Crazy 10 miler!

Well, this run did not go as planned. (shaking my head)  I set out to do 10 miles this morning, trying to run out the door before it got too hot. Temps are kissing 100 here the past few days, with heat advisories every morning I wake. Only 2 miles into this run, a Pit bull charges at me. Unfortunately the new Mace in my hand decides it doesn't want to work. I had tested it when I bought it and haven't had to use it since. Thankfully I came out of this standoff without a dog bite. Knew I had about 5 more ankle-biters on the same road that would run out at me, so I stopped to figure out what was going on with the Mace. Couldn't get the dang thing to spray, but it did leak purple liquid all over my hands. So with all the sweating in the heat and trying to get back to my car, thinking I wasn't about to do this loop again today, I somehow managed to get it on my face while using the backs of my hands to wipe sweat. Let me tell you, if it had worked on the dog, he would have had a really bad day. Because I felt like I had flames burning my face and hands.

At this point my run was over. I was just trying to run back to my car so I could get home and shower. My fingers were red and swelling, my face was burning, and I started getting a headache. Got home and showered, iced my hands and coated my hands and face with Rodan+Fields SOOTHE!  This is a recovery I've never done before.

Thankfully, I was able to get the last 5 miles on the treadmill in my basement, where there are no dogs threatening my safety. Glad this 10 miles finally came together. Nothing like a little drama to make things interesting.

Changing Skin & Changing Lives!

I am overjoyed with excitement, and would not be a good friend if I did not share this information with everyone that I know and meet. I have teamed up as a consultant with Drs. Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields, the creators of Proactiv. They wanted to change skin and change lives for everyone, the same as they did for acne, so they created regimens for anti-aging, including fine lines, loss of firmness and wrinkles...sun damage, brown spots, age spots and melasma...sensitive skin, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema...and acne, cystic acne, post acne scarring. Why do these products work so well? They use the right ingredients and the right formulations in the right order. I have seen firsthand the amazing results with all of these products! The Doctors believe in their products so much that they offer a 60-day moneyback guarantee. If you aren't satisfied, send the empty bottles back for a refund. What other company offers that?

REDEFINE for anti-aging

Here's how well these products work. Steve is a friend of mine, a former products liability lawyer, and circuit judge, who was trying to prove these products didn't work, but actually ended up proving that they work amazingly well. Steve used the REDEFINE regimen, coupled with the AMP MD roller, and is looking younger than ever at the age of 63!! He and his wife both have retired from their legal careers and are consultants on my R+F team.

SOOTHE for sensitive skin

And I am so happy my mom has agreed to let me share her results with everyone. She was diagnosed with Stage 3C breast cancer in November 2012. After finishing chemo, she went through several months of radiation, which caused her skin to dry out so much it was cracking and bleeding. Awful and painful! After doing everything that her doctors had recommended, which obviously wasn't working, she agreed to try Rodan + Fields SOOTHE, which is for sensitive skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. These are her results after only 5 days!  A year later, you can't even tell. No scar.

Shop Now

So for the month of August, I am offering a special deal. All new customers who order as a Preferred Customer from me will receive a FREE gift of choice from our Summer Survival Essentials Collection. By answering just a few questions in our Solutions Tool, you will know in a matter of minutes which regimen is recommended for you. And you'll be on your way to having the best skin of your life!  By signing up as a Preferred Customer, you will also receive 10% off all products and receive FREE shipping with every order. 

If you know of anyone that might be interested, please share my contact info with them. I'll be glad to answer any questions anyone has about these wonderful products.

Thank you!

Michelle Foster
Rodan + Fields
Independent Consultant
Website: https://michellefoster.myrandf.com/
Email: mefoster262@gmail.com

365 Day Plank Challenge

Just over 365 days ago I started a plank challenge. I had attempted it once or twice before and then something would happen and I would forget, which would cause my streak to start back over with Day 1. How frustrating is that!  But as they say, you don't fail until you quit trying. Persistence pays off!  I found that I could remember easier by making it part of my nightly routine, and a year later, I am still planking. Every night, for 377 nights now.

Are you looking for a challenge?  Try this one.  Start out small. Set a goal to plank every day for a week, and then as you get closer, raise the bar higher. I never expected to plank for a year straight, but if you break it down day by day it doesn't seem so overwhelming.

