Pam Versus 100 Miles Part 2 and Training Update

Ever since last year's 100 mile race I have had mixed feelings on attempting another go at it. In the few weeks after my finish last year I wanted to do it again. I think I was riding the high of the finish. Then a few weeks later I decided that I needed to take a year off of such a big race. Maybe get back into triathlon - race a half or maybe even another full iron distance. And then I changed my mind again. And again. And well you get it.

Training for a full ironman is also a large time commitment and when I started to weigh it out I realized that I have some unfinished business with the 100 miler. Sure, I finished last year but not under ideal conditions. I know I can run a better 100 if I am healthy! I'd like to break 24 hours at least and on the Towpath I am sure that I can do that if I have a good day. So I took the plunge this weekend and I signed up once again for the Canal Corridor 100. Why? Because I loved this race and I want to give it another go and see if I can do a little better this year. My priority will be to train smart and take good care of my body so I can hopefully arrive at the start this year healthy and ready for a good race.

As for triathlon, I'm still getting back to multisport this year...just taking my time getting there. I plan to maybe race Vermillion in mid August if I am ready and definitely Portage Lakes in September. And I may attempt my first stand alone bike tt if it works into the schedule and cyclocross race. I plan on logging more bike miles this season and less overall running miles and I will continue to swim and lift as well. I think it's important to cross train - not only is it better physically but I also think it's better mentally for most people.

Digging the new tee!

Last week I had a decent training week. I got in 48.5 run miles, 68 on the bike and a few core workouts. I finished my first 20 mile run of the training cycle yesterday and overall feel pretty good today. I am cycling today between 25-30 miles easy as my recovery. This week I will plan to get in around 50-55 miles of running with a solid amount of cycling and some lifting. April is going to be an intense month of racing with a half marathon on the 8th, a 20 miler on the 15th and HOF Marathon on the 29th. I then will have a few weeks to freshen up a bit for the Cleveland Marathon and then really get into the core 100 mile training! It won't be easy - but nothing good ever is!

It was nice to see my fellow Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors Saturday at Sarah's Vineyard. We had a nice little meetup and got our 2018 ambassador shirts and goodies. I'm excited to think of running in warm weather after the crappy winter we've had! Have you signed up yet? If not use code PMCLE10 and save 10% off your registration!

Cleve Marathon Ambassadors with Race staff at Sarah's Vineyard

Buzzard Day 25K Trail Race & Training Update

Last weekend I made a last minute decision to run the Buzzard Day 25K at Hinckley Reservation. My long runs have been boring and uninspiring and I just wanted a change and wanted to support local race director Roy Heger so the hubby and I went to packet pick-up Friday after work and signed up. After a pre-race IPA we headed home to make dinner and get our race day stuff ready including the race day outfit! I picked out my Skirt Sports Redemption Capris and I also ran in my new Skirt Sports Super Girl tank albeit underneath two other shirts and arm-warmers and my sweet new trucker hat.

On race morning we got to Hinckley Reservation around 9am and since the 25K start is at 10am we had plenty of time to catch up with friends, get warmed up, etc. It ended up being pretty cold around the start like 25 degrees so I was glad I had brought arm warmers and extra layer shirt because I definitely needed it. We took off into a field to head into the trails and my eyes were watery and breathing a little strained from the cold but just for a mile or two. I took off around an 8-8:30 pace, which was comfortable - slowing down for hills, icy patches and other obstructions like trees.

I have not been trail running as much as I should be so I almost forgot how fun it is as compared to just hammering it out on the roads. I do like that too but this race made me remember why I fell in love with trail running. All the twists and turns and climbs and jumps and beauty of nature coupled with the exhiliration of running in the woods with a couple hundred other people and making friends along the way.

The first half went pretty smooth except I came to a section with signs pointing both directions and took the wrong turn, which added about a half mile to my day. I came into the first aid station and they told me I was first female but I didn't think much of it because in a longer race and especially on trails anything can happen. I've had some races where I faded at the end but fortunately this was not one of them! I felt strong throughout and the last few miles were not too bad for me. 

