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Naples Half Marathon Race Recap

24 Jan 20130124-191908.jpg

A little over a week ago, we were in Florida getting ready to run the Naples Half Marathon. It was about 65 degrees, 100% humidity, and sunny. At home in Chicago now, it’s about 25 degrees and snow is falling. What a difference a week makes.

Our Naples Runcation was a success! We arrived on Saturday morning, got picked up by our gracious hostess with the mostest, Holly, then headed to pick up our race packets at Naples of the Run. We then settled into our fantastic hotel, The Cove Inn, and went for a little shakeout run to get ready for the big day.

Brandi | finish time: 1:49:32 (8:24 pace)
Race morning, I didn’t feel great. Turns out I can drink wine with dinner the night before a race; craft beer, on the other hand, does not agree with me. Cardinal rule of running: Don’t try anything new or different! Oh well. We got dressed and jogged over to the starting line. The Star Spangled Banner was one of the best renditions I’ve heard live. It was an a cappella group – I thought it was a recording! Halfway through the song, the speakers went out. Without missing a beat, all of the runners raised their voices and finished the song. It was so moving, I had tears in my eyes! It may have been a gimmick to pump us up, and if it was, it worked! It was an amazing way to start the race.

Now I’m not super religious, but about halfway through the race, we passed a large church. Outside, there was a reverend sprinkling holy water on racers and encouraging them to ‘keep up the great work’. I really needed that inspiration at that very moment, and I appreciate that it wasn’t overly preachy.

Mid-race inspiration

Lara | finish time: 1:41:30 (7:41 pace)
I’m not sure who I was kidding, but I was not expecting it to be so humid in Naples! I also remember the reverend sprinkling holy water and thinking, “Man, I really need this right now.” After going out in a 6:48 first mile and 7:00 second mile, I immediately knew there was no way I was going to be able to sustain anything close to that pace with the humidity. I abandoned my sub-1:34 goal by mile 3 and honestly just hoped I could finish. My legs felt like jello and I was gasping for air and I still had 10 miles to go. Yikes.

Well, I DID finish and managed to run my second fastest half marathon time! I’ve only run 3 half marathons so you could technically say it was my second slowest, but I’m choosing to focus on the positive instead =) I got fourth in my age group, mostly because Naples seems to be more competitive amongst more, uh… seasoned athletes (they had awards for masters, grand masters AND senior grand masters winners). Even though I didn’t run the time I had hoped for, I can’t complain: the race motivated me to get ready for my next half (March 16!), and I spent the afternoon on the beach in the middle of January. I love Florida!

Amanda | finish time: 2:28:42 (11:25 pace)
I loved Naples, and the race organization was great, but this was the worst half marathon I have ever experienced! The warmer weather meant I was sweating before we even started, while all the Floridians stood coolly around me at the start line. The humidity was killer. By mile 3, I remember thinking, “Oh my gosh, this is going to be a real challenge, physically and mentally!” I took in as much Gatorade and water as I could, and there were plenty of stops along the race course, but my body was just not used to the weather. By mile 9, I really wasn’t sure I would make it to the end. I was getting dizzy, felt simply out of it, and realized I had barely taken in the scenery around me or enjoyed the run.

Those last 4 miles were a bit of a blur. A sloooow blur. I started feeling really dizzy, so I stopped once or twice every mile to walk; except then I would realize that walking felt worse because I could feel how truly awful I felt. It was just a countdown of miles and time in my mind, trying to find people ahead of me to stay pace with so I could just FINISH. And finally, finally…I crossed the line. It may not be a PR, but I am pretty sure any race I ever run will never feel as hard as that…so the toughest part is over! That’s a positive, right?

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2012 Review & S-NO-W Fun Run Recap

13 Jan

Welcome to 2013! I haven’t made any resolutions yet, but I have taken a little time to reflect on 2012.

RunSistersRun.com 2012 Review

I’ve been planning to post our blog’s 2012 stats – I love numbers! Luckily, WordPress.com prepared a 2012 annual report for Run Sisters Run. Here’s an excerpt:

This blog got about 8,400 views with 59 new posts in 2012, not bad for the first year! There were 186 pictures uploaded. That’s about 4 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was January 27th with626 views. The most popular post that day was Conquering the Lululemon Warehouse Sale.

