princess half marathon weekend: preparation, part 2

Ahhh! Can you believe Princess Half Marathon Weekend is THIS weekend?! As you prepare for your trip, I thought it might be helpful to provide a check list for items to pack for your run-cation. The weather for the 5k is looking like it might be a bit chilly (at least while standing around waiting to begin... and depending on how you are, the 10k and half might also be cold for you), so think about packing some layers, throw away clothes, or wearing a jacket that you can put in your gEAR check bag. I'm doing the 5k and the Glass Slipper Challenge, so I need to pack enough clothes and gear for 3 races.

Race Gear
• shorts, capris, and or leggings (whatever your preference for the weather) - I myself will be packing 1 pair of leggings, 2 capris and 2 shorts (in case of weather changes)
• tech shirts - both long sleeve and short sleeve for layering purposes
• sports bra x3
• Feetures socks x3
• winter running hat & gloves (I have a Brooks hat and Saucony gloves I like)
• arm warmers
• sunglasses
• 2 pairs of running shoes
• KT Tape Pro
• road ID bracelet
• Garmin + charger
• Fitbit + charger
• Sparkly Soul headbands
• Sparkle Athletic skirts
• Oiselle rundies x3
• bandaids
• BodyGlide
• bobbypins
• extra hair ties
• visor
• extra contacts
• RunGoo
• Zensah Compression Sleeves
• Nuun + water bottle (for hydrating throughout the day)
• Fuel Belt
• inhaler
• Yurbuds

• kleenex

• chapstick

• Tylenol

• ENERGYbits

• RECOVERYbits

• Deodorant

• Bib Number belt or Race Dots

• Handheld hydration or a hydration pack (runDisney provides plenty of water and Powerade at the races, but some runners like to carry their own – maybe they prefer different hydration drink like Nuun or MESTRENGTH, or just want to be able to drink whenever they want)

• external battery charger – I don't know about you, but my phone dies very quickly these days, so definitely need a charger for at least the half marathon

• Throw away gear, mylar blanket, garbage bag – whatever you want to bring to keep you warm before the race (I'll probably just wear a jacket and tie it around my waist once I warm up)

• Hand sanitizer

• Fuel – I use Clif Shot Bloks, so I'll bring 2 packs (one for the 10k and another for the half... most people don't need them for the 10k, but I can't eat breakfast, so in combination with ENERGYbits and the shot bloks, it helps me stay energized)

Anything you need that I don't have on my list? I'm in the camp of wanting to bring everything so I am prepared for whatever comes my way. Others are more minimalist – which are you?

week in review: december 8–14

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 24

Monday, December 8: rest day

Tuesday, December 9: 2.36 miles

Wednesday, December 10: rest day

Thursday, December 11: unscheduled rest day

Friday, December 12: 30 minute walk 

Saturday, December 13: 3.47 miles

Sunday, December 14: Rudolph Ramble 8k (5 miles on the Garmin)

Weekly mileage: 10.83 miles

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 368.76 miles

It was a pretty good week here on my end, with some wonderful weather here in Chicago (ok, maybe a little dreary, but temperature wise it was great!). The beginning of the week was pretty laid back, but once Thursday hit it was busy.

Tuesday and Saturday I worked on getting my new Lunarglides broken in. I always feel like my effort level for an easy run goes up about 3x when I wearing new shoes. I have trouble getting the laces just right those first few runs, and something about the stiffness of the shoe makes something that should be an easy effort seem so much harder. Luckily, I found some other people on Twitter that have the same issues, so I didn't feel so bad. I also got a few new tips/tricks to try – like putting in your old insoles into the new shoes for a few runs until they are less stiff. I'll be trying that out this week.

Thursday evening my husband and I went on our monthly wine tasting and dinner date. Friday night he met me in the city for Christkindlmarket (I discussed this in my Friday Five: Favorite Winter Activities, if you are interested in learning a little more about it). We got some delicious Gluehwein in cute souvenir mugs, then hit up Monk's for a drink and some loaded tater tots.