Soldier Half Marathon ~ Fort Benning /13.24 mi/ Time 2:07:44

I have to say, this was probably the most fun half I have ever run. The energy in this race was unbelievable!! I have had my heart set on this one for a year now. Really wanted to give back and run for our fallen heroes. So this one was for "Easy 40", who lost their lives when their heli crashed near Baghdad in 2007. Flight crew: MAJ Michael V. Taylor, CPT Sean E. Lylerly, SFC John G. Brown, 1SG William T. Warren...along with 8 other crew members (guys my friend Brad Williams served with and knew well). Also SFC Jon Lowery and CPT Waid Ramsey, who my friend Shane Higgins knew well. It was an honor to run for these guys and their families, and I am thankful to Brad and Shane for sharing that with me.

Race recap...

Marla and I got to Fort Benning yesterday morning and traffic was really backed up. Parking was a nightmare. FINALLY got parked 5 whole minutes before the race started! There were others behind us, so I wasn't in panic mode yet. Ended up starting in the 8:00/ pace group because we just couldn't make it through the crowd. The start to this race was amazing! Held a pretty good pace for the first couple of miles. Coming up the only hill we had at mile 2, we had drill sergeants hollering at us...it was awesome! Didn't see a single person walking that hill. LOL. Somewhere between mile 6 and 7, we had some good entertainment with the drill sergeants. One was yelling that he had been waiting 59 minutes for us to finish this marathon!! He seemed pretty ticked! LOL. No checking up in front of him either!

Achilles started tightening up pretty bad around mile 10, but kept pushing through. Knew I had to run strong for "Easy 40"! Also had my own drill sergeant running with me (Marla). Good to have that when you're fighting through discomfort and trying to keep running strong. The energy in this race was just amazing!

It was such an awesome feeling to come around and see the finish! So many people lined up...soldiers at the finish line handing out medals. I kick it in gear through that homestretch to pass this dude in front of me and almost bust my bootay...right at the finish!! I really thought I was going down. My body was moving faster than my legs could keep up. I'm sure that was caught on camera...and probably the only pics taken of me that day. But hey, I beat the dude that was in front of me. :) Mission accomplished! and didn't face-plant, thankfully.

Fort Benning is gorgeous! High energy throughout this entire race. The soldiers were so humble and thankful to us for running. Just wanted to stop and hug every one of them. We did a lot of high-fiving! Enjoyed running this with my bestie. Had such a fun time with her this weekend, as always. Definitely going to run this one again next year!

Kudos to these race coordinators! This was a very well-organized race! Cool medal and shirt...and the best variety of after-race food and beverages I have seen to date! This one was topnotch!

Montgomery Half Marathon ~ 13.21 mi/ Time 2:07:37

Was so good to go back to my first half marathon and run it for the third time. Got to run this race again with my bestie, Marla C. and ran into my friend, Brad W., who was running his first half. The morning started off nice and cool, but warmed up rather quickly. Not near the spectators that I have seen at this race in the past, but the energy from the other runners in the race was just awesome today. Saw some really good motivational signs that made me laugh out loud...great encouragement from the volunteers...and made some new friends along the course. Saw a girl who ran it with a prosthetic leg...just wow!! No excuses, People! No excuses!

I had been running behind this one girl, Monica, who slowed down around mile 10.5. So I gave her some encouragement and we stuck it out and finished together. That's what running is all about. Love the running community.

Not my best time, but happy that I was able to shave 6 mins off my Talladega time from 3 wks ago. Splits were pretty good with the exception of the hill at mile 10.5. Mile 1-4 (9:25, 9:44, 9:33, 9:18) mile 5-8 (9:28, 9:24, 9:35, 9:44) mile 9-13 (9:49, 10:12, 10:10, 9:30, 9:27.)

Great after party! Got to see a police officer who had been injured in a motorcycle wreck being helped across the finish of the 1 mile walk I take it. Don't think there was a dry eye in the stadium when he crossed and got his medal. Hung out after and shut the place down. Good times today!

Ran this one for Stephanie...

