It was a brand new race hosted by Superhero Racing (though we have participated in other races hosted by this particular running club), and fact that it fell on this particular weekend meant that we could use it as the scheduled 12-miler on our training plan.

Running as minions for the Superhero Half Marathon last year!

Because guess what? This weekend was our LAST DOUBLE-DIGIT LONG RUN until the New York City Marathon! I can’t believe we’re only two weeks away!

It was a smallish (about 1,800 runners) local race that ran through Morristown and a few surrounding areas. I went to college in the area, and my first magazine job was based in Morristown, so I always like going back for a visit. Plus, the race was advertised as a Halloween-themed race, with a Halloween medal and a costume contest and zombies along the course, and — best of all — CANDY STOPS!

Photo credit: www.superheroracing.com

In other news, the temperatures were in the 30s that morning, and would only be in the 40s by the time we finished. YES. I would get to run in downright COLD temperatures for the entire race. In fact, it felt downright FRIGID! This is the weather I’ve been waiting for, and I’m so glad its FINALLY here!

And, of course, it was yet another opportunity to dress up like a couple of idiots. It WAS a Halloween race, after all, so I felt I had a perfectly legitimate excuse for costumed running! For this race, I thought we could go as a couple of my favorite mischievous characters from the world of Dr. Seuss.

Yes, I actually convinced this guy to wear a freakin’ blue wig for a half marathon. Gotta love him, lol.

It was my first time wearing a wig for a race, and it actually wasn’t as bad as I thought! After a few mid-race adjustments, I finally got the damn thing to lay flat on my head, and the Bondiband underneath kept my new ‘do sufficiently dry, haha.

The race started at 9am in a local parking lot, and as per usual, we just made it. Fortunately, there was a parking garage right across the street, and we had picked up our packets the day before, so we were ready to go!

The goal for this race? To do the best we could. It definitely wasn’t going to be a hard effort — we’re saving that for November 1st! Plus, we conquered our 20-mile run last weekend, and truth be told, I don’t think my legs are fully recovered yet. We just thought it would be a fun way to cross another training run off the calendar.

Needless to say, I didn’t have a time goal or anything; I just hoped to finish feeling strong and ready to run the full 26.2 in two weeks. I assumed we’d finish close to 2:30, which was our finish time in the recent Ocean City Half Marathon (granted, we ran 5 additional miles that morning and it was ridiculously windy, so I hoped we might do a little bit better this time around)!

Anyway, we started the race around a super comfy 10:30 pace, while I checked out all of the costumes. There weren’t as many costumes as I would have thought, but we did see some of the usual superheros, ninja turtles, etc., plus a couple of unique costumes (unicorns, bowling pins, and the like). There weren’t a ton of spectators, but let’s just say any kids we saw were thrilled to cheer on “Thing 1 and Thing 2!”

Photo credit: lifeinmophoto.com

The course was residential, but it took us through a couple of different trails and local parks. The leaves are finally changing, and I got to enjoy some LOVELY fall foliage. However, the course was NOT. FLAT. We were climbing rolling hills the entire way, and as much as I wanted to complain, the fact that I wasn’t dropping dead and I kept running up said hills made me feel pretty confident about conquering the bridges in NYC next month.

I knew there were going to be about 7 water stops, some with Gatorade (a MUST for me), but frankly, I was just excited about the candy. Because, you know, I’m pretty much a six-year-old. As promised, many of the water stops had tables of Halloween candy to grab. Let’s just say I put the massive pockets in my SparkleSkirt to good use that morning!

There were parts of the course that were boring (we ran by what appeared to be an abandoned train track for a few miles), and there were others that I felt were actually pretty unsafe in terms of running on main roads with traffic. Another complaint? I only saw a handful of port-a-potties throughout the entire course, and that is a BIG no-no to me.

But it didn’t really matter because as much as I tried to ignore my Garmin and just run by feel, I couldn’t help but notice that we were going way faster than I could have imagined. When I’m marathon training, I’m thrilled to sustain a 10-minute mile, and there were a couple of miles that we were finishing closer to 9:30! We discussed slowing down but we both felt good, and neither of us felt especially winded or anything like that…so we just decided to go with it. We were on the heels of the 2:15 pacer for much of the race, and in the second half, I decided that I was secretly going to race her to the finish line.

It’s at this point in my marathon training where I’m usually EXHAUSTED and my legs hurt and I hate running and I’m sluggish and I’m freaking out about the race, and here I was casually running a half marathon at what felt like an effortless (yes, that’s right, I said it) 10ish-minute mile pace.

Granted, the weather was perfect. Like, PERFECT. It was a little chilly at the start, but once we got going, I was perfectly comfortable. I knew then that struggling all summer was definitely paying off. I felt like I was flying; my legs felt good and it felt downright “easy” to sustain paces that I struggled to hit pretty much all summer.

In those final miles, with my pockets full of candy and my legs still feeling pretty good (though not exactly “fresh”), I felt pretty freakin’ fantastic. This wasn’t going to be a half marathon PR or anything even close to it, but to be able to run the race so comfortably made me feel totally pumped about taking on NYCM in two weeks.

We passed the 2:15 pacer for the last time somewhere in the final 5K, and that’s when I told Todd that we were definitely going to beat her to the finish line. I was feeling good and I thought that, FOR ONCE, I’d allow myself to be confident. We rounded the final corner and headed to the finish line, which was set up in a park, with a bunch of people cheering us on (one race official even starting rhyming…”Thing 1 and Thing 2, you’re almost through!”) HAHAHA, love it.

And, to my utter shock and amazement, we crossed the finish line with an official time of 2:13:41!