Saturday I managed 3.47 miles on the treadmill at the gym, and then we had a wedding in the late afternoon (ceremony) and evening (reception). After a late night of dancing and fun, I got home and tried to get my race gear ready for the AM. After a chugging of some Hoist and a serving of RECOVERYbits, I went to bed at about 2 and had to be up around 6. Eeks.

Sunday morning rolled around much quicker than I had liked. I dragged myself out of bed and got dressed for the Rudolph Ramble 8k in Lincoln Park. We did race day packet pickup (love when races have this feature!) since I was so busy at work/after work during the week. The hats were adorable, and we even got some fun foam antlers. I'll have more details when I recap the race, but it was fantastic weather and a well organized event - - super glad I decided to register for it. For now, you can check out my review on BibRave.

Rudy and I. I wish I had noticed sooner that
my antlers were lopsided.Oops.

I also had the chance to try out my GoPro for the first time (BibRave and Addaday partnered up to do a video series, and I was one of a select few Pros chosen to receive the GoPro for that reason). There are so many awesome features to try out, it will take me a while to get the hang of it all haha. I'll be working on editing a video for educational purposes.

Anyway, after the race, my mom and I wandered around the zoo for a bit, headed back towards the direction of home, had some lunch, and then I spent the day doing laundry, a bit of work, cleaning, and laying on the couch. 

This week is going to be a VERY tough one. It's the LAST DOPEY SIMULATION, and it's pretty much the entire length of the races, minus a mile for most. It's mostly the last long runs before the race, too (I don't see 7 miles as being too horrible these days haha). I've got a maintenance run on Tuesday, then Thursday is a 3 mile run, Friday is 5, Saturday is 12, and Sunday is 26. I'll be honest with you – I'm not doing 26 on Sunday. I think I'll go between 22–24 depending on how I'm feeling. I've done up to 23 in training, and know that I can manage another 3.2 miles when at Disney. I think it's more important to stay healthy and injury free, so that's what I'll be focusing on most when I go out Sunday. I'm hoping for decent weather. Currently it's looking like it should be in the low 30s, which is good enough for me. Please send good vibes my way this week!

Just a few shots of me with my Clif Bar products.
Have you tried the Iced Gingerbread? Amazing.

Something else exciting (is the Dopey simulation exciting?!... probably not haha) this week is that BibRave is doing a 5-day Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide sponsored by Zensah. Monday through Friday this week, they are featuring a BibRave Pro and one of their favorite running-related item. I was featured today for my favorite fuel – Clif Bars. Check it out on Twitter and Instagram, and keep an eye out each day for the new featured Pro :) On Friday I plan on doing a little review of the guide, so stay tuned!

SIDE NOTE:

With the holiday season now upon us, the frantic search for the perfect gift has begun! Why not "Give BITS as Gifts!"? One size fits all, and many runners and athletes already have BITS on their Holiday Wish List!

BITS come in attractive organza bags so they don’t even need to be wrapped! Everyone loves them -- and what’s not to love?! They’re vegan, Paleo, plant-based, healthy and provide clean energy!

They are currently running two amazing promotions. One is a free gift with purchase. For every two bags of bits you purchase between now and December 26, you will receive a gift that has a retail value of $70! There is no limit on the number of gifts, so if you order 10 bags, you will receive 5 gifts!

The second prmotion is $5 shipping for the next 5 days (USA orders only). This promotion began today, December 15, and expires midnight of December 19 (EST). There is no limit on the number of bags you can order. One bag or one hundred bags, all ship for the same price of $5.

Remember to use code 'HeatherRuns' for a 25% discount on your cart :)

How was your week/end? Did training go well?

P.S. Make sure to review your race(s) on BibRave.com, and join us for #BibChat tomorrow night at 8pm CT.

week in review: december 1–7

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 23

Monday, December 1: rest day

Tuesday, December 2: unscheduled rest day

Wednesday, December 3: 30 minute walk

Thursday, December 4: unscheduled rest day

Friday, December 5: rest day 

Saturday, December 6: Santa Hustle 5k

Sunday, December 7: rest day

Weekly mileage: 3.1

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 357.93 miles

After my long run the previous weekend, my ankle was still sore up until Friday, hence the lack of running during the week. While I know it's important to squeeze in the maintenance runs, I also know it's best to listen to my body. I knew if I kept running on an injured ankle, it would just lead to an even bigger injury that could lead to no running for a while, so I thought it best to do lots of resting, elevating, icing, and stretching.

