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Guest Post - Run 3 Race Series

Posted by Unknown | Labels: guest post, Nicole F, race recap

Resident fastie, Nicole Fritz, runs a lot of local races. There is a local series of races of various distances put on by the local park district. It is quite popular among local folks as you can sign up for all three races for 1 price.

Joliet Park District’s

Run3 Race Series

Joliet Park District offers a great series of 3 races throughout the year. All 3 races are held in or around Joliet, IL, which is approx 1 hour southwest of Chicago. All 3 races are also located just a few miles off of Interstate 80, so they are also easy to get to. The first race is held in the Spring, the second is in the Summer and the third and final race is held in the Fall. For completing all 3 races, participants receive a fabulous hooded sweatshirt. This year’s hoodie was a charcoal gray color and 2011’s was a basic black. I wear both of mine ALL THE TIME.

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Race #1: Rockdale Ramblin 10k

The first race of the series is held in April in Rockdale, IL which is right off of exit 131 on I-80. This 10k is declared the “toughest course in the Midwest” because of some major hills. The weather was perfect though, with some chilly temps and overcast skies so the hills didn’t seem so bad (to me at least).

Pre race with some friends! (Mag Mile Runner)

During the race, I somehow forgot that this course was TOUGH and I wasn’t supposed to be running as fast as I was. I was on track to cross the line with a PR if I just held onto my 7:15 pace… Sure enough, I got to the finish line and my Dad snapped this pic of me…

Crossing the finish line with a shiny new 30 second PR! J

At the completion of the 10k, finishers are awarded a “dog tag” as a token of their achievement. That’s one of my favorite things about JPD’s races… there always have finisher’s medal’s!

Age Group awards with Mag Mile Runner

Notice the gray hoodie that I’m wearing in the above photo… this is the official race shirt for the 10k!! Down the left sleeve is written “TOUGHEST 10k IN THE MIDWEST.”

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Race #2: Sundowner 5k

The 2^ndrace of the series is held in mid July, on a Thursday evening at 7pm. For this years race, it was extremely hot and humid and race organizers encouraged participants to simply run for fun. I listened to what they said and therefore finished with my worst 5k time in many years… because of this, I finished just out of contention for an age group award. L

The course itself for this race is very pretty. It is basically just 2 loops through a pretty forest preserve. There are a few rolling hills but nothing too challenging at all.

Basic white tech tee (unisex sizing)

Finisher’s medal for a 5k? Yes, please! J

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Race #3: Red Eye 8k

The 3^rd and final race of the run3 series is the Red Eye 8k. Held on a Sunday in November, this race starts super early, at 7:15am. It begins at Inwood Memorial Stadium on Jefferson Street in Joliet. The course winds on streets, down a path, around St. Joseph’s hospital and then back to Inwood, where the finish is on the blue running track.

Frankfort/New Lenox runners post race

Age Group Awards

JPD gives out age group awards for total time to complete all 3 races in their series. I was lucky enough to earn first in my age group (25 – 29) and got to take home the pint glass in my right hand (above). Also, I am wearing this years run3 sweatshirt in the above picture.

Run3 Goodies:

· Rockdale Ramblin – Great quality gray hooded sweatshirt, finisher’s dog tag medal and yellow age group coaster

· Sundowner 5k – White tech tee and finisher’s medal

· Red Eye 8k – Black long sleeve tee shirt, finisher’s medal black age group coaster

· Run3 series – Charcoal gray hooded sweatshirt and age group pint glass

I LOVE THIS RACE SERIES!!!

More information can be found @ http://www.jpdrun3.com/. The dates for next year have already posted, so be sure to mark April 13^th, July 18^th and November 3^rd down on your calendar!!

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Guest Post - Amanda @ Get To Goal

Posted by Unknown | Labels: Amanda, guest post

Today's guest blog post comes from Amanda! She may seem familiar as we've run together a few times over the past 1.5 years we've known each other (see slide show below). I hope you enjoy reading along! :)

Chicago Marathon 2012

Illinois Marathon 2012

Grand Rapids Marathon 2011

About me…

My name is Amanda and my blog is wwww.gettogoal-amanda.blogspot.com. I originally started my blog as a weight loss/healthy living blog while trying to lose the last 10 lbs of 90 lbs to get to my goal weight but since then, I realized there are goals throughout life so it fits no matter what circumstance I’m in. It has since then turned more into a running blog.

