Racecancer’s Boston 5k Summer Series: Race #3

I love a race series especially one that takes place along the gorgeous and historic Charles River in Boston.

How did I get so lucky to call this my running path?

Thursday July 17th marked the third installment of Racecancer's Boston Summer 5k Series.

I competed in Race 1 on May 29, but missed Race 2 on June 12 due to injury.

When I woke up on July 17, I wasn't feeling it. I was just having one of those days when I wasn't in the mood to race. I think it happens to all of us at one time or another.

But, I knew I would feel better if I went, saw friends and just hit the pavement.

I arrived early for the race since I misread my calendar as to what time it started. Oops! I took the extra time to get some pre-run walking and stretching in.

I was deciding whether I would run both 5ks offered - the women's only 5k was kicking off at 7 and the co-ed 5k would follow at 7:30. I was going to wait and decide after race #1.

The women lined up just before 7 for pre-race announcements.

Not sure why I look so tall compared to everyone else. Hmm... For the record I am 5-8.

Also for the record, I was NOT posing in this photo. It just looks that way. ;)

Do you guys like my Race Ragz blog shirt? It was only the second time I wore it in a race.

As the pre-race jitters sunk in (like they do for every single race I participate in), I tried to block them out and turn it into fuel.

I had no expectations for the race time-wise and was just going to get out there and enjoy the atmosphere.

The course is basically the same for every race so I wouldn't have any surprises during the 3.1 miles.

After a 10 second countdown, we were OFF!

Ladies zoomed past me and I was okay with that. I wasn't going to PR and I needed to stay in my own game.

We crossed over the Eliot St bridge just before Mile 1 and I had to snap a pic.

How beautiful is that?

Mile 1: 7:48

It was hot and humid. I don't normally run in sleeves so I had to keep tucking my sleeves back under the strap of my sports bra. Having wardrobe malfunctions or annoyances while running is never fun.

And of course a halfway point selfie for everyone's enjoyment. ;) This was actually the second attempt at the selfie as the first was horrendous. Yes my mid-run selfies are not always perfect on the first try. :P

I want to thank the race for having two water stops during the 5k loop. They were both needed and appreciated.

Mile 2: 7:59

Since I was once again running without music, I needed something to occupy my mind for the final mile so I took in the people around me. I was trying to remember if any were around me during the first race in the series. I also had a blast watching this young girl - maybe around 10 or so - running with her mom. She kept looking over her shoulder to see if any of us were about to pass her.

I loved her fire and tenacity. Part of me wanted to step it up a notch to see what she would do, but I really wanted her to have that moment with her mom. So I hung back.

I also want to thank the race for providing free race photos to participants. It is such a rare thing these days. This photo was about 1/2 a mile from the Finish.

I gave it all I could for the final 1/2 mile, but between heat and my overall tiredness it felt like I was moving in place or I was on a treadmill. Has anyone else felt that during a run? I looked down just to confirm I was in fact moving forward.

As I neared the Finish Line, I looked to my right and saw a couple having a picnic - on the ground - among the geese. Ummm not my idea of a romantic date - umm hi goose poop - but they looked like they were having a phenomenal time.

Mile 3: 7:56

I crossed the Finish Line and went directly to the water jugs.

Let me tell you how much I did NOT feel like I was running sub 8's. Prior to my watch buzzing at Mile 1, I really expected to see a 9:30-ish pace. I just felt heavy and hot the entire race.

So while I am excited to see the final time, I really felt off the entire run. I don't think I could've done anything different. I was properly hydrated. I had plenty of fuel prior to the race. I was stretched. I think the heat/humidity was just there. Hi Summer! ;)

Once the first race was over, I was chatting with my friend George and seriously considering running the second 5k slowly. A cool down if you will. But as the time passed prior to the second race, the achiness in my left hammy was increasing. So I listened to my body and headed home.

Start to Coed 5k

With my weekly weigh-in the next morning I opted out of the post-race party at Miller's Boston Ale House sponsored by Long Trail Brewing. But man I could've used a beer after that race.

That night I looked at the race results for the women's only race and I was nowhere to be found. Hmm... I know from my mid-run selfie that I was in fact in there. After a quick tweet to the race organizers, I was told some people were missing from the electronic results, but were still on the manual list. It didn't take them long to fix the mistake. Thanks!

My 24:19 (7:50 min/mile pace) placed me 33rd overall out of 108 and 11th out of 35 in my division.

I am looking forward to hopefully being a little healthier for Race #4 of the series on Thursday, August 14 sponsored by Clown Shoes. Want to join me? You can still register here.

***

Have you ever participated in a women's only 5k?

Monday Musings: Tori's Birthday & Iron Girl Triathlon Weekend

The weekend started off just the way I wanted it to ... with a happy result on the scale.