I didn't do too much during the week. My husband worked a lot and I did a lot of house cleaning. Wednesday night I met a friend at Monk's for dinner and drinks. We split a 22oz gingerbread flavored cider – it was really good, but by the end I was a bit tired of the taste and the sweetness.

My new kicks! Source

Thursday night I went to Fleet Feet Old Town to pick up my Santa Hustle packet as well as FINALLY get a new pair of running shoes. I went with Nike Lunarglide again, though they are the new style (6), and I went up half a size. I'm not sure if this style was smaller, but I felt my regular size was a touch small. I went with the white/pink/blue pair I had been contemplating. I was hoping to get the mostly hot pink pair, and thought about purple, but they didn't have them in my size. The only other option was a black pair, which I generally don't like for running shoes. I'm convinced the black absorbs the sun/heat and makes me feet hot haha. I really like the white, but I know they'll be getting dirty after their first run. Oh well.

Every day I'm (Santa) Hustlin'.

Saturday morning my mom and I headed into the city for the Santa Hustle. It was a lot of fun, and the weather was actually pretty perfect for a winter run (cloudy, not too windy, in the 30s). Also, my ankle didn't bother me at all, so I was quite happy about that. I had KT Tape Pro (Chevron pattern – I love it!) on both my right ankle and my left knee, which helped me get through the week and the race without much pain. That stuff is amazing.

I'll have more in a recap eventually, and you'll be able to read my review on BibRave.com later this week. After the race I had planned on doing a lot of cleaning and organizing the office, but I ended up on the couch binge watching Gilmore Girls... and I fell asleep for about an hour or so. Oops.

Sunday was more house cleaning, laundry, a trip to Target, and I spent some time with my nephew. No spoilers here, but did you watch Revenge last night?! I can't believe how it ended.

This week is another tame week as far as training goes (thankfully, two weeks of easier runs in between the really long run weekends) – two maintenance runs during the week and then a 7 mile run over the weekend. 

I was sad about the Santa Hustle being my final race of the year, with another three weeks of December still ahead, so registered for the Rudolph Ramble 8k with my mom. I always enjoy Fleet Feet events, and the hat you receive is really cute, don't you think?

SIDE NOTE:

With the holiday season now upon us, the frantic search for the perfect gift has begun! Why not "Give BITS as Gifts!"? One size fits all, and many runners and athletes already have BITS on their Holiday Wish List!

BITS come in attractive organza bags so they don’t even need to be wrapped! Everyone loves them -- and what’s not to love?! They’re vegan, Paleo, plant-based, healthy and provide clean energy!

Remember to use code 'HeatherRuns' for a 25% discount on your cart :)

How was your week/end? Did training go well?

P.S. Make sure to review your race(s) on BibRave.com, and join us for #BibChat tomorrow night at 8pm CT.

week in review: november 24–30

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 22

Monday, November 24: rest day

Tuesday, November 25: unscheduled rest day

Wednesday, November 26: 40 minute walk

Thursday, November 27: 4.07 miles (RFK 4 mile Turkey Trot)

Friday, November 28: 3.17 miles 

Saturday, November 29: 10.01 miles (Grant Park Turkey Trot & Ugly Sweater Run)

Sunday, November 30: 23 miles

Weekly mileage: 40.25

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 354.83 miles

Whooooeeee. That was a tough weekend. Tuesday should have been a 30 minute run, but my arches were in a lot of pain, so I took it easy in preparation for my first Dopey Simulation (four consecutive days of running, though the mileage wasn't quite what the actual races are) over the weekend. 

Wednesday I walked from work to the train station to try and catch an earlier train than usual so I could make it for packet pickup for the Turkey Trot on Thursday. Unfortunately, I had on winter boots that aren't great for quick walking, and ended up with blisters on my big toes that came back to haunt me the rest of the week/end. Boo. We hit up our local watering hole for a Black Wednesday drink, then went to bed early. I remember the days where I would be out all night with my friends, and now I'm more concerned with getting home early so I'll be well rested for my race in the morning haha.

