Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon!

The expo was crazy. It honestly took me an hour to get all the way through! And I only bought a couple of things (gels, mostly). It was like walking through a running/nutrition flea market party. By the end, though, I had huge full-size samples of deodorant, Gain, a donut, ice cream, and protein bars. Pretty awesome.

Race day, at 430a, it was raining and 57 degrees. I decided on shorts and a long sleeve tech shirt. I was cussing to myself "I don't run in RAIN!!" and was pretty irritated that I was going to be running in the rain for 2+ hours. I told myself to snap out of it. It kind of worked. When I left my house, I saw a search light in the sky. I thought it was weird. Especially the fact that I was driving towards it. My mind was totally blown when I arrived at the race 35 minutes later and realized that the search light was at the starting line!




This is a photo of where I parked because I knew I would forget!

Both the half and the full were sold out (and the 5k and 10ks held the day before were sold out, too!). 33,000 people were registered for events! Isn't that amazing and wonderful? The corrals were full and there were military personnel checking race tags to make sure no one was in the wrong place. There were police officers everywhere and helicopters overhead all throughout the race. I was happy that there was heightened security, but it was a shame that those measures are even necessary, you know?

The rain held off, thank goodness. At times, I was worried that I was overdressed, but then other times I could tell the temperature was dropping and it would sprinkle a little bit. I was really able to just chill out and enjoy the run. I walked some of the hills, which I think helped morale a bit. Also helps: seeing a dear friend at mile 5!



I did a gel at mile 5 and a little after mile 8. My legs were like bricks and it really made a difference. Miles 9.5 through 11 were all downhill. That sounds like it would be a huge relief, but it's not! It's just a whole different set of muscles that hurt!

There were lots of people showing support for Boston.  There were tons of spectators.  Lots of awesome fluid stations.  It was a great, happy race.

And then it was finished! 2:25, my slowest one yet, but who cares?! I had a blast. Hung out with some friends at the finish and got a sweet medal. I call this one a "Win!".

Taper Week is Get Out of Shaper Week.

Alright, TAPER WEEK!  The one of the three best weeks of training!  Other favorites:  the week you start training because you are so full of foolish optimism and the week after the race because it's a REST WEEK!  Even though you are so sore that you can't pull up your own pants, you don't have to feel guilty for not running!  It's the best. 

Seriously, though.  On the surface, taper week sounds great.  Carbs and rest.  In reality, it makes me anxious.  It's too late to do anything that will actually help out during the race.  It's hard to pass up the 6 donuts I ate yesterday.  It's easy to drink fluids, but hard to make sure that it isn't all coffee that I'm taking in.

I'm really nervous about the race.  I know I'm not going to PR, mostly because I did pretty much zero hill work.  Whatevs, dude.  Prepping for this race got me off my butt and active, so hooray.

My goals for this race:

1) Finish.

2) Finish under 2:30.

3) Finish under 2:20.

4) Finish under 2:15.

My last half was a 2:10, so these goals may seem a little ridiculous.  Buuut, the Pig course is a big fat hilly jerk with rain predicted, and Columbus was super flat flatty with perfect weather.

And, I guess I'm a moron, but I just realized yesterday that the race starts at 630a.  630.  (If I could type that in all caps, it would be.)

Two.

I had two runs yesterday: a 4 mile and then a 3 mile. Today, I have two blisters on my feet, stacked on top of each other. I know, it's too good to be true: two blisters taking up only one blister's worth of real estate, but it has happened. And, it's pretty painful, but who cares.

My feet, I do declare, have never looked so horrific. Bug is really interested in them, so I know they have reached a whole new level of appearance. She keeps asking if I want Band-Aids and tells me a Barbie one would probably help fix my feet.

So, I guess I have arrived, then? Two workouts in one day, two blisters, two gnarly feet: I must be a real runner who is running a half marathon in two weeks! One more week and then TAPER WEEK.

Flying Pig Half Marathon Training Check-In

We are 3 weeks away from the big event and I haven't blogged at all!

Anyway.

