Heading into 2014

WOW! My blogging took a hit and my resolution for the new year is to get back on track!
2013 was a year of ups and downs for me and I'm looking forward to a healthy, happy New Year in 2 days...

What I've learned in 2013...
1. Injuries aren't the end of the world. And they heal. Hard one to swallow, but I made it through. It's been a bit over a year since I broke my foot. It sidelined me. It showed me my family really does realize what I do on a daily basis. It brought new friends into my life and it showed me who always has my back.

2. Anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Goals are good and training needs to happen. Case in point...I went into a full marathon training schedule 6 weeks behind schedule. It happened, I succeeded...I finished and boy am I proud of myself. My DH set a goal to ride his bike from York to NJ and he did it and helped Make A Wish in the process. It also doesn't hurt to have a good support system as well.

3. Volunteering is great for the soul! I coached a Girls on the Run team this fall. Running is my passion, teaching is my profession so I put it all together and boy was it great! I can only hope that those 20 girls learned as much from me as I learned from them!

4. Always, always thank the volunteers on the course! Without them and the race directors...things just wouldn't happen. Enough said. (A goal of mine in 2014 is to be one of them...a tough job...but someone has to do it!)

5. LOVE! Note: I should have put this at #1! Love your family, love your friends and make sure they know it. Kiss them, hug them and support their decisions.  We want it, they want it and you just never know how much time you have with them so make the most of it. As one of my "always got your back" friends says...LIVE LOVE LAUGH! And she does everyday.

6. We hear it all the time...Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...I know I know its easier said than done, but at the end of the day will it really make a difference? Will it make me a better person? I need to ask myself that more frequently.

So friends, we are heading out of 2013...another year is gone and its been up and down for everyone. You never know what someone else is going through or has gone through to get where they are. We all have our journeys. I am looking forward to a lot of great things ahead and I hope to continue my running journey, eating clean and gluten free so I can be the best wife, mom, sister, daughter, friend and teacher possible. And I am hoping you hold me accountable.

Happy New Year!
Love, Rachel

Pre-Ragnar 2012

 

Some time ago I started working on my Bucket List of races and adventures I want to take while I’m in good health and enjoying my new found love of running. One of the races happened to be to run a Ragnar Relay after following my friend Angie out in Las Vegas. Although she and I haven’t connected personally in years, having the chance to follow her athletic endeavors had sparked my interest in the Ragnar Relay Series. So I put my name on the list of “Runners Looking for Teams” in PA and the rest, as they say in novels, is history.

My adventure began in July when I was first in contact with a team captain in charge of THE RUNNING DIVAS. Now as the “queen” of my household I’ve always known I had some “diva” running through my veins. After a few quick emails, a discussion with my DH, I had my invite and was on my way to a Ragnar! WOW!

Little did I know that this was only the beginning of my journey. As I type this we are 9 sleeps from the starting line!

For some of you, Ragnar is not a part of your vocabulary. For me it is currently totally encompassing my life and I love it. My hubby will be the first to tell you that when I put my mind to something it tends to become an obsession. I’d rather think of it as dedication, but yes I do eat, sleep, and run Ragnar currently.

A quick overview would be 12 runners, 2 vans, 24 hours and 200 miles.  We will each run 3 legs of the course beginning on a Friday morning and finishing at some point on Saturday. The logo of Ragnar says EAT, SLEEP, RUN, REPEAT. That pretty much sums it up minus the actual sleep part I don’t think happens too much!

Since July I have met the most amazing women through Facebook, email, phonecalls and texting. My team is made up of athletes from PA, WI, FL, TX and NY. Everyone has different lives, loves and occupations but we all do one thing the same. RUN!

Most of our conversations do revolve around the adventure we will be taking in a few short days, but we also cheer on each other through good times, bad times and hardship that we wish to share with each other. I believe that some fate has brought us together, not only to kick ass on this adventure, but to support each other and even be friends after the finish line is long behind us.

After the event I will blog again about some of our crazy, sleepless, fun adventures. But for now I am letting the anticipation of the upcoming adventure we call Ragnar carry me along.

To all of  my Running Divas out there…I love you and CANNOT wait to continue this journey together!

Hugs, XOXOX

Rachel

~If you run, you are a runner!

