memorial relay 2015

After running my last 2 half marathons a little half-heartedly (the Route 66 and the one I did without training), I decided I wouldn't do another until I could really be hardcore and commit to some solid training.  I want the next half marathon I run to not only be a PR, but a PR that chops off around 15 minutes from my current PR.

So when it was time to sign up for the OKC Memorial Marathon, I thought I'd try to get a relay team together.  It'd be something fun to do with friends and a lot less pressure than a half.

I chose the longest leg (the 3rd leg), which was 7.6 miles.  I've really enjoyed the 10k races I've done, so I knew this distance would be fun.  It's long enough to feel like you've accomplished something, but short enough to feel like you can push yourself.  My goal was to finish under 1:20.

We all got there really early to help get team members to their spots.  I knew I'd be waiting awhile to run, but I figured I'd be fine.  I had a granola bar in the car on the way and a banana about an hour and a half before I ran.

(tired eyes before the race)

DISCLAIMER:  I feel like this is a good time for me to interject that there will be much talk of poop in this blog post.  So if you'd rather not think about me and my poop, then this may not be the post for you.

So about that.  I went once at home and I went again when we arrived, before cheering Kelsey on past the start line.  I felt pretty confident in the pooping schedule at that point.  But when the shuttle dropped me off at my relay exchange area, it kind of hit again.  So I got in line for a porta potty.  But once I got inside, I realized there was no toilet paper.  Bad news.  I peed, but there wasn't really anything else I could do about the #2.  I thought I'd probably be fine since I had already gone twice that day.

As I got my headband on, adjusted my earbuds (the best earbuds for running), and waited for Sara to round the corner, I realized I didn't have my watch.  I FORGOT MY RUNNING WATCH IN THE CAR.  I could've just given up right then I was so mad.  My running watch is what saves me!  It keeps me on pace, it keeps me focused.  But I tried to be chill about it.  When Sara came running by, we exchanged the chip and I took her watch.  It wasn't a running watch, but it had the time and I'd take anything at that point.

The first 2 miles were fine.  I was sticking around an 11-11:30 minute mile pace, which was the plan for the first 2-3 miles.  Then it hit somewhere around mile 3.  I couldn't keep it in.  When I saw the next porta potty, I stopped.  I felt much better and continued on.  But after about another 1-2 miles, it hit again.  I knew I couldn't make it to the end.  Because of the awful feeling in my stomach, I wasn't able to go as fast as I wanted/needed to go at that point in the race.  So I stopped, felt better, and then booked it - like 9 min/mile pace - to the end.

After exchanging the chip with Karlie and grabbing some food, I walked over to where the bus was loading people in to shuttle them back to the finish line.  The bus was full, so I waited for the next one.  It pulls up about 20 minutes later, we all huddle together to get on, and I miss the cut off by about 10 people.  So I wait another 15 minutes for the next bus to show up.  At this point, we are all shoving and bumping and passive-aggressively mumbling about why we really deserve to make it onto this bus.  I started to understand why people get trampled at Walmart on Black Friday.

Once I was downtown, I needed to go again.  (I know, it's the poop story that never ends.)  I frantically told Colt that I had to go and he had to find toilet paper for me.  I was standing in a porta potty (fully dressed) leaning my head out to him as he was checking the other stalls for toilet paper.  He found some and came bolting over to me to hand it over.  He was not fast enough because I yelled, "Hurry!!!!"  After that bathroom stop, I can say that it was finally over. 

My total time was 1:34.  If you subtract the 9 minutes I was busy in the porta potties, my real running time was around 1:25.  I know I could've done it in 1:20 that day, but whatever.  The frustrating part about the whole thing was that I felt GREAT.  My legs felt great, my heart felt great.  I was totally ready to bust out those 7 miles and do them way faster than planned.  But my stomach was not cooperating.

I had some rich food the day before the race, but in my defense, we always eat pretty rich food the day before.  My parents always have the kids and we typically meet friends for dinner and have some kind of date ourselves that day.  I truly think the main contributor to my issues was the fact that I ate something that morning.  I never eat before I run a distance like 7 miles.  I get up and head out the door to run.  My body does so much better on an empty stomach.  But for the relay, since I knew I'd be waiting around for a few hours before running, I figured I'd need to change up my routine.  Obviously there is some kind of balance that I'll need to find if I do this again.

(Team #clairemademedothis - minus Kelsey.)

The next free Saturday I have, I'm going to run 7.6 miles to prove to myself that I can run it in the time that I had prepared for.  Also, I'm going to remember my watch.  And I probably won't poop 236 times.  And I'll probably remember to STRETCH before and after I run.  (Yeah, I forgot about that too.)  Seriously, running a relay messed with my mind. 

But even with the disappointment of a crappy run, it was a fun morning and a new experience.  I loved seeing all of my social media feeds packed with runners and people who were out cheering us on.  It's such a fun race to be a part of.

Did any of you run?  How did it go?

why i love my running watch (plus a giveaway)

One thing that has not been talked about much lately on this blog is running.  But baby #2, y'all.  Carrying babies wears on the body.  For me, I've seen a difference in how much slower the weight falls off with #2 (of course, I'm not nursing this time around either) and how much harder it is getting back into a consistent workout routine.  Once 2015 hit and I still wasn't all the way back to my pre-baby weight, I knew I needed to kick it into gear.

I'm running the 7 mile leg in the OKC Memorial Marathon Relay at the end of April, so I'm training for that right now.  (And I really am using the word "training" pretty loosely here.)  I haven't gotten into a great rhythm yet.  I usually end up exercising twice a week, which is just not enough.  Although I do want to see that change, I will say that I am already running faster than I have in years.  Let me tell you my secret.

A real running watch. 

