The Super Marathon

Those of you who have trained for a marathon know the time and commitment it takes to train. The hours, the days, the weeks, the months leading up to that one event. Sometimes even years - or decades - if you have attempted to qualify for the Super Bowl of races - The Boston Marathon.

My heart goes out to all the victims and their families! My thoughts and prayers have been with them since the tragic event. And my heart also goes out to those who trained for the event, then all of a sudden your stopped. All that training. The mental conditioning. The physical conditioning. The hopes and dreams shattered. But at the same time you are thankful that you hit that wall at mile 18 and didn't reach your expected finish time of 4:09 - 4:11.  Guardian angels were with those runners. 

I cry just thinking of the three-year-old hospitalized, their sibling who received their Angel wings too soon, and their parents. This is were I begin to lose my faith; and begin to despise people. All I can say is whatever (because a true person with a soul couldn't never think of doing such a thing!) did this there is a very special place in Hell waiting.

But as I begin to lose my faith I realize that there is good all around us! Good always outweighs evil. Thank you to the 1st responders who couldn't run fast enough towards the blast! Those 1st responders of law enforcement, the fire department, the nurses, the doctors - thank you! It takes a special person to know exactly what to do under such stress and disorder. Thank you for helping me keep my faith in people!

Spring Break

So I've been out of the loop with Spring Break. Last week we went down south for the warm weather. It was 60 the day we arrived. Then the next few days that we were on vacation it snowed! Such cruel joke!

Today I was driving home from class and had the windows down. My thermostat read 54! I even saw the track team outside running without shirts on. Which I thought was insane. 54 is warm - but not that warm! I'm heading off to run a quick 4 miles while the sun is out. Happy training!

Krissy

Life Happens

I have a confession to make: I have fallen off the wagon when it comes to training. There are days and weeks that go by that I'm doing great. I even got to a point that I could run 6 miles without walking ... then, life happens.

Am beating myself up over it? No. Am I disappointed in myself? Yes. Am I giving up? No. Do I need to discipline myself better? Yes. The question is how?

Between school, work, the children, still being a food source to my baby, cooking, family time, and taking care of the house I have no time. I feel like training for this 1/2 marathon has been more difficult than past races. But I'll admit I have more going on.

I've come to terms with not running a race under 2 hours. 2011 was a year (and probably THE YEAR) of PRs for me. 1:53 for a half and 4:11 for a full. This year I'll be happy just to run the entire race. 2:10, 2:17 - I don't care - I just want to train and run at least 12 miles twice before the Cleveland Half Marathon. I still have time to get my butt into gear. I'm just frustrated life and training aren't going as planned.

The Best Running Socks

I swear by my Injinji Toesocks! 

Yes they look silly but they are the best running sock! 

Ever since wearing these I have not suffered blistering. 

I remember thinking that they would be uncomfortable too; and I transitioned into my toesocks just fine. 

 

If you haven't tried them buy at least a pair. I'm telling you - you will love these socks! 

I have three pairs and have worn them while training and on race day since 2009 and they are still in good shape. 

If you have a pair or are going to buy a pair let me know what you think!

Asking

Today I had a run in my brand new shoes! No aches. No pains. Just a good training run.

So how did I justify buying new shoes guilt free? I asked. I called and asked Second Sole if they have any sales or promotions going on for the shoes of my choice. I explained I was on a budget and couldn't afford the $110 retail price. Mike at the store asked if I would be okay with last year's version of Ravenna's and explained to him that I've been still running in Ravenna 2.0s. He said the closeout shoe was 3.0 since Brooks already introduced their 4.0 version. I told him absolutely! Just by asking I was able to get new running shoes at closeout price (for $40 less)! I'm so excited!

And it just proves that if you talk and ask nicely good things can and will happen!

So excited to start increasing my milage the next few weeks in my new shoes!

Happy Training!

Running Shoes

I feel that the most important item in our crazy little sport of running is shoes.

You need to invest in a good pair of shoes! I've been putting off buying a pair since I need new tires on my car. I can't justify spending $100 on a pair of shoes when I know I need $800 for tires. Yes $800!

But aren't running shoes just as important as tires? Technically speaking tires are the shoe of a vehicle. Gets you from point A to point B; and good tires means safety. So why am I putting off my running shoes? Shoes get you from the start line to finish line; and good shoes mean no injury.

Running with Friends

So I intended to 5.5 miles - Ooops!

It's a good oops of course! It just shows you that running with the company of friends makes the time go by faster.

And I've been running a good steady 11 min mile on all of my runs. Makes me wonder how I ever ran races in the 8:15-8:30 min mile range. It's like I'm starting all over again. One thing that helped me with my speed work was pushing a stroller while running. With that being said I can't wait to start running with my training partners again! Is it Spring yet?

Two Things

There are two things that make running and training fun:
1) Music and/or
2) Running friends.

Both make the time and distance so much easier! Looking forward to this Saturday's run with an old friend. Can't wait!

Happy training!

Ariel is swimming with the fishes - literally

RIP Ariel. What happened? According to Katie "Mama you flush princess down the toilet!" 

Only believe half of what you hear.

So what really did happen? Katie went potty and we were saying "Bye bye pee-pees" when all of a sudden Ariel slipped out of her skirt and went down the potty. How traumatizing for a two-year-old and her favorite doll! She started bawling. I explained to her it was an accident. She looked at her dad and said "Dada, you go buy me a new one?" 

As I sit here blogging. Katie is still telling the tall tale of me flushing her princess down the toilet. While her dad is shopping at Target for a new Ariel. And we have a new rule in the house of "No toys in the bathroom".

But seriously, how funny is it that Ariel is the princess that is swimming with the fishes?

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a great New Year! Mine was very relaxing and I wouldn't want it any other way!

So what's your resolution? 

Is it to get in shape? Become more athletic? If you are training for the Cleveland Marathon that will come. I'm not stressing out too much about losing my last 20 lbs of pregnancy weight because I know once I increase my mileage the pounds will shed off.

My resolution this year is to yell less. My 2.5 yr old always says "Mama stop yelling". I tell her I wouldn't have to if she listened. I think it'll be difficult but know it's a challenge I'll succeed at. My mom always told me "You can do anything you set your mind to". And it's true.

Run 13.1 miles? Check.
Run 26.2 miles? Check.
Lose weight? Check.
Fulfill my childhood dream of being on the radio? Check.
Finish college? At the age of 33?! (Going to be a) Check (this year).

But I think my biggest accomplishment in life isn't running a marathon, or my career in radio, or my BBA. It's marrying my best friend in 2004, starting a family with him in 2010, and growing our family in 2012. 

I pray that my girls listen to my good motherly advice (as I did with my mom). Because if they live by the motto "You can do anything you set your mind to" they will succeed at anything and everything!