Going South

In the several months I took off from running and blogging (and pretty much everything except working) I went through a lot of changes. The guy I was seeing and I didn't work out. I jumped jobs AGAIN. The Jeep blew its engine and I traded it in for a Mazda. I guess it was a pretty eventful few months. But it also brought about a lot of wonderful things.

One of which was meeting the kind of guy I never dreamed existed. We clicked from date one... which was amazing considering I was working 13 hour night shifts and skipped about 3 hours of sleep to meet him for lunch. It wasn't long before we were spending all of our free time hiking, running, going to concerts, and playing in the great outdoors. The only downside was knowing our time was limited. See, he lives 600 miles from me and was only home for the summer. 

Even his dog is awesome

When it came time for him to leave we both had trouble saying goodbye. I promised to visit. He was sure I never would. And next thing I know I'm on my way to the Carolinas to spend a four day weekend with him. And it was without a doubt one of the best weekends of my life.

We went bar hopping Friday and I got to meet a few of his acquaintances. Saturday we were up bright and early to cheer on his friends at a CrossFit competition. I have never in my life felt so tiny as I did standing next to the ripped men and women of Carolina CrossFit. I am certain I looked like an idiot walking around with a huge grin on my face the whole time. I forgot how much fun it is to cheer and crew for athletes. (Which reminds me that I should really volunteer for a race soon.)

I may never be this much of a beast

After the competition it was time for our own workout. A nice 5 mile trail loop was a joy to run. It was flat, well groomed, and fairly scenic.... except for the 90 degree temps and the raging humidity. For the second time that day I was humbled as an athlete. It only reinforced my desire to get back in shape and be able to keep up with my boy and his friends. Then we had dinner with one of his running partners and her boyfriend. She is training for the Chicago marathon and kept us all laughing with her stories.

Sunday was more of the same. Another trail run in a beautiful park. There were so many things I don't see in Pennsylvania. Armadillos, huge snails, Spanish moss, and cacti. I loved every minute of our time on the trail. Well, except for when I twisted my ankle on a root. But I do that in PA too. Guess you can't leave clumsy at home.

After all the adventures and craziness, we are both still very into making this work. So I guess it's time for some southern races since I'll be making the trip fairly often!

Time to start knocking some more states off the list!

 

On My Skin

I finally got my fifth tattoo today. I've been waiting... and waiting some more. Why? Because I hadn't finished a hundred miler. And when I did finish BR100 my life began to fall apart. Maybe you remember this post when I wrote about the compass rose necklace I bought myself when I first started running. I told myself I would mark it on my skin permanently when I ran my first one hundred. Little did I know how long that journey would be!

Today I walked into my favorite tattoo place on a whim thinking I would get it drawn up and make an appointment. The guy asked, "Want to do it now?" I began to hesitate and then thought to myself, "What's the point in waiting for anything? Just do it!" So I said yes and we began the process of laying it out and inscribing it on my body forever.

And here is what I walked out with an hour later:

 

It's a representation and a celebration all in one. It represents the path I've travelled and the path I'm on as my life changes direction again. It celebrates the end of my journey to travel 100 miles on foot. It represents my moral compass and my desire to stay my course when it seems the entire world is against me. It will hopefully be a good luck charm for finding my path out on the trails when running and racing.

Life is never what we expect but so long as we raise our sails and chart a course we can follow the stars to where we are meant to be. The journey begins today...

Skincare for Runners

Like most runners I deal with clogged pores that are compounded by sweat and weather exposure. Training for Burning River has compounded my skin woes. Long runs on dirty trails, hot weather, sunny days, and lots and lots of sweat!

I use those skin cleansing pads daily and also wash my face with Dove soap. I still have breakouts fairly often. So when ToiletTree Products offered to send me a facial brush system I was more than willing to give it a go.

Inside I found several brushes: a soft exfoliater, a medium exfoliater, a body exfoliater, and a pumice stone. I used the soft brush on my face with a gentle cleanser daily for about a week and the body brush on my shoulders (problem area!) too. After that time I have experienced fewer pimples, smoother skin, and no more blackheads.

I forgot to pack my brush on our weekend trip for Shane's 101st race and I ended up with another breakout after I ran 8 miles while waiting on him to finish. I think I'll keep this as a permanent part of my routine!

Disclaimer: ToiletTree Products provided the product at no cost in exchange for review. As always, all opinions are my own.

