Training offically starts tomorrow! AHHHHHHHHHH!

Tomorrow marks the official start to the next round of training for our spring "races." Not that we're actually racing. . . . especially the 50k, but I guess you could say we race against ourselves. I personally have a HUGE goal I'd like to keep in mind (BOSTON QUALIFIER), but I'm not setting that as my official goal yet. I need to ensure I can maintain injury free running as we prepare for our 50k and our 30 for Angie's 30th. Neither are small goals, so I want to ensure strong, pain free, and most important, enjoyable running.

The Holidays have helped me to stray from healthier eating. Although I did get a run in yesterday with my brother-in-law, who kindly joined me before dawn to get a few miles in before we went to my parents for our family Christmas, I still didn't eat the best, so I know I have some making up to do! My brother-in-law has run a couple of half marathons and is really into fitness, so it was no problem for him to lace up and run a few miles with me and our dogs. It was a much needed run and started our day off right! He took a break from running after his last 1/2 (Grandma's where I ran the full this year ---yes, I rub it in all the time that I ran a full and he only did the 1/2!!!!) He said he felt good after our 4 miles. I never want to push my passion for running off onto somebody else . . . . but I have to encourage when I can!  I'm not sure I can ever convince him to do a full, but I'd settle for a few more 1/2's......they're so much fun!

After a nice morning winter run, we all headed over to my parents to celebrate Christmas with the our kids.  Since Steve, Jackson and I won't be back there for the actual day, we exchanged gifts with my parents also.  It was nice to be with all of my siblings and my parents.  We were only missing one brother-in-law who had to work (surprisingly, it wasn't Steve, as that is usually the case with his job!).

 

This is a Moving Comfort Bra (my fav), pants, shirt and Money for a race entry. . . . AWESOME Gift from my parents!

 

 

After pushing aside his jammies & Doc McStuffins "operation" game, Jackson was excited to play with this.  Why are kids so embarrassingly annoyed with nice gifts they should be thankful for?

 

 

Cute Kid Alert!  This just melts my heart every time I see it!  This was right before his 3k school Christmas Program.  Cutest thing EVER!

Angie got me this shirt for my birthday. . . . and any smart girl would ALWAYS order one for herself!  LOVE IT!

Angie so graciously researched and determined our training plan. I have to give her kudos. . . . I HATE research (have I mentioned that before?). Although the plan looks terrifying (it better be terrifying or we'll never make it 50k on trails), it is exciting. I feel like I haven't done a LONG run in ages. I miss our long distance run dates where we have hours to chat about anything we want but forget everything we need to discuss so we end up texting all day long anyways!

 

I'm especially excited to regain some focus. Life has thrown a few curve balls lately and I've been super stressed. I haven't prioritized healthy eating or working out, so I'm very anxious to get back on track. I am at my best when I'm eating well and working out consistently, so the goals of a marathon, 50k, 30 miler, ect. . . . . those are just reasons to keep my motivation. I know I get a huge amount of energy and focus in my daily life by running or exercising. 

As I mentally prepare for the beginning of another long and exciting spring of training, I can't help but fear that I have lost my speed that I have been so excited about since my last race as I have taken some time off and really cut back on mileage.  I guess I need to remember that I won't be able to run as fast with the snowy sidewalks and the winter conditions.  I just need to focus on getting the miles in and avoiding injury!  Remind me of this if I get frustrated at any point.  The main thing is that I'm enjoying what I'm doing, which at this point, I can honestly say I am.  I'm very excited for this winter and upcoming spring.  Angie and I have a LOT to work on and a lot to look forward to!

 

 

What do you have planned for the rest of the winter and any spring races? 

 

Wish us Luck. . . . Here we go! :)

 

~Brooke~

Holy Shiz-Balls. . . . we're really gonna do it!

Well. . . . it's official! Angie and I are doing a 50k! Actually, as it stands, we're signed up for a 50k and a 50 miler. . . .but that 50 miler was a total air-head move on my part! Angie had a Christmas get-together today and registration for the race opened up at noon. It was full within 2 hours! Since I was at home, I registered both of us for the race. Then realized that I didn't scroll down to the 50k and I had us both signed up for the 50 miler! We're crazy but not THAT crazy! I scrambled on the web page to try and switch it but there is no way to do that because entries are non-refundable and non-transferable. I noticed 116 of the 200 50k positions were full so I signed us up for that race too! I'm sure I'll get refunded the money for both of the 50 mile entries since that race filled up already too, but most importantly, we got our positions!!!!! We are joining 198 other crazies running a 50k on the trails in May.

I'm excited but terrified. I've only run 3 marathons. Yeah, that's a great accomplishment that I'll talk about for the rest of my life, but it's not that much compared to what many people have accomplished. A 50k is a whole different level. A level we're excited to conquer.  If you have ever done long distance running, you know the energy it takes to do a long run.  But if you've ever done trail running, you know the significant difference between that and street running.  It's totally awesome running in the woods and on trails, but it takes an insane amount of energy to run and it really wears a person out.  I crave that feeling.  Pure exhaustion!

Since I've been "off" recently for my ankle, I'm really getting anxious to get some running in.  I have enjoyed a little extra sleep, a few extra hours at work as this is my busy time of year and just being able to stay in the warmth versus being out in the windy cold.  I ran a couple of times this week. Easy treadmill runs. I did a 2 miler over my lunch this week and I ran 3 yesterday on the treadmill at home.  So far, so good with the ankle.  I have minor discomfort but I've been icing and stretching so I'm hoping that it's resolving.  Well, it has to...... I'm a little over a week out from our new training schedule!  I just had the hubby set up the treadmill at home because I've heard from numerous people it's going to be a COLD winter.  YUCK!  I hate my dreadmill.  I really do. . . . BUT, after my birthday flop of a run, I'll take the dreadmill over sub zero windy outdoor runs any day . . . maybe not any distance, but we'll see.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  I've got plenty of ideas for series I can watch on Netflix to pass the time if I need to run indoors.

