We Wander And Ponder

Jun 17 2013

Running, Lately

Running lately has been as fun as I’d hoped. Back to routine, back to progress. I enjoy running more when I’m working toward a goal and a new training cycle is definitely making me excited about what’s to come. My body is slowly getting used to 5 runs per week again and I’m all too happy to climb into bed at night. After three weeks of a new training cycle, I’m happy to see that I really haven’t lost any speed since Boston (which is surprising considering the sloth-like state I assumed for 5+ weeks!).

This past weekend I went home to see my family for the first time since Christmas (other than seeing them in Boston). I was looking forward to the trip for weeks, especially because we have a new addition to the family and I’m an aunt to THREE crazy boys now. Unfortunately, the trip didn’t go as planned and after car trouble on Friday night, I was really upset and disappointed that our Friday night plans with my family were botched and we had to return to Chi to deal with the car.

DERP!

Luckily, Megabus had available seats on an outgoing bus the next morning and a decent return time on Sunday afternoon. Friday was a long and exhausting night but I forgot about all of that when we arrived at my mom’s house and the entire family came over to enjoy an afternoon hanging out at the house and in the back yard. It’s times like these when I really miss the peaceful quiet of my mom’s backyard. I sat on the deck in a comfortable chair with a beer in my hand and closed my eyes while the sun shined down. (If I stopped to imagine it, I felt like I was back in Cabo minus the sun pool.) That feeling has me longing for an apartment with a small patch of “green” in the concret jungle of Chicago.

Because of the travel difficulty on Friday night, I wasn’t able to run my normal long run on Saturday morning. I switched it to Sunday morning. After dragging myself out of bed, I laced up and went out around my hometown. Since I was in high school, the park district has added plenty of paths and trails that basically go all the way around the town. I’m nostalgic about the older paths because I ran them when I was younger, during cross country in middle school and high school. It’s funny how they never seem to change, but I’m glad they never do.

I usually run out-and-back on a lakefront route in Chicago but I felt like I was ‘exploring’ more during Sunday’s run. In a matter of 90 minutes, I ran through practically the entire town. And I got some nice hill training in too because, unlike Chicago, the town actually has hills!

These pictures are dedicated to all the urban runners out there. This is what “nature” looks like, people!

If you run in the city, when was the last time you ran on a wooded path? Do you make an effort to find paths or trails like this every once in awhile? Do you prefer city or suburban running?

-J

Jun 12 2013

8 Comments

Goals

Dreams Are Scary

It’s week 3 of a new training cycle.

I took a lot of time off after Boston to recover mentally and physically (more mentally than physically). It didn’t take long for the fire to start burning, though. Within a matter of weeks a race schedule for the remainder of the year fell into place and I started to get excited about running again, slowly by surely. I have more energy when I’m in a training cycle, at least if we leave out the long Saturday afternoon naps (if I’m so lucky.) It’s nice to have something to look forward to.

I set some goals for 2013 that sounded super scary on January 1st (with Coach Hadley‘s help).

I rarely set a goal race time at the beginning of a training cycle. I want the race to come to me. I don’t want the pressure of the time on the clock to ruin my training. I want to keep pushing and see what happens. The closer I get to the start line, the more comfortable I become with a goal time. At that point, I know what I’m capable of and, if all goes well, that number will be there waiting for me at the finish line. Plus, there’s always the secondary goal to be happy about.

This year was the first time I actually typed out mid-term and long-term time goals.

It seemed so silly–to let the dreamer in me out. I kept my goals to myself. When I ran Chicago 2011, my goal was to finish and have fun. When I ran Twin Cities 2012, my goal was under 3:20. A few weeks before the race, 3:18 seemed possible. I ran a 3:17. At Boston 2013, my goal was 3:12-3:14 but I wanted more than that. I wanted to experience the race that I’d waiting 2 years to run. I knew I could PR after a strong cycle, but I honestly would have been happy just to do so by 1 second. It was enough just to be there. I ran a 3:14.

If you asked me in January if I’d be running a fall marathon, my answer was “no”.

