Living with a Run Addict

Running has changed my life in so many profound ways, but one aspect I've never deeply explored is how my running has changed the lives of those who live with me.  So, I asked my boys - Gerald (15) and Hayden (almost 9) - and husband Jay 10 questions to find out how my crazy running ways have affected them.

QUESTION #1: What is it like living with a runner?
Hayden: It is awesome because we get to travel around the United States.
Gerald: I never really thought about it. I guess it's normal. I don't know what else to compare it to.
Jay: That's a simple question but tough to answer. It can be hectic: getting to races and getting there on time, checking the calendar to make plans without stepping on her run schedule. It's interesting because we travel to all sorts of different places where we normally wouldn't go.

QUESTION #2: How does having a runner mother/wife affect you? Where does it affect you most?
Hayden: I don't know.
Gerald: I have to listen to many running stories.
Jay: It makes life easier on me because she has a passion that keeps her going, and there's less idle time for her. She's moving and enjoying herself and doing what she wants to do.

QUESTION #3: What are some of the things your runner mother/wife does often?
Hayden: She runs on the treadmill and runs a lot in the mornings.
Gerald: She runs, talks about running, reads about running, and shops for running stuff online a lot.
Jay: Well, she runs a lot. She also buys a lot of running gear: shoes, clothes, etc.

QUESTION #4: What is the weirdest thing your runner mother/wife does?
Hayden: She wakes up at 4:15 in the morning and goes for runs.
Gerald: She runs.
Jay: She doesn't really do anything weird.

QUESTION #5: What is the craziest thing your runner mother/wife has done?
Hayden: That's really hard to answer. She does many crazy things.
Gerald: She tried to run 50 miles.
Jay: She runs outside when it's -15º.

QUESTION #6: What is the weirdest/craziest thing YOU have done because of your running mother/wife?
Hayden: Actually, because of her, I have run more that I ever could have done in my life.
Gerald: I have waited for her to cross the finish line ... many times.
Jay: I ran across the city of Chicago to try to catch up to her at different points along the marathon route.

QUESTION #7: What do you love about your runner mother/wife?
Hayden: Everything.
Gerald: When she's done running, she always feels happy.
Jay: I love the fact that running gives her a purpose beyond home and career and family. It's something that is all hers. I think that until she started running, it was something that she had been lacking largely since I've known her.

QUESTION #8: What do you dislike/hate about your runner mother/wife?
Hayden: Nothing.
Gerald: When she's hasn't run, she's not so happy.
Jay: The long distance driving to races. 

QUESTION #9: How do you explain your runner mother/wife to your friends?
Hayden: In an excited way.
Gerald: She runs marathons ... a lot.
Jay: She's nuts!

QUESTION #10: How has running changed your relationship with your mother/wife?
Hayden: It has made it better because I get to spend some time with her when I run. She keeps me company.
Gerald: It hasn't really changed our relationship. 
Jay: Her running has improved our relationship. Running has given her an individual goal and motivation and passion. It has given her something that is all hers to where she doesn't have to rely on what the boys do or what I do. It's something that is hers, which is something that everyone needs to have.

It seems that for the most part, running is beneficial to me AND my family. As if I needed any more reasons to run ...

Thanks for reading, friends!

2014: A Review

As I look at all I've accomplished in 2014 in regards to running, I can't help but feel like this has been one of my most successful years yet. I made it through four 5ks, one 4.5-mile race, one 10k, three half marathons and eight full marathons. I set a PR at the Erie Marathon in September, a 10k PR at the TRZ race in August, came within seconds of setting a 5k PR at Olivia's 5k Wish Run in October and logged 1,772.62 miles - the most I've ever run in a year - all without a single injury. I set a monthly mileage total record (175.57 miles in August) and helped my boy Zeke log his best year yet with 541.41 miles. I even ran a few miles with Pam, the one who started me on my running journey (love ya, girl!). Yes, I'm truly blessed.

But these personal accomplishments are not the only things that put a big smile on my face. In this year, I have added many names to my list of running buddies and developed and rekindled some pretty awesome friendships. I have my sole sisters (thank you, Kate, Lisa, Erica and Cathy!) my sole brother (thank you, Chris!), and two fur babies (love you, Zeke and Bella!) who keep me company on my runs. I've gained some friendships through Facebook, and one of them has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and sign up for my first ultra (thank you, Josh!).

I run for three very special people now - Bryce, Gracie and Brianna - and they make every step worthwhile.