I never used to run growing up or in school. I hated running the mile in gym class (which was the only running I did every year). I have been working out since I was 11 years old though, doing fitness classes and at 16, my dad signed us all up at the gym. I wasn’t too terribly active in school and hated sports (because I am just awful at them all). I joined bowling for 3 years in high school because they needed people and I liked to bowl. I was on the swim team my junior year (straight into varsity swimming!) because they needed people (we had only 3 people on varsity). Both in bowling and in swimming during my first year, I was given the most improved award and my senior year of bowling I was given the MVP award. I’m pretty proud of those awards because even though I wasn’t the best in the sport, I was the most reliable and I always tried my best (and I got the 110% award in swimming, lol).

Why do you like to run?

I like to run because it’s a huge challenge for me. Whether I’m running 1 mile or 26.2 miles, there are many times I struggle or have self-doubts about it. Nothing compares to the challenges I face, mentally and physically, while running.

Why did you start to run?

As I said, I never used to run. My dad started running when I was a teenager and was doing 5k’s up to 10k’s. Sometimes I would go for short runs with him but really don’t remember much of it. He was faster and better so it wasn’t often. When I was about 24 years old, I had a friend that was turning 30. She wanted to run a 5k on her 30^th birthday and asked me to do it with her. I was overweight (well over 200 pounds) but decided to go ahead. I never really trained. I think we would go for a few runs every once in a while. I ran my first 5k on September 20, 2003 in about 40 minutes. I kept doing a couple races every year (the Shamrock Shuffle 8k and the Ridge Run 5k) even after my friend stopped. In 2006, I decided to run a half marathon with a coworker (who was also not a runner). If you notice, I just wrote that she was “also not a runner.” I still didn’t consider myself a runner at this point even though I had been running for 2.5 years. I never trained and would run maybe once a week if that, taking several weeks off at a time. I struggled at my 5k’s and 8k’s. I always walked within that first mile (or within a couple miles). I ran alone and didn’t know anything about running or know anyone else that ran.

My co-worker and I ran that half marathon together in August, 2006 (the Chicago Distance Classic, now called the Rock N’ Roll Half). I really struggled after mile 6 and we just tried to have as much fun as possible. I walked a lot. I took pictures around mile 9. And I started to cry when I crossed the finish line. It was the hardest thing both physically and mentally I ever had to do. I was exhausted and sore and swore up and down I would NEVER be ABLE to run a full marathon (nor did I want to).

It wasn’t until I started losing weight (and lost about 50-60 lbs) that my running improved. This was in 2009. Since 2003, I had been running races between 215-250 lbs. I never gave up but I never got better. In 2009, I was now less than 200 lbs. I remember one day I went running, I picked a route that would be 3 miles out and 3 miles back (6 total). I ran the whole thing. From start to finish. I wanted to cry. I had never run that distance without stopping before. I didn’t even realize I did it until I got home and thought about what I had just done. That is the moment that I finally realized I was a runner. This is not to say you are not a runner if you walk, or if you run 13 min miles, or whatever. But for me, not knowing anyone in the running community, I never considered myself a runner until that moment.

What is your favorite distance to race?

I don’t have an answer to this. I’ve read other people’s answers to this question and I think about it often. I think I like the 10k to 15k distance the best. Long enough to be a good challenge, but not too long.

What is your favorite race?

I’ve done the Shamrock Shuffle 8k every year except one since I started running (so since 2004). At the time, it was the first major run of the year and everyone always has a good time there. The energy of the runners is amazing and there are typically some great costumes. Times have changed however and it’s not the first major run of the year and it’s hugely overcrowded but I still love it as one of my favorites.

Name 5 random facts about yourself

1. I used to bite my fingernails until I was in my mid-20’s

2. I’ve been skydiving twice and love it! I actually love a lot of extreme things which shock people because I’m a pretty shy and quiet person generally.

3. I played the piano when I was younger and am a genius at Twinkle Twinkle Little Star…and I know the theme song from Cheers.

