Blog Moving Day!

We're moving! I will now be blogging at ReluctantRunnerGirl.blogspot.com!

All the details on why the blog is moving can be found in the first post over there. I will be migrating all of the posts from this blog to the new blog over the next few weeks. Once everything is moved, I'll shut down and archive this blog.

Soon you on the other side!

Race Report: Thankful 13

The Details:
Race Name: The Thankful 13
Distances offered: Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Run
Distance I ran: 5K
Timed? Yes, chipped.
Location: Lehi, UT
Traveled? No
Recommended? Yes!






Time to earn our turkey! We had played with the idea of doing some kind of Turkey Trot for the past couple of years, but then we would wind up either travelling elsewhere or hosting at our house and feeling like lousy hosts if we left. This year though, we had to stay home for other reasons, and we didn't wind up hosting anyone either - the time had finally come!

Utah is great for runners, and as with many other categories of races, there are lots to choose from for Thanksgiving. The biggest and most popular is the Utah Human Race - which benefits the Utah Food bank. While that one is undoubtedly a great cause, its huge and seemed likely to be a little unwieldy, when we were looking for something a little more low-key. The Thankful 13 had lots of things going for it - it is a Runtastic Events race, which we've had great experiences with, it is partnered with a charity (food bank), and offered medals!

A few highlights of this race: Turkeys, pies, and hot chocolate!

Pre-race communication: 3.5/5
The pre-race emails for this race were a little confusing. I registered myself and both kids using my email address, while hubby was registered using his own email. In the past, I would get 3 copies of the same email (one for me, and one for each kid). This time, I got the 3 identical confirmation emails, but then the race guide email a few days ahead of time were different. I got two different versions (one came to my son, the other to me and my daughter) that had different information. Then, my husband got a third version that was entirely different from either of the ones that I got. I probably wouldn't have even noticed, except that in the email that hubby got there were very specific instructions for packet pickup (enter between Calvin Klein, etc), but those instructions weren't in the email that I got.

Packet pickup: 4.5/5
Packet pickup was at the Traverse Mountain Outlets in Lehi and took place on the Tuesday before the race from 3pm to 8pm and the day before the race from 10am to 8pm. Since hubby had specific instructions on where to find packet pick-up, it was quick and easy.

The schwag: 4/5
The race shirt was a long-sleeve super soft polyester. Aside from the shirt and race bib, there were a couple of inserts for local running stores and races, a granola bar, and an Emergen-C drink packet.

Race parking and getting the race started: 3.5/5
Parking at the race was at and around the Mountainland Applied Technology College (MATC) behind Thanksgiving Point. There was little parking, so there were cars lining the street and side streets, and right up to the Megaplex theater - which is only about a block or two away and is where we parked.The Half Marathon and 5K were both loops and shared the Start/Finish line. There were plenty of port-a-potties at the start/finish line area. The finish line area was set up and playing music, and it was freezing! I should say that we actually got a very mild Thanksgiving (as far as Utah Thanksgivings go), but right before the race started, it was frigid! The only one of us that thought to wear a hat was hubby, so we were mostly aware of our ears hurting! The Half Marathon started with a loud count down at 8am, and then us 5kers started at 8:30.

Half Marathon race start.

A special escort by the Utah National Guard - who ran in full uniform and carrying flags!

The course: 4/5
The course ran through Lehi residential neighborhoods and the Jordan River Parkway trail.  The route was mostly flat, but did have one pretty serious dip (that is, it had an uphill going both directions) in the first/last quarter mile - it only lasted for about 1/2 block, but it was steep! The route was well marked and the only spot where we could feasibly have made a wrong turn, they had a flagger to direct everyone. Prior to the race, runners were encouraged to submit things that they were thankful for. All along the route, signs appeared that had some of these thankful thoughts. Some super funny ones, "I'm thankful for horizontal running" (with a picture from the scene in Pitch Perfect), and others were super sweet "I'm thankful for the baby in my tummy....surprise!"

The atmosphere: 5/5
Before the race, the predominant feeling was cold! On the course, everyone seemed relaxed and like they were having a good time. There were lots of kids, and lots of people just chatting and having a good time. Several people that lived along the route came out and waved and yelled 'Happy Thanksgiving!' as we went by. After the race, there was lots of loud music, and most people that had finished gathered around to cheer on the runners as they came in.

The aid stations: 3/5
The 5K course had 1 aid station with water, PowerAde, and port-a-potties. The Half Marathon had several - hubby doesn't remember if there were 4 or 5, but he says they were well spaced, well stocked, and well manned!

The bling: 5/5

Front

Back

I loved this! That quote may well become my personal mantra!

The finish line: 5/5
The finish line was full of hot chocolate, pumpkin pie, and dinner rolls in addition to your more standard bananas, oranges, water, and PowerAde. The music was cranked up, and had lots of good variety. There were giveaways and mini-contests for turkeys and pies. It was generally a fun time!

Apparently this was the only finish line photo I took, lol!

Overall Fatty appeal: 4/5
The hot chocolate and pumpkin pie were pretty awesome!

