A bit concerned

First - please excuse any typos since I am typing this on my iPad.

On with the post..... As many of you know, I am on a quest to complete 12 half marathons in 12 months. This month will be number 3 and will be in Granby, Colorado. Why Colorado? Well after doing the hilly Minneapolis half marathon in very warm weather, I was not looking forward to my scheduled July half in Black River Falls. That half is known to be very challenging due to hills and any race in Wisconsin in July is destined to be hot and humid.

So, since we were headed to Colorado on a family vacation in July, I thought I would see if there were any halfs in the area we would be in. Sure enough... The inaugural running of the Middle Park Half was within 20 miles of where we were going and half way through the vacation, so hopefully I would have acclimated to the elevation a little bit.

Now why I thought a race in Colorado would not be hilly is beyond me! If you want to see how hilly the course is so you can laugh at my pending misery, you can click here

Believe it or not, the significant change in elevation is not what has me concerned. Instead it is that despite an exhaustive Internet search, I could not find the answers to my basic questions. Those who know me are probably thinking, "Yeah right! Allison's 'basic' questions are probably along the lines of, 'What is the exact elevation change between each mile?' or 'What will the beer selection at the post race party be?". Well, in desperation I finally sent the race organizer an email with my questions (See! I was able to find his email - EASILY). So I am able to show you how BASIC my questions are:

1. Is there race packet pick up on Friday? If so, where? If not, where on Saturday?
2. Where is the start and where should we park? (the parking webpage is blank)
3. Is energy gel being handed out? If so, what kind and at what mile?
4. What miles are the aid/water stations?

Pretty basic - right? Yikes! Now, the next question is whether or not I will get a response! If not, it will make me think I had better come prepared to completely support myself (Gu and H2O) for the entire 13.1 miles - assuming of course the race actually takes place!

Well, I will let you know how it goes!

Update: my questions have been answered!

13.1 x 2

Today I ran my second half marathon in my attempt to run a half marathon a month for a year. For those of you who need a little help with math that means 10 more marathons in the next 10 months. The Cellcom half in Green Bay was the first one. This one was the Team Ortho half in Minneapolis not to be confused with the big mnpls Medtronic marathon in the fall. I believe this one was just over 4000 with 700 running the full. So it is quite a bit smaller than Green Bay.

I stayed at the Depot Renaissance Hotel which is where the expo and start line are at. I had a nice view of a long line of port a potties from my window. The room was nice. The expo was not. Two store booths and about 4 race booths and that was it. No crowd though - so I was able to buy a cute t- shirt and a pouch for my fuel belt. So, i guess it was good enough for me!

They gave us a nice technical t-.shirt and our choice of either a black or white hat or visor. No goody bag, but given the lack of useful items I have gotten at past races and the copious amounts of useless paper advertisements, I was okay with that.

The race - So I looked at the course and elevations and beyond a long and steep hill from mile 6-7 it didn't seem too bad. I should have known how much those elevation charts lie, lie, lie! It was going to be a warm one too Upper 60's - not as hot as when I ran the Chicago marathon in 2009, but at least 10 -20 degrees warmer than I would have liked.

The start went off without a hitch, but they did use a recorded version of the National Anthem which seemed a bit odd. I realized that no matter how much a singer doesn't hit all those high notes, I would much rather have a live person sing it. It pulls at the heart strings a bit
more.

The course is a scenically beautiful course - especially the first half which is relatively flat. I was actually able to look around and try to take in some of the scenery. I thought I was running fine, but given the temperature and hills in the second half, I may have been a bit fast. The long hill killed me. I was going to try and pick up the pace after the hill but I had to be satisfied just trying to get my rhythm back. The turn
around was after mile 9. I THOUGHT it was at mile nine and I know that a lot of people were thinking the same thing since I heard a lot of, "where is the turn around!?!". I think if you could see thought bubbles above everyone's heads they all would say the same thing plus a few swear words.

I wasn't very impressed with the water/Gatorade stops. Volunteers weren't good about yelling out if they had water or Gatorade. The second water stop was woefully under staffed. My biggest gripe is that they didn't have Gu until mile 9. Come on! The race is 3/4 done and NOW you are offering Gu??? Tsk, tsk..

Of course the long hill going up seemed much shorter going down. PLUS there were two smaller hills the mile before the finish. Several curse words were running through my mind and I am sure the race director's ears were burning and not from good things being said about
him. Hills are never my forte and putting them at the end of a hilly, hot 13 miles makes me want to walk. So I did. I don't care if you think
less of me. I kept on thinking "It is a beautiful morning. I should walk so I can enjoy it! This lack of mental stamina is why I am done with marathons except for Disney where I am determined to have a "fun" marathon. If that is possible.