2012 Running Recap with Nike+

If you haven’t noticed, I love Nike+. I was never great at logging my runs in a notebook, so having an app that does the work for me is ideal! After running with Nike+ for the last few years, it’s awesome to be able to compare past performance with this year’s performance. This year, I logged 853 miles! In 2011, I did about 400, and a little over 100 in 2010. It’s a great increase, and I can’t believe how much more I’ve run this year. I also set a 2012 resolution to run my first marathon. I actually ran 2, and even got my second one in under 4 hours. :) If you’ve got a Nike+ account, you can add me here.

2013 Run Recap

S-NO-W Fun Run 2013

The S-NO-W Fun Run is… crazy… in a good way! It’s a 5 mile race run at 2:30 pm, with an after party held at the former Playboy Mansion in Lake Geneva, WI. Given the race location, you get quite a few people dressing up like bunnies or Hugh Hefner, so there’s a lot of entertainment during the race. It’s an out and back course, with a big hill at the end and an add-on area where you don’t see the finish until about 400 meters out. Luckily, I knew what to expect this time!

I ran the race last year in 41:13 (8:12 pace). I’m training for a half marathon, and with the holidays, I wasn’t quite sure where I was at and how I’d do in a 5 mile race. I was hoping to break 40, but I had no idea if it was actually possible.

My goal was to keep an 8:00 pace. I went out fast the first mile: 7:23; faster than my 5K pace, but it was downhill, so I figured I was OK. I slowed down miles 2-4, but still ran under my goal pace: 7:50-7:57. The last mile goes back up that first hill. I’ll admit it… I stopped to walk at the top of the hill to catch my breath. I figured I had banked some time so I’d still get under my goal time. I ran a 7:54 and came in at 39:21 – 7:52 pace!

I was happy with the race, but the post-race party is what it’s all about. If you live in Southeast WI or Northeast IL, you should definitely make this race a weekend trip. The race gives awards for each age, Lake Geneva is awesome, and there are plenty or beers, brats, and dancing to go around.

I had a great start to 2013 – how about you? Do you have any resolutions?

December Running Inspiration: #InspiredFit 201.2

3 Dec Running Inspiration

We all know what’s coming in January: new health resolutions, too many people in the gym in their brand-new workout gear, and working off all those holiday indulgences. So why not end 2012 with a goal instead?

After my run yesterday morning, I realized I was starting the month with a solid run. Last week, we signed up for a January half marathon sister runcation (more on that later), and I’ve been trying to get my butt in gear for training. I have two more weeks of grad school, then the holidays, and imminent cold weather… I wasn’t sure how I was going to dig out the motivation.

Lucky for me, Sarah Stanley (aka my running buddy from my first marathon) tweeted me about a December Fitness Challenge: 201.2 miles via running, walking, biking, elliptical, or swimming. Basically, it’s 6.5 miles or a little over an hour of working out per day. Now, when I first read it, I thought, YEAH RIGHT! No way I can run 45 miles/week. But then, I thought about it: if I cross-train more, then I can definitely do this. PLUS it makes me work out almost every day. :)

So here I am, taking the #InspiredFit challenge. Care to join me?  Check out the details here, then join the conversation on Twitter for more motivation. Use the hashtag #InspiredFit. My Twitter handle is @brandiheinz. Good luck!

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7 Steps to Recover from a Marathon

23 Oct

“Proof” I finished:)

A little over two weeks ago, I ran the Chicago Marathon. I got the time I wanted, felt great, and couldn’t have asked for a better race. Where do I go from here?

No matter how excited (or disappointed) you are with your marathon performance, your body needs some recovery time. I did some research and read Hal Higdon’s marathon book (that I had autographed at the expo ;) ). Here’s how I’ve been recovering:

  1. Celebrate. The day of the marathon, sure, that’s obvious. But don’t stop there! I even wore my medal to work one day. :) We also had a post-marathon party, where our running club/training program got together to eat, drink, and share stories. Celebrating your own race is great, but it’s so much more fun to celebrate everyone else’s races, too!
  2. Indulge. I have been eating. And drinking. A lot. After waking up early every weekend for the past 4 months, eating healthy so I’d have energy for my run, and staying hydrated, it’s time to let loose! I’m definitely more of a ‘run to eat’ than ‘eat to run’ type of gal, so I’m enjoying having a glass of beer or wine at night, having a late Saturday or Sunday night out, and making less than nutritious lunch decisions. If food isn’t the way you indulge, then find other ways to reward yourself for a great effort!
  3. Rest. I took about 10 days off from running. The research I did varies, and I think it depends on how long you’ve been running and how much experience you have. However, your body is recovering from the damage you caused it during the marathon, so rest is essential! And, if you don’t rest now, you’re body will break down in the future.
  4. Cross-train. If #1 is tough for you, find a different way to get your workout in. For me, I’m trying out Yoga. I took a sculpt/weights class on Sunday, and a Ryder class this morning. I am SORE in places I didn’t know I could be sore. am definitely no yogi or biker, but I’m trying something new to work out different areas of my body and incorporate some variety in my life. I can honestly say the Ruder class this morning made me reply appreciate why I’m a runner. :)
  5. Try out your legs. Eventually, you need to get out there and see how your legs feel. My first run was last Wednesday. I ran 3 at a pretty good pace, but my legs felt lethargic and I had a few tweaks in the ankles and hips. Saturday, I ran 4 at a slightly slower pace, but felt pretty great. I’m still not jumping right back into it, but I am planning on running shorter distances (3-5 miles) 2x/week, and I’m going to try to start my weekend long runs this weekend with 6.
  6. Listen to your body. Do all the research and reading you want about what the ‘best’ recovery method is. When it comes down to it, you need to listen to your body. Joints still feeling sore? Take a few more days off or cross-train. Muscles screaming? Stop. You’re going to feel tired and lethargic; your body is still repairing your muscles. After my last marathon, I took off 3 weeks. I also tried to run after 10 days, and my legs immediately hurt. See #3! But if you feel pain, stop. It’s better to rest now than pay for it later.
  7. Plan your next race. What’s your next goal? Start planning for it. I’m planning to do some of the fun Fall/holiday races, but I haven’t signed up for a specific race yet. My goal is to do a 5K the last week of October/first week of November, then look for additional 5Ks and 10ks throughout the rest of November and December. Amanda, Lara and I will be planning our next ‘runcation’ half marathon for January/February (we went to Austin last year); once we determine the race, then I’ll start a more formal training program.

I’m no expert, but this approach seems to be working for me. Any other suggestions? How are you recovering from your fall marathon?

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Chicago Marathon Results and Race Recap

8 Oct 20121008-121642.jpg

First of all, I DID IT! I conquered my second marathon. In fact, I owned it: PR’d, no walking, ran sub-four with a 3:58:36, and I felt pretty great during and afterwards! All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better run. Now for my super-long-winded Chicago Marathon recap. :)

After eating frequently on Saturday, staying hydrated, and going to bed way early, I woke up on Sunday feeling rested and ready. I downed a glass of water, then left my place around 5am. I took public transportation to the Hilton, where my running club had a banquet room we could hang out in until the race started. I ate a banana on the El, and 1/2 a Power Bar and 1/2 a Vitamin Water about 30 minutes before the start. I kept my excitement and anxiety in check so I’d conserve my energy for the run.

Here I am before the run – my only pictures of myself since my phone died during the race! Check out my sweet pace tattoo.

  

It was a great day for the race. The temperature was in the low 40s at the start; I wore capris, a tank, arm sleeves (aka socks), and a long sleeve throwaway shirt. I ditched the long sleeve in the second mile and the arm sleeves after mile 20.

The start of the race was easier than I expected. I’d heard how congested the start is, so I was expecting a madhouse. This year the start was done in 2 waves, which I think was a great decision. I didn’t feel too claustrophobic when I lined up with the 4 hour group. In fact, I ran into a former co-worker. Amazing what a small world it is – even in a huge race. It only took us 7 minutes to reach the start line, and I never felt unsafe.

The view from the 4:00 pace group.

I went out a little too fast. By mile 2 or 3, I had pulled away from the 4 hour pace group. I knew better, so I tried to keep myself in check so they’d catch up to me. Soon, I couldn’t even see them behind me, so I tried to keep a comfortable pace and not let loose. I was worried about using up my energy too early – the point of starting with the pace group was to conserve. I didn’t check my phone for my pace; I just tried to listen to my body.

The crowd support was amazing. I wrote my name on my bib so I had quite a few people cheer for me by name along the way. Between the music, signs, and activity, there we so many things to keep my mind off running, which was great. I saw my family a few times in the beginning; the second half, they said I looked like I was in the zone, and I never heard them. I knew they were there, though, which was awesome!