I thought I would want to take some time off. With the Twin Cities and Boston cycles so close to one another, it just seemed like the fall would be a good time to rest and recharge. But here I am again! 3 marathons within one year, with a total of 18 months of training. I’m gearing up for races and thinking about the times I want to see on the finish clock for each distance, from 5k to the marathon.

I put my race schedule in a Countdown app this morning and gasped at how little time there remains until my races. 72 Days until Hood to Coast with Nuun?! Insanity!

Dreams are scary but I guess it’s time to buck up, work hard, and celebrate when they come true.

-J

Jun 03 2013

24 Comments

Goals, Runnerds

New Training Cycle: Return to Habit

I started a new training cycle last week. I’m 20 weeks out from the Grand Rapids Marathon, with plenty of shorter distances to train for and get me to the start line of my 4th marathon (what the what?!). Last week was the first week I ran 5 times in 7 days since the beginning of April.

It turns out my legs still know what to do. My lungs, on the other hand, are still getting the hang of it. It doesn’t help that Chicago’s weather has been incredibly bipolar lately. One day it’s 50 degrees and rainy. The next it’s 77 degrees with 70% humidity. I keep telling myself that things will become easier once the weather decides to be somewhat consistent and we can all acclimate to the heat around here.

I can’t believe that Boston was 7 weeks ago.

Time to get back to it and get ready for a strong cycle:

Less beer, more Nuun.

I love a good brew. I normally drink a beer with dinner every night of the week and clearly, enjoy more than one brew on the weekends. With the heat of the summer coming, that’s probably going to change. The last thing I want to do is sabotage my workouts by consuming too much beer and forgetting about hydrating properly. (It definitely helps that I recently tried Watermelon Nuun and have a new favorite, tied with Citrus Fruit. Tasty hydrating concoction, I love you!)

Hellooooo, Jillian Michaels!

In preparing for Boston, I did something I never thought I would do. I purchased a Jillian Michaels DVD, complete with her airbrushed abs and flowing locks on the cover. 6 Week 6 Pack Attack! In all seriousness, it’s a crazy hard workout. (I’ve been humbled more than 10x with this 30-minute workout.) Even on days when I don’t have time to spend some quality time with JM, doing core work needs to become a routine again, not just an afterthought or something I “forget to do”.

Morning, sunshine!

Gone are the days when I can lazily wake up at 7:30 and hope to squeeze in a workout before starting work (that never really worked for my anyway!). The morning alarm is going to have to happen a lot earlier. Training for Boston was different than any of my previous cycles because I fought the winter elements on the lakefront, which usually meant that I waited until the late morning or early afternoon to run at the warmest point of the day. (That’s a luxury that I truly appreciate.) One good thing about the summer is that you *have* to wake up early in order to avoid melting into a puddle of sweat any later than 8 AM. I’m willing to set my alarm to 5 or 6 AM just so I don’t feel like I’m going to die on the run. As another “nudge”, I’ve written myself angry messages as the titles of my alarms on my iPhone. Whatever works, right?! (One of them is actually nice. It reads: “Coffee is waiting“. That’s a nice thought.)

Get in my belly!

I think I’m getting back on the smoothie train, guys. I’m not sure how I managed to enjoy frozen smoothies when it was 10 degrees and snowing outside, but I did. Now that it’s getting warmer, I think I’ll look forward to putting them in my belly again. I don’t have any super tasty recipes to share, but my favorite lately has been:

frozen black cherries
frozen mixed berries
greek yogurt (with honey)
almond milk
Tera’s Whey organic dark chocolate protein powder
chia seeds
and a banana or avocado.

I don’t think it’s any accident that I started to feel stronger when I began adding more protein and fat to my diet. (I also add Udo’s omega oil and Floradix liquid iron to my shakes!) Last week, I also made a point to go to the grocery store with a list that made actual MEALS. Saved money for the entire week and made some delicious dinners including: salmon with yogurt-mustard-dill sauce with egg noodles and steamed broccoli, breaded pork chops with mashed potatoes and sweet corn on the cob, and chicken with sautéed onions, roma tomatoes, and jalapeño with brown rice and asparagus. I doubt that will happen every week but it felt so good to cook fresh food at home each night of the week.

