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?

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!

Long Beach Marathon/Half Marathon Bib Giveaway!

I was contacted by Florastor, one of the sponsors for the Long Beach Marathon, to try out their product in exchange for a race bib. I was not compensated to write this post but I was given a free sample of their product to try.

Florastor^® is the most trusted name in probiotics around the globe. Since 1953, people of all ages have been taking Florastor daily to promote whole-body health. Recommended by doctors and pharmacists in 100 countries and backed by more than 50 years of use, Florastor is made with all-natural ingredients using the highest standards.

What is Florastor? 
Florastor is a friendly yeast-based probiotic that is backed by more than 60 years of clinical research. Probiotics are live microorganisms that benefit health by promoting the body's own natural intestinal flora. Florastor is made with yeast found naturally on the skin of lychee and mangosteen fruit.  Florastor has natural ingredients and is vegetarian and gluten-free. Florastor is generally tolerated by people who are lactose intolerant. Florastor even increases lactase production which helps with the digestion of lactose.

What Can Probiotics do for Athletes? I have personally never tried probiotics so reading about Florastor educated me on what they are all about and how they can be useful to me as a runner. Did you know that 81 percent of distance runners experience some type of intestinal disturbance while exercising? "Florastor is designed to promote the natural flora we all have and help our bodies function naturally so runners can stay active and avoid intestinal disturbance." Since 70% of your immune system lies in your digestive tract, taking a probiotic has the added benefit of supporting a healthy immune system. Less sick days means you can stay on track with your training!

My body is super sensitive to antibiotics and when I take them you don't want to know what they do to me (TMI). Unlike yogurt and other bacterial probiotics, Florastor keeps your intestinal flora in balance even when using antibiotics. I haven't taken antibiotics lately but I am definitely going to take Florastor to see how it helps my body be more tolerate to the medication.

Here is the fun part! Florastor was also generous enough to give one of my readers a free bib to run the Long Beach Marathon or Half Marathon. To enter this giveaway, here is what you have to do:

1) Leave me a comment about your personal experience with Florastor or any other probiotic. If you have never tried probiotics then you can just tell me why you want to run the Long Beach Marathon/Half Marathon and your goal for the race.

You have until Monday, September 8, 2014 to enter this giveaway and I will announce the winner here on my blog on September 9, 2014. 

GOOD LUCK!

I Have Decided on a Fall Marathon or Two...

I am still undecided as to whether or not I will run the Ventura full marathon or just the half on my birthday. I am training to run a full marathon so I have committed to running the Long Beach Marathon so all of this training does not go to waste. If I decide to run the Ventura Marathon then it looks like I will still be running Long Beach Marathon as well.

Ventura and Long Beach are about a month apart and I know it is a bit much. I have put some thought into it and I have a plan. I will be running Long Beach with a friend at a much easier pace than my current marathon pace. Her goal is to come in between 4:30-5:00 hours so I think that this pace will be a safe one for me should I decide to run both. If I am not up to running both then I will make the right decision. Injury is not fun and I won't put myself at risk if I am not feeling up to it.

Thoughts on running two marathons a month apart? 

Any tips on how to maintain my training in between the two?

I am not sure how I will train in between the two but I know that I plan to take a week off after Ventura to give my body time to recover.

July Miles and My Workouts for 7/28-8/3

July was a good month. My goal was to run 150 miles and I met my goal!

My legs feel great but I am being faithful about foam rolling and I am always open to skipping a run if my body is telling me to take a break. I don't want to get too focused on hitting a certain amount of mileage for the month but more on being able to make my runs count. August is going to be a big month since I am reaching long runs of 18 miles plus so I need to stay focused and plan carefully around the hot weather. I am also having to take my long runs a little slower than planned but heat is my worst enemy and in order to survive it is what I have to do. I am good with that or else I end up wimping out and cutting my long runs short and I can't do that.

Here is a recap of my week:

Monday: Rest Day

Tuesday: 5.15 Miles @8:42 avg pace/I was supposed to run my tempo run but my son wanted to join me so we made it a family exercise day on the bike trail. My other half started his training for the Las Vegas R&R half marathon this week so we ran two miles together and then I ran three miles alone (8:35, 8:01, 7:47.) My son rode his bike along side us since we ran on the bike trail. It was 88 degrees but with no sun and a nice breeze so I guess I can handle that.

