Run Sara Run

Word of advice; if you think you're shoes are shot, they are shot. Don't try just one more run in them. R.I.P. adidas trailrunners, size 7. My new ones!:




These should be arriving by Friday. I can't wait! Getting new shoes is the BEST. I feel like I'm running on a cloud. The tread looks pretty hardcore on these so I should be flying on the trails.

Last weeks Thursday night trail run was a total bust. I was already thirsty before the run started and it was hot and humid out. Plus, the normal run leader wasn't there for that run so the other guy that lead was way too fast and his trail was disorganized and he didn't stop enough to wait for the people in the back. I ended up walking a lot of the run and then just getting lost in the woods. Fun. Oh and my mild thirst turned into down right dehydration. Blech. Total bust. I still ended up at around 6 miles but there is a HUGE difference between a good 6 and a terrible 6. Tonight,  is the Corporate Challenge (so no Thursday Night Trail Run) but since I'm not part of the Corporate Running World (or actually my company is not into running ) I'm going to run with my dad. I'll end this week with about 35 miles.

Medved Trail Run

This is me after finishing the Medved Trail Run. I ended up clocking 16.79 miles after getting mildly lost on the third loop...yes, lost again but not as as bad as the previous year! I can tell that I am in way better shape then I was this time last year. I breezed through these loops like nothing! This race, I switched up from my usual Clif Gel Blocks to Jelly Belly Sport Beans. At first bite, I thought that these were too hard to chew while running. The Gel Blocks sort of dissolve as you chew rather quickly and these took alot more effort to break down and eventually swallow. I ate three beans and then put them back in my camelback. I was not impressed but I started to hit a shallow point in my run so I took them back out and trudged through half of the pack while finishing my second loop. About 5 minutes after I ate half the pack, I could feel the energy boost. Hmmmm...so, I walked up a huge trail hill and ate the rest of the pack and within 10 minutes, I had a HUGE surge of energy. Ok, so NOW I am impressed! The Gel Blocks were effective but took much longer, in my opinion, to provide me the much needed energy. These sport beans were fast and effective! I flew through the last loop, the few moments of being lost and crossed the finish line with a smile! I am totally sold on these beans and will be using them from now on. I bought the fruit punch flavor and they were fantastic! Anyone who knows me, knows how obsessed I am with fruity, chewy candy and these taste just like a candy treat.

Countdown to Medved Madness!!

I have a 15 mile trail run coming up on May 6th. These are the things I will change this year:

1. Water Water Water. I, naively, thought that there would be adequate water at the water stops. Nope. Some turds decided to dump the water out of the cooler onto their heads, leaving no
water for anyone to drink. I didn't bring water with me as I ran. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. This year, I will be wearing my camelback with a gatorade mix in it and using the water stops as a supplement. I also became really dehydrated and my legs were cramping badly and still had around 3 miles to go.

2. Don't get lost. Somehow, on the final loop of the run, I missed a marker and went way off the trail path. I ended up running an extra 2 miles on top of the 15 trying to find my way back. This year, I will not get lost!!

3. Snacks as I go. Last year, I was still trying to grasp the whole "adequate water intake" as I run and "what to eat before" and I didn't really think about fueling while I ran. I know that I can easily digest clif gel blocks and clif goo. This basically is just pure carbs. I've been really loving the banana/date combo before runs so I think I'll eat 1-2 bananas and maybe 6 dates a couple hours before and then gel blocks and goo packs as I go. They also offer bananas, cookies, pretzels etc at a few stops during the race. I cant tolerate anything too heavy in my stomach before i run. The night before, we will probably eat some sort of rice or pasta.

4. Get a better "After Pic" this year! Dear God!! Look at me!!! HAHAHA

It's getting hot in here!

Yesterday was my first official run out in the heat. I was going to do a light 4 miler on my lunch break but I wasn't paying attention as I ran and took my route too far so I ended up at almost 7 miles. (I'm at 14 miles already for the week!). It was a freak warm, humid day yesterday and I didn't realize how humid and warm it was until I hit the road. It was 86 degrees...um, yikes! The first few runs out in the heat always kill me. I pretty much felt like crap for the rest of the day. By the time I got home from work, my muscles were killing me and I had to take tylenol just to be able to walk around and then I HAD to go to sleep. My kids went down around 7:30ish and I immediately went to bed. This morning, I woke up with my lower back killing me so I ended up just doing weights and abs at the gym. Every time I up my miles, or do a longer than normal run, my weight jumps up the next few days.
Obviously, your muscles get freaked out at the added stress from an increase in exercise and hold onto water and sodium. Oh, it also doesnt help that I've been eating a fiber cereal every morning that has 60% of your daily value of fiber...plus all the fiber I eat during the day. I'm kind of ingesting all this fiber for the past few days without a return, if you know what i mean. I feel sooooo uncomfortable right now.
Today, I have a super green juice feast made of kale, spinach, celery and cucumber and a very veg juice feast of carrots, kale, spinach. I freaking love my juicer!

Almost spring!!

Ever have one of those totally unexpected terrible weekends?? I'm talking two small kids (4 and 2) with ear infections and a puking stomach virus?? Yea. That was my weekend. Fevers, puke, whining, crying ...insanity. ATLEAST the weather was nice and we were able to get outside a little bit and get some fresh air. I only managed one long run on Sunday (somehow!) and just did weights this morning. Tomorrow, I'll do a longer run on my lunch break since the weather is cooperating this week.

"Get Ready for the Beach" Update Two

I ran a 5 miler on my lunch break today and couldn't wait for it to be over. I was going to run outside, in the gorgeous 55 degree sunshine but for some reason, I convinced myself to go to the gym on the treadmill so I could watch the latest "Desperate Housewives" episode while I run. ha! We're now into Week Two of "Get Ready for the Beach" and I'm getting used to my normal days worth of blandy goodness. Basically, right now, I'm having high fiber oatmeal for breakfast with 1 tsb of peanut butter mixed in or Ezekial Sprouted Grain bread toasted with PB and sliced banana on it, fruit for snacks (i've been eating an apple, a banana and some melon through out the day), baked chicken and veggies for lunch and some sort of chicken/veg/grain combo for dinner. I also take a multi-vitamin, an Omega supplement and calcium. I'm trying to cut out Diet Soda so I've tried "Zevia" which is all natural and has no fake sugar in it. I drink one maybe every other day now so that's good and I also drink a ton of water every day. I also eat as much veggies as I want and I'm finding all of the added fiber is really filling me up. My candy cravings are finally going away!! (Seriously, I feel like i'm a crack addict except with gummy candy.) We also give ourselves one "cheat" meal a week to keep the sanity. I'm thinking of just having dessert this weekend as my "cheat". How good would a freakin icecream sundae be?? YUM.

I might try running outside tomorrow morning since its supposed to warm again.

Update: I did run outside this morning at 5am and ran 6 miles! The weather is cooperating and it was around 50 degrees this morning!

Weekly update

Well, Week One of "Get in Shape for Bathing Suit Season" was a success...a boring success but a success nonetheless. Who would have thought eating baked chicken everyday could possibly be boring?? Yesterday's 8.5 mile run kicked my butt so Saturday will be my rest day. I think my body is releasing a lot of bloat since I haven't had much salt this week because I've been waking up to pee several times a night. I'm so glad that Spring is right around the corner! I seriously need some sunshine and warm weather. I'm getting really sick of being trapped inside the house with the kids and I know for sure that they want to be outside playing. Not much else to report right now!