Thursday's Turkey Trot 4 mile run was hilly and a little chilly, but really not too bad. After the race my mom and I grabbed some hot beverages and donuts at DD, then I had to rush home and shower so I could go out with the husband for our monthly wine tasting and a light lunch. I felt horrible going on Thanksgiving, but they were open and it was the only day we could squeeze it in when it wouldn't be miserable—we had contemplated Wednesday night, but figured it would be way too crowded (we overheard a server saying how it was a madhouse, so I think we made the right call). It was lovely. After that we headed to my in-laws for dinner, which was delicious. His family is filled with characters, so it's always so fun to get together with them all... we pretty much just laugh the whole time. I filled up on turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, Irish soda bread, dinner rolls, and corn. Then I had some pumpkin pie. Yum. We got home around 8:30 or so, took care of some house business and hit bed pretty early. 

Friday I was up at 4am and could not fall back asleep. I woke up and tossed some laundry in the washer, watched a little tv, and then started to feel sick. That happens to me when I'm exhausted. I headed back up to bed and was able to sleep another 2 hours, which was great. The rest of the day was productive cleaning the house with a treadmill run at the gym squeezed in. I was planning on doing 4 miles, but was having some foot pain and ended at about 3. I figured it was alright since I did the 4 miles before, and still had 10 miles Saturday and 23 on Sunday. For dinner we headed up to our favorite food truck at our favorite local brewery, and had an early night to bed... again.

Saturday was another early morning as my mom and I headed in to the city. We had the Grant Park Turkey Trot 5k at 9am and then the Ugly Sweater Run at Soldier Field at 11am. Since I had to do 10 miles that day and got there a bit early, we did 1.83 miles before the first race, then the first race at 3.14, then another mile, the other 5k, and then I after finishing that race I ran around the parking lot to finish another .93 miles. After that I enjoyed an Angry Orchard that was included in the race registration. After the races, I had lunch with my mom and we stopped at a local running store for some socks (I also got a Brooks winter running hat with the ponytail hole and a baclava). Then I showered, took a nap, and took the rest of the day easy.

My left knee was hurting me after the races Saturday, so I did a full knee support KT Tape application, and on Sunday I had no problems with it.

Sunday was tough. This was my first time going 23 miles—until yesterday, my farthest had been 20, and then was extremely tough for me as my shins were giving me a lot of problems. These 23 miles were still crazy hard, but they were better than the time I did 20, and after 3 other days of running, I was quite happy with that. These 23 miles were done all by my lonesome – no one to chat with or give me words of encouragement. Having finished them by myself, I feel confident that I can complete the marathon. I don't know if it rained the night before or if it was the snow/ice that melted, but a lot of the trail was very very messy. I had mud all over my shoes and back of my pants. I didn't mind that it was messy, but there were times that my feet would sink in or turn an odd way that I didn't feel stable on my feet.

Probably hard to tell how muddy it is from that picture in the middle,
but think the pants show it well enough.

As for fueling, I had 20 ENERGYbits and a PowerBar Performance Energy Blend about 15 minutes before starting. I hydrated with some water and about 30 oz of Nuun Fruit Punch. Every 2 miles I had a Clif Shot Blok – I finished off a pack of Orange and then had Mountain Berry. At mile 10 I had a Picky Bar Cookie Doughpness (my favorite!). I felt this fueling strategy helped keep me going. When I finished, I immediately had a chocolate milk with extra protein and a Justin's Nut Butter (Thanks to the fine folks at Justin's and BibRave for providing this BibRavePro an abundance of samples!). This was my first time trying Justin's and let me say, I was quite pleased with it! It tasted delicious and hit the spot after those tough miles.

As far as the weather and my attire... it was too hot for the first 1/3 and then too cold for the 2/3 at the end. I had on a Patagonia lightweight long sleeve top as a base layer, then a tech t-shirt and my Brooks jacket (I love the zipper pockets!), and then I had on Zensah compression sleeves, Oiselle Portman Pants (the only legging to not bother me when running), Features socks, and Brooks trail running shoes. It was sunny and 48 with a feels like 43 when I started, not much wine, and then at about mile 10 it was 34 with a feels like of 25, no sun, and 12 MPH winds. I was cold and sort of miserable for those last 13 miles, but I powered through any way.

