Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!

November Was Not Fun!

November was not a good month for running. It was a good month in all other aspects of life but when I am not running things just aren't the same. I did run the Las Vegas Half Marathon because my knee felt a lot better but after that race things returned to the same as they were before. It was not fun and I haven't ran since that race. I logged a whole 20 mile for the month of November. 

It was tough not running because the temperatures have really dropped and I really wanted to be out there enjoying it with everyone else. I miss the running club as well and seeing their Facebook posts makes me sad because I want to be out there running with them.

I have seen the my doctor and all of the tests didn't show any signs of a serious injury. Nothing is broken or torn but I have this pain on the inside of my knee cap. The only conclusion that they have come to is that I have runners knee and just need to rest it.

I started physical therapy last Friday and my knee felt a lot better the next day. My PT gave me 15 minutes of electrotherapy and she also did some ultrasound therapy as well. She showed me some strengthening exercises which are definitely for my quads and hips because those exercises left me feeling a little sore this week.

I was told that I can run but I haven't by choice. My knee usually hurts when I touch it or after I run but it has actually been pain free for a few days now. I am excited about it but at the same time I am willing to wait it out because I have no big races on the calendar. I want to be healthy and ready for 2015 so I know what I have to do to get myself there. PATIENCE!

There have been lots of positive things that have happened since I have not been running. I have done some things that I have been putting off around the house and I have spent more time with my family. It has also felt nice to have an open calendar and not have to worry so much about scheduling my life around my runs. I have sleeping a little bit more and I actually did all of my indoor Christmas decorating way in advance.

I have a lot to be thankful for so I have been keeping my head up and count my blessings. 

How was your November?

Have you started decorating or shopping for Christmas?

12/16/14: Las Vegas Rock "n" Roll Half Marathon

We really enjoyed the race because it was our way of celebrating our 15th anniversary. We were looking forward to the little getaway even if it was just for a few days. We arrived in Vegas on Saturday afternoon and headed over to the expo right at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

We picked up our bibs and quickly found the KT Tape booth. He got his calf and ankle taped and I got my knee taped. We were both kind of a mess so this made life a little bit easier.  I will talk about that topic later. Overall the expo was an easy and fast pick up and very organized.

We had originally signed up to run the full marathon but my other half changed his mind. We tried to change to the half a few weeks before the race but they told us to just run the half and the timing chip would automatically pick us up as running the half. It did so I guess it works. 

This was my first night race and it was a different experience. I wasn't sure how to fuel before the race so we had lunch around 11:30 am, had a small snack in between and then ate bananas right before the race started at 4:30 pm. 

It was cold at the start. We had to take a potty break at Mile 3 because we were cold. It was also a little windy at times during the race. 

There were like 4o corrals and they counted each one of them down and released them one at a time. We started in corral 14 so it took us about 20 minutes to cross the start. By Mile 3, we were pretty warmed up and we ended up taking off our jackets for the remainder of the race. The course has a small incline from Mile 9 to the finish so I slowed down a bit because I was worried about my knee. We kept a 10:00 pace for most of the race and that felt comfortable. 

The course was pretty crowded the entire time. We were weaving around runners the entire time and I was surprised at how many people who started in the same corral as we did were actually walking. It made it difficult for others. I am not sure why people do not start in the correct corral. The time went by really quickly because the course is never boring. Most of the race is on the strip and there is lots of lights, lots of crowd support and bands for entertainment. 

My other half did really well. He never walked like he thought he was going to need to do and he felt strong the entire time. I think he could have done better without me but I told him that I didn't want to push it because of the knee pain that I have been dealing with for the past few weeks. My knee felt good the entire race but I grabbed some ice for my knee at the finish because I was afraid that if I didn't I was going to be in trouble.

The snacks at the finish line were great. They gave chocolate milk (my favorite post race drink), Gatorade, pretzels, beer, Justin's nut butter, Pure Protein bars and bananas. The food wasn't bagged so it was hard to carry it all if you didn't have a bag.

We finished in 2:13:22 and I was very grateful to have been able to run this race. My other half doesn't care about time so we were really able to enjoy this race. The medal is nice and heavy and I think it even glows in the dark. The race was well organized and had plenty of water stops, porta potties and course entertainment. We would definitely run the half marathon again but I am not sure if I would enjoy running this full marathon at night because a large portion of the marathon course is off of the strip and I heard it gets dark and lonely out there. 

