It Was A Marathon Weekend

 
April 16 - Good luck to everyone running in the Boston Marathon today! You rock!

The weekend was a whirlwind of running events. On Friday my Crazy Running Partner and I headed to Boston for a running girls night out.

Our first stop was the 2012 Boston Marathon Expo at the Seaport World Trade Center. CRP has finished the Boston Marathon twice and she thought I needed to see this expo. Huge. Loved it. Wish we had more time to hang out.

Cute display, but we kept moving (can't afford to stop there!)

My favorite marathon shirt

Great colors on the running shoes

So many Sweaty Bands!

Thought they had too many, so I took two!

Chatted with the girls at the RNR PROV booth

Then we headed over to Saucony's Evening of Running Inspiration Party at The Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. The event included keynote speakers sharing their stories of running and life followed by a reception highlighting the new Kinvara 3.

A special tribute to Caballo Blanco (Micah True) the Mythic Hero of Born To Run by Luis Escobar, friend and Ultramarathoner

2012 NFL Superbowl Champion for the New York Giants; Boston College All-American; Cancer Survivor, Mark Herzlich

3X World Triathlon Champion; Ironman Kona Champion, Karen Smyers

4X Winner Boston and NYC Marathons, Bill Rodgers

Q & A with the audience 

(hey Dorothy Beal from Mile Posts - love your #strong)

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages! 

Mark Herzlich tells us to #FindYourStrong

(We met up with FitFluential Ambassadors: Samantha, Nancy, and Dani

- too dark to take pics with my phone, but you should check out their blogs!)

After the Saucony Party we had a late dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery in the Theater District.

Saturday afternoon hubs and I dusted off the bikes and took our first ride of the warm season; a three mile bike ride to one of our favorite running spots, Scobie Pond (aka Haunted Lake). 

Sunday afternoon we ran a 10K at the 19th Annual Walk & Run for Food & Shelter in Nashua, NH. This was my running goal race for the month of April and my last race until the Cox Rhode Races Half Marathon on May 6.

There was a really good turn out for this race. They offered a 3K walk, 5K and 10K runs. I'm guessing there were over 500 participants in all of the events.

I registered for the 10K. Hubs came along and ran bandit!

We had plenty of time before the race to do the usual stuff...stretch

People watch

Chat with other runners and then ask them to take our picture

The course consisted of two different loops. The first loop was nice and easy, rolling hills and a good breeze. I ran this part with hubs. The 5K and 10K split near the finish line and this is where hubs and I also split. The second loop was much hillier and hotter because the breeze pretty much disappeared. The last half mile was a steady uphill to the finish line. Hate that. My finish time was 1:02:51.

Hubs unofficially finished in 1:14:08

After grabbing as much water and Gatorade as we could carry, we made our way to the food tent. They had apples/bananas, hummus & chips, chocolate chip cookies, and assorted sandwiches. An excellent post-race selection.

It was a beautiful day for a race in NH. Hubs and I had a great time!

Today I will be following the 116th Boston Marathon and cheering for my fellow runners.

Have you ever participated in the Boston Marathon?

Runner, spectator, volunteer?

Last year I spectated from the start line in Hopkinton, MA

Next year I'd like to run the B.A.A 5K

Running BFFs

 
April 1 - Today I want to tell you about some of my favorite running gear. Gear that has been helping me get ready for my next half marathon.

#1- I never run without my Nike GPS Sport Watch. GPS changed my running world. With the push of a button, I start my run and the satellites track my route. When I'm done, I can upload my data and view my route. It's that easy. And, I don't have to spend hours trying to map it myself.

#2 - I simply love my Simple Hydration Water Bottle. Fill it up, stick it in, and go. When I need a sip, all I have to do is reach back and grab it. It stays put no matter what type of bottoms I'm wearing and sometimes it feels like it isn't there at all. I love this bottle because it is completely hands-free. It is perfect for my half marathon training runs.

