Half Marathon Training with a Teenager

Last year, my then 12 year old son said he’d like to run a half marathon. I thought he was just being funny or talking in the distant future, but no. He was serious and insisted on it. We researched some races and talked some more about it. I gave him the good and the bad, but honestly, mostly the bad because I wanted to paint a truthful picture and the truth is that training for a half marathon is not easy. He acknowledged that it was going to be hard work, but that he really wanted to challenge himself and run his first half marathon at the age of 13. So, we did it. We signed up for the Cedar City Half Marathon on September 8, 2018. I explained that he would be training for a half marathon all through summer break and even into his first weeks of back to school but he was not deterred.

While he was still in school, we started with 2 mile once a week runs. Then, last month, we started the actual 14-week training plan and he’s been training pretty consistently for the past 6 weeks. We have 8 more weeks to go and I couldn’t be prouder of this kid! But please, don’t get me wrong. He is no super kid. He is after all, a 13 year old boy and oh have we had our arguments. It’s been hard being mom and coach. I feel like because it’s been me giving him running advice, it’s been hard for him to accept it and we butt heads a lot. He’s cranky at 6am and when I remind him that he signed up for this on his own, I get attitude. I then have to remember he is still just a 13 year old kid and take a deep breath.

It’s been hard, but it’s also been rewarding. I’ve been learning to be patient and let things go. I’m learning to go at his pace and enjoy our time together regardless of our pace and whether I think he could do better or go faster. I remind myself that I just ran my first half marathon 5 years ago at the age of 36! This kid is 13 and about to run his first half marathon. I am so proud of him already! I’m not too mushy or sentimental, but I did cry after my 1st half marathon and after my 1st full marathon. I’m pretty sure I will cry for the 3rd time again after I cross the finish line with my son in September. But until then, there will most definitely be more cranky early mornings and arguments, and I’ll just have to be ok with that.

What races are you training for this summer? Any tips on running with a teen? EEK!!

Seven Tips for Making the Most of Your Next Racecation

What exactly is a “racecation”? Well, it’s a race + vacation in one! I love to travel and I love to run races, so racecations are the best of both worlds for me! For others, it could be a dream race they’ve had on their bucket list or part of their goal to race in every state. Whatever your reasons, if you’re traveling for a race, I say bring the family, stay a few extra days and make it a vacation!

I’ve traveled to quite a few races and with a little planning it is totally possible to run a great race and enjoy the sights! Here are my Top 7 Tips for planning your next racecation!

1. Plan Ahead. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to note. Make sure to check out all the race details and final emails for any transportation logistics, last minute changes, and any race add-ons, such as carb loading dinners, seminars, or VIP Packages. Some of these can sell out, so be sure to sign up early if you plan to take advantage of them. It’s best to print any waivers or forms beforehand, so you don’t waste time once you’re there. Believe me, your family will thank you for it. Some race sponsors also offer discounts or deals to race participants, so it’s good to go to the race website and see what’s available. I’ve found great prices on hotels and even a good deal on a city tour in Seattle this way! Also, know where the expo is being held! Sometimes it’s at the start/finish but other times, it could be in a completely different area, so map it out and know where you’re going!

2. Book a Nearby Hotel. Like I just mentioned, most races will have a list of recommended lodging and they may even offer a discount to racers. I’d check these out first, but if they are no longer available, as these do tend to book up soon, look for other nearby hotels. It’s up to you if you prefer to be near the start or finish line and it may also depend on what you’ll be using for transportation. A lot of races do offer buses to the start line from specific locations. Personally, for my racecations, we’ll book a hotel near the finish line, so my family can easily meet me with me afterwards and they don’t have to ride in the car with stinky mom for too long!

Use Eagle Creek Pack-It Sport Cube. This post in not sponsored by Eagle Creek, I just really love their products. As a Rock N Roll Marathon ambassador, I was given a Sport Tote to try out and I really liked it. Then, when I saw their booth at one of the expos, I purchased the Pack-It Sport Cube and it’s since been with me for every overnight race and racecation! I pack everything I need for race day in it: sneakers, Garmin, hat, top, bottoms, socks, sport bra, undies, glide, gels, Nuun! Even a change of clothes for after the race! Basically, if I need it for race day, it’s going in that cube. It keeps me organized and I love knowing that it’s all together. Plus, the cube is small enough and fits nicely in my suitcase. I highly recommend them to everyone!!