I was a bit tired and sore when I got home, but nothing too strange. However, right before bed, I had such a horrible pain in my right ankle that I could barely walk. I didn't notice any swelling or bruising, and couldn't think of any incidents that would make it hurt that bad. Unfortunately  it was still hurting this morning when I got up. I taped it with KT Tape, which has been helpful, but it still gives me shooting pains now and again when I'm walking (or should I say limping). This is a bit disconcerting, but I'm hoping with some RICE and a bit of stretching, it'll feel better pronto. Luckily this week is just some maintenance runs for the week and a fun run 5k on Saturday. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

SIDE NOTE:

With the holiday season now upon us, the frantic search for the perfect gift has begun! Why not "Give BITS as Gifts!"? One size fits all, and many runners and athletes already have BITS on their Holiday Wish List!

BITS come in attractive organza bags so they don’t even need to be wrapped! Everyone loves them -- and what’s not to love?! They’re vegan, Paleo, plant-based, healthy and provide clean energy!

Remember to use code 'HeatherRuns' for a 25% discount on your cart :)

How was your week/end? Did training go well?

P.S. Make sure to review your race(s) on BibRave.com, and join us for #BibChat tomorrow night at 8pm CT.

week in review: october 27–november 2

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 18

Monday, October 27: rest day

Tuesday, October 28: 2.96 miles (treadmill; 2 incline; 60/60 run/walk intervals)

Wednesday, October 29: rest day

Thursday, October 30: 3.17 miles (treadmill; 1.5 incline; 60/60 intervals, then 120/60)

Friday, October 21: 30 minute walk

Saturday, November 1: 8.5 miles (treadmill; 1.5 incline; 30/120 intervals)

Sunday, November 2: 20.05 miles

Weekly mileage:  34.68 miles

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 298.38 miles

This week in training went well. I ended up with only one day of cross training, but had four days of running. I ran after work, so hit up the gym on Tuesday and Thursday. My right knee hurt a little bit on Tuesday, but has been fine since then. 

Wednesday I went to my cousin's house for our annual pumpkin carving and pizza night. That was a lot of fun catching up, since it's been a while. Friday after work traffic was horrible, so I walked to the train station rather than the bus, since I figured it would be quicker to walk anyway. It was in the low 40s and had winds of up to 38 MPH. Whoa. The wind was literally pushing me around, it was crazy. There were also some snow flurries that day, I felt bad for the kids having to trick-or-treat in that weather. 

Friday evening my husband and I went met some friends at a brewery which was hosting a Halloween Party – it was a lot of fun. They had a costume contest and some special tappings and Halloween cocktails; deliciousness. Then came a tough weekend.

Great snack to hold me over until lunch.

Treadmill workout done!

On Saturday I did a lot of house cleaning, laundry, and went to the gym, which was fairly empty and I loved, to do an 8.5 mile easy/slow run. Luckily, I had a treadmill with a working TV, so I was able to watch Spiderman and an episode of "Friends". Even though I listened to music, it was nice to have something to watch to help keep me entertained. Since I had 20 miles the next day, and the 17 miles was a bit rough because I took the 7 miles a bit too fast two weeks prior, I took those 8.5 miles as slow as I could stand. At one point I was just thinking that I just wanted to be done, but I tried to stay on the slow end (and I'm slow anyway, so you can imagine just how slow I had to go haha). I did 2 minutes of walking and 30 seconds of running on a 1.5 incline. I brought some Nuun to drink and had two Clif Shot Bloks. Afterwards, I ate a Lemon Vanilla LUNA protein bar. Yum.

Gym essentials.

Luckily, I had no plans for Saturday, so the rest of the day was lounging on the couch, making dinner, resting/recovering, and gathering my gear for Sunday's run. I went to bed fairly early, so happy to know that the time change would be happening while I slept. Loved. Waking up at 7 wasn't so bad when my body felt like it was 8. However, I wasn't too thrilled to see the temperature outside was 'feels like' 25. Woof.

