Race Report: Carolina Marathon

Well, I did it.

10 Marathons. 10 States.

I can officially apply for the 50 States Marathon Club.

like woah.

It went off without a hitch. Everyone slept the night before. No one got sick. The weather was PERFECT.

The course starts in downtown Greenville, S.C. and winds its way into Cleveland Park and the Swamp Rabbit Trail. This trail, also known as the SRT, is one of the coolest things about Greenville. It is a paved path that travels all over the city. It is popular with runners, walkers, and cyclists. It is free from traffic and in most cases surrounded by trees, leaving you with this wonderful "I love nature!" feeling.

The majority of the race is run on this trail so course support was minimal. However, the volunteers and the supporters that were out there were very encouraging. There were adequate water stops but definitely lacking in the porta potty department. There was one bathroom on the beautiful campus at Furman University. It was clean, and there were no lines so that was a win.

My running partner and I chatted, enjoyed our surroundings, and marveled about how good we felt. Then, of course, my body decided that it was no longer a fan of this let's run two marathons in 1 month thing, and decided to rebel. I developed this knot in my right shoulder that made it hard to turn my head. Then the muscle in my right thigh that I strained during my last marathon decided it had had enough. Annoyingly enough, its a muscle that's part of the let's help your leg lift and move you forward team. I wasn't going to quit. Or give in. So I just kept moving. I had to keep moving.

Crossing that finish line was like that last bite of the most perfect piece of chocolate cake. It was fullfilling. Satisfying. but I'm done. Well, at least until January when I run the Mississippi Blues Marathon. But then after that I'm taking a break from full marathons. I think I might chase after a half marathon PR :)

previous post: podcast drama

podcast drama

I have a new obsession.

podcasts.

I know I'm a few years late to the party but I'm ALL in. 

It started this summer when, overwhelmed by things out of my control, I started walking. Around the block, around the neighborhood, with the kids, and by myself. Getting outside; physically and metaphorically moving away from my anxiety was HUGE for me. Listening to someone yammer in my ears about inane things was HUGE for me.

Right now, I have 7 podcasts I'm hanging out with. I'm pretty fond of most of them.

but here's my issue.

The running community is GINORMOUS. Everybody and their mom runs. Where are the running podcasts?

To be fair, I've only listened to three, with another one recently subscribed to, but so far I'm unimpressed. 

I feel like they are a little preachy and elitist. Here's what you should you do to be awesome. and fast. This person is barely running at all, only 40-50 miles a week (I actually deleted that particular episode when I heard that - I just couldn't deal). This person runs an a 50k, breaks a rib, and then a few weeks later attempts a 100 miler (HA! HA! This is all very normal. Nothing to see here). 

I tend to feel deflated after listening to these podcasts. At times, I have even snorted out loud in disbelief. These are not my people. Or at least, I don't feel like they're my people. I am an average runner, not an elite. My runs, in general, are slower then I would like and there is a definite ebb and flow that controls my running, whether I like it or not. I'm left feeling like the 20-30 miles I put in every week mean nothing.  

I would love to hear stories about everyday runners, the runners I interact with on Twitter and Facebook. Men and women who run to find themselves. Who run to beat cancer. Who run for those who can't. The runners who run because they need to. These are my people. 

So, because I'm aware that I need to get over myself, I'm trying to hold on. To give these podcasts a chance because I could probably learn something.

I can't promise you I'm going to stop rolling my eyes though.

previous post: post marathon update   

post marathon update

This morning I ran for the first time since the hills decimated my thighs during Sunday's marathon.

I'm terrible about post race recovery. No ice baths. I take the hottest shower I can stand. I eat what I want and never drink enough fluids. I did wear my compression socks for the rest of the day though so I'm not a complete and total failure.

This time around recovery was a little slower then normal. Monday was rough. Everything was sore and my inner right thigh actually hurt. I was in this weird fog all day. Tuesday was a little better and I survived a walking field trip to the Post Office with my daughter's preK class. Yesterday, we had a dire laundry situation happening so I forced to conquer the basement stairs. I managed to do it without saying "ouch. ouch. ouch" the whole time.

