48 of 52: st jude memphis marathon weekend.

This weekend was the 14th annual [13th running; last year's race had to be cancelled because of inclement weather] St Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, and I participated for the first time. When registration rolled around in the spring, I was still too scarred from the Little Rock half to commit to another, nor was I sure I would be in Memphis - or the States for that matter - so I signed up for the 5k.

In addition to signing up for the race, I pledged to be a St Jude Hero as part of Team Rhodes and fundraise for the hospital. My initial goal was to raise $500, and as of the writing of this post, I have raised $1304*, which has completely blown my mind [Team Rhodes has raised over $81,000!]. I have had friends and family from around the world donate anywhere from $5 to $200, and every dollar of it goes directly to the daily operating costs of the hospital.

[walking in to the expo]

In the leadup to race weekend there were various events in the city to get ready. There were Happy Hours and course previews and training runs at Breakaway, all to build a community of people dedicated to running and raising money for St Jude, and it all culminated this weekend. The expo began on Thursday, the Heroes Pasta Party was on Friday [and yes, I cried. that Rick Shadyac knows how to tell a story], and the races were on Saturday morning.

[lots of hungry pasta party go-ers]

The 5k start was at 7.15am, so we were downtown early to park, take a few pictures, and be in place when the gun went off. I finished in about 40 minutes, which I was pretty proud of considering I hadn't run in over a month. And the best part was that I finished before the half and full marathons began at 8am. I set up camp at AutoZone Park until Christina finished her leg of the relay, and then we chilled [and I mean chilled. it was cold] until others finished.

[team rhodes 5k participants]

We had a great vantage point from the bleachers behind home plate, and our friends began rolling in around 10.15 from the half. We stayed downtown until Whitney finished the full around 12.45, and then Christina and I picked up snacks before going back to her house and crashing on the couch until the Team Rhodes party in the early evening.

[the real heroes we run for]

It was a crazy but fun weekend, and it was great to see so many other people out there coming together to support St Jude. I was way more sore on Sunday than I should have been for having run a 5k, but it was entirely worth it.

other highlights included: breakfast at Pancake House with Dylan; Ladies' Night dinner at Blues City Cafe; my last day with the Carlson boys; brother bear's birthday; Friday lunch at Golden India; Central BBQ lunch with Winkates; DeltaCappella Holiday Concert; family dinner with the Carter-Walsh clan.

[the waffle that sent me into a food coma for nearly two hours]

[pretty remnants of fall] 

[throwback to the mysore palace as a bald-headed two-year-old] 

[memphis drivers. aren't they just fantastic] 

[mother-daughter nap time on a rainy friday afternoon. it's the stuff dreams are made of]

[some holiday cheer on beale st] 

[indeed]

[millie found out i was leaving. poor girl's going to miss me the most]

[found on the bench at central bbq. what a great motto for our team and our town]

After preparing for this weekend for nearly 8 months, it's crazy to think it's over. On to next year, I guess.
xx

*you can make donations through the end of the year, so if you are inspired to donate to my fundraising efforts you may do so here. your generosity is much appreciated, by me and most especially by the doctors, researchers, families, and children of St Jude.

the running diaries: what the rest of the year will [hopefully] look like.

It's been a while since I talked about my on-again-off-again relationship with running, but with St Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend only 6 weeks away, I figured it was time to jump back on the running train.

In theory I am training for the St Jude 5k on December 6th, but I've been slacking. I've been struggling to motivate myself and have taken to trying new routes and playlists and running patterns to keep things interesting.

A large part of it for me was the weather. With the hot weather in August and September, I was less than enthused about having to get up and run at 6am. October has been better, and I've enjoyed being able to sleep in and run at 8 or occasionally even 9 [or 12.30pm, like I did today!].

Another has been my muscle loss. Because I stopped doing my workouts, my legs are not as strong as they once were. I'm running slower as a result, and it's also making my runs tougher to get through. I need to start alternating my runs with workouts to make myself stronger again.

And finally it's been my schedule. I started getting into a routine in September, but then October hit, and with it came an overnight babysitting gig; a 4-day house- and pet-sitting gig; Homecoming / Reunion weekend; and then a week where all I wanted to do was sleep. This is the one I'm working hardest toward re-establishing, because I know once I have a routine, everything else will fall into place.

To help myself out, I'm setting some goals for myself. They're all attainable, but I'll definitely have to work to meet them in the next 6 weeks and through the end of the year.

my goals:

1. complete a Nike+ training program. I often lose patience with these, or I skip a day and then never get back on track, but I figure it'll be good since I have an actual race at the end of it. In theory I should have started it 2 weeks ago, but there's no time like the present. it begins on Monday, October 27, and wraps up with the St Jude 5k on December 6. and the good thing is that it automatically incorporates cross-training into the program, so I'll really have no excuses.
2. reach the next levels for Nike Fuel and and mileage. I've been using the Nike+ running app for nearly 3 years now, and I am closing in on two milestones: reaching 150k in Nike Fuel [only 2,000 away] and reaching the Blue Level for running [621 total miles run]. I'll probably reach the Nike Fuel milestone next week and so will increase that goal to see if I can get to 200k by the end of the year. as far as the running level, I'm about 74 miles away from the 4th milestone within the Green Level and 167 miles from the Blue Level. that one is going to be tougher, and it might be early January by the time I hit it, but it's something to work toward.
3. increase my mileage each week. this will happen anyway with the program, but once that finishes I will have to keep it up on my own. I figure if I just increase each run by a quarter-mile or so, that will take care of itself.
4. break a few of my records. I'm hoping to break my 5k record in December, but I'd love to beat some of those other records along the way. fastest mile; most miles in a week; most miles in a month; etc. because why not?
5. get some new insoles for my shoes. the shoes I bought in April are still holding up well, but my flat feet have pretty much destroyed the insoles and I can slowly feel my arches hurting more and more after each run. I'm hoping to get this taken care of this weekend to ward off any potential injuries; if I've not done so by the middle of next week, you have my full permission to kick my butt.
6. [not strictly running related, but also kind of] get some new running music. I love most of the songs I have on my running playlists, but there are also a few I would love to switch out for some newer ones. I am always up for suggestions!
7. and finally, make running a priority again. this is the main one I have struggled with in the wake of two half-marathons and a summer largely spent on the road, but I am slowly coming back around to it. missing the Nike Women's Half in San Francisco last weekend has kind of kicked me back into gear, and I want to capitalize on that and see where it takes me.