The toughest part of the race for me was miles 15-20. I think it was more mental than anything, so I just kept my form and pace in check, and when I got really down, I drew from the crowd with some high fives. I learned that trick from Sarah Stanley in my first marathon. :)

After 20, the race is sort of a blur. I actually felt pretty decent, so I just kept moving. It’s so challenging with everyone around you stopping to walk, but I let the music pump me up, kept swinging my arms, and kept doing little bursts to get my legs turning over. Around 22 I felt like I needed a bathroom stop, which I was completely against. I happened to run by some portapotties with no line right next to the course, so I stopped. It probably only lost me 2 minutes, but I knew I was that close to the 4 hour mark, so I was a little annoyed. Hindsight, I’m glad I stopped. I didn’t have that idea nagging me in those last few miles.

After that stop, the 4 hour pace group caught up to me. Mentally, sort of crushing; pace wise, they seemed like they were fast, so I just pushed it out of my mind. With 2 miles to go, I tried to push the pace and build off passing people. I pulled out my phone, but found it had died, which was frustrating. One mile to go, and the 4 hour group was within my sights, but still quite a ways up. I was hoping they were ahead of pace, because I wasn’t sure I’d catch them.

In the last 400 meters of the race, the course takes 2 sharp turns. I took that first turn and just pushed up the hill (yes, a small hill at the end – brutal). I easily passed the 4 hour group; I think they were slowing down because they were in fact ahead of pace. The leaders were yelling “Go, Go 4 hours! You’re going to break 4 hours! You’ve got this!” Enough said! I took the second turn, which puts you 200 meters from the finish, and just ran as fast as I could. I looked at the clock as I crossed, and I knew I’d be close, but I was fairly certain I had broken 4 hours.

After the finish, you have to walk. And walk. And walk some more. I was sort of dying, but I chugged a gatorade, grabbed some pretzels and water, and just kept moving. One of these days I’ll feel compelled to have my post-marathon beer, but I passed it up. I ran into some fellow running club runners, finally found the exit, and walked back over to the hotel. Longest walk ever! My family was waiting at the hotel entrance and cheered for me. Mike said, “You did it! 3:58!” Music to my ears!

Here are my ‘unofficial’ race splits:

Once I changed out of my race gear, I felt better. I drank my chocolate milk, ate some candy, then we headed to lunch. I was moving pretty slow, and I was pretty hilarious on the stairs. Of course I wore my Chicago Marathon gear and medal, so people on the streets, El, and restaurant were congratulating me. At least they knew why I was moving so slow! Sort of wishing I could wear it around today! A little girl on the El told her mom I was an Olympic runner, which was pretty cute. ;)

That’s my story! I’m feeling pretty good today. Congratulations to all my fellow Chicago Marathoners – you rock! To all the spectators and volunteers – thank you, you were an inspiration. To everyone online posting on Facebook, tweeting, emailing, and text messaging me, THANK YOU for your support.

chicago marathon medal

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Chicago Marathon Pre-Race Inspiration

6 Oct
  1. Who’s ready for tomorrow? I am! I’m nervous, but I’m getting excited. I’ve got some steep goals: PR, don’t walk, run under 4 hours, and feel good after the race. These are in order of difficulty, in my eyes. :)
    Today I’m trying to stay off my feet (very difficult, I’m so antsy!), eat a bunch of small carb meals, hydrate, pack, and relax. I’m also debating my outfit for tomorrow. It’s going to be pretty chilly at the start of the race, so I think I’m going to wear carpris, a tank, and a throwaway long-sleeve. What are YOU wearing?
    Lastly, I’m trying to stay motivated. This is a big deal – it’s 26.2 miles. I’m trying to get my motivators in my mind now, so that every time the dreaded ‘c’ word comes to my mind, I have ammo to say I CAN DO THIS! Here’s my inspiration – mostly from Pinterest. :)

  2. Running
    Pinterest
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 15:04:43
  3. Running_Junkie
    “Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart” ~ Mike Fanelli #ChiMarathon
    Running Quotes
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 15:56:21

  4. Running
    Pinterest
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 15:04:43

  5. Running
    Pinterest
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 22:05:43

  6. Running
    Pinterest
    Sat, Oct 06 2012 03:46:35
  7. brandiheinz
    Amazing… #chimarathon has 45K runners, 1.7M spectators, and 12K volunteers. So excited to be a part of it! #CM12
    Brandi Heinz Brown
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 13:40:15

  8. Running
    Pinterest
    Thu, Oct 04 2012 09:33:26
  9. sarahstanley
    Have fun @chimarathon runners! Enjoy spectator-filled streets cool weather- don’t forget to high five, smile & thank volunteers #CHImarathon
    Sarah Stanley
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 12:28:34

