7th Marathon Handled!

7th Marathon Handled!!!  

I know it wasn't my fastest, however going into it uncertain as to whether I would even finish it--i am happy.  Plus it was so awesome to run with my aunt and cousin and know hubbee and bestie were on the course kicking butt at the half.  My aunt and cousin ran their first full and did AMAZING!  This was also Hubbee's first half and Charity's third this year! 

After packet pick up we went to the arcade.  Luc was hilarious and barely able to contain himself:

My uncle Paul cooked us a fabulous pre race dinner of chicken parm:

The weather was rainy, windy and chilly, but once we began running, we were plenty warm.  There were plenty of aid stations on the course.  Also, I was pleasantly surprised that there were so many spectators since the weather was less than ideal for standing around.  

There we are on the course!  around mile 24... staying strong.  My aunt (blue) just started running a few years ago and is quite inspiring!! :)

Once we crossed the finish the crappy weather really set in.  We were shivering, muscles seizing up, etc.  Even though the band sounded great we bailed on the after party.  We took our lobster rolls to go and headed back to the cottage.  My only complaint about the entire race was that spectators weren't allowed in after party area.  Had the weather been better it would have been great to celebrate our victories with our beers and sandwiches and our supporters.

The rest of our vacation we had stellar weather--low 80s!  it was remarkable.  Hubbee went fishing a few times with my uncle and cousin:

We had a great visit with our family and lucked out with the weather.  

This thursday Team Turtlez heads to San Fran for the Nike women's half!!!  Can't wait!  

Hump DAAAAAAY! said the camel

This week training has been great!  Friday after work, hubbee and I ran a pretty hot and sweaty 3.2 miler, then I did my fourteen on saturday.  It was hot and i split it into two but i managed to run two fast 7 milers (sub 8's!). Then sunday Hubbee and I went down to our local park and ran The Bark In The Park.  it is a 5k benefit for our local animal shelter.  Wrigley also attended!  She and I came in second and I won a $25 gift certificate to the Bozeman Running company. (SCORE!!!)  

Wrigley was tired!!

Last night Hubbee, Cuz and I ran over the newly constructed bridge to a new trail.  it was 5.2 miles total and a GREAT run.  There is a quarter mile hill that we ran to and all raced up it, then ran back home. This run was the FARTHEST (furthest?) my Cuz has EVER run!!!  I am so happy to have another convert and since he is living with us for the time being, i have been fortunate enough to have a running buddy!! :)  And the big galloof is FAST!!

It was a gorgeous sight at the top of the hill.  THat is our sleeping giant.  Can you see the indian lying down?  profile of face?  That is also the smoke billowing up from the paradise valley.  There are four fires in our county alone, most counties in the state have some sort of burn occurring, very sad and scary.   

Friday night is the Night Owl Run, and also my aunt and uncle arrive from Florida (said cuz's rents! :)) we are all very close and I am soooo looking forward to their visit.  I am saddened by the smoke and fires, however, since you can't even see our beautiful mountains.

Saturday I am running 15 miles... i need to wake up early and get it done so i will have the full day to spend with the fam, or do it early sunday. 

Hope everyone's training is going well! Off to do some NTC!

more randoms...

It is almost time for the Night Owl Run... this is a great four mile event (so walkers are welcome!!) and it is done at night, this year Aug. 23.  THere is a surprise at the half way point (along with water and gatorade) and once you cross the finish line you can pick up your souvenir pint, fill it with brew and enjoy the barbecue!  You will also receive a tee shirt, glow in the dark bling, and we do random prizes so it is not just 1,2,3.  Along with all the stuff we offer the entrants, the entrants are helping raise funds for two scholarships, and several community organizations.  WIN WIN!!! :)

Some new house items have arrived:

The sofa and rug are new.  in the background is the box for the sleeper/settee that will go in sewing center, however it is now in a spare bedroom.

Ryan will be sleeping on that while his mom and dad are visiting.  good luck, cuz!
We have been floating the river quite a bit and had a fun campfire on saturday night with friends.

The indian paintbrush is just beginning to bloom.  There were only about three so I didn't want to pick them yet.  
A few weeks ago Adam was here for a visit.  it was great to see him... wish we all lived closer together.

