La chica is officially part of the Mullet Crew

Ran my first half marathon today and loved it. So much so that I definitely want to do it again. 

Someday. (Just don't tell sports med doc. It'll be our little secret.)

My friend Brandess and her BFF Shannon paced my group at 13 minutes per mile. 

Yes, those are mullet wigs, fake tattoo sleeves and plaid shirts. Brandess is even sporting a fake mustache, which kept falling off, but she continued to paste back on her face for reasons I can't pretend to comprehend.

They also are the reason I actually was able to finish the race. They led our group of about eight from the start, telling us stories, yelling encouragement and cracking jokes. I don't think there was a volunteer or police office on the race course who didn't get a heartfelt thank you from our group.

The race started down the street from the state Capitol, down Michigan and Grand River Avenues, up through the beautiful Michigan State University campus, down the River Trail, through part of Potter Park Zoo and back to downtown Lansing. 

The temps were in the high 50s with a steady breeze. It even sprinkled a few times. Not bad, especially when the weather called for severe thunderstorms and the race director gave instructions should they need to cancel the race due to lighting.

My Sport Beans did the job and I gladly drank some Gatorade and water volunteers hoisted on us throughout the course. 

Ricky Martin, Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, Wisin & Yandel, Willie Colon and Eminem kept me company up until about mile eight, when my battery was so low, I had to turn off the music.

No trouble.

Thanks to the mullet crew, we set a great pace of about 12:45 for about 10 miles. Our group kept a nice, steady conversation with random whoops and hollers (we love hills!) or when seeing the mile markers. 

By mile 10, my friend Erin and I figured we "just" had 5K to go, so we pushed ahead a little bit and ran at a very comfortable but faster pace. We knew we were close when we started to see other runners already wearing their bling heading back to their cars. 

Words can't describe how touching it was to see our faster Black Girls Run! Lansing team mates waiting for us at the finish line. Hugs all around, followed by more pictures. 

This chica is very blessed. Life is good.

Have you run a half marathon? Who was waiting for you at the finish? How did you celebrate?

I'm only half crazy

Spent my evening with several of my Black Girls Run! Lansing team mates. We broke bread (and onion rings and mozzarella sticks), shared race stories and the veterans gave us tips for tomorrow's half marathon.

Most of the BGR! Lansing dinner group. We missed Erin!

We were a loud bunch at a local restaurant. A couple of us even wearing race shirts and all of us carefully weighing what we would eat with tomorrow morning top-of-mind. Nothing new. Nothing too spicy. Nothing too, well, anything.

I decided to run this race around April or May, right after I ran a marathon relay with several of these wonderful women.

If you've run seven miles, you can certainly run 13, they said.

Just train. You'll be fine. You can do this. Somehow, I believed it and took on the challenge.

The cheering and encouragement continued, both in person and on Facebook. On days when I woke up with fresh legs and felt like I could run forever. And -- more importantly -- on days when I felt like a 100-year-old woman with arthritis running on quick sand.

Ran into Deanna while picking up my bib and race shirt.

My family has been supportive on many other levels as well. They never complain about my long absences. Or about the many trips to Playmakers for more gear I just "have" to have. They even smile politely when I talk about my running plans or what gear I'm trying out next.

But they really don't get why I've pushed myself through all the miles. In the cold. In the rain. At night. Early in the morning. While camping. After very long days at work.

They shake their heads and secretly (and not-so-secretly) wonder if I've gone insane.

13.1 miles? Normal people don't run that far.

They might not understand, but that's OK. Because tomorrow, I run for them. 

And, after all, I'm only half crazy.

What la chica does when she can't run

The taper before Sunday's half marathon continues and while I'm not yet feeling any more antsy because I can't run, my obsessive tendencies are flaring up big time.

And I mean obsessive in the I-can't-stop-talking-and-reading-about-running kind of obsessive.

So while I did some yoga tonight, I've also spent an inordinate amount of time online reading about running and otherwise finding ways to entertain myself.