It is a game changer!  Knowing my mile pace from the second my feet hit the ground is incredibly helpful.  When you're in a rut and used to your normal pace, it's hard to break out of that.  What I've discovered is that I naturally fall into a 10:30 pace (when running shorter distances - like 3 miles or less).  But I can run faster.  While I consider myself a runner, I'm still not experienced enough to know what several different paces feel like to my body.  I've wanted to get faster, but without something telling me how fast I'm running while I'm running, it's kind of tough.  What I've discovered is that if I'm not on top of my speed, I will naturally slow down to that 10:30 pace.  (Without the watch, there's no way of knowing this!)  I haven't built back up to long distances yet, but for my 2 mile runs, I am consistently running a sub-10 minute mile pace.  I had no idea how badly I needed this watch to challenge me and show me what I was really capable of.

I realize I'm way late to the running watch train, but I felt it needed to be said in case there are others of you out there who doubt if that would really do much for you.  If you're a runner and don't have a good watch, it's worth purchasing one.

Last thing - Spartan Races contacted me and wanted me to let you know about a new podcast, "Spartan Up," that recently went live.  You guys should give it a listen!  Also, I'm giving away a free race entry!  To enter, all you need to do is comment on this post!  Giveaway ends this Friday at 12 a.m. and the winner will be announced on that same day.  (The free race code will work one time for any open heat (non-confirmed start time) in any Spartan Race in the continental U.S.)

Good luck!

route 66 half marathon 2014

I signed up for the Route 66 half marathon before I had Nova.  This was my way of telling myself, hey, you should have your act together by this point.  It's really cute to think about how even though I knew I'd be 6 months postpartum, I was still hoping for a PR.  But as November got closer and closer, I realized I had zero motivation.  A big part of me didn't want to run it because I wanted to stick it to someone.   I just had a baby and went through 2 months of nursing hell and now I don't have breastfeeding to help me lose weight so I'm not running your stupid race.  THERE.  Very rational.

But I couldn't back out.  It's one of my things.  I just can't back out of stuff.  So with about 5 weeks left until the race, I decided to start training.  This means I only did 5 long runs (4m, 6m, 7m, 8m, 9.5m).  The most ridiculous part is that separate from those long runs, I only ran a total of 5 other times and did 7 days of cross-training in those 5 weeks.  D-u-m-b.  I wasn't setting myself up very well for 13.1 miles, but whatever, I was going to do it.

(Spoiler Alert:  It's really hard to run 13.1 miles when you only run 1-2 times a week for 5 weeks.)

In my short time of training, here were my rules:
1.  Don't wear a watch.  I knew it would only make me mad because this would definitely be the slowest running I'd done in a long time.
2.  Try to not go over a 12 minute mile pace.  I didn't want to set high hopes of negative splits or anything, but I still wanted to maintain some dignity.
3.  Take breaks if needed.  I have NEVER allowed this but shortly into my "training," I knew that this was a must.

Race weekend finally arrived.  We dropped the kids off at my parents' house and left for Tulsa.  On the way, we stopped by Hoboken in Guthrie to see what all the hubbub was about.  Sure enough, the hubbub was right.  The coffee and my mocha were both amazing.  Also, I had no idea that I knew the owner from my church youth group days.  If you're in OK, this place is definitely worth visiting.

After getting settled in at the hotel and picking up our race packets, we went to dinner.  Josh and Becky have kind of become our official racing buddies.  It was so great to be able to spend the weekend with them.

Fortunately, the weather for the race was amazing.  Unfortunately, the Route 66 course is very hilly and I never run hills.  We drove the course the day before and it seemed like just as you finished one hill, you would start another one.  I kept looking out the window and thinking, so this is the part of the course where I'll want to die, over and over.

That Sunday morning, I woke up and definitely had the race jitters.

The first 5 miles were hard.  Not a good sign.  I ran them without any breaks, but I couldn't believe the energy I had already expended after that short distance.  Around mile 6, I found a friend.  Her name was Michelle, but up until then her name was Purple Shirt Girl.  I always like to find someone that seems to be running my pace.  She let out a groan and made a comment about the hill we were currently on.  At that point, I took out my ear buds and started talking to her.  Music is kind of like fuel for my running so I was pleasantly surprised to find that my legs could still move without it.  We talked off and on for the rest of the race.

Around mile 7 was when the walking breaks started, I think.  For me, it feels like giving up when I walk.  I know it's technically not giving up, but that's just how it feels.  This will sound semi-depressing, but after Nova's birth and nursing issues, I experienced what it felt like to give up on things.  And, truly, in those circumstances giving up was absolutely necessary.  I had to give up the natural birth and I had to give up nursing.  It was for my good, Nova's good, and my family's good.  But what I learned is that even though I gave up, the world still turned and I was still alive.  During this race, I realized that walking off and on throughout the race was okay.  I was still in the race and I was going to finish it and that was the important part.  While my all-or-nothing personality has taken some hits this year and is needing to be restored a bit, I'm glad to know that sometimes, it's okay to cut yourself some slack.  There is definitely a balance to be achieved when it comes to fighting for your goals and not being so hard on yourself.

(Cool face, Claire.)

I finished my 5th half marathon at 3:01:56.  This is only faster than my 4th half marathon which was a trail run.  (You know, the trail run where I Instagrammed and took potty breaks just so I could sit down.)  I'm not proud of my time, but I am proud that I followed through and finished.

Almost 2 weeks have passed since the race and I still am feeling it in one of my knees.  I lived it up last week by staying completely inactive and participating in 183 Thanksgivings (plus leftovers) so I should probably kick it back into gear sometime soon.  It sure is hard to get motivated though when it's pitch black all the time and all I want to do is snuggle up by the tree and eat a 4th meal every night. 

Did any of you run the Route 66?  Any of you have races coming up?

weekend review - memorial half marathon 2014, the arts festival, and finishing the nursery

Because this weekend consisted of Colt's half marathon, a wedding, and my students' piano recital, Duke stayed in Stillwater.  It was going to be way easier than finding a million babysitters.  Plus, Duke loves being out there and I knew he'd enjoy some time with people he loves.  (Thanks, Mimi and Pappaw, for letting him visit!)

