It's My Giveaway!

That is right, Peeps! This week I get to give away one entry to any race for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon! Let me spell this out for you so I don't have to answer a bazillion questions:

1. This entry is good for the 5k, 8k, 10k, Half Marathon, or  Marathon. One race only--no challenge series.

2.  If you already registered, thank you!  I can't reimburse you.

3. Look for opportunities during the week to enter this giveaway.

I am Ambassador of the Week with Pam (@hoprunner).  Pam and I met when we first became Ambassadors several years ago. I remember meeting her at an Ambassador party, and she was super-friendly and chatty, as was her husband, Steve.

Ambassadors at VIP Dinner in 2015. Pam is right behind me in the blue dress.

I remember realizing that Pam raced for Snakebite Racing, and that she is in fact a sub-elite. To a middle-of-the-pack runner, this can be intimidating. The thing is, Pam isn't intimidating at all. She is super-open and friendly. In fact, this year she mentioned running with me while she was training for the Canal Corridor 100 Mile Race, and I was gobsmacked. Pam inhales 7 minute miles for breakfast--how could I run with her?

This is EXACTLY how Pam looks when she inhales 7 minute miles for breakfast.

The answer is that Pam knows a lot about training. She knows that for a 100 mile race she is not going to be running 7 minute miles, so she was super-flexible about running my 10+ minute miles on the long run. The first time we ran together, I screwed it up by doing tons of goblet squats the day before, so I was very sore, and I was basically a crybaby in the last part of our 15 miles. Pam never once showed any exasperation with me, and in fact, she offered to run with me again. And she did. It doesn't get any nicer than that, Peeps.

While we run, Pam talks to me about proper training and nutrition, and I soak it up. She once told me that if she could get me into a pool to cross train and then do speed work with her, I could break the 25 minute 5k time I'm thinking about. My response? I don't think I want it enough to get into a pool.  Sorry, Lady.

Another way that Pam and I bond is through beer.  Pam knows her beer, and I don't; I am a wine snob. Pam got me to try a beer flight at R.Shea's Brewery (right near where we live), and I loved it. I still don't know what the heck I'm doing in a brewery, but I really enjoyed trying different beers and figuring out what I liked.

Pam and I celebrate her husband's birthday.

Anyway, this is the point, Peeps: You never know what people are like until you get to know them. Pam (and her husband) intimidated me until I let down my guard and got to know them.  I'm so glad I did because I now have new friends at a time in my life where I thought I didn't want or need new friends. Are they better athletes than I am? You bet your dupa they are.  Does it matter? I don't think so. I am proud of my friends, and I don't need to compare my results with theirs.

Pam and I are suffering after the Home Run for the Homeless 5 miler.

Think about your friendships, Peeps. When did you take a chance and meet someone who was completely different from you? How did that work?

For one entry in my giveaway, tag one running buddy for whom you are thankful during your long runs. If you run alone, let me know in the comments.

Look for other opportunities to enter this week through Instagram and Twitter.  Want to enter the race, but you don't want to enter the giveaway? Use my ambassador code, SICLE10, to get 10% off any registration (5k, 8k, 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon, AND Challenge Series!). I hope you run happy this week, Peeps!

Like what you read? Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @itibrout!

Cold Air Sucks

I am the annoying Ohio person who always claims, "I love all seasons! I love the change of seasons in Ohio!"

I am also a high school English teacher.

These two traits combined SHOULD mean that I have been happy with the below-zero temps lately.

I am NOT happy.

This is EXACTLY how I look when I am not happy with the temperatures.

I had a just-less-than-two-week Christmas furlough from my job. That would have been amazing if I could have gone outside at any time. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, and I ended up on my treadmill more often than not. I actually ran outside three days out of all the Christmas break days, and one of those days almost killed me.

It was a trail run with Philip's Phlyers, and I thought I was prepared, but I was wrong. I was so wrong. My first mistake (and the worst) was trying to keep up with the Phlyers. I should never have done that because they are just naturally faster than I am. That is ok with me, but I should have acknowledged that right from the beginning instead of being immature and trying to keep up.  Right away I got heart palpitations (something that hasn't happened to me in months), and I had to walk it out about a mile. It was embarrassing, but that is the price I must pay for being a dumbass.

Two of the other times I ran with Marta, and it all turned out ok because I made sure to go super-slowly.

Both of these runs were in 20-some degree weather. I must have repressed the other runs.

This week was really difficult, Peeps. I am so sick and tired of the treadmill--especially when I know that my treadmill season is probably already getting started. I can't get motivated to gear up and run, no matter the weather. I've got to get my act together.