So there you have it. I'll check back in around mid-November to see where I'm at.

Happy trails!

xx

the only race i'm running is against myself.

I have been upping my running in the last few weeks [I use this term loosely]. I have vaguely been following one of the "Coach" options on the Nike+ running app, but it's really been more that I've been setting new challenges for myself and then pushing myself to meet them. Going 5 miles instead of 4. Picking up my pace. Running more difficult routes. And finally, during this morning's run, it occurred to me why I've been doing that.

It's because I've been running a race this whole time. And it's been against myself.

In the past, my motivation to keep running has run hand-in-hand with having a race to train for. Last summer it was to get ready for October's Nike Women's Half in San Francisco [had to get ready for those hills!]. Over the winter it was to prepare for that blustery Little Rock Half in early March. And both times, after I completed the race, I took time off from running. After SF I took about 3 weeks off, and that became a month after Little Rock. I was burned out, my muscles needed rest, and my heart wasn't in it anymore.

Fast forward to early April, when one fine day I laced up my shoes and went for a run. It was short, only a mile, but it was a start. Since then I have tried to run about 3 times a week, depending on the weather and if I'm in town or not. I've been slowly building my distance and endurance while also pushing myself to quicken my pace. Farther and faster, that was my goal.

But why? I guess it's the competitor in me. Running is an individual sport for me - the only person I am competing against is my former self. So I've been running to beat my records, to lower my average pace, and to test my limits. Because I know I can do it, I have to do it.

And then this morning I began to question it. I was running up an incline, right around Mile 4 of 5.5, and pushing myself unnecessarily. And that's when I wondered why I was pushing myself so hard. Why was it so necessary I do this? I don't have a race coming up anytime soon. But really I've been running that race all along.

It's the race against myself. The race against the thoughts in my head. The race against my physical and mental limitations. The race against every external factor in my life, so that it's only me and my body going as far and as fast as we can.

Perhaps one day I will win that race. But regardless of whether or not I do, at least it will be one hell of a journey.
xx

supporting st jude.

Last year I mentioned that St Jude Children's Research Hospital is one of my favourite places in Memphis. And it's true. It is a hospital dedicated to curing childhood cancers and diseases, and it does so while never charging a family for their child's treatment, because a parent's only focus should be on helping their child get better.

Because of this passion to treat children while not charging parents, you can imagine how great St Jude's daily operating costs are. All told, it costs roughly $1.8 million a day for St Jude to open its doors and treat its patients while also researching cures for these deadly diseases. It is because of donors - individuals, families, businesses, etc - that the hospital is able to continue its work each day.

Every December, Memphis hosts the St Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, where thousands of people from all over the country come to Memphis and run to raise money for this great hospital. All participants have the opportunity to sign up as Heroes and can pledge to raise $500 [Bronze], $750 [Silver], or $1,000 [Gold] for St Jude. It's not required, but most people do it just because it's such a great cause and also because Heroes registration happens before general registration, and spots sell out fast. The race - which includes both a half and full marathon as well as the Grizzlies House 5k - is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for the hospital, with runners and teams vying for top fundraising spots.

Last year, our very own Team Rhodes raised nearly $100,000 for St Jude, landing in the top 5 of all fundraising teams. This year, Team Rhodes is going bigger and better, with goals of 150 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends coming together to work toward raising $150,000. It's a lofty goal, but with the buzz generated by last year's team, I think it's completely doable.

In past years, I have always donated to friends who are running as Heroes. It's usually a $5 or $10 donation to each person's fundraising efforts, but it adds up. This year, I thought I'd tackle a different goal: raising a minimum of $500 myself. I registered for the 5k* [no more half marathons for me for a while] and am working my way toward my goal. I would love to raise even more if I can, but I thought I would start with $500 and go from there.

So now is the time for me to shamelessly ask for money. If you would like to help the children of St Jude, you can donate through my personal fundraising page today. Any amount, however large or small, helps save children's lives.

And as a bonus, the first 40ish people who donate to my page will receive a handwritten postcard from my collection. I am a serial postcard collector and now have cards from Hampi, Bombay, Nepal, San Francisco, Graceland, and New Orleans stacked up on my table ready to be written and sent out. I can't think of a better incentive, so donate today and receive yours in the mail soon! [I'll send them abroad, too!]

I can't think of any better way to spend $5 than to donate to this fantastic place. Can you?
xx

And if you would like to follow the exploits of Team Rhodes, we are also on Twitter [@LynxRun4StJude] and Instagram [@rhodesruns4stjude].

*Full disclosure: I have absolutely no idea where I'm going to be on Race Day, December 6th. I could still be in Memphis, I could be somewhere else in the continental United States, I could be in India, or I could be on the moon. There's really no telling, as it depends on work and money and a whole lot of other things. Regardless, I am still committed to raising money for St Jude, because I wholeheartedly believe in their mission, and wherever I find myself on December 6th, I'll run a 5k. You have my word on that.

14 of 52: showering britney + brandon.

Britney and Brandon are getting married in August, so to celebrate this past weekend we had a shower in Little Rock. I had never previously hosted any kind of shower, so I roped Laura and Jillian into co-hosting and therefore splitting duties. And - if I do say so myself - I think it all turned out brilliantly.

Since the Foodbank is having their own shower for Britney next month, this one was mostly Clinton School people, which was really nice. There were about 25 of us, and we kept things pretty low-key and casual. We had mimosas and sweet tea, lots of snacks, and a few little crafts that will be given as gifts to the Bs.

But most of all, we had a lot of laughter. Somehow, to me, that's what makes successful shower: how much people laugh. So based on that, we had the best shower that's even been thrown.

And for your viewing pleasure, some photographic evidence of the day:

[my first successful pinterest creation. #winning]

[the spread]

[these were by far the biggest hit. mostly because they were delicious]

[jillian and maggie]

[russell, jake, cory, ashley, jimmy, jillian, john, laura, maggie]

[b+b]

[me and my moo]

[katie and jillian]

[he took craft time very seriously]

[katie, jillian, britney, brandon, laura, and me]

[love my boo, however shady he may be]

other highlights included: picked up a new pair of running shoes; TuesdayNightLadiesNight at Sakura; my first successful Pinterest creation [even though Laura found the idea on Pinterest]; scored a Rhodes Choose 901 t-shirt [with the student discount!]; got asked if I was a college student; ice cream for dinner two nights in a row; lunch at Big Orange with Milligan and Abby; class 7 mini reunion.

