Ultra Runners are the 1%

I don't mean that we're above the general population or other runners in any way. Well, except mileage... But I digress.

If you read my last post then you know I'm up to my eyeballs in stress. However, I don't react like a 'normal' person. No! I sit through a 2.5 hour meeting on a Tuesday wondering just how sick I have to be to leave early. Doesn't mental health count for something?



So after the meeting I rush back to my desk with 20 minutes until lunch break. I bang out every email, every letter and phone call and still have 10 minutes left. I spend them trying to figure out the best way to let my bosses know I'm going home without them asking too many questions. I finally settle for "I don't feel very well and I've decided to go home. If you have an urgent need please call my cell." That's the thing about we ultra runners, we don't waste a drop of energy if we don't have to. Not even to write an excuse for work.

I head home feeling uplifted and enjoying the weather. I'll probably never see 60 degrees and sunny on January 31 in Pittsburgh ever again! I know there's a lot of things I could be doing with my suddenly open afternoon. I tick off the list in my head: homework, laundry, writing a blog post, playing with my dogs, etc. But there's not even a question in my mind of Priority Uno. I'm going running! The only question is, "How many miles can I fit into the time I have?"



The answer to that turned out to be 10. On a 'normal' day I might have banged out 12 or more. Today wasn't normal because I did an extremely leg focused weights program yesterday. On top of that I was extremely under-fueled having eaten only a Clif bar and coffee in the last 12 hours. I decided it was perfect testing conditions for my Umstead plan. (Because that's how ultra runners think right? RIGHT?!)

I tucked a Peanut Butter GU (YUM!) and some Margarita Shot Bloks (Double yum!) into my SPIbelt and took off. I didn't even take a handheld with me (because I couldn't wait another second to fill up a water bottle before I hit the trails)! And this is why I love distance running....

First mile, I'm okay but my legs HURT. I can feel my quads groaning. I'm pretty sure a mutiny is in the works. Second mile, the quads are starting to say, "Okay, okay! We give!" Miles 3-5 I'm just cruising (slowly). I take a few walk breaks and pop my GU (now I wish I had water!) and then a Shot Blok. I turn around at mile 5 even though I'm entertaining thoughts of just running until I know my husband is starting to worry and then calling him to come get me.

Mile 6 I'm cruising again. My breathing is steady, my heartbeat even. It's the closest I'll ever feel to being a machine. At 7 miles I start to wonder what people think when they see me out there. Do I look like I've lost my mind? Can they see the sheer happy stupidity that is radiating from every cell of my body? From the sideways looks and cautious waves I believe that they do. Miles 8-10 I'm just pushing to get it in now. I know I don't have fast in me today but I feel good knowing that I'm probably as depleted as I'll be 50 or 60 miles into Umstead (calorie-wise and muscle weakness-wise) and I'm still cranking out 11 minute miles and optimistic. Where else do pain and pure bliss come in a single package except for ultra running?

Once home I shower and return to 'normal' life seeing just a hint of a glow around everything now, like an aura. My outlook is just a little brighter, my mind just a little less occupied. I can be more patient with my kids. I can NOT chase down the kids that ding-dong ditched us just as the baby fell asleep (more to prove that I can catch them rather than actually being mad). I help my older daughter with homework, I help my husband with dinner, I fold laundry, and then I work on homework. After all of that I sit down to write this post. It's amazing how productive and happy that 2 hour break from life made me. And that's why ultra runners rule!

But just in case you need more convincing:

You know you're an ultra runner if:

-You don't think twice about eating food off the floor

-You can say (or apply!) Body Glide with a straight face

-You have actually eaten salt (not as a seasoning but on it's own!)

-You run a warm up and cool down for a marathon

-You run your age in miles on your birthday (or birthday weekend)

-Your runs are limited by how much time you have rather than your fitness

-You have run with a light strapped to your head

-You have at least one black and/or missing toenail

-You carry running clothes to work or wear them under your suit

-You rotate your shoes more often than your tires

-You drink from a water bottle at the dinner table

-You leave work early to run!

Have a great night everyone and keep being 'different'! (It is what I love about you!) I'm off to check off my last to-do: rest! Don't forget to enter the charity giveaway/raffle before midnight! I still need to raise $240 to meet my goal! You can donate here!

