Training Update for HOF & Cleveland Marathons

I've been in a bit of a running slump since the Austin Marathon a few weeks ago. Recovery is hard, especially in winter because the weather stinks and I am beyond sick of the treadmill. Yes, I use the treadmill a lot because I run early am before work and at lunch at my gym most days. Occasionally I get in an outdoor evening run. With daylight savings time this weekend I expect to have more of those after work runs. I run outside on weekends as much as I can. The highlight of last week's training was hitting the trails in North Chagrin Reservation!

With my running volume lower between 25-40 miles since the race, I have been on the bike trainer a good bit to cross train. This increase in bike mileage led to my IT band becoming irritated last week so I did not run the Mill Creek half as I had hoped. I did not want to force an injury. This week I am feeling better and almost back to my normal self. I should hit about 48 miles this week including running the Shamrock 15k race in Akron on Sunday. I'm not sure how the race will go but I figure it will at least be some speedwork, which I need if I am going to have a shot at a BQ this spring.

After this week I have about 3 weeks of training to get in before I head over to Switzerland for a work trip for the first week in April. I do not anticipate having much time to train while I am away. My plan is to get in a couple short runs and some core work and use this week as rest/recovery, which is probably needed anyways leading into HOF later in the month. I am not sure how I will fare at HOF but the Cleveland Marathon is 3 weeks later, which is ideal for me. With the new course in Cleveland I may have a shot at a good race. Also, I think we are due for some nice, mild weather (fingers crossed for 50 and partly sunny).

Special shout out to PowerBar for the box of goodies they sent me this week! I am looking forward to trying their new stuff. Hoping to be back on Team Elite next season!

Watch next week for my Shamrock 15K race report! It looks like it will be a cold one. I don't about you guys but I am ready for spring! Also watch for a post about the new PowerBar products I'm trying out in the coming weeks.

This week's mantra!

Naples, FL Craft Beer Tour

My husband and I took a much needed week long vacation to Naples, FL from Christmas Day until New Years Day. The weather was terrific and we enjoyed our daily runs, bike rides and even got in a couple of swims in the gulf. We also got in our fair share of beer tasting throughout the town.

A lot of the breweries and local bars were closed on Christmas so we made our way to downtown to a restaurant and split a bottle of wine since the beer selection was weak.

The next day we had dinner and flights at a really cool bar called the Brass Tap. We tried a bunch of different IPAs including the Evil Twin Molotov Heavy, which packs a big punch at 18%! We also tried some Belgians that were good too. They also have their own brewery onsite called South Cypress Brewing and they had some good beers as well including their IPAs and a Peanut Butter & Jelly Stout!

While shopping for some snacks at the local Whole Foods we discovered that they have a full bar and restaurant so we enjoyed some of the taps there. The Green Bench Sunshine IPA was a crowd pleaser after a hot day at the beach! They had a pizza and pint night for $8, which we could not pass up! 

Beers after our bike ride!

One of my favorite stops after a long day of bike riding was to Fit & Fuel, a cute little cycling-themed cafe owned by the folks that own the Naples Cyclery. Fit & Fuel has really good and healthy food and really good and healthy beer! 

We also checked out a few other breweries. We liked Bone Hook Brewing especially their Double IPA. I think it was called Dave's Dirty Double. Their Belgians weren't bad either. And it was a cute little place.

We were not as impressed with Riptide, although their beer was definitely drinkable they were just out of the IPAs we really wanted to try.

Naples Beach Brewing was a big disappointment for us. I didn't even drink all of the beers in my flight. The flavors were all over the map and some of the beers just tasted like Miller Lite. That and I did not really like the industrial park feeling to it either. But hey to each their own!

All in all it was a fun vacation, full of of sunshine, running, biking, swimming, tasty food and craft beer! 

