Rocket City Marathon Race Report: 12-12-2015

I have been resting all weekend. I started feeling somewhat puny due to sinuses drainage and a sore throat on Friday, and it gradually got worse this weekend. Long story short, my sinus infection gave me a middle ear infection. I have never had this before, and WOW, talk about painful. That's what my stubborn self gets for waiting to go to the doctor! New Year's Resolution for 2016: Find a allergy/sinus doctor so I can figure out why I get sinus infections so often, and then find some better immunity pills; I was doing SO well on the ones I had, but now I'm beginning to wonder....

So, it still hurts to hear loud noises, and my ear has been ringing/stinging all day. I can't really drive and go anywhere (hooray for pain medicine)...therefore, the perfect time to blog right?! :)

ROCKET CITY MARATHON, DEC.12, 2015---4:45:07

 Wow, talk about a surprising but great day! The weather that day was HOT...it reached the 70s in December! As you can see in the picture above, I finished strong, but wow, was I sweaty and HOT! This was my 3rd road marathon distance. It was surprising for me that day because, yes, I trained well, but I didn't train to PR or anything due to my knee injury in June. I have slowed down since my knee injury, but I am slowly getting back to the old me. Surprisingly though, I didn't have my worst marathon, but I didn't have my best. I even beat my marathon time from the St Jude Country Music Marathon which is a HOT marathon in late April, however, I didn't beat last year's Rocket City Marathon time (4:35:53....brrr, what a cold day!), but I was shocked to how close I got to it! So, YAY ME! :)

WHAT MAKES ROCKET CITY A GREAT FIRST MARATHON? 

1) For the ones that live in North Alabama, what a great local race! If you don't live close, there is so much to do and great places to stay in the Huntsville/Madison area. :) 

2) The course is relatively flat and it changes up a lot so you aren't on the same road or street for a long time. Yes, it has some incline to it, but compared to some halves and even a full that I did in Tennessee, this is way flatter than most races of this distances in this area. I also love how you run through some great areas like the downtown area (beautiful houses!), the Space and Rocket Center, and the Botanical Gardens to change it up! You also finish in the Von Braun Center, which is pretty epic! 

3) The expo is GREAT, the volunteers/aid stations are FANTASTIC, and I love the RACE SWAG! The medals were gorgeous this year, the shirts are comfy & nice (Nike Dri Fit!), and the hats are pretty cool too! 

4) Maybe not a lot of people care about this, but it's not a super crowded race. I remember when I ran the St Jude Country Music Half and even the full marathon, the crowds were very overwhelming and parking is a PAIN (200,000+ people...yikes)! This is not the case at the Rocket City Marathon. There were about 1300 runners this year, and there is PLENTY of parking. 

5) Okay, so let me add another one....PLENTY of pre and post race potties (REAL toilets! lol) because you start near the VBC and end at the VBC. Yep, I went there. ;) 

I can honestly say that I had fun at this race; I didn't experience anything super drastic or painful during the race. Don't get me wrong, it was HOT and I hydrated A LOT, basically at every aid station, for gatorade, water, or both. I'm very happy that I did that because it showed by how strong I was able to stay despite the heat during the race. I was able to run strong until about mile 15, and at that point due to the heat, I gave myself some quick walking breaks just to cool down/breathe and to stretch my knee because I remember feeling some tenderness by that point. But I kept on running, and I'm thankful and proud of that. 

HIGHLIGHTS/FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT MY THIRD MARATHON 

* I was able to keep close to a 10-10:30 average pace until about mile 16, that's when the sun came out and I was REALLY feeling the heat. I was SUPER proud of that! 

*I had a lot of running friends that I was able to see/talk to during the race (that always makes the time fly by!) but I was able to run with Jeanie Collins pretty much the whole race. Whether we were together, her in front of me, or me in front of her, we stayed pretty much together, and I know we were able to keep each other motivated because of that. It was nice to know that I wasn't "alone", and it kept the mental games/negativity away from me. Like I mentioned above, I really didn't have a PR goal or a time goal for this race, especially after finding out about the weather, so we had FUN:)...well, for some of it, right, Jeanie?! ;-) 

*I know I mentioned that I hydrated right for this race, but I fueled right for this race too! Once again, I'm super proud of that...the more longer runs/races that I do, the better that I get at fueling (I use Gatorade Gu, Cliff Shot Blocks, Raisins, Crackers, Pretzels with Peanut Butter, etc...it depends on the race or day). With my thyroid issues that can cause me to be sluggish along with my IBS, that has been one of my bigger challenges as a distance runner, and I just keep getting better and better at it. 

