You've come a long way, Voldy

Voldy. Dear Voldy, old buddy, old pal.

Remember him? His formal name is Voldemort, but I call him Voldy (for short). He's that lovely (not!) 6-inch scar over my right knee, and he's been a part of my life since June 29, 2017.

People often say "it's the journey, not the destination," and it's certainly been an interesting ride this past year. What started out as nearly no mobility (due to the mandatory healing of the extensive suture seam, following surgery) recently came full circle with Voldy's fastest half marathon pace at the R'n'R Philly. What's ironic is that it happened exactly one year since he went for his first run with me.

R'n'R Philly Half Marathon Recap

It was a busy weekend in Philadelphia!

Not only did I get a quick tour of the downtown scene, I had the opportunity to lace up and hit the streets running, quite literally. Let's just say that the City of Brotherly Love did not disappoint.

Summer's Last Hurrah

Well, it certainly felt like summer again this past week!

Not only did the temps shoot back up to the 80F-90F range, the humidity returned as well. That's exactly how I like it, so no complaints from me...but it's crazy how hot it felt after the much cooler temps we'd had over the previous weekend.

RaCe Day PrEvIeWs : 101

Anyone else a RaCe DaY PrEvIew dork like myself?

I realize we're all blogging gurus, and feel the need to capture a lot of (sometimes insignificant) pics on our running adventures (selfies, anyone?). Do you also feel compelled to lay out your race outfit the day (or evening) before said race? Or even for an especially significant training run (I'm looking at you, Mr. 20-Miler)?

Yes? No? Maybe so???

Give Me Some Zzzzz's

It's been a l-o-n-g week for this gal.

My body was tired, my glutes were sore and my mind was fried. I'm not a nap gal, but there were a few of those happening this week....which means they definitely were needed. If there's one thing I pride myself on, it's listening to my body (and checking the ego at the door). My body obviously needed some down time, and I obliged.

Falling out of Summer

It's that time of the year that I dread (almost) the most....the end of summer.

Granted the majority of my runner friends are ecstatic to usher in some cooler weather and kick summer to the curb...but not me. Well, I do appreciate the less intense heat and humidity, but I have a special place in my heart for all things summer.

None the less, I live in Iowa. We get to experience the change of seasons. As much as I love summer, though, I doubt I'd love it so dearly if I lived in it year-round. Besides, getting to experience both extremes of weather reinforces just how much I truly love summer more than winter.

As we embark on the end of summer, I thought I'd share a few coping strategies to ease the transition into the cooler temps (and darker days) of fall. Just as we need some "easing in" when the mercury rises, it's also best to be prepared for the shift towards the cooler days ahead. Read on!

NewBo Run Half Marathon Recap

That which doesn't kill us....

Sorry for the melodramatic intro, but the NewBo Run Half Marathon really gave my true grit a thorough test of its authenticity.

Let there be Sweat

Oh, has it been a sweaty week!

The temps haven't necessarily been outrageously warm, but the humidity has been ever so thick. You know...even with tech gear, there's only so much that the humidity will allow to evaporate. Let's just say there has been a lot of splashing going on as I discard my running clothes on the floor as I turn on the shower.

Runfessions...Anyone?

It's that time of the month again....

Time for a cleansing coffee chat with friends, and sharing a few runfessions for good measure (and peace of mind). You probably know the routine...grab a cup of  your favorite warm (or cold) beverage, and spill it (not literally LOL).

August...Pass or Fail?

August 2018.....pass or fail?

It's hard to believe August is coming to a close and September is almost here. Ugh. Have I mentioned that I don't want my summer to end? Lots of fun and interesting fitness went down this month. I sweated more in August than I think I have all year, but it was all in good fun.

Anyways, here's how the month of August played out...

Tough Times

It's been a tough week.

Physically, things have been alright. There's been some good runs, lots of walking, and a little bit of strength training as well. On the emotional front, though, things have have been tough.

But first let's chat a bit about the fitness and how I got my sweat on this week...

#MilesForMollie

You've probably heard the recent news of a 20-year old University of Iowa student who went out for a simple, routine run....only to never return.

Her name? Mollie Tibbetts.
Her hometown? Brooklyn, Iowa...a small town in central Iowa, located a mere 20 miles down the road from my hometown.

It's The Humidity

It's no deep, dark secret that I love summer.

The smell of fresh-cut grass. The beautiful flowers in bloom. The over-grown tomato plants in my raised garden. Summer running. The heat. But the humidity? Not so much.