Hope you enjoyed the random photo dump!! :)

EEEEK! it's been awhile... random catch up

I have been super busy.  I am sure most are this time of year.  I was so relieved to have the missoula marathon behind me, but had about 10 days where i took it relatively easy and had to jump back into training for the Smuttynose Marathon in the beginning of October.  We are still moving into the new house and beginning to finalize some details for the new studio.  I have been dreaming of a new space for several years, since I have really outgrown my current space.  However, having this empty space that I can do what I want has been a bit overwhelming.  This past week we made some progress.  The floor plan is dialed in! The flooring is ordered, bathroom items ordered, a tankless on-demand hot water heater ordered, etc.  I will be sure to post before and after pics.  

Also, our house is finally coming together.  The Hubbee has been working out of town during the week, and we have had plans that have taken us out of town almost every weekend, so finally last weekend we were able to make some headway.  I have ordered two new sofas; one for sewing center (it is also a sleep) and a beautiful charcoal gray for our living room.  The living/dining room has been painted, along with trim and I can't wait for the sofa to arrive!

Another random:  my cousin moved to Montana from Florida and he immediately said he wouldn't run... within 2-3 weeks he came on a 3 miler, and he then bought actual running Nikes!  We ran a super speedy 5k last night and he is going to run the Night Owl run (Aug 23--a fantastic festive fundraising event!!!).  Another convert!!! :)

now, back to the training... it has been half-hearted.  i am hitting all the workouts but it was really rough and mentally challenging to get them done... until last week.  Last week was the first run that actually felt good.  finally the bug is back.  i have pretty much been in training for almost a year and a half, so I think i am a bit burnt out.  After October races I am going to switch focus--i will always run, but I am keeping longer races off plan until hopefully the next summer.  The other piece is during the move, we were eating out a lot, and that takes it toll on me.  I have reigned that in and hopefully the feel-good running will continue.

how is everyone elses training?  for what races/events are you training?  Any suggestions of something not to forget to add to studio?

Missoula Marathon

I know it has been forever since I posted... the move has taken its toll.  Plus summers in Montana are so short that every weekend seems to be a long weekend and we head out of town.  I am loving our new house.  The location is wonderful, the yard is fantastic (we barely had grass at our old house, lovely views but it was much more arid).  We have trees and flowers and privacy for being in town.  I have loved riding my bike everywhere and dogs love going on runs/rides too.  

The move landed right at the beginning of the taper portion of training (thank god because I would not have had time for long runs) but even the taper I cut most of runs in half due to time etc.  Hubbee has been working out of town so I had to do most of the unpacking and while working 10-12 hour days it left little time for runs.  I would take dogs on 2-3 milers but that was it.  I was so torn as to even attempt the marathon.  I thought about bagging it.  Another weekend out of town, how would my body handle it, my mental psyche?  But hubbee thought we should go and I should do it.  He reminded me of the personalized bib, and the long runs I did in preparation and what would make me feel worse, not doing it or doing it and not being fast?  

That is just it.  i was so torn.  do it for fun or would a slow time wreck my spirit?  My main goal first and foremost for fulls is to finish with a smile.  I don't want distance running (or running in general) to become something I no longer want to do, so i don't want to make it too miserable. don't get me wrong, I want to push myself and am okay going out of my comfort level, but I don't want to do that EVERY race/run.  Now for devil's advocate:  on the other hand, having a slower time, how would that mentally feel?  

Another goal i have had since I was a child was to be like the 92 year old lady that was in a Nike commercial.  So if I plan to be running for that long then not all races will be fast... simply keep running.  

So we headed to missoula.

Packet pickup/expo was fun and i bought a few things, this shirt being a new fave:

It is from the running club in Missoula, RunWild.  I just love it for the turtle! (DUH!) and it is the softest tee!

We also took my cuz to the skate park in Missoula (which is a really great one!).  He is really a great skater! I had no idea...

so i had resigned myself to simply enjoying the run... i ran sans gps and just had my ipod.  The Marathon begins at 6 am and they do fireworks beginning at 5 and every fifteen minutes through the start.  I was on a bus by 440.  We ate my tradition pre-race meal of sushi and went to bed early.  Hubbee was a great help by running to lobby to grab me some coffee and half a bagel.  I really appreciated that the hotel accommodated runners by beginning their breakfast extra early and we received gift bags that contained bottled water, protein bars, and some fruit.  I digress, the race...