Since I apparently have some free time on my hands, here are the five things I found most helpful/fun/interesting/relevant for all of you chicos and chicas:

1. How to fix some common running probs
2. Other people who run at night wear safety gear. I stay on the sidewalks but maybe I can get a light to play with; I mean, a light to be more visible. Yeah, that's what I meant.
3. This song, which I just can't stop humming and might add to my running playlist.
4. I'm apparently going to live forever according to a study that suggests that sitting less leads to living longer since I seldom sit still. That said, I now have an excuse to leave boring meetings!
5. I'm not the only writer who's compiled a guide for non-runners.

Bonus find:

Doctor, doctor gimme the news. I got a bad case of ...

... unfortunately not "lovin' you." Although I do think you're all awesome.

I've got a bad case of a running problem. Specifically, my butt's still dumb (or the overly dramatic "dead butt"), which is apparently pretty common for runners taking on the kind of miles that I've been enjoying (snicker, snicker) as I train for the Capital City River Run half marathon on Sunday.

So while he's concerned about my overall health, there's really no reason he could think of (translation: any reason that I would buy) to prevent me from running my first half. So...I'm running it.

source: http://www.popsugar.com

I know. Big shocker there to anyone who's been following my progress.

In other news, got to spend some quality time with a woman who works in my field but in another state department who called me up after reading my humble blog. We caught up over drinks at my favorite coffee shop and traded war, err, injury stories.

She, too, will run the half on Sunday. Just signed up for it, actually, because she remembers her friends jumping in about halfway through her first half to get her through to the end and she's paying it forward.

Runners are the best.

Speaking of the best, I've got my own cheering squad and am often humbled by the amount of support I've been getting from friends who are either running the race with me or who've heard me say I'm running it (OK, who have heard me recount every detail of my training schedule and really wish I'd just run the race if only so that I'll shut up about it).

As for getting anything remotely exercise related today, it just didn't happen. Unfortunately, I got home way too late to go out for a run.

I even had to resort to practically eating grubs and berries in my car tonight while waiting for my favorite 14-year-old to arrive from her cross country meet (she hit a personal record, btw!), albeit nicely packaged and relatively healthy "grubs and berries." (Unsponsored plug: I love the GoPicnic boxes because they're relatively healthy and shelf stable.)

So after the kind of pretzel time I spent on the doc's stable today, I'm giving myself the night off.

Did you get a run in today? Does your doctor support your running habit? What would you do if s/he told you not to run?

A little yoga, anyone?

Monday night continues to be yoga night. And because you don't really want to see pictures of me being a pretzel, I found this for ya:

And this:

And for the cat lovers out there:

Namaste, chicos and chicas.

Have you tried yoga? How flexible are you? Do you like dogs or cats best?

Chica, Interrupted

Got to sleep in until my alarm (a.k.a. my 100 lb. dog Khaleesi) woke me up. Gotta love weekends. And dogs. Especially large dogs.

Spent the morning at Hawk Island Park where I got to cheer on several friends at the Come Clean Duathlon, including a couple of my Black Girls Run! Lansing team mates who were looking good as they started their biking leg.

Bonus: Got to see my friend Jef Mallett who's kind of a big deal. He's the creator of the Frazz strip. And if you haven't seen it, please check it out. You'll thank me later.

Like Jef, Frazz is very active and in addition to being an overall great strip, there are lots of running inside jokes.

Jef and I worked together a million years ago at what was then the Booth Newspapers Lansing Bureau. I even saw some of the very first Frazz cartoons.

Always a talented artist, Jef is also a triathlete and an Ironman. And an overall awesome guy.

Between all the picture taking and catching up, I did manage to run three miles along the boardwalk. With a few stops. OK, a lot of stops since I started and stopped to talk to several friends. Gotta love runners.

I'm OK with that since, remember, I'm tapering.

In the meantime, trying to convince my husband to buy us some used road bikes so we can do this race together next year.


A chica can dream.

Wonder Woman! (Sing it with me. You know you want to.)

I did it. I beat the overwhelming desire to stay in bed this morning when the alarm went off. I got up, fueled (Dunkin' Donuts again. Don't judge me.), got dressed and drove downtown Lansing to join my Black Girls Run! Lansing team mates.

Ended up running six miles, even though I had told myself I'd run a couple. Then three. Then four.

I felt like Wonder Woman. 

