Ragnar...When can I do it again? #ragnarsocal

Okay, I realize I am only 4 days out from Ragnar SoCal, but honestly I am ready to do it again. I found it to be such an amazing and fun adventure I can't wait to do it again. I say I won't captain a team again for a while, and yet I am already contemplating a team for Ragnar Napa? What is my problem! Oh wait it is because I have been talking to quite a few Mother Runners interested in the idea. Will it happen, not sure yet, but let me tell you what I would do differently next time.

Rum Runners Team 311 Bib and Finishers Medal

1 -  when you get your team together, or even at least a good idea that the team is coming together, think logistics and GET THE VANS RENTED. Hint: The deposit is refundable so just get them before the prices go up or they are gone and you have to live in a mini van. Mini vans are doable, we did it, but 12 Passanger is better. Also - consider where the runners are coming from. Relays are point to point so if some are coming from the start and some from the finish get a van from each point so no one has to drive something even smaller! Buy decorations and get crazy with the van decor, once they are rented and the name is decided have fun with it!

2 - Don't forget your shoes. I was so focused on my clothes and making sure I had all that stuff I almost forgot the most imporant piece of equipment! My shoes!

Third - Enjoy teammate bonding time whenever you can! We started by spending the night before at Downtown Disney. Okay, so part of that was because my High School friend is just a little of a fanatic about Disney, and hey I love the place too! In hind sight we probalby should have tried to have a team meeting between all 12 of us. But Ronda and I got to relive some High School memories!

Ronda and I just outside of Disneyland - just like sophmore year of High School!
 

4 - Plan on not really spending much time with the other van until the finish line. I couldn't wait to see my college friend (who I haven't seen in 15 years). But that didn't happen until I handed off at Exchange 6 and then we had time for a sweaty hug and for her van to take off. We got to visit at the "after" party (talking about later) but still not enough time to catch up!

Brenda (College Friend) and I at the finish line!

5 - When running, plan for stop lights to slow you down and stay in a positive happy place! I have struggled all along with the fact that I am a slow runner. This was proven by the number of times I was "killed" (Ragnar term for being passed) during my 8.7 mile first leg. Be prepared if you are a slower runner to get to your happy place when running and have some rebuttal when the negative thoughts come in. It took me about 1/2 a mile to get out of that negative mindset. But I got there!

6 - Be prepared at night when you are running for just about anything to happen. This includes running through a downtown area at 2 AM when the bars are closing. Decked out in your safety gear it is still nice to see other runners and keep them close to avoid the drunks and other interesting characters stumbling their way home.  As my mother says "nothing good happens after Midnight." While I may not always agree with that, since I am running and that is good right? It is still a little nerve wracking to get through that mile. It is again a mental game as much as a physical game. I did have headphones, but in hindsight I would probably have left them behind for this leg.

Finishing my 2nd run at 2:30 AM

7 - The finish line is an awesome atmosphere and you should do your best to have the WHOLE team there to cheer on the final runner as you cross the finish line! Ragnar is an incredible experience that will not be regretted! Something about seeing a group of 12 all wearing the same thing running across the finish line knowing you have accomplished an epic run that you would never have been able to do on your own (unless you are an ultra runner and then disregard that statement)!

Finally - If you want to have an after party do it the NEXT MORNING! Breakfast party would be a great idea! We had a wonderful get together at our house afterwards, but it may have been more fun and less tiring if we had hosted breakfast the next day so we could all sleep. Somehow going on only 1.5 hours of sleep and then trying to catch up with everyone, you aren't really able to focus on all that happened. 

Sunday after the run was spent sleeping, thankfully my daughter was on board with that idea!

I am still processing and thinking about how to train better for the next one. Would I captain another one, maybe. Would I join another team, in a heartbeat! But for now I keep reminding myself I have a 1/2 Marathon coming up in May that I need to stay focused on. Hmmm. . . guess I will start making sure my training doesn't slack now!