Wednesday: I skipped out on my run and I ended up calling it a date night with my other half. I planned to run after we had dinner but I had a super bad headache and just decided to call it a day. I have to give myself the freedom to skip a run when I feel like I need it or else I get burned out. I also know that when I skip a run, my next run will be a good one.

Thursday: 5 Miles@9:43 avg. pace/I ran in the 91 degree heat and it was pretty rough. I thought I was going to pass out it was so hot!

Friday: Rest Day. I took a vacation day from work and just kind of took it easy knowing that I had an 18 mile run the following day.

Saturday: 18 Miles@8:50 avg./I ran the first half easy and the last half a little faster. These long runs are getting harder and harder with the heat. They are a little frustrating because I feel more tired than I usually do and hitting my goal paces take so much more effort.

Sunday: 5 Mile Recovery Run@9:54 with my other half. It was pretty warm when we left the house at 7:00 am and the humidity level was at 84%. We are definitely not used to this kind of weather! It actually rained over night and I was happy about that since we really needed it.

Total Miles: 33 Miles

It looks like we are going to get a small break from the heat next week. Of course the break comes on a cut back week but I will take it. I am off work on Friday so it looks like I will try to plan my long run on Friday. I must say that 63 degrees never sounded so good!

What do you prefer? Heat or Humidity?
I say neither one..

10/13/13: The Long Beach Marathon (Take Two)

Where should I start? I am finally over the "what if's" had this race gone better than it did. I know I ran a strong race and that I am capable of more than I sometimes want to give myself credit for. This marathon included the strongest 21 miles that I have ever ran in a marathon. Everything seemed to be aligning including the weather. It was cooler than I thought it would be so I think that may be a reason why I felt so great those first 21 miles of the race!

 

I only slept four hours because I was so nervous. Marathons will always make me nervous no matter how many I run make but this time I was super nervous. I laid out all of my race stuff the night before so I would be ready to go when my alarm went off at 4:15am. I had such a low bib number so lots of runners kept asking me if I was an elite runner! Too funny....if only they knew how non-elite I really am!!

My friend who lost her husband came with us to the race to support me. I was excited that I was able to get her out of the house and we had a good time. We laughed like the old times before her husband took his life so it was nice to see her smile again. We had dinner together and she was so grateful that I invited her to come along since her house really depresses her at times with all of memories it holds of her late husband. She has kind of lost her running mojo lately so I was excited when she signed up for a half marathon at the Expo. Progress is a big thing for her right now! I decided to dedicate my fourth marathon to her husband because he was always so supportive and encouraged me to reach for my dreams.

The Race:
The race was delayed by almost a half hour due to safety clearance or something like that but safety first, right? I was a little bummed because I was hoping to finish without having to spend too much time in the sun. That did not happen but it was still cool enough to run a decent race.

I started right with the four hour pacer and spotted Nicole and her brother Joe, who was running his first marathon, and wished them good luck. I kept thinking that if the weather stays cool I just might be able to run this course in under 4 hours. I was off and running and I don't think I ever ran with the 4 hour group or saw them on the course again. I can usually tell by the first three miles of a marathon how my race is going to turn out. I was feeling great the first three miles and just kind of went with it but reminded myself to be smart.

Mile 1: 8:32

Mile 2:8:22

Mile 3:8:20

I did not want my Garmin to distract me from my race by staring at it the entire time because that makes me feel very nervous! I continued to run by how I felt, occasionally glancing at my watch to make sure that I was not going too fast. 

Mile 4: 8:27

Mile 5: 8:27 (GU)

Mile 6: 8:22

Mile 7: 8:26

Mile 8: 8:21

Before I knew it I was closing in on the 3:45 pacer but I just kept a safe distance. I was not feeling confident enough to run a 3:45 on this particular course. It was at this point in the race that I was thinking that I would continue at this pace and hang on until it started to get tough. Things continued to go well and by the way I did end up wearing my hydration belt like I said I wouldn't. I didn't use my handheld water bottle because I forgot the little clips to my iFitness belt that holds my bib on and I needed it to carry my phone and GU's. I was just too nervous to rely on the water on the course even though there was plenty of it.