4. I wanted to be an eye doctor when I was in high school.

5. I can drive a stick shift car thanks to my mom teaching us to drive on hers (sort of stole this from Mag Mile Runner but it’s still true).

What is your favorite running temperature/weather condition?

If you are a facebook friend of mine or a run friend (or lucky enough to be both), you probably know I HATE running in the cold weather. But my ideal temp is 75, partly sunny with a slight lake breeze! Ahhhhh!!!!

What is your most favorite piece of race swag? (Medal, shirt, belt buckle)

I never used to run for the swag. I don’t even know where my first 2 half marathon medals are! So I’m not a huge swag person. I do like getting medals now though.

What is your biggest running accomplishment?

That’s easy, running the 2011 Chicago Marathon. As I said before, I never thought I COULD run a full marathon. I didn’t think I was physically able to do it. Now I have 3 full marathons under my belt. Never say never…

What is your next goal in running?

PR my darn 5k time! I don’t consider myself a fast runner and I’m sitting on a PR of 27:55 from November 2010! Time to change that.

What is something you want people to take away from this post?

Always believe in yourself and never give up. It may be cliché but it’s true. Nothing is impossible in the sport of running. They say running is 90% mental, and I firmly believe that. I ran a half marathon at about 230 lbs. I hear people say they can’t run until they lose weight. That’s crap and I’m proof! It’s ok to walk. You don’t have to run straight through. Just getting out there is an accomplishment.

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Guest Post - Mag Mile Runner

Posted by Unknown | Labels: guest post, MaggieW

Today's guest post comes from Maggie at Mag Mile Runner (again... thanks for 2 posts!!!) I am knee-deep in studying so I will not be back to posting until after December 1. I hope you enjoy!

What is your name and what is your blog (if applicable)?

I’m Maggie. My personal blog is MagMileRunner.com, but I also manage ChicagoRunningBloggers.com and RunChicagoSouth.com.

Why do you like to run?

So many reasons …

I enjoy my time spent running solo, it’s a good way to clear my head.

I enjoy running with others, new friends or running buddies I’ve known for awhile.

I like the benefits of running - I feel healthier than I have in a long time. I have more energy than ever. And I like being able to eat whatever I want.

I run because I want to keep pushing myself and see how far or fast I can go.

And I run because I don’t want to forget that I’m lucky to be able to run. I have two healthy legs, two healthy lungs, and a healthy heart. Not everyone does. So I don’t want to take that for granted.

What is your favorite distance to race?

I enjoy every distance! It’s fun to go fast at the 5-10K distance. Half marathons are fun because they are challenging, but attainable without taking over your whole life. I’ve only done one marathon so far, but it was such an awesome experience and so rewarding.

What is your favorite race?

I have done a lot of races that I really enjoyed, but so far no absolute favorite yet.

Even though it’s expensive, I like the Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half. It’s a fun, well done race, and you can get a lot of swag at the expo.

I like the “small town” half marathons that I’ve done - First Midwest Half in Palos Heights, IL, Sunburst Half in South Bend, IN, Applefest Half in Hollis, NH. All very well done races, and it’s nice to have “room” to run on a quiet course.

I really enjoyed the Rockdale Ramblin Run 10K (in Rockdale, IL). Small town race, lots of hills (which I actually enjoy, sort of), good crowd, you get a hoodie and “finishers medal” (dog tag), and it’s in mid-April, so good chance for weather.

Name 5 random facts about yourself

1. I’ve never dyed my hair and have no tattoos

2. I Facebook for a living (I work in online marketing)

3. I play the piano and the flute

4. I know how to drive stick

5. I didn’t run in high school, but I played volleyball and soccer and was on the dance team

Do you prefer cats or dogs and why?

Cats. I don’t know why. Cats are jerks. But growing up, I always wanted a cat, and my mom hated them, so I never got one. When I was an adult, I adopted a cat from my best friend. A couple years later, my husband and I moved in with my parents, and the cat came with. My mom, the cat hater? LOVES my cat. Anyway, I’m not sure what it is. I think cats are hilarious. And they are quiet, and easy pets - you can leave them alone overnight as long as you leave them enough food and water and a clean litter box. You don’t have to take them for walks. But there are still cuddly and rewarding. Although I would like to get a dog someday.

