Prepping for Chicago with Oofos Project Pink OoCloogs

I received a pair of Oofos Project Pink OoCloogs as part of being a Bib Rave Pro (Ambassador) . Check out Bibrave.com to read and write race reviews!

Oh my heck y'all, the Chicago Marathon is 9 days away! I am starting to prep for the big day, and will be getting my suitcase down later today! It's getting so real!



We have marked the map of the route so we know where our hotel is, I have printed out my 2 pace bands so I don't have to do math in my head, and my participant guide is ready to go.

So many important things go into planning for race day that it's easy to forget about *after* the race. That moment when you cross that finish line and get your medal is epic, but within minutes you start to notice every.single.ache.



That's why I'm packing my Oofos clogs in my carry on bag, along with my race gear. These puppies are not getting lost in transit.

I have had a lot of Oofos over the last few years, mostly the flip flops, but these are my absolute favorite so far! The Oofoam technology absorbs impact, softens your aches and pains, while allowing you to move like you normally do. Plus it has little breathy holes so that your feet don't sweat.

OoMG



I have been wearing them after my long runs, and they are glorious.
Even better, $10 of every pair they sell will go to breast cancer research.

If you are not a clog person, although everyone totally should be, the Project Pink Collection also includes sandals and flip flops in both men and women's styles.



Which style is your favorite? Do you own Oofos already? If not, you seriously need to get some so you can Feel the Oo!

Tapering for the Chicago Marathon

Tapering for a marathon can be a glorious thing. No more crazy long runs, weekday runs are shorter, and race day is finally in sight.



My packet arrived today for the race, and it's getting super real.
When I was training for NYC, I hated tapering. Running less made me a little bit crazy. This time, though, I'm kind of enjoying the taper.
I have felt much better after my long runs this time as well, which was unexpected. It could be from running a bit slower for some of the miles, but I'm not sure.



I used my last long run as a chance to race, and this weekend is only 8 miles! I have run weekday runs that long so this is a nice change.
Who would have thought I would ever use the word "just" to describe an 8 mile run!

13 days to go, and I'm enjoying this taper!

Have you ever tapered? Did it drive you crazy or did you bask in the glow?

Revolutionary Run Half Marathon

Wow, y'all, today was rough!
My friend Christie picked me up and we drove an hour south to Camden, SC. We were a half hour into the drive when I realized I forgot my purse. Ugh.



We arrived with plenty of time to pick up our bibs and shirts and go back to the car to get ready to run.



Our friend Sara is running the Loch Ness Marathon tomorrow. In Scotland. omg I'm so jealous!



These guys started off the race. Muskets are loud, people.
We started off and decided in advance to run a 1:30 and walk 1. It was going to get hot and we wanted to last until the end. The race had a 4 hour time limit and we planned to take advantage of that.



So, there were some good and bad points about this Inaugural race. The roads were horrible. If the roads were paved well, they were slanted and rough on my ankles. When the road was level, it was broken up, bumpy, or dirt.



The last mile was very soft sand and definitely the hardest part.

The water stations were well manned but they were very far apart. They did have cyclists offering water, but it still wasn't quite enough for such a hot day in the South.



The scenery was mostly great. We ran through a lot of cute neighborhoods and the volunteers were really into their jobs. Some of the locals were out on their porches, waving.



Loved that sign, especially since there was no sidewalk.



Mile 10 signage, shortly before this....



Police escort behind us. We were not last, but there were only 2 behind us. Many who started did not finish.




We lived! My friend Sandra, who placed in her age group, stayed after and took some finisher photos! They had cold water, but no food that I saw. Maybe there were bananas? They were already packing up, even though we finished under the time limit.
By the time we came out of the bathroom (we changed our clothes), they were all cleaned up!



We headed to a local antique store so I could get my metal flying pig, Kevin Bacon, a mate.



Isn't Kyra Sedgwick adorable?

We also had some amazing Cajun food before heading back.





This was definitely a one and done for me!

Flat Mama Friday

Tomorrow morning I am running my 54th half marathon, the Revolutionary Run Half Marathon, in Camden SC.



I'll be running with Christie, my friend from my running club, and we are twinning...



We will be wearing matching shirts and skirts!

It's going to be a long, slow, hot run but the course should be beautiful. Afterwards we are visiting this amazing antique store that sells metal garden sculptures.



This is Kevin Bacon, my flying pig. I am looking for one with a red snout tomorrow and I will name her Kyra Sedgwick, because that's how I roll!

Are you racing this weekend?

Thursday Training Update

17 more days, y'all! Holy heck! I've had an achey foot, which is a little scary this close to race day, so I took it easy last week.
Thursday was hill repeats. We did about 3.5 miles, and the first mile was a warm up. The rest pretty much killed me!



