Small Goals

Oh, the holidays!

I'm not usually one for limiting myself in terms of Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas cookies and New Years Eve parties...but for the first time this year, I'm feeling a little like I WANT to keep myself semi-in check.  Unlike some people who try extra hard to work out and eat healthy from November - December, I've always been the opposite of that.  Oopsie!

Thanks to Nike Plus, I've set a goal for myself to keep my running going (I'll be honest, I've taken quite the little break post half marathon) and I also have a personal daily goal of getting at least 64oz. of water each day and eating at least 4 servings of fruits & vegetables each day.  I know 4 servings is less than what I should be eating according to Mr. Food Pyramid, but I've got to start somewhere.

Princess In Training: I'm considering this Saturday, December 1, my first official day of Princess Training.  3 more days of fun, then it's time to get serious!  (The crazy thing is how happy I get about "getting serious.")  Let the count down begin!

So...I guess I'm a "Runner" now?

Honestly, I've never answered the question, "Are you a runner?" with the answer, "yes."  I've always answered it with, "Well, I mean not really. I run sometimes.  I enjoy it, but really I'm a dancer. I grew up dancing and....." and then I reach that awkward moment when I realize the person that just asked me, wasn't actually looking for a 10 minute reply.

But, now that I'm a Half Marathoner...I guess I'm a runner!  I even FEEL like a runner!

The Hard Rock Half Marathon couldn't have gone better.  I woke Saturday morning a big ball of nerves.  Fortunately this race wasn't a huge race (5,000 runners total) so getting to the race, parking, getting to the start line...it was all an easy process.  I used the LR, did a little warm-up run and was ready to go!
At the start line, my RB said to me: "I think I'm going for 2:10" and I replied "Hmmm...2:10 seems lofty, I think I'm going for 2:30."  I just wasn't interested in pressuring myself, I was interesting in enjoying myself!

Let me break the course down for you:
Miles 1-2: Straight Uphill.  It hurt, but we were also prepared and knew what to expect, so just kept my eyes down and didn't look up until I knew it was over.
Miles 3-6: Relatively flat, took us through The Gulch which is one of my most favorite places in Nashville.  Had to take my long-sleeved tee off during this section and even though I thought I had prepared for this to be a seamless process, I made it complicated.  RB & I couldn't look at each other for fear we'd both break concentration laughing.
Miles 6-9:  Death.  This was definitely the worst for me (which honestly surprised me.)  RB & I separated around mile 8, but for whatever reason, this flat straight shot along the Cumberland River was just MISERABLE.
Mile 9 Water Stop: Was sponsored by Team in Training and I picked up a Twizzler & water.  Took a couple bites, got the sugar I needed and threw the rest of it.
Miles 9-11: Amazing.  I felt so awesome. I ended up behind a girl (I refer to her as "the one in the pink shorts with the pink bandanna"...as though anyone other than me knows who that is) and she looked like she was doing pretty well, so I said to myself "Natalie, just follow her." So I did.  My pace picked up like crazy and I just kept her right in front of me and I kept going.  Then she blew my doors off.
Mile 11-12: Straight Uphill across a bridge.  @ the bottom/start of the bridge, a great song came on my iPod and I got myself across this bridge literally by counting.  I counted how long it took me to get across and having that distraction for my mind helped me not focus on the steep hill I was climbing.
Mile 12-12 1/2: Even steeper hill.  I walked. I finally saw everyone around me stopping and walking up this final STEEP hill and I said to myself, no need to be a hero.  I walked for about 30 seconds and got to the top of the hill.
Mile 12-1/2 - 13.1: DOWNHILL!!!!  As I was coming up to the finish line, I saw the time clock that said 2:11. I knew I had started a minute or so after the official start and I basically FLEW across the finish line.  I knew I had done it in 2:10 and I seriously COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!  What an amazing feeling!

I had so much support from friends & family and that made the whole race that much more fun - knowing that everyone else was just as excited as I was.

Now I'm so super pumped for Disney (not that I wasn't already!) and even more pumped that it's 100 days away!

Some pics from the day:

Love that Nashville races ALWAYS offer a beer @ the end of the race!

Finish line w/ Titans Stadium & the Cumberland River in the background - Love it!

Race Day Advice

Natalie - I saw your post. I have so much confidence in you that it's ridiculous and slightly embarrassing. Remember to have fun. NO ONE asks you what your time was after the race - most can hardly comprehend trying a half, much less finishing. You've got this!!

I got this email this morning from my training team and I thought it might also be helpful for the 4 of us on this blog :) So enjoy:

As for eating - eat something you know your body with easily digest. You'll be full of nerves. I eat the most on Thursday night and then a simple pasta meal on Friday evening and lots of water. I eat 2-3 eggs the morning of the race and then I take a gatorade pre-game fuel pack to eat 15-20 minutes before the start of my race. Get to your race EARLY. You'll probably want to use the bathroom at least once and the lines can be long. So last year - we got there and immediately got in line for the bathroom even though we didn't need to go. Sure enough - I did once I got the front of the line.


