Happy three year anniversary to me and this guy.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Fall Marathon Plan Shake Up
After I wrote my post about my fall marathon plans, I hopped on to my favorite trusted marathon site: marathonguide.com to see if there were any races that I was missing. When searching the site, I first look at December then November races. Then I check out October races that are further north than me.
Boom.
Bemidji Marathon.
Last year's race was their first ever. The course looks nice and flat and similar to what I train on here. Mid-October 6 hours north of here should be gorgeously cool perfection. And more importantly, the race route actually runs around the lakes up there. Thus making it an easy sell for Kyle and my dad to travel up there to spectate. "Oh, I can fish while I'm waiting for you to run by? Cool, I'll be there."
"Oooooh shoooore... loohk how high up in dah nort dat is....." <--Imagine that's done in my best northern Minnesoooootan accent.
If I go this route and I continue to work on my running form, I'm also considering the Leading Ladies half marathon in Spearfish. It's in August, and being on the western side of the state they tend to have less extreme weather than we do on the east side, so it could actually be a pleasant race morning in August. It's a downhill course which terrifies me since that usually hurts my IT bands, but could be fun! TBD fall. Anyone want to meet me out west for a girls weekend? Fast race friends, check the race results.... could be your chance for a half or marathon W.... I'm looking at you Susan, Angry Runner, etc. etc.
Boom.
Bemidji Marathon.
Last year's race was their first ever. The course looks nice and flat and similar to what I train on here. Mid-October 6 hours north of here should be gorgeously cool perfection. And more importantly, the race route actually runs around the lakes up there. Thus making it an easy sell for Kyle and my dad to travel up there to spectate. "Oh, I can fish while I'm waiting for you to run by? Cool, I'll be there."
"Oooooh shoooore... loohk how high up in dah nort dat is....." <--Imagine that's done in my best northern Minnesoooootan accent.If I go this route and I continue to work on my running form, I'm also considering the Leading Ladies half marathon in Spearfish. It's in August, and being on the western side of the state they tend to have less extreme weather than we do on the east side, so it could actually be a pleasant race morning in August. It's a downhill course which terrifies me since that usually hurts my IT bands, but could be fun! TBD fall. Anyone want to meet me out west for a girls weekend? Fast race friends, check the race results.... could be your chance for a half or marathon W.... I'm looking at you Susan, Angry Runner, etc. etc.
Friday, December 13, 2013
NYC Half Marathon + NYC Trip
And the lottery results are in!
Drumroll please......
I didn't get in.
Womp, womp.
Yesterday was super weird, I checked my email obsessively and then saw that people were checking their statuses on NYRR, so I did that and it said I wasn't in. Bummer. And THEN I saw that some people who had saw their statuses as "not accepted" later got their credit cards charged and flip over to "accepted." So I held out hope! Then my not accepted status changed! YIPPEE!
And then when I got home I found out it had changed BACK to not accepted, and then I got the official email. Such a bummer. I'm really not that mad that I don't get to do that particular race, but I REALLY REALLY wanted to be in NYC over St. Patty's day with my two race options falling in the middle-ish of March. I tried to swing my flight STILL to make it work to be there over the day o' green, but the flight is $130 more. Gross.
I'm really glad I had a backup plan of the All State half, or I think yesterday would've left me SUPER BUMMED.
NYC (+Susan!) I'm still comin' for ya!
Drumroll please......
I didn't get in.
Womp, womp.
Yesterday was super weird, I checked my email obsessively and then saw that people were checking their statuses on NYRR, so I did that and it said I wasn't in. Bummer. And THEN I saw that some people who had saw their statuses as "not accepted" later got their credit cards charged and flip over to "accepted." So I held out hope! Then my not accepted status changed! YIPPEE!
And then when I got home I found out it had changed BACK to not accepted, and then I got the official email. Such a bummer. I'm really not that mad that I don't get to do that particular race, but I REALLY REALLY wanted to be in NYC over St. Patty's day with my two race options falling in the middle-ish of March. I tried to swing my flight STILL to make it work to be there over the day o' green, but the flight is $130 more. Gross.
I'm really glad I had a backup plan of the All State half, or I think yesterday would've left me SUPER BUMMED.
NYC (+Susan!) I'm still comin' for ya!
^I finally let myself pick these guys up from the library this week to start perusing.
Any must sees?
Must dos?
Must eats? (<--most important, obvs)
Must drinks?
While I'm there??
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Fall Marathon Debate
It's that time of year again where we play "What's Jerbear's next big race?" In our last installment, we toyed around with the spring race calendar and landed on Operation: get our speedy legs back via ALL THE HALF MARATHONZ! In this blog post's discussion we will figure out my fall marathon plans.
Ooooooooooooooooh.
