Category Archives: Events

Race Report: Portland Trail Series Race No. 3

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And, with that, I am an official pacer for hire! Well, I’m free…but I do accept smiles, kind words and the occasional food-based bribe in exchange for getting you across the finish line in one piece.

Last Wednesday was the third of five races in the Portland Trail Series, a low-key (but highly fun!) series held weekly in Forest Park in Portland. Read about the previous week’s race here.

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Syreeta and I had such a blast on the trails last week that she came back for even more hill-ish torture this week — as a seasoned pro now, I might add. And at last week’s practice we even managed to talk one of our fellow Team LUNA Chix Portland Run members, Ashly, into joining us for her first-ever trail race.

Ashly’s done her fair share of road racing, but this was her first off-road foray, so she was understandably nervous — not only is the terrain challenging, but the temperature also spiked back up to near 100 here in Portland. Our friend Tiffany joined in on the fun, too, to round out our LUNA Chix crew!

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On the menu? An evening route of 4.78 miles. It’s the shortest of the courses so far in the series, but we didn’t let the distance fool us — there were bound to be some good hills in there.

We’d start on Leif Erikson and go up Leif to Wild Cherry, up Wild Cherry to Keil, down Keil to Wildwood, then down Wildwood to Alder, down Alder to Leif, up Leif to Dogwood, up Dogwood to Wildwood, down Wildwood to Wild Cherry, down Wild Cherry to Leif and Leif to the finish.

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We lined up near the back of the pack to let the faster runners go ahead. I wanted to make sure Ashly started conservatively, which meant staying out of the fray and listening to her body so she could go at a comfortable, sustainable pace.

For the third week in a row, we started off by scrambling up Wild Cherry (aka my nemesis). We made it most of the way up at a slow jog but slowed to a walk near the top so we could catch our breaths and allow our heart rates to come down.

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Tiffany and Syreeta went on ahead while Ashly and I deployed a walk-jog strategy: We’d walk up the steeper hills and jog the flats and downhills to help conserve energy and keep the focus on moving forward.

We were about a mile in when all of the sudden Syreeta came doubling back along the path to join us. Ashly led the way, and we followed her lead.

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Of course, we also fell easily into a great conversation, so when we weren’t gasping for breath up the hills we were laughing over stories, and the miles quickly flew by.

Before we knew it, we ran into Yassine from Animal Athletics, who said that not only did we only have a mile and a half to go, but also that is was mostly downhill. We picked up the pace and about a half mile later, we ran into Ashly’s husband, Sean, who had already finished and was coming back to provide some moral support for Ashly in the final mile.

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As we cruised back down Leif Erikson, we rounded the final corner and Ashly kicked it into high gear for the last 100 yards or so to the finish line. Our final time was 1:10:51.

I’m so proud of her for pushing through and dominating a hilly course like that in the heat. And you know what? She’s already contemplating coming back next week and making the step up to a longer distance trail race this fall. Mission accomplished; we’ve got a new trail runner in our midst!

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And, as always, we’re excited to do it all over again next week! Same place, same time, different route — so stay tuned for my report from race number four.

And for more information on the Portland Trail Series in the meantime, click here.

Are you a fan of trail races? 

Race Report: Portland Trail Series Race No. 2

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Two down, three to go!

This week marked the second installment of the Portland Trail Series, a low-key series of five trail races over the course of five weeks held in Forest Park in Portland. Read about last week’s event here.

The best part? Syreeta, one of our Team LUNA Chix Portland Run members, had mentioned during our Monday night practice that she was thinking of joining us for what would be her first-ever trail race. So, needless to say, I couldn’t be more excited when we saw her at the start line!

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We lined up to get the scoop on the evening’s course, which measured 5.20 miles.

We’d start on Leif Erikson and go up Leif to Wild Cherry, up Wild Cherry to Wildwood, then down Wildwood to Holman, up Holman to 53rd, up 53rd to Birch, down Birch to Wildwood, up Wildwood to Wild Cherry, down Wild Cherry to Leif and Leif to the finish.

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The good news, they said? The course was net zero elevation.

The not-so-good news? It was far from flat, so we could expect a lot of ups, and a lot of downs in return.

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Syreeta’s already a pro on the trails, since she and her husband are avid weekend hikers. Seriously, if you want the lowdown on the most challenging jaunts and most scenic vistas in the area, she’s your go-to gal. 

But since it was her first trail race, we decided to run together and let her set the pace. My goal, I said, was to get her across the finish line A) in once piece, and B) smiling. Her goal was to run as much of the course as possible.

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Wild Cherry, again, did not disappoint. #WhatTheHill

But Syreeta powered right up without stopping, so we chugged along and caught our breaths while enjoying a beautiful downhill section on the back side.

