where have i been?

Hello my friends! It's been a hot minute — NINE months! — since I last posted here on my blog. Some may wonder where I've been, but I doubt too many 😂 I was never really great at keeping up with a weekly training recap, and my posts were sporadic to begin with. I rarely got in a recap of all of the races I did, which were just too many with too little time (if you remember, I'm very wordy) — and so the thought of giving up time with family or being on a computer longer than the work day wasn't appealing. 

Oiselle Volée summer picnic – I biked next to the gals and
then we ate donuts and ice cream and cuties and muffins...

Anyway, a bit of a recap of the past nine months: I work really long hours. Training this year has been sh*t. I ran Dopey in January which was a total blast, but ended in a whole lot of pain in my heels, which I had been dealing with since mid-summer with Chicago Marathon training/race. I took a month off after another January race to try and recover/heal... and it timed out well with what I thought was a busy season at work, but really is just now my life. I dropped from the Illinois Marathon to the half, not being able to fully train with my foot problems and knowing I likely wouldn't make it the whole 26 miles without a lot of tears from pain. I knew it wasn't worth pushing it (though I knew I could finish if I wanted), risking being out of the game longer because of it. So, I continued to run no longer than a half marathon, dealing with the pain.

First ride on the trainer.

I switched shoes – stability to neutral – after going for a fitting. I think my foot and/or gait changed since the year I started running and got officially fit last. I went to see a massage therapist (who was amazing and helped a ton, but then I went to Lollapalooza and undid it all... but I made it all four days with minimal pain, being on my feet all day long, so win!). I'm keeping her in my routine and wonder why I waited so long to do so – it was my first ever massage, and I was nervous that I would be ticklish or uncomfortable, but she was amazing as promised by my running friends that recommended her, and so now I've gone twice with two more sessions on the schedule before the marathon in hopes that I might make it to the start line.

Got the bike into and out of and back into the car
all by myself. Win.

I've gone to the podiatrist, who confirmed that it is indeed Plantar Fasciitis. It's nice to have a diagnosis and not just be guessing. I took some steroids to help with the inflammation. I am currently on week three of no running (he said 2–4 weeks from the date I saw him, which was a little over a week ago). I go back on the 10th to see how things are going. I've been doing all of my rolling, exercises, stretching and icing. I got shoe inserts in hopes they work so I don't have to go orthotics (which he said are very expensive, so to try the ones he recommended first, as he thinks they work great). I've been wearing inserts in gym shoes for work, despite the fact that we aren't supposed to wear gym shoes. No one has said anything yet, but I'm prepared to have a doctor's note if needed haha.

I cheered and helped direct runners
at Fort 2 Base.

Met up with friends for a post-race lunch.

Anyway, I was prepared for a 12 week no running, so to be told 2–4 was a relief. And that it wasn't stress fractures. He knows I want to run the marathon, and said he'd get me back out there as soon as he could, but I also know that it's not worth risking further injury and if he thinks I'm not ready for it (along with my coach and my own feelings), I will go and cheer everyone on instead. It's all up in the air, and I am ready for whichever way the quarter lands. Obviously I'll be disappointed, but my brain and body know what's best, and sometimes you have to quiet your heart and listen. This way, there can be other marathons. I am also aware that I have two race cations planned after the marathon, and so getting to those start lines is VERY important to me, having paid all the money for the trips, so that's also in my mind. 

Second ride on the trainer. Getting the hang of things.

For the time being, I am working on my strength training, stretching, and have been doing more cycling to make up for the no running to keep the cardio there in hopes I won't lose toooo much endurance or muscle during my time off. I also find it extremely challenging mentally, especially when I'm on the trainer... it's worse than treadmill running for me. Woof, those minutes go by sloooooow. And because of that, I think it'll up my game for running. Lucky for my husband, I'm starting to like it, and so he might just get me registered for a duathlon or triathlon next year, like he's been trying to do this past year :)

Disney with mom. We hit the last day of the Food and Wine Festival,
 and then the beginning of Pixar Fest.

I've been going to semi-weekly meetups with my Oiselle Volée teammates all year long (it's one of the things that gets me to leave work on time). They keep me motivated, happy, feeling supported, and are just a great crew to have in my life. I feel lucky to be a part of it. I've had plenty of races. Took a trip to Disneyland with my mom to use our Annual Passes one last time before they expired (and with no runDisney trips out there for the forseeable future, we won't be back for some time). 