I thrive on encouraging others to find their love for running, and I feel like I've been successful in spreading this running bug to at least two people this year, and I will enjoy watching their running journeys unfold. I'm hoping to continue to inspire others in 2015.

And so, I close this unusually short blog post with my 2015 goals:

1. Finish an ultra marathon.
2. Run 2,015 miles throughout the course of the year.
3. Live more.
4. Laugh more.
5. Love more.
6. Read more.
7. Write more.

Thanks for reading, friends. I hope you all have a wonderful New Year! :)

Two Truths About Running

When it comes to running, there's a pretty substantial learning curve. Fortunately, there are all kinds of sources out there that can provide a runner with advice, such as magazines (I subscribe to Runner's World and Running Times), Facebook groups (Running the World, Run JunkEes Run Club, and Women's Running Club - WRC are my favorites) and books such as Hal Higdon's Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, which was instrumental in helping me train for my first full.

I've learned two truths in the five years I've been pounding out mileage. The first is this: everyone's running journey is different. What works for me may not work for someone else, and I think it's very important to keep this in mind when giving/receiving/following advice. For example, I wear Vibram FiveFingers, some of the most minimalist running shoes available (read my blog entry about Running Minimalist for the story behind that part of my journey). Do these shoes work for me? Yes, they sure do. In fact, I like to call them miracle workers. But will they perform miracles for someone else? Maybe not. The reason there are so many different brands and styles of running shoes is to accommodate the many different body types and running styles of runners.

When I do training runs, I have a distance goal in mind. Other people will set time goals instead. There are training plans out there that accommodate both styles. Some runners choose to run without gadgets like GPS watches, iPods, phones or heart rate monitors while others thrive on the information/distraction/motivation that these things can provide. Some people like me run every day while others utilize rest days.

Is one approach better than the other? I don't think so. As long as people are out there running, it shouldn't really matter how they choose to do it: in minimalist shoes or the cushiest shoes available, with tech or without it, mileage goals or timed goals, rest days or no rest days.

I like to remind people who feel the need to school me on the choices I've made that they are unfamiliar with my running journey. They don't know my body like I do, and therefore they don't have the knowledge to decide what's best for it. I had someone tell me just this week that running every day is very bad for my body. Well, maybe for hers it is, but for mine? I'm going to have to disagree. As long as I make smart choices, my body can handle the demands of everyday running.

Which brings me to my second truth that I call The Golden Rule of Running: it's important to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.

It's a fairly simple truth, and every runner can benefit from it but alas, it's not as easy as it seems, especially for new runners. Many haven't learned how to interpret what their bodies are saying. Let's say one is experiencing pain. The initial reaction might be Oh my God, I have a pain in my hip/knee/shin/foot! WebMD suggests it might be a labral tear/runner's knee/shin splints/plantar fasciitis! My running journey is over! when it could be the body's way of saying that it's time for a new shoes since this pair has logged over 400 miles. Sometimes the only way a runner can discern the difference between the two scenarios is through experience and trial and error. If a new pair of shoes does the trick, then the runner knows that for the next time (s)he experiences a similar issue. If it doesn't, then it's back to the drawing board.

I've become very good at listening to my body's needs. The fact that I can do what I do relatively injury-free is a testament to how well I've learned to follow The Golden Rule. But the language my body speaks may be very different from that of another runner's body. It takes time to learn how to interpret.

And patience. Oh, yes. Plenty of patience.

Thanks for reading, friends. :)

Four-legged fur buddy: runner's best friend

School has started back up, which means that my schedule feels as tight as a belt on Thanksgiving Day. Sometimes the only way I can fit in a decent run is if I get up at stupid o'clock.

Fortunately, I have someone who is always willing to run regardless of the time. When my alarm goes off, he's right there as if to say, "Well, are we gonna go run or what?! Get your lazy butt out of bed!" 

The weather conditions don't matter to him. He's willing to pound some pavement, even if it's freezing cold or pissing down rain. I don't know what I'd do without my fur buddy running friend.

                                                             (Zeke: this girl's best running buddy!)

Looking back, it almost seems as if fate put him in my arms. I had always wanted to get a dog for the boys because I believe that having a loyal companion is important in any child's life. My parents had dogs when I was a kid, and I have fond memories of each one. My husband Jay mentioned a few times that he would like to get a dog but said that when the time was right, an opportunity would present itself. 

He was correct.

I remember that June day four years ago very well. We were at Gerald's baseball game, and one of the other parents had a tiny puppy with her. Her name was Lucy, and she was so adorable. We found out that Lucy had many siblings that needed a home. My parents were taking our boys for the evening, so Jay and I decided that we would go check out the puppies. I told Jay that we were just going to look. 

