Guest Post: I am an Ironman

October 28, 2013 by scootadoot

On Sunday, Sept 8, 2013, I completed the Wisconsin Ironman.

Wisconsin is a full 140.6 mile Ironman which means a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and then you run a marathon. At least that’s how I used to explain it to people. (I would come to regret that phraseology later on.)

While the race started at 7 in the morning, the journey to get there started about 8 months earlier.

Many people tell you that it’s not finishing an Ironman that is as impressive as getting to the start line. This is because you train more than you can ever imagine training for something in your life….at least for us “recreational” athletes. My personal mindset was just to push through the training. And try not to kill myself in the process.

Let me note that I am not a life-long athlete. Before signing up for an Ironman, I had done one sprint tri two years before and hadn’t trained in the swim or bike since. I had six marathons under my belt, but it had been a couple years since I trained seriously and injury free. I suggest a year or two of tri-training before you undertake an Ironman. But it’s possible without it. I’m proof.

Since I had no clue what I was doing, I thought it best to hire a coach. I interviewed a couple of coaches and chose to work with Ben Proko of Trifit-XT. Ben has plenty of experience and his coaching style is nothing but supportive. His method uses metabolic data to assess your physical capability and he sets your training zones from there. I am an engineer. I like data and targets and measurable outcomes. Sold. Ben and his wife Katie (also a coach) were both important to my mental well-being.

Ben started me on a routine that basically repeated every week, just with increased time per activity. I ran, swam and biked three times a week each, and also did a strength routine 2-3 times a week (until I got closer to a race.) Yep. That’s 12 workouts a week. Two each day. Six days a week. And just like that, my entire life became about training.

At this point, I’d like to remind you that I still had a job. In order to get into the office at a reasonable time, I was generally up around 4:15 am, got one workout in, went to work, and then left to do another workout. This would often take me to about 7:30 or 8 pm, at which point I ate dinner, did laundry (LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of laundry), and packed my workout bags and lunch for the next day. By 9pm, it was time for bed. That is how your entire life becomes about training.

While I’m lucky that my workplace is flexible, my job is demanding and results-oriented and is sometimes designed to bring conflict into our organization. I do not have a cake-walk job. I missed some workouts…over 8 months of training, I missed quite a few. Ben set the priority for me that running and biking needed to come first and so that’s where I put my first effort. But slowly the strength workouts dwindled (um, yeah…even before Ben took them off the schedule) and it wasn’t unusual later in the program to miss a swim a week. It’s a lot to try and do. But if I had to work late and miss a workout, I worked late. You have to find balance.

Before we get to the big race, I want to mention the half-Ironman I did in Galveston in April because it set my expectations for the full IM in September. The water was a fraction of a degree above where they would let you wear booties and gloves…just at 65 degrees. My wave got into the water at 8 am (to start at 8:05 am) and the cold water was an immediate shock.

I calmed down and felt ok. Then I tried to put my face in the water. Nope. Not gonna happen. I couldn’t breathe properly (or at all, really) with my face in frigid water. Great. The gun went off, and I tried to swim. Nope. Still not able to get my face in the water.

Within a few minutes I realize I’ll wear myself out hyperventilating so I grab a kayak. Yes, I grabbed a kayak two minutes into the swim. I am so cool. It wasn’t a panic attack. My head was saying, “Really? Really? Like you’re going to quit now? Just start moving forward and get through the water so you can get on your bike.” And I did. I swam about a third of a mile with my head out of the water, then FINALLY settled into some sort of breathing pattern. I eventually started passing people from my age group and finished with about 10 ladies behind me. I chaffed the CRAP out of the back of my neck from swimming with my head out of the water, but I survived. I did the swim in less than an hour even with semi-dog-paddle technique and kayak-hugging.

The bike went well (Galveston is flat, but super windy) and during the run I came into my element. I ran while all those fancy-attired cyclists were suffering. I passed bunches of people. BUNCHES. And I felt great. I flew into the end of the race having done it in under 6:30. I was feeling phenomenal and proud as anything of myself. And at the end of the chute were two good friends from my running group in New Orleans, Betsy and Aaron. It was the perfect finish. Perfect.

Fast-forward 5 months and I arrived in Madison, Wisconsin for the full Ironman race. I was worried about the swim and confident about the bike and the run. (Silly me, it would turn out.) The Madison course is one of the hardest Ironman bike courses in the world. I chose it because the weather would be good and I had relatives close by in Chicago to cheer me on. And I didn’t know how hard the bike course was. I suggest doing more research before choosing your first race. I entered the wrong race for me. Where am I going to get big hills near Houston, Texas? But for now, I was here and ready to complete the course in front of me.

The morning of the race, I was quietly nervous. I knew I could do this. I knew it. I think you can already guess how worried I was about the swim. But the rest of the race could be done with sheer will and determination and reliance on 8 months of training. I had finished marathons in heat and hills with little-to-no training. I knew I had the ability to endure what was ahead.

Ironman events require that you finish within 17 hours. The race starts at 7 am, and you have to finish by midnight or you don’t get your medal. There are also cutoffs for each of the sports. The swim has to be done within 2 hours and 20 minutes from the starting gun (and Wisconsin was a mass start, so everyone had that same requirement.) If I made that cutoff, I knew I had the race.

As 7 am approached, we slowly made our way into the water and swam out towards the start. For me, the deep water start was desirable. I got accustomed to the water and now just needed to relax in the crowded mass start.

