Fitness lessons I learned in 2019

Can I call 2019 a rebuilding year for my running? I had some PRs and some good moments. But overall, not all forward momentum. But no one's fitness journey is all up all the time. I ran. I cried. I learned. Here are some things I learned.

1. Ebay for deal

This year, I became hooked on Ebay. I love running gear and this was my year of eBay. I got some brand new trail shoes for $60 on eBay. I started buying Lululemon on Ebay for a fraction of the cost. I definitely used this site more to buy running clothes and year. Especially for older styles. And I think I had a 95% positive experience with Ebay. Only one dud in all of my purchases so far. 

2. My foot got bigger

I've worn a 7.5 in running shoe since high school. But after losing several toenails this year and last year and getting hot spots on the ends of my toes I tried a bigger size in running shoe, and yep I'm now and 8 in running shoes. Haven't lost any toenails since going up a size. Which means I need to replace all of my shoes to 8, but I'm working on it. I have a super high arch in my foot and feet spread over time, so a lot of people's feet do spread. This is normal according to the wise running store clerk. 

3. More about skincare and haircare

Sweating a lot is hard on my skin and hair. Leave-in conditioner helps and so does a skin serum for after I wash my sweaty face. (See posts on favorites)

4. Go to bed early

My body really wants to go to bed at 8:30 p.m. So I tried going to bed at 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. It helps. I can't say it makes a ton of difference, because I'm not waking up any earlier. I think I just need more sleep. And feel incrementally less exhausted when I go to bed early.

5. I'm just not as fast as I think I am

I want to be one of those people whose debut half marathon is 1:40 and who runs a 20 minute 5k out of the blue. I ran a 1:46 half marathon after putting in hard, hard work and maybe I'm just not fast. Maybe I'm not mentally tough or maybe I'm better suited for another distance. I want 22 minute 5ks to be easy and I really did put in the work over the last few years to do that, but in three years of hard training my 10k time has come down only one minute. I guess it's okay to not be fast. 

Looking back on 2019.....I logged fewer miles. I think it's 100+ fewer miles. 

I trained really, really hard for a spring half marathon. I did set a PR, but didn't attain the time I wanted. I ran a fast 5k right after that, and then didn't do any speed for the rest of the year. I was really stressed out and burned out from May onwards. I think the only reason I didn't completely quit running was because I know I'd balloon back up in weight. (Even running less in the summer made my weight creep back up.) 

6. What it means not to have time for running or fitness

I prioritize fitness and make time for a run or a class. But this year, there were a lot of instances when I didn't have time. When my day was booked from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Several times I had less than a week to make a 60 minute presentation for a large group. (And couldn't re-use presentations). I was just really busy. And stressed. So stressed that I'd cry because of how intensely I didn't want to run. I've never really gotten it when people say they don't have time for fitness until this year. 

7. What it means to be burned out

I was so burned out this fall. My legs felt like garbage. Every run was a struggle. I was crying because of how intensely I didn't want to run. I had to walk. I felt like I had mono I was so drained. 

I did basically no speed work in the last six months. And didn't really want to. Life can be exhausting. I wish this post was more positive and upbeat. I really WANT to be a positive person, but I guess that's just not where I am right now.

2019 Fitness favorites

A few of my favorite fitness products for this year. 

In 2019, I feel like I stuck with my favorite fitness products. I love my R8 roller. I wore pretty similar running clothes. I tried some new types of fuel. But here are some new addition to my favorites. 

1. Lululemon Run Stuff Your Bra long, for long runs (center)

 I like the longer length of this sports bra. I think it helps with underboob chafe. It's my go-to sports bra for runs.

2. Running shorts. 

I vastly prefer running in crops, but summer runs call for shorts and this year, I wore those short tight shorts that the runners wear. And after I found the right ones, they were a joy to run in. My two favorites are Lululemon Fast and Free short 6 inch and the Oiselle pocket jogger. They don't ride up when running and aren't too short. (I should say I got a few pairs of the Lululemon shorts and one pair did ride up. The others didn't. I only have one pair of the Oiselle shorts since they keep selling out.) 

First year I was brave enough to wear TIGHT SHORT SHORTS . 

3. Lululemon Swiftly tanks

I've been a Cool Racerback person, but this year, I started liking the Swiftly because it's lightweight and great for summer running. It's lighter and breathes easier. Certain styles/colors do better with sweat than others, but this is what I reached for on runs this year. 

4. UCann

I heard a lot of about UCann this year. I tried it. It tastes super chalky (gag) but it works. I can't have a bad run with it. I don't like the texture and it makes me spit a lot but it really does great for energy. 

5. Skincare for sweaty skin (small blue bottle in photo.) 

I've been loving Fre skincare, which is for people who sweat a lot. I love their revitalize skin serum for after a run. It's exactly what my skin needs. This product line also has a face wash, and a nighttime moisturizer. I don't love the daytime moisturizer as it's basically sunscreen (and smells like sunscreen)

6. Not pictured: Favorite Cookbook
Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow. Love. Every athlete should use this cookbook. 