Mile 9: 8:26

Mile 10: 8:26 (GU)

Mile 11: 8:25

Mile 12: 8:31

Mile 13: 8:26

I was still feeling pretty good at the half way point and it was at this point that I decided that maybe I could meet my most optimistic goal of all which was to PR! I also knew that the most difficult miles of the course were coming up soon and I was going to see my pace drop significantly.

Mile 14: 8:26

Mile 15: 8:33 (Gu)

Mile 16: 8:26

Miles 17-20 are the toughest miles of the course for me. The course takes you into Cal State Long Beach and it is nothing but hills in there! It was pretty tough so I slowed it down on the uphill and tried to gain some time back when the course flattened out. I did much better this year and I didn't die or hit the wall!

Mile 17: 8:27

Mile 18: 8:56

Mile 19:8:25

Mile 20:8:50(GU)

Around Mile 19ish my race took a different turn. I ran through some water on the course with what felt like sand and I almost slipped and over extended my right leg and felt a pain in the back of my leg. Little by little the pain became worse to the point where I had to slow down considerably. I stopped and stretched it out around Mile 22 per the instructions of Monica who happened to run past me as I was hobbling along in pain. By Mile 23 I could not run for long at all without it hurting or tightening up so it was a run/walk effort from Mile 23-25 but I did not give up! 

Mile 21: 8:42

Mile 22: 9:26

Mile 23: 10:04 (GU)

Mile 24: 10:26

Mile 25: 10:17

It was at this point that I knew that my race was headed in another direction. I wasn't sure what was the best thing to do. I thought about quitting or just walking to the Finish but I just could not let myself do it. I completely fell apart at this point because I was not sure what was going on with my leg and what might happen if I kept on going. At Mile 25, I saw my friend Meg who I have known for a while through the blog world! She came up to me and we started talking and she ran with me for about a mile. I felt better just seeing a familiar face and I was able to brave through it and make it to the Finish. THANK YOU MEG! YOU SAVED ME!

Mile 26: 9:31

.48=8:48 (I guess I did not do very well running the tangents either!)

Goals:

My goals for this race were to beat my 2011 course time of 4:05:35 (CHECK.). I actually beat my course time by 13 minutes and 20 seconds! My second and more optimistic goal was to finish the race in under 4 hours (CHECK.) This was not a PR for me but this is just one of those courses that will probably never get me a PR or a BQ! It just doesn't love me!

I finished Marathon #4 in 3:52:15 and finally earned my Beach Cities Challenge medal! Sarah was handing out the BCC medals and it was nice to see her out there volunteering. I can remember when I thought that I would never be able to run a sub-four marathon so I have convinced myself that 3:52 is a decent time for me considering that it did do lots of walking! I told Long Beach that I would be back to get revenge and my sub-four finish and I know I ran a much stronger race than I did two years ago. No excuses for a bad race so I will just suck this one up and pay attention to where I am running in the future and accept the fact that not every race is going to be a perfect one and realize that CACA HAPPENS!

This makes race #12 of my quest to run 13 races in 2013 and my second best marathon time. I have been taking it easy because I was hurting everywhere and I am also hoping that my hamstring pain is just a temporary thing that rest will take care of. I am not ready to use the dreaded "I" word yet! I am hoping to get a run in at the end of the week if I am able. Until then, I will be doing lots of icing and this....

  

 Next up...Ragnar Las Vegas, sponsored by Nuun and Pro Compression, with my friend Caroline and 10 other ladies that I cannot wait to meet!

Weekly Update (10/07/13 to 10/13/13)

What a week! I had to work on Friday so it was a long week, I only work one Friday a month so when I do have to work it feels like the week is super long. I  can't complain though because I have a great job and work with some great people! I am BLESSED! This week was pretty easy up until Sunday when I took on the Long Beach Marathon. Other than the marathon here is what my week of workouts looked like:

Monday: REST DAY-I have had way too much Rest Days lately but with the way I have been feeling they have been much needed and appreciated by my body. You gotta listen to your body so I am getting better at that every single day.

Tuesday: 5.12 Mile night run @8:06 pace.  The weather was cool and a little breezy but it felt good to be able to run outside after work instead of jumping on the treadmill.