Photo credit: lifeinmophoto.com

We grabbed some post-race goodies (bananas, granola bars, water, etc.) and hung around for a few minutes to take some pictures (of course). Once my body temperature started to return to normal, I really started to feel the cold, so we decided to skip the costume contest this time around. The finish line area was pretty much mass chaos, and we didn’t even know when or if there would be an “official” contest. Neither of us really wanted to stick around very long.

Buses were available to transport runners back to the starting line/parking area, so we were able to stay warm on the bus until we got back to the car.

Then we proceeded directly to Turning Point so I could drink lots and lots of coffee and stuff my face refuel.

Yes, I do own a dorky “Thing 1″ sweatshirt, lol

We celebrated our half marathon finish (and kept our legs loose) with a walk in the park with our best buddy. But not before subjecting him to this cruel and unusual torture. I’m sorry…but at the same time, I’m not sorry.

I probably wouldn’t run this race again due to a few factors — e.g. the boring course, and the fact that we never actually saw any of the zombies they promised us! — but I was thrilled that we performed as well as we did. I think we both were pretty shocked by our results!

I’m really glad that we tackled our final long training run in a race environment. Honestly, the race wasn’t anything spectacular, but we did have fun…and the shirts and medals are super cute!

I think completing our last long run as a half marathon forced me to recognize just how far I’ve come since I started training for NYCM this summer, and I am so happy to be going into the race feeling so confident this year!

 Have you ever run a Halloween-themed race?

Have you ever run a half marathon as a training run?

IT’S TIME TO TAPER!!!

Here’s a quick look at my final weeks of marathon training:

Week 9, total weekly mileage: 31 miles

4 miles, 6 miles, 5 miles, 2 Taekwondo classes, and a long run of 16 miles. This was the first long run in this training cycle that actually went better than expected. It was still WAY too hot for me, but we got up super early and banged it out before the heat became unbearable.

Week 10, total weekly mileage: 25 miles

6 miles, 5 miles, 4 miles, 1 Taekwondo class, and a scale-back long run of 10 miles. This was the point where the 10-milers in this training plan were really starting to feel a somewhat “easy” to me, and it did WONDERS for my confidence.

Week 11, total weekly mileage: 33 miles

5 miles, 6 miles, 4 miles, 1 Taekwondo class, and our 18-mile long run, which we tackled as part of the Ocean City Half Marathon. A full recap can be found here!

Week 12, total weekly mileage: 28 miles

5 miles, 8 miles, 5 miles, 1 Taekwondo class, and another scale-back long run of 10 miles. The feeling of “only” having to run 10 miles in between these hard efforts? Priceless.

Yes, I am a HUGE dork who gives two thumbs up whenever a long run actually goes well, lol

Week 13, total weekly mileage: 34 miles

8 miles, 6 miles, 1 Taekwondo class, and our big 20-mile run!

You know I loves me a themed outfit, lol

So the best news of all is that yesterday’s 20-miler is probably the best long training run both of us have ever had.

(I know, right?!?!)

We got started around 7:30am in temperatures that were a downright chilly 45 degrees. I was actually COLD for the first mile or two. That’s right…COLD! After a loooong, endless summer of suffering in sweltering heat, the running gods smiled upon us and we spent the majority of our 20-mile run in temperatures that never exceeded 60-65 degrees. IT. FELT. HEAVENLY.

Honestly, the first half went by rather quickly. We ran a couple of loops around two parks we frequent, and spent some time running around a nearby community college campus. My legs didn’t feel like lead (FOR ONCE) and, mentally, I felt prepared for this final long run of our training plan. I’m completely obsessed with fall, so the chilly temperatures combined with the beginnings of some beautiful fall foliage were just the icing on top of the cake.

My only issue for this run was some unexpected tummy crampage/discomfort, which I’m attributing to the fact that we went apple picking the day before and I basically ate my weight in apples — too much fiber, maybe? Haha.

Something I should not eat before a long run…lesson learned, lol.

The second half was a little tougher, of course, but we were able to maintain a solid 10-11/minute mile pace. I didn’t feel the need to take walk breaks as frequently as I did during all of those hot summer long runs, and we stuck to our usual plan of refueling every 4-5 miles.

As I approached the final 5K still feeling strong, there was a part of me that KNEW that I had this. I realized that for the first time, I was going to go into a marathon feeling completely prepared. It’s not like that morning’s run was “easy,” but for some reason, my usual physical agony and self-doubt and obsessing about how I would EVER be able to cover 26 miles in a few short weeks just wasn’t there. I felt like all of my hard work this summer had paid off. I felt ready…and, dare I say, downright confident.

And that feeling elated me.

We blasted through those final miles as quickly as we could — and I may or may not have been listening to “New York, New York” on loop, haha — and finally, it was over. We made it! And my legs didn’t feel like they were going to fall off and I didn’t have that feeling where I just want to curl up in a ball and die. Even Todd kept saying stuff like, “why am I not in as much pain as I usually am?”

I don’t know if it was just the cooler temperatures — or maybe suffering through so many hot summer runs really DID make us stronger — but we finished this long run in probably the best physical and mental shape ever.

I felt freakin’ awesome…actually, I think we both did.

Our reward? A trip to Manhattan Bagel for a yummy turkey sausage bagel sandwich and lots of coffee. YES. (Am I the only one who is EXTREMELY motivated by food as a reward for a solid long run effort? Hahaha).

In our final weeks of training, we have some slightly shorter mid-week runs plus a “for fun” Halloween-themed half marathon next weekend (more on that soon), followed by a 7-miler the following weekend. And then I get to run what I think is THE MOST AMAZING RACE IN THE WORLD (other than Disney, of course!) with my running partner-in-crime for the first time. To say I’m excited doesn’t even begin to describe it.

