Running Update + Racing Laces

"Hm," you're thinking, "I wonder why Rachel hasn't breathed a word about running since the half marathon in June?"

Well, the good news is that I had a blast doing the half and couldn't wait to sign up for another. The less good news is that I started having some pretty bad plantar fasciitis pain almost immediately after the race, and ended up needing to take quite a few weeks off. Kind of a bummer since I was so pumped and excited after the half.

But what can you do? My feet were saying to take a break, so I did. And I was surprised, actually, by how much I missed running during those weeks off.

After taking a few weeks off and taking better care of my legs and feet, I'm feeling so much better now, and have started easing back into running over the last few weeks with some shorter to mid distance runs a few times a week. It feels so good to get back out.

^ someone was very eager to join me for pictures, and came up with most of these poses/action shots on his own. A bright future in blogging, I'm sure.

Besides just sitting around and resting and self-medicating with plenty of chocolate and Diet Coke, I took a bit of action to get the plantar fasciitis out of the way. I bought a roller ball that I've been using daily on my arches, get massages focusing on my legs and calves as often as I can manage, focus on stretching my calves and feet after each run, and I swapped out my regular shoelaces for Racing Laces.

Racing Laces are a brand new product created by some good friends of ours who offered to send a few pairs for us to experience. Our friends discovered elastic shoelaces while training for competitive races, but were disappointed by the elastic laces they found on the market--low quality, flimsy laces that stretched out and were useless after a few workouts. So they created their own sturdy, heavy duty, high quality elastic laces that can stand up to some serious use (and after wearing mine for a few weeks, I can confirm that they have held up awesomely without stretching out or losing their spring at all!).

So what's the point of using elastic laces?

For me, the most appealing aspect was adding comfort to runs by allowing my shoes to expand and stretch while I run. Traditional laces don't have any give, so your shoes are fairly rigid and can put pressure on your feet, leading to pain and injuries. But Racing Laces relieve this pressure and allow the bones in your feet to move more naturally, so they can help prevent common running injuries like plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and even stress fractures.

Also awesome is the easy-on, easy-off factor, and knowing that your laces won't ever come untied, even during long distances or obstacle courses (hello Spartan racers).

And I am kicking myself--kicking myself hard!!--that I haven't bought Forrest a new pair of sneakers yet to show off his new pair of Racing Laces. He's been overdue for new shoes for months, and I was hoping to show off his kicks complete with Racing Laces that he'd be able to take on and off by himself without help . . . but life being what it is, I ran out of time, so he's stuck with his crummy Velcro shoes for a little longer. But that's another little tip to remember . . . they're great for kids' shoes, and will get your little ones ready for school faster since they won't need help tying shoes.

If you're a runner or an athlete of any sort, I think Racing Laces are absolutely worth checking out, especially if you've dealt with any kind of foot pain or want to make sure you're doing everything you can to prevent it. And right now, you can enter to win a pair for yourself on Racing Laces' instagram page! Head HERE to enter.

And to wrap this post up, I made you a special treat. Forrest was so excited to jump for photos. I couldn't resist compiling them into a little gif. Enjoy.

5 1/2 of My Healthy Baby Steps

I've never been the world's healthiest eater or most hardcore exercise enthusiast. For most of my adult life, I've exercised sporadically and grumpily, and never cared much about eating very healthily.

I can remember, when I worked full-time before having kids, thinking to myself that I'd really be able to prioritize exercise and healthy eating if/when I had kids and stayed home with them. Surely I'd have nothing better to do with my day than fit in a great workout, put together healthy salads for lunch, and make amazingly healthy dinners. (manic laughter as reality sets in)

I think it actually might be harder now, as a stay-at-home mom, to exercise and eat healthy than it was before I had kids and worked full-time.

I've taken some healthy baby steps over the past 6 months or so, though, that are making a difference in how I feel and how I spend my day. I can't picture myself ever becoming wildly devoted to ultra-healthy living (I love cookies way too much for that), but I thought today I'd share a few of the little steps I've taken over the past few months that have made a difference for me.