Race Etiquette

When I was a new runner I had no idea how to act or what to do at a race. Now that I am experienced I try to remember that new runners don't join our ranks knowing the in's and out's. Not every faux pas is a personal insult and every misunderstanding is probably the fault of someone more experienced for not explaining.

So here's a few tips for the newer runner or racer.

1) Line up according to your pace.  Only the people who expect to win, or at least be in the top 10, should be toeing the line. Mere mortals should be further back in the pack. A good rule of thumb is to ask those around you what their goals are. If they match yours then you're probably in the right spot. Not only does this save you from being stampeded by the speedier runners but it saves them from having to waste energy dodging you. *Note: If you're a walker, you belong all the way at the back unless you are an Olympic speed walker.

2) Run or walk in a line. If you're running a race with a group then you're all probably going at your slowest member's pace. Try not to walk or run three or four abreast. You've just created a wall that faster runners can not breach without elbowing you or your friends out of the way. Walking or running in pairs may make conversation harder but really, we're here to see how fast we can do this thing. Save the chit chat for the finish party.

3) 'On your left' means move right. If you choose to ignore rule #2 and walk or run in a large group please heed the pained cries of 'on your left' from faster runners approaching from behind. Not only have they wasted their breath to warn you of their approach but they are often rewarded with a dirty look when they are forced to the very edge of the road or path to skirt your group. Moving to the right a hair takes much less energy for everyone.

4) Look before you blow. Everyone gets a runny nose or a bug in their mouth at some point. But before you spew body fluids on the run look in the general direction of your intended projectile to make sure no innocent people are spattered with your gore.

5) Don't cut the course. It happens to a lot of new runners. You've finished a 5k or two and you're looking for the next challenge. So you sign up for a 5 mile or 10k race and find out it's not just twice as hard but more like 10 times as hard. Maybe that little voice in the back of your head says that hopping up on the curb and cutting that curve isn't really cheating. Or maybe it says it's okay to take the 5k turn off instead of continuing on. The truth is that it really isn't. Either walk it in or remove your bib and don't cross the finish line. Cutting the course is cheating and it takes away from the accomplishment of the runners who ran the whole thing. You don't want to be the next Rosie Ruiz.

6) If you must walk, move right. Just like slower cars use the right lane, slower runners and walkers should move to the right. And before you walk take a quick glance over your shoulder to make sure no one is right behind you. You know, since runners aren't equipped with taillights?

In general, just try to treat the trail or path like you would a road. Try to respect that others may be competing even if you're not. And remember that we all make mistakes but, if you do, all it takes is a moment to utter an apology. Most runners are very nice people and won't hold it against you. Happy trails!

Sunburn and Sweat: Surviving Summer Running

My coach, Alexa Dickerson, knows all about heat acclimation training and running through the hottest weather. She's running Badwater for the second time this year (that's 135 miles.... through Death Valley.... in JULY if you are out of the loop) and she's also completed the Brazil 135. So I started following her lead last year even before she was my coach officially. Here's what I've learned following her adventures and those of other extreme athletes.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Everyone knows that being dehydrated increases your body temperature and your risk of heat-related problems. It also reduces your performance so you work harder for the same results. I regularly drink about 2 oz per mile but on hot days that average can exceed 4 oz per mile. However, there's more to it than just good old H2O....

Get salty. Sweat isn't just water. It's salt, potassium, magnesium, and other minerals that are necessary for all sorts of functions in your body. So if you only replace sweat loss with water you could end up dangerously out of balance or with hyponatremia. Experiment with salty foods like chips or pretzels and even supplements like S! caps. Once you learn what you need in different temperatures and environments you can anticipate your bodies needs and avoid potential issues.

Free your inner tortoise. Slow down and work smarter, not harder. Walking uphill may cost you time but cutting your run short or ending up in the hospital will derail all your hard work. Take walk breaks and slow down by 2 minutes (or more) per mile on longer runs. Try to stay in the shade when possible even if it means you look like a drunk swerving from one side of the trail to the other.

Work up to it. You may be scheduled for a 10 mile run but if it's the hottest run so far this year cutting it short may be necessary. Doubles are another option. Run 5 miles in the heat and 5 miles indoors or in the early morning/late evening. Just like when you started running for the first time, there's a way to work up to running in the heat.