The gun went off. And I started to swim. I was in a regular breathing pattern immediately. HOORAY!! Even if I was breathing every two strokes instead of every three, there was no panic, no hyperventilation. Within a few minutes, I knew I had the swim, and therefore the race. I said a prayer of thanks to the tri gods. Now I just needed to settle in and move steadily through it all….which is hard in the swim because there are no lane lines in the lake. You try to sight something in front of you, but people are crawling past you and they realize they’re off course so they turn and you t-bone them. And then when you’re done quietly cursing them, you realize you’re off-course and you turn and someone t-bones you. It’s fun. Most people just keep moving. There are more aggressive conflicts in the front of the pack, but I’m not in the front of the pack. When I finished (in an acceptable 1:45), I was ecstatic!

Just out of the water I saw my tri-training partner Anjy who came up all the way from Houston to be there on the side of the course. She and I both stress out in the swim and it brought an even bigger smile to my face that she was right there cheering. I ran out of the water and up the helix (a pretty word for “multi-story parking garage ramp”) and at the top I saw a bigger group, including my boyfriend Jim, an amazing triathlete that I met during my 8 months of training. Jim scooped me up in a hug and spun me around. He was thinking what I was…that the swim was over and I had the rest of the race.

Jen greets boyfriend Jim after her swim

I moved through transition and got onto the bike. It was a little disheartening that there were so many bikes gone by the time the time I got to mine, but later we heard rumors that over 200 didn’t even finish the swim…either missed the cutoff or crawled out of the water onto a boat. It was good to be moving in a comfort zone. The weather was in the mid-70’s and there was total cloud cover (I hate direct sunlight), but it was windy. We had a tailwind out to the main loop that we biked twice, and then it was a headwind back when you’re most tired. The hills were terribly hard but there were huge crowds at the top of the biggest.

Madison is a race where you constantly have to think and plan. It’s hard to take fuel when you’re climbing a hill or rushing down a slope so you have to plan to eat on just a few flatter surfaces. I had done a training camp in July where I rode the Madison course and that was definitely a good thing to have done. I never bothered to know marathon courses, but this was definitely different.

All over the course I had incredible support from family and friends. My mom, aunt, all four cousins and my college roommate drove up from Chicago. My sister flew in from Albany with her boyfriend. Anjy and her husband were up from Houston. I have never felt so deeply wealthy in my friends and family as I did on that course. They rode a bus out to the bike course to see me through two loops. It took me 6:47 to finish the hilly, windy bike course and they saw me probably just 20 seconds or so total. How’s that for a dedicated fan base?

Jen zooms past her fans

The ride back from the loops was like a death march. We were all tired and riding back to Madison into the wind in somber silence. But I made it, got through transition, and stepped out to start the run.

This is where the words, “and then you run a marathon” bit me in the ass. That’s a horrible way to visualize it when you’ve already been on the course for 9 hours. It took some effort to push that thought away and put one foot in front of the other. After all, in Galveston, this is where I made my mark. I was a runner, first and foremost! I thought about my running club, my closest running friends, my running partner Nick, and those who had turned triathlete like me. They were all following my GPS tracker and I couldn’t let them down. This would be the best part!

Or not.

The first two hours felt pretty good. And then I slowed down. WAY down. I didn’t hit the typical wall in terms of feeling overall sluggish and slow. I wasn’t dehydrated. My legs were just DONE. I was a runner, but not so much after 112 miles on the hardest, hilliest bike course I could find. My friends and family were out on the marathon course and since it’s a double loop, I got to see them about 4 times. I tried to make sure I was running when I passed them, but they knew and I knew I was slowing way down. A few of them stepped in and ran with me for a short while.

The second loop became about survival, about finishing. I walked a lot. I was nauseous until I gave up on Gatorade altogether and drank coke. I discovered that grapes are the best thing EVER to eat at the end of an Ironman. I had been here before in marathons…where you know you will finish, but that the finish line is a long way off. I just moved through. DNF was never a thought. And soon I was within a mile of the finish.

On the way up the busy street to the capitol square, I passed people who had had WAY too much to drink, who pounded me on the shoulder and high-fived me too hard. I was too tired to voice complaint.

When I hit the streets around the square, less than half a mile from the finish, I saw Jim with Anjy and her husband. A block later, I saw a couple of my cousins and my aunt. More familiar faces were in the finish chute. My family had spread themselves out along the last stretch and brought me in. It brings tears to my eyes now to think of it. They very nearly carried me.

I crossed the finish line in 14:15 with my arms over my head in victory. I cried a little. I hollered in triumph. I was done. Volunteers catch you and deal with medals and foil wraps and finishing shirts and hats. They took my picture.

Jen finishes the race!

I realized I was disappointed. How crazy is that? I didn’t feel the euphoria I experienced in Galveston. Maybe it was because the last couple of hours were so slow, and that had surprised and disappointed me. But then there, at the end of the chute was my cheer squad. I saw and hugged Anjy first as she had been there with me at 4:30 am too many Saturdays and Sundays to count.

Then I saw Jim, who knew from his own hard training history what I had been through to get there. (Jim would also catch the brunt of my skepticism over my performance in the days to follow, God bless him.) The rest of my family and best friends closed around me and I felt richer than anyone there. I had survived 8 months of insane training balanced with a tough job in a new city…I even earned a promotion which I was offered the day I drove into Madison. I had achieved balance.