Wednesday: REST DAY

Thursday: 5.20 Miles on the treadmill @9:38 pace. This was my last and final run for this training cycle before marathon #4 and it felt great to have completed 15 weeks of training injury free! That has not happened in a long time so I am feeling very grateful and blessed!

Friday: REST DAY

Saturday: REST DAY 

Sunday: 26.48 Miles (Long Beach Marathon) @8:47 pace (3:52:15). Race Recap coming soon....

TOTAL MILES:36.80

The next few days will consist of some much needed rest, recovery and foam rolling. I am pretty excited about my other half's first half marathon which is coming up really soon so I need to back into things as soon as  I can!

How much time do you take off to recover after a marathon or big race?

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Let the weather stalking begin.....

It's Race Week: My Final Thoughts Before the Long Beach Marathon

My honest thoughts...the marathon is a beast that never gets easy for me. Some marathons have been better than others but the distance will always be difficult for me to conquer. It never gets easy for me nor does it ever feel easier no matter how many times I attempt it. I have a love/hate relationship with the marathon but I think I love it more than I hate it!

I have not been feeling 100% for the last couple of weeks. I am not quite sure what is going on and my doctor advised me that running this marathon may not be the best idea. I kind of agree with him but then I don't. The problems that I have been experiencing do not occur while I am running but sometimes after a run. I have made the decision to run this marathon with the promise to pull out if I don't feel 100%. It will be tough to put a DNF on the books but if I have to do it, I will.

My training has been pretty solid and I have trained for a full 15 weeks. Week 11 kind of fell apart due to the death of a close friend but I was able to get back on track. I don't want to throw all of this training away so even if this race turns into a PW I think it is worth it to me.

If all goes well, my goal for this race is to beat my 2011 time of 4:05:35 when I ran this marathon for the first time. Best case I would love to run a sub-four because even though I have already ran a sub-four marathon I don't think it comes very easy for me. I am not looking to BQ or anything spectacular like that because the course is not one that I would chose for a BQ. It is a great course by the beach but there are a couple things that I really don't like about the course. Most of the course loops… meaning you go through a street, then you turn around and then you run it back, so most of the time you run against the people running ahead and behind of you. Clocks are also non-existent on this course so you are forced to really babysit the Garmin which I am trying to get better at not doing. I just want to run a smart race and if I do, I think I can live with whatever time it takes me to finish. Every race cannot and will not be a PR as much as I would like it to be!!

I am thinking about running with a pacer to see how I like it. I usually like to run my own race so that I can be under control but since this is a just a training run (if you will) this might be a good time to experiment with a few things. I am also considering running without my running belt and just carrying a hand held that I can refill at the water stops. I used to hate carrying the handheld but have actually trained myself to do it on shorter runs. I am not sure if I can commit to this or not since the thought of a water shortage on the course is one of my worst nightmares. I have never heard of this happening on this race but again I don't want to be stressed about things that I have control over.

So there you have it:

1) Beat 4:05:35, or sub four if I have it in me!

2) Ditch the hydration belt and carry the handheld!

3)  Run a smart race which may mean pulling out if I am not feeling good.

Most of all, I am excited about crossing the finish line and getting my marathon medal from this sweet friend of mine who is volunteering at the race and also finally getting my hands on my Beach Cities Challenge medal.

 

Who else is racing this week? What distance?

Weekly Update (9/30/13 to 10/06/13) and One Week Until #4!

One more week until Marathon #4 and I have not been feeling so great this week. Perfect! I went to the doctor and found out that my blood pressure is lower than normal which explains why I have been feeling kind of light-headed lately. Hopefully this won't stop me from toeing that Start line in a week but I have to do what is best for me. My doctor has suggested that I do not run the full marathon but I will make that decision next week based on how I feel. Fingers crossed!!!

Monday: REST DAY

Tuesday: 6.21 Miles on the treadmill @9:39 pace. I needed a break since I had not been feeling so great. 

Wednesday: REST DAY

Thursday:  REST DAY-Had dinner with my friend and she is doing so much better! I felt so good driving home knowing that she had made some huge progress in the last week!