I recently bought some new hair tools and products from L'ANGE (blow dryer, 32mm wand, and a bunch of hair care) to try and figure out how to make my hair look more presentable and adult-like for work, instead of the big frizzy mess it usually is. Something about having hair that looks good makes you feel good, too... what a concept haha. The good thing is, most of the tools allow me to get my hair done in 30 minutes or less, which is what  I need. I have a hard time waking up in the morning, so I usually don't leave myself a whole lot of time to get to work when I'm supposed to. Also, you can get 50% off your order with this link if you're interested in anything. Who doesn't enjoy a good discount?

End of the day, but love the waves. Just need a little
more practice and I'll be able to do both sides the same.
I used L'ANGE titanium Ondule 32 mm.

Also in the arena of looking nice for work, I finally decided to buy some (a lot) of Glossier products. I have been eyeing them for a while, and one of my instagram pals, Brit, told me how much she likes them, so I figured it was time to give it a whirl. I'm also fighting some blemishes right now, and thought a new skincare routine would be a good idea. Not to mention, I'll be having a new boss coming into the company in a week, and so I probably should start off on the right foot (aka not looking like a hot mess). Unfortunately looks do matter, and at least while I'm "proving" myself as an amazing worker and designer, better look the part haha. Anywho, if you are interested in Glossier as well, use this link for 10% off your first purchase. I'm hoping to get a review of the products I purchased and my thoughts after a few weeks of using them, if that helps others decide what they might want to try. 

So, that's a quick recap of what's been going on in my world. I've been busy. I'm sure you at least noticed I'm still active on social media, so I haven't been too missed, I don't think ;) I will actively try to get more posts up, if for no one else, for myself. I do miss taking the time out to write down my thoughts on events and daily living, and can be fun to go back and read. For now, I'm sorry if you missed me, and I hope to be back again soon (to blogging AND running!).

illinois marathon training: week 4

Monday, November 14: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Tuesday, November 15: 4 miles (50/20); 12:28 average page
Wednesday, November 16: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Thursday, November 17: 4 miles (50/20); 12:40 average pace
Friday, November 18: Rest/Stretch & Roll 
Saturday, November 19: Ditka Dash 3.07 miles (45/30); 13:14 average page
Sunday, November 20: 8 miles (60/30); 13:05 average pace

Total Miles for Illinois Marathon Training: 89.61 miles

Finally, back to an almost normal week! I was able to get in all of my training runs plus a fun run on Saturday. 

Tuesday 4 miles went well, not much to say other than I am happy with the paces I've been having. Definitely seeing improvements. Oh and it was the in the 50s, so great running weather.

Thursday was another good run. I felt a bit tired and sluggish, but powered through and happy with the results. Another warm day - shorts and t-shirts, but cold weather is on the way. Fall and winter are my favorite, though while enjoying running in the winter, I'm not quite ready for temps in the 30s as the high. We've been too up and down lately and it's hard to adjust to the 30s when it was just 70. Goes up and down, which makes my sinuses go nutty and often leads to me getting sick. But I'm trying really hard to stay healthy this year (lots of sleep and hydration haha).

Saturday was the Ditka Dash, which was just a fun run with my mom. No timing even. We ran 45/30 intervals. It was pretty windy and cold out, but once I was running I warmed up quick. Gloves came off at mile 1. It was a relaxed, fun event and even Da Coach was there at the start line to see us off. Pretty cool. I ran in aviators to be cool like him (they were in the packet along with a mustache haha). We stopped at Starbucks on the way home to get some hot beverages to warm up (I am always freezing after running outside in colder temps - even if I'm sweating bullets, the instant I stop I'm cold... probably from wet clothes).

Red cups are back and they are adorable! Love all the different designs.

Sunday was 8–10 miles on the schedule. I had hoped to push to 10, but after being super sweaty I was starting to freeze around mile 5 and at 6 my knee started giving me trouble (I think from the cold, I'm like an older person with arthritis type symptoms...). I thought I wouldn't get 3 miles with the breathing problems I was having (again - not acclimated to the cold - we went basically from 70 to 30 and my asthma acted up). It was partly sunny and feels like 25 with 10mph winds. Luckily I managed ok after being out for a bit. So I stopped at 8 with an average pace of 13:05.