Despite being in the negative with my Weight Watchers Points, I still shed 1.6 lbs. Woo!

Now I have been consistently going to the Friday 8am WW meeting since my temp job ended, but Friday I had to skip. Now know I had a good reason AND I had promised to go on Saturday at 8am instead.

Why did I have to meet my meeting?

For a nice long bike ride with my friend Darcie. I'm so glad Darcie and I could connect for another long bike ride. Since the ride began in the city, I had a lot of clipping practice (clipping my bike shoe in and out of the pedals) as well as biking with traffic (cars, changing lanes, etc). We also tackled some big hills, which at the time I didn't know how handy that would be for later in the weekend.

I am still pretty new to biking outside so I was proud of my improvement ... and fell off the bike for a second time. Again it happened while at a complete stop. The first fall was into mulch and this time into grass. So at least both falls had some cushion. ;)

It's crazy how long a long bik ride takes when you count travel time to the ride start, actual ride time, breaks while riding and then traveling home. I left at 7:15am and returned home just after Noon.

Once the bike ride was out of the way, I could focus on the real highlight of Friday ... the wife's birthday!

She turned 34 on Friday. We started the celebration early with a trip to Legoland Discovery Center Boston (which is actually located at Assembly Row in Somerville) on Wednesday night. There is an adult night once a month and July's ended up during Tori's Birthday week. Hello Birthday Gods! It was a BLAST. I will be sharing more details and pictures of the event in another blog post.

On her birthday itself, we met for a nice dinner at Pizzeria Regina at Station Landing in Medford before she used her new birthday gift cards at the Lego Store.

Not sure her smile could get any wider. And yes I was the mastermind behind the Birthday Message. It is pretty much the peak of my Lego skills.

We headed home after the Lego purchase to share a bottle of our favorite wine - Door County Peninsula Winery Sunset Splash - and watched Spaceballs.

It was a great low-key night.

***

I woke up Saturday and decided to walk to and from the Weight Watchers meeting. It was fun to sit in on a new group, especially since I would be subbing in as Leader for the very group next week. It should definitely be a fun time. Plus, my friend Heather is the Leader so I love checking out her meetings.

After walking home, I made sure to clean my bike up since I would be racking it that day - the day before the race rather than the day of. This would be the first time I would leave Roxie alone at a race set-up so I was nervous. But I knew Iron Girl would have the space secured.

The Iron Girl Webster Sprint Tri that I would be competing in with Got Chocolate Milk was just over an hour away from the Boston area so we started the trek West early. Thank goodness we did as there was bumper-to-bumper traffic all over the Mass Pike. But, my neurotic need to leave the house early paid off as we arrived at the Expo just in time. Phew! The last thing you want to do it be late to an Expo that you are speaking at.

That's right. I had the pleasure of taking part in a Q&A Panel with Chocolate Milk Captain Chrisann Dalton. She is one amazingly energetic, compassionate and fierce human and athlete. She completed Iron Man Kona last year with Hines Ward. Yeah, bad ass lady! :)

Following the panel, which was super fun, we hosted a mile Shake Out run. It was great to see so many ladies coming out to stretch, shake out the nerves and refuel with some low-fat chocolate milk with us.

I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. Many of these women were coming out for their first triathlon and hearing the excitement in their voices got me even MORE pumped up for the following day.

Once the Shake Out run was over, it was time to quickly rack my bike at the race site, which was less than a mile from the Expo, before making the trek back home.

I wish we could've stayed out in Webster, but we needed to take care of the pups. So our afternoon/evening was light with a quick lunch at a mall's food court (salad wrap from D'Angelos for me) and some wheat pasta/sauce for dinner.

At the Expo we learned that the water would be too warm to wear our wetsuits. I slightly freaked out as I hadn't raced in just my tri kit yet, but I was ready to give it a whirl. But first I needed to get more comfortable in it. So yes I put it on and wore it around the house for awhile. Just to get the feel.

It was hard to NOT be self-conscious in it as it is designed to be fitted, but I was trying to push those negative thoughts out of my head.

With a glass of red wine, my Zensah compression shorts and socks on, and some Netflix, I spent Saturday night relaxing and making sure I turned in early because...

***

... the alarm went off Sunday morning at 4am. Yes folks you read that right. The race began at 7am and we had about an hour drive ahead of us. So out the door by 4:45 was the game plan. Since it was so early in the morning, we thankfully hit little to no traffic and pulled into the parking lot at 5:52. Woo! We hopped on the shuttle and made our way to the Start area so I could get my stuff set up in transition.

I will share more details about the race itself in a separate recap post, but here are some pics to enjoy in the meantime.