What sports or activities did you play when you were younger?

In addition to being on the volleyball, soccer and dance teams in high school, I also played flute in band and was on mathletes.

What is your favorite running temperature/weather condition?

I really love running outside after it has snowed. It’s just so peaceful - most people are inside, and I feel like the snow on the ground “muffles” any noise. And it’s so pretty out - like you’re in your own winter wonderland. Also, I love running outside at night in December, when everyone’s Christmas lights are on.

Favorite workout tune of all time?

Lately, the only time I listen to music when I work out is during group exercise classes. Lady Gaga and LMFAO are great for spin class.

What is your most favorite piece of race swag? (Medal, shirt, belt buckle)

The Fort2Base pullovers. They are lightweight, quarterzip long sleeve shirts. Perfect for fall weather, but you won’t overheat. I have every shirt they’ve given out (the women’s light blue and men’s dark blue from 2011, and the women’s pink and men’s green from 2012) … maybe I can keep collecting all the shirts every year? It helps that my husband doesn’t wear his race shirts, so I order his in my size.

Proudest running moment?

Finishing my first half marathon. I didn’t really know what I was doing - my training was abysmal, I had no running group or buddy to train with, and no one to go to the race with. I woke up to rain the morning of the race, and seriously considered just skipping it. I didn’t, and I made it to mile 8 of the race, and felt like I couldn’t go on any further, so I mostly walked the last 5 miles. It was really hard. But I finished. And had no one I knew at the finish line to celebrate with, so I went home. I was really proud of myself afterward, and I’m still proud of myself, not just for making it to the finish and sticking it out to the end, but for even showing up at the start line. I feel like everyone needs a hard race to struggle through. It makes you a better runner. You realize 1) you can survive anything and 2) just how important it is to train properly.

Ways to contact you:

Blog - http://www.MagMileRunner.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MagMileRunner

Twitter - https://twitter.com/not_margaret

Instagram - MagMileRunner

Email - mag@magmilerunner.com

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Guest Post - How To Find Your Ultimate BRF

Posted by Unknown | Labels: BRF, guest post, oiselle, Yo Momma Runs

Today's guest post comes from Yo Momma Runs. Special thanks to my fellow Oiselle teammate who put this together for me. :) Enjoy! :)

Hey y'all! Kelly and I met through team Oiselle (or team Weezy, as my brother likes to call it), and we got the chance to run together up in Chicago when I visited last month. You're reading this blog because you already know how awesome she is, so I will just confirm that in real life she's just as nice as she comes across in blog life. If we didn't live twelve hours apart, I would make her run with me every week.

Maggie from Mag Mile Runner already detailed why Kelly is a great BRF (best runner friend), so I'm going to give you some tips on how to find your own BRF wherever you live.

One of the things that I didn't have when I first started running in 2011 was a regular running partner. I had just moved to a new town, so I was forming regular friendships and hadn't even really considered yet how important running friendships would be. I ran at the gym a lot because they provided baby sitting, which helps when you have four kids, and I ran outside on the weekends when my husband was home. I spent a lot of running hours soul searching and fine tuning my playlists while I marathon trained, but after a year of mostly solo running, one of my goals for 2012 was to finally make some runner friends or make my friends into runners.

As we're about to wrap up this year, I cannot believe how much my running world has changed in just a year. So the 2012 Find Some Friends For Running Experiment was a complete success.

Here's what I did:

1. Make friends where you work out most. Because I spend a lot of time at the gym, I needed to make friends there. For some reason, all of my regular friends go to another gym, so my normal plan of making friends go to the gym with me for various classes or to treadmill next to each other would not work at this gym. So I finally just started talking to people who were there at the same time as me every day. Most important, I scoped out who the runners were, and, surprise, surprise, those people are now my gym BRFs. What makes them great is that they know my schedule, and if I don't show up, they worry that something is wrong with me. So on my lazy days when I'm just feeling it, I can very easily get motivated to get with it by a text from my gym BRFs.

Here are my gym BRF and I. Bonus of treadmill dates: you can all run your own pace but still be next to each other for plenty of chatting.