I'm pretty much ready for Christmas.  I have a few presents left to wrap, but I do believe I'm done shopping . . . maybe a few little odds and ends, but I think I'm done!  I'm thankful for my Thanksgiving week head start because things have been pretty crazy at work and home and I'm feeling a little stressed about everything that needs to get done.

We've succumbed to the damn Elf on the Shelf.  Now, I'm not all creative and making full fledged scenes with the little guy, who Jackson lovingly named "Snowflake," which reminds me of Jim Carey in Ace Venture Pet Detective every time I say the name.  Jackson was not buying it when we first brought him out. . . . . after he tried to tell me that Snowflake was a statue and not real I thought he was going to buy into it. . . . then he told me that Snowflake wasn't real because he had tags, so I bought him at the grocery store.  Something tells me this kid is going to be an early "non-believer."  I still convinced him that Snowflake tells Santa how he was each day.  He's confessed some pretty funny things to Snowflake followed by a quick "Sorry!" 

This is as creative as I get with this creepster.  Jackson was mad he had to share his motorcycle with Snowflake for the day and he couldn't play with it.  He got over it!


 

 Every year, the police association throws a fantastic Christmas Party for all of the law enforcement officer's kids.  They all run around like crazy people and then we eat pizza and junk food and then they sing Jingle Bells really loud so Santa will come!  Then, each kid gets a gift and a bag of candy from Santa.  It's pretty neat.  Jackson got an awesome Tonka truck.  I'm already using it as leverage to encourage good behavior. . . . . . "If you don't eat your dinner, I'm taking the Tonka Truck away!"  Am I a bad mom?  I feel like I'm a coping mom. . . . .a  busy, stressed around the holidays, coping mom.  (Don't judge!)  Anyway, Jackson got to see Santa and sit on his lap.  His first year he cried, like most kids, then last year he was a little timid, but this year I had to tell him to get off Santa's lap so other kids could have a turn.  Apparently he wants a real pirate ship, a nerf gun and a HUGE Monster Truck. 

My Child has no fear of strangers. . . . even fake Santa's.

I've had a crazy couple of weeks since Thanksgiving.  I am trying to focus on enjoying the Holidays instead of stressing through them.  Having a small child reminds me of the joy of the Holidays.  I don't know why it always seems so crazy.  I'm thinking it just seems worse because I'm not running the way I love to and need to.  I know I'll be back at it very soon (December 23rd to be exact).  I'm anxious to get back to a training schedule.  It will flip the switch of focus and determination on for me.  I know we have a HUGE spring with the 50k, a 30 miler for Angie's Birthday (guess how old she is!) and then Grandma's Marathon in June.

Stay tuned for some updates on our training.  I promise to be more diligent with blogging our progress as we work towards our first 50k.

So. . . . are we crazy for actually signing up for the 50k?  What do you have planned for winter or spring races?

Happy Running. . . and stay warm!

~Brooke~

Down & Out with an injury!

Nothing makes you crave a long run more than over eating for four straight days, a house full of screaming 4 year olds, a bunch of idle time on your hands (much more than usual, that's for sure!), and new running shoes!

I've been nursing an ankle injury for a week now. I had been running on a sore ankle since my last "long" run which was 14 miles. For some reason, my ankle started bothering me during that run and despite some lower miles, it hasn't recovered and with only 30 days until our next training regimen, I decided to do the smart thing and REST my ankle.

Angie and I start "official" 50k training on December 30th, so I need my ankle to be 100%. Despite feeling like a wimp and a total failure that I can't run 2 miles right now w/o some discomfort, I know I'll benefit from the rest. I'll be able to do some low impact fitness classes at work this week, so that will help get me the endorphin release I am needing right now.

About a month ago our past foreign exchange student Andre was in the States for a visit. He is from Portugal and lived with us 13 years ago. He was back 7 years ago for my wedding but hasn't been able to visit since. It was AWESOME to see him and spend a little time with him. He also got to meet all of the new kids in our family. Last time he was home it was wedding phase, now we all have kids!

He offered to go for a run with me when I was home. I ran 10 miles that day (which by the way was AMAZING - 8:06 average pace for the entire 10 miles! -best long distance pace I've had to date!). When I told him how far I was going, he said, yeah, no problem, I can do that! But he then remembered he doesn't calculate in miles, so when he figured out how far that was, he said, nah. . . never mind. . . you're crazy!

Cocktails to celebrate Andre's visit!

Andre, my siblings and all of our children!  This is a pretty special picture!

On a completely unrelated note, I have recently had an addiction to hot chocolate with whipped cream. . . . I think it's due to the cold weather and me not being able to have cup after cup of coffee because I'm pretty sensitive to caffeine so I limit my coffee intake. This is my attempt of a "coffee house" hot chocolate. I thought I'd treat myself while I was studying last week for my test!

My work. . . . not real cute, but tastes great!

This is what I was going for . . . . I guess I need more practice! :)

After I passed my test (barely, but I passed!), I cleaned house, enjoyed some cocktails on my birthday (as I mentioned in my last post) and then enjoyed a few more days at home before I headed to my parents for Thanksgiving. I got about 70% of my shopping done for Christmas and wrapped everything that I had. My husband took our son and our dog up north for hunting, so I had 10 days of quiet time. Of course, the first 5 were filled with work & studying, the last 5 were all to myself. I never get that time to myself, so I took advantage and got a lot done around the house and got some Christmas stuff done. What a great feeling!

Got a little chunk of Christmas shopping and wrapping done!

See the basket with a bunch of presents wrapped inside?? Those are books. . . I wrapped a 21 Christmas books (I need 3 more that I can't find right now) and Jackson opens one every single night in December and that is his bed time book! We did that last year and became a very fun tradition.

I'm back in Sheboygan after a great weekend at my parents with my family. My mother-in-law was able to join us as well, so it was so nice to see all of my family (except my sister-in-law and her husband). I'm looking forward to the rest of the Holiday season! I'm also super excited to recover from my ankle (strain I think) and get back to running. I'm craving a run so bad.

What do you do to get through "recovery" time when you just want to be running?~Brooke~

A cold Snap of Reality. . . and Happy Birthday to me!