The post race offerings were disappointing. My biggest gripe is that they only had small glasses of water, same as the ones on the course and also filled 1/2 to (if you were lucky) 3/4 full. I am not usually a big water drinker , but after a race I am, especially on a warm day. I want a BOTTLE of water or at least more than one place to get a puny glass. No chocolate chip cookies either. That ranks up there with not having beer. Granted we had free drink tickets to two area bars, but it is not the same as sipping a beer as you watch other runners finish. But of course this is Minnesota, not Wisconsin. On the plus side they were handing out whole bananas and apples. They also handed you paper bags with a bag of chips, chocolate teddy-type Grahams and my favorite post race treat - a Nutroll! Unfortunately it was bite size' slit doesn't make up for no chocolate chip cookies.

So, it was an okay race but there is definitely room for improvement.

If there are spelling errors, blame my iPad.

A new Gadget!

Shut up and Run is giving a way a new gadget that might just get me back to swimming. It is a waterproof case for a iPod shuffle and waterproof earphones! The waterproof case goes on the back of your goggles. I can just imagine putting on some good tunes or a good book and just swimming the day away. Well, not quite - but it sure would help motivate me to dive in that Sparta pool at 6:00 am this summer! And you know me... I am always looking for a new gadget and I have been having a hard time topping my homemade arm warmers!

Sure fire crankiness

If this happened to me, I would definitely be CRANKY.

Spring Fever

He's Baaacckkkk

Today while running I mentioned that I was looking for some funny material for the blog. There was is some good worm harvesting material.... but I am still refining it. However, the running blog Gods shined on me today.

I expect all the Spartans running Green Bay to finish their run with the Hitchhiker move or the double happy hands!

I know it has been a while since I have posted. This weather is not of the motivating, "Let's get out and RUN!" kind. It has been crappy, crappy, crappy - one more time CRAPPY!. I suppose it is a good thing since my ankle was "causing problems" - runner lingo for injured. So I needed to take a week of to rest it and then gradually build back up. The weather helped with the gradual part. The silver lining is that it would really have sucked if I had to not run during a week of beautiful weather. Yes, my ankle seems to be doing better. I have an appointment with PT, but keep on delaying it to see if I really need it. The pain has subsided, but I still soak it in a cold bucket of water after each run. I think it was caused by running with my dog. His pulling caused my gait to change, thus putting more stress on my ankle. Needless to say, He is NOT happy about not running anymore. Everyday when I return from my morning run he lies on his bed and gives me the silent guilt trip.

Today was a tough run. I ran 11.5 yesterday and normally I wouldn't run today, but with the weather I have been a bit short on weekly mileage. So the pace was much, much slower than normal. And throughout it I was thinking, "Maybe 3 will be fine today, maybe I will cut it off here, maybe I will cut it off here, maybe I will cut it off here." But I made it through and by the end, although I was still running slow, my body didn't feel like it was going to grumble down and collapse.

I wish I had a funny some funny video to share, but no such luck. Hopefully with the racing season some new ones will come out.

Thoughts during a Marathon

This video is so good! Although I have to say my "crazy" stages were not quite as happy, more along the lines of psycho killer than goof ball.

2011 the year of running?

It looks like 2011 and part of 2012 will be the year of running for me.

I have committed (kinda) to running a half marathon each month starting in May. AND I just registered for the 2010 Disney Goofy Challenge (half marathon and marathon back to back).

I took a quick peek at Jeff Galloway's training plan for the Goofy. I saw a 26 mile run!!!! Good thing there is not a Un DO!!!! button on the registration.

Today I goofed and set my alarm wrong which met Christy had to run by herself. I could say I did set it right, but my alarm felt the world wide grief experienced by all Badger fans when Bucky failed to win his game last night and decided to be kind to at least me and change my wake up time from 4:30 to 6:30. I was punished by the fact that I had to to my entire long run by myself. And of course after not running for 3 days due to weather and work, my body felt like H*ll for the first 4 miles. There was no one to distract me from my misery, so consider me punished!

Are you curious what half marathons I have planned? Here they are... I am still looking for one in December.

May – Green Bay Cellcom

June 5 – Minneapolis Half Marathon

July 16 – Karner Blue Half Marathon – Black River Falls

August 21 – Madison Mini Half Marathon

Sept 11 - Elroy Tunnel Trails Half Marathon

Oct 29 – Summit Credit Union Haunted Hustle Marathon http://www.capitolviewevents.com/hauntedhustle.html

Nov 6 – Rails to Trails, NorwalkWI

December – Sparta Half Marathon??? (for some reason there are no half marathons in MN, IL, IA or WI in December)

January 2012 – Disney

February 12 – Sandbox indoor half (new Richmond) or Rochester Lace up against Breast Cancer

March 26 - Dick Lytie Spring Classic Half Marathon Green Bay

April 15 – Reedsburg Medical Center Vet Fest Half Marathon

Adolescent Humor - NRR

Warning - This is not running related (NRR).

Jim and I frequent a local Chinese Buffet restaurant (slim pickings in a small town) and when we do, we indulge in a little adolescent humor when reading our fortune cookies. This little game was taught to me by my good friend, Peter Schill, when I was in grade school. A group of families including Peter's were in Milwaukee to see the musical Annie. The families had gathered at a Chinese restaurant and the kids were allowed to all sit at a table together. Peter told us that when we read our fortunes out loud we should add "in bed" to the end. Now, I should point out that I was one of the youngest at this table of about 10 kids so many were were young teenagers. Needless to say, the adolescent humor was abundant. I remember being slightly aghast/embarrassed by adding such a sexual thing to my cookie's fortune. I wish children today had that same innocence. Anyway... I digress.

