Marathon Man Journey Ends As Mine Begins

Today I received this in my Inbox from my company. They send us things to talk about on our website blogs, this one SCREAMED ANNA.

"Belgian runner Stefaan Engeles has just completed a marathon for every day of the past year. Saturday was the 49-year-old’s 365th consecutive 26.2 mile race, shattering the record of 52 consecutive marathons set by a Japanese man last year. Engeles attributed his ability to run for so long to the fact that he doesn’t run very fast. However, his average of about four hours per marathon is still 30 minutes faster than the average finishing time in the New York City marathon. Overall, Engels ran 9,569 miles."

Could you imagine? One full marathon every day for a single year? Heck when I was training last summer for my first 1/2M I was wondering when I did my long runs how people who train for fulls can do it. My long run takes 2 hours (usually 12+ miles) I couldn't even imagine doubling that just for training for a full marathon. Then after running my 1/2 I was dead to the world after and just wanted to sleep and lay around all day and that continued for a few days after even. Today I began training for 500 Festival Mini Marathon, its my next 1/2 race. This was my run today; remember I am training at the Intermediate 2 level designed to go for a PR. I did 6 miles:1 mile of an easy pace, then 800 meters (about 1/2 mile) at my normal pace then 200 meters (about .12 of a mile) at a fast pace then back off to the slow pace for about 2 minutes. I repeated the 800/200 intervals for 4 rounds with the 2 minutes of easy running in between. Then finished off what was left (till I hit 6 miles) at my normal pace. And I was EXHAUSTED. I was so tired and I was thinking, "OMG this is grueling and its only day one. I ran 6 miles Saturday and it was a cinch, I add 4 simple rounds of intervals and I get tired. I hope as training goes on I get back into my groove cuz right now groove is not in the heart!" Training continues tomorrow with a steady 3 mile run and then I teach RPM.

On a kinda bummer note...I learned that I will not be running in Peoria's Race For the Cure this year as race day is the day of my 1/2 in Indy...oh well.

Footloose and Fancy FREEEEEEE!!!!

I'M FREEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! And I'm heck of a bargain shopper too! See the photo to the left...well how can you miss it duh. Those are my new running shoes, the Nike Run Free's. These shoes are designed "to feel the freedom of barefoot running shoes with with technology to provide you excellent support and cushioning." I was actually going to hold off on buying new shoes for a while still but Running Central has a sale through the weekend and they are reduced to $49.99 (normally $85) so I figured I better stop in a pick up a pair. Nike just came out with the Nike Free Run+ which is an upgrade from these shoes but I still wanted to stick with the Run Free's. Fellow Runner Jana has them and rated them high so I knew I'd be getting a great new shoe. And I just love the design and most of all I freaking LOVE the color. Purple is my favorite color so I had to have them. The first thing I noticed about this shoe is that it is lighter than the lunarglides (my previous shoe) and is a full boot shoe. Meaning the laces are almost pointless (I like the snug feeling the laces give) and there isn't really a tongue per say its just all one shoe. They are extremely light weight and feel fantastic when I run. Now I only ran a mile today (but plan to do six or more tomorrow). I noticed instantly that I am a lot quieter with these shoes. I really try to pay attention to the sounds I make when I am running. You know how you hear those people just pounding on the treadmill with a loud thud thud thud with ever step, yeahs not supposed to happen. lol I was running along side a lady who is also a runner, marathons and such, and she was quiet but still louder than I was on the TM. I can't wait to go for a longer run in these shoes and see how they hold up. I'm very excited, maybe more than I should be over a pair of shoes but stoked none the less. I also finally pick up a headband, that was on sale too 50% off winter accessories its a Mizuno. I have the full Miz hat but am more of a headband person as I like to wear ball caps when I run (so I don't have to wear sunglasses). Training begins Tuesday for my next 1/2 and I couldn't be more excited and prepared!!!

PS: I get very annoyed with people who have terrible form when working out. Form is such an important thing and every day I always see people at the gym with god awful form. There is this one lady who every time I see her working out I can never tell what muscle group she is trying to work because her form is all over the place. And of course you can't correct these people because they freak out when you do. FYI bad for WILL get you hurt. Today that same lady left the gym in a wheelchair with an ice pack and bleeding leg. People this is why you should ALWAYS consult a professional before beginning any kind of work out (and yes I have spoke with my doctor about it before I began training). This is also why most gyms offer a FREE training session when you sign up for a membership. About 80% of these free sessions go unused and that is dumb they are there to show you how to use machines properly and with correct form so you don't get hurt and leave in a wheelchair. So with that I am no professional when it comes to running, so please don't look at me as a guide, I'm just sharing my story and lessons I've learned along the way to becoming a marathon runner.