Life has been a crazy blur for me the last few weeks (okay months). The last week was absolutely nuts! If we're facebook friends, you know I just passed another test as I work torwards my CPCU (insurance designation). I startd studying a few weeks ago and technically had until December 15th to take my test, but honestly, I just wanted to get it out of the way before this weekend and this coming week! I want to start the Holidays off with some sort of sanity level.

Last week I studied every last moment possible outside of an already crazy busy work week. My brain practically exploded with insurance terminology and business law concepts and history. Pretty exciting stuff. . . I know!

Well, I took a chance by pushing my test to this last Friday versus studying today and taking it tomorrow. I'm so glad I did. I got to come home from work on Friday and NOT think about studying. In fact, I put my text book on my shelf at work and will never allow that book into my home again! I'm so excited to be on my week of vacation (well, 3 days of vacation and 2 days of Holiday time) with no studying on my mind!

Yesterday I celebrated my birthday! What does a runner do to celebrate their birthday? Of course they hit the pavement with their running buddy. Since we're technically on "cut back' mileage and not up to 32 miles (age spoiler!), we decided to split the years so we settled for 16 miles. We knew it would be cold and windy . . . but I personally had no idea how terrible this run would go.

Angie and I have been running for almost 2 years together (stay tuned for our "runniversary" date coming very soon!). We live in Wisconsin, we have run through every type of weather you can possilby imagine. HEAT, Rain, Shine, sleet, snow, sub zero, wind. . . . we've done it all. NEVER have we quit early or stopped before we completed our goal distance. Out of two years, Angie had to skip a planned run one time because she was very sick for several days and there is NO way she could have run the 17 mile run we had planned. Other than that, every run we've ever planned we have made and completed.

Yesterday put a huge dent in our awesome track record. I went to Angie's house to run so we ran 4 miles in town, stopped back at her house for a quick bathroom break and we grabbed our running packs with water and I had a quick bite of my protein bar. I even changed my gloves because my first pair were a little wet from sweating. Good move? Probably not! From there, we headed out of town to run in the country. Usually, this is the best. Minimal traffic and nature help the miles go quickly. Yesterday was a totally different story. We had to run straight into the wind for about 4 miles (felt like 10) and Angie promised we'd have a tailwind on our way back, which would have been amazing, had I made it that far.

About 7 miles in (total), I told Angie my hands were absolutely frozen and I wasn't sure if it was because the pair of gloves I switched to were not as warm. Being the best running buddy ever, she offered to switch gloves with me because her hands were warm. I later realized Angie is just a natural hottie because her sweaty gloves didn't do the trick for my cold blooded body. I even pulled my hands into my sleeves to try and add another layer.

It never worked, I didn't feel my hands for almost another 45 minutes (maybe longer). We were about a mile from a gas station, so I thought we could make it there and warm up before we headed back. All of a sudden pure naseau overtook me and I started dry heaving on the side of the road. I couldn't stop myself. My eyes felt blurry, and I was overwhelmed by pure pain and dizziness. I have never experienced anything like that before.

We did 2 things we've never done before. 1. Stop running before the end of our mileage (WAY before. . . . . almost 8 miles early!) and 2. we stopped before we reached a rouneded mile. 8.6 miles total. I was so upset. We would rather run .75 miles to round it out than end at .25!

Lucky for me, Angie had a relative to rescue us. I couldn't even make it to the gas station. It was all I could to just to keep moving until our ride could make it to us. I honestly just wanted to sit on a curb and fall asleep.

I have NO idea how this happened, but I think it was a combination of a super long exhausting week, running into the wind for a long time and having completely frozen hands. This run kicked my ass! The temps were about 4 degress considering the wind chill. It's pretty dissapointing to cut a run short, practically by half. We have run in colder weather. Lucky for me, Angie cared my about my well being than getting 16 miles in.

I feel like I'm pretty tough, and I can push through quite a bit. I guess our year round running shows we can stick it out through a lot. I just hope yesterday was a fluke and I'll be able to get back out and run strong. I need to regain my winter confidence! We have a long winter ahead of us and training starts in January for an exciting spring!

On a good note, I had a few girlfriends over, including my BESTIE Devon who came for the night, to hang out and we played a great game of cards against humanity. I got an ab workout at least from laughing.

Have you ever felt totally defeated because you didn't accomplish something you know you can do and have done many times before?

I'm hoping for a redemption run this week. Probably not 16 miles worth, but something to redeem myself of that terrible outcome!

~Brooke~

Work hard . . . Play hard

I know it's been an eternity since I've blogged. . . . . but life has been a whirlwind since I returned from Arizona.  I enjoyed an amazing 9 mile run in the woods with Angie the day after I got back.  We had a blast tromping through a park right in the same town we live in.  I can't believe I've never really gone into the park (besides on the one road that goes through) to explore more! 

We had a little difficulty finding our way through the park as it wasn't just a simple circle.  We managed to run for 9 miles and since we didn't have a planned route or time-frame, we just enjoyed the great outdoors.

This is what running around aimlessly for 9 miles looks like!

By the time we run our 50k in May, we should know this trail like the back of our hands since it's super convenient and enough grounds to get the miles in we will need, even if we are just going around and around in every direction.  We just have to keep running this wooded area to learn it.  We both realized there is actually something we aren't great it. . . . . . our sense of direction in the thick of the Forest! :)

After our fun trail running, I got ready and headed to Appleton WI for an annual ladies shopping trip with all of the women on my mom's side.  Naturally, my first stop was Fleet Feet, an awesome running store!  I dropped a few dollars on some trail shoes and Gu.  I also scoped out a few products to put on my Birthday and Christmas wish list and I sent my mom there over the weekend (at least I hope I sent my mom there. . . . . time will tell!)

I could have spent a LOT more money at this store -Cha-Ching!!

