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...

I was on my 3rd lap of the 7 mile loop and as I was trying divert my attention to anything else so as to forget about the tiredness in my legs at the time.  I thought "Well, this should be a very boring race recap.  Not even blog worthy... Captioned: I ran 7 miles over and over again and it hurt." But by the end of that lap, I was in a much better place. Last year's race. Loved it so much I came back! I arrived early on race day for packet pick-up and to get closer parking than I had last year.  It was dark and the handful of people there were wearing headlamps. After grabbing my bib and bag, I sat and warmed up in the car for awhile -- and charging my Garmin that I'd left in the car overnight. After 45 min or so, I grudgingly exited my toasty car (no, I didn't run it that long but it was warmer than outside!), grabbed my gear bag and headed to the main aid station area. This is what I enjoy about loop races -- I have access to my gear after each lap. ...

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 ...

12 hour run through the night on a 400 meter high school track. Sounds like torture, right?  That's what I thought last year after I'd signed up -- and then found out it was on a track!  I survived it, loved/hated it, and came back for more this year. Wearing my "lucky charms": Fearless skirt Chattanooga 70.3 tank This time though, I brought my girls with me. It's a very small race and because it was well-lit on the track, tent would be placed near the aid station and I would see them while I was running, I felt it was safe.  (I was also given a green light by the race director).  I also managed to talk my boyfriend, Ben, into running this with me... or should I say "highly suggested" this race to him and he made the decision to go ahead with it ;) Germantown High School Our little station. The race started at 8:00pm and as most ultras go, it was a great energy from the start.  There were the 24 hour runners who'd been running sinc...