My Hope's got Snowed In

For days..okay weeks I've been watching the sidewalks where I like to run and slowly was seeing the snow melting and I started fantasizing about how I will soon be 1/2 marathon training again and running outdoors. February is here, Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow, spring is coming and so is outdoor running.

Hellooooo 15" of snow in Central Illinois. For those of you not from Illinois, we don't get that much snow in one storm. Heck get get only about 2 or 3 big storms each winter, amassing about 6" of snow each maybe a little more and that's really about it. We get the bitter cold sometimes but it never really lasts. So in my wishful thinking I was hoping come the Indy Mini I would begin my training outdoors. Not so much. I know I could suck it up and do it but I'm a puss and wont. Don't bother selling me on it. Don't waste your breath. I am not and never will be an outdoor WINTER/SNOW/COLD runner. Anything below 30 and I am on the treadmill or boremil. I've been working with the TM/BM since about late November, my sole focus has really been the strength training. I did managed a 9 miler once but mostly have keep it at 6 miles, doing sprints and hills. Luckily I got a NOOK Color for Christmas and have found that I can read on the BM with it because I can make the font huge and easy to read. I'm almost finished with Born To Run so now I need to search for my next NOOK read (suggestions?) to keep my mind occupied while on the BM. Because looks like my first 4 weeks of training are more than likely going to be indoors thanks to the 15" of snow we got...and the bitter cold. I'm once again training with Nikerunning.com and this time I am doing the 1/2 Marathon for the Intermediate that emphasises speed work and longer runs to help run a faster marathon. I am looking to shed 10 minutes off my race time in one of the 3 1/2's I plan to do this year.

Training officially begins on Tuesday and my week looks like this:
Monday: RPM 60 minutes Teach
Tuesday: 6 Miles-1-2 easy running then 4x800M @ tempo and 4x200m at fast with 1-3 minutes of easy running in between.
Wednesday: 3 Mile run then I teach RPM
Thursday: 6M-4x200m at fast pace at the end of the run.
Friday: Teach RPM
Saturday: Long run day 8 M 4x100m strides at the end of run
Sunday: REST DAY!!!!!

I've also decided that on my runs that are 6 miles or more I will do this program I got in the latest runners world magazine, it says its designed to help with your form and helps to avoid injury. I tested it out and it takes about 20 minutes and once I get stronger I'll push it up to about 30 mins. Here is a link (I have it on my NOOK-seriously I LOVE this thing!) http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-238-263-266-13823-0,00.html

PS: Were going on vacation next Friday too so yep I will be running while on vacation, my spa days happen to also be my training days and since I have appointments at the spa I'm allowed to use their fitness center so I'll run and then get pampered bring on the pedi, massage and mud wrap!

A Look in a Runners Rearview Mirror!

Anna's 2010 Running Stats:

Typically run 4x a week
Average 15 miles per week
Fastest mile was 8'15
79,765 is the number of calories I burnt from running
And my grand total of miles ran in 2010 was 757 MILES! Yes my friends from Feb 14th 2010 till Dec 31 2010 I ran SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY SEVEN MILES!!!!

So how did I kick off 2011...I ran 9 miles....ON A TREADMILL! I really have to give credit to my fellow run buddy (across the land in Minnesota) Jana. She's always running long distances on a TM and the most I've done is 6 miles. But I kept thinking if Jana can do it I can "Bitch up Anna and get on that TM!" so today I did I did have to stop at 5.5 miles to hit the potty (thanks RT's son of a) then I jumped back on and opened up  my Nook Color (thanks to bigger font it not to hard to read) and tried to get lost in Assholes Finish First By Tucker Max (sequel to I Hope The Serve Beer In Hell) it helped but I really had to dig deep to get through the last mile. I had to stop for my 2nd time with just over a mile to go because I lost my page on the Nook and couldn't find it again by running...I got swipe  happy and swiped a few to many pages lol. Anyway as I type this blog I am Nikerunning.com and about to set up my next 1/2 marathon training log after all February 1st will be here before I know it and the countdown to my 2nd 1/2 Mary will begin. So on tap is the 500 Festival Mini Marathon in Indy May 7th (already registered, seeded and hotel booked), I'd like to run the Quad Cities Marathon (but haven't check out the deets yet on it) I do plan to run the Steamboat 15K this summer and will most definitely do the Mankato 1/2 Mary again come October (the 22nd I believe) with Jana plus my cousin Andrea said she wants to do it so I'm ready...the the running begin!