So, SO excited to do this again…

After the New York City Marathon? Well, we may or may not have signed up for another *BIG RACE* for the week after the Wine & Dine Half Marathon. I’ll tell you guys all about it in my next post…it’s a long story.

Have you ever had a long run where everything just went “right?”

What was your best long run ever?!

In the meantime, I did want to share our latest racing adventure: the Ocean City Half Marathon! Otherwise known as that time we ran 5 miles before a half marathon…for a total of 18 miles!

We arrived in Ocean City on Saturday afternoon and checked into our hotel: the Flanders Hotel. It was actually pretty swanky compared to our usual choice of lodgings, and it was all vintage-y and historical. Kind of creepy in the lobby (not gonna lie), but also pretty cool, especially since all of the rooms are suites so we could easily prepare our favorite pre-race breakfast of cereal and the like.

Ocean City is a cute little beach town, so we strolled around the local downtown area and we I did some shopping, walked up and down the boardwalk, etc. We also grabbed our bibs and shirts at the local running store so we wouldn’t have to worry about it on race morning.

We stuffed our faces with pizza for an early dinner, and hit the hay by 9:30pm. Because that’s how we party animals roll on a Saturday night.

The plan was to knock out a quick 5 miles before the half marathon started at 8:30am. We typically BARELY make it to the starting line on time for any given race, so I knew it would be a challenge…but I really, REALLY didn’t want to have to run 18 miles around the local park again to cross this particular training run off the calendar. I was desperate for some new scenery and a different long run experience for a change. So, it was worth a shot, right?

Well, surprisingly enough, the alarm was blaring by 6am and we were out the door and running by 7:15am. We took it slow and steady. It was easy to navigate the area because basically all of the streets ran parallel to the boardwalk. We did, of course, get some confused looks from fellow runners, and questions like, “Did we miss the start of the race?” and “Aren’t you running in the wrong direction?” Ha. Ha.

We had just enough time to take gels/blocks and duck into our hotel for a quick potty break before lining up for the race. The temperatures were still pretty cool (in the 60s), but the wind was pretty strong that morning, so I worried a little bit about having to run against it. I also worried about how I’d feel once it started to heat up, because the sun was out and I knew it would probably feel pretty warm towards the end of the race, when I’d be struggling the most.

Oh, and the other small little detail I was worried about that morning? I woke up with MASSIVE cramps. Because, yes, that’s right ladies and gentlemen, that special time of the month always chooses THE most inopportune times to pay me a little visit. I had popped some Tylenol earlier that morning, and hoped it would help me survive until the end of the race.

Meanwhile, of course my iPod decided to die on me (despite the fact that I SWEAR it was fully charged) within the first mile of the race, so Todd let me use his and he listened to music on his phone. Bless him. But, I swear, this kind of crap only seems to happen to me!

The first few miles take you over a pretty steep bridge, which I didn’t care for…but there were some awesome views. I figured it was PERFECT practice for crossing that Verrazzano next month!

In those first couple of miles, I actually felt pretty good..my legs were a little tired, of course, but I felt like I had plenty of steam in the tank.

Gotta love bridges…

We were running around a comfy 10:30ish pace, which I thought was excellent given our tired legs, the warmer temperatures, and the fact that I was dealing with womanly issues all morning.

The middle portion of the race took us through town. For a small race, there were actually a decent amount of volunteers out to cheer us on, and ample water/Gatorade stops, which I appreciated. It was definitely well organized…another thing I appreciate in a race!

The course would take us back to the boardwalk for a bit, where we stopped for a bathroom break. I loved that there were plenty of options for “real” bathrooms, if you didn’t want to have to pay a visit to a port-a-potty.

The final portion of the race is an out-and-back…which I generally hate. The wind felt like it was kicking up, and it was behind us for a little while while we ran through town. But then after the turnaround, I knew we had about a 5K left until the finish line, and we were fighting the winds the whole way. Meanwhile, my stomach started to hurt, so I did my best to ignore it…but I could feel the fatigue setting in, and I was crampy and tired of running and my legs were starting to feel ridiculously heavy. UGGGGGGGGH.

I would NOT, however, let myself succumb to negative thoughts (as is my usual M.O.). I really, REALLY needed this run to go well, if for nothing else than to keep my confidence high for our final 20-miler (which is this weekend…*gulp*). This is always the point in the marathon training plan where I tend to fall apart and start doubting myself, so I did everything I could to keep it together.

Photo credit: Chessiephoto.com

We both plodded along. It felt like it took FOREVER to get back to the boardwalk and power through those last couple of miles, and our pace had slowed to closer to an 11ish. But I was soooo happy to see the finish line up ahead.

Photo credit: Chessiephoto.com

Turns out, the course may have been a little short…because we crossed the finish line with EXACTLY 18 miles on our Garmins, and a finish time just under 2:30 — not nearly our best racing time, of course, but it wasn’t half bad for a training run!

Afterwards, it was time to collect our much-deserved medals (which are actually pretty nice!) and stuff our faces. And after 18 miles, I was NOT. EVEN. SORRY. I have to say, it was one of THE BEST post-race spreads we’ve ever seen…with bagels and donuts and scones and caramel popcorn and granola bars and various beverages and…best of all…PIZZA!!!

We took some pictures and tried to re-hydrate before heading back to the hotel to change and check-out. I was delighted to discover that my legs didn’t feel like they were going to fall off, as is typically the case after a long run.

I actually felt…dare I say it…pretty good! (SAYWHAT?!)

I was very, very much looking forward to some beach time…even though it was CRAZY WINDY right by the water. If only it had felt that chilly during the race.

I didn’t even care…we had earned some R&R.

Would I add extra miles to a half marathon again? HELL YES. I know it would be hard to do for a lot of races, but since we were able to snag a hotel room within a half-mile from the starting line, and the local town was safe and easy to navigate, it worked out perfectly.