Talladega 21000 ~ 13.15 mi/ Time 2:13:10

Awesome time at the Talladega Super Speedway today. Not a PR by any stretch, but I had a blast out there today...and that's what it's all about! It was so good to revisit the track and run this race again this year. Kinda strange how you remember all the little things from the first time you run a certain course or race...like what you were thinking at a certain point or what your pace was. I had a lot of that going on today, which made it all the more exciting.

Had to fight the wind a good bit today, and it was pretty hot. There were a few times I questioned whether I was actually moving. Held a steady pace in the 9:50s/ until around mile 7, where I started to slow down just a bit. Had a cool moment where I looked down at my watch at mile 10.13, was running a pace of 10:13/ and an average pace of 10:13/. If only I could have gotten a picture of that!

Picked the pace back up the last little bit and finished strong! So cool to have friends and family waiting at the finish line. The kids had a super awesome time at the track today. :) So glad I got to run this with my friends Kathy, Keith, and Glen. This was Kathy's first half, and she ran it strong! So proud of her. Hope we got you hooked, Girl! There is nothing like RUNNER'S HIGH!

Finish time was 2:13:10.

What You Should Know About Skincare and Sun Exposure as an Athlete

Since health and skincare go hand in hand, I am excited for the opportunity to share my latest business venture with all my athletic friends. I just recently teamed up as an independent consultant with Rodan + Fields Dermatologists, the very doctors that created Proactiv. As athletes, we subject our skin to hours of direct and indirect sunlight. These hours can do major damage over the years, that we need to be concerned about. Skin, our largest organ, needs to stay healthy for a lifetime. If you have sun damage, brown spots or dullness...acne and post-acne marks...sensitive, irritated skin or facial redness...concerns with wrinkles, pores or loss of firmness...please message me. I would love to share with you how Rodan + Fields can help redefine your skin. It truly is life-changing!!  I have seen AMAZING results and can't wait for everyone to experience that. 

To find out which regimen is recommended for you, please take a moment and use the Solution Tool. Once completed, you will receive an email with the regimen that will work best for you!

Michelle

Rodan + Fields 

Independent Consultant

michellefoster.myrandf.com

Run for Kids Challenge 50K ~ 7:44:26

Start/Finish line

After 31.1 miles and 7:44:26, I finally finished my first ultra!  And it was epic, to say the least!  This was literally a 31-mile mud run. I had worried all week about the weather and the possibility of a cancellation due to thunderstorms that were forecast. But I began to breathe once the race director sent out an email earlier in the week saying the race would go on rain, shine or storm. Whew!  Looking back now, I wouldn't change the weather conditions for anything. It just gave it the WOW factor.

The chute..yes, across the creek which formed overnight

It had rained most of the night. Got to Oak Mountain State Park, and it was 42 degrees and, yes, raining. It was so cold!! I had questioned the wardrobe the entire drive over, wondering if I needed to change into running pants to stay warm. But the competitor in me did not want to have to make a pit stop to change into something cooler once I warmed up. So I chose to wear my running skirt, rain jacket and cap, and that ended up being the right choice. Glad I had the rain jacket because I wore that for over 3 hours until the rain stopped. That and layers underneath keeping me fairly warm once I got started.

I think this is the only race that I haven't had the pre-race jitters and nervousness, which sounds so bizarre since it was the longest distance and most difficult to date. I was so focused on the task at hand and had no pressure on time that somehow I was able to remain calm, cool and collected before the start.

Happy, happy, happy!

And then the race began!  Made one lap around the parking lot, and then off into the woods we went. This was a loop course that we made 9 times. The first lap, I was so cold and wet that everything was numb. It took a while to get a feel for the course and all the puddle jumping that would go on for most of the day. The course became more slick and muddy with every lap. I think I did more running on the sides of the trail than anything, just trying to stay out of the puddles to keep my shoes from staying soaked all day. Ankles and calf muscles felt this rather quickly. Keith B. jumped in with me on lap 2 and kept me company for a few laps. You know you've got a good friend when they volunteer to spend their Saturday in the nasty weather and run for fun with you. We had a great time, and hopefully he got a nice introduction to some trail running!

