50mph winds and the Wiss!

 When I woke up Saturday morning, I thought I was back home in Florida in the middle of a hurricane. We had 40-50mph winds all day and into the next morning. There were trees knocked down, traffic lights out and cows flying through the air...ok well maybe not flying cows, but it was windy. I was lucky that my long run would be on Sunday and not in the middle of the crazy winds. John however rode his bike in this, and I was expecting to get a call saying he was in the hospital, but fortunately he came home unscathed!.

Sunday was my 20mile run. I was running with Kayla and Ed from the Moorestown Running group. I was so excited to have people to run with, and both of them are great runners. We met at Lloyd Hall and headed out to the Wissahickon. The "Wiss" as we call it, is part of the Fairmount Park system. It is 1,800 acres comprise of mountain bike trails, rock climbing, running paths, horseback riding and beautiful views.

For the 20 miles we were going to do an out-and-back course. From Lloyd hall to the begining of the Wis, it was 5 miles, then we would run 5 miles inside the park, taking us to the red bridge as our turnaround point, and back 10miles. I wasn't sure what the conditions of the trail would be, but we were hoping for the best. The first mile is paved, but once you start on Forbidden Drive, it turns into compact dirt/gravel/trail. As we entered Forbidden Drive there was a orange detour sign indicating a closed section, not sure what to expect we still moved forward. The closed section wasn't to bad, had to crawl under some stuff and go over, but nothing we could handle. There was still tons of ice and snow on the trails. Not much sun gets in, so not much had been melted. The worst part of it all would be the embeded foot prints. After we had run for a couple of days, people were back out on the trail on foot and bike and their foot prints had frozen, leaving craters all over the path. It was hard to get your footing and my knees and ankles were not happy.

Running is such a mental sport. When I run, I break it into sections. For this run it was comprised of 8 sections. Llyod Hall to bridge, bridge to concrete entrance, concrete entrance to forbidden drive, forbidden drive to red bridge and then loop it back. So you mentally know how far you have to go and have left. My watch can tell me that stuff, but I like to rely on my surroundings more instead of technology.

The run ended on a high not with a finish time of 2:44:00 for 20.75miles. That was an avg pace of 7:54/mile. I took it easy the rest of the day, epson salt bath and several meals and renting Sex and the City II. It was the perfect end to the weekend.

This week is a recovery week and a trip to DC for a baby room decorating extravaganza, baby shower and marathon course scouting. Can't wait!

More later on my workouts for this week!

Shorts, I ran in shorts....

The past two days have been glorious. I ran outside in SHORTS! I can't get to excited, the temps are dropping, but it sure was nice. We even turned the heat off and opened the windows. I think Puma was the happiest of the bunch, nice long walk without a sweater on!!

I'm excited to have established a good group to run with. Last night I ran with Terry and Kayla out of the Moorestown Running Company. I hope to join them this weekend for my long run. They are both super fast and really positive, enthusiastic people. I also broke down and got a new pair of running shoes. Since I got to the group run early, I took the opportunity to speak with Ralph about my toe issues. I looked at the bottom of my shoes and knew exactly what my problem was. I roll my foot in when I run, but I have been wearing them to long that there was no more support inside and I started rolling my foot out, creating the blisters on the outer toes. I know my blisters and sore bone won't go away overnight, but it's the right step to recovery.

I am currently reading the book, "The Grace To Race". It's about a nun, Sister Madonna Buder. She is an amazing woman, runs marathons, does Ironmans, hikes and helps woman in need. Her book has become very inspirational for me. Not on a super religious level, but more on a "have faith" level. I really recommend this book to anyone who is struggling for inspiration for anything. Reading about her life and how she struggled and overcame obstacles really keeps my chin up. I also learned in the book to put tea bags on blisters, will try that tonight!

I have a 20mile run this weekend and off to the antique market/flea market for some scouting. I hope to get a booth when the weather gets nicer to start selling my baby items I have been making.

Have an awesome weekend.

My Head is Spinning

      

The snow is finally clearing off the ground and the temperatures the other day were actually above 35 degrees. Could we be heading into spring... I dare to speak of it more! Instead, I have go where I hoped I would not have to go...spin class (dah, dah, dah, dummmm!!!)