 

 (This kid loves riding horses with Mimi!)

(Duke chillin' at the "coppee shop.")

This meant Colt and I got a little stay-cation babymoon (even though we technically already had our babymoon).  Getting the nursery ready for Nova was our main concern.  I wanted to feel at rest knowing that it was all put together.  I know we are perfectly capable of bringing home a baby at any time, but I knew it would be that much more relaxing to have her room ready to go.  I'll share more on her nursery later, but for now, here's a little glimpse.

My next concern was going to the OKC Arts Festival and, boy, am I glad we went.  It was absolutely one of the yummiest nights of this entire pregnancy.  Colt totally went with all of my food desires and it was amazing.  We started off with the Chicken & Waffles, which was actually the one thing I didn't want.  Which is silly because I've never even had it.  But I was just kind of tired of hearing people rave about it.  Turns out, it seemed to be the thing that sounded the best, so we gave it a shot.  Oh my gosh.  I talked about it the rest of the night.  Next, we each had a serving of Frito Chili Pie followed by some Dippin Dots.  I could hardly walk by the end of the night and I'm not exaggerating. 

Although the food was delicious, the best part of the night was this guy, no doubt.  Funny how I thought having a kid (or kids) would somehow mess up what we have.  It's actually made our relationship even richer.  I just love him.

 

Another fun thing we got to do was meet up with our sweet friends from Stillwater who were in town for the marathon.  We got to spend a couple of hours talking with them over some tasty drinks at Coffee Slingers.  It's pretty much been our tradition the past few years to get together on marathon weekend and we look forward to it so much.  They're those kinds of friends that you pick up right where you left off, whether you talked 1 month ago or 1 year ago.

As you can probably assume, I did not participate in the Memorial marathon.  I know some pregnant women of 37 weeks totally would, but not this one.  Cleaning up all of Duke's trains at the end of the day is enough of a workout for me.

Sara was my watching buddy and helped me capture Colt and Evan in the half marathon.  We got some gas station breakfast and coffee and then parked in our spot around mile 7.  Thanks to Twitter and the ability to watch live news on our phones, we were kept up to date with the status of the race.  Because of the weather (lightning being the issue), the race didn't start until 2 hours after the original start time.

This was kind of awful - mainly because runners plan things out based on a certain start time.  We plan our food intake (what and when) and our bathroom time (like whether or not we plan on pooping before the race).  For most, a 2 hour delay messed a lot of that up.  I don't know of anyone who achieved a PR on Sunday.  BUT - everyone that I knew was running pushed through and finished the race.  That's what really counts in a scenario like this.

I've run this half marathon 3 years (2010, 2012, and 2013).  I skipped 2011 due to being pregnant with Duke, but mostly due to a foot injury that I just couldn't shake.  It was definitely the Lord's protection since the weather ended up being absolutely terrible (freezing rain!).  People got hypothermia, passed out, etc.  It wasn't a good day for running long distances.  And this year - the rain and 2 hour delay weren't awesome.  So if you want to know whether or not the weather is going to be favorable, just ask me if I'm running.  If I run = good weather.  If I don't run = bad weather.  (We'll see if this theory holds up next year ...)

(Evan at mile 7.)

 (Colt at mile 7.)

Colt wasn't incredibly pleased with his time - it wasn't his best, but it wasn't his worst.  I'm just proud of him for sticking it out and finishing!  He and Evan did a great job.  Congrats to all of the runners who participated this year!

i didn't run 5 miles

I know you're lullaby-ed out, so this post is completely unrelated to lullabies or Kickstarters or music.  (BUT - we do have less than 24 hours to reach our Kickstarter goal.  Help us out here!)

Remember when I talked about running 5 miles in a marathon relay?  Well, I didn't do it.

It's so not me to back out of things.  I could hardly stand it, but I knew it was the right choice.

As the severe weather became a reality, I started getting doubtful.  But I wouldn't dare say anything.  I knew if I expressed the slightest bit of doubt to these girls that they would totally be willing to get out of this thing - not because they're flaky, but because I'm really intense about doing things I say I'm going to do. 

Jenni texted me on that Friday and said she was concerned about running on slick roads.  I had really only considered the danger of driving and the extremely cold temps ... not the fact that we may actually fall and break things.  Plus, being with child makes that even riskier.  

I thought long and hard immediately texted all of the girls.  It went a little something like this:

Me:  Hey peeps!  So, minus the crazy cold weather, the slick roads for driving, our unpreparedness, and Kelsi's sinus infection, there's still the fact that we are going to be running ON the slick/wet roads.  Maybe we cancel.  Thoughts?

The emojis of applause and praises came pouring in.

Kelsi said it was the best $40 she ever wasted. 
Jenni said she was 100% okay with letting others take the spotlight on Sunday.  (So kind of her.  Because we all know we were going to win.)

The next morning, the day we were planning on leaving for Tulsa, the text messages continued.

Karlie said how thankful she was that she wasn't running because she had just eaten 3 donuts. 
Jenni said she crossed "FIND TOE WARMERS" off of her list. 
Megan said she loved being in her cozy, warm house and then used a lot of exclamation marks.

Jenni ended our group text on that day with, "Excellent decision all the way around.  Go team!"

As the freezing rain and sleet pelted our living room windows on that Sunday morning of the race, I couldn't be happier that I had chosen to stay home.  I love running races and I love feeling accomplished, but, honestly, I would've spent the entire time worrying about my little babe in my belly.

I think when God really wants me to not do things that I've said I'm going to do, he goes to extreme measures.  Like allowing my foot to be injured so I didn't run the half marathon when I was pregnant with Duke.  (That race also ended up being crazy cold and everyone got hypothermia and almost died.)  He's saved me from running in ridiculous weather while pregnant twice now.  My kind of personality obviously needs some drama to happen in order for me to back out of things.

