The one-month countdown is on until our big day on November 5th, and I couldn’t be more fired up! The NYC Marathon and Team for Kids both do a great job of posting inspiring messages and Instagram videos to get us dreaming, visualizing, and staying pumped up to reach our goals.
Although my goal may have drifted and morphed into something wildly different than when I started daydreaming about it months and months ago, and then when I actually started training for it twenty weeks ago, I truly believe this is one of the best goals I’ve ever set: simply to have fun and fully enjoy the experience with my friend Janet. It feels perfect.
My training days now feel light, even on the most challenging days, because my entire focus is on enjoying the journey back to the starting line. I’ve thrown out the pressure of what I feel like I “should” be doing in terms of pace and outcomes, and have embraced the place I’m currently at in my mind, body, and spirit. It has been utterly freeing.
As I visualize myself running with Janet from Staten Island, over the Varrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn, then up to Queens, then the Bronx, and finally back down into Manhattan, the overwhelming thing I see and feel in my mind is giant smile on my face and so much joy and gratitude wrapped around my heart that it lifts me ten feet off the ground.
Here’s a peek at my Week #16 training schedule looked like (Oct 2-8):
Mon 10/2: Run 5.25 miles (w/ 2.0 mile pick-up effort in the middle), walk with Jeffrey
Tues 10/3: Spin class 55 min medium EZ (21.5 miles), leg weights
Wed 10/4: Run 6 miles, undulating hills on Mt. Drive
Thur 10/5: Rest day
Fri 10/6: Run 5 miles with 4x80m strides, core
Sat 10/7: Run 14 miles (cutback week for the long run before next weekend’s 20-miler)
Sun 10/8: Rest & recovery day
Monday: I was still a little creaky on Monday morning after last Saturday’s 18-miler, but once I got moving, everything worked itself out so it was an enjoyable 5-miler with a push in the middle. Later in the afternoon, I went for a nice walk with my hubby and kept my body in motion, which usually helps, along with healthy nutrition and continuing to focus on recovery. This body isn’t 29 any more, but with some gentleness, It can usually be cajoled into finding its stride.
Tuesday: Just like last week, I used my spin class for an easy/moderate cross-training day to get my heart pumping and my legs flushed out. Normally I start my base around gear 13-14 and build up from there into the high teens or low 20s, but on easier days like this, I start more around 10 and keep the cadence high and lighter. Even when holding back, it’s still a sweatfest that leaves my heart pumping and my energy high. Days like this are about working with your body instead of grinding it down.
After spinning, I did a quick leg workout in the gym: extensions, curls, adductions, abductions, squats.
Wednesday: Just a straight-forward 6 miles of rolling hills on Mt. Drive, getting the legs ready for the course’s five bridges, and hills in Central Park.
Mountain Drive always puts a smile on my face with its windy road, oak trees, bougainvillea, scenic vistas, and unique houses, like the one in the top photo with a succulent garden on its rooftop, and mailboxes like this cyclist, whose bottom opens up for deliveries.
Thursday: On this rest day, I think I finally landed on a pair of shoes that may work for my sassy feet. It has been a lonnnnng time coming, with a lot of trial and error, but hopefully the fifth time is a charm–actually sixth (I forgot I tried the Hoka Challengers before this long line of shoes). Let’s go, Mach Xs. Please, oh please, work for me! I’m starting to feel like the Prince and the Pea.
All shoes lead to New York: Hoka Cliftons, Hoka Rincon 3s, Saucony Triumph 21, Saucony Kinvera, Hoka Mach 10
Friday: I started early on Friday because we are being hit with kooky hot October weather (definitely not sweater weather). 🙂 It was a really nice run, knocking out 5 miles at a gentle pace with 4 x strides at the end.
There were many highlights on this run, especially testing out these Mach Xs, which I really like.
Saturday: With our heatwave, I started early on my long run, which I was hoping would pay off in droves. Sure enough. So much joy. So much beauty. So many other runners out training along the waterfront. Did a 9 mile loop, refilled bottles, then another 5 mile loop. Soaked my legs in the ocean afterward and stretched on the beach. It’s mornings like these that take marathon training up a notch or two.
14 miles goes by quickly when you’re surrounded by beauty.It has been a challenge to stay hydrated, but I try to stay prepped and ready to roll…
Sunday: Today is an active recovery day, walking, chilling out, eating good food, getting organized and prepared for the week ahead. I value this day immensely, and so does my big brown four-legged baby, Doodles. Recharging the batteries does wonders for one’s ability to believe that everything will come together beautifully on race day. When your body has a chance to absorb the load from the week and get fired back up to hit it again on Monday, you feel unstoppable.
Review of SIS (Science in Sport) : The course fuel for the New York Marathon is SIS Isotonic Energy gels. I had never heard of SIS, nor could I find it anywhere in my town (it’s from the UK), so I had to purchase it on Amazon to try it out in case I need to rely on one during the race. Here’s what I thought of it:
With just five weeks to go until race day, we are now heading into our peak weeks of training before we start tapering back down to get our batteries fully recharged before our big event. This is both an exciting and grueling few weeks because while we’ve been steadily building up our bodies to be able to handle the load, no matter how disciplined we’ve been with our training, we are still doing long runs of 18 and 20-miles in addition to all our other usual training. GREAT stuff all around.
These are also the weeks when we focus on putting it all together in earnest, working intently on our mental game, fueling our bodies well, and trying to get as much rest as possible.
