The New Blog

Hi, family and friends!

I'm happy to announce that I've started a new blog! Brook Runs Happy is a blog dedicated solely to my running adventures with Brooklyn. I'll share our running stats, favorite gear, pointers for training a four-legged runner, and tips for Dallas runners.

Click here!

I'll continue this blog for sharing our family's journey, so don't forget to check back here, too!

Vacation, Part VI: Mt. Sneffels Marathon (Race Recap)

Well, friends.

I did it. I ran 26.2 miles at 7,800 feet after barely completing my training (thank you, nasty IT band) at 430 feet above sea level. To be honest, August 8th could have gone any way. My IT band could have flared up without notice at mile three or twenty-three, the altitude sickness could have hit hard, I could have woken up with food poisoning like that one time, or I could have ended up in the hospital like that other time. But I didn't. The cynic in me is still surprised by how smoothly the day went. I am entirely grateful for my first marathon experience. It was a dream fulfilled!

I am a marathoner!

Now are you ready for all the details? I warn you: they are the nerdy type that likely only interest runners and moms.

We picked up our packets the night before the race, and I was astonished by the tiny box with bib numbers labeled "Marathon." Only 85 people were registered for the marathon, while 700+ were signed up for the half marathon (along with Ty). This contributed to some pre-race anxiety, as I now envisioned running hilly dirt roads all alone for 26.2 miles.

Race ready! She was crushed she couldn't join the fun!

Race morning! A special thanks to our B&B host, Lysa, for the perfect race day breakfast! She made me gluten-free muffins and fresh fruit -- filling, but easy on the tummy!

It was fifty degrees at gun time, just chilly enough that I was cold at the start line. I wore an extra throw-away t-shirt over my tank and a pair of my dad's socks over my hands until I warmed up. I found a garbage can and ditched them around mile two, I think.

So about that course. The marathon began at 6:30AM in downtown Ridgway, and it was an out-and-back course between Ridgway and Ouray. The half marathon started at 7:30 in Ouray, so my parents had plenty of time to drop Ty at his start. The marathoners ran to Ouray (halfway point) and back to Ridgway, while the half marathoners ran from Ouray to Ridgway, essentially the second half of the marathon course.

Ridgway-Ouray-Ridgway

As I started, I remember feeling slightly short of breath, but not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. My left IT band was tight, but it loosened up the more I ran. At mile two, I remember flying down a hill thinking, "This is going to stink on the way back!" Little did I know just how true that was!

I ran miles 3-8 on the heels of an experienced marathoner. I said something like, "Thanks for letting me hang onto you," during the race, and she quickly responded, "As long as you're not in my age group! But I think I'm old enough to be your mother!" Age gap provided, we were now apparently friends.

There was a girl about my age barely in my sights, and another one a good distance ahead of her.

"See that girl? You're going to pass her before this race is over. And the girl in front of her. Believe me; I've been doing this a long time, and you've got the endurance."

Well I'm glad somebody thinks I'm at least going to finish! 

The first half of the race went remarkably well, considering the uphill climb. The first nine or so miles were quiet and fairly deserted, but once the half marathoners started coming the other way, the energy of the race really picked up. The half marathoners were friendly and encouraging! They knew we were in the double digits already, so many of them went out of their way to cheer us on!

"Looking good, marathoner!"

"Way to go, girl!"

"You're awesome, marathoner!"

Amazing how generic words spoken by strangers hold incredible value.

I saw Ty in the race crowd around mile 10 or 11, which was a huge pick-me-up. He looked great! I also knew my parents were waiting for me at the turnaround with Brooklyn.

I hit the halfway mark at 2:02. I was pleasantly surprised, given the altitude and hills, and I felt energized for the second half. I knew I could run it faster, given the fact that most of it was downhill. I saw my dad and Brooklyn in the distance, immediately noticed Dad's subtle correction of my form, and lowered my hands closer to my hips.

As I passed my dad and Brooklyn, Brooklyn's tail started going a mile a minute (wish I could move that fast!). When she realized she didn't get to join me, she started whining so pitifully! I heard her all the way to the turnaround at the Ouray Hot Springs Park. When I came back by after my loop, I stopped to give her some love.

7th Avenue in Ouray

In regards to nutrition, I took my gels at mile 7 and 14 and drank water on demand. I took Gatorade and water from the aid stations as needed, too. My legs still felt fresh, and I had a lot of energy. By the halfway point, I had passed the first girl my new friend had mentioned. By mile 15, I had caught up with the second girl, who told me she had started way too fast. I passed momentous miles 18 and 20 in her company without a second thought! I was feeling great! Maybe this "wall" everyone talked about wouldn't happen to me? We ran together until mile 21 or 22, and I really enjoyed her company.