The race was a great experience. There are plenty of things I need to improve on, but I am taking away how strong I felt, how much fun I had high-fiving and cheering on the other ladies during the race and the amazing feeling I had crossing that Finish Line.

After the race, we had to walk my bike the mile back to the car, which was a nice little cool down. But, when I got to the car it was only about 10:30am. Ha! I really thought it was 2pm by then. I guess that is what happens when one gets up at 4am.

We hit a Dunkins before getting back on the high way home.

How did the rest of Sunday go?

Lazy. 100% lazy.

I wore compression. I snuggled puppies. I lounged. I stretched. I watched Netflix. I celebrated with a delicious beer. I read comments from other Iron Girl Finishers. I smiled.

And it was awesome!!

***

Every Monday I say how I wish the weekends were longer, but it is true. The adventures are amazing and I wouldn't change anything I need to go through to make them happen.

So now I turn back to my training plan and write out the next week. No racing this week so all practice all the time.

***

How did you celebrate your weekend?

Iron Girl Webster Race Prep w/ Got Chocolate Milk Expo Fun

It's almost time for...

IRON GIRL WEBSTER

YAY!

I cannot wait for this medal to me miiinneee!!

On Sunday (July 20) I will be taking on my first triathlon of the season and my third triathlon overall (all Sprint Tris). The Iron Girl Webster race, which I will be completing on behalf of Got Chocolate Milk, consists of a

1/3 mile swim ... 12 mile bike ... 3 mile run

But before I can even make it to Sunday, there is some race prep that has to go down.

Where to begin?

Step One: Lay out everything I need for Race Day

I find it helpful to lay my gear out by category.

Category 1: Outfit.

Choice for Iron Girl Webster? My Got Chocolate Milk Tri Kit, my Garmin watch and a Sparkle Athletic Skirt.

Not pictured Zensah sports bra.

This will be my base for the day, except I will NOT be wearing the Sparkle Athletic skirt in the water. ;)

Category 2: Transition Area.

I love to use my Asics towel as my base. On top of that base goes all accessories, fuel and "just in case" stuff. I like to keep a water bottle, a handheld water bottle (if I want it for the run), a KIND bar, my ENERGYBits and sunglasses.

Category 3: The Swim.

So apparently I cut off the most important part of the swim attire - goggles. Ha. So my swim gear includes goggles, swim cap (usually one issued by the race itself), wetsuit and a towel to clear off my feet to transition to the bike.

Do you like the sweet Nestle towel I have? I got it when the Nesquik Bunny visited me back in March. :)

Category 4: The Bike.

Once I maneuver the wetsuit off - hopefully without falling :P - and the feet are dry, it is time to secure my Sparkly Soul headband before putting on my helmet. You can get penalized if you are moving with the bike and not having your helmet on so I make sure it is one of the first thing I put on for the bike.

This will be my first time using Bike Shoes so once the helmet is on, I will put on my Zensah compression sleeves, attach my race belt which will already have my number on it and slip into the shoes.

Category 5: The Run.

The final transition should be the easiest. Bike shoes and helmet off ... visor and sneakers on.

Once I give everything a once over - adding the race bib and bike number - it all goes into my big IKEA bag (yup classy) and it sits by the front door. This way I won't forget anything.

But since it is Friday and I have everything in order I can pick up last-minute times at...

Step Two: The Expo

On Saturday (June 19), I will be heading to Webster to attend the Iron Girl Expo - pick up my bib, purchase anything I might be missing and to hopefully see friends and readers. Oh and I won't just be attending, I will be co-hosting some things.

Whhaaa??

I know.

My Got Chocolate Milk teammate Chrisann and I will be co-hosting:

** Q&A Panel at 12:30pm

...to answer any last-minute questions participants may have, while sharing some of our stories as well. Oh and of course I will be sharing how much low-fat Chocolate Milk plays into my training. :)

** Shake Out Run at 1:30pm

...to shake out the legs, but also the nerves. It is will light and easy and topped off with some low-fat Chocolate Milk. Yay!

** Booth Time til 3:00pm

...Chrisann and I will be at the Got Chocolate Milk booth following the Shake Out Run to meet participants. Please come by and say hi!! Let's take a selfie!

After the Expo I will be heading home to...

Step Three: Refuel, Recharge and Rest

Saturday Night will be a nice lowkey time spent at home with my foam roller, compression shorts and socks and a little pasta. Oh don't forget the water too. Staying hydrated is important.

Plus the alarm clock will be going off super early on Sunday so I need my beauty rest. :0)

Step Four: Race Day

HAVE FUN!! In case one forgets, these races are supposed to be joyful and exciting. So I will be turning the butterflies into fuel and remembering what Tedy Bruschi told us:

The Start Line is the Finish Line and the race is the party!

