Boston and Stuff

I've sat down several times to write a blog post since the Boston Marathon.  Nothing.  When it comes to blogging, I'm just not feeling it much these days (most my blogging is done on Instagram). But when it comes to Boston...even if my blog is on the way to the grave, I kind of want to at least write something here.  There are so many good things to say about Boston 2015. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. Ok, so the freezing cold and sopping wet walk from the finish line to the bag check wasn't fun but everything else was wonderful!

This girl... such a special time with her!  And to think we met through running blogs five years ago and now she's family to me.  

As I've said from the start, Boston was a training run of sorts for me as I prepare for my first ultra marathon in May--The Trail Factor 50k.  My goals for Boston were to keep it FUN and relatively EASY.  With this being my 5th Boston and maybe my last for a few years, my specific intentions and reality were:

• Use Boston as a quality long run.  Don't race it all out.  Save my legs so I can continue training for my ultra.  Yes!  It's amazing to me how good this mountain trail running has been for me!  Since moving to Bend, Oregon in August, I've run almost all my runs on trails.  My weekly mileage hasn't exceeded 50 miles except one or two weeks (most weeks around 35-45ish), my mile splits have been trail slower and the time on my feet longer and varied in terrain/footing.  I've run more dirt and hills than ever before and my body has thanked me!  My longer runs of 20 miles and over have added up to more time on my feet than ever before in a single training run.  I've also been able to get out on the road every two or three weeks to test my legs out and run some faster miles.  Add to that a few treadmill speed workouts and you have one very loose training plan taken mainly from my heart/head and two or three running books I have accumulated over the years.  But you know?  This trail running and loose training has worked wonders for me--my body, soul, and running heart! I didn't even know (or care about) my Boston time for several hours after I finished because my Garmin stopped working during the last half of the marathon where it was pouring rain.  This was actually a good thing since my goal was to run without a watch or not look at it much at all!  I ended up running a 3:33:xx.  This is around the same as my other Boston Marathons (except for 2012 when it was 90 degrees):  2004: 3:32; 2013: 3:35 ? (I think...I know, how do you forget but I do); 2014: 3:28.  This one felt entirely different!  It was a lesson in distribution and pacing for me.  I went out easy and stuck with around that pace.  Yes, I slowed down at the end and my legs were tired but there was never any point where I felt like I was dying!  I think I actually could have had a Boston PR if I would have fueled the right way and had racing it as my intention...but we can usually say that in hindsight.  Ha!  
• Soak it all up!! With this being my last Boston for at least a couple years, I really wanted to take it all in and EXPERIENCE Boston for all it is.  You bet I did this!!  I soaked it up in more than one way...the rain and the energy!  Leading up to Boston, I got to spend some very quality time with friends in a city I LOVE!  During the race, I high-fived, stopped for a picture, SMILED nearly the whole way, almost cried a few times when I saw people supporting each other, and embraced the incredible energy from the crowds. 

This wasn't the easy portion of the run (obvious from my face) but I was still feeling so happy to be running!  I think I'll be buying these this time...for the story behind them.  At this point I was sopping wet and cold!!

Gorgeous weekend!! The weather was perfect every day except race day!

Watching the women's B.A.A Invitational Mile!  They make their fast mile look easy! 

• Play around with FUEL.  In training runs I don't use fuel anymore.  I used half a gel once for a 14 miler but I finally decided I didn't want or need it for the kind of runs I have been doing.  I eat a good breakfast and then take water or sometimes Nuun Energy (electrolytes and caffeine) with me.  My best marathon (my first) was run with one gel the entire way...just sipping it.  Granted, I was young, there is no science behind my strategy, and I wasn't running for a personal record since I had no record yet but it worked for me for what I wanted.  With Boston I drank water and had sips of gatorade every 3 or 4 miles.  I also sipped on 3/4 of a Huma gel for part of the race. If I would have had a bit more fuel of some kind, I think I would have had the energy to run some faster and stronger miles at the end if that's what I had decided to do but I'm happy with how things turned out.  The run was easy until the very end and I secretly hoped I would have had more energy to make a 3:30 or sub 3:30 feel strong and easy but that wasn't happening for me in order to keep running in a way that would mean I'd be able to continue training.  
• Enjoy being a part in someone else's first Boston Marathon!  As I've shared on this blog before, one of my closest friends is a friend I met through the blog world in 2010.  We got to know each other by reading each other's blogs but then we became daily email friends and then phone and Skype and eventually traveling to spend girl weekends together.  Five years later and I consider her family.  This year was special because I not only got to see her but I got to meet her parents and sister.  She was there running with her dad for his very first Boston Marathon at the age of 63!  Not only did she coach him all the way through but she paced him to another Boston Qualifier.  Such a special and memorable experience to be able to join this family for much of the lead-up an celebration.  Some good genes in this family!!  