Final thoughts:
The race was well thought-out and well organized. We all had a great time! We especially loved seeing the "I'm thankful for..." signs along the route - it was a great way to liven up the run!

Investigative Report: Forearm and Calf Sleeves

For one unfamiliar with the world of running, some things seem completely bizarre - from words seemingly designed to make 12-year-olds giggle (fartlek?), to completely strange apparel.  Take this woman:

I met this lady at Beat the Blerch, where she was running the full marathon. She seems to be dressed fairly typically - running shoes, a running skirt with built-in shorts, a tank top. But what the hell is up with the leg warmers and forearm sleeves?!

I've seen a number of runners wearing these one at a time or together both at races, and just out on runs around town. There are whole sections of these scrap pieces of fabric at running and athletic stores, and we are somehow supposed to believe that they are stand-alone items of clothing?! Clearly there is some kind of running insider secret to which I am not yet privy. It is time for an investigation...

Luckily, I happen to be friends with one of the managers of my local running store, Salt Lake Running Company. So, on one chilly, rainy, Sunday morning, I sent her this message on Facebook:

"Hey, I have a running question for you. I wondered - can you tell me what the point of those sleeves that only cover your forearms is? I see "serious" runners wearing them, and I have no idea why...same goes for the calf-only sleeve things... What are those, and why would one consider wearing them?"

As a serious runner herself, she of course knew what I meant right away. In fact, she was out for a run, and had only stopped to get a coffee before running home. It turns out that the forearm sleeves and the calf sleeves serve different purposes.

Forearm sleeves are meant as another way to modulate your temperature on a run. With the forearm sleeves, you can continue to wear shorter sleeved shirts when it gets chilly. This way, you can be warmer at the start of your run, but if you start to get too warm, you can just take them off mid-run.

Okay, one mystery down. But what about the calf ones? I don't know about you, but my legs are rarely cold while working that hard.

It turns out that the calf sleeves serve a more anatomical, bio-mechanical purpose. First of all, calf sleeves are a form of compression - that is, they're super, duper tight and squeeze your calves. This is supposed to be good for two reasons: 1) to increase blood flow, though the research on that isn't super good yet, and 2) to reduce muscle vibration, which is absolutely proven and supported by the science. The benefit is that this extra support causes you to feel less calf strain while you're running, and therefore less muscle soreness afterwards. That also explains why it is that I usually see them on runners doing longer distances.

So there you have it, mystery solved! Have you worn arm and/or calf sleeves? What did you think about them?

Race Report: Haunted Half (5K) Provo

The Details:

Race Name: The Haunted Half
Distances offered: Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Run
Distance I ran: 5K
Timed? Yes, chipped.
Location: Orem, UT
Traveled? Sort of - about an hour away
Recommended? Yes!


In a previous race report (The Haunted Half - SLC) I noted that my family and I are crazy into Halloween. We love us some costumed shenanigans! So, when faced with the decision to run the Haunted Half's 5K in either Salt Lake City or Provo, we chose....both. The races were run a week apart, and while both were good, there were some noticeable differences.There were also many, many similarities, so where my observations are the same, I'll let you know.

A few highlights of this race: All of the Haunted Half races are started by the Headless Horseman himself! Obviously, costumes are encouraged - and people have tons of fun with them! Similarly to the SLC race, I actually only saw a handful of people NOT in costume. We went as characters from the original Disney Alice in Wonderland.

Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum!

Pre-race communication: 4/5
*This is the same as for the SLC race*
All pre-race communication from the race organizers went smoothly and was very clear. I received only two emails: one to confirm my registration, and one a few days before the race conveying all the details of packet pickup and race day info. I also followed the race on Facebook, which I feel added a lot to the overall communication - they gave previews of the race shirt and medals, as well as course updates and general teasers to keep us excited. The only reason I'm not giving it the full 5/5 is because I never had any problems that required contacting the organizers, so I can't speak to how quickly or how well they responded.

Packet pickup: 4/5
Packet pickup was at the University Mall in Orem and took place from 10am to 8pm the day before the race. Our biggest complaint on this one, was that being from out of the area, we weren't sure where we were going. The University Mall is a really big place with lots of entrances, and there were no signs outside of the mall to tell us where to go. Then once we got in the right door (by sheer luck), there was a small sandwich board sign that pointed us to the right, but that was it. We actually walked around a little after picking up our packets, and there were no other signs that we saw. If we had come in any other door, we would have been totally lost. Once we found the packet pickup area though, everything was handled quickly and efficiently.

The schwag: 4/5
*This is the same as the SLC race, except that this makes 3 races in a row!*
The race shirt is a loose-fitting, long-sleeve, pullover tech shirt. Noticeably absent? Ads! Again! That's the second one in a row! The shirts were the same for each distance.

In the bag: race bib and safety pins, race shirt, plastic vampire teeth, plastic spiders, ads for local running stores and the race charity, and a race window cling.

