Last year, for my birthday, I posted 31 fun facts about me as a person {you can read that HERE, if you so wish}. I realize that’s fun & all, & you’re likely to be disappointed that I’m flippin’ the script for this year, BUT… this is a RUNNING blog/website after all! I hope these tips are helpful on your running journey. I am so excited to enter the next age of my life & I am beyond blessed to have my family & friends, my career, my running, all of my athletes, & so much more! 

1) For most people, running is a hobby & a way of life to maintain physical fitness– NOT their chosen career path. Always remember to enjoy the journey, regardless of how great or how unbearable it might be!
2) Surround yourself with like-minded people. This will be vital for long-term success in the sport, & in life.
3) Rotating your running shoes will prevent injury.
4) Quality running clothes always win over cheap ones that chafe. Lululemon is my #1 recommended brand!
5) Sweating is a good thing. It’s the ceasing of sweating that should worry you.
6) If you get black toenails, your running shoes are most likely too small.
7) Train in the rain, seriously. It’s refreshing & a change of pace; plus, it really makes you appreciate the non-rainy run days even more.
8) Don’t knock toe socks until you’ve tried them. Injinji’s are the best!!
9) The first mile of most (?all) races should be your slowest, NOT your fastest.
10) Never underestimate the power of a good massage or ART session.
11) Vary your running terrain, making sure to include concrete, asphalt, & trails. Everything in moderation.
12) If you’ve never run a relay race, like a Ragnar or the Colonial 200, you really should consider it. They’re exhausting, but quite a blast!
13) If you haven’t been professionally assessed by a running store, don’t run another mile until your feet, gait, & shoes are examined!
14) Hire a running coach. Seriously, you won’t regret it!
15) If you are able to run with a group, DO IT! So motivating & it can help you push yourself harder than you ever would solo.
16) If your running an “easy run”, the pace should be at a level that you’re neither fatigued nor out of breath.
17) When increasing total weekly mileage, advancing by 10% per week is a good rule of thumb.
18) A dedicated & reliable running partner is priceless. A slightly faster one of those is like hitting the jackpot!
19) In case you forgot #1, don’t forget to ENJOY this running journey that you’re on!
20) Body Glide is your friend, especially in the summer.
21) Once you have an established mileage base, varying your workout type (easy, long, tempo, speed) will help keep your attention; not to mention the amazing improvements you’ll notice in your running times.
22) Running is not all-inclusive. You also need to focus on strength-training, cross-training, & good ole stretching!
23) Speaking of other aspects to a successful runner’s life, your focus should also include a proper, well-balanced diet & adequate hydration.
24) If you have a bad run, leave it on the pavement. Don’t dwell on the past– as with in life, push on forward.
25) Always run on the side of the road FACING traffic. Be safe always!
26) Minimum daily hydration should be 64oz. (remember those 8-8oz. cups that have always been recommended?!). And on sweaty run days, keep on drinking. Oh & it’s water that I’m referring to, not beer!
27) Rest days are 150% necessary, & encouraged!
28) {from my better half} Run Hard, Run Strong, Just Don’t Run Wrong!
29) When looking at the weather, focus not only on the temperature, but also the humidity & dew point.
30) When the humidity & dew point are high, don’t forget to replace your electrolytes losses. Some faves of The Running Blonde are: Nuun, Salt Sticks, & Honey Stinger chews.
31) When purchasing all of your running necessaries mentioned in this post, please shop local! Supporting your local small businesses is so important for the betterment of your own individual communities.
32) If all else fails on race day, & your running isn’t going well, just have a blast! Smile at everyone. High five all the kids. Dance a little jig to the beat of the street band. And by all means, HAVE FUN!

And I know there are plenty more, but this is a good starting point!!

 

Back in April, I was contacted by a Marketing Manager for SPIbelt. She had come across my blog & really liked what I did, so we decided to team up. In addition to this review, I am also hosting a GIVEAWAY for one of the “Large Pocket” SPIbelts. Stay tuned to my Facebook page—I will be giving that item away NEXT WEEK!

So you might be asking, “What exactly is a SPIbelt?” And, “Why would I even want one?” Well, SPI specifically stands for Small Personal Item. These belts are an amazing addition to any runner’s wardrobe. They can hold both non-essential {chapstick} as well as vital {Insulin pump} items. These little belts can also carry your keys, your phone, your fuel, &/or your medicine. Since they are super stretchy, you can really shove a lot of stuff into them! Their single buckle closure is also a pretty nice product detail, as you can quickly & easily snap the belt around your body.

When I ran my first marathon back in November, I had poorly planned how I would carry my fuel during the race. At the expo, the day prior to the race, I randomly purchased a SPIbelt. It was a black, small pocket “original” SPIbelt. This little pouch was a lifesaver! I was able to carry enough fuel to provide my body with chews every 4-6 miles. Following the marathon, I ran maybe once or twice with my new accessory—but for the most part, it sat in my running basket, unutilized for the majority of the winter. When I was contacted this past April, I was reminded that I probably should re-visit using my SPIbelt. Since that time, I have run numerous times—both with my new hot pink large pocket SPIbelt, as well as my old black original SPIbelt.

Here are, in my opinion, the 6 most important perks of wearing a SPIbelt, as an avid runner:

1. LESS TAN LINES: Yes, you read that correctly! Since I have begun using my SPIbelt regularly, my armband tan line has steadily faded. It is so easy to just slip my iPhone into the belt & continue on with my run. Added bonus is avoiding the annoyance of my armband chafing my arm, or sliding down due to sweat.
2. HOLDS MY FUEL: Prior to having this fancy little product, I might have just decided to not bring fuel on certain long runs, simply for ease. I am very particular about where I carry my fuel—probably due to chafing during a half, all while carrying a gel in my bra. Ouch! With my SPI belt, I can easily slip a pack of chews into the belt, & if I decide to eat them, great, if not, that’s okay too. It’s some peace of mind to know that I have them with me, should I feel like my glycogen stores are being depleted.
3. IT’S LIKE IT’S NOT EVEN THERE: Seriously! Yesterday morning I ran a very hot & humid 10-miler. As I bolted out of the door, I snapped my belt, snuggly over my hips, which is where it stayed for the duration of my run. No bouncing, no sliding, nothing! I will say though, if you are wearing certain “slick” fabrics without a waistband, you might encounter some shifting issues. However, with standard running shorts, you shouldn’t have any movement—if you do, tighten it up.
4. THE 90s WERE A GREAT DECADE: Who had a fanny pack 20 years ago?! {raises hand!} If for not functional reasons, you should get a SPIbelt for the pure fashion aspect. They say fashion trends are circular, as they come/go & then return decades later—well, go ahead & jump on the fanny pack bandwagon. You can thank me later! And did I mention they come is a variety of colors?!
5. MADE IN THE USA: With their home base in Austin, TX, when you purchase a SPIbelt, you are supporting an American company, whose product is produced in the good ‘ole U.S. of A! If that’s not reason in itself, I don’t know what is!
6. LIFESAVER: Know anyone with Type I or II diabetes? Or someone with severe allergies, such as to peanuts? Well, this would be a perfect gift for them! It can easily carry an Insulin pump or an EPIpen. These items would need to be with these people 24/7—during runs is no exception.

