16 Miles! Longest Training Run EVER!

Weather: 60 degrees, overcast, and cool. There was a stiff W breeze throughout the run. I created a loop route on Google maps and decided to follow that. Incorporated a half marathon time trial (which I finished in 2:13:53!), thanks to some new friends on The Loop at runnersworld.com. Overall I finished the 16 miles in 2:45:13! I got up at 5:15am on Saturday, and was out the door by 5:30am. Here are some highlights...

Mile 1: I saw a baby fox! Right by Lake Arlington... he was so cute!

Mile 2: I think Garmin hates mornings as much as I do. He had my first mile at 10:40, yuck! I know I'm going faster than that. I hope he snaps out of it soon!

Mile 3: Ahhh that's more like it! Garmin is back on track. There aren't a whole lot of cars out at this hour, and the ones that are keep staring at me like I'm insane. Which I am. Not denying that one!

Mile 4: I like this route because it's quiet, and the neighborhood is just waking up. But I DO NOT like the cars that block the sidewalk! I swear I've added .10 to my total just for running around cars.

Mile 5: Easy easy. This is kind of fun! But I'm sure glad I brought my ipod... I'd be ridiculously bored right now without it. Ooh, shackers! HAHA

Mile 6: Park time! The sun is trying to peek through the clouds, but so far to no avail. And time for a snack, which tastes SO GOOD right now.

Mile 7: I really hope there's sidewalks on my new route...

Mile 8: I'm halfway done, and the library isn't even open yet. Hardly anything is open. Sweet :)

Mile 9: I don't think my tummy feels ok. Wait... tiny sips of water... all better.

Mile 10: I just finished 10?! Wow... that felt like nothing. How awesome is that?!

Mile 11: Going a little too fast right now. I'm struggling to figure out my pace. Either my Garmin or my legs are all over the place. Probably a little bit of both.

Mile 12: Got to the pavilion, refilled the water bottle, and wolfed down 2 snacks. God I hope my stomach settles down.

Mile 13: Getting a lot of curious stares from passers-by. Might be because I'm full-out sprinting because it's the end of my "half marathon" time trial. Might be because I have salt running down my arms and legs. Either way.

Mile 14: My stomach made the yucky noise. The "Bathroom. NOW!!!!!" noise. I made a deal with it- give me 25 more minutes, and I'll get you home safely. Also added a plea for no embarassing situations on the way home, since I have to cross 2 busy intersections. Thank you.

Mile 15: Holding up well. I'm still running under my goal pace, which is awesome. But my old nemesis Doubt came for a visit, and tried to tell me that I will fail at the marathon. Shut up, Doubt!

Mile 16: Less than a mile from home. My tummy welched on our deal. I am running down the bike path and whimpering aloud because it hurts so bad. I have to stop and walk, just because an accident is not outside the realm of possibility at this point. Thankfully, after crossing Schoenbeck and doing a couple of laps around the subdivision, I make it back in time.

2:45:13! Not too shabby! I figure that I could have gone to about 2:42 if my stomach wasn't doing somersaults. Add 105 minutes to that for the last 10 miles, and that's.... a 4:27 marathon?! Holy cow!

Oak Brook Half is Rapidly Approaching!

I honestly can't believe how time has been flying lately. I seems like yesterday I was preparing for the expo and the RnR Chicago Half Marathon. Now we're nearing the end of August- the Cubs are slowly losing ground, my feet are achy all the time from all of my training, and the Oak Brook Half is almost here.

HUH?! You mean it's almost Labor Day ALREADY?! It doesn't really seem possible! But it is. I checked my calendar this morning- 18 more days until the race. I can say that I haven't given much thought about it. This past month my thoughts have been consumed with keeping up with my training schedule, blogging on RW, and completing my long runs. Check, check, and check. Time to focus on my next race!

I hate not racing. I was scouring the web earlier today looking for a 5K in my area over the weekend, just to have something to do. No such luck. Guess it'll be a long, lonely 16 miler around my neighborhood (Note to self: start mapping possible routes!)

As for the Oak Brook Half, I'm definitely looking forward to it. I love races, and this one is rated one of the best in Chicagoland. Plus a lot of it is run on limestone and wooded trails, so it'll be a little softer on my legs. I think there might be a hill or two, but I'm not worried. I say right now that I'm going to use it as a training run, but we both know that's not going to happen. I want to RACE! I want to lower my PR!

