What nonsense is this!

So I was thinking about my last blog post (Marine Corps Marathon 2012) and it was a downer!!  Seriously, could I have been more negative?  Stopped caring at mile 20?  Who is that girl?

It's not MarathonMennone.

Am I always going to feel awesome after a race?  No.  Am I going to be the kind of person who gets crazy with time?  No!  But I will try my darndest to qualify for Boston, because I take myself seriously and I care about what I do. 

I'm not sure why I was so mopey with this race.  Maybe because of the weather forecasts?  Maybe I put too much pressure on myself for my time?  I can't figure it out.  I trained well and I actually did great.  So I think tonight I should open up a bottle of wine and toast myself!  Buy some of the pictures from the event (which actually turned out pretty good)!  And then sign up for another race!

I've been plotting my races for the next few years...I think 2013 will include the DC Rock n Roll in March, the Flying Pig in May, the BOMF 20in24 in July, and the Richmond in November.  Cheering/volunteering at the Marine Corps.  2014 should kick off with the Goofy Challenge in Disney and probably DC Rock n Roll again...and Marine Corps.  Marine Corps happens for me on even years (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014...).  Maybe 2014 will be the year that I do the JFK 50 mile race?

MarathonMennone does not give up!!  And I do NOT MOPE.  I RUN.

And I think I want to run the Las Vegas Marathon in December...

Marine Corps Marathon 2012

I'm sure you're on the edge of your chair, wanting to know if I qualified for Boston, so I will go ahead and answer that question: no.  I ran with the 3:35 pace group for 20 miles and then lost them at a water stop.  We didn't stop at water stations and I have a tough time drinking water from a cup while running (something to practice?).  After 20 miles, I just didn't feel like sprinting to catch up.  So I finished in 3:44:39 - a new PR.

I learned from this marathon - I do not like running with a pace group.  I found it to be very stressful!  Watching balloons bouncing from the sign made me feel dizzy and while I was fine with the pace, I was anxious about keeping up.  I really do enjoy running on my own.  In all of the official race photos, you can see me running with the pace group.  And I'm not smiling at all!! I forgot one of my own rules for a while - have fun!

By mile 20, I didn't really care about Boston.  I wanted it to be fun again.  I will have to work on new fun tactics for my next race...suggestions welcomed!

Countdown to Marathon #8

The Marine Corps Marathon is in less than 48 hours.  I am beyond pumped up.  In fact, I'm at the point of anxious, which is weird.  It's unusual for me to stress about a race and I have a feeling that it has something to do with my expectations for time.  Now that I've thrown it out there, I won't necessarily take it back, but I don't really enjoy putting this kind of pressure on myself.  Races are for fun, not for time!!

I went and picked up my packet yesterday, the first day of the expo.  It was relatively empty (relatively with 30,000 participants) and of course extremely well organized.  I went by myself and was in and out fairly quickly, although I did browse the booths and bought some presents for myself :)  But I kept feeling so anxious and I was trying to identify why as I waited to arrive while riding on the metro.  Did I think they would suddenly decide not to give me a bib?  Would they take one look at me and think, "you're not a runner?"  Would I fall on the metro escalator and bump my head?

But none of these make any sense to me, not even in my current state.  However, the expo did help to calm my nerves (temporarily).  I love going and seeing people.  I'm always amazed at all of the different kinds of people who run marathons.  People may not initially realize this but marathons don't separate, divide, or judge.  They bring us together. 

For example....some of you may have heard about the little hurricane that might be coming through.  If you go on the Facebook page for the marathon, everyone is hopeful, supportive, and encouraging.  No one is saying that the fast people should run and everyone else should give up.  When a newbie posts something about their fears, they are greeted with overwhelming positive feedback. 

I love running because every time I do a race, I find a new community and a temporary family.  We're all in it together and that is one of the reasons why I race. 

I may never qualify for Boston but I'm trying not to care.  After all, that's not why I started running and it's still not why I run. 

I can't wait for Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!

Recap: Hershey Half Marathon 2012

Yesterday (how was it only yesterday??) I completed the Hershey Half Marathon in 1:50:33.  In general, it went by quickly and was fun.  I had some stomach issues, feeling kind of nauseous during the whole race, which wasn't super fun.  I also had to keep reminding myself not to go all out, since the Marine Corps is my main event this season.  The course was pretty hilly as well, so that part wasn't great.  So why do I describe it as fun?  I mean, it was a race through an amusement park with chocolate, chocolate themed mascots, and a trip to the Hershey spa for a chocolate massage afterwards.  How could it NOT be fun?