The creek kept getting wider

Fast forward a few laps. On the fourth lap, around mile 13, I was starting to feel a good bit of tightness in the calves. I stopped at the aide station and took a few Advil, hoping to knock it out. It didn't shake it a bit. Rolled the calves with "The Stick" real quick-like, and then Clint hopped in with me for a few laps. Not long after that I started really feeling the miles and impact it was having on my body. My breathing was becoming labored from the pain. I would occasionally walk a hill and then pick back up on running once I crested. Slowing down to walk a hill actually made things worse. That's when the pain makes its presence.  My "other knee" started screaming. Everything began to hurt. Lower back, hips, left knee, calves (more Advil)...and I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into. A lot of mental conversation going on with myself during this race. Started wondering what my feet would look like after running 31 miles in wet shoes and socks. Never doubted whether I could finish...not once. But the competitor in me was concerned with pace. As much as I try not to think about that, it happens. So every time I stopped by the aide station, I was aware of time ticking by and irritated with what it was doing to my pace.

How cute are they?!

Coming around at mile 22, I came through the check-in point and saw my kiddos standing there with signs.  And I lost it!  This is the first race they have come to, so it was pretty emotional for me. I gave quick hugs and kisses, hydrated and grabbed a snack, and hit the trail again.  Also had some other really good friends who came to watch the finish, and that was a nice surprise because I wasn't expecting to see them there.

I was told I sped up on the last lap and that I made it back around quicker than expected. My Garmin ended up dying on that lap. I had watched my time throughout the day, wondering what kind of finish time I could manage. My goal had become under 8 hours. On that last lap, I had no idea what my pace or time was, but I knew I would be cutting it close. I was so focused on finishing strong!  One of the 12 hr runners caught up with me and paced off of me for a while. We talked a little bit, so that pushed me through and made me run a little stronger than I might have otherwise. His watch had also died, so neither of us knew the time of day or how long we had been running.  All I could do was keep pushing through and run as strong as I could.

Coming around to the finish, I made my way through the last section of mud, and looked up and there were my friends and family cheering me on. It was over the top!  And of course, I lost it. Once I stopped moving and the pain caught up with me, it was hard to breathe. That, on top of the emotions of finishing something like this. So the pictures of my finish are awful! I received my finisher glass, and then sat down and immediately took inventory of my feet. Found one blister on my big toe, which thankfully had not caused a problem during the race. A few minutes later the cold chills set in.

My time was 7:44:26, a PR on distance and elapsed running time, for sure. It was an unbelievable experience.  Like my marathon, one I'll never forget. I can honestly walk away from this race knowing I did my very best under the current conditions. I didn't take much time at all between laps to refuel, and I certainly never sat down to rest. It was all business once I got started.

Once new shoes...now, well, filthy!

Looking at the results on paper, they don't look that great. But considering I was 1 of only 6 women who had the courage to attempt it, I'm good with that. Oh, and I was next to the oldest woman out there!

The results:

• Time:  7:44:26
• Overall:  29 out of 34
• Gender:  6 out of 6

So thankful I got to experience this and that my body allowed me to do so. There are so many people who have inspired me with running, and I get so much pleasure in paying it forward. Inspiring others to run is far more rewarding than any finisher medal or glass that you receive at the end of a race.

Everyone is asking "Why do you run?" and "What possesses you to run THAT FAR?!" Because it's a challenge, mentally and physically...Because it reminds me how strong of a person I am...Because I want to see how far I can go...Because I can...

An Update

A lot has happened since Savannah, and I am not the best at blogging, as you can tell. Of course, I had that awesome runner's high after finishing my first marathon, but also struggled with what to do next. Once that big moment was over and I didn't have anything else on the calendar to shoot toward, it was a little bit depressing. But I sat down, made some goals for 2013, started picking out events, and putting them on the calendar.

Next on the list, an ultra marathon!  If you have not read "Ultra Marathon Man" by Dean Karnazes, stop what you are doing right now. It is a must-read. Very inspiring book. The guy really has a sense of humor so it is actually very entertaining and hard to put down.  You have been warned!  That is what helped me through the lull I was going through and inspired me to tackle an ultra.

I had planned to do the XTERRA Triathlon at Oak Mtn State Park in May, but the ultra that really tugged at me was the Run for Kids Challenge 50k, also in May. It is benefiting kids with cancer. And since my mom was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, this really hit home for me. This 50k is at Oak Mtn and is a 3.25 mile loop x 9.5 times, which is actually perfect for a first-time ultra. Plenty of aid stations and potty breaks! So decision made!