*I loved seeing my fellow Panera Pounders at mile 13 and the rest of the course. Seriously, their love for their friends and the sport of running shows, and I am so thankful for these friends and how many miles we share together!

*Seeing the Ainsley's Angel's spirit team...WOW, I love my Ainsley's Angel's family. Their cheers, hugs, and smiles made my heart so happy!  They helped me keep motivated  after my physical therapy with my knee and helped me slowly get back into racing. 

*Seeing THIS SWEET WOMAN halfway through the race! It was such a surprise and it totally pumped me up to finish the last half of the race! This friend was the first friend to get me curious about this sport called running in 2012. I remember seeing her Runkeeper post on facebook and being interested and motivated. Without realizing it, she started my treadmill journey, which turned into a coach to 5k journey, which turned into a 10k race. I then remember her messaging me later after my 10k distance on the treadmill and saying "Hey, now you're ready for a half marathon!", which I did sign up for and had NO IDEA what I gotten myself into. Never in my life would I have thought I would run a half marathon, but Katrina encouraged (well, peer pressured me, lol) to do Oak Barrel in 2013, and I've been hooked to distance running ever since! She was even the one to introduced me to We Run Huntsville, and wow, what a motivational tool that has been for me along with giving me more running crazies...errr...running friends! HAHA!  Katrina, I love you, but I don't know if I should thank you or ask "WHY?! WHY did you do this to me?!" ;-) :-P ONLY KIDDING! :) 

Looking back, I had such a great time and a great race! 

FINAL THOUGHTS...

I wanted to end with this. During the race, around mile 23, I saw a sign on pink poster board that said this...

It really hit home with me. During the race, I actually began to cry, and I even remember telling a person near the sign "thank you". I needed to read that and see that so much. There were so many signs, volunteers, etc during that race, and I know it's no coincidence that I didn't miss that sign. When I saw that sign, not only did I think about the race that I was running, but I also thought about this past year, 2015, with its ups and downs. I began to feel so overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness that I began to cry happy tears. I started to remember a college girl from 6 years ago that would have NEVER thought she would run a marathon. Not only would college Holly not be able to complete the distance, but the thought of being around crowds of people, and not only that, strangers, would have had her on the edge of paranoia/anxiety. So much has change since then. I am so thankful that my faith in God has gotten stronger, my physical health overall has gotten better, and the anxiety/depression that I use to face daily is not a daily thing anymore. 

Like I have said in previous blogs, my favorite prayer to think/pray while I run is "Thank You Jesus for this day and the ability to RUN", over and over and over again. 

Because, as simple as it sounds, it means SO MUCH. 

Hey, go for a run, it just might change your life. And hey, visit We Run Huntsville on facebook, I bet it just might change your life too. :)

-Holly 

Holly's Race Schedule (Schedule Subject to Change Due to Peer Pressure from friends:-P)

 December 31st---Recover From the Holidays 50k, Huntsville, AL (3rd Grand Slam Challenge Race)
January 16th---Elkmont Half Marathon
January 23rd---Mountain Mist 50k (4th and Final Race in Grand Slam Challenge)
February 6th---Tick Ridge Trek 10k
February 13th---Hug a Cub 5k (Ainsley's Angels Race)
March 12---Piggy Tail Princess 7k (Ainsley's Angels Race)
March 19th---Running the Shoals Half Marathon
April 2nd---Oak Barrel Half Marathon
April 10th---Bridgestreet Half Marathon (Official 2:30 race pacer)
April 30th---Chick-fil-a 10k Race in Decatur, AL
May 7th---Steeple Chase 8k (Ainsley's Angels Race)
May 21st---Viola Valley Half Marathon 

Dizzy 50k 2015 Race Report: My 2nd 50k distance!

Wow! What a day yesterday! I can honestly say it was one of the toughest races that I have done in a while...I was challenged in a different way than I was last year compared to this year. This is my 2nd 50k distance that I have accomplished, and goodness, I was soooooo happy to see that finish line yesterday! I was SUPER sore yesterday post race, and now I can say (other than my feet) that I feel GREAT! Just a couple of aches and pains, but hey, that's expected after running 30+ miles on the trails of Monte Sano Mountain!

I didn't beat my previous Dizzy time of 6:53. If I had the same mindset/attitude of last year or the year before, competitive Holly would be bitter and upset about it. Since my knee injury, things like not getting the race time I want doesn't upset me as much anymore. Don't get me wrong, setting goals and crushing PRs are GREAT, but I think sometimes we as runners get too focused on that and not enough on the race/experience itself. It took me being out on injury to really appreciate and realize that.