Don’t Arrive Too Early. I’ve learned from experience that it’s best to run your race and then start your vacation, not the other way around. Leaving the race for the end or even the middle of your trip may give you added stress and who needs that! You’ll possibly worry about things like getting enough sleep or worry about walking too much and running on tired legs. You may even have to plan a short training run. There’s also things like your diet to consider and let’s be honest, we all like to indulge a bit while on vacation, right? I’ve noticed that the best time to arrive is 1-2 days before your race. I prefer to arrive the morning before the race. This gives me enough time to visit the expo, pick up my race big, settle into our hotel room, grab dinner, and have an early bedtime. However, if you’ll be traveling to a different time zone and will experience some jet lag, then plan to arrive 2 days early and use that day in between to relax and acclimate to the time change.

Stick to your Pre-Race Routine. When we’re traveling, we tend to go on hyper-mode and want to do and see everything! I speak from experience! Since most races are super early in the morning, you’ll want to be sure to get to bed early. Then, stick to your morning routine as much as possible. I always make sure to get my go-to race day breakfast of a banana and a Justin’s almond butter packet the night before. I also lay everything out the night before, so I can just go into auto-pilot and get dressed, grab my things and go. It’s usually to early for me to think straight, so doing it the night before gives me peace of mind on race day!

Use Waze. This one only applies if you’ll be driving to your race. If so, then rather than using Google Maps, I suggest using the Waze app. It’s free to download and since it’s crowd sourced, the road closures due to the race will show up and it will give you better routes to take. It’s been really helpful for us!

Enjoy the Race. Most of us who plan racecations do so because it’s a new city or new place we want to explore. Running through a city or park we’ve never been to is exciting, so don’t forget to look around. Don’t get so focused on just running the race and watching your pace that you forget to look around and take in the new scenery. This was probably the reason you signed up for the race to begin with! Enjoy the race and scenery and think of all the fun you’ll be having after your race is done! You’ll get to see and visit new places because running got you there! And, that is pretty cool!

Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon Race Weekend

Last month I ran the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon and although it was one of my slowest half marathons to date, our weekend in wine country was amazingly fun and a much needed summer getaway! This post is much more about the weekend than the race itself! OOPSY!

We have some really good friends who flew out with us to show their support of my running and cheer me on during the race! HAHAH Who am I kidding, they came along for the wine tasting!! Either way, it was so much fun having another couple to enjoy the weekend with. We arrived to San Francisco Friday just in time for lunch! We picked up the rental car and made our way to Francis Coppola’s Cafe Zoetrope for lunch. Such a nice treat! Afterwards we walked around Chinatown and couldn’t resist picking up some steamed dumplings and sticky buns at our friend’s favorite spot! We took the food to go and seriously enjoyed them during our long drive in traffic up to Napa.

Saturday morning we went straight to packet pickup right when it opened at 10am. The location was so pretty and it was a nice expo with some good vendors who handed out some nice samples 😉 That’s always a plus! Once I had my bib + shirt and my fair share of samples, we were off to do some wine tasting!

Our first stop was our favorite winery, which we are also wine club members, Benzinger Winery. They use bio dynamic and organic farming, which is such an interesting process and we learned so much more about their history and sustainable farming practices during the tour. Afterwards we enjoyed wine tasting in their private members only tasting room. We lost track of time chatting and tasting, but our tummies soon let us know it was time to eat, so we bought a bottle of wine and found a nice picnic table with some shade to enjoy the snacks we had purchased earlier. Had the weather been just about 10 degrees cooler, it would have been perfection!

Our next stop was their sister winery, Imagery Estate Winery, which was such a cool artsy place and the grounds are beautiful! It was packed inside because it was just way too hot to be sitting outside by then, but we found a nice spot in the members only area and enjoyed a bit more wine tasting and fun conversation.