With that being said, here are my goals for the upcoming race:
1. To FINISH!
2. To lower my PR
3. To take water and/or Gatorade at every aid station
4. To run at a consistent 9:17 pace, picking it up near the end.
5. To finish with a KICK! (It kind of fell flat at RnR Chicago :( )

Weekend Goals

I kind of treat my long runs like I would a race. NOT to get my best time ever at that distance (although, that might make it more interesting... every run is a chance for a PR... hmmm...), but in terms of preparation. For Saturday long runs, I go to sleep early Friday night, wake up early Saturday morning. I eat a good dinner with lots of carbs (basically I shovel what I can into my mouth. Seems to work out better that way.) I bring my water bottle and my gels. I eat eggos for breakfast (Note to self: Buy more Eggos!) I wear a hat. I bring Body Glide. I tell you, I am awesome.

This weekend calls for a 16 miler, my longest training run EVER! (Beating out last week's 15 miler by one measly mile!) Some goals I had in mind:
1. To finish
2. To get up & out before 6am
3. To find enough places to rehydrate so that I'm not melting by the time I get home
4. To bring and eat 3 snacks along the way
5. To maintain an average pace of 10:14 (same as last week!)

Mission Accomplished!

Longest training run to date: done! 15 miles on Saturday morning, slightly humid, but I got out and done before the sun became to strong and the temperature too intense. Here's a recap:

Mile 1: Humid already. Yuck. I don't think Garmin can see me... it says I'm running 11:02, but it's lying.

Mile 2: It's so quiet outside. And the sun is bright red, but juuuuust starting to wake up.

Mile 3: A man in a BMW beeped at me and gave me a thumbs-up. Not a bad way to start a long run!

Mile 4: Morning runners are so friendly! I passed 2 and they both waved!

Mile 5: I never knew there were so many condos back here...

Mile 6: There's a pool over here?! And sidewalks everywhere?! I wasn't expecting any of that...

Mile 7: Missed my turn, oops. Guess I'll just head towards the main road...

Mile 8: I'm dying for some water. Do you think the church will mind if I use its sprinkler to fill up my water bottle? Well, there's one way to find out...

Mile 9: More morning runners! Insane! I never knew there were this many runners in Arlington Heights!

Mile 10: Running around the pool. There HAS to be a drinking fountain somewhere in this park. Or not...

Mile 11: Ugh I HATE when people block the sidewalks!!!! Ooh and another runner...

Mile 12: Built-in rest break at the stoplight. Thanks, I needed that. But I'm not stopping. No quitting. I'm not even that tired anyway!

Mile 13: Yay FINALLY a drinking fountain! Time to fill up and finish strong! Wow there are a lot of shirtless old men playing tennis at this park... yikes.

Mile 14: I've finished a half marathon, woo hoo! Stop to stretch, and less than 2 miles to the end! Another built-in rest break, and onto Lake Arlington!

Mile 15: I can speed up. I don't have to run until Monday! Last mile: 9:50.

What a great run! Finished my 15 miles in 2:33 with gas left in the tank. I can and I WILL finish the marathon in less than 8 weeks. I'm so excited!!!

Running is a lot like being a Cubs Fan...

I'm sitting here in my cube listening to the Phillies play long ball and beat up my beloved Cubbies. And that got me thinking- my running life is remarkably similar to my Cub fan life...

• I'm antsy for my day to finish so that I can go home and run. I get the same kind of feelings in anticipation for the Cubs game. Each and every game, not just the playoffs.
• An off day from running is torture... so's a day without baseball in the summertime.
• When I have a bad run, I get really grumpy. Same with when the Cubs are on a losing streak. I'm really not a pleasant person to be around.
• I have days where my runs seem to take forever. Kind of like sitting through the game when Ted Lilly pitches.
• It's a MARATHON, not a sprint. It takes time. Like, months, to get a good base, complete a good training program, and run the race. Definitely like baseball.
• The wind is a factor. Always.
• I've had days where I run so fast and so far and feel so fabulous, but inevitably feel slow the next day and can barely haul myself out of bed. It's like when the Cubs score 10 runs against the opposition one day, then come back and can't buy a hit.
• Running can leave you in a kind of funk, where the routes you used to love seem boring and your training gets stale. Even the best hitters to ever play for the Cubs went through slumps.
• It's a t-shirt collector's dream!
• It can rain or snow or sleet or be hot and humid, but there's always tomorrow. You can always make up what you couldn't get in today. Same with baseball.
• Sometimes running leaves me bruised, beaten, and disheartened. But it's always going to be there. And I'll always be coming back for more. It's so frustrating, yet so rewarding at the same time. Kind of like being a Cubs fan.