I’ve said this numerous times before, but endurance events are 85-90% mental. If you skimp on training your mind in addition to your legs, lungs and heart, you will do yourself a great disservice. Long runs offer us perfect opportunities to work on steeling ourselves to the challenges and discomfort that come with this sport. How will you respond when fatigue hits hard? What will you do to keep moving forward when your feet are telling you they have other ideas? What kind of discipline and focus will you have to remember to fuel and hydrate like clockwork so you feel your best? What mental techniques will you use to help you reach your goals when the going gets tough?
For me it’s mantras, counting steps, visualizing, singing, focusing on what feels strong, not letting my mind wander too far so that I don’t space out my nutrition, and most of all it’s about swimming in gratitude. It’s celebrating the fact that I GET TO DO THIS and be part of this remarkable moment.
Never underestimate the power of gratitude. It has a way of wrapping itself around your pain and reminding you of how lucky you are that you get to experience this incredible journey–the one you so boldly signed up for so long ago, and trained your heart out to get to where you are. So many other people will never know the beauty of this adventure, so be in the moment and appreciate it all, especially during the hardest moments.
Here’s a peek at my Week #15 training schedule (Sept 25-Oct 1):
Mon 9/25: Run 6 miles (w/ 2.5 mile pick-up effort in the middle), strength 45 min. (Kim Miller Fitness legs/glutes)
Tues 9/26: Spin class 55 min EZ (15 miles), mobility work 25 min
Wed 9/27: Run 6 miles, undulating hills
Thur 9/28: Active recovery day–yoga, core, & foot exercises 35 min, walk with Jeffrey
Fri 9/29: Run 5 miles with 4x80m strides, core and mobility work 25 min.
Sat 9/30: Run 18 miles
Sun 10/1: Rest & recovery day, yoga, walks
Monday morning, short on time, I set out directly from my house instead of driving somewhere scenic, and knocked out a 6-mile run on nothing but concrete and asphalt. It wasn’t the most exciting route, but it was good mental practice for running through the streets of NYC. In the middle of the run I pushed the pace for 2.5 miles.
Feeling stronger each week, and spending time focusing on my mental game.Monday afternoon was a quick strength and core session after seeing a chiropractor and getting my Covid vaccination.
Tuesday was another fun outdoor spin class at the gym with Kristine. I intentionally took it easy and used this workout to simply flush out my legs from Monday’s run in preparation for Wednesday’s run. I came across a quote somewhere the other day that said something like, “The sign of a maturity in a runner is knowing when to reign it in, and also having the discipline to do it.” I’m definitely a work-in-progress in that department, but today was a win.
Refueling after spin class with a garden salad and a fruit smoothie with protein.
Wednesday I felt strong after taking it easy on Tuesday, and knocked out 6 miles of rolling hills in the early morning. Repetez, s’il vous plait: “I like hills, I eat them up. I like hills, I never give up.” Mantras aren’t just for race day! 🙂
Testing another new pair of shoes (Hoka Rincon 3s again), still trying to make my feet happy for the long haul. Up and down hills today, getting my quads ready for the bridges of NY and the final push in Central Park.
Thursday was an active recovery day after yesterday’s hills, and in preparation for Friday’s 5-miler and Saturday’s 18-miler.
Mash-up yoga, core, mobility, foot exercises, and balance. Still trying to embrace pigeon pose and get past the “oy.”Went on a nice morning walk with my main squeeze (aka my hubby Jeffrey, who also happens to be my #1 supporter). Clearly we’ve been married a long time when we meet up and discover we’re wearing the same kind of vibe. Next thing you know we’ll be wearing matching silk baseball jackets. 🙂
Friday morning was a steady 5-mile maintenance run, topped off with 4-5 strides at the end. I countered our gray weather with cheery color, fiery tunes, and thoughts drifting to race day.
Chasing the gray away and embracing the journey by being transported to NY in my mind during my run.
Visualization is a powerful training tool I lean on often for endurance events. For NYC, I begin by imagining myself at the starting line on Staten Island, swimming in gratitude, feeling all the feels, then taking off, light on my feet, soaking up the experience, smiling, running strong and steady, turning the crowd’s energy into my own, remembering to fuel and hydrate as I cruise through each borough, powering over the “forever long and quiet” Queensboro Bridge, and then being lifted off the ground by the indescribable energy reverberating from throngs of spectators as we turn onto 1st Avenue; making it all the way up to the top of the course at mile 21 then turning left and heading back down 5th Avenue into Harlem, knowing this is where it gets especially real; thinking about how I will focus on the parts of my body that feel strong, then count steps to stay focused, remind myself of tall posture and good form; then finally, oh finally, turning into Central Park where there last two miles will feel like forever, but knowing my mental toughness will help me find another gear to get across the finish line, all the while savoring every second and appreciating all that has gone into getting to this moment.
Saturday was an 18-mile dry run for race day, starting with carbo loading the night before, trying out shorts I plan to wear, practicing my fueling and hydration, testing out the shoes I’m hoping will work, and working on my mental game. This ended up being a great learning day, for which I’m eternally grateful, because some things did not work well for me. Traditional carbo loading did not feel good on my run so I will adjust that to a lighter pre-race meal and start with small carb meals/snacks earlier throughout the day. The shorts I had to planned to wear on race day continually felt like they were going to fall off (which Becca and I laughed about hysterically. Thankfully I discovered this during our quick warm-up loop not far from my car, and had also thrown in a back-up pair of shorts in my car so I was able to remedy the annoying problem before knocking out the other 17 miles.
Team B & B (Becca & Becky) sharing laughs on our long run.