1. Dinner Planning

I'm a big believer in the power of menu planning. On the nights that I haven't planned and shopped for a specific dinner, we end up scraping together really disappointing meals. Cereal. Hot dogs. Gummy worms. I don't feel good after eating a dinner like that, and I don't feel good in the morning when I wake up with a crappy dinner hangover.

I sit down with cookbooks or Pinterest after putting the kids to bed on Sunday night, and write down a menu for the week's dinners. I mix in a few favorite recipes as well as some new ones to try each week, and I make a shopping list. My days go more smoothly when I know I have a plan in place to get dinner on the table, and we end up eating healthier meals since I've planned out an entree and a side dish or two.

2. Drink from a ridiculous water bottle.

I can feel a difference on the days I've tried to drink a lot of water compared to the days I didn't really drink much of anything (or had an enormous cup of soda instead of water). But even though I know I feel better when I make sure to drink lots of water, I still forget to drink it . . . unless I fill up this big water bottle in the morning and leave it out on the kitchen counter all day. I'll take sips every time I walk by, and end up drinking plenty of water without really noticing it.

I don't know why the big water bottle makes a difference. In theory, I could just as easily get a glass and just refill it throughout the day. But that doesn't work for me. I love this gigantic hospital water bottle, probably more than any water bottle deserves to be loved, and somehow, I find myself drinking way more from it than I would otherwise.

3. Set an exercise goal.

If you've been around here the last few months, you know I ran my first ever half marathon last month. And you also probably know that I'm new to running--I only started running last summer, and prior to that, I hated to run.

After Darcy was born, I couldn't figure out any exercise that fit into our schedule and budget. I forced myself to start running--if I could learn to like running, it would be the 'easiest' exercise to fit into my schedule/budget. I stuck with it, something finally clicked, and I started to enjoy it instead of dreading my run each day.

But I secretly suspect that I would have given up on it as soon as the weather got cold if I hadn't signed up for the half marathon. Having that goal kept me going through the winter, and working and progressing when I probably would have taken a break without it.

3 1/2. . . . and change how you think about exercise.

I've always exercised with the mindset that the purpose of exercise was to help me not get fat. It wasn't ever about being healthy, or being strong, or reaching goals, or accomplishing something hard. I only ever really thought about exercise in terms of calories burned. Which destroyed any enjoyment I might have gotten out of exercising.

As I got into running, though, I started changing how I thought about it. After a while, I could run for 5 minutes without stopping, then a mile without stopping, then 2 miles without stopping, and so on . . . and I started actually feeling stronger and more capable. Running wasn't a struggle of me vs. impending weight gain. Running was making me feel strong and capable and confident.

Last night, I was talking to a friend who has run dozens of half and full marathons, and she said she hasn't ever finished a race without crying at the finish line, because she feels so powerful, and like she can take that strength and endurance and tackle anything else that's hard in her life. And that is so spot on for me, too. Thinking of exercising in terms of strength and power makes it something I want to do instead of something I feel like I'm supposed to do.

4. Feed yourself like you feed your kids.

I wouldn't let my kids skip lunch and eat an entire box of crackers and a soda 2 hours later, or hide in the pantry to have brownies for breakfast. But I'll do exactly that. I'll sit them down for a normal, balanced meal, then I'll get distracted by laundry or emails, forget to eat, and gorge on something totally unhealthy later.

I've always prioritized the kids' meals, but not my own. So I've been trying to feed myself with the same care that I feed the kids. Their meals might not always be the healthiest (and they might selectively eat the least healthy items on their plates), but at least they are sitting down and eating an actual meal together. I've been working on preparing myself meals that I'd want them to eat, and not eating things that I wouldn't let them eat, either.

5. Fill in nutritional gaps.

It's pretty easy for me to pinpoint what I need more of in my diet. I'm good on fruits and legumes. I probably eat too many unhealthy carbs. I need more protein and dairy. Knowing that is one thing--doing something about it, though, is kind of harder.