18 miles in the books!

It wasn’t easy, don’t get me wrong, but with the support of cheering volunteers and being surrounded by hundreds of fellow runners at any given time, those final 13 miles of our training run went by a heck of a lot faster than when we run around the neighborhood for 3 or 4 hours.

Best of all, finishing the half marathon feeling strong did EXACTLY what I had hoped it would do: boost my confidence for these final weeks of training for NYCM! Honestly, I can’t believe we haven’t been doing this all along!

 How do you incorporate races into your training plan?

Because now that it’s FINALLY fall, I’m starting to get pumped about running (and racing!) again. This is my most favorite time of year and I can’t even STAND my excitement!

A 70-degree run…YES!!!

In October, we’ll be running the Halloween Half Marathon, which is a new race and pretty much just another excuse for us to dress up like idiots. And I still have some big news in terms of our November racing plans, but before I get into that, I have an inquiry for you all!

So, this weekend, Todd and I will be running the Ocean City Half Marathon. It’s not too far from where we live, and as excited as I am for fall, I’m jonesing for one last beach weekend.

Photo credit: OCNJ.us

But the other reason is that this weekend’s training schedule calls for our big 18-miler…and I thought it could be kind of interesting to try tackling a long run as part of an actual race. The current plan is to run 5 miles before the race, and then complete the half marathon for a grand total of 18.1 miles.

Now, this is something we’ve never done before. For starters, we’re the type of runners who are always scrambling around the morning of a race, and typically arrive to the starting line just as the gun is going off…so getting up ridiculously early to log a couple of miles before a race has always seemed pretty much out of the question. And I DEFINITELY don’t want to continue running after the race is over because completing a half marathon = excuse to stuff my face with bagels or pretzels or chocolate milk or whatever delectable goodies happen to be awaiting me at the finish line. So, needless to say, I don’t think it’s a good idea to run 5 miles with post-race food sloshing around in my belly.

This was actually my cockamamie idea, and Todd told me I was batcrap crazy at first…but I think he’s warming up to the idea. I want to try this because I think it would really boost my confidence to see how I perform on a long run in a race-like environment. I’m obviously not planning to bust it or try to set any PRs or anything like that, but I think if I can prove to myself that I can keep a fairly solid pace for this race even after running 5 miles beforehand, then that will give me to confidence to tackle our final 20-mile long run and KNOW that my hard work this summer has paid off.

These guys will apparently be waiting for us at the finish line, haha
(Photo credit: Ocean City Half Marathon)

The race takes place on the boardwalk, and it’s a quiet little shore town, so I feel pretty comfortable about running on the boardwalk early in the morning before joining the other runners…even though it’s technically a new environment for us and I’m unfamiliar with the town. We’re staying in a hotel that’s practically right next to the starting line, so we don’t have to worry about parking or transportation on race morning. Since the race starts at 8:30, I figure it’s totally doable to head out for 5 miles around 7:15, fuel up with some Clif Bloks, maybe take a quick potty break, and then line up with our fellow runners to tackle the last 13.1.

I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but it’s something I think I need to do for myself. Plus, I’m hoping that the spectator support and water stations and bathroom facilities and the excitement of the race atmosphere will make tackling this 18-miler a little bit more manageable (and even fun!) than running around the park countless times only to collapse on the living room floor afterwards. I know that I will push myself harder during an actual race, and probably not take as many walk breaks…and I think it could be excellent practice for us and a way to gauge where we are after all those grueling, HOT summer runs.

Oh, and let’s not forget that we’ll get a shiny new medal for our efforts!

They still won’t reveal the actual medal…damn them, lol
(Photo credit: ocnj.us)

Bottom line? I crashed and burned during last year’s New York City Marathon. I want redemption. And I want to do everything I possibly can to avoid the meltdowns and panic attacks that are so often my downfall when running a marathon.

I think tackling one of our final long runs in an environment that more closely simulates race-day conditions will be good for me, mentally speaking…and will hopefully prove that I am READY for my next marathon!

My question to you all is — who has added extra miles to a race for the sake of completing a long run, and do you have any tips/words of wisdom for us?!

Would you ever log miles before or after a race for the sake of completing a scheduled long run?

Be honest…have I completely lost my damn mind?

Photo credit: OOFOS.com

*Disclaimer: I received one pair of the magical OOFOS OOriginal flip flops in exchange for the following review, but all opinions are very much my own. And you can believe me, because I’ve since acquired three more pairs and have every intention to eventually collect all of the colors.

If you’ve read my blog before, you might recall that among the biggest issues I have with recovery after running revolves around my feet…from blisters to burning soles to missing toenails to plantar fasciitis, I’ve experienced it all.

After a race, I IMMEDIATELY change into flip flops because I must…I MUST…get out of my sneakers as quickly as possible. And, yes, this includes races that take place when it’s not exactly sandal season. I don’t even care if it’s 40 degrees outside. After a race, it’s flip flop/sandals time, period.

Totally pulling off the socks and sandals look in March…lol

I fell in love with OOFOS the SECOND I tried them on. They feel so different from my usual brand of flip flop. It is literally like walking on a freakin’ cloud, I kid you not. They’re super soft and squishy, and yet still supportive. It honestly feels like you’re wearing a sneaker, but without, you know, actually having to wear a sneaker.

According to the OOFOS website, here’s exactly why their OOFOS OORIGINAL sandal is pure magic for your sore, tired runner feet:

Our most popular shoe soothes and reinvigorates your feet after a workout, so you’ll be ready to do it again tomorrow. With OOfoam technology, the patented footbed design absorbs impact, cradles your arches and allows you to move naturally. Your feet will know the difference.

