Race reflections ~ and a GIVEAWAY!

I definitely subscribe to a minimalist training philosophy and it works for me. I don't break speed records, but I finish strong and always have fun. When training for a race I stick to Hal Higdon's schedules for long runs on the weekends and reduce my weekday mileage and focus on cross training. For the Old Port Half Marathon last weekend, however, I pushed my theory to the limit especially given the heat and humidity. 

With two active kids home for the summer who are too heavy to push in a double stroller I shifted my priorities and was less diligent about getting to the gym or running. Now don't get me wrong. It's not like I rolled my sedentary self off the couch and headed to the half marathon starting line. I just wasn't as prepared as I usually am. I knew I could finish. The question was how long it would take me.

As expected, I did finish the race ~ hand in hand with Amy and Jen. That, by the way, is the absolute best way to finish. We represented the back of the packers very well and although I momentarily shuttered at the difference in time between my fastest half marathon and this one I quickly reminded myself that I'm still a 'real' runner. As Bart Yasso said, "I often hear someone say 'I'm not a real runner'. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner."

Speaking of Bart Yasso (and yes I'm leading up to the GIVEAWAY)... Bart Yasso is the Chief Running Officer at Runner's World Magazine and is the author of the book, My Life on the Run. He has competed in over 1000 races and has run marathons on all 7 continents. He has overcome drug and alcohol addition and chronic Lyme disease and now motivates others to improve their lives through running. Bart has an incredible story to tell and it's worth reading!

Now for the GIVEAWAY... Bart has offered to send a personalized copy of his book, My Life on the Run, to the lucky winner of this Mainely Running GIVEAWAY! 

Below is what you have to do to qualify. You get 1 chance to win for every one you do! We'll announce the winner a week from today!

1. 'Join' this site or 'Follow' Mainely Running (the link is on our home page in the column on the right) and tell us you've done so in a comment here on our site.

2. 'Like' Mainely Running on Facebook and tell us you've done so in a comment here on our site.

3. 'Share' this GIVEAWAY on your Facebook page and tell us you've done so in a comment here on our site.

4. Tweet about this GIVEAWAY and tell us you've done so in yet another comment. 

5. And for one more chance to win this GIVEAWAY, tell us in a comment on this site what makes you a real runner!

    Good luck and thanks again to Bart Yasso for his support of Mainely Running!

Wednesday Wisdom & Race Review

“You can’t succeed if you don’t try.” – Anonymous

Ok, so, maybe running a half marathon without proper training wasn’t necessarily what the originator of that quote had in mind… But, heck, we did it anyway this past weekend and I have to say, that may have been the most fun I've had during a race in a long time!

photo courtesy of B. Kurlanska

As you already know, Christine, Jen and I ran the Old Port Half in Portland on Sunday and it was great! It was hot, especially at the start, and we took it slow (ok, REALLY slow at the end) but it was FUN! We stuck together the whole way, chatting with each other and the runners around us. There was a great energy surrounding the race. I loved that it was low-pressure, and that our only real goal was to finish. For me, it was so refreshing to just be able to take it easy and take in the experience without worrying about my pace or keeping my friends waiting (except for Andrea - sorry!). Apart from the fabulous company, the highlights for me were:

• beautiful scenery - what a gorgeous course! Probably the most beautiful I’ve run, with the exception of the MDI marathon. I kept thinking that each vista that opened up was worthy of a postcard. It really reminded me how much I love being back in Maine :)
• super volunteers - everyone was so nice with great attitudes, offering lots of encouragement and problem solving when needed (you guys at mile 6 know what I mean!)
• awesome spectators – At a lot of races, people will just stand quietly on the sidelines watching you go by (presumably waiting for some other runner in particular). These guys were cheering for everyone – what a difference that makes! Seriously!!

photo courtesy of B. Kurlanska

• our own personal cheering section – My dear friend Beth (and her friend Carrie) met us at a couple of places along the course cheering us on, even with a personalized sign! It was great to see her (even if the visit was short and sweet). I can think of a lot of things I’d much rather be doing on a Sunday morning so we appreciate her support SO much!! Beth and Carrie - you rock!
• great finish area– There was food, beer, live music and kiddie pools full of cold water at the finish on the pier. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Really, the only major complaint I have is the time of year that the race is held. July is just plain hot, but I know that the races can’t all be in May, September and October so, really, the weather was reasonable. The race organizers did a super job with the event, especially considering that this was the first running. Although, if you’re listening guys, a few more port-a-potties at the start wouldn’t be a bad idea… 7 isn’t really enough for 700+people…doh! All in all, a great race and I highly recommend it!