Sans the satin tights. Or the magic that I do. But a wonder nonetheless.

We ran the Lansing River Trail under very dark skies and temps in the 40s. I don't do 40s, but there I was, bundled up in a tech T-shirt, a light-weight zip up and a fleece running sweatshirt, plus my new capris. Thank goodness I also brought a hat.

That all said, the stripping started about a mile into the run and didn't end until I was in my T and capris, the two tops tied around my waist. I can't decide if that's going to work for me next week for my half. Will have to try it one more time for a longer run.

We saw lots of other runners and a handful of bikers. Can't say I blame them. Despite some drizzle, it really was a relatively nice day for a run along the river. 

Or to walk around the grass if you're a Canadian goose or a peacock, apparently. Let's just say my dog's going to be sniffing my running shoes for days.

I'm very grateful to my  BGR! Lansing runner chicas because there was no way I was getting out there this morning without them. If you're struggling to get your butt out the door, there's nothing like having a bunch of friends waiting for you to get it in gear.

Another option, of course, is to bribe yourself with something like a Caribbean Breeze smoothie from Juice Nation. There was nothing tropical about today's run, but the smoothie was my little ray of sunshine. Cheers!

What gets you out the door when your bed is whispering sweet nothings in your ear? What's your favorite bribe to get you out the door?

All that guilt was a waste of time (I'm in marketing, so I'm calling this week my taper)

Relatively new runner here, so please forgive me for apologizing about my lack of running this past week. Apparently, if I'd been paying attention, real runners would call it a "taper week."

So, as long as I run a couple of times by Sunday, I will still be on track and won't spontaneously combust at the starting line on race day (which is Sept. 21. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!).

Jeff Galloway says so, so it must be true.

Googling "how to taper for your first half marathon" was the best investment of my time yet this week. Thank you, Runner's World magazine!

And speaking of marketing genius, I'm now able to also use the taper as an excuse for my foul moods. Bonus!

Why didn't I take the time to Google this before?

I'm just hopeful my family will be understanding.

Now, excuse me while I go Google "eating donuts is good for your first half marathon."

Someone's got to have thought of that one by  now. Jeff Galloway? Hal Higdon? Jack Daniels? Hansons? Help a chica out!

Have you tapered before a race? How did THAT go? Any tips?

She's a-live!

Yes, I live. And I'm sorry. So sorry. Please accept my apology.

One word: Work.

And a few more words: Parenting. Household repairs. Pain. And mom taxi.

Source: http://ronaleer.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/home_moms.gif

That all said, I'm ba-ack.

No running for me this week. Instead, I've been doing yoga and stretching. It makes me feel like I'm doing something so that when my head hits the pillow at night, I don't feel guilt. Or at least not a lot of guilt about not running.

Or at least not guilty enough to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to go for a run before I get my family out the door in the morning.

That ends today. I plan to run at least a couple of miles tonight  (barring the aforementioned work getting in the way) and am eyeing a group run with Team Playmakers tomorrow morning.

Will this week's blog name be changed to Slacker Runner? I'll let you know.

In the meantime, how do you find time to run given all of your responsibilities? What's the longest you've gone without running?

Like a virgin (I'm talking miles here, people)

Yeah, so I ran 10 miles today for the fist time. TEN. MILES.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Longest run so far had been just a tad over 9. I've done that a couple of times. But 10? Never thought I'd get into the double digits.

Race day is now two weeks away and I am pumped. I feel like I can definitely do 13.1 now and am very much looking forward to it.

A runner friend from Black Girls Run - Lansing met me downtown Lansing in front of Juice Nation, one of my favorite downtown spots. If you haven't tried their Caribbean Breeze smoothie, stop by and try it. You'll thank me later.

But I digress. Because, you know, food. And pretty flowers.

As much as my last run was uncomfortable, today's run was ideal. I tried out the new Under Armour running capris I bought on clearance at Playmakers yesterday. They're from the HeatGear line and are stretchy, cooling and comfy. They even have small panels on the bottom to help with venting. The waistband is nice and thick and didn't fold over at all.

And -- get this -- no wedgie! Bonus.

I didn't see any more at Playmakers, so I'll be searching the web for more of those puppies tonight.