Holy Crap-Training Begins in 5 Weeks!!!

So after a casual conversation last week I realized that I have to start training for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon the first week of February. I'm a little annoyed that I didn't pay attention to my training schedule a bit better a few weeks ago because I really wanted to spend 8 weeks focused on weight training (because I let that go when I am training-I only lift about 1x a week when training). So now I only have 5 weeks to hit the weights. Oh well 5 is better than none! Anyway I posted this video on Facebook last week cuz its hilarious and I thought I would share it with my fellow runners. Enjoy!

PS: I heard the weather man say its going to get into the 40's on Thursday if it happens I so am getting outside for a few miles even if I am already doing 2 RPM classes (teaching) and my weights. Must take advantage!

Merry Christmas

Happy Running this Christmas. Or lack of in my book. I have no motivation to jump on a treadmill (I still do it but nothing worth blogging about) but want to be outside so badly. I just can't run in the cold and the snow, no way, not happening. So I'm waiting for spring. I let myself down the other day because it was 37 out and I didn't run outside. Whats my lame excuse. I'm doing the morning show this week and I pack my bag the night before and didn't pack outdoor gear and when I realized it was nice enough to run outside I was unprepared. boo hoo. Anyway hope you have an awesome Christmas and get new running shoes or apparel! :D I love this you tube video and the TSO song is my favorite Christmas tune so I just wanted to share. Merry Christmas runners and blog readers.

Winter Running

As much as I prayed it wouldn't happen, it did, snow and cold! I hate being cold. I've tried running outdoors a few times as the cool down hit but what turns me off of outdoor winter, running is that even after the run it takes me for freaking ever to warm back up. So inside to the treadmill I go. I've been keeping my focus on hills and speed intervals while inside averaging about 6 miles anything more than that and I may fall asleep mid step. I totally have to keep my mind focused I can't just zone out like I do outdoors. Lately I've been learning new RPM stuff so at least my spinning classes are kept fresh. Now, I've thought about just loading up on the winter gear and dropping down the money for winter running shoes but the more I think about that them more I think "your nuts but your not THAT nuts" and I go back to the TM!

Friday however it was 30 some degrees in Central Illinois the wind was very light and the sun was nice and bright (sorry for the bad rhyming) and I couldn't wait to hit the trail on the riverfront. I normally don't run on Fridays but I couldn't pass up the break in the forecast. And my  god was it awesome I am still on a high from that run. The conditions were perfect and the trail was gorgeous. The path was free and clear (some snow spots-FYI w/o winter running shoes jump them) yet the ground had a thin blanket of white snow and with the sun as bright as it was, it was so peaceful and relaxing and I think I had one of my best run times  yet. So either I was just super excited to be outdoors or my hill/speed work is already paying off! I wish I could have gone longer but I had to teach however I am grateful for that run and it was probably my favorite run of the year because of how pretty it was. I've been told that if I do just one winter run that I need to hit Grandview drive just after a light snow fall so maybe I'll try to do that this season who knows maybe that just one winter run will turn into something more, we shall see.

Final note: Anyone see The Biggest Loser from Tuesday? It was TBL-marathon with the final 4 contestants. Ada (who's my fav this season) was leading the pack and 1/2 way through the race trainer Bob pops out along the course and asks her how she's doing. She said well and then asks Bob what Marathoners do when they  have to use the bathroom. He replies that most just keep going but just go while running. She replies but what if that isn't the kinda go I have to do. There was the uncomfortable laughter and he they decided to use some random porta potty on the route. I was LOVING it. I was like "Ahhhh she's got the runners trots" I was screaming with excitement that they were showing this. So Ada (I know she doesn't read this but don't spoil it for me) Welcome to the Club girlfriend! :)