So....here is how yesterday went down!

Pre-Race

Talk about COLD, but it didn't stay that way! All of us were all prepping up our aid stations (we had to go through the pavilion after every Dizzy Loop to check in with the official race timers) and getting ready to RUN! I don't think there were as many runners as last year, but I could be wrong. Gregg got a picture of all the runners attempting the Grand Slam Challenge. It was an exciting race start! If I remember correctly, I believe they said there were about 25-30 runners attempting the Grand Slam Challenge this year! :)

So...on your mark, get set, GO!

When running the Dizzy 50k, you run a 9-10 mile figure 8 typed loop three times to get your 30+ miles. The Northern Dizzy Loop is hillier and a little more technical/rocky, while the South Dizzy Loop that consisted mostly of the Bucca Bike Trail is very flat. I took the same strategy that I did last year: run almost all of the Southern Loop, and then walk the steep/hilly parts of the Northern loop.

THE FIRST TENish MILES

So, before the race even started, I told myself I wouldn't think of it as miles, I would think of it as the three complete Dizzy Loops. When I run longer distances like this, in my mind, I have to think of it in chunks. While running the second of the first "chunk", I realized it got warmer quickly, so I had to ditch the ear warmers, the gloves, and the jacket. I was still feeling strong mentally and with my energy (I planned to fuel every 45 minutes in the race, which I did), but my feet began to hurt. I have had the same great trail shoes for a while now, but I was worried to change them out for a new pair of shoes to try on race day, but now I wonder how today would have been different if I did. I prayed a lot during this loop. I asked God to heal my feet and get me through it. I thanked Him over and over for healing my feet. And honestly, my feet felt better. I didn't feel the blisters and pain that I knew existed on my feet.



THE SECOND TENish MILES

I remember at this point thinking about last year's Dizzy 50k experience and how I hit a wall in regards to my energy, so I kept on fueling and kept on being positive and telling myself how great I felt and how great I was doing, and when I would feel my feet hurting me, I would pray even more and thank God for healing my feet. I was still moving at this point, and again, I wasn't looking at the miles on my watch, but the time I was on my feet so I knew when to fuel. I remember telling myself, "Wow, you're feeling great, if you keep this up, you will beat your time from last year!". I kept on moving on. I remember motivating myself to go faster because my friends would be getting to Monte Sano soon to cheer me on, and I wanted to be able to see them. Once I got to the pavilion, no one was there yet, but I remembered thinking "Wow! You're over halfway finished! Once you finish this tougher Northern Loop, your pals will be there! You need to finish this loop quick!"

THE THIRD (and final) COMPLETE DIZZY LOOP

Even with my energy draining and my feet hurting off and on, I kept my positive mindset on the final loops. I'll be honest, it was difficult to do that, and any runner will tell you how you think before and during the race is crucial. As I started the final Northern Loop, I started feeling sore in my legs and inner glutes, and my feet once again were hurting. I started to pray again, and thank God for the ability to run and for me to have come this far. I remember wanting to take my shoes off to see where the pain was coming from on both of my feet, but then I changed my mind because I was worried about what I would see (I am still thankful that I didn't take my shoes off...my blisters on both feet are horrible!) .I remember seeing David Collins before I got to Cold Springs, and how good it made me feel to get my picture taken when all I wanted to do was walk.  I remember thinking this loop was taking forever...I knew at this point Katrina was waiting on me at the pavilion, and I remember having to encourage myself by forcing myself to run to certain trees, certain rocks, etc and then "rewarding" myself by walking or stretching. I kept telling myself how great my feet felt when in fact they weren't. I remember running up to the pavilion to start my final loop and seeing all of my friends' faces. I felt like a ROCKSTAR. I needed that confidence boost and the hugs. I remember feeling guilty at the time for wanting to hug them because I knew I stunk (haha!) but I remember how badly I wanted a hug. Yep, I knew after this I had the easier Southern Loop to do for a final time. I remember fueling a lot and sitting down to give my sore feet a break, and then I got back up to run (well, shuffle at this point).