After an awesome 9 mile trail run and a little bit of shopping, I was exhausted by the time I got to our hotel.  We cracked a bottle of wine (or 9) and enjoyed some good food and some drinkey-poos!  We had to sit in the hotel lobby as they removed our normal gathering area to add more rooms on.  What a disappointment to a longstanding tradition of sitting around and eating and drinking.  We didn't let that get in the way of some good clean fun and some "Cards Against Humanity" playing.  If you've never heard of that game. . . BUY it! (if you aren't easily offended and afraid to use some foul language that is!).  We had an absolute blast and I swear I got a full ab workout in just from laughing.  I just ordered the game for myself today!  I'm not waiting for the Holidays for that gift!

This is my gorgeous sister Val and myself.  Aint she purdy?

We're the "young" crowd.  These are my cousins, sister and a family friend. . . . the girl on the far right is a runner and one of my biggest Blog fans!

Can you tell we had plenty to eat and a little bit to drink?  Fun times had by all!

I managed tough 3 miles on the treadmill on Saturday morning after a bottle of wine on Friday night.  I really wanted to run 5 but my legs were tired from trail running on Friday and I was slightly dehydrated.  I woke up at 5:30 and couldn't fall back asleep so I just figured I'd do something productive.  I'm glad I did something because my eating went downhill from there.  I enjoyed some delicious cuisine the rest of the day. . . and don't feel one bit guilty about it!

My BFF Devon & I at the hotel.

My sister Val and I having a blast at the dueling piano bar!

I know a dueling piano bar sounds like a nerd-o-la time, but it was actually really awesome.  I may or may not have gotten on stage to shake it for "Baby got Back."  I know a few of my friends who would be proud of that!  The entertainment that night was great, but our dancing was the BEST!

Despite my dedication to training and running, I like to have a good time once in a while.  I've been super busy at work and still sticking to a running regimen despite not actually training for a race right now, so I like to think I deserved a good weekend away with some family and friends to play hard!

How do you unwind and have fun after being so responsible and serious all the time with work and training?

Happy Running!
~Brooke~

Hot Damn . . . It's tough to run in the heat!

My work week has gone very well.  I've managed to keep up with the majority of my e-mails and as of this morning, I only have about 20 e-mails to follow up on.  . . which isn't bad for 4 full days out of the office.  I'm sure I'll get a few more that come in today while I'm traveling, but I'm pretty sure it will be manageable.  I am not looking forward to Monday morning however.  It's going to be cold and BUSY!  I guess it's the price I pay for a week of sunshine and Palm Trees.

 

I didn't have to drive this week, since my co-worker picked me up for travel.  It was marvelous!  All I had to do was wait at the Hotel Lobby for my curb-side service.  I'm not sure if the hotel staff thought I was a call girl though. . .  . I had 4 different males picking me up at different times.  Daytime travel and dinners!  It was nice to have some familiar faces to see throughout the week.

 

I would have liked to log a few more miles this week than I did, but I am happy that I at least got 16.5 miles in!  I NEVER stop at .5, so I'm kind of annoyed with that, but honestly, that was an outdoor run and I was freaking miserable.  The temps have been in the mid 80's this week which by AZ standard is "chilly."  I'm more accustomed to 40's & 50's right now, so 80's just feels HOT.

 

Everybody from AZ that I talked to this week thought I was a nut job when I said how hot it was.  One of my co-workers said that it was the funniest thing he's heard all week.  He actually laughed out loud!  But, when he comes to WI in May for work and he's FREEZING in 50-60 degree temps, I'll get the last laugh!

 

I ended up getting 2 outdoor runs in (3 & 3.5 miles) and I also did two 5 milers on the treadmill.  I am not one to hit up a treadmill when there is new terrain to encounter, but when I'm up before the ass crack of dawn because of the 2 hour time change and I can get a decent run in on a treadmill before the sun even comes up, I'm going to do that.  So, at least I got some running in and didn't just eat my way through the week.

 

The outdoor running was down right miserable.  Apparently I should have run with water.  I NEVER run with water for a quick/simple 3 miles but honestly, I felt awful after that.  It's amazing what the dry heat can do to a person.  Everybody I talked to here thinks I'm a wimp because I think this is hot!

 

I have to say also that I ate fairly well despite not having a home-cooked meal all week and having multiple temptations within a 5mile radius of my hotel.  Paradise bakery is my new love-hate relationship when I come here.  Amazing sugar cookies that give me gut rot!

 

I'm going to be heading out shortly.  Although I'm looking forward to some cool running temps and getting a long run in Saturday with Angie (Can you imagine how much we have to catch up on after being apart an ENTIRE week?), I'm going to miss the warm weather and constant sunshine!  I don't think I saw a cloud all week.



Hot Coffee (can you see the reflection?) and some beautiful Mountains. . . . . I'll take that for an office view!

A few more mountains .... . I don't get this on my morning commute, so I LOVE it!

Apparently Palm Trees aren't native to AZ, but they sure make me feel like I'm in Paradise.

King Size Bed, TV & Peanut M&M's. . . .my little vacation while away for work.





I'm missing Steve & Jackson, so I'm excited to get home.  Jackson is already anxious for the gift I bought him.  He tried everything he could last night while face-timing to get me to spill the beans on what it is.  He seriously thinks I got a huge Monster Truck!  I told him he better be good for Steve or he won't get it at all.  Pretty sure  he'll be just fine.

~Brooke~

Bull Riding, a "semi-long" run & some Good Ole Arizona Sunshine!

Last night the company I work for hosted a Fundraising event to raise money for a Palliative Care program in Sheboygan.  They hosted the same type of event last year to raise money for the Sheboygan County Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and hosted a Circus Theme Party.  This year, the theme was "Bucket List."  It was meant to promote making every moment in your life matter.  We had the opportunity to do some pretty neat things on Friday during work that some people never have the chance to do.

Acuity Insurance is certainly a "go big or go home" company, so they had tons for us to do.  We donated money to be able to do these things, so keep in mind it was just goofing off at the office for a few hours!  They had a rock climbing wall, a HUGE inflatable slide (which is terrifying by the way), Segways, a zip line, funky foods like alligator to try (which I skipped!), and this mechanical bull.  When I heard about a Bull Ride, I knew there was no way I was going to let the opportunity pass.  Now, I know what you're thinking. . .. most of the time people are shit-faced when they ride a bull in a bar down south.. . . . but I was stone cold sober.  We did have wine tasting, so I could have gotten tipsy, but I didn't need any alcohol to do a terrible job on my first mechanical bull ride.  I would have had wine before, but I had too much work to do since I'm out this entire week so I had to have a little fun and then be responsible and get back to work.