Did any of you push through and run the Route 66 in Tulsa?

why runners trip and throw up (or how to be a faster runner)

In the hopes of shocking my body with a new workout and continuing to work on my "fitness goals" (in other words, just being lean and a better runner and achieving my "goal weight" -  which I realize probably has the same stupid sound to it as Regina George's statement, "I wanna lose 3 pounds."  But y'all get me.), I enlisted my good friend, Kelsey, to help me.

At the beginning of the summer, I wanted to be a faster runner and it felt like I was kind of hitting a wall.  Kelsey made a plan for our first run together and we went for it.  Here's what we did:

1 mile at 8:48 pace
.5 mile at 8:35 pace
.25 mile at 8:22 pace
.25 mile at 8:18 pace

(And just so you don't think I'm too awesome, there were walking breaks in between each segment.  I would've died without them.)

By the end, there were parts of my body that were hurting that I didn't even know could hurt from running.

While running that last .25 mile, I realized something.  This is why runners trip and throw up.  BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TOO FAST.  I've heard stories about runners tripping during races or throwing up after a crazy run.  And now, it all makes sense.  My legs were like jello dangling from my body and my feet were mushy by the end.  These aren't typically the sensations I feel after running 3 miles at a 10:00 minute pace.

(For the record, I did not trip or throw up, but I came close to both.)

(But good for you guys that do run that fast on a regular basis.  Someone has to win all the races.)

Our next 2 runs looked like this:

1.5 miles at 9:15 pace
.5 mile at 8:59
.25 mile at 8:12

1.5 miles at 8:35 pace
.5 mile at 8:16
.25 mile at 8:10

We haven't run together in several weeks, but I've tried to stay active-ish with either running or Slim in 6.  As far as running is concerned, I'm definitely faster.  I've done 1 mile in 8:28 and 2 miles in 18:03 - my fastest ever for those distances.

But running faster isn't all about literally being a faster runner.  A lot of it is about just running faster.  Like making yourself run faster even though all you want to do is order a vanilla coke and cheddar bites from Sonic.  It's not like I'm a faster runner now forever and ever amen no matter what.  I will have to work on it with every run and with every distance.  I'm just really trying to push myself harder and harder to where faster is my normal.

At first, it was hard for me to see the benefit of working at my speed for such short distances.  I assumed that running a 9 minute mile for one mile wasn't going to help my half marathon time because we all know I'd have to slow down to an 11 minute mile to run that far anyway.  But you just work on little bits at a time.  First, one mile at a quicker pace and then gradually add distance while keeping that pace.

(P.S.  Kelsey has a totally awesome watch that calculates her pace as she's running.  I'm sure this is not news to you hardcore runners out there, but oh my gosh, I would totally be faster if I had one of those.  It'd be like a game to see how long I could keep up with a certain pace!  If you feel like contributing to the get-the-awesomest-running-watch-for-Claire fund, you just let me know.)

My first real taste of the pay off of these runs was my 4 mile run a few Saturdays ago.  To me, there is a big running wall in between 3 miles and 4 miles.  When you cross over, you're in.  You're a runner, you can run long distances, you can run half marathons, you're in.  That's how I felt at least.

I remember the first day I ever ran 4 miles.  It was in November of 2009 at Eldon Lyon Park on a Friday after teaching school.  (Told you I remembered.  I remember everything about everything.  I actually serve as the memory for many of my friends' lives as well.)  I was planning on running 3.5 (the farthest I had ever run at that point), but when I got to 3.5, I wasn't dead.  I was very surprised by this, so I just kept running.  I just knew I could do one more half mile.  That day, I felt like a half marathon didn't seem so impossible.  Maybe I could do it.

All of that to say - that wall still semi-exists in my head.  Not that I can't run 4 miles, but that I need to do it at a considerably slower pace or I will simply not survive.  But instead of treating that Saturday run like a 4 mile run, I treated it like I would a 3 mile run.  I started out at about a 9:30 pace, knowing (pretending) I could handle it.  I have this fear of running out of energy, but I convinced myself that I could do it. 

I had run 3 miles and was starting my last mile.  I had slowed down a bit and I knew if I wanted to finish under 40 minutes, I needed to push harder.  Then I remembered the time I ran a mile in 8:28.  Surely I could muster up a 9something mile right now, I thought.  It's amazing how much of a mind game running is.  Sure enough, I conquered 4 miles in 39:45.  It felt amazing.

I don't ever expect to be ridiculously fast.  But running a 9:30 pace for a half marathon one day would be the coolest thing ever.  Heck, averaging a 10 minute pace would be awesome for me!  As for now, I'm working on maintaining a fast 2 miles and soon, I'll bump it up to 2.5.

How do you runners out there increase your speed?  Any tips or advice?

Jill Conyers

the color run - a giveaway

Have you guys ever participated in The Color Run?  It's a 5k, untimed race in which participants are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer.  I haven't ever done it, but it looks really fun!  It's actually referred to as the Happiest 5k on the Planet.  The goal of the race isn't to give you your PR (although if you did PR in a Color Run, that would probably be pretty impressive).  The goal is simply to have fun!

There are only two rules for this race:
1.  Wear white at the starting line.
2.  Finish the race plastered in color.

I'm excited to partner with The Color Run to give you guys a discount on your entry!

The promo code above is valid in any city that is not sold out.  These races usually sell out pretty quickly, so if you're wanting to sign up, do it now!  Click here to see all of the locations in which to enter.


But what's even better than a discount?  Getting something for free.  So I'm also giving away TWO completely free registration entries! 

HOW TO ENTER:

1.  Comment on this post saying why you'd love to participate in The Color Run.
2.  Tweet about this giveaway.  Copy and paste the link to your tweet in a comment on this post to let me know that you've done this.