Immerse yourself in heat. This is something I got from Alexa's training last year. She gave up air conditioning in her home and car and just let her body learn to deal with the rising temperatures all summer long. I decided to try it and I found that it worked. My sweat rate lessened and I lost fewer electrolytes. My body had become more efficient at staying cool and running on 100*+ pavement no longer felt quite so awful. On the really unbearable days I pack up the kids and head to the pool but the AC is always the last resort. If you're really into heat acclimation then you can go full on Badwater-style and train in a sauna.

Go bare. No, don't run naked. Just keep your head uncovered. Heat rises so allowing your body heat to escape through the top will help you stay cool. The only reason to cover your head would be if you have a bandana or hat that can regularly be refilled with ice or dipped in cold water. Anything dry will just hold sweat, and heat, against your head.

Travel light. Carry everything you need in the lightest form possible. Powders rather than pre-mixed drink solutions, a small flashlight, an iPod nano instead of a larger one, etc. This also goes for clothing. White or light colored technical fabric works best.

Holiday Party

The holidays are past and we're 'celebrating' my birthday as I type. By celebrating I mean Shane and Ash are out cold and Gem and I are trying to be quiet!

Christmas is all about family and friends and too much food. We definitely did it right this year! The girls and I spent Saturday before Christmas with my side of the family. It was great to see my mom, her husband, my aunt and uncle, and my grandmother (plus all four dogs!) and catch up on what has been going on in our lives.

Christmas morning we opened gifts at home, just the four of us. There were a lot of presents under the tree but some of them stood out more than others. Here's a sampling of what Santa left for the Brunazzi clan:

Shane got an INKnBURN handheld

 

 

 The girls got all of the My Little Ponys they were missing from their collection.

 

 

Gem was really excited about Princess Cadence

 

 I got custom drop bags plus new INKnBURN gear!

 

 

 Close up of my new drop bag!

 

 Lily got a new ball, which she promptly destroyed, and a new sweater.

 

 And our little tree peaked in from the porch (to protect it from the ferocious dachshund above)

 

In the early afternoon Shane's parents came over for Christmas dinner and we ate more ham, lasagna, veggies, and rolls than anyone has a right to. After that it was presents with Shane's side and once again we were overwhelmed with wonderful and thoughtful gifts. A new purse for me, pajamas for Ash, a sweater and a robe for Gem, new clothes for Shane. Plus a gift card for Red Lobster.

 

Being that today is my 28th (WOAH!) birthday we put that card to good use. We each ordered our fill of seafood delights and desserts and left stuffed to the brim. Hence, the sleeping half of the family! One day I'd really love to run to celebrate my birthday, e.g. 28 miles for 28 years, but this year my birthday fell on a cutback week so I only got 7 miles for my birthday this year. Maybe next year...

 

What did you get for Christmas? What was your favorite running or fitness related gift? Do you have any special traditions?

Nerve Check

Last month I had the amazing experience of meeting Shalane Flanagan during the Runner's World Hat Trick. Getting to Q&A an Olympic marathoner has to be one of the coolest things I've had the pleasure of checking off my bucket list (even if I didn't know I should have put it on there!). I promised to get up the videos of the session and I finally am! I'm only about 5 weeks late so hush!

The first video I wanted to share is Shalane talking about her pre-race nerves and how they affected her throughout highschool and college and how she uses them to push herself now. After the video I'll talk more about my own experiences with keeping pre-race jitters in check but for now here's the good stuff:

Now, if you're still here, let's talk about me! Every person is different but from my own experience I know that race day nerves can ruin a performance. My first marathon was an absolute disaster and a big part of it was nerves. My stomach went sour in the days leading up to the race and I let all the fears, excitement and anxiety get the better of me. I had the worst race of my life and a miserable couple days on either side of it to boot.

So what can you do? The answer is to focus on what you can control.

Have you done the training? If the answer is no then maybe you should reevaluate your goals or even drop down to a shorter distance. But if the answer is yes then you should feel secure in your ability.

Is your goal realistic? We all have the desire to blow our last time out of the water or get a medal. Evaluate your training and races leading up to your goal race. Do the times and paces that you ran indicate your goal is attainable? Note: I didn't say easy, just within reason. Again, if not, reset your goals. If yes, try to relax and trust in your training.

I was extremely nervous meeting Shalane for the first time!