As I stepped out of the chute, the thought occurred to me, “Is that it?” Eight months of training, and 14 hours passed in a flash. THAT’S how people end up doing this over and over again. I think I probably will, too…someday. For now, I am truly content to sleep in and relax in the evenings…though I’m already starting to train for the Houston marathon in January 2014. But that’s nothing. I can make it through anything.

Because I am an Ironman.

Jen is a senior commodity manager at Momentive Specialty Chemicals. She’s completed six marathons and numerous shorter road races and loves the triathlon, consuming good books and delicious food and traveling.

I’ve got whosits and whatsits galore…

October 22, 2013 by Meridith

Welcome, welcome, one and all. This weekend I tackled a ridiculous feat…

The semi-annual cleaning of the running drawer. (It should really happen more than it actually does but let’s not make too big of a deal about that!)

I’m assuming that everyone has a drawer like this. It’s as messy as a “junk” drawer, but there’s NO JUNK in this drawer. It’s all gold, my friends, and it’s all extremely important when it comes to running.

Uh, except for maybe this. Not sure how this wound up in the running drawer…

Okay, so let’s get down to the good stuff!

I’m a big fan of the cinch bags that some race series give out at their expos. I use these bad boys to bring things to Track and Field practices and meets for the kiddo and at other races (way to publicize!). And every time I use one, much like a race shirt, it takes me back to that race. Memories, like the corners of my mind.

I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a’plenty! Need a spoon on a string (and who doesn’t)? Check! That was from the Jog ‘n Hog this past summer.

credit: Jog ‘n Hog Boss Hog

Foot Rubz ball? We’ve got two; Jay has the other one squirreled away somewhere. I use it after every. single. race. Stickers! Blister Treatment! (Knock on wood, I haven’t had any blisters lately.) And of course, my trusty Road ID. Okay, well, the Road ID box. The actually Road ID itself doesn’t usually make it back into the box because I use it so frequently.

Ah, the cold weather gear. How necessary yet how unfortunate that it’s necessary. In my perfect world, I’d not need these. It would be lovely fall weather all the time. Alas, such is not the case here in New Jersey and it’s already getting to the time of the year when we have the windows down, heat up.

Rocking the $3 Target hat (notice the gloves in hand) at last year’s Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge.

When I began running Vic took me to Target, pointed out the men’s hats and told me to stock up. When you spend a couple of bucks on a hat or a dollar on gloves, you don’t get too broke up if you need to throw them to the side if you get too warm while running. The Lululemon ones? Those don’t get tossed (added bonus: they were a gift from Jess).

Not shown: Strong Mama Sox Box Socks
They’re in the wash.

I have a socks drawer but that’s not where my long socks live. Oh no, they have a special place of honor in my running drawer! And each time I pull out a pair of the socks, it brings me back to when I got them and where I’ve worn them. (My mind likes to retain random information that is pertinent to exactly nothing.)

Heart Running Skirts socks at runDisney’s Tangled 5k.

Thanks to Brandi for this group shot of us outside of the Septa station.

Red ProCompression Socks at the Broad Street Run

And finally…

I’ve got fuel! I’ve got arm warmers (that are actually Baby Legs)! Tissues! Safety pins! Handheld water bottle! SPIbelt! These are the things that float around the drawer, usually toward the top, because I need them more often than most.

It should be noted that the drawer stayed neat for maybe a day and a half before it got all messed up again. Yep.

What’s in your running drawer? Or where do you keep all your “Stuff” with a capital S?

runDisney’s Tower of Terror 10-miler

October 10, 2013 by vfreile

Saturday’s race was like none I’d tackled before.

For starters, we ran at night. We also tackled 10 miles in Florida’s heat and humidity.

But what really “made” the event? I ran, skipped and sashayed with Cinderella’s evil stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella.

That’s right! The zippy ladies bickered, hurled snide comments at Cinderella (and each other and some other runners) and chased each other, with me in tow. And they looked amazing!

Let me rewind. Last week, I headed to Walt Disney World for runDisney’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-miler.

I spent a few days in the parks with friends, visiting with our own Brooke and my dear friend Jen.

We headed to the race expo on Saturday, a self-inflicted move made in part to keep myself from spending too much money. (It worked!) There, I ran into pal Kelly, who runs Sparkle Athletic with several girlfriends. We started chatting, and before I knew it, I had agreed to run with Kelly. She assured me she wouldn’t be racing the 10-miler, which I greatly appreciated since the run fell the week between my two 20-milers in my training for NYC next month. (We won’t even delve into how crazy fast Kelly is…)

Fast forward to Saturday evening. I checked my bag, hit the port-o-lets and bid my friends and travel partners farewell. (They had all planned to race the event. So I took myself out if the mix as to not to be tempted to go too fast.)

The gang: Aaron, Jen, Ray and me

I entered my corral and quickly found my racing partners Kelly and Carrie. I’d love to give you a play-by-play of the run, but truth be told it was all a blur!

Fireworks signaled the start of the 11,000-person race, and scared the bejeezus out of me to boot. Our happy group set off, including the lovely Krissy (an Oiselle teammate) and Megan. We parted from Krissy quickly since she’s a speedy speedster.

I’d love to be able to share a detailed run down of all the quips, zings and silliness we encountered on our run, but the race went by in a flash!

We laughed, we ran and we laughed some more. We stopped for each and every character stationed along the 10-mile course, and yet the entire race flew by. I didn’t even look at my watch until our last mile through Hollywood Studios.