I walked A LOT of the final Southern Loop. At first, I was beating myself up over it due to the fact that it was so much flatter and softer, but at this point, I wouldn't say I hit a wall, but energy was dwindling, and I remember there were NO other runners around me...I felt really alone and I didn't have the motivation to run since I didn't have anyone to run with. My stomach was hurting, A LOT.  I had to keep pushing myself to run by giving myself stretch breaks and walk breaks. I also remember how I knew at this point that both of my feet had multiple blisters because I felt them, and I also knew if I kept this slow pace up, I would not get close to my time from last year. It was frustrating to say the least, but then I remember telling myself how far I'd come since my injury this summer, and if I was going to walk to whole way to finish (lol), I would do that. Once I got to the 28 mile mark, I started to see bikers, hikers, and runners sporadically on the course that would talk to me, clap for me, and encourage me. I think they could tell by the way I was running and how I was looking that I needed it, and I sure do appreciate it! I remember one biker saying "wow, I saw you 3 hours ago and you're still running now! great job!" Once I got on that long, final home stretch, I remembered being so happy and so out of it that I actually starting talking to myself out loud and talking to God out loud, and I had a runner behind me say "Preach, girl, preach!" Haha! I even tried to encourage a fellow Dizzy racer to run the final mile with me, and his response (umm, I will say it politely) was "Forget that, I'm walking. You have fun!"

The Finish Line

The pictures show the happiness/excitement I felt when seeing the finish line along with realizing more than ever the pain I felt...I remembered thinking "I want to take these shoes off, and I want a COCA COLA!" haha! I haven't felt this relieved/excited to see a finish line in a long time. I remember hearing my name as I went up the street to get to the finish...I couldn't even see my friends yet, but I heard my name, and I remember being able to give myself a final push to finish strong. I wanted to cry out of sheer happiness... and happy tears did come when I drank my coke and high fived my friends. They took the time out of their day to cheer us on during the race, and even cheer us in to that finish line. I don't have the words to show my true appreciation....wow, I am so thankful & grateful for my running community and these amazing friends!

Overall thoughts on the race:

I remember loving this race last year, and I will say it again: love this race! I love the volunteers, the course, and how you can create your own aid station. I love the Bible verses on the trees, and I love the fact that we are running through the woods and appreciating nature. I'm not sure if I will run it again next year, I almost want to volunteer so I can see how the "other side" works for this race, you know, how it all comes together to be so great!

I feel that this race could have been more comfortable for me if I broke in new trail shoes before this race. My feet are still in pain, and I will spare you by not putting a picture of my blistered feet and toes on facebook. I didn't have this problem last year, and like I said, I know it's time to get fitted for some trail shoes so I can be successful at the fourth and final race of the Grand Slam Challenge: Mountain Mist 50K! There is no way I can finish strong if I don't go ahead now and break in new trail shoes. Like I mentioned in the final loops, my stomach was causing me a lot of grief, and even with my IBS, I haven't had issues like that in a race in a long time. I feel like I didn't hydrate enough since it was hotter than I expected it to feel.


I am proud of myself on how I thought throughout the race. I stayed positive when it was hard. Keeping a good attitude through the tough runs/races have been my struggle as a runner, and since my injury, my attitude has gotten better and better. I know that if I keep this attitude through all my Grand Slam Races, especially Mountain Mist, I know I can go through with this challenge!

I am so happy to be finished with race one of four of the Grand Slam Challenge! I thank God for the ability to run and to train for races/challenges like this. I know I owe Him a lot for listening to my "heal my feet" prayers yesterday. I was reminded that God loves us and that He listens to our prayers, even when it's something as trivial as feet....haha!

I have had a few questions from runners and friends on how do I train for races of this magnitude, and I hope I can write a blog on that during my Thanksgiving Break. Thanks for reading!

Go for a run, it might change your life! :) :) Feel free to message/email me if you have questions!

-Holly

Helpful Links

Runkeeper.com---get the free app today and find your Couch to 5k Plan!

Hal Higdon's Training Plans...do you want to walk or run for your first 5k?  

 A great list of what beginning runners need to know/do...a humorous/informative Runner's World post for beginners

Get the RIGHT running shoes for YOU. It's a BIG deal! 

Racing Recaps & Runner Thoughts (Oh, and Hello, Fall! )

I can't believe it's already mid-November. I love this running weather in Alabama this time of year...not too cold but not unbearably hot. It's been a fun past month of training and racing! I will make each recap short & sweet...