Friday: 10.52 Miles@9:33 pace. This was my other half's long run so I tagged along and it was a great one. We ran some hills and he was pretty pooped and ended up with sore calves the next day. Sorry Honey but you said you wanted to run some hills!

Saturday: REST DAY

Sunday: 8.30 Miles@8:16 pace. The weather was a perfect 57 degrees and I just ran by feel.

TOTAL MILES:25

I am planning on running two short and easy runs next week and then it is showtime! The weather looks decent and it better stay that way!

Does tapering drive you crazy?

It makes me feel like I am going to lose all of my training but I know it is part of the plan!

Weekly Update (9/23/13 to 9/29/13) and it's That Time Again!

In two weeks I will be running Marathon #4! The doubts are starting to settle in but I keep telling myself that I have no big plans for this race so just RELAX! My legs have been feeling pretty good lately even after my long runs which include lots of miles at Marathon Goal Pace. It is now Taper Time, which means I need to slow things down and start focusing on this marathon. 

Monday: REST DAY

Tuesday: 7.52 Miles on the treadmill @7:58 pace. I have really been trying to get a good tempo run in on Tuesdays since it gets me motivated for the rest of the week. It has been helping my confidence level a whole lot!

Wednesday: REST DAY

Thursday:  9.34 Miles@10:02 pace. I ran with my other half and this was his long run for the week. We ran hills in the wind with a light drizzle and it was a great run! I am kind of enjoying these mid-distance runs at an easy pace. It feels good to go for an easy paced run every once in a while. Later on in the evening, I also went on a 4 mile walk with my friend just to talk. She is doing much better but still has a long road ahead of her.

Friday: REST DAY

Saturday:  REST DAY-We spent the day at the LA County Fair and we had a great time eating and eating and eating!

Sunday: 18.11 Miles @8:28 pace. This was a tough run for me and I was pretty burned out for the remainder of the day. My son had a tray of goodies waiting for me when I got home. I am not sure what the  "STOP DUI CHECKPOINT" sign is all about but he has been on "sign making" kick lately and is always waiting for me to get back with something interesting. I love to drink chocolate milk after a good run and it tasted especially good after this run! I would love to see it and the Finish Line of some of my races.

Total Miles: 35 Miles 

I am thinking about wrapping things up next week with a 10-13 mile long run and then keeping my runs easy until race day. Taper time is the hardest part for me because I feel like I need to be doing more. We will see how it goes!

What is your favorite post run drink?

CHOCOLATE MILK for me!

Weekly Update (9/16/13 to 9/22/13) and 1001 Miles!

I am excited to share that this week marks 1001 miles for 2013! My goal for 2013 is to run 1200 miles and if things continue to go as planned, I think it is going to happen! 

Since I made the decision to run the Long Beach Marathon, I am trying to figure out how to prepare for it. I have about 3 weeks left and I haven't ran 20 miles since August 9th. I don't think I am going to be able to fit a 20 miler in so I will do what I can. I am thinking that I will shoot for an 18 miler next week and then I will have to start tapering. I just love tapering...said no one ever! The weather has been cooling down this week and I hope it continues as we approach October. I need perfect good marathon weather!

My cross-training plans have kind of fallen apart. I have been visiting my friend who lost her husband and I have been getting home pretty late. I pretty much have time to take a shower and go to bed on the nights that I visit her. I am hoping to get back to it really soon. The weather has been way cooler this week and I hope it continues to cool down as we approach October. I need perfect good marathon weather!

Monday: Unplanned REST DAY. I went to visit my friend and she wanted to talk so I got home really late and skipped my cross training. No Bueno!

Tuesday: 7.48 Miles on the treadmill @8:01 pace. My first mile was a warm up at 8:43 pace and the remaining 6.48 miles averaged at 7:55.

Wednesday: 2.22 Easy Miles with the family @9:44 pace.

Thursday: REST DAY-Spent the evening with my friend again.....

Friday: 8 Miles@9:39 pace. I ran with my other half and this was a record distance for him. The weather was perfect and the sun never came out while we were running!

Saturday: REST DAY

Sunday: 15.5 Miles @ 8:20 pace. The first 3 miles were tough. My legs felt heavy and tired but I finally got into it at Mile 4 and my pace was pretty good for the remainder of my run!

Total Miles: 33.21

How was your long run this weekend?