I Am Out Running

Hi friends, V here.

I looked at the note that I had left for Coach B on the kitchen counter this morning:

"I am out running."

Pretty simple; it's a note I leave a lot. But then I looked at it again and thought, "yes, I am  out running."

I am outrunning my stress. I am outrunning poor health. I am outrunning negative body-image thoughts. I am outrunning headaches and heartbreaks. I am outrunning fears of inadequacies. I am outrunning my worries and hurries. I am outrunning things I can't change. I am outrunning poor future choices. I am out, running.

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 I will say that the streak has been outrunning me, though! I promise we've both been faithfully logging the miles. M and I will be celebrating the streak's official end with a 5k race on the Fourth! Here's a recap, in collage form:

Day 31: Day after One Run For Boston relay. One quick mile before my tattoo session...

Day 32: Little over 5K, with right arm wrapped in Saran Wrap and an arm sleeve after tattoo session #2.

Day 33: M and I ran at Pearson, I topped 1,000K on Nike+, and we saw a bear.

Day 34: One mile on Wabash Cannonball Trail, then biking with Coach B.

Checking out Perrysburg history on Day 35.

Day 36: July is chilly; only 66 degress, but great running weather!

Great run for Day 37: Like cruising through a mist tent at Lollapalooza.

Can't believe that this 39-day endeavor is coming to an end! Now the question is do we continue, or do we rest ...?

Have a great holiday! Be kind to yourself. Be kind to each other.   -- V

You Take the Good, You Take the Bad: Catching up with the RW Summer Run Streak

Hey all, V here. Well, we've been VERY GOOD about keeping up with the streak. We've been NOT VERY GOOD in consistently writing about it! So, here is a SUPER CATCH-UP POST to let you know we're streakers, not slackers. When last we left you, we were embarking on Day 26 of the streak. Welcome to the first day of summer! This run reminded me about all the reasons why I LOOOOVEEE ... to run in cold temperatures and train for SPRING marathons, not FALL marathons.

When I get hot, I get crabby. And when I'm crabby, it's really difficult to fight the mental demons that can plague any run. What can I say: the heat frizzles my brain and really makes me dive into the well of self-doubt. Pair that with the crampiness that seems to be from streak-induced muscle stress, and it's just the recipe for a physical and mental meltdown. On days like this, I am happy to get THROUGH a run! So, bless the streak for keeping me out there, working hard, even though I'd rather be sitting eating grapes and being fanned by a giant palm frond.

But, being optimistic, I have to believe there is a good for every bad. The very next day, my run felt fantastic; better than it's been in awhile. Coach B, who unfairly bears the brunt of my road neuroses and crankiness but somehow loves me anyway, flat-out told me: "You need to rediscover why you love to run. You should slow it down, especially in the heat. Not every run is a race. Even world-class marathoners do their 'junk' miles at a 10 minute pace sometimes to recharge." 

Sidecut Metropark is a great place to recharge your running batteries.

 Well, I listened. Day 27 was a great run. I did slow down, I stayed in the shade when I could, and I worked on being a positive runner and only worrying about running a pace that made me feel good about what I was doing out there. I got 6 miles in total on a day that was in the 90-degree range and I reached the 600-mile mark on my Nike+. I felt strong and unstoppable, like I could accomplish anything: THAT feeling is what I love about running. While when things go wrong, I always look at what went wrong and list out the problems. I've decided that when things go RIGHT, I need to also list what was good about the experience, what led to it being good, that way I can try to replicate those things in hopes of having another good day. Every day is different, though; sometimes doing all the right things still doesn't elevate your run and sometimes you can have a great run even if you didn't expect to. But, it can't hurt to keep track of what works and what doesn't, on any given outing.

Day 27 was a breakthrough day for me. I reached 600 miles run while using my Nike+ tracker, I drew inspiration from having watched Shalane Flanagan's outstanding 10,000-meter run at the USATF championships (T.L.S. = Tough Like Shalane), and I slowed it down, stayed cool physically and mentally, and remembered why I love to run.

I was only intending to do about 5 miles. But then as soon as I sat down and saw my Nike+ data, I realized that I was only 0.4 miles away from notching mile 600. Apparently, I am an OCD runner, because I was off like a shot to get that milestone. 

