That’s right…I am running the Goofy Challenge yet again in just a few short weeks!

We were originally going to sit this one out because, well, we were just at The World for the Wine & Dine “Half” Marathon and some people (*cough*Todd*cough*) thought that it was “too soon” to go back to Disney. (Insert eye rolls here.)

But then he came around and we decided to make an impromptu weekend trip because the Walt Disney World Marathon is my most favorite special race. I was so sad to be missing it, and since we survived the New York City Marathon and the Richmond Marathon last month, I was feeling like I could take on the Goofy again in January.

The Walt Disney World Marathon was the site of my very first marathon, of course, when I lost my damn mind and decided to run the Dopey Challenge in 2014.

Oh, that glorious bling…

 And, then we ran the marathon together for the first time earlier this year.

After Wine & Dine turned out to be a bit of a bust — a not-so-spoiler alert for anyone who doesn’t know, but the race was cut in half due to weather-related conditions — I was feeling especially disappointed that I traded in the opportunity to run my favorite marathon for Wine & Dine. So when Todd agreed that I could casually look around to see if there were any bibs still available late last month, he probably thought it was too late.

Haaaaaaaaaa, boy, was he wrong.

We had no trouble nabbing two Goofy bibs from Dream Departures Travel, AND we booked the Port Orleans Riverside (I’ve never been!) for a pretty reasonable price.

SCCOOOOORRRREEEEE.

So that’s pretty much what I’ve been up to these past couple of weeks. After the Richmond Marathon, I took a full two weeks off (!!!) because I had just HAD IT with running and wanted NOTHING to do with it. That always happens after a marathon, so I pretty much know what to expect by now.

But after two weeks of nothing but a karate class or two, I felt like a lazy slob and started to actually miss running (*gasp*), and I knew I needed to get motivated again and set a new running-related goal.

And what better goal than tackling 39.3 magical miles in two days?

So we’ve been basically trying to train for this particular challenge over the course of 6 weeks or so. Our first “long run” after Richmond was supposed to be 10 miles…and we packed it in at 6. No joke.

It was the first time I’ve ever “quit” during a long run, and I felt terrible about it. My body just wasn’t ready yet, I guess, because I physically and mentally just could NOT do it. It was quite possibly the most I’ve ever struggled, and that’s saying a lot because I’ve had some baaaaaaaaad long runs. Todd wasn’t feeling it either.

But then I got back into the swing of things with a couple of short runs that week, and the following week we successfully completed a 10-miler. And it wasn’t too bad at all! We did 13 miles this past Sunday, and I’m going to squeeze in two more long runs (with shorter runs the day before to simulate Goofy) of 15 or 16 and then 18 or 19. And then that’ll be it.

Our first (successful) long run after the Richmond Marathon!

We’ll obviously have a short taper this time around, and I do feel like I’m “cramming” a training cycle into a pretty short period of time, but I feel confident that I can do this. And, hopefully, we won’t be stuck in a super late corral since we registered so late (we still don’t have our waivers yet…boo) so that we can still have plenty of magical fun along the way.

So. Pumped.

Who else will we be seeing this January?!?!

Have you ever “quit” during a long run?

I’ll be back later this week with a full recap, but wanted to drop in to announce that Todd and I are both, in fact, alive. We finished the 2015 New York City Marathon!

Dear MarathonFoto, I WILL be purchasing all of these pictures, so don’t get mad at me.

Yesterday’s race was…hard. We both struggled. A LOT. I was hit with nausea around mile 15 that would NOT let up until hours after the race was over, and Todd was dealing with some serious leg/lower back issues that forced us to walk quite a bit in the later miles of the race.

We came NOWHERE near our time goal of 5ish hours (we finished in 5:41). Todd is disappointed by how much he struggled/his performance, but I’m honestly okay.

We had a tough race, but we finished. When I felt like I was going to barf all over the side of the road, he picked me up, and when he had to walk through much of Central Park, I picked him up. Clearly, things didn’t go exactly as we hoped…but then again, do they ever? I’m proud of both of us.

