Race Recap: Forget the PR 50K

It was a really stupid decision, Peeps.

A while ago I got on the wait list for Forget the PR 50K at Mohican. I don't know why I did it. Ok, I do know why I did it. Peer Pressure.  A yearning for a new challenge. Mid-life crisis. Other things (if you know me, I'm sure you can guess what that means).

Anyway, I was on the WAIT LIST.  The key word here is WAIT. I thought I wouldn't get in, and the Universe would be to blame, so I didn't have to blame myself.

Wrong.

This showed up in my email. Dangit.

So, I was in it.  Luckily, Wendy (whom I was training with for this race) was in it, too.  We decided that we were as ready as we were going to be.

This is EXACTLY how Wendy and I look when we are ready.

This is how Wendy, Sarah, Marta, and I look when we are ready. Notice the Trail Sisters shirts!

Forget the PR is aptly named. It takes place at Mohican (in Loudonville), and the elevation goes well beyond 4,000 feet in the 31 miles of the race. Wendy had a great idea for mentally tackling the course: The first loop was 18ish miles; therefore, the second loop was much easier. Period. That was all we had to think about. I added some rules: For the first loop, we could talk about how beautiful it was on the course and how lucky we were to be outside on such a beautiful day. For the second loop, we would discuss food and beer.  This was a pretty good strategy all around.

After about two hours on the course, I had to find a bathroom, so I told Wendy to go on without me. We had agreed ahead of time that we would run our own races, and I didn't want to hold her back.  She said she'd see me later (which I should have picked up on), and she moved on. I found a bathroom, got back on course, and then I promptly moved off course.

I blame the beautiful scenery.

Luckily for me, I heard a voice behind me: "Have you even seen a pink flag around here?" I turned around; it was Wild Bill Wagner, one of the race directors for Running Forward and Giving Back. 

"No," I replied.

"Well, I'm following you, and I think we are lost, " he said.

Irritated, I snapped back, "What the hell are you doing following me??? I've never run a 50K before, and I've never been here before, and you are a RACE DIRECTOR!!!!"

Anyway, we reversed our course and found our way back. In this way, I lost (or gained) about a mile. Thank you, Wild Bill, for getting me back on track. I'm sorry I yelled at you.

I eventually found my way back to the Covered Bridge, and Wendy was waiting for me, something I didn't expect. I know she had been waiting at least 20 minutes (because I had gotten lost), and I felt TERRIBLE. I didn't expect her to want to finish the loop with me, yet there she was. Wendy, I'm still SO SORRY that you had to wait so long. If I had known that you intended to wait for me, I would have told you to move on.  

So, we were back together again.  Honestly, we had a great time. It was hard, but I didn't have any meltdowns; I was focused on finishing the first loop because Wendy said the second loop would be better (She is a liar, but oh well). 

Let's talk about an iconic part of the course: Big Ass Hill.  Everyone talks about this hill, and Peeps, it is really a steep, long hill. 

This doesn't seem steep and long, but believe me; it is. What you perceive to be the top is NOT actually the top.

This is Wendy coming up Big Ass Hill on the second loop. Yes, we had to climb that damned hill twice.

I had heard about Big Ass Hill, but I am not easily intimidated. I put my head down and I plowed up that hill.  As I climbed, I talked to a Dude in a Kilt who had an Australian accent. When I got to the top, I made my signature move: I threw my fists in the air and shouted, "Yes! The hill is my bitch!" The elation didn't last long, though, because after a slight (and deceptive) downhill, I saw this:

Mother. Of. God. Are you kidding me????

When I verbalized my disapproval (use your imagination here), Dude in a Kilt said, "I wanted to say something earlier, but you were so happy. . . "

Anyway, we made it back to the start for the first loop. We fueled and started right back out again. At this point, we met up again with Jason, who ran us to Big Ass Hill as moral support. The nice thing about Forget the PR is that you see lots of friends on the course who are just running to train and cheer on idiots like me. Wendy and I had seen Jason and Jennifer several times on the loop, and they lifted our spirits. We also saw our Trail Sisters, Kate and Talula, in the first loop. Thank you, friends, for being there for us!