Tentative 2010

I like to plan ahead. Like, WAYYYY ahead. With races like Chicago, New York, and Houston closing out so far in advance, I feel it's my duty to be prepared. Here's what I'm thinking for next year. (So far.)

Jan & Feb - Nada. Cross training. Moderate mileage. Possibly purchasing a treadmill for the cold Chicago winters.

March - Little Rock Half Marathon (love LR... cannot resist another fabulous weekend!)
Shamrock Shuffle 8K (I've never actually done this race, might as well see what the fuss is all about!)

April - Martian Marathon (Potential to own the coolest t-shirt ever and earn a spaceship medal. Awesome.)
Go! St Louis OR Country Music Half Marathons (Depends on 2010 dates... and registration closeouts)
Ravenswood Run 5K (Depends on dates for the previous 2)

May - Chicago Spring Half Marathon (Cool t-shirts)
Soldier Field 10 Mile (Because who wouldn't like to finish on the 50?!)

June - United Run for the Zoo (Always wanted to do this one)
North Shore Half (It's my favorite race)
Race to Taste 5K (Because I had a blast this year, and the el is miraculously working during the Taste)

July - Frontier Days 10K (Other favorite race)
Fleet Feet Women's Festival 10K (Had a blast at this one too, despite the slow runners on the course)

August - Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon (Already signed up and saved megabucks!)

September - Oak Brook Half Marathon (Sooo close to home)
Air Force Half Marathon (ALWAYS wanted to do this one... maybe I can convince Marty... hmmm)

October - Bucktown 5K (Great race)
Steamtown Marathon (Because I just want to be Michael Scott for a day)
Lakefront Marathon (In case I can't convince Jay to go to Scranton!)

November - Hot Chocolate 15K (Another favorite race)
Edison Park Turkey Trot (9 years running...)

December - Las Vegas Half Marathon (If we don't go in 2009)
St Jude Memphis Marathon (If we make it to Vegas in December 2009)

What I've Learned, Mid-2009 Edition

Since I'm not running today and thus have a lot of time on my hands, I thought about what running has taught me thus far in 2009. Check it out.

1. Once you go technical, you don't go back. No more old-man cotton undershirts for me!
2. No matter how great I think I look, Brightroom makes sure that these feelings of superiority don't last. (I usually end up looking deformed. No idea why that is, since when my bf takes pictures with my digital camera, I look perfectly normal. Or when Fotojack does the pictures, I look fine.)
3. I can't live without Nike Tempo Shorts. Can't?! WON'T.
4. You know the race is nearing the end when you can see the beer truck and smell the brats (thank you Wisconsin!)
5. HEED is the most disgusting drink on the planet.
6. The weatherman is only right when you don't want him to be.
7. Going "unplugged" is not as scary as I thought it would be.
8. Mapping new routes is the cure for stale training!
9. Southern hospitality really IS all it's cracked up to be!
10. Frosted Mini Wheats are probably the worst food to eat before running a half marathon. I would rather eat a spicy burrito from Taco Bell. Trust me.

Race Calendar Update

3.15.2009 - Little Rock Half Marathon - DONE!
4.25.2009 - Race to Wrigley 5K - DONE!
5.2.2009 - Wisconsin Half Marathon - DONE!
5.23.2009 - Soldier Field 10 Mile - DONE!
6.14.2009 - North Shore Half Marathon - DONE!
6.28.2009 - Race to Taste 5K - DONE!
7.6.2009 - Frontier Days Stampede Run 10K - DONE!
7.19.2009 - Fleet Feet Women's Festival 10K - DONE!
7.23.2009 - Terrapin 5K - Missed due to weather
8.2.2009 - Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon - DONE!
9.7.2009 - Oak Brook Half Marathon
9.19.2009 - Chicago Beachathlon 4m
9.20.2009 - CARA Ready to Run 20 Miler
10.4.2009 - Bucktown 5K
10.11.2009 - Bank of America Chicago Marathon
10.24.2009 - Halloween Hustle 5K
11.1.2009 - Hot Chocolate 15K
11.26.2009 - Edison Park Turkey Trot

How Did I Do?

I realize now that I made up my goals for this race WAAAAYYYYY far in advance. Partly because I was super-excited, and partly because I also write a blog on runnersworld.com and wasn't sure if I'd be able to post this one in time. So how did my goal pan out for RnR Chicago? Check it out...

