Run Eat Tri Yogi

Ambassador - info below ++         ICEBREAKER INDOOR MARATHON 1/29/17 My last race was in November 2016 and I enjoyed every minute of my "off season". Off season = mostly 70.3 training and less focus on high mileage. It was all about brick workouts and gaining my endurance back on the bike and swim. It wasn't until the new year that I realized I had not done any runs over 13.1 miles. I was so used to racing every month and not having to keep up with my long runs.  The frigid Wisconsin weather didn't help at all either. I love running in cold temps but attempting 15+ miles out on ice, slush, mounds of snow and -25F wind chill temps don't mix well. I had to focus on time on feet training vs mileage training. Several 3 hour runs still didn't feel like I'd done enough! But race weekend was here and it was time to test out my training so far. I was hoping all those hours on the bike and the brick workouts would somehow carry over to marathon...

My biggest concern about Chicago was that it was a road race; I'm a trail runner. Even if you put me on a paved road, I will make my way to the side and run on gravel/grass/dirt. My other concern was how my ITB would hold up after my 50M a few weeks ago. When I last ran Chicago in 2014, I had so many injuries with ITB flare up being one of them that I was worried about running this one injury free.  About a 2 weeks before the race, I realized I should have added more road running to my training... I treated myself to room at the Congress hotel, which I knew was near the start/finish. What I didn't realize was that it was right across the street!  What a treat after my last experience where I got up at 3am to catch multiple trains and walking in the dark/cold just to get to the start line.  I highly recommend saving up some moola to treat yourself to a hotel right near the start/finish in Chicago.  I'd also reserved my parking through Park Whiz near the ...

If you've been paying attention to fitness memes or posters, you've seen them. "No excuses".  Makes me want to punch somebody.  It's a great idea, sure. If you work a perfect shift, have no kids, have unlimited financial resources... you get the idea. But for the rest of us normal folks, life happens .  If you have children, you know that even giving "4% of your day" to workout is a huge struggle.  Yes, I was able to find a meme that fit both of these in! I do agree that it is about priorities.  If it's important to you, you will find a way to make it work.  And this blog is to give you ideas on how to fit those workouts in. As a single mom, I've learned a few things along the way while training for my races. Whether it was my first 6K or a marathon, they all posed similar challenges.  My kids are my #1 priority and these are some of the ways I made my training work for us. Let's get right to it!  Today is a classic example. 1) Hav...

It seemed appropriate that I write up the overview of my first duathlon as I prepare for my 3rd annual anniversary 6k race -- the one that got me hooked on running & racing! Starting off my 2nd full year of racing with a new milestone is an amazing feeling! Now that the race is over anyway.  Honestly, I've been putting off writing this blog because I still want to remain on that post-race high and not relive the lows.  If you've never completed a duathlon, I hope this doesn't deter you in any way!  I will add my own little tips - simplest of guides for us newbies :) "This seemed like a good idea 2 1/2 weeks ago..." How many times have we shared the similar thought during a race? For me, I didn't look at the race in its entirety.  I saw that it was 3 mile run, 20 mile bike and a 2 mile run.  Piece of cake!  The 2 runs combined is an easy warm-up on my ultras!  And cycling came easy to me. Or so it seemed after 2 bike rides, with the hi...

Before I get into the blog, please realize I'm not lessening the pain of actual loss & grief of a loved one.  I've lost close ones and this isn't to poke fun at that process.  But I also believe that to an athlete, an injury is a serious process as well. It's painful and the future is unknown. And these stages are real.   After running marathons & ultras (peppered with small races) each month, my body gave out in Oct.  I made it through the Chicago Marathon but it was too late for me recover "smartly".  My body had had enough. I didn't recover after my previous races; I wanted to prove that I can go-go-go!! I took a full week off after Chicago and on my first run, I pushed myself (again) and tried to work on speed. That was it.  My knee gave out, ITB screamed and I was forced to limp back to my car. I figured that was fine... I'll be back in a day or two. Like before.  But seriously, that was it. The 5 stages of loss and grief* 1...

First things first, you guys ROCK!! So many of you helped celebrate my birthday by doing a virtual run with me #runninglikeafool - it was great knowing that I had some awesome company throughout the day. You guys motive me to push harder and I absolutely LOVE my running/IG/FB family~ you have no idea how much your support and encouragement means to me!  And as promised, I made cupcakes for all participants ;) I took a few days to summarize my birthday 6hr run/walk/bike. I even took time to transfer the photos from the old phone (I shattered it  - twice) and re size them... and as I was typing the last few words "I thought last year was epic - and in so many ways, it really was..." I immediately deleted my original blog. I knew what this post needed to be. I didn't spend one minute thinking of my past on my birthday, as I usually do on my long runs (running is therapy!) and instead, I was planning one race after another. How to train, how I can improve from last y...