Race parking and getting the race started: 3.5/5
Parking at the race was at and around the University Mall. There is tons of parking at the mall, and I'm relatively sure that parking never even completely filled up. The Half Marathon start was way up a nearby canyon, so runners were bussed up. The 5K started in the shopping center surrounding University Mall. There were plenty of port-a-potties at the start/finish line area. The finish line area was set up and playing music, and so, naturally everyone gravitated there. Once the race start time was getting close, the announcer asked everyone to head over toward Costco (a ways away across a large parking lot). Everyone started heading that way, but as we got near to the Costco, there was nothing there. No race organizers, no clear starting line. After a minute, it got our attention that they had brought two of the big flags to create a starting line back toward where we had started. In the end everyone got there and we mostly all joked around that we had just gone on a large group warm-up walk! Just like last time, the Headless Horseman smashed his pumpkin to the ground to start the race!

The course: 4/5
The course ran through Orem through mostly residential neighborhoods. It was actually kind of fun because lots of people came out and sat in their yard to watch all of us costumed crazy people run by! It felt like we were in a parade! The route was mostly flat, but did have one pretty serious uphill in the last half mile - it only lasted for about 2 or 3 blocks, but being right at the end, there was no way that was happening, and we just walked. Also, since we were running in/on residential streets the intersections were monitored by Safety Officers, and on the bigger roads, they were directing traffic, which was both good and not. Definitely good for safety, but there were a couple half-marathoners that were vocally annoyed when we were stopped to let traffic pass.

The atmosphere: 5/5
*This is the same as for the SLC race, except for the photos*
The overall feel of this race was pretty much a family oriented Halloween party, where people just happened to be running. There wasn't the sense of nervous energy, or martyred determination that is often present at races. It was all fun, relaxed, and overall a great time!

The aid stations: 3/5
As opposed to the Salt Lake race, there was only one aid station on the course. I'm a total wimp when it comes to water. You know that dry spot that you get in the back of your throat, and no amount of swallowing can fix it? Drives me absolutely nuts! So, even on short runs, I usually bring water. However, on race day, if I'm reasonably confident that there will be water frequently, I don't bring anything, which was the case here.That dry spot nearly drove me insane! The on-course aid station was, however, well staffed and provided water and PowerAde in reasonable sized cups - no tiny Dixie cups!

The bling: 5/5

I personally loved this one way more than the spider-web one! And the face on the horseman's pumpkin glows in the dark!

The finish line: 5/5
*This part is the same as the SLC race*
I would give the finish line party more than 5 stars if I could! The food alone included the standard water, fruit and PowerAde, but also pizza and donuts! There was face painting, bobbing for apples, dancing, and bounce houses for the kids. It was a blast!

One difference for this race, was more photo ops, and also free massages!

Best post-race perk EVER!

Overall Fatty appeal: 5/5
Donuts, pizza, chocolate milk - it was awesome. I would have liked a second aid station, but that was super minor.

Final thoughts:
Despite the minor hiccups, it was still a great race, and I absolutely recommend it - all of the issues were minor things that were overshadowed completely by the awesomeness of the rest of the race. We had an excellent time, and would absolutely do it again! Running in costumes is a whole different beast, and lessons were learned. But all-in-all, a race featuring a headless horseman, haunted woods, and Halloween party at the end was pretty much awesome (again)!

A Guide to Running in Costume

Because I'm less of a runner and more of a have-runner, I'm always looking for something to spice up my runs and races. Fun, silly, super scenic locale, anything so that its not just another miserable 3-6 miles...

Confession time: I am both a huge Halloween nerd, and a massive Disney fan. For running, this means that it was only a matter of time before I ran a race in costume.

I've been looking for a good costume race (and trying to convince hubby to run it with me) for a long time. We actually have several costumed Half Marathons near us, but I wasn't ready to commit to that many miles in costume just yet. And then a wonderful thing happened: one of those Half Marathons added a 5K! I signed up myself and my two kids, and even convinced hubby to slum it with us in the 5K instead of doing the half. So without further ado, a few things we discovered about running in costumes:

DO: Work with what you have.

The best running costumes use running gear. No surprise, right? There is a reason we run in tech fabric and why we choose the the styles and cuts of running gear that we do. We choose our running gear according to what we're most comfortable running in. So, if you can work running gear that you already have into your costume - awesome!

Case in point: Hubby ran as Zorro.

He wore black running tights and a black running shirt that he already had. The cape is one we've had for years and was in our costume box. The hat was a re-use from a past pirate costume. The only new thing that we got was the fabric for the mask which we literally bought on the way to the race, and I cut eye holes while he drove!

DON'T: Use big accessories.

Think about it: you don't want to have to carry extra crap. Another thought though - there are usually A LOT of runners on the course, so not only do you not want to carry this stuff, but if its big, you have to worry about not hitting/running into other runners with it.

Example: fairy wings.

As you can see, her wings expanded way, way out past her shoulders. This became a pain for her in a number of ways. First, at the race start, everyone within 10 feet of her got smacked, poked, whacked, or stabbed with fairy wings. Then, nearly everyone she passed on the course got hit too. Also, fairy wings move. I know, shocker. Her wings spent much more time folded up and shifted down so that they were on her sideways. By the end she was so annoyed, that she took them off and carried them.