I think I'm in love.

Also a huge boost to my day's run was the lovely runner chica I got to hang out with today. She's done a half marathon before, but had not run 10 miles in quite a while. Still, she went out to keep me company and we hit the Lansing River Trail, through Potter Park Zoo, by the (wait for it) river.

We even saw three deer, which didn't seem to be all that surprised to see us and meandered out of our path while I fumbled with my iPhone to take a picture. Alas, my phone's storage is basically full, so I have no photographic proof of the encounter.

I did manage to delete enough photos to take this one and, really, isn't this the one that counts? Two happy 10-milers:

And because we both know you won't be able to get that darn song out of your head anyway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s__rX_WL100

Did you run today? What's your longest run ever? Is it just me, or are running shorts the worst?

Running (half) naked

Now before I waste your time, I was fully dressed. (I'm sure you're relieved.)

What I didn't bring on my run was my fanny pack high-tech water delivery system, which also meant I had no tissues to wipe my brow, ChapStick for my lips, candy SportBeans to give me energy, Body Glide for my legs, water to hydrate me or a spot to hold my phone.

I also wore my Asics Abby running skirt, which meant pulling down the compression shorts underneath every half mile or so.

Woe is me, right?

Which all made me think that perhaps I should rename the blog again. Masochist Runner anyone?

I did have my iPhone so I could both listen to some Juan Luis Guerra and log my miles on my Nike+ app. (I'm a masochist, not an idiot.) Slipped the phone in my skirt which is incredibly hot and uncomfortable.

So why the miserable conditions?

My first half is in a couple more weeks and I wanted to put myself in an uncomfortable situation in case everything doesn't go as planned. There's an unwritten rule for running that says that you shouldn't ever try something new on race day. No new food. No new clothes and for the love of all that is holy, no new running shoes.

I'm adding a slight twist to that rule: thou shall plan to be uncomfortable on race day.

No matter how well you plan, something won't be quite as you expect. I'm looking at you, last trail run filled with mosquitoes!

I was by no means suffering today, mind you. And it was "only" four miles. But it feels good to know that I'm not going to die if I don't have every single creature comfort they sell at our local running store. (Though I do love me some Playmakers!)

One of my long-term goals for the half has also been to find a comfortable outfit. Something that doesn't chafe, that doesn't make me hot and that doesn't, ahem, give me a wedgie.

Running shorts have been just OK so far. Target carries some Champion shorts that aren't too bad, but they poof up and aren't flattering. Reminds me of parachute pants. The Nike shorts ride up. The aforementioned running skirt's compression shorts do, too.

So, I'm trying some capri compression shorts with a tech T-shirt. I'll let y'all know how that works out.

In the meantime, I'll be wearing my fuel belt on my 10-mile run tomorrow. Because...

Are you training for a race? Are you trying out new clothes or shoes? What are you using for fuel?

For the love of the ... phone call?

Sometimes, it's not your own outing that rekindles your love of the run. Or that gets your butt out the door when you'd rather stay home and eat the chocolate-chocolate-chip muffins you baked last night.

My dear friend's daughter called me just to tell me she'd just run 10 miles (way to go, Taylor!). She's a young woman living and working in Chicago who's also training for her first half, the Detroit Free Press half marathon next month.

The excitement in her voice reminded me of why I'm putting myself through all the training. Through all the yoga (blech). The stretches. The foam rolling. The piles of laundry. Through all the, well, pain.

Her training plan has her ramping up a mile each week, but the weather was so nice, she ran a little farther than her schedule. I didn't want to rain on her parade -- but after the appropriate reaction of glee (I may have squealed) --  I did encourage her to stretch and take it easy the next day. Last thing we want here is for her to get hurt when she's so close to her goal race.

I felt like a wet blanket, bringing her back to reality. I went all mama hen on her. But I've been the one taking myself just a bit beyond my limit. There's a certain high you feel after running mileage you've only read about in Runner's World magazine and in other people's Facebook updates. Who the heck runs 10 miles? On purpose?

There was a time when three miles was beyond my reach. Heck, there was a time when one mile was something I had to plan for. To train for. To force myself to do. It was a struggle.