With such a great Day 27, I was hoping to catch lightning in a bottle again on Day 28. Pretty close! I had to be up early to get ready for a late Father's Day family cookout, but took most of the steps I had for the Day 27 run (bagel thin, banana, Gatorade Prime energy chews, stretched the calves, rolled them with The Stick). I set a goal of 4.5 miles, which would get me to 30 for the week. The run was pretty solid! I had some calf crampiness because I didn't roll them out as long as I had the previous day, but lesson learned. Taking the time to do maintenance on my muscles is a MUST for me -- it's not the heat or lack of potassium or salt; I need to roll them. Glad to find the common denominator (as a mathphobe, I have to just assume I'm using that term correctly...).

Goal met! Got the run done early, and then had a great cookout with family.

 Day 29 was my "rest day" of just one mile. This is because Day 30 will be part of the One Run For Boston cross country relay. I am so excited AND nervous. As of this writing, the relay is about an HOUR behind. This means I'll have to adjust when we leave, and be in contact with the local P.D. to keep them updated on the progress. But, wow: What an opportunity. I promise to post about it sooner rather than later!

One treadmill mile while watching tape-delay of the U.S. Track and Field Championships, followed by some fresh blackberries. I picked up some pepper spray ("Making grown men cry since 1975") to carry with me to put my family's mind at ease when I run alone. Will be testing it with (not on) Sole Child Nick this week ...

One last thing before I go: I hope some of you were able to catch some of the USATF championships in Des Moines, Iowa, this past weekend. There were some outstanding performances turned in, and I was inspired just watching them. I was also thinking that there was no way in hell I'd ever be able to run that fast -- but then I realized that as long as I run MY race in a good headspace, I'm doing pretty well. Some of the athletes had great things to say following their events (when they weren't gasping for air during the interview -- come ON, reporters; give them a minute, wouldja??). One of my favorites came from Natasha Hastings: 

True dat. Thanks for hanging in there through this loooooong update. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to each other. -- V.


Hey all!! Thanks for putting up with our (mainly mine) procrastination!  We are FAR FROM slackers but totally remaining true to our streaking and once again I will say that I am in disbelief that we have ran for 29 consecutive days!  The insanity of it!! 




You could definitely tell that Day 26 was the first day of summer.  Mother Nature made it known.  I think it may have been "her time" of the month because, yikes, it was HOTTT!  I was pressed for time on Friday and didn't get a chance to run outside, so it was off to the YMCA for me after work.  Just as well since I didn't feel like running in the sweltering heat.  This was my first run in my new Saucony Kinvara 4's.  They are super comfy!!

(I didn't really like the color scheme of them at first, but they are slowly growing on me.  They are SUPER bright!)

My treadmill run at the Y wasn't so bad, to be honest.  I got a good three miles in and then a great song came on my iPod, so I ended up with just over three and a half!  Not complaining!  

 (A little photo-bomb action from Sole Child Lucy as we waited in line for our tacos!)

Day 27 wasn't any better on the heat scale.  It was nasty and humid.  I didn't have much of a choice but to run during the hottest point of the day out at my mom's house (so she could watch the kids) where there is zero shade.  It was BRUTAL!!  I took her dog, Billy, with me for one mile... I don't think he could have handled much more than that, dropped him off and went for another two miles.  Let me tell you, I felt like I was running through cement.  That is how heavy and sluggish my legs felt.  I am totally with V on this one.  I HATE running in the heat.  Give me cold and snow any day to run in.  Okay, enough complaining...  I got a good three miles in despite the heat and felt good once it was done!!

(Just look at that handsome dog!  What a hunk!  My mom said if I said "heel", he wouldn't pull on the leash.  She lied.)

Yesterday, Day 28, was a great run.  It was hot (summer time, duh) and I ran in the middle of the day again.  This time I did the route that V refers to as the "Urban Jungle" route.  We just did it last week and it takes you through an old cemetery, past refineries, a loop through a local park and then back home.  It's a nice route to do early morning or afternoon.  I wouldn't quite feel safe doing this route in the evening... Little too scary for me.  Despite the heat, I managed to hold steady at an 8:20 pace.  

