Wednesday, July 31, 2013

MCM training and New Goals

So I officially started my MCM ( Marine Corps Marathon ) training this week and am very excited for this training cycle.  This week has been a little bit of a challenge coming off of a 5 day stretch of midnight shifts and minimal sleep...but Sunday I had planned for 18 miles...Well,  I had planned to do this run outside but pouring rain forced me inside on the TM and our Y closes at 6pm on the weekend in the summertime ( a big issue of mine ) so I mentally was already defeated.  Physically I felt heavy and slow...I told myself just get to the half way mark and see how I felt.

Mile 1 warm-up pace @ 8:20
Mile 2 8:00
Mile 3 7:47
Mile 4 7:30
Mile 5 7:23
Mile 6 7:23
Mile 7 7:19
Mile 8 7:19
Mile 9 7:30

I just wasn't feeling it and was tense the whole time and knowing I still had one more shift to work wasn't helping things.  So I called it quits and decided to switch up my long run day.

Monday's weather was perfect for running and I had a window of free time so I laced up my Mizuno Wave Riders, swung by Angel's house and set out for a nice Garmin free run! 

I really wanted to get in a double digit run especially after my not so stellar 18 mile attempt....Angel offered to drive me out some water so I took her up on the offer at mile 7-8...I finished with 10 miles and the last 2 felt great!  TMI alert:   When your pee is the amount of a teaspoon and tea colored ( brown ) you need to DRINK more water!  Oops!!  This is a total rookie mistake and I know better but live and learn right?!  Thank God for Angel! 

Monday also kicked off MOT football season and tryouts!  So proud of Chase and I cannot wait to see how he grows and develops this football season...I am totally a football mom for sure!

I had planned to take Tuesday as a recovery day but decided to do the stair machine for some stress relief and interval training...My gosh I sweat like a man when I am on this machine!!!  I also made sure to do my PT exercises and core work.... We spent the day at the pool with some of our favorite people:

Summer fun!!

Today I had an great meeting with an amazing running coach who I have so much respect for!   This made me even more determined and excited to train for MCM.  I have always been the type of runner who has just went out and ran....I sometimes set goals but they are goals that are really truly not challenging for me.  I want to step out of my comfort zone and really push myself this time and see what I can do...With his help I am sure I can do this...Hopefully! 

I tend to be my biggest critic and enemy...It is now time to change that!!

My workout today was a quick 9 miles

Mile 1 8:20
Mile 2 8:06
Mile 3 7:41
Mile 5 7:35
Mile 6 7:30
Mile 7 7:23
Mile 8 7:19
Mile 9 7:19

This run felt fluent and way better then my past 2 runs!  Yay!!  Some core work and major stretching afterward.

Anyone else running MCM? 

Anyone ever work with a running coach?


Friday, July 26, 2013

LOVING this weather...

Last week we were in the midst of a heat wave with temps in the high 90's and high humidity....this week has been GORGEOUS and very Fall-like!  I am in heaven as this is my ideal running weather.  I have still been logging some decent miles the past few weeks and keeping my long run between 12-15 miles so I have a nice base to start MCM training this coming week.  I have decided to reach out to a highly recommended running coach and am excited to chat with him about my goals for this racing season....I will do a post on this after I speak to him about everything!  The past few marathons and training cycles I feel I really truly have not pushed myself and have stayed in my comfort zone...But this year I really want to meet my goals and see what I can do!  So more to come about that!!
Get ready legs and Mizuno!!


This past Sunday I made a last minute decision ( with a little peer pressure from Lori and Sandra ) to run in the 31st YMCA 5 mile race...I started with a 4.5 mile warm up run from my parents place in Fenwick to Bethany then the hubby picked me up and we drove to the race.  It was humid but not awful like it had been.  I really did not have a plan or goal for this race and my Garmin also decided to not work AGAIN!!!!  I think it may be time for a new Garmin...I love the laid back feel and energy of the beach running community.  Everyone is so supportive and friendly down here which really makes running fun!  This race started at Deauville Beach in Rehoboth which had plenty of parking and clean port-a-pots (bonus!)...also with the race entry fee you had beach access all day and could run down and hop in the cool water right after the race!  The race course was great...you start out on Surf Ave. then you run right back through a beautiful neighborhood with plenty of shade before heading back out on to Surf Ave. then you dip back into a neighborhood again, loop around and come back for a straight away down Surf Ave. and finish back at the start....There were 3 water stops on the course and plenty of water and Gatorade at the finish along with pancakes, bagels and fruit!  I finished 4th overall female and 1st in my AG....