Austin Marathon Race Report

This past weekend I ran the Austin Marathon in Austin, Texas. My husband Steve and I were there on a short vacation and when we heard the race was open we figured it would be a nice opportunity to test our early season fitness. And test our fitness it surely did! It was certainly not an easy course... probably not a PR course unless you've heat acclimated and done a good amount of hill work, which we had not. Still, it was a fun challenge to take on and a way to see a lot of the city. Fortunately we did have a little time before the race to relax by the pool at our resort in Barton Creek.

A little R & R prerace

The race started downtown on Congress. We parked about a half or three quarters of a mile out and used that little walk as a warm up. Then we dropped our post race gear bags, used the bathroom and lined up just in time for the national anthem. I wasn't really sure where to line up so I ended up around the 3:35-3:40 group, thinking this would be good and I could always push the pace later if I felt okay. The race started quickly and I recall thinking "oh no, it's only mile two and I am breaking a sweat...this may be a long race". And it was. The weather was about 80 degrees with 90% humidity and I definitely felt it.

I was pacing pretty well despite the heat and hills through the 15k and then the wheels started to come off a little. I recall seeing the half split off around that time and wishing I was almost done. I was pretty drenched by them and stopped to remove my race singlet and pin my bib to my sports bra. After that I felt a little cooler. I just remember thinking "oh hey another hill" quite a few times. The good news is that there is also some downhill running.

Toughing it out!

I stopped around the halfway mark to use the bathroom so at least I know I was hydrating enough. At every water stop I had Nuun and sometimes a water too. I think this helped tremendously in the late miles. I also took in six gels and a few orange slices as well as some Hammer Endurolites during the race, which really help me avoid cramping in the heat. I didn't want to walk so I tried to just walk the aid stations as needed and would limit my break to a minute. I normally do not need the breaks but in this heat I did. I think if I was better acclimated that would not have been the case.

Miles 13-18 were particularly hard for me physically and mentally. At times I was asking myself why I do this running marathons thing for fun. Then I was able to get comfortable again in the later miles and pick up the pace some to bring my average pace back down into the 8:40s. I was hoping for 8:10s to finish around 3:34-3:35 but on this day a 3:50ish finish was okay by me. It was a challenging race and I think I did okay and feel I am track to possibly PR one my cooler, flatter 26.2s this spring in either Canton or at the Cleveland Marathon. 

Even the last mile or two were uphill and I passed a lot of people walking and I can't blame them. It was a hard one. I was able to push through and was elated to see the finish and to drink my Oscar Blues IPAs after with Steve, who also had a tough go of it. But we finished it and it was a hell of a training run for these spring marathons quickly approaching! Next up...the Shamrock 15K in a few weeks. I think those hills may feel a bit easier now.

Post race Oscar Blues finish line was hoppin'

Cleveland Marathon Contest Winner and Training Update

Last week I posted my Cleveland Marathon giveaway and there were a lot of runners hoping to win an entry. I wish I could give one to all of you but unfortunately I can only give away one entry. To make it fair I also use Random-ize.com. This year's winner is ChelseyKelsey! Please reach out to me and I will give you your code to sign up for any Cleveland Marathon race distance of your choice. I hope that you have a fabulous race! For everyone else, keep following along with the ambassadors each week leading up to the race and there are still many entries to giveaway!

As far as my training goes, I got in another great effort last week of 71 miles, including my first 20 miler of the year yesterday! When I started the long run I felt awful and wasn't sure I was going to get it done but I stayed strong mentally to overcome the physical struggles I was dealing with (mainly GI issues but also a headache and some fatigue). The second half of my run went much smoother and I was able to get in some fast miles at the end. Today, I am resting and not running. I will do an easy spin on the bike just to get the legs flushed out and ready to run in the morning. 

My husband and I planned a last minute trip to Austin, TX in a couple of weeks and we we learned that the Austin Marathon was still open we signed up! Of course I am excited and nervous! This will be a good early season test of fitness and it's always fun to run a marathon - especially in a new city and when there's an Oskar Blues beer tent at the finish! Since we're running the marathon we're tapering back the next two weeks, which is always bittersweet. I know my body needs the break but those taper days can be a challenge. Wish me luck! 