Do you have a plan? Have you figured out what your splits should be at each mile or certain interval (5k, 10k, half, etc)? Do you know when you are going to take a GU or a Shot Blok and when you plan to drink? For my PR marathon I had everything planned: 52 minutes per 5 miles and GU or 2 Shot Bloks every 5th mile. I carried a handheld and drank to thirst. Knowing that I had everything I needed in my SPIbelt and that I wasn't depending on luck, the course aid stations, or last minute decisions really eased my mind.

Check the weather the day before and lay out your clothes, your drop bag (if you're using one), your (charged!) Garmin and iPod, your GU's/Shot Bloks/whatevers, and anything else you will need to take with you. Having everything right in front of you when you wake up will make it easier to remember your plans and you won't leave the house wondering if you forgot something important.

Lastly, eat your normal breakfast even if you have to eat it earlier than usual. If you ate a bagel with peanut butter and coffee before long runs then eat that before your race. Think about how long it usually takes you to feel ready to run after your meals and allow at least that much time between your breakfast and your race.

You may not be entirely relaxed and confident, but as long as you know there's nothing else within your control, it will be easier to trust in your training and have an enjoyable day.

What are your favorite pre-race rituals? Do you have any superstitions or good luck charms? How do you keep your nerves at bay?

Just Another Runner

Since the Runner's World Half & Festival I've been working hard to read all of the books I brought home with me. The Big Book of Marathon & Half Training was a good read, albeit very basic. The next one on my pile was 'Going Long' which is an accumulation of stories from Runner's World, edited by David Willey. I had the pleasure of meeting Dave and his son, who both kicked my butt in the 5k portion of the Runner's World Hat Trick.

However, as I read these books from Rodale, owner and publisher of Runner's World Magazine, I find that one common thread ties every bit of editorial together, whether satire, drama, or documentary. The fact is Runner's World seems to think that everyone is a Boston Qualifier or a 3-something marathoner. (Even in the 'Big Book' the little blocks with personal stories often featured 3:xx marathoners.)

The truth? We're not. I am just as amazed and motivated as the next runner when I meet someone who's lost 100 pounds, run 10 marathons, and just BQ'ed... all in the last year. But the fact is that these people are the exception, not the rule. And qualifying for Boston is a big deal because it's HARD. I may never do it and that's okay. What irks me is that every book in the Rodale repertoire acts like it's normal somehow to tick off 7 minute miles on easy runs or do 8 mile tempos at a 5:xx pace. It's NOT!

In fact, the average runner is not a member of this club. Something like 62% of the field in my last marathon finished in the 4-4:30 range. I just missed being middle of the pack yet again. Maybe it's supposed to be motivating to read these times and paces that aren't even remotely on my radar. Maybe it's supposed to be inspiring. Really, though, let's face it. It's getting old. I'm sick of opening books on training and finding that the pace tables stop several minutes shy of my actual training paces. The race time comparison tables end long before my races actually did.

Maybe Runner's World is losing sight of their target audience? From what I see on their forums, the largest numbers are by far in the Beginner's Forum. The elite racing forum is tiny, the ultra room only slightly larger, and the marathoners and training forums still miniscule in comparison. People who are only just trading flip flops for Nikes or jeans for compression shorts are the bulk of the ones who are seeking advice and training tips and motivation. In all honesty, the runners who are at the front either have coaches, are coaches, or might as well be for the most part. Either that or they are inhumanly genetically gifted with a high VO2max, perfectly balanced fast and slow twitch fibers, and speedy recovery cells. In other words, they aren't me and I doubt they are the balance of my readers or my running friends.

Am I the only one noticing this or feeling this way? Is anyone else ready to take all of the Rodale and Runner's World books and pile them for a bonfire?

I Can Die Happy Now

If this weekend is anything like today then I've reached the pinnacle of my running career. Just take me now so I can die happy lord! The Runner's World 5k, 10k, and half marathon are here and I am just unbelievably excited!

I drove 5 hours to Bethlehem, PA today and arrived at my hotel around 3PM. I checked in and was immediately presented with a STELLAR schwag bag. It has it all plus some vouchers for freebies at the expo and backstage passes for a few of the tents and demos. Runner's World and FitFluential really hooked us up!

At 5PM an AMAZING (am I using enough superlatives yet?!) luxury bus pulled up and whisked us off to Runner's World headquarters. I thoroughly enjoyed the leather seats and bar stocked with bottled water (what else for a group of fitness freaks). I got to chat with many of the bloggers I've admired and worked with but never met face to face before. I've never enjoyed a 30 minute drive so much in my life!