If you're going to do wings, a couple of pointers: 1) keep it small - the smaller they are, the less they'll move around. 2) consider immobilizing them - maybe use safety pins to attach to the back of your shirt instead of just relying on the shoulder straps. 3) take them for a test run - yes you will look like a crazy person running around your local park wearing wings, but if they annoy you after 100 yards, you definitely don't want to wear them in a distance race.

DO: Be careful of too many layers. 

Ok, so this one was my own fault. I was trying to go with my first point about wearing running gear if possible. I was going as Lady Zorro, so I was wearing a black knee-length skirt with a red stretchy corset and fishnets. That sounded like it would be awful to run in, so I wore some knee-length running shorts and a tank top underneath. Now, due to the nature of how a corset is worn over a skirt, that means that around my mid-section, I had undies, fishnets, running shorts, a wool skirt, and a corset. That's FIVE layers!! That wound up being hot, constricting, and generally uncomfortable. 

As hot as my middle got, I'm surprised that my race bib didn't melt off by the end...

DON'T: Assume that a mask will be 'fine'

We had mixed results with the masks. Mine was TORTURE. I made it a little over a mile before I took it off. It was hot and made me sweaty way earlier than any other part of me got sweaty (including the parts that were wearing 5 layers!). To make matters worse, nothing stays exactly in place when you're running, so the mask kept riding up and bothering my eyes. Hubby, on the other hand, had no such issues. We made his mask to mirror the original Zorro mask, so it covered his whole head. He still wore it for the whole race with no complaints. To be fair, we were running WAY under his pace, so he never really got hot or sweaty.

Do: Be make small changes to make some things more running-friendly

We made minor modifications to several things to make them more running friendly. For hubby's costume, the cape was one of the cheap Halloween capes that ties at the neck. You can imagine that running along with that flapping behind you and the ties pulling on your throat would get old fast. So we safety-pinned the ties to his shirt. Similarly, my son dressed as Bill Nye the Science Guy, who famously wears a bow-tie. We had a bow-tie in the costume box, but it was one with an elastic band to wear around the neck. Again, we just safety-pinned it to his shirt. Small modifications, but they make a big difference!

We're running another costumed race this weekend, so I'll come back and update with any new lessons learned. Do you have any tips? I'd love to know your tricks!

Race Report: Haunted Half (5K) - Salt Lake City

The Details:

Race Name: The Haunted Half
Distances offered: Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Run
Distance I ran: 5K
Timed? Yes, chipped.
Location: SLC, UT
Traveled? No
Recommended? Yes!


We are a bunch of Halloween nuts around here, so when offered the opportunity to combine two of our favorite things - running and Halloween - there was no turning it down! This race is actually one of two - there is a second race next Saturday in another city a couple of hours away. We're doing that one too. ;)

A few highlights of this race: The race is started by the Headless Horseman himself! Obviously, costumes are required - and people have tons of fun with them! I actually only saw a handful of people NOT in costume. The second half of the 5K (and last bit of the Half) come down a paved trail along City Creek and into Memory Grove Park. The last tenth of a mile or so was all decked out with Halloween decorations - ghosts in the trees, skeletons walking their skeleton dogs, and even a haunted tunnel to run through! I'll admit it, one of the guys in the tunnel really got me, lol!

Zorro and Lady Zorro!

Pre-race communication: 4/5
All pre-race communication from the race organizers went smoothly and was very clear. I received only two emails: one to confirm my registration, and one a few days before the race conveying all the details of packet pickup and race day info. I also followed the race on Facebook, which I feel added a lot to the overall communication - they gave previews of the race shirt and medals, as well as course updates and general teasers to keep us excited. The only reason I'm not giving it the full 5/5 is because I never had any problems that required contacting the organizers, so I can't speak to how quickly or how well they responded.

A moody fairy...(no, seriously, that's what she decided she was!)

Packet pickup: 5/5
Packet pickup was at the Infinity Event Center in downtown Salt Lake and took place from 10am to 8pm the day before the race. There were a few booths of race sponsors that mostly had activities, though there were a couple with things for sale. We got there around 6pm and there were no lines! There were other runners there, but the tables were well staffed and efficient, and we got in and out quickly.

Bill Nye The Science Guy

The schwag: 4/5
The race shirt is a loose-fitting, long-sleeve, pullover tech shirt. Noticeably absent? Ads! Again! That's the second one in a row! The shirts were the same for each distance.

Front

Back

In the bag: race bib and safety pins, race shirt, plastic vampire teeth, plastic spiders, ads for local running stores and the race charity, and a race window cling.

Race parking and getting the race started: 5/5
Parking at the race was at and around the State Capitol building. There is tons of parking at the capitol, and when you add in on-street parking, it didn't seem like anyone had to park too far away. The Half Marathon start was way up Emigration Canyon, so runners were bussed up. The 5K started at the northeast corner of the State Capitol complex. There were TONS of port-a-potties at the starting line. The starting line itself was a large, inflatable arch, and after an enthusiastic count down from the runners, the Headless Horseman smashed his pumpkin to the ground to start the race!