Sunday is a whole lot of aaaaah (ie-rest, recovery, and reset) after yesterday’s long run. The deeper we get into training, the more important this day feels in order to be ready to knock out another run on Monday. Today is all about good food, nice walks, and friends and family.
Things I’m Loving Right Now
Training for a marathon takes a lot of time, as we well know. Finding time to make gourmet meals to replenish our bodies isn’t always easy, even with good planning, so I thought I would share a few ideas here that I have leaned on recently when there aren’t enough hours in the day (or energy in the body).
The iconic start of the NYC Marathon, running over the Varrazzo-Narrows bridge from Staten Island. Photo credit: New York Road Runners
It has been 25 years since I crossed the finish line in Central Park, having just run 26.2 miles through the lively streets of New York, knowing I’d never be the same.
Gobsmacked would be the best way to describe how I’m currently feeling about the fact that two and half decades have already flown by since that memorable autumn day, especially since I remember it like it was yesterday.
As I’ve been deep in the throes of training for this year’s New York Marathon, which I’ll be running soon (!!) with my dear friend, and former college roommate, Janet Cook Hixson, I’ve been reminiscing about my first experience in the Big Apple, along with the many marathons that followed.
Yesterday I came across an ancient article I wrote for Runner’s World, which chronicled my first journey through New York. The beauty of being a Goddess Keeper of All Things Sentimental (aka pack rat) is that it’s never too difficult to put my fingers on memories. I’m sharing this relic here because it brings back all the feels, and leaves me sporting a big goofy smile, just like my finish line photo. A digital version of this piece never existed, so I’m simply posting a snapshot of the article, which will hopefully be legible enough to read.
Legendary runner and former Runner’s World Editor, Amby Burfoot (1968 Boston Marathon winner), was generous in accepting an article from a newbie writer. This little piece helped launched my budding writing career when my full-time career at the time was running our bustling photo agency. Never underestimate what one small act of kindness can do for another person. 🙂In a full circle moment, Janet, who I’m running this year’s race with, and who is a talented writer, and Editor of The Gorge Magazine, was also beyond generous with her time back in the day, helping me carve down a truly horrible and massive first draft of my article into something much more appropriate for publication.Without her advice, I’m not sure this would have ever seen the light of day.
When this little piece was published in November 1999, I was about to head back to New York to run my second marathon with Fred’s Team, an organization I cannot say enough good things about. The mission of this nonprofit, raising funds for Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, along with the fabulous (now former) Directors, Sue Shay and Sheila Lennon, and the team of passionate athletes who each had their own reasons for being part of it, all swirled together into a priceless gift for each of us.
One of the many NYC highlights: high-fiving pediatric cancer patients who came out in front of Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to cheer us on.
The second and third time running New York were just as fun and gratifying as the first, especially when my friend Elizabeth Whitton joined the team and ran her first marathon along side me. Then in 2002 Elizabeth and I headed to France to run the Paris Marathon with Fred’s Team; and 2003 took my hubby Jeffrey and me to Italy so I could combine running the Rome Marathon with our honeymoon afterward. Then came the Portland Marathon nine months after our daughter was born, and then the inaugural Santa Barbara Marathon. The two most recent marathons I completed took place during Ironman triathlons in Arizona and Sacramento. Each of these races was different and memorable in its own way, and I do believe none of these marathons would have happened if I hadn’t fallen madly in love with my first one. If you want to see photos from some of those events, click on SPECIAL PEEPS | PLACES | EVENTS or find it on the menu bar at the top of this blog.
As Janet and I head to New York in early November, I cannot wait to share her first marathon with her, and also experience the race again through fresh, more mature eyes. I wonder if Janet will get hooked on 26.2 like I did or be thrilled with “one and done?” Will the energy be the same? Will the scale, almost 20,000 more runners than in 1998, be energizing or overwhelming, or both? Will I get choked up at the starting line like I always do? And when I cross the finish line will I know that it’s just the beginning of another adventure or decide 10 marathons is enough?
Whatever lies ahead, I know it will be memorable. New York never disappoints.
Running a marathon is simple at its core: lace up your shoes, train for 16 to 20 weeks, then conquer 26.2 miles, hopefully while creating unforgettable memories all along the way. Obviously there’s a whole lot more that goes into it though: the details–and the details are what can make or break your level of enjoyment during the race, and training in general. This week has been about noodling out some of the details of the race, from fuel and hydration to shoes and clothing choices to timing and logistics, while at the same time consistently plugging away at training, one day, one work-out at a time.
Even though this will be my 10th marathon (including two I ran during IM races), I still get nervous/excited like it’s my first marathon all over again. The one thing that wraps me a warm blanket of calm on race day is hammering out all the logistics well in advance. Having an awesome training partner like Janet helps in that department, even though we live 900 miles apart (she’s in OR and I’m in CA). Texts and DMs have been flying back and forth during the week with thoughts and questions, all of which are coming together in my mind and then landing squarely on my hand-written “Race List,” something I always lean on for races and big events. Without my list, my mind spins in overdrive.
As John Wooden once said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” Taking the time to think them through and test them usually pays off tenfold.
Here’s a peek at my Week #14 training schedule (Sept 18-24):
Mon 9/18: Run 5 miles, strength 45 min. (Kim Miller Fitness legs/glutes)
Tues 9/19: Spin class 60 min (23 miles), strength 20 min arms
Wed 9/20: Run 7 miles (track) 1.5 mile warm-up, 5x800s w/ 400 RI, 2 mile cool down, core 15 min.
Thur 9/21: Yoga 30 min, rest day
Fri 9/22: Run 5 miles, core and mobility work 25 min.