7 miles this week

It's Sunday. I ran seven miles this week. 

Which is my lowest mile week—since my August meltdown. 

I was sick. Honestly, I couldn't have run Monday through Wednesday. Thursday and Friday, maybe but I didn't risk it. (I did do 30 minutes on the exercise bike twice this week.) 

I ran Saturday and Sunday and coughed a ton after I stopped running. I also needed a nap after the runs. 

I'm not 100% over my cold. Maybe 90%. There's still some lingering congestion. The weather was nice on my runs. I listened to my podcasts.

Maybe I'm overing my running funk. At least I didn't cry before either of these runs. I might keep my miles super low for the time being and just run when I want to. 

Here's a picture of my fuel for my Sunday easy run. 

Week off running

Halloween. I didn't have a costume the night before,
so recycled a costume from a few years ago. 

It's been a glorious 7 days off running. My run last Saturday was garbage. And then I started to get sick. I took a few days off for illness. I probably could have started running a few days ago, but I really liked having a week off. And having that time back.

I cooked. I caught up on my course work. I almost caught up with work work. It was really nice not to have to squeeze a run in after work. 

I know I should start working out, so I don't gain weight but the time off was much needed. 

Yes, I've been in a running funk lately. I've done no races since the spring and haven't felt motivated to really train. 

But I've been working out like a beast for 6.5 years. That's 6.5 years of 5 days a week of workouts. I take usually a week off twice a year for being sick. And that's it. So this week, I got over my cold. Didn't drink enough water. Didn't eat particularly well. (I did no fast food so I'm probably fine.) And I didn't run. 

So I'm struggling with balance and fatigue and needed some time just to myself.

Having Saturday with no commitments—just to catch up on life was much-needed. 

Workouts this week Oct. 7-13

Monday: Off

Usual off day.

Tuesday: 4 easy miles

I did a quick 4 mile trail run. I didn't want to run. Made myself anyway. I wanted to listen to a new running podcast, so forced myself to run 4 miles and listen to the podcast. It went better than I thought.  I had to walk a few times. And my left ankle started feeling crunchy at the end of the run (which is new).

Wednesday: DNS

I made myself run yesterday. Today I was crying I didn't want to run so much. I'm exhausted. I felt like I was getting the flu. (Okay, I spent most of my 20s this exhausted. Had many tests done. Quitting dairy helped some, but now I'm back to my persistent state of fatigue. Went to bed at 9:30 last night.) I came home and took a nap and felt a lot better. I did 30 minutes on the exercise bike. I think running 30 mile weeks and 5 days a week is just too much for me. I'm frustrated that I have no speed, and no goal really.  (And the last week was really, really stressful.)

Thursday: Running Blahs

Another day because I cry I don't want to run. I haven't done any speed workouts this week. My quads hurt. My anxiety is in full gear. I came home thinking about quitting running. I talked myself into running two easy miles. That turned into 3 miles. And it was fine. I probably won't make my miles for the week. But I got it done. 

Friday: Nope

I had planned to run 5 miles after work. At lunch, I felt like I was having an asthma attack. I took my inhaler and thought that running while having breathing issues would be a bad idea. I did a super easy indoor cycle while watching TV on my phone. So something. 45 minutes of easy exercise with some abs and arms thrown in. 

Excited for my run. Set out my clothes
 the night before. The cat helped. 

Saturday: Fleet Feet 12

I was looking forward to this run, a rarity of late. Only, I ended up running most of it alone. I had no one to run with. I was so tired. I was running 9:30s and they felt like 8:20s from last year. My workout with 12 miles with the last 15 minutes fast. The last 2 miles of the course was up hill. So, I did the first part of the route and then made my own route. I did my last two miles in 15:59. And I was just dead for the rest of the day. Way more tired than I had anticipated. Like after rogue last year. So I am not in shape.

Saturday group run. 

Sunday: easy miles

Again, I didn't want to run but thought I could make 20 miles for the week. My quads were killing me. I ran and my legs were fine. Had to make a few bathroom stops. Got in 3 miles for 22 miles for the week.

Miles this week: 22

Times I cried because I didn't want to run: 2

Times I felt so tired I thought I should go to the doctor: The whole week

How I've felt all week. 

Workouts this week: 9/29-10/6

Monday: Off

Tuesday: 4 miles

It was 95 degrees outside so I did 4 miles at the indoor track. Maybe I should have done more, but I had to get home ASAP.  

Wednesday: Off

It's October and 95 and the feels like is 99.
I got a massage. It actually made my legs feel so much worse. For days.

Thursday: 6 miles

Did 6 miles at the indoor track. It's just too hot to run outside. 

