Hot Chocolate 15k Race Report

No fancy title today.  Seeing as though I barely blog anymore, I figure I should skip the fancy title.
This was a pretty good race for me and I am going to try to keep it short and sweet-not likely, but a girl can try.

First of all, I am still struggling with fitting my runs and life together.  It feels like a puzzle with a few pieces missing and I can barely make the border much less put the whole picture together.  Having said that-it has been two weeks since my last run and a full week off with NO workouts at all.

Let's start at last night-I didn't even start prepping for the race until 900pm after the kids went to bed-not my norm.  I threw a few things in a bag, got out some running clothes and thought "good enough".  I did decide to make a last minute playlist.  It was pretty good actually but it kept me up until after 1030 and funny enough I didn't plan enough songs!  No big because I got sick of music by mile 7 and ended the race "naked".  It did however keep my pace fairly reasonable at the start of the race so that was cool.

I liked that they had a gear check-I hate standing around cold so I keep my stuff until the very last second.  This was also my first corral start like this.  It wasn't pace based but rather when you got your bib number.  We were then sent off in 2min. wave intervals.  Nice spacing and no one was running over one another.  Again a plus.

I started off maybe a hair too fast-but not nearly as bat out of hell as I tend to go.  This is even more amazing as it was a downhill start.  I kept it under control and felt super good for the first 4mi.

At mile 4 it got really bad. By that time we had been climbing a hill for quite some time but at this point it got really steep and I could see there was no end in sight.  In fact we climbed for over two miles!!  My calves were screaming!  I slowed the pace and kept running, but somewhere near the top I had to walk about 50 yards.  I felt good about it though as I knew there was no way my legs were going to hold up if I didn't give somewhere.

This was the first time the race came to Seattle and I have to say it was managed well.  Plenty of water and gatorade-about every 2-2.5mi.  Not much for spectators, but seeing as though we were running along the Aurora Hwy which normally doesn't have much foot traffic it was kind of to be suspected.

For some reason I thought with all the climbing we would end on a downhill.  Nope.  The climbs continued.  Right about mile 8.5 another lady who had been going back and forth with me stopped in front of me.  I said "Don't stop-we're almost there!!"  She started back up and we chatted (very briefly-we were both dying) about not expecting all the hills.

With about 300 yards to go, I pulled away from her.  I really wanted to sprint to the finish and truly try to "empty my tank".  I can tell you folks, I ended that race with a totally empty tank.  I was "that girl" gasping with every footstep from my toes to the top of my head.  I truly sounded like I was going to die.  Grunting-gasping-the whole thing. Good Lord how embarrassing! I will say it felt great though.
Even though this wasn't my fastest race, I truly left it all out on the course for the first time ever.

Post race I was walking to get my Hot Chocolate and noticed a cute little Filipino girl who looked really familiar.  After a beat I realized it was Catherine who is a contestant on the Bachelor this season.  I kind of laughed to myself as I frequently watch said program while running on my treadmill.  As it so happened, she got in line in front of me to get her treats.  So of course I tapped her on the shoulder and asked "are you Catherine?" she gave me a shy smile and said yes.  I told her "I have to thank you because I watch you every week while I run on my treadmill"  She giggled and said thanks and then said she wished she had something to motivate her on the mill.  Then she complimented me on my race shirt choice (my favorite too).

After finding my car and driving back home, my hubby and kids took me out for a burger and a beer at the Red Hook brewery.

Not a bad Sunday and I realized I can't go another two weeks without running.  I just don't feel the same!

In the end here are my stats-not pretty, but I'll take em'!
Total time: 1:32:06 
Total distance:  9.32
Avg. pace:  9:53

			Split Time Moving Time Distance Elevation Gain Elevation Loss Avg Pace Avg Moving Pace Best Pace Calories 1 9:17.9 9:16 1.00 29 83 9:18 9:16 5:41 94 2 9:05.6 8:49 1.00 81 83 9:06 8:49 4:33 97 3 9:39.0 9:31 1.00 120 60 9:39 9:31 5:55 95 4 9:06.5 8:51 1.00 76 54 9:07 8:51 7:26 95 5 10:13.8 10:09 1.00 84 238 10:14 10:09 7:18 93 6 10:32.3 10:30 1.00 273 0 10:32 10:30 8:46 95 7 1:47.6 1:46 0.16 7 0 11:14 11:04 9:15 14 8 10:33.3 10:08 1.00 0 276 10:33 10:08 8:21 93 9 10:31.8 10:31 1.00 234 65 10:32 10:31 8:43 92 10 9:49.8 9:49 1.00 78 99 9:50 9:49 8:06 94 11 1:26.2 1:21 0.16 0 0 8:59 8:27 6:30 15 12 :02.3 :03 0.00 0 0 9:44 12:32 7:03 0