I wrote a post about Illinois Marathon if you're interested in reading why I chose it as my Spring Marathon. Also, you can register for any of the distances (except for Youth option) with discount code bibravebonus and it'll save you $5 :)

illinois marathon training: week 3

Monday, November 7: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Tuesday, November 8: 4 miles (50/20) --> Skipped
Wednesday, November 9: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Thursday, November 10: 4 miles (50/20); 12:50 average pace
Friday, November 11: Rest/Stretch & Roll 
Saturday, November 12: 6 miles (50/20); 12:42 average page
Sunday, November 13: 8 miles (50/20 and 50/30); 13:14 average pace

Total Miles for Illinois Marathon Training: 70.53 miles

I've finally decided on my spring marathon and have chosen Illinois Marathon on April 22. You can read about my decision over on this blog post. I am officially registered for the I-Full Challenge (5k on Friday and the marathon on Saturday). I won't be racing the 5k, but using it more as a shakeout run and for fun. Plus, I'll get a shirt for both the 5k and full marathon, a medal for each, plus an additional medal for the challenge. Boom. 

Training was still a bit off (let's just say the first 3 weeks of training have been wonky, but will be happy to get back to regular schedule next week). Tuesday was a travel day, so missed my run. Was going to run on Wednesday instead, but I was so exhausted from the trip I just wanted to catch up on some rest.

Thursday I did 4 miles on the treadmill (it's getting dark so early now! We don't have street lights around here, and even though I have some great night gear to keep me visible I try not to run in the dark very often. The 20 second walk breaks seem so short, but like usual, just something that'll take adjusting to (and then adjusting again when it's shortened more ;) ).

Saturday 6 miler went pretty well. The weather was fantastic for an outdoor run. It took me a while to get out the door with a lack of motivation, but so glad I did. It was great to be outside running.

Sunday I did 4 miles at a 50/20 interval set, and the last 4 at 50/30. Legs were tired at first and then they warmed up a bit, but my sinuses were going crazy the entire time, which was annoying. Weather was great again. I had shorts and a long sleeve shirt on (which I wish was short sleeves about 2 minutes in as I sweat like a beast), and then there are people out in full winter garb (gloves, hats, puffy coats haha). It was in the 50s and was lovely. Want to soak in this weather while it's here. While still generally too warm for me, I still enjoy the 50s over 80s. Fall is my favorite (minus the sinus problems of course). 

I wrote a post about Illinois Marathon if you're interested in reading why I chose it as my Spring Marathon. Also, you can register for any of the distances (except for Youth option) with discount code bibravebonus and it'll save you $5 :)

2017 spring marathon

Disclaimer: I received an entry for Illinois Marathon to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

While I had my marathon options narrowed down for the spring (was deciding between Ann Arbor at the end of March or Oshkosh Marathon at the end of April), my choice has been made. I have decided to go with the Illinois Marathon on April 22, which though on my radar, I had already decided no on haha. Read more for why...

Initially I was hesitant for this race because I have a half marathon in Naperville, IL the following day. So, I put this race aside thinking it wouldn't be a good idea. However when the opportunity came up to run for BibRave, I emailed my coach at Sweat Tracker to see what she thought about it. I thought for sure she would reply that I was bananas and it was not a good idea. To my surprise, she gave me the go ahead. She reminded me that while it would be a very big challenge, she didn't see any major issues with it. My risk for injury would be greater, though, and that keeping up my strength training would be key. Along with proper pre- and post-race (and training) recovery.

So here I am, training for my first spring marathon. It will be interesting for sure, and my one main concern is how much time I'll have to spend on a treadmill at the gym if winter is as bad as predicted. I did train through December for Dopey Challenge, however, I feel winter is usually at its worst in January and February, which will be some high mileage months. I've done up to 12 miles on the treadmill, which for me was just under 3 hours. I thought that was my max, but it's likely I'll be on there for up to 5 hours during this training cycle. Eeks. I guess my main concern is getting kicked off for being on too long haha. Usually weekends aren't as crowded, so hopefully it's not a big deal. It will also be annoying having to reset the treadmill every 60 minutes, as that is the max you can set it to run for. Boo.

Anyway, my best bud Angie will be there running the marathon too - far ahead of me - but it'll be fun to hang out before and after the race. Hopefully she doesn't mind waiting around for an hour or so ;)

Interested in running during Illinois Marathon weekend? They have just about every race distance. There's a 5k on Friday evening, and then a 10k, half marathon, marathon relay, and marathon on Saturday. You can take the I-Challenge, which is running the 5k Friday and then either 10k, half marathon, or marathon on Saturday for an additional medal. Who doesn't love more medals?

Marathon entrants will receive a high-quality, gender-specific short-sleeve technical shirt (Leslie Jordan brand in blue - must be fate!) and a drawstring backpack. Finishers get a great medal, a fleece blanket, commemorative heatsheet, finish line food and drink, and one beverage at the 27th-Mile Celebrate Victory Bash on Saturday. (Entrants must display their race bib to receive the beverage).