[my new kicks. so much pink happening]

[the joyce roll from sakura. yummy]

[my banner all tied up]

[a concrete from shakey's. it's what's for dinner]

Such a fun weekend with fun people. Looking forward to a longer visit to the Rock next month.
xx

13 of 52: running without the pressure of a race.

Since my cold and rainy half marathon in Little Rock at the beginning of March, I didn't run again until a week ago. Between taking a week to rest and then some cold weather and then my trips to DC and New York, I got out of the routine of it. And honestly, after that last race, I was over it. I was done.

Training for and running two half marathons in a 4.5 month period - when I'd never run one before - took a toll on me. I began dreading my training runs. I kept finding excuses not to run. I kept repeating the same mantra: "tomorrow I'll go for that long run. tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow". And more often than not, tomorrow never came. There were two weeks solid in the middle of February when I didn't go for one single run. Yes, it was below freezing for those two weeks. But I could have found other places to run if I really wanted to.

And that's what it came down to: I really didn't want to run anymore. I had paid the registration for the Little Rock race, so I was determined to make it through, but it was tough going. Between the rain, the falling temperatures, and my lack of training, I'm pretty proud that I finished in 3:06, especially since I couldn't feel most of my extremities. But after that, I needed a break.

I took those weeks to travel, to have fun with my friends, and to refocus my mind. And then, last Monday, I woke up and decided to go for a run. The weather was beautiful, I was in a good mood, and with no particular distance in mind, I laced up my shoes, stretched my muscles, and took off.

It was a short run, only a little longer than a mile, but it was a start. And it was a mile longer than I had run in the previous 4 weeks. And the best part was that I actually enjoyed it. It was a chance to sort through some things in my mind, figure out a few things for the weeks ahead, and generally to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and exercise.

And it really reenergized me. That run reminded me that I don't need to run 10 miles every time I go outside. I can run 2 miles and be completely satisfied with that. I was putting too much pressure on myself trying to run longer distances and times - and competing with friends on the Nike+ running app - and I was taking all the fun out of it. But last week I went for runs on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. All were short runs, each just a little longer than the previous one, and I came out of all of them feeling great.

So I decided this is what I need. To run shorter distances - and maybe increase my pace a little while I'm at it - and to remember to have fun. To enjoy running for the sake of running and not because otherwise I'll never be able to finish a longer race. Instead, I am going to take advantage of the nice spring weather and use it as motivation to get out and start running again.

Will I run another half marathon? Perhaps; I'm certainly not ruling it out. But definitely not for a while. For now, I want to concentrate on learning to love running again.

And for now, that's good enough.
xx

other highlights included: girls' night at India Palace; my business cards arrived in the mail! [and gave me an excuse to play with Sharpies]; finalizing plans for B+B's engagement party next weekend; beautiful spring weather; introduced my parents to the awesomeness of Frozen; back to homemade Sunday lunches with my parents.

[my beautiful alma mater]

[india palace feasting]

[behold! wandering samaritan business cards!]

[testing out colours and fonts]

[spring has arrived in our backyard]

[delicious sunday lunch with the parents]

After all the craziness that was March, last week was exactly what I needed to refresh myself and get ready for the months ahead.
xx

8 of 52: seeing my mother's face as I crossed the finish line.

When I registered for the Little Rock Half Marathon back in December, my mother said that maybe she would come see me run. I tried to convince her that it would probably be boring for her, even though deep down I really wanted her to be there. Because of the Sunday schedule, my family wasn't able to come when I ran the 10k two years ago, and San Francisco last October was a little out of the question, so this would be the first time any of them would get to experience Race Day.

We booked a hotel sort of on the outskirts of downtown, but we got lucky when my father found out the Courtyard Marriott had rooms available at the last minute, and we ended up with a room overlooking the start line and a 3-minute walk to the finish area.

As race day approached, the forecast for the day continued to get worse. I originally thought the temperatures would be mild, and I wasn't majorly put off at the forecast of rain, hoping it would be light and cooling. I wasn't expecting winds of up to 25mph, consistent rain, and a temperature drop of nearly 15 degrees over the duration of my run. It was cold, it was wet, and I couldn't really feel my face or most of my lower body by the end, but I finished. Half marathon number 2 is in the books.

But the real highlight was sharing the day with my mother. Since she could see the start area from our hotel room window, I got a glimpse of her as my corral neared the starting line. Since my corral started 45 minutes after the Elite runners began, I had the opportunity to chat with the people around me, so when they saw me waving and trying to get my mother's attention, they all began jumping and waving, too. The moment she realized what was happening and spotted me was awesome, and everyone around me erupted in cheers. At that moment, I almost forgot how wet and cold I was.

And then at the end. After 3 grueling hours, when I was cold and wet and freezing and numb, I stumbled across the finish line and glanced over to the right. And there stood my mother. She had bundled up and braved the cold and the rain to come see me at the end, and I nearly lost it when I spotted her [I'm getting emotional just remembering it].

I've known my entire life how amazing my mother is. She works hard and still finds time to do so much for her family, and she's always been my hero, but in that moment I loved her and appreciated her more than I think I ever have. To even just make the trip to Little Rock to keep me company meant a lot, but for her to come out in those crazy conditions was just incredible, and it's a moment I'll never forget.

other highlights included: a fun night at Slider Inn; Pyro's and a Grizz win over the Lakers; Arkansas win at Kentucky; Shakey's and Slim Chickens in one weekend; got invited to contribute a story to Maptia.

[clockwise from top left: my personal creation at pyro's; upgraded to club level seats at the grizz v lakers game; mike conley rally flags]

[not entirely historically accurate, but i can't imagine a better sight, unless i were there, too]

[love that our mothers finally got to meet!]

[thank you, bee and ang, for helping me carbo load]

[I agree, it was all pretty epic]

My next running goal? To break my 10k record. Wish me luck!
xx

1/2 marathon monday: why the little rock half?

Last week I mentioned that I gave in and registered for the Little Rock half coming up on the 2nd of March. I thought I'd go into my reasons for registering - not just for another half but for Little Rock in general - if you're interested in reading about it.