Friday: 4 miles

I should have done hill repeats and a 4 mile race pace run this week (Tuesday and Thursday), but I messed my workouts for the week up. My plan was to do the 4 mile tempo as part of a 5k, but the 5k isn't taking race day registrations, so I'll do that solo. So I did 4 easy miles today, and I'll do my hill repeats as part of my long run. 

I also got a massage today. My achilles were really tight. There were knots in my quads. I thought I didn't really need it. I really did. 

Saturday: 4 mile tempo (supposed to be 10k pace) + mile warmup and mile cool down 

My plan was to run the homecoming 5k, but they closed registrations a week before the event ended and didn't take race day registrations. I considered going to group run, but that seemed like too much of a hassle. So I did 1 mile warmup. And then 4 miles out and back near my house. Mile 1 hurt (7:58) and this was the pace I ran a half marathon at 6 months ago. Now I can't run 3 miles this pace. Mile 2 8:01. And I took a break. I was hurting. I got water. (It was 75 and 80% humidity with moderate air quality). 2 minute break. I KNOW I shouldn't take these breaks. Then mile 3 in 8:06. I took a quick break (because I felt so, so bad) and then mile 4 in 8:05. For an 8:03 average. (I ran another .4 mile at 7:58 pace to get back to the start.) 

These 8 minute miles felt WORSE than 7:30s felt a year ago. So bad. I know I shouldn't take a break, but this was all I had today.  Did a mile cool down. 

Sunday: Combined workouts

Today I did the hill repeats I was supposed to do Tuesday or Thursday with my long run. (It was a cutback week, so 9 miles). Not my best idea ever, but this way I get all my workouts in for the week.

I woke up and went back to bed. I never do this. But I felt awful when I got up. I slept until 7. Puttered around way too long and went to the trails, where I went to the bathroom before the run and was crying in the stall because I really didn't want to run. (My legs hurt just walking to the bathroom). I was having one of my "I should just quit running" meltdowns. I've had a pretty crappy summer and am just so frustrated with seeing so many people hit fast times and me slowing down. I didn't want to end on 20 miles for the week. So I told myself just to try a warmup lap and see how I felt.

I did 3 mile for warmups. (Legs were fine.) And then the workout was 7x 2 minute hill repeats. The repeats are supposed to be fast. I do them as fast as I'm able. (I'm bad at running hills, it's trails and I have to watch my footing, so I think hard effort should count.) I finished all of them without walking. I thought they were faster than last time (they might not have been, but my start/stop line isn't the same, and Strava does not track this hill right at all. It said the second was 90 seconds slower today.) 

2:00, 2:00, 1:58, 1:53, 1:54, 1:52 which is about a minute slower total than last time, but the distance might be different. 

My downhill segments were shorter, but it measured them the same distance. I thought they felt BETTER. 

Then 3 miles for a cool down. Had to walk a few times. Hit 9.2 miles and 30 miles for the week. 

FUELING: I tried UCAN for the first time before this run. I'd heard great things about it, but Stevia messes with my stomach. I found a flavor without stevia and tried it. I knew it was super starch, but I was expecting it to be more like Gatorade and less starchy. I did NOT like the texture, but I had a better than expected run, so I might try it again. 

I also did a HUMA protein smoothie afterwards, because I always wait too long to eat. That thing was disgusting. I choked it down. It was thick like peanut butter. It was much needed too because I didn't get to eat until 5 hours after my run!

Miles this week:30
Runs this week: 5
Cross training: FAIL. I do squats while brushing my teeth. Does that count? 
Feeling: Hard week. Grateful to make my miles

Workouts this week 9/16-9/22

View from the indoor track

Monday: easy miles

5.25 miles at the indoor track. This was an easy run. I ran indoors because it was 90+ degrees outside. So 42 laps around the track.

The run felt easy enough. 

But afterwards, I felt as tired as I'd done a really hard track workout. My legs were sore. I was so tired and went to bed early. The run was fine, but after I felt like garbage. 

Tuesday: off

My legs felt so bad I skipped Tuesday's run. I just felt really, really tired. I went home and read and rested, and started to feel normal again. 

I think I didn't run much this summer. Then, I did 3 weeks of training and my body was tired. I also ran too many road miles last week, so I need to hit the trails more this week. WHEN IS THE COOLER WEATHER COMING? 

Wednesday: track workout 

My track workout for the week was 4x1600 with 400 recovery. Fun, huh?

1. The weather finally cooled down. It was 80 instead of 90. And because it's been so hot that 80 degrees felt like 68. It felt cool. Cool enough that I did my workout outside at 6 p.m. instead of inside. 

2. I ran my warmup mile, 8:30, which is a tad fast for a warmup. I think my body just likes running at the track. (Softer than the indoor one.) My stomach felt pretty gross while warming up. Maybe I was dehydrated I don't usually have stomach issues.

