Look at all these 50+ and fabulous ladies!

Yes, I said the f word. Fifty. To some, this F word might offend them as much as that other F word, but it shouldn’t. Fifty can be fabulous. I should know, as I regularly refer to myself as the poster child of 50+ fabulous!

Among many other reasons, it’s that age when you can do whatever you want because you now fall under the category of ‘respect your elders’. Interesting because I don’t feel like an elder.

Apparently I don’t look like one either because people regularly ask me how to become 50+fab if you were not born that way. So I’m here today to tell you how to do it; how to embrace 50 rather than be offended by it. You might not all be near or past this age range yet, but some day you will be. This is for you too!

Get great gear. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS: function before fashion. Let me explain that with a rather embarrassing tale.

I bought a cute little and I mean little top wit spaghetti straps. In my defense, the top had NIKE emblazoned across the front and I bought it in legitimate running store. Do not ask me how I forgot that my breasts should not EVER be in a tube top even if it has spaghetti straps. Anyway, I had the top on and headed out for a run. Less than a mile into my run, I felt a bit strange. I paid that feeling no attention and kept running. I noticed that people were blowing their horns in cars and driving a bit crazy. Again, I kept running. Only after about a mile I looked down and realized that my breasts had come COMPLETELY out of my top. Yes, that is correct. I was literally running half naked. I put myself back into my top, turned around, and walked home holding my top up.

Embracing 50. It IS fabulous!

It was my fault. I did not pay attention to function. Yes, it was a very cute top and I could have worn it while gardening, maybe. I definitely should not have gone running in it.

That also goes for shoes. Get fitted. Do not simply buy the same shoes your friends wear or the ones your daughter left in the bottom of her closet. I do not care that she used to be a runner or that she is a runner. Get the shoes that are recommended for you by a professional.

Don’t try to go back in history. Start from where you are right now. What you did in high school or college may not apply here, so don’t hurt yourself. Leave your pride at the door.

Let the youngsters do their thing. They may be faster, stronger, bendier, and who knows what else. You do your own thing and soon they will want to be just like you.

Never whine. Yes, it hurts, yes it may be difficult. The goal is to get through the workout and drink the appropriate beverage afterwards.

Clearly like minded!

Dress appropriately. Make sure all of your ‘stuff’ is covered. If you need them, wear longer shorts, shirts, or skirts. I say this not only for modesty’s sake, but chafing is not fun. It is quite painful, so cover where and when necessary.

See. She looks classy, because the outfit fits!

Be classy. After running so get dressed before running errands. Or do what I do, put on a cute little dress on over your running clothes. Skirt Sports has great ones. Be realistic. If you now wear a larger size, get it. No one has to know, but they will guess something if you force your hips into running shorts a couple sizes too small.

Cross train. Try different activities yoga, cross fit, swimming, or biking are great. I heard pole dancing is great as well, but I have not been bold enough to try it.

Connect with like-minded people. This makes running fun. You can compare notes, ask questions, and make running dates.

Eliminate negative thoughts. I am not a bendy person. In yoga I am not the one who can bend over backwards while wrapping her leg around her head and I am perfectly okay with that. Maybe I would have been concerned about that 30 years ago, but now I can find better uses of my time in child’s pose while quietly wishing the bendy person would fall. Not really, but you get my drift, don’t you?

So tell me Salty Readers, have I made the F word less scary for you? Did I miss any tips for making 50+ fabulous?

Posted by Chipotle. Check out more at Salty Running.

Clove’s been busy, yo! At historic Hayward Field with some of the Clif Bar Pace Team earlier this month.  I’m the tiny one in yellow.

Salty readers, it has been a crazy busy few weeks for the Clove-ster.  Nothing bad, just a lot of work, travel for work, running around and general malaise from the treatments.

While I got a little behind in posting my logs, I was indeed still jotting them down.  Cycle three went much better than cycle two, both on a day to day basis and in terms of anticipated success, but I did get behind in the logs.  Sorry!

I’ve got the mileage, protocol, and a few fun anecdotes below, and I’ll be bringing everyone up to date on the conclusion of the cycle later this week.  We’re hanging in there, still having fun outside the treatments, and always keeping our sense of humor.

Week Three

Saturday, April 27:  Easy 4 miles in Eugene.  Absolutely exhausted, almost fell asleep while I was working at the Expo.  Finally got a break and took a little nap outside in the sun.  75 iu’s of Follistim; they’re dosing me down now to allow me to be out of town without ovulating too soon or on my own.

Sunday, April 28:  26.2 miles, Eugene Marathon, super relaxed and easy pace.  50 iu’s of Follistim on an airport bathroom floor since there were no shelves or surfaces in the stall.  The fun never stops.

Monday, April 29:  Single spin class, too whipped to do a double between the drugs, the late night flight home and the early wake up call.  Second scan of the cycle, and things are looking up compared to last month.  Brad does my blood draw, and he even remembers to give me a bandaid instead of that horrible medical tape that stays on my arm for days.  My favorite doctor does my scan, and when I mention I’m exhausted from the trip, he tells me to go ahead and sleep and he’ll wake me up when we’re done.  Heh.  We’ve got one follicle at 17 mm (yay!) and three at 15 mm.  He reminds me we don’t want too many babies out of this – well, I haven’t been worried about that particular problem in awhile.  He tells me we’re looking at one more night of Follistim with a Tuesday trigger and a Thursday insemination.  Even though the timing is exactly right, it feels like we’re on fast forward after last month’s never-ending odyssey.  100 iu’s of Follistim – and that’s likely a wrap on this old drug, pregnant or not.

Tuesday, April 30:  8 miles with my morning neighborhood group, immediately followed by Pilates/core class.  Single spin class in the afternoon.  Trigger shot at 9 pm (5,000 iu’s of Pregnyl suspended in 1 ml of fluid), right into that quad muscle.  Yikes!

Wednesday, May 1:  8 afternoon miles with DB.  We take a new and unusual (to me) route and my stomach is a disaster.  Preggers!  Wake up nauseous and sick and spend the day completely ravenous.  No shots tonight – yay!

Thursday, May 2:  8 morning miles with my neighborhood group, since I can get them in prior to the procedure.  IUI at 9:30 am, and you will never believe this one.

Remember crazy mean female doctor?  Well, she’s back.  My doctor, who makes every effort to do all of his own IUI procedures, is out of town that day.  That part is okay; I’ve had both of the other male doctors do the procedure and they’re fine.  But no, this time, I get her.  Even better?

SHE DOES NOT REMEMBER ME.  She walks in and says “I don’t think we’ve actually met before, I’m Dr. X.”

She’s baa-aaack!

I kid you not.  But in all truth, she was the kindest I’ve ever found her to be that day, so all’s well that ends well?

Crampy and blechy feeling most of day; work from bed until mid-afternoon.

Friday, May 3:  OFF.  Headed down to Cincinnati to work the Flying Pig Marathon expo for the Columbus Marathon.  Ravenous all day.  100 mgs of Prometrium.  Yep, evil P is back.

Weekly totals:  54  miles, 2 hours of spinning, 225 iu’s of Follistim, 5,000  iu’s of Pregnyl, 100 mgs of Prometrium.

Week 4

Saturday, May 4:  Easy 5 miles in Cincinnati/Kentucky.  100 mgs Prometrium.

Sunday, May 5:  21 miles at the Flying Pig Marathon with DB, Bill and “big Scott,” two of the guys in my neighborhood running group.  We all had numbers for the full marathon, and the guys ran it at a comfortable 3:45.  In an abundance of caution, I hacked off the first five miles, jumping in at mile 5, for a 21 mile long run on course.  21 miles at a comfortable pace is an average weekly long run for me; I decided to spare my body the extra 5 to play it as safe as possible.  Post-run, I crash hard with the napping and fulfill a bizarre craving for grape Crush soda.  Both are related to the 21 miles, not the faux or possible pregnancy.  We celebrate cinco de Mayo with Mexican food and a virgin pina colada for me.  100 mgs Prometrium, and something a little weird – towards the end of the night, I notice a sore throat and feeling a bit run down.  Hmmm ….