***

Now many folks might be wondering how to refuel after the race itself.

Here are the top five tips from Got Chocolate Milk and I:

1. Ice muscles. Cooling down muscles post-exercise in short bursts (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off) could reduce inflammation, muscle soreness and speed the path to recovery.
2. Compression. To get back to your training schedule and regain energy quickly, try wearing compression garments, which can help decrease the time it takes for muscles to recover between intense bouts of exercise.
3. Active Recovery. Gentle movement improves circulation, which promotes nutrient and waste product transport through the body to help muscles repair faster. Try a light jog at the scenic Midstate Trail or explore Lake Chaubunagungamaug.
4. Lowfat Chocolate Milk. Looking for a convenient post workout snack? 20+ studies support the benefits of lowfat chocolate milk for post-exercise recovery and research shows it has the right mix of protein and carbs to help athletes recover quickly so they can start preparing for their next challenge.
5. Roll it out. Much of the soreness that goes along with exercise occurs when muscles become knotted; rolling out muscles with foam rollers can help remove these knots and promote recovery.

***

What's left?

Goals.

Number 1: Have Fun!

Number 2: Finish!

Number 3: Learn! I am using this as a test for the Pumpkinman Half Ironman I am doing in September. I will need to remember what worked and what didn't so I can alter the plan before The Sharon Tri on August 10.

***

Are you participating in Iron Girl Webster? Will I see you Saturday at the Q&A or Shake Out Run?

Replacing "Before & After" with "Then & Now"

Transformation Tuesday is a big craze where folks share their Before and After photos for weight loss, fitness accomplishments, etc.

Before and After photos have been around for ages. We all know what they are I assume.

This was in September 2011 and should've been titled Before and During

I couldn't wait to share my own Before and After photos once I hit Goal with Weight Watchers. I would finally reach my after and blast those comparison pictures wherever I could.

The dreaded Before. I look back on those before pictures with disgust at how big I got. I can remember how pained I was. Smiles forced.

Being able to post that hatred next to a beaming After photo pushed me through tough patches both mentally and physically.

But as I reached that forsaken After in January 2012, it didn't feel as euphoric as I wanted.

I was ready for more. The After wasn't truly the end... to me at least.

New Afters were swirling through my head:

* Run a sub 4-hour marathon

* Try a triathlon

* Tackle my fear of obstacle races

* Improve my pace

* Run farther

* Race around the world ... okay that is more race in places around the world ;) I'm not that much of a distance runner yet

How could I use the phrase "Before and After" when I wanted to
stop hating my Before and what I defined as "After" kept changing?

For months this little thought has been growing and cultivating in the back of my mind. What could I use instead? Sharing my story helps keep me motivated, while inspiring others to chase their dreams. But I can't handle the Before and After title.

Here's my idea:

Let's replace Before and After with Then and Now.

Then and Now offers a more open-ended comparison between two different phases in my life. It takes any negative connotation I may imply by shunning the Before and celebrating the After. I can continue to work to love the former me even when comparing it to the current me, which I am still working to embrace - faults and all.

Then and Now allows me to spread my wings and continue pushing my own envelope and expanding that comfort zone.

Will you join me in the movement? Let's celebrate the Then and Now!

Face It Friday: Feelin' Good 7/11/14

Livin' La Vida ... balanced! Okay that doesn't really flow like Livin' La Vida Loca, but work with me.

I hit the massive reset button on June 13! I faced the scale and realized I was up 15.8 lbs from the week before I started the temp job (Feb 20).

Not okay! There are plenty of excuses I could throw out there, but the blame lies on me.

It is the most amount of weight I had gained back since hitting goal in January 2012.

But it took that shock to snap me back to reality. To reassess what was working and what wasn't.

So I have gotten back to basics.

I've refocused and am holding myself accountable.

And it has helped 11.8 lbs to be gone. Now the first week of being "back on plan" resulted in a 6+ lb loss, which was mainly bloating and water weight.

***

How did it start?

Getting back into the meeting room!

Sitting my butt back into the green chair has been exactly what I have been looking for. Since becoming a WW leader, I didn't have the time to get to a meeting since I was mainly leading all the convenient times. ;) But now I am making it a priority and it feels nice to put the member hat back on.

It was my Success Story that really sparked that for me. Since I went on and on about my love of meetings.

I got over attending a meeting I used to lead and it's been worth it.

After refocusing the meeting room, it has been tracking.

Novel concept I know. ;0)

Has it been perfect tracking? Absolutely not, but guesstimating - especially on the weekend - is a form of accountability.

My food scale and measuring cups are back out on the counters. Oh portion control!