A Slow 15K is still faster than no 15K!

So, we are now only a short 10 days away from my Ragnar SoCal Relay race. You know, the run I am so excited about because I get to hangout with 11 of my closest friends on an overnight running slumber party type thing. Funny how the closest friends are comprised of my elementary school/high school friend, a college friend, a San Diego friend and then 8 people I have never met before. But I have a feeling by the end of the 2 days we will know each other very well. I am excited, but realize that I may not be as ready as I want to be.

I learned this last weekend what skirt NOT to wear on my 8.7 mile leg of Ragnar.  On Sunday I had the great idea to run the Hot Chocolate 15K. My training plan (for the 1/2 Marathon in May) called for a 9-10 mile run over the weekend. So, a 15K would fit that bill and ensure that I actually ran the required miles. Not only did I run it but I convinced Hubby, BRF (Best Running Friend), and San Diego Ragnar Teammate to join me in the "fun". What we didn't take into account when looking was possible injuries, minimal training by all of us the prior weeks, and the hills. Oh the Hills of this run! In case you have never been to Downtown San Diego, there are some MAJOR hills when you go from the harbor area up to Balboa park. 

Let me just give you a review of the race. I know you are dying to get a recap of the race. We got to the starting area with plenty of time to watch the last of the 5Kers start. It was an awesome day for a run with the temp in the low 60's, overcast and slight humidity.  We all had time to use the bathroom and get in the corral. We are all slated to start in different corrals so split the difference and lined up in the middle one.  The gun goes off and we begin the uphill climb (that lasts for the first 3 - 4 miles). SD Ragnar Teammate and Hubby are faster than my BRF and I so they were in front of us. I was able to see them and keep up until mile 2, but then I had to slow down and focus on the hills. We made it to mile 3 and decided the hills were winning. We never got in a good groove for some reason. At that point we decided we just needed to have fun. At around mile 4 Hubby was waiting for us. His lack of training showed up and he decided to keep his promise and wait for me.  We then ran/walked our way to mile 7. At this point I realized that I had worn the wrong clothes, other runners will understand and non runners reading this just trust me it matters! (I will not make that mistake in 10 days!). Around mile 7 we also finally hit the downhill section of the course. I am proud to say I was able to run the last 3 miles and finished just under my goal of 2 hours.  In fact when I look at my splits it cracks me up! Here are the official results:

Results

1 hour 59 minutes 48 seconds

Splits

5K - 48 minutes 15 seconds

10K - 1 hour 30 minutes 19 seconds If you don't want to do the math the above numbers show that I finished the last 5K (3.1 Miles) in 29 min 29 seconds. Thank you that is the fastest 5K I have ever ran! I am not really happy with the first 10K but I do like the last 5K numbers.  At this point I am looking forward to the 10 miles I am scheduled to run this weekend. I took this run as a lesson learned. I am learning to be joyful when I run, not complain when my legs feel like lead or I can't get in a groove. I enjoyed talking with my friends, looking at a part of San Diego I don't normally see, learning what not to wear for Ragnar. All these things ,and to be thankful for the chance to just be out and move. Because while my 15K time is the same time that Hubby usually runs a 1/2 Marathon, it is still faster than it would have been for me a year ago. It is also faster than the time I would have if I hadn't entered the race at all! Okay, I will stop boring everyone with my lessons learned and move on to planning for Ragnar, hhmm, what food will I need and what should I pack??  I have discovered a few things NOT to pack, but that doesn't help to determine what I SHOULD pack! Time to do some Pinterest and Blog research :-).

Always Learning!

Life just flies by!! Again here I sit 6 weeks away from my 15K, 8 weeks from Ragnar So Cal, and 13 weeks from 1/2 Marathon #5.  And yet I am for once really feeling like my training is on track. Life is flying at me. Work is crazy, home life is crazy, yet I am getting my training runs in and I am focused when I do them. I am taking a moment now to focus on the things I am learning.