However, I'm doubting the wisdom of doing 2 big races 2 weeks in a row.  There are a few things to consider if you're thinking about doing this.  First, I have serious guilt issues with racing.  Typically, I have someone there with me and often they aren't running.  I dragged my mom to this race even though she's coming to the Marine Corps in DC this weekend.  Yes, she wanted to come and be with me, but at what point is it not fair to do this to loved ones?  She had to eat a crappy dinner at a local restaurant, stay in a crappy hotel, and wait outside in the chilly weather at the start line and yet I'm the one who gets a medal?

Second, I am worried about my time for the Marine Corps, although I don't think this race will affect it too much.  I was generally using this as a training run and did have to tell myself several times to slow it down.  So I think I am in good shape for 26.2 miles, especially since this race felt...short.  Yes, I was tired afterwards, but we went straight to the car and I've been fine since.  The only concern is the slightly still upset stomach that is lingering. 

But I felt stressed running this, almost like I was cheating on the Marine Corps Marathon.  I kept thinking, "if anything is going to go wrong, PLEASE let it happen today and not next week!"  That is not a great feeling.

I think I'd be fine doing something like the Goofy challenge in the Disney Marathon (for those of you who don't know, that is a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday).  And maybe if I keep doing this, I won't feel so anxious.  But I think I might prefer to space these out just a TINY bit more in the future....

Haha, I say this now.

Pain

Yesterday, I went to my eye dr, who told me that I must have a "high threshold for pain," because I've managed to scratch my cornea so badly and am still downplaying it.  I wanted to tell her, "well that's because I run marathons..." but thought better of it.

Then today, I was looking at some pics that on the Marine Corps Marathon facebook page and noticed a sign that said, "pain feels better than regret."

And of course, you've probably picked up on my current mantra: "what distinguishes marathoners is their willingness and capacity for pain."

Pain is a weird subject.  It's natural to feel averse to pain because, well, it's painful.  There has to be a point where it's bad to ignore pain, because your body feels pain in general to alert you to something bad.  But sometimes pain can lead you to glory.  Sometimes working through pain leads us to run farther than we ever thought possible, to try something that we never thought we could achieve, or to succeed when we thought it was impossible.  One of the most important parts of marathon running is learning to love pain, to savor it, to work through it. 

And then ultimately, forget all about it so that you can do it all over again!

The only thing standing between me and the Marine Corps Marathon is...the Hershey Half Marathon!  So excited to have a relaxing run this weekend and go to the marvelous spa with my mom.  And then...OORAH!

MarathonMennone's Race Day Tips

On a recent long run, I was thinking about how many races I've done in the past 4 years.  I'm on to marathon #8, but I've also done several half marathons, 10 milers, 5 milers, 10ks, and 5ks.  Sometimes race prep has been as easy as walking 3 blocks to the start from my apartment and sometimes it has involved a plane ride, a taxi ride, a hotel room, and dinner in a strange place.  So I can confidently say that I have come up with strategies that help me through each race.  Maybe these seem obvious, or maybe they will be the ah-ha! moment that someone needs to propel them through a race.

So without further ado....MARATHON MENNONE'S RACE DAY TIPS!