I've been trying to add more protein to my diet, especially after discovering that I don't feel nearly as tired after long runs when I'm getting more protein. And I've had doctors tell me multiple times that I'm not getting enough dairy, and I ought to be either eating yogurt (which I don't like), or taking a probiotic supplement.

I've been taking Align Probiotics every day for the last few weeks to try and fill in this gap in my diet. It helps maintain your digestive system's natural balance*, and I actually have been noticing a difference as I've been taking it. I've gotten fewer stomachaches, and it's definitely helped with . . . um . . . regularity (*intense blushing*). 

I'm still trying to convince myself that yogurt isn't so bad . . . but I'm not making much progress on that front, so I'm sticking with the probiotics for now. If you'd like to try Align Probiotics, check them out at Target HERE.

I'd love to hear some of your healthy baby steps--what are some of the little things you do to make your life healthier?

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Utah Valley Half Marathon Recap

Well, first things first: thank you all so, so much for your support and advice in last week's half marathon training update! It was so encouraging to read your comments, and super helpful to hear advice from people who have run similar races in the past. (And if you have a race coming up, I'd recommend you check out the comments section of that post--lots of race day wisdom to be found.)

As I mentioned in that post, I was a little freaked out by my last 2 weeks of training. I had felt pretty confident until my last long run before race day . . . that 10-miler was an absolute disaster of misery and woe, and totally destroyed my confidence. But as it turns out, I didn't need to worry. The race was fantastic, and so much fun. I can't wait to do another.

The day of the race started with a sickeningly early alarm clock at 3:20 AM. We had prepared everything the night before, so all we had to do was get dressed and grab our bags and catch the shuttle bus to the starting line. Where, of course, it was dark and freezing, and we got to sit and enjoy the freezing darkness for two hours while we waited for things to begin. Not the most fun way to start the day--tired and grouchy and cold. Please enjoy how Jeff did not get the point of this selfie at all, and instead is smiling off into the distance, looking at . . . what, exactly?

I ate the breakfast I had packed ahead of time around 5 (a bagel with cream cheese), sat around until about 5:30, then hit up the port-a-potties at the last minute before getting into the line up for the start time at 6:00. Jeff did a quick warm-up run, during which he promptly stepped on a screw that went straight through his shoe. Luckily, it didn't break the skin, but it actually did take us quite a few minutes to pry it out of his sneaker, and he said he could feel the hole in the sole of his shoe for the first few miles of the run.

The course started partway up Provo Canyon and wound down the gorgeous canyon road for about 7 miles, then headed into Provo and ended downtown at the site of the newly restored tabernacle. I wish I had pictures of the course, but I didn't want to stop to fiddle with my phone during the race. It's a beautiful road (I drive it often!), and it winds past waterfalls and between gorgeous mountains. It is so, so pretty, the weather was cool and breezy, and most of the course was a very gentle downhill (with a few mild uphill climbs mixed in), which all made for a great run. I think this race was probably the perfect choice for my first half marathon ever.

I had been warned by quite a few people to be very careful not to start out too fast--it's easy to get caught up in the excitement and take off at a pace you can't keep up, then get exhausted way too early in the race and drag through endless miles to finish. So I was really cautious throughout the first few miles, and used my Map My Run app to make sure I wasn't going too fast. During my training, I generally averaged 10-minute miles during my longer runs. I found myself averaging about 9:45 during the first few miles of the half marathon, even as I consciously tried to slow down.

Throughout those first 2 or 3 miles, I was getting passed as if I were standing still. But I'm about as non-competitive as it gets, and I didn't particularly care about being passed. It took probably 3 or 4 miles for me to feel like I could trust my pace and just run at a speed that felt right, instead of constantly listening for Map My Run to chime in with my time.

