Cleveland marathon race weekend begins

Yea! Blogger is working again!

As I write this on riding shotgun in my jeep liberty as Jacob drives us and the cat to Ohio. I was a little stressed yesterday and today as I got stranded in Little Rock. Not a place you want to be stuck. After much running around last night I finally ended up purchasing an entirely new flight on a different airline to get back at a decent hour Friday so I could pack and hit the road again. I'm tired but hopefully I'll get to sleep in the car a bit.

So my weekend didn't start the way I had planned but it's back on track. I'm ready to see what my most likely rainy race day will bring! If you want to track and virtually cheer me on (I'll need all the support) my bib number is 1845. If you're Facebook friends with me I signed up for the automatic posts.

See you on the other side!

Taper and travel

Race day is coming up quick. I should be hydrating, getting enough sleep, taking it a bit easier at home instead I am a road warrior this week. When it comes to my work travel schedule I have some flexibility. However, because my current study is slow (I'm not maintaining the required number of monthly visits as set by my company) I'm having to cover other visits/help where needed. Unfortunately, I don't get to say "no" about these visits or plan them according to my schedule. Last week I was volunteered/told I needed to cover a 2 day visit in Little Rock. Yeah, I already had an overnight trip planned to Minneapolis Monday / Tuesday. So now I find myself traveling Monday through late Thursday then I plan on putting a half day of work in on Friday then hitting the road in my car to make the drive to Cleveland.

Definitely not what I had planned for this week and it's not ideal but I am trying to make it work. I'm hydrating even more than normal because of all the flights and trying to find healthy eats. My hunger is in full force so the one positive of all this travel is my work has to pay for my food ;) I'm not sleeping as much as I should or able to get all the miles I should but otherwise the taper monster is staying at bay. I guess I'm too busy to freak out! I hope this means only good things for race morning in Cleveland.

Thoughts on the Flying Pig

I was super impressed with the Cincinnati Flying Pig marathon last weekend.  It was my first running of the race (and a relay!) but my friends have been raving about it for years.  I have now run 3 out of the 4 major Ohio marathon/half marathon/relay courses (Cleveland full twice, Akron half once, and Cincinnati).  I still haven't made it to Columbus in October but now that my sister moved there I am sure that will change this year.

I was really impressed with the Flying Pig.

• They were trying to be more green this year.  E-mails came to everyone ahead of time to print any flyers or coupons you were interested in.
• The race swag was very nice.  All race participants received an Asics running shirt (separate men and female sizing! not one size fits all like rock n' roll races), a real back pack, a poster, and a double sided medal.  
• I was impressed everyone from the relay to the marathoner were treated the same.  This isn't always the case and it was nice to not be shafted just because I opted out of running this marathon.
• The expo was a good size but not ridiculous/crazy.  It is set up similar to Akron where after you pick up your bib you are funneled into buying the race supported gear then weave through all the booths.  
• For a race that is 13 years old it is incredibly organized.  More so than some older races I've been too/ran.
• It's a big race but not one where you feel too crowded at anytime.
• The race support is fantastic.  Aid stations were organized and well stocked. The race allows runners to vote for their favorite water stop/aid station at the end so some of those groups go all out just for bragging rights! 
• The race support is fantastic.  The community really gets involved at all stages of the race.  Unlike Cleveland which definitely has dead zones on the full course where you won't see anyone for a mile except the cops that is not the case in Cincinnati.  Even in the most sketch neighborhoods there were people out partying in the front yard, sitting on their porch cheering, handing out candy, jager shots (no I didn't have one), beer, funny signs, and their support.  

• If you love cute little piggies then you need to run this race.  They are everywhere!

• Relay exchanges while chaotic because of the number of people but were well organized from bathrooms, water, to volunteers.  I had no problem finding the 2nd or 4th runners.  Plus, at the 3rd leg there is a grocery store that opens their doors for cover and bathrooms.  At the 4th leg a local church provides breakfast and coffee to runners.  The 2nd leg there is only a pavilion to wait but at least there is cover.  
• Finish line or I should say Finish Swine is organized and well stocked.  Even for those runners crossing in 7 hours.  Though like any race there are those that grab a box and try to take everything laid out thinking they are the only one that ran the race.

There were not very many negatives about running this race.  Hills and the weather two things you can't control but at least expect.  It usually storms or at least rains.  This year was no different but at least it wasn't very heavy for very long.    The hills are constant, even as my friend calls them "baby hills" will cause you issues after awhile.  It's a challenging course and if you want to test your stuff the Flying Pig is where you should.  If you're nervous about the hills the biggest, baddest ones are in the first half.  Or run the relay!  The hilliest leg (#2) is the shortest distance.  No leg is flat or downhill, the last 2 only have fewer or less steep hills.  

And a little reminder if you decide to run a marathon relay.  Be sure you communicate with your team members about 1) how fast they each expect to run their leg so you know when to go out to wait for your exchange 2) where to meet at the finish line.  The big busses you back but I didn't carry my cell phone because of the rain.  Yeah, it took awhile to find everyone!  

On a completely unrelated note... T-10 days until my 3rd Cleveland marathon!  Let the weather watch commence!

Flying Pig Relay Race Report

This weekend I made the drive to Cincinnati to visit with friends and run the Flying Pig.  I had planned on running the half marathon but my friend switched to a different relay team so I could run with Mr. H, her sister, and sister's boyfriend on the Four Loco relay team.  It was my first time running on a marathon relay team.

I arrived on Friday and was up early to see Mr. H run the 10K.   I was his personal photographer for the morning ;)  After we hit up the expo, lunch, and errands.