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We kept a solid pace through a number of rolling hills before hitting a pretty long uphill, which I think it was the Holman and 53rd section. After taking the first part at a jog, we rounded a corner and saw it keep going up, up, and away…so Syreeta made what I thought was a great judgment call and started hiking up.

Not only would this allow us to keep moving along at a good clip (a purposeful walk over a long, steep hill can be just as quick and effective as a slow jog), but it’d also allow us to conserve some energy for later.

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I was beyond impressed with Syreeta’s positive attitude and willingness to lay it all out there — her second wind hit with about a mile and a half to go, so we picked up the pace again and headed for home.

Luckily it was all downhill from here…

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Syreeta led the charge to a strong finish; we wound our way back down Wild Cherry and crossed the line with a final time of 58:10.

This even included a quick backroom break about a half-mile from the finish!

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We met up with Ben and got sidetracked as soon as we spotted a booth for Bogg’s Trail Butter, which was nothing short of delicious. It reminded me of my beloved PocketFuel, but instead of a gritty texture from sugar (which can start to trouble my tummy during longer races) this had more of a chunkier/crunchier texture from all the nuts.

My favorite flavor was the Ozark Original, which combines many of the ingredients found in a classic trail mix. Nuts, seeds, raisins, cranberries and a hint of semi-sweet chocolate hit the spot.

Plus, we learned a great new way for prepping food for the trails — spread the nut butter on a flour tortilla, roll it up, then chop into bite-sized pieces. Brilliant!

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Can’t wait to do it again next week! Same place, same time, different route — so stay tuned for my report from race no. 3.

And for more information on the Portland Trail Series in the meantime, click here.

Race Report: Portland Trail Series Race No. 1

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I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: There aren’t many places I’d rather be than summer in Oregon. And this week only reinforced that belief, thanks to the Portland Trail Series!

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The Portland Trail Series is a low-key series of trail races held in Forest Park in Portland. Three five-race Series (Spring, Summer and Fall) are held Wednesday evenings from May-October, and each race covers a different, challenging course, ranging from four to six miles.

Here’s the summer schedule:

  • Race 1 – July 15, 2015
  • Race 2 – July 22, 2015
  • Race 3 – July 29, 2015
  • Race 4 – August 5, 2015
  • Race 5 – August 12, 2015

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First up was a 5.98-miler for the kickoff race this past Wednesday. And, as you can see, they stay true to the “low-key” description with a super mellow start — just two tents at the trailhead, plus a few self-serve jugs of water and electrolytes.

Although they capped registration at 150 runners, only 101 people showed up to run (so feel free to come with $20 cash if you want to drop into the next one).

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Ben and I grabbed our bibs and promptly bumped into one of my running buddies (and badass triathlete) Anabel Capalbo who was there to cheer on her college roommate. Gotta love the small-town feel of Portland, especially the endurance scene!

Around 6:15 the race director gave us a quick run-down of the route, complete with a warning to watch out for owl attacks on one of the trails. My strategy for the evening? A) Run it for fun and enjoy the experience. B) Stick close to someone taller, in the event of an angry owl (thanks, Ben! #takingonefortheteam).

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Each race in the series starts and finishes at the gate at the Leif Erikson trailhead. For this first race, we started on Leif Erikson and went up Leif to Wild Cherry, up Wild Cherry to Dogwood, then down Dogwood to Leif Erikson, then out Leif to Alder, up Alder to Wildwood, Wildwood to Wild Cherry, Down Wild Cherry to Leif and Leif to the finish.

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Although I find it tougher to get pysched up for an evening race because I’m used to working out (and racing) first thing in the morning, we really couldn’t have had a more beautiful night for trail running. And after a casual countdown from 10, we were off!

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After about a quarter mile down the main trail, we made our first turn and immediately started climbing up Wild Cherry. As far as trails go, this one turned out to be quite a zinger.

This is also when I felt my recent lack of trail running kick in. We were spoiled in SF with hill training built into nearly every run, and it’s clear that Portland’s flatness has softened me!

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Because of the unrelenting ascent (and, let’s face it, my lack of recent trail training), I had trouble getting my heart rate down and breathing under control for the first mile and a half or so, so we alternated hiking the hills and jogging when it leveled off. After the initial climb, however, we were treated to a lovely downhill on Dogwood and had a blast bombing down the hill to try to make up some time.

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After a series of rollers, there was another climb up Alder (read: more walk breaks!) before the final descent to the finish. Our final time was 1:01:36 — not a record-breaker by any means, but we were satisfied with the roughly 10-minute-per-mile average pace after a rocky start.

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The best part? We get to do it all over again next week! Same place, same time, different route — so stay tuned for my report from race no. 2.

And for more information on the Portland Trail Series in the meantime, click here.