When I got home from my run, my friend Lisa had the kids out back with the garden hose hooked up to the slide on the swingset.  We like to call this the "Redneck Waterslide"  As you can see, we strategically place a tarp at the bottom, so your booty slides pretty dang fast when you come flying down.  The kids also decided to not only wet the tarp, but to add dish soap.  It was good, clean fun!

I can't believe this, but today is Day 29!  Holy cow!  That seems unreal to me.  Only ten days of this streak left!  Today I took it easy.  Had a long day at work and then did some car shopping (stay tuned).  By the time I got home, got a bite to eat and got myself situated, it was 10 p.m.  I knew I needed to take it easy since we have the One Run for Boston tomorrow.  I got an easy two miles in and I feel good!!

Good thing I got Day 29 out of the way when I did because it is currently pouring outside!  Hopefully it cools things down a bit!

Well folks, the next time you hear from us Sole Sisters will be after we have completed our leg of the cross country relay for Boston tomorrow!  Keep us in your thoughts in the morning hours! We hope to do you proud!  V and I cannot wait to share the experience with you all!!   

 

Streaking Solo and with a Friend -- There's Strength in Numbers on Day 24 & 25

Would you rather run alone or with others?  For me, it depends on the day.  I can assure you though that no matter what I am feeling, that when it comes to runs with Sister V, I would always much rather run with her than alone.  The conversations, the camaraderie, that extra push, the laughs ... Those don't happen when you run alone.  I am lucky enough to have forged a friendship that extends beyond girly gossip and your typical chick stuff.  I have a friendship that is based on common interests, goals, competitiveness, positivity, sweat, insecurities, lifting each other up, holding each other back (if needed), laughter, fears ... It's as real as it gets and I am lucky. 

When you run with someone, you get to know the REAL person that stands in front of you.  The nitty-gritty... When you train with someone, you can't hide who you really are. When you are on an 18 mile run and you hurt, want to stop, have to poop, feel dehydrated, are running positive splits and just don't think you can make it... You CAN'T fake that or hide it.  That is what I LOVE about my friendship with Sister V.  It's REAL.  We have learned so much about each other in the short time that we have known each other because when you train together, you are forced to get to know one another.  I couldn't have asked for a better training partner.  She is my sister!

(Love You Like A Sister)

Day 24 -- This was a post-work run and it was beautiful and sunny out.  I wanted to run immediately after work, but had a mishap in scheduling due to Josie (my youngest) peeing her pants at the library.  I had to run new shorts to her instead of heading to the park.  After delivering new shorts, I headed home, changed clothes and got out the door.  I was happy to be running before dark, so I couldn't complain about the minor hiccup in my plans.  I got a solid five miles in, with all miles under an 8 minute pace.  Aside from a semi turning into a parking lot in front of me, the run was awesome.  I even got honked at a couple of times.  I am sure it was the skirt!

I was super happy to have ran and gotten home before the sun set.  I got to throw some chicken on the grill and play with the kids for awhile.  It was nice.  I am definitely going to try and do this more often.  Night runs are fun and all, but going right after work was a nice treat.

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Aww: Ditto, and L.Y.L.A.S. right back atcha, Sister M!  Let me say right now how lucky any of you out there would be to have such a partner in crime. Through the good and the bad of running, it is beyond awesome to know that you have a supportive companion who will have your back through both tough headwinds and gross roadkill downwinds, and will keep you laughing so hard that you actually get ab cramps while running. My half-sisters are a lot younger than me, and we grew up far away, so this sisterly bond forged through the miles is just a total gift to me, and I feel super lucky as well! You know you have a true friend when she not only doesn't complain when you've just GOT to stop at a port-a-john at mile 3.5 of a 6-mile run, but also is there waiting with a camera to catch your expression when you step out of it, too. But more about Day 25 later ... 