1. I finally have a friend to do the long runs with. She is my pace and I actually understand the meaning of talking while running on the long runs. Because of that I am able to run much longer. When you have someone to talk to it makes the miles go by so much faster. I enjoy my solo runs, but sometimes even with some great tunes I find myself really looking at that Garmin to see how far I have gone and how long I have been running for. When you have someone to talk to my pace may be slower, but that is okay when I am running 6 miles and longer on a beautiful Saturday morning.

2. Along with understanding what it means to work out in Zone 1-2 and carry a conversation  I am learning that working out in Zone 3-4 is just as fun in shorter bursts. I LOVE interval training and Tempo runs now because I know they mean I am working on getting faster. By doing the speed training I am making my Zone 1-2 a faster speed as well. It is a real learning experience.

3.  I am learning that I WANT to fuel my body with healthier options. I allow myself 1 day to not care as much about what I am eating. However, the rest of the week, if I am running I want to make sure that I am eating properly so that I can run properly. I am starting to feel like my body is morphing into a runners body, and I want to keep it that way! Runners come in all shapes and sizes, but it does seem easier when that size is closer to a healthy size. I actually crave salads now almost as much as I crave the sweets. Now, when I think of sweets, I think of a protein bar or the Greek Yogurt dessert flavors. Key Lime Greek Yogurt, yes please!

4. Goals are meant to be set and met!  I have learned to set more realistic goals and to go until I meet them. I used to have the mindset that if I got close that was good enough. I NOW think that the only option is to meet or beat my goal. I am learning that my body is capable, I just have to get my mind and thoughts out of the way!.

Those are the most recent 4 items. I am always learning new things about myself and what I am capable of. I compare a lot of things to running these days. I can find a running analogy to almost any life situation. However, the journey that running is taking me on has in many ways opened up a whole new way of thinking. I still have major issues that I am working on. But running has opened up a door for me to realize that a lot more is possible then what I thought. I just have to believe it is possible and it is!

Obsessed Much

I am becoming more and more aware of my ocd tendancies! I have started my new training plan for my May 10th 1/2 Marathon and I am obsessed. If I don't get those runs in then I feel like I have failed a test! I study the training plan and retype it in my calendar. I am such a worry wart and studier that I have to know everything for the whole 16 weeks on the first day.

So, as I start this training plan and have become fully committed and vested in the training I am also attempting to let go a little. I am still determined to get every long run in that I can and stick as close to the plan as possible. However, I am also trying to spend time letting go. Letting go of the fears and hold backs I have had in my runnning, letting go of my obsession with running, letting go of my thoughts when I am running. Just Let GO! That is slowly becoming a motto.

Ask any of my friends, if I could get paid to run and talk about running, I would be a happy camper. For 2 years now I have been, what I call, a pseodo-runner. There is nothing wrong with taking walk breaks, but for me it has become a crutch. I had convinced myself that I can't do any better so I didn't try. This year however, I have started to change my thinking. No longer is that okay.

Over the past few weeks I have started to slowly turn my thinking from a "this is good enough", to "I can do better". I have started pushing my running time. I am proud when I complete a 4 mile run with no walk break! I actually answer people with a fanatic YES when they ask me if I am a runner. I no longer feel the need to qualify that with, kinda. I AM A RUNNER!

Just wanted to put that out there. I don't run because I am being chased. I run because I enjoy the feeling of my feet hitting the ground (or treadmill) and the calm and patience it gives me when I am done. I run becaues it is setting a good example for my daughters. I run because when stress of my job and life in general starts to be to much, running lets it out. Most importantly I RUN!

2014 is here . . .what next?

Well, where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was prepping for Christmas, house guests, and the New Year.  Now it is already the 13th of January and so much has happened in the last few weeks.

Lets review the last few weeks very briefly:

Completed 1/2 marathon #5. It was a slower time then usual, but I enjoyed it just as much as all the others, if not a little more. The reason you may ask? Because I had the privilege of completing it with my wonderful twin sister and her husband.  She did great and I may have converted another Mother Runner! Okay, she may have more passion for other sports, but she did go home and sign up for another 1/2 to see if she can do better. I know she can!