Sat 9/23: Run 12 miles, walk 1 mile with my hubby afterward
Sun 9/24: Rest & recovery day, yoga, walks
Monday: Nothing feels quite as good as starting the week strong, and being able to enjoy another fab fall-like run. I chose a new route to keep it fresh, which included a few little hills, knowing NYC includes five bridges with sneaky inclines and descents, along with several deceptive hills in the last few miles near Central Park. Practice. Practice. Practice.
Kim Miller Fitness app is helping me keep my strength workouts short, sweet, and focused
Tuesday was another heart-pumping outdoor spin class with my favorite instructor, Kristine. Good tunes, great vibes, and a killer workout with hills and sprint intervals, always leaving my spirits high and my body drenched in sweat. Afterward I did a short dumb bell arm workout session at the gym.
Wednesday was a “hurt so good” kind of training day with a 7-mile track workout, starting with a 1.5 mile warm-up followed by 5 x 800m intervals with 400m recovery intervals, finishing with a 2-mile cool down. Good stuff. Felt great to finally move my feet a little faster.
What started out as a cool morning quickly heated up so I had to lose the hat, peel off my arm sleeves, and consume two bottles by the end of my workout.It has been a while since I’ve done speedwork so I was especially diligent with stretching, foam rolling, Theragun’ing, and rolling my calves with “the stick.”
Thursday I opted for yoga and foot exercises, and then went on a 1.5 mile walk at Lake Los Carneros with my hubby. All in all, a nice recovery and reset day.
Rest is good for the soul. Since I’m not planning to win New York :-), I’m trying to settle into my training plan and tweak it to fit where my body is at so I get to the starting line in one piece.
Friday was a 5-mile maintenance run, which I chose to knock out on Mountain Drive, a scenic, windy road in the foothills of Santa Barbara. It never disappoints with its views and gently rolling hills.
Later in the afternoon it was time for some core and mobility work.
Saturday’s long run was shorter this week (12 miles) to get the body rested up for next week’s 18-miler. I had the pleasure of running the first 8 miles with my friend Becca (the other B in Team B & B), who is currently training for a half marathon. Yay Becca! We ran from Leadbetter Beach to Montecito and back on another spectacular SB morning. The miles flew by so quickly, we almost blew past our turnaround point. That’s the power running partners. Afterward, I finished up with 4 more miles–up Shoreline Drive on the Nite Moves course and back. It was noticeable how much longer those 4 miles felt solo.
Time zips by when you’re laughing and telling stories. On the last part of my run, when I was solo, I finished my audiobook, A Race Like No Other: 26.2 Miles Through the Streets of New York, which not only got me even more excited about the race, but got me circling back to honing the details.
Here are a few of the details that are getting sculpted into shape…
“Stay the course. When thwarted try again: harder, smarter. Persevere relentlessly.” ~John Wooden
This week is a celebration of staying the course and persevering despite a fairly bumpy start to this marathon training cycle. Nothing out of the ordinary–just injuries, family events, scheduling logistics…life–little frustrating setbacks and challenges that multiplied over time and caused enough friction to make me question myself and my ability to pull off another 26.2 mile adventure.
As I write this post however, I am feeling relentlessly optimistic again, knowing that Staten Island will see my toes, and my running partner Janet’s toes, on the starting line in six weeks. And what a moment we will share as we run through the five boroughs of New York and cross the finish line in Central Park!
To any of you who might be struggling with your training, you’re definitely not alone. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t bump up against at least a few of these common obstacles during a 16 or 20-week training program. Life happens. It’s how you manage to keep your chin up, your head on straight, and your eyes laser-focused on the prize–that glorious starting line.
Progress, as we know, isn’t always linear, and it’s okay to step back, regroup, start again, and/or figure out a new approach all together. It’s your story to write, and your journey to enjoy, so make it fun and make it work for your lifestyle. Most importantly, stay the course and keep moving forward in some form or another. You will get there!
Success isn’t always linear, and it’s often in the midst of all the twists and turns that we learn the most.
Here’s a peek at my Week #13 training schedule (Sept 11-17):
Mon 9/11: 5 mile recovery trail run at Ellwood Bluffs, core 30 min.
Tues 9/12: Spin class 50 min, strength (leg weights) 25 min.
Wed 9/13: Run 6 miles hills and fartleks
Thur 9/14: Yoga 30 min, rest day
Fri 9/15: Run 4 mile trail run at More Mesa, core 25 min.
Sat 9/16: Run 16 miles
Sun 9/17: Rest & recovery day, walk 2 miles w/ my hubby
Monday was the 22nd Anniversary of 9/11, and even after all these years, it still hits hard. After being glued to all the tributes on TV, mid-morning I opted to lose myself in a trail run. Nature cures much.
Running through the eucalyptus-lined trails of the Ellwood Butterfly Preserve in Goleta, and venturing out to bluffs overlooking the ocean below, a sense of calm and joy always washes over me. It’s the perfect place for a easy recovery run, especially on a Monday morning when my heart was heavy and my body was feeling a little creaky. Five miles later and I was ready to conquer the week.
Tuesday’s cross-training was another high-octane spin class with my favorite instructor Kristine, who always brings the energy. It was a sweatfest, then it was leg day in the weight room.
Morning fuel before spin class: oat yogurt with dates, a banana, and almonds.
My favorite run this week was Wednesday’s late afternoon run. I don’t usually like to run in the evening nearly as much as the morning, but it took me allllll day to get out the door, so when that happens, you get what you get. Thankfully what I got was an incredible run, and I credit that in part to “letting down my hair,” changing it up, and turning it into a “free-form” run (ie-anything goes).