I had also signed up for Tough Mudder Georgia which is in 2 weeks, but it looks like I am now going to have to sit that one out because of an injury. I am right in the middle of ultra training and have developed problems with my right knee/leg. Has to be from overuse. This came about after a 40 mile week, the most weekly miles I have ever run. So I have taken 2 wks off with no running at all, trying to pamper it so I can get back on schedule. The decision to not do Tough Mudder is not an easy one to make. I have wanted to do this race for a long time now. But the ultra is huge and what I have been training for, and it just wouldn't be smart to try and run a mud run when I am not at 100% and just before a big race. 

So I am continuing to pamper my leg with heat, stretches, Tissue Rejuvenator by HAMMER, rolling it out with The Stick, and anything else I can think of that might help...including a lot of prayer.

That's kind of where I am right now. I have 40 more days to heal and finish training for my first ultra!

Savannah Marathon ~ 26.4 miles/ 4:52:00

Savannah Rock'N'Roll Marathon
Nov 3, 2012
 

Marla, Angie, Me, and Amanda

After twenty-two months of running...two 5Ks, a 10K, and six half marathons...I am finally able to add a marathon to my list of races that have been completed!!  Woohoo!!  And after four months of hard work and dedication, the day finally arrived.

So thankful that I got to experience this with my besties who were crazy enough to make this commitment with me.

Had a fabulous time shopping at the Expo! The RNR Expos know how to do it right. And this one was extremely organized!  We got our 26.2 stickers, and some shopped like it was going out of style.  :)

We had a wonderful dinner that night at Corleone's Italian Restaurant.  Mmm...mmm...Went back to the hotel and chilled.  I don't think any of us got any sleep that night.  I'm not gonna lie...The nerves had started to set in a little that day, for a couple of us. I wasn't worried about the distance, but was more worried about running a race that I could be proud of...and have no regrets later. After unexpectedly setting a new sub2:00 PR at Talladega just a few weeks before, my original plan to "just finish" was no longer my only goal.  I started doing a lot of calculating to see what kind of pace would get me under 5:00 and to possibly a 4:30 even.

Start line before daylight

So on race morning, we're standing in the corral waiting to start, and I look over at my girlfriends and say, "Are we really doing this?!" It was so surreal. I was so giddy to finally experience what I had been training for! The only thing I was worried about was controlling my pace so I could make it to the finish line. I knew my friend Marla and Angie had trained at a much faster pace. They have both been running for 25 years!  And I really wanted to run this with them.  But I also knew I had to run my own race, and had prepared myself to split off from them, if necessary.

At the star

I started out running with Angie and Marla, which was so much fun. Took a very quick potty break at 9.5 miles. We ended up running the first 12 miles together, keeping about a 9:45/ pace, which was way fast for me for a marathon. Once we split off from the half marathoners, we hit the freeway and Marla and Angie sped up. I started to get my pace under control and slacked off a little. I looked ahead and saw an endless freeway, so I made the choice to put my earbuds in and get my music going to get me through this part. The freeway was the most desolate and hot part of the entire run, and I felt very alone out there.  No water stations, no spectators, nothing!

Around mile 17, I got a little choked up and had to really fight back the emotions. I had been warned of this beforehand. The spectactors were absolutely AMAZING in Savannah! I have never high-fived so many people in my life. I zigzagged all over the course returning the love and high-fiving little kids. The spectators were all so happy to be there and really showed the love to us runners. And it started getting to me at that point. I was also thinking ahead of how sweet it was going to be to cross that finish line....and I had to stop all the daydreaming. It just wasn't helping me keep my emotions in check.

Self-encouragement along the course!

Started getting a stitch in my side at mile 19. Had to walk that off for a minute, so I made friends with a Marine who was struggling with cramping. It was his first marathon. He had run two halfs and had been running for 18 yrs. We shared our stories quick-like, and then I picked the pace back up and moved on.  From mile 19 on, I was really counting it down. Keep in mind, I had only trained up to 20.  So 21 and on was a new distance for me. Woot!