Especially chips!! I love throwing broken pieces of chips on the food scale to get myself spot on with the serving size. Grams are easy for me to work with than "about 6 chips."

Oh hey Good Health Guidelines! Allowing the WW Healthy Checks to shape my day has made me feel healthier overall.

But at the heart of it all, I had to remind myself that I am worth it as well as my fitness goals. Eating for training and my activity goals has reframed my choices.

Still asking myself that question:

“Will X help me achieve my goal?”

And yes pizza and sangria sometimes do help! ;)

Balance!

So limiting my indulgences to the weekend or a special occasion during the week has actually been easier than I thought. Sometimes climbing back on the wagon is tough, but it has felt easy. You know that means my body and mind were ready for it.

During this time, I felt ashamed of the weight gain, but life happens - which can be an excuse. But it has been a learning experience, there are things I have learned from WW that I must continue to relearn and keep as a priority if I want to have success with weight maintenance. :)

Some people don't have to keep tracking, but this girl needs to. It keeps me accountable and my portion sizes in control.

***

It was funny after indulging on Saturday with the wife in Ogunquit, Maine, I was ready to get back to "normal" on Sunday. I think that is a good sign.

***

How was your week?

My Fourth Of July Weekend

Hurricane Arthur rolled into town during the Fourth of July weekend here in Boston, which altered the non-existent plans I had for the weekend. Ha! This year the wife and I had zero invites for BBQs. Not sure if I need to take that personally or count it as a blessing.

For my little ego, I will go with the latter. ;)

The weekend started Thursday with the Finish At the 50 10k.

While the race wasn't what I expected, I still love starting a long weekend off with a run.

***

On July 4th itself, I met my friend Darcie for a long bike ride outside. It was my first 30+ mile bike ride and we had the pleasure of experiencing sun, cold and rain while out on the bike. But I made it through...

... even when we had to carry our bikes over trees that were down on the path.

The rest of the day was spent snuggling in bed with the wife and pups. It was raining, thundering and blistering outside so it was great to hide away inside catching up on Netflix. I needed a serious chill day and it was perfect.

***

Saturday proved to be a nicer day so the wife and I took the dogs for a little walk so that we could get coffee.

After attempting to tire the dogs out, the wife and I piled into the car and headed to Ogunquit for the day. It is one of our favorite places in Maine. Plus, it is a decent 80-90 min ride from Boston, which is doable for a day trip.

Once we parked the car, it was time to get some steps in before lunch.

Marginal Way spans about a mile from Ogunquit Beach to Perkins Cove and is a great way to see the ocean.

Plus it helps to work up an appetite. Even though I ate my grapes while on the walk, I was ready for pizza.

Every trip to Ogunquit includes a trip to Corner Stone Pizza, our favorite restaurant in town.

I mean YUMMM!!

And yes I tracked every single delicious bite of pizza and sangria. :)

Following lunch, we popped down to Ogunquit Beach to walk along the ocean. I mean is there anything better than walking along the ocean, hand-in-hand with the person you love?

The beach was full of families, friends playing games and of course the occasional seagull eating a dead fish. The wife attempted to skip rocks, while I opted to just dip my toes in the ocean.

Looking at the water made us wish we were there for a full vacation, but I will take an afternoon whenever I can.

When I arrived home from a perfect New England Saturday, I was met with a great gift from my cousin Jen - a wine glass asking me to be one of her bridesmaids. :)

Jen on the left & me on the right

How creative? But, she forgot to include the wine. Silly girl.

***

All weekend I was looking forward to Sunday.

"But Dani, why? Sunday just means Monday is the next day?"

I know I know. On this Sunday however, I would be running with my girl Sarah from Mom Running On Empty and her husband Rob. I picked them up from their hotel at 7:15am and we headed to the Charles River for a fun 10-mile run.

Thankfully I know the Charles River pretty well from endless training runs so I mapped out a two loop run so we could stash water at my car for a mid-run pitstop.

Oh hey, mid-run selfie masters

It was a great way to catch up with out-of-town friends and took care of the indulging I had done the day before. :)

I <3 balance!

The rest of Sunday was designated for meal prep, blog catch up and prepping the launch of the F.A.S.T. virtual 5k and 10k.

The F.A.S.T. virtual 5k and 10k is taking place July 27-August 3 to benefit Tedy's Team and the American Stroke Association.

If you want more info on the virtual race, please read more here.

***

All in all it was one amazing long weekend with my wife and friends. :)

How was your Fourth of July weekend?

Ladies, have you run with the Boston Luna Chix? You should!

Are you a Boston area lady runner? Have you been looking for a new running buddy? Or two? Or 10?

Do you need some extra accountability to get out at least once a week and log some miles?

Is having fun during a run a priority?

