I'm A Runner of Steel!!!! {PGH Marathon Race Weekend Recap}

I got to PGH late Thursday night (05/03) so there wasn't much to do except head to the hotel and go to bed. I stayed at one of the race hotels so they had all the frills for the runners checking in...

Once I got enough sleep, I was off to the race expo for packet pickup and other fun stuff on Friday morning...

Last year I ran with a group during a work related Pittsburgh trip and met Tonya, who I was happy to see again at the expo...

We spent time walking around the expo, checking out the different vendors, and shopping. By the time I was done I had collected quite a few race goodies...

[there may or may not be a few tops and a medal rack not featured here 😊]

Then it was time for the PGH Marathon VIP Reception (and Official Blogger Meetup) on Friday night...

(we took serious pictures also I promise)

I also had the pleasure of finally meeting Erin, who was my main PGH Marathon contact as an official blogger for the race...

And I met Patricia, the PGH Marathon Race Director...

And Aliphine Tuliamuk, elite distance runner...

And of course Chelsea! Chelsea and I were race ambassadors for another race series for a few years and were both official bloggers for the PGH Marathon (I actually met Tonya (from the expo pic above) through Chelsea's running group)...

On Saturday morning 4000+ runners gathered for the PGH 5K event (and part 1 of the Steel Challenge)...

My goal was to walk most of this event because I wanted to ensure my legs were rested for the marathon the following day. I can't say the course was scenic but the event itself was nice and the runners/walkers all seemed to be having a good time. At the end of the event though, I was ready to exit...

After the 5K I went back to the hotel to relax for the rest of the day and I woke up bright and early on marathon morning at 4am. I had a routine planned out that allowed for more than enough time to get ready and walk the mile (or so) under overcast skies to the start corrals... 

Once I got there I waited around until I saw the pacers... 

My first stop was the 6:30 pace group. It was the last official pace group for the race and with no time goals in mind (well... except to finish before the 7 hour course limit) I figured joining a group and having company for the race would be ideal. Unfortunately the 6:30 group was going to be doing intervals that I hadn't run in years so my next stop was the 6:00 group. And I lucked out! They were doing 1:30/30 intervals (which is what I used in training) and they were going to walk all the inclines (including the major hill at Oakland). It was a match made in heaven...

We started about 20+ minutes after the official start time and I had a great time talking with the other runners and getting to know my pace partners...

Well, up until mile 15. After that my left knee started bothering me so I slowed down and adjusted my intervals to 1:00/30. This was when the first wave of self reminders started: "Just finish. It's all about the experience. No time goals remember?" Despite the reminders I tried to keep the pace group in my line of sight for a while. Eventually I gave up on that and just concentrated on keeping my breathing steady and not focusing on my knee pain. By mile 19 I gave up all thoughts of running and started to walk. By that point it felt like I could walk faster than I could run anyway.

I spent the last 7 miles of the race walking, greeting people who were still kind enough to brave the overcast and rainy weather to cheer us on, and blasting "Girl on Fire" from my phone. At a couple of the aid stations the volunteers sang along as I walked passed. It was awesome!

(this music saved the day)

I didn't attempt to run again until I turned the final corner and saw the finish line on top of a small mountain hill (whose bright idea was that by-the-way?!). I ran the final stretch and got cheered through the finish by Chelsea and some of the other bloggers/runners...

And just like that marathon #4 was over and I was officially a runner (walker) of steel!

By the time I was done most of the finish line festivities were over so I went to collect my steel challenge medal...

...and walked the mile back to my hotel.

It's been a little over a week since PGH (therefore I've had lots of time to reflect) and the weekend was definitely among the best race experiences I've had. The people were amazing. It wasn't lined with crowds throughout all 26.2 miles but when the crowds were there they were great. The water stations never ran out of water, and the volunteers were happy and encouraging.

I'm not sure I would brave the PGH hills again (certainly not for a full... maybe the 10miler), but I am so glad I did this event!

A (Race Week) Letter To Myself...

