Color Run Fun

Nothing better to get back in training mode than to do a fun run after a not so great marathon.

On your mark, get set, run with the unicorn!

A little color fun!

Lots of fun.  But if you ever run this race...know it is not a easy as they say to get the color off of you.

Jacksonville Bank Marathon Finish

I've been dreading this post for so long; mostly embarrassed by the time it took me to finish the marathon.  Until recently, I decided I just wouldn't speak of this race; and I knew that with time everyone else would forget too.  But then I realized...I FINISHED a marathon.  That is pretty great in itself.

Here is a look at the day through pictures.

The morning of the race, Josh was in full Christmas spirit and I struggled to keep that smile covering up all the nerves and crazy thoughts going through my mind.

Running through the start line help alleviate most of my nerves and we began our journey.

 Still smiles as we cross the 5K mark.

The sun began to come up and the crowd began to thin.
















At the half marathon point, we were doing great.  Holding steady with the pace we wanted, still moving along and still in high spirits.  I thought I had this in the bag. But as we got closer to the 17 mile mark, my foot started to ache and I slowed a bit...okay a lot more than a bit, I felt like I was walking on a broken foot. And with every step, I got closer and closer to quitting.  In fact I encouraged Josh to run his race, he was still killing it. Josh took off and we agreed to meet at the 18 mile point.  Right before that mark, I sat down with a few cops patrolling the race and said, "I quit."  I even asked them to arrange me transportation to the finish, where I could wait for Josh to finish.  But I could see him waiting ahead and decided I better tell him the bad news before he waited any longer on me.  As I caught up to him, I knew he could tell I was hurting but he wouldn't let me quit.  We argued how close/far the finish line was.  He argument...only 8 to go, we've already done 18.  My argument, it was EIGHT more miles.  But then as all the volunteers at the water stop were cheering for us and encouraging me to continue...I decided to suck it up and keep going.  I mean I couldn't let Josh become a marathoner and not do it myself.  He was gracious enough to stay with me for those last 8 miles as I struggled to even get a mild jog going.

 As we rounded the corner and came into the stadium, you could see the pain in my face as I mustered up a slow jog to the finish.

Not sure if this is a fake smile or a smile of relief that the finish line was in sight.

 AND FINISHED! That was brutal.

Josh finished just before me, so that on record it shows he won.  He definitely could have finished a good 15-30 minutes faster if he didn't walk with me those last 8 miles.  (He also won the "Best Husband of 2012" award that day.)

Barely smiling. I was saying "never again" at this very moment...but I change my mind a lot. :)

Proof that we finished.

Swenson 2nd Annual Super Run World Cup

Swenson 2nd Annual Super Run World Cup

Of course we are missing a few, but it is always nice when a holiday allows for some family time.  Last year, we decided to kick off the Swenson Annual Super Run World Cup and this year, things were even more intense and exciting. 

The grand prize cup was again up for the taking but the rules had changed.  Each year the previous year's winner gets to come up with the rules.  Dad was the winner last year and determined that the winner would be based on most improved from this year to last year; so it was really anyone's race.

Dad preparing to carry the trophy.  (Another rule.  Winner must carry the trophy and a 6 pack of beer for the entirety of the race.)

Couldn't find an official 10K course in the Orlando, so we improvised a bit.  I ran the course many times to ensure that it would could qualify as USA Track & Field approved race (and it so was!).  Got up early and marked the clearly marked the trail.  Gathered the masses, explained the rules and the route, set up the mid-point beverage and nutrition stop (after having the table stolen, we had to improvise a bit), and got everyone to the start line.

Lastly, got the official time keeper is in place.  (We take the race very serious.)

And the race is off!  

The race consisted of two loops that had several passing points. The route went along a common dog walking area, so we got lots of looks, strange comments, and some cheers along the way.  And even a lady encouraging us to lose so we wouldn't have to carry the cup.  I actually think the dog walkers were having as much fun as we were.

THE RESULTS

5th Place

4th Place

3rd Place

2nd Place

Best Time Keeper Award

And 1st Place Goes To...

A drink from the winner's cup.

Marathon Training

Talks of marathons have been in the air for months now.  After backing out of the Marine Corps Marathon just weeks ago, Josh was giving me a lot of grief.  Although I was disappointed with not following through; life just got in the way and my training was weeks behind, I knew that I was making the right decision by not forcing the race.  However, over and over I have heard Josh say anyone could be a marathoner and that it wouldn't take much training to hold a 14 min mile (most course minimums) for 26.2 miles.   After spending a great deal of my life over the last year and a half dedicated to training (over 1000 miles logged) I was a little offended by his statements.  Not that I am a marathoner, nor do I think I am ready now.  But a lot of hard work, sweat and time go into conquering this large goal and it isn't going to be for anyone.  Yet, he persists that most anyone under 35 in moderate health could knock out a race like this on any given day .