The last time and only time I have ever taken a spin class was back in 2002, and was dragged there by a friend. When you live in Florida there is no need for spin classes, but in the northeast, that's a whole different story. I was getting tired of riding my bike in my living room, so I joined the loud, hot, sweaty filled spin room at the gym and spun away. I have always been a “sit in the front row” type of person, but with spin, I sit all the way in the back. I don’t agree with the instructor on what he has the class doing, it’s not how I would ever ride my bike on the road, so why would I train that way. So, I sit in the back to be out of peoples way and hopefully the instructor won’t be too annoyed when I’m not jumping up and down on my seat!! It is a great workout, but I am looking forward to more daylight and warmer weather.



 
I also have gone to a place that I never thought I would go and that is wearing a fuel belt while running. I used to just carry a bottle, but my hands get cold and it’s annoying. I was returning something at REI the other day and they had fuel belts on sale, so I got one. Besides feeling like a pack mule while running, I actually liked it. I always thought it was dorky and didn’t see the need for all that water, but now I do. I met John and Jordan at the park the other day, and I was able to carry food, my phone, keys, 16 ounces of water and not one thing in my hand. Every time I go out wearing my fuel belt, I feel like I’m going on an expedition, I’m learning to embrace the things I didn’t think I would want to!!

Training has been going. Not as well as I would have liked, but I’m getting in all the long, hard runs that I need. The marathon is in just over a month, and two days after the race, John and I make settlement on our first home!!! I had been holding off saying anything in print about buying a home because I didn’t want to jinx it, but it’s official, we bought a house!!!!

The house is the one I spoke of before, a 3bedroom twin, in a great neighborhood and across the street from the state park where I train!! There is a ton of work to be done, but whats training for an Ironman if I don’t have something big to do on the side!!!

Heading to the gym tonight for an hour on the treadmill, wish me luck!

Also, Happy Birthday to Beth Walz, President of Adventure Woman. Hope you had a fantastic day!!!

My New Enemy

Since I have been an athlete I have been pretty much injury free. (right now I am knocking on lots of wood!) The extent of my injuries have either been a muscle tear in the quad or an agitation in my Achilles. Not to bad right? Since the Louisville Ironman, I have been fighting a bad blister on my left pinkie toe. It has now turned into a small island on my foot, that like a mood ring changes with heat! It is painful to the touch, burns and itches at times. It is no longer a blister, and really not sure what it is. The good news is, my new little enemy is not alone, it has a friend now and it's called my right pinkie toe! AWESOME. And then a third friend came to my big toe, and I'm not really sure what it is. At this point it is painful to run because of the friction, so for the first mile, I have to run through the pain until the pain numbs away. I can't wear any of my cute high heels because the toe box is too narrow, so instead I wear a very fashionable pair of sequin slippers...to work! (they sound ghetto but they are so cute, I didn't even know they were slippers!) I think it is time to go see a doctor and probably get a new pair of shoes. Yeah:(

On a happy note, John and I have found a house that we really like. Without getting into details of offers and inspections and stuff like that because I don't want to jinx anything, I can tell you a few things. One of my most favorite things about the house is the fact that it is 2 minutes away from Tyler State Park, my most favorite park. This is the park that I do my training in and take Jordan and Puma to. We can walk to the park from the house!! In addition to the park, it's also in an amazing cycling area, great climbs and no traffic. The school district is ranked in the top 20 in the state of PA and it's close to great grocery stores and sushi!! What more could I need....maybe new floors. We are so excited about this house and I will keep you posted.

My training has been coming along rather well. It's so crazy how I'm not as stressed about single digit weather and inches of snow on the ground and how it effects my training. Instead, I adapt and change things around. I know what I'm capable of and what I can do, which is making this go around more enjoyable.

I am on a recovery week this week, but since the weather was not kosher this past weekend, I will only take the end half of the week easy. We are supposed to get more snow on Wed, so I have sucked it up and decided to start taking spin classes at the gym. Not thrilled about being in a small stinky room with loud techno music and cheering people, but it beats riding alone in my house.

Hope everyone has a great week.

Snow, Sewing, Houses and More

Training in the cold north has not been what it has in the past. I have really been enjoying it. Part of that is because I have a great group of people to run with. Last sat a group of us headed out in the snowy, cold weather. By the end of my 17 mile run, icicles had formed on my eyebrows and lashes. It was pretty amazing!

I am 10 weeks away from the National Marathon. I have been feeling pretty good on my long runs and have been running faster then what I should be. I'm really excited to see what time I will run.