If you still don’t believe it, I will say that Todd — who normally HATES flip flops, and would never in a million years be willing to walk around in them — stole my second pair of black OOFOS (we basically have the same size foot, haha) and now slips them on immediately after every long run. And he even wears them for the rest of the day…on a trip to Target, out to dinner, etc.

We like to boost our recovery by walking the dog after a long run, so we both slip these bad boys on for a little trip to the park or a stroll around the neighborhood, and it feels like heaven on my swollen, achy (not to mention stanky) post-long run feet.

I wore a pair of OOFOS every day this summer, and plan to continue wearing them after every single long run/race…at least until there’s snow on the ground.

Since I started wearing them after runs, I haven’t experienced any of the plantar fasciitis-like pain that I was dealing with during my last bout of marathon training (*knock on wood*). It could be a coincidence, of course, but I prefer to just believe that the sandals are magical. Hey, whatever works, right?

According to the OOFOS website, here are the reasons these flip flops are so great for recovery after a tough run or workout — or for everyday wear:

• Absorbs more shock than traditional foams
• Reduces stress on sore feet, knees and lower back
• Cradles your arches
• Biomechanically designed footbed allows natural motion

Plus, OOFOS OOriginal come in a bunch of super cute colors, and since they’re unisex sizing, they actually fit my gargantuan, wide foot. Are they a little on the pricier side, for a flip flop ($45)? For sure. But just like my beloved Sparkle Skirts, IMHO, the price tag is SO worth it.

The company’s tagline is “Your feet earned this,” and it could not be more accurate!

Rockin’ our OOFOS at the pool after a brutal 14-miler

In conclusion, I will never wear another flip flop ever again. I can’t WAIT to see how these do while I’m walking for miles and miles around the Disney parks during our trip in November for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon!

Have you ever worn recovery sandals/flip flops after a run or race?

But first, here’s a recap of weeks 7 and 8 of training for the New York City Marathon…with one being a bit more eventful than the other, haha.

WEEK 7

Mon., Aug. 24: Taekwondo class

Tue., Aug. 25: 3 miles

Wed., Aug. 26: 5 miles

Thur., Aug. 27: 4 miles

Fri., Aug. 28: Taekwondo class

Sat., Aug. 28: Rest

Sun., Aug. 29: 14 miles

Total weekly mileage: 26 miles

WEEK 8

Mon., Aug. 30: Rest

Tue., Aug. 31: 5 miles

Wed., Sept. 1: Taekwondo class

Tue., Sept. 2: 5 miles

Fri., Sept. 3: 5 miles

Sat., Sept. 4: Rest

Sun., Sept. 5: 10 miles

Total weekly mileage: 25 miles

So in week 7, I had a bit of a special adventure in the woods. Todd and I were plodding through our 14-mile long run on Sunday, and even though we’ve been getting up at the asscrack of dawn to get in these cockamamie summertime long runs, it had warmed up FAST. Desperate for a few minutes of respite from the blazing sun, I suggested that we run on a shaded trail at the park we frequent.

Well, long story short, this trail was riddled with various holes and raised tree branches and rocks and various other obstacles that could easily take a runner down in a matter of seconds. Todd hates any sort of trail running for that exact reason, but on this day, I decided that the trees and shade and few minutes out of the sun made it all worth it.

I was just in the middle of telling him to stop being such a baby and “I love trail running, doesn’t the shade feel great, what are you so worried about, etc.” and a moment later, I was FLYING. My foot got stuck in a hole or caught on a branch or something — I don’t even know, because the next thing I knew, I was lying on my back in the mud.

I was super lucky, because I walked away with just a bloody, bruised knee and a couple of scratches, and I know it could have been much worse. I did the best I could to clean myself up in the bathroom at the park, and I ran through a number of sprinklers, but I ended up spending the rest of our 7 remaining miles or so getting lots of strange looks from passersby.

Fortunately, I have an excellent sense of humor. I was able to pick myself up, dust myself off, and keep on going. This kind of thing WOULD happen to me, right? And, of course, we DID make it to 14!

14 muddy miles…DONE!

The scale-back week in week 7 was pretty uneventful, except for the fact that even the 10-milers have been getting to me lately.

I’ve gotta be honest with you guys. Part of the reason I’ve been MIA here is because I’ve been having a really hard time with my training lately. The majority of my runs as of late have left me feeling discouraged and frustrated, and I’m having mini-meltdowns on a fairly regular basis (you know, of the “woe is me, I can’t do this, let’s bawl like an infant in the middle of the park” variety). Even on the “easy” weeks, I’m struggling.

The only reason I’m smiling? I’m about to walk into Shop-Rite to get me some Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee.

Fortunately, our 16-miler this past weekend went pretty well (more on that soon!) but as the summer has been winding down, I am DESPERATE for some cooler temperatures. I find myself hoping every day that it’s just the heat that has been getting to me, because I gotta tell you…I’ve been MISERABLE. Crossing the weekly runs off my training plan has felt like nothing more than a chore, and I’ve been wallowing in self-pity every time I find myself sucking wind at what should be easy, comfortable paces for me.

Long story short…I have NOT been enjoying myself. And I sometimes can’t even remember what I like about running in the first place (other than the pretty medals, I mean).

The long runs thus far have been pretty bad. We always get it done, and our average pace hasn’t been atrocious or anything, but we take a lot of walk/water breaks and we come home completely drained (not to mention drenched in sweat). I don’t think either of us has been enjoying the marathon training process all that much lately. Todd sucks it up and rarely complains, but I let it completely crush me. And I know I get on his last nerve when I spend the better part of three hours on a Sunday morning whining about how hot it is…and my feet hurt…and I’m tired…and this sucks…and I’m thirsty…and I need a potty break…and I’m miserable…and I’m hungry…and I want to go home…etc., etc., etc.

