Wishlist Wednesday: Sogonapmit Marathon

I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about races.  Seriously, if I could race very weekend, I would. On Wednesdays, I post about races that I wish/hope/dream I will/could run in the future.  Whether or not I am physically capable of completing some of these races is a different story altogether!

Wishlist Wednesday: Sogonapmit Marathon

I had never heard of the Sogonapmit Marathon until last week.  But as soon as I learned about it, I knew I wanted to run it.  Why?  Because the Sogonapmit Marathon is not just a marathon.  Its a race.

Now, hold on, you may say.  Aren't all marathons races?  Well, yes.  But most people running a marathon are usually just competing against themselves: trying to hit a certain time, trying to PR, trying to qualify for Boston, or just trying to finish.  And while I recognize that competing against yourself is completely legit and totally bad-a**, here's what I like about the Sogonapmit Marathon: you aren't just competing against yourself.  You are also competing against 2,000 half-marathoners.  

Huh?

Ok, here's the race details: At the butt-crack of dawn (literally - the marathon starts at 3:20 AM), you take off and head towards the start of the half-marathon.  You have 2.5 hours to get there and head back before the gun goes off, and the half-marathoners hit the course.  You spend the next 13.1 miles trying to stay ahead of the fresh legs that were probably just waking up when you started your marathon.  

I don't know about you, but to me that sounds super fun.

Whats also super fun is that the first half of the race (the half where you are stumbling running in the dark) is all uphill.  Oh wait, thats not the fun part.  The fun part is that the second half of the race is ALL DOWNHILL.  Aka, super fast.

Course Map and Elevation

Technically, this race is the Timpanogos Half Marathon.  The Sogonapmit Marathon is just double that (duh), an added "challenge" for the crazies: start at the finish line of the half, run to the starting line, then head back to the finish.  Bonus: the bing is pretty cool too.

via RunItFast.com

The Sogonapmit Marathon and Timpanogos Half Marathon will be held on July 27, 2013 in American Fork, Utah.  Registration opens Thanksgiving Day.

  

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Wishlist Wednesday: San Francisco Marathon

I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about races.  Seriously, if I could race very weekend, I would. On Wednesdays, I post about races that I wish/hope/dream I will/could run in the future.  Whether or not I am physically capable of completing some of these races is a different story altogether!

Wishlist Wednesday: The San Francisco Marathon

I've run in San Francisco.  Once.  It was years ago.  I ran from Union Square, near where we were staying, up to Coit Tower and back.  I don't remember the mileage of that run--since I didn't consider myself a runner back then, just someone who ran occasionally--but I do remember really enjoying the streets, and hills, of San Francisco.

So I'm thinking that I should one day run the San Francisco Marathon.  Apparently the course takes you through Fisherman's Wharf, the Marina, Golden Gate Park, Haight Street, the Mission, and many other areas of beautiful San Francisco that I vaguely remember from my trip oh-so-long ago (there may or may not have been copious amounts of alcohol consumed on that trip).  Plus?  The course takes you out and back across the Golden Gate Bridge.  How awesome is that?

SFM Course Map

Not from the SF marathon, but an awesome picture nonetheless
(src)

From what I've read though, the San Francisco Marathon is not for the weak of heart.  Or legs.  Or for those with vertigo.  San Francisco is famous for its hills.  And thus, it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway), the San Francisco marathon is a crazy hilly course.  Crazy hilly.  Did I mention there would be hills?

SFM  Elevation Chart

The 2012 race was this past weekend, and Devon Crosby-Helms won the women's event.  Her race recap is here.  And here's a hilarious race recap from 2011.  The 2013 race will be held in June due to the fact that America's Cup will be in San Francisco next year.  My birthday is in June next year (its in June every year).  Hmmmm.....

Have you ever run the San Francisco Marathon?  Is it worth the pain? :)







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Hot Mama Half Marathon

This morning I ran the Hot Mama Half Marathon, which was a virtual half-marathon hosted by Moms Run This Town (MRTT). A virtual race is great because it allows participants to run a course of their choosing, and I chose to run my half-marathon through our nation's capital.

My route, minus a mile since Dailymile
doesn't acknowledge shortcuts. :-/

It was a beautiful, but hot, morning.  I started in Georgetown (where I knew I would find parking).