Thankfully, the temps were not too steep this past week. The humidity, though, was crazy. I can take the heat of summer, and I can tolerate the humidity, but that doesn't mean I necessarily enjoy it.

Five Fun Fall Races In Iowa

All good things must end...

As much as I hate to face reality, summer is winding down and fall is just around the proverbial corner. Although the temps will be cooling off and the days getting shorter, there's plenty of fun to be had in the great state of Iowa.

Here are five fun races my state offers for runners (and walkers as well). Take a look!

HIIT me up!

I've been HIIT'ing a lot this summer.

In an effort to keep improving on my running , I have been stepping outside my comfort zone and adding HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts to my weekly routine. Although I was in decent shape before I ever did any of these types of workouts, I have noticed a pretty dramatic improvement in my overall fitness since HIIT'ing on a weekly basis.

Going With the Flow

Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow.

Am I right? When things are out of your control (hello, Iowa weather, I'm looking at you), you just gotta make do with what you're given. At least that's what I do.

This past week had me going-and-flowing, practically on a daily basis...

Five Running Songs That May Surprise You

It's no surprise I love my music.

Although I'm not taking my Ipod along with me for every run these days, rest assured I always have it fully charged and ready. There's nothing like a fast beat and/or fancy guitar work to keep my pace strong and help the miles go fast.

In going through some of the favorites, I realized I have a few songs that are "typically" not my taste, but they are favorite songs to listen to as I log some miles. My playlist is pretty eclectic, and these five featured favorites will prove that.

A Big Hairy Audacious Goal

Ever have a big hairy audacious goal?

You know...a goal so big that you almost were afraid to even think of it or say it out loud (or blog about it)?

Well, I have a few such goals...and here's one of them:

I really want to get my 13.1 time closer to the 2-hour mark. Ideally, I'd LOVE to spank a sub 2:00 before 2018 is over and done. ((gulp))

Up to Speed

Where the heck is summer going???

I'm really having a tough time believing we are in August....didn't we just celebrate the summer solstice, like last week?

Anyways, it was another action-packed week for me. Even with a couple "sleepy" days, I managed to stay ahead of the game with my fitness endeavors.

Coffee Talk: Bottoms Up!

Shall we gather together and chat for a bit? Over coffee?

It's that time of the month for our virtual coffee get-together. Anything you'd like to chat about? What would you share, if we were having coffee together?

There are a few things I could share, and they're not all running-related.....

How about July!

Let me begin with a runfession of sorts....

I did not set any goals for July. What? Gasp! Shocker! What was I thinking?

I had a lot of things happening in July, and just never got around to fine-tuning any specifics on a strategy to get through the month. I know, my bad. Sometimes, though, not having stuff etched in stone can work in one's favor.

Back in Training Mode

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! I'm back in training again!

Yes, indeed. Marathon training officially commenced this week. In all actuality, my marathon training isn't really that different from other training except for the rather lengthy training runs in the final weeks before taper. But I digress.

Runfessions - Recent Reality Checks

When is the last time you had a reality check?

For myself, there have been ample opportunities as of late. Reality checks are actually good for us...they keep us humble and, often times remind us that we are human and not without fault.

Chicago R'n'R ReMix 2018

The 2018 Chicago R'n'R Remix was quite the epic experience.

I'm no stranger to the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series (I ran St. Louis in 2013 and Las Vegas in 2017), and I also ran Chicago before (in 2014). This particular endeavor, though, will stand out as quite an epic extravaganza.

Much to Smile About

Have you smiled lately?

This past week had me smiling all over the place. Sure, I'm a glass-half-full kind of person and I usually can find something to smile about. But this week? The smiles just came all on their own.
Care to hear the details?

Midnight Madness 15K Recap

I had a thirst for redemption...

Have you ever run (or attempted to run) a race that turned out to be (quite literally and figuratively) a hot mess? 

Enter the Midnight Madness Road Races. I first tackled this event back in 2016 (recap HERE). What happened to me in 2016 was every runner's nightmare...horribly hot and humid weather, an uncooperative body, and nonstop pain and frustration that ended with my first-ever (and only) DNF. Last summer was a non-issue (#sidelined from surgery), so this year was my first shot at redemption from the disaster of two years ago.

Sweat Equity:101

It's not the heat, it's the humidity.

Boy, oh boy, did we have our fair share of humidity this week in Iowa. We had pretty warm temps, too. Mind you, that is NOT a complaint. I love the heat (probably more than most people), but I spent the majority of the week "glowing" all over the place.