Day 24 was super-unbelievably-CRAZY busy for me. But, I'm never too busy to get in one measly mile, right? Coach B and I got up early (for us), deputized the Sole Children to start some mega-weed pulling (my general mantra this year has been "yard work is for suckas," so things where getting pretty junglelike out there), and then we joined them. Four huge lawn bags full of weeds later, I was an achy puppy, BUT had to go food shopping for (drumroll please) Sole Child Nick's 13th birthday party! Woot! Got back, decorated for a luau like a dervish, marinated the chicken, made fruit salad, husked corn, untinned the baked beans, chilled the Malibu Blue Hawaiian, downed a sugar-free Red Bull, cut kebob ingredients, soaked skewers, blah blah blah blah blah blah ... And then I laced up my Virratas and zoomed out the door for one mile before everyone arrived. And, saw everyone in a car heading toward my house about a quarter mile in, lol. So I waved and thought, "Well, see you in six minutes!" It was a great little bash, and we are now blessed with not one, but two teens in the house. You may see a bump in my weekly mileage. (JUST KIDDING! CALM DOWN, KIDS -- LOVE YOU BOTH.) 

That may very well be one of my most favorite pictures of Sole Child Nick.
And I swear, I only had ONE Blue Hawaiian, just don't ask about the size of the glass.

I woke up on Day 25 of the streak ready to rock it with M! We had thought about getting in a 10-mile run in,  but ended up scaling it back to about 6. Which was fine by me, as I 'm still working out some calf crampy issues -- the foot feels GREAT though. We explored some new concrete-jungle paths, breathed in some toulene fumes from the refineries ringing the area, saw some really neat old gravestones in a (new to us) cemetery, and even visited Navarre Park (I even explored its port-a-john -- there was a lot of food at the birthday luau, what can I say). 

Mmmmm: Fume-y.  This scene makes me hum "My City Was Gone" for some reason.

M runs this city.

And, two slightly demented runner chicks. 

The best part of Day 25, though, was finishing and getting to play with M's Sole Children! These are two great girls, and their friend, too. I think we were happy to have an excuse to use the swing set and also play with sidewalk chalk while drinking our post-run java.

Hey there, happy campers!  

Look out, girls! Mom's gonna get you both in one swing!

Whee! Thanks, Lu, for showing me how to do this!  

Love You Like A Sister

Chalk outlines, courtesy of Lu and Mia.

Fun, fun, fun summer  morning. It was like being a kid again, but with coffee. And then, we went off to our grown-up jobs, but kept a smile in our hearts for the rest of the day. :-) 

I hope that you all find that kind of joy doing what you love, too.

P.S. We are LESS THAN A WEEK from the One Run For Boston cross-country relay! I got a call from the Reynoldsburg Police Department that they want to support us, and are giving us a motorcycle escort during our 7.5 mile relay leg! How cool is that? We can't wait to document it and bring you the sights and sounds of this inspiring event.  

We're Going Streaking -- The Rundown on Days 17 & 18

It's THURSDAY!?  Where has the week gone?  Time is certainly flying and we have both completed Day 18 of The Streak!  It's Sister M reporting to give all you loyal readers the rundown for days 17 and 18 of our running adventures!

Day 17 was a VERY long day for me.  I had a lot going on and pushed my run to the very last minute.  I am talking like 11:15 p.m. last minute.  In all honesty, it ALMOST did not get done... I knew how disappointed I would be if I let that happen, so I knew I had to get out the door for one mile.  I had no excuses and I certainly did not want to let myself or Sister V down. 

This was one of the most ill-prepared runs I have EVER participated in.  Let me go ahead and break this down for you:

• First and foremost, I was EXHAUSTED.  Long story short:  I totaled my vehicle the night before so I spent the day dealing with impound, the DMV, insurance, etc.
• It was 11:15 p.m. and there was a tornado warning (or talk of one) and thunderstorm warning in place for our area
• It was raining.
• I was too lazy to dig clean socks out of the laundry basket, so I ran sockless.
• I was too lazy to dig a headband out of the laundry, so I didn't pull my bangs back (yes, I know I need to put laundry away).
• The only sports bra I could find was a Victoria's Secret PINK yoga sports bra.  It is very cute, but offers ZERO support (I NEED support). The rest were in the washer... Or in the laundry baskets and we all know I wasn't digging through them.

Everything added up to what should have been a bad run.  Overall, it really wasn't.  It was less than 8 minutes of my life and it was OVER!  And I was STILL in the game! Yeah, baby!! I was in bed before midnight, I slept like a rock and the streak was alive!