 

This is me. . . . thinking I can handle this Bull.



This is me. . . screaming very loud . . . . in front of MANY co-workers.

4 Seconds Later. . . . . . doesn't look like I'll be hitting the Rodeo anytime soon!



After a long day at work on Friday, I didn't feel like doing anything at home.  So, I took the opportunity to have some quality time with my little dude.  We watched some TV in bed and relaxed.  I think we were watching "The Little Couple" which is a show that he can watch and I can stand..  . and he said "Mom, I don't want to watch this. . . . . . I want to watch the Kardashians!" . . . . Music to my ears!  Of course, I'm caught up on that show on my DVR, so we settled for The Little Couple, which he liked just fine.

I set my alarm for 5 am on Saturday because I wanted to get a decent "semi-long" run in before my travels today!  I didn't actually want to start running that early because I was heading out further than my normal 3, 4 or 5 mile loop, so I wanted to wait until it was light out.  I didn't realize until I got up that the sun doesn't rise until about 7 am.  I got a little laundry started and played around on Facebook for a while.

I hardly think 10 miles is a long run. . . . especially when Angie and I have been running 15, 17, 18 & 20 milers on Saturdays.  I know my body needs a taper though because my Achilles is still a little tight and tender.  I will say though that it is markedly better, so I'm excited to be recovered from the marathon.

My 10 went pretty good until the end.  I haven't been foam rolling (lazy!) and so my legs were tight.  My hamstrings were burning at the end and I felt like I did the last 6 miles of my most recent marathon.  Lesson learned. . . just foam roll!

This morning I set my alarm for 3 am.  Not to run. . . but to catch a flight to Sunny (aka: Hot As Hell) Arizona.  Although it was early and I'm tired now, it was so worth the early morning.  There was NO traffic my entire drive to Milwaukee, the lines weren't terrible to check in and when I got here and off the plane, it was still only 9:15. . .. love that 2 hour time difference (in my favor today!).

Lucky for me, my co-worker picked me up at the airport!  Talk about easy transition!  I got an early check-in at my hotel, unpacked and then went to the Chandler Fashion Mall for some lunch & browsing around. 

Worth the trip to AZ. . . . Sugar Cookies from Paradise Bakery!

 

Despite my Panda Express Lunch, an amazing Sugar Cookie, an hour of laying in the sun and not a lot of water intake, I decided to head out for a little run.  I actually wanted to see what the hype was about running in a "dry heat."  It's total bullshit!  Don't believe a word anybody from the South says.  Hot is Hot!  I don't care!  This is my 4th time coming to AZ in the past 2 years and I've never run outside.  A few of the times I was just too lazy, the other times, I did treadmill running, which is ridiculous when you have something new to look at.  I only planned on running 3 miles today since I ate like crap, was in the sun some already and was not hydrated in the least. 

 

My freaking Garmin died about 1.7 miles in.. . . so I think I did about 3 miles.  I was running under a 9 minute mile while I could track it and I felt like I kept that pace, but who knows.  It felt so terribly difficult to run.  Maybe tomorrow I'll eat and hydrate better and see if the heat is easier under more responsible circumstances.  I'll have to run on Tuesday morning because I don't think I'll have time tomorrow.  It's always nice to have some new scenery, but it's kind of boring where I am.  I'm by an industrial area and the residential area has some gated communities, so in order to run without getting lost, I stuck to a few main roads!





 





 



I'll do better than this. . . . but I have Palm Tree Running all week!

 

Ahhhh.  . . I miss this little guy so much already!

 

 

Tomorrow I have a busy day.  My co-worker is picking me up at 7 am and we are heading to Tucson!  I've never been to Tucson yet, so I'm excited to see it.  We have a little down time between appointments, so I'm bringing my tennis shoes along and hoping we can maybe do a little sight seeing.  He didn't seem to interested when I mentioned hiking.....but maybe I can convince him!

 

Big Shout out to my BRB Angie & Her Dad Roger.. . . he finished his FIRST 1/2 marathon this weekend!  How exciting for Angie to be able to share that awesome running experience with her dad!  I'm jealous!  (My dad has 2 fake knees and my mom has a fake hip ---so this is out of the question for my parents!).  Congrats Angie & Roger! :)

 

 

Do you make sure to exercise when you travel?  Or is it your vacation? I have certainly had my times of making vacation/travel an excuse to take a break, but now that I'm in the routine of working out, I think about the extra calories I can enjoy guilt free if I work out!

 

~Brooke~



 



Falling in Love with Fall Running all over again.

Running isn't about meeting your goal & then stopping. I ran my marathon, beat my goal by 9 minutes, suffered through stiff muscles for a few days and then got right back into the running routine again. It's not hard to go back to something that is a lot of work when you love it so much and when you're BRB is continuing to run also.

The week off was torture. I was aggitated, tired, not sleeping well, I ate pretty poorly, my body was in a lot of pain and I was just all around crabby. Recovery week (which was only 5 days off) reminded me of my need for exercise. I need that endorphin release. Looking back on that week, I realize that I had a terrible week of parenting, work was stressful and my house was in shambles.

The first marathon I ran resulted in a couple years of not running . . . how that happened, I don't really know. I guess it probably has to do with how I had trained. I ran 6 days a week (obviously I didn't have Angie in my life planning my training schedule) and my body hurt all the time. I suffered from agonizing shin splints and my race was hot and not very strong. I didn't LOVE running that day. I loved finishing, but I didn't love running. I've learned a LOT since then.