It was cozy in the tents at Athlete's Village! 

Our good friend AM was there to cheer for all of us!  She spent hours in the rain and cold and then walked from the restaurant to the hotel with me once it got dark.  Only thing...I took us the wrong way and we ended up walking what felt like 5 miles in the POURING DUMPING rain.  She didn't hate me.  

Father and Daughter.  Runner and Coach.  Another BQ for him at 63!  Such an amazing man who is married to the sweetest woman and together they raised 6 of the best women around!  Honored enjoy some of this experience with them!

Some random bullets about Boston and After:

• The weather wasn't ideal but it was better than some of the other times I've run when it was 87 and 90 degrees!  The rain and cool temps really was being in our element as Pacific Northwest runners!  After training in Portland, OR for so many years, the rain, wind, and cold didn't have much on me.  Until AFTERWARDS.  With a sopping wet shirt, shorts and every inch of me from head to toe being saturated, it was MISERABLE walking from the finish line to Boston Commons for our bags. That was the true marathon!!!  My teeth were chattering so hard I thought they might chip loose! 
• It felt so much less crowded this year! I know last year was a special year with more people allowed but everything felt more efficient this year.  
• There is no race quite like Boston! From the city of Boston to the expo, energy, race course, spectators...the whole package...it can't be beat!  I will be back again when I am less busy with my kids and sports and can justify spending the money on another Boston.  For now, there are other things calling me.  
• I ate more sourdough bread and drank more beer than I have in awhile!  I'm surprised I fit in my shorts for race day.  But it was worth it.  Enjoying good food and beer while traveling with friends is part of what makes trips like this so fun!  However, in the future, if I'm going to try again for a PR, I might not drink beer every day leading up the race!  Oh, and the beer in Boston was disappointing for a west coast girl who likes a hoppy IPA. 
• I didn't run the day after Boston but I did run the following day with my friend AM.  We ran a slow easy 6.  It was a slow start.  My body was not liking me after running 26.2 miles on road after never running over 10 off trails for months.  My right leg wasn't working so well but I warmed up.  Since then, I've gotten back to my daily running routine.  Hoping for a long run of 18-20 this weekend if I can fit it in.  
• Lots going on in life that has me smiling so much.  I feel the happiest and strongest than I have for a long time.  Maybe ever.  Just content and present.  I'm enjoying my home, these trails, the memories to come in this backyard this summer, driving my kids to soccer tournaments and practices, seeing my husband thrive in a job he is so deeply passionate about, and soaking up this time I have to be home while my kids are still young.  Grateful.  

I've never been a blogger who was much good at race reports but it felt good to write a few thoughts down!  And now for some pictures.  

I don't know who missed the trails more...him or me.  We both were so happy to run together when I came home.  With my husband working so hard, this dog went from clocking 40-50 miles a week to maybe 10.  Love him!!

The Deschutes River on my 13 mile trail run yesterday

If someone visiting Bend, OR asked me to list my top recommendations for trail running, Shevlin Park would be in my top 3 on the list! From steep climbs leading to mountain views, meandering paths through lush forests along Tumalo Creek, wooden bridges, to paths leading to the perfect bench or table for a post run stretch or snack, this place has it all!!  Every time I visit,  I wonder why I don't drive the 10 minutes her more often.  