Success.

The first run after a race, especially a marathon, is always a little nerve-wracking. There have been times where I've avoided it like the plague and other times where I can't wait to get back out there. Fortunately, this morning it was the latter.

It was great to be out there with my running partner, shaking out my muscles and moving towards the starting line of the Greenville Marathon, which is in 16 days.

Just writing that makes me laugh.

When I sign up for these races there's this moment of insanity where I think "I CAN DO ANYTHING! HA! HA! HA!". This time around was no different. 2 marathons in 20 days? huh. Sure. Why not?

Despite the exhausting proposition of running another marathon in so few days, I am REALLY excited about Greenville. I'm running it with my running partner who always makes long runs seem easy and Greenville is one of my most favorite cities. As long as the weather is nice it should be an awesome day and if not, well, there's a Starbucks right around the corner from the finish line to make everything better.

previous post: Race Report: Appalachian Series - West Virginia

Race Report: Appalachian Series - West Virginia

9 marathons. 9 states.

I have run 9 marathons in 9 different states.

Ohio. North Carolina. New York. Virginia. Tennessee. Alabama. Georgia. Pennsylvania. West Virginia.

I am one state away from joining the 50 States Marathon Club. 1 STATE!

But before I go on and on about how excited I am that this HUGE goal is almost within reach, let's talk about this crazy West Virginia race I just ran.

#1 most important fact: IT WAS HILLY.

3 hills. 6 hills per loop. 12 loops.

At mile 21, those hills became mountains. I did something I have NEVER done in a race. I walked the hills.

but I finished. All those hills. All 12 loops. All 26.2 miles.

The particulars: this race is part of a 7 day series, the Appalachian series, hosted by Mainly Marathons. There was a HUGE 50 State, Fanatics, and Maniacs presence at this race, which makes perfect sense considering you can act like a fanatic or a maniac and run a half or marathon everyday for seven days.  

The course went through a park that had beautiful views of trees with leaves that actually change color! The sun was shining but it was still cool and crisp. Pretty much a perfect day. The volunteers were amazing, super supportive and encouraging. My fellows runners were excited, encouraging, and kind. They made the hills bearable.

The cool thing about running a loop is that you become so obsessed with what number loop you're on you forget all about the miles. The first 6 loops flew by. Loops 7-10 were a little rough and the last 2 were all like "YEA! I'm almost done!"  

The medal is pretty freaking awesome.

modeled by my adorable son

It has clips so that you can add more states as you complete the series. So cool. I may or may not have had a brief moment where I was all like "oooo! I want to add more states!" but then I came to my senses.

As I get deeper and deeper into this 50 State quest, I will definitely consider running another Mainly Marathons series. Though small, it is a great way to get the mileage and states you need while  surrounded by wonderful and dedicated people.

previous post: burnt like toast

burnt like toast

I've been quiet.

I've probably written about 20 posts in my head, while running, while in the shower, or picking up my kids from school. Somehow, by the end of the day, when I finally have time to think - I'm exhausted.

Running has been exhausting.

Over the last few weeks, the only thing getting me out of the bed at 5 a.m. to run has been my running partner.

I'm burnt like those little crumbs that collect in the bottom of the toaster.

I'm 4 days away from my 4th marathon in less then a year and my 9th marathon overall.  

I don't feel as prepared as I normally do. My 19 miler, which was supposed to be 20, was hard. It was long and I felt every step during the last few miles. It left me feeling worried and concerned that this upcoming race is not going to go well.

This race is a loop race and my introverted self is worried about running with the same strangers over and over and over again. Faced with new situations, I tend to come across as stuck up when I'm really just a nervous wreck. Add to the mix, staying with my children the night before in a hotel room where historically NO ONE sleeps well. Oh and did I mention that my youngest son has a cold? Boogers. Sneezing. Crying at night because he can't breathe through his noise and suck on his beloved binky at the same time. All of this is a recipe for disaster.