I went to a location I had never run, but often cycled, a nearby rural neighborhood with a couple steep hills, dreamy flats, and a few tiny rollers. The beautiful late afternoon light added to the awesome autumn vibe. My choice of music–some of my fav old rock-n-roll like the Stones–and my choice of hills and fartleks (unstructured and playful speed intervals) had me smiling from ear to ear for the 6 miles I knocked out. It just reminded me once again, that hard work doesn’t have to be torture. It’s a win/win when you push yourself, and still feel the joy bubbling through.
Much of marathon training, and life in general, is about showing up. It’s the simple act of getting out the door, embracing the challenge, and putting in the work, even if your motivation is waning. It’s about getting through aches and pains, life’s scheduling challenges and the onslaught of mental fatigue that often comes with week after week of training. It’s about keeping your eye on the prize, even if that prize still feels like it’s miles away.
That is what this week was about for me: showing up.
Some days training was a struggle, other days it was like butta, but each day of dragging my hiney out the door added a drop of grit into the mental toughness bucket because I didn’t allow excuses to creep into the day.
No matter how much you love running, you will absolutely have days when you’d like to do anything but run. It’s usually those days that are the most important because figuring out ways to overcome your mental block becomes gold on race day, especially when you hit rough patches (and there will definitely be rough patches during a marathon).
Here are a few mental strategies that have helped me over the years:
Create personal mantras. One I lean on often when my motivation is waning is: “Don’t think, just go.” I simply shut down my brain, block out all the things that are pulling me in a different direction, lace up my shoes, and go through the motions of getting out the door. Once out the door, everything usually falls into place. On the run I repeat, “Just keep moving forward.”
Know your “why.” Lean into why you decided to commit to running a marathon. Every person has a different reason. Maybe it’s a Bucket List item. Maybe it’s a milestone celebration like turning 40 or 60. Maybe it’s a cause like Team for Kids, or in honor of somebody. Whatever it is, write it down and put in somewhere prominent so you look at it every day.
Visualize. Imagine yourself running through different parts of your race and visualize yourself successfully crossing the finish line. Internalize how incredible it will feel to reach your goal.
Focus on what feels strong. This is especially helpful during a run. If your calves are grumpy, focus on your core. If your quads are screaming, focus on engaging your glutes. No matter what, you will be able to find strength somewhere in your body, especially your heart and mind.
Week #12 training schedule (Sept. 4-10)
Mon 9/4: Run 5 miles EZ recovery run (Goleta Beach bike path), strength 35 min
Tues 9/5: Spin class 55 min, strength 30 min, walk 2 miles
Wed 9/6: Run 6 miles tempo run (SBCC track and waterfront)
Thurs 9/7: Run 3 miles EZ (Lake Los Carneros), walk 1.2 miles
Fri 9/8: Rest day, walk 1.5 miles
Sat 9/9: Race She.Is.Beautiful 10K plus 1.25 mile WU and 1 mile CD (8.25 miles total)
Sun 9/10: Rest day, walk 1.5 miles
Monday, Monday, so good to me [cue the Mamas & the Papas]…easing back into the week with a nice little recovery run from Goleta Beach.Tuesday’s workout was fueled entirely by caffeine, heart-pumping music, and an awesome spin instructor. Thank you Kristine for always bringing your positive energy to keep us going!Wednesday, I was feeling a little creaky, but there’s nothing like a good warm-up and an inspiring audiobook, (A Race Like No Other: 26.2 Miles Through the Streets of New York), to get you in the right frame of mind to knock out a solid 6-mile tempo run along the waterfront on a gray morning. I always look forward to my veggie sammies afterward with a protein smoothie. Thursday early morning 3 mile cruise around Lake Los Carneros, sporting my “Dream Big” hat for a little motivation, with a big shout out to my friend Jenni Miller and the Smith-Magenis Syndrome research foundation, who created these hats to support this important cause. It always gives me perspective and inspiration when I wear it. After my run, I had the joy of finally catching up with my friend Emma, whom I hadn’t seen all summer. Making time and creating balance while training is the secret sauce to a happy journey to the starting line.Friday was a rest day, so I took a nap, went for a nice walk in nature with my hubby, then tried to figure out what kind of “get-up” I was going to throw together for Saturday’s She.Is.Beautiful 10k. I love this race, which I’ve run 4 or 5 times, and always like to bring a little flare to the morning. These were my options. And this is what I ended up choosing…Continue reading →
It has been eons since I’ve posted, and for that I can only sigh. It seems that when my training started ramping up, so did “life,” which means that writing and sharing my journey back to NYC became a luxury I didn’t have time to indulge in besides a quick Instagram story here or there. I’m back now though, and even though the weeks have already started to blur together like a Polaroid dipped in water, I’ll try to bring you up to speed with a quick recap of the past eights weeks.
In a nutshell, training has been filled with high highs, a few low lows, and a whole lot of regular training days thrown in all along the way. It’s been a sweet dance of savoring the journey and reveling in the effort of pressing personal fitness boundaries again, while also managing the frustration of trudging through several weeks of healing injury setbacks–the price paid for pushing too hard too soon.
Here’s a look back at my training schedule (July 10-Sept 3). I share all the minutia here because I also consider my blog a digital diary, which I enjoy circling back to at times. If you aren’t interested in the daily details you can scroll down to Things I’ve Learned.