Goals and Those Last 10 LBS

Seeing as though my blog is mostly about running but also about goal setting I try to write about that.
The problem has been that I have stated several goals over the last few months and none of them "took" because none of them feel right.  I do have a goal though.  It is a secret that I let out now and then almost tongue in cheek.  Secretly though-it's my only goal.

I want to qualify and run Boston.

There, I've said it-out loud and to a lot of people.  The thing is, I know I can't commit to the training I need to do right now to get there anytime soon.  I know me-I am not the type to overextend myself.  I'm just not happy when I do that.  So Yes-I am am one of those moms who says NO to people and will not overload my schedule just because "some people" think that is what you are supposed to do.
I don't do soccer leagues with my kids.  I do almost NO play dates.  My kids aren't in gymnastics or karate.   So far I can get away with doing that.  The kids get plenty of time to play with other kids by using our abundance of unscheduled free time.  We have time to read books, paint pictures and play with playdough.  We have time to do laundry together and make beds together.  They also get to help me make at least one meal per day-often more.
Frankly we are busy!  I couldn't imagine how we would fit in all of our fun stuff if we had to run off to this or that lesson or class.  I would be a stressed out mess trying to fit it all in.  Nope-I can't do it and I don't even want to try!!
Now-I don't judge, I know plenty of moms who do all those things that I don't do because they would go nuts with all that free time and they would go bonkers trying to fill up that time.  You have to do what works for you.  Period.

That is how I know I won't even attempt a training plan for Boston until one or both my children are in school full time.  It is just me and how I know I operate.  This is good information to acknowledge though as it lets me relax and work on what I know I need to do first to achieve my goal.

I need to build a solid foundation so I can safely execute a strenuous training plan.  Basically this is my goal for now.  It's the goal that fits and it's the goal that feels right.

I decided first I would get serious about losing the "extra baby squish" that is left behind.  I am not too caught up in numbers on the scale, I am more worried about inches and fluff.  Having said that, numbers do count for something on the scale so I basically am trying to lose the last 10lbs.  Everyone seems to want to lose the last 10lbs, so this is nothing new.
I have had a good relationship with food most of my life-a fact for which I am grateful.  However, after children I did try to "diet" with some nasty consequences.  I blogged about it HERE.  I have been back to simply eating when I was hungry and not eating when I was not.
Immediately I gained weight.  My metabolism was beyond messed up!  Even with the holidays I started to lose the weight again.  I changed nothing other than I ate more calories.  Not JUNK-real food.  Meat, Veg, Carbs, Fat.  Not much in my diet is processed other than breads, some cereal (once a week or so), maybe some chips-I don't deny, but I also don't crave them or feel bad when I eat them.  I simply eat what I want when I am hungry and stop then second I feel full.  Not in one more bite, or after I finish this little bit-but when I feel full.
I still was not convinced though I had enough information.  I am a numbers girl.  I feel the answer to everything is there if you just take the time to look at all the information.  This led me to a product by BodyMedia.  It is called BodyMedia FIT LINK Armband Weight Management System formerly known as a BoddyBugg made popular by The Biggest Loser contestants.  This is not only a pedometer, it also reads how many calories you are burning just by existing.  It also "reads" your body and lets you know how you are sleeping etc.
I Love This Thing!!  I have used it for just about two weeks now and like I had hoped, I have gleaned a  lot of information.  Most shocking I burn as little as 1700 cals/day (only once and let's just say it was after the sad Packers loss which included drinking a lot of beer) and as much as 2700 cals/day.  Most days I hover between 2200 and 2400.  This means that like I thought-I can easily eat 1900 cals a day and still lose weight.  That my friends is a lot of food!!  It's no wonder I was struggling when I was restricting to only 1400-1500cals/day!!!!
I have lost 2lbs. the first week I have worn my band.  I was not expecting to lose quite that much, but that also came on the heals of our trip to WI where something fried is eaten at every meal and several Old Fashioned's are consumed daily.  I suspect I will be closer to a pound or so per week for a bit and then I will level off.
I have changed up two things.  One of them is specifically calorie based.  I realized that I was drinking a lot of my calories in wine.  I haven't made a conscious  decision to not drink-but instead of just having a glass of wine just because, I have started to view it like food.  So I question "Do I really feel like having a glass of wine or do I just like the idea of having a drink?"  The answer almost always is I don't really want it.  Huh.  So weird!  I'll be honest, I've been a pretty big drinker most of my life because that is the culture I have grown up in and lived in.  I never really thought about whether or not I really wanted to drink or not.  So-that takes care of about 200-500 cals/day I am not consuming (No I didn't drink daily, but more than not some weeks)