You may do one or both of those to enter, but doing both increases your chances!  The winners may pick any city not sold out or not coming this weekend.  This giveaway will run through Thursday, September 5th and the winners will be announced on Friday, September 6th.  Good luck!

Click here if you want to learn more about The Color Run. 

running and birthing have a lot in common

In 2012, I was training for the memorial half marathon and I made this connection.  Having just given birth a couple months before beginning my training, the comparison was fresh on my mind. 

Although running 13.1 miles is much easier (and let me emphasize - MUCH easier) than giving birth and one of them involves buying new shoes while the other involves eating red popsicles and experiencing the worst pain ever for 20 hours of your life, I think they share these common points:

1.  You can always handle more than you think you can.  Just when you think you've endured the worst contraction, you experience another one that makes it look like a little back pain.  Or just when you think you've run the longest you could ever run, you add a little more.  And then one day, you're running 13.1 miles.  Your mind is stronger than you think and your body is stronger than you think.

2.  You have to believe you can do it.  Yes, believing in yourself isn't just something you tell elementary aged kids who want to be astronauts.  You have to really believe you are capable.  You don't say, "I'm hoping to do it naturally," or, "I'm hoping to finish this race."  No, you plan on it, you commit in your mind, you tell people, you do it.

3.  You have to have support.  Running without a crowd cheering you on is so much harder than running past smiling faces and people shouting your name during a race.  I can't imagine giving birth without having had Colt next to me at all times.  This kind of support isn't just to give you a good 'ole pat on the back.  It truly is necessary.  It's what gets you through.  It's also there so you stick to your guns - to help you do what you said you were going to do.

4.  You have to set goals.   For running, this means signing up, paying for a race, and not backing out.  For childbirth, this means confidently telling people you're going to do it naturally, regardless of the facial expressions they may make.

5.  The hard, painful journey makes the end so sweet.  Think about what it's going to feel like as you cross that finish line.  I never thought I'd be fighting back tears as I finished my first half marathon, but I was.  And on a similar yet more intense level, seeing your baby for the first time makes every ounce of pain worth it. 

Running 13.1 miles is something I never imagined myself doing.  But back in 2010 when I began training, each week I surprised myself as I ran longer distances.  Now, it's my thing.  Not in the sense that I'm really good at it, but it's what I do to stay in shape.  I've found something that works for me.

Giving birth naturally wasn't necessarily something I'd ever planned on, but I was always curious.  Who are these women living in our current day and age who are choosing this?  Why are they choosing it?  If they can do it, why can't I?  Sure enough, I learned exactly why people choose it.  It taught me so much.

The big difference I see in running and birthing (besides the excruciating pain thing) is more related to peoples' reactions.  Usually, you don't hear people badgering others for training for half/full marathons.  I mean, occasionally.  Maybe.  But it's not the general public reaction.  Thousands and thousands of people train for these things every year.  Sometimes several in a year.  Most people find it a respectable hobby, give a thumbs up, and continue on their way.

But natural childbirth?  No.  Opinions galore.  (Of course, this has a lot to do with where you live.)  This one thing can make it a million times harder to follow through with.  When you know Bobby, Suzy, and Jan all think it's a dumb idea and don't know why you just won't get the drugs, you may not necessarily feel encouraged.  But like I said in #3, find those people who are behind you and cheering you on.

For the most part, these two things have a lot in common.  They involve hard work, endurance, patience, pain, and perseverance.  And when all of that is done, the accomplishment you feel and the reward you receive is pretty dang good.

Psst - Don't forget to enter the children's book giveaway and the $50 Amazon giftcard giveaway!

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Running Bloggers

 Jill Conyers

how to organize running bibs

Once upon a time, I had a cute frame with a cork board in it.  All of our race bibs were thumb-tacked onto it.

And then all of it came crashing down because it wasn't hanging on the wall securely, it was homemade, and I probably used the wrong kind of glue for the cork board.  I was trying to DIY before I knew what DIY even was.

I wanted another way to organize our bibs but still have them in a place where we could look at them if we felt like it.  You know, so I can look back on that time I ran a half marathon without training and feel awesome about myself.

I decided on a giant photo album from good ole Hob Lob.

I write the name, date, and location of the race at the top of a piece of paper, tape the bibs on, and slide it in.  I write the distance and our times on the bibs themselves.

Every once and a while I flip through these pages.  It's exciting to see how my times have improved.  It's also funny to remember that one time Colt and I ran an 8k and he was so disappointed in his time that he made me not write it down.  Guess we'll never know how "slow" he was.  Blame it on the really greasy eggs we ate the morning of the race.  Not the best idea.

How do you guys organize your running bibs?  Or do you?

if everyone was a runner (plus a giveaway)

The world would be a better place.

Once upon a time, I didn't know how far a 5k was and I didn't even know things like marathons existed.  My entrance into the running world was in 2010 when I ran my first half.  That's when all those really hard runs paid off and I started considering myself a runner.

Not only do I still enjoy and find so much value in running, but I've gotten to meet, become fast friends with, and grow relationships with other people because of it.

Evan and Kelsey, two of our really good friends, happen to be runners.  Evan is ridiculously fast and I kind of feel famous for knowing him.  (He's also the bass player in our band.)  Kelsey is also crazy fast and someday someday I will be able to run with her.  (And by "run with her" I mean "run 1 mile with her.")

When I started running, these two friends were so supportive of me.  It's no mystery that in the time it takes me to do a certain amount of miles, Evan can do double that amount.  But that's something I love about runners.  It's not just that they're encouraging.  They're encouraging even when they are leaps and bounds better than you and they know it.  (Evan would probably roll his eyes at this and say something like, "No, Claire.  You're so great!  Half marathons are tough!"  See?  Always encouraging.)

