2017 Running Update

winter running in 2016

Running still isn't a part of my life right now, and it's taken four full months to fully accept and embrace the time off and rehab I've been doing on my knee, hips and glutes. It was so very hard in the beginning, in fact I don't think I've ever been more frustrated or felt more out of control. I went from running five times a week including 10-17 mile long runs on the weekends (with no significant injuries over the past year and a half of consistent training or the past 15 years of casual runs and races) to nothing over the course of about a week. To be totally honest, it was devastating. I love running. You can read some reasons why I love it and read some race recaps in some of my previous posts, here and here. 

It was the very end of July that I noticed a bit of a twinge in my knee, after I was home from my runs, not during them. It was pretty minor so I took and extra rest day and figured it would resovle itself. Then by the first week of August, it grew more constant, still only after I completed my run, I felt no pain while running. At first, I was optimistic. I thought if I took a week or two off and foam rolled and stretched the crap out of it, I would be fine. I was weeks away from running the Run Fest Marathon in Anchorage and had felt great during training up to that point. My racing schedule over the summer had been rocky mostly due to moving from Palmer and the homeless-limbo we were in the first couple of months we were here in Homer, but my runs had been consistent and were truly a life-saver for getting through the stress of all the changes we were going through as a family.

I quickly realized, however, that my knee wasn't improving from rest, and that simple things like squatting down to be at my kids level and lifting my leg to reposition myself in bed were getting more painful, not less. I started to get really worried. I found a doctor in Homer that could fit me in that day and had them look at it so I could get a referral for physical therapy. The doctor thought it was a tracking issue, which is very common for women runners. My quad was doing too much and pulling the tendon behind my knee out of alignment, and my glute muscles on the same leg were underdeveloped and not activating correctly. Unfortunately, the PT I had been recommended by several friends and the doctor wasn't able to fit me in for two weeks, so I waited. I tried going on a run about a week in, but felt pain only five minutes into the run and made it two miles before I realized I had to quit then to keep from making it much worse than it already was.  

last run that I felt great on, July 2016

last run, ever (for now)

So I got my bike out and started riding everywhere, but that hurt my knee too, especially going uphill. I replaced running with walking, just to get outside and stay active, but I was starting to get really worried. I had made so much progress over the last year and a half and was feeling edgy and grouchy all the time. I felt bad for my family because of my constant sour mood, but also like no one understood how hard of a time I was having or how deeply upset I was. When I was finally able to see the PTs, they officially diagnosed it as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, which is often called runners knee. They said basically what the doctor had said, except in more detail and that my case was pretty severe, since I was having pain almost anytime I bent my knee while my quad was engaged. I was warned that damaging it further could be permanent, and that as it was it was going to be months before I would run again. 

As I said earlier, this was utterly devastating to me. Even now as I type this the tears are flowing. Running has been such a gift to me, a part of me that is mine only, something that I feel proud of and makes me feel disciplined and like I have a small part of this crazy life under my own control. Even though I usually had the kids with me while I ran, it was something I did just for myself, it was my 'me' time and I loved it in a way I can't even put into words. I went to PT and did the exercises but many otherwise great days were often ruined during August and September by feeling that hated pain in my knee when I squatted down just so or walked downhill a certain way. My emotions were a mass of conflict, on one hand I was having a giant pity party for myself and on the other I felt guilty for allowing an injury to have so much control over my life and the lives of Steve and the kids as a result. 

I worried about losing strength and speed and endurance, and I worried about gaining weight from inactivity, since all I could do basically was walk. Biking and most hiking aggravated my condition and I couldn't even swim all of October and November because I had surgery on my chest in September and couldn't get the incision wet. We were also living in our Airstream and trying to make decisions about our building plans and thinking about our winter plans, so I was really overwhelmed with stress and looking back now realize I was probably more depressed than I allowed myself to admit. Cookies and ice cream were like the only thing that made me feel better (temporarily, of course - feeling overfull and not being hungry for real food led to even more guilt) and I ate more sweets in two months than I did in the previous two years combined. So of course I gained about 10 pounds pretty quickly, and then felt utter misery at knowing just what I had feared was happening - but also knowing that I was making things much worse by my emotional eating. 

