2017! What to Expect, Events, Will I do another full Marathon?

Welcome 2017!!
I realize its been about a month since I posted! So here is an update on what I have planned so far...


January is a SuPeR Busy month... no races, just working with Ragnar and promoting their up and coming Luckenbach race.

Ragnar 30 Day Challenge.. each week there is a new theme to follow! Stay active and stay encouraged!! Follow Ragnar's Blog each week to see new challenges and enter to win prizes!

The First week of January, I had the honor of working with Fleet Feet San Antonio (Quarry Location) to help host an evening run. #ChaseTheSun

This week Ill be working with Energy X Fitness for an #UncomfortZone challenge!

I will also be out in Austin later this month to help kick off the last week of challenges. <3

You can also find me at the Cocoa Womens Half Marathon Expo January Friday Jan 14th and Sat Jan 15th!!! Ill be with Ragnar. Pretty excited as I am a HUGE fan of this race!!!



Half Marathon Training:

Race Day: March 4, 2017
52 Days, 23 hours, 53 minutes

I kicked off training again this week. I will NOT be running the full Marathon... just the half!

Ill keep updates of my training! (Im hoping to PR and run this half in under 2 hours!)

Fleet Feet Spring Training will also kick off January 21, 2017!!! I'm SUPER excited! I love their training programs and give them so much credit when it came to training my full marathon!

Needless to say... January will be a busy rest if the month!

Will I ever run a full marathon again? Yes! Id most definitely would like to!

I don't have one planned or a date I'm looking at... but I do know that I will not be running one this year. Id like to get more longer distance running in... but without the pressure of actually training for a race.  (I'm open to any suggestions on good, well supported full marathons)
After this year of running and adding more speed training, Ill see how comfortable I feel about signing up for another full.

For right now, Ill keep enjoying my current victory!

It's soooo pretttttyyy!!!

Happy Running <3

5

Rock N Roll Marathon Recap & Everything in Between

Lets go back a few weeks.
To the beginning of November.

I hit a very big 'mental' wall. I started feeling discouraged because I wasn't meeting my expected millage. I was down. I had trouble sleeping and focusing because in the back of my mind, I kept telling myself: You NEED to be at this distance, you NEED to run on this day, you NEED this, you NEED that. I kept telling myself what I needed vs what my body wanted. Many of my runs became forced. I'm not sure if that makes since... but running for me is never a forced thing to do. Its been because its beautiful out, I want an adventure, so I'm going to go find it and appreciate whats around me. Running also served as 'me' time. Two kids, two jobs.. life is hectic. Running helped me let go of all things around me and brought me back on top to where I felt okay.
I had two weeks of bad runs. I almost convinced myself to not run the marathon at all.
I Finally had the run. The run that HURT. Mentally and Physically. 16 miles was supposed to be 20 miles.

After this run.... I started opening up to a few friends and let them know what was going on. Everything they spoke to me was encouraging. I took a step back from running. I put my shoes away and rested. I needed mental rest more then anything. I needed to clear my mind, because although I was behind a few miles... telling myself Id never cross that finish line would actually be what did me in.
I also realized.... I will NEVER let myself feel the way I did that day. It was horrible. I was ashamed at first because I felt I let it get to that point. I accepted where I was in training and told myself its okay. The only place I NEED to be right now is happy and proud and encouraged and to not give up! I also accepted that if I felt any need to only do to the half marathon... then that's what I would do.


After a few days of just resting, foam rolling and breathing. I ran. This was the first run where my feet didn't feel heavy, my body didn't hurt and my mind felt clear. I felt happy.

A little Recap of some of the runs a few weeks before marathon week!

Track Tuesday

Soler Social Run Group

My last Long Long run

My last Double Digit Long Run

(Don't worry, I had plenty more besides these haha)

Now lets fast forward some... to race week! Race week was amazing!!! I worked the Rock N Roll Expo with the Ragnar crew:

Ragnar

RACE DAY!

I felt super calm. I was ready. It was cold, rainy and windy, but that was all in the back of my mind. I was focused on having a good run.

The first 13.1 miles was really just one big party. Ill admit.. I was the overly excited runner. Telling everyone good luck, rocking out to the music.... and telling every volunteer, medic and police officer THANK YOUUUU!!!!!!! And yes... it rained and poured for a good 6-7 miles. I was soaked and cold.
After the cut off, everything got quiet. Many seemed extremely focused. (I completely understand why too... were about to run another 13.1 miles)
I felt wonderful besides being wet. I got up to mile 14 and my friend Jenn was there!! I was so excited!! I kept on... feeling good.... took my UCAN at mile 16, walked for a little bit (had to led that UCAN settle some.) I took off again.

I reached mile 19. I was cold.  I was wet. I was starting to hurt some. I walked again.
MILE 20: Jenn found me! I couldn't warm up anymore. I had to go the bathroom. I was wearing wind breaker pants and my hands had become to cold... I couldn't roll them around my flip belt so I took them off. haha. (I was feeling a little delirious too) Don't worry! I had running shorts on under!
MILE 21: Jenn was still with me, I was able to get my body moving again... but still very very cold. I asked her if the temperature had dropped. ( Making sure my body temp wasn't slipping to low) She said it had dropped some.
MILE 22: Jason found me. Jenn left to get back to her car. Jason rode along side me on his bike. The mental game was setting in. I was having trouble focusing. So I started rambling to him to try and focus and put the pain aside. I didn't have any troublesome pain... my muscles were just becoming sore.
MILE 23: I decided to walk. Jason had left so he could see me at mile 26. I felt a very slight... but deep pulling sensation in the back of my leg. I could have kept running... but I told myself  NO! You are way to close to possibly injury yourself to where you cannot cross the finish line. So for 3 miles.... I walked....
Skipping Mile 24 and on to MILE 25: Jenn found me again. Thank goodness. She stuck out that mile with me. I was so cold.. and to be honest... ready to cry. I felt emotional. The feeling of just wanting to be done...and the feeling that I'm almost there! One more mile to go.
Of course.. I had to use the bathroom again. *Rolls eyes*.
MILE 26 I could see the finish line and there was Jason. They let me off.... I was crying. Not because I was hurting.... but because I made it. I was there. 26.2 miles.