The biggest change-I'm running less and trying to strength train more.  I just want to have a stronger leaner body and while running helps, my little bodybugg (as I still like to call it) tells me, I burn more cals doing strength and sprints than I do going long.  For example:  I had an average day of activity on Saturday and ran 6mi.  That day I burned 2700+ cals.  On Monday I had an average day of activity and ran for 25min at a pretty quick pace for me.  That day I burned 2600+ cals!  So after an hour of running I only burned 100 more cals than after 25min of running!!  Crazy!!  I also looked into why this is.  Come to find out that the longer/further you run, your body becomes more efficient and "adjusts" so you burn fewer cals.  When you do sprints and strength it is tricking your body into burning more as it doesn't know what it coming next. (Pretty sure I read that in Runner's World, but I can't find it to link it-sorry)

Phew!  That is a lot of info for one blog post.  If I would be better at blogging, I could keep them nice and short. or at least split up
Thanks for reading though and thanks for always supporting my goals by simply reading my random thoughts!  Good stuff is always in the works and I promise to bring you along for the good stuff if you want to keep reading through the boring stuff

13 Races In 2013??

I know I haven't been very good aout blogging lately and part of that is I always kept this like more of an online training journal.  It was a very useful format while I was training for the marathon, but since then I haven't had a goal and I also haven't been running much.  All of that combined meant an empty blog.

Now, with the help of mind clearing PT, I am looking at my running in a new light.  I think for awhile I am going to focus more on strength and building a better base.  With that in mind, I am doing way more fitness workouts than I am running miles.

Another blogger friend mentioned something along the lines of "if I only blogged about my runs, I wouldn't have much of a blog"  True statement.

So for 2013 here are my goals:
A Goal:  Run 13 races in 2013

B Goal:  Do two fitness/strength workouts per week

C Goal:  Blog shorter blog entries and blog more often

D Goal:  (this is the one that scares me) Try a Tri

My D goal should maybe be moved up to my A goal, but I am just not prepared for that right now!  Although, I DO believe if it is a goal worth having, it should be a goal that SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF YOU-and a Tri my friends does that for me!!

More to come....Thanks for patiently letting me work all this out!

Much Love XO XO

I'm Running!

That is it!  That's the big news, but it is actually really BIG news!
Runs since April have been hit or miss and frankly less than appealing.  I have started physical therapy and I am over the moon with the results.  I am not "healed" but I have run several times without pain and in fact some pain has went away after runs.  This is so different from what I had been dealing with!

I also have been busy starting up a Moms RUN This Town chapter here in Kirkland.  I truly feel passionate not only about my running but also helping encourage moms to run whether they are just taking their first walking steps to helping more "seasoned" runners find races and all around just to keep everyone motivated!  It's kind of that theory where working outside yourself actually encourages you along the way.

Well, that is it.  Quick and short-not my norm!  It is the day before Thanksgiving though and I will have a race report on Sunday!!! (OMG- A RACE REPORT!!)  Seattle Marathon 5k-here I come!!!

Missing: 1 Blogger

Again it's been awhile since I have shared.  There is only one reason for my absence:

Embarrassment 

This revelation came to me a few days ago while I was running.  Yes, I have been running. Not much and Not fast, but my feet have been moving quickly in front of one another. Here is a list of things I am most embarrassed about:

• My audacity to think running a couch to marathon program was a good idea
• The fact that I have a running blog and I haven't "really" been running
• The fact that I am horribly out of shape-yes I ran a marathon and I am still HORRIBLY out of shape
• The fact that I let myself get caught up in the "I must be a thin hot mom to fit in with everyone"-Since when in my life have I ever wanted to "Fit In?!?!"
• The fact I agreed to run with a great group of women running bloggers when I really haven't been running, or blogging!
• The fact that I took so little care of myself that  I finally had to get injured to finally see that fact!
•  I had to  fess up to all of these facts and plenty more!

