RUNNING, The most Expensive Free Sport on Earth!

Recently I had to retire 2 pairs of shoes at once since they both had 350+ miles on them and my arches have been bothering me a bit.  I also lost one of my "yurbuds" ear buds for my iPod.  I bought them at my Grandma's Marathon Health Expo, so I don't even know what size/model to buy.  I even said to Angie one day, hey, I should really write this down in case I lose one or both.  Well. . . . . the time came where I lost one and now I can't find the other one I set aside for safe keeping.  Doh!

I just ordered 2 new pairs of shoes, new gloves for the frigid weather and new yak trax.  Now I'm going to have to order new ear buds.  With a 50k entry fee, 2 marathon entry fees, and all of the fun running gear to make it possible to train. . . . I'm going to need a second job!  If you've ever heard that running is a free sport. . . you are sorely mistaken

You know what they say . . .  If you like something, buy it in every color . .   So you can easily rotate & track of course!

I've got over 1000 miles to run in these babies before I'll need to replace!!! Yay!

I like to rationalize my expensive Hobby with the fact that I'm healthier than I have ever been, my stress levels are more manageable since I'm working out regularly and my Migraines are virtually non-existent.  (HUGE life change! Well worth the money spent on Gear!).

"Hi Mom, this is a Heart because I Love You!"

In case you don't live in WI and you were wondering, it's STILL fricking cold out.  It has been in the negative double digits for the past two days.  Honestly, I quit looking at my Weatherbug when it gets below zero.  I'm starting to get a little cranky with this weather.  Angie and I have a 17  miler planned for Friday.  It's supposed to be a balmy 13 degrees outside.  Nice.  We're probably going to suffer the consequences of Frozen Nipples (water bottles of course!).

YES. . . it IS that cold out! 

Do you have expensive hobbies that you can totally justify? 

I bet a snot rocket would freeze before it hit the ground. . . try it & report back!  I'm interested to  know!

Oooops I did it again.

Oooops, I registered for another marathon!  Lakefront Marathon, here we come!  Angie has had her sights set on this marathon for quite some time and it fills up fairly fast, so she registered right away.  She's a real persuasive gal. . . . so I signed up for that Marathon too!  We'll have a few months between Grandma's Marathon and the Lakefront.  Just enough to taper and then get right back to high mileage and serious training.  It's also a back up plan for a BQ if I don't qualify in June at Grandma's.  I have the 50k first, which is trail running, so if I sustain any type of injury or aggravation, a BQ in June may be impossible.  I'm just going to work hard, hope for the best and enjoy all the miles.

 

If you have kids. . . . you know what a constant battle it is to keep a clean house.  Especially as they age and they have the ability to play with a gazillion toys each day. . . . .and some of those toys are big, and some are tiny and make for even more messes.  With working full time, having to cook, clean, of course get in a lot of miles every week and of course, trying to spend quality time with my little buddy, it's tough to have everything picked up all the time.. . . . despite how much the mess may annoy me.  

 

 

 

I have a 4 year old. . . . . this mess drives me nuts!  I often just close the door!

Solved by a 10 mile run by 6:30 am, I'm too tired to care abiyt all the toys laying around the living room!

 



 

Angie and I had to throw up the white flag for a run together this weekend.  The weather has been terrible.  COLD, snowy, WINDY. . . . just plain awful for long distance running.  It may be easier if we lived in the same city, but we don't so, highway travel is part of our training.  The weather was terrible yesterday so we couldn't get together and run.  I got up at about 4:30 today, maybe earlier (that is without my alarm clock too!) and just got right to it and pounded out (aka: my ass dragged) for 10 miserable miles.  If I haven't mentioned it before, I really dislike the TM.  I had to put a towel over the screen today so I wouldn't watch the mileage tick away.. . . .ever so slowly.  I also couldn't get myself to run any faster than a 10 min/mile.  I ran my last marathon at an 8:40 min/mile pace. . . . so it's sad to me to not be able to run faster right now.  I hope this is not a detriment to my pace for the upcoming race season.  I guess I just do what I have to do to get it in.

Have you ever seen what happens after 99

minutes on a treadmill?  It just turns off! WTF

 

 

This pretty much sums up the last few weeks.  (Well, we've had minimal outdoor running. . .but you get it).













Since I had 10 miles and a shower in before the sum came up, I'm now enjoying a hot cup of coffee while watching the snow fall.  I have all day to do a few chores and relax.  ;)

Hope you are conquering your miles despite this wicked weather.

~Brooke~

I Love/Hate Speed work and I LOVE hot chocolate and a few other things.