Yeah, right! Anyone ought to know that it's impossible to just "look" at puppies!

Among the gray-with-white-markings puppies and the white-with-black-spots puppies, there was one brownish-red brindle male. Jay immediately pointed him out. I picked him up and he snuggled right in, crawling onto my shoulder and burying himself in my hair. The idea that we picked him is ludicrous. In reality, he picked us.

We took home that little four-pound puppy, first stopping at a store on the way to get some essentials. We fed him puppy formula for a few weeks, and we watched our tiny, weak, sleep-all-day puppy turn into a playful, loyal and snuggly 110+ pound beast. He still considers himself a lap dog even though he can no longer fit on any of our laps. Jay named him Zeke, and when he was a year old, I began to take him with me on runs.

It was very frustrating at first. He wasn't so great on a leash, and he would trip me up and pull me this way and that. We finally found the right collar and leash, and I taught him where I wanted him to be so that we wouldn't trip over each other. He quickly learned verbal commands such as "Ease up!" (slow down) and "Move over!" (for when cars approach). Now I don't have to say anything at all because he knows what to do. 

I love running with Zeke. He is the perfect partner despite his penchant for skunks. He provides an element of protection, and he helps get me out of bed for early runs. He's never stood me up, and I love it when we're on a run and he looks up at me with his tongue hanging out, utter contentment written all over his mug. We're perfect for each other, and I'm so blessed to have him in my life.

Thanks for reading, friends. :)

Comparison: The Thief of Joy

I belong to multiple Facebook running groups: Running the World, Run JunkEes Run Club and Women's Running Club-WRC, to name a few of my faves. I love these groups so much because despite the fact that the people who post in them may be separated from each other by oceans and thousands of miles, they totally get it: the pull to wake at stupid o'clock to get in a 6-miler, the desire to commiserate with those who know what it's like to lose a toenail or suffer from chafing or a more serious injury like Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis or shin splints or broken bones, and the need to laugh about how we eat, sleep, and dream about running all the time.

Running is a very individual sport. What works for one will not work for another. There are a variety of issues that runners experience and an even more vast array of solutions to any particular problem. With such differences, it's no surprise that I am occasionally bothered by some of the posts and comments I read.

Today I ran the Biggest Loser half marathon in Buffalo. The mileage from this race brings my August total to 175.57, a personal record for me. In the nearly five years I've been running, I've never logged that many miles in a month, and wow! This accomplishment feels great!

This was a tough goal to meet. To reach it, I needed to log a minimum of 5.65 miles every day. There were days when I could only fit in a mile - either because my schedule was full or my body simply needed a break - which meant that for the rest of the week/month, I had to play catch-up. Some days I simply just didn't want to run at all, but my IRun4 buddies helped to motivate me. At the beginning of the month, I contemplated upping my goal to 200 miles (I like round, even numbers) but quickly changed my mind after the end of the first week. The goal I had set was enough.

This evening, I sat down to peruse some of the groups to see what was happening in the cyber running world. I was on a high from finishing the race and adding up my monthly mileage. In fact, I felt pretty darned good about it all, and then I read this post: "Okay my month [of] slacking is over. Just 352 miles this month. Now back to normal[.]"

Good Lord! If 352 miles this month is considered "slacking," what the heck have I been doing?! That's a minimum of 11.35 miles every day. How does one do this, exactly? Suddenly all my hard work seemed paltry.

Then in a different group, a woman posted that she ran 120 miles for the month but felt that wasn't enough compared to the monthly totals other people were touting. I felt a camaraderie with her instantly. Wasn't I too feeling inadequate?

We are so hard on ourselves. We work so hard for what we want, and when we accomplish it, we don't allow ourselves to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We hold up our accomplishments next to someone else's and too often find that ours pale in comparison.

We can also be blinded by past successes. I'll use today's race as an example. Going into this half marathon, my plan was to do at least one of two things: set a half marathon personal record by beating my best time of 2:05 and change, and/or finish the race in under two hours. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to accomplish either one of these goals. In fact, I knew by the third mile that neither goal was going to happen. It was a bitter realization, and my failure to follow through shadowed much of the race. I'm okay with today's results. Despite heat/humidity, muscle cramps and stomach issues, I finished with a respectable time. But still, if only I could have run faster like I have in the past ...