LOVE my Oiselle!!

AG award and $75 gift certificate
 I love the trophy and I also won a $75 New Balance GC!!!!!!   This totally made my day!  Seashore Striders are the BEST!

After the race we gathered up the boys and spent the day on the beach...Oh hello there 6 pack!

The ocean water felt amazing on my legs...I am so spoiled by the beach life!

If you are down the beach this weekend checkout a few of the races:

12th Annual Northbeach College Day 5k + Pump N Run

Saturday, July 27  8:00am
https://www.signup2raceusa.com/race_info.aspx?race_id=138
Free Beer after this run..woohoooooo!  Also a free Kiddie K for those ages 7 and under!

Then hang out on the beach or take a nap and then run the:

Shadow Series ~ Firefly 5K & 10K
Saturday, July 27, 2013 - 7:00pm
http://www.seashorestriders.com/content/shadow-series-firefly-5k-10k
How fun to run at night!!!

Then wake up early and do it again!
Sunday, July 28, 2013 - 7:30am
http://www.seashorestriders.com/content/16th-run-jj-5k-5k-walk

Or if you are up north checkout the 7th Run for Kids Health 5k
Saturday July 27, 2013 - 8:30 am

Anyone racing this weekend? 

I unfortunately am working 5 midnight shifts in a row and will be running on my own...BOOOO!!!

Happy Running!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

I'M BACK

I decided to sign off for a few weeks and really focus on my boys, spending quality family time, and enjoying our vacation at the beach before buckling down and starting MCM training!  So we have a lot to catch up on and I plan on doing that this week....But for now I just wanted to drop a quick HELLO and Happy Running!

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I am excited to catch and discuss future training with you all!

Happy Running!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Delaware Mud Run Jr. Recap

The Delaware Mud Run Jr. is an amazing event for kids ages 6-13...it is located at Frightland in Middletown, DE and 100% of the proceeds go to benefit the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware.  It cost $25 before May 31 then increase to $30 thereafter.  The course is a 1.5 mile loop and has multiple age appropriate obstacles to go through.  My boys LOVED this event and asked immediately after they finished if they can do it again next year.  This was my oldest sons third year doing the race and my little guys first time! 
Pre- Mud Pit
There were close to 2200 kids participating in the run and they had different waves you could sign up for.  We chose the 6pm time slot since it was a Wednesday night and we knew it would be a late night.  The gates opened at 4 pm for parking and pre-race fun. 

Well....Parking was a disaster and there was one man in particular who was EXTREMELY rude and inconsiderate.  I could not get over how rude a person could be especially at an event for children and everyone participating in the event was there to support an amazing cause!!!!!   Because the parking situation was such a mess I know there was at least one accident that occurred and also caused an awful back up of traffic on the highway.  It was very unsafe and people were parking on the shoulder of Rt. 13 and walking to the start of the race.  Thankfully,  the owner was super kind and apologized for the volunteers rude behavior!!  I think in the future they need to hire police to direct traffic and manage parking WAY better!! 

We made it to the start with plenty of time to hangout with friends, do the Gangnam Style and Harlem Shake.  Then we walked over to the start and waited for the kids to start:
Once they started we were able to walk to one of the mud pits they would be going in and hung out there until we saw them.  It is so excited to see our little one's accomplish such an awesome thing!  My hubby was at the finishline to see them all dive into the last big mud pit! 

This was the first year they gave out medals and the kids absolutely loved them and were so proud!

The only other issue was meeting up with the kids at the finish....they had roped off the finish area and you were not able to get across to the kids.  They corrected this issue immediately and luckily my oldest finished with his friends and was with one of the other moms. 
Post Mud Pits

We will definitely do this again next year and hope to have a big group participate and raise a lot of money for the Leukemia Research Foundation.  Hopefully in 2014 they will figure out a better parking system and maybe move the race to a weekend. 

We hope to see ya at the Mud Run next year!


Happy Running!