The course: 4/5
The course was beautiful! The 5K started by looping the State Capitol complex, before heading down into City Creek Canyon. This time of the year, the trees are flaming yellow and orange with a thin, blowing layer of leaves across the path. It was gorgeous! The route was mostly downhill, but did have some pretty serious uphills in the first mile.


The atmosphere: 5/5
The overall feel of this race was pretty much a family oriented Halloween party, where people just happened to be running. There wasn't the sense of nervous energy, or martyred determination that is often present at races. It was all fun, relaxed, and overall a great time!


The aid stations: 4/5
There were two aid stations on the 5K. The on-course aid stations were well staffed and provided water in reasonable sized cups - no tiny Dixie cups!

The bling: 5/5

The finish line: 5/5
I would give the finish line party more than 5 stars if I could! The food alone included the standard water, fruit and PowerAde, but also pizza and donuts! There was face painting, bobbing for apples, dancing, and bounce houses for the kids. It was a blast!

Face paint!

Napoleon Dynamite dancing to Thriller!

Bobbing for apples!

Overall Fatty appeal: 5/5
Two aid stations along a 5K route was a huge benefit - as I've mentioned before, I get thirsty easily no matter how hydrated I am, and an aid station every mile makes it so that I don't have to be one of those nerds that wears a Camelback for a 5K... The downhill was also nice - I resigned myself to walking the uphills before the race began, so it was pretty nice!

Final thoughts:
This was my (and my family's) first Halloween race, and it did not disappoint! Running in costumes is a whole different beast, and lessons were learned. But all-in-all, a race featuring a headless horseman, haunted woods, and Halloween party at the end was pretty much awesome!


Stay tuned for a post on running costumes and next week a recap of the Provo Haunted Half - and keep your fingers crossed that that one is as cool as this one was!

Race Report: Beat the Blerch Inaugural

The Details:

Race Name: Beat the Blerch
Distances offered: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K
Distance I ran: 10K (hubby ran the half)
Timed? Yes, chipped.
Location: Carnation, WA
Traveled? Yes
Recommended? Definitely!










In order to fully understand this race, you must first understand Nutella and birthday cake, demon bees and magical purple fizzy drinks, and above all The Blerch. If you do not yet read The Oatmeal, allow me to introduce you. Before you go any further go read this, it's okay, I'll wait: The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances.

*Cue terrible elevator music.....*

All done? Good! The Blerch has an understandably rabid fan base, and so it was only a matter of time before a Blerch themed race was born. The announcement that a race was coming was made early this year and when registration opened in the spring, the entire race sold out in under 30 minutes! I was not one of the lucky few who got in. I did however, sign up for the waiting list that same day just in case they opened up more spots or some runners canceled. They did eventually open up more spots, and then they decided to just go ahead and open up a whole 'nother day of racing! The original races were scheduled for Sunday September 21st, but with so much interest and a several-miles-long waiting list, they went ahead and created a whole second day of racing on that Saturday the 20th, which was the day I ran.


Pre-race communication: 4/5
All pre-race communication from the race organizers went smoothly and was very clear. I received update emails periodically, but certainly not annoyingly often. I also followed the race on Facebook, which I feel added a lot to the overall communication. The only reason I'm not giving it the full 5/5 is because I never had any problems that required contacting the organizers, so I can't speak to how quickly or how well they responded.

Packet pickup: 4/5
Packet pickup was at Road Runner Sports in Greenlake, WA. The whole store had been more or less sacrificed to the descending rabid fans. The staff were friendly, helpful, and attentive. They also handed out 20% off coupons at the door, which came in handy since my Body Glide somehow got crumbled to pieces en route to Seattle. One frustrating thing was that this store is nowhere near where the race was held (as in several cities away). For those of us not from the area, that was confusing. Also, Greenlake is a neighborhood of Seattle itself, so there was very little parking, crazy traffic, and the parking that there was required validation. All minor annoyances, and the organizers warned about the limited parking, but it would have been nice to know the extent before-hand.

The schwag: 4/5
The race shirt is awesome! It is a quarter-zip long-sleeve pullover tech shirt complete with thumb holes in the cuffs. Noticeably absent? Ads! Not a single sponsor name to be found! The shirts were different for each distance, but only in super minor ways. The appropriate distance is listed on the shirt, and on the back, there was a slice of cake for the 10K, half of a cake for the Half Marathon, and a whole cake for the full Marathon.

Front

Back

In the bag: race bib and safety pins, race shirt, 'I Believe in the Blerch' magnet, coupon for Road Runner Sports, and a card advertising several other local races. Similarly to the shirt, there was no junk - no trial size any thing, no half-a-pound worth of ads for other things.