THIS is what I'm most excited for this summer!!  Time with my family in our backyard...enjoying each other and making and sharing memories.  

THIS is what I'm most excited for this summer!!  Time with my family in our backyard...enjoying each other and making and sharing memories.  Oh, and enjoying some good beers after long happy days in the sun!

Now off to get the kids and do the soccer shuffle!  This felt really good to blog again.  

Amanda

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All Things Running: Emcee (yikes!), Boston Marathon Thoughts, Healing Trail Runs, Trail Fun and More

It's Halloween day and I've yet to put a costume together.  My husband and I try to get in the spirit and make memories by dressing up with our kids and it often means coming up with a costume idea last minute.  Except last year when Whiplash from Ironman 2 was part of our family for the night. I won't say how excited my electrical engineer husband got about creating that costume.  Let's just say there were several nights of work (electrical work included) involved.  And boy was it authentic! So, we have about four hours to pull something together.  We're thinking a modern Luke and Leia--if we can't find a blonde wig for him then it will be an older Luke that has started buzzing his hair off (since it's much sexier than a comb over).

Running Running Running!  Lots of running thoughts lately.  The summer is officially over and this girl is settling into her running season.  I'm not sure what this winter holds for me with running but I'm getting excited to think of some plans.

Road Running vs. Trails
I ran on sidewalks today for one of the first times since we moved here.  Almost all my running has been on dirt, rocks, hills, and winding trails through the trees and along the river.  I'm not complaining one bit.  I'll take trails any day over the road.  However, I try not to pay much attention to my watch when I run on the trails since pace is MUCH slower.  Today I dropped my son off at his Montessori school and then ran to a meeting downtown.  It was a pleasant surprise to see what my pace was on sidewalks/road compared to the trail!  In fact, I rarely run with a watch these days on the trails now that I know the distance of most my routes.

Something New That Makes Me Nervous: EMCEE
Yikes yikes yikes!  So, I agreed to be the Emcee for the Sister's Happy Girls Half Marathon and 5k (put on  by Lay It Out Events).  I'm a mix between excited for the opportunity and nervous as all heck! Public speaking is something I'm not bad at once I'm comfortable (after all, I was a teacher for almost 10 years) but the first time for anything is just a little scary.  I'm kicking fear to the curb and trying something that scares me.  I think each time we say "YES!" and put ourselves out there (even if it means stepping outside of our comfort zones), we open doors that lead to new possibilities and connections. As soon as I agreed to do this, I sent a text my friend Sarah Bowen Shea (Love this gal!) and she gave me a short text pep talk and gave me the link to her article about her own Emcee experiences:  Fun at the Finish Line.  For any of you at this event, I'm warning you now that my voice might be ten octaves higher than usual until I relax.

Boston Marathon Indecisiveness 
Boston Boston Boston.  The Boston Marathon is in April.  That means many people start training in December.  Some like shorter training plans and start in January.  In the past, I've used October to December to build a strong base and get my mileage up before using a specific plan.  This year brings up a whole bag of indecisiveness:

1. First thing I'm questioning is if it is even in my best interest to run Boston this year.  It's expensive to get there, I've already done it four times, and it just might not be the best idea on a number of levels.
2. If I do run Boston, I need to decide how I'll run it and how I'll train for it. The Boston Marathon weekend is so much more than just a race weekend.  It's a weekend where I get to see some of my closest friends as well as be involved with the running/marathon community on one of the most exciting race weekends out there.  Nothing quite like Boston when it comes to the marathon.  Talk about ENERGY!  I can certainly train in a way where I just log miles and don't train specifically for any time goal.  This would allow me to run Boston for fun and possibly use it as a training run for an ultra marathon.  I'm also looking into different training plans that I might use if I do decide to train a bit harder.  Another option is finding a coach to work with (maybe even someone new to coaching (or just wanting to grow their coaching business) and wanting a guinea pig and someone to help them advertise/market through my blog.  However, with the latter, I'm not so sure I'd want just anyone telling me what do when it comes to running/training so it would have to be a seasoned runner who knows their stuff!  My gut tells me I'm going to go with training myself and possibly carrying my training over to an ultra marathon.  Of course, it all depends on this body of mine and how well it holds up! Oh, and who knows what a Bend winter holds.   