Monday, May 6:  Back to back spin classes.  I’m super hungry but I did run hard yesterday.  At the same time, the sore throat is lingering and I definitely feel run down.  Not unlike I felt two months ago.  You know, when I was “a little bit” pregnant?  Self-administered lecture about not getting hopes up.  Big vegetarian cobb salads for dinner.  100 mgs Prometrium. 

Tuesday, May 7:  Eventual 8 miles later in the day.  Wake up to run with my morning run group, and immediately know something is wrong.  I have HORRIBLE stomach cramps.  It’s not like a food poisoning thing, but it’s not quite low enough to be uterine stuff.  All I know is that it hurts – bad – and there’s no way I can run.  End up having to take Tylenol, but can’t find a position to lie in where my stomach doesn’t just ache.  Cramping finally abates after about half an hour, so I go to Pilates/core class.  For the rest of the day, it’s on and off, but I just don’t feel quite right.  Things start to look up late afternoon, and DB and I head our on a run together.  The running feels great, even in the rain, but there’s a Wendy’s on our route.  The smell of the French fries sends me into a fit of dry heaves and makes me want to hurl.  100 mgs Prometrium. 

Wednesday, May 8:  Easy 5 miles on junior trail.  Was going to do a spin but simply don’t have time; too backed up on monthly invoicing and banking.  Sore throat returns, then disappears.  Can’t stop eating.  100 mgs Prometrium. 

Thursday, May 9:  8 miles with morning run group; single spin later in the evening.  Shocked to find weight under 100 after yesterday’s gluttony and pasta gorging.  Carbs, man, I’m back on the carbs.  Booster shot (2500 iu’s of Pregnyl in .5 ml fluid) AND 100 Prometrium, lucky me.  Feel “weird.”  Can’t quite explain it, and don’t want to jinx it or get hopeful, but I just feel “weird.”  The sore boobs are on – only if I bump them or get hugged too tight, running is okay.  So far.  The dip we usually eat with carrots, celery and potato chips disgusts me.

Friday, May 10:  Easy 5 miles on junior trail.  Wake up feeling nauseous and icky; surely from the booster shot.  Bi-weekly massage appointment with evil Thor, whom I am no longer fighting with.  Pinching pains in uterus.  A lot of them.  All day long.  But we know what happens when we get hopeful; disappointment tends to follow.  100 mgs Prometrium.

Weekly totals:  52 miles, 3 hours of spinning, 2,500 iu’s of Pregnyl, 700 mgs of Prometrium.

Week 5

Saturday, May 11:  14 miles with neighborhood group, followed by Pilates/core class.  Fun dinner out with our friends Catherine and Brent and their daughter Berkley, although the smell of DB’s beer is nauseating.  100 mgs of Prometrium.

Sunday, May 12:  Super easy 10 miles with DB, who just logging slow miles in his Badwater training.  100 mgs of Prometrium.

Monday, May 13:  OFF.  Columbus Marathon team meetings, and it just worked out that way.  Can’t.  Stop.  Eating.  100 mgs of Prometrium.

Tuesday, May 14:  8 miles with morning run group, immediately followed by Pilates/core class.  Single afternoon spin class.  Run feels fast and I really hope I’m not getting totally out of shape.  Last 100 mgs of Prometrium for this cycle.

Wednesday, May 15:  8 miles easy, solo.  The boobies are really hurting now, but still not quite as badly as before.  Today is the day that I’m “technically” due, but last month the Prometrium delayed me three days.  Using that as a mapping variable, I determine that Saturday is the day I will actually start my period if I’m not pregnant.  I always do my first pregnancy test on the day my period is due; even though it’s a little early and I have to be careful, a CLEAR NEGATIVE or a LOUD POSITIVE are good indicators in either direction, and help get our minds set for the next few days.  This one is indecisive; it’s a faint “see it if you squint” line, which means it’s likely just residual hcg from the booster shot.  In other words, hurry up and wait. 

I am now OFF of the Prometrium, as it delays the onset of your period (recall that progesterone has to drop to ~0 for your period to start.  So after eleven days – based on my twelve day luteal phase – we stop progesterone supplementation to allow my period to start.

Thursday, May 16:  8 gorgeous miles in Utah on a stunning green bike path.  My breasts hurt so badly I have to hold them down when I first start running, but it gets better.  I am drinking INSANE amounts.  I know I’m at altitude, and I know it’s warm, but even DB remarks that I’m a little bit out of control.  I have no PMS symptoms or salt cravings whatsoever.  We’re just … waiting.

Friday, May 17:  Easy 3 miles with the pace team.  Next pregnancy test.  It’s definitely not negative.  It’s more positive that it was on Wednesday, but it’s not a flashing red light either.  Not bloated, not PMS-ing, but definitely exhausted.  We are admittedly a little bit hopeful – BUT, we realize my period is not “really” due until tomorrow on the revised Prometrium schedule, and my breasts still don’t feel quite as insane as they did that other time, and I still don’t feel quite as “weird” as I did when this thing got so close …

And so we wait.

Weekly totals:  51 miles, 1 hour of spinning (blah), 400 mgs of Prometrium.

Related articles

• Clove’s Training and Fertility Treatment Log: Week 1, Cycle Three
• Clove’s Training and Fertility Treatment Log: Week 2, Cycle Three

Posted by Clove. Check out more at Salty Running.

Monday – rest day

Tuesday - 75 minutes with 4 strides / 8.5 miles / 8:54 pace.  Beautiful morning for a run and it felt great to get out there.

Wednesday – 62 minutes easy / 7 miles / 8:55 pace.

Thursday & Friday – off

Saturday - Our local Girls on the Run teams combined to do our “practice” 5k.  But don’t be fooled, it is a full 5k and we do it up big.  My running buddy rocked the course and met her goal of coming in between 25 and 27 minutes.  25:27 / 8:13 pace.

Rock star!

Sunday - my family participated in the local mud run.  We run on a police team and rather than racing it, run at the pace of the slowest person and stick together.  It was awesome and we had a blast.

Mud Run

Total: 23 miles and change.

Next week (this week), I’ll be back at it.  Really.

Posted by Mint. Check out more at Salty Running.

Running on empty. Mentally? Physically? Stop feeling guilty and come back when you are ready!

As you can tell from my (lack of) training logs lately, running has not been a priority. How can someone go from making her daily runs the most important thing in life for 3+ years to realizing she hasn’t logged a single run in a week, two weeks, a month sometimes? Well it wasn’t painless, and even now I wonder if I’ll ever be the fast chick I once was. Worst of all, I was riddled with guilt for a long time. I often felt like I should be out there training.  But I can tell you that today I’ve run 2.5 miles in the past two weeks, and before that I’d have to check a log to tell you when I ran.

And I don’t feel one iota guilty about it.

If you are like I was and worry over every missed training opportunity or slow run, extra rest day or other blemish on your training log, I am here to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way. Today I share my experience in the hopes that you too can reach a place where a missed run or prioritizing other life experiences over running is nothing to worry about. Really. 

I think the problem with a well-engrained routine is that you often feel out of sorts if that routine has to change. In my case, I went from logging 60 – 80+ mile weeks with few rest days for 3+ years in pursuit of a sub 2:46 marathon. I religiously did my track, tempo, and long runs every week. I dragged my butt out onto slogs of runs on rest days. I ran 8+ miles at lunch with my crew almost every day of the week.

I was a slave to my run routine. I moved everything around to prioritize my key workouts and to make sure I got in my target mileage. This might have meant missing out on family get-togethers. It meant blocking out lunch time calls at work. It meant I spent the majority of my time with the same training partners week in and week out. Everything was focused on the next race, the next goal, the next workout, the next fitness level I needed to reach. To put it mildly, I was obsessed with achieving my goals.

But like a junkie I kept coming back, because guess what, I saw big time results! I went from a 3:05:57 PR in 2009 to a 2:49:53 in 2010. But I got greedy and despite improved fitness in 2011, I walked away with a hobbled together 2:51:59, managed to bring it around for a really good Boston in 2012, but just couldn’t keep the PF (planter fascitis) at bay. I was burnt out, injured, and frustrated. So I said enough is enough; it was finally time to stop and get this foot fixed!