June Goal Check-In

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Giving Mary, leader of NoPo Run Club, a Team LUNA Chix Portland Run sandwich!

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it. ~Russel Baker

Portland’s summer has not only arrived early (I’d been warned to expect rain off and on until the 4th of July), it’s also already kicked into high gear and promises to be one for the record books. In fact, rumor has it that this heat wave is likely to last well into early July and may end up breaking records for longevity, as well.

For example, last Saturday morning’s low at Portland International Airport was 71 degrees. This is the first time PDX has ever recorded a low in the 70s in the month of June.

Not that I’m complaining; I actually like the heat, and I’m thanking my lucky stars that my first year in Oregon has been a mild one when it comes to lack of rain. But it does make outdoor workouts a bit more tricky, so early mornings and advance planning have been key when it comes to sticking to my 2015 goals.

Wondering what this is all about? Read more on the five goals toward which I’m working this year.

Here’s the latest on my progress:

1. Seeking Balance

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, summer in Oregon means one thing: BERRIES! And taking into consideration the amount I’ve consumed thus far, I’m quite shocked I haven’t pulled a Violet Beauregard and morphed into a giant blueberry.

If there’s a second thing I’ve learned, it’s that summer in Oregon also means another thing: ALLERGIES. Spending an afternoon in the strawberry patch on Sauvie Island was totally worth it, even if I had to take Zyrtec for the next two weeks to keep from being a puffy, wheezy mess.

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And although I’ve started to hear the all-too-familiar siren song of fall marathon training, I’m trying to ignore it and stay focused on the present: Bouncing back from injury and enjoying that process before I sign up for my next major undertaking.

Luckily, Ben’s on board with this plan and has made it his mission to keep challenging us with weekend hikes that are as breathtaking in scenery as they are in elevation.

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2. Training Smarter

The biggest revelation — and relief — this month came from finally solving the mystery of my SI joint pain!!! I happened to overhear one of my trainer’s other clients complaining of similar symptoms and that his PT said kettlebell swings were the likely culprit. A-ha!

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Since he’s not a runner and the only common denominator in our workouts is kettlebell work, I decided to back off from swings to keep from jarring my pelvis. It’s been almost a month, and I’m happy to report that the pain has all but subsided during runs, so consider this my PSA if you’re having a similar issue!

3. Facing Fears

Swimming. My 2015 nemesis.

As I sit down to reflect and write my recap each month, I always cringe when it comes to this part. Yes, I’ve been in the pool a few times since my last update; no, I haven’t taken any of the steps needed to actually improve my technique and comfort level.

But that may have changed this past weekend. I was so inspired by watching Ben and friends in the Pacific Crest long course triathlon that I decided to re-commit to getting my ass to the pool.

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And Mary Anne, the swimmer from the women’s relay team (who kicked butt, by the way, and is training for a 5K swim later this season), graciously offered to get in the water with us and give Ben and me some pointers, so we’re going to set some dates and get moving on this.

Baby steps, right?!

4. Pushing Myself

My proudest moment this month came in the form of work: namely, launching my new company, Pulse Creative. After spending the past few years part-time for a start-up with freelance gigs on the side, I finally decided to make it official and fully align my passion (health, fitness and wellness) with my livelihood (helping people tell stories through PR, marketing and social media).

Just as coaches recognize potential and guide athletes to greatness, my goal is to work directly with small business owners to define challenges, recognize opportunities and help them develop the critical skills to be competitive and relevant in their respective market.

So if you happen to hear of anyone looking for help, I’d really appreciate it if you’d send them my way 🙂

5. Giving Back

Last but certainly not least comes Team LUNA Chix Portland Run. An extremely close second in terms of proud moments this month came in the form of being nominated for the Foot Traffic Women’s Hall of Fame for encouraging women to get active and providing a non-competitive environment in which to do so.

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Not only am I humbled at being included in the group they assembled — seriously, there were some pretty amazing competitors, coaches and local legends in there — but it also makes my heart happy to be able to contribute to the women’s running community here in Oregon.

And great timing, too, as we’ve been seeing some terrific attendance and momentum at our weekly workouts, so please come out and join us if you’re in the Portland area. We meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Duniway Park track — and all levels are welcome, both walkers and runners.

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Check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for more info!

How are your 2015 goals coming along? 

Race Review: Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival

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Each year, during the last weekend in June, athletes, their family and friends, converge on beautiful Central Oregon to take part in the Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival. Pacific Crest is known as the “jewel of multisport events in the Northwest” and it has become a traditional destination race for athletes from across the nation, as well as from across the globe.

Ben and Nick checking out the swim and setting up the bike transition.

The night before: Ben and Nick checking out the swim and setting up the bike transition, respectively.