As I stated last week, I've been toying with registering for another half since I completed my first one in October in San Francisco. Yes, I've been bitten by the running bug. I honestly never thought I'd be one to give in to the running kick, but in the last few years I've found that I actually rather enjoy running. It gives me some "me time" and allows me to get lost in my own thoughts for a few miles. And since I hate going to the gym, it provides me with regular exercise, which is something I definitely need.

When I decided I wanted to run another half, there were a number of factors that I took into consideration when choosing my race...

The first factor was cost. As awesome as my San Francisco experience was, it cost me a bomb. The registration was significantly more than most other races [somewhere in the ballpark of $170, if memory serves correctly], and even though I stayed with Miriam and her roommates for 2 nights, those 3 nights in a hotel set me back BIG TIME. Yes, the hotel was majorly convenient, and I literally stepped out the front door and into my starting corral, but it cost a pretty penny. Luckily for me, my father had a ton of Delta Skymiles saved up, so I was able to use those to cover the cost of the flights, but even with that, I still had to contend with the price of food and such, which is significantly more in SF than it is in Memphis.

All that is to say that I knew my next race needed to not cost me an arm and a leg, and Little Rock wins in all categories. To begin with, the registration was $75, less than half of what I paid for the Nike Women's. Little Rock is driving distance from Memphis - about 2.5 hours from my parents' house to downtown LR - and I know of at least one friend from Memphis who is also running, meaning that there could be an option to carpool. I also have numerous friends with whom I can stay all throughout the city, but should I decide to stay in a hotel for the night before the race, it would cost about 1/3 the price of what I paid in SF. Additionally, meals are also significantly cheaper, and on top of that I'm going to try to get myself invited to the Clinton School carbo-load dinner the night before the race.

Another factor was timing. I knew I needed at least 2 months to get myself back in shape for another half marathon, which ruled out the Scenic City Half Marathon in Chattanooga the third week of February. I would love to run a race in Chattanooga - and will likely register for the 4 Bridges Half Marathon held there in October if I'm still in the vicinity - but the 22nd of February is just too close; I knew I'd never be ready by then, and I would hate to spend the time and money for a run I'm not adequately prepared for.

The next factor was scenery. Ultimately it came down to either the Little Rock Half or the Germantown Half Marathon that's happening a few weeks later. We all know that I think LR is a pretty little city, and the course is well known for being scenic, with the crossing of the bridges and running through some nice historic neighbourhoods. I'm not dissing Germantown, but that's not a fair comparison. Also, that major typo on the header [the "twenty-nineth" annual race? come on, you KNOW how I handle things like that. especially on official notices and websites] for the Germantown race was a major turn-off.

And finally - and some might say most importantly - company, camaraderie, & familiarity. I ran the 10k in 2011. I know the first half of the course. I liked it. I liked running by the Clinton Presidential Library and Sturgis. I liked seeing people I knew along the course route. I liked saying hi to all the volunteers at the aid stations. I liked running through historic downtown North Little Rock. I liked having classmates and schoolmates and friends to greet me at the finish line, and in turn, I liked cheering on others to their finish. Oh, and I definitely liked the unlimited chocolate milk.

San Francisco was certainly scenic, and there was a certain element of surprise to it, since I didn't know exactly when the hills were coming. In a way, it's how I made it through the course. But there's something to be said for running a familiar route. I know I can make it through the first half, because I've done it before. There are no surprises through the first 5.5 miles, which helps me prepare mentally. And enough friends have told me it's one of their favourite half marathons to run that it didn't take long to sell me on it.

And speaking of friends. In 2011, I had two friends from the Clinton School running along in the 10k, 6 who ran the half marathon, and 1 brave soul who ran the full marathon. I also had 5 other friends from Memphis who ran the half, and another friend from Little Rock who ran the full. On top of that, there were plenty of others who came out to cheer and yell and provide moral support, which was so great. Having Miriam and Maren come out and support me during my run in SF meant so much, and only after I saw them did I realise how much it means to have someone you know, someone you recognize, out there supporting you through something like this. And that was the main reason I chose Little Rock. I know there will be friends running. I know there will be friends who come out to lend their support. I know it's a big race in what is, in a lot of ways, a small town, and I really liked that feeling last year.

Yes, the medals are nice, but so is the knowledge that I will be accomplishing this alongside friends from all walks of my life. That, along with the added peer pressure from Julie, is what pushed me to finally sign up.

Well, that and the unlimited chocolate milk.
xx

1/2 marathon monday: because apparently I am a glutton for punishment.

Yep, I'm back.

After my half marathon in October, I've been slowly toying with the idea of running another. It's partly the running bug, and it's also partly that I know I'm always better at keeping up with my running if I have something specific to train for.

After my 10k in 2012 and after my run in October, I took some time off from running in the weeks that followed to give my body a chance to recover. But then as the first week stretched into the second and eventually a third, it took more and more to motivate me to get out and run. Especially this year, when the two weeks after were so crazy, and then I went to India. I ran a few times while I was in Coimbatore, but then with only 5 days in Bangalore and 4 in Bombay, there just wasn't enough time. And so I got out of the habit.

I had a pretty bad cold when I first returned from India, so that kept me from getting back into it. And then the weather was super cold, and I was just too lazy to put on all the requisite layers to just run a few miles. So I didn't.

I missed entering the lottery for the DC Nike Women's Half, because I was waiting to hear back about a job in India. Needless to say, the job didn't work out, and I suddenly see myself being in the States for the foreseeable future. I knew I needed some motivation to keep up with my running and workouts, and so I finally decided to bite the bullet and register for another half.

It occurred to me on Saturday night that the Little Rock half would be a good option. It's close, so travel wouldn't be to expensive, and it's the first weekend in March, when it's usually still a bit cool. The 10k last year was pretty fun, and I've heard the half is pretty flat, so I was considering signing up for it.

Enter Julie Clary. We were at a baby shower on Sunday afternoon for Walker, and Julie told me she had just registered for the half in Little Rock. When I mentioned I was thinking about it, I got a very enthusiastic "You totally should!" Being the kind of person who never gives in to peer pressure, that was just enough to push me over the edge. And so yesterday evening, I finally took the plunge and registered.