4 Bridges Half Marathon

This was my first time to ever be an official race pacer with MRuns Pacing; I had such a great time pacing the 2:45 half marathon group with Amy! I remember being a  little nervous at first, but once the nerves were gone, I was able to enjoy the race along with meeting great runners & helping them make their goal race time. This half was BEAUTIFUL; the scenery was amazing, and it wasn't too hilly (it had its share of inclines though). I remember me and Amy being super happy near the end and saying "wow, we are doing a great job staying on pace" (we were checking our pace on our watches constantly) and then, at 12.5ish miles, there was the finish line. Huh? We were freaking out for a few seconds because we thought we missed a turn, but in reality, the course was accidentally cut short. I know people were upset about not getting a "true" 13.1, but the volunteers, the atmosphere, and the scenery were so great, I would do it again in a heartbeat! They are even offering a discount: this offer ends on January 15th! Get discount here. And I LOVED pacing; I enjoyed it so much, I went ahead and signed up to pace the 2:30 half marathon group at the Bridgestreet Half Marathon! The half marathon is my FAVORITE distance! 

Monte Sano 15k

This was a shockingly strong and great race for me, considering the issues that I was having with my knee throughout the race. I think I was feeling the aches and pains due to the fact that it was a chillier day to begin with, and then not doing as much trails and/or hillwork at this point. I stopped and walked A LOT to bend my knee and stretch it out as I walked. Even with the slowing down to do this, I was able to keep under a 9:30 pace and PR from my previous Monte Sano 15k times. It was a great day for a run! :-D 

Huntsville Half Marathon 

Wow! What a great local race for a great cause: our Veterans! This was my third time to run this race, and I was able to shave off over 2 minutes from my previous Huntsville Half time, so I was pretty happy about that! I finished in 2:07:29...my PR is a 2:05:35. I'll be honest, after mile 8, I hit a WALL...and I felt somewhat out of it the rest of the race, I'm thinking I ran too fast in the beginning due to the excitement and being cold...haha! One day, I want to run a sub 2 hour half marathon, but with my Grand Slam training with three 50ks, I have to slow down my pace to complete those comfortably. 

Again, this race was so great. I saw so many pals from the running community that were racing or volunteering, and it made it such a great day! Our We Run Huntsville group out of Madison even set up their own aid station for us...we felt the love! :) :) :) Thanks, Panera Pounders! 

BY THE WAY, IT'S SEVEN DAYS UNTIL DIZZY! I'M RUNNING A 50K ON SATURDAY! 

Yep, it hit me as I was getting ready for church this a.m....you know, those race jitters. Those "oh my gosh, it's this week!" jitters, the "I'm really doing this!" jitters, and the "you can't be serious about doing this?!" jitters! LOL! Yep...over 31 miles of trails on Monte Sano on Saturday. I did this race last year, and I felt great most of the race and really enjoyed it (here is Dizzy 50k recap/review from last year). I hope I feel as strong and as great as I did last year. 

It's funny how when things are going so well in your life how the devil tries to throw obstacles, distractions, and/or illness in your way. I had my bloodwork done this past week, and what I thought was low B12 levels turned out to my low thyroid levels....WAY lower than it has been in over three years. No wonder I have had no energy and have felt so sluggish...there were even days that I felt depressed, and it all makes since now...BOO YOU HYPOTHYROID! I had it under control for the most part except for one false alarm in February, and now this. I started my new medication a few days ago, so I am praying to feel & see a difference on Saturday. God is good and I know He is the ultimate healer that can make me well! 

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going! Even with this past month of not feeling top notch, I have still trained and followed my training plan the best I could. I know on Saturday there will be others running with me and encouraging me, and just like last year, it will be an amazing experience...I will cross that finish line! That "crossing the finish line" feeling is the best...you are reminded how your hard work, preparation, and training pays off! I am going to do my best to "Grand Slam" this year! 

Thanks for reading! Go for a run; it just might change your life! :-D 

-Holly 

Holly's Race Schedule

November 30th---Galaxy of Lights 5k

December 1st--Galaxy of Lights 3k (Harvest Elementary Running Club's first race!)

November 21st---Dizzy 50's 50k, Huntsville, AL (First Grand Slam Challenge Race)

December 12th---Rocket City Marathon, Huntsville, AL  (2nd Grand Slam Challenge Race)

 December 31st---Recover From the Holidays 50k, Huntsville, AL (3rd Grand Slam Challenge Race)

Runkeeper.com---get the free app today and find your Couch to 5k Plan!

Hal Higdon's Training Plans...do you want to walk or run for your first 5k?  

 A great list of what beginning runners need to know/do...a humorous/informative Runner's World post for beginners

Get the RIGHT running shoes for YOU. It's a BIG deal! 

Hartselle Half Review & Grand Slam Training!

