For the past 12 weeks, I’ve been training for my first marathon, the L.A. Marathon and it’s finally (almost) time to go out there and see what I’m made of. I’ve been a bit of a mess this week. I’m really excited and anxious to get out there and get it done. But, at the same time I’m nervous and of course, I’m questioning my training. I skipped a few runs and didn’t make it to the long run of 21 miles that I wanted reach. At this point, though, all I can do is trust that I can finish strong because not finishing is not an option.
Aside from getting myself mentally prepared to tackle 26.2 miles, there’s actually a lot of “stuff” needed for race day. Here’s a quick list of what it’s going to take for me to get out there on Sunday.
And now it’s time for me to get a little bit mushy. I am seriously awed by all the amazing people in my life. From encouraging messages to waking up at 4am to run with me, I am so grateful to everyone who’s been with me through these crazy training weeks. My hubby and kiddos who never doubt that I can do this. My sister who is coming to L.A. to cheer me on, I may or may not have guilted her into it 😉 I just couldn’t do this on my own, that’s for sure. Thank you so much! I’ll be thinking of ya’ll big time while running through the streets of LA on Sunday! XO
I announced last month that I was all signed up for the LA Marathon on February 14, so I thought I’d share a bit of how my training has been going. With just 36 days to go, things are getting serious.
10 Things I’ve Learned from Marathon Training (so far!):
I can wake up at 4am and run endless amounts of miles in the cold and dark morning.
Even if it’s sunny in the winter, I should wear sunblock. I will tan.
Life will revolve around running.
I can chafe in places I didn’t realize were possible.
It’s best to run long miles with a group or a friend.
I need more running clothes.
A good pair of running shoes is hard to find.
I’m always hungry.
Songs I used to like can become annoying after hearing them so many times on my runs.
It’s ok to be proud of my accomplishments during this journey.
So far, my longest run has been 17 miles, just this past Sunday. I was most definitely walking with a bit of a wobble afterwards, but I ended up not being as sore as I thought I would be. Although the idea of 26.2 miles is still pretty daunting, I feel that I will be able to do it. On runs where I am alone, I try to envision what it will be like to run the streets of L.A. and take in the sights. I try to imagine the sound of the crowds cheering us along the way. I look beyond that and picture myself crossing the finish line and seeing my family at the end waiting for me. I can almost see their faces and I just hope they’ll be proud of me then. That one day, they’ll know I’ve done all of this for them. It’s these thoughts, these emotions, these visualizations, that keep me going. There’s no quitting now.
I remember my first half marathon 2 years ago when I said, “I’ll never run a full marathon!” My cousin, who is a marathon runner, laughed at me and just said to me, “Never say never.” Well, here I am today announcing I have signed up for the L.A. Marathon on February 14, 2016. Who am I? I may have lost my mind!
The truth is, I have been itching to run a marathon and I’ve even said my goal was to run one before I turned 40. Now, it looks like I’ll be running it before my 39th birthday. I seriously started talking and looking into running a marathon for 2016 a few months ago. Jason (the hubs) told me to think about it right after I ran my latest half marathon, the Laughlin/Bullhead Half Marathon, earlier this month. Right after I finished that half marathon and I was enjoying the post-race festivities drinking my free beer, we talked about how I felt and what it would mean to run, basically the entire race again. Maybe it was the beer or the adrenalin from having just ran but I said that with a little more training, I think I could do it. Say what? Did I just convince myself and my husband that I could do this?!?
Now it was time to find a race. I was pretty sure I wanted an easy course. As if running 26.2 miles anywhere would be easy, right? I enjoy downhill, so the Mountains2Beach Marathon in May looked like a winner. However, after doing a bit more research, I found out that it’s an official Boston Marathon Qualifier. This meant that most of the runners were seriously fast runners. It also didn’t seem to have the fun party atmosphere I think I need to get me through 26.2 miles. On to the next race! I was interested in the St. George Marathon because it was close to home and it’s also a downhill race. However, the idea of it being a lottery and that I may not get chosen, didn’t appeal to me. Not for my first marathon. Then began the google searches for “best marathons for beginners” and “the most fun marathons”. This is how I came upon the L.A. Marathon. It seemed to have what I was looking for in terms of fun and crowd support. Although, there are some hills throughout the course, the last few miles are downhill and end at the beach. Plus, I’ll be running through all the famous landmarks including, Hollywood Blvd and Rodeo Drive! How cool is that?
I wasn’t too sure I had enough time to train, since it was just about 2 months away. But, I had just ran a half marathon so I felt like I was half way there. I took a look at Hal Higdon’s novice marathon training plan and wouldn’t you know it, if I started training that week, I’d be right on point. It was meant to be ❤ I signed up last week and have officially began my marathon training.
So, who’s done the L.A. Marathon before? Love it or hate it? Best thing about the race? Worst part of the course? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Any experienced marathon runners out there with any tips or suggestions on training? Anything!! Yea, I’m nervous and excited all at the same time! Here’s to starting 2016 with a bang! XO
Just looking at this gives me butterflies in my stomach!!
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:
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!
“I am not a runner.” I told myself that all the time, mostly as an excuse to not run. I did a couple 5Ks and wasn’t really into it. I love obstacle course racing, mostly because you get to take breaks from running and jump over walls and trek through mud. And then, I signed up for my first half marathon. Yup. Me. The girl who doesn’t like to run. Go figure, huh?
Well, I’m in my 14th week of half marathon training and my long runs are up to 9 miles. The Rock N Roll Half Marathon is happening November 17th and I’m a little nervous, but super excited. So, do I have a newfound love for running? Yes and No. I love the feeling after a run. I love how I can see myself getting faster and it amazes me that I can actually run farther distances than I ever imagined! I don’t love the treadmill. I’ve learned that the first 3 miles are the hardest (maybe that’s why 5Ks aren’t for me). It takes me a while to warm up! I like how running clears my head. I may start thinking about my “to do” list, but soon my thoughts are simply about getting it done. I become my own cheerleader. I still sometimes dread the idea of going out there and running, however I’ve found a few things that help my runs go a lot better than ever before. I’m clearly no authority on running, but these are a few things that have helped me, as a novice, enjoy running. So, if you’re like me and were never a big fan of running, check out these 5 Steps to a Good Run and let me know if they help you! With the right attitude, everyone can an enjoy a good run, even if running isn’t your favorite 😉
5 Steps to a Good Run
1. A great playlist! I could not get through my runs without my running music. For me, this isn’t even the genre of music I listen to on a regular basis, but the fast beats help keep me going at a steady pace and the lyrics are entertaining and/or motivating. I start my playlist with a few warm up songs, then a few favorites towards the middle to keep me going, and finally I save the real pump-me-up songs towards the end to keep me from stopping! I’m really loving Titanium by David Guetta featuring Sia, Stronger by Kanye West, and Light Em Up by Fall Out Boy right now!
2. Water! You have no idea how many times I’d go for a run without water! I just didn’t like having to hold a bottle of water while I ran. It felt cumbersome, but then I’d be wishing I had some water when my throat was so dry and I started panting. Then, I learned about hydration belts, camel backs, and water packs. Running with water just got easier! And, I’ve got a place to hold my phone & asthma rescue inhaler too! There are lots of brands and styles out there, so try one out and find what works best for you. PS. you can find these at TJMaxx and Marshalls too for a fraction of the cost at a sports store 😉
This is what I currently use for all my runs! But, I’ve got my eye on this one, maybe for shorter runs.
3. Start Slow! Like I mentioned earlier, it takes a while for your body to warm up, so don’t feel like you have to start out at a super fast pace. Take a few moments before your run to figure out where you’ll start to increase your pace. For me, they are visual markers along my run, but it could easily be after 10 mins I’ll speed it up a bit or after 1 mile and so forth. The important thing, is to give your body the time it needs to warm up, otherwise you’ll get tired fast and will feel like quitting, believe me, I learned this the hard way!
4. Don’t Wear Cotton! Cotton tshirts were all I used to wear to the gym and for running. I was already wearing shorts or workout leggings, the last thing I wanted was to wear anything form fitting & show off the the muffin top! But, alas the t-shirts would get weighed down with sweat super fast. Yeah, pretty gross! I’d spend a lot of time adjusting my t-shirt so it wouldn’t stick to me. Yes, it was unflattering and uncomfortable. Sweaty t-shirts can also cause chafing under your armpits. Again, another thing I learned the hard way! This also goes for cotton yoga pants & undies! Grab yourself a few of those tech moisture-wicking shirts and thank me later 😉
Ps. I’ve found some that aren’t super form fitting either!
BeforeAfter
5. Track Your Runs! This is helpful for a few reasons. First, you’ll have an accurate detailed account of your run, such as distance, pace, and even average calories burned. Second, you’ll see how much better you’re getting! Tracking your progress is so important when running and working out in general. It really helps keep you motivated and proud of how far you’ve come. I just use the free RunKeeper app, but there are a ton of options out there!
BONUS TIPS: Don’t forget to do a quick warm up stretch before your run and a longer stretch afterwards. Check our Runner’s World for a ton of different stretching exercises for runners to find what works for you!
So, do you have any tips you’d like to share that help you with your running? Sharing is care 😉
It's a Messy Life 