While I was out for a quick run this afternoon [look at that motivation already at work!], it occurred to me that this training will be significantly different from the last one. Where I had 4 months and a structured training plan to ease myself into the long distances before, I now have 2 months [one of which is February, so that pretty much means it doesn't count] and only my own schedule to get ready for the next one. That means that I need to be back to running 5-6 miles by next weekend. Yikes.

I've mapped out a tentative schedule for my long runs for the next 8 weeks, and while I probably won't do a weekly update like I did for the first one, I will likely check in every few weeks or so with an update on how it's going and whether or not my legs are still attached to my body.

So here we go, half marathon #2.
Little Rock, here I come.
xx

1/2 marathon monday: I. DID. IT.

RACE WEEK!

day-to-day:

Monday: 5mi run around the neighbourhood [5.3mi according to my GPS, but I'm pretty sure it's jacked]. it was a gorgeous morning, and instead of creating some crazy route, I just ran to Walnut Grove and back twice. the return incline is a bit longer and more gradual than anywhere else in the neighbourhood, and it was a nice feeling to conquer it twice. all in all, a pretty good start to race week.

Tuesday: 3mi run around the neighbourhood. although the weather was pleasant, you could feel the humidity from the rain clouds rolling in, and I wanted to make sure to get in a run before it started coming down. this one was important as it was my last run in Memphis before the race and hopefully my last early morning run for the next few months.

Wednesday: 15-minute NTC Perfect Alignment with Gabby Douglas workout. good to limber up the joints a bit.

Thursday: technically a day off, but I attended a Zumba class with Miriam and Maren in San Francisco. my first ever attempt at Zumba, and it was pretty fun. the class was super crowded, so it was difficult to be able to do all the moves properly, and some of them I was just too uncoordinated to accomplish, but overall I had a good time. Maren has only been a few times before, so we kept each other company in the back and laughed when we kept bumping into each other.

Friday: day off, but lots of walking around town.

Saturday: 2mi run near Miriam's house. was good to get in a run and to get a little feel for a few of the hills in town. I know they weren't as steep as a few of the ones on the race course, but it was still good to just get out and run. made me feel a little bit more ready for Sunday's race. and I went for my run at 11.30am! it was incredible. the weather was fantastic, and it only got warm at the very end when there wasn't a whole lot of shade.

Sunday: RACE DAY. I ran 13.1 miles and lived to talk about it. definitely the hardest and probably most rewarding thing I've ever done. I hit a mental wall between miles 8 and 9, but I pushed through. I hit a physical wall between 10 and 11 and was just starting to get a little hungry, but then Whole Foods was handing out chocolate bars! those, and the orange slices at mile 8, were the second best things ever. the best thing? seeing Miriam and Maren at the top of the hill at mile 7 and again at the end of the race. finding them just past the halfway point put such a smile on my face, and then I nearly started crying when I found them after gear check. I cannot describe how amazing it was to have their presence and their support. [for more details, see the section below]

pre-race thoughts [written Saturday night]:

I'm feeling ready for the morning. getting in that run this morning really got me in a good place mentally for the race. I know it was only a couple of miles, but there were a few fairly steep hills along the route - definitely steeper than anything I've run in Memphis - and it felt good to be able to get through those and still have something in the tank.

I am also going into tomorrow with the full knowledge that I may have to - and probably will - walk up portions of a few of the hills. it's nothing to be embarrassed of, and I'd rather do that and be able to complete the whole course rather than exhaust myself and end up having a poor race. from looking at the course map and speaking with Miriam and her roommates, I've realised that miles 6-8 have the worst of the hills, so I also know that if I can get to mile 9, I'm good to go. I also know that my own adrenaline and the adrenaline and energy of those around me will propel me forward, too.

so here we go, 13.1. let's make it one for the books.

post-race thoughts [written Monday night]:

wow. I did it.

it was by far the most physically demanding thing I've ever done in my life, but it was also such a feeling of accomplishment to cross the finish line and know I had done what I set out to do 15 weeks ago when I started my training.

it was an awesome, cloudy, cold, foggy morning, which is my absolute favourite weather to run in. the first 3 miles were deceptively flat, but it was cool to run by the Ferry Building and along the piers that early in the morning. it kind of felt like the city was empty and the runners and the volunteers were the only people in the entire place. the first few hills - down by Fisherman's Wharf - were challenging, but I ran through them. the bigger ones, between miles 6 and 7, were tough, and for both, I ran the first half and walked the second. and at the top of the hill in Presidio, right after mile 7, I saw Miriam and Maren, who had come to cheer me on. it was so wonderful to see them, and the poor girls got a big shout and a very sweaty hug for their trouble.

I started to hit a mental wall between miles 8 and 9, but the orange slices the volunteers were handing out got me through it. Miriam had mentioned them to me on Saturday night, and she wasn't kidding when she said how awesome they were. it was the middle of the last big hill, and it gave me a break to walk and get my head back in the game, and it was perfect.

I started to hit a physical wall between miles 10 and 11. my hips were hurting, my hamstrings were starting to cramp, and I was starting to get hungry, which is something that's never happened to me during a run before. but nevertheless, hunger was coming. and then I turned a corner, and there were volunteers handing out chocolate bars from Whole Foods. it was the definition of perfect timing. I grabbed some chocolate and some water, chowed down, and took a minute to stretch out my hamstrings. by that point we were at the turn for the half-marathoners and only had about 1.5 miles to go. after 11.5, that's pretty doable.

my pace definitely slowed waaaaayyyyy down toward the end, but I don't even care. I finished a half marathon. I ran the hills. I made it. that's all that matters.

the highlight of the race: besides the orange slices and the chocolate bars? definitely Miriam and Maren. seeing them at the top of that Presidio hill put such a huge grin on my face, and the adrenaline carried me nearly another 1.5 miles before I crashed. and when I found them at the end, after the finisher's necklace and the tee and the warming blanket and the food bag and the gear check [even more exhausting than it sounds], I nearly burst into tears. I was on such a high while simultaneously being drained, and the combination of that with finding my friends who had gotten up stupidly early to come support me nearly did me in [if I'm honest, I still get a little emotional just thinking about it]. they were definitely my heroes that day.

the oddest part of the race: the number of women who kept stopping to take pictures along the way. like at every single mile marker and with every single sign posted along the way. the number of women texting while walking. the number of women talking on the phone while running. I don't know about you, but I have zero desire to do any of those things while I'm in the middle of running 13 miles. but maybe that's just me.

