraced. 2013 was definitely the year of cross-training and I believe I am stronger because of it. Thanks, injury!

2013 was also the year of my new way of eating. My doctor prescribed a no grain, no sugar diet for me in January. At the same time, I had to go off of dairy -- not by his prescription, but because he put me on two different antibiotics, three times a day and dairy interferes with the absorption. So, no dairy for me.

I stuck with the diet and the antibiotics for three months and then slowly started to let the dietary changes go. Bad idea. The diet was tough, but it had a positive effect on my Lyme symptoms so going off of it was just silly. After a few weeks, I met with the doctor again and he told me I needed to stick with the new way of eating for at least a year, to let my body fully heal.

So, I went for it and eventually adopted a mostly Paleo way of eating, which I'm continuing with for the foreseeable future.

And now, a quick look at the year in pictures:

With my boys and my new niece in February.

With Bridget before the Running of the Green 4 miler in March.

Stroller running!

Strong Running Mamas at the More/Fitness half marathon in NYC in April.

Putting a positive spin on my injury and spectating the Freihofer's Run for Women with Elisa in May.

Back to running! With Bridget and Elisa after the Clove Run 10 miler in August.

The Youth Make a Difference 5K and kids run -- my new 5K PR -- in September.

Smiling my way to a new half marathon PR in October.

What will 2014 bring? Well, we shall see. I'm hoping for lots of fun miles with friends, some great races, maybe a PR or two, and -- this is a big one -- no injuries. I'll do my best to make it all happen, that's for sure!

Thanks for stopping by. Cheers to 2014!