The negatives I can think of, related to a SPIbelt, are few. The good definitely outweighs the bad with this product! One of the cons is the sliding that can occur with slicker materials—this happened during a warm-up recently so I just opted to not wear it for that particular 5K race. Another con is that it doesn’t carry water. With the weather VA we’re currently experiencing, I definitely need hydration during runs of more than 5-6 miles. While I certainly can carry a water bottle in hand + wear my SPIbelt, when the miles begin to add up for marathon training, I will likely reach for my hydration belt. Lastly, I personally prefer the original size, since the large pocket SPIbelt literally stretches from my one hipbone to the other & when it’s close to empty, it does tend to flip over a bit upon itself. Other than that, I see no additional negatives! I definitely recommend this product & think you should give it a whirl.

From a cost perspective, you can purchase an original SPIbelt for about 20 dollars. For the large pocket option, you’d be spending about three dollars more. A great value, in my opinion! The main website for SPIbelt is: http://www.spibelt.com/. For you locals in Hampton Roads, go to Running Etc. to pick-up your SPIbelt!

“Leading the region in children’s healthcare services, CHKD is committed to delivering excellence in quality and service as we continually measure and improve our outcomes. We will evolve and enhance our services in response to the needs of children and the advancement of science; educate the next generation of leaders in children’s health; be the healthcare employer of choice; and collaborate with others to attain our vision.                                        

One priority, one mission, one focus: children. 

As we strive to attain our mission, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters Healthy System will provide excellence in quality of care and service through teamwork and communication, honesty and integrity, personal responsibility and stewardship of resources, as well as creativity and innovation. Our goal is to lead the region as the preferred provider of quality children’s health services for years to come.”

The above quoted statement is the Mission Statement for the beneficiary & host of this past weekend’s race—Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD). This is a facility that has been my 2^nd home for the past decade… literally. Currently, I spend 24+ hours at a time there, about 7 times per month. I can’t even begin to estimate how many hours I have dedicated over my career, thus far, caring for some of the tiniest little humans in the ICU.

On June 13, 2005, I became an employee of CHKD as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). On June 13, 2015, I ran the CHKD Run/Walk for the Kids 8K for the 5^th time. {Feel free to read my recap from 2014, HERE.} Anyone who knows me knows just how important this organization is to me. Since that day in 2005, so much has changed. I returned to school & earned my Master’s Degree, as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, with full support from CHKD. Although we have personally never needed CHKD for anything serious with our twins, it offers such peace of mind to know the facility is just 3 ½ miles down the road, should something awful happen.

This past weekend, I ran the 8K race not for me, but for those little 1lb. & 2lb. babies who keep me up, running around like a crazy woman, during all hours of the night. Without such a facility & technology, those babies simply would not survive. Those babies, as well as the big, fat squishy term gestation ones are the reasons that I pushed extra hard as the minutes ticked along, late in the race on Saturday.

Months prior to the race, I had only told a handful of folks my single aspiration for the race—place amongst my age group. I know this may sound silly, or vain, but it was my goal & I own it. Having run the race multiple times & being amongst the top 10 in my age group, I knew it was achievable, given optimal race conditions & performance. I have noticed steady improvements in my racing, having received age group & overall placing awards many times here lately at local smaller races. It was interesting this time to not have a time goal, but yet a placing goal. It became a “me vs. anyone-who-looked-my-age” mental competition. Screw the time clock—I was just dodging other 30-something ladies!

On the evening prior to the race, I prepared my favorite pre-race meal, the perfect combination of protein & carbs—Chicken Piccata. I laid out my outfit, which has become a rather easy task since we have our Running Etc. Ambassador Team singlets! I gathered everything I’d need for myself, the hubby, & the kiddos (since this event is a family affair!); then went to bed at 10-something that evening. Race morning began somewhere around 6am, & then by 6:50am we were headed the less than 5 miles down the road to the race venue. After a brief debacle with race number assignments for a few friends, one specifically on The Running Blonde’s Superstars Team, we bolted to the bathroom, then to the starting line. All just prior to the gun. Of course though, not without first snapping a group photo to start the morning off right!

During the race bib issue, I got separated from my speedy friends who I typically would have started the race with (Hi Kerry & Kara!). Honestly though, this was probably for the best. With mother nature tossing us a 73 dew point that morning (82°F with 74% humidity), I knew these were not optimal racing conditions & my chances of PRing were nil to none! These girls are slightly faster than me & I knew starting too fast would mean an inevitable demise for my race. Instead, I happily stood a bit back from the starting line with my girlfriends Mary & Shanny, & started more towards the middle of the pack. Although I had to do a bit of weaving once I crossed the start mat, I didn’t care—much better than starting WAY too quick & losing steam! I ran the first mile very conservatively, as to not exert too much energy early on.

Mile 1: 7:53

After the first mile marker, I felt like keeping my pace between 7:50-8:00, as I had decided earlier on during the morning, was a good plan. Nope, not a PR kind of day! Between mile 1 & mile 2, we ran past one of my favorite running spots in Ghent—the water along Mowbray Arch. Mile 2 came right at the Chrysler Museum of Art—my wedding destination; which of course, made me think of my hubby & wonder how his race was going (much like everyone else, he suffered & was utterly drenched in sweat at the finish line)!

Mile 2: 8:13

“Okay, now the heat has set in!” Clearly my pace had slowed & the dew point of nearly 75 was becoming evident. There is minimal shade during this course, which is fine if it doesn’t feel like nearly 90°F outside! I decided to just keep on, keeping on. Plenty of more time to push at the end & with plenty of people in front & behind me, I was just taking it step-by-step. I certainly thought there were a ton of women in front of me from my age group, which would mean I’d have to shoot for the age placing goal next year. No worries, I said to myself!

I should probably note here that between mile marker 2 & mile marker 3, there were two separate water stops (the 1^st & 2^nd water stops on the course), only about a half a mile apart. If I had a critique of the day & race, this would be it—they should have spaced the water stops out more evenly. I personally think for an 8K, one water stop at the mid-way point is sufficient. However, in race conditions like these, 3 stops are completely appropriate too—but maybe more so at the 1.5 mile, 3 mile, & 4.5 mile markers. I definitely threw a cup of water on my head at the first water stop, & tried to drink at each station…. but, it made me too nauseous. I then worried for the next 20 minutes if the water would seep through my SPIbelt & damage my iPhone. Luckily, I can report that my phone came out of the day unharmed! Ahh the summertime, such a love-hate relationship!     

Mile 3: 8:21

Mile 3 lands you right at the midway point on Brambleton Avenue, right under the heat of the blistering sun. This year, the race course was altered slightly compared to the last couple of years. I was particularly fond of running on the “with traffic” side of the road this year, as opposed to running “against” traffic, & then having to make that wide swing across Tidewater Drive. May seem silly & small, but I liked that change on the course! Between mile 3 & mile 4, you run right past my middle school—Ruffner Middle School, & then you approach Harbor Park (the local minor league baseball stadium). The 3^rd & final water station came right around the 4 mile marker, along with an awesome local cheering section! This section of the course was nice, as I began to pick up speed & pass a few folks—women & men alike (I love “chick-ing” guys!).