I totally underestimated two things in my prep: 1) the excitement and adrenaline of the race. People kept telling me how fun races were, and I couldn't really see it. I find running enjoyable, but it's certainly not fun or exciting, and I didn't really picture a race being any different, except that it's longer and harder than what I do on my own. What could possibly be fun about that? But there really is such a feeling of excitement in the air, which makes the time fly by. I was honestly surprised each time my app chimed in to tell me my time during those first 3 or 4 miles--each time that voice came up to say I'd done another mile, I remember thinking, "Really? Already?" It's just a cool thing to be a part of, and everyone's so excited to be there, so it goes by quickly.

And 2) I had no idea how encouraging it would be to see people along the course. In the days leading up to the race, it looked like my parents wouldn't be able to make it to see us run. But they ended up coming anyway, and it was awesome to see them along the way. My mom took that (very flattering!) picture above, as I passed my dad along the course in the canyon. (And my dad, by the way, is the most hilariously low-key cheerleader there ever was. No clapping, no theatrics, just mild chitchat as you pass him by. "How're you feeling? You feeling good? You look great. Ok, we'll see you later.") They drove along and stopped to cheer (chitchat) at 5 or 6 points throughout the race, and it was such a huge energy boost to see them along the sidelines. Even just wondering if I'd be seeing them up ahead anytime soon gave me a boost when I was getting tired. And parents aside, even seeing strangers cheering or holding signs was so fun and so encouraging, too. 

I really worked to keep my pace slow, steady, and consistent for the first 6 or 7 miles. But when I hit the halfway point and started coming out of the canyon and onto city streets, I was struck with this sudden thought of holy crap, I'm really going to be able to finish this!, and realized that I was feeling really good. Good enough to stop worrying about a slow and steady pace, and pick things up a bit. 

My pace times for the second half were all between 8:30 and 9:30 miles, which was quite a bit faster than I expected. My fastest runs during my training were never below 9:30-minute miles. And even though I'm not a competitive person and truly was not bothered when people passed me, I was pretty surprised and encouraged by being able to pass loads of people throughout the last 5 miles, including plenty of people who had zipped by me early on. 

Another development during the second half of the race was a mega-blister forming on the bottom of my right foot . . . a bit of a surprise since I've worn these same shoes and socks for weeks (including during some long runs), and never had any trouble at all. Definitely didn't feel great, but I figured it would hurt just as much whether I slowed down or sped up, so I just sped up anyway. The blister made for a nice souvenir. It's about the size of a nickel, and is large enough to be visible even through a sock. I showed it to Forrest, who was completely horrified and asked why I had a balloon on my foot. I will spare you a picture. You're welcome.

My last 3ish miles ended up being the fastest 5K I've ever done (about 27 minutes, give or take), and I ended with a total time of 2:07. I didn't have a time goal--since this was my first race, my goal was just to finish in whatever time it took, and hopefully have a good time doing it. But I was really excited that my time ended up being a little better than I'd thought.

If you happen to be wondering where Jeff was during all of this . . . I told him I didn't want him to stay with me during the race. He's done quite a few races before (multiple half marathons and dozens of shorter races, as well as a full marathon and a few triathlons), and he has a very competitive spirit. I knew he'd be happy to stick with me and go at my pace if I wanted him to, but I like running alone, and I knew he'd have a lot more fun if he went all out. And he did amazing--he finished in 1:30, and came in 8th in his division.

(This is the only picture of him my mom got, and she accidentally focused on the car in the background. Ha! That's what you get for running too fast.)

I had so much fun doing the race, and it was so exciting just to be able to complete it, regardless of finish times. I've never been even remotely athletic, and I've only been running for about a year. It just felt good to be able to accomplish something that I never, ever pictured myself doing, and to have a lot of fun doing it, too. I've been mildly sore these past few days, but nothing outrageous (besides the mega-blister). And as soon as I got home, I was googling races to sign up for in the fall. 

Half Marathon Training Update: Week 20

Okay, this is it. My half marathon is this Saturday (a mere 3 days from now). I'm feeling pretty nervous about it . . . let me count the ways.