#3 - My favorite source of fuel at the moment is Sport Beans. I already love jelly beans and Sport Beans taste just like jelly beans to me. Before a long run I fill my pocket with beans making it easy to grab some when I'm running. They are super easy to chew and swallow, so I don't need water to eat them. There's nothing better than munching on something that tastes like candy.

#4 - I am falling in love with my new made-just-for-me orthotics (and maybe Mr. Chiropractor for recommending that I get them). These babies have helped alleviate my calf tightness and put an end to my knee-knocking. They are easy to insert and remove, so I can wear them in all of my running shoes! Maybe I can even get more running shoes? Hmmm...

What is your favorite (can't live without) running gear?

**The winner of the CLICK-Start Pack is Amanda from RunToTheFinish!
Congratulations Amanda. I hope you find CLICK as yummy as I do.
Please email me at runningescapades@hotmail.com within 48 hours
with your mailing address so I can get your prize shipped to you right away!**

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

CLICKtastic Giveaway

 

March 26 - Pampering my calf muscles has been a great time to enjoy a new beverage. A few weeks ago I was sent a CLICK-Start Pack to try. It is an innovative drink that combines gourmet espresso coffee, protein, and great taste into a healthy energy boosting beverage. I've heard other runners talking about the benefits of protein drinks after working out, but being the picky person that I am, I figured I wouldn't like them. But I love coffee, especially flavored coffee. So I tried CLICK and it.is.YUMMY!

It is super easy to make. Take some water, add two scoops of CLICK, and shake. I love to use the CLICK shaker cup and then put it in the refrigerator to get it really cold. 

You can have this drink any time you want. While I've been having it more as a afternoon snack lately, I also had it after some long runs. I'm not a huge fan of milk, so this is an awesome recovery drink for someone like me. You can mix your CLICK with milk, almond, soy, coconut, whatever you fancy! You can find more information on the CLICK website.

If you would like to try CLICK you can check out their Facebook welcome page for a Free Sample Offer and fan discount. And take a look at their fan recipe page for some yummy ideas.

You can also enter to win your very own CLICK-Start Pack which includes: a canister of CLICK mocha, samples of CLICK vanilla latte, and a CLICK shaker. The giveaway ends March 31 and the winner will be announced on the blog April 1.

Coddling the Calf

 

March 24 - Last weekend I ran a half marathon that wasn't planned. I did it because I've been feeling amazing. I did it because I want to maintain my fitness level for the next one that is on my schedule - the Cox Rhode Races Half Marathon. I did it because it was insanely fun to sign up at the last minute, and KNOW that I COULD do it.  

Feeling great at mile 2

The week prior my left calf muscles were a bit tight and spasming a little, so I took all the typical precautionary measures: ice, KT Tape, the stick, and foam rolling.

After the race I sported my compression shorts, compression socks, and decided to take a little rest. My legs were tired, but overall I was feeling pretty good. I was thinking I can do half marathons all the time!

On Monday, my calf was feeling very, very cranky = tight and tender. Uh oh. So I continued all of the above, took some ibuprofen and went to see the chiropractor.

Mr. Chiropractor adjusted my lower back, my hips, my ankle and my foot. Then he told me You have very little arch in that foot. WHHATT?  He explained that my calf muscles were working extra hard because of the lack of support in my foot. So I ordered myself a pair of made-just-for-me orthotics to go with my new pair of Nikes.

I skipped my scheduled run on Tuesday because the calf was still feeling ouchy. I continued to coddle the calf, even working it out using my wobble board; it's great for stretching and strengthening.

On Thursday it was feeling a lot better so I did a short trail run before another visit to Mr. Chiropractor. In addition to a full adjustment, I was told to get a sports massage.