It was about a 4 mile walk back to our hotel and it was cold. I was really glad that I decided to run in pants and not my shorts. I would have froze on the way back to the hotel had we not stopped at a Starbucks for a little break. I think the hot shower I took after the race was one of the best showers ever!

Have you ever ran a night race?

Do you run with your significant other?

It's Race Week and Why it Pays to Dress up Like a Pinata!

It is hard to believe that another year has flown right by! November means that the year is almost over and all of the Christmas decorations are already displayed in the stores. Starbucks already has the seasonal red cups and I start looking forward to the two weeks off of work that I have at the end of every year! I kicked off November by cutting off my hair and donating it and I even won a free entry to race of my choice from the Lexus LaceUp Running Series for posting my Pinata costume on their Facebook page and collecting votes. These are a new series of local races that I have been thinking about signing up to try and now I have the opportunity to run one of their races for free! 

Life is Good except for one thing....

I do have something to share with you that I haven't mentioned because I was hoping that it would go away. After my last run with the club, which was two weeks ago, I started feeling some pain in my left knee. The pain is on my knee cap and I am not really sure what happened but I think I might have a case of runner's knee. I promised myself that I would not run as long as I feel pain and I have survived because the break was very much needed. The knee pain is still here but has gotten about 85% better if I had to guess. I am supposed to be running the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon with my other half on Sunday so I am hoping for the best. We planned this race in celebration of our 15 year anniversary so I am kind of bummed that I might have to miss my first freezing cold night run. I am pretty sure that snowflake means COLD!

I did go for a short 3.3 very easy run yesterday to test the knee out and it wasn't what I would call super painful but it wasn't how it should be.

The plan is to play it by "ear", or should I say "knee" and see what happens but my other half will be running with or without me. He has put in his training and I will be there to cheer him on no matter what. I am still excited for the race even if I end up sitting it out and saving myself for my half in December. It is what it is, right?

                                        Anyone else running Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas?

GUESS WHAT I DID?

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram then you probably already know this.... I CUT OFF MY HAIR!

My hair has been really long for over ten years so I felt like it was finally time to cut it off. It is a lot of work and most of the time I have it up in a braid or a ponytail because of running. When I finally let my hair down, people are actually shocked to see the length of my hair.

One of the main reasons why I cut my hair off was to donate it to a child who needs it more than me. My first thought was to donate it to Locks of Love but I had several people recommend against it. Apparently there are some issues with them so I also looked into Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Pantene does not accept hair with color so I will not be able to donate to them. I  will have to donate to Locks of Love but my hopes are that a child with cancer will be happy to receive a wig made from my hair. Cancer has made it's presence in my family and I know what it is like. I simply wanted to give something that could make a difference in someone else's life.

I cut off more than 12 inches of hair and my only condition for my hairdresser was that I would still be able to put my hair in a ponytail for running purposes. My kids did not want me to do it! My son actually likes it but my daughter was not too excited about it. My hairdresser was more than excited to cut it off and she told me to sit down and let her cut it off before I changed my mind.

It is a huge change for me but change is good. I actually like it but I am going to have to figure out how to make it look the same day it did on November 1, 2014 when my hairdresser did it! The good thing is that it will grow back and then I can donate it again!

What do you prefer? Long Hair or Short Hair?

Have you ever donated your hair? 

My Plans for the Remainder of 2014 and a Race for 2015!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been feeling a little less than motivated lately. I am still running but not really following any type of schedule or plan. I guess you can say that I just run with no particular pace or distance. That has kind of been my spot lately and it feels like of nice to take a little break from it. I feel like I have been in a consistent training cycle and maybe I need a break. Not a break from running but maybe just a break from the pressure of training for a race.  

So what are my plans for the remainder of 2014? I have only committed to one race for the remainder of the year and I will be running it with my other half. It will be his second half marathon and he will be running it in one of his favorite places.

 

I have also thought about running a Turkey Trot (5K) on Thanksgiving Day but I have not committed to one yet. I can sign up at the last minute without worrying about a price increase so I will wait on this one. This is a fun one and I love that I get to see some of my local running buddies, like Megan, who also run this race.

Sometimes I feel like signing up for a race is the answer to getting yourself motivated so maybe these races will get me back into the groove. Having that said, I am going to commit to one more race that is more than six months out. I ran this race with a friend this year and paced her to a sub-2 half marathon PR. After experiencing the race, I really thought about running it to see what I could pull off on my own. I call it a cheat race because it is downhill but sometimes it is nice to fly without needing a pair of wings. It is local and cheap so what the heck. I am going to give it a try!