Georgetown.
Specifically, Georgetown Cupcake

After spending 20 minutes searching for a bathroom, I finally started my run around 7:30.

Crossing the Key Bridge, heading into Virginia

Did a quick loop around Roosevelt Island

Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial
from across the Potomac

I ran up to the 14th St. Bridge, where I crossed back in DC and began my "Memorial Miles":

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Washington Monument
(from the Jefferson Memorial, I think)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Tidal Basin (not a memorial but very pretty)

FDR Memorial

Eleanor Roosevelt @FDR Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

At the Lincoln Memorial, I tripped and almost landed flat on my face in front of all the tourists.  Luckily, my handheld saved me, and I managed to stay on my feet and keep on running.  Although I'm sure my face-plant would have made for some interesting vacation photos.

I continued up to the Capitol Building, where I turned around and began to head back.

The Capitol

Washington Monument from The Mall

I crossed back into Virginia via the Arlington Memorial Bridge, but I didn't get a picture because I was tired of fishing my iphone out of my waistpack.  Also, because I was just plain tired.

It was a hot run.  I tried to refill my handheld at the various water fountains along the "course" but none of them had enough power to actually get a decent arc of water going so I could position my handheld underneath.  In the end, I wound up purchasing a bottle of water from a vendor for $2.35!  That kinda hurt.

I hit 13.1 miles just as I crossed into Virginia, so I finished my half-marathon in 2:05:38.  My training plan had me running 14 miles today, though, so I kept going for another mile.  The devil and the angel on my shoulders were debating whether or not I should run 15 miles.  I'm not sure who was arguing for what, but my legs did their own thing and stopped running at exactly 14 miles.  I had another .5 mile to go before I was back in Georgetown though, so I did a mix of run/walking until I got back to my car.

As soon as I unlocked my car, I tore upon the envelope that I received from MRTT.  Inside was the finisher's medal and a little Hot Mama decal.  Woot!!

Hot Mama Medal

Hot Mama  Decal

This was a super fun race.  1) Because I won. (hehe -- its the only time I'll ever win a race, I'm sure :), 2) because I got to choose the course and run where I wanted to run and 3) because for $11, I got a little bit of bling and a little bit of swag!

If you've never done a virtual race, I highly recommend it.  So fun!  Thanks MRTT, for hosting such a cool (or hot :) event.  I'm ready for the next one! :)

Wishlist Wednesday: Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Runs

I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about races.  Seriously, if I could race very weekend, I would. On Wednesdays, I post about races that I wish/hope/dream I will/could run in the future.  Whether or not I am physically capable of completing some of these races is a different story altogether!

Wishlist Wednesday: Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Runs 50K / 50M / 100M

I've never been to Lake Tahoe.  In fact, I've never really wanted to go...until I saw the pictures for this race:

Photo by Jason Chan

Photo by Jason Chan

Photo by Jason Chan

Photo by Jason Chan

Stunning.  Breathtaking.  Sign. Me. Up.

Except...*gulp*...this is not an easy race.  Those beautiful mountains?  Killer.  From the race website:

This Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Runs take place on high elevation alpine and sub-alpine forest trails and dirt roads in the Carson Spur of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The event is located on the northeast side of Lake Tahoe. All distances begin and end at the Spooner Lake State Park, which is at 7,000 feet. The highest point of the event is just below the 9,214 foot Snow Valley Peak (which also provides one of the best views on the course). The low point on both courses is at the bottom of the now "infamous" Red House Loop (A Taste of Hell) at approximately 6800 feet. 

The motto of this race is "A Glimpse of Heaven, A Taste of Hell."  Holy smokes, I like that.

The TRT Endurance Runs include a 50K, 50M, and a 100M, so your elevation gain differs between each event.  Nonetheless, it sounds like those mountains are brutal, regardless of the distance.

Still, I think the views are worth it.  The TRT is now officially on my bucket list.

I have to thank Megan over at Running Aimlessly for bringing this race to my attention.  She just ran the 50-miler this past weekend, and ROCKED IT.  This is her second 50 mile event, and she's run five marathons and five 50Ks.  You guys should go check her out.  She's totally bad-a**.


What races are you excited for?