Week # 4: Healing hip/glute/SI injury, but still trying to keep moving forward Mon 7/10-XT (swim 525 y, spin 25 min, elliptical 1.25 miles, strength 15 min) Tues 7/11-Rest day and retail therapy buying new fuel and Hoka Clifton running shoes [ !! 🙂 ] Wed 7/12-Strength 40 min Thur 7/13-Spin class (60 min, 25 miles), strength 20 min Fri 7/14-Elliptical 1.5 miles, walk 1.25 miles Sat 7/15-Elliptical 1.65 miles, tested running on treadmill .25 mile (no bueno), strength 10 min Sun 7/16-Walk 1 mile
Week #4 You know you’re an optimist when you’re buying new fuel and shoes while you’re injured.
Week #5: Still healing Mon 7/17-Elliptical 3 miles Tues 7/18-Pool running 50 min Wed 7/19-Walk 1 mile Thurs 7/20-Spin class 40 min (12 miles), walk 1 mile Fri 7/21-Jog 1 mile on treadmill, pool running 30 min Sat 7/22-Core Sun 7/23-Run 3 miles
Week #5 still healing–pool running and an emphasis on going especially easy, gently stretching, and good nutrition helped me turn the corner. Love all the apricots from our tree this time of year!
Week #6: Slowly getting back at it Mon 7/24-Elliptical 3 miles Tues 7/25-Spin class (60 min, 21 miles), strength 40 min Wed 7/26-Run 4 miles EZ at Lake Los Carneros, walk 1.5 miles, core 25 min Thur 7/27-Swim 1025 y, pool running 15 min, strength 10 min Fri 7/28-Run 3 miles EZ at Ellwood Bluffs trail Sat 7/29-Run 8 miles w/ 1-minute walk breaks Goleta Beach bike path Sun 7/30-Rest
Week #6 slowly getting back at it–just trying to stay consistent
Week #7: Trying to build back up Mon 7/31-Run 4 miles (Nite Moves course) Tues 8/1-Spin class (45 min, 12 miles), strength 35 min Wed 8/2-Run 5.75 miles w/Becca at East Beach (Go Team B & B!) Thur 8/3-Yoga 35 min Fri 8/4-Run 3 miles at Ellwood Bluffs trail run Sat 8/5-Run 10 miles w/ 1-minute walk breaks (UCSB Campus Point, More Mesa, Goleta bike path–took a spill and injured my elbow–argh! are you kidding me?) Sun 8/6-Rest
Week #7 trying to build back up and not lose my mind when I added an elbow injury to the mix. WTF?
Week #8: A busy week calls for consistency with flexibility Mon 8/7-Run 4 miles on Patterson bike path, strength 15 min Tues 8/8-Rest day, Core 10 min (Taylor Swift concert in LA!) Wed 8/9-Run 4 miles at Lake Los Carneros after getting home at 3am from TayTay, Elliptical 2 mile Thur 8/10-Spin solo 48 min, strength Fri 8/11-Run 3.2 miles w/Becca at Goleta Beach bike bath Sat 8/12-Run 10 miles in the evening w/ 1 min walk breaks along the waterfront and at SBCC track Sun 8/13-Rest, Walk 1 mile, (helped friends move)
Week #8 A busy week calls for consistency with flexibility. I don’t usually like to run in the evening, but had to squeeze my 10 miles in late. It ended up being one of my favorite runs. #dontthinkjustgo
Week #9: After a storm comes a rainbow Mon 8/14-Run 4 mile trail recovery run at Ellwood Bluffs, core 30 min Tues 8/15-Spin class ez (50 min 11.5 miles) Wed 8/16-Run 5.71 miles w/Becca on the She.Is.Beautiful 10k course Thurs 8/17-Spin class (45 min), strength 35 min (elbow still healing), walk 1 mile Fri 8/18-Drive up to San Francisco to take my daughter back to college (epic) Sat 8/19-Drive back from SF before the storm hit. (doubly epic) Sun 8/20-Run 12 miles w/ 1-min walk breaks from Leadbetter Beach up around Douglas Preserve and back down to East Beach and back
Week #9 A fair amount of stress wrapped itself around this week with taking my daughter back to school in San Francisco, a C_r_a_Z_y drive both ways up and back on the 101 (an overturned celery truck may give you a glimpse into it for starters), and a hurricane heading our way for the first time in a century. But, of course, it all worked out, and as Katy Perry tells us, “after a storm comes a rainbow.”
Week #10: Steady as we go Mon 8/21-Core/strength 35 min, walk 1.5 miles, PM stretch Tues 8/22-Elliptical 3 miles, run .50 miles on treadmill Wed 8/23-Run 5.5 miles (SBCC track and hill repeats at Leadbetter, strength 35 min Thurs 8/24-Spin class 45 min, strength 45 min Fri 8/25-Run 3 miles (UCSB Campus Point trail run), strength 30 min, walk 1 mile Sat 8/26-Run 7 miles w/ Becca (UCSB Campus Point and Goleta bike path) Sun 8/27-Rest, walk 1 mile in nature
Week #10 steady as we go-enjoying the journey, especially running with my friend Becca, who always adds a dollop of light and levity to our miles.