What's behind Door #2 for the winner??
Hopefully a marathon PR.
The only thing I know for certain regarding the fall marathon, is that I won't be signing up for anything until my spring races are done and over. Training for, and running a marathon at my current speed is miserable. My enjoyment from running comes from pushing myself to become a stronger and faster runner and having my race finish times reflect that. I wish I was someone that just loved to run all day everyday just because it is the greatest thing ever, but I'm not. I do love running. But putting in a monster training cycle when every run takes a million hours longer than it "used" to is just not fun. So my plan is to get my running and racing game back to where it was in the fall of 2011. Or at least get it close. It'll take a lot of work, but I'm up for the challenge. If this doesn't happen, and it takes longer than I'm expecting, I may scrap the fall marathon idea and keep on working on half marathon speed.
The next time I register for 26.2 miles I want my sub-4 finish time to be a given, not a question mark. I want to go in to training knowing that my speed is clearly sub-4 and that after a monster mileage marathon training cycle the question will no longer be if I *can* go sub 4, it'll be how sub 4 I can go.
Breaking 2 hours in the half was such a huge deal to me. I think I tried and failed 4 times before it happened. The time I finally went sub 2 I had already run sub 2 for a half marathon training run, so I knew I had it in the bag. I ran a 1:54 that fall. I have such a mental block with 26.2 that even on the few occasions that I'm convinced I was in sub-4 shape, I never had the confidence in myself and my running ability to execute it.
On to the fall race plan:
I love running marathons late in the fall season. It almost guarantees cold conditions (thanks Madison!). I'd prefer to not race a super hilly course (sorry Madison, that counts you out). I'd be willing to travel. GIVE ME YOUR SUGGESTIONS! INVITE ME ALONG FOR YOUR RACE PLANS!
The Sioux Falls half marathon in September will be my 10th consecutive year of running it. The weather is always atrocious, so depending on which marathon I choose this will either be a longer tempo run or I'll run some miles before the race to make it a long-long run.
My two strongest contenders are currently the Philly Marathon or the Twin Cities Marathon.
TCM is normally good weather, but it has been hot, which freaks me out. I'd have to start training in June for the marathon, which blows. I wouldn't be able to race a half during the training cycle (like I usually enjoy doing) because it's too hot to race a half prior to mid-September and with an October 5th race date, that doesn't work. It's close enough to home that I could drive, and Kyle could maybe come and spectate! And a friend of mine is considering it for her first full! She's pretty close to the speed I was before grad school started, so I'd have a built in training buddy!
Philly was my favorite marathon course and conditions ever. I know it was a lot warmer this year, but it's late November which is in my favor both weather wise and when I'd need to start training mid-July. I'd like to think I could convince Megan and Jenn to join me for another bff runner weekend, but I'm not sure! Flights+hotels are always spendy so this would definitely be the more $$$ option.
The other back up idea would be CIM. It's an ideal time of year, similar to Philly, but I'm always concerned about doing the final month of my training when it's freezing here and then going somewhere with mild weather and it feeling tropical because my body is now used to the 20 degree training runs. A California trip would also be $$$. [CIM is clearly vying for my attention with the race weather this past weekend. 27 to start, 40 to finish.... where do I sign up??]
Please weigh in. What are your plans??
Ooooooooooooooooh.
What's behind Door #2 for the winner??
Hopefully a marathon PR.
The only thing I know for certain regarding the fall marathon, is that I won't be signing up for anything until my spring races are done and over. Training for, and running a marathon at my current speed is miserable. My enjoyment from running comes from pushing myself to become a stronger and faster runner and having my race finish times reflect that. I wish I was someone that just loved to run all day everyday just because it is the greatest thing ever, but I'm not. I do love running. But putting in a monster training cycle when every run takes a million hours longer than it "used" to is just not fun. So my plan is to get my running and racing game back to where it was in the fall of 2011. Or at least get it close. It'll take a lot of work, but I'm up for the challenge. If this doesn't happen, and it takes longer than I'm expecting, I may scrap the fall marathon idea and keep on working on half marathon speed.
The next time I register for 26.2 miles I want my sub-4 finish time to be a given, not a question mark. I want to go in to training knowing that my speed is clearly sub-4 and that after a monster mileage marathon training cycle the question will no longer be if I *can* go sub 4, it'll be how sub 4 I can go.
Breaking 2 hours in the half was such a huge deal to me. I think I tried and failed 4 times before it happened. The time I finally went sub 2 I had already run sub 2 for a half marathon training run, so I knew I had it in the bag. I ran a 1:54 that fall. I have such a mental block with 26.2 that even on the few occasions that I'm convinced I was in sub-4 shape, I never had the confidence in myself and my running ability to execute it.