I met a fellow OKC blogger about a year ago and since then, we've had a few running chats in person and over Twitter.  Take one look at her and you'll know what kind of runner she is - a good one.  In each short conversation we've had (whether in person or online), it never fails that she finds a way to make me feel like the better runner.  Which is not the case at all.

Another OKC blogger that I recently met at this little get together has also been a huge encouragement to me.  I love reading her posts about running and on every one of mine, she affirms me and makes me feel like I'm doing a great job.

At my MOMS bible study several weeks ago, I started talking with a girl who was behind me in the food line.  We had both run the OKC memorial, so she asked how my run was.  I told her I ran the half, that I beat last year's time, but that it wasn't as awesome as I would've hoped.  She nodded with a face of such understanding and commented with things like, "Well, but it did start to get hot towards the end," or "Yeah, sometimes your legs just quit and you get so tired."  I told her my final time and she said, "Oh, that's great!"  Then she told me that she ran the full marathon.  I don't remember her time, but I do remember wanting to crawl under a rock after feeling like all of my half marathon hardships were nothing to a really fast marathon runner like her.  (And, duh, I should've guessed.  She was petite, lean, and had a great body.  Of course she runs marathons.)

I could write a book about Colt and how he's helped me become better runner.  I come back from 3 mile runs on cloud 9 because I ran a 9:30 pace and he celebrates with me.  He tells me I'm a runner and he makes me feel like I'm a runner, both of which you might not necessarily believe just because you run.  Sometimes you need to be told.

All of these people have listened and pushed me, in big or small ways, even though they're more experienced by a long shot.  They validate me even though they've gone longer distances at much faster paces.  And, to me, the nice feeling of being validated can only be surpassed by being validated by someone who is truly better than you.  It also shows you a great deal about that person.

Humility seems to be the common theme that I find among runners.  Because we all want the same thing:  for each other to keep running.  How fast or strong or awesome you are doesn't seem to be the point.  It's that you run - whether it's 1 mile or 26.2 miles.

After missing my 2:30 goal for the OKC Half Marathon in April, Evan sent me a text, encouraging me in running my next half in November.  Then he said, "You can get 2:30!"  It meant a lot coming from someone who ran the half in 1:29:07 (yeah, I looked up your time, Evan).  Y'all can do the math on that one.

So if you're a seasoned runner, keep dishing out those encouraging words to us slower folks.  Us slower folks will keep encouraging the others that want to run, but just don't think they can.  It's like the Circle of Running Life.

If I haven't convinced you to become a runner, then I don't know what I've done.  Told you about lots of random people that you probably don't care about, I guess.  But in the chance that you're feeling inspired, I have something just for you.

Spartan Race is going to give one of you a free race code to use on any open heat in any Spartan Race in the continental U.S.  (And if you don't win, you can click here to get a 15% off code to use in any Spartan Race.  Good news for all!)  If you're not familiar with Spartan, feel free to browse around on their website and take a look at all of their events.  To enter, all you have to do is comment on this post!  I'll post the winner on Friday, June 21, 2013.  Good luck and happy running!

that time i ran a half marathon without training

Yeah, that time.  Let's talk about it.

Mirela, Brad, and Colt made plans and had been training to run the Timberline Half Marathon around Timothy Lake.  I opted out because 1 - I had just run the OKC Half Marathon a month before, 2 - I'm not that hardcore, 3 - Someone had to watch the babies, and 4 - No thanks.

The day before the race we were doing a little morning hike and Brad mentioned that he wasn't going to run it.  (Cue Mirela and her persistent reasons for why I should run in his place.)  I tried to fight it, y'all.  But the Watsons had extra of everything - iPods, earphones, tights, sports bras, etc.  I had some running shorts and my old Brooks with me so there really was no excuse.  I couldn't say no.  And I kind of didn't want to.  Regardless of the pain I thought I knew I was about to put myself through, I knew it'd be a cool accomplishment.

This "half marathon" was actually 14.2 miles.  Mirela referred to it as an ultra half marathon.  And folks, everything about it was ultra. 

It was a trail run.  It was at a higher altitude.  It was warm.  It was the longest I'd ever run in my life.

For someone who likes things to be perfect when I'm running (great weather, all pavement, the right gear, a clear course, zero uphills), this was not going to be easy.

Along with all of those tricky factors, I had none of my usual gear I was used to.  I wore no headband (to cover my ears ... because I'm one of those weird runners whose ears hurt when they run), I ran with Brad's Camelbak, I wore old shoes, I had to carry Brad's iPod in my hands, and maybe most importantly, I had no playlist.  I jumped around from random artists - Death Cab, Frou Frou, Keane, John Mayer.

The most common issue with this trail run (like most trail runs, I assume) is falling.  A guy in charge warned us that morning about watching where we plant our feet so we don't trip, slip, or roll our ankles.

These comforting words were accompanied by the realization that I might actually be the last one to finish this race.  I think they only let something like 400 participants in.  I crossed my fingers and thought, please let there be slow walkers.

The race was starting and because the trail was so narrow, each person ran through the start line one at a time. 

I didn't plan on running with Mirela since she'd been legitimately training and the only training I'd done was literally a jog the day before from The Timberline Lodge to the parking lot.  So I got in the zone and started running very slowly.

The first 5 miles, I was feeling great.  I had no idea how hard my brain would have to work on a run like this.  Every move had to be calculated or I knew I'd find myself with a sprained ankle.  I was strategically planting my feet with every stride.

The course was a constant uphill/downhill roller coaster.  The only thing consistent about it was that it wasn't consistent at all.  There were also a few moments of confusion.  The trail wasn't marked extremely clearly the whole way, so a lot of the time, I was just trying to stay as close to the perimeter of the lake as possible.  In addition to that, there were several times when you were required to either climb/jump over or duck under huge trees that had fallen in the way of the trail.  This was a bit more than I'd bargained for.