Sunday morning started entirely way too early.  We were all up before 5 am (which really felt like 3:45 am to me thanks to the time change) and out the door before 5:30am.  We had to drop off Mr. H at the start, and the others at the 2nd and 4th relay buses.  Then Sarah and I were off to sleep in the Kroger parking lot until our race started.  It was very strange being up so early and waiting, not heading to the start line.  After an hour and half of not much sleeping and a trip to the Kroger bathroom, the eventual shirtless winner ran by, then Mr. H called saying he had passed off to the 2nd leg after a stellar 51 minutes 6+ miles. I made my way to the exchange point a little after 8 to wait for H.

I was on the ball and heard our number as H entered the long shoot.  He quickly handed me the very sweaty leg chip and I was off in the mass of sub-4 hour marathoners.  Quite a different experience running with the serious folk ;).  The miles ticked off quickly but it felt weird to be running with the faster crowd and not be running the full.  When people cheered for me I didn't like it because I felt like it wasn't deserved!  I was only running 7.6 measly miles of this pig monster.  The third leg started around mile 12 and went until just after mile 19.  The hills of the pig had gotten to nearly everyone around me. To see firsthand everyone gutting it out and I was on fresh legs made me feel bad.  I knew what they were feeling but couldn't do anything but stick to my race plan and cheer on those marathoners who were struggling around me.  It's a difficult course and I give mad props to those who tackle and conquer the full.

1 hour and 8 minutes later I was at exchange point 4 to trade the sweaty chip with my "sister".  I felt good and would have liked to have continued on but I had to take her bag to the finish line.  Collectively we finished in 3:49!  My best marathon finish ever ;)

Team Four Loco - Hell Yeah!

last minute half

About this time last week I decided to sign up for a half marathon. I had been seeing the ads/invite on my facebook sidebar for the Chi Town Half Marathon and 5K for some time but couldn't take the financial plunge. I've said it before, I have an issue hitting the submit/confirm button when it comes to signing up for races. Anyways, I had 14 easy on the schedule, the race was 3 miles from my front door, and along the path I would have to run my long run anyways. I figured I might as well get a shirt and a medal out of a long run! I saw that it would be cold but I was half hoping weather.com was lying because really - what do they know ;)?

Race morning was freaking freezing! I guess they weren't lying this time around. My husband woke up early to drop me off about 30 minutes before the start so I could pick up my ankle chip. I thought there might be a line... It took under 30 seconds. Then I stood around freezing because the real feel temp was around 19 degrees.

Nothing too exciting to talk about this run. It was a local, very small race but well supported for its size. I primarily "raced" to motivate me in completing my long run because well, I haven't wanted to run lately thanks to the weather. I also wanted to see where my endurance was and if I could hold my desired marathon goal pace after coming out of the boot 6 weeks ago. It didn't feel as good as I had felt in previous races but with some self bargaining and thanks to a random runner at mile 6 who unknowingly paced me I held onto my goal marathon race pace. Can I hold that for a marathon? No, not right now. But I'm not disappointed. I finished in 1:58:19 (9:01 pace) and exactly halfway overall, crossing the line in 322nd place out of 644 finishers. Definitely a first for me! I was happy to come in under 2 hours and while this is not my best race it's definitely not my worst. Really that's all you can ask for coming off an injury and randomly signing up for a race! Another reason not to be upset - I had an amazing mid distance progression run 2 days (less than 48 hours) prior to this race ;)

Crampy Calves

I'm back... briefly :) I have quick question before I have to pop out again.

So this training cycle (yes, I'm out of the boot finally and back to a regular running schedule!) I find my calves are much more sore / tight / prone to cramping than in the past. I have had problems but never like this time around. I'm following a slightly amended, less mileage more focus on getting my "speed" back training plan, my diet/food intake hasn't really altered much, I'm taking in my vitamins and eating enough potassium, I'm probably doing more cross-training, I wear my compression socks, etc. What gives? It's getting to the point where I am being woken up regularly (2-3 times a week) due to the cramping or the beginnings of what could turn into a very painful charley horse in my calf. I've also woken up screaming in pain and then my calf is tender for the next few days. It is so frustrating.

Do any of you suffer from weird cramping after running? How do you deal or what have you done to alleviate the problem?

A day in my traveling life

There hasn't been much time in my schedule to do anything other than work. Last month I was assigned to a second study that should have been 50% of my time. Instead I have 2 100% studies. I'm tired! My weekends are now spent running a little, cleaning, and recovering on the couch from the week of travel before I go back out and do it all over again on Monday. I am now spending very limited time on the computer and reading blogs has been relegated to my phone while I wait in the airport. So I haven't been commenting or reading as much as I would like.

A few weeks ago while in Boise, ID I decided to document a day of my life on the road. It's not very exciting but it's my life for the last 9 years. Sometimes I get to add in cancelled flights, delays, rude travelers, sweet travelers, and so on.

I always start my day on the road with the Today Show.

USA Today. My reading on the plane later.

Trying to scrape the frost with a credit card. Always a good time.

No fancy hotels for me; there's a low per diem. Luckily this was a nicer than most Hampton Inn and only 2 minutes from the research site.

My office for the day

Subway is my go to lunch. At my desk of course. I'm trying to get done early to catch an earlier flight home.

Heading to the airport

Being nice and having status helped me catch the direct flight home instead of my scheduled layover in Denver. Now it's time to settle in with some reading and recipes I won't have time to make because I'm not home.

Chicago at night. Love this view

Joy. 7:30pm and traffic is at a standstill leaving the airport.

After 8 pm and I'm finally home

A rarity... my husband made dinner and bought a bottle of wine. Love!

Night, night