Mile 4: 8:10

“Okay, one mile to go, I’ve SO got this!” This was my thought as we left Harbor Park & started the weaving behind the buildings along the water, near Waterside. Sure I was hot & sweating like a scorched pig, but I honestly wasn’t giving it my ALL. I definitely left some in the tank, knowing we had a busy family day planned for after the race! However, at this point in the race, I dropped the pace back to under 8 minute miles & kick it until the end. I had been glancing at my watch throughout the race & decided that 40:xx would be a respectable time for me for that day—not a PR race, but only about a minute over. As we weaved around the buildings, I made sure to run the tangents & pass as many folks as I could. {Spoiler alert} Along here is where I think I earned the age group placing I was later shockingly (seriously, NO clue until I heard my name surprisingly announced—definitely a moment I’ll never forget!!) awarded with—as I bolted past a few women who certainly looked my age.

And just like that, the finish line loomed. Another race, CHECK!

Mile 5: 7:59

Final 0.02 miles at 6:58 pace

Garmin Time (5.02 miles): 40:44 {8:07/mile}

Official Time (4.97 miles): 40:44 {8:12/mile}

Overall: 86^th out of 934

Female: 25^th out of 566

Age Group: 3^rd out of 106

Looking back, this race was tough, with a few nauseous moments, but nothing too, too awful. I have definitely raced much harder AND much easier. This is for sure, one of my FAVORITE races of the year. It supports an incredible cause, the local children’s hospital, which is so near & dear to my heart. The added bonus is that so many local running friends show up for both runner camaraderie & healthy racing competition. I am very proud to have composed a team of 15 runners, who also supported the cause & ran/walked their little hearts out! The Running Blonde’s Superstars – y’all ROCK!! To all of the volunteers & spectators, KUDOS to you all for coming out on such a hot, humid day! Of course the City of Norfolk is great—from the Town Point Park venue to the police officers who kept us safe on the open roads. Thanks to all involved, & of course, THANKS to my #1 supporter, Scott! My sister Abby also deserves a bit of gratitude, for watching my munchkins while the hubby & I ran—Thank You! Oh & one last thanks, to Running Etc. for being the most awesome local running apparel store, who also donated the awards for the age group winners. The after party was pretty great too, with endless pizza, bananas, water, sodas, beer, & even games for the kids.

So, of course I will be back next year. Local runners, look out for this race & come enjoy an 8K with us, as we support the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters!

Up Next For The Running Blonde: Tidewater Striders Summer Series, held each Tuesday in July 

As a running coach, I am definitely much harder on myself than I am on my athletes. I don’t mean that from a physical/workout perspective; no, more so from a mental/emotional perspective. For some reason, I have this crazy notion that because I am supposed to be a running expert, I should PR each race I run & I should place in my age group at each of those said outings. That’s ludicrous. I am neither elite, nor even sub-elite—this I know & would never assume otherwise. I am an everyday person who sometimes, has good race days & sometimes, bad race days.

The beauty of becoming an established runner is the appreciation that comes over time with each less & less common PR. During the first 2-3 years of running, I would PR at nearly every race—simply because I was gaining race experience & I was training with more base mileage being established. Those PRs, I did not work as hard for & they were not as coveted. Nowadays, when a PR comes, it was HARD WORK & very much appreciated—never ever taken for granted! Enough about that—but before I move on to the races, if you gleam anything from this recap, just remember to savor every PR you earn!

That being said {spoiler alert}, I did not intend to PR {& didn’t} at either of the races I ran this month. Would that have been nice? Sure thing. Was it realistic to expect? No way. I have learned over the last 5+ years of running that I am NOT a hot/humid weather racer. I would MUCH rather run fast when it’s 30-40 degrees out, rather than 60-70 degrees out. Again, the beauty of running, it takes all kinds. I am always uber impressed with runners who can go out & PR at a race like the VA Beach Rock ‘n Roll half marathon!! Pure insanity.

On to the recaps—this month I ran 2 races. One was planned & the other was impromptu.

Two weeks ago, I spontaneously decided, about 48 hours prior to race time, to run the Lee’s Friends Run on the Wild Side 5K. After learning that the following quote is their primary mission, I was sold. “To offer person to person help and needed emotional and practical support to cancer patients and their families who are facing the crisis of diagnosis and treatment of cancer.” In case you missed it in a prior blog post {you can read here}, my mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She would ultimately undergo the first of many surgical procedures for this diagnosis, about 48 hours after the race was completed. Cancer can kiss my you-know-what!

Race morning began with overwhelming fog—to the point where I could not even see the water as I traversed a bridge, en route to the race. Since the race started about 2 miles from my house, I jogged over to save some fuel & get my warm-up in. Double bonus! I arrived just in time to register, talk to some friends, & then toe the line. Once we got started, I was surprised when I looked at my watch & saw 6:xx during the first half mile. Slooooow down, girlfriend! The rest of the race I kept the pace in the 7:35-7:55 range. It was a humid day with 88% humidity {dew point 63-ish}, so naturally not PR-type conditions! My goal was to just finish in 23:xx. Mission accomplished—official time: 23:57 (7:42/mile). This time earned me 2^nd place in the 30-34 age group & I ended up being 8^th female overall.

On to race #2 for the month—the Elizabeth River Run 10K. This race was held today, on a gorgeous 72 degree day in Hampton Roads, with only 38% humidity {dew point 45-ish}. Easily, PR kind of conditions. However, my body had other plans today. Anyone seen my mojo?! I’d like it baaaacccckkk. Ha!

Leading up to this race, the distance had changed multiple times. Earlier in the week, they deemed the sea wall unsafe & dropped the distance to a 6-miler, in order to cut out the precarious part. Then, with help from the city police department, they re-created a route that equaled an official 10K distance. However, on race morning, the navy alerted the race director that a medical evacuation via helicopter was necessary for 6 soldiers at the naval hospital. The route had originally run us by the helipad. Naturally & of course understandability, this portion of the race course was omitted from the route. Per the official results, this dropped the 10K to a 5.7-miler {my Garmin however showed even less mileage}. None of this even matters. What really matters is that a great race was held & I sincerely hope those soldiers are going to be okay!

The ERR today was one of the harder races I have done lately. Overall I felt blah in the days leading up to the race. I woke up on race morning & didn’t even want to run. Maybe it’s the weather changes. Or dehydration. Or just overall fatigue. Or aching only women can understand. Or, it could just be the half a tub of gelato I ate the night before! All of this doesn’t matter either though & I’m definitely not making excuses. I too am allowed a sub-optimal race day {or so I told myself!}. With the “bad” race performance today, I also learned/realized/remembered a few things: 1) even when I think I am drinking enough water, I probably am not, 2) I really need to resume my strength-training {I haven’t attended Stroller Strides in a month!}, 3) my drop in mileage over the last few weeks probably negatively affected my race {May is absolutely the busiest month for us…. every.single.year}, & 4) sometimes it is just nice to run a race & not race a race—you usually enjoy the scenery much more.

With that said, my Garmin time was 45:12 for 5.54 miles (8:09/mile); however, the official time read 45:20 for 5.7 miles (7:57/mile). I think my watch pace is more accurate—I definitely was not sustaining sub-8s during the entire race!! Heck, one time I looked down & saw 8:27, although it felt like a 6-minute mile. This time put me 9^th in my age group—which I am 150% okay with!

If you made it this far, GREAT! If not, the cliff notes version is:

1. I ran 2 races in May, with neither resulting in a PR
2. Even without PRs, I have learned a lot about myself as a runner
3. Wintertime running is my happy time & the only time I usually PR

Up Next For The Running Blonde: In June I have a 5K planned with the local twins group & then, my favorite annual race—the CHKD Run/Walk for the Kids 8K!  