Honestly, I don't know how we did it, but we finished that race under the deadline. The cutoff was ten hours, and we finished in 8:47. If I hadn't had to go to the bathroom, I wouldn't have gotten lost and slowed us down, and we would have finished under 8:30.  Never mind. I am SO HAPPY with my finish time.

Wendy and I finish strong.

This is EXACTLY how I look when I am happy with my finish time (and my buckle).

Peeps, I am so proud of myself. This was a truly badass race, and it was my first 50K. I thought I would be really upset after the race, but. . .I wasn't. I ran this course in the best possible circumstances: The weather was perfect. The Trail Sisters (and other friends) were all there (in fact, the Trail Sisters ran us in to the finish). Wendy and I are well matched in long distance trail running.  It was really a great time. Was I in pain?  Hell, yes! But a bit of hot tub time (along with ibuprofen ) was a great remedy for that.  You know what else is a great recovery tool for your first 50K? Birthday cake:

Marta got us a cake!

Sarah, Wendy, and I blow out the candles.

There is no problem that food can't cure.

This was a great race. Will I run it again?  Hell no.  I love the course, but I don't want to run it twice, so a 25K is a real possibility here. I am so grateful that I have a supportive group of friends--not just the Trail Sisters, but all the members of our running community that I saw that weekend. Runners are the best, Peeps.  Really. 

What is next? I'm still training for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. Will you join me? Use my code, SI2019, for 10% off any of the races in the series.

Wherever you run, whatever your goals, I hope you run happy, Peeps!

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End of Year Running Review

I am typing this on the last day of 2017.  This is the moment where I review my running goals for the year. Let's get to it, shall we?

Goal #1: Run the Cleveland Marathon all by myself without freaking out.

Melissa, Rachel, and me at the Expo

The Ambassadors at the starting line

Mission Accomplished! I definitely had moments of insecurity at the VIP Dinner, but I ran that sucker all by myself like a boss. From this race, I learned that I don't necessarily need to rely on anything (like music) or anyone to run a marathon.

Goal #2: Run more trail races.

Me, Candice, Kristin. Burning River, Leg 5

Goddesses + Mother Runners. Leave No Trace Half Marathon

Marta, Me, Nicole, Spooky Ghost. Run with Scissors Half Marathon

Mission Accomplished! I had counted on running Burning River, but the other two trail half-marathons were kind of spur of the moment decisions.  I'm really glad that I ran them. From these races, I learned that I don't have to kill myself just to run a race. I can just enjoy it.

Goal #3: PR at the Akron Marathon.  This was a stretch goal, I admit. The weather on the day of the race was incredibly hot and humid, and I was tempted to drop to the half. I really freaked myself out. . .and then I got my shit together and got the job done. I told myself that I would just run easy because it was silly to believe that I could PR in that kind of weather. . .but I still wanted to meet that goal.

Still freaked out at Expo

PR, Baby!

Mission Accomplished! I PR'd by about 90 seconds, and I consider that an incredible accomplishment. I learned that I am much stronger than I think, and I think I'm pretty badass.

Goal #4: Run at least 1,500 miles.

Mission Accomplished! I learned that the best way for me to train is to put in lots of longer miles, one of which must be a midweek long run of 7-10 miles. This was the best way for me to run two marathons without getting injured. 

I finished my running year with eight miles on the Towpath with Marta. It was bitter cold, and the snow wasn't packed, so we got a great glute workout.

We look like we are about to rob a bank, but really we are gearing up for the run.

I have had a successful running year, and now I'm thinking about my new goals for 2018. I've got some ideas, but I will leave that for another post. For now, I'm going to bid you a Happy New Year. I hope you met your goals for the year, and I hope you have some challenging goals for next year. Whatever your goals, I hope you run happy, Peeps!

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Running in the Snow. . . in Spring

It's the first day of Spring.

Yay Spring!

Oh, wait. . .

Yay. . .Spring?

That's right--it snowed just in time for my Spring Break, and the forecast isn't looking wonderful for this week.  As soon as I go back to work, it will be sunny and warm.  You're welcome.