Well, folks, it's FALL! I can't believe it's already fall break for me! This school year has been keeping me busy (of course!), but I am enjoying teaching 4th grade math. I'm very thankful for my leadership & my coworkers at Harvest Elementary! :) Also, I started coaching our 4th & 5th graders in the Running Club at the school that I teach at...I am loving being a "coach", and the students are REALLY enjoying it! We are using a beginner 5k plan (a lot like the Couch to 5k plan I linked below), and our first race will be at the Galaxy of Lights 3k! :-) :-) I can't wait to BLOG about it!!! :-D :-D

Now, onto my first topic...

HARTSELLE HALF MARATHON

 Some of the great people that run in our We Run Huntsville Community! 

 I had a lot of fun at this race! It was great to see a lot of my running friends and to see them accomplish this race so successfully, whether it was their first half or their 10th half! The half marathon distance is my favorite distance to run and train for...what a challenging & fun distance!

I liked the course...mostly flat, and it had a few inclines, but what goes up, must go down, right? :) I also liked the t shirt design, and I loved the medals (they were bright and had the logo that you see in the picture above). The aid stations were placed very well, and the volunteers were super nice...you can tell they were excited and happy to be there, whether they were giving you your race number, or handing you water! The volunteers were also super encouraging and polite to each of the Ainsley's Angels teams! They made my day!

This was my 10th half marathon race, and this half was super special. This was the first half that our Ainsley's Angels Team of Northeast Alabama completed, and WOW, what a GREAT day!

The night before, I was getting nervous about the distance, not only for our riders (captains), but for us runners. 13.1 miles is no joke, and I guess my nervousness was for our captains to have an amazing ride and not get bored. Come one, let's be honest...a long run, whether a race or training, can be boring. Or...you are thinking so much that you hit a mental wall. Any long distance runner will tell you that one of most difficult things during half or full marathon training is keeping that positive attitude...you know, that "I can do this!" attitude along with "don't stop, keep going"!

Well, Amberley's first half marathon went GREAT! She loved it, and honestly, this was one of the most entertaining long runs that I have ever been on...I would lose track of the miles due to Amberley's conversation to me, our team, and the other runners/volunteers/police officers. Her "Go! Go! Go!" attitude kept us going, and even when we were tired, when she felt her chair slowing down, she would talk to me, Remy, or Brien, to get our minds of the miles and onto her, or to the people around her. She is a social butterfly, and it showed throughout the race! You can tell that the racers around her were encouraged by her cheering & talking...I know I sure was! She kept smiling until about mile 12, then it was our turn to keep her positive and to remind her that she was almost to that finish line. Her mother said that she kept her Hartselle Half Marathon medal on all weekend. :) Remy, Brien, and myself were super stoked to see her complete her first of many half marathons. Congrats, Amberley!

 

 THE GRAND SLAM CHALLENGE

So, I have signed up for all four races that consist of the Huntsville Grand Slam Challenge: Dizzy 50k, Rocket City Marathon, Recover from the Holidays 50k, and Mountain Mist 50k.  Yep, I've officially lost my mind; I am THAT crazy long distance runner!

 

It's early October, and I'm super proud to say that my training so far is going well. I have gotten to 19 miles on the pavement (no trail running just yet) averaging usually at a 10:30-10:40 pace, and I honestly can't remember the last time I had a horrible long run. I have felt soooooo great after each of my long training runs (anything over 12+ miles), and my knee isn't holding me back that I worried so much that it would! I am happy and very thankful! I feel like I owe a lot of it to my routine stretching/yoga (I NEVER SKIP THAT!) along with my water intake. Seriously, I hate to toot my own horn, but compared to last year, I am kicking butt on this whole "drink more water" thing, and I can tell a huge difference in how I feel during and after a long run, and honestly, just how much better I feel during a typical day at work! 

Like I said though, it's October, and it's seven weeks until the Dizzy 50k, so I know starting this week, TRAIL RUNNING will be happening, along with the CIRCUIT/STRENGTH TRAINING that I have been slacking on (sorry, Jillian Michaels...). During my knee injury, I only biked and circuit trained, but I've been slacking on that since I have been excited to be running again after having almost 7 weeks of being out of running! I know for a fact that I can't get through the Dizzy 50k, and especially the Mountain Mist 50k, if I am not working my abs, arms, glutes, etc! To be a strong runner, you can't JUST RUN! You've got to cross train to stay successful and to have no injuries due to overuse or over running (yes, there is such thing as too much running, or at least that's my opinion!).