The gang’s all here, with villains from The Lion King.

“WHY ARE YOU SO FAST?” Drizella yelled to Anastasia around mile three. “What’s wrong with you and how did Cinderella trick us into this ball? It’s the worst. There aren’t any princes.”

Off with our (gulp) heads!

Posing with Megan and Jafar (pic from Megan)

As we ran, the stepsisters graciously adopted me as a third and hurled “insults” my way as well. Anastasia (Kelly) repeatedly yelled out my name as we ran and as she hit the pavement, searching for a prince. Drizella (Carrie) accused me of being a mouse-sympathizer (aka, one of Cinderella’s friends). They chased each other, screaming and “cheered” for others as we ran.

“Move it people! There’s a ball to get to!”

I unwittingly started a game of tag just after mile four. oof! We dragged other runners into the game, laughing all the while. We heckled our way through the trail area as we entered the Wide World of Sports complex. We were thrilled by the bounce of the complex’s track and were spooked by several ghosts who weren’t ready to let us leave after posing for a photo.

“This is the worst champagne ever!” Anastasia yelled after downing a cup of lemon-lime Powerade at one of many water stations along the course. She hurled the cup with gusto and stomped forward. “The water?! Is it from Figi?”

The stepsisters also repeatedly reminded volunteers and supporters to cheer for all the runners. And they certainly let crowds know when they weren’t living up to their duties.

Don’t mess with us

I can honestly say I’ve never had such a fun time running a road race. Carrie after the race said she couldn’t recall ever taking her race character so seriously before. She also giggled that they drew me into character as well.

Thank you, Kelly and Carrie, for an incredible run! I laughed so hard I nearly cried and I loved every moment, even in the crushing unseasonable Floridian heat. Can’t wait until my next runDisney event!

We did it!

Have you ever run a night race? Have you chased others, or heckled running partners, along a course? Do you know which villain I portrayed?

Do Good, Feel Good: Million Mile Run Wrap Up

October 1, 2013 by scootadoot

We’ll be honest, we weren’t sure how this month was going to go. That’s always the way with something new, something in its introductory year; whether it be a race, a blog, or an event, there’s always a slight fear of the unknown.

We heard about the Million Mile Run early in the summer and knew immediately we wanted to be involved. The whats and wherefores needed to be sorted out, but we knew the most important reason… the why.

We’ve inundated our lives, our social media accounts, our friends and our families with yellow. We’ve shared facts, recipes, pictures, and videos.

And we haven’t done it alone.

31 amazing people joined us in Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s inaugural Million Mile Run event.

Sara, Heather, Katharin, Karen, Maureen, Jan, Suz, Cyanne, Nita, Kate, Keri, Melissa, Sarah, Shaina, Lisa, Beth, Ben, Kyle, Kristen, Wendy, Jenn, Ashley, Sara, Megan, Gene, Heather, Mark, Ashley, Anne, Brandi and Michelle… THANK YOU.

We thank you with our whole beings and if we ever see you in person (that will be sooner than later for some of you), be prepared for tacklehugs!

We got to hear some of your stories, reasons why this cause spoke to you and we thank you for sharing with us. Furthermore, muchas gracias for sharing your miles with the Million Mile Run.

Our original mileage goal was 1,000, which we decimated within two weeks. Incredible! While a million miles weren’t achieved as a whole this year, 198,830 miles were “donated” to the cause. We’re sure that next year that number will grow exponentially.

That’s $315 OVER our goal! Thank you to all who donated, shared the link to our team, and raised awareness and funds. You are amazing!

Some of our team members really went above and beyond with fundraising efforts and as a thank you, we put together a Top Fundraiser Prize Pack. We gave a little sneak peek last week…

The amazing companies, Sweaty Bands and Lace Locker, both graciously donated items toward our top fundraiser prize pack and we are so grateful. We know that our winner will put the headbands and lace stays to good use.

We happen to know that our tippy-top fundraiser loves Boom Chicka Pop and does not yet have a Scoot a Doot shirt. Watermelon Nuun because… yes.

But wait… there’s more!

The Chicks pooled resources and connections to add even more to the prize pack for our Don’t Stop ’til Ya Get Enough top fundraiser.

Oh yes! That is an Alex and Ani bracelet. A sweet Oiselle shirt. Bearded Brothers Energy Bar. Clif Shot Bloks. Wilbur’s Chocolate Coffee – because the melding of two of the best things ever is amazing and encouraged.

So let’s wave our hands in the air like we just don’t care for someone (but we do! And she does too!) for the woman who should go into nonprofit fundraising as a profession… MEGAN!

http://mandmpage.blogspot.com/

Rock on, Megan!

Should we say thank you again? Aw, what the heck!

Thank you. Thank you all so very much.

The Color Run vs. Color Vibe

August 22, 2013 by vfreile

It’s time for the results of our good-natured color throwdown!

Remember back in the spring when we told you I would run several color-themed 5k races in western New York this summer? Ah yes, we’re going back a few months.

The Color Run and Color Vibe both graciously offered me entries to run each event. Although the color was theirs, all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed both events, but let me say its rather tricky to compare two colorful 5k races that I ran in different cities and in different weather conditions.

You may recall that when I ran the Color Vibe back in April, the sky opened up on the runners. It hailed, it snowed and it was darn windy. As a result, few stuck around for the after party. (Was there one? I don’t actually know.)

yes, that’s snow (Color Vibe)

Last weekend, I headed to Buffalo, NY with my friend and colleague Tina for The Color Run and Tina’s first-ever 5k.