Post race with trophy in my Skirt Sports Hat & Capris

I loved the course! It was a mix of single track, bridle trails, grass and pavement so it was never boring and I enjoyed running the asphalt sections too because I was able to make up some time there. The last mile seemed to go on and on and there was a steep little climb right before the end but I was excited to see the finish with Steve and my fellow Cleveland Marathon Ambassador Eric Geyer cheering for me! Then of course I got to say thanks to my friend Rich who was doing the timing. Roy gave me a trophy for first female and Sydney brought me some hard-earned ramon noodles, which tasted very good after 16.5 miles of running! My time of 2:40 was an average of around 9:40 I think. I should have been about 2:35 or so without the bonus half mile so I'm happy with the effort. It was definitely not another boring long run!

Later on that afternoon we met up with my friend and fellow Cleveland Marathon ambassador Stephanie Itibrout for post race St Pat's day beers and dinner. It was an awesome St. Patrick's Day!

Steph celebrating with me at Ray's Place in Fairlawn

I ended the week with 38 miles of running, 45 miles of cycling and two core workouts so it wasn't a big week for me volume wise and I think that helped my effort.

I opted for cycling on Sunday along with a recovery walk with the dogs and I also rode the bike yesterday. I did a short 3-mile recovery run this morning and an hour bike at lunch. I hope to start kicking the run mileage back up tomorrow. I am signed up for a 10K this weekend but I am not sure if I'll race it or not. Will see how I feel plus I think i need to focus on mileage more then speed this week. If I'm lucky I will get in a shorter long run Thurs or Fri and be able to race Sunday. Either way I'm getting excited because spring races are here and it's only 60 days until the Cleveland Marathon! If you haven't signed up yet feel free to use code PMCLE10 to save 10% off your registration. Oh and if you want to try anything from Skirt Sports you can use code 588McGo to save 15% off any regular priced items.

My road to running - and why I keep running

People start running for a variety of reasons. Some do it to lose weight, to get back into shape after having a child, to be healthier, to relieve stress, to make friends, to set and achieve goals, etc. For me it was sort of a mash-up of most of these reasons.

I ran track in middle and high school (800m, 1 mile relay, etc) but never enjoyed distance running. It was more of a social thing and a way to be involved with sports. Since I had my daughter when I was 17 I didn't have the chance to run track or cross country in college and some bad habits took over - namely smoking. Yep, I know it's gross but I was a smoker for a while. I also ate poorly (think way too much fast food) and probably drank too much too (think college bars). So, in my mid twenties I was not the picture of health that it might seem like I am today. I was out of shape and not living the best lifestyle and was not as much of a role model for my little girl as I wanted to be so I decided to make some lifestyle changes.

On Mother's Day in 2005 when my daughter was 9 years old I quit smoking - cold turkey. I never looked back. But I did gain a little weight and that motivated me to hit the gym and start running. I  remember trying to run down my street in my old neighborhood and I could not make it very far (even a quarter of a mile) without wheezing and feeling tired. Soon I was up to a mile. Then a couple miles and I decided to sign up for a local 5K in Austintown OH. I remember it being hard to run the whole race and I think I had to take a couple unofficial walk breaks to get through it but I did it and not too poorly. I think I finished in maybe 28 minutes.

That 5K race was the start of a different kind of addiction for me - a healthy one. And one that I still have today! That little race multiplied into many more 5ks, then a 10K, then a half marathon, marathon, sprint triathlon, Ironman, 100 mile ultramarathon...countless races in the dozen or so years that I've been racing.

Why do I continue to run day after day, year after year? Here are some of the things that keep me motivated to keep running:

• Running has become a part of who I am. I am not just a runner but running is one of the things that I think defines me in part. 
• I met my husband through running and we have become training partners in the sport as well as life and he of course helps keep me motivated!
• I love setting running goals and working towards them and of course achieving them! 
• I like meeting other runners and seeing them at races and training runs. Running friends are the best! And this year I have a ton of new running sisters thanks to becoming a Skirt Sports ambassador!
• I like feeling healthy and strong and capable of pushing myself to be faster - even as I grow older. 
• Running is always there for me on the good days, the bad days and the mediocre days that just float by. 
• Running reminds me that I am strong mentally and physically and that I am free. I define my own plan, my own goals, my own limits
• Running helps me set a good example for my daughter, stepkids and other family and friends.
• After a race I like to reward myself with a good craft beer and I feel like I have done something healthy to earn it!