Needless to say, the addition of those two simple words caused much belly laughter and tears. It was so funny, that from that day forward whenever I read my cookie's fortune I would add "in bed". Of course when the other people I was dining with have not heard of this game, I will explain it (somewhat embarrassingly) and it never fails to elicit laughter.

So, today Jim and I got quite a kick out of the combination of ours:

His: "You will always get what you want through your charm and personality (in bed)."
Mine: "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst (in bed)."

Oy! A month

I see I have not posted in over a month! Yikes! You would think with the spring weather running would be on my mind constantly and I would have much to post about. Hmmmm. Not the case.

Although I have been wondering when will be the first day we can wear shorts. I was thinking that on January 1 each year we should start a betting pool to see can guess the right day. However, with the group I run with there would have to be copious rules to prevent cheating. I would put it past Mike to wear shorts on a -17 day just to get a free donut. Such challenges!

My ice cleats are still sitting on the floor of my car. The other day I thought I about moving them to storage, but I just don't want to take the chance of jinxing an early spring. So, I think I will let them sit there for another month to make sure we don't get any snow in April. In case you didn't know, my actions control the weather. Just like where Christy sits during a Green Bay Packer game determines if they win or lose.

I saw that the Boston Marathon has tightened their qualification times. Sigh....

Spring is flying by (and it is only the 2nd day!)! Those of the group that is marathon training has been saying how fast (and easy) their training has been. They think they are fooling us veteran runners in the hopes of making us regret not training for another marathon. HA! We are on to you! We all know that marathon training NEVER and I mean NEVER goes fast AND easy!!! You think you are soooooooo sly!

Well, that is it for the rambling. Hopefully I will be posting more than once a month in the future.

New Shoes

I have been searching for a pair of running shoes that fits my personality and I have finally found them! The bonus is that they are Asics!

Looking Good!

Below is another great find from Running is Funny. I particularly like: #6 and #19. Little do they know that at mile 19 is not sweat, it is actual tears! And they must have gotten #25 from my brainwaves because for me there is no comparison to the eternal hell of the last 1.2 miles of a marathon!

I love the fact that the forbidden, "Looking Good!" is the first one!

Marathoners are eternally grateful for the motivation and support of their friends as they endure the tribulations of covering 26.2 miles. Geoffrey Lussier’s friends, however, went the extra mile, so to speak.

At each mile of the Houston Marathon, Lussier was greeted with a large poster of his face, along with some comedic or motivational words.

“I did not know until I came over the bridge at Mile 1 and saw my face,” he said. “At first I wondered how many they had put up, then I kept on seeing them. Around Mile 6 or 7, I couldn’t wait to see the next one.”

The Houston Chronicle kindly posted the contents of each mile marker to accompany its story. Here they are:

• 1. • Lookin’ good! (So far. …)

• 2. • Adrenaline got you this far. All guts from here!

• 3. • Seriously, who fartleked?

• 4. • It’s all uphill from here.

• 5. • Runner X-ing

• 6. • You’re not slow, you’re enjoying the course.

• 7. • Relax. You’re not going to win.

• 8. • I love the smell of 22,000 runners in the morning.

• 9. • 26.2, because 26.3 would be CRAZY!

• 10. • When Chuck Norris hits walls, they fall down.

• 11. • Johnny Knoxville wouldn’t even do this to himself.

• 12. • Only 5.3 miles to finish! (if you take the most direct route)

• 13. • You’re already a winner. You won the lottery to get here.

• 14. • Nobody to blame but yourself.

• 15. • Toenails were made to fall off.

• 16. • If you were a Kenyan, you’d be done by now.

• 17. • Shirt, how do thou chafe me? Let me count the ways. …

• 18. • You paid $115 for this?

• 19. • Sweating = fat cells crying.

• 20. • Your training runs ended here.

• 21. • At this point, it will hurt just as much to walk.

• 22. • Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall you just hit.

• 23. • Graveyard ahead. Look alive.

• 24. • Give me a high five!

• 25. • If pain is temporary, why does this feel like an eternity?

• 26. • Congratulations!!!! Almost. …

Have No Fears

For those of you who have been worried about the things that the Morning Running Group will make you do once you join us, and I am not talking about running a half or full marathon, have no fears, what happened below will NOT happen to you on one of our morning runs. Thankfully Mike has not yet perfected his ability to put people into a break dancing trance. I can't speak for Tom though since we have not seen him for many, many months..

See more funny videos and TBT at Todays Big Thing.

The future?

I need to share something. I have had a vision. I have seen what the Sparta Morning Running Group is going to be like in the future (probably within 5 years). Through an amazing breakthrough in technology, I was able to digitally record my vision in order to share it with the world.

Here it is. Prepare yourself.