By this time last week, I had completed two of my three legs for the Colonial200 Relay. I had already hit the point of sleep deprivation, so I was just pushing on through with what little energy I could muster up. Despite being exhausted, I was having a BLAST! It’s not every day you have the opportunity to relinquish your mom/life duties, pile in a van with 5 other running fanatics {while having 6 other team members trailing along in a separate van}, & then tackle a race that easily takes longer than 24 hours. If you’re confused how this whole relay process works {don’t worry, I was until the race was actually in progress!}, stay tuned—I’ll try my best to elaborate on that in a minute.

The logistics to reaching the start line of this particular race were quite involved. With no one to blame but my own silly scheduling, I stupidly worked a 24-hour shift at the hospital Wednesday morning through Thursday morning—and of course as luck would have it, it was an awful, awful busy day. I had only 30 minutes of rest during those nearly 27+ hours of being awake. I hurried home & slept for about 3 hours Thursday morning, before finalizing all my packing & getting some last minute play time in with my sweet twin boys. One of my teammates, & friend, offered to give me a ride from my home in Norfolk to the meeting point in Jamestown; then ultimately to the pre-race-night hotel in Charlottesville. With all that traveling, my head eventually hit the pillow close to 11pm {I think} on Thursday night. I should note here that my roommate for that particular night was simply fabulous! Kim, whom I had only met one other time prior, didn’t feel the need to chitter-chatter at all. She let me be anti-social & just go right to sleep. Thanks girl!

The alarm went off around 4:40am Friday morning, where we would then make our way to the starting line. After a briefing from the race director, the race began at 6am. With rain falling heavily, our team leader Lei started things off. She definitely set the tone for the race & got us all motivated for the journey we were about to embark upon!

I guess now would be a good time to explain the process of just how this relay thing works. Basically, you have a team of people who will somehow complete the miles, all while alternating “legs”. Legs are simply the varied distance people will run, with designated stopping points for exchanging runners. For this particular relay, the distances ranged from 2.21 miles to 10.46 miles. No back-to-back legs were permitted if you had a full team {which we did, 12 ladies total}. Difficulty of each leg was graded as easy, medium, or hard. There were 36 legs total, so if you had 12 people, each person completed 3 legs. Naturally, 12 people can’t typically travel in 1 vehicle, so the team is split amongst 2 vans. Legs 1-6 are completed by Van 1, then Legs 7-12 are completed by Van 2. When it is time for Leg 13, Van 1 resumes running & vice-versa from there.

Got it?! I hope that made sense! In total, our team would cover 205.56 miles—all while running from Charlottesville, VA to Jamestown, VA!

My first time “at bat” came around at 9:45am. My longest leg I was scheduled to run, was also my first. I couldn’t have planned that better myself! Being a morning runner, it was as if I was setting out for my morning jog—only I was planning to run in the countryside, on hills, at a fast pace; & unbeknownst to me, pretty much the entire workout would be solo. That is except for the lovely cows & horses that I passed & the country neighbors I waved “hi” to. My leg abruptly started when the runner before me KILLED her estimated time & arrived to the exchange point about 5 minutes “too early”. My Garmin hadn’t found the satellites. I didn’t have water in hand. I barely was mentally prepared. But that didn’t matter, it was my turn & I was excited to finally hit the pavement. Errrrr, gravel….. which I soon discovered would be the footing I would tackle for my first leg— previously determined to be 8.33 miles. With the whole debacle at the start of my leg, my Garmin didn’t pick up the first close to 0.4 miles. According to my Garmin, I ran 7.84 miles in 1:04:47 (8:16/mile). I was very happy with this leg, as it had been quite some time since I had ran on hills, and, I never run on gravel!

I guess now is a good time to mention a common term in the relay running world—a “kill”. Although I wasn’t fond of this term in the beginning, it did grow on me as the race progressed. A kill is basically when you pass another runner. My first “kill” came in the final mile of my first leg, when I passed a girl from another team. Rhonda: 1 kill.

Later Friday evening, I ran my 2^nd leg of the relay, at just before 7pm. I was slated for 6.32 miles, so I knew I would finish prior to the 8pm “night safety gear requirement time”. This leg is kind of a blur to me. I had a headache before the leg started {maybe I had ingested too much Nuun?}, but that headache quickly went away once my legs got moving. Isn’t running fabulous for healing the body?! I know I had quite a few hills to tackle, but not much else stands out in my mind as significantly interesting. I did enjoy running on pavement for much of this leg, & like the first leg, I was shooting for 8:00/mile pacing. According to my Garmin, I ran 6.33 miles in 52:33 (8:18/mile). Again, I was very happy with this leg & my body’s performance. No kills this time.

Less than 10 hours later, I started my 3^rd leg, which would ultimately result in me running just shy of 20 miles within 24 hours. This leg was by far the most memorable & most scary. Leg 3 for me began at 4:42am, in the pitch black night, without a soul in sight. I was all geared up in night safety gear, including my reflective Lululemon shorts. These shorts I hoped would be lucky by keeping me safe, since they happened to be the shorts I was wearing when I crossed my first marathon finish line! During the first 2-ish miles, my van stayed close, about 0.5-1 miles ahead. I recall at one point saying, “Stay close, this is so freakin’ scary!” I think it was around the 2-2.5 mile mark that I accomplished my 2^nd “kill” for the relay, which happened to be just as I was passing my van. They must have assumed I was going to be okay, since they drove on ahead & I didn’t see them again until the exchange zone {i.e. when I was done & could safely get back in my van!}.

While completing this nighttime leg, I had a headlamp on that allowed me to visualize all of the nasty country bugs flying just over my head, & probably, in my mouth. Great. Just what I need. Anyone who knows me knows my biggest fear in life is BUGS. Ick! That headlamp was also lovely for allowing me to see glaring eyes staring at me from the side of the road; wild animals I assume. Thank goodness they didn’t eat me alive. Thank you lucky Lulu shorts! All of these fears allowed me to ignore any pain or discomfort I was feeling from the hilly roads I was tackling. Leg 3 ended up being 5.37 miles, which I ran in 44:07 (8:13/mile). Oh & how could I forget! My third & final kill came shortly after the prior one. Total kills for Rhonda: THREE!

Although I could go on & on & on about all of the memories I made, which I will keep with me forever from this adventure, there are just too many to list here! I enjoyed the company of 11 other running fanatic mommas for nearly 36 hours while cooped up in a van with 5 them. In their each individual way, they are ALL awesome! I love that despite personal obstacles, each of them showed up during their respective legs & got the work done!! No excuses style! Really, we had a few asthmatics, a girl pregnant with twins, a few girls with bum body parts, girls with variety of paces, a girl still recovering from a car accident, & the quiet but insanely impressive type! I am once again reminded of the amazing strength that both womanhood & motherhood allows us to possess. For you see, our 200+ mile relay team was the only ALL-FEMALE team to complete this year. Naturally, that earned us a very much deserved award—number 1, baby!

To all of the new friends I made during this journey {& old ones that I already knew were awesome}, THANK YOU for the memories! Thank you for the kind words of encouragement when no one had the energy to keep trudging up another hill. Thank you for sharing your snacks. Thank you for sharing your “I’m a bad mom because…” stories, which make us all feel a little saner in our own parenting. Thank you for keeping the complaining to a minimum. Oh, & one last THANKS—for wearing your deodorant!

