My HARD is not your HARD

 Last Sunday I completed a half marathon. 

The kids did a kid race. Everyone walked away with a medal. 

I self appointed one to the hubby for his constant willingness to let me train and that he not only got the kids to their race on time, but was there to see me cross the finish line. Bonus points for running the Kids 1k with the Bug so that I could stretch. We finished the half just about 15 minutes before the kids race and I was pooped. 

The race itself was pretty uneventful- thankfully! The forecast was for rain/shower/thunder showers. We weren't super excited. Truthfully, if it wasn't for my running partner I just *may* have bailed on this race. We ended up racing with our rain coats (mine in the pic above) because we decided we'd rather be dry and bulky than wet and light. 

Pre Race waiting- Got to the hanger at 6 and had to wait 2 hours before the race. Next year someone is going to take us later. Forget the shuttle! Too long to sit and wait. 

Here's the Fleet Feet shoe. Julie insisted that we had to have a picture with a giant shoe. :)

Bridge Selfie! We were about 1.5 miles in at this point. 

As far as the race goes.... We ran, and ran and then we decided to run a little more. The course was very comfortable and support was in all the right places. Around mile 10 my hips started getting cranky. Julia kept reminding me that they didn't hurt and that we were having fun. I was able to push through. 

We finished in 3:08. 

For those keeping track, that is a full 20 minutes slower than my first half 2 years ago. The race was hard. I pushed. I fought. I burned over 2100 calories in 3 hours. I worked. It was hard. It was MY hard.

I personally know 2 people that finished the full in under 4 hours. One finished in 3:18 (or some crazy low number like that....). For her the race was hard. It was her HARD. 

Could I have gone faster? Possibly, but not without damage to my body. After my last half marathon I threw up, had the shakes, and slept the rest of the day. I was SICK. After this half marathon I was able to watch my kids run their own race, took a 30 minute afternoon nap, and then went out to dinner with my family. The next day I felt amazing and was ready to get back on the road. 

It's so easy to compare ourselves to those around us. I didn't check my stats for this race because I KNOW that I was towards the bottom. It doesn't matter. I ran my race and I ran HARD. 

Right now my real HARD is my eating. Someone once said to me, "What's the big deal. It's not hard. Just eat healthy food". It is hard. It's my HARD. 

In my head I understand nutrition. When I'm standing at the counter with donuts it gets foggy. I've started to record a few times over the past month and just can't get back into recording. I know it works. It's not working for me right now. I have a big recording block. My plan for this week is to journal WHAT I eat (not the calories or ounces, just the food). 

I don't know what I weigh. I can no longer allow what I weigh to define success in my life. Want to know what is success? My kids ran a 1k race and Sissy wants me to find a kid triathlon for her to do. THAT is success. :)

What's your HARD?

~Kari

A Marathon Weekend

What are you plans this weekend???

Mine?

Oh, it's a marathon weekend. :)

Well, a half marathon, but a marathon nonetheless. 

A coworker asked me yesterday my plans for the weekend. I called it a marathon because there's lots to do. Then I realized it's literally a marathon weekend. That made me chuckle for several hours. It's the little things. 

Friday night my best running friend (who know that I could have one of those?!) and I went to packet pick up and the race expo for our race on Sunday. The expo was pretty sparse, but my number rocks- 2323. Bug and Sissy are also doing the kid race. All of the kids are number 1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that. So cool that everyone gets to be number 1. 

Part of packet pick up included happy hour and a trip to REI. Bonus!

Today (Saturday) brings opening season of TBall and Coach Pitch. After the games we have to stop and pick up last minute supplies for the big party. Sissy turns 9 today!!! The house is all a buzz. Bug was up at 5:45 because he wanted to be awake when she woke up on her birthday. He normally sleeps til 7....

It's 6:56, Bug and Sissy have been awake for over an hour. 

Her party is this afternoon. Then it's home for spaghetti dinner and bed.