This can work for you if you run trails or your neighborhood. If you start seeing familiar faces who are often out at the same time as you, start to slowly get to know them. A wave and some small talk might be the start of new running relationship.

2. Start a blog. I started Yo Momma Runs in January of this year to help with my 2012 goal of getting out of solo running. I wanted to connect with other runners, and I knew the blogging community had lots of support to offer. The hard part about blogger friends is that they aren't always local, but I eventually started meeting local runners through the blog as well. I made one of my first local blogger friends a few months after starting the blog, and then she introduced me to her local runner friends. So it was like a chain of happiness and friendships that started with the blog. Also now when I travel, I can almost guarantee that I know someone in that area who I can connect with for running, even if it's just someone I can message for tips on where to run. Occasionally I get lucky and actually meet up with those people for a run.

3. Convert regular friends to running. By being an obsessive runner and talking about it constantly, you can begin to figure out who has a slight interest in running. Some signs are if they don't roll their eyes or look at the floor when you talk about running again. If you spot a slight interest, start talking about possible races you could prep for together. Last year, I had a group of a few friends who were vaguely interested in running a half marathon. They told me the parameters (how far they would travel, how long they wanted to train, whether or not they wanted to try and have a baby), so I went home and performed lots of Google searches until I found the right race for us. Four girls ended up running that race, so add four new BRFs to my tally.

4. Race locally. Eventually you'll start seeing familiar faces. I have several local runner friends who I only know because I talked to them before or after a race. This is a great way to find people who are similar to your pace because you end up near each other during the race.

5. Join a running club. Mine is the Birmingham Track Club. I originally joined because they had a discount at my local running shoe store if you were a track club member, but when I became dedicated to finding runner friends, I knew the club was a hotbed of potential. They also host my current long-run group that has completely changed my marathon training. Provided water stops and tons of people who run the same pace as me for three hours every Saturday morning, sign me up.

6. Look for runner meet-ups sponsored by local businesses. Do your local running stores meet for group runs? We have three stores in our community (Alabama Outdoors, Fleet Feet, Trak Shak) that host free weekly runs. Also, my local Lululemon store hosts a free weekly run. If you are nervous about these, invite one of your current running friends to go with you, and you can figure out the scene together.

7. Encourage relatives to run. I'm lucky to have a brother who lives in the same town who runs with me a lot. He's definitely my ultimate BRF. Here we are at the Mercedes Half Marathon in February.

If you have some family members who might be interested in running, start small and non-obligatory. At this year's Thanksgiving, I invited everyone to join me for a 5K (not a race, just a run) on Thanksgiving morning, and to my surprise, ten people showed up for the run.

Here we are laced up and ready to go.

The key to all of these, except maybe the relatives one, is that you can't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and talk to people. We moved a lot when I was growing up, so even though I was a very shy child, I was forced out of that at an early age. You may be shy and not care about having BRFs, but if you are shy and care about having BRFs, just start small. And if you're not shy, well, get out there and start converting future BRFs. The more runners who exist, the better our chances of finding our ultimate BRFs.

Where did you meet your BRFs?

Does anyone in your family run?

Have you converted any of your regular BFFs to BRFs?

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Guest Post - Why Kelly is a Great BRF

Posted by Unknown | Labels: BRF, guest post, MaggieW

Today's guest post comes from Maggie at Mag Mile Runner. If you haven't checked out her blog yet, you should. Maggie actually sent me 2 guest posts (expect another one to come later as well) and this post really made me smile. I love paying it forward in the running world and it is nice to see when my efforts are appreciated. :)

When Kelly asked me to do a guest post for her blog, I wasn’t sure what to write about. I had a suspicion that many of her blog followers are also my blog followers, and what could I write about that I hadn’t already written about in my blog? Or that I didn’t want to save for a post for my blog?
So why not talk about Kelly?
So, I bring you, 10 reasons why Kelly is a great BRF (best running friend):
1.) ENERGY! I don’t know where she gets it from, but she has a lot of it. And it really helps if SOMEONE has energy during a group run.
2.) Conversation. We never run out of things to talk about. Work, husbands, family, friends, running, food, blogging, pets.
3.) Pepper! Sometimes Kelly brings her dog Pepper to group runs. Pepper is adorable!
4.) Runnerd. Kelly is not afraid to be a runnerd. She’ll wear an ugly reflective vest and headlamp, while peeing in the dark on the side of the trail, getting burrs stuck on said vest. (Whoops, sorry, was I supposed to keep that story to myself?)