Last week I managed a 5, a 6 and a 7 mile run during the week. I think 7 was a bit steep as my left achilles tendon has been tight since my marathon. Despite the discomfort while running, I pushed through and completed my runs. Fortunately, or unfortuantely, when I get a number in my head, I just HAVE to complete it. I could have made my last run 5 miles, and I almost did because my Garmin beeped "low battery" about 2 miles in and I'd rather have a run saved than get all my miles in (not really, but it's a close call). I had it in my mind that I could do 7 because I had to take Jackson to school so I had time to run before I took him and then went to work. I ended up finishing fine, my pace was just fine, but my legs were still somewhat fatigued.

I finally got back to a Friday spin class as we had planned to do our long run on Sunday versus Saturday. It was a KILLER class. I don't recall ever working that hard through spin before. .. . and I'm no wimp to sweating through a tough workout. It felt amazing.

We finally had the chance to hit up the trails yesterday. I set my alarm for 5 am, but I woke up around 4:45 (thanks to my week day running schedule) and it was pouring off an on. . .more on than off. I obsessed over my weatherbug app and hoped it was right. It was supposed to be done raining by 8 o'clock. It was still raining when Angie picked me up at 6:15. Normally we would have 6 miles in by 6:15 but since we were doing trail running and it's dark until close to 7 am, we get to "sleep in" a little bit.

As soon as we got out of the car I said to Angie "this might not be the best way to start our trail running." Cold, wet, somewhat dark and dreary. Despite the wet somewhat muddy run, we LOVED it! The first 5 miles felt pretty long. I'm not sure if it was because we didn't know what to expect and we were concentrating so hard on the ground so we wouldn't trip on something, but by round 2 of the 5 mile loop, we were feeling better. I was still tired and my muscles were feeling the hard work, but it was fun.

Angie and I both agree that total fatigue after a long run is addicting. I have NEVER been so exhausted from a 9 mile run witha 1 mile recovery walk. The trail wasn't overly difficult, but had enough elevation gain and loss to make it challenging as well as some slippery conditions which required some steady work. It was more than I expected it to be from a workout perspective.

A little dirt never hurt anybody!

First Trail Run. . . . a whole new adventure.

After the run, we were dirty, wet and starting to feel the chill. I was thankful for heated seats and a blast of hot air inthe car. Angie packed a protein bar for durig the run which was awesome because I only brought a guu pack and honestly, I'm okay not having one of those suckers for a LONG time after downing 7 of them a few weeks ago for the marathon (barf!). I packed some bananas and 2 cute chocolate milks for us! Delish after a long hard run.

Neither of us really knew what to expect. I have done trail running with my sister-in-law by her house in Minnetonka MN, so I've done a little bit of it, but it's been a while. I have never been to the Kettles where Angie and I ran on Saturday. I think I have fallen in love with trail running. We will be able to get fewer miles in but have that fatigued feeling we both love. Being outside in nature without honking cars, traffic signals to wait for, creeps yelling "I love you!" out the window as they pass us.. . . . and other city issues makes trail running simply amazing. Now we just have to keep finding new and adventurous trails to keep things interesting.

Hosed Down and drying off!  --These babies have 280 miles on them!



Relaxing outside with my little Packer Backer the rest of the afternoon.


I'm enjoying the fall weather while it lasts. Soon I'll be forcing myself out of my warm bed on cold winter days to get my miles in. I love winter running once I'm out the door and warmed up, but it's that "getting out of bed" part that sucks!

What is your favorite time to run? Hot summer sweating your cajones off? Frigid cold temps with some snow & ice? Or right in the fall when the temps are cool but not bitter? My favorite is fall and early spring running.

Happy Fall Running & BEST WISHES to My BRB Angie on her 3rd 1/2 marathon of the year this weekend. She's running The Whistlestop 1/2 marathon in Ashland WI with her dad this weekend! YAY!

~Brooke~

Fox Cities Marathon Race Recap. . . . . . .Bring on the PR's.

Well, it has been tough finding the time to finally update you on my PR! I did it! I broke 4 hours with 9 minutes to spare! Despite feeling like total crap since the race, I'm thrilled with my race and my new PR. I knew I could do it, but I didn't know how hard it actually would be to have that 9 minute cushion.

On Saturday, Angie picked me up and we had our traditional Jimmy John's Subs for lunch whish is a pre-race tradition.

After lunch, we headed to The Fox Cities to get our race packets and check out the wellness expo.  It's always fun to see what kind of new running gear we could spend our money on and also get into the spirit of the pending race.  This race expo had a booth I've never seen at a race expo before.  I'm not one to pass up a good opportunity to try something new. . . . . . . but I probably won't be taking this hobby up any time soon. . .. . I just don't have the upper body strength to do this.

Let's just say I don't see this as my next "workout" plan.

After the Expo, we hit up the Appleton Mall quick to do a little shopping.  When I say little, I mean little.  I could normally spend the entire weekend shopping in Appleton, however walking around a mall shopping is not my idea of resting and prepping for a race, so we kept it minimal.  We were fortunate to have a place to crash Saturday night.  We made a spaghetti dinner for my friend, her husband and their three (very well behaved) children.  It was awesome to spend time with them and also great to have a nice place to sleep before the race. . . . not to mention curb side service to the start line!  After dinner (and the kids went to bed) we watched the first episode of "orange is the new black" . . . . I'm looking forward to watching a few more episodes when I have time.  (Thanks for the new show to get addicted to Jenny!).

I normally don't sleep the best before a race.  I'm nervous about the run, getting up early and just making sure everything is in order so I don't forget anything.  I slept pretty good though and woke up refreshed and ready for the race.  I was pretty excited until I had to stand out in the 34 degree weather waiting for the race to start.  I was thankful for wearing some sweats to take off before we started running.  We anxiously awaited the start in our corral.  Once the race started we were off. . . . and then we were slowed down. ... . . bottle neck at the start line!  Once we hit the start line, I weaseled my way around other runners to get some clear space to take off and go!

FREAKING BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR  -but no complaints from us!