I haven't been down to U of I campus since my own college days... which is farther back than I'd like to admit haha. I'm sure a lot has changed, and I've never been inside the stadium, so it will be cool to finish 26.2 miles on the field.

The time limit for the marathon is 6 hours, though I did see that they allow participants up to 7 hours (though traffic will not longer be kept from the course, so you need to use sidewalks and follow pedestrian laws). 6 hours is my latest marathon goal, as I did Chicago in about 6:16, so hoping that the 6 hour limit helps push me to conquer it :)

Here's more clarification from the website:
The course will be closed to traffic for participants who are averaging faster than  13:45 minutes per mile. Slower participants may continue after traffic is allowed onto the race course, but they do so at their own risk and must follow pedestrian statutes. Race volunteers, the finish line, and post-race festivities will remain active long enough to accommodate runners taking up to 7 hours.

The next price increase will be January 16. You can save $5 off any distance (except Youth Run) using code 'bibravebonus'. I've already begun my training (even before I knew what race I was doing haha - gotta keep that base mileage from the last marathon going). Who wants to join in on the fun?!

spring marathon training: week 2

Monday, October 31: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Tuesday, November 1: 6 miles (50/30) --> Skipped
Wednesday, November 2: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Thursday, November 3: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Friday, November 4: Mickey's Holiday 5k (3.16)
Saturday, November 5: Wine and Dine 10k (6.44)
Sunday, November 6: Wine and Dine Half Marathon (13.03)

Total Miles for Spring Marathon Training: 48.53 miles

It was another strange week for training as I was traveling to Florida for Wine and Dine weekend at Disney World. I ended up skipping my run on Tuesday because when I got home from work the rest of the night was spent packing. The usual. I knew I'd be walking around a ton at WDW, so I wasn't too concerned. I have my spring marathon narrowed down, but still deciding between two. I'll keep you posted.

Friday was the 5k, I think my mom and I ran 45/30 intervals. We had plenty of time to rest when we stopped for photo ops. I tried to remember to pause and un-pause my watch at each stop to get an accurate reading of what the time we were running was. I meant to compare to my mom's watch (since 5k isn't timed) to see how much of our time was spent waiting for photos. My watch had us at 43:55, which for a crowded Disney race isn't too bad. The one problem with the course is the out and back towards the end, where it's so narrow that you get caught behind a wall of people and can't go anywhere. I doubt there is any way for that to be changed, but it did get frustrating, especially if you are starting farther back in the corrals (I went back to D with my mom and we were near the front of the corral, and even at the start, we got caught by people just walking from the get go... not even an attempt at running through for a minute or two. Oy.), when you stop for photos, you just get farther and farther back with more walkers which makes it hard to navigate. Nothing against walkers of course, as part of my routine is walking, just saying it can be tough to get back up to the pace you want. 

Saturday was the 10k. Early morning number 2. I definitely missed just the 1 early morning and then the late night. Much easier for me to handle than 3 early mornings. Woof. I do believe at this race I forgot to pause my watch for one of the stops, as our 10k is usually around a 1:20 lately. My watch had me at 1:29:57 with 6.44 miles. I think we tried the 45/30 intervals again.

Sunday was our last early morning. Again I tried to pause and start my watch, but I think there was one stop I forgot to pause, and one other one I forgot to re-start after going, so my watch only had me at 13.03 miles, but we all know it is over that from the weaving.

Anyway, Disney was a ton of fun, though I was extremely tired with having to wake up so early three days in a row. I had to take naps in the afternoon to try and make up for it. Woof. I'll hopefully have a fun recap of each race (though don't hold your breath as I generally get so backed up on race recaps that I never get to them haha). Some fun photos at least ;)

What are you currently training for?

spring marathon training: week 1

Monday, October 24: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Tuesday, October 25: 6 miles (50/30) --> Wednesday
Wednesday, October 26: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Thursday, October 27: Medium Run: 6 miles (50/30) --> Friday
Friday, October 28: Rest/Stretch & Roll
Saturday, October 29: Medium Run: 8 miles (50/30) --> 15k on Sunday
Sunday, October 30: Short Run: 4 miles (55/30) --> Saturday

Total Miles for Spring Marathon Training: 25.9 miles

While I haven't figured out what my spring marathon will be (I have a few on my radar that I'm deciding between), I didn't want to lose the work and base mileage I had from Chicago Marathon and wanted to jump back in. I took about a week off post-marathon to help my body recover, but then I was ready to get back into the game.