Why do you run? And what keeps you going on the days when your motivation is running low?

2017 -Finishing my first 100 Mile Ultra with my hubby crewing!

2016 - My first Boston Marathon w/ Skirt Sports Ambassadors Siobhan & Jen

2015 - Running my first BQ & Marathon PR at Erie Marathon

2014 - Finishing my first full Ironman distance triathlon at Rev3 Cedar Point

2010 - First official date with my hubby at the Perfect 10 Miler race

2010 - My first marathon finish at Cleveland Marathon - daughter cheering

2008 - My first overall podium in a race with a 22:30 5K was 2nd place

St Malachi 5 Miler Race Report and Training Update

It's been a few years since I've run the St. Malachi 5 miler, which used to be my season opener pretty much every year in my earlier 30s. This was my final one in this decade since I'll be 40 in August.

Rocking my Skirt Sports Redemption Capris!

My time of 34:35 is a personal best for me. I'm happy that I ran a good race for me and was able to place 3rd in my AG as well! This is the first time I've placed in my AG at this race because it's competitive and many talented local runners come out to test their early season fitness.

My result surprised me a little because my training has been spotty the last month or so. I was travelling for work back to back weeks and then last week I was nursing a hamstring injury until Thursday and only had a couple of easy test runs on Thursday and Friday. I did my best to rehab the hammy and taped it up with KT tape to stabilize the muscle. Fortunately this worked. I felt good the entire race and my first mile of 6:38 was a good start to the race. According to the splits, I ran a 6:41 for the first 2.5 miles and a 7:10 for the back 2.5 miles - averaging a 6:55.

It was great to see so many friends out running and winning AG awards including my other half Steve who also had a 5 mile PR with his blazing fast time of 30:49! After the race we headed over to Masthead Brewing to enjoy some post-race hoppy beer with some of our Cleveland Tri Club and Snakebite Racing friends. It was a great day all around!

So the race went better than expected this weekend...but my long run yesterday was a fail and I only got in 9 miles. My legs were just too tired and I didn't want to risk re-aggravating the left hamstring. Today I did 45 minutes of core this morning and plan to do an easy 15 miles on the bike at lunch. I'll hopefully be back to running tomorrow and really have to build up my mileage now since marathon season is rapidly approaching! I think we are 7 weeks out from Hall of Fame and 10 weeks out from the Cleveland Marathon! Eek! I still have some serious work to do!

Post race with my friend Sasquatch and hubby 

February Training Wrap-up - Running to Burn Off the Crazy

February is the shortest month of the year...but it was a long, hard one for me! Training is not always easy when life happens. I had a couple of business trips: Cancun for four days and then to Chicago for a few days the following week, both of which were productive but tiring. And of course when I travel my workouts are not as frequent...if at all on some days.

And in between those two trips my car was hit in a parking lot at my gym LA Fitness in Cuyahoga Falls and although I filed a police report they have been total jerks about it and so I had to file a claim on my own insurance because they will not allow anyone to view the camera footage without a police warrant (really?). I would totally cancel my membership if these jerks weren't so conveniently close to my office. Grrr. End of rant.

So, despite a crazy month I am still pleased with my progress overall. Here's where my mileage ended up for the month:

Running - 170.35 (Average 42.5/week)
Cycling - 215 (Average 53.75/week - big drop here from January but hard to bike when travelling)
Swimming - 1 mile (less than January and also hard to do when travelling)
Core - 11 workouts (average 2.75 x week)

I'm having a harder time this season with my running. Or at least this month. I also had a minor calf strain last week that forced me to take a couple days off running and this week my left hammie has been tender but I was able to do an easy run this morning. Why can't it just be easier?! Either way I will keep running to burn off the crazy!

I am hoping that March is a better month entirely and for my training. So far it is off to a better start! Next Saturday is the season opener at the St. Malachi Run. It's a fun, St. Patty's themed 5 mile race that involves beer directly after so how can I resist that? I'm not sure how it will go because I don't feel as speedy as I would like yet - but regardless I plan to push myself and also have some fun. Stay tuned for the race report.