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Recruiting

Runners love to run.  Runners love to talk about running.  Runners love to convert recruit non-runners to their religion obsession.

I am a runner who is guilty of all the above.  So I was super excited to run the Rockville Twilight 8K with two friends - one who runs occasionally, and one who does not run at all.  This was their first race.  I was really excited for the both of them...and for me because I just love races!

Thankfully the weather was cool and we were spared the suffocating heat and humidity thats been enveloping our area recently.  The race was festive and well-attended despite the rain (drizzle) that had been coming down all day.

Waiting for the race to begin

The strategy would be a mix of running and walking, which I really advocate for those just getting into running.  The goal was to finish the race injury-free...and we rocked it.  

We ran the first mile and decided to walk through the first aid station (I also advocate new runners walk through aid stations so you can maximize water intake and rest just a tad; I did during the Marine Corps Half that I ran earlier this year, and PR'd).  This course was surprisingly hilly, and we ran/walked the next 3 miles over a few rolling hills.

It got dark pretty early in the race, so we were running through the dark streets of Rockville for most of the event.  Residents came out to cheer us on, which was awesome, though one young boy felt he needed to be brutally honest with us and yelled, "Why are you walking?!" to which my friend replied, "Because I'm a failure!"  We got a good laugh out of that.  You'll understand in 30 years, kid.  

The volunteers were also great, some of the most encouraging volunteers I've encountered.  

Just before the 4 mile mark, there was a live rock band playing and the lead singer sounded...well...young.  And he was!  I think all members are under the age of 15.  The band is called Throwing Wrenches and they were quite awesome.


As we passed the 4 mile mark, we decided to just run the last mile of the race.  We passed a ton of people and finished strong at 1:09.  The ladies did AWESOME.

We got our beer and hung out curbside talking about what podcasts and television.  And Burning Love (have you seen this?  YOU NEED TO.  So funny).  But the best part of the night?  Talking about running another race.  Oh yes.  I'll keep you posted as to what we decide.  Here's to hoping the addiction has started. :)

This weekend I also found out that my once-in-a-while-I-run-on-the-treadmill-running sister ran TWO MILES outdoors last week!  I am so proud of her.  She said she took it slow, listened to her body, walked when she needed to and stretched when she felt her body needed it.  I hope the addiction takes a hold of her too.  The thing is, she lives in Hawaii, so she really has no excuse not to run, right?  I mean, this is her playground:

(src)

(Hehe.  I just outed you on my blog.  Now you HAVE to run. :)

Seriously, though.  So proud of her.  One of these days we're gonna race together.

Do you try to inspire others to run?  Do you recruit friends to run with you?




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Falling in Love with Running

"How did you fall in love with running?" my sister asked me recently.  She's an infrequent runner, mostly on the treadmill, she says, because she needs the gym TVs to keep her mind occupied, she says, otherwise she gets soooooo bored (italics her implication, not mine).  "At what point did running go from being a chore and a bore to being actual fun?" she asked (bad alliteration, all mine).

I get the "when did you start running?" question a lot, but the "how did you fall in love with running?" was a new one for me.  Learning to love to run has been a gradual process for me.  I didn't just wake up one day and declare, "I LOVE to run!"  Its been slow, and taken a number of years to get to the point that I am at now - that is, totally and completely in love with running (I know theres an awesome metaphor in here somewhere, but its too early in the morning and my brain is still in bed).  Here are a few things that got me off the couch and kept me motivated in those earli(-er) years:

Race!  What really got DJ Research and I out the door was training for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K.  On a whim, I signed us up and so we got our butts off the couch and feet on the road so we wouldn't be complete pansies at the race.  Race atmosphere is SO FUN - exciting, exhilarating, contagious, addictive.  It will make you want to run another race.

Talk & run.  I remember it being such a revelation when I learned that as a newbie runner, I should be running at a conversational pace - a pace at which you can carry on a conversation.  I didn't have to try to be speed demon and wind myself before I reached a mile.  I could just run slow and easy...AND catch up on all the latest gossip with my running buddy!  Sadly, DJ Research is not much of a talker when running, so it was basically me talking to My Self.  But Self is a good listener, so it was cool.