We’d heard great things about the event, so Ben jumped at the chance to test his mettle at two-thirds of the half-iron distance. He’s toying with the idea of making the jump up from Olympic distance in his next race, so this was the perfect opportunity to do a trial run on the swim (1.2 mi) and run (13.1 mi) portions.

Swimmers (Mary Ann & Ben) and cyclists (Sara & Nick) getting ready on race morning.

Swimmers (Mary Ann & Ben) and cyclists (Sara & Nick) getting ready on race morning.

Our friend, Nick, was covering the bike (58 mi) portion of their relay. And we were joined by a few more friends who formed an all-female relay team: Mary Ann (swimmer), Sara (bike) and Britt (run).

The elites in the water, inching toward the first buoy as they prepare to take off.

The elites in the water, inching toward the first buoy as they prepare to take off.

I was excited to be able to play sherpa for the day; Ben’s supported me at so many races, I’ve got a lot of work to do to return the favor! Plus, it’s also worth mentioning that race-day temps were predicted to be approximately the same as the surface of the sun (100+ degrees)…so needless to say, although I was feeling a little antsy to be not racing, I got over it pretty quickly.

Mary Ann's and Ben's relay heat entering the water.

Mary Ann’s and Ben’s relay heat entering the water.

For as many events and participants in the weekend’s activities, I’ve got to give it to the organizers for keeping everything — and everyone — running safely and smoothly in conditions that were becoming less than ideal over the course of the day. On the swim, for example, their mantra was “for every 10 people who go in, we want to count 11 coming out,” so they did manual counts to double-check the numbers and make sure everyone emerged ok.

Sara headed out on the bike.

Sara headed out on the bike.

Another tough leg to provide much support (beyond intermittent aid stations) is the bike. By this time it was starting to heat up and get muggy, so both our cyclists decided to err on the side of caution and carry extra water in camelbacks in addition to multiple bottles on their bikes.

Nick getting ready to tackle 58 miles.

Nick getting ready to tackle 58 miles.

While they cycled around Sunriver, I took the swimmers back to our rental house to change and refuel. Ben also had to get ready for his second leg — the run — which would likely take place in the hottest part of the day.

Ben and Mary Ann take a breather after their swim.

Ben and Mary Ann take a breather after their swim.

Showers and snacks done, we made our way to the bike-run transition, which was closer to the Sunriver Village. Sara and Nick finished within a 15-minute span; their runners got tagged in when temps were nearing 90, and we were just hoping that the cloud cover would hold for a few more hours.

Nick, done with the bike, coming in to tag Ben back in for the final leg.

Nick, done with the bike, coming in to tag Ben back in for the final leg.

Ben had a strong start, but the sun began to burn off quickly as the temps crept further up. Later, both he and Britt raved about the course support, however, saying that there were extra aid stations with ample water and people spraying down the athletes in between.

Ben starting the run: 13.1 miles to go!

Ben starting the run: 13.1 miles to go!

Thanks to that support nearly every mile along the course, both Ben and Britt finished strong despite the beating sun. As Ben crossed the finish, he was handed an ice towel and ushered to a shower tent for cooling — again, the organizers did a fantastic job of making sure they took care of the athletes!

Ben crossing the finish line in the heat of the afternoon.

Ben crossing the finish line in the heat of the afternoon.

It was definitely a tough race — both in course and in conditions — but the majority of people were coming across the finish line looking far less beat up that I would have thought, so that was impressive. And the volunteers were nothing short of amazing, braving the heat to help keep participants safe.

Team Your Pace or Mine: Sara, Mary Ann and Britt

Team Your Pace or Mine: Sara, Mary Ann and Britt

After our crew all finished, we met up in the Sunriver Village pavilion so they could rehydrate and dive into the post-race smorgasbord of food. There may have even been some talk about signing up again next year, as well as targeting a few more events in the meantime…#triathleteprobs.

Team Tri and Stop Us: Nick and Ben

Team Tri and Stop Us: Nick and Ben

If you’re interested for next year: Pacific Crest events begin Friday morning, with the competition and fun continuing into Sunday afternoon. The full weekend includes Tour de Crest Bike Tours, Long Course and Olympic Triathlons, Endurance and Olympic Duathlons, Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10k, 5k and three kids events — and we all give it our stamp of approval!

So proud of all the racers for completing their portions - safe and strong - despite the conditions!

So proud of all the racers for completing their portions – safe and strong – despite the conditions!

For more information, check out the Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival website here.

Are there any can’t-miss events on your calendar this summer?

Round Out Your Training with an Obstacle-Based Workout

Brent Doscher's Best Action Pics

Source: Brent Doscher

Whether you’re planning on tackling a Tough Mudder or simply thinking about switching up your workouts this summer, obstacle-course-style training can offer a whole new way to hone your strength, power, balance, coordination and strategy.

