We have a winner!

Congratulations, Lori! You are the winner of the Road{kill}ID based on the random number generator.... of 5 whole comments! ;-) I'll get it in the mail to you this week. Let me know how it turns out!

Road Kill identification and a *GIVEAWAY*

About 8 months ago, back when I was training for the Fargo Half Marathon, my mom told me about my dad being worried that I would get hurt running on the busy streets and highways. I was logging some fairly consistent and long runs back then {not so much now} and it got me thinking about what would happen if I did get hit while out running. Around the same time, I read a blog from a runner in the Twin Cities, who had a custom ID bracelet.
I looked into it and decided that road{Kill} identification would be a good thing... so I ordered it through RoadID.com. I got to pick the color and vital information... my name, birth year {so the coroner would know how old I was}, who to call, blah, blah, blah. The best part tho' was that I could include a little motivational message to myself.
I chose "Run It Out!", which is a little mantra I like to chant {in my head} when the going gets tough. I try to remember to wear the bracelet when I am out running and I guess I manage to do it about 80% of the time. I figure I will never win against getting hit by a car, etc... so that's why I call it my roadKill id, but I guess if I have heat exhaustion or something, perhaps someone would find it useful and could call any of the phone numbers listed on it. Ya never know!

So on to the *GIVEAWAY*... I have a $15.00 gift certificate good for any purchase from RoadID, which I will give away on Sunday, October 17th. If you are interested, just leave a comment on this blog and let me know what motivational message you would include on your bracelet. I'll do a random drawing from the entries and mail out the certificate to the winner. This is my first giveaway and I am SO excited!!

**Post script** There are lots of options for bracelets from RoadID, which have different prices. The one I chose, was $19.99, plus $1.49 shipping and handling.

Perseverance

**WARNING: LONG BLOG POST**

The finishing medal for the handed out at the Fargo half marathon on May 22nd has a wonderful quote on the back which states: "Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1
For me, running 13.1 miles really doesn't take talent or skill, but it does take perseverance. I knew last year when I finished my first half marathon that I could have done better and it nagged me, taunted me, and made me feel less than. I am pretty sure that I decided within a day of completing my first half marathon, that I would have to run it again. I knew I hadn't done my best and I wouldn't be satisfied until I could prove to MIC (My Inner Critic) that I had could do better.

I followed the same training plan that I had followed last year, Hal Higdon's HM for Novice, but this time I added more to the distance and worked on some speed intervals. I also joined an internet community team called 13.1 which has over 2000 members with varied experience levels. Perfect for asking any question and getting advice from. I will have to say, the spring in MN was late in coming so all of my long runs were in weather which was below 50 degrees.

I added a few things to my gear... I got a running hat (Nike), hydration belt (Helium 2 bottle belt), dri fit shorts and shirt (Nike). {With all the Nike gear, maybe I could take over for Tiger and be their new spokes person?} Basically all warm weather gear because the HM was going to be held later in May.

My training runs went really well and I set a goal of 1:50 for finish time (my finish time last year was 2:01:17). I felt prepared to met this goal until about a week before the race actually started. This is when some much warmer weather and higher humidity moved into MN. The week of the race I did 2 shorter (4 mile) runs and they were so stinkin' hard. My breathing was off and my confidence plummeted. I was plagued with doubt thinking, "If 4 miles is hard, how in the heck am I going to run 13.1 miles?" The closer to race day, the more I scoped the weather forecast. The winds were expected to be 23 MPH with high humidity. YIKES! The only thing that could possibly be worse would be high temperatures. I literally can't run in hot weather - I don't sweat enough. My face always gets beet red, but I just can't cool off (I'm blaming genetics on that one.)

Self doubt is so darn debilitating. Luckily, my family and friends are good at giving me the perspective I need. And when all else fails, my favorite coping skills are denial & avoidance. Thankfully, I could throw myself into cheering on two of my most favorite peeps as they prepared to participate in the Fargo 5K on Friday evening, the night before the HM.
Lori's daughter, her daughter's BFF and my daughter, Abby, were holding onto signs waiting for the race to begin. My tummy felt about as nervous as could be just waiting for the start gun to go off.
It was exhilarating watching Lori and Heather cross the finish line along with 5197 other individuals. So proud of them and their hard work!

And these same gals, got up at 5:00 AM the next morning to drive me to the Dome for my race. I cannot express how much it meant to me to have them with me to distract, encourage and support me. The traffic was BAD and although we gave ourselves plenty of extra time, we got there just in time for one potty break before I had to find my way through the 5300+ people to get in line. Did I mention that the weather man totally tanked on the 30% chance of rain? It was 100% raining and 60 degrees just before 7:30 AM when the race started.