Week #11: Finally feeling strong again! Mon 8/28-Run 4.75 miles w/ rolling hills on Mt. Drive, strength 35 min Tues 8/29-Spin class 50 min, strength 40 min Wed 8/30-Run 6 miles at SBCC track w/ some 800s and 400s Thur 8/31-Spin class 55 min, strength 30 min Fri 9/1-Run 4 miles Goleta Beach bike path and UCSB (testing more new shoes) Sat 9/2-Run 14 miles w/ 1-min walk breaks (Hendry’s Beach, Modoc bike path, Cliff Drive, Douglas Preserve, Shoreline Park, back down to Hendry’s) Sun 9/3-Rest, walk 1.5 mile
Week #11 feeling strong again-stoked to be up to 14 miles, and loving a hint of fall in the air
Things I’ve learned
The older you get, the more closely you need to listen to your body. Ignoring niggles and telling yourself “It’s not that bad” when you feel an ache or a twinge doesn’t often pay off. Twenty-five years ago, when I ran my first marathon, I know for certain I got away with a lot more if I over-trained, under-slept, or over-indulged. At 57, there’s much less room for error. Rest and recovery are as important as reaching new distances or pace numbers. Mobility, mindfulness, and quality nutrition are as important as day after day of quality training.
Instead of pushing back against a body that has had the privilege of enjoying so many fun fitness adventures over the decades, and now may carry a few creaks and scars from those indelible moments, it’s time to lean in and embrace this it for what it can still do and celebrate every step, no matter what speed it cares to move. It’s truly a gift to be able to keep running and challenging ourselves, and a gift that many, many people in this world never get a chance to experience. Can I get a “Hell yeah sister” from anybody else who knows exactly what I’m talking about? 🙂
Rest and recovery are as important as reaching new distances and pace numbers. Mobility, mindfulness, and quality nutrition are as important as day after day of quality training.
~The evolving athlete (me)
Highlights
With the help and generosity of so many of you, I’ve not only reached my $2,620 fundraising goal for Team for Kids, but surpassed it!! I’m so appreciative of all your good wishes and your help in paying it forward to the next generation of runners. Thank you!!!
Congratulations to Anna Stump for winning a new pair of Hoka running shoes during my fundraising giveaway for Team for Kids. I hope they make your feet happy and your heart full as you log your miles, knowing you have supported a great cause and are helping make a difference in the lives of kids.
Even though I’ve reached my personal fundraising goal, there is no finish line when it comes to raising funds to help kids continue to live an active and healthy lifestyle. If you’d still like to contribute to Team for Kids, you can do so HERE. I’d be thrilled to raise just $200 more to reach an even $3,000 by October. Who is in?
Things I’m loving right now
I’ve been struggling to settle into running shoes this training season because my feet are getting a little more sassy. The latest pair I’m trying is Saucony Kinvara 14s. They are light, breathable neutral shoes for short-medium distances. So far, so good! Bonus–they were super discounted. The color might be a little too bright for some, but not for me! Bring on all that sunshine on my feet. 🙂
Lately I’ve been setting aside my beloved music and opting for an audio book during my long runs to mix things up. I’m really enjoying Liz Robbins’A Race Like No Other: 26 Miles Through the Streets of New York. It takes me right back, reminding me why I’m working so hard to get to the starting line again. It’s all about the unique energy, diversity, and quirky details of the city…and then of course, the running.
Even though I’ve been lifting weights on and off since high school and am familiar with all kinds of strength exercises, I realized I was haphazardly throwing together my core and strength work, or spending way too much time overthinking it. Instagram has a way of “reading our minds” [#eyeroll] and Kim Miller Fitness’ strength training for runners kept popping up in my feed. I liked her approach so I finally decided to give her app a whirl. It has been great, saving me time, introducing me to new exercises (videos included), and taking the brain strain out of this important component of training. Link to check it out: Kim Miller Fitness Insta: kimrunsthemitten
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little catch-up session. Thanks for coming along on this long and winding journey with me! I love sharing it with you!
I’m heading back out the door for a run now, but drop me a comment if you can spare some of your precious time, and tell me one thing that has made you smile over the summer with your fitness, or life in general. Positive energy is contagious. Let’s spread it far and wide!
xo Becky
PS: If you’ve missed any of my previous NYC Marathon posts, you can click here to check them out:
I couldn’t think of a more appropriate reminder this week. Credit: Leo Soleoado
It has been a week of highs and lows and a whole lot of recovery, reflection, and rollicking fun.
On Monday I launched into the week fired up, ready to take on a speed work session that I knew would push me hard: 16 x 200s on the track. And indeed it did. When it was all said and done though, I left tired, of course, but feeling strong. The best part was that it was an excellent mental boost pushing through the discomfort that comes with trying to regain running fitness. I ended the day doing 40 minutes of core work and foot exercises, then focused on recovery—eating nutritious food, re-hydrating, stretching, foam rolling, soaking, massaging my legs with my Theragun, then elevating them on a wall, and finally, going to bed early. Boom. All good stuff.
Monday pushing around the red oval followed by core and foot exercises.
Tuesday was the 4th of July and I was happy to be able to give back to our running community by volunteering at a local 5k trail race, the Semana Nautica at Elings Park. I loved seeing many of my friends crush this tough course–with smiles on their faces, no less!
Race day on a cool, gray 4th of July. Go John and Ashlee!!!
My Tuesday training schedule called for cross-training so in the late afternoon I did a short run on our ElliptiGo in the garage followed by some upper body strength work and stretching. After yesterday’s toughie at the track, I took my recovery day seriously.
Tuesday ElliptiGo cross-training, arm weights and stretching.
Wednesday is when things took a turn. An easy 6 mile run was on my schedule with a prescribed 10:37 pace. While I felt good during the run, hitting not only my pace down to the second during those 6 miles, and focusing on my cadence and technique, I knew in my heart of hearts that the pace I was running was not truly “easy”—especially on a warm afternoon with little sleep the night before. You know where I’m going with this…
A warm afternoon 6 miler on a blue sky day. Loved some cool watermelon afterward.