I finally sat down to read two months’ worth of running magazines & came across this quote in the May issue of Running Times:

Getting back into a routine is tough at times but all of these things make me feel more productive and energetic. How do you trick yourself into following a routine again? Do you find it easy or difficult to start a new training cycle?

-J

May 28 2013

2 Comments

Thoughts

The Habit of ‘Reading Later’

Lately, I’ve been into long reads. I’ve been saving every link that sounds remotely interesting to Pocket and spending time each day reading articles that I normally wouldn’t. It’s no surprise that there’s so much interesting content out there. Instead of scrolling through links and thinking to myself, “well, that sounds interesting. I’ll read it later”, it’s refreshing to sit down & devour interesting reads each day. Here are some of my recent favorites (some running-related, some random):

15 Things to Keep Doing in Your 20s

Like most, I’m a bit overwhelmed by all of the things we’re “supposed to do” at a certain age. I think I’d change the title of this article to “15 Things to Keep Doing Until You Die”. Yep, that sounds about right.

Company Man by David Sedaris

I recently read Sedaris’ new novel and it was just as good as I expected it to be. (Perfect vacation read for anyone looking for one!) I used to sleepwalk when I was a kid so the story about his sister in this New Yorker article is especially entertaining.

Summer Reading: 2013′s Best New Running Books

I added several of these to my Goodreads ‘To Read’ bookshelf. Hoping to find the time to read them this summer.

What Life Was Like Before Smartphones

Simple and true. (Unplugging on vacation was quiet and heavenly.) Along the same lines, this NYTimes article discusses techies ditching their online time as well: Disruptions: Even the Tech Elites Leave Gadgets Behind.

Bret, Unbroken

If there’s one article you read from this post, this should be it. Runner’s World published it at the beginning of May, but it’s still got me thinking. Note: get the Kleenex ready!

This Is Water

Still sorting through thoughts on this speech by the late DFW. One of my favorite sections is:

And the world will not discourage you from operating on your default settings, because the world of men and money and power hums along quite nicely on the fuel of fear and contempt and frustration and craving and the worship of self. Our own present culture has harnessed these forces in ways that have yielded extraordinary wealth and comfort and personal freedom. The freedom to be lords of our own tiny skull-sized kingdoms, alone at the centre of all creation. This kind of freedom has much to recommend it. But there are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talked about in the great outside world of winning and achieving and displaying. The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day. That is real freedom. The alternative is unconsciousness, the default setting, the “rat race” – the constant gnawing sense of having had and lost some infinite thing.

Your Coffee Horoscope

On Saturday, I somehow managed to make it to 4 pm without a single cup of coffee. While it was unintentional, I realized the true extent of my caffeine addiction after a lingering headache and a killer 3-hour nap on the couch that afternoon. Still, I find anything relating coffee choice to personality interesting. My only question is, what if I order something different every time?!

Alexi Pappas: The Rawbook

There’s no doubt Alexi has somewhat of a following, especially after the Youtube video of her cheering on Jordan Hasay. The Rawbook interview just adds another layer.

WANT! Get Shit Done Mug

This isn’t a read, but a WANT! They also have the design as a large format poster that I’m considering. I might have to dedicate a wall to GSD-related prints because it would look good next to this one (that I have yet to frame).

What have you been reading lately? Do you save articles to read later or just in the moment?

- J

May 24 2013

2 Comments

Thoughts, Travel

11 Things I Learned On Vacation

This past Tuesday, I returned from a 5-night vacation in Cabo San Lucas. This is what I learned:

It’s never too early to order a piña colada. They’re especially delicious for breakfast.
Buying “real books”, as opposed to using my Kindle, was liberating. No screens = happy eyeballs.
Taking the time to think about absolutely nothing is time well spent.
I missed the Chicago lakefront after approximately 4 days away. A humid gym at the resort just didn’t cut it.
Avoiding clocks is something everyone should do on vacation (or whenever possible. weekends?)
Note to future self: do not go to a resort for my 40th birthday with a gaggle of girlfriends. You’ll look ridiculous, tired, & drunk.
My cup of coffee in the morning has never tasted so good as it did on that balcony overlooking the ocean. :sigh:
Fresh fruit and Nuun. Fresh fruit and Nuun. Margaritas. Fresh fruit and Nuun.
SPF50 prevented a sunburn. It also prevented a nice tan from developing.
Never, EVER take full advantage of the open bar on a dinner cruise. (You and your boyfriend will be the only ones on the dance floor and the ‘audience’ will proceed to take videos of you “dancing” and post them on Youtube…). And no, I’m not speaking from experience.
Doing what you want to do, when you want to do it is exactly what vacation is for. Mission accomplished.