Dear Body & Mind,

It's RACE WEEK! Congratulations on making it this far. It's been a long season but you stuck with it and trained hard! The moment you've been waiting for will be arriving this weekend and by next week this time you'll be able to hang your 4th marathon medal on your wall of bling!

There were several "milestones" during Pittsburgh Marathon training that made this cycle stand out from others. First, you got through more distance this season than previous seasons and had 100+ miles months in January & March (congrats)! You did a good combination of solo and group runs with most of your mileage done before 6am (thank heavens for night lights)! You also strategically mixed in a few races as training runs to get that well needed crowd support and disproportionately mixed Gatorade ;)

And yes, you may have single-handedly kept Au bon Pain open with the amount of blueberry muffins you purchased. It's also possible that your "new found appreciation of Merlot" might not have been the best claim to fame this marathon season. And I know you're not happy with the whole marathon weight gain situation, but substituting your weekly hour of cross training for that glass of wine may have had a little to do with it.

Although last week was plagued with aches & pains and strict orders to rest (and not run), getting the official "OK" to toe the starting line on Sunday makes up for all the nights you cried yourself to sleep out of frustration and sadness. Yes, things looked grim for several days... even up to this morning you were worried about stress fractures and whether or not your bones loved you enough to keep themselves together. And while your legs may not be up to PR attempts on Sunday, your new mindset to "just have fun" will hopefully get them through the 26.2+ miles without giving up. 

With that in mind, here are some last minute words of advice and motivation:

1. Run based on how you feel (there will be other marathons to PR at when you are not recovering from an injury).
2. Enjoy the race (everyone's finisher medal looks the same so just enjoy the journey to get yours).
3. Stay grateful (and hydrated) in each mile. So many people are unable to run, to run a marathon, to afford to travel for races. You are blessed to be able to do this so don't forget that.
4. Warm up gently before you start (compression pants are great but they aren't magic). Warming up will help decrease injury risk.
   
5. Fuel properly (you've done this before so I don't need to tell you how important it is).

You are ready. You've trained hard (next time we really need to fix that cross training plan though) and worked hard to get here. Do your best... run with your heart... and remember to smile. 

Always and Forever,

Your sense of satisfaction after the race.

P.S. Pittsburgh I can't wait to help you celebrate #10YearsRunning!

Runners Support Each Other...

Running groups are like a family. Typically close knit, with a variety of unique personalities. Some members are closer than others (whether that's because of pace or similarities in training that facilitate different bonds developing, or just like-mindedness). Some members see/run with each other more often. And some members show up on occasion (for that "seasonal" group run) and then aren't seen again until next season. At times, just like with family, the running group dynamics become... dysfunctional tense. And ideally that period of tension is short lived because at the end of the day we're a "running family" right?

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Over the course of my short (i.e. 4 year) running life I've run with a variety of different groups and I've also run solo. There are pros and cons to both group and solo runs, but the one thing I love about group runs is that the miles go by faster and I finish feeling stronger...

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Bigger running groups have different pace options and so those groups definitely have the ability to make runners of all levels feel welcome. That can sometimes be harder with smaller groups. Which means that if you run with a small group it's important to be intentional about not isolating anyone or making anyone feel like they:
1. Don't belong because they run at a different pace
2. Don't belong because they are training for a different race
3. Don't belong because they don't run with the group all the time
4. Don't belong because they want to do different mileage

I could go on, but the point is we should not make people who want to run feel like they don't belong, or shouldn't run with our running group because their plans/goals/abilities differ from our own. As members of a broader running community we should encourage and embrace everyone who wants to run and try to facilitate each of us reaching our running goals (as best as we possibly can).

I'm dealing with some of these challenges in the group that I run with right now. And I'm pretty transparent about my life and my feelings so I recently felt like I had to comment/post a reminder that we (as a group) need to be accommodating to all the group members. To say the least, it wasn't taken well by everyone...