On to the fall race plan:
I love running marathons late in the fall season. It almost guarantees cold conditions (thanks Madison!). I'd prefer to not race a super hilly course (sorry Madison, that counts you out). I'd be willing to travel. GIVE ME YOUR SUGGESTIONS! INVITE ME ALONG FOR YOUR RACE PLANS!
The Sioux Falls half marathon in September will be my 10th consecutive year of running it. The weather is always atrocious, so depending on which marathon I choose this will either be a longer tempo run or I'll run some miles before the race to make it a long-long run.
My two strongest contenders are currently the Philly Marathon or the Twin Cities Marathon.
TCM is normally good weather, but it has been hot, which freaks me out. I'd have to start training in June for the marathon, which blows. I wouldn't be able to race a half during the training cycle (like I usually enjoy doing) because it's too hot to race a half prior to mid-September and with an October 5th race date, that doesn't work. It's close enough to home that I could drive, and Kyle could maybe come and spectate! And a friend of mine is considering it for her first full! She's pretty close to the speed I was before grad school started, so I'd have a built in training buddy!
Philly was my favorite marathon course and conditions ever. I know it was a lot warmer this year, but it's late November which is in my favor both weather wise and when I'd need to start training mid-July. I'd like to think I could convince Megan and Jenn to join me for another bff runner weekend, but I'm not sure! Flights+hotels are always spendy so this would definitely be the more $$$ option.
The other back up idea would be CIM. It's an ideal time of year, similar to Philly, but I'm always concerned about doing the final month of my training when it's freezing here and then going somewhere with mild weather and it feeling tropical because my body is now used to the 20 degree training runs. A California trip would also be $$$. [CIM is clearly vying for my attention with the race weather this past weekend. 27 to start, 40 to finish.... where do I sign up??]
Please weigh in. What are your plans??
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Weekly Reads: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
Tana is your average high-school girl, if you consider a girl who was bitten by her vampire mother and still bears a horrific scar to be average in any way. When Tana wakes up in a bathtub after a crazy party, the house is eerily silent. When she seeks out why, she discovers a bloodbath—all of her friends have been murdered and drained by vampires, and she is unsure if the vampires are still lurking around. Upon finding her ex-boyfriend Aiden, bitten, but not yet turned, and a helpful vampire, Gavriel, they escape the house and the chasing vampires to travel to their nearest Coldtown—a designated area set up for the infected, the turned, and the vampire curious and obsessed. The one drawback? Once you enter a Coldtown, you can never leave. Rest assured The Coldest Girl in Coldtown isn’t your normal teen vampire book.My rating: ****
Summary from goodreads:
Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
October in Review + November in Review
I'm a bit behind, clearly.
October
This was probably the worst month of training of my marathon cycle. I had some aches that were on the cusp of feeling like injuries, so I took some extra time off to be on the safe side. Definitely not the month of training I wanted to have going in to a marathon. Plus, October is my favorite month to run because it's finally gorgeous around here!
November
October
Total Miles: 82.8 down from 101.8 last month.
Total Time: 14:42:31 down from 18:00:27 last month.
Total Runs: 9, jeepers. Which means I averaged 9+ miles a run. Hah.
Highest weekly mileage: October 14-20 47.1 miles. Peak week!
Favorite run: I had a really strong 18 miler. Usually they suck, so this one went well for once!
Most hardcore run: My last 20 miler. I got an early start to "beat the wind" but it ended up beating the crap out of me the last 8 miles. Good practice for a windy day though!
This was probably the worst month of training of my marathon cycle. I had some aches that were on the cusp of feeling like injuries, so I took some extra time off to be on the safe side. Definitely not the month of training I wanted to have going in to a marathon. Plus, October is my favorite month to run because it's finally gorgeous around here!
November
Total Miles: 43.3 down from 82.8 last month
Total Time: 7:56:41 down from 14:42:31 last month.
Total Runs: 5 runs, 1 yoga session, 1 weight training session.
Highest weekly mileage: LOLZ 28.3 race week.
Favorite run: Madison Marathon as my race photos indicate, I had a pretty damn good time running 26.2 miles around Madison, despite the hills. I think I was just thrilled that my body held up for that long once again.
Most hardcore run: I did a 6 mile run with 4 at tempo about two weeks after Madison and hit some paces that I haven't seen in a REALLY long time. It was also snowing and only 15* so that helped me feel like a total B.A.
Favorite race: Madison Marathon
Bike Miles: 0
Favorite Jam: I'm pretty obsessed with Katy Perry's CD right now, particularly Legendary Lovers, Dark Horse, This is How We Do, Double Rainbow, and it Takes Two (basically the whole CD, really).