1. Poop before you leave the house.  I know this might seem a bit dramatic, especially since this is my number 1 tip.  Do.not.forget.this.one.  Whether you're staying at home or spending the night in a hotel, spend enough time at home to get in a good poop.  You do NOT want to run a race clenching your butt and hoping for a miracle. And no matter how small your race is, there will be lines at the porta potties.  And even if you are the first person to use it, porta potties stink.  You just can't avoid it.  POOP and POOP OFTEN before you leave your house.
2. Eat enough.  Eat a big meal the night before (this facilitates number 1) and make sure to eat enough on the morning of the race.  Nerves will kick in and you will NOT want to eat, so it's important to be mindful of how much you're eating.  I usually eat a bagel or a cliff bar, and then munch a banana on my way to the race course (for a long race).  And coffee.  Always coffee (see tip #1).
3. Get everything together the night before a race.  This one seems obvious, but panic sets in quickly when you're less than 2 hours away from running 26.2 miles.  I'm not super meticulous about this, but I always have my clothes (usually with the bib already pinned to the shirt), shoes, and GU piled up the night before.
4. Take extra GU.  Or whatever it is you use for energy, take more than you think you need.  I've dropped GU, had it explode while running, and given it to fellow runners.  I've also been handed GU at an aid station, only to realize that I hate the flavor.  I'd rather finish a race with an extra packet than not have enough.
5. Have fun!  The first marathon I did, I think I looked straight ahead the whole time.  I was terrified to look at spectators.  I'm not sure why.  It can be very intimidating - surely they're clapping for someone else.  I thought they must be judging me for going slowly.  But after a few, I realized that people will cheer for ANYONE, especially the people who say thank you or high five them back.
6. Don't take food from strangers.  There will be people handing out food, beer, snacks, GU on the course.  Bless them.  I both love them and don't.  I am personally paranoid about what people might do to food.  However, I am always happy to get a tissue or a popsicle stick of vaseline.  This will be your call, but ultimately, I've made the "better safe than sorry" choice for this one.
7. Take a buddy.  My race buddy is usually my mom or my boyfriend.  I almost never check a bag on race day.  To be honest, the last thing I want to do after I run 26.2 miles is wait in line to get my flip flops or my cell phone.  This usually means that I have to beg to use a stranger's cell phone at the finish line area to find my family, but trust me, it's worth it.  And my buddy always waits with me at the start, allowing me to wear a coat if it's cold, keeping water close by, and keeping me calm.  Which leads me to...
8. Don't drink the kool-aid.  There will be people all around at the start line and probably half of them are really ready for the race.  People will say really stupid stuff like, "it's going to be so hot today!  They said we could drop out if we wanted to!"  "I did a 20 mile training run last week, I am SO ready to kick this race's butt!"  "Yeah, I'm planning on doing this one in under 3 hours."  Or, my personal favorite, people love to ask "have you SEEN the elevation charts on the hills???  They are going to be killer!!"  (My response to anyone mentioning or asking hills is always, ALWAYS: "Nah, I heard they're really small," even if I have not even looked at the race course.  Why get upset or stressed?  You still have to run them).  Don't let these people get in your head.  You don't care how many miles they ran to train.  Who cares if they think it will be hot?  This is your race, not theirs.
9. Have a mantra.  It should be short enough that you can remember it and enough meaning to kepe you going when things really start to hurt.  My mantra right now is "what distinguishes marathoners is their willingness and capacity for pain."  I even got it on a t-shirt for the Marine Corps (haha I am a dork).  But in the middle of a run, it's usually shortened to: "willingness and capacity for pain."  It keeps me focused on what makes me different from the rest of the world and why it's worth it to be hurting so much at the moment.
10. Put your name somewhere.  On a t-shirt, on your bib, write it on your arm.  People WILL cheer for you, especially if they can figure out your name.   If you forget to do this,  hopefully you have a common name like Sarah.  I've found other runners named Sarah with t-shirts in the past and I just run near them and pretend that everyone magically knows my name :)
11. Take some Advil before the race starts.  Everything you read says "don't take painkillers while you train."  I totally agree.  But on race day, I'm taking 2-3 Advil before the race even starts.  And then at least 2-3 when it's over!!
12. Use KT tape.  I have been incredibly lucky this race season (commence knocking on wood until Marine Corps Marathon is over...) and haven't had any serious injuries or pain.  But on race day, I'm going to put some KT tape on my knee and my achilles.  Even if you haven't been hurting all season, if you have anything that might flare up, take precautions.  You'll be going faster on race day (trust me, adrenaline will kick in!) and something will start to hurt.
13. If this is your first race, stop and drink your water at the water stations.  At least slow to a walk.  You cannot drink from a paper cup and run without coughing, spitting, or choking.  It will go up your nose or down your shirt.  It will be more stressful to go through a water station like this than it is to walk for 15 seconds to drink the water and move on. 
14. Don't be afraid to use the medical tents on the course.  I have a very slow marathon time from 2011, but I finished the race because I stopped and had them tie up my knee at mile 13.  Did I have an old injury?  Nope. It just was causing me major pain that day.  I used to think that those tents were for emergencies only and if you stopped, they would make you leave the course.  Not true!  The people were really nice, supportive and helpful!
15. Plan what you'll eat later in the day.  You won't want to cook and ordering a pizza might seem like a good idea, but you probably won't be able to eat as much as you think.  Have a lot of healthy snacks at home so that you can relax, unwind, and recharge easily!!
16. Enjoy the glory!  Wear your medal WHEREVER YOU GO on race day!!!  YOU DESERVE IT!