As you can see there has been a whole bunch of soul searching going on over at the Mertel homestead. Motherhood changes you and I wasn't prepared for all the mental changes that went with it.  I also naively believed in the whole "oh you are fit, you will be back to your old body in NO time"  RIGHT!!!  You gain 50# and don't do a lick of exercise the entire time, and you really think you will just pop back into place-at age 39 no less?!?!  WHAT WAS I THINKING???

Also, I have never really been wrapped up in the whole "You need to look this way or that to fit in" thing.  I don't believe in a "diet", I believe in eating food.  REAL food, not the processed crap that comes from a box.  My mom makes fun of the fact that there is a weird vegetable served with almost every one of my meals I make (that to her means squash LOL-I love her but veggies aren't her thing)
So how did I find my self "dieting" ALL summer long?  I spent more time counting calories and limiting food.  I spent time reading diet books and planning meals that were unfulfilling.  In fact I would often just skip eating because what I was "suppose" to eat just sounded horrible.

This then led to my whole summer feeling like a haze that flew by me.  I was often disoriented and spacey, not to mention incredibly moody and frankly downright miserable to be around!  I slept horrible and I was ALWAYS exhausted.  In fact I went to see both my General Practitioner and my OB/GYN trying to figure out what was wrong with me.

About a month ago I ran across a Facebook page Go Kaleo on MomVS Marathon's page.  Her statement was simple (and I am totally paraphrasing what my mind read)  Eat when you are hungry, eat whole food, move your body every day.  The rest will fall into place.
Now she said a lot more than that, but that is what my mind read because that had been my EXACT philosophy for years!!!

So right now I am focussing on repairing my relationship with my brain in regards to fitness.  My marathon messed with my brain.  I had to realize that not every run needed to be 5+ mi during the week and 10+mi on the weekends and all runs don't have to be faster than 9mm!

Some days I run now for 20min.  I try not to notice how many miles I ran.  I just try to focus on the fact that I ran them pain free and that I had energy to run them in the first place!

I've stopped weighing myself and I have started eating regularly again.  I feel great!  I am sleeping easily again, I am no longer cold all the time, I am still a little cranky, but come on!  I have a 2.5yo and a 3.5yo!  Who wouldn't be a little nuts!

I am currently working on all over body strengthening.  I have never been a weight lifter or gym goer for any other reason than cardio and that is no longer acceptable.  Even though I am not a fitness "beginner" I have decided to start all over from the beginning.  I am following the Go Kaleo First 100 days program and so far I am on day 10-well actually day 11, but I had to do day 10 workout today.  I can already feel a huge difference in my body.  It is quite shocking in some ways.  The biggest difference is the energy I have.  On top of the prescribed workouts, I have also been taking one or both of the kids for a nightly stroll.  Not fast but not slow.  Just a kind of mind clearing walk to end the day (this was also a habit I followed for years that I dearly miss)

So there is your update.  I am going to keep my progress up to date and let you know how it is coming along.  I am half tempted to do the before and after pics, but frankly I may need a few glasses of wine to work into that idea!!

ETA:
I forgot to share this great story!
I am a believer in things happen as they should and this is a prime example.
I noticed just the other day that my scale was out of batteries, so I changed them, hopped on and was immediately disappointed.
Fast forward to yesterday.  I decided to give the old scale a shot as I have been feeling less jiggly so of course that means the scale should have some good news, right?!?
Hopped on the scale and what do you know? It was out of batteries again-or was it???  Maybe this is the Universe's way of saying LAY OFF THE SCALE WOMAN!!!
I get it-I can take a hint.
Scale is in the trash

I've Got A New Goal, And I'm Scared

This recently has become my mantra it seems.  It also in my opinion is a good one to have.

Well, I didn't blog about it, but  had my lovely Women's re-TREAT weekend where we state our goal preferably for the year.  Last year my goal was to run a marathon before I turned 40.  As timing would have it, I ran the marathon in my 39th year.  The time was right and I was so glad it worked out that way.

So what to do for my goal for my 40th year???  {Big Gulp} I have committed to running a marathon in 4hr or less as my goal for he year.  I can't believe I have this goal honestly.  This means I have to shave a full half hour off my current marathon race pace.  YIKES!!!!  It's not impossible, but it will take some work for sure.

So I've started my new job this weekend.  Yup-I have to consider it my job for awhile, or I know myself and I will blow workouts off like they were tumbleweeds blowing over Hwy 80 in the middle of NV!!!!