If you ever have the chance to complete a relay type of race (i.e. Ragnar), grab a few of your closest running friends & DO IT!! I will say though, Ragnar has a tough act to follow, should I tackle one of their races one day. The Colonial200 Relay was quite organized & on the ball. The exchange zone volunteers were AWESOME! The local police force that steadily patrolled the dark roads overnight was AMAZING! Although I said at the completion of this race that a relay should/would only be done once per year by The Running Blonde, I might now have relay amnesia, & could probably be persuaded into another one before next spring. Hehe……

In closing, I will share with you the “superlative” I was given for the race: “Most stylin’ runner. Who looks good running up a hill in reflective gear with no sleep? Rhonda! And she does it at an 8 minute pace. Because, well, she’s Rhonda.” HAHA! Thanks girls!

Late last week I was approached by a representative at SPIbelt to partner with them & review some of their products. Being the avid runner that I am, of course I agreed! I had utilized one of their products a couple of times, & I was definitely interested in seeing what else they had to offer.

It’s funny because one of my “DON’T DOs” prior to race day is to try something new. Well, I broke that rule at my first & only marathon last fall. While at the Richmond Marathon expo in November, I approached the SPIbelt booth & purchased one of their original pocket belts. I needed something to hold my fuel for my upcoming 26.2 miles. The next day, I reluctantly put on this new accessory & hoped for the best! I was pleasantly surprised. More on that later.

In a couple of weeks, I will be reviewing some of the SPIbelt products. Prior to that though, I will be doing a GIVEAWAY.

STAY TUNED on how you can be the recipient of a brand new SPIbelt!! The giveaway will occur on my Facebook page, so head on over there & “LIKE” The Running Blonde, if you haven’t already.

In honor of the 2015 Boston Marathon today, the awarded belt will be BLUE! Until the giveaway time arrives, check out their website {http://www.spibelt.com} & see what products they have to offer.

Happy Running!

 

This past Sunday I ran my 2^nd DC Cherry Blossom 10-mile race, only the distance wasn’t precisely what I expected. More about that later. For now, I thought it would be important to do a mini life update—a sort of “what have I been up to”. It’s been a while since I have posted.

From a running perspective, my training since January has taken a different turn. I am running more mileage than ever before, but at a much lower pace. Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) training is something that I have learned to love & enjoy; but at other moments, absolutely dread. I am educating myself constantly as to different zones, percentages, paces, etc. While I feel more rested in general, after the runs {since I am not fully depleting my energy on a daily basis}, many of my runs keep me frustrated & confused. Why oh why must my HR sky-rocket on the windy bridges?! My medical-background-self helps me to understand the different phases & cycles the body naturally goes through, which are all reflected via the HRM when running. But my every-day-runner-self doesn’t understand why I can have a fantastic HR run one day & an awful HR run the next {or vice-versa; it doesn’t always occur in that order}. Many other factors play into HRM training, for instance: stress, dehydration, sleep, fatigue, nutrition, weather, as well as so much other everyday stuff. It’s quite a separate arena itself from just running! It’s one topic that in the future I do wish to fully understand, since I am a running coach after all! But as with many learning opportunities in life, it is a slow progression & a hand-on experience understanding.

I feel compelled to elaborate upon my HRM training to likewise get my readers thinking about training this way, as well to educate my personal athletes who may follow my workouts. I am sure it is not encouraging to see someone’s coach log 10+ minute miles, when you may feel that they should be running faster. A sort of “lead by example” thought process. But, don’t fret. Although I may log 9s-10s in training, I am still pushing it on race day to 7s-8s {depending on the race’s distance}. Since this training has begun with my coach, I have PR’d in the 5K, 10K, & half marathon distance. The proof is in the pudding!

From a personal perspective, a few things have been going on. First off, as I have mentioned before, we are in the midst of the Terrible Three’s {yeah, throw out that Terrible Two’s mantra you may have heard of in the past—THREE year old is WAY worse, ha!!}. So that phase of parenting, while fun most days, can be exhausting many others. The hubster & I are just trudging on through, looking forward to the day when a plastic Melissa & Doug spoon color doesn’t result in an all-out-tantrum {hehe}. Secondly, many people who know me in “real life” ask about work. Yep, that is going well too! The babies are awesome & I still LOVE being a Nurse Practitioner. My 24-hour shifts can be exhausting, but I love the sort of schedule which allows me to be home more with my babies, while still having a thriving & mind-stimulating career with the sick babies.

The last thing going on in my personal life is grasping the fact that my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer—2 weeks ago yesterday to be exact. I have been processing & questioning, along with her & my other family members, what all this means & what her options are. Because she has already discussed her diagnosis on social media, I feel comfortable mentioning it here. I think that my athletes {& fabulous friends—both running & non-running} should know what is going on personally. Even if no one ever reads my blog, I love having a place for personal reflection years from now. Since this is a running blog & not an all-about-me website though, I plan to refrain from mentioning much more regarding my mother’s cancer. It is personal & a private situation. I just ask for understanding in the coming months if I am ever delayed in replying to emails, weekly recaps, questions, or comments. Please also keep her in your thoughts, & if prayer is your thing, say one for her. Thanks y’all!

So, on that note, happy thoughts & back to the recap from the DC Cherry Blossom race!

Saturday morning, my dear friend & running partner Julie drove us both up to DC. We enjoyed a quick girls’ weekend getaway full of eating warm meals at restaurants & happily retiring early to our beds {remember those 3-year-olds I mentioned, she has one of ‘em too!}. Travel itself to DC was typical par for the course—traffic, traffic, traffic from the time we got anywhere close to the city, until we were safely tucked away in our parking garage spot. All of that travel & traffic brought on a wicked headache for The Running Blonde. Nothing a Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding dessert couldn’t help fix!

On race morning, we woke up at 6:30am & were out the door of our hotel by 7am. We walked/jogged about a mile to the start line, where the gun was set to go off at 7:30am. En route, we passed many of the famous architecture buildings, for which DC is well-known. With only a few minutes to spare, we entered the RED corral, which was second to take off. Prior to the main race start, a gentleman on the intercom explained that the race distance was shortened due to an emergency on the course. Following the race, I learned that the incident involved a pedestrian & a motorcycle {despite the road already being closed for the race}, all prior to 6am. I do hope that the lady who was injured has a speedy & healthy recovery!

Once the race began, off we went. It’s funny to experience a travelled-to race for a 2^nd year in a row, yet the actual experience is SO different. Last year, I paced a friend who was hoping to run 8:00 flats for the duration of the race. You can read the recap here; Sophia & I had a fabulous race in 2014! My goal for this year was similar—7:50-8:00 per mile. It would be a PR, not by much, but I knew that would be what I was capable of on race day! This year I allowed Julie to set the pace some. We had decided pre-race that we would run together & have a blast—although she is capable of much faster! On Sunday, I enjoyed the race, even though it felt harder than my half marathon 3 weeks prior, I just took it all in. I noticed the beautiful buildings, the other fantastic runners, the gorgeous bloomed trees—just generally a more “opened-eyes” experience. I couldn’t even recall, when prompted by Julie prior to the race, if there were elevations or places where we would cross paths with the runners ahead of us. On Sunday, I discovered that both happened! As a runner, I admit that I need to work on enjoying these races, & not always be so focused on the time on the watch. It’s a work in progress!

