Wife Mother Runner Blog - Wife Mother Runner

Rain Rain I won’t go away

July 23, 2012

I did something I had always been afraid of recently. I ran in the rain. I have run in the rain before. In fact, my first 5K was in a torrential downpour in a field. I also got caught in a rain storm last summer during a 4 mile run and at mile 2 the skies opened up. However I have never run long distance in the rain. I always planned my running schedule around the weather forecast.

I had been planning all week on doing my 9 mile run on Friday and the weather was looking good. The hot streak that we were in would break on Wednesday and it would be drier and cooler in the morning. When I woke up that wasn’t the case. It was dark and rainy. I held off going early in hopes that the rain would let up. This would give me time to eat my breakfast and watch the radar. I checked the radar and there were no holes in the green blob that was covering the state. So I sucked it up and went for it.

At first I wasn’t sure how I would like running the whole 9 miles in the rain, but it was still pretty humid out and the rain was a relief. I was sure to keep my ear buds in the whole time because once you take them out and water gets in your ears, it’s hard to listen to your ipod. I also had to keep my phone and ipod in my spibelt because they were getting wet whenever I took them out of my spibelt to look at them and change my podcast. The spibelt is not a waterproof sack, so for the future I will be sure to put my phone and ipod in a ziplock bag.

Most of the run was in the rain, but like I said it wasn’t bad. I only started sloshy and have heavy wet feet towards the middle of the run. But it was bearable and I didn’t get any blisters because of it. That was my biggest fear prior to my first half marathon. I was terrified that I would have to run 13.1 miles in the rain and that my feet would just become one messy blister. Not true.

So when I see rain in the forecast in the future now I will not adjust my schedule accordingly. I will look forward to it. It has a soothing and empowering effect that you don’t have to stop doing what you love just because of the weather. Lord knows, I didn’t let the winter slow me down.

It’s been one year since I started running outside

July 2, 2012

This past week marks the one year anniversary of when I started running outside and committed to never using the treadmill again despite the weather. I am pleased to say that my running has changed me. I used to run before on the treadmill, but like I said, I never considered myself a runner. Now a year later, I have run TWO half marathons within 30 days of each other and I am signed up for the WDW 20th anniversary full marathon. Running is in my blood and has become a major element of my life. It is my time alone, my time to NOT think or think if necessary, and a way for me to stay healthy.

In fact, this morning I had to go out for an early run due to the hot weather we are experiencing and I noticed things outside today. The air had a sweet smell to it and it was very dewy out because of the humidity and storms we had yesterday afternoon. You don’t get to experience that on a treadmill.

Here’s to looking forward to a new year of running and what will I accomplish next?!

207 days until the Walt Disney World Marathon!

June 19, 2012

That’s right, the Walt Disney World Marathon is 207 days away and I am counting down because I WILL BE RUNNING IT! I can’t believe it. I made the decision to go for it. It’ll be my first marathon and this year is the 20th anniversary. I can’t not do it. Especially for my first. I got married in Disney World so it is only appropriate that I run my first marathon there.

Just prior to registering and ever since I have registered I have had several dreams about the event. Most dreams were good. One dream had a hint of panic in it where I was thinking “what in the world did I sign myself up for???”. When I dream and also daydream about the event the things that come to mind is the actual route of the race and all of the entertainment along the way which will help me get through the long long miles.

As of now I am not sure if my whole family is coming. There are still things we need to have line up first. But after running a race this weekend and having my sister and brother-in-law there with their kids as I was approaching the finish line for just a 5 mile race, I just have to have someone there for me after completing my first marathon!

More training and fun marathon info to come!

Goals are necessary

June 9, 2012

So I have been in a funk lately. My runs were also not very good. I have had some events in life going on that were also challenging my emotions. My daughter finished her first year in preschoool, my son turned 5 and then on Friday my son graduated from preschool. With all of the emotions, there were also events that had to be attended for these milestones along with working a full time job. So finding time and the energy to run was challenging for me this week.