And I waited, and I waited, and I waited.

And while I waited, I questioned myself. Is that heel pain still pain? Is it really unbearable? Maybe I can jump back to training. Every missed training day, my mind would dwell on the missed lunch run, the missed track workout, the missed tempo, and as time went by, the missed races. I have literally gone months without seeing people who for several years were my only social companions. And trust me, I felt guilty about that, too! If only I could suck it up, if only I was more motivated, if only I had a goal.

But the truth is that right now I’m just not ready to get back to training. Physically my body might be on board, but mentally it just isn’t there. And here are the reasons I don’t feel one ounce guilty:

1) I’m still fit! I’m cycling quite a bit, I swim occasionally, and when I want to run, I run. Am I my former super speedy self? Nope, but that’s ok, as long as I am healthy.
2) I am HAPPY. I am soooo much happier than any marathon PR day. Sure those days were awesome, but those are highs, and they came with lows. When and if I do get back into PR shape, I know it will be that much more satisfactory when done with the rest of my life and mood in balance!
3) I’ve come to grips with the fact that some days, I just can’t do it all. And sometimes work gets in the way, or house repairs get in the way, or a concert takes precedent, or cuddling is more important. While that was not true for me before, it is now, and I hope to never go back!
4) Reflecting on my injury, my stubbornness, and my training, I can confidently say had I not been so focused and had I valued other things outside of chasing the goal, I would have gotten in the needed rest and recovery that would have kept me fit, kept me mentally healthy, and kept my passion for running from fading. And I can say with confidence it would have allowed me to reach my goals. Lesson learned!

These days I’m not sure I remember what an indoor track looks like, and these running companions might not recognize the softer Pepper this once speedy chick has become the last few months ;)

So readers, I encourage you to learn from my mistakes! If you are in a rut right now, and you don’t feel like running, it’s ok! Cut yourself some slack. So you ran your tempo slower than last week, or a work deadline kept you from your long run? Get over it! There’s always next week!

Most importantly, if you need a break, take it. Running is not going anywhere permanently (unless you want it to) and it will come back when you are ready for it. Just a little pep talk from Pepper to say, bag the guilt and get back to what you love when it is right for you.

HAVE YOU EVER BURNED OUT ON RUNNING? HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE THE PURSUIT OF YOUR RUNNING GOALS HAD TAKEN OVER YOUR LIFE?

Posted by Pepper. Check out more at Salty Running.

Monday – A chilly 39 degree 4 miler (9:40 pace). I had to dig out some of those cooler weather clothes that I’d (maybe too optimistically) put away.

Tuesday – Rest

Wednesday – Another attempt at a double workout day, but this one didn’t go as planned. I ran 4 miles at 9:38 pace in the morning. In the afternoon, yoga fail = rest. I had everything I needed to go straight from work to yoga class… except my change of clothes.

Thursday – You know when you can just tell it’s going to be a bad run, right from the get go? The wild weather swings this week were giving me headaches, and I woke up with a splitting one Thursday morning. I hoped that the run would help it go away, but the headache just got worse and the resulting run (3 miles at 10:21 pace) was just all I had. I also paid a visit to my LRS, where I got some new shoes and learned that the orthotics I’ve been wearing are all wrong.

Friday – Rest

Saturday – What a fun day full of being active and enjoying life! First I ran 9 miles at 9:01 pace. Even though it was a little drizzly, this was a great run with one of my running buddies who’s moved away and was back in town for a wedding. Then I did about 10 miles on my bike. The first 8 miles or so of that was part of a big annual fun ride where they close off the roads to vehicle traffic. Afterwards I got in some more miles as my friends and I rode our bikes around downtown. The Mr. and I also celebrated our wedding anniversary Saturday, which translated to some delicious cupcakes. All in all, a very wonderful day!

Sunday  - Rest

Total – 20 miles running, 10 miles cycling

Posted by Sassafras. Check out more at Salty Running.

Sunday:  Westminster Women’s 5K.  Fourth place overall in 22:36, my slowest 5K in about 10 years, but my fastest 3 miles in nearly two months.  Lost about 30 seconds due to having to walk/jog through a flooded tunnel under the road.  Overall, I was happy with my performance running a negative with a 6:59 last mile.  I relaxed the rest of the day, but fit in some weights and core exercises later in the afternoon.

Monday:  Easy swim of 1,300 yards.  Biked to the pool, work and around Boulder.  Visited a new gym at lunch to lift.

Tuesday:  5*90″ with 75″ rest, and did an easy shakeout run of 30 minutes at lunch.  Biked to and from work again!

Wednesday:  1,800 swim; weights, and 30 minutes on the treadmill in the evening.  Major thunderstorms forced me on the mill.  Ran easy with the last 5 minutes under 7:00.  Biked to/from work.

Relaxing after the mile race!

Thursday:  Planned tempo run of 12′, but I felt awful after 2 minutes into it.  Cut it to 10″ and stopped after a total of 4 miles.  Walked for another 30 minutes.  Later that evening, watched my hubby blast through a mile race, and then ran the mile fun run with Lucy.  She finished in 10:10, even with a potty stop!

Friday:  Biked to/from work.  Easy run after work.

Saturday:  Double brick day!  14 mile ride followed by a 30 minute run, then 28 miles on the bike, followed by a 4 mile run.  My legs felt a little flat on the second bike, but felt fine on the run.

Weekly Totals:

Running:  34.2 miles

Biking:  86 miles

Swimming:  3,100 yards (1.76 miles)

Weight Training:  2 hours

Posted by Vanilla. Check out more at Salty Running.

Angelina Jolie at the Cannes film festival. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I enjoy a good movie as much as anyone, but for me to sit still for two straight hours requires three things: bad weather, a long run finished, and the possibility that Russell Crowe might appear on the screen. Otherwise, count me out.

But I snapped to attention last week upon hearing the news that Angelina Jolie had removed her breasts.   Or rather, surgeons did, at her request, to dramatically cut her risk of getting breast cancer.  It was one more step in the canonization process of a bad girl turned saintly mother, and while I think hers was a reasonable decision for a woman of privilege and means (not so much for women in the undeveloped world), there was a tiny part of me that was a little bit jealous, thinking, “Man, if I only I could have a double mastectomy, I would be so much faster!”

Yes, horrible, I know.  And I can say that only because I am blessed (so far) with good health, and have never had to wage fierce battle with the Big C.  But my friends who have fought it bravely did so with a generous dose of black humor, and so I hope they understand.   This is my truth: My breasts get in the way of my running. They affect my gait, my speed, my self-image.

This is, in large part, because parts of me are large; although I’m a dedicated runner, I remain overweight for my age and height.  Presumably, I would not have this problem if I lost 50 pounds, but then I’d be walking around all day singing the “Do your boobs hang low?” song because skinnier, in some places, seems to mean flatter.

As it is, when I gain weight, as I did over the winter, I gain first in my chest, and this has made more than one man deliriously happy over the course of my adult life. But a big chest (right now, I’m a 36D if you must know), is great for Hollywood actresses, horrible for runners.

One of Title Nine’s replacements for the Frog Bra: the Booby Trap! (Photo via Titlenine.com.)

I long ago learned to “double bag” – to wear two sports bras  — so I won’t break any indecency laws when I’m out on the road.  And no clingy cotton for me.  In my drawers are the finest sports bras a second mortgage can buy, including Title Nine’s  now defunct “Frog Bra” – “so you can leap without bouncing!” – which was so heavy duty that apparently the government has taken control of the fabric for our military.  (Not really, but you gotta admit, the description of what happened to it is disturbingly vague.)

Anyway, despite all this, I still jiggle mortifyingly when I run down the road, and I am deeply envious of all you A and B cups who run past me with nary a jiggle.  Would I really have my breasts surgically removed to better my running?  No, probably not; I don’t have enough time or money.

But before you dismiss me as crazy,  know this:  There’s a man in Charleston, South Carolina, who had one of his legs amputated a few years ago so he could run better.  Plagued by chronic arthritis, he decided he’d run better without the bum leg, and so he had it removed, and is now happily running with prosthesis.