As you'll see on my splits below, I started very strong. The weather was chilly (down right nipply actually) so the fact that I couldn't feel my the toes on my left foot was a little concerning to me. I knew they would warm up, but I didn't want to have issues with my toes. I only had about 25 miles on my shoes prior to the start of this marathon, so I was a little nervous about the fit right when I started. Once my feet warmed up (about 2 miles in) I was fine and I was feeling great. It felt easy to keep my pace. I'm always a little nervous to start strong and keep my pace fast because it's hard to tell what I'll feel like at mile 10, 15, and most importantly 20-26.2 . . . . which I learned during this race can be super hard. My last marathon was an overall decline in elevation, so I can honestly say I never really hit "the wall" and felt like I just couldn't keep going. This race was different. I hit the wall at mile 20 and really wanted the race to be over. Of course, I'm no quitter and I knew that the better I kept my pace, the sooner I'd be done and enjoying some chocolate milk and a banana and whatever else was at the finish line.

Around mile 5.5, my best friend Devon came out to the course to cheer me on!  She lives about a block away so I told her my ETA when I found out where the course was going.  It was pretty exciting to see my first fan of the day!  She even snapped a good photo!  It's funny to me that I look so short in this photo!

Not sure how to make this one smaller. . . . .look how short I am compared to my other pace companions!  (Bad-Ass huh?)


Shortly after that, my Aunt Krista and Uncle Jeff were waiting to cheer me on!  they live directly on the race course so they came outside to see me fly by!  My Aunt Krista made me the first sign anybody has ever made for me for a race!  I never even thought to expect a sign, but knowing my Aunt. . . . I'm not surprised at all.  (She's the fun creative aunt who always has activities and games for the kids around).  It was an awesome surprise!  I don't see them often, so it was a bummer I couldn't stop to chat. . . . but I had a PR to chase after!

My first sign ever. . . . and obviously my Aunt pays attention to my blog!  She's so good with the details! :)

I knew to expect Devon and my Aunt and Uncle by their homes, so after that, my excitement of race fans was over until the finish line, where Steve and Jackson would be waiting.  I kept my pace as long as I could which looking back at my splits, I'm pretty impressed with my ability to run sub 9's for 14 miles. 

Angie read reviews that this course was "flat" . . . .which is totally relative.  Grandma's is an overall decline and I could tell Fox Cities Marathon was not!  the middle miles were hard because the excitement of the start of the race was over but the end was nowhere in sight.  It felt long and slightly monotonous.  I knew I had a long way to go before I got my PR.

The elevation looks fairly accurate to how it felt. . . slower longer inclines which are pretty tough I think.

We ran through 7 cities. . . which sounds insane for one run, but we did it!

Nothing like taking a nice little jog through 7 cities at one shot!

So, here are my splits.  As I  mentioned before, I started strong and slowed towards the end.  I feel like my first14 were really good.  I ran strong, felt good and fueled well.  After that, right around the incline, things started to taper for me.  It wasn't bad by any means, but I wasn't feeling as strong as I had on the first 14 miles.  I tend to wonder if I should run like most people and take it down a notch to start and then finish stronger. . . but then I feel like I might not meet my potential.  I guess there is only one way to find out. . . . keep running marathons and tyring different strategies.

That's a whole lotta miles.

After a LONG 26.2 (the last 6 were the worst) I was excited to see my little buddy and Steve!  The welcomed me to the finish line!  I was pretty tired, but we chatted for a while and I shared my post-run food with them . . . . it was tough for me to eat anyway!  Jackson was so excited to see my medal. . . he said "You WON Mommy!"  Regardless of the fact that I came in 286 out of 978 for all Full Marathoners (which I'm actually stoked about) I'm a winner in his eyes. . . and I couldn't be more excited to show him my dedication.  Some day he'll be able to understand the work that goes into marathoning (I can only hope) and he'll still be as proud of me as he was this day!

Another GREAT Race for my BRB & myself!  Looking forward to the next adventure.

After Angie finished & had an AMAZING 13 minute PR  (Go ANGIE!), we walked around a little, ate some food (not much because I had severe stomach cramping from the GU packs) and then we walked a few blocks to Angie's Car.  We enjoyed the drive home, thrilled with our race results and excited about making future plans for the next run.

Lucky for me, Angie was driving so I got to kick my feet up. . . . NICE!



I have to say, I know what it's like to be sore after a run.  I was sore after Grandma's Marathon, but certainly not the worst I've ever felt after a long run.  I felt worse after the Cellcom 1/2 Marathon I did last year but that was simply because the heat was atrocious and I was totally dehydrated.  I woke up Monday morning with in insane amount of pain.  The muscle aches were not anything to "work through" with a little movement.  Any time I sat down for more than 5 or 10 minutes, I could hardly move when I got up.  I got a few comments at the office about my goofy walk.  I don't care though. . . . I ran hard and really left it all out on the course.  I ran my best and felt great about my efforts!  I haven't run since Sunday and I'm still sore, although at a managable level of discomfort now.  I'm hoping to get through an insanity video with my sister this weekend while I'm away for a cousin's wedding!  I'll let you know if I survive!

Despite my soreness, I managed to wear these babies on Monday!  I have long pants, so flats just aren't an option!  (Short Girl Problems!)

Somebody that I work with put a bug in my ear about doing the Phoenix Rock & Roll Marathon in January. . . . . . I travel to AZ for work, so this is doable, but I'm not real sure I can run in AZ heat. . . it would be 60's or 70's in January, so that would still be hot for me. . . . . I'm contemplating. . . but otherwise I'll hold out for Grandma's again & hopefully . . . . . . . (really hoping) to get a BQ (boston qualifier). . . . I have my sights set on that, but I'm not sure it will be the next marathon, or a ways down the road!  Time will tell, but for now, I'm thrilled with my 21 minute PR and breaking my goal of 4 hours by 9 minutes!  I'd call that success! 

Looks like I need to do another 5k & 10k soon to have more accurate PR's for my current pace.

--I have to close by saying thanks. . . . thanks to Angie for being the BEST RUNNING BUDDY ever and for developing all of our training plans, thanks to Steve for making it possible for me to get all of my running in, thanks to all my friends and family for supporting me through my running adventures and listening to all my great stories, thanks to Rhianna for some great music to get me through this last Marathon . . . . . and thanks to all of the race fans that shouted words of encouragement when it probably looked like I wanted to pass out!  Running is truly such a rewarding sport!