The last stop before dinner was Domaine Carneros! I absolutely love bubbly wines and pinot noir so I’d been looking forward to this visit for a while. Plus, the grounds were so pretty! We ended up sitting outside and again if only it had been 10 degrees cooler, it would have been so dreamy! The view of the vineyards from the terrace were beautiful and the flights of champagne were super yummy! By this point in the day, we were really getting hungry so we ordered a small charcuterie plate to enjoy while we finished our flights. Thank you so our server who recommended the best place for us to grab a casual, yet delicious dinner, which of course included lots of water and my go-to pre-race meal of…PIZZA!!

Unfortunately, for as much as I tried to stay hydrated during wine tasting on Saturday, it was still not enough! I started off ok. I wasn’t going for any PR or anything, but I was hoping the idea of another fun-filled wine tasting day would be enough to make my legs go fast! The race course was beautiful and running alongside rows and rows of vineyards was amazing. The weather was unseasonably warm and I soon started struggling with the heat and the sun beating down on me. After I saw the hubs and friends at mile 7ish I got some renewed energy and I was doing good and keeping a nice pace till about mile 9 or so. At that point my calves started to feel super tight and by mile 10 they were cramping terrible. I was dehydrated and in pain! I managed to pull through, but I had to slow down and even walk those last 3 miles. I felt bad and was so disappointed in myself. After I limped my way across the finish line, I chugged some coconut water and stretched my legs as best I could. I met up with the hubs and our friends, plus some running friends from Vegas who ran the race too and together we grabbed our wine glasses for post-race wine tasting festival! Soon enough, my pain was gone and I was back to feeling great! lol

After the race, it was back to the room to shower and get ready for round 2! We visited my hubby’s favorite winery, Sequoia Grove. Talk about another good time tasting, laughing, and making new friends! Afterwards we had some time to kill before our dinner reservations at Ad Hoc, so what else is someone to do while in Napa waiting? We found a wine bar, enjoyed another charcuterie platter and waited patiently 😉 Dinner at Ad Hoc was amazing! Thomas Keller’s take on family style casual dinning was spot on. We just wish we would have had more room to fit more food in our bellies!!

The next day we started our trip back to San Francisco! We spent some time walking around Fisherman’s Wharf and enjoyed some clam chowder and some delicious Irish coffee from the iconic Buena Vista. Then, as all good things, our trip came to an end and it was time to catch our flight back home to our little ones!

I learned a valuable lesson on this trip: Although I love running and I love wine tasting, the two shouldn’t really be paired up! At least not for me!!! The next time I go to Napa, it will only be for wine tasting. And the only drinking I’ll do on race weekend, will be my post-race celebratory beer! Live and learn, right?

Let the Running Begin | Half Marathon Training

Back in September I entered a facebook contest to win a free race on Pace Per Mile‘s page. All you had to do was leave a comment on which race you’d like to win and one random person would be chosen. The only stipulation was that it had to be a race in 2014 or 2015 that was not sold out or was not a lottery. On a whim, because whoever really wins these things right, I wrote I’d love to win an entry for Walt Disney World’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon in November 2015. Jason and I had been talking about taking the kids to WDW in Florida in either 2015 or 2016, so Florida was on the brain.

Later that week, I got a message from Pace Per Mile, saying I’d won! WooHoo!! Once the initial excitement wore off, it was time to start planning our trip to Florida. This free race did not come with plane tickets for a family of 4 to fly cross country! Nor did it come with hotel stay, car rental, or park admission. We did have over a year to plan for it and well, now we are getting close – it’s just 4 months away!

We’re all super excited to be going to Florida. Not only will I be running the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, we also signed up the kids to run the 1 mile kid’s race earlier that day. Plus, Jason purchased a ticket to join me for the Finish Line Party! We’re really looking forward to some yummy food from Epcot’s Food & Wine festival and some of the attractions will also be open for the after party. I just hope I have the energy for it all. I’m pretty sure I’ll have the appetite for the food & wine, though 😉

Before I run the Wine & Dine Half in Walt Disney World, I’ll be running the Disneyland Half Marathon in September! While reading about RunDisney, I came across an article that talked about all the fun challenges they offered during their race weekends. The Coast to Coast challenge quickly caught my attention. Basically, you get the Coast to Coast medal when you run 2 Disney half marathons, one in Disneyland and one in Walt Disney World, in one calendar year. I knew that it was now or never, so I quickly figured out a way to get an entry for the Disneyland Half thanks to a friend!