My schedule was a bit off from what coach sent over, but generally I got it done.

I moved Tuesday to Wednesday, hit up the treadmill at the gym (heavy rains), and did my 6 miles in 1:19:38 with an average pace of 13:16 using 50/30 intervals.

Then I moved Thursday to Friday. I had to go to the gym again, and did 6 miles in 1:19:22 with an average pace of 13:13 using 50/30 intervals. 

Saturday was another treadmill night. I got there with less than an hour until the gym closed, so really had to bust my ass to get my 4 miles in (I was pushing the '8' to Sunday because I was running the Hot Chocolate 15k). I was trying 50/30 intervals, but for the last mile I ran almost the whole thing. I made it in 50:18 with an average pace of 12:34. I had heard the gym announcements about closing in 5 minutes and really pushed myself. I didn't want to end with 3.9 or anything. I needed that 4 haha. I thought others were still up there with me, but when I finished and went to the locker, I saw it was the cleaning crew. Oops. The last gym worker was there and I apologized profusely as I tried to hurry out, but he was really kind and told me to take my time (I didn't, but nice of him to say). 

Sunday was Hot Chocolate 15k. It was my first race of that distant, so instant PR! Boom. I was up a lot of the night coughing for some strange reason, so wasn't sure how the race would go. It was a cooler, slightly rainy day, but great for running in my opinion. You can read my recap here. Garmin said 9.89 miles in 2:06:57 with an average pace of 12:50. Obviously Garmin was off a by about .5 miles as 15k = 9.32 miles, but that happens when running in the city.

run mag mile half marathon recap

Disclaimer: I received an entry for RAM Racing Run Mag Mile Half Marathon & 5k to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Kim and I before the race start.

Feel free to check out my BibRave review here—it's a bit shorter and less personal.

I ran this race in 2014 and 2015, so why not again in 2016? You guys know I like a good race, and to not register for a race means I'm either busy or something went really wrong the previous year (or two, since I tend to give a race a second chance if it disappointed me the first time). In the past, this race was called the Magnificent Mile Chicago Women's Half Marathon & 5k, but RAM Racing took over this year and did some revamping, including a little name change to Run Mag Mile Half Marathon & 5k. Still pretty similar, but notice it's no longer geared specifically for women, but for all runners.

Flat Heather ready to run.

I personally enjoyed the women's part of the race last year. Though obviously all could run the race (I don't think it's legal to only allow one gender to register), it was probably 95% women, which gave it a special feel. Women empowerment, encouragement, camaraderie. Lauren Fleshman had attended the past two years as a speaker and celebrity runner, which made it cool. She did a fun run the day before (I think the race was on Sunday in years past). So for me, it was a little disappointing getting rid of that aspect, as it's part of what made the race so special.

This puppy is so nosy! Underneath her face is a Lara Bar, my bib,
 and Fannie Mae chocolate bar in my goodie bag.

Putting that aside, however, it was a great event and I definitely had a good time (well maybe not during the race, but that's just a personal story in which I felt sick from mile 4 on). I would still recommend this race to anyone that's in Chicago in September for it.

Beautiful sky the morning of the race.

So, the 2016 event was held on Saturday, September 10 with a 7am start for both the half and the 5k. Packet pickup was held at Thursday, September 8 at Fleet Feet Deerfield from 3–6pm and Fleet Feet Elmhurst 4–8pm and again on Friday, September 9 at Fleet Feet Old Town from 10am–8pm. You could also have paid $15 to get your packet mailed to you if you weren't able to make packet pickup yourself (or didn't have a friend grab it for you). 

I went in on Friday afternoon and doubled up my packet pickups for my race on Sunday as well. It was easy peasy. All you need is your QR code that you get as confirmation of registration, or from the email they send about a week in advance. If you're picking up for someone, same thing – get that QR code email from them. I was able to pick up fellow BibRave Pro Kim's packet easily too. They even ran a special deal for the first 1,000 registrants – we received chocolate bars in our bags :) Yum.

We arrived at the race site around 6:20 or so, and I met up with Kim to get her bib and shirt. We chatted and took a photo, then it was off to find Frank and Eric. On my way over, I ran into my friend Rachel. We snuck in a quick photo and wished each other luck, and then I decided it was bathroom time. There were 2 different sets of bathrooms – one closer to the race and the other near the post-race party set up. The latter were less crowded, so we went over there. The lines moved quickly.

My girl Rachel and I.