Around 5.9 miles, there was a rest station.  This was a turning point.  I kind of had to pee, but I've never stopped to pee during a race.  Not even during a long run.  But I looked at my circumstances and decided I needed as many things working in my favor as possible, including an empty bladder.  So I went.  I had no watch, so I had no way of keeping track of how long this stop was.

This is when apathy began to knock at my door.  

I'm pretty good at being a balanced individual in most areas of my life.  But then there are some things in which I am only extreme.  Running is one of them.  I don't stop.  Ever.  I am a woman of records and that is simply not acceptable.

Well, I continued on running, thinking I'd run the rest of it just like I had been.  But around mile 7, it got bad.  My insides were yelling at me to please take a break and walk.  So I stopped.

Hello, apathy.  Welcome to my 14.2 mile trail run.  

Before the race began, I said something ridiculous like, "I'd love to be at the 10 mile mark by 2 hours."  Isn't that precious?  I looked at the clock on my iPod and realized I had been running for 2 hours and was definitely not at 10 miles.

When I saw the rest station at 10 miles, I decided to take advantage of another chance to sit on my butt.  So I went to the bathroom.   

And then I did something I never thought I'd do during a race. 

I got my phone out and texted.  Yes, like a ridiculous person, I texted Colt.  But truthfully, I wanted him to know I was still alive.  And I also wanted to write in all caps about how hard this thing was.

After this potty break, I walked on the trail for a bit.  I felt my phone vibrate and got it out to see who it was.  It was Kelsey - one of my sweet friends who is an extremely good (FAST) runner.  She wanted to know how it was.  Was.  Oh, how I wish it was, but unfortunately, it still is.

I couldn't believe myself, but I was actually walking on a trail during a race and texting a friend.  Who am I?  Have I given up completely??  Yes, yes I have.

But my giving up wasn't really validated until I Instagrammed a photo during the race.  This was a low point.  I was now on a scenic tour of Timothy Lake.  But after walking, taking potty breaks, and texting people, are there really any true expectations left?

Sometime after this Instagram fiasco, I pulled it together and found a system that worked for me.  I ran anytime the path was completely flat and walked when it went uphill.  This worked for awhile until during one of my walking breaks, I found myself in a daze, walking lifelessly with my Camelbak tube hanging out of my mouth.  I snapped out of it and tried to maintain a few yards of running every once and awhile, but my feet were killing me.  I never knew how terrible it was to run in old shoes until this race.

Somewhere in the last mile or so, there was this crazy steep uphill climb.  I had to stop and catch my breath because I thought I might pass out.  (When I talked with Colt later about this, he said that nobody, including him, ran up that thing.  It made me feel better knowing that people who run 8 minute miles even had to walk.)

I can't tell you how badly I wanted this to be over.  Some might say, "But look where you were!  You should've just enjoyed the beauty around you!"  Scenery schmenery.  I mean, I love nature and whatever, but it didn't matter after a certain point.  I was dreaming of cokes, burgers, fries, milkshakes, seeing human life.

Finally, I saw the turn to the finish line and crossed at 3:22:30. 

Mirela immediately celebrated with me and made me feel like a million bucks.  I crammed 2 packs of peanut butter crackers in my mouth and filled up my bag with other snacks for the drive home.  It was over and I was alive and my life would go on.
 
It wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done.  But it also wasn't the craziest thing I've ever done.  (20 hours of natural labor will forever hold that title.)  However, it was the most spontaneous thing I've ever done.  In less than 24 hours, I went from no plans to running 14.2 miles through a forest alone.  I hardly go grocery shopping with such short notice.

The soreness I experienced was unmatched by any other moment in life.  I moaned and groaned with every move I made for 2-3 days post-race.  I know Colt really appreciated it.

But in spite of the pain, I'm glad I did it.  You should always blog about living your life rather than living your life to blog about it.  But in the middle of this race, I realized this was an exception.  I kept telling myself, "There's going to be a moment when I'm sitting on my couch, laughing, and writing about this."  And sure enough, I was right.

memorial half marathon playlist 2013

Last year I posted my half marathon playlist and, I'll be honest, this year's playlist isn't that different.  Who's going to take "Semi-Charmed Life" or "Bittersweet Symphony" or "Lose Control" off of a running playlist?  Nobody with ears.

But while there are lots of repeats, there are a few new additions.

Like I said last year, this list is strategically planned.  Calm ones for the first few miles and then I start sprinkling in some pick-me-ups, like "Paranoid."  After that, the majority of the songs are fairly upbeat.  If I remember correctly, after "Madness" I could tell I had time for one more song, so I quickly skipped to "Semi-Charmed Life."  I just had to end on that.

The award for "Most Shocking Addition" goes to Pink.  I don't have a problem with Pink, but I do typically have a problem with her songs.  Her voice is so much better than the crap she sings.  "If you're too school for cool"?  Really?  She's better than that.  But one of her recent hits, "Try," is actually pretty decent.  Decent in a I-think-I-just-might-like-it kind of way.  Decent in a I-don't-change-the-station-when-it's-on kind of way.  And when you're running, sometimes you just need to hear, "But just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die."

The award for "Best Addition" goes to Muse.  "Madness" is one of my favorites right now and it's such a great running song.  Besides, there are so many fun rhythms you can tap along with in your fingers.  No?  Nobody else does this while running?  Blame it on my deep desire to be a drummer.  I found a lonely drum set at a church my parents were singing at one time.  My 4th grade self sat down and immediately played bom bom bum ba-da-ba-da-bom bum.  (Some of you know exactly what rhythm I'm talking about.  If you don't, just know it's the most generic thing a drummer could ever play.  Besides "George, George, George of the Jungle.")  But anyway, back to the song.  It's really awesome and I love singing, "ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma maa maa maa."