Pay it Forward on the Race Course

Have you ever thought about paying it forward on the race course?

We've all heard of race etiquette, but paying it forward takes your best race day manners a step further. Positive actions not only affect your performance, but they also impact others. It's not always all about us, after all. Why not try to share the race day love with others?

With that in mind, I try to have as much fun as possible whether I'm gunning for a PR or just using the race as a training run.  Here are five simple actions (that don't take any extra effort) I have learned to prioritize whenever I pin on a race bib:

Two Races in Four Days...Why Not?

Ever run two (unrelated and unplanned) races in the span of four days?

Just recently, I said, "Why not?" and gave it a go.  

Although both races, the Sully Freedom Fun Run 5K and the Lake Red Rock Balloon Fest 10K, were a lot of fun, both had rather unique and challenging circumstances. We don't grow by cowering within our comfort zones, right? Why not be adventurous and try new things? 

Let me set the scene by doing a little compare and contrast...

Embracing all that's Tough

This past week was an interesting one, to say the least.

It was a great week, but it also had some tough moments. Battles fought. Hills conquered. Heat endured. Victories won. Care to hear the nitty gritty?

Chatting Over Coffee....

Shall we chat?

What's the latest and greatest in your little corner of the universe? If we were chatting over coffee, what would you tell me? Let me share a few tidbits from my recent endeavors, and then I'll gladly listen to yours. Fair enough?

Summer Running Coping Strategies

I think we're all feeling pretty hot, hot, hot right now.

It is the summer, after all. It's gonna be hot. There's bound to be some sunshine, and the humidity will probably make things tough.

We all experience the heat differently. Sweating through the triple digits does not make one a badazz nor does postponing a run make someone else a wimp. Plain and simple, we all are going to have different comfort levels when it comes to what seems feasible and what seems impossible in the heat of summer.

Let's RALLY!

This week was all about the Rally.

Have you ever had to rally before? I have spent the past 12 months in a rally of sorts, assuming the title role in the Runner Who Rallied Back saga. A few days ago, June 29th, marked the 1-year anniversary of my emergency surgery (full details of  that adventure are HERE), so this past week has been sort of a lengthy and introspective walk-down-memory-lane.

Runfessions - Stronger Tougher Fierce Grateful

This has not only been an interesting week, it's been quite the year as well.

I'm not talking about 2018 specifically (that would be this post), but I'm referencing the past 12 months. Anyone remember what happened on June 29th, 2017? Exactly one year ago, I was wearing a hospital gown. In an operating room. Undergoing emergency surgery for a staph infection that had been undiagnosed (until a few hours prior).

All of my summer plans, running and otherwise, came to an abrupt halt.

But, let me runfess, it wasn't all that bad.

My 2018 Assessment (thus far)

So, how has 2018 treated you so far?

Things have been going alright for me. There have been some lessons learned, new workouts to try, several events to take part in, and a few happy moments as well.

Outrunning the Rain

And the crazy weather of 2018 continues....

Seriously, this has been the oddest of years in terms of weather. First, our winter refused to pack up and vacate until mid-April. Then, summer promptly arrived on the scene a couple weeks later, giving us ZERO time to acclimate. Just this past week, we celebrated the summer solstice...you know, the first day of summer...with temps in the low-60's. What the WHAT???

Post-Worthy Pics...5 recent favorites

How do you feel about the pics on social media?

I saw that yesterday (June 21) was National Selfie Day. Yes, you read that correctly...there actually is a day that celebrates people taking pics of themselves (and posting them for the world to see). 

Although I play the (shameless) selfie game, pretty much daily, I do have mixed feelings about it. Most of what we see on social media is "filtered" (literally and figuratively) to reflect what the person posting wants us to see about them or the lifestyle they lead.

Summer 2018 - What's on tap

Although the temps have shown (and felt) otherwise, summer has not officially begun...yet.

I have been looking forward to Summer 2018 for almost a year, believe it or not. Since my summer last year was a bit jacked (full details HERE), I plan to take full advantage of every available opportunity to be outside (preferably in my running shoes) this year.

All is well

 I can honestly say, "All is well."

It wasn't necessarily a stellar week in terms of high mileage or specific training goals met, but it definitely was pretty solid in terms of fitness and feeling good. Here's what all went down...

What about Speedwork?

I’m not a fan of speedwork. 

Unlike a lot of runners, I don’t get an adrenaline rush or a feeling of power in running fast. That’s not to say I don’t relish a faster-than-expected finish time now and then, though. I just don't let my speed (or, often times, lack there of) dictate my livelihood. Besides, I'm more of an endurance runner anyways.