My gorgeous course! Somewhere in those middle miles...

I remember I couldn't stomach another gel at mile 21, so I only ate about half of it. I regretfully left my latest running buddy behind and headed for the short out-and-back portion near the end of the course. This strange turn-around was apparently added so as to eliminate a tough hill in the previous course. Somewhere in this turnaround, I began to feel fatigued for the first time. What ensued, however, just about did me in.

Mile 24, I hated you.

Remember that hill I flew down at the start of the race? Yeah, well I had to climb crawl it on the return. My GPS stats later told me that mile 24 had an elevation gain of 39 feet, but I would have sworn to you it was at least 100 feet! It was of a steep, lethal nature -- the kind of hill that makes you breathless just walking. In fact, I did have to walk up the steepest part of the hill! When I reached the aid station at the top, I was unable to respond to a simple, "Water or Gatorade?" Everything was fuzzy, and I couldn't move or speak for a good ten seconds. I truly thought I was going to pass out if I took another step forward. I drank some fluids, grabbed a few MMs (don't ask -- I needed a quick sugar boost, and the thought of more gel was nauseating), and said, "Whose idea was it to put that hill here?!"

I never could keep my mouth shut. What a waste of air! The aid station volunteer smiled and replied, "We've heard that a lot today! But it's all downhill from here!"

I was surprised and disappointed by my sudden decline. I guess I wasn't better than "the wall" after all. It truly felt as though I'd had the wind knocked out of me! Looking back, I think I could have sustained, but I had nothing extra to give. And that hill required way too much "extra" at that point in the game. I think I did the smart thing in slowing myself down so I could finish strong.

I knew I was close, but I knew I wasn't going to break four hours when I saw another hill in front of me (I hit mile 25 at 3:52:00). So much for it all being downhill from here!

Another downside is that I ran alone for the final 5K. I had lost sight of the two runners ahead of me, and nobody was close behind. I passed half marathoners who were walking, but that wasn't exactly motivating.

When I reached the top of the hill at mile twenty-five, I could see the finish line. I resolved to finish strong and to finish well, and I pushed through the mental barrier that miles 23-24 had hoisted.

It really was all downhill from there, and I could see my dad in the distance. Nothing was going to stop me from reaching my family! Dad came toward me to cheer me on, and I remember him yelling, "Get your butt moving! Pick it up!" Coach Dad put a smile on my face, and I did pick up the pace!

As I turned the corner into the finish area, Ty and Brooklyn ran along side me at an even faster pace. Ty had already rocked his 13.1 miles (1:50:43!), but he ran again to help me finish! Amazing what community will do for you! Two miles ago I was spent, and here I felt energized anew! Thanks to my family, I finished strong and sprinted across the finish line. I always like to finish a race this way, no matter how ugly the previous miles have been.

Moments after finishing!

So proud of Tyler for finishing his first half marathon! You're amazing, honey! 

At this point, my new friend came over to congratulate me. To my surprise, she told me I should be an ultra runner, because I'm strong in endurance. She was the kind of lady you don't argue with, but I was thinking, "This was hard enough, thank you."

2nd place female, 20-29! 

Would I do it again?

Absolutely! I said that even while the pain and memory of Hell Hill (my designation) were fresh. I would like to try a flat, fast course next time. It can only get easier from here, right?

What did I learn?

I need others! While I was the one placing one foot in front of the other, I couldn't do it alone. Even this introvert needed the support, presence, and encouragement of family, volunteers, spectators, and fellow racers.

I needed more long run experience. Because of my IT band injury, I really only completed three long runs (over 14 miles), with an 18-miler being my longest. That 18-miler happened to be a fantastic training run, in which I never reached exhaustion and kept a great pace. Athletically, I felt more than prepared for the mileage, but I think it would have been helpful to have experienced the exhaustion a 20-mile run is bound to incur.

Running based on effort helped me pace myself. I wore my GPS watch, but I released any time goals and intentionally kept my eyes on the road instead of my "current pace" stats. This helped me focus on the long-range goal and allow myself to run slower on uphill climbs, when needed. This effort-based method alerted me when I almost pushed too hard at mile 23 and helped me recover for a good finish. I listened to my body, and I did the best I could on that given day.

How did I prepare for a race at high altitude?

I trained in the heat. I've read that heat is a good trade-off for altitude, as far as effort and pace go. Those 100+ degree runs paid off on my 55-degree race day.