Slowly increase mileage.  When I first started running, I ran 2-3 miles at a time.  Then I upped it to 3-6 miles.  Then I ran 13.1 miles without training and almost died (DJ Research and I did an unofficial half-marathon for some ungodly reason).  I dropped my mileage back down to 3-4 miles, and I stayed at that mileage for a LONG time (think over a year).  It wasn't until I felt strong enough--mentally and physically--to run 3-4 miles that I decided it was time to up the ante and I began to train for a half-marathon.  My point is, I didn't push myself to do what I didn't want to do.  Mentally, I wanted to stay at 3-4 miles.  So I gave myself the break to do just that.

Have a running buddy.  Frankly, this point is key.  Having someone to push you, encourage you and just keep you accountable helps tremendously with running consistently and reaching your goals.  I was lucky in that my running buddy was my husband.  DJ Research was really the one that carried the running torch, and I just sorta ran alongside him, frequently sometimes grumbling that we weren't back in our apartment watching TV.  He pushed me gently to keep up, and because he was so into it, I was also kinda-sorta into it.  But his persistence as a runner, and as my coach and cheerleader, paid off and eventually I was just as running-obsessed as he was.

If you don't have a running buddy, I suggest joining a local running club and getting to know running enthusiasts in your area.  Runners LOVE to talk about running, and LOVE to encourage new runners to join their religion sport, so chances are you will meet a lot of great, inspiring people who will help you meet your goals.  If you don't have a running club in your area, there are lots of running forums online where runners hang out...virtually.  One that comes to mind is Another Mother Runner, an online running resource for moms but is also helpful for women in general.

These are just a few things that helped me get out and run.  Any other tips out there?

How did you fall in love with running?



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Whatever Works

I am a runner that hates fitness.  You know, stuff like sit-ups, push-ups, burpees, squats, plank, etc., etc., etc.  Core work.  Ugh.  Stuff I should be doing on my cross-training days, of which I have 3 per week throughout my marathon training.  Since I am 6 weeks into my training plan, by now I should have done 18 days of core work.  In full disclosure, I've only done one.

Sundays are a cross training day.  Today started like any other lazy Sunday.  DJ Research was already an hour-and-a-half into his run when I finally rolled out of bed.  Luckily, Nugget was still asleep.  I made breakfast and caught up on my blogs, then Nugget awoke and we hung out watching fire truck videos.  The DJ returned, showered, and we headed out for some family errands.

When we got back to put Nugget down for his nap, I was supposed to do a core work routine.  Which I didn't want to do, of course, so I told myself to just go out for a short run.  Which I also didn't want to do, so I took a nap instead.

Forty-five minutes later I woke up famished, and headed downstairs for a bite, upset at myself for having missed my chance to workout.  I figured Nugget would be up soon, and plus I had a skype date with my mom and my sister in an hour.  Oh well.  I devoured a slice of the DJ's leftover cheese pizza and something weird happened.  I suddenly felt like a million bucks!

I threw on my running clothes and headed out the door, excited to be out but also feeling a little guilty that I was running rather than cross training. "Heeeeeeey," I thought, "I know a way to make this core work thing fun!"  I would do core work on the run!

I ran down the street and tackled a nearby big hill, focusing on form and my breathing.  Cresting the hill, I kept my pace up until I got to the neighborhood elementary school where I jumped the fence (ok, no, I just ran through the gate) to the playground, and did 5 push-ups (yes, 5! I am that bad-ass :-/ ), 45 squats, 1/2 a pull-up (c'mon, at least I attempted it), 25 leg lifts, and a 1:00 minute plank.

I then got back on the street and ran the mile loop again, tackling the big hill, keeping my pace up as I ran to the elementary school, then cranking out another set of core work.  I did this loop four times, and got home 20 minutes late for my "date."  Luckily, my mom and sister are super understanding of my crazy.

This is an unconventional way of doing core work for me, but let me tell you, it was awesome.  I was soaked by the time I got home.  The core exercises really made running difficult because I could feel how tired my core muscles were and I was focusing really hard to maintain my form.  I loved that I could see immediately how these exercises were directly impacting my running.  Plus, trying to improve my running time on each loop made me feel like I was in a relay.  With myself.

Hey, whatever works.

Do you look for creative ways to cross-train?

RAR!