By December I had actually started to accept that my knee was going to need a lot of time to get better, and that running just wasn't going to happen for a while. The holiday season was actually a blessed distraction for me, and I started to feel a lot better than I had before - so much less self-pity than the previous months. But the holiday baking led to more emotional binge eating and I noticed my clothes, which had already fit a bit tighter, were now in many cases just not fitting at all. Despair is the only word I can think of to describe how I felt. My heart hurt so much, and I felt that the unfairness of having an injury had such a long-term rehabilitation period in some way justified treating myself with more sweets than was healthy.

Christmas was a turning point of sorts. As I went to parties and dinners and cookie decoration parties and ate more than felt right, I still knew in that back of my mind that I was ready to get back to treating my body the way it deserved, by making healthier choices both in regards to food and self-dialog. When I got home from visiting my family in Anchorage, I decided to cut out foods with added sugar for a while as sort of a reset, and I've been doing immensely better. It's actually hard to believe that just two weeks ago I was eating peanut m&ms by the handful (but my sisters will attest to that fact, ha). 

Skiing has also been a life-saver for me. If I'm careful about my form and keep up on cross-training and my PT exercises and foam rolling, I don't notice any extra strain on my quad and knee, and I've been able to get out three or four times this week to hit the trails and build the muscles in my glute and hips that I need to fix the physiological problems that are causing my knee pain. Of course I greatly anticipate the day that I will be able to begin running regularly again, hopefully this summer. My knee is healing slowly, but it has improved so much since August and September, and I try to remember that whenever I start to feel frustrated. 

Writing this has been so therapeutic for me, and I hope that those who read this to completion are able to find something to relate to in my story. We all struggle with something, and many times we choose to mask it from our friends and family and bear the load alone, all to protect ourselves from some imagined judgement. But I wanted to be open about this because I think it's important to share ourselves with each other, even the hard, sometimes ugly things. Thank you for joining me as I share in this little online space I've set up, it means so much to me. ♥

Skiing this week with my babies

Raven Run Club: Alaska Training Program for Runners of all Levels

This fall I'm going to Anchorage at least once a week as part of the Raven Run Club, a 15 week training program put on by Skinny Raven and coached by their employees. It has been so fun so far and I'm glad I signed up!

Running is something that anyone can do, but all the technical stuff can be kind of confusing for beginners and seasoned runners a like. I decided to join the training program as a first step towards having a coach planning workouts for me with the goal of improving my pace. It is so nice to have someone more experienced than myself to write out workouts that I just get to show up and complete. I also love getting feedback while I'm running, on my form and pace during Tempo segments. It's also great to get to know other people in the Alaska running community - it's always great to find more running buddies!

Even though the training program started August 19, I believe you can still sign up and pay an adjusted fee for the remaining weeks. And I think that Skinny Raven plans on offering training programs year round in the future, which is so exciting! The programs are open to runners of all levels and the coaches are all extremely friendly and easy to talk to. For anyone looking to improve at running, I highly recommend signing up! There are three times offered: 6am, 10am and 6pm and we meet every Wednesday for the main workout and then there's an optional Saturday long run as well at 8am.

Top 5 Running Essentials for Women

Running is a pretty simple sport. Compared to other outdoor activities that require hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars worth of equipment, it's also a pretty inexpensive sport. But there are a few items that I consider to be flat-out essential to an enjoyable running experience and to preventing injury as well.

When it comes to budget, every runner will have different opinions about how much money you need to/should spend on gear, but in my experience a little bit of investment goes a long way and sometimes spending a little bit more in the beginning can make it quite a bit easier to get the most out of the sport.