-J

May 15 2013

5 Comments

Cibo Image

“They Went Out and Happened To Things”

I saw this quote from da Vinci the other day and thought it was worth sharing. I have a feeling every runner would appreciate the sentiment, especially because we make ‘happening to things’ part of our lives.

Something to think about

May 13 2013

18 Comments

Thoughts, Travel Image

Vacation Brain

I think pre-vacation brain is like taper brain. I’ve managed to forget the simplest things, my mind is restless, I dream of calories in the form of beer, and I’ve checked the weather no less than 5 times today even though the weather should be sunny and gorgeous where I’m going.

I’m really looking forward to this vacation. Last time I went to Mexico, I literally turned my phone off the moment we landed and turned it back on only when we arrived back in Chicago after 6 days lounging in the sunshine with a margarita in hand. I’ve been thinking more about unplugging 100% for the 6 days, just as I did then. That feeling of becoming detached from technology was scary and wonderful at the same time.

I’m anxious to take some time away to READ. My Goodreads list is out of control and there’s no way that I would be able to read all of the books I want to read in my lifetime while still trying to hold down a regular job. I bought the three books above to devour on vacation. I’m a Kindle-reader and read 3/4 books on it. But I’m leaving it at home, all by its lonesome. Maybe if I pretend I’m allergic to technology for the next week, quitting it cold turkey won’t seem so scary?

Have you ever done a technology detox? Was it as easy or hard as you thought it would be?

-J

May 10 2013

9 Comments

Running

Old Songs and New Races

Recovery. Ahhh sweet, glorious marathon recovery. If recovery means stuffing your face with leftover pizza and eating ice cream out of the carton with a spoon, and sitting on the couch watching stupid TV , then apparently I’m doing it right! To be fair (to myself), I haven’t been a complete bag of lazy bones. I took a mandatory week of rest following the marathon and slowly (very slowly) began to get my legs back. I ran 3 times last week and did some light strength work, but I haven’t been sticking to a routine. This week will be the first week since Boston that I’ll run over 25 miles. Baby steps, people! It’s nice running when I want to and not running when I don’t want to.

After the physical and emotional whirlwind of Boston, I didn’t think that I would come around very quickly to planning out a racing schedule for the rest of the year. But all of a sudden, this week I started thinking about the next potential race and a full schedule through a fall marathon (yep! another!) fell into place.

So, my 2013 racing schedule:

6/23: Chicago Women’s 5k

7/21- Rock ‘n Roll Chicago Half

8/23-24 Hood to Coast with Nuun!

9/28- Crosstown Classic 10k

10/20- Grand Rapids Marathon

One race per month sounds a bit aggressive to me right now, but this schedule is more than I can handle considering I ran an intimidating (in hindsight) schedule in 2011. I’m looking forward to the mix of distances and dedicated speedwork starting at the end of this month to prepare for a challenging 5k. (I’ll be more nervous for the 5k in June than I was for the Boston Marathon—guaranteed.)

I am excited for summer running again. Training through the Chicago winter was incredibly difficult and draining–but I’d like to think that I’m stronger for it. My heart was in it especially for a race like Boston. (I’m not sure how anyone can train through a bitter cold winter if there heart *isn’t* in it.) Looking back on it now, it seems like it flew right by, but each week was full of challenges that made training more difficult than expected. But NOW! SUMMER IS COMING! The lakefront in the summer mornings and evenings is my happy place. It’s going to be an interesting transition because my body doesn’t know how to even operate until I’ve stumbled into the kitchen and had at least one huge mug of hot coffee. When 4:30 AM alarms start back up again, that routine will have to die a painful, slow death. I will not have time to leisurely sip coffee when I need to race the sun and hot temperatures.