I plan on buying all 29 of my marathon pictures haha. Ill post them once I've purchased.

This was definitely the most challenging run to date. Yes, I am looking for another marathon... but for now.... I will take time to become stronger. I will let my body get used to longer runs. I know what needs to be worked on. I'm in no rush for my 2nd marathon. I'm proud of myself. <3 <3 Thank you all who supported me along the way!

Weekly Workout Recap: 10/24-10/30

Not gonna lie... this week was lame lol. I rested a lot.
15 miles of trail definitly took a tole on my little legs


Monday: Offical Rest day.

Tuesday: Stuck with my plan for Track Tuesday. Unfortunately my legs weren't feeling it.
Scheduled:  12 times: 2 min fast, 1 min easy jog
I accomplished it 3 times with a small easy run... and lots of foam rolling and stretching!

Wednesday: Recovery run with my little. It was such a beautiful day out and its been awhile since I took my daughter on a run! She is used to being in the jogging stroller.... since she was 1 month and 1 day old!! My partner is crime... my son, eh he's not as much of a fan. (but he was in school)

Thursday: Foam rolling and work! 

Friday: I planned on running, but my plan didn't go as planned! 

Saturday: Rest! I planned on running anywhere between 12 and 18 miles Sunday. Since my body was so sore from Ragnar, I planned on doing whatever felt comfortable on my legs.

Sunday: 14 miles! Had another 'adventure run'.... got off the course, ended up running along the highway. I feel like my long runs are always an adventure for me!

Hope everyone has a great week! Happy Running and HAPPY HALLLLOOOWEEENN!!

Ragnar Trail Hill Country: Full Recap

Here it is!! Finally, Im able to sit down and tell everyone every detail about how awesome, beautiful, challenging and memorable this trail relay race was!

I start to pull my camping gear out about a week before the race and had it in my garage:

-Sleeping bag     

-cots

-pillow

-tent

-lantern

-fold able chair

-small table

-ice chest

-warm blanket

-other little accessories: plates, napkins, forks, batteries, sun screen, toilet paper, Clorox wipes, trash bags, plastic bags, baby wipes...

** Noted for next year: bring a little stove and something to make coffee in. Coffee was provided, but the lines got so long, and they ran out quickly. **

Jason enjoys camping, so I didn't need to buy anything for camping this weekend!

For food, I packed bacon, fruite, nuun,water. There was going to be food trucks there, so I tried to pack less.

Normally, I cant pack my bag in advance. I end up not packing enough or think I packed something when I didn't. 

I had all my clothes organized in piles. I put my main three race outfits in large zip lock bags. 

Our weather was predicted to be up and down this weekend. So I ended up packing double.

Thank goodness I did!!! At night it dropped to under 40 degrees and during the day it stayed around the 80's , but the sun was just pounding down on you. My body wasn't exactly happy about all that up and down.

Made our sign so we can check off legs as we go!

Prepped about a pound of bacon!

And I was off!!!

Driving down, I hit crazy traffic. I ended up not getting to my camp site till after 7 and the sun had already set. 

Im sure everyone watching me try and set up my tent got a great laugh. 

I went to the next camp site over to ask for help... and it ended up being Sarah!! Our main ambassador warrior for Texas Luckenbach ambassadors! ( How lucky was I!)

About an hour after getting set up, the other ambassador Gina arrived. I basically hung with her and helped her and her husband set up camp until I went to bed.

Friday morning is when the fun started. I got the rest of my camp area set up and blocked off to hold its place until my team arrived and I hungout with ambassdors!

My team started arriving, we checked in and before I knew it.... it was time to hit the trails! I was the first runner for our team.

My first Loop was the Green Loop: 3 miles

It was definitely a narrow course with no shade. So for me, it got hot quick. I started running at 1PM.

 My 2nd loop was the Red Loop: 7.4 miles

I ran this in the dark, It definitely had its technical moments, but because it was so dark, I could never see the elevations gain haha. Because of how narrow and dark it was, I didn't stop to take any pictures. It also got super cold. It took me about 35 minutes to really warm up... so stopping movement was something I really didn't want to do.

My 3rd Loop was the Yellow Loop: 5 miles

This was the most rocky and technical loop in my opinion... but my favorite! Lots of roots, twist, very steep up hill climbs. At one point I stopped and could see how narrow the paths were. I really had to watch my footing so I wouldn't fall. Some areas, you ran along a cliff. The first two miles were done in complete darkness, So I kept a slow, steady pace to make sure I stayed safe. Although I couldn't see all the elevation gain the beginning.... oh boy, could my legs feel it. 

At the top ( about 3 miles up) it was BEAUTIFUL. I looked down and could see tons of other runners.I was lucky enough to see the sun rise at the top of the mountain. Its a view Ill never forget. 

I flew the rest of my run!

The little specks of white along the mountain are actually other runners headlamps.

At the VERY top. 

I absolutely loved running every loop.

Our Double Medal for running Ragnar Austin and Ragnar Hill Country
(Road Relay and Trail Relay in the same state)

Can't wait till Luckenbach!!!!!

(Phote credit: Basically my whole team)