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Category Archives: Training

Run for Toilets 5k Recap

July 16, 2019 By in Running, Training Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments
Run for Toilets 5k Recap

I was looking forward to this race all week. The race benefited the Elks Lodge and was to raise money to rebuild their bathrooms. I was hoping they would go “all-out” with the theme and they did.

My parents own a house on the Eastern Shore of Va near Onancock. Dad and I spent the night up there. The race started at 8, and we got there around 7:15. When we got there, there weren’t too many people.

We registered and picked up our T-shirt’s and stared at the awards: plungers. I didn’t think the race could get better.Run for the toilets onancock shirt

Plus the Plunger Awards!

Run for the toilets onancock awards

By 7 am, it was already in the 80s. After racing the day before and with the heat, my goal was to run around 7:15 per mile.

We lined up at the race was off right at 8 am. It was a small race and immediately found myself as the first woman. I ran the entire race alone, which was fine. I had two goals: to win a plunger and to work hard but not injure myself.

I crossed the first mile right at 7:15. I felt like I was working hard but not overworking.

Run for the toilets onancock

The second mile went through downtown Accomac and did a u-turn and headed back towards Front Street. For a small race, the course was better marked than many bigger races I’ve done.

I hit the second mile in 7:18 which I was happy with.

The final mile headed back on front street and towards the finish. There was no shade, and it was hot. You can also see the finish line about half a mile away! I thought I was never going to get there.

When I got to the finish, I was surprised to find I got to break a tape. Not just any tape, but a tape made of toilet paper.

Run for the toilets onancock breaking tape

I don’t think any other tape will beat that. I crossed in 21:50 and got a plunger trophy.

My goal was to run hard but not get injured and I did that.  It felt more like a workout than anything, but I’m happy with my effort and I’ve even more thrilled with how much fun the race was.

I hope they continue to do the race because they were committed to the theme. Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:

What’s the funniest race you’ve done?

What’s the smallest race you’ve done?

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Big Cottonwood Week 7: Swim Races and Running for Toilets

July 15, 2019 By in Big Cottonwood Marathon, Running, Training Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment
Big Cottonwood Week 7: Swim Races and Running for Toilets

This week was full of challenges, in a good way. I had a lot of fun traveling down to see my family and running two unique but fun races.

Monday: Easy 60 minutes running
Tuesday: AM: Easy 60 minutes running
PM: 3000-meter swim
Wednesday: 4X1 mile repeats (total mileage 10)
Thursday: 3000-meter swim
Friday Easy 10 miles with Alexis
Saturday: Allen Stone Run Swim Run (with wu/cd total mileage 8)
Sunday: Run for the Toilets (Total mileage 15)
Total: About 56

Week 1: Hello Humidity

Week 2: Half Marathons and Workouts 57 mpw

Week 3: Travel and More Travel 53 MPW

Week 4: Training: Beach Runs and Long Runs 52 MPW

Week 5: Training: Workouts and 10ks 46.5 MPW

Week 6: Big Cottonwood Week 6: Firecracker 5ks 47 MPW

Thoughts:

What a week!

Swimming:

I mentioned a few weeks ago, that swimming fits best in my schedule 2X a week. For a while, I was doing 3X, but I don’t want to burn out. Swimming twice a week keeps me engaged and enjoying it without feeling forced. This week was different with a bonus 1000 meter swim in the open water.

Workout Wednesday: 4X1 Mile Run

I’m happy I’m able to get back on the track. Since the students are out, it’s easier to use the track and not worry about team sports. Anyway, the workout felt difficult.

My legs have struggled to get any turn over in them. I didn’t realize how humid it was on Wednesday (around 98%), but I’m happy with my effort.

Allen Stone Run Swim Run:

I will have a full recap of this soon, and I surprised myself. The race is 1k on the beach, then swim it back, then 5k on the boardwalk. I was 55th person after the first 1k on the beach, and I ended up having the 22nd fastest swim of the day, which surprised me the most!

Then when we went into the 5k on the boardwalk, I went from 12th women to 4th. If I had been another mile, I could have been the second woman. No one (male or female) passed me on the run, and I’m proud of that. I all, I am thrilled with how the week went.

Run for the Toilets 5k:

My dad found this race in the local paper. They have a house up in Onancock (the house with the pet donkey), and he thought it would be funny to do. When we found out winners got plungers, we knew we had to do it. I ran the entire race alone, and it was more of a workout. I wanted to get a long run 15 miles), so I was careful not to hurt myself. I averaged about 7:15 miles and ended up breaking a toilet paper tape.

In all, I’m happy with how the week went. It was nice to relax and hang out with my family. Next week will be back to the regular grind.

Posts from the Week:

29 Years Old

New Balance FuelCell Rebel Shoe Review

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:

What’s the funniest race you’ve ever done?

What is the coolest race award you’ve gotten?

Firecracker 5k (20:10)

July 9, 2019 By in Running, Training Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment
Firecracker 5k (20:10)

I haven’t run the Firecracker 5k in a few years. I never seem to be healthy at the race. I signed up a few days before keep me honest about showing up. (Last year I said I might run but then decided not to because it was hot).

Anyway, I arrived around 7, grabbed my bib, and warmed up. After about 2 minutes, it was already hot enough. Summer came fast, and the temperature lows have been in the 70s with the humidity at 95%+.

My favorite part of the entire race was watching the turkey get escorted off the course by the Haddon Heights Police.

Turkey being escorted off the road

Anyway, I got to my car, chatted with my coworker, and we headed towards the start, and I got to talk to coach Girard (if you read the newsletter, you know Girard gave great wisdom there).

By the time we knew it, we were off; I saw four females take off and assumed my place for the day would be fifth (which seems terrible to expect in the first .1).