But you know what? I refuse to accept this reality.

I'm in denial people! AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

So what if I'm going to drag my family to West Virginia to run a marathon and then turn around and come right home?

So what if I feel like I'm coming down with this cold that is currently plaguing my son?

So what if I have to smile and chat with people I don't know while trying to make it through mile after mile of the same terrain?

Whatever.

It's going to be great because I've decided that that's the way its going to be. Take that universe!

Book Review: Second Street Station

I've been on a bit of a book kick recently.

I've been tearing through titles, reading a book about every 2-3 days.

Some have been good, some have been eh. One was so compelling that even though I didn't want to read it, I couldn't stop myself. 

Then there is Second Street Station by Lawrence H. Levy. 

It wasn't great but it wasn't terrible either. Mary Handley is our heroine. She is spunky, sassy, and determined to make her own way in the world. Which would be awesome if it wasn't 1888, a time when women were expected to have children, say little, and think even less.

Mary is a sweatshop worker in Manhattan who has a unquenchable thirst for solving mysteries. She is quick-witted and intelligent, but often gets herself into trouble. Through a series of events, Mary lands herself a job as an independent detective on a highly publicized murder case.

On its own, I think the plot is great, The premise of the story, with Mary as the main character, is wonderful. However, Levy uses historically famous characters that dampen the story, and make it seem fantastically impossible. It is quite a stretch for me to believe that a 1st generation Irish American sweatshop worker goes from nothing to rubbing elbows with Thomas Edison, Nikola Telsa, and JP Morgan. It's very Forest Gumpish - I'm not a fan.

I believe that this first book is one in a series and I would be interested in reading another Mary Handley mystery - to see where Levy can take her and whether he can do justice to this fabulous woman he has created.

Disclaimer: though I received this book for free through the program, Blogging for Books, all opinions and views expressed are my own.  

Book Review: The Little Paris Bookshop

My husband and I went to Paris to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary. It was a trip I had always wanted to take and it was as magical and amazing as I imagined it would be. We ate amazing food. Sat by the Seine. Saw priceless art. Walked on streets that could tell a tale or two. Paris' rich history just bubbles up from it's cobblestones.

Since then, I never pass on a chance to read a book about Paris or one that is set in Paris. When The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George became one of the available titles for me to read and review as part of the Blogging for Books program, I knew I had to have it.

Monsieur Perdu owns and operates a floating bookstore, semi-permanently moored on the Seine. He fancies himself a literary apothecary, dispensing novels to heal people's souls. He, himself, leads a quiet life, possessively protecting a broken heart and lost love. Through a series of interesting events, Perdu finds himself captaining his floating bookstore to the South of France in search of a woman whose name he has not allowed himself to say for twenty years. Joined by a young author who has lost his muse, an exuberant Italian, and a lovely but not quite sane woman, Perdu lets go of the past and allows himself to heal.

Although drawn out in a few places, overall, I thought this was a well-written and enjoyable novel. George's descriptions of Paris are spot on - there were moments I could close my eyes and feel like I was again enjoying a fresh croissant. Perdu's foray into Southern France made me want to pack my bags that very instant and hop on a plane. 

The characters are lovable and endearing. I am fascinated by French apartments and their inhabitants. George does a wonderful job of painting a clear picture of Perdu's neighbors, so much so that I want to live with these people. I want to gossip with them on the stairs and endure their endless questions and misguided goodwill. Oh, to be harassed by a French concierge!

The implausibility of just up and driving a very large barge down the Seine, despite it not having moved in over twenty years, irked me at first. Taking a trip on a whim! With no money! Not telling anyone you're leaving! It's all very crazy and oh so very french. 

I'm passing this book along to a friend who has just read a series of stressful and anxiety provoking novels. This is just the book she needs to soothe her soul.  

Disclaimer: while I received this book for free in return for a review, all opinions and views expressed are solely mine. 

previous post: I forgot to eat lunch today