On the bright side, I chose my costume for the Disney half marathon in January...



My daughter will be going as Russell..



So fun!
Friday I stuck to yoga, to stretch out my legs.



Saturday was my final long run. I wrote about it that night, so this is not news! 20 miles done, ugly miles, but....



What a beautiful word! Now I can take it easy!

Sunday I rested. I don't think I got more than 7000 steps that day. It was glorious. I did bail on my triathlon, which I now have to reschedule, possibly for June. It's a mission now!

Monday I met up with a new running buddy for 3 easy miles that became 4.5 easy miles!



Tuesday was track day, but since I'm tapering I took it easy. I also did a little yoga.



Wednesday I just walked to get my steps!

A pretty easy week, except for that pesky long run!

Do you enjoy tapering or does it make you crazy?

Wordless Wednesday

Planning Races During Marathon Training

I've been thinking about this for awhile and finally decided to write about it. I have struggled with this ever since I started running.
Why?
I'm a sucker for a race. If a friend contacts me and the medal is cool or the shirt is pretty, or even for no reason at all, I will sign up.
Seems like no big deal, right?
More than once, I have scheduled a half marathon on a weekend when I am supposed to be running 16, 18, or 20 miles.
No problem, just run the extra miles before or after, right? For some reason, I've never been able to do that!



When I decided to run NYC, I realized I'd have to take my training more seriously so I developed a system. I'm a planner, so I printed out my training plan and wrote the entire thing in my planner.



When a race comes up, I check my planner for that week and check my mileage. If it's close enough, I'll register. If I can safely swap weeks, I'll still register.



It can be so tempting to plan a race that's fun, like Hot Chocolate or a Mud Run, but I have to be so careful, especially now that I'm going to be training for my first ultra!



I have way more 20+ mile runs with this race, so I'll have to be extra careful not to plan an ill timed race. You have no idea how hard this will be for me!



Do you struggle with planning too many races?

When a Long Run Goes Bad

Today was my final long run before taper begins for the Chicago Marathon. I had 20 miles on the schedule for today and I was determined to meet that mileage. The most I ran when training for NYC was 18, and I really wanted to hit 20 today.
I started my first miles with the pace group I coach. For some reason, the directions I printed for our route had some wrong turns in them and we ended up lost 3 times.



We cut the last portion out of the run and still ended up with 10.6 miles because of all the backtracking.



Which meant we ran past one of my favorite churches...



I always have to take a pic of that church! We also had an #almostdisney moment!



Besides those 3 wrong turns, this portion of the run was pretty awesome. I love running with my girls and we always have plenty to talk about during our long runs.
We parted ways and I headed for the Greenway to do my last 9.5 miles. I was planning on sticking to a 2:1 run/walk for the rest of my run. It was a little cooler on the Greenway, which was nice, and it's mostly flat. Of course on my way to the path, someone almost backed over me.
Seriously?
Who backs out of a parking lot without looking?



Anyway....
I start out on my run and after a couple of miles I see a familiar trio! We noticed each other at about the same time...



We gabbed for a few minutes, mostly about the hot cops all over Facebook, I'm not gonna lie, and then I started back out.
I was definitely feeling tired already, but I chugged along, sometimes doing a 2:1 and sometimes a 2:2.
At mile 13, a woman approached me asking for water. She had fallen and scraped the skin off of her palms and wanted to clean up a little. I basically poured most of my water on her hands and knees with 7 miles to go!



So now I have no water and nowhere ahead to refill, so at mile 14, I turned back early. I knew there was a water fountain back that way, and I could always double back at the end, right?



I hadn't been running since mile 13, since I didn't want to overheat, and now my left shoe is rubbing against my little toe. Honestly, this started back at mile 9 but now I was starting to lose my form. I decided it was best to keep walking, instead of risking injury for overcompensating that foot.
I finally reach the end of the trail, but I'm only at mile 18. ugh.



Shortly after I snapped this pic, I get the low battery signal. I'm not gonna lie, I threw up my hands in defeat and started to turn back. I was so mad and frustrated, and my foot really freaking hurt. I couldn't do it. Watch or no watch, proof or no proof, I was hitting that 20 mile mark. So I turned around and finished the last two miles.



I ordered Starbucks from my car, changed my clothes, (yes, I do this in the parking lot. I have one of those towels that hooks around you so you can change underneath) and limped over to Starbucks in my shiny new Oofo clogs.





That run sucked. The walking part sucked too. You know what didn't suck? Knowing that I stuck with it, finished, and now I'm in Tapertown. Oh, and that pumpkin cheesecake bar was freaking awesome.



So was my bath.

Have you ever had a run go terribly wrong?