1. To finish - DONE!
2. To take water and/or Gatorade at each aid station - DONE! But it was really hard to do. There were a couple stations where I couldn't stomach Cytomax, but I made myself take water and pour it over my head if I couldn't finish. I even took sponges at both stations! Didn't take Gu though...
3. To run negative splits - INCOMPLETE :( I think it's almost impossible to run negative splits AND run a consistent pace throughout. An oversight on my part. I will work harder next time at defining my goals a little more clearly.
4. To run a pretty consistent pace throughout - DONE! I was between 9-10 mm for the entire race, finishing ahead of the 10mm pace.
5. Start out slow!!!! - SO-SO I didn't start out SUPER slow, but slow enough where I wasn't uncomfortable and was able to maintain my pace throughout and complete goal #4. My first mile was 9:21, which is pretty good for me!
6. To get a PR - DONE! New PR: 2:07:28. Yay!
7. To break 2 hours - INCOMPLETE :( But getting there! To think that I started out this running year at 2:14:and change, and have already reduced my PR by 7 minutes. That's pretty darn impressive! I've shaved almost 2 minutes per race off my time. If I keep this up, I should reach my goal early next year. (I'm planning on training hard and running races even during the winter! Gives me an excuse to train better, get a treadmill, and go on vacation to somewhere warm for a race!)

Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon - 8.2.2009

So I had to get up at the earliest time EVER for this race - 4:10am. The alarm clock went off and I was so confused. "What's going on," my body said, "It's sleepy time! Turn that thing off!" Then my brain intervened and said, "Oh that's right, today is Rock n Roll Chicago! Must get up and out the door so that we're not late!"

I made it downtown at around 5:30, which was perfect. I always like arriving to races early so that I can walk around, find where everything is, and still have time to stretch and use the bathroom before the race.

The weather was just about PERFECT! Sunny, clear blue skies, no humidity, and mild temperatues. Perfect May... I mean August... day!

Mile 1: The race started in a wave start, which was a first for me. I was in corral 8 (out of 20+), and got moving about 10 minutes after the gun went off. Thank God for D-tag timing!

We started down Columbus, much the same way the Chicago Marathon begins. There weren't as many people on the Millennium Park bridge cheering us on; but then again, there weren't as many people running the race. The nice thing about the wave start is that you're not throwing elbows at your neighbor to keep pace. Everything is pretty spread out and you have room to settle into your pace and keep going.

The bridge over the Chicago River was a little rough- there were no carpets, and I thought for sure that I would slip or get my foot stuck in the grates. But I didn't, and I finished my first mile in 9:21. Not too shabby!

Mile 2: I'm running without headphones today and it's not too bad so far. I thought I would be a lot more bored than I actually am. But the day's still young, and there's a lot of race to go. I like seeing the sites, and right now we're getting a private tour of the city before it wakes up. The buildings provide shade, and it's nice and cool on the road. Over the river again and past the Chicago Theatre. There's a band playing "Sweet Home Chicago." Gotta love it. I find myself wondering if the bucket boys will manage to worm their way into the race. Sounds like an opportunity...

Mile 3: Just past the 2 mile mark at 19:00. I feel great. The pace isn't killing me at all, although my main goal is going to be finishing without walking and going at a consistent pace. Better to err on the side of caution in the early miles- I can always speed it up later.

As we turn the corner, I see a familiar face in the crowd. It's Jay! I wave excitedly and keep running. I'll see him at the end. Ooh and there's the "Whatcha talkin' 'bout" Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower. I don't think locals will EVER call it the Willis Tower. It's been the Sears Tower for my entire life. Not gonna change now.

Mile 4: Good band this mile, I can hear them from a little way away. Right when I get up close, I realize that they are all dressed in PJs. How cute!

My pace is still excellent and I still feel great. Up ahead is the mile marker, and a guy with a cowbell. He's playing a familiar song, rapping his drumstick on the cowbell. It's "My Sharona." Didn't know it was such a popular cowbell song! (And boy I'm a nerd for being able to pick out what song it was!)

There's a spectator on the sidewalk that looks EXACTLY like Ben Stiller. Like, EXACTLY. He's wearing a Cubs hat. Is Ben Stiller a Cubs fan? Probably not, but stranger things have happened!

Mile 5: Now we're moving towards Grant Park again! Yay! That means that we'll soon be headed for the lakefront paths. I'm thinking I don't know if this race would be so pleasant if it were 100+ degrees and super-humid. I'm grateful for our mild summer and grateful that the heat has been kept at bay so that I can try for PRs in every race! I don't like humidity, so it doesn't bother me a bit.