After that visit I started planning out my 2014 race schedule and training plan. On tap so far for this year - Hot Chocolate 15K in March with hubby, Ragnar Relay So Cal with team of friends from all over the country, and the AMR Virtual 1/2 Marathon in May.  Also contemplating another 1/2 in July. I am sure there will be some 5K or maybe 10K's thrown in. Also need something in the fall to keep me going.

Some may look at my plans and think I am crazy, and maybe I am. However, I have learned if I have something to train for I will keep it going. If my schedule is clear I get lazy.

Now, lets move on to the idea of training for all these events. Anyone that has talked to me knows I LOVE to talk about running. However, I always clarify that  I am a Run/Walker. Until this year I have rarely run more than 5 minutes without a walk break of at least a minute. My times are slow but decent and I get the races done in the time required.

At this last 1/2 Marathon I realized that not coming in last was not a good enough goal for me any more. I am tired of coming in at the back of the pack. There is no real reason why  I can't step up my game and be at least in the middle.  I know I will never by a top 10 Finisher, I am just not that into speed. What I can do to increase my speed is cut out the walk breaks.

So, as I start this new training plan for the May 1/2 Marathon, Ragnar, and the 15K I am also slowly taking out the walk breaks. I have discovered a whole new endorphin rush and pride as I increase the time that I run with no walk breaks.

I have been working for a few weeks to increase my time running as I have been doing work outs on the treadmill. For various reasons I have not had any road runs for the past 2 weeks. Most of that is just because I am NOT a morning person. I am a wimp and the idea of running in the dark at 39 degrees is not the way to get me out of bed at 5 AM. So, I have been sticking to the garage treadmill. On Sunday I decided no excuses. I got my nice toasty warm body out of bed a little earlier than normal and hit the road. (I also knew I would need a little extra patience for the beach and watching 4 kids on my own while the dads surfed). It was a brisk 40 degrees outside, but it felt wonderful. I was paranoid that all the treadmill training had fooled me, because lets face it the treadmill can be a little easier than the road. Thank you rotating belt. I almost always set the incline to 1 so it similates the road a little more, but still not the same. However, I really found my rythym and felt great. I ran down and up hills and just kept running. I refused to walk until I reached that 2 mile mark! I ran for about 4 miles and felt great afterwards.

I am finally coming to the conclusion that I AM A RUNNER. There is no need to qualify that with I am a run/walker. I am a RUNNER and I can do anything that I set my mind to! Bring on the PR's this year! I feel them coming!!! I may never be a 8:30min/mile runner. But I can definitely be faster than I have been, and who knows, maybe someday I can keep with my faster friends and suprise myself yet again!

Christmas Vacation and Moving on

Tis the season to run and by Jolly! I mean I have to run this week or I may go nutz! I went to Target to do some shopping and it was CRAZY!! I should have been wearing my shirt that says "It's All Good I Ran Today" from anothermotherrunner.com.  It is red so it would have been festive and so true!

Today I actually had the time to get out and run on the ROAD! I have hardly been running due to time factors. I know that running helps keep my anxiety and stress at bay. However, I have just been to lazy at 5 AM to get out of bed and get a good treadmill run in. I tell myself, I will run this evening after the girls get to bed. However, as the day progresses and I realize how much I still have to do with work and Christmas prep, it just hasn't happened. But today starts vacation and that means no excuses, time to run.

I am hoping to run every day until Christmas. Then I will take a few days off to taper for the 1/2 Marathon coming up a week from tomorrow. As you can see from the fact that I haven't been running but 3 times in the past 2 weeks I have no real high hopes for a PR at this race. In fact I am simply looking at it as a fun time with my sister and her husband.