I acclimated for a week before race day. I experienced differing levels of high altitude, from 5,000-11,000 feet all throughout that week, eventually racing at 7,000-7,800 feet. I completed my taper runs at altitude, but I didn't pay attention to pace, only effort.

I drank a ton of water. It's important to hydrate well a full week before racing at any altitude, but staying hydrated can speed altitude adjustment. I stayed away from alcohol (except for that one margarita Ty and I shared!), drank a single cup of coffee every day, and consciously drank about double my normal water intake.

I loaded up on my best immune boosters and detoxifiers: Vitamins and probiotics, Lemon (in my water), Thieves and Purification (topical) Essential Oils, Ningxia Red (thanks, Sara!), and fresh ginger. My green smoothie and juice bar tour of Colorado, as well as my hunt for local booch, was also strategically placed during race week.

We rested a lot. If I was tired, I relaxed. I didn't push to the point of exhaustion or extreme fatigue until race day! This is a no-brainer during taper week, but it's especially important when adjusting to high altitude.

Now for all those nerdy stats...

Total time: 4:02:33

Elevation gain: 1,128 feet

Starting altitude: 7,000 feet

Highest altitude: 7,800 feet

Temperature: ~55-75 degrees

Terrain: mostly dirt roads (some muddy) with a few paved areas
Average pace: 9:16/mi
Overall place: 14/59
Division (F 20-29): 2/6
Gender place: 4/29

Splits
Mile 1: 9:30 (elevation gain of 70', loss of 16')
Mile 2: 9:29 (elevation gain of 49')
Mile 3: 9:00 (elevation gain of 4' loss of 54')
Mile 4: 8:52 (elevation loss of 10')
Mile 5: 8:52 (elevation gain of 26')
Mile 6: 9:23 (elevation gain of 89')
Mile 7: 9:35 (elevation gain of 69')
Mile 8: 9:36 (elevation gain of 155')
Mile 9: 9:31 (elevation gain of 93', loss of 59')
Mile 10: 9:19 (elevation gain of 90')
Mile 11: 9:28 (elevation gain of 58')
Mile 12: 9:47 (elevation gain of 76')
Mile 13: 9:21 (elevation gain of 91', loss of 25')
Mile 14: 9:28 (elevation gain of 59', loss of 82')
Mile 15: 8:58 (elevation loss of 78')
Mile 16: 8:58 (elevation loss of 71')
Mile 17: 8:43 (elevation loss of 138' - fastest mile)
Mile 18: 9:15 (elevation gain of 116', loss of 74')
Mile 19: 8:55 (elevation loss of 150')
Mile 20: 8:57 (elevation loss of 132')
Mile 21: 8:59 (elevation loss of 60')
Mile 22: 9:12 (elevation loss of 48')
Mile 23: 9:33 (elevation loss of 8')
Mile 24: 10:09 (elevation gain of 39' - slowest mile)
Mile 25: 9:02 (elevation gain of 31', loss of 56')
Mile 26: 9:15 (elevation gain of 15', loss of 59')

Race Gear

Brooks Glycerins 12, Brooks Epiphany shorts, Brooks Run HVAC Happy Hat II, Nike Relay Tank Top, Amphipod Airflow MicroStretch Race belt, Amphipod Hydra-form Jett-Lite handheld water bottle, Honey Stinger energy gels (Fruit Smoothie & Acai Pomegranate)

Race Recovery

We spent the remainder of the day reliving the race, soaking in the hot tub, sleeping, watching movies, and eventually eating. (It took me hours to feel hungry.)

Post-race napping buddy

Dinner after a restful afternoon - celebrating our races on our last night in Ouray!

The next morning, we loaded the car at 5AM and hit the road back to Texas. A marathon one day, another marathon the next. Thankfully, this marathon involved a whole lot of resting for me! My hubby is the real marathoner, because he voluntarily drove the whole way!

Texas, here we come!

More on my recovery week to come! As for vacation...

...that's all, folks!

(Need to catch up on Parts I, II, III, IV, and V?)

The Marathon Rematch

I've decided it's time to face the Marathon Beast again.

Most people just hope to finish a marathon. My goal is to at least start this one. This will be my first time running a marathon, but my second time training to that end. Due to unexpected illness, things didn't quite go according to plan last time. (Read about my Almost Marathon experience here and here!)

It's been hanging over me like late homework, like to-do list items left uncrossed, like a dominant seventh chord unresolved. This stage of my life, however, is devoted to my academic and pianistic pursuits, so I've had to say no to many days on the trails.

My summer will be dedicated to learning my graduate recital music and to part-time teaching. It's the prime time to also focus on mileage and running goals.