Now guess what? In May, I ended up winning another half marathon registration via Enjoying the Course‘s blog giveaway. So now I’ll be running the Laughlin/Bullhead Half Marathon here in Nevada this December. Talk about a winning streak!

So, like the title of this post says, “Let the running begin!” I’ll be starting my half marathon training this week using one of the trusty Hal Higdon Training Programs. I’ve only used the Novice I and II programs, but I’m tempted to try out the Intermediate Training Program this time around. I ‘ll be running 3 half marathons in 4 months, with a Tough Mudder in between in October, so I’ll really be focusing on running! Who knows, maybe all this running will make me want to finally sign up for a marathon, maybe….

What races do you have planned for the fall? Have you ever ran a Disney race? I’d love some tips if you have them!

Half Marathon Training | Wild Land Fire Awareness Trail Half

Here I go again! Last week I registered for my 3rd half marathon and 1st trail half marathon, the Wild Land Fire Awareness Trail Half Marathon. I love that 100% proceeds go to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. I really enjoy trail running, but have not ran more than a 12K trail race before, so I’m a little nervous about this one. I’ll be training hard for this half marathon and the Spartan Super simultaneously, since the Spartan race is April 18th. What’s made me even more nervous is my friend who runs ultra trail races said it was a tough one! Yikes!! What did I get myself into?!? Well, there is no turning back now. It’s time to train. The race is on May 30th, so I have just about 12 weeks to prepare to run 13.1 miles of trails through beautiful Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area.

I ran the Wild Land Fire Awareness 5K trail race last year and it wasn’t my best run. But I love running around Red Rock and I ran some of the half marathon trails last year they seemed way more fun than the 5K course, so I’m looking forward to running the entire course this year.

I plan on sharing updates on my training, as well as tips for keeping motivated while training for a half marathon, and some of my must-have training essentials.

Are you training for an upcoming race? Are you nervous? Excited? I’d love to hear about it!

Being Grateful for Friends and Family

We head off to Bryce Canyon tomorrow and, like I mentioned in my previous post, I’m really excited and hoping my knee doesn’t give me too much trouble on Saturday! All my races, thus far, have been local and I’m looking forward to a bit of a change in scenery and for cooler weather. Just really hoping it doesn’t rain on us 😉

This past Sunday, I had my last long run of 12 miles and I’ll admit it was a challenge. The sun was starting to burn layers off my skin & my knees were aching, but I finished. I didn’t give up, although I did consider it! Towards the end of the run, I reflected on all the support I’ve had throughout this journey and began to think of how lucky I am to have people who really care about me in my life. Especially, my family! Yes, I started crying on my run! Please tell me this has happened to you before or I’ll be super embarrassed…Yes, you have too?!? Ok, on with my post!

I am beyond grateful and appreciative to my husband for making my favorite post-run breakfast countless times. In case you’re wondering, it’s sweet potato & bacon hash with eggs over medium and avocado! I’m grateful that he’s joining me on this adventure and running races with me! He’s never once complained about me going to the gym or when I go out for a run and he stays with the kiddos! He’s always encouraging me and never doubts I can achieve my crazy goals, even when I do! I love that about him.

I am grateful for my kiddos for embracing this active and healthy lifestyle. They love talking about my races and going on runs with me. I love that they are involved and get excited about running their own races. I’ve never felt guilty about running or going to the gym because I know they appreciate it and it’s showing them that exercise is important and beneficial in our lives and that it can be fun!

I am grateful for my friends who have stuck with me in this crazy adventure! My friends who’ve come to watch me run or even better that have come out and ran some races with me! Thanks for trudging through the mud, running through bubbles, and jumping off planks with me! Woohoo!! My friends who have gladly watched my kiddos so Jason and I could run some trails or get some training at Camp Rhino! To my friends who listen to me talk about Paleo and upcoming races: Thanks for pretending not to be too bored with me 😉

I am grateful for my parents who also support me without end. Without their support (read: they watch my kids most of the time) I wouldn’t be able to do so much of what I do. They’re on a 3 month trip now and we are totally missing them!!

