We Did It! Soaring Eagle Boy Scout Half Marathon recap

Hey all! Happy Labor Day weekend. V here from slightly sunny Toledo. M and I decided to celebrate Labor Day by, well, laboring. Aug. 31 brought the 5th annual Soaring Eagle Boy Scout Half Marathon in fast & flat Bowling Green, Ohio. Quite a ways back we had decided this would be one on our race calendar, and, despite not sticking to a specific training program, darn it if we weren't going to do this race. Which, after assessing the sometimes questionable nutrition choices and unquestionable beer consumption in which we've indulged this summer, we decided was not going to be so much a race as it would be a run. 

M is training for the Detroit Free Press marathon on Oct. 20 (her fourth running of it!) and  I'm in for the Northern Ohio Marathon on Oct. 13. We figured getting a 13.1 long run in (with a bunch of other people) would be a great springboard for our training. 

The Boy Scout half is one that M's done at least twice, if not three times before, and this was my first experience with the race run. I have to say even though the course meandered for about nine miles through nothing but cornfields and soybean patches, I quite enjoyed the run. Since we were using this for training, I employed my "Chatty Cathy Offense." I was determined to talk our way out of this run, just to keep our minds from veering into scary territory that might include thoughts of "hey, are we really prepared to do this" and "oh, gee, I haven't run this far outside since, let's see, APRIL." I was worried at first that M would be annoyed that I was doing this, since in a race situation we do NOT talk, but I know that if she was bugged, she'd feel free to tell me (in a loving way, of course). 

Pre-race faces. Just look confident, right? 

The hydration stations were plentiful and pleasantly staffed by volunteers young and not as young. I took water at every station, thirsty or not, to sip and dump on my back. The kids seeking high-fives were my favorites. That was another fun thing about making this a run, and not a race. If I'm racing, I'm not going to go out of my way to expend energy to slap five with someone. But, really, after seeing how excited some of these kids got, I'm going to revise that policy. It's fun to reach out and helps me express my gratitude for the people who volunteer their time to make it possible for us runners to get out there and do our thing. Who knows, for a young girl, a high-five from a bunch of runners could inspire a future Shalane Flanagan. And we need more Shalanes, lol. 

We sisters hung together until about mile 10. I started to feel the need for speed as soon as I put my earbuds in. I don't know what it is about "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel, but that song makes me move. Weird, right? Once I knew I had 10 miles in, I was able to relax and reel off the last three miles, with the last one being the fastest, at 7:52. I crossed at a clock time of 1:54.30 (chip times aren't available yet), and M was close on my heels to notch another sub-2 hour half for herself. She took home 1st in age group, and I was 3rd in mine (first race organized run as a 35 year old!). 

Medals & pint glasses for age-group winners. Can't go wrong. 

I'm so looking forward to getting deep with this marathon training, now that I feel more confident after this half. If you're looking for a good, well-organized, and fast and flat half, I recommend the Soaring Eagle Boy Scout half! Thanks for checking out the recap. 

Be kind to yourself. Be kind to each other. -- V.  

Change is a Good Thing -- Welcome Back

Wobble, wobble, wobble, WACK!! KaBLAM. POW!!! Stumble-tumble-roll, roll, roll. Owie owie owie OUCH! 

What was THAT, you ask? Well, that was me. Falling off the fitness wagon. I won't say I've been totally unhealthy, I haven't, but I have been slowly backsliding from where I think my potential fit level is. I've gained a little weight (no one would really notice but me), my fast doesn't come as easily, and I'm strong, but not as strong as I could be. Do you know what the awesome thing about this is, though? These are all things that are within my control, and I can choose to get back up to the level where I want to be. 

Summer really can be a tough time to train, with vacation time, kids being out of school, hotter days, and general fun things to do that pop up. Who'd rather do a long run than attend a family barbecue? Well, not this girl. This is one reason that I generally do not like fall marathons -- I just have such a hard time consistently training for them. Strange as it might sound, I'd much rather wake up early in January and knock out a 14 miler when it's 14 degrees out than run outside in the summer. 

This is in full view from my treadmill. Helps keep the mental meanies out of my way.

Falling off the wagon doesn't just have a physical effect on me -- it also wreaks havoc with my mental game. And even when I'm at my fittest, my biggest challenge is always shutting up the voices of self-doubt that can creep up on me during a run -- most especially during a race. These voices generally say, "Why are you doing this?" "This is stupid; you aren't really a runner." "Remember when you dropped out of that 800-meter race in high school? You're still not an athlete." "I can hear your heart beating. And, you just got passed. Ugh." And so on. If that's what I'm facing when I logically know I'm physically able to conquer anything, you can believe the chorus thrums louder when I start to skip workouts. 

Yes, Virginia, there really are fit girl problems. That sounds like fodder for another blog post. 

So, this is my rededication to running, my commit to fit. While our kids are over just part-time during the week, having them back in school provides more of a routine for me that I can take advantage of.  (Sidebar: I commend all of you caregivers who are working your healthy routines while doing parenting 100% of the time, day in, day out. You are my heroes and are setting a great example for your kids. Kudos.) Also, I had nothing to prepare for during the summer. There was no greater cause for me to be disciplined. Well, I am going to do at least a half in October, if not the full. I'm planning to register for the inaugural Northern Ohio marathon, which is Oct. 13 in Lake County, Ohio, home to the lovely family of Coach B. Lesson learned: Be working toward something. Set goals and don't meander aimlessly. Focus your energy, be it in the gym, on the road, at work. Know what you are working toward, otherwise you'll go in a circle and not upward. 

The swag for the Northern Ohio marathon includes a Brooks Essential half-zip pullover. I'm IN.  