  10. Running
    Pinterest
    Thu, Oct 04 2012 09:33:55
  11. Can’t wait for the race signs – so fun. Here are a few from other races :)

  12. Running
    Pinterest
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 15:04:43

  13. Running
    Pinterest
    Thu, Oct 04 2012 09:33:26
  14. Good luck to all of my fellow Chicago Marathon runners!

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Chicago Marathon Expo 2012 Recap

5 Oct Chicago Marathon 10-7-12
  1. Packet Pick Up at the Expo was really smooth! Got my bib, checked my tag, walked over and got my goodie bag/t-shirt… Friday mornings are the time to go! I took the L downtown, then took the Marathon bus from the Hilton. Really easy to get in and out!I also didn’t realize Notre Dame plays tomorrow at Soldier Field… it’s going to be a zoo downtown! Glad I did it today; I’m a little tired after all the excitement.

  2. brandiheinz
    Deep breaths… Bib D11834! #chimarathon #cm12 @ Chicago Marathon Expo 2012 http://instagr.am/p/QaCVIrrlS7/
    Brandi Heinz Brown
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 09:10:36
  3. Running Club President of the Year and the Alpine Runner’s President, Beth. She’s an amazing inspiration – her passion for running fuels the club. If you aren’t in a running club, you should definitely join one! Stop by their Expo Booth and they can point you in the right direction. Oh, and share some crazy marathon stories!

  4. brandiheinz
    Stop by and see my friend Beth in the RRCA booth at #chimarathon expo. Join you’re local running club, it’s http://instagr.am/p/QaJAjRLlXN/
    Brandi Heinz Brown
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 10:09:27
  5. I went to the Expo a little later this morning so I could stop by and meet Hal Higdon! We talked a little about Twitter, and I got my book signed. :)

  6. brandiheinz
    Me and my new friend Hal! @higdonmarathon #chimarathon #cm12 @ Chicago Marathon Expo 2012 http://instagr.am/p/QaIquOrlW9/
    Brandi Heinz Brown
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 10:05:47
  7. Super cute Nike Marathon gear available at the Expo. I bought a jacket and long sleeve shirt – spent a little more than I wanted. However, the people checking out in front of me spent $850, so I felt good. :)

  8. brandiheinz
    Cold! So yes, I’m that girl already wearing my new #chimarathon gear;) @nikerunning #cm12 http://instagr.am/p/QaOu7CrlbR/
    Brandi Heinz Brown
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 10:58:50
  9. Check out the Nike animated wall at the Expo (and the Nike iPhone app- I love it!). There’s also a DJ getting down!

  10. brandiheinz
    Made the @nikerunning Twitter board! #chimarathon #cm12 http://instagr.am/p/QaQtrHrlch/
    Brandi Heinz Brown
    Fri, Oct 05 2012 11:15:49

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Tracking Chicago Marathon Runners

4 Oct Picture 19

2 1/2 days to go before the Chicago Marathon. I’ve spent a ton of time reflecting on my training, but now I’m getting down to business: planning my trip to the expo (Friday), my pre-race dinner (2 words – carbo load), set my morning routine, what I’m wearing, what to pack for after the race… I’m feeling pretty well prepared.

I am lucky enough to have an awesome group of people coming to watch me run – my family. I thought I’d share my research on how I hope they’ll track my activity on Sunday morning. Hopefully you can pass these resources along to YOUR fans. :)

Chicago Marathon’s Runner Tracking [FREE]: Sign up for this service, and you’ll be able to track up to 3 runners’ progress via text messaging, your Facebook wall, or Twitter. They send/post up to 6 messages, including your 10K, half marathon, 30K, and final split times.

RacerChaser Chicago App [$0.99]: This app isn’t as closely tied to Bank of America or the Chicago Marathon, but I think it’s great. Often, chip times are delayed or 45,000 people and their fans slow down the network. This app allows you to put in your runner’s goal times, and it calculates when the runner will cross different mile markers. It looks like it also helps you get from one mile marker to the next. I actually sent documents to my family with my splits and the map + directions; this solves that whole problem!

ChiMarathon App [FREE]: The ‘official’ marathon app. It looks like you can track runners within this app, as well as view the expo schedule, maps, and race information. I’m downloading this and using it tomorrow when I go to the Expo – I’ll let you know what I think in more detail!