Fox Cities Marathon Race Predictions & Goals!!!

Well . . . It's about that time!  My pre-race jitters are setting in and I'm excited about how I'm feeling and where I'm at with pace, strength & endurance!  In June I dropped almost 5 lbs the week of my race because I was so nervous I could hardly eat plus I think the taper in miles messed with my body. . . which is NOT really something that should happen the same week you run a full marathon.

Depending on the weather, I can comfortably run a 9 minute mile and I have been running sub 9's on a fairly regular basis.  Thanks to Angie's training plan for us, I've definately improved on my speed.  I'm feeling the best ever and super excited about my progress.

I'm really hoping to break 4 hours!!!!  -There you have it . . .. My official goal!

My last marathon in June was a huge accomplishment for me, finishing in 4:12, which is 65 minutes faster than I ran it 5 years ago!!!!  It's safe to say I'll never have another 65 minute PR, but I think I can shave off 13 minutes so I can break 4 hours!!

Angie predicts I'll finish in 3:49  . . . . But I am predicting 3:55 . . . . There is more elevation on this route than Grandma's Marathon, so I need to account for that.  If the weather stays on the cooler end of the forecast later in the morning, I really think my goal is attainable.

I'm excited to be running in the Fox Cities . . . . . .I'll be running past my old apartment where Steve and I lived in Appleton before moving to Sheboygan.  I'll also be running within a block of my best friend Devon's house!!!! I hope she can get out of bed early enough to walk down the block & cheer me on . . . . . I have no problem laying on the guilt trip to get her out there.  It's pretty early on in the race, so I should fly past her right around the first hour mark.

I have a very simple week of working out! I did 40 minutes of spin yesterday and a 2 mile run this morning.  I barely warmed up in the 45 degree temps by the time I finished!!!  It seemed almost silly to get dressed and ready for a 2 mile run.  It almost took me longer to get ready for my run than it did to run.  I'm focused on eating healthy, hydrating and resting before the big day!!! I need to start packing so I don't forget anything vital to a great run!!  I'm not sure why I get so nervous before a race. . . . it's not like I don't know if I can do it or not. 

I grabbed some nanners for Angie and I to pound down this week!!!  We're pushing the potassium and hydrating!

Do you get pre-race jitters?  How far out?  A day, a week, the morning of?

Well . . . I'll try to do a race recap on Sunday to let you know if I meet or beat my goal!! If I'm too tired, I'll do it Monday!!!! Happy running everybody!!!

~Brooke~

8 Miles is Hardly a Long Run!

Angie came up to Sheboygan for our last "long run" of this training series. Since we only had to run 8 and she had to get a sitter, we started later than normal. We didn't start until 7:30 which is so late. We are normally 2.5 hours in by then! It was a nice change of pace (no pun intended) for us. The weather was quite cool when we started, high 40's I think. We know better than to complain about a little cool weather, but it was pretty cold in shorts and tanks. We warmed up quickly, so it was no problem.

One piece of "race day advise" that I have heard over and over, and would to extend to you is to never do anything new on race day that you aren't used to, or haven't tried before. You should fuel the way you have fueled before, you should hydrate the way you have in the past, use the same earphones, fuel belts, socks, etc. Since Angie and I always try to wear matching tanks/shirts for race day, we always try a dress rehearsal for a long run to ensure we are comfortable with the fit prior to running 4+ hours in that attire.



SNEAK PEEK: "Dress Rehersal" Except I'll be putting makeup and my lucky hoop earrings on for the actual race!



We enjoyed a quick 8 miles. We obviously didn't run out of stuff to talk about because we are used to filling hours & hours with stories. The other exciting part about 8 miles is that we didn't have to fuel or waste calories on gatorade. . . . so every calorie burned, was a calorie we could eat actual food later! I have to say that 8 miles is a nice amount. I wasn't starving all day long and I wasn't tired at all. It hardly felt like I worked out at all. 8 miles hardly felt like a long run at all. I am not going to lie, I crave that totally exhausted feeling I have on Saturdays after a really good hard long run!

I even had plenty of energy to go out for dinner, drinks and some dancing with some great friends from work. I'm enjoying a rather laid back Sunday. I tried to study a little, bit, but that was a flop. I'll try again later. Blogging is so much more interesting and entertaining than studying Business Law for Insurance Professionals. I'll get through it, but it's just pure torture right now!



1 glass of wine + 2 shots of tequilla + 2 Cherry Bomb Shots + 2 strawberritas = blurry picture (looked blurry from my end too!) and waking up with a headache today! :(




This should be illegal. . .  .right at the checkout where I had to wait FOREVER and stare. . .  . (a-holes!)



Packer Fan in the making.. . . . "GO PACK GO!"

~~~~RUNNING UPDATES~~~~
*The 10 day weather forecast is now available for race day, and the scale keeps tipping more & more in our favor! So far, high of 61! I'm okay with this. Low 50's is my ideal running weather, so I'm hoping it's cooler to start. I'll wait a few more days to see how I'm feeling and then I'll do my race day predictions & goals!

*50k --We have decided to put the 50k off until spring. 50k's tend to be trail running with more elevation challenge than what we are use to. We do incorporate quite a few hills in training, however the elevations for a 50k are well beyond what we normally do. Since we are doing our 2nd full marathon in exactly 3 months next Sunday, we decided a little cut back on mileage is due. We don't want to rush into rough terraine training to "squeeze" a 50k in this fall. We've decided to scale back slightly on our mileage and stick to 10-12 miles for our Saturday long runs and then we'll start training for a 50k after the new year. Angie is all over our training plan (thankfully she's into research!). We are going to try a little trail running after we recover from our marathon next week and then decide if we can do it. I'm pretty sure we are both set on doing a 50k. . . we just want to be smart about it. It's not just running 31 miles. . . it's totally different running.

When is your next race? Do you think setting a prediction or goal will jinx you, or keep you in line for meeting your goals? --I'm a goal setter!

~Brooke~