So there you go.  That’s a runner for you.  “Normal” people walk for exercise, and never dream about surgery that is medically unnecessary.  But I’d rather be a runner than normal.

SALTIES, WHAT BODY PART SLOWS DOWN YOUR RUNNING?  WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER HAVING IT SURGICALLY REMOVED?

Posted by Mace. Check out more at Salty Running.

It was good to be home with my family

Was I overtrained? Yes.

Did I carb-load enough? No.

Did I peak too soon? Yes, for my PR in the Hurricane Half Marathon three weeks ago.

Was the course unexpectedly hilly? Yes.

Does that explain why it took me over 4 hours to run 26.2 miles? No.

Not exactly.

Why not? It was mental.

My inner psyche took a real beating and when things started to get tough on Sunday, I gave up. Gave in. Whatever.

I ran a race in more time than I’ve run 28 miles in training. I’m not going to re-visit my training for this race, because I think it was clear I was over-trained (two marathons and a PR’ed half-marathon too close to race day will do that to a gal). Nonetheless overtraining, along with not enough carbs the day before and some unexpected early hills does not explain why I couldn’t maintain my slowest training pace throughout the race.

My race morning routine always includes a selfie! I felt good that morning, really!

The few days leading up to the race went well; I tapered, rested and thoroughly enjoyed my time with family in Spokane (also my birthplace). My last few runs went really well, and I felt like I should be able to PR on race morning. I even felt good the first few miles, but after the first hill, my quads were burning.

Just like normal.

Except that I couldn’t get around it. I remembered how my quads burned in my Yasso 800′s 10 days before the race. How they burned in my super easy 6 miles last Sunday. Decided they were a case of overtrained quads, and couldn’t get over it. I couldn’t even zone out and run, like I might in a long run.

At mile 10, my quads still burning, I knew the race was over. I almost quit right then.

That’s the smile of a runner who’s happy just to have finished.

If my uncle had been at the halfway point, as we’d planned, I would have quit. Luckily, I didn’t see him until mile 18. I ran the straight and downhill portions of the race, and walked the uphill parts from mile 16 on. By mile 18, I knew that a DNF would affect me even more negatively than this failed race would, so I committed to stick with it for 8.2 more miles.

And I did.

In the photos from the finish I’m smiling because I’m done. No injuries. No mental scars I won’t get over.

I never hit a “groove.” With the first hill, I decided I couldn’t do it, that a BQ wasn’t possible. I focused on my quads, and then my shins, and then my glutes, which I thought were telling me that this was too hard. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy, mile after mile after mile. My confidence in my training, running, and myself was missing.

It was a good day. A good day for a race. It just wasn’t my day.

Posted by Cilantro. Check out more at Salty Running.

We’re having a baby in November.

This is basically why my running has gone down to zero lately. For the first couple of months, I was so exhausted that all I did was sleep and work. Seriously. I’d get up in the morning, head down to my internship (an hour-long drive each way), play with kids all day, come home, take a nap, have dinner, go to bed, and do it all again the next day. I’ll be writing a post in the near(ish) future about my first trimester running experience (as it was very different from Salty’s), so I’ll save the details for that.

14 weeks in, and already getting bumpy

I do still plan on reconstructing my running routine now that I’m done with the daily 9-to-5 for a while, but it’s going to be a very, very toned down schedule: 30 minutes 2-3 times during the week, with a weekly “long run” of 3-4 miles. I’ll still be showing up to races, but I’ll be “participating” rather than “racing,” and they’ll be more of a social outing than anything else (so that I can hang out with my teammates and other runner friends). I’m going to try and keep that up as long as my body will let me, but I’ll also be taking it one day at a time as this is completely uncharted territory for me.

So, in my first week off, what did I do?

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: 3.6 mile hike

Thursday: Rest

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Girls on the Run 5k – I was slated to be a running buddy, but wound up running alone as my girl buddy didn’t make it to the race.

Sunday: Graduation day!

Total for the week: 3.6 miles hiking, 3.1 miles running

Posted by Licorice. Check out more at Salty Running.

Not sure what that says about me and tapering, but that’s a post for another day.

The stats:

Sunday: 6 miles, easy

Monday: Off

Tuesday: Off

Wednesday: 7 miles, easy with 6 x 100 speed intervals

Thursday: Off

Friday: Off

Saturday: 3 glorious miles, run with my uncle.

Total: 16 miles

Both of my taper runs were awesome, and all signs pointed to a great race. But if you don’t have it mentally, you just don’t have it. Period.

Posted by Cilantro. Check out more at Salty Running.

Git along, little Salties

First things first: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SALTY!  Our fearless leader turned “29″ again yesterday, and we hope she had the best day ever!

Second, woohoo!  We had a heck of a racing weekend!  More on that later, of course, in the race reports.

Third, we had TONS of incredible comments from you gals this week on all of our posts.  YOU make us a community, and we love hearing from you, so keep ‘em coming!  You never know, you just might win the Comment of the Week one of these weeks here…

And now, the roundup!

Last weekend, Salty brought us down to earth a little. Between Boston and kidnappings and explosions and more shootings, there’s a lot of heavy stuff hanging over us, and caring about running can start to feel selfish or trivial.  When Running Feels So Insignificant, how do you handle it?

Once Upon a Time, Pepper Was a Fast Running Chick, but now, a year into a debilitating injury and slowly coming back, she’s not so sure she still has the need for speed, especially with other sports and interests making their way to the forefront.

Cilantro is worried that a couple of weeks training at lower intensity and volume hurt her chances for a Boston qualifying marathon, so she did something crazy!  Just how crazy do you think it was? How to Salvage a Marathon Training Plan (I Hope)

It’s not just race fees, people.  Running is for Rich People, and Cinnamon (hey, that’s me!) is speaking up for those of us in the lower tax brackets.

Does running have you in stitches?  Ginkgo‘s got horrible side cramps, and she’s re-examining possible causes and solutions: Those Stinkin’ Stubborn Side Stitches

Ginger‘s curious about the possibility of trackstar Nick Symmonds as ABC’s new guy on The Bachelor, but she’s come up with a few other runner candidates for the producers’ consideration as well! 5 Other Runners Who Should Be the Next Bachelor

And which awesome Salty Reader won Comment of the Week? You’ll have to click through to find out!

Thanks for an awesome week!  Now get out on the road and get salty!

Posted by Cinnamon. Check out more at Salty Running.

Who wins the badge this week?

This week we had a ton of great comments, and it was really really hard to choose! Ultimately the competition came down to three fantastic Salty Readers, but once the final votes were cast, one stood out among them.  Man oh man, did it ever.

Who’s the big winner? Find out after the jump!

This week’s winner is Morley D. from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada!

We loved this comment on Pepper’s post, Once Upon A Time I was a Fast Runner Chick:

I’m a 70 year old master’s runner who ran a PB of 2:35.53 at Boston in 1981. I still have the same passion for running/training that I did in my early years, just being competitive in my age group is enough motivation for me to “just do it” and enjoy the running experience! There is nothing to compare with the feeling of well being and fitness that I receive from running – cycling and swimming are great cross training activities – they just don’t give me the same satisfaction or results.

Okay, first off, Morley is–gasp–a man! Crazy, I know!  Morley is, to my recollection, the third Salty Man to win the esteemed Comment of the Week prize.

Morley sporting his St. Petersburg Road Runners shirt at the Best Damn Race 5K in Safety Harbour, FL last February

Let’s just talk about how awesome he is for a sec:  First of all, he’s 70 and still running.  Gotta love it.  Second, he’s thirty-two years past his personal best marathon time, which is something many of us in our running prime think about when we consider our futures as older women.  We can only hope to continue our running careers well into our masters years with the same patience, enthusiasm and grace that Morley talks about here, right?

I particularly liked that Morley picked up on the nuance behind the post and offered reassurance through his shared experience that things like being fast, being successful, being competitive…it’s all relative, baby, and it’s all what you make of it.