I was talking to a friend about my struggles and this morning she reminded me that I need goals to keep my focus. She is exactly right. I think part of my feelings of unorganization is because I wasn’t running towards a goal anymore. I know I am in the process of making a decision to do the WDW full marathon, but I was even having a hard time to make a decision about a 5 mile race in the next town over. If I am going to commit to a full marathon in another state 6 months away, deciding to run a 5 mile race should be a piece of cake. Speaking of cake. My whole diet needs to be fixed. Since I wasn’t running towards a goal, I was completely eating like crap. Which I also think affected my recent runs. So now that I decided to run the Branford Road Race next Sunday I will work on setting a goal to complete that race in less than an hour (50 minutes would be a great goal). Next goal will be to work towards a 2:15 time for the Gulf Beach Half Marathon in September and my third goal is to work on doing weights again to give me some strength. So far so good. I did weights this morning, I will sign up for the Branford race this week, and I’ll continue to think over the decision about the WDW marathon. I have until June 19 to pull the trigger to take advantage of the DVC discount and lower price bracket before they raise the price.

WDW Marathon 2013???

June 5, 2012

So for the past few weeks I have been struggling with the decision to do the WDW 20th annivesary full marathon. I feel the pull to do it; however it is going to take a commitment to train. Sarah from runningatdisney.com created an excel calendar from Jeff Galloway’s marathon training plan and training for the full would begin around June 18th. In the plan the miles are low in the beginning and build up. I have done the training for a half marathon during the beginning of this year so I have a base already built up. The longest mile runs take place in the fall so I don’t have to worry about running very long runs in the summer heat. So the decision is hinging on the fact that 26.2 miles is really far! When I ran today (just 4 miles) I felt concerned. How in the world did I just do 2 half marathons? I haven’t had the energy lately for my runs. Maybe it is the stress of life that I am tackling now that is taking away from my running energy. But I do want to come to a decision soon. Once I am committed that might change my overall look at the whole thing. I don’t know if anyone will be travelling with me because someone needs to watch the kids and the event is on a Sunday. I don’t mind going alone but it would be great to have someone to hug once I cross the finish line. Especially for such a huge milestone! I had a dream last night that I was running the full marathon. And last night I did tell Sarah that I needed to sleep on the decision. Does that mean the decision has been made for me??! Stay tuned.

Hamden Hills Half Marathon – May 26, 2012 (2:42:49)

May 27, 2012

I slayed a dragon this Saturday. I did the Hamden Hills Half Marathon. This event was run for the first time (same as the Cheshire Half). It’s nice that there are these events in the area now. I wasn’t planning on doing this half. I have my friend Shannon to thank for this (especially as I hobble around today with such sore legs!) After I completed the Cheshire half I knew I wanted to do more. There was a flier on my car about this Hamden Hills half but the description said:

“The Innaugural Hamden Hills Half Marathon & 5K takes in the picturesque hills of Hamden’s back-country. The start/finish is at Quinnipiac University York Hill Campus. This is sure to be the TOUGHEST Half Marathon and 5K in Connecticut! I know you are up for this challenge!”

Yea the last think I thought I wanted to do was run the TOUGHEST half marathon in Connecticut. So I threw the flier away and went on with my vacation which was to start a week after I finished the Cheshire half. I hooked up with Shannon for a morning of pool time with our kids and we were talking about what races I want to do. She sent me a link later for halfmarathon.net and the hamden hills was on it. I told her I had to sleep on it and decide if I can do another one after just finishing my first. Plus it was hills and my first was mostly flat. Of course the next morning when I woke up I knew I had to do it. It was a challenge I couldn’t pass up. I was worried that having 2 weeks of vacation with light running while on it that I wouldn’t have my training up to par for this one. She told me that I was already trained and that I could do this. I waited until I got home to register. I did a 5K at home with just a decent hill and right after that race I went home and ran hills as well. Then during the week I did more hilll running. So I felt comfortable that I could at least finish.

My goal was to walk what I had to and I knew that I was going to be ok with a 3 hour finish cause I knew this was out of my league. I read a great article by Dr. Rachel Runs about having a personal worst and I was planning on this for the race result. I was anxious when I approached the race location. The drive up the hill felt like driving up Mount Washington! It circled around and kept climbing! Then at the top I felt like I was in the clouds! I had butterflies in my gut. I was anxious for the race to start. Once it did I settled down. The hills were hard, but I took some advise. Walk up the hills and run down the hills. 5 miles into the race I saw that it took me an hour. So I calculated that it took 60 minutes to do 5 miles, so 10 miles would be 2 hours and add 3 more to it and I’ll be close to a 2:45 finish. I was very surprised at that estimate. I texted Kevin to tell him when to expect to see me cross the finish line. The last hill was killer. It was impossible to run up. I would run a few steps, then walk. I mostly walked it, but I was determined to run past the finish line which I did. 2:42:49. I was very pleased with that time. Glad I did it, thanks Shannon!