My goal? Start and finish a marathon. Is that asking too much?

I don't want to count my chickens before they're hatched, but I'm thankful to say my health has been much improved over the last year and a half. Graduate school notwithstanding, I still have energy. And besides, we all know the Weimaraner needs daily exercise.

Here's the part where it gets crazy.

I'm registered for the Mt. Sneffels Marathon (don't laugh!) in Ouray, Colorado. Ouray is called the "Switzerland of the U.S," and the John Wayne classic, True Grit, was filmed in its mountains.
Colorado! Yes, the girl with Florida gills is registered for a race that takes place at 7000+ feet. 
(What was I thinking?!)

According to my research, we should be arriving with plenty of time to adjust to the altitude. Tyler and I are planning a vacation that just so happens to coincide with this race. We have a bed and breakfast booked, and we can't stop looking at photos of this place!

Photo: David Huddleston

Time goals are out of the question. Some of the literature I've read said I can expect to run up to a minute per mile slower! Wow! No wonder elite athletes train at high altitude. The best advice I've been given is to run based on effort and forget the stats. Listen to my body and pace accordingly. Someone else also recommended running in the heat, as a way to counterbalance the altitude. Texas shouldn't disappoint on that front!

Training doesn't officially start until after finals, but I may have "unofficially" begun this week.

Running significantly helps with end-of-semester blues. Thankfully, I've kept my staple weekend long run, so I've maintained half marathon shape. So far, I've had no trouble jumping into structured training.

Our "Heartbreak Hill" at mile 8 around the lake

We have a couple upcoming races in preparation for the biggie. One involves glow sticks, and the other involves a lake swim. Both involve my husband, which makes me the happiest! Speaking of Tyler, he rocked his first triathlon. I'll save that story for him to tell. Our Tyler Tuesday feature is way overdue anyway...

The Trouble with Spring Break

The trouble with spring break is that I don't know how to rest.

Am I the only person out there who feels stressed out about a week off?

I want to rest, but I also want to work an eight-hour day and save the world on my lunch break.

It's been a week of ups and downs, but it has been wonderful in so many ways. My recital is three weeks away, so I can't afford to take a break completely; I have, however, cut back and focused mainly on my recital music.

Tyler is wonderful about helping me practice the art of resting. The other night, he told me I needed to schedule a massage as a way of intentionally resting. I had one booked within minutes! (It was glorious!)

Some other restful things this week:

1. Sleeping in until 6AM (don't laugh)
2. Baking/cooking (and NOT cooking and enjoying Ty's delicious taco dinners!)

Breakfast for the week: apples, coconut milk, raisins, cinnamon, spoonful of almond flour. SO tasty with greek yogurt!

Paleo lemon blueberry muffins! I've been using my YoungLiving Essential Oils non-stop. Yes, even in the baked goods! My apple dish is incomplete without Thieves, and my Lemon oil was the perfect complement to these muffins!

3. Making a kombucha starter

The ingredients!

Now we wait for the SCOBY to grow!

4. Folding laundry - can't remember the last time I had time for this (and all the perfect housewives cringe)

5. Exercising Brook and training with Ty! (No surprise there! This is always my release!)

My handsome triathlete in training!

Negative split stats!

From last night's ride. Note to self: don't ever cycle again after a massage. That was some serious muscle fatigue!

6. Lunch with my piano teacher and a lesson afterward - another reminder of how blessed I am to be at my school!

Learning about pedagogy literature

7. More lattes than I'd like to admit: a cow's milk, a soy milk, a coconut milk -- but I digress....

Races!

Hiya there, beautiful city!

Rocking the 9K last weekend at the Trinity Run

After telling everyone on Instagram that I placed 5th in my age group, I discovered I was actually 6th. My apologies! There must have been an error on the computers at the race site. I would have tied for third in my age group if I hadn't just turned 25. Drat! Aging is taking its toll on me already! As it stands, I was 6th out of 73 women, ages 25-29. I'll take it! This was a Thursday morning impulse registration, but I'm so glad I signed up. The course was a hilly one, but the view was 100% worth it! The free chocolate milk, iced coffee, and coconut water afterward made it 101% worth it!

Tomorrow we run the Dash Down Greenville 5K. The more learn, this less excited I am. On the flip-side, maybe I'll have a better chance of placing if everyone else is hungover...

Sunday Run-Day

Something remarkable has been slowly happening here in Dallas, TX.

I have waited eighteen months for this.

Brooklyn officially ran her first half marathon! Not only did she finish, but she set a steady pace and helped me finish strong! I am so very proud of her! She is fulfilling her role as my running partner and body guard just splendidly.