My last long run was teeeeerrible. So, so, so bad. The schedule said to do 12 miles--but my Map My Run app glitched on mile 2, and didn't kick back in for several miles, so I had no idea how far I'd actually gone. And of course, I hadn't mapped out a route beforehand . . . that's what I use the app for. So I just ran and ran and ran until I figured it had to have been at least 6 miles, then turned around and headed back.

And judging by how unbelievably exhausted I felt, and how unnaturally difficult that run was, and how close to death I felt the entire time, I was 2000% sure I had gone way too far. Until I got home, got online, mapped my route, and realized I had barely scraped 10. Which is still a super long distance for me! But it wasn't the distance I was supposed to do, and definitely not what that run felt like.

So all my confidence for the race basically went up in flames that day (if 10 miles was pure torture, how will I manage 13?!), and now I can only picture myself hobbling along in total agony, and possibly faking an injury so a medic has to pick me up and wheel me across the finish line.

I keep telling myself that one awful run isn't indicative of how the race will actually go, and I have gone as far as 11 miles and felt good . . . but it still made me feel really nervous and insecure to have that one really terrible run, especially so close to the race.

I've been feeling kind of burned out on my training schedule these last few weeks, too. As much as I'm enjoying running, there are so many days when I'd really love to just run the distance I feel like running instead of religiously following the dang schedule. I've given myself some flexibility on my schedule over the past few weeks, but I always feel kind of guilty about it, and wonder if I'll pay for it later?

In slightly better news, I got new running shoes a few weeks ago and am really loving them, and this water belt is saving my life on every run over about 4 miles. I worried it would be really uncomfortable to run with, and while it's certainly more comfortable to run without it, it's about as comfortable as you can expect running with a fanny pack to be.

If you've run a half marathon (or any race, really), I would love to hear your advice and experience for the day of the race. This is my first race, so I feel kind of clueless. Like, what do you eat the night before? And for breakfast? Do you carry along something to eat partway through? Can/should I wear that water belt during the race, or would it better to run more comfortably without it and just grab water along the course? Any tips you might have for me would be greatly appreciated. And hopefully I'll survive to give you a recap of how it went early next week.

Half Marathon Training Update: Week 13

The half marathon approacheth! We’re only 7 weeks out from race day, and things are getting real.

My longest run to date has been 9 miles, with a 10 miler coming up this weekend (eep!). And for the past few weeks, my training plan has had me running about 28 miles per week—numbers that I never in a million years thought I’d be able to do. I have to admit that I’m surprised at how not a huge deal the increase in distance has been.

Every week, without fail, I look at my scheduled runs for the week and think to myself, HOLY SH!T, this will be the week I keel over and die, there is NO WAY I can run five days and cover all those miles . . . but then the week goes plugging by and, well, I haven’t died yet. And every single Saturday (the day of my longer runs), I look at the new, long, ridiculous distance I’m supposed to run and I think I WILL NEVER MAKE IT BACK HOME, GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD, but then I’m out and I’m running and sometimes it stinks but more often it doesn’t, and then I’m home again, and somehow I’ve done it and survived.

I’m getting there, one little baby step at a time. I’m starting to reach a point where I’m thinking, my gosh, I’m only 3 miles away from being able to run 13 miles, I’m actually going to be able to handle this! And compared to the start of my training, when I thought I will probably be rushed to the hospital before I even come close to 13 miles, that’s pretty good progress.

Since the last time I wrote about running:

These long runs take it out of me. No huge revelation there, but I cannot believe how exhausted I feel after a 7+ mile run . . . even if the run itself went great. The way I feel for the rest of the day after a long run reminds me of the way I felt during the first trimester of my pregnancies—100% drained. I actually haven’t been sore (yet!) after my long runs, but I just feel dead tired. Jeff tells me I need to eat more protein. I’ll work on it. Burgers FTW.