For some people, spending more on shoes is a must, especially for runners with tendency toward injuries. For others, investing in a quality pair of comfortable, wireless earbuds is key to enjoying themselves on their runs. The best way to find out exactly what will make running regularly an achievable goal for you is to get out there and start running. The more time you spend actually logging miles, the better idea you'll have of what gear is worth the splurge.

#1  SHOES

Obviously shoes top the list of running essentials. However it might surprise you to hear that you don't need to go out and buy the most expensive running shoes you can find. I recommend being honest with yourself about how much you plan on running to start out with, and what type of surfaces you plan on logging the majority of your miles. Then go to a local running store with knowledgeable staff and ask for their help in finding the best running shoe for your needs. Plan on spending anywhere from $60-$120 for one pair of quality running shoes. If you live in Alaska, I can personally recommend Skinny Raven Sports in Anchorage and Active Soles in Palmer.

If you are a more experienced runner with plans to log an equal amount of miles on pavement and trails, I would suggest investing in a quality pair of trail-running shoes and a separate pair of road-running shoes. Every runner is different and will have certain physical issues they might be working around in regards to choosing the best shoe to fit their needs. Some might prefer more supportive shoes while others might be looking for a more minimal shoe. I'm in the minimalist group and prefer to run in shoes with less cushion and support. My feet are very 'claustrophobic' and so thick, restrictive material on the upper part of the shoe is definitely a no-go for me.

I run in Nike Free 4.0 Flyknits and Brooks Cascadia 9s and am very happy with both pairs of shoes. If the Brooks had the flyknit fabric on the upper they would be even better, but for trail running the heavier fabric on the upper doesn't bother me as much as it tends to when I'm running on the road or paved trails.

#2  SPORTS BRA

Being comfortable while running is pretty important when it comes to enjoying yourself and being motivated to run regularly. A huge part of being comfortable when you're a women is finding a bra that fits well, does it's job and looks good while doing it.

I used to love the Nike Pro Classic sports bra, and I still do for cross-training and very short runs. But as I've increased mileage and since breastfeeding two children, I've found that chafing has become more of an issue with this bra. I need individual support for each breast, as well as seamless cups. There are so many options out there for different chest sizes, but I've found that Moving Comfort bras are an industry standard for support and comfort.

My very favorite sports bra for running is the Moving Comfort Fineform A/B. I love the way it looks first of all, and it's surprisingly supportive for how strappy it is. I actually wear a 34-C and have found that the size medium A/B works better for me than the C/D version, so I definitely recommend trying both on if you've got a smaller band size.

#3 Fitness Tracker with GPS

With smart phone technology being what it is these days, I know many people use apps on their phones for tracking their runs. I used to do the same thing, until I just couldn't stand it anymore. Waiting for the app to load, waiting for my run to actually begin, inaccurate speed and distance, issues with bad reception, the list goes on, and I was just over it. 

To me, it's well worth it to invest $100-$250 in a watch that's specifically made for runners, with it's own GPS capabilities so that you can leave your phone in the car. Personally I would steer clear of 'activity trackers' that focus more on tracking steps, and find a fitness tracker that is geared towards runners. I use the Garmin Forerunner 220 and love it. Knowing your pace is a huge part of training, so if you want to improve your times during races, having a watch like this is key.

#4 FOAM ROLLER

Casual runners are often pretty neglectful about self-care, i.e. stretching or cross training, which can lead to injury pretty quickly. Foam rolling has been a complete game-changer for me in regards to recovery after a difficult run or race. I foam roll in the morning and at night before bed in addition to before and after every run I go on. Any time I'm feeling tight or stiff, I foam roll.

I recommend getting a wider roller so that it's easier to get the hang of rolling. We have a long one we keep at home as well as two smaller ones that are more portable. Here is a great introduction to foam rolling, and REI has a pretty good selection of foam rollers (I always love an excuse to rack up that dividend).