Summer Training

Summer training = heat, humidity and a whole lot of sweat!

Now I am not above working up a good sweat, but I truly am not a big fan of running when the temps start to rise above 80 degrees.
Through my research and reading of Jeff Galloway's book, Half Marathon - You Can Do It! He charts that you are significantly slowed down in running when the temps get over 60 degrees. If the temps are 66 - 69 degrees F you should be slowing your pace down by a mile/minute. That is substantial when you are training and says alot for those of you (like me) who may feel nauseated when running in the heat!

With the goal setting that Runnerbud Jen and I have done, training is currently in full swing. We have a 10 miler in just a few weeks, a 200 mile Ragnar Relay in October and our first 1/2 marathon in March. I'm sure we will toss a few 5K's in there for good measure as well.
As we have been increasing our mileage I decided it was time for a fuel belt. If you know me well, you realize I had to research them to death online and in the stores. I feel bad for the guy in Flying Feet who helped me take apart, resize and put back together about 5 types of belts. THEN I decided to check out the water bottles that you carry in your hand. If you have never checked out the variety of bottles and belts out there, I must tell you that the choices are dizzying!
In the end I decided to go with the I-Fitness fuel belt that has 2 bottles on it and a good size pocket for gels, Shot-bloks or even an I-phone. It took me about two runs to get used to wearing it and I will admit I'm sold on wearing it. Any runs over 3 miles, I have to have hydration. Which brings me to remind you to HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE out there!

Did you know that your metabolism slows down when you are dehydrated?

If you want to read more about running in the heat check out these informative links!
Tips for Running in the heat
Myths About Running in the Heat

So for the next month or two, Runnerbud Jen and I will keep on keeping on as we have for months. Kicking it before dawn seems to help us find cooler temps (and less traffic!) which in turn helps us to add those training miles to our runs.
Of course if all else fails...sign up for runs that have cold, frosty beverages at the end!

If you run, you are a runner!
~Rachel

The Color Run Philly Experience

The Color Run experience was just that…an experience. No PR, timing chips or racing was going on. This was one of those runs that I had on my bucket list and was able to enlist 3 of my girls to join me on the journey. This is definitely one that the kids could join in and enjoy as well. (Maybe next time!)

The Philly Color Run was the largest ever this past weekend and they touted 23,000 runners. Considering the large number, it was well run and the volunteers had as much fun as the runners!

We arrived the day before to do some touristy things and stopped at the check in Saturday afternoon. The line in Color Village looked long, but didn’t take more than 20 minutes to get us through. The dance music being piped through the speakers helped and we jammed out in line while waiting…yes dancing did take place!

Due to the large numbers & extreme heat we wanted to get there before the start time of 7:00am so we headed out about 6:30. We stayed in the city so luckily we didn’t have to deal with parking issues. The sea of white was enormous as we headed for the starting line. (All participants start the race by wearing white)

Here we are in our white garb, you can see the folks behind us in white as well!

1,000 runners were started in waves every 5 minutes and it seemed to go quite smoothly. Although we arrived well before the start, we were pretty far back in the wave line. By the grace of some higher power a Color Run volunteer opened the gate and allowed a large group of us through and we actually ended up running in wave #4.

The idea behind the Color Run is to get sprayed with color each kilometer. The color is cornstarch with food coloring in it and the volunteers spray you with it using large bottles that looked like condiment bottles. If you run in the middle of the path- that is the low color zone, if you run on the sides you are in a high color zone. I’m glad I wore sunglasses because the powder was everywhere in the color zones. It didn't burn your eyes, but you had no clean body parts to wipe your eyes if it got in. Probably not a good race for asthmatics as I was breathing color through the zone. (Nose blowing has been interesting the past 2 days to say the least...)

I have to say the first 2 zones were a little skimpy on the pink and blue, but the orange zone was going crazy. By the end we were an array of rainbow colors and some people were even rolling around in the powder on the ground to get extra colorful.

Jen and I after color zone pink and blue. You can see the powder flying behind us from the color zone.

You can see I am overly orange in this photo! That zone was color happy!

 Each runner is given a packet of extra color to throw at the after race festival so needless to say we were pelted with more colors post-race by random color throwing racers. It was pretty cool too to walk through the city seeing other color runners who had finished the race as well. We definitely spiced up the city of Philly on Sunday.