(The pic of me is pre-run. I didn't look as happy or pretty once I was done.  I looked like a drowned rat)

Day 18 (today) has been great compared to yesterday.  I still pushed my run to the end of the day and didn't get out the door for my run until 10:15 p.m.  The weather was cool and calm and it felt wonderful to get outside.  I got a solid three miles in.  It was fast and sweaty!  I just ran from my house around the hospital grounds across the street.  Smooth sailing this evening, folks!  And my first mile was under 7 minutes!! 

 (I tried to get a picture of the cool fountain they have on the hospital grounds, but it didn't work too well!! Use your imagination, people!!)

I am so, so proud of Sister V and myself for keeping up with this streak!  It is going to feel awesome when we are done and I have a feeling a couple martinis will be consumed in celebration!! I am looking forward to tomorrow (Day 19) because V and I will be hitting the pavement together and getting an early morning run in!  Can't wait to see my sis!!  Stay tuned to see how we did!

 Hey all! V here. Well, my Day 17 & 18 were opposite sides of the coin for me for sure. I looooooved Day 17. I haaaaaaated Day 18. 

I got out early on Day 17 and decided to run past some of my favorite scenic spots in and around Perrysburg. My city is fairly historic (Fort Meigs from the Battle of 1812 is here, and it's named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who won the Battle of Lake Erie -- "Don't Give Up The Ship," remember that from history class?) and its location on the Maumee River affords many great views. 

River view from the Perrysburg/Maumee bridge, right at the spot that Lucas and Wood counties meet.

View from the aptly named Riverview Park

 I ran down to the bridge, circled back and said hi to the Commodore, and then cruised back toward home. I wanted to slow it down a bit for this run, as the past couple of days have been speedy for me. I accomplished this goal and said good-bye to the run portion of Day 17 and hello to the eight-hour, sitting at a desk work portion of Day 17. 

The dashing Mr. Perry. 

 I developed some foot pain while at work, and was forced to go shoeless to try to alleviate it. I got home, whined to Coach B, iced, applied Tylenol cream, whined to Coach B, and went to bed hoping it would be better in the morning for Day 18. After some stretching and whining, I decided that Day 18 would just be a one mile test run to see if I was injured and how injured I might be. 

The treadmill seemed the best idea for a one-mile test run, so I could keep it soft. 

I kept it slow and decided that running actually felt better than walking did. I also decided that I was going to wear only supportive shoes from here on out. I don't want to irritate my metatarsals any further and risk having to ditch the streak. M and I are planning to hit the streets or trails tomorrow, and I want to be able to do some distance greater than a mile! 

In happy news: my One Run For Boston T-shirt arrived today! I am so excited to take part in this relay race. I believe that as of right now (June 14), a runner has the baton in Texas and is working his or her way east. Check out One Run For Boston for the latest updates. Also, USA Today did a great article on the relay. Check it out! 

Representing Ohio in Stage 237!!! 

I hope to have a happier run report for Day 19. I finally get to run with my sis again, so no matter what it'll be a good time. 

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

Donut Day Dash 5K -- We Came, We Saw, We Devoured 12 Donuts ...

They said it simply couldn't be done. They said the feat shouldn't even be attempted. They said the world would have no appetite for such a stunt. Well, whoever they were (and they could just have been the voices in our head) -- they were WRONG.  

Hatched from run-addled minds less than a week ago, the Inaugural Sole Sister Donut Day Dash 5K came to fruition on National Donut Day, June 7, 2013, at Woodland Park in Perrysburg, Ohio. The challenge: Complete a 5K while stopping to eat an entire glazed doughnut every half mile, with water being available at each doughnut station to wash it down. (Milk was vetoed early, and coffee would just be too hot.) 

The day began at 7:50 a.m., with Sole Sister M stopping at V's house with the dozen doughnnuts, procured from a nearby Tim Hortons. The cashier had asked M brightly, "So, are you taking the doughnuts into the office for National Donut Day?" In response to which M smiled and said, "Well, no. We're going to run and eat doughnuts -- six of them -- while dressed up like loons at a park in a made-up two-person race that has no prizes, no medals, no T-shirts, and no spectators." The cashier then took her money, turned away slowly, and was heard to mumble something like "crazy runners ... waste of good doughnuts ... what's wrong with people ..." 