Nevertheless, I ran ten miles with Shelby this morning.  We did the old Blue Line loop that I love so much.  We start in Sand Run Park for three miles, follow the Blue Line up Revere Rd. and around Route 18 to Wheaton Rd.  The line continues east towards Akron and then ends with 1 1/2 miles downhill on Merriman and Portage Path.  I love running past the beautiful mansions, including Stan Hywet Hall,  on Merriman Rd., but I can't help wondering who has to clean those houses?

This is my summer home.  Just kidding, it's really Stan Hywet Hall in Akron.

The training is going really well.  I have been sticking to my routine: one day of intervals, one day of tempo run, one long run, one day to run whatever I want, and a minimum of some walking time on the treadmill on Saturdays.  I was exhausted last week, but I think that had more to do with the time change and the week before Spring Break.  I hope to catch up on my sleep this week, although when I look at my to-do list,  I wonder when I'll be sleeping:

1. Get as far ahead as possible in the graduate course I've just started
2. Finish grading
3. Prepare for my daughter's birthday
4. Run MORE!

One last thing: Tomorrow is yoga day.  Wanna see my routine? This is EXACTLY how I look when I yoga:

Yoga for Bboys :D :D :D
Posted by Streetdance-Connection on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

What are your goals this week, Peeps?  We are getting close to the Cleveland Marathon, and the Challenge Series deadline has been extended.  Will you make that one of your goals?  Join me by registering here, and we'll do it together!  Until then, run happy, Peeps!

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Busy, Busy!

I often see the posts that say, "I planned to run a gazillion miles this week, but, you know. . .life got in the way."  I have had plenty of times that life has thrown me a curveball, but I try to make running the consistent part of my week.  I know what days I have to run, rain or shine, and I stick to the mileage I need for the week.  It helps that I live on the "Zero-Sum Workout" plan, which means that in order to eat, I have to run.

No run, no carbonara

This week life got me tuckered out in the best possible way.  There was lots of staying up past my bedtime, and that combined with some extra work made a very tired Stephani this weekend.  On Wednesday I met the other Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors for some updates on the race series.  We ate some wings; we might have had some brews.  We hugged a lot.

The lighting isn't great, but here we are!

Jill has a great podcast: Running with Police Escort

Jamie gets up as early to run as I do.  She puts in 10 miles before work!

Stephanie has four kids and still runs more miles than I do.

Andrew and I drink beer.  That is all.

 Here are some great candid shots:

Melissa is the happy one in the group.  She is full of sunshine and glitter.  I don't know how I put up with it.

We had a great time, but I didn't get home until almost 10:30 pm, which is waaaay past my bedtime.  I still got up at 4:30 AM to run the next day.

Hey, speaking of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. . .are you planning to join the party?  What?  Reluctant to run any part of the race series?  That is ok because you can still join us by volunteering.  Click here for volunteer registration and come laugh at me when I start to cry in mile 11.  Just kidding.  Maybe.  Regardless, you won't be crying because you'll be having fun on the sidelines with your fellow volunteers while knowing that you contributed to the running community.

Friday I saw And Then There Were None at the Hanna Theater in Cleveland.  It was a fabulous evening, and I highly recommend the play, or any play at Playhouse Square.  That night I got to bed around midnight, and I had to get up early to work the NEOEA Megaconference.  I was so tired on Saturday that even though the weather was gorgeous, I couldn't bring myself to run when I finished the conference and then cleaning my house.  My husband took the kids out for dinner, and that would have been a perfect opportunity to get in some miles, but instead I took a nap.  Fail.

This morning I redeemed myself, though, by getting up extra early (on a Daylight Savings weekend!) to go trail running with Renee, Jenn, and Carrie.  We did twelve miles on the Fools Course, and it felt great to be back on the trails in good company.

This is EXACTLY how I look after 12 miles on the trails.

What a bunch of Fools!

All in all, I am proud of the fact that I only lost 3 miles this week, despite life trying to get in the way.  I don't regret listening to my body when it told me that I am tired.  In fact, after this chocolate chip cookie, I'm going to listen to my body again and go take a nap.  

Until next week, run happy, Peeps!

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Training is Confusing

I am a bookworm and a geek.  I love learning stuff, and the first place I go when I want to learn is a book.  It makes sense, then, that when I decided to register for

My first marathon (!!!)