#5 BODY GLIDE

Any time I run over four miles in shorts, I run the risk of chafing my inner-thighs. It's been over 70 nearly all summer, so I've been running in shorts pretty much every day. As a result, body glide has become my best friend. This stuff is amazing, when you put it on, you don't feel like it's going to do anything, but I've never chaffed while using it, even on runs over 13 miles in hot, sweaty conditions. It also works great on your feet and where ever seams might rub sensitive skin raw. Probably the best six dollars you'll ever spend as an outdoor runner.

In addition to these five items, I never leave my house without a few other items. A tiny thong and packable shorts live in my purse at all times - since having kids it's like a game to see how long it will take into my run before I pee, especially when trail running. Whether it's a little leak or my whole bladder (gross, I know, but trying to be honest here!) I nearly always need a clothes change if I'm going to be out in public or ride in a car. I know some women who haven't had children struggle with this, too. 

I also always run with a small can of bear spray. The mace they make for personal protection isn't quite enough, at least for me since I run outside in pretty rural neighborhoods or trails in the middle of nowhere 95% of the time. Also if you are running trails that have low visibility, please run with the can in your hand. If you come around a corner and there's a bear 3 feet away, it's probably not going to do much good in a pocket of your stroller or even in a pocket on your running belt. 

If there's something I didn't include that you think should have been on the list, please add your advice in the comments. Also if you have any questions, feel free to ask, I'm an open book. Happy Running!

Her Tern Half-Marathon Recap 2015

It's almost been a week and I'm finally getting around to writing up a race recap for the Her Tern Half-Marathon. It's kind of crazy to me that it's already been that long, and that the whole race weekend went by so fast.

It was my first half-marathon and it's an accomplishment that I'm pretty proud of. During the race I kind of thought about why an official half-marathon race is so special since most people run that distance and even longer sometimes during training, but I couldn't quite figure out an answer, other than that it just is. Ask almost anyone who has run in an event of any distance, and they'll tell you, there's something so exciting, so electrifying about participating in a race. The Her Tern Half took all of this excitement to a whole new level.

The Her Tern Half and Quarter are advertised as 'boutique' races that pamper participants in nearly every way possible, and I've heard from so many people that it's their favorite race of the year. They even offer a training program weeks in advance of the race to help runners of every level prepare, which I think is so cool. I definitely would have signed up if I lived in Anchorage. 

I went camping in Seward (post to come soon!) Friday night and then drove directly to the race 'expotique' in downtown on Saturday after packing up our campsite. It was a beautiful sunny day, which made the outdoor expo even more enjoyable. They had the entire road blocked off between Skinny Raven and Her Tern with tents set up including the most amazing fitting rooms ever. Every staff member we encountered was extremely friendly and helpful, and acted like they were genuinely happy to be there answering any questions and handing out bibs and goodie bags.

I used the amazing coupons included the event packets to purchase a Her Tern Half labeled Nathan water bottle (I love the narrow silicone spout!), a HTH labeled Brooks Running tank (which I LOVE), and some Nuun hydration products. I had both kids with me, which wasn't a problem at all, as it was an extremely kid friendly event. There was even a sign decorating station for kids (and adults) to decorate signs to hold while cheering on their moms. Genius! And Riggs was served popcorn by a very friendly staff-member, which made trying out some of the Moving Comfort sports bras (see my favorite, here) even easier. I was a little bit obsessed with the fitting rooms and kind of wanted to grab some snacks and lounge around in them for a while, haha. 

On race day I got up a little early to eat a little bit of yogurt but didn't end up eating like I should have because my stomach just felt a little off and I was trying to pack the kids up to head in to Anchorage. I met my sister downtown and she stayed with me to cheer me on at the start line, then took my kids to church with her for the morning, which was so nice.