If you answered yes to any - and hopefully all - of these questions then the Boston Luna Chix are for you!

LUNA Chix Local Teams bring together women interested in learning new sports, staying active and inspiring others to do the same.

The Boston Luna Chix runs out of the Athleta on Newbury Street on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm. The group meets in the back of the Athleta store, where there is a bathroom to use, a water fountain and a place to store your bag during the run (yes someone is watching it while you are out on the town).

The Team LUNA Chix Boston Run team seeks to invite, inspire and encourage women to get outside and play, while raising money and awareness for the Breast Cancer Fund.

Once you are signed in, the group meets outside of the store to stretch, share names, catch up on what the Boston Luna Chix have on the social schedule and celebrate any participants hitting a Luna Chix milestone. Milestones include 5 runs attended, 10 runs attended, etc.

And I snap a pic of my sweet Sparkle. ;)

The group offers a 3 or 4 mile run.

I had heard a lot of great things about the group from a couple of my former Weight Watchers members, who are both on the Team Luna Chix team and participants of the group run.

But heading in to a new group of folks I didn't know made me nervous. I don't really know why, but I was. So I talked my friend and fellow WW Leader Susan to come with me. :)

Yay peer pressure. ;)

I don't know WHY I was so nervous the group was SUPER inviting and a great group of women.

Personally, I have only done the 3-ish mile loop because it has worked into my training plans that way. But both loops take you along the gorgeous Charles River.

Thankfully the Charles has water fountains along the path so during the 3-miles we have two-three places to stop if needed.

The group heads out from Newbury St and safely (of course) makes our way through the few blocks to the bridge to the Charles.

There is a water stop at the half way mark, which really works out half way at 1.55 miles. Nice work ladies! ;)

After making sure all participants have hit the half way mark and refueled, the ladies of Team Luna Chix lead us back to the Athleta store.

It is a great time to chat and meet new folks. This group actually gave me the chance to meet a few of my Twitter/online friends in real life. How amazing is that?

Plus, I use it as an excuse to hang out with my friends as well. :) Want to hang out? Well come meet me at Athleta at 6:30 on Wednesday. Done!

Many folks worry about not finding someone in their pace at a group run - not a problem here at the Luna Chix. The ladies of Team Luna really do run the gamut of paces. There are speedsters, run/walk method, middle-of-the-packers, back-of-the-packers, folks that like to take pictures while running, selfies, etc.

When the run is done, the group meets back at Athleta to stretch, rehydrate, snap pics and snack on a mini Luna bar or two (2 PPV each).

Can you see the phone in the right corner? Selfie of a selfie baby with Catie!

This past Wednesday marked my fifth Luna Chix run club which meant??? I got the gift. Yay!

I love mini Luna bars. Thanks for the gift ladies.

In addition to the run itself, the group has a great Facebook page for support and sharing opportunities to meet with other members outside of the weekly run. The Luna Chix also have a monthly mixer following the last run of the month. June's mixer took place at UNO's and a portion of the money spent went to the Breast Cancer Fund.

The Boston Luna Chix sum themselves up pretty well:

The women on our team share a passion for tying our laces and hitting the road, trails, and anything else in our way. By teaming-up with LUNA, we’re able to promote our commitment to healthy living and increase the participation of women in sports.

And they do it well.

So if you are free on a Wednesday night and you are feeling like you want to run 3 or 4 miles with laughs and smiles, head to Athleta and tell the Boston Luna Chix I sent ya! ;)

Photo Courtesy Boston Luna Chix

Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Festival Part 5: Final Thoughts

The Heartbreak Hill Festival was just one month ago. What's amazing is that I have thought fondly of the festival, races, experiences, drinks and laughs every day since then!

If you missed the first four parts of this series ;) please check 'em out: Selfies & More, Kids & Dogs Running, Five & Dime, & the Half Marathon.

***

How could I not relive one amazing weekend when I had the pleasure of spending it with these fine - ummm serious - folks?

In case you don't know, the bloggers I had the honor of spending the weekend with were:

• Katie of Runs For Cookies
• Sarah of Sarah Fit
• Jason of  Strength Running
• Matt of No Meat Athlete
• Anne of Fannetastic Food
• Amanda of Run To The Finish
• Katy of Katy Widrick
• Caitlin of Healthy Tipping Point 
• Charlene of Fab Running
• Theodora of Preppy Runner
• Presley of Run Pretty
• Karla of Run Karla Run
• Heather of Relentless Forward Commotion
• Marnie of Run Street
• Sarah of Picky Runner
• Larisa of Larisa Dixon
• Jessica of Keeping Mommy Sane
• Julie of Peanut Butter Fingers

If you have free time, please check out their blogs as all are amazing, motivating and inspiring people.