Boston or Bust!...or...not.

The Marine Corps Marathon is a mere 27 days away.  I am beyond excited to run my 8th marathon in 4 years and to run it in Washington, DC.  I am so excited to do another 26.2, my 3rd this year alone.  And so far, in the back of my mind, all I keep thinking about is how I'm only 10 minutes and 39 seconds away from qualifying for Boston.

For the first time ever, I am seriously considering running with a pace group.  Pace groups, for those of you who are not familiar, are led by insane runners who can not only finish at a certain time (like say 3:35:00), but can also lead a group of ambitious wannabes the whole time.  They usually carry balloons or something on a stick so that they are easy to find for the whole race.  They usually talk their group through the tough parts, the parts where normal runners don't want to talk, let alone make jokes or offer advice.  They pretty much guarantee that if you stick with them, you'll finish at your goal time.

Every once in a while in a previous race, I'd tag behind a pace group or two if I came across them.  But I've never really wanted to join one before.  I'm sure you may have noticed this, but I'm not a super social runner.  I don't necessarily want to have to talk to other runners when I'm in the middle of a grueling race.  But maybe it would help?  Maybe if I'm really in pain, it will help to know the name of the person in pain next to me?

I still haven't really decided if I'm going to do it.  A big part of me wonders if it will be too much added pressure.  What if I can't keep up?  What if I run with them for the first 20 miles and then just lose it for the last 6 and totally tank?  Could this actually lead to my worst time instead of my best?  What if we don't finish in 3:35:00 - what if we're 30 seconds over and I STILL don't qualify for Boston?

And then I have to ask...who cares?  Who cares if I qualify for Boston?  I mean, sure it would be great.  But when it comes down to it, there has to be a balance between enjoying the race and striving for excellence.  How to find that balance?  Does it include a pace group?  Does it include taking the week before the race off...or doing a half marathon in Hershey (hint, it should include a half marathon in Hershey, since that's what I'm doing).

No matter what happens, I just want to finish marathon #8.  And then, I want to make it to marathon #80.  I want my race pictures to still have me giving the thumbs up or dancing on the course.  Because if running has taught me anything, it's that a good time is nice, but having fun is ultimately what makes you remember a race.

Olympics Post

I will admit it - I am not a huge fan of the Olympics.  I mean, I really like the idea and the spirit of the Games, but I'm not one of those people who is losing sleep because I'm so caught up in the events.  I watched more this year just because I'm a grown-up and the tv is on more, but I didn't get super excited over any of the events.

Correction: over any of the events....except for the marathon.

I ended up watching both the men's and the women's marathons.  Well...the tail end of them.  I love cheering for people at marathons, but it's different on your couch.  And I don't even really remember too much except the moment when the runner from Uganda passed the two runners from Kenya (men's race).  He had been pacing with them for a while, but when he decided to pass them, he went all in.  It was incredible!!  He was truly fantastic and inspiring; for a few moments, he brought all of us into the dream with him.  The look on his face when he crossed the finish line was beautiful.

One thing that really stuck with me was something that a commentator said during the women's marathon: "what distinguishes marathoners is their willingness and capacity for suffering."  I think this first struck a chord with me because, let's face it, comments like this make marathon runners sound really badass and cool.  I may do a lot in my life, but there are very few things that make me seem badass :)  So I enjoyed this statement.

But it's become more than just a comment during a 2.5 hour long race.  It's kind of become my mantra during long runs.  This is such an interesting statement because you can't have one without the other: you won't build the capacity to run extreme distances without being willing to put in the hours, the miles, and the pain.  What sustains runners during a race is equal parts training and desire.  Even the fastest runner will fail if she doesn't really want to run.

And of course, this can be turned into a life lesson.  If you look at people who are truly excellent at what they do, it's because they not only are good at the skills required, but because also because they want to be doing it.

I can honestly say that marathon running has become a passion for me.  I am happy when I train and race, even when it hurts, because I know that the pain, sweat, blood, wear, and tear is all for a greater purpose.  It's a hard lesson to learn and it's only effective if something is really a passion for you.  So I guess the lesson is to find your passion and pursue it wholeheartedly, every single day.  Once you find the will, you will be able to build your capacity.  And even if you never cross an Olympic finish line, it's ok.  I don't really watch the Olympics too closely anyway.