Grand Rapids will be a nice change of pace (heh…) in the fall. It’s a very small field compared to Chicago or Twin Cities (duh) and the course is pretty much flat with some rolling hills toward the middle. My mom recently bought a house in Michigan so it will be nice to feel like somewhat of a local after spending a few weekends up there this summer. Plus, ALL THE BEERS afterward! I mean, let’s be honest. That was a big selling point in the decision-making process, for sure.

With a new training cycle starting in a few weeks, I was thinking through what keeps me motivated. I listen to music during pretty much all of my runs (I don’t see that changing anytime soon, but you never know). Training through this past winter was tough but considerably more enjoyable with some songs that helped keep the legs moving.

My (Recent) Favorite Running Songs:

(links are to Spotify!)

Bizness by the TuneYards

Around the Bend by Asteroids Galaxy Tour

Sacrilege by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Closer by Tegan and Sara

Sun by Two Door Cinema Club

Books From Boxes by Maximo Park

Five Seconds by Twin Shadow

Dancing on My Own by Robyn

Default by Django Django

It’s Time by Imagine Dragons

Undercover Martyn by Two Door Cinema Club

Loud Pipes by Ratatat

Ambling Alp by Yeasayer

What’s on your race calendar for the rest of 2013? What are your favorite songs to run to lately?

-J

May 02 2013

11 Comments

Running Gear

A Serious, Long-Term Relationship With a Running Shoe

The first step is admitting that you have a problem, right? Alright guys. I’m addicted and have been for a few years now. The Saucony Kinvara certainly hasn’t been the only shoe to carry me in the past 2 years but let’s just say it’s been there for me through thick and thin. I bought my first pair in April or May 2011 when I started training for my first marathon. After a short transition period, they quickly became my favorite shoe. And they’ve remained a constant in my shoe rotation ever since.

My Addiction. Illustrated in race pictures….

First marathon. Kinvaras.

Rock ‘n Roll DC 2012. Kinvaras.

Carmel, IN Half 2012. Kinvaras.

Bayshore Half 2012. Kinvaras.

Batavia Half 2012. Kinvaras.

Twin Cities 2012. Kinvaras.

Boston Marathon 2013. Kinvara 4s!

Saucony was generous enough to provide me with the newest version of the Kinvara before it’s officially released on May 1st. I received them in the mail 2 weeks before Boston and was anxious to see if they could be my race shoe for the marathon.

So far, the Kinvara 2 had been my favorite version. When they released the Kinvara 3 last year, I quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to wear them. The 3rd version had a higher ankle rise and it rubbed my achilles raw during a 12 mile run. I have a very short period to break in a fresh pair of Kinvaras because my feet and legs are so accustomed to them. But I knew that it was trouble if they bothered me on a relatively short distance run. [More details if you're curious about the differences between the Kinvara 2 and 3!]. Luckily, I was able to stockpile a few pairs of Kinvara 2s and track down a few more pairs with the help of Saucony when I could no longer find them online (super nice of them!). I guess you’re truly addicted with a shoe when you have to solicit the aid of the brand to find it…

The Kinvara 2s provided enough cushion and stability for my first marathon and I haven’t ventured too far from them since then. (The other shoes in my rotation lately have been the Saucony Fastwitch 5 and New Balance RC 1600s). Beyond the achilles issue, the Kinvara 3 was much more firm and didn’t respond to the ground the way I was hoping.

But my love affair continues….Loving the Kinvara 4!

I put about 25 miles on the Kinvara 4s the week leading up to Boston. (I know, I know. ”Never try something new so close to a race”.) But they seriously felt like a glove and I had no issues with the achilles rubbing in the back. The longest run in them before Boston was 12 miles and they felt great. The biggest difference that I can feel between the Kinvara 2 & 4 is the cushioning in the heel (due to the PowerGrid in the new version). The ride seems to be a bit smoother because of it. I pretty much consistently land on the midfoot and there seems to be less “bulk” in the 4s. Overall, they’re super responsive and light as a feather (just as they always have been). If you want more details on the specific changes Saucony made to the shoe, check out their dedicated Kinvara site.