Whoooooo’s exhausted?

It’s something so stupid, and something I know affects just about every runner — and I know that cooler weather is FINALLY on its way — but fighting my way through every single run is beginning to take its toll on me. I’ve also been dealing with a bit of a back injury, which isn’t making things any easier; I’ll share some more details in my next post.

Needless to say, my self-confidence has pretty much been non-existent lately. Despite the fact that I’m keeping my goals for NYCM very conservative — all I want is to do better than last year — I’m really starting to worry about November. Physically, there’s no doubt in my mind that I can do it. But mentally? That’s another story.

Do you run on trails? And, if so, can you teach me how to do it without falling on my face?

How do you stay positive when marathon training starts to SUCK?

]]> http://thefinalforty.com/nycm-training-weeks-7-and-8/feed/ 13 http://thefinalforty.com/nycm-training-weeks-5-and-6/ http://thefinalforty.com/nycm-training-weeks-5-and-6/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2015 20:02:04 +0000 Jennifer http://thefinalforty.com/?p=5957 Well, seeing as how I’m chronically behind on my blogging, I guess I’ll go ahead and combine weeks 5 and 6 of New York City Marathon training for you guys.

WEEK 5

Mon., Aug. 10: 10 miles (counted in last week’s totals)

Tue., Aug. 11: Rest

Wed., Aug. 12: 4 miles and Taekwondo class

Thur., Aug. 13: 6 miles

Fri., Aug. 14: Taekwondo class

Sat., Aug 15: Rest

Sun., Aug. 16: 12 miles

Total weekly mileage: 22 miles

WEEK 6

Mon., Aug. 17: Taekwondo class

Tue., Aug. 18: 5 miles

Wed., Aug. 19: 6 miles

Thur., Aug. 20: 4 miles

Fri., Aug. 21: Taekwondo class

Sat., Aug. 22: Rest

Sun., Aug. 23: 10 miles

Total weekly mileage: 25 miles

So our 12-mile long run was BRUTAL, with a capital “B.” Todd struggled too, so it wasn’t even just me whining this time (I swear). We didn’t start early enough (the story of our lives), and it just so happened to be a disgustingly humid, BRIGHTLY SUNNY day.

Our pace was pretty slow (for us), we kept having to stop to walk and guzzle Powerade/water, and at one point I was so desperate to get out of the sun that we spent a mile or two just running up and down a local strip mall…since it had an overhang, it felt *slightly* cooler under there.

We must’ve looked like complete buffoons to all the casual shoppers, but, hey…you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

12 HUMID miles done…in my favorite new skirt.

After our hard effort, we rewarded ourselves with our favorite post-long run treats. Which somehow makes the pain go away, even temporarily.

In these steamy summer months, our other go-to recovery ritual? Lounging around by the pool allllllll afternoon, doing ABSOLUTELY. NOTHING. While I’m very, VERY anxious for the arrival of cooler temperatures, I am definitely going to miss the pool.

Week 6′s long run of 10 miles, on the other hand, went swimmingly (no pun intended). Of course, it had a whole lot to do with the weather — a bit cooler in the mid-70′s to low-80′s, but with clouds and a slight breeze — but I am also LOVING the scale-back week right now.

We’re using New York City Marathon’s plan (for the “conservative” runner, of course, haha) and it calls for a scale-back week of 10 miles every other week. Neither of us has ever done that before in any of our previous training plans, but because our long runs never seem to go as well as we hope — and the thought of attempting another round of back-to-back 16-, 18-, and 20-mile runs pretty much makes me want to fling myself off the Verrazano Bridge — I figured it was worth a try.

And I gotta say, I’m loving it. I’m sure it gives my body (and poor, poor legs) a little extra recovery time, but for me, I feel like I SO need the mental break. I love knowing that after a tough, agonizing long run, that the following week I’ll “only” have to put in a 10-miler.

10 miles (not to be confused with jazz hands…)

Sure, the weekly mileage is a bit higher on the scale-back weeks, but I’ve definitely reached the point where the 5- and 6-mile weekly runs aren’t killing me quite as much as they did when I first started my training back in July. That’s progress, right?

Does your training plan have scale-back weeks?

Do you have a favorite post-run recovery treat or ritual?

So, last weekend we tackled the big kahuna in any marathon training plan. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen…

THE 20-MILER IS COMPLETE.

We just think we’re so clever, lol.

Honestly, it wasn’t our best long run. Granted, it definitely wasn’t the WORST either. We tackled the 20 miles in my old stomping ground of Kenilworth/Cranford, which I loved because there are so many parks and there were tons of people out and about because the weather was BEAUTIFUL.

However, with spring-like temperatures finally here, I could tell right from the beginning that the warmer weather was going to take its toll on my performance. It was only in the 60s, but given the fact that we’ve been training in the 20s, 30s, and 40s all this time, it felt like a HUGE temperature difference. And ya’ll know how I feel about running once it starts getting warmer.

As for Todd, I know he struggled a bit at the end with sore legs, feet, back (okay, sore EVERYTHING), and for some reason, both of my feet were ridiculously sore and achy and ON FIRE for most of second half of the run, which definitely had an impact on our overall pace.

But given that our finish time was only about 30 minutes longer than our 18-miler, I’m hopeful that the (*fingers crossed*) cooler temps at the start of a 7:30am marathon and the fact that our legs and feet will be good and rested will help us do better on marathon day.

But now that I’m in full taper mode, I’m struggling a little bit. See, the thing is, I am definitely NOT one of those runners who suffers from “taper crazies” or that undying need to run even though I’m supposed to be resting and gearing up for the race.