Today was helpful. Mandy messaged me and asked if we could run together, and that made me SO PUMPED for Sunday. I'm used to being the person who organizes runs (that everyone else ignores), so I felt really special when Mandy told me she'd like to run with me.

I ran 4 miles by myself to feel out the roads, and then Mandy joined me for an additional six miles. We were able to catch up and it felt fantastic to be together again. I'm looking forward to many future training runs with Mandy. Maybe I can make her a Goddess!

Post 10 miles on slippery roads

I didn't make my minimum mileage (that I set in my own mind, Peeps) this week, but I have to be ok with that. Every week is not going to feel fantastic. I will get back on the road/treadmill and keep training.

How is your training, Peeps? Are you following the Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors to enter their giveaways for a free race?  If not, WHY NOT???? Too nervous to wait for a giveaway? Register for any Rite Aid Cleveland race (Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 8k, 5k, Challenge) using my ambassador code, SICLE10, for a 10% discount!  Why are you waiting?

Until then, run happy, Peeps!

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Pay Day 2017

It is once again my Running Pay Day, Peeps. This means that I need to do a bunch of math to figure out how much money I can put into my special running savings account.

The background to Running Pay Day is this:

I once read of a running blogger who pays herself for each mile she runs. Needing some motivation that doesn't involve food, I thought this was a wonderful idea. Of course, because I am complicated, I must have many rules about how to pay myself. So, here is how it works:

First, I calculate the number of miles total I have run in 2017. This is easy because I log my miles into DailyMile.com. This year I ran 1,694 miles. Not bad considering my goal was 1,500!

30 more miles would have taken me to Salt Lake City, UT!

Next, I subtract the number of racing miles I ran because I pay myself $1.00 for each racing mile. I love going over the races I ran this year because it brings back ALL THE FEELS for each race. Here are the races I ran this year (Click on the links to revisit my recaps):

Pro-Football Hall of Fame Half Marathon: 13.1
Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon: 26.2
Medina Half Marathon: 13.1
Green Jewel 2-person relay: 14
Burning River 8-person relay: 16.5
Leave No Trace Half Marathon: 13.1
Medina Race with Grace 5k: 3.1
Akron Marathon: 26.2
Run with Scissors Half Marathon: 13.1 (I actually ran 16.5 miles for this, but that is another story.)
Home Run for the Homeless: 4

I have a total of 142.4 racing miles. I'll round that down to 142. That means I've earned $142 in racing miles--but wait! There is more!

I subtract my racing miles from my total miles, and I pay myself $.50 per training mile:

1,694-142= 1,552 miles x $.50= $776 dollars.

Then I add that to the racing miles:
$776 + $142 = $918 dollars

Wow. That is a chunk of change! Unfortunately, that is not how much I get paid.

Now I have to deduct the amount of race fees I paid this year. Booooo. I didn't keep EXACT track of the racing fees (because it is painful), but I do have a good idea. One note: for two of these races, I paid more in order to donate to a race-affiliated charity, but I will not count that as a racing fee since it was voluntary.

The total for these races comes to about $446.  Honestly, not bad for ten running events that gave me hours of pleasure (WHAT????).

Ok, 918-446 = $472.   BUT WAIT!!!!

I award myself a $5.00 bonus for every PR, and I had two this year, soooooo. . .

$472 + $10 = $482

This is the most I've earned in a year. I am super-pleased with myself, particularly since the 300+ extra miles I've run this year have clearly made a difference in my paycheck.


Here is the thing:

I realize that I'm paying myself in my own money, but I am going to put that money into a savings account that I've had for years, and it will go toward my dream race: the Paris marathon. Normally, I wouldn't dream of spending any of that money on myself.  Too often women, especially mothers, refuse to reward themselves or put themselves first in any situation. I will not be a part of that. I worked damned hard this year, and I will reward myself with the promise of something that will be just for me.

Not only that, but the hard cash that I earned actually benefits me twice: All of those training miles helped me to build my endurance and (rarely) speed. I learned so much about what I'm capable of doing by training and racing, and even though there was some pain involved, I wouldn't change any of it. . . even getting lost in the woods during a trail race. I deserve to celebrate me.

How can you celebrate yourself, Peeps? What goals have you set for 2018? How can you reward them? It doesn't have to be as complicated as my system (Lord knows there are easier ways!), but you should find a way to fete your accomplishments and reward your work. It can make the difference between getting outside in the snow. . . or staying in bed and regretting that decision.

As for me, I have goals for 2018, and I am already getting started on them! This will be the best year. . . and the best ME yet!

This is clearly not the best me. . .but I'm working on it!

Whatever your goals and rewards are, I hope you run happy, Peeps!


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