3. Going in, I  thought I'd like to hit 7:45ish. But didn't know if I could find that speed. I thought if I finished the workout, great. If it was 8 minute miles, that's where I'm at.

Rep 1: 7:33. That's the fastest mile I think I've run in a while. I wasn't expecting that fast. Happy with that. Did a 400 recovery. 

Rep 2: 7:34. Surprised with this. Still worried I was going a little fast. (I could have held this speed in the past, but not after a lazy summer.) Did a recovery 400.

Rep. 3: Ok, this is where it fell apart. I did one lap and almost quit. Other people on the track made me get to 2 laps. But I split this into 800s with about a 45 second break to catch my breath. So 2 800s, for 8:00 pace.Totally fine with that. I should have done a 400 recovery after that but I just walked 100 meters out and 100 meters back to the start. (I know the recoveries will make me tougher, so hopefully I can do better next time. About 75 seconds of recovery. 

Rep 4: 7:45. Had a runner friend jump in to the first lap, which helped make me go a little faster. He jumped in on the last lap and I actually had a little left on the last lap, so I got a nice 100 meter finish. 7:45 pace. Which is probably what I should have averaged.

That was 5.5 miles right there. I did a .5 mile cool down, which I had to make myself do. I did not want to do it. 

4. I ran out of water. I had a 12 ounce bottle and I was parched after the last rep. Bring a bigger bottle next time, Sara!

5. I'm happy with the effort. I worked hard. Got some practice running hard and fast(er). 

Right now, my October 10k is not looking like a PR, but we'll see where I can get in the next month. I've been making progress and I'm happy that speed is coming back. 

Thursday: 5 miles

Did an easy trail run after work. My legs didn't feel as bad as I thought they might. Wore my new trail shoes. I found them on eBay for $60. New in box. Pretty excited about that. 

Friday: Hill repeats 

I knew I was supposed to do a hill workout this week, but didn't know how to get it done. I prefer hill repeats on soft surfaces. I'd prefer the morning. But I can't see in the morning (even with a headlamp). But the weather was cooler, 80s, so I opted for the trails. The workout was 2 mile warmup. 6x90 second hill repeats and 2 mile cool down. The hill I like is .2  miles long. The workout also said 7 minute pace for the repeats. Hahahahaha. I am so bad at hills, I can't run fast up them. But I can try not to run 10 minute pace up them. Also trees and GPS drift. 

I just ran the length of the hill, 1:50, 1:50, 1:46, 1:46, 1:46, 1:41. 8:28 pace is the best speed my watch said I got. I tried hard. 

I did my 2 mile cool down. And I tried the workout. Happy with the effort. I know I need to get better at hills. I looked at my data from the last time I ran hills. I've run the hills faster. But I get better as the weeks go by. So hopefully next time I'll be faster. 

Saturday: OFF

I rode my bike some. Maybe 10 minutes to meet a friend. 

I sat down to watch a few minutes of TV. And it's amazing how much better I felt after sitting. I think I needed a day to relax. (I sit all day at work, but honestly, I think the building I work in has something that makes me feel unwell, mold etc.) I catch myself standing to eat and need to relax. (In what time?) 

Sunday: Long run

It was a cutback week, so my long run was only 7 miles. I did trails. The weather was perfect.

Honestly, I was tired all day after this run. It took a lot out of me. And I was lazy and didn't do any strength or core like I normally do. 

Miles this week: 29

Runs this week 5

Summer of not running

I ran a half marathon in March and haven’t trained for anything since.

I didn’t run a 10k in May because it was the day after graduation—always a super stressful, exhausting day for me.

June and July were full of lots of personal drama (and heartbreaking rejection.) I was also sick for a few weeks at the end of May and early June.

July was the first month in a long time that I didn’t run 100 miles.

Why didn’t I run?

• Life comes first.
• A goal I was working very hard towards came first.
• Also, it was hot and humid.
• Stress.

I’m a person who makes time for exercise. I’ve never understood people who say they don’t have time for it. But for a few weeks I only had time to run maybe 3 times a week. I was super busy with my personal drama.

And then, I just didn’t have anything to train for.

I thought I might train for the mile race. But then had to go out to Utah for a very stressful visit. And now the mile race is past and I think I need to make a goal and find a plan.

I’d like to do a 10 mile race, but the PNC 10-miler might be too hilly for me. (I really hate hills, which means I should run them more.)

Or maybe a 10k? There are 2 in October that I’m eyeing. Being that it’s the end of August, I need to start training.

I’ve decided I don’t want to do a fall half.

I don’t know where my fitness is. I’ve done a handful of speed workouts since March. I need to start back. I ran 10 miles three weeks ago. I ran 8 yesterday, since that seemed like a good amount without overdoing it. Maybe I’ll try 10 again this weekend. And if I can get a speed workout in this week—I’d be making some progress.

Workouts this week: June 24-30

Monday: Off
Usual off day.

