Showing Off Our Style

Who says running can't be fun and goofy? Lindsey loves running so much, she is a mentor/coach for those newbie runners in the Running 101 class. Hard to believe we were in that class just a few months ago. The Running 101 class gets runners from no mileage to a 5K.

Our Thursday am run was cancelled due to weather (tornado watch in effect). So I decided to join Lindsey in her 101 class. And since it's close to Halloween, we thought it'd be fun to dress the part. The costumes just made the run more fun!

42 Days Til Vegas!

There's less than 6 weeks until the Vegas Marathon. That's amazing. I don't know if I'm quite ready, yet, but I'm confident I will be soon.

This weekend, we were scheduled to run 20 miles. Lindsey knocked hers out on Saturday due to multiple other commitments on Sunday. I ran with the 11:30 group again on Sunday. The weather was perfect. It wasn't too cold, and when the sun came up, it was cloudy, so it didn't get in your eyes too much.

I sometimes have trouble sleeping before our long runs. You know when you look at the clock to try to will yourself to sleep. Well that happened to me this weekend. At 3 am, I was despairing, knowing I had to get up and be running in 3 hours. During the run, therefore, I was TIRED. By mile 16, I felt like I was going to fall over.

I said before, running is mental. I had to give myself a pep-talk to not think about the pain in my feet, and the exhaustion sweeping over me. By mile 16.75, I was done. So I took the SAG wagon home (again). I was disappointed in myself, but after getting some sleep, I got up and finished my 20-mile run! I took my buddy Kelly out and ran the remaining 3.25 miles to make my 20-mile goal. And it felt great. Moral of the story - you can give up, but you can always go back to finish. And having that 20-mile run finished (with no pain in those last 3 miles), makes me confident that I can do it again all at once.

Running for a Cause

Last weekend, Lindsey, Jennifer and I were signed up to run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K. We were part of a team to raise money for breast cancer research. The run was fantastic. The amount of support and love for those who have had to battle that disease is amazing. We were so happy to be part of the event. We were able to raise over $4,000 through donations! Here' a picture of our team (pre-race of course).

Made it to 18 Finally!

Lindsey and Jennifer have been marathon training superstars. Those ladies have embraced the mileage and come in strong every time. They've both done up to 20 miles, so far.

That's not the case with me, unfortunately. Since August, I've struggled with injuries. And let me tell you, it's incredibly frustrating (and I'm so envious!) of watching your friends enjoy the long runs, meet the distance milestones, and seem to avoid most injuries (although both Jennifer and Lindsey have had a foot issue that sounds like it's resolved).

Just when I was on a high last weekend with my 16-miler finally completed, and feeling super-healthy, I was sidelined again with another injury. This time, my right foot betrayed me. Lindsey and I were getting in an "easy" 9-10 mile run in on Monday morning when, 2 miles into our run, I stumbled because out of nowhere, my right foot had shooting pains. The pain lasted all week, only slightly subsiding on Friday. Enough for me to try to run in the 5K Race for the Cure.

Holding my breath, I ran in the 5K on Saturday. I felt a slight twinge - but it wasn't too bad. So I decided to attempt the distance hurdle I haven't been able to cross yet - 18 miles. I was definitely stressed out. We are only 7 weeks out from the marathon and I haven't completed more than 16 miles yet! So, I gritted my teeth and set out.

The foot pain was a dull throb. It hurt more to run on sloped streets, so I ran in the middle. When we crossed a suspension bridge, the bridge's motion seemed to jam the foot, so I walked. At mile 15, I thought I was done for. But I gritted my teeth and wouldn't give up. Sure I walked a littled (especially up a really big hill at mile 16), but I did it. I FINALLY completed 18 miles. And at the end...I felt great! Sure I was tired, and a little dizzy, and I thought perhaps I jeopardized my ability to participate in the marathon (heaven forbid!) by running on an injured foot - but I DID IT!

Running long distances is a mental challenge. It's easy to decide to give up at mile 12, 14, or 16. But you really get to know yourself when you decide to reach deep into yourself and find something to keep you going. I'm getting to know myself pretty well on these runs.

It helps when you have someone to cheer you one. I am sending out all sorts of good thoughts to my new friend Rebecca, who stayed back from the group to walk across the suspension bridge with me, slow down on the big hill, and encourage me through those last 2 miles. Thanks for helping me reach this milestone on our journey to marathon.

Running Club

Several months ago, Shannon, Kristin and I had just completed a DRC relay race. Shannon and I went to Einstein's for a power breakfast after the run. While we were waiting on our bagels, we struck up a conversation with a woman who also looked like she had been running all morning. It turned out that she had run 16 miles that morning with another marathon training group and was preparing for the NYC marathon in November. It was so fun to meet another runner and hear about her training.

A few weeks ago, I posted a status on Facebook about my preparations for a long run in the rain - body glide and a waterproof hat. Within a few hours, a girl that I had not talked to in probably 8 years commented on my status, talking about her long run in the rain that day. I went to her page and discovered that she too ran marathons and her husband was a super triathlete, competing all over the world. Because of our common interest in running, I found a connection that had been lost nearly 8 years ago.

These two experiences got me thinking that this running thing is really a sort of club. All that is required is a love for running. If you are a runner, you are automatically a friend. It can bring strangers together or old friends back together.

Tomorrow I start coaching Running 101 with Run On! I am hoping to induct several new members into our club...

~L

Training with New Set of Friends

This weekend, I was in Kansas City for a Chiefs game. A lot of my family (including my neice) live in KC, so I go up there every fall for a few games. I'm heading up next weekend, too.

I was worried what these weekend trips would do to my training schedule. I decided to see if I could find a running/training group like I have in Dallas to run with. I found "Runner's Edge", and Kansas City running group. It was AWESOME!

The weather was perfect (a little cool, but not too bad). I ran with a couple of ladies who were going to be "pacers" for the Kansas City Marathon in 2 weeks. They are trying to train to finish the marathon at exactly 5 hours, 10 minutes.

We started at 7 am (I LOVED THAT!!! I hate starting at 5:30 or 6 am), and the coach has a philosophy that all his 400+ runners follow: (1) start slow to ease into it; and (2) NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE, walk 1 minute after each mile. This includes what you do in the actual marathon.

The philosophy is to make your body better able to handle those later, longer miles. And quite frankly, it worked. This course was ridiculously hilly. The last mile was straight uphill. Steep, let me tell you. But I felt better at the end of this run than any other long run I've trained all summer. I felt fantastic. And I could have kept going (but I was happy to end at 14.2).

I am in KC next weekend, so I'm training with them again. But I think I'm definitely incorporating this philosophy into my own training from now on. It certainly gave me a lot of confidence and because I felt so much better, I felt like I can definitely reach the goal of 26.2.

Special thanks to my new friends Amy and Kristy the "pacers." Between the 2 of them, they've run 12 marathons, and had great advice and tips. It was great making new friends and learning new things in this sport.

Running Fever has taken over our office!

Seems the running bug has caught on at our office. This photo was taken at Delaney Vineyards 5k run this past Saturday. In the yellow is Jennifer and next to her in red is Kristin, a fellow lawyer runner from our office. This was Kristin's first 5k and she did FABULOUS. It was a very hilly run, but the weather was cool and the wine was flowing afterward. A pretty good way to spend a Saturday morning, I must say.