I blogged specifically about Saturday’s race on my work blog. (Click HERE to read)

The blue color zone along Lake Erie (The Color Run)

So let’s try a comparison breakdown of the two races:

Participants:

Both events touted thousands of runners (8,000 or so for the Color Vibe and 10,000 for The Color Run, according to race organizers.) Both figures seemed a bit inflated, but I’d certainly agree that thousands of people took part in each event. Let’s just say both races were crowded, but it was never overwhelming. Race organizers knew how to move the crowd.

At the Color Vibe, the first group of runners didn’t begin until about 10-15 minutes after the appointed race start time, which on a normal day wasn’t a big deal. But the temps had dropped to the 30s and the skies were dark, Plus there was confusion about the start time, so we actually waited about 45 minutes for the race to begin.

Lindsay, Deb and Charlotte running through campus (Color Vibe)

In comparison, The Color Run started at its appointed start time, though it took Tina and me an extra 20 or so minutes to reach the start area after the the first runners set off. (We actually watched the first folks finish!)

A sea of white shirts. Can you spot me? (The Color Run)

Round 1 goes to The Color Run

Color Zones: At both races, we ran through four color zones.

Color Vibe participants were doused with color packets right out of the gate. I loved that idea – get runners with a burst of color right from the start! Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready for it, so I basically missed the first of four color zones. (My fault, not theirs.)

Think pink! (The Color Run)

The Color Run seemed to have more volunteers throwing powered color on participants, so it was hard for anyone to get past a zone without a hint of color.

That said, in any color race, ASK the throwers to hit you with color if you want to be covered. They will oblige.

If you want minimal color, try to zip past and dodge the throwers. Stay in the middle, where other runners act as a color buffer.

Round 2 is a draw

The course: Obviously this will vary greatly from race to race. My suggestion for all future color event participants is to pay attention to the 3.1-mile course you will be running.

The Color Vibe was entirely housed on the campus of a local community college. It’s a smart move because its self-contained and doesn’t require race organizers to close roads and divert traffic. That said, the route includes a large amount of parking lots… which also means less event parking.

The Color Run’s route was a refreshing surprise to me. You guessed it, I didn’t check out the course before the event because I knew I’d be walking much of it. The 5k course started in Buffalo’s Canalside Park, next to the First Niagara Center and followed some downtown roads and lakeside roads, into a marina along Lake Erie and back.

Along Lake Erie (The Color Run)

Because of its location, The Color Run route seemed far more picturesque.

Round 3 winner: The Color Run

Race swag: Entry to the two races are pretty much the same. $45 for the Color Vibe and $50 for The Color Run.

With the Color Vibe entry, I received a race shirt (which I wore for the run), one color packet, sunglasses and Boston bracelets, a thoughtful gesture by race organizers as we ran several days after the Boston Marathon bombings.

The Color Run entry included a race shirt (again, I wore it), a race headband, a color packet and some stickers.

Both events sold a number of other products. The Color Run organizers repeatedly threw swag such as race socks and bags into the crowd.

Round 4 winner: Color Vibe

After party: Both events hosted pre-race and post-race parties, which included music, dancing and a celebratory atmosphere.

Because of the wintry weather at the Color Vibe, most participants ran for their cars and shelter after finishing the course. Few people stuck around to sing and dance in the snow and hail. (Gee? Why?) and most volunteers apparently abandoned their post-race posts. I heard there was a photo booth, but never found it. I spotted bottles of water in a pile, though no one was handing them out.

I never saw a big-post race color throw take place by the stage. Instead, participants doused each other with packets of color at or near the finish line. We still had fun, but couldn’t help but wonder if I’d missed something.

Our own color throw (Color Vibe)

The Color Run’s after-party was a huge event. The weather was perfect, thousands of people danced to the music and we watched three separate color tosses take place in the 30 minutes after we finished our race.

A color throw at the Buffalo after-party (The Color Run)

Volunteers passed out Kind bars and offered a water bottle for thirsty runners.

Round 5 winner: The Color Run

I’m an oompaloompa (The Color Run)

Both events were a blast, though different. All of my running partners were a joy! And I love how color events are untimed races, geared toward beginners. The events aren’t about winning, but the joy of running.

But overall, the top winner was THE COLOR RUN. Congrats to the Happiest 5K on the Planet!

What Color event is your top choice? What stood out to you to make that event better than its competitors? Tell us in the comments!

Shiny happy medals

July 24, 2013 by vfreile

Some runners wear their medals with pride for days after the big race. Others toss them in a bag- or in the bin- never to be seen again.

I fall somewhere in the middle. I often wear my medal home from an event – a road race, regatta or (throwback) swim meet. But they all wind up in a shoebox or a basket a day or two later.

Meet the basket

Of course I have favorites – often because the bling is beautiful. But typically it’s because I loved the race.

Here are a few of my faves, and my reasons why.

Mardi Gras Half Marathon 2010

I ran the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras half several years ago, which has since been renamed the Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans. I loved everything about this event, it was my second-ever half marathon and I was incredibly well-prepared. The course was beautiful, I ran solo and paced myself well, besting my previous PR by more than 7 minutes.

Love the beads!