I used the bag drop at the race since I would be alone at the finish, and it went very smoothly (it was my first time using a bag drop and I was a little nervous about it for some reason). I actually didn't do any running warm-ups before the race because of the length of the race. I did do some light stretching and a few dynamic stretches in the five minutes before the start, but that was it. Maybe TMI, but I was able to successfully use the restrooms right before the race, and that was a huge bonus. I never ended up having to use an outhouse at any of the aid stations during the race, which I was a little worried about. And I didn't pee in my shorts, so that's awesome (am I the only one who struggles with this for races? I know I'm not so don't be shocked haha). All good things!

My goals for this race were to have fun and not get injured, and also to finish under 2 hours, which was an easily attainable goal since that was at a pace well below my usually training pace. But I didn't want to give myself any extra pressure, because I really really wanted to enjoy my first half and not be sore the rest of the week from pushing myself too hard. I'm very competitive when it comes to sports and have a hard to forcing myself to slow down, so I knew this was going to be a challenge.  

At the starting line I just felt so at ease and didn't really have the usual pre-race jitters, which I thought was a good sign that I would be able to take it slow and easy like I wanted to. Once the race started I just settled into an easy pace and sort of pretended I was just doing a nice and slow weekend long run. I needed to run around 9 min miles on average for the whole race, and ended up running about 8.15 m/m's for nearly the whole way. 

For me getting passed is really mentally challenging further on in the race and I had a little guilt complex while running because I kept passing the participants who had signed up for the walking version of the race. I was really inspired because a lot of them were running and were putting all their effort into completing the race and I felt that connection, that common bond that comes from suffering/working through something hard together. 

I was feeling great during miles 10-11 and then just sort of started to feel out of it during the last two miles. I kept thinking I just wanted to stop and lay down on the side of the trail, even thought my legs weren't feeling that tired and my breathing was just fine. Also the last half mile was uphill nearly the whole way, and that was really really tough for me. I slowed down A LOT the last mile. 

I did not pack any sort of nutritional supplements and took about two sips of the electrolyte drinks they offered at the turnaround point (about mile 7) which in retrospect I think was a big mistake. In addition to not eating breakfast, I think not fueling during the race really contributed to my feelings of fogginess and fatigue during the last two miles. 

probably the happiest I've been at a finish line
(even happier than at the Twilight 12k)

Despite the slip-up with not fueling and with slowing down the last couple of miles, I'm really happy with how the race went and thoroughly enjoyed myself during most of the run. The 'post-race pamper party' was amazing and I wish I could have stayed longer, but I was also excited to get back to the kids. There were gourmet cupcakes and mimosas and photobooths and more and the atmosphere was just so fun and encouraging, it's definitely a race I recommend doing with a friend or group of friends. 

My next race will be the Skinny Rave Half-Marathon on August 16 in Anchorage, which is a part of the Big Wild Life Runs put on by the city. My sister is doing it too and that makes it even more exciting. I ran three days this week so far, taking it super easy the first two after the race and running very slow and easy then did a typical training day on Wednesday of 5.5 miles at easy pace (8:30) with a tempo mile in the middle (7:30) and some striders at the end. Went camping again Thursday so took that day and Friday off, which actually felt just about right. 

1) post race happy smiles 2) participants received bracelets with coordinates of the finish line instead of a medal 3) My own personal little foam-rolling station on the sidewalk after the race 4) results - you can see how much my pace slowed (to 9:35 for last mile) reflected here.

Anyone have any big races coming up or plans/goals/dreams to do a half or full marathon in the future?

Homer Spit Run 10k to the Bay recap 2015

Since about Tuesday of last week I have been having some issues with tightness and soreness in my left leg. Mostly centered in my glut and lateral knee, I realized it was probably my IT band and started doing some area specific stretches a few times a day to help. I had planned on doing a 7 mile run Wednesday but cut it short at just over 6 miles because it was still feeling pretty tight, and decided to take Thursday and Friday off to try and loosen up that leg before the race Saturday. 