My runs are getting harder and harder to schedule. Squeezing in a 3 or 4 mile run around Jeff’s schedule (which is very busy and rather inflexible) hasn’t been a huge deal . . . but trying to plan 5 or 7 or 9 mile runs around his schedule so he can be home with the kids? Not nearly as easy to work out. And I’m not a fast runner, so it takes me a good long while to get these longer runs completed. I’ve had to do more treadmill running recently, which I’m not crazy about. Last Saturday, I did 9 miles on the treadmill because Jeff worked all the livelong day and I had no other option. Woof.

Baymax captures my running perfectly:

Physiologically speaking . . . I doubt that I’ve lost much, if any, weight while running, but it’s hard to say because I don’t weigh myself (I think my last journey onto a scale was at least a year ago). I kind of think maybe my face looks a little thinner? But other than that, any changes must be minor, since I haven’t particularly noticed. (I asked Jeff, who claims I look ‘more fit now,’ whatever that means.)

My butt is more or less butt-shaped now, which is a new development (I’ve had a flat, pancake-ish mom butt since I was about 6 years old), so having one that is round is a bit exciting. (Is it okay to blog about my butt? This feels weird.)

I briefly had some foot/ankle issues early on in my training, but having a chiropractor for a husband comes in awfully handy--he worked on it for me and it cleared up fairly quickly, and hasn’t been a problem since. Hopefully they stay in the past.

Friday Lists: Running Clothes on the Cheap

People always point to running as the perfect budget exercise—as long as you’ve got a decent pair of shoes, you don’t really have to spend much money on anything else to get started. Which is true . . . except that you could easily spend a small fortune on your running wardrobe. $50 for a tank top? Yeah . . . not gonna happen.

I have the same general attitude toward running clothes as I do toward beauty products (and, I suppose, toward almost everything): as long as I don’t know what I’m missing out on, I’ll be content with my budget stuff. Maybe someday, if I’ve got money just burning a hole in my pocket, I’ll be more willing to dish out for higher quality, pricier stuff. I don’t doubt that it’s better.

But for now, my budget-friendly running clothes suit me just fine. Almost all of my running wardrobe is from Walmart and Ross, and I’ve been perfectly happy with it so far.

Here are 5 of my favorite affordable running items (I own and regularly use all but #3, which I tossed in because I’m hoping to buy it soon):

1. Avia Scrunch Back Tank – It is breaking my heart that I can’t find my #1 favorite running tank anywhere online(also made by Avia), but this one comes in at a very close second. I learned quickly that I hate running in snug-fitting tops (especially tanks with a built-in bra—the worst!), and I prefer my tops to be loose-fitting and very lightweight. This tank fits the bill perfectly, and comes in plenty of cute colors (I own it in lime green). The only reason it is my second favorite running top is because after months of runs and trips through the washing machine, the hem is just barely starting to bunch up a bit. Not a big deal at all and it has absolutely been worth the (very low!) price, but my other Avia tank hasn’t had that issue, so it’s my #1.

2. Danskin Now Running Shorts – These give me everything I want from a running short. At under $8, the price is absolutely right. They are super comfortable, I’ve never had any chafing issues while wearing them on runs, they’re lightweight and breathable, and come in a great variety of colors. I own two pairs.

3. Free Spirit Tie Dye Capri – This item is the only one I don’t currently own. I’d like to get a second pair of capris soon—I love the fun print on this one, and it could be paired with any color top so I know it would get a lot of use. I may need to swing by TJ Maxx this week to see if I can find this pair.

4.  Danskin Now Textured Jacket – Jeff bought this jacket for me, and I’ll admit, it took a few runs for me to warm up to it. I already owned a different jacket which I liked, and I didn’t think I would use this one as much. But after a few runs in it, it easily won me over. I love that it’s a bit looser-fitting than my previous jacket, and the double layer of mesh material makes it warm but breathable. My only complaint is that the thumb holes (which I think are an awesome feature!) aren’t usable at all, since the sleeve hasn’t been lengthened to allow it to comfortably reach my thumbs.