Which brings me to one of my favorite quotes, attributed to Theodore Roosevelt: "Comparison is the thief of joy." This quote is valid in nearly every aspect of life. I need to laminate and post it everywhere - my bedroom/bathroom/running space, my classroom, make it my laptop wallpaper, even - so that I am constantly reminded of its truth.

We are in charge of our own Happiness. When we let Comparisons dictate our worth, we leave open the door that houses Joy and before we know it, in walks Inadequacy and Incompetency, Misery and Melancholy, Anxiety and Anger, and let's not forget that green-eyed monster, Jealousy. If we feed them, they will take over. It is better to leave these types of guests out in the cold to starve.

Thanks for reading, friends. :)

Race Day Woes

Life is so unpredictable. Despite all our best intentions to prepare for anything, we just never really know what will be thrown our way.

The same can be said about running and training for races.

Most marathon plans incorporate a variety of training runs over the course of 16 to 18 weeks. Depending upon the training plan level - beginner, intermediate, advanced - runners might log anywhere between 400 and 1,000 miles just to run one marathon.

To a non-runner, this probably sounds absolutely crazy, and on some levels maybe it is. But in order for one to prepare the body for the task of running 26.2 miles in one go, these training runs are essential. They build endurance, strength, and most importantly, mental toughness.

However, there are many variables that can happen on race day that, no matter what kind of training a runner completes, will throw a wrench into the best-laid plans.

One of the most difficult race-day variables to overcome is weather, and spring marathons can be the trickiest. The problem lies in the fact that a vast majority of spring race training is completed during the cooler winter months. This isn't an issue if the weather is cool on race day, but it's been my experience that more often than not, spring race day temps are less than ideal.

I experienced this problem when I ran the May 2012 Cleveland Marathon. My goal going into this race was to set a PR. I was really hoping to cut about 19 minutes off my best marathon time and finish around five hours, preferably under it. This goal drove my training for this race, and as I toed up to the start line, I was confident. My training had gone very well and I felt great.

I ran with the 5:00 pace group for most of the race and was very comfortable through mile 16, but then it all went south. The water station there had run out of cups, but since I had hydrated well at the previous station, I didn't think it would be too much of a problem and could hold off until the next station. By the time I reached mile 17, I was in trouble. I felt lightheaded, sick to my stomach and developed a pounding headache. The mid-80 temps, lack of shade and not hydrating at the previous water station caught up with me, and I had to reassess my goal: either continue the pace I had kept for the previous 17 miles and risk a DNF (Did Not Finish) and a ride in an ambulance or worse, or take it easy and just get across the finish line. I chose the latter and walked the remaining nine miles of the race, hence my 6:15 and change finish time.

Despite the fact that the Cleveland race marked my worst marathon time by far, I am thankful that I was able to finish. I made a smart decision and was ready to call it off altogether if my condition didn't improve. I swallowed my pride and tossed out my goal without hesitation. I also learned a few valuable lessons at that race, the most important being that despite the additional weight a hydration pack adds to a 26.2 mile run, it's worth wearing one on hot race days.

Another variable that can affect race day is health/general wellness. On Halloween morning 2013, I was running along my favorite route early in the morning when, a few miles in, I stepped on something - a pinecone, perhaps, or a stick - and rolled my foot. I hobbled the last mile or so to get to my car, praying that it wasn't too serious because I had a marathon in a week and a half in West Virginia. I dropped my run streak (66 days!) and rested and doctored my foot until race day.

Again, I had a goal to finish in under five hours and set a PR. In September of that year, I had run the Erie Marathon and clocked my best marathon time at 4:31:00 and was hoping to top it in WV's Marshall Marathon. However, I had to revise my goal as my foot was still a bit tender. The weather was cool and overcast, perfect conditions for a race, but my foot began to bother me at around mile 19. Still, I persevered and finished in 5:08 and change. For the 2011 Chicago Marathon, I clocked my second-worst time (just under six hours) because of knee issues, which I eventually fixed with a shoe change. You can read about that race in my blog post about running minimalist.

Other variables such as course terrain can be overcome by training appropriately, but unpleasant surprises can still lurk around every corner, especially if one is unfamiliar with the area. This couldn't be more true than when I think back to the marathon I ran in July 2013 in Vermont: the Mad Marathon.

Perhaps the name should have given me a clue. Touted on its website as "The world's most beautiful marathon," I just had to give it a shot. The elevation chart was a bit intimidating, but hey, I live in Cassadaga. I can't go a mile out my front door without encountering some pretty hefty hills, so I thought I would be able to train for this race by incorporating them into every mid-level and long run in my plan.