Philadelphia Marathon 2010

The 26.2-course through the City of Brotherly Love was my first marathon, so this race will always hold a special place in my heart. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter high-fived me as I crossed the finish line, moments before this bad boy was placed around my neck. Like the course, the medal did not disappoint either. Isn’t it pretty?

First is the best!

ScotiaBank Waterfront Toronto Half Marathon 2011

This race has my standing PR, and my heart. I felt like I flew as I ran along the northern edge of Lake Ontario on that crisp, fall day. Part of the course runs through downtown Toronto (and the CN Tower), much is along the waterfront, hence the name of the race. The year I ran, a 100-year-old man completed the full marathon course, held alongside the half. He was such an inspiration.

Nice medal, eh?

Random 5k 2012

The medal is tiny, but I earned it all by myself. I placed third in my age group at a small 5k race in Rochester, NY and received this medal. It was a surprise that definitely made me smile.

a teeny, tiny prize

My runDisney week of medals – 2013

I affectionately call this batch my runDisney Ultra. I raced 52.4 miles through Disney parks over an eight-day stretch in January. I ran the Goofy Challenge – that’s the half marathon through Walt Disney World on Saturday followed by the full marathon on Sunday. Then I flew to California, where I ran the Tinkerbell half marathon the following weekend. It was an incredible experience, which I tackled in memory of two local firefighters killed in the line of duty several weeks prior. Ironically, my third race was by far my fastest of the trio.

My runDisney Ultra stash

I have another medal that doubles as a bottle opener (so awesome!) and several with broken clasps. Meh. There’s even one I tried to dodge when I had a particularly cruddy race. And this fall, I hear I’ll be getting one made from a real horseshoe.

But I want to hear all about YOUR favorite medals!

Tell me all about your top bling in the comments below. What’s your favorite and why?

What races – and let’s face it, which medals – are on your wish list?

Please send along photo of your fave medal (wearing it or not) to scootadoot AT gmail.com and your reason why, and I will create a follow up post next week! Please also include your name and a link to your blog or twitter handle.

Road Tested: FrogFuel

June 28, 2013 by scootadoot

Chicks Cam and Mer are always down for trying new things so when Mike from PartnersHub sent out the signal to try FrogFuel, we said, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send FrogFuel on over!”

And they did! Cam and Mer each received three FrogFuel protein shots and a FrogFuel sticker. FrogFuel was created by Navy SEALS, Alex and Jeff.

Now, let’s be perfectly clear, the Chicks are nowhere close to being Navy SEALS. However, FrogFuel is now being geared for the “everyday athlete” and we do fit into that category.

FrogFuel currently has its patent pending. It boasts 15 grams of liquid protein with no banned substances, sugar, fat, carbs, gluten, or lactose. So what’s in those little packets? Amino acids, including Taurine, which is said to help muscles rebuild faster so that you have quicker recovery.

Let’s see what Mer and Cam experienced with FrogFuel!

Mer:

Tuesday and Thursday mornings I’m up by 5am and out the door soon after. When I started working with my trainer last year, I needed to eat something prior to going there or risk fainting from hunger about halfway though my two hour session. Usually it was a banana or apple sauce.

However, my body has since adjusted to the more demanding workout and lately I’ve been lax about fueling prior to working out. I know, not the best plan of attack. And since I need to basically shut my mind off and get my workout done once I’m at the gym, thinking about fuel while I’m there isn’t really an option. Therefore, FrogFuel works well in regards to both time and what it can do for my body.

I took my “shot” at 5:16. The taste reminded me a bit of medicine (which might be why I have an aversion to berry flavored supplements and gels) but nothing that I couldn’t handle.

Headed to the gym and did my warm up on the elliptical and stretching. After my trainer arrived it was continuous “fun” for the next hour and fifteen minutes.

Five sets of twenty tire jumps (which I just recently conquered, thank you very much), twenty pushups and parking lot sprints. 80 crunches, 70 legs raises, lat pulldowns, squats, rows, deadlifts, lunges, burpees, non-stop action.

I felt good throughout! Recently I’ve been pushing myself with the amount of weight I use. For my lat pulldowns I’m easily able to do a set of 20 at 55 pounds; if I want to push it, I go up to 65-70 pounds. This time I was able to do all three sets at 65 pounds. I’m not sure if that’s a testament to the FrogFuel, my strength improving, or at little bit of both. Let’s go with both! I repeatedly reminded myself that I was using a supplement created by Navy SEALS. They are superhumans! Therefore, so am I.

I finished up at 7:21, as seen by my lovely car clock. (TAPE? I’m not sure why it says that. Does anyone still have tapes? Apparently my car has a player if you want to sent me a mix tape.) Took another FrogFuel once I got home and before I got in to my much needed shower. FrogFuel can be taken before, during and after a workout and be beneficial. I’m a fan of benefits!

Cam:

I’m not good with routine. It’s kind of my nemesis. I try to stick to a good fitness regime but I tend to slack off right when I get a good stride. And summer is the best excuse to slack. Let it be known that I have not adequately stressed my muscles in three weeks. Unless walking from my beach towel to the shoreline counts. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t.

This week, however, I’m back in the swing. I FrogFueled on Tuesday before my Boxing/Boot Camp doubleheader. My classes are in the evening, so I had all day to prepare my body with good nutrition. I started off the day with juiced veggies and oatmeal. And it was all downhill from there. Movie theater popcorn and Sour Patch Kids for lunch was a bad decision. I knew this workout was going to be a beast. Luckily, I had a nifty little secret weapon in my purse!