Everyone who knows me will agree that I'm usually not one to take chances and that I definitely err on the side of playing it safe (and boring). I was really lukewarm about entering the race and did it just the week before, drawn in more by the opportunity to spend an overnight in Portland with the girls and do a little kid-free shopping while travelling to and from. I don’t like running in the heat and I didn’t feel like I’d done enough running lately this summer and was a little worried that I might not be able to finish or that it'd end up being a miserable experience but then I figured, what's the worst that could happen?  I might walk for part of it, which is really not so bad in the grand scheme of things.  So, I bucked my nature, threw caution to the wind and just gave it a shot! And I don't regret it one bit and would certainly count this experience as a smashing success!


As hard as it is to leave my comfort zone, particularly when it comes to physical endeavors, I'd have never been able to experience many of the triumphant successes that I have: finishing a half marathon as well as a full marathon or climbing Mt Katahdin, including traversing the Knife's Edge (no small feat for someone like me who doesn't like heights), to name a few.  I know I need to keep pushing myself to try new and scary things, but I also know now that its getting easier and easier each time.  So, how about you?  Leave a comment and tell us what you are going to try!

You mean I have to PRACTICE?

Is it considered a duathlon if you take an impromptu dip in the Atlantic at mile 12 of a half-marathon? I know it's hard to tell but that is me walking back after scaling a small fence, jumping down a five foot rock ledge, and running to immerse my overheated body in the ocean. Amy and Christine graciously waited (and snapped a photo with my phone) as I, the rate limiting factor in today's race, tried to cool off before I hit the finish line. The sad part is that although it was warm, the sun wasn't even beating down...I shouldn't have been that hot. Can you say lack of preparation?

What??? You mean you have to PRACTICE to run 13.1 miles? For some reason I thought I could get away without a training plan for the Old Port Half. I thought if I ran a handful of times (nine to be exact - thank you Garmin) since the Sugarloaf Marathon I could pull it off. Um...not so much. In addition to the heat and humidity really affecting me on this run, my BODY just didn't want to go. I was sluggish and disillusioned, and by mile 10 ready to be done. I also made the mistake of taking long walk breaks. Kiss of death for me. The more I walked, the more I enjoyed it, the LESS I felt it necessary to run. Honestly, if it weren't for my Mainely Running mates Amy and Christine, I probably would have walked the last 3 to 4 miles. Thank you girls for pulling me through!!!

The moral of the story? If you want to run a race it does pay to practice. While you most certainly can finish, logging the miles beforehand will make race day a much easier experience. Take it from me. I've been there!





Epilogue

* This was the first annual Old Port Half Marathon. The main reason I chose to do this race is that I absolutely LOVE Portland. Love it. And I must say, the course was beautiful. Running along the Eastern Prom and Back Cove...gorgeous. The volunteers at the race were very helpful and friendly. My only complaint was the lack of cold water/gatorade at the water stations. While they seemed to have plenty of water, it was all quite warm. When you are running 13.1 miles in the summer you really hope to get some relief at those stations. But like I said it was their first one, so there are always a few kinks to work out.

* Congratulations to our friend Andrea (who can run circles around Amy, Christine and I). She is a very strong runner (although she will protest) and ran an amazing, fast race today. I can only dream of keeping up with her.

* We had the pleasure of meeting Lois during our race, a running coach at Maine Running Company in Portland. Suffice it to say I think fate was playing a role today. She had some very encouraging words for us, and we hope we get the opportunity to see her again!

* Keep an eye out for Amy and Christine's thoughts on our race. Because we, ahem, had quite a bit of time to talk during this one, we all have something to share!

TGIF (minus the heat)!

Running won't kill you, you will pass out first. - anonymous

Speaking of passing out... Holy heat stroke! This is ridiculous! I'm sweating just sitting here typing. God only knows what will happen to us at the Old Port Half Marathon this Sunday. Between the kids being home for the summer and this heat, training has definitely taken a back seat to play dates, beach trips and simply trying to stay cool. 