*** WE RUN HUNTSVILLE COMMUNITY and AINSLEY'S ANGELS***

 Like I mentioned in my last blog, I am just so thankful to be out on the road again running, and these two groups help me stay motivated, inspired, encouraged, and focused on what's important with my running journey and even with life in general. You can't put a price tag on people that just want to see the best in you and everyone else around them. When I started back up to running after my knee injury, especially after re reading my last blog, I remember how excited I was to be running, but also so discouraged at times because of aches & pains. Injuries, running related or not, set you back on your fitness goals. There were days in the hot summer that I felt like I was Couch to 5k'ing all over again, and in a way, I really was. But again, these two groups gave me perspective, and they reminded me how great it was to be out on the road again. No matter how "slow" I was or how much I walked, I was encouraged and praised for being out there. Once again, you can't put a price tag on such great people that I like to call "friends". <3>

 

  Race for Hope 5k 

I try to blog once a month, but I know with my work schedule along with training, life in general, etc, it's tough to do! I hope to write after my first ever pacing experience at the 4 Bridges Half Marathon! I will be pacing the the 2:45 half marathon group/time, and I am super excited! I hope to be as encouraging to those runners like my running community has been to me! So, until then, see some of my links below, and hey, join a running group and find your "fitness happy!" 

-Holly 

 *Holly's Race Schedule for 2015*

October 10th---Monte Sano 15k, Huntsville, AL

October 18th---4 Bridges Half Marathon (my first race as an official race pacer!:-D), Chattanooga, TN

November 14th---Huntsville Half Marathon, Huntsville, AL

November 30th---Galaxy of Lights 5k

December 1st--Galaxy of Lights 3k (Harvest Elementary Running Club's first race!)

November 21st---Dizzy 50's 50k, Huntsville, AL (First Grand Slam Challenge Race)

December 12th---Rocket City Marathon, Huntsville, AL  (2nd Grand Slam Challenge Race)

 December 31st---Recover From the Holidays 50k, Huntsville, AL (3rd Grand Slam Challenge Race)

Runkeeper.com---get the free app today and find your Couch to 5k Plan!

Hal Higdon's Training Plans...do you want to walk or run for your first 5k?  

 A great list of what beginning runners need to know/do...a humorous/informative Runner's World post for beginners

Get the RIGHT running shoes for YOU. It's a BIG deal! 

Back to work, back to running, and Grand Slam Training! :)

Long time, no blog! It's been since June since my last blog mostly about my sprained MCL (not, NOT running related).  Due to staying busy with my new job at a new school along with a new grade level, needless to say, I'm adjusting! I am LOVING it though! Our fourth grade theme is "Wild About 4th Grade", so I have hints of animal print along with my decorated monkey lockers! The kids really like it, and I do too! :)

 The staff, 4th grade team, and my administration have been soooooo helpful and encouraging, and my students make my day every day! I am enjoying teaching 4th grade math. After teaching Kindergarten for two years and 1st grade last year, I am already spoiled to a 4th grader's independence...I am used to babying, dealing with tattling, fussing, and kids wetting their pants...haha! So, needless to say, it's been quite a change for me! I am so thankful to be a part of the Harvest Elementary family!

Holly NOT in running clothes...who is that?! lol

STRONG GIRLS 5k/My "comeback" race! 

Being on injury is rough for a runner...whether it's weeks or months. I felt like mine felt longer due to me being off work in the summer. I did very well about not getting depressed...I kept myself busy volunteering, working on my Rosetta Stone Spanish lessons, spending time with family & friends, and preparing for my 4th year of teaching. And of course, physical therapy along with my own exercise plans with NO running kept me busy too. Thank you Dr. Franklin & the physical therapist at Sportsmed for your honesty, your encouragement, and for pushing me on the days that I was frustrated and I didn't want to work on my knee.

On July 11th, I ran the Strong Girls 5k with the Ainsley's Angel's team for the first time! Wow...what an experience! I loved our captain, Amberly. Her positive and sweet personality kept us all going during the race; it was an honor to be a part of her first 5k race! I'm thankful for the sport of running, and I'm very thankful when I am able to experience another person see that joy of racing for the first time! She's a natural athlete and such an encourager! Here are just a few pictures from a GREAT race day! I will be running with the Ainsley's Angel's team at the Hartselle Half Marathon next month, and I'm looking forward to it! I can't wait to race with Amberly again and to hear her say "go! go! go!" ! :) :) :)

 During this race, my knee was hurting (honestly, I think just due to not running/walking for so long), but I made it through. I have always been thankful to be out on the pavement or trails to run, but this knee injury renewed my thankfulness to a whole new level. It feels sooooooo good to be out running again, and I don't care that I have to slow down, walk, stretch, etc...I'm getting my miles completed to prepare for...