More Lessons from Running

For the past two years, I have participated in the 20in24 Lone Ranger Marathon.  It is a fantastic race that absolutely tests the limits of the participants.  I was signed up to run again this year, but was feeling pretty nervous.  I have really been improving my marathon times through speedwork and shorter races. The Long Ranger race, where you run as much as you can in 24 hours (last year, 50+ miles), teaches your body endurance for sure, but it's not a race where you work on your speed.

But after a lot of soul searching, I made the decision to run.  I was signed up, had a hotel room, and was trying to think of the best way to convince people to donate money and/or their time to come give me moral support.

Of course, this is when my office decided to send me out of the country for a business trip.  My first overseas business trip!!  At first, I thought that I could work both - you know, run 50+ miles super quick and then hop on a plane ride less than 24 hours later.

My family and friends talked me out of that one pretty quickly.

Naturally, being the cool, collected individual that I am, I panicked.  When you register for this race, you have to fundraise.  I had not fundraised anything, which meant two things: 1) I didn't have to go to anyone who donated and tell them that I wasn't running (whew) and 2) if I didn't fundraise, they were going to charge my credit card the full amount that I was supposed to.

This is a gamble that runners take when we sign up to do races for charities.  If we get sick, injured, or called away for work during the race, we face the terrifying dilemma of feeling like a failure - what's more, you could feel like a very poor failure, since there's suddenly a huge charge on your credit card.

So I spent a few days in complete dread, worrying about everything under the sun.  Then I pulled myself together and emailed the organizer of the race.

I let her know that I had done the race before and loved it.  I told her that I couldn't wait to run in the race again.  I pointed out that for the last two years, I had raised more than the required amount for the charity.  And then I explained why I could not participate this year, and promised to run next year.  Less than 24 hours later, one of their staff members emailed me back and told me that they were going to make an exception and cancel my registration.  And that they looked forward to seeing me in 2013.

What is the point here?  What is the lesson?

Distance running in particular teaches us to take our time and enjoy the ride.  It never helps to be cranky or upset, because you just have to keep going.  So in a case like this, why not be sweet, explain the situation, and see what happens?  If they had told me they were still going to charge my card, I would still do the race next year.  I have fun.  But because they were supportive and kind back to me, you can be sure that I'll redouble my fundraising efforts next year.

 Everyone is just trying to do the best that they can and all we can do is acknowledge that in others and in ourselves.  Running teaches us to do everything with love, passion, and energy.

Time for a run!

Running teaches us...

I'm a big fan of running metaphors for life.  I think that running can teach us how to live the rest of our lives with greater purpose, drive, and joy.

People don't always believe me when I start blabbering on about the joys of running.  And I really don't expect everyone to LOVE to run.  Just like I don't love to swim or bike, not everyone is going to have the inner desire to put in some miles on the pavement.  But I still think that running can offer us some important lessons.

What I'd like to talk about today is the importance of enjoying the race.

It really doesn't matter how long a race or a training run is - by the end of it, I'm usually amazed that it's over.  By the last mile of a marathon or the home stretch of a daily jog, I frequently find myself in awe of what I have accomplished.  And quite often, I'm wishing for just a little bit more time, just one or two more miles.


When I did my first marathon, I was terrified of doing anything except run.  Now, I definitely enjoy the races that I do. I say thank you to the police officers who block the streets for us, I high-five the kids on the sidelines, I look actively for my parents, and I laugh with the volunteers at the water stations.  And now that I do that...somehow my times get even better.  


Don't you think life would also be more enjoyable and memorable if we stop being so serious and enjoy what we're given?  Yes, it can be hard and painful.  But if you can learn to smile through pain, your race pictures sure do turn out a lot better.

As promised - Underwater Running

My mom has been suffering for the better part of a year now from Achilles Tendonitis.  Treatment so far has included 2+ months with her foot in a boot, physical therapy, and endless hours of icing.  Personally, I'm not too excited by her Dr's help so far (just this morning, we both agreed that she needed to find someone new).  All GOOD articles on running clearly state that there is no obstacle that can't be overcome in your quest to run.  There was a beautiful article in Runner's World recently about a husband and wife team who vowed at their wedding 2 years ago to run a marathon together.  6 months ago, the wife was diagnosed with ALS.  She's now confined to a wheelchair, so naturally, her husband will be pushing her for 26.2 miles for their first marathon together.  It just shows that no matter what form it takes, running will happen.