Weather prior to the start was in the low 70s, 86% humidity. Maybe a minute before the start it began to rain, but it was a nice, light rain that felt pretty good. It didn't last very long either (honestly, mid way through the race I was hoping it would rain again to help cool me down... I don't know why I was getting so over heated, but it's a common problem of mine).

On our way back I spotted Eric, so of course there was another photo and some chit chatting before we had to get into corrals. He was pacing so had to make sure he was where he needed to be on time. The corrals were A–D, and as usual, I was in the last one haha. I saw on Instagram that party was in B with Kim, Frank, and Eric. I was bummed we didn't get to have a group shot with the 4 of us, but glad they got one of the 3 of them.

Eric! Such a cutie.

The start line.

The race started promptly at 7am, and I crossed the start around 7:06. The course took us north on Columbus, west on Randolph, north on Michigan Ave to about Superior (about half a block from Water Tower), turnaround back south, east on Randolph, and then the 5k and half split. There were signs and volunteers to wave you on. Half kept going east to the lakefront path, and the 5k runners went south on Columbus to the finish line. Once at the path, half marathon runners went south, down till about 8.5 miles, then back north. The out and back were all on the same path (sometimes they split to be on the two separate paths to help with congestion). The race wasn't overly crowded though, perhaps 2700 runners? So the path wasn't too bad. Take into consideration that it isn't closed to other runners, walkers, and cyclists, but as a native, I'm used to that. To finish up, once you went around the aquarium, we went under the bridge going west, up the hill to then head north on Columbus to the finish.

The Course.

I was running 45/30 intervals and things were going really well. Then I hit mile 4 and I was feeling nauseous so did some extra walking. Eventually, my mom caught up to me, so we ran together the rest of the way, going from 40/30, to 30/30, and then I think even probably 30/60 by the end. I was feeling miserable, not sure if it was the humidity, but other than that the weather was great - drizzle at the start that felt great, and it was a nice, dreary sky (my favorite for running). Whatever it was, it just wasn't my day. I came to terms with that and decided tomorrow's half would go better. 

I saw Kim pass on the other side around mile 1 - she was crushing her 5k. We waved and it's always fun to spot your friends on the course. I then got to high five Frank at about my 1.5ish mark, which was really cool. It pumped me up and I had a great pace for the first 3 miles. I can't tell you exactly what it was, but at the time when I was passing the clocks I knew it was good haha. 

The Water Tower.

My watch GPS (and I think just about everyone else's) goes super wonky when running in Chicago (as in the streets in the city, I'm fine on the LFP), so it had me at mile 1 around .5 miles and then from there on I was almost a mile ahead of normal. I need to figure out how to set up manual so I'm prepared for the marathon (anyone want to help a girl out – I have a Garmin Fenix 3... you can set it so you hit the lap/mile marker instead of it going off automatically right?).

The great thing about out and backs is getting to see your friends that are fast pass you heading back towards the finish. We saw Eric pacing his 9:00 group and he shouted words of encouragement. Then I got to cheer on Frank again when he was going back. Orange is so nice, as it generally makes it easy to spot each other out on the course :)

Dreary skies = great skyline.

There were about 8 aid stations with water and Nuun. At the finish the announcer was calling out names of the finishers and you received your medal (which was huge!). They had bottled water, Luna bars, Eli's cheesecake, and a brown bag from Corner Bakery which included a turkey sandwich, mayo, and chips.

Me and my pal Frank.

Frank had another event in the city later that day, so he was still around for the finish and was nice enough to hang out with us for a bit before leaving. We checked out the post-race party which included Brookfield Zoo that had a sloth and a snake for viewing. I also tried to win some North Face goodies, but I wasn't a lucky winner haha. 

So cute!

Overall, this was a well organized race and I had a good time. The race shirt was a long-sleeve tech shirt which I really like (I don't feel I get enough long sleeves) and it's a fun design. Pink for ladies and blue for men. Also, in about a week, they'll have free race photos available online to download. Score. Unfortunately... I had none :( I guess that's what happens with free photos – means less photographers and if you are slow, then they are often gone by the time you get to the finish line. So sad to have none. Oh well. Glad I take a lot myself when I'm out there haha.

The post-race snacks.

I'm sure I'll be back for 2017 ;)

staying hydrated with ultima replenisher

Disclaimer: I received Ultima Replenisher to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!*

The opportunity to test out Ultima Replenisher couldn't have come at a better time for me. My old favorite had changed their formula, and I was in the market for a new electrolyte drink. I was a little weary at first of trying Ultima, as it has stevia – an ingredient I am very sensitive too (and not a fan of) and seems like I taste it (or maybe just more bothered by it) more than others – which means I was afraid I wouldn't like it. I spoke with some others that use Ultima, and are also stevia sensitive, and after hearing their thoughts and recommendations, I decided to opt in (and thankfully was chosen, because now I know how awesome it is).