Although I had a good race, it was definitely a work-out. When reflecting on why it was so tough, compared to Shamrock in March, I blame my crappy diet on the day before, combined with a headache. Sure I earned the time I had hoped, but it was a tough run. I took 4 chews at the 5-mile mark, plus 2 more chews at the 7/8-mile mark. Typically, I can get through a 10-mile race with no chews, or maybe just once at the 8-ish-mile mark. I drank water &/or Gatorade at most of the water stops & high-fived a few cheering ladies on the side of the road. I pushed through. It was one of those days that you are super proud of yourself for not letting your mental game defeat you, due to physical annoyances.

Race day conditions itself was pretty darn fantastic! The weather was gorgeous {maybe slightly warm mid-race, but sunny & quite pretty nonetheless} & there was crowd support along the entire route. My favorite spectators by far though were the all-female band who was jammin’ out during the final 5K! The race went off without a hitch, even with the course re-routing {you seriously would have never known of the issue if your watch didn’t ding the wrong distance at the end}. Kudos to the race directors!! The other runners, as Julie made note of to me, were quite polite with no shoving & pushing around us, despite it being a crowded course from start, clear through to the finish. The miles along the water where the Cherry Blossom trees had blossomed were gorgeous {although a bit repetitive, if I must be honest!}.

The miles ticked along as follows:

Mile 1 – 8:00

Mile 2 – 7:58

Mile 3 – 8:05

Mile 4 – 7:51

Mile 5 – 8:05

Mile 6 – 8:07

Mile 7 – 8:09

Mile 8 – 8:05

Mile 9 – 7:57

Final 0.5 miles to the Finish – 7:38

Garmin Time: 1:16:04 (8:01/mile) for 9.5 miles

Official Time: 1:16:00 for 9.5 miles

5.8-mile Split: 45:28 (7:50/mile)

Estimated 10-mile Finish  {according to the website}: 1:21:12 (8:05/mile) – would not have been a PR for me, but debatable as I do think I could have PR’d {who really cares—there is always next year!}

Age Group: 183 out of 2,300 (top 10%)

Gender: 829 out of 11,087 (top 10%)

Overall: 2,788 out of 17,935 (top 20%)

In summary {if you breezed past the last few paragraphs, I certainly don’t fault you, I know I can be “wordy”}, the race this past weekend was awesome! I think I would have PR’d, which is always a top priority at a race; but more importantly than that, I ENJOYED the experience despite it being a tougher race for myself than I was expecting. I’m thinking I will keep up the Cherry Blossom tradition & enter the 2016 lottery too!

I hope you enjoy the following pics from the weekend!

Up Next For The Running Blonde: Colonial 200 Relay, along with a group of fabulous ladies!

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Oh great, another race recap of how great that blonde girl thinks she did while running!” Well, if that is what you were expecting, I am so sorry to disappoint. If you were hoping to not have to read mile splits from my most recent road racing endeavor, well, you’re in luck!

This past weekend is a pretty BIG deal in Hampton Roads, specifically Virginia Beach—both from an economical/tourism perspective & in the running community. The Shamrock Weekend holds many races over 2 days including something for every member of your family—an 8K, a Final Mile, a Leprechaun Dash, a half marathon, & a full marathon; with various challenges incorporating multiple races along the way. The weather is typically great for racing, although you’re likely to encounter some wind, at some point, thanks to running so close to the coast. The course itself, super flat! Crowd support varies, in my experience, having completed the half marathon race four times now. However, the racing company, J&A Racing, certainly never disappoints & always throws a great race, with what some might say, an even better after party {seriously, you get FOUR beers for free & there are great bands playing live music!}. If you’ve never ventured to this area of Virginia, you should!! You would likely be pleasantly surprised about the vastness & awesomeness of the local running community!

Sure, I had a great race on Sunday, even PR’d (by 3:18), with an official time of 1:45:43 (8:04/mile). I met my race goal of 1:45:xx by executing a safe & conservative run with even 8:00 splits. Thinking back, now over 4 days later, my legs had more in them; however, I was dead-set on my goal & I am happy I achieved it!!

BUT, that is not the point of this particular race recap. Instead, it felt fitting to highlight & brag upon my athletes—those are the people who keep my coaching dreams alive on a daily basis. Their accomplishments are what make my coaching heart smile. When they do great, I am elated with them. When they have a bad race, I feel devastated with them. So, sit back & enjoy as you read about 11 runners!! They are all from different backgrounds, with different goals & obstacles from which they succeeded & ShamROCKED this past weekend {all except 2 were members of The Running Blonde’s Shamrock Running Club; the other 2 are coached privately, on a 1-on-1 basis}.

Abby: It seems fitting to start with the athlete that I have known the longest—27 years precisely—my baby sister. She is also my longest coached athlete, as I began her running journey with her almost 18 months ago, which was shortly after I became a RRCA-certified coach. This past weekend, Abby took on her FIRST half marathon, finishing it in 2:53:08 (13:13/mile). With this being her 1^st attempt at this distance, we didn’t really set a time goal—she just wanted to FINISH! This particular athlete’s major obstacle for which she had to overcome was becoming a student teacher during the final 8 weeks of training. Although it derailed many of her training runs, she still stuck with it & can now officially call herself a half marathoner!! Good job, Abby!

Michelle: This particular athlete has made excellent strides since our first half marathon training session, exactly 1 year ago. Michelle is a self-proclaimed “Running Turtle” & happily embraces this title. For each of the 3 half marathons that I have coached her, she has improved upon her time by close to a minute per mile. On Sunday, she had an official time of 3:19:16 (15:13/mile), which was a PR by 14 minutes + 33 seconds—in just over 4 months since Harbor Lights!! Just to give you a little background, she ran the 2014 Shamrock half in 3:44:41. Michelle is making HUGE strides & I for one am super proud of her!

Antonette: After taking a break from running, Antonette was ready to resume the sport, in part, for improving her overall heath. She also hoped to PR with a goal time of 2:30. However, what she couldn’t predict was a sore foot that presented itself with 6 weeks of training left. Once anything serious was ruled out, she resumed running after a 2+ week break, with the likely culprit of her pain being a bunion. The likelihood of a PR was out, but that didn’t stop this amazing woman. She ran on Sunday & came within 2 minutes of her PR, with an official time of 2:37:30 (12:01/mile). Next time, I am certain she will crush that old PR!! Fantastic, Antonette!

Joseph: Joe, as I called him, even if he referred to himself as Joseph (ha!), came upon our group via his girlfriend, who I had trained for her first half marathon last fall. She also was in our running club initially, but had to defer the race due to a foot injury {we missed you on Sunday, Leigh!}. Joe had a goal of accomplishing 1:45-1:55 at Shamrock. His first half, last fall in Richmond, was run in seconds under the 2 hour mark. He admittedly lost sight of some of his training, specifically when Leigh was unable to run with the group, but surprisingly, that didn’t stop him from achieving a PR this past weekend. Shamrock rewarded him for sticking with it—with an official time of 1:51:41 (8:31/mile). Congrats Joe, on your 8+ minute PR!!!