My running club also runs some local races that they incorporate into their training so they might twist my arm to sign up. I say no, but we will see.

 
Who else is thinking about signing up for some year end races? 

What about races for 2015?

It's Race Week and Goals for the Long Beach Marathon.

In just six days I will be running Marathon #6 and it will be my third time running this marathon. It feels nice knowing that I am going to actually make it to the starting line this time. I have missed some important races this year and it has been disappointing to say the least.

I am going into this race with a different mindset. I think it is mostly because I will be pacing a friend to a PR. I hope I can get her there and everything goes as planned. I will be running over a minute slower than my goal marathon pace so I will be out there longer than I am used to. I wonder how that is going to affect me. It makes me a bit nervous but I am going to try to enjoy this race and make this marathon as positive of a experience as I can for my friend.

We did our last long run together this past Saturday. We actually ran 10 miles of the Long Beach Marathon course and what I consider to be one of the tougher parts of the course. The last few miles of the course have a gradual uphill climb as well which can be difficult especially in those last few miles.

My main goal will be to keep her on track with her pace and keep her from going out too fast. I will be wearing my Garmin and she will be running without hers. She is getting anxious and wants to do better each time we talk. I guess we all feel that way and that's what makes us push ourselves to become stronger runners. She has set some personal goals for this race which will be her second marathon. 

GOALS FOR THE LONG BEACH MARATHON

A+ Goal= Any time under 4:30

A Goal: 4:30 

B Goal: Under 5 Hours

C Goal: PR this darn race which would be anything under 5:30 for her

The weather is not looking too bad at this point but I would love to see it in the mid to high 50's. The race starts at 6:00 am very close to the ocean so I think that is going to help us out a lot.

Anyone else running Long Beach or Chicago this Sunday?

Lately

Lately I have been feeling kind of different about running. I guess you can say that I am kind of in a "running funk." My head has not been in it and my heart has not been in it for sure. I am still running but I guess my attitude towards running has been a little different. I feel like I have been in constant training mode without any real break. I am not burned out but I feel like I am getting there and need some change. Joining a running club has really brought the changes that I needed.

My running club has also changed my perspective on running and learning to run at an aerobic pace with them has been a huge change for me. Joining this club was one of the best decisions that I have made in a long time. The club is currently training for the LA Marathon and they run about 60-90 seconds under race pace. Running at an aerobic pace is tough but since we are running lots of hills it may not be such a bad idea for me right now. Slowing things down also has it's benefits such as lessening the chance of injury and improving your endurance. Running with the club is fun so I look forward to my runs with them. It definitely beats getting out there on your own especially when you are lacking motivation or want to skip a run!

I think the hip bursitis I was dealing with a few weeks ago kind of made me realize that I need to listen to my body and take things down a notch for a while. I learned a lot about myself and wanted to take those lessons and learn something from them. I was foam rolling, stretching and all of that good stuff but I guess the increase in mileage was not such a good idea. I ran 150 miles in July and I was well on my way to another 150 mile month for August. I normally run 25-30 miles a week. I am not a high mileage runner and 150 miles a month is pretty good for me. So I have decided that I am going to go back to running the lower mileage and make each run count. I also found that my runs are so much better when I run every other day versus consecutive days.

Having said that, I will be running Marathon #6 next Sunday. The only difference is that I will be running with a friend and hopefully pacing her to a new PR. I think it is going to be kind of nice since I will be running at her pace and without the pressure to break four hours or PR. I know that it is still going to be a challenge since marathons will always be difficult in my books! I want to enjoy this marathon and focus on my friend and not myself. This will be her second marathon and her first experience was not a good one so hopefully she will have a different perspective after this race. 

How do you get yourself out of a "running funk" and find the change you need?

Does your training include running at an aerobic pace?

Three Things Thursday

1. I am excited to have reached 1000 for 2014. My goal is to hit 1400 miles but my focus will be more on quality runs for the remainder of the year so come what may.

 2. I finally gave in a decided it was time for my son to get a cell phone. He is in 7th grade this year and swears that he is the only one who does not have a cell phone. I think the decision came when I started getting a bunch of calls from my son from other kids' cell phones when he forgot things for school. He is not the most responsible boy but I think this will be a good time to test him. Not only did he get a new phone but so did I. I took the iPhone 6 from the new line I added and gave him my 5S. Lucky me right?