Quite frankly, I’m freakin’ exhausted, and I very, very much look forward to the taper. Is it wrong that it’s kind of my favorite part of the training plan?

TAPER TIME IS HERE!!!

However, the “beginner” plan from Competitor that we’ve been following all this time still has a whole lot of stuff going on this week and next. I’ve stuck with the plan pretty closely for the most part, but this week I was supposed to run a 3-miler, 8-miler, and 5-miler — and I only did the 3 and the 5, with a couple of Taekwondo classes tossed into the mix.

This weekend is a final longish run, a 12-miler, which I’m totally cool with…but then next week there’s another 3-miler, 8-miler, and 4-miler on deck.

Yeeeeeeeeah, I don’t think so.

So, my question to you all is what are YOUR taper strategies? Honestly, I’ve learned from experience that I have yet to struggle from anything other than heavy, exhausted legs and tight muscles on marathon day (don’t we all?), and I’m thinking that a little extra rest in the days leading up to the big race might be what I need to finish strong next Sunday.

This week’s longest run — a 5-miler — and temperatures in the upper-60′s are already feeling WAY too hot for me, haha

But then, even though I know it’s ridiculous, I feel “guilty” for not getting in all of my runs this close to the big day…even though this plan is definitely unlike others I’ve followed that had much lower mileage in the final weeks. I know enough to scale back on the karate next week (duh), but when it comes to how much I should be running, I sort of feel like a newb. I’ve made so many mistakes in my previous rounds of marathon training, and I paid for it on race day…and I really want our experience at the New Jersey Marathon to be AWESOME.

Honestly, I’m more anxious about this race than any of my previous marathons. Okay, fine, except the Dopey Challenge. It really feels like the first time that I trained and planned and genuinely busted my butt to significantly improve my finish time, and I do feel READY. But at the same time, I’m sure you can all understand the feeling of wanting all that hard work to pay off on race day!

How often/long do you run in the final week or two before a goal race?

Any other taper tips/strategies for me?!

I know I’ve sucked at blogging lately, but I wanted to drop in with an update on my New Jersey Marathon training.

Because, somehow, it’s only TWO WEEKS AWAY.

How in the world did this happen?! It seems like we just signed up for this race, and next week, I’ll be starting my taper!

But, fortunately, I’m feeling pretty pumped about it. I feel like I’ve done everything I could possibly do to train for this race, which is not something I can honestly say for some of my previous marathons. I’ve been working so hard to get in all of my weekly runs and to push myself to keep a more consistent pace on the long runs.

This time around, I really, REALLY want to perform better than I have in all of my previous marathons. I KNOW I can run a sub-five, and I’m fairly confident that I will be obliterating my New York City Marathon time of 5:15 (still my personal best) this month.

Last weekend, Todd and I tackled our 18-miler in some pretty strong winds.

It was sunny and gorgeous and COOL in the 40s/50s, but good lord was it windy. It almost reminded me of a certain day last fall when I had to run against headwinds that felt strong enough to, oh, I don’t know, blow me off a bridge or something…

Unfortunately, we struggled quite a bit. The 16-miler felt like a breeze (no pun intended, ha), but then with this one, I knew by mile 6 or 7 that it was going to be tough to compete against the wind. The last 10K, in particular, was pretty brutal. I felt strong stamina-wise and everything, but my legs have just HAD. IT., and no matter how hard we tried, it always felt like the wind was pushing against us and making an already difficult task that much harder. I didn’t even know if it was so much physical as it was mental…I HATED the feeling of having this force against me the entire time as we fought our way through 18 freakin’ miles.

Meanwhile, between pushing myself to attempt to PR during the previous weekend’s half marathon and knocking out 3 weekly training runs of 3, 5 or 6, and 7 or 8 miles, and all the Taekwondo I’ve been doing lately, I’m surprised my legs haven’t just fallen off by now. So I guess I can’t be too surprised when they feel so heavy and sore and stiff when I attempt to run for 3+ hours, right?

However, given the fact that our legs are pretty much dead from training and we were fighting at least 25+ mph winds the entire time, I was thrilled with my finish time. I’ve been gunning for roughly 10-minute miles on long runs, so I was perfectly happy with how it turned out.

This Sunday, we take on THE long run of this training cycle: 20 miles. After the disaster that was last week’s long run, I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. But on the other hand, I’m super excited (and RELIEVED) that this is the LAST long run we’ll be doing for awhile.

We may or may not have gone ahead and officially signed up for the Wildwood Half next month, so after the marathon, we really only have one long-distance race on the calendar in the near future. Not gonna lie, it was mainly because I want an excuse to do a beach weekend before the room rates skyrocket after Memorial Day.

But if the conditions are right (i.e. it isn’t too HOT), I know the course is flat enough that I might even be able to pull off a PR. But if we’re not feeling fully recovered from the marathon, we plan to run it as a “just for fun” kind of thing. We shall see what happens.

Photo credit: www.runwildwoods.com

Still, it’s kind of nice to think that I won’t have to pull myself out of bed on the weekend to run for 2-4 hours for a couple of months. Until New York City Marathon training part two kicks in, of course. But for that, I already know that the agonizing long runs will be so, SO worth it.

What’s your BIG race this spring?

Does anyone else struggle as much as I do in windy conditions?

We’ll be heading back to Philadelphia for The Love Run this weekend, and this is going to be my goal half marathon for the spring. It’s supposed to be a nice, flat course…so I’m hoping to use it as my official Wine & Dine Half Marathon corral placement race.

Our most recent trip to Philly for Todd’s 2nd marathon!

Plus, since it’s STILL not feeling very spring-like around these parts, the weather is still producing optimal racing temperatures for me (the cooler, the better)! In fact, my 7-miler on the first day of spring was completed IN THE FRIGGIN’ SNOW! (But at least I got my free “first day of spring” iced coffee!)