That said, we have no great expectations for Sunday other than to have lots of fun and to finish. Finishing would be nice. Oh, and a break from this heat and a trip to the outlets in Freeport. Those are also high on my list of expected outcomes. That's it. All I want is a medal, moderate temperatures, no humidity and a few great mid-summer deals.


So, until Sunday I'll pray for a break in this heat and humidity. Thankfully at this point the weather channel is in compliance with my plan. Just look at that high for Sunday!


We wish you all a fantastic weekend and a special good luck to April who is running on Sunday as well!

Summertime!

courtesy of mainerealestatenews.com

Summer is officially here in Maine!  For us here at Mainely Running, that also means that our kids are home full time and keeping us on the go!  We've got trips to the beach, playdates, kayaking, nature walks, bbqs, hiking, swimming and lots of playing outside to do.  

courtesy of acadiamagic.com

As you know, summer in Maine is a fast-moving and magical time.  We  want to try to fit in as much as possible before it's time to put on our warm clothes again.    So, you probably won't see us up on the blog quite as frequently, but never fear, we're still here and still very excited to get you running!  Plus, we've got some exciting things planned for Mainely Running later this year... so stay tuned and enjoy the summer!!

Check out our new calendar!

On Friday, we put out the call to add you to our race calendar! We got some great responses but we know that there are a lot more of you out there doing some great things!  Comment and let us know what you're training for!

* denotes a first-time run at this distance

July

7/24 - Emily's Run 5k, Auburn: Sue

7/24 - Old Port Half Marathon, Portland:  April

7/24 - Old Port 5k, Portland: Carrie

August

8/6 - Beach to Beacon, Cape Elizabeth: Carrie, Sue

8/13 - County Open Half Marathon and Relay
8/13 -  Warrior Dash, NY: April

8/21 - Run For the Fallen, Ogunquit: BJ, April

8/27 - Northeast Harbor 5-miler, Northeast Harbor: Nancy

September

9/5 - Labor Day 5-miler, Bangor: April

9/11 - Race for the Cure, Portland: Sue

9/17 - MDI Half-Marathon, Bar Harbor: Frederique, Nancy

9/18 - Race for the Cure, Bangor: Louise

October

10/2 - Maine Half-Marathon, Portland: April, Becca*, Ericka*, Sue, Tara*, Jenn*

10/2 - Maine Marathon, Portland: Heather*

10/9 - Great Island 5k, Newcastle, NH: Nancy

10/10: Tufts 10k for Women, Boston: Nancy

10/30 -Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC: Mark*, April* 

10/30 - Spooky 5k, Freeport: Sue

Our new race calendar will live on the sidebar  - check it out then cheer for your Mainely Running pals!

We want to add YOU to our race calendar!

Yep, that's not a typo.  We want to add YOU to our race calendar.  Sure, we post a calendar of races that we participate in throughout Maine or New England.  Somewhat informative, but not really all that exciting, to tell you the truth.  But, what if you could check out the calendar and see which of your favorite Mainely Running friends were running a particular race? Hmmm... now, that might be a little more fun!  For example, I (Amy) am currently registered for Beach to Beacon (Aug 6 - not 7 as I originally wrote), the half at the Maine Marathon (Oct 2) and as a relay for the MDI Marathon (Oct 16).  However, I might be persuaded to enter a few other races too.  And it doesn't have to be just running.  Swimming, tri's, trails...whatever floats your boat.  So, tell us, what do you have on your race calendar for this year?


ps. since writing this, I've also registered for the Old Port Half (July 24)... Hope to see you there!

Wednesday Wisdom

I have even cried once or twice when I crossed the finish line, out of a fullness of feeling that can't be expressed in words.  Larry Smith, Runner

I've recently noticed an inverse relationship between the heat and humidity and my motivation to log miles on a run. Add two kids home for summer vacation to the mix and sticking to any sort of training plan feels like an impossibility. I admit I've lost some of my momentum, but know I'll get it back. The feeling of crossing a finish line is too powerful not to get my momentum back.