At about mile 4.5 my body let me know. Specifically, my left S.I./glute/hip started feeling a little jacked up, and even though I knew better, I pushed to the end because I told myself that it wasn’t that bad. How many times have we all said those same delusional words to ourselves over the years, only to pay the price for our stubborn determination? Or is that just me? Argh.
Needless to say, it did not go well. By the time I got out of my car back at home, I could barely put weight on my foot without shooting pain to my hip and lower back. Out came the ice, Advil, arnica, foam roller, lacrosse ball and yoga mat for stretching. This chica was not messing around. Later it was a soak in epsom salts and more arnica and ice.
By morning, it felt a little better so I optimistically foolishly decided to head to my Thursday spin class where I cranked out some high octane miles. I did relinquish high gears and climbing out of the saddle, but still put in a significant effort. Afterwards I did a quick lower leg weight session on machines where I could sit. The universe did me a favor and saved me from myself though, when a phone call pulled me away from the gym and sent me to go work on something that needed immediate attention. It’s a good thing because a short while later, my lower back/glute/hip was completely off the rails.
Here’s where the logical, smart person in me finally took over…
Like the sign says at Women’s Athletic Club of Santa Barbara, “It doesn’t get easier, you just get stronger.”
Getting back into marathon training shape has felt harder than I imagined it would (and should) be, but as I give myself grace, relax about my current pace, and just focus on the purpose of each run, enjoying the journey along the way, I’m starting to feel like I’m heading in the right direction again.
Small differences. Sweet moments of joy. Tiny increases in my speed and cadence. A little less huffing and puffing. A little more gliding. Each contributing to a renewed sense of positivity.
The hardest part is being patient with myself, even though I know full well this is not a sprint, but rather a long, winding marathon adventure, filled with zigs and zags, hills and valleys, and a whole lot of time to think and appreciate the process.
What made the difference this week, besides patience and consistency, was adding in a little speed work, reminding my body that it could get out of first gear and hold up to the additional load. Nothing crazy, just some up tempo running and a 1-mile time trial. Even more than the physical gain, the mental gain was just what I needed to reassure myself that my body could hold up to the strain. Having a history of injuries during marathon training over the years, I’ve likely been overly cautious as I’ve been building back up, but now I know as I ease into it, I can trust my body, which is unbelievably freeing.
I live in a community overflowing with extraordinary athletes—ultramarathoners, Masters Cross-Country Champions, Olympic hopefuls, Ironman World Championship competitors, endurance cycling champions, the list goes on and on. Perhaps you do too.
With so many people doing so many remarkable things, it’s easy to get swept up in the comparison trap.
Back in April I shared a post with you that I was doing the Mt. Everest Cycling Challenge—something that felt like a fairly badass challenge for me, and something that would push me outside my comfort zone and help me build my fitness for my upcoming marathon training.
I’m happy to report that I completed that challenge, which means that during the month of April I climbed 29,032 ft. of elevation—the elevation of Mt. Everest—cycling 350 miles in the process. It took me 13 rides, ranging from just under an hour to nearly 4 hours, with elevation ranging from 600 ft on the shortest ride to 3,750 ft on the toughest ride. This was no easy feat for me, and I had to dig deep to do it, especially during an extremely busy month.
Even though I should have been celebrating my effort and doing a happy dance for reaching my goal, I couldn’t help but compare myself to others doing the challenge, some of whom triple and quadruple summited. One guy even summited an incredible 6.5 times (climbing 189,754 ft.), becoming a member of the Everesting Hall of Fame! I also found myself comparing my effort to all the other wickedly strong athletes on Strava who knock out this kind of crazy riding all the time.
Suddenly I felt ridiculous.
It took me a minute to get over myself before I realized how ridiculous it was to feel ridiculous.
Slapping myself upside the head I laughed at myself during this wobbly mental moment. “Girl, get out of your head. You know it’s the journey. It’s the effort. It’s the growth. It’s the building of mental toughness. It’s not about what Mr. 6.5 Summit Man” is doing or anyone else. It’s a personal challenge. Period. It’s knowing you set a goal and you poured your weary ass into it and crushed it.”
I share all of this with you to implore you not to do what I did. Please avoid the comparison trap at all costs.
As Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed,
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
I couldn’t agree more. When you focus on other people’s accomplishments and compare them to what you are doing, it sucks the joy out of your journey. You’ll no longer revel in your own progress, nor find beauty in the day-to-day effort you put in along the way. Comparing can make you feel like you don’t stack up, but that is utter nonsense.
I repeat, UTTER NONSENSE.
Don’t let this stuff mess with you. There will always be people doing more off-the-chart things, but there will also be people sitting on a couch never imagining being able to run a single mile or swim a single lap. It’s not about them. It’s about you.
So I’m here to remind you: YOU BE YOU. Wear your excitement on your sleeve and celebrate each little step along the way as you work to grow, improve yourself, and chase after new goals. There’s no better feeling than reaching outside your comfort zone and pushing into new territory.
This doesn’t mean you can’t be happy for your friends and fellow competitors and celebrate them with unbridled gusto. There are enough cowbells to go around for everyone, so ring them loud and proud, both for yourself and for others. Be proud of yourself for your effort and be inspired by their hard work, dedication, and personal sacrifices, which are all part of what propelled them to the next level.
The fitness community is the perfect place to flex the most important muscles we have: those that lift others up.
You may not know this, but I can guarantee you there are a whole lot of people ringing their cowbells for you at this very moment. I will always be one of them.
With hugs, high-fives and cowbell fever…go get it!
Run Be Run 