All that being said I did get out and get a nice chilly 3.5 miles in first thing. I did manage to run the first mile with no walk breaks at a fairly good pace. It was downhill from there, but I enjoyed the time out on the road.  I so notice a difference between the road and the treadmill.

I try to tell myself it is a good thing that I live at the top of a hill. It means my first mile or 2 (depending on my route) are down hill when I start. The down side is that the last mile is always uphill. Again, all excuses but still true.

On the bright side always running hills makes a flat course so much nicer!

Is it bad that I have already moved past next weekend in my running schedule? There is no "cramming" for a run like you may have done for a test. I mean honestly, cramming didn't really work in college and it isn't going to work in running. The only thing I am risking by trying to cram for a run is injury and then where would I be? So, I will run for the next few days and enjoy the time on the road. Then get the 1/2 done and really start looking forward to the next run. So far that includes a 15K with friend and hubby in March and the Ragnar So Cal in April. I am thinking a 5k in February may be a good idea and then a 1/2 sometime.

All fun things, I am just praying that i have set up a realistic training schedule and that I can get my pace up to that of hubby and friend by March so they don't have to wait to long for me at the end of the 15K.

The Beginning

Well, it has been mentioned that people may not care to read my Facebook status updates about running. I am a working wife and mother of two beautiful girls. I have been overweight for the majority of my adult life. About 2 years ago I decided to join my love for Disneyland with my desire to get in shape. I signed up to run the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon.

Keep in mind I have never been a runner. I figured it shouldn't be that hard to start running right? I mean you just get shoes and you go.  Hah! That is a good one. As most runners know there is a little bit more to it mentally and physically than just putting on shoes and running. And of course the simple way is not how I can do most things.

I suppose I can thank my mother for the wonderful OCD tendancies. I decided I should read about how to train. I researched running styles, training plans, all things running. Thankfully I have a level headed Husband who pointed me back to the simple fact that reading about running will not make actual running any easier. So I finally put the books down and started running/walking.

I knew that completing a 1/2 Marathon is a big deal. That is after all 13.1 miles. I spent the next 8 months "training" loosely for that race. As much as I knew it needed some dedication I still wasn't committed enough to do all the training the plans called for. I have a family and full time job after all. I was so paranoid about the time limit, in theory 16 min/mile sounds like so much time, I mean you could walk that fast and still complete it right?

So, I went into the race with the Jeff Galloway mindset of run/walk and get it done. I had never fit in a longer training run than 6 miles, so I was pretty excited when I hit mile 7 and realized that I had now gone further than ever before. However, by mile 8 I had such bad blisters I had to alter my running style and walked most of it. By mile 12 I realized I was actually going to finish and do so in the time allowed. I had to hold back the tears of joy because I already couldn't breath, crying would not make that any easier. It wasn't a record breaker, I think my pace was a 13:30ish/mile, but I wasn't last and I was going to get the medal! It was starting to dawn on me that I deserved to be proud of myself, I accomplished it on my own and met my goal.

That race started my addiction to races. I was still not as focused on the running aspect but I was addicted to the thrill of the race atmosphere. I have never considered myself a "competative" person. I don't need to be in the lead, normally. However, after numerous 5K's, three 1/2 Marathons, and a 10K I am starting to think that maybe a run/walk attitude is not good enough.

I am really trying hard to start running with no walk breaks. It is so cathartic to get out of my own head and start just letting thoughts flow as my feet pound. I tend to get lazy on these colder winter mornings and I hit the treadmill more than I would prefer, but I keep reminding myself that I am running/moving and that is what matters.

So, as I prep to complete my 4th 1/2 Marathon, first one with my twin sister, in 12 days I am getting excited about the new phase of my running. I am not really ready to run with no walk breaks. However, I feel confidant that by March 23rd I will be ready to take on the Hot Chocolate 15K with a full run. Will I keep up with my wonderful Hubby, probably not, but I love starting with him and having him at the finish line to cheer me on that last little bit!

Stayed tuned, this is the place I will try and update what I am learning from my running.