This was a practice run for my upcoming half. Mary Anna and I set out very early this morning; we parked two miles out from the lake to extend our route to the full 13.1 miles. Due to busyness and rainy weather, Brooklyn rested the last two days. Needless to say, she was thrilled to be outside and on the run again.

Brooklyn is so easy to run with. She never pulls anymore (except when when she sees the occasional cat or squirrel!), and she keeps pace with me intuitively. Today she was always two steps ahead of me, never giving me the option to slow down. Not pulling, but not stopping to smell the roses either! This was especially helpful when we ran into challenges like this on mile ten:

Yes, to a Florida girl, this constitutes a hill (and a good-size one at that!)

After conquering the lake trail, we had a final two miles back to the car. All I had to say was, "Find the car," and Brooklyn instantly picked up speed. She was on a mission at the end of our run, which is why our last mile was a speedy 8:18. Way to go, Brooklyn!

"You slow pokes coming?!"

Every great run ends in a great recovery meal. Since it was Mary Anna's birthday (we ran half her age, by the way!), we had planned to meet Tyler at...you guessed it: Company Cafe. The Sammich and I met once again, and this time my eggs were scrambled. Not that a little yolk would have hurt this hair too badly.

13.1 miles: 1:51:30

Makin' me look good :)

This picture is from last week's patio visit to CC. Can you tell I love my Brookies?

I am thrilled that we can enjoy my favorite hobby together! I loved every step today, and I only wish she could be with me at the official race. Seems a waste to run that far and not wear out the Weimaraner...

Weekends Are for Long Runs

It's no secret that I love running. Morning runs are my time away from responsibilities and dusty old buildings. I love breathing in fresh air, even if I'm huffing and puffing toward the end of a run! I am thankful that I've been able to keep a regular running routine, even with the busyness of graduate school. Some days I have to opt out, and that's okay, too. Yesterday in studio performance class (I made it through my first performance of the semester!), Dr. L, my studio professor, told us all to get outdoors this weekend. She recommended time outside as the best thing for our pianistic development. I love that!

Of course it helps that Dallas is giving the best it has to offer right now. This Florida girl was a bit chilly running in fifty-degree weather! Time to start shopping for running leggings!

Fall is here!

The purpose of this post is to share four pieces of exciting news with you (I'm feeling very direct after writing an abstract of my research project and five bibliography annotations):

1. I found a running buddy!

Meet Mary Anna, a fellow SMU piano grad student. Somehow we realized we share a mutual enjoyment of running! I'm sure I was bragging on Brooklyn's mad skills, or something. MA is training for her first half marathon this month, so I've been organizing weekend long runs for us. She is going to rock her first race! Oh, and did I mention we live in the same neighborhood and run the same pace? That makes it easy to schedule runs. In case you didn't guess, MA is happy to have Brooklyn along, too!

2. Brooklyn set a new distance PR!

Actually, MA did, too! We parked about a mile from the lake, ran the nine miles around, and then ran back to our car. This was my first double-digit run in a while. It was 54 degrees when we finished our eleven-mile run. No wonder we were energized and speedy. Time: 1:32:28. That's an 8:24/mile average, folks! We'll take it!

3. I am officially signed up for a half marathon later this month.

I've been dying to register for a race ever since we moved. (Actually, ever since I didn't run my marathon.) I feel there's no better way to get to know your city than to explore on foot, and it's just more efficient if you're running. :) My wise husband knows me so well and so advised me not to commit to any races; he knows my tendency to overcommit and self-destruct. When MA and I began intentionally extending our long runs, I knew I'd easily be ready without any excessive training. Because of this, and the fact that I'll get to race alongside MA, Ty officially gave me the green light! I am stoked about the race course, which tours different districts of the city. Should be spectacular! October 25th, here we come!

4. Company Cafe is still my favorite place to dine!

After our long run today, MA and I felt hungry (duh) and deserving of delicious food. Since Brooklyn was with us, we sat outside on the patio. Neither of us thought through the fact that it was still only fifty-five degrees outside. That's a lot colder when you're sitting instead of running. Hot coffee and a hot meal helped, but it's worth noting that we were the only ones on the patio. Can you say Dee-Lish-Us? Bottomless coffee and gluten-free french toast bites cooked to perfection.

"So where's my hot meal?"

Now Brooklyn is taking it easy and enjoying her view of the neighborhood. Hopefully the neighborhood is enjoying its afternoon soundtrack...

Anyone else think she is looking HUGE these days?!

Pup + Piano = Perfection