Sunday morning I'll be rolling jumping out of bed at 4:45. The race doesn't start til 8, but the last shuttle leaves at 6:00 AM. Yuck! 

This is my first time running the Tacoma City Marathon and I'm not sure what to expect with pre race atmosphere. With Rock and Roll there was so much to do to fill my time. I know a few of the runner and hope to be able to connect with them while we wait. The forecast is for rain, but when I looked this morning the hourly forecast says showers during our race time. I'm hopeful. 

Ok, it's 7 AM. I told Sissy we could open presents at 7. 
Let's get this day started! 

What are you up to this weekend?

~Kari

1/2 Marathon training tips

Last time I trained for a 1/2 marathon it was UGLY. My long runs were also followed by diarrhea, dizzy spells, extreme fatigue, and muscle pain for days afterwards. If that wasn't enough, by the end of my training I HATED running. Hate seems like a strong word, but I assure you it was hate. I didn't run for weeks after my first half. 

This time my training was so different and so much better for both my physical and emotional state. 

Here's what worked for me:

By the end of my training two years ago I had figured out my nutrition during my run- Nuun and part of a snickers bar every two miles starting at mile 3. This time I solved the post run nutrition- 1/2 cup egg whites+2 eggs+toast with butter. YUM! Eating protein after my run seemed to solve the post-run digestive issues.

I'm much slower this go around (12:30-13 minute miles vs 11:30 mile). The slower piece does bother me, but being slower seems to have decreased the side effects of my long runs. Not sure how/if they are connected.

Partner! Last time I had no partner for my long runs. Now I have the most amazing Julia to trudge along with me. Having a partner eases the emotional side of those long runs. I actually look forward to spending several hours (3?!?!) chatting and running.

Days running- Last time I ran 4 and cross trained one. This time I am running 3 and cross training 2. One less day of running each week makes for a much happier Kari.

Compression gear- I caved and bought compression leg sleeves. I LOVE THEM!!! I don't wear them when I run, but definitely post run and pre-long run days.

Epsom salt- I now take (after eating my eggs and toast) a 20 minute epsom salt bath. I don't know how those salts work, but they do!

I'm actually sad that my training is over. Good thing I have a Sprint Tri to train for! :)

How do you train for long races? What tips do you have for someone who is suffering through a training program?

~Kari

Not a jogger....

Whew! Half marathon training is officially in taper mode. Woo hoo! I have to admit, I have really enjoyed this round of training. It helps that my dear friend Julia has been willing to trudge along with me on my long runs and that I have my treadmill for mid-week runs. There are a lot of things different this go-around than my last half. There is a blog post brewing about that, but today I want to talk about a comment that has stuck with me from my last long run.

12 miles. We've got this! 

(Both of us started the run with upset stomachs and not REALLY ready for 12 miles....)

3 miles in....this blows! I'm tired. My legs hurt. Zero motivation.

THEN.... We saw other runners. A huge group.

THEN....We saw a sign for the Tacoma City Marathon letting neighbors know that their street was going to be closed in 2 weeks for a race. For our race! 

THEN...We were super motivated once again. The runners. The sign. The race. We got this!

9 miles in and we are feeling strong. 

THEN....it started to rain. It started to hail. The wind started to blow. 
We got cold and wet VERY quickly.

Stopping under a bus stop to make a plan. 

Do we call someone to get us? No, we'll be back to the car by the time they get back.

We refuel and talk ourselves into continuing. 

THEN....the sweet older lady, who was also at the bus stop, started to comment on our lack of rain gear (umbrella, jacket, etc). 

THEN she said it, "Oh, are you guys joggers". We said yes and took off.

I thought about that a lot. 

No, I'm not a jogger. I'm a runner.

I run slow, but I'm still a runner.

I've "only" run a half, but I'm still a runner.

I tend to discount my running with words like "only" and "slow". 