Sitting in the car for five hours on the drive down to Homer on Thursday did not help the healing process but instead caused even more tightness and and my leg was just constantly aching over the course of Thursday and Friday. I stretched thoroughly Friday night and Saturday morning before the race, but still felt a general tightness running along the outside edge of the leg while running. 

I ran the first mile a little faster than I had planned but was still feeling great through miles two and three. From mile four on I started to feel a lot of fatigue in my legs and the last mile it was pretty tough to keep my pace under 7:45 m/mile. My goal has been to stay under 7:30 the entire race and to finish in under 45 minutes. My time was 45:39 so not too far off but I'm excited to try and beat that time in my next 10k sometime in the future. 

Overall it was a fun experience and I'm so glad I made it down for the race! I'll mostly be focusing on training for the Her Tern Half Marathon, which is three weeks from today. I'm not trying to do anything other than finish the race while enjoying myself and enjoying my first half-marathon experience; hopefully I'll remember that when race day comes around.

According to my Garmin watch I beat my previous 5k PR (from the Heart Run), which is pretty exciting. I'm looking forward to racing a 5k at some point soon to see if I can get cut off even more time. 

Alaska Run for Women Race Recap

Saturday turned out to be a gorgeous day for a morning race, it was already about 65 degrees when I got to the Sullivan Arena to pick up my bib at about 8:00am. I finally decided to do the Run for Women on the Wednesday before the race, but didn't get around to registering until about 8pm on Thursday night, and the registration for the timed 5 mile race had already closed. I decided to go ahead and register for the untimed race.

I spent the night at my parents in Anchorage Friday night and left the kids with my mom in the morning. It was my first race I've ever done just completely by myself, and it was kind of weird. I was glad it was a warm morning because I didn't need to bring a sweatshirt or anything to warm up in. I just brought my car key, phone/headphones and ID in my little belt. I walked over to the stadium where all the tents were set up and where the finish line was for the race. I grabbed my bib for the untimed race, and talked to a few friends. Then I decided to head back over and ask if there were any timed race bibs left (with a chip) and there were! I was so glad I thought of asking, because I ended up having a great race, with both a 5k PR (cut over three minutes off my previous PR - that feels pretty dang amazing!) and a PR for the five mile as well.

The Run for Women is a fun race promoting awareness about/fundraising for the fight against breast cancer.
Clearly, pink is a big theme, as well as anything related to boobs. I loved all the amazingly creative bras they had for
women to try on and get their pictures in, so much fun. My friend (and survivor) Jackie and I chatted for a bit and then she
got a photo of me in the amazing floral bra. Oh and even the outhouses are pink!

I was feeling so great and ran just behind my ski coach from high school who I knew usually ran about a 7.20 mile pace. I have been training five days a week pushing the stroller 95% of the time, even during my speed workouts, so I felt like I could try and keep up with that pace, despite running the last couple of races at more of a 7.45' mile pace. I'm so glad I did, because like I said I felt really really good and like I was really able to give it my all for the entire race. I was really feeling tired, but in a good way, during the last half mile, but I made myself stay with Sara and tried to push myself to run as fast as I could around the track and to the finish.

It was kind of funny not to have any family to meet me at the finish, but I still had a great race and I know the kids were actually probably happy to have a quiet morning playing at Grandma's - they get a lot of stroller time during my runs each week.

This isn't the most flattering finish line picture, but I actually LOVE it. I love it because you can see
that I gave the race everything I had and pushed myself to my limits. I don't think there's a better feeling
than putting your all into something and accomplishing something great as a result.

I will never be the fastest but I love seeing the progress I've made. Getting 32nd out of such a huge group of women and seeing my name in the paper was pretty exciting for me. 

I also got to meet a blog friend, Michelle, whose blog, The Runner's Plate, has been really motivational for me over the last couple of years and especially this last year as I've gotten back into running after having Raina. She had her first baby this last year and is running better than ever just over six months post-partum - so inspiring! It was great to finally meet her in person. 