5.) Reliability. She’s always out there on Thursday nights, ready for our group run. Even when I’m not. (In my defense, I had some weird hip/groin pain that was new to me and had to skip a run.)
6.) Runner General Store. When she spectated/paced the marathon, she had everything a runner could possibly need stuffed in her shorts.
7.) Pacing. She’s also a great pacer, and really helps distract you during miles 16-23 of a marathon.

8.) Awesome photography skills. Seriously, have you seen the amazing iPhone self-timed photos she takes of our group?.
9.) Cooking. During ZOOMA weekend, Kelly taught us the art of fine carbo loading. Pasta & sauce. I hope you can keep up with her mad cooking skills.
10.) Gangnam Style. She likes to do it all the time. In the car. While running. Which is good, because I like doing it too.
Oh, and bonus reason:
11. She always offers to drive when we have to carpool to a race. I feel bad, I haven’t driven us nearly as many miles as she has.
Do you have a great BRF? What makes them so awesome? And if you don’t, maybe you can borrow Kelly once in awhile.

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Guest Post -- So Just Keep Running

Posted by Unknown | Labels: guest post

Today's guest post comes from Paulette at So Just Keep Running. Thanks Paulette for another great guest post!

Kelly is away to focus on studying, and I’m excited to write a guest post for her this week. She sent this lovely little survey, which I took advantage of because I love surveys. Check out my answers and thoughts below and drop me a line if you want to chat!
What is your name and what is your blog? My name is Paulette, and I blog at sojustkeeprunning.blogspot.com.
Why do you like to run? Running is the part of my day when I get to destress and enjoy being outside. Running alone is a nice way to think through issues or plans, and running with friends is fun social time. Either way I can’t get enough it! Aside from this, I enjoy the goal setting opportunity of races and pushing myself toward better times or longer distances.
What is your favorite distance to race? I’m a half marathon lover, hands down. It feels like just the right distance to challenge myself and to work on beating my time, and it doesn’t involve the extra recovery time that the full marathon does. I enjoy the 10K as well, but the 5K is a bit too short for my liking. I’m slow at warming up and the 5K is over before that even happens.
What is your favorite race? This has to be the hardest question on the list because I have quite a few ‘favorites’ to pick just one! My top race events and why:
The San Francisco Marathon - I ran my first 5K (2005) and my first half marathon (2009) with the SF Marathon events; you could say this is what hooked me on running. After running the 5K while visiting from Michigan for a conference, I decided that someday I would run the 1st half to go over the Golden Gate Bridge. It took a few years, but I did it on another visit in 2009! I love the race because of the Golden Gate Bridge crossing, running along the water and in the marina, and because the weather is always fabulous in SF. I repeated the 1st half marathon in 2012 and am also an Ambassador for the 2013 race. Note, you can run the 1st half or 2nd half of the marathon course, which is unusual. Check out my 2012 race report here.
SF Finish Line with medal, note GG bridge on ribbon

Detroit Marathon - I’ve run the half two times in 2009 and 2012, and it’s unique because you cross the Ambassador Bridge into Canada and come back into the US via the underwater tunnel. The race is well-organized with great medals and shirts too. I love the weather for this race as well; both times it was pretty cold at the start and stayed in the 50s or below for the duration. Here’s my 2012 race report.

2012 Race Swag, shirt folded to show back design

Pittsburgh Marathon - I ran the half for this one in 2010, and I was impressed with the organization and crowd support along the course. They have many bands and cheer groups along the way. The race goes along the water and over about 5 bridges (sensing a theme here?) as well as through the city. The race swag was great, Nike long sleeve shirts, Nike socks, and nice medals too.