Because the physicality required to navigate obstacle courses mimics functional, whole-body movements of our ancestors and presents complex challenges, the focus shifts from being the best athlete to becoming the most well-rounded one.

The upside of all this work? Workouts are full of fun and variety, both your mind and body become more adaptable and, as a result, you get into kick-ass shape.

Of course, if you have a particular event in mind, you’ll want to choose a race-specific training program that mimics the actual physical demands of the race. But if you’re looking to just dip your toes into the obstacle course waters, here’s an ideal workout to help you get going.

Start with one session per week with the exercises below, and gradually work your way up to two sessions. Adjust the distance of the runs based on your conditioning level and the length of your race.

Obstacle Course Training Guide
Source: Fix.com

Need more of a challenge? Feel free to swap some of the exercises below into the strength-training portion — or change up your exercises during each of the different sets, which will create an even more well-rounded workout.

  • Walking lunges
  • Front and/or side planks
  • Squat jumps (or box jumps)
  • Mountain climbers
  • Push presses
  • Body-weight rows
  • Weighted carries
  • Crawling (hands/knees, hands/feet, or army)

If that’s still too easy, consider implementing some different types of workouts into your weekly training regimen to help develop the skills needed to excel at obstacle-based events. This could include, but certainly isn’t limited to:

  • Trail running: To simulate the muddy, rocky, hilly terrain of an obstacle race
  • Hill repeats: To build endurance and strength
  • Cross country races: To test your race-day skills on both trails and hills
  • Fartleks: To get used to changing gears and running at different speeds
  • Parkour: To practice balance and agility for challenging movements

You don’t have to be a super-human athlete to complete, compete or even train for these types of events; all that’s required is an open mind, a positive attitude and the willingness to identify and work on your potential areas of weakness.

Now, go forth and dominate!

What’s your take on obstacle races: yay or nay?  

Meet My BlogFest Buddies (+ registration giveaway)!

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Summer’s almost upon us, which means one thing in the blogosphere: BlogFest with SweatPink is coming!

BlogFest brings together health and fitness bloggers for four action-packed days of in-depth blogging sessions, unforgettable celebrity workouts and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the largest fitness conference in the world.

And because I work with the SweatPink crew and am returning for a second year, I was asked to be a Blogfest Buddy this time around. IDEA matched me up with two fabulous first-timers to help show ’em the ropes, so to speak.

Before you get to meet them, though, I’ve got an exciting announcement to make: As in, I’m giving away THREE FREE BlogFest registrations, if you’d like to join us in July! Details on how to enter are below…but first:

Meet my Blogfest Buddies!

Carleeh from Mamarazza on a Mission

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself and what you blog about.

My name is Carlia, though I have gone by Carleeh since I was about 10 yrs old. I am the mother of three: one 14-year-old boy and two girls (a 12-year-old and a five-year-old redhead)!

I am 34 and have been married for 15 years in June. My husband is a combat-wounded veteran with PTSD from multiple deployments to Iraq. Currently, I am his VA caregiver. I live 30 miles north of Seattle in a small community called Smokey Point.

When my blog is up and running it will be focused on my fitness journey while juggling VA paperwork, kids and staying centered in faith and yoga. I am currently studying to be a CPT with NASM and a Pound fitness instructor.

Carlee

2. What are you hoping to get out of BlogFest 2015?

I hope to make friendships and meet with girls I have known on Instagram for years. I am also going to absorb all the bloggy goodness I can to make a legit blog and sweat buckets with the industry’s best!

3. Anything you’re really excited/nervous/anxious about when it comes to the conference?

I have been dying to get to take a Piloxing class, especially with my friend Tasha! I’m nervous about being a newbie in a field and lifestyle that everyone there is accustomed to.

Fitness started to become a passion almost two years ago when I wanted to lose weight, and I decided to look into it as a business about six months ago. I am social, so I’m also anxious that I will be overly excited and embarrass myself. LOL!

4. What are your favorite healthy snacks?

I am addicted to beverages. I love, love, love Kevita, and I also love infused waters. I typically have a water bottle with fruit or herbs at all times. I do really love to eat chocolate-covered strawberries, fresh mango and watermelon, along with trail mixes and chia pudding.

5. What type of workout could you not live without?

Deadlifting and agility/bootcamp . I love ladders, muscle ropes, lifting weights and flipping tires. But I adore yoga, too. I need them all or I would freak out; I like to mix up my workouts (ClassPass is my dream)!

6. If you could close one fast food chain, which would you pick?

I would love to close Burger King; just the thought of their food grosses me out. {shudder}

And next up is…

Amanda from The Road to a Healthy Life

1. Who are you? Tell us a bit about yourself and what you blog about.

I’m a social media and branding professional in the Boston area with a passion for fitness and wellness! I started “The Road To A Healthy Life” in 2012 as a way to stay accountable; I was working in the beer industry and had picked up some unhealthy habits.