And that is kind of a lovely segue into today's topic, a new form of running: underwater running.

Some of you may remember that during my triathlon training 3 years ago, I was incredibly irritated by people "running" in my lane while I was trying to relearn how to swim at my local pool.  However, now I'm so glad that I saw it because how would this just occur to any normal person?  Basically, you go to the deep end of a pool and just "run" underwater.  You're not touching the bottom of the pool (deep end, got it?), so there's minimal to no strain on your joints.  But you're still getting in the motions of running and it's a fantastic way to continue to train even when you're injured.  I've been working on strengthening my own Achilles to avoid what could well be a genetic defect (but the only one, obviously Mennone women are as strong as Achilles) and I just may try out underwater running.  Here are some links to help you get started:

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/triathlons/training/deep-water-running.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/article/121494-benefits-bouy-belts-deep-water/

And here's a pretty budget friendly buoy belt to keep you afloat: http://www.swimoutlet.com/Jog_Belts_s/212.htm

Losing toenails

I’ve been promising a great entry on toenails for quite a while.  I know that you’ve all been waiting with bated breath.  Exhale my friends, for it is time!


When I first started running, lots of magazines and running forums talked about black toenails. When I started racing, there were all sorts of "inspirational" signs saying stuff like, "Toenails are for sissies!" For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out what this meant.  I really liked having toenails.  They are good for pedicures and making your feet look normal.  And for the longest time, I really didn’t encounter any problems indicating that losing them might be my fate as well

Of course, the more I read about the topic, the more I wanted it to happen.  Losing a toenail means that you are a hard core runner.  It means that you run so much that your toenails bump against your shoes (no matter how well they fit) and the blood builds up behind your nail and bruises and essentially the toenail dies.  It turns black because there’s bloody buildup back there.  It’s quite similar to what happens when you slam your finger in a car door, only it happens over time and is considerably more badass. 


So for the past 6-8 months, I’ve been cultivating my own black toenail.  For the last few marathons, I’ve noticed that my toes actually hurt while I’m running.  Luckily, it was a minor enough pain (comparable to the other pain that you feel while running a marathon) that I barely paid any attention to it.  I kept my toenails covered in bright pink lacquer and ran through the pain. 
 

I didn’t even realize it was happening until I went to get a pedicure one day and they took the polish off my big toe and revealed….grossness.  As much as I like feeling tough, I have to admit that it’s pretty gross.  And it’s taking forever to grow out.  However, I’ve been told by many friends and online resources that it actually doesn’t hurt to lose the nail.  Mostly you just look kind of mutant until the new one grows in. 


I am fully anticipating losing this toenail and if you’re EXTREMELY lucky I will post a picture.  Running the 24 hour Lone Ranger marathon in July may speed up the process, however I’m having trouble deciding if I really want to commit to that.  I’m signed up, but do I really want to spend more time in Philly around that same 8 mile loop for another 6+ laps?  Whenever I think I’ve decided NO, something tugs at my heart and I can’t commit to saying no either…what to do??  Better go run to think this through…

Next up - underwater running and the Runner's World Challenge.

Pigs Fly!

A week and a day ago, I was in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Of all the places in the world, I never thought I'd run a race there.  But on Sunday, May 6, that's where I found myself.

And it. was. AWESOME.

The Flying Pig Marathon was absolutely the most fun marathon I have run yet.  It was fantastically organized - water stops at every mile, amazing volunteers who actually knew the answers to all of your questions, a well-run and comprehensive expo, and SWAG.  For those who aren't sure what I'm referring to when I say "swag," I mean the freebies that races give you when you pay $75-$100 to run them.  Ok, so you are paying for some of the stuff, but this swag went above and beyond.  Usually, when you run a marathon, you go pick up your bib and they give you a t-shirt.  MAYBE some decent coupons for a nearby running store, MAYBE some samples of a nutritional product (weird flavored GU is usually a good bet).  Usually you leave with a plastic bag and a nice-ish t-shirt.

Not at the Flying Pig (or as we vets call it "The Pig").  All runners got a t-shirt, an Aasics gym bag (legitimately cool, with the Flying Pig Marathon logo embroidered on it...can you guess what the logo is?), a poster, and all sorts of free goodies from P&G (formerly known as Proctor and Gamble).  Everyone who went to the expo could line up for free full sized samples of P&G products: shampoo, dishwashing soap, detergent, face creams, etc.  Kind of silly?  Absolutely.  Fun and made everyone feel special?  Yes, for sure.