And then I did a few 5Ks with my favorite 14-year-old. The achievement was real. I have the pictures to prove it, goofy grin and all.

It wasn't that long ago and I hope I don't ever forget that feeling of accomplishment. Of wonder.

Running's one of those things where you can experience that feeling on a weekly basis for what feels like forever. My first 10 miler is next weekend.

Thanks Taylor for reminding me that it's OK to be excited enough to make a phone call. Because only another runner will understand.

So, take my call if you want to hear all about it on Sunday morning!

Mosquitoes: 5, La Chica Runs: 2

Got up a little early and fueled up (OK, ate Uncle John's Cider Mill donuts and drank coffee) for the day's slow, long run: a 9 miler through the aforementioned North Eastern State Trail.

I headed south, not knowing what to expect. The trail is wide and well cared for, with very few weeds but plenty of evidence of wildlife (the horse manure was easy to spot, not so much the other scat. Yuck!).

It was an overcast, cool day perfect for running. I should say it should have been perfect for running if not for some rookie mistakes. Learn from them, chicos and chicas:

1. I thought I was pretty smart bringing a bottle full of water and a second one full of Gatorade on my fanny pack, I mean, high-tech water belt. Smart for hydration, yes, but not so much for carrying my phone, which I typically stick in one of the water bottle holders. I ended up sticking it behind the pack on the water belt, which meant adjusting it over and over and headphone wires. I'll be picking up another holder for my Nathan belt before the Capital City River Run half marathon.
2. I headed out on an unknown trail with a picture of a map of said trail. But with about 4 miles to go, my phone gave me a low-battery warning. What?! I should have brought the map with me and I also need to find a way to make that battery last longer. That may mean taking fewer pictures during my run (I know, boo. Hiss.) or running without music (no Pitbull?! yeah, that's not happening.).
3. My trusty Pandora failed to launch. Um. Yeah. Trails. Thankfully, I had a few songs loaded on my phone, but not nearly enough. Going to spend some time on iTunes this afternoon, just in case this happens again.
4. I brought mosquito repellent, but failed to actually apply said repellent before heading out. Instead, I swatted and killed two of the evil bloodsuckers. I stopped to take a picture and finally took the time to use the Off! I brought along, but they'd already taken a few bites.
5. With possible rain forecast, I brought a baggie for my phone and my favorite hoodie. Rookie mistake? The hoodie is really best in 40 or 50 degrees, not mid-60s, so I roasted, then spent most of my run adjusting the thing tied around my waist. Next time? Maybe bring a long-sleeve T-shirt. Or do without.

Given all that, it really was a great run. I felt great, I kept a relatively constant pace. And I didn't feel like I was going to die. Bonus.

This is one happy chica

Weather called for 90 percent rain (specifically, thunderstorms). The sky looked gray. The air even smelled like rain. What's a chica to do?

I laced up and headed out, figuring I'd run a mile or two after a few days off (six, but who's counting?). I didn't feel any better after all that "rest," so I just wanted to go out and see how it felt.

Happy to report it felt just great. Actually, it felt awesome.

We're at Aloha State Park for the weekend and I wasn't sure if I'd get out. I brought my gear, just in case.

This is one of our favorite campgrounds and because of the holiday, it's packed, so I made may way through all of the loops, people and dog watching to keep myself entertained, with an eye on the sky. Two miles into my run, I just knew I shouldn't press my luck, so I meandered to the ranger station to find a trail they told me about at check in (but only because I asked).

From Aloha SP you can pick up the North Eastern State Trail. If you've not heard of the NEST, please consider checking it out next time you're Up North. This one is 71 miles long and goes from Cheboygan south to Alpena, crossing through the great metropolis of Aloha, Tower, Onaway, Millersburg, Hawks, Metz, Posen, Bolton and Cathro

The trail is 10 feet wide and is made up of crushed, packed limestone. No vehicles are allowed, but people run, walk and bike on it. In the winter, cross country skiers and snowmobilers use it, too. No, I won't be partaking of the winter wonderland.

I ran over to the trail head, just to make sure I could find it because it is not well marked. I ran on it for about .1 miles, then quickly got off. Instead, I ran through a nearby neighborhood by Mullet Lake and made my way back to our campsite, only distracted by a sudden urge to run down every runner I saw to make sure they knew about the trail. (That could have been embarrassing.)