My Chesapeakman training has also started. Last week marked the beginning of it. I will say last week was pretty tiring, but I know it's a matter of time before I get used to it again.

In addition to the training, John and I have been house hunting. We have been looking for our first home. It has been fun, exciting and stressful all at the same time. We have to be out of our apt by the end of April, so keep your fingers crossed!

I will have more to write soon, just wanted to check in while my head was above water. Hope everyone has a good week.

Marathon Training Has begun

The winter is here, and my body is still not happy!
This will be my 5th winter in the northeast, and i'm still not sure how I feel about the weather.

Yesterday started my first official day of my training program for the National Marathon. March 26th is the race down and will be held in Washington D.C. I have trained for marathons before in the winter, but i usually didn't start my program until late February, but for this one, I will be running through the whole winter. In addition to the cold and the wind, there also isn't any light. Visibility is kinda important when running, especially if I want to avoid a sprained ankle. Since I want to avoid running on the treadmill as much as possible, I will be borrowing a head lamp from my cousin to use when running. It kinda looks like the ones miners wear, but not as bulky. I also wear reflective bands on my arms and ankles so cars can see me and not run me over. I know I will be looking forward to my weekend runs, even though they are the longest runs, I will at least have daylight!

The goals I have set for myself for the National Marathon are within reach, but still will push me in my training. I want to run a 3:20:00, that will give me a PR by 6 minutes and also a qualifying time for the New York Marathon. It's important for me to have a successful marathon, as it will help set me up for success at the Chesapeakeman Ultra Distance Tri.

My training for this week:

Mon- Off
Tue- Easy 6mi @ 8:38pace
Wed- XT/rest
Thur- Tempo Run 5mi with 3 mile@ 7:12pace
Fri- 45min Swim
Sat- 1hr Bike
Sun- 10mile run @ 8:38pace

I hope the snow stays away for as long as it can, I'm not ready for that yet:(

Have a great week everyone!

Ironman Vs. Ultra Distance Triathlon

 It wasn't until recent that I found out that there was a difference between an Ironman and an Ultra Distance Triathlon. When you look at the distance for each component they are the same and when you look at time to complete by, they are the same, and they both follow USAT sanctioned rules, so why the big difference. It's a little thing called Trademarking!

The Ultra Distance Tri I am doing in September is just that. It's not a part of the Ford "Ironman" Series. When I cross that finish line after 11+ hours, the announcer will not say, "Megan Howe, you are an IRONMAN!!" Is there a benefit of one over the other. Why will some people only do "Ironman" events and non other.

I think the thought that some people have, is that it's not an Ironman. Even though it's the same distance, same pain, same time training, because it's not called one, then it must not be as hard. Well according to Triathlete Magazine, the Chesapeakman Ultra Distance Tri, is listed as one of the top 10 hardest/best ultra distance events. There were only a few "Ford IM" events listed on there, so maybe there should be so much hype over a trademark.

Don't get me wrong though, I am not knocking that series by any means. My first IM was a Ford series event, and I did it because I wanted all the lights, and more so to hear the announcer say in front of everyone that I was an Ironman. But now that I have done that, experienced that, I have new priorities. I want to cross that finish line and have my family see me do that. So I picked a race not only for it's logistical location, but also because it is such a well run and organized event. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if there is a TM next to the them, you are still swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles. That in itself is awesome.

Yesterday I registered for the National Marathon in Washington DC. I wanted to do a few races this year before the big one, and I also needed extra motivation have a successful winter training as well. The marathon is at the end of March, so that will leave my training for some nice snowy days! There are a few things I will need to invest in for the marathon training. Winter running shoes, head lamp for running in the dark, and blinky reflective arm and ankle bands so cars don't run me over! I really don't want to spend all my training in the gym, that would be terrible. My official start date for the Marathon training is December 6th and the UDT (ultra distance tri) will be January 3. I have already written my marathon program out and have started to write the UDT program. John and I will be traveling to Florida in May to ride the MS150 Charity bike ride for Multiple Sclerosis with my dad. More about that later!

On a final note, I am so happy, excited, proud, oh and excited that I will have a training partner and a day of-suffer through the pain partner at the UDT. My cousin Marita is doing Chesapeakman. You will be hearing a lot about her, because we will be training a lot together.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. My family will be celebrating our Thanksmas holiday (not sure if i ever explained that). Can't wait to see the family.