Name 5 random facts about yourself.
1. I love skiing; my husband and I spend many weekends skiing during the winter especially now that we have easy access to Tahoe.
2. I’m an only child, and my parents are named Paul and Paula. Crazy, huh?
3. My hometown is St. Clairsville, Ohio, and my family is very Polish on both sides. I grew up doing to Polka dances on the weekends - I miss it!
4. I’m a coffee, wine, and beer tasting nerd. I love trying new flavors and types of each, and I’m newly addicted to the beer tracking app called Untappd.
5. I have a B.S. in Molecular Genetics and an M.S. in Cell & Developmental Biology, but I don’t work in that field anymore. Instead, I’m a project manager for a tech company.
Do you prefer cats or dogs and why? Cats! My husband and I have two cats, a 10 year old, Akai, and a new 6 month old kitten, Willow. I love them both, but I’m betting our kitten is the cutest cat ever born. I can’t get enough of her!

Cuddly kitties

What sports or activities did you play when you were younger? I played indoor volleyball and ran track (hurdles and 200m) for a couple of years each, but I was much more into music than sports at that point in my life. I play trumpet and was a member of the marching, concert, and jazz bands at my high school. I also played for the show choir back-up band. In college at Ohio State, I was in the marching band and basketball/hockey bands.
What is your favorite running temperature/weather condition? Easily 40-50 degrees, which I don’t often see where I currently live in San Jose, CA. I grew up in Ohio and spent 7 years in Ann Arbor, MI, prior to moving to California for work. Heat tends to be my nemesis especially when running, and I truly miss the cooler fall temperatures and even the winter running in Michigan. Believe me, I know I should rejoice in the California temperatures and fantastic running weather year round, but I also miss what I consider to be ‘normal’ weather! That said, I do love the lack of humidity here.
Favorite workout tune of all time? I haven’t run with music for years, but I remember loving the beat of ‘Come On Eileen’ when I did. I still claim that as my fave workout tune.
What is your most favorite piece of race swag? (Medal, shirt, belt buckle) Ooooo, another question where I could show you ten! The medal and shirt in the Detroit 2012 swag photo falls into this category, and aside from that I love both of my Chicago race medals. I love the quality, design, and how the ribbon goes through the medal.

Chicago Full and Half Medals

Proudest running moment? This has been a great year so far, and my proudest moment was winning 1st in my age group at a local 5 mile race, Lake Vasona. It was a small race and generally I wouldn’t come close to placing with my times, but I worked super hard that day and really pushed myself so the AG win felt awesome! I also met up with Oiselle Team member Sophia that day, who was visiting family in the Bay Area and won 3rd in her AG.

Me, Sophia, and our medals (and matching outfits!)

Ways to contact you:
Blog: sojustkeeprunning.blogspot.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SoJustKeepRunning
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Guest Post - Running After Kids

Posted by Unknown | Labels: guest post, oiselle

Today's guest post comes from Andrea at Born and Raced in Chicago.

Given that I’m most likely a decade older (!) than Kelly, and probably a good number of her readers, I thought it would be somewhat interesting to give a glimpse into the possible future of life after babies… I’m certainly no Shalane or Kara, and I can’t even begin to imagine what training is like for Olympic athletes after having kids. Nor can I imagine what it would be like for a pro athlete to make the decision to even have kids; this post from Lauren Fleshman gives us a hint. But I DO know is what it’s like to be an everyday athlete, and mother, that loves to run.

I came across this article on 10 Things Winners Do Differently and thought it applied perfectly to keeping up your running mojo after having babies. So I made a top three list:

#1 “Keep Good Company” = pick the right guy! (or significant other!)

Having a supportive partner in raising your kids is so very important, for the many obvious reasons, but also for your health and well-being. Prepare your significant other for Saturday or Sunday mornings spent doing some one on one bonding with the kids while you’ll inevitably be out racing or doing a long run. Don’t worry about the kids and just GO. Let him feed them some junk or stay in their pjs all morning, they won’t be marred for life and you’ll be a much happier mom if you let the small stuff slide. He’s a runner, too? Since you picked the right partner, you have great communication and a good give and take attitude. You can each have a weekend day to do your thang, and if you’re lucky enough to have grandparents/extended family nearby – kudos to you! I’m jealous!

#2 “Think Constructively” = you might need some contraptions or creativity to get a run in!