Blerch Magnet

Race parking and getting the race started: 5/5
Parking at the race was handled very well! An interactive Google map of potential parking areas was made available well ahead of time. Volunteers were present, not only at the park where the race started and finished, but also at each of the potential parking areas (a middle school, nearby dog park, grocery store, etc). My one minor gripe was that you could apparently buy a parking pass to park right near the starting line, but I didn't hear anything about that option until the night before packet pickup when the final reminder email went out.

The course: 5/5
The course was beautiful! For the 10k and Half Marathon the course was out-and-back, and for the Marathon it was a loop. The first 3/4 mile was on a paved jogging/biking path, which then gave way to a more rugged (though very wide and well maintained) gravel trail. With the exception of one very steep 10-20 yard section, the course was mostly flat. It ran along a river, over a bridge above the river, through farmland, into a forest, and back again. I loathe any kind of uphills, and I found the course to be beautiful, pleasant, and very manageable.

The atmosphere: 5/5
The whole atmosphere of the event as a whole, was different than any race that I've been to (as a runner or a cheering section). The general sense of comedy and tongue-in-cheek that you get from the original Blerch comic, was pretty much how it went. People came to run dressed as cupcakes, McDonald's french fries, hot dogs, and of course Blerches. There were also 'official' Blerches on the course reminding us to 'Slow down Captain Speedypants, no need to rush!' The announcer at the start gave frequent course reports of Sasquatch sightings, but thankfully no Giant Japanese Hornets. Matthew Inman himself ran the Half Marathon on both days and was on hand to meet people, take pictures, and sign autographs at both packet pickup and the race. All in all it was a giant party!

The aid stations: 5/5
So, you know how I said it was a giant party? The aid stations were less 'aid station', and more 'celebration of all things Blerchy'. There were things that you would expect any aid station to have like water and electrolytes, but there was also Nutella, birthday cake, couches, Blerches, and a Sasquatch!

The bling: 5/5

 'Nuff said.

The finish line: 5/5
Coming up to the finish there were awesome spectators and already finished runners, and an announcer that called out each person's name as they crossed the finish line. The finish line area had more of everything that the aid stations had, plus purple fizzy drink! There was a foam rolling station, Muscle Milk, and Blerchy photo ops. Plus The Oatmeal himself signing autographs!

Overall Fatty appeal: 5/5
Come on, there was Nutella and couches at the aid stations! Add to that a gorgeous, nearly all flat course and a laid-back attitude that encouraged all runners, and generally disdained the gym-rat, fitness freak mentality, and it was a fat runner's paradise!

Final thoughts:
I loved this race and I would do it again in a heartbeat! As it turns out, I may get the chance too. Due to the huge amount of support for the race, and the number of runners that wanted to race, but couldn't travel, the organizers have announced that The Blerch will be coming to multiple cities next year! There are already events planned on the east coast, and there will be at least one somewhere in the center of the US - likely somewhere in Colorado. So lace up your shoes, and get ready to Beat the Blerch!


Have you run any good races lately? If so, I'd love to hear about them!

Injuries and Motivation

I have a bad knee. When I was in high school, I worked at a fast-food place and I was riding my bike home after having worked the closing shift. I wasn't wearing a helmet, anything reflective, nor did I have a light on my bike. The F250 didn't see me. I was lucky that it had been stopped at a stop sign and didn't have much accumulated speed when it hit me. I also came out very lucky injury wise: a concussion, scrapes and bruises, and a wrenched knee.

I've been told that I will eventually need a knee replacement, but as I am young yet, the doctors don't want to do it until it is absolutely unavoidable. In the meantime, I sometimes overwork my knee and subsequently have to take a couple days of near complete rest just to be able to do the day-to-day stuff. When I took up running, my doctor warned me that I would need a strict 1 day on, 1 day off regimen so as not to overwork my knee. Yes well, I thought, I now run 3-4 miles at a time several times a week with no problems, things will probably be just fine if I move the days around a bit. Nope.

So, after my long run on Sunday my knee was a little achy. I gave it a day and it was still bothering me, so I decided to take a few days so as not to make it worse and be sidelined for weeks. After it had been 3 days I was itching to run again. Odd, I'd been struggling with motivation for weeks. And now all of a sudden I wanted to run again. You don't know what you've got 'til its gone? Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

That got me to thinking. What if we treated motivation as an injury? Now, I don't mean the normal hesitancy, or trouble getting our butts out of bed in the morning. I mean REALLY struggling outside the normal. What if we recognized this as a mental injury? After all, a huge part of endurance running is the mental challenge. So, just like with any physical injury, what if we decided to take a few rest days and run strong, instead of forcing our way through it and having mediocre and unsatisfying runs? Just like it is critical to take rest to heal physical injuries, maybe we need to just take a few days to rest, and then come back mentally strong.

What do you think?

Lacking Motivation

The past 2 weeks have been hard. Really hard. As I mentioned earlier, I have now started on Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training Plan. This is week 2 and I'm already fighting to keep my motivation up. Its not the training plan - its me. As lame as it sounds, its true. I admit that I was a little nervous about the first long run - at 4 miles it was just short of a full mile longer than any run I'd done before. But as a pleasant surprise, it wasn't a big deal at all. In fact, I didn't feel much different than at the end of a 3-miler.