Tuesday: Morning run
I ran 3 miles before work. I should usually run more. Matt's alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. and it woke me up so I decided to get my run in with him. Apparently he was clearing the cobwebs and deflecting the bugs for me. I also hate headlamps. I need some knuckle lights.

(Also I ate at Last Resort for lunch and dinner. Planned lunch with friends and then impromptu lunch with out-of-town family. Their pick.)

Wednesday: Off
I was beeng very anxious and stressed today. I decided to skip my run and as soon as I made that decision, a weight felt lifted off my shoulders. I did 30 minutes on the exercise bike instead. And just felt like I got some time back to myself.
(Whenever I want to quit running, I mostly want to get my free time back. I miss time to watch TV or meal prep or just sit. I feel like lately, I haven't had time for anything.)

Thursday: Strugglefest
I considered doing a speed workout, one that I should have done the previous day, but didn't want to. I had an awful, struggle of a run. I ran one mile and it was awful. I'd set out to run 5 miles, and then considered quitting after one mile. I then tried to finish 2 miles. I thought maybe I could get to 4 miles, but I ran 3 miles and quit. It was just a bad run. At the indoor track, in AC no less.
(I also got allergy shots today and had a bad reaction to the shots, so that probably explains the bad run.) 

Friday: Better run
Friday, I hit the indoor track again. It felt better. I logged 4 miles. No speed work. I just wasn't up to that.
I went to the chiropractor at lunch. I told her my ankle is still bugging me. Months later. She suggested it I tape it when I run. She taped it. The first piece of Rock tape fell off before my run. And then the other during. I tore the rest off that night even though you're supposed to leave it on for a few days. I'll wear my ankle sleeve instead. (My ankle really hurt for the days after my adjustment.)

Saturday: trails
I did 5 trail miles Saturday. And still had to stop a few times. Maybe it's the humidity. But it was a decent run.

Couldn't find matching socks. Both of these pairs have one sock with a hole in them so I matched them up. I was trying to get out the door before it was too hot, so I went with mismatched socks rather than hunt longer for a matching pair. Yep, it was hot and humid. That's sweat. 

Matt wanted burgers. This is what I had.

Sunday: long run
I wore my ankle sleeve and ran 10 miles around Athens. Run was fine. A friend was struggling with her run, so I stayed back to help her finish. I'm not training for anything so a minute a mile slower doesn't matter to me. I tried to make small talk to distract her. I am no good with that. But waiting for her took some of the pressure off the run. I was worried about her—and not worried at all about how I felt. Slowing down also helped me. Usually I'm drained after a 10-miler, but slowing it down—I wasn't tired the rest of the day. Awesome!

Bringing up the back. 

The group.

Chili from Run Fast, East Slow or the sequel. 

Runs this week: 5
Miles this week: 25

All in all, a few bad runs. Happy to get my miles in :)

Georgia Peach Jam Half Marathon 2019 Race Recap

I'm not sure I should have run this half marathon. But I ran it last year, and had fun so I wanted to run it this year. And I had this lofty goal of finishing 5 minutes faster than last year. Without really training. (I've been feeling good lately.) I had some good long runs—last week's tempo and the 12 mile before that.

But Matt got sick a week before this race. And I tried EVERYTHING not to get sick. I washed my hands all the time. I kept away from him. But on Thursday, I started coughing and had a massive asthma attack at work.

I went to urgent care and got a steroid shot and z-pack. On Friday and Saturday, I was really sick. Sunday, I felt like I was feeling better. But not quite 100%.

I ran this race sucking on cough drops and with Vick's Vapor Rub on my chest and neck. I figured I could tough it out. I think I underestimated how sick I'd been.

The race

The race started off well enough. I felt good. My first mile was too fast, but it felt easy. Miles 2-4 were dead on pace. (I stopped at one water stop and had a volunteer pour water in my hand bottle. I was too sweaty to unscrew the lid.)

At mile 5, I wanted to quit. I think I walked a few steps to open a cough drop here. I had 8 miles left and I was tired. I didn't think I could finish the race. I told myself to just to to the half way. Mile 6 was okay, I almost got back on pace.

Mile 7, I slowed way down. I saw Matt at some point in mile 6 or 7. I had actually considered calling him to tell him I wanted to quit. Then I saw him and said it's not going well. He said to slow way down and finish. (This is the closest to not finishing I think I've ever come.)

Then I decided to just stop. I told him I needed water, my bottle was almost out. He didn't have any water.

Who crews for their sick wife and doesn't pack water or gatorade? He said last year I refused water. It was 10 degrees hotter this year.

Some nice man poured some in my hand bottle. I asked Matt to open my gels, since I was too sweaty. It took him 60 seconds to open my gels. You just bite and rip. It was the slowest gel opening in the history of the world. I'm just going to say that maybe Matt was still really sick.