Congrats to Random-ize.com winner ChelseyKelsey!

Cleveland Marathon Training & Race Giveaway

It's that time of the year again... I am all signed up for the RiteAid Cleveland Marathon! It's become like a right of passage into spring for me. This race was my first half marathon in 2008 and then my first full marathon in 2010 so I have many fond memories of running through the streets of Cleveland each year in the Cleveland Marathon!

Some years I've PR'd the course and other years like last year I've hardly survived. This year I will be running the HOF marathon a few weeks before to get ready for what I hope will be a strong 26.2 in Cleveland! So far my training has been going really well so I'm excited to see how I will do!

This year is the 40th anniversary of the race so they are giving away some really cool swag including a nice commemorative key chain to all participants and as always each participant will receive a high-quality tech tee and access to the fun after party! Want to join me and race on May 21? As an official ambassador for the marathon, I have a free entry to give away to the race distance of your choice. Simply leave a comment on this post and I will randomly select a winner next Monday. Goodluck and Happy Running!

Holiday Race Reports & Legends 5K Race Giveaway

The first couple weeks of January have flown by with vacation and travel for work. I was able to spend a couple of weeks in Florida and run in the sunshine and on the beach. Prior to vacation I did get in a couple of short races to end the year.

post race with santa!

The first race was the inaugural Spirit of the Season 5K in North Canton. I really had no expectations for the race but to get in speed work. It was a cross country style course that went around a high school and included asphalt, cement and gravel and there were a couple of good hills for extra fun. The whole time I felt like I was dying since this was the first faster effort I had run in quite some time. Although it wasn't my best effort I ended up running a 21:50, which was good enough to win the female race. For winning I received a free entry for the Hall of Fame Marathon's Legend's 5K race. Since I will be racing the marathon the next day I will not race the 5k the day before. I am giving away my entry. Simply leave a comment below letting me know that you want to run the race, which will be on Saturday, April 29 and I will randomly select a winner early next week.

love the medal!

The next race was the Frosty 5 Miler on Christmas Eve in Hudson. We had done this race last year and had a good time and it's a nice little tradition to kick off the holiday with a race. I felt better during this race than I did during the 5K, which is progress. My pace was about the same too. I just missed breaking 35 with my 35:02 (7:00) pace. I was happy with the age group win and rewarded myself with a tasty Christmas eve beer for the hard work.

I don't have anything officially planned now until the HOF marathon although I am debating some races in Jan-April depending on my schedule and how I feel.

Inaugural Trip to Royal Docks Brewing

A few weeks ago before the holiday my husband and I had a dinner event to attend in Massillon. Since we were in the area we decided to stop ahead of time at Royal Docks Brewing in Jackson Township. We had recently tried their Vlad the Impaler Russian Imperial Stout and loved it so we were excited to explore some of their other beers.

Now this is a nice paddle! 

In my opinion the best way to try a variety of beers is to order a paddle. Generally you get 4-6 5-oz styles to try for around $10 or so. This was our approach at Royal Docks. Their flight comes with six selections, which is generous. I started with the Vlad because it's now one of my favorite imperial stouts and although it's 13%, it is quite smooth and drinkable. I also tried the Baba Yaga Porter, Prodigal IPA, Tanglefoot IPA, Yuletide Ale and they brew fresh Kombucha, which is non-alcoholic but I could not pass that up as I really enjoy Kombucha.

All of the beers were smooth and drinkable. I enjoyed the IPAS, they were well-hopped. The porter was smooth. I am not the biggest fan of holiday ales but theirs was spicy and good, garnished with fresh rosemary and cranberries. The Kombucha was also good.

Love this hat!

We did not try the food yet as we had a dinner following our visit but the menu sounds enticing. The service was good, the facility is clean and modern and overall we had a great experience so we will be back!

In the meantime I can show off my new Royal Docks beanie, which is helping to keep me warm on these cold Ohio winter days! I couldn't resist the tagline "Mind the Tap". Indeed!