I'm probably overly sensitive to the need to make everyone feel welcome because there have been times when I've felt like I wasn't good enough, or fast enough, or had enough endurance to keep up/fit in. And I will acknowledge the fact that I completely control whether or not I will allow a passing comment or an exchanged glance affect how I feel or whether or not I run. But, at the same time, I deal with enough insecurities (actually I have a lot of insecurities) and running is a "safe place" for me. So when I'm out on a group run I don't want to feel like those insecurities are surfacing. And when some of my insecurities are related to running, that's definitely the last thing I want to feel.

Runners support each other

Unlike bigger groups, small running groups have to be even more careful to avoid the pitfalls of isolating others because... karma. I'm kidding, because it's just not the right thing to do. So if everyone has different mileage goals, then plan runs that have loops or an "out & back" option. If everyone has a different pace, an out & back option is especially accommodating. Another option is to schedule different start times for different mileage/pace goals. Regardless of the option the group chooses, it's important to ensure that the plan takes everyone into consideration (or at the very least, if you can't accommodate all, then accommodate most of the group).

This morning, I did a 6 mile loop, as part of a "let's try to accommodate most of our training" group run...

Mimi (in the picture with me) was doing her final really long run in preparation for Dopey, and graciously broke her run into 6-6-6-4 mile loops so that I could do 6 (first loop), another runner could do 12 (middle loops), and another runner could do 10 (last two loops). Of course, it's mutually beneficial because Mimi gets a change of company and pace with each of us that did different loops with her, and the rest of us get our desired mileage completed. This is how running groups should work. Ideally, we should find a way to work with each other in supporting each other's goals. It won't always fall into place nicely. Sometimes a runner may need to break off/turn back early, or continue to do more mileage after the group run is over. But the spirit of encouragement should be at the forefront... and when it is running groups shine.

Do you run with a running group?

If yes, how does your group accommodate runners of different levels?

If no, why do you prefer to run solo?

The First Leg {Ragnar Niagara Race Recap: Part 1}...

I was a lot more involved in the planning and logistics for Ragnar Niagara Falls (compared to previous Ragnars) because our team captain wasn't going to be able to run in the event. Plus we had runners that canceled along the way. So a lot of my time leading up to Ragnar was spent trying to find replacement runners and helping to coordinate other Van 1 and general team logistics, including designing the team logo and magnets...

In the grand scheme of things, I really didn't mind participating in the planning because I'm team captain for a Ragnar event later this year so getting involved in the behind-the-scenes stuff from now will be beneficial later. Well, in theory it will 😉.

In any event, the weeks leading up to Ragnar Niagara were busy, so when it was finally time to go I was more than excited to get the whole process started. I happened to be traveling up to Canada on the same flight as my friend Dafney (who I had convinced to join the team from last year) and her husband (who was also running with us but will be m.i.a from all pictures)...

The flight to Toronto was mostly uneventful. Once we landed we headed to the van rental place, got the van, went back to the airport to pick up one of our van mates, EmJai, then went to pick up Julie (who was staying nearby), and then we headed to check in for the event and pick up our race bibs and other Ragnar Niagara race related delights. All that stuff took a while because Toronto traffic is (shockingly) just as bad as Miami traffic... the drivers are much nicer though 😊. 

By the time we made it to the Running Room we only had a few minutes to check in before packet pickup was closed...

Tales from the Trails {Ragnar Trail Alafia Race Recap -- Part 2}

"...that misery loves company, and happiness is only real when it's shared..."

[If you haven't read Tales from the Trails Part 1 check it out and then come back and read the rest of the race recap here]

So my first leg (the green loop) was officially done. My "shower pill" shower consisted of scrubbing every reachable crevice with my Shower Pill athletic body wipes. And my first real meal (since breakfast the previous morning) was chicken with rice and black beans. The rest of my Friday afternoon (into the evening) was spent waiting for my phone to charge at the charging station. 

Ragnar Trail Tip #6: Bring a powerful portable charger. Even with the latest mobile devices and their claims of extended battery life, chances are you will need to recharge your phone a few times over the course of the Ragnar weekend. I brought a portable charger with me but it took about four hours to charge it at the charging station... 

My Interview on The Ragnar Life Podcast...