And I was back on my way.

The rest helped. I walked on this course occasionally and then I'd feel better. So mile 8 was under 9 minute pace again. Yay.

And then mile 9 was slow. I started feeling like garbage. There really needed to be more water stops on this course. I thought there would be a water stop at 10. There wasn't. Catherine Shinholser caught up to me and asked me if I was okay. I said MEH. And ran about a mile with her. This helped. She had so much energy. And then I lost her. (My bottle was on it's last dregs and it was heating up.)

After 10, my calves started feeling crampy and I knew I needed electrolytes, but there was only one gatorade stop on the course.

I walked again here and there. When I got to 12, I knew I was close enough that I could finish. LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE WALKING. There was one last water stop and this one had ice. This was the best water stop ever. CUPS WITH ICE IN THEM—AMAZING.

I saw Matt before I got to mile 13 and threw him my hand bottle. There was nothing in it and I was tired of carrying it.

I cried at the exact same point I did last year. It's bright glaring daylight and straight up a concrete hill, right before the track. And I just cried and said I couldn't. I walked for about 30 seconds. (Matt walked ahead of me.) Eventually I ran it in. And finished. I got a spinny medal.

I asked Matt to have water, gatorade and a fan at the finish. After I finished, I saw Matt.

"Please tell me you have water," I said.

He didn't. He had to walk to the car. I went and found my own water. (I did not do the dramatic collapse on the ground finish I wanted to.)

Finishing the race was HARDER than running any of my half marathons. It was harder than my PR two months ago. Even hours later, my body is tired. my legs hurt. I'm drained.

My race prep: Zoom Flys, glide, socks, hand bottle,
gels, shorts, headphones, hat on the cooling towel. 

What went right.
1. Carrying a hand-held was the right call. I would have been so much sicker without carrying water. I wish I would have had a second actually.
2. I ate breakfast and fueled right for this one. (I would have liked more gatorade on the course.)
3. I wore new shorts and didn't chafe. Yay.
4. I didn't totally overheat. We're in a heat wave so I was worried. It started out cooler than expected. And a good part of the race was in the shade. It probably made it up to 80 and super humid by the time I finished.
5. I remembered to dump water on my head. Which helped.
6. The race started out well actually.
7. Carrying cough drops was actually a good call too. I think I wouldn't have been able to finish had I been coughing.
8. I did the first two water stops exactly right. So progress. I know how to do them now!
9. I didn't do a cool down, but I walked for maybe 10 minutes after finishing so that helps.

Fellow Athens runners. 

What went wrong.
1. I was just tired. My legs felt fine. I wasn't super overheated. I was just tired. The kind of tired you are after a long workout after around 6 miles. I guess this is from germs and being sick. I didn't feel the endurance I usually have.
2. I did have a cooling towel and couldn't get it wet enough to actually cool. The towel is a good idea, but it was new and I need to figure out how to use it.
3. The course needed more water and gatorade. Also Matt not bringing water for me was disappointing. There probably should have been 3 more water stops for as hot as it was.
4. The greenway wasn't closed, so there were a lot of walkers and cyclists out. At one point, the lead cyclist was leading the top runner in on one side, two large men were walking side by side and I was trying to get by them. (The course is an out and back). I think I nudged between them. But there were a lot of cyclists and walkers on the greenway. Some were courteous. Most were oblivious and in the way. And some were downright rude. It was raining last year so people weren't out and about. Just lots of obstacles to go around. (Note if you find yourself out and about and a race comes by, maybe be nice and encouraging and try to not get in people's way.) I did like seeing the dogs.

I don't actually know how I finished this race. I was so tired the rest of the day. It wasn't as bad as my long Fort Yargo race or my first 5k, but it was tough. I wouldn't say it was a bad race. I was 2 minutes slower than last year and still well under 2 hours. Am I disappointed in myself? No. Only that I didn't recognize this race would be this hard. I did wonder if I should do this race.

As for mental toughness—was I mentally tough? My body was screaming at me to stop. Louder than it usually does. I would tell myself how lucky I was to be out and running on a pretty greenway. I would tell myself to smile. I would tell myself just to get to the next mile marker. I don't know if mental toughness counts when you're this sick.

Also, thank you for running a few miles me: Virginia Brooks and Catherine Shinholser.

Post race food

What's next? I think I'll take a half marathon break. I would like to do rogue runs this summer. But maybe I'll get my mile time down this summer.

Workouts this week May 6-12

Monday: Off

Tuesday: Speed work

Lunch: sweet potatoes and grilled chicken tacos

One mile warmup
3 mile repeats
7:24, 7:21, 7:21
Mile cool down.
These mile repeats felt so much better than two weeks ago. It made me feel like I was getting my speed back. The cool down mile wasn't that bad either.

Wednesday
I did 4 easy miles and my legs felt a little tired. The heat was also wearing on me some.