FrogFuel literally saved my ass. I took the supplement about 15 minutes before beginning the first of two very strenuous workouts. It’s not tasty, but I’ve yet to find a supplement that satisfies my palate. I did like the consistency, though. Much lighter and easy to swallow. And I definitely felt energized, despite the poor food choices. After sixty minutes of jump rope/sprint/crunches circuits, shadow boxing and sparring, and three, 3 minute rounds on the bag, I was dripping with sweat and ready for the next class.

Boot Camp started out heavy. 10, one minute exercises, followed by one quarter-mile lap. Times three. By the second round of Super Burpees, I was definitely burping up my FrogFuel. I finished the session, but with great difficulty.

Given my poor food choices and lack of practice, I think FrogFuel came through in a pinch. I want to try it again, when I’m back in my stride. I liked how easy it was to drink due to its thin consistency and I found it comparable to other supplements I’ve taken in the past. Given the TWO Ragnars I have coming up, I may be switching out past favorites for the FrogFuel. Like I said, routine is my nemesis! I’m always in the mood for something new.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zS6iZBWxPMA]

What do you use to fuel before a grueling workout? Have you tried FrogFuel before? Talk to us in the comments!

Disclosure: We were given FrogFuel samples to try. All opinions are our own and we were not compensated for this post.

BOB’s Your Stroller

June 24, 2013 by writeitdownjess

Actually, BOB’s my stroller now. Or it will be once it makes its way from Chick Meri’s house in New Jersey to mine in California. What started as a conversation with me whining about the cost of jogging strollers and how much I wanted one but dude, expensive, turned into Meri shining up her much-loved but no-longer-used BOB Revolution jogging stroller.

That’s right, people, this beauty is about to become mine all mine for the cost of FREE (plus shipping).

Do you know how stoked I am about this stroller? I am designer-handbag-on-super-sale stoked! I can’t wait to get this bad boy in my greedy little hands and take it for its first spin on the West (Best?) Coast.

As I’ve blogged about ad nauseam, I’ve yet to really get back into the swing of running. Part of it is that I’m tired and out of shape and kind of lazy and someone is stealing all of the hours in my days. But the other part of it is that I’ve got a kiddo at home who I don’t get to see a ton during the week. And with our weekends often filled with laundry and errands and family and tummy time – his and mine – I just haven’t been able to fit running into the picture.

But now that I’ve got a jogging stroller, all of that is about to change. Because now I can take the kiddo with me. Now I can take Mister Jess with me! The couple who runs together actually runs, I’ve found. I know that I’m more motivated to get out there when I have someone poking me in the arm about it. Mister Jess is a great arm-poker.

All of this means I’m officially out of excuses. I have to run now. And I’m super excited about that (who am I?). In fact, I’m already planning some of our dates. We’ll go to Crissy Field:

Maybe run along the Embarcadero (stopping at Gotts Roadside for breakfast sandwiches, of course):

We’ll just generally explore the streets of San Francisco:

Er. Maybe not all the streets.

Regardless, I can’t wait for my new (to me) jogging stroller to get here. It’s had a great life in New Jersey and I hope it’ll have a great one here, too.

Hey, BOB? I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Any stroller aficionados out there want to give me tips on how to get started? I’d love advice, even if it’s just “Strap Bug in and GO, Jess!”

Mud-Covered Sheriffs? Don’t mind if I do!

June 13, 2013 by camoozle

Here it is, the real reason I like to run: Eye Candy! As the only single chick here, I’ll be the one to admit it, I’m an oogler. There’s no shame in my game, I’m just not intrinsically motivated! Sometimes I need a little push to get me going. And sometimes that push comes in the form of hotties in uniform. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department held the 9th annual 5k Mud Run at their training center in Devore, CA on May 18. The race benefits many charities in the Inland Empire and you bet your cute little dooter I was there to partake in the shenanigans.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pictures of my own as I didn’t have a picture taking device that would withstand the harsh conditions of the race. So I kindly borrowed all these pictures from the race site or local news coverage. There’s also this YouTube video I found! See the race through the eyes of a badass (who’s not me).

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3PUHs10U_c&w=560&h=315]

If you’re at all familiar with Southern California weather, we have this thing called “June Gloom”. Basically, it’s cold and overcast in the morning but it burns off by the end of the day. Even after living here all my life, I can’t dress properly during these days. It’s annoying, especially when it comes to racing as I tend to run hot. Race day started out pretty chilly. This race has been held early in previous years but due to weather, they moved it to later in the morning to allow for warmer conditions. I think this worked out perfectly. By the second half of the race, the mud pits were a cool relief to the heat.

And the mud pits, they were a plenty! I ran with my Ragnar buddies, Mike and Evalia. Mike had participated in this race in years past and while he warned me it was a challenge, I scoffed at his warning. Bah! I’ve done mud runs before! I can handle anything! I am strong woman, hear me roar! I grew up in the heart of San Bernardino County. I’m familiar with the weather and the terrain and the elevation. And it was only $30 bucks. Obviously race price indicates toughness, right? I can laugh at my ignorance now, but this Mud Run, ladies and gents, was a beast!

Chaos right from the start.

I should have taken a hint at the start line. Competitive runners were lined up in the front. Teams lined up behind them. And then there were us, the fun runners. Bulldozers and tractors crushed cars. Dump trucks poured loose, fresh mud onto the course and a helicopter swooped down to start the race. Colored smoke filled the air and for a minute, the course really did look like what I imagine a war zone would be. And then there was the explosion. Yep, an EXPLOSION started the race. Take that, starting pistols.