The first mile felt like it was taking forever. I ran a 6:17, which is my fastest mile in a long time.

During the next mile, I saw I was slowly catching two females. I caught one female around 1.5.  I was shocked because 5ks haven’t been my scene in a while, so passing anyone is surprising.  I passed the next woman around mile 2 and found myself as the third woman overall.

The second half of the course has a few small hills, and I noticed I was catching the next woman. Even though I wasn’t moving much faster, I got the third place woman around mile 2.

The last mile was spent trying to maintain my podium spot. As we headed into the final stretch, I heard heavy breathing and two males outkicked me. I couldn’t give any more energy if I tried.

I crossed in 20:10, which is what I had for the day. I was happy with my effort and for the weather.  I even got to see and chat good friend and writer for the NYT Jen M at the race.

Jen M and I Haddon Heights firecracker 5k

Questions for you:

Did you run a Fourth of July Race? How did it go?

Big Cottonwood Week 6: Firecracker 5ks and Long Runs

July 8, 2019 By in Big Cottonwood Marathon, Running, Training Tags: , , , , , 3 Comments
Big Cottonwood Week 6: Firecracker 5ks and Long Runs

Last week, I wanted and needed a couple of days off from running. With the Fourth of July race, things were thrown off a bit. Plus, after six weeks of training my body needed a decreased mileage week.

Monday: Easy 60 minutes
Tuesday: Swim 2 miles
Wednesday: Easy 60 minutes
Thursday: Firecracker 5k (20:10) Total Mileage: 10
Friday: Swim 2 miles
Saturday: Easy 60 minutes
Sunday: 17-mile long run

Week 1: Hello Humidity

Week 2: Half Marathons and Workouts 57 mpw

Week 3: Travel and More Travel 53 MPW

Week 4: Training: Beach Runs and Long Runs 52 MPW

Week 5: Training: Workouts and 10ks 46.5 MPW

Thoughts:

Initially, my husband and I were going to hike all weekend. We planned to go up to Northeast NJ and spend Thursday-Sunday off the grid hiking. So a while ago, I planned for it to be my down week of running. Since he’s gone, that didn’t work out. On Friday, I woke up realized my body was not ready to run. I opted to swim instead.

Swimming:

Both times I got into the pool felt fine. Nothing was exciting about either time. I’ve preferred to swim 3000 meters. I swim 1500 meters (30 laps), stop and swim another 30. It’s boring and comfortable, but it’s what I’ve enjoyed doing.

Firecracker 5k (20:10):

I’ll have a recap tomorrow, but this is my fastest 5k in quite some time. (Maybe since March?). Then again, I haven’t run a lot of 5ks. It was 80+ degrees and 95% humidity. It was so hot.

17 Mile Long Run:

Long runs have felt extremely challenging. My legs feel fine, but the heat and humidity have gotten to me. I’ve learned very quickly that I’ve needed even more fluids (and if you know me, I drink a lot of water). So I’ve had a rough time adjusting. Sunday felt decent and it was nice to run part of it with Alexis. It made the run go by a lot faster.

 

Posts from the Week:

Flying to Essex County

June Training: Building Fitness

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. This week I talked about products to carry water, and there is even a giveaway with a fuel belt. 

In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. There are often giveaways as well as discount codes.

Questions for you:

How was your week of training?

How do you adjust to the humidity? 

 

Pineland Strider 10k (44:05)

July 2, 2019 By in Running, Training Tags: , , , , ,
Pineland Strider 10k (44:05)

This was possibly the hottest and most humid race I’ve done since living in Texas.  By no coincidence, it was also my slowest. It’s been a few years since I’ve run the Pineland Striders 10k. I know many of the local group members and local runners, so it’s always fun to run.

I arrived with my father in law around 7:30 am. We signed up and together with the local running store owner, did about 2-mile warmup. By the time it was time to start, I was sweating through my clothing.

The 5k and 10k go off together.  I was too busy chatting, and all of a sudden, we were off. For the first mile, I was running with a few local runners and friends. We hit the first mile around 6:45, and it felt challenging. My legs felt tired, and the humidity. I thought to myself: We have how many more miles?

The 5k turned around, and the 10k kept going. I found myself running with a friend, and we were tied for the first woman overall.  The next few miles were uneventful. We were running even splits of 6:55. It felt challenging, but I could still talk. The humidity was sinking in, and I felt how oppressive it was.

The roads weren’t closed, and during mile 3, several cars came whizzing by. I felt a bit uncomfortable but managed to stay out of their way. I couldn’t keep up and remained as second woman the rest of the way.

During the fourth mile, we began catching the 5kers.  We were going on a narrow path, so it was more challenging to pass people. I’m sure the 5kers were just as frustrated. We kept trucking along.

By mile 5, I was running alone and just death marching it to the finish line. It was the most humid day we’ve had so far, and my entire body felt it. I looked as if I had gone swimming.

As I remembered, the last mile cuts across the field and around the track. The last thing you want to do at the end of a 10k is run through the field. It’s a nice challenge toward the end. I didn’t want to hurt myself, so I just focused on staying smooth. I wasn’t going to pass anyone, so I didn’t feel forced to “sprint to the end.”

Pineland Striders 10k

Due to track maintenance, this year we went around and over gravel. The last .75 was one of the most challenging race finishes I’ve done. I crossed the finish in 44:05 and as second woman. While it’s one of my slower races, it was hot and humid, and the dew point was 74!

It was great to see so many friends and run another race with my father in law.

Pineland Striders 10k Tim's Dad and I

Questions for you:

What is the most challenging race finish you’ve done?

Do you prefer racing on grass or road? 

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