Thursday: 30 minute bike ride
Stopped to help a kid catch their super speedy dog. The dog won, but was corralled back into its house.

Friday: Morning run
I got in a morning run today because I was working late. So I came in late. (I LOVE being able to come in late and get my morning run in.) I had hoped to start running around 6:30 a.m., but I slept and felt like absolute garbage when I woke up. I started running around 8 a.m. and did 6 miles. I felt better after my run. I worked all day and ended up taking 27,000 that day. I was exhausted. I worked until 10 p.m.

Saturday: Off
I usually run 5 days a week. But—I also watch my mileage. I ran 25 miles last week, so I was trying to run 27 miles this week. 5+4+6+12 = 27
I had planned on a long bike ride, but it was raining. I did some core work at home.

Sunday: Long run
12 miles done. I did 2 faster miles at the end. 8:31 and 7:37. It felt good actually.
The first half, it drizzled most of the time. My shoes were so wet! The forecast showed that it might rain. But morning of, it said thunderstorms possible at 8:30 a.m. I figured my 7 a.m. run would be mostly done by then, but it rained most of the first half. I wrung out my shirt a few times.

I'm thinking of doing a half marathon Memorial Day. It wouldn't be a PR race, but just a fun run.

Recovery:

Rolling.

Miso Fast Greens and miso salmon from "Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow"

Miles this week: 27
Runs: 4
1 bike ride, 1 yoga session, 2 core sessions

Workouts this week: April 22-28

Monday: Off
30-minute bike ride

Tuesday: Speed work
This was my first speed session in forever. 
The goal was the workout was 5k pace. I thought I could do some mile repeats at 7 minute miles. But hitting 7:30s was hard. Super hard. But I didn't quit. I finished the workout. My legs were really heavy in that last mile (7:41.) 

It was slower than I wanted. But still getting my body used to running faster again. Seeing that I haven't done that workout in 2 months makes sense. I looked and my half marathon prep had a lot of tempos towards the end. So I'm just out of practice for shorter repeats. 

 Who knows what else was going on? I certainly didn't feel as great as hoped. 

Wednesday: Trail run
I led a group trail run. I ran 3 miles. So I could prep the snacks before most people got back. 3 miles has been such a nice distance for my body lately. I finish the run before exhaustion. 

I thought the trail run was going to be hot, but the humidity was so low, it was pleasant out. 

Thursday: Off
I had a Lululemon event after work. They had a try-on event for local runners.  They said they're really focusing on run gear this year and wanted local run group leaders to try out some run products. I think the point was to try new clothing and I have most of their run gear already. 

I tried on some Time to Sweat Crops. They were too long.
I tried on some In the Movement Crops. They felt like aligns and wen't as compressive. And didn't have enough pockets.
I have the Pace Rival. But they were too long. 
I tried on a cropped top that I liked. But they didn't have my size. (It was also out of stock online.) 
I ended up getting a new Swiftly tank top, because those are nice to run in. They breathe better than the Cool Racerback.

I wish I would have gotten some more pieces, but I really just want more Fast & Free crops. 

Friday: Morning miles
I ran 5 miles in the morning. It was fine. Perfect weather really. It was cool. My favorite weather to run in. Low 60s. 

(I spent the rest of the day helping with my brother's wedding. I got home around midnight.) 

Saturday: Easy 3
Today was the lightest I've felt in awhile. My brain just felt free of the usual anxiety and stress. It's been awhile since I've felt this way. I kept the miles easy since I'll try running long tomorrow. (And my body seems to like the shorter runs lately. The 30 mile weeks are hard, and just leave me feeling drained.) 

Why did I feel so much freer? I wasn't in the office yesterday, which helped. Yesterday was exhausting. It was non-stop and I didn't get home until midnight. I had to be up early to help with Twilight at 7 a.m. So I should be exhausted. But I ALWAYS feel better about volunteering. I love being at races. Maybe it was the combination of working hard, feeling appreciated and feeling like I made a difference. 

I stopped the run at 3 miles. Lately, that's been a nice distance that doesn't leave me too tired. 

Sunday: Long run
I was going to do Renee's long run with her. I thought we were doing 10, but she was in a hurry, so we did 8 at a faster pace than I anticipated: 8:44 pace, which is in my wheelhouse, but not as easy as I'd planned. (Our first mile was 9 minutes and then the rest were around 8:30.) We finished and I considered doing another 2 on my own. I got my second wind in that last mile. But Renee drove off and I stopped. I didn't want to be tired the rest of the day. 

Later that day, I was feeling great. I did some yoga. I went on a 3 mile bike ride. And then because I had 24 miles for the week, did one more mile to make it 25 miles.

Miles this week: 25 (which is back to normal. I'm feeling much better after going easy last week.)
Totals: 5 runs, 2 bike rides, 1 yoga session 

Two years into my running journey

Two years and one week ago I did my first real race as an adult.