I borrowed a bunch of books from the library.

I'm a bit crazy driven and these books are confusing!

That's right, Peeps, I pulled the trigger and registered for the Akron Marathon.  Ever since the running bug bit me in the ankles after my first half marathon, I've always known that one day I would run a full marathon.  Although there was much pressure from my fellow Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors to make the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon my first, I know that I won't be able to handle the training at this time of year.  It breaks my heart that I can't do it then because I love Cleveland's course and support, but there is some poetic justice in making Akron my first since it was my first half marathon and I live on the Blue Line of the old course.

Before I move on, I just need to get something out of my system.  For years I have seen runners around my neighborhood sporting the snazzy jacket given for running the Akron full.  When I started running, I craved that jacket.  It is an object of envy; it tells everyone that you were able to go the distance.  

Look at the jackets.  I WANT THE JACKET, AKRON MARATHON!

Unfortunately, those of us who are making the leap to the full marathon will not have a jacket to show for it this year.  The organizers decided to give a long-sleeve tech tee this year.  Just like the half marathoners get every year.  When some friends and I questioned a rep on the Akron Marathon Facebook page, the answer was that in post-race surveys most runners said they prefer a long sleeve shirt to the jacket.  Really?  I call shenanigans.  Akron, get your act together.  We want the freakin' jacket as our swag.  I have enough shirts.

Ok, back to the books.

Don't they look cute on my UAkron blankie?

After reading and comparing them, I've decided that I'm DEFINITELY not doing the Hanson's Method.  That is some crazy stuff right there.  Just. No.

Beyond that, I'm not really certain which training program I'll use.  I found one online that I like, too. What I'm grateful for is that at least three of these books gave me consistent training and racing paces, so I suppose I can cobble together a plan for myself using pieces of the programs I like.  

My most important takeaway from all the books together (combined with my new heart rate monitor): I've got to stop running like a bat outta hell for every single run.  There is a time and a place, and recovery is just as important as speed.  I've applied this lesson using my heart rate monitor since Christmas, and I think it's going to do me some good.  If I don't smash the stupid thing first.

Anyway, my first main training goal will be for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Series.  I'm running the 8k and the Half, and I'm going to train smart to do it.  Will you join me, Peeps?  Check out the #CLEMarathon Ambassadors for giveaways (mine will be in a month or so) or sign up now.  We'll have a beer together after the race.  Until then, run happy, Peeps!

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What's on the Table?

It is January 24, 2016, and I haven't finished figuring out my racing goals.  This is what I've got so far in actual registrations:

May 14: Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon 8k

May 15: Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Half

I'm really excited about these two races for several reasons.  The first reason:

I'm a #RunCLE Ambassador!  Yay!

The second reason is because I've never run two big races on consecutive days.  The closest I've come is running two trail races, a 5 miler on a Saturday and an 8 miler on a Sunday.  This race series excites me because it gives me a new kind of mental and physical challenge.  How will I race them?  Will I treat the half marathon as my weekly long run?  My gut tells me that I am not capable of running a race without trying to PR, and the Cleveland course has a special place in my heart.  It is much more runner-friendly than the Akron course.  The only reason I haven't done so well in Cleveland is because of the weather (last year) and the time of year, since I don't train well during the winter months.  This year I have a treadmill, so things may be different.

May 28: Medina Half Marathon

I signed up for this half on the day that I ran it last year.  It has been a tradition for me since it started three years ago.  I haven't PR'd on this race either for pretty much the same reasons as with Cleveland.  I enjoy this race, though, because I work in Medina and I love to see my colleagues, my students, and my former students on and around the course.

The medal is pretty sweet, too.

August 6: Burning River 100 Mile Relay

I will be leg 7 in an 8-person relay team for the Mother Runners.  My leg is about 15 miles, and it will happen in the wee hours of the night.  I'm really excited about this because I've volunteered for Burning River twice, and it was fascinating to see the runners.  This distance will be the longest racing distance I've ever done at one time.

August 12-13: Ragnar Trail Appalachians WV Ultra Relay

Ok, I know that in my review I said I'd never run this again, but This. Is. Different.  I have got to get this one done right, and these are different circumstances:

1. It is in August, not June, so hopefully it will be warmer with no monsoons.  Thank you, Ragnar, for changing the date after years of Tent City devastation.

