Never gets easier and YOUR Running Accomplishments!!!

That was rough.  I could have stayed like this for the rest of the night after that 45 minute class.

I don’t think bootcamp ever gets easier for me so I just repeat this to myself the entire time:

Megan makes sure we get in plenty of plyometrics (which are SO good for runners ((my favorites are here)) mixed in with each set.  Her sister has some serious hops… I barely make it 4 inches above the ground when we do the squat tuck jumps.

Oh and another plyometric move to add (Meg had us do these at the end of class so they were extra killer)—> start back in a lunge and then bring the back leg up forward and jump reaching up high before returning that leg back again to a lunge—> repeat for 30-60 seconds before switching to the other leg.  My legs were on fire from these single leg lunge jumps!

With running, I love running with people but I also love my solo runs too… BUT with strength training/weights I will ALWAYS choose to do it with people.  Especially with Megan because her workouts always fly by and are super effective.

I made sure to wear my lucky donut socks to class.

Food wise yesterday—>  Brooke and I attacked this watermelon.  Why cut it up when we can sit there with two spoons and eat large amounts in one sitting?!

Chips and salsa.  One of those foods that is physically impossible to stop eating once you start eating it until they (and the refills that the waiter brings) are all gone.

We also made sure to get in plenty of art outside yesterday too.

And we are off to California today so cuddling and a movie were necessary last night.

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As you know, these running accomplishments that you send in each week are my favorite. Keep sending them to [email protected] if you would like to be featured.  I love how supportive the running community is of each other!!!

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Allison!!!  I ran my first 50-miler ultra marathon on Saturday.  It was the most difficult yet rewarding experience to date.  The course was challenging and started at elevation too so I wasn’t too sure what to expect since I live at sea level (literally).  My goal was to finish in under 12 hours.  I crossed the finish in 11:23 as 1st female.  The greatest moment was getting to break the tape-that is a once in a life time experience and I will never forget it! I already can’t wait for the next.

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Rosie!!!  “I ran my first half marathon, the inaugural Pony Express Half Marathon in Sacramento, CA since a stress fracture I suffered during marathon training last fall sidelined me from running for a few months.  It was a sub 2 effort (1:55) and because of the small field due to it being an inaugural race, I managed to place 5th in my 40-44 age group.  I am more than pleased with my results and more importantly, how my body felt afterwards.”

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Stephani!!!  “I ran my second half marathon (my first was 3 years ago) on May 1st at the Skyline Half in Dallas.  I was not as prepared as I wanted to be on my first and ran it in 2:48 with a lot of walking.  My goal this time was to break 2:30 with little to no walking.  I thought I could do it because the course reviews said it was flat and fast but they had to change the course due to flooding and the new course had several hills.  I was doubting myself going in but I ran the whole thing with only one short walk up the last part of a hill and came in at 2:21… a 27 minute PR! I am already signed up for my next half and am shooting for a 2:15!”

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Trina!!! “This past weekend I ran the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon.  My 6th half since I stared running just two and a half years ago.  This one was all mental game from the start.  I injured my hip four weeks ago and have been battling to get back to where I was before that happened.  Thank goodness I have the most amazing physiotherapist.  She never gave up on me!!! It was touch and go and I was told to hold off on any running the week before (although we did a small test run the Sunday before and it seemed to be much better).  I didn’t know what would happen once we started but I got going and never stopped.  Lots more hills than I expected but despite the hip injury and terrain, I still managed to shave a few minutes off my time!!  Less than three weeks till the Fargo Half.  Go Trina go!!!

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Liz!!!  “I ran the Big Sur Marathon on April 24th.  I’ve run a lot of marathons and this one was my personal slowest:)  And no, I’m not upset by that at all.  That’s probably the biggest accomplishment of all.  I’m proud of my mental toughness:

-I trained while working 50-60 hour weeks in an awful work environment that reduced me, who never cries, to tears nearly daily.  -I survived twice weekly dry needling sessions on my IT band and the bruises on bruises that would fad on my leg.  -I ran outdoors in crazy New England temps:  a 20 miler in 70 degrees where I PRed my 10 mile pace… twice! And then 6 days later I ran a half marathon in a whiteout blizzard with 40 mph headwind (yes, the porta potty spun 180 degrees while I was inside!) -I prioritized my family and friends and waking up super early so I could run and do strength training and stretching and yoga and spin (not all at once).  -And I knew that the 2500 ft gain and 30 mph headwinds, I would not PR but I began and finished with a smile, I made sure to notice all the stunning scenery and thank God for the opportunity and health that i often take for granted and cheer others on… And I only had to rely on promises of jelly beans and my boyfriend at the finish line about once every quarter mile from mile 20 on to convince me to finish!”

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Christina!!! “This Mother’s Day I ran my first race post baby.  Granted my boys just turned one, I had a really tumultuous pregnancy and my deliviery didn’t exactly go as planned.  After a lot of scares, the good news is at the end of the day, the worst of it was that the boys broke my tailbone on the way out.  I was laid up for a while and walking, standing, sitting, all were very challenging.  Finding my legs again and finding time to run again with twins has been challenging.  I was pretty darn proud of myself for getting out there and doing something I love on Mother’s Day.  My first mile was 7:34 which is really fast for me!!! I finished in 25 minutes 59 seconds and placed 15th in my age group and 120 overall (out of 1200 some runners).  Felt really proud of myself and rocked out to plenty of your running playlist suggestions.  Hooray for motherhood!”

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Sarah!!!  “Last Sunday I participated in the Wings for Life Word Run.  This race is a very special one:  In 34 countries worldwide at 11:30am UTC, thirty minutes after the start, a Catcher Car will set off in each location.  As long as you stay in front of the car, you stay in the race.  When the Catcher Car passes you, your race is over.  Thus there is a local race result as well as a global one.  I finished 4th as a female runner in Germany (Munich) and 64th woman worldwide, running 39.12 km (24.31 miles) in 2:58:31 until the Catcher Car passed me (driving 17 km/h at that time, 10.56 mph).  During the race I was struggling with heat, intense sunshine and a hilly course.  As I was injured most of the time this year and had only little opportunity to follow my training plan, I am so very proud of this achievement.  And even more important:  I had such a great time and more fun than in any other race before!”

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Lisa!!!  “Two weekends ago my husband and I ran the River Rat Half Marathon in Yankton, SD together (but not together, I was about 15 minutes faster). This was his first half marathon and my second.  He was worried because it was his first, and he’s not your typical runner, and I am coming off an injury and fully expected to DNF and spend my time cheering him on, so we were both thrilled to complete it.  The REAL rockstars though were our BFFs who traveled with us and hauled 5 kids around the course to make it the best experience ever.”

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What are you looking forward to this weekend?! 

Mild, medium or HOT salsa?!  Are you a chips person?  Favorite kind?

When it comes to working out—>  do you prefer groups or solo?  Does it depend on the workout?

What foods do you think are physically impossible to stop eating until it is gone once you start?