Julia: Also a fellow NNP, my co-worker Julia is a natural athlete. She is an avid soccer player & took to running quite well. I vividly recall the conversation after her first 5 mile run, I believe back in December. She was elated, as was I! As a newbie to running, we didn’t really have a time goal for Julia’s first half marathon. We discussed potential times, based on her first race EVER last month, a local 5K which she completed in just under 31 minutes. Although I am very proud of her Shamrock performance, I understand {as a fellow perfectionist!} her desire to have done better. Regardless of the time & her feelings on the race, she is now officially a half marathoner!! Julia crossed the finish line in 2:40:27 (12:15/mile) – not too shabby at all girlfriend! Great job!

Shanny: Yet another NNP, my friend Shanny, completed her first half marathon this past weekend. This athlete began her running journey in October, when on a whim she ran the Wicked 10K, essentially untrained. Although she did great at that race, Shanny knew she would need to properly train to have a better race for her first half marathon. Along with a few others, she completed the 16-week plan. With the exception of bad weather days & a sore foot, Shanny stuck to her personalized training plan very well. She was rewarded with a 2:18:10 (10:33/mile) finishing time. She has been bitten with the running bug & is already planning her next half marathon! Great things are to come for this athlete!!

Meghan: If you’ll recall from my Frozen Booty 8K recap, Meghan entered our running club via a raffle she won. She completed 8-weeks of training with the group, during which time she did various other local & traveled to races. Weather during this awful winter & a bout of sickness sidelined a few runs, but it didn’t matter one bit this past weekend. She completed the Dolphin Challenge & PR’d in both the 8K & 13.1 distances! Her official 8K time was 53:45 (10:49/mile) & her official half marathon time was 2:19:21 (10:38/mile). Her 2:20 goal was crushed when she PR’d by exactly 10 minutes. Great job, Meghan!!

Margarita: Another co-worker of mine, Margarita, has been running shorter races for quite some time. Once we {all of the coworkers} coerced her into signing up for the half marathon, her first, the next step was to con her into joining the running club. She happily, or maybe I should say willingly, to get us “off her back” obliged {hehe!}. Margarita completed most of her training runs with her hubby, who was also running his first half marathon at Shamrock. I should add that this woman works a crazy amount of hours, at many of the local hospitals, & still managed to get in most of her training runs. Kudos! She crossed the finish line in 2:37:09, which equated to exactly 12 minutes miles on average. So awesome, Margarita!!

Mary: You’ll recall this name as the lady who won her running club entry via a contest by “Predicting My Marathon Time”. Mary is also an avid tri-athlete & an extremely dedicated runner. Our friendship goes back to high school days. Her goal going into the half marathon was to break 1:50. Sadly, she did not PR this weekend—missed it by 12 seconds with an official time of 1:52:16 (8:34/mile). This “upset” was the hardest as a coach for me to “swallow”. With the exception of a few days off due sciatica pain, Mary completed ALL of her training runs. She attended every single Saturday group long run & also amongst the other group members, she won the attendance award for our Tuesday morning group runs! So as you can see, her not PR’ing was quite confusing & frustrating. After reflecting upon the day, we resolved that fatigue & possibly electrolytes may have been the culprit. Yet another perfect example of sadly, sometimes you just have a bad day. Regardless though, I am still uber proud of Mary!! She has some great triathlons coming up & one day soon I am certain she will break through that 1:50 barrier!

Kara: This half marathoner is the first of two athletes whom I coached for Shamrock, but they were not in my running club. Due to working & family time constraints, Kara chose the “Training Plan Only” option for this particular race. After her initial consultation, we developed a plan that would both work with her lifestyle, as well as focus upon her race goal of 1:45. Along the way, Kara & I also became friends—an added perk in this coaching business! As the race approached, we decided that I would pace her for the first 5-10K, to allow for her adrenaline to not get the best of her with a too-early-surge resulting in late-in-the-race-fatigue. Kara’s excellent ability to follow the training plan precisely was rewarded with both an almost 9 minute PR & a well-deserved goal crushing! She crossed the finish line with an official time of 1:44:26 (7:58/mile). This speedy lady has great things in her running future!! Excellent, Kara!

Lorraine: The newest athlete to enter my coaching world is Lorraine. She was referred to me by Meghan, whom I mentioned above. This amazing athlete, long before I began coaching her took on the task of completing the Neptune Challenge. This particular feat was new to Shamrock Weekend this year—which included an 8K on Saturday, a half marathon on Sunday {with a required completion time of under 1:50}, then a full marathon just minutes after completing the prior 13.1 miles. A lofty goal it was, in my opinion, especially with the low mileage base that Lorraine had established. But what I would soon learn about Lorraine is that she is one fierce & dedicated runner. She will stop at nothing to earn a piece of bling to add to her ever growing collection!! On Saturday, she took the 8K easy, but on Sunday she brought her A-game. She amazingly enough PR’d both her half marathon AND her full marathon this past weekend. Her half official time was 1:49:11 (8:20/mile) & her full official time was 5:46:43 (13:14/mile). The half PR was by almost 3 ½ minutes & the full was less than 60 seconds from a full hour PR! Amazing!! I should add, she is uncertain of the accuracy of her full marathon time & believes it was actually lower—which would equate to an even bigger PR! Awesome job, Lorraine!

I hope you have enjoyed reading this recap, as much as I enjoyed writing it. I am SO very proud of ALL of these athletes!!! I can’t wait to follow & assist with their future running journeys!

Up Next For The Running Blonde: Cherry Blossom 10-miler in mid-April

Spring races on the East Coast, probably any coast for that matter, are tough in regards to planning your attire. The exact temperature can be variable & you never know how the wind will play into your race day. Do you go with tights or capri pants & risk possibly over-heating? Or choose the shorts & just deal with being chilly at the start? And then there is the upper body. Long sleeves or arm sleeves? Tank top or short sleeves? Jog bra, anyone? Gloves to keep or gloves to toss? Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Today while trying to plan ahead & get my Shamrock Half Marathon race day outfit together, I was caught off guard by the UPS man making a delivery. He had the pleasure of seeing me in one of my options, calf sleeves & al! I doubt he cared, or maybe, even noticed. Hehe!

I know the race is still 10 days out, but I am a planner; a character trait that I shall never deny! One thing I know for certain, for me personally, is that I will be wearing shorts & a tank top. I don’t tend to be cold once I get going, but others who do, might decide to wear a bit more clothing. Or some folks, even less material! Whatever you decide to wear, make sure you are comfortable trudging many miles in your particular gear. Also, don’t be afraid to make a stop at your local thrift store to pick up a sweatshirt or tear-away pants to wear until just before the gun!

When I toe the line in Virginia Beach next weekend, I plan to wear the outfit picture below {pending I don’t make any last minute changes… I am a woman after all!}. I thought this would be a fun & informative post to portray some of The Running Blonde’s favorite running brands. Disclaimer: I am not sponsored, nor supported by any of these brands.

Top: Lululemon Ebb to Street Tank – a “soft, sweat-wicking tank was designed to feel like a second skin”. It has a light support bra built in, but I still prefer to wear a separate sports bra {see below}. I have it in the heathered clear mint color. Super cute & comfy!

Bottom: Oiselle Flyte Shorts – “comfortably compressive, super wicking, antimicrobial & made to stay put”. Super comfy shorts, which only minimally ride up {don’t forget your Body Glide!}. FYI, they have a “long” style also, for those who prefer to show a little less leg. I have them in the black color. Only negative, no pockets for my fuel!