Snakes on a Plane Bloggers on a Bus

 

Runner's World HQ

 

We arrived at RW HQ just in time to greet the editors and then sit down for a fully catered meal of amazing local and organic foods. There were veggie burgers, real burgers, hot dogs, salad, pasta salad, potato salad, and plenty of desserts. I gorged myself while I gossiped with the other bloggers and the RW staff members. I got the low down on the courses for the 5k, 10k, and half this weekend. I ate a lot, learned a lot, and laughed a lot. This was exactly how race weekend should kick off!

 



It didn't take long to demolish the buffet

 

Hanging out with a blurry Amby Burfoot

 

Running legend, Bart Yasso

 

Editor at Large, Mark Remy

 

Once we had all eaten our fill it was time for our clinic with Altra Zero Drop shoes. These shoes are already in my arsenal as I use the Intuition 1.0 as my every day, casual shoe. But I never turn down a chance to try something new. I tried on the new Intuition and was thrilled that they're now PINK! However, I was wowed by the Superior. It's a light weight, neutral trail shoe with a removable rock plate. I chose to go with the Superior instead of the updated Intuition 1.5. Tomorrow the Altra guys promised to let me try out a pair of the Lone Peaks as well. Either way I'm going home with kickass new trail running shoes from Altra!

 

L to R: Provisioness (stability), Intuition (neutral), Intuition, Superior (trail), Intuition

 

After everyone was fitted we headed off for a tour of the Runner's World Headquarters. I got to see where all the magic happens, from photographers to editing to Bart Yasso's office. I even got to eat some of a giant Brooks chocolate egg!

 

Bart Yasso's office door

Picture in Bart's office (There's no "I" in team, but there's an ass in Yasso)

Giant Brooks Egg

Eating the egg

Men's Health covers from different countries

Apparently Men's Health Brazil is a little more risque than the US version

Rave Run pics

Runner's World covers

After the tour ended we gathered in the RW lawn for some s'mores over a small fire. RW's Laura Beachy tells us that tomorrow's going to be even more amazing but right now I just can't imagine how! It's going to be super hard to go back to real life after this weekend!

 

Apparently bloggers become possessed when toasting marshmallows late at night

 

 

 

 

The Shane Report

It was a dark and stormy night…  

Okay, so maybe it was a sunny and somewhat cold day, but I always liked that line better.

Sara wanted me to write about my half marathon experience.  However I do not have a lot to say about it.   To sum it all up.  It was.. well, “okay”.   Hear me out.  I have done 59 small town races.  A few with as many as a  1,000 people.   But this one had 11,000.  I felt lost and alone.  In small town races everyone is so friendly and nice.   Here I could not get word one out of anyone.  I think big city races are for some people, just not me. 

Let me begin with the day before the half marathon.  I worked third shift, hence I was up all night.  Sara had planned for us to leave as soon as Gemma was on the school bus that morning.  However she was not ready.  I had a few things to do so I drove around doing them, dead tired.  I had planned on sleeping on the drive down, so I stayed away from caffeine that morning. 

Finally we were off at close to 11 am.  I fell right asleep.  Little did I know that I would awake soon.  Sara pulled into a turnpike plaza about an hour and half into the trip.  She needed coffee.  Not the coffee that I remember as a kid.  You know, black, with sugar or cream.  No it was the 4 or 5 words that do not go together kind.  I ordered a small fry, then sat and ate it while I waited. 

Soon we were back in the car and the fries from Popeyes were not sitting well.   I managed to fall back asleep for an hour when Sara again pulled over.   It was lunchtime.  Or at least to her stomach it was.  We made our way in and selected subway.  I was going to order a 6 inch but Sara ordered a footlong as I did too.   Why?  But I was very tired and not quite awake.  After finishing and bathroom breaks we were on the road, again.

I slept the next hour and half and woke up just as we entered into the Baltimore metro area.  I have only been to a few cities and they all look pretty crappy and run down.   Sure, the inner harbor is nice and clean, but why can’t they do something with the rest of it.

At the hotel we could not find a space to park in the street.  After the third drive down the same alley, we gave up and paid $31 for valet parking, plus a $5 tip.  What a scam!  Just knock down some of the buildings and put in a parking lot.  I’m sure half of them are empty anyways.

On the way to the room I noticed that the hotel restaurant was having a pasta dinner.  I read the sign to Sara.  We dropped off the bags and started walking the streets of Baltimore looking for the expo.    I was excited to go to my first expo.  I always heard good things.