Well, it was a good idea in theory, anyway. We arrived in Vermont the day before the race. I picked up my packet in a very timely fashion (I was the only runner there, so no waiting in line!) and, since we had some time to burn, we decided to drive the course. What an eye opener it was. The hills were HUGE, much steeper and longer than I had imagined. Suddenly I was confronted with the knowledge that my training had been woefully insufficient.

If you dislike running flat courses, then you should give the Mad Marathon a try because there isn't a single flat spot to be had. Only a few hundred runners sign up for and finish the Mad Marathon each year; I guess not many people like the idea of running miles and miles of hills. While the course is indeed very beautiful - rustic country where the cows outnumber the spectators 50 to 1 - it took every ounce of energy I had and a full cup of locally brewed beer at mile 23 (very yummy, too!) to complete the course. I didn't have much energy to fully enjoy the views but did snap a few pictures. Not looking to set any PRs this time, I planned to finish in under six hours and did so in 5:29 and change. Afterward, I went to our room and crashed. It took me nearly two weeks to recover.

(elevation chart for the Mad Marathon - doesn't do it justice!)

I'm fortunate that up to this point, I've been able to finish every race I've started. I'm sure there will be a race that will get the best of me or a day when I am ill or something comes up and I can't make it. I'm not looking forward to it happening, but it's inevitable. Life is too unpredictable to plan otherwise!

Thanks for reading, friends. :)

My Version Of "You Might Be A Runner If …"

YOU MIGHT BE A RUNNER IF …

… you know where the one mile marker lies from your house - in any direction.

… you see vehicles with running-related stickers and instantly feel a camaraderie with the people inside.

... it's totally normal to take two or three showers every day.

… you have multiple pairs of running shoes.

… you have some very interesting tan lines.

… you are a member of more than one running group on Facebook.

… you are signed up for multiple races at any given time.

… you know the meanings of most/all of the following acronyms: PR, PB, PW, BQ, DNF, DNS, DNQ, DFL, LSR, LSD, HR, OR, WR, AG, ITBS, AT, PF, SFX, MP, HM, MPM, RD, DOMS, XT, C25K, XC, WU, CD.

… you fear loose dogs.

… you know the correct mileage for these races: 5k, 8k, 10k, 12k, 15k, half marathon, full marathon, 50k, 100k, Ironman.

… you know the mileage for these distances: 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,200 meters, 1,600 meters.

… your running clothes take up the most space in your closet.

… you know the location of every public bathroom and drinking fountain in a twenty-mile radius. And if there are none, you have spots already picked out where you can duck and squat. Oh, and you carry wipes with you, always.

… every vacation includes a race or, at the very least, multiple training runs.

… you frequently check the weather forecast to determine how it will affect your runs/races.

… you analyze the color of your urine to determine how well you've hydrated.

… your friends ask you for your race schedule so they can plan their wedding. (True story. My friend Michele can vouch!)

… your cure for feeling tired is to go for a run.

… your cure for everything - with the exception of the stomach flu and running-related injuries - is to go for a run.

… you know how these types of runs differ: tempo, fartlek, pace, interval, hill repeats, strides.

… you get really excited when you discover a new running route.

… you have lost friends, FB or otherwise, because they are tired of hearing/reading about your running.

… you have been called "insane," an "addict" or "crazy" and consider them compliments.

… all you think about is running.

… you have used the excuse "I'm carb-loading" to eat whatever the hell you want.

… you have peed/pooped in the woods or in a field or blown snot rockets while on a run.

… you get jealous when you see others running.

… Imodium is your friend.

… you're excited for your next birthday because it means you'll be in a new age group, which means it's just a little bit easier to qualify for Boston.

… you associate the word "bib" with a race rather than a baby.

… you have a huge bundle of safety pins in your car.

… you know all the signs and symptoms of common runner injuries.

… you can't imagine life without Body Glide.

… you have an extra set of running clothes in the car … just in case an opportunity arises.

… you finish a run/race and you're already focused and excited about the next run/race.

… you've swallowed/inhaled multiple insects.

… you can spot other runners by looking at their calves.

… you ache for more running gear - shoes, watches, clothes - because you can never have enough of it all.

… you want to high-five every other runner you see.

… without looking, you can list correctly, and to the second, your personal record for every distance you've raced.

… you're okay with driving hundreds/thousands of miles to run 26.2 miles.

… you determine whether an unfamiliar area is livable based on the area roads' "runability."

… you have an overwhelming desire to