1. Remember to pick up your race packet!  Today or tomorrow

Arthur Ashe Athletic Center
3001 A N. Boulevard
Richmond, Virginia 23230

2012 Expo Hours:
Thursday, November 8: 5 - 9 pm
Friday, November 9: 11 am - 9 pm

2. Get a good night's sleep tonight.  You may not sleep as well the night before the race.

3. Item Check List (If you haven't already, it's a good idea to get everything you need for race day together today.)

___ running shirt (the dark blue technical shirt)

___ running shorts/skirt/pants

___ socks

___ sports bra

___ running shoes (Not the ones you just bought at the Expo)

___ race bib (already pinned on your shirt)

___ road ID or other ID

Optional Items

___ Body glide/gel/chap stick (highly recommended)

___ energy gel/chews/gummy bears/Mike-n-Ike

___ salt packets (if you used during training)

___ sunscreen

___ big plastic garbage bag

___ gloves (Hot Hands)

___ toilet paper (not all Port-a-Johns are created equal)

___ sunglasses/hat/visor

___ running watch

___ hydration bottle

___ running belt/fanny pack

___ nip-guards/band-aids

___ safety pins for bib

___ hair bands/bobby pins

___ camera

___ Advil/Tylenol (Aid station will only give you two)

___ toll money/cash for post race goodies

___ beach towel for post race stretching

Post Race

___ long-sleeve shirt and sweat pants (can check bag)

___ arm warmers or knee socks

___ ear warmers

___ second pair of shoes or flip flops

___ snacks/drinks

Words of Wisdom from Mark:

Coming down the home stretch!  I’ve always found that the “taper” portion of the training program is the most difficult.  So if you’re feeling anxious/irritable/etc. that is very normal!  The challenge is to take that nervous energy and put it into something positive.

At this point you should be concentrating on doing all the right things.  You should be getting plenty of sleep, eating the right foods, and laying out your gear for race day!  Something that always gives me comfort is having a detailed plan for arriving early on race day. 

I’ll be getting up at least three hours before the race starts (that’s 4:30 a.m.).  I’ll be getting to my parking space sometime before 6:00 a.m. because that’s when the street closings start.  In previous years I’ve had great experience using the one of public parking decks, either 3^rd and Marshall or 5^th and Marshall.  It is convenient to the starting line and the Marriott Hotel is “runner friendly” warm open space and bathrooms.   The Marriott is also close to the starting line and easy access to Interstate 64/95.

Rest assured that if you’ve done the program you are absolutely prepared! 

Don’t forget to breathe and believe!!!

HOLY COW!!!!

PEOPLE!!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL - WE'RE RUNNING HALF MARATHONS IN LESS THAN 3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!

BRING.IT.ON.

**on an update note: I received my painkillers for the run and now am feeling a little bit more optimistic and excited rather tan terrified.**

Pep talk from the Mizz

This morning I got a pep talk from the Mizz.

This is what they said to me:

Natalie,
Put me on & lace me up.  This is ridiculous.  You don't have to go far.  You don't have to go fast.  You just have to go.  I know you're discouraged from your 11-day running hiatus, but you kind of couldn't help it.  So just get back on the horse and go for a run.  We have a half marathon this weekend.  There's no pressure other than putting me on and going out there and having fun.
So, let's do this.
Thanks,
Mizz

Surviving the Storm

I have to admit - after the last 12 weeks of training, I thought I'd be so much more excited for my first half marathon than I'm feeling right now.  It's crazy how quickly things can change when you unexpectedly take 7 days off from training.

Last Saturday morning I boarded a flight to New York City for a quick 48-weekend trip to visit my two best friends.  We hadn't seen each other since February and I found a super cheap flight.  I knew I was going to be missing my long run on Saturday, but I ran Friday night and I was going to be back on Monday so I wasn't concerned about missing any training.  Did I know the biggest storm was heading up the East coast on its way to NYC and still go anyway? Yes.  But I'm an east coast girl and I've been through a lot of hurricanes.  I've also been through a lot of hurricane prepping.  I went anyways. [obviously.]

Saturday & Sunday in the city were amazing, and my flight home to Nashville was cancelled well before the storm hit, so I knew I'd be there a couple of days.  A couple of days turned into 7 days, but really, I was excited about getting stuck and having all of that extra time to spend with my friends.  We lost power on Monday in Manhattan, but didn't have any of the flooding.  (We also only had 1 flashlight, no back-up batteries and were mostly concerned about getting wine & beer than non-perishable food.)  We literally got through it day by day.  3 days straight without power, hot water or cell phone service.  We finally made it down to Brooklyn on Wednesday where there was power and got to spend the last couple of days at least with power & showers.  Needless to say there was no running those 7 days.  There was also barely food.  There was A LOT of drinking.

I made it back to Nashville on Friday and I'm glad to be back but also still going through a lot of emotions of what I have just gone through - I don't know if you're allowed to have post-partum after making it through a hurricane...but I might have that.  I know I'll feel better, just trying to get back to a "normal" routine.

Normal is now finishing up training for the Hard Rock Half Marathon.  Yesterday I grabbed my ipod, set it for 1 hour and headed out for a power walk.  I knew that running wasn't even something I should attempt, so I didn't.  I had a great walk on a beautiful, warm Saturday.  I am feeling SUPER nervous for Saturday's half but also know that it's about the experience and I know it will be a good one and that I'll go out and have a good time doing what I love doing.

I do want to know what everyone's half routine is -
   What do you eat the day before?
   What do you eat / drink the morning of?
   Do you stop and get any of those gel things along the way?
   What miles do you get water, and what miles do you get sports drink?

6 day countdown begins!

Also, if you are able, or feel so inclined, here's a link to the American Red Cross website to make a donation to Hurricane Sandy disaster relief - there truly aren't words to describe what it's like up there right now.  OR even easier, you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.