At the house, we divvied up the glazed bounty into three containers, to be strategically placed along the route. Then, we pinned on our race bibs (recycled from past 5Ks -- we thought having numbers might help us look more organized, and possibly less crazy) and donned our chosen chapeaux -- a giant foam hotdog hat for M and a sparkly pink pig cap for V. 

"You look like a pig viking," M said. 
"Excellent. I know what I'll go as for Halloween, " I replied. 

Doughnuts in tow, we made our way to the park, which was pretty much empty, except for a pair of "serious" looking runners and a couple walking the crushed-limestone perimeter. With our cell phone cameras ready to record the adventure, we trotted out a warm-up mile just to place the doughuts at the stations. We had Home Base, Station 1, and Station 2. The park started getting a little more crowded at this point (it was just past 8 a.m.), and the looks we garnered registered emotions ranging from confused to quizzical.  A cheering section of sorts assembled in the playground area -- as M ran past the swings, a young voice rang out "HOT DOG! I LOVE HOT DOGS!" And so we'd cheer along with her, to encourage her enthusiasm -- we had a feeling we'd need it by the final doughnut. 

 With the stations all set up, it was go time. Earlier, M had said she was going to really run the race hard; I had thought up a strategy that involved grabbing the doughnut, ripping it in two, and eating it on the run to save time. When push came to shove, however, we just decided to wing it. 

We dashed for the doughnuts, and the first bites were pure, sugary bliss.  It was alarming just how quickly we could down two glazed lardbombs. One set down the hatch, water sipped, and we were on the move. "HOT DOG! GO HOT DOG!" our young friend shouted. "WOOOOO!" we replied, practically skipping after the initial sugar rush hit our bloodstreams.  

"It's Donut Day! It's Donut Day," we gleefully squealed, gravel crunching underfoot like so many sprinkles on an iced cake ring. We got some thumbs up; we got some questioning glances. Yes, at this point, and even through about Doughnut Three, it was all good times. 

Ooof. And then, somewhere around Doughnut Four, the sweet treats started to stage a revolt. What had been, mere minutes before, a celebration of all that was fun and fluffy in life started to turn into a reminder that no matter how fast you try to go, you just can't outrun the weight of gluttony.  

"My fingers are all sticky -- can you pour some water on my hands?" M asked at Doughnut Five. "I feel so heavy. You could use what's in my stomach to stucco a house," I replied. And, the burping. Oh, the burping that one does after scarfing down five doughnuts is comical, crude, and absolutely necessary if you are going to be doing anything except lying on a couch somewhere. 

And then, we were down to the final challenge -- Doughnut Six awaited at Home Base. We mustered what was left of our strength (our dignity having been left at the start line), and ambled toward the picnic bench. "This is the worst station," M intoned. "I don't think I can finish this one," I replied.

"I feel sooo heavy right now ..."

"Please, tell me we're almost done..."

But, we are runners. We run through rain, we run through pain, we run through mental anguish, and by God, we were going to run through a dozen doughnuts. Why? Because we said we would, and part of being a runner is setting goals that you accomplish just for yourself. Even if they seem unattainable, or even quite ridiculous, as in this case. So, after choking down the last few bites, humming impromptu and off-key renditions of the "Rocky" theme song and "Eye of the Tiger," we celebrated National Donut Day and eating a half-dozen doughnuts apiece by ... running one more mile, doughnut-free. 

We've pretty much pledged that we don't want to see, smell, or taste another doughnut for at least six months, if not until NEXT Donut Day. 

And in case you're wondering, that whole run, which ended up being a 4 miler, took 42:35.58. Our average pace, including eating, drinking, and photography time, was about a 10:38 minute mile. The splits were: mile 1 -- 9:00, mile 2 -- 11:02, mile 3 -- 14:00, mile 4 --8:31

And: Here's how that last doughnut stop went down: 

Thank you all for tuning in to the Inaugural Donut Day 5K! 

-- The Sole Sisters 

P.S.  The Streak lives on ...