At mile 23, the pain set in...from the waist down. I started getting really sore.  But I never had any problems mentally. I was getting really excited to finish and kept telling myself "only 3 more miles...that's your neighborhood, Michelle! You've got this!"  The farther the distance, the more excited I got.

Mile 25, my playlist decided I should hear "Hurts So Good," which I thought was pretty appropriate. And then I started seeing tons of cameramen. I hope they got good pictures because I was beaming and acting crazy!  Really hogged the camera, so I apologize for any other runners around me. :)  And finally, I caught a glimpse of all the spectators at the finish line, and I was living that moment I have waited on for so long.  I puffed my chest out a little and those tired legs I thought I had wanted to go a little faster. The crowd was really cheering me on as I ran past and across the finish line. And there was my bestie, Marla, who grabbed my medal from the volunteer and placed it around my neck and gave me the biggest hug ever. And then I cried.  :)

Here are the results: 

• Overall:
  1724 out of 2793
• Division:
  168 out of 293
• Gender:
  754 out of 1414 
  5K ~ 30:13  10K ~ 1:01:08  10 miles ~ 1:41:20  13.1 miles ~ 2:13:46  20 miles ~  3:34:32 Finished ~ 04:52:00
  
  

 
Kudos to RNR Savannah for a well organized race and expo. I was really impressed. I can't thank everyone enough (on DM, FB, Twitter, family/friends in my life) for all the love and support through this. I was overwhelmed with texts and messages the night before and day of. And when I crossed the finished line and saw all the congrats, it got me a little choked up. So thanks!! This was an experience of a lifetime. Am I crazy enough to do it again? You better believe it! Because I enjoyed every bit of training and the marathon itself. And I am already getting messages from friends telling me how I have inspired them to run their first half or full. And knowing I have inspired someone like that is just indescribable. :)

The proof!!

Oh, and it wasn't until the ride home the next day that I realized the course was a little long.  So where do I find a 26.4 sticker?!

20 miler ~ New distance! 03:45/ 11:15 pace

Today was the big day...my 20 miler! It was hot and humid, but I got it done. Woohoo!! So thankful my friend Amanda kept me company today. She had planned to run about 10, but I think the heat and humidity got her around mile 4. We had planned on her biking the last 10, so she ended up heading back to the truck to get my mountain bike to finish out the 20 miles with me. So glad she rode the rest because it was so good to have the company!

Here are my splits. If I calculated this right, that's an average of 11:00/. I'm only showing miles 5-20 to get an idea on the pace I ran.
(5-10) 11:04, 11:14, 10:44, 11:01, 11:15, 11:03
(11-15) 10:34, 10:26, 11:07, 10:40, 10:59
(16-20) 11:27, 11:15, 11:51, 11:44, 12:26

Love how #20 looks on the Garmin! A new number for me.

  
I ran pretty slow today, but I was trying to find a comfortable pace that I knew I could finish out the 20 with. You can see where I am really feeling it around mile 18 on. Feet and hips were getting tired. I took a couple of walk breaks for a few feet on those last 2.5 to 3 miles just to give myself some peace of mind. 20 miles is a long way, and when I finished I was feeling it. The weather today made it so much more difficult than the 18 miler I did in the rain two weeks ago. Today was tough, but it was good training. Feels good to have it done. Kinda tired, but enjoyed every bit of it. Loving marathon training. Now the taper begins!!

Oak Mtn Bike Trails ~ 12.16 mi/ 01:58

Another great day of mountain biking! I had planned to run, but just felt like this was what I needed today. Wanted to end on a good note before my 20 miler on Sunday. This was definitely the way to go!! There is just something about mountain biking that is good for the soul.

Glad the vampires weren't out today because I left some DNA out on the trail. :) Crashed and burned one good time. Not really sure how it happened. Apparently my confidence had built up a little too much around mile 10, and I went over a really rooty area with a little too much speed. It's a weird feeling to go sailing over the handlebars and hit the ground. No injuries...just a little blood today. So much fun though! Whooty-whoo!! (That one is for you KB. Hope I spelled it right!)

Not my crash site, but the only warning sign I encountered

There was a lot going on in the woods today! Saw a doe running along side of me in the woods at one point. Stopped and watched her for a bit. Had a hawk that flew out of a tree and startled me. I even met some other bikers on the trail a few times and didn't cause any crashes. I call that a successful ride!