Starting and keeping the blog held me accountable and made the whole “let’s get healthy” goal fun and attainable. I blog about everything from weird and funny things that happen on long runs, to self image issues to interviews with local fitness companies.

Amanda

2. What are you hoping to get out of BlogFest 2015?

I’m hoping to meet people who love to blog and motivate people! I’m actually going to be a Lightning Round Speaker, so I’m looking forward to learning a little bit of everything and taking the whole experience in!

3. If you could go back to school, what area of study would you focus on?

I would love to go back and study sports medicine. The human body is capable of so much, and I feel like I would be interested in learning more about our physiology.

4. What is your go-to place for fitness questions?

I’m a part of a bunch of local Facebook and workout groups. If I have a question, I have no problem asking anyone and everyone willing to listen!

5. What is your favorite blog you follow and why?

I love reading Dirt in Your Skirt, and Relentless Forward Commotion! Not only are the ladies behind these blog excellent athletes, but they are amazing writers who always seem to publish the right thing at the right time.

6. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to a healthy lifestyle?

The best thing? I think my mindset! Before I made a serious change, I was angry and lethargic and unmotivated.

After making slight changes, like trying to go for my first run, I found a re-ignited passion for goal setting and loved seeing real improvement. I went from gloom and doom to being excited about trying new things and getting out of my comfort zone!

It’s truly been the best thing that’s happened to me — and without that change, I doubt I would be as happy as I am right now!

Thanks again, ladies! Can’t wait to hang out in-person at BlogFest in just a few short months…

And in the meantime, I’ll be choosing three lucky people at random who enter for the BlogFest giveaway, which runs today through 5/25:

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

If you went to BlogFest, who would you like to meet? 

April Goal Check-In

Source: Fast Company

Source: Fast Company

First things first: Yes, it’s mid-May. And we’re talking about April.

Better late than never!

Plus quite a bit has changed since I last touched base with my goals, so I wanted to be able to address it in this month’s recap.

Wondering what this is all about? Read more on the five goals toward which I’m working this year.

So here’s my update on how things have been going:

1. Seeking Balance

Quality over quantity. Quality over quantity. If I keep repeating that to myself, it will (hopefully) one day become second nature.

Unable to contain my excitement over living in what still feels like a “new” city, I got over-excited and over-committed myself this summer. Whoops.

Between work, travel, training, LUNA coaching, family events and other obligations pretty much every.single.weekend…the pressure’s started to build.

I’ve been feeling it in my gut with each additional ‘yes,’ but only recently did this start to register in my head. So in an attempt to stay true to this goal, I made some hard decisions this past month and had some even harder ‘no’ conversations…both with myself and others.

Like, revealing to Ben that I don’t think I’m up for both the century ride and a 50K within two weeks of each other this month. Or telling my Ragnar Utah team that I won’t be joining them for next month’s event.

And examining my other summer races in the process. Not just the whats, but also the hows and, most importantly, the whys.

I can’t help but feel some sense of failure — like I’m letting others down, as well as myself. But the fact that there’s a small victory to be found in reclaiming ownership of my schedule — and the relief that comes with that — is also not lost on me.

Balance, I’m realizing, requires bigger-picture focus. And as I get clearer on the vision I have for myself — outside of just training and racing — I feel like I’m getting closer to that sweet spot of being able to keep moving forward and challenging myself without throwing the rest of my life out of whack.

2. Training Smarter

Another motivating factor has been my SI joint, which has been extremely vocal as of late about me needing to reassess my activities in the short-term. Although I’m cleared to run, per my doctor, I’m not able to race or do speedwork without pain, so being more deliberate in my approach to workouts and events will no doubt serve me well.

In the meantime, I’ve been religiously going to the chiropractor, getting monthly massages and hitting plenty of yoga classes. And, thanks to ClassPass and this guy, I’m still focused on all that good strength and mobility cross-training to build a strong core and activate those glutes.

3. Facing Fears

Ben and I we so proud when we mustered up the motivation to hit the pool one Saturday for an early morning workout. Everything was awesome — until we got to the gym and realized it wouldn’t open for two more hours.

Needless to say, with everything else that’s been going on, swimming’s been on the back burner. Although I hope that it’ll be different this month; I do think some time following that black line would be a welcome change for both my body and mind.

4. Pushing Myself

The 50K is fast-approaching on May 25, so that’s exciting! I’m half pumped and half nervous to tackle this event with Ben, however, as it’s our first ultra-distance together…and more than double his longest race distance to-date (13.1 miles).