I literally run on Dunkin’.

As I’ve mentioned many times here, my previous PR (and runDisney corral) was a 2:03…from a race about a thousand years ago (April 2013). The closest I’ve come since then was a 2:04 race in September of 2013.

Since then, my half times have been all over the map — anything from a 2:07 to a 2:14 to a 2:25. As marathon training consumed my entire life, all other race distances, my speedwork, etc. took a backseat…and I’ve allowed myself to use the “I have marathon legs!” excuse for far too long.

Honestly, I haven’t run anything under 2:10 in quite some time. So, needless to say, I’m EXTREMELY motivated this time around to correct the many (MANY) mistakes I’ve made in my training and see what I can really do.

I will be happier than a pig in you-know-what with anything under 2:05 this weekend. I know it’s a lofty goal, but I’ve been busting my butt these last two months to reclaim my “old” pace…and maybe even set a new PR. Hey, you never know, right?! My 1:34 in a recent 10-mile race gives me hope that I might just be able to pull it off.

And then, of course, there’s training for marathon #5. The New Jersey Marathon is really sneaking up on me now, and I gotta say, I think this has been my second best round of marathon training yet (after the Dopey Challenge, of course). I’ve been a lot more consistent in terms of logging ALL of my runs, and I’m pushing myself to run significantly faster on shorter distances (which, for me, is anything under a 9:30/pace). But it seems to be paying off on my long runs.

In fact…this Sunday’s 16-miler was among the most successful long runs I’ve ever had. That’s right…EVER!

Todd and I went to our local park, and I FORCED myself to keep my pace in check in the early miles. I’ve been doing lots of experimenting with that whole “negative split” concept lately; up until now, I had pretty much decided that it was something I was physically incapable of doing. Whether it’s a long run or a race, I am NOTORIOUS for going out too fast and then crashing and burning in the last few miles. And since that strategy hasn’t exactly been paying off for me as of late, I thought it was time to try something new.

So, this Sunday, I FORCED myself to simmer down and not go out like a bat out of hell. I maintained a comfy 10-10:30/pace in the early miles, and I just kept having to tell myself to SLOW. DOWN. when I’d get overzealous and feel that urge to run faster. I’m SO tired of dragging my lifeless body through the final agonizing miles of a long run, and I wanted to prove to myself that I CAN hold back a little bit and still have enough gas in the tank to push it at the end.

The first 10 miles flew by pretty quickly, and in that final 10K, I started to feel a little sore and hungry and, let’s face it, bored…but I also somehow felt just as strong as I did in the beginning of the run. SAYWHAT?!?!?!?!

In the last leg of the run, I allowed myself to go for it…and Todd and I both managed to pull out a 9:30-9:40 pace for the final 5K. Todd was having a little bit of a hard time that morning, but at our 10-mile fuel break, I fed him one of my Honey Stingers “Ginsting” gels with caffeine…and, for some reason, he claims it magically “gave him a boost.” Gee, I wonder why…?

As a coffee addict, I don’t think I really notice the caffeine in the gels all that much…but he doesn’t drink coffee AT ALL, and he said he really felt it. Ah, it will be so fun to get him hooked on legal stimulants.

Anyway, I somehow managed to end up with EXACTLY the 10-minute/mile pace I wanted for my 16-miler! I have NEVER been able to pull off such a consistent pace for a long run, and I honestly have never felt so strong in the last miles. I’m not saying I wasn’t sore and tired, but I didn’t feel like dropping dead like I usually do. It was a HUGE difference.

Why it says “8:06″ is beyond me…in my freakin’ dreams!

In other news, I’ve been having an ongoing issue with my right foot. It’s a pain on the bottom of the foot, but a little closer to the outer edge than the middle. I basically spent the entire day on Saturday trying to diagnose myself, because this has been going on for weeks now and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. It was particularly bad on Saturday (more of a stabbing pain than the usual soreness). And since I had high hopes for Sunday’s long run, I didn’t want a stupid bum foot to ruin my efforts.

So, based upon my self-diagnosis — it sounds an awful lot like plantar fasciitis, a.k.a. one of the most common running injuries of all time — I tried all of the numerous tips and tricks that Google had to offer.

How I spend a Saturday…party time!

My efforts included: rolling it on one of my dog’s tennis balls (which I have been doing for weeks), freezing a bottle of water to try ice massage (which felt surprisingly good), wrapping an ice pack around my foot (and securing it with a hair tie, haha), pulling my toes back and massaging the tendons on the bottom of my feet, and doing lots and lots of stretching for my calves…hence the belt and my arch nemesis, The Stick.

Of course, I paid a little visit to the KT Tape website for a handy demonstration on taping my foot for this particular issue prior to Sunday’s run. (I’d share a photo, but I have the nastiest, most calloused runner/martial artist feet in all the land…and I don’t want to make anyone lose their lunch).

And I spent the rest of the day on Sunday and Monday walking around in my Gone For a Run “recovery sandals.” I felt like a little bit of an idiot trying to pull off the socks and sandals look in public, but, HEY…you gotta go what you gotta do.

Fortunately, it DOES feel better. During the run, I felt just a little bit of a twinge/tenderness…but nothing like I’ve felt on previous runs. And today, I don’t feel anything when I walk on it.

It’s a pain that seems to come and go — and I’m 99 percent sure it all started when I failed to replace my running sneakers in a timely fashion. I’m hoping that it will at least hold on and not get any worse until the marathon is over next month…at which time I promise I will do the one thing I know I’m supposed to do: REST IT.

Do you tend to negative or positive split in long runs/races?

Have you ever dealt with a foot pain/injury?