Thankfully, the rain held off until I was safely back in our RV. It's supposed to rain all day today and part of tomorrow. But I've got my eye on you. NEST. Just you wait until tomorrow. I'm going to pounce on you like a fat cat on a chihuahua puppy.

You'll see.

Credit: http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/soon

What runners do when they can't run

Since I wrote my last post about the pain that's keeping me from running, some of my friends have suggested I take a few days off to see if rest would help. You know, R.I.C.E. or rest, ice, compression and elevation.

For the past few days, I've been doing this:

And today, I did some of this:

So, tomorrow, I'm going to do some of this:

And hopefully, even some of this:

Which I really hope doesn't look like this:

No matter what, I hope to feel like this:

Did you get to work out today? How did you feel? What makes you feel like deranged happy cat?

Would I lie to you?

Now would I say something that wasn't true?

With apologies to Eurythmics, but if you've met me, you know the answer is no.

So here goes: I went to a chiropractor and my physical therapist yesterday and they both told me that there's nothing else they can do to address the pain in my butt cheek. They both sent me back to my sports medicine doctor for more tests. Maybe an MRI.

Can I still run? Sure, since the pain actually subsides during my run and doesn't feel worse after. I had even gone without any Aleve for a week in deference to any important organs that have taken a hit since this all started back in April.

Should I run? There's the rub. Chiro man said yes. In the interest of full disclosure, the man's a marathoner and is currently running with a torn labrum in his hip. Talk about ouch.

PT man? He's hesitating, which is his polite way of saying, "lady, you're crazy if you keep this running up." I've been going there for a few years (for the aforementioned shoulder surgery rehab) and they've been fantastic about my bum issue.

Where does that leave me? I can continue to train, run my race on Sept. 21, and go back to the doc to start at the beginning to see what is causing all of these problems.

Or, I could just stop training, back off significantly on my running and hope the pain subsides so that I can train for a much-later race or even not run my first half this year.

Lots to think about.

Oh, wait. I said I wouldn't lie to you. We all know I will probably keep training, ignore the pain and run the race, of course. That is, unless I can get in to see sports med doc man any time soon and he has different plans. Wonder how polite he'll be.

Update: What stage of runner's grief do you think I'm in the middle of? Hat tip to Shut Up and Run blogger Beth Risdon. Just don't click on those links if you are easily offended. And if you're not, you're in for a treat.

Is there a runner version of attorney/client privilege?

Runners talk. Runners who run more than just a couple of miles together (try 9!) talk A LOT.

That means that you end up sharing a significant amount of information with each other on a typical one- or two-hour-long run.

No topic seems to be untouchable. And, yes, guys you're just as chatty as us chicas.

Kids, spouses, jobs. The Walking Dead plot twists, latest books read, who might be killed next on Game of Thrones. They're all fair game.

The stories flow, no matter who we're running with. It could be because we're all delirious from the heat, exhaustion and dehydration. Or it could be that the act of running in and of itself breaks down some barriers.

I've run with several ultra marathoners (a couple of them have run 50Ks on purpose). I've run with close friends. And I've been paired up with people I've never met until we decided on-the-spot to go knock out a few miles.

Each person has opened up to me -- and I to them. The conversations inevitably start with the run itself, progress into running experiences (and injuries, of course) and eventually delve into family and home or work life.

Seldom is advice sought, or given. Even so, the conversation feels like a cathartic experience. The run allowing us to pour our worries on the road and to leave them there when our GPS watches and smart phones tell us we can go home now.

Regardless of the topic, I'm always left feeling like what we shared -- both the run itself and what we talked about -- is, maybe not sacred, but certainly worthy of respect. And of keeping close to the vest. To keep to oneself.

I don't know that all runners honor this unwritten rule, but as we shake hands, hug or take a picture after our run, there's something left unsaid but that hangs in the air with promise. Promise that we both know we were there for each other while we worked out problems. That we were there as we shared our hurt or joy. And that we'll be there when we're needed again.

Even if it's just for a few miles. It certainly feels like a privilege whether it's legally binding or not.