Most of April has been spent pushing myself on the non-physical front, though. Through the HUSH Meditation community, I met a wonderful friend/coach/mentor, and we’ve been helping each other — me, helping support the amazing work she does; her, helping me better define my ‘why,’ as well as my career vision.

I’ve been feeling scattered as of late; don’t get me wrong — there’s no shortage of great stuff going on, but I’m in the process of wrapping my head around how it all ties together. As a result, it’s made for a more contemplative, less hard-charging month, which is pretty much a theme across the board for late April and early May.

5. Giving Back

Finally, we’re a little more than a month in to Team LUNA Chix Portland Run’s 2015 season, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this group of women. We’ve been doing weekly workouts, and we also just hosted our first clinic of the season — a yoga and nutrition workshop to raise money for our charity, the Breast Cancer Fund (more on that in an upcoming post).

The team is gelling, we’re working on getting the word out so we can grow in size and make more of an impact, and we’ve been getting a consistent group of ladies each week who rally through a few miles together. See for yourself via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts — and come join us Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the Duniway Park Track in Portland!

How are your 2015 goals coming along? 

Race Report: Race for the Roses 10K

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You know when I said I was going to slow my roll this year when it came to signing up for a bunch of events? Well, when a rockstar social media pal has an entry to spare (thanks, Karen!) and you’ve got willing running buddies (mad props to Nicole and Ben!), it’s hard to resist registering for another race.

Oops.

In my defense, this almost turned into another 13.1 because my usual masochistic tendency inclination is toward the longest distance available (especially since I need miles while training for next month’s events), however this time good sense prevailed. Ben and I raced pretty hard last weekend, and despite post-race massage and chiropractor appointments, I still wasn’t feeling fully recovered.

The solution? Split the difference, and trick ourselves into training. So we signed up for the 10K and decided not only to run it for fun, but also to jog to and from the race for a total of nine casual Sunday morning miles.

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We arrived at the start just as the half marathoners were taking off, so we waited off to the side, stretching, as we watched them disappear into the distance. Then, with 11 minutes to spare, we lined up and waited for the corrals to fill around us.

Except they didn’t. Well, at least not in front of us.

In typical Oregonian fashion (and particularly at more casual races like this), the start was orderly and polite, and the race director had to encourage people to step up to the line. I always appreciate a courteous crowd, but it makes me smile and think back to other races where I’ve see elbows being used as weapons in order to jockey for position, even in small, local events.

The seven- and eight-minute mile areas were still pretty light, so we lined up towards the front but stayed on the side as the crowd slowly filtered in. By the time the gun went off, though, the area around us had filled in pretty well.

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As far as courses go, this was one of my favorites so far in Portland. Not only do you get two bridge crossings (Broadway and Steel), but the race directors have also designed it so you don’t get stuck with a loooong out and back on Front Ave.

If you’re not familiar with the area, it’s a super-flat, super-industrial stretch, which is slowly starting to fill in with residential buildings but can also be a mind-numbing straightaway during races (i.e. when I ran the Portland Marathon half in 2010). Instead, this course curved nicely through the Pearl District and into the Northwest so we only had to do Front Ave. once.

And aside from the final ascent to the Steel Bridge, I don’t remember there being any big hills. In fact, the race even touts the fact that it’s PR-friendly, so take note if you want a good spot to clinch that new record next year!

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Ben, Nicole and I agreed ahead of time that we were going to keep the pace conversational. I’d estimated we’d be in the nine-minute mile range, but aside from Nicole letting us know each time we completed a kilometer, none of us were watching the clock.

We stopped at the aid stations every two miles or so to grab water and electrolytes, but ended up skipping the final aid station because it was less than a mile from the finish. By that point, we also figured it’d be better to keep moving forward rather than get caught up with the crowd of half marathon walkers, 10K’ers and 5K’ers who were converging on the course.

Again, I have to give kudos to the race director, though, for dividing us up into lanes so as to prevent any major traffic jams during this last stretch. We were divided not only by distance, but also by runners/walkers, which alleviated the headache of having to bob and weave through the crowd too much in the final stretch.

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Before we knew it, we were crossing the Steel Bridge and had the finish line area in sight (the spire off to the right in the picture above). A few quick turns later, we rounded the last corner and gave one last push to cross together in 56:38 for an overall average pace of 9:06/mile.

After collecting roses and hand-made wooden finisher’s medals, we made our way into the Oregon Convention Center for the post-race party. And, boy, did we feel well taken care of (thanks to all the wonderful volunteers for their time and energy)!

Between Jamba Juice smoothies and a solid spread of food (bagels, coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, all kinds of fruit, mimosas and coffee), they were also offering free photos, massages, expo shopping and live music. I can’t recommend this race highly enough if you want a fun, low-pressure event to run with friends and family.