3. I haven't been posting much on the Weekly Recaps because I really don't have anything exciting to tell you. I have been running with my running club on Saturdays for the past two weeks and that kinds of seems to be the highlight of running for me right now. Hopefully I will have some exciting news to share if I am able to run a race soon. I feel like I jinx myself when I talk about my races too much.

My First Run with IERC

Last week started out really well and things kind of went south at the end of the week because my son was not feeling well. I was on schedule for most of my runs and I even went for my first run with my running club. They are currently training for the LA Marathon which I have no plans to run whatsoever so I am kind of running with them for some short runs and then doing my longer runs on my own.

My plan was to run the 3 Miles they had on their schedule and then do a longer run on my own on Sunday. My long run didn't happen because I had to take care of my son. I haven't decided which pace group I am going to be running with yet since they run in an area which is much hillier than what I am used to.

I also had the opportunity to meet these two sweet girls that I know from Instagram. I guess you can say that I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to running with this group and hopefully becoming a stronger runner. I think it is going to be a nice change for me. I think I need that right now. 

Are you part of a running club?

What do you like best about it if you are?

Three Things Thursday

1. I thought it was pretty cool that Google remembered that it was my birthday. I must be on the late train because I didn't know that this existed!

2. Since I wasn't able to run Ventura on my birthday I did something that I have always wanted to do. I volunteered for a race that benefited Steven's Hope for Children. It was a pretty neat experience. My son and my other half also volunteered with me. My son and I unloaded trucks of water and helped set up the finish line chute and my other half took pictures at the Finish Line.

3. My hip is feeling a lot better and I actually had a good run last night. It wasn't where I want to be but it felt good to test out my hip and not wake up with any pain. I hope this is a good sign for me to be able to run my next race. 

I also wanted to remember those who were affected by the horrible tragedy that took place on 9/11/2001. I pray for all of the those who were affected and hope they find peace today. WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

My Birthday and Why I Am Not Working

I think I forgot to mention that I have not been to work for approximately eleven days. Well, apparently I have too much vacation time at work so I keep getting these use it or lose it letters from Human Resources. I have the option of cashing the vacation out but I didn't really want to do that since I might end up signing up for a 1000 races instead of putting the money in my savings like I should. The haven't been to work since August 28th. My son started school on September 3rd so I spent the week getting him ready for junior high. I also had to attend some meetings so I figured I should just take the days off instead of trying to rush to and from work.

Initially I thought I would be spending the time off getting ready for my birthday race but that didn't happen and if you didn't see why you can read all about it HERE. I heard that the course was not the most scenic and the weather was a little warm so that makes me feel a little bit better about missing it. I will be running it a year from now so we will see how I feel about it.

I also went for a run with my friend to pay tribute to her husband who took his life a year ago. He was cremated but we went for a walk up to the spot where he took his life. The view was so beautiful and peaceful. It was a tough day for my friend and her son so I am glad that I was there with her to help her find some peace in this whole situation.

I have also been busy celebrating my birthday. I think I have been celebrating for the past two weeks. My dear friend took me out to dinner and bought me the cutest running outfit ever. She is just too good to me.

My friends also planned a little get together for me and we had a great time. These girls really know how to make me laugh. It is never a dull moment with them. I don't drink but they made sure to have a drink for me. 

My favorite part of the day was the cake. This cake from The Cheesecake Factory was big enough to feed an army. I got my workout in by just carrying it. It was rich but man was it delicious!

I also enjoyed a birthday celebration with my family. They also spoiled me with lots of gifts. They are the ones who keep me going through it all. We were so busy talking that we forgot to take a picture together..oops!

Other than that I have been taking it easy and I did run a little bit this week. I have kept my runs pretty short and the pace has been pretty darn easy too. My hip is a whole a lot better but I have been taking good care of it this week because I really need to get back into it soon. I stepped on the scale since I have not been running and I gained 1.5 pounds so I am glad that the birthday binge eating  is done and over!

I did go for a run on my birthday because I just had to and I didn't get too carried away. I ran the first 7 miles with my other half and then I did some miles alone. Please don't try to guess my age by the numbers on my Garmin.

Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes on Facebook and Instagram and for all of the love and support you provided when I had to add the Ventura Marathon to the DNS list! Love you all! 

How is your training going? 

What was the highlight of your week?

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

The lucky winner of the Long Beach Marathon/Half Marathon race bib giveaway is comment #8!

Please email me at bostonboundbrunette@gmail.com so I can get you all registered and set up to run Long Beach.

Thank you to everyone who entered and good luck to you if you are going to be out there running Long Beach with us!