They lets us go in waves so when us fun runners got to the loose mud, there were little paths already carved out for us. The first mile of the race was heavy on the running and light on the mud pits. Oh, and then there was this hill.

Hill from Hell – It’s only just begun.

Mile 2 started to get pretty rough. There was a stretch of constant shallow mud pits, each preceded by mounds of dirt. The mud was loose and thick. Many times, I’d hit a soft spot and I’d sink. This was where Mike lost his shoes. HE LOST HIS SHOES and had to run the rest of the race barefoot.

The second monumental hill had ropes to help us scale. And a downpour of rushing mud under our feet. They had a hose at the top spraying down the dirt and what was left was a slide of muck puddling around our shoes. I’ve had bad experiences with scaling hills in previous mud runs and I’m not going to lie, I was a little bit freaking out. All I could think of was puking or falling and causing the line of people behind me to tumble down the hill. But I made it, slow and steadily climbing out of harms way.

There were harder pools with mud so thick, we had to crawl across vertically so as to distribute body weight evenly across the pit. Otherwise, you’d sink right down like quicksand, and it was energy zapping to try to get out of that. There were super long pits that stretched dozens of yards and I found myself swimming those instead of trying to wade through them. A few pits had tractors and cranes manned by evil volunteers who crashed the front arm into the pools of mud, splashing everyone in the pit. I was carefully navigating the terrain at this point, the obstacles backed up against each other made running damn near impossible. At one point, there was gunfire going off over our heads, a helicopter swooping over the course, and people hosing us down as we ran by. It was utter chaos and I was loving every minute of it!

I thought maybe the obstacles would ease up a bit in the last mile, like they couldn’t possibly go all the way until the end. That would be crazy, right? Nope. Still to come…another huge hill, a field of tires, a tunnel, and a pool filled with pipes we had to climb over and crawl under. When I crossed the finish, I was bruised, cut up, and weighed down by mud in my bra, shorts, and shoes. I rinsed off in the community shower and it was only then that I realized I hadn’t brought any extra clothes or even a towel. Face palm!

Nothing like a community shower.

This was one of the most challenging races I’ve done this year. It was a constant struggle from the start to finish and epitomized a Mud Run in every way possible. It was local and all for the low price of $30 bucks! I’ll definitely be adding this to my repertoire of repeater races. It might be time to invest in a water and mud proof camera!

Happy Running Day!

June 5, 2013 by beewhobabbles

Last Saturday night, I laced up my sneakers to go meet my friend, Sara, for a run. As I kissed the girls goodnight, my oldest daughter said, “You’ve been running all the time lately, Mama. Why are you always running?” I was already five minutes late, as I am always running five minutes late these days, so I gave her the short answer: “Because Mama is running a race in the fall, so she has to get ready for it.”

That’s a small part of it. The part that keeps me motivated to hit the treadmill at 7:30pm after a long day and a sleepless night, certainly. Side note- when people hear me say that little dude is a good baby, they automatically assume this means he is sleeping through the night. He is not.

Races are great at keeping you accountable. You have to respect the distance, as Chick Vic says, and that means logging those miles each week. But beyond that, why do I run?

I started running regularly because I like dessert and I like wine. Seriously. I’d run off and on since high school, and somewhat regularly after the birth of my first daughter (because the only time she would nap was in the jogging stroller), but once I stopped nursing my second and started gaining weight, I had to do something. I knew I enjoyed running, and you don’t have to join a gym, or buy any equipment*, or have any experience with it. You just lace up your sneakers and go. (*Note to my husband- I really need all that stuff from lululemon though.)

In Sonoma with my husband. We ran every day of that trip because I was training. (We also had dessert at every meal!)

Once I decided to tackle a half-marathon, running became something more for me. I loved watching my pace improve. I craved the solitude on a long run. I liked challenging myself to be better, faster, to run longer. It’s awesome to see what your body and mind are capable of when you train for a race. And crossing the finish line at my first half-marathon was exhilarating. It took less than 24 hours for me to sign up for a second.

Mile 13 of my current PR race.

Taking a break to have a baby was hard. I was riding high after my first under-two-hours half, and thinking that it would be the perfect time to train for a marathon, if I wanted to run that distance (something I’m still not sure I want to do). But, my husband and I had planned to try to expand our family at that time, and I knew that there would be other races (and hopefully more PRs).

It wasn’t easy watching others race while my belly grew and my fitness shrunk. Even now, it’s difficult to see my pace and mileage. I’m improving, but I’m nowhere close to where I was. (I know, I know, I had a baby. He brings me so much joy, every day. All of my kids do. I just have a lot of feelings.)

Super dad and husband takes the kids for a walk so I can scoot to the gym.

Still, I run. I’m lucky to have wonderful friends who also run. And a husband who will watch the kids so I can go to the gym. I can’t wait until we can put little dude in the baby jogger and all run together.

I have goals to reach. Sara and I talked last week about our training plans for this fall and while I don’t think I’ll be setting any personal records this year, there’s always next year. And the year after that. The great thing about running, is there’s always another race to run. And hopefully some cool people to run with you.

Racing with Sara in March 2012.

Today is National Running Day! Why do you run? If you aren’t a runner, today is a great day to start!

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