You absolutely want to do this run with some friends and go into it with a happy attitude. The music is fun and the colors are great; a good picture taking, memory making kind of day. I used a disposable camera as I was a little leary about my IPhone with the color dust. I did have it with me in a baggie and that seemed to work okay. The pics are little blurry thru the baggie, but you get the idea.

Here we are post-race in our rainbow attire. You may notice there are only 3 of us here...we lost Diane after the run in the mob of 23.000 people. Note to all runners - ALWAYS decide on a meeting place post race. We learned the hard way. (No worries she is safe and sound now!)

So, there is another run off my list of to-do’s…highly recommended if you are looking for a fun time. Just don’t think you will get anywhere quickly!

If you run, you are a runner!

~Rachel

Motivation - how to find it and keep it

This is tough and getting started really is the biggest hurdle. Someone asked in a post recently on facebook how to help her sister get motivated. This got me to thinking about myself. I spent almost 2 years as a beginning runner going out and hitting the pavement for about 2 miles….on a good day! It was a start, but I began to realize that there is more to running than just cranking out 2 miles a few days a week. Besides reaping the health benefits, I wanted to really run!

There are a plethora of fun running events to join in and I wanted to try them and do relatively well at them. I’ve never truly considered myself an athlete. I tried out for teams, did okay and moved onto the next sport throughout my teen years. I danced, played softball, swam, attempted basketball (I’m way too short for that one!) and even was on the volleyball team. Running wasn’t even on my radar at that time and yes I was one of those folks who thought, “Running? Only if I’m being chased by a bear!”

1)   Set a Goal: As a runner I find that what motivates me the most is goal setting. Having something to work for keeps me going, helps me find time in the day to fit in a workout and most importantly gets me out of bed on those days that I really just want to snuggle up in the covers and stay warm and cozy.

I’ve got a bucket list full of races that I hope to do one day, but my current goal of running the Ragnar Relay focuses me on knowing that this run isn’t just for me; I’ve got 11 other ladies counting on me to complete my legs of the run well. Preparation is key for this one!

2)   Run with a Buddy or Group:  Now this isn’t for everyone, but I find that running with someone else keeps me motivated – especially on those days that you aren’t having the most spectacular run. Having a person to chat with on a long run chases away the boredom when even your I-pod playlist is getting old! A running buddy waiting outside on the sidewalk also has its perks!

3)   Wear Comfy Clothes: This is a biggie for me! I love workout clothing (as my husband can attest to this) and I like to be comfortable AND look cute at the same time. Now I am the first to admit that when I finish a run I do look like I’m about to have a stroke, but feeling good about the outfit when you walk out the door is a plus. Seriously though, you need to be sure your outfit fits well and doesn’t chafe once you get going. There is nothing worse than an ill fitting sports bra or socks that won’t stay up! And don’t skimp on the running shoes! Be sure they are fitted properly!

4)   Track your progress: I love, love, love my Garmin 110 watch! (Thanks to my boys for this awesome Christmas present!) Being able to see your miles, time and calories burned each run will keep you going. This particular watch plugs into my computer and I can track everything including my route. Written training logs or apps for your phone can do the same thing. Many mornings I’ve run just a little further to reach the next mile…

5)   Encourage someone else: I’ve appreciated the encouragement I’ve received from fellow runners even if I don’t know them! A simple thumbs up while running on the beach to a “Keep you’re a$$ moving sister” from a by-stander at a race (yes, this did happen!) can give you that little umph you need to keep on going. I try to pass this on to others whenever I can. A few words can mean so much.

Love this encouraging sign from a marathon! That would keep me going!

 

As always, let me know your thoughts on motivation! Keep kickin’ it my friends!

If you run, you are a runner!

~Rachel

Warrior Dash

I look back at this past weekend and am amazed and proud of myself for completing the challenge of the Warrior Dash. Runnerbud Jen wasn't fond of the idea of mud in her sneakers so she declined the invitation to register months ago. My wonderful hubby took the challenge and decided to give it a go. Now he is athletic, looks like a runner when he runs, but isn't a fan of running. Cycling is more his thing. I think it was the idea of the obstacles (and hanging with me!) that convinced him to go.