While you're waiting for "Tales from the Trails Part 2" (which will be posted this week) please check out my interview on The Ragnar Life Podcast...

To listen to the episode →→→ LeAnne's interview ←←←

You can also find the episode on iTunes and Stitcher. If you check out those websites or just go to http://theragnarlife.com you can also listen to the experiences of other Ragnarians who have all endured "a little sleep deprivation (because it) is a small price to pay to watch the sunrise with... friends"

Don't forget to come back and check out the rest of the Ragnar Trail Alafia Race Recap!

Tales from the Trails {Ragnar Trail Alafia Race Recap-- Part 1}

"We believe that being a Ragnarian is about more than being a runner..."

I joined my Ragnar Alafia Trail team in much the same way that I joined my Ragnar Chicago team (back in June of this year): I saw a post on Facebook about a team looking for runners... I asked if they were competitive or not (since my pace is slower non-competitive teams work best for me)... the team captain assured me that it was a non-competitive team... I registered and paid. This time, however, I convinced my friend Mary to join as well.

The week leading up to the race was filled with your typical "pre-trail race prep". Mary and her husband have gone camping before so they had all the camping gear we thought we would need. So really I just had to make sure my running clothes and personal equipment etc were ready and suitable for trail races.

Did I mention I had never run a trail race before? Yeah... never. I did one practice run (on what I would soon learn was a "baby trail" compared to the trails for the race) in the week before Ragnar and that was the extent of my trail experience. I had also never gone camping before. In general, I'm not really an outdoorsy kind of girl. I'm more of a "I need a hot shower and an air conditioned insect-free area to sleep" kind of girl.

Anyway, since Mary and I were traveling from the same area we decided to embark on the 300+ mile journey together the day before race day. Once we got there we just followed the line of cars heading into the wilderness campsite...

No One Runs Alone {Weston 1/2 Race Recap}...

The Weston Half was the day after Ragnar ended (I'm still working on that race recap but I promise it will be posted soon), so as you can imagine I was pretty exhausted. But I decided to push myself to do it anyway since perseverance is the key to success. Well, that and race registration wasn't refundable.

Once I got to the race site I headed straight to packet pickup (which was quick since very few other people were there at 5:30am) and then went to use what I can only describe as THE BEST PORTA POTTIES EVER!!!

(I borrowed this picture from the web... this is what the female porta potties look like)

If you're a runner you can appreciate that porta potties are a necessary, but often unpleasant, reality of our running and racing life. However, these porta potties are impressive. They don't make having to use them magical, but compared to what you normally experience at a race they come pretty damn close!

Anyway, while in line for the porta potties I was talking with my former interval group coach (Anne Marie) from the Memorial Milers group that I used to train with. Anne Marie was with Yvette, who was running with the Milers for this training season, and I overheard Yvette say that she always finishes the race by herself. Well, I figured that no one should run alone (unless they wanted to) so I offered to run with her. At races, and even in training, sometimes we runners like solitude, but I was all up for having a running buddy to distract me from the miles and miles ahead, and so was she.

At the start of the race I saw a few other people that I know from the running community including Andy...

But once the race started Yvette and I kept pace together. We spent most of the 13.1 miles filling each other in on our running, races we've done, races we want to do, work (we both work at the same hospital and didn't even know it!), and our kids. It was really nice getting to know a new running buddy at an actual race.

A Million Eye Rolls...

I was doing a routine scroll through my Instagram (IG) feed the other day and came across a runner who was lamenting about the "excruciatingly slow" pace of his last run. It was around an 8:30min/mile pace. And he was "devastated".

I totally get it. I would be devastated if I ran an 8:30 pace too; since the only way that would happen is if I died... (and then got reincarnated and came back as a fast runner)

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On some level I understand not being excited about how you performed on a run. I mean, if you normally run a 5-6min/mile pace then 8:30 will feel slow. I'm just not sure "devastation" is a necessary emotion for anyone that runs a sub-10 minute mile (unless you're a professional/sponsored athlete at risk of losing all your funding and not being able to feed your children...or buy new running shoes).