Today I ran a TOUGH 7 miles of speed work starting at 3:55 this morning!  I hestiated as I pushed START on the TM (yep. . . still too cold to run outside!) because I knew it would be a long tough 7 miles.  It kicked my ASS!  I hate it while I'm in the process, but I LOVE it when I'm done.  There is a reason they call it speed "work" . . . . it is SO much work.  I am sure I will benefit from the extra efforts. . . . but it is tough.

Sometimes when I'm feeling like giving up during a challengeing run, I think about blasting some good music on my iPod and running towards the finish line at my next marathon.  I LOVE that feeling of finishing a marathon and having a hard run behind me.


I also love spinning.  Years ago I would have never given spin a shot. . . . because people came out of that class dripping in sweat.  Why on earth would I want to subject myself to that pain and misery.  Now I'm always chasing that high of a good workout and sweating it out so I'm trying to get to spin class 2x/week to cross train.  Sometimes work gets in the way, but I try my best.  I always feel so good when I'm done.

I forgot to pack socks in my gym bag. . . . so I had to wear this non-athletic, super warm socks to spin!  Better than missing!

Another motivator to run a lot for me is food & of course Hot Chocolate.  We had a Snoman Day at work today.  We had a hot chocolate bar and whipped cream fondue bar.  (AMAZE-FEST!), as well as hot soup in bread bowls for lunch.  YES. . . . . I love Acuity!  I was happy to have my 7 miles of speed work done before all this glorious calories.

Oh YES!  A hot chocolate with a few dallops of whipped cream to boost my productivity!

We also had a snowman building contest at work.  Since my territory is Arizona, our team decided to do an Arizona Snowman.  And what goes better with melted snow in Arizona?  TEQUILLA!

                                                  Doing Shots with Señor De La Nieve at work!

It's hard to believe we are in full swing of marathon & 50k training.  It feels like we just started (which is good because we have a long ways to go!)  The weather has really challenged us this year.  It's mind over matter on the dreadmill.  It's not easy, but we're getting it done one way or another.  I honestly can't wait for a tad warmer weather so we don't have to run on the treadmill and we also don't have to dress in a million heavy layers.  After running this much in the cold weather, running in shorts/t-shirt weather should be a treat and offer a bit of ease in running.

Keep up the tough work throughout the cold winter!  It will pay off!

~Brooke~























Blood, Sweat & Frosty Eye Lashes

Angie and I braved old man winter yester and got a tough 15 miles in.  It was slow, steady and quite uncomfortable.  I'm really into endurance running.  In fact, I crave a good long, hard, exhausting run, but yesterday it was just difficult, physically and mentally.

 

I'm still nervous about cold weather running after my birthday run but I won't let that get in the way of our training.  We simply have to get these miles in if we are going to be ready for our 50k in early May.  I think the cold weather running is just another way to test our devotion to running and make us push ourselves to the limits.

 

Running in 5 degree temps is not for wimps.  The first 6 were decent but not as enjoyable as a nice 45 degree weather day.  We both felt good, but we knew we had a long ways to go, so we kept at a slower pace to ensure we could finish.  We stopped 6 miles in to go to the bathroom and warm up. 

 

Neither one of us were too excited to be out in the cold.  After warming up, it was so difficult to go back outside in the cold temps.  Our clothes and gloves were wet from sweat and putting our gloves back on and going into the cold was miserable.  I know I need to order a new pair of gloves that are warmer.  Luckily I had a set of hand warmers along for emergencies.  (Smartest thing ever!).  I had to use them yesterday and they really made a world of difference.  I started to get the cold painful numbness I had before, so I didn't waste too much time and used them.  My hands warmed up quickly and I had no significant discomfort like the time we had to quit running.  I'll be keeping a pack of those in my running pack at all times in the winter.  So worth it. 

 

Besides the cold temps, the roads were covered with a light dusting of snow, which was over harder packed down snow and some ice.  Neither one of us really like to wear Trax on our shoes for long runs because they alter our stride a little.  I knew I had to wear mine today because there is no way I could run 15 miles on snow covered ice roads.  So, 15 full miles in Trax it was.  They were amazing.  They proved to be very beneficial.  I really didn't notice they were on my feet.  I didn't have any discomfort besides the normal aches and pains of a 15 mile run.

 

 



90% of our run was on snowy roads like this.  Gorgeous. . . . but made for a pretty tough  run.



If I move to Canada I would hardly ever have to curl my lashes or wear masacara!  Does this equal BAD ASS? I think so.

