Year of Redemption

2014 has been the year of redemption for me and after 2013, I needed it.

I have so many things to be happy about it so I'm just going to list them:

1. Boston Qualified at the Columbus Marathon in October. PR of 3:44:09- a dream for so long but the first time I really attempted to go for it. I'm thrilled, now I barely qualified by 51 seconds so I have to wait til Sept 2015 to see if I get to run it. Must. be. patient.
2. Ran 3 marathons this year without getting hurt (Flying Pig, Columbus, OBX)- I told myself if I was within 10 mins of a BQ time at Cincinnati, I'd run another marathon this year. I did Columbus in October, trained for a BQ time and succeeded but... I had a rough time after mile 16 and ran 9 mins slower than planned (I should have blogged about that...) So, what did I decide to do? Head out the the OBX for a marathon 3 weeks later- I'm in shape, right? Maybe, I can run better.  (yeah, that didn't happen- ran 20 mins slower and felt like crap.  Not my most brilliant idea.)
3. PR'd in the marathon and the half New PR in the half at the Air Force Half Marathon 1:47 (although I really need to focus on the half) and Columbus Full in 3:44:09
4. Joined the Oiselle Flock in July- I've loved Oiselle stuff for years but it was when Lauren Fleshman and then Kara Goucher joined them that I got really excited. They are just awesome.  When I looked into their athletes, I noticed that they didn't have just elites but ordinary runners too. I set my eyes to finding out about joining them and in July they opened up the Flock.  I'm proud to help out the emerging athletes and represent a company that is so supportive of woman athletes. Here's an awesome article about CEO Sally Bergesen from Outside Online. I love having a group of woman who are so supportive. Love my #flockmates!
5. Selected to be a Nuunbassador for NUUN- I submitted my Nuun ambassador application and figured I didn't blog enough to get this, even though, I haven't drank anything other than Nuun for years for my electrolytes.  Score one for: "you don't know unless you try". 
6.  Picked to be a wear tester for a major running shoe company- BTW, cool shoes in Spring 2015 coming your way...can't say more than that!
7. Ran 1607 miles this year -(double of what I did last year)
   
8. Found a training plan that works for me. Love you, Hanson's Marathon Method!
9. Found a chiropractor who works with serious athletes - thanks, Dr. Pat! If you live in Dayton, OH, I highly recommend him!
10. Having an awesome, supportive husband who supported my dreams this year - I couldn't have done this at all without my dear husband.

Now, it's your turn- What were some of the best things that happened this year for you?

 My year in pictures:

Columbus Marathon 2014

Columbus Marathon 2014 with Cub

Cincinnati's Flying Pig Marathon in May

Smashed 4 hr mark, 3:48

1st race representing Oiselle (with Buster)

My number #1 fan, support team!

Family 5k

Marathon #2 training update

I've been so busy with training, soccer practices and work, I haven't had a lot of time to update.   

It's been going well.  Here was the original plan for another marathon

And here's the real training: 

Mondays had to be a rest day since both boys had soccer practice in different locations at the same time. Thursdays- I used to do spinning but decided family time is more important, Fridays- I run after work before getting the boys.   Sundays used to be my long run day but we have soccer games.

I apologize for the formating- I can't figure out what I did that makes the spacing weird with some of the weeks! 

Week 0 (right after marathon #1)

Monday: rest

Tuesday: rest

Wednesday: rest

Thursday: spinning class (easy)

Friday: rest

Saturday: run 1.5 hrs (9 miles on trails)

Sunday: rest

 