2015-2016 Grand Slam Race Series! 

  Yes...it's official...I've lost my mind. I've said for the past 3 years that I would NEVER sign up for that insanely difficult race that they call Mountain Mist, but here I am waiting for it to open up on ultrasignup.com. It is the most difficult race out of the four races. To complete the Huntsville Track Club's Grand Slam, you have to finish the Dizzy 50s 50K (mid-November), the Rocket city Marathon (mid-December), the Recover for the Holiday 50k (late December), and the beast called Mountain Mist (late January). I ran and completed the Dizzy 50k last year along with the Rocket City Marathon, but I have never attempted the Recover for the Holidays 50 or Mountain Mist 50k.  Yes, you complete all four races for bragging rights and a Grand Slam Jacket. You better believe that I will be wearing that jacket for a month so I can brag as much as I want...haha! :-P I'm nervous and excited about it, but I know I have a training plan that will get me in shape and ready for the challenge! I love distance running! I'm using this along with this from Hal Higdon to create what I will be using to help me complete the Grand Slam Challenge! 

From an injured runner, 

 It was easy for me to want to be depressed, but I chose not to be. Once again, I kept myself busy with what I mentioned above. Getting back into running is tough. What my competitive self misses the most is the average pace that I have lost, from my 5k distance to my half marathon distance. I have gotten slower, and once again, I'm so competitive with myself that I get discouraged at times. I've even gained weight during the summer because of being less active along with eating more (which I know better and I am changing that as I speak). During those times, I mentally take a step back, and I think of this... 

  As cliche as this sounds, I think about my journey and how far I have come. I remember a recent college graduate with horrible eating habits along with constant swings of depression and anxiety. My stomach was constantly having issues to the point where I had to go for colonoscopies. I remember dreading going to the doctor because I knew he was going to say "We need to up your thyroid medicine dosage" or "Hey, we need to lower your medicine dosage" because my thyroid was NEVER consistent.  I think about the day where walking/running a mile on the treadmill hurt, and I remember crying that first week of couch to 5k training and thinking "I can't do this", but being encouraged by friends like Katrina's Runkeeper posts kept me going. 

What has running done for me...

*I'm an early riser. (no, I'm still not a morning person! :-P)

*My synthroid medication for my thyroid has stayed leveled for the past three years. 

*I'm able to have regular bowel movements (TMI...but hey, I'm being real and honest about my past health, so I hope this helps someone!) when I was told that I wouldn't be able to without the help of medications from two different doctors and two different colonoscopies (by the way, those doctors NEVER recommended exercise when someone like me needed to HEAR IT because I was that clueless/ignorant; needless to say, I don't see them anymore!).

*I don't have headaches on a weekly basis (one of the many symptoms of hypothyroidism). I can count how many headaches I have had in the past six months on one hand.

*I lost 25 lbs during my first year and a half of running. After I lost that weight, I didn't have serious shin/knee issues while walking/running.

 *I've gained training buddies and lifelong friends that have been so helpful, encouraging, kind, and irreplaceable...

*I've gained confidence that I never thought I would have in myself. Depression and anxiety are under my feet like the devil is (STOMP!), and I DON'T let that demon win like I used to allow it to! To this day, running still helps me clear my head, and hey, those long runs are the perfect time to pray and praise!

*I've completed distances, paces, etc that I NEVER thought possible...

 
Seriously, you can be a runner too, and who knows, it might change your life! :) 

-Holly

*Holly's Race Schedule for 2015*

September 19th---Hartselle Half Marathon with the Ainsley's Angels Team, Hartselle, AL

October 10th---Monte Sano 15k, Huntsville, AL

October 18th---4 Bridges Half Marathon (my first race as an official race pacer!:-D), Chattanooga, TN

November 14th---Huntsville Half Marathon, Huntsville, AL

November 21st---Dizzy 50's 50k, Huntsville, AL

December 12th---Rocket City Marathon, Huntsville, AL 

December 31st---Recover From the Holidays 50k, Huntsville, AL 

Runkeeper.com---get the free app today and find your Couch to 5k Plan!

Hal Higdon's Training Plans...do you want to walk or run for your first 5k?  

 A great list of what beginning runners need to know/do...a humorous/informative Runner's World post for beginners

Get the RIGHT running shoes for YOU. It's a BIG deal!