As a springboard,  I'm somewhat crazily doing a half marathon this Saturday in Bowling Green. I'm not as prepared as I'd necessarily like to be, but M and I both agreed we're viewing this not so much as a "race" as it is a "run." :-) I passed the tests I'd set for myself to see if tackling this half was feasible. I wanted to run 5 on Tuesday, then 10 on Thursday. I did both of those, but on a treadmill. In air-conditioning. I'll rest Friday, and try to focus on miles and not time on Saturday morning. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. 

As far as the blog goes, I've got to be honest: The RW Streak challenge had me b-u-r-n-e-d out. The collages. The mileage. The entries ("I ran. I ran again. I ran alone. I ran with M. I ran, it hurt. I ran, it felt good.).  It just got to be too much. SO: I pledge to write once a week at minimum, on a thought-out topic. I'm not intending my portion of the blog to be a workout diary, but I'll include a little bit of what I'm up to, just to stay accountable. I know M is dedicated to her fitness and her running, and she's an Advocare rep now, too, so if you need the supplement hookup and other amazing products, she is your woman! Link to M's Advocare Site

M is so dedicated that even disgusting dive-bombing bugs wouldn't keep her from completing a muggy night run. I took the treadmill route. I'm a bug-fearing wuss. M is not. 

If you have questions, comments, suggestions, our email inbox is always open (solesisters2014@gmail.com) and we would love to hear from you and what you are up to, and what your goals are! Keep in touch!!! 

Be kind to yourself. Be kind to each other.  -- V.   

Scorch the Mile, Not Your Skin: Sun Protection Tips for Runners

WHEN the weather turns warmer, I just want to lace up my shoes, pop on my headphones, and run run run to some awesome, uplifting, hard-charging summer songs. You know those summer songs: the ones that come around this time every year, are super catchy, and you just can't hear them enough (until you reach that point where, yes, you actually ARE sick of "Call Me Maybe" for the thousandth time, thank you). If it's got a beat, I'm moving my feet. 

There is something any runner should do, however, before heading out to add a little shimmy to your stride under the summer sun: Slather on that sunscreen, brothers and sisters, because studies show runners have a greater risk of developing problems that stem from sun exposure. 

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, a study by dermatologists at the Medical University of Graz in Austria revealed marathoners have a greater risk of developing melanoma than non-distance runners. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and develops in the cells (melanocytes) that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin its color. The Mayo Clinic notes that incidences of melanoma seem to be on the rise in people under 40. However, reducing your exposure to UV rays can help reduce the risk of developing melanoma.

Practice good sun safety to keep you on your feet.

The lead researcher in the Graz study noted the most obvious reason for marathon runners' increased risk was excessive exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Nearly all of the 420 runners in the study regularly wore shorts and short-sleeved or sleeveless shirts,exposing  their legs, arms, and upper back to the sun. Only 56 percent of the runners regularly used sunscreen. A less-obvious reason for runners' higher risk involved their lowered immunity that develops with all the high-intensity exercise. Researchers say this may have left them more vulnerable to skin damage. 

If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable, but if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Give me sand, give me sun, give me miles of beach to run.

I'm not citing these facts to scare you, really. I LOVE being in the sun as much, if not more, than the next person. I'm an August child of summer -- a beach baby. I've also had more than five suspicious moles cut off me by my dermatologist. While none of them turned out to be cancerous, I do now have scars and it did slow down my exercise time, as I had to heal from the stitches. I don't even fall into many of the "greater risk" categories that Mayo Clinic cites: I'm neither fair, light-eyed, blonde, or freckled; I don't have a family history of melanoma, and I don't live close to the equator or at a higher elevation (I have to drive to find a  hill, remember?). I DO have a lot of exposure to UV radiation and I DO have many moles (holy moly moly moly). But it's the sun exposure that is the biggest factor here for us, runner friends.

Concentrate on scorching that mile AND not getting scorched.

So, what can you do? I mean it's getting to be summer: it's HOT out there. Running in the least amount of clothing possible is generally the most comfortable way to make it through your miles. 

Here is what the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that distance runners do to protect themselves: 

• Run during hours when the sun is less intense. Generally it is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you train during those hours, find shady places to run.
• Put sunscreen on before your running outfit, not at the race/training site. This will give it time to soak in, and keep you from applying it less thoroughly or forgetting it altogether because of pre-race excitement. Use an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen. Look for stick formulations, sport, or water-resistant versions.
• Run in a hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Polarized lenses help beat the glare.
• Always keep sunscreen in your race bag.
• Have a friend posted somewhere in the second half of the race to hand you a small, one-use, wipe sunscreen (or keep a small packet in your pocket), so that you can reapply it to your face, neck and arms as you run. You can do that without really breaking stride. Sunscreen starts to lose effectiveness at about the two-hour mark, or even sooner if you are sweating heavily. Sunscreen is the best protection for shorter runs, while sunscreen plus sun-protective clothing is the best bet for a long run. 
• Before post-race festivities begin, reapply sunscreen, and give yourself a quick massage in the process to help relax your sore muscles.
• Post-race clothes should include a lightweight but long-sleeve T-shirt and sweats. Darker colors offer ideal sun protection. Or opt for special sun-protective clothing. Also, when choosing the clothes you'll be wearing, both during and after the run, check out the weave of the fabric as well. If you can see through it, it's not likely to offer you much in the way of protection.

So, it is possible to run in the sun and reduce your risk of overexposure to the sun's harmful rays. Just practice some common sense skin safety to prevent your "Soak Up the Sun" from turning into "Burn Baby Burn" on your summer running playlist. 

Be kind to yourself. Be kind to each other.  -- V