It is so hard to describe the 10 minutes before the gun goes off. I positioned myself just in front of the 1:50/8:24 MPH pacer. I figured I would stick with the pacer as close as I could to try to make my goal. I tried to think about the here and now and not about the 13.1 miles ahead of me. I checked out the runners around me and what kind of gear they had. I noticed the people who were wearing hefty bags with just their heads sticking out trying to stay dry before the start. I noticed the people with matching shirts who were obviously running together. I watched a lot of people jumping up and down to warm up. I turned my ipod on, but kept the volume low so I could still hear what was going on around me. I thought, "What am I going to remember about this journey?" I will always remember the drive from FF to Fargo with Heather & Lori and their support and total faith in me. I'll remember the way the weather went from sprinkling during the Invocation to solid, hard rain, right after we collectively said "AMEN!" I'll remember how the tears running down my checks during the Invocation and National Anthem were completely camouflaged by the rain, which was pretty handy. I'll remember how it feels to be poised, ready to begin the race but thinking of the relief and joy of crossing the finish line. I worried that there wouldn't be much crowd support with the crummy weather.

BANG! The gun goes off, but it takes some time before we actually begin to shuffle forward. It took a little over a minute before I crossed the start line and could actually begin running. Suddenly, my ipod fell out of my case and was dangling just by the jack in front of me. I grabbed it and realized that my idea of putting my arm case upside-down to protect it from the rain was a big FAIL. I fumbled around with it, heard Heather & Lori cheering for me looked up and gave them a wave and a smile and continued to work to get my ipod in the case and back on my arm. I prayed that I hadn't ruined it because it had gotten plenty wet during the process.

We were suddenly at the first turn and I felt like I could finally start to breath. Lots of puddles, splashing, dodging and weaving.... and yet there were tons of people clapping, yelling, cheering, ringing bells & offering encouragement. I felt my spirit lift. Thank you crowd!! I didn't think ahead, I just kept thinking of where I was at. My first mile was 7:30 MPH and just as I passed the marker, I saw my friend Denise with her son (my godson), Brac crouched in the rain watching the runners go by. I pointed and waved at her and saw the surprise on her face. I thought maybe Steve and the girls would be with her, but then realized they must have decided to go to another spot. Since I didn't know where they may wait for me, I kept scanning the crowd for them. The race route turned and weaved a lot and there were plenty of water filled pot holes to try to leap over. By mile 4 I finally felt like I had gotten my pace down. I misfired on my first water station and choked while trying to drink and run. I coughed off and on over the next mile. After that I always stopped and drank my water and then started running again. Things went smoothly though the 10K point. At mile 7, my left hip had a sharp pain. At the time, I was running right beside the 1:50 pacer, but had to slow down a little due to discomfort. That is when I had my first real twinge of doubt. As I watched the pacers sign bob a little further in front of me, it was like watching my goal float away. I started to feel defeat. Just a few minutes later, at mile 8, I heard a constant, almost annoying, shrill whistle. I knew right away it had to be Kippy! She didn't see me, but I could hear her and as luck would have it, I was running on the left side of the street near where she was standing. I yelled out to her and put out my hand for a high 5. I also gave Steve a high 5, but couldn't quite reach Abby. I heard their cheers and I felt lifted. I didn't run any faster, but I realized they didn't think of me as a failure, so I needed to kick my negative inner critic to the curb. By the time I reached mile 11, I noticed I could no longer see the 1:50 pacer sign anymore. It hit me.... I was going to be disappointed with my finish time again! Ugggg!!! I comforted myself by rationalizing I could just run the race again next year. Just before mile 12, I stopped and walked for about 10-15 seconds. I had to dig deep to get through to the end of the race. As I entered the Dome, I thought I saw the finish time displaying 1:49, but without my glasses I figured I didn't see it right. I still had a little sprint left in me and I used it all up just to get across the line.

It took me another 10 seconds or so to remember to turn off my stop watch. I looked at my time on my watch and it said 1:49:09. Could that possibly be right??? I know the 1:50 pacer guy was ahead of me, so how could this be? I accepted my finishing medal and a bottle of water, still wondering if I may have actually reached my goal.

Meeting up with my entourage turned out to be much more difficult than I had imagined. It was 20 minutes before Heather and Lori could reach me.
Then using cellphones/texts we were able to guide the rest of the crew to us. Steve, the girls and also my mom, who had drove up from the farm to watch.