So, with fantasies of training runs crossed off the calendar and images of finish lines in sight here is some information about the 5th Annual Race for Myeloma 5k in Bangor scheduled for September 24, 2011 from Race Director Becky Reeve:

The Race for Myeloma, a 5k on the streets of Bangor, starts and ends in Broadway Park (Stillwater Ave. and Pine Street).  Individual registration is $20 with a $5 discount if completed by September 9th.  You may register online at www.eventbee.com or forms may be obtained by contacting Becky at raceformyelomabangor@gmail.com or at 356-0425.  

Teams of 4 or more will receive a discount by contacting Becky directly.  

 

Race day registration begins at 9am and the race starts at 10am.  The race proceeds (and the corresponding raffle on race day!) all fund the world class research for the cure of multiple myeloma which is a rare blood cancer that is currently treatable, but for which a cure has not yet been found.  More information on this cancer may be found at www.themmrf.org.

Come join us walking or running on the streets of Bangor and enjoy a beautiful fall morning!  Be sure to purchase your raffle tickets for some great prizes!  Gather your friends, family, and neighbors and secure your pledges all to support cancer research.

 

If you're looking to cross a finish line in the not so distant future then stay tuned. And let us know what races are on your calendar. Who knows? Maybe we'll join you!

What doesn't kill you...

Makes you stronger? Really? Because I'll tell you what, we had eight days in the McGoldrick house that definitely did not make me stronger. We were hit with a nasty GI bug here at the house...only my husband was spared. (How does that always happen?) The kids got the brunt of it. I'll spare you the details of voluminous body fluids, but suffice it to say we all lost a few pounds, had a trip to the ER, and I spent seven nights rotating where I slept. Daughter's room, son's room, daughter's room etc. The only amount of exercise I got was climbing up and down the stairs carrying laundry or sick kids to the sofa.

I am happy to say that things are back to normal. I'm even enjoying hearing the kids argue (although you know that's not going to last too long). Oh and I have to say this. I am all for and try to do my share in "reduce, reuse, recycle" (5 points to anyone who knows that reference). So yes, I typically take my reusable bags to the grocery store when I shop. But word of advice, it pays to have a few of those plastic suckers hanging around. Why? When you have sick kids who can't quite make it to the bathroom, it beats having to disinfect your floors. Again and again. I ended up having to borrow garbage bags from a neighbor because we ran out. So...if you happen to see me at the grocery store check-out loading up my groceries in plastic bags, and feel compelled to tell me about saving the environment...think again. I'm preparing for the next bout of the plague.

As far as exercise? I need to get my butt in gear. I (along with Christine and with enough pursuasion hopefully Amy) have this scheduled in two weeks. Considering I haven't done a long run since Sugarloaf.....I think I'm going to need a lot of luck!

We have a WINNER!

We tallied the official entries for our embRACE headband giveaway this morning and selected a winner at random:

Congratulations Carrie (MaineMomOnTheRun)! Send us an email at info@mainelyrunning.com to collect your prize!




For those who didn't win this time, you can still get yourself one of these awesome headbands over at embRACEactivewear.com. And, don't forget to tell CarolLynn that we sent you!


Thank you so much everyone for all of your entries! We LOVE giveaways (who doesn't like free stuff?!) and have more planned for this summer, so stay tuned!


Have a great weekend!

Wednesday Wisdom (and other fun stuff)

"Something is almost always better then nothing. There will be days when some aspect of reality intrudes and you have to scrap your idealized world training plan. That doesn't make scrapping the whole affair a logical conclusion. A 4-miler is much closer to a 10-miler then it is to 0 miles for the day." - Scott Douglas

I have to say I've been living by these words lately. Between school being out (thus full-time kid duty), illness and...well...life, any form of a running schedule is out the window. If I can get in a mile or two here or there, I'm happy. And you know what? That's ok. Because something is better then nothing at all, right?

Now to the fun stuff...........

Guess what? Only two days left to embRACE our fantastic giveaway! You can win two of these wonderful headbands that stay put when you're on the move! All three of us Mainely Running moms have tried and love them, and we think you will too!

Just like us on facebook and follow us on the Mainely Running website, then leave a comment here telling us you did it. That's it! A random winner (using random.org) will be picked and we will announce the winner on Friday. What do you have to lose?