Do you guys have any of the same songs in your running mixes?  

my real half marathon training schedule 2013

I decided at the beginning of my training this year that I would record every run/workout I did and at the end, I'd post it for all of you to see.  Not to show how awesome I am; actually the opposite.  I want to prove to you that training for a half marathon really doesn't take as much time out of your week as you may think.  Also, you don't have to be a "natural athlete" to run 13.1 miles.  Anybody can do it!

(By the way, wherever you see an "S," that means I ran with the stroller.  Also, my times for each run are listed in the parentheses.)

Lots of blank spaces, huh?

Here are the responses I'm expecting:

You're lying.  And I'm not, I'm really not.  Ask the blue piece of paper that was stuck to my fridge for 21 weeks.  Ask my husband.  It's all 100% true.

But you were an actual runner before those 20 weeks and I'm not.  Sure, but do you remember how often I was running prior to those 20 weeks?  Like never.  Yes, I've been officially a "runner" for probably 3.5 years now, but the months leading up to training, I was not consistent.

Wow, if you can do this, anyone can.  Ding, ding, ding!  That is the correct response!  So, no more excuses.   No more "I don't have time" or "I'm just not a runner" or "I can't run longer than 5 minutes" or "But you don't understand."  You have time, you can be a runner, you can run for way longer than 5 minutes, and I do understand.  So get out there and run!  (And then tell me about it because it'll make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside if this post inspired you.)

I'll leave you with this.  These are my two pieces of advice on training for a half marathon:

1. GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK.  Don't be so hard on yourself.  If you miss a run here and there, that's fine!   If you notice, my Sunday slots are blank next to "what I actually did."  That's because that's what I did.  Nothing.  I never stretched and I never strengthened on Sundays.  Shame on me, I know.

2.  JUST DO SOMETHING.  On week 13, I was going to run 7 miles.  But you know what happened the night before my long run?  I got in bed around 9:30 p.m. to get in a good amount of sleep.  Then it took me 2 hours to fall asleep.  Then I woke up several times throughout the night to random noises in the house.  It was so annoying and Colt totally had to pay for it.  (It's a really special talent we wives have - blaming everything possible on our husbands even when it has absolutely nothing to do with them.)  Anyway, it was bad, I was mad, and there was no way 7 miles was going to happen at 6:30 a.m.  So that morning, I got up and did my 23 minute DVD of Slim in 6.  Totally not the same as running 7 miles, but at least I did something.  And you know what?  That's the theme of exercise in my opinion.  Just do something.

Have I totally convinced you to run a half marathon now??

memorial half marathon 2013

Sunday morning, I woke up exhausted.  I'd probably only slept a total of 30 minutes the night before due to my sore/itchy throat.  This wasn't a good way to start the day.  But because running is practically 100% mental, I put my running stuff on, laced up my shoes, and ate my pre-race breakfast (a cliff bar and a banana).

We arrived downtown around 5:45 a.m.  We huddled together to fight off the teensy chill in the air and before we knew it, we were crammed into the crowd of the start line.  I looked over and happened to see my MOMS bible study teacher.  So I got one last pre-race photo.

If you're a legit runner, the first part of the race is a real drag.  You spend your energy trying to get around the massive amounts of people that are slower than you.  But if you're a not-as-legit runner like me, the first part of the race is pretty relaxing.

At mile 3, I felt very settled.  My pace was consistent and I was on my way to accomplishing my first goal in the race:  finish the first 5 miles within an hour.  At mile marker 5, I looked down at my watch and it said 57 minutes.  Yes!

By mile 6, I felt great.  Then, I saw Sara at her usual spot on Western and got an extra boost of energy.  Seriously, you people that cheer, make signs, sit on your porch drinking coffee, track us on your iPhone apps, hold out your hands to give high fives - all of you are important.  And we all love you.

(Side note:  Sara was in her spot at the race talking to Reese on the phone who was at home tracking my bib number.  Quite a pair of best friends I've got. :))

I was relieved to have hit my 5 mile goal earlier than planned because around mile 9, I started getting tired.  I felt my legs getting heavier and I was frustrated that I felt this way before even getting to mile 10.  But luckily, I made my second goal in the race:  finish 10 miles by 1:55.  I was on my way to demolishing my previous year's time. 

But after that, something just switched off.  It got so incredibly hard.  I can blame it on the sun coming out or my lack of sleep or my sore throat.  But no matter what the cause, I was slowing down.  Way down.

I was pushing as hard as I could and I felt like there was nothing left in me.  I kept running and when I finally saw Broadway up ahead, I was relieved.  Like last year, I knew that if I wanted to beat my previous time, I needed to pick it up.  It took my legs awhile to receive this message from my brain.  I turned onto Broadway and it wasn't until I saw the word "FINISH" that my legs started moving faster.

I crossed the finish line and with an average pace of 11:46, my final time was 2:34:15.   

My lofty goal for this half was 2:25 and my real goal was around 2:30.  If I would've just bumped my pace up to 11 minutes at mile 10, I could've finished under 2:30.  If, if, if.  I've been running these "ifs" through my head ever since the race ended.  Even though I finished 2 minutes and 33 seconds faster than last year, I was slightly disappointed.  Yes, I definitely wanted to beat my time last year, but I was hoping to shave off more than that.  Part of me thinks I could've pushed harder and part of me thinks I pushed as hard as I possibly could.  Either way, it has driven me to run another half.  And not just my annual OKC Memorial half.  I mean, soon.  I want to prove to myself that I can do it in 2:30.  Right now, the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa is in my gaze.  I will conquer!

But more than PRs and sore muscles, I'll come away with something unique this year.  In the minutes it took me to approach the finish line, it felt like I did hours of thinking.  The sides were packed with spectators.  People were here to celebrate friends, family, and complete strangers even though this very scene was full of tragedy just 2 weeks before.  People refused to be cornered by the senseless acts of two young guys.  Fear would not define them.  It really was inspiring.  In that moment, I was so proud to be a runner and an Oklahoman.

Any other fellow OKC Memorial marathoners out there?  How was your run?