Race expos can either be really awesome or really lame.  This one was fantastic.  There were all sorts of vendors - local running stores and international brands, like KT tape.  Free samples of snacks, like luna bars, avocados, power bars, etc, abounded.  They have t-shirts from previous marathons on sale for $2; they called them vintage.  What a great idea!  Souvenirs for the whole Mennone family!

So in general, things were off to a good start.  I had arrived in Cincy on Friday night and had all day Saturday to rest up and get pumped up.  The whole city really just goes nuts for this race weekend.  They don't just have a marathon - they have a 5k, a 10k, a kids fun run, a relay race, and a half marathon.  On Saturday, they had the 5k and the 10k, so all weekend, people were just wandering around with bibs and medals.  It really made for a fun atmosphere all around the city.

But I was pretty nervous.  I mean, my last marathon had only happened less than 2 months ago.  And I had pretty much rocked it.  I had been warned that Cincinnati had hills and that they were pretty brutal.  We ended up eating dinner with some family friends, and I did NOT get my requisite Chipotle burrito for dinner (ok, ok I had it for lunch....).  The night before happened to be Cinco de Mayo, so crazy Mexican music pumped into the hotel room past 11pm.  The race was starting at 6:30am....I managed to sleep a little, but I couldn't help feeling like this was going to be one slow race.

Boy was I wrong.

From the start, the crowds were awesome and the corrals were well managed.  You could actually move around and everything started on time.  The speakers and jumbo screens were all over the place, and I could actually see the start of the race.  In no time at all, I was off for marathon #7.

The course was, indeed, very hilly.  No one was lying when they told me that there were major hills in Cincinnati.  But somehow, it didn't matter.  The crowds were AMAZING.  At the first huge hill, there were great crowds, including a woman who had a huge sign and was screaming, "kill the hill!"  It's amazing how inspiring crowds can be.  And there were crowds for the whole race.  In the residential areas, people were having massive house parties with speakers and decorations and orange slices for runners.  On one part, on a highway, there was a fantastic water stop where all of the volunteers were dressed as Hawaiian pigs.  FANTASTIC.  Even after we split with the half marathoners, there were crowds.

It was such a fun race.  I can't even tell you how inspired I felt the whole way.  Oh wait, I can - because I was so inspired that I beat my personal best.  I PR'ed.  Even with all those crazy hills, I finished this race in 3:45:38.

Pigs really do fly.

The end of the race was a great party.  They had really adorable medals (with a pig on it of course) and great post-race snacks.  They had food trucks and massages.  It was a sunny beautiful day and everyone was just hanging out, listening to music, comparing medals, and having a great time.

I would recommend the Flying Pig Marathon to anyone and everyone.  It is an incredibly, incredibly fun and well-organized race.  You better believe that I'll be going back!

Racing Recap...it's been a while

Wow, it's really been a while since I last posted something! A lot has happened and a lot is about to happen. I guess the most EXCITING thing that happened is that I PR'ed in the Rock'n'Roll marathon in DC on March 17. After some great training and a mild winter, I finished 26.2 miles in....... 3:49:55 I can't even tell you how exciting it is to have broken 4 hours (again) AND beat my last time by 10 minutes!! It was a perfect race day - absolutely beautiful. I went into it with no expectations (really the best way to run a race) and ended up running the best race of my life. I don't really remember being in pain at all, although by the end the keys that I had stuffed into my back pocket had rubbed a small patch on my lower back raw. It really was a fantastic race. I can't even begin to hope to replicate the time...this Sunday. That's right, less than 2 months later, I am running the FLYING PIG MARATHON in Cincinnati, Ohio of all places. Strangely enough, this is one of the very few marathons I've ever run where I actually know other people running. I know 2 other people who are joining me in this crazy race! I originally signed up for the Flying Pig Marathon because I wanted (wait for it) a picture in front of the "Finish Swine." Yup, instead of a Finish LINE it's a Finish SWINE! Hahaha. I hope you're enjoying this as much as me. Also Runner's World consistently publishes great reviews of the race. I never really understood why, but I definitely do now that I'm a participant. So far it has been incredibly well organized - great website, informative email updates. You can sign up for FREE runner update texts or emails - a lot of races charge for this service now. While reviewing some race day tips that they emailed to us, I realized that there are water stops at EVERY MILE OF THE RACE. If that doesn't really mean anything to you, then just take it from me: it's incredible. Most races will have it every other mile at best. So here's hoping for a great race on Sunday. The weather in Cincinnati is supposed to be in the 70s or the 80s, which for me, is a great day! Oh did I forget to mention that both of my big toenails are turning black? I guess I'll wait till next time to cover the subject of losing your toenails as a runner...