2.  My father won't be in a coma in the hospital, so I won't be frantically trying to get cell phone reception in the middle of a forest in the mountains so I can find out if he is alive.  I'm putting the rest of my family on notice: You all had better take care of yourself during this weekend.  I have to take the whammy off this race, and I can't deal with your problems, too, while I'm doing it.

3.  This time I will be part of a 4-woman ultra team with Jennifer, Leigh, and Joy.  I enjoy running with these ladies, and based on last year's race, I enjoy camping with Jennifer and Leigh.  I'm anticipating a more relaxed experience this year, while pushing myself physically.  This time I will be running a total of 30 miles in 24 hours, about 10 miles at a time.

4.  This time I will bring more hoodies, more towels, and lots more food.  I will enjoy myself.  I will eat lots of Smores, and I will drink beer and take naps, and do yoga, when and if I feel like it.

I will run through this arch with flaming torches again.  Oh yes, I will.

You can see that my calendar is concentrated in May and August.  Yes, I am still stupid, but this time I will be smarter about being stupid.

I'm not finished with races.  There will be 5Ks and 10Ks and maybe a 15K sprinkled in there, but the race I haven't registered for yet, well, you know what that is.  And if you don't?  Wait until I write about it next week.

Until then, run happy, Peeps!

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Brandywine Falls

Today's post is short and sweet:

I ran from route 303 to Brandywine Falls and back on the Bike and Hike trail.  It was gorgeous.  If you had run with me, you would have been counting the number of times I said, "This is so beautiful.  We are so lucky to live here."  It was, and we are.

Brandywine Falls.  This is just a picture on my iPhone; the Falls are THAT BEAUTIFUL!

Mandy and I met Sheila and Shelby, and they ran with us for the first 3-4 miles and then turned around.  I was so happy to see both of them; I've been feeling quite disconnected from my runner peeps lately.

I had never seen the Falls before, and Mandy took me there.  It was worth it even when the hail started.  Then the rain.  I'm not gonna lie; there may have been some swearing.

In other news that doesn't involve me, my #CLEVEMarathon Ambassador friends ran their asses off this weekend.  Pam ran her second Iron Man.  Think about that: she did one, and then SHE CHOSE TO DO IT AGAIN.

Andrew ran a major badass Columbus Marathon.  He cut 15 minutes from his PR!!!  In a marathon!

My friend (and colleague) Erin ran her first marathon in Columbus today.  I'm envious.

Me?  I did some laundry.

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Race Review: Medina Half Marathon

Or "How I Didn't Run Like a Dumbass this Time"

And there you go.  Thanks for reading--see you next week!

Ok, I know that wasn't enough.  You probably remember my recap of the Rite Aid Cleveland Half Marathon two weeks ago.  In a nutshell, I ran like a. . .well, a nut.  I didn't take the humidity into consideration, I didn't have goals, yadda yadda yadda.  As a result, I crashed and burned after the first 10k.  I was determined to rectify these errors for the Medina Half Marathon, especially since the weather was worse than it was in Cleveland.  88% humidity and high temps, anyone?  No takers?

Knowing that my biggest problems are the Voices in my head (sorry, Voices, you know I still love you), I came up with some strategies to run safely in this race.

1.  DO NOT even think about a PR.  Just don't.

2.  Set goals.  My secret goal was 2:05.  The goal I told everyone was 2:10 or less.  The time I would take without complaining too much was 2:11, as long as it wasn't because I was a zombie at the end.

3.  Take all water stops.  One cup down the throat and one over the head.

4.  HOLD BACK.  I was determined to keep my pace consistently between 9:30 and 9:45.

5.  Enjoy the moment.  Touch the power station signs.  High-five little kids.  Thank the volunteers.  Wave to friends in the crowd.

The Medina Half is a special race for me because I teach at Medina High School.  I love to look at the crowds and see students, former students, and colleagues cheering on the runners.  This year was even more special because two of my friends chose Medina for their first half marathon.  You always remember your first!

TORN represents!

Shannon is running her first half!