Stress Less, or How I Avoid Throat Punching Jerks

It's been a horrible week at work. I found out from a client that my coworker has been badmouthing me and the company at every opportunity. I'm not sure what I did to this person, my boss suggested it was a sarcastic comment I made some months ago. All I know is that in my life I have never taken a crude comment or gesture from another employee as a ticket to try to ruin their career.

I've spoken with my manager, the Human Resources Manager, the Lead Project Manager and everyone short of the President about this situation hoping to find some relief. All I've found is that they are reluctant to let this bonehead go. It's painfully clear to me that my position and contributions aren't of any value if they are willing to continue to employ someone who would undermine my actions and the company's at every opportunity. I made it clear to my boss that next week I would be waiting for a decision, jerk or me. There's not enough room in the cube farm for both of us.

Now I sit and wait... and worry. I worry because I don't want to put my family in financial stress. I worry because I don't want to have a bad mark on my employment record. I worry because I don't know that I'll have a job Monday morning. I worry because the stress is taking a toll on me mentally and physically. And when something is stressful enough that it takes a toll on my running I know that I have to do something to handle it. I haven't been eating or sleeping properly and my left knee is still giving me grief. I'm starting to think it's psychological.

Thankfully, my husband made plans to get me out of the house and onto the trails this weekend. There's a group of runners in our area that I've begun to think of as the 'regulars'. I'm not sure that my husband and I fall into this group but I'd like to think so. These are the faces I see at every race and the names I hear in every running conversation. They're the runners that always have plans, races and food for everyone. The plan today was for everyone to meet in a park not too far from our home and run 10 miles.

The best part about this plan is that my husband has never done more than 5 miles. The 'race' was a 2 mile out and back on a trail going one direction and then a 3 mile out and back going the opposite direction. My husband said he was planning to stop after the first 4 miles. When I reached the 4 mile mark and didn't see him waiting I figured I missed him. Turns out he decided he could do the whole thing and amazingly he did, still faster than me, in 1:25.

I finished in 1:40 and felt pretty good with that. According to my Garmin it was 10.1 miles which works out to a 9:56 average pace. Maybe I can pull off this 4:19 marathon afterall?! My stomach was not happy and my knee was aching but overall I felt more relaxed than I've felt in the last 5 days. I really needed that run and the company too.

So hopefully I'll be back next week with a lower stress level one way or another. And I'll also be back to announce the winners of my IAFF Charity Raffle! So don't forget to make your donation and get those last entries! Then in February I'll be coming up with some more fun ways to benefit this fantastic cause! So help me out if you can and run a mile for me while you're at it please?!

XOXO

Crazy Busy, or Maybe Just Crazy

I'm sure most of you are aware that I've never fully committed to a training plan before. In fact I probably slacked more than I adhered in the past. I promised myself that I would not repeat that pattern this year and so far I'm keeping that pattern. I'm working very hard to find a balance between pushing through complications and taking extra rest when I need it.

"Rest is a good thing, but boredom is its brother." - Voltaire

I find myself feeling out of sorts and lazy on rest days now. And I finally understand the tweet I saw from Ryan Hall about a year ago that said, "You know you're in marathon training when you get sore just vacuuming the house." Next week is a cutback week for me and I'm looking forward to it and dreading it all at the same time.

This week has been exciting for me as a runner. I've been pushing the boundaries of what I thought I was capable of and I should go over 50 miles for the week. This is a first without a marathon or ultra to 'artificially' bolster my totals. Of course, we got an ice storm last night so there's an inch of ice with 3 inches of snow on top outside today. I'm gambling with the chance that the weather will be better tomorrow and planning to switch Sunday's recovery miles with today's long run miles. I was contemplating doing my long run today on the treadmill but I'm not ready to do it if I don't have to. Too many of my miles are treadmill miles as it is!



The ferocity of my desire to complete this training and push my body to its limits still surprises me. I'm not sure where this was two years ago when I first started running longer distance races but I'll take it. If I had 'committed' to doing lunch runs a year ago I would most likely have ended up with an expensive gym membership that got used once or twice a month. Or maybe just a bag of running gear in my car that would eventually become nothing but an annoying reminder of what I wasn't doing. A year ago I would run on the treadmill in the evenings sometimes but if I was tired or hungry or it was cold in the basement I'd end up on the couch instead.