Lastly, I am grateful for sister. My #1 supporter, my BFF! We’ve ran 5Ks together. We’ve ran an obstacle course race together. She was there to watch me run my first 5K and she’s been there for most of my other races too. She’s the best race photographer and cheerleader!

When I signed up for this half marathon at Bryce Canyon, she said she was coming along too without being asked. She just knew she’d be there for me and I couldn’t be more grateful to her for that. I mean, who does that? Who says they’re going to take a 4 hr road trip to wake up at 6am to watch you run by for like 15 seconds? Only the best sister in the world, that’s who!

So really, I just want to say “Thanks” to all of you. I couldn’t be here following these crazy dreams of mine without you. You all mean the world to me! xo

I’ll be off the blog scene for a few days, but I’ll be back on Tuesday to tell you all about the Bryce Canyon Half! In the meantime, follow the fun on instagram @jessieemeric!

Last Week of Half Marathon Training

Just 4 more days until my second half marathon and the hub’s first! I’m super excited about it and so proud of all his hard work with training. Having both of us training for a half marathon at the same time had it’s challenges with scheduling and kiddos, but we’ve made it work and I can’t wait to get out there together. I don’t think we’ve ran together this whole time we’ve been training, crazy huh?!?

I’ll definitely be taking it easy these next 4 days. I did my last long run yesterday and my knees are bothering me. I’ve been out of my glucosamine for about 2 weeks or so and I know my knees are missing it! It’s also unusually humid for Vegas and I don’t think that’s helping either. So, I’ll be resting, icing, and using some KT Tape on my knees until Saturday 😉

Not only am I looking forward to running the half marathon, I’m looking forward to getting away with my family for a few days and exploring Bryce Canyon together. It’ll be a much needed getaway for us. This summer has been crazy busy so far with year-round school, swimming lessons, basketball, and gymnastics, on top of working and training for the half marathon! Yup, much needed time away from Vegas and the daily grind!

Oh I almost forgot, I got a new Nathan hydration vest! I’m loving it so far. I never really loved my belt and had been considering a vest for awhile now. I ended up choosing the Nathan’s Intensity Hydration Vest for women and I just love how I have access to everything I’ll need at arms reach. I plan to write a full review after the half marathon so stay tuned 😉

Dedicating My Miles…

Earlier this year, I came across a blog that was talking about how some runners dedicate their race or or their miles during the race, to family, friends, organizations, etc. This helps the runners keep their momentum going and to really focus on something or someone to get them through the miles, especially the tougher ones. This really resonated with me. I remember reading and thinking that I’d do that if I ever ran a marathon. And then thinking, “Yea, like I’d ever run a marathon!” Well, here I am, I’m running my first half marathon (baby steps, people) on Sunday. I’ve had so many people believe in me and support me through this newfound passion and this amazing journey I’m having transforming myself from the inside out.

Well, with out further ado, here’s my list of people I’m dedicating my first half marathon to:

{Miles 1-2} My parents. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. Literally, yes. But, my parents have never discouraged me from following my dreams. They’re always there when I need them. And, they’ll be watching the kiddos on race day! I love them so much!

{Mile 3} My friends. The new ones and the old ones who’ve stuck with me through thick and thin. The ones who believe in me. The ones who encourage me to keep going and don’t think I’m crazy for trying new things. Ok, maybe they think I’m crazy, but they’re rooting for me anyways. I love you, guys!

{Mile 4} Ashley. My trainer. She’s so encouraging and has helped me get stronger by focusing on my individual needs and pushing me to try harder. She believes in me and I don’t want to let her down.

{Mile 5} It’s A Messy Life blog readers. Yes, I know most of these are friends and family, but I’m still happy to have a place to share my experiences with people and motivate others to keep trying to improve and live happy lives. Thank you for your support & I look forward to growing my little blog into a fun community to share, uplift, and laugh about our messy lives together!

