Runtastic

Illinois Marathon/Half Marathon 4.26.14

Posted on April 27, 2014 by kristamyer

This race is always well directed, with a great, flat course and awesome community support. The race start is near Memorial Stadium and State Farm Center (formerly Assembly Hall), and ends on the 50 yard line of Memorial Stadium in the heart of the University of Illinois – Champaign campus. This was the 6th running of the races (there is a youth run and a 5k the Friday before, and wheelchair, 10k, half, and full races on Saturday).

Carl and me at the start line

Big smile at the start line – I was excited to run!

Race morning I got up at 4:30 a.m. and was ready to go by 6:00. We found our way to the parking area and grabbed a decent spot between the stadium finish line and the bar where we were later meeting up with friends for post-race beers. We were prepared with throw-away clothing to stay warm at the start, but quickly realized they wouldn’t be necessary, as it was already approaching 60 degrees. By the time many of the marathoners were finishing it was in the 70s. It was a scorching (by marathon standards) 78 when Carl crossed the finish line. HOT. Brutally hot. Seventy people were treated for heat-related illnesses and ten were hospitalized.

I ran a very strong 10k, but then could feel myself slowing down, and wanting to walk more. I kept a fairly decent run going until about mile 9, where I felt myself really starting to hit the wall. Heavy legs set in. Then I came across the lovely folks who were handing out little cups of ice cold beer and bacon (I skipped the bacon). I relaxed, walked a bit, and very much enjoyed the beer. Then, after belching up the beer for the next half mile, I managed to rally and even started running a little better. Yay, beer! By mile 11 I knew I could make it and that I could finish strong if I paced myself and stayed relaxed.

Boston caveat: The best sign, IMHO, on the race course said “Wicked hahd. But you got this.” Boston may very well be represented at every race forevermore. And I love that so much.

I finished in 2:33:17. It’s not the time I wanted, but I’m happy with the fact that I finished strong after coming off a broken rib earlier this year. I’ve been working hard to get stronger, and it seems I have more work to do, but I did what I could do yesterday, and I’m happy with that. Carl did the full marathon, finishing in 5:38.

CG finishes strong!

Finish line selfie with Rachel. We run for bling!

When I crossed the finish line I met up with my friends Rachel, who also did the half, and Craig and Karen, who did the 10k, on the field and sat on the ground for a while to recover enough to climb the stadium steps to where the bag check was. We got our bags, and headed to Houlihan’s for beers and food. After a bit, Rachel and I walked back to the stadium to watch for Carl and cheer him across the finish line. Then it was back to the bar (feeling little pain at that point) for another round with the marathoner.

Craig ran his first 10k, finishing in 1:10! Way to go Craig!

All-in-all, a great day for everyone. Next up for me is the GoGirlRun half marathon May 24 in Columbia. Then, it’s all about NYC.

Posted in Illinois Marathon & Half Marathon, Races, Running Musings | Leave a comment

Yoga Runs

Posted on April 21, 2014 by kristamyer

Coined by a friend of mine on a Facebook post – Yoga Runs – I wish I’d thought of it! I’ve been incorporating a regular weekly advanced yoga practice into my exercise routine, and as a cross-train to my running schedule. Additionally, and this is what my friend was commenting on, I’ve recently been stopping during long runs (and sometimes short ones) to do a yoga pose. I’ve shared pictures on Facebook – hopefully not to the great annoyance of my friends – but I wanted to write something about it here too.

As I taper this week in preparation for the Illinois Half Marathon this Saturday, I’m incredibly inspired by the runners, especially the elite women’s field of runners, who ran the 118th Boston Marathon that took place today. I’m also reminded that 16 weeks ago I was laid up with a very painful broken rib, wondering how I was going to recover, the thought of running a yard beyond my wildest imagination. That was also about the time I was accepted into the NYC marathon, and I was already signed up for the Illinois half. I decided then that as I recovered, and as I began to run again, I would not complain. Sure, I still have tough moments, but I decided that I would enjoy the training process and be grateful for the joy of running, the benefits of it and yoga, and the combined strength – both physical and mental – they give me.

I’ve run 190+ miles since then, and 11 weeks of advanced yoga. I’m having fun. 🙂

Naturajasana – Dancer Pose

Eka Pada Vasisthasana – One-legged side plank pose

Bakasana – Crow/Crane pose

Urdhva Dhanurasana – Wheel pose

Posted in Illinois Marathon & Half Marathon, Running Musings | Tagged Boston Marathon, Half Marathon Running, Illinois Marathon, Running Injuries, Running Resolutions, X-Train, Yoga | 1 Comment

Central Illinois Fun Run

Posted on April 2, 2014 by kristamyer

I grew up amongst the corn and soybean fields of Central Illinois, and this past Sunday included a 10-mile fun run around Lake Mattoon, just outside of Neoga, IL, which is about 12 miles from my childhood home in Mattoon.

Ten miles of fun, you ask? Yep! Well, for me it was fun until mile 8, when I sorta crashed, but I do that often, so I’m kinda used to the feeling. Still, it WAS fun. It was a beautiful day, great weather, and certainly different scenery than I and my running partner, Carl, are used to in Mid-MO. Let’s be honest, 10 miles in the middle of the Central Illinois landscape pretty much all looks the same…mile after mile of black dirt, flat roads that are a mixture of broken asphalt and gravel, and very big sky. But there’s something very soothing about the area, the horizons, the sounds of the trains on the Canadian National Railway. It will always be “home.”

Here’s a sense of the run, in pictures. Ten miles done, and it was fun. I feel lucky to say that. I’m enjoying running again.

Barns in this state of disrepair at once draw me in and creep me out. Hawk keeps watch.

Miles to go…

Black Dirt

My (second) attempt to get the arrows to come out CG’s ears was a little off. I sucked at that.

NYC is 852 miles *that way.*

Mid-Illinois Angst.

Natarajasana at mile 6.5.

Lake Mattoon

Posted in Fun Runs, Illinois Marathon & Half Marathon, Running Musings, Training Runs | Tagged Illinois Marathon, Training, Yoga | Leave a comment

Central Park in Winter and Other Musings

Posted on March 23, 2014 by kristamyer

Two weeks ago, I treated myself to a birthday run through Central Park. I’d been looking forward to it, and even though I’d had one too many celebratory, happy-birthday-to-me drinks that weekend, I headed out. Central Park in winter, is, well…. ugly. I know, you were expecting me to wax poetic about the beauty of Central Park, its iconic nature, its bridges and ponds, etc. All that is true. It is beautiful in its own right, its history is riveting, it’s iconic, the bridges and ponds all combine to make just *being* in Central Park an event in and of itself. And I wanted to do a run there, in anticipation of finishing the NYC marathon there in November. But, well, it was ugly.

Central Park in Winter

The trees were bare, the ground brown and hard, matching the color of the rocks, all blending together into a big urban, winter-weary patch of land that seemed to just be laying in wait. As we all are, I assume, anxious for the green to return. I’d forgotten my watch in my bag back in the hotel, so I’m not sure how far I ran that day. I always get lost in Central Park, and end up

At the Balto Statue in Central Park

running in circles, but with the run up and back Park Ave and inside the park, I think I managed between 4 and 5 miles that day. Winter-weary as we all are, and as the iconic Central Park seemed that day, it was wonderful to be back there, in the park inside borough inside the city I love so.

Training-wise (the run through Central Park was more of a fun run), I’ve been hanging in there. The Illinois half is 5 weeks from yesterday, and I’m up to 10 miles, which I did yesterday, with not just a little effort. It wasn’t the easiest 10 miles I’ve ever done, but I got through it. I’m feeling pretty good. It’s been nearly 3 full months since I broke my rib. I never stopped moving, started running again in mid-February, and have averaged about 15 miles/week for the past 5 weeks. And my commitment to my weekly advanced yoga class helped pop me up into a handstand last week. Bam! That was fun, and it takes strength, which I am gaining. I’m not worried about being ready for Illinois, and once I get to that finish line, all the focus will be on NYC.

Posted in Fun Runs, NYC Marathon, Running Musings, Training Runs, Winter Running | Tagged Commitment, Consistency, Half Marathon Running, Illinois Marathon, NYC Marathon, X-Train, Yoga | Leave a comment

Boston Marathon Volunteer 2014 – Denied

Posted on February 28, 2014 by kristamyer

On December 9, 2013, I applied to volunteer at the 2014 Boston Marathon. I do crazy things. I didn’t think I would get accepted, and I was correct. But I really wanted to try.

I received a “thank you for your interest” reply and was informed that my confirmation number was 2391. It also noted that assignments are based on volunteer history (with the Boston Marathon), which, of course, I have none. Duh.

This week, I received my rejection letter. Thank you very much… outpouring of support…turning away thousands of interested potential volunteers. And again, “volunteer assignments are made based on B.A.A. (Boston Athletic Association) volunteer history.”

I will never run Boston. I know that. But it’s just hit me that the Boston Marathon is so elusive, so elite, that I will likely not ever be chosen to even VOLUNTEER. I love the Boston Marathon, and I will always support it — this year by participating in the Boston Marathon World Run — but I will likely always be excluded from it.

I pledged to run 150 miles for the Boston Marathon World Run — essentially I’m dedicating all my training miles (and some $$) up to the Illinois half I’m doing at the end of April to this project. The money goes the the One Fund, dedicated to supporting victims of last year’s marathon bombings. The fund has raised over $70 million dollars to date.

Posted in Running Musings | Tagged Boston Marathon | Comments Off

Consistency and Commitment

Posted on February 23, 2014 by kristamyer

On my way to yoga. Happy.

My friend Molly has posted these words to Facebook a couple times recently. It’s exactly what I’ve been thinking. This was my first full week in full-on training mode. In the scheme of things, it wasn’t much, 16.5 miles, but I’m exhausted. And happy. The week provided me with a consistency in exercise that I will need to maintain for the rest of the year. Wow, that sounds daunting.

The key for me is consistency. And a commitment to running and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that will help get me across that NYCM finish line in November. I’ve also made a commitment to myself to get physically stronger. Enter yoga. For anyone who still thinks yoga is just a stretching activity, or isn’t for athletes, or isn’t for you for whatever reason, I challenge you to rethink your position. Soon I’ll dedicate an entire post to yoga. In the meantime, I encourage you to give a gentle yoga class a try. You may be surprised at the benefits you receive.

I started the advanced yoga class at Wilson’s Yoga Studio in Jefferson City a couple of weeks ago. I do the supplemental, and gentler, yoga class on Sundays at the ARC in Columbia so that I only have to stay late in Jefferson City one night per week.

So this week was a test. Start slow and reasonable, but start. And keep doing it. Consistency and commitment. They’re just words. But you know, they have meaning. They have meaning in many aspects of my life. In running, they bubble to the top of all the other words. If I can keep them at the top of the caldron, I will brew up something good. Something fierce. Something strong. I know this. It is SO hard. It may seem trivial, but part of the consistency is my desire to always have my bag packed before I go to bed. That way, I’m always ready to run or go to a yoga class, and I don’t have to worry about it in the mornings. I am the *worst* morning person. Can I be fierce and still be a terrible morning person? 🙂 Ugh.

The training at the moment is technically for the Illinois half marathon I’m running at the end of April, but it’s all on the road to New York. While it doesn’t officially count as “this week,” last Saturday we ran a 5 mile loop in Stevens Lake Park. It’s a nice concrete path that has some decent hills that by then was only wet, not icy. (Gah, this weather!) Then Sunday: Yoga (gentle/beginner); Monday: Rest; Tuesday: Yoga (kick ass advanced); Wednesday: Run; Thursday: Rest; Friday: Run; Saturday: Run; Sunday: Run.

Sunday afternoon: collapse into a worthless heap on the couch? 🙂 And it wasn’t even that many miles! I did not collapse, but rather topped off the week’s work with some wine at Cooper’s Oak Winery in Boonville (our winter weather winery… Les Bourgeois should be open in April). Consistency! I’m off to my gentle yoga class in a bit. Honestly, I was wiped out by Wednesday. Friday’s run was something I called a big bucket of suck. Saturday’s run was better, but it took me a long time to relax, and it was still mostly a struggle. Today’s run was even better. The first three miles were rough, but the good thing about running from the Boonville trailhead (i.e. the broken rib trailhead) is that it is downhill coming back. Just wait until I hit those 50 mile weeks. Phew. Wears me slick just thinking about it. Mikaela Schiffrin, gold medalist in the Olympic women’s slalom, said something recently that I thought was very insightful. She said in all her training, she finally learned to enjoy the hard work. I am trying to get there.

Weeks won’t always look exactly like this. There will always be some variation, or some days I just can’t make any form of exercise work. But the keys to feeling good at that finish line are consistency and commitment. The keys to being fit, and fierce, and strong are consistency and commitment. I must do the hard work, and I want to enjoy the journey. It has begun and I couldn’t be more ready.

Posted in Illinois Marathon & Half Marathon, NYC Marathon, Training Runs | Tagged Commitment, Consistency, Illinois Marathon, NYC Marathon, Training, X-Train | Leave a comment

Charleston Challenge Mid-Winter Classic 5k/10k 2.1.14

Posted on February 2, 2014 by kristamyer

This is the fourth year in a row that we’ve done the Charleston Mid-Winter Classic in early February.

Hosted by Charleston Parks and Rec, this race is held in my undergrad college town, Charleston, Il. (The 5k course goes past my mom’s house!) They do a great job organizing the three races (5, 10, and 15k) and they’re no strangers to inclement weather! The first year we ran this race we awoke to 5 inches of freshly fallen snow. This is a rain or shine race, so it was on, as it was yesterday morning, with a driving rain and a chilly 37 degrees.

YUCK! But I was determined. This is the first run I’ve done (even one step) since the New Year’s Eve 5k I did three days after cracking my rib in a nasty fall on ice. That fall was five weeks ago yesterday.

I was registered for the 10k, which I’ve done the past three years, but given my condition and that I hadn’t run in so many weeks, I switched to the 5k. Carl did the 10k as always. I’m glad I switched, and I was ready to be done, but I’m happy with my 34 minutes. Carl did great in his 10k, coming in at 1:01.

Runners turn out for these races, in all kinds of weather. It’s really cool. I overheard one runner say “it’s just a little sprinkle.” It most certainly was not just a little sprinkle! But there’s something about this race now….it certainly lives up to its name…The Charleston Challenge: You never know, shorts or snow!

Carl finishing the soggy 10k race in 1:01:29.

At the finish … A respectable 34:49 for my 5k after weeks of being sidelined.

Posted in Races, Winter Running | Tagged Charleston, inclement weather | Leave a comment

Two Weeks (Almost?) of Rest

Posted on January 12, 2014 by kristamyer

I was going to say that yesterday marked two full weeks of rest after my rib injury. But then I remembered the NYE 5k badassery/stupidity. Oh yeah. So two FULL weeks isn’t until Tuesday, but I’ve been a really good patient – resting as much as possible, taking anti-inflammatories (as infrequently as possible), soaking in the hot tub (lucky to have that option), no walking, no yoga (mainly because I couldn’t put weight on my arms and upper body), and most importantly, no running. But I admit, I’m losing my patience already.

The doc said no running for two MONTHS. We shall see. Today I walked 5 miles and felt pretty good for not having moved much in the past, well, 11 days. I am anxious to get back into a manageable exercise routine, and there is SO much work to do.

My ambitious plan, when I’m able to execute it, will include the following:

Yoga – I’m going to do private yoga sessions with a former instructor of mine named Megan Sappington. She is a great yoga teacher, smart and strong, and I think she will be able to push me beyond what I think are my limits. Check her out. I’ll try to supplement her instruction with a weekly yoga class at the gym and some yoga work at home. Honestly I don’t know that I can start until at least mid-February. That whole putting weight on my arms thing is a real problem.

Strength training – I’m going to work again with my trainer from Optimus Health (Dan) who I worked with before the 2013 Illinois Marathon and again as I recovered from my hip injury in advance of the 2013 Detroit Half Marathon. I’ll begin that when we begin the NYC Marathon training in earnest in June.

And of course, running. A regular running schedule is so important. Until we start our hard core NYC marathon training, I’ll want to run regularly and prepare for the 2014 Illinois Half Marathon, scheduled for Saturday, April 26. Carl is doing the full marathon, but I chose to stick to the half this time around. As his mileage increases this early spring, I will hold back and focus on my shorter runs.

My plan also includes watching what I eat and drink. No hard liquor, much less wine, less cheese, no dessert, etc. etc.

I am not at my best, there is no doubt. And given how I feel at the moment, I’m guessing I won’t be running in earnest for at least another couple of weeks. No matter, it all requires discipline. I’m going to give it my best shot. Starting now.

Pic: Happy to have a trail system in Columbia….today we found a new walk/run/bike bridge on the Hinkson Creek Trail connecting Stephens Lake Park with Capen Park.

Posted in NYC Marathon | Tagged NYC Marathon, Running Injuries, Running Resolutions, X-Train | Leave a comment

That Time, When I Ran a 5k With a Cracked Rib

Posted on January 2, 2014 by kristamyer

As it turns out……. OMG. WTF. SMH. LOL. Yup, left 4th rib = cracked. FRACTURED. This I find out on the day I received my NYC Marathon training tech shirt.

Rather than freaking the F out, I’m thinking I’m pretty BADASS for running a 5k with a CRACKED RIB. What?!?! Take THAT you stupid inner voice. At my worst running moments from here on, I will remember my 32 minute finish of the 2013 NYE 5k.

I just wasn’t getting much better, so I decided to see the doc and get an X-Ray. Glad I did. Now I know.

The worst part was hearing “no running for 2 months.” I’m sure that’s not going to work for me. I will monitor how I’m feeling, and certainly take it easy for some time. Two months is a long damn time for runners.

DAMN. Dammit.

I can find alternative forms of exercise: swimming, walking briskly, yoga. The issue is that not running for that long basically will put me back at square one in terms of training. Well, maybe not square one. Maybe square 5 or 10. But still. This really isn’t how I wanted to start the new year. 2014. Our year of the ultimate marathon.

It happened. Now I move forward. The new tech shirt will be there when I’m ready.

Posted in NYC Marathon | Tagged Mindf--k, Running Injuries | Leave a comment

Eve Fest 5k, Columbia MO 12.31.13

Posted on January 1, 2014 by kristamyer

A warm spell – nearly 40 degrees – and relatively sunny skies greeted us for this New Year’s Eve 5k. Held each NYE, at 4 p.m. outside Cycle Extreme in downtown CoMo, this 5k takes us through a part of the MU campus, out to Faurot Field (MU Tiger football stadium) and back. It’s a familiar course, as nearly all of CoMo’s 5ks and 10ks take runners out to the stadium and back downtown, and this course (and so many other CoMo 5ks) is nothing if not HILLY. If we’re going to do well in New York, we’re going to have to incorporate more hill work in our training runs. The trail is great, but it’s flat as a pancake for the most part.

As I ran, I thought about preparing for the NYC Marathon, and the Illinois half before that, and remembered this Runner’s World list I came across yesterday: 26 Tips for Running Your Best 26.2. I’m particularly interested in #4: Mimic the course. The writer suggests, “for example, go up and down lots of hills if you’re running New York City….”

I’m happy with my time – 32:08 given the pain I’m in from last weekend’s fall. Carl did great, coming in at 26:10. Brent and Bev walked the course and we all met up at Coley’s downtown after the race for drinks. Then we headed to another CoMo staple, Flat Branch Brew Pub, for an early dinner. A nice way to round out 2013.

Posted in Fun Runs, Races, Winter Running | Tagged New Year's Eve, Running Injuries, Running Resolutions | 2 Comments