Jul
2018

Elmhurst 4 on the 4th Race Recap

categories: Oiselle, Race Recap, Running, Tuesdays on the Run

On Wednesday I ran one of my favorite races in the Chicago area – Elmhurst 4 on the 4th.  I’ve run this race since 2013 and have always had a great time.  I like the price, the distance, and the location.  It is very easy to get there and I always find parking..FREE parking.

I left later than usual and even thought I didn’t park in my usual spot, I still managed to park close to the start line.  Then I got my bib and met the Oiselle girls for a picture.

4 on the 4th-1

Let’s go back to my bib.  I gave the volunteer my name and she found it on the roster.  I remember hearing the number 24 or something like that.  Once I got my bib, I didn’t look at it and just went to meet up with the Oiselle girls.  I have a Fitletic belt and use the toggles for my bib.  Again, I did not look at it.

I talked to Heather and Kathleen for a few minutes and then we lined up.  It was already sunny and HOT.

4 on the 4th-2

This race is not a big race but there are a few people cheering for you.  There is just something about running in a small town for a race.  I knew I wasn’t going to get a PR.  I started off too fast and then paid for it at the end.  Still, I don’t think it was too bad.

4 on the 4th-3

I did walk a few times because I also got too hot.  I didn’t have a visor with me because that morning I checked the weather report and it was supposed to be overcast.  Luckily there was some shade and that helped.

This course has a few hills.  Not too many but the worst one is right before the finish line.  I know this but I curse every single time.  🙂

At the finish line, I got a water bottle and an ice cold washcloth to cool me down.  I was sweating a lot.

4 on the 4th-4.jpg

.I walked for a bit to cool down before going home.

In my car is when I had a feeling that something was wrong with my bib number.  I remember hearing the number 24 but not 25.  I just wanted to get home to shower and eat.  I knew there was nothing I could do about it so I decided to handle it at home.

Yep, I got the wrong bib.  Once the results were available on Athlinks,  I couldn’t find my name but did find my results with the bib number I used to run the race.

4 on the 4th-7

I emailed the race director right away and explained the situation.  After a few emails back and forth, the problem was resolved.  

4 on the 4th-8

I also checked Kim’s name and she was given a new bib number to run.  Glad that worked out too.

I highly recommend this race to everyone.  It is always fun and the perfect way to start off the holiday.

Linking up with Marcia, Patti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun


Jul
2018

ZOOMA Half Marathon Training Recap, Week 6

categories: Half Marathon Training, Hansons Training, Running, Weekly Recap

ZOOMA Half Marathon-1

I am excited to be training for the ZOOMA Half Marathon on September 15.  I am also excited to share that I will train using the Hansons Half Marathon Method.  In a nutshell, this training is based on the concept of cumulative fatigue.  You train your body to run often so that you are frequently running on tired legs.  The idea is to run this way so that during the last miles of a race you are prepared to push through the final miles. 

Week #6, July 2-8

M Ran 4.00 miles
T OFF
W Ran 4.04 miles
TH Ran 4.00 miles
F Ran 4.00 miles
S Ran 4.00 miles
S Did not run

I am loving the “easy” runs.  Sometimes I can get negatives splits and sometimes I don’t.  

ZOOMA Half Marathon-23

On Wednesday I ran the Elmhurst 4 on the 4th and had so much fun!  I’ve done this race since 2013 and will continue to do so as long as I am in town.  It is one of my favorite races in the Chicago area.  I just realized I don’t have  recap yet and plan to have it this week.

On Friday I ran 4 miles again but Strava only recorded 3.7 miles.  How is that possible?  I use my Garmin for all of my runs and then those sync to Strava. 

Friday was also my last day of summer school.  I cannot believe 4 weeks went by already.  Now I can enjoy my summer break!  🙂

Sunday morning I woke up with a tight calf.  Lola and I make sure to always use correctly the yoga mat.  Using a tennis ball to foam roll hurts but always feels good.  My leg felt so much better afterwards.

Another week of training!  This week went well except that I skipped Sunday’s run.  Again, woke up later than usual and it was just too hot to run outside.  I was hoping that it would be cooler in the evening but it was still warm and sunny.  I didn’t want to deal with it.  How many months till fall?

Total mileage for the week: 20.04 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  132.73 miles
Total mileage for the year: 584.11 miles 

Here’s how training has gone so far:
Week 1 and 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5


Jul
2018

Random Thoughts Thursday 27

categories: Random Thoughts Thursday

Random Thoughts Thursday

• Over the last couple of years I’ve had to work on improving my credit score.  I had a condo that I sold as a short sale that that brought down my score.  Since then my score has increased to a number in the 800.  I needed to have good/excellent credit because I was looking to buy a house.  Well, I am putting that on hold for a few more months and in the meantime decided to cancel credit cards that I don’t need/want.  Well, my credit score went down and now it went up again.  I am pleased with where I am now.  