Now I find myself organizing my work schedule so I can have longer lunch runs and then coming home and finding time to get on the treadmill too. I've even started contemplating just how much sleep is really necessary and whether or not I could get in 3-5 miles in the mornings before work. I'm not ready to commit to THAT yet but maybe someday...

To top it off I've been busy blogging too. Now you're confused right?! I mean there hasn't been a new post here for a week right?! Well, sort of... I wrote a "What's in my Gym Bag" post for Running, Loving, Living. I also wrote a post for the FitFluential blog on keeping your kids active during the winter.

Of course, I'm still working hard to raise money for the IAFF Burn Fund and the giveaway/raffle is still open until the end of the month! A winner was selected for the Centrum ProNutrients giveaway and I was super excited to see that Elle from Eat, Run, Sail got her choice of supplement. Her blog is always full of great stories so check it out!

Things are about to get even crazier though. My college courses start back up full time on Monday and I have some courses that sound awesome but tough: Sports Nutrition, Current Health Issues, Anatomy & Physiology II, and Ethics in Sport. I know that my education is a great investment and it's going to help me to help others but it also feels like marathon training x 2! So please bear with me if I'm a little scatter-brained over the next couple months. I promise it's only temporary and I'll be back to blogging full steam by summer!

Happy running everyone!

P.S. I found this picture today on a camera card from my mom. I had to do a before and after just to believe how much I've really changed. I didn't know I had a problem in the before and I can't believe I actually look like the after now!

Americans Go Big!

I just got done 'watching' the Olympic Marathon Trials via Twitter feeds. I'm beyond angry that I had to 'see' the race this way because NBC and Universal control the rights and decided a delayed showing at 3PM was good enough. I'm an American, that's MY team too, and I want to SEE the race! If you don't want to air it live then sell the rights to someone who will! Okay, end of rant.

So as not to spoil the ending for those of you who did watch the trials I will make an announcement of another winner! Elle from Eat, Run, Sail! you are the Centrum winner! Please send me your info to sbrunazzi (at) gmail.com and your choice of supplement so I can pass it along to Centrum! Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who entered and thanks for being patient while I spammed my twitter feed for 2 hours and 25 minutes with Oly Trials hoopla! I'm off to get ready to go get my own run on!

Have a great day!
Sara

In it to Win it!

If you've already entered my IAFF Burn Fund Charity giveaway then you're in for some exciting news! If you haven't entered yet get crackin'! I'm drawing a bunch of winners on February 1 and the prizes just keep coming!

I just got the go ahead to add some nice gear from the IAFF themselves! A polo and a wind jacket! The pictures below don't do these items justice at all! And both will be black in your choice of sizes!





And I hope to add more prizes before the end of this if I can! So keep the generous donations coming please! I'm now at 111% of my goal and growing! Thank you all so much for all your help! The IAFF Burn Fund means a lot to me and I deeply appreciate the support of my friends, coworkers, family, and the running & blogging community who have helped me honor my father's memory in such a tangible way!

XOXO,
Sara

Where Athlete and Fashion Meet

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm NOT a 'fastinista'. When running comfort is my biggest factor. When I find something that fits, stays put, and doesn't chafe I stick with it. If it looks good then that's just a bonus.

I must be beginning to soften in my old age though. I gave in and let my stylist take me from boring ponytail to stylish assymetric bob a month or so ago. I have to admit I love it! Then my biggest problem was how to RUN with something I couldn't pull back.



Thankfully, BIC Bands came to my rescue! They're site convinced me that this was the brand to try! Who doesn't love a company that gives a portion of their profits to charity?!

"B.I.C. Bands gives back to those in need with every purchase!
B.I.C. Bands are headbands that will not slip~ (SERIOUSLY!) They are great for any workout, a trip to the coffee shop, going out with friends, work....
you name it, your B.I.C. Band will keep your hair looking FAB! They are headbands that stay in place and help others win their race!"