Lucky for me, the stevia didn't bother me at all, and I do believe I've found my new favorite. Ultima sent me a box of Raspberry sticks (20 come in a box) as well as a small canister of 30 servings of Lemonade (so nicely packaged, too). I love that from the small canister you can get 30 servings. Plenty of bang for your buck, plus, doesn't take up much space in the cabinets. The sticks are awesome to put in your purse/bag and for on the go. I can easily store one in my Orange Mud pack when I'm out on a run if I need to re-fill my bottle, or for post-race water bottles. That's what I did for Rock 'n' Roll Chicago. I had the 5k Saturday and the 10k on Sunday, and of course it's always crazy hot and humid that weekend, so I wanted to make sure I was hydrating properly Saturday so be ready for Sunday's race. I tossed in the Raspberry powder into a bottle of water post-race, and it was delightful.

After a trail run, I mixed up the raspberry for my first test of Ultima.
It was very refreshing and I was pleased that I didn't notice too much stevia :)

I'm not one of those ladies that just glistens a little when working out. I'll step outside in humidity and start dripping in a minute. You'll find me wearing tanks, t-shirts, and shorts in temps as low as the mid-40s. I heat up quickly when I start to run, and so in the summer, my clothes are usually pretty drenched a few miles in. Super attractive, right? Whatever - I like to keep it real with you all ;)

See that small patch of light color? Yeah, my shirt was almost completely drenched.

See what I mean? Uber sweaty.

Obviously with all the sweating I do, I'm losing electrolytes, so it's important to drink something other than water. I've found that I enjoy drinking Ultima before my run, but it is crazy refreshing as a post-run drink, too. A great way to replace what you've lost during the run. I mix it up, toss in some ice, and chug away. It's so yummy and tastes amazing after a run in this crazy summer weather (so hot and humid! Seems like all of my runs have been done in 80 degrees + with about 80% humidity or more. Woof.). Electrolytes will help avoid cramping, which is a sign that your body is low on them. It's important to consume electrolytes in a consistent manner so you can go into your workout or training session adequately hydrated. Start out with everything your body needs rather than try to add them in during the workout, which is usually too late. 

Symptoms of dehydration include: headaches, fatigue, leg cramps, sluggishness, and even hunger (what often appears as hunger is the body signaling for hydration; another reason why people say to drink water if you're feeling hungry, because you might just be thirsty instead.)

After hiking Mt. Abraham it was time to rehydrate and get ready for race day.
Always fun when it matches your nails.

Side note - it's important to get these electrolytes year round, not just in the summer. Even in winter, when you might not sweat AS much (I still sweat plenty haha, just not as much as in the summer heat and humidity), you'll still need these vital minerals.

Some tips from me to you:

• Use a shaker bottle. That whisk ball thing helps mix the powder into the water really well
• Mix and then add ice (doing so beforehand will cause the powder to clump and not mix as well)
• No blender bottle? No problem. I also stirred with a spoon, let it sit a minute or two, and then stirred again. Sometimes one stir works – just depends on how cold the water is. The colder it is, the more likely you'll get clumps (very small balls of powder), but if you let it sit for a minute, they usually dissolve without any issue.
• You can also just use a water bottle and shake it up. This worked well too, and I noticed a lot of the other BibRave Pros used this method.

What are the 6 electrolytes you're looking to help replace in your body after all the sweating?

1. Calcium
2. Chloride
3. Magnesium
4. Phosphorous
5. Potassium
6. Sodium

You can read more about these electrolytes and why you need them here.

Ready to go for Mad Half! Ultima is in my gear check list.

Ultima's new formulation includes MORE of these electrolytes. They increased the amount of magnesium, potassium, and sodium. You can see the comparison in the below image. They've also reduced package size by 45%, so more environmentally friendly. Scoop size has decreased and it's made to mix with 16oz rather than 8oz. I never had the old formula, but I like what they've done with the new one.

What's in Ultima? 