Overall it was a great race and I'm so glad I made the decision last-minute to do the race. Next up is the Homer Spit Run on June 27th. It's a 10k that's basically all downhill - pretty much the perfect race if you ask me! Hoping to beat my last 10k time of 48 minutes and to have fun seeing Steve's family while I'm at it. 

2015 Twilight 12k race recap

The Twilight 12k is probably my favorite race of the year, and this year I was extra excited because it was a chance to PR after all the training I've been doing lately. 

Steve's been in-between work calls so Wednesday we went camping (I'll post about that later on this week) and of course, Thursday morning he got a work call so we had to pack up quick and head to Anchorage for him to take the call and run some errands for the new job. It's a great call and Steve is really happy about the job he'll be doing, so I'm happy of course too. But Steve had also just sold his commuter vehicle and we were planning on checking out another over the weekend, so we were down to one vehicle right when we needed to be in a lot of places in a short amount of time. 

Steve had to show up at his new call Friday morning, so we were up at 4:45am to get packed for our long day in Anchorage, then loaded both sleepy eyed kids up in the pjs and were on the road by 5:45. After we dropped him off around 6:45am, we went straight to Starbucks (of course) then ran some errands in the morning and hung out with my mom at her house for the rest of the day until it was time to pick Steve up at 5:30pm and head straight downtown for the race. I'm so thankful he didn't mind hanging out after his first day on a new job while I ran, it was so nice to have him and the kids there to cheer me on at the end.

picked up my tshirt and bib Thursday afternoon

at the starting line in front of Skinny Raven about half an hour before the race started

Me and Sarah before the race, just like two years ago

There are two events at this race, the 6k and the 12k. I was doing the 12k, which was supposed to start at 7:05 (five minutes after the 6k). Anyone who's been to a big race knows that the port-a-potty lines can be crazy right before the race starts. So I warmed up on the park strip one block over and used the port-a-potty there about 5 minutes before the race was supposed to start. I was starting to feel a little nervous about being back in time so I hurried over to the start line, getting there right at 7:05. I had my headphones in but could hear the announcer and saw other people with the blue bibs to signify the 12k, so when he said go about 20 seconds after I arrived, I went.

Except it was actually the start of the 6k, things were just running a little late. The blue bib people had only been in the back, waiting for the red bib 6k people to go so that they could move up to start. And it took me half a mile to notice. At which point I had to frantically turn around and run back towards the start. It was mortifying, like a run of shame, going back against the crowd like that. Such a stupid mistake. I was feeling a whole lot of things at during those moments, including the urge to just run to my truck crying. Even though I'm not ever going to be a super-fast runner I take races seriously as a chance to challenge myself and do the best that I can, so adding an extra mile to the race and messing up my chip time was extremely frustrating for me.

Luckily I made it back just in time to watch all the fastest runners going by and get into the pack that was running at my pace. And somehow my chip results are accurate, at least according to what my running app said. I just added about a mile onto my race at race pace in addition to the mile warmup I had already done, so ended up running 9.5 instead of the races 7.45. I guess it ended up being fine, because I beat my goal time by nearly two minutes and felt great the entire race, other than being more tired than I expected during the last mile, which was probably due to the crazy sprint at the beginning to get back to the start.

about to start the last couple of hills that lead to the finish.
don't let my smile fool you, I was feeling rough at this point, just
didn't want to be grimacing for the picture, haha.

done! yahoo!
I think you can tell from my face how happy I was to be crossing the finish.

Despite my completely idiotic mistake, it was a great race and I'm really happy with my results, and with how I felt during the race. I shaved off 8.5 minutes from my 2013 time, so that was great (read my 2013 race recap, here). Can't wait to add some more mileage over the next couple of weeks in preparation for the Her Tern Half Marathon (my first) in mid-July.