That said, on occasion I do incorporate some speed sessions into my training. Although I am not a speedwork enthusiast, I do see the benefits of pushing one's pace now and then. Not only does consistent speedwork enhance your performance, it also breaks up the monotony of your workouts (physically and mentally).

Never Have I Ever...

"Never Have I Ever..."

Have you ever played that game?

As a runner, I can envision an interesting twist to this revealing game.  Shall we play?

True Colors Shining Through

Do you ever let your true colors shine?

It's no secret I'm a #colorfreak (probably due to my #artgeek nature), but I'm not only referencing color in the literal sense (though I did wear some bright attire this past week). I'm also referring to one's "true colors," one's internal gut instincts. Those instincts are there for a reason, they pull one to do what's right or in their own best interest, despite what the main stream may dictate.

This past week was all about letting my true colors shine, especially in terms of my own well being. Having just run the Dam to Dam 20K on Saturday (June 2nd), this week was all about a proper recovery. Here's what went down...

5 "True Runner" Falsehoods

Calling oneself a "true runner,"often times, is not immediate.

Having not grown up with a running background, I had a lot of preconceived ideas on what "true runners" were all about. Most (if not all) of these notions became apparent when I started running myself. It took me awhile (and several miles, blisters, and expensive pairs of shoes) before I considered myself a "true runner" and not a poser.

I had to get past many of the stereotypes and see for myself what really constitutes a "true runner." Thankfully, I have seen the light, but there still are a lot of naive people (non-runners AND new runners) who could benefit from a little bit of intel.

Dam to Dam 2018 - An epic ending of an era

Dam to Dam 2018. #39Forever. The 39th (and final) Dam to Dam.

Although I had been looking forward to this race, I was also kind of dreading it as well.

To give you a little bit of insight (in case you've never, ever, heard me mention this race), Dam to Dam is the one race I look forward to the most every year. It was my first-ever long distance event (in 2008), and it started me on a whirlwind of distance running and racing that has kept me quite happy. Not only did I run D2D in 2008, but I have returned every year since, making 2018 my 11th consecutive appearance on the Dam.

The Heat is On

The heat is on, at least in Iowa.

It's totally crazy how hot (and humid) it got so quickly. Our temps catapulted to the upper 80's/90's a couple of weeks ago, and have not returned to "normal." I'm not complaining, because I much prefer the heat to the cold, but it's been a bit much (even for me). I even heard a meteorologist make the comment that we're actually about a month ahead of schedule in terms of the temps! May 2018 was our second warmest May on record, ironic that April 2018 had been our second coldest April on record. Isn't that crazy???

Shall We Chat?

Shall we chat?

You know, over coffee? Just you and me, sharing the latest? What you say?

Well, if we were to get together, here's some of the nitty gritty that I'd share:

6 Favorite Tunes That Move & Groove My Runs

Are you a music-on-the-run kind of runner?

Granted, music is not necessary to get the run done. Give me some comfy shoes, a bright ensemble of clothing, and favorable weather conditions and I'm a very happy gal. If I'm running with friends, even better. But if I'm running solo, I usually prefer to have music with me.

It's no secret that I love music. Especially on long runs, music is vital for keeping me entertained. I typically don't have the volume very loud, but just having a little bit of "ambiance" really helps me enjoy the experience. I don't rely on music for speed or cadence, but hearing the tunes and the rhythmic beats certainly gets (and keeps) me energized!

Riding out the storm

I seem to be referencing the sea (and subsequent weather) a lot lately.

It's not that the weather itself has been bad, but my life has been rather "stormy" in all the busy-ness of recent months. This past week was no exception, but there were some moments of smooth sailing...

MAYDAY! Runfessing the latest

MAYDAY!

Ever heard that term? It's often used as a distress signal by a ship lost at sea.

I'm not really in distress, nor am I on a ship, but May has been a crazy month and I have felt a bit lost at times. Maybe the craziness is what caused the month to fly by at record speed. None the less, there have been some things happening that have left me in a state of wonder, confusion, and exhaustion. Fun times, right?

Feels like Summer!

Summer, my dearest Summer, how I have missed thee.

Finally, I can honestly say, with ZERO reservation, that I love the weather as of late. Although the calendar still shows Spring, it's definitely looking (and feeling) like Summer in Iowa. We had a week of non-stop sunshine and summer-like temps, and I (for one) thoroughly enjoyed almost every moment of it.