"Ultima contains a perfect balance of all 6 electrolytes plus support minerals that work together to provide complete hydration without stomach upset so you can feel and perform your best. Ultima is sweetened with stevia leaf and made with real fruit flavors that taste delicious. This formulation contains Vitamin C (Calcium Ascorbate) which supports a healthy immune system, protects the cells from oxidative stress and contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Calcium to support muscle contraction and nerve function. Phosphorus to deliver oxygen to muscles, Selenium as an antioxidant support, Zinc for recovery and neuron support, Magnesium for preventing muscle cramps, Potassium for cardiac muscle support, Sodium for muscle contraction and nerve function and Chloride for osmotic pressure support."

Ultima Replenisher is Non-GMO, Vegan & Gluten-Free. Zero Sugar, Zero Artificial Flavors, Zero Calories, 100% Awesome!

Ultima recently changed their formula. Here's some info from the website about it:

"Each serving of Ultima now has increased magnesium, potassium, and sodium — all very important electrolytes — and zero calories. By removing virtually all of the maltodextrin (except for the tiny amount that the natural flavors use as a carrier) we were able to create a formula that will hydrate without added calories. We care about what you put into your body as much as you do. With all 6 electrolytes plus support minerals, real fruit flavors and plant-based colors, vegan, nonGMO, no caffeine and gluten-free — we’re happy to be your go-to choice for healthy replenishment so you can feel and perform your best."

Rock 'n' Roll Chicago 5k.

"Our News is Good For Your...

Health:

• 12 X more Magnesium
• 3 X more Potassium
• Zero Calories / Carbs
• Removed most Maltodextrin
• Non-GMO, Gluten-free, and vegan certifications pending

Wallet:

• 100% bigger drink size!
• Same price
• Same number of servings

Environment:

• 40% less waste due to smaller packaging"

All the fun colors! Ultima uses natural flavors and fruit/vegetable extract for coloring.
The bright colors in raspberry, cherry pomegranate, and orange comes from beet juice!
Top: Lemonade, Raspberry
Bottom: Cherry Pomegranate, Orange, Grape

I loved the raspberry and lemonade so much, but I wanted to try the other flavors to find my favorite (and then order a 90 serving canister!). I ordered myself two of the variety stick packs, which come with all 5 flavors: orange, lemonade, cherry pomegranate (a new flavor), grape, and raspberry. While they are all delightful, cherry pomegranate is my favorite. Since it's a new flavor, it's been selling out quickly, so I am patiently waiting for the 90 serving canister to come back in stock. I think just about everyone can find a flavor out of the bunch that they would enjoy, if not all of them.

Love drinking Ultima after these hot, humid summer runs.

Do yourself a flavor (haha) and order yourself some! I have a 35% off + free shipping code for you to use = BIBRAVE2016. Ultima is already very reasonably priced, but it's always nice to save some extra cash, isn't it?

Ultima Variety Pack.

Cost of different products (before 35% discount):

20 count stick packs - $19.99 (about $1 per serving)

30 serving canister - $19.99 (about $.67 per serving)

90 serving canister - $39.99 (about $.45 per serving)

Obviously, going with the 90 canister is your best option price wise, but for traveling and on the go purposes, I really do enjoy having some sticks on hand too. Whatever you choose, I'd say the price is pretty comparable to other electrolyte drinks/supplements on the market.

You'll want to buy online for as long as the discount code is valid, because hello, free shipping and save some dough (no expiration date as of now, but if there is one, I'll update the blog), but just so you know, you can also find Ultima Replenisher at local stores such as Whole Foods Market,  Natural Grocers, Earth Fare, Sprouts Farmers Market, and more. You can go to the store locator on the website, input your address or zip code to find locations near you. I found some stores or workout studios that I wouldn't have thought to look at. Pretty cool.

The person (people) running their twitter and instagram account are very interacrive and helpful. I've bothered them with questions, such as when certain flavors will be back in stock, and they always get back to me quickly. Super helpful. 

Speaking of out of stock, they've had a few things come and go out of stock quickly, especially the Cherry Pomegranate flavor, which is their newest one. It has been super popular, and so goes out of stock just as quickly as it comes back. Snatch it up if you see if in stock! They currently have the individual packets, but not the 90 serving canister. Just a heads up if there are certain flavors/sizes you want, but they aren't available at the moment - they'll be back! Just keep an eye out on the website.

Enjoy cooking, baking, or finding new fun recipes? Check out the recipes using Ultima: http://www.ultimareplenisher.com/recipes/

Ultima Replenisher will be sponsoring #BibChat over on Twitter on Tuesday, August 2 at 8pm CT. Join us for some fun chatter along with a chance to win some Ultima for yourself!

Connect with Ultima:

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*All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I am always honest with you! Have a question? Just ask :)