Plus, there are even a few of them that will allow me to lead them on a seemingly endless walk  - at night - in Boston - to find the closest liquor store just so we can sit around a dorm room common area and talk running and blogging.

Never in a million years would this sound like an amazingly fun night/adventure ... but it was!

***

During the four days, we had the honor of meeting my BFF Shalane Flanagan (PS she might not be in the loop on the whole BFF thing) and the outstanding Sarah Reinertsen.

While we had the good fortune to have a private meet and greet with both (Thanks Runner's World), the ladies could be found all weekend at various Festival events. Every time I saw them they were happily chatting with participants and posing for selfies left and right. These two women are gracious and down-to-earth ... just as I thought they would be.

***

I am still not sure how I got on Runner's World's radar to be invited to the event as a blogger, but I am wicked thankful I was.

They offered a Scavenger Hunt for the bloggers to fight to the death over have fun with during the weekend. Can we guess that I took it rather seriously? Did I know what the prize was? Not at all, but I wanted to win. :o)

It gave me the opportunity to take obnoxious photos for a purpose. ;)

And trying to thank the sponsors all in one photo.

Sexy, right?

The Scavenger Hunt took my love of an Expo to the next level as some of the sponsors were kind enough to hook bloggers up.

Like The Stick!

That's Patrick, the brains behind The Stick, working out my knots with the Trigger Wheel. I already own a Stick, which I use on a daily basis, so I was interested in hearing about the other products he has.

The Trigger Wheel is easier to use on smaller muscle groups, close to the bone areas or on your head, as demonstrated.

Working the smaller muscle groups it does! I've had trouble with my neck since a college rugby injury and the wheel got deeper into the knots than I can on my own. I would HIGHLY recommend the Trigger Wheel if you need help in the neck and shoulder region. But, I was even using it on my legs since I had forgotten my Stick at home.

If you are looking for some pre and post race stretching, I highly recommend checking out The Stick. Plus they offer free shipping!

***

Beyond the physical accomplishments, there were a couple of emotional lessons learned.

1) I am still working on inner confidence. During a portion of the weekend, I felt extremely self-conscious and hid from an activity in the bathroom. Umm yeah not normal. But I just had to remove myself as I could feel the anxiety building up inside. However, hiding in the bathroom with some tears, is not the answer. I need to learn to remain in a tough situation and find the positive. Instead of immediately telling myself I was not worthy to be there I needed to think of all the reasons why I most certainly did.

2) "Never take a finish line for granted." Courtesy Sarah Reinertsen. There are times I can get caught up in the training, the poor Finish times and the races where I felt like I failed myself. But, I need to take it back, to the days before I even considered toeing up to the Start Line. Recharge. Plus, you never know what can happen in life in both fitness journeys and life in general. This phrase crosses many phases of life.

***

Finally, the life of the back-of-the-pack runner. In my first marathon, I finished third to last. I remember the race director driving up to me and letting me know the course would be closing in a couple minutes so I had to finish within 6 hours or the course would be done. I crossed the line in 5:59:27 with zero fan fair, no food, massage chairs deserted and a pretty lonely Finish Area.

But as my journey has progressed, I've slowly but surely moved to the front-ish middle-ish part of the pack. I normally don;t have problems with water stops or a lack of crowd support.

So I was drawn to a post by fellow blogger Heather about her experience in the back-of-the-pack at Heartbreak Hill Half. I'm proud of Heather for sharing her thoughts and the discussions that happened among runners and race directors as a result.

Everyone deserves the same race experience and I applaud Runner's World for addressing the issues brought up in the blog posts.

I hope this only enhances the next Heartbreak Hill Festival. If you are interested in participating in this event next year (you know I will), be sure to sign up for email notifications.

***

So once again I thank Runner's World and my fellow bloggers for a weekend that I will never forget... the laughs and medals will live on.

Just watch out for the RA when drinking in a dorm - even if you are over 21! ;)

Dani Dishes 7-7-14

On this episode of Dani Dishes, it is time to do a life/job update, share about Half Ironman worries, talk about getting Back On Track & a F.A.S.T. virtual 5k/10k announcement! More F.A.S.T. race info!

T-minus 2 months 'til that little Half Ironman

Soooo remember when I decided to go waaayyyy out of my comfort zone and sign up for that teeny tiny race they call a Half Ironman? Yeah that teeny tiny race is just 2 months away.

Ahhhhh ... commence freak out!

Prior to signing up, I have completed two Sprint Triathlons. Yup - that's it. I guess I was going for a go big or go home type situation there.

I felt lost at the beginning of training. I wished I could afford a coach, but it wasn't in the cards.

Thankfully NYC Running Mama suggested the book pictured above.