 

 



One major challenge of running in 5 degree weather is frozen water bottles.  Normally on a summer day, if we were running 15 miles we would have 4 -10oz water bottles and we would stop to refill at a gas station to ensure we had enough to last until we were done.  Today. . . . . I'm shocked to say I had less than 6 oz. of water. . . . THE ENTIRE 15 miles.  I don't know that I've ever worked out that long with such little fluid intake.  Not great.  The problem is that my bottles were frozen and it was too much work to try and open them.  We did stop once to open them because we were both feeling exhausted and dehydrated.  That is when Angie suffered a major running injury. . . . . . . she cut her finger with ice from her frozen water bottle.  BLOOD EVERYWHERE!!!!  Just kidding.  She was fine, but just annoyed.  We drank whatever water wasn't frozen and impossible to access (not much!)

We are looking forward to a cut back week next week.  Fingers crossed the next Polar Vortex is done by Saturday.  We only have to run 13 miles, but that is not something I would look forward to on a treadmill.  I'm going to have to find another series to watch this week because it looks like I'll be on the treadmill a little and I only have one episode of Orange Is The New Black left to watch!

What kinds of tricks do you have for beating the freezing temps?  How cold does it have to be for  you to stay in and get your miles in on the dreadmill?  Any recommendations for a new series for me to watch on Netflix?

Happy Winter Running.  Stay warm!
~Brooke~

Back in the double digits with some Chilly Challenges.

We wrapped up our third week of training today with a nice 14 mile run.  I'm beyond thrilled to be back at double digit mileage.  The temps were actually in the low 30's a few weeks ago when I logged 12 miles which was the farthest I've run since my last Marathon in September.  I ran pretty close to Lake Superior in Ashland WI, so I'm surprised there wasn't more wind, but it was honestly really nice out.  The roads were still a bit glazed over and soft in some spots, so my trax were a total necessity, but all in all, it went well. 

The temps across Wisconsin were in the double digit negatives last week.  YIKES!  That is just stupid!  I can't wait for 30's again (that sounds stupid too. . . . . but it's all relative!).   I've been getting a few miles in on the treadmill because it was too dangerous to run  outside.  I hate dreadmill running, but I'm not one to skip any miles when I'm following a training plan, so I just been toughing it out.  Luckily we still have some 3 mile runs on our training schedule, so the dreadmill is tolerable.  I've been watching "Orange Is The New Black" on my iPad while running on the treadmill, so at least it occupies my time.  This awful weather adds some extra challenges.  the frigid temps are one thing, but the rough terrain on the sidewalks and roads make running extra difficult.  I keep telling myself (and Angie) that it is a different type of speed work.  It HAS to help us when we finally get to clean road running!  Plus, the added difficulty may be helpful with our upcoming trail running.  (I'm hoping anyway).

A little too much Chill for me to run outside! and this wasn't even the worst..... I'd be okay if we never saw temps that cold again.

Angie and I FINALLY got to run some decent miles together today for our 14 miles.  The weather was pretty good and we dressed just fine for the temps.  The last 4 or 5 miles were tough because we ran into the wind, but it was doable and nothing like my birthday run.  It's so exciting to be back at higher mileage.  The worst part about a 14 mile run in colder weather is the drive home with sweaty clothes..... BRRRRR!  I blasted the heat on the way home and did a quick stretch & foam roll so I could take a hot shower right away.  I know I've been far more active after long runs, but I'm exhausted today.  I think it will take some adjusting to get my endurance back up.  I'm just going to study and relax the rest of the day.

 Drinking hot coffee in an AZ mug should warm me up right?

My sweet little baby just turned 4 this last week!  4 years old. . . . how did that come so quickly?  He's an amazingly wonderful little boy with so much energy.  Between Christmas and his birthday, he got so many toys. . . .  his playroom is chuck full.  I need to spend some time "organizing"  (aka: save, toss, donate).  I can hardly walk in the toy room right now which drives me nuts.  I'm too tired today to worry about it, so maybe next weekend.

Jacks is playing with all a few new toys. . . . and a random foam roller which is a part of our daily lives!

On to some more exciting news. . . . . . I'm officially registered for 2 races! the 50k in May (Ice Age 50) and now Grandma's Marathon in June.  I did get my refund on the 50 mile race that I accidently signed Angie and myself up for.  One of my Christmas gifts from my parents was some money towards an entry fee, so I put that to good use and signed up for Grandma's right away.  Can't beat that.  Since we registered before the end of the year, we automatically got our names entered into a drawing for a free room that weekend....... neither of us won, so looks like we'll be booking something else.  I will likely be too nervous to pay attention to details, so I don't really care where we stay.

How many races are you registered up for?  Do you need to have a race in your future to keep you motivated?  I seem to come up with excuses when I don't have an actual training plan.  I will admit my excuses over the last few months were quite valid, but I hate excuses. . . . even my own. 

Happy Running!

~Brooke~