Trail Run Fun

Many of us have seen the Instagram pics of runners running on trails. One of my favorite Instagram feeds to follow is Speedy Mama Jess here in Sisters, Oregon.  I love seeing these kinds of shots! They are inspiring AND I get to see all the beautiful spots people run while seeing them enjoying doing what they love.  However, I admit, I always wonder how much time they took to set up their camera timers to snap the perfect shot.  It makes me laugh but I also think it's fun and I enjoy the pics as much as they enjoyed taking them!  I suppose this is part of what blogging and instagramming is all about:  capturing moments and sharing our lives with others.  On Tuesday, my husband and I hit up the trails for 11 miles.  It was such a gorgeous day so we decided to try one of those timed running pictures.  We'd never done it before and it made for some good laughs.  Our dog thought we were a little weird with our running back and forth for a few minutes while getting our shot.  But I think he kind of liked the game.  When we were ready to run on and not try for another shot, he actually turned around again thinking it was picture time. Ha!  Made me laugh.  

Deschutes River Trail taking off from Meadow Camp

Healing Trails

If you asked me about my favorite trails to run on here in Bend, Oregon, I'd have to say Shevlin Park would be the first place that comes to mind.  Now, I've only been here since August and I haven't even begun to discover all the trails there are around here but for now, Shevlin Park is where I go when I want to get lost in the trees and be alone with my thoughts and the beauty surrounding me.  It's GORGEOUS!  A bit less on the high dessert feel and more of the lush GREEN that I love.  Tumalo Creek trail is one of the easier trails in Shevlin Park--just what I needed for my Thursday run this week.  I won't go into details (yes, I'm allowed to be vague on here--it's my blog after all) but I will say that there were a few days this week that proved to be rather difficult and deeply painful on an emotional level--related to some news I received about a friend.  Running in the forest was just the medicine/comfort I needed. It was a time to be wrapped up in all the forest has to offer:
old, wise trees
fall colors
still and white waters from the creek
soft dirt
shaded paths
steep climbs that take you above some of the tallest trees
and
the perfect rocks on which to sit.

Plenty of tears and conversations/prayer on this run.  But also an incredible amount of peace, healing and hope in my heart once I finished.  Thankful for the gift of the run.  And beyond thankful for these forest trails I have at my fingertips.
  

Much wisdom and peace to be found on a trail run in the woods. Beautiful how these forest walls with their still and white waters, old towering trees and winding trails can pull us in so deeply and bring us so gently back to ourselves--telling us stories, whispering answers, and listening to our heart's every word. I'm so thankful for the gift of running. 

I have much more to say about running but this post is getting way too long so I'll leave some for next time.  I want to ask about recommendations for running pants, share some of the things I'm loving lately with running stuff, and put some potential races out there.  Oh, and I plan on trying this hands-free leash with my dog (honestly, I'm not sure what to expect with this type of leash...part of me fears falling on my face!) and then writing a review and giving one away to one of you!

Happy Friday!  And Happy Halloween to those of you who take part in it.


Laying it on thick with the questions today but lots I want to ask:
1.  Have you ever been an emcee at a race or somewhere else?  Would this make you  nervous?
2.  What are your favorite marathon plans that you'd recommend if I decide to use a plan for Boston?  
3.  Do you have a running coach you'd recommend?  
4.  Do you find healing and comfort through running?  
5.  Are you dressing up for Halloween?  Your kids?  What will you be?  