Kinvara 4- Left. Kinvara 2- Right.

Saucony stripped away a lot of the soft padding from the K2s but I haven’t had any issue with the achilles rubbing on the K4s. The heel is flexible enough that it bends when I flex my foot forward.

I couldn’t help snatching up a pair of the Limited Edition Boston Kinvara 4s before Boston a few weeks ago [SEE?! I AM ADDICTED!] I know they’ll always be a special pair…

Looking forward to an early Cinco De Mayo celebration and the Kinvara 4 Launch party at Fleet Feet on Friday, May 1st. [If you're in Chicago and want to attend, be sure to RSVP so they have enough food and drinks for the crowd!]

AND IF I HAVEN’T CONVINCED YOU OF THE SEVERITY OF MY ADDICTION…

I thought I only had a few pairs to donate but after rummaging around in my “shoe closet” (AKA underneath my bed) for a few minutes, I found more than a few pairs to donate to Step Into My Sole….

-J

Tagged Kinvara, Marathon, Running, Running shoes, Saucony

Apr 24 2013

26 Comments

Thoughts

A Few Reasons To Be Happy

I’ve smiled more in the past two days than I smiled all last week. There’s a lot to be said for a few good nights of sleep and a new mindset thanks to a clear schedule last weekend. I tried my best not to put anything on the calendar or think about what time it was (note: avoiding a clock is harder than it seems!).

Post-marathon recovery is going well. I think my legs are confused at this point. They’re restless at times, heavy at times, and some sort of mixture between those two at other times. It appears that reverse taper madness is alive and well in my world. It seems like Boston was more than 9 days ago. A lot has happened since then. I was looking at the calendar last night and realized that April is GONE. When did *that* happen?!

Hillary made my day when sent me a link to this month’s Chicago Athlete. Turns out I placed 21st out of 50 of the women from Illinois racing Boston this year! :Mind=blown: It’s really cool to see the locals represented at Boston and my name among them. Cheesin’!

Pinch me.

So…what’s “next”? I haven’t gotten there just yet. I know that I want to take 4-6 weeks off of a consistent training cycle for some easy miles (and impromptu fartleks). I started daydreaming about more spin classes while I was working the other day so that will probably happen too. I’m looking forward to a bit of a change of pace and rest, but I know that once I get into that rhythm it will likely change. I can only rest for so long before I get antsy to put another race on the calendar. I’m sure I’ll do 1-2 half marathons this summer just to get to a start line.

For now, the only event I’ve committed to is …..

Hood to Coast with the #NuunHTC team in August!

After a cancelled and rebooked flight from Boston last Wednesday, I really needed something to smile about. I submitted a silly video application to the Nuun team on a silly whim a few weeks ago and honestly didn’t think I had much of a chance of being selected. (If you have seen some of the other applications, you know what I’m talking about!) I’m really looking forward to an adventure and connecting with badass ladies from across the country. The ultimate bonding experience is in a sweaty, smelly van, right?! I’ve already decided that I need to work on my vuvuzela skills.

Beyond August, I will definitely be running a fall marathon but I haven’t decided which one yet. Grand Rapids is high on the list mostly because of the beer options afterward. (Duh).

Speaking of R-E-S-T (my body says, “what’s that??”)! Last night I officially booked a VACATION. In the words of the Man, “Even though Jenny and I just got back from an “adventure”, We just booked another one with more SUN and SAND and Exotic Appeal.” I.cannot.freaking.wait. I need time to unplug, drink countless margaritas, and read silly beach novels. If I do anything more active than that, it will be because I was forced to. I booked the trip last night and I’ve already started thinking about what I’m going to be packing in my suitcase. Definite sign that I need some R & R.

To those of you running Eugene this weekend, KICK THAT RACE’S ASS!! If you begin to lose momentum, just remember…I’ll be tracking you! Don’t let the internet down!

How much time do you take to recover after a marathon? What tips do you have for a Hood To Coast noob? How far out do you plan your races?

-J

We Wander And Ponder

… Preferably While Running

Running, Lately

Dreams Are Scary

New Training Cycle: Return to Habit