The hugs were so amazing and my jello legs appreciated being able to lean on my peeps to stay standing.
I slipped on the t-shirt that Abby had made me over my already rain and sweat soaked shirt. I love the saying on the back. I called my dad as soon as I could and asked him to check what my time was on the computer. Dad asked me what I thought my time was going to be. I told him my watch showed 1:49:09 and that seemed close to what the finishing clock was showing when I crossed the finish-line. I so wanted it to be true! When we got to Lance & Denise's house, I got a call back from Dad and he confirmed that my finish time was 1:48:55. A little over a minute under my 1:50 goal!! The rush I felt knowing I had OFFICIALLY beat my goal is indescribable. It was the icing on the cake, that is for sure.

These shoes are only two weeks old, but they served me well. I get to keep my FarGo time chip along with my finishing metal and the memories of this race forever. I really feel like I poured everything I had into the race this time. I am satisfied! I don't NEED to run a HM again... Maybe I'll WANT to do it, but I don't NEED to do it. Two days later, I still have sore quads, but the soreness just reminds me of what I accomplished. I feel like I did my best and that is really all I wanted. So take that MIC!

The people I really admire are those who tackled the Marathon. 26.2 miles have been described as "Hell and Back". Our good friend, Lance (running in all black), was one of those very brave individuals. Marathon runners are in a class all to themselves. It gave me the chills just to watch them on their journey.
Congratulations to all of the race participants! Fargo had over 17,000 runners in their GoFar events May 20-22. So much inspiration packed in those few days.

Training for the HM

I started training for the Fargo half marathon in February. I logged 60 miles last month and every single mile was on the treadmill. I watched tv, watched my ipod Tudor's season 1 episodes two times, listened to music... but nothing beats the open road.

This morning, it was melty, muddy, icy and 34 degrees... and I did my long run in of 7.5 miles. I was loving it.... well, I didn't love it when I got road sprayed by vehicles speeding by me, but I did love the fresh air. I had a hard-time getting my pace figured out and about popped a lung. I have been relying on the treadmill too much. I definitely need to log more mileage outside. I averaged 8:48/mile, which wasn't too bad for my first outside distance run this year. My brand-new Mizunos will never look the same!I got pretty muddy and had Kippy take this picture of the back of my running tights. Now, got to go shower and get the sweat off and get my gear in the wash. I.LOVE.SPRING!!!

Treadmill Inspiration

I have spent a lot of time on my treadmill over the years. In fact, I am getting very close to 900 miles. Woo Hoo!! I have to admit logging those miles hasn't always been a big thrill for me since I much prefer running outside, however snow and ice aren't my thing, so I am forced indoors about 4 months out of the year.

I have tried a lot of different things to make the treadmill more interesting. Steve bought me remote headphones to make watching TV possible w/o blasting the TV volume up so high I risked damaging the kids' hearing. I have put together various playlists to listen to on my ipod. I have also tried reading, but can't master that while running, only if I am walking.

Two weeks ago, I found my ultimate treadmill motivation....


Can you guess what it is?



I'll give you a hint... I used something "old" in a "new" way.



Give up??....



It's my ipod, but used in a new way!

I had never done this before, but I purchased my motivation on iTunes. I got Season 1 of the Showtime series called The Tudor's. It is fabulous-ness on a tiny, tiny 2" x 1.5" screen!!! I have watched Seasons 2 and 3, but I missed the first season. I love this scandalous historical fiction based on Henry VIII. I only allowed myself to watch it while running, so 10 episodes later, I have put in 30 miles on the treadmill!

It helps that Jonathan Rhys Meyers is totally HOT. The final 4th season begins in April, so now I just need to figure out what I can get on iTunes to inspire and motivate me for the next two months, until this snow melts. Any suggestions?

Nothin' but Mizuno

Not so long ago, I wasn't all that picky about what running shoe I used. I just tried on a few pairs to find something that fit my narrow heel well and didn't slip and went with it. Over the years, I have used ASICS, Sauscony, Adidas, & Nike. Gradually I have educated myself more. I have done research and I have had my stride evaluated. I learned that I have underpronation, which means my feet roll outward at the ankle. A great resource for evaluating your running shoe needs is through Shoe Dog. You answer a series of questions and get a list of shoes that are best for you. Having the right shoe reduces the risk of injury and I am all for that!

That is how I found out that Mizuno Wave Rider is the shoe for me. Once I tried them on, I knew it was a perfect match. My heel was snugged in and the toe box was wide and comfortable. They felt like air on my feet. It was TRUE LOVE, I tell you!
I replace my shoes every 400 miles or so. This is about the time that the support is wearing down and I can feel my knees and ankles protesting a bit. I just got my 4th pair of Mizuno Wave Rider's in the mail last week. LOVE the new color, which I think will hide dirt better than white.