Just going out for a run isn’t as easy as it once was, so you have to get resourceful about how you’ll accomplish your workouts. Early on, when my firstborn was an infant, I actually did step aerobics and other workout videos in another room while he napped. I also highly recommend a jogging stroller. I even joined a few Stroller Strides classes to get me out the door in the early days and learned some strength moves to do on the go. The most helpful thing in my life as a running mom is my local Y; if you can afford it, I highly recommend a gym with daycare. The Y is a huge hit with our family – trusted caregivers that have been there for years and great youth sports programs to boot. If you’re a working mom, I’d start experimenting with early morning running or the lunchtime routine now, before having kids, so that you’re used to it if you decide to have a family. And let go of the guilt if you take some of that precious time to yourself on the weekends or after work occasionally – which leads me to:

#3 “Practice Self Love” = ditch the mom guilt

I just loved the quote from this one: “Caring for yourself is not an act of self-indulgence, it’s an act of self-respect.” This is always easier said than done and all mothers feel some level of at all times, whether they work or stay at home; but it’s worth aspiring to minimizing the guilt as much as possible. Let that significant other watch the kids, hit up grandma, don’t feel guilty about your daily hour at the gym, etc. I am way more patient and loving with my family when I’ve had my running therapy. Additionally, think about what a great example you are setting for your kids by being healthy, by being strong, setting goals, having self discipline… the list goes on.

Bonus #4! – “Focus on the Controllable” = you have no control over your children

Yes, you can control all aspects of their lives: what they eat, when they go to bed, how they are disciplined, etc. But they are their own individual little spirit and will not always conform to your schedule or personality. This was by far the hardest thing about becoming a parent for me, as I crave control in my life. So I exercise as much control as I can in the way they are raised, and in my running life – running is such a great outlet for control freaks! I remember doing a parenting exercise at one of our co-op preschool meetings where each table had a different plant on it – some had cacti, some had orchids, others had gardenias. The point being that when you have a baby, you don’t know what you’re going to get and you need to take care of your specific child and their individual needs. You just might have a prickly little ~~cacti~~baby that hates the jogging stroller – eeep! Maybe early morning runs or the local Y are in your future. Just know that with kids, nothing lasts forever (your newborn will let you sleep again, promise!) and you’ll soon forget the more difficult times. But, remember to stay in the moment as much as possible and enjoy the NOW. I so miss my kids at nine months old – wee little smiling butterballs! Try not to always think ahead to the next milestone, because the same holds true for the amazing moments (first smiles, words, I love you!) they won’t last forever.

To find out more about Andrea, you can follow her at any one of the links below!
Blog - Born and Raced in Chicago - http://www.bornandracedinchicago.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/mrshallberg

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Guest Post - Taking On New Challenges

Posted by Unknown | Labels: guest post

Today's guest post comes from Amy at Running Escapades.

Hello Running Kellometers readers! I am happy to be guest posting today while Kelly is off studying for her exam.

I want to be a better runner. Who doesn't, right?

So, this year I have stepped out of my running comfort zone. What does this mean exactly?

Well, for starters I decided that I can run more than one half marathon a year. It all started after I ran a 12K with a friend and felt surprisingly really good doing it. I say surprising because I never saw myself ever running more than a 10K. After successfully running my first half in 2011, I was hooked. Since then I have continued to train and completed four more with number six right around the corner.

Then I convinced myself that I could also run an overnight relay. For years I have been hearing about Reach the Beach, but the thought of running three legs in 24 hours and in the middle of the night kept me away. With my running confidence building, I accepted an invitation to join an established team and quickly discovered that running over 200 miles with 11 other people is also addictive.

Lastly, I am running a half marathon known for being "hilly, challenging, and scenic." This popular local race that I have yet to do is described by my running friends as tough and intimidating. In the past I would have shied away from the Manchester City Half Marathon because of the hills, but this year I am looking forward to tackling them.

From Manchester City Marathon Facebook Page

So in an effort to become a better runner, I am taking on new challenges that I would have avoided in the past. Leaving my comfort zone means I will see myself grow as a runner while I push past my limits.

How do you get out of your comfort zone?

To find out more about Amy, you can follow her at any one of the links below!

Blog - Running Escapades - http://runningescapades.blogspot.com/

email - runningescapades@hotmail.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/RunningEscapade

Instagram - @amyc08

Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/amyc08/

Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/runningescapades

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