There were a lot of Marathon Maniacs at this event--and they always inspire/amaze me.  It was fun to listen to all of their accomplishments on the bus ride to the start.  The race began and I just went slow and steady.  I chatted with a few women and that is part of what I love about the full--people chat.  It is pretty amazing to me the sense of camaraderie we all feel together on the course.  It is a unique feeling and I cherish it.  I was feeling pretty great and enjoying the gorgeous sunrise and the views.  the course is a very pretty course through the countryside then you run into the town and there are lots of spectators and residents put their sprinklers on the curbs which helps so much! The temperatures were rising quickly sunday.  I saw Hubbee and Cuz and Amy around mile ten:

There are plenty of aid stations along the course which I also appreciate.  I brought my shot bloks ( I ate two at mile 9 and then had half a gu at mile 15). I alternated gatorade and water sips at the stops, until mile 23 where i made a near disastrous mistake.  I put my water into the larger gatorade cup and CHUGGED it.  I don't know why, feeling the heat? but within 3 minutes I had a SEVERE cramp at my rib, left side just under my chest.  I had my arm over heard and couldn't even catch my breath.  It was beginning to feel like an asthma attack and then i began to panic a bit.  I slowed to a walk and applied pressure while keeping left arm overhead to stretch.  I was mentally kicking myself for chugging that much fluid so fast.  Rookie mistake and I know better.  I began to finally catch my breath and knew Hubbee would be on the next block.  I gave him the thumbs down from a few hundred feet away and he came running over. Knowing he was there was relief, as in I am not going to die alone, and I could feel the tears again and the lump in my throat.  he walked with me two blocks and offered to walk the rest of the way, I was contemplating getting in the car.  Then as suddenly as that cramp came on, my mind shifted and i told Hubbee I would see him at the finish, I wanted to simply get this thing finished.  From that point I didn't stop at any of the other aid stations and even managed to kick it over the bridge through the finish.

I tossed my sneakers immediately after the race.  I had tied them a smidge too tight and they were shot.  No worries--new lunarglides in a box at home!! :)  I love my flyknits but I think they are great for a half but I like the cushion of the glides for the full distance.  

I was so conflicted at the end of this race.  I was happy it was done.  I don't necessarily feel that is a positive... but I did find some positives:  i felt great through 23, and felt great after my mishap, I only had to pee once at beginning (nerves?), and my body felt great other than that cramp (legs felt good, no chaffing, etc).  I felt like I was perfectly fueled and dressed right for temps/distance etc.  So I have certain things dialed in and that feels good.  By the way I wore RunningSkirts.com skirt, compression socks, long sleeve run top and sports bra and I received SOOOOOO many compliments on my skirt!! :)  It was super comfy to run in--stayed in place, felt covered and I think it is flattering and they have awesome colors and patterns.  The compliments cracked me up because I brought my three fave long run outfits and Hubbee kept saying, "it's not a fashion show!" Hello!!  i am a girl--it's always a fashion show!!!  :)

I had run a trail run three weeks ago that was at 6200-8200 feet on the CDT, 9 miles.  It poured rain, cold, wind, etc.  It was the first time I finished a run (not even a race--a run) and thought, I probably shouldn't have done that.  I never want to have that feeling again.  And I was scared I did damage etc.  I did NOT want to feel that way after the marathon, and i feel fortunate that I didn't.  I was up walking around a half hour after the mary and was able to enjoy the rest of the day with our friends.  for all of this I am thankful and feel that at least it ended on a good note.  And I was able to finish with a smile.

Have you ever hit the wall?  did you come out okay on the other side?

Randomness:

Cuz and I painted over the walls that had hideous sponge paint that looked like smeared baby poop.  I chose a light gray for three walls and a pale aqua for the fourth wall.  It makes the room so much brighter and cleaner looking!

Next up is painting the trim white and convincing hubbee we need this charcoal gray couch i am in LOOOOOOVE!

some side notes:  

TeamTurtlez is heading to san fran this october to run the Nike Women's Half Marathon!! woot woot!  And next up is the Smuttynose Marathon that I will be running with my aunt @marlyw and cuz @neilsir and hubbee and bestie are running the half and possibly uncle-so that will be a blast!!  