Bra: Moving Comfort Juno sports bra – “racerback powerhouse has it all—the ultimate in support, shape, & customizable fit”. This really is the BEST sports bra I’ve ever worn! It works well for busty ladies, as well as those who weren’t blessed with very much. The adjustable Velcro straps are awesome for when the bra stretches out, months into wearing it {& no, they don’t lose their Velcro “stick”}. Bonus for nursing mothers, great for breastfeeding!

Gloves: Under Armour Storm Brave the Run Gloves – a very nice pair of running gloves. I have my negatives on them – finger “touch” strips for your smart phone really don’t work well & the built in pocket is in a poor location as it is un-useable due to my Garmin watch in that spot of my wrist. Regardless, they do the job of keeping my hands warm on cold days!

Socks: Injinji Mid-Weight No-Show Socks – if you’ve never tried toe socks, YOU SHOULD! I looooooveee them! I cannot rave enough about how awesome they are. I have known a couple of people to disagree, but overall, most people I recommend them too, they adore them as well. They come in light-weight also, if that’s your thing.

Sleeves: Zensah Compression Leg Sleeves – there is much debate as to IF compression is beneficial to runners. I don’t care much about that debate, because for me, they absolutely DO help with leg soreness after races. But that’s another post for another day. I have them in black & tie dye neon pink—I plan to wear my black ones on race day.

Hair: Sweaty Band in Shamrock Print – a race day wardrobe would be incomplete without my obligatory Sweaty Band! This specific print is not available any longer {or so my friend said last year} & is slightly stretched out, but I still love it nonetheless! These bands are great at keeping my hair back & out of my face, so I can focus on flying down the road!

 

What do you plan to wear for your upcoming race? Will I see you at Shamrock?!

This past Saturday I ran my 9^th 5K—but my first time running the Falcon 5K in VA Beach. The race was held at one of the local public high schools, & I believe, it benefitted their track & field/cross-county team (at least that’s who I made my check payable to!). My coach had recommended that I complete this race as a speed test for the upcoming half marathon {Shamrock}, so I happily obliged. One of my running goals for 2015 is to improve upon my time/speed/endurance at the shorter distances, specifically, the 5K & 10K. So, more experience is exactly what I needed. Practice makes perfect!

These past 2 months have brought about more weekly running volume than ever before. I have pushed my body to the limits, & surprisingly, it is cooperating (knock on wood)! From January 1^st up until Saturday’s race, I had logged a whopping 381.53 miles. One of those weeks was even my first 50+ mile week. I had intended to do a blog post about that spectacular week, but time just simply got away from me. Such is life! Personally, the twins are deep in the trenches of the wild 3-year-old stage & are keeping us busy from sun-up until sun-down! And their sleeping regimen, well, that’s a whole ‘nother topic all together! There is a lot of “this too shall pass” crossing through my mind a lot these days, & on some occasions, verbally {loudly!!} from my mouth. Running however remains my constant stress-reliever & happy place; along with time spent being with my amazing hubby.

Back to this race recap, now that I have provided you with a brief current life recap….ha!

Race morning began uneventfully with a 6am alarm so that I could leave my house by 6:45am. I then headed the 25 minutes to the race location. En route, I enjoyed my usual Larabar ALT & a banana. Once there, Julie & I completed almost 2 miles to warm-up, & then headed to the start line. The start line, being about 30 feet from our cars, was in the school parking lot. I must say, I am very much enjoying these small-town-locally-benefitted races!

Just before heading to the start, I made a last-minute decision to shed the long-sleeve shirt that was under my Running Etc. Ambassador Team singlet—since the sun was out & the temp seemed to be rising. This proved to be a good choice. Temp-wise, I was comfortable the entire race! My watch however decided to have issues in the 3 minutes between the warm-up completion & the race start. At the moment my legs took off, I had no idea if I would even have a functioning watch for which to base my pace upon. Regardless, we were running—& quite fast it seemed! A few days before the race, my coach had given me a goal of 7:15/mile. Guuulp…. that would be 13 seconds per mile faster than my 5K PR…. a TALL order, I thought.

With this race being at a high school, there was a good amount of teenagers, who appeared to be pretty speedy at the start. I tried to both stay out of their way, as well as not run their pace & kill my chances of a PR. I sort of stayed in line with 10-15 seconds behind Julie, as well as about 5-10 seconds behind my friend Marie’s husband, Bill {both Running Etc. Ambassador Team members!}. The first mile surprisingly ticked by pretty quickly. Somewhere along the way, my watch appeared to be working again. Even if it didn’t pick up the entire race, I would at least have a total time clocked, as well as being able to see my actual pace during the race… once it finally connected with the satellites.

Mile 1 – 6:59 (due to the Garmin issue, actual pace according to my coach was about 7:10)

Most of my “un-PR-ing” 5Ks had been when I felt like total crap during the 2^nd mile. When the first mile dinged with such a fast pace, I thought, “great, here’s another non-PR”. BUT, this time was different. I didn’t get that crappy feeling. Was it a hard workout? Sure thing, as it should be. But overall I felt pretty darn good! Maybe it’s due to the massive {for me} amount of miles I had been logging during the prior 2 months. Or as my coach said, it’s because of all the slow miles I had been doing, as part of my HR-based training. Regardless, maybe, just maybe, I am becoming a believer!

Mile 2 – 7:28 (due to the Garmin issue, actual pace according to my coach was about 7:18)

Okay, just a mile more. I can do this, right?! I think the main motivation for me during this race was just keeping up with my “target” people {Julie & Bill}, as well as every so often I would pass people—even my favorite, a few guys got “chicked”! Being able to reel the pace in during the final mile of a 5K was probably my “ahh-ha” moment, which some people say is pretty hard to do. I need to stick with exactly what I am doing & it will pay off.

Mile 3 – 7:18 (due to the Garmin issue, actual time could have been +/- 10 seconds)

The pretty cool part about how the Falcon 5K ended was finishing on their high school track. That was a new one for me. Once we turned onto the track, I knew I had less than 400m to go. I could see the finish & I knew it was going to be a PR kind of day {I actually knew that about a mile earlier!}. Kick it & finish strong, I told myself!

Final 0.13 miles to the Finish – 7:16 (due to the Garmin issue, actual time could have been +/- 10 seconds)

Naturally, I am ecstatic about this race performance! It had been 447 days {December 2013 to be exact} since I had run the Santa Shuffle in Portsmouth, VA in 23:09 (7:28/mile). I had tried a few times to beat that time, each time to no avail. On Saturday though, I crushed that time by 22 seconds!

Official Time: 22:47 (7:20/mile)

Garmin Time {for what it’s worth}: 22:47 for 3.13 miles (7:16/mile)

Overall Female {because really, who cares about those boys, HA!}: 7^th out of 81; but 3^rd of ADULT women {not teenagers… sorry youngins’!}

Age Group: 2^nd out of 14 {CONGRATS to Julie on 1^st place in our AG!}

Thanks to all of the volunteers at the race, who directed the runners on where to go & provided a water station! The VB police’s presence was also nice & appreciated. I think this fun little hometown race will be a nice one to run each year. I really enjoyed plodding through a quiet neighborhood that I hadn’t run through before. Kudos to Cox High School for putting on a good event!

Up Next For The Running Blonde: Shamrock Half Marathon, on March 22^nd {a FAVORITE race for local runners!}