Sometimes it's not about going fast

On Sunday, I did a 5k Valentine's Day race with my boyfriend. It was absolutely sweet of him to do it with me, since he hates running and pretty much never does it. It was the best Valentine's Day present ever :) There is something special about lining up at the start line with someone you love. I've done it with my mom and some friends before, but in general, I am a solo racer.

In the past, I've really focused on my times. When I run alone, I run for my own personal best. And sometimes, I'm ashamed to say, even when I sign up for a race with a friend, I still run for my own personal best. I've left friends behind at the post race party (too tired to party) and skipped out on even starting the race with them. One of the moments that I am the least proud of is when I ditched a friend who I convinced to run a marathon with me. A marathon in San Francisco. With hills. Yes, I finished first and had a semi-decent time (for San Francisco). But...I'll always wonder what it would have been like to run with her instead of seeing her twice and then limping away from the finish line, my ankles at the point of collapse. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if we had just run together. I'll never know.

So now, when I run with my mom, we run together. I don't run ahead (unless she has my dad to run with and they give me their blessing). And when I run with my boyfriend, I will always run with him. I'd much rather have a picture of us crossing the finish line than a picture of me by myself. Also...if he really gets into this running this, he'll probably end up faster than me. I guess I better keep the running karma good!!!

So in the spirit of Valentine's Day, and love all year round, I suggest doing some races with some friends and NOT leaving them behind. Enjoy being with someone and doing something other than eating or seeing a movie. If you're worried about the time, just remember: you'll always wish it could have lasted a little bit longer.

Darn you Achilles!

It probably goes without saying that because I have signed up for 2 marathons and an ultra, I am going to get injured. I really don't know what made me so cocky. I'm not superman, no way. Although I am starting to bear a certain resemblance to the Greek (Roman?) hero/immortal/dude-god, Achilles.

Achilles tendinitis is a doozy. I knew that it hurt like a mother, cause my mother actually has it (hahahha. horrible joke). I started to feel it the other day and so I've been icing it periodically, but this weekend, I decided to skip my 13 mile run and do the bike instead. I definitely do not have a major case - it's not swollen or red and it only hurt a little bit after running. It's not hurting in the morning or in the middle of the night, like it can when it gets really bad. When it started to hurt, I did some internet research and found out that this is NOT an injury you want to run on.

I think that runners are pretty willing to run through anything, but in this particular case, that is a HORRIBLE mistake. If you keep running on it, you can actually rupture it. Doesn't that sound horrible? I mean, you don't tear it, strain it, or twist it. You rupture it. I can't think of anything worse.

HOWEVER, if you catch it early, you can fix it. You don't have to suffer from this forever. Here's what I'm doing. We'll see how it pans out:

1. ICE. Ice it after running. Elevate and ice.
2. STRETCH (but not too much). One of the worst things you can do with this injury (per my mom) is overstretch it. Ha. Everyone is always telling me to stretch, but here it could actually backfire. So I'm skipping the typical stretches and instead doing this: stand on one foot and with the other outstretched slightly, form every letter of the alphabet with your toe (the one that's elevated). Switch feet. Also, standing on one foot and swinging the other back and forth.
3. STRENGTHEN. Do lunges, lots of lunges. Side lunges, forward lunges (I keep wanting to type lunches instead of lunges....perhaps it's time for a snack), backward lunges. Lunge, lunge lunge. Strengthen your calves by standing on your tiptoes on a stair and go up and down. does that make sense? If not, let me know and I will try to clarify.
4. finally, STOP RUNNING. For a little. It can't possibly hurt too much to take a week off and do some biking, swimming, and yoga. It won't. I promise. Just please stop for a minute or something is gonna rupture, and you KNOW that won't feel good.

The Achilles Tendon is one of the biggest in your body. It's also a big pansy, apparently. Sigh. Oh well. Off to ride the stupid stationary bike.

PS. Thanks to my mom for her insight on this horrible, horrible injury.