When prompted for a response to his award, Morley had this to say:

You may have asked for more than you bargained for!! From my Salty Running comment, you read that I am now 70 years of age. My wife, Ellie and I, wintered for 5 months in the Largo (Clearwater Beach) area of Florida this year. I ran 2 races (Ellie walked the Gasparillia 5K) and won my age group in a 5K in Safety Harbour. I have attached a piece* that I wrote many years ago, (published in Ontario Running Magazine) detailing how I began to run and some of my early experiences. For the past number of years, I have run (swim, bike) for fitness, racing 3 or 4 times a year here in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada and while wintering in Florida (From a high of 75 miles/week in the early 1980’s, I’m now running 20 – 25 miles weekly). I play tennis as well and as the years have passed by, injuries have been a problem (as they are with many of us).

Morley did indeed attach a lovely story–a 2,000 word story!–chronicling the beginnings and highlights of his running career, which began with training for a Junior Farmers of Ontario track and field meet in 1965 after he noticed he’d been putting on a little weight.  After winning that and subsequent meets, he discovered he really enjoyed running and continued running for fitness for the next decade, and back then it was pretty strange for a guy in a rural Canadian farming community to just go out running!

With so few other runners on the scene, Morley was lucky to train and race with some amazing names in Canadian running before their Olympic careers started. Training with those fasties must have paid off, because in 1975, he competed in the 10K event at the first World Masters Track & Field Championships in Toronto, laying the groundwork for his road racing career and his first marathon in 1977.  Ten years ago, he wrote the following:

In the past 38 years, following 10 marathons, over 150 races and over 40,000 miles of running, I would say that this activity is more than just a pastime!  It has become a passion to me, an interest I can share with a “running acquaintance” and talk enthusiastically about for hours!  The experiences I have enjoyed; 2 Boston Marathons (including a personal best of 2:35:53 in 1981), the Honolulu and Chicago Marathons and the many Springbank Race Week-ends in London, Ontario).  I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to race competitively in Provincial, National and World Master’s Track and Field Championships with some success!

…

What other sports competition can one enter where the average, everyday participant can experience the same event with world class athletes, at the same time,  with the same conditions, as this great sport of running?  At 60 years of age and still able enjoy this unique activity and share it with others, I feel truly blessed.  As I sit before my computer, reflecting on my past 38 years participating in this sport, I’m looking forward to many more memorable experiences, enjoying this passion we call, “RUNNING!”

Thanks again to Morley, both for his comment and for his incredible dedication and passion for our sport!  And thank you to all of our amazing commenters.  YOU make us a community!

Posted by Cinnamon. Check out more at Salty Running.

1. Matt Centrowitz. Centrowitz and his baby face are enough to make all the girls swoon. I can’t add much more than that.

Aw, look at that smile! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. Usain Bolt. Back in December, Bolt’s split from his most recent ex girlfriend made headlines so it’s likely that he’s single and ready to mingle. Although given the result of his most recent performance, he may very well be already involved in his own series.

Instead of a rose, Bolt could do this signature pose to signal if the chick is staying or going. “You, over here. You, over there.”(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Evan Jager. Jager set the American Record in the steeplechase last year after coming off a serious foot injury. But the women could care less about that. They’d just want to get their hands on and in those flowing blonde locks of his.

His hair has its own Twitter page! Come on now. Photo courtesy of https://twitter.com/JagersHair

4. Jason Hartmann. Hartmann had two consecutive fourth place finishes at the Boston Marathon and STILL does not have a sponsor. So, I’m suggesting that not only should he be the next Bachelor but they should give him a sponsorship as well. He can wear an ABC singlet. Heck, all the ladies can come to him with shoe contracts and he picks which one he likes best. What better way to increase the popularity of our sport, right? Right?!

Sorry, not the Jason Hartman that I’m talking about. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

5. And just for kicks, Bruce Jenner. You want ratings ABC, well why not try this blending of reality worlds! Word around the block is that there is trouble in paradise with Kris Jenner anyway.

Ladies, eat your heart out!(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Who do you think should be the next Bachelor? Would you be more inclined to watch if it starred a track and field athlete? Do you think it could help promote the sport?

Posted by Ginger. Check out more at Salty Running.

Monday - 3 miles at 9:26 pace

Tuesday – Rest

Wednesday – Double workout day! 3 miles at 9:03 pace in the a.m., 1 hour yoga in the p.m. This is a free class that I have been wanting to try for so long… not just because I have heard the instructor is amazing (she was!), but because how often do you have the chance to go to yoga in a brewery? So fun. I definitely plan to make this a fixture of my summer workout routine.

Thursday – Rest

Friday – 2 miles at 9:42 pace. I felt kinda silly going to meet my friend for “just” two miles, but I was trying to be good and keep my overall mileage for the week from jumping up too quickly.

Saturday – My longest long run yet since 26.2… 7 miles at 8:45 pace. I have been considering various options for run commuting, but hadn’t yet made the plunge. I stuck my toe in the shallow end on this run, as my friend who drove me to the group run wasn’t feeling it… so I just ran home the extra 2.5 miles. I was really happy with the pace on this run, especially considering that I’d gone out for a Mexican food feast the night before!

Sunday – Rest

Total – 15 miles running, 1 hour yoga

Posted by Sassafras. Check out more at Salty Running.

Do you ever feel like this is happening in your belly while running?  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ever since my half marathon at Capital City in the beginning of May, I’ve been experiencing some nagging side stitches on most of my training runs. What. a. pain. in. the. butt. (Well, actually, the abdominal area).

Back in high school, I struggled with side stitches often and it seriously affected my racing. I tried going to specialists and was told many possible causes – spasms, gas, and diaphragm irritation- but I was never able to concoct a remedy, other than waiting until it dissipated and praying that it didn’t come back.

Throughout my running years, side stitches have come and  gone. Often once I get one on one run, I will get one on all my runs for a week or two. After that, it will dissipate and I’ll be in the free zone until the next one hits a few months later. I tend to have a sensitive belly to begin with, and I’m curious if other runners with their  1,000,511,685,967 (approximation) stomachs deal with this same occurence.

Do side stitches ever get in the way of your running too?

I ran a pain free race on May 4th but have been plagued with side stitches ever since. What the heck?

So, the definition of a side stitch is about as clear-cut as the reason for them (not very!): “an exercise-related abdominal pain {…} that usually occur during physical exertion.” They are usually to the right of the navel. Many people can run through them, but they certainly don’t contribute to a PR, to say the least. According to pretty in-depth analysis of the subject, no one knows the exact cause of them, but they are real, and they hurt.  (I think someone seriously needs to get to the bottom of what causes stitches. Any exercise physiologist/researchers out there looking for a subject for their dissertation?!).

For me, there’s no rhyme or reason, and I can’t find a pattern for when they hit and when they stay at bay. Sometimes I get them, and sometimes I don’t.  The location of mine can vary from right underneath the ribs to the lower region of my stomach – center, left, right – they don’t discriminate. Women are more likely than men to experience them. Runners are more susceptible than most other athletes.

Possible Causes

#1: According to Dr. Lewis Maharam, who contributes to Runner’s World,  side stitches are probably  caused by the pumping action of the legs putting pressure on the diaphragm from below combined with rapid breathing that expands the lungs and puts pressure on the diaphragm from above. This pinching results in the infamous side stitch.

#2 Others think that the ligaments stretching from the diaphragm to the liver get bounced around too much (for lack of scientific litigation) when running, which results in tightening and pain.

#3 Eating too soon before a training run, specifically hard-to-digest foods, puts pressure on the digestive system and results in such discomfort.

#4 Salty has a theory based on her own experience, that stitches are caused by tension or stress. You can read all about Salty’s stitchy experiences and her theories on the cause and cure here.

Possible Remedies

I’m not too hopeful that I’ll come out with a solution at this point in my running career. I think side stitches are just something I’m going to have to continue to deal with — unless someone out there in Salty land has a secret remedy; however, the below techniques have said to help some. It doesn’t hurt to try again, right?

Diaphragme (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Perhaps the culprit behind these nagging pains? And, pardon my French, this diagram seemed to best depict what I am trying to show!