MOVING!!!!!

Sorry it has been almost a month since my last post.  We have been ridiculously busy.  Work has been so busy (which is FANTASTIC), and trying to fit in training runs for missoula full and CDT wulfman trail run, and MOVING.  We sold our house and close on friday.  We have wanted to sell for about 4-5 years... and of course when we take it off the market, someone approached us about buying it.  The deal with selling our house was that we would move to where I would have a studio on the premises.  My current studio is now too small.  We looked at several homes to purchase and even a few rentals since we weren't finding anything to buy and we are about to be homeless.  Nothing was remotely appealing and it was very disheartening.  Then we randomly ran into a former co-worker of Ben's who offered to rent us his house, then upon hearing what we were looking for, he said he should sell us his place.  I was not expecting it to be anything we would like, but we went to look.  First--GIANT shop on site (which will become my studio!!!!) and when I opened the door to the house and it was actually very much our style, and now birds dive bombed us(yea-we seriously encountered birds on one of our showings!) and even the colors he had painted were right up my alley.  My eyes welled up, i could just see us in this space.  The yard is giant (6 lots) and fenced. This was a big deal since we are coming from five acres, and there are trees, gorgeous grass, flowers, etc.  For being in town it feels like a little oasis.  And half a block away is a trail that goes to the river and the local dog park!! 
The new place meets all of our criteria.  And we can move right in!  Of course there are things we want to update, but nothing we can't live with for a time. I am so happy to be moving back to town.  Although, we have amazing views, etc. The drive is just long enough that it can be a pain.  I am excited to be able to ride my bike to do errands (and not be riding on a highway!) and be closer to our friends.  Since living out of town, we have become hermits of sorts... maybe that won't change?! 

I can't wait to post pics!  i am actually liking the moving process.  I love purging stuff and it feels great to organize things, etc.  

Any tips on moving?

As far as my running has been going--so far so good, however i did miss this past weekends 13 miler.  I don't think it will throw me off too much but I have resorted to doing missoula for fun and hopefully faster than my last full there where I had stomach issues.  I am setting my sights on Smuttynose Rockfest to be a faster mary!! :)  We will see though, running with family and it may be fun to enjoy the views etc too.

Missoula Mary Training

I am now in the thick of my full marathon training plan.  And I must be honest, last week I was wondering why the hell I registered for this race again.  I have run both the half and the full in Missoula and loved both (eventhough during full i learned that gu and me don't mix at three).  The course is so beautiful, great supports and spectators along the way, a super fun expo, and not to mention our awesome friends live in Missoula and we don't see them often enough.  All last week, however, I had to keep reminding myself of these things.  By Saturday, the day of my 15 miler, I was back in the groove.  I ran part on the tread, part on the path and did 10 pushups each mile just to add variety and because I am walking on the shy side of crazy, apparently.  My runs are finally starting to feel decent again; not feeling like i am new to this activity.  Running has been my thing since I was a child, so i am very familiar with the ebbs and flows and try to just stay on track or mix it up etc. but when it ebbs when you are in the middle of a training plan (and not near the end of it) that is mentally debilitating.  And I was trying to mentally prepare for backing out of a race...

BUT I AM BAAAAAACK!!

I did an 8-9 mile mountain bike ride with the Hubbee and Wrigley on sunday and then ran 7 miles on monday, and was supposed to run 4 today, but I rode my bike 14 and ran 3.3 with the incline at 2 the whole way.  Tomorrow is a track workout and I am stoked for it. the rest of the week is 5, 5, and 3 w/strides and a 5k or 10k race in place of the long run.  EASY PEASY!!  

In case I haven't mentioned this before, I am following a training plan by steve magness from the Nike+ site.  it is an intermediate plan and the longest run is an 18 miler.  This is freaking me out a bit, but also appeals because some of those 20+ runs are just daunting.  This has longer runs during the week, so the total mileage is high, and so far this is working...

I am a little unsure how I go from the full in July to training for the full in October.  I have looked at some Hal Higdon plans for this but am definitely open to ideas/suggestions/other's experiences.

How is everyone else's training going?

Does everyone love the updates to the Nike+ gps app? i do--i did have a glitch and had to delete and re-install but I LOVE the updates--no more ending workout by mistake! aha!!!!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week!