Onto Michigan Ave and we're met with a wall of people! Fans! I saw the best sign ever "Mortuary Ahead, Look Alive." Don't know why that was funny, but it made me laugh. A lot.

Mile 6: We're on the west side of Soldier Field now, and it's almost exactly like the Race to Taste. I can't hear a band, and haven't heard one since Michigan Ave. The "Rock n Roll" part of the Half Marathon so far sucks. It seems like every time we pass the band, they're taking a break or something. Aren't they supposed to be playing songs?! Soo weird.

Parking garage to lakefront paths. I'm at around 55:00 at this point, and I'm craning my neck to the east, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elite runners. No dice. I reach mile 6 under 60:00. Much better than the 10K I ran a couple of weeks ago! ;)

Mile 7 & 8: We're going in the tunnel/service entrance to McCormick Place's Lakeside Center (the east building). I swear, this is the darkest tunnel I've ever been in. You almost need a headlamp to see where you're going. It wouldn't surprise me if I fell in a hole. I'm not even going to look at my feet, because I might bump into someone in front of me. I'm not fooling around when I say that this is the darkest tunnel ever.

Starting on the lakefront paths, the very path from the Soldier Field 10 Mile. It's so peaceful out here. Sure, they're are cars whizzing by on Lake Shore Dr., but I'm able to tune them out, focus on my pace, and continue to run my race.

Yay, sponges! I squeeze it out on top of my head. Feels good, but now I have goosebumps!

Mile 9: We pass 35th street, and I know that the turnaround is near. I can see people in front of me on the other side of the path. The elites have passed, the super-fast have passed, and now it's people that are more my speed passing through.

Reach the turnaround and run on some rocky gravel. That kinda sucked. Now my shoes are all dusty. Bummer!

Still can see people on the other side of the path, but this time we're the passers. They are eagerly anticipating the turnaround. Yikes, there are a lot of them. I definitely will see people all the way back to Soldier Field. I'm realizing right now how many people are in this race!

Mile 10: I made a bargain with myself. I'm still pretty far ahead of my 10:00/mile pace, but I don't want to keep pushing the pace to the point where I'm exhausted and I have to walk. So far, the only time I've walked is when I'm drinking Cytomax and water (I can't run and drink at the same time... I spill). And I haven't needed to stop and use the bathroom! Double awesome!

Ok, back to the bargain. I told myself that if I did this mile at "recovery pace," then I can go as fast as I like for the rest of the race, provided that I run the entire time. Sounds like a plan to me! I finish this mile in 9:58 (ok.... close enough) and now it's time to turn it up!

Mile 11: I can't wait for my Garmin to arrive. Like, CANNOT wait. I think it's not only going to be my new toy and my new obsession, but a really critical training tool. I need to learn how to judge my pace, and not use the "by feel" method. I need to remember that my theme for this year's training is "No Excuses." The Garmin is essential to my success. Stupid amazon hasn't shipped it yet, and I ordered it on Thursday. Grr.

Back to the race. I'm doing some pickups throughout this mile. The path is narrowing, but now by too much. It's absolutely gorgrous outside, and the city looks so pretty. From my vantage point right now, I can see boats on the lake, Navy Pier, Soldier Field, museums, and the Prudential building. (If it's still called that... it could be the Kraft Mac n Cheese Tower for all I know).

I've encountered so many helpful spectators, pointing out how long it is until the mile marker. This one is no exception. The girl clapping for us on the side of the path lets us know that the mile marker is only about 200 yards ahead. Sweet!

Mile 12: And here it is, just where she said it would be. Now the path is super narrow, which sucks. Both sides of the path and covered with low-hanging tree branches. To run in the grass is to risk decapitation.

I would kill to run in the grass right about now. For this entire mile, I was stuck by people who would just stop suddenly in front of me and start walking. Walking?! There's a half mile to go! RUN!!!!

So I'm weaving around and around people. There's a girl behind me from Chicago Endurance Sports. I've heard her name called by different team members throughout the race. Her name is Erin, and she must be a newb. Someone from her team who already finished has come to pace her through to the end. She tells her what to expect for the remainder of the race. I listen in. Maybe it's better to run without headphones? (Jury's still out on this one).

I turn the corner and...

Mile 13: I can see the finish line from here! Woo hoo! I get to the mile marker in 2:07:00 and sprint ahead to the finish. I have to run around 2 people who have decided to walk to the finish line (drrr... that makes me so mad! FINISH IT!), but I make it, and my PR is intact.

Mile 13.1: New PR: 2:07:28. And I couldn't be happier!