5. Betsey Johnson Floral Leggings – I’m including these on this list with reservations. If you click that link to purchase them, you’ll see that they are $54, which I would not consider a budget-friendly price. But since I bought my pair at Ross for $20, I suppose they make the budget-friendly cut. I own another pair of running leggings that I thought were great until I bought this pair, which blow pair #1 out of the water. The fit is fantastic, the material is the perfect blend of firm/supportive without being constricting, and the print—my gosh. Polka dot AND floral?! Be still, my pattern-loving heart. If you have $54 to toss at a pair of leggings, by all means, go for it! But if you’re more in my budget range, maybe keep an eye out on ebay and at places like Ross or Marshalls or TJ Maxx for something similar.

Half Marathon Training Update: Week 7

I’m 7 weeks into my half marathon training, and it’s going well! No one can be more surprised about this than I am—as a reminder, I am fairly new to running (I’ve been at it for about 8 months now, after many failed attempts in the past), and have never considered myself athletic in the slightest. It’s pretty exciting to be enjoying something athletic for basically the first time ever, and making progress at it to boot.

I’m trying hard not to look farther than a few days ahead on my training program. Even 7 weeks in, I’m still panicking at the thought of 13 miles. It just sounds insane. INSANE. But if I only look at the current week, it feels manageable. Run 13 miles? Hold me, I’m scared. But a 7 mile run? Well, I ran 6 miles last Saturday and lived to tell the tale, so I can probably pound out 1 more. Baby steps.

Fitting the runs into my week hasn’t been as difficult as I anticipated, but it definitely requires some planning in advance—figuring out when Jeff will be home so I can run outside without the kids, or making sure I’ve got my day planned around fitting a run in on the treadmill during nap/quiet time. I’ve skipped 2 runs over the past 7 weeks when I couldn’t find time for them . . . but they were shorter runs of 2-3 miles each, so they didn’t feel like a huge loss.

In case anyone wants to know—these amazing running capris are Betsey Johnson, purchased at Ross for $20. Photo is from my instagram.

I’ve learned that I definitely prefer to run in the mornings. I’ve had to run in the evenings a few times when I couldn’t make time during the day, and without fail, those runs are agonizing. Side cramps, loping along at a snail’s pace, absolutely no energy. Terrible. Not an evening runner, that is for dang sure.

I know I should do some cross-training, and especially add some core strengthening to my routine (the interwebs tell me this is important, and I always believe the interwebs), but I haven’t been doing any of this yet. On the days I don’t run, I don’t do any exercise at all—I’ve just been feeling so darn proud of myself for running that I haven’t felt motivated to add anything else in. It’s on the to-do list.

I’ve been really surprised by how vastly different runs often feel from one day to the next. Last week, for instance, I ran the longest distance of my life so far: 6 miles. And it went so well—it was a challenge, but it felt comfortable and manageable and I felt great afterwards. But another run that same week was only 2 miles, and it was terrible. Every step felt like torture, I could hardly breathe, and I swear it felt miles farther than the 6 miler.

The view on one of my recent runs—not bad, not bad at all!

Some things that I’ve been enjoying during runs:

1) Colorful workout clothes. It may sound silly, but having some fun things to wear really makes me more excited to head out for a run. I haven’t bought a ton of running clothes—it’s sort of a wear one outfit, wash the other situation—but the majority of what I own is bright and colorful, and it keeps things feeling fun and exciting. All of my running clothes so far are from Walmart and Ross—I’m sure they’re not the best quality ever, but I’ve been happy with it all!

2) Map My Run. You’ve probably already heard of this app, but on the off chance that you haven’t, it tracks your route, time, and pace on your runs, and it’s free. You can search for routes in your area, connect with friends to see each others’ runs, and it will even create new custom routes for you. My only complaint: I wish it could give me turn-by-turn directions for routes I’m not familiar with. It’s frustrating to have to check the itty bitty map on my phone to see if I’m on track, and where I need to turn, so I mainly stick with routes I already know rather than use their route creator.