the best sign of the race: "GO! GO! GO! You're running better than Congress!" truer words have never been spoken.

the most misleading sign of the race: "Keep running! Hot firefighters are waiting for you!" so every year, one of the big pulls for the race is that there are "hot" firemen waiting at the finish line to give you your finisher's necklace and take pictures with you. well, that's only half true. yes, there are indeed firemen at the finish line, but they're not exactly hot. I passed some hot firemen around mile 2 outside their station, but the ones at the finish line weren't really doing it for me. the ones handing out the necklaces were rather old and had seen their better days about 15 years ago, and the ones in the picture area were far too pretty. [I found out later than the ones at the photo-op area were actually models who had been hired for the event. nice job on the fake promo, Nike] needless to say, after all that buildup, it was quite the letdown.

the low-point of the race: the area just after the Finish Line. with 5,000 more runners than last year crammed into a smaller area, it got super congested. the line for the food bags got backed up, which backed up the area for the warming blankets [which were much needed. it was cold], which in turn backed up the line for the Finisher's Tee. I was stood still for 20 minutes after just having run 13.1 miles, and my muscles were not happy with me. we all needed to stretch, and there wasn't enough room, and it was super frustrating [I found out later that at one point, the line was backed up to within 20 feet of the finish line. that would not have been a good situation]. by the time I finally got my stuff from the bus, I just wanted to get out of there and away from the crowd and to anywhere I could have some personal space. the main thing that frustrated me - other than not being able to stretch, of course - was that up to that point, I had zero complaints about my race experience, and I hated that it ended like that. I didn't get a picture in front of any of the signs, I didn't see what they had for sale in the Finisher's Boutique, and I didn't get a chance to just hang around and soak up the experience, because all I could think about was getting out.

beyond that, though, it was an awesome experience, and I'm already thinking about the DC race in April 2014. I can't wait for the lottery to open next month. I still think a 10k is my favourite race, but the Nike Women's is just a cool experience to be a part of.

and the Tiffany necklace certainly helps.

[definitely wearing this one until kingdom come]

and now for a few days off and a lot of unhealthy eating. I think I earned it.
xx

1/2 marathon monday: it's almost go time.

day-to-day:

Monday: [maggie was in town, so no running happened]

Tuesday: 6mi run at the Greenline. was a beautiful morning, the Greenline was pretty empty, and I kept up a pretty good pace. all in all, a nice run.

Wednesday: slept in. occurring more and more often these days.

Thursday: groggy 5.73mi run around the neighbourhood. I was super tired but forced myself to get up and get ready for a run, and then it was foggy, so I had to sit around for about 15 minutes before it was light enough to head out, so I just was not in it, mentally, physically, or emotionally. was supposed to be a 6-miler, but I cut over at one point and just said I'll run as much as I run, and that will be that. just wasn't my day.

Friday: day off.

Saturday: 9mi run around the neighbourhood. last long run before race day. I changed it up a bit for this one and ran some intervals: 3mi run; walked for one song; 3mi run; walked for two songs; ran for three songs; walked for one song; ran to the finish. even though it was cool outside when I left for my run, you could also feel the underlying humidity, and that was definitely a factor in my being sluggish at the end. I also did the intervals so that it gave me a chance to chew on my Gu chomps. I realised a few weeks ago that chewing them while I ran didn't sit right in my stomach, and it was much better to walk for that bit. I also realised that, while I think I'll do alright next weekend, I will most likely not be able to run 13.1 consecutive miles on the hills of San Francisco. I'm not trying to sound defeatist, and I will certainly give it my best, but I'm also being realistic. and I would much rather do some intervals throughout the race and finish rather than completely wear myself out and not be able to complete the course. we'll see what happens come race day, but I'm prepared either way.

Sunday: day off.

holy cow, where have the last 14 weeks gone?

I've said it a few times in the past few weeks, but I can't believe how quickly my training has gone. it seems like just yesterday I was struggling to run 3 miles, and now I know I can run at least 9 consecutively [from 4 weeks ago, not from this Saturday].

it's unreal how quickly these weeks have gone, and I still can't really believe that my race will be finished by this time next week.

so what do I want to get out of this race?

being that it's my first half-marathon and it's going to be hilly, I'm keeping my expectations reasonable. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: my number one goal is to finish. I don't care how fast or slow it goes, I want to cross that finish line in one piece and get my finisher's necklace. I don't have a specific time goal in mind, nor do I want one. I just want to go out, enjoy the city and its beautiful views, and have a little fun along the way. there will be thousands of others out there doing the same thing I'm doing, and it's great fun to run a race alongside complete strangers.

so here we go, SF. let's do this.
xx

1/2 marathon [tuesday]: almost there.

day-to-day:

Monday: ran 2.4 of what was originally supposed to be a 5mi run. it drizzled all through the night and into the morning, and it was pretty wet outside, so I decided to just run a short one. it would be just my luck to sprain something or otherwise injure myself 3 weeks from race day, so I decided not to take the risk. I ran around 8am, the latest I've run in months, and it was nice and cool, only getting humid right at the end. I was originally going to skip the run and do the elliptical to avoid the wet pavements, but the thought of doing so kind of depressed me, so I headed outside anyway. I especially wanted to loosen up my muscles, which were pretty stiff after Saturday's long run.

Tuesday: 30-minute NTC Get Toned Intermediate Circuit Challenge workout. lots of squats, so my quads were definitely burning at the end of it.

Wednesday: day off.

Thursday: 4.25mi run at the Greenline. ran my fastest 5k ever, which was promising, but ran out of steam a bit at the end. even though it wasn't super humid, it was very warm, so I was glad it was a shorter run. still enjoying the Greenline, especially during the week when it's fairly empty.

Friday: in Atlanta for the Goodrich/Jones wedding festivities, so it was another day off.