And so the challenge began.  He found a marathon, that is now 5 weeks away, and signed us up.  His training plan doesn't exists, crazy I know, and mine was already in a few weeks (from the previous marathon training and multiple half marathons on my list) so it is building quickly now.  I am close to 40 miles a week now (this week will fall short a bit due to a 10 miler this morning being cut to 5...my body just wasn't having it) and really determined to keep this going so that I can no only finish this race but kick Josh's butt.

Tomorrow I will be running the Baldwin Park Half Marathon as part of my training program.  Paying for a race is practically insurance that I will get in a long run and be aggressive with my pace.  Not to mention it comes with a pretty medal at the end to add to the collection.  This race will mark my 6th half marathon for this year and coupled with a 2 mile warm up will give me a 15 mile long run this weekend.  I still feel like I am a little behind building my mileage for the full but at least I will be better off those who aren't training for the full (boy will I be eating my words if he finishes this thing).

Beach Running World Championships

This run started with poor nutrition, little sleep, and a sour attitude but that is certainly very opposite of how it ended. I have contemplated how to detail my lack-luster run through my blog and kept coming back to the same concept.  It wasn't my time that mattered, it wasn't my finish that mattered; it was my attitude and the experience I had along the way that mattered.

By the time I got to the first mile marker, my attitude had already greatly improved.  I mean the race was right along the shoreline and the sun was rising...how could you be in a bad mood when the world's beauty surrounds you and good health has allowed you to make another race regardless of lack or sleep or nutrition. Not only was I staying strong in my running pace, but the music was just right for the morning.  I tend to get caught up in my thoughts and music and the miles pass pretty easily.  Before I knew it 3 miles had passed and I was feeling really good...that is until the music died.  I knew very quickly that I had to focus on something else if I was going to keep running for the next 10 miles.

By this point there were many 10Kers that had started heading back to the finish line on this out and back race, so I played cheerleader for them and they were generally grateful (not to mention my encouragement is typically pretty entertaining and funny so I was cracking myself up). It wasn't too much further that the really strong half marathoners were now heading in the direction of the finish line, so my hilarious cheering continued.  Both time and miles passed quickly, but by the time I got to the turn around and then made it to the 8 mile mark in this very small race, there were very few runners heading in the opposite direction to cheer on.  Time to refocus my energy again; I noticed a runner using the Galloway method and we were playing a tag. I would be leading, he'd catch me; he'd be leading, I'd catch him.  I actually pulled out a great mile pace just pushing myself not to let him win.  But if you know me, you know...I'll eventually start a conversation with you.

Turns out this Galloway runner was a really interesting person and I actually joined his run-walk-run method to hear all about him "giving life the middle finger one more time," his actual words.  Scott was out running with his daughter who was training for a marathon in January and he wanted to support her pursuit of this goal.  We became instant friends and he revealed to me that he had not only had a kidney and a lung removed, he survived cancer once before and was about to start chemo again.  What a bad-ass!  I was so intrigued with his spirit and his drive and decided to run/walk the rest of the race with him.  We had 5 miles to become BFF's and it really changed my attitude from the beginning of the day.  In fact, I haven't been able to stop thinking about him since that day.  I find the world to be filled with so many wonderful people and when you couple this with an over zealous and friendly person, you find it isn't difficult to meet them.  So I present to you my new blog chronicling all the people I am fortunate to meet...drum roll please, "*My New Best Friend."

*My New  Best Friend is in the very early stages and is still being developed, but I promise great stories to come.

hot Hot HOT!

What a cool running season for me - I went from running my first half marathon in January and crossing the finish line with my mom to running my fourth, personal best half marathon and crossing the finish line with my father in April.

Leading up to the run, I was stressing a lot of the outcome.  I really wanted to run a half marathon at a sub 2 hour race and I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to make this race the race for it to happen in.  But I knew it was going to be hot and I didn't train very well during the 4 weeks before.  I decided not to write any goals on paper and just make my last half marathon of the season a good race to end with...and that it was.

By 530 the temperature was already ready 79 degrees and the sun hadn't even come up yet.  I am super paranoid of dehydration and decided to run with a bottle of water since it was only getting hotter by 7.  They were expecting temps of 86 during the day with no cloud coverage.  And when I say no cloud coverage, I literally mean there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. So the race was off (you can catch a glimpse of my mom in the picture as well to the left).  My dad, who is like speed lightning, volunteered to help pace me to a sub 2 hour race.  I was just off of this mark a few weeks earlier by 1 minute and 13 seconds at the Gasparilla half.  The first two miles felt great even though the heat was brutal.  My plan was only to do 9:15-9:20 for the first three miles but I wasn't complaining about the 8:56, 9:02, and 9:00 miles.

By mile 3, I was drenched in sweat, almost through an entire bottle of water (even though I stopped at each water stop) and having a little fun since my times were slightly faster than I planned.  We were still with the masses at this point and had a couple interesting conversations.  Two nice ladies recognized my dad from the previous month's Double IronMan wished me luck for my finish.  It was a little too early on, but still got me a little too excited about really doing this. This is my first season of running and really committing to training for long distances and I want that sub 2 hour goal more than anything. The mile markers started giving a few people concerns.  Being off by any where up to a half a mile.