I love my Mizuno's so much, that I can't seem to throw them away. I have become a Mizuno hoarder!

They are a work-of-art, I tell you!

Yup, I have some issues.

I have gone from Wave Rider 9 up to Wave Rider 13. Each year the model just gets better and better. The latest has a lining in the interior which is as soft as butter and makes my heart go pitter-patter. Yup, I definitely am in love with these shoes!

Recap of my first Half

Participating in Fargo's half marathon on Saturday, May 9th, was an incredible experience. With 5,000 runners in the half marathon and 1300 in the full marathon, it was overwhelming to be running with that many people! There was a certain level of concentration just to make sure you didn't trip or run into someone. I did bump shoulders often with others, but luckily, didn't biff it.
My cheerleaders at mile-two included my mother-in-law, Steve, Abby, Angelique and Bella. They had whistles and a school bell and made lots of noise. Steve took this picture and I'm in the blue/white jacket with a polar-fleece headband. Steve told me next time I should wear something more distinctive because it was hard to pick me out in the sea of runners. Next time? Not sure there will be a next time! There were so many creative outfits and t-shirts that I saw. A few T's really stuck out for me... A grandma with "I'm running for Dave, he was always my biggest supporter." made me choke up. Another guy had, "What? You still trying to catch me?" on the back of his T... funny. Also, a woman with a baby bump with a T saying "Baby's First Race" and an arrow pointing down... now that is impressive!

There were all kinds of different people in this race... men, women, young, old, tall, short, physically challenged, friends, siblings, experts, & first-timers.

Here are some things that stand out in my mind about the race:

• The horrible traffic trying to get to the Fargo Dome before the race started. I don't know what I would have done without my dear friend, Heather, helping me to stay calm in the car as we waited and waited on I29 to take the 19th Avenue exit. Although we left Fergus Falls in time to be at the Dome an hour early, we ended up with only 20 minutes to spare and the 2nd call to the start line being announced.
• The nervous anticipation as I made my way to the start line and how grateful that I wasn't there all alone... Thanks so much, Heather!
• The beautifully sang National Anthem and the meaningful Invocation. I stood in the sea of runners waiting for the race to start and let the tears just stream down my face. It was so powerful that I get choked up now just thinking about it.
• All of the supporters along the race route. Shout-outs, banners, bands playing, bells, music... you name it! There were some very creative fans and it made me smile. When I was feeling drained, I would run along the edge and high-five random people. Talk about a boost! I saw a big sign up on a tree that said, "GO RENAE!" And even though it was not specifically for me, I kind of imagined it was and felt a lift.
• The mile 11 marker, realizing that every step beyond that point was going to be the furthest I had ever run before.
  
• Crossing that finish-line... EXHILARATION! And, Kathy, I followed your advise and crossed that finish-line with a big '0l smile and arms pumping in the air! Don't have any photos of that, but my family and friends in the Dome who were watching can vouch for it. Heather, thank you for the bottle of water at the finish-line and directing me through the sea of runners.
  

Although I didn't quite reach my goal of 2 hours, I came very close. Official time: 2 hours 1 minute and 17 seconds. Me being me though, I can think of a few things that may have made the race go a teensy-weensy-bit better.

1. I should not have tried the "GU gel" that was offered at mile 7. I had never, ever tried it before and it was "ish". I ended up getting very nauseous.

2. It was so very, very cold. Temps hovered around 37 degrees the whole morning. I over-dressed and had to take off layers and tie them around my waist. Funny thing was that my FEET were burning up from about mile 5 on. I think I had too many layers on my legs, but I couldn't take them off because my race number was pinned to them. I was preoccupied with thinking about my feet and the blisters I was getting for the whole 2nd half of the race.

3. I drank too much water along the way. I felt slosh-y and full and that mixed with the GU gel, I almost lost my lunch around mile 10.
Steve took this photo just as I was entering the dome (in blue with more blue tied around my waist). I have my serious-game-face on worrying that I would have to do another lap inside the dome and not wanting to start my sprint too early 'cause I was OUT OF GAS at this point.

I finished, YAH, BABY!!

The girls were proud of me and I was so happy to have them there to bear witness.

My dad made the decision the night before the race to drive all the way to Fargo to watch me. THANKS, DAD!!! It really meant a lot to know that I had family and friends (Thank you, Ness family and Hubert family) pulling for me. Salena put together a this fun post about the race. You rock, Salena!

I did it! And I have the metal to prove it. I don't think I'll do it again, but ya never know.