And the best news of all is that even though I didn’t beat my time from last year (5:17) and was feeling pretty sick for a good portion of this race, I finished feeling more confident than ever. I did NOT have any meltdowns along the course, despite how I was feeling, and I did NOT think even for a second that I wouldn’t be able to finish.

I may not have met my “A” or “B” goal (which, really, were long shots anyway), but in my mind, I DEFINITELY conquered my “C” goal in that I fared so much better than last year…especially mentally!

There was no panicking. There was no self-doubt. I went into this race feeling strong, and even when things didn’t go our way, I always knew we’d make it.

And that is worth so, so much more to me than what the finish line clock said. Or even a medal.

Although, to be fair, I do enjoy it very much.

Have you ever felt nauseated during a race? (And can somebody please tell me what causes it because I did NOT care for it!)

Have you ever missed a time goal during a race, but felt satisfied with your performance anyway?

I can’t believe it’s almost here. In some ways, it feels like I’ve been training FOREVER…and, in others, the last couple of months seemed to fly by. Our final weeks of training have come and gone, and I’m VERY MUCH enjoying my taper.

In addition to walking on eggshells trying not to get sick or hurt myself this week — and doing very little running, because I think my body is crying out for the extra rest — I’m thinking about my race day goals. And working on gathering the rest of the pieces for our race day “costumes,” of course…which I’ll post by the end of the week.

The thing with me and race goals is that they have a tendency to treat my mind like their own personal playground. If I have a time goal in mind during a race, the second I feel it slipping away, the mental breakdowns begin. It consumes me. It taunts me. And more often than not, I end up getting negative and frustrated and beating myself up, and it puts a black cloud over my entire race experience if I can’t manage to get back on pace.

Time goals don’t seem to motivate me like they do so many other runners…I guess because I still have a tendency to slip back into my “old” ways. That negative, self-deprecating person I used to be when I was heavier almost always manages to make an appearance during a marathon. I usually end up feeling like a failure for not maintaining a certain pace or for struggling more than I anticipated or for having to take extended walk breaks. I consistently have full-blown meltdowns during marathons. I’ve almost come to expect crying and freaking out as part of my race day experience. And that’s just plain sad!

Well, that’s the plan…

Long story short, my #1 goal for this race was to NOT. HAVE. ANY. MELTDOWNS. It happens time and time again, and frankly, I’m tired of it. The second I start to struggle in a marathon, I let myself become absorbed in self-doubt and I completely fall apart. Physically, I’m usually okay…but, mentally, I’m a mess.

Still, I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t set at least some loose time goals for this race. After all, Todd and I busted our butts all summer, and we did everything we were supposed to do. And, truth be told, our last several long runs/races have gone surprisingly well!

Honestly, I’ll be happy no matter what. I let the fact that I struggled so much last year bring me down, and I hated that I let the time on the finish line clock in any way damper my accomplishment. This Sunday, I’m running the New York City Marathon. I was fortunate enough to enter the lottery and get a second chance. AND get in with Todd! For that, I will be forever grateful.

Still, a little redemption would be nice.

GOAL A: PR with anything under 4:57:34

Hey, a girl can dream, right? That’s why I’m calling this my “A” goal…my absolute best-case scenario, everything goes right goal. My current marathon PR was achieved in the New Jersey Marathon, which happens to be a COMPLETELY FLAT course. And, as you all know, the New York Marathon course kicked my butt last year. But I honestly feel that this has been our most successful round of marathon training yet. So…we’ll see!

GOAL B: Finish under 5 hours

Honestly, this is pretty much always my goal for a marathon right now. If I cross the finish line in 4:59:59, I’ll be happy. Based upon how our training went this time around, it’s definitely doable. For me, the first half of the race almost always goes swimmingly, and then when I start to fall apart (mentally) in the second half, that’s when everything goes awry. Based upon our training, it’s a time goal we should be able to beat, if I can just KEEP IT TOGETHER. So, we’ll see!