{Mile 6} My aunts and uncle who passed away too soon and can’t be here cheering me on but I know they would be if they could. Especially my aunt Norma. I know she’d be front and center cheering me on from the sidelines.

{Mile 7} My crazy fun and awesome family! For my cousins who no matter how long we go without seeing each other, when we finally do get together it’s always like we were never apart. I love that. I love laughing and being myself around them. There’s no drama, no comparing, no agendas, it’s family and we’re always there for each other. Thanks, primas 🙂

{Mile 8} My cousin Anel, although she will always be Nelly to me 😉 She is flying out from Texas today to come run my first race with me. Talk about supportive, huh! She’s even dragging her husband with us. She’s been motivating me and training with me via text messages. Love those sweaty post-running photos she shares with me. And, even though I say she’s crazy for all those miles she runs (she’s training for a full marathon next month) I really do admire her dedication and secretly wish I could run like her 😉

{Mile 9} My sister, Norma. She is my bff. She gets me. She is the one person who I know will always be there for me. She has to be. She’s my sister. I love her for putting up with me, for always being there for me. We can lean on each other and stand tall together knowing that we’ll never be alone.

{Miles 10-11} My kiddos, Diego & Elysse. I want to be a strong female role model for them. I want them to know that they can do anything. I want to be a good example for them and help them become healthy, active adults. I want them to be proud of me.

{Mile 12} My husband, Jason. I’m so grateful for his immense support. For believing in me wholeheartedly, even when I don’t believe in myself. Fo never complaining when I need to go on my runs, but rather encouraging me even when I’m grumpy! Thank you seems so little a phrase for all he does for our family. I love you, babe.

{Mile 13} This one is all mine. This one is to prove to myself that I can do it. I never imagined that I would be running a half marathon. Never. Yet here I am. It’s so amazing to know we all have it in us to make changes for the better. We can all become the person we are meant to be, even if we didn’t know we had it in us. It’s there. It’s just waiting for you to make the first move.

Thanks again everyone for supporting me in this and all I do! I am so grateful to have so many amazing – awesome – caring – funny – uplifting – loving – people in my life. xo

Preparing for my First Half Marathon | Tips & Tricks

It’s 5 days until my first half marathon and I’m getting really excited and a little nervous. One thing that helps keep me calm, is to have a plan. I like to plan just about everything! Ask my husband about family vacations, hahaha! I’m not going to totally freak out if things don’t go as planned, but having a plan relaxes me and makes me feel stable. I’m working on being more spontaneous in my life, I’m not sure I love it…

So of course, I am planning the logistics of race day down to the last detail. Huge thanks to the folks at Rock N Roll Marathon Series for the awesome event details, complete with PDFs of the course, road closures, etc. They’ve been very helpful 😉 I’ve heard that the crowds are huge and traffic gets really bad around the strip due to the road closures, so we want to allow for enough time to get to the strip early, check in to our room, and make our way to the start line with plenty of time. Our room is close to the finish line, so my parents and the kids will have a warm place to hang out while we run and we won’t have too long of a walk afterwards. We’ll also be having our own private “post-party” there! Woohoo!!!! Bring on the champagne!!!

Another thing that makes this race unique from other races is that it’s in the evening, so fueling up for the race would be a little different than regular morning races. I found these 2 articles that helped me plan for the day, down from what to pack to how to fuel. If you are running the Rock N Roll Vegas race this Sunday or any other night race, I totally suggest checking them out. Here are the links:

http://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-runners/how-do-i-fuel-evening-race

http://runeatrepeat.com/2013/11/06/fueling-for-a-night-race-disney-wine-and-dine-rnr-las-vegas-half-marathon/

I’m also planning to hit the grocery store to stock our room with snacks and drinks for before and after the race. I’ve gotta pack my bag with post-race clothes, but I already have my outfit laid out, maybe that was a little too early!

Big thanks to Brooks for this handy checklist!

So, for those of you experienced marathon runners, is there anything I’m missing? Do you have any race day prep tips and tricks you’d like to share with me and other newbies? I’d love to read all about your experiences in the comments, don’t be shy!