I suspect that this whole motivation thing is temporary, largely because I don't have the motivation to do much of anything outside sleep and other calming things like knitting. Yes I knit. In the past couple of weeks work got crazy busy and even more demanding than usual, there was some serious family crap that had to be dealt with, my daughter's birthday is in a week and a half and in a moment of insanity I agreed to let her have her first slumber party - so now all of that has to be planned. Add to all of that that like most of the country, if not the world, finances are super tight and I just don't have the energy to care.

Also, the summer is killing my training schedule. I don't mind the running so much, its the f-ing heat and beating sun. See, here in Salt Lake City it is hot, and even over night it doesn't ever really cool off. If we're lucky, it'll dip below 80 somewhere around 3 o'clock in the morning. Since I absolutely abhor the idea of running miles and miles on a treadmill in a gym full of overly perky (read: judgmental) co-eds where you can feel the dank sweat in the air, that means I have to get creative. And frankly, I haven't had the desire to get creative. I don't want it to be hard. I want to go back to when the only thought that I had to give to the weather was to be sure I was dressed appropriately.

For the time being, I am trudging on, but this utter lack of motivation is starting to royally piss me off. Seriously. And ironically, the only thing keeping me sane is the stress relief of my runs...

Stumbled Upon Gem of the Day

Ok, so I may be the very last one to this party, but today I discovered dailymile.com . In case you haven't found it yet either, I thought I'd share.

I only discovered this today, so I'm not by any means an expert, but along with a mapping feature for planning routes (which can be saved and re-used), the site allows you to store your workout history and also works like a social networking site for athletes.

If you haven't joined yet, head on over and take a look. If you're already a member, do you have any tips for us noobs?

Break it Down: Half Marathon Training Programs

There's something eye-popping about a half-marathon. I told one of my coworkers that I don't see all that often that I planned to train for, and run, my first half-marathon in October. He was pretty stoic when I said I had just run a 5k, and that I will run a 10k around the end of August, but when I said 'half-marathon', there go the eyes.

And its no surprise. I mean, face it, if it were easy everyone would have done it by now - not everyone can run 3.1 miles, let alone 13.1. And it is due to this difficulty that one needs a training program - at least if you don't want to hurt yourself along the way. Fortunately, half-marathon training programs are widely available for free all over the internet. Being on the path to the next big thing will also allow for the sense of working toward something bigger, which will keep me motivated for the long haul.

So, having just completed my first 5k, and already being registered for another, I began my search for a good program. I decided that with the plethora of plans out there, I may as well look at as many reputable ones as I could, and a couple obscure ones too, just to pepper in some excitement. I wound up doing this comparison with the training programs from Runner's World, Jeff Galloway, Hal Higdon, Kendrick Fitness, Fitness Magazine, About.com, MarathonRookie.com, and Cool Running (the developers of the Couch-to-5k program).

Factors that I used to compare programs included whether or not they adhered to the 10% rule (to prevent injury, increase weekly mileage by no more than 10% each week), number of running days, rest days, whether or not cross-training was integrated, the length of the longest long run, and the total number of weeks the program lasts. Being a very new runner with no history of running at all, it was important to me for the mileage buildup to be very gradual so that I wouldn't get overwhelmed. Because I run with plantar fasciitis, rest days are critical, so a balance of run and rest was also important. Related to that point, cross-training was important as well so that there would be cardio going on, while not necessarily pounding my feet - and also for variety. I also considered the length of the longest run, because despite the notion that if I could make it 10 miles in training, the last 3 on race day wouldn't be a big deal, I would feel more comfortable getting closer than that. And lastly, my chosen half-marathon is on Halloween weekend, so the total length of the program needed to correspond reasonably well with that timeline. Lastly, because I train with my husband (who is far more athletic than I am) we were interested in possibly doing speed-work, so we looked at that as a factor too.

Runner's World

Prerequisites: Have run at least 1 year, able to run 5 miles without trouble, have completed at least one 5k (more is better), average 15-20 miles weekly.

Pros: Runner's World is a highly respected publication, and their book for beginner runners is absolutely indispensable. The first week of the program started at a mileage that I could be comfortable with, and the total length of the program, at 12 weeks, was perfectly reasonable.

Cons: I don't exactly meet the prerequisites, there is vigorous speed-work (hubby could probably keep up, but I don't know if I could).

Jeff Galloway

Prerequisites:None. The beginner program is designated for those who have been running for less than 6 months.

Pros: Jeff Galloway is a legend, an Olympic one. As the official trainer for the runDisney race series' (some of the most beginner-friendly distance races), beginners are par for the course. Also, Jeff Galloway's run-walk method is nearly as famous as he is for getting people to the distances they want to go, injury free.

Cons: I don't especially relish the idea of walking if I don't absolutely have to. I am perfectly fine with those who choose to use a run-walk method, but for me, it feels like cheating unless I physically have to. Also, at 18 weeks, this program is easily the longest one, and frankly, I'm just not that patient.