Apparently this was not a normal expo.  It was crowded and disorganized.  It reminded me of a college fair in high school.  On a side note, I guess that I should have tried to collect pens.  LOL.  We had to walk one way then back the same way and back that way again.  All while fighting a crowd that seemed to be always going the other way. 

Sara kept stopping and looking at the booths.  I just wanted to get the stuff and get back to the hotel.  I’m still awake remember?  About 25 hours at this point with the 3 little cat naps in the car.  I got my bib and then Sara came with hers and said “okay, let’s go”.  I said “what about the shirts?”  Sara went and asked, while I fought with the exhaustion and claustrophobia.  She came back and said that they were all the way of the other side of the expo.  Great-googly-moogly…

We made our way to the shirts and I got in my line.  I was excited, finally something cool.  I had read my paper.  I was getting a cold black under amour shirt.  Only the lady handed me a purple shirt.  WTF was this?!  I walked over to Sara, she had gotten a green shirt.  Turns out “cold black” is clothing line, not a color.   I was not pleased.  We started out of the stadium and Sara wanted her picture taken, so I did.  Only she did not take any of me.  Guess I probably wasn’t smiling at that point.

 

We made it back to the hotel just as a sun was starting to fall.  I was happy we made it back before dark, since we did not know our way around.  We had a half hour to kill, so Sara got her race clothes out and went through the race bags.  I watched tv.  I had hit the point where I wasn’t tired anymore, nor did I have feeling in all parts of my body.   I was just there.

Dinner was awesome.   It was a pasta buffet with 3 different pastas, salad, bread, 5 desserts.  Only thing that I didn’t like was that they only gave you water.   I know, I know…water is good for runners…but I like something with more flavor.  We finished up and headed to the room.   Sara got a few more things done for the race, while I stared at the tv.  28 hours and counting.

A lot of people that work third shift say that get use to it.  And you do.  At least to the being up all night part.  But your body never gets used to staying awake.   Running adds years to your life and staying up over 24 hours takes them away.

I was planning on going with Sara to her start, since it was before mine.  The alarm went off.  I didn’t move.  The alarm went off again.  Still out.  The alarm went off the third time and I opened my eyes.  Sara was almost ready to go.  I’m not sure why Sara didn’t just get me up.  I mean I could have slept through the races, like in that Seinfeld episode. 

Finally I got up and started getting ready.  As I was going to get in the shower, Sara said she was going.  I felt bad.  I looked at the clock, I thought we still had time.   But she needed to go and I didn’t want her to miss her start.   I got ready for my race and looked around for food.  I had cereal in the car, but we didn’t take it out when they parked the car.  So I had healthy chips that Sara got at the expo, licked the salt off a small bag of peanuts, and downed a GU energy gel.  My stomach barked back.  I topped it off with a 24 oz Pepsi and said, “It’s go time.”

 

I knew where Sara’s race started, but not where mine did.  I started walking toward the stadiums and then followed the crowd.   I felt awkward and like an outsider.   I made my way to where it looked like a race might start and stood there for 45 minutes.   The closer I got to race start.  The more people jammed into the space.  Then of course there were the people who just had to walk through.  I held my ground.  When people pushed into me, I pushed back.  Apparently people in the city ever heard of “excuse me” or “pardon me”. 

Right at about 10 minutes until start they moved us up the street, which was also up a small hill.  At this point I could see the crowd of people.  It was crazy.  There were just thousands of people jammed into a street no wider than 20 feet.

The race started.  Well at least for the people in the front.  I walked and walked and ,when it was my turn, crossed the start line. I started my new Garmin.  The first mile was up hill.  It was really crowded.  In the second mile I almost tripped over a traffic cone.  Not one person yelled “cone” or “watch out”.  There were too many people the first couple miles.  I couldn’t see anything.  I was not having fun.  I was stressed and hoping that the race would get better.

 

At mile three the half joined the full marathon, now at mile 16.  The road was wider and some of the half marathoners were starting to drop back.  I could see the sidewalks now.  No one was there.   At mile 4 or 5 a cop yelled “welcome to beautiful East Baltimore” with sarcasm in his voice.  The place was a dump.  Was this it?  I slowly ate one of my GU energy gels.

Mile 7 started at a park and the race went one mile around a peaceful lake.  Minus the news helicopter hovering over it.  In the park there were people holding signs and cheering.  This must be what a big city race is, I thought.      