I mean, no one wants to run slower. The goal is always to get better right? And for some people (dare I say most people) that means running faster...

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We Are Ragnarians!!! {Ragnar Relay Race Recap; Part 2}

Before you start reading this, if you haven't read Part 1 please check out: "A Real Race Recap of the Ragnar Relay" and start the journey from the beginning. If you've already read Part 1, let's pick back up where we left off... 

I needed a shower

So there we were at Exchange 18. This was Van 2’s opportunity to rest and recuperate before our second leg, courtesy of a high school somewhere in Wisconsin. I was exhausted. Not only was I exhausted, I was also covered with sweat salt crystals (gross, I know). If you know me personally you know that there are several states of being that I don’t do well, including: sleepy, hungry (thankfully I had eaten at Exchange 12), and hot shower deprived. I typically don’t get too grumpy in these states of being. Ok, that might be a lie. I can get very grumpy. But I didn’t want to scare off my Ragnar crew so I just stayed quiet and followed my teammates, and the signs, to the designated “Women’s Showers”.

So here’s the thing about Ragnar Rookies. We don’t know EVERYTHING that we need to bring for a race. There are a bunch of lists and “race bibles” out there (I know because I've read several of them), but I either didn’t see (or it didn’t register) that I would need a towel. I’m not sure how I could have missed that since I packed two washcloths; but alas, there I was, heading to take a shower with only a washcloth and a change of clothes on hand...

A Real Race Recap of the Ragnar Relay {#RagnarChi Part I}

If you throw an average runner into an anything but average running situation (like a Ragnar Relay) it can go one of two ways: horribly wrong or amazingly right. It’s never usually both right? Well, let’s find out...

There is no way for me to do this Ragnar Race Recap without giving you a little bit of the back story on how I joined my Ragnar team. I’ll keep it brief:
I heard about Ragnar in my many searches for running events. 
        Saw there was one in Florida. 
              Tried to form a team. 
                    The race got cancelled. 
                           I looked for another event. 
                               Found Ragnar Chicago. 
                                    Chicago is my happy place. 
                                         So obviously I went looking for a team. 
                                              Saw a message on Facebook about a team looking for runners. 
                                                   Reached out to Nicole (team captain). 
                                                        She was super nice. 
                                                             She had spots. 
                                                                  I paid my registration fee. 
                                                                       Team membership confirmed.

2016 Wings For Life World Run {Race Recap}

{pictures will be randomly sprinkled throughout the post & won't necessarily correspond with the surrounding text}

[Today the global running community gathered for the 3rd annual Wings for Life World Run. I joined thousands of runners from 34 locations in 33 different countries to run (and walk) for those who can't. A Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a significant life changing event that has affected (and will unfortunately continue to affect) many individuals. And while there is no cure currently, there have been several advances in medicine, surgery, and technology that allows for an improved quality of life for individuals with SCIs. These advances are made possible through events like Wings for Life where 100% of the proceeds are dedicated to SCI research.]

For Torryn and Ryan...

Tomorrow I will run in my 3rd Wings for Life World Run! I've enjoyed this event for the past two years (since its inception) and I'm pretty confident tomorrow will not disappoint. I'm going to try and stick with a "run a mile: walk a little" interval strategy, but really my primary goal is to run farther than I did last year (a 10K) and to have fun!

Today was packet pick-up. They had several dates and locations for packet pick-up this year, but I always prefer to go the day before and see what they have set up at the BBT Center. This year they provided a pre-race day warm up/boot camp session, so I took Kai with me and we joined in the fun...

100 Runners

A few days ago I asked several runners one simple question: "Why Do You Run?" The question may have been simple but the answers I got were profound and insightful. You can read all about them HERE. 

Talking to other runners about what motivated them to start running, and what motivates them to continue running, led me to start a new Instagram campaign! The goal is simple: I want to ask 100 runners the same question that they will each answer in one sentence (or as close to one sentence as possible)...

The first question is the one that got everything started ("Why Do You Run?") and I've asked each person to send me a picture of their running shoes to post along with their response...