Wishing everyone good luck on any races or runs this weekend!! See you guys after 20 on Sunday.

Mountain Biking at Oak Mtn ~ 9.77 mi/ 01:39

I think I just fell in love!!! Just met Jenifer C. out at Oak Mtn and had THE...BEST...TIME...EVER! This was my first time biking the trails, so I was really excited to have someone to go with. Lots of rocks and roots and trees on the single trail. Really got to plan your path. We hollered and laughed and cut up the entire ride. It was girls gone wild this morning at OM. Woohooo!! I only ran into one tree. And to my defense, it was in the middle of the trail and it was more like a twig. Found the bar on my bike one time. :/ We biked some pretty challenging places, so it was a blast. Oh, and even met a couple of bikers on the path and didn't run into them. :)

I love running the trails, but biking them is really something else entirely. If there is a such thing as a biker's high, I've got it! Awesome ride! So much fun with Jenifer today.

Montgomery Half Marathon ~ 13.29 mi/ 2:00:39

So one year ago, I ran my first half marathon in Montgomery in 2:16:07. This morning, my goal was to crush last year's time and hopefully run another sub 2:00. This was half #6 for me. Very exciting! Nerves weren't too bad this morning. This was gun start and a chip finish, so I got in the front of the pack so as not to lose any time on the clock. Started out WAY too strong. Half a mile in my legs were feeling way too tired. Looked down and saw I was running a 7:45 pace...and this was all on the first incline. Knew I needed to slow it down a bit. Kinda hot and humid out today. Course was a little hillier than I remembered it being.

Around mile 7.75, I started feeling a stitch in my side and thought, Oh, no....not now!! Just needed to hang on to the pace for...several more miles. :) I knew the big hill was coming at mile 10, and pulled it very nicely. Last year I walked it...never again! Adam G. joined me around mile 12, after rockin' his 5K, and paced me to the finish. It was so good to have the company and have someone talk me through the rest of the race. Around mile 12.5, I was losing quite a bit of steam. I knew the course was long and saw I wasn't going to make the sub 2:00. Adam pushed me pretty hard, which is exactly what I needed at that point, because I was mentally and physically whipped. Finally made it around into the stadium and to the finish.

Official time was 2:00:39. Not a new PR on time because of the extra distance; however, new PR on a half pace. 9:05/ pace on 13.29 miles today vs. 9:13/ pace on 13:03 miles at Talladega (1:59:58 finish). So I'm very proud to have run two halfs very strong and consistently back to back. And I beat last year's time by a long shot! Woohooo!!

Splits were (1-6) 8:20, 9:02, 8:46, 9:00, 8:56, 9:04, (7-13) 9:12, 9:34, 9:50, 9:30, 9:49, 9:07, 8:14, 8:02 (1/4 mile)

Place: 237 / 756
Sex Place: 64 / 351
Age Grp Place: 15 / 76

A Year's Time...

Carbing, hydrating, and mentally preparing for Saturday's race. I'm really excited about this race because a year ago Saturday, I ran my first half marathon and finished in 2:16:07. That was *the day* I fell in love with running. I will never forget the emotions when I crossed the finish line.

A lot has happened in a year's time. I have been after a new PR ever since. In the middle of training for the Mercedes, I developed an issue with my ITB and had to stop training. But I ran it anyway because I was determined not to quit.  Pretty decent time, but not a PR.  My third half was the Country Music Half in Nashville in April, and I missed a new PR by 18 seconds!  The route was hilly and crowded and the course was long.  It was a huge disappointment, but I gave it my all and ran it hard.  Had terrible pain in my right shin after that. Came home and ran a couple of trails and decided to sign up for the XTERRA Half.  Ran the XTERRA Half in May, which was my first trail half, with leg pain. Cortisone shot helped that one day...Woohoo!  Finally found out the pain was from a varicose vein and had leg surgery in June.  Decided I wanted the "marathoner" title, so marathon training began in July. Finally I was injury free and decided at the last minute to run Talladega three weeks ago. Unexpectedly, I came home with that new PR I've been after all this time...1:59:58!!  I wanted a new PR, but never in a million years would I have thought I was capable of a sub 2:00.