 

 At mile 10 I arrived at Waverly.  The friendly neighborhood with folks handing out candy, water and beer.   Music played from radios and from small bands, sometimes just kids with a drum or bongo.  It was nice.  It was happy.  I ate some candy corn and picked up my pace.  Why couldn’t the rest of the race be this nice?  I saw a funny sign that said, “marathon today, law and order marathon tomorrow”.  Who doesn’t like that show…

At mile 11 I was back downtown.  Huge buildings, huge crowds.  I downed my second GU.  I wasn’t tired or worn out.  I was just sick of running.  The whole race was up and down hills and no one would talk to me.  Somewhere in the “I just want to quit” thoughts… a voice yelled “Go Team Brunazzi!”  She even said it right.  That was all the motivation I needed.  I took off, passing runner after runner.

 

My Garmin said 12.6 miles when I saw the baseball stadium.  You had to run threw it on a small path and then finish in the street.  It was crowded and I tried to keep my speed up.   I figured I was over 2 hours with all the hills and lack of enthusiasm.  I finished in 1 hr and 49 minutes.  Not bad.

 

I got my medal and then tried to walk out of the finish area.  It was just as crowd and disorganized as the expo.  I tried walking through a line of people, which seemed to be a line of nothing.  I yelled, “What are you people doing?”  Some guy yelled back, “We’re waiting for our bananas”.  I got through and out of the finishing area.  I was so happy to have space around me.

I walked to the food booths and got an order of fries and chicken.  Bad move.  Then I went to the hotel to get Sara and mine’s UA pullovers.   On the way back from the hotel I realized that I forgot my Pepsi.  I went to the finish line and walked the course looking for Sara.  There were too many people.  I looked at the clock.  Sara should have finished.  I stopped and bought a Pepsi and then went to look for Sara.  Last time we were at Baltimore I saw her finish, but could not find her in the crowd.  I was hoping this time she had her cell phone.  I pulled mine out of my SPIbelt and saw a voice mail.  It was Sara, she couldn’t find me and was walking back to the hotel.  I called her and she was still in the crowd.   We yelled back and forth trying to hear each other and find out where we each were.  She asked if I saw the Dunkin Donuts truck.  I said no and then turned around, and said yes.  I was close to it.  I said that I was near the C1 parking sign.   She said she was too.  I thought, great there must be 20 “C1” signs.  She said there is a guy standing on the sign.  I said yes, and he has a green shirt on.  Sara was only 6 people away from me.

Sara started talking about her race and how she did.  I had to stop her.  I had bad news.  The hotel had dropped off a bill at 7:50am.  10 minutes before she started her race.  It said that we had to get of the room at 12:30 or get charged more.  It read quote, “We know some of you are running in the Baltimore Marathon and require some additional time after the race to freshen up. We can extend your check out time to 12:30pm so that you can refresh prior to check out. “    Full marathon starts at 8am.  Half at 9:45am.  You do the math. :o)

 

We then loaded the car and hurried out of town.  23 minutes to go 4 blocks.   Once out of the city we ate dinner at a little tavern in a mini mall.  The food was overpriced and under cooked.  After that we drove to an outlet mall to use our Under Amour coupons.  This was probably the best part of the weekend, save the half a pizza that I ate an hour later. LOL.      

Pretty Muddy

I could alternatively title this post 'Evolution of an Afro'. I knew there would be lots of photo ops at this event so I carefully straightened my unruly curls and even applied a little lipstick this morning. Of course, that was gone before I even arrived in Columbus, Ohio after a 4 hour plus drive! I was pretty proud of myself for trying though. It's not often that I attempt being feminine but how could I not for a race with Pretty in the name?!

Before

 

 

I left home sometime around 7:30am. I made the drive to Columbus in pretty good time with a quick stop for food and coffee. When I arrived at Mad River Mountain the first thing I realized was that all of the participants were running straight up the ski slopes! Being that I haven't run all week I wasn't sure I was up for that!

The view from the parking lot

 

I checked in and picked up my bib and shirt. Then I dropped my bag of 'after' clothes at the gear check. It was all broken down by alphabet and/or bib number so it was really smooth and didn't take long at all. I took some photos of the slopes and tents while I walked around. I also chatted with some of the volunteers and workers at the event. Everyone was super friendly and helpful! I had registered for the 1PM wave but I saw only a few people lined up for 12:15 (apparently not a popular time? The other waves were much busier!) so I decided to go ahead and jump in early.