I tried them out and now I'm hooked! I even sported one to the office today! See?


If you want to score some BIC Bands you can enter to win them through my giveaway that benefits the IAFF Burn Fund. I've got a DOZEN to give away!

Now if someone could just point me in the direction of a tutorial on office AND gym friendly make up? (And maybe a spray tan too! Can you say glow-in-the-dark?!)

Atlanta DNA

I'm pretty sure I've got it. No, not like the city. More like Charlie Sheen's Adonis DNA but with a running spin. Atlanta is a character from Greek and Roman mythology. She refused to marry unless the suitor could best her in a race. She killed them when they lost but yet many still tried their luck (or finishing kick?). It wasn't until the goddess Aphrodite decided to give poor, young Melanion some golden apples that Atlanta finally lost. Frankly I don't believe a skilled young huntress and runner like Atlanta would stop to pick up golden apples that Melanion threw. What serious runner wastes time like that? But that's another matter entirely.



What I do believe is that I am becoming a serious local contender for 2012! I won't be slaying any suitors (marriage kind of ruined that) but I sure hope to be beating more guys, and gals! My training has been pretty on point. I'm 9.5 miles short of my plan but I knew my plan was ambitious going in and I didn't plan to still be racing every weekend throughout it!

To send 2011 out with a bang my husband decided we should repeat our New Year's Eve race from last year (which I didn't write a race report for!). The Harmony Silvester 5k celebrates the German New Year with a ball drop at 6PM EST which equates to the ball drop in Germany. I'm a lot more into this whole thing now that I work for a German company! I even thought about calling my boss across the pond and telling him happy New Years but I abstained.

Last year I ran this race in 30:56 and I remember thinking the hills were brutal. My husband ran it in 26:30 and he wasn't prepared for the rollers either. This year was completely different. I went out with a plan. I wanted my sub-25 even knowing the hills were coming. I decided to run 8 minute mile pace the entire time. The first mile was dead on 8 minutes. The next mile the hills started to catch up to me again but I made it up on the downhills as best I could. Mile 2 split was 8:40. Whoops! I had a lot of making up to do in mile 3. I found the next gear and chugged along next to a guy who seemed to be running fairly easy. I'm sure he thought he was going to need his breath to perform CPR on my wheezing body any second. I kept pushing and the last little hill coming back up into the square got me. I started feeling that familiar churning in my stomach. Instead of pulling off to let 'er rip I kept running but I couldn't do an 8 minute mile uphill and hold my lunch down at the same time. Mile 3 ticked in at 8:20. I finished in 25:05. Still a PR but leaving those darned 6 seconds to be desired! Better luck next year!



I planned to start 2012 off right, with a cutback week. My husband had other ideas. He signed up for a new 5k on Saturday. I woke up feeling awful and tried to stay in bed. My ever-thoughtful husband decided that if I wouldn't run with him then I should at least be his cheering squad. I volunteered pulling off timing chips at the finish chute and cheered my husband in to a new PR of 21:38. I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever be able to catch him!

Sunday I woke up early despite not setting an alarm. I decided to sneak out for a 5 mile race in the park. My husband and I ran this race last year and, again, the hills were crazy! I finished in 55:33 last year. This year I knew my endurance was better so I aimed higher. I planned to run 8:20-8:30 pace until the last mile which is completely uphill. Mile 1 was 8:21, mile 2 in 8:11, mile 3 in 8:23, and mile 4 in 9:07 (whoops!). I hit the last long climb right after mile 4 and, unlike last year, I didn't let it reduce me to a walk. I may have been moving slowly but I continued to run. Mile 5 took me 10:59 and if you look at the elevation profile I'm sure you'll see why! Final chip time was 45:03! Guess I need even more hill training this year!



So here's to bigger and better (and longer!) in 2012! In case you haven't seen it yet my goal races for the year:
March 17 - Rock n Roll D.C. Marathon
March 31 - Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run
May 6 - Flying Pig Marathon
June 9 - Hatfield McCoy Marathon
August 25 - Baker 50 Mile Ultrachallenge (leg 2)
October 13 - Baltimore Marathon
November 4 - Marshall University Marathon

So I'll see you on the road! Happy training!