Amanda

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As Seen on My Run #2: Trail Run Weekend and Other Random Tidbits on Running, Motherhood, Life

1. You bet I grabbed the vaseline before we left for our trail run date today.  After a weekend of trail runs in this rugged mountain high dessert climate (dry and constant sunshine), this girl has some armpit chaffing going on! This is relatively new for me except for Boston 2014.  Ouch!  In addition to chaffing, I need LOTION for my thirsty skin.  Lots of it! 
2. After my ten miler yesterday (with 4 in the morning to make 14), six on Friday and seven today, my body is SORE!  Sore but happy.  
3. Running with a dog is hilarious!  It's completely different from running alone when you have a new dog.  Such a new experience for me.  Instead of having little kids and stopping to talk to random strangers about each other's kids, it is now stopping to talk to random people about their dogs.  It takes twice as long to run a trail when doing this.  Every stop is like an opportunity to socialize your dog.  "Say hi."  "He's nice."  "How old is he/she?"  "What kind of dog do you have?"  And it's even more hilarious to me at the ego stroking going on between dog owners.  So many people complementing other dogs and loving have others to talk to about their dog.  Oh, and people we would otherwise rarely stop to talk to...they are our new trail buddies...all because of our dogs....old ladies, other trail runners, families with kids, etc.  I got so many laughs out of our run today.  Note to self:  If we are going to get a steady workout without stopping, we must resist the temptation to stop to let Ashe talk to every dog we see.  
4. Speaking of Bend and dogs, um, could you get any more dog friendly?  We went to a very popular brewery tonight called 10 Barrel and took Ashe with us.  Half the people there had a dog with them...as long as they are leashed, dogs are allowed in so many restaurants.  And we forgot a dog bowl for water, but guess what?  They had one for him.  With dog bones painted on the side.  Really?  So, we enjoyed a cold IPA and french fries and he did some people and dog watching.  Score!  
5. What a good good family weekend!  A weekend I most DEFINITELY needed!  Soccer games, sunshine, plenty of mileage, more settling into a routine, some journal time with my coffee that helped me be present and content, finding a new church that fits our family needs (haven't been to church of any kind in over a year...but this one seems like a good fit for our family on many counts), a trail run day with my husband, new babysitter and so much more.  
6. This weekend was even a weekend that felt ON in the motherhood department (well, by the end of the weekend). Having a 4th grade girl (going on major teenager), 2nd grader and a five year old is new territory for us.  It always is...every year is something different when it comes to this parenthood gig, right?  And I don't think we are ever fully prepared.  We just need to do the best we can.  It helps to have some really good friends in our life to look up to and get advice from!   Funny how once we feel like we have some sort of grip or control over the stage our kids are at, things transition again. 

Okay, onto our trail runs.  I'll leave most of this part to the pictures.  These pictures include two pictures from the Shevlin Park trails (around Tumalo Creek) and Green Lakes Trail towards the end.  However, most of them are from today where we took Marci's advice and ran on the Deschutes River Trail near Meadow Camp going towards Mr. Bachelor.  Thanks Marci!! This section of trail is my favorite of all of them around here so far!  Gosh, it's hard to choose a favorite here but this one was incredible.  Besides the many dog owners with their dogs we saw off leash and the fly fisherman, it was pretty much just us and nature.  Glorious.  Oh, and my husband actually coached me a bit in regards to running fast downhill on the trails!  He just made some simple suggestion about making sure I took small steps and didn't let my toes go in front of my knees.  I'm not sure how he worded it but WOW! For the first time trail running, I felt like I learned a new trick that led to noticeable improvement in efficiency and speed!

Playing toss the pine cone into the river.  Ashe is strong swimmer!  

LOTS of this on our run today. Quite funny to me to see how things change when you have a new dog.  

This place rocks!  Dog friendly, good vibes, in a cool area, and good beer!  And darn right, I earned these fries after this weekend of running! YUM!

Who Knew?  I LOVE him!

Our family went to the Green Lakes Trail before soccer games on Saturday.  I went off for my mother/daughter run with my sweet girl and we brought Ashe along for fun.  He's so gentle with her on the leash! 

View of Tumalo Creek from the Shevlin Park Trail.  

So long to clean trail shoes!  These Brooks Cascadias are so DUSTY!! I love these shoes.  

Um, this has nothing to do with trail running.  But it is darn cute.  Our family surely has a  new completeness to it now that Ashe is here.  

1. How was your weekend?  Long runs?  Exciting plans?  Did you have a much needed lazy weekend?  
2. Do you run with your significant other on run dates?  

Amanda

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