So this morning before my appointment I went for a four mile run. I took the dog with me hoping he would prevent me from going too fast. My calf was still feeling a little stiff and I even had to stop to stretch it, but by the end it had loosened up considerably. Luckily my massage therapist is also a runner. She worked all the tight muscles in my legs, used hot rocks on my calves, and stretched out my quads and hips. She also suggested that I use heat before stretching and rolling my tense calf muscles with a tennis ball.

I am hoping to pick up the made-just-for-me orthotics next week and then put an end to this tight calf business. I am looking forward to another season of good running, fun experiences, and another pain-free half marathon!

How do you deal with a nagging pain/injury?

Do you think custom orthotics work?

Half of Quincy

 

March 19 - Yesterday I ran half marathon #3 in Quincy, Massachusetts. This race wasn't on my schedule until last weekend. My Crazy Running Partner has a goal to do 12 half marathons this year. She told me she was running this one and since hubs is out of town, I thought I'd join her to be her cheering section or maybe do the 5K that they added this year. But when I went to the website to register, I found myself thinking...Why shouldn't I run the half? A 5K seems kind of short these days. I'm in the best running shape I've ever ben in. I still have plenty of time to recover before the next one on my schedule. So that's how I ended up running half #3.

The race was 90 minutes away from where we live, so it was an early morning. On the way to meet CRP I picked up my stepdaughter who was coming along so that she could catch the train in Boston back to school after the race. She also promised to be the "second best cheerleader" after her dad. So off we went to Quincy High School - the most beautiful high school I have ever seen! I have been teaching for a long time including in a brand new building in Ohio, but this was like visiting a college campus or fancy hospital. Gorgeous.

The weather was forecasted to be 45 degrees at the start but climb to over 55 about the time we expected to finish. We opted to dress for the warmth accepting that we would freeze a little waiting at the start. Small sacrifice. I think it was almost 70 when we crossed the finish line. Pre-race was super organized. The website said "convenient parking behind the school" and except for lack of signage, it was perfect parking for a pretty big race. Bib pick up in the gym was quick and easy and if you were one of the first 500 to register you also got a race shirt. That, of course, was not me. The only restroom we saw had a line (shocker) but it moved quickly and we had plenty of time to head back to the car before making our way to the starting line. A Quincy police officer sang the National Anthem and we were off.

The plan for this race was to treat it like a really big fun group run. We weren't going after PR's and had in fact practiced slowing down our pace on a couple of runs during the week. We brought our cameras so that we could stop and take pictures.

It was a beautiful course to run. At 1.5 miles we stopped to take some pictures of the incredible views of the Boston skyline across the Quincy Bay. We were lucky enough to have the assistance of a couple of Quincy police officers to snap one with us in it. After that we ran along Wollaston Beach, a two mile stretch of shoreline anchored by a continuous walkway and fine sand. We found more incredible views as we traversed four miles onto the Squantum Peninsula and through the Marina Bay Complex. Although the docks were mostly empty this time of year, the luxury residences that lined the boardwalk were beautiful and had me longing to win the lottery. The remainder of course led us back through the "forgiving" hills of the historic "City of Presidents" and to the finish lined with cheering crowds including the "second best cheerleader" who gave me a high-five as I passed by.

Official finish time: 2:01:19

At the finish line we were handed our Half of Quincy medals and a bottle of water. Two thumbs up to the race organizers for having the water right there and not making runners walk around searching for it. Also readily available outside were bananas, while inside runners could choose a turkey, tuna, or chicken wrap, along with warm soup. We already made plans to hang around Quincy for lunch so we declined the food but snagged some Vita Coco Coconut Waters. After a quick wardrobe change at the car we set out on foot to grab some lunch.

Three iPhone apps, a couple of blocks, and one closed restaurant later, we found ourselves at The Fat Cat and I believe we lucked out. This warm and easygoing establishment had a variety of appealing choices on the menu, was very affordable, and treated us to great customer service. CRP informed us that the restaurant had been featured on Phantom Gourmet and it was easy to see why. The food was delicious.

Have you ever run a race unexpectedly? How was it?