This book offers a ton of different training plans from the beginner to someone trying to land on the podium at their next Sprint to Full Ironman. All levels and distances are covered. Phew!

I'm not really sure what level I am at so I went with intermediate for now. I thought it was a decent guess. Right?

Can you tell I am getting wicked scientific in this training cycle? :)

So let's break down the different parts of the Half Ironman?

***

SWIMMING

I owe a HUGE thanks to my parents for starting my swim lessons as a baby. I may not be fast in the water, but I feel comfortable there. I love getting into the water, tuning out the world and feeling light as a feather. There is no weight issues in the pool or ocean. Now, I know weight, etc affects the speed and outcome, but I don't feel self-conscious when I am in the water. It takes that anxiety away from me ... even just for that small period of time.

I am quite the sophisticated swimmer as I jot down the workout on a sweet post-it note that is usually soaked through by the cool down. ;) The book does a great job of breaking down the purpose and benefit of each type of swim exercise. Am I 100% sure I am doing it correctly? Nope. But I am trying my hardest and I know that the meters adding up is the most important thing I can do.

Trying to condition my body to get ready to swim 1.2 miles before doing those other two little sections.

While at the Heartbreak Hill Running Festival, Sarah Reinertsen - one of the most inspirational athletes around - shared how she exhausts her arms on the swim during her Ironman because you don't really use them the rest of the race. I am trying to take that to heart during practice swims by using the arms as much as possible and resting the legs. It is giving me something to focus on and improve.

So far in training I have swum at least 1 mile straight and felt comfortable. On race day, I will need to swim the 1.2 miles in less than 1 hour to continue on in the race. Those time limits are always looming in the back of my head.

BUT, I know pool swimming and open water swimming are very different so I am working on putting on my big girl pants and getting out into the open waters...

***

BIKING

By FAR my weakest portion of the triathlon. Well it is also my least favorite so those two things could go hand in hand. :0)

I made a pledge to work on my biking this winter so I set up the free-to-me (thanks old tenant) bike trainer. :)

It was a great way to cross train for the marathons when I didn't want to leave the house. Or a way to watch a show I wanted to watch, but be productive while doing it.

I am working on following the training plan, but tweaking to fit my needs and plans on the weekend. But in May I started taking the bike outside.

I get very worried about falling off the bike and getting a flat tire. I am still not used to shifting the gears and now clip pedals. Last month, I purchased new pedals that have clips on one side and are flat on the other so you can still bike in sneakers if you want. I want to have the options. Ya know?

Thankfully my friend Darcie is a more experienced biker than I so she and I have gone out on some long rides together.

On July 4th came the biggest bike ride of my career, over 30 miles while working on clipping, hills, shifting, riding in traffic and inclement weather. And you know what? I survived.

Now I know for the race I will need to up the speed. I think we figured that we will need to keep at least a 15.0 mph. Now on this day, we were dealing with stoplights and people on the bike path so I think we were going an appropriate speed outside of those moments. But, speed is something I need to work on.

Hey, I am happy with the progress I have made thus far.

I tested out the camelback on the ride and it was perfect. I am not comfortable enough taking my hands off the handlebars to take a drink - damn balance - so the camelback allowed me to stay steady and hydrated.

I also knocked off my first fall. Now it wasn't a huge fall. Okay it happened while I was at a stop, but I got it over with. :) I successfully clipped the right shoe out, but forgot about the left and over I went into a nice piled of mulch. Ha. Darcie was the only person who got to witness it.

It felt great to tackle such a big ride. I know I have a long ways to go, but I am going in the right direction.

***

RUNNING

Let's just say I never thought I would be least worried about running. ;) I have been battling a left hamstring injury for a while so the running hasn't been my main focus. I think my body is pretty conditioned right now and I am trying to focus on the swimming and biking as much as possible to keep the cardio up.

I know once the leg feels better I will need to get back into the BRICK workouts - 2 parts of the triathlon back-to-back.

I'm hoping by now no matter how tired I will be I can make it through a half marathon. (Again never thought I would write something like that)

***

The timing scares me the most. You must be out of the water in 1 hour and done with the course in 8. So when my music died in the water the other day, I spent the entire time working out "worst case scenarios" in my head.

Okay if it takes me 1 hour to swim and 3 hours to run that gives me 4 hours to bike. Etc Etc.

While I work on the physical training, I know the mental needs even more help. The confidence needs to be there on race day since there is no music allowed in triathlons. So for most of this it will be me and my thoughts together ... alone ... for hours. I will need to stay positive and focused. Oh and singing to myself. That is a given.

So with two months to go, I will continue to improve, to study, to learn and to push my limits.

Adios comfort zone ... hello Half Ironman!