So will I PR again at MGM this weekend?  Who knows. But I know one thing, I plan to lay it all out on the table this Saturday.  \m/\m/  Hope everyone has a great weekend of running!!

My SPIbelt has arrived!!

This little baby arrived in the mail just in time for my 18 miler...in the rain!!  You probably wouldn't believe that I was able to fit a set of car keys, a Droid phone, and a package of Chomps in this.  It sat nice and snug on my waist for 3 1/2 hours and kept everything completely dry...in the pouring rain.  Worth the money!!  This is the water resistant version.

Fourmile area...in the rain!! 18.01 mi/ 03:25/ 11:21 pace

My first 18 miler!! Woohooooo!! And every bit of it was in the pouring rain. But I have learned to love my rainy day runs. It was actually very pleasant. Running in the rain is so much nicer than running in the summertime heat.

Really happy with this new area I am running in. I did an 8-mile loop and then hooked up with Amanda C. for a 10-mile loop to finish it off. So glad she decided to join me on today's run because it helped keep my mind off the craziness.

I really could have kept running today. I was in that place where it felt so good to hit that new distance...and I didn't want to stop. Once I stopped, my legs immediately felt like I had run 18 miles. It took my breath away for a minute. Walked in the door and hopped right into an epsom salt bath. :) All is well now....and I am beaming! Love marathon training!!!

New Shoes!!

New shoes...and new color! I think they even glow in the dark! Time to work a new pair in before marathon. Woohoo!!

This is my second pair of Brooks Pure Cadence.  Best shoes I've ever had!  The pink is going to take some getting used to.

3 + 3 = 16 miles....3 mi/ 11:20 pace

So after finishing the Talladega Half and setting a new PR I started back around the track for the other 3 miles I had to get in. Took it nice and slow. There were still half marathoners running...and a few others getting in extra miles...so I was in good company. After I finished and met up with Stephanie we headed to the Winners Circle for pictures. My legs started getting sore and throbbing while standing in line. I could tell I had run it HARD today because I am not usually sore are LD like that. And then I was a little nauseous....still not feeling 100%.

But...what a great run today! It felt amazing to run like that, knowing I could potentially bring home a sub 2:00. And when I got my official time, I felt like I had won a million bucks! New PR on a half and a new distance record of 16 miles!!! I am flying high today! Sat in an ice bath when I got home and ate brownies that the kids brought me. Life is good! Now it's time to catch up on sleep.

Talladega Half ~ 13.1 mi/ 1:59:58

Well, 4 am came very early this morning. I was so anxious last night that I got ZERO sleep. But I hit the ground running this morning. Met Stephanie at 5 am, and we got on the road headed to Dega! We were both soooo nervous. Drove thru the tunnel into the infield which was WAY cool! I've never been to the Talladega Superspeedway before. It's HUGE!! Ran into a couple of runners I know. :)

Got started and my legs were feeling good. I had no goal except to crush 2:16 so the pressure was really on. 2 of my 4 halfs I have run uninjured have been 2:16 finish times. I managed to get into a nice pace that felt comfortable but one I could do something with. I looked down and was holding it just below 9:00/ and thought WOW. I maintained a 9:00/ pace up until mile 6-7, when we headed back up the ramp and around the track again. I slipped to about a 9:10/. I was gave myself a nice little peptalk and told myself that it was actually possible that I could come in under 2 hours....that I just needed to keep hanging on to that pace. And I questioned myself the rest of the race. Can I actually hang on to this pace for 6 more miles...5 more...4 more... Dropped down to about a 9:12-9:14 and got a little disapointed. Knew that I would come in with a new PR, but I had my eyes on something else at that point. :)

So around mile 12, I did some calculating and realized if I continued running it HARD I would make the sub 2:00 mark. And that I did! I found a new energy and finished strong! 1:59:58 I wanted to beat the 2:16 so bad, but did not realize that I had way more in me until after I started. I can't even begin to describe what that felt like to finish and be totally stunned.

One thing I love about running halfs is encouraging others on the race course. It's so fun to run up by someone who is having a weak moment and motivate them to "come on and let's do this"! They are usually grateful and pick back up with their running after that. I love that! And it helps me as well. Needless to say, I made new friends along the way. :)

The rest of my race is continued in another post. I had an extra 3 miles to run today!