• Eat moderately-sized, low-fat meals 2-3 hours before practice or competition and stick to familiar foods that are easily digested. I sometimes like the strawberry banana gels and a mixture of Gatorade/water before racing.
• Bend forward while tightening the abdominal muscles and exhale deeply. I always have this tendency to hold the pain and squeeze, which usually relieves it for a whole two minutes before it returns.
• Stretch -put your arms over head and to the side to release the tightness.
• Change breathing patterns while running (inhale one extra beat than when exhaling (inhale 1-2-3; exhale 1-2).
• Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. After all, another theory is that side stitches are caused by dehydration.
• Go ask a massage therapist about a myo-fascial release. They may be able to work out the fascia that surrounds the diaphragm muscle and loosen up some of the binding and constriction. Hmmm…sounds like a tempting Saturday afternoon plan since my hubby is out-of-town this weekend (maybe after my manicure?).
• Use Salty’s distraction techniques and just forget about ‘em!!!

Others say that side stitches tend to dissipate with improved fitness, so for those of you just beginning your running career, don’t let them get you down! For me, I’ve been dealing with them since I began running at the age of 12 and I’ve gone through cycles of them being bad to the point where I have to take time off to not being bothered by them at all.

If you’ve come this far and haven’t read Salty’s stitch post, here’s one more chance!

Please share your stitch experiences, your expertise or your tips! I’d love to banish side stitches from my life forever!

Posted by Ginkgo. Check out more at Salty Running.

Scrooge says “No running for you!” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Huh. Willing.

If you’ve read my sister’s post about recognizing what you’re willing to do to maximize your training, you know that it’s all relative:  super fast runners Shalane and Kara earned their success at Boston this year because they were willing to make sacrifices necessary to pursue running as a career.  Runners like them shape their lives around training:  they pay coaches and therapists, they travel all over to races and push hard. But why not you? Why not me?  If we’re willing to sacrifice everything, if we train as long and as intensively we could do it too, right?

Well, maybe.  But a lot of us have other stuff going on in our lives that precludes all that.  For me, and I know for many of you too, it’s a financial burden, and I can’t run away from that.  Does that make me unwilling, or is it okay to feel like I’m not able?

This stuff is expensive!

First off, don’t give me that “all you need is a pair of shoes” crap.  Because I’m going to counter you with, “shoes cost a buttload of money when you’re running high mileage, and you also need time.”  And as we all know, time is money.

I don’t want to get too deep into my own financials, of course, but point blank, I don’t make a lot of money and I live in one of the most expensive cities in the United States. Granted, I don’t work as much as I could, but my physically intensive 14-hour-a-day job can get a little prohibitive to race training as well.  I consider myself very, very lucky that I can have days off here and there, during which I can rest my body from all that heavy lifting, stair climbing and the long hours on my feet and also squeeze some extra training in on the side.

It’s often that I find work and running at odds with one another…in fact, I very nearly had to work the day before the Brooklyn Half Marathon.  The half for which I’ve been training since January.  The half that’s supposed to be my big comeback and my first step toward a BQ marathon.  If I had a desk job and would be out of there by 5 it wouldn’t be a big deal, but as a filmmaker, anything goes – I could be outdoors in the rain until 4am.

Plenty of us have different work schedules than the traditional nine-to-fivers. We work retail. We work in food service. We offer childcare.  We are health care staff and practitioners.  We’re teachers.  We’re single moms.  We have two or three jobs.  A lot of us have trouble making ends meet, and the financial stresses and the challenge of having nontraditional work and life schedules can make running a very appealing escape indeed.

So we run. But is it irresponsible of us to run when often our jobs don’t afford us health care?  In the event of injury that can leave us financially screwed–which I know all too well, as I’m still paying off the credit card debt I accrued from physical therapy last year when I was injured.  I often wonder how professional runners handle this; they can’t possibly make enough money to pay for insurance on their own, and certainly not low-deductible insurance.  Are they all married to wealthy spouses? Of course not-plenty are married to their coaches.  Perhaps they’re all under 26 with benevolent parents and no student loans, like the athletic equivalent of HBO’s Girls? Impossible; not all of them. I know it’s got to be hard for them too.

So we run…carefully.  And we want to get faster as much as the next gal, but when we’re scrambling for rent the first of every month and can’t afford to see a doctor and even the fee to a race is a financial burden, how can we even consider weekly massage therapy, personal coaching sessions, or paying for access to a gym that isn’t even open during hours we can go?

Forgive the animated .gif, but it’s a great illustration – You can see “poor man’s process” in effect behind Fozzie and Kermit’s heads. Looks real, right? Nope.

In the movies, we have a term called “poor man’s process,” which refers to shooting a scene that takes place in a car without making the car actually move.  You just use lighting tricks and green screens or backdrops to give the illusion of movement.  You’ve likely noticed it in old movies before, when the backdrop looks blatantly fake between the two heads of the characters in the car.  Well that’s what I feel like I’m doing with my training.  It’s a poor man’s process, and the best I can hope for is a substandard, hokey replica of the real deal.

I want to get faster.  And I know I need help to do that.  Winging it on my own just isn’t working…my nutrition could use tweaking, my recovery methods are clearly not enough and my knee and piriformis continue to nag me; something about my hip alignment is off.  I could use monthly PT or chiropractor visits to constantly work at correcting the issue.  I could use weekly massage visits, or at the very least, regular yoga classes to keep me on top of my flexibility.  Or hell, even just the extra time to get a weekly massage or yoga class in would be nice.

To say I’m willing to do what’s necessary to get faster is an understatement; I’m not just willing, I’m longing for it.  I salivate at the thought of a real coach or a real gym or a real doctor or the time to get in the ancillary training I need.  The idea of having those things gives me warm fuzzy unicorn rainbows in my tummy.

But frankly, I just can’t afford it.

Do you sometimes feel like you’re too poor to run?

Posted by Cinnamon. Check out more at Salty Running.

So, onto the week:

Monday: Planned rest day!

Tuesday: 6 road miles.

Wednesday: 5 road miles. I finally went back to my Wednesday night Second Sole group! It was nice to run with my friends again, even though everyone has somehow gotten way faster than I am!

Thursday: 7 road miles.

Friday: Unplanned rest day. I had every intention to do 20 or so road miles so that I could feel confident about having one long road run in before the Cleveland Marathon. But of course, I felt so crappy that I went back to bed.

Saturday: 19 trail miles. I wish I could’ve stayed out for more! Boo work.

Sunday: 32 trail miles. I met up with a friend and we ran a local 50K course. I had my first bonk of this training cycle and thank God my friend had enough food in his pockets for a whole family. His peanut butter and jelly definitely saved my butt.

Total: 69 miles.

Only two more hard weeks of training before I taper! This weekend, I’m running a 50K near Columbus on Saturday and the Cleveland Marathon on Sunday. I can’t wait!

Posted by Coriander. Check out more at Salty Running.

If you miss training runs, should you kiss your marathon goal goodbye?

Say somewhere during the heaviest part of the training cycle, you missed runs for marathon training.  Maybe things got busy, maybe you got sick, maybe there was an injury threat…no matter what the cause, is there a way to recover from missing workouts?

I think so.  I hope so, or I have totally screwed up my Boston-qualifying marathon goal.

When I decided on a race and created my training plan, just like any of us would, I anticipated a perfect training cycle:  no injuries or unexpected travel. I generally expect to exceed my planned mileage since I view a training plan as the minimum miles required, but in mid-cycle I had a big setback that left me barely training at all.  Been there?  Maybe you’re there right now?

Don’t worry, there’s hope for us yet!

The Problem:

Obviously I didn’t expect smooth sailing to get in the miles, intervals, tempo runs, and hills I thought I needed to qualify for Boston at Windermere, but it was an idealized plan.  The reality has varied from that…a lot, in fact. You can see that from my training log’s Plan vs Actual Chart.

As you can see, there’s a dip in my training plan at Weeks 10 and 11, showing a mid-training plan break and the resultant “crud” that sidelined me for almost two weeks.  That means that I hardly ran at all and then spent another 2-3 weeks regaining the fitness I lost.  What the chart doesn’t show is that, although the mileage was there in the weeks following the unplanned break, the intensity was not.  I simply wasn’t ready or fit enough to run fast. Enter panic mode.