Meet Christine, Fitness Revolutionary

No rest for the weary this 4th of July! We've got a new Revolutionary who just may inspire you to put down your corn on the cob and hit the streets for a run no matter what your pace.

Meet Christine. Christine is on a mission to complete her second half marathon this October in Portland, Maine. She struggled with not feeling like a 'real' runner, but has let that feeling of insecurity go for the most part. I can assure Christine that when I see her running through the streets of our neighborhood pushing her son in a jogging stroller I definitely see her as a runner and I see her son as a very lucky boy who has a mom who takes care of herself and him, too!

40 was approaching too fast for me.  I felt frumpy, frustrated, and forgotten.  I wanted to capture a glimpse of my former self ~ the one before marriage, a child and a mortgage.  I wanted that confident, energetic, goal achiever back.  I wanted to do something for me.  


With the support by my #1 fans (my husband and son), I looked for something outside of my comfort zone to challenge me and to offer an opportunity for growth.  I always preferred walking but found myself slowly turning into a runner.  I found running not only made me feel stronger and more confident, it calmed my thoughts and relieved stress.  The "calming tiredness" I feel after a run centers me for the day and helps me reach new goals.   


I signed up for my first half marathon in November 2010.  I cannot express in words how PROUD I was/am of myself for crossing that finish line.  It may have been a slow time, but I DID IT!  That feeling was very addictive.  My next goal is to finish the Portland Half Marathon in October 2011.  

I am training with a walk/run program.  The most difficult challenges to overcome for me are the negative self talk such as, "I am not a runner because I run too slowly" or  "I am not a runner because I don't look like one."  I am my own worst enemy and when I let go of the negative talk, I set myself free.  "I AM a runner because my butt is not sitting on a couch right now.  I AM a runner because I finished a Half Marathon!"  The feeling of accomplishment keeps my motivated. I am happier when I slice out time for a run. I have more energy to give to others, but when I run I run for me.   

Make time for yourself.  Take time to run.  You are worth it!

October will be here before we know it, but you still have time to register and train for the Maine Half Marathon (if you have a solid running base that is). There is quite a contingent from Bangor heading to Portland for that particular race and we'd love to see you there, too. Check out the link and let us know if you're considering it. We'll work on convincing you and I can assure you (or warn you) that we're very persuasive!


So, in honor of the 4th of July get your barbeque on and then get your sneaks on! You never know. You, too, may be a real runner! Happy 4th of July! And when you realize you are in fact a runner, tell us about it at info@mainelyrunning.com. We'd love to hear from you!

embRACE the 4th of July GIVEAWAY!

How should we start the holiday weekend? With our first GIVEAWAY of course!

CarolLynn at embRACE Bands sent us some of these fantastic, stay put embRACE headbands to test out and we absolutely love them. We know you will, too, so we're giving away a 2-pack of embRACE Bands (see details below).

Amy and I were a little skeptical that the embRACE bands could tame our mains especially while running, but we've been pleasantly surprised as has Jen. The embRACE bands really do stay in place and they look fantastic! We now want them in every possible color combination!

My friends often tease me because my hair is reminiscent of Monica from Friends when she visits Barbados. That's why I left Delaware for Maine ~ less humidity and fewer bad hair days! Add Amy's head full of curls to my frizz prone hair and you'll understand our initial skepticism. No worries, though! These velvety lined bands stand the test of even the hottest, sweatiest work outs. And they come in loads of fabulous colors and designs to match any and all of your outfits!


   Here's how to enter our GIVEAWAY for a 2-pack of embRACE Bands:
 'Like' Mainely Running on Facebook and
'Follow' us here on our site. Then tell us you've done so in a comment here on this site.

For extra entries do any or all of the following:
1) Share this GIVEAWAY on Facebook and tell us you've done so in a comment on this site.
2) 'Like' embRACE Bands on Facebook and tell us in a comment that you've done so.
3) And for an extra entry 'Follow' Mainely Running on Twitter and let us know.



This GIVEAWAY is open for one week from today. A random winner (using Random.org) will be selected and announced on this site on Friday, July 8, 2011! Good luck and Happy Running!

Oh, and by the way, if you have a product you want us to check out and review please contact us at info@mainelyrunning.com.