Saturday: day off. I needed my rest for the party that night.

a pretty uneventful week. sometimes those are good.

because of the rain on Monday and the trip to Atlanta for Cait and Wes' wedding, my schedule was a bit crazy last week, and I didn't necessarily train as much as I could or should have. the two runs that I got in were pretty good, and I'm hopeful that the weather is finally taking a turn toward fall. the days are getting shorter as well, which means I'm able to sleep until almost 6 and head out for my runs around 6.25 or even later, if I drive to the Greenline. those 5.15 wake-up calls were tough to take, so I'm thankful to be able to sleep in a bit even on those days I run.

we're down to 2 weeks until race day, which is kind of mind-blowing. I entered the draw for the race at the beginning of June, I found out I was accepted at the end of June, and I began my training the second week of July. back then, it felt like I had ages until 20 October, and now it's only 12 days away [I got delayed and am only posting this on Tuesday...oops]. I still kind of can't believe it.

I have lots of thoughts going into my last few weeks of training, but I also have a lot of other things I need to take care of this week, so it looks like those thoughts will either be their own post later this week or combined with next week's training log.

until then, happy running to you.
woo pig.
xx

1/2 marathon monday: discovering great runs in Memphis.

day-to-day:

Monday: 5mi run. a huge thank you to the running weather gods for hearing my plea and providing absolutely beautiful weather for my run. it was cool, there was a great breeze, and there was no humidity to be found. I went for a nice little scamper through the neighbourhood and loved it.

Tuesday: it was a pick-your-own 30-minute workout, so I did a 15-minute Get Focused Ab Burner workout and a 15-minute Better Butt workout. both were fine, except for the split jumps in the second one, but otherwise nothing major. guess I'm becoming a planking expert or something.

Wednesday: 5mi run. was supposed to be a tempo run, but my batteries weren't fully charged. but I did have a change of scenery. I got up a few minutes early and drove over to Shelby Farms, which was pretty nice. the trail begins going through the woods, which I really enjoyed. kind of made me feel like I was back in Coorg. and it helped me work on picking up my feet when I run, since there are lots of tree roots and various things across the trail path. after about 1.5 miles, you emerge onto the access road that runs parallel to Walnut Grove, which I followed up to the lake and back. it was cool, since I could see all the traffic on the main road but didn't have to deal with it. I got a little winded around mile 3.5, so I walked for about 400 meters and then ran the rest. the main downside to running through the woods, though, was that my GPS signal was weak, so I don't know how accurate the distance was. it was about 5 minutes slower overall than Monday's run, which I think sounds about right, but I don't know for sure. it was definitely nice to have a change of scenery, though, and I really enjoyed the bit through the woods.

Thursday & Friday: yep, skipped those workouts. oops :/

Saturday: 12mi run on the Greenline [see below]. wow. it was long, but it was good. I ran the first 10k straight through [my fastest 10k ever! 2 minutes faster than my race in March 2012] and then walked for about 400 meters. Katie Walsh met me at Highland with cold water [she is a godsend] and then ran ahead of me for a bit. at the end, especially from miles 10 to 12, the intervals were shorter and slower with a bit more walking than I maybe would have liked, but I'm still pretty happy with how it went, and I'm feeling more confident about my race. which is in 3 WEEKS! I can't believe that from the beginning of July, we're down to only 3 weeks from race day. the moment of truth is nearly upon us. also, I met two really nice women on my run. they passed me at one point, but then they stopped to walk, so I passed them and stayed ahead of them for a bit until near the end of my run. I ran into them again in the parking lot, and they said they had been using me to pace them and that I was maintaining a really good, consistent pace throughout my run, which was a really nice thing to hear. pacing is one of those things I sometimes worry about, and it was nice to have complete strangers say something like that, especially when it was toward the end of my run, and I was feeling as though I were less consistent than at the beginning. so thank you, random women, and hopefully we can be running buddies again soon.

my recent Shelby Farms Park obsession:

for months I have been intending to utilize some of the trails of Shelby Farms Park, and this week I got out and explored two of them. and I really liked them both.

the trail off Germantown Parkway and Walnut Bend I really liked because it was pretty quiet and isolated, and because part of it is an actual trail through the woods. it was good practice for picking up my feet while I run, and I just like that it reminded me of trekking through the jungle in Coorg. it was pretty dark when I first set out, so whenever I run that one in the future, I think I'll give it an extra 15 minutes to have a bit more light through the trees. it's good for runs around 5 miles.

I'd been hearing and reading about the Greenline for over a year and had been wanting to check it out - especially now that it comes all the way out to the Park - and I really enjoyed it. it's a straight run from Mullins Station at Farm Road all the way down to Tillman [parallel to I-40 / Sam Cooper, but with very minimal traffic noise - a HUGE plus], it's flat, and - most importantly - it's shaded. it was pretty cool when I ran out there on Saturday, with only a few small spots of sunshine [yet I still somehow managed to get a tan. go figure]. and even though it was Saturday and there were a good number of people out, it only seemed to get crowded toward the end, around 10, which was really nice. and it was nice to set up a meeting with a friend and see a familiar face at my halfway point. especially a familiar face bearing water. cold water. my only complaint about the Greenline is that it doesn't have water fountains. I am someone who hates carrying water bottles, and I forgot my Camelbak, so having that water break at the midway point was huge. I had some Gu Chomps with me - the watermelon ones - and I chomped on a few every 3 miles, which helped, but water is always the key. other than that, however, I loved the Greenline and will definitely be utilizing it for more of my long runs. it's such a sense of accomplishment to say that I ran from Farm Road to Highland and back. pretty cool.

here's to running more of the 901 in the coming weeks / months.
woo pig.
xx

1/2 marathon monday: looking for some motivation.

day-to-day:

[I skipped Monday's and Thursday's workouts because of my neck. still not sure what caused it to hurt so badly, but all seems to be back in working order. hopefully week 12 will not have any setbacks]

Tuesday: 3mi run. I got a little over-excited after my long run the previous Saturday, and I went a little too fast out of the gate. I ran the first mile hard and was pretty winded, so I had to slow way down for the final 2 miles. note to self: my body is built for distance, NOT speed.

Wednesday: 6 hill sprints with walkdown. I found a hill in the neighbourhood that is some combination of steep and long, and I set off. I know 6 isn't much, but like I said, I'm not a sprinter, so those last few were pretty tough.

Friday: 8mi of what was supposed to be an 11mi run. it was way too humid [see below], so I called it a day after 8. I was on my way to feeling a little let down about it, but then I remembered that 8 is still a lot and is significantly more than I could run even a month or two ago, so I got over it pretty quickly. I still have two more long runs before my race in 4 weeks, so I'm confident I'll be alright. also, it was super humid because of the rain that came later in the morning.