Credit Score-1

• Anyone watching the World Cup Games?  I am not a soccer fan but will watch it every four years.  Sad that Mexico lost on Monday.  

World Cup Game-1

• Anyone use Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner?  I saw this at Walmart and was shocked at the price.  I will admit that it is a large bottle but still it is expensive.  I like Pantene but think this is too much money.

Pantene-1.jpg• I LOVE funnel cake.  Not too many places sell it.  I usually eat it when I got to Six Flags and that rarely happens.  On Wednesday we went to a nearby suburb for an Independence Day Celebration.  There were games, live music, and food for everyone to enjoy.  There was a long line to buy funnel cakes and I decided to get two.  If I was going to wait in line for a long time then I had to make it worth it.

Funnel Cake-1.jpg

• My cat is weird and funny.  Can you see her?  Yes, I have a very old TV.  I refuse to buy a new one since this one still works.

Lola-5.jpg


Jul
2018

Goodbye June and Hello July!

categories: Ambassador, Half Marathon Training, Hansons Training, Running, Tuesdays on the Run

How is it that we are halfway through the year?  

Hello July

• June was the end of the school year.  I also started teaching summer school and that ends this Friday.  For the rest of the month, I will be relaxing while also hanging out with family.  I have a cotillion on the 14th and then my sister and her husband will be in town for a week.

• Training went very well this month.  I am currently training for the ZOOMA Half Marathon in September.  There were some decent days but definitely quite a few HOT ones.  I’ve been doing my easy runs (3-4 miles) early in the morning before work.  If I don’t then I have to wait till 6-7 once it cools down a little bit.

• Ran 104.68 miles.  Another month over 100 miles.  I am now 47% done of my yearly goal.  

2018 Goal

• Total time running was 21:15.  Not quite a whole day but pretty close.

• 23 days of running.  I run 5 days a week and have been loving it.  Now I am at the point in my training plan in which I will be running 6 days a week.  Last week would have been my first week but I skipped my run on Sunday.

June 2018 Calendar

• Getting back to weekly speed workouts.  I had some really great ones when I was training during the winter.  Still pleased with how I am doing so far.

• Looking forward to 1 race in July.  I am running the Elmhurst 4 on the 4th on Wednesday.  It is one of my favorite races and I’ve done this race since 2013.

Overall, I am proud of myself with how I did in June.  I missed one run and didn’t finish another one.  Hopefully July is just as great or better!

June 2018 Report Card

Join me on September 15 for an inspiring weekend filled with strong women, yoga sessions, speakers, an exciting expo, and celebrations in an unforgettable resort location.  Click HERE to register.  The code is valid till July 4.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-22

So how did June go for you?  What  is the weather like where you live?

Linking up with Marcia, Patti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun


Jul
2018

ZOOMA Half Marathon Training Recap, Week 5

categories: Half Marathon Training, Hansons Training, Running, Weekly Recap

ZOOMA Half Marathon-1

I am excited to be training for the ZOOMA Half Marathon on September 15.  I am also excited to share that I will train using the Hansons Half Marathon Method.  In a nutshell, this training is based on the concept of cumulative fatigue.  You train your body to run often so that you are frequently running on tired legs.  The idea is to run this way so that during the last miles of a race you are prepared to push through the final miles. 

Week #5, June 25-July 1

M Ran 4.00 miles
T OFF
W Ran 6.75 miles
TH Ran 4.01 miles
F Ran 4.00 miles
S Ran 4.00 miles
S Did not run

Another HOT and HOT week of running!  Ugh, I need to be out there by 5:30 so that I am not too hot.  It was mostly easy runs of 4 miles on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-20

My speed workout  (1.5 mile warm up and cool down and 8x400s with 400s recovery) was on Wednesday and I almost nailed it.  I have no idea why the first interval was my slowest one.  I didn’t know it was my slowest one till after my run and I saw my paces.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-18.jpg

I ran again in my Brooks Launch 5 and I’d forgotten how much softer these are compared to the Launch 4.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-19

Saturday was the end of the month and I ended it with 104.68 miles.  Total to date is 564.14 miles (per my Garmin; my Google Sheet shows 564.07) and that puts me at 47% done of my yearly goal.

Total July 2018

I woke up late on Sunday and it was already hot.  I was hoping that it would be cooler in the evening so I could still run.  It finally did around 6pm (78 degrees, it was high 90s in the morning) but by then it was supposed to rain and I also got lazy.

ZOOMA Half Marathon-21.jpg

Total mileage for the week: 22.77 miles
Total mileage for this training cycle:  112.69 miles
Total mileage for the year: 564.07 miles <<Per my Google Sheet; Garmin shows 564.14)

Here’s how training has gone so far:
Week 1 and 2
Week 3
Week 4