 

Getting pumped up to start!

 

The announcer who started each wave was extremely funny. He kept joking with the DJ who was right next to the starting line and got all of the runners excited for the challenge ahead. I wish I would have asked his name but I did get a picture with him later! He did a really good job of entertaining the waiting runners for the next wave. It was only a few minutes and then we were off.... straight up the ski slope! I ran for maybe 100 yards and then I went into my ultra hike/walk.

 

The snow machines were being used as super soakers instead

 

Half way up the ski slope we hit the first obstacle. I took pictures of every obstacle except for a cargo net at mile 1, a slide at mile 2 and the last mud pit because they had professional photographers at each of those. I'm really excited to see the photos once they come up online! Anyway, the first obstacle was a tunnel of foam. It didn't look too bad until I actually went in and then I was quickly buried! Foam was literally over my head and I just held my breath, closed my eyes and pushed through the other side. That would have been a great obstacle for the end to clean off some mud!

 

Inside the foam tunnel

 



The next obstacle was four walls. You had to climb over the first one, under the next two, and then over the last one. Of course, there was mud under the middle two! Next was the tunnel crawl then the cargo net climb, high knees through a cargo net, a slip n slide across a tarp, a run through a tunnel full of beach balls, the huge slide, running around a loop carrying a board over your head, two more wall climbs, and then the final mud pit! Not to mention running up and down the mountain the whole time!

First wall

 

Fourth wall

 

View from the mountain top

 

Cargo net run

 

 

The foliage is just starting to turn around here and the views from the mountain top were stunning. I did my best to appreciate the colors while speed hiking the uphills. I was too busy trying not to turn an ankle on the downs to look around! There really was no flat to speak of.

 

Foliage

 

Attacking the summit for the second time

 

As I ran I could hear the announcer below getting the next wave ready. Being that each wave was 15 minutes after the last this gave me a method of keeping tabs on my time. This event isn't timed and there are no awards but I'm too competitive and number-focused not to worry about my performance. I didn't wear a Garmin or watch but I did check the time at the start and finish. My only goal was not to have the 1PM wave start before I finished!

 

Alley of beach balls

 

Taking on the board run

 

As you can see, my straight hair didn't last very long. I didn't care too much though because I was having a blast! Thankfully I think I'm still pretty cute with crazy curls! ;)

 

Last two walls!

 

As I headed for the finish a couple people yelled that I was too clean. So I took the opportunity to literally swim in the final mud pit! I crossed the finish line, checked the clock (39-ish minutes), and then asked the ladies if I was still too clean!  I took a minute to pose in all my muddy glory before I headed for the hoses to clean up.

 

Yep, Pretty Muddy!

 

Once I was semi-clean (I was too chicken to spray myself in the face with freezing hose water) I grabbed a beer and was greeted by Kevin S., the owner of Pretty Muddy. We chatted about the event and what I thought was good and what could be improved. He seems like a pretty good guy with a real vision for the future of these events. I hope they'll continue to grow because I saw smiles on the face of every lady out there today! Plus Kevin posed for a picture with me despite the fact he was wearing white!

 

Hanging out with Kevin

 

I had to stop and get a picture with the announcer too!

 

After getting hosed off and drinking a cold beer I was pretty frozen. I headed into the ski lodge to get cleaned up a little better and change into warmer (cleaner) clothes. I headed back out to take a few last pictures before heading home. I couldn't help but smile at some of the women that were out on the course with me today so I had to get pics!

 

Post-Pretty Muddy with the full blown curls!

 

Pretty, pretty princesses?

 

Trash the Dress?

 

It wasn't long before I was too cold to hang out any longer. I headed back to my Jeep and couldn't help but laugh at my sticker. I feel like I really deserve it now!

 

This race was really well done for a first year event. The few things that I hope to see next year: timing (because I'm a number freak), finisher medals (because a lot of the women were first time runners and deserve it!), and any color besides white shirts (because mine is already stained from wearing it home post-race). Other than that the course was awesome (tough but doable for all athletic levels), the obstacles were creative and fun, the beer and food afterwards was good, and the ski lodge was a comfortable place to clean up and relax after the run. I would definitely recommend it for any woman looking for a different experience or a 'girls day'!

Disclosure: FitFluential LLC compensated me for this campaign. All opinions are my own.