[the long run was supposed to be on Saturday, but because I went to Nashville and knew I wouldn't get up and run on Saturday, I moved it to Friday to make sure I ran something]

Sunday: rest rest and more rest.

oh the humidity:

there was rain in the air all week, so Wednesday's and Friday's runs were both really humid. here in Memphis, the heat is sometimes manageable, but the humidity will really get to you. there were some mornings during the summer when I would run at 5.30 in the morning, and the humidity would already be at 70%. I can run fairly quickly - by my standards - when it's cool outside, but I come to a near standstill when the humidity kicks in. I've made it through most of the training because the runs have been shorter, but Friday's run really got to me, because it was humid when I started my run, and then the sun came out and was pretty strong. the combination really got to me, and although I had Clif Shot Bloks with me, I really needed water as well, because I could feel the fluids draining from my body. so this is my plea to the weather gods to please ease up on the humidity in the coming weeks. isn't it supposed to be fall anyway?

in need of motivation:

I think another problem I've had the last few weeks is a serious lack of motivation, particularly for the workouts throughout the week. I get up early to run because otherwise it's way too hot, but with the workouts I don't need to. then it gets to that awkward mid-morning stage where I think to myself, "it's 8.30 now, even if I work out from 9-9.45, it'll be 10.30 at the earliest before I'm showered and ready for the day." and it's not like I do a whole lot with my days, but if I do have any errands to run, I like to finish them in the morning before it gets too hot. so then I sleep for an extra 20-30 minutes and skip the workout. I know the weird crick I had in my neck was also a contributing factor, and I think I've managed to banish it, so hopefully that won't factor into my decisions about whether or not to work out.

another problem is that I am bored of running in my parents' neighbourhood. I've branched out a bit and started exploring a little, but I definitely need a change of scenery. for Wednesday's run I think I'll head to Shelby Farms and run on the path there to have some new sights to look at. I'm not sure what I'm going to do for Saturday's 12-miler, but I'll figure something out between now and then.

I know my race is only 4 weeks away, so I'm hoping I can change things up just enough between now and then to keep my motivation levels from dropping too much. and with the weather becoming so much nicer and the onset of fall, I think I'll be alright.

only 4 weeks to go!
woo pig.
xx

1/2 marathon monday: holy 9 miles, batman.

day-by-day:

Monday: 4mi run. I ran a faster pace, and although I had to pause my run once around the 2.7 mark, I still felt pretty good about it.

Tuesday: 15-minute NTC Get Focused Sculpted Arms and 15-minute Shaped Back workout. my arms definitely got a good workout with these two. I've had a crick in my neck since Little Rock, and these strained it a bit, but otherwise they were alright.

Wednesday: 1.75mi up-tempo run. slept an extra 15 minutes in the morning since it was a short run, and I felt so good. ran my first mile with a slower pace and then ran the last .75 fast. it felt good to get in a longer sprint, and I was in a really good mood at the end of it.

Thursday & Friday: were supposed to be a 45-minute NTC workout and a 15-minute NTC workout respectively, but because of the stiffness in my neck, I called it a day and skipped the workouts so as to not strain it further. the crick is slowly getting better, and I didn't want to risk making it worse all over again.

Saturday: 9mi run. and what a great run it was. the weather was awesome and cool, and I took it as a sign to get out and tackle the longest run in the history of my life. I was nervous leading up to it since I had missed my two previous long runs, but the cool weather really put me in a good frame of mind for the run. I kept up a pace that I was happy with, my Gu Chomps kept up my energy, and I felt really good with myself for getting through it. Did I have more miles in me? Sure. Did I have 4 more miles in me? Probably not. But I've still got 5 weeks to get there, and after Saturday's run, I'm feeling pretty good about my chances for San Francisco.

you know those "hills" I keep talking about?

I am well aware that the inclines in my parents' neighbourhood are nothing compared to the hills I will encounter in San Francisco, but they're better than nothing. I've been exploring a little more around the neighbourhood and discovering a few new inclines, and I realized on my latest long run that I have a tendency to drag my feet when I'm going uphill, which is something I need to work on in the future. note to self: those high knee runs are actually useful.

this weekend calls for 11 miles. wish me luck.
woo pig.
xx

1/2 marathon monday: getting back into the groove.

this week was back to the grind, and it felt really good.

day-to-day:

Monday: 3.5mi run. I slept in because of our long journey Sunday night, but when I woke up I knew I still wanted to get my run in, so I set out around 9am. usually my runs start around 6, and I could definitely feel the difference in the heat. I had to pause my run a few times and walk a bit, but I finished it. I'm definitely looking forward to getting back into my rhythm.

Tuesday: 45-minute NTC Get Toned Intermediate Stinger workout. that's right, we've entered the Intermediate workouts. this one had some new exercises that I hadn't done before, so those took some getting used to, but overall it was a good workout. I still don't really like those "push away balance" things, but luckily they don't show up too often. I also broke out my new medicine ball [6 lbs! watch out, world] and am glad I decided to go ahead and get the heavier one. who knows, maybe one day I'll be ready for one of those 8lb-ers...

Wednesday: 5mi run. got back to my early morning runs, and it paid off. my pace was definitely a lot slower than I would have liked, but the bottom line is that I finished the run, so I'll take my small victories. and the awesome early morning weather definitely helped. it was downright chilly when I left my house at 5.50am, and I was so very thankful.

Thursday: originally supposed to be a 30-minute stretching session, but because I attended Britney's work event, I counted our 2-mile walk to and from the Big Dam Bridge as my workout.

Friday & Saturday: didn't get my runs in. the Eastham house is out on Highway 10, and there are no good sidewalks or running paths out there. I saw a few people just running on the road, but I wasn't quite ready for that. so once again, I missed my long run. this Saturday's 9-miler is going to be a big wake-up call.

in other news...

I got a new pair of running shoes! bit the bullet, went to the mall, and got some new kicks. took them for a run yesterday, and they felt pretty good.

like I said, I've missed my last two long runs. I'm in town this weekend, I have no distractions, and I'm determined to fight through the 9 miles that are looming in the distance. I'm thinking I might hit up Shelby Farms for my run, but we'll also see what kind of mood I'm in come Saturday morning.

woo pig.
xx