I ended up not getting to the trail until about 9, since I dragged my feet a bit leaving the house hoping the weather would warm up a bit. Then, when I got there, I had to drive around a bit to find a parking space – it was much more crowded than I was expecting, which turned out to be because there was a group of 20+ hikers that all drove separately taking up most of the spaces. 

Fueling my very long run.

I wore my Patagonia long sleeve light-weight top, a dry-tech short sleeve, Saucony jacket (I love the jacket because there are zip pockets so I can store a bunch of stuff like Kleenex and such), Athleta capris, Zensah compressions sleeves, Features socks, my Brooks trail shoes, Orangemud Double Barrel HydraQuiver with Nuun, and my Flipbelt filled with my ENERGYbits, Clif Shot Bloks Orange flavor with caffeine, and a Picky Bar. 

I started with 30 seconds running and two minutes walking. I took two shot books every two miles, and took 15 ENERGYbits before starting, along with another 10 at mile 9. The first 5 miles went great. I was feeling good and thinking optimistically. Unfortunately, around mile 5.5 I started having horrible shin pains on my left leg. Sometimes it hurt when I walked, other times when I ran. I couldn't quite figure out why it was hurting, and couldn't stop the pain. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to finish the miles. I managed to walk/run the same intervals till I got back to the start. 

20 miles complete!

Lucky for me, my husband agreed to meet me for the final 10 miles. When I got back to the start, I swapped out my empty bottle of Nuun for the extra one I put in my car in a cooler. After the swap, my husband and I started the final half of the run. Unfortunately, I had to do a lot more walking – my shin was not having it when I tried to run. My arches started to really hurt towards the end as well, but I managed to finish, albeit with a very slow time. Sometimes the pain would subside, and sometimes it was constant, while other times it was more of a sharp quick pain. I haven't had pain so bad in quite a long time, and if my husband wasn't there with me helping to keep me motivated and keeping my mind off of it all with some chatter and jokes, I probably would have quit before I hit 20. I am very thankful for that. I made sure to take it slow, so I didn't injure myself more; I'm smart enough to listen to my body and not push too hard.

When I got home, I drank some chocolate milk with extra protein and tossed my legs up the wall. After a shower, I put my Dr. Cool Wrap around my shin to help alleviate the pain and possible swelling. Family came over for dinner, and during that time my right calf started hurting. Oh boy. The joys of marathon training. I went to bed around 9:30... I was exhausted! Luckily, when I woke up, my right leg felt better, and my shin, though still in pain, was better than last night. I'm hoping another day of elevation, ice, compression, and no running helps it heal. I've never had shin splints, so not sure if that's what it was. Anyone ever deal with shin splints or the pain I described? Any tips?

Anyway, I'm really happy that I finished all the miles that were in my training plan for the week. Though it was really tough, I'm proud that I completed it all :) Training with the Flipbelt (thanks BibRave) this week has gone well and you can expect a review later this week.
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As a side note, ENERGYbits is running a promotion right now called BITS for BIBS. Do this soon – the offer is only for a few weeks: 

To celebrate your success and commitment to a lifestyle of running and working hard to achieve your fitness goals, the ENERGYbits team would like to congratulate you with some fun swag and a chance to brag!

All you need to do is:

1. Email Emily Pettengill epettengill at energybits.com a photo of one or more of your 2014 race bibs and your twitter handle.

2. In the subject line of the email put “BITS for BIBS”.

3. Immediately (or within 48 hours of emailing Emily), place your next order on www.energybits.com. Remember to use code HeatherRuns for a 25% discount!!

4. The ENERGYbits team will include a SWAG Bag (value $50.00) when they receive your order.

5. They will post your bib photo on a promotion card and Tweet it!

Don’t delay! This promotion will only run for a few weeks!
[Please Note: they can only send one SWAG Bag per person. Thanks!]

Look What’s in Your BITS for BIBS SWAG Bag!

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How was your week/end? Did training go well? Hope you all had a great Halloween! Welcome to November. 

P.S. Make sure to review your race(s) on BibRave.com, and join us for #BibChat tomorrow night at 8pm CT.