Training has been difficult this season.  I joined a few weeks into the training session so for the longest time I was running 2-4 miles less than the running group.  This meant that I usually had to come up with my own return route.  It really wasn't a big deal, because this season I realized that I hate running with large groups of people (not in a race setting).  I don't know why.  It has to be true, though, because my favorite run was the one I did last weekend, alone.  It was 9.5 miles, and I ran with mace because it was super early in the morning, and you know how perverts and flashers are such early birds.  I need a shirt that says "Race with Mace!".  Someone make that for me.  Maybe the shirt would be intimidating enough.

It's also been difficult because we are in the process of getting our house ready to list.  We are moving!  Hopefully.  I have a feeling that we will sell before the end of the year. O says we will still be in this house this time next year.  We shall see who wins in the battle of Optimism v. Pessimism v. Real Estate Market: stay tuned!

I'm a little bummed out that I didn't fundraise for this upcoming race.  Maybe I'll fundraise for a fall race.

For this week:  whatever miles I can get in twice this week (3? 5?) and a long run this Sat.  The long run will be cut short (the running group is actually running 13 miles.  Seriously.  Save it for the race, folks!  Or hand out medals afterwards!) to probably 6 miles.  Also on Saturday is the local MS Walk to support Ms. Jamie (3 mile walk).

Other news:  I have a tumblr you may like:  kidtionary.tumblr.com.  It's pretty ridiculous!  Just like this blog (when I have time to write).

Treated Like a Criminal or "Target Couponing."

So, I'm new to couponing, really.  I'm not an extreme couponer.  I average about 6 coupons a trip, saving maybe $3 or so total off of my bill each time.  I recently had a really bizarre couponing experience at my local Target.

There was a chicken.  It was $5 and there was a $2 coupon attached.  I tore it off and put it with my other coupons to take to the register with my full cart of groceries and my two kiddos.  The cashier alerted the manager via blinky light and the manager informed me that I could not use my coupon since it was torn off of the package.  I laughed (scoffed?) and said I would go get the exact same thing 50 feet away and bring it to the register.  She let me use the one I already picked up but told me that I "can't do that again because I could have just stuck the coupon on a $14 item".

Upset that I was treated like a swindler in front of my children (who were saying hello the entire time and being ignored by the manager and cashier) and in front of other customers, I realized that these people didn't even realize that they would have made more money off of me if I would have tried to use the coupon on a $14 item.  And, might I add, these stores get reimbursed by the manufacturer for these coupons!  It's not like free money!

Regardless.  I feel like stores are getting more and more hostile towards couponers.  The paper is full of coupons, many store coupons, in fact, to get people to shop at their stores.  You use these coupons and are treated like a change artist.

This is one of a handful of situations in the last month, all at Target.  Has anyone else noticed a growing disdain for couponers at Target or other stores?

Training..!

I started back running a month ago after a 12 week break.  I had trouble finding motivation until I stepped on a scale and saw that I had gained 6 lbs in 12 weeks.  I guess that is what happens when you stop running around Halloween and continue through the holidays!  Whatevs, dude.  I haven't stepped back on the scale, so the number was pretty arbitrary.  I guess I just needed a reminder that I have to maintain a certain level of activity if I want to keep baking so much bread and pastries. 

Running group had been in session for 8 weeks, so when I started back I was behind.  I have just been shaving a mile or two off of the long runs and am doing fine.  Last week was scheduled to be 8 miles, and I did 6.5.  This Saturday is supposed to be 9, I'm not totally sure what my plan is for that.  I'll have to play it by ear. Hopefully the weather isn't too ridiculous.  I hate the treadmill.  HATE THE TREADMILL.

I have a 15k on St. Patrick's Day (that 9.3 miles).  For all of the hullabaloo of doing a big organized race, I feel like I should just do 4 more miles and complete the half.  I sound like a crazy person.  If I can do the 9 miles on Saturday without incident (or even 8) I'll think more seriously about switching to the half.  I get super fixated on collecting medals...

Winter group.

Winter group started up and it is fantastic. Saturday, it rained the entire time but it didn't detract from running in high-50-degree weather. We did 4 miles. No watch, but I am pretty sure my pace was SL:OW.

Also, the Rock n Roll Half in Lexington has been cancelled and has reverted back to the Run the Bluegrass Half. I could have kept my slot, but I took the option to get a refund. I also cancelled my hotel. I am now on a search to find another half for the spring. Suggestions?

Bee's coloring contest entry: