As I sit in my airplane at 100,000+ feet, I’m filled with a myriad of emotions. I am a bit sad that the weekend is over and my time with the fantastic social media ladies of the #ATL has ended until we next meet, likely at Blogher or Blogalicious.   I am excited to see my babies, whom I have missed.  I’m looking forward to getting home and finishing up some straggling work before I take the summer off from consulting, and I am at peace with the world after one of THE most relaxing weekends I have had in a very long time.

When I won The Blogrollers contest for a weekend “Race & Relax Weekend” trip to Atlanta, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.  I was looking forward to a little time away from the daily grind and was  just plain thrilled to have a reason to train a 5k.  I’m typically focusing on longer endurance runs and never pay much attention to how fast I run.  Let’s just get this straight, I run far and loooong, major emphasis on the “long”. Simply put, I’m a slow runner.  I pretty much run straight 10 min miles no matter the distance so it has been fun to put more emphasis on speed work and I feel strong for it, so I’ll likely keep working at getting to be a “less slow” runner.

The Race

We were a crew of about 20, all with different goals and intentions for the race.  Some of us were out for the run, some for the walk, and others were there for the fun.  As we gathered at the start line, there was no mistaking who the social media mavens were …

Hey ladies!!! That was the start!

I was setting up my music and Nike+ so I could track my time, and suddenly a wave of runners started moving … YIKES we missed the gun.  I bolted forward and just started running.  I was a mess, and in the words of my lady friend @broksocialite, “we don’t DO mess”.  Well, I was a mess of fumbling iphone and wires and I should have been focused and preparing at the start line.  Oooops!  It took me a good 14 mile or so to get myself situated and into a running groove.

Can I just say that Atlanta is humid?  HU- MID! Not just the little glisten/glow kind of humid.  It was SWEAT your balls of humid.  I assumed the heat would be a challenge to me but I also wrongly assumed that because I train at altitude, I’d be able to breath much easier and move along at a faster pace.  Wrong, and a lesson learned – the humidity made the air thick and I huffed and puffed my way along the course struggling on the intake. I knew going in that the hills would likely slow me down a bit .. and they did.  I opted not to stop and wait in line at the one and only water stop. (Just a little FYI on race water tables “best practices”, stand IN FRONT of the table and pass the water to runners as they run by!) This was a decision I definitely regretted later when I would have given almost anything for a drop of water. I’m quite certain I must have sweat several gallons of water in that short distance, as I was blinded by the sweat dripping from my forehead.  My eyes stung and in my mind’s ear,  I was panting like a hyena giving birth. Or at least what I imagine a hyena giving birth would sound like.  I just kept thinking, “You can do anything for 3 miles” and “Suck air IN, Suck air IN”. It’s funny, I felt so strong despite wanting to die.  I was going to push along no matter what!

Never Make Assumptions

My cocky assumption that I’d have an easy time breathing during this race was silly, had I given it much thought or even looked into it at all, I would have realized that the thick humid air would pose a challenge and likely cancel out any benefit I had gained from training at altitude. I’ll chalk this one up to a lack of experience but I can tell you that I won’t ever go into another race being sure of what conditions to expect.

Strange Happenings

Our bodies change as they age and if you’ve ever birthed a child you will likely see significant proof of those children, that increases with each pregnancy and birth.  I’ve had three children. My body is evidence but I practice yoga in order to combat some of the core strength weakness that I might otherwise struggle with. No matter what I do, the trauma that certain parts of my body have weathered in pushing three gorgeous little blessings can not be undone.  I do believe that practicing yoga is just about the only thing holding my hips together right now!

The Finish

The finish line was right around a corner at the bottom of a hill.  Had I known that the finish line were there I might have picked up my pace earlier, but PHEW it was nice to see that “Finish” sign!  I thought I’d pass out as I walked it off catching my breath.  (Another race note: Making runners walk 3 blocks to get water when they’ve sweat so much you can smell them a mile away??  NOT advised – Place it off to the side if you have to but WATER should be in close proximity lest would like to  have a BaneringBlonde yack in the middle of your pretty street!

@stacieinatlanta, me, @brokesocialite

For more about the race, and to read about the “RELAX” portion of the weekend join my on BanteringBlonde…

Relief...

Many runners begin to taper their training during the two weeks before a race but, since I’ll be using the #RaceRelax weekend 5k next Saturday June 5th as part of my half-marathon training, I have kept my normal training routine. I have also had such great results with my speed training that I pushed to “sprint” for the two middle miles in my Sunday run, and ended up running sub 9 minute miles for those particular miles!.  My goal for the 5k on Saturday is to run a sub 30 minute race and it should be very doable! If you take a look at my training week posted at the bottom of this, you will notice that my overall average mile time keeps going down.  I’m so used to training for longer distances I wasn’t really sure if I was doing any good with shorter speedier runs, but I feel really strong right now and know that I’ll have to work my distance interval training at a higher intensity from now on! So, it is the week before the big trip…. On Friday I am heading to HOT-Lanta! (That’s Atlanta for y’all Yankees).  Many of you will remember that I entered and actually WON The Blogrollers #RaceRelax Contest to run with @askwifey.  I wanted to win that contest so badly that I entered and played my odds like nobody’s business.  I’ve never want to win something so badly before! Preparing for this race has gotten me out of a pretty big running rut and I am so excited to see what the race reslut is. This little trip is EXACTLY what I need right now. I am so grateful to The Blog Rollers , Walt Disney World Resort and The Cherry Marketing Institute , The Wine Sisterhood and Pampered by Adrienne for sponsoring the event and flying me to Atlanta to Race …. and Relax!

Here are the lovely Atlanta ladies that I’ll be running and relaxing with!

@DoinGoodinATL; blog: http://doingoodinmyhood.wordpress.com/

@ReneeJRoss; blog: http://cutiebootycakes.com/ @LisaCWrites; blog: http://lisacwrites.com/ @WatchTheShoes; blog: http://wonderwomanchronicles.blogspot.com/ @Resroad; blog: http://myresolutionroad.blogspot.com/ @brokesocialite; blog: http://thebrokesocialite.com/ @StacieInAtlanta; blog: http://thedivinemissmommy.com/ @KrystalGrant; blog: http://www.krystalgrant.com/ @NikkiD13; blog: http://www.myinnerdialogue.com/ @JoanofAllTrades; blog: http://joanofalltrades.blogspot.com/ @execumama; blog http://execumama.com/ @mami2mommy; blog: http://mami2mommy.com/ @banteringblonde; blogs: http://banteringblonde.com/ and http://momactive.com/ @msladysoul; blog: http://www.intellectualsoul.com/ @chatterboxcgc; blog: http://www.christiecrowder.com/ @AskWifey; blog: http://www.askwifey.blogspot.com/ http://losingfatandwinning.blogspot.com/ @TheGreatDanaJ

Training Log 5/24/10 – 5/30/10

	Type	Title	Distance (mi)	Duration	Pace	Calories
05/30/10	Running	Just another run ….	6.46	01:08	10:28	766
05/28/10	Running	Harvard Loop	3.27	00:36	11:05	324
05/26/10	Running	Quick Run Before MomTV MomActive Show!	2.53	00:27	10:42	251
05/24/10	Running	Harvard Gulch Double	4.43	00:49	10:59	439
05/24/10	Yoga	C2 CorePower		01:00		N/A

I feel like we need to explore a name for the weekly check-ins.  We are all having “aha” moments and major mental breakthroughs … this is no longer about a race and we need to start reflecting that.  So let’s get on that….’mkay?

Those of you following us on our journey will start to see people coming out of the woodwork making all kinds of crazy declarations that are going to push them to BE MORE and DO MORE than they ever imagined. **giddy**

Ok, so my week was not fantabulous but it was actually ok.  I struggle with allergies and the cotton wood came out fierce last week.  Our lawns and streets and screens were clogged with the white cotton of ick.  The trooper within pulled this out….

Monday - Core Power Yoga 60 mins

Tuesday- 6.5 miles 1:10 (easy run)

Wed/Thurs/Fri –  Allergies and lack of sleep!

Sunday – 33minutes 2.66 miles (very easy run)

So, not awesome but at the same time I still put in almost 9 miles and the 6.5 distance gave me a peak distance to train down from for my 5k race next Saturday #RaceRelax weekend in Atlanta with @theblogrollers!  My goal is to run a sub 30min 5k… totally doable!

Tune in to @momactive on MomTV on Wednesday at 10pm ET – we’ll be talking training schedules and plans, getting out of your own head and over the mental hurdles!  We may have a super duper top secret special guest popping in  ….. ooooh la la

Week 2 of my half marathon fitness training went much better than last week. I walked 2 days and then ran a 5k on Sunday. It wasn’t an official 5k, but I wanted to get a benchmark starting point.

I’m not sure what came over me, but I woke up on Sunday morning with this urge to just go run. I knew that if I went alone, I may not run far, so I volunteered my oldest son to go with me. Fortunately he agreed. I couldn’t wait to get out there.

The 5k

I laced up my Nike shoes, turned on my Nike+ and we just started running. We talked and ran until the Nike+ said we had gone 2.5k. Then we turned around and ran back home. We walked about .5k and ran the rest. It wasn’t a fast run, just a slow steady run. We finished in 37 minutes averaging about 12 minute miles. I was happy with that time. I have not run consistently in the last few months and the last 5k I ran was on October 17, 2009.

When I was done, I felt so good. Running makes me happy. It makes me feel like anything is possible because for me, running wasn’t always possible. Well, physically it was, but mentally it wasn’t. But somehow I got past that and now I’m a runner.

The Empowered Mile

That first mile of my first 5k was the longest and most difficult mile I have ever run. It felt endless. It felt impossible. I managed to get past that first mile and I don’t know where the energy came from, but I was able to finish the 5k.

I was the kid in gym class who finished last, not real great at any sports. I always told myself I’m not an athlete. So maybe I’m not good at the sports where you need to use an object and hit another object, but damn…I’m good at the sports where you need to use your body. My body doesn’t fail me when I treat it right.

Fitness Mental Block

This week was more of a mental hurdle than anything. I needed to get past the thought that I can’t run a half marathon. I know it’s possible, but I haven’t been able to envision myself actually completing it. As I was running the 5k, all I thought about was “I really can do this.” That run somehow helped me push past the fitness mental block.

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Here I Come!

When The Blogrollers held their #RaceRelax Weekend contest a few weeks ago, I knew I absolutely had to win. I worked that contest hard and when I won, it felt like it was “meant to be”.  Training to race a 5k is a whole different game than the half marathon or longer distance races I had been looking to run.  I plan to use the Atlanta race as a training run in my long term schedule but I’ll be running along side some very tall rock star runners and I’d like to turn in a respectable time… lest they start calling me Bumbling Blonde….

This is what my week looked like:

Monday

- 6am 60 min. Hot Power Fusion Yoga (Core Power)

- 30 minutes easy run

Tuesday

- 6am 60 min. C2 Yoga (Core Power)

Wednesday

- 60 min. Yoga II-III Vinyasa Flow (CCAC)

-  55 minute interval training on tread mill at CCAC – I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro twice!

(since it was rainy and my club has a spa I popped in for a 50 minute sports massage ahhh)

Thursday

- 60 min.  C2 yoga (Core Power)  **bonus, Kat had a play date so I took advantage!

Friday – Rest

Saturday

- 45 minute run with Jogtunes Podcast 180 bpm peak (my nike+ wasn’t picking up so I’m not sure of the distance)

Sunday – Rest

Observations: I’m a fair weather runner and I don’t love the treadmill so every winter I fret about “losing” my groove with running.  It makes sense that I always fall right back into it because I stay very active during the winter with yoga, snowboarding, strength training etc.  The wear and tear on your body when running is pretty significant and I’ve always tried to force myself to stick to a 3-4 day a week max of actual running. As my body has changed from practicing yoga i am now convinced that I might actually be able to train a marathon with 3-4 days of running a week…. I think

I took the week to get myself back in the running frame of mind.  I am a fair weather runner so winter tends to keep me in the yoga studio with a jaunt on the tread mill here and there.  My training schedule includes 3 runs a week right now.  Since I typically practice yoga 3-5 times a week normally I’ll used those classes to cross-train and strength build.  In my opinion anyone who participates in yoga is getting quite a bit of strength training just by lifting their own body weight.

Here is what my week looked like.

Monday 5/3 -  40 minute run easy

Tuesday 5/4 – 60 min Core Power Fusion Yoga/cross train

Wednesday 5/5 – (Rest)

Thursday 5/6 – 30 minute run easy

Friday 5/7 – 60 minute Core Power C2 Yoga/cross train

Saturday 5/8 - 5k paced run – I used my Nike+ iphone app to check my pace.  I wanted a point of reference since I’ll be flying to Atlanta for #racerelax weekend THAT I WON in just four weeks.  I’d like to turn in a semi decent time and while my long term training really requires work on increasing my distance, I’ll be giving special attention to my speed/interval training runs over the next few weeks.

The 5k race that I’ll be running is on June 5th and I thought it would be fun this week to highlight some other 5k’s around the country.  Watch for this post next Friday and please comment or email fiona.bryan at momactive.com if you would like me to highlight or find a race in your area on June 5th.