The race had pacers. And it was the race that inspired me to do more with running.

It was the Chick-Fil-A half. I'd known about the race for a few years, mostly because it impacted traffic around town for years. And I wanted to do it, but 13.1 seemed like too many miles. So when there was an option to run HALF of that, I signed up. And since I'd never run 6.5 miles before I followed a training plan, and gradually increased my mileage. (First time following a training plan.) I remember the first time I completed 6 miles or 8 miles. I remember finding my easy pace—where I felt like I could run forever.

And I ran the race—and surprised myself with a faster than expected finish.

I am such a different runner than I was then.

Running that race—and finishing as second place woman (for half the half), nudged me to join the Athens Road Runners. And it helped me start training and learning so much about running.

How I'm a different runner than I was 2 years ago

• I'm a more serious runner than I was then. I just take it more seriously: tracking weekly mileage, podcasts group runs, morning workouts everything.
• Back then I ran 12 mile weeks. Now, I usually run 10+ miles as my long run on the weekend. I run about 30 miles a week, give or take. I also log my miles. (I'd barely started to use Strava before that race. Now I'm addicted.)
• I hadn't heard of gels or fueling on the run now. Now, I always have a giant stash of fuel for long runs on me.
• I take hydration more seriously. I'm always thinking about water and if I'm drinking enough (I'm usually not.)
• I do speed work regularly.
• I have different paces. (Back then, I had one speed. A tempo. No easy or all out.)
• I listen to podcasts now. Which I didn't even do a year ago.

How I'm the same
• I'm still very particular about gear. Love to run in Lululemon.
• I still always carry my phone with me.
• While I do more group runs, I still do most of my runs alone and on the trails.
• I'm still the same size. I haven't gained any weight. I'm still not an ultra skinny runner.
• I'm still working on mental toughness. I have some natural speed, but am not the toughest. Work in progress.

Accidental 5k PR: Outrun Parkinson's 5K

I've wanted to run a sub 22 5k since 2017.  It hasn't happened. I've been training for half marathons and just haven't had the right race. I've run 22:30 a few times and I think Strava gave me a 22:11 once.

This morning I decided to run a 5k.

I'm 2 weeks off a half marathon, and after my 13 recovery days I was more than ready for a workout. I thought my legs were as rested as they'd ever be, so I told my sleeping husband I was going to do some speed work and went to a race. (I didn't want to get expectations up in case I blew up.)

I thought maybe I'd get some 7:30 pace work in and I'd be happy with a time under 23 minutes. I was really worrying about blowing up. About being tired and having to walk on the course. I have done NO speed work in almost 3 weeks. I haven't done any 5k specific work since last year. And I wasn't trained at all. I thought this would be a tempo run with other people. I had no expectations for this race. Hence I told no one.

I also had Chick-Fil-A for my pre-race dinner. I had waffle fries and Chick-Fil-A sauce. (Bad day and I was eating my feelings). This really could have been a disaster.

I show up and pay my $25 for the race.

And the course is different than normal. It's finishing in a parking lot instead of the normal downhill by the beach finish.

I line up by the front. It's a small race. I figure even on a bad day I'll be close to the front. And then it's race time.

Mile 1: 7:05. I feel great. I'm flying. I'm worried I'm going too fast so I throw on the brakes.
Mile 2: 7:32. Which is super cool that I can find this pace so easily. This is what I thought I'd run. I did a check in. And my legs felt fine. My breathing was the only thing that wasn't great. I focused on it and calmed it down.
Mile 3: 7:16 pace. I told myself to speed up. I hit the halfway mark on PR pace and I was feeling good. So I sped up.
I should add here that the course was short.
I hit the first mile and my watch said .96. And then I hit the race's 3 mile mark and my watch was at 2.8 or 2.9. But I could see the finish and I was so glad.
I crossed the line and my watch said 2.99
21:50

Which I didn't expect to see that at all.
I ran another .1 at about 7:40 pace just for my Strava account.
And I think that's a PR. It's an official course. Watches measure differently. I've had so many races that measure long.
And even if it was short, I was on PR pace. I averaged 7:18 pace when I think 7:20 pace is my PR.

And I'm elated. I finished second place woman. And don't know where that came from. I thought a minute slower would have been great.

So when people talk about race with no expectations—I've never believed them. But maybe now I do? There was no pressure on this race and I flew. I felt great. My legs are fine. Maybe it was a tad hard the last .6 or so.

It was the race I needed. Yesterday I was thinking of quitting running. It's just such a huge time commitment. I miss free time. But this made me so happy. Hard work is paying off. I'm actually getting fast. So happy with this.

So thank you for this race. And for doing something on a whim and it working out!!

Also this race photo is so bad is's hilarious. I was really happy the race was over. And I don't remember feeling THAT bad but that's what the end of a race feels like.

Photo credit: Classic Race Services