GOAL C: Do better than I did last year — mentally and physically

This is my most conservative goal, but it also happens to be the most important to me. After I bonked so early in last year’s race, and ended up bawling like a baby at several points along the course, I really want to ENJOY the race this year. I wasn’t at all happy with last year’s finish time of 5:17 (I had to walk…a lot), but what bothered me more than my finish time was the fact that I had such a negative attitude for most of the second half of the race. This year, I want to feel confident. I want to feel strong. And I want to head into Central Park with a smile on my face. And I mean a REAL smile, not just a “hey, there’s a photographer up ahead” kind of smile. Is that too much to ask?!

GOAL D: Have the time of my freakin’ life

Who says I can’t come up with a “Goal D?” I’m pretty much guaranteed for this one to come true. I plan to stop for a few pictures along the way and soak it all in and have an amazing experience. I’m beyond thrilled that we’ll be running together this year, and I know it’ll make the race that much more special. Do I want to meet a time goal? Sure, of course…that’d be awesome. But at the end of the day, what matters most to me will always be the experience.

And there is nothing — NOTHING — like the New York City Marathon. I CAN’T WAIT!

How do you set your race day goals?

What are your goals for your next big race?

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?

(Okay, so it was mostly his idea, but I went along with it.)

We had a conversation about how marathon training really is months and months of preparation and hard training and physical agony all for just one race — really, just a few hours. (Of course, I immediately reminded him that this is the New York City Marathon we’re talking about, and IT. IS. COMPLETELY. AND. 100. PERCENT. WORTH. IT.)

Long story short, we decided, “hey, wouldn’t it be cool to get the most out of our training by running a second marathon this season?”

At first I thought the idea was batcrap crazy, but I know that lots of you guys have done it and lived to tell the tale. Plus, I knew that NYCM is my goal race, and that any second marathon could be run as a “for fun, let’s see how well I can do,” kind of thing.

So, ladies and gentlemen, we’ve decided to run the Anthem Richmond Marathon on Nov. 14.

Photo credit: www.sportsbackers.com

The deciding factor? Todd casually pointed out that if we ran Richmond, we could extend our Wine and Dine Half Marathon trip in Disney this November an extra day or two and then, you know, take in a quick marathon on the way home.

…Sold.

Yeah, like I’m really gonna turn down extra time to wine and dine.

So, we registered and it’s official, and I thought it was time to finally announce it here. I’ve already lined up (and, theoretically, have trained for!) my 7th marathon. Even before I’ve completed my 6th.

But, hey, I ran the Dopey Challenge as my very first marathon, so I figured I’ve done even crazier things than this before, no?

Anyway, the Richmond Marathon is supposed to be a great course (with lots of fall foliage!) and a TON of spectator support, and it’s a race we’ve both talked about running someday. Also, there are junk food stops along the course, and pizza at the finish line. And since it’s in mid-November, we can expect chilly, running-friendly temperatures. Need I say more?!

Photo credit: www.richmondmarathon.com

But, of course, we have other marathons that fall into the category of SUPER IMPORTANT, MUST-DO RACES (i.e. Chicago Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, etc.), so neither of us minds the fact that this marathon may not be our best performance (duh).

After all, we’re running NYCM on Nov. 1, and then leaving for Disney the following Friday for what is now a six-night (!!!) Disney World trip to run a half marathon and walk the parks for days on end. Then we’re flying to Richmond on Thursday night so we can catch the expo on Friday, run the marathon on Saturday, and rent a car to drive the 5-6 hours home on Sunday.

Good. Times.

I’m pretty stoked. Was I a teensy bit nervous about the idea of running a marathon followed by a half marathon followed by another full marathon? Um, yeah. But since our training has gone really well this time around, I’m feeling pretty confident that I can handle this.

At the end of the day, this will be yet another new challenge for me, and an opportunity to explore a new city. Super excited!

Photo credit: www.richmondmarathon.com

Okay, so who can give me some words of wisdom on running two marathons in the same month?

Have any of you guys run the Richmond Marathon? What’d ya think?

What are some of your best recovery tips and tricks? I’m gonna need ‘em!

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?

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