With a 4-week downer I was worried this would be a huge disappointment. Finally during my slow 20 miler on Week 13, I felt like I wanted to run and run fast again. I realized that I’d need to make some changes to the remaining weeks of my plan: I needed to run outside, shorten my taper, and increase the intensity of my remaining runs.

So I did something crazy.

The Fix:

I registered for two marathons and a half marathon before the goal race.

But why, Cilantro!? That’s insane!  How can racing before the goal race help me run faster?

• First, if you’re a treadmill runner like I am, races will force you to run outside.  Those race fees are great motivators when the comfort of your waiting treadmill tells you to go back to sleep for a few hours.
• Second, races give you great external motivation to run.  There is no training run, outdoors or in, that feels as great as running a marathon!
• Third, that nothing-like-it-race-feeling helps you run those training runs at a higher intensity than you normally would.  I actually PR’ed at my half-marathon!
• Bonus, you get a tune-up race to help you practice for the big day!

After finishing last week’s Provo City Marathon!

So the downlow is that I ran one marathon 5 weeks out from my goal race, one half-marathon 4 weeks out from my goal race, and one marathon two weeks out from my goal race.  I’ve incorporated a ton of recovery, but I’m not going to lie to you – I am tired!

If you’re a little closer to your goal race than I was, you could try the full marathon two weeks out and the half (faster) three or four weeks out and that’s it.  Do what seems right.

Get crazy! But not too crazy.

Caveats

If you try this strategy, be very careful, and I can only recommend it the way I did it – with weekly sports massage, lots of stretching and at-home recovery and careful attention to diet. Put a huge emphasis on recovery.

I’ve never needed a taper so much in my life.

The Result

I did my last Yasso 800′s last Thursday, and averaged 3:31 (minutes & seconds), which is reputed to correlate to a 3:31 marathon time (hours & minutes).  So…maybe I can do this!

I’m having a lot of doubts though.  I’m not convinced that I’ll be able to run that and qualify for Boston.  I think I’m ready to PR, but not to qualify…I’m concerned the month+ break from training hurt me enough that I won’t be able to run a BQ this time.  I still want to, of course, but I think it’s time to be realistic.

Nonetheless I’m not going to sabotage.  I’ll stick to my taper and pre-race nutrition this week.  A PR will be just as good, and probably more realistic than cutting 12 minutes off of my 3:47 marathon PR.  Although…maybe I can do this?

And maybe a little self-doubt is normal and even healthy.  Either way, I won’t know for sure until Sunday!

Have you ever recovered from a mid-training-plan slump?  Would you use a marathon to train for a marathon like I did?  Think I’m ready for a BQ?

Posted by Cilantro. Check out more at Salty Running.

I was in Dallas for a business conference and really hoped to run, but I didn’t end up logging a single step.  Why?  The main reason was that I was busy with meetings and events from the wee hours to late at night every night.  The other reason was I got slammed with a head/chest cold as well.

So rest became the name of the game for the week.  It was good timing too as I just finished my training cycle for the Illinois half marathon and am gearing up to start base-building for summer running and my fall marathon (Columbus).  I embraced the time off of running as a much-needed break so I can recharge mentally and get ready for a new cycle.

How far did I run?  3.1 miles.

It’s Glow Time Fun!

I did the It’s Glow Time run with my boys on Saturday night.  I have no idea what pace we ran at and we were often reduced to walking as 90%+ of the participants were walkers, but we sure did have a great time.

Next up for me: get back into higher mileage and marathon training.  Happy training!

Posted by Mint. Check out more at Salty Running.

Fast Running Chick or Turkey? you decide ;)

Once upon a time I was a fast running chick. It’s hard to believe that just a year ago I was 38th overall female at the Boston marathon. It’s hard to believe that in 2011 I ran a 2:52 marathon on less than ideal training with a bum foot and calf. It feels like I am worlds away from that stars-aligned moment in 2010 when I ran 2:49:53 and came in 2nd place at a large marathon. Where on earth is that runner chick now?

I’ve often thought about what running will be once there aren’t PRs to chase anymore. I run with a lot of masters, and for some it seems they just keep running, but there’s no passion it it anymore. For some it seems like the equivalent of taking a daily vitamin or watching the news. You always did it, so you keep doing it. Some don’t even lace up to race anymore. The runs are often accompanied by tales of the “good old days” and the many times they chased after that goal time that they just never reached. It has always struck me as sad. And I was very scared of becoming that runner, and even thought that by taking my running to the level I had, I was doomed to become that runner. Reach for the stars, and well, eventually you have to come back to the ground.

Depressing right?

If you had told me a year ago I would be cycling more than running, and actually enjoying it, I would have told you that you were nuts. Nothing was going to keep me from climbing back up to those stars. But for whatever reason, right now, the wannabe elite runner is in the background. She’s in there somewhere for sure, I saw glimpses of her at a duathlon a few weeks ago. She certainly was there when I paced a friend at a 10 miler a few weeks after (otherwise given my training there’s no way I would have kept up the pace!). It seems you can’t take the racing runner out of me so easily, despite the lack of training. But for now the racing runner is content to sit in the background. Content to let goals sit on the shelf for awhile. Content to ponder running in a different light.

I feel no need to join my old lunch run crew just because it is what I always did. On the rare occasion that I do join now, it’s because I miss the route, or the friends, or need to escape the office and feel the sun. It isn’t to meet some target mileage, but just because I want to. Odd how those runs don’t seem so soul-sucking now as they did before.

I’m not sure what my running future holds: visions of triathlons, duathlons, ultras, and even another go at the marathon OTQ all dance in my head. But other goals are moving to the forefront: becoming a mother; golfing with loved ones; cycling across the country; hiking the Appalachian trail; picking the saxophone back up; going to concerts; and trying out mountain biking. Whatever my future holds, it’s nice to know that right here right now, I don’t look back with regrets on the running I have done, and I still enjoy running, just for the sake of it. But once upon a time I was a fast running chick. Perhaps I will be again.

Posted by Pepper. Check out more at Salty Running.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even though this week was a bust as far as running goes, I did manage to get some running in this weekend. I met up with some of my Oiselle teammates at the Run Like a Mother 5k on Sunday. Obviously, this was less of a “race” and more of an organized run with snacks at the end for me, but I’m OK with that. The forecasted rain held off and we wound up with perfect running weather – 50s and overcast. It was a great morning with some great ladies. Absolutely worth getting up early for.

Total for the week: 3.1 miles

Posted by Licorice. Check out more at Salty Running.

Part of these changes naturally evolved because for the last month, I’ve been living out of a few duffel bags, bouncing from the houses of friends and family as James’s house is still under construction. I’ve been forced to only take with me what is needed, which in turn has helped me to see that I should probably only buy things that I need, rather than want. In regards to work, I received a rejection letter a while back from a potential new job with a significant pay raise. Not getting that job helped me to see that I’m right where I need to be, with a very supportive agency and in a position that is more of a vocation than a “job”.

These insights have seemed to also trickle down to my training. I’ve been continuing to focus on running by feel for the last couple of months. This yielded a new 5k PR (which also happened to be a cross country PR) last week at the 1st Annual Guidestone Gallop, a race put on by the agency I serve. I ran 21:28 for the overall female win, which included a gift certificate for new shoes, something I was very grateful for receiving. Speaking of shoes, I’ve also been experimenting with simplifying my everyday trainers. The Nike Free Run + 2 are typically meant for low mileage running or to just lounge around in. However, these shoes seem to be the only ones that don’t cause blisters or random foot/calf pain. I’ve been running occasionally in them for the last two years. One day, I decided to do a 90 minute run in them and nothing happened. Eventually, I started wearing them everyday on my easy runs and noticed less aches and pains plus a feeling of being “free”. Granted, these types of shoes won’t work for everyone but the nice thing about minimal shoes is that you can rack up over 1,000 miles on them as they are minimal to start.