Rather than wait in line for the official shot, however, we opted to snap our own impromptu version of a finisher’s photo before jogging back home. It was a fantastic way to spend a Sunday morning, and especially rewarding to be able to share the experience with Nicole, who is one of my Team LUNA Chix Portland Run teammates, and Ben.

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If you’re interested in participating or volunteering in next year’s Race for the Roses, visit their website here for details.

And if you’re in the Portland area and want to grab a workout with Team LUNA Chix on Monday nights at 6:30 p.m., check our Facebook page for the latest location updates.

Hope to see you soon!

What’s your race schedule look like this season? 

Race Report: Corvallis Half Marathon

One of my favorite things about being an Oregonian now is getting to sample some new (to me) races this season! First up was the Corvallis Half Marathon, chosen because it takes place in Ben’s hometown and because the finish line is on his beloved Beaver’s home turf in Reser Stadium.

If you like the ease and friendly feel of a smaller race, along with some really pretty pastoral scenery, you may want check this one out. And there’s also the 9:30 a.m. start time; not having to wake hours before dawn is always a luxury on race morning!

After completing our usual pre-race prep at home, we moseyed over to the start on Oregon State University’s campus. Another perk? Ample parking at the stadium, which is always much appreciated when those nerves start to kick in.

We warmed up by jogging to the porta-potties and back for one final pit-stop before lining up in the 8:00-minute mile corral. Of course, this is Beaver country, so prepare to see a fair amount of orange and black in the crowd!

Ben was gunning for a PR (under 1:50, but I predicted sub-1:45) so we said our goodbyes and planned to regroup at the finish. Usually I can pinpoint a goal for myself, but since my off-season was so heavy with cross-training (i.e. light on running and speed work), I felt like I was flying blind this time.

My best guess was somewhere between 1:50-2:00, so I figured I’d take some of the pressure off and simply run by feel. That way, I’d be able to see where I was at without forcing things, especially because I knew a specific time goal might cause me to push too hard with my SI joint (lower back) still acting up.

We crossed the start line to the sounds of the OSU marching band, and I tried my best to settle into a good pace as I watched Ben weave his way to the front of the pack.

Mile 1: 7:50 / Mile 2: 7:59 / Mile 3: 8:18

It took me a full three miles to really get warmed up. I know went out a little faster than I should have, as my shins and ankles were pretty tight for this first stretch.

The next few miles felt great, though, so I settled in and enjoyed the scenery as I hit my stride. My fueling plan was to grab a sip of water at aid stations, and I was experimenting with chunks of Barnana every two miles starting at mile four.

Mile 4: 8:31 / Mile 5: 8:22 / Mile 6: 8:06 / Mile 7: 8:09

The course was gorgeous; we did a giant loop through some agricultural areas and around the county fairground, so even though it was a ‘road’ race, most of it was super mellow. And even though I was starting to feel the effects a lack of long training runs in these miles, I rode a wave of adrenaline after air-high-fiving Ben’s dad at mile nine.

Mile 8: 8:31 / Mile 9: 8:05 / Mile 10: 8:11

My fueling plan was working well up until this point; despite a few low-grade, longer climbs along the course, I was feeling pretty strong and stable, energy-wise. As we neared mile 11, however, some mild nausea set in and I started having trouble with my fuel; it took me a while to talk myself into a final piece of Barnana, but I knew I needed one final hit, so I choked it down by mile 12.

The course was well marked, but there were no timers at the mile markers (a good thing, in my case). I had no clue as to pace or time, but I was guessing I was around the 1:50ish range.

Fortunately they had mile 12.5 marked (so helpful!). I told myself that all I’d need to do was hold it together for just five more minutes to finish strong.

Mile 11: 8:25 / Mile 12: 8:27

I remember running alongside a woman in blue for the last mile or so; she passed me, so I set my sights on her as we rounded the final corner into the parking lot. We ran side-by-side by the 13-mile marker and sprinted together down the ramp, onto the football field and across the finish line.

Mile 13: 8:27 / Final .1 Mile: 7:12

I spotted Ben in the crowd and could hear him cheering me on, yelling for me to to do an end zone dance. But, at that point, I was too pooped to do anything but smile as volunteers clipped off my time chip and handed me a finisher’s medal.

Final times:

  • Ben – 1:43:54
  • Me – 1:48:39

Ben PR’d by about seven minutes (so proud!), and while I was about a minute off mine, I was thrilled to have run a solid race. My back wasn’t feeling great (it had felt tweaky off and on), but it wasn’t horrible. And with a little recovery and some speed work, I’m not far off from my eventual 1:45 goal.

We soaked up some sun and took the opportunity to get a few photos on the field before heading over to the beer tent to celebrate. This one may just become an annual tradition for us!

Have you ever raced ‘by feel’ and been pleasantly surprised by the results?