Heather, Lauren, and I all run for wine!

One of the many things I like about the Medina Half Marathon is that the race is capped at 1,000 half marathon runners.  This means that there is plenty of free parking and bathrooms, two factors I always consider in races as they make me very nervous.  This also means that I didn't have to get there super early.  As Joy and I lined up in the corral, I tried to get my mind in the right place.

Joy and I are ready to go!  

When we started, I was very tempted to try to catch Joy (who is a freaking rabbit), but my mantra was "Run smart.  Don't run like a dumbass," so I deliberately dialed it back in the first few miles.  I didn't dial it back as much as I should have (9:30-9:45), but I did manage to keep it at 9:20-ish for the first three miles or so.  As I am not a good negative split runner, I'm not convinced that running even more slowly at the start would have given me a better time at the end.  My legs felt fine this time (not like in Cleveland); it was just the heat and humidity that were killing me.

The course has changed again this year, and I really liked it.  I'm not the best person to ask because I'm not always aware of my surroundings, but I feel like most of the hills were gone from the back part of the race, which I really appreciated.  The biggest hill didn't change; that was on route 18, where I saw the TORN Superfans and they took pictures of us suffering the hill.

Yes!  This hill is my bitch!

It felt like there were fewer spectators this year, but I didn't mind because the tradeoff was that there were fewer dangerous drivers ignoring course marshals and weaving around runners.  This was my biggest complaint in previous years and my main concern this year: too many dangerous and inconsiderate drivers and not enough police to keep them under control.  I am happy to say that the Race Directors took this seriously.  My colleagues who live in the areas of the course had told me that there had been lots of notice, even a door-to-door campaign to make the residents aware of what would be happening that morning.  I noticed many more police at intersections, and I am grateful because this is the first year I felt safe on the course.  Thank you, Medina police and volunteers, for giving your time for us.  Thank you, Race Directors, for being committed to our safety.

Also, I didn't mind fewer spectators because the road-chalk messages more than made up for the lack of people.  I LOVED all the messages spread out on the course!  Thank you to all the people who put them there!

The heat and humidity definitely took their toll on runners; I saw a runner being loaded into an ambulance around mile 10, and I saw another runner buckle just before the finish line.  Two runners picked her up under the elbows and brought her across.  Again, I repeated my mantra and adjusted my expectations.  I thought I might hit my secret goal, but I definitely got slower after mile 10, and the 2:10 pacers passed me around mile 11, so I realized I had to kick it in gear.  Unfortunately, I was running on bricks for about half of mile 12, and I was worried about falling or twisting a foot, so that slowed me down considerably.  When I got off the bricks, I could see and hear the crowd at the finish, so I was able to pick up the pace, even though I was running uphill a bit.  I could hear my friends in the crowd calling my name, and I was able to sprint to the finish, something I couldn't do in Cleveland.

This was just before my final kick.  No, I was not sprinting here.

The food for this race was awesome: Subway sandwiches, fruit, rice chips, chocolate milk, water.  The race entry included a ticket to the after party hosted by Stand up for Downs, where we drank REAL beer (IPA!) and ate Romeo's Pizza.  I had intended to meet my peeps elsewhere for a post-race lunch, but it was really nice to sit at the after party, so we stayed there for a while.

TORN Peeps drink beer.  Look at Erin after her first half marathon!

All in all, despite the weather, I really enjoyed the Medina Half Marathon this year.  Thank you to the Race Directors for taking runners' comments into consideration and planning a quality event for a great price.  In fact, I bought my race entry for next year at the expo because I had faith that this year would be a good one.  I believe in Medina, and I believe in this event, so I think it will continue to improve every year.

Do you want to get in on this, Peeps?  I bought my entry for 30 bucks at the expo, but if you missed that chance, you can buy yours online for only 35 bucks until midnight tonight (May 31) and for only 45 bucks until November 1.  Not bad, eh?

Look at this sweet medal!

Nice tech tee, too!

Thanks to the TORN Superfans for lifting my spirits in this oppressive humidity.  Thanks to the Dargan clan for cheering for me, and thanks to Jess Toocheck who was at the hill before the finish.  You are all amazing!  Medina, I will see you next year!

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