It took slightly longer to recover from the marathon than I was expecting. I ran a week out from the race and my legs almost fell off. I went for a hilly run with a friend a few days later and my legs felt like trash after 2 miles (kudos to her for sticking with my slow pace for the next 4 miles, yikes). Finally two weeks after I had a stellar tempo run without setting out intending to do so. I think getting in a car and driving for 7 hours the day after a marathon is never a way to speed along recovery, hah.
Bike Miles: 0
Favorite Jam: I'm pretty obsessed with Katy Perry's CD right now, particularly Legendary Lovers, Dark Horse, This is How We Do, Double Rainbow, and it Takes Two (basically the whole CD, really).
It took slightly longer to recover from the marathon than I was expecting. I ran a week out from the race and my legs almost fell off. I went for a hilly run with a friend a few days later and my legs felt like trash after 2 miles (kudos to her for sticking with my slow pace for the next 4 miles, yikes). Finally two weeks after I had a stellar tempo run without setting out intending to do so. I think getting in a car and driving for 7 hours the day after a marathon is never a way to speed along recovery, hah.
Monday, December 9, 2013
My Christmas Slash Birthday List
Everyone who has a blog is doing a list of things that every runner needs. So that's been done. But no one is doing a list of things that *I* want, so here's my list to Santa slash Birthday fairies.
VS Pajamas. I got these in polka dot last year, and I basically live in them. All day e'ery day. They're flannel! It's cold here! I'm sure Kyle would like to burn them so I have to wear something less dumpy.
Pug Sweater. Thanks to Jaseface and ASOS I now need this ridiculously overpriced sweater. I can totally see me in this, Kyle in his green and blue flannel and Ollie in her reindeer headband for our holiday pictures. WHY ARE YOU SO EXPENSIVE?!!? YOU'RE RUINING MY DREAMS!
A New Garmin. I almost pulled the trigger on this when my Garmin was on the fritz pre-Madison Marathon. This one is just so pretty! I'll likely wait until I start marathon training again this summer, since it seems to be fine on runs that are less than 3 hours.
The entire J. Crew catalog. Seriously. I just flipped through that and mentally tallied a gazillion dollars worth of stuff I want. Too bad I can only afford the J. Crew factory stuff, and only when THAT'S on sale.
Punchcard for Santosha Yoga. I used my birthday money on a ten punch card last year. I can't go when it's warm out so it lasted the year! I'm also on the hunt for a good hot yoga towel to use. I may have found a green one (obvs) on sale!
Boots. Kyle wants me to ice fish with him (has for the past few years) but says I need super warm boots. He must know that he won't be able to sit on my feet while we're on the ice. I would also like my feet to not freeze off while waiting ever so patiently for the pug to find the *perfect* pee and poo spot outside in 30 below. Can't wait for that. Something similar to these, but that Kyle has in stock at work so he can use his discount on them.
Kate Spade's entire Owl and library inspired collection. It's almost like they're designing with me specifically in mind.
**I'm not affiliated with any of these companies and don't get any money if you purchase these items, even if you do so by clicking the links.**
VS Pajamas. I got these in polka dot last year, and I basically live in them. All day e'ery day. They're flannel! It's cold here! I'm sure Kyle would like to burn them so I have to wear something less dumpy.
Pug Sweater. Thanks to Jaseface and ASOS I now need this ridiculously overpriced sweater. I can totally see me in this, Kyle in his green and blue flannel and Ollie in her reindeer headband for our holiday pictures. WHY ARE YOU SO EXPENSIVE?!!? YOU'RE RUINING MY DREAMS!
A New Garmin. I almost pulled the trigger on this when my Garmin was on the fritz pre-Madison Marathon. This one is just so pretty! I'll likely wait until I start marathon training again this summer, since it seems to be fine on runs that are less than 3 hours.
The entire J. Crew catalog. Seriously. I just flipped through that and mentally tallied a gazillion dollars worth of stuff I want. Too bad I can only afford the J. Crew factory stuff, and only when THAT'S on sale.
Punchcard for Santosha Yoga. I used my birthday money on a ten punch card last year. I can't go when it's warm out so it lasted the year! I'm also on the hunt for a good hot yoga towel to use. I may have found a green one (obvs) on sale!
Boots. Kyle wants me to ice fish with him (has for the past few years) but says I need super warm boots. He must know that he won't be able to sit on my feet while we're on the ice. I would also like my feet to not freeze off while waiting ever so patiently for the pug to find the *perfect* pee and poo spot outside in 30 below. Can't wait for that. Something similar to these, but that Kyle has in stock at work so he can use his discount on them.
Kate Spade's entire Owl and library inspired collection. It's almost like they're designing with me specifically in mind.
**I'm not affiliated with any of these companies and don't get any money if you purchase these items, even if you do so by clicking the links.**
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