Hal Higdon

Prerequisites: Able to run 3 miles, 3-4 times per week.

Pros: Jeff Galloway may be super famous in the running world, but Hal Higdon isn't that far off himself. In fact, he has written numerous books about running and training, has run over 100 marathons himself, and actually holds several running records. Of even more note is the fact that his training programs are known for being easily approachable, and for turning out beginner distance runners with little to no injuries.

Cons: Not many. At 12 weeks, the timeline is, again, just right. There is ample running, and adequate rest as well, and opportunities for cross-training should you so choose. At the novice level, there is no speed-work, however.

Kendrick Fitness

Prerequisites: Able to run 30 minutes continuously, weekly mileage of at least 15 miles, have completed several 5k races and at least 1 10k race.

Pros: Gradual increase in mileage, plus speed-work for variety. 12-week plan, again, fits well into my timeline.

Cons: Here we are with the 10k requirement again, sheesh! So, right off the bat I don't meet the prerequisites. Also, with only 2 days of non-foot pounding in the plan, this one could be tough on my plantar fasciitis.

Fitness Magazine

Prerequisites: Able to run 2 miles without stopping.

Pros: This program goes quick! At only 8 weeks, this is the shortest program, which plays well to my impatient side. With 2 days full rest, and 1 day of cross training, there is adequate rest.

Cons: This program goes quick! Training for a half marathon is no joke, and 8 weeks could be too much, too fast. Also, the week-to-week mileage seems to multiply pretty quickly. Lastly, 2 days per week are spent with a walk-run-walk where the longest run is only 3 miles, and the walks are either 1 or 2 miles each. I personally am a bit anal-retentive about getting in a good warm-up and cool-down walk, and I don't know why I would want to walk that much or what the benefit would be, so I don't know how well this walk-run-walk thing would work out for me.

About.com

Prerequisites: Have been running at least 2 months and have a weekly mileage of 8-10 miles per week.

Pros: Weekly mileage addition is comfortably gradual - an addition of just 1 mile on the long run of each week. Rest days are either 2 or 3 days per week, and there is some cross-training peppered in too. Also, the longest long run clocks in at 12 miles - the longest of all of the plans.

Cons: While undeniably straight-forward, this plan seems tedious and monotonous - if you are a running purist, this may very well be the plan for you, but I bore easily and this plan nearly screams monotony.

MarathonRookie.com

Prerequisites: Have been running consistently for at least 4-6 weeks and can run at least 30 minutes continuously.

Pros: This plan is in-between in length at 10 weeks - enough time for me to be done, and pushing my distance, or bettering my time. Like the About.com plan, the longest long run is again 12 miles.

Cons: This plan is regimented running - no cross-training, just you and the road. Again, that means risk of boredom for me. The long runs also seem to taper very soon - the 12 mile run is in week 7, and the weekly mileage decreases from there. Also, the plan seems a little random, and disjointed - the weekly mileage for example increases by 2 miles, then 1, then 3, then 2, then 3, then 2, then decreases by 4, decreases again by 4, and finally increases by 3 during race week.

Cool Running

Prerequisites: Be able to run this schedule comfortably for 4-5 weeks:

Mon.Tue.Wed.Thu.Fri.Sat.Sun.
Off 3M 4M 4M Off 3M 5M

Pros: 1 day per week of speed-work adds variety, without being overwhelming. The total program length is 12 weeks, and as with the previous 2 plans, the longest run is 12 miles.

Cons: The mileage of the long run bounces around unpredictably - good for variety, tough for new runners to do a jump of 2+ miles week-to-week. Also, with 5 days of running per week, this was the least plantar fasciitis-friendly plan.

For your reference, here is a chart I made in order to compare them all side-by-side:

So, what did I decide? Well see that's a funny story. Since hubby was so intent on speed-work, that was the first thing we used to narrow the list. So initially, I decided on the Kendrick Fitness plan - the mileage was nice and gradual, the speed-workouts offered a good amount of variety, and despite the fact that I didn't meet the recommended prerequisite, I was ready to tough it out anyway. But then you all came to my rescue :)

In an earlier post, I talked about my new challenge of finding a half-marathon training program and asked for your recommendations. I was happily surprised when I received several. I was even more surprised when they all recommended the same one. Eerie, right? Well, not really. I mean if something is good, word gets out. All of those recommendations were for the Hal Higdon plan, so I went back and looked it over more closely. In particular, one comment had said that the importance of each week is explained, and I was curious to see what kind of explanation was given. Upon doing that additional reading, I came across an important fact: new runners should NOT try to improve distance endurance and speed at the same time - doing so is a certain recipe for injuries. Whew! Glad I dodged that bullet! And I have you all to thank, so THANK YOU!!

So, in the end I have decided to go with the Hal Higdon plan. Its not perfect (it topping out at a 10 mile long run is my biggest concern), but I will finish it with a couple weeks to spare, so there's time for some tweaking where necessary. The plan seems well rounded, incorporating cross-training, strength training, and copious amounts of stretching in addition to piling on the miles - but in a slow, healthy way.