Hopefully these tools helpful. I’ll also be sharing more resources and race-day updates on Twitter (@brandiheinz) and Instagram (brandiheinz), so feel free to send me encouragement!

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Time To Trust the Training | Chicago Marathon #CM12

26 Sep 20120923-191015.jpg

Less than 2 weeks until over 40,000 runners take to the streets of Chicago to run 26.2 miles. I will be one of them!

I’m getting nervous. My goal for my first marathon was to finish; this time I want to be faster and feel stronger. With race day quickly approaching, I’ve got to trust my training and taper, which is the toughest for me.

Looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. In less than 18 months I’ve went from never wanting to run a marathon to running a half marathon, then my first marathon, and now my second! On February 1st, I set an appointment on my calendar at work so that I was sure to go online and register for the Chicago Marathon when it opened at noon. Committing to something like that 9 months out was a pretty big deal to me. That’s right – 9 months of anticipation. I ran the Wisconsin Marathon in May to ‘practice’ (and to keep my nerves at bay), but now, here we are.

There are a few things I did differently to prepare for this marathon.

  1. One more 20-miler: I started my training plan a little earlier so that I could incorporate an extra 20-mile run to help build my confidence. The additional 20-miler did quite the opposite, but I’m still glad I got an extra couple of week of long runs in this time around.
  2. Weekly speed work: I loved this! I signed up for a track workout program; our training was based on past times, goal times, and heart rate. Every Wednesday I would show up at the track, and Coach Tom would have our workout and times ready. We did everything from 400s and 800s to miles and the ‘Arkansas slide’. I’m hoping this level of training will have my legs ready to run not only fast in the first half, but conditioned to keep going at the end when your legs just sort of, well, go! I’m going to attempt to run at least consistently or maybe even negative split; I haven’t been very good at this in the past but I’m hoping it will make me consciously slow down a little at the beginning.
  3. Foam roller and stretching: I still don’t do this as much as I should, but I did it more frequently this time around. I do think it’s making a big difference – I haven’t had the hip and IT band irritation I had during spring marathon training. Post-Chicago, I’m going to try out yoga to stretching and build flexibility.
  4. Drink more water: I know, duh, but I never made myself drink water during work in the past. Now, I almost always have a water bottle with me or close by. It really is amazing the difference you can feel when you’re hydrated… or not. I almost always felt good during my weekly runs this time around!
  5. More miles: I was cautious the first time around. This time, I bumped the miles up a bit and consistently ran 4 times/week. You can see my Nike+ log below; my track workouts aren’t included (7 miles/week, 28 miles/month), so you can see I’m a little above what I did in the spring.

20120923-191015.jpg

Reflecting is great (thanks for listening), but how do you keep yourself motivated during the taper? How do you trust your training?

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Had a Bad Day

16 Sep

“I haven’t been feeling well.” “I didn’t drink enough water.” “My dinner last night could’ve been healthier.” “I just couldn’t catch my breath!” “I should’ve went to bed earlier.”

Sometimes, you just have a bad run.

For me, that bad run was yesterday. It HAD to be on the final 20-miler of my marathon training. All of the excuses above ran through my head, along with “I shouldn’t have had that beer”, “I thought I was on better shape”, and “I REALLY hope I don’t feel like this at the marathon.”

I started out the run feeling OK, but not great. I’ve been battling some sort of sinus virus, along with terrible allergies, so I wasn’t expecting the run of my life. However, I was feeling much better that morning and pumped up to tackle the culmination of my training plan! 10 miles into the run, I started to drag behind my pace group and have a hard time breathing. We broke off into a smaller group at one of the turns, and I had to lead the way for 3 fellow runners who couldn’t remember the course. Around mile 13 it starts to get pretty hilly, and I had to stop to catch my breath after every hill. My group stopped with me and encouraged me; finally, around mile 14, they knew where they were going so I headed straight for the finish.

I spent the last 3 miles walking, running, and thinking. What happened to me? How do I mentally overcome this blow? Am I really ready for the Chicago Marathon? Should I push through and do the full 20, or just go in?

Then, my thoughts started to shift:

“My legs are feeling better on this run than the last 20-miler.” “Running 17 miles should never be considered a failure.” “I already got one 20-miler in.” “I am a marathoner!”

That’s when I finally realized: I had a bad day. It happens, and I was smart enough to realize I needed to take it easy. I’m not going to let one run define how I’ll do at the marathon. Sometimes, you just have a bad run.

How do you overcome your ‘bad’ runs?

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