At the finish of last week’s 5k. Photo courtesy of Trish Uveges.

The rest of the month I am focusing on easy running, with a workout or two for maintenance and long runs around 90 minutes. Once June comes around, my plan is to begin focusing on increasing the time and distance of my long runs. I built up some nice strength between February and April through the use of doubles on my long run days (13-16 miles total) as well as holding strong at 40-50 miles a week during that time. This week was a down week and the weeks remaining this month will serve as a break from structure in an effort to prepare for a summer of endurance training for the Akron marathon in September.

Monday: 5 miles solo around dusk, which made for some pretty sights on a country road.

Tuesday: Quick 2 miles with a friend before heading out to get some Mexican food.

Wednesday: 4 miles with my friend and her dog on trails. I was still feeling achy from Saturday’s PR run.

Thursday: Took the day off with James.

Friday: 4.5 miles solo run in the rain on trails. This was a beautiful run as the woods surrounding me were very lush and green. I felt like I was showering with the trees as the rain fell.

Saturday: 5 miles solo around the neighborhood. My body was just now starting to feel normal again. That race must have took a lot out of me!

Sunday: 10 miles in the morning on an out and back bike path. Felt good to run in the morning before spending the day with my mom and grandma.

Total: 30.7

Posted by Ginger. Check out more at Salty Running.

When you’ve followed a plan EXACTLY as it’s written.  You may do that regularly… but I never do that. Until this week.

The second school concluded for the semester, I started reading everything I couldn’t when I was reading PhD goodness.  That means every running book that came out since January and some other ones too.  One of those books was Advanced Marathoning, and while it’s clearly too late to start one of their training plans, the taper part of their 55-70 weekly miles training plan made sense, so I decided to follow that.

And, with the exception of the marathon last week, I have. Easy, peasy.

The stats:

Sunday: Nothing, Nada, Zilch.  After running 26 miles the day before, I took my break.

Monday: 6 miles, recovery.

Tuesday: 7 miles with 8×100 strides. Still feeling pretty tired, but a good run overall.

Wednesday: 4 miles, recovery.

Thursday: 8 miles, Yasso 800′s (averaging 3:30). These HURT!

Friday: 6 miles, recovery.

Saturday: 13 miles, last 7 at marathon pace. Felt strong, but felt some lactic acid build-up towards the end.  Definitely need another taper week, but feeling fast and recovered from the Provo City Marathon.

Total: 44 miles.

Looking forward to a taper week and then race day!!!

Posted by Cilantro. Check out more at Salty Running.

Springs is here! It’s Mother’s Day! Enjoy! (Photo credit: @Doug88888)

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!  I hope have/had a wonderful day!

I have mixed feelings about my training this week.  I had high hopes for higher running mileage and getting back in the pool, but I am still tired from Eugene.  I started off the week somewhat hard, only to feel somewhat unmotivated and just down right tired towards the end of the week.  It was a big reminder that my body needs a good 2-3 weeks of recovery after such a long event.

Sunday:  Bike about 44 miles; most of the Boulder 70.3 half ironman course.  Very hilly!  Then, I ran with Lucy for a mile right after.  It took us about 18 mins, which included two potty stops, bird watching, chasing a cat and watching another dog play frisbee.  She gets distracted easily, but when she wants to run, those little legs move quick!

Monday:  Lift, then 30 mins on the treadmill.

Tuesday: Bike to work! Ran 4 miles at lunch, lifted in the evening.

Wednesday:  First workout since the marathon:  5*2 mins with 75 seconds rest.  Not bad, but I definitely felt rusty.  Weights/core at lunch.

Thursday:  Completely unmotivated to do anything in the morning, so I slept in.  Got home from work a little later, but I got in 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Friday:  Still unmotivated in the morning.  Planned to run at lunch, but went out with my department instead.  I did get in a very slow 3 miles after work, but it was beautiful and refreshing. Plus, it was my first run in a test pair of Newtons!

Saturday:  Gorgeous bike ride north of Boulder, followed by a 20 min run.  Everything felt good–no kinks or soreness.  Felt good to do a short brick!

Weekly Totals:

Running:  23 miles

Swimming:  Big, fat 0  (This needs to change next week)!

Biking:  97 miles

Weight Training:  90 minutes

Posted by Vanilla. Check out more at Salty Running.

I prefer a hobby of actual precious moments to figurative (or figurine) ones. (Photo credit: pchow98)

Sometimes I take my running too seriously. My husband is usually the first to tip me off that I’ve gone over the edge from enjoying it to stressing out about it. When he does this, his favorite phrase for reminding me of running’s place in my life is, “it’s just a hobby.”

He is always half joking, acknowledging that it matters to me and is important to me, but truthfully reminding me that in the end it’s not a matter of life or death. If I don’t PR or *gasp* get a day’s workout in, the Earth will continue to turn.

Lately, I uncharacteristically don’t need that reminder. 

When I woke up from a short afternoon nap on Monday, April 15 and realized bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, like many of you, my own running suddenly felt insignificant. It seemed like a normal reaction and one I expected to pass. Hours turned to days, days to a couple of weeks and finally I felt like running mattered to me again. I could hear the faint crackle of the fire beginning to burn again.

But then this whole missing women found in Cleveland thing happened. This might seem a strange thing to impact one’s motivation to run, so let me explain. As many of you know, the Salty headquarters are on the outskirts of Cleveland, OH. I was born here, left for several years and returned to settle down and start a family. It’s a great place to live. Most of the time here, I’ve lived in the eastern suburbs, but when I was finishing up undergrad (in my mid-20′s – I took the scenic route) and then when I went to law school, I immersed myself in Cleveland urban life. I first lived in a community just east of downtown and then in 2003, I moved to a neighborhood on the southwest side. I lived on the southern edge of a neighborhood called Tremont.

Tremont is where I started running again in the summer of 2004. I ran past the fliers showing Gina DeJesus’ and Amanda Berry’s photos. Gina’s disappearance, in particular,  struck me. I lived a couple of blocks from the neighborhood that is the heart of Cleveland’s Puerto Rican community. I much preferred this side of my neighborhood then going to the more gentrified areas for things like grocery shopping or coffee runs. I often drove past the churches, the schools, the botanicas admiring them along the way. Gina’s fliers were everywhere.

After law school, I found a good job and started looking to buy a house. I looked at a charming old house even closer to the Puerto Rican neighborhood from my apartment, but decided against it. Although the area was fairly gentrified, there was still a thread of urban decay and violence. I often encountered dogs on the run, at best unsupervised and improperly cared for dogs, but often strays. There were often homeless or drunk men sleeping in the park. And I often felt something was just off and not safe. There’s something about running the streets that gives you a sense of a place. I trusted my gut and passed on that house and the neighborhood.

The green is the apartment I lived in from 2003 – 2005. The red is, well, you can fill in that blank.

When I first heard the missing women were found alive, I was so relieved. It took a day or two for the reality to sink in and realize the horror they must have gone through. And then, finally, I decided to map the house to see where this happened. I was right across the freeway the whole time. I drove by it often to go to the grocery store. I frequented Charles Ramsey’s McDonalds to feed my coffee habit. I’m sure I saw Ariel Castro in passing.

The thought of being that close to someone so sick and, well, evil scares me. As a mother, the thought that we could be driving by a house where that was happening or standing next to someone who could do something like that hurts. I look at my innocent children and I hope with all the hope I have that I can protect them from that thread of evil in this world.

But I often come back to one thing: while Michelle, Amanda and Gina were imprisoned, I was out there running free. I had the privilege of being a little older, of living just a few blocks closer to the nice part of town, of growing up in the burbs. I didn’t know any of them, yet I feel a little survivor’s guilt.

And running goals feel so insignificant. So just a hobby.

I’ve been trying to remind myself that this stuff is very rare; most people really are good.  Life goes on. In the face of terrorism at the Boston Marathon or three women being imprisoned just blocks from my apartment, the answer is to live fully. The answer always is to live fully and run on.

How about you? Are you feeling back to normal after Boston? Ever have something so unrelated to running impact your desire to run like this? 

Posted by Salty. Check out more at Salty Running.