Not to offend any joggers out there, but there is a commitment that comes with what I do that moves me (in my own little opinion) from jogger to runner.

I am a runner.

How about you?

~Kari

Healthier=Fatter?

Following Authentically Emily, here is my #TransparentTuesday

Last weekend I went on my 10-mile long training run with my dearest running buddy, Julia. 

Halfway through the run we started talking about weight gain. It's no secret that I've put on 10 20 who knows number of pounds over the past 2 years.

Here's the rub- To get down to 193 pounds I had to take some pretty drastic measures.

- 1200 calories a day
- Exercise for an hour a day, 6 days a week
- Dizzy spells
- Hair loss
- Extreme fatigue

But I was almost thin! Almost.... Actually, I was still overweight according to the BMI even after all of those efforts.

Today, I think I'm right around 220 pounds (but am too scared to check), I am eating around 2000+ (I think the + is the problem) calories a day, exercising 5 days a week and no longer experience the negative side effects of strict calorie restriction partnered with intense exercise. 

I ended our run feeling comfortable with my body and accepting that, for me, heavier did mean healthier.

Fast forward to my Tuesday run. 

There was a new rub. The rub between my arm and whatever you want to call the skin that hangs over your sports bra when you have gained 20 pounds.

Since my arm lift (nearly 3 years ago!) I have not struggled with jiggly arms or rubbing skin. Last night I did. 

It made me sad. I spent the night examining my hanging skin. Wondering if the negative side effects of being 193 could outweigh the hang below my arm. The logical side of me thinks that if I went back to lifting consistently that I could tighten up my arms in a short amount of time. 

I KNOW that I could get back to 193.

I don't KNOW that I could ever get back to 193 eating enough calories and not working out to the point of exhaustion.

Here's the reality: I feel defeated, disappointed in myself, embarrassed, angry. This is all so very hard. The logical part of my knows that to do. There is this emotional piece that wants to crawl in to bed and just give up. That middle ground of maintenance seems so far away. I don't know how people do it. 

There you have it. I'm not an amazing success story. Just a regular girl who is trying to figure out how to navigate a moderate approach to eating and exercise in a world that deals only in extremes. 

What about you? How do you find moderation?

~Kari

March Monthly Running Check-in

This will be short. I wanted to track my March running before April is over. :)

Year long goal: 244 miles (I didn't plan on doing a 1/2 when I set this goal....)



In March I ran 66.16 miles. Whew! That is 31 miles more than in February.

Year to date:

137.5 miles....pretty sure I'm going to meet my goal of 244 by my 1/2 Marathon on May 4th! Going to have to set a new goal....

There you have it. I'm on track with my running. I'd write more, but it's Saturday, which means it's time for my long run.

~Kari

Strength Trainig- Why did I ever leave you???

Pick things up.
Put them down.
Repeat


I love, love, love strength training. 

I love being able to throw my kids over my shoulder and carry in a heavy bag of groceries.

I know that strength training helps to burn fat and make me a faster athlete. 

On Tuesday I had some free time (HURRAY FOR SPRING BREAK!!!!) so I decided to return to the weight room after a good month+ absence.  

My plan was simple....
overhead press, leg extension, leg curl, bicep curl, tricep extension, the funny ab contraption

I used light for me weights. 3 sets each exercise...

That was Tuesday. It's Thursday and I'm still sore. Not a bad sore, but rather the "ohhhh it hurts so good" kind of sore. 

I missed being sore.

A few thoughts....

~ It makes me a little sad that such a simple weight workout made me sore. That means that I've lost a lot of muscle.
~ Good news is that I can regain that lost muscle.
~ In my current training plan there is a day for strength training, but I've been doing body weight exercise. I miss the weight room. 
~ I love being able to workout at home in the early morning hours. Maybe I need to invest in some heavier weights that I can use at home instead of driving to the gym. 

What about you? Do you lift at home or go to a gym? 

~Kari