So in honor of starting my new job, I ran a route I have never run before.  I ran out my door and ran 7mi (ok 6.89) around my 'Hood.  In the past I have always run out my door.  This house though sits on top of a hill (many hills) and there is no way to get to it that has an easy grade.  I can run up a few of them, but my need to "Kill The Hill" makes it so I have to walk once I get to the top.  The particular route I took, I chose because it had a tiny it of trail to run on-which I LOVE!  This meant though that I had to go up two super steep hills.  I choose to walk them-no shame here!!!

So there you have it.  Right now I am using the Train Like A Mother-Half Marathon, Finish It Plan that I am going to segue into the Train Like A Mother-Marathon, Finish It Plan.  I am pretty sure that those plans will get me on the right path to a sub 4hr Marathon.

Also, I have planned my races to hopefully make this a reality.  In February, I am planning on running the Huntington Beach Marathon-Surf City 2013 and then either Portland Marathon, Victoria Marathon,  or some other flat fall marathon.  I am pretty sure 2013 will see me crossing the finish line with a timed goal.

It is a little unnerving stating aloud that I have a time goal.  That freaks me out WAY more than anything.

Wish me luck!  I'll update I'm sure.

Me Lighting my goal for 2013 and making it realClick here

Don't Look Back In Anger

I was thinking about this post and instantly I thought of the Oasis song "Don't Look Back In Anger" (link just in case it's been awhile since you've taken a listen)

I keep getting caught up in what I'm NOT doing these days instead of what I AM doing.  Hello negative thinker, where did you come from?!?

It's not a secret times are tough around the old Mertel homestead.  Motherhood seems to frequently take over in a very overwhelming way for me.  Never BC (Before Children) would I think I would be this negatively affected by having children.  I am a positive person-sometimes I have to work at it, sometimes it comes naturally.  Either way it comes, that is the general state if mind I like to live in.  So imagine my surprise when I realized that negative would come creepin' into my life through all sorts of cracks in my exterior.

The good news is recently I have become aware again that this is a choice I am living.  Things don't have to be this hard even if they are hard.   I know this.  Working with Cardiac Surgeons for 12yrs made me very aware of that.  Surgeons can scream, patients can die, but if I stay above it than I am. Conversely,  children can scream and meltdown, but I can stay above it.  Right???  We shall see.  Operation "Stay Positive" is on in full affect.  Pray for me please!!

So without dwelling on all the posts I haven't written and all the workouts I haven't done, let's focus on what I have recently done.  I have finally gotten a gym membership.  After lots of himing and hawing I decided on a membership to the YMCA.  Mostly because they had everything available but also because childcare is free and unlimited and also, when I go back to WI, I can use the Y there.  This is Mucho Importante as I am planning on a February marathon (if all goes as planned) and I will need to do some training runs in December while I am home for my sister's wedding.

What else is positive you may ask?  Well, I have actually cross trained AND lifted some weights.  I have also started doing some focussed core strength workouts.
More importantly, I got over the unexpected today and used Dimity's Outlook "Don't Think Just Go" when life took an unexpected turn this morning.  The original plan was to go to a 930 spinning class.  With Ryan waking up at 845 and then crying until 859 about his yogurt not being right, then the fireplace repair guy showing up at 905, I realized that 930 spinning was out of the question.
Fortunately the repair work was done in NO time and then the crazy crying child told me he wanted to go to the "Y in Seattle"  which is somehow what he thinks I am saying when I say the "YMCA".  Either way it served a great purpose.  I told him 1. he had to eat the yogurt before we could go as he couldn't be hungry at the Y and 2. he had to quickly get dressed so we could go.  I knew there was a 1030 Yoga class that I could make IF I didn't think about it and just started moving everyone out the door.
The good news:  We Made It!  just barely in the nick of time, but we made it.  Some tears along the way and I was a few minutes late, but WE DID IT !!!
I realized I needed the relaxing down time more than an active workout anyhow.  I also got a peaceful shower in...which is alway nice!

On that note, I realized that I am supposed to be training for the Seattle Half Marathon right now.  Lucky for me I am using the Train Like A Mother-Finish It Half Marathon Plan.   Today I had a "Fun Workout" on the books, so hooray for me-I did the proposed workout.

So that's that for one day.  Good stuff will be coming along, as well as a little more action here in the blog-o-sphere.

Have a Great day!!