Week: 1

Monday: spinning class

Tuesday: run 3 m

Wednesday: run 3 m

Thursday: rest

Friday: run 6 m

Saturday: rest

Sunday: run 7 m

Week: 2

Monday: rest

Tuesday: spinning class

Wednesday: run 7m

Thursday: run 3.75 m

Friday: rest

Saturday: run 14 m

Sunday: rest

						Week: 3 Monday: run 3 m Tuesday: spinning class Wednesday: run 5 m Thursday:  rest Friday: run 3 m Saturday: run 16 m Sunday: rest
						Week: 4 Monday: run 4.5 m Tuesday: spinning class Wednesday: run 5 m Thursday: rest Friday: plan on running 4 Saturday: plan on running 18 Sunday: plan on resting Week: 5 planning on doing... Monday:  3 m Tuesday: spinning class Wednesday: 7 m Thursday: rest Friday: 3 m Saturday: 10-12 m Sunday: rest Week: 6 planning on doing Monday:  run 3 Tuesday: easy at spinning class Wednesday: run 3 Thursday: rest Friday: rest (travel day to Indy) Saturday: RACE DAY Sunday:  As I said I would, I have played around with my nutrition on the run. I've decided that the e-gels from cranksports.com work for me.  I'm not sure I really like the flavors, but since the consistency is not so thick it's easy to suck them down  quickly.  Last week I tried the Cliff shots gel- yuck- I had to chew it!  No thank you! Plus I got a side stitch every time I had one.

How to train for another marathon 6 weeks after the first?

IMM, Marathon #2 in six weeks

1.  Hit the wall early in your first marathon or get sick the week or two before or both!
2.  Have a crazy running partner that signs up for another marathon 2 days after the first.
3.  Realize how disappointed you are on how you did in you 1st race, vow to do better on the next one.
4. Sign up with 7 weeks to spare for a marathon relatively close to you and during a cooler time of year
5.  Search for a training plan for a marathon in 6 weeks!
6.  Rest for about 4 days, then start with cross training, then 9 miles one week after 1st race.
7.  Foam roll like crazy.
8. Start training again!  Hal Higdon's multiple marathons plan seems to work.
9. Relax about it.  (You've already done this, now just relax and go with it!)
10.  Be smart and listen to your body.

So how am I doing on this crazy quest?  

1. disappointing finish in 26.2 √
2. partner signed up for Indy Monumental Marathon√
3. signed myself up for the Indy Monumental Marathon (or now IMM for the rest of the blog)
4. happy about the normal temps and distance from house with IMM √
5. found Hal's training plan √
6. Rested√
7. foam rolled out all the soreness√
8. training started this week ( Tues & Weds 3 miles each, Fri 6 miles, Sun 7 miles)
9. relaxing about it  (still working on this)
10. listening to my body √

So for those of you who actually are curious on how much more running I have to do... remember I have already trained 18 weeks for the first race, and 12 weeks before that for the Pig Half...so I'm going on 30 weeks of training...what's another 6 weeks? 

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
6	Rest	2 m run	3 m run	4 m run	Rest	6 m run	1-2 hours√
5	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	6 m run	12 m run
4	Rest	4 m run	6 m run	4 m run	Rest	6 m run	14 m run
3	Rest	4 m run	6 m run	4 m run	Rest	6 m run	16 m run
2	Rest	4 m run	6 m run	4 m run	Rest	6 m run	10 m run
1	Rest	2 m run	3 m run	Rest	Rest	2 m run	Marathon

 I'm hoping that will be enough, I might bump up  the mileage for the 12 -16 miles a bit more, but depends on my schedule with kiddos on the weekends.  I remember that was one of the reasons we (Carrie and I) didn't pick the Columbus marathon which is at the end of October, back when we decided on doing the Air Force marathon.

What am I going to do differently?  

• Nutrition during the race- I have always used Clff Shot Blox but I found that I didn't eat as many as I should have during the race, since they were gummies and hard to eat on the run, so I'm going to experiment with gels. One of my coworkers gave me Crank Sports e-gel to try on a long run.  Have yet to try it but I liked what I saw on their website Crank Sports 
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate before!  I drank a ton of water during the Air Force Marathon and I didn't pee until 4 pm after the race.  Yikes! 
• Rest more during training.  I tend to get 6.5 hrs a sleep a night, definitely need more.
• Take my vitamins! I don't know if I can avoid getting sick again, but here's to hoping! 
• Different socks- I had a nasty blister from socks (that I've worn on long runs before and never had problems with!- must be my callous- still dealing with Bob the blister)  

  

  Surprise! I thought my toe hurt!

  Warning, gross picture ahead!