3) Charity Miles. I just discovered this app a few weeks ago—like Map My Run, it uses GPS on your phone to track your distance, and the miles you run, bike, or walk are supported by corporate sponsors who give donations to a charity of your choice based on your mileage. I’ve found that it always shortchanges me on my distance (it consistently shows my total distance as shorter than Map My Run does, even though I use them together—sometimes it’s a small difference, but once it was off by a half mile!). Except for that little issue, I’ve loved using it on my runs. It’s a little extra motivation to get a run in, plus a confidence boost when you finish and see your donation.

4) Pandora. I usually listen to audiobooks while I run (Harry Potter got me through many, many weeks of running), but I’ve been between books for a while now and haven’t found one I’m super excited about yet (if you have a suggestion, I’m all ears!). I’ve been listening to Pandora on runs lately, and I’ve really been enjoying it. None of the boredom of listening to the same handful of songs over and over, and if I get bored with a station mid-run, it’s great to be able to easily switch to something totally different. My favorite station recently is based on Shake It Off. Don’t hate.

Runners, I’d love to hear some things that motivate you or keep your runs feeling fresh and exciting!

13.1 . . . yikes.

Try to act surprised when I tell you I’m not really the outdoorsy type, and tend to stay inside whenever possible (shock! awe!). But even I, a devoted hermit, have to tip my hat to mother nature for giving us a Utah February in the 50s and 60s.

It’s a beautiful change from the norm—this time last year, I was cocooned in blankets, rubbing my hands together over a heating vent. Today, I was opening windows, airing out 4 months of pent-up diaper fumes.

Even a hermit could get used to this.

It’s been especially awesome when it comes to my running—we have a treadmill, but even at its best, treadmill running isn’t awesome. And I am excited and eager to be running outside, because I did something a little bit crazy.

I signed up for a half marathon.

It’s Mel’s fault. I had been toying with the idea of a half marathon (which sounds, frankly, impossible, but also a little neat), and then Mel went and posted a coupon code for the Utah Valley half in June.

So I registered. She made it sound all sorts of inspiring and attainable, and I looked up the course (which I’m already very familiar with, since I drive it regularly), and it’s going to be beautiful in June.

And before you get all, “Oh, how awesome, you’re amazing!” let me just remind you that all I’ve done so far is click the ‘register’ button, which isn’t all that impressive (although I gave myself a hearty pat on the back anyway).

My only races so far have been 5ks (and not many of them, either—maybe 3?), so this is going to be quite the step up for me. I like the idea of having a big goal to work toward, and let’s be honest, I will sound pretty darn cool when I go around telling everyone who will listen that I ran a half marathon. And really, isn’t coolness the best reason to do anything?

I’m following this 20-week training plan, and being able to run outside has been glorious. So another big thank you goes out to the weather gods, because the thought of training for a half marathon on a treadmill makes me want to cry.

So far, the runs haven’t been much different than what I was already doing. But things are going to get intense. Even looking at the schedule is daunting. At this point, I can’t even imagine completing a 6 or 7 mile run, much less 13.1. That sounds absolutely insane.

I’ve always thought of runners as belonging to a species of their own—running must come easily and naturally to them, and they haven’t ever really had to work for it. Like cheetahs. They hardly even have to try, they just run, and they enjoy it, and how weird is that?

I, on the other hand, have had to work and sweat and fight for nearly every step I’ve ever run, so clearly: not a natural-born runner. I’m hoping to discover in the next weeks and months that I’ve been completely wrong about this, and running is, in fact, a learned skill.

So, my half marathon sounds sort of unreachable to me right now. But by gum, I will get it done, if only to prove to myself that I can do something big. Pure mulish stubbornness—I signed up for this race and so help me I will not let that registration fee go to waste.

And purely to remind you that you can never believe what you see on the internet—it’s all fun and games until Mom asks you to pause your play for 2 seconds for a picture.

If you are going to be running the Utah Valley Half Marathon this year, will you let me know? I’d love to hear who else will be there.

And if you’ve run a half before, I’m ready and waiting for your advice and encouragement and ‘what to expect’s, please and thank you :-)