I highly suggest going with a group, it makes for some serious fun. We camped out, well my version of camping, took the RV and had full-hookup! The two other couples that decided to run with us camped next door to us and we had a whole lot of fun hanging out the night before. Us girls decided that we would go with the Super-heroine focus and dressed as Wonder Woman, Bat Woman and Super Woman. The flaming socks topped off the outfit! Once we got to the venue (Pocono Raceway) my dear hubby realized that we were SO not the crazy dressed chicks of the Dash. There was a whole variety of characters who ran - including the Pope! (I saw the Ghost Busters too complete with Ghost Busting packs on their backs!)

Kim created these awesome tanks for us - and check out our spectacular socks!

The whole atmosphere was fun, from the flames shooting into the air at the starting gun to the "helmets up" pose you had to do for pictures and after obstacles. The whole race was 3.3 miles for us and there were 13 obstacles throughout. The terrain was not great, lots of rocks and ruts. (Unfortunately Dash Buddy Matt found that out the hard way and got a one way ticket to the ER for a bum ankle! Of course that was AFTER he finished the race!) I heard through the grapevine that last year's PA venue was better in Skirmish, PA but I have nothing to compare it to.  My personal faves were the fire jumping and the mud pit. Not a fan of heights & the walls we had to scale were a little daunting, but I am pleased to say I conquered all 4 of them without crying - or breaking any bones! But there just isn't anything to compare to the after race mud that is coated in places you forgot about!

Muscle kissing was optional in this pic!

As you can see, not much avoided the mud! Check out Eric's forehead!

In the end the motto MUD, SWEAT and BEER pretty much lived up to it's calling and we also had some fun with the local bands playing some of our faves. Go figure they even did a ZUMBA grouping which Dash Buddy Kim was a little bit psyched about! The Warrior Horns, medals and Steins were an added bonus and we all slept pretty well that night! Despite a few bruised knees, quad muscles and one ankle we all survived to tell about it. And what's a race without an adventure? Will we do it again next year...I am gonna go with a "Hell Yea!" and I suggest to anyone looking for a good time- with a little mud, this is the race for you.

If you run, you are a runner! Run on friends!
~Rachel

Running in the Rain...

You either love it or hate it…or tolerate it I would suppose.

Up until today I could easily say I hate running in rain. It ruins sneakers, it gets in my eyes, it clouds the sunshine that I so need on a daily basis.

Now this runner was smart- wore "old" kicks!

This morning RunnerBud Jen and I got doused in the rain, sprinkled by rain and spit on by rain. It was 4:45am, we were dressed and ready to run. Our friendly weather guy said it was raining. We were outside – it was not raining. We did a quick walk to warm up and felt a little spitting rain. Let’s try it and see what happens we decided.

We ran about a block from our houses when the misty rain began and within a few more steps started coming down heavily with wind to boot. Nice...

This is gonna be a short run…

We finish about ¾ of a mile and come to the point of no return. We either head down the road to home or keep going. That's when the rain stopped. So like the good runners we are, we kept going. All was well ‘til mile 2 and it started to come down pretty hard, but if you stop running, you never get home! We trudged on…

At yet the next point of heading home or continuing you will most likely guess that YES! the rain stopped again. So we kept going…right into the kind of rain that runs in a stream off of your ball cap and into your sneakers…yep that was us this morning.

Figuring we were already out there we might as well get in a 5K so that’s exactly what we did. We kicked out about 3.5 miles and then decided it was time to call it quits. So much for starting off the week with a long run.

So I guess I am no longer a fair-weather runner. 

Because we DID run in the rain and it wasn’t too bad. At one point I was even Yahoo-ing just because I could. (Can you just imagine ME in the darkness before dawn, rain streaming down all parts of my body Yahooing? OK, well I guess it isn't really that big of a stretch to visualize that...)

The neighbors were probably awakened and thinking WTF? But the temperature was warm enough and I was sweaty enough that I thought a Yahoo was in order.

Will we run again in the rain? If we get caught in it, I’ll go with yes. If it’s a downpour before we start, I’m figuring we will hit the gym...unless we dig out an old pair of running shoes that is.

Are you a fan of running in the rain?

Do you have any good running in the rain stories?

Kick on my friends – in the sun or in the rain, log them miles!

If you run, you are a runner!

~Rachel