By mile five I picked up a friend.  Met #614, Emily, who was on her 7th half marathon and trying hard for her first sub two hour finish.  We quickly decided, without speaking it, we'd work together and push to that goal...of course relying heavily on my father to help us pick up the pace when needed. I find is so awesome how many people are actually willing to have a conversation out their even when we are huffing and puffing to make it to the finish.  The three of us chugged along and head to a pretty steady pace during the long stretch that ran right up along the beach.  Next set of miles were 8:54, 9:10, 9:15, 9:16.  Slowing down a bit but knowing we weren't off our mark...or were we? The mile markers were still giving us issues and I wasn't sure if we had ran 6.5 miles or 6 miles at the 6 mile marker.

Approaching the turn around right around the 7.5 mile mark, I was able to get down a gel (gosh those things are disgusting, seriously all flavors suck) snag a cup of water, push toward the finish and actually match right around 7.5 miles on my watch.  Silly mile markers.  The next 3ish miles were really exciting and helped to get my mind off of the agony of the heat.  We got to pass all the others that were still running to the midpoint.  Passed a friend, passed some of my mother's co-workers and got to cheer on my mom who was just about a mile behind us.   I was burning up though and made the decision to de-cloth slightly to try and stay cool.  My wonderful father even agreed to carry my drenched shirt just so I could concentrate on running. Clocking these miles at 9:05, 8:59, 8:59.

We made it down the coast and back into the neighborhoods and it suddenly wasn't fun anymore.  There no longer was a sea breeze and the heat seemed to intensify.  I seriously contemplated just stopping and walking the rest of the way.  My father on the other hand thought he would stop and take a shot of rum.  No seriously, at the "free rum shots" stand he stopped, told a joke, took a shot and then caught back up.  What a daughter I am...I didn't even wait on him or attempt to slow down.  So with that in mind and seeing him be such a sport (he doesn't drink liquor) I decided to tough it out. And tough it was.  I was really started to struggle, but sub two hours could still be met. Emily dropped off a bit as well.  Powered through a 9:10 and 9:13 mile but hit the 12 mile mark on my watch way before the sign.  

As we rounder the corner and came out from the neighborhood, the finish line was in sight. But I knew I only had a minute or two to get there and it wasn't going to happen.  I wanted to just give up right there, nearly broke into tears and broke down.  My dad wouldn't let me stop though and even with wanting to quit and getting hotter by the second I did my final full mile in 9:26 and the last stretch in roughly 2:39 (my watch says this was .34 miles).  We picked up the pace and pulled the last little bit of energy out to finish strong ( I totally to kicked my dad's butt by one second).  Final time 2:01:06; that is a 7 second PR.  Not what I wanted, but it felt good.  I raced a good race and had a solid finish to my first of what should be many seasons of running.

So, yeah, a cool running indeed - I went from running my first half marathon in January and crossing the finish line with my mom to running my fourth, personal best half marathon and crossing the finish line with my father in April.

Trying a Tri

This past weekend, I attempted my first trial run of a triathlon.  That's right...I tried a tri.  And what an awesome try (or tri) it was! 

It is no secret that I didn't grow up around water and well, my swimming is less than good.  I decided to take swimming lessons about 4 weeks ago and they have been great help getting me to where I am...but I still have a long way to go.  I am still building my cardio in the water.  It is a very different kind of cardio verse the bike or the run.  And swimming in the ocean is very different than swimming in the pool.  So when I got out there Saturday morning...I panicked.  Thanks to Josh and Suomi I didn't drown but I definitely had to turn back only about 50-75 meters out.  Although I didn't make it the 800 meter distance, I still feel like it was a triumph.  I may have turned back, but I didn't get out of the water.  I ended up doing laps in the area I felt comfortable in.  Out of the water and on to the bike...

Another non-secret is the fact that I have not taken the bike onto a road with cars since my accident in September.  My knee still doesn't seem to be fully healed and neither is my brain.  All the boys took off far ahead of me.  I just didn't want the pressure of trying to keep up while I was trying not to freak out any worse than I did in the water.  But when I finally made it out there to the main road, it felt good and my spirits began to raise.  I only went out for a slow 11 mile ride, but I think it was exactly what I needed to feel good back on the bike.  And then there was running...

By the time we all got back to the meeting point, it was already at least 85 degrees and super sunny.  But the run was only 3.4 miles. I averaged 8:30 minute miles even with the heat.  So after a small workout in the water, 11 miles on the bike and on to a run - that isn't too bad for me.  With some work, I definitely would like to make the swim, speed up the bike and cut the run down till about 8 minute miles.  Can't wait for the real deal in June.

Below is our little "trying a tri" group.  The 9 year pictured totally kicked my butt!